Ali Edwards's Blog, page 140

Project Life® 2018 | Week Sixteen

Lately I've been thinking a lot about which parts of the Project Life® memory keeping process bring me the most joy. 

Getting things done. The way I get things done is by keeping it simple and "good enough." I am often more motivated to finish a spread vs. spending more time adding embellishments. Adding more embellishments doesn't usually bring me joy. I want a few that feel like they "make sense" for the overall design and that's it. This means I say "no" to a lot of extra stuff. 
Printing the photos. Yep, this process brings me joy. I think part of that is because I've simplified that process too. I use PhotoStream so all my photos are uploaded directly from my phone via wifi without me having to do anything. When I open Aperture my PhotoStream folder for the month is right there so I know right where to look when it's time to print. In addition to that folder I have one other folder for each month that includes any photos I take with any other cameras. I also really like the rhythm I have of printing my photos in batches. When I have 20-30 minutes I'll sit at my computer and print out photos for Project Life® and slip them into the pockets. Then when I have time to finish up the spreads I'm focusing on the rest of the process vs. spending any time editing/printing photos. I have more about this topic in my Lens Of Joy workshop if you are interested in a deeper dive into my overall photo process. 
Repetition of the embellishments that I do use. In the case of this spread I've used some wood veneer, some light pink label stickers, and some 1/2 circles. That was good enough for me. Also, remembering that I absolutely don't have to do something different on every card or photo. Copying + pasting stories from Instagram. This is by far the easiest way for me to add words/stories to this project. I get to write in the moment (which uses different storytelling muscles compared with trying to remember - that said there is definitely beauty in the perspective that comes from the passage of time and how that informs how we tell the story) and then use that as content in this album months or years later. 

Think about which parts of your own memory keeping processes are bringing you joy - feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. How can you do more of that and less of what doesn't bring you joy? 

Here's a look at my Week 16 of 2018: 

This was a Story Camp week which usually means most of my focus is going in that direction as we welcome 40 people to our town. 

For my main journaling this week I copied and pasted text from a couple instagram posts and used my
Prompts Digital Set for the titles on the journal cards.To mix it up a bit I used a grey background with dark grey type. It was a great reminder to me how simple it is to use Instagram as a holding place for stories and then just copy and paste them into my album. 

The pink label stickers can be found in the Summer/Everyday Life Variety Sticker Bundle. The half-circle stickers were leftover from another project where I used the other halves. I had tucked the 1/2 circles into one of the photos in this spread to help me remember to use them. 

I love the combination of a bit longer journaling on the 3x4 cards paired with a bit of handwritten journaling on the 1/2 circles. 

If I remember right the wood veneer words were from the Fabric Story Kit™ (or Add On's). 

Heart Die Cut (sold out) and the 
"bring on the" journal card are both from the Summer/Everyday Life release. 

WEEK 16 PROCESS VIDEO

Music in my video is from Soundstripe. 

SUPPLIES

Design A Project Life® Page Protectors
StazOn Ink
Rolling Date Stamp
Epson PictureMate PM400 Printer
Summer/Everyday Life Journal Cards
Summer/Everyday Life Sticker Bundle
Prompts Digital Story Stamp™
Stories By The Month™ April 2018 (subscriptions now available)
Past Story Kit™ + Stories By The Month™ Kit Add Ons

You can see all my past Project Life® blog posts here. For more information about my overall process make sure to check out my self-paced Storytelling With Project Life® workshop. 

December Daily® 2018 | Ideas For Using The Silkscreens + Stencils

Last week I took a little time to play around with the December Daily® Stencil + Silkscreen Bundle. 

This year's bundle includes 3, 4x6 stencils and 3, 4x6 silkscreens:

This is a great product for those of you who like to do some crafty play with paint or paste or spray inks in your album. Remember, you can continue to add to your December Daily® Box until September 30th. 

As many of you know, I like to create Foundation Pages in advance of this project starting in December. To me, Foundation Pages help me get a jump on the album by doing some of the work before we hit December. I don't do everything and I like to keep it flexible, but I've personally had really great success with playing around in my album before the daily stories. If you'd like to learn more about my overall approach and general process for the last 11 years I invite you to check out Storytelling With December Daily®. 

And speaking of classes, I'm also working on projects for the new December Daily® Product Play No.2 workshop which will open for registration in October. The focus this year is on trees, tags, and words. The original Product Play workshop that was created last year (2017) is still available if you are looking for ideas for working with hearts, stars, and circles. The ideas in that workshop are totally still relevant this year even if the products we offered aren't exactly the same. 

Here's a video overview to walk you through how I used the products: 

Here is a look at what these ideas ended up looking like in an album: 

IDEA #1: Try using a stencil on top of one of the Story Kit™ subscription envelopes (this is one of the older ones - the new ones are a bit taller). You can use this envelope to hold extra photos, cards, receipts, stories, etc that you collect during the holiday season. 

In the video you'll see two versions of this - one that's vertical and one that's horizontal. The silkscreen is definitely "sticky" on top of the plastic envelope but overall it worked out pretty well. When you are trying this out make sure to have some wipes to be able to remove any excess paint that might get on your envelope when you are peeling it off. 

Use a Power Punch to punch holes through the envelopes. 

IDEA #2: Play around with texture paste and the stencils. Texture paste is basically a thicker version of paint that gives awesome dimension to your project when it dries. Ribbon is from Michaels. You can add paint to texture paste to create a color if you want something other than white. 

IDEA #3: You can create your own transparent pages at home using Grafix Sheets (I get 12x12 and cut it down) + silkscreens (or stencils) and paint or texture paste. I cut my plastic sheet to the size of my page protector. Again, this is an imperfect process so I recommend trying it out before you do it for the first time on the plastic. 

IDEA #4: Use the stencil + texture paste to create a pattern on top of the Large Cork Numbers. You could totally use paint on here but I loved using the texture paste for additional dimension. 

IDEA #5: Use the tree stencil and texture paste to create a 3x4 card. I took one of the 6x8 sheets of pattern paper from the Main Kit and cut it down to 3x4. After using the texture paste + the stencil and letting it dry I added some of the stars + sequins from the Star Sequin Bundle. Here's a closer look: 

I totally loved playing with texture paste. 

After I played around with the silkscreens + stencils I watched some videos and saw people using a "scraper" for the texture paste. It's basically the same idea you see with using the edge of a card. This will give you a smoother textured surface vs. the rougher one I ended up with using the foam brush (which is really just personal preference). 

You can also mix color into your paste. Here's more information on that. Heidi has a video using stencils + texture paste. Check that out here.

STENCIL + SILKSCREEN CARE

For both the stencils + silkscreens I wash immediately after use with warm water and then dry with a paper towel or washcloth. That's it. 

SUPPLIES
December Daily® Silkscreen + Stencil Bundle December Daily® Glitter Star Sequin Bundle December Daily® Large Cork Numbers December Daily® Main Kit 2018 AED Paints: Pendleton (red), Willamette (green), Cascade (white) - we have also added the full paint bundle to the DD Order Period options Ranger Texture Paste (Scrapbook.com / Amazon) 6 Hole Punch Power Punch (used this to go through the envelopes) (Scrapbook.com / Amazon) Grafix Clear Plastic 12x12 Sheets Plastic Envelopes from Story Kits™ Ranger Craft Mat (great for painting on because you can wash it off) Glue Pen

Why I Walk

Last week, as I was going for a 3-mile walk as I often do, I started thinking about why I walk.

I've been walking semi-regularly for a little over a year now and I miss it when I don't make it a part of my week. 

I walk to to clear my head and stop thinking about my squishy parts. As I get into my mid-40's (I'll be 43 in November) I finding myself getting squishier and the antidepressant I take doesn't help much with that either (definitely helps my mood + my mind). What I know to be true is that walking - or moving my body via yoga or Barre3 - helps minimize the voices in my head who like to regularly chatter about my body. When I don't walk or do some kind of movement I find myself obsessing about it all so much more. I'm also working on embracing those squishy parts - they are a part of my story and a part of who I am right now.  
I walk to watch the change of seasons happen right in front of my eyes. I'm lucky to live in an area where we experience distinct seasons and I love walking and capturing that through the lens of my camera. 
I walk to listen to podcasts and/or audiobooks. Currently listening to The Feel Good Effect. The Daily, Pantsuit Politics, Pod Save The People, NPR Politics, and MindBodyGreen. I also just started listening to the new season of Serial and recently finished Jessica Sprague's Stretched Too Thin audiobook. 
I walk to get out of my house. I love working at home and it works really well for me and my lifestyle overall. That said, sometimes it's really easy to rarely leave the house especially during the times when neither Aaron or I have kids around (we both work from home). Going for a walk helps get me moving (literally) and out of the walls of my home. 
I walk, honestly, because it's one of the easiest ways for me to get movement into my day. I just have to walk out the door and move my legs. 

I walk to get the opportunity to connect with friends or sometimes chat on the phone with my Mom. Love the opportunity to walk with local friends and catch up and commiserate and support each other.
I walk because I genuinely like it and I love getting the chance to breathe the air. 

Do you walk? What do you love about it? 

You can read more posts about my overall wellness journey here. I also have an Instagram account dedicated to this topic where I'm documenting my journey: @ae_wellness

Never Stop Learning | Layout Using The Learn Story Stamp

Playing around today with the Learn Story Stamp™ to tell a recent story about reading together with Anna and how I hope she never stops loving to learn.  

I totally loved the cardstock sticker tags that were Add Ons for the stamp this month and decided to use them as the jumping off point for the design of this story. I used the same "never stop learning" stamp on each of the tags and then created a grid in combination with the large cork speech bubble (a past Add On) and a couple pieces of pattern paper punched + cut into tags. The super cute pattern paper is from the Illustrated Faith You Are Loved 6x8 Paper Pad. Check out my video below for an overview of my complete process. 

The Learn Story Stamp™ and Story Kit™ are available until October 12th (or when they sell out). 

The completed 2-page, 6x8 layout: 

Here's a video overview of the process: 

SUPPLIES

Learn Story Stamp™
Learn Story Stamp™ Cardstock Sticker Add On
Learn Story Kit™ (green circle sticker)
Illustrated Faith You Are Loved 6x8 Paper Pad
White Cardstock
Black StazOn Ink
Week In The Life™ Dimensional Adhesive Bundle (puffy heart stickers)
Cork Speech Bubble (past Kit Add On)
Rolling Date Stamp
Foam Dot Adhesive
Marvy Rectangle Punch
Metal Rimmed Circle TagPrinter = Canon MG7720

Want more inspiration like this? Become a subscriber to my Story Kit™, Story Stamp™, or Digital Story Kit™ and get access each month to a new classroom that includes 4 process videos using products from the Kit and Stamp and story ideas specific to the theme.

Project Life® 2018 | Week Fifteen

Continuing to carve out time here and there to work my way through telling stories for 2018 in my Project Life® album. 

Here's a look at Week 15 (April 9 - April 15): 

SIMPLE DESIGN FORMULA

My SDF (Simple Design Formula) for this week included transparent days of the week for my 4x6 photo. These were an Add On product for one of my monthly kits in the last year. I used a Tiny Attacher to connect each of those days of the week transparencies to my photos. In addition I simply typed up my journaling and printed it on white paper. On the top of each journal card I added a small green puffy asterisk (from a past puffy number sticker Add On) and stamped the date along the bottom. 

Card and chipboard ovals are from the April Stories By The Month™ kit. 

Loved including a combo of black and white and color photos in this spread. Also love using my Espon PictureMate PM400 which includes the option for the white boarders on my photos. 

Remember - just pick a few things to use on any given week. It makes it so much easier when you limit the supplies you have access to and it helps keeps the focus on the words and photos. 

Words + photos for the win. 

WEEK 15 PROCESS VIDEO

Music in my video is from Soundstripe. 

SUPPLIES

Design A Project Life® Page Protectors
StazOn Ink
Rolling Date Stamp
Epson PictureMate PM400 Printer
Stories By The Month™ April 2018 (subscriptions now available)
Past Story Kit™ + Stories By The Month™ Kit Add Ons

You can see all my past Project Life® blog posts here. For more information about my overall process make sure to check out my self-paced Storytelling With Project Life® workshop. 

December Daily® 2018 | Five Simple Ideas For Using The Gold Foil Number Stickers

Today I wanted to share a few ideas for using the Gold Foil Number Stickers in your December Daily® project. 

One of my favorite things to mix and match and play around with in this project are numbers which is why we offered a few different number sets this year. I generally use a combination of stickers, chipboard, and cork numbers to identify the days in my project. I definitely plan to incorporate these Gold Foil Number Stickers into my album this year. Other number sets still available include the Large Cork Numbers and the super cute Gold Foil Chipboard Numbers.

Remember that you have until September 30th to add to your December Daily® Box and take advantage of the flat rate shipping. See what is still available here. 

Here are five simple ideas for incorporating the Gold Foil Number Stickers into your project (I like using these foam dots under these stickers to give them a bit more dimension): 

IDEA #1: Add the year or the number of stories you plan to include in your album to the front cover. Red 6x8 album available here. 

IDEA #2: Use the number stickers to create a list and then include your story next to each number. Star pattern paper from the 2018 Main Kit available here. 

IDEA #3: Add a gold foil number onto one of the Large Shipping Tags (or make your own tags). 

IDEA #4: Add numbers to the front of one of the 6x8 transparency pages. 

IDEA #5: Slip the number stickers right into a 3x4 pocket. I love doing this because it also creates a "see-through" to the next page. 

Thanks for checking out my simple ideas for using the Gold Foil Number Stickers today! 

Labor Dave Weekend 2018

This was my fourth time heading to the Gorge to see Dave Matthews Band with Aaron over Labor Day weekend. My last visit was in 2015 because in 2016 I had blood clots and then the band took a break in 2017. All that to say, I was super ready to go. 

Yeah, we are still super fans. In fact earlier in the week Aaron took Isaac + Elliot over to Bend to see him play on Tuesday night before heading home Wednesday and then we left on Thursday. 

This particular adventure is one of the ways I close out the summer. It signals a transition to fall and back to school and all the other stuff that goes along with moving into September (it often happens right before or right after December Daily® goes on sale too). 

This year I made the decision to take fewer photos and play more with video as a way to stretch my storytelling muscles and to invite some creative play into our trip. A week before we went I purchased a GoPro 6 and decided to bring that and my Canon G7X (the small camera I've been using for most of my vlogs) and shoot with both cameras to see which one I like better. The Canon G7X is an awesome small camera that takes fantastic photos and is great when you might not want to carry a larger DSLR camera. 

I totally enjoyed playing with the GoPro 6 and can definitely see myself using it for this kind of adventure in the future as I get the hang of it and all the things it can do. I especially loved the image stabilization feature of the GoPro 6 and could tell the difference between the video taken with the Canon (more shaky). The GoPro 6 is also waterproof and I can't wait to play with that at some point in the future. 

As you'll see in the video below, I didn't do a lot of talking so it's really more about capturing the view of this amazing location. In the video you'll see the beauty of the 6+ hour drive, where we camp, the venue, the show, and the walking back to camp each evening. Songs in the video are from Soundstripe. 

You can read my past posts about our Dave Matthews at the Gorge adventures here: 2014, 2015

“Dave” is a single word reference in our house. If you say “Dave” more like than not you are talking about Dave Matthews vs. any other Dave. 

The newness of venturing to the Gorge is gone, but the beauty of the 6+ hour drive is there as is the sheer amazing scenery of the Gorge itself. I’m not sure there is really another venue that even compares (I’ve heard a lot about Red Rocks but haven’t been there yet in terms of another outdoor venue to compare).

On these weekends we drive over on Thursday and stay until Monday. It’s always Labor Day Weekend (or Labor "Dave" Weekend as many like to call it). For Aaron and l we basically hang out in our campsite during the day - maybe venture over to a food truck area for lunch in the middle of thousands of campers. 

But mostly we just chill out. I often read (this time I finished The Arrangement and Sweet Little Lies) and he listens to music or a football game. And then around 4pm we take a shuttle from our camp area over to the concert space (super short drive - we walk back). 

This year we played some iPhone scrabble one night. 

The view. It's ridiculous. 

We have fun. 

Some of the songs Dave plays are long - like 20 minutes long - where all the musicians get a chance to show their stuff and just jam around with each other. I’ve loved developing an appreciation for that over the years - it's definitely Aaron's favorite thing. The talent is amazing and they way they work together on stage is phenomenal.

Most years we opt for designated tickets or the pit (we were in the pit the first night this year) vs. sitting in the lawn. We like to be in the middle of the action. So many of the people who come to these shows have been SO MANY TIMES and know all the songs. Over the three nights he almost never repeats a song and I almost always get to hear my favorites.

It's definitely one of my favorite places to visit and we are so lucky to be able to adventure there. 

Also, just a heads up that I was recently interviewed for the Today's Mama podcast. On it Rachel and talked about our mutual love of Dave among other things in my life experience like divorce + remarriage. You can have a listen here. We even put together our essential Dave playlist that you can read here. 

Learn Story Kit™ + October Stories By The Month™

In the 
Story Classroom this month we are focusing on stories related to the theme of Learn.

Here are a few thoughts about this particular theme: 

Bring on the life-long learning! If we are willing to pay attention it’s likely we learn new things every single day. This month we are identifying stories about learning - in school and in life. You’re invited to document and share your stories.

Initial story ideas for the Learn theme include: 

Think back to your childhood and tell the story of your favorite teacher or your favorite subject. Detail the things you loved best.    
What are the recent lessons you have been learning about yourself and life in general?
What are the big lessons you’ve learned so far in your life? So much wisdom comes from each of us sharing what we’ve learned up to this point in our lives.

If you are new to the Story Subscription program, check out all the details 
here. 

If you are already a subscriber the content in the classroom will be available to you on the 15th.

STORY KIT™

Here's a look at
the
Story Kit™ contents for Learn:

ADD ON OPTIONS | Current and new subscribers can select + purchase Add-On's via your new drop-down menu access under your user name in the top right corner of the site. If you subscribe to more than one you will have a Box for each subscription and the ability to purchase Add-On's for each one. Depending on product availability subscribers may be able to purchase the Add-On's after the Add-On period has ended and regular shop shipping rates will apply because they will ship separately from the kit.

Here are the optional Add-Ons for subscribers of the Learn 
Story Kit™ theme. All three of these products are exclusive to subscribers at this time (but may be added to the shop in the future). 

Here's a video overview of the 
Story Kit™ and Add-On options this month:

STORY STAMP™

The Learn 
Stamp Set:

The 
Story Stamp™ also has Add-On options available to subscribers:

Here's a video overview of the 
Story Stamp™ and Add-On options this month: 

DIGITAL STORY KIT™

Your digital kit and the classroom and any Add-Ons purchased will be available to you on the 15th once your card has been charged for the month. 

Here's a look at what's included in the Digital Story Kit™ for Learn: 

And a couple peeks at the layouts I created with the kits this month in addition to the one featured at the top of this post (
full details, including process videos and how-to handout, are included with subscription):

Again, thanks so much for subscribing and/or considering my
Story Subscription program! If you have any questions about this program please let me know below in the comments. 

STORIES BY THE MONTH™

Currently each 
Stories By The Month™ kit includes chipboard, 3x4 and 4x6 cards, and a 3x4 stamp. These are all based on the designs we offered digitally each month throughout 2017. 

Here is a full look at the kit for September: 

Here's a look at the Add-On options for Stories By The Month™ subscribers this month: 

And a video overview: 

This subscription is a great option for those who are looking to tell more calendar/everyday life sorts of stories. 

Check out
this post for more information about this new subscription, including differences between the subscription options offered. 

Simon's Family Life Merit Badge Project

One of the awesome things Simon has been into the last few years is Boy Scouts. He started later than many of the boys in his troop but it has really been an excellent experience for him. Chris has spearheaded most of these adventures - attending meetings and often going on outings with him and taking the time to help him get organized.  

For one of his Family Life Merit Badge requirements (a family project) he decided to plan out seven freezer meals for our family. 

Here's what he decided to prep: 

Loaded Egg Burritos Healthy Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches Sweet Potato Sausage Breakfast Casserole Slow Cooker TexMex Chicken Teriyaki Chicken Paleo Crockpot Meatballs Tropical Chicken Meatloaf

I helped him locate some possible meal ideas on Pinterest and then he narrowed them down to the choices above and compiled a list of all the ingredients he would need to make these seven meals before heading to the store. 

After we got home, and after his hour of screen time, we got down to business. 

We started with the three breakfast recipes. Those were the ones he seemed most excited about and I was excited that he was excited. 

Some of you have been around long enough to remember when eating a variety of foods was a big issue for Simon (check out my archive of Simon stories here). These days he eats pretty much everything - which is amazing and awesome and man am I thankful for that evolution. There are things he likes less (like noodles and soup) but he will eat it if that’s what's offered.

He’s been really into breakfast sandwiches this past year and for awhile we were buying some from Costco until they stopped carrying them. We started with this recipe because that seemed to be the easiest and the one that he could really feel some accomplishment about. We doubled the recipe to end up with 12 instead of 6 (as you can imagine with so many kids around here those will go fast).

I can totally see making these again. I loved the technique for baking the eggs in round ramikins - so easy and simple. Totally a game changer for this kind of batch cooking. 

After the eggs were baked and cooled he assembled them with a slice of cheese + Canadian bacon and then individually wrapped each one before putting them into a larger freezer bag. 

Next we moved on to cooking the sausage for both the other breakfast recipes and doing the work for the breakfast burritos (another food he generally enjoys). He dealt with all the eggs (cracking and scrambling) and I helped with some of the chopping. 

After that point he got tired and asked to go take a nap. 

We were at a good stopping point where the filling for the burritos was complete and the casserole was ready to be baked so I cleaned up while he took a nap. 

When Aaron and I chatted about it later he suggested just bagging up the burrito filling into individual servings that could be warmed up and added to tortillas vs. freezing them in the tortillas (which is what the recipe says). Loved that idea so the next day Simon scooped out individual servings of the breakfast burrito filling and put them in the freezer. He made one today and it worked out great to just heat up the filling and then wrap it in a tortilla. 

For dinner that night I decided to just make the Tropical Chicken Meatloaf vs. doing it as a freezer meal so we need to add something else to his list. 

Splitting this up into a couple sessions made it much more reasonable adventure for him. The dinners were almost easier - except the meatballs which were messier and he's not always a fan of having his hands in the that kind of texture. He cut up chicken and I chopped some veggies. He bagged up the rest of the meals and it was all good to go. 

This adventure was so worth it. It's great for him to see that you can do this kind of batch cooking and have it quick and easy to grab later on. It was helpful for me because we now have meals in the freezer that can just be pulled out and put into the crockpot. Looking forward to doing this again something soon (the breakfast sandwiches are already gone of course) with his help and/or inviting another kid to participate and select the meals we put together. 

Highly recommend this adventure with kids. 

For The Love Of Books | What I Read In August 2018

August is often a busy month for me as I wrap up summer and we get ready for the December Daily® launch. This month I read four books - including one that will be released next January by my friend Lisa Leonard. 

WHAT I READ IN AUGUST 2018

The Glass Castle // Finished this one (I had read about 1/2 of it in July). A hard but important memoir about growing up with very unconventional/dysfunctional parents and the resiliency of children.  China Rich Girlfriend and  Rich People Problems // Finished these two quickly for my book club (we read  Crazy Rich Asians last month). This series isn't the kind of book I'm generally drawn to but I did want to know how it all ended and wanted to be able to chat with my friends about it at our book club dinner. I think these would be great vacation reads or for a time when you wanted something that wasn't complicated.  Brave Love: Making Space For You To Be You by Lisa Leonard (coming June 2019 - preorder available on Amazon) // I was given early access to this book from the publisher with an invitation to write an endorsement. I've known Lisa for many years and was honored that she would give me the opportunity to read her book. I loved reading her story which was so much about allowing ourselves permission to be who we truly are - embracing all of it. 

Hoping to have a video overview for you again next month. 

BOOK OF THE MONTH SELECTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER

It's also time to select new books from Book Of The Month Club. 

As part of their Ambassador Program I get to order from their monthly selections a bit early in order to share with you and celebrate their new releases each month. This month I selected two books:

Cross Her Heart (started reading this one last week) November Road FULL LIST OF WHAT I'VE READ IN 2018

JANUARY 2018

The Heart's Invisible Furies (BOTM) // I super, super loved this book. Just go read it. Now. 
The Woman In The Window (BOTM) // Perfect suspense book. Great beach read.
Everyone Brave Is Forgiven // It’s been quite awhile since I underlined passages in a non-fiction book but I did a few times in this one because the language and imagery used was just so beautiful. It’s a story that will stick with me.
The Year Of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store // Super quick read on a topic I’m interested in - how less can mean more. This book is more memoir than how-to and I was interested in her story and all the ways in which she cake to having and wanting less. Glad I read it. It’s so much more than just a story of not shopping for a year.
Turtles All The Way Down (BOTM) // This one was a like but not love for me. I did really like some of the writing, especially towards the end, that related to the forward movement of life with mental illness. I think these kinds of stories are important and the pieces where he was writing about her self-talk/voices really resonated with me personally.

FEBRUARY 2018

Bel Canto (finished this one right at the end of January) // I really, really enjoyed this book. I love her writing style and I loved the way the story flowed all the way until the end. It felt super abrupt - but I guess that's how life goes sometimes too. I loved the themes of adaptation, of love, of change, of escape (literally from the life you were living one moment before), and the push and pull between relationships. Oh and it totally made me want to go to an opera.
The Great Alone (BOTM) // I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this one last night because I just couldn't stop reading. I loved this book. I loved that Alaska + the climate was basically a character. The subject matter is challenging for sure - violence, loneliness, family issues, etc. - but the story is rich and complicated and well-told. Love these kinds of epic stories. So, so good. 
The Broken Girls (BOTM) // This book legitimately freaked me out multiple times. The kids around here all know I was reading a scary book because I kept saying “this book is scary” - ha. Loved the twists and turns - I zoomed through the last half super quick. If you are looking for a haunting style of story this one’s for you. I actually almost stopped reading it at one point but I am so glad I finished. 
An American Marriage // I read this one without knowing anything about it because it was recommended highly by a friend (and then I saw it popping up everywhere). This is an emotional, real, raw and very well written story that is different from what I've been reading lately. I love being surprised. Beautiful, compelling writing that really gets to the heart of complicated human relationships. A line I loved : "But mostly my life is good, only it's a different type of good from what I figured on." This has been the lesson of my life as well.

MARCH 2018

The Astonishing Color Of After (BOTM) // This book started out a little hard for me to get into but once I did I ended up adoring it. Totally adoring and loving it. I loved the interplay between the present and the past, the treatment of the experience of grief, learning about Chinese/Twaianese traditions, the magic of the way she views her family memories, and the continual use of colors as descriptors for scenes and feelings. I feel like this is one that will stay with me for a long time. SO GOOD.
The Last Equation Of Isaac Severy (BOTM) // This one took a long time to hook me - not sure if that was due to my sporadic reading this month or the story itself. I almost moved on 1/2 way through but decided to give it one more try over a weekend getaway and I was glad I did overall (but also happy to move on to the next story).

APRIL 2018

Educated : A Memoir // From the very beginning I loved the author's writing style and the way she was weaving her story. I think this is one of the best, if not the best, memoirs I've read. I want to tell you that I loved this book, but I don't know if "love" is the right word because it was a hard story to read at times - for all kinds of different reasons. What I loved about it was that it was a story of becoming - of finding yourself and your own story. There were so many times I had to stop to tell Aaron something that had happened as I was reading either because it was so crazy (either awesome or terrible or almost unbelievable). I love a book that encourages us to challenge our assumptions about the beliefs we grew up with and find ourselves within (and owning) our own individual story - whether we continue to believe or walk away or distance ourselves or reconnect. Highly recommended.
The Girl Who Smiled Beads (received from the publisher - also available via  BOTM ) // Back in 2014 I heard Clemantine speak in Washington DC at a summit on girls + women in Africa which was sponsored by the ONE Campaign and Google. The event itself and the stories presented were profoundly moving and educational. When I was offered an opportunity to receive an advance copy of this book I jumped at the chance to get to go deeper into Clemantine's story and I think this book is a must read. It's a hard, raw read and one that is super important for all of us as human beings. It's a complex story of her escape from the Rwandan massage as a child and eventual arrival in the United States as a refuge. It is also so much more than that story - she intimately shares the impact of that entire experience on the way she thinks about herself, the way she views the world, and the ways she has attempted to own her own story. It is a book about becoming. Highly recommended.
Then She Was Gone (BOTM) // I wasn't sure what I thought of this book at first and it felt a little slow at the beginning. But once it revealed a twist + then more twists, I was hooked. I liked that the narrative goes back and forth between characters - really showcasing their different motivations and personalities. It was a totally decent psychological thriller if you are into that genre I'd definitely recommend it. It would have made a good beach read.
Circe (BOTM) // I totally wasn't sure what to expect with this book but I picked it because I've been trying to challenge myself to read things I might not normally pick up this year (different genres, voices, etc). I found this one challenging to get into initially only because I can't remember much at all of the Greek Mythology I learned back in school (little bits here + there - but there are so many names) but once I just accepted that and started to reintroduce myself (via googling names and briefly reading their stories) I was totally into this story told from Circe's point of view. I actually decided that I liked not knowing "everything" about all the different Gods + Goddesses because it helped me to be surprised when the story revealed itself. I really, really liked how this book was written. I loved that is was from her point of view - so many interwoven themes popped up throughout the book: separation, love, fear, family, magic, monsters, bravery, and the ways we each own or own story. I think this one will stick with me for awhile.
First, We Make The Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety // I'm about half-way through this one and already know that I'm going to recommend it highly for anyone who has a history of anxiety or other mental illnesses. This book has comforted me, made me laugh, taught me lessons, and made me look at my anxiety/depression through a different lens. I may write more about this when I finish it during May but wanted to include it now because it's just so good. 

MAY 2018

First, We Make The Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety // I'm about half-way through this one and already know that I'm going to recommend it highly for anyone who has a history of anxiety or other mental illnesses. This book has comforted me, made me laugh, taught me lessons, and made me look at my anxiety/depression through a different lens. I may write more about this when I finish it during May but wanted to include it now because it's just so good. // I pre-ordered this book and read it quickly once I received it. I didn't read any reviews before I read it and I just let it be what it was without preconceived notions (I just read some reviews so that's top of mind as I write my own). I liked the rambling style of this book. I liked the storytelling aspect. I liked simply reading about someone else who lives with anxiety and how it manifests in their own life and the ways she has found to keep moving forward in her own life. I underlined a bunch of things that made me questions assumptions I have made about myself and the ways I've approached my own journey with anxiety + depression. I have been recommending it to friends who I think would benefit from simply reading her story.
The Mars Room (BOTM / AMAZON) // Hard to get into + hard to finish for me. Glad I read it, but not my favorite. It wasn't the subject matter but more the writing style that didn't hook me in - it felt really disjointed. I read another review where someone mentioned they would have rather had more from the main female character and I totally agreed with that. Just felt disjointed overall. That said, I have thought about this book multiple times since finishing - definitely a relevant conversation/topic in our world.
Destination Simple // This is a short, quick read with practical information related to slowing down. I especially loved a section near the end about the idea of "tilting" vs. attempting balance. Definitely in alignment with living in + being present in different seasons of our lives. I also really liked her ideas for morning and evening rituals.
Still Lives (BOTM / AMAZON) // Liked but not love. Definitely captivated me enough to read until the end to complete the story. I think this would make a good beach read if you are into mysteries.

JUNE 2018

George // I read this 3rd/4th grade book for my Book Club as a follow-up to our discussion of This Is How It Always Is and because the book has been a topic of conversation in our community and around Oregon since it was listed as an Oregon Battle Of The Books book for next year. It was a great read for our small group discussion and continued to expand on our learning about transgender related issues. Anna is currently reading it as well. 
The Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir Of Family And Culture In Crisis // One of my goals in reading generally is to read a variety of voices. I've heard of this book over the last few years and picked up the paperback version recently at Costco. As someone who places value on owning our individual stories, I really appreciated reading JD's recounting of his life experience so far growing up in Kentucky and Ohio. I especially liked some of the pieces towards the end when he talked a bit more about his perspective as an adult related to his own childhood trauma and how that informed some of the things he faced in his relationships as an adult. I found the book overall to be insightful and a good starting place for beginning to scratch the surface of understanding more about the struggle/story of poverty and class in America. Also, please note that when reading something along these lines I don't automatically assume that this is the experience of all people living in this area. 
Calypso (BOTM / Amazon) // Amazingly enough this was my first time reading David Sedaris. Not sure exactly why because I am definitively aware of who he is - I think maybe it’s because I don’t often read “funny” books (a gross, totally incomplete description of his stories). That said, I completely enjoyed this book and his writing style and can’t believe I have basically ignored his books up to this point. Real life stories about everyday life are a part of my passion - I will definitively read more from him soon. I laughed out loud, my heart ached, and I was captivated.
The Book Of Essie (BOTM / Amazon) // Devoured this book in a 24 hour period while traveling this past month and really enjoyed the story: interesting and captivating.
Crazy Rich Asians // Fun, silly, quick read. At the end you will likely want to get the next two books in the series to continue the story.
The Female Persuasion // I enjoyed it but felt like I had to force myself to finish it - I did want to know how it ended. I generally like this kind of story that spans a longer period of time where you get to see the characters develop and grow via the passage of time. I liked the themes of female mentorship and friendship and changes that we don't anticipate.

JULY 2018

The Last Time I Lied (BOTM / Amazon) // Super quick, page turner, and super enjoyable. Put aside anything that seems "not quit right" (I had some questions - ha) and just enjoy it for the fun read that it is.
Something In The Water // I was definitely into this one and devoured it quickly over the last couple of days. The story was all over the place + you might have to suspend disbelief at some points, but still enjoyable. I thought a lot about "unreliable" narrators as I was reading this one and I really did want to know how it was all going to end (was she just not very smart, unreliable, or some strange combination of both - ha). If you enjoy disliking the main character you might like this one (someone mentioned that on an Amazon review and it totally resonated for me).
The Outsider // I haven't read a lot of Stephen King over the years but I decided to try this new one out (his book "On Writing" is one of the best books about writing generally that I have read) just for some variety in my reading. I worried that it would be way too scary (it wasn't) and there were moments/parts where I was totally into it and others when I wasn't and felt like I was slogging along. I did feel like I had to push myself through to the end and kept waiting for there to be some additional, satisfying twist (there isn't). Solid read.

The Glass Castle // I started this one and am about 1/2 way through. 

You can also see everything I read in 2017 here.