Spring 2017 Reading List

Home Buying Kit for Dummies – I am going to treat this one more as a reference book for this season. Yes, it’s true, my husband and I have been on the house hunt since the start of the new year and it has been a truly crazy process!!! (I’ve heard it can only get crazier from here, ha.) Luckily, I have the most amazing mom who is a real estate pro and has been giving us lots of tips. With her expertise and this book, we are bound to snag a house this year 🙂 .

I Hate You, Don’t Leave Me – If you didn’t know, I work in mental health so I try to have one professional education book in each mix. This book is all about Borderline Personality Disorder. It is meant for clients and clinicians alike. I look forward to learning more about BPD because it is becoming more commonly understood and diagnosed within the medical community.

Wild – To be honest, I’m not sure how much time I will have to read enjoyable material this season, as it’s shaping up to be a pretty busy year so far! However, it was a new years resolution type of goal for to get more active with reading so I’d like to stick to it. Since I finished up my winter reads relatively quickly I do have hope I can make it through this one before summer. I know, I know… I’m a little late to the game, but it has been on my to-read list for quite some time.

Winter Reading List – Update

Happy Monday!

I was able to finish off my winter reads pretty early this time around. It probably had a lot to do with colder weather (who doesn’t love snuggling up with a good book in winter?!), shorter books, and more time. Here are my thoughts on each book I’ve recently read. Be on the look out for my next round of books I want to read up!

“I Thought It Was Just Me” – Brene Brown – Brene Brown doesn’t disappoint. She is a true inspiration. Her research on shame is depicted in this book and she truly makes it easy to relate to. Her choice of words and personal stories make it an interesting, yet educational read. I went in to this book not having much of an understanding of shame and leave this book with a good grasp on how to develop shame resilience.

“Jamaica” – Insight Guides – This was a helpful reference guide for my recent Jamaican vacation. I loved that a map was included and that each section of the book went through different areas of the island. It included must-sees, food/drink recommendations, and attraction guides. I even took it on vacation to brush up on while waiting for our plane to take off. It was definitely one of the better guides I had researched.

“Seriously… I’m Kidding” – Ellen Degeneres – If you are looking for a quick and upbeat read, look no further. It took me only a couple of hours within a couple of sittings to finish this book. Ellen is so funny and so light-hearted that it is so easy to pick it up at any time.

XOXO

Winter Reads

I’m working on reading through the books that have made a nice little collection on my shelf… Here are the ones I’d love to finish up this winter. The list includes three of my favorite types of books: mental health research, travel, and biographies.

“I Thought It Was Just Me” – Brene Brown

I truly enjoyed my recent read, The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brene Brown and find her work to be truly fascinating. I’m hopeful this will be just as inspiring.

“Jamaica” – Insight Guides

Our next trip is officially booked and this little baby will be a must finish before we leave! I love reading up on different places before I visit them and have loved what I’ve found in this book so far.

“Seriously… I’m Kidding” – Ellen Degeneres

…because who doesn’t love Ellen?!

 

Fall Reading List – Update

Voluntary Madness: This book is based on a true story of a woman faking her way into three admissions to three different psychiatric facilities. She tells her experience going through each stay. I got about a third of the way through this one and I honestly don’t plan to finish it at this time. For me, the tone was a bit too cynical. Since I work in mental health it was an interesting read but it brought me down a bit. I may pick this one back up in the future, but right now want to take a break from it.

The Gifts of Imperfection: Probably the best book I’ve read all year!!! Brene Brown is a true inspiration. She speaks in a way that is so true to life… honest, genuine, confident, and proud. This book depicts some of her work with resiliency and what really lies behind the idea of imperfection. Her descriptions of the work is so easily applicable to life that it is astounding. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for some life direction, a little motivation, or a pick-me-up. I can’t wait to delve into some of her other works.

Key West in History: I don’t know about you, but I love reading up on places that I have traveled or will travel to. The tough part is finding a book that is the right amount informational but not boring. This book filled that criteria really well! It was informative without being dry and I think that if you’ve been to Key West or plan to go that it is a must read, XOXO.

Fall Reading List

I recently took a look at my bookshelf and realized that I definitely don’t read as many books as I purchase. (Anyone else out there a self-proclaimed book collector?!) I’ve always loved reading, however something has always taken precedence over it, most recently graduate school and wedding planning. Now that I have more free time I’ve decided to make some reading goals.

Here are the books I want to read up this fall…

Voluntary Madness: I work in mental health so am looking forward to this one a lot. It’s about a woman who committed herself to three different facilities and faked having mental health struggles. It sheds new light on healthcare from a unique perspective.

The Gifts of Imperfection: Brene Brown is someone I have found to admire in my recent work, though have not actually read any of her books in full. She performed qualitative studies on the positive power of shame and guilt. This book is all about accepting yourself as you are, which is something I believe in for everyone.

Key West in History: On our trip to Key West this summer, my mom purchased this book and I’m so happy she lent it to me! Granted, it would have likely been more helpful to read prior to the trip, but I’m happy to read through it and reflect on the amazing time that we had.

Wine: A Tasting Course

In my first wine review, I referenced a book that I have been using to help me learn more about wine and today I’m excited to share it on my blog. The book is called “Wine: A Tasting Course” and I have loved every minute of reading through it! I spent some time in the past researching and paging through other wine books. In comparison I think this one is the best for a few reasons.

First of all it is not “stuffy”. This book is ideal for someone like myself, an average person who is looking to expand on wine knowledge. The setup is also extremely easy to follow. I use the first half of the book to read through page-by-page and mark off areas I may want to go back to. I use the second half by opening a bottle of wine (my favorite part) and referencing the corresponding area of the book. It has been really fun to match up the wine and book. I find that it helps me understand the information better and remember it more clearly. This book is filled with helpful infograms, charts, and photos that are useful for anyone who learns visually, like myself.

Overall, “Wine: A Tasting Course” is the perfect purchase if you want to expand your wine knowledge in a fun and easy way. You can check out the book by clicking here to page through or purchase. I hope this review was helpful for all my wine-loving friends out there. It is a recommended buy from me to you, XOXO.

Any recommendations on other fun and helpful wine books?

Welcome!

Thanks everyone, for coming to check out my new lifestyle blog. I love all things beauty, books, fashion, family, travel, food, wine, crafts, and diy. There will definitely be a little something for everyone here. Look around and have some fun! XOXO