Hello friends!

It’s been awhile since I’ve added to this blog, so I decided to start a new feature. My main job currently is working at a small town public library. My coworkers and I are constantly putting books on hold for each other. We love discovering, ordering, cataloging, covering, recommending, and checking out new books. So I want to give you all a peak into to what I’m reading, what’s “on the stack.” My hope is that you will discover new books to read, too. Feel free to comment with what you’re reading (new or not so new), so we can gain even more ideas from each other!

So on the stack currently are…

Life Admin: How I Learned to Do Less, Do Better, and Live More by Elizabeth F. Emens. I’m really enjoying the practicality of this one so far. The author discusses the concept of life admin, all the secretarial things it takes to run a life. Making appointments, paying bills, planning life event celebrations, responding to emails, the list goes on. It’s a facet of life few of us stop to think about, yet the benefits of considering our personal ways of accomplishing life admin are huge!

Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn. Ok some of you know that RJG is one of my all time favorite Christian fiction authors. I started reading her Christy Miller Series as a tween, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I have grown up with Christy and her friends through her teen years, college, marriage, and beyond. This book is the first in RJG’s new series about Christy and her new group of women friends as a young mom of two, but written from the perspective of a different character. Absolutely love it!

Slaying the Debt Dragon by Cherie Lowe. Debt is so common in our culture today, and unfortunately a part of my husband and I’s finances too. I’ve read quite a few books on debt, budgeting, etc in the past couple years, and this one is one of the top 3. It’s actually enjoyable to read compared to many others because the author uses humor, sarcasm, and vulnerability to share her family’s journey from debt to freedom. She is straight up, no sugar coating, and will challenge you and encourage you in motivating ways.

100 Side Hustles: Unexpected Ideas for Making Extra Money Without Quitting Your Day Job by Chris Guillebeau. This is one of those new ones I was talking about that we just got at the library. My husband and I are building a house this summer, and with all the expenses and our upcoming mortgage, I’m always looking for new ways to up our income. This book is inspiring because rather than lists of ideas or chapters of techniques, it is simply filled with stories of real people and their creative side hustles. For many of them, their side hustle turned into their full time job. Easy read since each side hustle story is only one to three pages with photos!

Camping America’s Guide to Free and Low-Cost Campgrounds by Don Wright. This is an older book, but a great find! It was requested by one of our library patrons, and I thought it would be a great one to check out, too. Definitely a resource book, campgrounds are organized by state, with a map of each state at the beginning of its section. We are planning to go camping at least once this summer, and maybe with the help of this book, try out even more free options.

*Another noteworthy thing to mention regarding this….most Colorado libraries have a state parks pass and backpack you can check out for FREE! Hence, free entry to any state park you want to visit.

Organizing From the Inside Out: The Foolproof System for Organizing Your Home, Your Office, and Your Life by Julie Morgenstern. De-cluttering and organizing has become quite a craze lately with Marie Kondo’s Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, along with her Netflix show. Organizing From the Inside Out offers a similar perspective, including helpful acronyms like SPACE: sort, purge, assign, containerize, equalize ( or maintain). My interest here comes from my recently acquired part-time job working for professional organizers. I’m learning it uses a whole skill set I have that I’ve never gotten paid to do, and I’m really enjoying it.

“Everybody is organized in some aspect of their lives. Recognize where you are organized and start there.” -Julie Morgenstern

Rough Magic: Riding the World’s Loneliest Horse Race by Lara Prior-Palmer. Ok I’m just on hold for this one, waiting for my turn. One of my librarian coworkers told me about it, and I am so excited to read it! The author’s memoir of a 1,000 kilometer horse race, each rider using more than 20 different horses, in Mongolia, entered on a whim and no training. And she became the first female winner in the history of the Mongol Derby. YES please!

The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. Classic, wise, and a necessary read for any wife. This one is particularly fun because my friend and I have decided to do a long distance book club reading it! We discuss each chapter via email, along with updates on our current life happenings. I highly recommend doing this with a friend or two, near or far. You can always join a book club happening in your area, or you can create one!

Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life by Randy Travis. I grew up listening to his music, and absolutely love his classic country voice, so it has been so sweet to listen to his writing voice now. A powerful sharing of high fame and deep lows, this is a memoir worth reading.

Ripple Effects: Discover the Miraculous Motivating Power of a Woman’s Influence by Pam Tebow. Yep, that’s the mamma of famous Tim Tebow. I recommend this one for young moms especially because you never know how God may use your daily repetitive service to your children to permeate the earth!

And here’s a few more on the stack that I haven’t started yet…

Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher
The Art of Happy Moving by Ali Wenzke
The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan
Fit Men Cook by Kevin Curry
The Ministry of Ordinary Places by Shannan Martin
Uncluttered by Courtney Ellis

Your turn! What are you reading currently? Got a book you’re loving that is worth mentioning to others? Please comment with the title and author below. I am always looking for good recommendations for myself, family, friends, and of course, our beloved library patrons. And even though these links are to Amazon, don’t forget you can always check them out from your local library.

Happy reading!