Instead of buying Christmas gifts for each other Bob and I decided to give ourselves a small allowance and buy our own Christmas gifts this year. We weren't planning on being able to get each other any gifts at all as we had a pretty strict Christmas budget this year and we spent it all on loved ones. With Bob now being in charge of all things money he is not one to bend his budget allowances if he hits his limit (very much unlike me) so I knew to expect there to be nothing left over for each other. But, alas, his boss awarded him a small bonus and we were able to spend a small amount of money on ourselves this Christmas.
It's funny because I keep a running list in my head of all of the things I would like to buy myself when I have a spare dime or two to do so, but I never seem to get around to actually spending that money on these gifts when that spare change shows up. I usually find some other place for that money to go, so when Bob told me that I had a small allowance that had to be spent within 24 hours or I would lose it I found that that list disappeared from my brain and I could think of nothing with which to gift myself.
After some thought it hit me: I would love to buy books for myself. A lot of them. I went to Amazon where I have a wish list of books and then I sent a text to a like-minded gal I know here in Las Cruces and asked her for her top picks in books. I then used both of those sources to purchase these 14 books for myself. I bought them all used and was able to get them all for an extremely reasonable price.
Every day a book or two arrives and I am like a giddy school girl. All of these books, some that I have wanted for a very long time, are mine! To write in. To highlight. In fact some of these books I have already read, but loved the books so much I just had to buy them to read again.
Here is that list:
Home Economics: Vintage Advice & Practical Science for the 21st Century Household by Jennifer Mcknight Trontz
I love all things homemaking (despite the fact that yesterday a couple of the girls' friends dropped by with their dad and my house looked like a mini war zone. It looked like I had never even heard of homemaking.This week and next week we are not using my family management book and you can tell. My house is now cleaned up again, but you can still tell the difference in our house when we are following the book and when we are not following the book.). Any information I can gleam from a homemaking book especially if it is vintage advice I eat it up. Those ladies from back in the day had it right, and I love the old school way of doing much of my housework.
What to Eat by Marion Nestle
I actually picked this book up in the Barnes & Noble here in town and fell in love with information inside, but did not have the funds at the time to purchase it. I kept this book in the back of my mind as one that I would LOVE to someday own, and now I do. I am really excited to read this book.
Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint by Nadia Bolz-Weber
This is one of the books recommended by my pal here in Cruces. I don't know much about it, but the cover looks interesting and I cannot wait to read this book either.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
I have had my eye on this book for a while, but just never found the money to purchase it. This book also came highly recommended by my like minded gal pal here, and I decided to take the plunge and just buy it since I had the funds.
Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus by Kyle Idleman
I LOVE this book. I have read it before and thought it was brilliant. This author just cuts away at all the crap that sometimes comes with being a Christian. He says it like it is and demands that either you are all in or are all out. There is no middle ground. I like his no nonsense approach to Christian living and find a truth in his words that touches me.
Never Alone: A Personal Way to God by
Joseph F. Girzone
My mom first introduced me to this author. She bought me a book on the parables of Jesus and I fell in love with it. Joseph Girzone just has such a simple, but yet profound way of explaining the life of Jesus and what it means to be follower of his in today's world. It is this simplistic approach that speaks to me. His books aren't bogged down with the rules that we Christians sometimes impose upon not only ourselves, but others as well. I feel that his stripped down version of who Jesus was and how I can be more like him are beautifully written and explained. Even before I was a Christian this man made me want to become one - his books are that good.
Whole Child/Whole Parent by Polly Berrien Berends
This book was recommend in another parenting book I was reading. I don't know much about it, but thought that I would give it a try since I found it for dirt cheap.
Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe
I have been looking for this book for a long time and either could not find it at the book store or could not locate a copy at a reasonable price online. I finally found a very reasonably priced copy, so I snatched it up. So many of the food authors that I love have referenced this book in their own writings that I knew I had to snatch it up whenever I could. I have a feeling that I am going to love this book and that it is going to be life changing.
Joshua: A Parable for Today by Joseph F. Girzone
Again, I love this author. I would love to own his whole collection of books.
Life without Limits: Inspiriation for a Ridiculously Good Life by Nick Vujicic
I am a sucker for any books that talk about individuals thriving despite clear disadvantages because they always make me think of Sarah. Any knowledge that I can pick up to be a better mom or inspiration to Sarah to help her live her best life is something that I am always looking for. This book was recommended to me. I am curious to see what I can take away from this book.
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
I read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis about 6 months ago. I wasn't blown away by the book, to be honest with you, but I did like it enough to purchase this book. I have been dancing around purchasing this book for years actually because I have heard about it many times. I finally took the plunge and bought a copy of the book. I am curious to see how I feel about it.
Organic, Inc. : Natural Foods & How They Grew by Samuel Fromartz
This book is another book that I have read previously, but I LOVED it. It actually takes a swipe at my beloved Trader Joe's and that hurt a bit, but I am glad that it does because it reminds me to trust.no.one. when it comes to the food I am putting in my children's bodies. I would recommend this book to anyone who buys organic. It gives you a new critical perspective on the organic movement and what that really means.
Making Supper Safe: One Man's Quest to Learn the Truth about Food Safety by Ben Hewitt
Ben Hewitt is actually a blogger that I follow. I love the way he lives life in New England and I love the values that he (and his wife) stand for. He is a very good writer. One of the best I know, actually. I read another one of his books called Saved, and I really liked it. He has a couple of other books out there that I would like to one day own when they come down in price, but for now this book is going to be just fine. He talks about living a stripped down life and what it means to be self sufficient.
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You THink Your're Supposed to Be & Embrace Who You Are
By Brene Brown
Again, this book was recommended to me. I don't know anything about it or the author, but I know that I trust the person who recommended it to me and I am curious to see what I think of it.
So, these are the books that will be keeping me busy during my spare time for next couple of months. I am so excited to receive them all. I tend to have a theme in reading: parenting, wholeness, education, food, and faith. I would venture to say that almost all of the books that I spend my time reading fall into one of these categories. I am so thankful that I love to read. I am thankful that books inspire me to want to become the best person I can be.
What books inspire you? I would love suggestions if you have any books that you have found to be life changing for you. I am always looking for more and new books to read.
Merry Christmas!
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