2014 New Years Resolutions

I don’t usually make New Years Resolutions, but this year I have really wanted to.  There are some things that I have noticed this year that I really want to change.  I want to become an even better version of myself.  That is the idea behind these goals.

1. Exercise at least 30 minutes every day.
2. Stick to a 2000 calorie diet, try to get healthier and lose some of the unhealthy weight I have put on.
3. Read my Bible every day.
4. Blog every day.
5. Do at least one load of laundry every day.
6. Keep up with the dishes.
7. Try a new recipe every month.
8. Make a list of 1,000 gifts.
9. Write a thank you card every week and keep track of who I am thankful for.

What are your New Years Resolutions?

Favorite Books of the Year

As I told you in my last post, I read 222 books this year.  I have been keeping track of my favorites all year so I could share with you the best books that I read this year.  Hopefully you will read one of these and get as much enjoyment out of them as I did.  Click on the photo to be directed to Amazon for more information about this book

My 10 Favorite Non-Fiction Books Read This Year (#1 being my very favorite)

  #10  Contagious by Jonah Berger
This book is about how to make your stories, your ideas, basically anything catch on and become contagious.  This was a very good marketing and business book, but I could see it’s application taken much further than that.  I enjoyed Berger’s straightforward way of explaining how to make ideas catch on and also his many illustrations were very interesting.

#9  Creature of the Word  by Matt Chandler, Eric Geiger, and Josh Patterson
I read about this book on one of the blogs that I follow and it interested me, and it is also very inexpensive on the Kindle.  This book is about how the church is a creature of the Bible.  It is a living, breathing thing.  This book talks about being a biblical focused, Christ-centered church.  I found it very interesting and applicable to life today.

#8  Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy  by Eric Metaxas
My mother had recommended this book to me and I got down to it on my reading list toward the end of the year.  I recognized the name Bonhoeffer, but I did not really know anything about him.  I really enjoyed reading this book about him, his beliefs, and his life.  This book was very well written and in spite of being very large, a rather quick read.  Reading this book has led me to read several of Bonhoeffer’s writings that I have also greatly enjoyed.

#7  Yes, Chef  by Marcus Samuelsson
I have really gotten excited about cooking since I got married.  One type of books that I have read a lot of this year has been food books.  Books written by chefs, books about food, or other general food writing and I have really enjoyed it.  I recognized Samuelsson because he is a frequent judge on Chopped.  It was very interesting to read his story.  He has led a very interesting life to get him to where he is today.  This book is very well written and engaging.

#6  The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
This is a memoir about a girl’s interesting upbringing.  It is a story that many of us would find as abuse, but this story is very much told through the eyes of a child who did not realize that what she was experiencing could be considered abuse.  The story was very well told and interesting.  I highly recommend this book because while the content of the story can be difficult, the tone of the story is very innocent and true.  This is a book that I really enjoyed.

#5  Me, Myself, and Bob by Phil Vischer
As a child I loved Veggie Tales, so when I saw an advertisement for this book in my Lifeway catalog, I knew I had to read it.  This story is about the creation of Veggies Tales and its subsequent rise and fall.  This was  a very good book.  I enjoyed reliving my childhood and picturing Bob and Larry bouncing around.  it was also very interesting to see the business side of what happened to Veggie Tales in the end.  A very well written and honest book.

#4  Dad is Fat  Jim Gaffigan
I got this book from the library for Adam to read, because Adam loves Jim Gaffigan.  Hearing Adam laugh the whole way through the book made me want to read it.  This book is hilarious.  Gaffigan tells many stories about being a father, and the book is very good as a whole.  We ended up buying the book for both of our fathers and my dad also really enjoyed the book.

#3 Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist
This book is all about community and connection around the table.  Niequist tells stories about how life is brought together around meals.  I really enjoyed this look at food and community.  It was a very enjoyable and uplifting read for me.

#2 The Monuments Men by Robert Edsel and Bret Witter
I do not usually read books like this, but I am so glad that I read this one.  I picked up this book because I saw that they were making the movie and it looked interesting.  This book is about a special group of soldiers in World War II saving artwork from destruction.  It is very interesting.  I am excited about the movie coming out in February.  I encourage you to read the book before the movie comes out.  It is just that good!

#1  Garlic and Sapphires  by Ruth Reichl
This is a food writing book that I absolutely loved!  It is about a New York restaurant critic.  She has to disguise herself when going to restaurants to get an honest look at the food and the environment.  What she learns and experiences is amazing and makes a truly great story.  Please read this book!

Honorable Mention:  The Disaster Artist by Greg Sistero and I’m More than the Preacher’s Wife by Lorna Dobson

My Top Ten Favorite Fiction Books Read This Year
I’m not going to go into what these books are about because I wouldn’t want to ruin anything, but just know that they all have amazing stories.  The characters made me want to cry, laugh, fall in love again, scream in anger, and so much more.  These books captivated me this year.  I hope they will for you too.

#10 Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

#9 Reconstructing Natalie by Laura Jensen Walker

#8 The Green Mile by Stephen King

#7 When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

 

 

 

 

#6 Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

# 5 Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

# 4 Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

 

 

 

 

#3 The Royal Ranger by John Flanagan

#2 City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

#1 The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mention:  Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire and Allegiant by Veronica Roth

I hope that one of these books has piqued your interest and that you will find a great book to read!

Please comment with your favorite books of the year!  I would love to hear what you loved reading this year.  And I will gladly add them to my reading list!

What Will the Year Hold?

Happy New Year!

Had a great party tonight with some awesome people and I have the day off today to enjoy the first day of 2014.

I think it is going to be a big year, I’m turning 24, there are going to be several weddings to attend and other big things happening this year.  Who knows what lies ahead.  All I know is that I’m excited about it.

I hope you have a happy new year and a great 2014!

Marigold Slouch (Knit Pattern)

This hat looks awesome. I have just recently taken up knitting and I am afraid that this might be a little ambitious for my first real project, but this hat is just so cute! And because it is such a fun looking hat, I wanted to share this tutorial with you too.

Devin Likes to Knit

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Hollywood Halloween

Lunch Break Teaser

Well, I’m on my lunch break, maybe you are too.

Here’s a look at posts to come:

Shopping this weekend was a success!  A post coming soon to show you some new work outfits!  Yay!!

Also, be looking for a crafty post coming soon, I’m excited to show you what I’ve been working on!

A new post coming this week about what is happening in November!  I hope you’ll join me.

Are you intrigued?

Paper Roses

Check out this awesome tutorial for paper roses that I found. These roses are so cute. I think I’m going to have to make some of these. If I were to, how do you think I should use them? Anyone else as inspired as I am at this tutorial? So pretty!

Charlotte Hoather

As promised here is a step by step guide on how to make the roses that I have used in my earlier picture, I have never done one of these guides before so here goes 🙂

Step 1:

I have used a template cutter to press out the spiral shape that I used to make the roses, but you can achieve the same effect by cutting out a circle and then cutting out the spiral shape from within the circle.

Step 2 :

Take the spiral shape that you have cut out from your piece of card or paper and remove any excess paper.

Step 3:

Now I use my Mum’s quilling tool which has a split end that you can thread the paper into in order to help you twist the paper into shape.  You can get the same effect by twisting the paper spiral around your finger but it is easier…

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When I Relax

When I relax, I am either laying on the couch or am snuggled into the middle of the couch where the cushions sag into a snuggly hole.  I am wrapped in our warm, soft red blanket.  There is a big red bowl of freshly popped and perfectly salted popcorn.  And I am either reading a great book, playing cards with Adam, or watching a movie.  For me that is the epitome of relaxation.  What can I say? I’m pretty low maintenance.