Each week I share books I’m reading for my Read 100 Challenge, as well as podcasts I’m listening to and links I love from around the blogosphere. I love to get recommendations, so please let me know what you are reading!
As I was writing the title for this post, I just couldn’t get over the fact that this is my thirty-fifth week of sharing my reads with you wonderful people. Wow! Thanks so much for following along and sharing your suggestions with me.
Books I’m Reading
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
This little book has spent weeks atop the best-seller list. In fact, I put my name on the hold list for it at my local library back in April. That’s how popular it is! And, for good reason. Kondo’s book challenges our assumptions about the amount of material possessions that we need to be happy. Kondo runs a private consulting practice where she helps clients declutter, or “tidy up” their homes. She challenges them to assess each and every item they own and ask themselves, “Does it spark joy?” If it does not, it is discarded. Then, and only then, are each of the remaining items given an assigned place in the house. Kondo claims that tidying up is a one time thing that need not be repeated, if done properly. Personally, I’m not sure how that last part will work with children (most of her clients are single people or married couples without children). However, I was inspired to begin the “tidying up” process in my own house. Perhaps after the New Year? Would anyone be up for joining me in a decluttering challenge?
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Fangirl is my latest audiobook, and I am really loving this audio version (which is free right now if you do a trial period of Audible). Fangirl tells the stories of twins Cather and Wren as they enter their first year of college. The story is engaging and brings back all of the feelings I had completely forgotten about from my freshman year of college. Be warned, there is some language and some adult scenes in the book.
First Kids by Noah McCullough
This fun book would make a great gift for 8-12 year-olds. Noah McCullough was only 13 when he wrote First Kids, fun facts about all of the children of our various presidents. If you have a little historian on your hands, be sure to check out First Kids.
Links I Love
Faith
We Wish You An Ascetic Christmas It can be a struggle to keep the Nativity Fast as the world is screaming for Christmas. In this podcast, Father Gregory Jensen offers some practical reasons for applying an ascetic understanding of Christmas to our lives.
Orthodox Meal Plan If you are needing some inspiration in your fasting meal planning, The Enduring Home offers a month’s worth of ideas.
Family
Best Books As Gifts for Everyone On Your List Teach Mama has a great guide for book-buying over the holidays.
Super Cute Holiday Gift Tags These free printable gift tags will add some definite sparkle to your gifts!
Frugal Living
How to Pay Off Student Loans Early Is your student debt weighing you down? MBA Stay at Home Mom has some good ideas for helping you pay off those loans.
10 Things You Shouldn’t Buy When You Are Struggling Financially My Stay At Home Adventures offers a (perhaps) controversial list. Some of these are ones that my husband and I have chosen to abstain from right now as well.
On The Orthodox Mama
Ways to Celebrate Saint Nicholas Day
10 Ways Your Children Can Serve Others
What are you reading this week? I’d love to hear your suggestions!
(This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)
I’m reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, too! I’d love to do a decluttering challenge together in January. I started my closet already (and ended up donating four bags of clothes) but I still have a lot more to do. I still have suits from my banking days, business casual from my auditing days, and now my SAHM wardrobe. It’s all in different sizes, too. It’s crazy how much stuff we accumulate! I hate throwing things away, but there comes a point where it’s just weighing me down (and my shelves, too). I’m especially looking forward to decluttering my kitchen and dining room.
I hear you on having a wardrobe from different times in our lives. I have some semi-formal dresses from when I needed to go to holiday parties. Plus, after three pregnancies, I have definitely accumulated a wardrobe of many sizes! I’ll keep thinking about and working on a decluttering challenge.