What a week! It started off with bang, but fizzled as I spent time lounging in bed, a bit under the weather. But that just meant more time to rest, read and binge-watch Netflix. Read on for the details!

What I’m Reading:

I’m getting into a pretty fabulous reading rhythm in 2021 and have been reading a balanced mix of children’s literature, adult fiction and non-fiction. This week, I finished Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. And oh, my. This book did something no other book has done before: It walked me through the emotions of my entire life history alongside the two main characters, Kate and Tully. From the turbulent middle school years yearning for a best friend to the uncertainty of choosing just one path, from the early days of starting a family to the teenage years of my own children and all that fell in-between, I felt it all. Hannah takes the reader on a ride of emotions as she volleys between the two characters, making us privy to their innermost thoughts and fears, emotions that we relate to, connect to and maybe even learn from. I’ve already received the next book in the series, Fly Away, from my local library and cannot wait to begin!

I also snuck in a bit of re-reading this week and spent time with Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Again. =)

What I’m Writing:

Last month, I completed a 30-Day Yoga Journey and learned that daily challenges (with the day’s challenge emailed to me each morning) kept me focused. So, I signed up for Gretchen Rubin’s 30-Day Relationship Challenge. Each morning, I receive a short audio text with the task for the day, simple things designed to have a big impact. So far, I’ve practiced gratefulness, given a metaphorical gold star, created a positive argument and have completed a chore for a loved one. These tips are practical and simple, but I can see how they’d add up. I’m keeping track of them in a new page of my journal so I can repeat the challenge later on and see which items made the most impact.

What I’m Learning:

A good friend of mine makes beautiful jewelry inspired by nature and she has the best studio ever. It’s filled to the brim with natural materials, gemstones, supplies, and almost every jewelry-making tool you could think of. And this week, she’s teaching me how to make hand-stamped jewelry! I can’t say much more than that because it’s a surprise to celebrate the launch of my new book, but boy I had some fun! And I got thinking….if I can stamp jewelry, what else can I stamp? It turns out, almost anything! I explored stamping wooden chips and bullet journals and even gave it a try in my own notebook! These are now on my wish list. 

What I’m Loving:

I was under weather for a portion of this week, which meant lots of downtime, something I am NOT accustomed to. So, I binge-watched Firefly Lane since I just finished reading the book. Honestly, I loved the series, but was shocked at how much it differed from the book. So, I’m waiting until I’ve finished the book series before pushing play again. 

What’s your favorite show to binge on Netflix?

There you have it! I hope this inspires you to make space for more reading and writing in your own life. What are the highlights from your literate life this week?