It may have been a rainy week outside, but it was a magical week inside. I read three books that went straight to my heart, immersed myself in a new learning experience and have started online holiday shopping. 

How could things be any better?!

Keep reading to get all the details!

What I'm Reading:

I have only one word to describe my reading life this week: magical. Not the kind of magical that could never, never happen, the kind of magical that COULD, if we just believed. This might be my favorite trio of books so far and you can expect to hear about them in more depth on my Get Lit(erate) podcast soon, too. 

Elvia and the Gift of Passion by Ruthy Ballard

This delightfully whimsical book that tackles deep topics in a way that meets the needs of children AND adults. I haven’t read anything like it before. In it, we meet Elivia and her overprotective parents. Convinced she’s not really their daughter, she sets off to find her true family on an African Safari her parents won. There, she sneaks off for the adventure she so longs for and ends up in Urth in another world completely, ready to complete a mission to quite possibly set her life on a new course. This is a book written for middle grade readers, but honestly, I think every adult needs to read this book to soak up the life and parenting lessons inside. It gave me the warm ginger cookie feeling. Read the book. You’ll know what I mean.

Don’t Keep Your Day Job by Cathy Heller

I think we’re all on a lifelong mission to find our own happiness. Sometimes we take a direct route and sometimes….we do not. Cathy helps you find your way. It may seem like it’s solely focused on quitting your day job, but it’s not. It’s about leaning into what your heart is telling you to do and then running with it. There are big picture aha moments to really decide what you love, what you want and why. Then there are smaller actionable steps that help you move forward in a way that feels fantastic. I have so many colorful flags throughout this book with lessons I needed to learn and I bet you do, too. The energy in this book is palpable. 

Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd

As soon as I finished this book, I called someone up and told them they HAD to read it. That is, after I dried my tears and tampered down my smile so I could speak. =) This book was magical in the best way possible because it shined a light on the magic that is inside all of us. It’s about Oliva, a 6th grader girl hoping to attend middle school after years of learning at home due to brittle bone disease. After learning about a magical hummingbird that can grant a single wish, Olive sets out to find it and finally live a normal life. Together with her step-brother and new friends, she begins a journey that will change the way she sees herself forever. I’m still crying happy tears and am indebted to Natalie Lloyd for sharing this story.

What I'm Writing:

The podcast, A Strong Sense of Place, posed an interesting question that I took to my notebook this week: 

If money was no object, and you would magically have all you need to live a great life, what kind of specialty bookshop would you open?

I mean, this is the BEST PROMPT EVER. I spent a few pages writing, sketching and listing that my own bookshop would be. Spoiler alert: it would include a gluten-free cupcake shop, daily author events and readings and offer discounts to teachers. =)

Right now. Head to your notebook. What bookshop would you open?

What I'm Learning:

I took a big leap and joined a coaching program with Cathy Heller to learn how to podcast. When I think about my most favorite part of my week, it’s the time I spend reading, writing notes about my reading and sharing those books with others. 

It’s my happy place.

I leaned into that happy place when I started my podcast and this coaching experience is literally lighting me up from the inside. I’m learning about podcast names, podcast trailers, how to get a podcast into the world and best share it with others. 

So stay tuned…I’ve got some exciting plans coming up!

What I'm Loving:

Need a simple movement to help create instant joy and stress relief? Try this from Ingrid Fetell Lee. 

Please open this if you need to smile. You’ll find small stone statues that represent the enlightened disciples of Buddha and they are delightful.

Do you want to make your own holiday gift bags? It actually seems possible with this tutorial from Yay Day Paper Co.

Little Coffee Fox shared their October calendar. I love the autumnal colors! 

Look at these frosting nozzles! I want these for my grandmother’s annual holiday cookie decorating night with all the grandkids so I can whip these out and up my frosting game. 

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?