20 Books on My To-Read List in 2018

Last week, I wrote about my top reads of 2017. This week, I want to share the books I’m most looking forward to reading in 2018. My to-read list has 90-plus books on it, but I’m only sharing my Top 20. My reading goal for 2018 is to finish 50 books. I have one down and 49 more to go.  The book I’ve already finished is The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor. It’s a novel that takes place in World War II Austria and in 1989 Southern California. The story goes back and forth between Katie and her family in Read More

14 Favorite Reads From 2017

One of my favorite things about the end of the year (besides Christmas) is all the year in review stories that you can find just about everywhere. You know the ones. The biggest news stories, the top songs, the best viral videos, and so on. If you haven’t seen any yet, you will. I’m adding one more to the list. This is a list of my favorite reads from 2017.     I set a goal to read 50 books in 2017. I’m finishing the year having read 77. Some people may think I have a problem. But I love Read More

Favorite Things: Christmas Wish List Edition

I may not be Oprah, but I do have a Favorite Things Christmas Gift List that I’d like to share with you. I used to love watching her Favorite Things show. People were so excited to get a pair of Oprah’s favorite cashmere pajamas and a fancy coffee maker.  Well, cashmere makes me itch and I don’t drink coffee, so you won’t find either of those things on my list. And, sorry, I won’t be giving anyone a car. But I will share some of my favorite things with you. Perhaps my hubby will read this post and I won’t Read More

15 Books to Teach Kids About Gratitude

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I can really get behind a day of feasting, relaxing and visiting with family and friends, and remembering all the things we have to be thankful for.  Gratitude is such an important factor in our lives.  Practicing gratitude can relieve stress, lower blood pressure, create contentment, improve our relationships, and even further our career. And here we are, right in the middle of National Gratitude Month. Could there be a more appropriate time to teach our children about gratitude? Unfortunately, it often seems that Thanksgiving is overshadowed by the big commercial push of Read More