What I'm Reading

Hey, friends! I grew up reading voraciously, spending my summers either outside playing in the dirt with my younger brothers or curled up on the sofa (in the hammock, in my bed, you get the picture...) reading. As I've gotten older and busier, I've slowed down and don't generally tear through a book in a day or two anymore.

What I read in 2015:

1. The Defining Decade by Meg Jay. Holy wow this is a must-read for all 20-somethings. So much good stuff about the importance of the decisions we're making right now.

2. The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. To be honest, I didn't finish this book, which is rare for me. While I enjoyed the basic premise of praying circles around our dreams, I just didn't find it compelling enough to finish.

3. Time magazine. Okay, I know this isn't a book, but I get Time in the mail every week and spend some time reading it. The latest issue had an article about the new Barbie body types, which I'm super excited about!

4. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. I loved this book. After reading it I discovered there was some controversy about the authenticity of the book, but I decided not to let it bother me. This is a great read about an adventurer who helped bring peace in the Middle East by building schools - that's definitely a mission I can get behind.

5. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. It only took me a few days to read this one, as it really sucked me in. Since Andy and I love being outside and going on adventures, I could connect with this one.

6. I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley. Eh, I was slightly disappointed by this one. I picked it up solely because the title spoke to me, but I remember very little of the book. It was a collection of essays and I recall finding some amusing, but I wouldn't suggest that you put it at the top of your To Read list.

7. #GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso. This was a good one for me as a young entrepreneur. Starting a business is hard, so hearing one woman's personal experience of success was encouraging.

8. Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson. Such a good book for anyone who is married or may be someday. To be honest, I'm still working on this one. My husband, Andy, is a marriage and family counselor, and he suggested I read this book after he started using it with clients. It's all about the importance of emotional safety and how that takes work in relationships.

On the list for 2016:

1. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. I started this one a few days ago and I'm sure it's going to be a favorite for the year. Being vulnerable and living out of a sense of worth, rather than out of shame, transforms the way we live, love, parent, and lead. I would highly recommend this one to just about anybody.

2. Yes Please by Amy Poehler.

3. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert.

4. Bossy Pants by Tina Fey.

5. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... And Others Don't by Jim Collins.

6. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

Have you read any of these? Any books I just have to read?