Books I Received for Christmas

Hello Friends,


I hope you are doing well. I have been getting back into the routine of regular daily life after the busy and wonderful holidays. I also have been trying to cut back on sugar and get back to eating somewhat healthily. I wanted to share with you the books I received for Christmas this year. Receiving books always makes me feel excited and full of hope for new beginnings and to take something special from each one. I usually ask for both fiction novels and also books I can journal in or that inspire me to live a great life in the New Year. This year I received both books I asked for and some others that I saw in the store or were gifted to me as a surprise.

1. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

I received the book Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty for Christmas and have really been enjoying it. I like the description of the house they are staying in and I love all the wonderful descriptions of both the outdoor and indoor setting. Moriarty does such a good job at making you feel like you can see exactly what is going on and it feels like a movie you can't wait to un-pause every time you pick the book back up again. I like the characters already and find them interesting and each with their own struggles and quirks.

2. A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult. 

This one has been on the best seller list for quite awhile now and it really piqued my interest. The subject matter is serious of a shooting and all that occurs in that situation. I am so curious about this
book and to see where Picoult takes this topic.

3. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory 

This book is about a man and a woman who first get stuck in the elevator together, and the man is
looking for a date to a wedding and asks the woman to be his date as his fake girlfriend. It sounds like it will be really funny and heartwarming as well.

4. A Year of Living Happily: Week-by-Week Activities to Unlock the Secrets of a Happier Way of Being by Lois Blyth

This book looks like it will be an amazing tool for me to keep living positively and seeking happiness in 2019 and future years. I saw this one while Christmas shopping with my mom and sister and my mom bought it for me because I got excited about it. Thanks Mom! The book starts with an introduction on happiness which I have read a bit of on Christmas Day. Then there are activities for each week. This week's activity is "looking for happiness" and the task is to start a happiness journal to record three things each day that brings you joy and pleasure. I started this last night and wrote a few things for each day this week that made me happy and it has been a great practice. It is much like a gratitude journal, which I have found so helpful in the past in focusing on the positive instead of the negative.

5. Superfood Smoothies by Julie Morris

This book is jam packed with so many amazing smoothie recipes. It includes 100 different recipes to try and I will make an effort to try most of them. I really enjoy making the banana peanut butter smoothie I have mentioned on the blog before but want to expand my horizons with trying new
smoothie recipes. I will be trying one of these recipes out next week! My Fiance bought this for me for Christmas so I should make him one too!

I am looking forward to this year for reading because I have received some amazing new books and I always have my eye on more amazing reads. I love perusing Goodreads which I helps me to discover the next book I want to read. I love looking at the Goodreads awards at the end of the year and deciding what to read based on nominations as well as the winners. The site got me interested in Nine Perfect Strangers and A Spark of Light.

I am still knitting away at the mittens and the second mitten is almost done. I am looking forward to sharing them with you when they are finished and gifted to my mom.

Thank you for visiting my blog today! Please let me know in the comments below what books you received as gifts, purchased for the New Year, are excited to read, or are reading right now.

Have a great day!