BOOKS | Summer Reading

So before we kick off our beach sandals and tip toe into the Fall season, I just had to share with you the books I collected this summer.

You may want one (or two), for yourself...OR...you may want to add them to your ongoing "Gift Ideas" list. You have one of those too, don't you? You know, in the "notes" section on your phone? A list of names of the people you love and shop for throughout the year with links or descriptions to things you find randomly throughout the year? I know I'm not the only one who does this, am I? Well if you don't already do this...then I just gave you the best idea! *wink*

Anyway, I'm listing the books below with affiliate links to Amazon just in case:

Cut Flower Garden - I bought this one to inspire me to create a small cutting garden in my
                                  backyard. I follow Floret Farms on IG and really respect their story + growing
                                  process. I wasn't able to dive into this book yet, unfortunately, and a cutting
                                  garden was not in the cards for me this Summer but I will be using the Fall +
                                  Winter months to map out a plan for next spring.
                               

The Making of a Rag Doll - First, I do NOT sew. Regardless, I had high hopes of making a rag
                                  doll with Ella over the summer, using a glue gun or the iron-on fabric adhesive
                                  technique I've yet to try. lol But nope. Did not happen. But I love this book and
                                  the adorable dolls in it and I may just end up making this a secret project and
                                  making one for Ella for Christmas this year. *wink* (She has one that her sister, 
                                  Ema, made for her years ago. It's the funniest looking doll and yet the sweetest 
                                  doll I've ever seen since Em made it using scraps of fabric, yarn + buttons from
                                  around the house.  I should totally share it here on the blog. (see book on Insta)

The Wellness Project - This has been a fun + interesting book to read. I'm still not done with it but
                                  Phoebe takes us along on her year-long "wellness journey" she started in an
                                  attempt to heal her autoimmune disease. What I love about this book is she
                                  chose 12 different health-related topics to implement, try, research each month.
                                  So this book is not just about food - although there's a yummy smoothie recipe 
                                  she shares that I've been LOVING. She also touches on topics including "green
                                  makeup", posture, hormones, sleep and more. I shared it on Insta!

100 Days of Real Food - Really been loving this book. I've used it to cook many a meal over the
                                  summer. Ella's favorite recipe was the Mac + Peas. Very yummy. It's just a
                                  really great book of recipes for making the process of cooking REAL food easy
                                 + fun. The No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Bars are YUM and approved by us all.
                                 No one liked the Lime + Cilantro Coleslaw though. *wink*

The Magnolia Story - Need I say more? No, but seriously, I bought this book right before we moved
                                  and I haven't even cracked it open yet. Ha!! But I know it's good because so
                                  many people have said so. *wink* And it's Chip + Joanna. You've already read
                                  it, haven't you?

A Touch of Farmhouse Charm - I've only looked at the pictures. I got this before we
                                   moved too. I follow Liz, from Love Grows Wild on Instagram and love her
                                   charming style. And even though I'm moving away from the "farmhouse" style
                                   home decor, (I mentioned why on my Insta and will expand on it more
                                   here at some point), there are fun DIY projects in this book! It's the whole
                                   reason I bought it in the first place.  A lot of the projects can easily be adapted
                                   to fit a lot of different home decor styles. (like the simple greenery wreath,
                                   printed book page art, monogrammed doormat, etc.)

Hand lettering for Relaxation - Haven't even popped this one open yet, just so many other books
                                   things fighting for my attention. But it's a pretty book. And I love hand lettering
                                   and I love to relax so it seemed like a no-brainer to get this one. Ha!!

The 4-Hour Work Week - Have not even looked at this one yet. It's thick. So maybe I'm
                                   intimidated? But it came highly recommended by Emily Ley so....I bought it.
                                   And the title sounded very promising. Although truth be told, I'm not a fan of
                                   the cover.  It'll never make it onto the coffee table - which I don't even have yet.
                                 
The Turquoise Table - "Finding Community and Connection in your Own Front
                                     Yard." That pretty much sounded exactly like the book I needed having just
                                      moved into a new neighborhood who's tagline is "front porch living". Truth?
                                      Haven't opened it yet. *frown* I'm still excited to read it because it goes
                                      hand-in-hand with my search for simple + authentic living. It'll get read.

Chasing Slow - The only book I read from cover to cover this Summer. It's SO good you guys.
                          I will be reading this one again. Not even kidding. I already posted about it here
                          but it's worth saying again...this book gives such a fresh perspective to this crazy,
                          fast, chaotic world we live in...through a true story, from a real person. LOVE!!

Devotions from the Front Porch - Truth? I bought it because I loved the front cover. And it went
                                       right along with my desire to start my day off by reading something
                                       inspirational by the morning light on my front porch.

So there you go. If you've read any of these I'd love to know what you thought.
Better yet, do you have any must-have reads you'd like to share with me? Let me know!!

xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Notice in my opening paragraph I used the word "collected" and not "read" when referencing my summer books. *wink*
If anything, my list of books may point to a possible addiction?
And that I apparently have a real problem with actually starting and finishing them. Hmmm? I should look into that.                             
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