10 books that have impacted/influenced me! (plus a few extras!)

So my friend, Amanda tagged me in a post on facebook to name the 10 books that have profoundly moved/impacted/influenced me and since it has been awhile since I have done a book post of any kind, I thought it was fitting to answer the post on here!  As you hopefully already know, I am an avid book reader and lover, so after much thought, here is my ten books (in no particular order);

1. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
2. Radical by David Platt
3. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book series by Ann Brashares
4. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
5. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
6. Mountains Beyond Moutains by Tracy Kidder
7. The Bible God breathed, but multiple contributors ;)
8. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
9. The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
10. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

And because it was hard to encapsulate all my choices in just ten books, here are a few bonuses for you all:

11. Night by Elie Wiesel (I know Amanda already picked this one too, but it works for me as well)
12. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prohphet, Spy by Eric Mataxas
13. The Hunger Games book series by Suzanne Collins (I am not sure I would say this is life-changing but I think its a worthwhile read for sure :)

2013 Year End Reading Update

Reading Update - 2013 Year end summary!

Books I have read:
1. Because I said So by Ken Jennings
2. Mary Mary by James Patterson
3. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
4. When I Don't Desire God by John Piper
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
6. 40 Love by Madeline Wickham
7. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
8. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
9. She's got Issues by Nicole Unice
10. Private London by James Patterson
11. Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
12. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
13. The Guernsey Literacy & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
14. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
15. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
16. Private Berlin by James Patterson
17. 3rd Degree by James Patterson
18. Now you See her by James Patterson
19. Judge and Jury by James Patterson
20. The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian


As you can see, not quite as many as last year's 32 books, but still pretty good :)  I am taking two more James Patterson books with me to Nashville in a few days! 

December Reading Update

Since the Cruise update may be a few days coming and I have been MIA for a bit, I thought a nice book update may be in order.  As you can see I read 3 books and started a 4th book while on vacation!

Reading Update - December

Books I have read:
1. Because I said So by Ken Jennings
2. Mary Mary by James Patterson
3. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
4. When I Don't Desire God by John Piper
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
6. 40 Love by Madeline Wickham
7. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
8. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
9. She's got Issues by Nicole Unice
10. Private London by James Patterson
11. Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
12. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
13. The Guernsey Literacy & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
14. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
15. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
16. Private Berlin by James Patterson
17. 3rd Degree by James Patterson
18. Now you See her by James Patterson
19. Judge and Jury by James Patterson


Books that I plan to read:
20. The Light in the Ruins (started 2 days ago)
21. The Aftermath

Reading Update--October

Reading Update - October

Books I have read:
1. Because I said So by Ken Jennings
2. Mary Mary by James Patterson
3. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
4. When I Don't Desire God by John Piper
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
6. 40 Love by Madeline Wickham
7. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
8. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
9. She's got Issues by Nicole Unice
10. Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
11. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
12. The Guernsey Literacy & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
13. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
14. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
15. Private Berlin by James Patterson

Books that I plan to read:
16. Private London by James Patterson
17. The Light in the Ruins
18. The Aftermat


Also, you can now follow me on Good Reads to see what books I have read in the past and what I am planning to read next...my list is under my email (Laking05@gmail.com).  Happy Reading!

Weekend in review

I was trying to write this out and I literally could not remember what I did Friday night, eek! But I thought long and hard and figured it out! Friday night, CJ came over for dinner (Chicken Philly Cheesesteaks), a pinterest recipe I found here!  I did not take a picture, but it was definitely a quick and easy meal.  Not my favorite of all times, but something that is easy to whip up for company (feds about 5-6).  Then we just hung out with the Bons. 

Saturday, I slept in and then the Bons and I went out to run errands and do a little shopping.  We hopped into "Once Upon a Child" and we found these, which I thought would be perfect for the twins (get it--just like two peas in a pod), but Tiffany did not agree.

Twin halloween costumes!

Saturday ended up with pedicures and dinner and a movie at home (The Sessions with Helen Hunt).  

Sunday morning, I was up for church and then came home after to try a new cookie recipe, also a pinterest find (here).  They are called Peanut Butter Monster Cookies and are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  So I made the Monster cookies for my youth group girls to try it out and it was so good, I used the rest of the dough to make 3 dozen smaller cookies that I froze for Halloween!  Sunday I also actually spent some time reading (Private Berlin) too, which was just wonderful!  Then of course onto youth group.  

What did you do this weekend?  Have you tried any new pinterest recipes? What are you reading these days?

August Reading Update

Reading Update - August

Books I have read:
1. Because I said So by Ken Jennings
2. Mary Mary by James Patterson
3. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
4. When I Don't Desire God by John Piper
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
6. 40 Love by Madeline Wickham
7. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
8. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
9. She's got Issues by Nicole Unice
10. Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
11. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Books that I plan to read:
12. The Guernsey Literacy & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
13. Private Berlin by James Patterson
14. Private London by James Patterson

Nautical GIRL baby shower

It is such an uncommon theme in our world here lately, a GIRL baby!  But my dear friend Kristi is pregnant with a little Miss due in just about a month.  So I was excited about the chance to throw a baby shower for her AND for a little baby girl this past weekend.  My friend CJ and I got to work weeks in advance planning for this one and I think it came together nicely.  Allow me to show you in pictures :)

The invitation---certain info has been whited out since this is the internet after all!

Since this is her first baby, we asked people to bring a favorite book instead of a card to stock the library!

Basket - o - favors!

PINK!!!!

Nautical pennant!

Nothing says sea like sea shells!

Pink and Navy throughout!

Thank you Vineyard Vine for the cute pink whale!

Favor with tag!

We had BLUE anchors....AND....

Pink whales!

Kristi & Natalie!

Mother in Law, Kristi, and her mommy!

Kristi, little baby girl, and her "Aunties"

Love!

In case people did not bring their own book, we had extras (from goodwill)

Someone brought a diaper cake and I got excited!

Baby girl clothes!

The crowd!

Presents!

Of course I would find a baby to love up on.....

And my mom found one too!  

More gifts!

CJ: The gift note taker!

More presents, I think she will be stocked up for baby!

Drink table!

Reading Update for 2013

Reading Update - 2013 Year end summary!

Books I have read:
1. Because I said So by Ken Jennings
2. Mary Mary by James Patterson
3. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
4. When I Don't Desire God by John Piper
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
6. 40 Love by Madeline Wickham
7. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
8. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
9. She's got Issues by Nicole Unice
10. Private London by James Patterson
11. Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
12. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
13. The Guernsey Literacy & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
14. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
15. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
16. Private Berlin by James Patterson
17. 3rd Degree by James Patterson
18. Now you See her by James Patterson
19. Judge and Jury by James Patterson
20. The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian


As you can see, not quite as many as last year's 32 books, but still pretty good :)  I am taking two more James Patterson books with me to Nashville in a few days!