Popcorn Book Club: 2020 Book Reviews

Welp, 2020 hit all of us like an unexpected ton of bricks. Between trying to stay safe and healthy with the COVID-19 pandemic, transitioning to school at home/homeschool, running a health + fitness business from home, focusing on important movements like Black Lives Matter, trying to keep my family happy and myself mentally sane…it.was.a.YEAR. For the most part, all is okay. We are safe, healthy, thriving…we have jobs. We have truly tried to be grateful and appreciate what we DO have this year, and it’s forced us to look inward at what is most important and WHO is most important. We have done our best to control what we can control and live for those silver linings.

My blog was obviously not a huge priority in the last year. It kinda fell off the wayside when everything hit the fan. In the mode of survival, it just didn’t seem essential, and something had to give.

But a year later, we are still here in this pandemic, still doing school at home, still running a business from home, and trying to do all the things, but I’ve been truly missing this space. I started this blog over 8 years ago as a creative outlet, and this year I want to get back to that. I want to keep this space as a place to fuel that creative spark and passion and to feel excited again. When everything else in life seems overwhelming, I want to have that comfy space to come back to. For you to come back to.

It might look a little different around here. While my love of fashion started this blog, these days I’m living in sweats and I’m not going out to the stores to try things on. But I hope to continue to use this space as a place to relate, create, inspire, and provide value to you as a reader on a variety of topics from mom life, food, creative projects, fitness, health, fashion, books, travel (when we can), entrepreneurial life, and more.

While, I didn’t have much time to blog last year, I DID have time to read. Having the kids home day in and day out, we spent a lot of time reading, and it was also a bit of an escape for me when the world got too crazy and overwhelming. Anyone else feel that way? Like, this world is too crazy right now. Lemme just dive into a different world for a bit! I guess it’s better than diving into the wine bottle, though I did my fair share of that in 2020 also. What can I say? I’m human.

People always ask how I have time to read? But it’s really just like anything else that I would make time for. I make time to work out, to eat healthy, watch a favorite show, work my business…and just the same I PRIORITIZE time to read. Whether it’s just 10-15 minutes a busy day…or I don’t move off of the couch for 2 hours on a weekend evening (I know, I’m super wild and fun these days haha), I make sure I fit it in, because it brings me joy. For those hoping to read more this year, I suggest starting with a small daily goal and make it a habit…pretty soon it will be routine.

OKAY….without further ado…I know I have a problem with talking (and in this case, writing) way too much…in 2019, I didn’t quite make my goal of 26 books, but THIS past year, I slayed my goal out of the park at 36. Much of that likely had to do with the fact that homeschool life came into the picture this last year, so I read a lot of children’s literature with my kids along with my own novels. I share all of my books as I read them on my Instagram page saved in my highlight reel and also using the hashtag #popcornbookclub if you care to keep up throughout the year…but here is my yearly recap from 2020!

Fiction

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

I really loved this book! It was recommended (and loaned) to me by my grandmother who is a very avid reader, and I’m so grateful! While I have it in the fiction section because things have been changed, this book was based on a true story and a scandalous history of which I’d been unaware. It was an incredibly heart-wrenching book at times, especially reading as a mom. The fact that some terrible things happened to children and families under the guise of something good is horrifying and sad. I liked how the author wrote the story as a back and forth present and past narrative with different narrators leaving you wanting to learn more about what happened to the characters in the story and uncover the mystery of what would become of their future. I highly recommend this book!

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult never ever disappoints and this one lived up to the expectation for me. I love how she can take such difficult/heavy topics and offer each varying lens and perspective, always giving you a view to see the other side of what you may believe. That said, it was a little difficult for me to follow with the backward timeline format chosen. There were a lot of characters, and I found myself getting lost over who was who and the order of events, especially during the first half of the book. It did all come together though in the end along with a few twists!

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

This book was amazing! This work of historical fiction explores race through two unforgettable characters, twins Stella and Desiree Vignes. It is a story about family bonds, sisterhood, motherhood, about trying to fit in, racism, identity, and love. The novel does a great job of depicting lots of separate worlds and then colliding them into one seamlessly. I definitely recommend. I believe this book will be adapted for the screen, and you can bet I’ll be watching.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Wow. Wow. Wow. This one came out of nowhere. A friend of mine recommended this book to me ages ago (thanks, Kathy!), and it’s been on my list, but I hadn’t picked it up until this year. I am SO glad I did. This is the kind of book that every woman should read. It was extremely powerful. It was about love and strength and making difficult decisions. How making the right decision isn’t always as easy as it might seem from the outside. It’s not at all what I expected it to be, but that was kind of the best part about it. I highly recommend this book, and now I’m wanting to track down every Colleen Hoover novel I can find.

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

I really enjoyed this book! It was juicy, sexy, romantic, political, royal, happy, sad, all of the above. It covers topics of race, bisexuality, US politics, immigration, family, and more. Ultimately, the book celebrates being unafraid to be your authentic self and love triumphing over anything else.

Now Is Everything by Amy Giles

This YA novel was written by the wife of a friend I used to work with in the animation world! I had been wanting to read it for awhile, and I’m SO glad I read it this year! This was a very moving story involving many serious topics such as child abuse, physical/emotional abuse, self harm, death, family, teenage romance, sex, secrets, and more. This book was emotional and sad at times, but also showed love and strength through powerful characters. It reminded me of the Colleen Hoover novel I read but with younger characters and for a younger audience. I definitely recommend this one.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

I have pretty much enjoyed everything I’ve read from Ms. Ware, and this was no different! It started out a bit slow, but by the middle, I was racing to the end to see what was going to happen! It was dark, creepy, and eerie and kept me entertained with lots of little twists and reveals in the 2nd half of the book. I enjoyed the main character and her tarot cards! In a Dark, Dark Wood still remains my fav I’ve read from this author, but this one was worth a read!

Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

Shari Lapena knows how to write a thriller! This book was entertaining, suspenseful, mysterious and keeps you guessing. Lapena always has you wondering about your neighbors after you read her books! This one involved a teenage break-in. I enjoyed this one, and if you like her style, you will like this one too, though An Unwanted Guest is still probably my favorite from her!

Watching You by Lisa Jewell

This was an easy read that totally sucked you in. I loved the way all the characters and plot twisted into each other. It kept me on my toes the whole time and made me want to keep reading. This was my first book by this author, and it was not my last! I also read, Then She Was Gone by the same author over the summer and it was also an excellent read. I would pick up anything by this author after reading these two!

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

If you enjoy this author, you will enjoy this book as well! I also read The Husband’s Secret this year from this author and enjoyed both of these books as well as the majority of others I’ve read from her. She always creates a story that is captivating and develops interesting characters.

Never Tell by Lisa Gardner

This was a new thriller author for me, and I very much enjoyed her style! I love a good murder mystery, and this book kept me engaged and excited to keep reading. The story was action-packed, the characters were dynamic, and I would absolutely read more from this author!

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

This was my first Sager novel, and I really enjoyed it! It was creepy, spooky, ghostly, mysterious, thrilling, and dark. I enjoyed the main character, and I had a lot of fun unpacking the secrets along the way to discover the truth of this haunting tale!

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

I read this book in 3 days. I don’t want to give anything away, so I won’t go into too much detail, but do you ever have one of those books where you were disappointed by the end or certain reveals, but you enjoyed the experience of reading the book so much?? I had problems with many of the plot twists and didn’t love the end, but I truly couldn’t put the book down and the writing style was totally gripping and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. For me, it was worth the experience of reading, but be prepared to finish it feeling disappointed with how it turned out!

The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

This is one of my favorite authors for a beach read or a snow day. Easy to read and always fun. Lots of interesting characters with interwoven stories, secrets, and drama. This one was a bit of a mystery as well, and I couldn’t wait to find out what had happened to two of the main characters. Groundbreaking literature? Not so much. But a quick, fun read? Absolutely.

A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith

This one is out of my “typical” novels I gravitate toward, but you know I’m always open to reading and learning new things! We did a Native People homeschool unit study (and I will share the book we read for that later), and this book was recommended as an adult selection to go along with the children’s study. It was a longer read, but I really enjoyed it! I would call this historical fiction as it takes place in the Florida swamp in the 1800s. It starts with wild cattle roaming, and as the years roll on, the land transforms and the people transform over time. It’s both happy and sad to watch both the land and society change. It discusses themes of strength, family, friendship, the environment, nature, race (white, black, and Native relationships), survival, hard work, and more. I enjoyed the raw, authenticity of the characters during this time period as well. It was not a fast paced book by any means, but it was educational and enlightening for me, and I’m glad I took the time to read it.

These were all on my list to read for personal development and I got to 3/5 last year (the 3 on top). The other two will happen in 2021, but wanted to share them all here.

Nonfiction/Personal Development/Memoir

Educated by Tara Westover

Wowwww. This memoir was one of my favorites that I read this past year. Do yourself a favor and find a copy of this book! I snagged it from the library right before quarantine started having no idea what exactly I was getting into. This book gives you ALL the feels. At times it’s shocking and gut wrenching, but you are always curious and you are truly rooting for the author the entire time. Such a brace memoir of a young girl trapped in an “alternate” society/family growing up and discovering how she fits within all of it. An incredible read.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

I really liked this book! I originally bought this book for me, but I found it even more useful as a parent who wants to raise children with grit as the author’s passion and research into grit and children really shines through! I definitely recommend this book to any parent or anyone looking to follow a passion in their lives!

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

I read this book at peak quarantine, and it was definitely what I needed. Stressing out during the chaos was doing nothing to serve me, or anyone else quite frankly. I only had a certain amount of f*cks to give on any given day, and they had to be used wisely! This book isn’t really about giving zeros f*cks, but more about saving them for what truly matter. About dropping all the crap that doesn’t light you up and focusing in on what means the most. The world slowing down while the craziness swept through last year made us all take another look at our values and priorities. This book didn’t really offer anything GROUNDBREAKING for me, but there were a TON of great REMINDERS right when I needed to hear them the most. I was definitely glad I picked it up.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy

I thought this book had a lot of great ideas and I loved the overall theme that your mind and thoughts basically control everything in your life. I enjoyed and I’m glad I picked it up. However, it felt a little repetitive at times and it was a slow read for me. I always got something out of it when I read it, but I wasn’t always super excited to pick it up, so it was sort of a sign that I liked it okay, but didn’t love it.

Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success by Steve Harvey

Early on in my coaching career, a fellow coach shared such an inspiring video by Steve Harvey that changed the trajectory of her life, so when I saw this book sitting in the Little Free Library in my neighborhood, I had to grab it. Because he’s such a funny guy, I wasn’t sure how serious I could take it, but if you read Steve’s story, he really put in SO much hard work and effort and belief and GRIT to get to where he is today. His book didn’t really offer anything new for me, but I found it very inspiring and I love that he offered some action steps to reach your goals.

The Secret Joy of Hygge: A Practical Guide to Cultivating Happiness in the Everyday by Alexandra Amarotico

I was so excited to read this book by friend and fellow blogger Alex! We met back in 2012 in my early blogging days, and we even met and did a shoot together in my neighborhood. How cute is she? Anyway, now she is a published AUTHOR, how cool is that? She spent a of time in Denmark as an exchange student and the idea of hygge they practice there sparked her to write this book! With the crazy pandemic this last year, this book really resonated with me. Of course, we couldn’t take action on all of her suggestions (like inviting and hosting people over for a meal), BUT it helped to appreciated the little things and find joy in the simplicity of say, lighting a candle or reading a book with a hot cup of tea. It also helped to find the joy in the mundane day to day as well, create better connections with my family, and find or create joy in the space we inhabit. I think she has some wonderful ideas and it helped to reframe my mindset during a difficult year!

Love Warrior and Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Oh yes yes and more yes. If you haven’t read any Glennon yet, you are missing out!!!!!! I would start with Love Warrior first as you may not appreciate it as much if you skip ahead to Untamed as her journey will continue to grow and change, and I liked reading in order of her growth. I absolutely LOVE how Glennon shares stories. She is so raw and speaks her truth so very bravely. She goes through some PAIN and UGLY stuff, and at times it’s tough to read, but she does not turn away from any of it. In Love Warrior she is still in throes of her journey and figuring things out, and by Untamed you really feel like she has found herself and where she is supposed to be. (I never read Carry On, Warrior btw but I don’t feel like I missed out by not reading it, though who knows.) Her story is so very powerful and inspiring. It makes you reflect on your own life and inspires home and courage to be brave as your own authentic self. Highly recommend both of these memoirs.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

In my journey toward keeping up the fight toward achieving an antiracist society, I picked up this book, and it’s definitely one of the best I’ve read this entire year. We obviously have a giant problem in our country that isn’t going to have a resolution right away. It’s going to take systemic change to undo an entire evolution of racism throughout history. We may not have all the answers, and many of us (myself included) have been way too quiet in the past, but the very least we can do going forward is to educate ourselves and continue to do better than we have before. I loved this book because Reynolds breaks down Kendi’s original history book and expresses his remixed “not history book” almost as if he is a young college professor speaking right to you in engaging, conversational language. He takes complex ideas and make them simple to understand. He shares missing pieces to the America story that never showed up in history class at school, while simultaneous inspiring hope for a brighter future. He keeps you engaged the entire time, I learned a ton, and I couldn’t put it down. It’s perfect for young adults as well as older adults and it was a terrific read. Also, fun fact for my Maryland friends, like me, Reynolds also grew up in PG County.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

It took awhile to formulate some words after reading this one. It wasn’t really meant for my eyes to read. It was a letter to the author’s teenage son. It was as if I was peeking into an alternate world that was literally in my backyard – PG County, DC, Baltimore, MD, NYC – all places I have spent a majority of my life – yet an entirely different view. It was so beautifully written and heartfelt and gut wrenching and uncomfortable and wonderful at the same time. I won’t lie, after reading, I dug in deeper through the interwebs to dissect the passages, because I felt like I might not be intelligent enough to grasp all the meaning, and I wanted to make sure not to miss a thing. This is not the type of book that is straightforward to the point with historical facts and hope for the future. In fact, I’m not sure the author left it on a hopeful note. But what he did do was bare his soul and his experiences authentically and bravely with his son. Anyone who picks this up will not be able to deny the power of this book.

Plan Your Year: Homeschool Planning for Purpose and Peace by Pam Barnhill

Last year, I did something I NEVER ever anticipated or expected I would do in my life. I sent in a withdrawal letter to withdraw my kids from public school with a Letter of Intent to Homeschool my children. WHAT? 2020 you have really outdone yourself!!! A few weeks later, I ended up re-enrolling my oldest back in a new public school which he would attend remotely, but I had already dove in deep into homeschool life with this book and the research that came along with it, and I am forever changed. We have very much adapted a homeschool lifestyle this past year, minus the fact that we wish could have some more social opportunities, and this book played a HUUUUUGE role in my ability, knowledge, resources, and confidence to get me there. This books breaks down what homeschooling truly is, the different options available, how homeschooling can be very individualized and how to plan a year that works for your WHOLE family. She also includes a lot of her own helpful printables you can copy to actually execute your plan going forward. After reading this, I had such great grasp on the steps I needed to take to move forward with our homeschool plan and what life had thrown at us. And I actually felt EXCITED about it! This book (along with some very encouraging friends) allowed me to sideline my fear about this new experience and take on the challenge with enthusiasm.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life by Julie Bogart

I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I would recommend this to any parent regardless of whether or not you’re homeschooling, because our children are ALWAYS learning with us in every aspect of life! This book helped me to realize that our children are constantly learning and that WE can actually learn from them too. It gave me the power to let go of some things and embrace this crazy chaotic year and find the joy in it. It boosted my confidence as a homeschool mom and allowed me to understand how to cultivate curious and creative learners and thinkers. How we don’t always have to follow the “plan” and sometimes the best lessons are the ones that weren’t planned. I loved Julie’s stories and the way she writes. She also has some incredible ideas and strong novel-based curriculum that we have incorporated into our daily lives and routine that have truly been magical and essential to our homeschool experience. I am ever so grateful for this book!

I included two adult books in the photo above that I discussed previously, because while they were personal development for me, they were essential to our homeschool journey and ultimately the children’s literature chosen for our read alouds.

Children’s Literature

(These are all books I did as read alouds with my children that I wanted to include for the parents I have reading this post, and also because most of them are excellent reads even as adults!)

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry

We absolutely LOVED this book! This was the first novel we read as we were dipping our toes into homeschooling this summer. The story is told through the eyes of a wolf named Swift, who was an extremely brave and likable character. This novel is based on a true story of a real wolf in Oregon who was separated from his pack and tells of his journey to survive. The writing was beautiful and descriptive with amazing depictions of nature. The illustrations by Monica Armino were also stunning. The story was adventurous, full of courage and bravery. We also learned a ton of about wolves and the Pacific Northwest area. Both my 7 and 5 year old loved it as did I. It might be our favorite so far.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

While I had watched the movie as a child a million times, I don’t think I ever read this book as a child! We read this novel together and did our first Brave Writer Dart study along with it, and it went so well! My kids fell in love with the characters, and we had so much fun with it…creating artwork together, discussing the story, taking little quizzes, learning about the anatomy of spiders, and we even had our first ever “Book Party” to celebrate when we finished. You wouldn’t even know that I have arachnophobia HAHA! After the book, we also watched the newer version of the movie which everyone enjoyed! Definitely recommend this classic!

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

This was another read we absolutely loved! Roz was such an amazing character and I love how this novel infused nature with technology. It’s an action-packed story of survival, friendship, parenthood, and adventure. We also loved and tried to recreate the beautiful artwork in this one. When we finished this one, we had a wild nature robot electronic dance party which the boys were obsessed with, and they cannot WAIT to read the sequel together.

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

We read this book along with our Biomes and Ecosystems Unit Study (created by Jodi Mockabee that we LOVED and I HIGHLY recommend). While we loved the unit study, I will say that we LIKED this book. We enjoyed the story, the characters, and learning about wild ponies, but I think the chapters just read a little slower for us and it was harder to keep their engaged attention. They may have been on the young side for this one, but it just wasn’t quite as adventurous as the last few we read to keep them excited to open the book each day.

Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson

These characters were super adorable!! We loved this little magical world! This was a fun, interesting book about a magic hat that transforms things when they are put inside. The illustrations were delightful and we had fun drawing the characters on their clouds. It did read a little slow for us, maybe because it’s been translated from Swedish to English, and I found myself trying to push through some of the chapters. But we did have a magical little party afterwards complete with pancakes, so all in all, it was a win!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (#2) by J.K. Rowling

I read the entire Harry Potter series on my own some years back, but it’s been even more fun reading it to my oldest! (My middle guy isn’t super hooked yet, but every now and then he will listen in too) We had a lot of fun reading this one over the summer outside in my parent’s hammock. From flying cars, transformations, and giant spider attacks, and finale twist, we loved all of Harry’s wild adventures in this book, and we’re currently reading the third!

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

I actually read this one on my own as I think my boys were too young for it right now, but I am absolutely saving it for when they get a little older (middle school perhaps) as it’s an excellent and very important read. This is a fictional middle-grade novel that tells the story of a twelve year old black boy who is shot by a white police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real one. Through the book, the boy is a ghost who can see his family and the aftermath of how his death has affected everyone, including the community. He meets the ghost of Emmett Till as well as the daughter of the police officer…the only living person who can see him. The book was very well done, telling the thoughts and feelings of many different characters in the story, and it’s a completely relevant read in regard to everything that has happened this last year.

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich

This book went along with out Native People unit study by Jodi Mockabee, and we really enjoyed it! I never realized how much my 2 year old had been listening to these read alouds until he started running around the house saying “Omakayas, Omakayas,” the main character’s name. It tells the story of a 7 year old girl from the Ojibwa tribe and her family. At times, it was depressing and sad…discussing the smallpox outbreak and how it negatively affected family members was a little difficult, especially while going through the COVID-19 pandemic, but overall, I’m glad we read this. It’s part of history and culture and ultimately I felt it was important and educational for all of us. If you are a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, I think you will definitely appreciate this novel (and maybe the whole series perhaps) viewing this time period in history from a different lens.

Cookbooks

It’s rare that I buy a cookbook, so you know if I invest in one, it better be good! Haha. With all the cooking this last year, we were craving some new ideas, and these didn’t disappoint!

Just the Good Stuff by Rachel Mansfield

I followed Rachel on Instagram and she just makes healthy food look and taste SO delicious! Her food always includes healthier swaps/options for ingredients, and love that her recipes are ones that fuel, yet never leave you feeling deprived! Many of her recipes are also gluten free or paleo friendly if that’s your jam. When I saw she had a cookbook coming out, I had to have it! My fav recipe so far is her Enchilada Pie! The roasted turmeric carrot fries are also delish, and. she makes some yummy desserts too. You can also find more of her recipes on her blog https://rachlmansfield.com/.

Magnolia Table (Vol 2) by Joanna Gaines

As I’m writing this, I’m realizing this whole time I didn’t realize there were two volumes of this cookbook! I thought I had the original, and didn’t know I actually had the second one! Whoops! Haha! Now I’m curious about the first one as this one has to do with gathering and we didn’t do much of that the last year LOL! That said, it’s a beautiful book with a huge selection of recipes and includes how to make a lot of things from scratch. That honestly terrifies me a little, but the kid’s have been enjoying baking with me lately so who knows, maybe I will get inspired! This is more of a classic style cookbook as opposed to an overly healthy one, but it makes me excited to have some delicious options for when we’re able to host people to come over again!

Quick Prep Paleo by Mary Smith

This book was at the top of my Christmas list this year, and I was so excited to get it and support my friend, Mary! Mary is also a University of Maryland grad (go Terps!) and she runs an amazing blog called Mary’s Whole Life which she started after her diagnosis with Celiac Disease. Her recipes are all gluten free, paleo, and many are Whole 30. They are also QUICK, easy (she’s a mom of 3 also!) and delicious. Some of my favorites include her sheet pan sausage recipes, cashew chicken green bean stir fry, and baja fish taco bowl. You will absolutely find some incredible go-to recipes in her book to throw into your weekly rotation.

If you’re still here…you must really love books like me! Thanks for sticking around, and I hope these reviews were helpful! I’ve already put a dent into my 2021 reading goal, and can’t wait to share with you.

What do you think…I post updates regularly on The Gram, but do you like the yearly recap here, or would you prefer more frequent updates on the blog as well?

Lastly…while my list is already a mile high, I ALWAYS have room for more recommendations! Please share some of your favorite reads in the last year so we can all add them to our lists! 🙂

XO + Happy Reading!

Gina

Popcorn Book Club: 2019 Book Reviews

I have always loved to read, and last year, I really enjoyed putting together a list of some of my favorite books of all time. In the past year, I vowed to keep you guys informed with the books I’m reading, and I have continued to do so over on my Instagram page with the hashtag #popcornbookclub. If you have a read a book you love, please join in on the fun and use this hashtag when you post so we can all stay informed and add new reads to our lists!

While I will always share my books over on Instagram, I plan to do a yearly recap over here on the blog. I didn’t quite make my goal of reading 26 books this past year, but I added 20 more to my “read” list! Without further ado, here are my book reviews from 2019!

Personal Development

  1. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
    • I don’t give 5 stars very often, but this book earned it! This book really spoke to my heart and helped me to view creativity in a new light. It was a very inspiring read, and I definitely recommend it.
  2. Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
    • I just love Rachel’s voice. She speaks to me in a way I can truly understand, and her stories make me feel as if she is reading my mind and putting it on paper. A definite must-read for any #momboss or career mom trying to balance it all.
  3. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
    • This was a really inspiring read for those wanting to take on leadership roles. They take strategies from SEAL training and leading and bring it into the corporate world to help create high-performance teams. This book will definitely help you to level up your leadership skills.
  4. Build to Last by Keith Callahan
    • A must-read for anyone in the network marketing business. It discusses pushing past your limiting beliefs, leadership, developing a team of leaders, and how to create time and financial freedom in your life.
  5. Rising Strong by Brene Brown
    • We all go through struggles in our lives, and this book is all about owning our stories and getting back up. Brene Brown never ceases to amaze me with her research and theory and real-life examples. This book will challenge you to think about your own story and how you can achieve deeper meaning in your life.
  6. The Power of Significance by John C. Maxwell
    • I have never met a John C. Maxwell book I didn’t like or that didn’t help me in some way. This man is genius. Read everything he writes and listen to everything he speaks.
  7. The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday
    • I liked the idea of this book, but the historical examples were just a little dry for me. I gained a few key concepts from this book, but I was a little bored.
  8. Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht
    • This book was well written and would have been helpful for me if I had read it starting out earlier in my career (out of college) and if I was currently following a corporate career path. It “missed the mark” for me personally, because I just couldn’t really relate with where I am today.

Other Non-fiction

  1. Body Love: Live in Balance, Weigh What You Want, and Free Yourself from Food Drama Forever by Kelly LeVeque
    • This was an awesome book and was really in line with the way I currently eat and the meal plans I follow with the Ultimate Portion Fix and 2B Mindset with Beachbody. As a holistic healthcare expert, I was curious about what Kelly had to say about nutrition and how it compared to what I currently do. I was pleased to find many similarities (for example, the fad diets don’t work, and it’s about creating that healthy lifestyle and choosing food that fuels you and makes you feel GOOD!) and she has some really delicious recipes and ideas. It’s great for anyone who might have an unhealthy relationship with food and looking to free themselves from that mentality.

Fiction

  1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
    • I highly recommend this book! It took awhile to get into it, but once you’re in it, you can’t stop reading. I loved the characterization, the setting, the writing, and the overall story. So beautifully written!
  2. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
    • This was definitely a good read! It had a ton of hype, so I think I went into it with over-expectation. I enjoyed it and would recommend it, but I didn’t get that “WOW, holy smokes, must-read amazing vibe” while reading it. The storyline was interesting though, and I enjoyed the characters and the relationships between the characters the most.
  3. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
    • This classic novel completely floored me! It gave me “Hunger Games” vibes in the sense that it was like this “what if-alternate disturbing reality world” but in a totally different kind of way. It’s a frightening and powerful read. I originally wanted to read it, because I wanted to watch the series, and I always like reading the books first. Glad I read it, and I look forward to watching the series.
  4. An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
    • This author duo is one of my absolute FAVORITES! Their thrillers are so absolutely captivating that once you start reading, they draw you in and keep you turning the pages to find out what is coming next. I loved their first book, The Wife Between Us, and now this one. I can’t wait until their next one comes out.
  5. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
    • This book also came with a lot of hype, and I really enjoyed reading this thriller, but it was also totally predictable for me. All in all, it was a good novel and I would recommend it, but it would have been more fun if I hadn’t figured out all the twists and turns.
  6. An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
    • I really enjoyed this murder mystery!!! I read Lapena’s booked “The Couple Next Door” and “A Stranger in the House” and enjoyed them, but I think this one is my favorite so far! I loved the character development and the ideas of them all being stranded in the hotel together like a murder mystery dinner party in the snow. A definite page turner!
  7. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
    • I know this was all the rage, and I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie, but I have to admit, I was underwhelmed. It was OK, but to be frank, the characters just kind of annoyed me a lot, and I couldn’t handle all of the brattiness haha. It just seemed like the whole book was about a lot of really unimportant stuff. Which I guess was to be expected. I just didn’t think the story was all that great. The one thing I found interesting was the history of Singapore that was woven in, because I didn’t really know much about that part of the world.
  8. China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
    • I decided to give the series another chance even after the first underwhelming book, because I was genuinely interested in finding out what happened in the love story of the main two characters. I actually enjoyed this book better than the first! So I’m actually glad i kept reading! However, I’m not sure I will read the third unless someone convinces me otherwise.
  9. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
    • I really enjoyed Big Little Lies and What Alice Forgot by this author, so I thought I would give this newer one a try. WOW. It was WEIRD. Haha. Moriarty is a great story teller, and I originally liked the health and wellness retreat premise, because that is right up my alley, but the book got pretty weird pretty quick and it just got too unrealistic for me. If you like her books and her storytelling, you may enjoy it though!
  10. When Life Gives you Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger
    • This continuation of The Devil Wears Prada was a good, suburban Connecticut, gossipy novel! I enjoyed it. It wasn’t life altering, but if you have a trip coming up and want something easy and fun for the beach or plane, this is a good one!
  11. A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause (Young Adult)
    • This is a debut novel from one of my Insta-friends! The story depicts a fashion competition set in the Victorian era in a fictional town/city. Autumn is a beautiful writer, and I enjoyed reading her book!

Okay, all my professional bookworm friends!!! What were your favorite reads of 2019? What do I need to add to my 2020 list?

Please share in the comments!

Hope you are enjoying the 3-day weekend celebrating MLK, and I hope you are finding some extra time to cozy up with a book and get some extra reading in with this colder weather!

XO,

Gina

Favorite Book Round Up

Okay, you guys. I know I have been promising a BOOK post to you, and it’s FINALLY HEREEEEE!!!!! I’m so excited about this post. I’ve pretty much been a book nerd my entire life, and ain’t embarrassed to say it. I LOVE to read. I had a few periods during my life, namely high school and college, where I had SO much reading to do that I stopped doing any for fun…and more recently I have made reading a priority again.

I try to read at least ONE personal development book per month as an entrepreneur running this blog and my health + fitness business, and I simultaneously read another book for fun and to keep my creativity wheels spinning.

It’s been a long time coming, so I have a lot of books to share with you today in a few categories. I will be more mindful about sharing my books in the future, and I have decided to create a Highlight Reel over on my Instagram Page with books I’m reading as well as a group hashtag #popcornbookclub so we can all share our favorites together. Any time you find a book you love, you can post it on IG with this hashtag, and hopefully we will all end up with some amazing recommendations!

Okay without further ado…

I will start with my fav personal development reads in no particular order:

  1. The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success by Darren Hardy
  2. Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy
  3. No Excuses!: The Power of Self Discipline by Brian Tracy
  4. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World by Gary Vaynerchuk
  5. Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
  6. The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
  7. Balancing in Heels: My Journey to Health, Happiness, and Making it All Work by Kristin Cavallari
  8. The Go Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg
  9. The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks Than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran, Michael Lennington, and Tom Pile
  10. The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman
  11. The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown
  12. Expert Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Finding Your Message, Building a Tribe, and Changing the World by Russell Brunson
  13. 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential by John C. Maxwell
  14. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C. Maxwell
  15. The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy by Jon Gordon
  16. Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferazzi
  17. Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life: Before 8AM
  18. The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith by Gabrielle Bernstein
  19. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Live an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
  20. You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero
  21. Grace, Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy by Emily Ley
  22. Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis
  23. The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer
  24. Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media by Brittany Hennesy
  25. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALS Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
  26. Currently Reading — Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

 

Other Non-Fiction or Memoir:

  1. Discovering the Healer Within: Use Chakras & Intuition to Clear Negative Energy & Release Pain by Anysia Marcell Kiel
  2. Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition by Lily Nichols
  3. The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer
  4. A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown
  5. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

 

Fiction: Mostly thrillers these days, but there are a few others in the mix as well and I included some from years back as this is my first list:

  1. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  2. Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
  3. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
  4. Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica
  5. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
  6. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
  7. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
  8. The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
  9. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
  10. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
  11. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
  12. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
  13. A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena
  14. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
  15. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
  16. The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine by Somaly Mam
  17. Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
  18. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
  19. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
  20. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
  21. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
  22. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
  23. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
  24. Currently Reading: An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

Okay, now I know that’s a lot of books! But for my first list, I wanted to be thorough! I plan to check back in with you all once a year with an update of my yearly reads, and my goal is to finish 26 this year, so hopefully next year’s list will be about half as long as this one! LOL. Please please feel free to post in the comments any recommendations you have for your favorite reads! I love adding to my Goodreads list! (Even though my list is already a million miles long!)

Again, I will also be posting over on Instagram throughout the year, so please feel free to check in there in the meantime!

Happy Reading!

XO,

Gina

Feeling Free

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Dress: Free People via Trunk Club (now 40% off!) / Shoes: Kelly + Katie via DSW (now on sale!) / Lip: MAC Impassioned

This dress is another that I scored with my last Trunk Club and my amazing stylist Megan. I wore it to a baby shower while in Maryland a couple weeks ago, but I also think it’s perfect for a date night in the city. These shoes are EVERYTHING and wore them that whole weekend. Surprisingly pretty comfortable for high heels!

I titled this post “Feeling Free” originally because this dress is from Free People, but after thinking more about it, there is a lot more behind the title and how I’m feeling right now. The boys are getting into their routine at school, and I’m getting into my new routine as their mama and as the CEO of my business…both this blog and my health + fitness coaching…which really, it all sort of combines to just really trying to inspire as many people as possible to live happier + healthier whether that’s by exercising, eating clean, taking time for yourself, feeling comfortable in your clothes and in your own skin, etc. With the boys being in school for a bit, I’m getting a little more free time to myself to really dive into this passion during normal day time hours, and I’m LOVING it.

I’ve been practicing the Miracle Morning which is a book by Hal Elrod, and it’s been completely life changing. I have been starting my day with meditation, visualization, reading personal development, journaling, and of course exercise. It’s literally the most perfect way to start the day, and it really sets the tone and my mood going forward. It also allows me to feel less stressed about things I have “to-do” during the day, and I feel that when I’m with my kids, I can really be more present with them and in the moment.

And not to bring down the moment, since I love keeping things positive over here, but I am feeling incredible sad in light of the recent shooting that happened in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the “freedom” of owning guns has allowed so many people to lose their own freedom and even their lives. My own dear friends were supposed to be at the concert, and ended up not going, thank God. I have never been a fan of guns and I feel that by having them, violence is just perpetuated. If you want to help support the end of gun violence, Everytown is a great movement to support.

And whatever else you can do to spread love and positivity in this world, please keep doing that! The world needs you. <3

Make it a great day everyone!

XO,

Gina

Vision

Vision.

“a vivid mental image, especially a fanciful one of the future”

We all have vision in some way, shape or form…a view inside our minds of how we want the future to look. We can’t predict the future, but we CAN envision it. Many times our vision can get cloudy. We forget WHY we are doing something or where we want to go. We get distracted by the many things in life pulling us in different directions. Sometimes we aren’t quite sure where we want to go…and we really need to sit down and think about what it is that we want or how it is that we can get there.

This is an exercise that a year ago I would have laughed at if someone told me I should do it. I didn’t really understand the value in it, thought it was a little bit silly, and even a waste of my precious time.  But I have come to appreciate the value in SEEING my vision and putting it down on paper (or on electronic paper in this case…although I do recommend printing it out and putting it where you can see it each day!) By having a physical copy of my vision there is no chance I will forget those goals I have set for myself…no way that I can get lost in the shuffle of the day to day and let my vision get left behind in the fog.

At first it was scary mapping out this vision…even writing this now, I am scared to hit the publish button. Who the hell do I think I am to achieve this? Will people think I’m crazy? Will they laugh at me? Will they think there is no way she will be able to do that in a year? WHAT IF I FAIL????

But the more I think about it…it doesn’t matter what other people think. This is my journey and my life, and I only have one…so why not DREAM BIG and make the most of each moment. And while I will work my tush off to achieve this vision…so what if I don’t quite get there this year? It’s all about the journey and growing as a person at the end of the day right?

So…here goes…(deep breath)…my VISION BOARD for 2016.

2016 Vision Board

May you set out to reach YOUR full potential this year, and may your vision become your reality. Believe in yourself and believe that anything is possible. That’s my motto for this year, and I’m stickin’ to it! 😉

XO,

Gina