My 6th book for 2014!

"The Confession" by John Grisham, one more book on my Empty Shelf!

This was a difficult book to read because I am one who would like to believe in the system, mainly because the idea of being locked up for something I didn't do terrifies me! But this was still a really good book! I love John Grisham! I own all his books & am working on reading them all! This book had very compelling characters who made you want to not stop reading!

If you have never read John Grisham's books before I highly recommend starting with his first & in my opinion still his best: "A Time To Kill".

I hope you are enjoying this challenge as much as I am! I don't know of another time in my life that I have finished 6 books in one month!

Zestfest 2014

We just got home from Zestfest! Where all the spicy food gathers to be eaten by all of TX's spicy food fans! Baby Luke didn't sample anything this year, but I told him maybe next year ;)

He really is the cutest! :)

My brother participated in a Wingstop Atomic Wings Challenge!

10 boneless Atomic Wings

First one to stand up with mouth open showing all wings were swallowed went on to the final round.

He didn't win, but he got a T-shirt & got to keep his remaining wings :)

We had a great time & tried some great food!

Book 5

I have started working on reading through the Bible using commentary's to guide my study. I just Finished Exodus using "Shepherd's Guide - Exodus" (Yea, another book for my Empty Shelf!). I have never been consistent with my daily Bible reading, but recently I have found that having my Bible out where I see it (on the table in the library), and having a regular time (mornings) has helped me with my habit building.
What helps you remember while building good habits?

4th Book of the Year

"The Pioneer Woman Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - A Love Story" by Ree Drummond, my 4th book on my Empty Shelf.

This book is awesome! If you have ever read The Pioneer Woman's blog, then you know her unique writing style. She is funny, real, a person you would want to hang out with! Her book was no different! This is her story of how she met & married her husband. I didn't want to put the book down, & when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it! A very nice love story!

I am so happy to be doing this challenge! I can't believe I've finished my 4th book & it's still January! I would like to encourage everyone to play phone games less & read more! :)

Luke & Leah's Baby Dedication

My adorable nephew Luke

And his cousin Leah were dedicated at their church yesterday morning. It was a very special service & I was very glad to have been there!

Afterwards the whole family went out for lunch.

And Luke decided Nanny's bracelet was lots of fun!

Yesterday was a very special day & I thank God for these 2 wonderful babies who have joined our family!

Book 3 Already!

Last night I finished my 3rd book for the Empty Shelf Challenge :) However it might have been cheating just a little... I actually read over half this book awhile ago. Then it got put aside, packed up, put back on the bookshelf, & never finished. So I decided to finally pick it back up & finish it :) The book is "The Cereal Murders" by Diane Mott Davidson. I have read several of her books & really enjoy them! She writes about a caterer who also fancies herself an ametur detective. The books are fun mysteries, always with something that needs to be solved & a party that needs to be catered. Also sprinkled throughout each book are recipes that she's making for her events! I collect cookbooks, so finding a series of books that come with recipes was awesome!

I'm so excited to be reading regularly again! The Empty Shelf Challenge was just what I needed to motivate me!

Second Book

I have added a second book to my "empty shelf"! I just finished "Muzzled" by Michael A. Smerconish. It is a book of short true stories about what political correctness is doing to our country. I found it kind of rambling (which I know you are thinking that's how you find what I write ;) ), but it was interesting. What I took away from it was to not be over sensitive. I heard someone say on the radio yesterday, "Choose not to be offended". That's how I want to be :)

Taking on the Empty Shelf Challenge

I found The Empty Shelf Challenge on a friend's Facebook Page. I decided to take it on because I really want to read more! My IPhone  has been both a blessing & a curse, ever since I got it over 2 years ago I spend my evening playing phone games instead of reading before bed : /
So I emptied the shelf above our fireplace of all the knickknacks & I plan to fill it with books I read this year! As you can see I did leave one knickknack to work as a bookend. That is a ceramic boot Hubby made in a pottery class several years ago. I'm not the only creative one in the family :)
The first book on my shelf I just finished on New Year's Eve, it's Play Dead by Harlan Coben. This is actually Harlan Coben's first book. I have read several of his newer books, & expected this one to be not as well written since he hadn't had as much practice. I was pleasantly surprised! He never disappoints with his plot twists & turns! I will say one literary tool he used in this book that I have not seen him use in more recent works was sexual scenes. It got a little to risque for my taste, but since I know the author I continued on & the story was great! I'm not going to attempt an actual book report, mainly because it's 5 years since I was in school :) But I would recommend this book & especially this author to anyone who enjoys suspense & mystery.
If you love to read & want to challenge yourself to read more join the Empty Shelf Challenge with me!