The Best Holiday Present Ever, The Best Bookmarks Ever & Cool Stuff to Share
Weekly Literate Love: December 27, 2024
Happy Friday!
I hope everyone had the most wonderful holiday week and it was everything you wanted and needed it to be. I had a wonderful week baking, wrapping and celebrating with family. My heart is full and I’m writing this weekly literate level letter with a smile. =)
In addition to the holiday, something else big happened this week: I converted my private Patreon community to a private Substack membership!
So, you’ll now see the option to upgrade your membership to my $5 a month private community. What do you get? Each month, you’ll receive:
A one-word themed bibliotherapy book calendar
A live book club session
Themed notebook prompts and affirmations
Member spotlight episodes
Bonus content and more!
If you’re already part of my Patreon community, you received a post from me in your Inbox this past Sunday on what comes next. If you’re brand new to my member community here on Substack, welcome! I have exciting things planned for us in 2025.
Keep reading for your weekly dose of literate love!
P.S: I’m changing up the format of my Grow a Restorative Reading Course so you can have the best year of reading you’ve ever had. In just one day, you’ll be ready to jump into your own restorative reading practice. Learn more here!
What I'm Reading:
Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge by Kjersti Herland Johnsen
Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge by Kjersti Herland Johnsen is the quintessential holiday book. It is meant to be read as an advent calendar, one day at a time but admittedly, I read ahead because it's THAT good. The book is FILLED with the wonders of the holiday: a beautiful lodge in the snowy mountains, incredible food, holiday events, family, found family and friendship. It doesn't shy away from the complications of life OR the holiday, making this even more endearing to real readers going through real things at the holidays. I absolutely loved this book.
Abundant Ever After by Cathy Heller
I've been waiting for this book for a LONG TIME and am thrilled my pre-order finally arrived and I can dig in. Cathy has been such a mentor to me (even if she doesn't know it!) and has helped me launch and grow my podcast, connect with amazing women that make my life better and inspire me to have a more abundant mindset. This is the perfect book to read anytime, but especially right now before we head into a new year. I’m almost finished and may have set a record for the number of digital highlights I have already made in this book.
Small Things Like These Claire Keegan
My mother and I take an annual bookstore and breakfast trip for her birthday. I buy her breakfast, she lets me pick out books as my Christmas present and we get into the holiday spirit together. This is one of the books I chose and I cannot wait to read it in a single sitting with a cup of good coffee (I just discovered my neighbor roasts his own coffee beans!) by the twinkly Christmas tree lights before they are taken down.
What I'm Writing:
If you know me, you know I love my Morning Pages journal. It’s literally my free, daily therapy session with myself. I’ve explored new ways of showing up to my journal often and move back and forth between dumping out the negative emotions that clog my system to positively rewiring the way my brain works. It’s fascinating and backed my science, too.
So when I heard about another framework for healing ourselves through writing, I was ready to learn. It’s called Journal Speak by Nicole Sachs and it starts with writing about a current life stressor and ends with a soothing self-care routine. I’m ready to give it a try in 2025 and you’ll likely see a podcast episode about it in the future!
What I'm Learning:
Well, most of my learning this week focused on how to transfer a Patreon membership to a Substack membership. There were lots of bits and pieces to wrangle together to make it work.
BUT.
I also learned how to make the most beautiful bookmarks ever.
When my brother and sister-in-law were married, I saved my bridesmaid flowers and turned them into the most beautiful dried flower bookmarks. It was much easier than I thought and I think this could be a new hobby. Here they are!
What I'm Loving:
I sent a few fun things to my family members this week when I was scrolling social media too much. Here they are!
This is what I sent to my brand-new sister-in-laws: This bride made a Christmas tree skirt out of her wedding dress. How creative!
This is what I sent to my son who loves Ferrero Rocher chocolates: Could this really happen?
This is what I sent my son’s girlfriend who just started a home bakery: This micro-bakery makes me want a micro-bookstore. =)
Keep scrolling for my latest podcast posts and updates!
Get Lit(erate). Podcast: The Best Holiday Gift Ever
It’s Christmas Eve!
A couple of weeks ago, I released my gifting episode: Gifts for Restorative Reading & Writing. It was such a popular episode and everyone LOVED the homemade coupon I created for you to give to a friend and enjoy a reading and writing session together.
And now….I’m giving you to you! =)
In today’s episode, I offer a heartfelt holiday greeting and invite you to read and/or write with me for thirty minutes to the backdrop of beautiful, instrumental holiday music.
Read a festive book, write in your notebook or simply savor the festive music and give yourself a well-deserved break.
KidLit Love: Celebrating Family & Food: Challah for Shabbat Tonight with Sara Holly Ackerman and Alona Millgram
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Sara Holly Ackerman and Alona Millgram about their newest picture book: Challah for Shabbat Tonight.
This beautiful picture book celebrates Jewish joy and intergenerational love as it follows a girl and her grandmother preparing for Shabbat dinner by baking traditional challah from scratch.
We talk about the book and Sara’s inspiration behind it, how Alona brought the beautiful story to life and the underlying universal themes of food, family and love.
Get Lit(erate). Private Community:
Want more? Join my community and get bonus episodes each week! You'll get book calendars, First Chapter Friday for adults, book lists, notebook prompts, book clubs, live events and much more to boost your reading and writing life. Join now for just $5 a month!
Grow a Restorative Reading Practice:
Ready to harness the power of reading and writing to change your life? Grow a restorative reading and writing practice! I’ve created a self-paced journey to help you create more time for reading and writing, create a personalized book apothecary and take inspired actions from the books you read to your actual life. Join me!
Personalized Bookology Coaching:
Let's chat 1:1 about what you want out of your reading and/or writing life. You'll leave with a concrete (and fun!) plan, actionable steps and a personalized book and notebook apothecary!
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Love the micro bakery! I’ll be picking up the Claire Keegan book at the library on Monday! Can’t wait to dive in!
I read the Claire Keegan book - it’s great!