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Empty Shelf Challenge: October

November 4, 2014 by Abbigail Kriebs 2 Comments

I’m really impressed that I have managed to keep track of everything I read this long in the year. I mean, 10 months? Impressive (at least it is to me – I’ve never done any year long challenge before, so I am feeling pretty accomplished at this point).

Here is what I read in October as I continue the #EmptyShelf challenge. It’s pretty basic: starting December 23rd, you empty one shelf of a bookcase in your house completely. Hence, “Empty Shelf.” Then, through the entire next year, you fill that shelf with the books that you read.

To read what I’ve read this year by month:

January // February // March // April // May // June // July // August // September

So… October. It was a blur. I had a work trip the first week of the month, and then my boss went on vacation the next week. I had two photo sessions this month, one that I took and one where photos were taken of me (I got some new head shots done), both of which I hope to share with you soon. We made it through launch week at The Collaboreat, along with our first two Twitter chats, and I started dreaming about new possibilities for the blog and the photo business and my life in general. Now that I’ve written all that out, I’m not so upset with myself for not reading more than I did. It’s all about perspective, huh?

47.) The Protector (The O’Malley Series #4) by Dee Henderson – I continued on with The O’Malley Series, one that I read as a teen. It’s Christian fiction, which is not something I usually read because of the bland characters, but the O’Malleys all have vibrant personalities and cool jobs. It’s fun to re-read these now, just some light fiction for days when my brain needs to rest.

48.) The Healer (The O’Malley Series #5) by Dee Henderson

49.) At Long Odds by Hannah Hooton – I read this on my iPad on a plane this month (the only time I usually read on my iPad). It was a free download and the book was good – entertaining and fun, but very predictable, as most romantic comedy novels are. Still worth a read if you like horse racing and a good plot.

50.) Chasing Charlie by C.M. Newman – Also read this on my iPad on a plane. This book had an engaging plot, but was SO long. So, so long. It needed some major condensing, but overall was one I wanted to keep reading. Fun fact: I had no idea this was Christian fiction until about a third of the way through the book, which I think was it’s crowning glory. The ending felt a bit stilted, a little anti-climatic compared to the rest of the novel.

51.) Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon – It’s probably not a secret anymore that I am a big Austin Kleon fan (he’ll probably be mentioned in a blog soon). You’ve probably seen me tweeting about him in recent weeks, and I finally made it to the top of the list to get “Steal Like an Artist” from the library. I loved it, as I predicted, so I will be purchasing this one as soon as I have book money to spend. I’ve got the follow up, “Show Your Work” sitting on my coffee table now for my next read.

So… what have you been reading as the leaves fall? Share your latest favorite in the comments!

Image courtesy of Mr. TinDC on Flickr Creative Commons.

A Season of Rest: Action Plan

August 26, 2014 by Abbigail Kriebs 2 Comments

The title seems contradictory, but I did indeed create an action plan for this season of rest.

I want this time to be intentionally restful, and not just restful because of a lack of things to do. In fact, I think I would get bored then, which is not restful. Besides, this resting time is a chance for Scott and I to create some new (better) habits and for me to do some of the things I love doing but always put off because of what Urgently Needs to be Taken Care of Right Now.

Prince Edward Island South Shore Inkwells Images Abbigail Kriebs copy

One of the most restful, recharging weeks we ever spent was on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

I have some goals for this resting period:

I need to cultivate healthy habits: This includes drinking enough water, exercising regularly, and eating well. I also want to be able to check “get enough sleep” and “floss consistently” off my list of Things I Should Be Doing But Don’t Yet.
I need to cultivate healthy spiritual habits: I need to prioritize carving out space for my own quiet time on a daily basis. We have been so caught up in ministry for so many years, that this has been something that has fallen by the wayside far too often when the list gets long with “to-dos.” My own soul needs fed before I can help feed the souls of others.
I need to blog regularly: I know that blogging is not something that can necessarily be done half-heartedly. I need to set aside some time to plan out posts in advance, and then actually execute on those plans. For me, I think this looks like posting a legitimate post on Tuesdays and a book review or photo blog on Thursdays.
I need to write: I have a half-finished novel taking up space on my hard drive, and some meaty concepts for a few others floating around in Evernote. Writing a novel has always been my dream, ever since I made my first bucket list as a 12-year-old before bucket lists were even a thing. Writing a novel is something I need to do for me, or I am always, always going to regret it.
I need to spend more quality time with Scott: We’ve been married for over eight years now and still haven’t figured this one out. We’ve always said “yes” to everyone else first, and then tried to squeeze in time together in the cracks. We usually only realize that we have a free Friday night when Friday night arrives, and then we are too tired to even think about leaving the house again. We are looking to change that, to spend time together dreaming and praying and eating real food intentionally, and not just when it is convenient.

I’m still figuring out what all this looks like and how to balance even these five things with a full-time job and some freelance projects. I’m taking an extra day off for Labor Day this year to help kick off a season of rest well, and I’m planning to use some of that time to create what I hope will be an ideal schedule each work day and each weekend day, knowing that it is “ideal” and not set in stone.

What about you? Have any habit-building tips for me? I’d love to hear what has helped you build and sustain a tough habit for a long period of time.

Empty Shelf Challenge: June 2014

July 1, 2014 by Abbigail Kriebs 2 Comments

Quick recap: Jon Acuff introduced the #EmptyShelf challenge in December. It’s pretty basic: starting December 23rd, you empty one shelf of a bookcase in your house completely. Hence, “Empty Shelf.” Then, through the entire next year, you fill that shelf with the books that you read.

To read what I read in January, click on over here. For February, click on over here. March, here. April, click here. And for May, click here.

We moved in June, and I still don’t have enough shelf space for all of my books. Still no empty shelf images, but I’m getting there. I think. :)

It was a slow reading month, filled with settling in to the new place, and then fundraising and chaperoning a youth mission trip to Oklahoma.

All of my reads this month were re-reads: some old favorites, chosen in the midst of change to remind me that some things stay the same, and some just get better with age.

Here is what I read in June:

32.) The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Anne Brashares – This is a summer favorite, a must-read if you are sitting on the beach.

33.) The Negotiator (The O’Malley Series #1) by Dee Henderson – The O’Malley Series is one that I read as a teen. It’s Christian fiction, which is not something I usually read because of the bland characters, but the O’Malleys all have vibrant personalities and cool jobs.

34.) The Guardian (O’Malley Book 2) by Dee Henderson

35.) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern – This one is worth buying in hardcover. You are going to read it so many times, it will fall apart otherwise.

So – what did you read in June? And what are you planning for July?