Restorative Reading and Writing for Wellness

Books and notebooks have always been a large part of my life, but their role has shifted and changed over time.  Today, I talk about where I’ve been, where I am now and how I’ve been using reading and writing to make life better.  Come listen as I explore restorative reading and writing: what it is, why it matters, how to get started and much more! You’ll find the show notes for the episode with a...

When I first started this podcast, I made a wish list of guests to invite on the podcast and today, I am thrilled to share that one of my wishes came true. =) Today, I am talking with Sarah Hart Unger of Best Laid Plans . This is one of my FAVORITE podcasts because Sarah goes all in on a topic she loves: paper planning.  She talks all things planning and planning adjacent: how and why to plan, the...

Recently, I read a historical fiction novel that sparked my interest in a historical event in a way that no other book has done: The Shore of Forever by Elora Maxwell. This book was completely captivating. It was focused on a fascinating period of history and told the story of three characters who each had my heart and taught me a thing or two about how to live life. But even better than that, it...

Here in the United States, we’ve just observed Labor Day. That means back to school, cooler weather and my favorite pumpkin flavors.  Today, I’m sharing three books with back-to-school vibes: two fiction novels set squarely in academia and one memoir with strong threads of school excellence throughout. You'll find the show notes for this episode here.  Love this podcast and want more? Consider...

Every month (almost!) I share a little bit of literate love: what I’ve been reading, writing, learning and loving all month long. Today, I’m sharing the summer edition of my monthly recap. I’ve got four great books to share, some fun writing experiences, a cookie recreation I am proud of and something making me VERY happy during this last week of August. Be sure to listen to the end….I share how y...

There are many iconic books that we tuck into our reading hearts and one of those books for me is The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  Originally published in 1911, this book still captivates the minds and hearts of many readers and I’d argue the lessons inside are even more important today than they were long ago.  Today, I am talking with Keri Wilt, Burnett’s great-great-granddaughter...

There’s one genre that I have not read in my adult reading life for a VERY long time…and I know because I keep meticulous track of the books I read: fairy tales.  That all changes starting now! Today, I’m talking with Donna Fields . She has spent years studying fairy tales and is ready to flip everything we thought we knew about fairy tales upside down…and give us some life coaching in the process...

Today, I’m sharing a new journaling technique that I’m trying in my notebook: a journal tip-in. It’s a fun way to add function AND beauty to your notebook and I wish I tried it sooner.  I talk about what tip-ins are, how they can serve our notebooks and how we can create one. Then, I’ll get personal and talk about how I’m currently experimenting with tip-ins in my own stack of notebooks and ask fo...

Let’s celebrate National Book Lovers Day! I love all things books and reading: books, bookstores, bookshelves, book bins, book covers, book sleeves, bookmarks, bookish culture, bookish fun and more.  That’s why I have a special place in my reading heart for books about books. Not only do they indulge my bookish heart, but they place me square into the lives of other bookish people, too.   We are n...

I love all kinds of notebooking and journaling, but there’s one kind that I have not yet tried: junk journaling.  So, I’ve brought on a special guest to help me think through what junk journaling is, why we should all give it a try and how to get started. Jenn Begin is the perfect guest to share her passion for junk journaling and spark that magic in each of us, too. Join us as we talk about junk...

Today, I am talking about a particular bookish problem I often have: reading the books on my tall TBR stack in the season I intentionally wanted to read them in.  I have many books that I wanted to read this summer IN the summer season because they have all the summertime vibes: they take place in the summer in warm and beachy locations and give off the summertime vibes: fun, sun and romance. But...

Ever since I read The Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin, I’ve been thinking about my days a bit differently. I’m noticing things more. I’m attempting to listen more. I’m striving to stay present in the moment, to really experience it.  I’m trying to choose a bigger life and this book is helping me do it.  Today, I’m revealing a new side to my professional life, one I’ve been thinking about for YEARS a...

Today, I’m talking with Kara Infante of the Bookish Flights podcast . What started as a chance to talk about hyperlocal books from the Midwest to broaden my own reading life turned into another chance to talk about the power of books.  Together, we explore how we can use books as tools to take us places AND to prepare us for life moves to those places, too. We’ll uncover the themes present in Kara...

I always love a good literate backstory: how an author decided to write, the way a book came to life, why a writer shares specific stories on the page.  Knowing the backstory, connecting to the backstory and truly understanding ‘all the things’ connects me to authors and books in new ways. And I LOVE that. Today, I’ve decided to share my own backstory with you, but with a twist. My very first Get...

It’s time to share a little bit of literate love for June of 2023! Today, I share what I’ve been reading, writing, learning and loving in the month of June in hopes that it inspires your own reading and writing, too. You'll find the show notes for this episode here.  Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Patreon community! Each month, we take...

This summer, I’ve set a goal to really lean into my writing life. I want to write more regularly, tackle some writing projects, write outside the box and boost my writing communities, too.  So, I’ve joined two very different writing groups and have been reflecting on what I like about each, what I’ve learned about the process and what really works for me.  Surprisingly, I’ve realized how much I li...

Do you remember the hobbies and passions you had as a child? Do you make time and space for them in your adult life? I knew I could seriously improve in this department in my own life, so I turned to books.  Books that remind me how important it is to make time for things we enjoy and care about. Books that spark a flame to get back to the things that make us happy. Books that show us what can hap...

Today, I’m talking with Christie Zimmer on the power of journaling to make our lives better….especially our reading lives.  We’ve collaborated together to create a colorful printable to help us reflect on our rules for reading, where they came from and what they mean, if they serve us or not and how we want to harness their power in the future.  But the best part? While this might begin with a dis...

June is Alzheimers and Dementia month. With over 55 million people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related illnesses, many of us are personally impacted by this disease. Today, I’m sharing three books that have been particularly powerful in my own reading life on this topic. But since I have more to share, I’ve created a book list with many more recommendations in hopes that you find a...

Every month, I share what I’ve been reading, writing, learning and loving in a bonus episode.  Today, I’m sharing a list of books you haven’t heard me talk about on the podcast yet, a writing group that’s lighting my writing heart on fire, a fun historical project that involves a notebook and something I never knew I could do at my local library.  You'll find the show notes for this episode he...

It’s graduation season! Today, I share a bit of my own graduation regret and offer a collection of fantastic gifts for graduates, Get Lit(erate)-style.  You’ll find three picture books, three notebooks, three technology gadgets and three bookish gifts just for fun on today’s episode.  You'll find the show notes for this episode here.  Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitat...

I regularly reflect on my reading statistics generated from my bookish spreadsheet so I can continue to grow as a reader. I just reviewed my updated reading charts and did NOT like what I saw. Today, I share and think through my latest bookish statistics and offer a collection of books to celebrate AANHPI month so I can diversify my reading life in the process.  You'll find the show notes for...

Writing daily in my various notebooks, especially my Morning Pages notebook, has been a life-changing practice for me, but sometimes, those gleaming white pages can feel daunting. Often, I’ll find myself writing about the same thing over and over again or writing in the same way over and over again. And while that’s not a bad thing, sometimes I just need to get out of a notebooking rut. Today, I’m...

Every May, we explore and celebrate the concept of motherhood: the incredibly loving act of caring for another.  And while we may not all be mothers in the traditional sense, we all have experience with our own sense of mothering and what that conjures up for us.  Today, I’m sharing three books (and a few bonus recommendations, too!) that explore the concept of motherhood. One book you won’t expec...

I love book birthdays: celebrating the day that new books are released into the world for readers to experience and learn from.  Today, we are celebrating the release of Megan Tady’s debut novel titled Super Bloom.  I devoured this book and it has a place on many of my personal book lists: books I’ve hugged, books with amazing first lines and books that show me new possibilities.  Come listen as I...