Sharing a recap of books I’ve read lately and if it’s worth adding them to your collection. 

Hiiii friends! How are you? I hope that you’re having a lovely morning so far! We’re doing the usual homeschool thing around here and I’m looking forward to an F45 class this afternoon.

For today’s post, I wanted to chat about books and share some of the ones I’ve read (and quit) lately. TBH, I haven’t been devoting as much time to reading lately. I’ve been working hard through my IHP Level 3 modules – I’m trying to finish by the EquiLife conference in October – and honestly, scrolling at night a lot more. The days are SO wild that it feels amazing to curl up with my weighted blanket and scroll, but the reality is that reading feels good and actually does something positive for my brain. I downloaded about five new books in the hope that one completely sucks me in, so I can be back into my bookwormy ways.

For now, here’s a roundup of the latest books! I’d love to hear what you’ve added to your collection lately and couldn’t put down.

Books I’ve read lately

One Golden Summer – DNF

I had high hopes for this one, and I’ve read other books by this author and loved them. They’re usually fast, breezy, with decent writing, and a swoonworthy storyline. This one was FLAT. I kept reading, hoping that it would get better, and I was just slogging through it. I finally called it quits at the 70% point. UGH. I was pretty annoyed with it, but the reality is that reading time is sacred and I’m not going to waste time reading books that I’m not loving — there are too many good ones out there. 4/10

From Amazon:

Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer there at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.

Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip,

Sharing a recap of the books I’ve read lately and if they’re worth adding to your collection. 

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that you’re having a lovely morning!

We’ve been enjoying all of the Sevilla adventures, going to bed at at least midnight every might, and then sleeping in every day. It’s.been.amazing. I’ve managed to get in some reading time before bed and have blasted through four books. Two were horrible, and two were excellent. I’m sharing recaps below and I’d love to hear what you’ve been enjoying this summer!

Books I’ve Read Lately

The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer

This one absolutely wrecked me. It’s set in WWII Poland and follows a teenage girl who starts smuggling Jewish children out of the ghetto. The writing is beautiful, and even though the subject matter is heavy, it’s the kind of book that sticks with you long after you finish it. Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for something emotional and powerful. 9/10

From Amazon:

In the spring of 1942, young Elzbieta Rabinek is aware of the swiftly growing discord just beyond the courtyard of her comfortable Warsaw home. She has no fondness for the Germans who patrol her streets and impose their curfews, but has never given much thought to what goes on behind the walls that contain her Jewish neighbors. She knows all too well about German brutality–and that it’s the reason she must conceal her true identity. But in befriending Sara, a nurse who shares her apartment floor, Elzbieta makes a discovery that propels her into a dangerous world of deception and heroism.

Using Sara’s credentials to smuggle children out of the ghetto brings Elzbieta face-to-face with the reality of the war behind its walls, and to the plight of the Gorka family, who must make the impossible decision to give up their newborn daughter or watch her starve. For Roman Gorka, this final injustice stirs him to rebellion with a zeal not even his newfound love for Elzbieta can suppress. But his recklessness brings unwanted attention to Sara’s cause, unwittingly putting Elzbieta and her family in harm’s way until one violent act threatens to destroy their chance at freedom forever.

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Sharing a roundup of the books I’ve been reading lately and if I recommend adding them to your collection. 

Hi friends! How was the weekend? We spent it in Phoenix for Liv’s dance competition. Her team did an amazing job, we enjoyed a family brunch, and I snuck away for a Lagree class – wins all around.

For today’s post, I wanted to share a little recap of the books I’ve read lately. After a little bit of a drought, I’ve made way more time for reading recently. (I’ve also been slacking a little bit on Spanish studying and IHP 3 studying, but that’s how it goes sometimes.) Almost all of them were home runs and I’m excited to share these with you! If you have any amazing books you’re reading right now, please let me know. Pretty soon I’ll be sitting on a cruise ship veranda with a coffee and book in hand and I’m SO ready.

ADHD Is Awesome by Penn Holderness

I listened to the audio version and highly recommend listening to this one. I’ve been a fan of the Holderness family for years, and was intrigued by this book because I feel like everything I’ve seen online has convinced me that I have ADHD. From always wanting to learn, to procrastination pressure (and then spending all night or a solid 8-10 hour block completing something), to constantly switching hobbies (remember the flamenco dancing and ukulele?), list of hundreds of business ideas, losing my attention span, feeling drained after too much extroverting, just so much of it made sense.

This book is such a fun, real look at what it’s actually like to live with ADHD. Penn Holderness shares his personal stories and shows how having ADHD isn’t something to be “fixed.” Instead, he talks about how it can be a real strength when you learn how to work with your brain. It’s funny, eye-opening, and super encouraging for anyone who’s ever felt like their brain just works a little differently.

It also emphasized that ADHD really is a spectrum and honestly, I’m not sure if I have it after reading this book. (Another testament to the fact that doctors provide dianoses, not Google or social media lol.) But, I still enjoyed it and it’s a great reminder on how to support friends and family members with ADHD. 9/10

From Amazon:

A roundup of the books I read in February and if I’d recommend adding them to your collection.

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that you’re enjoying the week so far! I’m teaching a barre class today and looking forward to a juice date with a friend.

For today’s post, I’m sharing a roundup of the books I read in February and if I’d recommend adding them to your TBR list. After being in a slump with books for a while, and with launching Healing Code + working on IHP3, I read three books last month, which I’m calling a win.

Here’s the full roundup:

February 2025 Reads

The Lotus Shoes

I’ve been interested in Chinese historical fiction (LOVED Lady Tan’s Circle of Women) and this one caught my eye. This book is about the story of Little Flower, who is sold as a muiazi (maidservant) to a prominent family. She has bound feet and is talented in emboirdery, which are two characteristics typically reserved for the higher classes. This book was action-packed – it started off quickly and kept the same pace, which made it easy to read quickly – but shattered my heart so many times. It was a testament to the power of resilience, even when it seems like everything is stacked against your favor. 10/10- highly recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction.

From Amazon:

1800s China. Tightly bound feet, or “golden lilies,” are the mark of an honorable woman, eclipsing beauty, a rich dowry and even bloodline in the marriage stakes. When Little Flower is sold as a maidservant—a muizai—to Linjing, a daughter of the prominent Fong family, she clings to the hope that one day her golden lilies will lead her out of slavery.

Not only does Little Flower have bound feet, uncommon for a muizai, but she is extraordinarily gifted at embroidery, a skill associated with the highest class of a lady. Resentful of her talents, Linjing does everything in her power to thwart Little Flower’s escape.

But when scandal strikes the Fongs, both women are cast out to the Celibate Sisterhood, where Little Flower’s ar

Sharing the books I read in January 2025 and if I’d recommend adding them to your collection.

Hi friends! How are you? I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Ours was packed with fun events and this week, the kids are home from school for Rodeo Break. We’re going to enjoy some local adventures and I’m getting the finishing touches together for my new program, which launches next week. Stay tuned!!

For today’s post, I wanted to share a recap of the books I read last month and if I’d recommend adding them to your collection. I was suprised by how my I enjoyed all most all of these and am happy to have found a bit of my reading mojo again in between studying for IHP3.

January 2025 reads

A Happy Pocket Full of Money

I saw this recommended online and downloaded it immediately. I listened to the audio version, which I highly recommend, and can tell I’ll come back to it and listen often. This book is based on the power of wealth consciousness, teaching that true abundance starts from within. It includes themes of quantum physics, gratitude, and visualization, and the author shifts the focus from external wealth accumulation to cultivating a mindset of prosperity, joy, and purpose. This is for anyone who wants to change their relationship with money and manifest a life of abundance.

This book transformed the way I think about a lot of things, including time, energy, presence, and even death. (He said that the spirit doesn’t fear death, but the ego does.) It was interesting because I feel like many of these more woo/manifestation books lack an emphasis on God. This book was surprisingly God-heavy in a way that truly resonated with me. It made me feel more confident in my purpose, the things I geniunely want for my life, and shifted my focus to an abundance and gratitude mindset, which is always appreciated. 10/10 recommend.

From Amazon:

It’s Not Just About the Money

True wealth is not about buckets of cash. True wealth is not about designer clothes. It is not about a new Mercedes. It is not about living in a palatial estate. True wealth, asserts David Gikandi, is about discovering value within yourself and value within other people. It is about a kind of conscious living that incorporates gratitude, a belief in abundance, and the experience of joy.

Based on the recent discoveries of theoretical physics and a close reading of inspirational classics of the last century, Gikandi creates a new model for the creation of personal wealth; a new model that shows readers how to create abundance by saving, giving, offering charity, and building happy relationships.

Take Off Your Glasses an