Book Review: Empty Promises

I recently read Pete Wilson's Empty Promises book. I found out about it through Lysa Terkeurst's blog, in which she shared a video where she interviewed him about the book. I promptly hopped onto amazon to dowload the thing.

The premisse of the book is quite simple: we always think that if only we had more money, a better job, nicer looks, and such, we'd be happy. But would we really?


The reason I wanted to read the book immediately is because I struggle with this. Don't get me wrong, I love to see my friends and family prosper, but as any human being (or is just me?) part of me feel a tab bit jealous. And another part feels totally jealous and starts rationalizing why they don't deserve it, or at the least, why I do too. Aweful isn't it?


Besides the normal things people want, Pete also touches on something that touched me deeply: dreams. He talks about how some of us gets so attached to our dreams, that even if they are good ones, and our lives are good ones, if the dreams differ from reality we tend to resent our lives. At least I did.


For any non-Christians out there (Pete is a pastor), the book is good because it talks about the denial we get ourselves into in a very matter-of-fact way. For all the Christians out there, he talks about how all these things become our idols, which is just plain bad because they can't give us what only God can.


It was an easy read, quite funny in certain parts, and very touching. I recommend it!

Vay-cay books!

I mentioned I am taking one whole week off work next week, which I am very excited about!

To help me unwind and relax, I have programed all posts for the next week, and will be unplugged until Monday the 23rd. I find that crucial to make the most of my days off, and cruising through facebook and the blogging world will only make me glued to the computer. If I start with some withdrawl symptoms, I'll have to check my bloglovin' roll, but I am hopeful about making it an internet-free week!

Yesterday I shared the DVDs and TV I plan on watching, so today I'd like to share with you the books I plan on reading next week:

1. The Bible. I am currently reading 2 Samuel, and I really want to focus on getting the most of what I can. Because a lot of the Old Testament is history based, I tend to forget a lot of stuff! And although I've read the Bible a couple of times, I think I tend to rush through it, so I am making an extra effort to take my time on each paragraph, to make the most of it.

2. The Best of Me, by Nicholas Sparks. I am a sucker for Nicholas Sparks ever since I read The Notebook and Dear John. I'll make sure I have a box of kleenex by me!

3. Capture His Heart: Becoming the Godly Wife your Husband Desires, by Lysa TerKeurst. Lately I've noticed just how much pressure I put on my husband, and just how much nagging I tend to do. Time to fix that! 

4. Grace for the Good Girl, by Emily Freeman. Too many times I try to do too much because I can't possibly not measure up to people's expectations of me. This book should help me deal with that, so I can stop trying to please everyone all the time, which is plain exhausting!

5. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. I think this book needs no introduction. I've actually not yet seen the movie as well, but I take books over movies any time.

6. Empty Promises, by Pete Wilson. I watched an interview with him and I felt I had to read what he had to say. This book is about the things in life we tend to want, and I have a big problem wanting them!

Do you have any book suggestions for me?

Tickle Me Tuesday: books!

It's our third edition of Ticke Me Tuesdays here at Oh My Gosh!

Here are Sarah's rules:

1. Write a short post with anywhere from one to five items that have been tickling your fancy recently. Please include pictures and links :)

2. Make sure to link back to the party in your blog post (you can grab the button or include a text link)

3. Go back to Yes Teacher Crafts and come back here and link up your blog post!

4. Visit some other links and HAVE FUN!

This week's items are all books! The first I am actually reading, but all others are in my Amazon.com's wishlist:

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

 

Cocktails for Three By Sophie Kinsella (can anyone say 'guilty pleasure'?)

 

Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst

 

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

 

How about you? Have any books been tickling your fancy lately?

Shelfari

I am more and more becoming addicted to all things-social-media-related. I have loved amazon for quite a while, and since I got my kindle, I have spent countless hours browsing.

I had seen shelfari on some people’s blog and thought that was it: a pretty little shelf that shows the stuff you enjoy to read. Oh, but it is so much more!

It allows you to set a reading goal, whether it is for the entire year or for the current month. As you update your reading info, it lets you know if you are on pace, ahead, or slacking, which is a great reminder for us to slow down and go back to basics.

It allows you to browse books and their reviews, as well as to write your own. I think its great that there are people who get paid to critique books, but sometimes I’ve gotten all excited about a new Oprah’s Book Club choice, only to see it was simply beyond my patience (such as The Corrections- sorry Oprah, I just couldn’t get into it!). So I like reviews by us, normal folk.

It also enables you to take part in communities, and there are all sort of book clubs and groups based on your preferred genre, which is really cool.

All of that, linked to your amazon account. My only complaint about Shelfari is that I don’t have nearly enough time to spend on it as I wish I had!

PS Craft room day 2

I must be honest. When I got home on Monday, the last thing I wanted to do was organize. And that is saying something. You see, I L-O-V-E organizing. I find it therapeutic, and actually look forward to it. But I had a rough week, in all sense of the word. And I had a fantastic weekend, which recharged me. But I did no lounging around, and all I wanted was to get home and plop in front of the TV.

I figured if I didn’t get the ball rolling, it just wouldn’t get done at all. So I mustered my courage and tackled the worst cupboardin the room. And boy, did I feel good about it!

So last night it was day 2 and I was pumped. Since I had some empty space on my bookshelves, I figured they should go next. Which made me scared. Here is a picture of what they looked like.

         

You see, I was brought up to worship books. My mamma taught me you don’t donate, sell or throw away books. They are a legacy. I think that sounds nice. Until they become a burden.

I did some long and hard thinking during the day, and came to the conclusion that I tend to:

1-      Not want to get rid of books I got as a present. Even if I never ever read it and never will. Which is ridiculous, I know. Part of me wants to please. The other part doesn’t want to offend anyone. Not a good combo.

2-     I get attached to the physical item instead of treasuring the memory. I have books I read fifteen years ago and found them ‘ok’. But I remember the summer holidays I read them as if it were yesterday. I have books about random topics, such as ‘women and contemporary art’ which mean little to me. But the professor who required that book was awesome. So I tend to clutter.

3-     I love the look of a bookshelf. And that means that if I have any empty space, I will fill it up with books. Which needs to stop.

Buying a kindle was step one. Getting rid of useless books should be step two. So here is my pile of use-less books:

And after a lot of practice in getting detached from the ghost of the books past, here is what my shelves look like now.

Yes, shoes! For several reasons:

1-      It encouraged me to purge more books.

2-     I had no place to put these shoes in my bedroom, so they were out on the floor.

3-     They are not the best smelling things in the world, I’ll be the first to admit. So leaving them out of my room if the best thing I can think of right now.

I also moved my chair around to be closer to the window, and had to move the art cupboard to the other wall because it was too tight.

Now here is what I have to tackle for the next three evenings:

Book review: Organized Simplicity

Organized Simplicity, by Tsh Oxenreider 

It seems fitting that my first post in my English blog would be about Tsh’s book. Her blog Simple Mom is one of the reasons why I fell in love with the blogging world! I actually stumbled upon it during last year’s Project Simplify. I loved the idea of purging for the sake of organizing. I had always purged while organizing, but never with the intention of getting rid of stuff- it would simply happen.

I digress. Anyway, I heard she had a book out and made it my first kindle book purchase. She was actually giving it away for free, but as I live in Brazil, I couldn’t grab it. I was a bit hesitant in paying for it, since I am pretty organized, as I figured it would be 99% of common sense.

Boy, was I wrong. First of all, the focus of this book, in my opinion, is not the organizing itself. It’s about how much clutter we surround ourselves with, and how much better our lives can be with less. She talks about all types of excess: stuff, spending, and too many commitments.

I have always considered myself a bit of a frugal person. It took me a good four years to convince myself that an Ipod or a Kindle would be a good purchase. I own less than five purses and less than fifteen shoes. I have three pairs of jeans. All in all, I figured I have much less stuff than most of my girlfriends.

Until I ready Tsh’s book. I didn’t feel guilty, but as she went on, I couldn’t help but thinking about the stuff I have and never wear. Never use. Never remember. And it’s all there, taking up space in my tiny home.  Now that’s what I call a mind-blowing-life-altering book.

On March 5^th, this year’s Project Simplify kicks off. And I can’t wait. I have been thinking about some items non-stop, and even considered starting ahead of the game. But I figured I better not. I still need some time to digest everything. I’ll spend the next two weeks paying attention to my things, and making mental notes of what I really use. That way, I’ll be sure to have some happy-no-guilt-involved purging.