Loving | Reading & Watching

BOOK | Blood Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton. Lots of books on my nightstand right now seem to be memoirs. I read about this one in a couple different places and picked it up in Charlotte. I have thoroughly enjoyed this one - it's raw and interesting and her writing about food and the happenings in her life and in the kitchen I found really fascinating.

Next up is either A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough by Wayne Muller (he wrote another book I loved last year - Sabbath) or Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer.

MAGAZINE | Anthology. I got my first issue while I was away and devoured it on Sunday afternoon. Loved the articles. Loved the images. Love the size.

TV | Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. Something about this season has really pulled me in. I'd never watched his show before this season but have been DVRing it and love it. He's raw and the places he's been going this season are really interesting - I especially liked the first episode when he was in Hati.

ONLINE | Here's a few recent favorites:



A big thank you to my Home Page featured sponsor for April: Xyron.

I'd also like to thank all my fabulous current sponsors. These companies help keep my site humming along:

Studio Calico | monthly scrapbook kits and inspiration
Elles Studio | scrapbook supplies and inspiration
Cocoa Daisy | monthly scrapbook kits and inspiration
JBS Mercantile | monthly scrapbook kits and inspiration
Xyron | manufacturer of adhesive, laminate and image transfer products
Color Inc | photo processing & specialty printing (25 free 5x7's by using the promo code: ALI APRIL)
Shimelle.com | online memory keeping classes and inspiration
Two Peas In A Bucket | scrapbook supplies and inspiration - just launched new areas for stamping and cardmaking
The Daily Digi | digital scrapbooking inspiration & monthly membership program
Them O Web | adhesive manufacturer
Scrapbooking From The Inside Out | monthly scrapbook kits and inspiration
Debbie Hodge | online memory keeping classes
Ormolu | earth-friendly paper love
Willette | photography tools, ebooks, and inspiration
Lisa Leonard Designs | personalized, handmade jewelry
ScrappinStuff.com | scrapbook supplies - specializing in sports-related supplies
The Green Frog Studio by Celine Navarro | mixed-media and memory keeping online classes and inspiration
Scrapscription | monthly scrapbook kits with detailed project instructions and inspiration
Evalicious | memory art kits and embellishments
Everyday Keepsakes | personalized, handmade keepsake jewelery
Quilted Treasures | quilting supplies and inspiration
Scrapbook Circle | monthly scrapbook kits and inspiration
Remains Of The Day by Mary Ann Moss | a shabby journal of scraps online class (currently on sale through 4/30/11)

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39 thoughts

  1. Sue says…
    04/04/2011

    Wow you are one busy woman. How wonderful to constantly renew and "growing" yourself.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Courtney Carver says…
    04/04/2011

    Ali, Thanks so much for including me in your post today. Redefine Your Lovely Life has become so important to me. Not because of what I wrote, but because of how readers have responded. The comments are heart warming and heart breaking, and their honesty and realness are incredible.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      04/04/2011

      Did you notice I didn't get down to one book next to my bed? I thought about you when I was taking that photo -

  3. Lori says…
    04/04/2011

    Here's a book recommendation: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. A really great and life changing read.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Stephanie says…
    04/04/2011

    Loved the post on "redefine your lovely life". Thanks for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Tamara says…
    04/04/2011

    tiny buddha and be more with less are to of my favorite reads...they always provide excellent food for thought. :) i haven't heard of anthology? i always love your recommendations so i'm going to check it out today! happy monday!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. tina.b - Half of What I Say says…
    04/04/2011

    Ali, I too read Blood, Bones and Butter, thoroughly enjoyed it. I will check out your other book recs. And have loved Tony since the start, have yet to see the Haiti episode, don't think it has aired in Canada yet.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Kristen says…
    04/04/2011

    Thanks for those links, Ali--esp little Buddha!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Roberta says…
    04/04/2011

    We are also fans of Anthony Bourdain's and love his real take on trying different things. We also DVR it and catch up on it on the weekends...the only thing is that it makes me want to eat...so I only watch it when I'm not hungry...same with all food shows ;)

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Michele in Texas says…
    04/04/2011

    Ali, thank you for introducing me to Tiny Buddha. It certainly had some wisdom that I needed right now.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Kimberly L.C. says…
    04/04/2011

    I've really been enjoying No Reservations this season also. I think that he's added more of himself and his actual emotions to the food experience, which has made it much richer for me. The Haiti episode was just phenomenal.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Cindy Andrews says…
    04/04/2011

    Ali - your stack of "to read books" looks nearly as tall as mine and I keeping adding! Thanks so much for sponsors - I've purchased a couple things from Lisa Leonard - love her designs! I've tried to buy from Studio Calico, but I'm just not fast enough...

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Carrie says…
    04/04/2011

    Ali,

    A while back you'd either tweeted or posted about a new healthy eating site you discovered. I visited the site a few times, but didn't bookmark it, and now I can't find it. The site posts weekly heathy eating tips on a little note card that you can print as reminders...any ideas on which site this was? I'd love to find it again.

    Thanks so much. Great post as usual. I hope you had a great weekend!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      04/04/2011

      Sure - it's called Word Of Wisdom Living: http://www.wordofwisdomliving.com/

  13. Teresa says…
    04/04/2011

    I miss Anthony Bourdain. No satellite right now. My husband thinks I had a crush on him. Thanks for sharing with us!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. kelly X says…
    04/04/2011

    Hi Ali! My nightstand looks the same way :-) I've been a fan of Anthony Bourdain for awhile. Have you read any of his books?

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Kelly X says…
      04/04/2011

      I've only read A Cook's Tour and Kitchen Confidential and both were really good. I think he's a great story teller.

    2. Ali says…
      04/04/2011

      No - are they good?

  15. Denise K. says…
    04/04/2011

    Thanks for sharing your reading material, Ali! I'd love to hear what you and Simon are reading...since I love your pics for adults and need some ideas for insightful books for a 3rd grader. Thanks!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      04/04/2011

      He's been making his way through The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Right now he likes to just read the captions so we are working on getting back to the "other" words in the books. It's ok with me for now - I'm more focused on him embracing the routine of "reading time" vs. arguing about what it is he's reading.

  16. Liz Ness says…
    04/04/2011

    Thank you so much for including a link to GP+ in this awesome list! I'm sending HUGE, GIGANTIC HUGS your way, my friend!!!

    =) Liz

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Judy Webb says…
    04/04/2011

    I have a face book friend. Famous Women. She sends quotes that educates every day. Some are signed and some are not. This one is not, "Forget your weakness! Think courage." I am loving her Facebook and your blog. Yea!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Christine says…
    04/04/2011

    Great reading selection. I was wondering if you ever considered owning a Kindle or other e-reader?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      04/04/2011

      Hi Christine - I've thought about it but not made any move just yet.

  19. Paulette Sarsfield says…
    04/04/2011

    Ali, I would like to know what you do with your books after you read them? I read a lot too & had to purge awhile ago but it's even harder than Scrapbooking supplies... just curious! Thanks for sharing, Happy day:o)

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Rachel says…
    04/04/2011

    Ali,
    Thanks for the great reading recommendations! Be Different, Adventures of a Free Range Aspergian, is a new release by John Elder Robison that I am currently enjoying. (Oh, and I've enjoyed your recent website links, too!)

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Deb Wisker says…
    04/04/2011

    That's quite a stack of books! Don't forget to update your Goodreads! ;)

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Patricia says…
    04/04/2011

    Glad to see I'm not the only one with a pile of books on my nightstand almost as tall as my lamp! Happy Reading!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Brooke says…
    04/04/2011

    I'm always envious of your book pile. But I have to ask, as a busy Mom of two how and when do you fit it all in?

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Bev says…
    04/05/2011

    Just a quick note to thank you for your wonderful blog. Everything you post is so thoughtful and inspiring and this blog is no exception! Thanks again!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Lindsey says…
    04/05/2011

    My husband and I are reading Moonwalking with Einstein right now, and we are both absolutely loving it. It's fascinating!! (Really. I probably don't say that about a lot of books. Especially since I'm not much of a nonfiction person). I'm about 2/3 of the way through, and I can't recommend it enough.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      04/05/2011

      Cool - I'm looking forward to it!

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