WELCOME to our monthly collection. This space is our online equivalent of a commonplace book. Here is where we offer links and ideas for you to explore, and things we might want to revisit or remember. Brew yourself a cup of tea and savor a quiet moment while you read. May you always be inspired to live with equal parts industry and creativity.

Let’s jump right in to the entries for January.

This article offers some journaling tips to go along with a recent article here at So She Reads. If you haven’t put pen to paper yet, read this article for more inspiration.

Picture Book Biographies are a thing! I just learned about this kind of book and that they can be classified as their own genre. They are usually thin books with great pictures, more grown-up writing than a regular picture book, and educational to boot! I learned about them from the Brighter Winter Reading Challenge and I have read one: George Washington, A Picture Book Biography by James Cross Giblin. I learned some things I hadn’t known before about Mr. Washington. If you scroll down the page on the link above, you will find lots of picture book biography recommendations.

How to Style a Bookshelf When You Have a Lot of Books This article has some good tips if your bookshelves hold more books than pretty knick knacks.

A few humorous book titles. 😊

Page Whisperer: a person who can predict a book’s plot twists or endings just by reading a few pages, much to the amazement (and annoyance) of their friends.

City Lights of Home by Tim Boehs Eva bought this book for our mom at Christmas. Mom says she enjoyed it very much. She liked the history about the buildings in New York and the stories about all the places where they ate. She especially liked the story about sorting their stuff to move and then deciding to keep some things just to make their children wonder what they were thinking. She especially enjoyed Mr. Boehs’ humor and the stories that were written like parables.

Here is a link to a book blog that I enjoy: mindi’s bookshelf

A line from my latest read:
“Because,” Mrs. Pollifax said slowly, “there are no happy endings, Jenny, there are only happy people.” –Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station by Dorothy Gillman.

Stopping by a Bakery on a Hungry Evening

(with apologies to Robert Frost)

Whose cakes these are I think I know
His condo's in the city, though;
He will not see me stop to stare
At every croissant and eclair.

My running shoes must think it queer
To pause with all these pastries here.
My diet's barely started-- still,
I feel a weakening of my will.

The cashier says, "What would you like?"
(Forgive me, exercising bike!)
"Cream puffs, I think, just box up twenty.
Wait-- one donut hole is plenty."

Whipped cream's luscious, white and deep.
But I have diet vows to keep
And miles to jog before I sleep,
And miles to jog before I sleep.

I couldn't locate the author of this poem. Do you know who wrote it? 


At the risk of tiring you, if you still need help with journaling, here are 24 prompts to use in February. Use the ones you like, or the ones you feel the most resistance to, or use them all and start a journaling habit today. The information you uncover about yourself can be used to make your life better!

As always, have a lovely day!

–Liz