What I’m into (March 2013)

The wonderful Leigh Kramer does a monthly ‘what I’m into’ post, and I thought that was a fab idea! So I’m linking up with her, and do take a while to look round her blog– she’s one of the nicest people in the blogosphere.

This month I have a lot to talk about, so I’m going to save the blog links part of ‘what I’m into’ for later in the week – look out for it then.

Books

• Before I go to sleep – SJ Watson. This is about a woman who can’t remember anything for longer than a day: every morning she wakes up and doesn’t know who she is. I read this for a book group, and read it in a day because it was fairly easy to read, but I was a little disappointed, if I’m honest. It had rave reviews but I thought that the film Memento [2000] [DVD]
  did the same idea, better, a decade ago.

• The Bell Jar – Silvia Plath. As a massive fan of her poetry and an English Lit graduate, I feel like I really should have read this before now. A friend lent it to me and I loved it. It’s easier-reading than her poetry, and I loved every page. I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s about the experience of depression (with some feminist elements) and is exquisitely crafted. (I guess the description of ‘feminist and about depression’ will mean you either give a slight shudder or buy it immediately…) I thought it was ultimately an uplifting book, and challenges how we view madness and meaning in life. Definitely recommend. Buy it here: The Bell Jar

• The Missing Generation – Kay Mumford. My friend Kay has written an excellent book for churches wanting to minister more effectively to people in their 20s and 30s. She takes you through, step-by-step, how you might go about this, even if you currently have no-one of that age group in your church. Kay has worked for a well-renowned conservative evangelical church in the UK for many years, running a large 20s-30s ministry, so she really knows what she’s talking about. The real strengths of this book are 1) it’s short and easy to read; 2) it’s practical and has lots of creative ideas for ‘how to’ start or improve a 20s-30s ministry, rather than just telling you that you should; 3) it is a good advert for discipleship done really well, sharing your life and the gospel with one another, being honest about the difficult things without shame or fear and spurring one another on to holiness. Buy it here: The Missing Generation – A Practical Guide to 20s 30s Ministry

• 11 secrets to getting published – Mary De Muth. This book is really useful for talking you through the whole process of publishing a book. I found it especially helpful on book proposals and realising the extent of the demands of getting on the rung of publishing. Mary always has such useful advice for writers on her blog (for example, this step-by-step guide to self-publishing). Buy the e-book for $9.97 on her website.

On the TV

• I’m just catching up on the hours of American Idol I have recorded. I miss the old line-up of judges, particularly Jennifer Lopez, but I do like that Keith Urban. He seems to be the new Nice Judge, and says sensible things. I’m only up to the top 20 at the moment, so don’t tell me who goes and who stays! Who’s your favourite?

• I am SO into Nashville at the moment. (Y’all). It’s just the right balance of character conflict, ethical dilemmas, pretty people and catchy music. I’m a fan – to the point where I decided I was going to make my hair into dreamy-waves and ringlets just like the cool people on the telly.I did my research, and turned to YouTube for help (I am SO not someone who can do this without a tutorial). This video for bendy rollers and this one and this one for conical rollers were really helpful. I bought some Wahl Spirolls heated conical rollers and voila! This is the result:
  

  Not-quite-Nashville-but-still-pretty-cool

  You can get Wahl Spirolls here and recreate my look (ha! It’s hilarious to write that last sentence!):
  Wahl Spirolls Heated rollers
  I also recommend these bendy rollers if you want to do it without heat:
  From the UK. Hair Tools bendys
  From the US. Conair Medium Spiral Rollers
  Look at me, recommending hair products! It’s like I’m a proper girl, and everything!

In my ears (CDs)
Did I happen to mention I’m all about Nashville this month? I own almost zero country music, so I figured I may as well go with the classics. I’m not regretting it. (If you’re a country music connoisseur, what else should be in my collection?)

• Dolly Parton – Essential Dolly Parton and Dolly Parton Bluegrass. There is nothing more fun than playing this at top volume and yodelling along. My boy is already singing ‘Dolene’ at the top of his lungs. Both albums are ludicrously pretty cheap – you can buy them here: The Essential Dolly Parton and The Bluegrass Collection

• Alison Krauss – Paper Airplane. I love Alison’s haunting vocals, and already have the brilliant 1000 Miles or More. I love this album, but Lonely Runs Both Ways is still my favourite. Her music is more of a ‘sitting by the campfire’ thing than singing at full-volume-in-your-SUV thing. Majorly comforting. Buy here: Paper Airplane

On the Twitter/Facebook – 1000 gifts
I’ve begun counting three good things every day. I meant to start it at the beginning of the year, but I didn’t get round to it till now. I’m doing it late, but I’m doing it anyway. I’m almost annoyed to admit to it, but Ann Voskamp is right, it does help, naming those things I can thank God for, nailing them down and making them concrete. Do check out her blog or buy her book: One Thousand Gifts

In the house
Beatrix Potter has been featuring large in my boy’s literary influences this month. I have mainly been the sandy-whiskered gentleman (a fox), and he has been Jemima Puddleduck, making nests with cushions and duvets. Then we migrated onto Timmy Tiptoes, and I played both Goody Tiptoes, his loyal squirrel wife, and also Chippy Hackee, his chipmunk drinking partner. (Beatrix Potter doesn’t specify drinking partner, exactly, but they do crack open a large quantity of nuts so that Timmy is in no physical state to come home, and they sing what sounds to be a very drunken song. Exchange the word ‘nuts’ for beers’ and ‘trapped in a tree’ to ‘drunk in a pub’ and it all starts sounding very contemporary.)
I had a birthday, and notched up another year of age. That’s an achievement, right?
Oh – and I received my first paycheque for writing! Eek! (I’m saying ‘first’ like there may one day be a ‘second’ – this is a statement of hopefulness…) I have a short article appearing in Scripture Union’s Closer to God in January, all things being well. It was an exciting moment, reading the receipt on my ipad.

First paycheque excitement!

Over to you:
What were you into last month?
**Disclosure: I have become an Amazon affiliate, which means if you click on a link above of something I have recommended and buy it, you will donate a few pennies to me, at no extra cost to you! How good is that?? (Needless to say, I only recommend stuff that I like.)**
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