• About Polished Habitat
    • About Me
    • Contact Me / Media Requests
    • Partner with Us / Advertise
    • Terms of Service, Privacy, & Disclosure Statements
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Home Decor
  • Room Makeovers
    • House Tour
    • Space Reveals
  • Cricut
  • Organizing
    • Most Popular Organizing Posts
    • Closet Organization
    • Bathroom Organization
    • Kitchen Organization
    • All Organizing Posts
  • Cleaning
  • Letter Board Ideas

Polished Habitat

Home » Loving Life » 5 Favorite Reads {1st Quarter 2015}

04/13/2015 · 11 Comments

5 Favorite Reads {1st Quarter 2015}

Loving Life

85 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

I think I’ve mentioned before that I was committed to reading more actual books in 2015. I don’t know how I ever forgot this, but books are amazing on so many levels. They are teachers, entertainers, and beautiful escapes. When you spend an abundance of time online, books are a way to temporarily disconnect and restore yourself.

Books to Read from 2015I did pretty well upping my reading in the first quarter, so I thought I’d share 5 book recommendations based on my favorite reads so far this year.  I ordered them all on Amazon with the exception of Catcher in the Rye, which we already owned. If any of the recommendations speak to you, you can click on them to go straight to my affiliate link on Amazon.

1. Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger – It had been probably 10 years since I last read this book and re-reading made me remember why I loved it so much. As I read, I could vividly see every single scene in my head. Yet I craved even more information about every character. Each one had such life that I was drawn into wondering about their story. After I finished reading, I had to know more. Google to the rescue!  Did you know there is a prequel of sorts that you can read at the Princeton library? You are actually supervised in a special room while reading! A trip to Princeton is officially added to my bucket list. The story is called “The Ocean Full of Bowling Balls” if you are interested.

I do see how this is a pretty polarizing book, and I think it is more appropriate for college students to read versus being assigned to younger audiences. There is an abundance of profanity, which would normally make me put a book down and not pick it back up. For me, the fact that it is hard to read is a perfect parallel for how hard life is to live for Holden after his loss. So, if you’ve never read it before, please be warned that it isn’t about sugarplums and rainbows, it’s dark. You have to step back and think about the larger themes. IF you HAVE read it years ago and enjoyed it, I stronger encourage picking it up again now that you are older. There were little things I noticed now that I’m certain blew right passed me the first time.

2. Make Your Mark: The Creative’s Guide to Building a Business with Impact (The 99U Book Series) – If you have any kind of business, especially something in the creative field, this is an excellent read. It’s actually a collection of short themed essays about all different facets of business from defining your purpose to satisfying customers. The format makes it easy to read, but the advice is all extremely solid.

3. Make it Happen, Lara Casey – This is a good one for EVERYONE. You don’t have to have your own business to live a life on purpose. Lara is extremely open about her struggles in life and marriage and how she’s using what she learned to improve each day. The book is a great cheerleader to inspire and guide you to define goals and work within your purpose.

4. The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change, Adam Braun – This guy has had a crazy life! Everything from near-death experiences to Justin Bieber. All the fascinating stories lead up to his decision to risk everything by walking away from a certain future of wealth to start building schools in areas where the children have no access to education. I love that he talks about not only his good decisions, but when he has messed up. I think the important thing to remember while reading is that we each have different gifts that can change the world. While Adam’s mission was HUGE, we can use the principles he outlines every day to make positive changes around us.

5. Homemakers: A Domestic Handbook for the Digital Generation, Brit Morin  – This one is just fun! Creative and inexpensive DIY’s, beauty tips, recipes, and on and on. Every page is full of colorful and stylish photos! I love this as a coffee table book that you can grab for some inspiration on a rough day.  

Have you read any of these? And more selfishly, what do you recommend I read this quarter???

MORE FROM POLISHEDHABITAT

85 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
melissa

Melissa George

In 2013, Melissa founded Polished Habitat to share her passion for intersecting style and function to make everyday life more beautiful and less stressful. She does this by sharing easy home organization tips, home decor tutorials, and creative ideas to help readers think outside the box, no matter their budget. Her work has been featured in print in Better Homes & Gardens and Room to Create Magazine, and online by HGTV, House Beautiful, Buzzfeed, & more. In 2018 & 2019, Melissa was named as a Style Maker by Better Homes & Gardens. In 2019, Polished Habitat was shortlisted for the Amara Blog Awards Best Interior Styling Blog - International. Read more...

« Bringin’ Sexy (or SWEAT) Back to the Garage Week 2 (One Room Challenge)
Bringin’ Sexy Copper To the Garage Week 3 {One Room Challenge} »

Comments

  1. June says

    04/14/2015 at 1:50 pm

    I would recommend the following books for next quarter –
    Quiet: The Power of Introverts – Cain. If you are an ambivert (you might even know you are until you read this book – I didn’t), you are a supervisor, or have family members that are quiet but yet also outgoing (my daughter), this book is a great read to understand their personalities better.
    Medici Effect: What Elephants and Epidemics Can Teach Us About Innovation – Johansson. Wow, this book will make you look at decision making in a whole another light! After reading this book, I now pause to think about other options for solutions than typical responses. My DH is amazed how I will discuss so many options for a project that he had not even thought of (and we joke that he is the smart one in the family). 🙂
    Being Wrong: Adventures on the Margin of Error – Schulz. If you tend to beat yourself up about your mistakes, even the little ones, then this is the book for you. The author discusses how often we are wrong, why our brains work in a certain way and can cause errors, and why you should give yourself a break.
    Rewriting – Harris and How to Not Write Bad – Yagoda. Great books if you need to improve your writing skills, get over writer’s block, and/or use other author’s works as a stepping stone for your poise.
    The Multiplier Effect – Wiseman. While this book is geared towards education, if you are a supervisor or a parent, this book has great examples of how to influence others to reach their potential.

    Reply
    • Melissa George says

      04/14/2015 at 2:56 pm

      Wow, what an awesome list! I just saw Quiet mentioned somewhere else yesterday so I might have to start there. Thanks June!

      Reply
      • June says

        04/14/2015 at 4:56 pm

        I copied the list from required readings of my MPA program. Not all of them as we had to read a book a week but the books that stood out to me. I forgot to mention my favorite author Jon Acuff. All of his books are inspiring. His books are the ones I read in the summer when I have a break from school. 🙂

      • Melissa George says

        04/14/2015 at 5:07 pm

        Yes to Jon Acuff! I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I get to see him twice in the next three months! He is coming to our Mardel in May for a Q&A session, then in July he is the keynote speaker at a blogger conference I am going to in Atlanta. He was a huge factor in me deciding to go to the conference again this year! Of course I decided that before it was announcing that he was coming to Tulsa.

  2. Stephanie says

    04/17/2015 at 8:09 pm

    I haven’t read these, they will have to go on my list! One of my favorites I’ve read this year is Still Alice by Lisa Genova- heartwrenching, but SO good.

    Reply
    • Melissa George says

      04/17/2015 at 8:49 pm

      Yeah! Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll check it out!

      Reply
  3. Carmia says

    04/25/2015 at 4:05 am

    Great recommendations! I’m always looking for something to read. I’ve heard good things about Make It Happen, so that might be next on my list. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Melissa George says

      04/27/2015 at 5:19 pm

      Come back and let me know what you think if you go for Make It Happen!

      Reply
  4. Colletta says

    04/25/2015 at 6:35 am

    My reading time has really been lacking lately. l LOVE to read but end up going overboard, so I’ve toned it down. I really need to find a happy medium in my reading life…

    I hope you can stop by:

    http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2015/04/weekend-round-up-42515.html

    Colletta

    Reply
    • Melissa George says

      04/27/2015 at 5:19 pm

      Thanks for visiting Colletta, your peanut butter coffee cake sounds yummy!

      Reply
  5. Sarah@TheOrthodoxMama says

    04/28/2015 at 7:14 pm

    I love seeing what other people are reading! I have challenged myself to read 100 books this year (you can read more about it at my blog). So far my favorites include: 168 Hours: You have More Time Than You Think; Hands Free Mama; The Mysterious Benedict Society; and The Way of a Pilgrim. Thanks for sharing your recommendations!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome!

In 2013, Melissa started Polished Habitat to share her skill of mixing decor & organization to add style & function to everyday life at home.

Her work has been featured in print in Better Homes & Gardens and Room to Create Magazine, and online by HGTV, House Beautiful, Buzzfeed, & more.

In 2018 &  2019, Melissa was named as a Style Maker by Better Homes & Gardens. In 2019, she was also short-listed by the Amara Blog Awards for Interior Styling, International Division.

Need to reach Melissa?
Email: Melissa @ PolishedHabitat.com

Recent Posts

The Prepared Home - How to Stock, Organize, and Edit Your Home to Thrive in Comfort, Safety, and Style

The Prepared Home Book Launch!

BIG NEWS! It’s hard to believe this is real, but my book, The Prepared Home, can be ordered now! The book truly is a culmination of things I’ve learned in different parts of my life. Before I wrote about organizing and decorating, I worked as a project specialist for a hospital. Over the years, one of the projects I ... Read More about The Prepared Home Book Launch!

Where to Start with Big Organizing Projects

While I love solving issues around our house, I like helping others even more. In a recent newsletter, I asked readers to share the biggest struggles around their home. While all the responses were great, one of them instantly stood out because it was such a relatable question. It's something that I struggle with myself. ... Read More about Where to Start with Big Organizing Projects

Game Closet Organization (Before & After)

I'm thrilled to share our game closet makeover with you today! It's been a while since I've done a big closet organization project, and for good reason. All the downstairs closets, like our master bedroom closet, bathroom closet, office closet, and entry hall turned cleaning closet were all finished and still working well. ... Read More about Game Closet Organization (Before & After)

backyard patio with turquoise adirondak chairs

Backyard Patio & Landscaping Before & After

There have been a lot of projects that we've been VERY relieved to finish, like the master closet, but the backyard tops the list! It's been a 6-month process, which was mostly waiting on the first landscaper. When we hit two months past his original estimate, we moved on to another company and things finally got moving. ... Read More about Backyard Patio & Landscaping Before & After

7 Spice Storage Ideas

A couple of years ago, we switched from using a spice cabinet to storing spices in a kitchen drawer next to the stove. While having a spice drawer has been the perfect solution for us, I know it won't work in every kitchen space. I've seen some other spice storage ideas that provide easy access in a variety of kitchen ... Read More about 7 Spice Storage Ideas

Bathroom drawer organization - hair supplies in clear containers

Home Organization Products: The Best Storage Containers, Drawer Organizers, & More

Over the years, I've narrowed down the best home organization products through a lot of trial and error. Last month, I sent a box of clear drawer organizers back because I strayed from my favorites to see if something cheaper would work. Unfortunately, the less expensive versions were so thin and brittle that several were ... Read More about Home Organization Products: The Best Storage Containers, Drawer Organizers, & More

Entryway Organization & Decor

Product links in this post may be affiliate links. We made a couple of minor organizing and decorating updates to the entryway that I thought you might like to see this week. Hopefully, as I talk through them, they’ll inspire some helpful changes in your home!Let’s start with the theoretical before photo of what the ... Read More about Entryway Organization & Decor

spices in drawer

10 Things to Declutter Every Fall – Fall Clean Up Series

Adding a fall clean up routine to your year is a great way to get the house ready for the holidays with less stress! Spring cleaning gets all the attention, but I don’t know anyone that has time to declutter, organize, and deep clean their entire home each spring. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that ... Read More about 10 Things to Declutter Every Fall – Fall Clean Up Series

Backyard Makeover – Before Photos & Plans

It's been a while since we've tackled a big project around the house, but I think the next one will be worth the wait. Ten years ago, when we picked out our lot to build on, we paid a premium for a larger backyard. While it was worth the price, we still haven't optimized the space for ourselves or for entertaining. Our ... Read More about Backyard Makeover – Before Photos & Plans

Wood tray with dark blue vinyl applied reading Sprinkles & S'mores

How to Customize a Wood Serving Tray with Cricut Joy

Each season, I love to add a little something to freshen up our home décor. At the same time, not being intentional with those minor additions can turn into major clutter over the years. Now, I try to stick with decor that adds function or has personal meaning. In today's new post, I'll show you how I updated a simple wood ... Read More about How to Customize a Wood Serving Tray with Cricut Joy

Wood nightstand with marble tray containing clear water carafe & bottle of Natrol Vitamins next to white vase with pink flowers

Tips for Falling Asleep

This post is sponsored by Natrol®, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. I’m the first to admit that I’m not a joy to be around the next day if I don’t get a good night’s sleep. Not getting enough sleep multiple nights in a row leads me to feeling physically ill and completely non-productive, so I have ... Read More about Tips for Falling Asleep

Long Wood Charcuterie Board

How to Prevent Clutter Before it Starts

In the past, I've written about different techniques for dealing with clutter in your home, like the root cause worksheet that helps things STAY decluttered. But there's actually a very important step before anything we've talked about before. Shopping. More specifically, our shopping habits have a huge impact on ... Read More about How to Prevent Clutter Before it Starts

white robot vacuum cleaning wood floor

How to Save Time on Housekeeping – Yeedi K650 Tips

It's no secret that I'm always looking for ways to make cleaning quicker or easier so I can spend more time doing things I enjoy. You'd think I would have been an early adopter to robot vacuums, but instead, I've been holding out for years, letting the technology improve and hoping for prices to drop.Well, it finally ... Read More about How to Save Time on Housekeeping – Yeedi K650 Tips

hand with white pen writing on kraft colored label

How to Label Storage Bins On a Dollar Tree Budget

One of the most important, but often overlooked, parts of my home organization process is labeling your storage containers, bins, or totes. I talk about this step in every organizing project I do because it's the key to keeping things tidy long-term. In the past, I've shared my favorite labeling tutorials using my ... Read More about How to Label Storage Bins On a Dollar Tree Budget

Books Stacks mounting on the wall with invisible brackets

Invisible Floating Bookshelf – Small Space Storage

If you're short on storage space for books or just looking for a wall to display your books in style, I've got a quick and affordable tutorial for you today! I fall into the camp of people that love having my own library of books at home. However, our living room floor plan doesn't allow space for bookcases without giving ... Read More about Invisible Floating Bookshelf – Small Space Storage

Hallway with wood floors, and white cube storage organizer against geometric blue and white wall. Organizer filled with bins and books.

Cube Storage Ideas

We recently tucked a new white 6 cube organizer into the hallway between our kitchen and master bedroom. It's become the perfect storage solution for some of our household clutter. You know, those annoying items that are necessary, but don't have a logical home in the house. In addition to the function, it's been a fun new ... Read More about Cube Storage Ideas

Affiliate Disclosure

Polished Habitat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Copyright

Please keep in mind that all text and images on this blog are the property of Polished Habitat (formerly A Prudent Life).

Projects are for personal use only.

Photo Use Policy

You are welcome to share 1 image for an online round up or feature if you clearly link back to my post and use nopin code.

You are not permitted to remove watermarks, crop or edit my photos, use my images without credit, print my images, or share more than 1 image online without my written permission.

The 1 image used can NOT be a collage image or any image I have created that includes text. Please email me with any questions about acceptable use! THANK YOU!

Copyright © 2022 · polishedhabitat.com