My fall reading list

"You are the same today you’ll be in five years except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read" 
- Charlie Jones


I love reading and it's common for me to be reading two or three (or more) books at a time.  It's funny, I often look back and remember a season of life based on what I read during it.  Here's what I have on the go this fall.  I'll let you know what I think of them once I am done :-)

Here's my ever growing wish list to read in 2011...It's really random and kind of all over the place (don't say I didn't warn you!).  Please note that I am not recommending all of these books - just reading them.  I'll let you know that ones that I love and why!

Same Kind of different as Me - by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

The Happiness Project - by Gretchen Rubin
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life - by Anne Lamont

Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far - by Amy Grant

The Executive and the Elephant: A Leader's Guide for Building Inner Excellence  - by Richard L. Daft

I'd love to hear - what are you reading this fall?

Bittersweet Giveaway Results

Thanks for all of the great reading ideas......I've added them to my list!

As far as the winner of the giveaway goes - huge conrats to LAUREN!  You'll be receiving a signed copy of Bittersweet in the mail :-)

Thanks girls for participating!

p.s.  I know this seems really rigged - with Lauren being my sister and all.....but honestly, it's not - Grace is my witness!

Bittersweet Review (and giveaway from my favourite author)

Last summer I read Shauna Niequist's first book, Cold Tangerines.

I literally stumbled across Cold Tangerines.

I loved it and probably drove my family and friends nuts talking about how much I loved it.  I loved the content and the idea of living life with a heart full of celebration and of finding the sacred in the ordinary.  But much more than that, I just loved the way Shauna writes.  I felt like I was having a rich conversation with her over a cup of coffee and I savoured her authenticity.

I have found books about faith to be a bit cheezy at times (sorry - just being honest), but this book was a breath of fresh air.  Shauna's courage to tell her story and to invite her readers into her deepest joys and struggles completely inspired, challenged and changed me.  She gave me a glimpse of the kind of friend and person and spouse that I want to be.  After reading her book, I felt more alive and passionate about living a life that is rich with meaning, depth, vulnerability and beauty.  Needless to say, when I heard about her second book being released in August 2010, I pre-ordered it through Amazon.  Her second book is called Bittersweet and it did not disappoint.

My favourite kind of books are the kind that you can't put down and you think about while you're not consumed with reading it.  Bittersweet was for sure that for me.  I couldn't put it down and at the same time was trying to savour it and read it slowly because I didn't want it to end.  Ever had that kind of experience before?  Bittersweet is a fantastic collection of short stories about death and rebirth, hope, redemption and about the bigger story that God is writing in all of our lives.  Beautiful.

Want to hear the coolest part?  Shauna has agreed to give away a signed copy of Bittersweet to one of my friends!  To qualify, all you have to do is comment on this post before midnight on Sunday October 24th.  Just leave your name and the title of one of your all time favourite books.  The winner will be randomly selected and I'll announce the winner first thing on Monday morning.  I'll then contact you privately, get your mailing address and Shauna will send you a signed copy!

I don't think I could choose a favourite chapter in Bittersweet, but I especially loved the one entitled  "things I don't do". That chapter freed me from gardening.  Literally.  I have hated gardening ever since I can remember and I'm terrible at it, but always felt guilty about it.  Not any more.  I am okay with admitting that it is not my strength and have given myself permission to put gardening on my "to don't" list.  Thanks Shauna :-)

p.s.  you can check out Shauna's website at www.shaunaniequist.com

Spontaneous Fall Hike

Last Sunday afternoon, it was such a gorgeous fall day.  Steve and I decided to drag the girls away from the television, pile them into the truck and head up the escarpment for a hike.  Boy, were we ever glad that we did!  It was the kind of afternoon that we wouldn't have wanted to miss.

Voice in Leadership

I really enjoy listening to Nancy Beach talk about leadership.  I heard her speak last Spring and it was so timely.  It was right around the time I was beginning my governance role at Southridge and I loved what she taught me about finding my own, unique and authentic voice as a leader.  Check out this clip from Nancy.  I snagged this from the Global Leadership Summit blog ( http://wcagls.com/):





I think the advice to "learn by doing" is good advice for blogging too :-)

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

For years I have been searching for the ultimate chocolate chip cookie recipe.  You know, crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside.  This past year I found it!

I found it on Becky Higgins website and they are delish and perfect.  I'm convinced it's because this recipe calls for both butter and shortening.  I thought I would share it.   It's called "Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies" and Steve and I always joke around that when the name of a recipe or restaurant begins with "Mom's, you're usually in good hands :-)

MOM’S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

2/3 c. shortening
2/3 c. butter (not margarine)
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped nuts
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix thoroughly first 6 ingredients. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop on ungreased baking stone. Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 375 degrees. This is a single recipe which makes about 7 dozen. Mom always makes a double batch.

The Name Game

I just need to put this out there - it was really hard to come up with a blogger address.  Much harder than I thought.  Maybe it's because most of the good ones were taken.  It honestly took me hours.   The whole experience left me feeling pretty self absorbed and frustrated.  Patience is definitely not my strong suit.



Steve and the girls had all sorts of opinions and here are some of the ones thrown into the mix:

Carrie's corner
At the end of the day
Carrie Chat
cj
all that matters



I was thinking along the lines of "sharing my journey" or "writing my story" or " finding my voice" or something like that.  Most of the ones I tried were taken and the ones that I came up with that were not taken, just sounded cheezy.  I also didn't want a title that was too serious - because some days I might write about stuff that is kind of random and/or light.

In the end, it was Grace who said I should throw the word "coffee" into the name.  The more I thought about it, I liked it.  It was simple and light and not too cheezy (I hope!).  It kind or resonated with me because my idea in starting this blog was that one morning a week (typically on Fridays),  I would sit down with a cup of coffee and write.  So, in the end I decided to go with "coffeeandcarrie".  It was also 11 p.m. and I just wanted to get to bed.  Either way, the name is done and I'm commiting to weekly coffee and writing.  I can't promise that it will be profound, but I can promise to keep it real.  So, thanks for joining me as I continue on this journey and as I stumble forward.

the day my little sister got married...

So, my little sister, Leah was married this fall.  September 25th to be exact.  It was the most perfect day. Every detail was thought of and the rain even held off for the ceremony, which was no small thing.  She looked stunning.  Glowing.  Something about her seemed timeless.  Craig was so taken with her and I'll never forget the way Craig looked at her on that day.

Check out this really cool reading they had read during their ceremony:

Wilferd Peterson - The Art of MarriageThe little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, "I love you" at least once a day.


It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years.


It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.


It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have the wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other.


It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.


It is finding room for the things of the Spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual, and the obligation is reciprocal.


It is not only marrying the right partner, it is BEING the right partner. This is "The Art of Marriage"

Beautiful, isn't it?  I don't know about you, but that reading resonates with me even more after 13 1/2 years of marriage. I loved it.

Here's some other kind of random, fun photos that I couldn't resist posting!

"Sisters" ( Lauren, Leah and I)

Gorgeous Fall Flowers

My Girls with My Sister

Beth - so precious.  The day had finally arrived and she was a "flower girl"!

Lauren and Leah were so cute - they were upstairs watching everyone arrive for the ceremony and once Leah saw Craig, she "lost it".  Really beautiful moment.
 Glad I captured it.

Father (known as Dave Sr.) and Daughter

My Brother, Dave - my sister-in-law, Kristal and my beautiful niece, Maja.

Doesn't seem that long ago that it was our wedding day!

Grace and Eva

Craig

Spontaneous family shot

My Parents, Lauren and her husband Nat

the hall

the meal was amazing and this chocolate dessert was divine

Family weddings are so much fun!

This was Beth's spot...couldn't resist taking a picture :-)

Here we go.....

So here I am, finally entering the world of blogging.  Thanks for checking out my blog ( okay, that sounds super weird).  This is very early days for me and so the general theme of my blog is clearly in the formative stage.  My expectation is that I will be writing about every day stuff which for me is a mixture of ( in no particular order) parenting, recipes, marriage, books I’m reading, leadership, shopping, friendship, what I’m learning and so on - basically my life.  My hope is that I can be a source of inspiration and authenticity to all who stumble upon my site.  To be completely honest - at the moment, this “blogging thing” is more about me than you.  What I mean by that is that this blog is an opportunity to write and in recent months and years, that has been the crazy longing of my heart.  So here I go, I’m giving it a shot and carving out time each week to commit to the discipline of writing.  It might be fantastic or it might be a flop, but I’m taking a risk.