PEEK with Becca (SWEET) Jane

Kristi asked me to do a PEEK, and I really had to think hard of something fun for you to PEEK at! I definitely don’t live in the most visually-stimulating apartment, that’s for sure!!! And I’m not a very organized person, so a PEEK into my purse or my closets would have been downright embarrassing!

SO….I decided to let you take a PEEK at one of my most favorite things….my bookshelf! I LOVE to buy books and get them as gifts and give them as gifts. Books just make me happy!
I wish I had an adorable ‘reading nook’ for you to see. Someday I will. I picture it often: A big comfy armchair overlooking a lush green yard, a bright red end table with yellow tulips on top, white floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that line the room, and a snuggly kitty asleep at my feet. I could read for hours like that. Someday I’ll do a PEEK again and that’s what you’ll see.

But for now, my one cheap Walmart bookshelf is up against my cinder block wall, and I have no room for a designated reading nook. But HERE YOU GO!! I hope you enjoy your PEEK of my humble shelves.

The top two shelves mostly contain fiction and some amazing true stories; with a few random genres thrown in (I warned you I’m not very organized!).



To the far left, we have my Lonely Planet guide books to Seoul, Korea. I served an LDS mission there for 18 months, and I can’t bring myself to part with them! A few books over we have my collection of Chaim Potok books. Believe it or not, I used to read him clear back in MIDDLE SCHOOL. I was a nerd.

Amidst the next few books, we have two of my most favorite fiction books ever: Ellen Foster (by Kay Gibbons) and To Kill A Mockingbird (by Harper Lee). I have read these books over and over since I was young. I fall more and more in love with the characters each time I read them. Scout Finch reminds me sooo much of myself as a little girl…..carefree days spent playing outdoors. Ellen Foster’s story is extremely sad, but I absolutely love her and feel the need to protect her and make her life better! Read them. Next is The Long Walk. One of the most amazing true stories ever. Read it. Next up is the Harry Potter series. These don’t need much explanation, but I think every household needs this magic!!!

{please excuse........the photo that belongs here has left the building.  Visible Voice will track it down,choke it out and then drag it back her as soon as possible}

Leading off Shelf #2 we have a few books on writing/grammar. These come in handy as my hubby writes essays for school, and whenever I get in the mood to write (I dream of writing a novel someday). Then it’s the insanely unbelievable story of Aron Ralston, Between a Rock and a Hard Place. I am absolutely enamored by his story every time I go back and read it. He was pinned to the side of a slot canyon by a boulder for SIX days and was forced to amputate his own arm to free himself. Read it.
A few jumps over, we have some fabulous fiction: The Time Traveler’s Wife, PS I Love You, Blue Water, Twilight, Mona Lisa Smile, Jane Eyre, and another copy of Mockingbird (I dunno why my two copies aren’t by each other!). Lastly on the shelf are the Fablehaven Series and Lord of the Rings trilogy. These are Nate’s books.


Shelf #3 contains mostly gospel-related books, along with some great self-help books. I LOVE self-help books…..does that make me sound mental?? I hope not!! So here’s a few gems from shelf #3:
Supernanny’s book. I delve into this book alllll the time in desperate search of effective ways to parent my crazy toddler!! The Other Side of Heaven is another all-time favorite of mine. Read it. Next up….lots of Relief Society/Priesthood manuals! These are scripture…..I could read prophetic words for hours. Running With Angels…..Oh my goodness, READ it. It’s a story about a mother who lost 2 children in childbirth, had 2 other children with serious diseases, and she battled obesity which she overcame as a marathon runner. Amazing story.

Two of my most-read books sit on this shelf not collecting dust: Total Money Makeover, by the brilliant Mr. Dave Ramsey. This book will change your life. And second, The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands, by the brilliant Dr. Laura. This book will change your marriage. I read them at least every 6 months…..along with In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms, by Dr. Laura and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weissbluth. These last two books aren’t on my shelf cuz they’re on loan to some friends. But seriously, atleast one of these four books is almost always on my nightstand! Last, my cutie son, Cameron’s file-folder games to keep him busy at church finish off this shelf. Don’t they look sooo classy? I think so. Not ghetto at all.

Are you still with me? We’re almost done! Shelf #4 is 25% journals (my kids’ journals/baby books, along with some of my ancestors’ journals), 25% empty spiral notebooks (goes along nicely with our ghetto theme), and 50% cookbooks. Eventually I’d like to devote a LOT more shelf space to cookbooks! I’m not a great cook, but they’re just so fun to have!!


Bottom shelf! Phew, we made it! Okay, first up is Cameron’s scrapbook (which you will NEVER get a peek inside of, ha! I’m a horrid scrapbooker). Next up are two of my most prized possessions: My mission scrapbook and my Nepal trip scrapbook. Two of the best experiences of my life captured in pictures. If our place catches fire, I’m grabbing these suckers on my way out (along with my kids, of course!) And lastly we have a random assortment of textbooks, music books (Nate’s trumpet music, my piano music), and some really great Gospel study books that will make your scripture study that much more meaningful.
Well, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed your PEEK and that I’ve given you a few new reads to devour during the Holidays! I’m always on the hunt for great books, so please send your ideas my way!!

Before I go, I have to thank Kristi for letting me guest blog. It was so much fun!! Second, I have to thank my big sister, Michelle. She has a PhD in literature and has been a HUGE influence in planting a love of reading good books in me. She gave me my first copy of Mockingbird when I was just 12 years old, and I still consider it one of my most favorite gifts.

Happy Reading…..and Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Kristi here! Thanks Becca Jane (her blog here) for doing this PEEK post! Don't you just want to go out and start reading???? 


And thanks so much for sponsoring the giveaway! Yes that's the same lady. So be sure to enter for the giveaway. I know you're thinking...."I never win what's the point" but the point is SOMEONE has to win. And I know that if you don't have a baby girl...there's a baby girl that you know that you love and want to put bows on. You know it's true. So go here and enter. Go on....hop to it! 


 OH but before you go....here's my latest BEGGING for comments. (I'm super needy...)  Tell me what you're reading right now?! As in what's on your nightstand or wherever you keep your current read?? You know my love for reading so we're always looking for great ideas....just like this post!


COMMMMMMMMENT!