by kathilipp | Dec 31, 2009 | Uncategorized |
Oh how I love these words. Thanks Kim for sending them exactly when I needed them. I pray that your new year is filled with all the God possibilities – more than you could ever imagine.
Kathi
Saint Theresa’s Prayer
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May today there be peace within.
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May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
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May you not forget the infinite possibilities
that are born of faith.
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May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
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May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.
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Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
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It is there for each and every one of us.
by kathilipp | Dec 30, 2009 | Uncategorized |
In continuing my week of favorites, below are my favorite 5 blogs of the year.
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The Four Hour Work Week :: Tim Ferris
Tim is the author “The Four Hour Work Week” and is one of the biggest thinkers I have ever read. I don’t follow all of his advice (as a health nut, he would probably try to get me to run a marathon and eat powerbars.) However, as I embark on new adventures in my life, I need to surround myself with some big thinkers to show me not what is impossible, but what is possible. Here is a typical post from Tim about Christmas gifts that changed his life: 13 Christmas Gifts That Can Change (or Save) Your Life.
But one of my favorite posts is about a girl who came out of the Amish way of living. Not one of his typical posts, but again, made me think in ways I hadn’t before. You can read it here.
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CBA Rants and Ramblings :: Rachelle Gardner
If you are a writer (doesn’t matter what kind of writer) you should be reading Rachelle’s blog. Upfront, I will tell you I am biased because she is my agent. But don’t take my word for it as Writer’s Digest has her listed on the 101 best websites for writers. Not too shabby.
What I love about Rachelle is that she can get a conversation going. Check out her posting on self-publishing.
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Marla Taviano
If your best friend wrote a blog, it would be like Marla’s. It makes me warm and happy. Here is one of my favorite postings by her and her obsession with scrabble letters.
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Jennsylvania :: Jen Lancaster
If your snarky, disgruntled, cranky, rated PG13 friend wrote a blog, it would be like Jen’s. Check out her hilarious recent posting on the Twlight craze, Jennsylvania edition of New Moon.
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I Can Have Cheezburgers
The above picture can be found here.
These cats make me happy. If I am grumpy, Roger suggests I head over to LOL catz.
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Last week, as my assistant and I were talking about my top 5 favorite blogs, she asked if I had ever seen peopleofwalmart.com (a really funny site she said I must check out.) Intrigued by the name, I clicked on it and am now horrified I will see a picture of me on there one day!
What are some of your favorite blogs this year? Please share so that others can get inspired, spend hours laughing or start dressing better when they head out to the store!
by kathilipp | Dec 29, 2009 | Uncategorized |
We’ve covered books and now it’s on to television! Here are my favorite shows of the year.
Lost (ABC)
Lost ()
We are latecomers to the Lost party, but after a summer of diligent (or perhaps obsessive) Netflixing we are on season 5 and will be fully prepared to catch up with the rest of you island freaks in January for the final season.
Big Bang Theory (hulu)
If you live with an engineer, this is Must See TV. I live with multiple people who have genius IQs and can recite long passages of dialog from Star Trek. If you watch BBT, you will understand why I call myself the non-hot Penny.
The Office (hulu)
It’s like an car wreck. So uncomfortable to watch. So impossible to look away.
The Biggest Loser (nbc.com)
Yes, we watch this with a big bowl of popcorn. But at least it’s diet popcorn.
Mad Men (amc)
No, don’t watch it with your kids. But I can’t get enough of the costumes, the shock of watching pregnant women drink their martinis and all sorts of no nos. And the writing, the glorious writing is impeccable. LOVE I)
We are latecomers to the Lost party, but after a summer of diligent (or perhaps obsessive) Netflixing we are on season 5 and will be fully prepared to catch up with the rest of you island freaks in January for the final season.
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Big Bang Theory (CBS)
If you live with an engineer, this is Must See TV. I live with multiple people who have genius IQs and can recite long passages of dialog from Star Trek. If you watch BBT, you will understand why I call myself the non-hot Penny.
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The Office (Hulu)
It’s like an car wreck. So uncomfortable to watch. So impossible to look away.
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.The Biggest Loser (Hulu)
Yes, we watch this with a big bowl of popcorn. But at least it’s diet popcorn.
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.Mad Men (AMC)
No, don’t watch it with your kids. But I can’t get enough of the costumes, the shock of watching pregnant women drink their martinis and all sorts of no nos. And the writing, the glorious writing is impeccable. LOVE IT.
What TV shows have dedicated space on your DVR or do you always catch on Hulu?
by kathilipp | Dec 28, 2009 | Uncategorized |
As I was thinking of some of my favorite fiction books, the books of several local author friends came to mind. I could not – in good conscious – pick up any certain one from them as that would be like a mom choosing her favorite kid. So I decided to ask them to introduce to you one of their books that they felt is either their favorite, their most fun to write or was the one that best represents them.
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The Red Siren by MaryLu Tyndall
The Red Siren, because it’s an exciting, adventurous, romantic swashbuckling adventure that was a lot of fun to write. What’s not to love about a lady pirate who falls in love with the British Naval captain assigned to capture her?
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Exp
osure by Brandilyn Collins
Have readers try Exposure, my latest adult novel and a bestseller. Like all my Seatbelt Suspense® novels, it features a fast pace from page one, multi-layered characterization, multiple twists, and a faith element that arises naturally from the cataclysmic events.
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Only Uni by Camy Tang
I would suggest my second Sushi book, Only Uni, because I think Trish’s character is one most people relate to as opposed to Lex, the heroine of book one in the series. Also, Trish’s struggles seem to have resonated with more people than Lex’s, if my fan mail is anything to go by. Trish’s struggles are very personal for me because they’re similar to what I had to deal with when I was still single.
Here are another two books that I enjoyed reading this year.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
What were your favorite fiction books of 2009?
by kathilipp | Dec 27, 2009 | Uncategorized |
As 2009 is rapidly drawing to a close, I thought I’d spend this week highlighting some of my favorites of 2009. The week will begin with my favorite non-fiction books of 2009.
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My Life in France by Julia Child
I love this book, not only as an eater (oh to read some of the descriptions of what Julia and Paul not only cooked, but ate, is truly jaw-dropping) but as a writer as well. Poor Juila and her co-authors went through several renditions (not to mention a couple of publisher) for their tour de force Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Any author who reads her struggles can’t help but feel a kinship.
And – I love Julia’s relationship with her husband Paul. They rocked the love stuff.
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The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
If my kids ever complain about their childhood, I am going to hand them a copy of this book. It is amazing the power we have over our own lives.
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So Long, Status Quo: What I Learned from Women Who Changed the World by Susy Flory
Susy is a brave, excellent writer and I dare you not to be inspired to go do something great.
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Celebrations of Discipline by Richard Foster
I read this book every year – but have never written about it on the blog, so I thought I would share what Richard Foster means to me. I have never read anyone who has given so much grace for not being the perfect Christian, yet at the same time can show me the value of a life lived in discipline.
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Halfway to Each Other by Susan Pohlman
This was recommended to me by my agent Rachelle (you can see her list of “best of’s” here) (It’s only fair – I gave her the title of one of my favorite fiction books The Help, which she spotlighted on her list.)
This is the true story of a couple whose marriage is falling apart and in a last ditch effort to avoid divorce, move to Italy and leave their overscheduled, overstressed life in Southern California behind.
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BTW – I am in the middle of a book that I am thoroughly enjoying – The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance – a fuller report when I am done!
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Now – my question for you – what are the best non-fiction books of your 2009. Come on… I have a lot of plane rides this spring and I need some good stuff!
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by kathilipp | Dec 4, 2009 | Uncategorized |
Ashley sent me a link to Gourmet Mom On The Go who is a woman with a lot of creativity (and maybe some extra time on her hands) who has wrapped cookie dough in the cutest way I have ever seen.
If you have a Martha Stewart complex, this is for you.
(OK, I am just bitter that I am not this creative.)
Thanks Ashley!
