It’s rainy outside.
It’s also cold.
I shall seek warmth in the library!
Seriously, thank you so much for all your amazing book recommendations! I really want to print out all of the two hundred-something comments and take them with me when I go. Book nerds unite!
I started Blue Like Jazz last night and really, really liked it. I’ve only gotten through the first chapter, but I’m already loving Donald Miller’s writing style. Lots of great imagery and humor. I’ll keep you posted!
This morning I had a cup o’ joe.
And some peanut butter protein oats.
Please stick with me as I attempt the impossible task of eating my entire fridge and freezer. You see, I’m actually moving in two weeks (yes! found a new love shack for Dexter and I…we are stoked) and I don’t want to waste anything…or lug a million random frozen meals across town. You will probably see a lot of soups, stews and tofu in the next couple weeks but I’ll try to keep it real.
I shall return.
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans
April 27, 2010 at 8:35 amI actually wrote down a ton of the suggestions to take to the library this week! Yay for readers!
Jessica @ How Sweet
April 27, 2010 at 8:35 amA new love nest! Woohoo. 🙂 I have a love/hate relationship with trying to clean out the fridge.
E
April 27, 2010 at 8:36 amFirst comment!
I’ve been reading since the beginning. I am definitely buying some of your Amazon recommendations — totally with you on the Jodi Picoult front.
You’re an inspiration to me in terms of a balanced life, fighting the good fight and doing what you’re passionate about. No, I don’t think your life is perfect, but yes, I think you do an exceptional job at living.
I feel like I know you so well. This is my first comment! Crazy.
E
Lisa
April 27, 2010 at 8:38 amIt’s nasty and rainy here in Portland, too. All week long. Supposedly this weekend will be nice though. I’m crossing my fingers. 🙂
brandi
April 27, 2010 at 8:38 amTotally forgot about Donald Miller. We have all of his books and they’re wonderful. He’s so real and will tell it like it is.
I loved Blue Like Jazz! Searching for God Knows What is also great.
OK Chick
April 27, 2010 at 8:39 amI recently finished Donald Miller’s newest book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. AWESOME read. It’s a tons better than Blue Like Jazz and I loved BLJ.
PS- just started reading your blog. I’m a health nut that loves looking at your food pictures.
Diana
April 27, 2010 at 8:40 amYay for a new place! 🙂
Have a good day Jenna!
Sarah
April 27, 2010 at 8:43 amI’ve read all of Donald Miller’s books so far (I think), and I’ve enjoyed them all. He also has a blog (donaldmilleris.com). There’s good stuff there, too!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg
April 27, 2010 at 8:44 amAhhh, must print out that list now that summer vacation is here for me. Yay for academic schedules and summer reading!! 🙂
Ashley
April 27, 2010 at 8:47 amAre you familiar with http://www.goodreads.com? it’s a great way to keep track of books you want to read and have read as well as reading reviews from other people.
Christie {Honoring Health}
April 27, 2010 at 8:48 amCan’t wait to see your new place!
Evan Thomas
April 27, 2010 at 8:51 amI’m having to go through the eat out phase of moving too, and boy is it rough!
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat)
April 27, 2010 at 8:55 amAwesome, congrats on finding a new place! Maybe now you can invest in some furniture. 😉
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
April 27, 2010 at 8:58 amThe eat-your-home-or-lose-your-food-to-spoilage phase is a great part of moving. Er, not so much. I have to say, I just love how balanced your life is. Part of the reason I look forward to your blog daily is that you’re not preachy, you know how to enjoy yourself (hello wine and killer restaurants) but you have a great outlook on healthy living. I think so many blogs are focused on perfection and restriction and yours is a breath of fresh (albeit rainy) air.
Chandra H
April 27, 2010 at 8:58 amoooh sounds like a lovely thing to do be doing a rainy day. enjoy. & i hope you read some Curtis Sittenfeld, i would love to hear your thoughts on her!
😀
<3
Jil
April 27, 2010 at 9:00 amOhh, yay for finding an apartment!! 🙂 Reading is the perfect rainy day activity. 🙂
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run]
April 27, 2010 at 9:00 amYay for finding a new place – that’s exciting. Are you off to SR now? A rainy, cold day here as well. Ready for those “May flowers”…and sunshine.
anne
April 27, 2010 at 9:02 amCan’t wait to see your new home! I loooved Blue Like Jazz.
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin
April 27, 2010 at 9:06 amCongrats on finding a new place! Having a challenge like using up everything in your fridge/freezer is a fun one… I try to do it every few months and always come up with some interesting meals!
Julie
April 27, 2010 at 9:15 amYay, Blue Like Jazz! That’s totally on my reading list for this summer. My family and friends have all read it and love Donald Miller. Thanks for all the great book recommendations, I can’t wait to do some more fun reading this summer!
Julie
April 27, 2010 at 9:16 amJENNA!
Blue Like Jazz is my favorite book ever! The best chapter is about the confession closet. I dont know the exact title of it because my book has been on loan to my friends for too long! I need to get it back! I also heard him speak a couple of years ago! Donald Miller is amazing! 🙂
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs
April 27, 2010 at 9:29 amWahey for finding a new love nest! How exciting :DBad luck on the rain though…for once, it was nice and sunny where I am 🙂
Have a lovely day!
Jenny
April 27, 2010 at 9:35 amBlue like jazz is a great bOok!
Camille
April 27, 2010 at 9:35 amYou look so cozy, I’m jealous!
Enjoy your book reading 🙂
Claire
April 27, 2010 at 9:36 amThat looks like such a great place to read! I really should print out that list of books that people commented about. Thats so exciting about the new apartment! I actually like to see what people can come up with, with limited supplies!
Sarah for Real
April 27, 2010 at 9:39 amYeah! Congrats on the new place. I love moving, it’s so cleansing!
eatmovelove
April 27, 2010 at 9:41 amI want a new place too!!!
Books rock.
Would you ever want to write a ficitonal novel?
allison @ livingoneday
April 27, 2010 at 9:42 ami love that you added the “you might also like…” boxes!!! im sick at the office and all i want to do is crawl into my bed with a book. wahhh
Katy ( The Balanced Foodie)
April 27, 2010 at 9:43 amTotally feel you..we move in a couple days and our eats haven’t been super varied! I finally gave in and bought produce yesterday. Much better. Blue Like Jazz is great, I won’t give anything away but I love his “confession booth” you’ll see what I mean. 🙂
Danielle
April 27, 2010 at 9:48 amCan I thank YOU for all of the book recommendations?! With graduation looming in the near future I know I am going to need quite a few amazing novels to keep me trucking through the job market 🙂 at the same time though, I could probably really use one right about now, it’s rainy here too and all I feel like doing is curling up with a good book.
What happened to spring? 😉
P.S. Congrats on your new home! Hope it’s more convenient for you!
Staceyhttp://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/
April 27, 2010 at 9:54 amThat is the kind of morning we are having here, wet and cold. I also had a nice breakfast in bed.
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
April 27, 2010 at 10:00 amI know first hand how you feel regarding the dreary, wet weather. We’ve had it here in NYC for the past few days as well, after a while it’s just maddening. Looks like you have a great plan for coping with it! Enjoy your new read.
Allison K
April 27, 2010 at 10:15 amI loved loved loved Blue Like Jazz–and all of this other books too.
Tina
April 27, 2010 at 10:18 amI love that picture of your coffee for some reason!
theemptynutjar
April 27, 2010 at 10:24 amUgh…I have to move to a bad place next week….and then re-move again BEfore end of june…moving twice in less than 2 months is not good….and i can only afford cheap dump-like places, so not cool!
Hate moving…keep up the positivity.
Jessica @ The Process of Healing
April 27, 2010 at 10:31 amProtein oats, need to try that!
As for that post, I’m bookmarking it so i’ll have plenty of reading ideas for the future!
AmyJoGo
April 27, 2010 at 10:34 amI LOVE Blue Like Jazz. Good pick!
Daisy
April 27, 2010 at 10:37 ami cant wait to see your new place! congrats
Maddy
April 27, 2010 at 10:42 ami love blue like jazz! another great christian author is Rob Bell. i highly recommend “Velvet Elvis”
Lauren
April 27, 2010 at 10:44 amI loved Blue Like Jazz. I just finished A Million Miles in a Thousand Years–you need to read this! It is great. He discusses how to live your “story”–something you as a writer may relate to!
Cynthia (It All Changes)
April 27, 2010 at 10:48 amI’m working on operation eat our freezer too. We have stuff in there we just need to eat.
Samantha
April 27, 2010 at 10:49 amI love holing up with a hot drink and a book on an ugly day like this! Makes me a tad envious! It has yet to rain in this part of Cali, but Im sure it will be a coming!
Emily B
April 27, 2010 at 11:09 amI just finished “Firefly Lane” and thought it was a wonderful read! I totally recommend it. I also wrote some of your favorites down – the next book I’m reading is “Souviner: A Novel” – I can’t wait to dive in.
Cristal
April 27, 2010 at 11:21 amHi Jenna,
I just finished the latest Jodi Picoult novel, House Rules and I saw that you were reading Sandcastles by Luanne Rice. What was your opinion of it?
Kim
April 27, 2010 at 11:28 amI’m late, but you should try The Red Tent by Anita Diamant – she tells the story of Jacob’s wives (from the bible) – the competition between them and the bond, too. It’s fantastic.
Nora@LiveLifeEatRight
April 27, 2010 at 11:32 amIt was raining/SNOWING here this morning too. I curled up with my oatmeal and laptop in my big ole comforter. This basically defines the perfect way to start a day in my book! Once classes are over, have a whole list of books to read. I’ve never been a fan of reading for school but reading for pleasure is one of my favorite ways to relax and spend time.
And…AH good luck with the move. I’m in the process of fridge cleaning too! I’m out of here in 2.5 weeks…and have yet to figure out my next arrangement. Regaurdless, fridge cleaning in process!
Take Care,
Nora
Helen
April 27, 2010 at 11:33 amIt’s such a good idea to use up all the stuff in your fridge / freezer. When we moved in I back up so many boxes of food stuff it took up a lot of room in my car! I love reading so much and always buy book and not have enough time to read them. I really need to make more time for reading.
Kara
April 27, 2010 at 11:39 amOMG, I love, love, love Blue Like Jazz. It’s probably one of my favorite books of all time.
Therese
April 27, 2010 at 12:00 pmI can’t wait to finish school so I can read real books again and not textbooks!
Way to go on finding a new place! Finding new digs can be fun but also soooo frustrating! Good luck with the move!
kate
April 27, 2010 at 12:23 pmI bet moving now will help you simplify before you head to Paris! When do you leave for France?
Christine
April 27, 2010 at 12:56 pmlove it!
Jill Will Run
April 27, 2010 at 2:10 pmI’m not moving anytime soon… but I’ve been trying to eat stuff out of my freezer lately. I was a little too good at stocking up on some things and then forgetting about them!
Your hair looks so cute in two braids!
Katherine
April 27, 2010 at 2:12 pmI really, really like blue like jazz. If you finish it, check out his other book: searching for god knows what. I think other people have liked through painted deserts but I haven’t read it yet!
Jayce
April 27, 2010 at 2:18 pmI love Donald Miller. His books are so engaging that you just fly through them and then feel sad because you wanted it to last longer. His honesty – or self-deprication – is refreshing. If you like Blue Like Jazz, you’ve got to read Through Painted Deserts and Searching For God Knows What… and he has a new one out that I have yet to read. I love reading on rainy days. 🙂
tasha - the clean eating mama
April 27, 2010 at 2:29 pmUgh! I hate moving food, too!
megan
April 27, 2010 at 6:01 pmI love donald miller! ALL of his books are amazing..esp. his newest, “A million miles in a thousand years.” He is an awesome guy and great writer. So happy to see you reading and enjoying ‘blue like jazz’ 🙂
Diana @ frontyardfoodie
April 27, 2010 at 6:28 pmNice! Cleaning out the freezer is always a great idea even if you aren’t moving. It just feels good to have a fresh start. Congrats on the new place!
Kerry @ Running on Faith
April 27, 2010 at 6:59 pm“Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.” – Donald Miller
Loved Blue Like Jazz. Enjoy it 🙂
Alison
April 28, 2010 at 4:19 amOh, I LOVED Blue Like Jazz. Most books I read don’t stick with me for long after (positively, anyway), but this one did. I hope you enjoy it.
Courtney (Pancakes & Postcards)
April 28, 2010 at 6:14 amI will be the upteenth person to say they loved BLJ, you should check out Through Painted Deserts too… travel/roadtrip/spirituality memoir. Wonderful.
Mackenzie @ The College Authentic
April 28, 2010 at 9:52 amAHHHH! I loveeeeed “Blue Like Jazz”! Anyone who can relate cartoon bunny rabbits to religion and do it well is a-okay with me!
🙂
Corinne
April 28, 2010 at 10:35 amI know you have been inundated with book recommendations but it took me until this am to realize my FAVORITE book ever. “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch. Please, if you haven’t read this, get into it… It’s a laugh until you cry, cry until you laugh, POWERFUL read
Corinne
April 28, 2010 at 10:35 amANDD duh, congrats on the new place!!! 🙂 yay
tricia
April 28, 2010 at 10:38 amJenna, my first ever comment/post although I read all the time… it’s like candy to me… really! Anyway, the migraine: I live in wine country (Dundee hills) and I was given very good advice by a vinyard owner~ don’t drink anything less than three years old~ that’s the cut off. It must be more than three years old and voila, no headache. It has always worked for me BUT, I don’t drink a lot of wine, I am more a get-there-quick-and-taper-off kind of gal (vodka) Hope you feel better. T
Lauren
April 29, 2010 at 3:46 pmI love Blue Like Jazz-I think I’ve read it 5 times? It’s just one of THOSE books. I’ve read all of his books, but that one and A Million Miles in a Thousand Years are my favorites. You would totally relate to that that one too as he talks about his writing career and biking across the country.