I love books. In fact, it’s more than love really. I’ve had to get a handle on my book spending allowance this year as it’s starting to get a little out of hand! Wait a minute…who am I kidding! Book allowance!? I never had one! As you can see in the picture, I own quite a few books. Funny thing is….that’s just one small section of it! There are books piled up under my desk, beside my desk, shoved in my sock drawer, and 3 more bookshelves at my parents home, full of em.’ I never realized how many I actually had until I moved in with my boyfriend last June. To this day, I’m still moving in my books! I think it will be a never ending process. One day I picture having a beautiful big library with floor to ceiling shelves and one of those ladders that rolls around the room from shelf to shelf. The room will be filled with flowers, have a massive window so the bright sun can shine in, and the coziest couch nestled right in the middle. It will happen one day, but the reality of the matter is that I live in a condo and I have limited space. Although….the empty microwave that I never use is looking like primo real estate right now! And it doesn’t help that I live right across the street from Chapters! I can see it from my friggin’ window!
My shelves are full of cookbooks, spirituality books, yoga and strength training texts, biographies, health and wellness books, and more and more cookbooks! And trust me when I say I’ll be adding to this fine collection, cause that is exactly what it is! A collection. My collection of memories, experiences and wisdom all laid out right before me.
I studied at the University of Toronto, specializing in religion and minoring in english. Ugh…english. I gotta be honest…I disliked MANY of the novels we were expected to read, and would find myself dosing off to sleep in the back corner of the room. I barely made it through that minor with a 60% average. Then after graduating I found myself following my heart and pursuing my passion to study nutrition. I sat at the front of the room, received high 90’s in almost every course and read every textbook cover to cover. Yup…that was me! An honour student, a brown noser! It’s amazing how engaged you can be and excited to pop outta bed in the morning, rushing off to school to study something you know you were meant to study. I honoured my need to pursue my degree in nutrition and I am so thankful for listening to that inner voice. The knowledge and wisdom I gained from studying nutrition allows me to now honour my body in a way that fuels me physically, mentally and emotionally. For that, I am forever grateful.
So what books do I recommend? For cooking? Spirituality? Nutrition? There are SO many.
Here’s what’s currently on my reading list, or in other words, some of the books I’ve picked up from my library in the past month or so, sat with on my couch and had a really good read while enjoying a warm cup of tea. I so look forward to my evenings and weekends and those few hours I get to sit on the couch and flip through a book. It’s very therapeutic for me.
COOKING:
Fast Flavours by Chef Michael Smith– I find myself referring to this book almost weekly now
Make it Paleo by Bill Staley & Hayley Mason – over 200 grain free recipes, plus awesome desserts!
The Whole Nutrition Cookbook – by Alissa Segersten & Tom Malterre– gluten free, dairy free & egg free recipes
Big Vegan – by Robin Asbell – too many vegan recipes to count!
Sweet Potato Power by Ashley Tudor – if you love sweet potato, you will LOVE this book!
SPIRITUALITY:
The Law of Divine Compensation by Marianne Williamson
May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
NUTRITION:
Eat Well, Age Better by Aileen Burford-Mason
The Detox Diet by Elson M. Haas
The Hormone Diet by Natasha Turner
YOGA:
The Path of the Yoga Sutras by Nicolai Bachman
Yoga Cures by Tara Stiles
I would love for you to share your reading list with me! I’m always interested in a good book!
Happy Reading!
Health & Abundance,
Samantha xo
