We’re gonna start something a little new today. Every now and again [read: whenever you email me], I’m going to answer questions you guys may have… I have no idea what kind of lunacy I’m opening myself up to, but I’m kinda pumped about it.

. . . . .

So on Monday, as I was hustlin’ through my inbox, an email came through from Caroline asking all manner of questions about the book club I attend. And because our first book club of 2012 was on Saturday morning and because it is one of my very favorite activities, I will answer Caroline’s questions.

[And because I like Caroline. Obvi.]

. . . . .

First of all, here are a few posts I’ve written in the past about book club(s):

• And what if two years later I don’t like the penguin? (My Marietta book club)
• Smile, Wednesday #2  (My first Nash book club meeting!)
• Smile, Wednesday #7 (When the Nash girls read In the Woods)
• I just love it. (When I hosted book club the first time)
• Book Club: Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand (When I hosted book club last spring)

. . . . .

Caroline sent me a collection of questions about book club. Let the interview begin!

How do you start a book club?

Well, Caroline, you just find some friends who like to read. You pick a book. Then you say, “one month from today, let’s talk about this book.” Then you put it on your calendar and then you meet and talk about the book. You can find discussion questions online or just make them up yourself.

Another option – ask around! Maybe your friends are already book clubbing and you just don’t know! That’s how I got in this one in Nashville. A friend said, “I go to book club” and before the whole sentence was out of her mouth, I said, “CAN I PLEASE COME?!?” And thirty books later, I’m still there.

How many people should I invite?

If you get above fifteen, it is hard to have a discussion. But not everyone will read every book. Our list has about twenty girls on it, but we usually average between five and twelve girls at each gathering.

But listen. If there is only two of you, go for it! It’ll grow in time. No pressure.

How often do you meet?

We shoot for one book per month and one meeting per month. But it can be loosey goosey, especially in the summer when folks aren’t always in town.

What have you read?

Well, this isn’t an exhaustive list, because I’ve been in book clubs pretty consistently since 2005. But here are a few of my favorites over the years.

• Eat, Pray, Love
• Hadassah
• Memoirs of a Geisha
• Don’t Shoot It’s Only Me
• In the Woods
• The Hunger Games
• I Am the Messenger
• Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand
• The Help
• When Knighthood Was In Flower
• The Queen of the Big Time
• March
• A Woman of Independent Means
• The Ghost Map
• The Alchemist
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
• Scratch Beginnings
• Peace Like a River
• Bossypants
• One Day

Phew. And we just simply pick books by telling each other what we like, hence the huge variety. You can either pick the book for the next month at the current month’s meeting or you can schedule out a few months in advance.

We have found that scheduling a few months at a time is good- then people can reserve at the library, decide which ones they want to read, that kind of thing.

So that’s how you do book club. It’s no biggie, it’s low stress, and you get to read amazing books that you would have never picked on your own!! Hope that answers all your questions, Caroline.

. . . . .

Are any of you in a book club? Got more advice for Caroline? What’s the best book your book club has read lately?

If anyone else has questions for a future “Ask AnnieBlogs” post, bring it! Leave a comment here or email me at annieblogs [at] gmail [dot] com.

It’s been a central conversation piece in about a zillion conversations in the last three weeks or so. It seems that every time a girl and I start to chat, the topic of dating arises and this book makes us gab for twenty extra minutes.

Because every has read it / is reading it / needs to read it.

It is so good, y’all. So so good.

How to Get a Date Worth Keeping

If you are single, you need to buy this book. Buy 2 copies and lovingly give one to another single friend. Y’all read it together and talk about it. Unless you are a girl and you give it to a dude. Just leave him be. Don’t make him discuss it. But this book is for guys and girls, so you can give it away to any singlet you know.

I could go on for 25 paragraphs about how this book is affecting how I think and act and look at dating. And so many of my friends would tell you the same. Even last night at dinner, I went on and on, saying, “you guys! He is right and we’ve been wrong! I’VE been wrong!” and then we all sit in wonder over some of his ideas and thoughts.

That’s all I’m gonna say about it. Go buy it. Read it. Do what he says. And then tell me what you think.

[Caveats galore: I do not know Henry Cloud, the author.... yet, at least. He has not asked me to blog about this or read this book. He is not paying me in any way to promote this book. I am just 100% convinced that HE IS RIGHT and that Christian singles need to read this book. Also, I'm not in 100% agreement with everything he says, so don't get all "I can't believe Annie agrees with that" on me. Okay? Okay.]

. . . . .

Has anyone already read How to Get a Date Worth Keeping? Did you like it? Why or why not?

People ask me often about what books teenagers should/could/would maybe like to read. And while you may be SUPER close to running out of time to shop for a Christmas gift, I thought I’d offer this list anyways.

Thanks to my friends on facebook and my read-a-holic sister and my book nerd self, we’ve come up with a pretty stout list of books that you can find on Amazon. So check it out!

Non-fiction

The Divine Dance by Shannon Primicerio

The Truth About Dating, Love, and Just Being Friends by Chad Eastham

Let Me Be a Woman by Elizabeth Elliot

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

SHE Teen by Rebecca St. James

Life.Now. by Michael & Shannon Primicerio

A Cord of Three Strands by Sara Berry and Tricia Robbins

Susie Magazine subscription

. . . . .

Fiction

Christy Miller Series by Robin Jones Gunn [there are LOTS of these... get your gal hooked and you're set for gifts for a while!]

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In Front of God and Everybody (The Confessions of April Grace) by KD McCrite

Asking for Trouble by Sandra Byrd

. . . . .

Have any suggestions you’d like to add to the list?

Well, people. It is finally here.

I am so excited show you the AWESOME From Head to Foot Christmas Gift Pack for 2011! I called up a bunch of my buddies and got everybody together in Annie’s Christmas workshop and said, “let’s make the coolest Christmas gift pack ever.”

So we did.

If you have a girl in your life that is, ya know, 13-25 years old, and you like to buy her a Christmas present, you should get her this. She’ll be happy and clap and hug you and stuff. [That's not a guarantee... my lawyer/mother says I shouldn't make those.]

Here are the details:

The 2011 Christmas Gift Pack costs only $30 (that includes shipping for USA residents!).

The package includes :

An autographed copy of From Head to Foot… my book… you know… I wrote it.

An autographed copy of Matt Wertz’s new Christmas album Snow Globe

[You know I love Wertz. He's such a good dude. But even if I didn't, I would tell you- this album is GUH-REAT.]

One of a kind poppy pin … looks so cute on a backpack, headband, as a brooch or as a pin. With about 30 different fabrics and a few different designs, you can be assured that your poppy pin is totally unique! There are two clasps on the back… so you can either pin it or clip it!

[You know why? Because my friend Katie B, who made these AND is seen here wearing one of the poppys, thinks of everything. So clip and pin? Check and check.]

Cool *brand new* 11×17 poster!

This beautifully designed poster is bright and fun and has a memory verse for each chapter.

Such a great encouragement for girls to see on a daily basis!

[I am BEYOND excited about this poster... I mean, SUCH a cute addition to the AnnieBlogs world.]

. . . . .

So what I’m saying is….

BOOK + CD + PIN + POSTER + (random Christmasy things I find in my local Target) + SHIPPING = $30

Happiness in the eyes of your friend /child /granddaughter /amiga /roommate /girlfriend when they open this multi-faceted gift = I wanna say priceless, but actually, we both know that you paid $30 for that. So the answer still is… $30.

I’m tired, so I’m making dumb jokes.

ORDER HERE!

Big thanks to Matt Wertz, Katie Edwards, Jordan Duncan, and Emily Keafer for helping make this Gift Pack happen.

Y’all have a great weekend… and if you wanna, feel free to pass this info along to anybody who you think may be looking to give a cool Christmas gift this year.

We have a limited amount of Christmas gift packs left [my newsletter peeps got first dibs], so hurry and order!

One of my favorite things about this season of my life is that I am reading. A LOT.

I mean, I’ve always been the girl who loves to read, don’t get me wrong. But there just seem to be seasons of my life where I read a few great books in a row. And That. Just. Happened.

So with Christmas season around the bend, I thought I would share.

. . . . . .

Tara-Leigh Cobble has done it again. As an old friend of the blog, I’m always happy to tell you about the art she is making. And whoa and wow. Orange Jumpsuit is amazing.

No kidding, I read this book in about five hours. I laid in my bed one Friday [our day off at Crossroads] and I read every last word. I sopped it up like gravy, y’all.

I can’t recommend this book enough, especially if you have single gals in your life. It’s just an amazing testimony from a girl living the single life well… and openly, and honestly.

I finished the book. I closed my eyes. And I thought, “Good gracious above I absolutely loved that book.”

Once I recovered from the happy coma that book put me in, I opened my eyes and I emailed Tara-Leigh. And then she put what I said on the back of her book. [You can click on it to get an upclose view...]

I’m not sure that’s how all endorsements work, but that’s how this one worked.

HERE is where you can buy Orange Jumpsuit. [and you should]

HERE is where you can read a bit of it. [it'll take 10 minutes of your day and make those 10 minute better]

HERE is where you can get it for your e-reader. [I love my Kindle. So so much.]

. . . . . .

 Much like Tara-Leigh, Sandra started out as an author I admired and has ended up becoming a treasured friend and mentor.

And her writing. Sheesh to the power of SHEESH. She is so good.

If you love Christian fiction that isn’t cheesy, she’s your gal. I adored the French Twist series – Let Them Eat Cake, Bon Appetit, and Piece de Resistance.

And now Sandra has begun her Ladies in Waiting series with To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn.

I ended up listening to the audiobook vs. reading it straight out, but I really enjoyed it. There were some confusing parts, mainly because I couldn’t look back to pick up where I left off if it was a few days between bus rides. But if you [or someone you love] enjoys reading books from this time period, this is a great one. I highly suggest it.

. . . . . .

And finally.

I wrote a book.

And for Christmas, my SuperIntern Jordan and I have cooked up a REALLY cool gift pack – with the book and a few other awesome treats. [We're not telling you all the details yet... after Thanksgiving, ye shall know.]

Trust me – it will be a great gift for any girl in the 15-25 age range that doesn’t already have my book.

BUT.

We only have fifty. FIFTY Christmas gift packs. That’s it.

And because I love you, I am giving people who subscribe to my newsletter first dibs. As in, a 48 hour head start. If we sell all 50 to that group of people, then that’s it.

So. If you want the chance to get on that before the general public, make sure you have signed up for my newsletter.

. . . . . .

[PS #1: Neither of these authors asked me or paid me to write this blog post. I genuinely love their books and think you will too.]

[PS #2: I will not give away or abuse your email address when you sign up for my newsletter. You'll hear from me a few times a year. That's it. Promise.]

[PS #3: This is my last Monday in Edinburgh. My freak is totally freaked.]

TOP 5 FRIDAY is when we each list five of our favorite things, depending on the topic. Feel free to join in via the comments or by posting on your own blog and linking back here. Play along. It’s Friday.

. . . . .

When I was a kid, I loved to read in the bathtub. It was the best. I would drain and fill the tub with hot water at least twice, depending on how good the book was. I didn’t so much care about being clean. I mainly cared about getting to turn the page.

I still have my original copies of these books – they have wrinkled pages and smudged words. It’s a shame how many times they were dropped in the tub. When the book was soaked, I was always more concerned about the fact that I would have to read something else than the fact that I had a wet book in my hands.

Summary: I was a book nerd.

And as you’ve seen from this previous Top 5 Friday, I still love to read [and it seems a bunch of you do too!].

Summary: I am still a book nerd. Proudly.

But today I shall list for you my five favorite books from my childhood. I wonder if you loved any of these as well?

[Sidenote: This is not a list of my favorite children's books as an adult. We'll save that for another day. These were MY favorite books as a kid.]

[Double sidenote: I've been over-explaining myself for the last 31 years. Sorry bout it.]

TOP 5 FAVORITE BATHTUB BOOKS!

#1. Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume

I always loved history and while I do not like horror books, something about Hitler frightened me to death- but Sally J. Freedman wasn’t scared of Hitler. And I liked that about her. She also got stung by a man-o-war and that fascinated me. I understood her. I remember wanting to dream as vividly as she does. We would have never been friends- I would have been jealous of her dreams. But I loved her and loved this book.

#2. Molly Saves the Day by Valerie Tripp

Like most of the girls in the 1980s and 1990s [and right now], I had an American Girl Doll. Molly was mine. [I'm sensing a theme... 1940s for the win!] I loved to read her books and dress her in the coordinating outfit. Molly Saves The Day was always a favorite. I learned about poison ivy and capture the flag. I could read this one year round.

#3. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Seriously. I’m freaking MYSELF out with the realization that I loved World War 2 era books something fierce.

I loved this journal. I would write ridiculously detailed journal entries thinking that someday, my childhood journals would be published. [Trust me. You don't want to read it. Boring stuff.]

I thought Anne Frank was the bravest girl I knew. I cried every time the book ended. Probably still would.

#4. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

I thought Harriet was funny. This book taught me about how you can use a dumbwaiter to solve a crime. I also loved that she wore glasses. The first time I read the book I had just recently gotten glasses myself [watch out middle school, here comes braces too!], so I loved that Harriet and I both lived a four-eyed life. She was smart, a little shifty, and usually thought life was far more dramatic than it really is.

I have no idea why I related to that.

#5. Garfield by Jim Davis

I don’t have a particular favorite Garfield cartoon book, but I checked them out of the library one by one and read them all. I laughed outloud. I always searched for the comic drawn on my birthday. I would take the book to my parents and read them the funniest lines. I mean, as a 4th grader to reading Anne Frank repeatedly for pleasure, I deserved a little comic relief, don’t you think?

I have honorable mention books this week- like From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, and Superfudge. I could keep going. I won’t. But you will….

. . . . .

YOUR TURN!

What were your favorite books as a child?

Well goodness gracious. Y’all went absolutely bananas in the comments last Friday when we listed our Top 5 favorite books. If you haven’t read through them, I encourage it. It’ll take you some time, but it’ll be worth it.

Now you’ve got all my wheels [three total] spinning about how we can keep talking about books and what that could look like and thinking, “OMG, our little blog-family loves to read!”

So wait patiently and soon I’ll figure out how to keep that conversation going. Because I want to… real bad.

To start, I’ve been meaning to show you pictures from book club last weekend. I got to host, which made me super happy because the book, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, is set in England and if anyone loves them some Great Britian, it’s this girl [meaning me].

I decided to host a full-on tea party. And thanks to my mama, who has dutifully filled my hope chest every year since I was 13, I had two tea pots and all the accoutrements. There is something so sweet about being able to use these beautiful pieces.

I mean, I even have a tea cozy. And I know how to use it. [And this picture is 100% for Mama, Kelda, Melissa, and all the other women from Tea & Traditions. I'm making you proud, aren't I?]

I use real plates and real cups. It’s the way I was raised. It’s also the way that my BFF Molly’s grandmother insisted things be done and every time I host, I think of Molly, Molly’s mom, and Molly’s grandma and I shy away from paper products.

[Unless boys are coming over for chili or pizza or something un-ladylike. Then, sheesh. Paper products it is.]

Also. Look at this GORGIE-POO cake. I mean, seriously. My friend Russell, the baker extraordinaire at LB’s Market House, made it for us. I went into LB’s [which I do about daily], saw a cake like this, and said, “Russell. Please. Can I? Whole one. Book club. Please?”

[It was so beautiful and delicious I couldn't even make full sentences.]

So he made me one. Lemon pound cake with marzipan and edible flowers. I died [in a good way].

Also, welcome to my neighborhood, where Russell has the cake ready for me 30 minutes before LB’s even opened up and I got to knock on the window for him to let me in. Felt very Mayberry [and it kinda is around these parts]. And I loved it.

So did the girls at book club.

Kelley and Amber were happy happy girls. I mean, look at those beautiful faces! Also, do not judge us for eating cake at 10:30am on a Saturday morning.

In general, we loved Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand. The group of girls that gather for book club are all super smart, love to read, and love to discuss the books. So we dove straight into character development, racism, costuming, and all things British.

As you can imagine, I was full of joy from start to finish.

Well, almost to the finish.

Oh the downside of using real dishes…..

Still worth it.

Our book club selection for May is The Hunger Games [which you already KNOW that I love] and then in June it is Bossypants [which I am sure I am going to love].

Ahh…. book club. [insert deep sigh of satisfaction here]

Are you in a book club? What are y’all reading now?

Because I eat dinner and then go to bed.

I’m pretty sure I’m the wildest girl around- you know, in the bed by 9pm and all, cause I gotta be up and smiling by 4:30am.

Anyways, I’m terribly sorry about the blog silence.

Here are some things:

1. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers last week. My heart and mind are feeling healthier.

2. We had boot camp yesterday in the rain. I kept fluctuating between the desire to cry and the desire to throw up. Neither happened. This time.

3. I have decided that Bethenny Ever After is my favorite show. I adore Bethenny and Jason. If Gina ever goes back to Trinidad, I would be Brynn’s nanny in a New York minute. Literally.

[Sorry if you don't watch the show and that entire #3 is foreign to you.]

4. These are some of the funniest videos I’ve ever seen. Obviously, this is not who Jesus really is, which is what makes it absolutely hilarious.

So I may be the stinkiest blogger this month, but hopefully this video will make up for it.

5. Our book club is reading Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand and I am loving it. It’s set in the UK, which you know blesses my soul. I get to host as well and we will be having some delicious British treats. Saturday, I am excited about you.

6. I have a new plan for blogging on Fridays. It’s gonna be fun.

7. I love getting emails. It means the world. And right now my inbox [and my facebook inbox] is full to the brim. Forgive me if you are waiting on a reply. I’m going to be taking some time this weekend to respond to all of you- my friends, my family, my enemies, my bandmates, and my suitors.

I’m kidding. I’m not in a band.

But I’m not kidding about the email replying thing.

Happy Wednesday.

I think if I keep repeating this to myself, it shall soon become true.

I had an absolutely awesome weekend. My sisters were in town, some friends came to town, we watched a lot of basketball and had about forty people over to the house for BBQ. We saw Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors in concert. We ate like we were on death row [meaning good, like REALLY good food that is super bad for you but we didn't care]. And we did a lot of this…

Which leaves me with absolutely nothing to complain about.

Except the weather. It. Is. Freezing. But because Mondays are for winners, I refuse to dwell on the winter temperatures. Because I’m a winner and winners don’t dwell on negative things but pardon me, if it is 40*F in March, doesn’t that equal -20*F in my soul?

I’m just saying. It’s science. Look it up.

So… my first two (in)courage Bloom Book Club posts are up! It makes me sweaty to think of being the center of attention over there for the whole week, but it seems to be going okay so far. [Ummm, the "center of attention" part isn't what I hate- who are we kidding? I actually love that. So maybe just running the show somewhere outside of this little corner of the internet sky is what makes me nervous.]

You can check out the posts here–

Meet Annie Downs [you already know me, but you can pretend like you don't]

An Interview With Annie [thanks for the questions!]

There will be a new post there every day this week, so be sure to check it out. I mean, if you wanna.

Also, my sweet friend Ashleigh blogged about her Marine coming home from deployment and I love them. Thought you might want to love them too.

Also, it makes me mad that Charlie Sheen stole “WINNING!” from the rest of the world because it is a word that I wish I could have used a few times throughout this post already. But he high-jacked it and I’m mad.

I think you need to see this picture as well.

Know what this means? It means I’m getting ready to start writing again… in a major way. Know what that means? It means I’m about to start writing my next book. Know what that means? You’re about to have to PRAY.ME.THROUGH.

I’m spending the next few weeks honing my craft, reading books that make me think and write and make my heart feel like it is going to explode out of my chest. I don’t know what God is doing, but I can’t quit thinking about being a better writer and the excitement of starting something new. It’s kinda fun… kinda scary… and kinda awesome.

Someday, when I haven’t already written 474 words, I’ll tell you why your prayers mean so much to me when I’m writing. But for now, I’ll just remind you how I finish writing a book.

I’ve done it before. I can do it again. And hopefully, I’ll finish this one on a Monday.

WINNING!

[Ugh, see? See what he did? It's not even fun anymore. Sigh... back to your Monday, my friends.]

How was your weekend? And also- how is the weather where you are? And also- are you mad that Charlie Sheen stole “WINNING!” from the rest of the English-speaking population?

Holley Gerth did an amazing post on (in)courage called Cyber Sabbath. Let me recommend you read it and let me recommend you live it. [I'm starting to take the Sabbath seriously. I think we all should.]

This post on Rabbit Room about authors having small houses in which they write makes me jealous and excited and makes me love my profession because we are a weird and beautiful lot. [And yes I want one.]

Emily Freeman has been doing a series on art and I’ve been devouring it. Today’s post, One Secret to Honest Art, is so good it makes me a little sick [in the good way].

Today is the first birthday of my friend Jenny’s blog- Dinner A Love Story. I read it every day.

Seth Godin released a free e-book today called SXSW Pokes. Download it and read it. [I mean, I'm not the boss of you, I'm just saying I think you'll enjoy the stories.]

Jon Acuff, of Stuff Christians Like fame, has started a new blog and I love it.

Offline, I’m currently reading the Bible and my March Real Simple magazine.

What are you reading?