Samantha K Schmidt

Summer break for teachers means getting to read books for fun instead of for work. I've been carefully curating this list since Christmas, and I think I've narrowed it down to four books that are certain to inspire. The Magnolia Story // Chip and Joanna Gaines are the "it" couple right now, and I'm definitely a follower. I've been a fan for a while, but after watching their I Am Second story I truly fell in love with these two remarkable people. My husband and I have a very similar story to Chip and Joanna. Like her, I was the quiet reserved type, but my husband brought out a brighter more outgoing person. I could go on and on about how much they've inspired me, but I think I need to read the book first. The Handmaid's Tale // If you haven't heard about The Handmaid's Tale yet, you've been living under a rock. It's the newest hit series on Hulu which I'm now going to have to subscribe to. I've admittedly already read ...

Summer is a great time to relax with a good book (for me it's the only time!). I've been holding onto some great books, and I'd love to share with you what is on my summer reading list.

I've always enjoyed reading, but when I was in college it became a chore. I ended up reading psychology books for fun. Luckily, after I graduated I had more time to branch out. I've read a lot of great books over the years from classical to teen fiction. I thought I would offer some of my favorites geared especially to all you twenty somethings. These are the books that changed my adulthood. 1. The Great Gatsby One of the greatest classics of all time is actually a very easy read. You may not grasp all the metaphors and themes, but the action and romance will keep you hooked. 2. The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood is probably the greatest feminist writer of our day. This book was her first full length novel. It's a futuristic dystopia viewed from the eyes of woman who's only purpose is to give birth. 3. Me Talk Pretty One Day  David Sedaris makes your pubescent years seem easy with his humorous teenage tales. I recommend any of his...

photo credit: instagram.com/shewalksin I just recently bought and read my first ebook. I know I'm super late to hop on the bandwagon, but I was very hesitant to give ebooks a try. First of all I felt that the integrity of books may be in jeopardy. Making the switch from print to tech made me feel like I was neglecting the classic pastime. Second there is just something about holding a book in your hands. It feels like a precious treasure. While I still maintain a lot of these feelings I finally saw some of the advantages to ebooks. Portability : While reading the Divergent series I found myself carrying these large books in my bag whenever I went out. I wanted to be able to read whenever I got some downtime, but I always had my iPad as well in case I needed to work on something. Switching to ebooks meant all I needed was my iPad which minimized the weight on my shoulders, literally! Cost : The cost of ebooks hasn't always been a benefit, but recently costs have gone do...