Notes From A Blue Bike – Book Review
There are times in each of our lives when we question the things that we are doing – the way that we are living – the choices that we are making.
Often, these times of yearning are accompanied by a deep desire to live with more meaning – more intentionality – more passion.
We want to identify what is important to us and lead lives that reflect our values.
If you are feeling those stirrings within your heart, may I recommend Notes From A Blue Bike – The Art Of Living Intentionally In A Chaotic World by Tsh Oxendreider to you?
Notes From A Blue Bike takes us on Tsh’s personal journey to slow down and to adjust to a new rhythm of life – a new way of living – once she and her family unexpectedly returned from a 3-year stint in Turkey to life back in the United States.
Her personal reflections center around her efforts to simplify in 5 key areas of life:
- Food
- Work
- Travel
- Education
- Entertainment
Discussion Questions – which can also be used for personal journaling – are provided in the back of the book.
Tsh describes Notes From A Blue Bike as follows:
This book is about the liturgical, perfunctory parts of each of our lives and questioning whether our everyday little decisions – the ones that, a drop at a time, fill up our buckets equal to the sum of our short lives here on Earth – best reflect the stirrings of our hearts.
Do the choices I make line up with how I really want to live?
And then, this book is about giving ourselves permission to creatively change the little things in our lives so that our path is better aligned with our values and passions, and so the majority of our days are spent living contentedly.
Yes, this is how I am made to uniquely live.
This book is about us living life instead of about life living us – one small choice after another, day after day, month after month, year after glorious year. It’s about living with intention.
If you enjoy reading memoirs, reflective essays and pithy quotes, you will enjoy Notes From A Blue Bike!
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Video – Tsh Oxenreider Speaks About Work
About Tsh Oxenreider
Tsh Oxenreider is the founder of TheArtOfSimple.Net (previously Simple Mom), a community blog dedicated to the art and science of simple living.
She’s also the author of Organized Simplicity and One Bite at a Time, a regular contributor to (in)courage, an advocate for Compassion International, and a top-ranked podcaster.
A graduate of the University of Texas, Tsh currently lives in Bend, Oregon, with her family.
Resources
For More Information
- Visit the Notes From A Blue Bike Website.
- Connect with Tsh on Twitter.
- Notes From A Blue Bike is available on Amazon.
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Notes From A Blue Bike – Book Giveaway
Would you like the chance to WIN a copy of Notes From A Blue Book? Create With Joy is thrilled to offer one reader the opportunity to own a copy of this fabulous book!
To enter this giveaway, please follow Create With Joy and submit your entries as instructed on the Rafflecopter form. This giveaway is open to ALL US/Canadian Create With Joy readers, 18 years and older, now through Friday, September 19, 2014 at 11:59 PM PST.
Additonal Information
The winner will be contacted via e-mail and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. The sponsor is solely responsible for prize fulfillment. The winner releases Create With Joy from all liability associated with this product/contest. All decisions by Create With Joy are final. The complete Terms and Conditions are listed on the Rafflecopter form. By submitting an entry, you are indicating that you have read and agree to these Official Rules.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Shelton Interactive to review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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I have to say that my life is really simple and I love it. I spend with my grands , visit friends, and enjoy life.
I am a US citizen.
mauback55 at gmail dot com
Sounds like your life is sweet Melanie!
Best of luck in the Notes From A Blue Bike giveaway – thanks for stopping by!
Sounds like an amazing book. The question posed: “Do the choices I make line up with how I really want to live?” really resonated with me. Great post – loved the video.
Glad you enjoyed the review and video Bev – best of luck to you!
I am going to read the book Organized simplicity. Heading over to Tsh’s website to read blogs.
Organized Simplicity sounds like a great book!
I know I would like this book. Plus I want a blue bike. Just sayin’. lol
I had a blue bike growing up with a horn and a basket. Wondering if I could still ride?!
Best of luck in the giveaway, Dawn – this book is right up your alley!
Actually, I came to your blog from Booknificent Thursdays today! And the post for Friendship Friday would have been my next email opened! :O)
I don’t just want to read this book; I need to read this book. My life is so unorganized and complicated. Ick.
I’d like to simplify my housekeeping chores.
I live in the U.S.
This is something I’m working on too!
Best of luck to you in the giveaway Nancy!
Sounds like the perfect companion for my new empty nest, where most days I sit wondering what on earth to do with my time besides continuing to create and trust God.
Adding to my read list.
Best of luck to you in this giveaway Marcia – I think you’d truly enjoy this book!
By the way, you might also want to check out my review of Home To Chicory Lane – it’s a story about another empty nester that you might appreciate! 🙂
I did not have a bike growing up. Our family had too many children and not enough of the necessities. I was oldest and grew up not needing much to make me content. We grew up happy because of family priorities. I’d love this book.
Sounds like you grew up with your priorities in place – something way more important than a bike!
Best of luck to you in the giveaway Gail.
To live simpler and quieter and slower is something that sounds so….hard to achieve, yet so worth pursuing. I loved Tsh’s Italy pictures too….makes me want to move there. Thanks for running this contest Ramona. I hope you have a slow and memorable week.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful wish Barb – if there is one thing I could wish for myself right now, I think that would be it! 🙂
Best of luck to you in the giveaway. I think this book will resonate with a lot of people!
I want to simplify my job. Sometimes my work schedule is crazy. I would love to have a little more set schedule.
That’s something we can all relate to Heidi!
Best of luck to you in the giveaway!
Looks like a really interesting read! Thanks for much for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday at Mommynificent.com! Hope to see you again soon!
Tina
Thanks Tina for hosting – you’d probably enjoy reading this book! 🙂
Thanks for the review. This sounds like a book I should like, but I’ve had it out from the library twice now and both times had to return it with only a few pages read.
So sad, but right now living intentionally means that I’ve been reading books for my kids’ homeschool and other books that the mailman has brought.
I also reviewed a great book this week and linked it over at Booknificent Thursdays: The Good News about Marriage. It’s a happy book.
Thanks for the giveaway! People have been saying a lot of good stuff about this novel! I think one area I would love to simply is possessions! I find I have too much stuff that I don’t need! Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday so I could enter! 🙂