apps Archives - Kristin Saatzer

Happy Summer!

June 21, 2021 By Kristin Saatzer 6 Comments

Hi friends,

Summer always blows in with the scent of nostalgia: Coppertone sunscreen, pool chlorine, and the faint whiff of musty sand. The finest bouquet.

I am crazy about this time of year—the feel of my library book in its plastic cover perfectly gripped in my hands. Next to me, ice melts in my glass of brewed iced tea. I enjoy these the most with the sound of the ocean merely steps away.

To kick off the season, I thought I’d share a few favorites or favorites “to be.” It’s been a while!

So here are five for you…

Books:

My book club just finished a fascinating book called, The Library Book by Susan Orlean. For fans of libraries and books, this is the one for you. It is about many things, including a mystery fire, bad guys, good guys, librarians, and lively library history. And it is long. But worth it.

One I plan to read this summer: Haven Point by Virginia Hume. It looks like the perfect beach read: Multigenerational with strong women, focused around the family property on the coast of Maine.

(Look for me on Goodreads.com to see what else I’m reading these days.)

App:

The Pause app (www.pauseapp.com or wherever apps are sold)

A one minute (or more) pause in the day to focus the mind on Jesus. Led by the developer and author John Eldredge. I play it a few times a day to quiet my monkey mind. Two thumbs up!

Music:

These days, my best-loved Pandora station is “We The Kingdom”, a contemporary Christian family band with so much heart and passion. Number two is Thomas Rhett. No description needed, of course.

Sports:

Summer and sports go together like peas and corn. Watching my San Diego Padres is a joy. Need a team? They are a blast to watch!

Coming soon- I plan to be hopelessly obsessed with the Olympics (as I always am).

What are you watching, reading, or listening to these days? Let me know in the comments.

May your summer be filled with your favorite things!

Blessings,

Kristin

“Summertime is always the best of what might be.”

Charles Bowden

My Best-Loved Books of 2015

January 29, 2016 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

Can we talk about books?

I adore reading and discussing books. Feel free to hop over to the “Books I Love” page on this site and check that out. Some of my reads from this past year fall into categories from that list. It was a year of many “chick authors”. I began a few I had to force myself through (or didn’t finish). Some beloved ones I read yet again.

Here are a few worth mentioning:

Purpose~Priorities~Time:

The Best Yes (a reread with my Mom’s group at church) by Lysa Terkeurst) : An easy read by a witty, relatable author. Examine your decisions by choosing the BEST YES, which is sometimes a “no”.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo: A cultural hurdle for me at times. A funky but surprisingly logical plan for getting decluttered. I’m reading it for the second time because I can’t seem to get my mojo going to get started with her plan. Second times a charm?

Spiritual Healing and Prayer:

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp: Poetic author. She chronicles her journey of healing life-change that came by recording one-thousand blessings. This woman has a spellbinding gift of stringing words together.

Novels:

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford: Somehow I missed this book when everyone was reading it years ago. I loved the sweetness and intensity of the story of a Japenese American girl and Chinese American boy in the 1940’s. One of the highlights for me was the wholesomeness of this book. PG rating.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah: Besides that she spells her first name correctly… WWII France, two sisters, love, parallel story in modern times and French war history. Historical fiction at its finest! PG-13 here and there.

All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr: Another story of WWII France, a blind French girl, and a Nazi soldier. I couldn’t put it down. This author tells a beautiful tale. This book becomes PG-13 (wich surprised me!)

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: A classic gothic tale. This novel starts with my favorite opening out of all the books I’ve read: “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…” I’ve read it multiple times. I LOVE IT.

Apps and Websites:

~Amazon Prime of course! http://www.amazon.com

~Goodreads app

~http://www.bookbub.com Thank you, Mom! Daily email of ebooks on sale.

Books on my list for 2016:

Art of Work by Jeff Goins ~follow his blog, like his style

Love Does by Bob Goff ~follow him on social media, love his perspective and attitude

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee ~can’t believe I haven’t read this yet

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner ~looks like my kind of delicious

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo ~maybe if I keep reading about it, my house will magically become clutter free?

Happy reading friends!

What’s on your reading list for 2016?

Smart Phones, Prayer and Kidneys

April 15, 2015 By Kristin Saatzer 2 Comments

“One servant is worth a thousand gadgets” Joseph Schumpeter

I recently heard a radio DJ ask, “If you had to choose between your smart phone or one of your kidneys, what would it be?” I listened as callers reported their choices, most of them saying they would rather lose a kidney than their smart phone. A telling commentary on where we have come in our society in such a short time. We’ve become addicted to those mini-computers haven’t we?

I too am crazy about my iPhone. Sure, being able to check FB and Instagram any place anytime is fun, but what I love most about my phone is the ability to make lists and receive reminders. I am a list-making nerd. A list making nerd who sometimes adds an item that’s already been completed because it’s thrilling to check off said item again. Anyway…

I make my daily to-do list first thing in the morning or before going to bed. I like the app called “Any Do” (it’s free). On this list, I include all of my regular reminders (ex.: 1. put on Hazmat Suit and clean the boy’s toilet 2. Return Sonya’s call etc.).