by Brianna

This summer I've had my hands full with a new baby. Literally, my hands are full with a baby that wants to eat and be held all the time! That's made reading new books and taking notes on them pretty hard. And the general sleep deprivation has made it harder than ever to pay attention to a complex plotline or in-depth argument. All of this is to say that I've been even more into podcasts than usual.

​I decided to try My Favorite Murder and wow! I wish I'd found these guys five years ago! I'm almost caught up and wanted to share a list of books I'd recommend to a fellow murderino, if they asked me. To be clear, I'm not associated with the podcast. I'm just another murderino who's also a library pro and can't help but recommend good books!

by Brianna

Know a reader? Need to get them a gift, but don't want to fall back on gift cards to their favorite book stores? We've got you! Whether you're buying for a friend, co-worker, or your book club's secret Santa exchange, this list should point you in the right direction. This list does contain affiliate links (marked with an asterisk *) , so you're helping us, too, when you use our links. Happy shopping!

by Brianna

Did you just marry someone in the military? Congrats! Feeling a little culture shock? You're definitely not alone! There are loads of reading lists out there for military spouses, many of which rattle off the same books over and over. Those picks are ok, but we have a few problems with them.

First, they focus on the negative parts of military life, such as deployments and death. Second, they're getting old and outdated, which admittedly happens pretty fast. When I first got married in 2011, the books were about being a military spouse in the 90's, and that was a little helpful, but not a lot, because so much had changed and many acronyms had become meaningless. Likewise, now, there are a bunch of books about being married to a service member in the early years of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The military does not work the same way now as it did 15 years ago. Third, some of these lists are all about understanding your service member spouse's world, but they don't help YOU! We're all for learning about each branch's heroes, histories, and challenges, but a list of books for military spouses should help the spouses. Some of the books on our list will be specific to the military, but several address key pain points about life in general that tend to be exacerbated by the military lifestyle.

One challenge we encountered when we went to make this list is that we would not recommend the same books to new spouses as we would seasoned spouses. This list is for the new (and probably quite young) military spouse. If you're new to the military community, you might be suffering a little culture shock, homesickness, or loneliness. Even if you're adapting well, you might be struggling to explain it to your family or friends. Read on for our list (in no particular order) of great books to help you embrace your new life.

​The links below are affiliate links, so we'll get a small bonus if you use them to order any of these books from Amazon, but we also have a free printable version of this list that you can take to the library!

by Brianna

Big changes to The Commandant’s Professional Reading List Program were recently announced. For anyone not in the know, the United States Marine Corps has a professional reading list, packed full of titles that are meant to educate Marines and inculcate them with the Corps’ values. We explained how it typically works in a previous article, but a good deal of that has now shifted, mostly for the better.

We here at Busy Nest News love a reading list, especially a list meant to develop leadership, creativity, and resilience. We believe any org can benefit from developing a reading list for its members. The Commandant’s Reading List has been updated regularly since it was established in 1989, so it’s always been one of our first stops when we’re looking for the next book in our respective self-development journeys. So what are these changes, and why are they a big deal? Doesn’t the list get updated frequently anyway? Read on for my initial analysis of the changes.

by Brianna

In pursuit of making great book club kits and generally improving ourselves, we read a LOT of books! We believe that you can get at least a little bit better at just about anything, as long as you keep learning about it and practicing proven techniques. We extend this philosophy to our journeys as parents, too. What if all parents took their parenting as seriously as their career or favorite hobby? To progress at work, people read books, take classes, and seek mentorships. We aren't too proud or self-assured to try these techniques to become better parents, as well.

While we're certainly not perfect, we're definitely seeing results from these efforts. One of our biggest lessons has been that we're constantly planting the seeds for future progress; real changes are rarely immediate, but they're lasting and buildable. That and, parenting is hard! Even when you're doing it right, your kid will still get mad at you. Saying "no" in the cereal aisle when your kid is two might result in a tantrum that makes you wish you'd just ordered everything online. But sticking to your "no" and enduring the tw0-year-old's rage will result in a much more subtle, but accepting, form of dissatisfaction to your "no" in the same scenario a year or two later.

All of this is to say, you've got this! And when you feel like you don't, we have books that can help. Read on for our list of our ten favorite parenting books (in no particular order). These are all of our go-to's when friends ask how we handle things. Use the links in the article to order your own copy from Amazon (we'll get a small referral payout if you do, at no additional cost to you). Bonus: we have a printable pamphlet of all ten titles that you can take with you to the bookstore or library!

by Brianna & co

Do you have a dad in your life who is a proud nerd? Is he a science or literature buff? Does he dream of rolling nat 20s in battle? Does he spend as much time in other worlds as he does in this one? If you answered 'YES!' to one or more of these questions, we have the list for you! Use this guide to select the perfect Father's Day gift for your favorite nerd/father. Using our affiliate links helps keep Busy Nest News up and running. Thanks for your continued support!

Dads with hobbies are a breeze to shop for. When it comes to nerdy dads, you're truly spoiled for choice. It might not seem that way if you aren't in on the same nerdy passions, though. Or, perhaps you think you've already purchased every geeky gift the internet has to offer. That's why it's good that you came here. My husband and I are both HUGE nerds. Our interests overlap quite a bit, but we have some different ones, too. 

Whether the dad you're shopping for is your own father, a friend, or your husband, we have a bunch of fresh ideas that are sure to thrill any nerd. I know Monkey's daddy would be excited to get anything on this list. Bonus: some of these gifts are meant to be shared with the daddy's littles, too! Share the love and help him share his imagination with the next generation.

By Ariel & co

Do the fathers in your life enjoy having the right tool to complete the task? Do they live a rugged lifestyle that demands durability and practicality? Are they Tacti-cool? If so these items will wow them this father day. This post contains affiliate links. By using them you help keep Busy Nest News up and running. Thanks so much for your continued support!

When it comes to purchasing the perfect gift for fathers day it helps to envisions how he wants to feel using it. Does he want to feel prepared? Does he want to feel capable? Does he want to feel tactical? The tactical father is calm, cool and collected because he knows  he has the right tool for the job. The tactical dad is one step ahead at all times. These great gifts will do the trick. Each item was meticulously researched by my husband. Most of these we own and use on a monthly, weekly - if not - daily basis. Read on for his tacti-cool picks!

Just a heads up to our readers, this list contains sharp pointy objects - axes, knifes and one  extremely intimidating pen. Please use caution and common sense when using these tools. When treated with respect they can enhance our quality of life. When used improperly they can do considerable damage.

By Ariel

In which Ariel discusses four links that got her thinking in the last few weeks.  What if there was a way to get the most out of your Netflix binge? Should we jump while we still can? Is a date morning the solution to the challenge of scheduling date night? Are we rushing labor and delivery to the detriment of mothers and infants? Read on to find out!

Brianna and I are readers - readers of books, readers of articles, readers of blogs etc. We read. When we find something interesting, absurd or promising,  we share it with the other. That is the beauty of sharing this crazy wild journey that we call parenthood. Twice the resources! This is a curated list of links (in no particular order) that I think will have a significant impact on how I parent.

By Ariel and Brianna

In which Ariel and Brianna gently nudge their families toward fantastic gift ideas for them. Ahem! Is the mom you are purchasing for a coffee lover or a jet-setter? Is she a mom married to the military or simply a multi-tasking mom who always needs a third hand? Chances are she falls into one of these categories. If so, we have ideas to jump-start your Mother's Day shopping! This post contains affiliate links. By using them you help keep Busy Nest News up and running. Thank you for your continued support!

By Ariel

In which Ariel shares some articles that have enlightened or amused us recently. What are the easiest ways to make a house feel like a home when you move frequently? If your kids get the hangries after school why not feed them early? What is a 'widowmaker' and why should we know? How do Montessori teachers foster independence and critical thinking with simple phrases? What's the best way to psych yourself up? Why not let your kids plan family activities? What are Yoga Joes and why do you need them? These are the big questions in this weeks Links We Learned From.

Brianna and I are readers - readers of books, readers of articles, readers of blogs etc. We read. When we find something interesting, absurd or promising,  we share it with the other. That is the beauty of sharing this crazy wild journey that we call parenthood. Twice the resources! This is a curated list of links (in no particular order) that I think will have a significant impact on how I parent.