When I hosted my first book swap in 2019, it was such fun that we vowed to make it an annual thing, or at most an every-other-year affair. Well… you know what happened next. But here we are, four years later, living our best readerly lives at a book swap once again, and it was a delight. In case it might inspire some of you to host a swap of your own, I’d love to share some photos and details from this weekend. (And if you’re just here to vicariously enjoy our readerly shenanigans, that’s a-ok, too.)
This time around, my beautiful friend Bethany agreed to be my co-host. She’s an avid reader, a wonderful cook, and an even better friend – plus, she has an inviting home with many large surfaces on which to display books (so you can see why she was a slam-dunk pick).
One Paperless Post invitation later, our guests were a mixture of Articles Club gals, preschool mom pals, and neighborhood buddies, plus a smattering of book-loving friends from other corners of our respective lives. It can feel a little nerve-wracking to bring together different groups of friends, but books are the great uniter, aren’t they? We invited 24 guests and had about 16 attend with summer travel and a few last-minute sick kiddos.
Food for a book swap brunch
We opted to host this year’s book swap in the morning – 10am – and so we kicked off the party by piling plates high with brunch food: two kinds of quiche; mini white chocolate baguettes from a local bakery; a mini pancake platter with nutella, soft butter, and syrup; smoked salmon sliders; and a monochromatic fruit salad inspired by a long-ago Cup of Jo post. (I’ve been holding on to that inspiration for 8 years! It finally had its day in the sun!)
We also served sparkling water, mimosas and bellinis, and coffee.
Book swap activities
Most guests brought their plates out to the sun porch and patio where we had scattered two literary quizzes for a little fun. The first listed groupings of characters and challenged guests to supply the book titles; the second required matching literary quotes to their books. Turns out both were quite challenging, ha! You can download them here for your own book swap, if you’d like: Literary Quote Quiz and Literary Character Quiz.
We also had little stickers with “ask me about…” written on them at the door. In lieu of their name, guests could write in the name of a book they love to discuss. We were hoping this might spark conversation, and it did!
How our book swap worked
While some people style their book swap like a Yankee Swap, my goal in hosting was to clear out my shelves, pass on well-loved books, and get several new books in return. Because of this, we allowed gals to bring up to 10 books to swap that they already owned. (One book was totally fine, too! I’d say most people brought about 3-5.)
Any kind of book was welcome – fiction, nonfiction, memoir, cookbook, coffee table book, and even kids’ books this time around. The only requirement was that they had to be GOOD! We asked guests to write a little sticky note with what they loved about each book and stick it on the cover.
Upon arrival, we asked each gal to “shelve” her selections – we had designated areas for fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and “everything else.” This was a great way to break the ice, give people something to do right away, and get everyone moving around the room.
The actual swap happened at the very end – after much browsing, guests took home as many books as they contributed. If there were any leftover (which there were!) after the initial round of picks, they were open to all.
Bookish decor and favors
Bethany’s home is very lovely, and just a few bookish details made it shine for our book swap: a watercolor book garland cut from a calendar and teeny little watercolor books scattered as confetti throughout the downstairs. Bethany also supplied flowers from her garden – what a treat!
As a last fun detail, we gifted everyone an illustrated bookmark as they headed out. I considered making our own design, but what a delight it is to support other creative women doing what they do best.
And there you have it! Book Swap 2.0 was just as good as the first time around, and I intend for it not to be the last.
As an introvert, I’m a big fan of parties with a purpose, and my recent book swap party perfectly fit the bill: gather with likeminded friends, eat dessert, and head home with an armful of new reads? Sign me up!! Here’s a recap, if you’d like to plan something similar!
The venue: My friend Katie graciously agreed to host this soiree, which couldn’t have worked out better: her husband is an author, so their home is filled with books and was therefore the perfect backdrop! Her first floor is also a more traditional layout, with several distinct rooms, which helped with the flow of the evening.
In addition to playing hostess, most of the adorable details you see here are the work of Katie’s hand – she is incredibly crafty and a genius hand letterer!! She made the book table runner, the adorable treat bags, the “library cards,” and more. (She also makes AMAZING wedding invitations and other fun things, so please email her to talk about a project!!)
The invite: I sent out an invitation on Paperless Post (this one). We had an almost 100% RSVP rate, including a few EFM readers I had never met before! :)
The swap mechanics: My research turned up all different ways to host a book swap – some people do a Yankee Swap, or a Yankee Swap with wrapped books for extra mystery. My goal, however, was to clear out my shelves, pass on well-loved books, and get several new books in return, so I allowed gals to bring up to 5 books to swap that they already owned. (One book was totally fine, too! I’d say most people brought about 3.)
Any kind of book was welcome – fiction, nonfiction, memoir, cookbook, coffee table book – the only requirement was that they had to be GOOD! Something you’d recommend to a friend, not something you’d put in the recycling :) At the end of the evening, you got to bring home as many books as you contributed.
The food and drink: Guests arrived at 7:30, so we did light appetizers and a few sweets. We served feta dip and chips, pigs in a blanket (my favorite!), sausage tarts, fruit salad, cheesecake brownies, and warm chocolate chip cookies. For drinks, we had wine, lemonade, and sangria. I made some of the food myself and asked a few friends to bring items, which worked out great!
Okay, I know those cookies don’t look the most beautiful, but they were DELICIOUS! You can’t beat warm chocolate chip cookies :)
The activities: When gals arrived, we asked them to fill out a “library card” for each book they brought, pitching it to a new owner, then “shelve” their selections (we had tables for fiction, non-fiction, and miscellaneous scattered throughout the first floor). This was a great way to break the ice and give people something to do right away! Download your own library cards right here!
We also had a jar for each gal to drop in her all-time favorite book she thinks everyone should read (the answers are coming in my next post!!). Download your own suggestion cards here!
After everyone had had their fill of food and browsed our makeshift book shop, each gal introduced herself (we were 17 strong!), explained one of the books she’d brought and why she loves it, and drew and answered a bookish question on a little slip of paper. Here are the questions Katie and I brainstormed – wouldn’t these all make great conversation starters?!
The favors: We tied up gummy worms from Target in little glassine bags – book worms for the book worms :)
All in all, this was SUCH a fun evening and something I think might be a new annual tradition!
Since I’m all about the theme party, I’d love to hear if you’ve been to or hosted another fun “party with a purpose!” My favorites include pumpkins and soup, a favorite things party, and showers, of course!
Along with my year-in-review post (coming next week!), this annual superlatives round-up is such a fun way to remember each year. The things we wear, eat, read, listen to, and do repeatedly mark us, don’t they? Especially because several of these favorites were gleaned from a savvy and/or wise acquaintance, I’m happy to pass them on to you. I hope they can serve as an opportunity for a little reflection on your own 2025, if you haven’t had a chance for it yet! Drop a few of your best memories, finds, and favorites in the comments, if you’d like. As always, I can’t wait to hear!
Best adventure, travel, or trip: Easy – Acadia! After a lifetime of adventuring in Maine, it was a treat to visit her national park for the first time (and to do it with dear friends!). We also spent a rainy long weekend in Wilmington, and though a recap didn’t make it on the blog we loved staying in this downtown mansion (yes), trying Britt’s for the first time, and eating dinner in the lush garden of Indochine.
Favorite outfit: If your kids joined mine on swim team this year, you already know the answer: the Lululemon mesh tennis skirt and light-as-air lavender tank I wore to literally every meet, and plenty of days in between — my only hope of looking cute and staying cool(ish) in the dog days of summer.
Milestone celebrated: Our beloved long-term babysitter graduated high school, and to celebrate, John and I took her and her older sister (already in college, also a long-term babysitter of ours) out to dinner. Sitting around the table with them for 3+ hours, asking questions and offering encouragement as they work their way into adulthood, was just the tenderest opportunity.
Best trend you tried: Watercoloring? Is that a trend? I loved trying my hand at a new-to-me craft, and especially employing it in two projects that mattered a lot to me: creating a pack of mini landscapes inspired by my favorite place in the world for a fundraiser auction and painting daily postcards to send to June at sleepaway camp.
Best new podcast listen, newsletter subscribe, or blog follow: It is rare for me to follow people on Instagram I don’t know in real life; when I make an exception, I want it to be worth my time and attention. That being said, I have so enjoyed following both Shelby from Pretty in the Pines and Stef Turner. Everything they create feels like stepping into a Nancy Meyers movie – cozy, calming, and beautiful without feeling pressure-filled or overly consumption-based. (Both are big thrifters and DIY-ers!)
Best movie or TV show:Andor! John and I watched both seasons this year and I’m still thinking about it months later. You do not have to be a Star Wars fan to enjoy it, though it helps if you love a political thriller. The world-building (Chandrila!) is particularly incredible.
Best memory: Our 20th high school reunion with dear friends. More on the philosophical side here and the logistics here.
Best album, song, or artist: It was a Jess Ray year for me! “Day for Singing” became Annie’s and my drive-to-school song, and “Lilies and Sparrows” was another favorite. I am not an anxious person, but when AI gives me the heebie-jeebies, the line “don’t waste today being scared of tomorrow” reliably reminds me of the hope we have as Christians. (So much so that I bought the shirt.)
Best beauty purchase: It’s unnerving when a reliable product goes MIA, isn’t it? I was happy to find a replacement concealer from Kosas when Beauty Counter went dark, and to switch to this (refillable!) deodorant when my previous one was discontinued.
Best meal:Acadia for the win again. Our final dinner at Sweet Pea lives on as the glowiest memory, in no small part because we only ended up there due to a last-minute pivot. Beautiful setting, great company, delicious food – the perfect capstone to a memorable vacation. Otherwise, these chicken piccata meatballs were my favorite new addition to our meal rotation.
Best life or mom hack: They say if you want to change a habit you should make it as easy as possible. That’s what I did with converting from Amazon to Bookshop.org for all book purchases, and it has been a delight: I ship all orders (for free!) to the cutest little bookstore, and because it’s on the way to Annie’s preschool, it feels no more difficult than Prime.
Best new tradition: Working from the library on TCF days. I love my little routine, which involves checking my email at home (while standing up, to keep me from dallying!); driving to the library in silence while ruminating on my topic for the day; and then spending 2-3 hours in undistracted deep work, surrounded by my fellow patrons. It has been both productive and soul-filling.
Best kiddo milestone: Annie learned to ride a big-kid bike! After three such transitions, I can say it feels like magic every time. (Though I think much of the magic is due to training for a few years on a balance bike and John’s calm and encouraging coaching!) Also, June got her ears pierced!
Best faith grower: Spending time with our friend Jason at our high school reunion. Sadly, it is rare for John and I to encounter someone we knew in childhood whose faith is still as vibrant as it once was, but that is Jason. It was so encouraging to talk to him about life, faith, ministry, and what God is doing.
Didn’t have that on my 2025 BINGO card: Being interviewed on a local news segment in support of a county bell-to-bell phone ban. I am so gratified that our state legislators actually enacted tighter regulations than our county, though there is still work to be done!
Most surprising goal progress: I don’t exactly know if this counts as progress, but the most surprising aspect of a goal this year was finally going to a PCP and getting less-than-ideal bloodwork results. I suppose I expected to pass with flying colors, and that was not the case. Though disappointing and a bit frustrating, I was and am grateful for the insight.
Best home improvement: Well, we got an entirely new home this year, so there’s plenty that could go in this category. Our larger backyard and flat cul-de-sac feel like the biggest improvements in terms of lifestyle, but I also want to give a shout out to our new salad plates (we finally replaced the ones we got for our wedding, which we loved but had worn into the ground over 12+ years of daily use) and the cleaning spray that makes swiping counters a joy.
Best habit you created: This is an easy answer but also a bit of a frustrating one. After receiving my bloodwork results in June, I immediately began a habit of a daily 30-minute walk: brisk, hilly, first thing in the morning. It worked perfectly while the kids were out of school – I kept up an unbroken streak despite sweat-drenched summer temps – but the timing just didn’t work once school was back in session. I LOVED this habit, though, and am contemplating how to best incorporate it year-round. Stay tuned to my 2026 goals 👀
While we’re on the subject of fitness and wellness, a few other small and large upgrades worth mentioning:
1) With the move to the new house, we were able to move our “gym” out of our bedroom and into the garage. Incredible.
2) On the recommendation of a doctor friend, John and I both started taking magnesium and a multivitamin with Vitamin D and fish oil. It might be coincidence, but neither of us have had a cold since and my restless leg syndrome has abated almost entirely. (The latter is definitely not coincidence – magnesium is known to help with RLS!)
3) I stopped bringing a folding chair to kid soccer games and instead stand or walk for the hour. I’ve also been known to do calf raises to strengthen my knees :)
4) Two things have helped me be more consistent than ever with my strength workouts: I chose Wednesday and Friday, the days I don’t work, as my CANNOT MISS strength days and do my workouts as soon as I get home from dropping the kids at school, before anything else. (I also try to do strength on Saturdays and Sundays, but am less consistent.) Also, John used the new Peloton Strength+ app (included with a Peloton membership) to program eight workouts for me. I rotate between them and never have to waste time thinking about what I’m doing each day.
Favorite blog post written: I’m grateful that so many of you stick around for what I have to offer in this season! Each Disc a Day was easily my favorite post of 2025.
Best little luxury you’ve enjoyed: The Eby Relief bra! I have completely abandoned every other option in my drawer in favor of this one. It’s comfy, it lays smoothly under shirts, and it’s shaping even without an underwire. I’m so happy I gave it a try!
As always, I’m ending the year so grateful for the delights, big and small, that filled it. I’ll be sharing more in my year-in-review post soon, but in the meantime, please do share: what are some of your “bests” from 2025? Can’t wait to hear!
Two monthly goals posts in a row – not usually what you can expect around here! Between all the beginning-of-year EFM fun and a post I meant to share last week in honor of our twentieth (!!) dativersary that ended up needing a bit more polish, here we are. (You’ll get the relationship post next week.) Until then, here is what’s on tap for the tiny-but-mighty month of February.
On my calendar: — The third annual Articles Club weekend away, a.k.a. Camp Clurb! I missed last year’s trip unexpectedly to be at my grandmother’s memorial service and so am especially happy to get to hang with the best gals around at the end of the month. — Another book swap! Could there be a more perfect bright spot in the doldrums of winter? I’m hosting with a dear friend again and we’ve chosen a “book lovers” theme due to our proximity to Valentine’s Day (with teatime food since we’re partying in the afternoon). — My birthday! It’s on a Friday this year, one of my days off each week. Last year it also fell on a day off, and I think I’m now spoiled forever: it was a true delight to spend the hours the kids were at school in a way that was simple, but designed to be uniquely pleasing to me. Promising myself I’ll make an equally good plan this year.
What I’m loving right now: — Y’all know I’m on a Defined Dish kick. Her chicken piccata meatballs are my newest favorite – so good! I usually serve them with fettucine and sautéed green beans. — We just bought Annie one of these okay-to-wake clocks in prep for moving her from her crib to her bed. It’s the third one in our family — the older two are quite fond of theirs. — Speaking of Annie, this is her absolute favorite picture book right now. (It’s been a favorite of all of our kids at one time or another.) We’ve read it nightly for the past few weeks, picking out one kid to follow each time. Her favorites are the girls from India and Japan :)
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
— My Christmas card photo album. I actually just ordered a few more and am going to add a set of cards to one for each of my children! — The manners flip book we often use to supplement Team Thomas Tuesdays. — Our foyer shoe cabinet! It really is the prettiest shade of green. — My favorite simple v-neck white tee (closely tied with my beloved summer linen shift dress from the same brand) — This medium hair clip I slipped into my own stocking :) I like the look, but am still figuring out the best way to get all my hair caught up.
What I read in January: — Best Family Ever | This is a middle grade book June pressed into my hand after finishing it herself. I’m delighted she loved it and appreciated the the closet-knit family at the center. As an adult I found it a bit too saccharine :) — The Evening and the Morning | In addition to my official personal book club picks, I also committed to re-reading a portion of the Kingsbridge series this year, starting with this one (the prequel), which I last read in 2022. It held up – I may even have enjoyed it more this time around. — Well Lived| This is Sally Clarkson’s newest book. While I enjoyed it, it is quite different from my favorite of her books, The Lifegiving Home. With full-color pictures, pull quotes, and scripture on most pages, it reads more like a devotional than a how-to book. Still, I finished it feeling very endeared to her.
Revisiting my January goals: Inquire with a designer friend for our bathroom project (Inquired and she is not available to help. I’ve emailed a second gal and am waiting to hear back!) Print 2024 Instagram photos Set up our 2025 budget Make a loose plan for this year’s read alouds (V. v. excited for all of them) Confirm a reunion date (Also v. excited for this.) Make a scripture ring for our table with the verses we’ve memorized so far (Bought this one and am now writing out the verses we’ve memorized so far.) Prep for the book swap (Door hangers are in my possession!) Print photos for our Christmas album Send an email to friends in my county encouraging them to email their school board reps about the potential phone ban (Did not get to this – moving to February!)
I also planned to run every weekend (check!!), practice the piano several times a week (I averaged twice a week), clean out my phone screenshots daily (check!), and keep up with our Hebrews reading plan (off the rails).
February goals: — Finalize the itinerary for our reunion and run it by a friend to get feedback — Record June’s birthday interview — Choose a PCP and call about making an appointment — Sit down with John and spend 1-2 hours going over what I have so far for the TCF audio course and getting his feedback — Choose and begin a new Bible reading plan — Make classroom valentines with the kids — Put our scripture ring into action at the table — Prep to speak at a school on behalf of TCF – my first time! — Send that phone ban friend email (If any of you are also in Wake County and want in on it, just raise your hand in the comments! I can nab your email from the backend, you don’t have to post it publicly :))
Let’s talk birthdays! I’d love to hear: if you had about six hours during the day on a weekday and you had no work or childcare responsibilities, how would you spend it? What would you do? Would friends be invited along? I can’t wait to hear!
