Confession: I am a personal finance geek and devour personal finance books for fun. I like Gail Vaz-Oxlade's books so much that she gets her own list.

Gail has a no-nonsense, practical approach to personal finances that appeals to me. Using terms like “money moron” or “downright dumb” to describe questionable money choices, she doesn't mince words and isn’t afraid of calling the reader’s bluff. I don’t take it personally.

I find her writing sobering and direct, but accessible with a clear path to solutions. Plus she's Canadian which means her books refer to Canadian laws and resources, a piece that's usually missing in books written by US authors.

Below are three books she's written that I've enjoyed over the past few months. The subject matter is the same, but each offers its own insights.

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Money Rules: Rule Your Money, Or Your Money Will Rule You

Though the information is plentiful, this book was an easy read. The two hundred and sixty-one money rules offered range from the basic (#8 Everyone Needs an Emergency Fund) to the philosophical (#57 Learn From Your Mistakes), to the more obscure that might not be widely known (#63 Make Spousal RRSP Contributions by December). Everything is laid out in practical, bite-sized pieces that are easy take in. Some of the rules I already knew or was familiar with, but others made me go “Huh!” Some of them surprised D., my husband, and became fodder for financial discussion. Wide in its coverage of money matters, it's a useful resource.

Never Too Late: Take Control of Your Retirement and Your Future

With a focus on retirement this book includes information about RRSPs (Registered Retirement Savings Plans) and TFSAs (Tax Free Savings Accounts), among other things, that helped me better understand my options as I move forward. I am in my forties and retirement will come soon enough. The book brings a clear message that it really never is too late to start saving, and will guide the reader through some options to do so. So no excuses!

It’s Your Money: Becoming a Woman of Independent Means

This book is geared towards women, but in Gail's words, from her Money Rules book: “It's Your Money was written for women, but if you're a guy, it won't make your penis fall off.”

The first few sections cover basics like saving, credit identity, insurance, etc., and touch on the intangibles of money, as in how do you feel about it? But I found the last few sections most insightful: Adapt Your Plan as Your Life Changes and Just in Case. In these sections Gail walks us through different life scenarios such as partnering up, having children, losing a job, becoming disabled or caring for aging parents, and outlines how each one might impact our financial plan and choices. Some of the stats presented were eye-openers for me and prompted action, which is probably exactly what she hoped for when she included them.

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Each of these books has helped deepen my personal finance journey in one way or another. They are well laid out, clear, and cover many of the facets involved in creating intentional finances, making them excellent resources for one's financial toolkit.

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If you want a taste of Gail and her approach, you can check out this interview about her latest book called Money Talks (which I haven’t read yet, ergo is not on my list):

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Did you miss Birthday List Love Day 1? Here it is. Stay tuned for Day 3...

I'm jumping right in with some favourite recipes because, well, who doesn't love good food?

Some of these are weekday go-to's, others are a little more labour-intensive, but well worth the effort. All of them happen to be vegetarian and all of them are GOOO-OOD!

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1. Spiced Red Lentil, Tomato, and Kale Soup

This is probably my favourite go-to soup. It's comfort in a bowl and perfect for icky, rainy or snowy days. Its spices blend into a flavourful whole that'll cure what ails you without overpowering. I often use chicken broth because that's what we have on hand (we're not vegetarian), and substitute spinach for the kale since I usually have some handy in the freezer.

2. Braised Coconut Spinach & Chickpeas with Lemon

This is a brand new recipe for us – like, a few weeks ago new – and oh. em. gee. The recipe suggests serving it over a baked sweet potato, but I didn't want to take the time to do that so I piled the chickpea/spinach/coconut milk mixture over rice. Rich and sweet with a soupçon of lemon to perk it all up at the end. Oh. Em. Gee.

3. Maple Baked Lentils with Sweet Potato

Think baked beans with a twist. It's a perfect Sunday dinner that, in our small household of two, leaves us with plenty of leftovers for weekday lunches. Hearty, comforting and simple to make, it's one of our colder weather go-to's. A tip: plan for more time than called for in the oven, just in case. No matter how tiny my sweet potatoes are they seem to take forever to cook.

4. Chunky Portabella Veggie Burgers

This recipe came with very high praise from a friend and it did NOT disappoint. It's by far the best veggie burger I've had. Because they're fried in oil and include a healthy dose of Parmesan cheese, the burgers are a perfect combo of crispy and gooey. The dark green bits from the minced broccoli add a delightful colour – not to mention texture – to the whole thing. We used button mushrooms instead of portabellas because it's what we had on hand, but I'm sure the portabellas would be just as good.

5. Black Beans and Rice

Nothing fancy, but a quick, reliable recipe that's easy peasy to get together on a weekday. That makes it a winner in my books. I've nothing more to say.

6. Spicy Tomato Chickpea Stew

Despite the fact that this is my second chickpea recipe on the list, I'm really not a huge chickpea fan. But when it's smothered in garlic, onions and tomatoes seasoned with cumin, coriander and paprika... how could I not be? Dish this stew over a bowlful of sweet smelling basmati rice and call it a meal to delight the senses – an easy, weekday meal to delight the senses. That’s the best kind, non?

7. Kahlua Pecan Brown Sugar Baked Brie

The title says it all: one cup of brown sugar simmered in one cup of Kahlua, enhanced with pecans and poured over a baked wheel of Brie. One of the sweetest, richest treats I've ever tasted. Like a butter tart, but with cheese and alcohol, it's the type of decadence that's probably best kept for special occasions. The recipe recommends serving it with crackers, but we enjoyed it with a thinly sliced baguette that soaked up the Kahlua syrup nicely. Invite friends to partake in this one, they will love you for it.

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Voilà, this birthday's collection of favourite recipes. Let me know if you try any!

Stay tuned for Birthday List Love Day 2, where I might be talking about books, or art, or something entirely different...