what I'm reading

Summer is such a great time to catch up on all the books you've collected and have yet to read. Whether its by the pool, on the front porch or lounging at the beach, it's the best time to get lost in a good read. I have a habit of starting a book and not finishing it before I start the next one. I'm almost always reading two or three books over the same time frame. This is what I'm reading right now.

I started this book after I heard about it from another blogger. To be honest, there is nothing super amazing about it. However, it's a really great story. Its told from multiple perspectives but centers around the main character Ramona. She is a baker who has had an eventful life. There is a lot of feeling to the story and whenever I pick it up, I end up reading for much longer than I meant to. Also, there are tons of recipes at the ends of the chapters. I can't wait to try some of the breads.

First off, I love pretty much anything Gary Chapman writes. He writes mostly book regarding human relationships, personality types, and marriage. Since those are my favorite topics, you can probably tell why I like reading his books so much. This book was no different. I found this incredibly insightful, honest, a bit unsettling, and really hard to put down. Now it could be because I do love the topic so much and its pretty relevant to my stage in life, but I loved this book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is dating, seriously dating, engaged or newly married. It's definitely eye opening. There are even questions and exercise for you to go through, if you want to take an extra step. Jake is probably glad I'm done reading this book because a lot of my sentences started out as "So you know what I read in that marriage book..." Gary Chapman goes though the major topics, areas of conflict, areas of untruth,  and biggest points of frustration that he and his wife went through during the beginning of their rocky marriage. Don't worry though, he is also a licensed counselor so his advice comes with some validity. I realize that by reading this book it won't make our marriage perfect but at least it opened my eyes to what may be normal that may not always seem normal and help us build a solid martial foundation.

I started reading this book because it is one of my favorite authors, favorite authors. I assumed that I would probably love it because if she was anything like her writing style it would be awesome. It definitely was different than I anticipated. It was significantly more edgy than any other "faith" books I've read before. The beginning chapters really took me for surprise. It was a bit hard to get into it but every now and then I find myself really enjoying it. It has taken me much longer to read than I thought but I think at the end of it I will be pleased. I'll keep you posted.

These are the books that are filling my nightstand these days. Tell me...what are you reading?

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I would also like to briefly mention that today is my sweet grandma Norma's birthday. And although she isn't physically here to celebrate with us, it doesn't take away the fact that a beautiful, special woman was born today. She is forever loved and missed.

life lately

according to my iphone pictures

1. my favorite kind of saturday morning

2. pile of doilies

3. 10 hours of invitation building

4. my first bridal shower

5. flying cupcakes wedding cake - the best

6. dinner of choice

7. sleepy puppy

One week from now I will be heading south for my brothers wedding. I cannot believe that it is already here. It seems like the past year and a half just flew by. I am so excited for this wedding. I may be a bit sketchy here in the next couple weeks but I promise I will return from time to time and with lots of pictures.

inspiration

Whenever I sit down for a few brief, rare but necessary, moment of quiet. Side note, I can't imagine what it'll be like when I have a husband, kids and a house. I can't seem to help but let my mind wander and usually the thoughts that go through my head go something like this, "Ah, peace and quiet. This is so calm and relaxing...I should write about that." or "Oh, look at that beautiful sky, or the smell of the air. This is really just a great moment of stillness....I should write about that." And then I usually proceed to begin writing the story out in my head. Thinking mostly of how I would begin.

For a long time, I felt really bad about it. I felt like I shouldn't be thinking about writing. And I don't always think about blog writing; sometimes I think about the book I'm going to write. I should be soaking in the goodness of the moment. Living presently with what I am surrounded by. So I would try and stuff the thoughts.

Today, I had one of those moments. As I was finishing reading, I was sitting just enjoying being home. In the silence of my house, I began to hear the church bells ringing just down the road. By this, I knew it was six o'clock. But then I started really listening to them. They were beautiful. Glorious old hymns rang out strong. It reminded me of home. It reminded me of the church bell at my home church. It didn't ring like this one, but it still resonated something in me. Sometimes I think I have an old soul. I think I could have lived in the "good ole days" and been perfectly content. This bell reminded me of the wholesomeness that still exists in our world. Then it hit me...

"I should write about that," I thought.

Moment ruined. "Really, is that really what you're going to think about right now," I thought to myself. "Just enjoy the moment and don't think about what you're going to write about it."

Then I had an "ah, ha" moment. I'm not trying to justify my constant need to be thinking about my next move before I've even completed the first one. But it occurred to me that in that moment, listening to the bells, I was inspired. And what do I do when I am inspired. I write. I finally felt like I understood myself just a little bit clearer. Instead of getting irritated at myself for thinking about writing, instead I need to embrace it. Embrace the inspiration. Be driven by it. Write because of it.

If artists try to stifle when they're inspired to paint, we would be missing out on so many beautiful pieces of artwork. Or if musicians didn't write songs because they thought they shouldn't be thinking about music, we would be robbed of so many melodies. So, why should I try to do that to my form of art work.

Now instead of being frustrated with myself for thinking about writing. I will use the inspiration to write down words that are inspired by it.

Hello 100

Well, hello 100.

Today is my 100th post. To be honest, it seems that I should have way more than 100 posts, but regardless it feels likes a monumental moment. I have written to you and you have read my posts 100 times! Sometimes I sit and think about the content of my blog. That I need a certain direction or that I need to be an expert about something. But really, I'm not an expert at anything and my blog is a pretty good representation of what goes on in my brain. It's all over the place pretty much all the time. But I will say that there is one thing that I am an expert at and that is being me. No one else can be me...just me. So basically, in my blog I write about being me and what that really is like.

Simple as pie. (I'm not really sure why people use that expression because pie crusts are not easy).

So thank you for your support and continuing to read all 100 posts. I really do appreciate it.

Also, I love posts that include picture. As much as I love words, I also like looking a pretty things. So since it's Friday, I figured I would get you caught on my latest pinning enjoyment. Here are a few thing via Pinterest that I am loving these days.

dear today

dear today,

you have not been my most favorite in awhile. i can't seem to shake this slump from today. frankly, i don't like it one bit, even though i realize that a lot of it has to do with my attitude. so, maybe i do kind of like being in a slump. maybe i am allowing myself to sulk. is that ok? can i do that for just today?

sometimes we have to make hard decisions. today was one of those days. although i know the outcome will be better than what i had originally intended, i am finding myself a little bit down. so maybe if it's alright with you, today, i am going to be in a slump and then tomorrow i will perk back up and be my normal self.

is that ok with you? i sure hope so.

kindly,

sha

high five for friday

Oh Friday, I have been waiting for you since Monday. With the anticipation of a three day weekend on the brink, I have found myself struggling to stay focused and motivated this week. However, it has been a good week none the less. So I'm linking up again today with Lauren at From My Grey Desk for this weeks High Five for Friday...

So here they are, my top five for this week:

1. Today marks the official hitting of the double digits! That's right...only 99 more days until I become a mrs. I can't believe it is going so fast. But I will say that I'm ready to marry my sweet fiance, and I think he is ready too. Also, we are now under the one month mark for my brothers wedding! So much fun ahead!

2. Last weekend, we celebrated Kayli's bachelorette weekend. It was such a great weekend filled with some of my favorite ladies, just being girls. I love celebrating these moments of life with good friends. Thanks girls and to Louisville for being so good to us!

3. I made it to the gym three times this week. That's a record that hasn't been broken in a long time. It feels good to be back in the gym more often and feeling those good sore muscles. It's the little thing in life, right?!? Well, this is something I've really been lacking and so it's been a nice change.

4. Spotify. Ok, I realize I'm a little late coming to this party. But, geesh...it is awesome! I love that you can listen to full albums of music without having to pay a cent for it. I love being able to listen to new music and it has definitely been what is helping me through the work days. If you haven't started using it yet and you sit at a desk basically all day, like me, you should definitely get it on your desk top.

5. This weekend. Three day weekend. Pool side. 90 degree weather. Fiance. Grilling. Need I say more?

I hope you all have a blessed Memorial Day weekend. Regardless of where you find yourself, be sure to take some time for the small moments this weekend. Remember to be thankful and celebrate all we have.

And don't forget to wear sunscreen.

Have you heard of this?

Piloxing.

Have you heard of it? Neither had I. But I went to my first Piloxing class last night and woah. It's a new work out craze (apparently in L.A.) that combines Pilate's and boxing. It kicked my butt. I worked muscles that I haven't used in years and I was dripping in sweat when I left.

It's such a unique combination of boxing moves and position holds but every now and then it throws in a few ballet positions. I took a ballet class in college and loved it! I also learned how ballerinas are in such awesome shape. It take incredible strength. So to do some ballet in this intense workout was such a nice surprise.

However, I think my favorite thing about the whole experience was how I felt Piloxing represented women. Not that men can't join, but it's definitely created for females. It combines butt kicking boxing that makes you sweat like crazy, along with Pilate's, strength poses, and also the elegance and grace of ballet. Much like women.

As a woman, I believe that we are capable of so much and yet, myself included, we often don't reach down and tap into the abilities that we have. Much like this workout, women can kick butt, women are strong and women are graceful. And when you combine those three together, you get one powerhouse of a workout but also you get a powerhouse woman.

I think one of the greatest tragedies of our world today is the lack of mentoring and uplifting that women can bring to one another. So often are we competing and comparing against one another. Just imagine for a moment if we put all that aside and worked together. Think of the resource that we can be, if we just worked together. As a 20-something, I desire a strong, powerful and graceful women, outside of my family, to take me by the side and say, "Yeah, I've been there...let me walk with you while you're there now." Think of the teaching that could occur and the lessons that we can share with each other.

Now we all have our mistakes to make. There is no replacing trial and error, but if we had someone by our side who has been through a similar life journey that we could discuss, digest and help shape how we look and think about it. Just think of how differently the end results may be. Instead of having a situation that crushes us, it could become a situation that helps make us. Just imagine, will you.

One of my great hopes in this life is that I have the opportunity to be that mentor for someone. To see where they are and say, "Yeah, I've been there and I made it to the other side and you will too." To share from the mistakes that I have made and the many, many more that I will make.

And as a 20-something, I am also so grateful that I am surrounded by lots of powerful, strong, graceful women whom I can call my friends. That we can share in life together and the realness of what it is.

Who knew Piloxing could evoke such thoughts. I just wanted a good workout.

Group shot from this weekends festivities.