Attending the Republican National Convention.

My coworker's favorite Beccaism is  'I just like to do epic things once'.  This is apparently a given.  She says that nearly everyone would say they like to be a part of epic things.  So in other words, I'm just one of the masses.  But honestly, I enjoy taking every advantage of every unique opportunity that presents itself at least once, just to say I have.

I was invited this year to attend the Republican National Convention which took place in my hometown of Tampa, Florida.  I've gotten to know and love two of the directors from the convention and about a month beforehand they offered me tickets and credentials.  They even let me pick the most exciting night - the night with Condi Rice (one of my personal hero's and a HUGE NFL football fan) and Paul Ryan (future vice president of the US of A).

Amy, my friend and fellow event department worker is much more involved in the political realm than I am so it was fun to surprise her and tell her I'd gotten us passes to go!  She was thrilled.  With an event the weekend before in Indianapolis, our lives have been a bit of a blur and the convention was here before we had a second to breathe.  

(credentialed up and ready to rock) 

We left Wednesday straight from work to get a jump on the crowds (it started at 7:00).  Ok fine, we had to first make a pit stop at the library because I was on my last day to pick up my holds before they'd reshelf them and say to heck with me.  But anyway, we ran by the library and then headed downtown with the intention of parking in Channelside and walking over to the Tampa Convention Center where the RNC was being held.

It was surprisingly smooth sailing getting there.  I had expected that the RNC would be a neat experience but I have to tell you, I was blown away.  It was by far one of the coolest experiences of my life.  We had a blast and in four hours of speaking I wasn't bored for as single minute.

Our seats were incredible.  I was literally in the front row of the overhang, directly in front of the stage.  I could see everything perfectly and even people watch from above.

I was most excited to see Condoleezza Rice speak and she didn't disappoint.  I thought she was incredible!  I have the utmost respect for her and would love to someday meet her and tell her as much.  I truly wish it was her desire to run for President someday - she would have my vote!

Hearing Paul Ryan speak was equally exciting.  I thought he did an incredible job and continue to believe he will make an excellent VP.

I don't like to get too political on the blog as I know many of my followers don't share my beliefs but I did want to share what was a once in a lifetime experience for me with you here on the blog.  I figure everyone can appreciate that!

I will end by echoing the sentiment of all of Wednesday nights speakers - may God bless America!

Love,
B

I'm Afraid of Being Boring.

Over lunch yesterday I finally put into words one of my biggest fears.  I was being incredibly inarticulate and I finally just blurted, 'I think I'm afraid of being boring.  Of being so boring I'm bored of my own life...does that make sense?'  I realize this wasn't exactly well articulated either but there really is no perfect way to say this.

Have you ever been around someone you felt was waiting for their life to begin?  Like when they're married, have kids, make more money, pay something off, finish school, etc THEN they would start living?  These people terrify me.  I'm afraid of being boring while I wait on some outside circumstance to deliver the life I want.  I want it bad enough to fight for it now.

Am I making any sense?  Anyone?

My friend pointed out that my life is anything but boring.  At a 26 I've already:

- Witnessed the Hawaii Ironman live
- Been to 2 super bowls
- 2 pro bowls (also in Hawaii)
- Traveled to Haiti
- Lived in over 30 houses
- Met well over 100 famous people
- Been to 30-something states
- Been to about a million sporting events from seeing Michael Jordan play Shaq to Reggie Millers last game to the time trials of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta
- I've paid off my debt, graduated college, and bought a house
- I've fallen in love twice
- I've swam with manatees, run a 5k, and even been the person selected for a TV makeover (no lie, that happened)
- I've read thousands of books, written hundreds of blog posts, and taken millions of photos

Well, you get the idea.  I've done a few things.  So why the intense and unnecessary fear of boredom?  I think it's my age.  I'm about to turn 27 and I realize that every year since I turned 20 has been better than the year before.  I want that to be true from now til the end of my life. I want every year to keep getting better.  And maybe I'm afraid I can't keep pace with the awesome exploratory life I've been living the past 6 years.

I can.  I've determined that I can.  But it will take some planning and conscious effort.  Your life doesn't happen to you on accident.  If I want to travel the US and a little of the world while excelling at my job and creating meaningful relationships I have to be purposeful.  So in the next few weeks leading up to the big 2-7 I'm making some big plans for the next year.  Don't worry - you're all included in them just by being a reader of this blog.  Stay tuned!  I promise, I'm not ready to grow old and bore us all!

Love,
B

Weekend Recap - Indianapolis.

Well, I'm back in Tampa - at least until Friday.  We had a 'hurricane day' yesterday from work which graciously allowed me to play catch up from being gone this weekend.  So my house is put back together, my laundry is done, and I'm feeling excited about a busy week and another weekend away!

This weekend in Indianapolis was amazing.  It really couldn't have worked out any more perfectly.  We flew in Friday morning to set up for our filming on Saturday and we arrived in time to catch Dad before he departed for Washington DC.

It was so great for our team to get to see him and we all got to wish him luck before his road game.

Friday night after dinner with our crew I met up with Sean at our spot, the Fox and the Hound and got to catch up face to face instead of our usual phone chats, which was great!

I woke up early Saturday morning to have coffee with my sweet friend Jon who was willing to get up early on a Saturday to meet me. I loved catching up with him and hearing what's new in his life in person, again, instead of our usual phone chats.

Friday and Saturday were a good combo of work and a little play...

Saturday was our filming for work and my besties came out to volunteer.

The recording went great but man was it hot in there.  Afterwards Sean, Candy, Josh, and I ate at my favorite Indiana restaurant - Stone Creek Grill.

We came back and lazed around the house watching the Colts game on Tivo before all hitting the sack pretty early.

Sunday morning I got to spend an hour or so with just my Dad and I.  We made coffee and sat and caught up on life. With neither sister home, my Mom out of town, and my best friend and her husband still asleep it was a great time for the two of us to just talk.  It was such a sweet time and I'm so grateful we were able to carve that out of a busy weekend of work on the road for both of us.

Afterwards we were able to grab breakfast with Candy and Josh before Dad had to be back at the office, the Schulze's had to get to their plans, and I packed up for my return to Tampa.  It was such a special morning for me with people I adore and a great ending to an incredible weekend.

I made it back to Tampa before any storms hit - so thank you to each of you who expressed concern for me.  I'm still here and so is my house!  We actually got a hurricane day from work yesterday and so I was able to catch up but we didn't actually get a hurricane, which was even better!  I'm about to head into the office now to start a short week before another weekend on the road.

Love,
B

Wow'd.

If I could sit down over a pot of coffee and share with each of you all the Lord has been teaching me this year, I would.  Each year since I graduated college and moved to Florida (over four years now), I’ve thought ‘next year will be easy compared to this one’ and I have been oh so wrong.  It’s not that I haven’t loved each of these years, I have.  Each in its own way has been the most precious year yet.  And 2012 continues not to disappoint.

As I shared on Wednesday this week has been busy for me in preparation for a weekend of working in Indiana starting Friday, the buzz of work has started when I walk through the door and kept me making notes in a book at home til the wee hours of morning some nights.  As I purpose to be organized and perform my duties with excellence I admit my heads been almost entirely dominated with the work realm this week.  But I committed to my best friend on Monday morning that I my verses for this week would be these:

‘I will bless the Lord at all times; His praises shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.  O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together’ – Psalm 34:1-3

It was a tall order, I know.  If you’re like me than busyness and ‘stress’ don’t always cast your most flattering light.  But purposing to remember these (and reading this verse over and over as it’s posted on my computer at work this week) it has continued to stay close to my heart.

I woke up Wednesday morning to a voicemail from my Dad.  I’ve shared before that my Dad, being in football, has a crazy schedule.  Of all the people I’ve ever known, he works longer and harder.  But I cannot remember a time in my twenty-six years of life that I’ve ever heard him complain about it.  A statistic was released a few years back that said the average NFL football coach works 120 hours per week.  That is 3x’s the hours of a 9-5 fulltimer.  So I played his voicemail on my drive to work and I teared up.  He said he’s been going in ‘extra early’ and staying ‘extra late’ this week because of their ‘short week’ from having a night game Sunday.  I’m not positive but for a guy who’s in the office by 6am and there til at least 10pm NORMALLY, I’m assume this week has been pretty brutal schedule wise.

Do you know what the message was about though?  Me.  He said he was sorry that we hadn’t gotten to talk much.  He said he couldn’t wait to see me this weekend (he will fly into Indy in the middle of the night Saturday and will have a little time with me before he goes into the office Sunday).  He said he checked to make sure the car was there for me when I arrived on Friday so I could get where I needed to go.  In the midst of a busy, crazy, stressful week for him – he left me a sweet, encouraging message about ME.

More and more I admire him. 

I am thankful for his example as I learn what it looks like to bless the Lord at all times and to put other people above myself. May I be someone who in the midst of my crazy life never forgets to value what’s going on in the lives of those around me.  May I be the kind of friend, sister, daughter, and leader who calls to check on the people I love even if it has to be before 6am or after midnight.  And may it be said, someday, that I never complain about hardwork.

I look forward with great joy to a cup coffee with my main man  this weekend in my high school home after a sleepover with my favorite people – my best friend, her husband, and my sweet, sweet Dad.

God is good.

Love,

B

A Quick Hello!

Hi darlings and happy hump day.

This week has been a blur of packing and preparation for a video recording in Indianapolis this weekend for work (I talked briefly about that last week).  I've now packed almost 50 boxes and sent them ahead and I'm muscling through meetings, logistics, and design work in preparation for an early Friday morning departure.

I know I've been pretty blog absent as well as neglecting the social media world (shocking for me, I know).  So I wanted to pop in and say a quick hi, I'm alive, I'll be back!  In other news...

My Kate bag came! And my birthday wallet to match arrived last night. I'm smitten with it. I love love love the size, the color, the structure and most of all the great deal I got on it!

I did work all weekend but I managed to hangout with neighbors and eat lobster from the grill as well as get some packing done...

Can you tell that I'm going to Indianapolis by my blue, black, and white wardrobe?

This is what my work life has looked like this week.  Whew.

Life is good but busy.  My posts may be hit or miss the next couple weeks.  But I'm not gone for good, I promise!

Love,
B

Cheers to Next Weekend.

Well I hate to get too far ahead of myself. I should be excited about this weekend.  But this weekend will be blur of...work. I'm working Friday night, day and night Saturday, and a little on Sunday so imagine this weekend will be a bit of a blur. I DID make myself stick with my chore list for the week so my house is clean  going into a week of pre-event chaos and craziness.  But really, as much as I love to life for the present, I can't help but my jittery with excitement about NEXT weekend.

I will be headed out first thing Friday morning to Indianapolis, Indiana.

I will be in full event mode aka looking like this:

(photo by Chris Johnson of Tampa)

I will be working Friday and Saturday during the days at the stomping grounds of my sweet Daddy.  However, he will be in Washington DC facing RG3 - I'm hoping to steal a little time with him on Sunday morning before I jet back Sunday afternoon.  

Friday night I will get to see this guy:

Who along with my best friend and her husband will be volunteering working our big recording!  So grateful for their help.

Dinner with these folks Saturday night:

I also get a coffee date with my friend Jon...(had to go way back for this pic)

So yeah, I get to spend next weekend working my favorite NFL facility, seeing my sweet Daddy, and spending time with some of my favorite people in the WORLD.  Diligently working hard this weekend in prep for that.  6 days and counting til this Florida girl is back in the midwest!

Love,
B

Top Five Reads of the Summer.

So since I've read an insane amount of books (74) already this year I thought I would give you all a list of my 5 favorite books from this summer.  I had gained myself the reputation of being super picky about books but I think that's just because I hit a major slump towards the end of last year, the beginning of this one and I wasn't reading anything I was fired up about.  I've since overcome that slump and read several great books this summer. And so I offer you my Top Five (not in order)...

1. One Breath Away.

In her most emotionally charged novel to date, New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf explores the unspoken events that shape a community, the ties between parents and their children and how the fragile normalcy of our everyday life is so easily shattered.

In the midst of a sudden spring snowstorm, an unknown man armed with a gun walks into an elementary school classroom. Outside the school, the town of Broken Branch watches and waits.

Officer Meg Barrett holds the responsibility for the town's children in her hands. Will Thwaite, reluctantly entrusted with the care of his two grandchildren by the daughter who left home years earlier, stands by helplessly and wonders if he has failed his child again. Trapped in her classroom, Evelyn Oliver watches for an opportunity to rescue the children in her care. And thirteen-year-old Augie Baker, already struggling with the aftermath of a terrible accident that has brought her to Broken Branch, will risk her own safety to protect her little brother.

As tension mounts with each passing minute, the hidden fears and grudges of the small town are revealed as the people of Broken Branch race to uncover the identity of the stranger who holds their children hostage.

2. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

3. and 4. Slammed & Point of Retreat (they are the beginning two books of a series)

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

(the sequel, which was as good as the first book)

5. Start Something the Matters.

In Start Something That Matters, Blake Mycoskie tells the story of TOMS, one of the fastest-growing shoe companies in the world, and combines it with lessons learned from such other innovative organizations as method, charity: water, FEED Projects, and TerraCycle. Blake presents the six simple keys for creating or transforming your own life and business, from discovering your core story to being resourceful without resources; from overcoming fear and doubt to incorporating giving into every aspect of your life. No matter what kind of change you’re considering, Start Something That Matters gives you the stories, ideas, and practical tips that can help you get started.  

Alright now, get to reading!

Birthday Wish List, Shopping, & the Book You Won't Put Down...

This summer has flown by, hasn't it?  I've been a little bit slackerish on the blog as of late as fall is in full swing workwise for me.  Most of you know I work in events for a non-profit that works with the NFL, so football season isn't just crazy for my family it's crazy at my job as well.  We head to Indianapolis a week from tomorrow to kick off our 'fall' event season. 

Here's a few fairwell to summer and hello to fall updates...

I have almost perfectly my homemade ice cream with my machine.  This is the fro yo and ice cream bar I set up for my dinner guests last week and it was maybe the happiest thing that's ever happened.

Must read of the summer award goes too:

When you, like I, finish it in less than 24 hours - don't panic, there's a second book.  I finished both in about 30 hours, during a work week. I was closely followed by Mia and Jo.  Seriously, get it, you'll thank me.  It's this summer's Beautiful Disaster (my obsession of last summer).

Since the shopping ban was called off early on account of good behavior (in combo with realizing my insanity in making a 7 month commitment to begin with) and I've been able to get a few fun new things.

Finally bought one of these.  Ok fine, two.  But don't worry I didn't by the $150 Jcrew version - I bought the $14 sale deal from The Poke A Dot Shop.  Waiting on the teal and navy to arrive!

After telling myself no to a bag I'd been craving all summer and missing my opportunity (it sold out) the bag I wanted most finally went over 50% off AND I had a coupon (that saved me another $40) and so the Bond Street Hadley (by Kate Spade) is mine!

Guess who else has one....

                                Oh hey Carrie, can I have your perfect legs now too? Thanks.

My (27th) birthday is fast approaching.  If you've been following since last year you probably know that I got Monday Night Football tickets and a grill last year. I tend to have boyish birthday wishes.  Anyway, this year I asked for these:

A BIG red Kitchenaid food processor so I can make my own hummus, salsa, peanut butter... you know, nerdy things.

And this...

The On the Mark necklace by Stella & Dot.  I've loved it for a while.

Maybe since I've been so good this year I'll also get some Southwest giftcards for my travels and a few Nordie Rack cards?  Hmm? Maybe?

And finally, today I'm thankful for: my best friend Candy, football season, airplanes (I love a good road trip but flying is so much easier), my Dad's tough Hawaiin skin, and the inventor of baseball caps.

Happy Thursday.

Love,
B

Day Three.

First off I want to say that this exercise in gracefulness has really been good for me. I've been in the best mood the past two days! I won't keep blogging it every day after this week but I may write them out on my own in the weeks following these posts. And so my 5 for today...

1. I'm thankful that the Lord's mercies are new every single morning. Clean slates sure are a relief.

2. I'm grateful for encouraging friends. One of my friends who works close to me came with me to my house for lunch yesterday. I had some leftovers and I offered to feed him randomly if he'd meet me at my place. I hadn't planned it out but as I was feeling a little self conscious about my lack of prep he said, 'you know Becca you do a great job of keeping up your house. It always looks nice' he also said the lunch was 'incredible'... Of course he'll be invited back. ;) But really,it built me up.

3. I'm thankful for technology. God bless it because in a given day I can get emails from my best friends, videos of my niece, texts from my family, and FaceTime with my favorites far away. It is good to live in the age of the iPhone, is it not?

4. I'm grateful to have a pool because the good Lord knows this heat'll kill ya.

5. I am wow'd and humbled by a generous twitter follower who told me yesterday she'd like to pitch in towards my missions trip.

The event chaos has begun for the year and footballs in full swing but I'm amazed by how encouraged and peaceful I feel this week.

Love,
B

Day Two.

This week is really off to a fabulous start for me so it's making it easy to give you my 5 for today....

Today I'm grateful for...

1.  Good books.  You know the kind that don't even take 24 hours to read because they have you plotting ways to read and shower at the same time?  Those books.

2.  Today I was able to surprise a coworker who's really into politics by getting us tickets to the biggest day of the Republican National Convention.  She was so excited, it was awesome.

3.  A new, amazing client as of this week.

4.  Two trips I'm so excited about in the next three weekends.

5. Sonic diet coke. Gets me through meetings.

Love,
B

A Week of Gratefulness - Day One.

I'm declaring this week on the blog a week of gratefulness.  I've continued to feel challenged this year to live in a place of gratefulness, instead of just popping by for a visit now and again.  So this week I will share daily a few things I'm grateful for.   Feel free to get in touch with me and share yours with me as well!

So for day one, I'm grateful for...

1. Our first Colts win of the year! (38-3 over the St Louis Rams yesterday)

2.  Four amazing years in my favorite city - Tampa!

3. The rare blessing of having all four of my grandparents still in my life.  What a special time this is.

4. I'm overwhelmed with gratefulness this week that for the almost 4.5 years since I graduated college I have been employed full time every single day.  During a crazy economy this is not something I take for granted.  The Lord's provision amazes me.

5. Friendships. I am thankful this morning for so many great relationships and incredible friends.

Love,

B

It's the Time Again.

Image.

Well, it's that time again.  Time to live out of a suitcase and fly the friendly skies.  If it seems like I've been grounded for longer than usual this summer, you would be correct.  After Haiti, DC, and Myrtle Beach I've had a little down on the ground time but it's back to the season of travel for this lady.

Looking forward to two trips before the end of August (well, one include Labor day weekend which is August and Sept) followed by more work travels in October, November, and December. I will be squeezing in a beach retreat with my bestie in September as well.  

So here is the official welcome to travel sized toiletries, airport rendezvous, crooked spines from overstuffed carry on baggage, and instagram overload.  This little event planner from the city by the bay is taking her show or at least her job on the road.  Looking forward to the next two quiet weekends before the craze begins.

It is officially event season.

Love,
B

Weekend Recap.

This weekend was pretty much perfect.  It went a little something like this...

(time with my maker, my Savior, and my redeemer)

 (time in the kitchen prepping for cooking out with friends and neighbors)

(lazy pool, homemade ice cream making, breaking dawn, and time with Jess)

(bridge driving, sunset watching, and outlet mall shopping)

(outlet mall bargain hunting on tax free weekend)

(park time with this cutie)

And there was even time to cook, clean, read, and workout.  Does like get much better than this?

Love,

B

I Hate That...Wait, Do I Do That?

Do you ever catch yourself identifying qualities in people that you hate, to later realize you possess them yourself?  I know what you're thinking - that I am professing my own hypocrisy here.  You'd be right, kind of.  I don't mean that I knowingly hate qualities in other people I know myself to possess.  What I mean is, sometimes when I'm around people I realize something I find to be a horrifically unattractive trait in a person and then I go home and lose sleep over whether I could be identified as the same.

Am I rambling?

Let me break em down for ya...

I hate whining.  There are few things that sound more like nails on a chalkboard to me than whiners.  You know the people I'm talking about. You have at least one friend who does this.  Nothing ever goes right for this friend.  They're never happy, they never have enough, life never treats them fairly, and they can't help but tell you ALL about it EVERY time you're around them.  These people are exhausting.  These people make you bite your tongue 'til it bleeds not to snap 'you're life isn't that hard, everyone has their own baggage, and I'm sick to death of your playing the victim in your own life'.  Yes, whining.

So after I realized I hate this I thought - do I do this?  Am I whiny?  Do I complain?  Do I play the victim in any areas of my own life as if life is happening to me and I don't have any say?  After which I promptly started clamping my mouth shut every time I felt a whine coming up.  While I can tell you with honesty that sometimes my life IS hard, sometimes things DO go wrong, and sometimes I'm in a craptastic mood ...I do not desire to be whiny, ever.  What I have learned to watch in myself is that sometimes I hide my whining in a  funny, snarky rant and think it's cute.  This is a trap.

The Gimmes.  I have recently come to realize that something that grates on my nerves are people who constantly want something they don't have.  This is increased by the addition of the attitude that they DESERVE everything they want in addition to everything they already have or their friends have.  Are you catching my drift?  Are you picturing this person? Are you secretly afraid I'm talking about you? (I'm not, this isn't about any one person) I find this to be an undesirable quality in a person that shows them ungrateful and ungracious.

This one, has the stink of me in it.  I have the great potential to be a gimme.  I've always had a bit of 'if I want it, I'll work for it until I get it'.  While you might think this is better than expecting it will be given to be because I'm 'just that awesome' - it's not any less annoying.  I have an incredible life and more 'stuff' than any one person could ever 'need'.  But sometimes I catch myself with a big, fat, ugly case of the gimmes and I'm disgusted with myself.  This year I have really fought this inclination, hard.  I desire to be a person with a grateful heart and more than that to be a person who seeks to be generous - giving away more than I 'take'.  I also hope to be someone who trades an attitude of entitlement for one of serving those I love. I am confessing here that my grimy hands and selfish heart have unlimited potential to make me a gimme, but I'm aware of it and I'm fighting back.

The Flake.  Anyone else have a friend you consider 'the flake'?  This is the friend you'll never really count on because let's be real, they could come up with a head cold, an emergency, a better party they 'forgot' about, or just plain not show up.  These people, I'm convinced, have journals full of excuses and sometimes even just say they're 'too tired' to follow through on what they've promised.  These people also tend to be untimely, having little to no respect for the value of your time while you wait.  Does ANYONE love this quality in a friend?  No? I didn't think so.

While I'm not flaky by nature, I do tend to be highly committed.  My schedule is frequently full of back-to-back-to-back appointments and I do recognize this can have an equally negative effect.  When I'm with you, I should be there.  100% present, and not mentally checked into my last or next appointment.  Friendships aren't things you check off a to do list and I admit that I have to watch myself on this one.

Showing up where you say you will, when you say you will be there is important.  When you commit to people, that is your word and as they say 'you're only as good as your word'.  Value the time that people carve out for you and respect their time by not wasting it.  These are qualities that I think everyone appreciates in a relationship.  But if you're rigid like me, also watch that the time you spend with people is quality and that you are there for them, to enjoy the moment not just because it's on the calender.

I'm sure there are a few other categories this 'I hate that but maybe I do it' relates too but since I've beat myself up enough for today, we'll call it quits at three. I have plenty to work on.  I hope today's post didn't make you like me less and that you're able to come away from it making sure you're not living like a hypocrite either.

Love,
B

Books, books, and more books.

Whew, I've been a reading fool again this week.  Last week was crazy and I admit to being a bit of a slacker as I played catch up from being out of town and tried to get my footing again in the real world.  But this week has been surprisingly low key for me and I've had more time than usual to enjoy reading at home v. at stop lights and on hurried lunch breaks in quiet corners.  And so...

I am officially 68 books into my goal of 100 for this year which is exciting and a little surprising.  With probably my busiest year yet, I'm still managing to read more than ever.  I credit this in large part to ditch my cable in March of this year in an attempt to read more and save more money.  For me, it's been a great thing.

I increased my reading goal by 50 books in June at the gentle prodding of Amber and I'm already back to 9 books ahead of schedule.

This week I finished up:

I downloaded this to my Kindle because it was FREE (the magic word).  I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.  It was a fun, girly, poolside type read (though I haven't been poolside yet this week).  If you want a free read, I recommend it.  Here's what Amazon says about it:

GOOD LIFE
Mary Minke knows she should be grateful: a mostly happy marriage, mostly grown kids and a mostly steady paycheck. But at forty, she finds herself fantasizing about sprawling Tuscan villas and fitting into 'juniors department' fashions. Instead, another twenty years in a two-bedroom ranch, sale-rack slacks and a receptionist job at Idid-a-Rod Auto Garage seem to be her destiny. Until... 

GOOD GRIEF
Mary stumbles on a bag of cash in the car of two-bit drug dealer Jimmy Adler... and steals it. Confiding in best friend, Caryn, she vows to make good by playing Robin Hood in the sleepy town of Stillwater Village. Only she must keep the plan under wraps from devoted husband, Nick, who just happens to be the local sheriff. 

GOOD INTENTIONS 
As one unexpected event after another turns Mary's once tapioca-bland life hotter than three-alarm chili, she is more than a little tempted to indulge in a few retail therapy sessions. Charity begins at home, after all, but where should it end? When the fate of her imperfect yet loving family is put on the line, Mary must decide what the good life really means, and if it is Worth Lying For.

I also finished:

Some good advice but honestly wasn't life altering for me.  Came recommended by a friend.  Not sad I read it but would hesitate to put the Becca stamp of approval on it either.

I wrote about this one last week - but I finished it this week.  I enjoyed it and I was glad that I read it.  I may pick up her other book - Promise Not to Tell.

Happy Friday loves. I have a low key weekend for maybe the 2nd time ever, so I'm looking forward to some pool time with my current reads.  Stay tuned, if I keep up this pace I'll have another stack to tell you about next week!

Love,

B

It's Ok Thursday...

Here we go again, you know the drill.  It's ok...

...to go to bed at 8:30 on a Monday night and sleep until the next morning.

...to love weeks you can go home after work more than one day per week.

...to want weekly fro yo dates with Kari & Jess.

...to try and run all your errands on lunch breaks so you can enjoy your evenings not going to Target, Publix, Goodwill, etc.

...to love purging.  I took 3 bags to Goodwill on Monday and I was proud of myself all day.

...to love starting new books, especially recently purchased ones.

...to occasionally count vacuuming as a workout.  Don't judge me.

...to be trying (and semi succeeding) to cut back on diet coke because you're whitening your teeth.

...to reward yourself when you get your chores done, workout, etc.

...to be wicked excited for a beach retreat with my bestie for my birthday weekend!

...to be proud of yourself when you use the library instead of purchasing books.

...to be sick to death of people 'boycotting' companies for their stance on an issue...when in it fact, by boycotting, you're doing the same thing to them you're judging them for doing (not agreeing with you).

...to unfollow blogs because they never have any real content.

...to constantly want a new handbag.

...to be glad your shopping ban has been lifted.

...to be looking forward to the lowest key weekend I've had in a long time!

...to be counting down the days til several exciting trips coming up.

Love,

B

My Mind is a Scary Place.

My communication has been spotty at best lately.  So the other day I was giving one of my best friends a an  update on my life via e-mail.  Here's a few of the things that were included on that from Wednesday:

Here’s the highlights of my life right now, consider this your readers digest guide to my day/night…

- My to do list for tonight includes painting my toenails (has to happen, they’re shameful)

- I have to bake cupcakes and box them prettily bc I have a birthday lunch AND a birthday dinner tomorrow – for 2 different friends.

- Sometimes when I have a lot to do I want to put things in the oven and try to quickly run an errand before the timer runs out.  There are so many things wrong with this idea, I know.

Yes, you read that write. I literally, regularly, imagine myself putting something in the oven, carrying my portable kitchaid timer while I run (literally) to my car and hurry through an errand while watching the clock. I KNOW what you're thinking - this is how accidents are caused, what if my house burns down, how could I possibly have so many things to do I can't sit still the 30 minutes it takes to baked a batch of cupcakes.  But really friends, it's the competition (with myself) of doing it all. I create these 'games', like beating the timer, in my head and I want to win them.  When I accomplish them, I reward myself with strange prizes like 'you may now read 2 chapters of your book'.

This post will be brief because today is Wednesday and does anyone really love a Wednesday morning? I didn't think so.  And so, I simply had to share with you lovely readers the chaotic scary place in which my thoughts run a muck. 

Love,

B