thank you // today i'm loving

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who commented and emailed me about my blog post yesterday. The outpouring of love and support was incredible. I am truly so grateful for all of you who read my blog! It really means so much to me and I feel so fortunate to know that no matter where I take it next, I have your support. THANK YOU!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Today:

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I'm wanting to make these Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookie balls. Wowza. They look so tasty!

I'm loving this book list from Shauna Niequist. One of my favorite authors talking about her favorite authors? Sounds like a home run to me. I've actually been stalling on finishing The Fault in Our Stars because it's such a good book and I can't bear it ending. So grateful to have a list of suggestions ready to go!


I'm laughing/crying over Kevin Durant's MVP speech. I know almost nothing about basketball but I know this speech is good. If you don't have 25 minutes, just skip to 23:12, which is when he thanks his mom. Be warned that you'll be tearing up pretty quickly.


I'm heart melting over this read that Courtney sent me. You are more than a number, indeed.

I'm wanting to try this heated hair brush. What!

I'm wanting to buy this shirt for a baby near me. Y'ALL!

I'm intrigued by this article about the 7 Reasons Runners Can't Lose Weight. I don't typically weigh in on what I believe people should do to exercise because I think every body is different. But this definitely piqued my interest. Anyone else?

And I'm countering that article with this one. Because living life is much more important than an ideal weight, if I do say so :) If you love to run, run! Do your thing. I realized I was running for the wrong reasons and now I have a lot more fun doing other things. But not everyone is the same, nahmean?

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And that's all for today!

why i haven't been blogging

I know I haven't been much of a blogger lately  and I'd like to tell you it's because I started a new role at work, had friends in town, went out of town and finally got new a car. 

And all of those things would be true. 

But the real truth is that lately I just haven't wanted to blog. I've been too weighed down by the keeping up. 

I've blogged for years because I love to write, but this winter something shifted for me. 
I became worried about my analytics. 
I felt like I should have clothes cute enough for people to want.  
And exciting events to constantly tell you about. 
And a cute baby or puppy to show you. 
Or, at the very least, a recipe to share.

I started to feel like my real life wasn't as worthy of living as the lives of other bloggers. I started to feel jealous of other bloggers who are friends - wondering if I wasn't cool enough to be invited into the blogger-friend-club. 

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And because half of my brain knows this is not true, but half of my brain craves being accepted - more views, more likes, more RTs - I shut down. I knew that posting any of the above things for the wrong reason (which is what mine would have been) would not have been true to myself. 

Is it wrong to share a recipe I love? Of course not! 
Is it wrong to post it because I want 1,500 people to pin it and Buzzfeed to pick it up and everyone to think I'm so creative? Uh huh. Oh yeah. My worth isn't defined by how many recipe pins I get. 

Also, I've long struggled with the writer vs. blogger dichotomy. I never set out to be a blogger - I set out to write, to share my thoughts and to make a positive, real impact on the world. But, one thing led to another and before I knew it I was guest posting, weekend recapping and recipe creating. Before I knew it I was more concerned with the photos for each post than I was with the content itself. 

And to be a blogger is not wrong. I love reading so many blogs. I find recipes and workouts almost primarily through blogs I love. I find outfit ideas and home decor and a million amazing things. There are girls out there who are truly meant to blog right now - they are saying beautiful, wonderful things full of conviction and passion.

But, I want to participate in the blogosphere not because I want to keep up with it, but because it excites me. I want to write and to share the things about which I feel convicted. Sometimes it may be through a recipe and sometimes it may be through my photos. 

What this has taught me is that I don't want to do anything - whether it be blogging, writing, photographing or anything in between - with the hope of keeping up and being accepted. I want to do these things because they excite me. They give me energy. They are my passions. 

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So now what? I don't know. I don't know if this confession will reinvigorate me and suddenly tomorrow I'll be giving you a weekend recap and a bucket list update. It could happen. Or maybe I'll wake up in the middle of the night tonight, struck by some post that I just have to get down on paper. 

We will see. 

But today, I'm taking back my blog. I'm running toward it, not away from it. I'm believing that the blog - and life - I have created are enough. Whether I have 5 or 5,000 views tomorrow need not matter. Because this life is worth living no matter what. 

weekend in seabrook

There are certain places (here and here, for example) that make me forget where I am. They feel far away and magical - but not foreign or distant. They feel soothing and exciting all at once. They give me pause; make my shoulders drop.


This weekend I had the privilege of heading to Seabrook, SC, which is exactly this sort of place. It's quiet and exciting all at once. 


I went with Chris and his friends from college for a fraternity brother's wedding. 

As for the wedding? It was beautiful. One of those weddings that makes you say: oh, I'm going to do that. And makes you think: I've never wanted a beach wedding - but should I? The kind of wedding that is elegant, but not pretentious, and honest and true to the bride and groom's style.



And the weekend? It was more than a wedding. A true vacation, in fact. When I unpacked, I laughed at all of the real clothes I brought. It turned out my pack list would have been complete with: swim suit, cover up, dress for rehearsal, dress for wedding and pajamas. Our days were on the beach and our nights were dressed up and there was no need for anything more. 




The company? Was ideal. I felt honored to be Chris' date. It was so much fun to meet his friends and see the way they love and care about one another. They made me feel welcomed immediately. They told me stories about college Chris and grilled me on "how much I really know about him." I felt so fortunate to be part of such an important weekend to all of them.




The postpartum? Very real. I'm still reminiscing from the weekend - dreaming of the beach, laughing at everything that happened and hoping that I find myself on Seabrook Island someday soon.


I hope your weekend (and week so far) have been wonderful!

the last word

Inspired by Sometimes Sweet, today I bring you my last word on this lovely Friday:

Last thing you cooked: Paleo ice cream sandwiches. Complete with homemade coconut ice cream. I'll post the recipe soon. They were very tasty!

Last time you felt nervous:  Earlier this week when I planned a surprise dinner for Chris' birthday. I was so worried we'd get there earlier or late or he'd notice how intensely I was monitoring my texts.


Last big thing you splurged on: This Vince Camuto striped skirt. Definitely more than I like to spend on a long skirt, but I wear them so much during the spring and fall and have been eyeing this one for months. Worth it! :)

Last gift you received: A Shaky Knees concert ticket from Chris. Hello summer bucket list!

Last song you listened to: Dixie Chicks - Easy Silence. Every now and then I get on these Dixie Chicks kicks where I listen to their old songs and reminisce. 

Last place you vacationed to: Actually, today! I'm in Seabrook Island, SC for a wedding. But before this? I went to the beach with my family.


Last time you were moved to tears: Happy tears? It doesn't take much :) Earlier this week when my sister uploaded an Instagram video of my niece blowing her kisses all the way to the bus. My tender-hearted Lily. I love her so.

Last blog you really fell in love with:  Explore. Dream. Discover. I've followed Liz's blog for years, but I still can't get enough. Especially now that she has a new baby!

And that is my last word for the week :) Have a great weekend!