May 2016 Favorites
I thought it would be fun if I took a moment each month to let you know what things are currently striking my fancy, so here goes the May installment! Current favorites:
Book: Let Us All Be Brave by Annie F. Downs. I read my sister's copy of this book, and I quickly filled it with little adhesive flags to mark all the lines that struck my heart particularly deep. I love the idea of pursuing bravery, despite the risk, or maybe because 
of the risk. I found the author to be really relatable, funny, and motivating. The book left me processing how to be brave in my own life, and I encourage you all to pick up a copy and be brave, too!
Song: Just Breathe by Jonny Diaz.
Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor It’s off to the races everybody out the door I’m feeling like I’m falling behind, it’s a crazy life Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper hand So much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy life It’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel You say
Just breathe, just breathe Come and rest at My feet And be, just be Chaos calls but all you really need Is to just breathe
Third cup of joe just to get me through the day Wanna make the most of time but I feel it slip away I wonder if there’s something more to this crazy life I’m busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to see That I only have time for me, me, me There’s gotta be something more to this crazy life I’m hanging on tight to another wild day When it starts to fall apart in my heart I hear You say
Just breathe, just breathe Come and rest at My feet And be, just be Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to take it in fill your lungs The Peace of God that overcomes Just breathe Let your weary spirit rest Lay down what’s good and find what’s best Just breathe
Just breathe, just breathe Come and rest at My feet And be, just be Chaos calls but all you really need Is to just breathe Just breathe
Verse: "So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike 'what's next, Papa?'" -Romans 8:12-15 (MSG). I've been reading passages in the NLT (my favorite everyday translation) and the Message lately to meditate on them and let their meanings really sink in. I really enjoyed the Message's take on this section of Romans. We're called to leave the customs of this world behind and strive for a better, a higher, way of living, one that is adventurous and expectant and, dare I say, wonderful.
Food: This month, I've been doing my own Project 7 challenge with food, so I've been using only sweet potatoes, kale, broccoli, chickpeas, oats, bananas, and apples for my meals. I've made some pretty tasty things with them like banana oat pancakes, banana "nice cream" sandwiches, sweet potato crust pizza with hummus and roasted veggies, and banana granola.
Memory from this month: My good friend Leanne is an exceptional cupcake baker, and 
she had a table at a gala last month for an event called Girls, Glamour, and Giving. None of us were sure of what to expect since it was her first event like this, but we were very pleasantly surprised by the turnout. All the sample cupcakes were devoured, packaged ones were all sold, business cards ran out, and satisfied smiles were abundant. We had a great time! (To read more about it, check out my sister's post about the evening.)
Now it's your turn. What are some of your favorite things? I'd love to hear them!