May has come and gone in a blink of an eye. At least, that's what it feels like since I'm writing this post 2 weeks before the link up begins. I'll be closing out May whilst in Uganda. Not too shabby. In any case, we've had some truly lovely spring weather in Nashville and my summer plans are starting to take shape. Bring it on.
Read and Reading:
If you like to eat, The Omnivore's Dilemma (Pollan) is a must-read. Beware, however, it will change the way you eat. Very eye-opening and insightful. If you're not ready for Pollan, start off with Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle or watch the documentary Food, Inc.
The Invisible Girls is an absolutely lovely and poignant memoir. Thebarge was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 27 and her story intersects with a Somali refugee family. Beautiful writing, compelling narrative. I want everyone to read it.
You can see all the books I've read at Goodreads.
Currently reading: Eat With Joy (Stone), A Year of Biblical Womanhood (Evans), Homemade with Love (Perillo), Life After Art (Appling), Walking on Water (L'Engle), When Helping Hurts (Corbett and Fikkert).
(I read 7 books (pending additional reading during travel) this month.)
TV:
Must-see TV: Once Upon a Time, So You Think You Can Dance, Psych, Vampire Diaries, Real Housewives of Orange County, The Americans, Call the Midwife
So You Think You Can Dance is back!!!!!!!!!!
The Once Upon a Time finale wasn't as big a cliffhanger as last season but I'm still intrigued by what will happen next year. Neverland and an ominous Peter Pan? I'm down.
The Office series finale had a perfect last line. Also: Steve Carrell.
I hope Parks & Rec will be renewed for another season. We all need more of Ron Swanson in our lives.
This preview of Arrested Development's 4th season has me all kinds of excited to utilize a kind friend's Netflix and watch once I'm back in town. If you're an AD fan, I'm sure you've already watched but please, no spoilers!
Movies:
Silver Linings Playbook pretty much blew me away. As a mental health professional, I hoped they would do the topic justice and for the most part, they did. The acting was impeccable. The storyline depicted the thin line between diagnosis and "quirk." Great discussion possibilities. I was irritated by the therapist's growing role outside of therapy- huge ethical violation. It's one thing to bump into a patient out in the world. It's another to plan to see them in their home environment. Overall, however, they did a great job.
(Trigger Warning: rape, sexual assualt and harrassment) PBS showed the documentary The Invisible War about rape culture within the US military. More than 20 percent of active-duty servicewomen are sexually assaulted. The movie features several interviews with women and men who were raped and the repercussions, both personal and professional, they've faced. It broke my heart and pissed me off. This HAS to change. Not easy viewing but it's important to be informed and to know how to advocate.
Music:
Old discoveries not previously mentioned here: Milo Greene, Leagues (I can't get Spotlight out of my head)
I can't get enough of Patty Griffin's new album American Kid. Be still my heart.
Things I Love:
- My new stylist: Michelle at Synergy Hair Skin Body. She's super talented, my hair looks amazing, and she's an awesome person to boot.
- I had a fun photo shoot with Kaitlin McDuffie. We headed to Bodacious Books, a used bookstore in Belle Meade. I was truly in my happy place.
- Getting to hear Rachel Held Evans speak at Grace Pointe and then chatting with her before and after. She's a great speaker and it was so fun to finally meet face to face. We may or may not have mentioned the fact that I'm one of her sex consultants. While standing in a church.
- Hanging out with good friends Kelly Gordon and Kim Van Brunt, who were in town for Orphan Summit. We went out for dinner one night and I made sure we had fried pickles.
- Epiphanies and breakthroughs
- What Should We Call a First (Christian) Book makes me laugh out loud and nod my head in commiseration.
- Ryan Gosling won't eat his cereal. BRILLIANT.
- Essie "Bond With Whomever." It's a light lilac.
- All of my talented friends who have books coming out. I'm especially in love with the cover for Sarah Bessey's forthcoming Jesus Feminist.
On The Blog:
I had no idea the This Is How We Met series would resonate with so many folks when I launched it in February 2012. It had a great run but I decided to end the series for now and capped it off with Brenna's great story. I also learned that the internet likes when you post pictures of your haircut and talk about how you don't like making appointments.
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Quick note about this month's link up: I am presently out of the country with limited access to the internet. If for some reason, the linky tool does not work, please go ahead and put your link in the comment section instead. Hopefully everything will work just fine! Looking forward to reading your posts when I'm back in Nashville.
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What have you been into this month?
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