Check.

Green Living May Issue Launch Party: Check.
Volunteer for First Friday: Check
Bridal shower: Check.
Puppy and House Sitting: Check.
Blood Test and Dr. Appt.: Check. Check.

Other fun things: Dinner with a friend and her family, Country dancing, Church activities, Girl's Night, Tried a couple of new recipes, Folk Dancing.

Currently Listening to: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben for Book Club. I listened to it on my lunch today. I am really enjoying it! Every once in a while I like read 'Journey' books. I've read Eat, Pray, Love, The Alchemist, Heaven is Here etc. The Happiness Project is our Book of the month for Book Club. So far, so good. It reminds me of a quote I recently heard when I watched a 99U talk by James Victore. He said "In the particular, lies the universal". I love that, and I agree. Probably why I enjoy these journey books soo much. For instance in the chapter I listened to today, Gretchen spoke about her February goals and working on her happiness and on strengthening her relationship with her husband. It made me think of my living dynamic and ways I interact with my roommates etc. Very interesting, and some good insights. I am sure I'll use some of her findings in moving forward with my 30 Before 30 Lists and goals.

Things are coming along and I am excited for the next couple of weeks as well. A going away party, a couple of birthdays, a Memorial day trip to California, and baking a wedding cake and being a bridesmaid for my friend's wedding in Minnesota. Life is busy, but soo full of amazing people and wonderful experiences. I'll be honest, I was feeling a little overwhelmed with everything this past weekend - especially when I think about taking the GRE, but one by one, everything I want and need to do is falling into place. I love this crazy, beautiful, life of mine.

<3 T.

30 Books to Read...

I was really excited about my 30 Before 30 Lists last month. I loved the suggestions I got from my friends (still accepting suggestions!) and then life happened- as it tends to do. Lots of good things! My friend got engaged and I became wrapped up in wedding plans, bridal showers and cake! I picked a day to take the GRE (June 30!) so I've been studying as well. With everything else that creeped into my life, it was hard to justify taking the time and effort to go through my lists, and plan out what I wanted to do.

Fact: I have incredible friends and am surrounded by amazing, inspiring people.
 Over the weekend a couple of friends asked how my lists were going and I made some of the excuses listed above. However, I couldn't stop thinking about it and inspiration struck late Monday night. I took the time to make some decisions. The first 30 Before 30 List I'm sharing with you is my 30 Books Before 30.

Initially I was looking for 30 Books I had never read- which is why it was taking soo long. and then, inspiration! I have a bookcase full of books, some of which I have never read. So I went through the books I already own and picked 30 to read or reread. I'll write a blog post on each one as I finish them and explain the significance of the book: some were gifts, some are borrowed, some had a profound impact on me when I read them previously. In short, I love books. I love to read, I appreciate a good audiobook, and I am always looking for book recommendations!

30 Books Before 30:

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg
The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Princess Academy: The Forgotten Stories
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham (New York Times Best Seller)
Unexpected by Karen Tuft
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis:
The Magician's Nephew
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
The Horse and His Boy
Prince Caspian
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Last Battle
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Entwined by Heather Dixon
Why a Painting is Like a Pizza by Nancy G. Heller
The 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen
Leadership is an Art by Max De Pree
Feel the Fear...and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers
Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough & Michael Braungart
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon
The Interpreter's Journal by Benjawan Poomsan Becker
The Story of My Life by Hellen Keller
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Book of Mormon


Now, lest you think I didn't appreciate the recommendations I received - I will also read all of the books on that list as well, as many as I can before I turn 30 and then keep them on my Book list until I've read them.

Friend Recommendations:

Leadership and Self Deception by Arbinger Institute
Flunking Sainthood by Jana Reiss
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
50 Shades of Righteous
Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing
Gone With the Wind
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Toilers of the Sea by Victor Hugo
Wonder
Biography of Mother T.
Eat Pray Love (Already Read It)
Unbroken
The Happiness Project (Currently reading it for Book Club)
Edenbrook
Jane Austen - Again
Sweet Braided Grass

*Recommendation Additions*
The Selection Series by Kiera Cass
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson
P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern


Thank you for joining me on my journey! If you have a book that touched you, challenged you, or changed your life please share!

xoxo
-T