(via modernhepburn)

This is a little delayed, but one of my favorite ladies, Charlotte Turtle, shared a great blog post documenting our recent adventure making homemade ravioli. Lauren, Char, and I dove in and had a great time testing our pasta-making skills. It was the perfect Monday getaway and we had a lot of fun (and plenty of laughs) making some good looking pasta that was definitely a process and messy, but resulted in some delicious ravioli filled with sun dried tomato, garlic, and goat cheese. Yum! 

Thanks for having us up, Char and Ryan! Looking forward to another visit soon!

(via lylaandblu)

found this this morning while browsing my daily serving of blogs and felt encouraged. not sure entirely sure what this looks like, but these reminders will keep me motivated to keep working towards it.

(via modernhepburn)

I may have missed a week or two, but I think it was worth the wait…

1. Love Does.

If you haven’t heard of Bob Goff, you need to look him up. The man lives life with a passion like no one else and loves his family and complete strangers with the same overwhelming care and energy - at least this is what I hear. Bob is on my list of people I hope to sit down and chat with over a cup a coffee one day. I am so intrigued by his amazing ability to love and invest in so many people day after day.

Recently, I got a deeper look into Bob’s life and outlook on faith, love, and living life to the fullest when I received my pre-release copy of his book Love Does. I flew through the pages of this book, only stopping at the end of each chapter to think a little deeper about what I had just read. The book is a collection of stories from Bob’s life that help illustrate his ideas about faith and the lessons we can learn from both the little and big experiences or relationships that we come across throughout the years. I caught myself laughing, crying, smiling, and definitely thinking from chapter to chapter. 

Don’t miss this book. It’s got something for everyone and will leave you thinking about the relationships and opportunities you face every day. Bob does a great job illustrating the idea that you can “Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World” and that love is an action that changes things in a big way.

Thanks for this book, Bob. Hopefully one day I can thank you in person over a cup of coffee and some conversation.

2. Puddles and Photos.

Sometimes you just have to take a look around you from a different angle. London-native Gavin Hammond does this pretty darn well, venturing around with his lomo camera and capturing city shots off of reflections in puddles. His impressive black and white photos take full advantage of the rainy days in London.

3. birdAve Shoppe.

I ordered these prints from birdAve Shoppe a few weeks ago to add to my collection for my Ohio and Nashville wall in my house. I came across these while looking for a Miami print on Etsy, and decided I had to get one for each city I’ve lived in. I couldn’t be happier with them, and the ordering and delivery process was a breeze. I would definitely recommend checking out their online shop for gifts or even just to treat yourself to something new for your wall.

4. Bobbie’s Dairy Dip.

Every town needs a local ice cream stand. You know, the one that you stand in line for much longer than you ever expected with a wide variety of characters on summer evenings just so you can get a dipped cone or that perfect milkshake. When I moved to Nashville, I was concerned because I wasn’t finding one of these hometown must-haves.

No need to worry, though. I recently made the first of many visits to Nashville’s very own Bobbie’s Dairy Dip, and man does it live up to all expectations. Not only that, but the vintage signs, lights, and classic food menu all add to the greatness of the usual ice cream stand. 

My other favorite thing about Bobbie’s? The fact that you’ll feel like you’ve been taken out of Nashville and placed right in the heart of a small, classic American town - for you FNL fans, think Dillon, TX (check this place out and tell me that the whiskey store across the street doesn’t resemble the Landing Strip).

All this to say, if you’re in Nashville and haven’t been to Bobbie’s - you need to take a drive down Charlotte and get yourself a delicious summer treat. 

5. This Is Oregon.

If this video from This Is Oregon doesn’t make you want to get outside and explore, I’m pretty sure nothing will.

Pretty cool, huh? Now get outside. 

Proud of my roots today. May not be Music City, but Ohio is holding it’s own.

Definitely check out Walk The Moon and Old Hundred.

I’m changing it up this week. I’m replacing the typical Friday Five with one single suggestion. This is something that I feel deserves all 5 spots on the usual list.

If you’re on Twitter or Facebook, chances are good that you’ve seen something about the film Blue Like Jazz that hit select theaters last weekend. If you already know about Don and the book, I’m probably a little late with this suggestion, and that’s ok. This is for the rest of you. Take some time this weekend to find a theater playing Blue Like Jazz and check it out. My only other suggestion - take someone with you. You’re going to want to talk about this film when the credits roll. 

The great thing is, you don’t have to just take my word on this. Watch this video and you’ll get an idea about what makes this such an important story for everyone to take the time to see.

{This Is My Story - Trailer from Rhetorik Creative} - Watch the full version here.

#ThisIsMyStory. I’m grateful for Don Miller and and the beauty of a story that allows you to think, draw your own conclusions, and experience the truth and love driving a story that is relatable and honest.

1. Derek.

If you haven’t seen this video, find some time to take a break and watch the entire story. I’ve always been a strong believer of the power and true magic of music, but Derek’s story takes that belief to a whole new level. A man who has what seems to be an endless list of limiting disabilities, including the inability to distinguish his right hand from his left or simply recall how old he is, has an incredible ability to recall, recognize, create, and transform music on the piano. Music is the one thing that is certain for him and it is an incredible miracle to watch him play. 

The other beautiful thing about Derek’s story is his passion and love for people. Meeting and talking with others with an outstretched hand brings him an undeniable joy and he is entirely comfortable in a group of new people even though he is unable to see the faces in front of him. I admire his unconditional love that he shares with strangers and friends alike.

I’m going to stop here and let the video and Derek’s music say the rest. Be ready to walk away with a new outlook on things.

2. Jessie Parker.

The first thing I noticed about Jessie Parker was how genuine she is. Not long after meeting her, I was introduced to her music. That same genuineness is front and center  in her voice. There is a simplistic beauty about it that will stop you in your tracks. Jessie’s new Mountain Spine - EP  perfectly highlights her vocals and will stay with you long after the songs end. And there’s her lyrics which have a transparency about them thanks to her poetic songwriting that will catch your attention and leave you thinking. Take a listen and hear for yourself. And be sure to keep an eye out for more from her. Big things are ahead for this lady!

{Can’t get enough of this song.}

Thanks for sharing your music with us, Jessie.

3. #whatshouldwecallme

I’m pretty speechless about this one, which might have something to do with the fact that I’m currently laughing out loud at this. Just go take a look…

4. Cinemagr.am

If you’re an Instagramer (n.), this app might just be your new addiction. For me this one is more about browsing than posting, but either way you are likely to spend quite a bit of time checking out the Harry Potter-esque images. Here’s my first that I took of my brother last night at Fido… Pretty weird, huh?

{Created with cinemagr.am}

I also just realized that #whatshouldwecallme is basically a bunch of Cinemagr.ams gone wrong…

5. Play ball!

It’s that time again. Time for the crack/ping of the bat, hot dogs, Cracker Jacks, a night at the park, and all the simple things about baseball. Whether you enjoy it for the sport or just the all-American summer tradition, there’s something special about baseball season. For me, it’s about family. I’ve grown up with the sport - whether sitting on (or under playing in the dirt) the bleachers as a little girl watching my big brother pitch, going to Toledo Mud Hens games, or watching the Cleveland Indians with my grandpa who never missed a broadcasted game, baseball has been a regular part of every spring and summer.

Take a night and go to a game - major, minor, or even little league - and it’s bound to be a memorable night.

{Go Tribe!}

for the little things. for spontaneous lunch dates with friends. for rain. for spring. for family. for tennessee. for baseball. for another day. for things unknown. for community. for music. for learning. for honest conversations. for challenges. for His love and grace.