Alphabetical Dates: Inspired by the Letter F

I know! We are so out of order on our alphabetical dates! We did E before D and G before F. Like I said before, it's good we're not trying to teach the alphabet through this project!

I think perhaps the best words to describe the date weekend inspired by the letter F include: fluid, fluctuating, frustrating, and fickle.

Pretty much the whole date went nothing as I planned it, and while it was still overall good and definitely memorable, it was also flabbergasting.

The original plan for this date was a fondue night at home. But when I realized how much all the cheese and dipping items were going to cost, I decided we would make our date fit into some of the plans we already had for the weekend. Cheaper!! (Or should I say frugal?)


So our date started Friday night with our Friday night fellowship fete to mark the end of our Bible study we've been doing with Ryan's co-workers! We had a pitch-in dinner with burgers and brats and all sorts of snacks. Ryan built a deviled egg burger he was pretty proud of.

I didn't get many pictures that night (fail!!!) and one of the other girls said she'd send me hers, but I don't have them yet. Even so, it was a really fun evening. I love a good party.

We continued the date on Saturday, and that was the day that ended up making us crazy! I shared this picture on my Facebook page and said something about dates not going as planned, because I don't want everyone to think that everything is always perfect here in Shafferland. We have a good life and a great marriage and we really do have a lot of fun together, but don't have some sort of Midas touch that makes everything void of imperfections. I want to be honest about that, because I don't ever want to give off false impressions that we have everything automatically easy!

We've got some GREAT stories about this day that I'll save for the podcast tomorrow because they are even better told than written, I think.

We started the day with an appointment for our car (recreating our first date, apparently), and after that, we were kind of hungry, but not very, so we found this little donut shop and got a donut. We had to eat in our car because there were way too many people for the table space in that little shop!

We went shopping for fun finds at some of our favorite stores while we were out of town. Found some good deals for our new patio space!

I had a pretty raging headache by this point, so I asked if we could go through Starbucks for some iced fresh brew to try to temper the thing, and while we sat in the line, a lady from the car behind us came up to our car, told us she'd paid for our order, and handed us a little card to explain her random act of kindness. WHAT?!?!?!?!?! A freebie? This has never happened to us! We've heard of such things, but they've never happened to us!

The card tells about little baby Josie, who lived just 18 days, and her family started this initiative called Josie's Impact, to spread the word about her life and encourage people to do random acts of kindness in her honor and memory. (And yes, we will be paying this forward!) If you want to see some of the things people have done, just search #josiesimpact.

We tried to shop at the Goodwill, but it was the first Saturday of the month and everything was 50% off, so the place was a madhouse. I found an amazing reference book I wanted, but I couldn't justify standing in line for over an hour for one book. We came back at the end of the day, and it was gone. Great sadness. (And par for the day.)

We went to Red Robin for lunch, and Ryan scored his free food, because it's his birthday month, so he earned a free meal! YAY!!!

Then we went to see a flick: Beauty and the Beast! I'd been itching to see it, but I wanted to wait until the crowds died down, and it paid off! Our theater was pretty empty!

I thought it was incredible in music and cinematography! They did add a few songs that were not in the original movie, and they changed a handful of lyrics to existing songs, but they left in enough of the amazing stuff that it was okay. I thought I would cry multiple times, but I only cried once! (And that was when she walked into the library. Not even kidding. All those books just made me straight up cry!)

Also - I would like to have these seats. They rocked! Literally!

We had a couple more stores to hit, and LOOK WHAT WE SAW ON THE WAY?????

Oh, be still my heart!

So see? Despite the many frustrations of the day, it was still a good 2-day date, and we piled up a good number of blessings!!!

Now! Back on track! Letter H is next!

The Saturday Six

One.

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Several years ago now {I prefer not to count how many, because it will make me feel old and I am not interested in that today}, I had some dear friends that lived just around the corner from my Marion house. Amber was in my ladies Bible study, but she would also come over just to hang out a lot, because I had cable and they didn't, and she had a few must-see shows. I would watch their kids {just two at that time} upon occasion. They felt the Lord leading them to move to Hong Kong to teach in an international school, so they moved! They now have four kids, and were it not for the beauty of social media, I might have lost them entirely. Last week, Amber posted this article about a project Nate {her husband} volunteered with. I know you don't know them, but I wanted to share because I do know them, and also because this project was a new one to me, and it seems to be doing great things!

Two.

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You all know of my love of Fixer Upper and all things HGTV, and I suppose it would be fair to say I get caught up in the styles of {most} typical decorating schemes. But even so, I do have a deep appreciation for people who can find the style that reflects THEM. I like to think our coffee bistro kitchen is that way. Maybe not what everyone else would do, but totally Shaffery. And that is why I love this woman's turquoise and white Pyrex inspired kitchen. First of all, I love that she collects Pyrex from the 50's and then I love what she did with it. Check it out!! {The photo is the before, so click over to see the after!}

Three.

Ryan and I are pretty excited that IKEA is coming to the north side of Indianapolis next year. So I read this article to learn all the tricks of the trade for finding the best deals once a trip to IKEA is no longer a whole day trip!

Four.

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Earlier this week, I did a post on the new vest I just got from the Simply Bliss Boutique, and they are providing a $25.00 gift card to their boutique. Reminding you that the chance to enter that ends tonight, so head over to my original post to leave a comment/entry if you wish! A few of you mentioned you would like this vest better in an olive color {mine is stone - kind of a khaki color}, and I wanted to let you know that they do carry the very same vest in olive, as pictured above!! 

Five.

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I fear if Ryan and I actually did have a son, I would be the mom receiving this phone call from school. 

Six.

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Earlier this year, I read a book by Johnnie Alexander called Where She Belongs, and I reviewed it here. One of my favorite things about the book was its small-town setting and lovable characters. So when book 2 of the Misty Willow series, When Love Arrives, came out this fall, I had to read it! Had to see what happened to these dear people I loved from book one! 

In the opening pages, Dani Prescott is hiding outside a children's hospital, secretly photographing one of Ohio's most eligible bachelors. Not because she has a thing for him, but because she's angry with him. In a TV interview she'd found online, Brett Somers vehemently blamed Dani's mother for causing the plane crash that killed his parents years earlier. But Dani's mother, the pilot of that plane, died in the crash as well.

Dani got her pictures, but before she can leave, Brett discovers her and, having no idea he was the subject of her photo quest, strikes up a conversation with her and even asks her out. She says yes. And then he asks again. And again. Brett and Dani are careful to keep their respective secrets, but they also find themselves wildly unguarded in ways they've never been before. Adamant that they are not dating, a friendship grows, but feelings and secrets grow with it, leaving them in a most precarious situation.

Novels can sometimes approach matters of faith very awkwardly, containing conversations that seem preachy and unnatural, and in this book, I think Johnnie handles that aspect beautifully. Both Dani and Brett are struggling heavily with their attitude toward God {as you might imagine after losing parents in such a horrific tragedy}, and the friends and family members that surround them handle their anger and confusion with such a natural grace. I think there's much to be learned in these pages about walking alongside a wrestling heart.

Though a few of the scenarios are a bit predictable, and the book is in no way suspenseful, there were a few twists and surprises I didn't see coming, and something about the tender vulnerability of Dani's heart made me identify with her and cheer for her wholeheartedly. The parts that some might deem too typical were actually endearing to me.

The book is certainly feel-good and yet has a depth to it. I thoroughly enjoyed returning to this little town and this family and am excited to see that book three is due out next summer!

Thanks, Revell, for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Saturday Six

One.

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I love a good home tour. I love KariAnne's blog. So the two combined = perfection. And also - how much do I love the little sign saying the year the house was built!?!?! YES!!!!!

Two. 

Ummmmm Ryan? You're going to want to watch this video. Emily A. Clark made an outdoor kitchen space using her grill, a side cart, and pavers. Shut. The. Front. Door.

Three.

This was a fun article with some behind-the-scenes facts about life at IKEA. If you like shopping there, you should check this out! 

Four.

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Oh. My. Word. Look at this writer's retreat! I confess I don't have access to a view that would would appropriately suit it, but my word.

Five.

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I have talked about Grace and Lace on the blog before, but I have to mention them again! I first learned about this adorable shop when I worked at WBCL and found them on an Etsy hunt one day. We interviewed them and I remember Melissa, the owner/founder as one of the most delightful women we ever talked to! She went on to be on Shark Tank {saw that too! Loved it!} and has been quite successful with her company. Because I so love her story and her kind spirit, I would just recommend shopping the whole shop. But LOOK AT THESE ADORABLE BABY LEG WARMERS! Oh my word! I had to point them out today because I've never seen anything quite like them and I just can't handle the cuteness. 

Six.

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Last fall, I read the book Murder at the Courthouse by A.H. Gabhart. I adored the book and its cross between a Mayberry-esque setting with delightful characters, and a page-turning murder mystery. I was thrilled that the end of that story promised a book two, so when I saw that Murder Comes by Mail had been released, I had to read it!

I happily revisited the tiny burg of Hidden Springs and quickly reacquainted myself with the characters I had come to love in book one. I discovered Deputy Michael Keane was still living alone in his log cabin by the lake, but all hope was not lost that one day, he might just have a relationship with spunky Alexandria {Alex} who filled so many pages of the first book. And as the book opened, Deputy Keane was praying that the rickety and sputtering church bus full of nib-nose ladies on their way to a play in the city would keep sputtering until he safely arrived with the lot of them.

The trip is interrupted when Deputy Keane spots a jumper on the bridge and stops to intervene. He succeeds in saving the man's life, but the man quickly tells Michael that he should have just let him jump. Michael shrugs it off and tries to push away all the "local hero" attention that follows, {newspaper headlines, TV reporters hunting him down, stacks of phone messages congratulating him} but no one expects the string of brutal murders that follow and all somehow seem tied to this mysterious jumper - and Michael. Mysterious letters begin arriving in Hidden Springs, declaring Michael is the reason these women are dead, and each new day brings dread that more bodies and letters will be discovered.

When big city shrinks and cops start showing up in Hidden Springs, poking around and poking fun, Michael's frustration escalates. He realizes he is the common bond in these murders, and he has no way of knowing who from his life will be the next target.

As in the first book, the small town element is absolutely delightful. Predictable habits, quirky neighbors, nosy know-it-alls, and all you would imagine from a tiny bumpkin burg. But also as in the first book, the crime element is not hokey. It's {again} not make-you-jump-while-you-read scary, but it does keep you captivated and makes you try to solve the puzzle in your head.

I just love this little series and my biggest letdown in book two is that nosey Willadean Dearmon from book one did not make an appearance. She was one of my favorites! But despite her absence, I loved this book and am excited to know there is a book three on the way!

Thanks, Revell, for sending this book my way in exchange for an honest review!

Birthday Fun!

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes over the weekend! I love birthdays and think each person's birthday is his or her own personal holiday that should be celebrated to the fullest! Ryan has learned to find my quirky birthday love mostly endearing, I think, and he celebrated me well.

My favorite thing about my birthday was that it fell on a weekend, so I got to have a whole day with him, which is about the best gift anyway.

Unfortunately the weather was mostly winter-esque, so it's a good thing we had INDOOR plans! Would have been a miserable day for doing a state park or any such thing.

We started celebrating a couple of days before when we went to dinner at Culver's {my choice!} with my parents. They've started a tradition of taking us out to eat every year to celebrate both of our birthdays at once. We had a fun night with them - and I began my few days of treats with one of their burgers and I shared a mixer with Ryan.

We actually had our first house guest this weekend - our friend Nate was in town to photograph a wedding!He needed a place to stay, so even though we felt like TERRIBLE HOSTS sneaking out early Saturday morning, that's exactly what we did, while he was fast asleep on Mo!

Destination...IKEA!

This was Ryan's planning, and it was a great idea, especially since it was such a cold and icky day! It took us about three hours to get there, and I was just a little excited when we arrived.

Let the shopping begin!!!

We had a few specific things on our list, and then of course, along the way we were inspired by more. HA! Our main reason for going was to find a bed for our guest room, the one unfinished room in the house. I'd found one online that I liked and that seemed to fit our needs for that space, so we wanted to get that. Ryan also wanted to hunt for a new light for the kitchen, over the table.

I thought maybe this one!

It's like a stingray/kleenex art. LOL!!! Ryan said no to that.

So instead we got one that looks like an upside down mixing bowl. Pretty appropriate for a kitchen.

I found this and thought of my mom, who always introduces herself as "Marilyn...like Marilyn Monroe." HA HA!

I offered to get it as a Christmas gift, but for some reason, she declined. Spoil sport.

It was such fun to just walk through and look at things, but of course shopping makes a person hungry, so we stopped for a lunch break. I happen to think IKEA has very good food, and we tried to do well on the main meal portion, since we had NO intentions of doing well later in the day.

And then there was the one treat. We did share it. I didn't want to share. {And he would have happily gotten me my own piece. But I was trying to do the responsible adult thing.}

This cake, you guys. If you EVER go to IKEA and see the chocolate overload cake and wonder if it's worth it, stop wondering and start eating. Ryan even said it would not have been his pick, but it was amazing. Yes. Amazing.

This ended up being our official birthday picture because we never got one later with the tripod!

With full bellies, we went back to shopping!

Hey look! It's our mixing bowl lamp!

It was a cold day to load stuff, but Ryan used about 8000 straps and got everything secured for the 3 hour drive home.  One last picture which we're way too squinty for:

And then we were off for my OTHER treat. SONIC!!!!!!!

{I 100% intended to do a picture with the Sonic sign to match the IKEA sign but it was so cold and I was so excited about my treat that I 100% forgot. Sadness!}

I only got ice cream - no meal - but it was so delicious and filling, I didn't even care.

When we got home, it was SO COLD that we had to bring in all our plants so they wouldn't literally freeze to death, and then I sat by the fire to open my presents.

My main gift from Ryan was in NO WAY a surprise because I got it early! LOL! He got me a Fitbit, because my sisters proposed for all of us to get them and be accountable that way, so I asked if that could be my birthday present. But I wanted to be able to fit in right away, so he gave it to me early. But he was still a dear and wrapped the box so I could open it on my birthday!

But he did get me one little surprise, which I dearly loved.

So it was a wonderful birthday. I felt loved and the day, though icky outside, was a delight.

Thank you, Ryan - and all of you!

The Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday was Mother's Day, and I'd been asked to speak at a church's breakfast honoring mothers. I had a great time sharing with them, and then we came home so we could get ready for Mommapalooza 3.0! We had a fantastic day with our families! I really enjoy having both sides of our family come together and celebrate together!

* Monday was my first day of a new normal, it felt like. We'd been working so hard to get ourselves TO Mother's Day, to have the house ready to go, and to be prepared to welcome guests, so come Monday, it was time to rest and read and write. Ryan made pour over coffee, and we ended the day with a workout that hurt a lot worse than this picture shows. Ha!

* Tuesday, I was bitten by the writing bug and spent the ENTIRE DAY holed up in the office, writing. Braeya slept through the whole thing. Ryan finally gave in to a much-deserved nap after so many weeks of working SO HARD on the house. He's so adorable. And I went to an exercise class with one of my friends. I learned I have no moves, but I had fun! :)

* Wednesday evening, Ryan and I got together with my parents to celebrate our birthdays. I picked Culver's, because it had been a long while since I had a really good burger. It was delicious. Delicious. We even had ice cream for dessert! On our way home, we stopped at a park and went for a long walk. I think we needed it after the burgers and ice cream!

* Thursday I had the opportunity to go to a ceremony at the Sheriff's Department, in support of Ryan's brother and the other officers. They offered commendations to employees who had done exceptionally well over the past year and honored the life of the deputy killed in the line of duty a couple of months ago. I'm so glad I went and got to see a part of that world for a while.

* Friday I went to Ryan's work over lunch, because they were having a corn hole tournament and he was up to play! I like getting to be part of his day for things like that! We went for a run that night and then used the last of the good weather to work on the yard and check out the new flowers that have popped up in our yard! {Fun to find out what we own!}

* Yesterday was my birthday!! Ryan took me to IKEA for the day, which was AMAZING, and we also got to have a treat at Sonic! It was so wonderful to have the day with him, and I was glad we had chosen an indoor activity, since it was so cold we had to bring in all our plants and have coffee by the fire. Hello, mid-May! But thank you, Ryan, for a truly WONDERFUL birthday. It was sweet to spend it with you!