REAL TALK TUESDAY + SOME PRETTY PICTURES FOR YOU

It's Tuesday. Tuesday calls for sunny spring walks, chocolate and pretty pictures that make you smile.

Ok and speaking of sunny spring walks, the strangest thing happened on my walk home last night...A STRANGER TALKED TO ME and we walked and chatted for FIVE BLOCKS. 

Ok, I have to admit it, I did find it rather annoying at first. See, I was hurriedly (did I just use the word hurriedly?? who does that??) walking home carrying my heavy purse, groceries, another bag and this awkward shaped Staples box that held my blueprint copy size of a wedding picture that I had printed. My headphones were in and I was hustling. Then all of a sudden, this guy passes me and says hello. Ok, get this straight...I smile and say hello to a fair amount of people, but very rarely do people say hello back. Back to the story...I heard the guy and said hello back and instead of passing me, he then asks me about the awkward shaped Staples box. I told him what was in it and instead of him hurrying ahead, he proceeded to talk to me. Like I said before, I was annoyed, but then my annoyance turned to worrying...worrying that I had to think of stuff to keep saying to this guy because obviously we were going the same direction but then what do you know...conversation flowed! I told him about GT and he told me about his 14 years of travelling. It was actually nice to know I could have a conversation with a stranger for ten minutes. 

So often I find myself putting my extroverted personality into "work mode". I can make  conversation easily with people coming through the doors at church, I can totally talk to at risk teen girls at the community centre but a random human being in the real world? Ahhhhhhh. You know what that is? It's plain ridiculous. It's me being selfish and staying in my comfort zone. And I'm pretty tired of staying in my comfort zone.

So hey there strangers, I'm ready and waiting to chat to you!!

Ok, onto the pretty pictures... :)

image

image

Peonies are out! I'm so buying one on my lunch tomorrow :) 

image

My friend Kristy sent me this beet crust pizza and we're going to attempt it!

image

I wish our house was painted white so we could throw in a pop of peach.

stay golden and TALK TO STRANGERS!

xo,

s.s.♥︎.

MY RUNNING JOURNEY

---

I was in the middle of writing a running update for ya when I realized I have never shared how I started running in the first place.

The truth is, I haven't always been a runner.

Ok, so you know those super fit families? The ones who go for hikes all the time, where the father and daughter go running around Elk Lake once a week?

Ya, that was not my family at all.

Being Italian and all, I was put into soccer at a young age but I stopped around 13 because soccer = way too much running. I switched over to baseball and mastered running the short distance to 1st base. I played baseball until grade 12 and then didn't exercise for a good solid two years...yikes.

I always believed that I couldn't run, that running just wasn't for me, that I wasn't the running type and I was content with that.

Until a few years later where I actually just started running and realized it wasn't as bad as I thought it was.

I started out by running with a few friends running around Rithet's Bog. I honestly had to walk every 500m or so but I kept at it and gradually, the running intervals grew longer and longer until I didn't have to walk at all. I started running on my own and oh my goodness, I actually started to enjoy it. 

Now don't get me wrong, I haven't reached some nirvana-esque relationship with running. There are days when I hate it (especially when it's cold and rainy outside) and it's hard to psych myself into going out the door, there are days when the last thing I want to do is go for a run BUT the days when I believed I just couldn't do it, the days when I believed I just wasn't a runner are completely gone.

I'm a runner. 

Sorry if this is sounding like an infomercial but I just want to encourage those of you who are starting out running or haven't started yet...you can do it! One step at a time, one lap at a time. You got this.

stay gold,

s.s.♥︎,

MARCH FAVOURITES

Today is the last day of March....HOW INSANE IS THAT? It's been a very full month (I'm slowly starting to realize that all my months are very full, ha). 

Work has been full as we all worked hard and waited for God's will to be done in choosing our next senior pastor. But as of yesterday afternoon a 95% vote decided that Andy & Lisa Moore will be our LEAD PASTORS (insert praise hands emoticon 5x). I am thrilled. I've had the privilege of working for Andy for the past 7 years (!!!!) and I so look forward to serving with Andy & Lisa as my leaders for a looong time!

I did something crazy this month and purchased my ticket to Alt Summit. 

Last Saturday night we celebrated my incredible mum's birthday and tonight we're celebrating my father in law's! Hoooray! 

March was a fun month on ssheart. I kept up with my regular posting and readership has grown! I want to thank you all who read this. Your support and encouragement honestly mean so much to me :) That being said here are YOUR favourite posts from March...!

| MARCH FAVOURITES |

1. WARDROBE // 3 came out as the most viewed post this month! These ones are my faves to make because I get to take pictures with my handsome hubby. We're shooting our next one on my lunch break tomorrow, so get ready for another one soon!

2. DIY PARTY CROWNS was your second choice. This was an incredibly simple DIY but creates an incredible outcome! My friends and I so enjoyed wearing these while we celebrated our friend, Cristina's birthday.

3. ONE WORD TIFFANY / DANAE / MICAELA were your third choice. This is where my beautiful friends shared their beautiful hearts and explained the words that God has given them for 2014. I love seeing other people take the stage and share what's on their hearts!!

4. EYEBROW TUTORIAL was your fourth fave. I thoroughly enjoyed making this post and plan on making another beauty tutorial in the near future!!

5. THAI PEANUT CHICKEN RICE BOWLS were your fifth favourite. This is an incredibly easy AND delicious dinner that I make at least 3x per month. If you're searching for a new weeknight dinner, search no more and go make this. You'll love it. I guarantee!

Again, thank you for reading this space!! I'd love to know what are your favourite types of posts. I'm building my April blog calendar today, so any input you have would be greatly appreciated!!!

xo,

s.s.♥.

I HEART CLOTHES GARAGE SALE // 2

---

My shopaholic friends and I are having another clothing sale this Saturday!!! Come one, come all and score deals on nice threads! We got loads of spring/summer things so be pumped. Seriously, stuff will be as low as $3. Just crazy. 

THIS SATURDAY (March 29th) 2538 Fernwood Rd from 1-5pm! (CASH ONLY!) 

And hey remember how I was hunting for that scalloped bowl from target? Well I found it, but it looks like Coco has claimed it as her bed....

Ok enough crazy cat photos. Hope you have a wonderful day and hope to see you tomorrow at our garage sale!

It's (almost) the freaking weekend...rejoice!

xo,

s.s.♥.

ALT SUMMIT HERE I COME!

---

Well friends, I've gone and done it. I was 5 minutes late for my dentist appointment yesterday morning because I was in my car registering on my phone for Alt Summit!!! I've had many inquiries already asking what the heck is Alt Summit and you may be wondering too. Well, Alt Summit is a conference for bloggers! They get sweet speakers in and they teach a variety of topics. They also have craft tables and parties at night…wooot!

It usually happens every January in Salt Lake City. I was considering going next year but then they announced a week ago that they were going to be putting it on in June and I thought, "Well, I like the sun a lot better than the snow….I should register." I chatted to James about it and he fully supports my blogging dreams (love you babe) and agreed that I should do it.  So with a whole lot of nervousness and excitement I registered!

Ok let's talk about fear for a moment. Registering for this kind of scares the crap out of me because 1. I don't know a single soul who's going. 2. I've never gone to Salt Lake City and going to an unfamiliar city alone is a bit overwhelming... BUT I'm choosing to not be ruled by fear. Gassssh, fear has held me back from so much and I'm not ok with that. Joyce Meyer (cool preacher lady) says "Do it afraid" and I so agree. If you're still scared after praying and talking with good friends than just do the thing that God is asking you to afraid. Chances are the fear will melt away as you step forward in faith and realize the fact that you had nothing to worry about!

So even though I'm afraid, I'm excited to step out of my comfort zone and meet fellow bloggers from around the world. I'm excited to learn from others. And Salt Lake City actually looks really pretty, so I'm excited to explore it as well…oh man this will surely be an experience for me!!

So the ticket is purchased. Now I have to book flights (ptL for points!), find somewhere to sleep, have business cards made (because they're kind of a big deal there) and plan my outfits of course (Rachel, you know I'll be calling on you for help).

eeeeeeeeeeeep! I'm a barrel of nerves right now, thankfully I have just over three months to pray those away!

What are you doing right now that's requiring you to step out of your comfort zone? I'd love to know so I can cheer you on and maybe you can give me some tips on helping me step out of my comfort zone? :)

xo,

s.s.♥.