This is where I will share with you my favorite people, places, and things. Think of it as the annotated bibliography of my life. So obviously, all of this comes from a 100% ME bias.
I will not put negative reviews here (because, ew). If I don’t review it, it means I either didn’t see/attend/read/go to it or I didn’t like it. Don’t ask me what I don’t like because what didn’t hit it for me, might actually work for you. I’m not a bridge-burner. Just building over here.
Also I did not get paid* to tell you that I like these books/people/products. I just like them.
*If anyone wants to pay me with a trip for two to the Maldives (you know those houses with the glass bottoms and like a chef or something), I wouldn’t turn that down. If I change this sentence, you’ll know I got my trip to the Maldives, and that one of these suggestions was in fact, richly rewarded. (Or that I got greedy and now want MORE trips to the Maldives.)
Here we go:
People
Natasha Rothwell – she’s hilarious and the nicest and everything she does will be gold. She was my best friend in high school. We haven’t lived in the same place in decades, but when I see her, it’s like no time has passed. What’s even more amazing is that she is SUCH A BIG DEAL and she has ZERO conceit and ego. She’s the real deal. Go ahead and google her.
Kelly Bourque– she’s my sister and runs her own private practice, Red Therapy Group, in Franklin/Nashville and if you live nearby and need therapy you should see her or someone on her team. She’s super talented.
Rebecca Kane– the coolest, most grounded woo-woo-er there ever was. She jump-started my personal growth in a way that I can only call miraculous. She’s like the Mystic Mother Therapist that also has great hair.
Rebecca Erbelding and Ron Coleman – the nicest, most helpful people in the Holocaust Museum (I mean, I haven’t met them all- and they all seem nice, but I’m partial to these two) Becky wrote a book (Rescue Board) too!
Businesses
Premier Private Wealth – Financial Planners that are SO nice and supportive. I could go on and on but these folks are in the business because they care, and I KNOW that sounds cheesy- but they’re legit.
Stephen Cannon – the UNICORN tax guy. He specializes in clergy taxes and if you’re clergy you know how insane those taxes are. He’s SO smart and SO meticulous. Oh – and he answers your emails, your questions, and cares. Unicorn. Tax. Guy.
29th Parallel – this place ruined me for coffee forever. This is a good thing. I now know what good coffee tastes like and I will never go back. They aren’t the fastest, but it’s worth it and we need to chill out and drink good coffee.
Books
Try to buy your books from a local shop. Here’s one of my local shops.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
I read this in 4th grade. It made me question everything (and I LOVE that). I re-read it regularly.
Contact by Carl Sagan– (movie and book)
Made me believe in aliens (still do – even BEFORE it was normal- but in a non-hipster way).
Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Haunts me, crazy good writing and that last scene- holy shit.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Basically shifted my perspective on all things race. Checked me right up and down.
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
Omg the writing. And if you can, listen to it on audiobook where he reads it. I don’t know who doesn’t want an old Irish guy singing old irish pub songs and saying “Och! Och!”
PIVOT by Jenny Blake
This woman has her shit together and surprisingly doesn’t make you hate her about it, because she’s so freaking good at helping YOU get your shit together. I did her values exercise and came up with my values acronym: F.L.A.B.S. Yes. It’s actually- really good. I’ll write about it.
Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Stanny
The best cheesy book on getting your head out your ass and doing the thing. I did the exercises (I never do the exercises, but my friend who recommended it told me I had to). It’s scary motivating, and I had some serious epiphanies when I read it. I am actually pretty awesome with money (if not a little stingy), but I had been super-limiting my own earning potential.
Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
Who knew a book about content and copywriting could be this funny and helpful?! Ann did, and I thank her for it.
Things
Shea Moisture – my happy discovery that “ethnic” hair products are amazing for white people with curly/frizzy hair, and that we never knew about it because: racism.
Buy Nothing – Is this a Thing? It’s a type of Facebook group. The groups are localized, so you join one near you. Ours is amazing. The whole idea is that it’s a forum for giving and receiving things and services. FOR FREE. I just got a new crock pot. For nothing. We’ve given away all sorts of stuff that we no longer needed, but someone was happy to have. Trash to treasure and all that.
Events/Exhibits
Americans and the Holocaust – the exhibit that my Grandfather is in, total and 100% biased. It’s a really well done exhibit that you can find in the basement of the DC Holocaust museum, don’t need a timed ticket. It does a great job of providing context and information about the American knowledge and response to the Holocaust, even before the camps were liberated