What started out for me as a late night texting conversation with TheThread about work and life, poured over into the same type of conversation with Lindsey the next day as we headed up to Portland for the PNWBlogger Holiday Party. From both conversations, I drew the same conclusion for myself: I need some inspiration.

When the book Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg first came out I was more than skeptical of the hoopla that surrounded it. But during that Saturday evening texting session, Alicia who is currently reading the book, was telling us how much she is enjoying it. Beth Anne recently raved about how much she enjoyed the book. Considering those two reviews from two working moms that I have a lot of respect for, I figured there must be something to it. I decided that Saturday night I wanted to read the book.

The next day, when Lindsey and I were chatting about it we decided that we’d read the book together. Then on Monday, thanks to Twitter, a virtual book club was born.

On one hand I think I’m crazy for taking on one.more.thing. On the other hand I am totally excited about it.

I love being a working mom…I’m wired for it but that doesn’t mean it comes without struggles…at home and in the office. Lately I’ve felt…meh about things. I’m ready to reignite the flame and passion. I’m ready to start kicking ass and taking names again, instead of just checking things off of my to-do list because that’s what needs to be done.

So yep, I’ve co-started a virtual book club…

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Want to join us?

The Ladies Who Book Club Details:

Lindsey and I have started a “closed group” on facebook. Between now and Monday November 18, book club members will have time to join the group and introduce themselves then get the book and read the first chapter. On Monday November 18 we will open things up for discussion on Chapter 1. We’ll tackle one chapter a week and use the group wall to open up discussions, inviting other members to join in by either commenting on a thread started by Lindsey or myself or start their own discussion point. Each week following we will begin discussion on a new chapter.

Our plan is to keep things pretty free form. Everyone will likely have a different take on what they’re reading based on where they are in their careers. More than anything we just want to provide a place we can freely discuss the book and how we can apply the principles in our lives.

Sound like something you need in your life right now? If you want to join us in reading Lean In, just click the link and request to join!

When I started this blog, it was to document milestones in Rylee’s life and share them with family and friends near and far. It was meant to serve as a pseudo baby book until I got my -ish together and got a real one. Fast forward 5-ish years and one more kid and somewhere along the way something changed. Yes, I still blog for those original reasons, but I also blog for more than that now. I’ve met an amazing community through this little blog. Three of my closest and dearest friends I’ve met because of blogging. But this whole blogging this can be a double edged sword. When you put things out there in the world, you make yourself vulnerable. Open to judgement. People making assumptions about your life because of the 500 word posts you share a couple of times a week. There are so many blogs out there that continually paint a “life is rosy” picture for their life.

If you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly one of those people.

I’m not one to go on and on about how awful my life is {mainly because it’s not}, but I’m also not afraid to put it out there that things aren’t always perfect. Like how being super pregnant isn’t always that fun. Or how having a 3 week old baby is hard. Or how new schedules and new school years are hard. Or my most recent favorite…sometimes school pictures are really bad.

Just because I share these less than perfect things and put it out there that I don’t “cherish every moment”, doesn’t automatically mean that I’m unhappy or that something is wrong.

Do I have an amazing life? Personally, I happen to think I do. An amazing husband. Sweet girls. A good job. A beautiful property.

But at the same time, life is just plain messy sometimes and it’s not always perfect and that’s ok. Sometimes work drives me crazy. Sometimes my kids drive me crazy. Other times it’s my husband or housework or the never-ending piles of crap on my kitchen island. {seriously…why is that the catch-all!?}

There are days I feel like I have my shit together and I could take over the world. Other days I feel like I’m being completely consumed by life trying to see through the fog. A good majority of days I’m just teetering on the edge.

Do I wish that I had more “conquer the world” days over the foggy days? Yup. Right about the time I think I have things figured out, life will change again. But guess what? That’s just life. Kids get older, needs change. What seems overwhelming today, I may be laughing about next month. What matters is that at the end of the day, I still go to bed and thank God for the crazy because  I am blessed beyond what I ever thought possible.