Vulnerability Chronicles
- At March 04, 2019
- By Roxanne Snopek
- In Rox Reads, Roxanne Writes On
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Recently, I picked up a copy of Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
It’s about vulnerability and transformation.
If you’ve been reading me for any length of time, you know that one of my key-words is authenticity. I strive to tell the truth in my
This is REALLY HARD. Because being honest, being authentic, means being vulnerable.
I’ve always secretly believed this desire for authenticity to be my super-power, however I’m extremely aware that vulnerability is not valued in much of our culture and that you have to have really good boundaries to remain safe, while being authentic and vulnerable. I’m not always that great at determining the people who are safe, the times and places where this part of me will be valued. Which means, I can get really hurt. And when I get hurt, I withdraw, like a turtle, into my shell.
I’ve spent a lot of time inside my shell. Note: it’s not a great place to be.
Brené Brown’s book, and her videos and TED talks, addresses this fear – terror really – that we all have of revealing our true selves… and being rejected. Her research is about the true power that lies within vulnerability, how we can’t fully engage in our own lives unless and until we embrace it.
I’ll tell you more as I learn more. In the meantime, watch this:
Best Kitchen Toy Ever!
- At October 07, 2017
- By Roxanne Snopek
- In Life, Roxanne Writes On
- 2
SURVIVING A LIVE-IN HOME RENOVATION PROJECT
Original kitchen window
New kitchen window now opens onto patio
Our sanctuary from the construction noise
It’s the Year of Renovations, at Casa Snopek. Phase 1 was creating a small guest suite, complete with bathroom and kitchenette (sink/bar fridge/counter), which is where we’re living while the rest gets done.The rest, meaning the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, carpets, paint… really, it would have been easier to move.
Anyway. It all began in late July and won’t be done until early December. Hopefully. Maybe. Don’t really know.
That’s a long time to be without a kitchen, folks. At first, it was fun eating take-out and fast food and checking out the local restaurants. But that’s a) expensive b) dangerous for the waistline and c) tiring.
Now, I just want real food.
So I bought us an Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer
I LOVE this baby! The first day I made chicken soup – awesome – and rice pudding – the best I’ve ever made. This, my friends, is the way to survive a live-in home renovation project. Do you have yours yet?
Here’s the .com link and the .ca link, for my Canadian friends.
!
Handbags and Family Drama
Anyone else here addicted to bags?
We recently visited with friends who have a very large, beautiful house, with the best walk-in closet and laundry room I’ve ever seen. I confess, I had storage-envy after seeing their place.
And I immediately recognized another bag-lover. Not only does my friend has a long shelf in her closet devoted to her handbags, but she also has another floor-to-ceiling cupboard in their laundry room to house those shoes and bags she uses less often. I LOVE it!
Recently, after having my credit card compromised, I’ve become a fan of Travelon Anti-Theft bags, with RFID protection. I’ve got this one, in red, and I love it. We hope to do more traveling in the coming years, and security is kind of a big deal for me. Also, since I just finished writing another book, I figure I deserve a bit of bag-shopping as a reward. Right?
Proud parents of a new nurse!!
I wear a lot of black, so red often works. But not always. I’m currently looking for a similar bag, but in a different color. This one, maybe? I love purple and I like the water bottle pockets. Not sure about the front compartment though.
Roxanne and her Derek Alexander crossbody organizer bag… and her husband, too.
For years, I was hooked on Derek Alexander bags. They’re an entirely different kind of bag, leather, elegantly designed, and fairly pricey, so I can’t indulge myself much on these. But this is one of the best organizer bags I’ve ever had. I find I need more room now, though.
Sometimes I wish I had a cute little bag for when you’re going out and you only need to bring keys, a credit card, tissues and lip balm. A friend of mine has an adorable Kate Spade mini-bag that looks something like this:
Isn’t this so pretty?
Right now, I’m leaning towards this one. All the Travelon security of my red bag, in color that will work with my blue-green-checked winter coat. What do you think? What’s your favorite bag?
PS: I almost forgot the family drama! I read this New York Times bestseller by Jacqueline Mitchard years ago and loved it. Jodi Picoult says, “Reading just doesn’t get any better than this.” Publisher’s Weekly calls it a “no-holds-barred family drama.” It’s available in digital format now, and is on sale for $1.99 though I’m guessing that won’t last long. I’m getting this for my Kindle, to re-read. Anyone else remember this book?
PPS: the book I just finished writing is called The Chocolate Cure, part of the Love at the Chocolate Shop series. There’s family drama here, too, though it’s the kind that makes you smile, not the kind that makes you want to stab yourself in the eye. In case you’re interested, it’s available for pre-order now and will be released January 4, 2017.
