Friday, July 29, 2016

Friday Favorites!


Happy Friday!


On Fridays I link up with a few of my favorite blogs, Erika, Narci, and Andrea to share my favorite things of the week! 






My book review this month was full of several great reads! 











On JeanClaireMonroe.com we talked about how to live a life of purpose and how to find our callings. I hope you are enjoying my ministry website as much as I enjoy writing to you!








On Wednesday we talked about what we've been up to this month! I always enjoy those linkups!







I introduced a new series on my website called "What I Learned". It's a fun little post about five things I've learned/enjoyed/appreciated about the past month. 






It's been life as usual around this neck of the woods...




Mom and I killing time before lunch.




My brother Thomas celebrated his 27th birthday and refused to be photographed. I caught this one of Dad instead. Note - he does not go out to eat unless it's to Martin's or Movie Star, but Thomas talked him into O'Charley's. Did y'all feel the earth shift on its axis that day?!





Little buddy was all tuckered out. Isn't he just the cutest?!








I'm still waiting for a few pieces from the Nordstrom anniversary sale. I've been loving maxis this summer including this one by Lush above. 








I always enjoy speaking engagements. It was awesome to share with this group of yahoos above at the Marketing Professionals for Senior Living luncheon!


I hope you all have a great weekend!



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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

What's Up Wednesday!



What's up Wednesday?!


Man the summer months are sure flying by! I love the laid back atmosphere, but with temperatures in south Mississippi averaging 100 degrees, I'm ready to see fall!


And boots.


I love boots!


On the last Wednesday of every month we link up with Mel, Shay, and Sheaffer for What's Up Wednesday. Be sure you check them out too!



1. What I've been eating...




A whole lot of salads. I'm back on an exercise and diet kick, so let's see how long this one lasts!



2. What I'm reminiscing about...



Summer afternoons of fun in the sun.




3. What I'm loving right now...







I've been wearing flats a lot more as of late, and I absolutely love my gold and leopard flats by Lucky Brand!


Product Image, click to zoom
I'm also coveting these by Tory Burch in the "Minnie" style...



4. What I've been up to...

"werk, werk, werk, werk werk..."

It's in your head now isn't it?!



5. What I'm dreading...




Nah, I'm not really dreading it, but I am not exactly jumping up and down at the chance to write more 20 page papers!



6. What I've been working on...



My website! Have you checked it out yet? Head on over to jeanclairemonroe.com and say hello!



7. What I'm excited about...



Scotland, baby! Two weeks!!!



8. What I'm watching and reading...


I've been going through Netflix again, trying to find a new series. I've finally caught up on Scandal and Grey's. Right now I'm just rewatching



The Vampire Diaries, journal d’un vampire:

and I've started to really enjoy 





Any suggestions for a new show to watch?

As for books...



I've been reading this Unstuffed for inspiration and








9. What I'm listening to...


K-Love is pretty much the only thing I listen to these days!



10. What I've been wearing...



11. What I'm doing this weekend...

Hopefully nothing! 


I've been on a maxi dress kick lately!



12. What I'm looking forward to next month...


Wild bluebells beside Loch Leven, the Pap of Glencoe beyond. ༺✿༺ Ballachulish, Highland, Scotland.:

Um, have I mentioned Scotland?!




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Tuesday, July 26, 2016

July Book Review!


So I read A LOT this month! 

Something about the summer months just makes me want to crack open a good book and relax after a long day. I also enjoy reading while working out on the elliptical or treadmill. It's the perfect distraction for that workout boredom.

This month I read a few really good ones and some okay. Fortunately, no duds this month! Here's a look at what I read in July.

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(To see the complete list of books read so far in 2016, click here. To see the complete list of books read in 2015, click here.)

If you are interested in following me on Goodreads, you can find my page here.
New reviews and books posted monthly!




I really loved this book! For all the fullness of God available to His daughters, we often feel limited by two defining insecurities: “I am too much,” and “I am not enough.” Co-authors and best friends Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan have felt the same, until one essential question turned the tables on it all: If God is wild and free and he created women, what does this mean for us today? Wild and Free is an anthem and an invitation in equal parts to find freedom from the cultural captivity that holds us back, and freedom to step into the wild and holy call of God in our lives


Let's All Be Brave

I've mentioned before that I really love Annie Downs. As a young woman, writer, speaker, and blogger, Annie shares her journey toward bravery with honesty and humor. Using wonderful stories from her own life, contemporary real-life examples, and fascinating historical and biblical references, Annie makes me want to just go out and be a better version of me.




Silver Girl

The best Elin Hilderbrand book I've read yet! Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars. Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. I really need to see this Nantucket for myself one of these days!





Bread & Wine is a collection of essays about family relationships, friendships, and the meals that bring us together. I picked up this book after reading raving reviews, and while I love Shauna Niequist, I don't love food and the industry of food enough to warrant reading a book about it. However, she does a great job of telling stories, and she includes some great recipes. You foodies might really want to check this one out!


The Battle Plan for Prayer

The Battle Plan for Prayer begins with prayer’s core purpose, its biblical design, and its impact throughout history. I read this one as part of my daily quiet time, and really enjoyed the fundamentals of how effective prayer works and how it encouraged me towards a closer, more intimate relationship with God, and shown how to develop specific prayer strategies for each area of life.




It's Not Okay

Andi Dorfman, star of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, talks candidly about what it’s like to be courted by handsome, single men in this juicy, insider’s peek at dating—and breaking up—on national TV. The book is full of entertaining and heartfelt stories about her fellow Bachelor alums—many of whom are still close friends, and reflects on her personal challenges and uplifting experiences in love. I've read a lot of former Bachelor books, and this one is in the top 3!

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What have you been reading this month? I'm always looking for new suggestions!

Be sure to stop back by tomorrow for...




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Monday, July 18, 2016

Just a Quick Hello Today!

why you should wait on God


Today on my ministry site we are discussing why we should wait on God. I'd love to hear your thoughts!


NORDSTROM -  Nordstrom Credit Cardholders: Shop Anniversary Sale Early Access through July 21!

And don't forget! Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale early access is going on for card holders. Don't miss out on these early bird sales! 


I will see you back here tomorrow for Show and Tell Tuesday!



We will be linking up to see one another's home tours! 


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Friday, July 15, 2016

Friday Favorites - And I'm Headed to the Beach!



Friday! I am so looking forward to this weekend. I'll be headed to Pensacola, FL with a couple of girlfriends, and I know it will be a blast. I'm sure we can get into some kind of trouble! Ha! We will be relaxing and completely leaving our worries behind till next week. 

As always, we are linking up with Narci, Erika, and Andrea for our weekly Friday Favorites where we share the highlights of our weeks. I have been a little slacker again in the photo department, a major blogger nono, but hopefully you will forgive me and enjoy anyway!





I shared which three celebrities I would like to be stranded on a deserted island with. Number one surprised a few people, so be sure you check it out!





 I shared my love for tassels, my accessory of choice for this summer!


Do you ever question if you are effectively using your talents for God? I blogged about how to live a life of purpose on my ministry website jeanclairemonroe.com. Be sure you check it out!


And for the few photos I did manage to take this week are all of Peanut...



Feed me!
I mean, can he look any chubbier in this photo? Peanut is really not that big, but whoa! What a mess...



He loves watching TV. He literally stares at the screen alongside me. It's kinda sweet!



P never meets a stranger. I took him down to Lucedale for the Monroe family 4th of July get together, and he was the main attraction as usual.



With his cousin Ava...



That's my arm. I was there, too!



And whenever we go to my Dad's, Peanut is still the boss!


Last but not least - are you guys ready for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale?!


NORDSTROM -  Nordstrom Credit Cardholders: Shop Anniversary Sale Early Access through July 21!


Product Image, click to zoom

I have the original size glitter studs, but I'm super excited to add these minis to my Kate Spade collection!


Product Image, click to zoom


I love my Zella leggings, and I need a new pair since I've worn my others out!


Product Image, click to zoom


If you're a fan of Kendra Scott, you better check out the sale!...




I will let you know what arrives at my door from the Anniversary Sale in a couple of weeks!


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