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on reading

February 3, 2014 adrienne robideaux
Image by Oliver Jeffers from "The Incredible Book Eating Boy" via Oliver Jeffers Shop

Image by Oliver Jeffers from "The Incredible Book Eating Boy" via Oliver Jeffers Shop

Have you ever read the “The Incredible Book Eating Boy” by Oliver Jeffers? It is the story of a boy who eats books rather than reading them and becomes so hungry for knowledge that he starts devouring books faster than he can assimilate what he is learning. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve uploaded photos from my camera, only to find that they were all just slightly off, and wished that I could just eat books on photography. I’d eat books on design and blogging and cooking and art and language. I’d eat books on business and money management and sewing and crafting. I’d eat books on parenting and marriage and friendship.

But it doesn’t really work that way. I belong to a tribe of readers. Everyone in my family (except me) is well read. It is the culture to which I belong. But I’m not sure it is the culture in which I fit. If I read all the books on all the things, would I be a better parent or a better cook or a better photographer? I’m not so sure. We can’t just devour the book and know how to do the thing. We have to actually do the thing to improve. So how do we find the balance? How do we pick the books to read that will most improve our lives? How do we make the time to change our habits to put in place the lessons we learned while reading?

I’ll be honest. I am overwhelmed by the number of things that I want to learn. But more than that, I am overwhelmed by the sheer volume of available content to read. Right now, on my bedside, there are seven books, only one of which belongs to my kids. Seven books about seven different things (ok, six different things – two of them are about parenting), all waiting to be read. All waiting to be assimilated. But what happens when we are just topped out? Topped out of information, topped out of content?

I’ve been thinking about this post by Seth Godin for the last several weeks. Seth talks about the acronym “tl;dr”, which means “too long; didn’t read.” Three things really stood out for me. The first was the idea that “there's too much noise, too much … useless stuff cluttering your life.” Yes. Totally agree. Need to figure out how to pare that down, but how? Second, was the idea of reading in what Seth calls “check-list mode”. I do this all the time. I am so overwhelmed by information that I can’t seem to stop and actually read what is right in front of me. The result is that I learn nothing. And finally, Seth points out, now that everyone can publish, and a lot of people are, more noise is being created. I can’t help but wonder, am I just contributing to the noise? I began this blog with the intention of helping people plan meals, check one thing off the never-ending list. But in the age of (ever increasing) information overload, is that really necessary? Do people really need one more thing to read?

For now, I’m going to keep putting out menus and keep reviewing recipes. But maybe I’ll review fewer recipes and leave tips and comments on my Pinterest boards instead. That way, I’ll have more time to read the seven books on my nightstand and you can tackle your own stack. Let me know what you are reading. It’s ok if it is long, as long as it is good.  

In lagniappe
← valentine's cookies - part 1sometimes only a brownie will do →
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Saturday morning biscuits. #bakemore
Saturday morning biscuits. #bakemore
Almost done w this book and I have loved it so much that I want to go back and reread it so that I can absorb what I missed the first time. @ingridfetell ‘s take on interiors and architecture are more than a little refreshing in a sea of everyone’s living room looks the same (*cough* Instagram *cough*). Since it’s #followfriday (do people do that anymore??), you should definitely add @aestheticsofjoy to your feed and also check out her TedTalk. It’s short and sweet and may just inspire you to change things up at your house. #animalcrackerjoy (PS to my friends headed to @altsummit next month - @ingridfetell is speaking. Look her up in the app and let me know how it goes!)
Almost done w this book and I have loved it so much that I want to go back and reread it so that I can absorb what I missed the first time. @ingridfetell ‘s take on interiors and architecture are more than a little refreshing in a sea of everyone’s living room looks the same (*cough* Instagram *cough*). Since it’s #followfriday (do people do that anymore??), you should definitely add @aestheticsofjoy to your feed and also check out her TedTalk. It’s short and sweet and may just inspire you to change things up at your house. #animalcrackerjoy (PS to my friends headed to @altsummit next month - @ingridfetell is speaking. Look her up in the app and let me know how it goes!)
Today’s edition of random stuff spotted while running - I feel the need to hashtag that #randomstuffspottedwhilerunning - is fabulous. Quite possibly the best gate ever.
Today’s edition of random stuff spotted while running - I feel the need to hashtag that #randomstuffspottedwhilerunning - is fabulous. Quite possibly the best gate ever.
Success at the @urbanharvesthouston tree sale!
Success at the @urbanharvesthouston tree sale!
In the category of random things spotted while running today.... 🏃🏻‍♀️🦎 Maybe Rapunzel’s friend, Pascal, got loose? Maybe 11 miles was too long for my brain. also, MAJOR THANK YOU to everyone who had contributed to my fundraiser for @gotr_greaterhouston . We are 80% there. That’s $800 raised for girls to participate in the program. Whoohoo!! Only two weeks left of me harassing you all on this topic and then back to biz as usual (whatever that means). Thank you notes are coming to those who donated. Get on it for those who haven’t. #houstonrunners - I’m talking to you!! Don’t know what to give? $5 is great, $10 better, $19.30 is $1 for every mile I will run doing the #fairytalechallenge in two weeks. Link to give is you know where. 👆 thank you all!! (PS costume 1 is in the bag. Working on costume 2. More to come.)
In the category of random things spotted while running today.... 🏃🏻‍♀️🦎 Maybe Rapunzel’s friend, Pascal, got loose? Maybe 11 miles was too long for my brain. also, MAJOR THANK YOU to everyone who had contributed to my fundraiser for @gotr_greaterhouston . We are 80% there. That’s $800 raised for girls to participate in the program. Whoohoo!! Only two weeks left of me harassing you all on this topic and then back to biz as usual (whatever that means). Thank you notes are coming to those who donated. Get on it for those who haven’t. #houstonrunners - I’m talking to you!! Don’t know what to give? $5 is great, $10 better, $19.30 is $1 for every mile I will run doing the #fairytalechallenge in two weeks. Link to give is you know where. 👆 thank you all!! (PS costume 1 is in the bag. Working on costume 2. More to come.)
Can there really ever be too many #kallax #shelfies ? Asking for a friend. (Also how much do you think I hate that vent in the wall? 🤬) #designdork #workspace #homeofficedecor
Can there really ever be too many #kallax #shelfies ? Asking for a friend. (Also how much do you think I hate that vent in the wall? 🤬) #designdork #workspace #homeofficedecor
These 3-5th graders begin their #girlsontherun journey today. I’m feeling pretty grateful that I get to run along side them. 🏃🏻‍♀️ On my long training run for #princesshalfmarathon this week, I listened to the @onbeing episode with @abbywambach and @glennondoyle . So much good stuff and so many ideas I’m still working to unpack. I totally encourage you to listen to it. BUT the one thing that is absolutely  relevant to this post has to do with @glennondoyle‘s first Love Flash Mob (seriously look this up if you don’t know what it’s all about). Glennon wanted to create a community of givers, so she limited the amount of each contribution in that first #loveflashmob to $25. She observed that people want to give, but get stuck on the amount and the timing and all sorts of other overthinking in the space between the ask and the actual give. Tell me that’s not spot on. 🏃🏻‍♀️ So. Here comes the ask. If you haven’t had a chance to support my #fairytalechallenge for @gotr_greaterhouston please please take a couple of minutes to do so now. The link is right there in my profile. 👆 Not sure what to give? $5 is perfect. Or if you are feeling generous, how about $1 for every mile I will run over #princessraceweekend ? That’s 19.2 miles or $19.20. Race dates are February 23-24. I’ll be thinking about all of you and all of these girls, and the girls you are helping to give access to #gotr while I run. 🏃🏻‍♀️ This is a cause that is so close to my heart. Thank you for supporting me and girls who need it. Happy Monday! 🏃🏻‍♀️
These 3-5th graders begin their #girlsontherun journey today. I’m feeling pretty grateful that I get to run along side them. 🏃🏻‍♀️ On my long training run for #princesshalfmarathon this week, I listened to the @onbeing episode with @abbywambach and @glennondoyle . So much good stuff and so many ideas I’m still working to unpack. I totally encourage you to listen to it. BUT the one thing that is absolutely relevant to this post has to do with @glennondoyle‘s first Love Flash Mob (seriously look this up if you don’t know what it’s all about). Glennon wanted to create a community of givers, so she limited the amount of each contribution in that first #loveflashmob to $25. She observed that people want to give, but get stuck on the amount and the timing and all sorts of other overthinking in the space between the ask and the actual give. Tell me that’s not spot on. 🏃🏻‍♀️ So. Here comes the ask. If you haven’t had a chance to support my #fairytalechallenge for @gotr_greaterhouston please please take a couple of minutes to do so now. The link is right there in my profile. 👆 Not sure what to give? $5 is perfect. Or if you are feeling generous, how about $1 for every mile I will run over #princessraceweekend ? That’s 19.2 miles or $19.20. Race dates are February 23-24. I’ll be thinking about all of you and all of these girls, and the girls you are helping to give access to #gotr while I run. 🏃🏻‍♀️ This is a cause that is so close to my heart. Thank you for supporting me and girls who need it. Happy Monday! 🏃🏻‍♀️


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