Leah and Shauna

I told Trevor, "I feel like Julie + Julia!"  I knew that I was stretching it a bit, but it sort of felt like I was doing the Julie/Julia project in my one way.  Just as Julie was inspired by Julia, I am completely in love with Shauna Niequist.  I first fell in love with Shauna Niequist back in December of 2010.  I put out on Twitter that I wanted suggestions for an inspirational book to read to begin my new year, and my friend Gail recommended Cold Tangerines.  I went to Amazon, looked up the book, ordereded it, and the instant I started reading Shauna's words I knew I was hooked.  She writes the way I write in my dreams.  She says the things I want to say but better than I ever could.  I drive Trevor nuts while I read her books because every other paragraph I ask him if I can read it aloud to him.  Her words are just that good!I've read both of her books (Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet), followed her blog, gifted her books to friends, and back in the Spring I had the opportunity to hear her speak.  I was so excited!  I don't take the time to do many activities for myself like this, but this was too important to me to miss out on.  Trevor stayed home from work to watch Jasper, and I trekked an hour away by myself because I had to.  And I was so glad that I did!  I even got the chance to meet her afterwards, have her sign my books, and even asked her for a little writing advice.  I was on cloud nine.Currently she is working on her third book titled, Bread and Wine.  I have been following her writing process through her blog and Twitter, and this book is a little different than her past two in that recipes will be included.  She loves to cook and entertain so it fits seamlessly with her family gathering stories.  Last week, I went onto Facebook to upload a client's images and saw that she had posted a calling for readers to be recipe testers.  It was a way to help, be involved in the book, and....hold your breath....get your name in her book!  I had to sign up quickly!  I sent my email, but in the back of my mind I knew I probably wouldn't get selected.  But the next evening, I received an email with the recipe that I was supposed to test.  I was ecstatic!  And that is when I told Trevor I felt like Julie + Julia!I made this wonderful salad on Monday, and it was so much fun!  I felt connected to Shauna, a person that I admire.  A person that truly has changed my life in ways that only words in a book can do.  I cannot wait for Bread and Wine to come out.  My dream is to have a small book club get together and maybe even cook some, if not all, of the recipes.  Wouldn't that be fun?  It just seams that it would bring it all full circle, reading a book about family and friendships and the food that brings us together, while cooking and spending time with family and friends.  And it would be an excuse for an all girl adult get together...who am I kidding?  :)