Eat Cake, Be Brave, book #17

Yay!  Yay!  Yay!  I got my book from the altogether awesome Melissa Radke!  I knew Melissa from when she was here through church.  Well, let me rephrase that.  I *thought* I knew Melissa Radke.  The persona she appeared to be - which she openly admits now - as a carefree, fun loving, crazy chick was actually all an act to coverup the heartache and pain she was going through.  Now, she still appears to be pretty fun, and when I saw the video about the book and read what it was going to be about, I was all in.  

I have several pages that are already dogeared (it's mine and it's signed so I can do what I want with it!) that really, really spoke to me.  I wont quote all of them because you really need to read several pages to understand what is being said, but this first one nailed it on the head ~

"You are who you are.  Right now.  Like it or hate it, this is you." [pg. 19]  

That just started the ball rolling in my head about how I need to love myself ... all xx pounds of myself.  All bad habits of myself.  And all the good of myself too.  There are things I can do - I *should* do - I hope to do - to make me better, but I need to love myself as I am RIGHT NOW.

My name is Melissa Radke, and there is a very real chance you have no idea who I am or why I wrote a book. But admit it, you're curious! Even though millions of people seem to like watching my videos bemoaning the trials of parenting, marriage, French braiding, faith, and living life as an anti-aging female, you may still be wondering who let me write a book. I mean, books are written by people who have been interviewed by Gayle King and say things like, "You see, Gayle, I was having a root canal and I literally died in the chair. I saw heaven. Also, when I came back to earth I could speak Mandarin."  Yeah, that didn't happen to me. No Mandarin. Though I have been known to break out in song! (My voice was once described as a "ray of light in a dark world" . . . but I think my dad was being a little dramatic.) Although if Gayle King were to ever ask me I would tell her: "I wrote this book between taking my kids to the local pool and picking out flip-flops at Old Navy, and the only metaphysical moment I experienced came right after I looked directly into one of those mirrors with 10x magnification."  I wrote this book because when I turned 41 I made a decision to be brave. To live brave - bolder and freer. You see, I thought our lives were supposed to change when we turned 40...but mine didn't. Yet every piece of it changed when I turned 41; when I set out to prove that it wasn't too late for me, that careless words wouldn't stunt me and rejection would not stop me. And maybe, just maybe, it will take you reading about the journey I took to finding my sense of self-worth in order for you to rightfully believe in yours. This book is about how all the years of my life led up to the one that changed it. So, cut a big slice and raise a fork...

Here's to bravery.
Here's to courage.
Here's to cake.
(And not the [yucky] kind, like carrot.)
[picture and description from amazon]

Lucky me also got to go to a book signing at Parnassus Books where I had my book signed, chatted a little with her (she remembered me!) and had my picture made!

In conclusion, go buy this book at Target online (If she sells xx amount online they will put it in the store and you know how many people shop at Target!).

Watch her hilarious and touching videos. (Especially the one about Red Ribbon week that started it all ... )
Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Listen to her podcasts, but only if you have 45 mins to laugh your head off. Or cry.  Happy tears or sad tears. 

Finally, this fall or winter her crazy family will be on a reality show on USA!!! 

Have I made myself clear?  :)