Sunday, March 31, 2013

April A-Z blogging challenge:
Here we go!


My friend Lisa, let's blame her, shall we? Meeting her online last year, and then IRL soon thereafter--oh the joy of local blogging friends!--has been a joy. She's inspirational in many ways, not the least is her by turns thoughtful and humorous blog that I follow, and the A-Z blogging challenge she's participated in for two years. I could say that she's now twisted my arm into joining. Wait, what? Twisted my arm? Oh, how I wish. No, she mentioned it, a time or two, in passing. And then posted the badge to her blog. That's all it takes for me, apparently... I'm in.

And in true Sher style, I thought, no worries. I've always got something to say, right? An opinion. Something pretty to share, a new recipe or Pinterest fad, right? Until today. The panic set it, just a wee bit. I have nothing to say! No opinions! Nothing fresh that hasn't been said, and said better, a thousand times. Then Lisa and I texted, and I feel better. (Thanks, friend. Hope I didn't panic YOU!)

The deal is this: blog the alphabet, every day (except Sundays), on whatever topic you choose, so long as it starts with the letter of the day. Some people do themes; many, many do not. The blogging pool is big (I was number 1,400 when I officially signed up last week), and people visit a few blogs every day.

So if you're a regular around here, expect a bit of a change of pace for April. And yet, not. If there's anything I have a difficult time with, it's being someone or something other than just me. So the things that I usually blog about--food, color, music, inspiration in whatever form I see it around me... those are still the things I'll blog about in April. But I'll be working it into the overall alphabet theme and seeing how it goes.

Come along for the ride, I can't imagine it being anything other than a blast. (Remind me of that at 3 a.m., when I'm pretty sure I'll be awake, panicking about a few of those more peculiar letters... "U" anyone? How about "Q?")

Wish me luck!


Friday, March 29, 2013

Friday night grateful moment

It's Friday, but Sunday's coming!


When thought of in the context as presented by Mr. Compolo, the rest of my gratitude contemplation is just gravy... good health, an open sliding door with spring sounds outside, a lovely week with my men, enough leftovers from the "pretend" Easter last weekend that I didn't have to cook much this week, everything green and blooms proliferating, friends to laugh and talk with, a comfortable bed in which to anticipate sweet sleep... gravy.

Wishing you a lovely Easter weekend with the hope that Sunday's coming!


Thursday, March 28, 2013

Thursday 13: Thirteen things I don't "get"

Sometimes, very occasionally of course (!), I get teased about my "SweetTea&Sunshine-ness." Meaning, I think, that my glass-half-full outlook is a bit misbelieved, and surely I can't be grateful for everything, right? Of course not. Things bug me, or get me down. I just don't dwell on them a lot... And, as I like to say (a la Sally from When Harry Met Sally), I have a dark side, same as the rest of you.

While this isn't exactly my "dark" side, I have been keeping a little list of things, as they come up, that don't resonate with me. A little of this, a little of that, some recent and pop-culture-y, some that have been in place for a very long time. If I told you how long I'd been working on the list, you'd undoubtedly laugh!

So, this week, 13 things that I don't "get."

1. Why will the 50 Shades of Gray thing just not die? Every time I think that the 15 minutes of exposure for that book is over, nope, it's back again, in some headline or parody.


2. Golden raisins. (This one is a long-lasting "don't get.") In anything, cooked or uncooked, it makes no difference to me. I like my raisins dark, not golden. 

3. Twilight, vampire, zombies, goth. Any and all of that, no thanks. If it's undead, currently dead or never going to die, it's not my bag. (This is unrelated to No. 6, really.)

4. Tops with a high front and low back. This trend just seems backwards to me. Cleavage, people! What's it called in the back? Backage? And where's your bra? (I know, I'm starting to sound like an old lady. You kids and your crazy fashion. Ha.)



5. Chain jewelry, and really, really big jewelry. BIG. (And if you're really lucky, chain + big. Oh, baby.)


6. Kristin Stewart. (And Robert Pattinson. But we can leave him out of it so it doesn't feel like an anti-Twilight rant. It's not.) I don't get her, any appeal or attraction or anything. She's a lump of uncharismatic sullenness. I have a long-ish list of "don't get" celebrities, but I'll spare you the full rundown. Suffice it to say that Ms. Stewart is rather toward the top.

7. Negative energy. I don't get it, and I don't get why people are drawn to others with negative energy. When I am around it, I realize how little there is of that in my life, and I'm thankful. I saw someone recently that I don't frequently interact with, and from start to finish it was unpleasant. Not overly awful or anything, just subtle. Like grumpy cat. Why would I seek that out?


8. Soul patches. (Adventurous facial hair in general.) Nothing more to say on this topic.

9. Laziness. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for slothfulness--just ask husband about my weekend morning sleep-in-roll-over-sleep-some-more habits. Diligently applied downtime (activity at the zero level) is critical to regrouping for another week. But what I'm talking about is the no effort + over time equation. What? Huh? How do you expect to get ANYthing done? Drives me nuts.

10. Use of the word "whilst." I know, it's all the rage in this Downton Abbey world. But I don't get it. It's "while," people. WHILE. We are not in Great Britain. (This is especially prevalent on Facebook. Why, I do not know.)

11. Wishing. I just don't get wishing for things that aren't possible. I know that attribute can be perceived as a lack of "dreaming," but it really isn't that, in my book. If a door is closed, don't go pounding on it. Move on. Spend time working toward things that ARE possible. I suppose it's the pragmatism in my nature, but I find people who say "I wish" a lot very puzzling.

12. Performance art. I have long ago reconciled myself to being toward the uncultured end of the spectrum. (I heard that sharp intake of breath. You are very disappointed in me. Oops. You'll get over it.) The symphony? No thanks, I'll listen at home. The opera? Only if someone I know and love is performing (which puts the chances of attending at nil, but I didn't want to close the door entirely. Who knows what my dear nieces might chose for a future profession?) The ballet? Certainly. I'm not completely without class.

But performance art? I just don't get it. The gene that enjoys and appreciates it is somehow missing from me. The gene that could compel me to participate? That got transported to a galaxy far, far away.


13. Dreds. It's definitely a style thing, just not my style.

Don't get me wrong. If you are into these things, I say, "Yeah" for you. "Yippee!" even... But for me, not so much. Even little Miss SweetTea&Sunshine doesn't love *everything.*

Hope you're having a great day! In the comments, tell me what things you don't get, either... I'd love to hear them--maybe my list will grow!

For more Thursday 13s, go here.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Monday morning inspiration:
Music brightens my world

Some weeks I skate along almost music-less. The ride to work and back (short as it is) has either peace and quiet or NPR to accompany my journey. If Seth is with me, he'll sometimes plug in his iPod for a song or two to start the morning out, but more often than not we chat--it's six minutes, after all...

But then, suddenly, music will come back into my routine. A friend will introduce a new artist, a new song, maybe a cover of an old song, and I'll be a singing, humming, car-dancing fool once again. And, it will seem, for a time, like music is everywhere... posts on Facebook, maybe a blog post or tweet... some way, somehow, music is back (jazz hands). And each time I think to myself, where did it go, why did it go? And how can I keep music in my world all the time, even when I'm too busy to update my iPod?!

To kick this week off I thought I'd share some musical inspiration that's come my way recently.

This boy makes me smile:




Seth found this video and shared it with me. Very clever.




There's not much about JT that I don't like; same goes for Jimmy Fallon. When they get together, it's always memorable.




And then, there's my love for a capella... this very fun cover will have you humming all day.



What music gets you up and going for the day?

I hope your week is filled with humming, singing and dancing!


Friday, March 22, 2013

Friday night grateful list

It's Friday night.


Need I say more? I feel a little like this, most Friday nights.

Family is here to visit, so we're pretending that it's Easter. We're only a week early, so I don't feel too far off schedule. I got a little into the egg-dying... I did the Kool Aid method this year, it's all the rage on Pinterest. They turned out quite pretty.




I am so grateful for my family, and for our time together. The laughter we've already enjoyed since their late-afternoon arrival, sitting and chatting by the fire. The peace and quiet of Friday night by the fire... after a funny week of weird and wild weather (sun, rain, hail, snow, wind and then a little more rain...), I am happy for the warmth of the fire (and cozy blanket).

Today I had the privilege of enjoying a non-profit training session, one of the better all-day trainings I've been to in some time. Lots of food for thought; some new and different ways of viewing the same-old, same-old board/governance/fund raising issues.


I love Easter, and all the tokens of spring that come along with it. I am grateful for the bigger picture of Easter; the remembrance of the cross, death, resurrection. I don't have a lot of spiritual rituals or traditions around Easter, but reading the story of the week leading up to the crucifixion... well, there really aren't adequate words for it.

A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.
-Mahatma Gandhi

The shortness of the list this week is a reflection only on how late it is, how tired I am, and how much I enjoy the conversation by the fire... so I will say goodnight and wish you a moment or two of gratitude as you reflect on the week just past.

Peace.


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

It's so easy being green


When I saw a recipe for green minestrone recently, my first thought was "Why didn't I think of that?" Because I really hadn't, ever. And if there's anything I appreciate, it's green! I get routinely teased for green shoes, coats, toenails... but I can handle it. What good is a favorite color if you can't take a little teasing?


So I tucked away the basic idea behind the various green soups I saw online, gathered every green vegetable in the house and went to town.

Green vegetable soup 
Makes 12 cups
1 Tbsp olive oil
3 stalks of leeks, halved lengthwise and sliced thinly
6 green onions, chopped finely
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 Anaheim peppers, seeded and chopped semi-finely
3 cups kale leaves, destemmed and chopped finely
1.5 cups edamame, shelled
4 baby zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 bunch asparagus, cleaned and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
8 cups vegetable broth
Salt and pepper

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add the leeks, onions and garlic. Saute until tender and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the kale and edamame and broth, and bring to a simmer for 10-12 minutes, add the zucchini and asparagus and cook for 5-7 minutes more. Taste the soup for desired vegetable tenderness, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Tip: this soup is a great one to make one evening and eat the following. The flavor is, as with most soups, really better the next day.

This is a really healthy soup! Maybe a little too healthy for some of us (me)... so I trotted out a bit of ricotta and whipped up a quick batch of ricotta gnocchi to go along with the healthy goodness. Lovely. Just the right bit of cheese to counteract the rolicking good health of the soup, and fabulous flavor, to boot.


The variations on this could be somewhat endless... is it green? Toss it in! And if one wanted to make it a true minestrone, little pasta shapes could help toward that end, as well as maybe some cannellini beans...

Enjoy!


Monday, March 18, 2013

Monday morning inspiration:
Color and compassion, not necessarily in that order

It was a lovely weekend with rain and wind (lest spring come too quickly!) and the wind made the temperatures feel chillier than it really was. Bombing around the lawn for the first mowing of the season, hat and gloves on, I felt positively ice-cube-ish. Brrr.

But I will persist in my "spring is coming" mantra--after all, March 20 *is* this week!

A few inspirations crossed my path this past week, and will make heading into another week just a bit brighter. I can't remember the first time I saw an image with the words notsalmon on them, it seems like it must have been years ago now. But I never really persisted in knowing what that means, where it comes from... and then I finally clicked through. Her name is Karen Salmansohn, and she makes motivational art and blogs about things like finding 15 minutes a day to build discipline, and all those kinds of things you ignore until one day you decide things really do need to change, and need a word of encouragement to do so. I like her!






I read this interview with Peter Levitt recently and found his perspective refreshing. Of course, I was also intrigued, as he lives on one of the Canadian Southern Gulf Islands near the island where my parents live. Small world, and all. Saltspring is home to many artists, and Peter is a poet. A number of the things he said stayed with me after the interview:

"When things get tough, if we just take care of what is right in front of us, we find the creative means jump forward."

"We are an enormous resource of energy and creativity, and it is just waiting to be used in every way it can. So, finding how self flows through self to self in all its various expressions becomes an important part of living as a whole person, no matter the nature of the activity."

"Often, people think of precepts or discipline or vows in a somewhat negative light, but really these are just ways to love the world as it deserves."


This video speaks for itself. Take the four minutes to watch it; it really shows how little we know from our casual observations, what's going on in people's lives, and reminds me of that famous saying: Be kind, because everyone is fighting a great battle.





The story of Pantone. As you might imagine, I gravitated toward this story from the headline alone! Me and my colors... My favorite quote of the piece: “God created the world in seven days. And on the eighth day, he called Pantone to put color into it.”


I hope your week is filled with color and compassion!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Friday night grateful moment

The sliding door to our bedroom deck is open, and I can smell recently quashed fires in the air. It is spring. No two ways about it. I'm practically too giddy to type! Why is it that spring feels so longed-for, even this year, when it's been arguably quite mild? Who knows. I'm just glad--and grateful--that it's here.

Let me count the ways...
*We went from coats to shirt sleeves, practically overnight. Meanwhile, Seth's new spring coat just arrived, and I'm thinking I'm glad we bought it a bit big, because very soon it will be a fall coat...


*Aspargus in everything... soup to omelettes! Grateful for spring flavors.

*Getting up and into the day, even in this post-DST week, has been pretty easy. And those evenings? Heaven! So grateful for longer days.


*Garden planning and plotting. Had lunch with a friend this week who shared a garden resource that we'll have to check out. Seeds! Tilling! And the trees got their seasonal trim this week too... things are looking (knock on wood) somewhat tidy, even. 


*Green, green, everywhere. Doesn't hurt that it's St. Patrick's Day on Sunday, but spring IS green. And I got some fun new shoes in the mail this week, too:


*Family is coming to visit soon, and that always makes me happy and grateful. That always gives me a chance to do some fun cooking and baking, and crafting with the nieces. Can you say Easter glitter?!


*Maybe it's the time change (though that doesn't really make sense), but I am sleeping better lately... a cause for celebration, definitely. 


*Some weeks the planets just align a little better than others, you know? Grateful for weeks when it feels like progress is made, three steps forward even if one or two were back... momentum! 

*Grateful for my friends, in any season. Every season. Blessed.


*Those guys I get to live with... I have a very thankful heart for both of them tonight. For Seth and his courage and character, and the same goes for husband, double on the character. That the two of them support each other and not just me? Blessed times a hundred.

*For technology, and all the things it makes possible. So I'm veering off the spring theme here, but my gratitude for technology is true and very on my list of things to be grateful for.

*I'm still really glad about my OLW for 2013: Light. I haven't spent a lot of time focusing on it here on the blog, but I have my little tag that I wear*:


and it reminds me:


I hope wherever you are tonight, spring is near. Peace.

*I want you to know, dear reader, that I tried fifteen ways from Thursday to get that photo to turn rightways for you. I even retook the photo. Reuploaded it. Rotated it. Cursed. Did it all again. To not avail. So rather than continue cursing on a night when I should be grateful, I am letting it BE. Because I know you can make the leap.



Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Midweek reminder: We don't always experience things we would prefer

I shared this passage with a co-worker who lost his sister in a car accident a couple of weeks ago. When I stumbled across it on a blog I read with some frequency, I was struck by the relevancy, and how one horrible split second can change everything.

"I long for heaven. There the good that I'll experience is not temporary or fleeting or fading or tainted by trials. Here on earth, any good is temporary. Car wrecks taint life. Things are taken away from us. We don't always experience things we would prefer. My emotional investment and the focus of my faith can't be the things of this life, but my hope has to be in that imperishable inheritance that's kept in heaven for me. So many dreams and things and relationships throw me off and distract my longing for heaven. I need to hold out for what's best; I need to hold out for heaven."

I believe in living your best life, right here, right now. I also believe that--thankfully--this life isn't the only life possible. Balancing the two perspectives takes effort, for sure. But, it's an effort that brings peace and solace during any ordinary day, and is especially worthwhile on those days when the world stops in a crisis.


Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Oatmeal cookies, I had forgotten you...


Before I got out the oats and flour and dried cranberries this weekend, I can't recall the last time I made oatmeal cookies. (Well, other than the dismal banana-oat cookie experiment a week or two prior. Too banana-y for this family. There's your two-sentence Pinterest review. Too dang banana-y.)

But that little dabble into oats-n-cookie land DID pique my interest in looking further for a semi-healthful cookie that could work for an easy weeknight snack.

So I kept looking, and it didn't take long to find a keeper.

Low-Fat Oatmeal Cookies with chocolate chips (or raisins)
(or, in my case, dried cranberries and pecans)
Makes about two dozen
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional--I skipped)
2 tbsp butter, room temperature
1/4 c plain applesauce
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup chocolate chips or raisins (I skipped)
My substitutions for the chocolate chips:
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugars. Beat in the egg, followed by the applesauce and the vanilla extract. Working by hand, stir in the flour mixture and the oats until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Add nuts and cranberries just before the batter comes together.

Drop tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 12-14 minutes at 350F. Cookies will be light brown at the edges, but will not get as dark and golden as regular cookies.

Let cool on sheet for 3 or 4 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container.


Husband declared the cookies yummy, though of course they proved a little too healthy for Seth. Quite delicious right out of the oven, and certainly kept well enough overnight... I haven't had one yet today, though. Hmmm. Maybe they could be a twist on my old, favorite breakfast cookie? Ha... probably not quite THAT healthy.

Happy Tuesday! May a cookie find its way to you today.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Monday morning inspiration: Love is all

I saw these three videos within a half hour of each other, and the result was a blubbering mess. I really couldn't decide which order to share them in, so I'm just listing as I found them.

When I think about what I want to share as "inspirational," I wait to see what crosses my path, I don't (not saying I haven't EVER, but it's proven useless, so I don't anymore) go out looking for something to inspire. The way the world seems to work (for me) is that what is meant to come into my field of vision, does. And the less I go searching it out, the more I just pay attention, the more I find what really moves me.

First... Mitchell. I found Mitchell's Journey off a "like" from a friend on Facebook. The video below is one of many videos about Mitchell--the family has done an amazing job at documenting the past couple of years of Mitchell's Journey, as their Vimeo page attests. If you're on Facebook, the notes and updates are similarly thorough, and I guarantee you won't come away without awe at Mitchell's parents' strength, courage and faith in the face of the unthinkable.




Much as I'd like to embed the next video I saw, the happy couple wants you to go watch it on YouTube. I'm amazed I've never seen it before--since it has more than 18 million views, you probably have... But how happy I was to finally see it! From what I've read and seen (they did a followup video--Yes to Love), there was a lot of family assistance in the video, which is very sweet.

Lastly, Tim.

Seth and I watched this one together and both felt very moved and inspired by Tim's story. I can't imagine you won't, as well. It's a hopeful kind of story, so these tears were at least happier tears...


So the takeaway from all this feeling and crying? I guess I would say:


In the face of loss, in the joining together of lives, in the triumph over adversity: Love is all.

I hope your Monday (well, the whole week, really) reminds you of love, to love, to *be* love.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Friday night grateful moment:
Looking back in gratitude

I was reminded this week of the time that's gone by--seemingly so quickly, this past decade--and all I have to be grateful for in that span:

*For the events that shook my life into an unrecognizable state. In retrospect, such a necessary shaking.

*For the smackdown of smugness in obliterating a perception of the ideal couple or perfect family unit. Losing smugness is never a bad thing.

*For the people who stepped into the void and put their arms--literally and figuratively--around me. I still shake my head at the width and breadth of that outpouring.

*For the family who supported even my less-thought-out notions as I made premature decisions and floundered at times.

*For a community that welcomed my small business efforts. Those first few clients who took a chance on me, I remember them fondly.

*For my sweet kid, who gave me reason to get out of bed every morning and put a smile on my face. Who ate Doritos while lounging on my catering kitchen floor (yes, floor, don't ask) watching Scooby-Doo DVDs. Who heard me when I said, "Be kind to your mama, boy. It's been a long day/week/month/year." He really got it, for such a wee one. And he still gets it (and me) now.

*For written words that soothed me. Well, they sometimes challenged me and sometimes they soothed me. They definitely grew me.

*For beginning the practice of writing down my blessings. It helped me reframe my circumstances into glass-half-full, always.

*For sleep aids. True.

*For the space and time to get to know myself again, as an single adult woman (that sounds so clinical, said like that). The difference between 18 and 35 is profound. (Understatement of the week.)

*For work that challenged me, creatively and physically.

*For the man who came into my life and made loving again so easy. (Husband.)

*For the years we've been together, filled with lots of conversation, laughter and foot rubs.

*For all that I'm able to be awake to the possibility of now, in all areas of my life, because of the challenges.


May your weekend be filled with reflection on your own blessings. Peace.


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Midweek reminder: Honesty is inherently generous

Honesty is not the same as confession. “Be honest” (often “brutally honest”) is a fundamental tenet of memoir writing. But that does not mean you include every detail, play out every emotional drama, chronicle everything you did during the span of time over which the book or essay takes place. Honesty means not skirting uncomfortable truths and not pulling punches when it comes to recounting situations and feelings. Confession means blurting out a bunch of stuff and just leaving it there for shock value rather than doing the hard work of organizing it and pruning it and deciphering its relevance to the larger picture. Confessing means asking the reader for something—for forgiveness, for punishment, for some kind of response that makes you feel less alone. Honesty means offering something to the reader—a piece of yourself or a set of suggestions. Honesty means making the reader feel less alone. Honesty is inherently generous. Confession is inherently needy and intrusive. -Meghan Daum

From Salon, a recent piece on memoir writing.


Monday, March 4, 2013

Monday morning inspiration

I first learned about Ze Frank some time last year. Apparently, though I had no idea at the time, I was a bit late to the Ze (short for Hosea, if you're a curious one like me) show... He's been doing his online thing for almost a decade now, and stumbled on it rather accidentally, it seems (see his various TED talks, not just the one I've embedded below).

My first Ze introduction was this Invocation for Beginnings video--interesting, provocative, maybe not for everyone (don't say I didn't warn, there's an occasional cuss word), but I like it. A lot.



The Chillout Song started with a message from a woman going through a period of anxiety. Here's the story. I really like the mixed voices best. In the TED talk futher below, Ze talks about the variety of projects he's worked on; it's a bit more of a commitment to watch, so I went searching for the Chillout Song to share, and the Scared Song, since they both resonated with me.





I think Ze's on to something, with his quirky everyman schtick. I'm sure it's not everybody's cup of tea, but I like what seems to have been pretty organic growth as a result of tapping into people's fears and foibles. And I like that he's not overtly polished, and doesn't seem to have great control over some of his facial expressions. You know, that he's human.

For this Monday, at the start of another week, my takeaway from Invocation for Beginnings: "Let me not think of my work only as a stepping stone to something else, and if it is let me become fascinated by the shape of the stone."

There's also this: “And let me remember that my courage is a wild dog; it won’t just come when I call it, I have to chase it down and hold on as tight as I can.” Yeah, those are some sentiments to see one through a Monday.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Friday night grateful list: Favorites

Tonight, everything is my favorite. You know, how you said it when you were little... That's my faaaay-vor-ite. (Well, that's how *I* said it, anyway...)


Beautiful sunsets are my favorite. We have had quite a few these past couple of weeks... makes me think spring really is just around the corner. Or is it already here?? Cross your fingers!

Afternoon jaunts to the "bigger town" with my husband are my favorite. It was just such a sweet and lovely afternoon, even though we were both so tired (see reference to coffee, below).

Fun, colorful, cheap finds at TJ Maxx are my favorite.

Anticipation of sleep is my favorite. It is almost as good as sleep itself... but not quite (yes, keep reading to find out why so tired).

Messages on Facebook from my SIL are my favorite.

This font is my favorite. Like, beyond favorite. Double favorite, maybe even triple.

Big mugs of coffee at 4:30 a.m. are my favorite--to enjoy while rousting the teen out of bed and going through the morning routine--much too early (band trip)!

Laughter is my favorite. Had the biggest laugh at work this week--I can't remember now what it was all about. It was a group laugh, pretty funny at the time. Would not mind doing more of THAT.


People who are big-hearted with their time and have kind words for others are my favorite.

Telling my loved ones: You are loved, and hearing it in return--those are both my favorite.

Colorful fabrics and yarns are my favorite.


Kristen is my favorite! Definitely. So glad she won Top Chef.



Friends who answer the phone with cheery voices are my favorite. Texts are also good. Friends who text me back are my favorite. (That implies I have friends who don't text me back, which isn't really true. Everyone texts back... eventually! And no, this is not a hint that anyone needs to text back sooner. Really. Except maybe Seth, who doesn't read this blog anyway, whew. That way I can talk about him all I want.)

Hugs from Seth are my favorite.

Cheese is my favorite. Almost any cheese, any form.... yum.


Having a productive day is sooooo my favorite. Checking things off my list? Also my favorite.

Good hair days are my favorite.

Words that inspire and remind me are my favorite.


Lifting up in prayer dear ones who face pain, sickness, loss, fear, anxiety, pressures, grief, the cares of the world; that's my favorite.

I felt fully 10 years old, as I typed this. The repetitiveness speech patterns of being little and saying things over and over again, and driving your parents nuts, remember that? Ha. That WAS my favorite!

I am grateful for ALL my favorites on this Friday night.

What's your favorite?


 
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