Four things I'm loving
The Before Breakfast podcast
Laura Vanderkam just launched Before Breakfast and I love it so far!
Every weekday morning, she publishes a short 6-8 minute episode sharing a tip about managing your time better.
Sometimes I don't bother listening to podcasts because they're looooong, and that makes me hesitate to push "play". But a 6-8 minute episode every day is totally manageable.
(especially if you listen to it at 1.5x speed, which I do for pretty much every podcast. I like to be talked to fast, I guess!)
A good stack of books
On one of Laura's podcast episodes, she mentioned that when she has a good book to read, she's magically able to find time to read.
But if there are no good books around, she's likely to fill the time with something like mindless internet scrolling.
I realized that's very true for me too, so I made a Goodreads account (finally! I'm late to the game.)
That way, I can get some recommendations based on what I like and don't like in a book.
So, now I have a stack of library books that I really do want to read, and that's making it a lot easier to find time to read.
(I made a blog page where I am sharing the books I read each month this year. You can find it right here, and there's a link to it in the header as well.)
My daily photography challenge
I'm doing a photo-a-day project as my happiness challenge for March, and I am having so much fun with it!
What's interesting is that having the project is making me think of picking up my camera or my phone camera more overall, not just to get the photo challenge for the day done.
My iPhone camera
I upgraded to the iPhone 7 Plus this past fall when Ting had a $300 off offer for Black Friday, and hands down, the best feature is the camera.
This phone has a portrait mode, which changes the focal length of the camera to something more like a 50mm lens, which is what I almost always use on my SLR.
It turns out photos that are much, much, much less distorted, and as a result, I am much, much, much more inclined to use it.
The portrait mode produces an image that is more like what your eye sees, and I love it.
Here's kind of a silly example of my dishwasher, taken with portrait mode and regular mode from the exact same spot.
Also, this camera can do a pretty good job of producing bokeh (the background blur).
Anyway, this upgrade was completely worth it to me if for nothing other than the camera! I really, really love it.
Love these! I've never been able to get into podcasts, for some reason. I just tune it out as background noise. Oops.
This week I'm loving:
1. The green! It's spring in Texas and everything is temperate and pretty. It'll only last for another week before the horrible sun comes back with a vengeance.
2. I committed to buying a new book every month this year! I was part of a box service that did it for me, but I prefer choosing my own books. I'm slammed for time, but I can totally manage a book a month. 🙂
3. I'm finally back home! I had so much fun spending time on my sister's farm last week, but it's nice to be back in my own bed. Ahh.
I just want to say that I LOVE GoodReads, particularly for keeping my TBR (to-be-read) list. It makes me use the library a lot more, because when I want something new to read, I just go down my list and check to see what the library has. GoodReads has really enhanced my reading life.
This morning, I'm loving my local convenience store. Last night, I moved back home after a month-long placement away for school, and the idea of driving to the grocery store to re-stock seemed insurmountable this morning. Instead, I walked five minutes, and was able to get nearly everything I wanted: some basic produce, eggs, milk, toilet paper, and even soy milk and frozen waffles (what a treat!). I payed attention to the prices, and while the toilet paper and milks were more expensive than a grocery store, the overall difference to the bill was probably about three dollars--and Canadian dollars at that! I got to spend a few minutes outside and moving, and with the dry goods I'd left in my apartment, I have a week of frugal and healthy meals ahead of me.
Love, love, love Glass Castle! Enjoy!
Another great book app I like to use is BookBub. They will send you daily, weekly (whatever your jam) emails with book recommendations based on a profile you fill out when creating your account. I have been opened up to SO many books I would not have come across in the first place! Many times, the ebooks are free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription, but I also use it to build up my library hold list!
Thank you for sharing this! I'm excited to try it out.
1) Cream from the top of the raw milk from the cows down the road. I put it in my coffee. So incredibly good.
2) Seeds! It's seed planting time! Hooray! I just hope that some of them A) come up and B) don't get eaten by rabbits and/or gophers. Gardening in a whole new environment has a definite learning curve.
3) Houseplants. I got an areca palm and two pothos plants from my sister for housewarming presents, and I love them. I didn't have houseplants at either of our two rental houses in the past few years, and I didn't realize how much I missed having plants in the house until I had them again.
4) School. I love my sons. I also love school days when it's just me and my daughter at home. It's so quiet. 🙂
I love, love, love the quiet when I can get it so I can completely imagine why your number 4 is true!
1. The snow is melting! I'm on the Atlantic coast and we've had snow since the beginning of November.
2. Our new neighbor's cat. He's very friendly and comes for a visit almost every day.
3. Banana chocolate chips muffins. My husband made them. They're so good. I think they taste even better because I didn't have to make them!
4. Best of all I found a negative in a box of things that had belonged to my other that turned out to be a black and white photo of my dad, laughing at the camera. He died when I was very young and there aren't many photographs of him. This one is extra special because he looks so happy.
Awww, your #4 warms my heart, Darlene. What a lovely find!
Your number four made my heart smile.
I am loving the longer, sunnier days that we've had the past couple weeks, as well as the feeling of warmth, instead of the cold, damp, dark of winter. It does so much for the psyche.
I am loving having my daughter move into our neighborhood. She was never far away but now her house is about a six minute walk away. It's nice to be able to see her almost without effort.
3. I am loving that so many books are available from our public library in electronic format.
I'm not interested in podcasts but I love to read- last year I read and journaled over 150 books. This year, I have vowed to read slower. So far I'm on book 17 so I have definitely slowed down. I also am reading a classic every couple of books- I just re-read Wuthering Heights. I'll have to check out your blog page. I'd have to say the best book I have read this year is Pachino by Min Jin Lee. One of my all time favorites is The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.
1. I'm loving that I had plenty of time to hold my four-month old granddaughter this weekend and make her smile that drool-y toothless smile that is so cute in babies.
2. I'm loving that the vicious Florida heat is not here yet.
3. I'm loving that my 13 year old granddaughter is still quick to say "Love you!" to me even when surrounded by her peers.
4. I'm loving my crock pot for cooking the roast while I'm at work.
My 15 yo nephew still says, "I love you" whenever we part from each other. The day he stops, I know I'm going to cry!
Bonnie, my grandsons are 18 and they still say it every time they leave my house!! But I think it skips a generation, cause I don't hear them say it to their parents unless prompted! 🙂
1.) I bought some new tablecloths at Target (it's a weird thing to be excited about but whatever.)
2.) The weather is getting warmer and the days are longer. Both help my SAD tremendously.
3.) Spending a lot of time with my hobbies. I don't always get to do so but I've been lucky that lately I can listen to music or read stuff or watch movies that I want to.
4.) Scheduled my first vacation day of the year! Sad that it took until the second quarter to take time off but such is life.
1. Loving that my niece is getting to move out of a horrible dorm roommate situation this week and happy we can help her.
2. Loving that my daughter got to love on some dogs at her college yesterday. She adores dogs, but I'm allergic, so I'm always so glad when she gets to spend some time with them. The joy on her face in the pictures she shared is priceless!
3. Loving that my husband is taking a nap in the same room with me right now so I can't get up and make dinner because I'd wake him up. 😉
4. Loving that it's only six weeks until the end of the semester. Going back to college in your
late 40's is no joke!
Loving Modern Mrs. Darcy blog, podcast, deals page. She is starting a new short podcast this Friday! highlighting one book. Also like Book Bub blog.
1. New York State Paid Family Leave! I just had 17 paid weeks off after having my baby under this new law. And now my husband is off for 3 paid weeks, with our daughter, under the law.
2. Maple syrup- we have collected 40 gallons of sap so far and plan to cook soon.
3. My 4 month old rolling around on her play mat
4. Ice cream
1. A construction project near to our hearts started last week. My kids are LOVING watching it take place. They could seriously stand and watch excavators and dump trucks for hours.
2. My husband is on a 12 day business trip. I was dreading his absence, but it's actually made me drop adult expectations and embrace childhood fun. The first two days have been oddly relaxing, and if this continues I need to reassess my expectations and behaviors for our days.
3. A friend took my two energetic boys for a playdate while my two littles napped today. That meant that my oldest and I finished the next step on an Easter quilt that I'm making.
4. It's starting to feel like spring! I saw tulips in a neighbor's yard, the daytime temps are in the 50s, and the neighborhood is filled with the sound of kids playing. Life is so good!
I love listening to podcasts when I'm cleaning or cooking, so new suggestions are always appreciated!
What I'm loving this week:
1. SUNSHINE!!! (I don't think I can emphasize that enough!) We have been at the playground for multiple hours on multiple days.
2. A whole playdate day with one of my best friends and her kids. We made a giant amount of soup too, so it was productive AND lovely.
3. Playing music. I've had a few extra opportunities to play music with others in a community band and trombone quartet and at home with my daughter. It's been lovely. Sometimes I let other things in life take priority and I forget what a joy playing music can be.
Autumn is here and I am waiting for the world around me to cool down. It seems it will tomorrow and there will be rain. Since we are in drought I have two things to celebrate.
On the I love you...my three tell me that all the time. They are 27. 25 and 22 respectively.
I love the age of technology because my phone receives many photos of my 18 month old granddaughter almost every single day.
Today I dragged mum out. I am her carer and life can be dull. Today we went to a foodie part of town that is expensive. We found a cheap and tasty lunch followed by Italian coffee.
I am thankful for the things others have mentioned. I have some new places to explore.
1. I love seeing my plants and flowers coming to life around me. My orchids are in full bloom with more blooms than ever before. The Dogwood tree in the back yard and the Weeping Cherry in the front yard are budded out and I am anxiously awaiting the beautiful pink flowers.
2. I have recently taken on a new hobby (like I needed another one), painting. I am pleasantly surprised at how well I have been doing. I am planning my next project now.
3. I am in the process of writing my resignation due to my impending retirement. I have spent over 25 years in the classroom and I am ready to explore new things.
4. I am enjoying watching and taking interest in my youngest daughter's wedding plans. I am not sure who is more excited, her or me.
Thanks for the podcast recommendation! Before Breakfast is great!
Just wanted to pop in to say thanks for the Before Breakfast podcast recommendation. I've been listening to it regularly, and really enjoy it for its length and wisdom.