Small Stuff

Is it just me, or does everything seem incredibly stressful lately? The news is depressing, weekends are too short, and it’s hard to fit everything in without getting overwhelmed and disconcerted. Although I try to celebrate life’s simpler moments here on this blog, I readily admit that I’m not always mindful enough to slow down and appreciate the small stuff. I certainly realize that happiness shouldn’t stem solely from inanimate objects. Yet, sometimes, just stopping to enjoy a few current favorite things is a nice way to get through the day. Here’s a roundup of what’s making me smile right now. Feel free to share your favorites so that I can add to the list....

Baggu Zipper Bags

Abita Strawberry Harvest Beer

Tarte Cheek Stain in Dollface

Ciao Bella Key Lime Graham Gelato Squares

Mini Field Notes Journals

Pink LePen

Classic Pave Link Bracelet

Butter Olympics Heavy Metal Collection

Striped Soludos Classic Espadrilles 

Seasonal Sweets

I'd like to think that we do a pretty good job of incorporating seasonal foods into our diet, and this past weekend was no exception. An early morning visit to the local Farmers’ Market, followed by a trip to my garden plot, gave us plenty to work with, and we had fun devising a menu full of freshness--a few recipes to come in the following weeks! 

Stress-less Summer

A variety of relaxing bath salts that I'll be putting to good use this weekend

Last summer, I committed nearly the entire month of July to this cleanse. Although I successfully completed it, I can’t exactly say that it made me eager to take on such an extreme detox challenge ever again (I’ve since come to realize that more moderate plans like this are a bit more my speed). Yet, when I find my life getting a little carried away, I do like to get back to basics and refocus on some commonsense principles. After a few solid weeks of late nights at the office and one too many takeout dinners, I’ll be spending this weekend trying out smoothie recipes, practicing yoga, and enjoying a fragrant bath.

Gone Girl

If you’re an avid reader like me, you probably eagerly await the crop of blockbuster novels that are released just in time to consume your summer months. I have a ridiculously long list of must-read books, and a well-used local library where it’s hard to rent new releases and even harder to manage wait lists so that I don’t have too many 2-week loaners at once. Thus, you can imagine my excitement when the stars aligned and a recently-released novel that I’ve been dying to read became available for checkout right as I was finishing another book.

In a nutshell, this is the summer book that you’ve been waiting for—the one with short, perfectly captivating chapters in alternating viewpoints that you can quickly devour, the one that keeps you guessing right up until you don’t want to guess any more, at which point it starts to scratch the itch for scandal that has only ever before been scratched by Keith Morrison’s overly dramatic Dateline specials. 

If you have ever found yourself getting caught up in a real life disappearing wife whodunit, where you contemplate complex scenarios of blame and closed-door conversations, and begin to wonder if your own thoughts are the byproduct of a highly-orchestrated media blitz, then I recommend that you add Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl to your own list of must-reads.