Because Friday really means Funday

My husband and kids love this site that merges faces together. It's called Morphthing. It's a fun way to waste some time... if you have time to waste. If you are in the Doctor's office you may get some stares when you start laughing to yourself. Some of the images you can create are hilarious. Most are interesting. This one of two classic actresses is pretty cool. See if you can guess which two I morphed (scroll down for the answer).











Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe

Grateful Thoughts

1. All the new colors that are peeking up everywhere.
2. The tree-lined street where I live.
3. Motivation finding me this morning so I could take a nice run.
4. Recommendations for new books to read... Sarah's Key.
Have you read it?
5. The happy way the sun shines on the green grass.
6. Sweet smells of lavender wafting through the dryer vent.
7. Cool, refreshing, clean water to drink.
8. Finding a moisturizer that doesn't cause a terrible reaction to my skin.
9. Crunching on cucumbers
10. A neat video to remind me about what's important:

Wordless Wednesday: Happy International Day of Peace!!

"Chai"

A cup of tea does wonders on a cool, foggy morning. It warms you up from the inside out. Here is a tasty recipe for "chai":

1 cup of Almond Milk
1 tbs. Agave Syrup or Honey or even some Raw Sugar (whatever floats your boat)
a sprinkling of Allspice (add as little or as much as your tastebuds like)

Mix all in a saucepan and warm to your liking over medium heat. Sit down, put your feet up and enjoy.

Sprinkle Kindness throughout your day

image found on Practice Random Acts of Kindness

I'm no Mother Theresa, but I do try to be kind daily. I think the world is full of kind people and when you've been touched with an act of kindness you just can't help pass it on. Kindness can be a habit you don't want to break. Spreading kindness can even be just a thought... a pure thought sent out to the unsuspecting. Check out some creative, fun, kind ideas here:

Spread Kindness
Operation Nice
Random Acts of Kindness

Funky Finds Friday

Soccer season has started and that means sitting outside for long periods of time... and cheering and having fun, of course. Audrey is on a new team this year and in a new league. She's happy the league colors include her favorite color blue. So, naturally she needed a new hat to brave the sidelines when the weather gets chilly. I present Scoops to you.





I'm so glad I found this pattern. It's a cute, happy and fast knit. I went with a thicker yarn than suggested and smaller needles. This means I used fewer stitches as well. I like the way it turned out, but I do want to knit another hat with some thinner yarn. I used Plymouth Yarn's BAZINGA! in color 05 on size 9 circ needles.

Thankful Thursday

1. Possibilities of new friendships
2. Donuts
3. A hubby who surprises me by making the bed in the morning
4. A short break in my cleaning day to sit, have tea and update my blog
5. Cool IKEA desk
6. The sun peeking through for just 5 minutes on a cloudy day
7. My kids' laughter
8. Watching my cat, Max, sleep
9. Trusting that everything will be okay in the end because if it's not, then it's not the end.
10. This video meditation

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

Blackberries are everywhere! Our new home has vast amounts of blackberry bushes growing in the front and back yards. And since there are so many a blackberry pie was only necessary.



For my crust I used Ruth's Grandma's Pie Crust recipe on AllRecipes.com and it is friggin' unbelievable. The dough is super easy to work with and it comes out ever so light and flaky and justright. It makes about 4 9inch pie crusts.

The berries took minimal work (well, aside from picking them, of course.). Just gather 4 cups of berries, 1/2 cup of flour and 3/4 cup sugar (less if your berries are super sweet). Mix together until all the white is gone and pour into your crust. Bake according to your crust recipe. YumYum!

A Mindful Monday

I love this picture my daughter took of Spirit Lake up near Mount St. Helens. It was a lake created from the eruption in 1980.The water is crystal clear and the area is beautiful. It's amazing what can come from destruction. It's a lesson learned and I'm taking heart.

I'm hoping to get my blog a little more organized by attempting daily themes. We'll see how that goes. I think it will make it easier for me to share what I'd like to share with you.

So, on Monday's I want to try and be mindful. What helps me do that? Well, since you asked (heehee)I'd like to let you know about Notes from the Universe. If you haven't already heard of these, then OH JOY!! These little notes are sent daily via e-mail and they will light you up when you open and read them. They are little reminders of the small things that make up our world. Here's an example:

"The best way to find "love," which, incidentally, is just as true for finding money, is to focus less on these by-products of a life well lived... and more on a life well lived.

Simple is as simple does.
The Universe

Dance life's dance, today, without preconditions."

I urge you explore the whole site at TUTs Adventurers Club. It's the yang to the yin (you know, those yucky days or moments when you think the world and all of its inhabitants just can't seem to make it work). Carpe Diem!