Tag: small pleasures

Small Pleasures: December 2019

Published on by Stephany2 Comments

(Small Pleasures lists highlight the everyday items, activities and experiences which bring an extravagant amount of happiness to my life.  Writing these lists is a fun practice of mindfulness that encourages gratitude for the abundance of blessing in my life.)

December was the typical blur of holiday preparation and eventual celebration.  Recognizing the small pleasures among the big took more work than usual.  It was worth the effort, though.  The end result captures some of the ways I managed to protect my sanity during the most wonderful time of the year.

Small Pleasures: December 2019

  • Klaus (Netflix original movie).  This beautifully animated movie tells the story of Santa Claus in a fresh, delightful way.  It’s poignant, magical, satisfying.  Watching it with my newly married daughter made the experience even better.  I recommend it, with kids or without.

  • Winter Solstice by Rosamund Pilcher.  This charmer of a book lifted me out of a rotten reading slump and set me down in the middle of a quaint Scottish village during a December snowstorm.  The story had everything I was looking for: engaging characters struggling through difficult circumstances but still open to friendship and love, an evocative setting perfect for Christmas, and a deeply satisfying ending.   Winter Solstice was the perfect book for December and I’ve been recommending it to anyone who will listen.  I’m also looking forward to investigating the rest of Rosamund Pilcher’s catalogue.
  • The fresh scent of a live Christmas tree.  The Fraser fir we bought as our Christmas tree this year filled our house with it’s lovely piney scent for days. That smell is the one I associate most with Christmas and I love it.  (So do the cats, who basically live under the tree for the entire month of December).

  • Watching Perry Mason with Jay.  My husband and I get on these kicks where we focus on an old TV show and watch the available seasons/episodes over the course of several months.  We did this with the original Star Trek series and have recently turned our attention to Perry Mason.  I’m enjoying the show’s plotlines but I’m loving the peek into 1950s/1960s culture and style.  Della Street is my favorite character.  She’s a smart, competent, stylish and independent woman at a time when that was rather uncommon.
  • Felt dryer balls.  In an effort to reduce some of the cleaning chemicals I’m using in my home, I decided to try wool dryer balls in place of fabric softener.  I purchased my set from Food 52 (the cool tones) and am very happy with the softness of my laundry.  What makes the end result even better is the few drops of Mountain Rain fragrance oil (from the Fresh Summer collection by Barnhouse Blue) I add to the balls before I toss them into the dryer.  Now my laundry is soft, smells wonderful and I’m helping the environment and our skin in one very small way.

Add numerous cups of hot tea and an excess of twinkling lights and you have my personal prescription for thriving during the hectic Christmas season of 2019.  Do you have any small pleasures to share?  Please do in the comments!

Small Pleasures: Summer 2019

Published on by Stephany2 Comments

Summer is mellowing out and winding down.  Before I give the season a final farewell wave, I want to reflect on some of the small pleasures I’ve enjoyed over the last few months.  Routinely acknowledging the good things in my life exercises my gratitude muscle and helps me mentally end the summer on a happy note.

Small Pleasures: Summer 2019

  • Sitting on the front porch.   My front porch is the perfect place for reading a book or hanging out with my husband.  It’s comfortable and secluded and I whiled away many, many hours there this summer.
  • Orange Creamsicle smoothies.  My extended family enjoyed our biennial trip to the Outer Banks in July.  There is a smoothie shop in Corolla called Island Smoothie that makes the most delicious and refreshing Orange Creamsicle smoothies I have ever tasted.  I stopped by almost every day of our vacation for a hit of brain-freezing goodness.
  • Toy Story 4.  I was surprised by how much I loved this movie.  It is the perfect ending to a beloved Disney/Pixar franchise.
  • The Try Channel.  I am addicted to this YouTube channel highlighting Irish people trying different foods and drinks and providing commentary on their experiences.   Posts are uploaded every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I haven’t missed one all summer.  the combination of fun personalities and hilarious interactions and reactions keeps me (and Jay) coming back.  The Krispy Kreme clip hooked me and I haven’t looked back.  (Fair warning – salty language runs amok in these videos). 
  • Star Trek (the original series). Late last year, Jay and I decided to work our way through all three seasons of Star Trek (79 hour long episodes) on Netflix.  We finished the last show, Turnabout Intruder, this summer.  Bad acting and cheap sets aside, we both gained a real appreciation for the ways this short lived series attempted to addresses issues of the time (the late 1960s) and we developed a better understanding of the impact the show has had on American pop culture.  More importantly, though, spending time with Captain Kirk, Spock and the crew of the Starship Enterprise was a nostalgic stress reliever for me – something I desperately needed this summer.   
  • Audiobooks.  Over the summer semester, I drove an inordinate amount of miles to observe my clinical students.  One of the benefits of all that travel was the opportunity to listen to some excellent audiobooks.  These books turned what could have felt like a boring waste of time into an adventure I looked forward to. My favorite audiobooks from the summer are:
    • Recursion by Blake Crouch (5 stars)
    • Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Dalton-Brooks (4.25 stars)
    • Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi (4.5 stars)
    • The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton (4 stars)
    • Atomic Habits by James Clear (5 stars)
    • Nine Horses Waiting by Mary Stewart (4 stars)
  • Butterflies, moths and bumble bees.  This summer seemed to be a bumper season for pretty bugs.  I love watching the bumble bees gather pollen and the butterflies fluttering from flower to flower.  It made my heart happy.
  • Julian Fellowes Presents Doctor Thorne (available on Amazon). Somehow I missed this historical drama based on the book by Anthony Trollope when it came out in 2016.  The mini-series is very high quality and an absolute joy to watch, especially because I was unfamiliar with the storyline.  I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys movies/mini-series like Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre or Elizabeth Gaskill’s North and South.
  • The Currently Reading podcast. Besides audiobooks, I enjoy listening to a good podcast when I’m driving.  In August, I stumbled across the Currently Reading podcast hosted by Meredith Monday Schwartz and Kaytee Cobb.  The podcast is fairly new (just over a year) and after taking my time over the last several weeks working through their back catalog, I’m almost caught up.  In each episode, these ladies casually talk about the books they’ve read recently (good and bad), they do a deep dive into a bookish topic, and then press favorite books into their listeners hands.  I especially like that they cover many backlist titles and that they have no problem discussing books they didn’t like and why.  Listening to this podcast keeps me excited about reading (not that I need the encouragement) and adds to my TBR (to-be-read) pile with each episode.
  • Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo show.  A very weird, very magical experience. I enjoyed every minute of it and am thankful I had the chance to see it.

To be completely honest, when I first started this list, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to come up with enough items to make the post worthwhile reading.  I’ve been so weighed down with the burdens of work, I failed to see all the good things I enjoyed this summer.  Now I can let the summer go with a happy heart and welcome the fall with open arms.  My lovely daughter is getting married in a few weeks so this autumn is starting out with one gigantic celebratory bang.  Bring on the pumpkins, apple cider and fall fairs!

I hope my list inspires you to reminisce on your own summer pleasures.  If you’d like to share some of them in the Comments, I’d love to read about them.

 

Small Pleasures: January 2018

Published on by Stephany1 Comment

 

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I’m frittering away a perfectly good Saturday and I’m a little disgusted with myself for doing it.  There are so many productive things I could and should be doing but I keep circling back to the computer and its Internet temptations.  My corner of the office, where the evil tempter is parked, is a black hole I just can’t seem to escape today.  So, I’m not going to fight it anymore.  Because I want to feel a little better about myself and redeem at least part of this day, I’m reviving a favorite blogging practice of reflecting on the little niceties that have sweetened my life lately.  If I complete this activity I can at least say I used some creativity and practiced my writing skills today.

January was mostly dark, bitterly cold, and a little snowy.  I felt like I spent the majority of my waking hours trying to escape the frigid temperatures.  My small pleasures for the month are directly related to staying warm or creating a cozy environment at home.  And they certainly brought (and are still bringing) pleasure and lightness into my life.

January’s Small Pleasures

  • Contigo travel mug.  Before Christmas my trusty plastic travel mug broke.  I loved that mug, mostly because it was a gift from my son, but it didn’t keep my tea hot for very long.  Jay came to my rescue and gave me a new Contigo mug for Christmas to replace my broken one.  It holds about 14 ounces of liquid, is a matte teal green color and keeps my tea steaming hot for hours.  With all this cold weather, I’ve been drinking gallons of hot tea thanks to my cool new mug.
  • Banana Republic coat with faux fur collar.  There are several reasons why this coat made my Small Pleasures list.  1) Its color reminds me of a fir forest at dusk.  2) The collar feels so luxurious.  3) It fits perfectly.  4) I feel so stylish and pulled together when I wear it. 5) It looks good dressed up or down.  For these reasons alone I would have loved this coat.  The fact that I found it at the Banana Republic outlet for 80% off the original price increases my pleasure a thousandfold every single time I button it up.  It’s one of my favorite purchases of the winter.
  • The Winter candle (from Eleventh Candle Co.).  My daughter has a thing for candles so we gifted her a Vellabox subscription for Christmas.  When I placed the order, I also purchased a single month subscription for myself.  Does anyone else do this when they are Christmas shopping?  You know, one for you, one for me?  Anyway, the candle that arrived for me was a soy candle from Eleventh Candle Co. called Winter.  The company’s website describes the scent as “a peaceful, winter blend, filled with the crispness of snow-covered, evergreen trees and the spirited warmth of cinnamon and clove, surrounded by sweet vanilla”.  It is the perfect seasonal scent and I immediately bought two candles of the largest size they sell.  Of note, Eleventh Candle Co. is a business that works globally to help people who are vulnerable to human trafficking and exploitation.  The candles are a true win-win in my book; my house smells delicious and my money is going to a very good cause.
  • Slippers.  We keep our house on the chilly side and my feet are always cold.  As a remedy, I asked for a pair of slippers for Christmas.  Jay came through in a big way with a pair of UGG Scuffette II beauties.  They are warm and cushy and feel like little hugs for my feet.  I’ve never considered myself a slipper person but these toasty scuffs have converted me.  I feel very spoiled when I wear them.
  • Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett  and narrated by Katie Schorr (in audiobook format).  This book was a delight to listen to.  The story follows eighteen months in the lives of eleven year old Elvis Babbit and her family after her mother is found dead from an unusual drowning incident.  It’s weird, funny, poignant and hopeful and extremely difficult to summarize in just a few words.  Elvis is the narrator of the story and Katie Schorr does an excellent job portraying her.  I loved spending time with Elvis and quirky her family as they worked through their tumultuous grieving process.  I still think about them often which, for me, is always a sign of a really good book.

We are halfway through the winter here in the northern hemisphere and the groundhog saw his shadow yesterday so there are definitely six more weeks to go.  February is  usually my toughest month, an endless slog of cold and dark.  But, I’m hopeful the small pleasures I’ve mentioned above and the new ones that will undoubtedly pop up in the next month will help to keep my spirits up and my heart grateful for the blessed, abundant life I enjoy.

Do you have any small pleasures you’d like to share?  Please do.

Small Pleasures: August 2017

Published on by Stephany2 Comments

August was a month of changes for my family and me.  My youngest son, my baby, turned sixteen.  Sixteen!  He has his permit and now my husband and I can look forward to six months of being scared witless every time we get in a vehicle with him because he will be behind the wheel, learning how to drive.  In August we also experienced the bittersweet and disorienting upheaval of sending our two older kids to college for the first time and the subsequent struggle to establish a “new normal”.   The realization that life will never be the same has been sobering.

Needless to say, August was an emotionally complicated couple of weeks for me.  This is why I’m happy to focus on the simple things that added sweetness and lightness to my month.  It feels good and right to acknowledge that no matter what is going on externally or internally in my life there is always something to appreciate and be thankful for.

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August’s Small Pleasures

  • Fresh flower bouquets.  I think the flowers have been breathtaking this summer and the local orchard had spectacular bouquets for sale all month.  Zinnia, hydrangea, black-eyed susan, lisianthus, coxcomb, snapdragons, sunflowers – you name it.  I couldn’t help myself.  I bought a bouquet every time I stopped in the orchard outlet.
  • Definicils mascara (Lancôme).  This is the perfect mascara – no clumping, no flaking, no running.  Even though it is always showing up on make-up “Best Of” lists, I avoided purchasing it because of the price tag.  No more!  My eyelashes have never looked so good.  🙂
  • Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (in audiobook format).  Jacqueline Woodson’s award-winning (National Book Award and Newberry Honor) autobiography is children’s literature of the highest order.  It’s written in verse, which makes for an interesting reading/listening experience.  The story provides a singular, intimate portrait of a young African American girl’s experience growing up in the South and in New York City in the 1960s and early 1970s.  Woodson narrates the audiobook and it is so well done.   I can’t recommend it enough.
  • Spending time with my family.  I always enjoy being with my family, but the times we spent together this month seemed more precious because I knew the kids were heading off to school.  I’m thankful my kids still enjoy hanging out with Jay and I and hope the changing circumstances don’t interfere with this too much.
  • Shetland. I’m talking about the series which I discovered on Netflix, not the actual islands.  My husband and I spent several nights watching the atmospheric murder mysteries which take place on the northern islands of  Scotland.  Breathtaking cinematography, moody music, interesting crimes.  What more could a person ask for?  One small warning, though.  Some of the characters have heavy brogues which make understanding what is going on a bit dicey.  We spent a fair amount of time replaying certain scenes to get the gist of the dialogue.  Trust me, though.  It’s worth the effort.
  • Solar eclipse shadows. (See below)                                                                                         We were not in the swath of the United States which experienced a total eclipse of the sun on August 21.  This was somewhat disappointing until we discovered the partial eclipse in the dapple patterns on the patio.  When the sunlight filtered through the leaves of the Zelkova trees in our backyard, the spaces between the leaves acted like pinhole cameras.  These “cameras” created multiple partial eclipses that shimmered over the pavers and furniture.  I took photos but they don’t do the experience justice.  It was magical.

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August has faded away and it’s departure marks the unofficial end of summer.  It makes me sad to say good-bye to my personal happy-go-lucky season, but I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t looking forward to cooler temperatures, brilliant fall colors, harvest fairs, and hot chocolate.  It’s time to look forward to the new season and all the good things that come with it.

Bonus

A fun song…

Small Pleasures: July 2017 Edition

Published on by Stephany5 Comments

DSC_4373 July was filled to the brim with good things: rest and relaxation, fun celebrations, lush summer landscapes, and local farm stands overflowing with deliciousness.  The downside of all this goodness is it’s been a struggle to edit my Small Pleasures list into something manageable.  So, after much deliberation, here are my top five (plus a bonus) little happinesses of the month.  Enjoy!

July’s Small  Pleasures 

  1. Swimming in the ocean.  From the first time my dad walked me into the breaking waves at Tower Road beach in Dewey, Delaware, I’ve nurtured an undying love for the ocean.  I love it when it’s gentle, perfect for floating on my back with my eyes closed, losing myself in the gentle rocking. I love it, too, when it’s rough and churning with waves that boss me around and deliver tenfold on the promise of boisterous body surfing and boogie boarding.  I even love how refreshed I feel when I mosey back to my beach chair, my skin tingling from the brisk salty water.  I don’t live very close to the ocean so I’m thankful for the time I was able to spend in it during my trip to the Outer Banks at the beginning of July.
  2. Orange Creamsicle smoothies.  In Corolla, North Carolina, there is a little café  that serves up the best remedy for a hot day.  Their Orange Creamsicle smoothie tastes exactly like the namesake popsicle and I indulged almost every day of my vacation.  Yum!
  3. A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman (audiobook narrated by George Newbern).  The story of Ove, a crotchety older guy with a hidden heart of gold, is a delight as an audiobook.  Through George Newbern’s narration, I grew to love Ove and the people who inhabited his world and I looked forward to washing the dishes or taking my walks just so I could spend more time with the whole bunch.  Listening to this book was a very satisfying experience and my thoughts frequently wander back to Ove and his “family”.
  4. Peaches.  Peaches are in season around here and they are delicious.  We’ve been enjoying the sweet, juicy fruit by the basketful and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
  5. Walking at sunset.  July has been a sizzler so Jay and I have started walking later in the evening to get away from the worst of the heat.  The sunsets have been spectacular lately and the stillness of dusk has been soothing and restorative.  It’s become a restful way to close the day.
  6. The Bonus Pick.  This video by Mark Broussard and his daughters.  Evie just cracks me up…

I hope your height-of-summer has been as delightful as mine.  Now it’s time to wave good-bye to July and embrace the mellow last days of the season.