* First of all, that today is the first official day of SPRING, and this morning the big tree in my front yard did THIS! ------------>
* Mocha Latte Freezes at Costco. That's right... Costco. If you love the taste of coffee (like I do) you should pick one up sometime! Mmmmm... delicious! And for $1.25, it's the cheapest coffee treat in town.
* Everything is Amazing, and Nobody's Happy. I laughed and laughed when I saw this, because comedian Louis CK is talking about MY childhood! My kids are so spoiled, and they don't even know it! So hysterically funny, because it's so very true...
* Zen Habits. "The Power of Less. Do Less. Get More Done." Insightful, inspiring articles on every aspect of life that you could imagine. Start here, and ENJOY!
* Dominique. I adore her! She is the oldest of our four daughters (and the oldest of Jon's four children). In the years since I have known her, I have watched Dominique grow from a cute little girl into a beautiful young woman of 12. She is brilliant (an honor student), responsible, playful, generous (loves to give to and serve others), and so talented! We have so much fun together... shopping, crafting, camping, talking... whatever we're doing, I absolutely LOVE to hang out with her! (Check out this 9-minute video that she and I made for her Spanish class last weekend! She did such an awesome job!) I cherish our affectionate relationship, and I am so deeply honored to be her stepmother. Love you, Nikki!!! Love you, love you, love you!!!
* SAVERS. I LOVE finding a bargain, and Savers is the ultimate bargain hunter's paradise! I know what you're thinking... thrift stores can be nasty. Is it messy? Honestly... yeah, kind of. Does it smell funny in there? Sure, a little. Is it mostly junk? Absolutely. But, there are hidden treasures lurking everywhere in there! Some of my favorite finds: a pair of sexy Mark Jacobs shoes without a single scratch or scuff mark, a BCBG denim mini for Emilie (with the TAGS STILL ON IT), a Whirlpool Gold microwave (as good as brand-spankin'-new!), a Vera Bradley backpack, a gorgeous Donna Karan leather jacket for ME... I could go on and on! The best thing about Savers is that they have longstanding relationships with over 120 nonprofit organizations, and they pay every one of those organizations a percentage of every sale and every donation they receive. Even better, your money will stay in your community... each Savers store supports charities in their local area.
* Warm Vanilla Sugar Anything! I have never really liked vanilla scented things... for some reason they always remind me of Play-Doh. But THIS smells fantastic... subtle, rich, sexy, delicious... and Bath&Body Works makes it in everything from body soap to candles to moist hand towelettes. FABULOUS!
* Texty kids. When I gave my teenagers each their own phone two months ago, it was mostly because the phones were free, and I thought they would enjoy staying connected with their friends. I never imagined they would be voluntarily connecting with ME! I LOVE getting messages from my kids throughout the day! Sometimes it's a question, sometimes it's a funny story, sometimes it's an important news flash (like the pic Derek sent me of a quiz he aced), and sometimes it's just a hello. I feel much more a part of their day, and have realized how much they want me involved in what they're up to. * SIGNS - One of my favorite YouTube finds EVER! A touching short film (part of the Schweppes Online Film Festival) created by advertising agency Publicis Mojo, and directed by New Zealand's own Patrick Hughes. The film stars Nick Russell (Neighbours) and Kestie Morassi (Satisfaction), both of whom display a wonderful range of facial expressions and emotions throughout a film which contains remarkably little dialogue. This lack of dialogue isn't the least bit distracting; in fact, it was the only approach that would have made sense. It underscores how disconnected we are from the people who surround us. We are, so often, completely alone in a crowd. The story occurs to me as more of a romantic comedy than anything else, but in it's 12 minutes it runs through a full gamut of emotional (and beautifully human) experiences, from loneliness and isolation, to curiosity and excitement, to disappointment, fear, and love...
Where do you find love? Sometimes all you need is a sign......
