Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls

When I saw David Sedaris had a new book coming out, I was reluctant to buy it after my experience with one of his previous books, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk.

I waited patiently for my library copy of his latest book, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls.  This work includes stories and personal essays from childhood to present day, varying greatly in tone. And I was not disappointed.  Not only did I laugh out loud while alone like a nutter, I did it several times.

Why did I like this book so much?  I'll let it speak for itself.  Here is the advice he would like to give parents of crying, screaming toddlers:

"I'm not a parent myself but I think the best solution at this point is to slap that child across the face.  It won't stop crying, but at least now it'll be doing it for a good reason."

Get on the list for this book at your library.  It's worth the wait.

Today I am grateful for inexpensive summer fun, Netflix, wanting to exercise,  family, very cold lemon water,  in-season fruit, the emergency granola bar I keep in my purse, guilty pleasure books, clean sheets, technology, blogs, and Superfeet.

Swept Off My Feet

I have been going for lots of walks this year—walks to the park, walks with the stroller and Babyface, walks for fun, walks with friends, walks on the treadmill in bad weather.  Which was great.  Until I hurt my feet.  To make a long story end, I'm not allowed to go for walks for the time being.  

I don't want to be derailed from regular exercise as I have been in the habit of working out 5-6 times weekly.  I learned from my January goal that it's motivating to see all those days crossed off and have continued crossing out the days I exercise.

So I came up with a new routine that involves swimming laps and biking.  I perused the aisles of one of my favorite stores, Craigslist, until I found this beauty.

My Heart's Desire carried it down three flights of stairs from the previous owner.  I got it cheap for $40.  It's definitely not as fun as going for walks and the scenery is tedious, but on the plus side I can read informative periodicals with important current events and news (US Weekly).  

Nowhere But Home

Liza Palmer's Nowhere But Home has something for everyone.  Whether you like stories about mothers and daughters, sisters, small town life, Texas, cooking, romantic love, family burdens, secrets, loss, acceptance, or have ever wondered about the last meals of death row inmates, this book has it covered.  If there's a lounge chair, flip-flops and sunscreen in your future, pick up a copy of this book.

I do have one small quibble.  If you write about a chef who creates these amazing meals (honestly, the mouth waters reading them) the least you can do is throw your readers a bone and include at least one delicious recipe. Brisket is mentioned at least 25 times.  And not just brisket.   We're talking Texas smoked brisket. Great.  Now I have to go out for barbeque.

What to Do With Leftover Croissants?

I had some leftover croissants from a brunch at my house and wasn't sure what to do with them.  I'm not a huge croissant person and neither is My Heart's Desire.  What to do, what to do?

Why, make French Toast with them! 

Croissant French Toast Ingredients:

3 croissants

2 eggs

1/4 cup of milk

Splash of vanilla 

I sliced the croissants into thirds or fourths, dipped them briefly in egg/milk/vanilla batter, and cooked on a hot pan.  It really smelled amazing.  I offered it to Babyface and he loved it.  I froze the leftovers and they reheated just fine in the toaster oven on low.

I Like Jokes

Just as I was wondering what to write about, I saw my friend Kristen's post on No One's Hamster about celebrating one thing about ourselves each month. It came from My Full-Thyme Life and Healthy Tipping Point with its very own hashtag #12ThingsILoveAboutMe. It's so easy to focus on the things that need improvement and dismiss the good things.  

Without further ado, one thing I love about me is, without a doubt, my sense of humor.  I couldn't get through life without it. It's so important to see the funny side of things (er, even when at slightly inopportune times).  Many times I've broken the ice with a remark in jest. 

A few years ago, I was staying with My Heart's Desire's family for Thanksgiving, and he and I were going to see a movie.  I invited his cousin, and she asked what kind of a movie it was, and I told her it was a comedy.  

"No thanks," she responded, "I don't like comedy." 

I was speechless.  You don't like comedy?  How can that be?  You don't like laughing?  You don't like feeling happy?  

To me, that's like saying, "No thanks, I don't like food that tastes good."   Any day of the week I like a chuckle, a giggle, a belly laugh (or, as my mom would call it, a guffaw), or all three.

Banana Bread in the Slow Cooker

My recent attempt at baking sweet bread in the slow cooker turned out so well I decided to try it again. I did not use a mix, I used my recipe for banana oatmeal bread.  I made the batter as usual, then poured it into a metal loaf pan (purchased at a yard sale for $.50) lined with parchment.

The batter filled the pan all the way to the top.  I feared the bread would overflow when baked, so I took out about a cup and a half and put it in the fridge.

I baked it on high for three hours with a chopstick propping the lid up to let the condensation out.  After three hours, a knife inserted came out clean. It tasted great, the same as always.  My house smelled great and my kitchen was not hot.  That's a win-win.

Today I am grateful for a fun family weekend, superfeet, perspective, being flexible, air conditioning, pancakes for dinner, bargains, and keeping a gallon pitcher of water in the fridge.

Happy birthday, Babyface!

Two Empty Shelves

I have read both of Gretchen Rubin's books on happiness, The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun and Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon Self-Control, And My Other Experiments in Everyday Life. 

I've found that I often mull over her ideas long after I've put the book down.   One of her secrets of adulthood is to keep an empty shelf.  I've always loved that idea but felt that it was impractical for me.  

My drive for spring cleaning came a bit late this year and was more like summer cleaning.  I have been taking the little bit at a time approach, which is what I can fit in around Babyface.   I cleaned off my bookshelves (who live in the guest room) and found lots of books and other things I could part with.   It occurred to me that I could have an empty shelf.  

 

Gloriously empty shelf

I was ruthless when it came to paring down to the essentials.   Out-of-date books were the first to go.   I looked at everything with a critical eye.   I liked having the empty shelf so much that I even made another one a few days later.  

Since Babyface became a very active toddler, there is always something underfoot and I do a sweep of the floor for play objects at least once a day.  I recently had some unexpected house guests and was so glad that I didn't have to scramble to make space for their stuff.   I even had a place to put their clean towels.

Nice and empty shelf

Seeing these shelves, beautiful in their openness, and knowing nothing belongs makes me feel happy and organized.  

  

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Bring It On, Reading Club

When Babyface and I went to the Noyes library for young children last week, I learned about a Reading Club where the children  encouraged to read (or to be read to) 120 books in 2013 to celebrate the library's 120th year.

Babyface's Reading List pg 1

Right now Babyface loves books and being read to.  He picks up books, comes over and tries to sit in my lap, puts the book in my hand and says read.  Okay, he doesn't say read he says dee but that means read.

In less than a week, I read him all of the books on the first page of the list many, many times each.  My Heart's Desire reads to him at least once a day also.  I'm so glad that Babyface loves books!  Though we have until the end of the year to read 120 books, it might not take us that long since I am kind of a ringer.  

Today I am grateful for lip balm that works, watermelon, friends near and far, submitting a short essay, high speed Internet, Craigslist, air conditioning, and community.