Linger Moments No. 9

lin·ger

/ˈliNGɡər/

verb

to stay in a place longer than necessary, typically because of a reluctance to leave.

You know those moments: the ones often catching you by surprise, causing you to pause a little longer than perhaps intended.  Whether your upcoming weekend is one filled with activities or has the promise of being a relaxing weekend, you are invited to take a moment to linger before heading to the end of the week.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Coconut Almonds

I stumbled across these tasty little treats a few weeks ago and immediately fell in love.  It combines three of my favorite flavors into bite-sized deliciousness.  The almond is coated with a sweet coconut layer and covered in milk chocolate.  Added bonus: the serving size is 1/3 cup which contains approximately 20 pieces, definitely enough to satiate a sweet tooth.

When Life Gives you Lululemons

It's been 12 years since The Devil Wears Prada came out to movie theaters.  After seeing the movie, I decided to read the book which was great as well.  Apparently, ten years later, a sequel came out: Revenge Wears Prada.  I missed that sequel but somehow heard about the third book in the series, When Life Gives You Lululemons.  The characters include Miranda Priestly's former executive assistant, Emily Charlton, who spends a stint in the suburbs helping a new friend make a come-back from wrongly-accused police charges.  Ms. Weisburger's balances light and fun with suburban-suspense in her new book which would be a great quick pool read (and this was obviously originally written during the summer months).

Yoga with Adriene: 30 Days of Yoga

I stumbled across this YouTube channel when searching for a Yoga video I could watch and practice at home.  I do belong to a gym with yoga classes (both hot and not) that I love, but lately, things have been so active that stopping everything to go to a scheduled class just hasn't worked out.  While a 60-minute session can be an amazing addition to any day, it can take a whole lot of planning to coordinate the class schedule with carpool, chores, and other activities.  I was so excited to find Yoga with Adriene and started one of her 30-day yoga challenges.  After a little research, I found that she has a gazillion videos of every type of yoga imaginable (yoga for runners, weight-loss yoga, yoga for zombies (?!?)), and at least four 30-day yoga challenges, each with different themes.  She also has over 4.5 million subscribers, so chances are, you already know who I'm talking about.   I'm enjoying working through the one linked above and LOVE the flexibility of being able to roll out my mat and click on the video whenever my schedule allows.

My Goal for 2019

I am not a researcher.  I have immense respect for those who are and know many people who pour over Consumer Reports, create spreadsheets with the data, then determine the best course of action shown by their due diligence.  I am not one of those people.

However, I feel pretty secure in the fact that because I do know those type of people, I can trust their research and opinions.  Why is it, then, that I often find myself in a situation where so many people are telling me to try something, yet I completely brush it away, thinking, "Well, that works for them, but I know me and that would NOT work for me"?  I know that not everything is for everybody, but for some reason, I have deep urges to resist trends/products/habits that don't immediately appeal to me, even when many trusted friends (who have undoubtedly done their research) are telling me to try it.

So, I decided to make 2019's Goal be "Give It a Whirl."  To try the thing, product, habit that seems so far fetched for me, so out of my comfort zone.  I'm not expecting everything to be fabulous and 100% me, but at least I'll give it a try!  The things that I'll be trying out will not be things that I've been considering or things that I have been wanting to try out and just haven't.  They'll be legit, I've-been-purposely-avoiding-that-things.  

I've begun to record my 2019 "Give it a whirl" list.  I'm up to 13!  Rather than posting them all today, I'll share them as I go and will leave two I've begun/completed here for now.

1. Read The Help.  

I know, I know... who wouldn't want to read this book?  The truth is, I've had this book for several years now.  A friend gave it to me, strongly urging me to read it because she "knew I would like it!"  Well, I resisted.  To me, it was probably a sad book with a heart-warming ending.  I'll tell you right now, Nicholas Sparks ruined me from trusting the New York Times Best Seller list, so the fact that this book is also on that list didn't help convince me.  Well, spoiler alert: I read it.  And of course, I loved it.  It was a little sad, but more so interesting, and the ending wasn't even that heart-warming!  I know I don't need to say much else about this book, because you've probably already read it, lol.

2. Do the laundry daily.

Nearly every runner of households recommends this.  Rather than waiting until it piles up, they daily run a load or two.  I've resisted this one for quite a while, even blogging about it stating "who wants to do laundry every day?!"  Well, in honor of my "Give it a whirl" pledge I decided to try it.  I've been at it going on 2 weeks now and it really is nice not having huge loads of clothes to fold.  Right before bed, I put our day's clothes in the washer and set it to start a few hours later.  The next morning, I transfer the load to the dryer and try to fold and put away the clothes before carpool begins.  I also took some time over our Christmas break to deep clean the laundry room, so everything is in order, there are no dust bunnies peeking out at me, and it all looks fresh and pleasant.

Do you have any suggestions for things I should try out in 2019?  Leave a comment below, and perhaps I'll give it a whirl!

Our Visit to Laurel, Mississippi

This past March we made Diaz Family history when we traveled with our (two children) by car from Georgia to Texas for a long weekend.  Having prepared ourselves for the worst, we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived and realized we had beaten our anticipated 14 hours by 30 minutes.  Our children were rock-stars and we completed at least one full Harry Potter on Audible during our drive.

Fast forward to this past week, when we were on another adventure to Texas.  We decided to split our trip out to Dallas in two by stopping in Laurel Mississippi for a day to visit the HGTV's town of Home Town.  I was a little apprehensive about splitting the drive into two days.  Were we tempting fate by having our children spend not one day, but two (in a row!) in an uncomfortable car seat?

We arrived in Laurel on a Sunday evening and after checking into our Airbnb, we decided to explore the historic town.  The ride to the downtown area was like stepping back in time!  The homes were like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting; a piece of the past frozen in time.

Once we arrived in the city, we were greeted by proverbial tumbleweeds as it was COMPLETELY shut down on this Sunday evening.  It did provide some amazing photo opportunities since we didn't have to share the landmarks, sidewalks, or streets with anyone.  We did run into Pearl's (of The Pearl Diner) son, who graciously offered us some water before we went on our way.  We made a list of the stores we would visit the next morning and headed back to the developed part of town to introduce the children to Hibachi (very un-southern, I know).

The next morning we started our adventure with gooey sticky and cinnamon buns from Sweet Somethings Bakery.  The buns were about as large as the children's heads and the entire place smelled heavenly.

From there we made our way down the street per Chris' request to the Southern Antiques store.  The main floor featured plenty of non-antique farmhouse decor but the upstairs bosted a whole floor of antique dealers' booths.  I know I'm not alone when I say I love picking up pieces and dreaming of their stories.

After the antique store, we stopped in at Loblolly Boutique + Crescent Line Toys where it was the children's turn to dream of all of the fun they would have with all of the many toys they were mentally adding to their Christmas wish-list.

Finally, we made our way to Laurel Mercantile Co.  The painted building and vintage Chevy told us we had arrived!

It was fun pouring through the kitchen goods, flannels, and vintage plates and quilts.  Every area of the shop had descriptions and notes from Erin Napier, the founder of the store and star of the HGTV series, Home Town.  The first sign I read explained their mission to manufacture as many of the products in the USA as possible.

Our half-way-to-Texas-Laurel-trip was rounded out by a visit to Phillips Drive-In, where we were sent on our way to Texas with one of the best chili-cheese hot dogs washed down with a rootbeer float.

My prediction on the two days in the car for the kids being a bit much was completely correct (please show me a 4-7-year-old who can feel the difference between a 7-hour and 13-hour car ride), but well worth the detour.  The quaint "City Beautiful" is well on its way to being revived and we look forward to visiting again on our next voyage to Texas.

Ta-da-flop: A look back on 2018

Sometimes you need a break... and sometimes that break is a 5-month break.  Or maybe it's not that you need a break and maybe you're just broken.  Broken from relationships, from expectations of others and yourself.  Maybe sometimes the brokenness becomes so heavy, the pieces weigh you down and you stop seeing beauty. 

So many of my posts are about finding beauty in everyday living, and yet, it seems that every year, I go through a season of drought, where life is bla and redundant and oh-my-goodness-why-did-we-sign-up-for-12-years-of-carpool. 

This past December, I discovered a quite odd correlation between what I'll call my "bla" season and the liturgical calendar our church follows.  Many of you have heard of different church seasons, whether you realized it or not.  ADVENT, CHRISTMAS, and even LENT, and EASTER are all actual seasons of our church that have been celebrated for thousands of years. 

Guess what liturgical season coincides with my personal "bla" season... Get this.  It's called ORDINARY TIME. 

While "Ordinary Time" is not as widely known as "Christmas" or "Easter," it's actually the season that dominates much of the year.  There are few weeks of this time scattered throughout the various months; however, the big chunk of it comes from the end of May all the way until December. 

I think part of growing up is being able to look back and assess what you did right, what could have been better, and perhaps just what the heck is going on?  What's interesting though is that because most of the year consists of this Ordinary Time, most of these accomplishments (and the work put into them) happens in just plain, ordinary days.

So, without further ado, I give you my less-than-impressive 2018's 18 accomplishments (which, by-the-way, were made in Ordinary Time).

Guys... I just clicked over to that post and was SO INSPIRED for just a moment, because I forgot it was mine... and all of the things I thought I would do in 2018.

I didn't completely flop 2018.  I did actually accomplish a lot.  I met many goals.  And instead of beating myself up about what I didn't accomplish, let's focus on what did get done.

Ta-da!

I read 17 books.  It's not 25, but it's the most I've read in YEARS.  Like, since-before-I-went-to-college-then-had-babies-years.  I'll post about them all sometime.  Maybe.

I ran a half-marathon.  And I actually enjoyed it.  There were parts that were difficult (and I DID walk part of mile 11) but I finished it and I haven't been that proud in a while.  Of course, there's no way on this PLANET I could have completed that without my people.  Watching my (our) kids during all of the practice runs (Chris), motivating me in the crappy weekly runnings (Colleen & Renee), giving me a reason to not forgo my long Saturday runs (Mary Beth), and being there for me at the finish line (Chris, Fiona, Eliot, Craig, Lisa, Roger, Renee, and Mary Beth).  I thank God for the strength of lungs and legs and hope to do another one this year.

I played in a recital.  The first by myself since forever.  And it was an easy piece I loved and had played before. And it was beautiful and the audience was just as transfixed by its beauty as I was. 

I learned a lot about myself this year.  About my weaknesses and strengths.  And while I KNOW there is still plenty more to learn and grow in these areas, I'm excited to bring on 2019 and all of it's Ordinary Time. 

Linger Moments No. 8

lin·ger

/ˈliNGɡər/

verb

to stay in a place longer than necessary, typically because of a reluctance to leave.

You know those moments: the ones often catching you by surprise, causing you to pause a little longer than perhaps intended.  Whether your upcoming weekend is one filled with activities or has the promise of being a relaxing weekend, you are invited to take a moment to linger before heading to the end of the week.

1. Flora Forager

I stumbled across this Instagram account a few years ago and completely fell in love!  Bridget Beth Collins is a floral artist that used flowers, foliage, sticks, twigs, moss, mushrooms, and so forth to create magically whimsical art.  Some of my favorite creations of hers are her castles, her mermaids, and her winter scenes.  Check out her books and prints on her website and definitely follow her Instagram account for daily doses of beauty and magic.  Thank you to Bridget for the use of the above picture!

2. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's FREE Concert at Piedmont Park!

The first outdoor concert of ASO's I heard was years ago when Chris and I were dating.  They had come all the way to Alpharetta to play at Will's Park.  We packed a picnic of Rachael Ray grilled swordfish and tuna steaks and set off to watch these world-class, Grammy-winning musicians play in a covered horse arena (that is also used for rodeos).  This year, ASO offers another FREE concert at Piedmont Park on Thursday, June 14, 2018, at 7:30.  If you've followed my Instagram account, you know how in love I am with our orchestra and their music.  They will be performing Bernstein's Overture to Candide and Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.  Additionally, some "crowd favorites" (my favorites, as well!) of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Variations on a Rococo Theme, and the 1812 Overture.

3. Gourmet Sandwich Company Premier Catering

Speaking of sandwiches... y'all, this one has my vote as the best sandwich in Alpharetta/Roswell/Milton area.  Heck, it has my vote for the best salad, too!  At this point, I've had the Gourmet Sandwich Company cater at least a dozen music teacher events and we have never been left wanting.  My favorite sandwich that is offered is definitely the "Lab Experiment."  Founder/Owner Travis puts turkey, bacon, tomatoes, gouda, and avocado on a JALAPEÑO-cornmeal bread.  It is ahhhh-maz-ing.   

Summer Preview!

Last week was the last week of the children's school and after a nice long weekend, we have begun to settle into our summer schedule.

After my oldest started school, I realized quickly how sacred summers would become.  Precious days upon days with no schedule and no obligations.  The first summer came and went beautifully.  However, as she and my youngest started to get older I quickly realized that some structure would be required to ensure we all stayed sane.

All throughout the school year, I find myself saying, "Well if we didn't have school/homework/school events, we'd have time to do this [insert activity]."  Before school ended, I decided to list out those activities and create a "summer schedule" that would allow us to relax, but also give some structure to our days.

Some of the activities I wanted us to incorporate into our daily activities were baking, riding bikes, visiting parks, and having playdates with friends.  I do continue to teach piano during the summer and am very fortunate to have flexibility in when I schedule those lessons.  Additionally, the children have four weeks of swim lessons that we can schedule our activities around.

Finally, I really wanted to incorporate more chores for the children into our days.  They are all about lists and responsibilities.  They're even about getting things done when it's on said list and not just me telling them to do it.  Again, the school year (and waking up at the LITERAL crack of dawn) makes being consistent with chores difficult.

What I have found through creating this schedule is that our days are quite simple.  I think loosely following it will give us the satisfaction of accomplishing many things, but without feeling like we're running all over the place.  There are so many chances in this loose schedule for us to relax and connect.  I am so looking forward to having my children home this summer and creating memories with both of them!

Fiona's Art Club Rock Painting Party

Very few people can say that they have never been inspired by Joanna Gaines and our recent Spring Break Rock Painting Party was no exception.  In the recent Magnolia Journal, Mrs. Gaines showed beautiful pictures and detailed particulars about a party her and her girls threw for some friends.  The party was hosted in the new "Garden and Potting Shed" which I am certain is decorated better than any of the living spaces in my home (don't get me wrong- I love Fixer Upper and own all of the Gaines' books and magazines and have made the Pilgrimage to both the "Shop on Bosque" and the Silos... but let's call it what it is, people.  It's really more of Botanical-Flower-Arboretum slash Gorgeous-Girlfriend-Creative-Hangout-Spot).

Around the same time, Fiona decided she wanted to start an art club where her friends could come over and do art projects together.  This child is so creative and is not only a visionary but a doer.  It's really remarkable to see the wheels spinning in her head and to see her ideas come to fruition.

Since the kids were out of school, and my husband's recent outdoor project was near completion, we decided to throw a "Rock Painting Party."

Our city (and many cities, I'm sure) started a community project of painting, hiding, and finding rocks.  The kids absolutely love it and we decided to have some friends over to paint some of our own to hide (or keep).

Y'all, this was such a huge hit and fun treat.  It was one of the easiest art projects I've ever put together which literally just required rocks, paint, and paint brushes.   Friends were asked to bring a smock to cover their clothes.  We found a bag of smooth river-type rocks at Home Depot for under $15.  I know we probably could've gone out and found our own rocks but personally, I prefer the smooth, polished look of the paint on the river rocks.  We spruced up our paint supplies with a few new colors and bought a 24-pack of assorted brushes.

Before our friends arrived, I put out some easy refreshments the kids could put in cups and chilled a few bottles of rosé for the moms.  The kids had an absolute blast and were so creative with their rocks.  Eliot found a new love for all things red and we finished the rocks with some outdoor lacquer protectant spray.  The rocks dried pretty quickly so most friends were able to take them home that day.  

 

Any chance to visit and catch up is a luxury most days and to get to do it while our children were creating was an added bonus.  I can't wait to see what project Fiona decides to do for her next Art Club Meeting!