Giving thanks.

It would probably be remiss if a blog dedicated to appreciating life's little joys didn't at least acknowledge an upcoming holiday that theoretically centers around giving thanks, right?

Oh, Thanksgiving. You are holiday's equivalent of grandma pulling you aside to point out you've put on weight: your heart might be in the right place, but the basic message still stings. A friend of mine refuses to celebrate Thanksgiving because of his Native American roots. Instead, he waits until the Friday after Thanksgiving to celebrate "Honesty Day" - where he and the people he cares about pledges to be honest with one another. Me, I still celebrate Thanksgiving. Instead of focusing on that whole racist, historically inaccurate bit, I prefer to reflect on all the things for which I am thankful. I could come up with a list of things, but that's basically what this blog's all about, anyway.

Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving, Honesty Day, or anything in between, I hope you take some time to reflect on all the warm fuzzies in your life. And if you ever need any reminders of things worthy of gratitude, come visit me. I'll be here.

Joie de quote.

"blue skies are coming...

but I know that it's hard."

-noah and the whale

(via sullenbluesky)

Fro-Yo: Why I Love America

One of my friends always likes to tell the story of her mom on a diet. "We were at a restaurant, eating typical diner breakfast type stuff, and my mom was sitting there with her cottage cheese, making yummy noises over it and saying how delicious it was. She wasn't fooling anyone. It was cottage cheese... not a pancake."

I'm not the type of person who makes yummy noises over cottage cheese. I don't jump up and down saying, "Another helping of kale? Don't mind if I do!" I'll eat your fruits and vegetables, USDA. But I'm not going to like it.

With one notable exception: FRO-YO! I can't even type FRO-YO! without conveying my excitement over the stuff. It's sweet, it's delicious, it's the bomb-dot-com. So a few weeks back when I noticed a little shop called Yogurt Planet tucked away underneath the Yuppie McTrendy Apartments in my neighborhood, I accidentally veered a little into oncoming traffic. As I moved safely back into my lane, all I could think was please, don't let this be a chain.

Not only does Yogurt Planet free me from hipster guilt, it also allows me to pay by the ounce! Pay by the ounce?! Consider the power in that, my friends! As I chose between a myriad of fro-yo flavors and beheld the topping bar, I felt invincible. This is my FRO-YO! With so many choices, it was hard not to feel a little patriotic. You enjoy that communist vanilla, rest of the world!! This is my American (i.e. strawberry mango with blackberries, raspberries, and brownies) FRO-YO! In your face, Karl Marx!

I'm probably a little over-excited about this whole adventure, given the fact I chose the no-sugar added stuff. Still, anything that causes potential car accidents and jingoistic outbursts is worthy of an entry. FRO-YO!, I salute you. With my spoon.

The joy of baking

Joie de vivre:

Making muffins on a Sunday afternoon in fall.