Resolution Sunday: Thanks for not naming me Phone

Recently

[1]

Recently Claustrophobic

Seeing the Mona Lisa, at the Louvre. There were crowds and crowds of people all aggressively trying to get close to this painting. Sheesh. Couldn't he have made it a bit larger?

(Also, if Da Vinci was alive today, what would he think of this spectacle?)

[2]

Recently Anticipating

A memorial weekend visit by my very favorite red head and true friend Lindsay. Better bring your sundresses girlfriend!

[3]

Recently Completed

Another half marathon. A new personal record for me! I am still on the hunt for whoever decided to include the only hill in North Carolina on mile 12 of this race. How rude. 

[4]

Recently Purchased

My new super shoes. Kinda reminds me of this scene. Except I am certain Marty will not mess with these.

.

[5]
Recently Enjoyed

Sundress season. You didn't know that was a season? You must not live in the south. Also,I am lucky enough to have a farmers market on Fridays across from my work building. Makes for a great TGIF celebration.

[6]

Recently Remembered

You know she's gettin something other than the love from her mother. 

(wink wink)

[7]

Recently Pondering

A trip to Nashville. I have heard some amazing bands from out of Nashville lately and am dying to go spend a week listening to live music. Have you been? Should I go?

I would like to hear this song live again.

[8]

Recently Uttered

"Sorry coming over for Sunday dinner doesn't merit me vacuuming any more. You're lucky I picked up my pants undies"

[9]

Recently On A Wednesday

Live music. Outdoors. Great seats. Thunderstorms. Overpriced tallboys.

[10]

Recently Enamored 

With this song, this band, and this blog.

And also this blog, from which I stole this 'recently' idea. 

I don't know this person in 'real' life but like her writing.

What have you been up to?

Wednesday Morning Meditation

My Mama

This week is Mother's Day. (Quick, run to the mailbox!)

So I am thinking about all the mamas I have known in my life, all the women who have shown me love, truth, sacrifice, patience, humor and strength. All the things I hope to be as a mom (some day!).

But mostly I think about my mom, all things my mom is, and all the things my mom is not. My friends often told me how much they loved my mom, sometimes for reasons that embarrassed me (beaver voice in the drive through window? ugh. Maaaawwmm.)

Here are ten things that I have learned from my mom,  some more profound than others, but each one a small part of me woven by her.

1. The cure to most any ailment is a cold glass of water and fresh air. Except for heartaches. Heartaches require brownies.

2.  Friends come in all shapes and sizes. Don't be afraid to introduce them to each other. If they all like you, perhaps they will like each other. This life is too short to be put your friends into cliques.

3. The pop-in is something to be used generously. We spent a lot of time as kids driving around, popping in on friends, bringing treats and surprises and having spontaneous gatherings - for 10 minutes or 2 hours.

4. Always leave the house wearing clean underwear. You never know whats going to happen. Or when you will run off the side of the road and some cute fireman will have to rescue you.

5. Pie. Always pie. Berry pie, pecan pie, apple pie. You never need an excuse for pie.

6. It takes a village to raise a kid. My mom always involved other parents in our lives. We spent a lot of time with other families, hacking out this life thing together.

7. Being outdoors is the best place to be. My mom would leave us (lock us?) out doors for hours on end. We would play in the backyard, sometimes with neighbor friends and sometimes by ourselves. She always made us be outdoors for one hour, every single day. Sometimes this meant taking walks up and down our little road. Sometimes this meant grabbing a book and sitting on a blanket. But everyday, outside.

8. You never know what you will get when you ask. Don't be afraid to ask for a discount, to ask for directions, for a recommendation, for a little assistance. And likewise don't forget to ask if someone around you needs directions, needs a recommendation, or needs assistance.

9. Its never too late to start something new. When I was a kid doing ballet, my mom picked up tap dancing. Since then she has taken classes on how to fly fish, speak Spanish, paint, and play tennis.

10. Be kind. Above all, be kind. Even to those who are terrible to you, those who are difficult to approach, or difficult to understand. There is never ever an excuse to be unkind.

 Happy Mother's Day to you!

Resolution Sunday: New Friends

Yesterday I was congratulating myself on how cool my new friend was because I was putting air in the tires of my bike, getting ready for a lingerie party at a local brewery to celebrate her getting married soon.

We cruised around town on our bikes and did a photo scavenger hunt of memorable places, ate burgers at a local joint, and then did the lingerie shower at a local brewery and giggled, as girls love to do. We played a dirty Apples to Apples I had made for a bachelorette party long ago, and made the waiters blush.

This week I am happy for new friends, who come into your life surprising you with new adventures, new perspectives, and a new excuse to get back on that bike.

Paris!

When Marty's brother Sam moved to Paris a couple years ago, we knew we had to go. Using my frequent flier miles, I bought us two tickets and asked for all Paris related activities for Christmas. It was a much needed vacation. We hadn't been on vacation in a few years other to go back home to Washington and we needed a time out from what was proving to be a very very hectic year. What a beautiful, dark, city. Down every windy winding street there is a new church older than America to see or a new tempting treat to try. Marty had never been to France before. It was fun to explore a new place together, even though we didn't know any French. (I took two years of college French but only remember how to say the word for pineapple, which has very limited value when trekking the very non-tropical streets of Pairee).

Sam was a fabulous host, showing us his favorite cafes and restaurants, and feeding us baguette and nutella in the mornings, cheese and wine in the afternoons, and crazy culinary treats for dinner. His lovely girlfriend Andrea, who is also from our hometown and now lives in the Netherlands, joined us for the weekends. We went to London for the second weekend to mark off the top of Marty's life bucket list (see last photo).

Here is the list of my favorite 20 things.

1. Getting greeted off the train with cooled champagne

2. Almond croissant. I am 99.6% sure heaven smells like a French bakery.

 3. Montmartre

4. Hot chocolate that comes as a bowl of chocolate and a carafe of hot milk.

5. Wine shops. Wine shops next to cheese shops. Wine shops next to cheese shops next to bread shops.

6. River cruise at sunset. 

7. Streets lined with cafes. Tiny, delish cappuccinos.

8. Paris Saint Germain game, in a bit sketchy section.

9. Wearing the Arc de Triumph as a hat.

10. The market that opens every Sunday on the little street by Sam's.

11. Crepes and hard cider for dinner.

12. Bikes for rent easing foot pain and giving the chance for walks along the Seine.

13. Lunch at the Louvre.

14. Putting our feet up by a nice green park.

15. Monet's house at Giverny and the waterlily pond

16. Spontaneous trip to the beach with our new friend Marc-Gregor

17. And the sunset on the ride home

18. Trifecta of british cuisine - fish and chips, steak pie, and bangers and mash. 

Pints to wash it down.

19. Ye Olde Chesire Cheese, 17th century pub, favorite of Dickens.

20. Stamford bridge, Chelsea game. Life mission=complete.

Feel Good Friday

We got back from Europe on Monday, where we saw some amazing Van Gogh. It was exactly what we needed. A long week with family, in a far off place. Btw, why is it that when you come back from vacay all your stress is just sitting there waiting for you? Take a hint, long to-do list of life decisions, and take your own vacation.

But hey, its friday. And that isn't too bad, is it?

What are you doing this weekend?

I am watching this video.

Scanning this blog.

And reading this article.

PS. I can't believe that this is on tv. Ba ha ha ha.