The things that make me different are the things that make ME.
~ A.A. Milne ~
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A few of my recent favorites...
♥ Rizzoli and Isles ♥
If you know me, you know that Blue Bloods is one of my top 3 favorite shows. I've watched every episode at least a handful of times each and I just love it to pieces. My dad watched this show from it's beginning and recommended it to me. Now, whenever I watch it, I remember him.
Even though I love rewatching the old episodes and such, I was looking for a show with similar vibes and couldn't find anything that got my attention. But a friend of ours with similar tastes in shows recommended Rizzoli and Isles to me and now I am quite literally obsessed. My favorite thing about the show is the strong family element. The Rizzoli family is a close-knit clan and I love watching their stories unfold. That's also one of my favorite things about Blue Bloods...and even though it still holds the #1 spot in my heart, I'm loving having something new to watch that is fun and enjoyable.
♥ Moonlight in Vermont ♥
Just a sweet Hallmark movie set in gorgeous Vermont. Hallmark movies are always hit or miss for me, but my sister recommended this one after she watched it and enjoyed it. It was charming and sweet and I really liked it.
♥ Vanilla comoro tea with sweet creme oatmilk creamer ♥
Simply the best...I do believe I am addicted.
♥ JJ Heller's I Dream of You album series ♥
JJ Heller became a favorite of mine several years ago when I discovered her "I Dream of You" album series. Since then, she has added several more to her collection and I have been enjoying listening to them recently. My favorite collections are: Joy; Sleep; Love; Calm (Instrumental); and Calm. They are fun and relaxing and nostalgic and calming and magical beyond words. The songs along with her beautiful voice combine to create a truly storybook feel, an experience that takes you back to your childhood and allows you to relive the magic of your young years. Alongside that youthful feel, there is also a nostalgia and a nod to simpler days with lots of old songs that transport you back in time. These are seriously some of my favorites, and definitely part of the soundtrack of my days.
Oh, and she's coming out with a new one later this year!
♥ The Old Woman Who Named Things ♥
An absolutely charming picture book by a favorite author of mine, Cynthia Rylant. She wrote the little series I shared about a couple weeks ago. And this storybook is just as whimsical and lovely and sweet.
♥ Miss Maple's Seeds ♥
This picture book jumped out at me at our library's used bookshop. I'm so glad I picked it up! The illustrations are colorful and cheery and the story is magical and beautiful. Another new-to-me author that I'm going to add to my "must collect all her books" list.
♥ Mary Oliver's poetry ♥
I have loved Mary Oliver's poetry for years now. Hers is just the style of poetry that I like. And for literally seven years or so, I have been on the search for her books at the used bookshops we frequent. And I could never find one. I could, of course, have bought a new copy online, but I don't hardly ever buy new books. Then a couple weeks ago, whilst at our library bookshop, my sister found a copy of her book, Devotions, for me. It was only $2, so I of course picked it up. I've been thoroughly enjoying flipping through here and there reading random poems on whichever page I open to. It's seriously the most delightful thing. I hope to share some favorites with you over time, too!
♥ Simple Tomato Mushroom Pasta ♥
~ recipe coming in next Sunday's post ~
What have been some of your favorites recently?