Do not spoil the wonder with haste!
~ J.R.R. Tolkien ~
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watching...
One of my most favorite shows to watch in the summertime is Chesapeake Shores. And, of course, I totally forgot to include this on my list of summertime favorites post a few weeks back. (It's so annoying when I do that. Ha!) I adore the scenery and settings on this show; it's absolutely gorgeous and oh-so-dreamy. I adore following the O'Brien family through the episodes and I certainly have my favorites...anyone else a fan of Jess and David?!?! They're hands-down my fave! I also really love Nell's wisdom that she so willingly shares with the rest of the family, whether or not they want to hear it. If you're looking for something really uplifting and heartwarming and family-centered, may I suggest giving Chesapeake Shores a try?
reading...
I am slowly but surely working on the little summer reading "challenge" I gave myself a couple months back. You can read about it here. After sitting with the prompts I decided on, there are a couple that just don't appeal to me anymore, but that's how it goes when you're a mood reader. I have completed 5 of the prompts, though, so far, with 4 more of the prompts in the works right now. So, yes, I am in the process of reading four books right now! I typically don't read more than 2 or 3 at a given time, but so many titles are calling to me at the moment, I am having a hard time saying no to them. I'm going to hold off on mentioning any titles or sharing any thoughts on the books because I am going to be sharing a big recap post of all the books I read over the summer. That'll be coming in the early autumn...that's my plan anyway.
listening...
A few songs that have been absolute bliss for me recently are:
A Space in Time by Cuig (I don't know how there is so much beauty in one song. I've been obsessed for five years.)
Sunrise By Norah Jones (I love the vibes in this song.)
I've also been loving listening the film scores from The Hobbit and Harry Potter. There's just something about a beautiful film score that I love so much!
loving...
So I got a huge pile of cookbooks out from the library a few weeks back. And one of them had the most delicious smoothie recipes in it...I decided it was "the most delicious smoothie" after I made it, of course. But I have made it so many times since then I just can't get enough of it! It literally tastes like a chocolate nut butter milkshake...but it has zero ice cream and instead is made from dates, frozen banana, spinach, nut butter, flax seeds, cacao powder, and almond milk. I also add some mushroom powder for added health benefits and nutrients. I cannot tell you how much I am in love with this smoothie! The recipe is in Danielle Walker's Meals Made Simple cookbook, which I really enjoyed going through. Do check it out for this recipe! I couldn't find the recipe on her website, so I don't have a link to share.
noticing...
As we enter the second half of summer, I am noticing the slight change in light outside, mostly that the sun is setting a wee bit earlier than it was a few weeks ago. I'm not one bit sad about it, either. When we drive around different parts of town, I also am seeing many of the late summer flowers blooming and the colors are exquisite.
tending...
One of the biggest ways I'm tending to my home is that right now I am in the middle of some H U G E reorganization projects in several areas of our home. As with such projects, things tend to look like a tornado whipped through before they look all orderly and lovely. So right now, there are some areas and corners that are in total disarray, but progress is being made, slowly but surely. Once the projects in the main areas of the house are complete, I am hoping to tackle something I've been putting off for far too long. And that would be the reorganization of all my bookshelves. I want to completely empty all of my books from the shelves, go through them, sort and organize them by author and such, and reshelve them accordingly. It's going to be a massive project, I just know it. But I also know that once I actually finally get it done, I'll really appreciate it. And then, maybe, I can finally share a bookshelf tour that I've been wanting to share for a few years now.
nourishing...
I've really been focusing on healthy eating and have been doing lots of reading, studying and learning on the topics of wellness and nutrition and have been trying to put what I've learned into practice. And, thankfully, we've tried some wonderfully delicious new recipes, too. So it's been lots of fun!
nurturing...
I've learned a lot about nurturing myself over the last year or so...perhaps I'll share some of what I've learned sometime, but one of the ways I'm nurturing myself daily is by reading most nights before bed. I find this to be the perfect end to the day and I used to be so consistent with it years ago, but as time went on and as life happened, I got away from it. Getting back to it has reminded me just how important it is for my wellbeing. Even just 20 or 30 minutes before bed is so beneficial for me. Though sometimes I end up reading for a couple of hours. {{winks}}
inspiring...
Something that has been really inspiring me lately are all the cookbooks I borrowed from the library. I found a handful of titles that I eventually want to add to my personal collection. But just flipping through books filled with gorgeous recipes and delicious foods was so inspiring to me. Spending an hour or so in the evenings just flipping through the pages, making notes of recipes to try, and then actually trying a few here and there...so much fun. I'm hoping to get another stash from the library soon!
looking forward to...
Autumn. Cooler weather. Crisp air. Colorful leaves twirling in the breeze. Boots and sweater weather. Halloween. Opening the curtains weather. Rainy autumn days. Moody, grey skies. Pumpkin and gourd decorations. Herbal tea in seasonal mugs at night. Cooking healthy comfort foods. Not sweltering to death when I walk outside even for just two minutes. Not getting headaches from the intense sun and heat. Yeah, I'm so over summer. Autumn, where art thou?
something fun...
So one of my family's favorite shows is The Middle, and one of the actors from that show has a YouTube channel that I randomly stumbled upon one night. Anyhoo...this video right here just made my day. I love the bit of truthful common sense at the beginning, as well as his awesome way of getting a point across. And to clarify, I identify as a hobbit, most definitely. Give it a watch here and let me know what you identify as. I hope it makes you smile as much as it did me.
What is on your list of glimmers from July, reader friends?