♥ reading some really great books...especially out in the fresh air and sunshine
One of the ways I've been nurturing myself is by reading really good books. I've been fortunate that all the books I've been picking up lately have all been so enjoyable. My March has been spent mostly reading middle grade stories as well as beginning a brick of a book, coming in at 977 pages. I've decided that instead of being overwhelmed by the length of the book and having it sit on my shelf forever, I would just read a few pages here and there and make bits of progress on it each day. I've especially been enjoying sitting outside in the shady goodness of our trees and reading some of my book. And another *huge* way I've been nurturing myself this month is by reading some lovely picture books. I'll be sharing more about my newfound favorites soon!
♥ the tiny buds poking through on our red bud tree and seeing daffodils beginning to bloom in our yard
I peeked out my window one afternoon, and there they were. Tiny violet-colored buds just beginning to poke through the tree branches. It's a yearly tradition for me to take my camera outside and have some picture-taking-fun once its fully in bloom, which shouldn't be too long now. We've also spotted tiny buttery daffodils in our yard as well as some random grape hyacinths. I'm also eagerly anticipating the periwinkle that grows in our ivy patches.
♥ the gentle return of sandal-wearing season
We're having more days that call for sandal wearing, and that makes me so happy. There's nothing quite like a pair of six-year-old sandals that are so worn-in in all the right places that makes them feel like slippers. I am one person who wears my shoes out until they literally fall off my feet...I love that comfortable, worn in, familiar feel.
♥ making book lists
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been finding tremendous delight in making book lists. For so long, I had a tendency to see a book that sounded interesting to me and I'd either write down the title in a random notebook or on a scrap of paper or even take a screenshot of the cover with my phone. Then the titles would get lost in my phone photo album or in random notebooks and whatnot. Last spring, I made a little journal from a spiral notebook I got from Dollar Tree. In it I wrote out lists of all the books written by authors that I've either enjoyed or want to try out sometime. I then went through and added a little dot next to each title I owned, in order to make sure I didn't purchase it twice. And I went through a second time highlighting all the titles I've already read. This has been hugely helpful in organizing my many book lists.
A couple weeks ago, as I was watching a bookish video on YouTube, and was writing down a few titles that were recommended, it occurred to me that it would be awfully handy to have book lists of recommendations from bookish YouTubers that I enjoy watching. I only watch a couple channels regularly, with a few more as random watches here and there. I have been so enjoying spending some time in my evenings going through a few YouTube channels' backlog of videos and making some lovely book lists. I've already reserved a handful (or two!) of titles from my library from these recommendations. My lists include some wonderful recommendations from Amy of Hearth Ridge, Miranda Mills' List of Ultimate Comfort Reads (even though I really don't watch her channel anymore), and Kate Howe's 100 Life-Softening Books. So, needless to say, I've got a long list of recommendations to refer to, and best of all, they're all in one place and in some order, too.
♥ natural sunlight coming through the windows
I don't care what the weather is, I just love having natural light come through my windows. Open the curtains and let nature show her beauty, I say! But, I'll admit that the evening golden sunlight streaming in through the kitchen windows whilst I'm cooking dinner or washing dishes has been awfully wonderful. It just feeds my soul! It's not too bright and certainly not hot yet, but the golden hues are so lifegiving. It also doesn't hurt that I've been playing my favorite film scores nonstop in the kitchen, so it creates a mood and vibe that is perfection.