happy list, June 2017

A list of things making me happy this month, in no particular order:

• black bean and sweet potato bowls with cubes of avacado (a friend made this for book club a couple of weeks ago and I've made it twice since). It may be a new favorite.
• going to my gym. I don't always love it while I am there, but I love how it feels once I leave and have worked hard for seventy minutes. I feel stronger and better for the rest of the day.
• middle of the day texts from my sister and plans to see her on four different occasions in the next three weeks.  It's nice to have her a little less busy since she has transitioned to being a stay at home mom for a while. 
• fresh pesto made by Drew with basil from his garden. We've made it twice this week. Love the taste and love his pride.
• solar- powered twinkle lights
• new apple green tile for the mud porch floor. I wanted gray and white stripes, but Ben really wanted a green floor in there. Now that the tile is here, I am glad we went with his idea. 
• Gracie fully embracing her new life as a high school student. She has cheer practice and conditioning every morning from 6-9 (though waking up at 5:20 each day is NOT an item on my happy list!) and marching band practice every night from 5-7. She loves it.
• Luke. Just Luke. He is a sweet kid and I am enjoying having so much time to just hang with him this summer. 
• On the same note, I LOVE the pace of this summer. We have moments of on-the-go, but for the most part, this is the most laid back summer we've ever had. The weekly chore charts and organized homeschooling that have worked well for us in the past aren't in the plans for this summer. No real reason why, but we're just doing something a little different and it feels good.
• the book Carry On Warrior  - a collection of short opinion pieces that speak to me
• sundresses and sandals. Getting dressed is so easy in the summer.
• a new porch swing on the front porch. A porch swing is one of my favorite things a house can have. 
• lemongrass essential oils in my diffuser. This scent, unlike so many others, never gives me a headache and just makes the house smell clean and summery.
• Yahtzee. We're on a Yahtzee kick around here. Games are usually played around two in the afternoon and also include an afternoon cup of coffee for me. It's a wonderful mid-day routine. 
• watermelon. Can't get enough of it these days.
• a calendar pretty full of plans with friends in the next three weeks.