Happy Sunday everyone! I’m most likely off at the lake while you’re reading this post (assuming I didn’t screw up the publishing time), and I still need to get my things together before leaving in a few hours, so let’s jump right into the second half of the “Simple A-Z” survey. Missed part 1? Clicky here.
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[N] Nature: I love being outside. Fresh air. Sunshine. The feeling of grass and dirt beneath your feet. Wonderful. Being outside always helps keep me grounded and makes me feel more alive. Plus, nature is just so pretty.
[O] Oatmeal cookies: These little gems probably hold more nostalgic value for me than any other food. My mom used to make the best chocolate chip oatmeal cookies for me when I was growing up, and I have so many memories of helping her in the kitchen and then impatiently waiting by the oven until the cookies were done baking so that I could have one (or five) with a glass of milk. Good times.
[P] Photography: Immortalizing fleeting moments is a beautiful thing. As is getting a good laugh when you look at yourself 10 years later and wonder: “What the heck was I thinking?!” Come on, you know you do it too.
[Q] Quiet Time: Although I love keeping busy and feeling productive, I need to have time everyday where I can just sit and -be- or I start getting a little bit loopy. No noise, no distractions, no to-do list in my head; just peace and quiet. This is probably why I cherish the early morning so much. Well, that and there’s breakfast, of course.
[R] Reading: Reading has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I devoured books as a little girl (Golden Books, anyone?), and not a whole lot has changed. No matter how busy my day gets, I seem to always find time to read; and my book collection is threatening to overtake my home (no, I won’t get a Kindle/Nook/what-have-you).
[S] Satisfying the Sweet Tooth: I have a huge sweet tooth, and nothing feels better than hitting a sugar craving right on the head. I used to have a bad habit of denying my cravings, but they would only build up over time and make me super cranky. I’ve noticed that as long as I honor my cravings on a regular basis, they don’t tend to build up and make me want to eat sugar by the spoonful. Don’t force yourself to say no to dessert, especially if chocolate is involved.
[T] Tea: Even though coffee will always come first, I absolutely love tea, and even more so now that the weather is starting to cool off. During the winter months, it’s not rare for me to drink 5+ cups of tea a day in an effort to stay warm, and I love every cozy sip… particularly if we’re talking about this tea.
[U] Unicorn(s): One of my favorite movies of all time is The Last Unicorn. I must have watched this movie over a hundred times while I was growing up, and to this day it never fails to make me feel all warm and cozy inside.
[V] Velveteen Rabbit: If The Last Unicorn is my favorite childhood movie, then The Velveteen Rabbit is my favorite childhood book. Have you read it? If not, GO! This is one of the most magical and endearing stories that I can think of, and you better believe that I packed this baby up to take with me when I was moving out.
[W] Walking: Ever since I stopped formally working out, walking has been my activity of choice. I really wish that people would stop referring to walking as second-rate exercise because it does a whole lot of good not only for the body, but for the mind as well. Life is fast-paced enough, and sometimes we all need to stop and smell the flowers.
[X] X-mas: Okay, I know Christmas only comes once a year, and it’s not exactly a simple daily pleasure, but do you know how hard it is to come up with words that start with X? Very. Besides, I’m already counting down the days.
[Y] You guys! Although it does have the tendency to drive me crazy sometimes, blogging will always have a special place in my heart. I love being part of a community of such wonderful people, and the friendships/connections that I’ve made over the past few years have become priceless to me. Thank you guys so much for making that possible.
[Z] Zambonis: You know that crazy looking machine that resurfaces the ice in rinks? Mmm hmm. That thing. Why? Because it reminds me of hockey games, and hockey games remind me of times that I’ve spent with my dad.
Happy Sunday! Make it a beautiful one.
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You know the drill! Pick a few letters and share your simple pleasures 🙂
I LOVE The Velveteen Rabbit! My dad got me that book when I was little. I agree–magical! 🙂
Reading, yes. Hollah Golden Books and Velveteen Rabbit!!! I still re-reread that one. Profound stuff.
I really wanted to say though — I MISSED THAT COFFEE MUG SO MUCH!!! (0:
Funny, as I read this, I am sitting with a HUGE mug of tea in my effort to bare through the “cooler time” at the hospital. I don’t know what it is, but just about every night at about 2am, it gets SO FREAKING COLD! And of course, I can’t grab a blanket, because then I would get comfy, and then I would go to sleep, and then I would get fired! 😉
Ahh, early morning quiet time! THAT is what I miss the most about switching to night shifts. I used to get up early…even when I didn’t have to be at work until hours later, JUST so I could “ease” into the day…slow, easy breakfast, coffee, blogs…I just don’t get that time anymore. And btw, that is a GORGEOUS picture!
I agree…walking is SO underrated! It’s one of my favorite things to do…for exercise, or just for the “me” time! One of the many reasons I’m looking forward to fall…it’s walking weather! 😀
I commented on the first part of this post but couldn’t resist commenting here too 🙂 I LOVE reading as well and I felt like a traitor when I got the Kindle. Real books – their weight, smell, feel, etc. – are unbeatable, but traveling to Russia with a Kindle was actually liberating and so convenient! Anna Karenina eBook > the actual book.
That tea mug is adorable, by the way. Tea is the best (I’m biased though 🙂 )
ooh! I just discovered that you are blogging again which makes me so excited! I’ve always loved your blog and your writing, and I was rooting for your recovery from the beginning 🙂 I’ve been catching up on your posts and it seems that you’ve come such a long way…you have so much to be proud of! I’m so excited to start reading regularly again.
Your pictures are so dang beautiful!
As much as I love my coffee (which is A LOT) I also love tea too! Its so cozy and reminds me of fall time. Can you say obsessed with fall much?;) Yikes, I need some sort of intervention for my Autumn addiction.
I’m especially loving your “Y” selection – again, so happy you’re back! 😀
early morning quiet time can really set the tone to the day! – its so nice to get some peace and quite, and gather my thoughts and just relax with a nice cup of coffee and some breakfast 🙂
You take such beautiful photos which are always accompanied by beautiful words.
What kind of camera do you use? I see that it’s a Canon but my eyesight doesn’t seem to be agreeing with me today!
Thanks Andrea! It’s a Canon EOS 7D.
You are a woman of my own heart. That is the greatest movie EVER! I really wish I still had it, but it’s long gone wherever VHS tapes go to die. haha
Lol I still have my VHS copy, but they make it on DVD too!
Reading, tea, and walking would probably be my picks for those letters too
For N I agree with nature, but I’d be more specific and say Northern Ontario. It’s so beautiful and serene when you’re out in a canoe on the lake surrounded by bare faced rock cliffs and evergreens. And I love the feeling of making camp for the night and gathering around a campfire with s’mores, cozy sweaters and good conversation! I miss my days of canoe tripping there.
The Last Unicorn! Ahhh love that movie too, although I didn’t watch it as much as a kid as you did, I am impressed 🙂 And the Velveteen Rabbit as well… cried like a baby the first few times I read it as an adult! Perhaps I was caught at weak moments though haha
walking is a beautiful thing! nothing better than a long walk on a nice day.
Agreed 😀
Velveteen rabbit!! I loved that book, and the old film. I tried to find the old film of the Velveteen Rabbit that I watched as a kid the other day on YouTube, but no luck. My husband had never even heard of it! Blasphemy.
zambonies, haha, love it! i always wanted to ride on one. But i like hockey too. and quiet, yes, the most precious part of my day. morning quiet time.
Some of my personal favorites- I love sunny warm days and the view of the ocean! Hope you are enjoying the lake!
I love, love a hot cup of tea in the cold winter months, especially up here in Canada (I heard it’s supposed to get a lot colder this year than last year!) What other tea do you like? And do you drink it plain?
Colder? Ack! Definitely not something I want to hear. I usually drink my teas plain unless they’re really bitter like some green teas – then I add honey. Oh, and I do love a good cup of peppermint tea with honey as well 🙂 As for what other teas, I have a huge collection of them, and pick whatever I’m in the mood for… I can never say no to a soothing camomile, but I’ve really been loving chocolate mint oolong tea, and white chai lately.