Wednesday 8: The Favorite Things Edition
Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 9:41PM Mrs. G. 
Mrs. G. thought it would fun to share a few things that are currently making us happy right now. It should go without saying that this is not a sponsored post. Mrs. G. continues to be a crackerjack professional at not making good money.
Mrs. G. Eight Favorite Things Right Now
1) If you like bananas, you'll like this. Mrs. G. is very particular about banana anything because she can't stand that fake banana flavor used in so many products. This, derfs, is the real banana deal.
2) The Tickler File system. If you are not a natural born organizer or have any issues with keeping your shit together, the Tickler is worth investigating. Amazon and Staples have several different Tickler-like file systems that are less expensive.
3) These orange, fall manshoes
4) Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner. Mrs. G's daughter turned her on to it. It's reknown for working wonders with curly hair but it works for plain frizz too.
5) Trader Joes Marcona Almonds with Rosemary
6) Having her immediate family under one roof for a couple of weeks. No matter how old they get, this is what Mrs. G. thinks of when she kisses them.
7) Yanamama's homemade cherry jam. Mrs. G. thinks either Yana should share the recipe or we should beat it out of her.
8) Mitt Romney choosing Paul Ryan as his running mate.
What are eight things currently making you happy.
Wednesdays
Reader Comments (43)
ok, where did you get the shoes and the hair conditioner? And the last one? Please explain.
Definitely happy about the shoes, almonds, always-babies, and Ryan. Will add Anthony Ervin's Twitter responses to me, my almost-done kitchen, and Dr. Loosen's riesling. And you, of course. Visiting when again? :)
Jean, the shoes I bought on Ebay and the conditioner can be found at my local Bartell's drugstore or at any health food/Whole Foodsy store. I hadn't posted the Ryan photo when you read. It should make sense now.
I hear you on the banana thing, though my favorite flavor right now would be Key Lime Pie. The only way that last one would make me happy is if Ryan loses both seats he's on the ballot for (here in our district and the veep). For that I'd probably join a parade or something. There'd also definitely be some bubbly.
Things not making me happy now - crayon on the flat screen TV.
Derfwad Manor x8 is making me most happy. Love those man shoes. Where can I find them?
What's making me happy...it's still summer vacation, school starts soon, and my husband is out of town.
Today's 8 things that are making me happy?
1. Just thinking about the fabulousness of the Olympics still makes me smile.
2. Ian Thorpe putting the call out on Twitter offering free swimming tips and advice at a
London suburban pool the day after the Olympic finished. This is equal to Michael Phelps taking up residence for the day at a NY public pool. The Thorpedo gets a bit of stick in Australia for being an arse but he has been taken to hearts by the Brits during his stint as a BBC Olympic pundit.
3. My boy teaching himself front flips from a running clip and he is now doing headstands. Three days ago he was too scard to even try a somersault.
4. That I did the washing and got it dry yesterday. Today the rain is going to be here ALL DAY.
5. That I got the grass mown yesterday.
6. That there are only two more sleeps before Friday's trip to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.
7. I hv knitted one sleeve of my godson's school jumper. Just three more weeks to finish the rest.
8. Ummm... Can't think of another.
1) Winter is coming.
2) My DDs bout with mono has been mild. So mild that we hardly know she is sick, thanks to meds and a lucky streak, with no fever or tiredness. We are happy it did not hit during the school year, though.
3) My husband seems to be okay-happy with work right now. It is not always so, and it makes life for all of us less stressful.
4) I am happy to see my son and all of his friends head off to college. I feel like a proud momma to all of them; wonderful bunch of kiddos. When he leaves next week it will be tough, but I am so happy for him and proud of his hard work getting to this point.
5) My veggie CSA and my orchard CSA are turning out wonderful weekly supplies of fantastic food. Although I know I paid for all of it last winter, it feels like I am getting huge bags of free food every week. It makes me super happy. And that my friends are the farmers is a bonus. I am happy for them that business is good!
6) My genealogy research roadblocks, I have learned, may be surmountable. Thanks to the LDS. Their international records are amazing.
7) The basement did not get humid this summer. That means my inherited stamp collections are safe for another year.
8) DD just finished the first book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, so I have an excuse to watch the first season again! Winter is coming!
!- the coolness in the night air making for great mornings with windows open until lunch, saving on the electric bill.
2 I have come up with a good homemade ice cream base this summer and made some pretty good chocolate maybe banana is next- if not I HAVE to try that I would walk a mile for good banana anything...
3 we are seeing the rare customers these days which makes me have hope we can continue to pay our bills.
4 iced coffee...
5 books on kindle, see I am pretty easy to please.
6 watching breaking bad- so bad it is good and it took my breath this last week- NO!
7 the granddaughter - so cute, so funny, called me one night to say goodnight and melted my heart.
8 my son and his wife are coming to see us- yeah. Maybe ice cream needs to be on the menu.
1. Played the Bacon movie game with some friends on FB last night. Change one word in a movie title to bacon, ex: Gone With The Bacon. We ended up with almost 250 comments about bacon and some were so funny!
2. I've got a couple of bags of fabric in the craft room that are waiting for me. One of them will end up being a baby quilt.
3. My son's box of home-school supplies arrived the other day. It's like Christmas in a way, he was stoked to be opening up his boxes and finding a microscope, tons of books (including The Hobbit and Treasure Island) and all of our coursework.
4. I have all the ingredients to make a salted caramel cheesecake for my friends this weekend!
5. Paul Ryan- Ha! For all the hoopla that he got for his budget plan when he was just a Congressman, it doesn't seem like too many people are that excited about him being candidate for veep. I guess Mittens' 'meh' is rubbing off.
6. Cooler temps. A possibility of rain.
7. Planning a Halloween party. Halloween is my favorite holiday!
8. Going to hang out with my crafty friends on Saturday for crafting, gossiping and laughing. Best thing of the whole week!
We're all on this side of the daisies. :)
1. Cooler temperatures, especially at night. At last a hint of autumn is in the air, offering a chance to escape the summer from hell.
2. A time savings account coming open for business this weekend, just in time to help pay huge bills for repairing the A/C and the new crown for my husband's hopelessly chipped tooth.
3. The dogs are happy and relaxed and enjoying "Dave Day Care" now that my husband is home again after his long-term temporary assignment ended.
4. Did I mention the cooler temperatures?
5. Work has eased up a bit after this summer's crazy fiscal year-end.
6. Getting ready for a fun anniversary trip in early September. Originally the plan was to go to Hawaii for our 10th anniversary but given our current circumstances, we're opting for Mt. Rushmore and Devil's Tower instead. Nearly the same thing, right?
7. A recent mini-reunion with high school classmates, hosted at my home, was a big hit!
8. Has anyone else noticed that the temperatures are cooler these days?
1. Loving the current wave of cool weather and rain after the summer heat and drought.
2. Son #1 will be starting college on Monday. He is so excited to begin this new phase of his life and I am thrilled for him. I can’t wait to see how his adult life unfolds.
3. Our cat, who dropped 15% of her weight earlier this year, is doing much better. She’s back to her loud, vocal self and is gaining weight. Vet did lots of tests and everything was normal. Not sure what was going on, but she’s clearly feeling good again.
4. Husband’s business is doing well after just managing to break even since the recession started. He just got confirmation of a large order from a national company, which means he won’t need to lay anyone off this fall.
5. Even with this horrible drought, the CSA I joined has managed to grow the most beautiful veggies that I pick up weekly. We are all enjoying the fruits of the farmer’s talents and dinner is so easy with all the fresh veg to enjoy.
6. I’m nearly done with knitting a Christmas present shawl for my sister-in-law. Will be starting socks for niece today. I will have Christmas knitting done ahead of time this year.
7. I had a wonderful 5-day vacation with my sister last week. No kids, no husbands, just the two of us. We talked and played card games and wore our nightgowns all day. Too fabulous and very relaxing. Would like to live this vacation full-time.
8. Bought a new pair of Keen sandals in bright red. Love them. After years of wearing Birkenstocks, I’m finding the Keen’s bouncy sole very comfortable.
1. I love those almonds, too!
2. I had a good 3 month checkup at MGH on Monday
3. It's raining (not something I'm normally thrilled with, but we need it and I have to go to work anyway)
4. It's thundering!
5. I walked Wolf BEFORE it started raining
6. My boss took some time for herself yesterday and went to the beach. She's had a hard few years!
7. I finally planted two morning glory seeds and they are growing like crazy!
8. Reading new posts here :-)
1. Just got back from seeing long lost relatives on vacation.
2. Mini-vacation on Cape Cod was very fun.
3. My child is on a slightly even keel and had fun this week.
4. Meeting my best childhood friend in Boston for a girls weekend in 2 days!
5. I have a gift card to our local healthfood store so I can go buy Mrs. G's conditioner.
6. Knowing that I'm not the only freak who buys manshoes on eBay.
7. We just started watching Battlestar Galactica on Netflix. 70ish episodes to look forward to!
8. Starting a new book group with new folks in September and really looking forward to it....
Happy Wednesday everyone. xoxo
#9.) Janet had a good 3 mos checkup at MGH yesterday!!
1. That the move to Michigan has gone well so far with a minimum of spats between my husband and I.
2. THE WEATHER. There has been RAIN.
3. My new little desk in our new little bedroom.
4. My daughter. Her PEP is exhausting sometimes, but she keeps it fun.
5. My parents are coming to visit for fall break, YIPPEEEEE!
6. Coffee. Nuff said.
7. Wine. Nuff said.
8. Life is essentially good. Everyone is healthy and relatively happy.
Want.Those.Shoes!
8 Happy Things.
1) $198 Lilly Pulitzer dress for $49. Her COLLEGE GRADUATION DRESS!
2) She's graduating this December as soon as she finishes her student teaching!
3) Terra Blues Potato Chips
4) Library books and free Kindle books
5) Hubby's job promotion. He works twice as hard and is twice as happy.
6) Landlord doesn't raise our rent for the 4th year in a row!
7) Condo pool-Always clean and we don't have to clean it!
8) 2 pounds of fresh blueberries in the fridge.
Are those manshoes by Keen? If so, I have them in grey (although without the very cute swirly details) and they are the most comfy shoes ever! My family hates them, which makes me like them even more. Wore them every single day last winter and the sole is still good as new. I can't wait for the weather to turn cooler so I can wear them again.
1. Cooler weather and rain!
2. Electricity. After going without for 5 days in 100+ degree heat this summer, I don't think I'll ever take it quite so much for granted again.
3. Just got back from a terrific vacation in Northport, Mi, which included floating down a lazy river, napping with my (8 yo!) daughter (that hasn't happened since she was a baby), and playing in huge waves on Lake Michigan.
4. Breaking Bad--we're working on the last dvd of Season 3. Strenuously avoiding all mention of what's happening in the current season!
5. Our new kitchen floor! The old one was a true piece of s**t and the new one is heaven. Just installed yesterday.
6. Wellbutrin. Miracle drug for husband.
7. My ulcer (if that's what it was) seems to be going away!
8. Training for a half marathon in September! I've always done short runs, but I'm enjoying long runs very much.
1. my car is being repaired, and no longer looks like a homeless person lives in it! I vow not to let it get that way again!
2. my hsbd is back to work and looking forward to the challenge this construction job site is going to present.
3. the website "Dogs Against Romney".
4. cooler temps and rain
5. seeing the color green pop and deepen outside again.
6. my adult children all seem to be in a good place in their lives at the moment
7. my cats and dogs are always happy to see me in the morning
8. 6 months and no period!
Eight favorites at the moment:
1. School starts back up soon for my Girl!!! So looking forward to some ME time!
2. Finally got a test date for my NCLEX!! Now to study my arse off!
3. Lemon Blueberry yogurt bundt cake. Oh yummmmm
4. Caramel Drizzle K cups. I would be lost without them in the morning!
5. My health. It's pretty good these days despite a slight gain in weight over the summer.
6. Cool nights and cool mornings. Love having my windows open!
7. Fall is coming which means HALLOWEEN!!! My b-day and favorite holiday!
8. Plans for a group trip to Hawaii have started taking form! Holy Hannah am I excited!!
I was nekkid in a room with 2 pretty women (not my wife who was next door) yesterday.... that made me happy ;) http://garysthirdpotteryblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/me-nekkid-in-room-with-2-pretty-women.html
1. I am in the most beautiful spot in the world, White Mountains, NH. I could sit and stare out at the lake and mountains all day and do absolutely nothing. For those that know me, this would NEVER happen at home. I'm not good at sitting still.
2. Two sons and girlfriends arrive at said spot tonight for a week plus of family fun and togetherness. The oldest son and daughter arrive on Friday night. We will be filled to the brim and loving it. And to top it off, two of my "other children", good friends to all, will arrive on Friday, too. This really is a week of bounty. Here's hoping it will all go as in the past, friendly and fun.
3. I am so thankful for this summer's weather...warm and not too hot just about every day, with a few rain showers once in a while.
4. I am headed to a massage in an hour. Delicious
5. Coffee. Oh, that first cup of the day tastes incredible! I'm not much on the following cups, they never measure up.
6. I am happy I have some wonderful friends in my life: Frank, Ellen, Michelle, and Tawnya. They make it all the more interesting.
7. Kayaking...it is a wonderful way to relax on the water.
8. I am happy school starts in a couple of weeks and I get to start teaching again. I love my students and am looking forward to getting back to work and meeting all the new ones. I love that many of my former students have emailed over the summer, excited to work on projects and peer mentoring with me. They have wonderful ideas and are so eager to give back. It makes me smile whenever I think about it.
OOOoooo tough, but here are thing that are making me happy.
1. Planning my trip to NYC next weekend. To spend time with Kelly and have a girls weekend. We're going to do the Circle Line and eat ourselves silly.
2. Dolly Parton on Spotify.
3. Cooler weather and thunderstorms.
4. Caitlin Moran's book, "How to be a Woman". A very funny, smart read. I want to buy her a beer.
5. Realizing that the show at work is not really that "big" despite what the designer keeps saying.
6. Fishing up a first draft of a resume that should help me move on in the world.
7. Planning some meals for my new crock pot.
8. Ashers Broadway Crunch. A Philly Area Chocolate Shop has mixed together Chocolate, pretzels, pecans, and marshmallows. Heaven...... (Yes, they ship: http://www.ashers.com/)
This is a good exercise for me today....happy thoughts, happy thoughts....
1) my happy little cooking website Idiot's Kitchen just had its 2 year anniversary on Monday.
2) I still have 2 chocolate cupcakes in the fridge.
3) my husband is understanding and kind...especially when things have been rough in my life lately
4) I have caller ID so I don't have to answer all the political calls...life in a big swing state
5) peanut butter banana smoothie tastes great after a 4 mile walk
6) Lulu the small cat is recovering from her dental surgery (9 teeth removed...yikes!) and her kidney numbers are slightly better
7) my husband even thinks my man shoes are cute...he calls them square shoes
8) the little lime tree in the yard is LOADED with huge, juicy limes.
What is this cooler weather of which you speak?????
1. Mother/daughter/daughter week (hubby is out of town)
2. Big garden spider in the tomato patch
3. My new haircut. I finally got layers in the front. Was worried it would be frumpy, but it's not!
4. sunflowers ar 8 feet tall in the backyard
5. BLT's for lunch every day
6. moved the bookshelf across the hallway. Looks much better.
7. dishwasher fixed
8. washing machine fixed
Regina, when you're in NY check out the High Line a new walking path built on an old rail line and landscaped with gardens and art. It's fabulous and my new favorite thing about NY. A hidden treasure right through the middle of the city.
1) Hoping to get a couple more blog posts in before the school year starts.
2) Spending time with youngest before he leaves for college on Sunday night.
3) Finishing Stephen King's "11/22/63".
4) Waiting on a mole biopsy. Just a little nervous about that last one.
5)I have about five pairs of Keen shoes. They are so wonderful. Perfect to teach in since I'm always on my feet.
6) Not so sure about banana ice cream, but I'm still partial to their Vanilla Heath Bar Crunch.
7)Thinking about our boys as little kids is what brought me and the Hubs to tears the other night as we sat in the kitchen. That last photo of your kids is slaying me.
8)Just got hooked on the first season of "Breaking Bad". Yes, I know. I'm a late bloomer.
1. Rain. We needed it.
2. Stripped wallpaper in last room of house, came off super easy.
3. School starts tomorrow, kind of sad, but going to dance around the house by myself.
4. My birthday was a relaxing family day.
5. My basil plants are producing fabulously. I will have plenty of frozen pesto this year.
6. I fit into jeans from 8 years ago, pretty much.
7. I had to give up coffee, which is sad and pitiful, I love coffee so much, but have found that Lady Grey Tea is a weak but acceptable substitute.
8. Having my daughter back after her spending summer away with her dad. So glad to have that girly back.
Those shoes are fantastic. These- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Womens-shoes-black-leather-Dansko-38-7-5-8-M-oxford-comfort-/390452236033#ht_2062wt_1037 are my current man shoes but in dark red. I'm in need of a new pair though and those Keens look awfully nice. I may spring for a new pair of Dansko clogs in dark green. After years various shades of red I'm in need of a change.
1. My daughter requested that "school" start up this week instead of waiting until after labor day. This puts a bit of a strain on my day with the garden and canning but at the same time I'm thrilled that she's this excited to get back into it.
2. My tomatoes are ripening. I'm not a big fan of the heat but after a couple of years of wonderfully mild weather in the summer but almost no tomatoes, I'm excited to have tomatoes again.
3. Homemade blackberry ice cream.
4. My friend's swimming pool. It's going to be very, very hot the next few days.
5. Peaches
6. Our "new" front yard. My man worked his tail off the last couple of weekends to take it from a weedy, bumpy, patch of grass to a lovely defined flower bed.
7. Iced coffee
8. Long flowy skirts.
mwwwahhhh! to Erin! Thank you :-)
Deb...that sounds fantastic! Have you tried the goat cheese that's sold at the Farmers Market there? SO GOOD!
1. Oldest son is the owner of his own car, as of yesterday. Happy for his independence and astounding maturity.
2. LOVING espresso chocolate chunk cookies at Mississippi Market. They are most likely 1/4 of dough per cookie.
3. Coleslaw is the new crack. You can conveniently purchase this substance legally and nearly every grocery store and restaurant right now.
4. George's Shoe Repair in St. Paul, a mom/pop place minus the mom where I just had my 8 year old bright green plastic Dansko sandals re-soled with original Dansko soles. Total cost under $20. Gotta love those boys!
5. Bylerly's defunct restaurant which has been turned into a wi-fi wonderful working space -- coffee shop and grocery store within ten feet. Perfect get away for the mostly working at home mother!
6. My hair. Good cut!
7. That darn dog. Both of them.
8. Bikram yoga
9. Meditation.
10. Those kids! That husband!
Claudia- Thanks! My friend mentioned that too! I get to go to NYC for work a lot, so we're going to take the time to do all the stuff that we never get to do while being all touristy!
Any and all suggestions are welcome!
1. Friends with cottages that they invite you to.
2. Looking forward to this weekend for the end-of-season soccer tournament followed by 3 days at one particular friend's cottage that used to be an old canal boat and now resides on an island with good jumping-off rocks, good lying-on-to-watch-shooting-stars docks, and windows that look out at the lake all around. That's kind of gramatically jumbled, but I think you get the point.
3. Having friends (cottage-owning or not) to spend time with, complete projects around the house with, drink wine with, and laugh with.
4. Finally getting my pantry organized.
5. Sleeping with the window open to enjoy the cool breeze and the sound of rain.
6. My girls' senses of humour.
7. Teasing my friend mercilessly over her David Cook obsession while defending my own Daniel Craig obsession.
8. Kicking Salsa (it has a cowboy boot on the container) from the fresh veggie case at the Loblaws. It's fresh and oh so good. I had salsa and chips for dinner on Monday night. :)
1. Summer finally arrived here. (seattle)
2. My neighbor who visits on my days off from work.
We can drink two pots of coffee and tell each other anything.
3. The dog got a bath today yep I am happy about that silly little thing
4. Fresh Strawberries.
5. Reading new comments on Derfwad Manor
6. I need a pair of comfy shoes too :)
7. There is chocolate in my frig.
8. Talking to my 84 year old aunt on the phone about plants .
As a naturally-organized person, that system looks like a hella lot work to me.
It's a bit of a rough week around here, but I can think of 8 people I am happy to have in my extended family for dealing with the rough stuff.
Those might be manshoes, but they look like a Real Woman's grown-up version of Mary Jane's to me. I'm trying to not covet them. It's not working very well. Plus I now want to taste those TJ almonds!
1. The lovebirds came to visit (well, okay, pick up stuff) and stayed for dinner.
2. Summer in WA instead of Virginia. It's been a year now and I'm still over-the-moon about the weather here.
3. Using my laundry line every day
4. Fresh blackberries
5. Fresh tomatoes
6. Squash blossoms dipped in milk-egg-spice mixture and "fried" in the Wok. Delicious!
7. Cool evening breezes
8. Book club meets tomorrow night = escape from testosterone-laden house for me!
1. As others have mentioned, the temperatures have finally broken. Not that it's particularly cool, but it's not gawdawful hot day in day out like it's been since the top of June. I can finally sleep.
2. We have a new roof. I'm not happy that the million dollar hailstorm came this summer, but the old roof wasn't in good shape and insurance paid for it (with some aggravation, but they eventually paid up). Having one less thing to worry about makes me happy.
3. Purple glitter nail polish. Actually pretty much all purple nail polish.
4. Palisade peaches.
5. Mom's peach-blueberry cobbler made with the above. It tastes like summer.
6. My cat Oreo. He's shedding like there's no tomorrow but he's here and well and affectionate and warm and loves me.
7. My husband. See #7. With less shedding.
8. I'm getting inundated with cucumbers from my little vegetable bed. And zucchini. It feels bountiful and abundant in a year which hasn't been that way so much.
I do so like your list of faves!
A day at the beach with my boys, a great charter school I get to help develop, a novel by Steve Martin (yes, that one), finishing MS edits (barely) on time, BLT sandwiches, a successful family photo shoot, cool nights for sleeping, tickets to a baseball game
Thanks for the shout-out Mrs. G. I've just posted a recipe of sorts on my blog . . .
1. Cool afternoons on the back deck with a glass of iced tea.
2. A good run with the dogs.
3. A new recipe that turns out right.
4. Reading my kids to bed.
5. A paycheck after having the summer off.
6. Wearing a size 18 again.
7. A long weekend in the mountains with my mom.
8. Writing in my blog.
1. Youngest daughter moving into her first apartment, right across the street from SF State - she is so excited that it is catching.
2. Got another raise.
3. Low carb sunflower parmesan crackers that I make - so good.
4. My sister is finally home from her extended vacation.
5. The heat wave broke and it is nice and cool in the mornings.
6. My 2 best friends from high school are coming to go to our high school reunion in a couple of weeks.
7. I got my car washed and they took an expired coupon!
8. I am finally losing weight again.
1. Relaxing weekend at the beach with brother-in-law and his girlfriend.
2. Coming home from that relaxing weekend.
3. My haircut - didn't have to do a dadgum thing to it this whole weekend and it looked good.
4. Prasek's Hillje Smokehouse in El Campo, TX. Amazing smoked meats and perfectly placed halfway between Corpus and Nac.
5. Air Conditioning. It's still too damn hot around here.
6. I'm still getting clean checkups one year later.
7. My pillow.
8. My bed.