Week 4 FIGs

 Listen, I am really happy that I don't have endometrial cancer because I was really really really worried. And! You would think that would make me just, like, insanely grateful for every single thing. And it did! And I am! But also. The news of the world. Woof. It's hard to just, like, stumble through my days.

Still. Some things:

Waking up to watch Kid's Baking Championship in bed

Starbs runs

My kindergarten dolly with her dolly all packed up for a day of play (a treat her class earned for excellent behavior)

Morning runs

Afternoon scooter rides

Cozy clothes to give and exam

Weather to match the Santa we forgot about

FIGs Week 3

 The BEST part of this whole joy finding exercise is the realization that almost all of these FIGs are recurring things. It's not like I am choosing special once in awhile occurrences here. I COULD NOTICE JOY EVERY SINGLE DAY. Wild. Thanks, Elisabeth.

Here are my tangible moments of joy over the last week:

Minnie can read herself chapter books!

I have started havung my first cup of coffee ON THE YOGA MAT, guaranteeing I will do a quick 10-minute flow and lift weights before my run.

The convenience food you didn't even know you needed!

It took me several minutes to find Annabel the other morning

Prix fixe Vday dinner at a new favorite spot

Cooper wanted this weird squishy banana on our way to Hilton Head (at a Cracker Barrel) and we were like omfg no way are we going to deal with you swinging that thing around in the car and then he FOUND IT AT KOHLS and bought it with his Green Light moneys. 

I love Minnie's love of the library

SHE CAN FINALLY DO A CARTWHEEL after SIX MONTHS of gymnastics

And! Another Minnie Fig-- she said she loves when it's windy outside because the trees are dancing--- then she did her version of a tree dance

Week 2 FIGs

1. Cookie dough Built bars. THESE ARE SO DELICIOUS. I am always looking for something sweet to eat at the end of the lunch hour, and THESE ARE IT.

2. Last week's Cool Blogger Book Club homework. Look at these gorg Gilded Age mansions just a 10-minute walk from my office!

3. Sunrises.

4. Sunsets

5. More fave comfy clothes at work

6. Fave walking/running buddy 

7. I got my filthy car washed!!!! At one of those places where you just get out and they drive it through and like 6 people leap into action and vacuum everything. Which gave me plenty of time to look at the macaws. Which honestly really creep me out. BUT NOW MY CAR IS CLEAN on the outside and definitely clean-ish on the inside.

Bonus: this book is terrific, and I loved the narrator

Also, a cookie decorating kit from a local bakery-- Minnie got to frost cut-outs, and I did not have to bake them (but they were freshly baked, and the frosting was **chef's kiss**!)

 

FIGs so far

Elisabeth is encouraging bloggers to collect daily glimmers of joy this month (FIG= finding joy in gratitude), and I was skeptical because the world is a dumpster fire, etc, but I am giving it a shot, you guys. 

1. Apple Notes: I credit Sarah with my love of this app. For years, I only used it to store my IG hashtags for easy cut and paste into posts (and I still think this is a great use of the app, even though IG has recently changed its hashtag limits). But! After hearing SHU talk about the way she uses Notes, I have been using it for more catch-all things (and I like it better than a google doc for some things because it is more user-friendly on my phone than a doc is) (To be clear, I mostly type on my desktop in Notes, but it is so easy to access a Note on my phone and make small changes).

Right now, in addition to my IG hashtags, I have a shared Note (with the fam) where I keep track of weekly menus-- with recipe links-- so helpful when grocery shopping. 

I have a blog content Note

I keep track of book stats in Notes, as well as my Ins and Outs lists. I also have a bog old random Note called "random" with weird odds and ends and links, and the kids have started sharing their wish lists this way. 

LOVE IT.

2. Dopamine dressing. This is a really dumb internet way to say WEAR WHAT YOU LOVE and makes you happy. I have been making this a priority on Wednesdays (because Wednesdays suck), and I loooooove it. What a fun practice. For me, SLIPPERS AS SHOES even when I am lecturing to a packed house is key.

3. This mic drawer in one of my lecture halls. Loose batteries that are actually dead, mics with no chargers, mics with no batteries, phone chargers, a speaker-- what the what? Does my dad actually maintain this drawer? Makes me smile every time I open it (even when all the mics are dead and all the batteries are leakers).

4. Cool Blogger Book Club: I don't even like this book very much you guys! But I like the practice of reading it with all of you! Also! I am teaching the cult of true womanhood and the ideology of domesticity as they applied to abolitionist rhetors in the US and re-reading all of the Anne books, so this time period and these ideas are kind of all muddled up in my head right now in a way that's really interesting.

5. Speaking of bloggers connected offline and across distance! I love doing Yoga with Adriene with Julie.

6. I am so grateful for these EXCELLENT pre-seasoned veggies from Costco. Made with avocado oil and just the right amount of garlic, they are a perfect side dish when I am running late and am otherwise uninspired. We are on our third bag.

7. I adore being cold and sweaty

8. My tiny ballerina getting ready for her (June) recital

Thanks to Elisabeth for encouraging us to find joy in our every day and our everyday.