Friday Favorites – 8/14/15

Hello and happy Friday everyone!  As you may remember, I didn’t get a chance to post Friday favorites last week, so I’m doing more than five today.  In no particular order:

1.  Confirming plans for my aunt to come visit us in October!

You guys, I love all my aunts, but unfortunately I don’t get to see most of them very often.  This particular aunt I have gotten to see fairly frequently, especially in the last 7 or so years, and it didn’t take long for her visits to become extra special to me and the rest of my family.  There is just a connection between us that only blood can explain.  We think the same way, feel the same way, struggle the same way, even though we are different people.  (This applies to all family; the same thing happened when I re-met my cousins a couple years ago.)  So I can’t wait!  There is a small chance my uncle might be coming too ( ❤ ), but if he does, it means he has no work (he runs his own business), which is bad.  So I honestly don’t know whether to hope he can come or not… I’m so glad God is deciding and not me! :S

2. Detox salad  (Sorry for the weird picture!)

I love this salad so much.  I didn’t name it, and I’m not the kind of person who goes on detoxes or cleanses.  It’s just a good salad, and really doesn’t feel like a salad to me.  It tastes almost like dessert.  Almost.  We’ve changed it up a bit, and you can definitely do without the parsley if you don’t have it/aren’t a fan.  We don’t drizzle maple syrup on it, either.  It doesn’t need it, IMO.  Anyway when I saw it on the menu, I was very excited, and I never mind making it, which is a huge compliment from me!  I like it all ways, but I think my favorite is sprinkled with cinnamon.

3.  Podcasts

I’ve been listening to podcasts a lot this past week, and I’ve been loving it!  Who’s idea was it to bring these back?  Or maybe they never went out?  Whatever it was, I’m very grateful that they are so popular right now!  I love listening to stuff while I work, and sometimes I just don’t want to listen to my music.  Usually my MO is an audiobook, but I’m starting to run out of good ones that I’m interested in listening to at this point.  (I’m stringing out N. D. Wilson’s latest series as looonnnng as I can!)  So this gives me something to listen to, and a pretty much never-ending supply, because there are TONS.  Ha.  Knock on wood about the never-ending part.  Anyway, I’ve listened to a couple of Jess Lively’s, as well as the Food Blogger Pro podcast (’cause I just luv Bjork and Lindsay), and even though I’m not a food blogger, I’ve enjoyed their insights, as usual.  But I think my all-time favorite so far has been Maddy’s Mind Body Musings podcast.  I’ve loved pretty much every one I’ve listened to (not the most recent one…I’m skipping that one. 😉 ).  I’d highly recommend this one with Isabel Foxen Duke if you are struggling with body image.  Not that listening to this will fix everything, but it’s all about the baby steps. 😀

4.  Seeing Whippets again

This was a 9 month old whose people invited us to sit with them.  Whippets have got to be some of the sweetest dogs ever!  Every time I see them, I remember why I want one.  Now I have to get to work…

5.  Starting Matthew (the book of the Bible)

I don’t know why, but I feel like once I’m partway through the old testament, I have to go all. the. way. through. before moving on to a different book.  Now that I finished the old testament this time through, I’ve decided that no matter what I’m in, if I feel drawn to another book, I’ll listen (or read) that instead.  I’ve been really looking forward to Matthew this time through, so I was super excited to start it.  Bad idea to do so at night, because the guy kept putting me to sleep.  Anyway, Matthew was the last book I quizzed on, so it’s a bit nostalgic for me, too.  I’m surprised by how much I’ve forgotten in two years…

6.  Seeing an old (quizzing!) friend of ours at the grocery store

Not once, not twice, but three times!  I feel so blessed, because I always get the feeling that she is genuinely glad to see us (even though the third time it was starting to be a little awkward at the beginning because you can’t say, “I haven’t seen you in forever!” or even exclaim over the coincidence of seeing each other twice in a row).  I also am starting to wonder why…is God trying to tell us something, or maybe just encouraging us or giving us hope?  Here I go overthinking things as usual.  Anyway, it’s been amazing to see her, because she understands what we are missing.  No one else seems to understand.  I’ve kind of felt bombarded by quizzing stuff recently; I’ve started Matthew, we’ve run into her, I keep running into things on blogs that reminds me of the quizzing peeps, I just wore an old quizzing t-shirt…sorry, I am getting carried away again.

7.  Funny memes

I saw this one on Kylie’s blog, and had to share it here, because it is so much like me, and apparently everyone else who looks grown up, too!

This one I saw on Alison’s blog, and I couldn’t stop laughing.  It made my week a little better, and I hope it does the same for you!

[source]

8.  Going to my shift today! 

Technically it hasn’t happened yet, but after missing out last week, I’ve been looking forward to it.  I feel totally disconnected from things when I miss a week.  Unless I’m doing something crazy busy instead; then it flies by!

9.  This is weird for me, but, um, I’ve actually kind of really liked my workouts this week? 

I usually hate working out. About a month ago, after doing the same exercise program for two years, my compatriots and I decided to try out something different. Since then, I’ve noticed my body getting stronger, which is a totally new experience for me!  The last two years I noticed changes at first, but then I kind of stagnated, which was not fun. Now I’m noticing little differences from day to day, which is empowering.  I haven’t done a bunch, but I’m really liking the Yoga stuff I’ve tried.  I also like the Barre we tried, but I haven’t done much of either, so we’ll see!

10. This isn’t really a favorite, although it was pretty tasty. 

I was super proud of this lunch (why? who knows…) a couple weeks ago, and I couldn’t resist taking a picture to share with you all.  It’s a guacamole grilled cheese sandwich (<- try it if you like both grilled cheese and guac!) with fresh cherries and blueberries!  Oh, and some leftover roast carrots.

Hey that’s ten things!  That wasn’t on purpose, but it’s kind of funny.  That last one was kind of cheater, and it really goes more with yesterday’s post topic, but oh well.  I didn’t want it to have to wait until next Thursday, and it rounded this out to ten, so I can’t take it out now. 😀 😉

What’s one of your favorite lunches?

Do you listen to Podcasts? If so, what are your favorites?