Five Quick Things 009
A song to calm you, a recipe to try, a book for this stage of life, a new favorite snack, and a beautiful work of art
March started with a bang. We spent last weekend in Rhode Island, at a dance competition Saturday and Sunday and then a gymnastics meet Sunday afternoon. By the time we got home Sunday night I felt like a zombie. I fell asleep before 9:30 and stayed there until 8:15 the next morning. This is the time of year when carving out time for creating feels nearly impossible, but I’m determined to do a little bit each week. Here are five quick things filling up my cup this week.
One Song I’m Loving
When the world is spinning faster than I can handle, I turn to classical music to help slow me down. This song showed up on my Spotify a few weeks ago and every time I listen to it I find my heart settling just a bit.
One Recipe That Surprised Me
Because of the hectic weekend, I came into the week with no meal plan. At 4:30pm Monday night, while driving the littlest to gymnastics, I starting thinking about dinner. I needed a fast, hearty meal. One that tasted like comfort food, but did not require hours of prep or cooking (or any meat, since it was all frozen solid). After I found some lentils in the pantry and grits in the freezer, I did some sleuthing on Google and discovered this Lentil Bolognese recipe. I was skeptical, but you guys … it was so incredibly good. It took me 15 minutes of prep time, and 40 minutes cooking time. I made Parmesan Grits to go with it.
One Book to Add to Your List
March’s reading challenge is a Mass Book Awards Honoree and I came into the month with no idea which book I would choose. Our library has a table setup with books that fit, and I was instantly drawn to the cover of Separation Anxiety: a woman wearing a dog in a baby sling. Somehow, Laura Zigman wrote a book that hit me in all the right places in this second third of life stage I find myself in. She addresses our inevitable separation from our children as they become older, the difficulty of staying connected to our spouses through loss and stress, and the beauty that pets bring into the mix — and she does it in a way that made me laugh out loud (and also shed a few tears).
One Peanut Butter to Try
When I was in Georgia, a friend introduced me to Nerdy Nuts. She was so excited about the many flavors she loved, that the day after I got home, I placed an order of my own. I ordered dOughMG, Chocolate Chipper, and Harvest Festival—none of which are available right now—but I can also vouch for this Cookies and Cream. I had it on a granola bar at my friend’s house. This is no ordinary peanut butter. It’s peanut butter you just want to eat with a spoon.
One Piece of Artistry
My oldest started her dance competition season this weekend and her group dance blew us all away with their artistry and execution. This group of 10-12 year olds have been together for four years now, and this year has really brought about a huge shift in how they work together. This dance won top score for all dances in its level. I love it not just because my kid is in it, but because it truly shows how dance can be art - even when you’re eleven years old.
Don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour Saturday night! Although I hate losing the hour of sleep, I love that it means more daylight.
As the sunshine begins to linger longer in the sky, may you turn your face to the light and remember no darkness ever lasts forever.
Until next time,
*Included book links may be affiliate links, which means I make a very small commission if you choose to buy through my link.
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