THANKSDAY #101

We’re back from Spring Break, all a smidge tanner than when we left. It was a lightning-fast week, full of family, friends and fun, and the best decision we ever made was to come home on a Friday. Why? Because we missed every bit of traffic and all day Saturday was spent completely lounging around and enjoying a Sabbath-style rest. Just complete recuperation.

On Sunday we fueled back up at church, my husband worried about me crying during worship (as he evidently always does, which I never, ever knew. No, nothing’s wrong! God is so sweet it just sometimes makes me cry!), we ate at a fabulous new Mexican place for lunch. I took my daughter out to a huge parking lot to practice driving (we’re still 10 months away from a permit, thank you sweet baby Jesus). I piddled the rest of the afternoon away with catching up on random things and then Monday came at us with a grumpy sneer and we’re just now re-adjusting to normal life.

It was a perfect and quiet ending to a fun break, and now begins the absolute avalanche of activity that will run us smack into the start of summer in six short weeks. SIX. WEEKS.

And since we came back to full blooms, singing birds and blue skies, here are my thankfuls for this week:

1. Push mowers.The house we’re in right now has a smaller-sized front and back yard, with a janky blend of bermuda grass, three-leaf clovers and weeds. So since it doesn’t require a heavy-duty lawnmower, we bought a push one. And y’all! I hate vacuuming and despise mopping, but give me the push mower any day and I’m joyfully outside mowing the grass. It’s a fun way to get in a little more activity and sunshine, and there’s something sickeningly satisfying about watching each blade of grass get slashed within an inch of its life. (Maybe Greg does have something to be worried about after all.) Bonus: the smell of fresh cut grass, especially in the morning when it’s dewy, is my most favorite thing ever. (After coffee, natch.) And coming back inside after stomping grass off my feet makes me happy for reasons I’m unsure of. Carrying on.

2. Free time for reading. Nope, not an app. Just what Spring Break afforded me, which was ample amounts of time to read anything I wanted, guilt-free. I read two books over break, and had really adored one in particular. So when we got back on Saturday I went to Half Price Books to get another book by the same author and began reading that in the afternoon. I finished Sunday at midnight. I was exhausted for that Monday morning alarm, but getting completely soaked into a story is my most favorite thing ever.

3. Plants and flowers from Trader Joes. I have no green thumb, contrary to the clover-cutting mention above. But Trader Joe’s always has the cutest little succulents, plants and cut flowers. And while I’ve eventually killed every plant I’ve gotten so far, I love picking one up now and again to keep on the table next to my computer. Just a little happy while I’m pounding away on the keyboard or whathaveyou. My current one is adorbs and I transplanted it into an adorable bowl. I don’t know the name of this plant, nor how to properly care for it as the tag/card was missing. But until it’s untimely death, I’ll enjoy the stew out of it.

4. Laughing until you cry. Last week was suddenly full of several times where I laughed so hard I cried and lost my breath. We need more of this in life, friends. One of the things that got me was an old, old story from right after college that I shared with Jaana. And while it wasn’t quite as funny to her, I almost had to pull the car over because I couldn’t see. Stories that never get old are the best.

5. Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen with SPF 70. So I actually forgot this is the best sunscreen in the history of sunscreens to have at the beach, and therefore I didn’t have it last week. MY. BAD. I’ve used this exclusively for the past two summers, and nothing else compares when it comes to preventing burns. It’s fabulous for the beach because of the water and sun protection. But best of all, the greatest tans of my life have been while using this. (Don’t @ me about how getting a tan is bad for my skin. I’m using SPF 70 already, and my goodness it feels good to have a little color.) Don’t let the SPF of 70 scare you into getting a lower SPF number. They don’t work nearly as well. Stick with the 70. I’m telling you. Do not fall for the lies that you’ll be fine with 30. 

Also, a little PSA from one who has watched this happen with her own little eyes for years: STOP USING SPRAY SUNSCREEN AT THE BEACH. IT’S TOO WINDY TO BE EFFECTIVE. I have seen hundreds of people spray themselves down and at least half of the spray floats away and doesn’t land on their bodies. And when some does, it only protects in the spot where it sprayed. You’ve seen people with weird camouflage-looking sunburns? They are sprayers. Guaran-dang-teed. Use spray your feet (too sandy for lotion) and the part on your head (#wordtothewise), but stick to lotion for the rest. I know it’s annoying and can get sandy, but you will not burn like you will spray. Also, no one else wants a mouthful of your spray sunscreen. It tastes like a chemical snow cone. #themoreyouknow

6. Publix subs. After years of not living near a Publix, I forgot how amazing these are. I don’t know what it is, because other places sell Boar’s Head subs too, but nothing compares to the ones from Publix. They are tastier, more satisfying and are probably laced with some narcotic that is addictive and flips a switch in your brain to crave more. But my gosh. Delicious.

So there we are, six items this week. Are there any OCD peeps out there that are going nuts that I’ve ended on a weird number and  haven’t been consistent at all about  how many I keep on the list? #maniacallaugh #maniacallaugh

I hope you have a great rest of the week, and don’t forget to check in tomorrow for Be Free Friday! Sara’s coming to us with a 5-minute encouragement about practical hospitality. You won’t want to miss it!

– Monica