Friday Happies!

Pineapples.

Hey y'all! What do you have planned for the weekend? I have a family reunion here and I'm going to take off a few days for myself to recover from the insanity of the past month as well. Yay! I most likely will be going to see this one afternoon to snort laugh by myself. Anyway, here's this week's list of funs, happies, pretties, interestings and what-nots to get you geared up for your weekend whatever you may have going on!

*Have you had fish grilled in pineapple bark? What the what?! It sounds amazing!

*Some guy took a picture of a woman nursing her infant at a restaurant (a total stranger mind you) and posted it to his Facebook, shaming her for feeding her kid in public. She wrote back.

*I love this summer time gift wrap! So cheeky!

*Now that is how I'd wear a one-piece swimsuit (add high wedge heels and dramatic hat and shades).

*I have to bring something to the family reunion this weekend that can get warm and not kill anyone. I'm thinking this. Any standby recipes you make for gatherings like that? I'd love to know!

*It has been said at times I have the sense of humor of a frat boy. National Lampoon's anything, 21 and Over- those are my movies I watch alone while I laugh like Beavis & Butthead. All of this is to say, THERE IS A NEW VACATION coming out!!!

*And the bluegrass side of Ed Helms (who happens to be in the new Vacation film). He's so talented!

*Molly Ringwald at 47. She's so cool!

*This was so sweet! A dad stops the father-daughter dance at his daughter's wedding to play catch with her. Ack! I ugly cried.

*The British Prince and Princess's debut photographs side by side.

*Fifteen words to eliminate from your vocabulary to sound smarter! Yeeeeah, I pretty much use them all...

*A sweet video of an expectant family and their dogs. Aw!

*For the new front porch (my house is yellow).

*Smart kid. He gets paid to wait in line at one of the most popular barbecue joints in Austin.

*This picnic blanket is awesome!

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all!

Friday Happies!!

More on vintage Airstream trailers here.

Hey y'all! It's Friday! I'm working all weekend long but I hope you are free as a bird! Here's this week's list of pretties, funnies, happies and what-nots to bring a smile to your face and kick your weekend off right!

*A homeless man offered a stranded college student every last penny so she could get home safely in a taxi late at night. What she did for him in return is lovely!

*What a pretty and simple necklace. I'd love to give it as a gift to a girlfriend (and get one for myself while I'm at it!).

*Twin babies hold hands and talk to each other for the first time. So cute! I'm super fascinated by twins.

*Woah. IMPACT!

*I started this Plank Challenge last night in an attempt to whittle down the damage I've done to my tummy over the past two years. I thought it was going to be daunting, but it really isn't and I can feel it immediately (which in my head means I'll just wake up with six pack abs in a week). Whatever works, y'all!

*Okay, so I know this sounds all hippie-dippy & earth-muffiny but these cauliflower tortillas sound really delicious!

*12 things you didn't know about Airstream trailers! I have a soft spot for these silver bullets.

*Ruh-Roh!! A new British murder mystery to get hooked on! Grantchester!

*Trying to eat a bit healthier for the new year? Here are 8 inspiring ways to remove starch from your diet by replacing it with one vegetable!

*I'm originally from Nashville and I'm basically obsessed with Lonny; so a home tour by Lonny of a Nashville home? Right up my alley!! And it's completely cute!

*Dang y'all! Grilled Peach Slaw! Go on, now! That sounds sooooo good!!!

*These would be perfect for work (and life) this spring and summer!

*This both inspired me and cracked me up. The Illustrated Guide to Becoming One with the Universe.

*Oooooooh!!!!! The Hidden Caribbean! Meet you there! I'll be the one with the sunscreen and shot glasses!

*Hahahaha! Meet the Flockers and the Quackers! I just love this site, Fresh Eggs Daily!

Have a truly wonderful weekend, friends!! I hope you enjoyed this 150th post of P&PPS!

Book Love

I just finished the best book, Death Comes to Pemberly by P.D. James! It is a murder mystery set six years after  Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. For a book nerd like me, it's a total double whammy. Not only does James nail an Austenesque voice (and loving detail about the characters we fell for in P&P) but weaves a murder mystery set in the woodlands of the vast Pemberly Estate that unravels all kinds of sordid misdeeds! It was perfect to be reading this time of year, because it has a bit of spookiness and begins in October.

I loved seeing a more personal side to the Darcy and Elizabeth relationship, and it is gratifying. Plus the book takes place from the perspective of both of them; so you get to walk around in their heads little bit, which I found to be fantastic.

The amusing faults of characters like Lady Catherine, Mrs. Bennet, Lydia and Wickham are pitch perfect while the good naturedness of Bingley and Jane, and the wry wit of Mr. Bennet walk you through the comfort of a well-loved and well-orchestrated world. Only once or twice a word choice felt a smidge modern, but everything else about it seemed as if Austen had signed off on this herself.

I really enjoyed it and will most likely add this to the list of books I read every year (with Chocolat, Like Water for Chocolate, Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibilitiy).

Have you read this book? Did you like it? Do you have any to recommend? I'd love to know!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Saturday Meditation

This image courtesy of BBC.

Even though I live in North Florida, I am starting to see signs that Summer is indeed fading away. Though, I am all about Autumn, I have to say I'm sad to see Summer dwindling. The days are getting shorter, there is a whisper of chill on the air at night. The fruits and vegetables in my parent's garden are going to seed.

A few days ago, I had a moment of nostalgia watching the setting sun lay long, wide swaths of golden light across my yard. I was reminded of what it was like to be a kid this time of year. Like a wild animal, you could feel it in your bones- the season was indeed changing. There weren't as many lightning bugs, the thunderstorms were less frequent. You couldn't quite stay in the pool or ocean as long as you could two weeks before without getting cold. What lay ahead began running through your mind. New books, new school clothes, new friends.

As if, at an old-fashioned ball- the adventures ahead lay before you like a vast and glistening buffet; and behind you the Summer steps solemnly, but gracefully back from the dance floor; waving at you and tucking her dance card away until next time.

Take pleasure in the last waltzes with Summer this weekend. Step outside in the heat and wriggle your toes in the grass. It's something you always miss in the Winter. Watch the sun set, feel the heat mix with the tendrils of Autumn cool. Have a cookout. Look at the stars. If you're a night owl look for shooting stars (last vestiges of the Perseid meteor shower from earlier this week). Eat watermelon,   run through the sprinkler like a kid, or splash in a pool. Eat OtterPops, and mango salsa. Dance. Remember dancing was a part of our lives when we were kids and its so appropriate for the end-of-Summer spectacular! Dance your face off to your favorite Summer tunes while they still feel relevant and haven't shimmied through the cracks into "memories" yet.

We have but a few weeks left of Summer, steal every moment you can. Be present and grateful and happy.

I truly hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Friday Happies!

Adorable baby otter image by imgur.

Well, lovely people- we have certainly made it through another week. For those of you who have "normal" weekends, let's get it kicked off right! And for those of you, like me, who are working all weekend...hell- to everyone reading! Let's have a glass of wine or sparkling water or mega-green smoothie or whatever you like and enjoy some cool and/or happy, and/or unique, peaceful, kind and incandescent moments!

*Quitting sugar, but need something sweet? I kicked added/refined sugar a few months ago...and I'm completely happy with that for three weeks a month, which -ahem- leaves one week a month to, you know...be a lunatic. And in that week-- I could care less about anything but chocolate. Therefore I enjoy one week of guilt-free indulgence, no apologies! Iiiitttttt's pretty great.

*Absolutely fresh and delicious-looking (and super easy) supper recipe!

*Oooooh, nostalgia! Big hits of the summertime, circa 1990's. From Toni Braxton to TLC; from Ace of Base to Hanson. It's pretty great, for a ride down squirm & memory lane. Was everything rayon/nylon/straightening iron then? Seriously?! So great. (Admission: I had a framed print-out picture of Hanson by my bed, Summer '97. Oh yeah.). I also realized I remember every line to almost all these classics on the list to this day. Wow.

*A great book my Mama gave me as a gift. I have referenced it in cocktail party conversations many times. Plus, if you're truly a book nerd, like me, then you'll definitely go mad for it.

*I want to go to there.

*Great article. How to recognize signs the Universe is presenting to you. 

*I will take three thousand of these, please. They smell like tobacco and cosiness and all things rainy-day lovely. Oh and one of these too.

I truly hope you have a wonderful day, and weekend!!