Category: Slice of Life

The Purse Project: My Summer Edition

Yes, I am one of those women who carries a summer purse–i.e. a different purse in the summer than I carry the other three seasons.

I’ve had this purse for about 8 years. I absolutely love it. The sun hat (you can see the brim lower right) is made of the same material, which actually has a very high paper content.

purse project summer 01

One of the things I love about this bag is the detachable cross body strap, which comes in so handy when I’m grocery shopping.

purse project summer 03

It doesn’t “organize” internally as well as my other seasons bag. Oh, and my new glasses came with much larger cases, which I’m not sure I can correct.

National Lazy Day

It’s National Lazy Day.

How many of us need a push to be just lazy for one day?

I once read a book, a feminist book, by Jane O’Reilly or Ingrid Bengis or Tillie Olsen or someone whose name I have forgotten. The author was recalling her childhood family holiday gatherings and how the children always preferred hanging out with the men drinking beer and playing horseshoes than with the women in the kitchen, who were just bitchy. The author’s moment of truth came when she realized the women were bitchy because they didn’t have the holiday off. They still had to watch the children, prepare the feast, clean up afterward.

Why do we need permission to take a day off?

I frequently find my “vacation time” from day job usurped by household chores.  And I resent it.

I’m reminded of The Parable of the Mexican fisherman and the Investment Banker.

And of the many Facebook memes advising us to build a life we don’t need a vacation from.

That’s not lazy.

Writing is the best part of my day

National Friendship Day

My friends are a blessing.

Lately, there have been many Facebook memes that express our relationship.

tribe

SMart Assy

road trip

And when we do go on a road trip

creek

We sometimes do play in the creek. Still.

And you know what keeps us friends?

We don’t share those photos on social media.

National Grab Some Nuts Day

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Yes, that really is one of today’s observances, and the latent Gutter Girl in me snickers and thinks: “SPLASH!”

But this is a PG-13 blog, so I’ll haul myself out of the gutter, dry myself off and be a responsible adult.

Nuts.

I am not a huge nut fan. Especially walnuts. Don’t know why people have to ruin perfectly good brownies or chocolate chip cookies with walnuts. All of my life I thought I didn’t like banana bread. A friend made some with almonds instead of walnuts, and I loved it!

Another friend substitutes pecans for walnuts when she knows I’m on the agenda. It’s an acceptable substitute, but the foods would still be better without them.

Nuts I do like:

Cashews don’t offend me—especially in Chinese food. And what about that divine mixture of hazelnut chocolate, Nutella? Addicting! Macadamia nuts with white chocolate in a chocolate cookie? I’m dying here!

I’ll eat peanuts (not technically a nut, but rather a legume), but almonds are my favorite. Too bad growing almonds requires so much water.  Something so healthy shouldn’t be an ecological disaster.

Because almonds are a healthy food choice.

Most nuts (in their pure state) are a good food choice. Unfortunately, chocolate (even though it’s made from cocoa beans, which are a fruit) is considered an adulteration. Nuts are a great at-the-desk snack—high-protein with omega-3 fatty acids, easy to eat, and very filling.

So go grab some nuts!

National Ice Cream Day

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It’s the third Sunday in July. . . and that means it’s National Ice Cream Day!

I blogged about my favorite flavors last year. Not much has changed since then.

I have a friend who hates fruit flavored or fruit in her ice cream. How can a person not like a banana split?

I will confess, tho’, I’m not fond of crunchy things in my ice cream. Except peanuts or almonds.  I recently tried two new-to-me Ben & Jerry flavors: Everything But the . . . (A Collision of Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Creams mixed with Peanut Butter Cups, Fudge-Covered Toffee Pieces, White Chocolatey Chunks & Fudge-Covered Almonds) and Stephen Colbert’s  Americone Dream (Vanilla Ice Cream with Fudge Covered Waffle Cone Pieces & a Caramel Swirl). The toffee pieces turned me off, as did the waffle cone pieces.

Is there something you don’t like in your ice cream?