This has been my mantra lately. I have become devoted to ordinary tasks. They are more fulfilling than I ever would have guessed. Who knew??

The good life.

Every morning - before I hop in the shower - I pick out 5 books for Sophie. When I tell her that I am picking out 5 books her eyes start to twinkle ( before bed it's "only 2"). I carefully choose books with pictures that have interesting things to look at and that are about a wide variety of subjects so that she won't get bored. Then she sits cuddled in my bed with the reading lamp on and slowly makes her way through her little stack of books. It struck me this morning that this might be my idea of a perfect morning and Sophie gets to do it every day. It's a good life.

Wisdom from the pantry door

With apologies for my handwriting . . . "Listen to the mustn'ts child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the wont's. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me ... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be." Shel Silverstein

I'm in love with a font

and this is it.

Buttermilk font from Jessica Hische. If you have an extra $50 that you can afford to spend on typography please do so here and then call me and tell me all about it so that I can live vicariously through you.

* update - Nate bought me this font as a gift for valentines day. I LOVE it! And think that he is really the best person I've ever met!

Clubbin'

We bought our Christmas tree from a fundraiser lot being run by the optimist club. It makes me smile to know that there is a (nation wide) group of older gentlemen who have a club that is about looking on the bright side. ;) We bought our tree on a saturday and then went to pick it up on a monday. The genltlemen helping us with our tree invited Nate to be in their club. I don't blame them ... if I had a club he would be the first person that I would want to be in it. ;) I was throwing away their pamphlet when this creed caught my eye. I liked it so much that I am posting it here and on the cupboard in my bathroom.

The Optimist Creed by Christian Larson 1912

Promise yourself:

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Pretty smart club if you ask me!! Have a good day!!

Ava-lina Ballerina

short but sweet