Daily Dose of Dillies

What in the world are "dillies," and why would anyone want a daily dose of them? Well, my curious friends, "dillies" are my one-a-day noticings/ponderings, though they tend to be things I adore or am obsessed with, in which case, welcome to my favorites list! Perhaps you'll find that some of the following are your favorites too?

NOTE: I'll add my newest Dose of Dillies to the top of this page, so that you don't have to scroll all the way down for the updates (because it really is a long way down, you see).

Knock-offs! Here's how it is: I have expensive taste. Seriously. I have a kinship with exquisitry. Not on purpose, mind you! I ain't down with shelling out hundreds, nay thousands, of dollars for things, but alas, it's so. So how does a cheap-minded girl with an eye for luxury ever buy anything? Why, with knock-offs, of course! Take the turquoise and gold necklace above--a Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra collection inspired piece. The name brand original, made popular with its many wearings by Reese Witherspoon, costs somewhere in the ballpark of $8,000. HOLY SHIZNIT, right?! Correct-o-mundo. So I researched look-alikes. And what did I find? This website:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/NYLightMetals . For $60 some dollars, I've got myself a rich-looking, Van Cleef & Arpels knock-off! Savings? $7,940! Now that's exquisite :) Go buy yourself one...

Fage Total 2% Greek Yogurt with Fruit
(You're all getting a taste of my dairy obsession, aren't ya?). Where to begin with the wondrousness that is this yogurt? Ah, I shall begin with the fact that this yogurt IS. NO. JOKE. It's THICK and ridiculously CREAMY (so it's no wonder that it tastes kind of like sour cream or cream-cheese--which, personally, I'm A-okay with). So there you are with this thick, slightly sour yogurt that gets tossed with this smooth, jelly-like pureed fruit (either peach, cherry, or blueberry (though there's honey, too)) when WHOA! Taste explosion in your mouth! The sweet fruit mellows out the sour of the yogurt, turning the whole thing into a dessert-like concoction. All the best traits pop up: dense, sweet, and creamy. I'm tellin' ya, these little guys HIT. THE. SPOT. And to think, all of that for just 130 calories! Not to mention the protein content in Greek yogurt--10 grams! You won't be hungry for a wee while, that's for sure. And who could be anyway? When nothing tastes like Fage yogurt, why would you wanna eat anything else? Do yourself a favor. Put em on your grocery list :)

Screen Doors. Recently, A and I have been leaving our backdoor open so that the Spring-timey breeze can blow through the screen door. Ain't it wonderful just to sit on the couch, feel the fresh air on your skin, and know that a mosquito can't get to you? A dream come true. And the view! I could watch the tree in our backyard sway for hours. And to hear all the outdoor noises come rushing in--wind in the branches, birds chirping, far-off voices, a plane overhead. A screen door is like a window, reminding me that I'm a part of everything else, so why not open it up and let it all in? (Except the bugs. That goes without saying).
*image from http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/1-screen-door-thomas-firak.jpg


Caswell Massey Soaps. So, I bought a 12-piece Luxury Mini-Soap Sampler of these during the holidays, thinking we'd give some of them as gifts. Buuut, we didn't. I'll tell you why. First, they come in these adorable little keepsake boxes that you could easily reuse as gift boxes for jewelry or hair clips or whatever! I'm telling you, they're presh. Second, they don't leave you with that cringe-worthy squeaky clean feeling, but rather leave your skin feeling moisturized and soft! Third, they lather nicely. Fourth, though tiny, like little hand soaps (though we use them in the shower), each bar lasts for awhile. Fifth, and perhaps most importantly, you can still smell the scent on your skin long afterward! And boy are they wonderfully various scents--Fresh Cut Flowers, Lavender & Violet, Almond, Rosemary & Tarragon, Lemon Verbena, Oatmeal, Orange Bergamot, Sandalwood, Ocean, Patchouli, Oak Moss, Key West Lime. I mean, right?! RIGHT?!?! They're not cheapies, but they're goodies. So go to Caswell Massey right now and treat yourself. Being clean ain't never smelled so good :)

Pep-talking/Uplifting Someone Else's Spirits. So, A just began studying for the boards, and already he's stressed out. From an objective point of view, I can see that the routine of studying--the everyday reading, eight hours at a time, etc, etc is a huge part of the problem. His schedule is so redundant! Studying, testing, studying, testing. This kid could benefit from a few days off, but alas, there just ain't enough time for BOTH study and rest! Which, of course, means he doesn't take a day off. And reading ALL. DAY. LONG. EVERY. DAY. gets tiring! So he just sets himself up for breakdown after breakdown. Not to mention, he gets lonely studying by himself all day long. It makes him feel so singular in all of this, like the weight of his future (and mine too!) rests on HIS shoulders. So, I've decided to make life easier for the kid, by playing an active part in his success. I've already begun to make inspirational/uplifting notes to hide in his books and binders. I plan on speaking nothing but praises and positivity. I'm fully committed to putting him first--ask him what he needs, what he wants--you know, emotionally support him, and maybe even baby him a little, too ;) The thing is, there's nothing better than having someone to loosen you up and put you at ease, so I'm hoping I can be that for A this month. And I hope that practicing my life coaching skills with A will help me form some good, positive, uplifiting HABITS that I can exhibit even after his boards are over and passed.
* image from http://static.reelmovienews.com/

Heirlooms. A lot happened last year, not the of least which was my Poppy's death in July. After his funeral, my Nanny took me into his closet and told me to pick out some of his favorite western shirts. I picked out three that I'd seen him wear--a purple plaid, a white with gold stitching, and a tan with a wheat stalk pattern.

They're in my closet now.

After A and I got engaged, all sorts of family heirlooms came out of the woodwork. A's grandparents' porcelain couple statue/wedding cake topper. My parents' wedding cake knife and their ring-bearer pillow...It was actually in search of said pillow that my mom found the peridot rings she wore all through college--peridots the color of shallow water set in 14K gold. She gave them to me, and I'm wearing them right now, in fact :)

And moving into our first house, A's mom gifted us a million heirlooms--A's great-grandpa's childhood rocking chair, her own breadbox from the late 1970s, various old soda pop bottles, vintage Samsonite luggage sets, A's grandma's hand-painted porcelain jewelry tray and some doilies she crocheted herself...to name a few.

The more I see these objects and touch them, the more I understand their worth. It's as A's mom told me (she mostly shops at thrift stores and so brings home and/or gifts other people's stuff a lot)...used objects house their previous owners' presences, their energies (sounds hokey, I know, but I think she's on to something here). And because these objects house energies, she makes sure to welcome them to her home and offers her blessings upon them..."To clear the air," as she says. I think she put into words exactly how I see heirlooms--as relics of people. Getting dressed in the morning, I see Poppy's shirts and smile, nod hello to them. Taking off my jewelry, I finger the paint on A's grandma's porcelain tray and suddenly feel connected to her, like I'm part of that family's lineage now. By placing these objects around my house, I'm inviting their owners' presences into my life. And I like to think that I'm helping keep their energies alive by looking at them, touching them, using them. There's something wonderful about walking into my empty house and feeling like it's full.

*image from britannica.com

Throw Blankets. Winter makes for some BEAUTIFUL moments on the couch, doesn't it? I've got me this leopard faux-fur blanket that's incredibly heavy and wonderful, a knitted cotten throw that's big and stretchy and can wrap around a pair of legs a bajillion times, and a Snuggie (for good measure)! Whenever it's cold, A and I turn on the fireplace and wrap ourselves in the blanket of our choosing (though A's 100% against the Snuggie because it's SO STATICKY! And I'm talkin' heart-stopping-because-it-hurts-so-bad-staticky! Ouch big time. And yet I still keep that thing around? Hmph.). While A studies, I read every magazine in the house, dibble-dabble on my Kindle, and then promptly fall asleep on the couch for an hour or so before actually going upstairs to bed. Best nights ever. Coziest nights of my life. I can't wait for the next storm to snow me in. Though I can still nap for an hour before bedtime in warm weather too, right? Oh phew.
*image from potterybarn.com

Glass Jars. I was a tough sell on these at first, but because A is a big proponent of using glass jars for ev-er-y-thing (taking his coffee to school, storing leftovers, storing cold cereal, as water glasses, etc), I knew I'd have to get used to them sooner or later. And you know what? after two years, I think I've finally seen the light. Just this morning I brought my home-brewed coffee to work in a glass jar and all day I felt practical (like this jar could be used for any number of different things! Just one of which is its cup-ability! Only multi-use items for me!) and alternative (like a student back at Naropa University who's got different ways of doing everything, those ways being earthly and environmentally conscious, of course) and surprisingly down-home, too (like I'm a housewife out in some rural area without nice china or even a coffee mug and so I use jars because, well, I don't care about that fancy and frilly-ness). Not to mention, A put most of our cold cereals in glass jars to make more space in our cupboards. How much do I love opening that cabinet and seeing stacked jars full of variously shaped and colored cereals! And, to be honest, it's easier to pour cereal out of a jar than a box; there's no dealing with that stupid plastic bag that never rips like you want it to, no losing bits of cereal between the bag and the box (ugh, that totally gets my goat!). And you can see when your Mighty Bites are getting low and need replenishing! Hey, anything that keeps me from running out of my Mighty Bites is a friend of mine :)

* image from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/

Public Restrooms (Don't ew yet). While I'm usually one to bash public bathrooms--they're uninviting, unsanitary, and un-private--I've had a minor change of heart, minor in that I've changed my mind about certain public bathrooms. The first being the bathrooms in the office building where I work. Here's the sitch: I arrive at work at 8AM everyday. As soon as I log into my time-tracker-keeper (it's official name), I hustle over to the break room, pour myself a huge cup of coffee, and proceed to gulp it down as fast as its temperature allows me. Which means that come 8:30, I've got the fullest bladder known to man. So, I go to the bathroom. At 8:30. Every day. (Here's the part where I reveal the reason behind my change of heart...) I open the door. The lights are off. I smile to myself. I'm the first pee-pee-er of the day! I turn on the lights as if it's my own personal bathroom to which I reserve the electricity rights. I then proceed to walk by each empty stall, all the toilets freshly cleaned and ready for the day's use, and pick one at random. I semi-confidently step inside (when before I used my shirt sleeves, my elbows, my feet! to set-up shop, refusing to let an inch of my skin touch ANYTHING). It's glorious, I tell you, having an entire public bathroom to yourself! The choicest stalls, PLENTY of toilet paper, no need to be quiet (sometimes I hum in the bathroom; don't you?), no worries about hurrying for the next person in line, no water-logged countertops soaking your shirt or pants, and you can take as long as you want in front of the mirror without fellow pee-ers thinking you're vain! No longer does the public bathroom feel uninvited, unsanitary, and un-private. Brilliant! Best part of the work day maybe, my morning soiree with the stalls :)

But the office bathrooms aren't the only bathrooms I've grown to appreciate. There are the Nordstrom bathrooms! Or the "Women's Lounge" as it's hoity-toit-ily named. There are couches and full-length mirrors and the stalls have a million hooks for hanging your purse, your jacket, your shopping bags, your...well, if you had something else, there'd be a hook to hang it on. If I'm on the other end of the mall and need to pee, I hold it in just so I can use the Nordstrom bathrooms! Intense? I know.

With all my positive public bathroom experiences, I've taken to checking out restaurants' restrooms, too (specifically sit-down restaurants' restrooms though...no McDonald's McNastiness for moi). Not only are restaurant bathrooms generally the cleanest of the bunch, but they tend to be fancier. There's this restaurant in Denver called Jing; their see-through glass bathroom doors fog over and opaque the minute you lock them! Or how about Del Frisco's bathrooms! They've got terry cloth towels for drying your hands! And hairspray! And floss! And breath mints! Most importantly, however, going to a restaurant's bathroom provides one with the opportunity to say, "I'm gonna go freshen up real quick." Freshen up? Don't mind if I do ;)
* image from http://www.educatedguesswork.org/

Married Talk. Before I got engaged, conversations about kids or houses or spouses were directed elsewhere (not that I minded being left out, as I wouldn't have had much to contribute, anyway). But now, my married coworkers address me and include me in their chit-chat. Just today I got asked how many kids A and I want, when we want them, and how life's different with and without kids. We talked about pregancy and raising kids while working. We talked about splitting time between families during the holidays and how we want to decorate our houses for Christmas. It was bizarre. But in a good way. I was simply in unfamiliar territory, talking about topics and issues that I've really only talked about with A. That's when it sank in for real--I'm a legitimate part of this new conversation circle; I think about and have opinions on married-related issues; I can talk to other married women now! Sounds ridiculous, but it made me feel so grown up, like I've been inducted into the next phase of my life :)* image from http://www.mia-bella.org/

Wine. As many of you know, A and I went to Napa Valley for our honeymoon, so it's no surprise we like wine. However, this ain't just about how wine gets my tastebuds in a flavor-tastic frenzy or how wine buzzes are sleepy and slow and so perfect for wintry evenings in front of the fire. No, this is about the statement that wine makes! As if its presence dubs the day "an occasion." This is about the fact that one bottle of wine is not just begging to be, but it's meant to be shared! It's a bringer-together-beverage...er. And it's a sipper (not meant for Flip Cup and Beer Pong), which means it should be imbibed slowly (not exactly binge-appropriate), which means it provides room for conversation (which I can vouch is true time and time again! Or bottle for bottle, rather). I've really come to appreciate it, the adult of the alcohol family. Maybe set up shop with that special person (or a group of friends, for that matter. Have some people over!) and pop a bottle, huh? Tell me where I'm wrong...

* image from http://images.askmen.com/

Banana Nut Cheerios. I suppose you have to like bananas to like these (Bananas are my favoritest fruit EVER! Num, num, nummy), but they are FABULOUS! Darker, crunchier, and more perfectly round than their Cheerio counterparts, these bad boys are flavorful enough that their banana, nutty sweetness shines through when mixed with other cereals. A breakfast delight, I tell you! Like my Mama done gone and baked me a banana bread in a bowl for breakfast! (Excuse my attempt at country twang...yikes). Try them, please. And love them dearly like I do. Tangent--I still can't figure this out. So, a single Cheerio is a Cheerio, but is a single Kix a Kix? Or a Kick? A Smack is a singular Smacks, but is a Chex a singular Chex? Or a Check? I'm so confused. The cereal companies should really take to explaining their namesakes on the backs of the boxes, don't you think? Maybe I'd read them then. Riveting reading, for sure. Cause the little "Find all the hidden marshmallows" on the back of the Marshmallow Treasures box ain't cutting it these days. Even if I was half-blind, I could find all 7. That's beside the point though...BANANA CHEERIOS ARE THE POINT! Go get em. "Go on! Git!" (<--If you can name that movie, I'll send you a box of em, myself).
* image from http://thehealthyeverythingtarian.files.wordpress.com/

Wishlists. A list of all the things we wish to see, all the things we wish to experience, to feel, to give or receive...Wishing I can get behind.
Here goes:

1. I wish to get outside of ME and MY wants, MY needs, MY happiness, MY life and give, give, give of MYself until I feel less like me and more like a part of everything else (Mary, get me involved).

2. I wish to shine, sparkle, and warm like the summer sun through a white window-shade.

3. I wish to approach housecleaning like meditation, so that cleaning the hardwood floors is not back-breaking work, but rather mind-altering and soul-soaring relaxation.

4. I wish to dress impractically fanciful--ruffled skirts, tiny heels, frilly scarves, and LOTS of jewelry--as if I am a year-round Christmas tree.

5. I wish to show my friends, family, and HUSBAND (Eeek! Still not used to throwing that title around) how often I think about them, how much I care about their happiness, and how much I loooooooove them by offering small kindnesses (i.e. Greeting cards in the mail? Random and unimportant text messages? A batch of chocolate peanut-butter fudge? A hand-crocheted doily? Okay, so maybe no doilies).

6. I wish to notice the tiny changes that distinguish one season from another.

7. I wish to have long, lustrous, and bouncy hair that I can toss, twirl, and flounce. (So what if it's a vain wish. You can't deny the attractiveness of a good head of hair).

8. I wish to people-adore, which is a step above people-watching. I wish to see people, observe them, and find beauty in their every move and breath.

9. I wish to write ridiculously and uncritically. And instead of immediately trashing them, I wish to laugh at the no-goods.

10. I wish to have everything in its place--a homey, yet perfectly tidy abode. Martha Stewart, please step down.

11. I wish to dance. A LOT. And whether it's a dance party at home or dancing at a club or bar, I wish to not attempt to look secksy (cause the likelihood is I won't).1
12. I wish to always wear lipstick or lipgloss or liptint or lipbalm--to keep those bad boys moisturized, colored, and lookin' juicy.

13. I wish to savor food instead of scarfing it. I wish to make meals take an hour at least...talk in between bites if I HAVE to ;)

14. I wish to memorize a joke and PERFORM it whenever possible. (Anyone else remember that night sophomore year in college when B went out and partied without us, only to come home drunk and HILARIOUS? She must've done stand up comedy for a half an hour. Never heard so many jokes back-to-back. "SUPPLIES!" Awesome).

15. I wish to sit prettily--legs crossed, back straight, smile as big as a watermelon slice (That's pretty, right?).

16. I wish to remember that FUN lies in the F word--FREE. (Haha, got you on that F word bit, didn't I?).

17. I wish to imagine myself as a hot air balloon--colorful, full of bouyancy, and capable of flight.
* image from http://spiritblogger.files.wordpress.com/

Next Blog Button. Just to bring everyone up to speed, Blogger.com has a "next blog" button at the top of their blogsites, which allegedly connects you to other same-interest and/or like-minded blogs. I say "allegedly" because, well, the "next blog" button keeps bringing ME to blogs such as "Memoirs of a Mommy" (yipes!) and/or family-photo-album-esque type websites. But mostly, Blogger.com links my blog to foodie and baking blogs--for example "The Little Gastronomy" or "Getting Out of My Head: Food Version" or "Food Is Good: I Am What I Eat"--which I find a little bit hilarious and yet a little bit disconcerting. Though I thoroughly enjoy a good meal, I do not cook nor do I TALK about cooking in my blog, so you understand my confusion. However, I DO like seeing all the pretty pictures of cakes and quiches and donuts and pastas and cupcakes and breads and scones and fudges AND AND AND!!! So maybe that's where Blogger's head is at? Either way, that there "next blog" button has been keeping life interesting over here (and mouth-watering!). Give her a whirl.
* image from http://buzz.blogger.com/

Fancy Glass Candy Dishes (preferably with candy in them).

Is three candy dishes in one room (all full of candy) too much? So maybe I can't help myself when it comes to those crystal glass heart dishes that perfectly hold an entire bag of Godiva dark chocolate truffles. Or that yellow glass basket that highlights the shininess of red-foiled Dove chocolate squares? Or that old glass jar that's tinted blue and has the most adorable (and semi-dangerous) tin lid--I can't help loving how it displays mixed chocolates--as if they belong on a shelf in a soda shop; candy from another time. (I'm beginning to think maybe I can't help myself when it comes to chocolate???)

 Honestly, it's the glitter of the glassware combined with the perfectly (and typically sparkly) wrapped candy that's irresistible. The adult version of gaping like "a kid in a candy shop" (except I'm still gaping at candy, aren't I?). But see, the fancy glass candy dish proves I'm a grown-up, for I know what beauty is and what taste is, and I've simply combined the two in an overtly MATURE way, wouldn't you say? Look at that! I'm a poet and I don't even know it. Alright, so I'm still a kid who's obsessed with candy and makes that silly poet joke. So suit me. But first, get a fancy candy dish and throw some candy in it. Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaase?
* image from http://www.rosemarycompany.com/

Inspirational/Uplifting Readings. So, I've been trying to read and pray more. Well, I must say that I'm beginning to feel a difference. Though prayer usually feels hokey or corny to me, as I find it silly to talk to God about what He already knows, I've found that it's actually calming, centering, and positive. I love the saying, "You are what you think," and my recent experience has shown me that prayer helps me think good thoughts, which carry over into what I say or do. It's proving to be an all-around good thing for me. Perhaps it'd be good for you too? Here's a nice place to begin:


"As soon as you apply yourself to prayer, you will at once feel your senses gather themselves together: they seem like bees which return to the hive and there shut themselves up to work at the making of honey. At the first call of the will, they come back more and more quickly. At last, after countless exercises of this kind, God disposes them to a state of utter rest and of perfect contemplation."--Saint Teresa of Avila

And some things to keep in mind:

Give up complaining. . . . . . . .focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism. . . . . . . . . become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments . . .think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry. . . . . . . . . . . . . trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement. . . . .be full of hope.
Give up bitterness. . . . . . . . . . turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred. . . . . . . . . . . . . return good for evil.
Give up negativism . . . . . . . . .be positive.
Give up anger. . . . . . . . . . . . . .be more patient.
Give up pettiness. . . . . . . . . . .become mature.
Give up gloom. . . . . . . . . . . . . .enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy. . . . . . . . . . . .pray for trust.
Give up gossiping. . . . . . . . . . .control your tongue.
Give up sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . turn to virtue.
Give up giving up. . . . . . . . . . . hang in there!

* image from http://shelflove.files.wordpress.com/