November 2018 Recommendations

Free recommendations this month as in free info from me to you and free because none of them cost a damn thing.

1. Google Keep List App - Love love love love. I have used Wunderlist and AnyList. This is awesome. You can color code and reorder and move things and insert photos and take notes instead of lists and it's awesome.

2. On Native Land App - Assumptions make an ass out of U and Me, but I am going to assume everyone knows that the story we were told of the first Thanksgiving and knowing what we know in this age of information about colonialism and the brutalization of indigenous people is not how things actually went down. This week as we dream of succulent turkey and count our blessings, take a minute to step outside of white is everything and everything is white and learn about whose land you are actually on, what they were like as a people, their traditions and beliefs. This is great for travel too. It's a work in progress (see site here). In both Philadelphia and down the shore, I am on Lenape land. The Lenape homeland included all of New Jersey, northern Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, and southeastern New York. Whose land are you on?

3. Magnesium Supplements - Melatonin doesn't help me sleep, nor does lavender, but magnesium supplements taken with dinner? That's the stuff.

4. Letting go of things that no longer serve you, big or small. When you hold on, you have no room to become. I saw this on Micah's instagram and I dig it.

What are you recommending this month?

I think I might share a books I'd buy people post tomorrow. I'm not good at gift guides generally but I might be good at that.

This morning's sunrise thoughts

I love when I get to the beach for the sunrise to see the moon has stuck around to bear witness.

Insert peace sign here. 

You guys. Seriously. Please. Think before you take, use, consume. I have always tried to mind the earth, but being down here and seeing our trash wash ashore all the time is making me nuts about it. 

And yes, Bruce is still on the beach at 5:45 am despite there being no dogs on the beach in Ocean City from April 30-October 1. Of all the rules to break in life, I am okay breaking this one.  He's on a leash not harming a soul and not only do I pick up after him, I pick up all the other trash I see too. Live and let live. I will never understand why this town doesn't just allow leashed dogs early or late in the day. You would not believe the hell people give other people for doing this. Just, why? Many people do the it's the law song and dance, as if they have never gone over the speed limit, had a drink before they were 21, littered, etc. They also do the they poop song and dance, which, have you ever seen what humans do on the beach? Not always good or sanitary.

Well that was a tangent but come on they're dogs. This land is your land, this land is my land, and this land is their land too. The beach is for all of us. 

Added bonus of early sunrise season: a little extra work in early in the day. Getting shit done, my friends.  

Happy Friday!

Take me to the sea

The ocean has inspired many a book and poem, as well as artists from all mediums. There's something restorative about being beside the sea. Even though I dislike when people just post a shit ton of quotes all down their blog, today, that's exactly what I'm presenting to you made from my own photos Enjoy! I hope one speaks to you.

And then it was July.

 Linking up with Shanna for Random Wednesday

Currently...January

Keeping a list...like Jill Biden's.

Taking...a page out of Steph G's book and using all of my nail polishes once through before repeating any at all. Nails and toes count but my toes are currently on a nail polish hiatus for a month. I like to give them room to breath over the winter. Sorry nails, you need to work all year. I haven't counted my polishes, but I've already used three this year so far. If I don't like it and don't want to wear it, it goes.

Drinking...All the iced coffee I can. It's 99 cents, you guys. You know, because it's January. I say put your iced wares on sale any time, DD. I don't stop drinking cold drinks when it gets cold, iced coffee included. 

Resisting...the urge to paint the built in bookcases in the basement. Because painting is a pain in the ass and I'm a messy painter. And because painting them will lead me to want to repaint the rest of the basement which is the only room aside from the bathroom we've never painted. And because MFD always protests my painting. So...you'll probably find me buying paint one night next week.

Reading...Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. I'm not a die hard Austen fan, but based on this post by Kristen at See You in a Porridge I thought I'd like this one.

Playing...Trivia Crack like it's the only thing left to do on earth.

Watching...Downton Abbey and The Fall - it's back for season two. Lady Mary is looking fierce on Downton in her wanton lady frock and Jamie Dornan is the handsomest serial killer ever on The Fall. I'm behind on everything else. Oh...I'm watching Lockup too. I blame Laura & Chris.

Trying...to keep to healthy eating 90% of the time instead of 50% like I was doing last year. I think I'm at about 80% right now. It helps that MFD is doing this too since he is the typically the purveyor of junky processed crap. I'm not doing any whole 30/paleo/supplement/program/voodoo, just healthy food portioned well with the processed or not so healthy food making up only 10% of the week.

Ground turkey taco'd up with sauteed onions and orange pepper and diced tomatoes for lettuce wraps

Loving...This. Trust. Not everything is meant for us. Don't waste your energy trying to break down a door that's not yours. Focus your energy on finding the door that is.

Laughing at...man illness. Tis the season! Ladies, you are well acquainted with it I'm sure.

Your current doings? I'm back to putting these currently posts on the schedule once a month.

Linking up with Kristin and Joey for Stuff & Things

I said I love you, and that's forever...

Today is our third wedding anniversary, and this month also marks 11 years together. Like every year, the past year was full of ups and downs, good and bad.

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of 

love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity.  

The order varies for any given year.  

~Paul Sweeney

A look back at our third year of marriage:

I'll take another year filled with the laughter, traditions, vacations and celebrations; minus the broken bones, surgeries, and ensuing hardships, even though those things taught me that my marriage is strong and can survive really stressful shit for months at a time.

Happy anniversary MFD! Looking forward to eleventy billion more. I'm grateful to have a partner who is eye to eye with me on the important things, but who is my opposite in many ways and shows me things I would never have in my life without him.

Also today? Amanda's birthday. I am so happy our friend married someone who has become one of my greatest friends. Have a fabulous birthday Amanda!

I'm participating in a giveaway over on Southern Beauty Guide. Go win yourself a prize for my anniversary. Go on now.







Linking up with
Because Shanna Said So - Random Wednesday
Gratitude with Steph at Insert Classy Here
Whatever Wednesday at Rolled Up Pretty
The Hump Day Blog Hop at Fitness Blondie
Wedding Wednesday at Little Bit of Class, Little Bit of Sass

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air...

One of my best most favorite things in life is when everyone is leaving the beach on Sunday and my ass is still planted in my chair because I'm not leaving until Monday.

I hope you all had a great weekend. I'll be heading home from a four day-er spent with the girls at the beach today and will share the weekend that was tomorrow.

Monday. Get down on it.

**Title quote is Ralph Waldo Emerson

Attention Kmart Shoppers: Brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things

I am so glad I have so many favorite things that I can make multiple favorite things blog posts. Sorry to those of you who liked "I'd like to buy the world a coke..." This one goes out to those Von Trapps even though I am not a fan of their antics and singing.

Attention KMart Shoppers: I threw some small gift ideas in here too, it being December and all. Did you know that if I am in a store with MFD and we are dispatched to get two different things, he will stand at the front and have me paged on the intercom? Then I get all red faced and go running to the front, and  he stands there laughing. Ho ho ho, you funny bastard.

FAVORITE THINGS

1. My quilt made specifically for me by my aunt Lori. Dogs, take note: this is not your quilt. It is awesome, and she does make them to sell if you are looking for a one of a kind gift.

2. Bruce Springsteen. Thanks to my Dad, who raised me on his music. If anyone in your life does not own this album, please buy it for them this holiday season. Or get them an iTunes gift card and stand over their shoulder while you force them to purchase each song.

3. Pinterest.com. Obsession and major time suck. Follow me: stephdoyle (if you need an invite, let me know!). For you crafty do it yourselfers, there are some awesome ideas on homemade gifts. HO HO HO mofos.

4. Making lists. Things to do, things to buy, things to see, people for karma to deal with in the appropriate manner.

5. Essie nail polish. OPI, you and your fat brushes are OUT. Since September 24, I've worn Essie's Merino Cool on my nails 80 percent of the time. Get some or give some as a stocking stuffer.

6. The original 90210. If anyone is looking to buy me a Christmas gift, I would like 90210 on DVD. All seasons. Please and thank you.

7. Chi-Chis. Yes, it's closed. Lori used to take me to lunch at the Oxford Valley Mall Chi-Chis almost every weekend in the late 80s/early 90s. Their taco salad is unparalleled, and I want to eat it again before I die. Please like the Bring Back Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurant page on Facebook. Humor me!

8. I always forget how much I love Dolly Parton. Then someone mentions her and I remember. The wigs, the insane boobs, the tinkly laugh, the unfortunate starring role in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Islands in the Stream. Jolene. I Will Always Love You. And my favorite this time of year - Hard Candy Christmas. If that's not on your Christmas playlist, it should be. It is certainly on ours. MFD, please take me to Dollywood. But not next year, we have too many awesome vacation plans already set for 2012: Niagara Falls. San Fran. Tahoe. Carribbean Cruise. The poor house.

9. These socks from Le Crap. They are so comfortable and soft. Stuff them in someone's stocking.

10. Blackberry brandy. Put it in your tea for a hot toddy. Dear Santa, I need a lot of bottles. I was sometimes good.

11. This quote, which I live by:

12. This directive, and also the word turd itself:

13. This kicks the shit out of super dry and itchy winter skin:

14. The best iced tea to use when making your own at home:

15. Google reader, for keeping all of the blogs I follow organized and displays new posts ready for me to read when I have a minute to read them. To those of you who like to follow blogs and are not using this tool, I ask why the hell not? Sign up and keep all your blogs in one place. www.google.com/reader

Toodleoo, mofos. Happy shopping. A word to the wise: don't be grinchy, don't lose your shit over a parking spot, if you're cranky quarantine yourself to your room, and don't make the holidays all about yourself because that ruins them for everyone else. Spread cheer and smile until your face cracks.

Tastefully yours as ever,

SMD

Taking a page out of US Mag.

This post is modeled after US Magazine's column 25 Things You Don't Know About Me...only they use famous people and I am not famous. Discuss amongst yourselves if reading US makes me shallow, vapid, and part of the problem with pop culture.

Andplusalso, everyone on my facebook newsfeed is all "Fa la la la la my house is fully decorated for Christmas, welcome Santa and tiny baby Jesus in your golden fleece diaper, we are so ready for you" and I'm all, "It's December 1, I have no kitchen, my entire house is chaos from this kitchen remodel, everything is dirty with a fine layer of drywall dust, early darkness makes me want to be a slug like Randy from A Christmas Story and lay on the couch not moving, and I feel stabby because I know Clark Griswold will be making a grand mess decorating the shit out of the house on December 22 since we're hosting a Christmas Open House."

Ahem. Back to the 25 things.

1. I don't like to run out of anything. My house is always stocked with at least one backup of everything, specifically canned goods, paper products, and cleaning tools. Relax, it's not like extreme couponer stock piling. I have one extra mustard, not 173. I get this fear of running out of something from my mom's side of the family. If there is ever any type of disaster and you can't get food from a store, we could live off of my pantry for a while. And clean.

2. My handwriting looks like a serial killer's. I was advised not to address any of my wedding correspondence, and I have carried that over to my Christmas cards. Thank you Michelle for your label making prowess and always taking care of me when you do yours. Laura, I am waiting for you to come over and re-label all of my shoeboxes with your P-Touch since my handwriting makes you cringe.



Ted Bundy? Did you write this?

3. I prefer cold beverages.

4. When I am concentrating or exercising, my tongue is always out. When I was little, I took gymnastics at Joel Baba and they constantly told me I was going to bite my tongue off. I quit gymnastics for unrelated reasons.

5. I prefer lukewarm or cold food (even if it's supposed to be served hot) and I put salt on everything without tasting it first.

6. I love the laughing Buddha. I have a bunch of them throughout my house.

7. One of my favorite toys as a child was a girl doll that I called The Boy. It is a frightening and awful doll that lives in our spare bedroom. I can't throw it away. Caveat: MFD suggested this one. This doll legitimately scares me as an adult, I dislike dolls anyway and this one looks like it was resurrected from Pet Sematary. I took a picture of The Boy against my better judgement. If this haunts me, we know who will pay.

Please don't come alive at night and kill us in our sleep, The Boy.

8. I don't like the top of my toes to be touched.

9. I love to sing along to the sweet sounds of the grocery store soundtrack even though I have an awful singing voice.

10. I'd rather be at the shore than anywhere else in the world. However, I disagree vehemently with paying for beach tags. This land is your land, this land is my land. I'd rather pay a fee to enter town.

11. Sometimes I reply "Your mother" to any question someone asks me, then I laugh like a maniac. Every time.

12. I don't do math.

13. I don't give a rat's ass about the NFL or NBA. The salaries and insane celebrations they participate in after doing what they are paid one zillion dollars to do really chaps my ass.

14. When I get really frustrated, I cry.

15. I love how heels look, but am past the age of caring to wear them. They kill my feet and it's not worth it.

16. I don't eat beets, coconut, very spicy foods, Indian food, bread or rice pudding, or overcooked meat.

17. I can't function in chaos. I need to create order. Naturally, I like my pantry neat, but not Sleeping with the Enemy neat.

18. I've never broken a bone or gotten stitches aside from my wisdom teeth.

19. I often think in song lyrics to describe things. If a night is very starry, "we drove out to the desert just to lie down beneath this bowl of stars" will pop into my head immediately.

20. I only watch Channel 6 - Action News.

21. I love mosaic glass and would have it all over my house if I could do so without coming off like a crazy glass-whore version of Miss Havisham.

22. I name all of my cars. My first car was Wheeza (Ouiser from Steel Magnolias). My current car is the fabulous Kelly Taylor.

23. I carry two cell phones. I am not a friend of Jason Bourne. I don't have unlimited texting on my work phone, and that is my preferred method of communication.

24. I adore quotes. In junior high I started quote notebooks, and I wrote in them through college. I still have them. I believe I spent 97% of my ninth grade biology class crafting my notebook.

25. It was hard to compose this list.

Inching towards grinching,

SMD

p.s. Thank you MFD for bearing the brunt of this kitchen bullshit.