This Year's Beach Reads

I am famous for sticking my face in a book or a magazine for my entire beach week every summer. I always look for riveting, but light, reading when it's shore time. I just got back from a blissful week at our usual summer beach haunt -a laid-back, quiet, residential island on the South Carolina coast.
My son learned a new skill - skim boarding.

But not without some trial and error.
Here's a successful movie snippet version.

He has a bad habit of thinking he should be perfect at everything the very first time he tries. I have explained to him many times that no one is perfect; we all must practice and practice to become good at an activity. He tried skim boarding a couple of times but when he fell, he gave up and sat down. I wasn't about to spend $50 on a board that he never used again! So, being a COMPLETELY INEXPERIENCED (and some may say stupid) skim boarder, I decided to show him that I would try boarding and that my first attempt probably (definitely??) would not be perfect or even good.

Here's my boo-boo. I probably don't need to tell you both my legs went out from under me and I landed with a painful thud on the sand and shells. I would not recommend this to my other 40-something friends.

The upside? My son saw I was horrible, so he jumped back on the board and soon mastered it. Mission accomplished! (I'm still healing, and by the way - I'm sorry you had to see my bare naked leg).

ANYWAY, on to what I really was writing about today - my fabulous beach reads. After the fall, I retreated to my lounge chair FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK and here is what I read from cover to cover:

Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult
Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

If you've never read Picoult's books, you're in for a treat. Her books are engrossing but light enough to enjoy. What I particularly like about her writing is that she doesn't waste a lot of upfront space in the book with "background" on the characters and their lives. She works it in throughout the first 75% of the book, so you are constantly discovering new parts of the character - just as you would learn things about a new friend over the first few months of your friendship.

Hope you got in some sort of vacation this year. We get homesick for "our island" when we can't visit at least once a year.

Love,
TCB

One of My Favorite Things

These precious little measuring spoons - in the shape of fish - are one of my favorite things for a couple of reasons.

First, they are so darn cute. Look at the measurements marked inside of them.

It's fun to cook with them.

But the reason I like them is that my best friend Jolie gave them to me. And every time I use them, I think about her.

Like when I made pancakes the other morning. Or when I made shrimp dip today.

I hide them from the others in my family. Shhhh....don't tell. They are breakable, and I don't want to take any chances. So sue me.

I think I protect them a little like a girl protects her friend-relationship. It's something just between the two of you that no one else shares. Just a little part of something that's just for you.

Whatever the reason, these always make me smile. Thanks, Jolie.

Hey - - - call your friend today.

Love,
TCB

Friday Night High

My favorite time of the week is Friday night. I've worked hard all week (just like you, right?). It's the one night we treat ourselves to a restaurant meal, and then veg on the couch watching TV.

Did you think I was going to say something exciting?

The Friday night parties ended about 20 years ago.

There's nothing better than filling your mind with mindless DVR'd Housewives junk after a hard week of working and juggling motherhood, wifery (is that a real word???), and homemaking.

Oh, and Anthony Bourdain is good, too.

I love Friday nights so much because it's the one evening I don't feel like I have to fold laundry/balance the checkbook/pay bills while I relax on the couch for 30 minutes before bedtime. Sound familiar?

Gotta go - it's close to the witching hour.

Happy Friday,
Love - TCB

What I've Learned from my Pets

Your pets give you messages every day if you're listening. Here are the lessons I've learned from mine.

Hang out with your best friend whenever possible. Share a meal.

Take time to play a game when someone's in the mood (maybe something more age appropriate than peek-a-boo?).

Take a nap if you're tired. Just do it.

If someone is aggravating you, give them a look without saying a word. It may make them go away so you can peacefully resume your nap. No arguments needed.

And hey - tickle someone if that's what it takes to put him in a good mood.

Have a happy day.

Love,
TCB

Just a Swingin'

I told you before about my favorite time of the day. It's summertime, so the right time is about 8:30 pm, when dusk is falling.

Many times in the evening, my 9-year-old son heads out to the backyard swing.

I soooooooo remember doing that as a kid. After supper, while my parents were still talking at the kitchen table, I would excuse myself and head out to the backyard and jump on the swing set.

I tried to touch my toes to the sky. If I was really lucky, I would hear the clank of dishes being washed in the kitchen sink through the open window. That meant I was not on dish washing duty.

I think dusk in summertime in the South has ALWAYS been my favorite time of day.
Ahhhh. *sigh*
Love,
TCB

Sweet Side Salad

If you're like me and you can't think of a quick green vegetable as a side dish with supper, you may lean heavily on the typical side salad. As a change, I often make a "sweet" side salad. It goes really well with pork tenderloin and chicken main dishes, and it's super easy and quick.

To a bowl of organic salad greens (a spring mix or fresh spinach works well) add a handful of dried cherries, a few slices of mandarin oranges (sans juice), and toffee-flavored almond slices. Toss with a drizzling of store bought light raspberry vinaigrette for two servings of fruits and vegetables.

I lean on this a lot in the summertime and when busy swim team season rolls around.

Happy, healthy eating!
TCB

Essential Oils and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Time flies! Four months ago, I wrote about how I would be trying to solve my carpal tunnel syndrome with pure essential oils. But I neglected to let you know the outcome.

As soon as I received the oils I ordered - basil and marjoram - I added them to the oils I already had on hand - lemongrass and oregano - to treat my symptoms of inflammation and pain. For about one and one-half weeks, I applied 1-2 drops of lemongrass and then marjoram to my ailing wrist and forearm followed by a couple of drops of basil and oregano to my shoulder and down to my elbow. The pain subsided each time after application (morning and night), and was gone in the 1 1/2 week time interval. So far it has not reoccurred.

I have mentioned this before, but I purchase my oils from doTERRA because I know they are very pure - so pure that I can take them internally if needed. There may be other sources out there, but I would caution you to make sure what you buy is the best quality. If you can't put it in your mouth, do you really want it on your skin? It's your largest organ and anything applied to it absorbs into your body anyway.

I'm not a doctor, and I know different things work for different people and their individual body chemistries, but essential oils have been great for me.

Until next time,
TCB