A peanut butter and jelly sandwich. One of life's simple pleasures. Not only are they easy and cheap to make, but they actually taste delicious and are not terrible for you. You loved them as a child and continue to love them in adulthood. Sometimes it is dinner because I am lazy, while sometimes it really is what I crave.
Now here comes the interesting part...Creamy or crunchy? Jelly or jam?
I think most everyone has a clear, strong preference on both of these questions. Personally, I'm a proponent of creamy pb and grape jam. I guess I should call it a peanut butter and jam sandwich. I also tend to prefer a good whole grain wheat bread with slightly more peanut butter than jam.
Creamy peanut butter smells delicious. It looks delicious. It spreads so easily. I especially love natural creamy peanut butter. I don't want chunks in there, I don't want to work to eat my peanut butter.
Grape jam is a pure classic. Grape is the only flavor to go with for a peanut butter and jam sandwich. Jelly is just lumpy. You have to almost "cut" it up to spread it evenly. Jam spreads smoothly and evenly. It tastes more natural. I'm not sure why jelly would be preferred for any occasion. (I will give you preserves, strawberry is my favorite, for toast or biscuits.)
Peanut butter and jam sandwiches are made better cut in half. Potato chips are a common choice of side, but apple sauce, carrots, peas, cucumbers, an apple, and pasta or potato salad are also some of my favorites. It is best washed down with a cold glass of milk or pop. Childish though it may seem, the peanut butter and jam sandwich is a classic that will always be satisfying.
Please let me know what your preferences are. It is interesting to see other's habits.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Travel Bug
I am in a writing mood tonight!
One huge love of mine: TRAVEL
I believe travel to be a very broad term. To me, it encompasses adventure, and what is life without adventure?! Travel can mean going to the other side of town you never venture to, or going around the world to an exotic remote location.
Travel has always been important to me. As a child my family always took summer vacations. I was incredibly lucky to see so much of the United States growing up. I treasure those memories, even the long car rides with two annoying brothers. High school provided me the opportunity to see London and Paris. One of the best decisions of my life led me to study in Australia. This was where the travel bug really bit me hard. While in Australia for five months, I was able to make it to every state and territory. We spent much of our time seeing the country. Ever since returning I feel the need to go somewhere much more often - at least once a month!
I enjoy travel by plane, by boat, by train, by bus, or by car. I enjoy travel with friends, with family, and even by myself. College made saving money for travel difficult but I had plenty of time for it. Now it has become much easier to save but more difficult to take the time! I have become better with long weekend travel and local travel. My belief is that taking yourself out of your comfort zone and putting yourself in new surroundings is necessary for growth and excitement in your life. While this can mean trying a new restaurant or taking a new route to work, a trip to somewhere farther from home is sure to put you in a new state of mind - literally and figuratively. :)
My hope is to be able to continue my passion for seeing the world, one small corner at a time, throughout my life. It is one thing that is on my mind most every day. The prospect of travel brings me excitement and joy no matter how short or close my trip may be. Maybe we can travel together some day, near or far. I think it brings those taking the trip so much closer by experiencing the travel together. New light, new perspective is often found through travel. However, an important note must be made that travel is perhaps most fully enjoyed with a wide open mind and spirit. I try to always have both.
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~Seneca
One huge love of mine: TRAVEL
I believe travel to be a very broad term. To me, it encompasses adventure, and what is life without adventure?! Travel can mean going to the other side of town you never venture to, or going around the world to an exotic remote location.
Travel has always been important to me. As a child my family always took summer vacations. I was incredibly lucky to see so much of the United States growing up. I treasure those memories, even the long car rides with two annoying brothers. High school provided me the opportunity to see London and Paris. One of the best decisions of my life led me to study in Australia. This was where the travel bug really bit me hard. While in Australia for five months, I was able to make it to every state and territory. We spent much of our time seeing the country. Ever since returning I feel the need to go somewhere much more often - at least once a month!
I enjoy travel by plane, by boat, by train, by bus, or by car. I enjoy travel with friends, with family, and even by myself. College made saving money for travel difficult but I had plenty of time for it. Now it has become much easier to save but more difficult to take the time! I have become better with long weekend travel and local travel. My belief is that taking yourself out of your comfort zone and putting yourself in new surroundings is necessary for growth and excitement in your life. While this can mean trying a new restaurant or taking a new route to work, a trip to somewhere farther from home is sure to put you in a new state of mind - literally and figuratively. :)
My hope is to be able to continue my passion for seeing the world, one small corner at a time, throughout my life. It is one thing that is on my mind most every day. The prospect of travel brings me excitement and joy no matter how short or close my trip may be. Maybe we can travel together some day, near or far. I think it brings those taking the trip so much closer by experiencing the travel together. New light, new perspective is often found through travel. However, an important note must be made that travel is perhaps most fully enjoyed with a wide open mind and spirit. I try to always have both.
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~Seneca
Friday, February 25, 2011
Smart Kiddos
It's been awhile! I just have a quick post tonight. The videos below are just too cute not to share with people. Other people have shared them with me and I hope you get a smile from them as well. We can learn more from little kids than we probably realize! I hope you all have a wonderful evening and a relaxing weekend.
Friday, February 4, 2011
A Good Deed A Day Keeps The Hatred Away?
I seem to want to write often but have difficulty forming a whole thought process to discuss. This is probably why my blogs are not as often as I would like and tend to be long-winded.
Thought for today: Good deeds.
I try to make a conscious effort to do at least one good deed a day. I believe in the pay it forward idea, the circle of love, karma, or whatever you want to call it. Not only is it what we are called to do, but it is a small thing that can lead us in the right direction to a peaceful world. I cannot much control other people, but I can control the way in which I live and the things I do for others that impact their lives in some way.
Some days my good deed is as small as holding the door for someone a ways away when I'd rather be lazy and let it go or giving a couple extra dollars in the tip for a nice wait staff. Today it was a little more of a good deed. Either way, it makes me happy to know I've done what little I can for someone else's betterment.
A co-worker blew a tire on the way to work this morning. They have a long commute so this made it much longer, waiting for roadside assistance and driving slowly with a donut tire. Another co-worker got a few of us together with an idea. They thought we could get together and steal our co-workers car at lunch. We could go get a new tire put on for them so they didn't have to worry about it. We all agreed and the plan went off without a hitch until we were almost done. Our co-worker wanted to show off the donut tire but couldn't find their car out the window! We held their curiosity until we got the car back in the parking lot. It took them awhile to notice what we had done...they thought we had played some kind of prank on them. It was such a sweet moment when they realized what we had all chipped in to do for them.
I'm not trying to toot my own horn here. My point is to try to provide some spark in all of us. I did not come up with this idea, I just jumped on board after it was proposed to me. I can challenge myself to think of things like this more often for more people and I think you can as well.
We shouldn't have to be asked by our friends and family to do nice things for them when they need it or even when they don't need it. We can all do more everyday to brighten someone else's day than we really give ourselves credit for. Maybe if we make a conscious effort to start, someday it will just happen unconsciously. I believe this attitude should of course be applied to friends and family, but also to those who are strangers or acquaintances. It was Plato who said "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." I truly believe small acts can have big impacts.
My goal is to continue challenging myself to think of and perform more small acts of kindness in the hopes of making some larger difference in this world. I hope you join me in this challenge.
I did a google search and found this interesting site:
http://thegooddeedsorganisation.com/Vision.aspx
Check it out for more inspiration and some good ideas. Really your own idea is the best idea.
Another one to check out:
http://gooddeedaday.com/
Thanks for listening. I hope I can do something nice for you soon.
Thought for today: Good deeds.
I try to make a conscious effort to do at least one good deed a day. I believe in the pay it forward idea, the circle of love, karma, or whatever you want to call it. Not only is it what we are called to do, but it is a small thing that can lead us in the right direction to a peaceful world. I cannot much control other people, but I can control the way in which I live and the things I do for others that impact their lives in some way.
Some days my good deed is as small as holding the door for someone a ways away when I'd rather be lazy and let it go or giving a couple extra dollars in the tip for a nice wait staff. Today it was a little more of a good deed. Either way, it makes me happy to know I've done what little I can for someone else's betterment.
A co-worker blew a tire on the way to work this morning. They have a long commute so this made it much longer, waiting for roadside assistance and driving slowly with a donut tire. Another co-worker got a few of us together with an idea. They thought we could get together and steal our co-workers car at lunch. We could go get a new tire put on for them so they didn't have to worry about it. We all agreed and the plan went off without a hitch until we were almost done. Our co-worker wanted to show off the donut tire but couldn't find their car out the window! We held their curiosity until we got the car back in the parking lot. It took them awhile to notice what we had done...they thought we had played some kind of prank on them. It was such a sweet moment when they realized what we had all chipped in to do for them.
I'm not trying to toot my own horn here. My point is to try to provide some spark in all of us. I did not come up with this idea, I just jumped on board after it was proposed to me. I can challenge myself to think of things like this more often for more people and I think you can as well.
We shouldn't have to be asked by our friends and family to do nice things for them when they need it or even when they don't need it. We can all do more everyday to brighten someone else's day than we really give ourselves credit for. Maybe if we make a conscious effort to start, someday it will just happen unconsciously. I believe this attitude should of course be applied to friends and family, but also to those who are strangers or acquaintances. It was Plato who said "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." I truly believe small acts can have big impacts.
My goal is to continue challenging myself to think of and perform more small acts of kindness in the hopes of making some larger difference in this world. I hope you join me in this challenge.
I did a google search and found this interesting site:
http://thegooddeedsorganisation.com/Vision.aspx
Check it out for more inspiration and some good ideas. Really your own idea is the best idea.
Another one to check out:
http://gooddeedaday.com/
Thanks for listening. I hope I can do something nice for you soon.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
DOG LOVER
If you know me I am sure it is no secret that I love animals, especially dogs.
Our first dog, Tumbles, was with us from before I was born until we moved in 1989. I don't remember much of him, but I'm sure I liked pulling his tail and other things little children do to pets. Soon after we moved into our new house we got Spiffy, an american eskimo, or spitz. She was my childhood dog. I loved her so very much. She was a part of our family. She saw everything, knew everything, accepted what I'm sure was torture to her when I was young, and was still there to wag her tail when I would come home for a visit from college. She was incredibly lovable. I'm honestly not sure I had yet experienced anything so heartbreaking when she died. I didn't want to go home without her in the house because it was a strange and almost uncomfortable feeling. This was a reality check of just how much of a dog person I was - I felt the need to have a dog in the house.
Within a year my mom got another dog, Corky. A couple years later my dad got a dog as well, Maggie. In that time frame my now sister-in-law got a puppy, Pongo, and when they moved to Denver they got another dog, Perdi. So I had several dogs in my life!! My last year in college I was even blessed to have Pearl, my roommate's dog, in our house. So when I moved into my apartment and got a job I knew I wouldn't be able to last too long without a dog. It was high on my list, but I wanted to make sure I got the right dog for me and for my lifestyle. I wouldn't have lasted near as long without all these other dogs in my life! After a year, I found him. I had been looking off and on but was finally ready to get serious about adopting in the fall. I had asked about one dog that was online but she was already taken by the time I found her. Within that week I found George online as well. I thought, well, he's not exactly what I was looking for and he could be cuter, but he sounds like a pretty great dog. I adopted George from a shelter south of Emporia on November 6th and couldn't be happier. He is such a great little dog.
George brings even more joy into my life. There is nothing better than seeing a tail wagging when you get home from work every day. Dogs never fail you, they never judge you, they only know to love you. They even seem to forget that you've left them in their kennel all day, or all night. Forgiveness is immediate. I can't imagine how people couldn't be dog lovers. I can't imagine where they would get this feeling from! However, I am sure this all sounds strange to someone who is not a dog lover.
Cheesy or not, George has reminded me just how much I am capable of loving and just how big my heart can be. He brings pure joy and goodness into my life every single day. It brightens my day to see him run around in circles in excitement to see me, to see him zoom around the living room chasing himself, to throw his toys in the air, or to see him hop around outside in the snow. Although I have always loved dogs, to have George be my very own dog that I am his one "master" is a whole new feeling. After a long hard day he helps to keep things in perspective. Even after a great day he just makes it end perfectly. I love him so much and I can't even begin to imagine how much love will overflow from me if I am ever blessed with children of my own.
I'm sure it sounds crazy, he's just a dog after all!! If you are like me, though, I am sure you can understand. There is nothing like the unconditional love of a dog, especially your dog.
We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. ~George Eliot
Our first dog, Tumbles, was with us from before I was born until we moved in 1989. I don't remember much of him, but I'm sure I liked pulling his tail and other things little children do to pets. Soon after we moved into our new house we got Spiffy, an american eskimo, or spitz. She was my childhood dog. I loved her so very much. She was a part of our family. She saw everything, knew everything, accepted what I'm sure was torture to her when I was young, and was still there to wag her tail when I would come home for a visit from college. She was incredibly lovable. I'm honestly not sure I had yet experienced anything so heartbreaking when she died. I didn't want to go home without her in the house because it was a strange and almost uncomfortable feeling. This was a reality check of just how much of a dog person I was - I felt the need to have a dog in the house.
Within a year my mom got another dog, Corky. A couple years later my dad got a dog as well, Maggie. In that time frame my now sister-in-law got a puppy, Pongo, and when they moved to Denver they got another dog, Perdi. So I had several dogs in my life!! My last year in college I was even blessed to have Pearl, my roommate's dog, in our house. So when I moved into my apartment and got a job I knew I wouldn't be able to last too long without a dog. It was high on my list, but I wanted to make sure I got the right dog for me and for my lifestyle. I wouldn't have lasted near as long without all these other dogs in my life! After a year, I found him. I had been looking off and on but was finally ready to get serious about adopting in the fall. I had asked about one dog that was online but she was already taken by the time I found her. Within that week I found George online as well. I thought, well, he's not exactly what I was looking for and he could be cuter, but he sounds like a pretty great dog. I adopted George from a shelter south of Emporia on November 6th and couldn't be happier. He is such a great little dog.
George brings even more joy into my life. There is nothing better than seeing a tail wagging when you get home from work every day. Dogs never fail you, they never judge you, they only know to love you. They even seem to forget that you've left them in their kennel all day, or all night. Forgiveness is immediate. I can't imagine how people couldn't be dog lovers. I can't imagine where they would get this feeling from! However, I am sure this all sounds strange to someone who is not a dog lover.
Cheesy or not, George has reminded me just how much I am capable of loving and just how big my heart can be. He brings pure joy and goodness into my life every single day. It brightens my day to see him run around in circles in excitement to see me, to see him zoom around the living room chasing himself, to throw his toys in the air, or to see him hop around outside in the snow. Although I have always loved dogs, to have George be my very own dog that I am his one "master" is a whole new feeling. After a long hard day he helps to keep things in perspective. Even after a great day he just makes it end perfectly. I love him so much and I can't even begin to imagine how much love will overflow from me if I am ever blessed with children of my own.
I'm sure it sounds crazy, he's just a dog after all!! If you are like me, though, I am sure you can understand. There is nothing like the unconditional love of a dog, especially your dog.
We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. ~George Eliot
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