There has been so much fun going on lately, I haven't kept up on my chatting with you all here or writing a single word in either book I'm working on! I'd lament about my lack of discipline but the truth is I'm having too much fun to whine about it. Last post I was ranting about non-clappers so this post I'm switching over to raving. Here are some of my favorite things lately:

Peonies!

I was late discovering the marvelous magic of these incredible flowers. But now I might be their biggest fan! They are big and full and fragrant and come in beautiful colors. They make me happy just looking at them.

Morning Coffee Cups

I don't know if mugs get the full credit they are due for adding smiles to a day. I would take a wild guess that most of us have more coffee cups then we need and most of them are mismatched. At least that is what our cup cupboard is like. Periodically I go through and pass along one or two but, mostly, I have only mugs that I really really like. One of my very favorites is the one here from the 2006 Macys Thanksgiving Day parade. 

Karen Kane Catalogs

Karen Kane clothes are pretty wonderful but it's her catalogs that wow me. They showcase the clothes and jewelry in lovely ways like most catalogs but Karen Kane weaves in her story and photos of her family with a two-page spread on their environmental commitment and the causes they support and top it off with a recipe for something delicious that you feel you just must try. Altogether, it makes for the perfect retail catalog that I wish I had designed.

Walks and Talks with Good Friends

I try to get a couple good walks and talks in every week. Honestly, they can be weather determined and here in the great Pacific North Wet it can often be too wet to enjoy a good long walk. But the thing with walking with a friend is it just makes the miles go by so fast that it never feels like an effort. Last month on a walk in beautiful Leavenworth Washington with my sister-in-law, we ran into the sign above. I prefer walks where we see lots of dogs. 🙂

Year-Round Christmas Lovers

As the author of five South Pole Santa adventure books this one likely isn't a surprise, but I do love how year-round Christmas stores always seem to be busy no matter what time of the year you pop in. Plus, don't look now, but, once again the Hallmark channel is getting ready for their annual Christmas in July where they feature nothing but Christmas movies the whole month of July. Now if they would just pick-up the South Pole Santa series!

Trader Joes

Maybe it's crazy that a grocery store is on my happy list but shopping at TJs is just plain ole fun. Walking in you find the latest in-season flower bouquets and bins of fruit (or pumpkins in the fall) and then you find new treasures throughout the store. And the music is always positive. Plus, check-out is fast and friendly. Regular grocery shopping is so ho hum but TJs is just so fun.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

Okay, last favorite thing for now. I caught the latest Star Wars movie featuring the Mandalorian and loved it. There is just something touching and heartwarming about the relationship between these two odd characters that I adore. The adventures are fun and Grogu can be endearing with his antics. I might go see it again. 🙂

Oh Oh Oh! - Jingle