Happy colour.

I was digging around on Etsy, as I often do, and I found a couple of happy crafty images.  They made me smile.  As Monday rolls around once again, I figured a bit of colour wouldn't do any harm.  Hope they make you smile too!

Gestures

The Webster dictionary describes a gesture as "a movement usually of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasises an idea, sentiment, or attitude".  I like gestures.  Simple showings of how you feel.  

This morning, a beautiful gesture delivered breakfast to me.  In bed.  The sentiment could not have been sweeter.  Even though breakfast consisted of tea and toast, it made me feel like a princess.  

Tea?

Many things can be done in autopilot.  For instance, you don't really have to think about sorting washing.  Before you know it, you've done it.  Perhaps because this is one of the most mundane parts of your day.  Or perhaps because you've just done it so many times.  My brain makes tea.  Without thinking, the first thing I do when I wake is fill the kettle.

And, I'll have you know, that the first cup hardly ever counts.  It's the cup you have while you wake up.  You are in autopilot, getting ready, feeding people.  The first real cup happens when everyone has left the house.  And you can really sit down and enjoy it.  Tea is the thing that gets you through the day.    Happy? Tea.  Sad? A soothing cup of tea.  In fact, my dad recommends tea for most states of mind.  Unless its after the work day - when, obviously, a glass of wine is in order.

That being said, I'm not denying coffee its rightful place in the world.  I'll be the first to admit that I can spend hours waiting if I have a good cuppa.  But there is something like home about tea.

Tea is the thing that puts you to bed at night.  And, considering the beauty of it, I will also admit that I hardly ever use beautiful dainty cups to drink my tea out of.  They are simply too small.

Think of all the pots of tea you've had with friends.  How it kept you talking for hours.

Tea, glorious tea.

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Good thoughts

I saw this poster on a friends Facebook page and I had to share it.  Imagine if the right mindset was really as easy as tearing the appropriate strip off a page.

 

Force feed.

I am the kind of friend that can be compared to a mother bird.  There.  I said it.

I demand a lot of time.  I don't mind if you are in your pajamas, doing a grocery run or redoing a child's room.  I will happily pick up a paintbrush.  I don't always have a sense or appreciation for the time of day. There is a good chance that I will wake up and think - I should have coffee with a friend.  And I will send messages to invite said friends.  At 7am.

Sometimes I get the idea that I am force-feeding the friendship.  I have no issues with asking if I am getting in the way.  I expect my friends to be honest enough to tell me to back-off.

I suppose little birds do get sick when they get fed too many proverbial worms.  But isn't that what friends are for?  To clean up when our friends aren't well?

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Say cheese!

Friday mornings.  They bring so much positive energy they they could possibly provide electricity for my whole house.  It's finally the weekend.  And whilst other people might be planning where to meet for that well deserved after work drink, I have only one thing on my mind.  Cheese.  Lots and lots of it.

 The menu will be simple.  Toasted cheese.  With some tomato, if I'm feeling wild.  Happy weekending!!

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Ships

I recently attended a wedding where the best man made a speech starting with (corny, I know) "there are big ships, there are tall ships..................but the best of these are friendships."  And, in my life at least, I think this motto should be written on my sleeve.  

I'd like to add to that very profound speech that some ships may sail.  And, truthfully, you may feel hurt and betrayed.  And it will suck.  

But then there are the goodies.  The ones that never leave.  The ones that you can spend 3 straight days with, unpacking boxes, doing grocery shopping, drinking coffee and often too much wine.  Those are the ships worth buying a hat for.  

Per-spec-tive

I don't know about you, but I tend to find myself in dark clouds.  Ones where I weigh up what my life is about and the things I've done.  Ones where I compare myself to the Sex and the City girls and find myself far less fabulous than I had wished.

To banish these dark clouds, one literally needs to "get your head out of the gutter".

Easier said than done.  I did, however read a friends blog, and found the message (or kick in the head - the same one that loves to wonder gutters) to be so inspiring.  Her post described a feeling or past time that I often indulge in.  It's the one where you make little lists of the things you just don't like about yourself.  And the effect those feelings have on others.

Then I realised something.  Sometimes it's ok to make those lists.  It's even ok to read them out loud.

As long as you remember to tear them up.  And remember to "gain the confidence to be the star in your own life".

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How strong are you?

Crying.  Often seen as a sign of weakness.  Now we know the truth.  I've been crying more that I should recently.  My husband likes to say that I'd probably cry if I watched an ice cream ad.  And he is probably right.  Hormones.  A preggy side-product I never really took seriously.