When falafel crosses my mind, it’s just my body’s way of saying, “Hey, I want to eat some falafel within the next three hours, or you’re going to be blending your own chickpeas by tonight.” And when I get that message, I drive to the nearest falafel-making joint I can find, and order up. There’s a newish (they’ve been open for three months) Mediterranean restaurant/bakery/juice bar in town, and I decided to see how their falafel measures up to some of my preferred spots. Nazareth Bread did not disappoint. I was able to sample the falafel, pita bread (best I’ve ever had), and some coconut cookie deliciousness straight from the baker’s oven. I just remembered I bought a piece of baklava to try, too, but forgot to eat it. No worries. Breakfast will be here in a few hours. And that, my friends, is how we turn a negative into a positive!
The Other Three
- Exercise – done
- Meditate – done
- Kindness – done
Gratitudes
- Flannel jammies
- Rainboots
- Flexibility in my schedule
- Falafel (any doubts, see above)
- Birthday parties
- Karen
- Memories
- Scheduling new business appointments
- Giggling
- Donated Target bag from a stranger for a clean cause
- Cleaning the kitchen together time
Positive Experience
- The best of friends share the same piece of cake, but each with her own fork.
- A true friend will dance around the kitchen with you because you relocated a piece of furniture, and you’re delighted with its new space.
- Friends don’t need to always be speaking, just a little bit of space to write between them.
- I am truly grateful today for my friend Karen, who pushes, and reminds, and encourages, and believes in me.
Who knew a birthday party for two could be the best way EVER to spend an afternoon with Karen?! I had brought last night’s red velvet cake for the celebration and in our search for candles, discovered the greatest heirloom tin Karen keeps in her pantry, and its only purpose in life has been to hold recycled birthday candles and the special occasion candle holders! When I opened the tin, it smelled just like my first-grade classroom 🙂 What a sentimental treasure! Karen decorated her cake in style, and then I sang to her, of course!
When I blow out the candles on my next birthday cake, I’m going to make a wish that the friendships, which have so richly blessed my life up until now, will continue to be such a source of joy to me in all my years to come.
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Happiness is discovering that you can indeed lower the grocery bill by planning meals ahead and using coupons only for products that you normally use. Bliss is avoiding impulse buys! That was my “eureka” moment of the week. My family established a goal to reduce grocery expenditures by 40% this year and we’re on our way.
My gratitudes for yesterday –
1. A large unsweet Gold Peak tea in lieu of soda.
2. Actually leaving the office at lunchtime.
3. Reading Arminda’s postings about the cakes. (Also wishing I could have the Meyer Lemon Cake with Blueberry Sauce recipe after seeing that fabulous photo on FB!!)
4. Regaining real-estate within my house by purging paper and other unnecessary items.
5. Discovering that my house has a built-in stairmaster (three floors) and that housework, if performed vigorously, can equate to excercise.
6. Making a pot of multi-bean chili (and finding the energy after work to do it!)
I am wondering if doing a crossword puzzle could count as a form of meditation, as it enables me to totally de-focus on everything else?
Great list, Debra! AND – I gave you the link for the Meyer Lemon cake on FB – check back to that same picture, and the link is there. 🙂
I’m grateful for best friends, one in particular, AllArminda who is all you will ever need.
I’m grateful she showed up at my door on my birthday with a homemade red velvet cake and the most sinful icing I’ve ever eaten. Watching her dance around the kitchen singing “Happy Birthday” into my over-sized microphone will crack me up for months… (sorry, she wouldn’t let me record it).
No matter what’s going on in life, a best friend can always bring a smile. (or make tears run down your face from laughter, if your best friend is AllArminda).