Simple Things

Life really is about the simple, everyday things we do. By this I don't mean things like using the name brand product or wearing the right clothes... but I mean the little things we do for one another to make life better. A simple email from a friend... a colleague helping with work so I can go to St. Louis for the weekend... a relaxing, quiet night reading on our patio with my sister. This is what life is about. Here are a few of the simple things I am enjoying the most right now...

Thursday nights
I would say at least since college, Thursday nights have been my favorite of the week. I used to not schedule class on Fridays, and friends and I would often go out that night. Even now that I have to work Fridays, they are usually a more laid back day with the promise of the weekend right around the corner. Also, although I don't watch many television shows regularly, Thursday nights I do. Ever since the Friends/Seinfeld days I have been all about must-see TV! And Maggie, who watches even less TV than I do, is also a part of the fun.

Even though the summers are usually reruns for shows, I am hoping to liven up Thursdays by having Kev, me and my sis rotate cooking dinner/selecting beer. Last week I cooked for the first time in probably months, making an orzo/shrimp dish submitted to our family cookbook by Amy. It was delicious.

Cooking/eating/reading outdoors

Something about being outside completely relaxes me. I think it is because when I am inside I feel like there is always something I should be doing - cleaning, working on school stuff, organizing, etc. Outdoors - there is nothing to do except sit, people watch and completely clear my mind of all of the day's worries. I think I would eat and read outside every night if I could!

It also helps that this spring I have added some personal touches to our small outdoor space... herbs, some comfy seat cushions and the candles I blogged about earlier.

Planning Europe

While trip-planning isn't exactly relaxing, it is exciting, full of promise and hope. I am so excited to spend two weeks with my siblings, sister-in-law, hubby and dad in places most of us have never been. It will really be an adventure and thinking about it helps me get through the daily struggles of work and life.

What are your simple things?