Simple (Guilty) Pleasure #12

These things. Seriously, please someone get them away from me. Or maybe bring me some real food. This should be in a new series called “Seriously Guilty Pleasures…God I Just Hate Myself Right Now…Why Can’t I Stop Eating These…”.

What is really ironic is that I have been really sick lately and it is due to either (or both) stomach ulcers and a bum gallbladder (I’ll let you know after a pending ultrasound and endoscopy what it ends up being). And here I am, eating Cheese Balls. HA! Okay, no I’m not anymore; I stopped, I swear. What a good idea that was, though! Wow!’

Well anyway, let’s be honest guys, these things are freaking addictive, right? Why are they so good? And why such a big-ass enabling container? It just doesn’t seem fair; not for my health at least, or anyone else’s. These Cheese Balls are crazy.

–

Love,

Daniosaur

Simple Pleasure #11

Music

Yeah, I know, not very original. What can I say though? The other day I was driving, iPod turned up, and I just couldn’t stop thinking about how grateful I am for my frickin’ ears. No lie. I connect so much through music. I worship through it. I get filled up to the top with emotion when I am listening to something beautiful, something real. I think ears are wired right to your soul. Deep in there, too… not something you can just get rid of, not a wire easily cut. Maybe I should say “Ears” or “Hearing” is a simple pleasure…but seriously, I do not know what I would do if I couldn’t feel this way, with such a strong passion, brought to tears, brought to my knees, (or to my feet?) heart nearly bursting with feeling. There are few things this powerful. I would never give it up. Any of it. I think a huge dream of mine would be to sing and make someone feel this kind of passion listening to my voice, the same passion I feel when I sing. Music is absolutely brilliant. I always feel like that is when God is truly filling me up.

Ears = Awesome.

I hope everyone can appreciate the music that any artist makes, and feel this awesome about them sharing their story, talents & voice.  That would be pretty beast.

The End.

–

(Dani)elle

Simple Pleasure #10

Fresh Air

Simple Pleasure #9

Dandelions

I’m sure each and every one of us, as children, loved picking up those stupid dandelions, blowing on them, and watching all of the tiny little cotton-white fuzzies float through the air.  Some “grown-up” probably told you that if you did this, these weeds would sprout up every where. Hell, you didn’t see the problem with that.  The more the merrier!  Why do you care?  You’re going to pick those ones too, soon as they turn white, and repeat.

And then, you got older.  Now you’re the one telling the kids not to spread weeds on your lawn.  But, who likes worrying about weeds?  I say dandelions can be a treat.  Stop worrying so damn much about everything! You know you want to pick those cottony white flowers, give a good puff of air, and watch blissfully as they float off into the sky, or at least off the ground for a few minutes.  You can even make a wish.

Personally, I always thought the magic was in the fact that they were yellow and kind of cute one day, and the next they were snow white and globe-shaped.  I think it took a while for me to figure out they were even the same thing.

And here is some advice for after you go crazy and let the yellow dandelions grow everywhere:

Make dandelion wine.  Or salad.  Wine is probably more fun.  But seriously, did you know these things were edible?  We should seriously stop wasting them, spraying poison on them, and ripping them out of the ground.  Why are we such bastards to nature?  At least use them for something if you’re going to tear them out of the ground every time they appear.

I recommend the book “Making Stuff and Doing Things” by Kyle Bravo and Jenny LeBlanc for a good sounding Dandelion Wine recipe.  I haven’t gotten a chance to put it to use yet, (Let me know if you have like a million dandelions I can have and I totally will) but the book itself has some really cool stuff in it so I trust that the recipe is good too (and will try to post it once I find my book AND when I make the wine, I will definitely write about how it turns out).  It’s a little late in the season, but if you keep it in mind, I will too. ;D

I hope everyone has a great week!

–

Dani(elle)

Simple Pleasure #8

Blowing Bubbles

Fun to watch, chase, and pop.  Bubble liquid is so easily entertaining.  The soapy water of youth.

–

Dani

PS.  Sorry my posts are a little late this week, technical difficulties + lazy.

:EDIT:: New pictures of my own taking. Enjoy. <3

Simple Pleasure #7

Building Sandcastles

Because sometimes, the water is damn cold and sitting on the beach in the sun is more fun.  And who doesn’t enjoy building sandcastles?  And enjoying each others’ company (especially when you’re with some of the young kids in your life who aren’t going to sit with you and be kids and build sandcastles forever…soaking up some of their youth is always a good thing).

I find it’s great to make the best of any trip to the beach, so I recommend doing every fun thing that you can while you are there.  As I have said a hundred times before, doing the simple things that keep us young and hopeful and happy, they really are worth it.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!  I hope you are all slowing down and finding simple happiness-es everywhere.  <3

–

Dani

Simple Pleasure #6

Climbing Trees

It seems like most of the best simple pleasures are the simple childhood experiences that we’ve had.  So maybe nostalgia is a simple pleasure?  Simply put, I think we all want to feel like little kids again.  All that pure energy and innocence?  I will take it any day.  Well, some days it’s nice to be a grown up, but they are few and far.

I think tree climbing gives you a unique high that you can’t match anywhere else.  The fear and adrenaline, plus the proud feeling you got as a child when you made it up to the top… sitting on the highest branch you could reach, and drinking it all in; it is pure beauty.  I am all for doing these amazingly simple pleasures, the ones that make you realize how beautiful life is, how beautiful youth is, and how you can still feel young no matter what age you are.

Everyone, please have an amazing weekend.  Special thanks to my beautiful Goddaughter, my favorite little model.  She keeps us young.

–

Dani

Simple Pleasure #5

Fresh Fruit

Apples, oranges, bananas, watermelon, peaches, grapes, kiwi, pears, lemons, limes, nectarines, mandarins, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, fresh, delicious, sweet, healthy, fantastic, fruit.

It’s amazing, and I can’t get enough of it.

–

Dani <3

PS. That apple was tasty. “]

Simple Pleasure #4

This one is more like a simple guilty pleasure.  In honor of the new super-the-boiling-point-season, my ultimate guilty pleasure is…

Degrassi: The Next Generation

I don’t believe there is anyone who couldn’t enjoy a good re-run of Degrassi.  Or a good 3 hours of re-runs either.  This show is seriously enjoyable, and I know I am not alone when I say I am super-stoked for the new ridiculous season in which there will be a new episode every night mon-fri for the rest of the summer, and I have totally tuned in at least 3 out of 5 days of each week to watch a few episodes during their every-episode-ever-aired marathon.

Degrassi is the absolute top-dog when it comes to ridiculous high school shows.  What can I say? “It Goes There” .  No other show can be this outrageous and this Canadian and remain on the air with about a billion viewers for 10 years.  Did I mention this is their 10th season coming up?  Happy 10 years, Degrassi.  When I need my dose of high school drama, to feel as if I am back in high school again (okay, not really), I will come to you.  If there is nothing else on television, I will watch you.  When conversation lacks pizazz, I will talk about you.  When I just really need to know what hairstyle Spinner is rockin’, or who Manny or Emma will end up with next, I just can’t resist.  Thank you, Degrassi, the guiltiest of pleasures.  Secret Life of the American Teenager has nothing on you. ;D

P.S.  I love every Canadian ounce of your “aboot”s, “sorrie”‘s , and “eh?”s.

–

Dani

Simple Pleasure #3

A little late in the day, but nonetheless…

Picnics

Whether spontaneous or planned, traditional or picking up fast food and heading to the park, going to the park/beach or spreading out a blanket in your front yard on a pretty day, picnics are fantastic.  Personally, I try to keep a good picnic blanket in the car at all times, just in case. “]  I see no reason to ever eat indoors and waste the beautiful weather, not every day can be sunny and nice.

One of my favorite days was picking up some food from Burger King (I love their veggie burgers!), grabbing the blanket, and heading to the park with Matthew to sit down and eat.  Afterward we played on the playground, which was a total plus.  And this was in January, which proves that picnic weather can appear at any time and should be taken advantage of.

I think it’s really important to remember that the simplest things that we can do, like taking our lunch outside and spending time with each other, are the things that can be most filled with joy.  How can we stand to forget how much fun picnics can be?

And, how much fun food is. “]

Picnics win.