Things that make me feel pretty #3

Blush

Things Worth Trying #10

No hate, please. I know I have some friends who might read this post, and probably some strangers too, that will undoubtedly disapprove.  With all due respect, they are wrong. ;]

Harvest Moon

…is awesome.  I could probably just stop right there and call it a day.  I love this game.  I don’t really do anime, but Harvest Moon is addictive.  This is the OG of farmlife games…and they should have just stopped here. HM wins, hands down, Farmville can shove it.  I have gone hours playing, and not realized it.  Personally, I enjoy the DS format the most, old PS2 games were good, most of the Wii games I’ve tried were pretty boring.  How can you resist those cute little animal faces though?  As a gamer, I am not embarrassed, because I know the Harvest Moon series rocks and is adorable at the same time.

As a bonus, another fantastic Nintendo DS game, Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ.  My sister found this game for my mom’s birthday a few years ago, not really knowing what to expect… I don’t know what can be more full of awesome than zombified fairy tale characters being blown to shit by a curvy “Little Red Riding Hood”. “Shotgun!…Okay..”, “Laser!..Okay..” I can give no further explanation.  Please, for the love of all things Zombie, try it.

Enjoy the rest of your week, everyone!

–

Dani(elle)

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)

Phenomenal Photo Phriday

Plum leaves

–

Dani

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

Photo Phriday #7

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. “]

Photo Phriday #4

Things Worth Trying At Least Once #4

PEACE TEA

Quite honestly, it’s my favorite tea in a can.  Call me crazy if you want but I like it as much as Arizona.  Best flavors: Lemon or especially Razzleberry.  Price: .99 cents always.  Seriously, this stuff is delicious and totally worth trying.  Plus, I always like helping out the little guy.

I am totally on a Razzleberry binge right now, I’m hooked.

–

Dani “]