The crackling of a fireplace is a really soothing sort of sound to snuggle up near. Add in the welcoming warmth and rich wood smell for a wonderfully comforting experience. Throw in a blanket, good book, and hot chocolate and you may never get me to leave. I also have some lovely memories of singing karaoke with my parents as the fireplace heated up our living room in the St. Louis winter. I don’t have a fireplace anymore, but I get a chance to hang out by one I always enjoy that nice slow pace. It’s so easy to kick back and relax next to a fireplace and let the rest of the world slip away. I wish I had one to use for this upcoming winter! The office sure could use some extra heat. 😛 Wouldn’t that be fun? I’d love to work next to a fireplace at work. It’s a great place to clear my mind and get some work done.
365great Day 235: fireplaces
365great Day 234: brunch
I’ve always enjoyed brunch meals, both American and Chinese. I’m a huge fan of breakfast for lunch, small portions (a la dim sum), and sleeping in, so I guess it makes sense. I also really enjoy having a mix of flavors, so it makes me happy when I can get an omelet and waffles in one sitting. My associations with brunch have always been positive, since it generally means I got to sleep in and enjoy a lovely afternoon. I’ve spent many with good friends and few things are more enjoyable than good company coupled with good food! Similarly, for dim sum I remember wonderful gatherings of family or friends and a community approach to eating. We could mix and match all types of dishes ranging from pork chops to egg tarts as we collectively decided what to add to the table. The atmosphere is great around brunch time and so is the food.
365great Day 233: Ethiopian
I looove Ethiopian food. From the slightly sour injera to the amazing selection of meats and veggies, I just can’t get enough. I’m a huge fan of the way they cook their veggies with so much flavor and I enjoy the beef tibs mixed with onion, tomato, and other tastes. It’s also a ton of fun to grab at your food with your hands and the whole family style serving makes it a fantastic way to bond with friends. I’ve introduced many a friend to Ethiopian and they all loved it. So far, Panda’s the only one I’ve come across who didn’t enjoy it. I still need to take him to my favorite place though and I might still convert him yet. Luckily, everyone else I know enjoys eating Ethiopian, so I can definitely find company when I get a craving. It’s such a great meal to have and share!
365great Day 232: photo editing apps
It’s been months and months of my 365great series and it’s time I recognized the apps that make my little visuals possible. I’ve tried a bunch of photo editing apps that allow me to add text to my pictures and these are my favorites. Most recently I’ve been sticking with WordSwag because it’s so easy to create some really pretty font ones. I used to like InstaQuote for being able to easily change the color of some words. It really just depends on my mood which one I end up using! Whatever the case, these apps are so useful in making great buttons and other pinnable images.
365great Day 231: Riesen
In honor of Halloween, I wanted to celebrate my favorite candy as a child. I love candy and I certainly had plenty as a kid. One of the more expensive ones that I didn’t get quite as much was Riesen. Whenever I did get a bag, it was such a treat! I couldn’t get enough of these rich, indulgent morsels. They were dark enough chocolate to feel exotic and cool but not too dark for my youthful sweet tooth. The chocolate exterior was fun to break through as I chewed into the chocolate caramel center. I liked how super chewy the center was – not your average soft caramel, oh no, this one packed a punch! One of these would be quite a mouthful and satisfied my taste buds far better than most other candies. It’s a great candy that I enjoy.
365great Day 230: singing
I’ll count singing, humming, and whistling for this one. I don’t think there’s a day that goes by where I don’t at least make a little peep related to music. Usually it’s whistling since it doesn’t require words and I can practice my embouchure. I’ve never been very good with song lyrics, Chinese , English, or otherwise. Singing in one form or another almost always lifts my spirits, even when I’m connecting to a sad song. It’s a way to tap into emotions and allow feelings to move you. If you’re singing a song others know, it also becomes a way to share a connection. People seem to either love singing because they think they’ve got an excellent voice or they shy away from it because they think their singing is horrible. To me, it’s more about how it makes you feel than how it makes you sound. I’m almost always (shamelessly) grooving to music in the car, having fun trying out notes and harmonizing. It’s a great feeling that I think everyone should tap into more.
365great Day 229: blissmobox
Blissmo was the first to get me into this subscription box thing and I haven’t looked back since. After a year with them, I was ready to move on and try other brands, but I will forever have them to thank for introducing me to this world in the first place. I’ve enjoyed getting boxes from them and I appreciated the varied themes. It was fun to choose between food, beauty, household, pets, and other focuses for a given box. As far as I’ve seen, they’re the only ones doing that on a monthly basis. They’ve shown me some incredible eco-friendly brands that I’m so glad to have tried. It’s been great and I might consider getting some of their special sale boxes in the future!
365great Day 228: Neal’s Yard Remedies
When I went on the UK vacation a few weeks back, I had my heart set on finding some cool skincare line based in that region. When I arrived, I kept my eyes peeled and soon enough, I came across Neal’s Yard Remedies shops. I was immediately drawn to the brand because it’s organic and comes in wonderful blue glass bottles. I tried some of their products in the store and decided that the witch hazel water was best suited for me since it soothes and my skin has a tendency to break out like mad. I purchased a bottle from a store in London and brought it back with me. Then at Green Festival DC this year, I came across a booth with – whatdya know – Neal’s Yard Remedies! They don’t have stores, but they do have reps selling their products in the US. I couldn’t resist getting the white tea facial mist (a bestseller) and organic facial wipes. So far I’m really enjoying their products, which are gentle and soothing. I’m really glad I came across this great line of products!
365great Day 227: Venus flytraps
Aren’t these just the coolest plants? I think it’s amazing that they managed to grow into a claw shape and developed a mechanism to basically become carnivorous. Out of all the insect-eating plants out there, my favorite is the Venus flytrap because it really looks the role. As a kid I really wanted one of these plants and I asked my mom for ages before she finally decided she’d let me. I was crushed when I wasn’t able to find them for sale at the grocery store after that! I looked for years with no luck and while I’m sure I could get some these days, I have yet to actually ever get any. Perhaps with the move to the new condo, I can add that to my list of things to get, but I’ve heard they’re hard to care for so I might just keep postponing it. Whatever the case, I always love it when I come across these awesome plants. The way they’ve adapted creatively is pretty great.
365great Day 226: caramel
Mmm I looove caramels! I mean, I enjoy fudge and toffee and similar candy too, but my all-time favorite is still caramel. It can be a wide range of softness and flavors. I’m particular to the gooey ones that are quick to melt in your mouth. I’ve tried watermelon-infused ones, coconut ones, chocolate-encased ones, and they’re all fantastic. Everything from Milk Duds to the pictured Crack Caramel caramels are good in my book. I’ve never had a problem with them sticking to my teeth and if they did I figure they’d just melt away eventually anyway. Their sweetness is the perfect pick-me-up for my sweet tooth. Between the taste and texture, they’re really a great treat!
