Less is More (3)

 Pancake Dinner

Some nights I make breakfast for dinner. In New Jersey, diners sell breakfast foods hot off the griddle nearly 24/7 so it's not a ludircrous idea to have pancakes in the evening. My sister came over a little before sundown and we flipped pancakes, bursting with blueberries, on a little outdoor stove. We topped them with powdered sugar. The blueberries popped with each bite leaving a trail of bright blue juice on our plates.

Salt water 

 On Memorial Day weekend while visiting friends in Bayville, I leapt off the dock in their backyard right into the lagoon. The taste of the salt water on my lips brought back memories from my childhood as I learned to swim in the lagoon when I was a toddler. Dad tied my life vest with a rope to the sailboat because I had a terrible habit of jumping off the side into the water. For whatever reason, maybe ignorance, I was never afraid of what might be swimming beneath me.  

Fresh mulch

Freshly laid mulch has a distinct, earthy smell and bright hue that I find to be indicative of new beginnings. Parks are prepared for the little feet of young people ready to play, and manicured lawns await the season's blooms. My nostrils perk up whenever I walk past the first new mulch of spring. 

Whipped heavy cream  

Whipping heavy cream for dessert is well worth the extra effort, and anything but heavy. Before serving with a strawberry rhubarb pie, I grabbed the whisk with the residual cream and toted it around the backyard. Everyone dipped their fingers for a quick taste and while not the most sanitary, it was sweet. We're family anyway.  

Finding a dollar in your laundry

A dollar and some change won't drastically change our circumstances but finding anything unexpected is a treat. Whether an indication of a lucky day/moment or half way to a chocolate bar from the vending machine, it beats not finding anything in your clean jeans. 

Less is more (2)

Drinking coffee from a pretty mug

Pretty mugs always heighten the experience of drinking something warm and comforting. Some of my favorite mugs are bought from the oasis that is the kitchen section at Anthropologie. Others are gifts I gratefully received. Different mugs serve different states of mind and I relish in the selection of the right mug for a particular cup of coffee. Better, a cappuccino.  

Lighting matches

The audible friction, a quick pop, and the immediate scent of embers. Of fire. Matches are valuable in that they have an expiration. One moment matches burn brightly, and the next they are gone. The scent lingers on like a fond memory. 

A s'more

I have yet to meet a person who does not like a s'more or some variation of one. Not a huge fan of marshmallows, my mom simply melts some Hershey's over a graham cracker. Others go without the chocolate. I myself like it all; the more decadent, the better. My sister and I roasted leftover chocolate covered Peeps from Easter and it was quite successful. Once I used a peanut butter cup in lieu of milk chocolate. Divine. Huddled around the fire with marshmallow laden fingers there is laughter. 

A rocking chair

I am well beyond my days as a child, but I know why children are calmed by rocking. It is fluid and soothing. The pattern is predictable and therefore constantly reassuring. Forward and backward. Forward and backward.  While no one is cradling me in their arms whispering "Shhh, baby sleeping", I still have the rocking chair. 

Getting a green light

Living and driving in a metropolitan region, stop lights are, well, everywhere. Every so often though, the green lingers a little longer than I anticipated and I can continue on my journey, uninterrupted. My sister touches the ceiling overhead in a fit of superstition to prolong the green as she approaches the intersection. I giggle but it does always seems to work. 

Less is more

I know what you must be thinking. She is talking about decorating or makeup. Maybe accessorizing. What can this girl possibly know about those topics? She only ever talks about eating, or spending time with others while eating... While I love (trying) to decorate and I do wear makeup, I am going to opt out of adding to the ongoing dialogue around these hot topics. Let's leave it to the professionals.

In this case, "less" is made up of the simple and ordinary joys that drive a considerable part of contentment. Nearly every week, I will share five simple pleasures in an effort to live gratefully in the moment. While our culture may emphasize the need to have more, be more and accomplish more, there should also be a faction of us that mocks this unending pursuit by remembering that less is more.

Riding a Razor scooter

Easter's warm weather afforded the younger generation in my family the opportunity to play outside together. We range from 8 years old up to 27, but playtime is our equalizer.  I raced my twin cousins on their Razor scooters and despite my longer, stronger legs came in last place. Gosh it was fun though, and I felt a youthful calm that afternoon. We feasted on my Aunt Cathy's Easter cookies and cupcakes by the twins' mother Angela after our field day outside. For a moment, I was eight years old and carefree again.

This summer Angela is opening a 2Sweet retail location and you too can feast on her confections. More details to come. 

Singing alone in the car with the windows down

When behind the wheel, I slip into the belief that I will not see anyone I know on the open road. Reckless abandon outweighs my otherwise typical prudent behavior and  I sing loudly to my heart's content, with the windows down. The wind and strangers rushing by me, I strive to remain in tune in the event someone might venture close enough to hear me.

Cooking hot dogs on an open fire

My grandparents gave us their chiminea to keep on our patio as we spend most warm evenings cooking and eating outside together. We grabbed some Sabrett hotdogs and metal skewers and roasted our dinner over the open fire. No utensils required and easy clean up. Tasty too!

Homemade Icing

My sister loves chocolate cake with cream cheese icing. I am a carrot cake lover, which also pairs beautifully with cream cheese icing. While Betty and Duncan are consistent crowd pleasers, there is something extra rewarding about whipping the icing from scratch.

Fuzzy socks on freshly creamed feet

I worked as a high school student in a small boutique called Jake's Montclair. It was a genuine neighborhood shoppe selling Life is Good apparel and merchandise. It has since closed but thankfully I acquired numerous pairs of  these socks. All different colors and patterns, I adorn them after a long bath. Feet deserve respite as well; they take us where we are going.