Breakfast (+ A Few Links)

This is my current favorite breakfast, usually savored on the weekend when I have more than three minutes to prepare it. However, thanks to Passover and Easter, I have two random days off this week and was able to enjoy it yesterday morning alongside a cup of coffee and the howling rain-wind outside. Scrambled eggs, multigrain toast, avocado and sautéed leeks: so simple, so satisfying. I didn't butter my bread because I like having the flexibility to pile everything else on top.

Also, I truly don't understand how food bloggers operate. I was so eager to eat this that I literally took a single photo and hoped for the best before devouring the entirety of my meal. Doesn't the food get cold while they set up and style the perfect shot(s)? Do they throw it out afterwards? Do they actually plan on eating whatever recipe they prepare, or do they prepare the recipe solely for the purpose of turning it into a blog post? Eggs taste the most delicious when consumed as close to exiting the pan as possible (everybody knows this, right?), so these thoughts remain baffling to me.

And now, here's some unrelated mind fuel to accompany the palatable pleasure:

30 Things in 30 Years; "I would rather be in a room full of kings than be king of the room."

A Short Guide to a Happy Life; a particularly lovely excerpt:

"You cannot be really first-rate at your work if your work is all you are. So I suppose the best piece of advice I could give anyone is pretty simple: get a life. A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger paycheck, the larger house....Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on a breeze over the dunes, a life in which you stop and watch how red-tailed hawk circles over a pond and a stand of pines. Get a life in which you pay attention to the baby as she scowls with concentration when she tries to pick up a Cheerio with her thumb and first finger....Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work."

The importance of Building a Good Name.

This made me cry (especially that last one, with the horse): The Five Days I Fell Hardest For My Wife.
"She is here. She is with me always. I will be alright."

Story time: I Am a Pizza (very wise words from a five-year-old).

//

Happy Wednesday, my friends. Hope you have a terrific day!

Water & Air

Besides the aforementioned, my essentials as of late:

1). Killer playlists to get me through hours upon hours of photo editing. On repeat:

On Top of the World // Imagine Dragons
Wagon Wheel // Darius Rucker
White Dress // Ben Rector
Dumb Love // Sean Kingston

2). Hilariously ridiculous videos like this velociraptor chase prank.

3). Distractions like this collection of notes written by kids to their loved ones.

4). And this collection of photographs depicting ballet dancers in random scenarios.

5). The sweetest song, penned by a 96-year-old man a month after his wife of 73 years passed away.


Sometimes I feel like quitting the internet, but more often than not, it's filled with good stuff worth passing along.

Star Wars, According to a 3-year-Old

I am teaching a 3's class this year and just began individual visits to meet my kiddos and their families before the official first day of school next week. I came across this video on Youtube over the weekend and found it hysterically reminiscent of typical 3-year-old chatter.

Take a minute and watch, if only to add a bit of brightness to your day.

*scenes from the weekend will be up later tonight, as it is still technically the weekend due to labor day :)

Wooden Playgrounds

We recently had a discussion about the evolution of playgrounds in one of my graduate classes. It got me thinking about my childhood love of giant wooden playgrounds, and how so few of them exist anymore.

So, I performed a little google-image search (love google-image search), and found these. They take me back to the days of playing "pirate and princess" and precariously crossing the wobbly bridge to the awesomely giant silver slide...

Nothing Better...

...than receiving 19 adorable valentines.

Kids (On Love)

Today was the first day back in the classroom with my kiddos after a two and a half week winter break. I can honestly say that on a cold & blustery winter morning (sans caffeine fix), absolutely nothing beats 19 cuddly hugs.

My four-year-olds impart so much heart-warming, hilarious wisdom on a daily basis. I can't remember where I first saw this, but it brought a smile to my face today and reminded me why I love what I do.

Here's to making your Tuesday a little lighter :-)


"What does LOVE mean?" (Allegedly posed to a group of children, these were some of the replies):

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know your name is safe in their mouth." -Billy

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." -Terri

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." -Tommy

(Photo credit unknown)