Here we are at the first four things of 2025!  I’ve enjoyed this little round-up of favorite things.  Even if you don’t share online, I would encourage you to keep a list of what you’re up to each week.  It can be informally as a list of what you’re reading, what you’re watching, what you’re loving, and what you’re working on.  I guarantee keeping a simple record will make you more observant, intentional, and aware.  It’s also fun to look back to see how you’re spending your time, what you’re taking in, and how you’re growing.  As I shared yesterday, it’s all practice for who you’re becoming. So, here are my four things… what I’m reading I’ve been listening to the audiobook Camille Pissarro: The Audacity of Impressionism while on walks or when I’m getting ready in the morning and it’s been such a fascinating read.  As the title suggests,

This will be my final Four Things of the year since I will take a few weeks off for Christmas break.  If you’ve been reading my blog, you might remember that I used to post every single day – Christmas Day, on vacation, after surgery, when I was sick.  It was a little crazy, but a big part of the daily posting was I enjoyed it so much.  I was always elated about time off when I worked in the corporate world, but I loved writing and sharing on my blog, so I didn’t feel like I needed a break from it.  After a few years of not taking any breaks, I felt understandably burnt out and finally took a week off for Christmas.  As you would imagine, I learned the value of seeing rest as an important part of work and now I take regular, healthy breaks and actual

One of my Instagram followers said it best, “You’ve been Mondaying hard this week.”  Based on the snippets I’ve shared on Stories, I can see why it would look that way.  Sunday afternoon I dropped my palette paint-side-down on the floor.  Less than an hour later, I put a hoodie in the wash (because I got paint on it) and thought it was heavy because the sleeves I had already cleaned were wet. I learned about 15 minutes later that it was heavy because my iPhone was in the pocket.  Miraculously, it still worked.  I put it in front of a fan for a few hours and it’s been fine.  So far, anyway. Then, Tuesday night, I kept waking up because my left foot hurt.  I couldn’t get it in a comfortable position and finally got out of bed around 5:00 to see if I could stretch it out. I

My weekly check-in with what I’m reading, watching, loving, and working on.  This week, I’m turning the tables on you, watching an old favorite, loving a song Marshall shared with me, and working on everything simultaneously.  We can be slightly overwhelmed and a little behind together. what I’m reading In a very rare season of life, I haven’t had time for my usual reading this week!  I listened to one of my audiobooks on a walk, but I haven’t had time to read and study like I normally do.  It’s just that busy season of life with concerts, special events, traveling, and trying to fit in decorating and gift shopping.  It’s only December 5 and I’m already feeling pressed for time.  So, instead of sharing what I’m reading, why don’t you tell me what you’re reading and what you like about it?   what I’m watching I’ve shared the BBC

Four things – Thanksgiving edition!  I hope you’re enjoying friends, family, good food, and a grateful heart today.  I decided to take a few minutes before we’re off-to-the-races on the festivities to share my weekly four things.  Revisiting watercolor, learning more about one of the great polymaths, a quote that makes you thankful for the people who have lighted the flame within you, and the most adorable knitted houses. what I’m reading In my usual way, I’m reading several books simultaneously, so I had to give some thought to which one I wanted to share today.  I’m partway through a couple of books, so I want to reserve sharing them until I’m further in.  So, today I’ll share a book I’ve had for years and I’m returning to.  I want to improve my skills and knowledge with watercolors since they are such a great medium for travel and sketchbooks, so

This week on four things – Dreamy handpainted walls and historic patterns, a feel-good story, the best apples in the world, and plugging away on home projects.  Enjoy! what I’m reading I purchased A Year in the French Style and received it just in time for a dentist appointment for my 6-month cleaning.  I don’t usually have to wait very long, but I always bring a book with me.  I see waiting as a prime time to get more reading in instead of scrolling pointlessly through my phone.  They were running a bit behind schedule, so I had time to flip through and start reading A Year in the French Style. I was so in love with this neutral, faded mural, and enjoyed reading about the process since I’m eyeball-deep in painting my own mural.  I might need to try something of this style somewhere else in the house… I

My four things this week – admiring the patterns in the world, one of the greatest stories of adventure and survival ever, a quote from the 1500s that inspires me even my safe, suburban life, and a gift we’re giving to our future selves… what I’m reading A few weeks ago, I ordered the book Affinities after it had been on a wishlist for a while.  It’s a book of images from the Public Domain Review, which I thought would be an interesting read.  The images range from beautiful to the quirky and odd. What I have found most inspiring and interesting about this book, though, is the way it’s arranged.  Images aren’t grouped on pages by subject or date, but by how they relate to one another.  It’s sort of a study of a repeat of patterns more than a study of public domain images.  I found it fascinating