January: Things I am Loving

1.) Petit Fours

Somehow Tyler and I stumbled upon a local bakery that makes petit fours. Good petit fours. This is a REAL problem. I love petit fours... so much that they were served at our wedding reception. We had a big dessert buffet and this was one of the things that I HAD TO HAVE. Raspberry Almond Petit Fours. They were precious and delicious. They were also the only thing that I actually ate at our wedding reception besides the bite of cake that Tyler gave to me when we cut our cake. Sometime during the course of the night I managed to snarf a couple of these delicious little confections down before I changed out of my wedding dress into my going away dress and bid our family goodbye. Don't ask how many times Tyler and I have stopped by this bakery for these...just don't... you don't want to know. I also bought some for book club so that I could share the love and ended up eating most of them myself.

2.) Snow Sneakers

Due to #1 these came in VERY handy! One day whilst perusing at Costco I saw a display for Snow Sneakers. Hmmm...interesting. I hate snow boots. I despise clomping around in Sorels. I have never and will never own Uggs. They are glorified moonboots people! And... they are called Uggs for a reason. They are UGLY. Don't tell me how comfy they are or how warm they are...blah blah...I've heard it all before. And no one looks good in them...nope...not even you. They are the crocs of winter. I will wear Hunters if I have to wear some form of snow boots or Sorels if I will be seriously in the snow but I don't enjoy it. And people who wear Hunters just for fun and fashion? I don't get you either. If it isn't snowing or raining they are just clompy rubber boots. They are not comfy. My hatred of proper winter footwear annoys Tyler to no end. He was the first to spot the ol' snow sneakers and he was the one that demanded that I try them on in the middle of a crowded Costco. They look sporty and almost like high tops BUT they are insulated and have tread. They are also super light weight and zip up (despite having ties). Here is my other issue with snow boots...getting them on and off. Ugh...Tying them (Sorels)...getting in and hopping around on one foot trying to get out of them (Hunters)...no thank you. But these were easy to slip on and off and light and somewhat sporty looking. They were also $15 so you can be sure that I saved that receipt because it seemed too good to be true. But...they are still in my possession and I wear them all the time while out walking and hiking almost daily in the ice and snow. They are warm and delightful. I texted my sister and daughter to go buy some immediately which neither of them did. Whatever. They should've listened to me! I don't think you can beat a pair of $15 snow sneakers!!

3.) Duck shoes

Now lest you think that I put on my snow sneakers to run errands or to take the kids to school you would be wrong. I wear duck shoes for that and I love them. Duck shoes hadn't crossed my mind since about 1989 until we went to Portland for Thanksgiving and Tyler found the coolest pair of slip on duck boots which he bought as fast as he could. Portland knows its rain gear. Spokane isn't nearly as rainy as Portland but we still get a lot of rain and Portlandians have taught me a lot about how to deal with the elements. Like always buy a hat with a hood. That one took me a good 30 years to figure out. Rain coats are a necessity. I had been living in the PNW for 15 years without one. Scarves actually serve a purpose. You know, things like that. I have had Hunter boots for the last 8 years so I can walk around in any kind of slush and rain but Tyler has not had an equivalent in footwear. Enter duck boots. Something about his joy and delight with those duck boots took me back to the 1980s and I saw in my mind's eye my BFF Naomi with her bobbed hair and ribbon headband wearing her pegged jeans and a Forenza sweater and a pair of duck shoes. I decided right then that I NEEDED a pair!! They went on my Christmas list and Tyler bought me some. All blue and retro-like. I love them. I wear them every day!!

4.) Hoarfrost

This has made the list before but it is my favorite wintery item so I am bringing it back. We've had a lot of hoar-frosty goodness. I love frosty trees but no snow on the ground. It's like you get a bit of winter but not all of the drudgery that goes with snow and slush.

5.) Marie Kondo on Netflix

Let's just say that this show sucked us in for several episodes one weekend. I cannot stand having things around that we don't use or that I don't love so I make many donation trips. But there is someone in our house/garage/laundry room who has a few issues. #Tyler There are three specific places that I am NOT allowed to organize or go through and clean out. It is annoying. He is starting to let me go through some of the things that are in the off limit zones. I am truly enjoying saying this little phrase to Tyler. "Spark Joy??" :)