I love hats!

Today I went with my friend to help her get a swimsuit and the store we stopped at happened to have a hat display. I love hats, there's something so nice about them. I ended up getting one that's multicolored and sparkly and wonderful. Afterwards we went and got frozen yogurt to celebrate the purchase of a nice swimsuit and awesome hat! So I say, here's to hats and mango frozen yogurt!

Everything's alright

I was watching this show called "Jesus Christ Superstar Live" and in that musical there's this song called  "Everything's Alright." I like it because it's about not worrying even if/when things are hard. Anyway, I hope you have a worry-free day!

Why I love bookstores

I've always loved bookstores. One of my favorite memories as a kid was going to this children's bookstore by my house where they used to have story times most afternoons. Plus, my parents always had (and still have) a ton of books around my house. Anyway, I still like bookstores especially ones that are really crowded with books. (These types of bookstores are, in my experience, independently owned and usually in small towns.)  There's something fun about them for me. Over the weekend I went to a bookstore in Gloucester which literally looked like someone exploded a library inside it. Really, there was one path in and one path out of the store, there were just so many books. I love bookstores like that, not only because they remind me of where I grew up but also because you never really know what you'll find in them. So I guess my message for today is, life for me is rather like a crowded bookstore, I never know what new information I'll find in each day and that's what makes life fun for me.

Fun day at the Red Sox!

Today my family and I went to see the Red Sox baseball team play the Toronto Blue Jays which was super fun mainly because of 3 things. First, I was with my parents which makes things more fun in general,  the Red Sox won and I always like the atmosphere at Fenway Park. Sometimes I feel like I like it most because everyone in the crowd is so into it and I like how at some point during each game they play the song "Sweet Caroline" and everyone gets really into singing it.  It really makes me happy to sing along with them. Plus, it's exciting when the Red Sox win!

Fun fact of the day

A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time: 1/100th of a second. (Source: https://owlcation.com/misc/Over-200-Odd-Facts-Did-You-Know-Them)

So enjoy your jiffies as quickly as possible!

A sunny day at the beach

I always like the beach, there's something peaceful about watching the waves go in and out.  My parents and I went to the beach today and it was lovely because it reminded me of when I was younger and we'd go to the beach. We'd always have a pail and spade and we'd go and make sandcastles and play about in the water even if it was really cold.  I know that I've always felt happy when I'm at the beach and especially when I'm there with my family.  To this day, for me, a summer really isn't complete without going the the beach!

Fun night out at the Boston Pops!

I just came back from a really fun night with my parents. I took them to see the Boston Pops orchestra which was lovely. They played the theme from Raiders of the Lost Arc, Rhapsody in Blue, Bohemian Rhapsody among others. They even had a sing along of old movie songs which I enjoyed very much. I especially liked the sing along because my mum sang with me. Despite the fact that she says she has no voice, I know she's really happy when she starts singing. One thing I love best about music is that it's sounds the best when it's shared and I'm glad this performance was something my parents and I could enjoy together! I hope that wherever you are reading this, there is a lot of music in your life.

Fun word of the day

Just because I love words here's a funny word for today: Abibliophobia. It's means someone who is afraid of running out of things to read. Plus, I just like the way the word sounds! Anyway, I hope you never run out of things to read and as always I wish you much happiness for the new day to come!

Temptations I can't resist

"Yield to temptation. It may not pass your way again."-Robert A. Heinlein
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/robert_a_heinlein_137032

I like to think I have willpower but there are some things I just can't resist although I do try to limit my access to them to some extent so t I'll appreciate these things more than I do already (if that's possible). Anyway, here are some things (in no particular order) I can't resist:

Hugs-I like being on the giving and receiving end of them because I feel safe when I'm hugging someone or being hugged.

Egg rolls-they're just yummy!

Harry Potter-I especially like the audiobooks. It reminds me of home somehow. (Sadly no, I didn't grow up anywhere like Hogwarts, however much I would have liked to.)

Trail Mix-They used to sell big jars of the stuff which I really like. I try and eat it slowly as it's nice just to know I have it when I want it.

Dark chocolate-it just tastes so nice!

Minions-I go a bit nuts when I see them. (Minions are these funny little yellow cartoon characters who make it their mission to be led by the most evil person possible.) My friend has a theory that I like them so much because (as they're supposedly mischievously evil) I can get all my badness out by living vicariously through minions and this allows me to be a good person in reality. So really, according to this theory, I'm a good person because of Minions!

Eliminate the impossible to find the truth

"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."-Arthur Conan Doyle
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/arthur_conan_doyle_134512

I like this quote in that to me it says that all things are possible and that's my truth. 

Being found

During the service at my church last Sunday the choir I sing  sang this song called "You Will Be Found" which is actually from the Broadway musical "Dear Evan Hansen." I really liked singing this song because it's all about how people don't have to feel alone. Although I can't share the recording of us singing, I did find a clip of a group of people joining together to sing it online. Wherever you're reading this, know that you aren't alone because I care and I hope you find happiness in each day. I wish you peace and much love now and always.

Seeing the world in a book

The cartographer Abraham Ortelius was born today in 1527 and he created the first atlas. Although now we have Google and other computer programs to show us where things are in the world, I rather liked looking places up in atlases. We had one in my house growing up and it had all these pictures of people and places I'd never been to and where I might go someday. It somehow made me feel strangely adventurous. To whoever might read this, I wish you every happiness in wherever life takes you!

Hats!

As Prince Harry married Meghan Markle today, it got me thinking about how much I love it that women in England typically wear hats to weddings (well at least to really fancy weddings anyway.) I've resolved that if I go to a wedding that's big and fancy I'm going to wear a fascinator, just because I can and I want to. I saw one on the internet today that (although it's really crazy expensive) I still really liked it. I just think it would be fun to wear it. Even if I don't end up going to a wedding, sometimes I like wearing fancy things randomly because it motivates me to go and do something special that merits wearing something fancy. When it comes down to it though, really I justI like feeling pretty!

To see a picture of the fascinator I mentioned follow this link (the fascinator I was talking about is the dark green one on the left of this page): https://www.pinterest.com/pin/404549979014517612/?amp_client_id=oxO_nbSpUIF_sS9bQorGzyeClBkzNvr4GygMteBWEzJ-N8YjSSHWrK0ozFt3jvNW&mweb_unauth_id=b6bd27cc363ec3cfdc7e21e6c4eff630.

Wanna be funny?

It's the comedian Tina Fey's birthday and I found this clip of her giving advice about being funny. I thought I'd share it here because being funny is fun!

Happy Friday everyone!

Some peaceful music for a Thursday

It's the singer Enya's birthday and to celebrate it I thought I'd share a song she sang that gives me a lot of peace when I listen to it. To everyone who reads this posting, I wish you much peace now and always.

Lilacs!

Today I was walking down the street on my way home from work and there was an old man cutting lilacs off of a bush. As I was walking past he saw that I was admiring the lilacs and he stopped and randomly gave me some.  We chatted about the weather and how his day was and then I thanked him and went on my way.  I like spontaneous acts of kindness like that. Plus, the lilacs reminded me of where I grew up as there's a lilac bush by my family's house in Michigan so that memory made the incident today seem really happy. People can be really kind and flowers are always pretty and when I think of those things my life seems just that much better!

Super happy to raise money for programs for people with epilepsy

I just wanted to give an update that today I found out that the Epilepsy Foundation New England was able to raise over $200,000 from a walk fundraiser they held last weekend. I'm so excited for them as their programs benefit so many people myself included. One of my favorite programs that the Foundation hosts is art therapy sessions which are super fun. I'm forever grateful to the Foundation's staff and I'm so pleased that I could be part of helping them raise money so that many other people can also benefit from their services. If you're in the New England area and want to find out more about the Epilepsy Foundation New England visit their website at: https://www.epilepsynewengland.org.

I like big books!

I saw this really funny video that appealed to me because I like big books!

Happy reading everyone!

Favorite time with my mom

As it's Mother's Day in the US, this got me thinking about my mom and how we've been great friends throughout my life. I love my mom very much and one of my favorite things that I liked doing with her as a kid was reading. My mom would read to me before I went to bed and it was really fun because she would do all the voices in the stories which made the characters more real to me. My favorite book that my mom read to me as a child was The Railway Children by E. Nesbit. I still like that book today. Now I'm older, while she no longer reads to me,  we share books and I'm forever grateful for the fact that she instilled in me a love of reading.  Anyway, I send my love to my mom and to all mothers!

Awesome Walk for Epilepsy

Today I volunteered at the Boston Walk for Epilepsy to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation New England. I always have a lovely time when I go to volunteer at these events each year because my friends are there and everyone just seems really cheerful.  It's super fun and what made it even nicer this year is that they had Mickey and Minnie Mouse as mascots. As many families who came to the walk brought a lot of young children, it was really sweet to see all these kids get so excited to see Mickey and Minnie Mouse.  I just like seeing people so happy. Plus, we raised quite a bit of money for programs that help people with epilepsy which really is awesome!

I Wish You Many Blue Skies

The composer and lyricist Irving Berlin was born today in 1888. He wrote the song"Blue Skies" which I really like because to me it's about choosing to see the happy things that life has to offer in each day. Thus, I wish you many happy days and many blue skies to come.

Happy Thursday

I want to wish everyone the happiest of Thursdays! It's one day closer to Friday and that's something to celebrate! I hope you had a nice day and I wish you a very happy tomorrow!

Spread the love

“Let no one who loves be unhappy, even love unreturned has its rainbow.” James M. Barrie
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/james_m_barrie_105639

I find spreading love to be one of the nicest things I can do, or at least to me  it’s always felt like the nicest thing to do. Even if the love I show to others isn’t returned, I like knowing that I can still show love to people by being kind. So I’d say kindness has always been my rainbow. When I’m kind to others my life seems brighter and better for taking that action. Love in kindness is one of the best things there is. So I send lots of love to all who read this.

My mum's favorite naturalist

"It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living."-David Attenborough
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/david_attenborough_214808

As it's almost mother's day I thought I'd share a quote here from my mum's favorite naturalist whose name is David Attenborough. My mum and I really like his voice and I felt this quote from him was really lovely as it expresses awesome the world can be. One of the most beautiful things I've seen in nature is a sunset. I know it might not seem that big a deal but I like how it sprays color across the sky. It shows me how beauty and light can be found in each day despite what darkness may come and that thought makes me feel happy!

Friends are the best

"A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature."-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friends really are the best things that exist in human nature. If I could wish something for everyone I'd wish everyone a friend just because it's nice to know that people care about you. In that spirit, for what it's worth, if you're reading this, although I may never meet you, I do care about you and I wish you every happiness now and always! 

Everyone has style

"Create your own visual style... let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others. -Orson Welles
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/orson_welles_109681

The actor Orson Welles was born today in 1915 and I like this quote  because I feel like everyone has style, it's just a matter of a identifying it. I always thought it was interesting when people said "that's so you" or 'that's a very 'you' thing to do." I think it speaks to how the things we do say a lot about who we are, or at least how other people see us. Whatever style I may have, I feel like I'm always trying to find it and shape it to fit how I may change over time. So my point is, live in (your) style and let it shine! 

Have it all

I heard this lovely song by Jason Mraz today called "Have It All." I really like the song because (at least to me) it's all about wanting the best for people and spreading happiness! So I send this song out to everyone with lots of love and I sen best wishes to all!

Because it's May the 4th -just a bit of fun for Star Wars fans

To all Star Wars fans:

Never underestimate the power of the hug! May the 4th be with you!

Get up and dance!

The singer James Brown was born today in 1933 and I celebrate his birthday today by sharing this song called "Get up offa that thing." I like the song because to me it's all about choosing to dance regardless of everything.  I just know that dancing always makes me feel better. Anyway, I hope you have many reasons to dance (or at the very least feel like dancing) today! I wish everyone a very happy Thursday!

Happy Wednesday

I want to wish everyone the happiest of Wednesdays and an even happier Thursday!

A hypothetical conversation about chocolate

Hypothetical conversation between my head and my stomach 

My stomach: I want chocolate!
My head: You just ate dinner.
My stomach: I still want chocolate
My Head: Maggie decided that we'd go on that Mediterranean diet thingy to be healthier.
My stomach: Fine, you can go off and daydream about the Mediterranean and I'll get Maggie to eat chocolate!
My Head: Traitor!
My stomach: Funspunge! I'll bet the people stuck out in the middle of the Mediterranean eat chocolate! Dark chocolate is good for you, didn't you know that?! It's got that vitamin thingy.
My Head: Vitamin E.
My stomach: Yeah! That vitamin thingy!
My head: OHHHH LOOK! A WATER BOTTLE WITH A MINION ON IT!!!!
My stomach: OMG, OMG, OMG!
[Maggie drinks water]
My head: Ha! I win! Plus, in order to eat chocolate we have to go to the store to get it and I'm feeling tired.
My stomach: Just you wait, tomorrow I'll find something I want to eat that even you can't resist!
My head: Never underestimate my willpower!
My stomach: You just keep telling yourself that!

To be continued....