No.704: Five Good Things // Vol.14

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1 // THESE BLANKETS FOR KIDS

I received a weighted blanket for Christmas a few years ago and it’s a crowd favorite with the entire family.  I finally decided to invest in some for the kids (so they’d stop stealing mine!) and eventually landed on WeeSprout weighted blankets.  I like that they have choices appropriate for different ages/sizes (I got the 5lb for my youngest and 10lb for my middle kids) and the quilted look distributes the weight evenly.  And extra awesome: I think the kids sleep more deeply when they use them.  Happy, well-rested kids = a happy mama.

2 // THIS SOUP, PERFECT FOR SORE THROATS AND CHILLY NIGHTS

Back in October, I had some random bits of things in the fridge that would be perfect for a soup.  A quick search led me to this chicken noodle soup recipe and it was a big hit.  I’m keeping the recipe close by for the inevitable days when we have the sniffles or just need something warm to fill our bellies.

3 // THIS QUOTE

…it occurs to me now, however, that I might work with light itself.  It has always captivated me, the way it shifts and alters all that it touches, significant both in presence and in absence.
I am desperate to begin.  I have become too mindful of suffering and darkness; they attend to me even when I bid them not to, like scavenger birds perched and waiting for the calf to die.  And when I seek a finer grace in the day, some essence of love and life, the light fades beneath my eyes.
I will not abandon the quest before it has truly begun, however.  I will let this grief sharpen my gaze, polish and shape it until it becomes a magnifying lens through which I might yet see.
– To the Bright Edge of the World, page 218

4 // THIS POPCORN MAKER

We’ve been without a popcorn maker for quite awhile now.  Our previous one broke and every time I tried to reorder another, the shipment was ultimately cancelled.  Womp womp.  Recently, while on Poshmark for something completely unrelated, I stumbled on a brand new, never removed from the box popcorn maker!  (I know I’m a broken record at this point, but I’m loving the “secondhand” market right now.)  I’ve never used this type of popper before and I’m loving it.  Smaller footprint, no oil needed and cleanup is minimal.  So great.  I was thinking that when paired with some popcorn kernels and a movie, it would make a really sweet family gift for Christmas.  If you can’t find another one on Poshmark, Amazon sells them as well.

5 // THIS TOOL THAT TRANSFORMED MY UGLY COUCH!

Back in December 2020, still on cloud nine from becoming debt free, we finally replaced our beat-up Ikea couch with a more expensive, “grown-up” sectional.  I went with a lighter color in a less child-friendly, but allegedly “high performance fabric.”  This was it, guys – the start of a new beginning!  And very, very quickly…the fabric was covered with pilling.  Think of your oldest, most ratty sweater and multiply by 10.  I was convinced I had made a wrong fabric selection (you know how some of these places have fabrics that are completely impractical for actual living!) and was so, so embarrassed to have wasted so much money.  But whatcha gonna do?  I threw some throw pillows and blankets on it and tried to ignore all of its ugly glory.  Fast forward to two weeks ago when I randomly stumbled on an article about caring for upholstery.  Halfway through, it basically said, “Pilling on couch upholstery is completely normal and you just need a fabric shaver to make it look good as new.”  How did I not know this?!  I ordered the one they recommended, the Gleener fabric shaver, and my couch is transformed!  If you get satisfaction from vacuuming, you’ll love this thing.