The Quiet Life of Violet

1,300 Things to Be Thankful For (week 17)

401. "Googling" things.

402. Clipboards with fat stacks of graph, pink and bright-orange lined paper.

403. Remembering the day my Mother taught me to drive and how fast I took that turn in my high school's parking lot.

404. Finger foods on pretty trays.

405. My friend Lori (from The Nova Studio.)

406. Apple fritters.

407. Dustin new found love for Pumpkin Spice Frapps. They smell so good!

408. Form fitting woolen coats on beautiful men.

409. The first thoughts of what I'll stuff the stockings with.

410. Making a huge pan of  homemade macaroni and cheese for friends and enjoying it together.

411. This scene and song from The Labyrinth

412. Thinking about fire logs in the fireplace.

413. Winning an eBay auction.

414. Learning about reproduction.

415. Sharing recipes.

416. Dreaming about THIS adult Duel Trike, so Dustin and I could ride together. I haven't ridden a bike in YEARS and the exercise would be amazing for me! I'd get sea-foam green and the high back seats! Oh, to dream!

417. The Features (band).

418. Making an appointment to get my nails done. Pampering!

419. Green beans.

420. Stuffing paper rolls with coins and admiring all your new found loot.

421. Pretty jars of clay and powders.


422. Drooling dogs with dopey looks on their faces.

423. Zombie movies.

424. A good fortune from a cookie.

425. Mini paper umbrella in drinks and how special they make me feel.

Magical Movie Moments

These are five of my all-time favorite movie moments:

1. Dan in Real Life. When Steve Carrel's character and sings at the talent show. "When tragedy befalls you," is instant water-works for me.

2. Never Been Kissed. The ending, especially when the Beach Boys songs plays. 

3. Punch Drunk Love. The kissing scene in Hawaii with all of the silhouettes and swingy dresses. 

4. Marie Antoinette. I Want Candy. Oh, the SHOES!

5. Empire Records. Arguably my all-time favorite movie in my teenage years. It will forever remind me of Summertime and being free and the endless possibilities for teenage adventure.

I hope you enjoyed these as much as I do. These little bits make my heart tingle with total happiness and magical delight. Happy Thursday!

26 While 26

Today is my Birthday -- I'm a Summer Solstice baby! To commemorate my 26th year of life, I've made a list, "26 While 26" and will be sharing with you as I complete things I hope to experience and/or achieve.

26 While 26

1. Buy or plant Peonies and enjoy their frilly beauty .

2. Buy a kite and figure out how to fly it.

3. Have a baby, get pregnant or at least be actively trying.

4. Make and sell at least ONE bath and body product. (I can do one, right? That's doable.)

5. Continue to keep this blog, the Quiet Life of Violet up and running.

6. Get a drawing tablet!

7. Go to three concerts.

8. Sew an article of clothing.

9. Visit Leigh-Ann in Missouri (if possible)!

10. Go camping with Bubby.

11. Celebrate our 6 year anniversary with something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue.

12. Read one new book per month.

13. Ride a real train, preferably in the mountains or across the starry plains.

14.  Grow real vegetables this summer and eat them.

15. Watch one "classic" movie per month. I need to acquaint myself with some of the best movies ever made!

16. Create my logo, design my business cards, order my supplies and GET MY BUSINESS GOING!

17.  Try really hard to make Dustin's lunch (to go to work with him) everyday.

18. Visit (gulp) 10 new beaches this year.

19.  Get at least one of the phrase tattoos that I've been dreaming of.

20. Crochet something that doesn't end up looking like a Christmas tree.

21.  Build more muscle in my arms and torso (a bubble butt would be nice, too).

22. Do something selfless at least twice a month.

23.  Buy a (cute?) record player and play a real record.

24. Keep my car clean. And, by "clean" I mean REALLY clean. Someone get me a hand held dust buster and some window cleaner STAT!

25. Be honest with people. Really honest. Not A-hole blunt honest, but I want to be a good friend and not hold things back.

26. Get 100 followers on this blog. Oh boy, that's a lot. Wish me luck!

Enjoy the longest day of the year!

1,300 Things to be Thankful For (week 2)

26.  A fresh pad of Post-It Notes.

27. The soggy gumball at the bottom of the sno-cones from the Ice Cream Man.

28. Freshly cut sunflowers in the house.

29. Peeling off the bandaid,  even though it hurts.

30. The smell of a brand new book (Yep, I sniff books).

31. Games of Ladder Golf  in the backyard.

32.  The sheer size of Drive-In movie screens.

33. The crisp smell of my Mother-In-Law's sun dried towels.

34. Bananas with a bit of green still on them.

35. Rainy days that were made for watching movies.

36. Finding money in a random pocket.

37. Tape-style lint rollers that really work well.

38. Boys who hug trees.

39. Venus Fly Trap plants.

40.  Cellphone/camera/electronic batteries that don't die after an hour.

41. Ice water on hot days.

42.  Water weeds in aquariums.

43. Having 10 fingers.

44. Backyard patios with tastefully draped Christmas lights.

45. Really good sneezes.

46.  Only sneezing once in a while.

47.  Plops of cookie dough on a parchment lined baking sheet.

48. Taking the time to make a really good salad.

49. Fireflies flitting here and there at dusk.

50.  How the dishes magically get taken care of when I throw a dinner party. (<3 Mom)