Life is Good

I looked out the window this morning and the drab landscape made me envious of the storm that's just missing us. We have not had much snow and while that may be too much, I'd like a good blizzard. The other day it was near 50 degrees. I went for a walk after work and the air smelled of almost spring. And it was light until I turned into my driveway at 5 o'clock. It's 12 degrees today. I believe we'll have at least six more weeks of winter, and I'm okay with it too.

Last night I turned the stock I made over the weekend into soup...Chicken Soup with Dumplings. I've never made dumplings before, but I will make them again. I have many iterations of chicken soup. This is my new favorite. I added parsnips and dill, and those delicate little dumplings. I wanted to send some home with Candace who was over for our weekly happy hour, but it wasn't ready. I gave her the Mushroom Lover's Pasta I made the night before instead. The key to that dish is authentic Italian Papardelle, fresh Parm, and a few glugs of good Balsamic and crisp white wine. I'm having so much fun now that Lils is a mushroom lover.

Speaking of Lils...Friday she got the exciting, much anticipated news that she will continue the Wisconsin family tradition. This fall she will become a Badger! My brother and sil were over when she got the news and we all celebrated her acceptance loudly. We Facetimed T Bone knowing he'd want to be among the first to congratulate her.

It's funny because I almost wasn't a Badger. My mom filled out the application for me without my knowledge. I thought I wanted to go to a smaller school further away. My mom knew me well. I needed to be closer to home and I never felt overwhelmed by the size. I quickly found my place and my people. The rest is history.

I met Mike my first day on campus. He greeted us as we exited the elevator onto Frisby Floor. It was his job as a sophomore. In the three years that followed, we went on several double dates with our significant others and crossed paths at some of the same house parties. It wasn't until my senior year that we felt a spark. We were at one of those house parties with all the usual suspects and it could have gone another way as I had been involved with a couple of these guys. One could say there was some unfinished business. I left one of them on the driveway not believing what I was hearing after two years together and a year apart. I left the other at the bar not listening to what he was proposing because it was crazy. I went to the dance floor. The rest is history.

I'm excited for Lily's future and I know she's going to love being a Badger whatever that means for her.

We had a date to see Mean Girls on Sunday. Neither of us were particularly excited. I had no expectations having never seen the movie. The production was fun and engaging. We both laughed a lot and loved it and were happy we motivated for the show. Isn't that the truth? Sometimes the best times are the ones we resist.

This week I'm making it a priority to lean into positivity. It's actually written in my planner as a daily habit. I've found that smiling does make me happier and that speaking kindly to myself is a game changer.