What's Up Wednesday 3-29-17

I'm linking up with Sheaffer Told Me To The Larson Lingo and Mix and Match Mama for What's Up Wednesday today.

What We're Eating This Week:

I'm all about roasting vegetables lately - everything from broccoli to cauliflower to carrots to asparagus to brussels sprouts. Listen, it's a thrill a minute in my kitchen these days. ;-) I sprinkle them with little bit of olive oil, kosher salt and pepper and roast for 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Then I throw them in a bowl immediately and toss them with tiny bit of lemon juice and minced garlic. I don't know if everyone in all the world knew about this newfangled roasting of vegetables thing, but I learned it from Blue Apron. I realize now that I have spent 48 years having no idea that I could actually like eating broccoli and not just force it down my throat. As God is my witness, I will never use a steamer basket again.

What I'm Reminiscing About:

After twelve years, as we head toward our last first Little League game of the season on Saturday, I'm thinking about this guy who used to show up at the ballpark dressed up in his brothers' old duds and spend the whole game playing imaginary games in the dirt or standing behind home plate imitating the ump. Except when he would stop to make a new friend.

What I'm Loving:

I'm a little bit obsessed with a company called Greenheart Juice Shop and their organic juices and nut milks. Last week - the day after St. Patrick's Day - I was feeling like the consumption of green food and drink from the previous week had gone in a detrimental direction and it was time to make a u-turn to find a different shade of green, so I headed to the Leesburg Farm Market where the juices are sold. These juices are so good. Really good. Not "Just chug the whole thing real quick and you won't gag" good, but legitimately really delicious. Last week at the Leesburg Farmer's Market, I scooped up the Liquid Gold (carrot, pineapple, pear, tumeric and ginger) and the Glorious Greens (spinach, apple, cucumber, parsley, lemon and ginger). In a bold move, I also bought the Majik Milk which contains cashew milk, blue algae and something called tocos that the sweet girl explained to me, but that went over my head.

Just to show you that every healthy endeavor starts with small steps, here's what I chose to accompany my Majik Milk.

That, my friends, is what we call #balance.

What We've Been Up To:

Baseball season started in full force last week, although the weather couldn't decide if it was quite ready for baseball season yet. One day this weekend I watched Drew play in short sleeves and flip flops and the next day I wore a hat, gloves, two shirts, a coat and bummed some handwarmers off a sweet and much more prepared mama than me. Our home opener for the high school season was Monday night and when I walked into the game I was met with the giant official "senior banner" displayed on the fence. All the feelings for Mom. So many feelings.

What I'm Dreading:

I'm certain I'm dreading something, but if I can't think of anything off the top of my head, I'm not going to sit here and try to come up with something. That would seem a really bad idea. So, nothing. At the moment. Let's move on, shall we?

What I'm Working On:

Yesterday, I had officially been writing this blog for 5 years. I've loved it and I am so appreciative of the readers and especially those who comment or email or let me know they enjoy it. This blog has mostly been written in the margins of my life and at times I've been anxious and frustrated that I haven't had more time for more "significant" (whatever that means) writing pursuits. To that end, I've been spending as much time as possible in the library away from the distraction of the urge to do just one more load of laundry, clean one more drawer or have just one more handful of popcorn when I get writer's block. My margins are still fairly narrow, but I do have the ability to widen them.  As Jen Hatmaker says:

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"Writers don’t wait for someone else to tell them they should or can. You should and you can. Next, I am devastated to tell you this, but writing requires work. Kind of hard, brutal, sanity-threatening work. All the writing dreams in your head have to transition to your ten fingers on a keyboard, and I’m afraid there is no other way. (I’m sorry. Take your time.) Work requires time, which of course, you have none of. This is the writer’s dilemma. You will not miraculously become a writer by carrying on exactly like you are. It’s a whole thing and you have to make room for it."

So. . . What I'm Working On? A whole thing. :-)

What I'm Excited About:

I just heard Katie Holmes interviewed about this series and I'm so excited. I'm not sure if it is because I grew up in Dallas and each year the newspaper had a huge spread on the assassination and on the Kennedy family, but I've always been intrigued by the Kennedys, especially Jackie. I can't wait to watch this. By the way, Mrs. Kennedy is one of the most fascinating books I've read.

What I'm Watching:

Still watching Big Little Lies and compared to the book, I'm not too impressed, but I've always found the book to be better than the movie. Also there's been a smidge of NCAA basketball on our tv even as brackets bust and shatter our dreams of the big money. *sigh*

What I'm Reading:

I'm almost finished with The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines. It is delightful and inspiring. Next up I'm going to read Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott. I'm also reading What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst.

What I'm Listening To:

Podcasts, podcasts and more podcasts. They make all the boring tasks more enjoyable. I cleaned out three closets last week listening to Missing Richard Simmons. I know that seems so weird, but it was fascinating. When I'm listening while walking my dog I have infinitely more patience when he stops to sniff something every few steps. In the past few weeks I've listened to episodes of Making Oprah, The Popcast with Knox and Jamie, Off Camera with Sam Jones and of course, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. If you don't have any idea what a podcast is, look for the icon on your phone, press it and search. I highly, highly recommend Jamie Ivey's interview with Kate Merrick. So much to learn there.

What I'm Wearing:

An Old Navy blush colored sweater, jeans from Stitch Fix, boots and a Noon Day scarf.

What I'm Doing This Weekend:

I'll spend lots of time watching this little guy who is much bigger now on the basketball court with at least three games this weekend. We'll have a high school baseball game Friday night and our local Little League Season begins Saturday evening. I haven't looked at Sunday yet. A day of rest, I'm sure. ;-)

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month:

Thanks to another baseball lovin' Jen, I get to go to Washington Nationals Opening Day. I'll be hanging a light fixture and laying out a rug which are the last two items on the list to officially declare the the kitchen renovation complete (Hallelujah!) which will be right in time for us to celebrate one year in our new home. I'll be working on finishing up the family room with some decisions on side tables and lamps. And thank you, Jesus, Spring Break and Easter are just around the corner. All of my people need some time off.

What Else is New

Let's see. Well, just yesterday I received this Rodan and Fields Multi Function Eye Cream that I ordered. Multi-Function sounds just about right as I think there are many functions to be performed around my eyes. The PR department at R&F is on fire so I'm looking forward to all the amazing things that will occur after I use this little jar of miracles. We'll see.

Bonus Question This Month:

What's your favorite thing to wear for spring?

A lightweight scarf. I love this one I got recently from Stitch Fix. This one from Stella and Dot is so cute.  And this one from Loft is on sale!

Have a great Wednesday!!

Disclosure: The View From Behind Home Plate is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn small fees by linking to amazon.com