suzette roberts

// Balancing Pleasures...

Happy Monday! And we're moving on after a week of rains (and being spared, once again-- :)), and my realizing I'm still supposed to be celebrating and it almost slipped me, almost. How does this happen? So I took full advantage of the unexpected earlier mornings away to indulge with some quiet, uplifting and balancing pleasures... in the 'aftermaths' of life itself. It's a survival must these days. Also, very thankful for a safe beginning of our new school year this side too (delighted to check all those boxes: check, check, check)-- Thanks Teachers! Find your five to thrive...

 

... and have a smooth week. xx

 

 ♫ Music from our weekend...

David Bowie - Let's Dance (Nikko Culture Remix)

 

 

// The New {Staple} On My Weekly Grocery List

A second market carton of blueberries showed up unexpectedly in my refrigerator, eight days ago to be precise. Of course I knew who put them there :), and that most likely it was not intended as breakfast enjoy-as-is fruit. I had planned on taking the carton of small fruit to task within a day or two. But, as we know how plans often go... work got busy, and to be honest, once home, all well-meaning intentions flew out the window and I just wanted to be quiet, relax free n' easy, and listen to my loved serenity music before bedtime. Days went by and I started feeling really guilty with seeing them every time I opened the refrigerator, but couldn't attend to them as important family was now in town for a short time. Finally, last weekend, on doing a quick check and seeing they were still thriving in the enclosed cool (8 days later), I decided to do an encore and dived right in without doing a full ingredients-in-house check. Sooner, rather than later, I was halted in my tracks-- there was no...

// Summer Surfing: The Tuesday Six, Plus...

Tell me about it... Good thing softness and grace lingers. 'Fancy meeting you here too... There are some things we could do permanently, and these are a few of them. All the recent little reads and such we've been into with diving head-on into our sunny summer, north and south of our shores, reclined seats included...

 

...  Absolutely magnificent(!); the complete composition here. :)

...  Serendipity sighting while heading to lunch with my sister, Jan.

...  Currently loving this broad spectrum sunscreen.

...  Wild and crazy!: What Really Happened to Malaysia's Missing Airplane?

...  For the love of all things marble (fuller-bottom coverage). #navy-approved

...  And a light, crunchy n' flavourful summer side dish. 

 

>>> Plus...

...  An at-home summer movie that hits all the right buttons.

...  A Breeding Ground for Rogue Waves or a Pit of Human Mistakes?

...  Perfect evening notes after a full day on and in the water.

... "Build relationships with people who inspire and energize."

...  It took me way too long to get a really good one.

...  And Way to go Delta(!) :)

 

 

// The Tuesday Six, Plus...

... They make life so worth living-- found here from my elevating reads this month. More links and finds in recent times from around the web...

 

...  More than your average flipbook; more here... Wow!

...  The death of a parent affects even grown children...

...  CHANEL's Cruise 2019/20 Fashion Show by Virginie Viard :) (07:15).

...  Science says, "Silence is much more important to our brains than we think."

...  6 Steps to age-proof your body.

...  And surprizing health benefits of Earl Grey Tea. 

 

>>> Plus...

...  What if all I want is a mediocre life? #amen!

...  A twist on an old classic for Dad.

...  Eight tips for coping with the death of a parent.

...  4 Creative ways to teach kids about finance.

...  Currently loving... with very hot showers.

...  And 40 Perfectly-timed nature photos that will make you laugh. #20 :)

 

 

// Serendipity in May

'Ahead of 'her' usual growth spurts this year; how interesting and timely. #soothing :)

 

It always comes back to our blooming botanicals, where we last met them and where we now meet, days, weeks, and that month(s) or year later... While May has been filled with a myriad of changing moods, moments, memories, and its own touches of unexpected 'magic', this out-of-the-limelight city spot constant has stood out as a place of purposeful pause, pleasure, and positivity to navigate the day, days, and weeks ahead as I travelled through May. The simple, basic blooms, have been the most grounding part of May (and this year). Mother Nature is always ahead of us, and life unexpected. Above is a close-up of 'her' third week in May with a few captures of her life in progress from last month's snap (third photo down), to present day...

// Happy Mother's Day xo

Mother's Day ♫ slower-day music...

Fridrik Karlsson - In The Moment

 

This much I know is true... Our anchoring mothers are our solids, especially in the midst of mayhem, grief, and shady characters. They are assertive and fight for the holistic health and happy balance of family, immediate and extended, without the what's-in-it-for-me and how soon can I get it mind-set we often see today. In a nutshell, they make the 'magic' happen, always looking ahead so we their children may flourish within a simply-lived life focused on good health, good values, and a solid foundation to meet our tomorrows. To my mom and all our deeply-rooted mothers and mothers-in-kind (our devoted sisters, aunts, Godmothers, teachers, and nannies...), have a blessed, loving, and relaxing Sunday. Happy Mother's Day! ~xx