A Few of my Favorite Things－June

For this month’s Favorite Things, I’m channeling a popular morning show’s “daily boost” feature and welcome you to read on and weigh in

As I prepare breakfast each morning, The Today Show typically supplies the background noise. My mom and dad listened to it when I was young, and I guess I stuck with the familiar.

Given the persistent chorus of stressful news as of late, I appreciate the show’s lighter moments more than ever. One such segment is called “the daily boost,” and it occurred to me that this month’s edition of Favorite Things could serve as our daily boost.

While it won’t provide answers to the hard questions that surround us, perhaps it will offer a moment to relax, regroup, and reset. Perhaps then we can return to our day with a renewed determination to make small differences in our own communities.

There’s a lot of truth in this old Chinese Proverb: “The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”

To build on that inspirational message, I’m kicking off this month’s list with a short collection of quotes, which can serve us well in so many aspects of our lives. And because last month provided many memorable, if not untraditional, moments for my family, I’m wrapping things up with a collection of snapshots from the events that were. ❤️

🌺Favorite Flower of the Month

My favorite flower of the month was also random quarantine pick-me-up, which would serve as a thoughtful gesture or gift any time of year. I purchased a variety of colorful annuals and then drove up the street to a favorite local cafe that has been offering drive-thru service throughout quarantine. There I purchased a small gift card to pair with each plant and left the colorful bundles by the front door of several relatives and friends. My intent was to brighten their day with the prospect of a favorite latte or baked good and something to plant and enjoy, but the activity was most definitely a fun, feel-good activity for me, too. This time, instead of choosing my favorite flower, I had fun trying to guess what the recipient might select!

🌼Favorite Tip of the Month

DIY Flower Food: Continuing on the flower theme, whether purchased from a local market or cut from a backyard garden, a bunch of fresh flowers adds a cheerful note to any kitchen table or room in the house. A few tips will help extend the life of the cut stems, like keeping them in a cool place, changing the water daily and trimming the stems every few days. The little packets of plant food that occasionally accompany store-bought bouquets help as well, but did you know that you can create your own version?

The following is a tweaked version of a Martha Stewart “recipe,” and relies on ingredients you likely have on hand: simply mix 1 quart water, 1 teaspoon bleach, 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar. Though it may seem counterintuitive, the small amount of bleach helps to kill bacteria and fungi, which tend to generate in the vase. I have read that hydrogen peroxide can be used instead of bleach but have not tried it myself.

🍿Favorite TV Show of the Month

Never Have I Ever was created by Mindy Kaling with the intent of depicting what it’s like to be an Indian American teenager in today’s world. In its first season on Netflix, the “dramedy” tells the story of Davy, a high school sophomore who is coping with the recent loss of her father as she navigates a range of other social and emotional stresses. From my younger son to my in-laws, everyone in my family enjoyed the season, which consists of 10 episodes, all 20-30 minutes in length. A welcome dose of humor offsets the heavier moments that are relevant to so many teenagers and their parents, and the diverse cast of talented, relatable newcomers is refreshing to see.

📚Favorite Book of the Month

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens was published in 2018, and the poignant bestseller is worth a read for anyone who may have overlooked it. Set in the coastal marshlands of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Owens’ first full-length novel is both a coming-of-age story of an abandoned little girl and a gripping murder mystery. The beautifully written tale is enhanced by the author’s knowledge and depiction of nature and what seems to be a clear understanding of the emotional pain of isolation and being unfairly judged. With elements of mystery, romance, intriguing characters, and a setting the reader can clearly visualize, this book offers a little something for everyone.

👩‍🍳Reader Favorite Kitchen of the Month

With the exception of the plant on the island, most readers swooned over this kitchen, noting the bright, open layout and appealing tile among other features.

🖼Favorite Graphics of the Month

My boys and I always enjoyed searching for Waldo on those very crowded pages. This edition would be decidedly easier!

…and this one has far deeper meaning.

💡Favorite Way to Reinvent Tradition

There’s nothing like the pomp and circumstance of a high school or college graduation. The class of 2020, however, had no choice but to throw tradition by the wayside. Instead, they’ve been receiving their diplomas in creative new ways, like a drive-through graduation! The first photo, below, captures a small piece of one such ceremony.

What it misses, however, is the drive we took to reach the diploma-filled table. We were instructed to drive “parade speed” through the designated route, which was lined with teachers and faculty cheering for the students. Most waved signs, some blew bubbles, one even blew a fog horn! All of them waved and cheered loudly.

The end result was a graduation that felt incredibly special, surprisingly emotional, and extremely memorable. My hat goes off to Christian’s school and all the others who rallied to honor these graduates. They went to great efforts to make this day meaningful, and they succeeded. I told Christian that the only thing he missed was a boring graduation speech…so I wrote one and read it at dinner! 😂

 

Thanks to Nick Gould Photography for sharing shots #1 and #3!

“You’re going to fall down, but the world doesn’t care how many times you fall down, as long as it’s one fewer than the number of times you get back up.”

The preceding quote from Lin-Manuel Miranda struck me as a timely and fitting way to sign off. I know that many in this graduating class will be strong enough to pull themselves back up when they fall. More importantly, I am hopeful that they will be compassionate enough to extend a hand to others along the way. As Robert Ingersoll once said, “We rise by lifting others.”

❤️