A Few of My Favorite Things

I am here to tell you about a few of my favorite things. Like the classic song says, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad. I am not insinuating that I am feeling bad, but isn't it true that our favorite things can transform our mood in miraculous ways.

First I will start off with....

1. Christmas Card Season

I do not know many individuals who do not enjoy Christmas Card Season. The employees of our local post office would probably compare this time of year to the tax season of an accountant or the harvest time of a farmer. The mailbox sees a whole lot more of myself, during December, when I know that there may be more than just a coupon from Jo-Ann Fabrics.

DID YOU KNOW:

• There are more than 3,000 greeting card publishers in America. (I would say that we do not lack in options when it comes to where to order from.)
• 15% of Christmas cards are purchased by men.
• Over 2 billion Christmas cards are sent in the US each year.
• The first Christmas postage stamp was issued in the US in 1962. (I love Christmas stamps, although I did not plan very well and ran out halfway through.)

Source

I wonder how many couples attempt to take their own Christmas pictures, along with the help of their tripod of course. The fact that I got a select few pictures, that had both of our faces included, is quite a victory.

2. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Dish Soap & Laundry Detergent

I am not an "all natural" or "go green" girl by any means, but I have become hooked on the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products. I love the way the products smell and I have noticed that my dish rag never gets an odor to it when using this dish soap. I can use the same dish rag for a couple weeks. These products are made with natural essential oils and they are inspired by an Iowa, stay-at-home mother of nine. I watched a short clip of Mrs. Thelma Meyer, and something she said really struck me. She said that when it comes to cleaning there should be a happy medium between perfectionism and a happy, "lived in" home. 

My personality causes me to stress over trying to get my house to be perfect before company comes, but I know that is not always possible (especially if there are children in the future). I need to pray that God will grant me that happy medium, and that I can be a relaxed and welcoming hostess.

The short video clip, from Mrs. Meyer, can be found by clicking "Source" below. It was a good reminder for me.

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3. My Bread Machine

If you would ask me what item in my kitchen gets the most use out of any, I would have to say my bread machine. This Oster bread machine has become an absolute necessity to me. I would say I use it once per week on average. I knew, even before I was engaged, that this would be one of the first items on my registry.

My love for making bread was passed down from my Mom. I learned all I know from her. We use the same dough recipe for multiple things: dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, bread sticks, pizza crust, pizza rolls (with pepperoni and cheese inside), ect. I will have to share the recipe in a later post.

My sister-in-law, Sara, made us some delicious Whipped Pumpkin Butter that I have been putting on Avantis dinner rolls all week long. It is wonderful! I may have snuck onto her Pinterest account to find the link. It it most definitely a winner.

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4. The Andy Griffith Show

I have a confession to make. If you know me well, this will not surprise you. I have spent hours upon hours giving in to this mild addiction. So maybe this obsession does not qualify as mild. It might fit in the "major obsession" category a little better.

The time has come for me to spill the beans to you about my love for The Andy Griffith Show.

I was born into a family of Andy Griffith lovers, and so you see it was destined to be. Clean entertainment is hard to come by as you know. The Andy Griffith Show is the first non-cartoon that I remember watching as a young girl.

My brothers and I would watch the black and white shows over and over again. That practice continues for me. I am pretty certain that we introduced our love for the Andy Griffith Show to each of our spouses. Although they had already heard of the show, they were brought to a much deeper level (whether they liked it or not). 

Nate has been a great sport. It was not hard to convince him to watch these episodes with me, when we were first married. Now when I ask him what show he would like to watch in the evening, he frequently answers "Andy Griffith."

Not only does my family own most of the Andy Griffith seasons, but we also have the Andy Griffith Trivia Game.

My cousins put on an Andy Griffith potluck for the young group several years ago. Check out Helen, Barney, and Thelma Lou in the picture below (aka: Jamy, Lance, and Wendy). I love being the author of this blog and having free reign to post pictures such as these.

Who is my favorite actor on the show? That is a no-brainer. I would definitely have to say Don Knotts (Barney). He brings about such clean and funny humor. He makes the show what it is. I attached one of the many hilarious clips from the show.

What is my favorite episode? It is a toss-up between Barney and the Choir and Barney's Sidecar. Notice that they both have "Barney" in the title. I would estimate that I have seen each of those episodes around 15-20 times, and that may even be a little conservative.

I could go on about the show, but most of us are familiar with the whole Mayberry scene. I know there are several other Andy Griffith Show lovers out there who can relate.

As Barney would say, "Over and out" or maybe "10-4."

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!!