THANKSDAY #102

Spring is here in all its pollen-covered glory. And spring in the south is absolutely stunning. The new green on the trees, the brightly-colored blossoms and blooms, the birds singing loudly — it’s a feast for these Northwest-raised eyes every single year. (Spring can be warm and sunny and not cold and gray? It’s a miracle!)

The downside, as you know if you live in the south, is the pollen, which is a yellow-green haze that blows about endlessly. It coats cars and patio furniture, and while an over-the-counter medication helps me immensely, my poor son falls victim to its evil side effects every single year.

Paxton, who loves being outside more than life, suffers from seasonal allergies terribly. His nose won’t stop running. His eyes won’t stop weeping. One year I rushed him to urgent care because I thought he had a double-dose of pink eye. Nah, says the doc. This is just allergies. Here’s a prescription for uber-potent eye drops. Because putting eye drops in a 6 year-old boy who doesn’t know the word still from the word full is every parent’s dream.

So don’t mind me, I’m just over here wiping noses and eyes, and sourcing local honey so I can try that “teaspoon of honey a day to prevent allergies next year” method.

Here are thankfuls for this week!

1. Trader Joe’s Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter with Flax and Chia Seeds. My dream for the past eight years was to live close enough to a Trader Joe’s that it didn’t require a half- or full-day trip to get there. And lo, the Lord answered my cry and there is one now 2.4 miles from me. Let the people rejoice. So I’m going to be thankful for a lot of TJ items in the future. Consider yourself warned. So this peanut butter — I’m so sorry it’s not on the website so I can’t link to it– but go, run like the wind, and buy this at your nearest store, even if you have to drive an hour and a half like I used to. It’s delicious on lavash with a little honey (and if it’s local, prevent allergies!), it’s amazing with their Bite Size Everything Crackers. I’ve never been a crunchy peanut butter fan… until now. Oh ma gaw.

2. Running App by Red Rock. So y’all know I love to be outside wogging (walking + jogging) as much as possible, but if left to my own devices I can dawdle a bit too much. A friend recommended this app to me, and I am starting to love it. My entire run is planned out by the app, and they tell me when to walk, when to run and when to sprint. I’m a huge fan because then I don’t have to think about it, I just go and zone out. And it uses my own playlists and music so even better. I’m hoping that in the long run I’ll finally get me a faster pace and move from wogging to actual running. There’s a free version, but I think I paid like $3.99 so I could get varying workouts.

3.Iced Tea. Keeping a pitcher of iced tea in the fridge has been a staple at our house for years, but I don’t make traditional sweet tea. Instead I use a mix of decaf green tea and this Tazo Passion tea (and stevia! It’s so healthy!) and drink allllllll day long. And Greg does, too. Then when the pitcher gets to about a fourth left, Greg shakes it dramatically in my face and declares, Tea??!! Which isn’t at all dramatic or annoying.

4. Word Crossy. It’s my new addiction. I’m on level 258, which either says how dedicated I am or how procrastinate-y I am. I will admit, I’m not exactly sure that all of the words are actual words in the English dictionary, or if they are, they’re not ones I would regularly use (for example: whop? I’m gonna whop you on the head?), but it helps me zone out and clear my mind when I need it.

5. Little Big Meals. So we have a Fresh Market nearby, and every week they have a new Little Big Meal, which is a deal on a complete meal kit to feed four people for $20. I KNOW. They have everything from stir fry to burgers to pasta to stuffed chicken. It has become a weekly STAPLE at my house. Instructions are provided, so it’s completely Monica-proof. I can’t mess it up! And not only are they delicious and easy, they also let you know a week in advance what the next one is. Kabobs on Tuesday, anyone?? LOOK AT ME, I’M MEAL PLANNING.

6. G-DAY. Every spring, the University of Georgia has a spring game day (like everyone else, I suppose?), but it has become one of our most favorite family traditions. In fact, every March it’s my daughter who starts campaigning to make sure: We’re going to G-Day this year, right?  We get there early, eat lunch, visit the bookstore, roam around campus, and then relax watching Red play Black in the beautiful spring sun (because August and September games are literally the worst), eating Dipping Dots. It’s the best.

So six items again. A new tradition! And evidently this week is all about eating and working off my food. Whatevs. Let me live.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend, and Go Dawgs!

– Monica