A Few of Favorite Things: Emily

As all my sisters know, I am a sucker for a good classic solid colored shirt (although I probably wouldn't buy the ones pictured above). Solid color shirts match almost everything, make for a colorful wardrobe (as long as you don't get stuck on blue like I did for a while in my teens), and are easy to replace. And the best thing about them: when you find a style you like, you can usually get it in multiple colors. It is the perfect wardrobe items for those of us who get sick if we spend too much time at shopping centers.

I hate cutting up onions. A lot. For a long time I would avoid recipes that required fresh onions because I disliked it so much. Not anymore, though. Thanks to my handy little mini food processor, I can chop an onion any day of the week with a smile on my face. I love this little contraption. You just cut the onion (or green pepper or celery or whatever) in chunks, pop it in, hit the chop button a couple times, and you are on your way to delicious soup, paprika chicken, enchiladas, whatever. This little baby has opened my life up to a whole happy world of cooking that I never dreamed possible. I own the 3-cup Cuisinart mini food processor, but I'm sure any brand would do the trick.

I like to read good books. A good book is like therapy. I spend at least 13 hours a day caring for my three sweet children (all under the age of four) and sometimes I get a little tired and worn out. If I'm feeling the need for an escape, I just open a good book and I am back on the road to a happy sane self. And the best part is that reading a good book doesn't cost anything, can be done at home, in the car, on a plane, anywhere, and there is an endless supply of excellent reads! Can therapy get any more convenient than that? I think not. Two little side notes: (1) If you think your local library is insufficiently stocked with good books, check to see if your library offers interlibrary loans. Most do, and you can get ahold of most any book that way. (2) If you have thought while reading this, "But I don't know of any good books!" then I highly encourage you to check out goodreads.com. It a site where you can rate the books you read, see what books your friends have read and liked, and get lots of ideas for good books. You can also access book reviews from people you don't know. Check out the site. Then go check out a good book - and start reading!

Black beans are one of my newest favorite foods. I don't know where I've been all my life, but it seems that only recently I have discovered the joys of black bean soup, black bean enchiladas, and black bean and polenta casseroles. Yum! Oh, and check out Catherine's recent recipe post containing black beans. I haven't tried it yet, but I will soon. Yum!

I think it's high time I came out of hiding and admitted that I really like a nice tablecloth. I know it's just a piece of fabric, but I really think a beautiful, colorful tablecloth can brighten a room like nothing else. Oh, and it makes spilled milk so much easier to clean up.

I live in the south and had a hard time at first finding things to like about a climate overrun with humidity, fire ants, and large creatures that crunch. But then I discovered oak trees draped in spanish moss and I decided the south had its charm after all. There is just something so majestic, historical, and charming about these trees that I always have to pause and soak them in when I see them on the road.

Do you ever have the kind of day when you just feel heavy with life? And you wish there was a way to go float on a cloud, drop all your troubles in the sea, and feel free? I do occasionally. And that's when I turn to my favorite songs: Homeward Bound and Trouble in the Fields. I have a hard time describing what it is about Homeward Bound that lightens my load. It's mostly a feeling that just calms me. I fell in love with Trouble in the Fields the first time I heard it. I love the chorus: "You be the mule. I'll be the plow. Come harvest time, we'll work it out. There's still a lot of love here in these troubled fields." I don't know of many songs that remind us to work at the things we love - even though they are troubled and suffering. I couldn't find a rendition of Trouble in the Fields that I liked unfortunately. I included the best one I could find, but I suggest you listen to the audio only (don't watch the video) so that you hear the words and aren't distracted by the singer and the performance.

Lastly, I really like my Ergo Baby Carrier. Yes, I know these are expensive, but they are so work every.single.penny that you will pay. I actually bought mine on craigslist for about 5o% normal purchase price, but knowing what I know now, I would buy one at full price. It's the best baby carrier I have ever used - and I've used a lot (namely, baby bjorn, snugli, infantino, moby wrap, and the maya sling). This is my favorite. The baby actually sits in the seat and the weight is carried on your hips instead of your back. It's super easy to adjust, super easy to put on, AND my baby actually likes it. The downside: baby can't face forward in it when it's on your chest (although you can carry baby forward facing on your back). I did not use the infant accessory with it (because I didn't discover this carrier until my baby didn't need one), so I can't vouch for how functional this carrier is for newborns. But it is wonderful for babies age 4 months up to toddlerhood.

P.S. I would just like to add that Blogger is NOT one of my favorite things. I've tried to fix the font for this post three times and even though it looks perfect in draft form, it's looks crazy when published. Sorry about that. Maybe when I figure out how to fix it, I'll post a how-to on it.