What Do You Do For Fun?

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The chapter I'm reading this month from The Happiness Project is all about play and having fun.  So for the June goals in my own happiness project, I started thinking about what I like to do for fun.  I realized that there are several (and probably even more) types of fun.

1) Some things are fun for what you get out of it.  Like reading the classics.  Personally, I did not actually enjoy reading Anna Karenina.  But I like knowing that I have read it, which makes it fun now.  So that's not exactly pure fun; it's more of a fun-because-it's-done kind of fun.

2) Other things are fun as a whole, but may include certain steps that aren't fun.  I love having a blog and that is something that is definitely fun for me.  But when I'm struggling with good lighting and can't get the exact shot I want, it's frustrating in that moment, instead of fun.  

3) And then there's just pure, easy fun.  And that is the kind of fun that I want to focus on this month.  Things that I want to do just because I want to do them; not because they are beneficial or I feel obligated to do them for any reason.

When I was trying to figure out what things I enjoy purely because they are relaxing or fun, I kept coming back to this quote from The Happiness Project: "What you enjoyed as a ten-year-old is probably something you'd enjoy now."  So I thought about that, and I came up with a pretty short list of things I liked doing when I was 10:  reading, coloring, cutting pretty things out of magazines, and baking chocolate chip cookies.

And that is how I came up with my "goals" for June:

1. Read books for fun.  I have a stack of books that I know I should read, but this month I'm setting those aside for just fun books.

2. Color.  I've always found coloring a wonderful stress-reliever, and I think it's because it produces nothing and benefits no one - it's just fun and relaxing.  So I want to bust out my old coloring books and crayons.

3. Get back on Pinterest.  I haven't been on Pinterest much lately, but I really do enjoy finding pretty things and filing away fun ideas that I find.

4. Try a new chocolate chip cookie recipe.  When I was 10 my best friends and I would make chocolate chip cookies all the time.  It's refreshing sometimes to make something as simple and basic as chocolate chip cookies.

So what do you do for fun?  What did you do for fun when you were a ten-year-old?

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Raspberry Financiers

I had never made little financiers before, but with browned butter and fresh berries, can you really go wrong?  Happy Monday!

Raspberry Financiers
1/2 cup + 5 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cups plus 2 Tbsp powdered sugar; additional for dusting
5 large egg whites
2 Tbsp honey
2 cups fresh raspberries, halved

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Simmer until browned bits begin to form.  Continue to simmer, frequently scraping up browned bits at bottom of pan, until fragrant and dark brown, but not burnt, 6-7 minutes. Scrape butter and all browned bits into a medium bowl.  Let cool for 3-4 minutes.

Meanwhile, process almonds and flour in a food processor until nuts are finely ground.  Transfer to a medium bowl; whisk in 1 1/2 cups plus 2 Tbsp powdered sugar.  Add egg whites; mix until smooth.  Fold in honey.  Fold brown butter into batter.

Arrange a rack in middle of oven; heat to 375 degrees.  Coat a mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Pour 1 generous Tbsp batter into each prepared mini muffin cup.  Top with 3-4 raspberry halves.

Bake until cakes are golden brown and just cooked through, 15-16 minutes.  Let cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Remove cakes from pan.  Serve warm or at room temperature.  Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

source:  recipe adapted from Bon Appétit, May 2012

Happy Things, Lately

surprise flowers from my husband

catching up on magazines

the first corn on the cob of the summer

my new favorite bracelet - my sister got it for me in Tanzania!

home decorating+keeping books I can't wait to read

bringing the green MG home

my yellow summer purse

Happy Friday!

Stress Relieving Tip

Here's a secret:  when my neck is tight with tension or stress, I massage in this Peace of Mind and it's instantly soothing.  It has a peppermint-y smell, which is relaxing, and it even tingles a little when first rubbed in.  It's small enough that I can carry it in my purse when we travel, and I usually keep it on my nightstand to use at night before bed.

P.S.  50 stress busters 

Read: The Dressmaker

Just finished reading The Dressmaker.  It was so good!  I hadn't really read anything since finishing The Hunger Games trilogy last month, so it was nice to enjoy reading again!  I didn't realize this until after I finished the book, but the story is based on the transcripts from the hearings after the sinking of the Titanic.  Finding out bits and pieces of a story are true always makes them better in my mind.  The book starts with the Titanic sinking, but then continues with the lives of several of the survivors - their stories and their connections with each other.  Much of the book also involves the hearings that happened in New York and D.C.  I was unaware of that part of the Titanic story, so I really found that aspect of the book fascinating.  If you're looking for a fun and easy read, this is a good one!

What have you most recently read?

Blueberry-Poppy Seed Bread

I love lemon-poppy seed muffins and bread, but Caleb doesn't get into lemon-flavored things much.  When I saw this recipe for blueberry-poppy seed bread, I thought it would be a perfect compromise for us!  I'm so excited that it's berry season - baking with fresh berries is one of my favorite things!  

Blueberry-Poppy Seed Bread

1 1/3 cups vegetable oil

3 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder 

2 1/2 cups sugar

pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups milk

3 eggs

1 1/2 Tbsp poppy seeds

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup blueberries

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 5 mini loaf pans (about 5 x 3") with nonstick cooking spray.  Whisk the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.  Beat the milk, vegetable oil, eggs, poppy seeds, and vanilla extract in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until combined.  Gradually beat in the flour mixture until well combined.  Fold the blueberries into the batter with a spatula.

Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake until golden on top and toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 60-70 minutes.  Transfer the pans to a rack and let cool about 10 minutes, then remove the loaves to the rack to cool completely.  

source: recipe adapted from Food Network Magazine, May 2012

Happy Donut Day!

It's National Donut Day!  Today Dunkin Donuts is giving away a donut with a purchase of any beverage. And even better, Krispy Kreme is giving away a free donut per person - no purchase necessary!  A fresh glazed donut (yum!) is one of my guilty pleasures so I will definitely be stopping by for a donut on the way to work :)  Happy Friday - and happy June!

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