Happy Monday! It’s my first Monday Miscellany.
I’m hoping to start up this new little series to get me posting more regularly. I often feel like I shouldn’t post unless I have something of Relative Importance™ to say, so I figure there’s no better way to face that feeling than by starting a series dedicated to writing about the small things that are making my life just a tiny bit more productive, enjoyable, or better.
Or, you know, also potentially just cute animal videos. What better way to start your week? Here we go!
A few things I’ve been into recently:
1. Roasted, salted pumpkin seeds.
Whenever I’m trying to ~eat better~ (re: not treat my body like various trash receptacles), I consume an ungodly amount of pumpkin seeds. In their little delicious seed coat. Pumpkin seeds satisfy my intense craving for salty snacks … and I get like, 20% of my fiber requirement in one serving!
2. Atlanta Monster
Podcasts are really having A Moment™ right now. It seems like every blogger and their mom has one. I listen to podcasts. You probably do, too.
I wouldn’t call myself a true crime podcast junkie; most of the podcasts I listen to are about music, politics, pop culture, or self-improvement. But there are a few in the genre that I’ve found really interesting/compelling.
On a recent trip home to Arkansas, I started listening to Atlanta Monster, which is an investigation into the Atlanta Child Murders of the late 1970s and early 1980s. I didn’t know anything about these events, so it’s been really informational for me on that point, but this podcast doesn’t stop at exploring case facts … it also delves into race relations in Atlanta during this time period. Very thought-provoking.
There are only ten episodes (seven of them are available right now) and the episodes are about an hour each, so it’s not a huge time investment. I find it really well-done and the editing really ups the thrill factor. Shout out to whoever wrote the music. A lot of true crime/investigative podcasts have some like, embarrassingly-weird soundtrack. Not this one.
Anyway, give it a listen. I really like it.
3. Plant Nanny
You know, for a singer, I sure have a hard time drinking enough water. Enter Plant Nanny: an app that allows me to game-ify my water consumption. Every time I drink water, I get to water my little virtual plant and it grows and it’s really cute. The app even reminds me when my plant is thirsty.
I am ashamed to say that since beginning to use Plant Nanny, I have killed my little virtual plant and have had to start over with a new one, but I can also say I have seen myself make a great effort to drink more water. And the days when I don’t drink water? I can really, really tell. HYDRATE YOURSELVES, EVERYONE.
Look! Technology! It’s helping us live our best lives!
4. Vegetable and Rice Casserole
During Advent, I decided to do this thing where I made a new recipe every week. This particular recipe was not one of the recipes I made over those four weeks, but cooking new things during that time reminded me just how much I love being in the kitchen and making something new.
I stumbled upon this veggie and rice casserole while I was logging my meals into MyFitnessPal and it was just the perfect thing for these weird mid-winter days. Warm and hearty and full of leafy greens.
Yes, I am that person who searches for “healthy casserole” recipes. You can take the girl out of the South but …
5. Lysol Wipes and Hand Sanitizer
Y’all know it’s flu season.