7 Quick Takes Friday v.23

Hey!  It's Friday!  I hope everybody has exciting weekend plans.  We are visiting with my lovely sister-in-law and charming niece and nephew.
I just love Fridays too, it's a nice change to write a few snippets about things I am sure I could never turn into a full post. 

1. A Minor Obsession
I'm not huge into fashion, but I do like pretty clothes.  Most days, I can be found in jeans, a solid colored top, and a cardigan.  I just love sweaters.  Really, there is an obscene number of them in my closet.  There is everything from a gorgeous dark gray wool sweater that I've had since I was 19, to light weight cotton twin sets, to Target clearance goodies (one of which I picked up yesterday for $7!  woohoo!) and beyond.  For Christmas my mother, who knows me so very well, got me a gorgeous new glimmery black and silver sweater that I can't seem to take off!  My favorite thing about it: looooong sleeves.  So cozy.

2. Sometimes I'm a Lazy Whiner
Now, I know I'm linking up with Jen, but has everybody read this glorious post she shared on Wednesday?  I think it's my favorite one from her so far. The post encourages mamas of the 21st century, because while sometimes we can be "lazy whiners," our job is difficult and often unappreciated.  What I really related to was:

"We’re hesitant to admit that our lives are difficult in any way. We feel the pain, but then we look around at our washers and dryers and smartphones and televisions and all the other trappings of our first-world lives, and we feel embarrassed to complain about anything. It feels easier, and certainly more noble, to blame ourselves, to assume that the problem must simply be moral failings and character defects on our parts."

You really must go read the whole thing!  It was a comfort to me, and really tied in beautifully with some of my spiritual reading this week.

3. Good Music
Have you heard Alela Diane?  I just love her voice.  Here's my favorite song:

4. TJ's
Now I understand why Trader Joe's has a cult following.  It's become one of those things that I don't know if I can live without again!
The cheese selection alone is one of my favorite things, and they carry my favorite Kerry Gold Dubliner, which is a win!  Also on can't-survive-without-it level are Rosemary Raisin Crisps.  I don't know...the salty and the sweet....mmmmmm.  I need to go get some right now.

Seriously.  I can't stop thinking about these.

On Sunday, Charlie and I tried the Chocolate Covered Toffee Popcorn.  Toffee is up there in my favorite foods, along with pad thai and guacamole. 
There's no picture.  They are gone.

5. Fashonista! Ha!
Did you see my new button on the side bar?  "Catholic Fashion Blogger."  I don't consider myself "fashionable" (see above), but I certainly don't dress like a slob (I'll avoid getting on my soap box about that today) but sweet Katie Rose from It's Fun to Be a Girl invited me to grab the button provided I blog about fashion at least once a week.  I had better at least keep up with What I Wore Sunday!

6. Standards
I love how beautifully Katie's standards encourage modesty:

"Your outfits beautifully and fashionably reach for the collarbone, elbows, and knees; our bloggers offer a visually coherent and easily recognizable look, in order to provide an effective Catholic fashionista missionary “label” in response to the following Magisterial guideline: “Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden.” (CCC2521)"

As far as my standards go, I'm not too concerned with specifics on how close a cut is to my elbows and collarbone.  I've been on the other side of dressing modestly before, so when I put something on, I can easily tell if it is not appropriate for me.  I don't do low cut tops, but I don't measure.  And I am not opposed to sleeveless tops or short sleeves, though I often don't choose them for my particular body type.
But those are just my standards. :-) 

7. Woe....
Remember my awesome daily planner calendar that I have purchased EVERY YEAR since 2007??
(No?  If you're interested, I sang praises to my calendar here.)

I didn't get one this year.

By the time I finally remembered to order a new one for 2013, they were sold out!  Gone!!!  Ahkkkkk.

I don't know what I'm going to do.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I just feel so lost with out it.  What on earth will become of 2013 now?!

 I'm linking up with Jen for 7 Quick Takes Friday.  Have a great weekend friends!