AUBREEVISION - Observations from the far side of the dial

This past week has been marked by a series of small pleasures:

• Buying a new cookbook. I'm not a big cook and rarely buy cookbooks, since I can find pretty much any recipe I need online. But this hardcover slow-cooker bible was on sale for $8, is jam-packed with Eric-friendly recipes (no small feat -- my love is a picky one) and has tons of helpful hints to boot. Buying it made me envision slow-cooking my way into the sunset for years to come, armed with my trusty bargain-shelf tome. It sounds terribly domestic, but springing for that cookbook just made me so darn happy.

• Pouring a large glass of wine and sipping it throughout the day. Otherwise routine pursuits become infused with a pleasant rose-coloured glow.
  

• Making good choices. The other day I had a bitch of a McDonald's craving. All I could think about was my favourite McD's pairing, a chocolate milkshake and McChicken sandwich. With gritted teeth, however, I managed to ride it out in favour of -- get this -- organic, vegetarian lasagna at the organic bakery/restaurant close to work. I love food, especially the junky sort, and cravings often interfere with my quest for a healthier lifestyle. So I have to say that I was seriously impressed with myself for seeking out and eating a spinach-based dish. I use the italics for emphasis because I still can't quite believe it.

• On a related note, slimming down. Once a month I have my weight/proportions/body fat percentage/BMI measured at work (a women's gym). This month I was down 2.5 pounds and several inches/body-fat percentage points. I'm not overweight by any means, but since I'm studying to become a personal trainer, I think it's pretty important to push my own body to its fullest potential. Got my sights set on 110, baby...

• Catching up with friends. I've missed sarsar terribly since she moved away from the city almost a month ago, but we managed a nice long phone chat over the weekend. Glad to hear you're settling back into the hometown life, sarsar!

• Long weekends. We're currently enjoying such an occasion here in Canada, thanks to Queen Victoria's birthday -- living under the thumb of the monarchy has its benefits.

• On a related note, daytime TV. Since I usually work afternoons, I haven't caught The Bold and the Beautiful in weeks. Nothing comes between me and my trashy soap today, baby!
  

• A new source for celebrity voyeurism. Eeternal thanks to my friend Darin for introducing me to Pink is the New Blog!

• My new digital camera: instant art. I liked the way the light was hitting my glass o' heart tonic:

• Well-fitting jeans. Just finished sewing a button onto a pair snowbawl gave me. Wearing them for the first time and they fit like a dream. A bit loose, even, which has the added benefit of making me feeling even svelter.

• On a related note, re-discovering old clothes. I have a box in my closet overflowing with clothes that need buttons replaced or other miscellaneous repair. Many have been sitting there for months. I fixed four or five pieces this weekend and it had been so long since I had worn the items in question, it was like getting a whole new wardrobe.

• A sweet-smelling house. Lately, when I'm home, I've taken to simmering a pot of yummy-smelling goodness on the stove. Some water, a little lemon juice, a handful of apple slices, a few cinnamon sticks, some pumpkin pie spice and voila! Heat on low and savour the olfactory delight.

• Finding the perfect gift for someone

• Window seats. Mine is just the right size for one person and a laptop/glass of wine/phone/book:

• Plug-and-play TV games. Eric and I share joint custody of this ingenious, addictive invention:

• Blogging: my voice, my vice, my crack.
  

Whew, that list got a little longer than I had planned! Ah well, you can never spend too much time reflecting on the good things.

Finally, a shout-out to our resident Nick and Jessica -- Heather the Librarian and Dave the Philosopher are newlyweds dot mindsay dot com!