Whiskers on kittens...

These are a few of my favourite things!

Comfort Edition

But first I must share a favourite quote:

"The best things in life aren't things." 

                                       

                                                          -Art Buchwald

That being said, here are a few of my favourite items of comfort:

(THESE ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER OF FONDNESS)

#1 Fleece Sheets

These sheets bring the most amazing feel to your bed. It's like getting snuggled all night long, but with the freedom to move around whenever you feel like it and no numb arms!! Seriously you will never crawl into a cold bed with these bad boys on your mattress and they make a silent buffer whenever your partner decides to toss and turn 40 billion times a night. The only down side I must say is that it's 2 if not 3 times harder to get out of bed in the morning. They just take hold of you in a way that your morning ambition cannot. It's like getting a GIAGANTIC HUG from your bed once your alarm (or baby talking in my case) goes off as it pleads "don't leave me!" These are seriously on my bed 9 - 10.5 months out of the year. In fact it usually comes down to my hubs' boiling point of frustration for me to change them to our summer sheets. I love them!

#2 Popcorn

This is more of a comfort memory of growing up. My dad made popcorn pretty well every single night and this still seems to continue to this day.  He added tons of butter and salt which made it insanely healthy DELICIOUS, even better a day or two later where the butter could really ferment (probably not the right word choice). It's like a hug for my belly whenever I eat it at night. More especially if it's put in a big metal bowl, as that's the type of bowl my childhood popcorn resided (it made it awesome for scraping butter and salt off the sides!). Of course we rarely use that kind of bowl at our house because how can you not use the bowl that is specifically labeled "popcorn" right on it? Whoever marketed that idea was a genius; the container itself pretty much guilts you that 'this is where popcorn has to go!' Whenever I'm feeling really rebellious though I totally bypass it on the shelf and go for a different bowl. I know I hurt its' feelings, but seriously give me my agency back will ya?!

#3 My Couches

We lived off all hand me down free-bee's when we rented (That's a lie - our mattress was brand spankin new). Then we bought a nice newer home last year, so we decided it should also have nice new couches to match. Holy cow were we in for a rude awakening to the price of buying new things. But, we did look for deals and thanks to my awesome haggling skills (I really shouldn't brag... but ya, I can totally hold my own. The key is your acting skills, playing up the 'well I don't really need it' attitude... I may have a dishonesty problem) we were able to score these couches for reasonably well, even lower than the sale price with extra's added. Though we both gulped at the price we dished out originally for these, I must say that thus far they have been worth every penny hundred dollar bill spent. I realize they are not everybody's cup of tea (especially those with good posture or back problems), but they are perfect for snuggling and lounging about!! It's like having a beds in your living room disguised as couches. They are super comfy and because of the wide seat length my feet don't touch the floor when I sit back, so I feel oh so little on them (like I'm being held by a giant). My hubs and I can even have naps on them without having to spoon (this has only actually happened a few times because if I nap I wake up a bear - an angry, bitter, irritable, frustrated, saddened, perplexed, delirious, helpless cute little bear). So many family memories have already been made on these couches - reading our daughter stories, cuddling her late at night feeding her frozen grapes (excellent for teething), tickle fights, long snuggles as a family catching up on each others day, tons of reading, tons of youtube video watching... They've just been a nice little addition to our lives as new parents and homeowners. Plus they make me feel like I'm more mature than I am, I really don't why, but they just do.

Heavensslice is being in a state of comfort.

Autumn

So Fall is actually my favourite season (don't tell Summer!!!) and here is why:

1) Memories of going back to school - marking a new year, a fresh start. 

2) Leaves changing colour - so crazy beautiful! 

3) Weather wise it's the unicorn to my world of horses - I love horses Summer, there's no snow and no cold and though Summer may be really crazy short lived some years, you know that every year there will be a Summer; it's fact. BUT unicorns Fall is that season you so want to believe exsists, but due to it not being an every year occurrence (at least where I live) it's more fiction than non. Unicorns and Fall are both built up in the magical world of imagination, the place in which I feel like I live part-time in.

4) The food! With not 1, but 2 holidays involving delicious food is just perfection - Pumpkin pie, yams, leftover turkey sandwiches, CHOCOLATE/CANDY, spooky looking appetizers etc.!









5) Halloween. This shouldn't need any explaining, but since a lot of adults are party poopers with this holiday I will justify myself - Um hello, COSTUMES! You get to dress up in a fun, funny, cool, crazy way without ANY judgement from others. And you get to judge others' costumes.Wait... There's usually some fun gathering to go to or an opportunity to eat hand out candy!! Tiny chocolate bars you can eat a ton of guilt-free because of how little they are. Seriously all you adults just need to grow up dress up so it's more socially acceptable for me to continue dressing up!

6) Pumpkins! I usually don't carve mine, I just leave them as decoration to freeze and rot outside. But I love looking at them!!

7) The fashion! Leggings, boots, sweaters, head warmers. I love how comfy will always be the style for Fall.

8) Fleece sheets get to come back on my bed! (watch for a post about this later)

9) It's not as sunny and bright in the early morning, making me feel guilty for sleeping in.

10) I no longer have to stress over the fact that I don't have a tan. 

Heaven's slice is the season that is upon us... and dressing up!

Marriage

I know let's face it, my marriage is 5 years old; it's in kindergarten. But I'd like like to think that it's actually a pretty advanced kindergartener: it can already count to 30, do simple addition and subtraction with numbers 1 through 10, distinguish left from right, decipher where east, west, north and south are according to a compass, read and write 4 letter words, and spell it's own name...but yes a kindergartener that probably still enjoys eating the occasional booger... a hem, moving on.

This right here(to the left) is a big deal, a "5 years in the making" type of big deal. We're both stubborn, and secretly have desires to be the more stubborn one, though that desire waxes and waynes- but NOT when it comes to folding clothes. He has his own way of how he thinks clothes should be folded and though I don't really care on the matter, I do think he should not think that there is only 1 way, so I stubbornly have not folded his clothes. It's an agree to disagree type of argument, so it was mutually decided to always fold our own. The other day however I decided to trump him on the subject and folded his clothes... not only that, BUT folding them his way, which as I mentioned was the only way he would accept them into his drawers anyways.

This is marriage. It's full of specific stupidities that are intimate to each and every couple. The question on making a marriage GREAT though, lyes in the loving AND liking of each other as well as the "us" you created. At least this is what the 5 year old has figured out.

I kinda think this talk is one of thee best ones for marital advice. It's one of those reads that you can't help but highlight the entire thing cause it's that profoundly good. For blog purposes though I'll try to slim up the quotes, BUT just know that you MUST go read it in it's entirety to get the full capture of how amazing it is, and so true!!

To read or watch the talk Click here--> 'Marriage: Watch and Learn' by Elder L. Whitney Clayton

Quotes from Marriage:Watch and Learn by Elder L. Whitney Clayton:

"

I have observed that in the happiest marriages both the husband and wife consider their relationship to be a pearl beyond price, a treasure of infinite worth. They both leave their fathers and mothers and set out together to build a marriage that will prosper for eternity. 

 Their mutual quest is to be obedient and good. 

Strengthening faith strengthens marriage. 

 faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of happy eternal marriages.

happy marriages rely on the gift of repentance. It is an essential element in every good marital relationship. 

Humility is selfless, not selfish. It doesn’t demand its own way or speak with moral superiority. Instead, humility answers softly  and listens kindly for understanding, not vindication. Humility recognizes that no one can change someone else, but with faith, effort, and the help of God, we can undergo our own mighty change of heart.  

 Humility means that both husbands and wives seek to bless, help, and lift each other, putting the other first in every decision. 

in wonderful, happy marriages, husbands and wives treat each other as equal partners. 

Husbands and wives in great marriages make decisions unanimously, with each of them acting as a full participant and entitled to an equal voice and vote. 

 There are no secrets about relevant matters in marriages based on mutual respect and transparency. 

Loyalty is a form of respect.

successful marriage partners are “fiercely loyal” to each other.  They keep their social media use fully worthy in every way. They permit themselves no secret Internet experiences. They freely share with each other their social network passwords. They do not look at the virtual profiles of anyone in any way that might betray the sacred trust of their spouse. They never do or say anything that approaches the appearance of impropriety, either virtually or physically. 

terrific marriages are completely respectful, transparent, and loyal.

Both the husband and wife “leave behind their single life and establish their marriage as [their] first priority. … They allow no other person or interest to have greater priority … than keeping the covenants they have made with God and each other.”

Marriage is a gift from God to us; the quality of our marriages is a gift from us to Him.     "

Heaven's slice is marriage.

If it were up to her...

If it were up to her, bare feet would always get tickled.
Her favourite blanket would NEVER be washed.

Fingers in another's mouth would replace the handshake.

We'd see my mom (grandma) a lot more.

She'd pull down anything and everything she could get a hold of.
There would not be a seat strap in shopping carts impeding on children's freedom to stand.
She'd seek out and greet every person in her view.
She'd climb the steepest scariest not-for-climbing large item.
Cats would be held by their necks in a choke hold position.
A firm pinch, scratch, or head bunt would be considered a form of loving affection.
She'd sit on the couch snuggled beside me at 4am eating frozen grapes.
Shoes would go into re-usable grocery bags and be carried as a purse around the house.

Jewba, Chewba, Dooba and Beeya would be commonly used words (though I have yet to discover their definition).

Once you were done with your meal or wished not to eat it it would HAVE to be thrown on the floor.

Mommy, Daddy and a few other choice individuals would not be allowed to hold other children in front of her.

She'd drink the bath water.
Every stuffed animal would get the tightest squeeze hug daily.
Placing hats and necklaces on and off at a high frequency would be a necessary daily activity.
Being chased and hiding would be a consistent manditory game of the everyday.
She'd be the one responsible for organizing the bottom of the pantry.
Smiles and giggles would forever abound in everyone.
Biting down as hard as one possibly could would be the proper way to handle a finger in her mouth.
She'd play drums on the toilet and wriggle the flusher.
Up on Daddy's shoulders would be the way to travel.
Yelling with sheer glee would be the appropriate thing to do in a quiet serious setting.
She'd take a bite out of anything I'm eating.
A certain picture and frame on my nightstand would forever be hers.
Wrappers(candy included or empty), rocks, and klennexes would be our dearest possessions that we'd clench tightly in our hands everywhere we went.
You could wear more than 1 pair of shoes at a time.
Her big darling grin would allow her to get away with everything.
Crackers would be a staple for EVERY snack and meal.
She could open any door she wanted regardless of the height of the knob.
Garbages, heat registers, and night lights would be fair game.
It would be up to her and only her when pages in a book could be turned.
I wouldn't be allowed to talk on the phone without her constant input.
Phones would be held backwards.
She'd be in charge of picking out my shoes and helping me put them on.
Pulling out every single wipe out of it's container would be an accomplishment worthy of every applause.
She'd eat rocks.
No one could have what she couldn't have.
She wouldn't be sleeping right now.
All paper and pens would belong to her to keep or giveaway as she so desired.
She'd get as as many hugs as she could from her mommy and daddy.


Heaven's slice is becoming knowledgable on your child's desires and saying "yes!" wherever you can.

Good vs. Better, Better vs. Best

General Conference October 2007 a talk was given titled "Good, Better, Best" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. I was a young single adult and though it struck many hearts at the time, to me it did not. At that point in my life it seemed that I was making choices mainly based on fun or lame, good or ok, lazy or productive.

Fast forward about 6 years later, having not read the talk since it came out, it flooded my thoughts to the point where I HAD to look it up and read it again. It came apparent that my life now revolved around choosing good, better or best; a raising of the bar moment.With my precious newborn tucked safely in my arms I knew that these 3 were my only choices and that choosing the best was detrimental. Lot's of people gave the statement to "cherish these precious newborn months because they go by so quick," and though those words are SO true, it was pretty pointless for them to say that to someone such as myself as I relished in EVERY second with that sweet babe. I fed, changed, held, snuggled and stared at her a good 20 hours a day. That's right, I averaged about 4 hours of sleep throughout the day for those first couple months. She hardly slept, and when she did it was never long. I could have called my oh so supportive, loving and ever so willing family members to take her and give me the "break," I know, but I just felt I had to choose the best with my time, and the best always drew me to be with her. When she was asleep I also had the same 3 choices: clean my house=good, shower and change= better, but eating and sleeping always = best and therefore won out every time. Thankfully my wonderful husband was there to pick up everywhere I lacked.

My little one is now a walking talking/jabbering toddler; her newborn stage of complete dependency is over. But, when I get those darling little fingers prancing on the bottom of my bare feet and hear her giggling the words "tickle tickle," my heart melts to remembering that the best decision is in front of me as I lay on the couch snuggling my stupid i-pad. A good decision checking on a FB message I left someone, a better decision going through pinterest looking for the recipe I need for supper, but the best decision to jump down to my daughter and give her hugs and tickles whilst smothering her with kisses. 

This talk (click here to watch/read the talk)is filled with wisdom in how we can better spend our time. Here are some of my fave quotes from it:

      "  Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. 

               But not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. "

" Some of our most important choices concern family activities. "

" There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents: what your children really want for dinner is you. "

" President Gordon B. Hinckley has pleaded that we “work at our responsibility as parents as if everything in life counted on it, because in fact everything in life does count on it.” "

" The instruction to magnify our callings is not a command to embellish and complicate them. To innovate does not necessarily mean to expand; very often it means to simplify. "

Heaven's slice is simply choosing the best things for our time and energies.