What I'm Loving Wednesday

1. The fact that for the first time in my life I have managed to keep two different plants alive for longer than a week! I don't think I would go so far to say I have a Green thumb but this is progress for the girl who killed a cactus just a few short years ago.

2. Pergolas- so when I was taking some squash and zucchini that somehow got left in the trunk of my car and rotted, to the trashcan yesterday, I noticed one of the families who lives behind us has a pergola in their backyard. Since Kevin and I are trying to get into DIY projects, I thought a nice pergola might be the perfect addition for our backyard. Here are a few I found on Pintrest:

3. Patio Furniture- along the same lines, we having been looking at patio furniture for our little backyard. Last year we laid some sod, most of which has continued to grow and we got a fire pit. Now we have started to do some planting and purchased a pretty yellow bird feeder. The next step is to find some furniture we both like. Our priorities are comfort and movement. We both really want something that rocks, but I don't think either of us are sold on rocking chairs. If you know me, you know that I am unable to sit still for very long. We have found options at Bed Bath and Beyond, Walmart and World Market that we both like. Has anyone seen cute, comfortable reasonably priced patio furniture anywhere recently? 

4. Commencement speeches- I am a sucker for a good motivational speech. I'm not sure if its my Communication Studies background or the hours I spent struggling through Rhetorical Criticism but a good motivational speech gives me goosebumps all over and inspires me to make a difference.  The other day,  Kevin sent me this link to "What they Don't Tell you at Graduation" the other day and I thought it was really profound. 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304811304577366332400453796.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

and here are  links to a couple of my all time favorite commencement addresses

Barbara Bush- http://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barbarabushwellesleycommencement.htm

Mary Schmich- "Wear your Sunscreen"- http://www.planetgary.com/sunscreen.htm

Randy Pausch- Carnegie Mellon- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcYv5x6gZTA and if you haven't read "The Last Lecture" it is definitely worth your time.

So today I'll leave you this Wednesday with a quote by Randy Pausch, "We don't beat the Reaper by living longer, we beat the Reaper by living well." As I prepare to step into the grown up world, I hope to live my life well focusing not on the hours I put into my work, but the work I put into my hours.