friday favorites.

here are my friday favorites for this week:

• giving someone i love some money, a good dinner and a computer, earned by my better half through trade work. there's just nothing like giving.

• seeing the lady who gives haley treats at peet's again after several weeks. we've changed our routine so we don't see her every day. i got in trouble with her for not coming around. it is nice to be missed. (and haley got three treats, two more than every other dog that passes by).

• discovering this fantastic art supply store that's really far from my house but really worth the drive. i spent an hour and a half in there and ended up with some great work stuff and great fun stuff. my favorite was a birthday gift of art for our almost three-year-old niece. included: washable watercolors in robin egg, rosy and pumpkin, silky crayons, these cool crayons that work like crayons, oil pastel or water color, speedy kids finger painting paper, a kids' brush set with 25 pieces, including some cool foam brushes that i really want to play with and finally, some little lidded containers so the artist can save her colors. i can't wait to give it to her.

• making my mom laugh hysterically.

• planting stuff and it's growing! being able to use my own herbs is wonderful, but there's this part of me that feels kinda sad when i cut them off. i love looking at them out my window each morning.

• getting in shape. what seemed like a superlong walk before is now notsolong. walking with a friend this week, i noticed she was puffing and i was still just fine. it felt gooood. plus, my better half said that my shoulders are more defined. what more do i need?!

• "how it all vegan!: irresistible recipes for an animal-free diet." i just got this since i felt like i am in a complete cooking rut and thought this might help. i haven't tried the recipes yet, but what i like is that they have all kinds of interesting tips in the back, like "45 things to do with vinegar," including things i never heard of like extinguish fires, remove decals and unclog a drain. i also like that they have recipes for health and beauty products, like lip gloss, skin toner and masks. i am going to try their "bad breath dog biscuits" for haley. as an aside, i ordered this book at powells.com trying to support the little guy. we had given my dad a gift certificate from them, which they neglected to process so after complaining, they gave us a credit. i think i'll stick with the big guy from now on.

happy friday, everyone!

photo credits: me, amazon.com, artsuppliesonline.com, misterart.com, growing tree toys.