Raindrops on Roses, etc.

Just 5 of my current favorite things, featured by Hallie via Grace. Thankfully, since I've been utterly spent for cohesive content today, I can keep my daily streak alive.

1. 

The best.

Today was the loveliest day I've had in Rome in ... maybe ever? Dave's sweet younger sister is here, taking a breather from her exotic life as a tropical disease specialist in Cambodia, and she is rapidly rocketing to the top of my roster of preferred Uebbings. Not only did she remain utterly calm when Joey peed his pants in a Vatican bike shed this morning (that's another story for another day... like maybe his wedding day), but she later did my dishes for me while I banged out some work during nap times. So I'm keeping her.

2. 

Dave bought this book before our London/Denver flight earlier this month, and passed it on to me after he'd finished it and even though I was totally halfhearted in my agreement to give it a whirl, I fell truly, madly, deeply in love and Savage Garden, hold me back, I wish I could un-know it simply so I could re-read and enjoy it all over again. If you like Jane Austen, Downton Abbey, small children, puppies, pastel nail polish, and anything else that is good about the world, well this is the book for you.

3.

This is the banner on my favorite gelateria's homepage. Which is pretty accurate, all things considered.

Gelato. Every day. Because I'm hot and pregnant, and not in the way you'd think. I'm 19 weeks in and 8 lbs. up, which may be a lifetime record and may also be very poor form to mention on the internet. I'll be checking back in at week 29 weighing in at approximately 55 lbs, so stay tuned. 

4. 

This palate, purchased during a stopover in the very glamorous South Bend, Indiana. (maybe you've heard of the University Park Mall, Ana?) It's Bare Minerals Ready Eyeshadow 8.0 in The Power Neutrals ($40), which is approximately $35 more than I generally spend on eyeshadow, and frankly, it shows. Almost every day, regardless of how little I've slept or how underdressed I may be, if I swipe this magic potion across my eye lids, my husband purrs his approval. Just trying to keep the magic alive. Plus, it has a chart (don't judge, don't laugh) that instructs me where to put what, and for which occasion. Since I was the eldest girl in our clan and wore Star Wars t-shirts to school until the 8th grade, I may have been just a tad on the late blooming side of the feminine forest. So.

5. 

I am in love with my MacBook Air. I got it for work and it is the perfect combo between a tablet and a laptop. I'm not sure of the pricetag, but my boss has some sweet connections and I'm sure he got a deal. I have last year's model and it's fantastical for a million reasons, but mostly the batter life, the screen clarity, the layout, and the 'intuitiveness' that is the Mac interface. I was a skeptic, but now I'm a believer. Whenever I have to type in www.youtube.com/allthecuriousgeorgefulllengthepisodesintheworld, I am supremely irritated by how clunky "Joey's" hand-me-down PC is.

Prayers for Hallie as she takes to the friendly skies with half her brood tomorrow. Grace has the virtual fort in her capable hands.