Blogging, Family, Favorite Things, Humor, Life, Writing

Gratus | July 2023

Kari

A blogging friend recently shared her Barbie doll memories in a blog post, and it reminded me of when I was a little girl and used to play with Barbies with my friends.

The Barbie movie came out this weekend, and Anna and Ella went to see it together, which makes me so happy. They used to watch Barbie’s Life in the Dreamhouse on Netflix together when they were little, and sometimes when they weren’t so little.

All of this made me grateful for so many different things. Bloggers, Barbies, my childhood friends, and my children. Another installment of these posts seemed overdue.

Source

I’ve been spending Ella’s summer school days writing and working at the Starbucks across the street. The employees there now know my name and greet and say goodbye to me, which makes me feel so good on the inside. It is without a doubt one of the highlights of my week.

I’ve poked fun at our pool on the blog, but it’s given Ella a lot of stress relief and enjoyment. Mike and she both swim almost every day. I don’t go in there as often as they do, but when I do, it’s like I’m on vacation in my own backyard, and I’m very grateful.

I mentioned eating strawberry shortcake here a few weeks ago after Rita inspired me. Well, it’s been my summer go-to food obsession. I’ve made it three times in three weeks. I had it for breakfast the other day. I have no regrets.

I discovered this sunscreen on Cup of Jo’s blog a few weeks ago, and it reminds me of summer vacation in the 80s. It comes with a car air freshener that smells like sunscreen, and even Mike, who doesn’t have a strong sense of smell, loves it.

I was trying to photograph the sunset last night when the dogs decided to have the zoomies/fight. So I documented it, and it was the best thing ever.

I was telling Anna about my daily grateful journal one day in the spring when I decided to film it to show her how simple it was. Nothing more than a college-ruled notebook bought for less than a dollar at the start of the 2021 school year.

That’s a lot of good stuff right there. I’m sure you have a lot of good stuff too. 

Ella used to love her Barbies in a unique way, drawing on them with markers and cutting off their hair. A TikTok creator went viral a few months ago with a Barbie doll that looked exactly like Ella’s dolls. Jasper is her name, and she is very lovable. Just like Ella’s Barbies.

@jasper.the.doll

♬ original sound – JasperTheDoll✅

What little things have you been grateful for lately?

Discover more from A Grace Full Life

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

36 thoughts on “Gratus | July 2023”

  1. There’s a podcast called Punch Up the Jam where they take popular songs and rework them in a funny way. They have an episode where they redid the song “Barbie Girl” by Aqua and it is hilarious and, more relevant to your post, the guests on the show talk about their own history with Barbie dolls and how they’d cut their hair and draw on them and it was just great. Many women have some sort of crazy relationship with their Barbies.

    https://headgum.com/punch-up-the-jam/barbie-girl-by-aqua-w-sammy-smart-emily-gonzalez-of-too-scary-didnt-watch

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I haven’t seen the Barbie movie but I do remember playing with my Barbies so very much. I had tons of them with all sorts of fun accessories and stages/cars/houses/ etc.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. My daughter has a Barbie with hair JUST LIKE the one in that photo. Ha! I remember cutting my Barbies’ hair, too. So fun. My husband doesn’t get it — he thinks she’s “ruining” her dolls, but I say that’s half the fun of having a Barbie!

    The Barbie movie is getting so much hype — I had zero desire to see it when I first heard of it, and now I’m changing my mind.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love it! My husband didn’t get it either. You’re right! That was so much fun!

      I’m hearing so many heartwarming stories about older women going to see the Barbie movie together. I love that so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I loved Barbies when I was growing up. Me and my best friend across the street played with them until we were 12. We played with them more than anything else. concocting elaborate house setups on her front porch and down the stairs. But I have no desire to see the movie.

    I bet that pool feels SO good on hot summer days. I think you’ll be especially grateful for your pool this week with temps being in the 90’s!

    Love those photos of your crazy pups. Hilarious.

    This past week, I have been grateful for my dentist (even though I hate going – which I did this morning for yet another crown – he is such a nice guy), my friends, and AC!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My best friend and I used to play Barbies until we were in junior high! It’s fascinating to learn that other girls were also playing with their Barbies for longer periods of time. I have no desire to see the film in theaters, but I will watch it with Ella when it becomes available on tv.

      On hot days, I am certainly grateful for it! It’s nice to have a private pool. It feels extremely luxurious, if that makes sense?

      I am grateful for all of those things as well! Melanie, I am very grateful for you. Your friendship means a lot to me. 😘

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Kari, shhhhhhhh! Don’t tell anyone but when I always a kid, I always wanted a Barbie doll. But alas, I never did get one (bummer). HOWEVER, in 1964 Hasbro came out with a G.I.Joe doll and I got one. I used to take my sister’s Barbie and match her up with G.I. Joe and put them in her Barbie Malibu Dream House. LOL!

    LOVE the excerpt from that book on gratitude. YES!

    Your photo “action” captures of your dogs are AWESOME. The sunlight is gorgeous!

    I just had something happened that made me very grateful, which I will be posting about on my blog either this week or next.

    Have a faaaaaaaabulous week, my friend!
    X

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, Ron. I’d like to send you a Barbie. I wish I had your mailing address. Was there a particular Barbie you wanted? (But I’m so glad you got your GI Joe! 🖤)

      This house has the best sunsets. My favorite time of day is golden hour.

      My friend, I can’t wait to read about it! Your week seems to be going well, which makes me very happy for you!😘💕

      Like

  7. I think I can smell the sunscreen right now.

    Buddy’s face in those pics….that is everything!

    I love how much and how well you journal, and document your gratitude. You are inspiring!

    One of my girls pierced Barbie’s nose with a safety pin. I’m gonna guess it’s the one with her nose currently pierced.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It smells AMAZING.

      Isn’t it amazing?

      Thank you so much, friend! Every now and then, I go back and read what I wrote to inspire myself; especially when I’m having a bad day.

      That is awesome. I’m sure she and Ella would get along well. 🖤

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Awww, Kari, thank you! ❤️This post brightened my day! I always enjoy reading your gratitude posts. I especially enjoyed the Zoomie pictures!! Dogs are the best! After getting through a dark time, I’m grateful for so many things; it’s nearly overwhelming.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. My mother worked as a teacher and thought that Barbie was too much of a trophy wife [today’s term not hers]. Plus all the emphasis on how a woman looked bothered Mom, preferring to emphasize a girl’s smarts over fashionable clothing.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. I have fond memories of playing with Barbies, although I only had 2 and they were a knock off brand. I did get the Barbie Camper for my 9th birthday and that was a very big deal. I got to have a sleepover (my only one) with two of my friends who lived on my street and I remember playing with that camper with them and being so happy.

    I love your breakfast. A small thing I’m grateful for right now is that I’ve just had 4 nights in a row of good sleep. That means at least 6 hours. A big thing I’m grateful for is that my husband has been my rock during a difficult time I’m having with my mother. He spent all of last weekend helping me begin to clean out her condo. It’s going to take us months.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The Barbie camper was a HUGE deal! I was excited when I got one for Christmas one year.

      I understand being grateful for a good night’s sleep. I’m so glad you’ve had four nights of sound sleep. I’m also glad you can lean on your husband during this difficult time. You can always email me if you just want to talk about anything. 😘

      Like

  12. I loved the Barbie movie! America Ferrera’s speech choked me up. Like Ally’s mom, mine did not encourage Barbie. She would not buy me one (“I didn’t want you to think that’s what women had to be”) but she did not forbid me from playing with them, either. I never cared much. A friend of hers did give me one for a birthday present once. Like your blogging friend, she was broken almost immediately, by my brother. (Bent her super-cool bendable knees the wrong way.) Another friend had lots of Barbies and a cool house for them that her dad had built. I got my Barbie fix at her house. I’m grateful for both my mom and her approach, and for my friend!

    I love the pics of your dogs! I am grateful for the dogs I’ve had in my life, and I’m grateful that I don’t have any right now. I might never have one again, but it’s too soon to say never. Not having one is helping me see how much I love dogs.

    I’m having a hard time finding things I’m grateful for right now. I’m grateful for your blog because there’s always something here that makes me feel good. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I didn’t go see it, but I can’t wait to see it on television. This week, I’ve been listening to Billie Eilish’s song What Was I Made For from the movie, and it has made me cry. My childhood friend with whom I spent the most time playing Barbies died last year, triggering a flood of emotions.

      I like how you were grateful for both your mom’s perspective and your friend.

      I understand not wanting a dog after losing dogs. I’m not sure if I could get any more dogs after these two. But who knows what will happen in the future.

      I completely understand not being able to find reasons to be grateful. I’m grateful for you. 😘❤️

      Like

      1. I’m so sorry about your friend. I know you’ve been grieving a loss (or losses), and I wish there were something I could do to lessen that pain for you.

        I love seeing the pics of your dogs! I don’t mind the idea of losing another dog, I just don’t feel able to make the long-term commitment that comes with a dog. I’ve become aware of an organization near us that fosters old dogs who need a home, and I’m very interested in that. Not right now–just too much going on with family. But I really love the idea of taking in an old dog who needs someone to care for them. The organization’s web site says prospective fosters should think of it as providing hospice; most dogs don’t live more than a year. Maybe that’s a way of protecting myself from the grief that comes from loving a dog through its life? I dunno. Love and grief are beautiful mysteries to me.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you so much, Rita. I’m doing a lot better. This year, it’s less about grief and more about my shame about said grief. Working through that. 

        I love them so much, but traveling with them is challenging. I don’t want to kennel them, so we’re looking for someone we can rely on to come and stay with them. Next year, we’re all going to a wedding out of state, including Anna, who usually looks after them while we’re gone.

        I really like the idea of you fostering elderly dogs who need a home. I believe that you and your home are ideal havens for this type of care. But, no, not yet. You must take care of yourself and return to the state of Oregon. Love and grief really are beautiful mysteries. 🖤

        Like

  13. When you said you were working on Starbucks, I thought that meant you took a job as a barista or something. Hey, there are worse ways than that to make a buck!

    I’m grateful for all the rain we’ve been getting lately. It’s much-needed and very welcome.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. When I told that to someone else, they also assumed I worked there as a barista! Who knows, maybe by the fall I will be!

      It’s raining and thundering outside as I write this. I am always grateful for rain. ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  14. I am grateful that I can’t control time. It marches on no matter what I decide to do with mine. This made me realize that there’s no way I can waste it. Stress relief!

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.