You guys, seriously…this week has been so incredibly perfect in all it’s rain and clouds and ethereal-ness. (<<< i love that word). I feel like it makes me sound like a melancholic or some sort of gothic-y person to love these kinds of days like I do…but no matter, I appreciate them endlessly and find them incredibly inspiring. Every day since Tuesday has been overcasty and rainy, and every morning I wake up to see the clouds and the mist over the lake, I just want to hug the day.

I just can’t help it.

On such days, all I want to do is be in my kitchen, either experimenting with something new or putting together something I know we love (usually something like this…rain equals muffins). I don’t know what it is about being in the kitchen, but it’s like some kind of therapy for me. I call it my happy place. Food is essential to life, and nothing makes me happier than preparing meals or snacks or treats for Ben and myself, or for a friend or neighbor. It’s satisfying and rewarding to love someone with good food.

Today is another moody day (good moody day, that is), and I’ve been wanting to experiment with popped amaranth (see blog photo) for a while now, and it felt like the right kind of day to do so. It took a bit to get the hang of it, since it’s a little volatile and easily burned, but I managed to get a fairly large container popped without too much incident. Amaranth tastes kind of nutty and earthy, and I like it for topping smoothies or yogurt bowls. I am a big-time toppings girl, which means I basically eat certain things just because I like the toppings I can put on them. Pancakes, waffles, yogurt, toast, cottage cheese…it’s all about the toppings.

I also did some pantry organization and simplifying. I really hate having packaging in the pantry, so I usually transfer anything that comes in a box or bag into a jar or storage container. I don’t have enough at the moment to store everything in containers, but I slowly add to the collection from thrift stores or yard sales.

I’m in major minimalist/simplify mode right now, and when I get like that, nothing is safe…my closet, junk drawers, food we never eat, and anything else around the house that we just never or rarely use. I can throw things out waaaaaaay too easily sometimes, but I also really don’t like clutter and extras and having things take up space that really aren’t essential. Clean and open and organized spaces, that’s what I like.

Of course, the downside to too much minimalism is that there are indeed times when it would have been handy to have saved that one item or realize that clothing item you just got rid of would have went perfectly with an outfit…I guess it’s all about balance, no matter which side of the minimalist/pack-rat side you find yourself on.

What about you: do you find yourself as a minimalist or someone who likes to keeps things around for when you really will eventually need them?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!