7 Quick Takes {Take 87} New chaplet recordings, and blessings of my big trip! edition...

Hi all! It's Friday, and I'm glad of it. But I've been a busy bee working on small projects to distract me, and counting my blessings. Want to know more? Do read on, gentle blog viewer. :)

-1- The chaplets page is now live! #ThisIsBig!

 In super exciting news, I finally motivated myself to do the editing and other "stuff" I needed to do in order to get the Chaplets page up and running. Oh, oh, go check it out! I'm super proud of it. :0 I loved putting it together and thinking that you and I would be praying together for our various and sundry intentions. So far, I have introductory videos and downloadable audio files for: Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Therese, St. Anne, St. Kateri Indian Rosary, St. Dymphna, and Our Lady of the Snows. Coming soon to a Chaplets page near you: St. Cecilia, 7 Sorrows of Mary, Divine Mercy, Sacred Heart, St. Mary Magdalen, and St. Philomena.

*beams*

-2- This has the benefit of giving me an excuse to buy more rosaries and chaplets...

...which I LOVE doing, and I've been having lots of happy rosary design talk with Allison, my right hand rosary gal. I absolutely love prayer beads, always have. I used to think that someday, I would stop buying rosaries, because I had enough and because I had one main rosary that was THE rosary, and I wouldn't need anymore. Well dear reader, I am here to tell you that it simply does not work that way, at least in my little corner of the universe. ;-) When my budget allows, I love adding new saints into my collection of friends that I pray with on my beads. It's simply joy incarnate. :)

-3- The blessing of friends...

This week I've been thanking God fervently for all of my friends. If I'm feeling down, all I have to do is look down at my phone for that little notification icon that there is a new message in our chatting string and my heart lightens. Having friends that you feel super comfortable with, and can confide in...there's just no substitute.

-4- Don't forget about the rosary novena if you'd like to pray with us!

 And so, as I pray my 54 day rosary novena, I've been including Allison's intentions too, as well as a few other family/friends who mentioned that they've been praying along. If you haven't started already, no worries! I know of several people who started a few days after us, and simply adjusted their dates accordingly. The majority of the time we will overlap, so it's all good. Thus if you haven't yet started and want in on the praying action, start today! I love praying with friends. :)

-5- Appreciation anew for my family...

 I missed Mike and the kids a ton while I was on my trip. The kids had been going through this painful stage in which they were arguing all the time, and/or generally picking at each other...can you say SO PAINFUL. :0 But when I got home I tried to just focus on the good, because I missed them so much. And wouldn't you know it, they've stopped arguing so much. I suppose they really do pick up on our moods. It's been bliss, and this is yet another thing I am SO grateful for this week.

-6- On a totally different topic, I'm looking forward to fun new workouts!

While I was away, I went to a Barre3 workout class. You all know that I take dance lessons, which I adore and would never give up, and sure, dancing is healthy for your body, but it isn't a workout class, you know? Nothing says that you are comfortable with a person like sweating alongside them and assuming pretzel-like Pilates contortions. I LOVED the workout, so refreshing. And though there is no studio near me, they have an online option that I am super jazzed about. 15 day free online trial, hello!!! This is a combination of Pilates, yoga and barre workout, and the former ballet dancer in me loved that tie-in. Have any of you tried this before?! Do write in and let me know all about it. :)

-7- A fancy new water bottle, because why not?

 Finally, post-workout, I procured a new pink water bottle, because you know. I'm a nerd. It reminds me of my enjoyable workout and makes me smile!

How was your week, dear reader? Write in to give me feedback about the Chaplets page (I'm asking nicely, pretty please ;-)), about barre workouts if you've ever taken one, and about friendship! I'm dying to hear from you!

I'll talk to you all next week. In the mean time, check out more 7 Quick Takes over at This Ain't the Lyceum. :)