Life at a "Swell's" pace

Hello.

Would you believe that it was 70 degrees here today? No rain on a Friday and 70 degrees, it's spring in the Valley, for sure! The tulips are coming up and making an appearance from the ground and the Hawthorne trees in front of the house we live in are coming alive slowly. We officially mowed the grass for the first time this year and are looking forward to the weekend. Unfortunately, the weekend is said to be rainy and cooler than today, but that's okay-Spring means summer and sun are soon to follow. Here are five simple things that made this week great.

1. These clouds.

Because right behind them is the rain.

2. This list of the "Dirty Dozen."

Don't ever forget that there are some companies out there that don't think about health over money. Shop with the thought that you have to always be on your guard.

3. This view of Sam Elliot's house.

It's located in Brownsville, Oregon, and his view is spectacular.

4. These Easter goodies.

With our journey to being more minimal we planned an Easter basket that's filled with a need, wanted, and seasonal. Unlike years before, this year we decided to make the need a jacket that can be used for bike riding, a want is the candy and other goodies, and a seasonal is the bucket for collect his forages when we are out and about. We also naturally dyed duck eggs this year and decided that duck eggs make the best Easter egg, by far!

5. These wilted daffs.

Best part of spring is all of the daffodils that lay around our house in various Ball jars and glasses. Even when they are wilted I think they are lovely.

A few more things:

• Reading selection for April. (In case you missed it)

• Hello from Portland.

• Need better ink?

• Organic and Fair Trade tea option. (Try the mini sampler)

• Become more of an agrarian.

• These shoes for summer. Or these. Or even these.

• Botany in a Day.

• Best organic cotton underwear brands.

• All Birds loungers.

• Looking for a tiny house?

Have a nice weekend!

Well, we made the decision to trade in the Smart Car for something with a bit more room. Not only that, but hearing every single time that you drive somewhere, that you're going to die, or you're driving a coffin on wheels, got a bit tiresome. Unfortunately, we didn't want to trade it in, but people's comments and negativity about it, was really starting to affect my anxiety levels. It's a real shame that people can't seem to see the damage their words do to people overall. We did make a decision that once we are in a good place with this car payment, we'll be looking into getting a new Smart Car again, regardless of what others say, but for now, this car is awesome.

It's a Hyundai Veloster Turbo and it has three doors. I like how sporty it is and that is has some decent horsepower. I like to switch it over to the turbo at red lights and take off fast. We purchased it in Corvallis, Oregon, at a Toyota dealership and funny enough, I was leaving class one day at the college and noticed them putting the stickers and information on it. I stopped the next day and asked about it and went back a day later to test drive it. Two days later, I was signing the paperwork and driving it away. I was really sad to see my Smart Car go, but I did happen to see it for sale a few days later, in the same spot this very car was sitting.

The day we drove the new car off the lot, we took it on the interstate and got up to 110 miles and hour. It didn't even feel like we were going that fast, so it was a lot of fun. Of course, we don't plan on taking it that fast very often, but that moment, it was cool to live on the edge with it. We are definitely going to have a lot of fun with this car.