Author: Jennifer and Katharine Rose

ATG’s Summer Reading List

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Summer Reading ListSummer is officially here and while not everyone may be able to travel to an idyllic paradise or vacation in a far off land, there’s plenty of room for escape in a good, captivating read.

Below you’ll find ATG’s suggested summer reading list, ranging from all things contemporary to ancient. Happy summer – and happy reading!

ALL THINGS CURRENT

The Girl On The Train (2015)
Paula Hawkins

Mystery and thriller lovers are sure to enjoy Paula Hawkin’s debut New York Times bestselling novel, The Girl on the Train. Rachel, an alcoholic who seemingly ruined her relationship with a man she loved, becomes captivated by a couple she observes from afar during her commute to and from London each day. When she learns that the woman, Megan, has gone missing, Rachel willingly involves herself in the investigation, which is made all the more convoluted by her unreliable memory and repeated episodes of drunken incoherence. A true psychological thriller and page-turner, it leaves you guessing until the very end. Read more

Spending Father’s Day “Drinking Beer With Dad”

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Drinking Beer With Dad LyricsYou might not necessarily think of Kid Rock – the rap-rocker-turned-country-star – as entirely relevant in today’s music landscape. His latest album, however, proved to be a pleasant surprise and is a reminder that sometimes artists develop their most influential work later in life.

Released in February of this year, Billboard music critic Richard Bienstock wrote, “First Kiss is hardly [Kid Rock’s] most adventurous project, but it is perhaps his most easy going, tuneful one. The production is crisp and clean, the guitars are sparkling, the vibe is rollicking but relaxed…he sounds better here than he has in a long time.” Read more

Life Wisdom For The Places You’ll Go

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8,789 words of wisdomAs college graduates toss their hats in exhilaration and Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go! resumes its seasonal place on the bestseller list, we tip our hats to a few lesser-known books for their equally important life wisdom, advice and inspiration.

While this list is certainly not exhaustive, the words contained within these books are timeless and true, challenging us to a continual commitment to self-improvement and encouraging us to live deliberately, creatively and thoughtfully.

We hope they bring you – whether you are a college graduate or a seeker of all things good – the same inspiration, comfort and encouragement they have brought us. Read more

Oh, Happy May! Oh, Happy May…

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month of May poems“The Merry Month of May”
By Thomas Dekker (English Elizabethan dramatist, 1572-1632)

O THE month of May, the merry month of May,
So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green!
O, and then did I unto my true love say,
Sweet Peg, thou shalt be my Summer’s Queen.

Now the nightingale, the pretty nightingale,
The sweetest singer in all the forest quire,
Entreats thee, sweet Peggy, to hear thy true love’s tale:
Lo, yonder she sitteth, her breast against a brier.

But O, I spy the cuckoo, the cuckoo, the cuckoo;
See where she sitteth; come away, my joy:
Come away, I prithee, I do not like the cuckoo
Should sing where my Peggy and I kiss and toy.

O, the month of May, the merry month of May,
So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green;
And then did I unto my true love say,
Sweet Peg, thou shalt be my Summer’s Queen.

For some fun, lyrical poetry as we enter the Merry Month of May, enjoy our post “Digging Deep in the Garden of Poetry“; or for more contemplative poetry, see “Treasured Poems from a Treasured Volume“.

Sweet Smells of Plumeria Paradise

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Hawaiian Plumeria SoapWe’re featuring “All Things Hawaiian”! Also check out our reflection on our travels in O’ahu, some interesting facts about Hawai’i, what “The Aloha Spirit” really means, why Kona coffee is so popular, a glimpse into Mark Twain’s “Letters From Hawaii” and the history behind legendary Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

There’s a reason they say that smell is one of the strongest senses, evoking memories and emotions from a past time or experience.

Having been surrounded by tropical blue waters, beautiful handmade leis and the gentle, soothing sounds of Hawaiian music during a visit to O’ahu, we longed to take a little bit of the island home with us to remind us of our adventures in the land of “The Aloha Spirit.” After all, it is often the trinkets and treasures we find during our travels that serve as the most powerful reminder of the beauty, sights, smells and flavors of a foreign land. Read more

Wake Up and Smell the Kona

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Kona Coffee HistoryWhen you think of Hawai’i, what do you think of? Surfing? Pineapples? Coconuts? Luaus and leis? Us, too. Except, having recently visited O’ahu, we’d add just one more thing to our list: coffee. Specifically, Kona coffee.

Described as a “deliciously rich, medium-bodied and slightly acidic coffee with a heady aroma and complex, winey, spicy taste”, it turns out that Kona coffee is extremely popular among coffee aficionados worldwide and is considered one of the most valued and premium coffees in the world.

With a history that is just as rich and plentiful as its taste, it’s not difficult to understand why. Read more

A Glimpse Into The 50th State In The Nation

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Kalakaua Avenue Waikiki Beach HawaiiWe’re featuring “All Things Hawaiian”! Also check out our post on what “The Aloha Spirit” really means, a reflection on our travels in O’ahu, why Kona coffee is the most valued coffee in the world, what makes the Plumeria flower so special, a glimpse into Mark Twain’s “Letters From Hawaii” and the history behind legendary Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

Our travels in Hawai’i brought us to…

  • the popular destination of Waikiki Beach (picture 1 below)
  • the volcanic crater of Diamond Head (2)
  • the historic landmark of Pearl Harbor (3)
  • the Polynesian Cultural Center (4); and
  • the beautiful waters of Kaaawa (5)

We witnessed at least 20 Japanese weddings, experienced an Easter church service with beautiful Hawaiian music (6), dined at the two oldest hotels in Waikiki (the Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider) (7), ate Malasadas (Portugese doughnuts) at Hawai’i’s original malasada bakery (8), sailed on a catamaran with Captain Riki and his son Kapono (which means “the righteous way”) (9) and saw some of the funniest, yet deeply powerful t-shirt sayings throughout our stay (10). Read more

Happy April Fool’s Day!

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CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are the 100th person to have viewed our website today. Click below on “All Things Foolish” to receive our April Fool’s giveaway.

April Fool's DayWhether you like April Fool’s Day or not, certainly we’ve all been “fooled” at times, acted “foolish” toward others or have caused others to think: “what a fool.”

The definition of the word “fool”*, however, is wide ranging and can be used in a light-hearted, jokingly way – “you blockhead”, says Charlie Brown or, as Buddy the Elf put it, “I’m a cotton headed ninny muggins” – or in a more serious tone, it can indicate someone who is deceiving or impious.

So, be careful on this April Fool’s Day not to be such a dolt or dunderhead as to think that All Things Good is foolish enough to give anything away! (…just kidding…except we really aren’t giving anything away!) Read more

Cooking, Baking & Riverdancing to Traditional Irish Tunes

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Shepherd's Pie RecipeIn celebration of St. Patrick’s Day 2015, ATG is exploring “All Things Irish.” Below is a small sampling of some great Irish music to play (and dance to!) while cooking Shepherd’s Pie for dinner or baking Irish scones and cookies for teatime.  

A few of our favorite Irish songs: Patriots Game, Galway Bay, Irish Rover, Red is the Rose, Fields of Athenry, Shipping up to Boston (Dropkick Murphy’s), Carrickfergus, Mountain Dew, Finnegan’s Wake, Voyage (by Johnny Dunhan) andToora-Loora-Looral (Irish Lullaby). You can also listen to other traditional Irish music.

Read more

“Springing Forward” With Hope

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“Dear March, come in!
How glad I am!
 I hoped for you before
Put down your hat
You must have walked
How out of breath you are!
Dear March, how are you?  

–Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Spring calendar “Hope is the thing with feathers-
that perches in the soul –
and sings the tune without the words –
and never stops – at all – …”

–Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Quotes about hope

 And so,while we await with HOPE for SPRING, let us enjoy a (McSorley’s Old Ale House) beer and toast to a season full of hope, happiness and sunshine!
And don’t forget to “spring” your clocks forward to Daylight Savings Time on Saturday night!

McSorley's Old Ale House