Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Why I Bought a Carafe and a Box of Strawberries

Your bangs won't stay in place,
your kitchen sink smells like a foot, 
and all of your favorite dresses shrunk in the dryer. 

On weeks like this, 
weeks where tiny, strange problems abound, 
it's nice to have just one small thing
that makes you feel like you've got some part of your life together.

For me, this week, that small thing has been this:



I've been putting fruit in my water.

I'm not even sure what made me want to start doing this.


But I bought a carafe. 



I bought some mason jars.



I bought some fruit.



And I've just been giving my water a fruity essence.


The Internet tells me that this is called "infusing" your water.


Whatever, that sounds bougie, but I guess I'll go with it.

Infusing my water makes me feel like I am at a spa and like I'm one of those people
who has been to a spa enough times to be able to say that with authority.

While I generally believe in the idea of living honestly --
that is, being open about the things in life that are less than stellar --
there is nothing dishonest about making choices that better your situation.

For me, I made the choice to put fruit in my water.
On some level, it makes me feel like a better person.
It gives me a funny joy that probably only makes sense in my mind.
It gives me control --
not the kind of control that will make me spiral into obsession or dictatorship,
but rather, the kind of control that reminds me
that it's okay to have very little under control.
Infused water gives me a sense of ownership during weeks
where I don't feel like I'm owning it.

Do you do this?
What are some small choices you make that give you a sense of ownership?

19 comments:

  1. I have always wanted to do this and your pictures make it look that much more appetizing! I find it funny that it's so normal to drink water with lemon in it...yet strawberries (well...any berries), oranges, and mint add flavor as well, but it's way less common to see!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mint makes everything delicious! I highly recommend it!

      Delete
  2. I've been wanting to try this with my water! It looks really good and seems like a healthy alternative to sugary fruit juices. I think it's cleaning for me. When I feel like things are out of control, I clean.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I seriously wish cleaning was my thing! My messes are usually the reason things are out of control in the first place.

      Delete
  3. I love this and I love your blue mason jars!
    I also love to add frozen raspberries to my water. With mint!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Also, after thinking about this for a little bit, I have realized that I buy flowers (peonies this week!)for the exact same reason: a little bit of control (even silly control) over my life. Thanks for this post. It really hit home in several ways.

    And I just want you to know that nobody has control. Nobody at all. And it kind of sucks but at the same time it's sort of exhilarating, you know?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! I buy flowers too! I love peonies, even though when I pronounce that word I sound like I'm saying "panties."

      And hallelujah! Control is a joke, and thank God for that.

      Delete
  5. Where did you get your mason jars from? Believe it or not, I still do not own a carafe (although Michael and I registered for one or two—here's to hoping we get one!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fish's Eddy! It's the same place I've been telling you all about. When you're in NYC, I'll take you for sure.

      Delete
  6. I paint my toenails red. It's a power color, and it always makes me feel like I have my life together. So whenever I have an important meeting, I make sure my toenails are red.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Good one. I do that too, but the feeling is so short-lived because the chipping of the polish drives me crazy.

      Delete
  7. I have always been innately suspicious of fruit-flavoured water. They sell it in stores over here, and every time I've drunk it I've been disappointed that it tasted more like water than fruit - like overly-diluted squash that they used to give out a church 'parties' when I was a kid. I guess it probably tastes better when done with fresh fruit, but I think I prefer just a nice, really cold glass of fresh water.

    HOWEVER I have started making fruit smoothies using low-fat fruit yoghurt, semi-skimmed milk and frozen mixed summer berries and OMG they are DELICIOUS. And because everything is low-fat, it's healthy as well, so I blend it all up and then feel super-smug as I sit and drink it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Feeling smug after you make/cook something healthy is the best.

      Delete
    2. Smoothies would definitely be the next step for me, but it somehow feels complicated to me. Do you drink it for breakfast?

      Delete
    3. It's sort of a weekend lunchtime thing to be honest! I'm not organised enough to make them weekday mornings, and by the time I've got myself awake enough to do them at the weekend they tend to be a lunch/brunch treat!

      Also it is super not complicated, literally I just dump the frozen fruit in the blender, with an even split of low-fat blueberry and strawberry yoghurt and a bit of milk, and blend. I stir it a bit, and at more bits as I go depending on how it looks, but that's basically it.

      Delete
  8. That looks fantastic, it's the little things in life! Try putting sliced cucumbers in your water too, it's extremely refreshing and perfect for summer. Enjoy!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've infused my water before too! There's this water going around Pinterest(big surprise) that looked yummy so I decided to try it! It's got lemon, cucumber, mint, and a little ginger if you'd like it. It's called Sassy water and is really good if you want to try another kind too! The strawberry looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  10. YUM! and love the blog girl, can't wait to read more! if you get the chance, make sure to check mine out! :)

    love, rach.
    www.so--hi.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

Popular Posts