Things that have recently been making my life especially good

Air for Free, Relient K
Relient K has been one of my all-time favorite bands since the peak of my Christian pop-punk phase in the early 2000s. I love their catchy and creative lyrics mixed with the wide array of instruments they play and their unique melodic alt-rock style. Their Apple Music “About” section points out their mix of “snotty attitude with spiritual concerns.” Yes, I love me a snotty attitude. Air for Free is just my kind of music, so I was so excited last year when I checked in on an old fave and found something brand new and wonderful they had recorded. Enjoy the light-as-air feeling of this album, and let it take your soul to the sunshine-y meadow featured on the cover. The guys also recorded a Valentine’s EP, which I found equally delightful. I supposed while I’m at it I should go ahead and recommend every Relient K album and EP ever.

Apple Music
Speaking of music, I am loving getting the most out of my $10 monthly subscription to Apple Music. Music I add from the vast Apple Music library lives in the same spot my iTunes music always has, so my tunes are all together in one place. I can add songs from Apple Music to playlists I’ve had since forever, make new ones or browse other user-created playlists. I can read about an artist right in the app, see suggestions for similar artists and sing along to song lyrics shown right in the player. I can queue music and easily adjust play order. I can create a station based on an artist, song or album, or visit the Radio section for neat stations like Sound System, which attempts to play “tomorrow’s hits”. I’ve only begun to explore the Radio section of the app; there are so many great live and streaming stations. Every Friday, Apple Music creates a new playlist for me based on my listening and feedback full of music I might (and usually do) like. It also gives me album and artist recommendations that are regularly updated. Just like Spotify and others, I can choose to download certain music to play without needing to use data or wifi. I’m jammin all the time to whatever music floats my boat at that particular moment, and loving it!

I Don’t Feel at Home in this World Anymore
Do you like to watch really weird stuff that makes you go, “What the hell is happening?!” Then I Don’t Feel at Home in this World Anymore may be just the movie for you. Cringe at Elijah Wood with a rattail (need I say more?) as you journey with two south of normal people trying to figure out life, love, justice, goodness and the meaning of it all. Warning: less gory than Tarantino, but still kinda. Find on Netflix.

Google Keep
I make lists on lists on lists. I love writing stuff down and checking it off. But on more than one occasion, I’ve made a rockin grocery list only to leave it at home when I head to the store. Google Keep is like a glorified sticky note app that syncs with all my devices, so my lists are wherever I go. It lets me color-code and categorize lists as well as decide whether I want checkboxes, collaborators and reminders. You can also send a note to a doc in Google Docs. I use it for everything: grocery lists, watch lists, random notes, blog ideas, quotes, budgeting, reminders, to do lists and more. Bonus: Google Keep is available as an iPhone widget, so my top notes are a quick swipe right on my home and lock screens.

The Sweet Home
I am recommending you these things because I believe once someone has found a good thing they should save the rest of us the research by gushing about said good thing. The Sweet Home and their gadget geek counterpart, The Wirecutter, are THE BEST websites for finding all the best things. The Sweet Home was originally recommended to me by friends with awesome taste, so the wonderful rec cycle continues. I have gotten towels, measuring cups, a car radio, a water bottle and a thermos based on recommendations from The Sweet Home and am overjoyed with each product. They lay out their review process and weigh the pros and cons against highlighted features of each item. In addition to their best pick, they usually also offer a budget version and a splurge version and explain what you’re giving up for savings or getting for a few extra bones. Before I buy almost anything now, I find the best on The Sweet Home.

Crashing
Pete Holmes is a weird and annoying yet lovable ex-Christian turned super spiritual Comedian with a new show on HBO that feels MADE for me. I have long enjoyed Pete’s podcast and have been long awaiting his show’s debut. Pete’s upbringing in and then falling out with American evangelical Christianity has put him in a super similar cultural box as me. He is filled with youth group memories and Christian pop culture from the 90s and 00s. (Crashing’s first episode featured a Jars of Clay song.) He is also filled with questions and wonder about the world and all its mysteries and has deconstructed much of his faith in order to rebuild and redeem it. Watching Pete’s caricature of himself back at the beginning of a turning point in his marriage, career, faith and life makes me nostalgic and thankful for my own journey. Like his podcast, Crashing celebrates my weirdness, encourages my wonder, affirms my journey and questions and takes my joy level to 11. It also makes me laugh often and out loud.

Speechless
Another show that has kept me laughing and smiling is ABC’s new comedy Speechless, an endearing look into a quirky family trying to make the most of their day to day life. If Minnie Driver doesn’t make you smile, I’m not sure you’re human. Watch on ABC, abc.go.com or Hulu.

Kodiak Protein Pancakes
The cherry on top of last weekend was a Sunday morning breakfast made by my roommate. She made us protein pancakes from the huge box of Kodiak mix she just bought from Costco. (She also gets extra roommate points for adding me to her Costco membership. I’m finally in da clerb, y’all!) I am a notorious overeater and, as a strict carbatarian, tend to be hungry again almost immediately after finishing a meal. However, just two small pancakes kept me full for most of the day. They also tasted like normal pancakes, unlike other weird versions of food that try to make your favorites healthier.