Last week I stumbled across a radio interview with Neil Pasricha, the author of the new book, "The Book of Awesome". The book is a result of his fantastic website, http://www.1000awesomethings.com/ , which he created at a low period in his life when he wanted to be reminded of the small things that made him smile. Things like,

 

• The cool side of a pillow
• Opening and sniffing a pack of tennis balls
• The smell of rain on a hot sidewalk
• Dancing when you're home alone
• Popping bubble wrap
• Laughing so hard you start crying
• And 994 other awesome things

While I listened to Neil speak about what made him smile, I found myself nodding and smiling too. That great feeling was contagious as I pictured my favourite simple food things. I started to compile a list and was grinning the whole time. Go ahead and try thinking of your own awesome things, the sillier the better, and I dare you not to start smiling like the proverbial Cheshire cat! In the meantime, here are some of my awesome favourites: 

 

• The smell of fresh basil
• The crusty top of melted cheese
• The taste of the first ripe tomato in my garden
• A frosty glass from the freezer  
• The granular icy part of a Lola  
• The cork popping on a champagne bottle
• The way the bubbles from the above champagne feel on my tongue
• Eating summer cherries and spitting the pits as far as I can
• My first coffee of the day

Have an awesome day!