Five things I’ve been thinking about:

1) So remember the post I wrote about trying to find the day where the battle between a woman and her body begins? And remember the really nice “date” I had a few weekends ago? Well, that friend recently updated his Facebook status with the following:

FB Fam: Thinking of my female friends and family members, I commend to you all the thought below in this age of marketers using envy, false comparison, and measuring up (or not) to SELL products…along with the lie that you are never good enough the way you are. I like this instead:

“A WOMAN IS OFTEN MEASURED by the things she cannot control. She is measured by the way her body curves or doesn’t… curve, by where she is flat or straight or round. She is measured by 36-24-36 and inches and ages and numbers, by all the outside things that don’t ever add up to who she is on the inside. And so if a woman is to be measured, let her be measured by the things she can control, by who she is and who she is trying to become. Because as every woman knows, measurements are only statistics. And STATISTICS LIE.” – Nike Print Ad, 1994

Now, I’m 99% sure his Facebook status had nothing to do with my blog post. In fact, I’m 99.9% sure he doesn’t read my blog. But I really appreciated the timing. And the sentiment.

Also, in the comments below his status/quote, another (single male) friend of ours posted the following response:

Reminds me of a similar quote from Jeffrey R. Holland: “I suppose no one is as handsome or as beautiful as he or she wishes, or as brilliant in school or as witty in speech or as wealthy as we would like, but in a world of varied talents and fortunes that we can’t always command, I think that makes even more attractive the qualities we can command–such qualities as thoughtfulness, patience, a kind word, and true delight in the accomplishment of another. These cost us nothing, and they can mean everything to the one who receives them.”

These two guys. They’re good. Like really good. And they’re the kind of men I need to be associating with. (Particularly since I recently needed a date for another work thing and, rather dishearteningly, figured out that I know a total of five single eligible men.) And these two? They restore a portion of my broken faith in the possibility of what’s actually out there and available.

2) I’m really grateful for this space and for the opportunity to write and for the people I connect with (albeit roundabout-ly) because of it.

There are, of course, my personal friends, who read and comment and email or call, and who I feel so blessed to know and have in my life. Truly, friends.

And then, in the span of a couple of weeks, I received two emails from two strangers (Hi Mady! Hi Annie!), that totally made my day, and reminded me that what I write does matter to a few people out there. That it’s not just for me. And I’m grateful for that chance. So thank you for reading.

3) This commercial makes me angry. Like, really angry. Every time it comes on, I get up and find myself stomping around, slamming cupboards and grumbling about Mad Men. And I realize I’m not the target market for this ad, but it makes me so mad that we’re still using women’s bodies to sell products. And because of that I will never buy a Kia. Ever.

But this commercial? This commercial makes me cry. Every time. I obviously don’t know these people, but I’m so happy for them and am so proud of what they created.

4. I can’t get enough of Instagram. It’s like a magical wonderland where the best parts of Facebook and the best parts of Twitter live in harmony without all the things you hate about those two social media platforms. I’m at @kristaqm. Let me know if you’re there too. It’s crazy awesome.

5. I’m fairly certain I suck at flirting. And I hate small talk. This is proving problematic. I’m finding.