Happy Monday

At the beginning of the school year I started working three days a week. It has been a huge adjustment for me. Huge, I tell you! Since I work in the middle of the week I have started to love Mondays because they feel like an extra day off. I'm counting this as a much needed plus side. Today was a particularly productive Monday. Here's a quick list of the things Z and I were able to accomplish today:

Vacuumed the whole house, did laundry, played Hopscotch, planted tulip bulbs, eradicated the Giant Knotweed from our yard, watched Curious George, arranged pumpkins on our deck. (Z-cakes prefers them to be in a line across the bottom step but I eventually talked her into small groups.)

And while I'm in the spirit of loving Monday and all, here is a list of things making me terribly happy today:

01. Long email exchanges with Kim about party plans!
02. A new letterpress print hanging in my entry. After living here for a year and a half I can honestly have this hanging in our house.
03. The fact that N8tr0n has not told me what he's getting me for my birthday. I don't think this has happened in the 7 years we've been married so it is worth getting excited about.
04. Z-cakes in striped tights.
05. Clicking through pictures of my brother's wedding.
06. Reading Dracula with Charlotte as part of my new scary book in October tradition. Last year we read Helter Skelter. Creepy.
07. Wearing what is possibly the greatest cardigan I have ever owned in my life.
08. Lunch with N8tr0n.
09. Watching Mad Men with N8tr0n.
10. Pumpkin everything.

Your turn. What is making you terribly happy? No really, I want to hear. And speak up so they can hear you in the back.

Weekending

Good morning friends! We spent another lovely weekend in Burley. Did you have a good weekend too? We spent Saturday hanging out with family (N8tr0n golfed with my dad and I shopped with my mother + sister-in-law).

Plus we ate at Aguila Con El Taco which is possibly my most favorite Mexican restaurant ever.

On Sunday the three of us drove to Bostetter to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous fall colors (we were not disappointed), and ate Chili for dinner. Yum. So far, this fall is coming together just the way I like it.

And as you know, it is October which means, I am happy. Here's a list of a few of the things that are making me terribly happy today:

01. Having gone for a run with Emmylou this morning! Hip Hip Hooray for us!
02. The pile of leaves sitting on my counter collected from our fall colors drive.
03. Mailing out a stack of invitations for my 30th birthday party!
04. The crazy way Z sprawls across her bed while she's sleeping.
05. Peaches for breakfast.
06. Our family date to the pumpkin patch tonight!
07. Making a list of possible desserts to make today and trying to get Z-cakes to choose just one.
08. Planting bulbs.
09. Watching new TV with N8tr0n.
10. Leftover chili in my fridge.

So do tell, what is making you terribly happy today? I'll be making plenty of lists just like this one so prepare yourself accordingly. Also, be sure to check in tomorrow morning. I have a fun offer from two of my favorite Etsy artists!

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Very red Malabrigo yarn makes me happy. I picked up a couple of skeins at Fancy Tiger last week and I have had it sitting on my desk so that I can admire it.

This yarn's fate has already been decided: a beret for myself. Because I seem to be very selfish with my knitting lately. I've been on the hunt for the perfect beret pattern. I've been looking for something that has cables and bobbles and is generally fabulous. I think I found it. What do you think? Doesn't it look perfect? The best part is that Jared Flood's Laurel pattern can be purchased for immediate download on Ravelry! Ahh, Ravelry. I shall never tire of your instant gratification.

Happy Halloween Weekend Everyone!

"Makes Me Happy" is a mini-series that will be featured through the month of October. It's purpose is to celebrate the small-inexpensive luxuries in life that bring a smile to my face. Please play along if you'd like. Embrace the everyday.

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A bottle of gorgeous nail polish makes me happy.

Especially when it reminds me of standing in Sephora for half an hour painting my fingernails a rainbow of colors with Rachel.

Do tell, what's your fave nail polish color these days?

"Makes Me Happy" is a mini-series that will be featured through the month of October. It's purpose is to celebrate the small-inexpensive luxuries in life that bring a smile to my face. Please play along if you'd like. Embrace the everyday.

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My giant round pastry tip makes me happy. Whenever I make cupcakes people always ask how I "get the frosting to look like that." This little big sucker is the key.

It is definitely one of my favorite baking supplies—right up there with my sifter. I can't wait to add a star shaped one to my collection. In fact, I think I should just go ahead and get all of 'em.

You can buy your very own giant tip at Bake It Pretty, which is a website that makes me very very happy.

I'm wondering why it is that I never seem to have my fingernails painted when I take pictures for the blog. Drat.

"Makes Me Happy" is a mini-series that will be featured through the month of October. It's purpose is to celebrate the small-inexpensive luxuries in life that bring a smile to my face. Please play along if you'd like. Embrace the everyday.

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A hilarious book that I can read over and over with my daughter makes me happy.

I'm sure you'll be shocked to know that Z-cakes is the boss of reading time and that we usually end up reading the same book over and over and over. With wonderful writers like Mo Willems around, I don't even mind. These two books are favorites of ours, but I really really love this one. Oh and this one. And of course this one.

We are always on the lookout for new favorite books. Have any recommendations?

"Makes Me Happy" is a mini-series that will be featured through the month of October. It's purpose is to celebrate the small-inexpensive luxuries in life that bring a smile to my face. Please play along if you'd like. Embrace the everyday.

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A good cleaning product makes me happy. Especially if it smells good. Cleaning the toilet doesn't seem like such a chore when it makes your bathroom smell like lavender.

The Mrs. Meyer's line of cleaning products are right at the top of my list of favorite things. When I was pregnant with Z-cakes I had a serious aversion to the smell of bleach. When the aversion stuck around even after she was born I have to admit I was bummed. To me bleach smell = clean. Thankfully I tried Mrs. Meyer's and haven't looked back since. I'm also happy with the fact that Mrs. Meyer's is a responsible company. Their liquid products are biodegradable, their packaging is recyclable, and all of their products are free of harmful chemicals and are completely safe to use around children and pets. It makes my housewife heart very happy.

Please tell me that it isn't ridiculous to post a cleaning product as something that makes me happy. Do you have cleaning products that make you happy?

P.S. None of the "Makes Me Happy" posts are sponsored in any way. Although, my current policy on accepting compensation from companies I happen to promote still stands. Which is to say, I totally would.

"Makes Me Happy" is a mini-series that will be featured through the month of October. It's purpose is to celebrate the small-inexpensive luxuries in life that bring a smile to my face. Please play along if you'd like. Embrace the everyday.

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How about one more Makes Me Happy post before I sign off for the weekend?

The Martha Stewart Everyday Food magazine makes me happy every single month. Except for the two months out of the year when a new one doesn't come because the previous issue was a double month issue. Those are sad months.

My wonderful friend, Rachel, has given me this subscription as a Christmas present for the last two years. The gift that keeps on giving, you guys. I can confidently say that this is where 80% of my inspiration for weekly meals comes from. It is a great reminder of what is in season and often has minor tweaks on classic recipes that I may not have thought of myself. I thumb through it as soon as I pull it out of the mailbox and dog-ear the things I want to make. Plus I really like how pretty the issues look all stacked up together.

Happy Weekend everyone! Z-cakes and I are picking N8tr0n up at the airport this evening. He's been away at a training for work and even though we miss him the words, "for work," are very happy ones in this household.

I've had such fun telling you all about the little things that make me happy. Can't wait to do it again next week!

xoxo

"Makes Me Happy" is a mini-series that will be featured through the month of October. It's purpose is to celebrate the small-inexpensive luxuries in life that bring a smile to my face. Please play along if you'd like. Embrace the everyday.

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Kick Drum Heart makes me happy. It has been making me happy for a week straight, actually. Of course I love any song by those lovely Avett Brothers, but this song has been perfect for getting me moving and making me smile.

Z-cakes likes clapping along with the drum beat. You should give it a try. I promise it will make you happy.

In 100% related news: The newest Avett Brothers album released on Tuesday! This is me crossing my fingers that somebody (brother) will get this for me for my birthday.

I'm also going to say that my fingers are crossed in the hope that my bangs don't eat my face. Seriously. They've gotten completely out of hand.

"Makes Me Happy" is a mini-series that will be featured through the month of October. It's purpose is to celebrate the small-inexpensive luxuries in life that bring a smile to my face. Please play along if you'd like. Embrace the everyday.

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My little collection of vintage Pyrex bowls makes me happy. The yellow are from my mom and the green are from my mother-in-law. I can't really explain what it is I love most about them. The colors? The flower motif? The dishwasher-friendly-ness? All of the above?

I have what you might call a plethora of mixing bowls in my kitchen. But these bowls are the first ones I reach for and they always bring a smile to my face.

Currently, I can hear a crazy ton of birds singing outside right now. I wonder what the ruckus is about? I can also see Z-cakes playing out in the yard. She found the winter clothes and is currently wearing one rain boot, one snow boot, a T-shirt, and a pointy beanie. Mmm...makes me very happy.

"Makes Me Happy" is a mini-series that will be featured through the month of October. It's purpose is to celebrate the small-inexpensive luxuries in life that bring a smile to my face. Please play along if you'd like. Embrace the everyday.

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A mug of herbal Yogi tea in the morning or evening makes me happy. And warm. And content. Ginger is my current favorite though it is followed closely by Egyptian Licorice. Wait no, I like Egyptian Licorice equally to Ginger. No. Egyptian Licorice is my favorite.

As an added bonus, every bag of Yogi tea comes with a few words of wisdom on the tag, which also makes me very happy.

Happy Monday everyone! What is making you happy today?

"Makes Me Happy" is a mini-series that will be featured through the month of October. It's purpose is to celebrate the small-inexpensive luxuries in life that bring a smile to my face. Please play along if you'd like. Embrace the everyday.

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A new bag of Guittard Chocolate Chips makes me happy. Even before I tear this sucker open the matte finish on the bag is so pleasing. And the words Extra Dark? No brainer. I know all the grocery stores in town that keep these in stock. I'll buy them even when they aren't on sale.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit, and

HAPPY OCTOBER.

"Makes Me Happy" is a mini-series that will be featured through the month of October. It's purpose is to celebrate the small-inexpensive luxuries in life that bring a smile to my face. Please play along if you'd like. Embrace the everyday.