How cool is it that the 17th edition of my Happy List falls on the 17th? And not just any 17th, but St. Patrick’s Day! I couldn’t have planned it better myself.
When you’re reading this, I will hopefully be watching the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in DUBLIN. We’ve got to do it at least once, right? Be sure and follow A Pretty Happy Home on Instagram to see what all the fuss is about or if we even make anywhere near the parade route.
This week I shared our easy Irish flag centerpiece. You could easily modify this idea for any country, so go forth and celebrate! I also gave an overview of our trip to Belfast, which was so much fun!
Now, here’s my Happy List for this week:
Cups Song in Irish
My daughter’s class is learning the Cups Song in Irish this week. Kids attending school in Ireland are required to learn Irish even though English is the primary language in the country.
Here is a beautiful rendition of the song sung in Irish by a group of school kids. It’s really quite lovely.
DIY Windmill Blades
See these windmill blades? Sarah made them from old FAN BLADES.
Such a clever idea, right?
Read all about how she distressed them at Sadie Seasongoods.
Deck With A Slide
When we lived in Oregon, we had a 2-story deck and we talked about adding a slide from the deck to the ground. Our kids would have loved it. I probably would have loved it. Especially after a margarita.
We never got around to that project before we moved though.
My only issue with the below picture is the climbing wall. My kids would climb up the wall and then OVER the railing. That wouldn’t be quite so bad as what they’d do next. Climb over the railing to go down the wall. I’m not opposed to the concept though, just maybe the execution.
The other thing I like about what they’ve done is that it looks like the play equipment can easily be removed after the children transition out of that phase.
Incorporate Doors Into Storage Solutions
We have some storage issues in our current house, so I liked this article about clever and pretty ways of making your doors work harder from a storage perspective.
Also, that pink door is fun.
See more ideas incorporating doors into your storage plan at Apartment Therapy.
Health Comes From Within
My kids ask me almost daily when we are going to get a car. “I don’t know” is my standard response. It’s not that we won’t ever have a car again – we will. Whether or not we will have a car in Ireland is a different issue. It probably depends on how long we end up being here.
The reason why I am hesitant to get a car in Ireland is that I like our healthy lifestyle right now. I like that we walk everywhere. It’s so good for our bodies. While I do see overweight people in Ireland, I don’t see the large numbers of morbidly obese people here that I am used to seeing in the USA.
I also see an elderly man with a cane and some sort of leg injury or deformity that walks Every. Single. Day. Every day I see him – rain or shine. He moves slow, but he always smiles and greets me when our paths cross. If he can get out there, there’s not a lot of excuses for me.
Is it an inconvenience sometimes? Yes, definitely. Is it a drag sometimes? Yes, especially when it is raining. That’s why I know I’d be tempted to drive more and walk less if we got a car.
This “rant” by Linden Pfeiffer, DC on his chiropractic blog (his word, not mine) had some good points. He’s speaking not about genetics or bad luck, but preventable conditions.
“If we don’t make people accountable for their own health, they will never truly be healthy. When I ask new practice members how they know if they are healthy, they most often answer because I feel good. The correct answer in my opinion is THEY FUNCTION GOOD. Feeling healthy doesn’t mean you are healthy, being thin doesn’t mean you are healthy, health comes from within your body, its a state of function, how well is your body functioning not feeling determines how healthy you are.”
It’s food for thought. Read the full “rant” here.
Bathroom Vanity
I like the doors on this vanity, which the homeowner built!
I also like the interest the shelf covering the mirror brings.
Read more about it here.
5 Emails You Should Be Sending
I read an interesting article on a blog called Barking Up the Wrong Tree. Eric Barker’s writing has been featured in TIME, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, among other places.
He argues you can make your life better in 5 fundamental areas by sending 5 simple emails.
He advocates for sending an email:
1) every day thanking someone for something
2) every week updating your boss on what you’ve been doing
3) once a week to a potential mentor
4) every two weeks to make plans with a friend
5) to someone you know, but not well, to check in. These ‘weak tie’ contacts lead to future jobs.
Read more about his reasoning and research here.
My Ireland
The poet Stephen James Smith penned a poem for Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Festival. Listen to it read by the poet…
Learn more about the festival here.
Markings on Measuring Tapes Have a Purpose
This article deals mainly with measuring tapes in Europe, but I found similar marks on my measuring tape purchased in the USA.
Also, I never thought about how accurate my measuring tape is from a quality control standpoint. That could explain a lot of mistakes during our DIY endeavors. That seems way more likely than either of us measuring incorrectly, right???
Since I’m feeling all thorough and everything today, if you reside in the USA, here’s an article from the Chicago Tribune about tape measure markings in the USA. If you live anywhere else in the world, I have failed you.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing
Saint Patrick was a gentleman, who through strategy and stealth
Drove all the snakes from Ireland, here’s a drink to his health!
But not too many drinks, lest we lose ourselves and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick, and see them snakes again!
~Author Unknown
From our family to yours – Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone.
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