Happy List: #274
Hello! Welcome to the first Happy List of October! Is it just me or did September go by quite quickly?
This week on the blog I shared how to make a recessed toilet paper holder. This idea is pretty adaptable if you have a small space and just want a recessed area for extra storage.
I also shared another wood acorn craft – a garland! I’m a garland person now, apparently. That’s what those wood acorns have done to me.
Am I done making things out of wood acorns? I’m not sure. I told myself I wouldn’t buy any more acorns, but that doesn’t mean I won’t take apart the garland and make something else. You’ll just have to stay tuned to see what happens.
Thank you for your continuing to show up here week after week supporting this little spot on the internet. All of your engagement here and on Instagram or Facebook is important to us. Your support truly helps our family, helps restore this old house we live in, and keeps this blog running.
Now, get ready to be razzled and dazzled because here’s the Happy List!
GLASS PUMPKINS
West Elm has the prettiest glass pumpkins for sale this year. I don’t even know what color I’d pick.
(image: West Elm)
DIY STRING DISPENSER
This is a practical and pretty DIY that I can get on board with.
The details can be found at Celebrate Creativity.
(image: Celebrate Creativity)
PRETTY AND PERSONALIZED
If you like personalized necklaces, these bar necklaces from Etsy are very cool. I’m putting this on my Christmas list.
(image: GLDN x Layered and Long via Etsy)
JACK O’LANTERN COASTERS
My goodness! These DIY coasters from Sadie Seasongoods are absolutely darling.
She used terracotta plant saucers! Clever, right? Be sure and check out her tip for sealing the coasters.
(image: Sadie Seasongoods)
This is the kind of craft that would be fun to make at a Ladies’ Night party.
You could even have kids freehand paint the jack o’lantern face for a class project.
DOCUMENTARY
This is not a happy thing. I make exceptions on what goes on this list from time to time for important or interesting educational items.
My son and I are watching the PBS Ken Burns’ series The US and the Holocaust. It’s free to stream on the PBS website through the middle of October.
We are only part of the way through and have already learned so much about how U.S. attitudes and policy were connected to the Holocaust. It really goes to show how interconnected our world was, even in the 1930s, and how it is even more connected now. We do not exist in a vacuum.
I encourage you to watch it.
(image: PBS)
NO KNEAD RUSTIC BREAD
I made this rustic bread recipe from Recipe Tin Eats last week and the whole family loved it. I didn’t even let it refrigerate because we needed bread fast! Ha!
Get the recipe here. It took just a few minutes of active time to make.
(image: Recipe Tin Eats)
BONNE MAMAN
I read the most delightful article this week from Taste about the history of Bonne Maman jam. Bonne Maman is the number one selling jam in France and the number two selling jam in the U.S.
If I’m going to buy jam, it’s always Bonne Maman. Cherry and blueberry are my favorites. It’s SO delicious. It’s the closest thing to homemade that you can buy at the grocery store.
That lead me down the rabbit hole of trying to figure out the correct way to pronounce Bonne Maman. Then I realized that the Bonne Maman website has a whole bunch of fun DIYs you can make to reuse their jars.
This pumpkin spice lip balm in a mini jar seemed timely.
(image: Bonne Maman)
Thank you for joining me on this jam journey.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“Our stories are not meant for everyone. Hearing them is a privilege, and we should always ask ourselves this before we share: “Who has earned the right to hear my story?” If we have one or two people in our lives who can sit with us and hold space for our shame stories, and love us for our strengths and struggles, we are incredibly lucky. If we have a friend, or small group of friends, or family who embraces our imperfections, vulnerabilities, and power, and fills us with a sense of belonging, we are incredibly lucky.”
―
Thank you for reading today’s Happy List!
Be good to yourself and others this weekend.
I’ll see you back here on Monday.
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