Happy List: #354

Here’s the Happy List!

COZY WITH A VIEW

I would love for this to be my bed. It looks so cozy. There’s a window to watch the world go by. The shelf above the bed opens for hidden storage.

More small space ideas over at House and Garden UK.

(image: Milo Brown for House and Garden UK)

SEASHELL CANDLES

Kristin from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia turned seashells into little candles. How fun is this?

It’s like a tealight candle, but better! Get the directions here.

NORAH JONES

Are there any Norah Jones fans in the house? I’ve been listening to her new album, Visions, while writing today’s Happy List. It’s been 4 years since she has released new music.

I also just learned that she has a podcast called Playing Along where she talks to and jams with other musicians of varying genres. I’m going to check that out.

(image: Norah Jones)

KOALAS’ COOL TRICK

Did you know koalas can regulate their body temperature? Not only that, but according to a new study released in the journal, Conservation Physiology, they can predict the changes in the outside temperature, so they can adjust their body temps. Cool, right? Literally.

You can read the study here. If academic lingo isn’t your thing, you can also read this synopsis that describes some of the things koalas do to stay cool – like concentrating their urine to not lose excess water. TMI, but okay.

(image: koala climbing tree in Great Otway National Park via Wikicommons Media)

IF YOU NEED A LAUGH

This week I read the “What Funny Stuff Went Down When You Were A New Parent” post on A Cup of Jo and I haven’t laughed so hard in ages. The comments section is gold.

I even read some to Handy Husband and had him rolling. We are far enough away from those early parenting days that those stories are hilarious to us now.

P.S. If you need a baby shower gift, please, please get Pottery Barn’s chamois baby blanket. It’s shown in the above picture. You can have the baby’s name stitched on it. I can’t tell you how many countries, planes, trains, automobiles, and buses that blanket was dragged through but it still look almost brand new 14 years later.

CANDLE SEASON

For some of you, it’s always candle season. Love that! For the rest of us, candle season will be here soon and it’s time to prepare.

I’ve had these rechargeable arc lighters for two months now and still love them. I haven’t recharged them yet either. There’s no flame. A little electric charge will light your fire in the proverbial and actual sense.

These would make a great gift!

(image: Amazon)

CRAFTY

Loved this idea to turn tartlet tins into coasters from Sadie Seasongoods. The fluted edge of the tart tins makes them look like giant bottle caps. So darn clever!

What else could we repurpose into coasters? Hmm…

(image: Sadie Seasongoods)

MEXICAN STREET CORN SALAD

This Mexican Street Corn Salad from Jessica Gavin looks delicious. Handy Husband loves corn, so I’m always trying to think of different ways to serve it.

Get the recipe here.

(image: Jessica Gavin)

POETRY MOMENT

ISN’T EVERY LOVE POEM AN  UNFINISHED LOVE POEM?
by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz

Praise the ear.
Praise the hair curling
around the ear.

Praise the music
we never turn on,
only make.

Praise the caps
of your shoulders, my lips
pressed against them.

Praise the poem
I was trying to finish
when you showed up

at my door.

Thank you for reading today’s Happy List.

Be good to yourself and others this weekend.

I’ll see you back here on Monday.