Happy List: #388

Hello! Welcome to the first Happy List of May! I hope you are as excited to be here as I am to host you.

This week on the blog, I shared the next installment of the Stone Gym series. That project, which is happening in our Carriage House, is a labor of love. Heavy emphasis on the labor part. Ha!

I also dished on the “hidden treasure” we found buried in the ground next to the Carriage House. If you have any ideas on what I should do with the 35 tin tiles I found, let me know. The tricky part for me is making something that matches my style aesthetic.

The Happy List (and this blog, really) is focused on the lighter side of life. I hope that you leave here today feeling inspired, encouraged, and maybe you even learned a thing or two. I absolutely welcome the opportunity to connect with you and hear what you’re doing and how you’re feeling. If you want to reach out, you can always comment on this blog post or email me here. You can also reach out on Instagram or Facebook.

Here’s the Happy List!

YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE IT

You will never believe that this wedding venue (and home!) was once a welding factory unless you check out the before photos. I am still shocked by the vision these folks had. Also, the power of paint never fails to blow my mind.

It’s located in Utah. See all the pictures here.

(image: Seth & Jenna Wright via My Scandinavian Home)

MONARCH WAYSTATION PROGRAM

Did you know you can register your home garden as a Monarch Waystation to help butterflies?

The Monarch Waystation program was created to help offset the loss of milkweeds and nectar sources we need to create, conserve, and protect monarch butterfly habitats. Creating a Monarch Waystation can be as simple as adding milkweeds and nectar sources to existing gardens or maintaining natural habitats with milkweeds. Learn more here and see how many waystations are registered in your area.

SIMPLICITY

I love the simple perfection of this vignette. The cabinet doors on the right caught my eye, too. They look more like actual doors and not cabinet doors. Our bathroom door has this same profile.

See more of this guest cottage at Remodelista.

(image: Photography by Erin Kelly, courtesy of Greg Dutton Studio via Remodelista)

GARDEN APRON

Most folks hit a certain age and their back starts bothering them. Aging is so rude. That’s why this garden apron caught my eye. I watched an entire Instagram ad about it. Totally hooked me!

You put your weeds in the kangaroo pouch of this apron and then release them from the bottom of the apron! How brilliant is that?

This same company Grampa’s Weeder Store, has a stand-up weeder puller tool that has 58,000 positive reviews.

(image: via Amazon)

P.S. Grampa’s Gardenware Co. was started in Seattle, WA. They sell everywhere, and if Amazon isn’t your thing, you can check out their website. I do get a small commission if you shop via one of my Amazon links, but not from the Grampa’s website.

WHAT A STAR

Courtney at French Country Cottage always has beautiful, inspiring ideas. Her blog post about blooming basket decor is no exception.

While imaging all the places I could hang a basket of blooms, I noticed the vent above this building is disguised in a star shape. How cool is that?

(image: French Country Cottage)

THE IMPACT OF RESEARCH

Three teens in India have created a portable refrigerator that does not use electricity or coolant.

This invention, which uses salt to cool the fridge, could be REVOLUTIONARY for medical workers who need to transport life-saving vaccines and medicines to remote areas of the globe.

This is a great example of why I believe supporting local and global education, as well as government research grants, is critical to making the world a happier, healthier, and safer place. Investing in the world’s youth is never a waste.

Read more about their invention and what’s next here.

P.S. Handy Husband has spent this year mentoring two teams of Computer Science students who are inventing things that have impressed him with their ingenuity. He said it has been one of the most worthwhile things he’s done.

PRESSED FLOWER PROJECTS

The Cottage On Bunker Hill has an entire blog post full of DIY pressed flower project ideas that you need to check out. Spring is the perfect time to do this with so many gorgeous flowers blooming.

These pressed flowers on plaques with the book page background looked so romantic to me.

Get inspired here.

(image: Cottage On Bunker Hill)

READ AND HEARD

Here are a few things I read or heard recently that either inspired me or made me think about an issue in a different way. I think you’ll enjoy them.

Book: Make Magic by Brad Meltzer

Podcast: Salugenology: Why Humans Need Hobbies (Ologies podcast with Alie Ward)

Podcast: A Solution To America’s Gun Problem (People I Mostly Admire podcast)

Podcast: Fixing Youth Sports with Linda Flanagan (We Can Do Hard Things podcast)

BUFFALO CHICKEN BURGER WITH WHIPPED FETA SPREAD

I have never made (or eaten, I think) a whipped feta spread until this week. I was SO curious to try it on this Buffalo Chicken Burger recipe by Pinch of Yum and it did not disappoint. It was nice change from the bean burgers we usually eat.

The recipe says Trader Joe’s has a whipped feta spread that’s delicious. I don’t live near a Trader Joe’s, but I do know how to operate a hand mixer (go me!), so I made my own with this recipe.

(image: Pinch of Yum)

POETRY MOMENT

WHILE EVERYTHING ELSE WAS FALLING APART by Ada Limón

In the Union Square subway station nearly fifteen
years ago now, the L train came clanking by
where someone had fat-Sharpied a black heart
on the yellow pillar you leaned on during a bleak day,
(brittle and no notes from anyone you crushed upon).
Above ground, the spring sun was the saddest one
(doing work, but also none). What were you wearing?
Something hopeful to show the world you hoped?
A tall man was learning from a vendor how to pronounce
churro. High in the sticky clouds of time, he kept
repeating churro while eating a churro. How to say
this made you want to live? No hand to hold
still here it was: someone giving someone comfort
and someone memorizing hard how to ask for it again.

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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