Happy List: #402 – A Pretty Happy Home

Hello! We’re closing out August on today’s Happy List. This season has felt like it has flown by for us. How about you?

This week on the blog was all about the stone wall we are building. I hope you aren’t sick of it yet because this is our life now, and I write about what’s happening in our lives. On Monday, I shared the progress we made on the first section of wall. On Wednesday, I shared the incomplete reveal of that wall. I only say incomplete because the area is surrounded by stone debris as we continue to work on the next wall section.

As always, thank you for being here. I hope the Happy List is a bright spot in your day and leaves you feeling inspired and encouraged! Part of the fun for me is connecting with you. If you want to reach out, please comment on this blog post or email me here. You can also direct message me on Instagram or Facebook.

Now, here’s the Happy List!

LOOK UP

Check out the gold line painted on the ceiling in this bedroom designed by Laura Stephens. Intriguing, right?

I see this as an idea that could be replicated in certain situations such as a small entry.

(image: Paul Massey | design: Laura Stephens | via: House and Garden UK)

LEGO RAMPS

Rita Ebel, also know as Lego Oma in Germany, has been making Lego ramps for stores to increase accessibility for wheelchair-users and even individuals pushing baby strollers or using assisted walking devices.

These Lego ramps don’t technically count as official ramps because they don’t meet building codes, but the people using them don’t care because it allows them independent access to stores in her German town. Building officials seem to be turning a blind eye. It might help that the ramps have also become a tourist sensation.

Read more about it, and see other ramps she has built here. They amazingly creative.

(image: Ability Magazine)

GRAIN SIFTER WREATH

The prettiest DIY wreath I’ve seen lately is this grain sifter wreath featured on Country Living. The feathers are the loveliest touch.

Get the directions here. (It’s #8 on the list.)

(image: Becky Luigart-Stayner via Country Living)

GARBAGE CAFES

I’m not classifying this story as happy, but as an interesting approach to two areas that could be improved: poverty and cleaning up the environment.

There are cafes in India and Cambodia where you can pay for a meal with plastic trash. Among other things, the collected plastic is turned into granules for road construction.

This BBC article did point out that the program hasn’t been without its glitches, but it has been going on since 2019. Learn more about the initiative here.

(image: Ritesh Saini/ Ambikapur Municipal Corporation via BBC)

MILK GLASS JEWELRY ORGANIZATION

Never have I thought about using bud vases for bracelet organization until now. I enjoy ideas like this because while I may not replicate it, I will look at a milk glass vase with a fresh set of eyes now. Do you know how valuable that is for creative inspiration? Enormously so.

More photos of this organization setup can be found here.

(image: Craft-O-Maniac)

“POLITE” PHRASES FROM LITERATURE

@lit.by.adam rounded up some “polite” phrases from literature. If you need a good chuckle, you’ll have to hop over to read the rest here.

(image: lit.by.adam)

ULTIMATE TOMATO SANDWICH

My friend Nancy told me the best sandwich of her summer was recreating the tomato sandwich recipe of Chef Mason Hereford of The Turkey and the Wolf. Nancy has never steered me wrong on a recipe, or anything really.

The unexpected ingredient in this sandwich is sunflower seeds! Color me intrigued!

Get the recipe over at Garden and Gun.