Happy List: #179
Hello!
Much to the dismay of my children, remote school started yesterday. I kept our first day of school traditions alive, but it was strange without the usual pomp and circumstance associated with the first day of school.
Our kids have 4 sixty minute classes per day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Cameras have to be on for the entire time class is in session so the teachers know they are engaged. They get a ten minute break between classes and there’s no homework.
On Wednesdays their schedule is a little wacky because that’s when they have all the extra classes like PE, music, Spanish, etc.
Personally, I like that we have a slow start to the morning since classes don’t start until 9 a.m.
Now, enough about that! On the blog I shared the reveal of our back porch shelves. Still loving them! I also wrote a post about all the decor we’ve found in homes we’ve lived in over the years.
Thank you for engaging with me here and on Facebook and/or Instagram. In addition, thank you for sharing my projects and stories with others. That simple, but generous act really does keep this blog up and humming!
Now here is the Happy List!
ALL THE FEELS
A homeowner kept getting an alert from his security camera because a child was biking in his driveway. Instead of getting mad, he drew the kid a racetrack in chalk.
When it rains, he redraws it.
Go read the whole order of events on this story because your heart needs this dose of warm fuzzies. Mine sure did.
(image: via Tanks Good News)
DRAFT DODGER
I always thought a draft dodger was something else.
But this kind of draft dodger is something I actually really need!
(image: Burcu Avsar via Country Living)
If you want to make this draft dodger, you can get directions and download the horse silhouette here.
SOMETHING TO LOVE
This song by Jason Isbell is chill, a little bit country, and has such a great message.
The chorus lyrics are spot on and something we all need:
I hope you find something to love
Something to do when you feel like giving up
A song to sing or a tale to tell
Something to love, it’ll serve you well
Also, the woman harmonizing with Jason reminds me of Dolly Parton. I don’t know her name, but she’s fabulous.
I hope each of you have something to do that brings you joy in your life.
COFFEE SWEETENER
We drink our coffee with cream and sweetener.
It was a habit we developed while living in Ireland because flavored coffee creamer isn’t really a thing there. Actually, I didn’t even drink coffee until we moved to Ireland, but when in Dublin and all.
Two of the calorie-free sweeteners we tried in Europe were Canderel
and Hermesetas. I like that they are tablets, not powder because I don’t like dealing with those paper packets.
Hermesetas was top of mind for me this week because I just received two more containers for my stash! I don’t want to run out!
Hermesetas Mini Sweeteners
are from Switzerland (so fancy!) and that’s what I now order from Amazon to sweeten our coffee because they are easier and cheaper to get than Canderel.
It tastes the closest to actual sugar and tastes WAY BETTER than something like Equal. Plus, the little tiny tabs dissolve instantly in hot liquid.
SPICED PUMPKIN FRITTERS
Do you know what goes delightfully well with coffee? Doughnuts.
My neighbor told me she makes pumpkin fritters every year and I was like, “Tell me more. Specifically, tell me when and where you’ll be making these delicious creations so I can crash your party.”
She did not give me any of these details.
I was forced to go find a recipe myself and I’m plotting when I’m going to try making them.
(image: Diana Rattray via Spruce Eats)
BOOT STORAGE
A bench with integrated boot storage is a smart idea! I don’t recall seeing anything quite like this – at least not recently.
I’ve read Sandra’s blog, Sawdust Girl, for a long time and she can build anything, so go get the tutorial for this bench.
(image: Sawdust Girl)
NERD OUT WITH ME
Who wants to nerd out with me? This will take you right back to your college economics class.
Life is full of hard decisions, but right now we are getting new information thrown at us every day. How do we handle it all?!?!
(With carbs and Netflix, duh.)
Bayesian thinking can help us adjust our beliefs and assumptions as new information comes in. It’s an economics concept with practical application for every day, regular life.
For instance, one of the rules of Bayesian thinking is to focus on the “priors.” This means that instead of just looking at the evidence in front of you, you have to put that evidence into context with all the background information that is available.
This video gives an example of seeing a shy man on a college campus. Is that shy man in the math program of the business program? Most people would assume math. However, there are more business students than math students on this campus, so the probability is actually greater that the shy man is a business student.
FLYING CAR
A flying car? YES. PLEASE.
Japan successfully tested a flying car this week. This is like the Jetson’s cartoon come to life and I am ALL about it.
If someone can successfully test a robotic tunnel that can dress me and do my hair and makeup (just like in the Jetson’s cartoon), that would be much appreciated.
(image: via Yahoo Finance)
ELI MANNING’S NJ HOME
Since I live in New Jersey and Eli Manning has a home in New Jersey, we are practically neighbors, right?
Eli Manning is selling his home in New Jersey for $5.25 million. You can see more pictures of the renovated 1904 9,000 sq. ft. home here.
I thought the wine cellar was the best part with the beams and bricks.
(image: Prominent Properties via NJ.com)
THIS.
“For what it’s worth… it’s never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit. Start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you’ve never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start over again.”
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Thanks for being here and reading the Happy List today!
I’ll be back on Monday with a fun, new blog post all about an update I made to a $1 thrift store purchase.
Have a great weekend.
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