Happy List: #200

Welcome to the Happy List all you lovebirds! 

Ready for Valentine’s Day? It’s not a big holiday in our house, but I will use it as an excuse to order takeout! 

This week on the blog I shared the leather belt tray I made and love with all my heart and soul. I styled it differently for the blog post, but it ended up in my son’s room on top of his bookcase.

I also shared a bunch of cool art I found for big kid rooms…or for the kid in all of us. 

Speaking of art of a sort, the wood heart magnets at the top of this post were made by my mom. She used to sell them at craft fairs in the 1980s. If you want to read about them, click here. 

Once again, here is my shameless plug for you to join me on Instagram or Facebook. I love to connect with you here and there. 

Announcements are over! Let’s get on to the list we all know and love, The Happy List:

DIY TWISTED CANDLES

This idea from The House That Lars Built to twist your own taper candles is clever.

That twist makes a regular taper candle look so expensive and they made the DIY look easy.

(image: The House That Lars Built)

WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST REGRET

This was a thought-provoking exercise and I like how they turned it into something hopeful at the end. 

BIRRIA TACOS

Birria Tacos were the most searched for “game day” food before that big football game last week.

I didn’t even know what that was! Have I been living under a rock? No, but I have been more or less stuck in my house for a year. That’s pretty much the same thing!

I Am A Food Blog explains what Birria Tacos are and has a very well rated recipe too!

The bottom line: I want to try these.

(image: I Am A Food Blog)

SPEAKING OF TACOS

Have you seen this?

(image: source unknown)

WOOD BEAD MIRROR

This DIY Wood Bead Mirror from Alice & Lois is giving me all sorts of project ideas! 

(image: Alice & Lois)

DAYS LIKE THIS

I think I like this Van Morrison cover better than the original! Although, it’s no secret I am partial to a good piano ballad.

If the video doesn’t load, here is a direct link.

SAVING BIRDS

I like seeing technology used in creative and helpful ways, especially to try to mitigate unintended consequences of other technology. And round and round we go, right? 

I just learned about a company called IdentiFlight that is working to save endangered birds from wind turbines. Their tech can identify the species of a bird in real time and up to a kilometer away and then determine if wind turbine speeds need to be adjusted to try and protect that bird from harm. 

Cool, right?

(image: IdentiFlight via)

If you want to read an article about it, click here. If you want to read about it direct from the company, click here.

CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Confession: I’m indifferent to chocolate chip cookies.

I’d pick oatmeal raisin over chocolate chip any day of the week. 

Are you recoiling in horror now? Hahahahaha. I like what I like. 

However, I made the Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction last week and they were delicious.

I used her tip to roll the dough balls taller than they are wide to get thicker cookies. 

(image: Sally’s Baking Addiction)

COUNTRY SONG WISDOM

Recently, Handy Husband and I have been listening to a Spotify channel called “Greatest Country Hits 80s and 90s.” We do not listen to new country, but every once in awhile we feel nostalgic toward the older stuff. 

I particularly enjoy country song wisdom. Here’s an excerpt of one I had forgotten about:

Only Here For a Little While by Billy Dean

On that note, thank you for reading today’s Happy List!

I hope you have a fantastic Valentine’s Day Weekend. 

I’ll see you back here on Monday. Take care and be good to yourself and others.

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