Why, hello! Welcome to this week’s Happy List. It is fantastic to have you join me here.
This week on the blog, I surprised you with a DIY furniture creation. We created a plant stand out of what I think is a lamp base. Prettiest thing we’ve made in a long time, maybe ever.
I also shared the plywood Christmas trees we made for our front porch. I do think we need a third one.
Thank you for choosing to spend a few minutes of your day here. I hope you leave here feeling inspired and less stressed out. Maybe you even laugh. Too many things on the internet raise our blood pressure, and I hope the Happy List is the opposite of that for you. I also enjoy 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.
Here’s the Happy List!
BOOKCASE WREATH
If I had built-in bookcases, you can bet I’d hang a simple wreath in front of the shelves and call my Christmas decorating done.
(image: Frazier Springfield; Styling by Charlotte Safavi; Interior designs by Corinne Back, Corinne Victoria Design via The Cottage Journal)
UPCYCLED RAKE CHRISTMAS TREE
Some people see a rake as a rake. Other people see a rake and think, “I could turn that into a Christmas tree.” My friend, Donna, at Funky Junk Interiors, has a mind that sees possibilities.
Check out this tree she made. My goodness. There are even stars on the backdrop! The whole idea is so fun! If you’re looking for Christmas tree alternatives, go check out her website for inspiration galore.
(image: Funky Junk Interiors)
P.S. I also like that brown paper Christmas tree ornament. I’ll be Donna made it!
COMPLIMENTS
(image: Lifekit via NPR)
PHOTO GARLAND
Loved this photo garland by Larissa Jenkins of Welch House 1900.
Now imagine recreating this garland using photos of your children or grandchildren. *SWOON*
(image: Larissa Jenkins)
P.S. That simple pearl strand is perfection.
POLL THE PARROT
Did you know U.S. President Andrew Jackson had a parrot? It was actually his wife’s parrot until she passed away. They called it Poll, and Poll was described as being “fat and saucy.” Jackson paid $25 for Poll in 1827. That is $695 in 2024 dollars.
There is a story told by a man who was at the funeral of Andrew Jackson that Poll “got excited and commenced swearing so loud and long as to disturb the people and had to be carried from the house.”
This story is not confirmed because there is only one account of this happening, and the man who shared the story did so 76 years after the funeral. Read more about it here.
Is it wrong that I found this story to be so funny?
(image: Wikipedia, public domain)
P.S. In 2020, a wildlife park in the U.K. moved a group of swearing parrots in an effort to curb their swearing. I also found this to be amusing, and I need an update on whether this worked. Read about that here.
NO DRYWALL
If you look closely, this kitchen doesn’t have any drywall on the walls. It’s all tile. The designer achieved interest by varying the size of the tile while keeping the tile color the same.
I want to get rid of most, if not all, of the drywall in our kitchen and main bathroom. I’m taking notes from this home featured in House Beautiful.
(image: Matt Kisiday for House Beautiful)
P.S. I wonder if that marble on the island is fixed in place or if it can slide to the left or right. I also wonder if those lamps in the kitchen are somehow hardwired? Love the idea of a shelf big enough for a plant or lamp behind the sink.
COZY
I “treated” myself to new socks last month. It was time.
Perhaps the reason I like these socks is relatable to some of you. I’m not saying I have cankles, but I do have calf muscles. So many socks are too tight at the top. These are not like that. They stay up and are snug on my heel, but they don’t strangle my legs. There’s more elasticity at the top or something. This was way too many words to describe a package of socks. Let’s never mention this again. Hahahaha!
(image: Amazon)
P.S. I also got them in this pattern for when I’m feeling more serious.
GOODBYE KISSES
This collection of historic photos from around the world of soldiers’ goodbye kisses gave me so many feelings. The emotions pouring out of these photos are so visceral. It’s beautiful and tragic.
You can see an entire collection of them at Rare Historical Photos.
(image: Korean War Goodbye Kiss, Los Angeles, Sept. 6, 1950 | credit unknown | via Rare Historical Photos)
DIY NATIVITY SET
Lovely Indeed used wood beads to make a modern nativity set. I love this sort of creativity. Get the details and directions here.
(image: Lovely Indeed)
ONE PAN SPICY SESAME BUTTER CHICKEN
I know I’ve shared this one-pan, butter chicken recipe from Half Baked Harvest before. It’s a regular recipe in my rotation, and now I have an update.
A couple of weeks ago, I made it with chickpeas and mushrooms instead of chicken, and we liked it better, especially the next day. The chickpeas and mushrooms soak up all the flavors of the sauce, and I’m hungry just thinking about it.
(image: Half Baked Harvest)
P.S. I do skip the sesame seed part because I never have those on hand. I serve it over rice with loads of cilantro and a drizzle of crisp chili oil.
POETRY MOMENT
Second Coming by Kate Baer from her new book, How About Now
I stand at the mouth of my
second coming.
All the time I’d spent worried
over what was ending, too blind
by grief and fear
to see this new horizon:
bright and blue and
beautiful.
I take off my clothes, dive
into the clear water.
I know I was meant for living.
I know it’s not too late.
Thank you for reading this week’s Happy List.
Be good to yourself and others this week.
I’ll see you back here on Monday.
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