Hello, hello! Welcome to this week’s Happy List. I’m delighted to see you here.
This week on the ol’ blog, I shared how we hung a mirror on the peg rail in our bedroom. This room has slowly evolved over the last six years, and it makes me ridiculously happy to spend time in it. In fact, I wrote this week’s Happy List from the sitting area in this room while I watched it snow outside my window. Zero complaints.
I also shared the heart bunting that I made out of denim jeans, and last week I shared the grapevine heart garland I made for our mantel. This year, I’m having fun coming up with ways to celebrate love and Valentine’s Day that fit with our home style. It’s a tricky one!
Thank you for choosing to spend a few minutes of your day here. I hope you have fun, learn something new today, and leave feeling inspired.
It truly makes my day to connect 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!
MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL
The gallery wall in this bathroom is simply lovely. It’s not a place you’d expect to find a gallery wall, which makes it even more special.
Notice how the gallery wall minimizes a potential design pain point of not having the sink centered on the wall.
(image: via Town N Country Living)
HOCKEY LOVE
I hear hockey is VERY popular right now. This Etsy sweatshirt seems fitting for both hockey and Valentine’s Day.
(image: Etsy shop WatermelonHoneyCo)
WOVEN SNAPSHOTS
I’ve never seen anything like this art. Pam Connolly weaves family photos onto potholder looms. This is the coolest thing. Sentimental. Unique. Wow.
Learn more about Pam’s process over at This Is Colossal.
(image: Pam Connolly via This Is Colossal)
FROM THE BACK
Don’t you wish all sofas looked as good from the back as they do from the front? If there were a petition to make that happen, I’d sign it.
More pictures of this home can be found at Apartment Therapy.
(image: Kirsten Francis for Apartment Therapy)
TEEN LINE
I learned this week that there is a volunteer teen-run hotline to help other teens in a mental health crisis. The hotline has been running since 1980 with the premise that “sometimes the best person to talk to about teenage problems is another teenager.” The hotline handles phone calls, texts, and emails.
While the fact that this even has to exist isn’t the happiest of topics, I do think it’s important to highlight the value of this service to the teens who volunteer, and the teens who reach out for help. These kids could be self-absorbed, but instead are saving lives.
Learn more about the program and how you can support it here.
(image: Teen Line via Reasons to be Cheerful)
DRAGONFLY WIND CHIME
I have spring on the brain, or any weather above freezing, really. Isn’t this rusty metal dragonfly wind chime neat? It’s even hanging from a metal branch. *swoon*
(image: Etsy Shop HappyGardensArt)
LISTENED, WATCHED
-Asinology is the study of donkeys. No joke! I had no idea donkeys were so fascinating. Listen here.
-The song lyrics for City of Heroes by Billy Bragg are very poignant and a great reminder right now.
-“One of the most powerful acts of resistance that any population can take is just considering more people friends.” Watch the whole thing on Instagram. It will make you think.
-Lada Gaga covers Mr. Rogers’ song, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.” It pains me a little that it was done for a commercial, but it is still beautiful.
MUSHROOM TART
You could put most anything in puff pastry, and I’d eat it. True story.
That may be why this Mushroom Tart recipe by Jenny Rosenstrach caught my eye again this year. Also, Handy Husband loves mushrooms. We eat them at least once a week in some form.
I’m thinking I might add some white beans to the toppings mix for added protein.
(image: Jenny Rosenstrach via Cup of Jo)
POETRY MOMENT
every time i ever said i wanted to die by Andrea Gibson
A difficult life is not less
worth living than a gentle one.
Joy is simply easier to carry
than sorrow. And your heart
could lift a city from how long
you’ve spent holding what’s been
nearly impossible to hold.
This world needs those
who know how to do that.
Those who could find a tunnel
that has no light at the end of it,
and hold it up like a telescope
to know the darkness
also contains truths that could
bring the light to its knees.
Grief astronomer, adjust the lens,
look close, tell us what you see.
P.S. The documentary about Andrea Gibson’s life was nominated for an Oscar. She died of ovarian cancer. I haven’t watched it yet, but you can watch the movie here.
Thank you for reading this week’s Happy List.
Be good to yourself and others this weekend.
I’ll see you back here on Monday.
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