Hello! Welcome to this week’s Happy List. I am thrilled you are here.
This week on the blog, I shared a surprise update to our colorful attic stairwell. I only say it’s a surprise because I didn’t say one word about it before posting it on the blog. Wild of me not to overshare on social media first. Hahaha!
I also shared the finished stone doorway I reconstructed in our basement. There’s only one more masonry-related thing to do in that room!
Thank you for spending a moment of your day here. The Happy List is purposefully light and filled with things that caught my eye this week or inspired me in some way. I hope they do the same for you. If you’d like to reach out, and I hope you do, please comment on this blog post or email me here. You can also direct message me on Instagram or Facebook. (P.S. I am much better at answering emails and Instagram DMs than I am at anything on Facebook.)
Here’s the Happy List!
MID CENTURY-STYLE DOOR
I love my old house, but mid-century modern homes are so cool! Look at this front door. How could you not smile walking up to this every day?
The inside of this house does not disappoint, and the light fixture in their baby’s room is the happiest thing I’ve ever seen. Check it out here.
(image: Tina Michelle for Sunset)
UPCYCLED LIGHT FIXTURE
Remind me to scope out the lighting section the next time I go thrifting for a light fixture I can upcycle into a fancy planter. Sarah from Sadie Seasongoods used the metal part of a light fixture to “hold” a plain planter, and that’s such a brilliant idea!
If you want more ideas on how to upcycle light fixtures, go check out her blog post. Her creativity is unmatched. I’ll bet you never thought to turn a light fixture into a Liberty Bell or antique diving helmet replica.
(image: Sadie Seasongoods)
MEN’S ATHLETIC SHORTS
I just ordered another pair of these Northyard athletic shorts that my son swears by. He likes the fit, the pockets, and the detailing.
(image: Amazon)
Handy Husband prefers the Baleaf athletic shorts. The fabric is a bit softer or silkier than the Northyard shorts, and they can double as swim shorts because of the inner liner. He also has multiple pairs of these. My guys both like the 7-inch length in shorts, but they come in different lengths.
(image: Amazon)
P.S. My guys were not the models for these photos. I repeat NOT the models. They would never. Ha!
P.P.S. We have an Amazon storefront now. I’ve added these there.
EGG CARTON ANIMAL PORTRAITS
I have not been thinking creatively enough about what to do with egg cartons. Look at these cute animal portraits from Thistle Key Lane that are made with cutout shapes from egg cartons.
Get the directions to make your own here.
(image: Thistle Key Lane)
ANCIENT PERSIA
Did you know that ancient Persia has greatly shaped the modern world by being the first to do many things that we take for granted today? Ancient Persia encompassed modern-day Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Persians gave the world road networks, a functioning government, a postal service, religious tolerance, and gardens. By the way, the Romans modeled their roads after the Persians. In the U.S., the Pony Express was modeled after the way the Persians handled mail distribution.
You can read more about it in this Big Think article.
WATCHED
Trailer for the Mary Oliver documentary on PBS. I’m so excited for this!: YouTube
Undersea volcano, Kavachi in the Solomon Islands, erupting: YouTube
GET OUT YOUR COLLECTIONS
This is a store display by Little House of Floor at Lily and Birch Market in Maryland, but I thought it was so striking that it was worth sharing.
The copper with the blue and white servingware is so pretty, but the key might be the pops of green from the plants. Moral of this story? Combine your collections with plants.
(image: Little House of Four)
SWEET POTATO BLACK BEAN BURRITO BOWLS
Friends. I was shocked at how well this Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burrito Bowl recipe worked. It was surprisingly good, and it didn’t even have cheese! The dressing really makes it.
I didn’t alter the recipe, other than using taco seasoning as a shortcut for seasoning the sweet potatoes. For the grain portion of the bowl, I used quinoa cooked in chicken broth and mixed in some leftover rice, but any of your favorite grains would work.
I cannot stop thinking about it. I’m already planning on making it again this week.
(image: Chelsea’s Messy Apron)
POETRY MOMENT
For My Daughter by Grace Paley
I wanted to bring her a chalice
or maybe a cup of love
or cool water I wanted to sit
beside her as she rested
after the long day I wanted to adjure
commend admonish saying don’t
do that of course wonderful try
I wanted to help her grow old I wanted
to say last words the words famous
for final enlightenment I wanted
to say them now in case I am in
calm sleep when the last sleep strikes
or aged into disorder I wanted to
bring her a cup of cool water
I wanted to explain tiredness is
expected it is even appropriate
at the end of the day
Thank you for reading today’s Happy List!
Be good to yourself and others this weekend.
I’ll see you back here on Monday.
*affiliate links in this blog post*