Why, hello! Welcome to this week’s Happy List. What a pleasure it is to see you here.
This week on the blog, I shared that we finished something! It was a big milestone to finish repointing the stone foundation walls (finally!) in our basement workshop. Stay tuned for the finale of that series. There’s still one thing left to do.
I also shared 10 Fun and Thoughtful Graduation Gift Ideas in case you’re shopping for a graduate like we are. Our kids are not in a graduation year, but there are others in our orbit that have reached this milestone. It’s so exciting for them.
As always, thank you for spending a moment of your day here. The Happy List is meant to be a bright spot in your day and mine. It is 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!
FIELD CHAPELS
Have you heard of field chapels? They are sacred spaces often built in remote areas and are meant to offer respite to hikers, travelers, or those seeking solace in nature. I would love to come upon one!
The one shown here is a field chapel in Bödigheim, Germany. See more examples in this article in Frederic Magazine.
(image: Brigida González via Frederic Magazine)
WORLDWIDE SIDEWALK JOY
I may have shared this before, but it’s a good one to repeat. There is a worldwide map of Sidewalk Joy, and this is the sort of thing I think we need right now to remind us of the good in humanity.
Sidewalk Joy spots are free, curated installations that bring a bit of whimsy and inspiration to the community. These could be free little art galleries, puzzle exchanges, toy swaps, mug exchanges, seed swaps, wishing trees, free little greenhouses, and more. It was fun to see if there were any near me. If you want to make a Sidewalk Joy spot, you can add yours to the map!
(image: Sidewalk Joy)
ADD GREEN
This powder room photo on Martha Stewart’s website caught my eye because so many people have orange-toned kitchen cabinets that they don’t like or that they feel look dated. However, if you add green accents to your decor, even plants, it really complements those cabinets. They can look better than you think.
More powder room ideas can be found in this article on Martha’s site. (I’m pretending we are on a first-name basis.)
(image: Mary Margaret Smith via Martha Stewart)
HAPPY WORK GLOVES
I just purchased my second pair of these happy, yellow work gloves. The first pair lasted almost two years. Given all the reasons I’ve had to wear them (hello, rocks and mortar debris), that seems like a pretty good timeframe.
Plus, they are happy! And no one in my family is going to steal my gloves. I’m wearing a medium. They were $14.
(image: Amazon)
P.S. After I purchased the yellow gloves, I realized they also have purple and green versions that are also happy.
SEXY GUTTERS
There is an Instagram account dedicated to “sexy gutters,” and the satisfaction level is off the charts. The care that some architects have taken to integrate a functional system into the design of the building is so inspiring.
Never have I pressed ‘follow’ so quickly. Ha!
(image: Sexy Gutters on Instagram)
RED LIPPED BAT FISH
I admit, I laughed when I saw the photo below. Straight up giggled. Then I wondered if it was an AI rendering of a child’s drawing. But, no. Red-Lipped Bat Fish are real, and they live in the Galapagos Islands.
This YouTube video from Animalogic explains what is known about the red lips and the beard. Plus, you’ll learn in this video that Red-Lipped Bat Fish are terrible swimmers. How is this possible?
(image: presumed to be from the Animalogic YouTube video)
MEMORABILIA
If you are a fan of Sex and the City and its spinoff series, And Just Like That, you could bid on props or clothing worn in And Just Like That. The auction is on April 30 and May 1, 2026.
See what’s being auctioned off and make your bid here. There are items from Carrie and Mr. Big’s apartment. And the shoes!
Thrift and vintage shops sometimes buy big lots of movie set props, but those don’t come with a certificate of authenticity as this auction provides.
(image: Julien Auctions)
CHICKPEA SALAD SANDWICH
I’m probably the last to realize this, but I have discovered that chickpeas make a decent substitute for chicken in many recipes. Plus, they are really good for you.
I plan on making this Chickpea Salad Sandwich from Chelsea’s Messy Apron this weekend. It feels like a good “the weather is warming up” kind of meal.
She uses avocado instead of mayo to make the salad creamy. I thought that was clever.
(image: Chelsea’s Messy Apron)
P.S. I learned this week that you can mix hummus, which is made with chickpeas, and balsamic vinegar to make a really tasty salad dressing. I eyeballed the ratio until it was the consistency that I wanted,
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“The best family travel advice we ever received: Expect that at some point, it’s going to be just awful. There will be a moment when everyone is cranky or utterly losing their shit. Expecting that part makes the whole trip more pleasant. Now, when it happens, my husband and I look at each other and shrug, ‘This is the awful part.’” – Ashley commenting on this A Cup of Jo post
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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