Between keeping busy with job searching and knitting projects, seeking shelter from the bitter cold and cooking as many comforting and healthy dishes as I can, I've been spending lots of time indoors over the last few weeks. On the one hand, this has given me quite a serious case of cabin fever but on the other, it has made me appreciate the little moments of every day even more.
• After a two-day long snowfall in the beginning of the week, it looks like we should have a white Christmas after all •With just five days left until Christmas, things are getting really busy around here: there is food to make, a house to clean, a tree to trim, a painting project to finish, and presents to buy - yes, we are last-minute shoppers this year. So, as a respite from all the craziness, it's nice to delight in the few details that we do have together so far.
• Our house is all decked out in twinkling lights - mostly LEDs to make our holiday season a little more Earth-friendly. (You can see how my mom and I made the white wreath in the window here) •
• Making almond milk - a healthier and just as yummy version of Santa's favourite drink •
• A little autumn spirit livens up our kitchen cupboards •
By now, the not-so-nice part of autumn has started: the part in which all the leaves have already fallen and the temperatures are dipping further and further down the thermometer scale, yet there is still some time left until the first snow, so that the daily scenery is an almost constant dark grayish/brownish shade. Yes, that not-so-nice part of autumn. So to cheer myself up, I'm choosing to direct my attention to brighter, happier things such as kitchen decorations and homemade projects.
• Our little lemon tree standing tall and proud on the windowsill, filled with ripening lemons •
• A new cozy accessory I knitted is ready just in time to help me face the upcoming frigid temperatures •
Last week-end was as good as it gets: I spent it with my family at home and we had two truly wonderful days together. The entire time, it was sunny and warm outside - such a welcome change from the week before that showed us only clouds and rain. What's more, I somehow managed to find the perfect balance between relaxing and being productive, and other than a few fleeting moments, nothing managed to dampen my spirits. I'm hopeful that this coming week-end will be at least as lovely, with a weather forecast that rivals last week's in terms of sunshine and temperature highs, coupled with a positive outlook on my part. These are just a few of the things that made last week-end so special and that are making me incredibly excited for this next one.
• Homemade cheesecake, muffins and almond milk...just a few of the goodies on the menu •
• The beginnings of our raised beds project for this year's vegetable garden •
• A recent sunset, the most beautiful one I have seen yet •
It's been a while since I have last written a Happy Days post. Last year, they became a sort of Friday ritual and some of my favourite posts to put together. Though I never meant to post them each week, whenever I did, they were always great reminders to step back and enjoy the things around me. Even now, it's fun to look back on them and see that the things that made me smile then, still do the same now. Today seemed like the perfect opportunity to reintroduce them in 2012: after a busy few weeks at school filled with presentations, project deadlines and the stress of final exams, there is no better time to remind myself to take it slow and savour the little moments.
• Details of an organic cotton scarf that I received from the Easter Bunny •
• A few roses from a plant my parents got for their wedding anniversary •
These past few weeks have been quite hectic at school; with the end of the semester quickly approaching, assignments and exams have been pouring in. Now that only a few final exams still stand between me and winter break, I took a little time to focus on the blog. I've planned many new posts for the rest of this year that I really hope I'll find the time to put together and share over the next month. For the moment, these are a few of the things that have kept me positive and smiling through the busy times of late.
• A new collection of mini nail polishes •
• The message of this song truly speaks to me and I've been playing it every time I feel discouraged and need a bit of extra motivation •
Since September, I’ve been struggling to juggle a new, time-consuming school schedule and the blog. It's become clear that I haven't been successful so far and as a result, this space felt a bit neglected. In order to change things for the better, I decided to take a little time to focus on creating more content and working behind-the-scenes. I hope to form a strategy that will allow me to truly build the online eco-space that I envision and to be more consistent with posting in the future. For this reason, the blog will be a little more quiet during the next few weeks, though I will not go away completely. On that note, today I wanted to share a few of the things that have put a smile on my face this fall.
• An exquisitely beautiful white flower that keeps me company when I'm working at my desk •
• New additions to my closet: an eco-friendly backpack (my favourite from this bunch) and a lovely little charm necklace from a giveaway put together by Veronika & Brideblu (Thank you!) •
❤ On this day last year, I proclaimed my love for stripes: French Wisdom.
For me, one of the good aspects of living in a house instead of an apartment is being surrounded by more of the natural world. I love watching the trees come back to life after the long winter, the entire garden bringing back its luscious green in the spring, and the flowers blooming in all their glory during the warm summer days.
I snapped these pictures of the flowers in our front yard right before heading to the airport a couple of weeks ago. Looking at them now, I’m excited to be returning in another two weeks to see how the garden has developed, helped of course by the long days of work put in by my family.
These first days of June have been really busy but positive ones. It's the beginning of summer after all, and just that thought makes me jump for joy. I have waited for warm weather, sunny days and clear skies for so long it seems, and waking up to this scenery almost every day has definitely been my driving force of late. As I embark on my last day of being 21, I wanted to share a few other things that make me happy right now.
• Hand-me-down (read: eco-friendly) maxi skirt that's been in my closet for years and finally fits! •
• Scented candles that bring summer inside - exotic, vanilla & apple •
Depending on your definition of 'good', you might say I didn't have the best week. In my case, 'good' would have meant 'productive', and my week has been the complete opposite of that. After a lovely trip to visit family this past week-end, I just couldn't seem to get back to a constructive routine once I returned home. Between the constantly changing weather and the all-day coverage of the French tennis championship, I found myself wanting to do things other than the ones I was supposed to do, and this lead to quite a bit of frustration. However, last night it all went away for a minute, when I stumbled upon a Tweet that linked to this incredibly adorable video.
• Love is what it's all about •
Here are some other things that have been lifting my spirits these past few days:
With another year of university behind me and an adventurous summer on the horizon, I really do have quite a few reasons to smile these days. Of course, the warmer temperatures and the imminent appearance of blooming trees and colourful gardens don't hurt either, and they have inspired me once again to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
To say that this past week has been busy at school would be a bit of an understatement. A long and hectic schedule of exams, assignments due, and project presentations has kept me mostly offline. With all of that over, I am excited for the spring break ahead of me, and even though I don't have any plans to go to some exotic place, I can't wait to get back into the swing of things.
• A lovely photograph (via deviantart) that has me excited for spring •
Among the madness, certain events from recent weeks have pushed me to stop and think in ways that I hadn't before and to see things in a new perspective that I can only hope will be for the better. So I am left with a fresh batch of energy and enthusiasm for what's to come as well as inspiration and a positive attitude, and the video below is a great example of something that these days puts a smile on my face and keeps me going.
• Great words from a great character and actor in a great movie •
There are times when life's pressures and obstacles are so big or so many, that we can't fight them and they inevitably take us down. Suffice it to say, I haven't been in the best of spirits during this beginning month of 2011. In trying to turn things around, I was reminded that it's the little things in life which are most important. So I decided to shift my focus towards them and remarkably, my outlook has quickly changed for the better. I thought I'd share a few of the things that have helped put a smile on my face lately.
• Bright purple fingernails thanks to Zoya's Malia nail polish •
• Making another batch of this favourite healthy, winter-appropriate soup •
• Missing the green leaves of the trees but enjoying some spectacular morning skies that are now visible behind them •
• Working on a new knitting project and getting restless to finish it •
• After a two-day long snowfall in the beginning of the week, it looks like we should have a white Christmas after all •With just five days left until Christmas, things are getting really busy around here: there is food to make, a house to clean, a tree to trim, a painting project to finish, and presents to buy - yes, we are last-minute shoppers this year. So, as a respite from all the craziness, it's nice to delight in the few details that we do have together so far.
• Our house is all decked out in twinkling lights - mostly LEDs to make our holiday season a little more Earth-friendly. (You can see how my mom and I made the white wreath in the window here) •
• Making almond milk - a healthier and just as yummy version of Santa's favourite drink •
• A little autumn spirit livens up our kitchen cupboards •
• Our little lemon tree standing tall and proud on the windowsill, filled with ripening lemons •
• A new cozy accessory I knitted is ready just in time to help me face the upcoming frigid temperatures •
• New members of our frontyard flower family •
• Homemade cheesecake, muffins and almond milk...just a few of the goodies on the menu •
• The beginnings of our raised beds project for this year's vegetable garden •
• A recent sunset, the most beautiful one I have seen yet •
• Details of an organic cotton scarf that I received from the Easter Bunny •
• A sweet, healthy midday snack •
