single happy moment
Receiving a beautiful pot of tulips from a student, Belinda, who is not only a delight to teach but also a wonderful person to know. These were presented to me on a low night months ago – when I was ready to collapse after a night of teaching.
As I’ve said before, my students keep my so alive, and teaching is such a joy and passion that it rarely feels like work. And it’s not gifts like this that make it worthwhile, but this gift certainly made me remember the vibrant happiness that my work brings.
Read More5 happy things
It was an incredibly busy weekend, which left me pretty exhausted, but so filled with happy moments that it was hard to begrudge it or deem it unworthwhile.
To start with, Friday night was a gathering of friends to celebrate Lys & Etienne moving in together, and it was nice to catch up with everyone, particularly my girls.
rawking the animal print and happy smiles!
S also keeps upping the “perfect boyfriend” bar by sending me a little “romance is alive” gift after I had a bit of a melt down about being 30 and frumpy (shh, i know, i know, but let me have my moments!). I saw a quote a friend posted on facebook that was something to the tune of “Women aren’t made to be understood, they’re made to be loved” and I’m super lucky S gets this down pat every time. Instead of trying to fix my (totally non issue) problems, he just lets me rave and rant and then shows me he adores me anyway. LOVE.
long stemmed, and gorgeous.
After performing for the first time in months on Saturday night, S and I also spent Sunday in the garden, enjoying the great weather and the fact that we can start working on the house together again now that spring seems to be officially here. I did pretty useless things given my physical limitations, but did manage to pot my gorgeous new azaleas for right by the front door. Aren’t they pretty and welcoming?
And as I did this, S, to my utter awe and amazement (see above re “perfect boyfriend”) – pulled up ALL the grass and soil in the backyard with a spade, then re-soiled with over 20 bags of soil, and then reseeded it all. It took him over 9 hours of solid work, and he never stopped. And now, we have what is looking like a lush and healthy backyard that will be some very pretty lawn soon (hopefully!).
that cherry blossom is just about to bloom too!
Lastly, we did what we always do for the week ahead – prep our lunches. It’s a soothing 1-2 hour activity that we adore doing together. Except this week I also made a bunch of asian boxes for me – rice covered in sambal eggplant tomato and mushrooms, stir fried vegetables and grilled pork belly. Oh, heaven that’s gonna last me all week long.
i had one today for lunch and it. was. good.
So yes, it was a good weekend. Did you have a nice one what with the incredible weather? Any particularly good moments? Somehow the sun being out seems to correlate with good things happening, or at least a better mindset to view everything in a better light, don’t you think?
Read More5 happy things
1. Wearing a piece of history
These earrings, my mummy wore when she was my age. Years later, they are just as on point fashion-wise, but more importantly, go with most things, are light and dangly, and make me feel incredibly close to her whenever I’ve got them on.
Every time I pick these earrings for an outfit, it’s like a thread connects us over the oceans and through time, and since my mum is the woman I look up most to in life, it’s a wondrous feeling.
2. Fresh flowers from my garden
Yup, a happy 10 minutes spent sitting on my front garden’s brick steps, basking in the sun and gently clipping an array of pink rose buds to line my window sill with. As the days have gone by, they’ve bloomed and created a vibrant splash of colour in my kitchen.
shot glasses = bud vases!
I’d been looking around for some bud vases but haven’t found any that I like in stores. Then I found some little-used shot glasses in our bar, and repurposed them instead! Tiny glasses of delight, without the alcohol content!
3. New shoes
It’s no secret that I’m slightly shoe-obsessed, and my latest pair is a strong reminder for me to get better soon, because my high heels are missing me badly. Or I’m missing them. NAH, I’m sure it’s them missing me.
This pair is particularly comfortable and I can already wear them for short periods, the stacked wedge heel makes them super stable, and I love the deep rich greeeeeeeen. Plus, you can’t go wrong with suede. Unless it rains. BEGONE EVIL RAIN GODS!
4. Being cooked for by my love
I’ve now lived away from home for 10 years, and none of my family live here. To have a home-cooked meal prepared for me is the ultimate luxury, better yet, to receive a home-cooked meal in my own home is downright incredible. As this household’s primary cook, imagine my surprise when S offered to make me dinner – and have it turn out amazingly delicious!
the makings of a creamy pasta...
My auntie has a theory about “cooking from love” – which is that food tastes ultimately better when it is prepared for someone from the heart, and I truly believe it. As I lolled about on the couch being useless, S bustled around the kitchen whipping up the lightest, most delectable creamy pasta I’d had. I felt so adored as he served it up to me, and the smile on his face when he saw I’d finished my entire bowl (very rare) was lovely too.
5. Driving around with S
I love being a passenger in S’s car – we talk a lot, share anecdotes, and often have our best conversations in the car.
I love that we drive around, my hand in his, sharing deeply whilst traveling to our next destination, the perfect metaphor for our life together. It’s perfection.
Do you have a list of 5 happy things that make you joyous in a simple way? What are they?
Read Moreproud gardeneress!
Well. Clearly I’m doing something right, or the conditions in my house are just THAT conducive to plantlife. Everything I have is flourishing wildly!
See these succulents below – it’s been a month and they’re already out-growing their container. I’ve never ACTUALLY had much luck with succulents (pathetic, right?!) and this is just unprecedented for me!
I hear you scoff. Yes, I know succulents are mean to be idiot proof. But look! Even my garden is turning vibrant colours:
I don't know what these are, but they're rose-like and thorny...
And the ultimate win is this – Anita bought me this plant 2 years ago, and told me it was idiot proof. Clearly, she lied, I hadn’t been able to get it to flower beyond a few pathetic sprinkles here and there. UNTIL NOW! I’ve now managed to position it in a part of my house that evidently has the perfect growing conditions for it – and LOOK! It’s also grown about 3/4 inch taller – something it hasn’t done in the 2 years I’ve owned it.
I know this has been a boring post for those of you not plant inclined – but this, for me, is an achievement of huge proportions. I’d never gardened in my life, and until 2 months ago, lived in an apartment and was RENOWN for having black thumbs. I can’t tell you how many plants I’ve err… damaged. Whether it has been my learning of how plants work, happy coincidence in conditions in my house, or simply more care-factor on my part, I don’t care. It’s gratifying and wonderful.
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