(Via Lilly)
Last week, in an effort to stay ahead of the winter doldrums, I made a list with everything I could think of that makes me feel happy. Turns out, I'm easy to please. It included things like make a yummy dinner, have flowers in the house, get a hair cut (I seriously love to get my hair cut!), and keep my house clean.
In a happy turn of events, Peter came home with a bundle of pale pink tulips the exact day I wrote the list (he's so good!), and a humble, thrown together dinner of spaghetti, white beans and Meyer lemon turned into something divine and supremely comforting. My house isn't the cleanest, and I haven't made a hair appointment yet, but the week is young. More happiness is on the way!
This was sort of a silly exercise, but for me, it's always sort of a "duh" moment when I realize how simple, inexpensive things make a huge difference in my outlook, especially this time of year.
Hope you all had a lovely long weekend!
such a good thing to do when you need a pick me up - would love to hear the entirety of that 'thrown together' dinner...on my list - candles, a bath, painted toes, and a facial (which i happily indulged in this weekend!)
ReplyDeletebrie, I'm always bad at taking pictures/remembering to post dinners I throw together on the fly with pantry stuff. I should try to be better because those are the things I search for on blogs, too! Anyways, I made spaghetti (brown rice version). In a wide sauce pan I sauteed a few cloves of garlic, then added in a drained and rinsed can of small cannelloni beans. I grated the zest of half a Meyer lemon in, and then when the pasta was nearly done, I ladled about 1/2 cup of cooking water in with the beans. After the pasta was drained, I added in the beans, squeezed out the juice from my half lemon, and stirred in some tuna. Some toasted bread crumbs or chopped parsley would be delightful on top, but I went with what I had :)
DeleteI love this idea. I need to buy some flowers too! And make some scones, and go to the library, and paint my toenails. Little things do make a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteGoing the library and painted toes are great additions to the happy list! Hopefully your paperwhites will be blooming soon!
DeleteGreat idea Julie! :) We've had the craziest winter. Last night it was in the 60s & this morning it was 28 degrees.
ReplyDeleteIt's been mild here (mostly) with a few v. cold days. I'm almost afraid to write that for fear of jinxing it!
DeleteOh man, I so needed this post! I have definitely been down in the doldrums (a seriously bleak movie at the theater yesterday didn't help). I'm off to make my own list now...
ReplyDeleteKate, I avoid dark movies for that exact reason - they haunt me for days! Hopefully your list helps you break free.
DeleteAmen, I couldn't agree more! It's always surprising to see how little we actually need to make us happy!
ReplyDeleteI know! What is it so easy to forget?!
DeleteHooray for happiness in simple things!
ReplyDeletei like to get my haircut too often as well. it's addicting! like starting fresh... as weird as that sounds.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you need a "duh" cheer me up--I know I do! (And romantic husbands certainly do help.) Happy winter, Julie!
ReplyDelete