Well, this month is chugging right along. I am finding it hard to believe that next month is May. It feels like once we hit mid-May, there won’t be much stopping until September. Our family already has lots of fun things planned for the summer – including some rest time – but it’s still planned!
But for now, it’s still April and here are some Happy Things from my life this week.
EASTER WEEKEND
It’s the most important weekend on the calendar for me and the messages at church did not disappoint.
On Saturday I needed to spend an extra $1.35 to get a points deal on groceries, so I added some chocolate eggs to my cart. John hid 10 mini eggs per kid and…that was it in terms of treats. I really enjoy not feeling the pressure of preparing Easter baskets. I know it’s a beloved tradition for so many people, but our kids seem oblivious to the consumerism and I intend to keep it that way.
No Easter decor this year, no pastel outfits (though I did paint my nails in a cheery purple – Lacey Lilac by Sally Hansen).
- Friday morning: Good Friday service, then helped set up for the church-wide breakfast on Saturday.
- Friday afternoon: A sunny family walk (I’m a cool walker after all…)
- Friday evening: Hosted some friends from church for supper. They stayed well into the evening and our combined group of kiddos spent the entire evening outside, which was perfection! Simple food, fun company, and an easy vibe.
- Saturday morning: Volunteered at the church breakfast. I was in the kitchen the whole time (so were John and Belle), and I loved it. I much prefer being behind the scenes. We fed over 200 people and helped with prep, serving, and cleanup. I was exhausted afterward. Indy had friends over in the afternoon, and I snuck in a nap.
- Sunday morning: Church in the morning, then another nap and a short walk.
- Monday: The kids spent eight hours outside – doing trick shots, filming movies, and generally being hilarious and loud. John and I voted (hooray for democracy!), I batch-cooked for a week of solo parenting, and finished a book.
FRAMED ART
When we travel, our go-to souvenir has become art. We always buy unframed pieces so they fit in carry-ons… but then they have a tendency to sit in a drawer for the foreseeable future.
Finally, I got my act together and framed everything from the past year.
Clockwise from top left:
- A streetcar print from Portugal
- A line drawing from an artist in Paris (we got to watch him draw and he signed it in front of us!)
- A watercolour from Barcelona (purchased directly from the artist)
- A folk-art block print from Barcelona
- A tiny watercolour from Nazaré, bought from the artist on the boardwalk by the famous beach.
This layout had been the same for years, but this week I added another shelf on the opposite wall which had been empty since getting rid of the treadmill.
(Do not ask how long it took me to hang solo – but I did it!)
It made sense to display our Paris LEGO set over our toy storage.
The main photo ledge got a refresh too. I’ll keep tweaking it – it’s not quite right yet – but it feels so good to have these pieces framed and visible.
YUMMY TACOS
A few months ago we tried a new taco spot a few towns over, and were smitten. We’ve been hoping to return and finally made it happen at the end of last week. The ingredients are fresh, simple, and delicious.
I had to laugh at the coffee mugs for sale and thought immediately of Nicole (and her love for morning coffee) and Kae (and her love of nachos).
The Front Porch Peach Lemonade from Hitchhiker Beverage Co. was unreal. It tastes like sipping a fresh, juicy peach. I think they’re available in Sobeys across Canada, though I’ve never gone looking for them. We usually just get water at restaurants but the server recommended this and I’m so glad we bought it. Apparently the raspberry flavour is even better but I find that very hard to believe.
BONUS HAPPY THINGS
- Thrift score. I have been looking for a) more sports bras and b) ones with non-removable liners – why is the latter SO HARD TO FIND? Does anyone else feel like kicking a hole through the wall every time they have to replace sports bra liners after they go through the washing machine or is this just me? Anyhoo. I found two brand-new exercise tanks at a thrift store last week. And – can you believe it – they have sewn-in cups?! I used a 20% off coupon to lower the price a bit further. It is so satisfying to fill a missing hole in one’s wardrobe and even more satisfying to do it at a thrift store.
- Outside time for the kids. Admittedly, if they’re not outside they’re probably inside on screens (IXL/YouTube/Minecraft). But…they have been outside so much. Hours and hours and hours.
- Peanut butter and banana + peanut butter and chocolate toast = perhaps my ultimate comfort food.
- Eufy, our beloved robovacuum, did a heroic job cleaning Indy’s floors. I moved his bed and the collection of dust-covered miscellany was astonishing. I picked things up, pushed a button on Eufy, closed the door, returned to magic. I’ll write more about Eufy soon (Engie, you asked!)
- My Yeti mug. I brew in a regular mug, then transfer to my Yeti. It keep drinks the perfect temperature for hours.
- Go As A River. Recommended by Ernie…and now me. (I know Lisa loved it too!) Trigger warnings do apply – I’ll write more about this in an upcoming book recap.
- LEGO on sick days. When Indy knocked on my door early yesterday, I just knew. Sure enough, he was congested and had a sore throat. This meant audiobooks, PJs, and LEGO. Cozy and creative.
- The first sip of ice-cold sparkling water.
- Our POÄNG chair. It’s so comfy.
- Making soup first thing in the morning so supper is ready before the breakfast dishes are done.
- Sunshine.
- Friends writing great blog posts. Nicole encouraged everyone to embrace their beauty, Jenny channeled her inner Winnie the Pooh, and Kristen asked readers about their strong feelings on inconsequential topics (I chimed in that I didn’t think toilet paper placement was inconsequential).
Your turn.
- What’s brought you joy this week?
- Do you have any favourite travel souvenirs?
- What’s your go-to comfort food these days?
- Are you someone who hangs art right away—or lets it sit for months like me?
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Coree
That sounds like such a nice week – although I hear you on the chaos of the next few months. Lovely to have the time outside / be able to shove the kids out the door. It sounds like the neighbourhood situation is improving? I love your space and framing artwork. For your rejigging of the main shelf – clock in the middle, smaller pictures on either sides, bookend with the larger portraits? We brought these amazing tree prints on our anniversary trip and now have to figure out how to hang them (after a very pricey framing. That’s maybe a May project – I’d just like the sitting room done by the end of the year – needs some shelving in the recess and the artwork up.
The stupid sports bras liners are the bane of my existence – once I had my mum sew the liners in a bunch of them, it makes them a bit lumpy but I never wear anything super tight anyway.
We had such an amazing time on our trip and a bumpy reentry – at least for me, with a pile of marking awaiting me. But yesterday, I did school pickup and let T run around the park rather than dragging him home. I couldn’t possibly stare at the screen any more and I had a good long chat with a mum I’d like to know better. Then we went to the library and got some graphic novels and books on ancient Egypt (their subject this term).
I’m volunteering for our town zero-waste event tonight and tomorrow, so long days carrying stuff/being on my feet, but I feel like that’s a good antidote to staring at my screen and bemoaning the state of higher education. And Sunday we need to sort our lives out before a month of chaos – MIL here, my trip to Berlin, a work trip, dad here, T’s 2 night Scout camp, etc.
I keep feeling like we’re gaining on summer but have to keep reminding myself… there’s May AND June – schools don’t get out til the very end of June. I’ve got way too much annual leave so am taking almost 4 weeks off this summer. TBC on whether I’ll be climbing the walls – but we’re in Portugal and then Norway for much of it.
Elisabeth
The neighbourhood situation is…I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s not “settled”, but it is forever altered and in a form of dormancy. Every time I see my kids outside playing freely it brings a smile to my face and it feels like a healing balm on a wound!
I had my mom sew in my liners, too! But they never felt quite right (the bumps did bother me) and eventually I got rid of them 🙁 I just don’t know why 99/100 sports bras have removable liners. No regular bras are like that. I am wearing one of the new ones now and it’s so comfy AND I’m palpably excited to wash it and not have to fight with anything.
I generally struggle with re-entry after a trip. There is always so much to get caught up on and I’m always sad to be back to “reality.” Gold stars for prioritizing some activities that will give you a break from screens and marking and get you moving and back into the flow of life at home.
Your summer plans sound great. Having family in Portugal is lovely. What a great spot to visit in the summer, especially since you know of some gorgeous beaches that are off the regular tourist radar. Norway looks beautiful. John is there this very second, but I’ve never visited before and it’s on my list. The fjords look other-worldly.
mbmom11
You had so much nice happy this week!
I woke up to gentle rain , with a cat curled up next to me. It was so calming to snuggle and listen to the rhythm of the falling rain. We also have beautiful flowering trees in my yard and next door, so it’s a beautiful week.
I have 2 weeks left of my semester- I need to stay focused! Yesterday my class detoured into talking about novels ( and I teach math- whoops! My fault – I told them they could get earn extra credit point if they suggested a novel a high schooler might enjoy/find worthwhile.) . However, some of the students were very passionate about their choices, so it was fun.
Enjoy the weekend!
Elisabeth
You do have beautiful flowers in your yard. Thanks so much for sharing those with my earlier in the week. I am living vicariously through you as we still “just” have crocuses. They are beautiful, but I’m itching for big, gorgeous tree blooms!
Tangents are fun and I’m sure your students appreciated a bit of a distraction.
Michelle G.
I love your new art and your display shelves. Your room looks so cozy and calm. I like to hang new art right away. My favorite travel souvenir is enlarging a photo I took and putting it in a frame. I also like mugs and magnets. You’re right that small things are much easier to bring home. The nicer weather brought me a lot of joy this week. I’ve been picking up sticks and getting the lawn ready to mow because the grass is growing! I think I can actually see it growing!
Elisabeth
I really enjoy our family room. It’s a fun spot to hang out and nothing feels “precious” – we purposefully bought a rather inexpensive, industrial-fabric sectional so the kids can be…kids on it.
My favourite mug of all time came from South Carolina. It is one of my great joys in life that I bought a mug. New! As a thrifter, that’s unusual but it really is the perfect size and feeling and it makes me happy every day when I use it.
I did a stick collection the other day, and now it’s time to get out the rake for smaller things. I actually saw a lady in our neighbourhood out with her lawn mower yesterday!!
Birchie
I don’t buy a lot of souvenirs, and I do not need any more coffee mugs, but I might possibly leave NS with a nacho coffee cup.
I love the banana & choc PB toast combo.
TGIF!
Elisabeth
I have eating plans when you’re here, Birchie. And the taco shop is on the list!!!!
Katy @Practical Walk
Oh yes, I love seeing kids playing outside! It makes my heart happy!
Happy things from my week:
-Spring flowers
-cool clouds
-rain!
– Plants in the garden growing
-Bruno our loving dog
– Ladies Bible study
– coffee
– modern medicine
– my daughter’s cute hair cut
-my son’s new hobby of drawing dragons
Jenny
Elisabeth, I once wrote an entire blog post on those stupid removable sports bra liners. I hate them so much!!! (Well- actually I think the post had a couple other things that annoy me- but the bra thing was #1). WHY. Why, why, why.
I’m glad you had such a nice weekend! For us, it’s a race to the end of the school year now. Our kids are done at the end of May- eek! But then it’s summer and you know what happens after summer… pumpkin palooza and then the best season of all (yes- this actually is how my mind works. It’s practically Christmas again.)
I LOVE the artwork you brought back from your travels. And I love how Legos featured prominently in this post. I think I’ve mentioned it but my son is 22 and still loves Legos. Indy in his pajamas building Legos just looks so fun and cozy.
Nicole MacPherson
Your house looks great!!
Mmm coffee. Where would we be without coffee? Well, I would be in prison because I’d have probably stabbed someone.
Did that get dark? It did. Let’s move on!
So many happy things here! I want to tell you something – my kids never, not once, got an Easter basket. I used to hide chocolates around the house, so they could hunt for eggs and so forth, but that was it. And I like it that way!
Central Calif. artist Jana
It pleases me that you buy art as a souvenir when you travel. However, you travel so much that it seems your walls would be very full. What do you do with it all??
Thank you for telling us about Go As a River. I just ordered a copy from the library (and entered to win one on GoodReads, but nobody else can do that now or my chances will be too slim!!)
What is that funny-looking piece of chocolate on your comfort food sandwich (which looks scrumptious)? Seems like dark chocolate. Seems like it would be a biting annoyance, hard and cracking in the wrong places inside bread.
Ally Bean
What’s brought you joy this week? Sunshine!
Do you have any favourite travel souvenirs? No, not the souvenir type I guess
What’s your go-to comfort food these days? Creamed chicken on biscuits
Are you someone who hangs art right away—or lets it sit for months like me? Art sits for months, sometimes years before I hang it.