I like to keep a list in my journal of the (mostly) little, everyday things bringing me a disproportionate amount of happiness right now. I love writing posts like this, and realized it’s been a good long while—much longer than I intended—since I’d written one. I hope you enjoy catching up with me.
1. Food in bowls
In every season we fall into a few go-to easy dinners, and this summer our easy go-to for our family of six (plus frequent guests) has been “food in bowls.” Burrito bowls, spring roll bowls, salad bowls of many varieties, pork tenderloin stir-fry bowls, pasta bowls, you name it. When dinner is food in bowls, we typically set up the individual components of the meal on the island, and let everyone serve themselves. (I link to recipes we love almost every week in Links I Love; many of these have translated especially well to assemble-your-own bowl dinners.)
On bowl nights we dirty a lot of dishes: we’ll set out substantial components of the meal (sautéed meat, roasted vegetables) in serving dishes and often use these inexpensive little Target dip bowls to hold smaller ingredients and garnishes, so everyone can assemble the bowl that makes them happy. Sometimes prep takes longer than I’d like it to, because I love my garnishes—julienned carrots, sliced green onions, matchstick peppers—but it’s pleasantly mindless and easy to clean up. (It’s also proven to be a great way to clean out the fridge when we have extra grilled meat on hand or vegetables that need to be used pronto.)
Sure, this plan is versatile, but I think the fun factor of dinner in bowls is a big reason we keep repeating them this season. These are the bowls; as you’ll see, ours are colorful but they’re also available in an all-white set if that’s your thing.
2. A simple braided belt and brown flats to match
When it’s hot outside (and wow has it been hot outside), I tend to go very simple with my wardrobe. (Maybe even more so than usual?) This summer I’ve been wearing the same tees and tanks over and over again, with shorts for days at home and linen or other cropped pants if I need to go out in the world looking reasonably professional.
I don’t always do belts, and sometimes I do sneakers, but the combo I’m most often reaching for to pull these separates into an outfit is this easy-to-wear, summery J.Crew Plaited Italian leather belt (mine is in raw cashew) and these versatile brown Vionic flats that work great for my wide feet and remain comfortable for miles and miles.
If you remember my go-to apparel from last summer: these breezy navy dresses remain a wardrobe staple if I’m craving variety or the idea of putting on pants is unbearable.
3. Reading outside in the early mornings
Have I mentioned it has been HOT here? So many 90-degree days, with so much humidity. Yet I can’t bear staying inside all the time, so I’ve been prioritizing early morning walks and patio sitting. An early morning cup of coffee and a few chapters of a good book outside in that precious first hour of daylight has proven to be an excellent way to start the day. (Of course Daisy agrees.)
4. Mosquito abatement
Despite our best efforts, the mosquitoes have been intense this year. Many of you recommended this little gadget to keep the mosquitoes at bay, and it’s helping. I’m grateful the Thermacell has made my early morning (and sometimes, evening) patio time possible.
But in case anyone needs a rec: when we inevitably get bitten, it’s Aquaphor Itch Relief Ointment that helps me sleep at night.
5. Essay and short story collections
This summer, for reasons both personal and professional, I’ve been reading more short story and essay collections than I have in ages and I’m enjoying the process so much! I’m not ready to talk about my favorites, but if you have favorites I’d love to hear them in comments.
6. Repotting houseplants
It’s now been many, many years since I got over my brown thumb and filled our home with houseplants. Over the years I’ve grown reasonably comfortable with caring for them, but have still felt out of my league with things like repotting and pruning. But this year, it became painfully obvious that I needed to repot some of my plants or they were going to die on me.
And so I’ve spent a few satisfying hours recently playing musical houseplants: consulting YouTube, deciding which plants needed pruning, which ones needed new dirt, and which needed bigger pots, and then—the hardest part—actually doing it. I’m still waiting to see what kind of long-term results I’ll get from the plants that needed hard pruning, but several of the repotted plants looked much happier, immediately.
What (mostly) little things are bringing YOU a disproportionate amount of happy lately? I’d love to hear in comments.
P.S. Previous editions of little things I’m loving: 9 (mostly) little things I’m loving for late summer, 8 little things I’m loving lately: kitchen edition, 9 (mostly) little things I’m loving for late summer, 8 (mostly) little things I’m loving for winter, 9 (mostly) little things I’m loving lately: kitchen edition, 8 (mostly) little things I’m loving for early fall, 9 little things I’m loving this September, 6 things I’m loving for early summer, 5 late fall/early winter favorites, 7 little January favorites, 9 October favorites, and 7 not terribly exciting things making me really happy these days.
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My little(ish) things:
-Quilting: I’ve been spending hot days in the air conditioning quilting. I love every step of it, from using rulers and carefully cutting fabric I selected to pressing the pieces and sewing it all together.
-Tinted moisturizer with SPF: I’ve been using this DRMTLGY one and it helps me remember to moisturize and protect my skin from the sun.
https://www.drmtlgy.com/products/universal-tinted-moisturizer-spf-46
-Homemade Harney & Sons iced tea: I’ve been enjoying black and green, but the watermelon mint green and herbal indigo punch (https://www.harney.com/products/indigo-punch-fresh-brew-iced-tea?nosto=frontpage-nosto-4) have added some extra fun into the rotation.
-My Kindle Paperwhite, which has accompanied me everywhere: I love that I can read outside and in any light condition. It also makes packing books for trips much easier.
-Makeup sticks: I discovered a variety of makeup in sticks recently and when I need to do more than moisturize, they’ve made life easier. I’ve found foundation and highlighter that glide on smoothly and make getting ready much easier.
Would you be willing to share the brands or links for the makeup sticks? One thing I can’t stand about putting on makeup is how messy it gets. Makeup sticks sounds much easier!
Just chiming in to say that I love Ilia’s foundation stick. Their shade match tool worked well for me. 😊
Thank you! Going to check that out right now!
I bought the Rifle Paper Company’s gorgeous edition of “Anne of Green Gables” and it has brought me so much joy to sit on my porch and read it and also to see the beautiful cover on my shelf when I’m not reading.
Love. We just read for Bookclub- selected from a list of Classic Lit! Really enjoyed .
No number 4??
WHOOPS—renumbered!
I spent the last week and a half going to shows at our local Fringe Festival. Watching amazingly talented people perform for what is probably not even a living wage (tickets to shows range from $10 to $14 Canadian) gave me much enjoyment. It also made me happy to see so many people out and about in the downtown area. Yay for summer festivals.
I remember when you originally recommended those bowls by Sweese! I loved that they were so colorful and that they were in different sizes. I loved them so much that I bought two sets of them, plus the salad plates, dinner plates, pasta bowl… Well you get the idea.
Right now the rain we have been getting the past few days has made me happy, my yard happy and my pocketbook even happier! We planted some new grass this spring and we have had to water it a lot! The rain means I am saving time, energy and money!
I’m right there with you especially my new treat-Reading on our front patio in the mornings. Facing the Colorado front range sunshine. Life is Good! And I’m reading my favorite author. Agatha Christie The Man In The Brown Suit! Plus I always love new bowls☀️
We joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for the first time this year. Every week I look forward to stopping at my local farm to pick up a selection of whatever is flourishing now. The farmer provides us with recipe suggestions and it’s been so much fun exploring new recipes and veggies. We’re getting delicious corn and peaches right now. They grow lettuce and other greens hydroponically, so we’ve been able to get fresh leaf lettuce every week no matter how hot it is.
Love the keeping a list of the mostly everyday things that bring happiness. I think gratitude really works! God is so good!
We have an open shelf in our kitchen and it is stacked with different types of blue and white bowls. We use them for just about everything.
I’m taking a rest from pedicures right now because keeping my toenails painted results in dry, white patches when I remove the polish. My daughter-in-law gave me some Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil to try and I’m loving the way it is restoring a healthy look to my nails.
Tea lights. I love lighting these little candles in the evening, especially in the winter when they make the house feel so cozy. I have a collection of little candle holders — shout out to Glassy Baby for their wonderful colors. I prefer to use unscented candles so the fragrance doesn’t fight with the aromas from dinner.
Those Glassy Baby tea light holders are on my wish list! They would make a wonderful gift.
I am leading a postcard writing campaign. Voters who live in states that have passed legislation to discourage voting by people of color are helped by our postcards, which lets them know the number to call to find out what their new polling place is. It’s so important to do something positive.
YES!!!
Purchasing a beautiful edition of Jane Eyre (Cranford Collection at Books a Million) and listening to a podcast called
“Storytime for Grownups” that is reading Jane Eyre as well as giving historical context and defining obscure words. It has been delightful to follow along in my book as it is being read.
Watching all the birds at my bird feeder and enjoying early morning reads on my screened in porch. Downloaded an app Merlin bird ID and it identifies the bird by its song so that has been quite fun as well!
I get an enormous amount of joy when I choose a bookmark from my collection for a new book and it matches the cover so well! I just read Amy Tan’s memoir “Where the Past Begins” with its gorgeous shiny red and white cover. I found a bookmark that looked like it was made to go along with the book so every time I picked up the book to read, it made me so very happy! (And something else related to this book that makes me happy – I am going to see Amy Tan speaking in Chautauqua NY next week!)
I’m reading Night at the Fiestas by Kirstin Valdez Quade and loving the short stories! They’re immersive and well written and I love that they’re set in New Mexico. I’m about halfway through and would definitely recommend so far if you’re looking for a collection.
A lemon drop in my morning tea.
well I’m sorry – I’m so interested in your repotting and pruning?? I am trying to wonder – what plants do your prune?
sitting w perfect cup of coffee and with great froth in my chair w a book
trying out a new recipe – w no interruptions and I really like it !
For repotting and pruning: many of my houseplants needed soil after sitting in the same stuff for 7-10 years. My major pruning was for a couple of rubber plants, an Audrey ficus, and an overgrown jade plant. I was most intimidated by the jade plant because it suffered for years with too little light or water (before I got the hang of caring for it) and it needed to be cut waayyyyy back, which was scary. But now just a few weeks later it’s so fun to watch the green come back!
I’m so happy you linked our family favourite recipe, Spring Roll Bowls- I want everyone to know about this delicious meal!! One of my daughters says the sauce is so good, she could drink it on its own. I usually substitute 3 Tblsp soy sauce for the fish sauce, so my vegetarian daughter will eat it too. Bean sprouts are an added topping that adds a great crunch. Bowl meals are great for our large family or for guests, you don’t have to worry if someone likes a topping or how spicy to make it, each person takes just what they want!
Thanks for the tips!
I recently read Shannon Reed’s “Why We Read: A Teacher’s Hilarious Memoir on Books”. Shannon was a prior preschool and high school teacher, turned English Professor and author. I found her essays fun to read during the summer! I am also reading her earlier book “Why Did I Get A B?” And Other Mysteries We’re Discussing In The Teacher’s Lounge”.
Short story discovery / favorite — The Neighbors and Other Stories collection by Diane Oliver. What a gem!
Hello! I would love to see a list of the essay collections you’ve recently been enjoying! Just a suggestion. Thanks!
I love the posts when you share your list of things you have been loving lately and the comment section too. I can’t wait to try one the recipes you have shared, they look delicious. Would you share where you purchased the bowls?
I love short stories. I would recommend Sweet Talk by Stephanie Vaughn . I read it a long time ago but remember loving it. Now that I’ve found it among my bookshelves I’m going to reread!
Short Story Collections — The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu , Exhalation by Chiang
Margaret Atwood — all of hers, Essays – anything by Ann Dillard
For short stories, I recommend Sofia Romero’s We Have Always Been Who We Are. It’s very modern, but with a touch of magical realism. Beautiful writing!
im really enjoying annotating my favorite books this summer!!
My favorite little thing this summer is a rumble jar for making cold brew coffee. I’ve tried a few ways of making it in the past, and this is definitely the best for our house—takes up almost no storage space (especially since we already own mason jars), easy to make, easy to strain, easy to clean, and delicious.
I think my favorite living short story writer that I have tried is Jhumpa Lahiri. Interpreter of Maladies was my favorite. Currently enjoying Roman Stories. Also living — The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, which I learned about from you, was amazing.
Not living, I have always loved F Scott Fitzgerald’s short stories James Joyce’s and recently enjoyed Flannery O’Connor’s. I tried reading a book of Checkov’s short stories after reading A Swim In a Pond in the Rain, but I found them too much all together and had to put the book down.
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