Little Joys
Sometimes life gives you lemons, but even if it doesn't, its nice to remember life's little joys once in a while! Here's a list of 10 things that are sparking joy for me at the moment.
I drafted a newsletter last week on personal style and kind of got lost in the sauce mid-draft, then I spent an additional entire hour writing a very cathartic personal piece in a Substack-like fashion that I’m not sure will ever see the light of day (see “personal”). While I iron out the details on the style piece, let’s have a little fluffy moment where I share some things that have been sparking joy for me lately! In no particular order…
The warmer temps
As I’m writing this, we’re in the middle of a cold snap which brought 50 degree temps to lil Statesboro, Georgia last night, but generally speaking, it’s been warrrmmmm lately! I’m not ready for the 90 degree temps just yet, but the 70’s and 80’s have been giving me life. Specifically, I’ve loved getting to sit on our patio (once I gave it a good de-pollening) and taking morning circadian-rhythm-benefitting sunshine walks!
Zabar’s coffee at home!!!
The other day I wished so badly I could make a latte with Zabar’s espresso. My husband and I went to NYC last fall (HAVE I MENTIONED THAT YET???), and before we flew home, we stuffed our carry-ons full of NYC goodies including two bags of Zabar’s coffee. Not only did it make our luggage smell amazing, but we got to enjoy the ‘Bar’s brews (heh) for weeks after returning to Georgia. A quick Google search mid-NYC-nostalgia led me to the realization that you can actually have it shipped right to your door! I believe there’s a four-bag minimum (yikes), but in about 2 days time I was making Zabar’s lattes at home! Success!
Sandy Liang accessory dupes
I’m a big Sandy girl, and what I mean by that is I love Sandy Liang, though I don’t actually own any Sandy Liang (besides my boat tote from the Baggu/Sandy collab and a pair of $38 socks I picked up in NYC). I do, however, own several comparable pieces that give me the good, good Sandy vibes without destroying my bank account. And yes, I’ve got saved Sandy searches on all my secondhand apps, but nothing has panned out as of now. Recently I’ve acquired two hair accessories that resemble items she’s got on her site for a fraction of the price: a puffy flower scrunchie and a rosette bow barrette! They’re not exact replicas, but to quote Mr. Darcy, they are “handsome enough to tempt me.”
The Sandy scrunchie (left) and the Etsy dupe (right)
The Sandy bow (left) and the Girl’s Who Cluster barrette (right). Side note, Girl’s Who Cluster is such a fun insta follow! Esp if you are a cluster girlie like moi.
Homemade cherry-vanilla Diet (caffeine free) Coke
I can’t quite remember when the genius struck that I can use my Torani syrups for more than just coffee, but I’ve been adding vanilla syrup to my Diet Coke for months now, and it’s so good! Throw in a maraschino cherry or two (plus some juice from the jar) and you’ve got the most refreshing Sonic-esque beverage right at home! I’ve had approximately one a day for two months now. And yes, you can buy cherry vanilla Coke Zero at the store, but trust me, homemade is better.
Making shell jewelry and bag charms
Adults need to craft, too, and nothing has been quite so fun and therapeutic as making shell jewelry for the All That shop as well as Birkin-reminiscent bag charms from thrifted jewelry!
Avatar the Last Airbender rewatch
The first year my husband and I were married, we watched through Avatar the Last Airbender. It was my first time watching it (I didn’t watch it while it was coming out because it was too much of a “boy” show lol), and I absolutely loved it! It’s devastating to me that it’s only a three-season show, and I truly grieved the loss of it once we finished it in 2020. A few weeks ago we decided it was time for a rewatch, and I’ve been loving it just as much as the first go-round!
Harry Potter illustrated editions
I’m a big HP fan, and though I haven’t read all the books (whoops), I’ve loved the movies since I was a kid! (though like a lot of Christian youths, I wasn’t allowed to watch them until middle school because of ~witchcraft~ lol. Holler at me if you can relate!) I read most of the books while I was in college, but I never finished them. It’s also been years since my first read-through, and my Old Lady Brain doesn’t remember most of the details. In the fall of ‘22 I decided to start re-reading them through the illustrated editions, and the experience has been elite to say the least. Especially during the fall or Christmas season snuggled up in a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate… the dream!
The blooming jasmine
If Heaven is going to have a smell, I’m convinced it’ll be that of the jasmine flower. Holy freaking cow, I wish I could swim in that smell!!! We were fortunate enough to inherit three columns of ivy on the front of our house from which jasmine ascends every April. I wish we could enjoy them year-round, but at present catch me shoving my face into the blooms every single day until they disappear.
Shopping on eBay
EBay? More like eBAE! (do people still say “bae”?") Maybe it’s a bit of a given that a secondhand/vintage fanatic like myself would love a platform like eBay, but I’ve never quite known the true joys of it until recently. Cue Stefon from SNL saying “this place has everything.”
EBay really does have it all, be it a Polo cap in every color of the rainbow, a toile Christmas tree skirt, or a copy of an old Teen Vogue from 2009 you just happened to remember from your youth and wish you could leaf through. And yes, all of those are things I’ve searched for and purchased via eBay… Here are a few screenshots of some of the random things I have on my eBay watchlist.
Watchlist items include but are not limited to another Teen Vogue I’m considering adding to my new, old collection, a Kirsten American Girl Doll since I’m pretty sure I foolishly told my stepmom to donate mine in 2018 (clothes sold separately apparently…), a Rachel Antonoff fur coat with beet embroidery, and a pair of Dr. Scholl’s slides… you know, girl stuff.
Writing this Substack :)
It’s been so exciting and cathartic for me to get to write these newsletters! I know this is only the third of many, but it’s become an exciting part of my routine every week! I go to my favorite local coffee shop, cozy up at a table by a window, and sip my $8 latte whilst typing out some thoughts. I’m grateful for the opportunity!
And that’s all that she wrote today, folks! What are some things sparking joy for you at the moment?
-Anna Kristen
garrett gay is sparking joy for me :)