Before I started blogging again, I knew one of the things I wanted to do on a semi-regular basis was plug things/acknowledge things tht brought me joy. I think conscientious gratitude is important, and sharing the things that make us happy is importnt, especilly in the midst of a social media landscape that focuses so much (not without reason) on the negative.
To that end, here are some silly things that have buoyed me along this week.
- Red Dwarf pins and stickers by SpaceRangerSam.
These somehow flew under the radar when I was talking about the queer-owned/queer-positive shops few weeks ago, because when I went bck to check, I was shocked I hadn’t mentioned them. I purchased several stickers and buttons from them, and I’m in love — the colors are vibrant, and they are really stellar quality — the pins are now on my backpack instead of my pinboard (because I couldn’t bear to be apart from them, lol). I got Lister against the Bi pride flag (because bisexual Lister supremacy, obviously) and Rimmer against the Ace flag (because irony/the bit, but also because there is no way, in my mind, that he isn’t a bi/homoromantic asexual).
Anyway, I love these pins and the matching stickers, as well as the chibi style stickers on my water bottle, they are adorable.
2. The LEGO Wildflower bouquet kit
This is the kit that I and my guests worked on during the housewarming a couple of weeks ago. It hs since become the centerpiece of our Kitchen island, and it’s so bright and cheery and genuinely brings me so much joy to see it every day, especially this past week, where mornings were nothing less than dark and dismal:
3. ThinkStory’s Severance breakdowns, analysis, and theories videos
Anyone else obsessed with this show?? I binged both Seasons over the course of about two weeks (well, until I caught up, and then watched The After Hours and Cold Harbor more-or-less synchronously). I love having some videos to break down and discuss things that I missed in my rather frenetic watch through, talk about theories (without having to brave the wilds of Reddit), and just overall be really great background/passive listening for things like chores and cooking dinner:
4. J’s Restaurant at the Nashoba Winery
J’s has been a favorite of ours since my wife took me here nearly decade ago for our fifth anniversary. Since then, it’s been our go-to spot for celebrations, milestone birthdays, and fancy nights out with friends. My wife and I just went there to belatedly celebrate our new house (and our tax return, which footed the bill, ha ha)
5. Aldi’s latest collection of spring items
Including but not limited to countertop compost bins (in lemon print!), huge ceramic planters, hammock chairs, and patio stools. Ugh, we switched to shopping at Aldi a couple of months ago and I have never fallen so in love with a store before. I can’t believe the time and money I’ve been wasting elsewhere. I’m in and out of there in 35 minutes now, and routine purchase six meals worth of food plus snacks and essentials for our family of three, and rarely spend more than $130. It’s sensational.
Hope you can all think of the little things in your life that keep you going throughout the week. This week has been utterly exhausting just on a personal level (work has been — absolutely bonkers. No other way to put it), so I’m grateful, as always, for small pleasures.
Anyway. Take care of yourselves, and each other.
All Your Crooked Heart 