Small Delights

on the little things bringing me joy right now.

Hello, loves. My heart is heavier than usual these days. The horrors are around every corner, each day. Between the state of the world and the state of my health, my soul hums with a low ache.

All I know to do is not turn away, but lean in to others, and search for every scrap of joy and humanity I can.

I have found in what I have faced this last year and a half, some days I must grasp at the tiniest speck of hope, of light, of good.

These very small things (and one doozy) are prying open cracks of light for me right now.

It is no secret I have been coloring my way through January. I have always loved pencils in sketching, but the coloring…it caused me to pull out all of my tools. I fell in love with my Tombow markers all over again. I sort of cannot stop picking them up and making marks all day long.

I also have LOVED this coloring book.

After the year in paint, coloring and sketching have been a welcome change of pace and a way to practice my art simply and with little fuss throughout the entire day.

New Rosymeng Acrylic Markers…think Poscas with no bleed through. Opaque, smooth application & I love the color range in this skin colors set. Pairs well with my favorite Ranger travel sketchbooks.

Parchment sheets (pre-cut)! Literally saves the baking day.

Watching Half Baked Harvest stories for daily cooking & baking.

Watching Joanna Gaines cook at home: Magnolia Table {at the farm}. I really like her simple recipes that feel like home. Just bought her cookbook for the first time, volume III.

New shoes from Boden. I do not shop for clothes much anymore (& really haven’t for about six or seven years), but when I want some pieces that last, I really love this brand. And I adore a funky shoe.

Living in leisure wear. These pants I am wearing are by Elle Gray & I (somehow) cannot find them anywhere…but,I also love my wide leg Spanx. They are loose, stretchy, and flowy. I can wear them around the house with a sweatshirt & throw on a prettier top…instant fancy trousers.

These kinds of pants are what I am in all day, everyday. I put this top on for an appointment at the bank where I actually had to leave the house and look put together. First time since early December. 😂

Finding new solutions to make life easier, more comfortable, and more efficient. Looking forward to using these (retractable chargers) in the new house.

Tile. All of it. I don’t know why, but I cannot get enough right now. My mind will not let go of the image of black and white marble checkered tile making its way into our new home.

photo credit: Chris Loves Julia instagram…their bathroom is DREAMY. featuring Setting Plaster.

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Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball. It will be somewhere in our new house. Maybe the powder room. Maybe the mudroom. Maybe the primary. Let you know.

Frosted Gingersnaps & Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. Yes, still. I cannot stop making (& eating) them.

P.S. Add extra chocolate in the Chocolate Chips & an extra splash of vanilla, even though this calls for a LOT. This is one of the best basic cookie recipes I’ve found.

And the biggie? We moved! The deed is complete. You know, mostly.

I snapped this picture of Andrew sitting in my studio on day 2 (of six) to document the moment. I had just brought in the first pile of studio bits from mom and dad’s, and it hit me.

We made this thing happen. We will get to be close in proximity to my parents, hanging on to the hope our emotional closeness wrapped around us the second half of 2025.

The gift of this move is almost too much to take in, and has me wandering around in disbelief and enchantment.

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These tiny delights (& that one big one) do not change the course of the world, but they do remind me of simple joys that keep me afloat during times like these.

It truly is the little things that keep me going now.

Tell me…what is bringing you delight right now? I would love to fill the comment section with the small things saving us right now.

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As always, so much love to you, beautiful people.

-S