melanie's little joy list

1. making the right menu decision when trying out a restaurant for the first time 

2. finding out something is cheaper than you thought it was

3. the most perfectly ripe peach 

4. lazy saturdays 

5. fireworks 

6. watching parks and recreation 

7. good mail days 

8. soft serve ice cream cones

9. seeing my baby's face light up when he sees me 

10. target

thank you to the lovely melanie from one of my favourite blogs you are my fave for sharing.
check out her blog for a visual feast.
photo link.

mara's little joy list

1. holding hands with my husband

2. puppy kisses from Ginger

3. the smell of chocolate cookies baking in the oven

4. singing Christmas songs in July

5. watching the leaves change colors

6. sitting around a table with my best friends

7. getting hugs from my nieces and nephews

8. smiling at someone and getting a smile back

9. listening to rain as I fall asleep

10. snuggling in bed with husband, my best friend in the whole world!

thanks to the VERY gorgeous mara from the blog m loves m.

also worth reading the beautiful proposal story written by her man matthew + mara's story + the photos.

it is all just soooooo sweet.

diana's little joy list

1. the smell of freshly made french press coffee in the morning

2. evening foggy walks with balazs and my dogs

3. long bubble baths with a glass of wine

4. listening to norah jones’ tunes

5. watching seinfeld and modern family re-runs

6. dinner parties with people i love

7. lazy weekends

8. eating tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches

9. smooches

10. wearing my hair in a french messy bun

thanks to diana from the gorgeous blog exPress-o for sharing.

i wanted to start the joy list project up again.

i think it's great to share some happiness around.

(email me if you want to join in).

spoonful happiness

i got asked to write a "happiness is" list for the latest spoonful magazine!

first time i've ever been asked to write anything.

design yes, write no.

i'm a bit honoured.

it's kind of great to see my thoughts in print.

thanks anthea.

more info on the spoonful magazine.

(all photos from the magazine, by me.)

share the joy winner

oh it just begs to be said that everyone's a winner doesn't it?

i have to say the 'prize' goes to nat.

her image alone provided so much joy.

so nat – your turn for a 'challenge' now.

here all all the entries i received (plus a few i found 'by accident'). enjoy!

nat's little joy list

coralie's little joy list

bronya's little joy list

k's little joy list

alyssa's little joy list

christine's little joy list

elise's little joy list

mum's little joy list

mel's little joy list

carlien's little joy list

feel free to keep the joy lists going.

post/email me/sing about it, whatever takes your fancy.

one more that i received as a comment and i have to put up because it's so beautiful:

sj's little joy list:

1. the citrusy spray that hits your face when you peel a mandarin


2. the warmth of a freshly brewed cup of tea


3. the smell of the ocean


4. (gazing and...) getting lost in the horizon, especially when its full of fluffy white clouds and looks like a screensaver


5. eating eggs on toast every saturday morning with tom


6. the smiles on peoples faces at fruit n veg markets


7. buying a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery and the way they wrap it up in white paper, i wish i had a bike with a basket to place it in and cycle down the street


8. day dreaming, this alone has a list – in particular, day dreaming about sitting on a day bed by a big window, rain dripping down the window whilst reading a book


9. toms family


10. friends

(and ill sneak in... dwelling on the little blessings i receive every day)

(photo via here)

share the joy project

ok, here is my blog 'challenge' to my readers.

not really a challenge – i'm calling it a project.

i think we so often get caught up in everyday life that we forget to stop and think of the little things that make us smile.

here's the deal:

just list 10 of the 'little' things that bring you joy.

no prize.

i think sharing happiness is enough.

once you get started you'll probably find it's hard to keep it to a list of 10! i did.

but in keeping in the spirit of bron's blog challenge i'll pick a winner to 'pass the baton' on to.

this little project closes thursday june 24.

(either post on your own blog — preferably with a pretty pic – and place the link in the comments section. but if you are one of my non-blogging readers still feel free to participate and write your little joy list in the comments below).

so i'll start:

mandy's little joy list:

1. fun times with my musketeers – especially when we laugh so hard it hurts

2. running along a windy beach

3. snuggling with someone i love

4. the smell of rain on a hot road in summer

5. love letters from my little people (nieces and nephews)

6. waking up before the alarm and the bliss of realising you don't have to get up yet

7. childhood memories of my oma dingemanse

8. going out for breakfast

9. singing my heart out to tunes in the car

10. a blank canvas and paint in hand