Things I Love Lately // 2.25.15

It's been a bit since I checked in with a "happiness list" so this one might be a doozy. 

• Our recent trip to NYC with great friends ~ Greg and I had the pleasure of an adult/couples trip in January to New York with our pals from the Short Street Days in Oregon. The weather was chilly but the skies were clear and the company was stellar. The BEST part was spending time with people we love--(while eating!). We literally ate and drank our way through Manhattan and had a ball. Highlights included meals at per se, Daniel, Del Posto, Momofuku, and a 3-hour brunch at Dirty French, a Knick's game at The Garden, a brisk morning walk through Central Park, and visiting the 9/11 Memorial. 
  
• MasterChef Junior on Fox ~ Seriously. Have you seen this show? It's amazing. Great TV for the whole family. We all love it! (Big shout out to Gretchen for suggesting we give it a go.)
• Our little pancake maker ~ See above. {wink} Now I have my own little people interesting in taking on more challenging endeavors in the kitchen. Geneva has been perfecting her pancakes lately. D'lish. 
  
• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr ~ My book club just finished this for our February discussion. I loved it. While the subject matter is heavy, the book is beautifully written and so tender. If you haven't already, do pick it up. 
• The surprise of this sweet mug arriving in the mail last week 
  
• Finally having some decent water pressure at the kitchen sink ~ Ever since we moved in (2 years ago!), the pressure at the kitchen sink has been very low. We finally looked into it. Turns out we just needed to replace a cartridge in the base of the faucet. I'm sure you've been taking your water pressure for granted all this time--so take a moment and be grateful for how quickly you can fill a water pitcher or scrub a pot!
• Our annual trip to Cancun ~ We are so very lucky to have a built-in trip to Cancun each winter through Greg's company. It's an absolutely indulgent and fun experience--a "Spring Break for Grownups" for sure. This year, the weather was spectacular and the time spent with the Southeast team (and all the rest of the country) was terrific. Greg celebrated his 17th year with the company while we were there. Amazing. 
  
• The song Hero (from the movie Boyhood) by Family of the Year ~ On repeat. No, I haven't seen the movie yet. Worth it?
• This sassy little cuff bracelet that I picked up ages ago at Ex Voto Vintage in Birmingham ~ I've waited to share it with you because I love it so much, I wanted to give one to my girlfriend for her birthday and I really wanted it to be a surprise. So, now that's done and here it is. Love. 
  
• Planning our DC trip ~ So many places and things to see… I can't wait to experience it all with the girls and Greg. If you have any "must dos" please share! 
• Sweet Orange & Nutmeg Bee Kissed lip balm by Bee Bomber ~ I actually have a little handful of new products to try (all 100% natural and organic) but so far have only managed to really test out the lip balm. I am in love. In fact, the whole family is! The best part is the texture and the way the product feels on your lips. Next best is the delicate scent and how long it stays put. So good. I can't wait to try the body scrub, bath salts, and dry shampoo. 
  
• My new Adidas Superstar sneakers ~ So cute. Really. I can't wait for spring.
• And One last thing… My new short 'do!