Eight things that make my heart sing...

When snuggled in for winter, and those short gray days... one must take pleasure in the little things around them. This is my list of 8 little things that are making me smile these days...

1. My Anthropologie Izmir Measuring Cups. Which I use an astounding amount. I put them on my Christmas Wish List, and I got them, obviously. I thought they would be mostly for decoration, but since they're sitting out, and are dishwasher and microwave safe, I use them for practically everything. I LOVE them, and I really love Anthropologie!

2. Found this jug at a local antique store. Could not resist it. Use it to save corks. Not really sure what I'm going to do when I decide I want to get the corks out of it. Oh well. Deal with that then, should it ever happen.

3. My cookbook collection. I still have several on my wish list. I cannot resist them. More on this later this week, maybe.

4. My wooden cutting boards. I LOVE wooden cutting boards. I have 6, plus a big butcher block. The fact that I walk out of stores without cutting boards most of the time is a true testament to my self-control, because seriously. I do internal battle while I study them and swoon, before moving on to what I actually came to the store for. And, I almost always regret not buying the one I was swooning over. I'm still dreaming about an oblong elongated football shaped bamboo one in two tones I didn't buy at Ross three weeks ago. I am pathetic.

5. My Mezzaluna. To be precise, my Nigella Lawson Bliss Mezzaluna. Which you cannot buy in the states anymore, or if you can, I haven't found where--I got it at Amazon, and shortly after that they stopped carrying it. Hey Nigella!? If you're reading this, please fix that. I've had nightmares that I lose my mezzaluna and can't replace it. I awoke with tears streaming down my cheeks. It completes me. I don't know how a body could live without a mezzaluna. Without this mezzaluna, specifically. It has a great weight, it's handles are perfectly shaped, and it cuts like a dream. Should you ever have the chance, I suggest you get you one.

6. My Salt Bowl. It is depression glass. I love it quite a lot. So do my children. They like to salt things without my knowing it. (Photo altered slightly so you can see how vividly red it actually is. The lighting in my kitchen is very wonky.)

7. Educational Toys! Thanks to our family, we have built up quite a selection of them. I am SO thankful for each and every one.

Here's pictures of just a few... We actually haven't even played all of the ones we got for Christmas yet... but, I'm not sorry for that, because it means when the kids are tired of the ones they are playing with, we'll be able to pull out new ones. Perhaps I shall have to do a post of what we have, and my recommendations.

8. And, because I am a shoe girl... I found these Reef Flats at Ross for $2.99. Reef flip-flops and their other summer shoes are SO comfy, but I never buy them because I don't like to spend that much money on flipper-floppers. So, I was quite pleased with this super cheap find, and am enjoying wearing them when I know I'll only be around the house, or on dry pavement. They will be so nice this summer!

Have a wonderful day!