I’m frittering away a perfectly good Saturday and I’m a little disgusted with myself for doing it.  There are so many productive things I could and should be doing but I keep circling back to the computer and its Internet temptations.  My corner of the office, where the evil tempter is parked, is a black hole I just can’t seem to escape today.  So, I’m not going to fight it anymore.  Because I want to feel a little better about myself and redeem at least part of this day, I’m reviving a favorite blogging practice of reflecting on the little niceties that have sweetened my life lately.  If I complete this activity I can at least say I used some creativity and practiced my writing skills today.

January was mostly dark, bitterly cold, and a little snowy.  I felt like I spent the majority of my waking hours trying to escape the frigid temperatures.  My small pleasures for the month are directly related to staying warm or creating a cozy environment at home.  And they certainly brought (and are still bringing) pleasure and lightness into my life.

January’s Small Pleasures

• Contigo travel mug.  Before Christmas my trusty plastic travel mug broke.  I loved that mug, mostly because it was a gift from my son, but it didn’t keep my tea hot for very long.  Jay came to my rescue and gave me a new Contigo mug for Christmas to replace my broken one.  It holds about 14 ounces of liquid, is a matte teal green color and keeps my tea steaming hot for hours.  With all this cold weather, I’ve been drinking gallons of hot tea thanks to my cool new mug.
• Banana Republic coat with faux fur collar.  There are several reasons why this coat made my Small Pleasures list.  1) Its color reminds me of a fir forest at dusk.  2) The collar feels so luxurious.  3) It fits perfectly.  4) I feel so stylish and pulled together when I wear it. 5) It looks good dressed up or down.  For these reasons alone I would have loved this coat.  The fact that I found it at the Banana Republic outlet for 80% off the original price increases my pleasure a thousandfold every single time I button it up.  It’s one of my favorite purchases of the winter.
• The Winter candle (from Eleventh Candle Co.).  My daughter has a thing for candles so we gifted her a Vellabox subscription for Christmas.  When I placed the order, I also purchased a single month subscription for myself.  Does anyone else do this when they are Christmas shopping?  You know, one for you, one for me?  Anyway, the candle that arrived for me was a soy candle from Eleventh Candle Co. called Winter.  The company’s website describes the scent as “a peaceful, winter blend, filled with the crispness of snow-covered, evergreen trees and the spirited warmth of cinnamon and clove, surrounded by sweet vanilla”.  It is the perfect seasonal scent and I immediately bought two candles of the largest size they sell.  Of note, Eleventh Candle Co. is a business that works globally to help people who are vulnerable to human trafficking and exploitation.  The candles are a true win-win in my book; my house smells delicious and my money is going to a very good cause.
• Slippers.  We keep our house on the chilly side and my feet are always cold.  As a remedy, I asked for a pair of slippers for Christmas.  Jay came through in a big way with a pair of UGG Scuffette II beauties.  They are warm and cushy and feel like little hugs for my feet.  I’ve never considered myself a slipper person but these toasty scuffs have converted me.  I feel very spoiled when I wear them.
• Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett  and narrated by Katie Schorr (in audiobook format).  This book was a delight to listen to.  The story follows eighteen months in the lives of eleven year old Elvis Babbit and her family after her mother is found dead from an unusual drowning incident.  It’s weird, funny, poignant and hopeful and extremely difficult to summarize in just a few words.  Elvis is the narrator of the story and Katie Schorr does an excellent job portraying her.  I loved spending time with Elvis and quirky her family as they worked through their tumultuous grieving process.  I still think about them often which, for me, is always a sign of a really good book.

We are halfway through the winter here in the northern hemisphere and the groundhog saw his shadow yesterday so there are definitely six more weeks to go.  February is  usually my toughest month, an endless slog of cold and dark.  But, I’m hopeful the small pleasures I’ve mentioned above and the new ones that will undoubtedly pop up in the next month will help to keep my spirits up and my heart grateful for the blessed, abundant life I enjoy.

Do you have any small pleasures you’d like to share?  Please do.