Well, I can’t say my mood(s) were entirely awesome today, but I did have a chance to reflect and turn my sourness into gratefulness for how lucky I am. I decided that a new category could come out of this. Welcome to “things that make me smile”. These posts can contain anything that make me smile…hopefully they’ll make you smile too

Starting off with numero uno…

1. My Mother’s Decorating

It’s more like a love-hate relationship that I have with her decorating tastes…there is more then likely a direct correlation with my anti-to-minimalist-decorating taste. Regardless, I do appreciate how festive she is. She truly turns heads and drops jaws. And this is just an apartment and a close-up of her tree! Once upon a time, she had all of Santa’s reindeer flying from our house, over the sidewalk, and up into a tree with Santa surfing behind them…ho ho ho-yeah, everyone.

2. Taking Pictures of Puddles.

I love the rain for many reasons, reflections in the water is one of them. I have almost been late to work tripping over the way things look upside down.

3. Teaching Myself to Cook

I have a couple staple recipes…but I am much more comfortable baking then cooking. Anyhow, I roasted my very first whole chicken and it actually came out really, really well. Although, I will admit that I was a little grossed out, the end result was fabulous and pretty easy as well. Thank goodness for cookbooks!

4. Getting Unexpected Gifts/Decorated envelopes

This AWESOMEINCREDIBLEFABULOUSNESS is from my fine friend Amanda Visger of Burning Passion Art! She has a wide array of fanciful things: journals/sketchbooks, customs clocks, and handmade cards. Aside from being awesome, she is a stellar artist who can pretty much make all your wildest atrsy-vision-dreams come true. Trader Joe’s Sign Artists are really talented like that Head over to her shop and her facebook page and show her some L-O-V-E.
I also happened to get one of the coolest envelopes I’ve ever received in the mail today. Adorned with stickers, another completely sealed EPIC envelope/card inside, AAAAAAND a sticker Thanks, Jen-Jen! You made my moodiness melt away today!!

5. Six Flags on New Year’s Day

Yesterday we went to Six Flags with a wide array of fine fellows from Jb’s work+my brother and his friend Jon. It wasn’t too busy, but we did have odd luck hitting lines on a few attractions. I bought us season passes for the year, so we’ll be soaking up as much thrill action as we can

6. New Sheets

Ever since I watched the movie “Fur” with Robert Downey Jr and Nicole Kidman, I wanted sheets and walls this color. I can’t do much about the walls right now, but I FINALLY found sheets at Ross a week or so before Xmas. However, they just got washed today, and BAM. I am so excited. It was actually making the bed this afternoon that made me want to start this new category. I’d like to start documenting all the little things in life that make me smile…

And with that, I bid you all a good night.
Stay tuned for an Artist Interview later this week! Maybe even tomorrow!!

With Warmth,

Jonnie