Open-hearted joys 開開心心 № 16

Capturing the tiny details of my everyday mundane and the small moments that weave poetry to my days.

Sundaze Book Café is the home of everyday magic, joyful living and conversations likely to be had over a hot drink with a friend in your favourite café, capturing the syrup-slow feel and glow of a Sunday. I’m Michelle, and I’ll be your host today.

Happy Friday, my loves!

We’re back to regular programming today after a Valentine’s Day interlude last week – I’m glad that so many of you enjoyed it. Just like looking for everyday joys, the things that we find romantic are truly unique to ourselves. It’s been a cosy, quiet week for me: I spent last weekend in Dublin and it was such a fun couple of days. There’s two mini, bookish photo diaries on my bookstagram and I’ll be sharing a tiny travel post on my blog next week as well. So, I’ve been laying low and catching up on myself these past few days. One of the best lessons I’ve learned in my thirties is that rest time is as essential as the days with plans – you simply can’t have one without the other.

There’s a lot to be said for appreciating the smaller, not necessarily finer, details of the everyday mundane. Here’s to another list of petite, open-hearted joys, the moments that’ve brought and woven poetry to my days, this week.

一. Just how good the first cup of tea after a trip tastes.

二. A golden sunrise that cast a pale pink glow above the farmers’ fields on my Monday morning drive to work. It was a perfectly aesthetically pleasing contrast to the blue winter sunshine skies and the ghostly mists hanging just so.

三. Sharing Five Guys fries with my boyfriend as our 3pm ‘snack’ on Monday.

四. A visit from my Mum and Milo to the new house!

五. Taking my silly little homemade packed lunch to work in my silly little thermal lunch satchel. Except, it isn’t silly, and I love cooking, and I love looking forward to meals.

六. Working from home with my darling dog by my side. Now it feels like home.

七. Seeing my tulips sway and bob around and open up and tuck away, all day. Magic.

八. Noticing new light shadows in our lounge, since I’d not yet seen proper sunshine whilst working from this room. Thankful for winter sun, too.

九. The incomparable feeling of slipping into fresh pyjamas and completing your evening skincare regimen.

十. Pools of sunlight, mid-morning.

Share a joy from your week in the comments, and I’ll see you again next Friday.