It’s the Little Things with EvaTrends & Link Up On the Edge #124

December 14, 2018 / 66 Comments
This is a sponsored post. This cardigan was provided to me for purposes of a review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

“Perfect happiness is a beautiful sunset, the giggle of a grandchild, the first snowfall. It’s the little things that make happy moments, not the grand events. Joy comes in sips, not gulps.”

-Sharon Draper

Coat: Talbots (really old).
Scarf: Target (from last year).

“Joy comes in sips, not gulps.” My word, isn’t that the truth? In the past few weeks, I have been sipping away like a delighted young child who has not yet been scarred by the harshness of living. I have been enjoying each and every moment of abundant bliss and have been allowing myself to indulge in all the “little things that make happy moments”. And like I child, I really do get ridiculously excited over the the smallest of things.

Sweater: Kennedy Cardigan c/o EvaTrends.
Boots: Pam Stretchy Heeled Boots from Shoe Dazzle.

For example, the freshly fallen snow that covers the North Country landscape makes the best background for photos. When my husband discovers remote locations that are in a state of disrepair, he calls them “ruin porn” and I get so excited to style an outfit that would fit perfectly in that location. And when we find beauty in a broken old desk that someone so irresponsibly ditched in the middle of a field off the beaten path, my inner nerd starts doing a happy dance as I begin planning the perfect outfit to pose by said desk.

When my husband has a few minutes in the morning before work, we scurry off like teenagers to explore our latest find and let our creativity take the wheel. We laugh as I shiver from the inside out standing in the freezing cold to capture a few shots. Sometimes we bring our own props along, sometimes we just go with whatever we find at that spot. We essentially open ourselves up to the universe and let it guide us. And when we do that, magic generally happens.

And I really do get excessively excited over the littlest of things. Like when I meet a stranger and the conversation just flows as if you have known one another for a decade or more. When the positive energy flows back and forth, that you both leave the encounter feeling more empowered, more beautiful, and more fulfilled than you did at the start of the day. When a random smile or compliment, whether given or received, adds a bounce to your step and a glimmer to your eye. When the day just progresses smoothly without any mishaps and you can breathe easy and sit calmly and feel at peace with yourself and the world.

When you get home at the end of a long day, slip into your coziest loungewear and just exist in the moment with your children and your spouse. When your children still beg for “snuggies” even as they continue to grow older and you know one day snuggies will no longer be an option.

When a dress has a pockets. Oh man, that makes me excited. Or boots with sequins (Yes, I did just indulge in pair of those). A beautiful faux fur coat (soon to be mine). Fuzzy socks and soft jammies. Velvet and Leopard and Camo and all things green or red. Blanket scarves and the softest cardigans. Like this adorable Kennedy Cardigan from EvaTrends. The quirky print on this sweater really makes my heart sing. I found it so charming and in this pretty shade of soft green, I decided it would make a pleasant addition to my closet. When it arrived and I took it out of the package, I seriously gasped at the softness of it. I don’t think I have ever felt a sweater so soft. It sort of feels like it was brushed with angel wings or fairy wands or something. I have no idea how they managed to get this fabric to feel so soft. But I am not complaining. Nope. I am sipping all the joy straight from the littlest of things like the softness of this sweater.

And hot cocoa, hot coffee, hot tea, eggnog. Cream cheese icing on homemade carrot oatmeal muffins warmed for 20 seconds in the microwave. Watching The Voice with my children sharing their input on the performances. Cheering for the competitors on American Ninja Warrior while my 5 year old jumps and down with excitement. Listening to their laughter when Daddy “takes them down” in an all out 2 on 1 wrestling match in the middle of the living room. Loving and feeling loved in so many directions that hate cannot even find a way to penetrate. Filling my cup with joy and kindness and goodness until it overflows in every direction, nourishing everyone around me. Waking up every morning, looking forward to all the tiny sips of joy that I will get to experience throughout the day.

These little things, my friends, these are the things that make your life rich and abundant. I once had a friend yell at me in anger and jealousy, “You always get everything you want! And I am tired of it!” And I remember thinking at the time, “Yes, I do. But it is only because I want all of the things that I already have.” And when you can find your way to that place, you will always be fulfilled, you will always be content, and you will always have joy. It’s right there in front of you.

 

Oh, and a good quote. You know how excited I get about a really good, moving, inspirational quote. So here’s a few of my favorites on the topic at hand…

“When you are older you will understand how precious little things, seemingly of no value in themselves, can be loved and prized above all price when they convey the love and thoughtfulness of a good heart.

-Edwin Booth

“The older I get, the more I’m conscious of ways very small things can make a change in the world. Tiny little things, but the world is made up of tiny matters, isn’t it?”

-Sandra Cisneros

“Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindness, and small obligations given habitually, are what preserve the heart and secure comfort.”

-Humphrey Davy

“Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odorless but all together perfume the air.”

-Georges Bernanos

“God tests and proves us by the common occurrences of life. It is the little things which reveal the chapters of the heart.”

-Ellen G. White

“Sometimes the most happy people in life are the ones with nothing. We can’t lose sight of the little things in life that should make us the happiest.”

-Ryan Cabrera

“I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things… I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind.”

-Leo Buscaglia

You know what else brings me a lot of joy? Sales! EvaTrends is offering my readers 15% off your entire purchase. Just enter code SH15 at check out. What little things bring you joy? And do you allow them to overflow so you can share that joy with everyone around you?

To see my other recent EvaTrends pieces, please check out these posts:

Snow Leopard with EvaTrends

Thoughts About Plaid with EvaTrends

And now your featured favorites from last week.

Maria of Passion Fruit, Paws and Peonies shared her super fascinating post, Cultural Family Holiday in Normandy. These photos are absolutely breathtaking and I want to go there now!

Maria of Passion Fruit, Paws and Peonies

Robin of Hello, I’m 60ish shared her post, The Little Black Dress. Always with impeccable style, Robin has shared some exquisite holiday fashion featuring the little black dress.

Robin of Hello, I’m 60ish

And Karen of Lady in Violet has shared some creative and unique ideas in her post, Holiday Home Tour: How to Decorate for Christmas in an Apartment. Utilizing her smaller space ever so efficiently, Karen has really created a magical holiday wonderland in her home.

Karen of Lady in Violet


Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Ups.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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