life is about finding happiness in the little things.

Sometimes, it is nice to pause and focus on the good things. There is always so much to worry about, so much to be upset about, and so much to feel frustrated about...but there are also little things that make the days feel more beautiful. This post is focused on some of the little things that have brought me joy recently, including music, friends, family, and so much more. 

As you can see from the photo collage above, the little things that have been making me smile lately are entirely random. 

• Olivia Rodrigo LEGO Set. I absolutely love Olivia Rodrigo. Her music is inspiring and I am consistently impressed with her advocacy work. (As an example, the Daisy Chain Fields Music Festival raised money for meaningful charities and organizations - and the event was focused on supporting and celebrating women.) When it was announced that there was going to be a line of Olivia Rodrigo inspired LEGO sets, one of the sets was immediately pre-ordered. I chose the vinyl inspired set, because it looked cute and seemed a lot easier to build than some of the other options. (Even though I love LEGO, I am not that skilled at actually building the sets.) The LEGO set arrived recently and that is something that makes me smile. I look forward to building this themed set soon.
• Birthday Festivities. It was my birthday fairly recently and even though I was not wanting to do a whole lot, the people in my life went out of their way to make it special. My best friend and I went to an adorable cafe to chat and catch up, my husband brought home an ice cream cake and put out all sorts of decorations, and my parents planned a party for my brother and I. (As a reminder, I am a twin.) It meant a lot to see how much people cared. 
• Clay Aiken CD Rewind. After many years, Clay Aiken finally released a non-holiday album. I have been a huge fan of Clay since the American Idol days. My mom and I used to attend concerts across the border and see him whenever possible. Though a lot has changed since those days, his voice and his music still means the world to me. I have been listening to the Rewind album a lot lately. The album feels both nostalgic and new. It has an 80s sort of vibe, but still has an undeniable freshness. Rewind puts a new twist on a classic sound. Some of my favourites from the album are Brand New Eyes and What Comes Next. I only wish the album had more than a digital release. 
• The Return of Little Debbie. Several years back, the Little Debbie snack cakes stopped being sold in Canada. As a lover of these delicious treats, this was a real disappointment. (Especially around the holiday season. There were no Christmas Tree Cakes!) Last month, a handful of products from the brand returned to certain grocery stores in the area. My brother was able to track down some boxes after visiting four different stores and gifted me a bunch of snack cakes for my birthday. Swiss Rolls and Cosmic Brownies...yum! These treats are nostalgic and comforting. 

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What has been making you smile lately? Be sure to share some of your own happy little things in the comment section below.