Three Unexpected Joys

When I started keeping a journal again at the beginning of the pandemic (I was a prolific journal writer as an adolescent but stopped when life got busy as a young adult), I also started including in each day's reflection three accomplishments for the day, which could be as major as or as mundane as I liked, and five moments of joy. My goal was to remind myself that even though every day was Blursday and there was so much to be depressed about, I was being productive every day and there were still things that could make me happy if I only looked for them. So because it's Thursday, I'm joining Carole and friends to share three little joys with you.

1. Zoodles in unexpected places
Part of my effort to eat better over the past several years has involved eating more vegetables, so like many people, I have embraced the zoodle, or the spiralized zucchini "noodle." I love pasta and could honestly eat it every day, but that wouldn't be so good for me, so I've occasionally replaced my spaghetti with zucchini. It's a decent substitute but not the real thing, so I've been contemplating how else to use my zoodles.

Then, about a month or so ago, the Mister came home from Trader Joe's with some of their jarred vegetable soup. I usually make my own vegetable soup, but this is obviously a lot more convenient during the work day, and it's delicious and healthy to boot. A couple of weeks ago, I had an epiphany: I could put the zoodles in the soup! They are perfect complements, and adding that bit of "chew" to the soup makes it more satisfying.

2. Whimsical cake pans
Rainbow and I love watching the Great British Baking Show and marveling at the fancy baked goods the contestants create, but we aren't very talented when it comes to baking our own (I'm much more likely to reach for a boxed cake mix). A while back we were looking at cakes pans with fun shapes and spotted this one:

On Monday, when all the sales were going, I remembered that I had a Williams-Sonoma gift card sitting in my nightstand drawer, so on a whim I checked the balance. It turned out to have about $100 on it, so I figured it was a sign! One of these cookie cake pan sets is now on its way to us (and it's still on sale, by the way, if you're interested in getting your own).

3. A new game addiction
Back in the Before Times, a group of girlfriends and I would get together every so often to play Mah Jongg. Obviously we can't do that now. But one of the gals discovered that there's an app that allows you to play online with others (or, if you want to play on your own, with the computer). You do need to have an official card and there is a monthly subscription fee (though you can get a free trial to start), but it's a reasonable substitute. I've been playing on my own with the computer to keep my skills sharp and it's a nice break that provides some intellectual stimulation.

I hope you're able to find some unexpected joys in your life! Have a good end to your week -- stay safe out there!