5 things that bring me joy this week

Check the entire “5 things that bring me joy this week” weekly series here, a collection of seemingly insignificant things that serve as a reminder to appreciate the little things — those small joys that make a difference in our day-to-day.

Is it just me or did February fly by? It really felt like a short month (and yes, it truly was) even though so much has happened around here.

This past weekend we finally managed to spend some time outdoors, and I was reminded of how nice it feels, even if it’s already too warm here. After finding zero parking at one place I’ve been wanting to visit, we had no other option but to change our minds and go to Florida Botanical Gardens, one of my favorite parks to visit in the Tampa Bay area.

Here’s this week’s list of things that bring me joy:

getting that needed break and fresh air in nature. Being in nature always brings joy (and we might have spotted a gator mama and her babies while at the Florida Botanical Gardens).
my orchids blooming. Honestly, I’m still on cloud 9 that my orchids are blooming after two years of waiting. Almost every day a new bud opens on a different plant and it brings so much joy to see the cluster of gorgeous, shimmery flowers. Not only do they bring joy to me, but they also brighten up our entire home. What’s not to love?
salad for lunch. I am a veggie/greens lover thru and thru so a salad full of a variety of them sure brings a lot of joy. Spring mix, kalamata olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, shredded carrots, raw sunflower seeds, and a hummus dressing I make sounds pretty good, right? Eating healthy brings joy 😉.
the blue and white tile dress I’m wearing in the photo above. I adore blue and white and, well, how can this dress not bring joy? More details coming soon.
these timer light bulbs. I love scheduling these to come on at a specific time for a set amount of hours as I don’t have to interrupt whatever I’m doing once it gets dark. And it sure makes it nice not having to go out of my way to turn the lights off once I’m ready for bed, or already in bed - the lights go out on their own at their set time without fail. Technology isn’t all that bad, right?