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.

It’s been a week already and as I sat down to write this post, I realized that March is just about over. This year is flying by so far and I think I’m not the only one thinking this way. Anyway…

This past weekend we visited a few [new to us] local parks but didn’t last long outside as it was hot, and the sun was scorching, as usual — definitely not missing Florida summer weather… Though while in the area, we found some new restaurants we added to our list to check out so it wasn’t all lost time.

Here’s this week’s list of 5 things that bring me joy:

• my first tomato ripening! It’s so gratifying to grow some of your own food, even if it’s just for fun. OK, technically, I didn’t grow the tomatoes myself as the fruits were already there when I planted them, but the point is that they’re thriving under my care and now I get to taste the results — I can’t wait!

• this cooling shampoo and conditioner set. While many of you might still be freezing, those of us in Florida are already melting. With forecasted temps of over 90F, I’m looking for ways to cool off, and this shampoo and conditioner set is amazingly refreshing — it’s my go-to during hot weather as the smell and cooling effect bring joy!

• fruit popsicles. Since it’s still strawberry season here, I’ve been blending them with bananas and a bit of almond milk and freezing the result using these popsicle molds to enjoy them as a dessert or whenever. Yum!

• discovering a “corner” by the water in our area where we can enjoy a sunset or just a moment of “peace”.

• this lint remover. I’ve mentioned it before but this little device brings me so much joy — it’s deeply satisfying seeing all the ugly pills disappear from almost any fabric. Have you tried it?

What’s bringing YOU joy this week?

xo,

Em