some things making me happy

January has simultaneously felt like the longest month while also flying by. I'm not quite sure how that happens, but I'm glad for January to be over. I've been back in my apartment this week after staying with my mom while my ankle recovered. I'm not fully recovered just yet, but it feels great to have some of my independence back!

This afternoon, I called my grandma because she wanted updates on my ankle, and I wanted updates on my cousin's brand new baby born this week! My aunt sent me photos of the newest grandkid, and he is absolutely beautiful. I cannot wait to meet him! My grandma was glad to hear I was healing well, and I told her that really everything was fine and could have been worse. But it's true! I'm fortunate to be healthy overall, to live in the same city with my parents so that they could take care of me, and to have health insurance to pay for my surgery (well MOST of my surgery, but I don't want to talk about all my adult health insurance struggles). My grandma was proud of my good attitude, but it's true! Breaking my ankle absolutely sucked, but the situation could have been so much worse, and it's good for me to remember that.

In fact, it's important to reflect on the good things we have in life. Inspired by my conversation earlier today, and my one of favorite podcasts, Pop Culture Happy Hour, I wanted to make a list of things that have been making me happy lately.

• I started a bullet journal this week! I've lurked on the bullet journal tag on tumblr for so long, and I just took the leap to start this. I'm leaning more into the creative side and trying to work on my art skills rather than just it as a minimalist type planner. It's an exciting new creative endeavor!
• The Adventure Zone is a podcast I ADORE, and I've been obsessed with this fan-made animatic. There's some MAJOR spoilers for the whole show, but it's just a perfect clip. Also, listen to The Adventure Zone, it is such an incredible narrative journey.

• After surgery, I was barely able to focus on anything, which made reading really difficult. I also had difficulty paying attention to TV or films. So I just binged a ton of SacconeJoly videos. They're a UK based vlogging family, and they're just so joyful. I'm a bit torn about how I feel about people vlogging their children, but I also love watching their three kids. As Walt Whitman says, I contain multitudes!

• This gif of Blue Ivy. I greatly look forward to whatever Blue Ivy decides to do in the future. She'll kick ass no matter what.
• Sudoku! I discovered a book of sudoku puzzles while staying with my mom, and I've loved completing these puzzles. I've always really liked the logic of playing sudoku, and I used to be obsessed with a sudoku app, but it's really a lot more satisfying to do it with pencil and paper.

yes, I know this lighting is TERRIBLE, oh well

• Lastly, this makeup look. I was really happy with how this look turned out. I much prefer a bold lip to a nude lip, but doing something lighter with a pinky nude gloss actually turned out well. I used this palette from ColourPop for my eyes, which you NEED an eyeshadow primer for, otherwise these colors crease like crazy. But with a primer, they stayed all day and looked amazing.

I feel great writing about things that make me happy, especially because with the makeup and bullet journal since it's things I created. Writing in this blog is a great exercise for me, and it makes me smile to round up things that have brought me joy lately.