Greetings! I hope 2019 has been good to you so far and your day is going well. I want to share five random things that are making me smile today:
1. Nature in sunshine: We woke up to a light dusting of snow on the ground and a bright, sunny morning. I went for a walk to enjoy nature. Blue skies, sunshine, sparkling snow, and the lake view, they all bring me happy thoughts. The pink umbrellas at the beach are cute, too. A simple walk always clears my mind and warms my body. I came home feeling energized and upbeat for the rest of the day.
2. Five VIP birthdays: My brother, my sister-in-law, my nephew, my niece, and one of my longtime friends since grade six are celebrating another trip around the sun this month. I visualize their smiles or laughs and the images make me smile. I'm happy to have them in my life. They are very important people (VIP) to me. I'm wishing each of them a wonderful birthday and a fantastic year ahead.
3. My upcoming trip to Guatemala: I pack one carry-on suitcase with light clothing in it since the daily high temperature there is around 24C (75F), low 12C (54F). Light packing means less to pack, less to carry, less to remember, less to lose, and less to unpack.
I look forward to exploring some of the main attractions in Guatemala such as Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Lake Atitlan, formed thousands of years ago in the crater of a massive volcano, and Guatemala's local villages and markets. Here's a photo of Guatemalan bills, 5, 10, and 20 quetzales:
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| Guatemalan bills |
4. A frugal win: Speaking of money, we made reservations for our family outing in January and saved about 30% on the hotel room rate at time of booking, before taxes. The savings will go towards nice dining or future travel. Either way it will bring us more fun experiences. We plan to enjoy our time together, and be away from household chores for a couple of days. I bet the thought of no housework for a few days would make you smile, too.
5. A 'wide' challenge: I discovered the Toronto Public Library 2019 Reading Challenge on their web site. This is exciting and timely for me since one of my goals for 2019 is to read three books each month. I just finished Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (288 pages) and Holly Ringland's The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (400 pages). After I return from Guatemala, I plan to take on the Reading Challenge and see how widely I read this year.
What's making you smile today? Let me know in the comments!
Hi Natalie! I always look forward to your posts and they inspire me. Firstly, I love that you had some sunshine with the snow as sunshine always lifts the spirits. At the moment it is Summer in Australia so plenty of sunshine here and hot weather. I'm an avid reader and escape with a book whenever I can. I love your term 'another trip around the sun' how lovely to describe a birthday. We have booked a trip in September as your travel always inspires me. We finally booked an Alaskan Cruise and a Tour of the Canadian Rockies which is something we have wanted to do for many years but always seem to select somewhere else. This year we are going! Have a beautiful week and thanks for staring my Monday with a smile. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sue, for your kind comment. Your Alaska cruise and the Tour of the Canadian Rockies sound fantastic! The Canadian Rockies are majestic. I'm glad you choose to visit a beautiful part of Canada. Have a beautiful week!
DeleteWhat's making me smile? I've just finished arranging accommodation for Christmas and New Year in England for later this year. I won't do the rest until mid year, but Christmas & New Year accommodation was filling up!
ReplyDeleteChristmas and New Year in England sounds fabulous, Jo! I'm glad you finished booking accommodation as it's a very popular destination at that time of the year.
DeleteFab to read of what's made you smile this week Natalie! #Lifethisweek
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debbie, for stopping by. Have a great week!
DeleteSounds like a lovely reading challenge and a great trip to look forward to! So many birthdays! Wow! :) What's making me smile? Being able to enjoy the beach again after a grey week, my cats and my new hair colour.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're having a good week. Sanch. The beach is almost always an attraction, isn't it? Enjoy every little thing that makes you smile :)
DeleteHave a fun trip to Guatemala!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Darlene. Have an enjoyable week!
DeleteYou have lots to smile about! Your upcoming trip to Guatemala sounds fantastic. I look forward to reading more about it (and seeing pictures) on your blog. We are expecting rain today so I am smiling about that. Southern California is in great need of rain and I love sitting inside all safe and warm, watching it come down.
ReplyDeleteI hope for a fantastic trip to Guatemala and will post with photos when I return. Thanks, Janis, for stopping by. Enjoy the soothing sounds of rain!
DeleteHow exciting, so many VIP birthdays at once. Can't wait to read about Guatemala.
ReplyDeleteSSG xxx
Thanks, SSG, for stopping by. Hope your week is going well.
DeleteHi, Natalie -
ReplyDeleteThe honest truth is that your post made me smile today. Your enthusiasm, positivity and joy for life is contagious. Good luck with your upcoming trip to Guatemala. I look forward to reading about your adventures.
Hi Donna - So happy my post made you smile and that thought widens my smile even more :) Have a wonderful week!
DeleteBeautiful subjects to smile about. I love blue skies myself, but the cold in Toronto (as it is in Boston) right now, is keeping me inside. Luckily, I get back to San Diego later this month and hope to walk more there. :-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time in Guatemala. It sounds like you are heading into the mountains based on the lower temps. Lake Atitlan is very picturesque (I hope you get to visit one of the indigenous villages, Chichicastenango comes to mind, if I spelled it right :-)) and Antigua is a beautiful town. It’s where we met the woman and her dog we just house sat for (yes, the same dog) in December. Skylos is now 16 years old. He was 3 when we met in Guatemala in 2005!
Hi Liesbet - That's a remarkable story you have with Skylos and his owner. I just returned from Guatemala and had a wonderful time there.
DeleteLovely post, thanks Natalie. I was a late convert to the Lost Flowers of Alice Hart: listened on audible and found it complex but very enjoyable. It certainly had a lot of Australian references in it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up for #lifethisweek 2/51. Next week's optional prompt is Best Gift Ever 21.1.19. Denyse
Thanks, Denyse, for hosting. I just returned from Guatemala and linked up today.
DeleteOne thing that made me smile today was hiking with Rob on a trail to the top of a steep rocky hill. From the summit, we had a beautiful view of the bay, and the sun was shining.
ReplyDeleteI have read the Stephen King book “On Writing” and I thought it was very good. I have not read the Ringwall book.
Jude
Hi Jude - Your hike sounds wonderful. I love the scenery and nature where you live.
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