Our kiddo got to go on a special library adventure with three of her friends after school yesterday. She picked the theme of unicorns and flowers and, boy, did her school librarian deliver. I'm so glad that our kiddo loves libraries as much as we do.

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• Switched up my regular order from our Friday night restaurant
• Slept in until 10:15AM
• Made pasta salad for lunch
• Engrossing door stopper books
• A quiet morning on the reference desk giving me time to catch up
• Got to do some book repair while volunteering
• Kiddo randomly making new friends on the playground
• Taking a slightly longer shower, just because I could
• A friend sending pics of her cat on the group chat

Last night, I worked out even when I really didn't feel like it. I'm proud of myself for just pushing through. 

Here's what else made me happy this week:

• Super rich lavender lotion
• Had our condo professionally cleaned
• Chatting with a neighbor and petting her kitty
• Enjoyed a catered lunch at work
• Spent a lot of time outside when the weather was gorgeous
• All of the comments on my friend Letter Loop this month
• Tried a new bagel-based restaurant
• Kiddo is getting really confident on her bike

Today, my library is honoring two long-term employees with a retirement luncheon. While I'm sad to see them go, it's great to see their joy in what's next. 

Here's what else made me happy this week:

• Reviewing positive feedback from students about our work
• A day with zero meetings
• Was able to be productive around the house while the kiddo entertained herself
• Tried a yummy new vegetarian recipe
• Knocked three things off my needle list in one morning
• Kiddo tackle hugging one of her friends
• A long reflective chat with my colleagues about how the semester went
• Found a free service to stream a show

I spent the morning drafting a video for a work thing. I found some great music to use in the background. It's lilty and boppy and made me dance in my seat as I worked.

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• Had dinner with a family we love
• All of our happy students at graduation
• Winning TWO faculty awards
• Lavender body butter
• Won an iPad in a work raffle
• Felt really confident in a new dress
• Metro luck
• Kiddo doing great with balancing on her bike
• Started laundry before the machines got busy
• Snacking on crispy wonton strips

Since I'm working at our branch campus today, I needed our kiddo to get out of bed on time and out the door early. Luckily, she was ready to go rather quickly. It was raining and the umbrella slowed her down a bit, but I made it to this office with about 10 minutes to spare.

Here's what else made me happy:

• This new pope joke
• Shade at the playground
• The laundry room was empty when I needed it
• Managed to miss the worst of the rain while walking
• Met Gala pictures
• Made a new salad recipe for dinner
• Kiddo asked us to move the laptop so she could "have dinner" with grandma and grandpa during FaceTime
• Banging out a presentation slide deck in one hour
• Dance workouts

I'm working from a different library location today. It was the first time I've had to open a library in years. I forget how quiet and calm things feel when you're the only one in a space. It was a pleasant way to start my work day.

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• Kiddo's adorable last dance class - particularly when everyone spun in their dresses
• Found a dress for a work event on my first attempt...
• ... and it was deeply on sale!
• Splurged and bought myself a cool looking bracelet
• Flowers on our dining room table
• I didn't fill my day off up with projects
• Two days with zero meetings
• Kiddo's sunglasses modeling session
• Caught up on many of my podcasts

Unfortunately, there was not a spot in our building lot when I needed to park this morning. But, I did find a spot not far away AND was able to parallel park on my first try WITH a car behind me waiting to drive past. I gave myself a pat on the back for that one.

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• Long talks with my dad
• Going out to lunch as a family because I didn't feel like making my own
• All the neighborhood flowers
• Cool enough in the evenings to open the windows
• Learning I'm going to be honored at the faculty awards dinner
• Kiddo screaming "Buccees!" when she saw the boxes of Buccee cookies
• Giving myself two days off for "life maintenance"
• Coworker brought me a bar of the viral Dubai chocolate after her trip

I didn't write my usual blog posts on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Life was happening and I decide the posts weren't important. I'm really proud of myself for deciding not to stress over missing something. 

Here's what else was good this week:

• Kiddo's extreme joy when she caught a lizard
• Going on a glass bottom boat tour - and seeing manatees!
• Loving how my keynote presentation slides are coming together
• Sleeping on a comfortable mattress
• The ideal weather in Florida this week...
• ... and spending lots of time outside
• Getting kudos from a colleague
• No morning duty! (Thanks, mom!)
• Watching the kiddo with her uncle
• Having the freedom to work at my pace

It was not my morning to get up with kiddo AND it was a work from home day. I hit snooze until 8AM and it was fantastic. 

Here's what else made me happy this week:

• Our first in person library event went smashingly well
• Watching Ovi get 895
• Upgrading myself to first class and enjoying lunch with a glass of bubbly
• Seeing our article in print!
• Teaching a really engaged class
• Getting dinner with my best friend and really liking the beverage I decided to get
• Kiddo giving me a kiss on the check before I left
• Having lots of happy energy on a weekday

I'm typing this while having a cup of hot coffee in the hotel. Hotel mornings just hit different. As a parent, they're quieter, slower, and calmer. It's a treat to feel less rushed.

Here's what else made me happy this week:

• I just upgraded myself to first for the long leg of my return flights home (it was a steal of a deal!)
• Ran into an old colleague in the hotel lobby and got to catch up
• Figuring out the Minneapolis' skyway system
• Bonding with my fellow passengers during our looooooooong flight delay
• First babysitter experience worked out great!
• Batch making all my newsletters before my travel
• Kiddo randomly wanting to help with lots of chores
• Compiling a lengthy list of resources and reading from this conference
• Relaxing with face masks and red wine each night after the conference