According to my weather app, it's 20 degrees out right now. I'm glad it was the Husband's day to walk our kiddo to school because it means I got to stay cozy in bed. (So glad we alternate morning duty!)

Here's what else made me smile:

• Was asked to serve on a panel about leadership at an upcoming conference
• Meeting up with a public library colleague to talk collaboration
• Spending an entire weekend with friends...
• ... and putting together three puzzles with them
• Winter boots
• Kiddo asked for more bacon in her pasta carbonara
• Tracking down an interesting reference query
• The town rallying to support WaPo journalists

DC is in the swath of the US that is expecting a major snow storm. I decided to hit the grocery store this morning because I figured our usual Saturday morning run would be pure chaos. Whelp, the store was still chaos, but at least I was able to get everything on my list (and I arrived before the store ran out of carts).

Here's what else was good this week:

• Nabbed a fully loaded bag of goodies from the local bakery for only $7 using Too Good to Go
• Kiddo is starting to read to us at bedtime
• New over the head headphones giving my ears a break
• Built my LEGO orchids to use as a centerpiece
• When kiddo saw her dad's papercut she said, "Dad, you have to be careful!"
• Did way more scanning than planned
• Cute TV romances
• Finally buying an electric kettle for the office
• Sneaking in a shower while dinner simmered
• Kiddo raving about the pasta and sauce I made

Last night, I went out to dinner with a friend. In addition to my yummy omelet, I had an apple cinnamon mocktail. It was delicious! Just the right amount of warming spice with some pleasant fizz. I'm glad that fancy mocktails are a thing. 

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• The kiddo remembered we needed to return her school library books (when I had forgotten)
• Seasonal window clings
• Meandering friend chats
• Mythbusters
• An utterly charming romance story
• Kiddo's excitement to do a 100-piece puzzle with me
• Finished providing edits on a book manuscript I was asked to review (I really hope it finds a publisher!)
• Finally worked on a project I've been putting off and made HUGE progress
• Reading alone on the couch when I was up way too early

I just spent three-ish hours setting up my materials for the classes I'm embedded in. Stealing an idea from a colleague, I made a complete roster of all the students in my courses. Right now, I've got 176 students on my list. That number will fluctuate until we hit add/drop, but I'm excited to be working with students again. The library is too quiet during breaks.

Here's what else made me happy this week:

• Work provided lunch twice this week
• Trying a new-ish activity as a family
• Dropping off a ton of donations
• Restocking our family friendly study space with some new goodies
• Kiddo wrote her first thank you cards
• The walkability of city living
• Hoodies
• Nuking leftovers for an easy lunch
• Kiddo was still adorably fast asleep when I went to wake her up for school

Today, was my first day back at work since mid-December. Thankfully, it's also a work from home day. I'm greatly enjoying this slow ease back into things. I get to wear comfy slippers and a cozy sweater while clearing out my inbox. 

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• Hanging a tinsel curtain for our kiddo to enjoy at New Year's
• Eating the last of the holiday baked goods
• Celebrating New Year's Day with friends
• Very light traffic while we drive our kiddo to and from gymnastics camp
• Finishing all of the tasks I set for myself during dead week
• Staring a brand new bullet journal
• Finding lots of things to donate during my annual winter weeding session
• Putting new sheets on our bed
• Catching up on podcasts while doing laundry
• Snack plates for lunch

Last night, the husband and I celebrated our anniversary at our first Michelin Star restaurant. The food was excellent (I would go back for the shrimp toast alone) and the service exceptional. It's not going to become a common thing for us, but it was certainly nice for a special event.

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• Kiddo asking for holiday songs as her lullaby
• Eating a snickerdoodle warm out of the oven
• Sitting down after a productive day
• Roads stayed okay when ice/snow were predicted
• A super quiet few days on the reference desk
• Sleeping in a little on a weekday
• Kiddo helped carry a basket through the grocery store
• My parents arrived early for the holidays

I just finished a whirlwind day of errands and party prep. Now I'm enjoying a well deserved sit with some fizzy water and ASMR videos. It feels good after being productive for so many hours.

Here's what else made me happy this week:

• Using pictures of my colleague's cat in some work material
• Trying a new pastry at the French bakery
• Little cups of strong coffee
• Visiting a stationery store
• Fresh Christmas tree scent filling our home
• Spent a whole day in comfy clothing
• The extra sparkly trees at this year's Zoo Lights
• Conversational flurries on my drive to Costco
• Kiddo skip walking the entire walk home

I must thank the snow that arrived early this morning for being polite. The timing and forecast had me worried about our school system closing. Luckily, we're being treated to lovely large flakes that stuck to everything but the roads. Schools opened on time, and I got cozy winter vibes with lovely views.

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• The husband and I enjoyed a lovely (and delicious) date night dinner before we flew home from Thanksgiving
• Kiddo narrating the descent of our flight on our trip home
• Shoe shopping with the kiddo
• Making a fun video for work and having it turn out like it did in my head
• Ordering Thai food for dinner on a cold evening
• A shockingly good Hallmark Christmas movie
• Cowl necked sweaters
• Using my penguin mug on WFH days

Right now, there are three open suitcases in our bedroom. We leave super early tomorrow morning for some Thanksgiving travel. I doubt the kiddo will sleep because she's so excited.

Here's what made me smile this week:

• Upgrading myself to First for less than $100
• Family couch rot day
• Met some fun new people at a Friendsgiving
• Finally found myself an advent calendar
• Pub trivia night with friends
• Skipping a pointless meeting
• Cucumber sandwich for lunch
• Kiddo looking like a teenager in her new flare pants
• Cowl necked sweaters

I'm currently chilling in my hotel room, listening to podcasts, and sipping coffee. In a few hours, I will catch my flight home. I spent the past few days at a conference full of amazing library marketers. Even with *everything* libraries have hanging over them, this was a joyous conference. I can't wait to come back next year.

Here's what else made me happy:

• My hotel room came with an unexpected view of the Gateway Arch
• I worked ahead before I left so I'm not coming home to a scary to-do list
• Having an impromptu outdoor brunch with my family
• Kiddo saying "I have an idea!" a lot during her playdate
• PJs all day
• The Husband scrolled my website and was impressed with my CV
• FAA restrictions didn't hit my flights
• Attendees stayed for my entire presentation despite it being the last one of the day and the room becoming super hot...
• ... and they asked lots of good questions!
• Taking walks around the Arch to stretch my legs during breaks
• Kiddo "feeding" real acorns to a squirrel statue