FIVE SMALL THINGS

British summer time is finally with us!
And after what was a downright wash out last week in good ole rainy Manchester it appears that spring has finally decided to join us and it’s making me all kinds of happy.

It’s true what they say about the sunshine and it’s positive affect on many things especially the mood of others.

Spring is my absolute favourite season of the year, shortly followed by Autumn. Theres something about those in-between seasons that bring a somewhat new start with them. It’s always a time when I like to reflect, a time when I like to look over the past season, to see where I’ve come, developed, what I’ve enjoyed and what’s made me unhappy. It’s a time when I feel I have a new lease of life and a new lease of inspiration and it’s a time that makes me oh so truly happy indeed.

With that I thought I’d kick start my first spring blog post, with an oh-so happy and spring like get-up and also share with you five of the small things in life, that just so happen to be some of my most happiest of things.

So first up, the outfit.
Some days it’s all about throwing on your most favourite of happy pieces and not giving a hoot if you look like a little spring unicorn… I mean, who doesn’t want to look like a unicorn?!?
It was the first day of spring, the skies were blue, the sun was shining and what little blossoms we have here in the city, well they were out in their droves and I of course had to replicate all of that in my outfit of the day.
Pink, blue and yellow shades made up the entire palette for my much loved city and in turn my outfit of choice that day thanks to this faux fur gilet that you’ve seen before in this post, but that still provides me with so much joy.

Throwing it on with some newer pieces in the form of a happy-hue of spring colours this pink Weekday ribbed tee and a light-wash-denim midi skirt by Pull and Bear. What could be a somewhat mumsy look was given a modern uptake with the gilet and thanks to my brand new, and most favourite platform brogues from Kurt Geiger; I simply adore how playful they are, a total Marmite piece but you know thats just how I like it.

And now for those five of my favourite small things in life...

1. A Full Fridge Of Food

Trust me to kick things off with food.

Working from home is great, I simply love it and totally wouldn’t have it any other way.
However the temptation to head out for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with perhaps a coffee and cake stop in-between is oh so real!
It’s an ongoing battle I have each and every week, what with Manchester having some of the most delicious restaurants and cafes around and with George also being self employed it’s a treat that we love to indulge in.

That and the fact that we’re both absolutely terrible when it comes to food shopping we simply never have anything in the fridge.
So recently I’ve been shopping online and the difference it has made in both my diet, in my spending and my happiness is unreal.
Finishing up working around 530pm to start cooking a delicious meal for George and I has become one of those therapeutic moments that I look forward to every single day. Now that is not a sentence I ever thought I would say.

It was one of my New Year’s resolutions to cook more and in turn get a little bit healthier and I’m really enjoying doing just that.
Let me know if you’d like to hear about some of my fave recipes too, recipes for novice cooks so those with ingredients that are easy to get hold of and that don’t take all too long to cook, I think thats something I’d really like to share so do let me know if you’re keen.

GILET- OLD c/o URBAN CODE, TSHIRT- WEEKDAY, SKIRT- PULL & BEAR, SHOES- KURT GEIGER, BAG STRAP & BAG- c/o CATH KIDSTON, SUNGLASSES- RAYBAN via SUNGLASSES SHOP

2. Those 9372485904758932494 Nicknames

Oh nicknames, is it just me or is there something totally adorable about both receiving and giving out a nickname. For as long as I can remember I’ve always been given a shed load of nicknames, whether that be Meggie Moo-Moo when I was a little girl, Megan Bacon (like egg and bacon FYI) when I got a little older, up to being Megzy with a Z throughout high school, I’ve always liked having a mini alter ego in the form of a nickname.

However, I’ve never had quite so many nicknames as I do now. George is the king of nicknames and he has a huge list of nicknames for yours truly.

Whether it’s simply Megsy (this time with a much softer S) Monkey or Chippy or more unusually Mrs McGuigan (don’t ask) Clarence The Spewer or My Lady In Lal it’s one of the many things I love oh so much about him and one of those really small things that always brings a huge smile to my face.

3. Lighting

Great lighting is something that is often hard to come by, but when you get it, oh boy do you get it! Natural, soft light streaming in through windows or gleaming down a side street instantly fills me with warmness and a happy little buzz races throughout me.

4. Breaking The Seal

Since purchasing our much loved coffee machine this isn’t something that graces my life all to often anymore but my gosh when it does, I am one happy gal indeed.
That little silver film that covers a pot of instant coffee is one of the most satisfying things to pierce. Stabbing it in the centre with a chopping knife and hearing the pop and that hit of the coffee aroma is a sure-fired-way to a great day ahead.

5. Random Acts Of Kindness

Now this one goes without saying but my goodness does it make me feel good when a stranger does or says something nice.
Whether it’s happening across the room from me to another complete stranger or whether it’s something nice someone has done for me, it’s an instant mood lifter indeed.
Just this morning in fact, a builder I exchange pleasantries with each and every day stopped me in the street to say how much he loved my “individual style” now that was enough to make me cry. This builder has always been sweet to me, but to go to the effort to stop me and say how glad he was to see me not “following the crowd” was an instant pick me up and just the comment I needed to pull me out of my receipt filing downer.

So there we go theres just five of the many small things in life that make an instant difference to my mood and in-turn my day. I’d love to hear about your favourite small things! And I’d also really love to hear if you’ve enjoyed this post as I’d love to make it more of a regular thing and to spread a little more happiness with you lovely lot.

x M

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOPHIE TRAYNOR