So often, we get caught up in our day to day routines and forget to appreciate the little things in life.  In my Little Things series, I like to honor the details that are making me happy today. Now, I ask my readers to send me a photo and note about what is making THEM happy today.

Mindy says,

Once upon a time there was a little store on the corner of 52nd Street and Second Avenue called Bazaar de la Cuisine. Other than the fact that it sold Le Creuset cookware and some French porcelain dinnerware, the store really didn’t have anything to do with France. (Note: I am not a Francophile, so if the owners are out there somewhere, and they claim French heritage, mea culpa.) It was however, a veritable treasure trove of kitchen miscellania from all parts of the world.

Right about the time I left my two roommates and moved into my own cozy studio apartment, Bazaar de la Cuisine posted a sale sign on the French flag-festooned red, white, and blue sandwich board that stood outside the store. They were having a sale on coffee mills…a BIG sale. To make a long story short, I went in, bought a coffee mill, and it became my very first kitchen purchase ever.  I could have sprung for something a little fancier–the coffee grinder is quite a utilitarian piece of kitchen equipment–but it was inexpensive enough, and I had a wealth of other culinary “stuff” that was handed down to me. I wasn’t even a huge coffee drinker back then–it was way before the Starbucks-on-every-corner days. But the idea of having a nice hot cup of freshly made coffee in my own place seemed so sophisticated and “mature” to me. And knowing that I ground my own beans further planted me (in my mind) into the world of young, urban turks–ready to climb the ladder of success, coffee mug in hand.

My next task as a young metropolite was to purchase the beans. Porto Rico Coffeein Greenwich Village has been in existence since 1907, and I don’t think they’ve changed the look of the place since. They roast their own beans and after all those years, that rich, deep coffee smell seems to have permeated the walls. It hits you the moment you enter and puts you in a mocha spell. I knew that this was definitely where I wanted to buy my beans, and so I stood in line amongst all those other coffee aficianados like myself. And when I was asked what type of grind I would like, I proudly declared, “I’ll grind my own, thank you.”

Read the rest here!

You, too, can be a part of “The Little Things: Reader Submissions” page! Send me a photo of one of the “little things” making you happy today, along with a short note. You do NOT have to be a blogger to take part, but if you have a blog, I will link back to you. Send your submissions to savvyjulie@gmail.com, with “The Little Things” as the subject line!

If you’ve submitted your own “Little Things” post, or simply support the series, consider adding this badge to your blog!

INSERT THIS CODE INTO A TEXT WIDGET

<div align=”center”> <a href=”http://www.savvyeat.com/category/reader-submissions-the-little-things-2/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.savvyeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LTBadge1.jpg”/></a></div>

So often, we get caught up in our day to day routines and forget to appreciate the little things in life.  In my Little Things series, I like to honor the details that are making me happy today. Now, I ask my readers to send me a photo and note about what is making THEM happy today.

Emily says,

I love dips.  Any kind, with any chip, cracker, or veggie.  But my favorite kind of dip came to me by a surprise.  When I was living in DC a few years ago for a summer, my friends and I happened upon chili con queso from Whole Foods, fell in love (more like, I became obsessed with it), and renamed it mexi dip to make it easier to reference.   That summer, I ate more containers of that stuff than I should have, but enjoyed every. single. scoop.  After returning home to the midwest, I craved it all of the time but didn’t have a Whole Foods near me.

Fast forward a few years to living in Madison, which has a whole foods. I was SO SO SO excited because I would be able to get my mexi dip fix!  The first time I went in there, I was so sad because they didn’t carry it  Luckily, last summer I was able to make a visit to DC and come home with a few containers, but needless to say those didn’t last long.  It even earned it’s own blog post, here.

ANYWAYS, the point of this story being.  Yesterday I was in Whole Foods to pick up a couple things, happened to go down the refrigerated aisle, and this caught my eye.

Read the rest here!

You, too, can be a part of “The Little Things: Reader Submissions” page! Send me a photo of one of the “little things” making you happy today, along with a short note. You do NOT have to be a blogger to take part, but if you have a blog, I will link back to you. Send your submissions to savvyjulie@gmail.com, with “The Little Things” as the subject line!

If you’ve submitted your own “Little Things” post, or simply support the series, consider adding this badge to your blog!

INSERT THIS CODE INTO A TEXT WIDGET

<div align=”center”> <a href=”http://www.savvyeat.com/category/reader-submissions-the-little-things-2/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.savvyeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LTBadge1.jpg”/></a></div>

So often, we get caught up in our day to day routines and forget to appreciate the little things in life.  In my Little Things series, I like to honor the details that are making me happy today. Now, I ask my readers to send me a photo and note about what is making THEM happy today.

Liz says,

This makes me soo happy! It is so simple and basic but it is the best way to perk up the middle of my day..especially after my workouts!

You, too, can be a part of “The Little Things: Reader Submissions” page! Send me a photo of one of the “little things” making you happy today, along with a short note. You do NOT have to be a blogger to take part, but if you have a blog, I will link back to you. Send your submissions to savvyjulie@gmail.com, with “The Little Things” as the subject line!

If you’ve submitted your own “Little Things” post, or simply support the series, consider adding this badge to your blog!

INSERT THIS CODE INTO A TEXT WIDGET

<div align=”center”> <a href=”http://www.savvyeat.com/category/reader-submissions-the-little-things-2/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.savvyeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LTBadge1.jpg”/></a></div>

Renee says,

What made me happy today was chalkboard paint!  I made some cheap coasters as gifts.

Julie’s note: Aren’t they super cute?

<div align=”center”> <a href=”http://www.savvyeat.com/category/reader-submissions-the-little-things-2/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.savvyeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LTBadge1.jpg”/></a></div>

Heather says,

 

It’s been a long month. I feel drained, emotionally and mentally, and getting through the work day at the office is becoming increasingly difficult. It’s days like these that make focusing on the little things so important.

Today I received a fun package in the mail from one of my very best friends, Megan. It was filled with great surprises and random bits of fun, along with three CDs full of music Megan assured me I needed in my life. I love listening to CD mixes at my desk, especially when they were handmade by dear friends who understand my soul in a way not a lot of people do. This collection of covers is especially lovely to get me through the work day!

<div align=”center”> <a href=”http://www.savvyeat.com/category/reader-submissions-the-little-things-2/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.savvyeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LTBadge1.jpg”/></a></div>

Nic says,

I would call this the little big things…

My brother, Ben and sister-in-law are about to have the worst day of their life and it’s going to mean that my sister-in-law needs to be in hospital overnight, Ben wants to be with her so I’m going to theirs to take care of my 20 month old nephew. During the conversation with my brother about all that’s going on and nephew’s routine etc, he asks me how I am, what’s going on with me. I’m humbled by how in the middle of all this tragedy, my brother still finds the time to find out about me and it totally changes how I think about my life and reminds me of how I’d like to be.

<div align=”center”> <a href=”http://www.savvyeat.com/category/reader-submissions-the-little-things-2/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.savvyeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LTBadge1.jpg”/></a></div>

Heather says,

There are few things more magical than stumbling upon a natural wonder. When I come across something as AWE-bringing (and therefore AWESOME) as this tree, I can’t help but remember that there are miracles all around us – and sometimes in the most unexpected places. Little thoughts like these are the types of little things that make a day extraordinary.

<div align=”center”> <a href=”http://www.savvyeat.com/category/reader-submissions-the-little-things-2/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.savvyeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LTBadge1.jpg”/></a></div>

Heather says,

I may or may not be a tad bit obsessed with all things Presidential.

Maybe.

That being said, imagine my delight when my boss brought a page of POTUS Monument stamps to my desk for me to gaze at lovingly and place on outgoing mail from my desk.

LOVE this entire sheet of little things

<div align=”center”> <a href=”http://www.savvyeat.com/category/reader-submissions-the-little-things-2/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.savvyeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LTBadge1.jpg”/></a></div>

Erin says,

Today, and every day I am so very grateful for my amazing boyfriend Josh. We have been together for exactly 3 ½ years and they’ve been the best years of my life – I have laughed until my stomach hurt, had some crazy adventures, gone on countless “wine walks” and have always felt safe and loved when I am with him. He’s my best friend and my partner in crime and for that I am thankful.

<div align=”center”> <a href=”http://www.savvyeat.com/category/reader-submissions-the-little-things-2/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.savvyeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LTBadge1.jpg”/></a></div>

Heathersays,

Today is the first official day of summer.

Give me lemonade. Give me dinner from a grill. Give me baseball, ice cream trucks, Frisbee, lightening bugs, popsicles, swimming holes, fireworks, and sunshine.

But mostly, give me late nights with the dearest friends, surrounding a campfire, laughing ourselves silly with a gentle breeze in the tree tops.

And also, give me s’mores.

Please.

<div align=”center”> <a href=”http://www.savvyeat.com/category/reader-submissions-the-little-things-2/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.savvyeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LTBadge1.jpg”/></a></div>