Mood Boosters...

I thought I'd quickly share this short list of things that have recently brightened my days. In no particular order they are:

1. Mexican food, well pseudo-Mexican food. I'd say the quality would be somewhere between Qdoba and Taco Mayo. Nevertheless, I got to eat a burrito bowl and chips and salsa while listening to PitBull's "Gasolina" playing in the background. Thank you, Nanna Mexico, for making me feel so close to home.

2. Frozen Planet. This BBC documentary series is like Planet Earth, but is entirely focused on the North and South Poles. It is absolutely thrilling and fascinating. God is such a creative and wonderful artist. The BBC iPlayer allows me to watch old episodes of television shows, listen to already aired radio programs, and have access to certain movies. It's making the absence of a TV practically painless. (I have to admit that I do still miss HGTV and Bravo...)

3. Bible study. I went to the women's connection group at Holy Trinity on Thursday morning. I met a group of really sweet and welcoming ladies and some of their kids. We talked about the story of Esther, prayed for each other, and I got to play with some precious babies. I've decided that I will be going back on a weekly basis.

Just to be clear, this baby was not actually at Bible study, nor were the kids who were there this unhappy. However, there was a little girl named Anna who was about this age. I just Googled "2 month old baby" and thought this picture was comical. If I were clever I would have come up with an explanatory caption of the baby's reason for the furrowed brow...maybe, "What are you laughing at? Like your hair looks any better when you wake up."

4. All-American dinner party. Thursday night we had quite a cultural mix of friends over for pulled pork sandwiches, sweet potato fries, and funfetti cookies. What happens when you seat an Italian, a Greek, a Scottsman, a Chilean, and two Americans at one dinner table? You find out that red wine is tasty when mixed with carbonated pink raspberry lemonade, that your Spanish skills suck compared to the Mandarin Chinese skills of an Italian, and that diversity is incredibly enriching.

5. Grocery home delivery. Last Sunday, Sainsbury's brought bags upon bags of delicious and nutritious yummies straight to my front door. No hassling with carrying them over a mile or fitting them into my bike basket. It was heavenly. My view of the world has changed. Now I will definitely consume unseemly amounts of milk and juice knowing that I no longer have to worry about my arms falling off the next time I want to buy some replacements.

To top it all off, I got an email yesterday saying my next 3 deliveries were free! Will the joy never cease?

6. Fireworks. With Guy Fawkes Day coming up tomorrow (November 5th), fireworks have been going off like crazy during this past week. The smell of the leftover smoke on the night air takes me back to the 4th of July. We will be attending a couple of bonfires over the weekend, and I am curiously looking forward to celebrating this holiday that I don't entirely understand. Despite the fact that the Guy Fawkes masks scare me, and the custom of burning fake stuffed people seems sort of sadistic, I'm sure that campfires, fireworks, food, and an overall sense of revelry will make for a good time.

"Remember, remember the 5th of November..."

7. Updates from family and friends. Ashamedly, I feel that I have been really self-centered over the past month, obsessing over my adjustments, my problems, my new life abroad, etc. As if to remind me that (thankfully) I am not the center of the universe, life has been continuing full speed ahead and has been very exciting for the people I care about. For example, my parents are currently on vacation in Hawaii (yes, I'm jealous) and OSU's football team is kicking some serious booty. I'm increasingly thankful for Facebook, Pinterest, and blogs for making me feel like I am still in touch with the outside world even when I don't leave the house.

Right now, the time in Hawaii and Britain is 10 hours different, and on Sunday, it will be 11 hours (Daylight Savings Time.) Yet, I just called my mom and dad via the Internet and talked to them about their snorkeling adventures. Technology astounds me sometimes. It's almost miraculous.

8. Old movies. Like I mentioned in #2, the BBC iPlayer lets me watch different films on a weekly basis. Although most of them are not my cup of tea, I have gotten lucky a couple times, seeing Bye Bye Birdie and Follow the Fleet. Oldies, but goodies. Musicals have a way of making me feel like everything is going to be alright. Just "let yourself go" and "put on a happy face," right?

9. Reese's. After demolishing the supply of chocolate candies that my mom sent in our care package, Matthew and I discovered that they do sell Reese's Peanut Butter Cups here!!! Oh, happy day!!!

Girl, I know how you feel.

10. Interior decorating opportunity. Long story short, I have been given the chance to come up with some ideas for redecorating and sprucing up the Department of Chemical Engineering here at Cambridge University. I think that they think I'm more qualified than I actually am, but they are letting me come up with some ideas for refurbishing the lobby/reception area, the tea room, and some other random common spaces. I will be working on some concepts and finding some budget-friendly options (most likely from IKEA) and then presenting them for approval and possible implementation. I'm surprised and ecstatic that I will be getting to use my degree. I won't be getting paid or anything, but hey, it's great experience. I have something design-related to work on!!! Yippee!

The location of the New Museum Site for the department, which is the location of the building I am generating ideas for.

That concludes my list for now. Have a terrific weekend!!! I hope that you can find many things, no matter how small, to boost your mood too!