Op-Shopping

I love Op-Shopping. It definitely brings me Joy,

On the weekend my daughter and I quickly went into Vinnie’s and my daughter was excited to find cups with Coca-Cola and even though Coca-Cola does not bring me Joy, I knew my son would be excited too with these glasses. I actually love homewares from Vinnies and glad my daughter is introduced to the concept of second-hand too. 

I love buying clothes second hand too. I feel like I am treasure hunting. Today I bought a yellow and white striped Country Road Dress for $20 and love it. I also bought a crochet top and love this too. I saw another tshirt I liked yet it was small and felt a bit snug. 

I love buying clothes, washing them and then putting them in my wardrobe, ready to wear.

Joy joy joy! I love when I buy something that I love. Can’t wait to get back to the store for another look around, knowing I always walk out with something special.  Op-Shopping fills me with Joy.

Palmier

I definitely experience Joy from a Palmier. And it’s more than just the eating, it’s about the excitement of buying one and looking forward to eating it and then taking a photo and then enjoying this treat. 

A Palmier defined as “a sweet crisp pastry shaped like a palm leaf”.

During lockdown there have been a few occasions where we have gone for a walk or my thoughtful husband has gone for a walk and bought me a Palmier.

A Palmier is not an everyday treat. If I had these everyday it would take away the sense of it being special. 

The other day at work I was so super stressed and I was so happy to go for a walk with the family and so delighted when my hubby told me that we were on our way to get a Palmier. Joy!!! Exactly what I needed to cheer me up and feel loved after a tough day at work.

Thongs

I love wearing Thongs, I love when the weather is good enough to be able to wear Thongs. Wearing Thongs in Thing wearing weather definitely brings me Joy.

My daughter loves wearing Thongs too and would wear them all year long if we didn’t say no and make her wear her joggers.

Today was hot, beach weather. I loved walking out the door and putting on our Thongs and just jumping in the car, ready for our adventure. And over we were at the beach I loved just gently kicking off our Thongs and walking along the beach. 

Thongs represent Summer and warmth and sunshine, the things that bring me Joy.

I only have a black pair of Thongs now yet I just buy a white pair and a gold pair once shops open after lockdown. I can’t wait to wear my Thongs and get back to the beach this week.

Rocks

I love Rocks too.  Rock painting and Rock hunting, in particular for me, bring Joy.

When my daughter was 5 years we would drive around looking for Rocks, using NSW Rocks Facebook page as a guide – if there was a rockdrop we would race to the destination and my daughter would look for rocks.

My daughter loved it.  I loved it.  It was part of our special memories.  Memories always bring me Joy.

Over the years my daughter has found painted Rocks and it always brings me Joy seeing the Joy on her face.  Just the other day when we were enjoying a Where’s Wally hunt down at the beach, which was amazing, my children were so excited when they found painted Rocks.

This weekend I loved the chance to paint Rocks with my children.  And then I loved that on our picnic we took a great walk through the park and bushland and hid some Rocks for some children to find and it was exciting seeing my children excited to hide the Rocks too.    

We have bought more Rocks and textas and paint pens and I am looking forward to more craft time painting and hiding Rocks.  It’s the simple things that do bring Joy.

Shells

I love Shells.  I love Shells for their beauty and for what they mean to me too.  I love when I see Shells at the beach.  I love collecting Shells.  I have always loved collecting Shells.  And now I love collecting Shells with my children.  Shells bring me Joy, collecting Shells bring me Joy.

I remember in my 30s running and then going for a swim and then collecting Shells and I remember feeling like I was on a treasure hunt. I loved walking along the sand and loved the different Shells, searching for some of my favourite types of Shells.  I honestly felt as though I had found gold and silver treasures and loved collecting them, taking them home, washing them and admiring their beauty.  I once had so many Shells and I would make glass candle displays with them.  And then I moved home and we got rid of the glass and rid of the Shells - their meaning at the time, somehow had deteriorated with time as I embarked on a new life.

And now I am back at it again.  The other week we went to Kurnell and I was amazed at all of the beautiful Shells and I loved collecting the Shells with my children.  I then loved washing them and sorting them with my children and then we made a candle display and glass jar displays using the glass circular vase that my work gave me when I was in recovery. 

Today I was excited to get back to Kurnell and loved walking up and down looking for Shells, and the excitement and Joy was the same as if I found treasure.  I get excited and feel Joyful when I see a Shell that I love and then I pop it in a plastic bag and have now brought them home to wash and display.  When I look at these Shells I feel Joy for the beauty of nature and I am also filled with Joy at the memories of a special time with my family.