Starting the week by writing the Happy List is something I’ve been doing for the last few years. It’s my chance to sit down and reflect on the things that made me smile in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures.

Five Happy Things {Week 38/2025}

It’s clearly Autumn as we’ve been enjoying some of our favourite meals. Last week I made my first Toad in the Hole (usually my husband makes it) and there have been homemade flapjacks too, the perfect after school treat for the kids. I added a layer of mincemeat to the flapjacks as I found a jar at the back of the cupboard.

The latest book I’m reading is The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose. I really enjoy this series but I think this is the final book in the Molly the Maid mystery series. It’s a gripping story

We love Halloween and decorations have been creeping in to the house. My daughter picked up some Halloween craft kits from Wilko which she’s been making, from crystal art to air drying clay kits. Last week I helped her sew a Halloween cushion too. It’s really lovely to update our handmade Halloween decorations each year.

It’s been a long time since we’ve managed to visit any buildings for London Open House. Over the last week we visited Eastcote House Gardens where the dovecot was open, the Generator House at the Battle of Britain Bunker, as well as the Neasden Temple, or BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir.

I was looking through my Christmas craft pile and discovered a kit hidden in the bottom of my Pretty Fabrics and Trims Advent Box. I made it! It’s a pretty EPP ball and it was so much fun to stitch and sew up. I tried glue basting for the first time too.

Let me know what made you smile lately.