Much Love Monday

Good morning and Happy Monday! It's the first regular Monday morning of the New Year, and so far it's off to an okay start. The boys were only a little bit whiny, Alan had a blinding headache and decided to stay home to sleep it off {oh, so I didn't need to get up at 6, then?} and we were only a couple of minutes late dropping Dylan off at school {yeah, that looks really good, doesn't it? the school librarian can't manage to get her kid to school on time...} However, it wasn't all bad. On the plus side, I decided to switch my small handbag for the big one, and inside I found my missing Burt's Bees Lipbalm {honey + mint = bliss} and a $5 bill! Sawyer and I are heading to the mall in a few minutes to pick up some stuff for Alan's birthday, and I know just what sort of hot beverage I'm going to treat myself to with that little bit of cash...

Anyway, I'm rambling! The point of this post was to share some love on a cold January morning. Now that Flowers for your Friday and Saturday Morning Daydreams have made a comeback, I think I'll start up Much Love Monday again, too. It's such a nice way to start the week. So, without further ado, this morning I am loving:

• having my Make Me Smile January list featured on Red Boots {love Wendy's Edinburgh-based blog!} + all the things on that list
• my lovely warm winter-white vest from Lands' End {a Christmas gift from Jess}
• making plans for July {picture a cabana on the lake, daycamp classes for the kids, and me in an adirondack chair with a cold drink and a good book!}
• my big stack of cards and writing paper, waiting for me to fill them up with all sorts of long, newsy letters to faraway friends
• the journal Alan bought me for Christmas {stay tuned for my post later today regarding resolution #2 of 2011, and a review of how week #1 went...}

Do you have a list of things you're loving this Monday? I'd love to hear!

pretty picture via sarah jane and bentley