What’s Making Me Happy: June Edition

As the tagline of my blog says, my goal is to help you live your best literary lives, but I am a firm believer in balance. Books and reading make me very happy, but there are lots of other things out there that to do too! So, each month, I’m going to share a handful of non-bookish things that have been putting a smile on my face. (Disclaimer: a few bookish things might weasel their way in 🙂 )

Here’s what’s made me happy in June:

Master of None Season 2

Season 2 of Master of None came out mid-May so I was a little slow getting to this, but I’m so glad I did! The show picks up with the main character, Dev (played by creator Aziz Ansari), moving on with his life after a difficult break-up. He’s moved to Italy to learn how to make pasta and figure out his next steps.

There are moments when the show is absolutely hilarious, but there’s so much more to it than the laughs. Aziz doesn’t constrain himself to traditional TV show models of linear storytelling or a uniform approach to the artistic direction of each episode. In Master of None, one episode is filmed like an Italian film noir, another focuses on the lives of strangers in New York City, and another goes into the coming-out story of one of Dev’s best friends. We get to know so much more about people, relationships, and the world through Aziz’s innovative approach.

 

Color-Changing Nail Polish

I’ve always been a sucker for color-changing merchandise of all kinds. So, when I went into the Cariloha Bamboo store to look for sheets and saw that they also sold Del Sol nail polish that changes color in the sun, I HAD to buy some. I got “VIP,” which is clear and sparkly that turns bright pink under UV light. I tried it out at the pool the other day, and it worked like a charm. 

 

LeVar Burton Reads

As I mentioned earlier, I won’t be able to resist adding some book-related things to my monthly happy-making lists. The new podcast, Levar Burton Reads, fills that spot for June. I was (and still am) a huge Reading Rainbow fan, so when I heard that LeVar Burton would be reading his favorite short works of fiction on a podcast, I was pumped. I started listening right away and loved it. LeVar is a wonderful narrator, of course, but what really sets these stories apart is the sound effects and editing. I’ve always wished audiobooks would incorporate sound into the performance, but none seem to. When a door shuts in the story, I want to hear it, and in LeVar Burton Reads, my wishes have come true.

 

Coffee Ice Cubes

It’s a small thing, but I love when coffee shops use coffee ice cubes in my drinks. Iced coffee is one of my favorite beverages in the summer, but it’s always so disappointing when it gets watered down once the ice cubes melt. Lucky for me, my favorite coffee spots have started using coffee ice cubes to prevent this dreaded dilution! I’m going to start making my own, so I can save some money and make fabulous ice coffees at home.

 

What made you happy in June? Share in the comments below!