Friday Extras: Flowers in Winter

Happy Friday, all! My hubs brought me these hydrangeas earlier this week, and I'm so happy to see them still looking fresh and pretty. In the past when I've had cut hydrangeas, they wilted immediately and dramatically after going into the vase. This time, we were careful to cut the stems at an angle and soak them in very hot water for 30 seconds before putting them in their vase of water. They make working on a syllabus so much more pleasant, and they go nicely with the lovely floral Starbucks cup Adam got me for Christmas:

I don't know if it's the cold or the looming romance of Valentine's Day, but I've been a little obsessed with floral prints in my shopping lately. After I stocked up on a few needed basics after my year of no new clothes, I let myself buy some special items that I just loved. This floral-print dress was one of those items, and it was on big-time sale at Anthropologie:

Those of you who follow this blog know that the concept of "The Beautiful Extras" comes, in large measure, from the unnecessary delight found in flowers. (As seen in the Sherlock Holmes quote at the top of the page). As I'm finally beginning to get back in the groove of work, I hope that I continue to take time to enjoy those small but important beauties of life -- like flowers and cuddling cats and coffee from pretty mugs. What "extras" are you enjoying today?