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Joy

10 things that made us smile this week

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy

woman taking a photo from the car, kid in halloween costume, man holding up a dress he picked for his wife

This week's list includes love stories, cute kids, adorable animals and more.

It's that time again, friends! Every week, we collect 10 smile-worthy finds from around the internet, wrap them up in a nice bow and share them with our readers.

This week's list includes some adorable kiddos, some inspiring long-term love stories, some hilarious animals, a wildly talented harmonica-playing beatboxer and more. We hope this list brings you as much joy as it brought us putting it together.


Enjoy—and don't forget to share the love!

1. Kids are adorably wowed by a woman's sidewalk chalk art.

"There is no such chalk!" Ah, the pure wonder of children.

2. This little girl standing up for herself and her hairstyle is everything

That's right, little one. You do you and don't pay Owen's opinion any mind.

3. The way this doting husband styles his wife of 25 years is total #couplegoals

Can we clone this man? Gracious. See the fuschia dress on "Flower" and read the full story here.

4. Harmonica beatboxing is something we never knew we needed to see

It just gets better and better. Like, how?

5. Woman pretends to faint and her camel's reaction is the sweetest

Great, now I need a camel.

6. A-ha's stripped down version of 'Take On Me" is a lovely trip down memory lane

When a song makes you smile and tear up at the same time, you just lean into it. Read the full story here.

7. Gorilla siblings being classic siblings is completely hilarious

Everyone with a sibling recognizes this interaction. All that's missing is, "Mo-oommm! He's bothering meeee!"

8. Couple married for nearly 62 years saying goodbye for the weekend is total sweetness

"It's terrible, Troy." Awww.

9. We weren't ready for how this brother and sister talked about their love for one another

Sometimes siblings pick at one another, and sometimes they share a bond like no other.

10. Kid's alien abduction costume inspires an Oscar-worthy performance

@saddiegau

#aliens #abduction #halloween

Seriously impressive acting skills, kiddo! Read the full story here.

If you enjoyed this post and want to receive more like it in your inbox, sign up for Upworthy's free email newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.

Until next week—keep on smiling!

True

Making new friends as an adult is challenging. While people crave meaningful IRL connections, it can be hard to know where to find them. But thanks to one Facebook Group, meeting your new best friends is easier than ever.

Founded in 2018, NYC Brunch Squad brings together hundreds of people who come as strangers and leave as friends through its in-person events.

“Witnessing the transformative impact our community has on the lives of our members is truly remarkable. We provide the essential support and connections needed to thrive amid the city's chaos,” shares Liza Rubin, the group’s founder.

Despite its name, the group doesn’t just do brunch. They also have book clubs, seasonal parties, and picnics, among other activities.

NYC Brunch Squad curates up to 10 monthly events tailored to the specific interests of its members. Liza handles all the details, taking into account different budgets and event sizes – all people have to do is show up.

“We have members who met at our events and became friends and went on to embark on international journeys to celebrate birthdays together. We have had members get married with bridesmaids by their sides who were women they first connected with at our events. We’ve had members decide to live together and become roommates,” Liza says.

Members also bond over their passion for giving back to their community. The group has hosted many impact-driven events, including a “Picnic with Purpose” to create self-care packages for homeless shelters and recently participated in the #SquadSpreadsJoy challenge. Each day, the 100 members participating receive random acts of kindness to complete. They can also share their stories on the group page to earn extra points. The member with the most points at the end wins a free seat at the group's Friendsgiving event.

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Image by Tax Foundation.

Map represents the value of 100 dollars.

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The Tax Foundation addressed many of these shortcomings using the most recent (2015) Bureau of Economic Analysis data to provide a familiar map of the United States overlaid with the relative value of what $100 is "worth" in each state. Granted, going state-by-state still introduces a fair amount of "smoothing" into the process — $100 will go farther in Los Angeles than in Fresno, for instance — but it does provide insight into where the value lies.

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Tried-and-true holiday traditions certainly have their merit, but there’s something quite special, magical even, about discovering personal rituals that commemorate one’s unique life. In my household, for instance, nothing quite rings in the Christmas spirit like sipping my partner’s delicious coquito and putting up a cardboard gingerbread house for my cats.

The beauty of creating customized holiday traditions is that they can be as festive, sentimental, or as silly as you want them to be. And you never know how one small moment can become the catalyst for a tradition that sparks joy year after year.

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via Reddit

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All illustrations by Ingebritt ter Veld. Reprinted here with permission.

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Embarrassing stains on your T-shirt, sniffing someone's bum to check if they have pooped, the first time having sex post-giving birth — as a new mom, your life turns upside-down.

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