It’s been awhile since I’ve done a list post like this. I find them oddly interesting when I see these lists on other blogs. Especially if it’s from a blogger who I have been following for a long time. There is always something more to know about them, and for this reason, I am sharing this list with you. Â I first saw this on Mari’s blog and thought, why not?
Plus, it’s Friday and a little happiness can’t hurt.
- Clean, crisp sheets
- Coffee with cinnamon and nutmeg (names of Murakami characters too, BTW)
- A hug from my kids
- Snuggles from the Otter Pup (Chloe, a Yorkie mix)
- A well-organized bookshelf
- The smell of star jasmine wafting through the window
- Breakfast
- A fresh bar of soap
- Concerts in the Park
- Movie Night at Home (with homemade popcorn)
- Haruki Murakami (he could use a personal assistant, no?)
- Spotify
- The smell of freshly cut grass
- Bookmarks (I collect them)
- The sounds of summer (splashing, birds chirping, the AC kicking on and off, ice tinkling in a glass)
- Thanksgiving with all the trimmings
- Opening a notebook for the first time
- Pencils (Ticonderoga #2)
- Gathering around the fire pit
- Green, leafy trees
- Laughter
- Cold, ripe watermelon
- Toasted marshmallows
- Swedish Fish (a more chewable version of my fave Jujyfruits)
- “Doing” Lunch
- Alone time
- A clean house
- Pinot Grigio
- Beach towns
- Museums
- Vacation
- Grilling
- Lake or ocean views
- The 80’s
- Tacos
- Reading (Duh! How can I not list it?)
- Lobster, cooked correctly and dipped in garlic butter (The Girl used to call them “bugs”)
- Anthony Bourdain (rugged, smart, worldly, a professional smart ass)
- Keeping in touch with friends
- Roasted corn
- The smell of Hawaiian Tropic (which smells like the classic Coppertone smell from the 70’s)
- Old TV shows (Adam 12, Emergency!, Leave it to Beaver, Mary Tyler Moore, Newhart)
- Nostalgia
- The pitter-patter of rain on the roof (a rarity in So Cal)
- Wimbledon and The Masters
- Watching my kids perform (sing, dance, etc.)
- Coffee creamer or straight cream (too much but soooo good)
- Stir fry (any kind!)
- Listening to my iPod
- The convenience of my Kindle
- Fresh smelling perfumes
- Movies featuring the Brat Pack (16 Candles, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club)
- 007 (lately, the Daniel Craig version)
- Netflix
- Wi-Fi
- Watching high school football, under a warm, snugly blanket
- Picnics
- My numerous face and hand creams
- Family time
- Community Theater
- Lemon (the color, the scent, the fruit)
- Andrea Bocelli (mouth opens, sounds come out, I swoon)
- Movie themes (JAWS, Star Wars, Legends of the Fall)
- Adirondack chairs
- Funny, happy people
- The arts and crafts my kids have made me over the years
- Orange blossoms
- Readalongs
- Gap Essential Tees
- New calendars (full of promise, if you ask me)
- Dining by water (dockside, poolside, marina, etc.)
- Blue skies
- Ginger Ale
- Candles (beachy, woody or green like bamboo)
- The time between sunset and dusk
- The way my dog greets me every time I come through the door
- Seeing my kids be successful
- Magnolia blossoms
- Christmas lights
- Mint Juleps
- Main Street at Disneyland
- Lavender
- Staying in
- Road Trips
- Herbs (basil, rosemary, dill, mint)
- Cooking
- Long weekends
- Changing into my PJ’s the moment I get home from work.
- Suburbia in photography (see Bill Owens)
- Grilled cheese with tomato soup
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)
- Alfred Hitchcock and Woody Allen movies
- Seinfeld (I can quote many episodes word for word)
- Being still (usually only happens when I am sick)
- Iced coffee in the summer
- Spicy food
- Burger stands (especially by the beach!)
- Reserved seating at the movies
- Exploring a new town
- Visiting Palm Springs
What makes you happy?
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I was happy reading this…and nothing really surprised me…except maybe the pajama part but I used to do that too…the minute I walked in the door from school…after a shower…and maybe I was surprised by Mint Juleps, too…
I love Mint Juleps!! I just feel as if I have to change in order to leave the work day behind.
Love this list!
There is a ton on this list that would be in common with any list I would create, like these:
Laughter
Cold, ripe watermelon
Toasted marshmallows
Swedish Fish (a more chewable version of my fave Jujyfruits)
I will have to try coffee with cinnamon…not a big nutmeg fan…so I’ll skip that, but I like to put unsweetened cocoa in my coffee with a bit of sugar.
I put the cinnamon in the brewing basket so it gets incorporated throughout the pot!
I bet it is therapeutic to make this list! All happy stuff, and there is no doubt in my mind why you and I seem to live parallel lives and get along. Your list could be my list.
We are soul sisters!
Reading your list just made me happy! 🙂
I am glad it made you happy! I choose Happy on most days but it’s a nice reminder of all the things that make me smile.
This is fantastic! Reading this list made me smile 🙂 I may have to steal this idea!
I recently shared a few brat pack movies with my youngest daughter. She was baffled and pleased all at once, lol.
Mu daughter too! She loves Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club.
Oh, number 88. Nothing will ever make me happier, to my husband’s dismay. Since he goes home from work after me, he always jokes about how he loves the weekend because he gets to see me in clothes.
My husband never sees me in anything but PJs when he gets home. I used to have several pair of the boyfriend PJs from VS, but when the Fed Ex guy came to the door, I looked rather doofish, so now I wear yoga pants for PJs. I can go to the door and not look like a lounge rat.
I love this list and would add my fitbit and a nice, cold beer to it.
I’ve heard good things about the fitbit and I craved beer after reading Wind-Up Bird. The main character made it sound so good.
Great list! I’d add NPR since I am addicted to Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me
I enjoy NPR as well.
This is a wonderful list. Magnolias, orange blossoms, Seinfeld (yeS!), Palm Springs too. I like these. Milk duds at the movies? but Swedish fish good too!
I love Milk Duds but they are too much for my mouth these days,. I do enjoy Raisinettes sometimes. I much prefer chocolate over Swedish Fish but so much chocolate these days is dusted with flour to keep it from sticking in the package. With the gluten thing I can’t have it unless it’s certified Gluten Free. I also loved Red Vines but it’s all wheat! Who’d have thought??
Yes yes: unexpected hugs, crisp clean sheets, beach towns and really most anything related to the beach, that first cup of morning coffee, candles (non floral scents), fireplaces, my whirlpool tub, gadgets in general: iPod, iPad, Kindle, etc and shoes and handbags.
These come to mind immediately — great list Ti.
Yes! That first cup of coffee is divine!
I love grilled cheese with tomato soup, too. But hardly ever like my mama made ’em! Love your list – especially staying in immediately followed by road trips.
Haha! The staying in thing is great for a little while, then I feel like taking a road trip!
I love that you have specific pencil listed!
Bar of soap is a good one. I love the smell from some of the fancy soaps, the essential oils are lovely.
So glad you did this – it’s important to take a moment and remember it’s the simple things that bring us joy.
Thanks for the happiness list and learning a little bit more about you!
I love this, what a great idea! A well organised bookshelf… For me it’s an ideal. Not a reality! Iced coffee, candles, cooking, bookmarks… Great list. I’m going to put together my own – look out for it this weekend if you like! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂