I make lists.
I read books.
I like clothes, food, music, my fur babies, travel, and loads of other stuff too.
I may write about any or all of these things.
I meant to post a happy list last week, but that frickin' kidney stone had other ideas. So, I'm happy to say that I'm back at it, focusing on happiness. Things that made me happy this week:
Candles and hot baths
Sing (the movie) ~ the stepkid convinced us to watch it, and it was adorable.
Most of you know, I host Book Challenge by Erin. We are winding up the final days of the 6th time for me to host this challenge (post coming next week about it.) This comment from one of the participants made me beyond happy: "Thx so much for all you do to make this happen. I read books that I would never have picked up and discovered many more by observing what others were reading. My to read list is much richer thanks to you and this great group of book lovers."
New tattoo (picture coming soon when it has healed more)
In exactly one month, I will be in Texas.
Seeing the screensaver in my 9 year old stepkid's iPad ~ it was a selfie with his "girlfriend" ~ too cute
Library day
I hit a significant number on the scale for weight loss. I try not to get *too* caught up with the number on the scale, but losing 20 pounds has certainly made me happy.
Sleeping with the windows open
Niece 2 is graduating high school ~ her senior pics have filled my heart with many emotions, happiness being one of them.
I'm busy. We are all busy. But, it's good to take a moment to remind myself of some of the things that made me especially happy this week, and it's good to share my happiness with others.
Ten things that made me happy:
My guy and I had a night out together last Friday. We put the phones away and just enjoyed each other's company.
I've been at the new job for a little over a month, and I was offered a promotion this week.
Cuddles from fur babies (yes, this makes me happy every week.)
Maxalt - a prescription wafer tablet that magically makes migraines vanish
Paid holiday on Good Friday
Wine night with a girlfriend
I joined a new library near my new job. On their website, they list newly-released books (or upcoming new releases) and let the public vote on the books that the library should get. This made my book-lovin' heart oh-so-happy.
Introducing the stepkid to the video for "Thriller"; his first statement that made me laugh was "that doesn't look like Michael Jackson", and I wasn't sure which MJ he's familiar with to compare Thriller MJ to; and second statement that made me smile was his genuine glee in the dance scene when he exclaimed "dancing zombies!"
Eating chicken fajitas and guacamole that I cooked, and my guy saying "that was a great dinner that you cooked tonight".
Jenn started these unique scavenger hunts in December, and I played along (see my recap here.) I enjoyed it because, for the most part, it was spreading good cheer, positivity, and happiness. I'm a supporter of those causes. But, January rolled around, and I failed miserably at the scavenger hunt challenge. But......I'm back. So, why don't you join me for February? Really, there aren't any rules. Just do the things however you interpret or tweak them to work for you. The actions don't have to happen on the actual day listed. Then, post at the end of the month and tell all of us about doing them thangs.
one. february fourth. thank a mailman day. take some treats to the folks at your local post office or shipping store. two. february eighth. kite flying day. go fly a kite. sounds simple enough... but the WIND...
three. february ninth. national pizza day. treat a friend to some pizza. and not the cheap shit. if there's a gino's east, say, in your neck of the woods... it's national pizza day, for crying out loud. PIZZA, a gift from the gods, yall. YUMMY YUMMY GOODNESS. four. february eleventh. make a friend day. this sounds simple enough, too, right? for geeks like me, it's really, really not.
five. february fourteenth. ferris wheel day. go ride a ferris wheel. this, too, sounds simple enough. except if you're scared of heights, then maybe not so much. show of hands... you can't see but both mine were raised pretty high just then. six. february fifteenth. singles awareness day. all the single ladies... and laddies. so this day started as sort of a joke, but... maybe you've got a single friend who's having a rough go of it lately. take time out of your day to do something to let that person know how much he or she is loved and needed. seven. february sixteenth. do a grouch a favor day. one could argue that this task could be tied to the previous one... NO. i don't care what you do or how you do it... but find the grouchiest soul you know and put a little light in that person's world.
The lovely Lindsay has started co-hosting with Krysten a weekly link-up for us to remind ourselves and be conscious of "Ten Things That Made Me Happy This Week". I regularly tell her that the positive message is good for me, so I thought I'd join once a month (at least). So, what made me happy this week?
Using my new Urban Decay Smoky eye palette because I love make-up, I love care packages (and it came from my mom's most recent care package she sent me), and I love my mom
Posting, reading, chatting, and learning about books in the Show Us Your Books link-up
Having a guy pick up an engagement ring that he put a lot of thought into, deciding exactly what he wanted, and he was thrilled and excited with the result
Getting a "Save the Date" card for my step-sister, Whitney's wedding...living on the other side of the world, most people don't bother mailing me these important announcements, and it makes me feel really good when someone does
Stepping on the scale and realizing I've lost five pounds since I met with the nutritionist about two and a half weeks ago
Astro cuddles
That feeling of finishing a fantastic book when I closed it, consciously inhaled deeply and exhaled thoroughly and had my heart filled with emotion
Receiving an unexpected text from my guy that made me feel appreciated
Wearing a bow in my hair
Realizing that I've got more than 10 things that made me happy this week, and I had to cut some
I haven't written a music post in a while. I love music. And, I've needed some of these pick-me-up happy tunes in my life lately. So, here you have it. My Happy Playlist - a list of songs that no matter when they come on, I pretty much want to shake or shimmy or smile or sing-a-long (or all of the above). Yes, you can tell my age with this list.
Bad Medicine by Bon Jovi - It's rock music that I can dance to, and it's Bon Jovi. - I need to give no further explanation.
Poison by Bell Biv Devoe - "Never trust a big butt and a smile."
Livin' La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin - No matter how many times this song was played over and over and over again, I've never tired of it. It still brings out all kinds of dance moves.
Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard - "I'm hot sticky sweet from my head to my feet" - pretty much, if I was a stripper, this would be my go-to song.
Let It Whip by The Dazz Band - A little gem from the past that I almost forgot; that bridge that begins at 2:22 mark and ends with whoo-oo-oo is pure magic
If I Had You by Adam Lambert - No shame...I love me some Adam Lambert...and I will (without fail) sing-a-long "do do do do do do" to this song.
Freedom by Wham! - Not to be mistaken with George Michael's Freedom '90...as wonderful of a song as that is too, this is the bouncy, happy Freedom.
Private Eyes by Hall and Oates - It's the claps in this one that get me every time..."Private Eyes (clap) are watching you (clap clap)..."
Cool Rider by Michelle Pfeiffer - If you hang around these parts much, you probably know that I love Grease 2 more than most movies ever filmed. I could list the entire soundtrack...but, no ordinary song is going to do...this IS the quintessential one.
Hey Baby by No Doubt - I love Gwen and the boys with all my heart, and this one is just fun fun fun to sing and dance to.
Pride & Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughan - Genius guitarist from Texas that left us too soon singing and playing his version of a sweet love song.
Low by Flo Rida (and featuring someone else I'm sure) - Alright, I admit that I'm not necessarily down with the hip hop these days, but this one is da bomb diggity.
Ride The Wind by Poison - Look. I limited myself to three bands that rose to fame during the hair band era. That's pretty good for me. This one is an anthem for me.
Like It Like That by Guy Sebastian - A lot of you probably don't know this song from this Australian talent. If you like a good little pop song to shimmy to, then give this one a listen. Tell me if you do. I just love this song.
Hot Girls in Good Moods by Butch Walker - One of my all time faves singing a song with that title. I can't not like it.
I could keep this going, but that's enough for now. Maybe, I'll post a part two (and three).
