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".
I realize that I'm often a lame blogger as I have admitted in my "Confessions of a lame blogger" post. In all my lameness, I realized I had no Thanksgiving post ready today. So, here's a list of things I'm thankful for today...as I sit here...and try to type this post in between customer interruptions and job responsibilities.
I'm thankful for the Thai massage last night. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy a masseuse digging into my back, shoulders, and neck with their elbows, knees, fingers, and toes. Yes, I said toes. I love it. And, the stretching at the end is sheer bliss.
I'm thankful for technology. Sometimes, social media drives us all insane. But, I'm thankful for all the ways to keep connected to friends and family. This week - I used viber to text my mom in Texas and one of my bestest gal pals in Italy; I used skype to chat with my dad and stepmom; I received a picture of my nephew at his first varsity basketball game via email; I shared that pic with a couple of close friends via facebook messenger; and I look at all the Instagram pics of yummy Thanksgiving food and families.
I'm thankful for Ellen DeGeneres. What Barack Obama had to say when Ellen received her Presidential Medal of Freedom had me in tears. I was thinking of an aunt who came out to her parents (my grandparents) in the '70s. There was no one like Ellen in the public eye. Her positivity is infectious. A friend of mine shared this on facebook: Ellen shows "how normal we are. She didn't hide her sexuality or her life, she just talked about Life. and for years she sat on Daytime television just being herself. Being Funny, talking about the trials and tribulations of marriage. She got political, but never preachy. She epitomizes so much in how we can change hearts and minds not through yelling or anger, but through kindness and humor."
I'm thankful for this guy who has been dubbed the "Aussiest. Interview. Ever." Seriously, if you like to watch video clips for a laugh, please watch this one. Plus, he shares sound advice: "If you do good for your mates, they do good for you." Or something like that. I was crying with laughter, and I love the feeling of finding something so joyful and funny that you're crying and laughing at the same time.
I'm thankful for public libraries - free entertainment! I'm thankful for book challenges (of course, the participants in my own Book Challenge by Erin hold a special place in my heart). I'm thankful for Jana and Steph hosting the "Show Us Your Books" link-up and all the book-lovin' bloggers that I get to book chat with each month. I feel like the last few years, my love of reading has been rejuvenated, and the library, book challenges, and the link-up have all been full for that fire.
I'm thankful for my fur babies. The unconditional love that they show with cuddles from the kitties and slobbery kisses from the doggies.
I'm thankful for gift-giving. Look, I ain't gonna lie, I enjoy receiving gifts too, but I really, really do like giving gifts. I like shopping for them. I like wrapping them. I like giving them. And, this time of year over any others, I get to give lots of gifts.
I'm thankful for these guys that I talked about in a 2014 Thanksgiving post. I'm thankful to feel so much love from a family that it causes me to miss them so much, especially during holidays like this.
I'm thankful for my Australian family. I feel loved. I feel valued. I feel challenged. I feel appreciated. I feel like I'm in an equal partnership with my husband. Those are all feelings that I'm thankful for.
And, thank you for spending some time with me in this little corner of my world. I appreciate the interactions, the laughs, the lessons, and the stories that we share in the wacky world of blogland.
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
