Happy Things- Revisited

I found a list I made of 40 things that make me happy from several years ago. I decided to revisit that list and add commentary to it to see if anything has changed a whole bunch of years later. 

40 Things That Make Me Happy - Revisited.

• Hockey. (Some days it makes me feel murderrageface but I still love it.)  -DUH YES OF COURSE.
• Warm showers. -YES.
• Music. -YES ALWAYS AND FOREVER.
• Hugs. -YES.
• Long walks. -Meh. Texas is hot, yo.
• Trips to the art museum. -YES. Probably always will. 
• Text messages. -I don't text much lately but that's not because I dislike texting.
• Dancing. -Yes, in my house, especially while I'm cleaning or whenever I feel like it. Clubs, no thank you, done with that noise.
• Ice cream. -YES. LOVE. ALWAYS. MMM.
• Sketching. -I stopped doing this for a while but my therapist has me sketching and doing art things again recently for different reasons but it's reminded me it's something I enjoy a lot.
• Sunshine and cool breezes. -YES. 
• Books. -YES. ALWAYS AND FOREVER. I don't even know what I'd do with downtime if I didn't have books to keep me amused.
• Paintball. -I still think it's fun once in a while but I don't dedicate much time to it and don't own equipment anymore. 
• Comic books/graphic novels. -YES. And recently discovered a few more really awesome comic book stores in my area. :D
• Racing go-karts. -Indifference, hello.
• Batman anything. -FOREVER.
• Sleeping in. -My body doesn't allow me to do this anymore. 
• Cooking and baking. -YES AND YES.
• Writing. -Yes but as I've talked about recently here, it's not something I've been doing a lot of though that's slowly changing. Huzzah.
• Laying in bed watching movies all day. -All day, no. Watching a movie or two is a good way to have a lazy night at home, though.
• Thunderstorms. -YES. Thunderstorms make me so happy. Or just rainy days. I love gloomy weather.
• Baseball. -YES. 
• Going to concerts. -YES ALL THE MUSIC PLEASE.
• Lazy Sundays. -Sometimes but they rarely happen. I always find things to do and prefer feeling productive.
• Puppies. -YES YES YES. 
• Watching my little brother play hockey. - YES. HOCKEY <3 font="">
• Hanging out with my siblings. -Yes. And I realize how lucky I am that as adults, we get along and enjoy spending time together when I know so many people that are always at odds or indifferent to their own.
• Doctor Who. -YES.
• Bubbles. -YES.
• Going to the driving range. -YES. I love golf and hitting some golf balls is fun for me. And yes, I get grief about loving golf and no I don't care. ;)
• Coffee. -YES. I drink it much less than I used to. Which isn't a bad thing except when it is. 
• Long conversations with lots of laughing. -Duh. This will always make me happy.
• Forehead kisses. -Yes please. 
• Disney movies. (Aladdin is my favorite, in case you were curious. ;)) -YES and Aladdin is still my #1. 
• Ice skating. -YES although I do it much less now that my best friend lives 1,300 miles away.
• Shoulder & back massages. -Another thing that will probably always make me happy.
• Pixar movies. -YES.  I will watch just about anything animated. 
• Swimming. -YES. WATER. LOVE.
• Playing board games. -Pretty sure I'll always love this. And now I know a handful of people that share this love so I can actually have board game parties now. Yes, it's as fucking rad as it sounds, thanks. :D
• Sunday brunch with friends. -Another thing I rarely do anymore but should probably do again once in a while because I like brunch. And friends. And brunch. Food. Yay.

That was an easy list to revisit, haha. Also a good reminder for a few things I should start doing again. 

Also, while we're on the subject of things that make me happy (doing good things makes me happy): it's Walk To End Alzheimer's time. Check out my story here and if you feel in the giving spirit, a donation to help me reach my goal by walk day would be pretty rad. Even $5 helps towards Alzheimer's  care, support and research. 

Happy Friday. 

Justifying your simple joys.

I’ll never understand people’s need to justify why they like the trivial things they like. I’m never ashamed or embarrassed by anything I find appealing or enjoyable because if it brings me joy and happiness, why should I care what anyone else thinks of it?

I don’t. And never will. And I guess it’s for that reason that I’ll never understand why people feel they need to explain why they like something and try to convince others of it’s coolness when they don’t agree. Everyone likes different things and some people you like aren’t going to necessarily be into the same things you are. If you feel you need to justify a song or a TV show or a food you like to someone, you’re probably too concerned with people’s opinions of you. And if liking a dorky TV show or an annoying song could jeopardize a friendship, you’re better off just letting that happen. If some one's opinion of you is changed in a negative way because of something you like, that's their problem. If they treat you differently because of it, then maybe they're not as nice as you thought.

Justifying things you like is silly. Almost as silly as the people who try to prove why their hobby, favorite sport, favorite song, etc is better than whatever it is someone else with a differing opinion likes. If it’s not hurting anyone and it makes you happy, enjoy it and stop worrying about what everyone else thinks.

50 Things That Make Me Smile...

Life has been pretty rough lately so I'm going to do one of my favorite writing exercises to lift my spirits a bit. Any time life hasn't been going so well, I like to write out a list of things that make me happy or make me smile. I don't put a lot of thought into it, just list of things as they come to mind. It's kind of an easy reminder that while things suck right now, there are still plenty of things to be happy about. Plus, I always end up feeling a little better spirit wise after doing this. Here we go.

50 Things That Make Me Smile.....

• The Dark Knight Rises being so so so good.
• Christian Bale.
• When people love the food I create.
• Swimming.
• My adorable niece always being so happy to see me. (And no, that doesn't change my mind in the least about wanting a kid. I still don't want one, at all. ;))
• Rollerblading.
• Cinnamon rolls.
• The smell of a brand new sketch pad.
• The Avengers.
• Ice skating.
• When a song I actually like gets stuck in my head but only for a little while.
• DIY Projects.
• Watching my youngest brother play hockey.
• Adorable bunnies.
• My new haircut. 
• The movie Brave, for having a lead female princess who isn't looking for her prince charming.
• Also, the beautiful soundtrack in Brave. Gorgeous Celtic music.
• Sweet tea.
• Sweet tea lemonade.
• Days where I can actually sleep in.
• Video games.
• Walking into a wonderfully air-conditioned house after being out in the Texas heat.
• Comic books.
• Finding Batman and Avengers socks at Target.
• S'mores. 
• Making people laugh.
• Getting an actual handwritten letter and/or a card in the mail.
• Sending a handwritten letter or a card to someone randomly.
• Finding gift cards I had long since forgotten I had.
• Boobs.
• Evenings with my boyfriend and friends at Top Golf driving range.
• New cookbooks.
• Unexpected gifts.
• Fruit.
• Comfy clothes.
• Lazy Sundays.
• Doing something nice for someone I care about.
• Thunderstorms.
• When my boyfriend has a day off & we spend all day doing fun stuff.
  
• Jello shots.
• Air hockey.
• Massages.
• Doing something nice for someone I don't know.
• Brunch.
• How good freshly cleaned sheets feel.
• Doctor Who.
• A shower after a long day.
• Hugs.
• Funny movies.
• Loud rock music.

Happy Wednesday!

40 Things That Make Me Happy

I've had a pretty rough week. No need to go into why because it's just a lot of small things that have happened on top of other annoyances and blah blah blah. It just hasn't been the best week and even though I try to always look for the good in things and find that silver lining, and generally succeed, sometimes it's hard to just keep being optimistic. So, I like to make lists of things that make me happy sometimes when I'm not in the best spirits. I don't exactly know why it does but it generally makes me feel a little better to make random lists of things that bring me joy. Which is what this post will be about. :) I'm going to see if I can get to 40.

Things That Make Me Happy:

• Hockey. (Some days it makes me feel murderrageface but I still love it.)
• Warm showers.
  
• Music.
  
• Hugs.
• Long walks.
• Trips to the art museum.
  
• Text messages.
• Dancing.
• Ice cream.
• Sketching.
• Sunshine and cool breezes.
• Books.
• Paintball.
  
• Comic books/graphic novels.
• Racing go-karts.
  
• Batman anything.
• Sleeping in.
• Cooking and baking.
• Writing.
• Laying in bed watching movies with Shane all day.
  
• Thunderstorms.
• Baseball.
• Going to concerts.
  
• Lazy Sundays.
  
• Puppies.
• Watching my little brother play hockey.
• Hanging out with my siblings.
  
• Doctor Who.
• Bubbles.
• Going to the driving range.
  
• Coffee.
• Long conversations with lots of laughing.
• Forehead kisses.
  
• Disney movies. (Aladdin is my favorite, in case you were curious. ;))
• Ice skating.
• Shoulder & back massages.
• Pixar movies.
  
• Swimming.
• Playing board games.
  
• Sunday brunch with friends.

That's 40!

Also, in doing this, I finally realized why this list thing I do helps me feel better. It helps remind me about all the things in life I have to be happy about. I have so many interests and hobbies. There's just so much about life that I enjoy seeing and doing. Making lists of those things reminds me that I have a lot I enjoy and a lot that makes me smile. Which makes bad days seem less awful because I know I have things to look forward to. Plus, I just really like making lists, haha. :)

Happy Thursday!

The Simple Things...

Swiping this from Hubman. I relate to most of them but there are a few I just rolled my eyes at. Of course. Most of these will bring a smile to my face most days. Enjoy.

The Simple Things In Life....

Someone telling me that they appreciate me or something I’ve done. Seriously, seems so small but causes such a warm feeling.

When you forget it’s Friday in the middle of your work day, then as you are about to leave you remember. It’s like a miniature brain orgasm.

Hearing a new song and knowing I’m gonna like it.

Sitting on the grass on a slightly windy, but aggressively sunny day, knowing that I have no obligations whatsoever for the entire day.

Waking up on a day where i don’t have to go anywhere, and finding out that its pouring rain.

If it’s not cloudy, then looking at the stars and feeling both infinitely small and and infinitely worthy.

Waking up in the morning and realizing that I still have more time to sleep and being able to go back to sleep.

Falling asleep to the sound of rain outside my window

Being in a situation where some psuedo-authority figure is yelling/mad at you. Then suddenly you realise as an adult you can just get up and leave with zero consequences.

Smiling at a girl and getting the smile returned.

Coming home from a long day and taking my pants off immediately.

When I was younger I use to love watching the rain drops race down the window. I still do, I guess.

Being at the grocery store and realising that I, as an adult, can buy nothing but ice cream for dinner and no-one can say shit about it.

Napping uninterrupted. Bonus if it’s dark and rainy outside.

The first twenty seconds of a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. I don’t care after that.

A good dog by my side.

I enjoy when someone says to me, “You look good today.” It really is the small things.

Happy Thursday!

Orgasms & Q-tips...

My friend April started a debate with a friend about how using a q-tip to relieve a really itchy ear was one of the best feelings in the world. Her and her friend were debating whether or not it surpassed an orgasm in terms of things that feel amazing. She ended up texting me for my thoughts on the subject which I happily supplied in heavy favor of orgasms over q-tips relieving an itch. I mean really, there's no contest, lol.

The question wound up on Twitter and no surprise most people went with orgasm over a q-tip relieving one's itchy ear. Honestly though, she's got a point with her q-tip defense. It feels fantastic when you have an itch inside your ear you can't get to and finally alleviate it with a q-tip. It's a wonderful feeling. It doesn't surpass an orgasm though, not even close. It did get me thinking of things that are simple but just feel great and possibly even surpass the awesomeness of a q-tip performing one of it's basic functions. So, I thought about simple joys that make me feel great and decided I'd put them up here. In no particular order..

-A shower after a hard workout, long day at work, sporting event, outdoor activity or anything that leaves you hot, sweaty and feeling rather filthy. Washing away all the grime and feeling clean, soft and warm? Fucking GREAT. That also works for when you're stressed and take a warm shower and feel lazy, warm and super relaxed afterward.

-Being outside in the cold and going inside, where it's nice and warm and then drinking and/or eating something warm. Especially coffee or a warm mug of tea (showing my bias) because both are so delicious. That feeling of heat warming your body from the inside out is awesome.

-Getting swept away in a really fantastic book. I know a lot of people don't enjoy books and reading the way I do but it's an experience for me. I get very involved with the characters, the storyline and pretty much every aspect of the book. It's like being in a different little world and it's one of my favorite feelings, ever.

-When you're in the car and have to pee but you're almost home or wherever you're going to and don't want to stop anywhere so you hold it for what seems like an eternity. When you finally get where you're going, rush in, and get to go, it's such a sweet, wonderful relief.

-Hugs. Especially when you're having a bad day.

None of that is better than the feeling you get from an orgasm but they all definitely top the q-tip for me. I'm sure there are more if I took more time to think about it but I'm really not bored enough to spend even more time distracting myself with the subject. At least for right now, haha. Though if any of you fine people have anything you want to add to my list (comments section yo!), feel free to do so. :)

Happy Tuesday!!!

Silver linings aren't always easy to see...

I have this habit of trying to find a bright side to something that annoys me. It keeps me from being in a worse mood when I'm already in a bad mood and often keeps me from being grumpy at all when my day has been sucking. It's easier to just let yourself be in a bad mood than to look at the bright side of something, or try and find a bright side at all. But when I let the bad stuff set in, it always seems to just keep rolling in and piling on, which I'm not a fan of. Honestly? Sometimes, there really is no silver lining and I let myself be pissed off about something. Usually, I'll find a plus side to something crappy and it helps me deal with it and not be in such a bad mood over it. It's also easy to let little life annoyances that really don't matter in the grand scheme of things put you in a bad mood. You know it's something insignificant but you can't always help what sets you off. Again, when that happens, I just look for the silver lining if there's one to be found.

I'll use a few examples from this morning.

Dislike: Being awake at 6 AM and my Keurig maker being injured. Being awake this early and no coffee? ACK.

Like: My Keurig is still covered under warranty so it's being replaced free of charge. Also, I can afford Starbucks this morning.


Dislike: That I woke up shivering this morning because the vent in our bedroom was shut thus not allowing any heat in and I get cold easily, especially when I'm not feeling well.

Like: That I have a comfortable bed and a roof over my head every night. And warming back up only takes opening the vent or snuggling under another blanket closer to my human heater boyfriend.


Dislike: That I have some rather unpleasant things to do today that I really don't want to do but will do because I'm responsible.

Like: That I get to go to the Stars vs Senators game tonight when we originally weren't going to be able to.


Dislike: I'm going on day 8 of fighting off a nasty sinus infection.

Like: That it's almost cleared up and I haven't had a fever the last 3 of 8 days. Which means that my supplements for my immune system really are working, slowly but surely because a sinus infection usually knocks me out for 2-3 weeks every single time.


Moving on from that. There are 16 days left to make a paypal donation to my Toys for Tots fundraiser. I'm sure y'all are sick of seeing me talk about it and again, I don't care. I posted an update on Tuesday so check that out if you haven't already. December 16th is the last day I'm taking donations via paypal unless you email with a reason why you need an extra day or two which has happened several times before. It only takes a few dollars to help out a really great cause and I do all the toy shopping so you can donate toys without having to go shop for anything yourself. So come on, $5 or $10 isn't that much and it's for a great cause. Please help out if you can. Thanks to everyone who has donated and all who have helped spread the word thus far. It's greatly appreciated. <3

Happy Thursday!

Things That Make Me Happy...

I've had a pretty rough time the last couple weeks, mentally and emotionally. I have a lot going on that's been hard to deal with lately and it's been wearing me down to where I've just been stressed and upset a lot. Which isn't normal for me because it takes a LOT to wear me down like that which ends up irritating me even more because I hate letting things get to me to the point of where I feel so down. Anyway, to combat some of those negative feelings, I'm going to make a list of some things that make me happy lately.

• The Dallas Stars are 10-3-0 right now. They're first place in their division, first place in the Western Conference, second in the entire league and the first team in the NHL to reach ten wins so far this season. Hockey always makes me happy but seeing my team playing so well and winning makes me even happier. :D

• The movies "Horrible Bosses" and "Gnomeo & Juliet."

• Peppermint mochas & salted caramel hot chocolate from Starbucks.
  

• Bubbles.

• Getting to ice skate on a regular basis again.

• New art supplies.
  

• Sitting on the front porch enjoying the cooler weather, drinking pomegranate tea and reading a book. With the only noise being the sounds of nature and occasionally a passing car.

• New friends.

• Good friends that listen really well. :)

• Pumpkin cheesecake. And pumpkin spice coffee. And pumpkin bread. And pumpkin candles. Pumpkin stuff everywhere!
  

• The Black Keys.

• Hugs.
  

• Baking gingerbread cookies from scratch and making the house smell delicious.
  

• POMEGRANATE TEA.

• Overstuffed comfy chairs and super soft blankets.

• The weather being cool enough for me to bust out the fuzzy socks and hoodies again.

So, what are some things that make YOU happy lately? :)

Happy Monday!

I forgot how much I love art....

I've loved art since I was a little kid. I used to draw all the time. I always loved coloring books. I liked to paint. I liked to be able to use a few materials and make something fun come alive on paper. It was one of my favorite things to do and I could sit there coloring and drawing for hours and be happy. I loved getting art sets for Christmas.

When I couldn't find the words I needed to express what I was feeling, I'd express my emotions through art. I doodled when I felt anxious. When I was feeling something but didn't understand what, it would be frustrating because I love writing and that was something I used even when I was young to clear my head and feel better. Sometimes, I didn't know what was bothering me and I couldn't even put words to it in my head. When words failed, I had art. I could sit there and just let my hands work over the paper and afterward, I'd feel better.

Art class was one of my favorites and the one I paid the most attention in. If I could have had Art class, History, English and gym all day, that would have been awesome for me. It doesn't work that way, though. I remember a lot of the work I did in art classes in school ended up staying in school because my teachers wanted to use them as examples. It was always cool to see something I did in a classroom being used to illustrate to other students what the point of a project was.

For some reason, which I don't even understand, I stopped drawing, sketching and painting for several years. I've got crayons and colored pencils at home. I use them to draw goofy little things once in a while but mostly, they just sat there untouched and I didn't even think about why I wasn't using them.

I was in a crafts store a few months ago with my friend, The Lawyer, and ended up wandering down several aisles full of art supplies. Sketch pads, chalk, charcoals, colored pencils, paint brushes and tons of other supplies. I found myself standing there looking at things that had once been such a regular part of my life, so familiar and comforting to me, and wondered why I had stopped using art as a form of expression and an outlet. I've never stopped writing so why did I stop sketching and painting? I didn't have an answer for that. So, I picked up a sketch pad and some pencils and promised myself I'd use them later.

I did, too. It felt good to put pencil to paper and create something again. It's fun to watch the lines and curves forming on the page into something more. It's comforting and soothing in a way, too. It's therapeutic in the same way that writing is also therapeutic at times. It's another little thing that makes me happy and I enjoy it greatly. Now, I just have to remember not to let it get away from me again.

Happy Thursday!

Despicable Me, Blackhawks, Gummy Bears & other stuff...

Brain Dump Time...


• Despicable Me is an awesome movie. It never fails to make me laugh. Also, I don't care how old I get; I will always dig cute animated films. Especially films by Pixar. Love. Love. LOVE.

• The home opener for the Dallas Stars is October 7th. Against the Chicago Blackhawks. We have tickets in pretty good seats in the lower bowl. So excited. I'm definitely ready for some time at the AAC cheering and yelling my head off for my boys to kick some Blackhawk ass. :D Then we play again on the 8th, against the Blackhawks again. Only that game will be played in Chicago. What a way to kick off the 2011-2012 season.
  

• I think I'm addicted to Yummy Earth Organic Gummy Bears. I love gummy bears as it is but those are really damn delicious. I haven't had any in 3 weeks and I've been craving them like mad lately, haha. I need help.

• By the way; NOT EVERY NEW MOVIE THAT COMES OUT NEEDS TO BE IN 3D.

• I love Trident Layers gum. Sweet Cherry + Island Lime might be my favorite gum ever. I hate cherry limeades (you hand squeeze thousands of limes and makes thousands of cherry limeades and see if you want to keep drinking them though honestly I never cared much for them in the first place) though so I'm happy the cherry lime combination wasn't totally ruined for me. ;)

• I will never understand people's obsession with celebrities. I don't get why people care where they shop, who they date, what they eat, what kind of car they drive, what music they like, what they do for fun or any of that stuff. I care about those things in family, friends and my boyfriend. Or when I was single, potential guys or girls I might be dating. I get that people want to be able to relate to them in some way and think it's cool to have things in common with their favorite celeb or athlete. For me, I don't know them, won't ever know them and don't give a fuck about what goes on in their personal lives because it doesn't affect me, have anything to do with me or really even interest me. I have enough going on with myself and the people in my life, I see no reason to keep up with someone I don't even know. I just don't get it but to each their own. :)

• I hate cotton candy. I also hate hot dogs, bacon, corn dogs, peas, pea soup and grapefruit. Okay, that's a lie. I love grapefruit but I'm allergic to it so I can't have it or anything with grapefruit juice or flavoring. That makes me sad because it's delicious. The rest of that stuff I listed, I really do hate all of that gross junk.

• I love plaid.

• Very little makes me happier than ice skating or rollerblading. It clears my mind and it's a lot of fun. Not to mention good exercise. I feel so centered when I have a pair of skates on my feet and I'm gliding over the ice or across pavement.

"Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Happy Wednesday!