Little things that make you happy.

[GiddyRobin]

Thought I'd start a nice, light hearted thread about things that make you happy! I notice a lot of light hearted threads end up a bit down in the dumps, so for those who just want to share, need a bit of cheer, or are generally nosy parkers (like me! 😂), I thought this could be a bit of fun.

I'll start (and try and make it brief!)

• Family. Yes, yes, twee, sickly, blah blah blah, but it's true.
• Christmas. Festivities and seasons changing in general.
• Books! Give me a good book, a nice box of tea, and I'm happy.
• Cheese. Any cheese. My DS had a milk allergy as a youngster and I had to cut it out too as I was breastfeeding. God I missed cheese. I celebrated so hard with a cheeseboard when he passed the milk ladder that I made myself poorly. 😂
• Flowers in my window. I love watching how the light changes the shades of the petals during the day.
• A good black comedy. Anything Shearsmith and Pemberton does me.
• Oversized men's sweatshirts. Fuck women's jumpers, men's are the way to go and I will die on this hill.

Off to make some sarnies to take to MiL's - v. interested to hear other people's little joys!

Nooooooo! Don't grate your feet, it's terrible. Get one of these, gamechanger instantly.
Essy Electric Foot File Pedicure Feet Hard Skin Remover Foot Scraper Dry Dead Skin Remover Callus Exfoliator Rechargeable Feet Scrubber with 5 Replacement Rollers Foot Care Skin Removers (White, EN) : Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

For me it's sewing, knitting or embroidering whilst listening to folk music. As soon as I hear music from my favourite artists I am in my happy place.

Endless cups of tea and occasional squares of proper dark chocolate.

Marmite on toast - still enjoy it every single time even though in my mid 50s I must have eaten it millions of times.

Our dog - particularly when she's behaving herself. She's quite a nightmare a lot of the time and our lives would be much easier without her, but the thought of her not being there is heartbreaking.

Finding my teenage DCs such great company and feeling a little bit proud that they are such genuinely good people.

Fried egg and chips
Chocolate - any as long as not fruit flavoured.
Yorkshire tea.
Sparkly shoes especially if bought in a sale.
Crumpets with golden syrup.
Orange blossom.

Ps spending time with grown up kids and grandkids makes me so happy - we’re all on holiday together at the moment in one cottage and it’s fab - except when we’re playing Lakes Monopoly or Uno.

Such a lovely thread I’m just going to add something super random.
I love cleaning the lint out of the tumble drier, no idea why but it makes me happy

Getting eight hours uninterrupted sleep.

That’s just so gorgeous!
Beautiful blow in !

Mum found a tiny baby kitten on the pavement, far too little to be out and about-

She took him in , contacted local vets, as she travels overseas a lot she couldn’t keep him, so he was given over to a cat rescue-
Such a sweet boy who was clean ( he used his litter tray while at mums ) would find a home fast.

I just love an afternoon nap on the couch with the TV volume down low. It feels so decadent.

When my Whippet puts her warm paws on me -
Laughing with son ( adult now)
Being with Family
First snowdrops and hellebores
Nature!

Christmas lights in people’s front rooms on trees - also sprinkled through outdoor trees and hedges.
Some gorgeous colours around now, warm and rich, sparkling in the darkness .

Reusing and making something out of items that would otherwise be discarded ‐essentially resource-saving.
This evening I'm making a lovely pile of soft, super-absorbent, bouncy reusable sanpro pads out of one of DC's outgrown fleece jackets, a towel with a hole and some cosy brushed cotton sheeting which got ripped. The colours look nice together and it is so satisfying to know that these items are going to carry on working for me for a while longer. I find soft cloth pads so comfortable, don't smell offensively of chemical fragrance, don't bunch or leak, just stay put and quietly absorb. And come out of the wash ready for another round with no impact on climate, waste or resources. Absolutely brings me joy.

Nature and time outside in all shapes and forms. even on a grey day.

a bonfire

doing yoga

reading great books

my sleep mask! Every time I put it on I’m like thank you me for being this small item of peace

Hearing my DD giggling away with her best friend.
Really getting into a good book. Forgetting the real world for a while because I'm so lost in the story line.

When it starts to get lighter around 4pm
Cherry blossoms 🌸
Hot chocolate with mint syrup

Getting into clean bedding, chatting with DD and lying in bed snuggled up with DP reading while he watches stuff or just chatting

Ordered!! This looks amazing! Okay, will stop my grating. 😂 I think because they're stuffed in shoes until summer, I just pretend they're okay. Then summer comes and it's grate away before the Birkenstocks have to come out! Thank you!

Currently in Mil's and of course she's made a whole picnic to go with the sarnies. We'll be eating dinner at midnight at this rate. 😂

Hellebore! @oakleaffy I think many MNers might not like it, but I have tattoos of hellebores. My DH is an artist (yes, another thing he's good at... 🙄😂) and drew them for me, and I just had them transferred to my arm. They're beautiful, I've had them for 8 years and still so sharp and black and delicate.

@FiloPasty This is my dream! I miss my tumbledryer and I love faffing and cleaning bits out. 😂

@ShadowTheHedgehog I also love those suddenly light afternoons. Seasonal change is so promising in both directions for me. Sometimes when I'm cold (I've raynauds) I dream of a hot country, but I know I'd not do well. Norway suits me (soon, soon!) because it does get both. But the winters are deep. Dark all day north of Tromsø and it's so atmospheric.

@Kalasbyxor Okay, but this sounds amazing! I love making things but fear I'm not quite this good...I don't suppose you've got a tutorial?! I hate pads now I'm in early peri but the reusable ones haven't suited me so far.

Back in a bit while I scoff Mil's attempt at British scones! 😁 I'm loving everything, even the things I've not been able to respond to yet! Absolutely lovely.

Putting fresh pajamas on, getting into a freshly made bed, 8 hours sleep, morning coffee in bed (sensing a theme here?), open fire in winter, lighting a candle as I sit down for the evening, dog walks on bright spring days, my mum’s cooking, my older DC chatting, a clean house with noone home except me, transferring money into my savings account, planning a holday. So many things, and I’m
hoping to find ways to fit more of this good stuff in around my working hours.

The birds coming to the feeding area we created and the squirrel.

My youngest who has several.disabilities and finds school hugely tough (cannot connect to peer group) coming in at the end of the school day saying "had a good day today"

My comfy PJ's

When my roast potatoes come out gorgeous.

Freshly washed bedding.

My dog lazying next to me and putting her paw or head on me.

Lots of my favourites have been said but here goes:

The first flowers of spring

Watching tv under my heated blanket

Reading a great book

Hearing my children laugh together

Fish and chips with a glass of white wine in summer

Tea with scones and jam outdoors on a sunny day

Finding an item of clothing that's just "me"

Hyacinths and roses

A clean house

Seeing a robin

Chatting with someone who is genuinely nice

Beans or poached egg on decent bread toasted with salted butter. Good coffee from my bean subscription.

My kids, both taller than me these days but they’ve grown into decent, kind human beings.

Nice beauty products, feels like a treat every day.

First coffee in the morning when the rest of the house is still sleeping, especially sitting on the patio listening to the birds. It fills me with joy and brings a smile to my face.

My daily yoga

Late morning/early afternoon naps. Sets me up for the afternoon and evening.

Watching my children grow, mature and building bonds with each other.

Seeing my son being a protective big brother to his younger sisters.

Quiet evenings with DH watching Netflix or playing board games.

Date night with DH, we talk about us as a couple. It helps is bond as a couple.

Spending time with me wonderful grandparents who raised me and taught me so much. Seeing them impart that same knowledge to my kids.

Country walks and connecting with nature. A glass of wine in our local pub after said walk.

A simple good quality, shape mature cheddar cheese sandwich on sourdough with my grandmother's home made salted butter

When my hair is having ‘a good hair day’
Being out in nature
First coffee of the day while everyone still sleeping
Family enjoying a meal I have prepared for them
Closing my rings on Apple Watch
Winter Equinox, looking forward to the longer days
When my favourite clothes have been washed and are ready to wear again 😀

The smell of the sweet peas next to my patio doors in Summer.

When my dog rests his head on me.

The first cup of tea in a morning.

When you're in the really good bit of a book and you can't put it down.

The smell of my dad's greenhouse.

The first sight of bluebells in Spring.

My dad's face when he's really happy about something.

Early morning dog walks when the sun is shining.

Waking up early, making a pot of coffee and going back to bed for half an hour to do the mumsnet puzzles

Today, going for a run in a gale
Finding the first snowdrops
Watching eleven long-tailed tits all crammed on to one bird feeder
Bread dough rising like magic - I know, yeast, carbon dioxide etc but still....
😊

Glass of cold orange juice in the morning.

Fresh sourdough with oil and vinger and tomato slices.

When DS17 comes and lays with me in the morning to chat and have a cuddle.

When DS18 comes to talk to me, just for a chat and tells me he loves me before leaving the house.

Christmas and everything about it.

Flowers, any kind on my kitchen window sill.

The smell of expresso.

When one of my beautiful cats comes and snuggles with on my lap while im "WFH"