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Little things that make you happy.

318 replies

GiddyRobin · 01/01/2025 15:02

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
ssd · 01/01/2025 20:17

Making my boys happy makes me happy and i miss them now they have left.

Loloj · 01/01/2025 20:18

Love this sort of thread - here’s mine:

First cup of coffee on a morning.

A cheese and pickle sandwich with a cup of coffee - no idea why but it’s something about the combination!

Snuggling up in the living room with the log burner on and a glass of my favourite red wine.

Walks along the beach with our dog - any time of the year. There is something in me that just loves the fresh sea air and the openness of the beach.

Loloj · 01/01/2025 20:21

Oh and also when my 11 year old still asks me for a “tuck in” at night… I will miss that when he no longer asks 🥹

fiddleleaffig · 01/01/2025 20:28

A tea pot with loose leaf tea in it and a proper fine bone china tea cup.

When I can't sleep, I put my headphones on and have a private kitchen disco - proper dancing and mouthing the words like a lunatic in the kitchen.

fiddleleaffig · 01/01/2025 20:29

Holding hands when out walking. Dh and I are hand holders, but my heart really lights up and dc want to hold my hand (my youngest is 9 so it's very rare these days. I miss little hands in mine)

NewMe2024 · 01/01/2025 20:33

Muddy walk here too! Being with family. A good night’s sleep. Waking up early and having a good coffee in bed. When someone makes you a cup of tea. Low afternoon sun. Flowers. All dogs.

Crackers4cheese · 01/01/2025 20:34

a hot water bottle

Whattheduck · 01/01/2025 20:37

My first coffee of the day especially when I’m the only one up
An almond croissant warm with jam
Walking the dog
Fresh flowers in my hallway so I see them before I go out and when I come back always make me smile if I’ve had a tough day at work
Getting into a freshly made bed after a shower and wearing clean pyjamas snuggling down and listening to a podcast
Reading a good book
When my Dd comes home from university for the weekend without telling me she’s coming

GiddyRobin · 01/01/2025 20:43

@sandrapinchedmysandwich There's something about libraries that feels lovely. I love owning books, but going to the library feels special. I'm on the search for an old book I've forgotten and spent so much time in loads of them pre-Christmas. It's bloody lovely. Also, guinea pigs! We have several little piggies and they're absolutely insane. They're currently with my sister and I cannot wait to get home and cuddle them.

@TimothyIsNotAnArmardillo Okay, this looks excellent and I might be treating us. 😂 DH has a thing for anything coffee. He went through a phase of Turkish coffee and we've still got a cupboard full of the different sachets.

Your girl sounds so precious. I hope she's had the best Christmas! I'd never buy a dog again after adopting I don't think, it's so rewarding seeing them come out of their shells.

@LunaNorth Yes! Bloody love horses. Ours are absolute dicks, but we've got one old boy who literally looks at them sternly to keen them in line. Absolutely agree on the paperbacks. I do enjoy a Kindle though, it's good for testing if you want to buy - but I cannot get over the wonder of holding (and smelling) a real book.

@DoloresODonovan You know, MN can be harsh sometimes and some threads dissolve into a bit of...meanness. But there are threads like this one, and some others, that keep me here. Clever women, brilliant humour, and genuine kindness. AIBU can bring out the worst in people (me included), but Chat and some other sections are genuinely so lovely. I've had over 40 women try and help me find a book on another thread. It's really, really nice.

@DrCoconut I wish I could knit! I've tried crochet and I'm crap, but it looks so relaxing. Jealous of Norbot in the new Wallace & Gromit!

@ssd They'll always be your babies. ❤️ I hope you're doing okay, it must be a hard time of year when they go back.

@Loloj Have you tried that Trucklemans stuff? Oh my God. The spicy chutney? It's a game changer for a cheese sarnie!

@fiddleleaffig I love holding hands. DH has to walk with a cane now after an accident, and we had to swap sides. My right hand still itches even when I hold his right, I was so used to it! I feel bereft when I'm on my own sometimes - no DC on one side and no DH on the other! God, I'm a soppy thing. 😂 My oldest is 8 and it's getting more rare, too. Those tiny baby fingers.

@NewMe2024 Low afternoon sun feels splendid. That with a hot water bottle on the couch in winter, as @Crackers4cheese mentions, and it's heaven.

@Whattheduck I remember doing the surprise weekends for my Dad. He'd cry sometimes and I'd never seen that really, it's always stuck with me and made me really see that parents are human. For some reason it made parenting easier for me? Maybe the realisation that being emotional was okay.

I'd like to add:

  • Wallace & Gromit. Never fails to make me laugh, but the new one is going to be rewatched many times.
  • When DH strokes my head after a long day. I don't ask, he just does it and puts his palm on my forehead because apparently that's nice. It's so, so sweet.
  • Those giant fluffy slipper boots for around the house. It's like walking on clouds!
  • Toast in the afternoon, unexpectedly. Back from a walk and someone makes some, drenched in butter, with a proper cup of tea.
  • The smell of homemade vegetable soup when you come home.
OP posts:
NordicwithTeen · 01/01/2025 20:48

Toast with butter and a big mug of tea
Dunking rich teas for just the right amount of time before they drop
Ddog curling up next to me for snoozes - bonus points if she finds my cold feet and sits on them to warm them
Finding a gem of an audio book narrated well so I am dragged out in all weathers for extra dog walks to continue it
Finding trees that look like people doing things in the woods - got a great pic of a STOP tree, for example
Re-potting plants and their babies
Hot bubble bath with a smell that lingers
Listening to music from the 90s and singing along, alongside the sad songs that remind me of various break ups and the growth that's happened since
Toasting marshmallows perfectly honey-gold on the fire then taking the thin cooked layer off with teeth and seeing how many layers I can do (done this ever since I was a kid)
Weirdly I really like finishing bottles in the bathroom/kitchen and recycling them!

Shmee1988 · 01/01/2025 20:51

Shaving my legs in the bath and then getting straight into clean bedding!

GiddyRobin · 01/01/2025 20:51

NordicwithTeen · 01/01/2025 20:48

Toast with butter and a big mug of tea
Dunking rich teas for just the right amount of time before they drop
Ddog curling up next to me for snoozes - bonus points if she finds my cold feet and sits on them to warm them
Finding a gem of an audio book narrated well so I am dragged out in all weathers for extra dog walks to continue it
Finding trees that look like people doing things in the woods - got a great pic of a STOP tree, for example
Re-potting plants and their babies
Hot bubble bath with a smell that lingers
Listening to music from the 90s and singing along, alongside the sad songs that remind me of various break ups and the growth that's happened since
Toasting marshmallows perfectly honey-gold on the fire then taking the thin cooked layer off with teeth and seeing how many layers I can do (done this ever since I was a kid)
Weirdly I really like finishing bottles in the bathroom/kitchen and recycling them!

Edited

Sorry, are you me? 😂 Every single one of these had me smiling and nodding! I found an amazing tree years ago, and it had this sort of marble plate attached. It was in a proper cared for garden too, so it was deliberate...but I don't know why! And I can't find anyone who knows why either! 😂

Also, there has been much Jarvis Cocker dancing in my kitchen this evening. It's a staple of happiness!

OP posts:
CoralOP · 01/01/2025 20:57

Aw lovely, I wish all discussions were like this!

My list has to be:

Hugs with my son
A clean, nice smelling house
Fresh cut garden in spring
Sunshine
A massage
Time alone
Books and comfort
A bunch of tulips in spring
Getting chance to watch some girly tele
Going to the forest near me in the snow, its magical
Walking my crazy German pointer
Checking my bank, bills etc and everything is fine, it calms me instantly
Going on holiday, I love showing my son the world
Driving with my favourite songs on loud
Shopping
X

Notrynajudge · 01/01/2025 20:59

Seeing DC smiling, happy and chatting.

My cats.

First cup of coffee of the day.

Getting into bed each night.

Pay day.

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 01/01/2025 21:03

GiddyRobin · 01/01/2025 20:43

@sandrapinchedmysandwich There's something about libraries that feels lovely. I love owning books, but going to the library feels special. I'm on the search for an old book I've forgotten and spent so much time in loads of them pre-Christmas. It's bloody lovely. Also, guinea pigs! We have several little piggies and they're absolutely insane. They're currently with my sister and I cannot wait to get home and cuddle them.

@TimothyIsNotAnArmardillo Okay, this looks excellent and I might be treating us. 😂 DH has a thing for anything coffee. He went through a phase of Turkish coffee and we've still got a cupboard full of the different sachets.

Your girl sounds so precious. I hope she's had the best Christmas! I'd never buy a dog again after adopting I don't think, it's so rewarding seeing them come out of their shells.

@LunaNorth Yes! Bloody love horses. Ours are absolute dicks, but we've got one old boy who literally looks at them sternly to keen them in line. Absolutely agree on the paperbacks. I do enjoy a Kindle though, it's good for testing if you want to buy - but I cannot get over the wonder of holding (and smelling) a real book.

@DoloresODonovan You know, MN can be harsh sometimes and some threads dissolve into a bit of...meanness. But there are threads like this one, and some others, that keep me here. Clever women, brilliant humour, and genuine kindness. AIBU can bring out the worst in people (me included), but Chat and some other sections are genuinely so lovely. I've had over 40 women try and help me find a book on another thread. It's really, really nice.

@DrCoconut I wish I could knit! I've tried crochet and I'm crap, but it looks so relaxing. Jealous of Norbot in the new Wallace & Gromit!

@ssd They'll always be your babies. ❤️ I hope you're doing okay, it must be a hard time of year when they go back.

@Loloj Have you tried that Trucklemans stuff? Oh my God. The spicy chutney? It's a game changer for a cheese sarnie!

@fiddleleaffig I love holding hands. DH has to walk with a cane now after an accident, and we had to swap sides. My right hand still itches even when I hold his right, I was so used to it! I feel bereft when I'm on my own sometimes - no DC on one side and no DH on the other! God, I'm a soppy thing. 😂 My oldest is 8 and it's getting more rare, too. Those tiny baby fingers.

@NewMe2024 Low afternoon sun feels splendid. That with a hot water bottle on the couch in winter, as @Crackers4cheese mentions, and it's heaven.

@Whattheduck I remember doing the surprise weekends for my Dad. He'd cry sometimes and I'd never seen that really, it's always stuck with me and made me really see that parents are human. For some reason it made parenting easier for me? Maybe the realisation that being emotional was okay.

I'd like to add:

  • Wallace & Gromit. Never fails to make me laugh, but the new one is going to be rewatched many times.
  • When DH strokes my head after a long day. I don't ask, he just does it and puts his palm on my forehead because apparently that's nice. It's so, so sweet.
  • Those giant fluffy slipper boots for around the house. It's like walking on clouds!
  • Toast in the afternoon, unexpectedly. Back from a walk and someone makes some, drenched in butter, with a proper cup of tea.
  • The smell of homemade vegetable soup when you come home.

Maybe we should go into business together with a book lending library combined with resident guinea pigs for cuddles. Care homes often have visits from piggies so this would be amazing 🤩

Abracadabra12345 · 01/01/2025 21:04

Crackers4cheese · 01/01/2025 20:34

a hot water bottle

I was thinking that! Not an electric blanket but a proper, oversized hot water bottle on a cold night

Abracadabra12345 · 01/01/2025 21:08

Also, there has been much Jarvis Cocker dancing in my kitchen this evening. It's a staple of happiness!

Penpals, new stationery and Jarvis Cocker dancing! (Adore that man) - we are truly clones 😆

TitaniasAss · 01/01/2025 21:08

A really nice cup of tea

When my kids laugh

When my dog just stands in the middle of the room and wags his tail for no other reason than he sees me

A nice dinner out with girlfriends

Baking

Looking out of our cottage window and seeing the sea, no matter what the weather is like.

Foxlover46 · 01/01/2025 21:10

Healthy kids
My dogs
Coffee and a good box set
Fluffy socks
Listening to Taylor swift loud with my AirPods

ZippyCat · 01/01/2025 21:15

It was my pets until they sadly past just before Christmas

Now it's watching the squirrels and birds in my garden every day without fail my garden backs onto woodlands
First coffee of the day in peace
Cuddles from dh
A good roast dinner

Foxlover46 · 01/01/2025 21:19

@SpicyMarge your little kittens feet are adorable ☺️ I'm so glad he found you

MyLemonKoala · 01/01/2025 21:22

Lovely thread op!

Mine are;
a nice hot soak in the bath lights off and candles on

napping with my DS2 in the afternoon in the big bed all snuggly and warm

my morning coffee

putting my pyjamas on

my electric blanket

all the different seasons of the year, E.g crunchy leaves in autumn and blossom in spring

having a glass of wine watching Corrie

🤍🤍🤍🤍

Lablonde · 01/01/2025 21:23

First coffee of the day
Freshly washed and ironed bedding
Candles
Clean hair
An afternoon nap when the house is tidy and the morning to do list is done
New notepads and pens
Berries, yogurt and crushed meringue
Pancakes
Interacting with animals (pets or wild)
Wordle
Holding hands with DH
Fresh nails
A well-fitting bra and matching pants
Good smoked salmon
Listening to the rain and wind outside
Fresh, outside air in the morning
Walking briskly
A spontaneous "I love you", compliment, kiss or hug from DH
The ping of a message from someone you enjoy chatting with
A warm bath with bubbles
A social media timehop of something nice I was doing a few years ago
Clearing out a cupboard, drawer, wardrobe...
Saying something that makes someone laugh
Drinking cold water
Waking up before the alarm and realising I can go back to sleep
Butter on warm, wholemeal bread

LittleBowSheep · 01/01/2025 21:25

My cat jumping on my bed and giving me a nose-bump to wake me up.

Ordering new seeds to grow, both flowers and vegetables.

Seeing the first signs of the spring bulbs poking through the soil.

Counting up the extra minutes of daylight we get once we've passed the shortest day.

Buying more bulbs and flowers for my front garden (whilst ignoring the fact that I don't have room for any more).

Watching amazing sunsets over the sea which I am lucky to see from my house.

Hanging washing out on the line.

Watching dogs frolicking in the sea.

Lablonde · 01/01/2025 21:32

Lablonde · 01/01/2025 21:23

First coffee of the day
Freshly washed and ironed bedding
Candles
Clean hair
An afternoon nap when the house is tidy and the morning to do list is done
New notepads and pens
Berries, yogurt and crushed meringue
Pancakes
Interacting with animals (pets or wild)
Wordle
Holding hands with DH
Fresh nails
A well-fitting bra and matching pants
Good smoked salmon
Listening to the rain and wind outside
Fresh, outside air in the morning
Walking briskly
A spontaneous "I love you", compliment, kiss or hug from DH
The ping of a message from someone you enjoy chatting with
A warm bath with bubbles
A social media timehop of something nice I was doing a few years ago
Clearing out a cupboard, drawer, wardrobe...
Saying something that makes someone laugh
Drinking cold water
Waking up before the alarm and realising I can go back to sleep
Butter on warm, wholemeal bread

Edited

Oh and,

Singing along in the car when you know all the words
Yoga / a good stretch
Cleaning jewellery so it sparkles up like new

Loves this thread OP - I'm going to take a note of these things and put them somewhere I can see them often :)