To ask what are your little pleasures in life...

[Herbie22]

Since DD was born I have come to understand it will be a while before I get to experience what I used to enjoy again. So I have been trying to think of the simple pleasure to help me get through the day of endless cleaning up sick and doing chores.
I really enjoy washing my hair in a steaming hot shower, especially when someone else is holding the baby so she isn't in the bathroom with me 😅
Or hanging out the washing in the sunshine.

Eating all the chocolate off a kit Kat then eating one layer of wafer at a time without it breaking I only ever do this when I'm alone (rarely) as it's not particularly attractive to witness.

New episodes of House of Cards always give me a little buzz
An espresso in my teeny tiny swanky espresso cup
Smelling certain perfumes; I was having a totally shite day at work yesterday so came home, doused myself in Shay and Blue and the crappy day melted away
Our cats sitting on my lap while I pretend to work
The Les Mis soundtrack; it's always in my car and on especially tiresome days pretending to be Jean Valjean perks me right up. DS1 pretends to be Eponine, DS2 is Cosette, which makes me howl laughing.
Listening to anything by Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis or Bob Dylan.
Tiramisu.

A good book
Prosecco
That lovely moment when I wake up and savour the freedom of being single
Hill walking
Sunbathing (yes, I know)
DD

Sitting outside with some lovely music and a book.
A good night's sleep.
A night out with good friends.
Hearing DD laugh.

Fresh bedding
Stroking my cat (masses of fur comes off!)
Driving alone with my favourite music on (DH doesn't like music in car)
Walking in country with my DH or friend
Bonne Maman rum babas

Sunbathing when the house is all clean

I forgot one! Going into a book store and seeing 5 books I want to get.
Buying them, choosing which to ready and the noise and smell of cracking the cover and turning the first page.

Bliss!

Clean bedding
Hot bath
Coffee & Chocolate
Sunshine

I have just discovered pork pie. OMG where has it been all my life?!

That and wine and being able to work from home once a week in silence!

My own little routine the last week or so as it's been so lovely and warm: Everyone in bed asleep, I go out into the (still very warm)evening and water my plants, come back in to the kettle just boiling, make tea, have quick shower, drink tea, audiobook to sleep. Currently mumsnetting over the sound of the audiobook.
I think a really good and freshly brewed coffee in a cafetière, with a bit of toast is just so lovely. A magazine! Not too often because they're ridiculously priced, but that smell and the glossy pages. A posh new lipstick is a real boost, and I quite often buy those on points etc once they've built up. New pjs. Getting to the bottom of the washing basket, and getting it all out of the way in a day. Someone complimenting one of my children, if I hear someone say "your child was really kind to mine when XYZ happened". Makes it all feel like you've achieved all you set out to with your kids. The lovely words from friends old and new - shall we grab a coffee and cake?

Going to bed early when there are fresh clean sheets, a good novel to get my teeth into with (depending on my mood) a cup of decaf earl grey tea or a glass of port.

Getting up before anyone else and enjoying a mug of fresh coffee with thick wholewheat toast, butter and marmite. This used to include reading the morning newspaper as well but that doesn't improve my mood these days!

My house fully decorated for Christmas, a full month of
"little pleasures" every time I look around :)

I'm the "chef" in our house so I'm usually a bit tired when I finally sit down to eat, so leftovers the next day of my favorite dishes are especially enjoyable.

Stepping out into warm sunshine at the end of a work day during the summer... hopefully followed shortly by a refreshing G&T with a colleague or friend at a nice outdoor bar before heading home.

But in all seriousness, getting in a hot bath or getting into clean bedding. Best everday pleasures.

walking the DC to school/ nursery. The round trip w two stops takes an hour. On the way there love chatting to the DC. On the way back home I listen to music or a podcast and love being alone with my thoughts. If I'm not too busy will occasionally stop at a cafe for a cup of tea and a scone.

Summer evenings
Sitting in the garden with a glass of wine and a book
Getting into a really good novel (harder than switching on the TV, but really worth it.)
A great episode of a box set I'm really into
cooking leisurely in the kitchen when there's no DC around (rare)
snuggling with my 3 year old on the sofa while he drinks milk and watches TV.

Reading with my 6 year old.
Agree with clean sheets one

My 2 house bunnies - love the bones of them!
Documentaries about something really interesting.
Having a Steps session - love them and love belting out their tracks.
Clean bedding and shower (not a bath person really and have a wet room now).
Will seem sad, but I quite like having a good mooch round the supermarkets - and will go to practically all of them (not in the same week of course ) to see what they've got.
Going for a trip somewhere new in the UK.
Coming back to home after being away.
Good Coffee.

Cup of tea and biscuit/toast in bed in the morning with a book, on my own. It's a sweet spot if DH has gone out to work and DS is still sleeping. The cat may join me for cuddles.

Plants thriving in the garden. Downstairs neighbour keeps the lawn under control but when we moved in one border was just a weedy mess and is now packed with flowery stuff that bees and butterflies like.

Singing in harmony. I'm in a big old choir. It's a bit of a drag waiting while everyone learns their parts but then when it's put together it's a wee bit magic.

Having a clean bra every day and clean pyjamas every day: feels sinfully indulgent even after a year of doing it, but the cost is pennies a day

When DC was very young (summer) baby -- lying beside her asleep in carrycot on grass in the shade.
Reading whilst breastfeeding (no compulsion to attend to chores)
Taking photos of DC and flowers, nature, listening to the birds.
Going for long walks with s friend, exploring the suburb and nosing new builds under construction -- very early in the morning so no-one around and no security fences.
Watching a romantic tv series I'd recorded with a friend over lunch once a week.
Attending a cheap beginners craft class

Christian Hillborg (Erik in the Last Kingdom)
Aidan Turner
Prosecco, particularly with a strawberry in the top
Freshly made bed with clean sheets
Getting back into my own bed (clean sheets or not) after any time away from home (a weekend or 2 weeks hols, doesn't matter)
A cup of coffee on my own early in the garden on a sunny day
Say Yes to the Dress (no!!! Don't buy that one!! Oh, she has......)

I'm sure I'll think of more...

What a lovely thread! I think I would add reading this thread to my list!

also...

opening the windows in the bedroom at bedtime, to let fresh air cascade in
the snap of sheets on the line as they get blown in the wind
finding a new plant has popped up in my garden
hearing owls call in the nearby wood at night
getting up really early, just as the light is starting and making coffee
a brisk walk on the beach with our dogs
the colour combination of a dark stormy sky with sunlit trees in front of it
walking barefoot on grass
A pile of shiny apples in the fruitbowl
Cutting open an avocado and realising it is JUST right

x

taking off my shoes in work and torturing the other girls with my absolute disregard for them. We have this cool thing to set your feet on (work in a reception) and it has wee bumps on it so it makes my feet feel all nice ... i do however clean it because I do know that's gross - currently doing it now!

I agree. Lovely thread! Just a few of mine:

The smell of freshly cut grass.
The freshness of the air after a thunderstorm.
The smell of a roast dinner cooking.
Babies laughing.
The changing of the seasons.
A beautiful sunset.
Moonlight.
A delicious homemade crumble after above roast!
Johnson's baby powder.
Fresh clean bed.

I'm sure there are loads more. Could well be back.

Freshly ironed/tumble-dried clothes
The smell as you walk into Costa/Pret/Starbucks
The smell of a new book (I've also realised that my Kindle smells of books)
85%+ chocolate
Listening to Christmas songs in the summer

Hot brews and meals
Dropping him off at crèche and going gym
Showers but not any showers, when there's time for face masks and exfoliating
Being able to read a book
Playing with my cat
When the baby goes straight to sleep, pure magic

There's lots...

DD climbing into my bed in the morning for a cuddle
First cup of tea
Eating breakfast outside
Woodland walks
Being by the sea
Eating ice cream
Love a crumble too with custard
Driving along winding country lanes
People watching
Cold glass of wine
Shopping with friends
Being out in nature
My cat's purr
Clean sheets
Hanging my washing out
Seeing someone's face light up over a gift I have given them
Cocktails
Curling up with a good book
Mango (addicted to the stuff)
Singing along at the top of my voice on my commute
Car dancing