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.

Reading in bed with the cat.
Prosecco in the garden.
Watching Death in Paradise.
Bubble bath.
A magazine.
Getting my nails done (or doing them myself).

Cut flowers, usually from M&S in the sitting room, bedroom and dressing room.
Re reading fav books.
Nice piece of cakey and some coffee served in a cup and saucer.
Monthly magazines.
First to read the newspaper.
Clean that day bed linen.
Remembering that happiness doesn't come to you , it has to be found in the things around you.

Going for a run on Monday evenings, listening to new weekly Spotify Discover playlist.

Listening to my DS practice guitar, he's getting very good!

Fresh bed linen.
Relaxing bath.
A takeaway coffee.
Soft pjs made even softer by washing.
Having my hair done.
Having my nails done.
The smell of a new book.
Stationery.

Loads more...

Here are some little pleasures that I wish I could afford to do more often:

Hot Stone Massages
Getting my hair blow dried professionally (I would have this done twice a week in my perfect world, I do it maybe once a year currently)
Facials/face treatments
Afternoon tea at really, really posh hotels
Cocktails at really, really posh hotels
Dinners out at world class restaurants

Clean, fresh cotton bedding.
the smell after it's rained.
a smile as you walk past somebody on the street.

this song sums it up for me, though I'm not at all religious.

Actually this link is the one I use as the pictures are relaxing

Mine are grown-up/nearly grown-up so plenty more opportunities for me-time. When they were little, the mid-morning coffee. Also curling up on the sofa and singing to them.

In no particular order:

• Watering my plants, especially my herb box, and realising I haven't killed them!
• Early nights with a good book, a new magazine, a stash of blog posts to catch up on or just Pinterest
• Browsing round bookshops especially second hand ones
• Summer evenings
• First glass of wine on a Friday night
• Coffee and cake with DD
• Driving fast and singing along to great music
• Walks in Autumn when you're trying to cram them in before the cold weather hits
• Floating in a swimming pool on holiday doing literally nothing, barely even thinking
• My DD's excitement about her approaching birthday, you'd think she was 3 not 14!
• WhatsApp chats with my oldest, closest mates - so much easier to keep in touch now
• Clean, fresh bedding
• Stationery shopping
• New shoes
• The first proper English strawberries of the year
• How cute the cat looks when she's washing and any time she chooses my lap to sit on (rarely!)
• Walks on the beach
• Starbucks cheese and marmite paninis
• Live music

First lie in of the half term (I'm a teacher)

Window shopping for holidays in the net

First cup of tea in the morning

Last cup of tea at night

Picking DCs up from school

Watching Grease with DD

Watching DS2 playing football

Eating Sunday roast cooked by my DH

Seeing DS1 return from Uni

When my cat Zara does this

Living with in-laws at the moment so any time they are out for a while I like to walk up and down the stairs naked or go to the loo with the door open

listening to the navy lark at 5am with my first coffee of the day with the cat on my lap. no better way to start the day.

Sitting in my deck chair in the garden reading a detective novel and drinking tea.

Watching my cat lying in the sun or stalking insects as the sunsets.

Getting my hair trimmed and properly blow dried- I look momentarily stylish and grown up, which I enjoy hugely for the couple of hours that it lasts.

Occasional posh manicure for the same reasons.

Eating off really nice china and drinking from beautiful glasses, which I do everyday, even if it's just a sandwich and a cup of tea, because it makes me really happy. I really prioritise nice china and glassware!

A long run, hot bath, my nails done and nice food usually. Something good to read. A glass of wine of an evening. Ooh and fresh bed sheets. Nothing better.

Getting into bed on a day where I've changed the sheets.
Having a cig early in the morning in the yard before anyone else is up.
Watching old episodes of farscape

Driving, finding an old derelict airfield I haven't yet explored, Cadbury Dairy Milk, the yogurt in muller fruit corners and Youtube :) Oh and Corrie & Eastenders 👍🏻

Ooh it's thundering!! That too as it never thunders here in North Yorkshire ⚡️

I was watching doctors the other day first time in a long time. Reminded me of those early days. Hot cup of tea. Chocolate hob nobs and day time tv 📺

The smell of freshly cut grass.
Watching lambs playing in the fields in Spring.
Walking on the beach.
Lighting a scented candle in the evening, the signal everything is done for the day and it's time to relax.
Opening a new book.
Finding Netflix has added new seasons of a favourite programme.
Going somewhere new and using the hop on/hop off bus tour.
Bargain prices on crystal. Last year I got 18 Waterford wine glasses for a tenner.
Every day after school my youngest texts me after to see how my day went. He's almost 16 so the fact he does that instead of chatting with his mates is lovely. Just a couple of messages and an I love you but it makes my day.

Waking up naturally - not being woken by an alarm clock or a child. Can't remember the last time that happened.
Naps on a sun longer on holiday where the hazy sleep just washes over you in waves... again not experienced this for years as kids are 5 and 2 but I used to love this!
Clean sheets.
Hanging up washing in the sunshine.
Listening to my boys being kind to each other and playing nicely (rare).
My choice of radio / music in car - not nursery rhymes of Charlie and Lola.
A massage.
A mooch round the shops for clothes without kids.
Kids bedtime and the calm that returns to the house when they are asleep.

Still waking up and realising I am now retired-bliss.
Having my 1st morning coffee on the patio.
Strolling on a long walk with my beloved but crazy springer.
spending time with my 4 Granddaughters.
Freshly mown grass mmmmmmmmmmmm lovely.
Baking I love it.
Summer, winter so depressing.
Reading a book.
A chilled glass of Prosecco on a warm evening sat outside.

Smelling my gorgeous baby's hair
A good cup of coffee
Getting into bed on the day I've changed the sheets
A mimosa with breakfast/brunch on the weekend
A piece of chocolate with a cup of tea
A hot bath with scented candles
Sitting on a deckchair in the garden in the afternoon sun

I am just climbing in between clean sheets......yep, happy sigh...it's pure bliss

Cup of tea, tunnocks wafers and a good book, in a silent house.