10 things that make me happy!

Candice over at Bookish Penguin bestowed upon me this Happy 101 award!  Thanks Candice!

According to the award rules, I have to post the image above (done!) and list ten things that make me happy–one of which has be to done today.  Then I get to pass this award along to ten bloggers who make me happy.

So here it goes, in no particular order:

1. My son

I love walking into his room in the morning.  Once he spots me he smiles, squeals and flails about.  I love to tickle him just before bath time.  I love watching him grow and discover new things.  I could go on and on all day about this kid.  He makes me SO happy.  He makes me happy everyday!

2. My Friday lunch date

My husband and I work at the same school.  We have a student/staff/faculty meeting with his department on Friday mornings.  After that we go out to lunch.  This is particularly nice now since it is our standing “date” for the week.  I did this today!

3. When I unexpectedly hear a song I love

I love it when I hear a song that I absolutely love come on the radio or starts playing in the supermarket or something.  My mood changes instantly.  This is especially super-duper fun when it is a song that I completely forgot existed.

4. Turtles

I don’t know why I like them so much, but I do.  They are in plenty of park ponds here in Tallahassee–always sunning themselves on logs and rocks.  I could watch them for hours.

5. Baking/Cooking

I grew up with cooks.  My grandparents (and my great-grandparents before them) owned a mom-and-pop restaurant and bar.  I use to love watching my grandmother cook.  And my mom is a cook too.  But I never got to cook much at home because my mom likes things done a certain way, so I didn’t get to do much.  But in the last 4 years or so, I have really come to love cooking and baking.  It somehow makes me happy the same way that painting does–something about the process of adding ingredients together in various ways.  I really enjoy the process of creation.  The eating isn’t so bad either!

6. Making my husband laugh

I am really thankful that he thinks I am funny, because if he didn’t we most certainly wouldn’t be married!

7. Painting

I love painting.  I don’t have to be making “art.”  I really just like the feeling of applying paint to things.  I find it to be completely zen-like.  I don’t think about anything.  I am in the moment and in the motion.

I know, I’m weird.

8. Autumn in the Northeast

The crisp air.  The smell of fallen leaves.  The colors.  The apples and pumpkins.  Halloween!  Wearing layers of clothes.  So happy!

9. Unexpected snail mail from friends

I love it when someone is so moved to send something to you that they actually take the time to write something out by hand, purchase a stamp and drop it in the mail without letting you know it is on its way.  This week, we got a postcard from a couple of friends announcing that they had eloped!

10. People actually reading AND enjoying my blog/blogs

Truth be told, I don’t have a huge readership.  More so at the other blog than at this one.  And most people don’t directly comment on my posts.  But I get e-mails and Facebook messages telling me how much my friends enjoy my blog.  That really means something to me.  Just the fact that someone, some times someone I don’t even know, takes the time to read what I have to say and visits regularly–wow, it just blows my mind.

Okay, so now is the part where I nominate 10 other blogs.  If I nominate you and you don’t feel like doing this, that is cool.  I won’t be offended.  Just know that your blog makes me happy!

1. Country Mouse/City Mouse

This is my friend Kyle’s blog.  We are college pals.  Kyle is the funniest person I know.  He is tall.  And likes bikes.

2. Confessions of a Young, Married Couple

This is my friend Katie’s blog.  Our husbands went to grad school together (actually they went to the same undergrad too, but at different times.)  We both work(ed) at the same university in Connecticut.  We were both pregnant with little boys at the same time.  And her blog is nominated for a Bloggie!

3. Piratechnical.com

This is my husband’s blog.  It is mostly about his research (dynamic scenery for the entertainment industry) but it does venture into gadgets and technology.  He will never do this 10 things thing.

4. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

This is my friend Jess’ blog.  Her husband went to grad school with my husband, too.  I am jealous of the relationship that she has with her sisters.  And she hates traffic and bedhogs.

5. LVCave Photo and Fitness Blog

This my friend Lindsay’s blog.  Lindsay and I go way back–to elementary school.  She is a professional photographer as well as a fitness buff.  She exercises with kettlebells.  KETTLEBELLS.  That is hardcore.  She is my fitness inspiration.

6. The Daddy Blog

This is my friend Seth’s blog.  I met Seth in the third grade.  He sat at the desk next to me.  We have kept in touch all of these years.  He is a new dad to a bouncing baby girl!

7. I Stare at People

I don’t know Lavanna, but I wish I did.  She paints while at coffee shops–quick sketches of people.  Painting in public like that is pretty brave.

8. The Construction of Creation

I “met” Jessica on Twitter.  I am mesmerized by her painting.  She is so talented and driven.

9. mostly vegan, always vegetarian

This is my friend Miss Jamie’s blog.  She and I went to a small 2 year art school together back in central NY.  Someday, I will make one of her vegan recipes and not tell my husband until after he has eaten it (Aaron, you aren’t reading this are you?)

10. Bookish Penguin

Okay, it probably against the rules for me to list her since she already did this–but I like her and her blog makes me happy!  Thanks for passing this award to me, Candice!

Tags: blogs, happiness, life is good