50 things that make me happy

Family life

Ooh, I do love a good list, and I also love being happy, so when the lovely Kate who blogs at Yellowbellymummy challenged me to take part in 50 things that make me happy, a little blog-hop game currently doing the rounds in the parent-blogging world, I couldn’t wait to get going.  

Here are my 50 things. I’ve loved reading what makes everyone happy. It’s so lovely to fill the cyber world with positivity and give thanks for all the amazing things that make us happy. I’m now tagging two lovely South Wales parent bloggers – Alina, who blogs at Cookies and Cwtches and Sarah from The Herniman House to write about the 50 things that make them happy.

  1. My family. I know it’s an obvious one, but my husband and our three children really do make me happier than I ever thought possible. I could probably fill this whole list with things about them but that would be boring, so I’ll just do one or two.
  2. My children laughing. My baby thinks the silliest things are side-splittingly hilarious. Yesterday, his whole body was shaking with uncontrolled laughter when I was pouring pasta into a saucepan. He thought the noise was so funny, I did it four times. His big brother and sister make each other (and Baby I) laugh in a way no one else can. They will giggle away uncontrollably for ages. I have a couple of videos on my phone of my children laughing and if I’m ever having a bad day, that always makes it better.
  3. Holding hands with my husband. We have three kids aged five and under. If we’re all out together, we’re pushing buggies, holding children’s hands, carrying change bags, bikes and scooters. Recently in the park, he held my park and it was lush.
  4. Reading books to my children. Bedtime stories are one of my favourite parts of the day. It’s even more amazing now my five-year-old can read to us herself.
  5. The sound of the sea. I grew up in Barry and went to university in Swansea, so until I was 22, I always had the sea on my doorstep. I love living in Cardiff, but I miss seeing the sea every day. I love the sound of the waves, the salty smell, the freshness of the air. No matter what is going on in my life, seeing the sea reminds me I’m just a small part of this big old world and somehow things will always work out in the end.
  6. Cooking. I find it relaxing, exciting, therapeutic, calming. I’m not an amazing chef by any stretch of the imagination, and sometimes I get it horribly wrong, but I love experimenting with food and flavours and eating delicious meals with my family.
  7. Yoga. I’ve been practicing for 14 years, teaching for 6, and yoga always makes me happy, relaxed, calm, and a million other positive feelings, not to mention getting rid of any aches and pains. It makes me especially happy on the days when I think I am too tired or too busy for yoga. Those are the days I need it most.
  8. Sunny days. Nothing like a beautiful sunshiny day to bring a smile to your face.
  9. Being warm and cwtchy inside when it’s cold and wet outside. The rain might be pelting it down, but me and my pyjamas on the settee are happy indeed.
  10. Fresh, juicy, sweet strawberries. I love all kinds of fruit but there’s something so indulgent about strawberries in the summer.
  11. Unexpectedly bumping into someone you haven’t seen for ages. Ah, so lovely to randomly catch up with an old friend in the real world, rather than on Facebook.
  12. Getting actual post, rather than bills. I love a good old-fashioned hand-written letter or card. I don’t receive many these days, but I still write to the penpal I met on holiday when I was nine and it’s so nice to read a letter that someone has taken the time to write and post.
  13. When people phone, rather than text. I am as guilty of this as anyone, but as I have friends who live all over the country, it’s so lovely to hear their voices and chat for an hour, rather than a text conversation that goes on for days as we’re all so busy with our children we forget to reply.
  14. Singing really loudly in the car or the house on my own. To music I want to listen to, rather than what my children choose. Usually cheesy 80s pop and the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. Ah, so exhilarating.
  15. Walking bare-foot in the sand. I love the freedom of bare feet, the feeling of sand between my toes, the little exfoliation they’re getting courtesy of Mother Nature. Just as long as the sand is not too hot!
  16. Ironing. Seriously. I love ironing and it makes me happy. I wrote about it here, in fact.
  17. Nights out with my girlfriends. It’s so lovely to socialise with my friends without our children present and have actual conversations that don’t end abruptly because one of us needs to change a nappy/take a toddler to the toilet/break up a squabble etc.
  18. Living a two-minute walk from a park. It’s like having an extended back garden. I feel so lucky to live where we do.
  19. Chick flicks and trashy American television. You can’t beat a good chick flick to make you feel all warm and fuzzy and I know I’m probably too old to watch shows such as 90210, Gossip Girl etc, but they are pure escapism and make me smile.
  20. Looking at old photos. I am a big, big photo person. I take loads and I love filling albums with them. It makes me so happy to look back on fun times gone by.
  21. A hot shower in the morning. No matter how little sleep I’ve had, as long as I get a hot shower in the morning, I’m good to go. I’m even happier if it’s an uninterrupted shower without any of my three children in the bathroom at the same time.
  22. When someone does something really small but kind that makes a massive difference to your day, like holding open a door when you’re trying to get a buggy and three kids through, or stopping their car so you can cross a busy road.
  23. Fresh bedding. Ah, so lovely to get into bed when the sheets and covers are all clean and lovely, especially if they have been line-dried too.
  24. Eating al fresco. Picnics and barbecues make me so happy! I love it when the weather is good enough to eat outside. Everything tastes so much better.
  25. Getting a professional pedicure or manicure. I’m crap at doing my own nails so it’s always such a treat to have them done properly. Every time I look at properly-done nails, it makes me happy.Daffodils in Bute Park
  26. Driving over the Severn Bridge and seeing the Welcome to Wales sign. I love visiting other places, but coming home makes me happy too.
  27. When I manage to do something I didn’t think I could. Like, some really complicated technical thing on my blog, or fixing a broken toy, or being able to do a yoga pose I’ve been struggling with. Sometimes I doubt my own ability so I always feel happy when I stick with it and achieve something I didn’t think I could.
  28. When my freelancing clients pay me on time. I love being self-employed but the big downside is continually chasing the people you have worked for to pay up. Every so often someone will pay an invoice immediately and it’s such a fantastic feeling.
  29. Seeing the moon and the stars on a clear night. Even lovelier when it is a full moon.
  30. Having my hair cut and blow-dried in a salon. They always make it look so amazing. I can never recreate that salon look at home.
  31. Seeing my name in print. Sometimes I can’t believe how lucky I am to write for a living and every time I see my byline in a publication, the excitement I feel is as if for the first time.
  32. Getting glammed up for a big night out. Heels, a dress, a shed-load of make-up, jewellery and perfume. It’s so nice to feel gorgeous every once in a while.
  33. Winter boots. I love the sun and the summer, but I do love pulling on a pair of winter boots, a thick knitted jumper and a cosy hat.
  34. Family day trips. It’s such fun to head off somewhere exciting for the day.
  35. When people like, comment or share a blog I’ve written. I blogged in secret for a while because I was scared people wouldn’t read it and would laugh at me, despite the fact I’ve been writing professionally for 15 years. I am always so happy and grateful when someone not only reads my blog, but takes time to comment on it too.
  36. A beautiful sunset or sunrise. How can such a gorgeous, natural sight not make you happy?
  37. When someone else cooks me a meal. As the stay-at-home parent, I do about 95% of the cooking in our house. It’s always such a treat when someone else cooks for me. And if they clean up too.
  38. Jumping on my children’s trampoline. Sometimes when they are all asleep, I get on and have a good bounce. It is such fun and always puts me in a good mood.
  39. Ditto going down the big slides at soft play.
  40. When the leaves and blossom start growing on the trees again in the spring.
  41. When I wake up and realise my children have given me a lie-in. Granted, it’s usually only until about 7.15am at the absolute latest, but three young children managing to coordinate sleeping in late is an event in itself. Those extra minutes are so appreciated.
  42. Daffodils. They’re such a happy, bright and confident flower and always look extra beautiful when they appear at the end of winter.
  43. Extended family get-togethers. Such fun to see aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews, parents, cousins, grandparents, second cousins, great aunts and uncles and so on. Doesn’t happen very often, but always makes me feel so blessed.
  44. Reading a magazine from cover to cover. I used to regularly devour magazines before I had children – no surprises for a trained magazine journalist. I don’t get much time to do that these days, so it’s such a real treat when I do.
  45. Writing on the first page of a brand new notebook. Ah, lovely clean word-canvasses.
  46. When something good happens to one of my friends. Perhaps when I was younger, part of me would have felt jealous but now their happiness just makes me happy.
  47. Lighting a scented candle and a delicious aroma wafting around the house.
  48. Walking in nature – seeing beautiful flowers growing in the park, blossom on trees, catching a squirrel running through the woods, a butterfly fluttering by.
  49. My job. A lot of people spend their whole lives searching for a career that makes them happy, and I’m lucky I have three I can combine with being a mum. Freelance journalism, teaching yoga and now professional blogging. It’s sometimes a juggle, but my work really does make me smile.
  50. Writing lists. I love being organised and key to that is writing handy little lists for everything. Ticking everything off when I’ve done it also makes me happy.

What makes you happy? I’d love it if you could keep spreading those good vibes and write a couple of things that make you happy, either below, on my Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page or by tweeting me on @cardiffmummy

 

 

Mums' Days

 

10 Comments to 50 things that make me happy

  1. Fab list – definitely with you on the trampoline and fresh bedding, and you’re right, as a writer there’s nothing quite like starting a new notebook – oh the possibilities!

    • Cardiff Mummy Says

      I’m a bit obsessed with new notebooks. I love them so much and there is nothing quite like that first page. x

  2. Thanks for the tag! I’m with you on holding hands with your hubby – with three children we never get to do that either!!

    • Cardiff Mummy Says

      Just makes it all the more special when it does happen. Look forward to seeing your list too x

    • Cardiff Mummy Says

      Consider yourself nominated, if you haven’t already been. I loved writing my list, made me really happy and thankful doing it x

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