My Happy Face #TopTenThursday

Welcome to this week's #TopTenThursday. This is a fun writing challenge, that is hosted by Tamara of Confessions of a part-time working mom. Her, myself, and other bloggers, come together and post weekly Top Ten lists, which we create based on a chosen topic. I hope you enjoy reading my list, as much as I loved creating it.

Last week, we shared our Top Ten Talents. I really struggled with it. This week, we are sharing our Top Ten Things That Make Us Happy. As you can imagine, I did not struggle with this topic. Well, unless you count narrowing it down to just ten things, a struggle. So, without further ado, here in random order, are the ten things that always make me happy.

1. Gigi. I am sure y'all knew this one, right?! I think it is a given. Even on her worst days, and my worst days, she is a huge happy spot. She completes me, and makes me so happy. She is my sunshine, even on the darkest of days.

1 b. Chad. Yeah, he annoys the living daylights out of me, but he is my BEST friend, and he gave me Gigi.

2. Coffee. I can be in the grumpiest of moods, and take one sip of coffee, and BAM... Happiness. Truly. It warms me to my soul, and I don't mean heat warmth, I mean the warmth of happiness. You probably were not surprised by this one either. 

3. Doctor Who. I know. This one probably was a surprise. It just makes me happy. I love all things Doctor Who, especially the show itself. If you knew me, you would probably be even more surprised by this one making the list. I am not into Sci-Fi. I do LOVE LOVE LOVE Doctor Who though. I even wish I had owned a ton of Who gear. Maybe one day! 

4. Ellen. Y'all... I can be in a horrible mood. Feeling sick and just miserable, and I can watch Ellen, and she is just the biggest pick-me-up! Seriously! She is so darn funny, and she is always saying such beautiful things, and doing such amazingly kind things! I just adore her. I often seek out videos of her, when I am grumpy, or not feeling well. It is actually on my bucket list, to go see her show live one day. I would love to dance with her! She is AWESOME!

5. Painting. Really, art in general, but especially painting. Painting is my happy place. I honestly have not done any really painting in years, but it is my absolute happy place. I get lost in it. I can forget my worries, and just focus on existing and creating art. I really wish I had a small studio, and could paint on a regular basis. 

6. Pay It Forward. Anytime I am able to pay it forward, or hear of others paying it forward, I get happy to the deepest depths of my soul.

7. Matt Damon. Him. His movies. His interviews. Basically all things Matt Damon. There is only one thing I am not happy with him about... He is a *gulp* New England Patriots fan. Hey, everyone is flawed eh? His just happens to be a yucky flaw, but in the grand scheme of things, it could be worse. He could be a Yankees fan...

8. Reading. I love love love love love to read. Anytime I get to read for a bit, I am a happy girl. Yep. I will sacrifice sleep, even if I am exhausted, just to have a few minutes of reading time. Reading has always been one of my happy places. Long before I had art, I had reading.

9. Swimming! I really love to swim. So so so much love for swimming! I do not get the opportunity to swim, as often as I would like, but when I do get the chance to swim, it makes me so completely happy. It is so peaceful and restful. I just love it so very very very much! 

10. #Mommitment. Oh my goodness, y'all!!! This makes me SO HAPPY! Especially the Mommitment Facebook Group!! Just a bunch of moms showing each other love, kindness, support, acceptance, and friendship. It is just a beautiful thing. Such a wonderful thing, and I am so grateful to be a part of it. 

Honorable mentions: Road trips. Bowls of chicken and dumplings or Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. Working in my Happy Planner. Writing. Giving gifts.

So, did my list shock you?! Were you expecting it?! Some shocked you, others not so much!? What are the things that make you happy?! Are any on your list on mine as well?! 

Don't forget to visit the Top Ten Lists of my fellow bloggers, and find out what makes them happy!!

Tamara at Confessions of a part-time working mom

Happiness in Place #TopTenThursday

Welcome to this week's #TopTenThursday. This is a fun writing challenge, that is hosted by Tamara of Confessions of a part-time working mom. Her, myself, and other bloggers, come together and post Top Ten lists, which we create based on a chosen topic. I hope you enjoy reading my list, as much as I loved creating it.

Last week, we made a list of the top ten things we love/hate about blogging challenges. This week, we are revealing our top ten happy places. I don't know how you guys feel, but I definitely have places that make me happy. Other places, like my oncologist's office and being stuck in traffic, will never make this list. 

Without further ado, in random order, I present my top ten happy places. Be sure to check out the other Blogger's happy places, using the links at the bottom. 

1. Starbucks. Truthfully, any place with coffee, is a happy place for me. I have other coffees I like just as much, and possibly even more than Starbucks, but my favorite coffee place, is definitely Starbucks. I have always found the atmosphere to be warm and welcoming. I can easily relax. I love to sit and write, or simply relax, while enjoying my coffee. The friendly baristas, delicious coffee, and free refills only add to my happiness.

2. Bed with a book. It doesn't matter if I'm curled up with a reading book, or a coloring book, I'm happy. I am a total bookworm, who devours book after book. I'll happily give up sleep, to read.

3. Bed asleep. When I'm not reading, I do love to sleep. I don't get nearly enough sleep, but the sleep I do get, I love and appreciate.

4. In Gigi's embrace. Gigi gives the absolute best hugs. Hands down. Those moments are some of my favorites. I especially enjoy them, now that she's three, and the hugs usually follow or precede an outburst of defiantly expressing her independence. Three is hard, y'all. So very, very hard. So, I soak up all the hugs I can get.

5. The beach. Sand, sun, and ocean. Yes, yes, yes. Admittedly, I prefer the warm Atlantic Ocean, over the colder Pacific Ocean, but either way... If I'm at the beach, I'm happy.

6. Hanging with my besties. I don't have an abundance of friends, but I cherish the ones I have. Most live a billion miles away, which does not make keeping in touch easy. I'm definitely grateful for Facebook. Even if it's just a message/text/call/conversation in a comment section, spending time interacting with my friends, makes me happy. I'm especially grateful for the few friends I have, who I'm able to hang with in person. Lately, I've been blessed with a lot of girl time, with my bestie Jade. This has led to laughs, shenanigans, and me now sporting blonde hair. If you follow my Facebook page, you've already seen my new do. It's a big change from the green/teal hair, I've had for months now. I am loving being a blonde, it reminds me of my (much) younger years.

7. Swimming in a pool. Yes, the beach is definitely a happy place for me, but the ocean really isn't. I'm not the biggest fan of swimming in water that's not enclosed within a well-maintained pool. I'm a total fish, and love swimming, but I'm definitely a pool water swimmer. I have friends who prefer salt water, and ones who prefer fresh (Lake/river/pond/etc) water, but I'm team chlorinated water.

8. In the sunshine. I can be in my yard, at the park, walking, at a friend's house, in the car... As long as I'm being warmed by the rays of the sun, I'm happy. Admittedly, I LOVE dancing in the rain, and it does make me happy, just not as thoroughly happy as sunshine does.

9. Tattoo shop. If you don't already know, consider this me formally informing you, I'm addicted to tattoos. I have seven of my own (two are works in progress), and hope to add at least five more. If you need someone to sit with you, while you get inked, I'm your girl. I've accompanied many of my friends, and I'm not ashamed to admit, I'm the best tattoo shop wingman. Speaking of tattoo shops, I'm way overdue for new ink. I'm hoping to change that soon. My right arm tattoo is begging to be worked on.

10. Nail salon. Listen, put me in a massage chair, with my feet soaking, and I am HAPPY. Getting pedicures is one of my most favorite things ever. I'd get one every week, if I could afford it. They say if you ever win the lottery, you should have two priorities... Making your life better and making the world better. You should also spend some of it with frivolity, so as to give yourself instant happiness. Well, my frivolous spending, will be in a nail salon (every week) and a tattoo shop.

So, where are your happy places?! Do we have any in common?! Are any of mine a sad place for you?!

Don't forget to check out these other awesome happy places top ten lists:

Confessions of a part-time working mom

An American in Basel

Measurements of Merriment

The Last Rain Girl

Little Zurich Kitchen