Happy

Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy.

I haven't had time to consult with Stewart on these, so the following are ten things that make ME super happy, in no particular order:

My husband. When you get right down to it I'm just a silly, lovesick girl who completely adores her husband. I love the simple, thoughtful, day-to-day stuff he does for me, like carrying my suitcase through the airport, building bookcases in the den, and cuddling with me on the couch. Every time I see him I think how happy it makes me that we are spending our lives together. I mean come on, how can you not just adore that face?!

Our home. On our way home from the airport Sunday night I told Stew that I wasn't even bummed that our vacation was over. Because these days I'm just so excited to spend time at our new house. I dreamed about our house for so long, and even now sometimes I can't believe that we actually live there. Sometimes I just wander through the rooms with no particular purpose because it seems so unreal that it's all ours.

Family. Stew and I are lucky to both have absolutely amazing, loving, supportive families. I know a lot of people who don't get along with their parents or siblings and that makes me really sad. Our families are everything to us, and I don't know what we would do without them. We look forward to every opportunity we get to be together, and we always have an amazing time.

A good workout. Ugh... the gym. Bet you didn't think you'd see that one on this list! But really, finishing a good workout makes me super happy. If I can just force myself to take the first step and get out there and sweat, I always feel energized and rejuvenated afterward, pumped full of endorphins I desperately needed. It always makes me feel happy and good about myself.

Completing a to-do list. If you saw my post about a week ago, you already know that I am a bit of an organizational/planning freak. I absolutely love getting organized by making lists, and there's nothing better or more satisfying than completing the tasks on a list. In fact, I can't wait to finish this blog so I can cross today's post off!

Surprising someone. I absolutely love doing little things to surprise the people I care about, whether it be planning a party, sending flowers for a birthday, or mailing a card for some random holiday. I think people really appreciate these simple gestures, and we're all so busy that sometimes it's nice when on a random Tuesday afternoon you realize someone is thinking about you.

Sibling relationships. I have two amazing, gorgeous sisters and a pretty radical, handsome brother. We are separated by age and geography, but somehow manage to stay super close and always have the absolute best, most hilarious time when we're together. I don't think this is the case for every family, so I feel incredibly lucky.

Music. Good music can totally change my mood and turn me into a completely different person. I'm not picky; almost any genre will do. The best is when I'm by myself in the car and I can turn a song up really loud and sing along (even if I don't exactly know all the words). And there's nothing better than a good impromptu dance party.

Friends. Stewart and I are incredibly lucky to have a life absolutely full of amazing friends. Without these people our lives would be super dull and boring. It makes us so happy to have friends near and far who even if we don't see them often, we know that when we do we can pick up immediately right where we left off.  

A sunny day. Perhaps people in other parts of the country take this for granted, but here in Seattle a beautiful day can be fairly rare. But when the sun does decide to grace us with some warmth, it always revives my soul and puts me in an amazing mood. The Pacific Northwest is absolutely breathtaking, and I'm always reminded of that when the sun comes out.

What are some of the things that make YOU happy?