Happy 2010

At the beginning of each year I begin a new list of happiness and generally keep it updated all year as things make me happy. This year I was apparently a little less diligent and had to compile the whole list in one sitting. Not that that's too difficult, there's plenty to be happy about, but I'm afraid a lot of these things have been influenced by my recent excursions with Christmas treats. Regardless, here's this year's list of 100 things that make me happy. Enjoy:

-sleepovers
-brownies

-kisses

-fun socks

-galoshes

-friends

-gut-wrenching laughter

-being on stage

-playing a killer role in a show

-getting outside my comfort zone

-demolition derbies

-the state fair

-people watching

-cardigans

-hilarious children's books

-nephews

-vacations

-projects

-accents

-frozen hot chocolate

-pots de creme

-kids saying hilarious things

-inside jokes

-cinnamon rolls

-footie pajamas

-coupons

-santa claus

-disneyland

-fireworks

-the success of my friends

-the last day of school

-naps

-mix cds

-thai food

-impromptu musical numbers

-angry birds

-laughing on stage when you're not supposed to be laughing on stage

-broadway

-dim sum

-the magic 8 ball

-road trips

-summer rain

-good book series

-gb bags

-good examples

-frilly socks

-mental health days

-new friends

-fun glasses

-boy's nights

-le vain cookies

-wii dancing

-the lovesac

-packages

-cuddling

-sunday dinners

-chastity

-mingles

-compliments

-technology

-nicknames

-the pool key

-late-night chats

-disney firsts

-field trips

-class parties

-incurable optimism

-pumpkin steamers

-barnes and noble

-massages

-gratitude lists

-google docs

-random speak

-cheeseball

-exploding stuff

-space

-sunflower market

-stumbleupon.com

-love

-orange juice

-thrift shops

-museums

-cool photography

-babies

-traditions

-free music

-glitter

-campfires

-panguitch lake

-superheroes

-dance parties

-big decisions

-pie

-bubbles

-gps

-creme brule french toast

-pocket people

-gutsy moments

-green traffic lights

-clean sheets

Happy is as Happy does

My third year in Salt Lake has come to an end, and let me say that it's been a ridiculously crazy three years. At the end of it all, though, I am as happy as a clam (which according to a friend is about an 8 on the happiness scale) and perhaps even a little happier. Despite life's best efforts to get me down, things are downright fantastic. I couldn't ask for more than I have. I'm a little wiser than I once was, and I think I'm a better person after it all. And I guess that's what really matters isn't it? So, here's this year's list of what brought me to clam status on the happy scale:

-getting out of school early

-days during the winter when even a jacket is not required

-having big plans

-coloring

-biting into a fresh crunchy apple and having a huge chunk break off

-spur of the moment vacations
-Tally Hall
-traditions
-auditions
-fruitions
-free food
-gift cards
-spring
-pirates
-homemade stuff
-rings
-excellent weather
-bare feet
-applause
-killer parts in awesome shows
-Applebee's half-priced appetizers
-walking around looking at cool architecture in old neighborhoods
-unexpected giddiness
-the symphony
-singing
-wall vinyl
-mismatched Christmas tree ornaments that still mesh well
-flavored lemonade
-shopping carts
-good story tellers
-slippery sheets
-kitchen science
-alphabet books
-children's books
-when it's so hot outside that the tar on the blacktop squishes under my shoes
-MLIA
-pumpkin spice steamers from Starbucks
-when my tarantula Duncan catches a cricket
-nephews
-cardigans
-Glee
-soup
-Estelle
-paper snowflakes
-show people
-chips and salsa
-days off
-snuggies
-the bedazzler
-crazy life-changing decisions
-grammar (don't judge)
-British accents
-Google docs
-mixin' it up
-the ghost of Christmas yet to come
-dance parties
-following your gut
-rehearsal
-J. Crew

99 bottles

It's that time again - time to look back on the year, accoutered with happiness and smiles.  Last year was kinda rough for me.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I still had plenty to be happy about - the ups were up, but downs were really down.  This year, however, was pretty much 1/2 a cup of wow mixed with three pounds of AWESOME!  In celebration of that inspiring recipe for life, here are, in no particular order, this year's 100 things that make me happy:

-When it turns warm enough to stop wearing a jacket

-When it turns cold enough to start wearing sweaters

-When the tar in parking lots gets so hot that it squishes under your shoes

-Playing outdoor games like tag with kids who don't really get the rules

-Going barefoot

-The smell of rain

-Ice cream

-Brownies in all their varieties...except maybe when combined with peanut butter - not my fave.
-The Alpine Slide in Park City - even if it is ridiculously overpriced

-The smell of baking bread

-Non-no-bake Cheesecake

-Capes

-The first day of school

-Chocolate Malt-o-meal

-Applebee's half-price appetizers

-Sticker Charts

-Having a job I absolutely love

-Homemade wassail

-Homemade soup

-Homemade anything, really

-An exciting football game with the fam

-Reimbursements

-The smell of clean laundry

-Finding the perfect gift

-Cereal

-Friday dance parties

-Being able to help

-Vocabulary

-Layering

-Season tickets

-Laughing til I cry

-Friends in all their varieties

-New glasses

-Good hair days 

-Funny T-shirts

-Kissing

-Going overboard on 75% off sales

-Facebook status updates

-Eccentric lighting

-Soft pillows

-Origami

-Vests

-The giant black furry scrotum

-Wal-mart bingo

-Power tools

-Traveling 

-Traditions

-The birthday song in 6-part harmony

-Being on stage

-People watching

-Sunday dinners

-The crazy people I work with

-Finding a great bargain

-Superheroes

-Having a recipe for hot chocolate rather than just relying on the package

-Cardigans

-Art projects

-The Gateway fountains

-Sleepovers

-Acing a big test...or two...

-When kids say something that makes me laugh out loud

-Big hair

-Getting "the look"

-Accent walls

-Love

-Finishing a project

-Street-side crepes

-Discovery new places

-Downeast long-sleeve men's T's

-Having something to look forward to

-Comfortable furniture

-Chocolate

-Theme days

-Mod Podge

-Good-looking facial hair

-Playing footsies

-3 day weekends.

-Celebrating little stuff

-Third-party compliments

-Anonymous and/or unexpected acts of service

-New friends

-Power tools

-Shaving the mustache!

-Texting

-Mac Photo Booth

-Making people laugh

-Raspberry sauce

-South American markets

-Swimming

-Good smells

-Great Harvest bread

-Family

-Writing random stories

-The zoo

-Afternoon naps with the front door open

-Free pancakes at IHOP

-Toys

-Kristen Wiig

-Seriously So Blessed

-Functional windshield wipers