Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

When I think of the word "happy" (today's topic for "Five for Ten Again"), there are a few things that come to mind. Yes, one's happiness can depend on The Big Stuff: your relationships, your job, your health. One's happiness, however, can also depend on The Little Things: the perfect cup of coffee, an afternoon nap, an outing with a friend. I thought long and hard about what I would write on this topic, but in the end, I decided to "cheat" a bit and recycle an old post.

There are many things that bring me joy. Some of that joy is deep and life-long and dependent upon The Big Stuff. Some of that joy is light and immediate and makes me want to skip a bit...The Little Things. Here are a few of the things--both Big and Little--that make me feel pure joy:


Cupcakes: I'm not sure what's up with my obsession with cupcakes, but they make me smile. They're just cute and girlie and yummy. And if they happen to be the red velvet cake kind, all the better.


Disney World: Yes, it's overpriced. Yes, it's exhausting. Yes, it's over the top. But I love it. Every bit of it. I'm a sucker for the magic.


Getting my hair colored: I know, I'm shallow, but nothing puts a spring in my step like a fresh set of golden highlights. And if there happens to be a pink streak in there, all the better.


Words: I'm a word nerd. I love words. Words are tangible, alive, powerful. Finding just the right one makes me happy.


Make-up: I'm not one of those women who refuses to leave her house without make up. I wear my naked face often and with pride. But make-up makes me happy. There's something fun and creative and whimsical about palettes of eye shadow and tubes of lipstick. And if there happens to be a hint of glitter in it, all the better.

Vacations: Planning them, going on them, remembering them...nothing better on which to spend my money.

The beach: There is no place on earth I'd rather be. There's something about the sand and the ocean...it soothes my soul. And yes, even at 90+ degrees and the infamous South Florida humidity, I'm happy. Give me an umbrella, a cooler, and plenty of SPF...and I am a happy, happy girl.

Shoes: It doesn't matter if they hurt. If they are fabulous, they make me happy.

My kids: The irony of this one? If the "Five for Ten Again" topic was Stress, they'd be in that post, too!

And then of course, there's Hubby...the one who gives me the icing off his cupcakes, makes vacations and beach days all the more fun, understands my fascination with the Dumbo ride at Disney, and helps me get through the most stressful days with those 2 cute kids.

What things...big or little...make you happy?