Saturday Happiness

I've been thinking. Thinking about things that make me happy. Thinking about things that help me relax. Thinking about things that fill me up (foods and non-foods included). So, I've compiled a list. Kind of. The list is scattered in my mind at the moment. Some things may come up as I write. Thoughts scattered. List in no particular order. Sentence fragments allowed...just this once.

1. Newest addiction.

Cinnamon Life has been my go-to cereal for some time now, but when I saw the big box of Life Maple & Brown Sugar on sale at Wal-Mart I had to give it a try. Boy-oh-boy, pancakes in cereal form. Sound good? Well, it is. I'm constantly grabbing at handful and just eating it dry. I can't get enough of this stuff; therefore, it makes me oh-so-very happy.

2. The smell of rain on a warm day. I could just lay on the asphalt and sniff it for hours after a spring shower. I haven't personally done this yet, but if I could find a road where I know no one would see me or run over me, I would be all over this.

3. Snuggling on the couch with hubs and Walter after an exhausting day at work...or just anytime.

I love these guys.

4. Going to the new laundromat.

The laundromat I've been going to moved to a new location, and it was such a pleasurable experience...well, as pleasurable as a laundromat can be. It's super close to the apartment. It smells fresh and new. The machines are bigger and better, which means it takes fewer quarters to clean and dry. I felt safe the entire time. They have complimentary coffee and T.V.s.
You have no idea how happy my trip to the laundromat made me today. It's the small things, y'all.

5. Finding great deals.

I went to Goodwill yesterday and bought a few outfits and a large bulletin board that's in great shape all for the price of one pair of jeans or a meal for two at Olive Garden or a movie date including popcorn. It's good deal, folks. I'm planning on re-vamping the board, so check back later for the before and after. (Give me a few weeks. I tend to procrastinate.)

6. The fact that we just found a place in Greenville for when we move back in July!

We are enjoying our time in Maine, but we're anxiously counting down the days until we get back down south. We miss our family, friends, Chick-Fil-A, sweet tea, and the southern way of life. I never thought much of this laid-back, slow-paced, friendly, southern drawl way of life until I moved away. Then I realized it's the only life for me. Patrick and I love Greenville, and we're extremely excited to settle down there for a while.

View from a hike near Greenville.

7. Skyping with my sister.

She's my greatest friend, and talking to her makes me feel at home.

8. And what fills me up the most tonight is thinking about my awesome mom. I wish I could zap myself home to spend Mother's Day with her and the rest of my family tomorrow, but it doesn't look like that's going to be a possibility this year. She's such a kind-hearted, incredibly funny woman. Y'all should meet her sometime. :)

I love you Mom!

Okay, I guess that should do it for now. But come to think of it, compiling a list of what makes me happy makes me happy, so consider the closing number nine.


Until next time.


Diana

 

The Little Things

I had a couple topics in mind for today's post, but thanks to my wonderful mom and a couple yummy recipes I've decided to share some happy thoughts with y'all on this Tuesday.

I've spent the majority of my day cleaning, collecting coins, and doing laundry. Collecting coins has recently become a hobby of mine because it takes 16 quarters to do 2 loads of laundry! Who just has 16 quarters laying around? Pat and I live in a house with six other tenants and we all share the same coin operated, monopolizing, thief of a washer/dryer. Needless to say, nothing goes in the hamper after only one wear. So after my trek to the Rite Aide to cash in some dollars, I got two full loads of laundry done. Hopefully that'll last a couple weeks. So, if you want to generously donate your quarters to the Pat & Diana laundry fund just send me a message, and I'll gladly accept.

Next topic for today: crock pots. Are y'all in love with your crock pots as much as I am mine? It takes away from the two hours and six pots of washing in the evening, so I use mine at least once a week. Today I'm making creamy chicken taco soup.

It looks like something unmentionable right now, but trust me on this...it's going to be yummy! 

After my cleaning and crock potting, I decided I needed my daily mid-afternoon snack. I was going to just brew some coffee, but I was mildly sweating from all of my hard work...(sarcasm), so I decided to go with a cold coffee drink. I brewed 10 cups of strong coffee; stirred 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1/3 cup white sugar in a pitcher; added the coffee and stirred in 1/3 cup vanilla cinnamon creamer. 

It definitely beats spending $4 at DD or Starbucks. It only cost maybe a dollar or so to make a whole pitcher worth of a sweet coffee delicacy. Plus, it makes for great sipping while blogging. 

Next, let's talk about moms. Mine definitely gets the "Greatest Mom Ever" award today (and everyday of course). She's constantly sending me coupons, magazines, food, etc., but today I received this at my doorstep...

Without even knowing that I knocked my other Bath & Body Works candle in the floor on Saturday, shattering it to pieces, she sent me a candle that smells just like all good things that comes with spring. Just what I needed!

Have you watched Not My Mama's Cooking yet? If not, check your local listings and watch it already! Bobby Deen takes his mom's (Paula Deen) recipes and makes them much healthier. It's the ONLY cooking show Patrick enjoys watching with me. I really think that he would watch it without me turning it on myself. I mentioned to my mom that I don't have a cook book and I would like to get Bobby Deen's new book, and low-and-behold, she sent it to me. Isn't she the most thoughtful person ever? It makes me want to pass on the kindness. Y'all should do the same today. :)

It's the little things today that's making this ho-hum Tuesday a great day!