Things that Make me Happy! is a weekly newsletter with recommendations of things that bring me joy. Click the subscribe button below to be notified of future posts!
In December I will be doing something different. I’m collecting everything I watched, read and brought me joy into big year roundups. That way you’ll have plenty entertainment and wellbeing recommendations for the holidays and beyond in 2024. Enjoy!
You can find last week’s big list of 2023 TV and Movie recos here and the big 2023 Book roundup here
Ps. I’ll be back in January with the BAU weekly roundup.
I love how little things kept me happy and thriving this very hard year. I’m so grateful I looked back and made this post. I Realized food, exercising traveling and family time gives me tons of joy, so I’ll prioritize those in 2024. I hope this serves as inspiration for you. Happy holidays and thank you for being here ❤️
My super duper micro-joys list:
Writing this newsletter was a creative escape. My work keeps me borderline burnt out and looking forward to this gives me so much joy. I also love designing on Canva (I know i’m nefarious at it) but there’s nothing more relaxing than doing my weekly pin boards.
I've decided to use an additional 10 minutes each day to relax myself, specifically through Deep Relaxation with NSDR (Yoga Nidra). This is the one I'm currently incorporating into my daily routine.
Enrolled my daughter to take Ballet Lessons and it melts my heart to see her so invested and excited about dancing.
I started to to really, really, look at things.
Walking 30 mins each day in the morning listening to a podcast or audiobook
A trip to Portugal and Spain in March that I absolutely adored ( and adored planning).
Thrifting! I love to thrift! I usually make it a day event and visit nearby thrift stores to score big ticket items.
Booked my first cruise! I’ve been pretty anti cruise because I’m more of an ‘off the beaten path’ traveler, but this was a hard to pass opportunity (super cheap, cool ports, free childcare while I read and eat) kind of a no brainer.
My birthday! I really enjoy celebrating myself with myself. Went for a walk, wrote in my journal the intentions for the year and got a delicious lunch. In the evening I celebrated with my partner and my child.
Mandarins with raspberries. It’s a strange mix, but it works, trust me. Pack your vitamin C with this combination and thank me later.
Mochi donuts. Why bother with regular donuts now. (recipe here)
Wylde Flowers is magical! It’s a farming simulation game with a supernatural twist.
In Wylde Flowers, you play as Tara, a young woman who moves to the town of Fairhaven to help her grandmother on her farm. As you explore the town and surrounding areas, you'll meet a cast of colorful characters, complete quests, and learn about the town's magical history. The game's pacing is perfect for gentle playing. There's no pressure to rush through the game or complete everything at once. You can take your time exploring the world, tending to your crops, and completing quest - Nintendo, Steam, iOS
Tea parties! when i was in France earlier this year, I bought some of the most delicate black teas from a delightful small store. I've been pairing them with fine cookies and truffles on the weekends to create my own afternoon tea party. It's such a joy to relax and enjoy a cup of tea with delicious treats.
Trader Joe’s Salad Kits! Eating greens + protein for lunch every day and I haven’t fatigued of eating those since January. Usually buy 3 or 4 for the week and I get a different salad every day. Salads rule, man! 😇
Exercise mindset change! Rather than going all in while doing HIIT and burning out, I'm doing what works for me. I love the treadmill because I watch shows I love, so I am motivated to show up every day without leaving my house. It doesn't matter if I run or if I walk because I am moving my body, and it turns out, almost always, I end up running at the 10-minute mark.
Strawberries with cream in the summer.
.I've been doing and loving "Dance Parties" I ask Alexa to play "Dance Party Music" and dance for an hour like a mad woman in my living room with my daughter. The serotonin release is unreal!
Vietnamese fast food joints are my new favorite thing. They're like Chipotle, but for Vietnamese food. There have been a few popping up all over town, and I've been making it my new hobby to try all of them. The menus are all very similar, which leads me to believe that this is a national trend.
I'm so grateful for the Libby and Hoopla apps. I download audiobooks, movies, and magazines that I can read straight on my Kindle, all for free! Thank you, public libraries!
I don't drink (I hate the taste), so I've been loving mock-tails. My go-to drink right now is the Raspberries and Rose Poppi Flavor "soda." I pour it into a fancy wine glass, add some real raspberries, and bam! I've got myself the perfect drink.
Jenni's Brown Butter almond brittle ice cream. It's seriously so freaking good! I think it might be the best Ice cream flavor I’ve tried yet?
Truly madly and deeply in love with this salad. I make it once per week, minimum.
Spent a week in a perfect weather, mountainous Latin American countryside paradise and read all week long. Heaven on earth.
My husband and daughter are attached to my hip, and when I'm not with them, I'm usually working. But enter Summer Fridays (from work). I get to have an afternoon to myself, so I take myself out to lunch, to the library or the beach to read, and then splurge on something sweet on my way back to my family.
The joys of a shower with excellent pressure! The water from a hotel I visited felt so soothing and refreshing, and I realized that my shower at home was not great. Shortly after I upgraded my shower :)
There’s nothing more luxurious than a Silk Robe, I wear it around the house and I feel like a fancy person. It feels great on my skin and lately I can’t wait to get home to strip down to my underwear and wear it.
I tried a Reformer Pilates class and fell completely in love with the workout. I've been doing it since June. I won't lie; it's very challenging and leaves you feeling sore in places you didn't know could ache but I love a good workout ache.
Visited NYC and I ate so much delicious food! My faves were Via Carota & Bonnie’s.
My eyes usually feel heavy after 8+ hours of computer use per day. So, every Friday I've been treating myself to a 15-minute session with these steam masks. After using them, I feel happy and ready for bed!
Getting PTO the Friday before a Monday holiday. Makes my 3 day weekend a 4 day weekend, without much effort. That extra day really counts.
I used to be very money-conscious and had a mental block to spend money on fun stuff or things that aren't true necessities. Cue our brilliant idea: Allocating a house fund, vacation fund, and fun fund. Each has its own account (within the same bank), and the money is routed directly from our paychecks. We also have a fund to save and invest but having these funds ensure we feel less guilty spending because it is within budget.
There's nothing I love more than an 'everything' shower once a week. An 'everything' shower is when you take a longer shower or bath and use more products to make yourself feel your cleanest and most beautiful.
Seltzer! so much better than drinking tap water. I have the Sodastream that I love and have recommended here, but I am obsessed with these three seltzer flavors. This flavor , this flavor and this flavor are god tier to me. I have a Diet Coke only on the weekends policy and these flavors do the trick for me.
Disconnecting from my phone, long term. During the cruise, I opted out of buying the internet package (it was expensive, and I'm cheap), and I completely disconnected from outside life. I realized how much work stresses me out, constantly checking emails and Slack messages. It was a very welcome internet-free week, and I truly disconnected and rested.
The best snack there is. Trader Joe’s unexpected cheddar cheese and a square of fancy black chocolate. I’m having this most nights lately and it’s such a treat.