My Happy Place

In the sense of "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens", I feel the need to mention some of the things that make me smile on the outside and feel warm and cozy on the inside.....taking me to my happy place.....

Since it's fall, I'll start there -- the temps dropping overnight, so I don't feel the need to run the window ac in our bedroom, making it cozy enough to cuddle under all the bedding and next to my hubby. The temps rising enough in the daytime that you can't decide if it's cool enough for a hoodie, but better bring it just in case. Obviously the beautiful glow of the rainbow of colors spilling out from every tree, every bush, the golden glow of the bean/corn fields against the horizon of a turquoise sky. The leaves crunching underfoot as you walk with your kids to the high school football game. Football, both pro and local high school. Who doesn't enjoy Friday Night Lights when 1/2 the town gathers in the stadium, our boys are on the field, either throwing the ball, making the tackle, or playing their trumpet, baritone or percussion, giving the audience a truly fantastic show of creativity, talent and skill, or our cheerleaders getting the audience all wound up and excited as we all root for our team! Eating pumpkin flavored anything. Enjoying the warm, inviting scent of cinnamon, baked apple pie, pumpkin, snickerdoodle, cranberry cobbler or vanilla spice candles burning in every room throughout the house. A bright sunny sky, with or w/o some clouds, no matter what the temp is. Cumulonimbus clouds bringing the excitement of a good thunderstorm. Cumulus clouds that you can let your imagination run wild with as you determine what shape each cloud makes, usually it's cartoon characters or animals, lol. The flowers in gardens that are finally in their full, vibrant bloom, reminding you, there is still a hint of summer remaining. The kids raking up piles of leaves, just so they can take a running leap, dive in, bury themselves, and scare the first unsuspecting person walking by. Fall festivities such as Scenic Drive, trips to the pumpkin patch or apple orchard, corn mazes, scarecrow contests, bonfires. Actually having a bonfire that you can stand close to, to keep warm while roasting marshmallows or hot dogs, telling ghost stories to the kids, or sending them out on a snipe hunt, (I still claim that I saw one once!!) I love, love, love Hallowe'en!! One of my fave holidays!!! Seeing all the creative costumes the kids (and adults) wear. Getting to dress in costume myself (yes...I still love doing that!!!) Digging through the boys trick-or-treat buckets for chocolate. Hearing spooky music being played. Choosing to get scared on purpose, either by going to a haunted house, or watching a scary movie.

The kids being in school so my hubby and I have some "free" personal time, like going out for lunch or Christmas shopping (always start early!) Getting to wear make-up again, and re-discovering my fall/winter wardrobe, and shoes. Scarves. I love scarves. Watching in fascination as the birds begin their migration to warmer climates - although that's kind of a love-hate thing, lol. It's fascinating to see these birds by the hundreds, but so sad to know why they're leaving.

I love the smell of bread baking. I love open-fingered gloves, and the super-soft (like a baby's stuffed animal) gloves. I love big, knit berets. And I love wearing all these....and a scarf w/nothing more than a sweater or hoodie. As long as it's not cold enough for a coat, it's all good! I love hearing the boys laughing and excited to tell me all about their day at school, as they're walking in the door at 3:30 in the afternoon. I love it when they're being so loud and obnoxious, and crazy-silly. Or when they bring out the Eye Toy on the PS3 to make super-silly movies. I love hearing a small child w/a big belly laugh that is so contagious, you don't want it to ever end, and you start laughing right along with them, clueless as to what is so funny, lol. I love when a stranger smiles at you, as you pass them by, or when a boy shows he's a gentleman as he proudly holds the door open for you w/a friendly smile across his face. I love hearing musack being played in the store that is mimicking a current top 40 song, and bobbing my head to it....then of course singing it out loud, making people look at you funny. Even more fun is playing an awesome song in the van and bouncing around to it, singing loud enough for the person in the car next to you to hear. Especially when it's either a current popular song that teens will think you're too old to enjoy, or a classic that most teens don't appreciate (although, our kids prefer classic rock, The Beatles and even 80's music). It's so much fun to embarrass them, lol.

I love wearing tops that make me feel like I'm in my early 20's. Like long sleeved thumb-hole shirts under artsy tee shirts. I love wearing my hair like Alice from my favorite Twilight movies, (time for a haircut soon, it's been a year since my last one!) I love, love, love nail polish!!!! I love painting my nails. And although it drives my husband crazy that retailers are ripping us women off by charging $7 a bottle for polish (he compares the cost to a gallon of paint, and says it's much cheaper that way, lol!), I'm always looking for new colors. I have an obsession over colors. Probably why I still colored in coloring books until I was introduced to Stampin' Up! only a few years ago, and the obsession of card making, lol. I love colors, and finding creative ways to use them.

And......I looooove working out at the gym. So, on that note (and worthy reminder that I am indeed still sitting in my van in the gym parking lot, watching people exit the building....after I previously watched them enter.......does this give you an idea of long I've been working on this?!?!) -- I seriously need to get my butt in there to get my own workout done for the day.

I sure feel good now, thinking about so many things that make me feel happy this time of year, or all the time, for that matter, lol. Now to enjoy my morning!!! :-) :-) :-) :-)