After last week's spectacular display of mugs an and *ahem* my winning post, this week's Listography is the top five things that make me happy (apart from my winning mugs of course). If you're not feeling too chipper yourself and need some good ideas about what might perk you up you can visit the Listograpgy Linky and read loadsovem.
My Happy High Five
1. Mozart's Clarinet Concerto (2nd movement). Just click and listen while you're reading the rest of this post and you'll know why.
2. Bedtime stories. No not for me, although I do enjoy reading in bed. Stories for my 3yo. We lie in the bed together, sharing the pillow. Her warm little face pressed up against mine. We negotiate how many stories she can choose depending on the hour. Then I read with her commenting and contributing throughout. And then she starts to yawn and her input becomes less and less. A kiss and a cuddle and I turn off the light. She then spends the next two hours coming out of her room to go to the toilet, tell me something important, collect a stray teddy, have me kiss an imaginary wound...
By the way, if you want to know why bedtime stories are essential read what happens if you don't do bedtime stories.
3. Making order out of chaos. This includes writing lists, sorting out clothes cupboards, folding and putting away laundry, tidying in general and rearranging to make better use of the space. Mad I know but it really does make me happy and it actually makes me more productive, less likely to eat too much, and less stressed all round. As I write I'm wondering why it should be that this is any more strange than gardening or jogging to nowhere for the shear sweatiness of it.
4. Writing and blogging. The combination of writing and, with the click of a mouse, sending it off to be read by an infinite number of people (in theory) is simply intoxicating. And if anyone comments, well then I'm just in seventh heaven. Stats? Better than uppers on a good day. As soon as DD's in bed it's blog o'clock and I'm off!
5. Love and laughter. Sharing a good time with friends whether it be actually in the same place together or bantering on fb has to be the best feel-good medicine there is. Old friends, new friends, or friends I haven't even met yet (not so strange for a blogger), I'll always appreciate a little humour.
So there you have it. Please don't feel you have to rush off before the music finishes. Why not take the time to write a comment or six?
I haven't done this listography yet as I have a block with it.
ReplyDeleteFrom my recent posts you know I am right with you on number 3
xxx
Yes, although my cupboards don't look as great as your do at the moment. Maybe you gave me the idea for this one?
ReplyDeleteThe music is soo beautiful - not heard it before, so thanks for sharing it in your list :)
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure - it is one of the best!
DeleteI can help you with number 3 - come spend a weekend with me - there is plenty of chaos waiting to be ordered and laundry waiting to be folded - in fact it is all over the bloody place. You will be ecstatic by the time you leave.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is I'd probably enjoy tidying your house :).
DeleteGreat post, the addition of the music was inspired!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gillian - music while you read... maybe it should be a regular feature?
DeleteLove the bedtimes stories - just lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you, it really is special - except when I've had enough and dreaming about my me-time later.
DeleteMozart's clarinet concerto is one of my most beloved works and I'm with you on the strange satisfaction of tidying too! Wish I could say the same for the bedtime stories. Truth is I'm always knackered, the kids are usually bickering and the story is the only thing that stands between me and my nightly bottle of lager.
ReplyDeleteI think therein lies the difference between one child and more than one child - if I don't bicker with her she can't bicker and one is much easier to direct to bed. Glad you love the music too and are as mad as I am about tidying.
DeleteYou know listening to Mozart is supposed to make you clever! Bedtime stories are good, although my son keeps getting stuck in a story rut, and there are only so many times you can enjoy reading The Gruffalo's Child! :)
ReplyDeleteLOL - we've been reading Madeline every night for two weeks now. DD can say it off by heart.
DeleteSuch a positive blog, polar opposite to my rather self indulgent 'feeling sorry for myself' recent post. But yours has cheered me up, along with Mozart. We only stopped reading to my daughter when she was 10, and she still listens to story books now, (she'll be 11 in August). I like to tidy too, brings some inner peace. Nothing better than time with friends and family, think this is what I'm lacking in these dark winter months. Spring though is just round the corner, and cyber friends are always there to cheer me up. So thank you.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to you - the sun came out here this week and that makes all the difference to everyone's mood.
DeleteThis is a fab list - love all of it. I'm going to have to leave your blog open until the music stops - soooo relaxing!
ReplyDeleteThaks Kate...Kate? Kaaate! I think she's fallen asleep to the music. Sorry Kate.
DeleteI enjoyed this and *nearly* joined in this week, but I couldn't think of anything original to write. Bedtime stories are a must, though I'm usually too tired to enjoy reading them x
ReplyDelete*nearly*? Come on Cathy, I'll meet you there next week. :)
ReplyDeleteNumber three isn't that odd! I wouldn't have described it as making me happy, but I find cleaning very therapeutic. Especially when it's the kitchen. I love knowing that I have a clean hygenic kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI also always do the kitchen first. Everything else can be a complete mess but I keep the kitchen under contol. And yes it is quite therapeutic.
ReplyDeleteAll brilliant, I especially love number 2. Though I do find it hard not to nod off too!
DeleteKelly - I sometimes do too, especially when reading the same story for the umpteenth time.
DeleteAll wonderful - I adore the music too. New resolution to listen to more beautiful music - thank you! We were also a bit stuck on the same bedtime stories, but library visits at our daughter's preschool have helped widen our horizons beyond the neverending adventures of Topsy & Tim. Here's to happiness - your last is especially lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you Menai - we must start going to the library more.
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