It's the Little Things

I am a rather simple creature. Yes, I may have a potty mouth, and often, will tell you my opinion, even if you didn't ask for it. But all in all, probably just like you, it's the little things in life that bring me the most joy. For example:


Ulta catalogs that come in the mail, and have a $3.50 coupon off of $10.00 purchase. Sweeeet Jesus. If you haven't heard of Ulta, I'll sum it up by saying it's a mix of a high end Rite-Aid, and Sephora, all rolled into one. I can buy my Oil of Olay, AND my Bare Minerals all in one place. Throw a coupon in there, and it's SO on.

The slightly, slimy, gritty, feeling after a full day at the beach. It's a smelly combination of salty sea air, ocean water, and pure body odor. My hubby loves it, and so do I frankly, because no make up is needed, due to my rosy (sunburned) glow.

OPI nail polish. My fav right now is "Mad As A Hatter", because it's my right to sparkle god dammit.

Purchasing my Saucony running shoes in size 12 for 50 bucks! I used to have to "special order" my Sasquatch skis from a "special" running store, and it would run me 120 bones. FYI "special order" is code for: small elves in a faraway land will be making those shoes just as soon as we gather about 10,000,000 of them in one place, cause your feet are FING HUGE!!!!! They may be ready in one week, or one year... we just don't know. Off Broadway Shoes at The Plant has my enormous size 12 Saucony's anytime I want...I likey.

New music on my shuffle. Nothing like a little Lady GaGa to inspire me "I'm kinda busy.. kinda busy. Sorry can't text ya with a drink in my hand, hand." I don't even really know if those are the lyrics or not...but is that really important?

Speaking of music, the new Carrie Underwood song, titled, "Temporary Home". The part about the old man, about to die, and he says he sees God's face, gets me balling like a baby every time. I'm surprised I haven't crashed my car into a side rail yet...

Going to work at Weight Watchers. You think I'm kidding? Come to my meeting and check out the amazing people that I am so blessed to "lead". The fact that I'm called the leader is a joke, because really, they are leading ME. It's a disco ball/keg party type of atmosphere, (without the disco ball, or keg, sadly). But FUN all the same.

Snoozing children, with creased pillow case marks on their foreheads, and drool running down their chin.

Snugly children that caress my neck and arms gently as I wake up in the morning, right before they yell into my face, "WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST??? GET UP!"

Appreciative children who shower me with comments like, "Thanks mom, for making us dinner. Thanks Mom for going grocery shopping. Thanks mom for not getting arrested at the Pink concert."

The Santa Cruz Redwoods... the sweet smell of earth, banana slugs, colorful mushrooms, flowing water...and the protective feeling I get from those trees, some thousands of years old. It's unexplainable. I feel safe, comforted, and like I have a teeny, tiny glimpse of what God sees on a daily basis.

Sometimes, I find myself getting caught up in the daily grind...homework (eww), going to Costco (again?), making dinner (ugh)...I start to feel overwhelmed and unappreciated, like a teapot about to boil over. So I'm working really hard on remembering to be "in the moment", and appreciate the countless blessings that are RIGHT in my life.

And if the $3.50 Ulta coupon does it for me, then so be it! Carpe Diem, baby.