Around the House,  Fun Things,  Marriage Confessions,  Operation BWYP

Little Rays of Sunshine

IMG_4317
It has been a gloomy couple days down here in central Florida.  Hot, muggy weather that makes you want to pout and take a shower.  When I’m having a blah week like this, I have a couple sure-fire pick me ups that I go to.  These can be good to cure a case of the rainy weather glooms, or on days when you’re feeling out of sorts, or when you get in a fight with your best friend or your husband, or when you’ve waited all day long to come home to your favorite sweatpants and you discover that you left them two days ago in your washing machine and now they are all moldy and stinky.  You know, on days like those.

IMG_4317

Here are my tried and true (and cheap) rays of sunshine:

1.  A big glass of chocolate milk.  The good kind with the Hershey’s syrup.

2. A polish change on my toes.  Only about $7 or $8 and you still get to sit in those big comfy chairs for a while!  I love these because they are cheap, quick and instantly make you feel more put together.

3.  A new pack of stationary cards from Target.

4.  A 99 cent sweet tea from McDonald’s (or unsweet if you’re a blasphemer like me…).

5.  A quick walk or run around your neighborhood.

6.  Leaving the kids with your husband, locking yourself in your bedroom and reading a chapter of a book uninterrupted.

7.  Sitting in one of the comfy chairs in Barnes and Noble and reading a book or magazine.

8.  Getting a drink at Starbucks inside Target before I start grocery shopping.

9.  Putting fresh sheets on the bed, taking a long, really hot shower, putting on my favorite jammies, and then getting into bed with a good book.

10.  Going to the library.  (One of my favorites!)

11.  Buying a full-sized, real candy bar all for myself.

12.  Buying a new lip gloss, chapstick or pack of gum.

13.  Sitting in an empty sanctuary.

14.  Coloring.  Like, with crayons.

15.  Window shopping at the mall at Christmastime.

16.  Taking off your shoes and putting on socks for the first time all day.

17.  A good, old fashioned bubble bath.

18.  Sending digital pictures to the one-hour print shop at Walgreens.

19.  Painting your nails.

20.  Sing at the top of my lungs in the car to Taylor Swift.

21.  Baking cookies, then eating them right off the baking sheet.

22.  Getting a new pillow.

23.  Playing on Pinterest.

24.  Organizing something.

25.  Stopping by a RedBox on the way home and getting a movie.

What about you?  What do you do that instantly cheers you up when you’re having one of those days?

22 Comments

  • Trish D

    We live in New Orleans…so, I go to the drive thru Cafe du Monde and get a bag of beignets…then, go to McDonald’s for that 99 cent iced tea….THEN, I turn on Jason Mraz “I’m Yours” and sing at the top of my lungs…by that time, I’m usually in a better mood :)…if the iced tea doesn’t work there are always the drive through daiquiri bars 🙂

  • Dessi

    Tell me about it with the weather this week! Personally, I think fresh baked chocolate chips cookies can fix anything! I really liked #9 too about the sheets…I’m doing that this weekend!

  • jenny_bird

    1. Play on the bed with my puppy.
    2. Take a walk outside, if it’s bright and sunny.
    3. Drink a glass of dark chocolate almond milk.
    4. Read an article at cracked.com

    P.S. I ruined a pair of pants the very same way. 🙁

  • mae

    If I’m having a bad day outside of the home then spending time with my crazy kiddos instantly puts a smile on my face. If they are the ones driving me nuts then I leave the kids with the hubby while I walk around Target’s aisles…sometimes to pick up things we need, but most times to just wander around. A glass of wine with the hubby also helps!

  • Casey

    I knew we were meant to be best friends. Taylor Swift, crayons and books. 3 of my favorite things. Crafting is also one of my favorite things to do when I need a pick me up.

  • Anna Mary

    Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” puts me in a good mood no matter what! However, singing at the top of my lungs to songs that remind me of people or times in my life that I love are the key. On a separate note, getting a polish change is brilliant! I always think in terms of pedicures so if I can’t spend at least $25 on one I can’t go. However, I could swing $8 for a polish change… simple, sweet, and cheap. I need to remember that one 🙂

  • Joy G

    Wow! I have been enjoying reading your blog for several months now and I never realized how similar we are! All those things are my idea of a good time! I would also add curling up under a quilt in our big, comfy chair in the living room drinking hot cocoa (it’s not hot here).

  • Melissa

    OMG, my Chris and I were in Orlando last week for a work conference (his) and I was left to my own devices. It was awful. As soon as we crossed over the state line into FL, my hair started ballooning. After 2 days and many hair products, I was ready to shave my head. HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH THAT???? I’m from SC. I used to live in hot, humid Charleston and NEVER has my hair done anything like it did in Orlando.

    Rant over – to put myself in a good mood, I read a book, ignore everything, and if I don’t have time for that, I listen to The Hollies’ “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress.”

  • Vanessa

    My go to pick me up lately has been to stop by the PetsMart and look at all the Dogs in ‘day care’ and the kitties that need homes. Then I go home and give my own kitties hugs.

  • Shannon P

    Every.Single.Thing. on this list are my favorite things to do for a pick me up! Love it! Tomorrow I am taking a drive to a certain mall that has a certain Barnes & Noble and a Starbucks where I hope to sit for a few hours…love this post!

  • Christy

    I know this post was from awhile go but I love it. So many simple things can be so comforting when you are having a hard week, month, etc. Thank you! bookmarking it!

Leave a Reply to jenny_bird Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *