The Happy List

Twenty-one of my favourite things in life. 21 little micro-pleasures which can make any day the best day I have had in ages:

1. A new pair of shoes. Gorgeous shoes, with big heels. Nothing makes me happier than buying a brand new pair of heels and wearing them out. Yes, I may well be in agony all night, but nothing compares to knowing I am wearing sex in shoe form. Yum! My lovely boyfriend bought me these beauties for Christmas, and despite the fact they kill me a toe at a time, I've worn them at every opportunity possible. Sometimes, I just like to get them out and look at them, maybe stroke them a bit. But nothing more than that...
2. A perfectly fitting dress. To go with the gorgeous new shoes I have just bought. When I am wearing a dress that fits like a glove (and I don't mean one that sticks out in five places) I feel like I'm a runway model or something. I'm aware that I'm not a model, but any dress that can make you feel like you should be on the cover of a glossy magazine has got to be a good thing.
3. Perfectly painted nails. I'm like Van Gough with a nail brush. It is pure euphoria when I can look down and see 10 finely painted tips - no smudges, no bumps. I love bright, interesting colours, and I pick them at random so that they hardly ever match what I'm wearing. It's one of my little quirks that my Fella thinks is a bit strange. But why match, they should be a statement of their own. I'm currently in love with metallics, such as the silver one I have on right now. But Barry M's mint green will always be the favourite of mine. Goes with nothing I own, but that's completely the point.
4. When a quiet night in the pub turns into a fantastic Cheeky Thursday. As I have pointed out before, mine and Ray's Cheeky Thursday's are the best nights out you could imagine, and they are fast becoming renowned in the local area, with more and more people wanting to be involved in this epic monthly event. Mid-week partying has to end when you get a real job, so as a 21-year-old student I'm making the absolute most of it. Cheeky cheeky!
5. Finding a bargain. You're out at the shops, you're mooching through the rails, when suddenly a fabulous, must-have piece jumps out at you. It's in your size, and best of all, it's only £6. Result! I wear my Primarni bargains with pride, and am more than happy to tell people it cost less than they think. The ripped black top I am wearing in this picture is a Primarni original, and actually was £6.
6. An unexpected text. Be it from the other half whilst he's on a night out with his mates, or from your best friend simply saying something stupid to make you smile, or even from an old friend who you'd lost touch with. To know that somebody is thinking of you, even when they have no real reason to, is a proper cheery thought, I think.
   
7. Massive cocktail rings. Completely unnecessarily over-the-top, too big for your hand rings. I love a good rock I do, and it can literally change my outfit from being a decent get up to being out-and-out spectacular. If you couldn't club someone to death with it, use it to break down a door, or at least be at risk of catching someone at the next table to you with it as you reach for your wine glass, then it isn't big enough. As far as I'm concerned, with rings, either go big or go home. I own this absolute monster courtesy of my darling Mother, as a present for my 21st. It's called the Matador, that's how fierce it is. I will keep it forever, and one day pass it on to my little girl, to use as her very own knuckle duster.
8. A random memory that makes you smile to yourself. Be it down to a song that reminds you of a special someone, finding a random object that takes you back to an amazing moment or simply seeing something on TV that reminds you of a simpler time -whatever it's cause, you can't beat the effect. And when people ask what I'm smiling at, sometimes it's fun to say "nothing" and keep that perfect moment all to myself.
9. A cheesy 80s song. Speaking of random memories, I've only got to hear a bit of Whitney, Madonna, Rick James, Bon Jovi or Rod Stewart and I'm right back in Reflex, dancing with my friend Addy while some strange bloke in a Mac is slyly trying to flash us. That club has held many fond memories for me, and every time I hear a bit of 80s cheese on the airwaves it's like that night never ended.
10. Singing loudly to myself in the car. Plug the iPod in, put the radio on, or even fish out one of my vintage Wham tapes - any way I can, I am going to get my kicks while I'm driving. Can't sing a note, but why should that stop me? I love to belt out a proper feel-good tune on my journeys. By the time I've got where I'm going I've got a sore throat, but I'm happy as Larry. Pure good times. Ce Lo Green's "Forget You" is my tune of the moment. I pull all the attitude faces as well...it's a shame nobody else can see, I'm sure I look ridiculous.
11. Penne Pasana pasta from Ask. Ask is my favourite Italian restaurant, and their pasta dish of garlic chicken, mushrooms, pine nuts, parmezan cheese and pesto makes me want to lick the plate clean. If it wasn't such a fancy place I probably would. And I've suddenly become very aware that I'm salivating so I'm going to move on now before I drool all over my laptop.
12. Knowing all the words to a rap song. I literally spent weeks of my life listening to "Love The Way You Lie", learning the words and rehearsing them over and over. "I can't tell you what it really is, I can only tell you what it feels like, and right now it's a steal knife in my windpipe..." Test me on it, I bet I know every line. And I will, more than happily, rap it for you, whilst getting my guns out in time with the music. Oh yes, I am a badass. Word to your mother, homee.
13. A well deserved pint. There is actually nothing better than that first sip of ice-cold beer after a long day at work/uni/in front of the Tele. I can find any excuse for a beer I can, and drink all night if I fancy it, but nothing compares to that first pint. Mmmmmm....
14. A genuine compliment. Not one where you can tell that the person has cut their hair, or has bought something new, or is pointing obviously at the thing they want you to compliment. No, a proper compliment, when someone looks at you and genuinely wants to say something nice about you. And you can tell the real ones from the fakes. I most certainly can. So don't bring your knock-off compliment's around me, I can sniff a snidey one out a treat.
15. Red lipstick. My longest, most dedicated friend (no offence Ray). I have been wearing red lipstick since I could figure out where my mouth was, and I will be wearing red lipstick when the last breath escapes my lips. I know that sounds morbid, but it's a simple mathematical logic, suggesting that I actually do wear red lipstick all time. It is one trend that will never fade away, and it makes me feel proper saucy when I've got it on. Makes me feel like leaving it on more places than just his collar, if you know what I mean?
16. A kiss that gets carried away. And I'm not talking about the way your estranged Auntie likes to rub her moustache up you at Christmas! I'm talking about one of those simple kisses, that starts with a peck, then another, then a firmer kiss, then a lingering kiss and carries on until it's, well, more than a kiss. A kiss like that can make you feel like you two are the only people in the world at that moment; everything gets a bit hazy and dizzy, and it gives you butterflies in your stomach. If you haven't had one of these yet, you must go get yourself one immediately. And that's an order!
17. A great photo. Where you look particularly pretty, or happy, or where you can see that you are genuinely having fun. A "made to be a Facebook profile picture" type picture. Everybody will have a few of these. I have loads, and they are all up on my photowall in my room, to remind me every day of all the good times I have had.
18. Laughing with my Mam. Me and my mother have both got a stupid sense of humour, and we can make the slightest joke about the least funny thing, and turn it into a roaring fit of laughter that ends with us in tears. We once laughed so hard about a conversation her and my dad had had about cheese, that she was gasping for breath and I was on the floor clutching my side. We set each other off a right treat. Like a slightly less funny Ant n Dec. You don't get that bond with many people, so that makes me really happy to have it with her.
19. A good horror movie. I'm sure I have mentioned this before, but it really is a passion of mine. I collect great horror movies in vast amounts, and I try and see as many of them as possible. Can't get enough of a good scare me, so if you can point me in the direction of something new in the horror genre, it will be gratefully received. That is all.
20. Blogging. I know this is going to seem pretty self explanatory, but since I have been blogging here on Twenty-one and Invincible I have had this real sense of accomplishment. I'm aware that it's probably just my friends and the boyfriend who bother to read the majority of what I scrawl up on here, but since people from overseas have started to read my work - well, I've been feeling pretty fly...for a white girl.
21. Finding inspiration in the little things. My idea for this happy list came from another delightful Christmas present from my other half, in the form of "The Goddess Book". I love it when I find inspiration for my life in a throw away comment, a random moment or an inanimate object. If the world around you doesn't inspire you, it's not much of a life to lead really is it?