happiness is...

msfirefly is celebrating her valentine birthday in ireland by holding an online contest that asks you to share the things that make you happy. since she's turning 30, i decided to actually come up with 30 things. the prize up for grabs is all sorts of darling hand-made goodies like the ones she sent me by "firefly express" recently...and more! the winner will be chosen by random, but perhaps my luck will increase with a longer list. haha.

• chocolate! never fails to cheer me up even for a brief moment.
• my feet slowly sinking in the sandy shore because it makes me feel one with the beach.
• spring rolls or hot-off-the-oil chicken wings dipped in thai sweet chili sauce.
• hearing the mailman's little delivery truck drive by our street and getting mail that's not junk.
• seeing with my own eyes the intricate details of a snowflake as it fell down my hand on a snowy day.
• the burst of cherry blossoms, magnolias, and all other happy flowers at springtime.
• bath and body works' tiare flower inu body lotion from their "ile de tahiti" line. the tropical scent transports my senses to a paradise island and reminds me of summer. this particular lotion is only released during spring-summer.
• being in new york city and watching a broadway musical.
• my cat napping on my lap, purring softly.
• a goldilocks cake with icing flowers, or here in new jersey: an ice cream cake from denville dairy.
• that innocent first kiss by the lake.
• browsing greeting cards for eye candy, then finding the perfect card for the intended recipient.
• finding people who like me for who i am.
• belting out my favorite songs on videoke.
• flowers marked down to 99 cents at aldi.
• hearing the words "thank you" when the situation calls for it.
• two free movie tickets at clearview cinema every tuesday from our internet provider.
• knowing the steps to a line dance song at a filipino party and looking good doing it.
• getting a good night's sleep.
• watching my favorite tv shows on HD.
• friends keeping in touch despite their busy schedules.
• coupons and freebies in the mail.
• extra 50% off clearance items at j.crew.
• putting ink to paper and learning i can still draw.
  
• reading the sunday comics.
• hearing the sing-song ilonggo chatter--and joining in--when visiting capiz.
• people remembering my birthday.
• a suitcase filled with pasalubong from the philippines.
• sharing a good laugh with friends and just being silly.
• a memory stick filled with photographic memories.

HAVE A SWEET LITTLE BIRTHDAY, odette! :)

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