Happy 101 Award

Can I just tell you that today is the PERFECT day to be given this award? Thank you SO much to Suzanne from sunshine and wine for passing it along to me. If you want to drool over some amazing design pictures, head on over to Suzanne's place! I've had a shitty week already, mostly because of issues at my workplace and feeling unappreciated (I'll make sure to blog about it tonight or tomorrow to fill you all in... since I know you're on the edge of your seat with curiosity), so this will help to cheer up my Tuesday!


So. Here's my list of the Top 10 things that make me wet myself with joy. Or... just make me happy. whatever. these things are not in any particular order... just as they come to me off the top of my head.

1. Mr. MandeeFoFandee. oh, this poor guy. I don't know how he puts up with me some days... it really baffles me. he's always keeping me on my toes and making me laugh like no other. sometimes I think it feels like we've been together forever, and other times I feel like we just met yesterday. I guess that's a good thing. he's my best friend, and I wouldn't trade him for the world.

isn't he handsome? how did I get so lucky with a hunk like this?

2. My Cats. aka my children. they really are like little humans, and they all have their own little (and BIG!) personalities. I find extreme pleasure in giving them catnip as a Friday night treat, and watching them roll around and go crazy like they're on drugs. they never stay mad at me for long, and I can always count on them to give me lovins when I've had a hard day.

big girl Lily loves belly rubs.

3. Tattoos. to say I have an addictive personality would be the understatement of the century. tattoos are no different than Dr. Pepper, cigarettes (horrible, I know), or makeup. I love them, and am constantly yearning for more ink to display on my skin. people ask how many I have, and it's hard to tell, because different pieces were done at different times, so I tell them I have about 20 hours worth, 10 of which are due to my rib piece. it's important to me to have meaningful tattoos, and all of mine represent something or someone at a certain point in my life. I'll be sure to give a post with all of them, but for now, here's the completed rib piece. also, feel free to check out more of my tattoo artist's work at his website.

$750, 10 hours, and a lot of pain later... I have my garden rib piece.

4. Family & friends. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have so many amazing people in my life, from my dad to my brothers to my friends. they're all super supportive of everything I do, and they give me honest criticism when I need it. I am eternally grateful for each and every single one of them. oh, and my little brother is the cutest and coolest kid EVAR.

my my my cookie face, my my cookie face.

5. Vacation. there is nothing I love more than laying on the beach with a cold drink (preferably containing a good amount of alcohol) and a great book in my hand. we try to take at least one week long vacation a year, but this year might be tough due to being homeowners now. we shall see. but I'd give anything to be here for a week. right now.

this was taken on a beach in Oahu during our honeymoon. le sigh.

6. Pooping. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: the relief from a good bowel movement is amazing. I'm probably only mentioning this right now because I've been backed up for a few days and I would give anything to squeeze one out... even if it caused me to pass out from bearing down too hard. but for serious, I love taking a nice, relaxing poop. no picture necessary for this one. I'm not THAT gross.

7. DVR and On Demand. I honestly don't know what I did before DVR. to be able to fast forward through commericals and pause when a good poop comes along is, in my eyes, the best invention ever. I don't even know when most of my shows air... I just watch them as they appear on my DVR screen. and in the rare instance that I forget to set up a series recording (like I mistakingly did for the new season of Project Runway), I can find most of them at my fingertips On Demand. oh technology, I love you immensely.


8. Blogging. I'm new to this whole blogosphere, but I'm already addicted (have I mentioned that I have an addictive personality?) to this little place. I love checking my Google Reader everyday and reading up on what everyone is doing - whether it be DIY home projects, cooking deliciousness, playing with their kids, working for the man, or just living life. I'm a nosy person by nature, so reading about others' lives has always fascinated me, and to do it everyday and feel like a part of it at the same time is pure bliss. andplusalso, I get some handy dandy DIY/designing tips along the way. can't beat free advice!

9. Decorating/Designing. even when I was a little MandeeFoFandee with no husband or cats to speak of (okay, that's a lie... I had tons of cats, even as a little girl), I found myself always rearranging my room to get the most effective space plan. I was always making things to hang on my bedroom walls, and incorporating throw pillows from the living room to match my current scheme. I've always had a passion for interior design. now that we own our home, I'm like a kid in a candy store... if the candy store were home furnishings. I'm always on the lookout for the next piece to use in a room in our home, and am SO inspired by the many decor blogs I follow. if I could choose my career (which, yes, I'm well aware that I COULD... but that's a long story), it would be interior design, fo sho.

I'm obsessed with this design board Ashley's office over at Decorating Obsessed.

10. Sales. as much as I love a good pair of jeans or shoes, I'm keeping this one general, because if the shit is on sale, I can almost guarantee that I will buy it. I tend to justify purchases much easier when I know the items I got were not full price, and I convince Mr. MandeeFoFandee the same. I love finding the perfect item on sale - whether it be something I'm specifcally looking for, or a surprise.

and to complete my task with the Happy 101 Award, I'm tagging 10 blogs that make me happy (again, in no particular order):

1. Erinn @ Stawberry Swing and other Things
2. Laura @ Signed In Ink

3. Ashley @ The Domestic Wannabe
4. Sarah @ a little of this, a little of that
5. Melodie @ The White City Project
6. LiLu @ Livit, Luvit
7. Kasey @ Lola B's
8. Tara @ The Life of a Newly Wife
9. Sherry & John @ Young House Love
10. Alaina @ misc.alain.eous

PS - I would elaborate on WHY those blogs make me happy, but I'm at work and unfortunately, I actually have work to do. soooo just check out their links and see for yourself!

Happy Tuesday, bitches!