99 Things That Make Me Happy on Blue Monday

It’s Blue Monday. The bills are landing in the mailbox, it’s frigging cold outside and the days are short. To buck the blue mood, I got to thinking about the things that make me happy, from favourite little beauty products to an extraordinary cocktail or sensual-smelling candle. So I made a list. It’s in no particular order of smile-inducing ideas, things, products or activities – more a stream of consciousness assortment of things that make me happy as they came into my brain today.

I’d love to hear what makes you smile, too, so please add your own happy ideas in the comments below.

1. Modal PJs, especially the buttery-soft sets at Eberjey in Rose Cloud or Water Blue.
2. Rihanna: Her ideas, her success, her style, her fierceness.
3. Shellac manicures because they changed my world as I’m the customer who wasn’t able to leave the salon without nicking at least one perfectly polished finger.
4. Cocktail coupes.
5. Old episodes of SNL. Especially any skit with Kirstin Wiig.
6. Being immersed in a well-written novel, so lost in the story that you forget what time it is.
7. The perfect nude-pink lipstick, lip gloss or lip balm.
8. A pair of pink or red trousers.
9. The beautiful holographic -iridescent glass packaging of Boy Smells scented candles in shades of lilac, mint, peach and sky.
   Photo: The Bay
   
10. The smell of perfume on elegant leather gloves.
11. Super-chunky knitted blankets.
12. Bubble baths with jazzy music.
13. Long chatty lunches with girlfriends. Brunch with your daughter. Afternoon coffee with your mom.
14. Cream blush.Related Read: 10 Sparkling wines to bring magic to everyday moments.
15. The irresistible characters of Peaky Blinders and Outlander.
16. Online shopping with free shipping.
17. A TGIF cocktail hour with classic Ruffles potato chips and a glass of wine.
18. The Boyfriend and Ex-Boyfriend jeans like the ones at Over The Rainbow.
19. Hudson Bay pointe blankets.
20. Shopping for fresh-cut bouquets of flowers and filling my home with them.
21. Outfit texts from my daughter.
22. Listening to my son play Chopin on the piano.
23. Flat black boots. Over-the-knee black boots. Doc Marten black boots. High-heeled black booties. Black Chelsea boots.
24. Man-style trousers.
25. A table set for dinner with attention to all the details, from salad forks and chargers to flickering tapers in gorgeous candlesticks.
26. Vintage floral-patterned tea cups and saucers.
27. Really chocolatey cake. (Here are three favourite recipes.)
28. The scent of Clarins Blue Orchid Treatment Oil.
29. A morning kayak on a perfectly still lake.
30. My brilliant Ciselier kitchen shears that make all sorts of tasks so easy and satisfying, whether butterflying a chicken or snipping herbs.
31. Sun-ripened summer tomatoes.
    
32. The rich and delicious, velvety first cup of morning coffee.
33. Unapologetically oversized chandelier earrings.
34. Black merino wool turtleneck sweaters.
35. Herb gardens.

Related read: Lemon yellow everything. 

36. Perfumes that transport you to another time and place, like Arquiste scents.
37. Cardigans, from cozy dad-style to long wrapping ones that can double as a dress.
38. A great black one-piece bathing suit.
39. Scoring a perfect item at HomeSense that you didn’t realize you can’t live without.
40. The illustrations of Berlin-based artist Tina Berning.
41. All-Clad pots and pans like this well designed D3 set: so sleek and serviceable.
42. The full-body calm after a sweaty yoga class.
43. Sipping Sauvignon Blanc in the summer on a dock with someone you love.
44. Steak frites.
45. The exquisite bejewelled and embellished lipstick cases of the Guerlain Rouge G.
46. Luxardo Maraschino Cocktail Cherries.
47. The first al fresco dinner of springtime.
48. Jumbo containers planted with rosemary.
49. Crisp white shirts like the Newport Mini Twill Shirt from Pink Tartan.
50. Banquettes, especially the saddle-coloured leather one in my dining room.
51. The spring day when you suddenly realize it’s 6pm and it’s not pitch-black outside.
52. An unexpected delivery of flowers.
53. Flip-flops and a fresh pedicure.
54. Linen napkins, like these ones from Crate and Barrel that come in 18 gorgeous hues.
    Photo: Crate and Barrel
    
55. Homemade roast chicken.
56. French perfume with its indefinable je ne sais quoi as at Guerlain and Chanel.
57. Globe-like glassware meant to enjoy the best a full-bodied wine has to offer.
58. Chevron-patterned wood floors.
59. A freshly baked baguette that’s still warm when you slice into it.
60. Meeting someone that you feel like you’ve known for your entire life.
61. Kisses on the neck.
62. Convertibles, especially the Audi A5 Cabriolet. (Yes, I’d like to drive one across Canada and tell that tale.)
63. Crisp cotton bedding like the organic cotton offerings I’ve ordered and love from If Only Home.
64. The brilliant names of OPI nail polish, from Tiramisu For Two to A Kick in the Bud. So fun. (Heartfelt question to OPI: Can I join your naming team?)
65. Planning and preparing a top-notch meal for family and friends.
66. A dry gin martini sipped from a glass like the exquisite Swing Coupe Martini Cocktail Glass at CB2: gorgeous.

68. The fine but accessible jewellery designs of Jenny Bird, Mejuri, Blu Boho and Suetables.
69. Fluffy Mongolian lamb pillows for your bed, your sofa or even your Muskoka chair: They’re just so extra and awesome, like these ones at West Elm in all sorts of irresistible colours like Pink Grapefruit or Velvet Ink. Photo: West Elm.
70. Homemade apple pie with a crust coated with crispy cinnamon sugar.
71. The Barcelona Chair designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1929: so well-proportioned, sinuous and timeless. Through Knoll.
72. Shondra Rhimes’ brilliant storytelling inventions.
73. Cookbooks authored by Yotam Ottolenghi: Every single one of them.
74. Big weekend breakfasts enjoyed with lots of good coffee.
75. Handcrafted knives from Laguiole like the assortment found at Hopson Grace.
76. The pretty tinted lip balms from Covergirl Clean Fresh.
77. Diptyque’s exceptional, scented candles in Feu de Bois, Baies and 34 Boulevard Saint Germain.
78. Pinot Noir from Burgundy. Pinot Noir from the Okanagan. Pinot Noir from Ontario.
79. The laughter of my children.
80. Sipping pints of beer, dancing and laughing with old friends.
81. A super well-organized spice rack.
82. The complete sensory satisfaction of a beach.
83. A stay-at-home movie night with a partner or BFF complete with cozy blankets and your favourite snacks.
84. The scent and performance of Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray.
85. Witnessing one’s passion, whether spied in the eyes of a chef, a writer, a business owner or friend.
86. The fashion interpretations of Yves Saint Laurent – the trench, the safari, the caftan…
87. When I nab my husband’s sweater and it still carries the scent of his cologne.
88. The luxurious and eclectic artistry of multidisciplinary designer Kelly Wearstler, from her furniture and home accessories to her transformative work in hotels and residences.
89. Pointy-toe black pumps like the Love ones from Jimmy Choo.
90. Handcrafted maple syrup.
91. Dressing up and going out to dinner.
92. A really great sandwich with the perfect bread to condiment to meat to veg ratio. If this too makes you happy, check out these 82 Superb Sandwich Recipes from Epicurious.
93. The Hermès fragrance creations of perfumers Jean Claude Ellena and Christine Nagel.
94. Meyer’s Hand Soap in Iowa Pine.
95. Sarah Bernhardt peonies and David Austen roses.
96. A beautifully appointed bar cart complete with flowers and glassware, bar tools and favourite spirts.
97. James Bond movies with Daniel Craig.
98. A cool bedroom and a bed topped with a lofty, plush, down duvet.
99. My family.

I’d love to know what makes you smile – please share in the comments below.