A few of my favorite things

I'm getting my period, so I've been a live wire the past couple days. Yesterday morning, I was in the worst funk. My poor hubby was scrambling to keep things together while I was a bad mood tornado. I felt irrationally angry, bloated, sad, upset and I had a burning desire to punch the wall. Since then, my crazy fire has simmered down to a slow boil, so I feel safe to blog. In an effort to combat my horrible mood, I wanted to remember my favorite things, so then I don't feel soooooo baaaaad (imagine Maria from the Sound of Music singing here).

1.) The small window in my shower. When the sun pours in, it makes the water look like diamonds and I feel like I'm bathing in sunshine.
2.) Barrett's morning breath. I know, sounds gross, but I love the way the little guy wakes up and is always so happy to see me. I like the smell of his breath. I even like smell of the dry drool on the side of his face. What can I say? He's mine. That's the only way I can explain it.... I guess I should just say Barrett as a whole, is one of my favorite things. Yeah, I guess he makes the list. Ha.
3.) Bun warmers. C'mon, who doesn't love a toasty bum while driving around? I think bun warmers are the epitome of luxury and I'm honestly grateful every time I turn mine on...I -prefer the melt-your-skin-off temperature.
4.) Hot water. In our kitchen we have a faucet that produces 180 degree water instantly. At first, I thought it was a tad grandma-y, but I use it every single day. It's perfect for cleaning Barrett's passy's, making a hot bottle (mixed with cold), or just a quick cup (or seven) of tea. It's my favorite part of the kitchen.
5.) John's understanding. Everyone deserves someone in the world who just "gets them." That is John for me. No matter how crazy or tornado-like my temper, he usually knows just what to do and can talk to me in a way that I know he loves me, he is there for me and he understands. Of course, not all the time. But I feel lucky to say most.
6.) Ravinia. I am counting down the days until Ravinia's back! We have a great picnic basket, pop-up table and tea lights ready to go. I love listening to the music with all the summer sounds, grass, stars and a good bottle of wine. It's one of my all-time favorite date nights with John.
7.) Lou Manati's Pizza. Four words: Chicago-style deep dish. For those of you outside of Chicago, they ship flash-frozen pizza anywhere to the U.S.
8.) Therapy. While it's not always easy, therapy has changed my life and continues to help me enjoy my life, understand myself and gain deeper connections in my marriage and friendships.
9.) Hot Tamales. It's a love hate thing. Love the flavor, hate how many I eat. Seriously folks, I could put away a jumbo-sized box during the movie previews. Without question. This also applies to many other sugary candies (Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, Mike'n'Ikes, etc.)
10.) Birth Stories. Gory, gruesome, boring, frightening--I love them ALL. Even the Kardashian pull-and-grab story. For that matter, I love pregnancy, birth, ultrasound pictures and even the waiting before all that. But there is something magical about the birth story. I love to hear about that moment when a tiny person enters the world all perfect, small, warm and wonderful. It's a miracle. I especially like the movie "The Business of Being Born" because it helped me understand what was really happening during the birth process--both for the baby and the mom. It's a must-see for any mom-to-be!

One More....okay, tried to stick to 10, but the last one is running. I haven't been great at it during the pregnancy or post, but I plan on cracking out the jogging stroller soon to show Barrett the town, while mama burns some sweat!

What are some of your favorite things? Those things that make you smile when life (or your period!!!!!) is getting you down?