Great post, as always.

It's always so much better to focus on the positive in life, if at all possible, though sometimes it just *feels* better, somehow, to stay stuck. Maybe it's easier. I don't know. But you've reminded be to get unstuck - thank you!

Feliway has greatly improved cat-to-cat relations and cat-to-human relations and also cat-to-litterbox relations at my house. I lurve it.

Also I am going to make a list.

Fantastic!! Thanks for something so fun to read on a Monday morning! I tend to make lists of stuff that I'm grateful for, which includes several people and pets, and those lists make me really happy, too. >^..^<

I got the Color Stay lipstick that you recommended but in Sheer Pomegranate instead of Mocha. Big Mistake. It looked great and very bright cherry-like colors. BUT I had cherry lips all day (despite eating bagels and a lunch), cherry lips all evening (after dinner too)and even cherry lips after falling asleep. I took some eye make-up remover and wiped most of it away but you could still see a pinky hue. So if you get the Revlon Color-Stay -- get the MOCHA (I'm redheaded) or pick a color you can stand to live with for a few hours. The color does stick with you and it's fabulous. I really like it (even the Pomegranate color -- I just would go easy on applying it next time).

Now I'm adding the Feliway and potato chips to my list. Alas, I do not live near a Trader Joe's so I have no cute check out guys to stalk.

If it makes you feel any better about the batteries, I tried the rechargeables. They suck. I tried numerous times, different brands, etc, and under the best of conditions (newly charged, fresh batteries from the store), it could take about 5 pictures with flash (~1 M/photo) before giving me the "battery dying" signal. I use lithium batteries for everything now. And, ah, I am no longer eating microwave popcorn after reading this article in the NYT (sorry if I am coming across as preachy):

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/us/05popcorn.html

Ahhh, the summer of Sun-In. Who of us hasn't had that summer? I also had the summer of QT and the summer of not admitting I have a red-head complexion so I will use baby-oil by the pool like my blonde friends.

As they sing in all the little country churches: Count your many blessings!!

June -- thanks for mentioning that about the rechargeable batteries, I had the same issue!!

Oh, and about the popcorn:

The brand I listed has only two ingredients: corn and sea salt. No buttered nothin' so the cautions in that article (that butter flavor causes you to die or whatever) is not applicable to this popcorn. It really is just corn and salt.

But somehow it works for me (BTW! Caution will robinson, caution! I have heard from impartial third party subjects visiting my house that this popcorn is, and I quote, "Worse than eating the paper bag." heheheh.)

Hello, you are *already* blonde, what for do you need Sun-in? I am brunette, and not beautifully, mysteriously, definitively brunette either, just ordinary mousy brunette, and I envy every natural blonde who walks the planet.

Ahem. That's a really stupid thing to be whining about. So. My stuff:
LL Bean jogger bathing suits for those of us who feel that the world at large does not need to know about our cellulite.
Systeme Biolage detangler.
Clinique Moisture Online.
(These are the only two upscale designer personal-care products I buy, I swear. Love you, Al Gore! but a person needs to control her hair, especially if it's mousy. Do I get points for never having had my nails done?)
elann Esprit yarn (knockoff of Cotton Fixation). I read somewhere recently someone's saying that only a complete dork would like CF. I don't care, I will join the ranks of dorkdom!

Please come to Boston in October...

OK, OK, I won't start that again.

Happy Monday?

Okay, now you're pushing it!

Maybe I need to try some of the Comfort Zone Feline Behavior Modification Plug In stuff.

It's kind of like Oprah's favorites! I love it. I will admit I tried the Revlon ColorStay, and you were right. The color that works for me is called Bare Maximum. It's not a sheer, but it's not super dark, either.

Also, I was at the mall on Friday and I saw a L'Occitane store, which I never noticed before. I had already spent a bunch of money (two pairs of shoes! yay!) so I would not let myself go in. But, before long I'm sure I'll be checking out the shower gel.

I'm trying to think of something I love that I can recommend. The only thing I can think of right now is Vlasic Kosher Dill Pickles (I also love the salty snack). My 5 year old daughter and I love these.

As happy as a Monday can be...? heh.

I worship the Kettle Chips Salt and Pepper Rippled, myself. I should check out their baked stuff.

Thanks for the Monday morning cheer, Laurie--it's grey and rainy here and I have been having lots of no-fun in life lately, so it was very helpful! I'm going to start my own list right now!

Let see ... I'm breathing. That's a good start.

That Revlon Colorstay lipstick just amazes me. I have never been able to keep lipcolor on for more than ten minutes but this stuff has staying power -- which as Lori W. above pointed out means you really do have to be particular with the color you pick! I once got adventurous and decided to try some other shade, I don't remember what it was, but Lordy I looked like a drag queen most of the day. Ah well.

Since you're looking for Things That Make Us Happy, I'd like to recommend Lush cosmetics to you. (www.lush.com) I have very sensitive skin, and all my life, I've never found a face soap that A) cleans my face and B) doesn't make my face break out. Lush has it -- 'Angels on Bare Skin'. It looks like mud with bugs in it (they're actually rosemary leaves), it smells horrid, but it cleans and exfoliates my face, and seems to make it more resistant to other things that make it break out. Also, it's all natural and comes from a recipe from the middle ages, so I can imagine that I'm the Lady of Shallot or something.

They've got a bunch of other great stuff, shampoos, conditioners, face and lip treatments of various kinds, perfumes, bath bombs. All of it is handmade and much of it is all natural. Whenever I get money for christmas or a birthday or something, Lush gets a substantial portion of it.

Howdy! As a fellow salty/crunchy girl, may I recommend my newest discovery - Lay's All Natural Cheese Puffs (this may not be the exact title but it is close). They are au naturel as the title states, no weirdo chemicals. And they are whitish color, from using white cheddar, not scary fake cheese orange color. Calories and salt counts not too bad...it's like Cheetohs for grownups! Hope you try them sometime and enjoy.

P.S. thanks for the Feliway tip...I had tried the spray ages ago, but could really use some relaxing kitty feng shui on an on-going basis so I will definitely get the plug in. You rock, as usual!

It's funny that there seem to be so many of us out there making these kinds of lists and using them to feel good. Thanks for your great post again.

I love those chips! The barbeque flavor is my favorite. And I'm totally going to try your popcorn. I've been having a fling with Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop 100 calorie mini bags. They are a good snack size for me.

Sorry...I also meant to ask if there is a master list anywhere on your site with ALL of the good stuff you have shared with us?

Say, do they make that Comfort Zone with Feliway for people? I know a few who could certainly benefit from it!!

"I ALREADY GOT THAT MEMO."

Laurie, you make me laugh. That is all.

I luuurrve Dr. Hauschka face products. I get mine at our natural foods store, and my skin is the best in years. Great, great stuff, but a real splurge.

For anxiety/stress, I get some lavender in bulk and fill up my little muslin bag of it and keep it in my purse. If I squeeze it, more of the oils are released, and it's a smell that I find really calming. It even works on my kids.

Tracy -- they do! I think it is called Prozac LOL. Or maybe wine, for me ;)

Aileen, no, there's no master list. Maybe I will make one, though, that's a good idea. You can never have enough goodness!

I know "they" say you can't buy happiness but I don't think "they" have tried Revlon Colorstay ;)

Laurie: You done run Amazon out of Feliway!

**Availability: Currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock. **

I will do some searching for it. I am living in a hotel room with two cats that hate each other. We need a lot of Prozac right now.

I once did a class on journal therapy (back in my counselor days) and the recommendation of the author was to make lists of 100 -- 100 things going right for me right now, 100 things I love, 100 things I want to change, 100 whatevers. The point, says the author, is that when you get to the 70s you're really tapping into your unconscious and seeing what's really there. Interesting premise. I think the very act of making the list is therapeutic.

Mondays aren't really so bad especially when you got to play soccer on Sunday and drink a few beers afterwards. Oh and we won which is even better and my sore legs lets me know I'm still alive and kicking.

I like to kick balls!

Am I the only one that Colorstay doesn't *stay* on? It flakes off and makes me look diseased, usually within an hour. Why??

OOh favorite things are fun!

1. Bare Escentuals products. Any of them, except the mascara, it sucks. A bit pricey, but try the foundation with a kabuki brush, YOU WILL NEVER GO BACK. Fabulous.

2. Downy Simple Pleasures in Lavender & Vanilla. It smells so soft and feminine, I do laundry all the time just to smell it.

3. My new Steve Madden Loucee pumps in red. They make me walk with a little extra sauciness.

4. Dooce and Mighty Girl. Read them.

5. Kettle Corn. Sweet popcorn sounds weird, but it is so yummy.

Great list. I love this blog. Great idea about the 'things that work' list - gonna give it a go.

What I Like in My Life list:
Low-fat Cheese-Its make me happy. Orange stuff in the teeth I know, but they have a great salty, vinegar puckery tasty thing going. Should I eat them at all? No. However, when I must, I do. Also, the box is a nice red/orange color.

Pearatin Hair Products make my hair look as if it has a plan and a purpose. I've got fly away super baby-fine hair (sort of like that 'angel hair' that used to be on Christmas trees). So far the various Pearatin products thicken, chill the frizzies, restore mositure to my do etc.,

The Furminator enables me to hug my dog all I want no matter what I'm wearing (almost). And friends don't back away from him as they see the hair fly as he shakes himself. Prior to Furminator even my chair at WORK had hair transferred to it and the car too.

Thanks for the Monday get-up and go!

I am with you and others on the Kettle Chips ... but I admit I have a weakness for those artificially shaped, artificially flavoured, artificially created Pringles in the can. (shame)

My favorite happy product of all time is jojoba oil, I use it as a face moisturizer, one drop in damp hair for a leave in conditioner, it is amazingly good and cheap and no chemicals. My face has never looked better, and I (used to) have acne.

I love the Uni-ball too! Last week I returned no fewer than 3 DOZEN Uni-ball pens in at least 7 different varieties that had followed me home from work. I can’t help it. They just hop in my bag or pocket or purse and the next thing I know they are breeding like coat hangers. Which, now that I think about it, isn’t such a good analogy since I can never find an extra coat hanger! So every now and then I have to bring them all back to work with me. Is this some sort of corporate embezzlement? Should I keep this to myself?

The only pens I love as much as the Uni-ball is the Pilot G-2. I love a clicky gel pen!

I just love office supplies. Love, luv, lurve them. I love post-its. I love orange and green and pink highlighters. I love Sharpie markers. I love good tape and a big heavy tape dispenser. I love binders and folders. I love a little purse sized notebook with a pretty cover. I love a calendar that shows the whole month at one time. But most of all, I love a good pen!

Oh and Cecelia is right-- the Furminator is awesome!

FIANNA, oops! I updated the link, thank you. First-time buyers need the whole diffuser anyway, not just the refill.

MENDERZ -- Are you applying any kind of Carmex or Blistex over it? If I put on Carmex all the color immediately flakes off. Anything with oil or petroleum in it will make the color come right off and it's gross, I agree!

Yay! Must try the popcorn..mmm...PS - that SuperScratcher from Target is done by a local company up here in Nutty Marin County, and they used REAL cats from the Marin Humane Society (including my own sweet ELVIS) as their models while I was working there in the PR department. They love our shelter cats!

I love my Kodak Easyshare camera, and like you I also carry my camera every day for planned and unplanned photo-extravaganzas. I use the rechargable battery that charges while the camera is sitting in its dock at night. (Basically, while I am lying in MY dock and charging for the night.) Works great. Love it. Hello, Al? Call me first!

Let me get this straight--Bob's behavior changed?
Jack, one of my two feral kitties (like Bob and Soba) has taken to biting his fur out. No other changes--and I am hesitant to take him to the vet, because did I mention he was feral?

What do you think--would it be worth a shot?

Things that make me happy? The Boll Weevil Soap Company (made in Alabama!) bwsoap.com Just don't put a hex on me when you fall in love with this stuff and are compelled to keep buying it.

I have been in something of a pity party funk lately and I keep trying to remind myself that things, on the whole, are not that bad. I've never written it down though, I'm going to have to try that.....

I have used the Uniball since it came out. LOVE that pen!! Being a pen person requires that I check out the pen areas of all stores and this is STILL my favorite pen!!

Hi Laurie, friend-of-Faith (FOF) here :), I just started reading your blog, and I love it. As does Addie, the shedding, purring, 17 year old cat with stinky breath on my lap, who decided she would quit peeing on the carpet when we bought her the Comfort Zone. Thank you Comfort Zone! And as if that weren't enough to make me comment, I want to add that:
-my camera that takes AA batteries changed my (picture-taking) life
-the double-wide scratcher changed Rudy's life (Addie's co-habitor, though not a friend as far as she's concerned) and yes, we do refer to it in our house as the "double wide"
-we get our double-wide at Target, can I add Target to my list of things I love in life?
-and finally, anyone who reads my (disordered-focused) blog knows I love popcorn and I have to tell you that my popcorn secret is taking good stuff like the Bearitos or just air-popped that I made and spraying it with natural cooking spray (celestial hain or something) and then salting it (or putting whatever on it really, I have done it all) and it feels kinda like it's oily! and very salty! and I could seriously write that on my pink legal pad every day until I die and wouldn't get sick of it :)

thanks for letting me introduce myself!

ae

I am going to have to try those chips and that popcorn..I love a potato in any form as long as it's fried (or a chip)..and if you're dorky, than I am too, because almost everyday you say something that I do, too..

Things that make me happy:

1. Wee Peeple dolls- I can't wait to take one of her doll making classes! http://www.weepeeple.com/
2. my writing group
3. TiVo
4. my insurance company- I have excellent medical insurance, and it makes me happy every day! ($70,800 worth of medical bills this year and counting. How much have I paid? $50. Schwing!)
5. this blog
6. Kenny Chesney has a new CD coming out tomorrow. Yum!
7. Audible.com- I love audiobooks, and this service makes them easy and (relatively) inexpensive.
8. the Houston Public Library- I request books all the time, and have them sent to my local branch. It's just like Amazon, only free!
9. the internet- I don't know how I'd make it through the work day without it!
10. my new laptop

Feliway isn't impacting my current happiness, but I used it several years ago with a seriously sick cat. Pooping was never an issue, but it definitely encouraged harmonious peeing. At first I bought it from my vet, but then I discovered that PetsMart sells it for less. It's still not cheap, but probably less than repairing or replacing stuff if they're destructive.

I'm providing a link to one of my all-time favorite New Yorker cartoons -- it seems wholly appropriate for today's post:

http://tinyurl.com/2jpmxa

I'm actually ordering a print as a Christmas present for my husband. Two of his exam rooms already have pet-related cartoons from the New Yorker, and this will hang in the third.

I love the list! I have a gratitude journal next to my bed, for writing in what I'm grateful for (which I do... about once a week or so). The longer I write, the more things I think of. The sun came up again, I'm grateful for that... It helps me sleep better.

We do tend to concentrate on "what I need to fix" and "things to do" and such. It's nice to shift the focus to "what is working" and "what I'm grateful for". Breathing really IS good!

Feliway = bottled essence of heavenly angels singing, as far as I'm concerned. Back in June, my cat took a chunk out of my leg in a fit of rage. We had three choices: Feliway, Prozac pills, or no more kitty (not really an option at all, as far as I was concerned). We chose Feliway, and he's been manageable ever since.

And I LOVE "Deadliest Catch." Can I get a what-what for "Lobster Wars?" Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

PAM: Feral cats are hard to figure out. Yes, Bob has settled down since using the feliway, I think it is noticeable.

The hair biting thing ... Roy did this when I first got him, he was kind of OCD, and he wasn't biting so much as seriously overgrooming. But for a lot of cats that can signal some sort of issue, bacteria or fleas. Have you done a spot flea check? (That will rule out the first thing the vet will ask.)

AE-- Hi! OMG what a great idea about using spray on the Bearitos popcorn!!!!

you are so. not. a. dork!

STELLA! Ok, now that was funny!!!

Mmmmm... popcorn! Must go make some!

Ya know what? Your sea salt popcorn sounds good, but my favorite is do-it-yourself microwave popcorn. If you put bulk popcorn in a lunch-size paper bag and fold the top really REALLY tightly (I fold it over 3-4 times for about an inch and a half total), you can put that in the microwave, then put whatever you want on it after it's done. No nasty butter vapors either. I usually put on a couple sprays of butter stuff, then wasabi powder (my favorite), or grated parmesan, or just eat it that way. Yum!

I have two digital cameras, and the rechargeables work GREAT in one, and not so good in the other. The great one takes 4, and will last through two days of really intensive picture-taking (as in, a thousand or so). The other one only takes two, and dies all the time. I think it's a difference in cameras as well as the number of batteries. You can get a new kind of rechargeable that stays charged longer when not being used - nothing is more frustrating to find out that your charged-up spare set has drained while waiting.

Yay for the French who invented Feliway! I think there would have been some kind of evil kitty mass murder by one Janie Cat at our house without it.

hmm... I just made a list of things that were working for me, and you're right, it's a pretty feel-good exercise. Also, better than doing my expense report. Yay Laurie!

Great blog today. I love list making as well. I used to keep a gratitude journal. Every night I would write down 3-5 things that I was grateful for that day. It was a nice reminder to focus on the positive in life.

And I am a popcorn-a-holic. Maybe your organic corn would be better for me than my 100 calorie mini-bags (best.snack.invention.ever!). I come from an Irish family. I could live solely off of potatoes and bread. I think I survived 4 years of high school on tater tots, fries, and rolls.

My favorites:
1. My cat, Puppy. He just loves me. and the feeling is mutual.
2. My sister and my niece - who are my two favorite people in the world.
3. green trees.
4. Wine. (just bought 5 bottles on Friday because they were on sale!!) yay!
5. My health.
6. My newly painted Kitchen!! I was inspired by all of your home-improvy actions and I decided to finally tackle my "blah" kitchen since I started thinking about it almost a year ago. It went from icky bluish-gray green to a sunny asparagus color. Yeah! So much cheerier in there now!

Does it have to be stuff you buy? Ummm....
lovely yarn (natch), pieces of beautiful cotton fabric to add to a never decreasing stash, fresh (perfectly ripe) fruit, esp. grapes and nectarines.
Non-purchased things? Walking my dogs and looking out over the unparalleled view from my hilltop town, an evening in my painting class and that fabulously beatific state btn sleep and wakefulness when lassitude reaches deep into my bones and soul. This last one my husband doesn't even pretend to understand - why can I not just get up off the couch and go to bed? lol.

Hi AE! Hi Laurie! Hi everyone!

My new fave bath/shower item is this unbelievably hardcore mint shave gel. I get it at Whole Foods but of course now I can't figure out what the name of it is. It's not Nature's gate or Aveda...that narrows it down, huh? Anyway, it completely wakes up your sinuses in the morning!

Of course it's not just stuff you buy! In fact, most of my list-list (the one on paper) is just simple stuff, like the fact that the cats are healthy, or that Bob is being more friendly and loveydovey, or how much I like when it's cool outside in the morning.

This list (in this column) in just a few things I've been thinking of lately that make life happier. The whole point to most of what I've been trying to do inside my own life lately is prove (to myself) that you don't have to be a bazillionaire to live well. Small things, small pieces of happiness, go a long way :)

Lord I am cheesy.

I LOVE Comfort Zone. More specifically, my older cat loves it. When the bottle runs out, she vomits all over the bedroom floor and yowls incessantly. I buy the stuff for 14.50 each in bulk at www.upco.com so I get free delivery.

Ooooh I just remembered it's Avalon Organics Peppermint Moisturizing Cream Shave. Sooooo fabulous.

Hmmm, seems I could use a list like that right now, what with dealing with all the blasted men in my blasted life...

Also, Sun In... yes, I am the same age as you (June 29th, hello emotional rollercoaster that is a Cancer lady!) and I too had a Summer of Sun In. Only when your hair is normally DARK brown, let's just say my nickname was Garfield for the next three years. Because I was more orange than Bob. Ah, memories! Pass the wine please so I can blackout now!

I'm glad I read all the comments - Phiala already suggested it before me. I put 1/3 cup of popcorn into a plain-old paper lunch sack and microwave it. I then douse it in melted butter and lots of salt, but at work I eat it plain.

Thought about you all weekend, Laurie. My hubby and I were in your area for a college alumni gathering, and we got to visit L.A. We hit the Farmer's market for brunch before our plane yesterday. What a cool place.

I'll second deedee's vote for the Bare Maximum colorstay color! It is a leeetle bit too brown for my skin tone but if I use a light hand it is fine. I've also recently bought the sheer version in Sheer Pomegranate, it is lurvely too and the overtime lipcolor in Berry Reliable for going out, it is a darker pink(it might be a bit too pink for you but the pomegranate shouldn't be). If I mix the Bare Max and the Berry together it is exactly the same shade as my natural lip color-perfect!

Can't say I've had issues with rechargeable batteries, mine are Kodak Ni-MH batteries and they work through my girlies taking 430-lebm(yes you know that number!) pictures of the cats, dogs and guinea pigs every day. They stay charged for about a week depending on the use. I have another set somewhere but can't find them. Having two sets is really nice(when they are available).

Now chips, I love Reduced Fat Ruffles for flavor and crunch but I absolutely flip for Kettle Chips. It is so I can't have chips in the house because thats all I will eat. Not too big on diet popcorn, or popcorn of any kind really.
Our favorite fall/winter snack is Chex mix but I make my own seasoning with balsamic vinegar and a lot less butter than originally called for. It is to die for!

I CAN NOT believe that NO ONE commented that our beloved Crazy Aunt Purl was on our list of favorite things!!! Shame on us! CAP...you're a sorely needed bright spot in my daily life...thank you!

If I have Zapp's jalepeno chips anywhere near me I can literally inhale the WHOLE bag, so it definitely helps to keep those out of the house LOL> But the kettle bakes are a nice alternative to ... well, carrots.

MOLLY, will you post your recipe for Chex mix??? I love balsamic vinegar! I bet that is AMAZING!!

We have a Super Scratcher and our cats love it. Our Mama cat used to "ride" upstairs to bed on it of a night. My hubby would say, "Come on, Erica, get on your throne and I will carry you to bed." The danged cat would sashay over to it, get on it, sit down and wait to be carried upstairs. No spoiled babies at my house. LOL

Feliway is a godsend. Granted, we have one where it only sort of works (hence the need for amitryptaline, but she's being weaned off that now). But we can tell when the diffusers are empty--more squabbles going on.

And they loooooove their Super Scratcher! It gets used almost as much as the litterbox :)

My new fave lotion, soap, shower gel, etc. is from Plum Island Soap Co. (www.plumislandsoap.com, if you're curious) I got a few samples as "goodies" in a knitting swap, and immediately went and ordered more. The Husband even likes their stuff! It's yummy!!

Eee! I got mentioned by name! I'm all blush-y.

Things I love: exaggerating my Georgia accent in my new home of Chicago, Pilot G-2 pens, the fact that I'm back at school (seminary!) and I love it, my IKEA ice cube tray that makes star-shaped ice cubes, and Aveda Sap Moss shampoo and conditioner. It smells kind of funky at first, but it smoothes my crazy coarse hair like nothing else.

And wine. Always love the wine. :D

Thanks for the list- a good way to start the week.
-Feliway- makes me want to get another cat to see how it works! My cat won't use those types of scratchers. I bought one of those rope fiber/bristly door mats- she loves it.

I love Kettle chips too- didn't know they had a baked variety. I finished off a bag of non-baked Kettle chips recently and the last few chips of chips were literaly dripping in oil! I'll look for them and maybe I'll indulge more often.

SUmmer of Sun-in- I had one of those, followed by the Fall and Winter of Growing out. YEs, dark brown hair and Sun-in hair- quite a contrast.

Eeeek!!, you would ask for a recipe, I never measure anything(or write it down) but for this I don't think it matters. In a big ol' roasting pan, melt half a stick of unsalted butter, about 1/4-1/2 cup balsamic vinegar(depending on how tangy you want it-you can always shake more on it during cooking), about 1/4 cup honey, and a good squirt of grainy mustard(if you'd like), several shakes of garlic powder, slightly less onion powder, and a dash or two of cayenne pepper. It will stink really bad and burn your eyes but stay with it. Add the cereals, pretzels and nuts to fill the pan 3/4 of the way full. I also put Quaker Oat Squares in mine for a bit of sweetness. Bake at 250 for about an hour or so, stirring and tasting frequently.

My very favourite guilt-free microwave popcorn is Jolly Time Healthy Pop Kettle Corn, an entire bag (10 cups) is only 250 calories (!), part of me wonders just how that could be true, but if it says so on the nutritional label it must be so, right? And I love the fact that it's a bit sweet yet a bit salty, and not buttery at all, I actually sort of hate buttery popcorn. =)

I should really try this Making Lists of Positive Things out, I am SO good at making long and involved mental lists of things-that-are-going-wrong and then going crazy with anxiety over them. I hate the anxiety! Thanks for posting about this today, Laurie!

Hi, Laurie!

I love your posts, as always! I have a recommendation for you....a book....for purely entertainment reading.

The book is "Bright Lights, Big Ass," by Jen Lancaster. Her writing style is so much like yours. Like a girlfriend dishing with you, and she puts fun little footnotes on her pages. When I started reading it, I immediately thought of you. And like you, totally relatable, and having me laughing out loud.

Hopefully, I am not too far down the comments chain that you will read this.

Loves,

Wendy RN

Thank you Molly, I'll have to try that it sounds AWESOME. Of course I love spicy, tangy, vinegar-y food, so it's right up my alley!

Wendy, the title alone of that book got me intrigued!!!

Loved today's post. Feliway is our friend. Jeff and Joey don't seem to notice it at all - which is fine. Nina on the other hand (the "Prozac Princess" ahem) is infinitely nicer with three diffuses going (there'll be four once we open up the back bedroom). She makes it evidently clear in her behavior when even one of the diffusers is empty. If the fun folks at Feliway ever need a spokescat, I'm officially volunteering Nina - or as her daddy calls her when she's showing her true colors, Miss Thing.
We had a gas leak in the house last week. I boxed up the cats in their carriers and took them to the neighbor's (yes, I thought the house would explode). In the midst of my own little breakdown, I managed to grab the spray bottle of Feliway to spritz on their carriers so they wouldn't be scared. Maybe I should've sprayed it on myself also.
Oh, and the Kettle baked chips aren't too shabby either.

For anyone with a baby:

This is way, way off of my list but when my boys were little babies and all that teething was going on I definitly used Humphrey's.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100357&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod1672115

It is like Comfort Zone for babies.

Hey there. Have you tried Trader Joe's Mango Shave Cream? Another lovely product!

I just saw the Feng Shui post, and I have to tell you, I'm a believer. I feng shui'd (verb form) my apt a few years ago and found a husband and a better job almost immediately! My mom is a very traditional lady (conservative? old fashioned?), but when I told her about it she said, "The Chinese are an ancient and wise people. They may have an understanding of the world that we do not." I was shocked and stunned to hear her say that, but now I totally agree!

OK the cat prozac comment cracked me up - I have seen that stuff before but didn't buy it because it's just so expensive... your post makes me want to consider it though :)

I'll have to try your popcorn recommendation. I've fallen in love with Yaya's Light Popcorn and Trader Joe's Light Popcorn but I end up eating the whole bag, for something like 650 calories and 15g of fat. Not wise.

The list is a great idea. I think I am going to use it the next time I need a boost. Thank you.

If you're a dork, then so am I. Well, then I guess you're a dork after all, cause I definitely am one. (Is that the transitive property in math?)

Happy lists are the best!

I've used Feliway too on recommendation of my vet. It has helped our kitty with, um, "character" immensely.

Elena -- isn't it crazy how our own parents surprise us sometimes? My folks are always doing that, too, embracing things I thought for sure they would think was nonsense. It's always surprising and refreshing at the same time!

Dearest Crazy Aunty (and believe me i have a few!),

I am all for recognising how important the small things are. I was just unsure of the parameters of the request (challenge(?) you issued).

Loving the whole blog and you definitely make it high up on my list of things that make my day brighter. :-)

I can't do the color-stay lip sticks. They hate me. But, Revlon Renewist Lipcolor in Mauvelous is to die for.

And I like you list idea. I think it's called Counting One's Blessings. :-)

I just moved and I had the Feliway plugged in at both old and new locations. Kits are doing a-okay.

Several years ago when my cat Carl was having aggression issues towards his step-sisters, the vet suggested we put him on prozac - real people prozac. We decided talk (i.e., lock him in a room until he calmed down) therapy was better for him, and he got over it after awhile.

Love the almond oil stuff you recommended. I almost bought the lipstick too, until I remembered that I don't wear lipstick. (You are a very powerful, convincing person, Laurie.)

trashlou ... I loved your list of things that make you happy, by the way :) So much of what I started out doing in July was just to get me out of sadness, I'd just lost Roy and about fell to pieces over it, and then felt embarrassed for being so wrecked over losing a cat, but then I was like, he was MY cat! Anyway, can't talk about that even now without getting maudlin and weepy.

But I just needed some way to get me out of a real bad place. So I ... uh, ripped up all the carpet! LOL. Decided to make my house a nice place to come home to, sadness be damned.

It's worked, I tell you what. It's been a great couple of months. One of the things I did this past weekend (also free) was to take the zippered cushion covers off the sofa and wash them all on delicate and hang them to dry and now the sofa is all fresh and clean, just a small thing but made me so happy.

Hey, I have a question... in Martha Stewart's magazine she always shows her big, fluffy cats sitting on the furniture... how the heck do you suppose she keeps the cat hair under control??? Does she just hire someone to walk around following the felines with a lint roller????

I love your blog and have been reading for ages. I hope you don't mind me linking to it on my blog's "favorites" list. Thanks.

Speaking of cheesy, how about loaded nachos? Or potato skins? Or lasagna, or pizza, or onion soup, or... anything with cheese?

And... curling up with a really junky chick novel on a rainy day, and watching "Pretty Woman" for maybe the 12 millionth time when your husband isn't home, and singing along with "I Hope You Dance" on the radio...

Cheesy is good. No, cheesy is *wonderful*.

Do you know, I bought one of those Trader Joe's double-wide cat scratcher things on a whim when I was at TJ's on the same day you posted a picture of Soba on hers, and my two furry freeloaders NEVER get off of it. (Except to eat, of course.) Actually, they had an all-out THROW DOWN over who would get to sit on the cat scratcher first when I bought it, and now they take turns, but it is NEVER unoccupied. I don't even refresh the catnip that often. Best of all, they use it for its intended purpose, not just as a cat bed of questionable comfort - they do, in fact, scratch on it and mostly not my rugs now. Best cat toy ever! Also like $10 maybe, which makes it a much better deal than the other best cat toy ever, a $125 piece of kitty furniture I sadly had to throw away after it became completely disgusting.

I did have to replace the scratcher once due to an unfortunate barfing incident, but the second one's doing fine.

Hey, I have "Dork" as a keyword at my blog -- that's how much I need it.

Dorks of the world, unite!

I imagine Martha's cats wouldn't dare shed. or if they did she'd make a craft project out of the hair!
I need a plug in prozac....for the days when the regular kind just isn't enough.

I used to love the uniball pen. I still love the uniball pen, if the writing does not have to stay put forever. I am (was) an accountant and our office flooded. Uniball ink, it vanished, no trace, ball point pen ink stayed put, was a bit blurry, but still readable. We changed pens the day we dried out. We were all sad, because we loved the uniball.

Seriously? I am currently using the uniBALL ***IMPACT!!!!***

Love that pen. Too bad I have to pay extra to get it stocked around here.

We have the SuperScratcher single and the cats love it. Will have to try the double-wide next time.

My favorite - good wine that comes with a screw top! I know, I know, but it's o much easier than a cork, especially when you don't drink the whole bottle.

Re: Martha's cats

A large, appropriately browbeaten staff: It's a good thing. :)

Dear Crazed Aunty Person,

It really is a very simple soultion Martha has applied to the situation of cats and moulting. The fluff? It's all a wig ;-))

thanks for letting us know about the popcorn. i love salt and crunch.

relating to cats, i have a brand new favorite cat thingy. those cat boxes with the lid that you roll over and then all of the hardened cat pee and poo fall into a little drawer which you can that dump out. i couldn't have had one of those with my old napoleon around. as much as i adored him, he was also a peeing pain in the ass who even after losing his balls 16 years earlier, still peed on walls and floors and joe's clothes. and the kitty prozac DID NOT HELP! but with just the ladies, who pee delicately and accurately in the actual box and litter and not on the sides, it freakin' works like a dream.

i'm so in love with this box, that i look forward to cleaning the box. i tip that baby over every chance i get. the cats can't believe it!

I'm glad the kitty Prozac is working... the question is, has it had any sort of side effects on the human? One would assume that an airborne chemical would somehow get into the human brain, too. I'm just curious. I'm not accusing you of being unstable or anything. It just made me think.

Also, lists are the greatest thing ever. I bought this nifty little wallet thing at Target that contains index cards and I make lists on the cards, one card for each part of my life (well, currently there are 2.5 "wedding" cards) and I make lists lists lists and the anxiety stops for a little bit. It's a very good thing.

I have yet to venture into purchasing one for our feline, but I thought you should know that this exists. GOTTA LOVE ETSY.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7033236

That list you wrote? Yeah, that saved you at *least* $1000 bucks in therapy right there. Seriously. Smart move.

You are so cool. What a great women you ae.

y'know, there's a reason Maria had those kids sing Raindrops on Roses during the thunderstorm. Corny, but listing good stuff DOES work.

I love my NordicWare microwave popcorn popper. You can have your popcorn anyway you like it- air popped, with oil, or add a spray and some flavorings afterwards. Popcorn with nutrtrional yeast or Herbs de Provence is hard to beat.

And my cat loves her Zoom Groom. She starts purring when I pick it up! And she doesn't normally care to be brushed. I have yet to see a cat reject this; it's like a kitty massage or something. It's great for long and short hair cats. Sister loves hers so much I ordered some off Ebay for family member's cats.

BTW, before I even finished your Feng Shui post I was rearranging the furniture in my living room. Thanks for the inspriration- if I can ever get that fourth leg off the round table I'm going to have a much more comfortable living space.

Long live the Uniball. (Bossy's husband shudders)

Hey everyone- I need to hear more about the FURminator, please. I have a very fluffy kitty. We currently use a one-row rake that gets a lot of fur, but there's always more coming. Her previous people used to have her shaved (!) in a 'lion' cut --again, (!) I notice she grooms herself better when she doesn't have cut hair. The vet said a lot of cats don't like the feeling of shaved/cut fur and will go on self-grooming strike. SO, 1)are any of you furminator fans cat people, not dog? 2) does the furminator cut away the undercoat? (Seems like the ads talk about a special blade? 3) If both yes, do your cats still groom themselves well? (tmi, but I really don't want to go back to wiping kitty's bum--- I'll just keep wearing the fur sweater instead thankyouverymuch!

Also, please compare Feliway results to Rescue Remedy results, for anyone who has tried both?

Thank you!!!!

The drafter in me will choose a .7 mechanical pencil any day over the Uniball.

I'm into Lead, perhaps I am chinese.

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuniiiiiiiiiibaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllll!!!

Not as much fun as yodeling for lozenges, but it'll do. I love your love lists! I need to do that eventually. Especially after the Crappy Day From Hell™ I've been having. Sigh. Hope Al calls.

I keep a mental list (occasionally parts get committed to paper) of things that make me smile when I see them - no matter what else is crapping things up. And, I recite them to myself when I feel depressed. It mostly always works.

Two that are particularly good lately are kids wearing their sandals on the wrong feet and seeing other people's cats sunning themselves in windows. It's the little things. Well, sometimes.

I have never used "Biokleen veggie wash" so I can't comment on that, but I do use my own recipe that I got in Cooks Illustrated magazine for washing veggies. It is just 1 part vinegar, any kind and 3 parts water in a spray bottle. They say it kills 97% of bacteria. Who knew all that bacteria was on veggies? gak!

Great list--thank you! Maybe Al Gore is reading your blog right now and chuckling to himself as he posts a comment under a pseuo-name. Just kidding! ;)

steph ... by that I am going to assume that YOU are really Al Gore and I'll see you for dinner Saturday at 7 p.m. Secret service optional!

Thanks, I needed a new post today, and a cheery one is great. My divorce lawyer is screwing me out of any money I managed to get from my husband in the divorce. I sure wish the marvelous Magic Eraser worked on lawyers - the ones you're married to and the ones you hire to help you.

No fleas on Jack--it is more of an obsessive grooming--on his back side. I should take him to the vet first--but oh the misery of it. My other feral cat (I'm a sucker) had a hyperventilation episode that nearly killed him right in the vet's office. The vet doesn't want to see him ever again--house calls from now on--if I can dig him out from under the bed! Geez, the more I talk, the more I am convinced to try it!

Do you think they make a version of Comfort Zone that works on 6th graders? I would buy it in bulk for my classroom!

Favorite things are even more fun to list when you share them I think... My favorite Kettle chips are the sea salt and vinegar. love 'em. the salt and pepper are mighty tasty too. and red wine is always on the list, right there with coffee in the morning!
Kind of bittersweet thankfulness, but - it's finally cooling off enough to need blankets on the bed at night - yay! Amazing how much satisfaction there is snuggling to sleep under a comforter with a bit of breeze coming through the window.
What else... NPR on the weekends. I heart Scott Simon.
Spending time with my faux "niece" and "nephew" (not related - children of one of my dearest, bestest friends) who I completely adore.

You're right - just listing this stuff does make one feel good!

uniball micro

Stuff On My Cat can make me smile on the grimmest Monday.

I have also discovered Demeter's Calming Lotion in the scent "Laundromat." It smells like nothing much, and then, suddenly, fresh laundry.

I have an e-card with cats singing "Happy Birthday" that I got on my last birthday that I play whenever I need a laugh.

Do y'all have Zapp's potato chips out there? They're made near New Orleans. I love the salt and vinegar ones, and the onion and sour cream are lovely, too. Super crunchy!

Speaking of New Orleans: another smile-inducer is the Hawaiian shaved ice like they have there, in a cup with yummy fruit syrup on top.

I feel better just writing about these things. :) Thanks for the prompting, Laurie. :)

Feliway = love here at Casa Orlanderson. When I brought home my two boys last summer, Queen Sophie Bean went psycho. Feliway doesn't make her like them, but she does tolerate them a lot more.

New/old favorite thing? philosphy's Pure Grace shower gel. It smells like clean laundry. Combine that with the Pure Grace purfume and oh my heavens! It's hard for me to keep my wrist away from my nose all day when I do that.

Thanks for today's list - just got back from my MiL's funeral so I needed that pick me up. :)

Mmmm. Chips.

*
Love you, woman !

*

My cat was biting and chasing his tail a few months ago. I took him to the vet and he was diagnosed with an overactive thyroid. I have to give him half a pill twice a day for the rest of his life. That brings me to my favorite product: Pill Pockets. They are hollow cat treats you can get at the pet store. You put the pill inside and give it to the cat like a treat. My cat begs for them now.

I love Philosphy bath products. Pureology shampoo and conditioner smells really great, makes my hair soft and cured my scalp issues. Terra Tints tinted lip balm in Blaze adds a little color and tastes like peppermint. Basis Facial cleansing cloths don't have alcohol and are not greasy. They come in single use packets. I carry them in my purse all summer so I can keep the oily skin in check.

Oh my, potatoes of any kind are soul food to we Irish. Even Tater Tots. Reminds me of a recipe my sis and I used to make eons ago. You could easily make it for one or two or whatever. Now, this isn't the official recipe, just what I remember.
In the bottom of a baking pan went sliced onions. Over that, a pork chop or more, and then the whole top is crammed with Tater Tots all lined up so that every bit is covered. Then you pour mushroom soup on top and bake. the It all somehow cooked together into a wonderful greasy tasty mess, with the soup and taters kind of melting into a gravy. (It was winter in Chicago, I needed the fat.)

Oh, and Martha showed on her old show (pre-prison) what she did about cat hair. She covered all her chairs and sofas with towels, and the towels didn't even match the furniture. I liked her a lot better after I saw that.

Make me happy things: When my cat snuggles up with me at bedtime and purrs; Sobe Green Tea; homemade Strawberry Shortcake - served still warm; driving my Jeep Rubicon; warm fuzzy socks; Starbuck's Coffee Almond Fudge ice cream; quiet time when I'm in my studio painting ..... to name just a few.

Get ready to be jealous...I work next door to the Kettle Chips factory! Sometimes, just sometimes, you can get a waft of that lovely chip smell in the air. (They must do something because they are not at all a stinky factory and you would never know they were there if you didn't see the sign.)

As a result, I do love me some Kettle Chips. Sea Salt and Vinegar.

yay! su- in! So, you hailing from South of the Mason-Dixon line and all, did you ever sun bathe with crisco??? good times ...

I love you. I love you. I love you. Not in a lesbian stalker way, but reading your blog today makes me feel giddy and happy.

Thank you for the lift.

Sun In. My eigth grade school photo has me with totally sun-inned hair, cut in a stylish shag, with large wooden hoop earrings. It was about 1973. I thought I looked awesome with my orangey yellow hair. Oh, and with my orange yellow tan, thanks to QT!

I really couldn't understand someone NOT liking magic erasers. One of my most favorite inventions ever. Almost right up there with wine, but of course not quite. But both do give me that genuinely happy and excited feeling though obviously for different reasons.

Where do you buy the Bearitos popcorn? Yes, I saw your link, but what if I wanted to go to a store and just buy one 3-pack box instead of ordering 12?

Thanks!

And by the way, I love your blog!

Jill

Oh, my goodness. Do they make that for people? Wouldn't that just rock? Two valium and half a bottle of "rescue remedy" and yesterday was still miserable!

I have to say, though. Your site always makes me laugh. So I'm delurking to say thanks, for that, at the very least. And the cat sweater contest is making me -really- wish I weren't allergic to cats! I once dressed my best friend's cat in cabbage patch kid clothing. She was a Persian. I have scars to prove it.

Laurie,
Forget Iceland, come to Alaska! Knitting all year round and the Deadliest Catch is here.
Thanks for your lists and making me happy with your wonderful writings.

Birgitta

Try the Uniball Signo - They come in a multitude of pretty colors and write most beautifully! :) I do love those pens. And I'll be right by your side should you decide to go hunt the Deadliest Catch Captains. Talk about manly men!

OMG! Me and my husband are pen whores and I just LOVE Uniball. My favorite is the Blue medium point. Hehe! Nice to know someone shares my love of Uniball.

Kismet! My late afternoon client today was having feline behavior problems all seeming to be anxiety related, and the Comfort Zone is one thing I recommended to them.

I do appreciate your list of good products ... so in the official Chinese tradition of redundantly named product promotions, I offer you some of my own favorite "Happy Joy Life Products:"

For Knitting:

Brittany Cable needles. Straight, short, smooth, wooden cable needles in three sizes. I love mine to death.

Bryspun needles of all kinds. Light, warm, flexible yet firm, perfect tips.

For the Body:

Glover's Conditioning Shampoo: this shampoo comes in a plain little yellow 8-oz. plastic bottle for about $3.00 at little neighborhood pharmacies. Best shampoo for fine hair, ever.

Clinique Bar Soap for your face. I am a mostly no-makeup person, but I try to take care of my skin and I love this stuff. Which brings me to:

Burt's Bees Lip Color for the rare occasion when I do want to wear lipstick.

Household Items:

D-Stroy deodorizer, manufactured by State Chemical, look for it in janitorial supply companies. Mild citrus scent and safe to use around animals if you rinse it well after use, and it kills any odor, even skunk on tennis shoes. Ask me how I know!

Tibet Almond Oil Stick for use on furniture. "Feeds" your good wood and covers small scratches. Smells wonderful. Buy it online from the Vermont Country Store.

Bartender's rags from SAM's club. Cotton terry, white with blue border stripes. 24 pack for $9.99. You will almost never need paper towels again, except for poo and oil messes.

Good Earth Black Tea. At most supermarkets. Yummy. I am drinking some now.

Those are just a few favorites for tonight.

And Laurie? I do hope you come to Baton Rouge or New Orleans on your mini-book tour. I'll drive. You have to. Please. It's the only way I'll ever get to tell people that I'm Driving Miss Crazy. :-)

Do those Comfort Zone with Feliway plug-ins fit into a "Glade Plug-in" by any chance?

You are not crazy. Thouse magic erasers are the only thing that gets my tub clean enough I can stand to take a bath in it. Thank for writing about the doubble wide scratching thing, my cat needs it, hes sort of a dubble wide guy himself.

You know Laurie, I might just have to buy some of that feline Prozac. I just watched Tweek (aka The Destroyer) snap his bungee toy in half, ripping it from off the closet door. In 3 pulls. One to bend, one to snap, and one to completely decimate.

The toy is called the Bobcat Bungee, and I got it at petsmart. It's cheap, but fairly durable. Apparently not durable enough to stand up to my 15-pound, all-muscle beast.

Love all office supplies, especially Uniball pens (mostly fine, but medium for some things).

My latest favorite thing is Silk soymilk, especially the various vanilla flavors, but all are great. Right now I'm using Vanilla with Fiber. Makes me feel healthy.

As always I adore your posts - by far one of my favourite blogs. Uniball pens are, in fact the greatest of pens except for Pilot Precise V7s.

I actually saw the Cornelia Marie on radar when i was in the Bering Sea and OH MAN I WAS SO EXCITED. They wouldn't let us hail them over radio, though

I've long since worked out that in times of stress what I need to do is to get in touch with my inner shallows. A new pretty outfit will do wonders for taking me to my happy place - and the effects can last for weeks, whether I'm wearing it or not. Office supplies work well too - surely there's nothing wrong with a teacher marking students' work using a pink sparkly pen?

Is it just me or does anyone else feel "white-trashy" when they say that they are going to buy their cat(s) a double-wide? LOL

My favorite things aren't really things at all...

...the way my oldest (and most sickest cat) climbs into bed with me and falls asleep on my neck.
....that "just turned on the furnace" smell (hello! I live in Ohio) in the fall when it gets really chilly.
....that fall smell. You know......old leaves, football, the earth getting ready to go to sleep.
...a brand new ticonderoga pencil on a "goldenrod" notepad (throw back from my elementary school days)
....a fresh box of CrackerJacks (with a prize inside) all to myself
(you notice that the prizes aren't as cool as they used to be.....no rings anymore?)
.....and now, this blog.

Ain't life grand?
Thanks Laurie

I don't think that's silly at all. In my early 20s I was seriously depressed. Like, catatonic depressed. And what was the only thing that helped? Writing out that list of what makes you happy! And then I figured, well hells bells, if I want to be happy then I should do that stuff that makes me happy! And it worked! I don't know, maybe it's more intuitive for other people but sometimes I just have to find a way to remind myself that I can be happy.

Oh and Kettle Chips makes a spicy tortilla chip (which I canNOT find on their website whatev), well, basically they rock my spicy little world. LOVE them.

And I'm pretty sure Martha Stewart has a professional cat-hair cleaning person who doesn't sleep a day in their life. I mean, the woman hosted Thanksgiving Dinner in one of her stables for godssake. A STABLE! WITH HORSES! Who apparently don't poop. I have been in stables recently and not a single one of them is appealing enough for me to say... mmmm! Get me some of that deep fried turkey! Right... got off track some how... ha!

Dear Laurie -

I think I've fallen in love with you, just because you listed the calories per BAG instead of 'per serving'.

THAT makes my list of things that I like. :)

Yours,
Wendy

Revlon Colorstay - All the way, I think I bought every color that I thought might remotely work for me. Some of them do make me look like a drag queen, but we can all use a little of that somedays - right? I enjoyed your list and your blog. Thanks for sharing with us.

I always loved Uniball pens, then I found Pentel EnerGel Pens, in Violet, medium point=Pen Love!! There is nothing like a smooth pen and a new pretty notebook to make lists in!! I am left handed and this ink dries fast enough that I don't have violet on the side of my hand anymore.

quinn-
I heard of cats pulling out fur because of boredom or stress. It could also be a skin problem. I'd say take Jack to the vet, worst comes to worst he has a check up and gets some aggression out. Er, a lot of aggression. And the vet might have some tips to help if the cat's just bored.

Laurie-
I like your favorite stuff posts! The next time I get tempted to buy real lipstick again, I'm gonna try the sheer colorstay, I can never keep lipcolor on, so I stopped wearing it. For now, I use Bert Bees lip shimmers in Papaya when I want to feel lady-like. (Love the Burt's Bees, how I love it so!)

I am COMPLETELY with you on the salty/crunchy craving. I mean, don't get me wrong, chocolate and ice cream (often combined) certainly have a place in my universe, but potato chips or fries (anything involving oil and potatoes) are certainly higher on my list. I'll have to check out those Kettle Chips...

Your list of things that are working doesn't sound silly at all! It sounds like a great idea. And hey, it WORKS, so that's the main thing.

You are probably all readed out from all the comments so you probably won't see this one but I used to have the worst anxiety attacks at night, when my babies were small. Worrying about money etc... Then a friend loaned me a Dale Carnegie book about worrying and once I got to the "check list" of whats worth worrying about ( Am I dying? Will we lose the house today? Are the kids sick?...)and BAM..I was cured. Didn't even finish the book! When the anxiety attacks struck afterward, I'd do a mental check list and feel much better.
Maybe I should do up a "life is good" list just incase though.:OD

I have a little mental list of things that can always cheer me up - at work, there is a little bird that lives in the lobby of our building. Like, flying around, living off crumbs from the coffee shop or something. It always cheers me up to go out and hear him flying around, chirping.

At home, I have a pair of Sam & Libby's Peep-toe pumps that are too high for me to actually wear. They are so pretty, though, I had to get them. I have them on a bookcase, because I consider them a work of art, and it makes me happy to look at them.

Oh my gawd, what a great post. I agree or know exactly what you are talking about with everything you've listed here, from the feliway to the SunIn (gah!). Feliway is a mainstay in my home or we end up covered in feral kitty puke. eiwwwwwww

It sounds like you're leading a healthy life now and I love reading your lists. Now I want some Kettle's for breakfast.

One of my mundane new out-of-this-world favorites is Guerrero ready-to-cook tortillas. 10-20 seconds per side in a hot, dry skillet (you don't even really have to wash the pan when you're done) and you have a reasonable serving of doughy floury goodness. You'll never go back. One convert is so evangailistic about it she's selling them on ebay to those who can't find them in the stores.
http://cgi.ebay.com/READY-TO-COOK-GUERRERO-FLOUR-TORTILLAS_W0QQitemZ190150521677QQcmdZViewItem

I've tried the Feliway plug in and it had no effect on my cats so I think it is a hit or miss thing. In fact, I got the spray too and thought I'd just spray everything up since they were being so bull headed about the feel good phermones in the air but nope...they avoid all those toys like the plague. They know when I'm trying to make them feel good!!

Bach Flower remedies DO work, however and you can just squirt it in their food. (sorta like making them drink the Kool Aid). You can get the flower remedies at Whole Foods - sort of pricey but it lasts a long time. The Rescue remedy is their most famous and a good catch all for emotional problems (humans can take it too) but they have like 50 different remedies you can peruse.

For the lady earlier with the feral cat chewing hair out - the cat might have a food allergy. One of my cats is allergic to fish, of all things...sometimes just cutting the fish out will solve the problem (read the labels though because fish is in nearly EVERYTHING...). If the feral cat is chewing her belly hair, however, the vet told me that is usually the sign of an emotional problem.

Yep, sitting here with 4 cats myself so I know WAY more than I ever wanted to know about these picky pets!

oh sun-in-haha!!! WHO invented that horrid elixir??? and WHY did so many of use use it??? even my DAD used it-hahahahah! what a funny memory... and i HEAR YOU about the potato! oh my goodness, i cannot live w/o them, in almost any form (except potato pancakes which make me gag-i do not understand this). i could easily give up chocolate but NEVER the potato!!!

I love, love, love potato chips, too! I could eat a whole bag of them! I never do but I've come close. I've been good lately about not buying them at the store but I do get them from the vending machine now and then.

I sometimes get in a funk, too, and I have to remind myself how many blessings I really do have.

I also love uniball pens, heh.

so, some college girlfriends and i have a yahoo group to keep in touch, and we have a weekly tradition of "monday thanks" where we share the things in our lives that we're thankful for/that make us happy. no more dorky than your pink legal pad, but it certainly keeps life in perspective. some of the best thanks usually come when we're at our must upset/stressed.

It's called "counting your blessings", and it's a miracle-working mood-altering method, as you've discovered!

(After my vacation I'd gotten about 3 weeks behind on your blog, but am finally caught up again, and may I say it's been a real kick seeing all your home improvements. So fun. And just so you know, I'm 42 and still haven't figured out my personal decorating style. Maybe by the time I'm 45?)

Hi Laurie: You are a true boost to my day and feel like I am with a good friend when I check your website. Looking forward to meeting you on your book tour and so glad that you are coming to Peoria, Il. Will you have some knitting patterns to share.?? Keep up the good work, God Bless you and all that you do for us here behind the curtains!!!!