Despite the craziness of 2020, there were quite a few things that make me happy.
Now I know that money can’t buy happiness. Material items don’t provide lasting joy. However, I found that lots of things actually do spark joy, make life easier, and contribute to my happiness in simple things. And these little things make me happy. So in that sense money can buy happiness.
During the crazy and tumultuous year of 2020, there were many items that made me happy. I want to share simple things that make you happy so you can feel a small sense of joy, too.
20 Little Things that Make me Happy
These are a few of my favorite things from this year. Usually, things that make me happy are affordable and highly functional. Leave a comment if we share any things that make us both happy.
1. Workout Pants or Shorts with Pockets
I love working out! Especially during the pandemic, my mental health needs a daily hit of cardio. Finding shorts with pockets or these tighter pair made running and strength training easier.
These Long leggings with side pockets are so comfortable but also good for a workout. You can use these for Pjs, lounge pants, or workout pants. I love the price and the buttery soft feel!
I recently added strength training and weight-lifting to my workouts. As I move around the gym, I love that my phone stays in my pocket and continues to play my music, book or podcast. It’s the little things that make you happy.
2. Dark Spot Lightener
I had melasma during my pregnancy, which produces dark spots on the cheeks, forehead, and chin. With age and lots of vacations in the sun, I have many dark spots. This brightener has worked to lighten my complexion.
3. Mopping with Tide Powder with Bleach cleaner and a Spinner Mop
Its hard to describe just how much this little combo has changed my cleaning routine. Mopping is at the top of my most-hated-chore list. I often go for over a week with nasty floors rather than have to mop. Using this simple concoction I have mopped multiple times a week just to smell the goodness and see the cleaner in action.
Fill up the spinner mop bucket with hot water. Add a tablespoon of Tide Powder drop in some bleach and mop away.
This spinner mop is the best! Easy to clean and easy to use on all types of floors! The tide really goes to work on the stains making a visible difference. You will love how it makes the whole house smell fresh and clean.
Can cleaning make you happy? I wouldn’t have believed it, but try this, it sure boosted my mood! (It also helps to listen to a good audio book while I work.)
4. Candles from Bath and Body Works
My husband loves candles. I never remember to light them, but when he started working from home, we had a candle burning non-stop. We tried every store and brand.
Bath and Body Works is by far the best smelling and longest lasting. Don’t waste your money on candles that don’t produce the desired results-a home that smells amazing! You can lift the mood and energy in your home by the invisible smell you create through burning candles.
5. My Travel Wall
When travel shut down world-wide, having travel memories hanging on my bedroom wall of all the amazing places in the world brought me so much joy. Knowing that those places were impossible to access now made me so grateful we had spent the time and money taking our kids around the world.
Staying home is the perfect time to create a travel gallery to make your trips last forever. Start with a push pin map to mark your travels and hang your favorite photos of the area around it.
Research shows that anticipation of a trip and memories of a trip can bring just as much happiness as the trips itself! Create happiness for yourself on the daily with a travel photo gallery wall.
6. Hiking with my Kids through 11 National Parks
I’ve recently realized that one of my a favorite activities ever is hiking! Now that I am a mom of 4, this usually means dragging the kids along (unless I do a girl’s only trip- like at Glacier!)
Hiking alone with four kids is not an easy task. The only way I’ve been able to make it work with a PiggyBack Rider. I can easily get my toddler on and off my back as we walked in gorgeous destinations like Arches or Rocky Mountain NP.
Hiking is probably the top thing that makes me happy. If only we had mountains in Texas!
7. Hair Turban
Where are my two-towel girls at? If you use two towels to dry off after a bath or shower, this product is life-changing.
I usually use a towel to wrap up my wet hair so I can actually get my body dried before I try to pry on my leggings. Drying two towels in humid Texas is not an easy task.
This small, light-weight turban easily holds all my hair up, wicks most of the water away, and stays on 100% better than a towel. All for $6. You’re welcome.
8. Stretchy Pants for Tall Girls
I’m nearly 6-feet tall, so when people recommend comfortable one-size-fits-all clothing, I know I cant utilize it. However, these comfortable, draw-string, stretchy pants actually fit my long leg! They look more dressed than leggings but are just as comfortable.
Normally I am a jeans girl, but I reach for these pants more and more often. I just want one in every color.
If you aren’t tall like I am, you’ll love this style instead.
When pants fit just right and are stretchy and comfortable that makes me happy!
9. Almond Joy Protein Shake in the BlendTec
This Almond Joy Protein shake is the most delicious and healthy morning shake that helps me power up after a tough work out.
Sign up with Clean, Simple Easts to get the Almond Joy smoothie Recipe plus a week of free recipes that are incredible. This Almond Joy shake recipe is similar.
When I started making this shake daily, it made sense to upgrade our struggling blender to one that could actually blend ice without ‘freezing up’. The BlendTec is Amazing with everything we’ve tried. My kids like how large the jar is so I can make enough shake for them as well. Its incredible how a new appliance can make life easier and thus, just a tad happier.
I haven’t invested in CSE protein powder, but this Organic Chocolate Protein Powder one tastes delicious to me!
Food that tastes delicious and is healthy give me a boost of happiness and energy every day.
10. Magnetic Phone Holder
After nearly 3000 miles on the road, this tiny device made our travels so much easier. Push this magnet in your car’s vents. Add a magnet to the back of your phone, or just slip it inside the case. The magnet is really strong and will hold your phone up!
I love that it comes with two magnets so I can leave one in my car and bring one on our flying trips with us. Navigating around Hawaii or National Parks is so much easier with our maps easily seen without distracting the driver.
Being able to drive with less distractions is a tiny thing that makes me happy!
11. Democracy Burmuda Shorts
I’m committed to modesty and comfortable functionality in my dress style. I also live in a hot and humid climate, so shorts are a must.
These longer, stretchy, and comfortable shorts from Democracy brand check every box. I have a pair of the dark and the light. They may cost slightly more money upfront, but I wear them daily because I love how they feel and fit my body more than any other pair of shorts I own. So one pair of these shorts are worth ten other pairs of shorts that sit neatly folded in my closet.
12. Temperature Clock in my Closet
When I get dressed in the morning I love to see the current temperature and humidity to determine what would be best for the day. This large clock makes it easy to find the weather, time, and date at a glance.
13. Make-up Vanity with a Stool
I have always done my hair and makeup standing up next to my sink. I am usually post-workout and my legs get sore and tired. When we remodeled our bathroom, we installed a vanity and I bought a simple stool.
I love sitting to do my hair and makeup. While the rest of the world complained about never getting ready for the day during COVID, I spent time daily at my vanity doing my hair and makeup for myself, my spouse, and my family. Getting ready gave me a sense of purpose and confidence. It may sound silly, but looking ready for the day changes how you feel about the day and that is important to me.
If you don’t have a built-in vanity, I highly recommend buying a vanity to sit to beautify or even do your kids. My beauty routine doesn’t last longer than 10-15 mins, but it is still worth being able to sit and enjoy that time with myself.
14. Revlon Hair Dryer
Along with a station to do my hair and makeup, the Revlon Hair Drying brush was seriously mind blowing (literally?!?). I can dry, straighten and style my hair in mere minutes with this device. I still run a straightener through my thick mop, but it cuts down on the time immensely.
I actually did my hair every day of the shutdown thanks to the Revlon Dryer.
This Revlon Hair Dryer is also the only dryer all three of my girls will allow me to use on their hair. It brushes and dries, but does so softly and without pulling the hair or burning the scalp. It’s the little things that make me happy.
15. Instant Pot
Just because 2020 gifted us a plethora of time, doesn’t mean I wanted to spend all day cooking while also homeschooling. The Instant Pot was a lifesaver for quick and easy meals to feed the whole family. Getting dinner on the table in one pot an in less time makes me a happy mom! Well fed kids = happy house!
16. New PJS
Nothing like a soft pair of pajamas to make going to bed an exciting event! These are buttery-soft and have enough coverage to wear around all evening for a movie night with my kids. They are oh so comfortable. and even as a tall girl, the capris fit better than most ‘one-size-fits-all PJs.
17. Traeger Grill
Ok, so this thing made my husband happy more than myself, but as they say “happy spouse, happy house!” And I definitely benefit when he cooks for the night and I get a break! Not to mention enjoying delicious smoked meats and meals
The Traeger Grill shipped right to our house and was easy to assemble.
Learning to smoke our meats has been a bit of a learning curve, but a challenge my husband has loved (and I sure enjoy the benefits!).
But you must remember one thing….
When buying a smoker, be sure to include the cost of building a new patio to cook on the Traeger and eat the delicious food you will create on the grill. We didn’t have a decent patio so we built our own patio! This was much more affordable than hiring it out, but still cost more than the smoker cost!
18. Apple Airpods
When AirPods first came out, I mocked the wireless buds for being easy to lose and the costs was laughable. Why would I spend that much when I can get headphones free on the airplane?!? I swore I would never spend that much….
However, my husband passed down his old pair and I was quickly eating crow. I loved AirPods….enough to pay full price to replace them less than 6 months later. (after I washed them in the washing machine!)
As a mom of 4, having AirPods helped me in so many ways. I listened to 50 books as I did my normal housework, meal prep, and workouts. I love to listen to podcasts to increase my mental and emotional capacity. As soon as my old AirPods stopped working, I quickly replaced them so that I could continue listening to books and podcasts, as well as talk on the phone hands-free. My husband loves the noise-canceling Airpod pro… especially while traveling on airplanes. However, the cheaper and older version of the Airpods works perfectly for me.
19. Apple Watch
Once again, the cost of an Apple watch was originally a deterrent. But after a used watch showed me all the benefits a smartwatch could do for my life, I was quickly hooked.
Unfortunately, I smashed the watch hiking this summer but luckily had a birthday 2 weeks later. I begged to get my watch replaced. I missed knowing the time, notifications, workout statistics, and playing music from my wrist.
Having my phone notifications come in without actually having my phone on me helped me stay connected with my children through their virtual schooling.
While I still can’t get behind the cost of the Series 6 Apple Watch, I’m sure someday I will be converted to the shiny, new convenient features.
20. A New Rug
Want me to show you something happy? This rug!
We had a neutral {i.e. safe} rug for many years in our living room. With new lights and new neutral couches I wanted a rug that had a bit more color and personality.
I was a little nervous about the rug being too distressed or bright… I mean it has hot pink in it. Would that really work for a living area?
But with great return policies, I ordered online and was very pleased with the colorful outcome.
We put carpet padding to install underneath the rug to make it more comfortable. Every time I walk through the living room it feels bright and cheery. I love a little more style and personality on the floor. The cost of this rug is so affordable I know I can switch it up every few years if I want to.
What Things Make You Happy?
Things that make me happy don’t have to cost much. Especially during a difficult year, stuck at home for many days on end, these simple things brought my life happiness and I hope they can for you, too!
So many little things that make me happy can add up to an easier and more enjoyable day. This gives me more energy and happiness to the people and relationships that matter most in my life.
Tell me in the comments the products you love that bring happiness into your life!
- Another way I added happiness to my life in 2020 was picking up my love of reading. I read 50 books during 2020. Find my top 10, the worst 10, and all the in-between to add to your reading list.
- If you like these ideas, you’ll like my suggestions for the perfect romantic and functional gift for your spouse.
- The Ultimate Lunch for Mom
- How to make money while you are on vacation.
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