Josie at Sleep is for the Weak has tagged me in the happiness meme, so pull up a pew and let me tell you what ten things make me happy.

1. My little family

The things people who make me the happiest are my little family. My man, my daughter and my bump. I love them all and would be lost without them.

2. Weekends

I love weekends. They are our time – time where we catch up with each other after a crazy bonkers week. We spend them chilling, exploring, shopping, going on adventures.

3. Knitting

I only started knitting two years ago. It was always something I thought I couldn’t do. I pretty much taught myself and I now love it. I haven’t had enough time  recently to do any though. I currently have about three projects on the go, two of which have been on the needles for the best part of a year. I can’t justify starting anything new until I have finished at least one of them. And then I need to get cracking on using up some of my stash that I have accidentally accumulated…

4. Wine

I don’t drink when I am pregnant. I don’t miss it, but I am getting to the point where I am looking forward to having a glass sip once the baby is born. Alcohol free lager just isn’t the same.

5. Shoes

I have a lot of shoes. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot.

I have work shoes, comfy shoes, winter boots, high heels, flip flops, baseball boots. Pretty much something for any occasion. Except if I have an occasion coming up, I probably need a new pair of shoes.

My current favourite is my brand spanking new pair of Ugg boots that my lovely mum bought me for my birthday. They are so unbelievably comfy that I never want to take them off. Except I have to as I can’t wear them to work. Yet another reason to hurry up and get on maternity leave…

6. Bags

As above, but with handbags.

This actually, was a bit of a surprise to me. As a kid I was a tomboy and hated girly things. Every christmas and birthday, my aunty and uncle gave me a handbag. It became a bit of a family joke, as I was the person least likely to use it. Egg on my face eh?

My thing for handbags is now starting to spread to bags for life. I figure this is probably a good thing because a) it’s cheaper, and b) it saves the earth. Win win really.

7. My job

I teach kids with moderate learning disabilities and emotional and behavioural problems. I love it. I also (apparently) am quite good at it.

I never wanted to be a teacher when I grew up, despite everyone saying I should be. After university I worked in a well known high street chemist and made it up to team manager. I packed it in and found myself drawn to working with kids. One thing led to another and five years ago I trained as a teacher. It was the best thing I have ever done (work wise) and I haven’t looked back.

As much as I moan about my work, I do love it. The kids I work with are amazing in so many ways. Being in a position to help them make something of their lives is an amazing privilege.

8. t’interweb

Or specifically, blogging. I started writing this blog about a year and a half ago. I had no idea why I wanted to write, or if anyone would actually be interested in what I have to say.

Over the last eighteen months I have “met” several amazing, inspirational, supportive people. Reading about their lives, seeing them face and deal with the same dilemmas as me, sharing ideas and funny stories – I genuinely feel part of a community. In some ways it is sad that I feel more connected to a stranger who lives thousands of miles away than I do the lady two doors down who I see every day. In other ways, how amazing is that?

9. Salt and Vinegar Crisps

I have always been a crisp fan. When I gave up smoking, salt and vinegar crisps became my new crutch. When we were in the pub and I fancied a puff, I’d get me some crisps and tuck in. The cravings for nicotine have gone (I should think so, it has been several years), but I still enjoy a daily pack of potatoey goodness.

10. Taking photos

I love taking pictures. I love capturing our lives. I don’t take enough, and I’m not especially good. My daughter now loves looking at pictures (especially of herself) and I want to take more. She changes so fast and I don’t want to forget.

I have been taking part in you capture for a while now and have just discovered the gallery. They’re great as they get me thinking about how I can capture my every day life, something that I rarely take time to stop and see. I really want to get better at photography, and my lovely boyfriend gave me a photography course for my birthday. I can’t wait to learn how to get the best from my camera and take more pictures of our daughters and our adventures together.

So, if you’re happy and you know it clap your hands…

…crystal jigsaw

…life with little dude

…mumversuskids

…vegemitevix

…last of the mojitos

…babybaby

…alybean