I decided to join in the simple pleasures post after Kelly from Kelly’s Korner posted hers the other day.

Hudson and I have had a rough week. He has been sick and I have been completely overwhelmed with keeping him happy and healthy and taking care of our looney tunes dog. We’re days away from getting out of town for a few days (while Todd is out of town on business), so there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

I thought it would help if I could just jot down the things in my life that make me the happiest.

1. A grin from this little fella.

2. A kiss “good morning” from this handsome fella.

3. A visit with these ladies.

4. An i-Chat with these two.

5. A diet vanilla cherry coke from Sonic. Yum.

6. The scale showing that I’ve lost 9 pounds since I started Weight Watchers three weeks ago! (Life has been too chaotic for a whole Weight Watchers Wednesday post, but I’m doing well and still losing!)

7. The best dessert in the world from Garibaldi Cafe in Columbia, the almond basket. Delicious!

8. A random, complete surprise gift

9. The smell of fresh laundry and warm chocolate chip cookies.

10. A walk with my family on a pleasant day.

11. A perfectly clean house with everything in its place.

12. A good talk with the Lord.

13. A night’s sleep that lasts longer than 8 hours.

What makes you happy when you’re having a bad day?

I’m almost 100% confident that I did a post last year called “My Funny Valentine,” but sometimes originality is lost on me. Especially when I’m completely exhausted from having a sick baby boy.

But, this absolute cheers me up, and should make you smile, too!

My friend Wendy at A Southern Accent (one of my favorite bloggers and self-taught Canon Rebel expert) emailed me this adorable Valentine for me to print and mail out this year.

How sweet is that? He loves his mommy!

If you would like for Wendy to create a custom Valentine for you to print out on your own, just send her the picture you’d like her to use. It only costs $20 for the custom design.

 Just email Wendy at asuthernaccent{at}aol{dot}com.

 (If you’re like me, you’ve searched high and low at that big card store looking for the right Valentine for your kids to give Daddy or the grandparents and can’t find anything that’s not horrid. Wouldn’t a Valentine with your kiddo’s photo be so much sweeter?)

See any resemblance?

Is it a Golden Retriever thing?

I’m sure you can see where Boudreaux has tried to chew his way out of the cone. Poor guy. You can’t see it in the picture, but he has a large scratch on his face next to his ear. I’m praying that it heals and goes away very soon. Life with a 90 pound dog in a cone is no bueno.

*And three cheers for Up for being the second animated film (after Beauty and the Beast) to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar!

Yes, please. Let’s get to answering some questions. The final season of LOST premieres tonight and I’m so excited. But I also have huge expectations. I have a long list of questions that I want to be answered before the end of May, and I’m going to be very disappointed and confused if they don’t get to answering!

I need to know if these people will ever figure out how they’re all connected. And will they ever figure out why they all ended up on the island?

map via here

My friend at Lilacs and Avocados did a post this morning that pretty much lists all of my other questions.

I’m thinking I’m going to have a party for the finale. It’s time to start thinking about fun island food to eat at the LOST finale party. Maybe my fellow Losties in blogland will come for the party. Maybe?

Are you watching the finale tonight? What is your biggest unanswered question?