I'm crafting a post for Caitlin from Sacremento Street where bloggers are asked to list 10 things that make us happy. My list for Caitlin will be short and snappy, focusing on specific products. In the process of considering what lifted my spirits, I felt compelled to author a more extended list. These are things in my daily life that bring me considerable joy and amusement. Ready? Here she goes....

My iPhone
I'd be kidding myself if I didn't start this list with my iPhone. I adore mine. I sleep with it. I workout with it. I go everywhere and anywhere with this lovely little device. It's difficult (and painful) to recall life before I began using an a phone of this caliber. At the tip of my fingers I have language translation tools, shopping, entertainment, music fingerprinting tools and pure bliss. Suffice it to say it doesn't just make me happy - it's an invaluable part of my existence. If you're not rocking one, you need to fix that. I'm counting the days until the white ones are released so I can upgrade to the latest version. My love of Apple is a true thing of beauty. 

Magazines
Most women love magazines. Maybe it's in the genes. Maybe it's the calculated blend of fragrance, decadence and unattainable idealism. Whatever it is, these glossy beauties make me embarrassingly happy. Not to mention the fact that you can tuck one in a handbag, a gym bag or tote when you're on the go. Magazines make otherwise droll activities (waiting rooms, treadmills, airport lounges) something to enjoy. If you want a real thrill, subscribe to Italian and French Vogue for a year. It will impress you, inspire you and embarrass you. Getting out of your comfort zone and seeing new, exciting images and ideas make these lightweight gems one of my favorite indulgences.

Sunshine
Ahh, sunshine. You might think this is too obvious to mention, but some of us - more than others - seem to crave the warmth of the sun on their skin. My husband is one of those lucky souls who lived in Manhattan Beach, CA for a while and sticks to the story that he never spent time at the beach. "Too busy working," he claims. Trust me. If the tables were turned I'd have found a way to stare at the surf every day. My workouts would have been outdoors (Santa Monica steps anyone?), my shopping outdoors, my meals at outdoor faces. This doesn't mean I bask for hours by the pool. On the contrary, I am a sunblock devotee because I don't want to look like a raisin or die an untimely death. Yet I can't ever seem to get enough time outside. Outdoor cafes, sidewalk restaurants, long walks, outdoor shopping - you name it. If it can be done outside versus indoors, I'm a happy girl. But make no mistake: I'm NOT a fan of camping and I love my air conditioning on at full blast. Like all urban girls, I love nature on my own terms, thankyouverymuch.

Clarins UV Plus
I know what you're thinking... sunblock? But this product is really, truly great. No white residue, no skin irritation and (nest of all) it protects against aging and burning rays. And with all those outdoor activities I mentioned above, you can bet I'm loyal to this tiny little bottle. I rely on this (and Kiehl's) to preserve my thus far still youthful skin. I use it faithfully every day and swear by it. Try it just once and you'll be amazed. Hallelujah!

BravoTV
Need I say more? Between Jeff Lewis's genius (albeit neurotic) creativity, Rachel Zoe's crazy blend of doubt and expertise, Padma's sensual ways I can hardly contain myself. One glance at my TiVo playlist and you'll see I'm clearly drinking the Bravo Kool-Aid. They've not only changed the face of reality television, they've given us a way to see behind the scenes of numerous creative professions. It offers me delicious drama in a not-so-low-brow way (save a few tables being overturned). What can I say... Bravo!  

Speaking of TiVo...
It's not just TiVo... it's all of modern life's technological wonders. Shazaam for identifying music, TiVo for storing up hours of entertainment, NetFlix for indulging my desire to watch Entourage at a moment's notice, the iPad for being so convenient, Flipboard for bringing the aforementioned iPad to life (how COOL is this app???), blogging for existing... life is good. If you don't believe it, you need a reality check. I am constantly amazed at the awesome (and mostly free!) services & apps at our disposal.

Online Shopping
What more can I say. Saks, Net-a-Porter, Louis Vuitton, Neimans, Shopbop, Harrods, Revolve, Piperlime, Nordstrom... I spend a considerable part of my day scouring these and others for the latest and greatest. My appetite for fresh fashion is never fully sated, which I suppose explains why blogging is a natural fit. For a fast fix that aggregates all of these, don't forget ShopStyle.

Luxury Goods
Like most of my girlfriends, I'm obsessed with Louis Vuitton, Louboutins, Choos and Chanel. Their history, the fine craftsmanship, the astronomical price increases... I can't stop reading about them, staring at them, coveting them and occasionally acquiring them. Why does this make me happy? At least in our lifetime, these are some of life's iconic material goods. They give me something to reach for, new levels of success to reach and new goals.

Frankly, even if I can't fathom forking out $15K for a Hermes, it makes me happy knowing someone else can and will. It's fabulous we live in a world where such opulence and freedom exists. And you know what/ We can all reach for those things if we wish. That's the beauty of the world we live in. Hard work does pay off.

Naturally, the techie in me loves that some sites let you shop online, but nothing beats walking into a boutique and being greeted with the requisite double cheek air-kiss. I'm a girl's girl and I adore a good day of shopping. And if I come home with a heavy shopping bag, all the better. :)

 
Chick Lit
Yes, I said it. I love a little bubble gum for the brain. My days are so busy and life is so full, that when I do read I'm looking for a bit escapism. These pink-jacket covered wonders fit easily into a handbag and bring a little levity to my day. Which author is for you? That's hard to say, but I'd start with The Manny and move on from there. 

Twitter
I could care less about Facebook. For me, Twitter is my guilty pleasure (on my iPhone, no less, between pages of my latest chick-lit). I've met and interacted with so many amazing (and often famous) people through the tool. I love that it offers you more candid insights into what people are like, unlike carefully written blogs posts or books. With it I feel connected, active and informed. You can take away my RSS feeds and my news channels, but please don't take away (or charge me for) my tweets.