with a big bowl of strawberry ice cream

[bossymarmalade]

I felt somewhat cranky from the get-go today, so I when I had a shower this morning I used Old Spice "Fiji" Shower Gel, which supposedly smells like "palm trees, sunshine, and freedom". That shit is hilarious. It smelled like a grapefruit that got confused and put some Old Spice on itself before going for a beach vacation. I laughed through my whole shower.

So, friendslist, what do YOU do to make yourself feel less grouchy? Here are some more of mine:

- mascara (seriously, I only started wearing this stuff this year at the age of thirty-four, and I LOVE IT, I wish they still made it in blue and green and whateverthefuck)
- using a pretty pencil at work (I have glitter pencils, rainbow, fabric-designy, and gingham, to name a few)
- Kingdom of Loathing
- a nice thick unctuous cream, rubbed onto my heels
- Glee songs
- toast with a smidge of butter, avocado smashed on top with cracked black pepper and sea salt

Comments

[kuangning]

Playing with my fountain pens or acquiring a new one. Or a new color ink, that's always good too. Listening to music, losing myself in a book I've read a dozen times but not recently, like Mistress of the Empire or the Elizabeth Haydon's Symphony of the Ages set. Gardening, when I can. Coconut rum in ice-cold coconut water. Callaloo, though the drink is easier to come by. :)

[bossymarmalade]

MMMMM FOUNTAIN PENS! I love the peacock blue ink, now that I'm not at St. Gabriel's getting licks for writing with fantastical inks. *g*

Coconut rum in ice-cold coconut water

But eh-eh, yuh well making me homesick, gyal.

[kuangning]

St. Joseph's Convent didn't appreciate amethyst or emerald green ink either, more's the pity. And ... Food Lion, believe it or not! Goya has canned coconut water, almost as good as fresh, in the Spanish food aisle. Amazon has a few different brands too, though not as cheap as Goya. Coconut rum requires a trip to the ABC store, though. Stupid Prohibition-era holdovers.

[bossymarmalade]

You went to St. Joseph's?!?! That is so awesome!! I would've gone to Naparima if we'd stayed past Common Entrance, even though St. Joseph's was right across the street from St. Gabriel's, as you know. In keeping with the whole "Indian girls go to Naps" thing. Ahhh, the stuff I DON'T miss about Trinidad. *g*

We get a lot of East Asian-brand coconut water here in Vancouver, and some of them are okay but I have yet to find one that tastes close enough to fresh. I'll have to check the Latin markets for Goya, thank you for the tip!

[kuangning]

Wrong branch of St Joseph's Convent, I'm afraid; I went to the one in St Joseph. San Fernando was just too far away, and my aunt worked down the hill from the school, so she could bring me home most evenings. I was there for only a year before we emigrated; long enough to be placed in St Joseph House and learn the school song, not long enough to have really settled in. :)

[iceinyourmusic]

Just thinking about that avocado toast is improving my mood rn. Or making me hungry. Or both.

But also:
- laughter, that is, anything that will almost definitely make me laugh regardless of how annoyed at everything I am - my long-time favourite is a collection of things doctors have misdictated into patient records, which are never not funny, because the funny is entirely based on just language having gone unexpectedly wonky (would link, but alas is in Finnish);
- it's cliché, but animal videos on the internets; particularly: baby animals, baby animals falling asleep, animals being buddies with/taking care of animals of another species (monkey adopts puppy! owl and cat are beffies! clearly everything is all right in the world!);
- high heels, pretty pretty high heels;
- .... also, calling my mother, sometimes.

[bossymarmalade]

Yesterday to cheer myself up I thought about baby sloths, so I know exactly what you mean with that. *g*

And yes, high heels! I like wearing them at the office especially, because then I don't have to tromp around in them, just admire my pretty high heels and my pretty ankles in them. Ohh, la!

[jeanniemactavish]

This week, this vid (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz8vWHUbeek)is totally doing the trick for me. (Sorry I can't figure out how to insert a direct link)

It's a tribute to Billy Elliot (the film)...and it is a very joyful thing. :)

[impertinence]

Mmm, toast.

I have both semi-serious anti-grouchy habits and ridiculous ones. On one hand, there's things like drinking peppermint tea, playing Bach, writing something self-indulgent, and going for a run. On the other hand there's getting drunk, smashing old beer bottles, eating candy, and watching the Irreplaceable video for the 21903849th time.

[bossymarmalade]

Getting drunk and writing something self-indulgent do it for me, too, as well as watching the Upgrade U video on repeat. I lose my shit EVERY SINGLE TIME the rap break comes on. <3!

[tatterpunk]

I LOVE IT, I wish they still made it in blue and green and whateverthefuck

But they do! I'm forever seeing it on Amazon in shades of green-blue-purple-etc. I think Almay has a line that does jewel tones...

[bossymarmalade]

Hmmm! Perhaps I'm not looking in the right places! I don't want it enough to order it online -- Canadian shipping charges are always huge -- but I should keep my eyes peeled at the Almay counter, thank youuuu!

[annaalamode]

Urban Decay still carries some, as far as I know!

[rhivolution]

Glitch is my new Kingdom of Loathing, though I should really play that on days when Glitch is on hiatus.

[bossymarmalade]

I SIGNED UP FOR THIS IMMEDIATELY, THANK YOU FOR THE LINK!!

[rhivolution]

It's a pity invites are Facebook-related only, or I'd send you one. (Though it's a bit dubious to link up Facebook to everything, in my book. The Glitch people are fine, but I try not to do it elsewhere.)

[bossymarmalade]

Hee, thank you for the kind thought! I don't even have a Facebook, I'm that backward. *g*

[21freckles]

Where the hell did you get "Old Spice Shower Gel"???

Oooo! I wore green mascara when I was *much* younger! I loved it. That is a happy!
You exposed me to toast w/avocado and I fell in love with it! Want.Some.NOW!

Grouchy-reducing activities? Hmmm.
.Buying a cool new journal (and pen).
.Making 'to-do' lists.
.Watching 'YouTube'(animal) videos like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYNHUFgdpk4
.Baking cookies.
.Photoshoots.
.Figuring out how to get another batch of chocolate/taffy/matzo goodies. :o)

[bossymarmalade]

ahahhaah it was on sale for like three bucks at Shoppers! So I HAD TO HAVE IT.

Green mascara would be great with your eyes and hair, lassie. *g*

Ooooh, making lists! I like baking cake more than cookies, because I'm lazy, lol. And I confess I skipped to the end of that video for the cat, ahahaha!

Man, I took the rest of that matzoh crunch to work and people ATE IT FOR LUNCH. I guess I better make another batch of it soonish, hee! Omg, maybe for our staycation wherever it is we're going?!?!

[rural_juror]

I think they do. Maybelline has a blue one, called navy or royal or something along those lines.

I look at the smiling Mazadas. For whatever reason, they never get old (for me). I also like browsing new and up-coming book and movie releases, though 99% of the time I forget about them a few days or hours after.

[bossymarmalade]

Maybelline! Will keep that in mind, thank you!

I did an image search on the smiling Mazdas and loled for a good five minutes, hee!

[cereta]

Taking a little extra time about shaving in the shower.
Wearing something a little extra cute and fun (this usually involves a dress or skirt).
Treating myself to an overpriced coffee drink.
Snuggling with my small person.

[bossymarmalade]

I had an iced cappuccino this morning myself. *g* And I hear you on wearing something extra cute! For me that generally involved a flare of colour, yum.

[annaalamode]

Grouch reducing activities: iced mochas, watching baseball, listening to Rihanna. In the past, trying on shoes has also worked.

I also find that there is something about putting on makeup that is very..mood lifting.

[starlady]

Sephora's Tokidoki line has blue, green, and purple mascara! I just bought the blue mascara and it's awesome.

[arallara]

A big frothy mocha, or a big icy blended mocha, or some other delicious beverage treat--especially if it's a grouchy day that I have to go to work.

A long walk in the trees and the sun, surrounded by warmth and green, if the weather permits. Even better if there's water nearby, too.

An extra thorough hygiene/pampering routine in the shower, and then a half-assed home pedicure and painting my toenails some variation on red.

Um, let's see. Oooh! Watching Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle! I watched that movie about 15 times in a 3-month period once. It was a grouchy time.

On a related note, smoking a bowl and watching something ridiculous. Psych, Community, popslash footage, Arrested Development, etc..

Your shower gel sounds hilarious. Wow. *G*

[akilanajmah]

Mmmmm. That toast sounds really yummy. Of course, I eat avocado's just plain so I'm already skewed in that direction.

Also, I love mascara too! I buy some every time I'm at the store because it makes me feel accomplished. They still sell all the colors too.

[melannen]

Going for a walk by myself or going outside (both, if possible!)
Making something with my hands.
Doing something different with my hair.
Eating not-heavily-processed food: fresh or canned fruit or vegetables, boiled grains, something involving meat that still looks like a dead animal, etc...

[glass_icarus]

I, er, watch A:TLA fanvids on repeat [eta; I missed this one!]? Or have a stare at fanart like this and Appa/Catbus that make me DED OF ADORABLE!!

But today I saw this link via Janelle Monae's twitter, and OMG CANNOT STOP REPLAYING.

[enamoured]

Popsicles always get me out of a bad mood, especially when it's warm. I'll go sit on our "patio" and let the dog out and eat popsicles and read.

Other things that help: listening to the This American Life podcast, wandering around the library, and chocolate chip cookies.

[buria_q]

chamomile tea

[meanheans]

DOOD! Right now Maybelline has their Great Lash mascara in teal and bright blue for the summer! (They always have the Royal Blue out, though I know it's hard to find.) Also, Physician's Formula has double-ended mascara that's black on one side and then a color on the other (I have the PURPLE)!

I highly encourage makeup as a mood booster because you feel better about being super pretty and you smile bigger (and bat those lashes) and it makes other people more pleased than usual to see you and HAPPINESS GETS SPREAD AROUND!