1) Purity Made Simple face wash
This is the best facewash I’ve ever used. It smells like you’re in a spa and it instantly calms me. It makes me so happy that I can’t wait to use it. Philosophy makes all of their products unique by providing a paragraph or so about the name of the product, so on the front of this bottle you’ll read about purity and instantly be calmed. I bought the jumbo size bottle from Sephora.

2) Gel Pens
I used to be obsessed with these in jr. high, and up until recently, I thought they were a thing of the past. When I started a new job last year, a coworker was raving about these colored pens she had. No sooner than the following week did she stop by my desk with a whole new pack just for me. I love using them because they instantly brighten dull office notes and I’m an organization freak who loves using them to color code to-do lists.

3) Lean Cuisine Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans
This is the healthiest non-healthiest tasting thing I believe I’ve ever eaten. It’s gooey, cheesy, bean-y (is that a word?) and it’s only 300 calories and 5g of fat. There’s nothing like fooling your taste buds!

4) Gilt Groupe
I discovered this online sample sale site last year when I was stuck at a job that made me unhappy. Everyday at noon they reveal different sample sales that only last for 24 hours. I still find myself looking forward to noon when I can go online and check what’s for sale. They sell men’s and women’s clothes and accessories, home goods and jewelry that you can buy from major designers, but here it’s sometimes as much as 80 percent off! You can sign up by clicking here.

5) Priscilla Ahn – A Good Day
I first saw Priscilla Ahn in concert when I was in college on a small tour with Ingrid Michaelson, Joshua Radin and Meiko (three other artists who make me happy). She does this really cool thing where she records herself sing live and then sings over the playback to create harmony. It’s truly beautiful and unique. Her latest album’s title song “A Good Day” is the perfect song to listen to in the morning for that extra boost of optimism.

6) Prosperity Dumpling fried dumplings
If you ever visit Manhattan, you must go here. Prosperity Dumpling not only sells the best fried dumplings in New York but they are also dirt cheap at five for $1. They also sell sesame pancakes for 75 cents. Not the healthiest meal, but oh so wonderful and you will have spent less than $3 on a whole meal. It’s literally a hole in the wall with a counter and a tiny kitchen, but you can watch them make and cook the dumplings right in front of you. It’s located in Chinatown at 46 Eldridge St.

7) Magnolia Bakery’s banana pudding
If you can’t tell by this list yet, I love food. Food in general makes me very happy. If you want to see me ecstatic, bring me a cup of Magnolia Bakery’s banana pudding. Magnolia is known for their cupcakes, and they are very wonderful indeed. Most people go there for a cupcake and hence end up missing Magnolia’s hidden charm. It’s creamy and wonderful with whole pieces of bananas and wafer cookies. Even if you don’t like bananas, try it!

8) Coconut water
This started becoming trendy last year with companies like Zico and O.N.E. selling it in little pouches seemingly everywhere. Coconut products have been often marketed to contain a lot of fat. However, coconut water has zero fat and hardly any calories. It’s the perfect drink for after a workout, or whenever, because it has just enough sweetness without anything added and it’s not dull water. It is also jam packed with potassium. Goya sells the water sweetened or unsweetened in cans with actual pieces of coconut in it. That part makes it extra fun to drink.

9) St. Ives Apricot Scrub
This has been my go-to scrub for years after almost using up a former roommate’s tube. It’s natural and smells wonderful. Often exfoliating scrubs contain plastic beads that never deteriorate and end up contaminating water sources well after washing off your skin and flowing through your sink drain, but this scrub uses ground nut shells to get the job done without causing future environmental harm. It makes me happy in more ways than one.

10) Time Out NY
When I moved to New York, I was overwhelmed by all there was to see and do. I felt guilty if I wasn’t out and about exploring and taking in everything the city had to offer. Problem was, I didn’t know where to start. I was getting suggestions from everyone, but I couldn’t focus and often heard of cool events weeks after they occurred. I got a subscription to my new weekly bible, Time Out NY (yes, related to the travel books), for super cheap (about $10 for 2 years), and I read it cover-to-cover every week. They search out everything going on in the city from new restaurants, cool concerts, opening theater, fashion trends and museum exhibits all while providing a plethora of interesting and quite random facts about the city.

About Yael

I’m a West Coast transplant, right now enjoying my life in the bustle of Manhattan. I originally came to know Carolyn when I was in college at Boston University through working with her on her book, Perseverance, which was a life-changing experience. Now I’m working full-time with the Lymphoma Research Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for the disease. I love enjoying the free time in my life by catching up on books I’ve missed through the years, finding cheap and fun things to do while exploring the city, traveling over the country and the world and finding moments in the day when I can be truly grateful for what I have. You can follow me (and learn about NYC cheap and fun) on Twitter @yaelleah. Thanks for reading!

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