What I should really call this post is “14 Things That Made Me Happy in 2014.”

A bit wordy. But more accurate.

The nightly news was filled with dramatically terrible things that happened this year – devastating weather events, shootings, etc.

For me, in light of all that can and will go wrong in the world, it’s been the day-to-day simple pleasures that brought a smile to my face. 2014 was filled with them. But you have to stop and look for them. These are mine, so here goes:

1. Giggling through the movie Big Hero 6 with my youngest son. Animated. Silly. Perfection.
2. A visit to the beach. Brief, but very necessary.
3. Prince George’s Christmas photographs.
4. That one time I had five minutes to myself in the bathroom. Moms and dads, you know what I’m talking about.
5. Grilled steak on the patio, my husband pouring me a glass of wine and Garth Brooks on the radio.
6. The love my dogs showed me every day.
7. My husband’s silly texts. He’s got a way with emojis.
8. My boys hitting the baseball over the fence. Exhilarating.
9. Finding “Friends” reruns when I couldn’t sleep.
10. Summer. Just the whole thing.
11. “The Voice.” It’s a show my kids actually watched with me.
12. Good friends coming to my rescue when I needed it most.
13. Lupita Nyong’o. Don’t know who she is? Check her out.
14. Gathering around the dinner table and seeing faces I adore.

This is my personal list for 2014. What’s yours?

Everyone has their own ideas of what makes a great holiday table.

Some cannot veer from the classic turkey, spiral ham and sides combo.

And I understand that. I’m in touch with that.

Sometimes, holiday time is the only time of year you serve those dishes.

But, for some, the holiday table allows you to try something out of the ordinary and special like Chateaubriand or prime rib.

The most important thing is that your holiday table makes YOU happy.

Have you ever served a nice salmon or lobster on your holiday table?

How about lasagna?

Tell me, what are you serving on your holiday table this year?

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.

What really makes you happy?

For me, it’s good food, good people and gratefulness.

Here’s my RECIPE for a happy life during the holidays (and all year ‘round):

Add equal parts juicy steak and potatoes

Place happy, smiling people around my table

Sprinkle liberally a good dose of humility and thankfulness

That’s it.

It’s simple, really.

If we all focus on the truly wonderful things we have in this life, there’s no room for the negative.

I did mention steak, though, too, right? Make sure there’s steak.

Hungry people tend to be grumpy.

The taste of a perfectly grilled steak with its hearty, yet tender, flavor makes everything right in my world. The happiness recipe definitely calls for steak.

Enjoy the holidays with this recipe, friends! And be sure to share it!

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.