Let's Look: AT FREE THINGS THAT BRING US JOY

Happy WEDNESDAY, friends!

It’s a Wednesday that feels like a Monday.

I don’t even understand that sentence, but in my core, that’s how it feels.

My kiddos had a five day weekend for Labor Day, and honest to goodness, it’s felt like one big long Saturday. I’m not complaining, I’m just letting you know that I’m quite confused…but also excited that in three days, we get another weekend 😉 .

Today, we are combining WELLNESS WEDNESDAY with this month’s LET’S LOOK!

If you don’t know what LET’S LOOK is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). We have been doing this little linky party for years now, and it’s always one of my favorite posts each month because most of the topics are YOUR suggestions!

Just as a reminder, here’s what we have “looked at” in 2026 (all your suggestions!)…

In January, we looked at THINGS WE OUTSOURCE WITHOUT REGRET.
In February, we looked at WAYS WE’VE TURNED INTO OUR PARENTS.
In March, we looked at FAVORITE FAMILY VACATIONS.
In April, we looked at the HARDEST THINGS WE’VE EVER DONE.
In May, we looked at MAKING COUPLE FRIENDS.
In June, we looked at WHAT I’M MAKING MORE TIME FOR.
In July, we looked at OUR SUMMER SELVES (HOW IT’S DIFFERENT)
In August, we looked at THINGS WE MISS.

And today, we’re looking at FREE THINGS THAT BRING US JOY.

Well, I didn’t select this topic, but it’s certainly one I LOVE!

Of course, of course, of course, I love things that “cost” something, but some of my very very very favorite things in life are those simple pleasures. I have found that stopping to savor, have gratitude and appreciate all of life’s “little things” is what seems to bring me the most happiness. (FYI: I have a post on my favorite “LITTLE LUXURIES” you might want to pop over and read too 🙂 . )

As for where my actual JOY comes from?

Well that’s an easy answer.

My JOY comes from the Lord.

As you know, I’ve spent the last year studying Nehemiah, and he says it best…

…before we get into all of the “little” free things that bring me joy, if you don’t understand what I mean when I say that my joy comes from the Lord, I’d love to connect with you about that. Please, please feel free to reach out to me ANY TIME about where my true peace, love, and JOY comes from. I’d love to share with you. Email me at mixandmatchmama@yahoo.com.

Well, this will surprise no one that we are about to transition from Jesus to pumpkins over here because…

…there are certainly some “free” things in life that bring me JOY too and looking at a pumpkin on a fall day is one of them 😉 .

I’m going to rattle off the list I made of FREE THINGS THAT BRING ME JOY and then I certainly hope you share your list too.

Full disclaimer, can we be loose with the word “free” just a bit? A few of the things below might require one to buy a pencil or book or something, but can we overlook that little detail and not get too in the weeds?

In no particular order, here are 22 FREE THINGS THAT BRING ME JOY:

#1: CELEBRATING HOLIDAYS/RANDOM DAYS

I love celebrating dates on the calendar. I’m not just talking about those big holidays (Christmas, Halloween, July 4th, etc), but I want to celebrate Oktoberfest and April Fool’s and Groundhogs Day too. I also make up days to celebrate. We treat the first day of school and the last day of school like a holiday. We celebrate September 1st, October 1st, and December 1st around here. Guess what one of our VERY favorite days to celebrate is? Christmas Eve Eve (or Christmas Adam depending on who you ask at my house).

I really learned to do this from my dad (who learned from his mom). My Mimi made ANY day a special day. And when she died, we all had so many memories of these really amazing days that honest to goodness were just normal days she made amazing. She was famous for her “Skip Days” where she would let her kiddos skip school and just have the most special day with her instead of going. My dad is 71 and still talks about his Skip Days…and when my kids are 71, I hope they’re still talking about theirs too.

It is absolutely free to make a normal Wednesday special, so if you’re not in the habit of doing that, might I encourage you to try 🙂 .

#2: LISTENING TO THE TICKET

The Ticket is an all sports AM radio station here in the DFW area, and I absolutely love them. I’ve shared my love for years and years because truly, turning this radio station on every morning makes me SO HAPPY. I started listening by accident a gazillion years ago when Andrew would listen as he got ready for work. I would overhear him listening to them and crack up…and then he would leave and head to work, but I wanted to keep listening. So, I started listening on my own. My favorite on air personalities (though I do love them all) come on from 6:00 to 9:00 AM, and I try to listen (via the app on my phone) all three hours if I can. Last year, we were eating dinner with the Slaughters and Erika laughed at Andrew, Tab and me because we saw one of the DJs “in the wild” and fan girled like teenagers at a Taylor Swift concert. A local sports AM radio station brings me SO MUCH JOY!

#3: PINTEREST

I’m sure this isn’t what a professional “influencer” should be saying…but you could take away my Instagram or my Facebook (and heaven knows I’m not savvy enough for TikTok), and I’d be okay. Take away my Pinterest though, and I’m going to sob. I love scrolling Pinterest. Sitting around and scrolling on IG or FB makes me feel ick after about five minutes…scrolling on Pinterest leaves me energized and motivated. I love Pinterest.

#4: WALKS

This will not surprise you…but going on a walk brings me so much JOY. It doesn’t matter if I’m walking for exercise or walking to clear my head or walking just to enjoy the pretty day, I love, love, love, love going on a walk.

#5: VISITING WITH NEIGHBORS

I love visiting with my neighbors! I did a post on BEING NEIGHBORLY, and even if it’s just a quick hello from the mailbox, I enjoy connecting with the people who live around me. I have a wide variety of neighbors, and it makes me happy any time we get to chat.

#6: READING

My favorite hobby is reading. My kids would probably call that “lame”, but I don’t care.

Give me a book and time to myself and my cup is filled.

#7: CONNECTING WITH FRIENDS

I love connecting with my friends. I love when we get to share meals together or go for walks together or just chat on the phone together. I love sharing memes with my friends and also prayer requests. I love traveling with my friends and shopping with my friends. I just LOVE connecting with my friends.

#8: “PIDDLING”

If reading is my first favorite hobby than piddling is my second. And as a Texan, when we say “piddle”, we basically mean walking through Home Goods/Hobby Lobby/Target/a boutique/etc just looking at stuff. We’re not shopping, we are decompressing by looking at the candles or pillows. If I’m having a stressful day, one 15 minute walk through the home section of my local grocery store and bam, I’m back to normal. What do I want to do with a free afternoon? A massage? No. A movie? No. I want to drink coffee and stroll through Hobby Lobby.

So. Much. Joy.

#9: GOING TO THE PARK

I typically walk from my house when I set out to walk because it’s just so much easier, but man, there is something so nice about going to a park and walking…or reading a book…or whatever. Visiting parks on vacations are one of my favorite ways to experience a city. It’s great for people watching and animal watching and just enJOYing a new town.

#10: THE OCEAN

I am such an ocean girl. I don’t care what time of year it is, I want to go sit by the sea. I want to smell the salt water. I want to watch the seagulls. I want to hear the waves crash. I love to be near the ocean.

#11: RIDING MY BIKE

Bike riding brings me JOY! I always feel so good when I run an errand on my bike instead of my car. Not only does it make me feel good because I’m “being active”, but it just makes me feel more connected to where I am.

#12: VISITING THE LIBRARY

One of my favorite places to work is the library. I love how they always smell like books (it’s a very specific scent!). I love that everyone is in a whisper. I love how it’s a “come and stay” location. It’s a great place to nest and settle in, and it always brings me joy.

#13: GOING TO CHURCH

I LOVE going to church! Church always brings me joy (and if you’re going to a church that doesn’t bring you joy, my suggestion is to look at other options!). I love the community, I love studying God’s Word with others, I love the music, I love the sermons…there is so much to love about being a part of a church family.

#14: SUDOKU

I could sit and do Sudoku for hours. I love it because it forces my brain to just think about it and nothing else. Your mind can’t wander when you’re doing Sudoku. I find that type of focus really enjoyable and relaxing.

#15: WORKING ON A PUZZLE

I’m one of those people who enjoys slowly working on a puzzle. I’m not in it to sit down and finish it right away. I’d rather slowly work on one a few minutes here and there. I love walking by and spending just a few minutes until I find the right piece and then moving on. It’s very relaxing and makes me really happy.

#16: READING BLOGS

There are a handful of blogs I really enjoy reading. When I open them each day, they’re inspiring and motivating and/or just make me smile. They are little bits of free happiness to add into my everydays.

#17: LEAF PEEPING

I am a professional leaf peeper 🙂 . I get SO EXCITED when I spot fall foliage. I get great joy out of driving ANYWHERE where I can see a changing leaf. When the leaves change here in McKinney, I legit talk to myself as I move about town. I’m in the car saying out loud “oh that’s so pretty!” over and over and over again.

#18: DRINKING COFFEE

One time I was watching Oprah and she said “every cup of coffee is an experience” and no truer words have been spoken about coffee.

I don’t care if I’m drinking a cup freshly brewed in Paris, France or one in the waiting room at a hospital in Texas, EVERY CUP IS AN EXPERIENCE. I have never not anticipated and enjoyed a cup of coffee.

#19: LUNCH OUTSIDE

Any time I can take my lunch outside, I do. That one little switch makes the exact same meal so much more enjoyable.

#20: VISITING THE FARMERS MARKET

I love visiting a farmers market! I enjoy watching the vendors in their stalls, I love looking at everything from fresh eggs to homemade jams and honeys…it’s just the happiest place to be.

#21: LISTENING TO PODCASTS

It took me a long time to get into podcasts, but once I started, it was love at first listen. They’re not just entertaining, they can be educational or motivating or inspiring…anything. I thoroughly enjoy any moment I have in my day to turn one on.

#22: PRAYING

I get a lot of joy out of spending one on one time with God. How crazy cool is it that the creator of the universe wants us to connect with him?! Prayer is absolutely something that brings me an incredible amount of joy.

And those are 22 of the FREE THINGS THAT BRING ME JOY 🙂 .