This simple diagram spoke to me today, and I felt like sharing. Happy Thursday, guys. Take a deep breath, no matter what insane weather you are dealing with this week. Decide if you want to be happy or not!
{Click image for source}
Tag Archives: happiness
Happiness Hobbies
I’ve decided that baking is my number two happiness hobby, second only to being on a stage. I think sewing, puzzles, and reading would follow, in that order. A happiness hobby, defined by me, is simply a hobby that brings you joy regardless of how productive or useful or helpful to others it may be. Maybe it produces something to share with others, like cupcakes, but maybe it doesn’t. In your happiness hobbies, you are allowed to be a tinge selfish, as long as you are generous in other areas of your life.
So be totally honest…What are your top five happiness hobbies?
Weekend with Carli {MM Bonus Post}
This post is really just for myself, and for the handful of you who may care. As I mentioned in my previous post, I just spent a great weekend doing all things girly with Carli, who is currently residing just outside of Chicago. I just had to share with you a few of my biggest takeaways from our time together.
{Taken on Carli’s iPhone: Our amazing waiter at the Brazillian Steak House practiced his martini-caligraphy (martinigraphy?) on this heavenly chocolate martini}
1. Brazillian Steak Houses are the coolest, meatiest restaurants I have ever experienced, and Dad, we must find one because you would be in heaven.
2. A whisk covered in red velvet cake batter does, in fact, stain carpeting. And clothes.
3. I can only dream of being as fabulous a hostess and showing the level of hospitality Carli and Spence showed me.
4. Let’s talk about heaven. Then let’s talk about a giant, homemade, pink marshmallow, thoroughly covered in pink sprinkles. And THEN let’s talk about how they are the same thing.
5. After our first attempt at a heart-centered cake, which turned out just a tad rough around the edges, I think it’s pretty obvious we should try again soon. Who wants cake?
6. Dora The Explorer personalized birthday video = win.
7. A paper bunny explosion is a great project while watching 9 to 5, The September Issue, and Singing In The Rain.
8. I need more Le Creuset in my life. Apparently, I also need more TJ Maxx in my life.
9. And I definitely need more Carli in my life.
10. Forty-eight hours away from computers, phones, school work, work work, chores, calorie-counting, and exercising can, in fact, feel like the longest, best vacation of your life.
Carli and Spence, I love you both!! (and you too, Kashi!)
Weekend Relaxation
Well folks, it’s the weekend and the weather seems to have taken a turn for the best! Hooray!!! I don’t generally post on weekends but I stumbled on this amazing article from New York Magazine this week that I just had to share. It’s called “50 Steps to Simple Happiness.” It is completely worth a full and thorough read through. Granted, some of these items are New York Specific, but I consider myself a pretty joyful person, and this list boosts me even further.
A few of my favorites:
4. “Leave your mouth in that slightly upturned position it takes after saying ‘Cheez Whiz.’ It’s a relaxed, confident look that will convince other people you know what you’re doing.” —Debra Benton, Executive Coach
18. “Don’t be afraid to change up your style. Your hair is your best accessory. Besides, what are you afraid of? It will always grow back. And invest in a Mason Pearson brush, with a mixture of boar bristle and nylon tufts. It’s worth every penny.” —Sally Hershberger, Hairstylist
31.“Collect visual memories of moments when you were incredibly happy, and close your eyes and picture them when you need a boost. The mind needs images to access feelings.” —Edwige Gilbert, Wellness And Stress-Management Coach
34. “Diversify your cognitive portfolio: Museum Mondays, Tennis Tuesdays, Writing Wednesdays, Tango Thursdays, Learn-to-Frittata Fridays, Socializing Saturdays, Socrates Sundays. We need to rotate activities weekly to fire up different brain regions.” —Dr. Gayatri Devi, Neurology and Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine
Top Blogging Books Roundup
UPDATE: My mom is the best, and the other day “10 Things You Need To Eat” and “The Happiness Project” appeared in my mailbox!!! I will write reviews as soon as I finish them🙂
In the last 1 1/2 years, as I’ve entered the blogosphere as a writer and reader, I have stumbled on a handful of extremely special blogs–they have opened me up to new creativity and have enlightened me over and over. Today I’ve gathered a list of a few books that I would love to own, and that I have discovered via my favorite blogs. This is a wish list of mine, however the reality is there is no way, even if I bought all these books tomorrow, that I would have time to read them all. Nevertheless, they all sound amazing to me!
This is a woman of photography, cooking, and the ultimate story telling. I love her series Black Heels to Tractor Wheels and I would LOVE to own her cookbook.
Post Secret:
I read this blog every Sunday when they post their “Sunday Secrets.” I currently own the first of these books, however I believe there are three or four of them now. It’s a fascinating project.
The Happiness Project:
Existing on the internet as a frequently updated blog, The Happiness Project (the book) has recently hit bookstores (and amazon). I’ve loved the blog and I’m sure I would love the book as well!
The Ten Things You Need To Eat:
I actually discovered this book via The Happiness Project, but I am completely intrigued. What would it look like to eat a diet made primarily of these ten core ingredients?
Stuff Christians Like:
We have obsessed about this blog for a LONG time, and in April the long-awaited book will hit the shelves! This will be a book of hilarity for all of your down to earth Christian pals.
1000 Awesome Things:
A happy, daily blog that is in the process of creating The Book of Awesome–my question: will it be the same as what’s on the blog? If so, I would love to have it just to open up to something joyful everyday…and keep it on the coffee table for everyone else to do, too!
So that’s it! These are the books I am currently most intrigued by. What are yours?
Coca Cola Happiness Machine
If this doesn’t make you smile, I just don’t know what will…
“Fireflies” in Life and Lyrics
One of my fondest memories of home is of my mom and I taking summer walks at dusk, just as fireflies started showing up in the yards around us. What child hasn’t been completely and utterly fascinated by fireflies at some point? What adult, for that matter? I even made the glowing firefly juice at a nerdy middle school science camp once. I was cool like that. We sure do love fireflies…
Lately I’ve been enjoying the ways that music and lyrics can affect our moods and feelings. Owl City has become a huge hit recently, particularly with his song “Fireflies.” So, to make yourself (and myself) smile today, let’s enjoy the poetic lyrics of this amazing song…
You would not believe your eyes
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
Cause they fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You’d think me rude, but I
Would just stand and stare.I’d like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly.
It’s hard to say that I’d
Rather stay awake when I’m asleep,
Cause everything is never as it seems.Cause I’d get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightening bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance.
A foxtrot above my head,
A sock-hop beneath my bed,
The disco ball is just hanging by a thread.I’d like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly.
It’s hard to say that I’d
Rather stay awake when I’m asleep,
Cause everything is never as it seems.
(When I fall asleep.)Leave my door open just a crack.
(Please take me away from here.)
Cause I feel like such an insomniac.
(Please take me away from here.)
Why do I tire of counting sheep?
(Please take me away from here.)
When I’m far too tired to fall asleep
To ten million fireflies.
I’m weird, cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said farewell.
But I’ll know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
Cause I saved a few,
And I keep them in a jar.I’d like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly.
It’s hard to say that I’d
Rather stay awake when I’m asleep,
Cause everything is never as it seems.
(When I fall asleep.)I’d like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly.
It’s hard to say that I’d
Rather stay awake when I’m asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams.
—Fireflies, Owl City
