31 Days to a Happier Life - Day 1

Well here goes my first attempt at writing a 31 Days Series -  31 Days to a Happier Life.

This is a series that started over at The Nesting Place, and is now a staple on many wonderful blogs throughout the month of October. Per The Nester's Blog post - "31 Days is an online writing challenge where we all link up on day one and then write about a topic of our choice every day in October."

I think this will be good writing practice for me, but more importantly, an establishment of a real plan to being happier, a focus study on what makes me happier, and key pointers on how to implement it permanently into my life.

 

Me and my girls.

What is Happiness?

hap·pi·ness

ˈhapēnis/

noun

noun: happiness; plural noun: happinesses

1.

the state of being happy.

"she struggled to find happiness in her life"

synonyms:

pleasure, contentment, satisfaction, cheerfulness, merriment, gaiety, joy, joyfulness, joviality, jollity, glee, delight, good spirits, lightheartedness, well-being, enjoyment;

“HAPPINESS is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort” – Franklin D. Roosevelt



This Emotional Life on PBS has a really interesting study on happiness - I really like this list they came up with for some emotions attached to happiness. I think this will be a good list to work with as we progress through the next 31 days:

Some of the positive emotions that psychologists are studying:

• Gratitude
• Serenity
• Joy
• Interest
• Hope
• Pride
• Amusement
• Inspiration
• Awe
• Love

Here is a cute video from Coca Cola - Coca-Cola Happiness Truck Philippines.  I love seeing people being happy!

Am I happy?

Well, overall yes, and no. There are definitely areas of my life that need improvement, and areas where I have made progress and am currently happy. But I think I do need a good boost in the general happiness factor. And striving for more happiness is never a bad thing, right?! I tend to think that if I am happier the people around me might be happier as a result. If I'm less stressful, more attentive and loving, I know my family would really appreciate that, and in turn be happier, more loving, and less stressful. At least it is worth a shot!

The funniest horse pic ever! From Little One's birthday party.

What makes me happy?

Here is where the process starts. Write a list of all the things that make you happy. Big or small. Daily things or once a year things. Physical, material, emotional, spiritual, superficial. It doesn't matter, just make a list.

I will also share any links, videos, etc I find along the way that may help define happiness, or pinpoint how to be happier.

So...here is the start of my list (maybe this will be something we can add to each day):

• Reading
• Art
• Crafts
• Antiquing
• My Family 
• Hearing my kids laugh
• Coffee
• Chocolate
• Sharing
• Opening my blinds in the morning to let the sunlight in
• Light
• Clean House
• Organization
• Good Friends
• Learning new things
• Yoga
• Exercising
• Quiet moments
• Comfy bed
• Sunsets
• Snuggling with my girls
• Laughing
• Listening to music
• Pinterest 
• Projects that get done :)
• Dreaming
• Stars
• Fireworks
• Space (physical)
• Space (mental)
• My time with God (devotionals, prayer time, quiet listening)

Okay, that is at least a start. As we progress through I'm sure I will add more little things to this list, because I think happiness can be found in those little moments, as well as in the big moments too. I don't think it is really possible to be 100% happy all the time, but I think it is important to find out what makes you happy so, when you need it, you will have a list available to reference for those times when a mood hits and trying to get out of that funk is hard. Having a list of little things helps as a step up out of the funk and into the sunlight of happiness.


I LOVE this video about The Science of Happiness - An Experiment in Gratitude - this really started me thinking about my own happiness and gave me the idea behind this 31 Day Series (even though it is rather funny that this video made me bawl my eyes out!!).




So where to from here? 

• Happiness List - I'm going to write my list out and post it onto my bulletin board so it is easier for me to add to as I think about things that make me happy. Focus on the good things that you currently have in your life, not things that would make you happy that you don't have - they may lead to frustration this early on. We are not at the change stage, just the focus stage and figuring out stage of our happiness journey. 

• Goal Settings - next up will be goal setting and how that will be important in order to implement our happy list back into our lives (or into our lives more intentionally). 

The beach (in Australia - my home country).

I am really looking forward to writing this 31 Days Series about Happiness and hope you will be inspired along the way. If you have any suggestions or feedback or comments please feel free to leave me a comment - I would love to hear from you :)

My sweet sister.

“THOUSANDS of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared” – Buddha

 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins and a Fall Wreath

Yesterday, I made these Fall-perfect Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins (from LifeinGrace blog - photo from Edie's blog - click on photo or recipe name for recipe) and they were absolutely delicious!

And I also managed to get my front door updated (shamefully still had a winter wreath up there...hang my head...).

My inspiration was this beautiful wreath shown on Better Homes and Gardens. I think I need to find a few more feathers for it (don't tell hubby I already raided his turkey feather stash!!). Also, kind of funny I have a yellow door as well :) (although I could not get my photos to color balance as nicely as they did...boo!)

Autumn

My favorite season is here! All ready to cozy up with a good book, warm blanket, and hot cuppa. Now just need to wait for the Texas weather to catch on! Ha! Although, at least the mornings are now pleasant enough to venture out for a walk :)

My first Fall project needs to be this beautiful wreath from Better Homes & Gardens - it is gorgeous!

Happy Fall, y'all!

Our Summer Begins

{This is kind of old now, but I'll post anyway, then catch up later with more pics and updates.}

We are now back from our trip to Australia. We had a fantastic time visiting my parents, my sister and brother-in-law, nephew and sweet little niece (whom I got to see for the first time in person, and she is already 4!!). We got to do so many things - from going to the beach, to the (Steve Irwin's) Australia Zoo, hung out with friends, shopping, numerous coffee outings, wildlife encounters, and generally just soaking Australia up (so good to be home!!). I'll (maybe) do a separate post with pics soon, maybe.

It took us a week to get over jet lag. Okay, let me rephrase that...it took me a week to get over jet lag. It took the girls about 4 days. Okay, okay...maybe I'm still trying to get over it...uugghhh! I'm feeling rather old!!

Anyway, we are back into the swing of things here. It is hot and HOT and a little hot! In Australia we so much enjoyed the pleasant 70 degree weather - it was like fall (which we never have here in Texas), or spring (which is unheard of in Texas). So, basically, it was heaven. But back to reality...here, now, it is HOT!

And so our "summer" begins.

Two weeks of swim lessons.

If I had not have scheduled swim lessons to start 3 days after we arrived back, we would never have made it out of bed before 12 noon. Okay, I would not have, but maybe we, you never know really, do you??

So, 2 weeks of swim lessons. Tomorrow is the last day (fun day) and the girls have LOVED it! Eldest SWIMS now...like on top of the water, flapping her arms in a cooperative manner. We are AMAZED! and super excited :) The little one got moved into big sister's class (happy faces) after first day, and is doing so great - arms may not be so coordinated, but her effort is making up for it. So they are excited about the water, and swimming - yeah, success!

I almost had one fail. They play a game at the end of each lesson - rings get tossed, everyone "swims" to find a ring, person who misses out is out of game (one less ring is tossed). My eldest would get down to her and two others and then lose. Second last time she was so upset about losing all the time, I had to do something. So I gave her a little strategy session...a little bit of advice. It was challenging in so far as, one, she had to listen to me, two, she had to remember it, and, three, she had to apply it when it really counted. So, next lesson comes, it is at the end of the ring toss and it is down to her and one other little girl. I'm watching with baited breath - will she do it, will she remember what I told her, will she be able to make it work in the crunch of it all? There is only one ring out, and two girls searching for it! She decides right off to head the way I had discussed and she found it!!! She found the RING!!! Oh my...she was so excited. All I hear is her little sister cheering for her when they named her "Ring Champion" - it was like the Olympics! But the best moment was when she came up to me and said - "Mom, your advice worked. You gave me the best advice, and it worked!". Man, proud moment right there - she had listened, executed, and acknowledged MY ADVICE! That, my friend, will go down into THE BOOK - (as they say) BEST.DAY.EVER.

So, first week of swim lessons does not count to our summer beginning, because I was still in jet lag haze that week. Summer officially started this week for us. Here is the week's recap:


MONDAY
Monday consisted of dragging myself out of bed to get the girls to their swim lesson on time, then a cute craft in the afternoon, plus unpacking and laundry and tidying up the house. Fun, fun.

Craft - Dog
Both girls jumped on this craft - they are dog-crazy. This was cute, fun, easy and gives you a little space while they are busy coloring in the dog's body, so I liked it too :)

Coloring away.

Ruff and Ruff-ruff

TUESDAY
Tuesday was super busy! Swim lesson in the morning, playdate at McDonald's for lunch, home for quick craft and tidy up, more laundry (of course - does it ever end??), and then off to gymnastics class in the afternoon, followed by a huge walk in the evening. Fun activity at night for calm down phase of the day.


Activity - Star Gazing
This was super cool idea, the girls LOVED it, but we need to redo it up at the lake away from the city lights so we can actually gaze at stars...for real.

Craft - Ribbon Dance Ring 
At first my eldest was like, "this is lame". But we went ahead and made little one's. Then she was like, "wait for me!", so we made one for her too. Then they danced around the kitchen, and carried them around all afternoon, and I got cute video of them, and it made my heart flutter, so it was worth it :)

WEDNESDAY
I don't even know what I did today - was it really Wednesday?? I know we went to swim class, and from then until we went on a huge walk (which turned into a huge run competition between two teams - me and little one, and hubby and eldest), who knows, and who cares...too tired! Did craft.

Craft - Fish 
We made these as thank-you's for our swim teachers - they loved them...I know they did from the look on their face...really!

THURSDAY
Last day of swim lessons! This could be dangerous (sleeping in) except for the fact that I signed them up for classes next week that start insanely early (like at 9am!! what was I thinking??). Also have the dilemma of what to do for eldest's birthday party next week - she is super excited, but I'm just not feeling it. She will be 7...7...did I say 7! This is not really happening, so I think I'll just go back to bed and hide under the covers until it passes and she has to stay 6...forever.

Craft - Hippos
So darn cute even I made one (which, of course, was the best...shhh, don't tell them though).



FRIDAY
Friday!! I made it!! Tomorrow is Saturday!! I made it!! So the perfect thing to do on a Friday is make sunshine and rainbows! Delight. (exclamation)

Craft - Sun & Rainbow


Celebrating Father-in-law's birthday and eldest's birthday this weekend all together up at the lake. Will be a real shindig! FIL will have a coconut cream pie (heaven in a pie!!) and turn a magnificent age, and ratbag-turning-7 will not get anything ('cause how dare she turn 7...so not fair!). No, no...of course I'll make some fantastic (to us - perspective, people!) cake, iced to perfection, all themed out to her heart's desire, because I love her more than life. What a sweet divine miracle was bestowed upon us when He gave us her! She is our joy, our laughter, and our love. I'll probably cry.

Happy Birthday to the bestest 7 year old in our world!



Until next week :) Enjoy a wine (glass of, that is!).

Summer Sky

To see the Summer Sky 

Is Poetry, though never in a Book it lie - 

True Poems flee - 

 

Emily Dickinson

Happy Independence Day!

 

Hope you and your family have had a wonderful 4th July holiday :)

Photos from the week

Bluebonnet beauties.

My baby.

 

 

Sweet girl.

Monkey.

Painting fun.

Peek-a-boo!

Doing the spider-man.

Beautiful bluebonnets.

Some weeks are good photo weeks :)