Television is E.V.I.L.

This week, I have been making more of an effort to work on my optimal happiness.  I have been making an effort to drink all of my water.  I went for a run today.  I have kept things clean (after the big cleanup this weekend). I have been reading during lunch and before bed, where I have been sleeping for at least seven and a half hours.  My obstacle is the tv.

I plop on the couch with every intention of only watching the news.  Then the news turns into the show after the news, and then before you know it, it is time for the news again.  I am thinking that it might be time to limit the tv time to one hour a day.  Harsh, yes, but an addict has got to wean themselves off of their drug. The new rule will be appointment tv only starting Sunday (after True Blood of course).  One half hour of news a day.  No more playing around (well, more of that probably, since the boob tube will no longer be the main source of entertainment).

In an item related to tv, the man and I have a slight disagreement regarding the device.  I subscribe to the theory that one sleeps better when there is no television in the bedroom to distract and keep awake with those pesky electromagnetic waves.  He feels that a tv, with a DVD player, is essential in the bedroom so one can watch the news (as a side note, if you could not already tell, I love the news, he knows this is his only possible valid argument he can use to get a tv in my bedroom) from the comfort of their own bed and promptly turn the tv off after the nightly news viewing.  Here is what I know.  I sleep better without a tv in my bedroom.  In fact, no electronics are allowed in my room.  The phone is banished to the living area. I feel that I sleep better because of it.  Not to mention there is no attractive way to keep a television in the bedroom.  Perhaps some type of James Bond device where the tv stays hidden in a dresser until a button is pushed and then it appears. 

Oh well.  I will take my own television challenge next week and I will certainly keep you posted on the progress!

Update

There are a few updates that I would like to clear up.  First, my progress is working quite well.  I have managed to hydrate and read both days.  The exercise is on track and my house is still quite clean from this weekend. Plus I have gotten enough sleep both nights this week so far.

I also thought that it is time to think of more things I am grateful for.  I am grateful for my friends and family.  All of them.  I am grateful that I have a job.  I am grateful for my health.  I am grateful for everything I have been blessed with.

I am feeling better today and I know that tomorrow will be even better!

This is a new week.

To follow up on my previous post I am going to work harder this week on meeting my conditions for optimal happiness.  I am putting them in writing and out there so I won't have an excuse. :)

1) I will get at least 7.5 hours of sleep a day.  No excuses.

2) I will run Wednesday, Friday and Sunday of the upcoming week.  I will stick to the current interval program.

3) I will make sure to drink all of my fluids every day

4) I will keep the house tidy and clean.

5) I will make sure to read for at least one hour a day.

I will let you know how the plan goes.  In an effort to be a more organized person, I have my lunches for the week cooking on my new stove now.

Have a great week!

Never Get Old

Tonight, my hostess's 88 year old mother and I were talking.  She told me to try to never get old.  She was an amazing woman who has been married for over 65 years, and is still going.  She loves her husband and her family and is the most delightful woman.

Her words resonated with me.  They remind me of what my own grandmother says.  Old is a state of mind.  In her seventies, my grandma refuses to be an old lady.  Is age really just a state of mind?  That would certainly explain marathon runners in their seventies, but what about people who can barely get off of their couch in their twenties?  Are you old when you decide you are old?  I think this might be the answer.

At any rate, I think that they key to not being old is to not worry so much about age, and start living life.  Every moment is precious, and not to be squandered.

Prep for Greatness

One of the few tips that I have found helpful in all of the happiness research that I have done is to be prepared.  While I am working on being one of those people who pack their lunches the night before (like the man does) I do believe that planning ahead makes a huge difference.

For instance, I have a PartyLite show tomorrow.  By taking the time to pack everything now, I will have more time tomorrow in the morning to pack my lunch and make the last minute preparations.  All I will have to do tomorrow after work is dash in, grab the already packed stuff and be on my way.  It makes the show less stressful and the whole experience less tedious.  I will even lay out my clothes before I go to bed.

I have found that preparing even one little thing the evening before makes things go smoother in the morning.  I am not a morning person, so these few precious moments in the morning mean a lot to me.

How do you prepare for greatness?

Conditions for Optimal Happines

I have to admit.  I have not been as happy this week as I could be.  I realize that there are some areas that I am neglecting.  Here is what I have discovered leads to my optimal happiness.

1) Rest.  Everyone is a little different.  I need seven and a half to eight hours of sleep a night to feel well rested.  It seems like a lot to some, but it is what my body is programmed for.  I am not one of those people who wake up at a certain time every day without an alarm clock.  I prefer to think of my sleep needs like a timer.  When it is done it is done. The past few weeks have been stretching it to the brink.

2) Exercise.  Ideally I have the time and energy for three or more runs a week.  They don't have to be long runs, just some running.  This past week I have not had the time to squeeze in the correct number of runs.  I am feeling the effects.

3) Reading.  I usually read for at least one hour a day on my lunch break.  Since I have only been taking a half hour lunch, this has been thrown off.  Not only does reading help me escape a little bit, I like the feeling of accomplishment of finishing a book.  I have stacks of them that need to be read, but lately, finding the time has been difficult.

4) Hydration.  I notice that I feel better when I drink 48 ounces of water a day.  I have no idea if this is a legitimate thing, or if lack of water can lead one to be unhappy (well, more than the general displeasure of dehydration).  I just know that I feel better when I drink all of my water. 

5) Clean.  My home is far from perfect, but I feel less stress when things are in proper order, and generally clean.  It helps with item location, and an overall feeling of security for me.  I don't have to worry if someone pops by, most of my home is in order.  While I by no means need to be signed up for hoarders, or some other horrific show, my house could be a little less chaotic.  Right now I have a stove in the middle of my kitchen (long story) and an office that looks like a PartyLite bomb went off in it.  While both of these things are part of operation happiness (the stove is awesome, I just need to do a little counter surgery, and the PartyLite stuff is so cute!) they feel like clutter. 

Here is the bright spot in the clouds.  All of these items can be worked on.  I can come home after work and take a thirty minute nap.  I can make more of an effort to read and drink water instead of watch tv.  I can clean things up a little bit at a time and I can certainly make more time to exercise.  I just need to make them more of a priority.

What are the things that you need for optimal happiness?

Gratitude Part II

Today, I seem to be bombarded by the idea of losing my senses.  I heard about a woman who suddenly was not able to see today.  I also just saw a commercial about a man who lost his sense of taste and smell.  I cannot imagine what it would be like to live without these senses.

So I am going to be grateful for them.  I am grateful that I can see all of the lovely things that this world has to offer.  I am thankful that I can hear all of the beautiful sounds in the world.  I can smell the late summer flowers and taste the humidity in the air.  I can touch another person and feel their warmth.

Can you imagine what it is like without your senses?  I cannot even bring myself to try.

So today, let's all be grateful for what we have.

Home

I am one of those people who loves traveling, and I actually don't mind staying in hotels (most of the time.  Sometimes the beds are a little too soft for my liking, but alas, I digress).  I like the new surroundings and usually the shower that never ever runs out of hot water.  But I always get excited to return home.

I love my home.  It is my sanctuary and my own little corner of the world to do whatever I like in.  I cannot wait to get back here after each adventure, or day in the office, and just be.  I love the freedom that having my own home gives me.  I can paint whatever I want whatever color I want.  I can add or subtract accessories and furniture at will.  Is my home perfect? No.  But then again neither am I.   My home is the perfect place for me though, and I wouldn't have it any other way. 


Here is your PartyLite look of the week.  It is really more of a display idea that I am toying with.

1 Villa Bianca Scent Warmer
1 Pumpkin pillar holder (I Love weird pumpkins for fall!)
1 Modern Rustic taper holder set
1 Apricot and fig pillar garden
1 dozen apricot and fig tealights

Who Doesn't Love Betty White?

I must take this opportunity to admit that I have a girl crush on Betty White.  I love the woman.  She is hilarious, has had a wonderful career spanning the entire length of television, has made several movies and loves animals.  This past week, in a survey, she was voted the most trusted celebrity.  Again, who doesn't love Betty White\?

I have loved Betty for a while now, and I am lucky enough to have various people who support my addiction.  My mom got me a Betty White calendar, which incidentally is a treasure trove of Betty White trivia.  The man got me Betty White's book "If you ask me, and you probably won't".  I was excited to discover the Hallmark channel runs the Golden Girls late at night, when I really need a Betty fix.  I will watch Lake Placid, The Proposal and Bringing Down the House to see her. Old episodes of Boston Legal?  Check.  I even watched her guest spot on The Middle. I love Betty White.

Here are the top five things that I have learned from Betty:

1) Don't be afraid to try something new.  She has played a variety of characters and has done a variety of formats.  She was one of the first women on television (she had a variety show of some kind), and she is still doing it (on Hot in Cleveland).  I even learned (from my handy dandy calendar) that she switched roles with Rue Maclanahan because the character of Blanche was too much like the character she had played on the Mary Tyler Moore Show.  She stepped out of the box when she did Saturday Night Live, and she has never been funnier.

2) You can't plan everything, so do the best you can.  Betty tells a charming story in her book about when she had go onstage at an awards show to accept an award.  She hadn't expected to win, and had not prepared a speech.  She got up there, winged it, and got a shout out from George Clooney afterwards (See!  EVERYONE loves George Clooney too). 

3) Be kind to animals.  Betty has spent her entire life devoted to her pets.  She loves all animals and makes every effort to speak for those who can't speak for themselves.  While many may say that animals are not that important to them, Betty is passionate about animals and will go out of her way to help out where she can.

4) Find the love of your life.  Betty White had known Allen Luden for years before she married him.  He was the love of her life, and even though it took a year of marriage proposals before she married him, she never regretted it.  Her book and calendar are filled with happy images of the two of them.  My favorite picture in the calendar is their wedding picture.  They got married in Vegas, just them, no fuss.  While Allen has passed on, Betty has never stopped loving him.  She also wrote in her book that every so often a reporter on a red carpet will yell "Mrs. Luden" as this never fails to get her attention.  They had a wonderful life together and she cherished every moment of it.

5) Keep on keeping on.  It takes stamina and a lot of evolution to stay in show business as long as Betty White has.  While she has not always had huge parts in shows or movies, she has consistently worked for over 50 years.  At 89, the woman seems to have more energy than I ever will, and she keeps on going.  Her career has been an inspiration for many.

I will say it again.  Who doesn't love Betty White?

Hard work, or Hardly working

Many people, including myself, think that happiness is something that occurs organically and without much effort.  You know the people who always seem happy no matter what is going on with their lives, and how good or bad their hair looks.  It is like they were born happy and will die happy and they will never know unhappiness.  I am here to tell you it is a farce.  Happiness takes work.

I struggle most with trying to maintain a positive attitude in most situations.  Where there are lemons, I have to make a concerted effort to see the possibility of lemonade.  I don't automatically see the silver lining in the dark clouds, I have to deliberately shift my focus.  I have noticed that over the past eight months, this process has become easier to me.  When something happens, whether it be a bad date, or a missed phone call, I can see that these things sometimes happen and that the potential opportunities were not right for me.  I know that this only means that something better is out there and that the perfect opportunity has not yet arrived.  This is not always easy.  Sometimes I still feel disappointed, but it passes quickly, and I can focus on the next great thing.

Tonight for girls night, I made Thai Chicken Stir Fry (see previous posts) except I ran out of chicken.  I did have shrimp in stock, and it made a delightful substitute. I think that it will be Thai Shrimp Stir fry from now on.

All you need is Love

I really believe that the Beatles were on to something with that one.  Everyone has love in their lives.  It is always there, you just have to know where to look for it.  For some, love lies in their spouse and children, others have great friends and pets.  I am lucky enough to wake up every day surrounded by love.  I have great friends, and a wonderfully supportive family.  I have an amazing boyfriend and plants that are very happy when I remember to water them. What more could a girl need?  There is one more component.

The most important love of all is the love that one has for themselves.  Unconditional love for oneself will only breed more love.  Cheesy?  Certainly.  Effective?  Definitely.  If you can't love yourself, how in the world can you expect anyone else to be able to?  Furthermore, you have to love yourself in order to know what kind of love you need.  So next time you are singing "Can anybody find me somebody to love" with Freddy Mercury and Co in the car (don't lie, you do it too), remember, you can always find somebody to love.  Yourself.

So tonight, I want you to think about this.  Who loves you baby?

Simple Things

Why is it the simplest things can sometimes bring the greatest pleasure?  Sheets fresh out of the dryer, a great glass of wine, two dollar used books, an offer of help, or a hot bath are some of my simplest pleasures.  None of these things are terribly expensive, unique or hard to come by, however each makes me feel great.  Sheets fresh out of the dryer are a warm treat, a great glass of two buck chuck is a luxury, two dollar used books make me feel like a million bucks, an offer of help is an offer of love, and a hot bath is a great indulgence.

Everyone has their own special treats, and it never ceases to amaze me the diversity of each person's simple pleasures. While my used book obsession does not make the man especially happy, he loves cookbooks.  Hot baths are not every one's forte, but I bought my condo based on the fact that it has a tub with jets.  One of the besties loves getting pedicures, and the other cannot imagine the world without Grey's Anatomy.  My mom derives great pleasure out of quilting, my father cooking.  None of these are complicated hobbies requiring lots of training or specialized equipment, (although the specialized equipment can be a bonus) however all of these things leave people feeling the same way.

What are your simplest pleasures?

Gratitude

On this journey, I have learned that one of the most valuable tools in the happiness arsenal is gratitude. If you can be grateful for what you have, you can be happy in just about every situation. It doesn't take much to be grateful for something. Sometimes, I have been grateful for silly things like a sunny day or a phone call or a piece of mail that is not a bill. The point is to find at least one thing that you can be grateful for.

Gratitude journals seem to be a recurring theme in almost all of the books that I have read this year. Everyone seems to agree that gratitude journals are necessary, but no one seems to agree on the frequency of which to actually journal what you are grateful for. Some authors have maintained that this needs to be done everyday, others say up to once a week. I have tried both methods, and frankly feel better going every other day or so. Otherwise I see the same three things show up. My most frequent things to be grateful for are 1) having a job right now 2) My friends and family who love me 3) waking up every morning happy.

What are you grateful for?

Laughter does cure all

I have discovered over the past eight months that laughter really is the best medicine. It is easier now to laugh at things than it was at the beginning of this journey. At the end of the day, there can be humor found in just about any situation, you just have to know where to look. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by people who not only love me, but who are usually able to make me collapse into peals of laughter. Today the man and I were laughing about my aversion to decorative pillows on beds and my distaste for Eric Clapton's book "Clapton". I know that I will be laughing more this week, and I hope all of you do too.

For those followers who have been having trouble posting comments, I think I may have fixed it. Please let me know if you continue to have trouble.

As promised, here is my PartyLite look of the week:

1 Reflective Tealight Cylinders
1 Nature's Light Silver Birch and Fig Wooden Wick candle
1 Mirrored Tray

Picture below:

The Couple that watches together...

Here is a slightly embarrassing admission.  I love the Marriage Ref.  You know that show where couples go on TV and explain their main issue to a panel of 3 celebrity judges, who then decide who is right.  I find it amusing and somehow it makes me grateful for what I have.  Not to mention, they added a new dimension this season, by which the person who is judged to be the most right receives $25,000.00 and a billboard that says "I was right".

I have managed to find the one other person in the state who also enjoys this show.  It is quite nice, and there is no judgement. While it is possible that the man and I could possibly end up on this show someday (over a silly pillow/shoe issue no doubt) for now, we can enjoy watching it together. 

What is it that you do with your significant other that makes you happy?

Book Club!!!

I belong to a book club that meets usually once a month.  Reading is one of my passions.  In fact, reading 100 books in a year is on my Bucket List (cleary, this will have to be accomplished when I am either a full time candle chickie or retired).  This year, I want to read 50.  I am currently sitting at 29, with two started.  But I digress.

Each person in our book club gets to choose a book or two that the group will read throughout the year.  I tend to pick memoirs and non fiction.  The other girls, fiction (which can be ok).  While I have not loved every book that I have read in the two plus years the club has been meeting (ask me about Loving Frank if you are brave enough), I can honestly say that I would have never picked to read many of these books on my own.  This has been a great way for me to expand my reading horizons and get to appreciate some new authors and new genres.  I have also been able to make new friends and get my Panera bread bowl fix once a month.  It is a winning situation all around.

Since this blog is all about happiness and positivity, here are my top five reads from book club.

1) The Help
2) The Book Thief
3) Angela's Ashes
4) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
5) The Five Languages of Love

I have the bestest bestie in the world

I will not lie.  She bought the title with a pint of Clusterfluff ice cream.  It is the newest ice cream obsession.

Girls night was back to normal tonight.  We were at full attendance, and true to form laughed until we cried.  Mostly because of the dramatic re-enactment of a certain incident involving a lawn chair and a mini van, but funny just the same. 

One of the besties is a chemist, and works in a lab.  The non-chemist bestie and I have been lobbying for years now to have a take your besties to work day.  We figure that it will be good for her to have her in house entertainment, and we might be able to learn something (on an interesting side note, I have already learned that one should not play scrabble with the chemist bestie.  She knows how to use the letter "x").  We got to visit her college lab once, where we had to turn in our lighters, promise to stay behind the yellow line, and not touch anything.  We are certainly more mature now, and have a greater appreciation for chemicals and the equipment.  One day the chemist will be overridden by the fun person in her and we will be allowed to celebrate take your besties to work day.  Let's just hope it is on a Monday.

Here is what I made for dinner tonight.  It took five minutes:

Black bean tacos

1 can black beans rinsed and drained
1 tomato diced
1/2 cucumber shredded
1 bunch red leaf lettuce
Sour cream
tortillas

simply heat the black beans for five minutes in the microwave and construct the tacos.  The cucumber was a cool and refreshing compliment to the beans.

Enjoy!

The Strangest Things Make Me Laugh

I find the weirdest things to be funny.  For instance, on the way home from dinner with the man and his mom, I heard "Dust in the Wind" on the radio (which is a rare treat.)  To the normal person, this might not seem funny.  It is a song about how we are all going to die sometime.  Every time I hear it, I flash to Will Farrell in Old School singing at Blue's funeral.  It never fails to make me giggle.  I know this happens to others too.  Some of you have told me about it.

Everyone has things that are funny to them, and let's face it, laughing is a big part of happiness.  Sometimes it is in the form of inside jokes with people (such as "coleslaw" for college friends, and hefty bags with the besties).  Other times it can be an old joke such as Wanilla ice cream or a misunderstanding like the pope being catholic or George Michael coming out in the nineties.  Whatever it is, make sure it causes peals of laughter.  They say it is the best medicine for a reason.

Tuesdays with Lady

Since I have come home from college, I have been getting together with my mom on Tuesday nights.  At first, we would meet her friends Carol and Jenny for dinner.  Carol passed away a couple of years ago, and we have been meeting at my house since.  I cook dinner, she brings her sense of humor and wisdom.

I cherish this time with my mom.  I realize that I am lucky enough to have her in my life, and I am able to count her as one of my best friends. She always knows what to say or what advice to give, even if it is a "where are your balls" speech.  Her advice is so legendary, that many of my friends seek her out for opinions on anything from relationships to curtains (she has a weird obsession with the curtains).  While my mom is not known for her mad cooking skills or trademark cookie recipe she can easily roll up in her red Hummer and save the day with nothing more than the contents of her purse and a hug.  I can only hope that someday I can be that kind of mom to everyone I know too.

Tonight, my mom and I were discussing happiness.  Everyone has their levels of happy.  I seem to be riding a peak right now, and it shows.  As long as I have known her, my mom has always been happy.  She rarely second guesses herself, and has a tenacity that I have never seen.  She always gets what she wants.  I admire that, and hope I can live up to her example.

Here is what I made for dinner tonight: (since the man is allergic to seafood, I tend to indulge when he is not around)

1 bunch of spinach
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 cups broccoli
1 cup shrimp
basil infused oil (or any oil that you want)
fresh garlic (powder just does not work on this)
pasta of your choice
Parmesan cheese

I steamed the veggies and shrimp for a while and served over pasta with a bit of basil infused canola oil and fresh minced garlic on top. Sprinkle the Parmesan on top.  Light and yummy summer food.

Power Partners

This is a concept that was used in my last selling seminar.  I have a PartyLite Power partner (who is amazing).  I realize that I also have other Power Partners in life.  These are the people who are there for you no matter what.  They support and love you unconditionally and together, life is better.  Now, many of you may be thinking that I mean The Man.  While he does have his place as a power partner, I have many others.  These people have helped to shape my life, and my journey.  They are also willing to deal with the changes that come with individual growth.  They celebrate the victories and hold hands during the defeats. They are the ones who will meet you for a drink after a rough day, or come over to eat dinner and laugh after a great one.  They will help you find a new job, old boyfriend, or the perfect dress.  If you are smiling and nodding, you are lucky enough to have found a power partner or two.  If not, don't worry, you will find one.

So today, I am going to pose this.  Who are your power partners?

Relaxation 101

I must admit, happiness does take some work.  Sometimes a girl just needs to kick back and relax.  My own personal weekend of relaxation started Friday Night with a concert at Ravinia (don't know what I am talking about?  Read "A Classical Evening").  Saturday was spent at a friend's lake house boating and the like with a quiet night in a B & B.  The weekend was perfection.

Also fun was coming home to find a whole new bunch of Party Lite products to play with.  WARNING: SHAMELESS PLUG.  I must say I love the sculpted leaf tray like a fat kid loves cake.  The possibilities with this thing are endless!  As a personal challenge (because it really does make me happy) I will post one new look each week with the various PartyLite items that I am loving. 

This arrangement has the following:

1 sculpted leaf pillar garden tray
1 Modern Rustic Pilar tray
1 Silver Birch and Fig Nature's Light wooden wick candle (I cannot wait to light this thing)
1 Amber Wood and Vanilla Wood Sculpted Pillar Garden

Decorating makes me happy too : )

If it makes you happy...

I have learned a lot about happiness this year.  One of the most fascinating concepts for me is that while everyone can be happy, the same things do not make everyone happy.  Some of the things that make me happy are shoes, candles and reading.  While these things bring me great pleasure and contentment, not everyone shares these ideals.   For instance, one bestie would rather light herself on fire than read a book, while the other one derives more happiness from her purse collection than her shoes.  The man would rather have a nice glass of wine in his garden with a good book and a Jimmy Buffet CD, and my mother would rather spend the day in a movie theater.  Different strokes for different folks truly does apply.

Another concept that I have learned this year is that it is ok for some things that make many people happy to not make me happy.  I will never understand the allure of Justin Beiber. I am not going to ever enjoy crab cakes or The Family Guy.  It has taken a while to understand that this is ok.  For some reason, it is easier for me to grasp the concept that not everyone is going to be made happy by the things that make me happy than it is to understand that it is ok to not be happy with things that almost everyone likes.  It is like a new kind of peer pressure. 

Since I have a few followers, I am going to pose a question.  What makes you happy even if it doesn't make everyone else happy?

A Classical Evening

Tonight the man and I went to Ravinia.  We saw (well, more like heard) the musical styling of Yo Yo Ma.  In a word, amazing.  We got to sit under the clouds (there were no stars tonight) and just enjoy life for a little while. 

We worked together to pack a picnic dinner with a few salads and some cream puff.  It was relaxing and a perfect way to end a strenuous week.  I have to say it was nice to be in the kitchen working with a partner. Even grocery shopping with a partner is more fun and less stressful.  I must admit we do have different grocery shopping philosophies.  I am a mission grocery shopper, constantly trying to beat my previous time.  The man can get lost in the cheese section.  It is an interesting dynamic.  We do work well together though.  Plus I got to try goat cheese.

Here is the best recipe that we had tonight:

Melon Cucumber and Tomato Salad

1 cup cubed cucumber
salt to taste
2 cups cubed cantaloupe
2 roma tomatoes
handful of sliced mint leaves

Dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
minced shallot
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp garlic powder (but the man added a little more)
Pepper to taste

Mix dressing and put aside. Mix the other ingredients.  Dump dressing on top.  It is that simple.  And it was good.

Girl's Night

For the past 15 years or so, my two girlfriends from high school and I have been getting together on Thursday nights.  It started out as a tv night (with NBC's must see TV) and evolved through the years.  Some years we went to a dance club, some years ordered take out at various houses, and now, we generally just get together to drink some wine, have some dinner and laugh.  We laugh a lot.  Usually there are tears of laughter.  It is impossible to contain.

Tonight was no different.  Except one of the girls couldn't make it.  We met up at a restaurant, and just talked and laughed.  We can find anything humorous... the man's distrust of products that come from a certain chain of discount grocery stores, unfriendly co-workers and decorating disasters were on the list of topics today.

I look forward to Thursdays.  Some people go to therapy.  I am fortunate enough to have therapy come to me.

Candle Chickie

So in addition to being a Happiness Warrior, I also moonlight as a Candle Chickie (for PartyLite).  Someday, when I have followers, this information will be useful to a few of you : )

Tonight I had to go to a regional meeting where a bunch of other candle chickies and I get together and discuss selling and burning candles. I love these women.  They are supportive and helpful and they make me laugh.  I come away from these meetings motivated, and energetic.

One of the happiness suggestions that I got this year was to start sending out "proofs of love".  I tend to send those little cards that you receive in the mail from random charities (Arbor Day Foundation, I am looking at you!) to people as a reminder of how important they are to me.  I have decided to take this one step further.  From now on, I will reward happy people I come across with a free tealight candle (with my contact information on it of course).  Hopefully this will help me to do my part to increase the happiness of all around me.  At the very least it is positive reinforcement for being happy. 

Domestic Bliss

I can try it for a night.  Right I am sitting on the couch with the man.  We just ate dinner (that I cooked) and are now enjoying some wine.  We have a Gabriel Iglesias special on the tv.  Both of us are sitting on the couch with our laptops out.  I never thought that an evening like this could bring me this much happiness and contentment.  It is nice to have someone who a) wants to spend an evening like this, and b) enjoys the same things I do.

We are planning a trip to the San Francisco (thus both laptops). Seeing new places is also part of Operation Happiness.   I actually have a bucket list and enjoy accomplishing things I have put on it.  Truth be told, I am excited to see Alcatraz.

Here is the recipe I used for dinner tonight:

Thai Chicken Stir Fry

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, cubed
1 1/2 cups of fresh green beans
olive oil
2 garlic cloves
2 scallions chopped
1/2 tsp Garlic chili paste
2 tbsp soy sauce (you can use 1 Tbsp of fish sauce if there are no allergy issues)
1 tsp sugar
Basil (fresh or dried)

Heat oil in a wok or large skillet.  Add the chicken and cook for three to five minutes.  Add garlic and scallions until fragrant.  Add chili paste, soy sauce, sugar  and green beans.  Cook for five more minutes, until chicken is cooked through.  Add basil.  Serve over rice.

Every Day is a New Day

So I have finally started a blog.  I have been thinking about it for a while, and now I am going to give it a go. 

Operation Happiness started out as a goal for the year.  Who needs to make happiness a goal you ask?  It is this girl.  I started the year determined to make this THE YEAR.  I was going to be happy if it killed me.  But, I didn't know where to start.  So I read books.  Lots of them.  I took self assessment tests (which incidently, do not lead me to happiness, but this is another post entirely), and signed up for all sorts of stuff.  It has been an exciting eight months, and I am going to share it.

What makes me happy?  It changes daily.  Like the weather in Chicago.  Today, the three things that make me happy are:

1) My red high heeled platform shoes.  I love them even if they hurt me.
2) A good run.
3) Clusterfluff ice cream.