Showing posts with label Happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Happiness. Show all posts

Monday, December 2, 2013

50 Ways to Celebrate Life


 
 
1. Surround yourself with positive people.
 
2. Get involved in a charity or volunteer work. Do something good for your community.
 
3. Breathe deeply. Deep, slow belly breaths are good for reducing stress levels. 
 
4. Eat healthy foods. Your body will thank you immensely!
5. Laugh, laugh, laugh every day!

6. Dance! Turn up the tunes and shake it!
 
7. Have a yard sale. Declutter your home while making some money or you can also donate it!

8. Redecorate a room. Change can be a good thing, even if it’s just rearranging the furniture.

9. Go to your local farmers market for fresh produce. Support your local farmers.

10. Go out to dinner with friends and try new exotic cuisines.

11. Indulge in a piece of dark chocolate cake and cup of coffee while watching your favorite show, reading a book or sitting on the porch etc.

12. Travel as often a possible. See new places and learn about different cultures. Be humble and open to different ways of life when visiting other countries.

13. Take a slow walk with someone you love. Hold their hand.

14. Grow your own garden. Plant flowers, fruits, veggies and herbs that you like to smell and eat!

15. Clean the house while listening to your favorite music. It’s nice to feel organized.

16. Treat yourself to an item that you’ve been wanting for a long time. You’re worth it…you work hard. It’s ok to get something nice for yourself once in a while.

17. Spend time with your family.

18. Play a classic board game ex: Monopoly, Pictionary or Scrabble. Have a game night with your family and friends.

19. Drink red wine…one glass a day is great for your heart

20. Go on a date with your spouse, bf/gf or a lovely friend.

21. Write your letters by hand -- it's becoming a lost art and handwritten letters are beautiful and personal. Someone will definitely cherish your effort.

22. Learn something new {outside of your box}…Latin Dance, Trapeze or Karate. It may just be the greatest thing ever!

23. Keep a journal. Write down your thoughts, ideas or feelings.

24. Go for a bike ride. Bring picnic supplies.

25. If you’re tired, take a nap. You need it.

26. Exercise and establish healthy habits.

27. Take a mental health day.

28. Sleep in on the weekends. If you have little ones, take turns with your spouse. “You take Saturday, I’ll take Sunday.”

29. Get a massage, take care of your body…it's got to last you a lifetime J

30. Wear sunscreen, protect your beautiful skin!

31. Literally "smell the roses" when you take a walk. Enjoy them.

32. Have a technology-free day, weekend, or week {this is a hard one}. Go and spend a day outside at the beach, hiking, riding bikes etc.

33. Spend quality alone-time with yourself.

34. Call someone just to tell them how much you love them.

35. Snuggle and kiss babies as often as possible.

36. Have a spontaneous day. No schedules allowed. Follow your heart.

37. Reminisce with friends over old pictures.

38. Stay in your PJ’s all day.

39. Smile more.

40. Read a book. A real book. With pages.

41. Close your eyes, get in a quiet space and meditate, pray or reflect on your day and the people you love.

42. Once in a while be sure to take a leap - a big giant leap- do something that’s scary and watch how life supports you! You’ll never what will happen if you’re too afraid to make a move.

43. Write love notes.

44. Tune into the fact that there is only one you and you are here for a special reason. Leave every place better than you found it.

45. Do something nice for someone else. Share your gifts.

46. Forgive. Grudges weigh on your heart…life is too precious to spend it unhappy

47. Host a party and cook an outrageous meal to share with the people you love.

48. Give long hugs.

49. Follow the path that matters most. What makes you happy? If you're happy, the people around you will be happy too. 

50. Be grateful for EVERYTHING that has been brought into your life. Even challenging times can shape us into stronger, wiser people.

Picture:art

Saturday, November 2, 2013

German Puffed Pancakes {AKA Dutch Babies}

I love the weekends...we can sleep in as loooong as we want, wake up and make a glorious breakfast instead of the usual OJ chug and protein bar during the workweek. Today I got up before Dan and surprised him with German puffed pancakes. They are incredibly easy to make and so yummy. I like to eat mine with melted butter, squeezed lemon and powdered sugar. You can also top them with berries, whipped cream and or syrup, whatever you want! Long live the weekend!

 
Puffed Pancakes:
{Recipe yields one puffed pancake}
*They are really big. One pancake will serve one person.

2eggs
½ cup milk
½ cup flour
Dash of salt
Dash of cinnamon
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon butter
 
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, flour, salt, cinnamon, vanilla and sugar in a bowl.
Melt the butter in an 8-inch pie pan while the oven in preheating
Pour the batter into the melted butter pie pan.
Bake 10-12 minutes {or until edges have puffed-up a few inches and turned golden brown}.
Serve hot! Top with butter, lemon juice, powdered sugar, maple syrup, or fruit -- whatever your heart desires!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Secrets To Finding Your Joie De Vivre

What makes you happy in life? I believe that each person finds happiness in a unique way. Here are some tips to finding your joie de vivre that I noted while reading Bonjour Happiness.

A beautiful exercise that we all should do...
When you come across things that make you smile -- those "Ahhh life is good moments", write them down. Make a list of the things that you like to savor. It's a fun little project that will remind you about the simple pleasures in life.
  • Love yourself, and others. Do everything in love
  • Take a bubble bath with rose oil
  • Treat simple things like treasures ex: serve your mineral water on a tray
  • Take the time to enjoy each bite of food -- notice the taste, texture and smell


  • Organize and simplify
  • Have breakfast on the porch
  • Wear lipstick
  • Take a walk and focus on fine details; the color of leaves, tiny blades of grass, and the smell of those jasmine flowers that are blooming nearby
  • Volunteer in your community; for your church, your neighborhood, your friends etc. Doing something nice for others will make you feel great too
  • Ride a bike


  • Sip a cup of coffee with cream while reading a good book or magazine
  • Enjoy fires in the fireplace
  • Snuggle up with your love and a cozy blanket
  • Shop at mom and pop stores or farmers markets
  • Practice good posture + being confident in yourself and your decisions = sexy
  • Grow your own fruits and vegetables in the summer time
  • Hand write your letters and save all the ones you receive


  • Cook with fresh ingredients
  • Display original art in your home
  • Teach, laugh and learn from children
  • Learn a foreign language...and use it
  • Take a class on a subject that interest you
  • Buy or pick fresh flowers for your home



  • Don't fight aging, welcome it. Aging is a beautiful process
  • Accept compliments instead of denying them, but remain humble while doing so
  • Wear French lingerie even if no one sees it
  • Take time-off for yourself
  • Get pampered once in awhile. "An empty well gives no water"


  • Travel
  • Practice your handwriting. Make it something to be proud of
  • Dress the part -- if your sweeping, wear a kerchief. If your cooking, wear an apron. If your gardening, wear a floppy hat and cute gloves. Become involved and excited about each event.
  • Tell others how much you appreciate them and love them
  • Find joy in everyday things. Focus on fine details within your daily routines. Find everything special and something to be thankful for.

Things to think about...
  
Joie de vivre is "Loving life, loving people loving to be alive, feeling alive. It's about smiling in your heart and being grateful for the things [and people] in your life: being in good health, being able to hear, to see, to walk etc." (P. 13)

Every day is a new beginning


I hope you are having a wonderful day my friends.

-Brittany






Monday, October 10, 2011

This Made Me Smile


One of my friends posted this the other day. She is always coming up with these hilarious pictures! Good find Megz, you’ve done it once again!

Apparently these guys are best friends in real life too!

Friday, October 7, 2011

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage...

"Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that’s a real treat" -- Joanne Woodward with husband Paul Newman












Pictures: Pinterest