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

Pictures: Chocolate ice cream, girl on bike, letter, newspaper flowers, hair, flower basket, Paris breakfast

DIY: Paper Book Covers

I really like the look of these craft paper book covers with white ink. So simple and clean.

How to make a book cover:

1. Place the paper horizontally on a flat work surface

2. Set your book on top of the paper. Center the book and use a pencil to mark the paper along the top and bottom edges of the book.

3. Remove the book from the paper and fold the top and bottom edges toward the center of the paper from the marked lines. Your book cover will now be the same height as your book.

4. Set the book, open, back on the paper, aligning it with the folds. Center the book and fold the left and right edges of the paper over the front and back covers of the book.

5. Check that the left edge of the paper reaches halfway across the inside front cover and that the right edge covers the same distance on the back cover when the book is closed. Trim the right and left edges of the paper if necessary.

6. Keep the left and right edges of the paper folded in on the front and back covers of the book.

7. Tape each fold in place at the top and bottom of the paper to form pockets for the front and back covers of the book. Use transparent cellophane tape and be sure not to tape the book itself.

8. Write the title of the book


Edited Directions: ehow 

Picture: Man + West

Bonjour Happiness

I just started reading Bonjour Happiness by Jamie Cat Callan. As a young girl, Callan was fascinated by her French Grandmother. Callen captures the secrets of her grand-mères classic style and how she took joy in simple, everyday pleasures. Callen shares lessons on how to age gracefully, enjoy life and how to celebrate being an elegant woman. She reminds us that we too can acquire this joie de vivre.

Hmmmm I'm excited to see where this goes.

Here are a few sneak-peek-lessons from Bonjour Happiness.

Edited version of Shannon Ables Review at Simply Luxurious Life

*Break the connection between spending money and happiness by finding experiences that bring you joy, but do not cost a thing

*Fill your home with fresh flowers and original art

*Learn to survive on your own

*Learn a new language

*Reject the fast and efficient and instead choose something that takes a little more time and delays gratification, ultimately creating more satisfaction.

*Don’t share everything about your personal life– maintain your mystery

*Try to ride your bike or walk everywhere

*Do not seek approval from othes in life. Do what you think is best and be proud of your actions

*Keep the dining room table clutter free even when not using it

*Pay attention to your posture

*Buy local

*Plant herbs

*Consider staying away from the kitchen between meals

*Practice the art of conversation by complimenting both men and women

*Wear good lingerie all the time.

*Buy one bra for every three panties

*Pair quality basics with unusual finds

Robert Sabuda Pop-Up Books For Your Lovebugs

Being a full time nanny, I read an astronomical amount of Children's books! Robert Sabuda pop-ups are my favorite. His attention to detail is amazing; you can even see furniture inside the pop-up house of Alice in Wonderland! And the Emerald City Castle in The Wizard of Oz, comes with 3D glasses! Each page is a work of art. These books will blow you away!


Paper Engineer Robert Sabuda is a pioneer in the field of Children’s Pop-Up Books. Since 1994, when he published his first title “The Christmas Alphabet,” Sabuda has not only been pushing the envelope and raising the bar in pop-up publishing, but he has virtually created his own genre. Though there are certainly other pop-up books being published, very few can compete with the sophisticated engineering of Sabuda’s work.

-Robert Sabuda Project

The kids LOVE them!

 

Codes For Longevity

I am so proud to announce that my Great Uncle Phillip Schaeffer along with my Great Aunt Gita Labrentz, Ph.D finished the revised edition of:

Codes for Longevity

Living well beyond 80, 90, and 100 years.

I am simply fascinated with Phillip’s healthy lifestyle and warm personality. He is one of the kindest people I know – always smiling and happy; he gives the best hugs and always has something genuine to say! I've re-read this book many times and I love all the advice he gives about taking care of your body, mind and soul; it’s my go-to-book for tips on living a healthy, natural life. Phillip Schaeffer is a truly remarkable man with wonderful recommendations on how to promote longevity.

And as they say… “Behind every great man, there is a great woman” (love you too Aunt Gita)! You both did a fabulous job on Codes for Longevity.

Here are a few of Phillip's sworn-by health tips that he has implemented into his daily life. Pick up a copy of your own HERE and read about many more lifestyle routines that will help improve the quality and length of your life.

-Take time to practice deep breathing exercises daily.

-Eating foods rich in anti-oxidant will counteract free radical damage.

-Embrace life with joy and enthusiasm. Positivity will help lengthen your life. Let go of stress (meditation, prayer, yoga)

[On a side note… I learned in a few bio-psych classes that your body will produce stress related hormones such as Cortisol and Catecholamine’s when you are worried, angry or frightened. A build up of stress hormones can lead to heart and cell damage in the body. You can literally make yourself sick from constant stress.]

-Get 8 hours of sleep

-Always stay connected to younger generations. Do not surround yourself with negativity or lazy spirits

-Keep up-to-date in everything you do…reading, technology, events, entertainment.

-Get involved in community activities; take up hobbies or college classes. Learning new things and helping others will ward-off depression.

-Laugh more and forgive freely, don’t hold grudges. You can alter your life by altering your attitude

-Use it or lose it! Increase your flexibility and mental activities (exercise, stretch, puzzles, math and music…)

-Multivitamins A 10,000IU, B complex 400mg, B6, C and E, pantothenic, zinc 50mg and selenium 400mg, D (1,000 IU) and multivitamins daily.

-Avoid refined foods and artificial sweeteners

-Eat Garlic = antibiotic cleansing agents

-Smile as much as possible

-Massage lymph nods often (neck, armpit etc.) they filter toxins and are sometimes concentrated and need to be massaged

-Avoid using household cleaners. Use natural products such as vodka or alcohol to clean.

- Drink 2 spoonfuls of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water 3 times daily (to alkalize the body). A body that is too acidic will lead to illness and disease.

-detoxify your liver and practice eye exercises to eliminate glasses.

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"You are responsible for the kind of energy that you put out into the world. Whatever you give, you will get back"-B

Congrats Uncle Phillip and Aunt Gita!