100 Happy Days

For a few days now, I’ve been seeing a lot of #100HappyDays on Instagram and reading about it on various websites.
You might remember a post I did a little while ago about one of my new favorite apps, Happier.
It’s become a staple of my daily routine, to post at least once on the app and to read the daily inspirations and happiness of other people. I truly feel like it’s brightened my mood and changed my perspective a bit.
So, I’ve decided to try out 100 Happy Days, as well!

Listen, I know the drill. I know so many people who say that they don’t have time for certain things but I really believe making time for something like this is important. It’s about stepping outside of yourself and really appreciating life around you. That’s what Happier has done for me, and I believe this challenge will help so many people.
I know so many of you will roll your eyes and scoff. Sometimes I annoy myself when I talk about how doing things like this has helped. But it does help. I used to get angry at the sight of motivational posters, t-shirts, mugs, etc.
But really, the days seem much easier to handle when you can find something…just ONE thing…that makes it all worth while. And trust me, you will. As the site explains, it can be anything….and it’s not there to brag or boast.
Just taking the time to think about this one thing, which will probably take you about 2 minutes, will do wonders for your mood. Trust me…I am proof.

So, are you in?
I start today!

Check my Instagram for daily posts, and maybe I’ll do a round-up every once in a while.

This Week’s Greatest Hits

Looking back on all the good good that went down.

We watched the Oscars with snacks and drinks, like we do every year!

Maybe it was the several sparkling wine cocktails, but that was the most fun I’ve had watching the Oscars in years!

I went to Panera Bread 3 days in a row.

I work less than a minute drive away from Panera, so when I have an hour for lunch, I just go there. I like to get a coffee and I’m trying to branch out on the soups and sandwiches (the picture from above was during a 5a-2p shift, so my “lunch” was at 9 am, hence the breakfast) and I read and relax.

Lots of pretty sunsets.

The one thing I don’t usually mind about winter is that the sunsets are often insane.
So bright and intense, with different colors from day to day.

Mac and Cheese night with my sister.

Bart & Urby’s does a Mac&Cheese night every Wednesday, and Maria has been several times while I haven’t gone at all. So, since we had to switch cars so she could take a trip to Virginia this weekend, I mentioned that we should go.
It was tasty, but I definitely think they should offer up some more add-ons. I got bacon and fried chicken (because I care about what I put in my body), but I think broccoli deserves to be on their list!

Paulina and I had another craft day.

I’ll talk more about this in a later post, but we decided to go for a spring-y craft in the hopes that it will start warming up soon! We also drank wine, talked tons (I love getting to know more about friends!), and listened to Lana Del Rey on vinyl.

Come on, get Happier

About a week before we left for Mexico, I wasn’t doing much. I had been given 8 hours of work that week.
THAT WHOLE WEEK. So I had a lot of time on my hands to do, well, nothing. During one of my morning iPhone binges, I saw a recommendation for an app called Happier on my Facebook News Feed. I usually skip these suggestions
(so often dating apps), but this one stood out for me. I clicked on it and became a convert.

What is Happier? Immediately, I would liken it to your Twitters and Instagrams.
It’s social media, however it is specifically focused on happiness, gratitude, and appreciation of life.
When talking about it, I feel like I may come off a little preachy and annoying, but I think that’s because we are so used to our social media outlooks focusing on the negative. I know this because I DO IT.
If I feel like publicly bitching, I go to Twitter and rant for 140 characters (and sometimes more, in additional tweets). I think of people I follow on Instagram, celebrities or models or nail artists who get hateful comments or get reported just because. For some reason, people see social media, a place meant to share things we love, as a place to dump on people.

Not Happier! Happier is actually meant to be a practice in gratitude.
The more you focus on the things around you, on the positive of even the most negative situation, the happier you might find yourself being. This is something I needed. Many people need, but I know that I especially did, for myself.
I am the queen of worrying about what hasn’t happened yet. I get lost in moments that I feel will never end.
So I decided, why not?

What do I love about this app?
You don’t have to post if you don’t want to, obviously, but when you do, there is a little “confetti celebration” for posting. It might sound super cheesy, but it seriously will make you smile.

As you can see on the screencap, there are a few different pages to look at. On your personal page, it shares your name, a little profile pictures, and what makes you happy. What I really love about it is that there is nothing about how many followers you have. I don’t keep track of this on my Instagram or Twitter, but I know many people do. A lot of people care about how many people like their things (hey, I use tons of hashtags for my nail art posts, hoping people will like it!), but this makes it hard to. You’re notified when someone starts following your little page, but there’s no number count. Happier is not a popularity contest, and that makes me a little happier!

There’s absolutely no pressure to post multiple times a day, or once a day for that matter, but there are push notifications three times a day (you can change this in the settings) that remind you to look on something happy that happened to you that day! It’s a nice reminder to ponder the good things.

The community is really lovely. Everyone just wants to share their little moments or pictures, some share inspirational quotes (and there’s always one on the Featured page, a different one every day from the Happier crew, along with a tip on how to be happier, from complimenting people to exercising for 20 minutes), and when you enjoy their moment you “smile” it. You can comment or even share it if it makes you happier, too!

If you’re ever scratching for something to say, the Today page will list a little happy challenge. Name something about the weather you love. What was the last beautiful thing you saw? Et cetera. If anything else, it will remind you of something great, even if you had a bad day.

I truly feel like this app has helped improve my outlook on life. I got this before Mexico, and while I had some wonderful things to be happy about over there, I also had to leave. Instead of feeling sad about coming back, I was excited to get into projects that were put on the wayside (like my Project Life, which is currently finished for January!), or nail art I got behind on, and, of course, seeing my family. It has helped me look at the bright side of the situation. It’s also a great reminder that we are all looking for a little bit of happiness, and that we all have it, we just have to actually look at it.

Well, Hello!

Pardon my disappearance for the last week or so…I never got to share much about it here on the blog, but I joined Brad’s family in Riviera Maya, Mexico for several days and it. was. amazing. I wanted to write up a little post before I left, but time just flew and before you know it, I’m already back from trip!

There’s so much to share, so much I’m behind on. Recent reads, craft projects, good times with friends, and, of course, a ton of photos and stories about my time in Mexico! It was only my second time out of the country and it was…just fantastic. We actually left at the perfect time, too, missing out on epic snow storms back in our hometowns. Though it was rough saying goodbye, I decided to focus on the positives. I’ve missed painting my nails and working on my Project Life. I’ve missed my family and I’ve missed writing on my blog! It’s freezing, and I miss paradise, but there’s loads to keep me occupied at home and tons of reasons to be happy.

If I sound a little crazy positive, it’s because I am right now! The vacation proved to be rejuvenating and a great reminder of how blessed I am to live the life I do. It’s time to go hard on everything I love.
I hope the motivation lasts…

Look forward to a bunch of posts in the next few days!

These Things Made Me Happy This Week

As I write this, I’m trying to get myself out of a self-induced funk. I’ve decided to do what everyone should do when they are sad…remember the good things in your life! Here are some of my favorite moments from this past week.

I watched the Golden Globes with my sister.

I love the Oscars…they are my favorite award show. I’ve only just started watching the Golden Globes last year. The best part about watching award shows is watching them with my sister. Wine, snacks, and celebrities!
I’m especially glad I watched the Golden Globes this year because HOLY CRAP what a sh*tshow it was!
I guess that’s what happens when everyone can drink cocktails and champagne while struggling to walk to the stage ton accept their GGs. It was so awful and so good.

I got crafty…twice!

On Tuesday, I worked on several pages of my very first Smash book/scrapbook project ever! You can read about it here.
Yesterday, my friend Paulina and I got together to work on some crafts! Hopefully, it’s the beginning of a new crafty chapter! It seems like it will be. Paulina brought over pony beads that we baked in the oven to make cool sun catchers.
It feels so good to sit down and work on something…the issues seem to disappear.

I sent my first little bunch of snail mail.

A week or so ago, I asked for some of my friends to give me their addresses so that I could start sending snail mail. I know there are things like Facebook (where I asked for the addresses), Twitter, IG, and text messaging…but getting mail is so much fun. Not long after I quit my job, my friend Jenna sent me a congratulatory card. I wasn’t expecting it at all and it made my day. So I’m excited to get the ball rolling on some happy mail that will hopefully brighten up the piles of junk and bills that we all seem to get instead of cards and letters.

Other notable moments:
Double date at La Tolteca with Ed and Jenna, getting a hair cut, and using my DSLR more than I have in weeks!

Little Happy Things

I’ll be the first to admit that I experience rough patches way too frequently.
I’d love to blame them on actual problems…I have a few, sure….but mostly it’s just me being anxious about everything.
What I love about life is that the tiniest things, the simplest everyday moments, can turn a crappy situation around.
Here are some that truly make me happy.

I can’t get enough of the way Artie prances, and his shadow is one of my favorite things to snap photos of.

A lovely, slightly chilled breeze as I sit on the porch reading.

A crazy poodle wearing my favorite shirt.

Coffee and a book.

Blobs of nail polish that become nail art.

Cotton candy sunsets.

A Special Place

I’ve always had this little daydream of the perfect Sunday morning. I’d wake up, make coffee, read a book, and listen to some of my favorite music on vinyl. It seemed like the perfect way to start any day. I think it started because my sister got a record player and some really great albums a few years ago.

When I was in college, I listened to music all the time. I had my own bedroom and a decent sound system for my laptop and I would play music loudly while I got ready for the day or just sitting around chatting on AIM (yep) and creepin’ on Facebook. When I came home, that pretty much stopped. I no longer had a setup for my speakers, no privacy, and I had to worry about bothering my parents. BLEH. As much as I love music, it stopped being a part of the day to day. I’d listen in the car, and even then, when I was rushing to work, I just didn’t feel like going through my music and settling on something when I was more concerned about making it on time. The daydream was a way of bring music back into my life, of getting inspired again.

BACK TO THE STORY…
Brad has had a pretty significant collection of records for years. They’ve been spending time collecting dust in his little “cave” back at his parents’ house. He finally decided to bring them to Lou’s house, with Lou’s permission of course, and now the living room is cozy and decked out with so many records and the sound system. Instead of empty space, we are surrounded by music. And it’s wonderful.
We’ve listened to Bowie, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Simon and Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Bossa Nova compilations, and Pink Floyd.
We haven’t even cracked the surface.

But I spent my Sunday listening to beautiful music, reading, and drinking a good cup of coffee. Sometimes dreams come true.

The Exception

Okay, so I don’t have a lot of money. I scrimp and save so I can buy food and gas for my clunky car and pay my bills.
And yes, it is super important to save money and be smart. But I also believe that you should treat yourself…and for me, it comes in the form of nail polish. In the last three days alone, I’ve gotten these 6 nail polishes. And I love every single one.
And OPI has a new collection that just hit the stores on Wednesday.
So I’ll be getting more. When I have money again, whenever that is.

These polishes have been on my lust list for a while now. China Glaze’s It’s a Trap-eze is from the recent Cirque du Soleil collection and it’s pretty much the only polish you can’t find from it. I ended up finding it on Amazon and spent less money on the polish and shipping than I would’ve if I had found it in stores (about 5 bucks as opposed to $6-8). I’m wearing it right now and it’s just wonderful.
I also fell for the awesome blue of Essie’s Butler Please within the last week, found it at Rite Aid (they have an awesome selection and they almost always have all the good colors in stock), and bought it immediately.

And then there’s the Deborah Lippmann GIRLS collection that I just spoke about the other day…

When I wrote this post, I went ahead and ordered this collection. As a massive fan of both GIRLS and nail polish, it would’ve been seriously silly not to! The colors are gorgeous and classic. And the packaging…seriously, stop, you’re amazing.
So, I know I have to keep it together and be smart, but these things make me smile.
It’s been a rough week, and it’s the small things like my growing nail polish collection that has helped me get through.

Well…that and Pinot Grigio.

Happy weekend, folks!

A Happy List

Coffee with International Delights creamers (Salted Caramel Mocha FTW), especially in my Hello Kitty mug.
Picking out Christmas presents for the people I love.
Adding more and more books to my list of must-reads.
Turning off the alarms and sleeping in.
My hot pink fleece jacket from Old Navy, a steal under $10.
Comfy, thick men’s socks, especially when worn over jeans and peeking out of booties.
The Friday night ritual Brad and I have started, where we go to Michaels’ and buy craft supplies.
Lana Del Rey’s new EP, Paradise. Every song is gold.

Never take a great mood for granted. I’m in a good place, so I thought I’d share a list of the things making me so gosh darn happy at the moment. It’s always good to put that pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and say what you’re thankful for.

Happiness via VSCO Cam

Why did it take me so long to download VSCO Cam? I’d seen it hashtagged plenty of times on Instagram, and one of my favorite bloggers talked about it on her site. But I finally looked into it, and I’m so glad I did. It is such a great camera app for the iPhone.
I feel like a lot of camera apps either go super easy with filters or super complicated with options. VSCO Cam is super simple and yet, you can make the same picture look different in so many ways and it’s all in the palm of your hand.

I decided to share a little happy list using photos I took with VSCO Cam.
It’s been one of those weeks where you need to look on the bright side.

Deer sighting on one of my walks around the block on break at work. It was exciting!
The most precious, chubbiest cheeks ever.
My first two Butter London nail polish purchases. Both sparkly. Hope they’re good!
Blue Moon seasonal ales. Both are are so tasty. Wish I had one right now.
Yummy Pear Ginger Orla Kiely - Method soap from Target.
The cutest things at Brad and Lou’s. Mason jars filled with Halloween candy and topped off with tea lights. Best idea.

48 Hours to Celebrate

What a happy weekend filled with love and celebration!
Let me break it down for ya…

Friday was my friend Lauren’s birthday. She planned a little gathering for it on Saturday, but I went over with a bottle of wine and watched the ickiest movie ever and got crazy wine drunk with my favorite housemates. On Saturday, I got to witness two friends (who have been dating 9 years, the bride being a friend of mine since 5th grade) get married. It was so lovely and also surreal. People I know are starting to get married! I mean, we all saw it coming and I couldn’t be happier for them! But I just can’t believe I’m at that stage. It’s exciting and weird.
After the wedding, I headed back to Kingston for Lauren’s birthday party. Her parents decorated the deck with all kinds of beautiful garden furniture, candles, lamps, and lights. It was the perfect way to celebrate one of my bestest friends in the whole world.

I have been truly blessed and lucky to have an excellent summer this year. I have great friends who all get along, especially with my boyfriend and my sister! Which is super important and awesome for me. I couldn’t be happier.
It’s always sad to say goodbye to a weekend, but I can’t stay sad long. I just know there are more great days to come.

Here’s to a stress-free week!

Making Me Happy Right Now…

Yummy flavored iced coffees. (Toasted Marshmallow? Almond? Tiramisu? Bring it on!!)
Laughing until I’m in pain, crying, coughing.
Ice Cream sundaes with pretzel sticks. BRILLIANT.
Always having a stack of books so that I never go long without something to read.
Silly nicknames for all my friends.
Using a terrible British accent 90% of the time I talk (I’m just so addicted to Misfits).
Mexican food! ALL THE TIME. On Thursday, I had it for dinner. And then I had it for every meal on Friday. And I made my own guacamole last night. I just crave it constantly.
Pandora’s Chillwave station. Perfect summer jams for lazy nights on porches.
Buying people presents and treats…even though I don’t have much money to do it.
Cooking. It’s becoming a more comfortable thing for me. I’ve strayed from recipes more, trying my own thing. Picking pieces of recipes I like and adding or subtracting to make it my own. And how that little mess in the picture above made something amazing.

Life is…

undeniably, sweetly, deliciously good.
That is something I tweeted on Saturday night, when I was in a very happy (tipsy) mood. But it still rings true.
This past weekend, I spent two nights sitting on the back porch of my friend Catie’s (and Lauren’s, though she wasn’t there) house, surrounded by cigar smoke, drinking tasty summer beers, laughing, enjoying new company, and playing with adorable animals late into the night.

All photos taken on the iPhone and edited using the PictureShow app,
which I’ve had since I first got the phone and only just started to get into again.

At the Moment…

..some things I love.

The show GIRLS on HBO. I can’t stop watching at any opportunity I can. It’s just so painfully funny and brutally honest. Can I please hang out and work with Lena Dunham?
Dunkin Donuts has this Black Cocoa Creme Iced Coffee to celebrate the new Men in Black movie. It is tasty!!!! I’ll miss it (just like I miss the Caramel Almond iced coffee they took away from me too).
My Kindle Fire. Don’t get me wrong, I still love books, but I love the instant gratification (and constant suggestions for new books) I get from this tablet wonder. I don’t regret that purchase for a second.
Summer weather, aka swimming weather. I had my first dip in the pool on Sunday and it was so lovely.
Cheese! I’m into trying all different kinds. My dinner on Monday consisted of some leftover chicken fingers from the party and a plate of various cheese Brad got from his parents’ house. Mmmm…best snack ever.
My lovely little succulent/cacti plant that my friend Catie got me for my birthday. It’s the first plant I’ve ever cared about.
The show Misfits, which you can watch on Hulu for free. It is hysterical and exciting and dramatic. A great mixture.