be happier in your home

in my quest for happiness, i would like to share something i just found on pinterest that i love!  my comments are added in red :)




Found this list on apartmenttherapy.com and was inspired! Hopefully it will inspire you t00!

1. Make your bed.

The book The Happiness Project, explains that this three minute task is one of the simplest habits you can adopt to positively impact your happiness.

good point. i need to start doing this. i wonder how much of a difference it will really make. i am easily entertained.

2. Bring every room back to “ready.”

I learned this trick from Marilyn Paul’s clever book, It’s Hard to Make a Difference When You Can’t Find Your Keys. It’s a known fact: Clutter causes stress; order creates a haven from it. This mood-boosting routine is simple: Take about three minutes to bring each room back to “ready” before you depart it. (Unless you have a toddler, or a partner who likes to simulate earthquakes, three minutes should be sufficient.)

this is something i have been wanting to do for a long time. i suspected it would bring happiness in my life. my laziness has overcome. i must start this habit. ASAP.

3. Display sentimental items around your home.

One reason that experiences (and memories of those experiences) make us happier than material things is due to the entire cycle of enjoyment that experiences provide: planning the experience, looking forward to the experience, enjoying the experience, and then remembering the experience. Make your home a gallery of positive memories.

you know those people whose homes are overloaded with photos of themselves and you wonder, WTF is wrong with you people? well, maybe that is their key to happiness.  dont judge me if next time you visit i have all new photos of me, david, and the "kids".

4. Start a one-line-a-day gratitude journal.

Before bed, simply jot down one happy memory from that day. (If you have kids, you can ask them, “What was the best part of today?”) Reflection is an important part of happiness, and pausing to reflect on a positive event from each day cultivates gratitude. (An added bonus: Later, when your memory is defunct, you will already have all of your meaningful adventures recorded!) If you have trouble getting started with journaling, consider buying a book to guide you. Simple Abundance, by Sarah Ban Breathnach, is a great one.

this is a great idea. i think i will put pen and paper on my nightstand for this.

5. If you can’t get out of it, get into it.

This tip comes from The Happiness Project. I love the message: The dishes are not going to clean themselves, so you will do it, and you will like it! (Unless, of course, you can outsource this job, in which case I say: Nice work!) Otherwise, get into doing the dishes. Feel the soothing warm water on your hands. Enjoy the tickle of the tiny bubbles. Crank your favorite album at an unusually loud volume, do a couple fist-pumps while shouting “Can I get a hell yeah for the dishes? Hell! Yeah!” and pretend you love it.

i cant help but laugh. i am so terrible about not cleaning up after myself. every time my mother-in-law visits she inspires me to do this very thing: clean the dishes as they go in the sink, etc. not long after she leaves that habit quickly fades. i need to keep on it. *key to happiness*

6. Before you get up each morning, set an intent for the day.

In The Art of Happiness, the Dali Lama says “”Every day, think as you wake up: today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.” Wow. What a wise man. I tend to wake up with a strong visceral reaction that says, “Attention human beings: Be afraid of me before coffee. Be very afraid!” Setting a daily intent makes a huge difference. Your daily intent could be something like “be productive” or “enjoy today’s delicious moments” or it could be something more specific like “say thank you to my loved ones today.” But it should not be another “to do” item on your list.

i've tried this in the past. it works. i tell myself, "today WILL be a good day". it makes a difference. when i have one of my mini, mid-day meltdowns i remind myself of the promise i made myself that morning. it really helps.

7. Do small favors for your housemates, expecting nothing in return (not even a thank you!).

(That’s right, I said it: nothing!) Mow the lawn for your husband, but don’t expect him to pat you on the back. Make the bed for your wife, but don’t try to get bonus points for it. Take the trash out for your roommate, just because. The ability to cultivate strong, healthy relationships is one of the biggest contributors to health and happiness, but when you start to keep score, the benefit is lost. (No! It’s YOUR turn to clean up the dog poop!) It’s a well-known fact: When you do good, you feel good.

*HGM HGM*COUGH COUGH* Babe ;) this is another key to my happiness.

8. Call at least one friend or family member a day.

You can do this while you clean, while you make the bed, or while you walk the dog. Texts and emails do not count! Make an actual phone call to a loved one, just to chat and catch up. We humans are social beings and studies show that even when we don’t feel like it, even if we are naturally introverted, socializing with our loved ones makes us feel better.

im good at this, haha. i have always been one for calling people on the regular. if one person doesn't answer i call someone else. i need that companionship. shit, am i a dog? 

9. Spend money on things that cultivate experiences at home.

Save money for a new grill for parties or a new DVD for family movie night — something that will encourage you to have people over and entertain. Plan a summer barbeque, invite your closest friends, kick back and relax. (And don’t forget to print out the pictures to remember the good times.)

another thing i am good at! my next purchase will be a dance game for the kinect. who wants to play? 

10. Spend a few minutes each day connecting with something greater than yourself.

Whatever your spiritual beliefs — or non-beliefs — may be, studies show that connecting to a high power is correlated with happiness. Just stepping back to realize that we are part of an enormous universe can put some perspective on your annoyance with the those-are-definitely-not-mine-and-they-are-abso-fricking-lutely-repulsive socks under the coffee table. Before bed, spend just a few minutes contemplating something larger than yourself. Take a walk in nature. Write in a journal. Create a sacred space in your home. (Or if spirituality is really not your thing, create a home spa: light some candles, soak in a hot bath, delve into a good book… are you feeling better yet?)

true story.

never ceases to amaze

hey, guys.

long time....i am getting bad about blogging. my most sincere apologies. -_-

i have been thinking about blogging a lot recently and just haven't made the time to do so. i am here now, and ready to write!

the title of this post tonight relates to my feelings about myself. in many ways really.

its like i am constantly battling with myself and for some unknown reason i can.not.stop
1. i battle with taking my meds.
2. i battle with being true to myself.
3. i battle with not spending money.
4. i just.fight.everything.   its.ridiculous.

i dont know how to stop this. why do i do this to myself?  i tell myself that i am not purposely forgetting my meds...but i think i subconsciously am. i know that i need them...that i am off my rocker without them....and still....mid-afternoon rolls around and i say, "oh shit! i didnt take my meds today." like seriously, jess, c'mon. get.with.the.program. i think i need a volunteer to remind me every morning to take the stupid things! i need to lose the pride and face the fact that without my medication, every ounce of my being is out of wack. mainly because my stupid thyroid controls everything.

my second battle related to many aspects of my life including, but not limited to, exercise, staying happy, keeping up with school work, telling myself positive, uplifting things, and only keeping around real friends. i tend to be nice to everyone. not that i want to be mean, but i am sick of the drama and the bullshit.  granted, i have more real friends now than i have ever had in my life, but there are still a few i could stand to eliminate (sorry, guys, no offense, just not my "people"). but the BIGGEST is staying healthy and happy.

going off on a tangent for a minute, i have decided that i need to go vegetarian, if only for a period of time.  research and personal stories have led me to believe that the source of my many ailments derives from eating meat and eating processed foods.  i was doing really well while david was deployed with the processed foods elimination. and i am not a big meat eater anyway so i was taking in much of that, either. but since david has been back, i have stopped all good eating habits and exercise. not that its his fault, its because i am busy loving my life with him. (even if that black cloud is lurking just behind, waiting to descend upon me and swallow me whole.) so i am on a mission to start working out again, stop eating processed food, and become a vegetarian.  should be interesting....

back to my original thought.....I SPEND TOO MUCH FUCKING MONEY!! ENTIRELY TOO MUCH!!!  i used to be the bitch telling david no to everything. now the roles have reversed. he is always telling me no. i have come to the conclusion that it is because i went so long without having money to spend that i am spending everything i have now that i make more money. not that my salary is spectacular because it definitely is far from it, but its enough to have spending money.  i need to get real. slap me in the face because i want to spend, spend, spend.  sadly, i finish paying bills with money we dont have and STILL want to spend money. its terrible.....on a better note i have put some of my spending to good use.  i have been buying things to donate to the women's shelter and i went through my closet and picked out gently used clothes i could also donate. so that makes me happier :)

i strongly believe in karma. she is a relentless bitch. i shall always act in her favor. as i get older i am figuring out how to expand on my good acts. not only will it come back to me but it also gives me instant gratification.

thats enough for now, i have officially talked(typed) you ear(eyes) off. i hope you all had a happy hanukkah, happy kwanzaa, merry christmas, merry winter solstice, etc, etc....and a happy new year! be kind to others and most importantly, be kind to yourself. <3

Meh. and other random happenings.

hello to my lovely readers! i am so exhausted from pretending that i am not sick i think this post will be short and sweet.

just to catch everyone up.

im back in school and it is going well. it takes up a lot of my time, though. i miss not being in school although i enjoy the intellectual challenge of it.

david and i have been quite busy perusing town and mingling with friends. my work holiday party, his, social events, 5Ks and the like. we are definitely more active than we used to be.

baby jax is growing up fast. i bought him an XS sweater at the pet store today and it is too tight on him. i think it would last until next week. so i have to return it for a different one.   my family farm is adjusting to him well. jax is slowly growing on them.

we went to a Yelp event today and the local distillery. it was a lot of fun. spent way too much money. on a positive note, it was all to support local businesses. and we got lots of free food samples and alcoholic drinks crafted with the deliciousness of the distillery. i shall post pictures of our event another time. we got a sweet hand-made painting on canvas of emobot.

finally, i have been fighting back this sickness for almost two weeks now. i figured, mind over matter, right? wrong. i am slowly succumbing to the germs brewing within me. its only a matter of time.  thankfully, i have just one more week before i get two paid weeks off work. one of the many perks of teaching :)