"The Happiness Project"

Recently (and for me that means sometime in my memory but in this particular instance its the past month)... I read a blurb about a book called "The Happiness Project". I went to the store to purchase it and actually found that there are many books on happiness, who knew. Well I still got this one because I knew something about it. It is actually really good. Its a story vs a how to be happy book. I am enjoying having something to do when the kids nap to check out of life and not feel very guilty as I used to when I would check out by napping. Its also almost like having adult conversation because here's the thing about my life right now. During the day when I'm with the kids I totally just crave hearing adult words and speaking to someone who will listen and understand. However, when the kids are sleeping I really just want quiet. I don't want to talk or be talked to. Tricky situation.... solution, read a book. Thanks to a friend I discovered roughly 4 years ago I like to read contrary to my belief of myself the whole other 21 (eekk almost 22) years of my life. I'm only on page 55 of the book but wanted to spill my new knowledge out.

"The repetitive activity of walking, studies show, triggers the body's relaxation response and so helps reduce stress; at the same time, even a quick ten minute walk provides an immediate energy boost and improves mood- in fact, exercise is an effective way to snap out of a funk. Also, I kept reading that, as a minimum of activity for good health, people should aim to take 10,000 steps a day- a number that also reportedly keeps most people from gaining weight"

The book reminded me of the on-minute rule. If a task will only take a minute to do, put shoes away, throw out a piece of junk mail, etc, do it now before it builds up to a huge pile of clutter and will take 15 minutes.

"What you do EVERY DAY matters more than what you do ONCE IN A WHILE"

No nagging. For example, if I ask D to take out the stinky trash, I then have to wait until it fits into his schedule. If I want it done on my schedule, I should do it. He'll be more likely to do it and faster, if I only ask him once. 95% of the time, he hasn't forgotten what I am reminding him over and over to do since the first time I told him.

"Why should I spoil a peaceful moment with my irritation? Hearing someone complain is tiresome whether you're in a good mood or a bad one and whether or not the complaining is justified. I took a deep breath and stopped mid-rant... Jamie looked at me with surprise, then relied. He probably knew what an effort it had taken for me to restrain myself. When I got up to get more coffee, he stood up to give me a hug, without saying anything."

"Happy wife, happy life' or put another way, 'If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.' At first I'd thought that sounded great- yippee, it's all about pleasing me! - but if these sayings are true, it's a tremendous responsibility.""Happy people generally are more forgiving, helpful, and charitable, have better self-control, and are more tolerant of frustration than unhappy people."

Gretchen Rubin wrote "The Happiness Project" and regardless of if you want to be happier or not its still a good read. I 100% suggest getting this book to read. And if you don't get around to it the cover is uplifting and pretty! Then, suggest it to all your friends too. I heart it!

Kristin -isms

Kristin has adapted a few words I think are adorable and wanted to share:

For a biscuit such as one would eat for dinner... "bone"

Suntan lotion... "Sunshine lotion"

Mud Puddles.... "muddles"

Best weekend in CT

There's no hiding that I've struggled to adjust to living with all these people and pets with new challenges and drastic changes, as if two growing children don't create enough of the latter two on their own. However, I had an absolute great weekend. I can't even remember everything that happened because SO much happened. But it was like when I say I just want to have a good weekend, this would be the weekend to recreate. So Saturday, we got up ate breakfast and D, the two kids, and I went for a walk. Honestly poor timing on our part lead for a humous walk. Apparently there was a walk to raise money for the Elementary school and it went into our neighborhood. Mind you, we live in small town, usa so there isn't one elementary school per neighborhood. We have three for the whole town. We pass by neighbors that have set-up water stands with watermelon and fun things and people wearing numbers pinned to their shirt. There were road blocks and people wearing orange shirts I suppose to make sure no one passed out or got lost?? Not really sure. It was very funny especially because we were walking in the wrong direction! Anyway, then came lunch, and kids naps. D was able to get yard work done and I got a few things accomplished as well. Kristin woke up first and we played outside. D pretty much finished shortly after she woke up, showered and got cleaned up and.... ready... made me a bubble bath! I got to take a bubble bath and read in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday! Unheard of and amazing! D and Bill played with the kids and when I got out it was silent. It was a breath of fresh air. I got ready and we took the kids to our neighbor's little league baseball game. We bought Kristin her own ice cream on a stick! After the game we had a cook out and a relaxing evening. Sunday was church and then errands just the four of us. Errands somehow ended with Kristin getting her first bike. Mom and Bill cooked dinner to give me a cooking break and I never thought I'd say this but it was fabulous just because I didn't cook it OR clean -up from it!

Kristin the cooking queen

Kristin is going to be the next and youngest Food Network Star. It all started out with planting tomato seeds. We waited until Daxton went to bed and then planted the seeds and she did so well. So on that Friday I put Daxton down early to nap and she made chocolate pudding! We had make your own pizza dinner night and she has been cooking almost daily since then. She has made meatloaf, chicken butter sauce, corn bread, cookies, rice noodles with shrimp and sauce... the list goes on and on. It is so much fun for both of us and she is a great listener. When we need to cook on the stove I pull a high stool (With a back) a safe distance from the stove. She helps me get the ingredients into the pan and then helps watch for it. Pasta she likes because she gets to tell me when it looks like her bubble bath! She gets so proud of herself. Her play kitchen already was her favorite toy next being her play-doh, clearly because she "cooks" with the play-doh too making pasta, cookies, hot dogs, anything. However, now I can honestly say, I can't remember the last time we were in the family room with her playing with a toy besides her food unless we make her. Kristin is amazing and its such a blast. When we made the corn muffins I was even so daring as to do it while Daxton was awake! I was pretty darn proud of myself... is that allowed? Because I totally was. He liked to watch and then we was playing with a spare cupcake pan! Such a good boy!!! Kristin can even pull the tails off of the shrimp! I know its hard to say what she'll do when she gets bigger but I think cooking will be a favorite past-time. That and hockey.... she has said now three days in a row she wants to play hockey. Randomly and unprompted....