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Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

December 6, 2015

The Happiness Report #38 (Happy Calm Focused Edition)

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The Happiness Report #38, featuring Happy Calm Focused, Bags and lots of other happy things!

Happy Calm Focused

Christmas music is playing, my daughters have been busy in the kitchen making our favorite cutout Christmas cookies (recipe here…you’ve gotta make these) and I feel like I’m wrapped in a blanket of holiday bliss. It’s been a low key kind of Sunday, just what we’ve needed amidst the hustle of the last few weeks. I thought it’d be a great time to write a happiness report and share what’s been making me happy lately!

Last week on my daily “Coffee Talk” on Snapchat (I’d love to snap with you – I’m dineanddish there), I shared that I’d been taking an amino acid vitamin supplement for the past month and I truly believe it’s really, really working. So many of you snapped me back asking for more information! I’m not involved with Happy Calm Focused in any way… I have just been really pleased with the product and wanted to share.

Happy Calm Focused was my last resort before I headed to the doctor to see if I had ADD or something. For the past year I have felt so incredibly unfocused, tired and irritable. Overall, I felt like an absolute scatter brain and it was driving me crazy. I’m normally a very organized, on the ball person, but something was happening and I had changed. I felt like my brain was constantly going in a million different directions, I couldn’t focus or remember ANYTHING, and I was really tired, despite getting a good nights rest. Every day required an afternoon nap for me to get through the day. I assumed it was hormones, ADD or something, but wasn’t sure.

I started taking HCF over a month ago and in the last few weeks I have had 100% more motivation, focus, energy (but not in a hyper kind of way) and general feeling of well being. I can’t explain it because I honestly have no idea what has changed, other than the only variable that’s different is I’ve been taking the HCF vitamin supplement. The change has been subtle…I’ve noticed it mostly in my focus, then in the fact that I feel less strung out and scatterbrained and I have a general sense of peace. Because of the focus, I’m getting so much more done. Anyway, since so many people asked me about it on Snapchat, I thought I’d share it with you all here! I’m assuming I haven’t been the only one feeling this way. (I buy HCF on Amazon and take 4 of the vitamins each morning).  Let me know if you have any questions about my Happy Calm Focused experience… I’d be happy to share!

OK now on to other happy things!

The Adventure Begins Darling pouch and tote bag

I’ve been searching and searching for a pouch and bag for my “Morning Happy Hour” time. I wanted something to keep all of my art/journaling supplies in. I found these two bags on Amazon and am absolutely in love. They are canvas mercantile bags, so they are sturdy and roomy! Both bags are so perfect for my needs.

Southern Charm Quilts Rag Quilt

As much as I hate the winter, there is little I love more than snuggling up on my couch with a cozy quilt and a good book. Last year I invested in having a handmade rag quilt sewn for me, and it is truly one of the most beautiful things I own! I love the work of Southern Charm Quilts…their fabric designs are so lovely and their quilts are the perfect snuggle up and read weight. My custom throw quilt makes me so happy!

You’ve got to check out what this woman has done to spread happiness to kids in hospitals. It’s so inspiring!

I am in LOVE with these grain scoops and pretty much everything in this shop. Hint hint, husband.

You’ll hear a lot more about this in the new year, but I’ve been drooling over this blog for awhile now. BUJO for the win!

Same with this blog… I love peeking at others journal entries and lists.

This is one of the most beautiful cakes I have ever seen.

My girls need these for Christmas! If you have long hair, you’ll want one too.

Children of the 80’s…this will make you smile from nostalgia! Do you have a favorite?

Alright friends! That’s it for my happiness report today. Make sure to take a moment and share with me what’s making you happy lately! Have a great week!

Happy

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Filed Under: Happiness, Life, Previous Tagged With: book reviews, happiness, happy calm focused, hcf, links to love, quilt, shopping

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aggie says

    December 6, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    I love these posts.

    You described me in a nutshell – unfocused, scattered, irritable. I’m over it. Buying that stuff tonight.

    I’m so curious about BuJo, I love those bags and that quilt!

    Reply
  2. Carrie says

    December 7, 2015 at 9:58 am

    quilts are the best <3

    Reply
  3. The Teacher Cooks says

    December 7, 2015 at 3:28 pm

    My coffee in the morning makes me so happy. Oh and my retirement!

    Reply
  4. Wendy Hunter says

    October 14, 2018 at 9:18 pm

    So happy you are back Kristen! I’ve missed all your post. And thank you for the info on HCF, I was going to message you about it,this week!

    Reply

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Kristen-125Hi friends, I'm Kristen! Mom of 4, Ambassador of Happiness, Coffee Lover and Connection Seeker. Come say hi! Read More…
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happiness  HAPPINESS

I believe that in order to live a happy life, you have to make happiness happen through implementing simple things that make you happy into every day. Here are a few of the things that bring me happiness - I hope they do you too.

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Book Lovers Giveaway (read to the end)!!! ⬇️ ⬇️ 

Supporting my local independent bookstore @rainydaybooks looks a lot different than it used to these days. Temporarily gone are the days of lingering in store, browsing the shelves, walking out with an armful of books I didn’t expect to buy. The pandemic has made independent bookstores pivot in ways they’ve never had to before, but I’m so happy to say they are CRUSHING IT! And as we virtually celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on 4/24, I wanted to share a way you too can help keep Independent bookstores afloat now (and in the future).

You know I’m a huge fan of @librofm , the absolute best audiobook alternative that gives money back to the independent bookstore of your choice with your audiobook purchases. Well, to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on 4/24, they are giving YOU a free audiobook! Here’s what you need to do…

Spend $15 or more at your bookstore between April 24th and 26th. Submit your receipt at libro.fm/ibd and Libro.fm will email you a link to your free audiobook by April 28th! Easy peasy, right?

Wait! There’s more! 🌟 I’d love to give one Dine & Dish follower the chance to win a 3 month @Librofm audiobook membership. To enter, simply tag your favorite independent bookstore here and tell me what you love the most about it! That’s it! Winner will be chosen at random on April 27th. Yay, books!

#indiebookstoreday #indiebookstore #bookstoreshoutout 
#booksbooksandmorebooks #bookgiveaway #audiobook #librofm #independentbookstore @indiebookstoreday
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Can’t believe we’re doing the college tour thing already with my second baby! 

So question for any of you who sent your kids to out of state schools or went to out of state schools...how did you do it? She wants to get the heck out of Kansas (I’d like to go with her!). We have money saved, she’ll most likely get a scholarship or two, she’s paying and has money saved as well...but even with that out of state tuition is a beast of an amount. So, did you just assume that student loans were going to be part of that life? And is that worth it to give your kids a shot at a new life outside of your home state? I wish I would have left Kansas for university, and have been here since I was born 😩. I want different for her if that’s what she wants but also just don’t have any experience with how people do out of state college! Any tips?

#collegetour #bestlifenow #outofstate #studentloans #junioryear #kansasstate #adviceneeded
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J is for...jam!
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My friend @wakschmale makes the best strawberry jam...and I completely forgot about a jar she gave me last year until this morning. Which then inspired me to make my favorite buttermilk biscuits. So so good. Are you a jam, honey, just butter or plain biscuit fan? I love biscuits allll the ways, except with gravy. I have super bad memories of biscuits and gravy growing up. 🤢
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I’m still slowly making my way through the alphabet for @kimklassen_innercircle a-z photo challenge. I’m bound and determined to finish. It may just take me a little longer than I originally anticipated 🤗.
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#homemadejam #eatcaptureshare #biscuitsandjam #homemadebiscuits #sundaybaking #easylikesundaymorning #foodphotograph #foodpics #slowsunday #breakfastathome #kimklassen_innercircle
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It took me 2 months to get this Crispy Chickpea Pantry Pasta recipe up on the blog. 🤦‍♀️But it’s there now! You can find the link in my Instagram profile.
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Also, just noticed Instagram took away the like count on posts. I kind of like that...what do you think?
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#pastarecipe #chickpeapasta #dinnerideas #dinnerrecipes #vegetarianrecipe #eatcaptureshare #slowblogging  #totallifechanges
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I is for Inspiration!
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The “long haul” effects of having Covid back in December are really presenting themselves lately. The continuous persistent headaches are taking a toll and the connection between the brain fog and word retrieval function of my brain has been extra challenging. I had no idea a couple months out, the cognitive effects would still be hanging around.
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With that said, when I get a burst of inspiration I’m grabbing on for dear life. I made our favorite chocolate chip cookies recipe yesterday and felt the desire to update the blog post photos from 2007! We make these cookies all the time, so I’m not sure why it’s taken me so many years to give that poor post some new photos.
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If you’re interested in the recipe you can find the link currently in my profile. Enjoy!!
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@kimklassen_innercircle #kimklassen_innercircle #chocolatechipcookie #cookiestagram #foodphotography #feedfeedbaking #plateofcookies #cookiephotography #eatcaptureshare #recipeoftheweek
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H is for...high!
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It was so strange being on a plane again. I’m so thankful I have the antibodies because the flights were full, which seemed wrong, but everyone around me did seem to keep their masks on, so that was good.
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I can’t wait until travel becomes a regular part of life again. I’ve missed it so much!
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 @kimklassen_innercircle @southwestair @windowswap #cloudphotography #cloudsofinstagram #flightview #iflyswa #imisstravelling #skylove #planepics #myviewtoday #beautifulviews
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G is for...oh so grateful!

I flew to South Texas yesterday to visit my parents whom I haven’t seen in 2 years. They live around 17 hours away from us. We typical get to see each other a few times a year but with the pandemic and other health issues it just wasn’t able to happen and I’ve missed them soooo much.

Grateful to have had COVID last month. Although it was not at all fun, it gave me the antibodies to make this trip possible. My dad is having surgery tomorrow so I’m helping with my mom so my dad can recover without having to worry about her.

Kansas is enjoying frigid temperatures and snow. I picked a great week to head south.
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#palmtrees🌴 #palmtreesfordays #blueskiesandsunshine #wintersun #texasskies #kimklassen_innercircle @kimklassen_innercircle #silverlining
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F is for...food photography.
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This time of year especially, food photography (and I guess all photography actually) is a tug of war with time and light. I had planned on making and photographing a delicious pasta recipe, but my grocery delivery ran a couple of hours late because of snowstorm. So, at the eleventh hour I decided to make a cake...that took over an hour to bake and I had about 90 minutes of natural light left...leaving me with about 30 minutes of ok light to work with.
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Anyway, this wouldn't work for a client shoot because the cake, although delicious, didn't turn out looking so great. But it will work great for today's F photo for the @kimklassen_innercircle A-Z photo project:) Lemon Citrus Yogurt Cake from this weeks @cabotcheese newsletter. So good!
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#eatcake #eatcaptureshare #eatcakebehappy #lemoncake #cakecakecakecake #foodiegram #yahoofood #dessertsofinstagram #sweettooth #kimklassen_innercircle #fisforfood
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