Another week and more happiness to share with you all! Thanks for sharing what made you happy with me last week. From planting herbs, setting up curbside recycling, blogging & week in reviews, reading books, keeping resolutions, celebrating and receiving much deserved praise, you all had some really simple and inspirational things making you smile! Hopefully you’ll share what’s making you happy in the comments section again this week.
Right now, I am in a state of “bliss” and exhaustion, if it is possible for the two to go together. I am currently in Nashville, TN at the Blissdom 2011 conference. Jyl, from Mom it Forward, sent myself and 8 other women to represent their brand at this fantastic conference. Being sponsored by such a wonderful brand, connecting with old friends and meeting new friends truly is something that makes me happy!
In addition to that, this is what popped up on my happiness radar this week:
As I mentioned above, I am currently at the Blissdom conference. This morning I got to listen to an opening keynote speech that I truly needed to hear. Brene Brown, author of the book The Gifts of Imperfection, spoke about vulnerability and deeper connections with others. I heard her speak at the Evo conference and was as equally impressed, but felt like she was truly talking to me this time around. I ended up buying her book I was so moved by her speech. Some of my takeaway quotes from her talk were:
- “Connection is what gives our life meaning and purpose.”
- “Vulnerability is the key to loving and living with our whole hearts.”
- “Worthiness has no prerequisites.” –> Typically love this one as someone who often gets caught up in comparing myself to others and feeling like I’m not good enough.”
- “When you say you don’t care what people think and you mean it, you have lost the capacity to connect.”
- “Find and be a friend that would move a body” –> I’m lucky to have some friends like this… thank you body moving friends!
- and finally, she shared what Oprah has hanging outside of her office…LOVE this. “You are responsible for the energy you bring into this room.”
Happy stuff, I tell ya’!
Other things?
I discovered this new to me “pin board” website called Pinterest. You put a “pin” in things you like out on the web and it collects them on a “board” for you on their site. Like a bulletin board of things you love. Pretty cool, isn’t it?
If you are a mom, you must go take a look at this post by Straving Artist Ink. It makes me happy when people trust us so much that they share their most vulnerable moments. THIS, my friends, is truly being open to vulnerability!
And finally, because I can’t help but be a little materialistic from time to time, every single item in the Etsy store, Kitty Rogers Photography, makes me happy! Cute stuff!
Oh, and hot tea… hot tea and the calm time to drink it, thrills me to pieces. (The picture is part of my Project 365 which I share over on my Photo Journey Blog.)
Now, it’s your turn! What has made you happy this week? Share in the comments, leave a link, or give me a shout out on Facebook or Twitter. Who knows? What makes you happy may be featured in a future Happiness Report! Even if you don’t share, take a moment to remind yourself that no matter what is going on in our lives, we all have a lot to be happy about!
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A new job, good blogging opportunities (with compensation) and wonderful friends. That’s been what’s sparked my radar this week.
Sharing my passion this week and watching people read it on my blog and making an amazing Carrot Apple Loaf!
Beautiful photo Kristen!
So much about my life makes me happy: the man I’m married to, the neighborhood I live in, my friend who lives next door, my dog, my two nephews, cooking and baking, and of course, having my very own food blog! I’m also thrilled to have met so many lovely people these past two years through blogging and Twitter–you being one of them!
I immediately bought The Happiness Project after reading about it here…and now, every day, I read and relish a chapter or two. It’s as compelling as a good novel!
I started a gratitude journal the beginning of the year. Each day I write a few things that I am thankful for from the day. Often it is Jason, the boys…but I like to look for something else….the simple things. Like butter, chocolate, the smell of cookie dough, simple dinners. the smell of a new baby, a friend offering to pick up Jakob since Aiden is still napping and a little under the weather, a great cup of tea.
Focusing on the good things of the day just before going to bed makes me mroe relaxed and I sleep much better.
Tania, I love your gratitude journal idea!
I’m a cheeseball, but my husband is making me happy right now. I’m going through a stressful time, and he’s taken the time to figure out what I need and how he can provide that right now. It’s intentional and thoughtful and loving… and it’s making me happy 🙂
Beautiful post with so many wonderful finds!!!
What has made me happy this week? I honestly don’t think there is enough bandwidth to cover that!!! Let’s see – health, family and good friends, a roof over my head and plenty of good food to eat. An amazing blogging community that inspires, challenges and supports me every day – and lastly – drinking a good cup of coffee in the early morning sun with my cat sitting next to me – Blissdom?? Absolutely!
Making some super cute cookies for a friend’s son’s birthday – he handed them out to his class. It was fun and they turned out amazing!
I also got my brother to agree to take some photos of my husband and me. Our 15th anniversary is coming up and I want to redo one of my favorite photos from the big day – minus the dress. Should be fun!
Being the mother of some amazing children, of whom you are one. Being totally successful at the fundraising activities I have chaired this past month. Having a God-wink happen this week that I will share with you privately. Loving you. Loving your father. Loving your siblings. Loving my friends . I could go on, but don’t have time because I am going to a party!
LOVE Brene Brown—she’s a fantastic speaker. This week, I’d have to say I’m happy to be pushing my own boundaries and getting comfortable with my own goals/creative inspirations. I owe some of that to the Soul Restoration Course—it’s helped me take time for myself again, to hear my own hopes & dreams coming through, not those just coming through the filter of mom or wife. Safe travels!
P.S. I’m on Pinterest too! Love it, look me up!
Pinterest is an adorable idea…that made me happy today!
What makes me happy? After three months in our new home, this past week we got five couches, two chairs, and one rug. More furniture needed, but WE HAVE A PLACE TO SIT DOWN! Yes, that is worth yelling about. 😀
This week, I’m happy because I don’t have to go home and be with my grandmother in her last days yet – because those last days have been postponed. Things were looking dire a couple days ago, but she’s rallied, and she’s doing fairly well as of last night. We’ll see how it goes, but a few more days is good.
I’m loving The Happiness Report! What a fabulous idea. I added The Gifts of Imperfection to my amazon wish list. And I cannot even tell you how much I love that hot tea photo. AMAZING!!!!!
Thanks for the reminder on Pintrest. I signed up there months ago and have yet to do anything with it, but I think it will be a fun way to track inspiring things online without bookmarking everything in Firefox.
Brene’s book sounds amazing. I’ll have to add that to my book pile.
We had a good, productive week here. Madeline got sick towards the end but her fever finally broke last night and that made me very happy after 2 days at 102+. It’s great to see her coming back to herself.
Have a great week, Kristen!
Thank you so much Kristen!
I know I’m the last person on the planet to discover blogs, but last week I discovered yours Kristen and fell in love with the idea of a happiness report. That led me to the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin (both book and the website) and now I can’t stop telling people about both.
Also you inspired me to add a page called “The Good Things” to my blog where I track all of the good things that happen to me in the week or the things that make me happy the week.
Thank you so much for the inspiration… I love your blog and the ideas it gives me.
Laura
I love pinterest but the site has been sooo slow and buggy lately that its driving me crazy! plus its pinning everything three or four times each time I make a pin 🙁
I hope they get it running smoothly because I am in love with the lay out and the concept
I heard Brene speak on TedxHouston — I agree — so inspiring. For other folks interested in hearing her speak, here’s the link. http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html
I am happy this week for a couple things; the first being that we are alright, after a scooter accident a week ago. I count my blessings everyday and am so happy to be able to see Lenny’s smile every day when I wake up, to talk to my family and friends and to be able to read your happy post. We are very lucky. As well I am really happy to be starting my happiness project this week; looking forward to adding more happiness to my life and to other’s.
Thanks for sharing your project with us all.
I love your happy reports! Love the nice pic of your cup of tea and spoon — great shot! How does one get an invite for Pinterest? I am drooling over all the pretty visuals there! (So nice to look at with a cup of hot tea when it’s so soggy and cold outside! It’s like a new Calgon: “Pinterest, take me away!”)
: )
xx
P.S. Your photos really, really, really make my hands itch for a camera (my old point-and-shoot is not cutting it! I want bokeh!). Thanks for being an inspiration! Love you!