Happy 100th!

 

 In honor of this being blog post 100, I thought I would put together a rockin' awesome list of 100 things that make me happy. After writing this list, I quickly discovered that I could list way more than 100 things!

Here they are in no particular order (After number one, that is!):

1. My Family - of course they have to be number one. What kind of crappy list would I make if my peeps were below the pinnacle?
2. Being married to my best friend
3. Damp, brightly colored fall leaves
4. Pumpkin Patches
5. Canning Tomatoes
6. Jammies
7. Chick Flicks
8. Hot Chocolate  
9. My older brother, Roger (Seriously the smartest dude I have ever met!)
10. My little sister, Missy
11. My little brother, Tyler
12. Antiques
13. BBQ evenings with family
14. Fourwheeling
15. Boating
16. Photography
17. Curling up on the couch and having great conversations with Besties.
18. Glee
19. Having a hubby who can fix anything!
20. Good books
21. Watching giant flakes of snow fall while being all snug and cozy in the house. 
22. Playing Christmas music on the day after Thanksgiving.
23. Rain
24. Apple trees
25. Old movies
26. Pumpkin Spice lotion
27. Norman Rockwell towns
28. Making a meal out of finger foods on New Year's Eve
29. Puzzles
30. Stephen King
31. Singing loudly in the car
32. Parents
33. Talented children
34. Spontaneous lunch dates
35. Gardening
36. Snow capped mountains
37. Thunder that cracks so loudly that it shakes the windows. 
38. Dragonflies
39. Traveling
40. Sunflowers
41. Salon fresh hair
42. Holding hands
43. Making fudge
44. Yummy scented candles
45. Car washes with rainbow, almond scented soap. 
46. Leaves swirling on the pavement, caught up in unseen vortexes. 
47. Sea Turtles
48. Getting lost in new cities. 
49. Walking barefoot across lush, green grass. 
50. Snorkeling
51. Rental cars
52. Sisters that understand 
53. Old bottles
54. Guardian Angels
55. Honeysuckle
56. Made up words
57. New Socks
58. International dinner nights
59. Sobbing over a movie
60. Tender kisses
61. Hummingbirds
62. Big, fat bumblebees
63. J&J Nursery
64. Gardener Village
65. Wonderful Aunties
66. Crackling fires on cold evenings (Still can't believe I bought a house without a fireplace!)
67. Sprinklers
68. My sweetheart's hands 
69. Anniversaries
70. Motorboat kisses on the back of my neck (Thanks sweetie!) 
71. Love
72. Big, fluffy towels
73. Swimming
74. Text messages that make me smile
75. Snorts of laughter
76. Yuffas
77. Gel Pens
78. Amazon.com
79. Coming home
80. Blogs
81. Christmas Eve
82. Finding $20 in a jacket pocket the first time I wear it in the fall.
83. The Pottery Barn magazines
84. RC Willeys
85. Recalling something funny and laughing about it hours later
86. Strength
87. Pearl Harbor
88. Boston and memories of Grandma
89. Cherry  pipe tobacco smoke (memories of Grandpa)
90. Silver dollars
91. Happiness
92. Giving the perfect gift
93. Baby pictures
94. Book stores
95. Chocolate licorice
96. Pillows and blankets arranged just right
97. Quilts
98. Visiting
99. Getting packages in the mail
100. Daughters

Helpful Tips For Being A Successful Human

You may laugh at the title of this post, but take a minute to think about the people you have met in your lifetime that are NOT successful humans. I know you have encountered at least one. Those type of people never learned the fine art of giving service, sacrificing for others, and never ever stomping on someone else's happy feet.  Sound impossible?  I will admit that it is something that we must work toward, every single day... but I promise you the journey is worth it.  Every. Single. Minute.


Here are some things I have learned along the way that I truly believe help me be more successful at being a good human.

Happiness In Bloom

I have said to my family that I easily could have been a Prairie Woman in my former life because if I can grow it, bake it, or take care of it, then it makes me happy.  

Ahh the simple pleasures in life!

Lately my projects are of the growing variety. It is no secret that Spring is my favorite time of year because I get to transform my brown, lifeless gardens into something splendorous. I suppose this particular joy of creation is how an artist must feel as he puts his brush to canvas. My canvas just happens to be various patches of dirt surrounding my home.

This particular patch of dirt is one of our favorites. We affectionately call it The Sitting Garden. Although the irony is that we would much rather sit on the swing across from the sitting garden in order to properly enjoy the view.

When we first moved in to our house, this patch of dirt was filled with weeds four feet high. The original owners had wanted to turn it into a pond, but one look and I knew what this area was destined for and I made it my goal to transform it into something wonderful, colorful, fragrant and serene.

Each year we add a few more perennials and a ton of annuals to create an explosion of brightly colored happiness that our entire family enjoys all summer long.  A little over a year ago, Bill added the Italian pizza oven and California bbq pit  that is now a major focal point at the garden's edge. The red rocks and Sun/Moon sculpture, and even the pergola in the background were my own ideas.

This was the end result after the girls helped me plant all the gorgeous flowers that Bill purchased and the girls helped me choose for Mother's Day. I am one lucky mom!

Even as packed as the garden looks now, it will continue to fill in as our perennials grow and bloom throughout the summer. (We are also compulsive J&J shoppers, so if we see bare dirt in our flower garden, we will buy more flowers! In fact, since this picture was taken we have already added more!)

If  only there was a way to upload fragrances to the computer,  then I could share the amazing aroma that this garden produces. It is truly a delight to the senses! The quiet observer is often treated to close up views of visiting hummingbirds and bumble bees, which is exactly why we spend so much time in our gardens.

Luckily for me, my girls have discovered a love of photography and they generously share their beautiful images with me. These are just a few of Carley's pictures which were taken on the day we planted the Sitting Garden.

This is my artist, Carley, who took the pictures on planting day. You can see more of her talent here: karmama237.blogspot.com

Happiness in 2010

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” ~ Denis Waitley

What makes me happy

Carley says this blog is one of very few words. Maybe she's right. But there are some times that pictures speak louder than words, and there are some pictures that sum up everything I feel. This blog is mostly visual...

I am one very lucky person. Lately I have been feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the things in my life that are so wonderful and right up at the top of that list is my family.




I grew up in some pretty cold and extremely persistent shadows. I don't mean that in a "poor me" kind of way, but it was a desperately hard life filled with so many things I couldn't seem to do well enough. And then, almost 17 years ago, I finally got it right and stepped out of those shadows for good. From the moment I looked into their innocent little eyes, I knew my life had changed for the better and I was determined that my girls would never have to live their lives in anyone's shadow. I have made it my goal to give them every ounce of love that I have to offer.. to teach them that they each have so much to give... and they have not disappointed me.

My girls fill my heart with happiness. I am so proud of all that they accomplish and how hard they work at everything they do. These sweet girls are loving, kind and generous beyond measure. Somewhere along the way I did something great to deserve these people in my life. They are my biggest challenge and my greatest joy.

Just when I didn't think it could get any better than a life lived with my 5 best friends, this incredible man and his beautiful girl walked into our lives and just like that we became a family of 8. Once again I find myself giving thanks for all the beauty in my life.

My family. My life.