Cut and paste

To me, finding time to make things is essential to my happiness. It's a trait that I share with my father, always wanting a project to work on. My schedule lately has been hectic to say the least. Running from high school to community college to rehearsals and shows for the musical left me with little time to create. 

The few occasions I was able to find a spare moment I did what stressed-out Addie does best, I baked. Not only did it allow me a calm moment, but I brought the goodies to the cast and crew of the musical I was a part of. I love making others happy, so I gained joy not only from the baking itself but from the smiles and high-fives from those who took one (or more) of my treats. 

Now that the show is over, I find myself with more time on my hands. Even with that, this week has continued to bring stress as my college applications come due and my classes at the community college begin to wrap up for the quarter.

My math teacher says that the world would be a happier place if everyone colored for a few minutes everyday. I think that cutting and pasting are a close second to scribbling with crayons. So, today I took a few minutes (okay, maybe half of an hour) to start on my first holiday gift project- Star Wars snowflakes. I found this project on Pinterest and knew just who it would be perfect for. Not only does working on this project give me a moment of crafty peace, it brings me happiness in the anticipation of giving this gift.

Finding a few moments to do something that brings a calmness to the day adds to the ever important happiness in your life. 

What will you find time for? 

Enjoy today,

Addie

P.S. find the printable for these awesome snowflakes here!

Thankful Thursdays (Part 1)

So many things in our lives, the smallest things, go virtually ignored. Why do we not recognize these things when they can bring so much happiness? Starting today, I am on a mission to hunt down every little thing that I can be thankful for in my everyday life. I hope to inspire you to spend time recognizing the small joys in your life as well. Feel free to share them with the blogospherere by commenting on this post. You never know how much happiness you can bring by sparking a positive thought in someone's mind. 

Today I am thankful for:

Warm toes.

It took only a few days of me walking to the city bus stop in my raggedy Toms for my mom to decide she was going to buy me some new shoes. The constant state of dampness and rain here made it a
sure thing that when I got home my shoes would be soaking wet and my feet practically frozen. After discovering that my boots (low quality and faux leather) were most definitely not waterproof, we
took a trip to the local shoe store. I have worn my beautiful new boots almost every day since then. I
am thankful not only for my warm boots but for the fact that my mom cares about my health and
comfort.

What are you thankful for today?

Enjoy today,
Addie

Views on success

I had all but forgotten about my garden until my mom went outside to pick some herbs. She came back with a small handful of tiny carrots and radishes. I took a moment to enjoy my small harvest, and I was just amazed that I had managed to grow much at all.

I'm no good at it, but gardening is something I enjoy. The idea of growing my own vegetables makes me excited, even though the reality is that I will hardly grow enough for a salad.

Maybe next year I'll be able to get at least a meal out of my garden, but that's not important. I love getting dirt under my fingernails and having an excuse to wear overalls, and that makes the work worth it.

Sure my kale hardly grew an inch, but sometimes that's where the fun is. When discussing his search for the perfect light bulb filament did Thomas Edison not say "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work"? I did not grow an unsuccessful garden, I simply found the proper way to not to.

Enjoy today,

Addie

Second chances

Some things deserve second chances. For some the struggle comes in forgiving people, others in trying new food for a second time. Lately, I have had to concede and give something unexpected a second chance.

I'd seen them before and not had any strong opinions, positive or negative. Star Wars didn't appeal to me much when I was younger and I didn't absorb much of the plot. What I liked were the creatures and the sparkly laser swords (yes, I now know they're called light sabers). I wasn't much interested in watching the movies again, but I decided to watch them with an open mind.

It turns out I really like Star Wars.

The hardest part about second chances is that sometimes we have to admit that we are wrong. Well, I was wrong. I may never dress up as a Wookie, but I'm certainly excited to finish the series.

Second chances seem to be addicting- I tried cauliflower (my least favorite vegetable) this weekend... and actually liked it. Who knows what is next!

Enjoy today,
Addie

A little something special

I've talked before about treating ourselves to small delights. (Read here about my pumpkin) Well, I've done it again! At the local farmer's market I was buying produce when I came across a vendor who was selling bags of walnuts in the shell.

They were so beautiful, I just had to buy them. I put them in a bowl on the kitchen counter, and they bring me a little bit of joy every time I see them. They are lovely, fun to crack, and they remind me of the bowl of nuts in the shell that sometimes sat in my grandmother's living room.

There is something about cracking open a nut. It's a bit of nostalgia for the days when nutcrackers were commonplace and "Walnut Pieces" didn't come in bags at the grocery store. The shell adds an element of simplicity, something I'm always looking for.

Finding simplicity and joy in unexpected things is one way I bring happiness into every day.

Enjoy today,

Addie

A day at the beach

There's nothing like a day at the beach. Where I live, beaches consist mostly of rocks, seaweed, and driftwood. Not exactly what you think of for a fun outing. Unless you are a dog.

Our dogs Mia (big and yellow) and Max (brown and small) love the beach. They love the beach, they love the car ride there, the love the excitement of knowing that something is happening when we put our jackets on and for once don't shoo them away. It seems like every time my family takes the dogs for an outing, we talk about how, since the dogs love it so much, we should do this more. So why don't we? School, work, housework, (and in the Northwest) rainy days just seem to always get in the way. 

What finally motivated us was Max's diagnosis with lung cancer. While at the beach Max ran, played, and rolled in dead things like any dog half his age. I feel guilty for not doing things like this with the dogs all of the time, but I also know that I can't change the past. Things like this allow us to realize that there are hassles and annoyances in our lives that one day we will miss. Appreciating the things we have in our lives now makes little room for regret in the future.

With this in perspective I vow to:

Pet my cat

Occasionally pet the dogs (even though sometimes they smell)

and

Tell the people I see everyday (and sometimes take for granted) how much I appreciate them

What will you vow to do?

Enjoy today,

Addie