The Happiness Project

Saturday morning of this past weekend, my MR. and I walked to a park near his neighborhood. If there's one thing that I particularly like about the location of his new home, it's that he's within walking distance of some really great places. Not to mention his parent's house. Not too far off from Everybody Loves Raymond, actually. This particular Saturday we decided to go for a morning stroll to Centennial Lakes. While its not your natural kind of historical pretty park, it really does have some positive elements. The first is that it's a really manageable walking distance, unlike some parks where you're walking, walking, walking and build up anxiety over wondering when the path is ever going to end. The second is that a fair share of elderly couples live in the town homes surrounding the path. Whenever Matt and I go, we without fail see an old couple holding hands walking. I get such a heart warming sensation over seeing that. It's one of my favorite things. No matter how hard of a week I've had, when I see an old love like that,that can withstand time, nothing else seems to matter. The third really great aspect to the park is that at one point of the path, the sidewalk veers directly towards a couple small shops. One is West Elm. I took my MR., my latte, and my beaming attitude right into that gorgeous store and oh boy was I enthralled. Outside of offering home furnishings that tempt you around every corner, in the middle of the store is a small gadget and book area where I found myself starting to page through this book called The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin. The concept caught me at once. I have plans to buy this book soon, with a gift card my generous cousin gave me, but in the meantime I've been reading the author's corresponding blog. Check out this post on 12 tips for getting regular exercise, and the benefits for happiness and fitness...I've listed this 12 tips below- pretty genius! As the author says, the first key to happiness is plenty of sleep and regular exercise!

1. Always exercise on a Monday
2. If at all possible, exercise first thing in the morning
3. Never skip exercising for two days in a row
4. Give yourself credit for the smallest effort
5. Think about context
6. Exercise several times a week
7. Find a way to exercise that doesn't require you to shower afterward
8. Look for affordable ways to make exercising more pleasant or satisfying
9. Think of exercise as part of your essential preparation
10. Dont let the perfect be the enemy of the good
11. Suit up
12. Don't kid yourself

sketching again

Vintage posters like the above always make me inspired.
I'm starting to collect images of a particular style to use as reference for a painting.
My Mr. has asked me to paint something for his new house, and, well, I'm kind of freaking out.
It's a lot of pressure!

wishing...

Wishing.

There are experiences in my life that make me grateful for what I have, and cause me to think that I should live with less and appreciate all of the small things. To be creative with my resources, and focus my money on charity and on savings for the future.

Then, there always comes that longing for something new. Something you crave. Something you saw on someone else that you just have to go buy for yourself. Something you saw in the latest J Crew catalog that for a split second you really think you won't be able to live without.

Then your senses hit you and you realize you can't spend $300 for whatever that item is. So maybe you get the knock-off or cheaper version at Target or some sort of thrift store. Then, since cheap things usually perform cheaply in the end, you end up with a purchase that doesn't withstand wear, or fades, or frays around the edges. So, I'm asking-wishing- I knew when to spend my money and/or splurge, and when to save. There are thousands of blogs about this very topic but I feel like I can hardly ever relate to their writing. Help!

I'm trying to think of something I've paid full price for that I've never regretted in the end. I can't! Can you?