Hello again...here's what I have been up to lately

So I took a break...a 4 month long break.  

I haven't completely disappeared, even though it has felt that way more than a few times in the past couple of months. It wasn't a conscious decision to be absent from the blogosphere for so long, as much as I was drawing a blank...granted, a very big blank... over what was inspiring me.

Breaking my foot...and the subsequent sequestration from the rest of the world...and the inability to do anything for myself...let alone diy house projects... made me realize that I needed to take some time and reevaluate what was making me happy at that moment.  I started...and completed...the #100HAPPYDAYS challenge and I can truly say that... life has been full of "happy" lately : )  I find myself with a lot to share all of a sudden.  It could be the fact that I did not post anything for four months...could be.

I do hope  to jump back into angenuity, because I have truly missed it.  That being said, I am so grateful for the uninterrupted time I had with my girls this Summer.  The time I had with them and the memories we made will be a lifelong treasure for me...and hopefully for them too : )

So, here is a peak into what I have been up to lately through my #100HAPPYDAYS lens...

     With a little help from Isabella, we perked up the front porch

     My vanilla iced coffee was a rare treat when I was house bound

     Margaritas at sunset

     Being able to drive after 10 weeks was soooooo nice

     Isabella's movie night birthday party was a huge success...you may just see it pop up on the blog soon

     Dinner outside...yes please : )

     A return to work...a very happy day

     Gathering artwork for my dining room gallery wall...you may see this soon too : )

     A week in the mountains...full of water, sun and plenty of relaxation

     Summer movies with two of the sweetest girls

     Learning patience at a train stop.  Perfect time to sing my favorite song at the top of my lungs : )

     Fostering a love of the classics early

     Date night at SOUL Gastrolounge...sooooo gooood

     What's not to love about live music and glow in the dark hula hoops?

      Worth the hike...even though I may not have thought so while I was doing it : )

     Love me some Sputnik : )

     Waiting in line with Clint is never boring

     Bella and I could have watched this guy for hours...quite a good mending job

     When was the last time you flew a kite?

     Deer in our front yard at the beach. Every...single...day.  Loved it.

     An annual beach staple...and so good every time

     New beach...new mode of transportation

     Found my mid century dining chairs...you will definitely see these guys again soon : )

     Isabella and her hot pink tail. It made every excursion a little more interesting this Summer


Just a few of my happy moments from the #100HAPPYDAYS challenge. I hope you have had a wonderful Summer and I can't wait to share some of the DIYs I have been up to lately : )

Until then....

The #100 Happy Days Challenge...here I come

Okay, so I just heard about this...literally...about two minutes ago.  Have you heard about it?

The #100 HapppyDay Challenge

You can check out all the details HERE, but the gist of it is this...For 100 days, take a picture of something that has brought you happiness and post it to whatever platform you prefer (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) with the hashtag #100happydays. It can be whatever you want...a nice cup of coffee, feet up after a long day, a night out with friends, anything that floats your boat.  According to the challenge website, 71% of the participants are unable to complete the challenge citing a "lack of time" as the main reason.  Kind of sad really...

When I read that, I was a bit bummed because the thought had crossed my mind that 100 days of happy would be a challenge.  And then I thought... it's a challenge to be happy?  I HAVE to do this thing now : ) 

Who wants to say they did not have the time to be happy, or that it was too challenging so they didn't even try?  Not me!!!!  So here I come happiness...I am looking forward to spending a lot more time with you in the coming weeks!  

   

via

Find out more about the 100 Happy Day Challenge HERE.  Come be happy with me : )

So things have changed for me a bit...

A couple weeks ago, I fell down the stairs and this is the result.  Three days after this happened, we headed to DC for Easter.  I LOVE DC! And this time, I got to see it from a completely different perspective of a wheelchair : )  I do think I got a bit spoiled being surrounded by my family and friends.  It almost made me forget that anything had changed.

When we got back into town on Tuesday, I began to see what life would look like for the next few weeks, and it is going to be very interesting...to say the least.  Now, my proud moments consist of getting a cup of coffee up the stairs without spilling it, rather than the multitude of diy projects I had planned.

My apologies for being completely absent for a while.  I found my motivation was taken away with my mobility. But I woke up today with a new attitude, and hopefully I can stop lamenting what I can't do, and actually focus on what I can.

Because, truly, what do I really have to complain about?

 I have made some new friends...

...and I get to see beauty up close...

...and sometimes the big picture is easier to see when you are not right on top of it...

...and it is good to remember how small you are in the whole scheme of things...

 ...and it is even better to remember that sometimes, you CAN NOT do it alone...and that's ok because...

...even though he steals my wheels sometimes, he makes me SO HAPPY : )

I hope you all have a wonderful week!  

 

Perspective...in 3 minutes

I woke up this morning thinking about what I needed to do this morning. I jumped out of bed today, with a list of things that HAD to be done...done today...not tomorrow...or the next day...TODAY. I have gone through my day, checking off my list, feeling accomplished...and frustrated as I have gone along.  And then I saw this...

A little perspective is needed every once in a while, when our universe becomes the near vicinity in which we function day to day.  Three minutes was all that I needed to have my world become infinitely bigger, and suddenly my worries have become so small.  LOVE, love, love it!

(via Twisted Sifter)

One honest mother's answers to her son's heartbreaking questions...

Kids have all kinds of questions for us, but I often wonder if there are some questions that don't get asked. StoryCorps gave Joshua, a 12 year old boy with Asperger's syndrome, an opportunity to interview his mother Sarah. Maybe it's the Asperger's that allowed him to ask what he truly wanted to know, but his mother answered all of his questions in an honestly, beautiful way.

Q&A from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

I LOVE all the stories shared through StoryCorps.  You can check out more StoryCorps interviews here, but have a tissue ready : )

(via Cup of Jo)

Zombie obsessed...

I don't know about you, but I have been greatly anticipating the return of "The Walking Dead" this Sunday, February 9th.  AMC decided to prank some unsuspecting pedestrians in NYC in preparation for the show's return. I can only imagine what I would have done, had I walked over a pit of walkers.  I do know it would have been a little more than scream : )   

Sunday can't come fast enough!

(via AMC)

This is straight out of "The King's Speech"...

My friend Abby shared this video on her facebook page the other day, and I had to share.  I think all of us can relate to just how hard and traumatic high school can be, but very few of us have such a hard situation to overcome as Musharaf.  Watch the video, and try to not get choked up.  I utterly failed : ) 

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE : )

(via Up Worthy)

The New York Subway Signs Experiment...

I had no idea that there are these black & white signs at every single stop of the New York subway system...and I absolutely had no idea that the subway conductors HAVE to point at the signs to signal that they are paying attention.

The New York Subway Signs Experiment, by Yosef Lerner and Rose Sacktor, takes advantage of this little known rule, to bring a little happiness and appreciation to the subway conductors of NYC.  LOVE it!

"In New York City, subway conductors have to point at a black and white sign. At every hour of the day. At every stop. They do this to show that they've fully arrived on the platform. We decided to show our appreciation for their work." —Yosef Lerner.

(via Cup of Jo)

Shake...too funny!

You can't help but laugh! What happens to these poor pooches faces as they shake the unwanted water from their bodies is hilarious! Photographer, Carli Davidson, has just released her brand new book, Shake, featuring 61 different dogs' faces as they do exactly that....shake.  You could be having the WORST day EVER and look at these photos and smile.  Such a simple pick-me-up...but very appreciated : )

And if you want even more hilarity, check out the "Shake" video...

SHAKE from Variable on Vimeo.

Check out more images from Carli's book on her website here.  Shake is available to buy on Carli's website or here.


(all images and video via My Modern Met)

On your darkest days...sometimes you just need a little JOY

Sometimes, there are days that smiles are a little harder to come by...and laughter...forget about it.  Sometimes, when you think you forgot what joy feels like, it helps to see JOY in other people. 

If LOVE is what you are looking for...look here. 

(video via soulpancake)

"New Beginnings"...a beautiful 9/11 tribute performed through ballet

Two people...two dancers...on the rooftop of Four World Trade Center, Christopher Wheeldon's After the Rain softly...and hauntingly...playing, a sunrise slowly brightening the sky, all among a backdrop of the newly constructed One World Trade Center.  This tribute to the remembrance of 9/11 is the most moving and beautiful one I have seen.  The NYC Ballet principal dancers, Maria Kowroski and Ask the Court, perform this beautiful pas de deux as "a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a tribute to the future of the city that New York City Ballet calls home." Beautiful.

(via Fubiz)

LOVE...in a big white box

Sometimes, there is a day...actually there were two days last week...when I really wish this would happen to me -

I would love to have this big white box in my back yard every time I have a rough day...or just needed a big ole' pick-me-up.  I would especially love to be in the middle of that heart sandwich : )  

Celebrate LOVE...today...and every day!

(video via SoulPancake)

A musical/comedic masterpiece...

What do you get when you combine Mumford & Sons music with Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, Ed Helms and Will Forte- one of the best/funniest music videos I have seen in a very long time. 

Nothing crazy... just immensely entertaining : )

(video via youtube )