Happiness.

I love Washington!...and pumpkin patches.

I skipped last week's post on what makes me happy, and I feel guilty for it. I just got too dang busy. And sick. But now I'm all better, and feel good about blogging again. The world goes round.

Sometimes I feel like the things that make me happy are a bit ridiculous, so I appreciate you for baring with me. Here it is: the list.


1. Rediscovering a hobby. I've been on the hunt for a good hobby for several months now. I'm a fairly creative person, but just hadn't found a creative outlet that I was satisfied with. I enjoy writing, but have been out of practice. I wanted to take up knitting, but it seemed kind of complicated. Everyone crochets. I wanted to do something that not everyone does. Back on my mission, while serving in Hradec Kralove, we taught this amazing family who was famous for their needlework, crocheting, and tatting. I enjoyed crocheting, but loved tatting. I wasn't super good at it, but one of the ladies said I was a natural. And who doesn't like being called a natural. Anyways, today I bought a shuttle and tatting string, and have decided to relearn this somewhat of a lost art.

2. Finding a new frame for my favorite print of all time. And I'm going to hang it up on my wall tomorrow.

3. Talking to my friend Lex, who now lives in North Dakota. We try to have weekly phone chats, and it makes my day.

4. Finding cheap airfare to 3 places in the States I'm wanting to visit. Now I have to figure out when I'm going to travel to these places.

5. Helping out at the Seattle Temple. My singles ward had a baptism assignment last night, and it was so cool to witness my friend doing ordinance work for her ancestors. Her joy was intoxicating.

6. Going to my roommates (I guess now former roommate) wedding reception. She and her husband were so cute, and so obviously in love. Here's how cool  her husband is. They are both really into dancing, and he asked our friend to organize a flash mob at their reception. She choreographed a dance routine to Moves Like Jagger. It was incredible, and my roommate's reaction was classic.

7. Being able to teach. I was asked to give a lesson at a church activity, and was so thankful to be able to do so. I miss teaching, and it's hard not being able to pursue that course quite yet. Every time I teach, though, I know that that's what I'm supposed to do. It just may not happen for a couple of years.

8. Shopping with a good friend at U Village. It was fun bonding time, and she is the giver of amazing advice. And we all know that I relationship advice is much needed in my life. My love life is definitely a comedy.

9.Seeing my mom. I love her!

10. Finally being "healthy." I went to the doctor on Monday to have my bandage changed, and she said I don't have to come in anymore! Hallelujah! Now I just need to get over my cold...

And there you have it. What made you happy this week?

Happiness

Image from here

Wow, has life been busy of late, what with getting ready for Halloween and all. Kind of silly, but I'm loving it! I have SOOO much to be happy about! ...And I realized much of it has to do with friends and family. So here goes nothing:

1. Making new friends at church and finding out we have so much in common!

2. Seeing a friend at good ol' Trader Joe's. We have a TJ's bond. I used to work at the one at Tyson's Corner, VA, and she works at the one in Kirkland, WA. We are awesome therefore, TJ's is awesome.

3. Ilene. She makes me happy. Ilene and I have known each other since 4th grade when her dad was our softball coach. She's been one of dearest friends ever since. She's one of those friends that you pick up just where you left off. We haven't seen each other in almost a year even though we've lived in the same town for the past 5 months. Friday night a couple of friends and I were at Belle Square, and Ilene works there. I poked my head into where she works, just to see if she was there. And she was! And what a reunion it was!

4. Frozen yogurt. I know I'm a nerd, but this seriously makes me so happy! Reminds me of DC.

5. New shoes. I now have a pair of black flats. It's been years since I've had black flats! And I love them!

6. Having a new crush. It's what makes the world go round.

7. Going to the doctor and finding that nothing is terribly wrong with my body. Hallelujah!

8. Fall leaves. I love fall in Seattle. It's not like back east, but I love seeing the patches of color mixed in with the dark evergreens. Lovely. Simply lovely.

9. Spontaneous dance parties. I think I participated in at least two this week. And learned how to salsa, bachata, and one other Latin dance I can't remember. It was a blast.

10. Decorating for Halloween. My friend Brittany posted this lovely, easy craft on her website, and I tried it out this weekend. It turned out quite well I must admit. And it inspired me to make a Halloween hat for Friday night. We'll see how that goes.

What made you happy this week?

Happiness

Image from here

I had a fabulous weekend, and I hope you all did too. The weather was PERFECT! Since I forgot my camera cord at home, I can't upload any photos at this hour, but maybe will tonight? We shall see.

Here is my happy list:

1. Picking my very own perfect pumpkins from a patch. I ended up with a super cute white pumpkin and an awesomely rad green pumpkin with an orange spot. 

2. Dance parties with close friends. I forgot how much I love myself a good dance party.

3. Understanding things and doing well at work. I'm learning!

4. Teaching. I taught on Sunday and it's still one of my very favorite things.

5. Fall leaves and the drive to Monroe.

6. Game nights with new people.

7. Being reunited with old friends.

8. Jamba Juice. My favorite is Orange Dream Machine with strawberries and raspberries. Perfection.

9. Sarah H's amazing pumpkin cookies. They are to die for. Really. 

10.  Spending time with my family on Sunday evenings.

And there you have it. What made you happy this week?

Happiness

Do you ever have weeks where you're in the duldrums? I feel like the past couple of weeks have been like that. Not absolutely terrible, but having some not so nice elements to them as well. Maybe it's the weather? It has been quite rainy, but I like that. Otherwise why would I have moved back to Seattle? I digress.

Even though life hasn't been exactly like I would like it to be, there are always rays of sunlight amidst the cloudy days. I have much to be thankful for, and so much to be happy about. And I've decided to list each week 10 things that make me happy. (Perhaps this is just what I need to step up my blogging again).

Here goes nothing! :

1. Hitting all green lights on my way to work in the morning.
2. Mist in the valley--so gorgeous!
3. Friends coming into town for the weekend.
4. Eating the most amazing Taiwanese food (including mango bingshas!!!!) with said friends
5. Late night runs to Seattle to see the Troll and the view from Kerry Park
6. Water. Ice cold.
7. My mom. And her love to be a matchmaker. :)
8. Night walks with my mom when the moons out and it's deliciously cold out.
9. Hot Tamales. The candy. Not the food.
10. Cheesy Korean dramas and other such love stories. (I've seen far too many. I really should be embarrassed, but for some reason I'm not.)

What are the things that have made you happy this week?

P.S. And Anderson Cooper sticking up for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Christians!

Recipe for Happiness

Most everyone I know wants to be happy, as opposed to miserable. But it's one thing to be happy on the surface, and quite another to be truly happy. I want to be truly happy, but sometimes this object of desire slips away and hides in the shadows of my life.

I do admit that I have a tendency to be what I like to call melancholy. My mom (bless her) reminds me to stop worrying about things and enjoy life. So I've finally taken her advice and these past couple of months I've been more deliberately (my new favorite word) finding ways to be happy--beyond the surface.

My fabulous friend Sarah let me borrow this book called Authentic Happiness. It's been pretty insightful thus far. One thing that I learned , and have learned many times before but always seem to forget, is that one way that people can become happy is by listing all the things that they are grateful for. In the past I've kept gratitude journals, and they really do work. As I've focused on all the good positive things in my life, I don't seem to notice the not-so-happy things.

I've started a new goal to write down 5 things a day that I'm grateful for.

As I've been doing this, I thought that I could do this with my fifth graders. Asia is known for its high suicide levels, probably from the intense academic, social, and work pressures. My fifth graders are pre-teens and are going to be in the thick of things before they realize it. I had them take the Gratitude Test, and found that they all scored in the bottom 1/4 of all those tested. I told them we are going to do an experiment. For the next three weeks, I'm having them write down 5 things that they are grateful for as well. At the end of the three weeks we're all going to take the test again and see if we score any higher. It should be pretty interesting. And I'm quite excited to see what will happen.

Also, as a result, I've decided to start listing my things on this here blog. That way I'll be more likely to keep to it. So here goes:

5 things that I'm grateful for

1. That I'm here in Taiwan teaching these adorable kids:
2. That I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the knowledge that it brings to me of who I am, and why I am here, and where I will be going once my life here on earth is over. And most importantly, that my family can be together forever. That's pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.

3. My stellar friends that listen to my various ramblings, random thoughts, and my deepest darkest secrets. :)

{My good friend (and former roommate) Emma and I eating some gyoza that we made}

{Me and my good friend Heather at her cookout in Georgetown}{My Bothell Stake friends. We kinda all grew up together. Dallas, Nikki, Ashlee, Ilene and Me!}{Great friends and roommates Kristen and Lex}{Kelly and Scott. Roommate and family friend. Need I say more?}{Miss Kate}{Me and Kellyn. We are soooo domestic!}

{Rachel love. Life is always a kooky adventure with her!}

{Emma and Kevin. I love these guys! Some of the greatest friends ever!}

{Me and Lexie Lou at the Bon Fire of Awesomeness I. She's pretty much amazing!}

{Ze Boyz. My outstanding guy friends prior to my mission. Corey offered to beat up anyone who broke my heart}

{Blurry picture, but I love it all the same. Me and Miss Larkin and her husband Cody at my quarter century bash.}

{Miss Ilene, Lex, Steph, and Kel at my graduation dinner. Lovely ladies.}

{Me and Pat talking music. Oh glorious!}

{Rocking with the ladies. Me, Connie, Megs, and Erin. Great friends and roommies in Taiwan.}

{Me and Russia--friend and confidante.}

They've all been a great help to me especially over the past 8 months.

4. My family (Of course!)

{Linds, Mom, and I.}

{Mom and Dad}

{My bro, Mikey.}

5. The sun. I know that might be a small thing after church, friends, and family, but honestly, I do so much better in sunny climates. I love Seattle with all my heart, but the winters are almost too dark, cold, and dreary.

Well, that's all. A marathon of a blog. Hopefully the next ones won't be so long. :)