We search for it in bigger screen TVs, cars with fancier features, and vacations farther from home. Happiness is really nothing more complicated than playing hooky on a beautiful afternoon and sharing some ice cream with someone you love. …
Delight in the Little Things
Pregnant Women Have Super Powers and You Can Too!
Did you know pregnant women have super powers? Well, you can too!! Learn how to remove the filters that distract us from enjoying the beauty that is all around us. …
[Read more...] about Pregnant Women Have Super Powers and You Can Too!
Savor Something
Thanks to a word that has been stalking me, I've found the simple solution to stress. Don't let today come and go without doing it. …
90 Candles: A Guide to Making Birthdays More Memorable
Birthdays can be a mixed bag. I know people who look forward to them and find creative ways to notify everyone that their big day is coming up. Then, there are those who clam up and do their best to make sure no one knows they are turning a year older. "It's just another day," they say in their best Eeyore tone. People seem to either LOVE 'em or dread 'em. But dreading your birthday is the epitome of Adultitis, isn't it?! …
[Read more...] about 90 Candles: A Guide to Making Birthdays More Memorable
Having “The Talk” With My Daughter
It was a huge moment. One that I hadn't expected would happen this early, quite honestly. And yet the opportunity arose and I knew I had to seize it. Before I realized it, I was having "THE TALK" with my daughter. Breathe deep, I told myself. This is a moment I had envisioned so often, but wasn't quite sure how I would handle it all. …
Ode to Spontaneity
It was 5:00 on a Thursday night. I had to leave for Zumba at 6:40. Two chicken breasts were on the counter 95% thawed. Like most normal nights in our household, Jason was in charge of dinner. On this particular evening, he was two doors down at our neighbors helping them with some computer challenges. (Jason is my fav tech guru!) The phone rang. It was the very neighbor Jason was assisting. In an "Ode to Spontaneity," he invited the three of us to join him and his wife for some pizza. Why not? I've been wanting to be more spontaneous, and this sure qualified. …
Are You Delightable?
How delightableare you? When it comes to delightability, kids are king. The next time you’re around children, pay close attention to them. Notice how delighted they are to find a penny on the ground (even more so when they get to throw it into a fountain). Observe how excited they become when they get to push the elevator button. It won’t take long, but after some serious study, you’ll start to smile at the little things kids get excited about. Kids are thrilled by lightning bugs, bubble baths, and the intricacy of a snowflake. They’re turned on my helium balloons, bedtime stories, and …
How Many Wows Will You Miss Today?
Lucy and I experienced quite an amazing site the other night and I bet you'll never guess where... After all of the travels this kid has done so far (34 flights in 20 months), one of the coolest sights was found right in our local grocery store parking lot! (Isn't that how life goes?!) We walked out with our cart full of yummies to find a FULL rainbow right before our eyes. It spanned the entire sky. (I felt five!) "WOOOWWW!" Lucy instantly proclaimed in her shaky toddler voice, pointing up at one of the coolest things I had ever seen in my 32 years. I found myself echoing her joy and …
Officially Endangered: Boredom
When is the last time you were bored? Truly bored? In this age of smart phones and instant messages, boredom has found its way onto the endangered species list. Being bored is not a realistic option in our culture. It doesn't just happen naturally -- not like when we were kids. We are constantly thinking and moving and communicating. ALL. OF. THE. TIME. Like it or not. Well, the other evening Jason, Lucy and I were bored. Yep! We gave ourselves the gift of boredom. Here's what went down... …
Speaking Snapshots: Fancy Dinner
Lots of people have fancy dinnerware. Most of them never actually use it for dining, however. We're worried that we might chip or break the plates, effectively ruining our sets for good. So we keep them stored safely away in specially made furniture called china cabinets, eternally waiting for a "special occasion." In this three-minute video, recorded from a speech at the National WIC conference, I challenge the definition of "special occasion." For more food for thought on this concept, check out the post Why It Might Be Time for a Fancy Dinner. Learn more about bringing Jason in …