Found this on Pinterest. I'm in love.

Enjoy the Journey

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the idea of happiness. What is it? Where does it come from? Do I create my own or does it come from outside sources? Am I truly happy?

I’ve been reading the book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. The author takes a whole year to explore the idea of happiness. She decides what exactly makes her happy, seeks out those things, and attempts to experience the maximum amount of happiness she can. What she discovers is that happiness can come easily, but often she has to work for it.

I don’t know that I’m an innately happy person and I, probably too often, rely on outside sources for my happiness. “Happy” does not necessarily come naturally to me, it takes a lot of conscious effort and work on my part. I’ve also come to realize that the things I am often passionate about don’t always lead to a state of happiness. So, I decided to think about what really makes me happy.

I also came to realize that until I am true to who I am as a person, I’ll never achieve that true happiness that I’m searching for. So, I’m taking the example of Ms. Rubin, and I’m going to come up with my own personal happiness commandments.

1. Be Annicka (Ok, so I stole this idea directly from her, but it’s a good one). From now on I will think about whether my words, my actions, my experiences are being true to me being myself. I know this may sound self-serving, but if I’m not true to who I am as a person I will never be able to achieve happiness. I spend a lot of time being so worried about others’ perceptions of me that often I lose who I truly am.

2. Service Breeds Love. This comes down to a simple a statement given from a father to a son: Forget yourself and go to work. This is a hard one for me to remember. When I’m feeling down I always want it to be all about me. I want to throw my little pity party and mope around and have everyone feel bad for me. From now on when I feel down I will make an effort to serve those around me. I think that this attitude will assist me in finding who I am.

3. Keep it Simple. I have a tendency to complicate things, I mean, I am a woman after all. I make grand plans, I have big ideas, I always want what I do to be the biggest, brightest, and best. Sometimes my big plans make me end up in my own way. So, I will be keeping it simple.

4. Find the Humor. I have a tendency to get caught up in the minutia and stress myself out. If the baby is having a bad day, it gets to me. If my kitchen or bathroom is a mess, it gets to me. If traffic is bad and I’m late, it gets to me. And so, I will find the humor. Instead of crying, I will laugh. Instead of complaining, I will find the humor.

5. Smile. There have been many times in my life where I’ve had to live the adage “fake it ‘til you make it.” One of the underlying themes in The Happiness Project is to act how you want to feel and it will become natural. For this reason, I will smile.

6. Lose the Attitude. Sometimes, I flat out have a bad attitude. I am going to strive towards having a good attitude. I have found the gossip, backbiting, and sniping all feed into my bad attitudes. So, I will be checking my attitude at the door. I would also like to invite all of you to remind me of this.

Now, none of this is to say that I’m not happy. I am very happy. I have a wonderful husband who loves me and shows me that very thing in sweet and tender little ways. I have a sweet and gentle baby boy that teaches me something new everyday. I have a career where I get the opportunity to serve people at the most vulnerable times of their lives. I have so much in my life to be grateful for and happy about.

I just want to do all that I can to make sure that I am experiencing happiness and joy as much as I possibly can.

And so, with the beginning of this New Year, I begin on the journey of my own happiness project.

To Happiness!

Eleven

My Dearest Monkey-face,

Happy Christmas Eve! Today is your 11 month birthday. I know I say this every month, but I truly can't believe how much you are growing and changing.

You never cease to amaze me with how smart and funny you are. You can always get a giggle out of Mama, without even trying most of the time. You have been extra silly this month, and are quick to giggle at pretty much anything.

You love to be on the move. If you're not crawling, you're pulling up on the furniture and shakin' your booty. You love to dance. You also love Elmo. You get so excited anytime you see Elmo and can even say his name (Eh-mo). This month you've learned the sign for food and you've made up your own sign for soft. We're not sure where you learned it, but if we say the word soft you pat your hand on your chest. You've also learned how to blow kisses. It's very cute. You also have a mild obsession with Santa. You think it's pretty fun to say "Ho ho ho."

You now have 5 teeth, and I think we're going to see more any day now. You are growing like a weed and wearing mostly 18 month clothes. I can't keep clothes that fit you in circulation long enough for you to wear anything more than a few times.

This month Mommy and Daddy decided it was time for you to learn how to sleep through the night. You picked it up so quickly! Within a week you were going right to bed and down for naps and sleeping through the night for 11 or 12 hours. It's been great for all of us to get more sleep.

You also got to try some new foods this month that you like a whole lot. You love grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, goldfish, yogurt, and cheerios.

Well, my sweet monkey, only one more month until you turn 1. I can't believe we've been on this crazy journey for almost a year. I love you so much and can't wait for all of the new adventures we get to have together.

Hugs and kisses!
Mama

Wrap it up

I have been a terrible blogger lately. I'm going to blame it on being out-of-control busy. Between working full time, going back to school, and being a mommy and a wife I haven't had a whole lot of spare time to speak of. So, in a last-ditch attempt to put off studying for my final next week, here are some things that have been on my mind:
Christmas is nearly upon us. Our house is all decorated, I'm in the middle of sending out cards, and I'm nearly done shopping. The sharkbaby LOVES the tree. He thinks it's about the coolest thing in the whole world. He also loves to say, "Ho ho ho" and "Merry Christmas." He loves listening to me practice the piano for upcoming Christmas concerts. I know he's too little to "get" Christmas this year, but I'm still excited.
Speaking of Sharkleton, he is growing up so fast! I can't believe I've been on this crazy, wild, awesome ride for almost a year. I don't want to discuss it too much because I want to have something to write about in his 11 month letter, but just know that he is turning into quite the little character.
I've been crafting up a storm. In the past week I've sewn probably 6 microwave rice bags (you know, the ones that you heat up). They're super fast and easy. I think I'll keep a bunch on hand to give away as gifts. I've also become hooked on Pinterest and I keep finding ideas for things I want to try. In fact, just today, I found some cute little owl bean bags. I think I'm going to make some for the boy's first birthday. Now if I could just drag myself away long enough to actually try my brilliant ideas.
I'm currently in the process of composing my 2012 goals. There are a lot of things I want to do, see, try, and learn in the coming year. My main goal is going to be getting organized, and I'm going to start by organizing my goals. I think I'll set up one big thing a month that I can check off my list.
There are a few things going on at work right now that I'm not terribly thrilled about. Okay, I'm actually downright angry. In fact, I'm still to angry to blog about it. Stay tuned for more on that.
As this Christmas season is upon us I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect on my personal relationship with Him whose birth we celebrate at this time of year. I feel that I have come to know my Savior in a way I never have before through the trials that I've faced. I have learned more in the past year about how my Heavenly Father truly cares for me than I have in the whole of my life combined. I am truly blessed with wonderful parents, siblings, extended family, and in-laws. I consider myself the luckiest girl in the world to be married to my best friend, and with him share the joy of parenthood. As this year comes to a close and we all begin the next chapter in our lives I pray that we may keep Christ, not only at the center of this Christmas season, but at the center of our lives year round.
May you all experience the beauty that this life has to offer.
XOXO

The one about Thanksgiving

Yep, the time has come... my thankful Thanksgiving post. And since we all know just how much I love a list, I'm going to attempt to condense my thoughts into one. This year I am especially grateful for:

Indoor plumbing

My calling with the young women

My sweet husband, who has stuck with me through all of my crazy this year

A wonderful and supportive family

Soft, fuzzy socks

A career in a field I love
The ability to help provide for my family



That I can read
My good health



Supportive friends and neighbors
My talents, and the opportunity I have to use them



My ability to impact changes around me
All-natural beauty recipes



Fantastic coworkers that I look forward to seeing at work, and away from work
A walking buddy



Financial stability
A house that I don't have to remodel



And most especially: A sweet Sharkbaby who loves to give me kisses, read stories with me, and help me play the piano
What can I say? I am truly blessed.

And then there were 10

My most wonderful munchkin,

Today is your first Thanksgiving, and I can't begin to express how grateful I am for you and the joy you bring me everyday. On this day you hit your 10 month mark. I can't believe how much you've grown and changed in the past few weeks.

You have hit a ton of milestones recently. You are crawling all over the place. You can pull up on furniture, but haven't figured out how to walk along it yet. You can go up stairs, but not down. You wave bye-bye anytime someone opens or closes a door. You know the signs for "more", "finished", and we're working on "thank you." You now say dog (a-da), Ruby (woo-wee), uh-oh (uh uh), dad (dada), mom (ma), num (dum), and all done (a-dun). You love to sing songs with mommy in the car. You especially love the song Skid-a-ma-rink.

This week you slept your longest stretch yet, a whole 13 hours. It was a great night for both of us. You still love stories. Your favorite right now is "Moo, Baa, La, La, La". You love it when we make the pig snort for you. You also love noses. You think it's the funniest thing in the world when you grab Daddy's nose and he makes a noise like a siren.

You seem to have a thing for feet, and socks especially. We can't keep socks on you to save our lives. Anytime we leave you unattended you take them off your feet to play with them. You love to chew on Mama's toes, too. You also love your knit blankies. You get angry if we leave the house without one. You want to have it in the car, in the stroller, near you when you play on the floor, and just in general reach.

Speaking of chewing, you have 3 and a half teeth. Two on the bottom, one on the top, and a second on the top getting ready to poke through any day now.

I am so excited to see what the next month will bring for us, Monkey. I love you to the moon and back.

Love,

Mommy

The Plunge

Well, after much research, a lot of thought, and some good old-fashioned bravery, I finally jumped head first (hee hee!) into a new way of "washing" my hair.

Yep, I've gone completely shampoo-free. I'd been kicking around the idea of going no 'poo for quite a long time. I'd read that it was really great for curly hair. Basically, real shampoo is made to strip oils from your hair. That's it's job, it's what the chemical combination is meant to do. Well, that's a problem for me. I have incredibly dry hair, naturally. It's a curse of curly hair. Anyway, I noticed that after using traditional shampoo I was having to condition the hell out of my hair to make it feel even a little bit normal. Add to that all of the product I was having to use and you have yourself a hot mess.

So back to my story: I was already only washing my hair once a week and using baking soda once a week. So I figured the time had come. I was taking the plunge into no 'poo.

Let me share with you a few observations and then I'll give you my recipes:

1. My hair has changed color. It's true, I haven't dyed my hair in several months, however in the last three weeks it's become a richer brown with quite a bit of red in it.

2. I did experience a weird phase about 2 weeks in where my roots were extra-oily and my ends were extra-dry. This only lasted about a week. Apparently, it's a normalizing phase where the scalp produces more oil for some reason. It goes away, I promise.

3. It styles much more easily. I don't know if it's healthier, or stronger, or what, but it's breaking less and takes to the flat iron much better.

4. It has lost some of it's body. I've never had to tease my hair before to give it volume, however when my hair is straight now it's s-t-r-a-i-g-h-t. I'll have to work on this for awhile.

And now, the recipes.

First, I use a 1:3 ratio of baking soda to water. I put this on my dry hair just at the roots. I massage it into my scalp and comb it through to the ends. I let it sit for about 2-3 minutes and then rinse it out.

Next, I use a 1:4 ratio of apple cider vinegar to water. I saturate the ends of my hair and leave the roots alone. I'll let this sit about a minute or so and then rinse it well. I promise, your hair won't smell like vinegar. Just watch your eyes. It stings like you wouldn't believe.

Anyway, if any of you out there give it a go let me know how it works for you. Personally, I love it.