Happy Tales and Trails to YOU!

Wherever your weekend is taking you...

...whether you are hanging out with your best friend....

...or snuggled up reading a book... (I just finished The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein -- two thumbs way up on this one!!!)

...or going for a walk in the woods...

 ...Katie, Sammy and I are wishing you a weekend filled with happy tales and trails!! 

p.s and seven sleeps until my birthday!!

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And here are few of the things that made me smile this week in case you missed them...

:: I joined the Color Wheel Charm Swap hosted by From the Blue Chair
:: I saw a recipe from Pots and Pins for Tomato Pie that I can't wait to try
:: Have you seen this incredible door photographed at Heaven is in Belgium?
:: I'm thinking really seriously about joining this Star Quilt-a-Long hosted by Happy Quilting
:: And have you see this Painting on Flowers DIY over at Creature Comforts?

I got a SURPRISE box!!

I had a cute little box in the mail.  What an amazing feeling to get a surprise from a friend!

  

This book fell out of the box.

 A notecard was tucked gently in the book.  Isn't the stationary adorable?!!! 

But, more importantly...  Cynthia, thank you so much!!  You really made my day and I can't wait to dig into the book!

XOXOXO!!

Monday Monday (sing it to the tune)

Today was a Monday alright. 

A Monday that I would have rather spent doing this.

Or would rather have spent the day smelling these.

Or reading this while snuggled under the covers, sipping a cup of tea.

Great quotes from the book:

"In the race to be your best, there is no losing."

"A winner is a person who goes out today and everyday and attempts to be the best runner and best person they can be"

Today felt a bit like a battle.  Allergies, itchy bug bite, constant cough, sleepy.  It's important in general, but especially on day's like today, to focus on the goodness all around.

What are your go to happy thoughts that make your day better?

Poprocks Bookswap book has come home!

Do ya'll remember the book swap that I joined?  I introduced it here and talked about writing a book inscription here.

Wellll.... I got my book in the mail!  Whoop whoop!

Hi Cynthia!  (my bookswap buddy)  *waves*

Doesn't getting a package make you happy -- especially when their is a surprise inside~

It looked something like this.... white padded glorious-ness!

I had been daydreaming about what kind of book would find it's way to me -- and I couldn't be happier!

I have already read the first bunch of pages and found myself laughing a bit out loud and smiling!

The book had a cute card tucked inside.  Doesn't it remind you of spring?  I have spring fever BAD!

Cynthia also took the time to highlight some interesting parts in the book, like this one.  I haven't gotten this far yet, but I couldn't resist a flip through the book to look for some of the highlights.  

Are you one of those people that reads the last page first?

I used to be really bad about reading the last page, but have since gained some self control.  

Honest.  

I didn't read it.  

Really really.  

Well maybe not all of it. 

This quote is a really good one.  I especially like the part about "...death... misses someone else..."  It's a very interesting way to flip things around and look at the bright side of things. 

Cynthia, thank you so much for sending this book over!  I hope you can leave a comment with your blog, so I can wander over and say hi!  

I am sure I am going to enjoy reading this one!

What are you reading right now?

Hapdates - a busy day ahead!

That's Happy Updates for those of you wondering what a hapdate is.

Here are a few quickies to share with you!

1. Happy Groundhog Day!!  Great movie!!  I can't think of my favorite line, but I know I will have that movie and song he hears when he wakes up stuck in my head all day!

2. Do you remember the bulb I am nurturing?  Well, it's growing!!  That's happy!

3. A good friend of mind shared a happy quote with me... which I will also share with you soon, but in the meanwhile she inspired me to look up other happy quotes and I found this one....

"People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness.  Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost."  -H. Jackson Brown.

That quote really struck a cord with me.... remember how this blog started?  I started by saying happy looks different for everyone.  So cool!

4. I mailed my book for the Poprocks Bookswap... *hint: My book is traveling to a cold, cold state ;)

Hope you morning is starting off right and that your day finishes off even better! 

Swa, swa, swa... swa, swap-aran!

You may remember that I signed up book swap with the lovely Kateigh from Poprocks and Photography.  Well, today we got our buddy assignment and I am so excited with the person I am paired up with!  

I went straight to my buddies blog and started looking around and found lots of inspiration for the book I will choose and the inscription that I will write!  We have been asked to mail our books by January 31st... which means I should try and get mine out by Saturday. 

It doesn't give me much time, but I think that's a good thing.  It means that I will have to make a solid speedy decision!  (Those are good executive qualities!)

This swap has made me more aware of inscriptions in books and it made me think back to my collection and ponder if I even had any with something written inside.  Right now, I can think of maybe one or two books.  I have set some time aside this week to look through them and re-read any inscriptions.  That should be fun!

This swap has also got me pondering... if I were to inscribe my blog to give to someone ... what would the inscription read?

How does this sound?  "Happiness is like an onion that you can't get enough of.  Your addicted to peeling back it's layers and revealing all the lovely flavors that are hidden..."  Wow, not sure where I was going with that.

Hmm... maybe I will start again, "Trying to put your hands around happiness is like trying to hold a slippery frog and a hot coal at the same time.  You can't hold either in your hands for very long, but for those brief seconds that you manage too, you feel like you are On Top of the World.  May this blog help you find yourself On Top of the World often!" 

I may need more practice at this!

Stepping out my comfort zone with an exciting book swap with a total stranger is scary and thrilling all at the same time!  Knowing I can get through this and enjoy it = happiness!

Singing the title of this post to the Barbara Ann song by the Beach Boys = happiness!!  

"Swa swa swa, swa swap-aran
Swa swa swa, swa swap-aran
Swa swa swa, swa swap-aran
You've got me swappin' and a mailin'
openin' and a postin'
Swap-aran

Went to Poprocks
Looking for a laugh
Saw Swap-aran
So, I thought I'd take a chance
Swap-aran, help me plan
You've got me swappin' and a mailin'
openin' and a postin'
Swap-aran

Tried to avoid
Tried to stay shy
Tried to not to do
But I knew it wouldn't do
Swap-aran, help me plan

You've got me swappin' and a mailin'
openin' and a postin'
Swap-aran

Poprocks and books

A large part of what makes us happy is the environment we are in.  I don't mean trees and birds and things like that this time around. 

I mean the people we share our lives with.  The groups we interact with.  The folks who inspire us to do great things... or at least to live happily!

Today I have to tell you about one of those connections in my life that makes me happy.  It might tickle you the right way too. 

I came across this blog called Poprocks and Photography; a lovely lady named Kateigh is the mastermind behind it. 

I have really enjoyed it lately ... things like Pieces of Me, Lovey dovey stuff... the photos are beautiful, and hearing about her new Bookswap!

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The bookswap is what really has my attention today.  It goes something like this: 

"pick your favorite or one that brings meaning to your life.

(in the hopes that it will do the same in someone else's)

it could be new, old, funny, serious.

i want it to represent you!

to make it even more special,

i want you to inscribe a lovely little note on the inside cover."

AND

"bonus: for every beautiful lady that joins the swap,

i will be donating a book to our local children's shelter.

you may even send one to me yourself that you would like to donate!"

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I have already started to think about the books that have brought meaning to my life.  It's a long list and I'm not sure how I will narrow the list down, but I do know that this is a great excuse for me to go spend quality time with the books in my library (my overflowing shelves)! 

I am looking forward to taking a bunch of  books off the shelf, reading the backs, remembering bits of when I read them, and think about how they may have affected my life. 

For me the most challenging part will probably be writing an inscription.  It will need to be something brief, thoughtful, and hopefully a tiny bit funny.  I am up to the challenge!  Are you?

To get involved go to Poprocks and "email Kateigh @ http://www.blogger.com/ by january 20th to be a part. {be sure to include your name, mailing address, & blog address in your email} "

How's that for happiness!!

A good read

I can usually be found toting a book around and last week was no different.  I don't have a new book to dig into, but that wasn't a problem.

I dusted a favorite off the shelf and was sucked right in!  The Princess Bride.

Adventure, swords, giants, action, a princess, and dashing hero!

But reading through it again I noticed this line, "He was fantastically happy."

It's a great way to start a Monday... thinking about what it would take for you to say you are Fantastically happy. 

I'm not 100% sure what that would mean for me, but I think it captures what this blog is all about.  Capturing all those things (not matter how small) that make my day brighter!

A happy Monday to you!