How to be Happy

I’ve always been a “glass half full” kind of person.  Even when times get tough, I try to live with a thankful heart and count my blessings.   It turns out that living this way really works to increase your happiness.



From the January 2010 issue of Sunset Magazine:

“A psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, Sonja Lyubomirsky overcame a reluctance to study how people can increase their happiness when she realized that hokey answers like “count your blessings” could be tested scientifically. (It works!)  She believes we control about 40 percent of our well-being, while genetics and circumstances determine the rest. 

Lyubomirsky says it boils down to gratitude and not sweating the small stuff.  She tries to do things that savor life’s joys (bringing family photos on business trips, appreciating nature on runs hear her Santa Monica home) and preventing overthinking (asking whether something will matter in a year.)”

Lyubomirsky’s book, The How of Happiness, outlines 12 mood boosting activities.

So get on out there and take care of that 40 percent!

I’m A Winner!

Well, Yee Haw, little doggies! 

I am the proud owner of the new Pioneer Woman Cookbook!  I’ve been a fan of Ree Drummond’s blog for a long while.  Thanks to my new bloggy friend, Cha Cha, I now am the proud owner of an autographed copy of the Pioneer Woman Cooks.  Yes, I said autographed.  How cool is that?

  

Cha Cha and her sister Wetsy (not her real name, but you can guess…), actually got to meet Pioneer Woman at a book signing in Atlanta.

   


Not only that, but they got to meet Bakerella too! 

Check out their book signing adventures on Cha Cha’s cute blog, Sit, Relax and Read. 

Thanks Cha Cha!  I’m looking forward to rustling up some new grub for my young’uns with Pioneer Woman’s new cookbook.   

Decorating with Old Ceiling Tiles

A while back, I purchased these old ceiling tiles on eBay.  Nobody wanted these, so I got them for a song. 

I love the patina on these.  There are rusty spots, nail holes and lots of chippy paint.   I’m always amazed at the beauty and detail of the architecture of days gone by.  So much more character than today’s textured drywall ceilings. 









I had originally planned to build some type of frame for these, but I really like them simply nailed to the wall. 





Don’t you just love recycling?

Linking up with Funky Junk's OLD Theme Saturday Nite Special Party. 

(6/22/10):  Edited to link up to the “Frames, Art and Wall Decor Challenge” at

Please Excuse The Dust

"Striving to better, oft we mar what's well."

- William Shakespeare, King Lear, 1.4.346

In trying to download a new blog template, I’ve messed up the works. Please bear with me while I try to muddle my way through the widgets and html and find my way back to a blog that looks and behaves the way I want it to!

I hope you’re enjoying your holidays! I had a wonderful Christmas! My out of town family has all vacated the premises so I have some spare time to repair my damage here.

This looks just like me, except for the blond, fair, tool belt part. Other than that, she’s exactly like me!

Come back soon. It will get better, I promise!

Twas’ the night before the night before…

Hope your holiday is filled with peace and light and people you love.

Merry Christmas!

More $5.00 deals From Amazon.com

Still looking for that last minute gift?  Amazon is offering a new set of $5.00 magazine subscriptions.  Choose from Sunset, Southern Living, Golf, Coastal Living, This Old House, Essence and Health Magazine. 

Click here for details:  Last Minute $5.00 Gifts.

You can even print out a 4 x 6 gift card at Amazon.com so you’ll have something to put under the tree.   

My Favorite Things – Homemade Gifts

I love cooking and sharing treats with my friends, family and neighbors at holiday time. Here is one of my favorite gift foods to make and share. I got this recipe from Sunset Magazine several years ago. I love this recipe because it’s not too sweet and there’s a subtle spicy bite to it.

Sweet-Hot Spiced Pecans

1/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1 large egg white
2 teaspoons vegetable oil (Not shown in the photo below, sorry!)
2 cups pecan halves

1. In a bowl, mix the first six ingredients. Whisk in egg white and oil. Stir in pecan halves.
2. Line a baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Spread nuts in a single layer on baking sheet.
3. Bake in a 300 degree oven, stirring once until nuts are crisp and lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Let cool about 5 minutes, then use a spatula to loosen nuts from pan; cool completely.
5. Share with those you love. Store airtight at room temperature up to two weeks.

For another great gift from the kitchen, check out my Easy Toffee Recipe.

Do you have something special you like to make for friends and family at holiday time?

Linking up to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and The Shabby Chic Cottage.

My Favorite Things – Crazy Dancing Santa

Many years ago, before children, my husband and I were out Christmas shopping.  We made a quick stop at one of those home good stores.   The store had a huge display of Musical Dancing Santas.  Just turn Santa on and he shakes his little Kris Kringle booty while Jingle Bell Rock plays.  We tried out a few and had a good laugh, wondering what kind of person would actually purchase one of these kitschy creations for their home. 

Two weeks later, we were down visiting my husband’s favorite uncle in Southern California.  My husband opened his gift, and what do you think it was?  His very own Musical Dancing Santa!   We exchanged looks and tried to stifle our laughter, while everyone had a turn with Dancing Santa.   

I tried to get rid of Santa a few times over the years, but my husband loves his uncle and couldn’t bring himself to part with the gift.

Fast forward a few years and Santa has become a treasured (if not repetitive and sometimes annoying to the adults in the house) part of our holiday tradition.  He’s usually the first thing that my kids unpack.  Santa gets his groove on and serenades us with Jingle Bell Rock while we unpack the rest of our decorations.   My kids love him.  I’m so glad I didn’t get rid of him years ago.   It just wouldn’t be Christmas in our house without Crazy Dancing Santa.  Sometimes I do sneak over and turn his volume down, but my kids always notice and turn him back on. 

And now, for your holiday enjoyment,  it’s Crazy Dancing Santa. 

What’s your favorite, funky holiday decoration?

My favorite (holiday) things

Confession time…..I am not a decorating overachiever. We don’t have a color coordinated Christmas. We don’t have theme trees. We don’t have decorations in every room.

We do have children who love Christmas and love to decorate the house. We let them. Our house doesn’t resemble any holiday photo you’ve seen in a magazine. We have a collection of well loved things that we bring out every year. I love to watch my kids as they unwrap the decorations and talk about what they recall of Christmas’ past.

This week, I’ll be sharing a few of my favorite things. First up…

The Three Little Kittens

These ornaments were made by my Grandma Mae probably 35 years ago. I’ve always loved them. I can only imagine how much time she spent sewing on sequins, embroidering, and appliquéing.

Mama cat.

Blue Mitten Kitten.

Sister Kitten. Growing up with a houseful of brothers, I always thought this was me.

Green Mitten Kitten.

My Grandma Mae passed away over 20 years ago, so I love having these in my Christmas collection.

Come back tomorrow for crazy dancing Santa! Linking up to DIY Showoff, The Shabby Nest, The Inspired Room and Nesting Place.

What’s your favorite holiday decoration?

Things I Learned This Week

1.  When the dog tracks in poo from the yard, she will make approximately 847 footprints before you discover her dirty little secret.

2.  Pick your battles:  Don’t argue with your 13 year old son about how he needs to wear a sweatshirt to school.   Rather, hope he’ll notice that goose bumps make you look more like a dork than your sweatshirt does.

3.  My 10 year old daughter dreams in action like I do.  Last night she launched herself out of bed, sound asleep.  When I asked what was going on, she said she dreamt she was going down a waterfall in a wheelbarrow.

4.  It’s hard to take a photo of myself and have it turn out like what I look like in my mind. 

  

Not me in my mind.  Who is this person?  Grrrr. 

What did you learn this week?

Making Toffee – Easy Yummy Gifts

One of my favorite gifts to make at the holidays is Toffee. It is easy to make, and people LOVE it! Here’s an easy recipe:

Toffee
1 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

1. Place butter and sugar in a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat.

2. Once the butter begins to melt, stir constantly, until the mixture is the color of a brown paper bag. You really do have to stand at the stove the whole time once it starts bubbling. This stuff is hot, so stir carefully.

3. As soon as it’s the color of a brown paper bag, pour it onto a baking sheet and spread it around evenly. Immediately sprinkle on chocolate chips. They’ll start to melt immediately.

4. Using a knife or spatula, evenly spread melted chocolate chips.

5. Sprinkle chopped pecans over melted chocolate. Chill.

6. When it’s hardened, break into pieces. This recipe makes four gift bag sized servings.

I guarantee your friends will thank you!

Do you have a special recipe you like to share with friends and family at holiday time?

Linking up to DIY Showoff, Living with Lindsay, The Mom Creative and Kelly's Korner.

Sundays in My City

The new Alviso Adobe Community Park recently opened.  The park interprets three distinct periods in history.

 

A bedrock mortar, used by the local Ohlone Indians to grind acorns.  It dates back to 3,000 BC.

 

The recently restored Alviso adobe.  Built in 1854 by Francisco Alviso for his wife and ten children, the adobe was the center of a 300-acre ranch.

 

The property was sold in 1919 and became the Meadowlark Dairy, the first certified dairy in California.

Check out Unknown Mami for more:

Easy Crafty Gift Coasters

I just made a set of coasters for my Mom for Christmas. I love to make things, but I am SUPER picky. I wouldn’t give anyone a craft I made that I wouldn’t also be thrilled to receive.

I made these using a tutorial and a graphic from Karen at The Graphics Fairy. If you haven’t been to visit The Graphics Fairy yet, get on over there now. Go ahead, I’ll wait……Karen has an amazing collection of vintage images and clip art that she generously shares. I picked a beautiful sepia colored graphic from an 1888 encyclopedia. Using just a pack of tumbled stone tiles from Home Depot, some gel transfer medium, and some adhesive backed cork, I was able to create a set of six coasters that I know my Mom will love. This is a super easy project that would also be great for kids.

This is just one of six beautiful coasters. I know my Mom is going to love these!

Linking up to: Cottage Instincts, DIY Day, DIY Showoff, Brag Monday at the Graphics Fairy, Between Naps on the Porch, Funky Junk Interiors.

Growing Amaryllis

Every year I plant Amaryllis in the fall so I’ll have some bright blooms indoors during the holiday season.   I love the look of these flowers.  They’re tropical looking but very sturdy and easy to grow.    They have long sleek stems with a riot of blooms on top.   Every year I pick out a few healthy looking bulbs and plant them, knowing that by Christmas, I’ll be rewarded with colorful blooms. 

Meet my 2009 Amaryllis: 

“Pipsqueak”,

“Runt” and

“Big Momma”. 

 

I’m not sure what kind of steroids Big Momma was fed at the bulb farm,  but it appears that Pipsqueak and Runt declined to partake.  Guess I’ll just have to wait a few more weeks for them to work their magic.