Book Worm

  
   It is to my delight that I have found more time to do the thing I absolutely adore; Reading! While enjoying a very beautifully crafted latte this morning, I finished reading Fifty shades of Grey, the first book of a very intense three book series by E.L. James. Similar to most books I fall for, this one ended with such a bang that I felt compelled to run straight to the book store and purchase the second book, Fifty shades darker. Instead, I bounced back to the second book of The Hunger Games series, Catching fire. Much like fifty shades, the hunger series has caught my interest by surprise. In my absolute excitement, I wanted, almost needed, to talk to somebody about what I had just read. To me, the second best thing to reading is sharing your experience with fellow enthusiastic readers and hearing their input. With that being said, I thought that a book club should be put into order. If enough people show interest, I figure we could recommend, discuss, share, and learn about old, new, and upcoming books. (Maybe even coffee talks, who knows?!)
If this is something you would be interested in, lets make it happen! I would love to hear any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions on how to go about this, leave your ideas in the comment box below.
-Brittney

My beautifully crafted latte!

I wish I may, I wish I might.

   I'm sure I'm probably five years behind on this news, but how cool is the idea of an Amazon wish list? If you've ever struggled in deciding what to get a friend, family member, or loved one, worry no more. Not only can you add items from the Amazon's site to your list, but you can also add items from other sites. What makes this so fantastic is that you can search for a person, and if they have a list, goodbye indecision. Sometimes it's difficult to shop for people, so it's always helpful to have a better understanding of needs. Wish list are surprisingly fun to make, and even more fun to look up. Let the wishes begin! :)

Things to remember.....

 

   With age, our memory begins to fail us all. It starts with misplacing keys and leads to leaving the remote control inside the refrigerator. I'm only 22 and my memory has already started to plummet. Fortunately not to that extent just yet, but it would be nice to avoid it for as long as possible. Although it is probably impossible to remember every single little thing, these few things I find important to remember.

-Eat Breakfast. (It's the most important meal of the day!)
-Drink a lot of water. (It does the body good in almost every possible way.)
-Take vitamins/prescriptions. (healthy body, healthy mind)
-Brush teeth. (In the morning AND at night)
-Manners! 
-Smile :)
-Laugh. (even if it's fake, it makes me feel better)
-Physical activity- walking, working out, or just about anything that involves moving the body.
-Stay organized- less room for loss and disaster.
-Birthdays-People love um!
-Appreciation- for family, friends, and loved ones.
-Sleep. zZzZz  (AT LEAST THE MINIMUM)

Tips to help boost your memory: TRAIN YOUR BRAIN!
Listen and pay close attention.
Exercise your body, which will exercise your brain.
Concentration games such as word puzzles, word finds, and Sudoku.
Drink coffee- it is known to help keep you focused, as well as almonds, green tea, and dark chocolate.
Drink wine- has a fun little ingredient called resveratrol that helps boost the blood flow in the brain. (Only about a glass though, because alcohol also kills brain cells.)
De stress- Less to think about.

What are some things that help you remember stuff?

The Happiness Project

 

   It is with much excitement that I finally finished and get to discuss a New York Times bestselling novel, The Happiness Project. Author, Gretchen Rubin, is an average type of gal with a good job, healthy family, and loving husband. Although her life may appear perfect on the outside, she admits that she yearns to become a happier person and recognizes that she is not living her life to it's fullest. Gretchen introduces her journey to happiness in noticing her every day routine and how she began taking things for granted. She states that in doing so, "I had a sudden realization: I was wasting my life." 

That was the day she decided to set up a list of personal resolutions for each month of the year. Starting with January, Gretchen recognizes her faults, insecurities, likes, and dislikes in a journey to ultimate happiness and self discovery. What makes this book a fantastic read is just how raw and down to earth Gretchen is. She is every average American, male or female, who is content with their lives, but thrive for extra excitement and overall happiness. In her journey to "Be Gretchen", she discovers that happiness is not an object, or having everything that you ever wanted, It's a state of mind.

"You are not happy unless you think you are happy."

The entire book is a warehouse of positive ideas and inspirational quotes.  A few fun quotes that stuck with me was ,"It is by spending oneself, that one becomes rich" and "One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy; one of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself." Gretchen didn't need to change her entire life to be happy, she just recognized what made her happy, and ran with it. I highly recommend this easy read to anyone looking to enhance their happiness, look on the bright side of life, and try something different for a change.

Here's how she did it:
(keep in mind, every happiness project is different)

January BOOST ENERGY (vitality)
*Go to sleep earlier
*Exercise better
*Toss, restore, organize
*Act more energetic

February REMEMBER LOVE (marriage)
* Quit nagging
*Don't expect praise or appreciation
*Fight right
*No dumping
*Give proofs of love

March AIM HIGHER (work)
*Launch a blog
*Enjoy the fun of failure
*Ask for help
*Work smart
*Enjoy now

April LIGHTEN UP (parenthood)
*Sing in the morning
*Acknowledge the reality of peoples feelings
*Be a treasure house of happy memories
*Take time for projects

May  BE SERIOUS ABOUT PLAY (leisure)
*Find more fun
*Take time to be silly
*Go off the path
*Start a collection

June MAKE TIME FOR FRIENDS (friendship)
*Remember birthdays
*Be generous
*Show up
*Don't gossip
*Make three new friends

July BUY SOME HAPPINESS (money)
*Indulge in a modest splurge
*Buy needful things
*Spend out
*Give something up

August CONTEMPLATE THE HEAVENS (eternity)
*Read memoirs
*Keep a gratitude notebook
*Imitate a spiritual master

September PURSUE A PASSION (books)
*Write a novel
*Make time
*Forget about results
*Master a new technology

October PAY ATTENTION (mindfulness)
*Meditate on koans
*Examine true rules
*Stimulate the mind in new ways
*Keep a food diary

November KEEP A CONTENDED HEART (attitude)
*Laugh out loud
*Use good manners
*Give positive reviews
*Find an area of refuge

December BOOT CAMP PERFECT (practice what you've preached)

Interested in starting your own happiness project?
Check out Gretchen's' toolbox to get started
www.happinessprojecttoolbox.com

The thrifty elf

     If you partake in Christmas traditions, you can probably attest that this time of year can be a most delightful, yet stressful, time of year. I don't know about you, but it seems like there is a constant mental checklist going on in my head, which never seems to complete itself. In running around like Santa's elf, I realize the full intensity of the expression "so much to do, and so little time". From festivities to finances, how is it humanly possible? In just thinking of the basics, such as decorations, gifts, and feast foods, one slowly realizes that these little things can add up, costing a pretty penny...or two. The end result, the addition of alcohol into your eggnog, not to mention substantial headaches and rising stress levels. Luckily, I've come up with a few nifty, thrifty pointers, which have helped me through and through. 

Tips for Santa's little helpers: 

Make a list, and check it twice!

   When I mentioned that I had a mental checklist going on inside my head, I failed to mention that I also have one written down. It is proven that if you make a list, checking off the things you've completed, it not only helps you stay organized, but earns an immense feeling of gratification, AKA- Happiness. I'm one for instant gratification, so I broke my responsibilities up into two different list...

A "Nice" list, for those I wanted to give a little something, something.

MOM

DAD

SISTERS

COWORKERS

etc.

A "Naughty" list, for everything else that I wanted to purchase 

WRAPPING PAPER

TAPE

CHRISTMAS TREE

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE SUPPLIES

-2 cans green beans

-1 can of cream and mushroom soup

-1/4 milk

-onion crispys

GINGERBREAD HOUSE

etc.

In doing so, I've learned that you can earn yourself a little more brain space, and peace of mind.

"One mans toxic sludge, is another mans potpourri!"

   I'm a girl of simple pleasures, yet I enjoy the nature of nice things. I like to save money, and have fun, which is possible. Idea: Get a group of your best buds together, search your house for new, or lightly used items, and have yourself a Christmas swap, white elephant, if you will. In doing this, everyone gets the joy of unwrapping something, you won't have to purchase 13191232193 gifts, and you're building fun memories with your favorite people. Not so fond of used items, put a limit on how much you should each spend on each other so nobody breaks the bank, or feels bad. My family does a $50 drawing each year, which has been a huge success for as long as I can remember.

"It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came with ought packages, boxes, or bags!"- Le grinch 

   Unfortunately, we live in a showy society, so it's not exactly applauded if you present an unwrapped gift. Aside from the possible embarrassment, it takes away from the mystery. Do you have to have the best wrapping paper on the block with silk bows? Not at all.

This year I decided to compare prices, and styles, of different stores that carried wrapping materials. In my search for style and savings, I discovered the amazing....DOLLAR STORE! (The one where everything is a dollar, not the one that calls themselves the dollar store, yet everything is clearly NOT a dollar.) I found the cutest bags, tissue, and wrapping paper...for the low price of...well, $10, for 10 items. Tape, bows, boxes, glitter, and cute decorations galore. I believe in the beauty of presentation, but it's the inside the counts, so save the extra moola. 

Looking to get creative?

Hit up your nearest craft store for plain brown handled bags, and make your own personalized sacks. 

A tisk, for a task.

   I'm stubborn, so asking for help is not of my nature, but let's face it, we all need a little help sometimes. Instead of planning everything on my own like a mad women, my family breaks things up into personal tasks, so instead of piling the entire Christmas meal onto one person's plate, we split it up. If one of us is slacking on wrapping, we have wrapping parties, and if someone is stacked with responsibilities and needs some last minute gifts, we help a family member out. Hands are for helping folks!

Heart to heart and hand in hand.

   Family,friends, and the memorable times spent together, is what Christmas time is all about. I love surprising family and friends with things they love, because it makes me happy to see them happy, but the real gift is being in their presence. Taking in the small moments of this season can make this time much more enjoyable, from walking through Christmas lights, to hot chocolate by a cozy fire. Christmas isn't a present, it's a meaning, no matter what it is you believe.

Want to spread a little extra love this Christmas? Donate extra canned goods to the nearest food drive, or purchase a gift for a child in need. It's the little things that make the biggest difference.

P.S. 16 more days until Christmas! 

Once upon a Christmas....

   I always get a little excited around this time of year, the cold weather, pretty lights, and comfy clothes, what's not to love about winter? In reflecting back on previous years, I stumbled across memories of my childhood Christmases. I vividly remember my excitement  when decorating the Christmas tree, insisting I put the angel on the top every year. The days seemed to go by so slowly, when my morning routine consisted of moving the Santa doll down a pocket each day in December, counting down the days until Santa came. I recall my sisters all squished into one bed on Christmas Eve, laughing the night away, while getting scolded by our parents because of the noise, and failed attempts to catch Santa in action. Oh the days!

In getting older, the childhood excitement slowly escapes us, unless we do out best to keep it alive. The way I look at it, there is still so much love, so I make new memories, and hold the old ones close to my heart.

My most memorable presents from Santa

Barbie dream house!

I think I screamed when I opened it, it had an elevator, balcony, and bath tub, my barbies were too cool.

 Tamagotchi!

I got a cute little cat, it died all the time, but I remember spending hours at a time trying to keep it alive.

Cabbage patch kid!

The coolest part about this doll was that it had a birth certificate, which made me feel like I extra owned it. It was my first child, yet now they all kind of creep me out.

Easy bake oven!

My favorite, and most played with, present of all time. I seriously loved that thing, and once I ran out of powder packets and recipes, I used random things from my kitchen. I was devastated when my light bulb went out, and when it was really dirty inside, my mom made me throw it away. Sad day!

Lite-Brite!

Flat out fun! It was such an accomplishment when I completed a full stencil, although I mostly free styled, randomly sticking them anywhere I wanted. My parents didn't like it very much, nor did I, when stepping on a piece sitting upright on the carpet.

Don't stop believing!

Thankful, I am.

Thanksgiving is just days away, and most of us are either day dreaming about eating, or preparing, the delicious feast that comes along with the holiday. With our thoughts absorbed in turkey and green bean casserole, it's easy to forget the true meaning behind the occasion. (cornucopias)
My realization this year came in the form of a fast ball, thrown a week before Thanksgiving. My family is deciding to go separate ways this year, a foreign idea to me. Naturally, I was devastated, 22 years of tradition for me, shattered by one Thanksgiving apart, until I took a look at the big picture. My parents, who are the hardest working souls I've ever met, are taking a relaxing, well deserved, trip to the beach and my sisters are finally getting to spend the holiday with their husbands families, which is rare, because we are typically a pretty inseparable gang on holidays. In thought of this, I decided to feel a little less like Jenny McCarthy's "Singled out" and little more tuned in. In scrambling to decide what I was going to do, whether it be eating a Jim's Thanksgiving, or frozen dinner, I decided to A. be thankful that the reason my family couldn't be together this year was because we chose not to, not because we weren't able to and B. that I could try something different this year. I was thankful for how many friends and distant family members were so eager to have me over, I can't pin point a more eye opening moment where I've felt more loved, and blessed. In conclusion, my turkey day plans will consist of me volunteering at the homeless shelter, for those who need me, and feasting with my second family, and high school best friends. Helping hands, and helping hearts. It's important to be thankful for what you have, especially on a day that is trying to remind you of it.

I'm thankful for:

1. My family: I couldn't put a crazier group of people together if I tried, but I couldn't picture a world where they weren't around. Whether walking this earth, or watching above, my family is most beautiful,giving,loving, group of people I've been so lucky to grow up with, and learn from.

2. My friends: My second family, and ultimate life fighting support system. Good friends are hard to come by, and I've got one hell of a great gang of girls and guys.

3. My education: I've never known exactly what I've wanted, but my drive to stick to eduction, stuck right back. I received my Associates this year, and even though it's only a milestone, it's an exciting one, and I can't wait to further my education, learning and growing to my greatest potential.

4. My job: Not the highest, most challenging, of jobs, but a job to be proud of none the less. My Barista status has introduced me to some of the coolest people, experiences, and opportunities to help others, and grow within myself. I love me some coffee, I love me some customer relationships.

5. My sass: This includes my living arrangement, means of transportation, and fun life accessories. Material objects are not everything, hardly anything, but I'm thankful for the fun things I get to treat myself to here and there.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving of family, food, fun, and friends.