Plan Happiness

With all the chaos and wretchedness going on in the world, it's easy to slip into negativity and sadness.

Luckily, we don't have to stay there.

When darkness starts to pull me under its toxic spell, there are numerous things to do that will make me happy.

One can make a list of things that bring happiness and  keep it handy.

First of all, I love to BAKE. 

Most of the items baked are given away and that's okay.  Whether it's  a cake, cookies, or something else, the act of baking brings me joy. Plus, the oven's heat helps warm up the apartment.

Costume jewelry always makes me smile. Every day, regardless if I go out or not, earrings are worn and sometimes necklaces, bracelets, and rings, too. 

Home decorating is definitely one of the things that make the "happy" list.  For every season, and all the time between, the apartment is decorated and the dollhouse, too!

Grandchildren will never be off my happy-making list. They are all so precious.  Just today, a little grandson texted me in the early morning to say he was worried about a math test. Quickly, I told him I'd pray that he'd do well and encouraged him not to worry. That was all before breakfast!

Flowers are a 100 percent guaranteed happy-maker. Any kind, any color, any bouquet---- all bring immense happiness and appreciation.

Food has got to make the list. Let's face it. I love to eat food from almost every cuisine and then some. Two binge foods are ice cream and potato chips.

Thrift store shopping is another wonderful way to bring a smile to my lips. From the minute I walk into the door of a shop until it's time to pay up and leave with new treasures, my heart beats faster and a happy feeling jumps inside my heart.

So there is just a smattering of things that help me plan happiness.  

HOW ABOUT YOU? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR SURE FIRE WAYS TO FEEL HAPPINESS?

The Sound of Birds Is a Sign of Spring

Listening to the singing of birds makes hearts happy.

Colors (pink for me) add to the joy of life.

So when I saw the adorable pink bird shown in today's post, she had to come home with me.

Today snow is falling again and a lousy mixture of snow, slush, and ice is predicted for tonight but I'm not going to let it weigh heavily on my heart.

Just a couple of days ago, while depositing two garbage bags in the apartment complex dumpster, birdsong reached my ears.

In a leafless nearby tree, there was a group of robins!

It took every ounce of restraint to keep from screaming a welcome at the top of my lungs. 

The red (or orange) breasted robin is a harbinger of spring!  

Yes, less than three weeks away, spring will be here,  sooner than we think. (We all hope.)

Never was I so happy to be depositing trash into the big bin since I could look at robins and hear their precious chirping at the same time!

In the meantime, I'll rest my eyes on the little pink bird that doesn't sing but still brings joy, just by sitting on the kitchen counter.

New Month, New Week

A new month always brings new hopes and dreams into our lives.

Today also marks the beginning of a new week.

There's always so much to think about, to do, to finish, and to hope for.

Being a writer, it's easiest to write down in a notebook all the things that need to be done.

That helps to prioritize items and keep things a bit organized in my mind.

Here's to a good day and evening for everyone reading this.

DO YOU PUT IN WRITING THINGS THAT NEED TO GET DONE?

Friends Are Gifts from God

 

Among the greatest blessings of life are dear friends.

Sometimes, when loneliness threatens to envelop a person, a phone call or note from a friend can mean a lot.

As we age, we begin to lose friends so those who stick by us are extra special.

As much as we cherish the friends in our lives, it's important to be a good friend as well.

Caring and kindness go a long, long way in this crazy world in which we live.

So today, be a good friend.

Make a phone call to someone you haven't spoken to in a long while or send a couple of texts to let people know you are thinking of them.

It may mean more than you will ever know.

Okay, friend, I hope you have a good Sunday from dawn til dusk and then some.

Sugar Cookie Heaven

One never knows where the next cookie recipe will come from or how good it will be.

Recently, while grocery shopping at Aldi's, instead of the regular market, I came across many items with bargain price tags.

Pure vanilla extract , as opposed to artificial, was one of them.

A bottle cost less that $5 so I put two into my shopping cart as I love baking.

The side of the box the vanilla came in held a recipe for sugar cookies.

Because gifts of lots of cookies are given for all occasios, I decided to give the recipe a shot.

It was simple and quick, both pluses in the baking world.

There was no call for chilling the dough for hours before baking.

The pleasant fragrance of baking cookies filled the apartment.

The extra heat from the oven warmed things up. 

All cookie recipients sent their praises for the sugar cookies. 

That surprise trip to Aldi's was a good call.

The cookies were a hit this round and will be made again in the future, all because of the purchase of a box of pure vanilla extract.