Between the stinky economy and swine flu pandemic, I’d say things are looking a little dismal out there! Good grief! So what can we do to keep ourselves inspired to find the beauty in life? You know me, I like to celebrate the little things! When things get a little gloomy, I try to focus on the positives and create a list of things to be happy about in life.
When I first start to make a list of happy things, I’ll admit I sometimes have a hard time finding 20 things. I get a far off, spaced out look on my face. But the more I think, the happier I get because I realize I DO have 20 things to be happy about! At least 20 things! And that in itself is reason to celebrate. I turn my mood right around by thinking of just 20 little things that make life beautiful for me.
But, even if I could find only ONE thing, thinking about it would be a good way to focus on something positive amidst the craziness this world is dishing out right now. Oooh, how clever am I? DISHING OUT… mwahaa haa haa. OK. I’d blame it on the paint fumes. If I had started painting yet. Oh, stop. I’ll get to it. I have TWO WEEKS!
Here is my random list of little happy things
(and notice the last thing on my list, A GIVEAWAY!)
These are in no particular order:
- Sunny days
- Chocolate with nuts
- The smell of coffee
- My son’s laughter
- Faith in a God bigger than my problems
- Spring flowers
- Scones
- Makeover projects for CHEAP
- Cute shoes from the thrift store
- Paint (stretching it here)
- Blogs to inspire me
- Friends to encourage me
- Friends I can encourage
- Family I can adore
- A cozy bed at night to curl up with my hubby
- A roof over my head
- Happy memories
- Dreams for the future
- Creativity
- New dishes!! For one lucky winner, A $100 Retail Value Gift Certificate to DaySpring for anything from their new Life Collection!
Just a couple of days ago DaySpring sent me some very happy dishes from their new LIFE TO THE FULL COLLECTION! Lucky me! I am a white dishes girl but I was thrilled to find these beauties to mix in for some outdoor fun this summer. These really are lovely dishes and very well crafted — if you want some for yourself, you will NOT be disappointed! You could hang these on a wall or eat off of them, either way, they are gorgeous! There is no better time to celebrate LIFE TO THE FULL than right now.
This collection would make a great Mother’s day gift, so for everyone here is a 20% off code for your next purchase!
How do you enter this Happy Life giveaway?
You can enter any of these three ways, or ALL THREE if you want three chances!
1) Share your beautiful life post via Mr. Linky for one entry
2) Share some little things via the comments that MAKE YOU HAPPY in spite of all this crazy Swine flu and economy woes.
3) And if you are a subscriber (or become one) of The Inspired Room, I’m given you an extra chance to win! You’ll find a secret code in your post. All you have to do is send an email to theinspiredroom@gmail.com with the word CODE in the subject line. Then tell me what the code is and you get another entry. You can subscribe via email right here! Or via RSS right here! The code will be in the posts next week as well so watch for it if you are just subscribing today!
So, three chances (I’ll count every entry, so you may as well try for them all!) to win a $100 retail value (yes, a $100 retail value shopping spree!!!) of any Life To The Full Collection products from DaySpring!
Want to see more of the Life to the Full Collection? Click here!
PS. If your procrastination project goes wrong over the weekend, just take a deep breath and click The Magic Brush for a good laugh. Laugh WITH her. Not AT her. Really. I can so relate.
oops…Mr. Linky didn’t work earlier, so if you still want to add a post here, feel free! Just make sure your link goes directly to a specific Beautiful Life post…and put a link back to The Inspired Room!
This giveaway is now closed.
I’m happy that my sister is bringing her family for a visit this weekend.
And it makes me happy that we have the extra money to visit the grocery store and pick out whatever little treats we want. I bought fancy whole bean coffee, special bread for French toast, little treats for the kids, etc. So many families are stretched thin in this economy, watching every dollar, even forced to rely on help from food banks.
Jens inspiring blog post..For You and No One Else
I love the peace and quiet of my mornings. My family sleeping safely in their beds and me with my 1st cup of coffee. Great!
I’m also always happy when I watch the KY Derby! When they sing My Old Ky Home… I cry, LOL! I feel happy to be from here and part of such an enduring tradition, I can’t wait until tomorrow!
I am happy that I have a job I live in this economy. I teach kindergarten to 20 beautiful children and every day is an adventure!
I am happy that I have my sweet puppy. He is such a loving little companion. The secret code is leomade.
I have been thinking that I have a lot to be thankful for lately (and that makes me happy!). I feel so fortunate to still have a job. I am blessed by the ability of my husband and I to purchase our first home. My kiddos as school (I teach 1st grade) have taught me to have a positive attitude! They are so funny. Lastly, I am thankful for the ability I have to help others and do random acts of kindness.
I’m an early riser…I mean early! And the weather here in the ATL is perfect right now…it makes me happy to work at the kitchen table with the back door open and the birds singing as the have breakfast at my birdfeeders!
What a beautiful way to start the day~
Blessings~
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
Robin Rane’ ~ All Things Heart and Homes inspiring blog post..Cinco de Mayo!
Oh, I love the dishes! I like your thankful list Melissa. It’s amazing how many things to be thankful for we can take for granted each day. Thanks for reminding me to keep my eyes open.
~Kim
Thanks for sharing your list. It reminded me to focus on blessings and there really are so many!
Tricia – Avolli
I have a HUGE long list of “happy things” so lets get going on some of them …
* hubby brings me a glass of cold OJ every morning
* a daughter than lives nearby
* creative genes from my father
* hubby is employed
* we do NOT have the swine flu
* completing a very long ‘to do’ list of phone calls and paperwork
* American Idol
* Dancing With the Stars
* opportunities to win goodies on blogs
I love my early morning tea and oatmeal time on the porch with my puppies, I love getting phone calls from my husband, I love planting flowers, I love not watching TV (I still am not quite sure of all these swine flu details….and I love it!) BEAUTIFUL dishes! I too am a white plate girl…with fancy colorful serving pieces!
Thanks for sharing the “small things” in life and reminding us how truly beautiful they are! After following the LPM blog this week about their Compassion trip to Calcutta – I’m so thankful for my home and how it is filled with my FAMILY!
Kims inspiring blog post..Bring On The Romance!!
Hearing my girls laugh!! Brings such joy to my heart. These dishes are beautiful, and although I also like white dishes, these would be great accent pieces.
Joelles inspiring blog post..Intelligender results
Great post and great reminders to take stock of all of the good things we have. I am thankful for two healthy kiddos, a husband that has the day off of work who is having the kids “help” make pancakes so that I can sip coffee and read your blog, a rainy day that is making everything that pretty spring green color.
Love the dishes too!
Beautiful dishes, what a fun giveaway!
the little things…
hot coffee in the morning
iced chai in the afternoon
picking fruit from the garden
snuggling my kids
a few moments just for us to chat without interruption with hubby at 4 a.m. before he goes to work
snapping photos
Emily@remodelingthislifes inspiring blog post..DIY Patio Project
These are the things that make me happiest:
- Gary, my loving boyfriend and best friend, who has been with me through thick and thin, through cancer and transplant rejection, who still holds on tight to me when we sleep, like when we first met.
- Clean water. After the swine flu outbreak (and trips to Mexico in the past), I filled up a glass of water and just looked at it and marveled about how I get good, clean, filtered water. We’re so blessed in America.
- My job… I work with behaviorally challenged teenagers, and whenever I get an “F – YOU!” or some other such lovely sentiment, I remember that without me and my fellow co-workers, they wouldn’t learn how else to express themselves. They keep me sane, and sometimes drive me insane – but either way, when I’m at work, it all comes full circle.
- And finally, the thing in this world that makes me the happiest: RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS. Whenever I see one, or get one, or give one, it never ceases to amaze me how darn cool people can be.
Thanks for your post. It’s great!
Briannas inspiring blog post..Orange Inspiration
What a great idea! I had a horrible day yesterday and ended up at the thrift store and thought all night how amazing it was that a daisy pitcher and a pair of shoes from the thrift store could make such a difference in my attitude!
Michelles inspiring blog post..Project Procrastinators Party The Before
My sons waking up laughing…
A new house
Triumph over adversity
My sons singing
So much to be thankful for!
Thanks for the reminder.
Becky K.s inspiring blog post..A Beautiful Yard?
What a fun post, and what a fun giveaway! Let’s see, whay makes me happy? Babies laughing, spring, fall, puppies snuggling, boys roughhousing… there are lots of things to be happy about, aren’t there?
Terri
Terri Preasts inspiring blog post..Stop Moping!
Smiling babies make me happy – after a night of crying and fussing it’s nice to wake up to a smiling baby boy! Watching our garden grow, knowing that it will help to feed our family makes me happy!
Thanks
Donna S.s inspiring blog post..Getting Things Done – Procrastinators Unite!
I love to hear my small children sing songs about our savior. They have such sweet voices and sing with no reserve.
jodie
Throw my name into the hat! What a beautiful morning in the South. I love spring!
http://www.TheOldPostRoadBLOG.blogspot.com
TheOld PostRoads inspiring blog post..Country Home
Living from a place of abundance, even though money is tighter than it’s ever been, makes me happy. Hosting friends in my home for simple meals (even potlucks!) and good times is wonderful!
I blogged about your giveaway!
http://www.TheOldPostRoadBLOG.blogspot.com
TheOld PostRoads inspiring blog post..Country Home
I love the dishes there just the right pop of color for summer.
I love sunshine and to hear my son laugh
I love to sleep in with my husband
and I love wet puppy kisses from my baby
wow I could go on and on I may have to make a list of 20 for my self
Have a wonderful weekend
julie
Julies inspiring blog post..A little summer on the porch
This week has been full of stress, but above all, and the only thing that matters, is that I found out that I’m going to be a mom! My hubs and I got our adoption license approval on Tuesday. That means we could be parents within the next month. This has been a three year process, so to be in this place, well, it’s almost a miracle. That’s something to celebrate!
songbirdtiffs inspiring blog post..
Kisses from my hubby and kids always make me smile!
Things that make me happy:
My 1 year old’s giggle
sunshine
cardinals and bluejays in my backyard
a clean house
Kristins inspiring blog post..Baby Banana
I posted today about a similar thing…choosing to “rejoice in the Lord” in spite of circumstances…
So many happy things…
My children, my husband, spring flowers, our families, our home, our family life, our church, our friends, healthy bodies, healing bodies, a loving God….
Once I get started I could really have a long list!
Mrs.Rabes inspiring blog post..I Will Rejoice In The Lord
Thanks for the post! There are so many things to be thankful for, I wonder how I can overlook them daily, yet I do!! My husband, children, grandbaby, church, home, friends, health, my God, the grass finally turning green!! And the coffee that just finished brewing!
Cathys inspiring blog post..What’s On Your Nightstand – April
Things that make me happy are usually the simplest. Coffee with a good friend. A passionate kiss from my husband. A clean house. And those dishes…they are happy!
The Unconventional Doctor’s Wifes inspiring blog post..Sometimes I Get Nervous
My 9-month-old’s drooly smile!
Those dishes are beautiful!!
Let’s see…things that make me happy lately.
Our beautiful Iris that are in full bloom.
Our honeysuckle bush.
My oldest daughter reading chapter books…yea.
My 12th wedding anniversary this Sunday.
Lunch with my best friend earlier this week.
Great giveaway!
Simple things make me happy…my little granddaughter and her funny expressions, children who make me crazy but in spite of that they make me happy too, my hubby who always wants to give me everything. A phone call from a friend or a comment from a blogging friend makes me smile.
I look outside and see all the beauty that God has created for all of us and am in awe.
This makes me happy:
T.G.I.F. ~ Thank God I’m Forgiven
and the fact that when we saw that on a church sign, my husband is the one who made sure I saw it!
(I am also glad it’s Friday!)
(I came over from Twitter!)
Cathy Daviss inspiring blog post..Got S.O.A.P.?
I’ve been so blessed and happy to have all five of my children together for the first time in years- Happy Day
and I happy to have great places to go like here, for great inspiration.
=)
teresas inspiring blog post..Oh the Shame….
There are so many things that make me happy, I’m only going to focus on the small ones:
1. Freshly-made bed.
2. Full tank of gas (that I didn’t have to pump.)
3. New socks.
4. Coffee.
5. Fresh flowers.
kirwins inspiring blog post..5 Essentials of My Signature Style
So much to be happy about…but one of my favorites–beautiful flowers on a lovely May Day!
I am the happiest when I do something for others. This morning, I created several surprise May Day baskets to hang on friend’s doors–each was created with the friends interests and personalities. So much fun to make someone else’s day a happy one!
Happy May Day!
Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm
Debbykays inspiring blog post..Happy Pansy Faces
There are so many little things that can make someone happy, so I made a list of the little things that already made me happy today:
1. When I woke up this morning the temperature was already higher than the forecast high, meaning a sweater would work in place of a coat!
2. The wind was blowing hard enough that the smell of lilacs from the bush across the street reached my nose.
3. It stopped raining long enough to get from my car to work.
4. A group of band kids are on campus today for a competition and as I was walking to my building they serenaded me (or I happened to catch a bit of their practice)
5. It is Friday!
I haven’t created my Beautiful Life post, yet. But it is to come!
Wow they are beautiful, trying not to covet here. =)) What makes me happy is hubby, coffee, my kids, coffee, the beach, coffee. =) You get the idea.
This is only the second time I’ve participated in your beautiful things postings, and I love it. It is so nice to focus on the beautiful once in a while. Here is a sampling of my 20 happy things:
1. A little moment of quiet time with God on the couch every afternoon — just when I need it most.
5. A big cozy hug from hubby.
10. Clapping hands and saying, “Yay!” with M&M (my baby girl).
13. Our sunroom and spring making a perfect match.
19. Making memories with J and the kids.
I love the dishes!
The things that make me happy:
My girls Isabella & Sofia. Children change your life for the better.
Happy that we always have food to eat and home to live in.
That my daughter is going to a Great school.
Happy that DH has a dependable job
Happy that I have the opportunity to be a stay at home Mom.
Happy that a great opportunity for my bow business could be right around the corner. I will find out next week.
SoBella Creationss inspiring blog post..Etsy Blogger Team Member Two Zany Zebras
I love…
1. Sunny days.
2. A clean house.
3. Happy baby
4. When my family is together
5. Cool giveaways
seeing my 2 children smile, learn & grow is such a simple pleasure.
fresh bread…going to make a sourdough starter right now, in fact
embroidering
Sundays @ NewSpring
thanks! great giveaway!
jodis inspiring blog post..Please Pray for the MckFamily
I love the dishes!
I am blessed that we live in an area that is unaffected much by the economy. We do have our school’s closed with two cases of Swine Flu in our town. What makkes me happy? That I get to spend time daily with my kids and see them grow up. That my roses are blooming. That my God is always faithful daily.
Hollys inspiring blog post..Sams Club
a few things that make me happy!
Dishes, listening to my kids laughing hysterically, my guest room (sunny yellow, big tall 4 poster bed, quilts – so comforting), that my husband has a job he loves, that my photography business is taking off, that my parents still live on the beach, the pink flowering tree outside my kitchen window, summer peaches, SEC football, farmers markets, fine china, silver and crystal… I could on!
Of course, I am a subscriber…I am “thrilled” that my hubby is in the final 2 for a great job (guess where he’d be the controller…Mexico…yep…traveling one week/month),
and I can’t find Mr. Linky on either post.
Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlams inspiring blog post..Remodeling Round up – painting lighting fixtures
A sampling of my happy:
Good friends who are forever there
Love of family
The gift of creativity and the opportunity to put it to use
My lovely cats who make me laugh and smile
Inspiring people to follow their dreams
You inspired me to write a long over due post of my goals! Thank you…I needed this.
And i love dishes. I have an addiction. They make me happy and I won’t quit!
Ooh, I’d love to enter! What makes me happy today? My husband is on vacation for the next five days and will spend them all at home with the Little One and I. And we get to see far-away relatives this weekend whom we’ve missed a lot. Happy, happy!