The Happiness Project

What are things that make you happy? 

I'm talking toe curling, shout-out-loud, giddy kind of happy. We recently managed a few-day getaway, no kids allowed. 

 While this is something that can make a busy momma happy, it's the coming home to three smiling children who hug with open abandon that will elicit the type of happy I mean. How can you resist the feel and smell of your kids after being away from their hugs and smiles? It makes the getaway well worth it! 

 Maybe it's accomplishing a goal you set for yourself? Completing a run or race in new record time. Maybe you went on a fabulous first date and know that he/she is THE one! Whatever it is that can bring about a smile and a flutter in our bellies, isn't it wonderful? 

I wish there was a way to bottle this feeling and uncork it when we need it! Or maybe we can find ways to experience this happiness more often. How can we make our lives filled with happiness and lighter days? I have recently started reading a book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. She embarks on a one-year journey to create a happier life for herself. She sets monthly goals, and strives to reach these. As a busy wife, mother of two and full-time author, this is no easy task. Yet by setting small goals and and adhering rather strictly to these, she manages to see her happiness meter slowly rise. She states at the beginning of this project that everyone's happiness goals, and ways to achieve them, varies greatly. 

Whatever and however we may make our lives lighter, happier, it is worth every ounce of effort. I know my toes curled and my happiness meter overflowed when I hugged my kiddos after some time away. I highly recommend this book, even as a casual read. Any tips and insight to help us achieve happiness is worth looking at!

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Seasons of change

Well today, as I sit and type out this blog post, I am struck by the sights and sounds of the end of summer.

It's still glorious and warm, robins dance in our yards and butterflies are still plentiful. But there is that underlying hint of fall. A sudden cool breeze or just the way the sun hits the pavement tells of a season soon to be upon us. 

My kids are anxious and ready for the steady drum of routine, and so is their mother! So while we are ready to end the chapter of another summer in Wisconsin, how are you preparing for fall? Do you read through the Halloween costume magazines that are already filling our mailbox? Do you glance longingly at your favorite pair of jeans or sweatshirt that has sat patiently on your shelf these past months? Maybe a long-neglected closet is screaming your name, to be purged and cleaned? I have a long and lengthy list of activities to be done and clothes to be worn once the seasons change and the kids head to school. I'm not ready to pack the beach towels up quite yet, and I am still planning on wearing my shorts for a bit longer, but I'm mentally preparing for cooler days and time spent with my hands curled around a steaming mug of coffee. 

Living in a place that experiences four true seasons is comforting. We get out and embrace all the time when the heat and sun is plentiful, somehow soaking it in to carry us through during our bitter months of winter. Summer takes on an almost mystical tone, because we don't have the luxury of having it with us year round. I think each season brings it's own enjoyments, fuzzy sweaters, an old pair of boots, or your favorite swimming suit. So until summer is officially over, I'll take a few more swims in the pool and hopefully enjoy a few more nights dining outside with friends. After all, that is one of the beauties of living here, 90 degrees one minute, and minus 30 the next!

It's back-to-school shopping season!

Are you all set for the kids to go back to school? 

Have you purchased their supplies, double checking the list and making sure all of their number two pencils are sharp? 

 This year I am sending all three of my children off to school, the youngest for the first time! She will only attend three mornings a week, but it's a big step for all of us! I'll suddenly find I have a few extra quiet hours in my day, some extra time to devote to errands or other chores. I can hopefully volunteer a bit more in my kid's classrooms, or run an extra mile! The possibilities seem endless at this point, however I know the time will fill fast and furiously. 

 It is scary to shop for school supplies for three kids. I read that the average family spends over $600 getting kids set for this milestone! That is A LOT of number two pencils and crayons! We had a tradition growing up that my mom took my sister and I up to Minneapolis and we shopped for a day for a few special back-to-school outfits. We had a blast doing it, at least my sister and I did. I remember how excited I was to shop for brand new things, then carefully selecting what I would wear for the first day of school! 

 My son could really care less about what he wears, but my daughters are starting to form very strong opinions already! Jeans? No way! Buttons, forget it! So while this is a bit frustrating, it poses a challenge and one I am up to facing. So I'm almost done packing up the folders and markers, washing and organizing all of the clothes so the kids are all set. Now there is just enough time to savor the last few weeks of summer vacation before our new school year journey begins.

Paying it forward

I read a post on my Facebook page from a fellow mom blogger who took her three young sons to a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game. In front of her sat a young twenty-something man and his girlfriend. The lady told of how her sons were so excited, but did not exactly sit still. 

She said the man turned around and engaged her son during the game, running him down between innings to see the field, trying to snag a ball. He was delightful to her kids, and the mom was super grateful! 

At one point he promised that he would get her child a baseball. At the end of the game he took him down to the side to try to get a ball from the players and coaches, but they returned empty handed. She said her son started to look sad, when the man pulled a baseball out from behind his back and handed it to the little boy! He then whispered "I promised you a baseball, and I always keep my promises!" 

At some point during the game he had gone and purchased a baseball for her child! The mom went on to say that this was the highlight of the entire day for her young son. He talked about it non stop on the way home and even went to sleep hugging his baseball! 

 She sent this story out because she wanted to properly thank this young man, and to remind all of us that even a small act of kindness can make all the difference. He touched this family and through the story she told, it seems like he has brightened the lives of so many others! I loved reading this, and will try to remember that it doesn't take a big gesture, sometimes holding a door open for a stranger, or maybe plugging a meter that has run out for someone, can really say you care. And when we pay it forward, we all win in the end.

A post-reunion post

I wrote recently about attending my high school class reunion.

 It was such a wonderful night and so very much fun to reconnect with long-lost friends! There were people in my life who were fantastic classmates and even better friends, even if it was a couple of decades ago.

Facebook is a wonderful tool to help keep in touch with those who we may not otherwise see. But there is no replacing a good hug and an animated conversation face to face. 

 It was great to see how we have all aged and come into our own. We shared stories, some of which I had completely forgotten about! I graduated with a rather large class, almost five hundred kids. And we had a pretty poor turnout for all three days of the reunion. For the people who did make the effort, it was such an uplifting time. The same sense of humor was found in the group of guys who always caused a bit of trouble in the lunchroom. The same gaggle of girls who always dressed to the nines, were still doing it today. It is nice to see that some things never change, I took great comfort in that. It was also great to see who has become parents, and hear them brag about their kid's achievements. We have also lost a few classmates, and stories were shared about these special people. 

 For just a few hours time went a bit backward, and that was a nice feeling, one that I hope will last a bit until our next get together!

Favorite, easy summer meals

What are your favorite, easy, summer meals? When the thermostat rises, we tend to eat less and I tend to crave lighter dishes with fresh ingredients. One of our favorite "go to" meals includes chicken lettuce wraps. They are a simple, no fail meal that always satisfies. I love to take a head of iceberg lettuce or bib, and these become the wrap. In a bowl I toss together some cooked, shredded chicken. I usually buy a rotisserie chicken and only use about half of the bird, reserving the rest for another meal. Then I add whatever produce I have on hand, some examples are shredded carrots, snap peas, green peas, water chestnuts, chopped cilantro or parsley, purple cabbage, diced celery. Just add whatever you like. Then to this I tend to mix in crushed peanuts, and for seasoning some fresh minced garlic, some soy sauce, ginger, either fresh or powdered, and some red chili paste, add this to taste. Mix all up and serve with your lettuce wraps. We dip ours into store bought peanut sauce! Voilà, dinner is served!

 I am also a huge fan of anything salad. Whether it be pasta or green, a great salad is so satisfying and can be made ahead to save time. Sometimes these even taste better the next day. A recent favorite is an orzo pasta salad that can be found on the chef Giadia De Laurentiis's website. It adds dried cherries, feta cheese and fresh arugula and spinach. With the crunch of some toasted pine nuts, this salad has been a crowd pleaser on more than one occasion this summer. I highly recommend checking it out! 

And lastly, a salad I tried last week was the following:

GRILLED CORN, AVOCADO AND TOMATO SALAD
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 ripe avocado
2 ears of fresh sweet corn
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

HONEY LIME DRESSING
Juice of 1 lime
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp honey
Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
1 clove garlic, minced
Dash of cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS
Remove husks from corn and grill over medium heat for 10 minutes. The corn should have some brown spots and be tender and not mushy. Cut the corn off the cob then scrape the cob with the back of your knife to get the juices. Set aside and let cool. Slice the tomatoes in half. Dice the avocado and chop the cilantro.

Add all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Combine the sliced tomatoes, avocado, cilantro and grilled corn and honey lime dressing and mix gently so everything is evenly coated. Be careful not to mash the avocados. Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes to let flavors mingle. Enjoy.

Enjoying a mini break from reality...

Well, as we find ourselves in the twilight of summer, I'm trying to find a healthy balance between enjoying the weather and keeping active, and creating down time to enjoy everything!

My kids are starting the "drive each other nuts" phase, when we all realize we have filled our quota of together time! When they love each other and get along, life is so smooth, but when they fight and bicker, watch out! Yikes! 

 So this mom decided to take a bit of me time today. We have just arrived home from spending a week up north, enjoying a Wisconsin lake and the wonderful north woods. Our 24/7 time together was fantastic and always makes me appreciate my little family and all of our blessings. 

But upon returning home to the mound of laundry and whining kids, a few hours alone is always a mini vacation in itself! So what was a girl to do? Well after looking at my poor toes, that became an easy answer! I sped my way to the nearest nail salon and happily sat in a massage chair and let the girl work her magic! Not only do my toes look presentable, and perky too, my whole demeanor is refreshed. I managed to relax, not having to hear yelling or break up any fighting. I thumbed through a magazine and found out what is hot for summer (a bit late for me) and what to wear for fall! 

Ahhh, if you are in need of a mini, mid-day break from reality, splurge on a pedicure and you, and your toes, will thank you!