Tag Archives: happiness project

Spring Fever

Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

Lipstick stains on coffee cups. Gossip. Having really smart friends. Practicing gratitude. Wine tastings at Light of My Lantern Speakeasy, where I can get a good flush in the safety of great company. Lindt’s A Touch of Sea Salt dark chocolate bar. Getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine to plant green, growing things. Twitter DMs. Writing dates. Cherry blossoms. 3 Paths Toward a More Creative Life. Live music (in particular: Great Big Sea’s XX Anniversary Tour). sweetgreen’s spicy broccoli (delicious!). Principal fires security guards and hires art teachers – and transforms elementary school. Practicing not-so-random acts of kindness. John Cleese’s advice on making your life more creative (from 1991 – and it still holds up)! Discussions with friends that range from writing to reading to history to politics to philosophy to relationships and beyond. Finding a state of flow. Finally getting my tattoo finished. Reading this post on how to Be Open to Inspiration: concentrate on what’s right in front of you – and if you don’t like what’s in front of you, change it. Lifestyle, style, fashion, and design blogs. The beautiful and educational History of Typography (video). Burt’s Bees Honey & Grapeseed Hand Cream. This exercise in creativity from Nicole’s Classes. Finally finishing a DIY project I started a while ago. Seeing some of my favorite flowers in bloom on the way to work. Being Totally Honest. Beautiful green leaves on trees, providing dapples of shade throughout the city.

This quote: “You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.” ―Brené Brown

Friday, I’m in Love

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Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

The LIzzie Bennet Diaries (a modern take on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice told through video blogs on YouTube) ♥ This song, which features samples from both Billie Jean AND Under Pressure. Go listen. NOW. ♥ Daria. ♥ Dove’s new Photoshop action: promoting self-esteem everywhere. ♥ Parents doing amazing things for their kids: Parents and Transgendered 6 Year-Old Battle Her Colorado Elementary School and Awesome Dad Hacks Video Game For Daughter So Pauline Saves Mario! ♥ Some advice on how to combat creative blocks.♥ My Mad Fat Diary, the (6 episode) story of Rae, a music-obsessed 16-year-old in the 1990s who deals with eating disorders and mental illness, as well as everything else that goes on in the life of a teenager. (It’s beautifully done. I can’t say enough good things about it.) ♥ The iced hazelnut latte from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. ♥ A mini-vacation to Arizona for the wedding of one of my oldest friends. ♥ Squeezing in a visit to the Desert Botanical Gardens while in Phoenix. ♥ Spending time with my mum and dad. ♥ Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti, the sequel to Brownies and Broomsticks, by Bailey Cates. ♥

This quote: “You don’t have to get a job that makes others feel comfortable about what they perceive as your success. You don’t have to explain what you plan to do with your life. You don’t have to justify your education by demonstrating its financial rewards. You don’t have to maintain an impeccable credit score. Anyone who expects you to do any of those things has no sense of history or economics or science or the arts. – You have to pay your electric bill. You have to be kind. You have to give it all you got. You have to find people who love you truly and love them back with the same truth. But that’s all.” -Cheryl Strayed

Change, Manifested

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Two years ago I took a wonderful course called Adventures in Manifesting. I was unemployed and trying to find my place in life. I am happy to say that, after two years of ups, downs, lefts, rights, sideways, backways, and loops, I’m taking a big leap forward. Today, I am starting a new career – in a field I never would have thought about two years ago. I am working as an Online Content Specialist with the Association of American Medical Colleges.

In essence, I am working with contributors to our site to review and publish content on a daily basis, as well as working with my team to train people on how to use the content management system. Aspects of the job include Web maintenance, outreach and support, and development. There’s a lot to learn, but I’m excited. It’s a challenge, but also an adventure.

I am grateful for everything that’s happened and everything that it’s taken to get here. The more you appreciate what you have, the better the opportunities that come along. When you rid your life of the extraneous, the frivolous, and the unnecessary, you make room for the amazing and unexpected!

Eliminating Wheat

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This year, I’ve decided once again to pick Themes for Success. Where last year’s words were Create, Celebrate, Simplify, this year’s words are Gratitude, Beauty, and Health. While I have yet to make a comprehensive post about them, I decided to let these words absorb into me and take me where they will. My theme of Health this year has me finishing up dentist appointments which started last year, ordering new glasses from Warby Parker, and eating well.

I recently read the book Wheat Belly and have decided to cut wheat out of my diet. Did you know that two slices of whole wheat bread can spike your blood sugar more than a candy bar? Wheat can be more addictive than high-fructose corn syrup. On average, people who eat no wheat eat about 400 calories less per day than those who do eat wheat.

So, I’ve decided to give eliminating wheat a try. My hope is that, in addition to losing some weight, I will no longer feel as sluggish, will have more energy, and just feel better overall. I’m hopeful, since the first week I eliminated wheat from my diet, I lost two pounds. I am hoping to continue losing weight and feeling more energetic. I am experiencing less need to snack and feeling full, but not stuffed after meals.

Have you ever eliminated wheat from you diet? What effects did you experience? Were you able to keep it up long-term?

I hope this will be a lifestyle change for me. I invested in the Wheat Belly Cookbook and bought ingredients to try out these soft and chewy gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. Don’t they look amazing?

Absorbing Positivity, Deflecting Negativity

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One of the hardest and most valuable lessons I have learned in my life is how to absorb positivity and deflect negativity. Before putting positive energy out into the world, it’s important to create it for yourself. In this short, but sweet “Ask Amy”, Amy Poehler explains how to get a start on pumping up positive energy in our lives, accepting compliments, and leaving negative energy behind. Take it from this genius comedy star and implement it into everyday life: