The Happiness Project - Feb

I settled into the couch last night while Justin worked on his blog and we turned Netflix onto The Office reruns. Now, I know I need to post Chapter 1 thoughts and what not but I wanted to post this today so I wasn't too far behind. Chapter 2 was really awesome... awesome because it made me look at the way I talk, act and respond to loved ones in my life. The other night at dinner I totally made an ass out of myself. Justin was telling a joke and I corrected him in front of everyone, and what I was correcting wasn't even wrong. I shouldn't have done it, it was a bratty move and I regretted it as soon as I did it. Chapter 2 just reinforced that, Yep I am a brat. However, there is still hope. 

So Chapter 2 is all about Love and how to be a better partner and make things easier on everyone. G's topics to work on this month are:


1. Quit nagging: Bahaha. I am a nagger. Babe, take out the trash. Babe, take out Buster.  Babe, make the bed. Babe, why didn't you take out the trash?

I liked her ideas of the one word suggestions. Such as CAMERA - saying camera would remind whoever to grab it and be done with it and if they forgot the camera, so what? If something really needs done so bad that I can't stand if it doesn't get done then why shouldn't I just do it?


2. Don't expect praise or appreciation: I am guilty of this. I like being appreciated and I like praise. But why?  Why shouldn't I just do something because I want the recipient to enjoy it? Must.work.on.this.


3. Fight Right: G says something to the point of how a couple fights matters more than how much they fight - how true! I really feel that J and I fight right, for the most part. Our fights are always over stupid stuff (like placement of our new couch) but I really think that all  most of our fights could be avoided if I counted to three and asked myself if what we were fighting about mattered. 

4. No dumping: Don't bring up everything at once, don't let your emotions from other aspects of life effect what is going on at that moment. Falls into fighting right again to me.

5. Give proofs of love. I can and will do better with this, Justin is great at it. I get flowers just because it is Tuesday for Pete's sake. I can't remember the last time I did something just because for him. He deserves it. And again I will do better.


I think G did a great job with examples in this chapter, too. The part where she was talking about her MIL B'day party made me tear up. I want to show the people I care about how much they mean to me - I need to be more thoughtful and put more time and thought into my actions. I am hoping that the next 12 days help me become more aware and help me set better love patterns for the rest of my life.

For more info on the Book Club, The Happiness Project or to see what others had to say about Chapter 2 go visit Liz  :)

The Happiness Project - INTRO

On January 3rd I wrote this post, Happiness? Can you Have it all? I am very, very blessed. I love my life. I have a good job, a great family, the best friends and I have found the love of my life. Things are moving in the right direction and I am happy. But I am not sure I am completely the happiest I can be.

I started reading The Happiness Project (THP from here on out) last night. I only read the Intro last night, as much as I wanted to dive into Chapter 1 I really wanted to reflect on the Intro and what Gretchen was saying. There are so many amazing quotes and passages just in these short few pages. It gave me a lot to think about. When she asked how she could discipline herself to feel grateful for an ordinary day, my heart stopped. I am always looking for the next thing to conquer, the next thing I have to do. I really don't stop often enough to smell the roses.  Appreciate the small stuff.

My favorite quote from the Intro has to be "I am happy - but I'm not as happy as I should be. I have such a good life, I want to appreciate it more - and live up to it better.... I complain too much, I get annoyed more than I should. I should be more grateful. I think if I felt happier, I'd behave better..." After I read that I made Justin pay attention to me so I could read it to him. I felt that passage in the book best described me. I AM HAPPY. But my attitude is very bratty and unappreciative. Don't I owe to myself, my family, my friends and Justin to be the best me I can?

I have not created my 12 Commandments yet, My hope and goal is to reflect on them and create them this weekend.  I am not sure if I am going to share them or not, but I'll at least acknowledge the progress. I felt so empowered after reading just the Intro, I am hoping that I really can reflect while reading this book and make some serious life changes so I can be the best me.

Another Ramble...

• I still haven't heard anything about the job. They said in the next two weeks. It is day 3 of week 1. Seriously people, you are killing me. Offer me the stupid job already. I want to work there. Please and thank you!
• Tonight is a home WVU basketball game. I have enjoyed my season tickets and have loved going. I also enjoyed the price break my current job gives me on those season tickets.  If I get a new job the price break is gone and I will no longer be a season ticket holder. Plus with moving a gazillion hours away being a season ticket holder doesn't really work out.  Who knows, the way it is looking both Justin and I will be full time students so we may just brush off our student I.D. and sit in the student section for free....

• I bought my book The Happiness Project I finished the intro last night, I will do a separate blog post about it, but let me just tell you I love it. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Seriously, if y'all are trying to figure out how to add a little more happiness into your already happy life...pick up the book and join the book club. You aren't too late!
• Notice the countdown at the end of the blog, must start getting organized. Big things are happening sooner than later.

• Justin and I are planning a stay-at-home Valentine's Day - he shows me every day a million ways how much he loves me...there is no reason to fight the crowds just to eat out because Hallmark tells me so, lol. I have already started to break out the V-Day decorations and make the house look festive... Do you have any cute DYI chap Valentine crafts? Do you have any ideas on what to do for a fun night at home? Any super good dinners to make? Movies to watch? Anything?
• Speaking of  someone showing me how much he loves me, I came home to these (hydrangeas are my favorite flower) and yes, they were even already in the mason jar with the ribbon around it.
• This morning when I was reading Sarah's blog when I came across this - (Sarah I plagiarized) "Willette Photography & More is offering a free class that focuses on finding the Joy of Love in your everyday life. They send out daily prompts for the month of February, along with photography tips & tutorials. Not only will this be fun to document our life this way, but I am really looking forward to all of the photography tips...as we all know I need them! You can go here to sign up if you'd like to participate, too." Now Sarah is wrong she doesn't need the photography tips, but I do. So I am going to start 2 days late. And I am excited.
• Buster is mad at Justin. We aren't sure what is going on, or why he is so mad at him but he is acting like a little butthead. I will be spending a lot of time Googleing pet issues today.
• It was warmer than it has been in a long time when I woke up today. I am so ready for spring, I can feel it in the air, luckily Phil didn't see his shadow (not that I believe in that) so hopefully spring will be here SOON!

Hodge Podge

My office computer is currently being fixed...the wonderful IT man is reinstalling some drivers and doing some other things way over my head.  I am using the office MAC right now and trying to figure out work documents on it wasn't proving to be fun, so I thought I would do a ramble post...aren't you excited?

I joined a Book Club today - (It is even on my 101 list) - While Justin is teaching a class tonight I will be going to Barnes and Noble to pick up this book  I am really, really excited to start reading it.  I have issues with enjoying the small stuff. I am afraid that I will get stuck in that "Hurry up and wait" mentality and miss out on all the small details. One chapter a month and a vblog post. Easy enough. I am hoping for a better attitude too. I mean it can't hurt right?


Today Black Heels and Tractor Wheels comes out, I will be getting & reading it soon.

Speaking of love stories - 6 months ago my life changed for the better. I could have never expected that night to turn into something so amazing. Now what that blog doesn't tell you is that I left Sports Line  with butterflies. This boy that I had met was cute, funny and so nice.  I was smitten. 3 days later we hung out again and those butterflies were back, bigger and better. From that point on we were pretty much together.  It didn't become official until a few (ahem) weeks later (after a lot of home cooked meals to  impress him), but we both knew that this was something special. That this was it.  Every single day I get to spend with him I feel so blessed. He really is my best friend and I couldn't be happier. So thanks Babe, thanks for being everything I have ever wanted.