This is a fundamental statement over at The Happiness Project.  And I love it, so I may have even written about it before.  But have you ever found yourself in a situation where you are crying, so you keep feeling sad, so you keep crying?  Or, as many have put it, you eat because you’re sad and you’re sad because you eat?  I have had periods in my life where I have felt miserable, and then I decide I am done.  I choose to act happier, enjoy my time, and do something I love.  Then suddenly, I feel happier.  Suddenly I feel like myself.

I’ve realized recently that I feel the most like myself when I feel joyful.  Everyone has a baseline for their daily emotions: some people tend to be a little melancholy in their normal state, others tend to be manic, and still others are simply neutral.  Though I wouldn’t call myself manic, I would say that my “normal” state of contentment has a lot of joy in it.  So when I go through times of feeling neutral, or even blue, I know that something is up. 

So if you haven’t been feeling like your “normal” self lately, do something about it!  Think about why you really have been feeling that way, do something you love, make a conscious decision to let it go, and love your life again.  Life is worth loving!

I like to think my baseline emotion looks something like this:

This recipe was a bit of an experiment, and though they were good, I would do a little less of the yellow cake mix. They go great with chili for those Monday Night Football games!  (sorry for the bad food pictures, yet again–I still need a light box!)

Ingredients:

1 package (8-1/2 ounces) corn bread/muffin mix
1 package (9 ounces) yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, drained
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine dry corn bread and cake mixes. In another bowl, combine the eggs, milk, water and oil. Stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened. Add chilies and 3/4 cup cheese.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 20-22 minutes or until muffins test done. Immediately sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Serve warm. Yield: 16 servings.

I recently attended my first baby shower of my grown up life for two of our beautiful coworkers.  Kate spent time to make these adorable little baskets for each of our two moms-to-be.

The idea was for each of us to use sharpies to write an encouraging note on each of the little newborn-sized diapers.  Then, when Kristy and Claire use these diapers early in the game, they’ll be cheered on by all of us!  Adorable?  Yes.

Happy baby making!

Ok, I know that puppy cams are actually one of the most silly things that the internet has brought to our world, but how can you not LOVE them??  Here is one that my lovely friend Christen just emailed out to brighten our Fridays.  I hope it brightens yours!

http://www.justin.tv/texaswhitelabs/popout

For today’s “Tasty Tuesday,” I am sharing with you the amazing pizza Katy and I found in New York.  Just over the Brooklyn Bridge lies Grimaldi’s pizza…mmm…

And my illegal picture of the pizza making man:

What are you going to be for Halloween?  You may recall the video I posted awhile back, depicting the character Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre from the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee…Well, that’s what I am going to be!

I have to admit that as an undergrad, I really didn’t do Halloween.  Between the characters I played in shows and the costumes we came up with for themed parties, Halloween didn’t seem all that special.  But now that I’m not involved with those things, it’s fun to dress up again!

I just wanted to share with you what might have been my favorite theme party ensemble from undergrad.  Thanks to Carli’s dress, Whitney’s shoes, and Julia’s wings, I pulled together a might believable Tinkerbell.  What was the theme of the party you might ask?  “What I Want To Be When I Grow Up.”  Yep, I was Tinkerbell.  You know you love it.

If I had to choose two small things that impact my emotions the most (but do not include people or God), it would have to be singing and words.  So the ultimate impact for me comes from lyrics.  And since I recently ran around on Broadway, I’ve been in quite the belting-to-showtunes-in-the-car mood.  So many great memories and feelings can be brought up from so many songs!  So every now and then, I might share some lyrics with you, my three adoring fans, that coincide with how I am feeling. 

So here are a few from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,  which I love mostly for the memories I have, but also for their adorableness.  It can be so easy to forget how much joy can come from the simplest things.  How I wish I was still a little kid sometimes!

I’m so happy! That little red-headed girl dropped her pencil.
It has teeth marks all over it. She nibbles her pencil.
She’s human! It hasn’t been such a bad day after all.

Happiness is finding a pencil
Pizza with sausage
Telling the time

Happiness is learning to whistle
Tying your shoe for the very first time

Happiness is playing the drum in your own school band
And happiness is walking hand in hand

Happiness is two kinds of ice cream
Knowing a secret
Climbing a tree

Happiness is five different crayons
Catching a firefly…
Setting him free!

Happiness is being alone every now and then
And happiness is coming home again

Happiness is morning and evening
Daytime and night time too
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That’s loved by you

Happiness is having a sister
Sharing a sandwich
Getting along

Happiness is singing together when the day is through
And happiness is those who sing with you

Happiness is morning and evening
Daytime and nighttime too
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That’s loved by you

I finally made it to New York, and so of course Katy and I just had to eat at Serendipity.  I love the sound of the word and its definition: an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident, or as I like to think of it, a fortunate accident. And now, I also love the restaurant.

Of course we had to have their frozen hot chocolate.

And guess what?  They had my perfect sandwich: turkey piled high with sliced apples and HUGE chunks of brie.  Um, heaven?  Yes.

Happy Tasty Tuesday!!