Resolution Number Three

Make and Maintain Friendships.

First of all, thank you to those wonderful people who have sent me notes about this blog.  It's kind've nice to know that someone likes it!

On that note, it's been a little difficult here to make close friends -- you know, kindred spirits, as Anne would say.  Everyone is very friendly, but it seems as though they are not so proactive.  My friendships here have been started mainly because I'm doing the calling, inviting, etc.

It's a little frustrating to be honest.

So I'm making another attempt, more social this time (my first attempt -- which actually is going well -- involves kids.  I want something for me too!) to see if I can find that kindred spirit.  

And I don't know why I didn't think of this before!  But the lightbulb went on today so here's the plan:

An open book club!

I love book clubs!  I love talking about books and I've loved doing this blog.  But I also want people who will talk back (no offense).  The problem with traditional book clubs is that maybe I don't like the book or didn't get time to read it that month.  So an open book club could be really simple and flexible:

1.  Read a book that month -- or not -- you could also pick one you've read and loved before.

2.  Bring it and a snack to a book party.

3.  Tell others about your book, learn about some other books you might be interested in and have a fantastic time munching and socializing.

4.  Books could be any kind -- children's, YA, adult fiction, nonfiction, church-related.  You could do a different theme every month or leave it completely open.

What do you think?  It's definitely worth a shot I think!

Resolution Number Two

For preschool on Wednesday, we covered the letter F.  And that meant fish, flowers, and family.  I have a ton of pictures that I took from a recent visit from my parents and I pulled out others I have paper copies of (most of course are digital) and created this "display" on my wall.

I love it . . . but . . . 

Ok #1 -- it's very temporary looking and ultimately I would love to have something more permanent in decor but also easy to change out -- there are so many pictures I love!

#2 -- I have zillions of pictures of my girls and a good amount of my parents but hardly any of anyone else -- and that's my in-laws, my 4 brothers and their (some of them) families and my husband's six siblings.

#3 -- We don't live near any of them and my girls don't know them.

So

Resolution number two is to get to know family better.  And that means two things:

#1 -- Figure out a nice way to display the pictures I love and also pictures of extended family so that my kids can at least see who they are!

#2 -- Get pictures of extended family!

That could be more difficult than I think it will be though . . . 

Wish me luck!

Resolution Number One

In The Happiness Project (yes I'm going to blog about it more than once, it was that good) Rubin establishes theme resolutions (my words) for each month.  An area she wants to work on and then a few resolutions that will improve her happiness through that area: marriage, friendship, money, etc.

I don't think I'm going to go that far but definitely some individual resolutions are in order and many of them have been inspired by her.

I think my most favorite thing from The Happiness Project is Rubin's saying "the days are long but the years are short".  How true is that?  I seem to have been so bogged down in long days lately -- always looking for the next thing to make time go by faster.  I know now that part of that is somewhat chronic fatigue that I'm having taken care of, but part of it is also my attitude.  

So my first resolution for my own happiness is to enjoy my children more.  That means that I often think to myself "the days are long but the years are short".  It's really come in handy lately actually.  Of course we still have our moments, but I feel as though I'm appreciating more those that will soon pass.  For example, my one-year-old has been so clingy she screams if I put her down.  I keep telling myself that it's not going to be too much longer before she's too big to carry around AND she won't want to be!  So I enjoy her cuddly self as long as I can (meaning as long as my arms hold out) and then when I do have to put her down (holding child and hot stove = not a good idea), well, she just has to cry.  But this too shall pass.

Anyway, as part of enjoying my children more, today we made Bunny Buns from The Friend magazine.  If you're not LDS, that's a children's magazine published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  And it's fabulous!  But anyway, they turned out really nice!  It's a basic bread dough with a hint of orange (which I love) and a sweet (but light, unless you go heavy with it, mmmmm) glaze.  We had a good time.

This was my little one's first experience "standing on a chair" and she took full advantage.  Can you see how the end of that dough near her is pulled and has a big hole in it?  That would be because I turned around for a second and when I turned back she had the whole end in her mouth!

 And then she needs her rest -- don't worry, I only let my children help (and taste and poke and lay on the food) when it's just for us.  I run a cleaner operation when it's for other people!!

This is sweet to me because it looks like they're working together on making the buns.  They're not, she's just getting her own taste!

And one for me.  My little one loves to feed me.  But I draw the line at raw bread dough.  And certain other delightful offerings that only a 1 year old can give.

Sorry I don't have a picture of the end result.  You cut and twist them into bunny shapes -- it's really easy actually and they were really cute, and tasty.  I've eaten several already and I may have to have another before I go to bed . . . 

But my resolution is working!

To Be Uplifted and Inspired

Read Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project.

The biggest mistake I made with this book was in getting it from the library and not buying it myself.  The entire time I read it, I itched to pick up a pen or a highlighter and go to town underlining, making nice little stars in the margins, and writing my own insights.  Sigh.  Not in a library book.

Like Gretchen, I too had an epiphany of sorts a while back.  I love my children, I have many blessings in my life, I'm doing what I want to be doing -- but I think I could be happier.  That's when I started this blog.  I wanted an outlet to get back into literature.  That's the biggest thing that I miss about teaching after all.  And it's helped -- really -- even if I only have 6 followers and at least 3 of them are related to me (love you all!!!).

But this book.  THIS BOOK!  My head is now swimming with so many things that I want to do that would help enrich my life.  I've already started a few of them.  And I feel better, I really do.  Ok it also helps that my Vitamin D levels are going up (who knew?).  By the way, if you're feeling constantly fatigued -- beyond I-have-two-small-children-that-run-me-ragged fatigued, have your Vitamin D levels checked.  Seriously.

Ok back to the post at hand.

There is also a website for this book, also titled The Happiness Project.  There's a lot going on there but definitely worth checking out, especially if you're not sure about the book.  She also freely offers up a starter kit and her resolutions chart for your use.  Love that.

My favorite things about the book:

1.  Readable.  Her personal experiences were instructive and engaging!

2.  Researched.  But not in a let-me-throw-the-experts-at-you-to-prove-me-point kind of way.  They're almost an afterthought that solidify the point she's making.

3.  She is so flawed.  Even when she is doing her best.  When I read about superwomen it can be discouraging because I don't feel I can be that.  But this, I can do.

4.  Funny.  I smiled and laughed quite a bit actually.

I highly recommend it and will be doing my own happiness -- maybe not a complete project -- but mini-projects.  I'll have to figure out what to call them.