January Report - Happiness Project 2013

The month of January has about come to an end! I can hardly believe it. As you will recall, I decided to make a resolution for the entire year of 2013 and participate in a Happiness/Wholeness Project in hopes of living a simpler and more intentional life.

With that said, for the month of January I resolved to be more intentional about enjoying the space that I live in, I resolved to do three specific things:

• Sew something meaningful out of something old
• Arrange a kitchen shrine
• Pin-point and display something meaningful in the most used spaces in my home

I am happy to note that I accomplished all three of these goals with great joy and ease. I also accomplished another goal, which I didn't know was a goal until later in the month. First, at the beginning of the month, I started a project that boosted me into my happiness project in the first place. I was dying to sew black and white striped curtains. I had these black sheer curtains that I bought during my sophomore year of college. They were the first curtains I ever bought and they were for my first real apartment that I shared with my roommate, Jessica. These curtains ended up following us along all through college. Now, it seems silly that I would be attached to such curtains, but I really was/am. I loved those curtains, they held fond memories of my homes for the past three years and I couldn't imagine boxing the delicate beauties away. So. I cut them up, bought a sheer cream panel and made new beauts with them. They are meaningful to me and they still hang in my home. 

Second, I decided to arrange a kitchen shrine. When I was in Oregon visiting my aunt over the holidays, I noticed a simple countertop lazy susan she had. Her lazy susan was adorned with meaningful kitchen items used for cooking. It was also hand-painted, colorful and gorgeous. I wanted one, too! I just LOVED it. I searched and searched for one, but couldn't find an affordable one. Then, one day, I ran into a plain, bamboo one. I bought it (it was cheap and I had Christmas money) and I made it my own! It holds all things meaningful to me in my kitchen and it's useful. It holds some really cute vintage salt and pepper shakers I found in Oregon; a cute little bowl of sugar (for tea and other things); a mason jar of hot chocolate given to me by my aunt for Christmas, which is adorned with a piece of cloth from my great-grandmother's scrap collection; another mason jar with my favorite pasta, orzo, in it; and other random cooking commodities: garlic salt, honey and EVOO. This simple shrine brings great joy to my life, especially since I spend so much time in my kitchen.

Last of all, I pin-pointed and displayed something meaningful in both my living room and my bedroom. In the living room: a small golden owl that I got for $2 one time at Hobby Lobby during their fall clearance. He's sits on the shelf, as stylish as ever. Then, in the bedroom, I put my brooch bouquet that I made for my wedding, full of family brooches, on display by my jewelry box. It has rich meaning to me. 

Last of all, I participated in the "January Cure" by Apartment Therapy this month. One of the days, the challenge was to go buy fresh flowers. Flowers/plants generally make your home a happier place, bringing the outdoors in, which is great in a month like January. When I was at Kroger, I bought some baby's breath for $2, put it in a mason and set it on display in my living room. So reminiscent of mine and Kyle's wedding. Ahh. 

It seems silly that all these things really did make me happier. Enjoying being intentional, though, is what made me the happiest. I took notice of things that are meaningful to me in my space every single day.

For the month of February, I've decided to focus on...you guessed it: Love. I'm going to explore ways to be more intentional about showing love, kindness and hospitality to Kyle and to my friends. Two specific goals: go on a pasta adventure with Kyle; host guests. Will report back in a month with some random blogging inbetween - for now, enjoy some photos! 

Tell All

I've learned a few things about being in seminary. One of those things revolves around what I choose to admit. I guess I am in a "grown-up" place now ;). Whatever you choose to admit in the grown up world can cause some major judgement. But, it's ok, because you and I are grown ups, or at least if we try to act like it life might go on. Here are a few things that I will admit with fervor and why I choose to do so:

I LOVE Kate Middleton and Taylor Swift. I just do. I can't help it. People ask me all the time why I love Kate Middleton so much or why I love talking about Taylor Swift. People ask why I glamorize them. Here's the answer: I glamorize them because they are glamorous. Oh, quote me. They are good girls with great impact. Not flawless girls, but good ones (T Swift might date too much). But, we all have that friend. They make an impact because they are classy and down-to-earth, in good ways. Trust me, there are detailed reasons why I love them, but I won't take the time to go into those details on here because I *know* some of you are rolling your eyes. Really, though, if I could meet any two people in today's world it would be Kate Middleton and Taylor Swift...preferably in a room at the same time. So, if you have connections, hook me up.

Now, one thing I've learned NOT to admit at seminary is if you watch The Bachelor. Don't even try.

Just thought I would give you a shot of randomness in your day! Below: the three best friends that anyone could have. And, P.S. if you don't like this blog, we are never, ever, ever getting back together.

The Happiness Project 2013

What's one of the first things you think of when you think of New Years? I think of two things: 1. Partyyyy 2. Resolutions. Usually in that order. I've never really made a New Year's resolution. They seem to be the epitome of hopes that don't work out. I'm not really sure why they carry that connotation to me. Perhaps I only observe people who set the bar too high or don't take their resolutions seriously. With all that said, I decided that I wanted to make a resolution of sorts this year. I vowed two things: 1. To aim for simplicity. 2. I'd like to seek wholeness, if anything.

I've been positively impacted by Gretchen Rubin, most notably known for her two works "The Happiness Project" and "Happier at Home." After reading these two books, I've spent time thinking a lot about happiness. Rubin notes in her works that most people live life forward-looking. People are always looking to the future because that's when they think they will be happier. 

The problem with this is the present. Most people don't live fancy, extravagant lives. The daily grind is more normal than an annual family vacation and that's a fact. Learning to be happy, whole and intentional in the present is what a "happiness project" is all about. And that's where these things collide. My resolution for this year: do a happiness project and write about it. 

For simplicity's sake (since that's one of my goals), I decided to come up with individual monthly themes and goals to bind this project together -- ways that I can be intentional in my everyday life to be more "whole." In fact, I'd almost rather call this my "wholeness project." So, for the month of January I've decided that my theme will be "Space," focusing on how I can be more whole, happy and appreciative of the place that I live and the possessions that I have. Three specific goals are: to sew something meaningful out of something old, arrange a kitchen shrine, pin-point and display something meaningful in the most used spaces in my home. 

I shall report back via blogging towards the end of the month to explain how my goals went with (most likely) a bit of random blogging in-between. Here's to 2013. Here's to my Wholeness Project and the art of appreciating everyday life.