I’ve been thinking a lot about “happiness”, and what it means for me, and our family.  This year, I’m really working to find happiness in the small things, and little minutes of life.  I’m trying to savor each moment to its fullest.  This isn’t always easy, because I’m the type of person who’s always looking forward, planning for the future, often at the expense of enjoying TODAY.  But, I need to find a balance.  It’s okay (and, in fact, necessary) to make some plans for the future.  However, I cannot be so focused on how I want things to be, or what might happen, or what I’ll need 50 years from now, while not enjoying the present.

QUOTABLES.

“What will they think of me?” must be put aside for bliss.

Joseph Campbell

Based on today’s book, this seemed so fitting!

CELEBRATIONS.

Oh, dear reader…I am aghast!  I neglectfully neglected (wait…what?  Well…you know what I mean…) to include the following two month-long January celebrations!

In addition to those I mentioned earlier this month,

January is ALSO

National Soup Month

AND

National Slow Cooker Month

January 9, 2012 is…

National Apricot Day

I think you can safely bet that a Pinterest board will be dedicated to the two monthly celebrations!

And, as far as apricots go, well….a few little morsels of knowledge for ya:

The word “apricot” means “precious” in Latin.

Today, farmers in California’s San Joaquin Valley produce 95% of all apricots grown in the US.

Do you like apricots?  When I was pregnant with Wee One, I had gestational diabetes (boo), and really had to be careful about carbs.  I am addicted to fruit, so this was hard for me….however, I could eat 4 apricots for one carb choice, so this was exciting!

THE WRITTEN WORD.

I got this book before Wee One was born, just because the illustrations looked cute from the cover—and, let me tell ya, the content is just as great!

Rosalie and Truffle/Truffle and Rosalie 

By Katja Reider and Jutta Bucker

Yup…two stories in one!  I actually think this book/these stories are for teenagers or adults, but also include relevant lessons about love for any age: Be yourself, love who you are, and don’t change yourself just to conform to certain ideas.

I really liked it!

DO RE MI.

This was a fun song to sing—so many verses that you can create!  We sang it this morning, and made up verses about waking up, getting dressed, laughing…oh, the list just goes on and on!

If You’re Happy and You Know It 

Found a fun version by Elisa Girlando and Tricia Carrabba, which I really liked.

To purchase and download “If You’re Happy and You Know It” Elisa Girlando;Tricia Carrabba, from the album “Americana Series Volume 1: ”It’s Fun To Sing Along”, click below:

If You’re Happy And You Know It

Lyrics:

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap clap)

If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp stomp)
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp stomp)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet. (stomp stomp)

If you’re happy and you know it, shout “Hurray!” (hoo-ray!)
If you’re happy and you know it, shout “Hurray!” (hoo-ray!)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, shout “Hurray!” (hoo-ray!)

If you’re happy and you know it, do all three (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!)
If you’re happy and you know it, do all three (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, do all three. (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!)

The album mentioned above also looks good:

This is such a fun song AND activity, all combined into one!  What verses can you come up with?

PINTEREST BOARD OF THE DAY.

January 9: When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie

Follow me on Pinterest.

NOURISHMENT.

Bars yesterday, and more bars today.  Hip, hip hooooooray!

I am not a big fruit desert person.  (Chocolate is much more up my alley.)  I prefer fruit in a more whole state, generally fresh, and sometimes dried.  But, in honor of today, I found a recipe that looked tempting:

Apricot Crumb Bars at Delicious Inspiration

 

ACTION.

Oh, today was a day of singing and clapping!  And, boy, did Wee One LAUGH and LAUGH!

Clap your hands, and help baby clap hands as well.  

Eventually, baby will be able to imitate, and what fun you will have!

Ready?  IIIIIIIIFFFFFFF YOOOOOUUUUU’RE happy and you know it….

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT.

Ah, the road trip.  I love it.  I really do.  Listening to tunes (or sometimes, talk radio on SiriusXM), stopping at random road markers, shops, and eateries.  Drinking coffee or other beverages (like iced tea), and eating maybe-not-so-good-for-you convenience station snacks.  The open road ahead, with memories to be made.

Love it.

So, this article intrigued me.

America’s Most Iconic Drives by Jamie Jensen in Slate Magazine

My favorites have been:

Route 66

The River Road

Pacific Coast Highway

However, although I’ve been on parts of these drives, I’d like to take a more extensive trip along these, and the others mentioned in the list….better get out the map, and start planning!!!

WORK IT.

Ultimate Toe Reach

(From glamour.com)

Targets: Abs, hips, and thighs

(A) Lie face-up on floor with arms stretched out to each side at shoulder height, legs straight, feet about hip-width apart.

(B) Lifting shoulder blades off the ground as high as you can, simultaneously raise left arm and right leg off the ground, trying to touch toes. Return to start position and repeat.

Do two sets of 10 reps on each side.

A PICTURE IS WORTH 1,000 WORDS.

I wore this dress in one of the first “professional” pictures my parents took of me.  It now hangs on Wee One’s wall.

Special thanks to JJ for the vintage hanger!

WWW.

I have spent a lot of time on the related sites of Apartment Therapy/The Kitchn/Ohdeedoh…which have been combined into The Kitchn and Apartment Therapy.  SO AWESOME!!  I LOVE the layout, and just want to give them two big thumbs up from me!

The Kitchn

I was browsing through some of the recipes, and this looked so nosh-able.

Baked Pumpkin Steel Cut Oatmeal from The Kitchn

I also thought it was an appropriate recipe, considering January is Oatmeal month!

Apartment Therapy is also a WONDERFUL site, with newly made renovations as well.  Yay, you two wonderful sites—keep up the AMAZING work!

HMMM.

What’s your most memorable road trip from the past?  (Please include details, like music playlists, pit stops….ya know, the fun stuff!)

Above-average temps in many places across the US, sunny skies, and lots to do…. forward, ho, dear readers!  (Oh, no…I wasn’t call you a “ho”….I meant, ya know, let’s get this stuff done, move ahead, get started….oh my.)