Choose your pen...leave your mark!

The difference in those things that make people happy is worth discovering. 

I am a happy person…a lot of things make me happy.  When I first started this blog, I asked everyone to create a list of things that make them happy.  What’s great about this list is you can continuously add to it; every day I find something new that makes me smile. 

Not only can you add to your own list, but you can ask others to create a list as well…spreading the joy…isn’t that what it’s all about?

With Christmas just 23 days away, most new HAPPY moments is in relation to this merry holiday.  Out of pure excitement, I wanted to add to my list.

11. Listening to ‘Santa Claus Is Back In Town’ by Elvis Presley

12. Reading Christmas children books at Barnes & Noble (specifically those that involve interaction)

13.  Finding a station on the radio, that plays Christmas music ALL day long

14.  Taking a detour to look at Christmas lights

15.  Finding mistletoe and using it to make an excuse to kiss your honey passionately in public

16.  Bumping into ‘Santa Claus’ everywhere you go

17.  Jumping up and down like a 5-year-old child, excited to tell Santa…or a man in red, that looks like Santa…what you want for Christmas

18.  Picking out Christmas cards and writing to your loved ones, wishing them a joyful holiday

19.  Christmas Shopping

20.  Watching someone un-wrap the present you gave them

Guest Scribble

Justin Rice (Tito) from Texas says the smell of new shoes, the smell of a new car, and a puppy sleeping are a few things that make him happy.

Kasie Pryor from Seattle says ice cream sandwiches make her happy. 

To check out things on the other side of the world, that could make you happy, visit 

http://luv2bme2008.blogspot.com/

Tommy Metz from Irmo, SC (God's Country) says seeing someone get something they really deserve, (usually someone who has worked really hard to get it), makes him happy.

 Every day, you see the same people – colleagues, classmates, your bus driver, your neighbor.  Find one of those people – someone you see every day, but don’t know well at all – and invite him or her to write a list of a few things that make him or her happy – post it here.

Feeling sheepish? Visit www.writeinmyjournal.com for inspiration.

 – The Happy Book

Happy Map

Travel to a place where dreams come true!

As lucky as a girl can be, I recently took a trip to the ever so magical Disney World.  Shaking pixie dust from my hair and finding it hard to quit practicing ‘princess hands’ is not enough.  As a diehard fan of a place that makes every dream come true, it is my duty to pass on the enchantment of Walt. 

Disney Fan?

http://www.istinkinlovedisney.blogspot.com/ 

View Larger Map

Head on over to Google Maps (http://maps.google.com) and create your own personalized happy map of the all the countries, cities, and streets that mean the world to you. 

Print it out and paste a copy here.

-       The Happy Book

A little wisdom from Walt...

“All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.”

“All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles has strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

 Disney Fans? 

http://www.istinkinlovedisney.blogspot.com/

What’s your favorite thing?  Find a bunch of happy quotes about it and write them here.  – The Happy Book

Absolute Favorite People

One of my absolute favorite people is my Momall. 

Rita Carol Peyton

Birthday: (Today) – November 5

One thing that’s great about your grandparents is the comfort you feel when you’re with them or talking to them.

I know when I talk to my Momall; I can always count on talking about the weather.  It’s such a simple choice in topic – and yet hearing about the seasons change warms my heart. 

It reminds me that although life continues and as things alter in their age or beauty, one thing remains…family.

Who are your favorite people in the world?  List them here... 

– The Happy Book

Where the Sidewalk Ends...

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

If you’re familiar with Shel Silverstein books, you know that he is the master of the silly but poignant rhyme, and that he has awesome poems about picking one’s nose, bears living in refrigerators, and the perils of not taking out the garbage.  If you’re not familiar with his work, it’s time to start, www.shelsilverstein.com. 

Write your favorite Shel Silverstein poem here, and then try and memorize it. 

– The Happy Book

ooohhh...shiny!!

Glittery and sparkly items?  Collect them like a bird building nest – with an eye for shiny things and a willingness to put them all together willy-nilly.  Paste em’ here.  – The Happy Book

It's Pumpkin Carving Time!!

Meet HOWARD.  He's my pumpkin.

There are so many wonderful reasons to love this time of year. 

1.    Walking out of the house in the morning, and feeling a little chilly

2.    Walking to your car, and listening to the leaves crunch under your feet

3.    Driving down the street, watching the leaves fall onto your car...

4.    …looking in your rearview mirror and seeing the leaves dance behind you

5.    Wearing boots…

6.    …wrapping scarves around your neck

7.    Festivals

8.    The State Fair

9.    Dressing up in costumes

10. And of course, carving pumpkins!!!!!!!!

Without a doubt, the most recognizable symbol of Halloween is a carved pumpkin…the jack-o-lantern. 

Halloween is a night invested in make-up, masks, gowns, capes, wigs, haunted houses, ringing door bells, “tricks” or “treat’s”…

Like most anti-holiday, un-happy people, it’s a reason for candy makers to indulge in there riches and schemes.  But, even if there wasn’t such a thing as all hollows eve or Halloween…we would come up with some other way to celebrate this time of year…something to look forward to.

Did you know…  

“Halloween is actually based on the summer’s end, an ancient Celtic holiday.  It was the end of the Celtic year, starting at sundown on October 31^st and going through

to sundown November 1^st.  It was a night to honor loved ones that had passed on

 since the veil between their realm and ours is at its thinnest on that night.

Celebrated for centuries by the Celts of old, Witches and many other nature based religions, it is the most magical night of the year.  It is the Witches’ New Year, and the Last Harvest.  Although the religious significance of it has passed for the general public, Halloween is a “magical” night for all.

On this magical night, glowing jack-o-lanterns, carved from turnips or gourds, were set on porches and in windows to welcome deceased loved ones, but also to act as protection against malevolent spirits.  Burning lumps of coal were used inside as a source of light, later to be replaced by candles.

When European settlers, particularly the Irish, arrived in America, they found the native pumpkin to be larger, easier, and seemed the perfect choice for jack-o-lanterns.  Halloween didn’t really catch on big in this country until the late 1800’s and has been celebrated in so many ways since!”

Choosing your pumpkins…

There is no particular way to choose the right pumpkin for your Halloween festivities.  You just have to know what you want.  There are different colors, shapes, sizes...just know that if it isn't a traditional pumpkin, it might be harder to carve.  But it can be done. 

Around this time of year, you can find pumpkins, of all kinds, just about anywhere.

We picked up HOWARD from the farmer’s market.

Pumpkin carving tools…

Where ever you pick up your pumpkin, there should also be tools to carve them.  I know you can find tool kits at Wal-Mart. Everything you need, including stencils, are packaged together.

Traditional Carving or Carving with Stencils…

Either way you carve your pumpkin – it will be fun! 

Going the traditional way is the way I like to do it.  There’s nothing better than to see a fun loving pumpkin smiling at you from the front porch, when you pull into your drive way at night.

...see Howard...

Carving with a stencil will take more time and more effort as it requires more patience.  But once you’ve finished, it is totally worth it.

The act of actually carving…

So…you’ve chosen your pumpkin…you’ve gathered the tools…you decided to either do a traditional face or to use a stencil…

Now you have to actually carve the pumpkin.  This part is not hard…it is a little difficult for a dainty girl like me…

Step 1: Create a lid…

All you have to do is carve a hole at the top of the pumpkin.  Be sure to cut the hole at an inward angle, so the lid will stay on once you are finished.  If you cut the hole straight down, the lid will fall in on itself…

Step 2:  Remove all the guts…

This is my favorite part.  It is an orange mess…oh.so.much.fun!

It’s as simple as it suggests…just get all of that stuff out of there…

Step 3: Carve the inside of the walls…

The pumpkin needs to be smooth and rid of all its junk.  So to be sure you do this, carve the walls to where all the grim is gone.  Be sure that it’s as smooth as you can get it.  But don’t carve it to where there is no pumpkin left.  Use your best judgment.

Step 4:  Make a face…

Well…you did it.  Now just create the face…or follow the directions in using the stencil.

  Celebrate the season.  Go out and get a pumpkin.  Create a masterpiece, take pictures of your orange adventure, and paste them here!