Have you heard about #100happydays or #favepartofday?

Have you heard about #100happydays or #favepartofday? I've noticed many people using these on Instagram and Twitter. Read about them here and challenge yourself to take part in these daily rituals.

100 Happy Days is a website that challenges all cynics out there to see if you can stay happy for 100 days. It's a simple concept, but an important one - pay attention to all that you're grateful for. The website asks you to sign up by providing basic details and then you're ready to take on the challenge! Capture an image of one thing that made you happy each day -- it can be anything from eating your favorite food for dinner to meeting an old friend for coffee or to simply coming home from work after a long day. Capture anything that makes you smile each day!

The website explains:

"We live in times when super-busy schedules have become something to boast about. While the speed of life increases, there is less and less time to enjoy the moment that you are in. The ability to appreciate the moment, the environment, and yourself in it, is the base for the bridge towards long term happiness of any human being. 71% of people tried to complete this challenge, but failed quoting lack of time as the main reason. These people simply did not have time to be happy. Do you?"

#favepartofday is a hashtag that I often see on Twitter. It's very simple... at the end of each day, tweet about the favorite part of your day. Keep it short and sweet. It might be a sentence long, or just a few words. This doesn't require a picture at all.

I noticed this growing trend through Trista Sutter, former ABC Bachelorette and author of Happily Ever After: The Life-Changing Power of a Grateful Heart.

Here's a few that I saw on Twitter tonight:

I hope you try #favepartofday and #100happydays out! :-) 

DIY Projects: Jewelry Organization

My friend Jill and I were talking about our jewelry collections a few weeks ago.  She was telling me how she stores her jewelry, and I told her about this cool piece my dad had made for each my sister and I last year.  We were discussing different ways to organize jewelry, because there are so many ideas on Pinterest! I decided to share my own jewelry organizer, and then give you other ideas for some DIY Jewelry Organization Solutions!

My dad made this jewelry hanger by creating a wood frame and painting it black.  He then created a crushed velvet tufted backing.  Then he attached 2 rows of 6 gold hooks.  I love this because it displays my necklaces nicely, keeps them neat, and they don't get tangled!  I have several vintage pieces that belonged to my grandmother.  Even if they aren't worn often, just seeing them hanging in my bedroom reminds me of her!

Here are some other ideas:

This idea incorporates the use of curtain rods and shower curtain hooks to organize bracelets and necklaces.  The top piece is an inexpensive piece of moulding from Home Depot or Lowes with hooks or nails attached.  

This idea incorporates an old frame, some old hooks and knobs, and some wire screening.  I love the antique/vintage look of this!  The jewelry adds an element of decoration to an already beautiful piece!

You could find this mug holder at any thrift shop.  Paint it and display your jewelry.  Easy enough!

This goes along with Dawn's post yesterday.  Repurpose an old window frame and turn it into a jewelry holder!

I've seen some posts on Pinterest on how to take labels off wine bottles.  I think I may just save them, paint them, and use this idea for my bracelets!  If I end up doing this, I'll be sure to share it with you!!

I hope I was able to inspire you to get that pile of jewelry out of your drawer, and display it for all to see!

Must Have App: Red Stamp

Have you ever heard of Red Stamp? It's an app that allows you to create personalized greeting cards that you can send free digitally via email or text, as well as paid printing services to actually mail your greeting! 

I love this app to say thank you, I'm thinking of you, or happy birthday. They have designs for almost any holiday, celebration or any other time of the year.

Using the app is super easy. You can import photos, change designs and colors.  The creativity is up to you! Check out Red Stamp in the App Store...it's free!

Home Decor: 10 DIY Projects for Your Old Window Frames!

Ok guys, you know I love photos and you know I love DIY projects. So here's another home decor project that I just love... re-purposing old windows!

My fascination with this began about two years ago. I was looking for fun ways to display photos in my home (again!). Something different, something that would stand out, and something that would display more than a few photos. Pinterest became my best friend and I landed on the old window frame idea. Many of my relatives have used old windows in their house, so this wasn't a new idea to me, but I'd never seen the photo idea. Here was the photo from Pinterest that inspired me:

I purchased an old window frame (you can find them at tag sales/estate sales, antique or thrift shops, but check Etsy and eBay too!). I sanded it down, painted it, and then ran sandpaper over it again to give it a distressed look. I placed photos inside using Scotch photo corners and it was complete. It was an easy DIY project and I must say, anyone that walked into our apartment immediately commented on it and said such sweet things! Missing photo alert...

A few months ago, I bought a China cabinet that has now taken up the space for that frame, so it's in desperate need for a new location in my apartment. I'm not sure if I'll keep it the way it is or re-purpose it again? Here are a few ideas that I'm loving (all ideas are from Pinterest):

1. One big photo - I've seen these big photo ideas in so many places. So cheap. Go to Staples, have them enlarge your photo on engineer printing paper for less than five dollars! I love how this black and white photo pops in this frame. Maybe I'll display one gigantic wedding photo. ;)

2. One photo for each piece of glass - I like the idea of having the photo take up the entire glass measurement.

3. Cork board or Chalkboard Fun - Use as an organizer or inspiration board in your office!

4. Mirror - Looks pretty in this nursery!

5. Jewelry Display - so cute and different! 

6. Holiday decor - I love this Christmas display! Adorable!

7. Using window shutters to display cards - Such a great idea and again, so cute! 

8. Quote display - Beautiful idea! 

9. Hang backpacks/coats and display photos with scrapbook paper! Really fun!

10. Coffee table - MY MOST FAVORITE! I want to try! ;) Click here for tutorial. 

I'll keep you updated with how I re-purpose my frame. Maybe my new office is a good location for it? Which project is your favorite that's mentioned above?

In the Classroom: Slice of Life Writing Challenge

As I prepare to return to school tomorrow, I'm excited to share a new challenge with my students: The Slice of Life Writing Challenge. I introduced this challenge to my former students a few years ago and I had at least half of my students (25/50) participate throughout its entirety. Being that I've been writing daily since the beginning of January on this blog, I'm eager to ask my students to step up their game and begin writing daily alongside me. The challenge starts March 1st!

What is the Slice of Life Challenge?

The Slice of Life Challenge was created by Stacey Shubitz over at Two Writing Teachers. You'll find her blog on our "Blogs We Love" sidebar to the right. Once again, Amanda introduced me to her blog when we first started teaching in 2007 and I've been following her ever since. Stacey, Ruth, and the new crew, have been such great mentors to me! If you're a teacher, please click over to her blog and start reading!

The challenge is simple: write a story about a slice of your day and describe that everyday experience with as much realism as possible.

Preserve little slices of your life in written form because:
-There's no one else in this world like you.
-No one has the same experiences as you.
-Your life is precious! Therefore, even the little things that happen to you need to be written down!

How does the challenge work in the classroom?

Write at least one slice of life entry each day during the entire month of March. 

Students were required to write their entries at home each night. At the beginning of class the next day, I would check each notebook for completion and we would keep track on a simple sticker chart. Stacey provided an "all about the challenge and how it will look in our classroom" here. I created something similar and announced the challenge using this sheet. After checking each notebook, I would ask for volunteers to read and share their writing out loud. The kids loved listening to each other and it really brought our writing community closer together. I included fun incentives along the way to acknowledge their dedication to writing.

Stacey created a page for resources to use in your classroom - everything from charts, to parent letters, to sign-up sheets for sharing. All of these resources can be found here.

I think that this challenge can work at many different grade levels and feel free to tailor it to make it your own!

The Official 2014 Challenge on Two Writing Teachers

Stacey started this challenge in 2008 with her fourth grade students. She then launched the challenge on  her blog and it's grown tremendously over the years. I've taken part alongside my students in my writing notebook, but have never actually blogged my SOL stories. Maybe I'll try blogging it this year?

Here's information to the actual 2014 challenge that YOU can take part in. You don't have to be a teacher, you don't have to be a "writer"... just write about a slice of your day, appreciate everyday moments, hold onto bits of your life, take on a challenge and have fun! See the guidelines below.

Have you taken part in a writing challenge with your students? Have you taken part in a personal writing challenge? Have you ever written SOL stories? I'd love to hear from you!

Amanda and I are taking part in the "Be.YOU.tiful Lifestyle Link Party" this week. Click over to Fry Sauce and Grits to read more!

Don't rush your life: Late 20's/Early 30's Edition

This post was inspired by some conversations that I've had and overheard over the past few years with some of my closest friends.  At this point, most of my girlfriends are married and settling into their lives.  Some are even pregnant, or have babies, while some other girls aren't quite ready for that next phase of life yet.  I'm one of the only girls who is in a developing relationship in my circle, but I don't mind it.  I'm in no rush to push things forward with my boyfriend, because things are unfolding naturally, and I'm having fun in the phase we are in right now!  

I lived the life of being in a long-term relationship with someone who I thought was "the one."  We were together for almost five years when things fell apart.  Prior to the breakup, the question was always "what next? when's the next step?"  I wanted the next step, well...because isn't that what we should do?  

Actually...the answer should have been no.  Our relationship wasn't growing together, we were growing apart.  Instead of moving forward....well pushing forward, one of us should have realized that the relationship wasn't moving in the same direction and we should have called it quits.  Instead, the relationship continued to crumble until things got pretty bad.  Sometimes things need to get worse before your life can get better.

Anyway, why do we, especially women, feel pressure to "move on with life?"  Why can't we just be happy with the life we are living, and have things fall into place when they are supposed to?  I think there's a huge push from our families and the people around us to see us move forward with our lives.  Many people think that if you're unmarried and living together, that you should push things along to get engaged.  

The older people get nervous about the living situation.  It's so different from what they are used to.  Little do they realize that their pressure has a negative impact on your life, and could possibly push you into making a life-long decision that isn't right for you.  Getting engaged, and getting married are huge steps for people to take.  They aren't just steps on a checklist, they are special moments in your life that should be shared with someone who wants nothing more than to be with you.

I hear time and time again, girls giving their boyfriends ultimatums "If we aren't married by (insert date/holiday/season/time frame here), then it's over."  I even hear, "my parents can't take us living together anymore, so he better propose." Or even worse, "well...we've been together for so long, it's the next thing to do."  OMG JUST STOP ALREADY!!!  Don't you hear what you're saying?  You're putting your relationship under extreme pressure in the first place.  Second, what you're saying is that you and the guy you are with are not on the same page.  If you want to be married/engaged already, and you're not, then what does he want? 

I guess the main thing that I wish I had realized a lot sooner than I did, and something that I hope you can find within yourself is the fact that you're worth a whole lot more than you realize.  Your heart is precious and you're beautiful.  You deserve to be with a man who wouldn't want to be with anyone else but you.  You deserve to be with someone, who, without question, would ask you to be his wife without hesitation.  If a grown man requires coaching/hand holding/dragging him to his knees to propose, please wake up and realize that he isn't making the decision from his heart.  I can promise you, if that is what happens, when he does finally ask, and you slip that ring on your finger, in your heart you know that the ring wasn't coming from him.  It was coming from everyone else.  It just feels fake.

You deserve someone who treats you like the amazing person you are.  Don't feel like a failure, understand that you're learning about who you are and what you want.  You deserve to make yourself happy and you deserve to be happy.  No one else is going to do that for you.  

I am living proof that you will be okay.  You will survive  on your own.  And you will meet someone who is more incredible than you could have ever imagined.   And when you meet that special guy, all the heartache you'll feel through your breakup and after will become more than worth it.  Because you're worth it.  You're worth having a healthy and happy relationship with a man who loves you to the moon and back.  Please, don't settle for anything less.

Watch this video by Katy Perry, titled "Not Like the Movies"

Not Like the Movies

This post is also featured with the link party: Be.You.Tiful Link Party #8 through the blog, 

Fry, Sauce and Grits.  You can check out the link party here.

Happiness Hack No. 9

I found a new blog that I'm in love with, Something Charming. Joelle, the owner of the blog, is a wedding planner, calligrapher, and blogger, and I felt like I could relate to her right away. She's in my age range and I'm completely inspired by her life, her loves, her career, and her posts. Amanda and I have always joked about becoming wedding planners, or being involved in that field in some way. Joelle makes this dream seem so possible! I love her blog... I love the look and I love what she posts about. Check her out!

As I began reading her posts, I especially fell in love with one of her blog series called Happiness Hack. Here's her explanation of what these are:

I have another new, exciting series to reveal to all of you today! I'm a firm believer that it's the small things that bring the most happiness in life; splurging on a vanilla latte, volunteering at your favorite community organization, or taking an afternoon nap can just turn your day around completely, don't you think?

That's what made me think of Happiness Hacks, little things that I like to do when my day is a little sour. These are things that don't take much time or money, but can really make a difference in your outlook on life. They may not be anything too deep or even exciting, but you might be surprised at how they make you feel!

I fell in love with Happiness Hack No. 9:

I actually did this Friday night, unexpectedly. My husband came home late and after catching up after a long day, we got ready for dinner as quick as possible, ran out the door and my phone was left on the charger. I realized it as I locked the front door, but decided not to go back for it. I whispered to my husband, "you have your phone, right?" (I worry about emergencies and the ability to reach someone.) When he asked why and I explained, he raised his eyebrows in disbelief, without saying anything. He knows that I never forget or leave the house without my phone and I always have it with me. Although it felt weird leaving it at home, it felt really, really good. Just me and him. No interruptions, no checking social media or emails, no texts. Just. me. and. him. This hadn't happened in a long time. Happiness Hack No. 9 definitely changed our day around; we were present. In a world that's so fast paced and filled with distractions, it was nice to be on the other side of the spectrum.

As I read more of Joelle's blog, I noticed that she and her husband made a pact to keep their cell phones outside of the bedroom. They were guilty of checking their phones in bed each morning (same with us) before even greeting each other. Are you guilty of this too? I'm sure many of us are.

I'll be sharing more of Joelle's posts and more from her top 10 Happiness Hacks. In the meantime, do you have any Happiness Hack tips?