Wednesday, March 20, 2013

International Happiness Day

According to the internet, today is International Happiness Day. (I swear there is a day for everything)

I think it was strategically planned to fall on the first day of Spring (March 20). If you're an Albertan or anywhere in the Canadian prairies, you know that spring doesn't actually come for another month or so. There are periods of beautiful spring-like weather, followed by a winter storm until after May long weekend.

In light of Happiness Day what are you happy about?

  • France is less than 3 months away
  • My husband is extremely supportive
  • I've made a tough decision and I'm happy with it
  • I'm living each day one at a time in terms of mental health
  • My dogs are the cutest cuddle bugs some days
  • I have amazing friends outside and inside of work


chicfit

Monday, March 18, 2013

March Happiness Project: Week 2


I feel like this month is a sort of break from the Happiness Project. The first month was all about organizing and had very tangible results. This month is all about feeling and emotion. That suits me fine, it's just harder to see if the results are there or not. It's not really a break as much as a shift of focus. How will I know I'm successful? I won't really, but the effort to make my husband happier by doing little things that won't get me a  gold star is worth it.

The Husband Project

There is nothing better than doing something unexpected and seeing happiness from it. One of the jobs I hate is picking up after Taylor & Beta in the backyard. We never go out there in the winter so it's typically forgotten, especially when it snows and everything is covered up. Frenchie did a big sigh and said "I guess I better to pick up." I told him I already did it and he was so happy! Something small, but a huge result.

Frenchie is the breakfast chef on the weekends. It's just sort of our thing. I don't always thank him outside of the "wow that was delicious" etc. I made sure last week he knew just how much I love that he makes breakfast on the weekends and how much I look forward to it.

I also made him chicken satay last week. He was really excited to see it on our menu board as it's one of his favourites. 

Stop word-vomiting

I went to counselling last week and it made a slight difference. I think it will definitely help me say all my issues and problems to someone objective rather than close to home. I believe Frenchie was relieved that my appointment went well and that there is someone else who can assist me. He doesn't have a big issue hearing about my stress triggers and all that, it does get taxing after a while.

Quit Nagging/He'll do it his way

Just the usual avoidance of re-packing the dishwasher. (Yes I'm THAT wife)
Not much on this one this week.

Focus on his Love Language

A shoulder massage while watching TV makes a big difference for him. He doesn't go for massage regularily like I do, so every little bit helps. I read a quote from one of my textbooks that states:
"International hug experts advise a minimum of 4 hugs daily is needed to prevent Vitamin L(love) deficiency, 6 hugs a day for maintenance and 10 hugs a day for growth". 1
I told Frenchie this fact and he immediately came over and hugged me. Then proceeded to count hugs the next day to make sure we both got our quota.
(If you want more reasons for hugs out this article at MindBodyGreen)

1. Staying Healthy with Nutrition, rev: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine by Elson M. Haas, Buck Levin

chicfit

Thursday, March 14, 2013

8/30: City of Ashes (MI #2) by Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Read from February 21 to March 14, 2013
Format: Ebook
**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

From Goodreads: Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father

I started this one immediately after finishing the first. This series is one that sucks you into a new world and you don't want to come back to reality. The newly added characters added more depth and insight to the favourites from City of Bones. Cassandra Clare wrote The Inquisitor in this book to infuriate you, put you in a rage and yell at this book. If you read Harry Potter, remember Delores Umbridge? She was a character that I truly hated, and knew it was because of how well she was written. (I can't emphasize how much I hated her, even my husband remembers her name and he's never read the books) Cassandra Clare made me feel that way about The Inquisitor, but on a smaller scale. I was seething every time I saw her name, but she was still a thorn in my side.

Valentine... why are you so evil?! I like you even though I'm not supposed to. (Could it be because I know Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays him in the movie? yum!)

Jace is still arrogant, frustrating and kick ass. Clary is less whiny than most female characters which is refreshing. She has some kick butt powers that I hope she develops more in the books to come. I can't wait for her and Jace to discover what else they can do and what makes them both "special". But they really need to stop and just be brother and sister. It's weird.

Magnus is awesome. He's got to be one of my favourite characters just based on sass alone. If you've watched an episode of Banshee, Job  (Hoon Lee) would be my choice for Magnus. He has sass!!

I'm also loving Luke. He seems like such a great "father" the Clary and genuinely cares about her and her friends. He gives her the space she needs a teenager, but at the same time will always be there for her.

Simon, poor Simon. I was annoyed with him in the first book and really starting to like him now. He's the best friend, the guy that wants more, gets it and then realizes what they had as best friends is better. I love that! I had a friend like that and being besties was by far greater than anything else.

I'm excited for the next instalment! Queued up and ready on my eReader already.

View all my reviews

chicfit

Friday, March 8, 2013

March Happiness Project: Week 1


First week Check in for March!

The Husband Project
I've done a few of the tasks that I set out for myself and had to reschedule others. Our first week of March was incredibly busy and for whatever reason, we haven't seen each other as much as we usually do.
This project really pulls together the other resolutions I made for myself so it's a 2 for 1 sort of deal.

  • We went for a bike ride this weekend which was something he's been itching to do. It was cold, but I did have fun and I know that he enjoyed the time together. The next day it snowed a huge amount and hasn't melted yet, so at least we got to go once. Didn't realize how out of shape I was regarding cycling.
  • Stop word-vomiting: On the bus ride home, most days I spew everything that happened during the day, good and bad. I gave him the bus ride home a couple times in silence (partly selfish since I was feeling really low myself) and didn't word-vomit how awful my day had been. Whatever I did say, I tried to keep positive.
  • I was able to Focus on his Love Language, Touch, and gave him a shoulder massage while we watched TV last week. 

Quit Nagging/He'll do it his way
This one is hard to measure for myself. I can tell when I'm nagging A LOT but it's hard to tell when it's just here and there. I think I did better, but I believe that is partly due to my utter exhaustion this week and lack of care for anything house related.


chicfit

Saturday, March 2, 2013

February 2013


Highlights of the Month

Turned another year older.
Registered for a 5K run in May.
Fell in love with a new exercise - Barre.
Began a journey in Natural Nutrition.
Started my Happiness Project
Celebrated at the wedding reception for the newest couple in the family.
Cousin, Me, Frenchie
Book Recap
I have read 7 books toward my goal of 30 books.
I am 3 book (8%) ahead of schedule.
Pages Read: 1540
Because of my nutrition journey, I've bought a few fair sized textbooks and recommended reading books. As I finish them I will count them towards my reading goal and cost.

What I Read

What I'm Currently Reading
Monthly Book Spending:
Spent: $0.00
Saved: $38.57


chicfit