Ideal Inking

So I've been thinking about getting a tattoo for a while to celebrate my joy for life now. This is what I had found on Pinterest (of course) and was pretty set on it. 

 

Until people kept asking me if I had came up with it myself. So I figured I would create my own and include everything that is currently important to me. Now I only have to get one tattoo instead of three different ones!

 

I love dreamcatchers and one of my favorite quotes is "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." -Henry David Thoreau. The love life in the infinity sign is a very important reminder to me to live life to the fullest. And the Proverbs 31:25 says "She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future." I've overcome a lot of personal issues in the last two years and this is a celebratory tattoo. My brother will be going with me and maybe even getting something similar. Rachel will probably be there too. Can't wait!!

Little bit of happiness: My college roommate, Allison, finally got engaged today!! About time! So happy for her and excited for all of the planning to begin. :)I have a feeling it's not going to be easy giving away two of the most important people in my life in the same year.

Daily quote: "I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see." - John Burroughs

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Stop the Slacking

Wow, I've been slacking with this by far. Definitely not what I was expecting of myself. But it's time to get back on the grind because there is a lot to do before the end of the year, in a little over two months! YIKES! I am going to try  my hardest to get as much as a can done. Everything with work, Master's classes, and volleyball has gotten the best of me. However I do think I have mastered the following 30-Day Challenge:

Haha! Yep, for sure.

So once volleyball is over in the next week or two I'm getting down to business. Starting with getting a workout in  my schedule and getting everything, mainly my house, organized!

Little bit of happiness: Did our first arts and crafts project with my third graders! It was definitely a process, but I think we did pretty well over all... here is our positive and negative symmetry pumpkin art:

 

Daily quote: "Keep your face always towards the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you." -Walt Whitman

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Skyfall

New Adele song... love as always!!

Little bit of happiness: Started Mitch Albom's new book called The Timekeeper. It's a story about Father Time and the creation of time as we know it. So hooked! May be another one day read.

Daily quote: Those who do not believe in magic will never find it.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Let You Go

Haha, so true. I know a few people that should read this!!

Little bit of happiness: Talked on the phone with my childhood friend, Rachel. It had been waaaay too long so it was great to catch up on everything, especially her wedding plans!

Daily quote: "The secret of happiness... is not found in seeking more, but developing the capacity to enjoy less." -Socrates

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Peaks, Pits, Praises, and Prayers

 

This evening I started a daily journal for the "peaks, pits, praises, and prayers" to do each evening. I'm excited for a chance to reflect upon my day and I like this much better than the other journaling I have seen done like the one sentence a day for five years. This is much more involved and focuses on a God centered life. (This is not the picture of my particular journal)

Little bit of happiness: Talked on the phone with my childhood friend, Rachel. It had been waaaay too long so it was great to catch up on everything, especially her wedding plans!

Daily quote: The naked truth is always better than a best-dressed lie.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

LOL

From my Happiness Project calendar last week:

 

"A great way to boost happiness: Laught out loud. A typical young child laughs more that 400 times a day, a typical adult, 15 times. Laughter is healthy: It lowers blood pressure and cortisol levels and boosts immunity. It strengthens social bonds and helps ease difficult situations. And it's fun. Make an effort to laugh out loud."

 

Couldn't agree more!

Little bit of happiness: After a long day at work and practice, I gave in to a nap. I LOVE naps!! However, I will have to pay for it later because I need to clean my kitchen, shower, and do two class assignments still. Oh well, it was worth the chance to nap. How I missed naps.

Daily quote: Joy is different then a temporary feeling of happiness; it's a condition of the heart.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

For the Love of Buttons

Give me 20 minutes and I'll give you 10 new pairs of earrings... whoop whoop!

Lovin' me some buttons right now!

Little bit of happiness: Spent the majority of the day just relaxing at mom and dad's house... mixed in with reading, jewelry making, and a little class work. Getting ready to head back to my house in a few hours, after devouring dad's BBQ ribs.  

Daily quote: "Every good and perfect gift comes from above." -James 1:17

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra