1) Purity Made Simple face wash
This is the best facewash I’ve ever used. It smells like you’re in a spa and it instantly calms me. It makes me so happy that I can’t wait to use it. Philosophy makes all of their products unique by providing a paragraph or so about the name of the product, so on the front of this bottle you’ll read about purity and instantly be calmed. I bought the jumbo size bottle from Sephora.

2) Gel Pens
I used to be obsessed with these in jr. high, and up until recently, I thought they were a thing of the past. When I started a new job last year, a coworker was raving about these colored pens she had. No sooner than the following week did she stop by my desk with a whole new pack just for me. I love using them because they instantly brighten dull office notes and I’m an organization freak who loves using them to color code to-do lists.

3) Lean Cuisine Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans
This is the healthiest non-healthiest tasting thing I believe I’ve ever eaten. It’s gooey, cheesy, bean-y (is that a word?) and it’s only 300 calories and 5g of fat. There’s nothing like fooling your taste buds!

4) Gilt Groupe
I discovered this online sample sale site last year when I was stuck at a job that made me unhappy. Everyday at noon they reveal different sample sales that only last for 24 hours. I still find myself looking forward to noon when I can go online and check what’s for sale. They sell men’s and women’s clothes and accessories, home goods and jewelry that you can buy from major designers, but here it’s sometimes as much as 80 percent off! You can sign up by clicking here.

5) Priscilla Ahn – A Good Day
I first saw Priscilla Ahn in concert when I was in college on a small tour with Ingrid Michaelson, Joshua Radin and Meiko (three other artists who make me happy). She does this really cool thing where she records herself sing live and then sings over the playback to create harmony. It’s truly beautiful and unique. Her latest album’s title song “A Good Day” is the perfect song to listen to in the morning for that extra boost of optimism.

6) Prosperity Dumpling fried dumplings
If you ever visit Manhattan, you must go here. Prosperity Dumpling not only sells the best fried dumplings in New York but they are also dirt cheap at five for $1. They also sell sesame pancakes for 75 cents. Not the healthiest meal, but oh so wonderful and you will have spent less than $3 on a whole meal. It’s literally a hole in the wall with a counter and a tiny kitchen, but you can watch them make and cook the dumplings right in front of you. It’s located in Chinatown at 46 Eldridge St.

7) Magnolia Bakery’s banana pudding
If you can’t tell by this list yet, I love food. Food in general makes me very happy. If you want to see me ecstatic, bring me a cup of Magnolia Bakery’s banana pudding. Magnolia is known for their cupcakes, and they are very wonderful indeed. Most people go there for a cupcake and hence end up missing Magnolia’s hidden charm. It’s creamy and wonderful with whole pieces of bananas and wafer cookies. Even if you don’t like bananas, try it!

8) Coconut water
This started becoming trendy last year with companies like Zico and O.N.E. selling it in little pouches seemingly everywhere. Coconut products have been often marketed to contain a lot of fat. However, coconut water has zero fat and hardly any calories. It’s the perfect drink for after a workout, or whenever, because it has just enough sweetness without anything added and it’s not dull water. It is also jam packed with potassium. Goya sells the water sweetened or unsweetened in cans with actual pieces of coconut in it. That part makes it extra fun to drink.

9) St. Ives Apricot Scrub
This has been my go-to scrub for years after almost using up a former roommate’s tube. It’s natural and smells wonderful. Often exfoliating scrubs contain plastic beads that never deteriorate and end up contaminating water sources well after washing off your skin and flowing through your sink drain, but this scrub uses ground nut shells to get the job done without causing future environmental harm. It makes me happy in more ways than one.

10) Time Out NY
When I moved to New York, I was overwhelmed by all there was to see and do. I felt guilty if I wasn’t out and about exploring and taking in everything the city had to offer. Problem was, I didn’t know where to start. I was getting suggestions from everyone, but I couldn’t focus and often heard of cool events weeks after they occurred. I got a subscription to my new weekly bible, Time Out NY (yes, related to the travel books), for super cheap (about $10 for 2 years), and I read it cover-to-cover every week. They search out everything going on in the city from new restaurants, cool concerts, opening theater, fashion trends and museum exhibits all while providing a plethora of interesting and quite random facts about the city.

About Yael

I’m a West Coast transplant, right now enjoying my life in the bustle of Manhattan. I originally came to know Carolyn when I was in college at Boston University through working with her on her book, Perseverance, which was a life-changing experience. Now I’m working full-time with the Lymphoma Research Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for the disease. I love enjoying the free time in my life by catching up on books I’ve missed through the years, finding cheap and fun things to do while exploring the city, traveling over the country and the world and finding moments in the day when I can be truly grateful for what I have. You can follow me (and learn about NYC cheap and fun) on Twitter @yaelleah. Thanks for reading!

Other Posts in the 10 Things That Make Me Happy Series

Leana May Erin Robinson Brandon Ledford Nicola Warwick Joy Meredith Linda Wolf

New & Exciting

• Spring’s February video is up. The topic is: SUPPORT! This month, we’re excited to share a new video each Tuesday on this topic. Be sure to check it out and post a comment for a chance to win one of the fabulous giveaways!

Online Treasures

• A Few Lovely Blogs
  • Hula Seventy - the photos are breathtaking
  • Artists Who Blog – meet incredible artists and take an inside peak at their creative lives
  • A Traveling Journeyer – addicting inspiration
  • Sweet & Dainty - the name says it all :)
• I Believe in Love – a beautiful new book available for pre-order by Marisa Haedike of Creative Thursday
• Bell’occhio – one of my favorite stores filled with unique treasures for Valentine’s Day
• Checkster – a free online tool that helps you assess your talents with the help of friends (description below quoted from “What Color is Your Parachute?“)
  • You submit the names of six people who know you and your work well…. Checkster sends them a request, on your behalf, to fill out a short questionnaire about you (five to seven minutes) and submit it back to Checkster within a mandatory seven-day time period. Their names are then separated from their feedback, and an anonymous summary report is given to you summarizing what all these friends and acquaintances together perceive are your strengths and your uniqueness. Only you ever get this free report, and you can use it or discard it, as you wish. Use it to see what these people think is unique about you. Discard it if you think they’re way off base. Choose six other people, and do it again.
    
  • I’m up for the challenge – are you?

Give & Receive – A Tuesday Treasure Giveaway

• Recipients of Tuesday Treasure Giveaway from January 26th (please send an email to carolynblog (at!) me (dot!) com to receive your gift certificate!)
  • Jessica of Sweet Eventide
  • SheilaC of My Empty Nest is Full of Cat Hair
• This Week’s Giveaway!
  • Enter Giveaway: Post a comment below.
  • Two winners will be announced next week on Tuesday February 9th!

And the giveaway (two winners!): $25 Gift Certificates to Paper Source

What’s adding a sparkle to your day?

{image: Lily Jane Stationery}

I love the beginning of a new month – especially February. My birthday is on March 1st so I tend to take a lot of action in February. This year, I’m continuing the tradition by sharing my very first podcast.

I hope to utilize podcasts to share more of my creative process – something I don’t discuss too often on the blog. In this podcast, I discuss the powerful role of resistance and a call to action at the end.

I greatly appreciate your comments and look forward to discussing this topic with you! Thank you for listening :).

Click the play button below to listen to the podcast. It runs a little less than 10 minutes.

In case you have any difficulties with the player, you can click here to listen via Quicktime:
A Beautiful Ripple Effect Podcast 1

{image: letterhappy}

A day to myself, with no obligations
Oh, what heaven to let a day unfold and listen to my heart’s desire in each moment – go here, go there, do this, do that, with absolutely no pressure.

Integrity
When I choose to say or do what aligns with my internal values, I feel so good about myself, so clean, and fresh, and clear.

Watching my 14-year-old step-daughter blossom
To see this child who has struggled already with darkness and anxiety come into her own as an emotionally healthy, enthusiastic, and loving young woman makes my heart swell.

Letting go of any and everything
Used to be, anything I let go of had claw marks; now, I’ve watched huge chunks like fear of money and destitution slough right off.

The catness of cats
I love the way they are present in the moment, their glistening fur, their unconditional love, and their pure contentment with silence, sleep, and solitude.

Winter
I love the quiet of the world as we hibernate in warm houses; I love snow, lots of it, and the shoveling thereof; I love blizzards and snow days; I love the glitter and glisten of white and sparkling ice.

Knowing that I can choose my attitude
It’s such a relief to know I am not reliant on anyone else’s good mood – I can generate my own. I may not be able to control others, but I do have power over how I respond to them.

Friendship
There is such comfort in having friends who know me and love me, flaws and all.

Foot massages
And I just happen to be lucky enough to have found a life partner who enjoys giving them! A match made in heaven.

Pushing the boundaries of my own growth
Children learn through play. My play is thinking, talking, reading, and writing about becoming the best me I can be. It gives me joy.

About Linda

Linda Wolf writes Insanely Serene, a blog devoted to her passion for peace of mind and serenity. She shares her experiences and offers practical suggestions for moving from low self-esteem to powerful self-confidence. You can also find her on Twitter at @insanelyserene.

Other Posts in the 10 Things That Make Me Happy Series

Leana May Erin Robinson Brandon Ledford Nicola Warwick Joy Meredith

1. Get cozy in front of a fire with a warm blanket and great book.
2. Awaken your inner child: go sledding!
3. Get messy in the kitchen: have fun baking and decorating different types of cookies.
4. Put on your skates and have a blast at an outdoor pond (no frozen outdoor pond – go to an indoor rink).
5. Try a new creative project (ex. winter themed crafts).
6. Catch up on your movie list in time for the Oscars.
7. Join a book club or create your own.
8. Explore your hidden passions – Julia Child started cooking school in her late 30s!
9. Organize and finally frame some of those photos you love.
10. Scope out new music on Pandora.
11. Go window shopping online.
12. Challenge yourself to take action on a lingering to-do item – enjoy the bliss that accompanies checking it off of your list!
13. Visit Decor8. The images can lift your spirits on the bleakest of days!
14. Fill an oversized mug with hot chocolate and yummy marshmallows. You can even add rainbow sprinkles for a splash of color!
15. Spruce up a little area of your home – add a new color, a painting, a beautiful candle – let your imagination run wild.
16. Wear that goofy hat and scarf with pride!
17. Take a day trip to a local museum or gallery.
18. Play in the snow. Did I hear snowball fight?
19. Try different soups. With hundreds of types, go crazy!
20. Plan a spa day by yourself (serious R & R) or with a group of friends.
21. Volunteer at your local library. Extra special: read a story with (or to) a child.
22. Take an online workshop – extra bonus: no cold weather and you can meet new friends (your fellow e-classmates).
23. Do some soul searching with a life coach. Life coaches keep you on your toes and help you achieve what your heart desires.
24. Donate clothing. A lighter closet means more room for 2010 finds!
25. Swap books with a friend. A recommended read at no cost.
26. Appreciate the crispness of the winter air. Allow yourself to simply… breathe.
27. Explore the power of a friendship bracelet or handmade jewelry.
28. Remind yourself of the classics – great poetry, timeless music.
29. Spend some time journaling or doodling — reflect during the winter quiet.
30. Host a game night! Board games and family/friends yield a fun night of bonding.
31. Show someone you appreciate them. A small note via snail-mail or even a simple email.
32. Use your computer to chat with friends virtually. Check out Spring for inspiration!
33. Create a list of 10 ways you can enjoy the winter days. You’ll want to skip this step, but it’s the most important!
34. Make a commitment to do at least one thing per day that adds joy to your life – even during the winter days.

Need more inspiration? 50 Ways to Add Joy to Your Day

What do you enjoy during the winter days?

New & Exciting

• Last week, I published a new post on Psychology Today: Now is Everything. I hope you enjoy the post and take-away something powerful just for you!
• Newsweek did an incredible story for their website last week featuring Michelle Ward! You may know Michelle as the “When I Grow Up Coach” or as one of the four Spring girls! Congratulations, Michelle!!
• I signed up – have you? If not, HURRY UP!! Jenn Lee is teaching an online workshop based on her Right Brain Business Plan. The workshop starts Feb 1st.

Online Treasures

• Celebrate Life with Perfect Sentiment, an adorable blog and online store.
• What’s Your Play Personality?
• Serious Blog Crush: {Frolic!}
• Organomics – cool word, but even cooler tips + ideas on website.
• Give hope with CraftHope – spreading seeds of hope one stitch at a time.

Give & Receive – A Tuesday Treasure Giveaway

-> Enter Giveaway: Post a comment below.

-> Double your chances: Send a tweet with a link to A Beautiful Ripple Effect! Make sure to include @clrsimple2 in your tweet :)!

Two winners will be announced next week on Tuesday February 2nd!

Comments and tweets must be posted by Monday February 1st 10 pm EST to be included!

And the giveaway (two winners!): $25 Gift Certificates to Anthropologie

What’s adding a sparkle to your day?

{image: Skippy Designs}

Catch Phrase:
This is our family’s favorite game. Some of the funnest moments with my nephews have been playing this game. If you want to entertain and amuse a group of people, pull this out- big fun!

MacBook:
I spend a lot of time online and writing so I LOVE my Mac. If you own one you know… if not, you should, you’ll love it!

Foot Duvets (by Restoration Hardware):
I like to sleep in a cold room so every winter I pull these out and they warm me up so I am nice and toasty all night long.

Chipotle:
If I need food fast I head to Chipotle. Even though it’s not health food, it is at least real food. Nummy!

Canson Sketchpads:
We are all artists; so even if you (ok, I) don’t draw well, everyone can at least sketch out our big ideas. Whenever I start a new project or want to map out a significant change in my life, I get a fresh sketchpad where I visually think through my ideas. My favorites are the ones with a hard cover and spiral binding.

Burn Notice (& Castle & Leverage):
Growing up my favorite program was Magnum P.I. so any show that has action, intrigue, wit, and bantering leads is totally up my alley.

Sony Cybershot:
I’m a Sony girl (except when I’m an Apple gal) and I love my digital camera. I take it everywhere and love taking photos of friends, family, and even random things I come across that might have an interesting texture, color, or theme. Great pictures are priceless.

MOMA (Museum of Modern Art, NYC):
Just love it there. The art, the building, the atrium, the shop across the street– I love it all. Wish it were in Chicago so I could visit it weekly.

Lush Rehab Shampoo:
Smells so good, is so sudsy, so calming. If you were only buying one LUSH product you wouldn’t even think to make it a shampoo, but I tell you it’s lush-cious!

Paper Source Red 9x 11½ Presentation Envelopes:
These are part of my signature style when I send a proposal, a resume, or anything that I print out for people. They are so nice that sometimes I’m hurt that people are almost more excited about the envelope then what might be in it. But then I chalk it up to them enjoying my great taste and am rest assured it will make them even more excited to get something from me.

About Joy

I am the author of My Last Wishes… A Journal of Life, Love, Laughs & A Few Final Notes and working on my second book Finding Joy. On a constant quest for Joy, I have explored the corporate world, the publishing world, the visual thinking world… and have found little pieces of happiness in each. Finding Joy is based on a technique I created called Me Mapping, which helps people diagram out their lives and then sort out what’s working from what’s not. My belief is that life is short and we should: engage with the aspects of our lives that makes us happy, declutter the things that drag us down, and incorporate gratitude for all of our good fortune. In my quest to find my own Joy, my hope is to inspire others to find theirs along the way.

You can find Joy’s website at JoyMeredith.com.

Other Posts in the 10 Things That Make Me Happy Series

Leana May Erin Robinson Brandon Ledford Nicola Warwick

When I gaze at my inspiration board, I often end up focusing on one phrase in particular: “You are enough.” It is one of many powerful phrases on the board that come from an inspiration deck created by my magically inspiring genie, Christine Mason Miller.

You are enough.

Naturally, I began to ponder, “Am I?” And what does “enough” even mean? Unraveling the layers of this deceivingly simple inquiry has led me to reconsider this question and reassess its importance.

So often, our knee-jerk reaction is to think: NO, I’m NOT enough! We are rarely happy with the status quo.

So how do we be “enough”? I believe the first step is to alter how you define, “you”. Who are “you” without labels, habits, restraints, roles… – just your raw identity? Then, from this place – how do you define “enough”? How do you, personally, measure what is enough?

When we empower ourselves to create our own intrinsic barometer of what is “enough”, then life immediately begins to become less of a constant struggle – of course, there are challenges and letdowns, but they don’t alter our essential worth.

Relying on external sources to measure your value leads to a never-ending race that (spoiler alert) you just can’t win.

So, now what? How do you get to this place of empowerment?

Only you have the answer.

Along the course of your journey, remind yourself to remain focused and cherish the wisdom that truly, you are enough.

{image: blissful images}

• New & Exciting
  • Brand new Spring video posted today! It’s a short video that continues our conversation on Intentions, Goals, and Resolutions.
  • On Friday, I published a new article on the Huffington Post: The Tweet for Haiti Heard Across the Blogosphere. It’s been inspiring such a beautiful ripple effect – please be sure to read the post and COMMENT! For each comment posted, I am donating $1 to Haiti Relief. AND — my donations are being matched by another blogger! Please comment and spread the word! Comments close on Friday, January 22nd.

• Online Treasures
  • If you love Compendium as much as I do, you must bookmark their new blog: Live Inspired Blog.
  • Truisms by Danielle LaPorte on White Hot Truth
  • I recently purchased Muse Cubes and love them! They are such a creative tool – and oh so cute!
  • Etsy’s Quit Your Day Job Series (also check out the new series: Working Overtime)
  • An essential blog for writers: The Relaxed Writer by Marla Beck
  • For the love of fashion: What I Wore by Jessica Schroeder

What’s adding a sparkle to your week?

{image: Tiny Bazaar}

1. My tree.
“I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines.” – Henry David Thoreau

There are lots and lots of trees in the park but, for some reason, early on in my acquaintance with the park, I singled out this tree as my favourite. It almost stands alone but is part of a row of trees. I’ve taken hundreds and hundreds of photographs of this tree. In every season. But this photograph is the one that I love the best. I have it framed on my wall and it brings me a great deal of pleasure every time I look at it. I go to visit my tree whenever I am in the park. I think there’s something to be said for communing with nature. It has an effect on your soul. There’s a calming nature to trees and I just love being around them.

2. Photography.
This is my absolute favourite thing. I’m always at my happiest when I have a camera in my hand. Whether I’m taking photographs for my own pleasure or taking photographs for other people, it has the ability to take me to a different place. A little switch flicks somewhere in my head and I just get into the flow. It’s as if nothing else exists in the world apart from me and my camera. The feeling of joy that I get from photography is huge.

And looking at photographs I’ve taken is a constant reminder of that feeling and the memory of the day. Having someone compliment my photographs, and knowing someone likes something I’ve created, moves me enormously.

3. Creative projects.
Last year was a year of revelations for me. I’d known there was something that I was supposed to be doing but I couldn’t define it for a long time. Understanding that, finally, and having a purpose, created a big shift for me. The ideas started flowing and I derived a great sense of fulfillment from working on them.

4. Getting up early.
I like the hour in the morning before I have to go to work. I catch up with my blog, I read other people’s websites, I tweet. I really enjoy the hour or so when the world seems as though it’s still asleep and I’m getting a march on the day. In the winter everywhere is still dark but in the summer I can watch the day beginning. It’s a really precious time for me as it’s often the only time in the day that I can work on my ideas and projects. It’s an hour crammed with energy.

5. Wide open spaces.
The place I go most often is the park. I can walk and walk for hours. I take photographs, I invariably have a coffee in one of the little park cafes. I take a notebook and sit and jot while I drink my coffee. It’s a place that is away from the noise of the traffic. There’s always something new to look at, or a favourite tree to check on, a familiar face to chat to. But also it’s a great opportunity to think and contemplate and have some moments of peace.

6. Kindred spirits.
Gwen Bell’s Best of 2009 blog challenge in December 2009 was not only a great idea but the added gift it brought was that it connected me with people who are undoubtedly kindred spirits. I suppose you could say I found my tribe. There was an enormous joy in discovering people who are talking about similar concepts and exploring their own ideas. 2009 was a year of kindred spirits. I met several people offline as well who have brought several new pieces of my jigsaw and new friendships have grown.

7. Technology.
I’ve always liked technology. I love gadgets. I like tinkering online, tweaking my blog or building some webpages. And, of course, my favourite thing is my camera. I think the internet is an amazing tool and it’s been very important to me in allowing me to find people all over the world who are talking about creativity. Twitter really came into its own and I finally joined Facebook, both of which have been powerful networking tools.

8. Unconventional.
A big find was Danielle LaPorte’s book Style Statement . The premise is that you choose two words that define you. My two were Sacred Unconventional. I love giving my Unconventional side an outing every now and again. It’s a little hidden part of me that likes to play sometimes. It can be a lot of fun!

9. Synchronicities.
One of my favourite phrases is having your ducks in a row. You just know when it happens. Everything flows. Magic happens. The internet has been a provider of synchronicities for me. Websites have popped up one after another, each taking me to new information or new people. Books have done the same. When I first started exploring the concept of creative divine there were so many references being put in front of me that I would frequently laugh out loud. Sometimes I’ve only had to think of something I’ve wanted to do and it’s been there on the next web page or the next book I’ve picked up.

10. Love.
Love comes in many guises. Love for your family, love for your friends. A brief encounter with love when a stranger shows kindness to you. It all makes me happy because it makes me feel loved. The most astounding love I’ve experienced is the one that endures, through thick and thin. The one that you know will be there for all time, and probably has been there for all time already. Until I experienced that I really didn’t understand what love was.

About Nicola

I live and work in Manchester, in the UK. The big love of my life is photography and I’m most often found, camera in hand, walking in the park or dashing around town photographing an event. I’m fascinated by the idea that creativity is a tool to link to the divine and I started exploring this concept on my blog last year. It was a major turning point for me and is a constant theme in all of my creative projects. I see photography as a key element and want to share my experiences with my camera as “photo therapy” to help others get into the zone and experience a state of flow. I’m also a Reiki Master who loves boxing! Nicola blogs at The Whole Self.

- – - – -

10 Things That Make Me Happy: Leana May

10 Things That Make Me Happy: Erin Robinson

10 Things That Make Me Happy: Brandon Ledford