Pursuing happiness

This fall I read "The Happiness Project; Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean my Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle and Generally Have More Fun" by Gretchen Rubin.

I can't say enough good things about the book. For starters, it was an enjoyable, easy read. It actually motivated me to take tangible actions, rather than leaving me inspired, but unsure of how to use the book's content to improve my life. And the book contains some excellent insights on the nature and importance of happiness, freeing readers to pursue something that on the surface might seem selfish.

One of my favorite parts of the book were the easy-to-remember phrases and commandments Gretchen developed to remind herself of what makes her happy. Here are some examples:

- Outer order contributes to inner calm
- Act the way I want to feel
- Spend out
- Do it now
- Do what ought to be done
- Lighten up

I wish I could be original right now and say I've developed a half dozen of my own commandments to be happier in the new year, but I think they'd really just be variations on what's above. Like,

- Try to not overreact
- Just do something
- Take the long view
- Create beauty
- Play more

Is any of this working for me? Perhaps, though I think I still have a ways to go. Yet, that's the nature of resolutions - they're not one-and-done kinds of things, like the goal of running a marathon or losing a certain amount of weight.

My mother has also commented that I'm not quite as dramatic about life's little problems these days. For someone who has a pretty marked up track record of overreacting, I'd call that the beginnings of success.

We've been having fun

Yesterday Emery and I made a stop at the toy store before heading across the parking lot to the grocery store. Here she is on the "Rody," an Italian riding toy that she's obviously not quite ready for yet.



Then, we (well, I) had a moment of devastation, followed by elation, when I learned that they hadn't actually run out of peppermint ice cream and there was more in the back of the store. Hallelujah, especially because Matt doesn't even care for this flavor. More for me!



We also picked up an orchid! I've been orchidless for a while. Thank you, Mom, for funding this purchase :).




Later in the day, we went out again, for a quick Christmas shopping trip. More elation - look at this lovely snack arrangement that greeted us when we walked in the door! Not only were there some delicious treats to choose from, they kept in mind germophobes like me and even provided individual bags and scoopers.



On the way home, Emery did what she usually does - ripped off her socks and shoes and didn't seem sorry in the least that her tootsies were chilly.





Bathtime is getting better and better, now that there are toys involved!



What's Christmastime without a festive sleeper? Cheer up Emery, 'tis the season!



And this morning might have been one of the best in Emery's life - she experienced french toast for the first time. And for the first time, she didn't rip off her bib within 30 seconds of being seated. No, she just kept stuffing it in her mouth and kind of got a glazed over, very contented look on her face.



This is a wonderful development, except there's a tiny part of me that is nervous, because french toast was literally all I ate for quite some time as a child. Like mother, like daughter? We shall see ...

Lunch got a little messy today,

so I forced Emery to go topless. (yes, I realize it doesn't appear all that messy, but her shirt told a different story)

What does it mean when kefir is a "new item" at the store?

It's been interesting getting to know the food culture of Chattanooga. The city has some fabulous restaurants with inventive menus that make the most of local ingredients, yet the daily newspaper regularly reviews chains restaurants like Chili's and Panera. Not that there's anything wrong with these restaurants, but do their cookie cutter menus really warrant culinary reviews?

We've got a few great organic/natural foods grocery stores like Greenlife and Earthfare, yet Trader Joe's is reluctant to join the party, hinting that our population might not be well educated enough. And I had to laugh - today I made a quick run to Bi-Lo (the standard, run-of-the-mill, don't expect anything too special and probably shouldn't buy the meat) grocery chain in town and said a quick prayer that they would have kefir. And lo and behold, they did! But, it was featured as a "new item."

I really don't know where this leaves me or what the point of this post exactly is. Perhaps just to say that whatever your appetite, Chattanooga can satisfy it.

P.S. And Trader Joe's, puhlease try to look past our Bi-Lo shoppers and Applebee eating diners and come as quickly as you can!

Thanksgiving mishap #2 and more

(in case you were wondering, the "and more" doesn't mean there were additional mishaps) However, the second mishap occurred when I punctured a hole in the disposable roasting pan, an accident that turned into such a terrible mess I don't even need to write a note to myself to splurge on a real roasting pan next year. After spending waaay too much time yesterday cleaning the oven, there is no way I would forget.



Despite this mishap, though, the dinner turned out to be pretty delicious if I do say so myself, and the turkey thankfully tasted nothing like a pickle. I went with a brine made with orange peels, apple cider and rosemary, and while it was a huge pain in the neck to soak a 17lb bird in more than 2 gallons of brine, not having dry, flaky white meat made it worth it in the end.



Emery was our little pilgrim and behaved beautifully during dinner, despite the fact that she ate what she eats practically every other night of the week and didn't get to dip her little fingers into creamed onions, confetti brussel sprouts with bacon, sweet potato strudel, mashed potatoes and mushroom leek stuffing.





She also humored everyone at the table with one of her latest tricks, sticking out her tongue.



How will we ever be able to chide her for this when it's just so darn cute?! I suppose it won't be so cute one day, though, when it comes along with a little attitude ... so for now I'm just going to enjoy the innocence of it all.

Thanksgiving mishap #1

In the midst of making a chocolate pecan pie, I set the chocolate/butter mixture in the freezer to cool. A halfway open Ziploc bag of Emery's baby food tipped over and into the chocolate.

So, the pie is going to be a little less chocolatey, and while I debated giving Emery chocolate covered sweet potatoes for dinner tonight, I don't think they are in her future. I fear she'd never go back to the way they used to be.

The house smells like a pickle jar

Let"s hope the turkey doesn't taste like one in the end. Let the brining begin!

Rosemary Beach

Last week we had the privilege of vacationing at Rosemary Beach, Florida, thanks to the generosity of some great friends. I could go on and on about how wonderful it was, but I know some of you are just itching for Emery pictures and don't really want to hear my rambling about how lovely it was to be enjoying summerlike weather at the beach in November, so I'll just stick with a top ten list for the trip (in no particular order):


Stunning sunsets


The softest white sand


The chance to get Emery in an adorable swimsuit and watch her experience the ocean for the first time


The town of Rosemary Beach - completely charming


Quality time with great friends


Marvelous playground, which of course Emery only stared at


Coffee date with Matt


Gorgeous greens, idea for Emery photo opps


Finally a decent mother-daughter picture!


Henny came to babysit!

A fall fling

I had all good intentions of writing a rather lengthy post about our fun day trip this past weekend to the Cherohala Skyway, where we caught the lingering markers of a stunning autumn, but time is slipping like sand though my fingers this week, so the pictures will have to suffice.


Ready to go!


Pausing to enjoy the view


Always happy in Daddy's arms


Hmm, not so sure about this


Never mind, this is great!


Yay, here I go again!


So happy that Daddy always catches me


On a hike through the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, where some of the trees are 400 years old, 100 feet tall and more than 20 feet in circumference


One tree hugger, one Daddy hugger


Fading signs of fall


Lunch! North Carolina bbq - it wasn't the best I've ever had, but to my starving stomach, it was sublime.


As was the chocolate meringue pie - note to self, learn how to make this.


Exhausted from all the fun

Emery took a vacation

and I went with her! We went to Annapolis for a week in October, and while I felt like I was completely on vacation with no cleaning, cooking or other household responsibilities to speak of, Emery got off pretty easy, too. With a minimum of car rides to endure, and no trips to the grocery store or Walmart, loads of attention from doting grandparents, store bought baby food and plenty of new clothes, she was living the high life.


New toys! Anyone want to play with me?


Plenty of time for exercise (Emery jumps while I jog, evidenced by the dirty running socks and shoes in the background)


Eager eater! If only I could make food as smooth as it comes in the jar.


Henny's sterling silver napkin rings are a huge hit.


She could spend hours (well, probably just 15 minutes, 20 at the most, but that's saying a lot!) dumping them out of a basket.


Still captivated.


The next best thing to eating Henny's glasses is eating the dish they sit in.


Looking snazzy in new clothes for the plane trip home.