Tuesday, June 30, 2015

A smile is always nearby

Happy Tuesday my Happy clan.  I hope you all had a wonderful day!  Mine was busy and hectic and quite fantastic!!  And that's all because I chose to let it be :)  I also smile a whole lot so I know that helps too.

Speaking of smiling, tonight I'm sharing a poem with all of you as your Happy.  This poem is written by Alexandra Skiathitis.  I just fell in love with this poem and knew I had to share it with my Happy clan!

Keep On Smiling

If at times you feel you want to cry.
And life seems such a trial.
Above the clouds there's a bright blue sky 
So make your tears a smile. 

As you travel on life's way 
With its many ups and downs 
Remember it's quite true to say 
One smile is worth a dozen frowns. 

Among the worlds expensive things 
A smile is very cheap 
And when you give a smile away, 
You get one back to keep. 

Happiness comes at times to all 
But sadness comes unbidden 
And sometimes a few tears must fall 
Among the laughter hidden. 

So when friends have sadness on their face 
And troubles round them piled 
The world will seem a better place 
And all because you smiled.

So, what'd you all think?  Isn't that just wonderful!?!?  Now, go use that wonderfulness to fall asleep with, and until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Monday, June 29, 2015

Smile in your sleep!

Happy Monday night my Happy clan!  I hope you all had a day full of smiling!  Yon know I did ;)  It was another magnificent day.  However, it was a long day full of errands that had to get done (but I did get it done and handled) and I'm beat, but I promised you a night Happy so you all are going to get it!!

Tonight's Happy will be a quick message from me to you to help send you off to dreamland with a smile still shining through on your face!


Now, take this message to heart and believe it.  And go have yourself a wonderful evening and may God bless you and keep you safe through the night.  Sweetest of dreams to you all and until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Smiling - It's so much more than just a gesture!

Happy Monday Morning my Happy clan!  I hope you all had a fantastic weekend full of happiness and "funshine"!  My weekend was wonderful - I was extremely productive at work, I got to see lots of my family at my nephew's birthday party and some awesome friends I haven't seen in a long time as well!  Plus, I got to spend a lot of quality time with my guys!  So, my weekend was definitely a grand slam :)

As I'm sure you all can tell, I didn't post a Happy last night.  Not that I didn't want to, I was just too tired to hold my eyes open long enough to write it ;)  So, to make up for it, today you are going to get a Happy in the morning and in the evening too!  And depending on how busy I am - you may even get one shoved in the middle of the day... But let's focus on our morning Happy first.

Today, I want to talk to you all about smiling.  I know I am constantly telling you all to smile, but did you know that smiling is actually good for you, physically and mentally?  Mother Teresa once said "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do" and she was right!  Leo Widrich did a scientific study on smiling and the affects of it and it was proven that smiling actually decreases the stress-induced hormones that affect your physical and mental health negatively.  Smiling not only reduces your stress but it increases the positive emotions within you!

Let's break down smiling in the scientific view.  When something positive happens, like seeing an old friend or getting a hug from a loved one or getting the first cup of a fresh pot of coffee, neuronal signals travel from the cortex of our brain (the outer layer) to the brain stem.  From there, the cranial muscle carries a signal to the smiling muscles in our face, the main two muscles are zygomaticus major and obicularis occuli.  Once these muscles contract a positive signal is sent back to our brain that reinforces our feeling of happiness and joy.  So, pretty much, it starts a "happy cycle" within us - our brain feels good and tells us to smile, we smile and tell our brain to feel good, and so on!  However, scientists have proven that when people smile without using their obicularis occuli muscle, it doesn't stimulate as strong of "happy" signals.  The reason is because those are the fake or forced smiles.  The obicularis occuli is the muscle that encircles the eye socket.  I'm sure you've all heard the phrase, smile with your eyes, well - this is where that comes from.

And did you know that our brains keep track of all the times we smile, throughout our entire life?!?!  Our brain knows how many times we've smiled and how often we smile and what our "overall" emotional state is.  Smiling is also contagious - especially when they're real smiles (not those silly just-use-the-corners-of-my-lip smile).  Why do you think the Mona Lisa is one of the most popular paintings ever?  Because of her smile!!!  And it's a real smile too!!  Go look at it, I bet you smile back :)

So, smiling is proven to be good for you.  Even forcing a smile when we really don't feel like smiling can lift our mood slightly by reducing our distress.  It's time that we all just start smiling more!  Let's start lifting our own spirits while lifting those around us!  Let's start having happier days that last all day more often ... And all it takes is just a simple smile!!  A smile is the prettiest thing you can wear, and the cheapest thing too!  So go out there and smile like the sun - be the reason someone else smiles today!  Making someone smile can change the world, maybe not the whole world, but their world!  When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life you have thousands of reasons to smile!!!  Now, go - have a smiley day and until later, just keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Saturday, June 27, 2015

There's always sunshine somewhere!

Howdy my Happy clan and a very Happy Saturday night to all of you!  Yes it's a ver late post and I'm doing it on my phone so it's going to be a quick Happy tonight, but a very powerful one!  It's a song that my Matty sings all the time and it's a song we all should sing on a daily basis! 

I can't post it properly because it's on my phone but here's a link to the song, with lyrics!


Now, go to sleep on the sunny side and wake up the same way!!  And until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Friday, June 26, 2015

Little moments make giant happies...

Happy Friday night my Happy clan!  I hope all of you had an absolutely wonderful day!  I'd like to first start off by saying, Congratulations America on finally realizing that love is love, whether if it's what you believe or not.  Remember, we are not here to judge one another, we are here to love one another... Period, END OF STORY!!!

So, how was everyone's day?  My day was filled with awesomeness and my night has been just as awesome, and it's about to get better!  I had a fantabulous morning with my Johnny Angel, I had an absolutely marvelous day at work, I get to spend an evening just chilling with my Matty and we just found out our super awesome home skillets booked their flights and are coming to visit us for Halloween... I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So, yeah, you could say it's been an over-the-top happy day for me ;)

I love that it's the little things that make my day so wonderful.  And it's always the little things that I look back on and remember.  Like the hugs my Johnny gives me whenever I have to leave for work, or the "Hi, I love you" text messages I get from my Matty during the day, or the out-of-the-blue phone calls I get from friends, or the smile and hello when I pass by a stranger, or the rainstorms that lull me to sleep, or even the simplest gesture from a stranger - like when I was trying to put my new windshield wipers on and some gentleman asked if I would like assistance because the old one just wouldn't come off!  Sure, some of these little moments might happen on a daily basis, but some of them do not - yet I remember them all so vividly!  Why?  Because they make me happy - and they make me who I am today!!!

So many people look past all the little moments in life.  They are too busy trying to make a dollar that they miss the most important part of life.  Yes... I understand we need money to survive.  However, let me ask you this, if you were not given another day of life, will you be taking that money with you when you go to your final resting place (a.k.a. Heaven)?  No it won't!  What about all your possessions?  That's a big N-O as well.  The only thing going with you is your mind and soul... which contains only the memories of your life and the love in your heart!  And guess what, those are the most expensive gifts you will ever own, so cherish them!  I don't care how much money you might have, it will never make you happy!  I promise you this... I have had the opportunity to experience life in multiple ways (with money, without money, with some money but not much and even OMG WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?!?!?!) and in every scenario I've always been happy.  Even when we're fighting to figure out a way to make ends meet - I stay happy!  How do I stay happy?  Because I am richer beyond my capacity... All the little moments that I have been and am continued to be blessed with in my life make my life so amazingly awesome!  (Yes, I do enjoy using the word awesome tonight...)

As I'm sure you have been able to figure out, today's Happy is all about focusing on the little things in life.  And to help fully illustrate my point, I found a few images on Google that will assist in today's Happy:








Now, after those awesome reminders, isn't life just so amazing?!?!  I hope you all remember these words of wisdom from now on - I guarantee life is going to be so much better for you from here on out!!!  But, I'm off to watch a movie with my Matty so until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Count with me!

Happy Thursday night my Happy clan!  It's been a very long and very busy day for me today, but a very excellent day overall!  I hope you all had an excellent day as well!!

There may be a few of you who want to tell me no, but give today's Happy a chance to change your mind...


And I want us all to count this way from now on.  You will have a much happier and a much more peaceful life ahead of you :)  

And now, I'm going to go say my prayers and thank God for ally blessings before I go to sleep!  Sweet dreams and until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Nighttime Fun

Happy Wacky Task Wednesday my Happy clan!  I hope you all have been enjoying your day.  MY day was incredibly wonderful.  I got to sleep in, when Johnny and I were both awake (finally) we snuggled watching Adventures in Babysitting, then we chilled together while playing our games until we had to go to the store to get lettuce for dinner.  As soon as we got home I started cooking bacon for the BLTs we were having while Johnny relaxed a bit more.  Then we all ate, Matt and I cleaned up and I sat down to write your Happy for today.

The only reason that your Wacky Task is so late today is because I want sure which task I wanted to go with as I had a few options... However, I did come to a conclusion at last.  But first, let's recap your task from last week.  Everyone was supposed to let loose and dance a little bit!  So, did we all dance?!?  Even just a little bit?  I did and I'm going to keep on dancing whenever I feel the urge to!!  It really is such an upper :)  But I think it's time for me to share your newest task with you.

Since it is officially summer now and staying outside once the sun goes down is becoming more of the normality and lightning bugs are finally out... We are going to catch lightning bugs this week!  Of course, release them afterwards, but let's have some fun and go lightning bug chasing - just like when we were younger!!  First off, it's fun.  Secondly, it's challenging.  Thirdly, it's active.  But most importantly ... it's a chance to let your inner child out for a little while and let yourself be free from everything else for just a little while.  I know I wish I could take a break from being a grownup and this is a great way to do that :)  So go have some fun this week!  Enjoy the natural fun that comes at nighttime!  If you let it, the night can be just as awesome as the day!!  And on that note I am going to start this off and I'm going to go catch a lightning bug - I hope you all do too! Until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Just keep going...

I have written this Happy for you all about 3 times already today and it keeps deleting on me, so I decided that I am just going to share one of my favorite poems by one of my favorite authors, Dr. Seuss.  He's the definition of always being happy and positive!!!  I just love him and am so glad I was brought up with his works!

So, here's a very late Happy but an extremely strong message you all need to read and believe in as well:


Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself 
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, 
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And then things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on y our way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be as famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't
Because, sometimes they won't.

I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike,
And I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up 
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's 
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never foget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

Now, go out and have yourself a fabulous evening or possibly morning!  And until later, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Monday, June 22, 2015

Why so serious?

Good Morning my Happy clan and a very Happy Monday to you all!  I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and I wish you all an even better week!!!  I have no idea what this week has in store for me, but I'm excited to see what comes my way.  And no matter what may come I plan on handling each and every moment with a smile on my face, a dance in my step and laughter in my soul!  After all, life is full of situations that try to pull us away from being happy and silly but I refuse to let anything get me down.  Life is just more enjoyable when you let yourself enjoy it...

I wish more people would look at life with a different view.  So many people in the world are so serious nowadays and are too busy to have fun or goof around.  I wish they'd see that if they just let go once in awhile and let themselves just be silly life would be so much easier to handle every day.  Yes, there are times when we all must be serious - but there are way more moments when we should all choose to be goofy and have fun.  Of course, I too have to be an adult sometimes, but just because I'm an adult doesn't mean I have to be a boring box of rocks...

Today's Happy is a song dedication to you all.  I grew up listening to this song, and many many others just like it.  I may have gotten older but I just refuse to fully grow up.  Thanks to this man - and many other goofy influences just like him in my life - I have been able to keep my "kid at heart" mentality going strong!  So, I hope you all listen carefully to this song and take a tip from "Weird Al" Yankovic and every once in awhile Dare to Be Stupid!!!


But, I do have to go be a grown up now and get ready for work - but I promise you I will continue to have my "childish" moments ... today and always, and I hope you all do too!  Until later, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Sunday, June 21, 2015

A Daddy's Day Blessing

Happy Sunday night my Happy clan!  And a very Happy Father's Day as well!!  I hope everyone has been having a great day and weekend as well!  It's been another busy weekend for me and my family, but an extremely wonderfully busy weekend.  I had to work today, but my boys got to spend the day together so I'm glad they were able to do that.  And my mom made an amazing dinner this evening as well so my Matty got a special Father's Day dinner as well :)

Since it is Father's Day - today's Happy is a special wish and blessing to all the "Dads" out there!


So, to all you "Dads" ... The birth dads, the stepdads, the adopted dads, the uncles, the brothers, the granddads, the mothers who play both roles and anyone else who acts as the Daddy ... HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!  I wish you all the absolute best and thank you for being the wonderful Daddies that you are!!!

Until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Focus on what's important!


Tonight is a late post, I know - but it's also a very direct and to the point post as well.  So, read that as many times as you all need to until it fully sinks in and never ever forget it!!!  And until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Friday, June 19, 2015

It's time to live!

Happy Friday morning my Happy clan!  I hope you all had a fabulous day yesterday!  As you may have guessed, it was a long day yesterday, and by the time I sat down to write your Happy I was falling asleep ... So you'll get it this morning instead!

This morning's Happy is to remind you all to get out and live life!  After all, Ferris Bueller said it best, "Life moves pretty fast.  If you don't look around once in awhile you could miss it!"  And he's so right!!  So, here's a couple more quotes to help remind you to live!!



Now go out there and live your life - and enjoy every precious moment you get!!  And until later, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Dance like no one's watching...

Howdy my Happy clan and a very Happy Hump Day to all of you!!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful day so far!  It's another rainy day here in Chicago, but that's okay.  It needs to rain today so that it will be nice and sunny for the Blackhawks Celebration Parade tomorrow :)  I have to work so I can't go, but I know quite a few people who will be there so I'm really hoping for a nice day for everyone tomorrow.  But, first let's make sure we all have a great day today :)

So, it's Wednesday and you all should know what that means by now... It's #wackytaskwednesday ... Yep, I've finally decided on a name for our Wednesday silliness (and I'm giving it it's very own hashtag as well - yay!).  Now, before we are given our new weekly task, I want to see how everyone did with last week's.  How many of you BANGARANGED when ever something awesome happened last week?  I know I was yelling Bangarang quite a bit ;)  I'm curious how many strange looks everyone else got as well...  I got quite a few but it always turned into a giant smile and sometimes even a laugh.  People may have looked at me like I was a weirdo but in the end it made people (including myself) smile and happy so that's all that matters, right?!?!

But it is a new week so it's time for us to add a new wacky task to our daily routine.  Of course, continue yelling out BANGARANG when you feel the need and definitely keep on fist bumping like Baymax too!  And, as of today, you now need to add a little dance to your step... Yep!  Our wacky task this week is to dance!  When ever you hear a song you like, dance to it!  When a song pops in your head, dance to it!!  When someone starts singing a song ... DANCE!!!  Don't be afraid, don't be ashamed, don't be shy -- get up and dance!!!  I do it all the time, when I'm cleaning, when I'm walking the dog, when I'm working... I don't care.  And you know what, it feels so great!  So, that's your weekly wacky Wednesday task.  And to get everyone in the mood, I have a couple videos to share with you of some of our favorite movie and tv characters dancing their hearts out.  Both videos are accompanied with the song "Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon.  Personally, I could listen to this song all day long if it didn't drive everyone else around me crazy...  But, let's enjoy the entertainment world getting up and boogying down!



After watching those, don't you just want to get up and dance the day away?  I know I do!  So, I'm going to start working on some more of my chores and ... you guessed it, dance while I get stuff done!  I hope you all will take this task on this week and invite anyone else to join in on the fun!!  And until later, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Find a reason to smile

Well hello my Happy clan!  Happy Tuesday to each and every one of you!!  Let me start off by saying Congratulations Chicago Blackhawks!!!!!!  WOOHOO for the 2015 Stanley Cup Champions!!!  What an absolutely incredible game that was and an even better outcome (well, for us Blackhawks fans...)

I hope you all had a wonderful day and are having a marvelous evening as well :)  My day was awesome - had a great morning and evening with my son, had lots of sweet moments & conversations with my Matty and had a super dee duper day at work today!!  Sure, there were situations throughout the day that tried to sour my mood, but sorry clouds of doom, you will not take my sunshine away from me!  I have chosen to be happy and positive and I stand by my choice... Always!!

It is hard to do sometimes, I will admit that.  Honestly, sometimes it's damn near impossible.  But there is always something that can make you smile.  Whether it's a movie, a song, a letter from a family/friend, a call to a family/friend, a hug, a prayer, a nap, a cuddle with your pet, a bath/shower, a walk, a run, a video game session, a jam session or how about just a silly little video.  I know there are so many more things out there that can make us smile, but I'm going to stop at the silly little video idea...

There are so many silly videos out there today, and the majority of them seem to be animal videos.  I am definitely one of the millions of people who watch these videos and I'm hoping today you will join me by watching the video I have chosen for your Happy today!  It's literally just a bunch of different animals but with voices added to them.  I've seen this video many, many, MANY times and I still laugh every time I watch it!  Now, sit back and enjoy some funny animals talking :)


HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!  I just love this video!  I hope you all did as well and I hope, even more so, that you are heading off to bed or waking up or continuing on with your day with a giant smile on your face!!  I am going to be heading to bed with a smile on my face and will be waking up with one as well!  Until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Monday, June 15, 2015

Monday Morning Merries!

Good Morning my Happy clan and a very happy Monday to all of you!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  I had a lot going on but it was a very nice weekend indeed :)  Especially the parts where I got to hang with my family!  I love the little things in life that mean so very much...

Life is filled with so many little moments and happenings that are meant to bring happiness into our lives.  These merry moments come around so often but most of the time we're too busy focusing on the wrong things we miss them.  So, that's why today's morning Happy is just going to be a mass of merries that make each moment in life meaningful...

  • Being thankful
  • Giving a hug
  • Getting a hug
  • Smiling
  • Sleeping in
  • Listening to soothing music
  • Jamming out to rock music
  • Exercising
  • Waking up early
  • Doing something for someone without expecting something in return
  • Hanging with friends and family
  • Watching a favorite movie
  • Laying out under the stars
  • Bonfires
  • Loving others
  • LOVING YOURSELF!!!!!
Now, I want you to join in and share some moments that make your life merry!  Just post them in the comments section below - and don't be shy!  Sharing your happy moments may just make more people merrier!!  And until later, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Making mistakes can be a good thing!

Howdy my Happy clan!  I want to start off by apologizing for not posting yesterday.  I had a very long and busy day of doing stuff with my guys.  Then we ended up at one of my sister's house where a couple other of my sibs showed up and we played Cards Against Humanity, which is an incredibly hilariously fun game!!  By the time we got home I was so pooped and I had to work today so I laid down and was literally asleep within 5 minutes.  I had planned on posting last night, but I mistakenly fell asleep... So, I'm sorry!!!

Then, that gave me an idea... Why not use this for our Happy!  Since we are all human and we all make mistakes, why not show how these mistakes we make are positive life lessons, or in other words they are happies!  So, I found some simple statements to reiterate the point even further:







Mistakes are positive moments in life, you just have to remember to learn and move on from them!  So, until next time, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Friday, June 12, 2015

Sing in the rain!!

Good Morning my Happy clan and a very Happy Friday to all of you!  I hope everyone slept well last night and are having a beautiful morning so far!  It's quite rainy here in the burbs of Chicago but that just means it's going to be a wet happy day ;)

I just love it when it rains!!  It's so refreshing and it makes outside smell so Springtimey!!  Now, I prefer rainy days when I can stay in bed snuggling with my guys, but that doesn't happen very often so I enjoy rainy days however they may come.  For instance, today Matty had to go to work but I don't work until later in the day, so until I have to get up and get ready, I am going to snuggle with Johnny while watching a movie.  Then, I'm going to head to work and bring sunshine to my guests days since the sun is hiding behind the clouds today.  Sounds like a good day of happiness to me!

Since I love rainy days so much, I thought for our Happy today I would share some songs with you that are all about rainy days.  These rainy day songs will make you feel all happy and good inside :)

We'll start off with one of my favorite rain songs from one of my favorite movies (both are titled the exact same thing, too!).
Singing in the Rain



Rain song #2 is another one of my favorites.  This used to be one of my Johnny's favorites as well, I used to love listening to him sing it when he was only 3-4 years old.  I wonder if I could talk him into relearning it and singing it for me again...  Anyways, here's your next rain song!
Behind the Clouds

The third song is one of my all time favorite JoDee Messina songs that I sing whether I'm in a good mood or bad mood - but usually it's my go to song when things are going rough in my life.  It always makes me feel so much stronger and reminds me no matter what happens, I will make it through!!
Bring on the Rain



Our next number is a love song by Tim McGraw.  No matter what, when I hear this song I always tear up a little.  Matty used to sing this to me all the time and still will periodically.  It's such an awesome love song!
She's My Kind of Rain



And I'm going to end with one of my favorite CCR songs.  I love Credence and think this will probably be the first song I record of theirs when I finally get the courage to.  But, until then, I'll just continue enjoying their recordings :)
Have You Ever Seen the Rain



So there's a good list of Happy rain songs for you all to enjoy on your rainy, cloudy or even sunny days!!!  Just enjoy them, I don't care when.  I wish you all a very sunshiny day ... Remember, even when it's cloudy, the sun is still there!  Have a great day and until later, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Thursday, June 11, 2015

A goodnight message...


So it's a quick and to the point Happy tonight.  I'm pretty tired and ready to fall asleep but wanted to send us all off to sleep with a message for while you sleep and when you wake up next!  And until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love & Happiness!
Karen :)

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Be Happily Silly!

Hey there my Happy clan!  It's Hump Day - so you all know what that means... It's silly task day!!!  Yay!!!  I am really starting to love Wednesdays :)

First off - how many of you completed your silly task from last week?  I hope everyone Baymax Fist Bumped at least one person last week...  I lost count after 10 people (there were well over 10 though).  And I don't know about you guys, but I plan on fist bumping like that forever now!!

But now it's time for your new weekly silly task.  This week, I want you all to take a tip from Peter Pan and the Lost Bous and whenever anything good happens I want you to yell out BANGARANG!!!  Yeppers, it's Bangarang week!!!  And it's really that simple, just instead of saying "Yay!" or "Awesome!" or even "So Cool..." say "Bangarang!" instead!

Now, go out there and have yourself a BANGARANG type day and until later, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Keep your eyes, mind and heart open... Always!

Good Morning my Happy clan!  How is everyone doing this beautiful Tuesday morning?  I'm feeling quite awesome!  Woke up to my Matty giving me a bunch of kisses goodbye as he was heading out to work (*swoon*), I witnessed an incredible sunrise with Matt as I walked him out (my sis said it was due to the Sun and Mars being aligned) and I'm currently writing a Happy for all of you as I'm happily hanging with my Johnny and Dukey (I love having days off with my boys!!)!  So, my day is off to a wonderful start :)

What makes today even better is that today I woke up with a feeling of relief... In fact, the past few days I've been feeling less and less stress on my shoulders.  I've also been noticing a lot of positive messages being sent my way and I know it's God giving me His strength in His own special way of reaching me!  We all get these messages sent to us, we just don't always notice them.  But, you can notice them - you just have to pay attention.  These messages are sent to us in all different forms: songs, pictures that remind you of specific, meaningful lyrics, a kind word from a friend, a smile from a stranger, an unexpected call from a friend and list goes on and on!

Today's Happy I want to share with you some of the special happy messages I've received in the past few days.  I guarantee they'll bring some positivity and happiness to your lives as well :)


  1. We'll start off with a song.  Now, I'm sure we've all heard this song - and I'm sure we've all heard it many times, however, I almost always tend to hear this song when I'm having a rough day and no matter what is going on, it always brings a smile to my face and hope to my heart!  And I hope that from now on, it does the same for you!!  The song is Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles.



  2. The next is a picture I was able to capture the other day while standing on my mom's back deck.  It was dusk and the sun was setting quite beautifully, but a cloud caught my eye.  It was a very small cloud but it was glowing almost brighter and more colorful than the rest of the sky.  And this cloud was in the shape of a heart!  Almost immediately I heard the voice of Littlefoot's Mother (from The Land Before Time)...
    "Let your heart guide you.  It whispers, so listen closely."

  3. This next one is actually something I just managed to notice, one that I probably wouldn't have normally seen but I somehow did.  It had been an extremely long day, things weren't going my way at all.  It seemed as if no matter how hard I tried nothing was working out properly.  I had decided that after work I was going home, giving my boys a kiss goodnight and going right to bed so that I could try again the next day.  As I was leaving work, I turned on my radio and it was the end of a commercial.  It was a gentleman finishing his sentence, and the ending of it simply said, "it gets better."   I looked up and immediately said a Thank You to God for that simple reminder, smiled and headed home with a much more upbeat feeling!
  4. And I'm going to end with another picture taken this morning.  In fact, I already mentioned the picture I'm about to share in my beginning paragraph.  It's a picture of the sunrise this morning.  As I was sitting outside staring - well, on and off so as not to burn my eyeballs ;) - at the sun, the song Red Rubber Ball popped in my head, but just one specific part kept repeating over and over again...

    And I think it's gonna be alright.  Yeah, the worst is over now!  The morning SUN is shining like a Red Rubber Ball!!!!!


So, there you have it - your morning and now early afternoon Happies!  Now, go enjoy your day and until later, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Monday, June 8, 2015

Have a groovy day!

Good morning my Happy clan and a very Happy Monday to you all!  Yes, I fell asleep nice and early last night but I got lots of sleep and I am feeling so groovy this morning!  So ready to take the day on in full swing.  I love when I'm feeling this pumped and ready to go so early in the morning.  I always (well, pretty much always) wake up in a happy mood but lately I've been more than just happy :)

Life's been quite tough for us the past year or so and now that we're getting things back on track and taking back control of the situation I feel so much lighter on my toes.  I just feel so very groovy baby ;)  It's such a great feeling though.  And it's so funny because the moment I stopped freaking out about how we were going to "get out of the hole we had fallen into" that's when things started getting better.  It's quite ironic how things are so hectic and crazy when you're trying your hardest to get everything in order, but once you take a step back and relax for a minute that's when everything starts falling in place.

You see, life is crazy and hectic enough on it's own.  We all need to start enjoying life more and helping others enjoy life too.  The new popular phrase is YOLO - You Only Live Once.  Well, that's wrong... You live every single day you wake up, so go out there and start living!!  Slow down and enjoy what's important, when you work - work to live, don't live to work, and remember to love your life because life is groovy!!

This morning's Happy is a song called "Feeling Groovy".  The version I'm sharing is by Harper's Bizarre, but this was also recorded and made famous by Simon and Garfunkel.  The lyrics are below as well :)


Feelin' Groovy
Slow down you move too fast
You've got to make the morning last,
Just skippin' down the cobble stones,
Lookin' for fun and feelin' groovy (feelin' groovy)

Ba da Da da da da, feelin' groovy
Ba da Da da da da, feelin' groovy

Hello lamp post what's ya knowin'
I've come to watch your flowers growin'
Ain't ya got no rhymes for me?
Do da do do do feelin' groovy (feelin' groovy)

Ba da Da da da da, feelin' groovy (feelin' groovy)
Ba da Da da da da, feelin' groovy (feelin' groovy)

I Got no deeds to do
No promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morning time drop all it's petals on me
Life is lovin', all is groovy...

Ba da Da da da da Ba da Da da da da
Ba da Da da da da Ba da Da da da da

Slow down you move too fast
You've got to make the morning last,
Skippin' down the cobble stones,
Lookin' for fun and feelin' groovy (feelin' groovy)

Ba da Da da da da, feelin' groovy
Ba da Da da da da, feelin' groovy


How many of you were swaying along with that as you were listening?  I always do!  Now, go have yourself a very groovy day and try and make other peoples' days groovy too!  Until later, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Sunday, June 7, 2015

I'll show you mine - now show me yours!

Hi my Happy clan!  Happy Sunday!!  It's a very rainy day here but I'm pumped and ready for a great day at work!!

Yes, I am aware I missed your Happies the last couple of days so I'm going to make that up to you today :)

We're going to start off with a simple smile from me to all of you... And if love for you all to share your smile with me - and with everyone else you meet today!!! I will be showing mine to everyone too ;) But, I'll start with all of you first:


Now go have a fabulous day and spread that sunshine with your smile!!  Until later, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love & Happiness!
Karen :)

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Happiness lies ahead!

Good evening my Happy clan!  I hope you all are having a great night.  I had an incredibly long day and a very busy one at that, but I had a really nice day.  However, I am ready to fall asleep so I am going to give you a quick and simple Happy for tonight.  Just a couple simple messages on seeing the happiness that is right ahead of you!



Now I want you all to go to sleep happy and have the sweetest of dreams and a wonderful night's rest and until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Life lessons for the young and old...

Happy Wednesday evening my Happy clan!  How was everyone's day?  Were you able to "Baymax Fist Bump" anyone today?  I got a few people to fist bump me and I can't wait to fist bump with more people tomorrow!!  I just love when something that makes me happy makes others happy too :)

Tonight I wanted to give you all a Happy to end your day on, or for some of you - to start your day with tomorrow.  I was thinking of things from my childhood that always made me smile or giggle and reading Shel Silverstein poems still makes me smile and giggle.  Then I started thinking about all the lessons I learned by reading his poems and I thought, what a great idea for a Happy!  So, for tonight's Happy - you are going to be getting 13 life lessons found within the poems of the great Shel Silverstein:

“Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”

“Do a loony-goony dance ‘cross the kitchen floor. Put something silly in the world that ain’t been there before.”

“There is a voice inside of you, that whispers all day long, I feel this is right for me, I know that this is wrong.”

“There are no happy endings. Endings are the saddest part. So just give me a happy middle and a very happy start.”

“If you’re a bird, be an early bird. But if you’re a worm, sleep late.”

“If there is a book you want to read but isn`t written yet, write it.” 

“If the track is tough and the hill is rough, *thinking* you can just ain’t enough!”

“And all the colors I am inside have not been invented yet.”

“Talked my head off 
Worked my tail off 
Cried my eyes out 
Walked my feet off 
Sang my heart out 
So you see, 
There’s really not much left of me.”

“Just ’cause somethin’ ain’t been done Don’t mean it can’t be did.”

“But all the magic I have known I’ve had to make myself.”

“Many leaves one tree.”

“How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live ‘em.”

Now, I want you to take these lessons and live by them every day - not just when you read this post.  But, I know it's late and time for bed so goodnight and sweet dreams to all of you!!  Until tomorrow, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Silliness Spreads Smiles!

Good Morning my Happy clan and a very Happy Hump Day to you all!!  How is everyone's morning starting off so far?  I hope well!  Even though today is the first day of summer break for Johnny (and he slept over at his cousins) I was up at 6:30am.  I was pretty tired when I first rolled out of bed, but stepping outside to take in the beautiful day that's ahead of me perked me right up!

I keep thinking how quiet it is in the mornings without my Johnny to goof around with.  It makes for such a fun day!  One of my favorite parts of my day was taking Johnny to school.  Sometimes we'd jam out to some fun music, other times we'd tell jokes and riddles to each other, other times we'd have serious conversations about all different life topics... but it would always end with some silliness and a kiss goodbye as he jumped out of the car and headed into school.  That kid really is just so silly, I just love it!!

We need more silliness in this world, don't you all agree?  What a lovely sound it would be to just hear people giggling and laughing all day long!  Sometimes, all it takes is something simple.  Yep, a simple silly is all we need to do... I have decided that once a week I am going to give you all a silly task - to bring not only a smile to your face but to those around you!  After all, what good is having happiness and love in your heart if you aren't going to share it... Since Wednesday has already been deemed the silly day of the week (just ask the camel) you will be getting your silly tasks each Wednesday ;)

Your very first silly task is something I do all the time - and every time I do it people who are around giggle.  Whether they understand it or not, they giggle.  I want you all to try and "Baymax Fist Bump" as many people as you can this week (and for however long you'd like to continue on with it).  What is a "Baymax Fist Bump" some of you may ask.  Well, let me show you...


So, now that you all are fully educated - go out and be silly!  Make people smile because of your silliness, who knows... maybe they'll turn around and be silly for someone else!!!  Until later, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)

Monday, June 1, 2015

Wishing you sweet happy positive dreams...

Good Evening my Happy clan!  I hope you all had a wonderful Monday!  I had a really nice day - really busy but really nice.  However, I am so incredibly tired and extremely ready for bed so tonight is going to be a quick Happy for all of you.  I have a few simple messages for this evening for us all to fall asleep with...




Goodnight and sweet dreams to all of you!  I can't wait for all the happiness in store for us tomorrow!!  Until then, keep smiling and spreading that love!!

Peace, Love and Happiness!
Karen :)