Weekend Update

It is MONDAY and I am not even sure where the weekend went because it was jam packed with SO MANY THINGS.

After work on Friday, I went to my parent's house in Northeast Arkansas. It's not a terrible drive from Little Rock, so it goes by pretty quickly. I still get my hair highlighted by the same woman since I moved back from Atlanta 8 years ago. My parent's cooked dinner Friday night and then my mom and I went shopping at the local Dollar General.

Saturday morning I sat in a chair for almost three hours getting highlights, no photos because that's not that interesting. By Saturday afternoon I was back in Little Rock because we were doing a Facebook live event at 3 pm with bees.

This is right after we did a 20-minute Facebook live about bees.

Here's a fun fact: If you have a swarm of bees at your house that just means that they are looking for a new home. If you do not want your home to be their next home, call your local county cooperative and they will come retrieve the hive for you and take them to someone who has a home for them.

The only reason I am not freaking out about holding these bees is: 

1. The protective jacket and hood. 

2. They have been given sugar water so they are HAPPY. 

Saturday night I had free tickets to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers and it was SUCH a good show! I always liked their song, but honestly didn't consider myself a huge fan, but after this show, I appreciate them so much more. We also had AMAZING free seats!

Now. If you remember back a few weeks ago where I got a $1,200 estimate to clean up my backyard I got another quote a week later for $125. So, obviously, I went with that one. The guys came on Sunday and you can see the difference.

Here are a few before photos...









AND THE AFTER: 







There is still a bit of work to do to make it pretty, but we are slowly getting there! 

How was your weekend?

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How To Be Happy

There's a quote in the world that says something along the lines of, "If you want to be happy, then be happy." As easy as that sounds, some days feeling 'happy' is a little harder than others. In 2010 I started this blog to find myself after a horrendous breakup, sudden move to Arkansas, and total loss of knowing who I was anymore. It's as dramatic as it sounds. 

One afternoon I sat outside on my parent's patio and talked with my mom about what I would name a blog. The only two words to describe my life at the time were Southern and Blonde, hence the name. Writing has always been an outlet for me so I thought why not find myself again in a way that was creative, and self-motivating. Never in a million years did I think I would still be blogging six years later (even if I did take a year break). 

Long story to say that this blog has made me happy throughout the years. However, lately, I haven't been 'feeling' happy.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing in life to be sad about. I also know that this is not a depression situation (though if it was I would also be sharing that journey). The only word I can find to describe my mood lately is with the word, sluggish.  The things that once brought happiness and joy are starting to feel like burdens. 

Cooking use to be one of my favorite hobbies and in the past few months, I've cooked maybe a handful of times. For a while playing tennis was a challenge and fun, but after I couldn't find anyone to practice with I just let it go. Education has always been an important part of my life because I love hands-on learning but once I finished my master's degree I didn't think about what would be next. Same with working out. Those people that love to workout and feel better after, yeah I was one of those annoying people for a few years. 

My point to all of this is that somewhere along the way I've stopped enjoying things that use to make me happy, and instead, I've let them feel like burdens. So what is one to do? I picked up the book, "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. This book isn't new, it came out back in 2013 and it's a little self-indulgent. Neither I, nor the author, have anything in our lives to complain about, but we have both lost the ability to have fun, enjoy what we have, and focus on the good. 

So far from the book I'm working on a Happy Action Plan - a personal timeline to keep me accountable in working towards feeling happy again, and letting go of the sluggish feelings. 

1. Find one new thing to try to cook for the month of August (I actually think I want to learn how to make homemade bread.) 
2. I started weekly Spanish lessons in May but it's time I take more time to practice throughout the week. 
3. Blogging is fun for me - and even if it's on my mom and my cousin who read it, it is still something that I enjoy. 
4. Find a new workout that makes me want to go to the gym/find a tennis partner to play with. 

I'm going to start in August on focusing on those four things - they aren't difficult goals, they are activities that I know I enjoy I just need to re-focus on why these things provide happiness. 

Does anyone else feel sluggish, or bored from time to time? I'm halfway through the book and I think it's starting to give me ideas on how to find my personal happiness again. Only you can make yourself happy, and I have let myself become a little lazy. 

So as I work on my own happiness project on how to make myself happy again - I want to know, does anyone else ever feel, 'unhappy' at times for no apparent reason? What makes you happy? 

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