Some Simple Ways to Just Be Happy Today.

In the monotony of daily life, chasing after happiness can seem like an endless, really big project. And sometimes, it is. But sometimes it's simpler and more easily attained than we make it out to be. Sometimes no big changes need to be made, no big trips need to be taken. Sometimes you're just a few minutes away from happy. 
Some simple ways to find your happiness today. . .
Go for ice cream. There's a reason everyone loves going for ice cream when they're a kid...because it's a happy thing! No reason that should stop just because you're an adult now. 
Watch the sunset. Getting outside in any way helps put me in a good mood, but being outside and watching the sky wind down for the night in the most beautiful way, it's hard to not feel happy. 
Make your favorite kind of cup of coffee. Iced coffee or a cappuccino or a shot of espresso...make your favorite and then take a few minutes to just enjoy it. 
Watch your favorite movie. It's your favorite for a reason! 
Take a bubble bath. It's my personal belief that bubble baths can right most wrongs in life. 
Cook your favorite dinner. 
Or, order your favorite dinner instead. 
Go for a drive and listen to the music that makes you happy. Bonus points if you hit up Sonic while you're out.
Look through the pictures on your phone. I take so many pictures of Jack and Gatsby just on a whim or during a funny moment and then forget about them. Looking back at them always puts me in a good mood.
Plan a vacation. Even if it's not one you can take this year (or even next year), there's something inherently happy about vacation planning. Dream a little, look up the places you've always wanted to go, and start planning!
What are some easy ways you add happiness to your day?

8 Reasons to Just be Happy Today.

We live in a world where coffee exists. Amen & Amen.
As of this weekend, the sun hangs around a little longer. Which means that 1) SUMMER IS COMING and 2) You won't feel like it's time to go to bed at 6:30. Just kidding. You'll still be just as tired, but it will be light outside. 
You can buy almost anything on Amazon. Every single day Jack becomes more of his own person, which is both insanely fun to watch and insanely hard to handle when I'm trying to shop for a bunch of things. A few things I order on Amazon now: My favorite lipstick, cleaning supplies (because it's so much easier to order them than carrying all those to the car with a toddler in tow), sunglasses (I bought these and they make me feel 4,032 times cooler than I actually am), totally unnecessary pool accessories, the list goes on and on.
You can do anything, you can be anything. Watch this video and be reminded of what a privilege life is. If that doesn't motivate you to get up and take this day on, I don't know what will.  You have the ability to make someone's day. You can be an encourager or a secret gift giver or a compliment speaker or a kindness confetti thrower and that's just pretty cool.
You can watch every episode of This is Us online for free. Life is good. 
Sunshine. Here, at least! The sun is out and five minutes in it makes everything seem better.
Chances are, most of the things you don't like about your life are totally possible to change. And that's worth being happy over.  What's your reason to just be happy today?

Life is Far Too Short to Be Anything Other Than Deliriously Happy.

shirt Some of my favorite blog comments are when someone mentions my positivity. I'm an eternal optimist and always have been, but I still try really hard to make sure my life is a happy place. I think making an effort to be a positive person is something that can make your life exponentially better. Every now and then I'll get someone asking how or why I'm so positive, and ever so often I'll get an email saying my blog would feel a bit more authentic if I didn't include happiness in every post. 
I know I've talked a lot about Jack and being tired, but I really like writing about real life, and that's where we're at right now. Anyway, he had a rough morning a few days ago, waking up at 4:00 and just screaming and screaming no matter what. Chris was up with him for an hour before I tagged in, and as I sat in the dark with him in his nursery, I felt so tired and frustrated and a little bit helpless. When your babe who can't use words yet just screams and screams and you can't figure out what's wrong, it can push you right to the edge of crazy. 
But then, he slowly calmed down, and his little body collapsed against mine as I rocked him to sleep, and he let out this tiny, sweet little yawn and snuggled his head into my neck. And in a single moment, such pure, straight up happiness just overcame me. 
I thought it was the perfect metephor for the rest of life, too. Sometimes it's hard and can make you a little crazy, but underneath all of that, there's happiness. 
We get this one life..and it's filled with good and bad and heartbreak and love and ups and downs, but at the end of the day (or first thing in the morning), there is so much to be happy about. There is so much happiness. Pure, wonderful, delirious happiness. 
So to answer your questions about being positive: I think life is too short to not be happy. If you're alive right now, I guarantee you have reasons to be happy. Mine are named Jack and Chris. Mine are good books and sunshine and backyards and pumpkin creamer. Mine are too many to name. What are yours? 

Let's Just Be Happy Today.

We all have good day and bad days. To pretend that life is only good, that it is only light and easy and stunning and happy, well, that's just stupid. Because it's not. It's hard sometimes. We all have days that feel never-ending and days that feel more like a vacation. Life is a mixture of ups and downs. 

I think there's a chance in every day to be happy. Sometimes that comes easily, and sometimes we have to go hunting for it. But it's there, always. So today, I think you should be happy. 

Grab a large sweet tea from Chick-Fil-A and stroll the aisle of Target and be happy. 

Read a book outside in the sunshine and be happy. 

Call up an old friend and meet for lunch and be happy. 

Curl up with a cup of coffee and your favorite blanket and be happy. 

Watch a movie and have popcorn and wine for dinner and be happy. 

Because, after all, if you live in a world were there is sweet tea and Target and books and sunshine and old friends and coffee and blankets movies and popcorn and wine...how could you not be happy? 

Wishing you a day full of happiness, wherever you may find it.

Why I'm Happy to be Alive This Week.

1. This new blog design. Can we just talk about this for a second? I'm in love. It's perfect. I'm never going to stop looking at it. Sarah is an absolute genius.

2. Photo adventures with Megan.  She was supposed to do a winter-themed photo shoot for a magazine, so we drove around the sunshine state and made it look like it was winter.  So, so fun. So, so hot. I'm so thankful for adventurous friends!

3. Helene opened an Etsy shop...and it has Friday Night Lights Shirts in it. Okay, so it has Texas shirts in it. But I, along with everyone else who has watched fallen in love with FNL knows that Texas is not just a state, it's the home of Jason Street and Matt Saracen and Tami Taylor.

Now you can wear "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose" or "Texas Forever" all day long. Riggins would be proud.

4. Pumpkin carving is happening this weekend. I'm so excited!

5. It's Friday. I'm just going to leave you with this.

Happy Life Advice: Part Three

Part one here and part two here.

Wake up ten minutes earlier so you can enjoy a cup of coffee in bed.

Watch a sunrise or a sunset at least once a week. 

Every once in a while, buy yourself something totally impractical that you don't need whatsoever.

If you have stuff in your house you don't like or use, throw it away. 

Decorate your house for fall. If that's not really your thing, just drive yourself to hobby lobby, buy a scarecrow or pumpkin, and put it on your table. Instant happiness.

Have a premiere party for all the new fall shows. And by premiere party, I mean turn your phone off and sit down with a pumpkin coffee and a hoodie and binge watch the goodness that is fall television. 

Glitter nail polish. Enough said.

What's your favorite cocktail to get when you go out? Learn how to make it at home. 

Watch the first movie that pops up on your Netflix recommendations.

Sometimes, just make the decision that you're going to have a fun night. Even if you have to wake up early the next day, or even if you have ten dollars to last you the week. Just make yourself have fun, no matter what that looks like to you. 

When you're having a bad day, pour yourself a glass of champagne and turn on your favorite song and dance around the kitchen to the whole thing. Just try to still have a bad day after that. 

Decide that today is going to be a good day. Decide to be happy today.

What makes you happy? 

Happy to be Alive, Because: Dog Days & Fall Candles.

1. ^^That was the view I had while drinking my coffee yesterday morning. Not too shabby. 

2. This. Gatsby had a sleepover with his best friend, Goose, and they clearly had a lot to talk about. Gatsby thinks he weighs about 100 pounds, and Goose thinks he weighs about five. They make a good little team. 

3. This tweet:

It seriously made my day. Thanks, Jenna! 

4. It's been a really long few weeks.  Life has been really good, but I also feel like there's just been bad news after bad news after bad news. So this morning, I'm having an extra cup of coffee and spending extra time snuggling with this guy before I tackle my to-do list. It's the little things. 

5. Fall Candles are burning. My pumpkin decorations are going out today. And I may even squeeze in a trip to Hobby Lobby. Life is good in the fall, my friends. 

What made you happy to be alive this week?

Thankful Fridays: 2014 edition.

Thankful Fridays was one of my favorite parts about blogging last year.  I decided it was time to throw it back into the mix this year.  I highly recommend you join me, even if you don't blog about it.  Forcing yourself to find things you're thankful for or things that made you happy in your week, even if they're silly things, can really change your attitude.

1.  Pitch Perfect 2 is coming out.

If this is your first time hearing this, just go back to bed now.  Your day isn't going to get any better than this.

2.  Encouraging comments, emails & tweets.

Because having a ton of people who would be strangers to me if it were not for the internet telling me they're excited for me is such a weird, incredible gift.

3.  TFIOS trailer.

Be right back while I go cry for approximately 37 days while I remember how good this book was.  Also, that has over 6 MILLION views and only came out about two days ago.  Please, try to tell me that this generation doesn't like to read.

4.  Authors.

More specifically, authors who have the ability to string words together in a way that just makes you feel.  I'm looking at you, John Green.

5.  Gold paint pens.

Because yes.

P.S. Book update:  I'm halfway there!  I only need to sell 155 more things to meet my goal.  You guys are amazing. 

Check out this month's featured sponsor:

You Can Have Whatever You Like.

I was wondering when I would get to title a post with T.I. lyrics.  It looks like today is the day.

I've seen a lot of posts lately trying to define Christmas.  Trying to say what kind of Christmas you should or should not have.  Saying a commercialized Christmas is a big fat no and if you don't think so, you need to reevaluate your life.

Sometimes I can get lost in the place of perfect hair and sage wisdom also known as blogland.  And around a time like this, it can make me feel like I'm doing everything wrong.  Like I'm behind because I haven't baked any Christmas cookies yet.  Or that I'm missing out because we didn't send out a Christmas card this year.  Or I'm a bad person because I want to buy lots of presents.

And that's just not true.  It's not true about me, and it's not true about you.

This Christmas is your Christmas.  Do whatever makes you happy about Christmas.  If you feel like all the shopping and presents commercialize Christmas too much for you, then make your own gifts and focus on the non-commercial aspects.  If eating grilled cheese for a month so you can buy alllll the presents your heart desires for everyone you love is your jam, go for it.  Whatever makes Christmas mean the most to you and your husband//family//puppy//whoever you may live with, that is what you should do.  

Christmas comes once a year and it is much too short.  It's too short to not do what you love to do at Christmastime, and it's too short to waste your time sitting around judging others for how they spend their Christmas.

So get yourself a peppermint mocha and watch Elf and just be incredibly happy that it's Christmas.  Or, don't.  Do whatever makes you happy.  It's your Christmas. 

Check out this month's featured sponsor:

Exciting news and a Black Friday sale!

I hope everyone had an absolutely incredible Thanksgiving that included far too much food and being surrounded by those you love.

I am so thrilled to introduce my new website to you:  www.prettylovelylittles.com

Pretty Lovely Littles is a handmade shop of accessories, decorations, and anything else that I think will make you happy when you see it.  The third Monday of every month I will be adding a new product, so there will always be new things to look at!

And since this is a grand opening happening on Black Friday, that can only mean one thing:  sales. 

Because I really want you guys to be able to see what I've been working on, get ten dollars off of any purchase of 20 dollars or more with code: BLACKFRIDAY2013.  If that's not enough to entice you, tweet anything about the shop and use code TWITTERPATED to receive 15% off your total purchase--just paste the link to your tweet in the comment section or tag me: @chelsjacobs_


Happy Holidays!  Throw on some Christmas music and get to shopping!  With sales like this, you can afford to buy stocking stuffers for others and something cute for yourself!

Check out this month's featured sponsor:

If you don't like your life, change it.

via

"If you don't like your life, change it."

I know that can be a controversial statement.  I know there are some things in life that just can't be changed.  But I also know there are some that can.

Life is too short to be miserable.  And if you wake up every morning complaining and dreading the day, that's a pretty good preview of how your day is going to go.  While "don't complain" would be the easiest (and also maybe the hardest) step to take, take it a little bit further.  What is it that you're complaining about?  Whatever it is, change it. 

You're bored?  Do something.  Don't like your job?  If you can afford to take the plunge into finding a job you love, do it.  If not, change some other things.  If you don't like your job because you don't get to shine in an area you're good at, find another place in your life to shine in that area.  If you don't like your job because you don't get to be creative, be creative somewhere else.  Start an etsy shop.  It cost me a whopping six dollars to start my etsy shop, and it has provided a really great creative outlet in otherwise very uncreative day-to-day work.  If you don't get to interact with people as much as you'd like with your job, make an effort to do so outside of work.  Write letters.  Set up coffee dates.

Most of the things we complain about in life could be changed if we tried even just a little.  I have friends who complain about never getting to spend time with their family, yet the first thing they do when they get a break is catch up on instagram or meet up with their friends.

Everyone has free time, it's just sometimes hidden in the form of time spent on social media or those extra hours spent in bed.  It's there in your life, and how you spend it is completely up to you.  But if you're unhappy with your life, use that free time to do something about it.

If at the end of the day, you honestly feel like there is absolutely nothing you can change in your life, then you just have to find a way to be thankful for the things that are already there.  Being thankful is a huge step in the direction of being happy.

Be happy this week.

Set your mind on what is right.

{via}

Your thoughts control so much of your life.

What do you spend most of your time thinking about?  Good things?  Sad things?  Things you're worrying over?  Things that may go wrong?

Think about the good things.  Think about the happy things.  Don't waste time thinking and worrying about the things that don't matter, the things you have no control over.

Spend 24 hours making a conscious effort to think more about the good and less about the bad.  You'll be amazed at how much better your day seems.

Happy Wednesday!  Here's to happy thoughts. 

be happy.

Because life is too short to be unhappy. 

So go see a movie. 

Eat some cake. 

Say you're sorry if you need to. 

Walk outside with no shoes on. 

Tell someone you love them. 

If it makes you happy, don't wait.

Just do it. 

Happy July.