Ten ways to make me happy

In an effort to keep up with my blog while I'm getting back in the groove, I decided to start using some prompts from Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop. I've been reading them all over the blogosphere (yes, Blogger, that's a word) and have always been impressed with what bloggers come up with. So here it goes:

Kat asked us to write a list of 10 things that make us smile when we're unhappy. I'm a simple girl and simple things make me happy. I don't need to spend a lot of money or go to some elaborate lengths for a grin. Here is my list, least smiley to most smiley.

10. Dairy Queen. Specifically, their new Double Fudge Cookie Dough Blizzard. I ate so many of these during my pregnancy that it's no wonder my baby came out 8 lbs 10 oz. I know food doesn't equal happiness, but sometimes when you're in a crappy mood, nothing but chocolate can do the trick.

9. Shopping clearance sales. I'm not a shopper by nature. I can't just go into a store and browse and buy some regular priced merch. That's not for me nor my bank account. Clearance? That's another animal. I get such a charge from finding great deals and markdowns and it always lifts my spirits. Kohls is my favorite place to find clearance stuff. I'm proud to say almost my whole closet consists of clothing items that are $10 or less.

8. A nice, hot shower. There is something so calming about a hot shower, especially when you add in good smelling soaps and lotions after. Plus, tears just combine with the water. Good place for a cry.

7. Listening to country music. I know it can be hokey. I know it's not for everyone. But for some reason, it always makes me grin -- especially the songs about drinking, small down life and having fun. It reminds me of a simpler time, when my girlfriends and I spent Thursday nights at the Wild Dawg Saloon, having a blast and line-dancing the night away.

6. Buying new makeup. But Amanda, this is buying something. YOU ARE A LIAR. Well, this is different. I love shopping online for makeup from a store called Eyes Lips Face. Almost all their stuff is $1 or less. Not only is it good quality and a good value, but it makes me feel pretty and that's important when you can't find the time for mascara anymore.

5. Running. Lord, it's been a long time since I had a good, long run. In fact, it's been since before we bought our house, a year and a half ago. I always loved getting on the treadmill and running my anxieties out, and being a new Mom, I'm full of anxieties. I got a treadmill for Christmas and I'm ready to get running again. My goal is to be able to run a 5k before the Breast Cancer runs start in October. That gives me 9 months to get in shape.

4. Dinner out. Which is interesting because usually cooking dinner in is what gives me the sads in the first place. There's something about having someone else cook, serve me and clean up that gets me grinning.

3. TV. Like, pretty much any kind of mindless television. Reality TV (obs), sitcoms, old sitcoms (I'm looking your direction Golden Girls marathon on WE), E! Television, shows about bringing babies home, the list goes on and on.

2. My husband. He has an uncanny ability to make me laugh no matter how sad or angry I am. It's helped him avoid a plethora of arguments over the years and has also kept me sane. He knows exactly what to say to take me from tears to laughter, and he's one of the funniest people I know. His humor is so silly and unexpected that you can't help but smile.

1. My son. His smile makes me smile, his cry makes me smile (well -- you know...) his sweet, breathy coos make me smile.

The one where I change lives -- No, really

My first guest this week is Jennifer. She is going to tell you all about how we met and then how I'm pretty much the person who keeps her out of trouble, man wise. She's great, so please stop by her blog and check it out when you're done!

I'm Jennifer from over at Crazy Shenanigans. If you've never been over to my little dog and pony show then you may not know what to expect from me. Basically, I'm a 25 year old woman, who's working and living through one crazy adventure at a time. I usually have at least one crazy, random thing going on in my life all the time but I wouldn't have it any other way. However, over the last year of my life I've tried to let less crazy in and harness the crazy that can't escape. SO sit back and enjoy this ride! 

When Amanda asked me to do a guest post, I think I jumped (literally) with joy! I knew exactly what I wanted to talk about and of course it involves Amanda. Amanda and I have actually known each other for many years going back to our college days at Marshall University. We were in the same sorority Phi Mu but we had pledged at different times. My first year was actually the year she was basically done with chapter activities. I'd say during my college career that I saw her maybe... a handful of times. We actually didn't get to really know each other until she joined the blogging world AND I'm very glad that she did. 

Amanda is now known in my life as my personal LIFE COACH. 

Don't know what a life coach is? A life coach is someone who-

 "deals with relatively healthy people who want to improve their lives in specific ways, such as changing careers, finding a healthy relationship, taking their business to a new level, losing weight or deepening their self-understanding, for example. They deal with stress management as well as time management, goal setting and other key areas of change to help their clients lead more balanced lives that better reflect clients’ personal values and priorities." (about.com)

Now, does Amanda have a degree in psychology or another one of those other fancy mind reading degrees? No, but in my opinion she's given me better advice than anyone you could pay money to go see. Here's a few prime examples.

In my dating life I tend to date people who well...how do I say this without sounding bad... suck at life. I'm a smart girl but when it comes to guys, I tend to go for those break your heart, love'em and leave'em bad boys. Enter, the LIFE COACH! 

Example 1: 

Let me set the scene for you. Late at night, home alone on a Friday night. Just got done watching a movie along the lines of Bridget Jones (heck it could have even been Bridget Jones) in pajama pants eating crackers. 

Me: "Hmmm....maybe I should call _____ and see how he's doing. I wonder what he's doing? Wait... I need advice. I wonder what Amanda would say about this." Sends her a text. 

Amanda: "Don't do it! Nothing good can come from it!

Me: Bullet dodged. 

Example 2:

Me: So you think it's a good idea to go back out on a date with someone that told me that he doesn't even like me as a human being. 

Amanda: NO

Me: Thanks for talking me down off that crazy ledge! lol

See? I could keep going on but clearly you get the idea. Amanda is a good life coach. She's helped me dodge a bullet on more than one occasion. I'm now a firm believer that everyone needs a life coach for at least one area in their life. For me it's been my love life. Sometimes I can be too forgiving. Sometimes I can think I'm making a good decision, when in reality it's a very, verybad decision. Having Amanda there, is like having that little character pop up on your shoulder as in the cartoons, to tell you what you should and shouldn't do. About 99.9% she's absolutely right! 

So the next time you find yourself in a situation that you don't know how to get out of or don't know the right thing to do? Find yourself a life coach. If you haven't got a friend out there to be your life coach, start looking. I'd say you could have mine, but she's just too valuable! You rock, Amanda! I'm so glad that we are friends! 

Ditto and back atcha, girl! Go visit Jennifer, you guys!

It's my BFF's birthday and this is her present

Today is my friend Jody's birthday. Last year was her 30th and I sent her a variety of awesome things from our specialty item closet, which is the most amazing thing on this earth. This year she will get the funniest card I can get my hands on and this blog.

She's one of my oldest friends and one of the first best friends I made in college.

Our friendship started a little bit out of obligation. She was president of the sorority I was thinking about pledging. Actually, it was what we called an "open bid party", where girls were invited to just "hang out with the sisters" and then we tricked them into signing bid cards and took their money in exchange for a t-shirt. So I was tricked into going to one of these parties at her apartment. We watched  the Video Music Awards and ate pizza.

For those who don't know, I was super duper cool and loved NSYNC pretty much more than anything ever. She felt similarly about Justin Timberlake as I did about the entire group. That's how we bonded.

Between undergrad and grad school, Jody taught English in China for eight months. China is twelve or so hours behind the Eastern Time Zone and we'd chat after she woke up and before I headed out for the night (right around nine), when I got in for the night and between her afternoon classes (right around 3 am our time) and when she was burning the midnight oil and I was probably just getting up (noon-ish). Those were good times. And you guys? This was even before Skype and Facebook and texting. We're talking an old school friendship that was still awesome.

A few months later, we started grad school together. She lived in the most precious little house on the planet. The back room was what we called the bat cave because of the dark curtains and the fact that it was, like, practically underground. Good conversations were had, papers were graded, TV shows were watched and McDonalds premium chicken nuggets with hot sauce were washed down with Bud Light. The bat cave was my favorite memory from college.

She loves to give me little nuggets of advice that are pretty much life changing. Because she's older (just barely) and wiser. Here's a sample:

• If you don't have pockets and you put your tampon in your waistline just to get to the bathroom without people seeing, remember you've done so and don't just randomly pull it out while walking, for you might run into a male student or colleague and then you're holding a tampon. It's uncomfortable.
• Dark blue nail polish stains are awful. When you try to take it off, it looks like your hands are attached to a dead body.
• Don't eat Shake & Steak and then go for a run.

We also have legendary conversations on the DAILY on AIM. A couple dooseys:

Jody: I just found 1 forint. 
Jody:  that's Hungarian currency.
Jody: Found it in the floor.
Jody: It is mine!
Jody: It is worth .0775 cents USD.
Manny: Ok, moneybags.
Manny: With your.0775 cents.
Jody: Yeah, I know!


Jody: I am going into a 12-5 meeting.
Jody: How do you like them apples?
Me: Oh I hate those apples!
Me: HATE THEM!
Jody: Sour apples.
Jody:Wormy apples.
Me: Rotten apples!
Jody: Ok i'm going
Me: Just go...don't make me more sad.
Jody: Broken and sodden.

So basically, Jody is awesome and an extremely kind-hearted, caring, freaking hilarious, great friend and I'm so lucky to have her as a BFF, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY JP!