#100HappyDays Wrap-Up

So I finished my #100HappyDays challenge on Saturday. Their website talks about all the benefits of doing this challenge. You are supposed to feel happier and be more content. Guess what? It worked. Challenging yourself to find at least one little thing that made you happy that day makes you really realize all the great stuff you have in your life. Sure, there were tough days, and I felt like there wasn't that much making me happy. But all I had to do was look at my dog and my husband. My family always makes me happy.
A friend of mine commented on my pictures and told me she specifically liked them because some of them were just the most mundane things. It really makes you realize that you don't need diamond earrings to be happy. Getting a coffee, cuddling your dog, watching a good movie, spending time crafting, and remembering why your job is so rewarding. These are all little things that add up to one big thing: making life worth living!
It's great realizing how much good stuff you have in life.

There is good in every day!

Because of this I have decided to continue on for another 100 days. I want to remember all the good things that happened every day. However I have decided to revert back to just posting this on instagram and facebook and not blog about it. I think that feeling like I have to write about it and falling behind on the posts takes away from it being so easy to maintain by just posting a quick picture. I may change my mind again, but for now I like that simplicity.
If you're interested in my further journey feel free to follow me along on instagram, my handle is @mrsbellahouser and I hope you'll be inspired to try it out. I couldn't recommend this challenge any more!

#Day100

November 8th

#Day100 celebrating good news.

My friend had some news, and I got into the NADSP program at work, so we celebrated with some sparkling apple cider and my Pork Fried Rice. Charlie celebrated with us, but was the one taking the picture. 
Yes, I completed the #100happydays challenge!

#Day99

November 7th

#Day99 Getting to go bowling for work. Had a fun time!

 I had the opportunity to support someone I don't rarely work with and take him bowling for his birthday. It was lovely to see how well known some of our people are in the community. People stopped by to give him a gift and brought cupcakes. I have also discovered, that three games it too many for me to bowl. My wrist and hand were so sore afterwards.

#Day98

November 6th

#Day98 I got into the NADSP Credentialing program at work. Got the call today. I'm very excited!

This is a really big deal for me. My work is piloting a program to get national accreditation for direct support staff such as myself. We have over 800 employees and there were only 25 spots offered. There was a really long application, at least 5 peer references were needed, your supervisors recommendation, and your longevity at the company were taken into consideration. Then there was also a two hour long group interview. It was all really intense. I feel so honored to have been chosen. I was then informed, that I was the only staff from my department that got into the program. We will have our kick off meeting next Monday. I can't wait to see what will happen.

#Day97

November 5th

#Day97 I got to go visit @guatymelon at work, get my skin tone matched and try a red lipstick. What do you think of the color? #lancome #macys

I got an extra break inbetween and went to go see my friend Meyggy's roommate who works for Lancome at Macy's in Salem. She checked my skin tone and matched me with a foundation. She also helped me find this fab red lipstick. I wish I had the extra funds to grab it. Maybe in December. This would also make a fabulous Christmas gift. Hint, hint. ;)

#Day96

November 4th

#Day96 Coffee to get me through a long day at work. Way too obsessed with my coffee sleeve!

Obviously I've written about this before. I love these sleeves sooooo much! Crazy crazy pants! Hopefully this weekend I'll finally write up a post about it. Absolutely loving the holiday season coffees at Starbucks too! Caramel brulee with white chocolate added. Such decadence! I am choosing to not inform myself on the calorie count!

#Day95

November 3rd

#Day95 after a stressful day getting into the kitchen and cooking was therapeutic.

Often after I get off work I'm too tired to cook. Now I'm realizing more and more, that coming home and getting in the routine of cooking can be quite therapeutic too. I will be posting the recipe for the meatloaf and the baked potato wedges. Charlie made the cucumber salad. He makes the best cucumber salad! We are always asked to bring the salad.

#Day94

November 2nd

#Day94 Had a new experience today that I personally found very valuable.

Today I was honored to be asked to aid in facilitating a death cafe hosted by one of my former professors.  It was something I had never experienced before. I frankly found it fascinating. I wrote about the event and my revelations in more detail on my blog here.

#Day93

November 1st

#Day93 It's limoncello making time! Special for @houserbrenda and her hubby. :)

I got started on making the limoncello that my brother-in-law and his wife love. I've made it before and they've loved it. So I've started a batch to be done in time for Clint's birthday, or Christmas. I've started a blog post on it, but am not posting it until I have finished the limoncello so I can post the complete process. Here is the original site I got the recipe and instructions from. The author is super helpful and answers comments really fast. Limoncello, or as the author calls it: Sunshine in a Bottle

#Day92

October 31st

#Day92 watching Halloween movies with friends.

I had my most low key Halloween ever.  Charlie and I did kind of dress up a little bit, and then we went to hang out at our friend Kyle's place. We ate pizza, had a few drinks and watched The Man with the Iron Mask as I'd never seen it before. Ryan, Megan, and the Gage's came over later on and we had a purse contents contest. Haha, we impressed the boys with how much stuff we all carry with ourselves on a daily basis.

#Day91

October 30th

#Day91 Bacon Carbonara is like Mac and Cheese on steroids for adults.

I love Pasta Carbonara. It is one of my comfort foods. I've been asked to share the recipe/make a walk through of it, which I will do next time I make it. I love mac and cheese, and this is really like mac and cheese with bacon. How could this not be better?

#Day90

October 29th

#Day90 working on more coffee cup sleeves. I loved using mine today. Still super excited about them!

I've been making a ton of these coffee sleeves and am way too enamored by them! I have given some away, and am also making a whole bunch more. It's like an addiction! I have to have a coffee sleeve for every conceivable occasion!

#Day89

October 28th

#Day89 Hanging out with friends at the pub. 

On a whim our friend invited us to go hang out at the pub. He paid us back some cash I had spotted him and we got to have dinner together. We had a nice evening talking about a lot of random stuff with him and another friend. Nice to get out of the house for something that wasn't work related. :)

#Day88

October 27th

#Day88 Got to make a Halloween wreath at work. :)

I love Halloween. I love crafts. I love not paying for them. I love getting paid to make crafts. I got all four in one day. How could this not be an amazing day? I supported a client at a free art class hosted by the art gallery of my work. The Prism Gallery in Salem Oregon. This is such an amazing opportunity for those we support, and really anyone as these classes are open to anyone who is interested. I'm proud to be part of such a fabulous organization!

#Day87

October 26th

#Day87 this stuff always helps me feel better when I'm having tummy trouble. 

Today felt like a wasted day. I wanted to do more sewing, but I spent the entire day on the couch out of commission with stomach cramps. It has not been a fun day. However this little drink always helps.

I'm glad I had a cooking post pre made, so I only had to hit publish. That helped. :)

#Day86

October 25th

#Day86 Scary movie night. 

We had a friend over to watch some halloweeny movies. I fell asleep part way through the second movie. Oops, but I made spaghetti and sewed a whole bunch more coffee sleeves. :)

#Day85

October 24th

#Day85

Yep, I didn't add a caption because I was still trying to be vague. These are the coffee sleeves before I added the buttons. I've been sewing a whole bunch of these and will add the buttons later, since I'm still waiting for more to arrive in the mail. 

#Day84

October 23rd

#Day84 Phase three playing with buttons!

I was trying to be vague with my #100HappyDays posts since the project I was working on was a gift for someone. I'm hoping it arrived Saturday, the latest it should be there tomorrow. So here goes: I've been making reusable reversible coffe sleeves. I hope my sister-in-law, Brenda, likes the one I made her. 

I also discovered that I'm not a huge fan of sewing on buttons, but I love the end result!

#Day83

October 22nd

#Day83 Making progress! Very excited!

I'm still working on my secret project. Tomorrow the final ingredient should arrive and I can work on finishing the project. Once it has safely arrived at its recipient, I will show you all what I've been making. I've forgotten how happy working with fabric and creating makes me. 

#Day82

#Day82 Playing with some fabric! Exciting!

I had the bright idea to do a quick sewing project as a gift. Weeell, it turned more into an eternity of rooting through my fabric closet, not finding half the stuff I need, and then realizing I couldn't do it all tonight. However I'm hoping to be able to finish it on Thursday and mail it out. If it turns out well, I'll be making a bunch more and I'll make a post about it too. I spent some time prepping a couple of them so I can work on it later.