Happiness Challenge

Taza, writer of the lovely blog rockstar diaries began a series entitled "here's to happiness" in which readers and other bloggers send in lists of 10 things that make them terribly happy. My heart does a little dance every time I read one. So if you want to be happy right this minute, head over there and browse around. Better yet, write your own! Here's mine:

1. Being the first person awake.
2. The smell of Christmas trees.
3. Other people's birthdays.
4. Old musicals.
5. My dog and her wacky antics.
6. Berry picking.{or any fruit really}.
7. Watching my boyfriend's face as he tastes something I just baked.
8. Making plans.
9. Fairs and festivals.
10. Indian summer.

Photo by Lorelle Shea.

Hug Your Mothers

Dear Mom,

Thank you for dedicating your life to allowing me to have mine.

If I could be anyone in the whole world, I'd be you.

Sweet Potato Rounds

How Sweet is Chan Marshall (Cat Power) in this cooking video for the site Oh Audrey. I love how the two are a little silly with eachother, like old friends.


Oh and if you don't know who Cat Power is, your life is incomplete. Go buy her album The Greatest or just listen for her awesome cover of David Bowie's Space Oddity on the Lincoln car commercials.

It's Not as if New York City Burned Down to the Ground

ASofterWorld.Com


Now this blog is about the things I love and those that are dear to my heart, but sometimes we have to let those things go. Let's talk breakups. No, I'm not talking about a split from your sweetie but a breakup from something else that you love that is bringing you down. Running is one of my greatest pleasures (yes, some people may think that's crazy). In my opinion, there's nothing better than hitting the pavement and just taking off. But after averagine about 50 miles a week, I developed Plantar Fasciitis and had to take several months off, and now, after attempting to ease back in, I'm plagued by Shin Splints. So I have to wonder, is this the end of my love affair with running? Should I just deal, continue to dish out Doctor fees and possibly hurt myself more or is it about time I retire my sneaks and make better friends with the elliptical? Tell me, dear readers, have you ever suffered a bad "breakup"? Maybe you ended things with mac and cheese after your pants went up one too many sizes. Maybe those amazing, designer boots were just not worth the blisters you developed. How did you cope? Is there anything with which you wouldn't dream of breaking up, no matter the pain?