I saw this video last year, and it is the only thing I have been thinking about for this coming New Year's Eve.  I hope that you enjoy it half as much as I do.

Sometimes I am thankful for the weather, it will always remind you that you are in this world, living.  Whether you are outside shoveling the snow from a snow storm, or inside waiting for it to be over, storms always allow us to take a pause in our lives.  I love seeing people referring to these days as storm days.  It is true, they are, but do you recall when you first realized what a snow day was?  Was it not when you were in school and you were given a day off.  That is when I first recall the term, the lovely, lovely term.  So let's think back to what we did during this time, break from school, what did we do?

I know that when I was small, I was outside once the snow stopped.  Didn't matter when it stopped either; it always seemed light out even when it was dark.  Usually it was the moon reflecting off the snow, but the glow was wonderful and brilliant.  It always felt right and there was always this calming effect on the whole world.  The trees would glisten, the air would be crisp and your parents were always happy that you got to go out and enjoy the snow, and enjoy the snow we did.  Snowmen, snow angels and snow forts were just some of the construction projects that were erected around our neighbourhood.  The cool thing was always when your parents part took in the creation of your engineering feats; they became kids too.  I don't know why but your parents always knew exactly how to make it a little better.  It was awesome.

After hours of playing outside, my favourite reward was always the hot cup of cocoa (but you already know that ;o) ).

SO next time you hear on the news that there is this big storm, instead of feeling dreadful about the 'work,' be thankful for your true moment of pause.   Take that moment to enjoy the best things in life, love and family.

:o) Nor'Easter!!!  Bring it on...the cocoa is ready

Throughout time, there has always been reference to the light and the darkness.  Some people think that this is referring to their religious beliefs, miracles; others like the more literal meaning with reference to daylight and nighttime.  I like the use of light in everyday language.  We all have darkness, and we all have the light.  Our light will keep the darkness at bay if we continue to believe that we deserve good things in life.  

For me, Happydoesit.com, is a piece of light in my life.  I get to reach people in a forum that allows me to express myself, unfiltered, without the judgement that can happen when you have a conversation.  I am more able to tell my story, and express my philosophy,  in the best way that I can, through words.  Everything that I write on my website is who I am.  I have read blogs that I wrote last year, and I still believe in the words that I have written.  It is neat when you think about it.  How many people can say that?  How many people can say that they are able to be completely honest with themselves, so much so, that if they were in the future, the words that they said then, still applies.

Living my life in truth is the only way that I choose to live.  I am unable to hide behind what society expects of me; it is not who I am.  I live my life in the light, my light, and it is the thing that keeps me happy, healthy emotionally, and allows me to be the best person that I can be.  I always loved the idea that if you live the truth you do not need a good memory, you do not have to keep up with the lies.

I haven't asked much of the wonderful people who support me through reading my writings, but I am asking one thing.  If there is ever anything that you liked that I have written, please share.  If there is a word, a phrase or just some little tidbit that made you smile, share.  Life is always better when you share things.  Also, if there are any ideas that you may have, share them with me.  I love hearing the comments that I receive.  They make me smile.  I am always interested in any new things, happy things and ideas.  Remember, this is my website.  It is not owned by anyone but me.  

:o)  Happy does it...it really does!

If it is a crime to love the smell of freshly baked bread, someone better call the police, because I will never stop loving that fantastic smell.

It seems to waft through every crevasse of the room in which it was baked, and then the rest of the house.  My grandmother used to get up in the morning and bake bread.  She made that crazy old-fashioned six hour bread making recipe.  I personally like using the pre-made mixes, not the bread making machine, but you need to have giant biceps in order to mix it up.  But, it is worth every moment.

I like making the rolls in a pie plate.  George and I will eat them shortly after they are out of the oven.  Yum.  I am going to make some tomorrow.  :o)

One memory that sticks in my mind when I think about baked bread is when George and I took the girls to  Fortress Louisbourg.  They bake their bread in the ovens the way that the French would have back in the 1700's.  It is really neat and is something that I recommend for everyone to try some time in their lives.

:o)  Well, I can hear the oven just calling to me..put some bread in my belly!

As most of you are aware, I did not post a Daily Happy for either December 24th of the 25th.   Instead, I made the decision that I was going to focus all of my energy on my family.  I love my family.  It was so great waking up on Christmas morning and have absolutely nothing to do but to just be.  Just be a mom, just be a wife, just be me.  I loved every moment of the short time that I had to have this break.  I long for the time when I can just wake up and have these moments be just those moments that I have everyday.  I am not sure how I will get to that point, but I am sure that I will find my path.

Nothing makes me more happy than the love that I have for my family, and the love that I receive from my family.  It is not hard to look around and find things in my life that make me happy, and I do believe that if you can find even that smallest thing to make you happy on your glummest day, it will be the spark that will allow the light to shine through. 

Yesterday, I believe that I ate my weight in junk food.  I know this not only because I did it, but because I feel icky today.  I regret nothing.  SO this ickiness is a welcomed uncomfortable situation.  One of my favourite moments of yesterday was when George opened a gift from our daughter, Mairi.  She had bought him a sweatshirt and embroidered on it was 'Memorial University Dad.' He teared up.  I think I may have too.  It was a good moment.

My wish for you during these holidays is that you take time to relax.  Get yourself back into a head space where when you really relax, you do not think of anything else except what is right in front of you.   

:o) Be lax Mommy, Be lax {quote from Mairi aged 1 1/2}

Now I am sure that someone out there could recite all the history of dear old St. Nicholas and tell me all the stories that have followed him around over the centuries.  I find all of them rather entertaining and quite amusing.

For myself, I do believe in Santa Claus.  I believe in the spirit and the positive energy that we all feel at this time of year.  I find it amazing how this time of the year caused everyone to act in a chaotic way up until the early evening of December 24th.  Santa Claus is the story that we tell all our children.  A story of a jolly old elf who knows when they are being bad or good, and if you are lucky, you will receive presents, and if you are bad (back in the day), you would receive a piece of coal.  

The good, or should I say glad tidings that are brought this time of the year will make you smile.  I know that these past few weeks, people have been filling their sacks with all of the lovely consumeristic ideas that have been unfortunately branded in our heads as how to show love.  It doesn't matter really.  We discover every year what the true meaning of Christmas is for each and every one of us.  There are many different points of view, religious and what not,  but they all have the same loud message: Love.  Love for yourself, and love for others.

That is why I love Santa Claus.  Santa is a jolly, happy old chap, and he makes me happy.  Nothing complicated, no philosophical debates, just Santa. Plus, I believe in magic. 

:o)  Ho! Ho! Ho!

This time of the year there are a lot of familiar smells roaming through the hallways.  People begin to do their holiday baking so they have food on hand when they have company through the holidays.  It is so nice to have something homemade when you visit family and friends.  One of those undeniable smells is the smell of freshly-baked apple pie.

Both of my grandmothers would have apple pies at their homes.  My grandmother in Glace Bay would have the apple pie that I was accustomed to, the same taste and texture that my mother would make every year.  Very delicious.  My father's mother, my Nanny, would also have apple pie.  Her pies were different, but very delicious as well.  I know that she used different spices than those that my other grandmother would use.  I still remember the taste.  My favourite part would be when vanilla ice cream would magically appear, and a dollop would land on top of my warm apple pie.  It would melt and make a sort of mush, but it tasted like nothing else.  

When it comes to apple pie, the saying, 'too much of a good thing can be bad' is completely appropriate   Have you ever eaten so much apple pie that you stuffed yourself?  You swear to yourself never to do it again.  I have, and I will continue eating apple pie.

:o) Sweet Apple and Cinnamon scent...Yum

I know that everyone thought that the world was going to end today, but guess what; you were wrong.

Thank you for that.  For if the world had ended I would not be able to write this daily happy.  I am a fan of anything apocalyptic. I do not know why, but I seem to always be drawn to those movies and TV shows that are about the end of the world.  Mairi and I will have our ever so popular disaster movie days.  It is not that I want the world to end; I just want to have an idea of what may happen when it actually occurs.  My preference would be for the giant asteroid. Aliens are just not so  my style.  Love them, but no.

I live my life always with the respect that my living deserves.  I do not live like it is my last, but I am not naive enough to believe that I am invincible either.  Someday, I will die, but I will not live like I have already died.  I always say, life is for the living.  

So since our world is still intact, make sure that you still live in it.  I will.

:o)  It is the beginning of the living.

Traditionally every year since she was small, Mairi, George and I decorate our Christmas tree.  It is a time that we have some fun and make fun of each other.  The thing is, during this time we always have holiday tunes playing in the background.  I don't know how to explain it, but the three of us are like what you would see on TV; we all sing at the top of our lungs and belt out the words, like fools.  I would like to profess, when "Snoopy and the Red Baron/Christmas Bells" is playing, we may even dance a wee little.

My happiest Christmas tree decorating will always be when George and I lived in Cape Breton; we would have both girls decorate our tree.  It was our tree.  

My absolute favourite singer of holiday music is Bing Crosby.  My favourite Christmas movie is Holiday Inn.  For those of you who do not know this piece of trivia, Holiday Inn is the first movie in which White Christmas was preformed by Bing.

At the end of this happy, I am including two youtube videos, one that is George's favourite Christmas song and the other, well the other is self explanatory.

:o)  I hope you have some jingle in your step today...holidays are just around the corner.

Whenever this time of the year comes around, I am always looking forward to decorating.  I am a very amateur decorator, but I  love doing it.

Funny thing is, I can decorate well and keep things looking quite organized and pretty, but my favourite way of decorating, especially at Christmas time, is to go shiny.  I think it has everything to do with when I was a child. As a child, I was fascinated with the garland that my grandmothers would have hanging from their ceilings.  I am sure you saw them too.  The garland that was like tinsel and would have cut-outs of bells, trees and angels.  Of course, you could not have the streamers without the tinsel-y star center piece   You know, that one that looked like a leaf when you started out with it, but when you magically connected the two side together, you had e a star, a bell or a snowflake.  

I love having this stuff in my decoration collection. It makes me happy.  I don't care if it is tacky, I love it.  Whenever I have grandchildren (oh and I will have grand babies), I want them to come to my house and see my tacky tinsel garland and be happy.  

:o) Shiny and Tacky, just the way I like it!