Comforts of Home

Sleeping Bo by Joi

After returning from 3-4 weeks away on a family emergency, I have found a renewed enjoyment of the comforts of home. Having the things you like, just the way you want them is very comforting and satisfying. From your favorite food and drink to the temperature of the house, small joys can add up to big fun and peace of mind.

Whether you like your environment quiet and reflective or enjoy the white-noise chatter of the TV or radio, you can arrange to have the world around you reflect your preferences. Your collections, trinkets and mementos bring to mind happy memories of laughter and fun times spent with loved ones. Adventures both old and new surround you in the pictures and books you love. Colors and textures welcome you. That comfy, cushy couch calls to you to come over and put up your feet.

Being in your own home brings relief and relaxation. No more worrying about breaking someone else’s priceless antique or cherished memory. There is peace of mind in knowing your way around every obstacle of furniture in the room.

One of the joys of blogging is putting into words the thoughts and feelings of everyday life. Time seems to pass so quickly and sorting through these random thoughts and musings help me gain clarity and understanding.

Although I’ve often taken what I think of as an unusual or “extra high” enjoyment of my home sanctuary, it is not until after my recent absence that I realized how special home really is. It’s the one place where your opinions matter more than anyone else’s. You have the ability to make it any way you choose. Only your imagination (and decorating skill) limits your options. What a joy, what a pleasure there is in having such freedom. Making your home a relaxing, inviting retreat is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Update on me.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm in the middle of a family emergency and will be unable to post for the next two weeks. I hope you will all enjoy my prior posts and visit sites on my blogroll for some fun and entertainment. Come back in a few weeks for some new posts. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Weird Homes – Where Would You Live?

Since I am in the process of moving this week, I thought I’d let you enjoy a look at this article I came across at Mercola.com. These are the top 7 weirdest houses. I love seeing such creative places to live, and these houses make me want to have some fun decorating next home. These make me smile just thinking of the building plans. “You want a house shaped like what??” Which ones are your favorites?

By the way, I may be offline for a week. In the meantime please take a moment to read some of my older articles, or catch up on your favorite blog and Internet sites. I hope to see you here again soon!

I just love it when someone challenges the status quo and isn’t afraid to think outside of the box. These houses are so unique that they even push the borders of reality.

Take a break from your routine and give your mind permission to believe in the extraordinary, as the creators of these houses certainly did. You never know where it might take you …

1. Hundertwasser's House

These 50 apartments, constructed in 1982-1985, have no straight lines or surfaces, and they’re completely asymmetrical.

2. The Upside-Down House

Loacted in Szymbark, Poland, the Upside-Down House is a tourist attraction intended to make a statement about the Communist era.

3. Toilet-Shaped House

This house, built by the founding member of the World Toilet Association, is dedicated to providing clean sanitation to the more than 2 billion people who live without toilets. Its official name is Haewoojae, which is Korean for "a place of sanctuary where one can solve one's worries."

4. The House on a Stick

Modeled after highway billboards, this 290-square-foot house is designed to fit anywhere, including forests, seas, lakes, mountains, meadows and city streets.

5. Bubble House

Fashion designer Pierre Cardin thought up the idea for this one to “demonstrate the possibility of short-circuiting traditional architecture in the name of original, contemporary design.”

6. The Broken Column House

This house was created by the aristocrat François Nicolas Henri Racine de Monville, who also lived in the house immediately before the French Revolution.

7. The Glass House

American architect Philip Johnson designed this beautiful, if not very functional, home. The house boasts quarter-inch thick glass walls supported by black steel pillars, walnut cabinets and a brick cylinder that contains the bathroom. It is open to the public for all to see.

Funny Gift List For All Occasions.

I love to give and share funny gifts, but when the time comes my mind goes blank and I can’t think of a thing. I love making people smile, so today I’m making a list of great gifts to give to anyone, anywhere, anytime. If you have some great ideas please feel free to share your own tips as well.

Funny greeting cards. Great for almost any occasion, funny cards make any birthday better, and can even make a broken arm feel better for just a moment. Try the newest ones with sound bites from your favorite movies and TV shows for a real laugh-out-loud moment. Visit Hallmark online for Maxine, Hoops & Yoyo, Peanuts and more.

Cartoon books, wrapping paper and calendars. From the Far Side to Calvin & Hobbes, Garfield to Peanuts, cartoons are fun for all ages. Buy them a 365 day calendar to flip through, or a consolidated book of their favorite cartoons. Keep ‘em laughing every day.

Buttons, magnets and bumper stickers. These are cheap, inexpensive gifts you can find almost anywhere. Pick up some fun smiley faces, a “I live for the weekends” magnet, or some crazy bumper stickers. Character buttons like the Simpsons, Scooby Doo, Yoda, Harry Potter and others are fun to give.

Movies. We all need a good belly laugh now and then. Movies are a great way to do that. From comedies to cartoons and everything in between, there’s something for every taste. Check out my previous article “Movies that make you laugh out loud,” for a few recommendations.

Stripped socks and silly ties. Giving people silly clothes is fun. Find a vintage Underdog t-shirt, a cute Mickey Mouse sweater, or some bright orange tennis shoes for that perfect gift. Be playful and help them find their inner child. Stylin Online has a great selection of classic and current designs.

Posters and pictures. These are great any time. Funny animals are always a hit, as well as the un-motivational posters that are so popular. Check out Despair, Inc for a few fun ideas.

Candy. Everyone loves candy. From cookies to candy bars, Skittles to Atomic Fireballs, most everyone has a sweet tooth. For a twist buy a special bag of M&M’s with a personalized message. Click here for details.

Smiley face gifts. Everyone loves to see a big, bright smiling face looking back at them. Share the love with great smiley face items. From clocks to mugs to badge holders, pens and pencils, there’s something for everyone. Click here for more.

Pranks and Fun Stuff

I get lots of fun input from other great authors, writers and various newsletters. I love April Fools Day, but have yet to plan ahead far enough to make the most of it. While perusing the Internet I came across several fun ideas that put the idea back in my mind. Here is some of what I found.

Thanks to John Kinde at Humor Power.com whose wonderful newsletter is always insightful and fun. He provided this wonderful article about Improv Everywhere and their playful pranks. Take a look:

They ran a short clip on a group in New York City called Improv Everywhere who, this past Saturday, held their Seventh-Annual No-Pants Ride On the Subway. The idea is to do something as a group which is safe (nobody gets hurt or offended) and fun (everyone has a good time). Imagine entering a subway car and realizing that several people were not wearing pants! How would you react? Actually, it's intentionally kept on the tame side. Most participants wear boxer shorts. I know if I'm ever to appear in public in my underwear...it will be boxers. Briefs are just too...underwear. The organizers of the No-Pants event gave instructions to the participants to dress in good taste. No thongs. In fact, they suggest that wearing two pairs of underwear might be a good idea. "We want to have fun...not piss people off."
Their web site is fun to browse. www.improveverywhere.com

And here are a few more ideas on doing a gag well:

Simple is fun. A group activity doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes a group will do something as simple as meeting at a designated location and applauding for 15 seconds and then blending back into the crowd. Or pointing in the sky at an imaginary object for 30 seconds and then disappearing. Total strangers are left to ask themselves, "What were they applauding?" Or, "What were they looking at?"

Silly People. One of my favorites is Lezlie, who was an improv player in my California troupe. If a scene ever needed a space alien or an android...Lezlie was the one to do it. She came to a pot-luck dinner party with a dish only Lezlie could bring. It was a plate of corn. She had gone to the trouble or preparing it to look like an hors d'oeuvres plate. Each kernel of corn had a toothpick stuck into it. Without a comment, without a smile, she placed it on the food table. People would see it and think, "Who brought the corn?" Although I think most of us immediately knew...it was Lezlie.

April Fools Day, the traditional gag day, is about ten weeks away. Now is the time to think about what you might do to celebrate the day. The most simple thing to do is get a greeting card from the card rack at the store. My favorite was a card that looked like the back of the card (barcode and price information). When you turned it over, it was also the back of the card. When you opened it, the greeting said "Happy April Fools Day!" Cute. But better yet, dream up your own, original gag for this April 1. It could be a gag for a large group, a small group at work, your family, or for that one special person. Keep it safe and sane and remember the relationship factor to help you measure appropriateness. And then on April 2, send a summary of what you did and what the experience was like to HumorPowerTips@HumorPower.com.

You can also check out these great sites for more ideas:

Family Fun – April Fools’ Pranks Galore. Check out Time Warp under Classic Pranks; Try the Official “Tax Collection on Allowance” form from the Printable Pranks, And Grilled Cheese (Surprise) from the Fun Food Pranks.

April Fool Zone for harmless ideas for work and home.

Be Inspired Every Day

Double Bows by Nicholas_T

Each new day is a blank canvas waiting for you to fill it. There are so many opportunities for joy, laughter and fun. Inspiration can come from anything. For me it is often something totally spontaneous, like a song on the radio, a funny commercial, or hearing a child laughing. Anything that causes you to play, smile, and enjoy life.

I am often awed by the beauty of the world around me; a rainbow after a storm, the bright white glittering of stars in the darkness, even the reflection of the sky in a puddle of water. I am amazed by the compassion and love of strangers who rescue a child from a burning building, donate a kidney to their sick friend, and adopt handicapped children into their families.

Faith and the power of the human spirit shines through in the words and deeds of some of my favorite mentors like the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, the teachings of Buddha, Jesus Christ and Confucius. I am enthralled by the dedication and remarkable advancements made daily in the fields of science and medicine.

I’m captivated by the everyday items many take for granted; the small size and versatility of the cell phone, the light weight and durability of the laptop, and incredible resolution and detail of the digital camera and LCD TV. The ingenuity of corporations to produce ever more useful and convenient electronics for the everyday person is astounding.

No matter where you look you can find an endless supply of splendor, wonder and delight. Whether you are watching the undersea world of whales on TV, reading the newest scientific developments in the paper, or simply taking a walk through your neighborhood, beauty and marvels of all sorts await you around every corner.

Here are a few every day sights and sounds that endlessly spark my imagination and stimulate my senses:

• Fluffy white clouds against a brilliant blue sky.
• The green rolling hills where deer and cattle graze.
• The delicious scent of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven.
• Drumming raindrops lulling me to sleep at night.
• Catching a smile on the face of a child.
• A butterfly fluttering along on the wind.
• The heavenly sounds of the classical greats; Beethoven, Mozart, Bach and others.
• The songs of birds high in the trees.
• The playful antics of my two dogs.

I also love to see new art, even if it’s just the drawings of my 12 year old niece or the doodles of a bored coworker. I love special effects in TV and movies and the vivid writing of the many fiction writers out there – both adult and children’s authors. There is so much out there to see and experience. Don’t let a chance to stop and smell the flowers pass you by.

How to Stay Positive When Your Life Is Falling Apart.

One cute nose! by WTL photos

Gas prices are rising. Bills need to be paid. Ordinary tasks are confusing and difficult. Like dominoes falling in a row, problems are piling up. Frustration and irritation follow you like a cloud of doom. How do you keep your sense of humor and sanity while you’re standing in the downpour?

When troubles come knocking at your door, how do you retain your inner calm and stay balanced so you don’t let stress and anger aggravate the problems you already have? It’s easy to be peaceful when things are going well, but having a few ready-to-use techniques when you're overwhelmed is very helpful.

Here’s a few of the ideas I use to help keep myself centered:

• Call a friend. Find someone to talk to, who can keep your troubles private, while letting you vent and perhaps even give you a fresh perspective on your problem.
• Write a daily gratitude journal. This can be vital in helping you see the good things in life. Just this simple step can help you feel more in control of your life, aware and in charge.
• Have some chicken soup. Literally and figuratively. Have a big bowl of comforting homemade chicken soup and pour over inspirational stories from Chicken Soup for the Soul. Both body and mind will get a lift.
• Find your motivation. What helps you feel better? Faith and church, friends and family, proving your worth? Maybe you need a day away from your problems to gain perspective. Look for what motivates and excites you into action.
• Let go of what you can’t change. Don’t hold on to guilt and pain about things that are out of your control or that have already happened. Instead focus on improving what you can and do your best to move forward towards your goals.
• Count your triumphs, not your failures. Remember to give yourself a pat on the back for all the smiles you’ve given, the love you shared, and the gifts you’ve given. When your good outweighs your bad, you’re on the right track.
• Give yourself some credit. When things go bad and we make mistakes, we may tend to forget the good things we’ve done. Keep a folder of people thanking you, certificates of your skills, and other tidbits of your better days. Look it over when you’re feeling unloved and unappreciated.

These are just a start, of course. Feel free to share your own ideas here for me. Meanwhile here are a few other related articles to help you out.

How to overcome those bad days.

Everyday perks not to be missed.

Don’t stop believing in yourself.