A Bit of Happy - Laugh. Inspire. Share.

Finding Joy in the Little Moments

2012-01-30T09:05:00.001-05:00

Sometimes, when I find myself getting caught up in complaining, not feeling grateful for what I have, or wishing I was having a better day, I have to take a deep breath, pause, and be still. For you see – I have much to be thankful for. The little things in life are what make a complete life, a life full of love, joy, and contentment. No, not everything is rosy every single day. But you can take what you want out of each day, and you can choose to remember the happy moments as opposed to the sad ones. Here are just a few small moments that I like to dwell on whenever I find myself getting in a funk or a bad mood.

Tikko, My Aunt and Uncle’s Maltese Pup

As I snuggle up on the sofa with my puppy (I like to call him mine even though he belongs to my aunt and uncle,) I feel so thankful that I get to be close to a puppy that gives so much love on a daily basis. Tikko (means friend in Hawaiian,) is the sweetest dog that wants nothing in the world but to love you and give you doggie kisses. This little joy brings a big smile to my face even if I’m not in AZ to spend time with this little guy.

Reading a Good Book on a Sunny Afternoon

Nothing is more relaxing to me than sitting out in the sunshine and reading a great book. Books themselves bring me into a far off land, one where I can temporarily escape this life and find a new one for an hour or two. Plus, the sunshine is an instant mood booster. It makes me feel content and at peace. When I’m working and I need something to look forward to, I look forward to reading an amazing read and basking in the sunshine.

Giving and Receiving a Hug From a Loved One

What about giving or receiving a hug from a loved one? Even better is snuggling of course. I love to snuggle with my boyfriend, watch a great movie, and let the cares of the day drift away. Plus it brings you closer to your loved one because this is a safe place where you can relax and feel happy.

So as you can see, when the bad days appear, they really aren’t that bad. Put things into consideration, and realize that it’s the little things in life that cheer you up. Stop focusing on grand gestures and false expectations in life that disappoint. Instead be happy with the small moments, when joy finds its way back home into your heart.

Bio: Sierra is a freelance writer and blogger. She loves to read on her sofas at home and soak up some sunshine. Catch up on her latest happenings on her Ocean Dreams blog.

Happiness - How to achieve Happiness in 6 Simple Steps!

2012-01-19T18:34:00.005-05:00

Author: Jackson Tan

Pursuit of Happiness is a process and may not be as easy as ABCs, but it can to as simple as just following 6 simple steps.

Step One

Firstly, determine your priority in life. If you want to be happy, happiness should be the ultimate goal in your life. Always bear in mind that you truly want to be happy. Also, figure out what is important to you in life. It may be your family, friends, careers or even achieving your childhood dream.

Step Two

Think about stuffs that make you happy. Focus on things that make you feel good and think back to figure out what made you feel happy? Remember the place and time and also the exact good feelings.

Step Three

Be optimistic. Focus on what is positive about your life and everything around you. Stop worrying and do not think about things that went wrong and ask why they happened. Instead, remind yourself it was a good learning lesson and moved forward.

Step Four

Allocate a time slot to do things that you enjoy. Spend time with what is important in your life. Enjoying your favorite activities let your mind and heart have the time to relax and recover. Make your time worthwhile and you will be happier.

Step Five

Smile to yourself every now and then. Smile to the people around you. Smiling helps to lighten one's mood and also when you are smiling, it is almost impossible to feel upset or angry. A simple smile can bring you closer to your happiness.

Step Six

Life is not as bad as it seems. Do not take things for granted. Learn to appreciate things that are working out well in your life. Thanks your family, your friends and even yourself for putting in effort in living a happy life.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/http://jacksontan.articlealley.com/happiness--how-to-achieve-happiness-in-6-simple-steps-180533.html

Occupation: Student
Jackson Tan is an University student who wants to promote and spreads the word of HAPPINESS to the whole world. He believes that everyone can be Happy as long as they choose to.
For more free information on Happiness, go to http://projecth.blogspot.com/
This article is free for republishing by visitors provided the resource link is retained.
http://projecth.blogspot.com/

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Nature: The Gateway To Heaven

2012-01-16T12:37:00.001-05:00

Being in nature is such a soothing, invigorating experience. It takes me to another place. It feels as if I am getting a glimpse of heaven, if only for the moment. It puts me in such a meditative state that if I had a problem when I came to this sacred space, it dissolves instantly. The calming, relaxing breeze, the beautiful melody of the birds singing in harmony, the trees hypnotically swaying in the wind, and the scenery is breathtaking. If there's anything you can do in this life, it definitely should be to experience the therapeutic , healing effect of nature. You'll be glad you did!

What Makes You Happy? || Submitted By Monay

Share Happiness: Layaway 'Angels' Phenom Spreading

2011-12-30T11:21:00.001-05:00

→ Today's Recommended Article: Layaway 'Angels' Phenom Spreading

I came across this article about a 10-year-old boy going into a Kmart store in San Mateo on Wednesday afternoon. He did something simple, but made someone's day. He placed $20 on the counter and said he wanted to pay down a stranger's layaway account. How sweet is that?

It made me happy and wanted to share it with you. I hope that we all can do something as simple as this to make others feel good. Have a great day!

Happiest Colors For Your Room

2011-12-26T21:38:00.008-05:00

Looking for an instant mood-boosting paint color for your room?
Try these bright ideas:

Yellow. People associate the color yellow with sunshine.

Lavender. Bright and peaceful at the same time.

Orange. Eccentric and Bright.

Green. The color of Nature and Nurture.

Not ready to go too bold? Try a couple of throw pillows to add a pop of color.

Orange pillows and furniture can do the trick.

Different colors go well with neutrals.

Want a color-overload? Go for the bold walls AND colorful throw pillows. POW!

Images Credits: Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net | Image: ponsulak / FreeDigitalPhotos.net | Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net | Image: Phiseksit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Image: kangshutters / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Gotta Love Simon's Cat in 'Santa Claws'

2011-12-23T00:04:00.000-05:00

See More Simon's Cat

How To Wrap A Cat For Christmas

2011-12-22T13:51:00.002-05:00

Sunday Smile | Bear Waving "Hello"

2011-12-18T15:00:00.003-05:00

Walking on a Sunny but Cold Winter's Day

2011-12-17T01:48:00.002-05:00

Whilst I'm not someone who loves the cold particularly I do love a big walk on the beach on a winters day when the sun is out. There's something about fighting the wind, being wrapped up and battling the elements that gives you a real sense of having earned your hot chocolate in front of the fire at the end. It also helps calm the mind somehow especially when looking out to sea and seeing wave after wave crashing against the shoreline. There's something about those cold winter waves that again leaves you thankful for the fact you are not out there and will soon be home again inside in the warm. It's just the way it is and is something that makes me happy time and again, something in fact that I have just done hence this post. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Thanks, Grace

What Makes You Happy | Submitted By Grace

Finding Happiness in a Quest to be Better

2011-08-06T19:25:00.002-04:00

Satisfaction in Knowledge

I like being happy. Who doesn’t? But I find that I’m most naturally happy when I challenge myself to excel in areas that make me a better, well-rounded person. Continually striving to be better gives me an existential happiness. When I’m not engaged in challenging myself professionally, personally or in my relationships with other people, I’m not as happy as when I am. Learning makes me happy. It’s not empty happiness either. It’s the kind of fulfilled happiness that comes from turning potential into reality. And the technologies I’ve used to expand my knowledge base take many forms too.

I learn a lot through reading a huge variety of books. Books may be an old technology but they’re still hard to beat. I’ve also engaged in online learning. Using your computer to broaden your knowledge base works well. There is more accumulated knowledge on the internet now than in the ancient library of Alexandria. Online education has given me a much wider range of competence in a broad range of subject matters. Being knowledgeable makes me happy.

Contentment in Physical Fitness

Exercising makes me happy. I’ve never felt like a natural athlete and I never played sports in school. But in the last few years I’ve been making a point of getting off the couch, lacing up my tennis shoes and going for a workout. I started with walking. The happiness that you get from a long brisk walk is underrated. The contentment is multi-layered. The physical act of walking feels good in itself. But there’s also a contentment which comes from the sort of meditative, ruminative mental aspect of walking.

It’s a reflective endeavor. As you get into your walking rhythm it’s easy to let your mind wander about worry-free from one thing to another and the accumulated stress that you were previously unaware of starts to slide away completely. As I continued my walking regimen my walks got longer and longer and I eventually began running. As I’ve gotten in better shape I’ve become happier about myself too.

Warmth in Personal Relationships

Fulfilling relationships make me happy. It’s easy to get lazy in relationships. Being happy in our relationships requires work though. I’ve found that all my relationships have gotten warmer and more fulfilling since I’ve become mindful about making an effort to enrich them. Like physical fitness, relationship fitness requires me to expend energy.

This is true regardless of whether I’m strengthening professional relationships at work, family relationships, or my relationship with my girlfriend. One of the tactics that works for all of these is actually giving people your undivided attention. Being single mindedly attentive to a person when they’re communicating with you is often called active listening. It can appear gimmicky if a person is not sincere about it. But I’ve noticed that really concentrating on what a person is telling me without interrupting has improved my relationships across the board. Communication is a two part process and listening is a skill that I’m still working on improving.

Austin is an avid blogger and loves to travel. He spends most of his time writing and playing music. He writes on behalf of Colorado Technical University. More of his writing can be found at www.eatbreatheblog.com

Happiness…Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch.

2011-06-14T15:05:00.002-04:00

Guest Post by Austin.

I am a child of the nineties. I grew up during the “grunge” era and have plenty of plaid shirts and baggy shorts to prove it. I am now 29 with a stable career, a loving girlfriend, and a handful of people that I would consider close friends. I am happy. More than that, I have a deeper joy that cannot be attributed to any single thing. So what’s the difference between happiness and joy? And how does one attain either? What brings me happiness and what fills me with joy? Ask ten people and you’ll get ten different answers. My answer quotes one of my favorite bands from the nineties, Our Lady Peace. “Happiness… is not a fish that you can catch.”

Happiness

The first thing about happiness that must be understood is that it relates to, and is affected by circumstances. What makes me happy? For me, it’s the simple things. A warm day spent resting on the patio furniture, Skyping with my girlfriend makes me happy. She lives over 3,000 miles away. Skyping online is our main means of communication. Every time I log on and see her beautiful smiling face I am filled with happiness. The worries and stress of the week melt away as we chat about our lives and laugh about things that seemed so serious only days before. It’s relationship at its deepest level: communication. Happiness is knowing that I can face anything because I have someone in my life who will face it with me and support me through respect and love. It can be hard to find, but more than worth the pursuit.

I love to play music. I’ve been playing guitar for over 17 years with varying degrees of success. I know myself well enough to notice that I need a creative outlet. That outlet can be as simple as writing a simple love song, or as dramatic as playing live on a Saturday night. Whatever the case may be, when I’m holding a guitar I am overcome with a feeling of worth. I won’t compare it to the loving embrace of my girlfriend, but there is a mutual respect between the guitar and myself. I know that if I treat her right (my guitar that is) she will sing for me; and when I have learned to treat her the way she deserves to be treated her song is gorgeous. That is happiness. The connection made between wood and skin and the vibration of a sustaining chord all reverberate happiness through my body. Whether I’m playing in front of 80 people in a club or just the 3 posters in my bedroom the feeling is the same; happiness… contentment.

Joy

I do believe joy is harder to attain than happiness. Joy is happiness on a deeper level. It is happiness reincarnated, if you will. Although joy can be harder to find, it is not swayed by circumstances or situations. People may argue, but my joy comes from somewhere else, something else, someone else other than myself. Some may find it in religion or inner peace. I find my joy in my Savior. I believe that is the key to finding joy. Because my joy comes from outside of myself it is not swayed by changes in situations. It is constant and I can always rely on the joy I have deep within me. I choose joy over sorrow, I choose love over hate, and I choose life over death.

Austin is an avid blogger and loves to travel. He spends most of his time writing and playing music. More of his writing can be found at www.eatbreatheblog.com.

Daily Thankfulness Journal

2011-06-13T11:35:00.000-04:00

It's so easy take things in life for granted. I am definitely guilty of this. That's why I'm starting a Thankfulness journal. Basically each day you write down five things you are grateful for, no matter how big or small. It is also a great way to improve your mood. What I'm Grateful For:

For My Family
For My Pets
For Having a House to Live In
For Having a Job
For The Rain Last Night

What are you thankful for today?

The Most Adorable Car I Have Ever Seen.

2011-06-11T01:21:00.000-04:00

I encountered this cute little piece of adorableness when I was going to grab some hibachi with my Mom and sister and wanted to share. It made me smile.

The Best Dinner I Ever Cooked

2011-06-07T11:36:00.002-04:00

Guest Article Written By Wendy

The best dinner I ever cooked for myself was a delicious summer supper of Greek food. I researched the perfect recipes, bought the items, cooked everything myself and truly enjoyed every minute I spent eating the meal with my best friend and my boyfriend.

Researching the recipes

Every summer day is a scorcher in my neck of the woods. I wanted to make a special meal, but I didn't want to spend a lot of time in a hot kitchen. Therefore, I decided to cook on the grill and have side dishes that were cool and refreshing.

I definitely also wanted a healthy meal that included probiotics. My best friend, who was joining us, is diabetic so she has to be careful about what she eats. I love the effects probiotics have on my digestion, so I wanted to include them. I feel great when I include them in my diet. I love Greek food but my town has no Greek restaurants.

After searching the internet for different ideas, I decided to make lamb with a delicious yogurt sauce, a feta, tomato and cucumber salad and, for dessert, a tasty brandy-soaked fruit dish. I was so excited about my recipes, especially since they were so healthy!

Shopping for my ingredients

Luckily, my local grocery store had everything I needed for my meal. The butcher had the exact cut of lamb I wanted; the tomatoes and fruit were beautiful and, best of all, several items were on sale! The plain, Greek-style yogurt containing probiotics was the item I was anxious about finding, but there were several varieties from which I could choose. As I checked out I was sure I was on the road to an excellent meal.

Cooking the meal
I planned carefully to make sure that cooking the meal would go as smoothly as possible. I prepared all of my cold dishes while my meat marinated. Then, about thirty minutes before I wanted to eat, I opened the wine and started to grill. My boyfriend joined me outside while the lamb cooked. As it cooked, he asked what we were having for dinner. My best friend arrived shortly thereafter. Setting the table for dinner was easy since the cold dishes were already prepared.

Enjoying the meal

Since the meal was so healthy, we all enjoyed having plentiful servings of each course. The lamb was cooked perfectly-- I had never cooked it before so I was thrilled about how well it came out. The tart yet cool yogurt sauce was a perfect compliment to the lamb and went wonderfully with the refreshing cucumber and tomato salad. With pita bread, the main course was complete. Finishing dinner on my patio as dusk settled with the tasty fruit soaked in brandy was the perfect way to end the evening.

Make Time for a Daily Moment of Happiness

2011-06-06T12:07:00.002-04:00

In today's busy world of appointments, errands, responsibilities, work, parenting and more, it's often the most basic of needs that is overlooked—happiness. Happiness is something innate in all of us, but it is nurtured by spending time doing the things that bring you joy. How do you nurture happiness? You make time for it. You chase it. You choose it. You embrace it.

Happiness is not always a given, but it is a choice. You can wake up every day and decide that you will be happy, or you can wake up every day and let the day fall the way it will. By choosing to be happy, you decide that no matter what comes your way, you will see the bright side, you will accept things the way they are. You won't focus on what could have been or could be.
We've found five little ways to nurture happiness that work for us:

Think like a kid. Skip rope, swing on a swing set, run with your eyes closed. Whatever you do, do it outside. Find a space—playgrounds work great!—and spend time having fun with the simplest things in life. If you watch a child, they find happiness in the funniest of places: rolling around on the floor with the dog, picking the flowers we designate as weeds or riding their bike down a hill with their legs hanging off either side. If you can find the fun and beauty in the little things, happiness is sure to follow.
Chill out. Nothing restores us more, allowing us to nurture our own happiness, like zoning out. Find a quiet spot with no interruptions and no stimulation (bye bye, television) and just focus on things that make you happy. Imagine yourself walking down the beach or on a path through a quiet forest. Find your happy place and go there—anytime!
Clean it. OK, so for some of us, cleaning isn't soothing whatsoever. But for others, cleaning up a room that needs it or tackling an organization project that's been put off for way too long can lead to happiness. Why? The sense of accomplishment accompanied by the relief of getting that nagging job off your mind can give you a nice little shot of happiness when you need it most.
Make a date with yourself. If your idea of a wonderful night out is a wonderful night in, make it happen! Set aside a night when you can spend time doing what you love. Curl up with a good book and a slice of pizza or set up a lovely dinner and a movie on the couch. Spending a little time on yourself in this hectic world can go a long way in helping you find a bit of happiness in your day.
Love the one your with. Families are scheduled to death these days. Between baseball practice, piano lessons, school and chores, it's rare that everyone can make time together a regular thing. So, make good with the time you do have. Got a few minutes in the car with one of your kids while the other is at gymnastics? Curl up in the backseat with a book and take advantage of those extra 30 minutes. If there does happen to be a free night when everyone's available, cook dinner together and spend a little time talking about what makes each of you happy. By focusing on your happiness and the happiness of others, it will spread like wildfire!

Happiness is a gift you can give yourself and give others. Spend time nurturing it, focusing on it and embracing it. By doing that, you will find nice little happiness each and every day.

About the Author: Diane Johnson graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in political science. When she's not traveling she enjoys writing articles about online education, reading books and shopping.

Seeing my Dad Walk

2011-06-06T11:43:00.000-04:00

Sent in By Animal flip flops.

My father had a stroke 1 month ago today. Seeing him in hospital that morning was the most scariest moment of my life. Hooked up to machines, unable to move and looking at us with eyes like the little boy he once was broke my heart. He was scared, we were scared, was this it?

One month on and I've moved back to be with my Dad as he works hard to recover. We went for a walk on the cliff tops overlooking the sea this morning. He walked further than usual and was smiling all the way. That to be was happiness right there. Juxtaposed against the fear and dread of only one month ago he's already come a heck of a way.

Changing the world, one person at a time

2011-06-06T11:39:00.001-04:00

Sent in by Allen.
This information is from the about page on http://www.Max-Opp.com.
Changing the world, one-person-at-a-time with my writing makes me happy.
I know that I will never be a politician who influences the fate of the population of an entire country. I accept that I will never be a business magnate that influences the global population. But, I also know that every single day, in a very small way, my writing improves the life of children and adults.
It makes me happy when I get a letter from a parent telling me that her child has read The Monster on Top of the Bed (http://www.Monbed.com) and now falls asleep easily at night. It delights me when a child tells me that my book taught them that friendship banishes fear.
My writing gives allows children and adults to find peace in their hearts
Here is why that is one my goals:
LAO-TSE (a.k.a. Laozi, Laotze and Lao Tzu, Born 604 B.C.), the founder of Taoism, wrote this poem.
Peace In the Heart
By Lao Tzu
If there is to be peace in the world,
there must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
there must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
there must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
there must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
there must be peace in the heart.

Finding Happiness In Books. There. I Said It.

2011-06-05T11:53:00.001-04:00

Bio: An ocean dreamer at heart and in real life, Sierra Greenman thrives on visiting and living near the beach and could never imagine herself anywhere else. She recently ventured out into the freelance world and now is a Freelance Writer and Social Media Specialist and absolutely loves it. Writing about fashion and style are on of her many passions. You can also find Sierra at her blog Ocean Dreams and follow her on Twitter @oceandreams4u. She also is a featured fashion blogger for JoeShopping.com and her e-mail is oceandreams4sierra@gmail.com if you want to say hello!

Books make me extremely happy. There. I said it. The smell of the pages, obsessing over the cover, reading about the author, and completely throwing myself into the story makes me happy. Reading is like finding a new friend. Your friends are within the covers, and once you discover their personalities, their interests, and their story, you are touched and you take away something new about yourself.

I have a small obsession with keeping books, and I mean lots of books. There. I’ve said it. They sit on my book shelf, many read and many, I confess, not read yet. I can’t seem to get rid of my favorite reads. I love sifting through the pages, reminiscing on the plot. You see, they bring back memories of what age I was when I read the novel. Suddenly, like a rush, I am outside sitting on the grass, near my house, with my book. I’m sitting by the pool or I’m chasing after my first pet bunny Patchy while trying to remember what page I was on.

I wish I could transfer myself into the pages and live in the story of the book sometimes. There. I said it. Why not? I would love to exist in a futuristic world, a mermaid’s den, a grassy hill, live in Ireland for the summer, or even live happily ever after. The good news is that when I am reading my enticing read, I can temporarily live in my dream land. I choose what each character looks like, wears, and I can choose to ignore the author’s descriptions of their physical attributes. It’s all in my imagination and I can live in my fairy tale land…

After reading The Hunger Games trilogy I felt a void. That’s how you know whether something truly touched you and whether you connected with the characters or not. Unlike Twilight, in my opinion, I feel that this character in The Hunger Games is a strong leader and a good book role model for our youth. She doesn’t become obsessed with a vampire while losing her identity, but instead she finds her own identity while striving to make a difference in her world and change it for the better. Now I’ve found a new book to temporarily feed my void: the book Matched by Ally Condle. Similar to The Hunger Games, this book takes you to the future and begs the question what would we do without free will and choices?

I wish I could be reading right now. Every day. All day. There. I said it. Reading makes me extremely happy. I hope it makes you happy too. If it doesn’t – go and find a book that will take you to another world and back!

A Bit of Happy from Cardiff

2011-06-02T22:16:00.000-04:00

Although I wasn't born in Wales, my adopted home of Cardiff is by far my favorite city in the world. It's big enough that interesting things happen here, but not so big it's unknowable or impersonal. Being from a hot, dry, dusty farm in Australia, the lush, rainy greenness of the Welsh countryside always feels like a tremendous luxury.

I love Cardiff's neatly laid out parks and gardens, the masses of daffodils in early spring, and the two rivers I live between- the Taff and the Ely. Although English is Cardiff's primary language, it's one of the last cities in the world where it's possible to hear a living Celtic language spoken and history is valued and preserved here. There is a castle in the city center and two or three more within 10 miles, mountains to the north and salt water to the south. In short, it's a beautiful city.

And of course, it's a city full of people. I met my wonderful partner here and made a home with him, and our weekends and evenings are filled up by good friends.
Up in the loft of the old Victorian terrace I live in, there is a skylight set low down on one of the sloping roof sections. It opens up, and you can lean out the window and stick your head out. Leaning on the windowsill gives you a perfect view of quiet, urban Cardiff- my neighbors' gardens, the chimney stacks and slate roofs, and the bigger buildings of the city in the distance.

In the evenings, the city lights are easily visible, and each window in my view is a curtained square of light. On special occasions there are fireworks in Bute Park half a mile away, and they're always perfectly framed by the window in the roof.
To a casual observer it's not an amazing view but without fail, taking a couple of minutes to enjoy the view from the open loft window makes me happy. Winter or summer, day or night, a moment or two spent looking out over the city I love reminds me that there is nowhere else in the world I'd rather be.

Jess Spate runs a small SEO consultancy from Cardiff, South Wales.

Good Doggies

2011-05-28T00:50:00.002-04:00

We've had terrible storms all week, and our big yellow lab, Max, and his little buddy Madison (our daughter's bichon/cockapoo mix, aka Q-tip)have been a little extra cuddly. That doesn't bother me because I'm a big chicken, too.

I let them out in the backyard (we have a deck with a gate, and part of the yard on the other side is fenced) and next thing I know, I see Max walking across the front yard. Apparently, the deck gate got blown open from all the wind. Max comes when he's called-- but Madison is great at ignoring us, and really fast for such a little thing. She was nowhere to be seen. So, I got a squeaky toy, some treats, and the car keys and was heading for the driveway so I could go track her down-- but as soon as I got to the front door, she was waiting for me! I know it does not seem like much, but it's wonderful to not have to go search and stress out over. That is why moment of happy for today. Now, if the sun would just come out to stay!

Today's Moment of Happiness sent in by Denise from Write and Get Paid

The Write Moment

2011-05-28T00:34:00.002-04:00

Most of my days are filled with happiness. However, some moments are better than others, and some are just "best." The best one so far today? Finding the right word. Yes, just one word. I write - novels, poetry, short stories. First thing in this morning I was working on a new prose-poem. One line didn't scan properly. Ten minutes, fifteen, twenty: then the aha. One word - not even an important word, a simple change of a character's name.There it was - a moment of happiness.

Moment of Happiness Submitted By Auther Kenneth Weene

Video Spotlight: Impressive Chameleon

2011-03-25T11:45:00.001-04:00

This week's video spotlight - Check out this funky color-changing dude! Think it's real? Maybe. Either way, it's pretty darn cool. I now want a chameleon to see what kind of crazy colors I can change it.

Impressive Chameleon - watch more funny videos

Fun With Your Face

2011-03-21T19:02:00.001-04:00

Ever wonder what celebrity you look like? What your kids might look like? Check out this fun collection of websites that allow you to play with your face.

Avatarize Yourself

Transform yourself into the characters from James Cameron's Avatar. If you want to see something scary - try this. Haha. It moves and everything...

FACEinHOLE.com

"Haven't you ever wanted to see what you'd look like as Harry Potter, James Bond, Paris Hilton or one of the Rolling Stones? Well now you can with FACEinHOLE.com."

JibJab

"There's a JibJab Sendables eCard for any occasion. Whether it's a Birthday, New Born Baby, Anniversary or just for fun. Why send a plain old ecard when you can send a JibJab Sendables eCard instead?"

Morphthing.com

What will your baby look like if you had babies with your partner, friends, or celebrities? Find out on MorphThing.com.

MyHeritage.com Face Recognition

"Find the Celebrity in You. Upload a photo and discover which celebrity you resemble the most."

PhotoFunia

"PhotoFunia LAB is a set of very useful image manipulating tools and filters which can be applied directly to your image. Most of the generated images are available in hi resolution and are perfect for turning them into real printed photos or posters. If you have any ideas you'd like to share with us please drop us a line."

YouWild.org

"Watch yourself -- or a friend, family member or pet -- morph into an animal before your eyes. Then take action and share your morph to raise awareness about threats to our wildlife!"

Morphases

"Morphases is an online next generation software in face manipulation. It allows user to modify and create human faces from different elements in real time with almost an unlimited power. All elements are divided individually and stored into genebank."

Top 10 Attractions For Kids In Australia!

2011-03-13T19:04:00.002-04:00

We all know that Australia is the adventurer and the nature lover’s destination. Every year, millions of tourists visit Australia to experience its unique offerings. But what about kids? Are all the adventures safe for kids? Will your kids enjoy miles of trekking in the outback? We understand your concern; here are 10 great attractions for your kids in Australia.

Take Them Kangaroo Spotting

Kids love kangaroos; what better way to keep them entertained than to take them on a kangaroo spotting tour? Special kangaroo spotting trips are arranged by the Australian Tourism Department for people who don’t want to physically explore the outback. Watching these adorable creatures hopping and carrying their young will make your child’s day!

Kids Enjoy Zoos and Aquariums

The National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra has an exciting “Predators of the Deep” exhibit featuring different varieties of shark. This is a wonderful place for your kids to learn about these magnificent creatures, safely from behind glass windows. This zoo always has several typical Australian animals such as the kangaroo and the koala bear in bushland settings. There are the big cats, bears and African waterhole animals to round off the trip.

Go Ferry Riding On Oceanworld Manly

If you’re in Sydney, take a ferry or jetcat ride from Circular Quay to Oceanworld. Your kids will love watching sharks, turtles, shoals of multicolored fish and stingrays in the giant oceanarium. It’s safe to get them up close to baby crocodiles, venomous snakes, a variety of lizards and other dangerous reptiles at the reptile show.

Ferry On The Sydney Harbor

Take your kids on a ferry on Sydney Harbor and let them enjoy the sights. Take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly; stroll the golden beaches, visit the Oceanworld aquarium, eat at the lovely coffee shops and make a day out of it. Beautiful Sydney will keep your kids enthralled; you can even take a bus to North Head and show them the best Sydney coastal views.

Enjoy The Sydney Aquarium and Darling Harbor

Did you know that in the Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbor, you could view sharks, multi-colored fish and stingrays via the underwater viewing tunnels? You can even watch seals swimming underneath you in the seal enclosure! While at the Darling Harbor, be sure to enjoy the IMAX theatre, the National Maritime Museum and the Chinese Gardens.

Take A Wildlife Tour!

Safe wildlife tours are available to take you into the 10 acres of lush rainforest near Sydney. Beautiful, fragrant eucalyptus trees and other native trees perfume the air. Your kids will go crazy watching animals such as red & grey kangaroos, dingoes, koalas, echidnas, wombats, wallabies species, Australian native birds and emus in their natural habitats.

Visit The Sydney Powerhouse Museum

This great hands-on, family-friendly technology and culture museum has many exhibits the kids will enjoy. Added to this are the recorded music and voice effects that are cleverly integrated with the exhibits. Your kids just have to touch an exhibit and a voice will tell them what all about it. Your kids will also enjoy the specially designed KidSpace areas.

Watch The Penguin Parade In Melbourne

Give your kids a very special experience. Take them to Phillip Island and watch as they cavort among the fairy penguins. The penguin parade begins at dusk, on the beach, when they waddle to their burrows in the dunes. This is a remarkable sight and will form a lifetime memory for your kids.

Enjoy Farm Life For A Day!

Take your kids to the Fairfield City Farm in Sydney, to give them a chance to experience different kinds of farm animals, along with native and exotic species. If your kids are regular city bred, they will love to watch animals being sheared, milked and managed here. They can also see giant horses, go on tractor rides and watch stockwhip demonstrations. It’s the closest city kids can come to real farm life.

Walk Through Fitzroy Gardens In Melbourne

Fitzroy Gardens is a child’s delight. Here, your kids can see a model Tudor village, and the much-touted carved trunk of the Fairy Tree. If your kids are young enough to believe in fairy tales, Fitzroy Gardens is the place where they all took place. There’s Captain Cook`s cottage which used to house his parents, transported here all the way from Yorkshire in 1934. This delightful parkland area is also home to many of Australia’s native animals.

Teena Celis is content developer for unique gift ideas company Adrenalin that provide large range of experiences like hot air ballooning in Melbourne, Jet boat rides and V8 race experiences.

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10 Exercises You Can Do At Your Desk And Remain Fit!

2011-03-07T12:20:00.000-05:00

We all know the drill. A 9 to 5 job, long drives home, soccer practice runs, hours in front of the television while feeling tired and bored and to bed finally. How much do we move our bodies throughout the day? Not much, if you think about it. What happens to our bodies then? Slowly, our bodies lose their muscle content and become sluggish and lethargic. This spells doom in capital letters for most people.

So what can you do, if you aren’t able to find the time to hit the gym or the running track? Don’t worry, there are ways you can beat the flab sitting right where you are. Yes, that’s right. You can actually exercise right there at your desk and still manage to stay in shape. Read on to know more.

Pump your arms and legs up and down

Every hour or so, lift both arms and pump them vigorously for 30 seconds at a time. Rotate your arms as though you’re practicing to throw a ball. Quickly tap your feet on the floor for 30 seconds at a time while moving your ankles. This keeps the blood flowing to your extremities, while burning calories.

Twist your upper body

While holding on to your desk, stand straight, twist your torso completely left, and then right. You’re your desk with both your hands and bend your back as far as it will go. Repeat these moves several times until you feel relaxed and supple.

Stretch your hamstrings

Lean back in your chair and make sure your lower back is supported. Place your hands under your left knee and bring it up to your chest level. Do this several times and repeat with the other leg.

Practice golf moves

Join your hands together and bring them to your right shoulder. Pretend you’re holding a golf club and you’re about to hit your best shot. Swing your arms out, stretching your elbows and shoulders. Do the same with the other side. Repeat several times.

Do desk crunches

While sitting on your chair, keep your hands together and raise them above your head, stretching fully. Keep your body straight in your chair while bending forward from the waist. Rest your joined hands on the desk in front of you and put your head on them. Crunch your abdominal muscles, count up to five, and then relax while breathing out. Do the stretch, crunch and relax moves several times. Take care not to strain your back.

Tighten your gluts

Your buttocks tend to get flattened the more you sit. You need to tighten and tone them back into shape. As you work, take a few moments to tighten your buttocks. Hold them in that position for ten seconds and then release. Repeat several times and do this as often as you can. Squeeze your buttocks as tightly as you can for best results.

Expand your chest

Keep your hands together and join your fingers with your palms facing each other. Lift your arms above your head and further back, as much as you are able to. Throw your head back and stretch your back while squeezing your shoulder blades together. This opens up your chest and expands your lungs, allowing you to breathe easily, while working out your chest muscles.

Work those abs

Sit straight in your chair and press your feet on the floor. Keep your hands in your lap. Breathe in deeply. As you breathe in, clench your upper and lower abdominal muscles. Hold your breath for as long as you can and breathe out while relaxing your abs. Do this several times during the day to tighten your abs, and as an added benefit, achieving better breath control.

Stretch those legs!

Move your chair a few feet away from your desk. While keeping your lower back firmly pressed to the back of your chair, lift your legs off the floor. Spread your legs and stretch them out tightly, with the toes pointing out. You must feel the stretch in your calves, ankles, thighs and buttocks. Keep the stretch for a few seconds and then relax your legs. Do this several times to tone your legs and ensure better circulation.

Rotate your neck

People who work at their desks all day long tend to hold built up tension in their necks and shoulders and stress causes weight gain. Every now and then, take a break and relax your neck and shoulders. Throw your head back till the back of your head touches your upper back. Then slowly rotate your head in a complete circle, both clockwise and anti-clockwise. Alternate this with raised shoulder clenches to alleviate tension and relax your shoulder muscles. Remember to keep your neck and shoulders relaxed during this exercise.
John Smith manages an online nurses scrubs store that offers a wide range of scrub tops, pants and lab coats

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