With Days and Days of Rain and cloudy, grey skies,  people have a tendency to fight the blues….

As someone who has made a conscious effort to choose happiness, I rely heavily on tools like

the Gratiude Journal I share daily on my blog. 

I researched other ways and one really struck me….

It suggested planning a vacation or trip even if it’s just a small one has a tremendous boost for happiness levels.  

I guess that means I’ll continue to be on Cloud 9 for the entire year between now and the lifetime dream of going to Ireland!  

Linking up today withDC Style 

Dinner out with Friends…. 

I love the beginning of season and weather changing that allows for me to debut new items that I’ve has since July and August…

Debuting the grey faux leather I picked up at the Wislon Outlet store  and the new scarf from ebay. 

I started this outfit with the grey and black , knowing I would pop a color with it and chose the green .

I could do this same outfit changing out the accessories for cobalt, oraange, red, yellow, pink or purple… 

I hope you don’t get sick of my anticpation of the Ireland trip

and how my thinking is revolving around it so much these days….

I mention this because thinking of all the color ways I could mix this outfit up is preplanning

for how to pack for that two week trip. 

Dear Readers, I really like this tool for happiness and know the power of it as I’ve taken several trips in recent years and even one a short drive away to the North Carolina created  months of joyful anticipation for all of us. I’ve seen it in my  two oldest children .My son  recently took a trip to California and my daughter took a small trip to her alma matter.  Just wondering if you my dear readers recognize how this has done the same for you?   If  you have no vacation planned or limited funds, I think the anticipation of even a one day drive to an interesting location in your neck of the woods could have the same results. In fact research showed that planning and not going still had great results. I disagree with that idea as  last months fiasco with my husband’s job meant a huge dent in the possibility of us going on our first ever cruise and that felt terrble and sent me into a real funk!  Ireland trumps the cruise any day, but vacations with my husband’s coworkers are always delightful….

I’ll be including other tools for happiness this next week so stay tuned! 

Gratitude

I am grateful for a weekend of time with friends!  I had two girls days and then a couple night out and it was wonderful!

I am grateful for couple friends where we genuinely love both parts of the couple as in times past we have tolerated one partner but not truly loved them both…LIfe in your 40’s is Amazing!!!

I am grateful that I scored the best hiking boots while thrifting for my Ireland trip- pictures will be posted on Friday! 

I am grateful that my husband is eating healhier and we are both caring about our health and getting our bodies in shape, he’s lost two inches this year and is maintaining it! 

I am gratefuol for Pinterest and homeschooling bloggers who provided exciting new information and helpful insights!