(Merry) Moment of Joy

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! I guess you can tell that I haven't been around the blog-o-sphere lately, but I'm back with this adorable holiday greeting from friends with fins. Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season...

Moment of Joy

I stumbled across this randomly today, and it made me smile. For that reason alone I think it's worth sharing with others. Be a happy bird! Find your french fry!

Now this is culture!

I recently downloaded all of Shakespeare's sonnets from the Listening Library for free! So obviously I am revisiting my glory days of Shakespeare plays and Ms. Czekaj's class, thinking about the annual "I Love My Willy... Shakespeare" performance.

Who says grad students have no class?

Moment of Joy

Wait a minute... it's November?!?! But... what happened to October? You see, this is what I get for ignoring the entire month of September and pretending it doesn't exists; suddenly the end of the year sneaks up on you.

Anyway, I thought I'd post a Moment of Joy from waaaaay back. Now that I think about it, this picture is 6 years old. Holy crow! How did I get so old?!?!

This is from a series of pictures I took during my first semester of my undergrad career, a bright eyed and bushy tailed freshman. I loved that lake on campus. I spent a lot of time walking or just sitting by it, watching the geese and red-winged black birds, the beaver or just the way the water rippled in the wind. It sounds overly poetic, but I just liked being very still and watching things by the lake.

So here is an autumnal photo from years ago. I bet if I were by that lake now, it'd look very much the same.

Small, Fuzzy Buddha

I'm not entirely sure what it is, but I admire it's zen. It's like a little monk, or a furry Buddha. I think he'd be a great family pet, or maybe more like a spiritual adviser. He just exudes inner peace...

Incidentally, the featured camelid at the end of this video is lovely. I'd love to knit a sweater from that fiber, but I feel like they'd object. Now if I made a sweater for them...



*UPDATE* Speaking of camelids... see that little guy at the end? The one who awkwardly face-plants into the ground? Yeah... that pretty much describes my first day back at grad school...

Moment of Joy

For some reason this picture just tickled my fancy. It makes me smile for so many reasons!

My mom still will catch my bare feet and play piggies with me. And the picture itself... that little piggy nose! That impossibly tiny puppy! It's sweet with a touch of sarcasm.

I hardly know what I want more: a BLT or my own micro-piglet.

Moment of Joy

One thing I noticed while traveling the UK a few years ago was that, even though the majority of the homes and flats had little in the way of land so to speak, that was no deterrent to the pragmatic and determined Brits and Scots from growing a garden in everything from window boxes to planters to plots of ground no bigger than a lawn chair.

And best of all? Each was unique, perfect and absolutely gorgeous. A rather impressive feat in my mind, especially since I can barely keep my mint plant from committing suicide (more on that sad story to follow)...

This picture happens to be one of my all time favorites!

Moment of Joy

Lacking the energy to tackle a Project Hera lesson I am simply offering the world a cute puppy today.

This is probably a better use of my time anyhow...

Moment of Joy

I don't know how I feel about this new pop culture fashion trend, but the UK's Daily Mail had a whole spread on dog dyeing. Retrievers become tigers. Chows become pandas. Pomeranian become... smaller pandas.

Hope you enjoy, because I'm not sure if these pups do...

Words of wisdom...

As you go throughout life, remember that you'll have good days, you'll have bad days, and in the end things will probably be okay.

And some days you get the be the raptor, and others you're just the cheerleader...

Enjoy!

Moment of Joy

Happy summer! On this beautiful official-first-day I can't help but look out of my windows at all of the sunshine and think about beaches, sunbathing, mini-vacations and doing nothing. The freedom and relaxation are certainly welcome!

To celebrate, here is a little video I stumbled across. I think it pretty much sums up my enthusiasm today!

Moment of Joy

The day is near! It might seem silly or juvenile, but for my family Disney World truly is the happiest place on earth. And this Saturday we are on our way...

Super Boy and I are particularly  excited to go; it's not just a vacation to us. It's not just pop culture and cartoon characters. It's more than just hanging by a pool or going on rides. To us, it's symbolic in a way, as ridiculous as it may seem. It's about our families, and happiness, and laughing. It's about silliness, pure joy, and leaving stress and worries behind, if only for a few days.

For us, Disney brings together all of the best things of life...

So while we pack, beg our friends for rides to and from the airport, and checking and double checking our flight status, we keep one things in mind: we're going to the happiest place on earth, and for a few days, all the world is right!

Not many days left...

Moment of Joy

Bonus post of the day!

I know I've already offered a critique of the jury selection process for today, but I'm a nice person and wanted to share this video, too. In a belated tribute to Mother's Day and moms everywhere, I give you the Adventures of Baby Cats and Mom Cat.

This video actually reminds me of my mom. Whenever I end up sliding and and need help getting back on my own paws, my mom is always there to lift me by the scruff of the neck and lovingly carry me back to safety.

Or something to that effect...

So here's to you mom, with much love and many meows.

Moment of Joy

So I am in the middle of my finals, and in less than a week I will have completed my first year as criminal justice doctoral student. If I ever needed a pick me up, it's now... so in honor of the last statistic exam I will ever (hopefully) have to take, I give you a silly video.

Enjoy!

Spring has Sprung!

Spring is finally, finally here to stay in the Northeast! I can't be happier! So in celebration of my favorite season of all, I'll be posting a series of springtime and warm weather videos, articles and recipes. Also stay tuned for some fun DIY projects inspired by some very talented people around the blogosphere!

For today's Moment of Joy, check out this "bird house." I'm actually pretty jealous :)

Love is in the Air

This week Super Boy and I will be together three years. And in a little more than two, we'll be getting married. I've done a bit more wedding research this weekend and I've come to the conclusion that weddings, like any family function, are political drama fests disguised as parties. Who gets to be a bridesmaid? Do I have to have Lady Diva (middle sister)? Do I have to invite Gavone (Diva's obnoxious boyfriend)? Can my cousins be his groomsmen? Can I put all the people I don't like at a table in the back?I know I'm going to have to give in a lot to keep the peace, and sometimes I'll have to grin and bear it when I'd really rather be screaming.

On the bright side, my mom and Weasel (youngest sister) are both very involved in the planning. So much so that I sometimes get phone calls from them telling me what they have decided my wedding will be like. So far velour tracksuits are the worst suggestion (I hope they were kidding) and a two week honeymoon to Disney World the best (although it looks my entire family will be joining Super Boy and I...).

What have I learned in the end? It's going to be a busy two years, and patience will be a virtue I must nurture. I'm sure I'll laugh about this in years to come...

PS- I designed the image above as a potential "wedding logo" for Super Boy and I. It was the first time I've used photoshop in years and I really am just proud on myself! Consider it this week's Moment of Joy!

Moment of Joy

I don't often have a lot of time to get creative, but when the mood strikes me I tend to craft at the speed of lightning. One afternoon, three projects. And I must say the process, from planning to finished product, is such a joy to me.

This is my second vintage mixed media collage, which I jokingly call my "Postcard from Africa."  Ironically, the day after I made this collage Super Boy and I made a day trip to the Philadelphia Zoo for an end of the holiday adventure (I get really depressed when school starts, so this was a real pick me up!). And what do we see running through an enclosure? Yup, the bird you see above. They are even more beautiful in person!

Also... happy birthday, Super Boy! I love you, endlessly...

Moment of Joy

My most recent attempt at "art." The Borders in town is going out of business (tear) and I picked up a vintage collage kit for a song. And here is my first endeavor with my new supplies. Roses and cheeky little birds. Two of my favorite things in the world. I can't help but smile!

Moment of Joy

To follow up with yesterday's video, here is another classic from the Muppets. I love Beaker. He actually reminds me a little of my dad, who happens to be a chemical engineer (but  he has better luck than Beaker and Professor Honeydew).

I think I'll be walking down the aisle to this...

Moment of Joy

Now this is quality entertainment! Brought to you by the Muppet's, an epic Moment of Joy! The perfect pick-me-up!