Another Ultimate Blog Challenge Comes to an End

"I'm so glad we had this time together!" ~ Carol Burnett's theme song

Once again, the time has come to say goodbye to another great Ultimate Blog Challenge. It's a lot of work to post every day, but so rewarding. I had a great time this month! Did you, too, fellow UBC blogger?

My goal is always to increase my pageviews and I always do, so I heartily recommend this challenge to any bloggers reading this post who haven't tried it yet. In fact, this go-round was my best yet ~ 3000 pageviews!!

But the best part is meeting so many wonderful new people!

I hope for all of us who participated this time around that the benefits we received from this challenge will continue. I wish us more traffic, more comments, more wonderful connections with other bloggers, and all the fun of writing when you know someone will read what you've written.

See you guys next time!

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale happiness
 that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

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End of the Faerietale Happiness Challenge: Did it Work?

We've reached the end of the Faerietale Happiness Challenge!! Thanks so much for letting me share it with you!

Did you play along and try to create more happiness for yourself? If so, how did you do?

I learned SO MUCH about the simple things I can do each day to make myself happy while waiting to manifest some of the long-term changes I want to make.

My Highest-Rated Days...

How many things from my happiness list does it take to create an 8-rated or 9-rated day? Well, on each of the days I rated at an 8 or above, here's what I did...

I played a board game with my son that involved singing, which I love to do. I did faerie priestess work, I watched a Hallmark movie, I read a book I enjoyed, I created a happiness setpoint one day by doing a few happy things first.

And I have noticed in reviewing those days that I did at least 4 or 5 things from my list. And of the five, at least 2 were faerie work or meditation and spending time with my son doing something fun.

I think doing so many on those days means that on those days, most of my day was spent living in that enchanted, faerietale ideal I described for myself.

So to answer one of the questions I started the challenge with, it does take more than one thing from the list. More than two, even. So it takes real commitment to being happy.

Were there any days I rated at “10?” No. But I did have a “9” day that you can read about here…

My Biggest Insight

One of my biggest insights during this faerietale happiness challenge is that I need to be particularly careful to guard my happiness on days when I have errands to run or appointments to attend. And often what happens is that, pushed for time, I don't get to do anything that feels good before I have to leave.

But I'm going for an enchanted, faerietale life here, so I have decided that I need to really think about how to add enchantment on those days when I wake up thinking about everywhere I have to go, what I need to do first, what the challenges might be as I try to get ready, and what I'm not going to have time to do. Those are the days I need the faerietale most!

And going forward, I really want to pay attention to the way I start my day. Just doing a few things that make me happy before I tackle the day's to-do list can make all the difference in how I feel about the day overall. I’d like to create a happiness ritual for starting each day, but haven’t fully thought through what that would include yet.

Did it Work???

Did living in my happiness story to the best of my ability increase my daily simple happiness? Yes, it did!

Let's celebrate!

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerie Wish Wednesday

(photo credit: Michelle Skye's FB page)

 

"They grant wishes: beauty, foresight, wisdom and healing." ~Lucy Cavendish

It's Faerie Wish Wednesday!

Each week, you can share a wish here and I will bless it with my faerie wand and wish it along with you. What are you wishing for, today?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: What I Learned this Month

What Do I Do that Creates Faerietale Happiness?...

These are the things I did on the days that I gave a rating of 7 or above. What surprises me about them is how simple they are. Nothing fancy. But powerful, nonetheless.

(1) Drinking a yummy cup of tea

(2) Reading a good book

(3) Watching TV and hanging out with my son

(4) Watching a movie

(5) Listening to my favorite music and singing along

(6) Wearing my favorite colors (or shopping for & finding something in a fave color)

(7) Faerie meditations ~ maintaining spiritual practice is enchanting

(8) Enjoying the breeze as I walk, or watching the trees sway or connecting with the moon

My Insights about Faerietale Happiness...

(1) Spending time with family doing fun things like going out to eat or even playing a board game, makes me happy.

(2) Sometimes if you gather together enough of the good moments, they nullify the impact of the bad ones.

(3) It stresses me out when my plans change suddenly, so trying to plan well help me create more happiness on days like that. But sometimes, I just have to weather the change and create comfort when it’s finally all done!

(4) Thinking about or doing something that contributes to living my purpose makes me happy.

(5) Sometimes it feels like my to-do list runs the show more than anything else! But I am finding that if I create space in between the items on that list, and do something small that I enjoy (even just stopping to give my son a hug), it increases my overall sense of happiness.

Tomorrow, I'll tell you my biggest insight this month, and what I plan to do going forward.

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: The Important Questions

"If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!..."

Bet you're singing the rest of it. And if you want to sing the whole thing, click on that video.

But have you ever noticed that that children's song implies that it is possible to be happy and NOT know it? This possibility, that I might be happier than I thought I was, was part of the inspiration for this month-long faerietale happiness challenge I created.

Once I decided to do it, I thought about what an enchanted, faerietale life would be like for me. I wrote out a description and wondered if I could find a way to live enough of that story each day to feel happier overall.

I decided to try it & to measure my results by giving myself a daily simple happiness rating using a scale of 1-10. My goal was to see how many 7-plus days I could create in one month's time.

I made a top ten happiness list of things that seemed possible to do every day that would help me begin to create the enchanted life I had described. What would it take to create a day that I would rate at 7 or above?

Could I do it with just one item from the list? Two? How many would I need? These questions, and the ones I mentioned above, were the ones I set out to answer.

Tomorrow, I'll share the answers I discovered this month. On Wednesday, I'll share my plan for creating (7-plus) faerietale happiness going forward and offer some suggestions you can use to create happiness for yourself.

My goal: to live a more enchanted life & discover how to do it in one month's time. Did I do it? I'll tell you tomorrow. :)

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: The Cranky Report

In yesterday's post, I talked about the simple happiness of spring cleaning and said that cleaning is a gift that keeps on giving. What I didn't say is that it can be an expensive one! Especially for someone who has CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome).

After an enthusiastic burst of spring cleaning, the next day, I am not only tired but a wee bit cranky, as well. What to do about the tiredness and tension and irritability?

I slept in a bit, and decided not to push it. But I also created a plan for at least two things that will create happiness but not require a lot of energy. One was a favorite TV show. The other was quiet time, watching the trees sway in the breeze, listening to the ocean waves on my sound machine and doing a bit of nothing for a while.

Daily simple happiness rating? Well, overall, a 4. Not as high as I would like. But it did have a few 7 and 8 moments!

How was your day?

Have a wonderful weekend!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: Happy Spring Cleaning?

So, I need to confess right off here that I would not ever be likely to win a prize for spotless perfection in the housekeeping department.

First of all, I am highly sensitive to strong smells and most household cleaners, and allergic to almost everything. And secondly, even natural cleansers sometimes have a strong smell, and dusting creates dust as it is removing it.

But there are times when there is no help for it; you just have to clean and bear it!

(stacysrandomthoughts.com)

So you wouldn't think there would be anything about it that would create or increase happiness, would you? Not for someone like me.

But I spent a day recently doing some spring cleaning and I would give it a daily simple happiness rating of 6. Why so high? Two reasons...

(1) My son was cleaning alongside me and we were singing, laughing and keeping each other company. It made it much easier and even made it fun.

(2) When we were finished for the day, our home looked so much better, it was a pleasure to see, and to be there. Cleaning up is a gift that keeps on giving. :)

"Cleaning is a practice in loving, caring, and making a difference. 'Cleaning is the process of removing dirt from any space, surface, object, or subject, thereby exposing beauty, potential, truth, and sacredness,' says Tolu Ilesanmi. How's that for a positive outlook when you are staring down a toilet bowl or a sink full of dirty dishes?"~Spirituality & Health

(photo credit for the banner above: The Shop ~ Dos Lagos)

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: A Little Faerie Reading

 

One of the things that works every time I do it, to add enchantment and happiness to my day is to read things that support my faith. I can't remember if I added that to my original happiness list, but if I didn't, I need to, because it works so well.

"Livin' with elementals has harmed yer concentration because you get bored easily, like us. Not only that but you're forever discontented with yer life. That's because, in yer body and unconscious memories, you've known so much magic livin' with us. The human world is not nearly so appealin' to you now." ~~Tanis Helliwell, Summer with the Leprechauns

I have missed magic and enchantment most of my life! So I'm adding it back now. :)

The book attached to this quote, plus my daily spiritual practice & ritual, a little happy music and time spent with my son have combined to create a daily simple happiness score of 9. Yay!

What have you been doing lately that makes you happy?

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerie Wish Wednesday

(photo credit: Michelle Skye's FB page)

 

"They grant wishes: beauty, foresight, wisdom and healing." ~Lucy Cavendish

It's Faerie Wish Wednesday!

Each week, you can share a wish here and I will bless it with my faerie wand and wish it along with you. What are you wishing for, today?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: Happiness Rituals

One of the things I have been hoping to discover during this faerietale happiness challenge are which things in my happiness list, and which things that I didn't even think to include, make me feel happy and make the day a happier day overall without a lot of effort.

Could my daily ritual include both mundane and spiritual practices?

Well, one thing that already has impressed itself upon me as an important daily ritual is having a yummy cup of tea! Also: spending time connecting with my son.

But a couple of other rituals are standing out, too, that I want to share, and two of them make use of Sage Goddess products...



(1) Gaudium ~ an aromatherapy ritual oil I use every day. It is designed to create happiness and it does help. Just smelling it on me makes me feel good.

(2) The Fairytale Candle ~ what could be better for a faerietale happiness challenge?

The third thing is one I have mentioned before and it's meant to add enchantment: doing a brief faerie pathworking or a longer one when time permits. As a faerie priestess, this is my most important way of staying connected, but sometimes I let my busy schedule talk me out of taking the time to do it.

Lately, though, as part of this challenge, and even more so in the past few days, I have been deliberately making time for these practices and it gets my daily simple happiness rating up to 7 or higher.

I'm hoping that by the time I get to the end of this faerietale extravaganza, I will feel empowered by what has worked this month and know that I really can create my own happiness. I think it's working!

What are you discovering about what makes you happy?

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: What Makes You YOU?

The Faerietale Happiness Challenge: at the beginning of each week, I like to remind you guys of what I am doing this month. I am challenging myself to create happiness each day during my own faerietale happiness challenge.

I've written my own faerietale, describing my own vision of an ideal life, and created a list of things I can do each day now to create as much of the ideal as possible in my everyday experience. It's an experiment to discover if living my chosen story full out will make me happier.

Toward Living My Purpose: What Makes Me "Me"...

"What is it that you are made of that never ever stops being a part of you? What is it that people have always noticed about you? What do you do now that you've always done in some way or another, that you could never stop doing? Or that you maybe did stop doing and it nearly killed your spirit to stop doing it?" ~Brenda MacIntyre

What makes you YOU?

In the newsletter where I saw this quote, she listed three things that she has always been about throughout her 28-year career. I have thought of four, and I think that whenever I am thinking about or doing something that contributes to building my purpose in one of these ways, I feel happy.

(1) Helping people heal whatever keeps them from the life that's waiting for them

(2) Helping people discover what makes them happy & supporting them in making the changes they need to in order to be happier

(3) Helping people discover and become more of who they are meant to be

(4) Helping people develop a deeper daily spiritual practice/connection

Does living your purpose make you happy? Just making this list made me feel happier, but so does everything I do that is in line with my purpose.

Daily simple happiness score: 6

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: Soul Path Reading

(photo credit: Sage Goddess)

One of the ways I add enchantment to my day, which makes me happy, is oracle card readings. I've even begun creating my own oracle, which I love. And most of the time, I draw from one of my decks.

But occasionally, I get a reading from someone else, or someone posts a card or cards whose messages really seem to be calling my name. This is one of those times and the two cards were both from the Tarot (meanings quoted from Sage Goddess)...

The Hermit: The Hermit is the one who is lighting the path for others. A way-seer.

The Magician: This card means that you have all the tools. You just need to know how to use them.

Daily simple happiness rating is 7.

Have a wonderful weekend!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: Magic and a Movie

What a great day!

I started with a faerie pathworking, which lasted about 15 minutes, and was filled with guidance, healing and a powerful sense of connection with the Otherworld. I also did a magical moon ritual and let my candle (pictured above) continue burning once the ritual was over. Smelled so good!

My son and I watched a great family movie, and even he cheered at its happy ending. He also broke up the homeschooling portion of the day with some really good jokes.

Was it a perfect day? Heavens, no! There was conflict and irritability, tiredness and just not feeling so good. But the magic and the movie were more good than the negative parts of the day were bad.

Have you noticed that in your own day?

Daily simple happiness rating of 8.

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerie Wish Wednesday

(photo credit: Michelle Skye's FB page)

 

"They grant wishes: beauty, foresight, wisdom and healing." ~Lucy Cavendish

It's Faerie Wish Wednesday!

Each week, you can share a wish here and I will bless it with my faerie wand and wish it along with you. What are you wishing for, today?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: The Happiness Setpoint

Today, I want to tell you about a day that started out as a challenge day. When I woke up, I felt completely flattened!! And not just tired but kinda out of motivation for the day ahead.

So while my son and I ate breakfast, before homeschooling, before getting to work on the computer, we watched a couple of the TV shows we had saved on the DVR. I drank some vanilla tea, we got to hang out and talk, and we had a great time.

And even though there have been a few stressful moments after that, it was as if the good moments created a happiness setpoint for the day and because of that, I would still give it an overall simple happiness rating of 8 out of 10.

So I am realizing that I really need to pay a lot more attention to the way I start my day. Not just what can I get done or check off my to-do list, but what would make me feel happy before the rush begins?

What would create that kind of happiness setpoint for you?

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: The Care & Feeding of a Hermit

So I must confess that I am something of a hermit. I remember once at a church I used to go, I was invited to some kind of afternoon thing a friend of mine was planning to attend.

She described all the different things that would happen at this park gathering. Things for kids, music for grown-ups, etc. And I told her that there was nothing she described that sounded better to me than what I would be doing at home.

And that's the truth! Generally speaking, I would rather be at home.

So one of the things I am learning during this faerietale happiness challenge is that I need to be particularly careful to guard my happiness on days when I have errands to run or appointments to attend. And often what happens is that, pushed for time, I don't get to do anything that feels good before I have to leave.

But I'm going for an enchanted, faerietale life here, so I have decided that I need to really think about how to add enchantment on those days when I wake up thinking about everywhere I have to go, what I need to do first, what the challenges might be as I try to get ready, and what I'm not going to have time to do. Those are the days I need the faerietale most! :)

I had yet another day like that recently and to be honest, the number three comes to mind when I think about giving it a simple happiness rating. 3. Some frustrating things happened, some impatient moments occurred, and then there was some sadness.

But there were good moments, too, like when my mom, and son and I were harmonizing to "For the Longest Time" in the car, or when we stopped for lunch at Carey Hilliard's.

So what I need to figure out is: how can I create enough magic, enchantment and simple happiness as a sandwich around the parts of the day I don't particularly love, so that my overall assessment, and hopefully, my ongoing assessment, is more positive? That's what I will be working on as the month, and this happiness experiment, continues.

What would you put on your happiness sandwich? :)

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: Quiet Days

As a reminder, I am doing a 30-day challenge this month: I am challenging myself to create happiness each day during my own faerietale happiness challenge.

I've written my own faerietale, describing my own vision of an ideal life, and created a list of things I can do each day now to create as much of the ideal as possible in my everyday experience. It's an experiment to discover if living my chosen story full out will make me happier.

And so far, it seems to be working!

But what do you do during the quiet days?

I have so much to do, and almost all of it would feel good. Not just to accomplish, but to do. But unfortunately, I overdid it during the errand extravaganza I posted about on Friday, and am still recovering.

I should change that to "choosing to use today to recover," but honestly, I am torn. I really want to get more done than I will be able to and am right now trying to decide between competing items on the to-do list. Rest is supposed to be at the top of my list right now, but that is my least likely accomplishment.

So, I know that if I want to create a daily simple happiness score of 7 or higher (my goal each day), then I need to choose from among my happiness list in addition to the "to-do" one.

I did spend some time with my son, and now, he is off to work on his creative writing. Perhaps I'll listen to some music. I have a Celtic CD that is very soothing and it would be a great backdrop to whatever else I choose. Especially my own writing chores!

But first, some toe-tapping, exquisite harmony inspiration...

I like their version better than the original, and now, that I've listened, and clapped & tapped my toes, I'm awake and feeling a bit more enthusiastic. Now for some more inspiration, and this by way of really GORGEOUS harmonies that grab you as you listen...

Could not resist singing along and boy, that gave me goosebumps! LOVE that song for its beauty and harmony. And now, I would give this day a rating of 8 and I feel ready to head for the to-do list.

What do you do on days when you just don't have a full day in you? I am finding that often even something small, like lighting a yummy-smelling candle or listening to amazing music has a  powerful impact on the way I feel.

Have a great day!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: The Errand Extravaganza

I live in a suburban area so I try to schedule several errands or appointments for the same day if I have to "go into town."

So there was quite a bit of hurry up and wait in my day! And I only had time for the briefest of spiritual practices before it was time to leave. These are the days that drain me.

Lunch!

But keeping my simple happiness goal in mind, I did decide in the middle of it all that I had better stop and eat lunch. Sometimes I try to push on through to make my time away end sooner, but I could tell that my blood sugar was getting low and that's not a very happy feeling at all.

My mother was along for the ride and the three of us (son, mother and me) had a great time eating lunch together, hanging out and singing songs while we were in the car. I also wore my favorite color (orange) and that made me feel happier and gave me some energy.

Mother and Child Reunion

I do want to share a poignant moment that happened during one of the prolonged periods of waiting I endured.

I saw a mother holding her toddler son and my eyes met his as he leaned his head against hers, grabbed her neck & shoulder, and looked around for something interesting. At 13, my son is far too big to hold that way and he can no longer be bothered with cuddling.

So I enjoyed watching the mother and son, and missed the days when I used to hold my own son that way.

When we got back, my son and I watched a couple of TV shows together before I got on the computer to get some work done. All in all, waiting and tiredness and moment of loss notwithstanding, I give the day a simple happiness rating of 6.

I continue to marvel at the way that just paying attention makes the good outrank the less good moments of the day. Do you find that to be the case, as well?

Have a wonderful weekend!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: Dealing with Challenge Days

Challenge Days

Although I often wake up without a structured plan for my days, I'm thinking that usually there must be something hanging out in the back of my mind, because if something comes along to shake things up, I still get stressed about it. I think of those days as challenge days because I have to adapt on the spot and figure out what to do, instead of whatever I thought would happen.

Another kind of challenge day happens when I am just too tired to do much of anything but still feel the pressure of something that must be done. And I have chronic fatigue syndrome, so when I say tired, I mean TIRED!

Creating the Good Moments

What I am finding is that even on those days, making it my intention to create moments I enjoy helps to make it a day that overall is one I remember fondly.

Like drinking my favorite tea. Playing a fun game with my family. Enjoying the breeze as I walk back from the car to my home.

I give my most recent challenge day a daily simple happiness rating of 6.

How is your day going?

Hope it's wonderful!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerie Wish Wednesday

(photo credit: Michelle Skye's FB page)

 

"They grant wishes: beauty, foresight, wisdom and healing." ~Lucy Cavendish

It's Faerie Wish Wednesday!

Each week, you can share a wish here and I will bless it with my faerie wand and wish it along with you. What are you wishing for, today?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: A Dr. Seuss Great Day

One of the things I am learning while doing this challenge is that moments of happiness should be planned for and spread throughout the day, not saved for after all the work is done, when I might be too tired to enjoy them!

I had a nearly perfect day that in retrospect was not exactly orderly. When I got up, the first thing I did was watch a TV show with my son that I had saved on my DVR. Then we drank vanilla and apple cider tea and ate breakfast and afterward, instead of rushing into work and homeschooling, we played Encore.

(photo credit: meijer.com)

That was so much fun!! We both love to sing, so imagine a game where you get to sing. We aren't sure what the rules are, because this lower-priced Amazon purchase came without any instructions whatsoever, but we have a blast every time we play.

Then, when I did get to work, planning a faerie priestess course I am working on, I enjoyed it, too.

I took a break for a little spring cleaning, followed by reading and a Hallmark movie.

Now, I did pair some work online while watching the movie but what a great day. I give it a daily simple happiness rating of 8.

What was your last day of simple happiness like?

Want some happiness now? Listen to this video I found in another UBC blogger's recent post...

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faerietale Happiness Challenge: Faerie Work

In yesterday's post, I gave you a recap of what I am doing this month, and talked about the shopping I've done recently. Well, today, one of the shirts I ordered arrived and I am thrilled with it. Great way to start the day!

I'm having a great day, today, so far! In fact, I would give the start of the day a daily "simple happiness" rating of 8. How's your day going?

I want to mention, too, that I have chronic fatigue syndrome, so I am tired a lot of the time, and sometimes I feel sick in one way or another. So my happiness comes in spite of this and other challenges.

Anyway, I started the day with a faerie pathworking (several of my spirit animals came with me, including my sea turtle) and then spent some time planning a faerie book club reading schedule, homeschooling and hanging out with my son. I really enjoy my faerie work! And I love homeschooling and hanging out with my son.

What I'm looking forward to later: connecting with some of my friends on Facebook, watching some of my favorite TV shows and spending time with my son. (there might be a yummy bowl of cereal in my future, too, when snack time comes around)

What has been the best part of your day, so far? Were you happy?

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

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Faerietale Happiness Challenge: Shopping & Authenticity

If you've been reading along this month, you know this already, but for any welcome new guests who have just arrived, here's a recap of what I am doing...

This month, I am challenging myself to create happiness each day during my own faerietale happiness challenge. I've written my own faerietale, describing my own vision of an ideal life, and created a list of things I can do each day now to create as much of the ideal as possible in my everyday experience. It's an experiment to discover if living my chosen story full out will make me happier.

How was your weekend?

I've been doing some shopping. Self-expression and authenticity are very important to me, so I want what I put on myself to reflect who I am inside. And I shop with this in mind.

Well, several months ago, I met with David Zyla and received a personalized color palette with customized style recommendations. Ever since then, I've been adding to my wardrobe here and there, and wearing what I've got already that matches those colors.

One thing I've discovered that adds to my happiness is (1) wearing my favorite colors and (2) looking in the mirror and really seeing me. There's a magic that has been happening lately that makes me see myself more clearly, and others have given me feedback that they see it, too.

So, I had some frustration because some of the colors I want most are hard to find right now, but I also had some success, and am eagerly awaiting what I ordered to come in the mail. :)

Being who you are, expressing what's you at the core and seeing yourself clearly in the mirror. Does that make you happy, too?

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

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Faerietale Happiness Challenge: The Good Just Might Win!

One of the reasons I decided to do this faerietale happiness challenge is that I have suspected for a while that I am happier than I think I am. I think it's too easy to let worries and stress block the sun, so to speak, so that I don't count the everyday, ordinary (or even special) good moments I experience.

Planning this challenge was part of my attempt to see what would happen if I got really on purpose about it. And so far, what's happening is that I am more aware of that moment-to-moment happiness I suspected was there.

So I've decided that whenever I remember to do so, I'm going to check in with myself and give myself a simple happiness rating for that moment. Then maybe I can use the average as my daily score.

Or not. Because if I did that for some days, my score would be about 4 or 5  when my overall impression is more like 6 or 7.

Good Moments...

Yummy cup of tea
Reading my book: Second Star to the Right
Watching the Modern Family marathon with my son
Watching the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
Ordering a few of my favorite things :)

So here's an insight: sometimes if you gather together enough of the good moments, they nullify the impact of the bad ones.

Want some feel good as we head into the weekend?...

Have a great weekend!

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

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Faerietale Happiness Challenge: The First Couple of Days

As you know, if you're reading along, I am challenging myself to create happiness each day during my own faerietale happiness challenge. I've written my own faerietale, describing my own vision of an ideal life, and created a list of things I can do each day now to create as much of the ideal as possible in my everyday experience. It's an experiment to discover if living my chosen story full out will make me happier.

Though my intention is to do as many of the things on my list as I can, I know that realistically, there will be days when I can only do one or two, or when a whole day is given to just one thing. The first couple of days were that way in a sense.

My family was celebrating a birthday so we spent time with my mom and went out to eat, played games and just had more fun, in general, than usual. My son loves my mother and it was wonderful, as always, to watch them together.

I would give the first couple of days a faerietale happiness score of 7.

How's it going for you?

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

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Faerie Wish Wednesday

(photo credit: Michelle Skye's FB page)

 

"They grant wishes: beauty, foresight, wisdom and healing." ~Lucy Cavendish

It's Faerie Wish Wednesday!

Each week, you can share a wish here and I will bless it with my faerie wand and wish it along with you. What are you wishing for, today?

During the months that I participate in The Ultimate Blog Challenge, my wish is always to connect with wonderful new people I don't yet know, but also an ongoing wish that the people who need me will find me.

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

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Faerietale Happiness: Make a Top Ten List

In yesterday's posts, I shared that I have created a happiness challenge for myself and invited you to join me. And I described what an enchanted, faerietale life would be like for me. So if you're joining me, and haven't done that yet, that is the place to start.

Here's what to do next...

Make a List & Check it Twice...

Out of a happiness list of 20 or more possibilities based on the description of my ideal, happy life, here are my top ten, my favorite ways to be happy on a daily basis.

So your next step is to take a look at your description of what an enchanted life would be like for you and find ten ways you can begin to live that life now. Here's my list...

(1) Have a yummy cup of tea and take the time to savor it

(2) Do a faerie pathworking, read a book about faerie faith

(3) Take brief one-minute meditation breaks where I turn up my ocean waves sound & imagine a walk by the sea

(4) Spend time hanging out with my son, playing a game or watching a movie or TV show we both like.

(5) Schedule in time for reading

(6) Go for a walk in the sunshine

(7) Listen to music I love

(8) Watch an ocean waves or fireplace video, watch the trees sway in the breeze or stare at the moon

(9) Wear my favorite colors (especially orange)

(10) Light my favorite candles or find other ways to smell my favorite scents

Give Yourself a Daily "Simple Happiness" Score...

The plan is to choose as many of these happiness boosters as I can each day and then give each day an overall score using a scale of 1 to 10.

Want to play along this month?

What would be on your list?

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

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My Enchanted Faerietale Life

YOUR Life?

What would your ideal life be like? I don't just mean winning the lottery, though I certainly encourage you to dream big.

But let's say you did win the lottery. After you bought everything you wanted to buy with your new wealth, and had settled into it all a bit, what would your wonderful daily life be like?

This was the question I asked myself when I decided to create this challenge. And the answers I discovered are what I will be sharing each day this month.

MY Life

I think I would want to have more than one place to live. One with trees and a river or lake view, and one with salty ocean breezes and the sound of the surf. Every window in either place would offer a view, and going for a walk each day would be a pleasure because there would be nature to connect with all around me.

In my indoor living space, I also would want lots of different rooms rather than that open space concept that is so popular these days. A healing room, an office, a family room, a separate dining room, a living room for "company" and a guest bathroom that never got used so that it could be sparkling clean whenever anyone came over. All of that that I just described means peace of mind to me!

What else?

The Faerietale Details of Simple Happiness

Several places to curl up in sublime comfort with a cup of tea and a really good book. A slower pace so that there would be plenty of time to read.

(photo credit: favim.com)

Time, also, for hanging out with my family, watching TV or movies and going out, occasionally, for a yummy meal that none of us has to cook.

Lots of faerie enchantment. A rich spiritual practice and time for it on a daily basis. Pathworkings that keep me connected and the certainty that I am living my purpose and following my guidance.

Delicious smells everyday from candles, candlewarmers or other sources.

A wardrobe that expresses who I am and makes me feel both beautiful and happy every time I get dressed.

Doing work that I love that fully supports me.

The Challenge

To see what happens if I do all I can to live this story I've just written. Will I feel happier? Even if it isn't all perfectly in place?

Only time will tell. Want to come along with me? I'd love the company.

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

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The 30-Day Faerietale Happiness Challenge

The Faerietale Happiness Challenge...

Have you ever wondered or thought about what it would take to make you happy? What about being happy every day for a month? How would you do that, if that were your challenge?

Inspired by the suspicion that I am happier than I think I am, and that my own faerietale happiness is more possible than I know, I decided to create a challenge to see what I could do with a month dedicated to that purpose.

My Questions...

(1) Am I happier than I think I am?
(2) Can I create more happiness by doing things each day that I think will make me happy?
(3) Can I do that even if I have challenges that are unresolved, like chronic fatigue syndrome and a decided lack of wealth? ;)
(4) What does it take?

Each day, except on weekends, I'll be sharing my results here. But first things first: identifying what this faerietale life would be like and creating a list of things I can do to create it.

Want to join me? I'd love to have your company!

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

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Blog Plan for April: The Ultimate Blog Challenge

Look what I'll be doing this month!

It's time again for the Ultimate Blog Challenge and I will be participating by blogging here every day this month. It's a great way to connect with and meet other bloggers, and every time I have done it, I get really good increases in traffic to my blog.

This month, I also will be participating in a challenge of my own making. I'm calling it The Faerietale Happiness Challenge and I will be explaining what it is in a blog post later today.

I hope you'll join me. And if you're visiting from the Ultimate Blog Challenge, I wish you a great month of blogging and growth in your blog's community!

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What if you could finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the faerietale life
that's waiting for you?
http://www.faerietalecoach.com

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