Happy Hour

Everyday I have Happy Hour. No, I am not slinging back a few with friends to ease a hard day (although there are days where the idea sounds pretty good. My Happy Hour is one precious hour out of my busy day that is entirely for me. It's not shared with the kids or my husband and when I'm in my Happy Hour, I am doing something I enjoy. It helps to relax me and unwind any tension and stress. I love my Happy Hour. So many of us get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and forgot to sit back and enjoy life for a while. Have a Happy Hour! To create a "Happy Hour" for ourselves we don't need to become inebriated, there are millions of inventive things we can do to make ourselves happy. The point of a Happy Hour is to carve out one hour in the day to do something that makes you happy.
I have listed some ideas that I always enjoy. I'd love to know what you do. What do you do that makes you happy? It can be anything at all, the point is to take one hour out of the day and let your hair down!

Listen to some good music. The words of a song put it best "Girls put your records on, tell me your favorite song. You go ahead let your hair down." There is nothing in this world like happy, uplifting music. So turn up the radio and sing! Which leads me to my next idea....

Dance!! Shake it! I love to dance whether it's around my house or out with a group of people. Dance has always been a huge part of my life. I was in dance as a very young child and my interest in it continued into when I was older. My siblings and I used to turn the music up and dance like crazy while our parents were out. I began taking bellydance and I fell in love. Now I do it everyday. Dance and music go hand in hand. It's a way for the soul to express it's self. Let the music just take you away and let go.

Play with a child or pet. Children are able to retreat into their own little made up worlds when they want to get away from their life stressors. As we grow old we often forget how to play. We becomes to busy, to mature for such things. Sitting down with a child or even a playful puppy or kitten and just playing for a while is sure to put a smile on your face. Tea partys, tug-o-war, even a game of peek-a-boo does wonders for the soul. If you honestly don't know how to play it's okay. Children and animals alike are very patient and eager teachers.

Pamper yourself. Yes I know what you are thinking. I'm to busy, money is too tight ect... Now I didn't say that you needed to book flight to the Cayman Islands for a week long spa resort vacation. No matter how tight money is or how little time in the day we have there is always a way to pamper yourself. Take a bubble bath, sit down with friends or your daughters and give each other make-overs, manicures or a pedi. Try wearing your hair differently one day or even grab an at home hair dye and switch up the color if you are feeling brave. Go for a long walk in a park by yourself. Take a nap! Buy yourself something nice, big or little. Maybe a necklace you've been wanting or a new piece of clothing or even a piece of chocolate. (Hey, they have proven that 3 oz. of dark chocolate a day helps to keep your heart healthy so it's technically not cheating on your diet.) The point is to do something for yourself that you normally don't.

Workout! Most of us dread that word but put some fun into it and you will find that it is the most delightful part of your day. For me, it's doing kickboxing and dance. For other people it may be swimming or even running. Tennis, yoga, whatever floats your boat. Just do something you love and then enjoy the endorphine release that you get from it. That is a true happy hour! :)

Write. Take time to write in a journal, post on a blog, reconnect with friends and family by writing them a letter. No one ever writes letters anymore. We are all to "advanced" for that. So get in touch with this lost art. The people you write will love you for it.

Have a girl's night. Before Ammon was born I had girl's nights at my house and over at friends. Sometimes we would go out, other times we would just stay in. Once he is a little older you can rest assured that I will be picking this practice back up. It's so nice to have a night to connect with friends, as women and just let loose. We have gone on until 2 in the morning at times. If your husband doesn't seem to sure of the idea of a bunch of women in the house for hours on end, just offer him a "man's night". Matthew loved it! He and his friends got to play video games and eat pizza all night. It was a win-win for everyone. So get the girls together and have a blast, watching movies, eating out, playing games or just having some good girl talk!

Today I want everyone to have a "Happy Hour" and everyday after. Treat yourself good. If you aren't happy then it will be hard to make everyone else happy. Friends, boyfriends, husbands, kids and other family members don't want to be around a grumpy butt. So go and find your happy! :)