36Smile!

In case you didn't notice, the "S" in the title is supposed to look/act like a "5" because this is something I'm starting for the new year:

Project 365Smile

In the new year I am determined to be happier no matter what life has to throw at me. I can handle anything. So as part of that determination I will be writing about something that makes me smile, laugh, etc. Be it a memory, a person, a phone call, an image, a song. We smile a lot more than we actually know so why not write about it and hopefully give others an opportunity to smile too.

It's also proven that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile—why use more muscle to make you feel worse? Know that feeling you get after a great workout or run; a phone call to catch up with an old friend; the fact that you saved enough to buy that purse you've been eying? Well, we should feel like that more often.

Since today is the third day of the new year, I am starting this out with three things that have made me smile in the past three days. Granted, I have smiled A LOT more than three times, but for the sake of this blog—and your time—I will only tell you about three:

January 1
My sister and her fiance were here to spend the New Year with my husband and I. Smiles all around! It brought me back to my college days with her fiance—who I consider a big brother—and getting ready to go out with them. It also brought me back to the days of living with my sister and putting on make up and trying on way too many outfits before we decided on the right one. And finally, it reminded me of the first time my husband I got ready to go out together while we lived in our very first place together. Memories with the ones you love with make your heart smile long after the event takes place.

January 2
As I was walking my dog, I saw an old Red, Toyota Corolla. The VERY FIRST car my parents gave me and my sister and brother was a Red, Toyota Corolla. Not the best car, but it was OUR car. I even remember the smell, the old leather seats and the homemade banner my mom made and placed it in the back: Congrats on your new car! Brings a smile to my face as I'm writing it.

January 3
Looking at our lit and decorated Christmas tree. Our "First Christmas" ornament; all the cards from our family and friends; the angel topper my parents sent us. Because I know this will probably be the last day—or week— we'll have it up. It was our very first tree Chris and I bought and decorated together as a married couple. We are making our own Christmas traditions together and that makes me happy.

I hope this inspires you to smile more and I would love to hear about what makes you show those pearly whites! Anything at all—leave your comments below!

Hope y'all had a happy, healthy and blessed Christmas and New Year.

P.S. If you haven't watched Uncle Kracker's video posted here, watch it. It will definitely make you smile on this first day back to work from a long holiday break :)