10 Simple things to make you happier in your home...

(Editor's Note: In honor of the International Day of Happiness, here is one of our most popular posts on the topic - enjoy!)

Our homes are an extension of who we are: what we do within the walls of our abodes shapes our mood, affects our productivity, and influences our outlook on life. Scientific studies have shown that we can have an impact on our happiness by adjusting the tiny little habits and routines that constitute our daily lives — we are, in fact, in control of our outlook on life.

It's amazing how a few tweaks to our daily habits can become a catalyst for meaningful, positive change. Here are a few simple things you can do every day to feel happier at home.

1. Make your bed. In a popular post last month, I explained the many benefits of daily bed-making. Gretchen Rubin, New York Times best-selling author ofThe Happiness Project, explains that this three minute task is one of the simplest habits you can adopt to positively impact your happiness.

2. Bring every room back to "ready." I learned this trick from Marilyn Paul's clever book, It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys. It's a known fact: Clutter causes stress; order creates a haven from it. This mood-boosting routine is simple: Take about three minutes to bring each room back to "ready" before you depart it. (Unless you have a toddler, or a partner who likes to simulate earthquakes, three minutes should be sufficient.)

3. Display sentimental items around your home. One reason that experiences (and memories of those experiences) make us happier than material things is due to the entire cycle of enjoyment that experiences provide: planning the experience, looking forward to the experience, enjoying the experience, and then remembering the experience. Make your home a gallery of positive memories.

4. Start a one-line-a-day gratitude journal. Before bed, simply jot down one happy memory from that day. (If you have kids, you can ask them, "What was the best part of today?") Reflection is an important part of happiness, and pausing to reflect on a positive event from each day cultivates gratitude. (An added bonus: Later, when your memory is defunct, you will already have all of your meaningful adventures recorded!) If you have trouble getting started with journaling, consider buying a book to guide you. Simple Abundance, by Sarah Ban Breathnach, is a great one.

5. If you can't get out of it, get into it. This tip comes from The Happiness Project. I love the message: The dishes are not going to clean themselves, so you will do it, and you will like it! (Unless, of course, you can outsource this job, in which case I say: Nice work!) Otherwise, get into doing the dishes. Feel the soothing warm water on your hands. Enjoy the tickle of the tiny bubbles. Crank your favorite album at an unusually loud volume, do a couple fist-pumps while shouting "Can I get a hell yeah for the dishes? Hell! Yeah!" and pretend you love it.

6. Before you get up each morning, set an intent for the day. In The Art of Happiness, the Dali Lama says ""Every day, think as you wake up: today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it." Wow. What a wise man. I tend to wake up with a strong visceral reaction that says, "Attention human beings: Be afraid of me before coffee. Be very afraid!" Setting a daily intent makes a huge difference. Your daily intent could be something like "be productive" or "enjoy today's delicious moments" or it could be something more specific like "say thank you to my loved ones today." But it should not be another "to do" item on your list.

7. Do small favors for your housemates, expecting nothing in return (not even a thank you!). (That's right, I said it: nothing!) Mow the lawn for your husband, but don't expect him to pat you on the back. Make the bed for your wife, but don't try to get bonus points for it. Take the trash out for your roommate, just because. The ability to cultivate strong, healthy relationships is one of the biggest contributors to health and happiness, but when you start to keep score, the benefit is lost. (No! It's YOUR turn to clean up the dog poop!) It's a well-known fact: When you do good, you feel good.

8. Call at least one friend or family member a day. You can do this while you clean, while you make the bed, or while you walk the dog. Texts and emails do not count! Make an actual phone call to a loved one, just to chat and catch up. We humans are social beings and studies show that even when we don't feel like it, even if we are naturally introverted, socializing with our loved ones makes us feel better.

9. Spend money on things that cultivate experiences at home. Save money for a new grill for parties or a new DVD for family movie night — something that will encourage you to have people over and entertain. Plan a summer barbeque, invite your closest friends, kick back and relax. (And don't forget to print out the pictures to remember the good times.)

10. Spend a few minutes each day connecting with something greater than yourself. Whatever your spiritual beliefs — or non-beliefs — may be, studies show that connecting to a high power is correlated with happiness. Just stepping back to realize that we are part of an enormous universe can put some perspective on your annoyance with the those-are-definitely-not-mine-and-they-are-abso-fricking-lutely-repulsive socks under the coffee table. Before bed, spend just a few minutes contemplating something larger than yourself. Take a walk in nature. Write in a journal. Create a sacred space in your home. (Or if spirituality is really not your thing, create a home spa: light some candles, soak in a hot bath, delve into a good book… are you feeling better yet?)

Re-edited from a post originally published 7.19.12 - JL

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/

HONEY CINNAMON ROASTED SWEET POTATOES

 

YIELD: 4 SERVINGS

PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 30 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME: 35 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS:

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine the honey, olive oil, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Add the sweet potatoes and toss to coat.
Dump potatoes onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking.

adapted from Tyler Florence>

http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/

Olive Oil benefits

1. It aids with weight loss
2. It aids with digestion
3. it is anti-aging, you can put it on your face and leave it on for 30minutes then rinse.
4. Anti-inflammatory
5. Clears skin
6. Conditions leather
7. It is a chewing gum remover from your hair, or your clothes without additional damage, just be careful to not spread too much of it on the clothes.
8. Earache remedy
9. Earwax removal
10. Furniture polish
11. Face moisturizer
12. It fights Diabetes, you can use olive oil in everything you cook and every salad.
13. Frees stuck zippers
14. Hair growth
15. Helps with diaper rash
16. Helps with eczema
17. Improves psoriasis
18. Improves snoring
19. Lowers bad cholesterol
20. It is a Make up remover, use cotton balls with olive oil to remove make up and clear your skin.
21. Moisturizes hands
22. Natural lubricant
23. Oil pulling -you can do the oil pulling method by keeping olive oil in your mouth for about 2-3 minutes while moving your tongue around, then spill it out. Careful not to swallow it. Wash your mouth well to remove any left bacteria.
24. Prevents cat hairballs
25. Prevents breast cancer
26. Salad dressing
27. Shaving cream
28. Sunburn relief
29. Stainless steel polish
30. Sticker remover
31. Treats lice

Money can´t buy happiness.....

How-to Make Whipped Coconut Milk Cream

Step 1: Buy a can of full fat coconut milk.
Step 2: Place it in the fridge overnight.
Step 3: Open the can without shaking it or turning upside down.
Step 4: Carefully spoon out the top layer of opaque white stuff that has gathered at the top of the can. Spoon into a mixing bowl. You will be left with about 1/2 cup of white syrup-y looking translucent liquid. Leave this in the can. Note: I use this leftover liquid in numerous coconut-y recipes. Plus, it makes a great coconut syrup - almost like a hydrated extract of coconut flavor.
Step 5: Add 2-3 Tbsp of powdered confectioners sugar to the white stuff. Optional: add cinnamon, vanilla bean - any small amount of flavor you'd like.
Step 6: Grab a hand beater (simple mixers work just as well as expensive ones)
Step 7: Whip the coconut milk froth until creamy. Start on low and move to a higher speed, move the beater in an up and down motion to infuse the mixture with as much air as possible.
Step 8: Serve! You can spoon on top of ice cream, for cream pies, into coffee latte mugs, or eat with a spoon - I guarantee you'll be licking those beaters. And the bowl. 
http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/

Bee Sting Cake

- ON 5:22 AM - 3 COMMENTS

 

This bee sting cake recipe or bienenstich is popular in German-speaking countries and Hungarians have borrowed it from their neighbors.

The cake can be made with or without yeast and filled with pastry cream or whipped cream or a combination of the two as it is here. What is common among the varieties is the honey-butter-almond topping, which creates a crispy, crackly top. If you like honey, this is the cake for you -- it's in the batter, the topping and filling.

Bee Sting Cake 

Ingredients:

Topping:

•     7 tablespoons unsalted butter
•     1/2 cup honey
•     1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•     1/2 cup sliced almonds

Cake:

•     1 3/4 cups + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
•     1 tablespoon baking powder
•     1/2 teaspoon salt
•     4 ounces (1 stick) butter, slightly softened
•     5 tablespoons sugar
•     1/4 cup honey
•     2 large eggs
•     1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•     1/2 cup milk

Filling:

•     1/3 cup cornstarch
•     1 1/2 cups milk
•     1/4 cup sugar
•     1 large beaten egg, room temperature
•     1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
•     1 cup heavy whipping cream
•     2 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
•     1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions:

For the Topping: In a medium saucepan, melt butter and honey. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Add vanilla and almonds, remove from heat and set aside to cool.

For the Cake: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cut a parchment circle to fit the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Coat pan bottom and sides with cooking spray. Place parchment circle in bottom of pan.

Combine 1 3/4 cups flour, baking powder and salt and set aside. In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream 4 ounces butter until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in 5 tablespoons sugar, about 3 minutes. Add 1/4 cup honey and beat 1 more minute.

Blend in eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Add vanilla and half the flour mixture, and mix briefly. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add milk, then remaining flour, beating briefly after each addition.

Scrape into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Sprinkle top with remaining 1 tablespoon flour, then pat top of cake smooth with your hand. Pour topping over batter, gently spreading evenly. Place pan on a baking sheet and bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick tests clean. Do not overbake. Cool cake in pan completely on a wire rack.

For the Filling: In the top of a double boiler over medium heat, combine cornstarch, milk and 1/4 cup sugar. Stir constantly until thickened, at least 3 minutes. Add in 1 beaten egg and keep stirring constantly for about 2 minutes until very thick. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract, if using.

Chill in an ice-water bath, stirring occasionally. Place plastic wrap in direct contact with surface of pastry cream and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour.

Whip the cream with the cream of tartar and confectioners' sugar until stiff. Add a dollop of cream to the pastry cream and stir to lighten the cream. Then fold in remaining whipped cream. Refrigerate while you prepare to assemble the cake.

Run a knife around the edges of the cooled cake and remove the springform ring. Invert cake onto a plate. Peel off the parchment paper and invert again on a serving platter, so the almond side is showing. Cut cake in half horizontally and fill with pastry cream. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes 10 to 12 servings

Life is Beautiful