Baby Bluebird Cupcakes- Great Recipe for Easter

This wonderful recipe is courtesy of Martha Stewart. Just remember when preparing the chocolate buttercream frosting, reserve 1 1/2 cups buttercream and 1 teaspoon melted chocolate.

Makes 1 dozen

* 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut (about 5 ounces)

* Vanilla Cupcakes

* Chocolate Buttercream

* Yellow and light-blue food coloring

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread coconut on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until light brown, 8 to 10 minutes, rotating pan once. Set aside to cool.

2. Lightly frost cupcakes with 1 cup chocolate buttercream; set aside. Tint 2 tablespoons reserved buttercream pale yellow; place in a pastry bag fitted with a #349 Ateco leaf tip; set aside. Tint remaining buttercream light blue; place in a pastry bag fitted with a #11 Ateco plain round tip, and pipe three bluebird heads, 3/4 inch in diameter, onto each cupcake. Using leaf tip, pipe yellow beaks. With a toothpick, add melted-chocolate eyes. Form each nest with 2 tablespoons toasted coconut.

Wordless Wednesday

Bigger smile means longer life, study says

Did you know that people who flash big smiles tend to have more wrinkles around their eyes but the trade-off is they may also live longer. Researchers from Wayne State University in Detroit evaluated the photographs of 230 Major League Baseball players who started playing before 1950, rating their smiles as nonexistent to full.

"People who had the most intense smiles lived the longest, compared to the other two," said Ernest L. Abel, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and of psychology at Wayne State. "The more intense smile, we infer, indicates an underlying happiness, if you will, a more positive attitude," he said. "It's hard to fake an intense smile."

The big smilers had what is known as a Duchenne smile, named after the French neurologist who discovered it. Cheeks and the corners of the mouth are raised, and crows-feet wrinkles appear around the eyes.

Can you identify which of these images depicts a man expression a Duchenne a.k.a. genuine smile, versus a fake one?

Video of the Week: The Pig of Happiness

An original animated film by Edward Monkton. Watching it is likely to make you a happier person. Sharing it with your friends is likely to make them happier too. So spread the love & press play.

Finding happiness - 5 secrets you may study from your children

"Finding happiness is like finding yourself. You don't find happiness, you make happiness.You choose happiness. Self-actualization is a process of discovering who you are who you want to be and paving the way to happiness by doing what brings YOU the most meaning and contentment to your life over the long run."

David Leonhadt

Author: Catherine Samuels

If you want to know the key to discovering happiness it's essential to look no further than your own children. Listed below are 5 secrets and techniques to being pleased that you can learn from your children: never take things for granted, be curious, spontaneous laughter, forgive and forget and imagine that anything is possible. Read on to learn how these simple issues can lighten your mood and make you a happier person.


1. Never take things for granted

As we grow older we start to take life for granted and stop appreciating the straightforward things. Take your children on an outing and spend the time seeing the world through their eyes. See them squeal in pure delight at the easiest things like the neighbour's cat or a field filled with cows and let that awe and sense of marvel rub off on you.


2. Be curious

As adults we become caught up in our personal views and beliefs and generally we cease to think about the alternatives. Your youngsters on the other hand are open to new concepts and curious to be taught new things. Take into consideration the one thing that you've all the time dreamed of doing, and then go and discover ways to do it. Whether you want to write a novel or learn to climb a mountain go off and explore that dream.


3. Spontaneous laughter

Have you ever ever watched your kids break out in giggles for no obvious cause? Do you remember how infectious that spontaneous laughter is? Take some time to remember how to snicker, go outside and dance in the rain, or crack open the paint set and engage in some hand painting. Remind your self the best way to chuckle and you will feel happier in an instant.


4. Forgive and forget

Bearing a grudge is enough to make anybody miserable. Take a leaf out of your child's book and just forgive and forget. You will really feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders and can put the mental energy into one thing constructive instead.


5. Imagine that something is possible

Do you remember while you believed in magic and fairies and Santa Claus? In those days anything was possible and also you didn't limit yourself in your dreams. It is in all probability too late to fulfil your childhood dream of touchdown on the moon, however it's not too late to imagine that you simply do have what it takes to apply for that promotion or ask your boss for a raise.


And there you will have it; 5 secrets of happiness you can learn from your kids; take a look at the world through their eyes to remind you never to take issues for granted and maintain your mind open to new ideas. Discover ways to giggle spontaneously again and do it everyday. Cease losing your mental vitality on grudges and eventually all the time consider that something is feasible should you put your mind to it.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com

Girl's Night Out - Happiness is attending The Last Song Premiere -

I was lucky enough to win tickets from Georgia Aquarium to attend Nicholas Sparks movie premiere "The Last Song" starting Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Kelly Preston and Liam Hemsworth. I took my hard core Miley fan daughter with me and decided to have a girl's night out. The premiere was yesterday at AMC Parkway Pointe at 7:00 pm. We got there early since we wanted to make sure we get the best seats. 

The Last Song is based on the novel by bestseller Nicholas Sparks, who has seen several of his novels turned into film (Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, and Nights in Rodanthe.) The Last Song is set in a small Southern beach town where an estranged father (GREG KINNEAR) gets a chance to spend the summer with his reluctant teenaged daughter (MILEY CYRUS), who’d rather be home in New York. He tries to reconnect with her through the only thing they have in common-music-in a story of family, friendship, secrets and salvation, along with first loves and second chances. The film is directed by Julie Anne Robinson from a screenplay by Sparks and Jeff Van Wie.

The Last Song became the first movie to be shot and set in Tybee Island. However, some scenes were shot at the Georgia Aquarium. At the premiere there was a Tybee Island representative, PR people from Star 94 and a the owner of the chapel that appears in the movie that has been turned into a wedding destination. Overall, "The Last Song" is your typical Nicholas Spark love story and tear jerker. I fond it very odd having a college girl crying on one side and my 9 y/o laughing and gushing on the other side. I was conflicted the entire movie. I didn't know if I should cry, laugh or gush so I ended doing all three haha.

 

Besides the story what I enjoyed the most about the movie was watching all the beautiful scenes filmed around the island. It reminded me so much of my first trip to Savannah. If you haven't been able to visit this amazing island you will after watching this movie. Check out our pics at Tybee from our last visit. The Last Songs opens March 31st in a theater near you. I give this movie 3 and 3 quarters stars out of 5 for family friendliness.

Check Out The Amazing Blue Birds Sculptures in Detroit's Shoreway

 Meet the Edgewater Hill Blue Birds thirty-five sculptures in a small section of Cleveland’s Detroit Shoreway neighborhood that have been  installed on utility poles, street corners, warehouse buildings, and homes. The Edgewater Hill Blue Birds make visible the connection between the neighborhood and Lake Erie. During the summer months, some of the Blue Birds are hidden in the trees. In the fall and winter, the Blue Birds will reveal themselves and appear as bright blue ornaments set off against the seasonal backdrops. Amazing project don't you think? Someone needs to contact Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue so he can bring these breathtaking sculptures to Atlanta. Well, maybe I'm a little itty bitty bias but I think they would make a great statement in our city ;) I can help hanging them ha!

Happiness Movies: Diary of a Wimpy Kid - "Zoo-Wee Mama!"

 "I'll be famous one day, but for now I'm stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons."

Greg Heffley

Last Sunday we took our kids to AMC at Discover Mills to watch Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I have to admit that I have been very curious about the content of this film. Diary of a Wimpy kid chronicles the adventures of wisecracking junior high student Greg Heffley over the academic year through his diary and hand-drawn cartoons. Diary of a Wimpy Kid has been the only book my 8 y/o have voluntarily read from start to finish (twice). Actually, this has been the only book he has "literally" beg on his knees for me to buy. Just like my son, kids all over the world just seemed to can’t get enough of the of the book series, written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. With more than 28 millions copies sold I wasn't surprised when the movie came out.

According to Dr. Lawrence Rosen, “The power of the book is about the wimpy kid, a regular kid with regular problems, just dealing with what life brings him”. For me the way I see it this book is about the ups and downs of middle school and the struggle of a kid to fit in and have recognition by his peers. Many have criticized the language used in the book while others criticized the fact that Greg should not be idolized by kids as a role model since he does not do the right thing at the beginning of the story. However, this is exactly what most kids like about Greg. You see, Greg is not perfect he is just a regular kid learning to navigate through life by trial and error and that ladies and gentleman is what life is all about. Questionable behavior aside, there is no question your kids will love the movie and the book series. If you want to laugh from start to finish then this movie is right for you. I give this movie 4 out of  5 star for family friendliness.

Happiness is Knowing that Millions of My Fellow Americans Will Finally Experience Proper Health Care

The Bluebird of Happiness has landed 
on the U.S. Congress

I want to congratulate President Obama for achieving this important milestone in his political career. Health-care should be a basic right, just like proper housing and food.The House vote approving health care reform is without doubt the most significant congressional vote in the last four decades.  Maybe all that talk about the bluebird of happiness during the 'Rules' hearing had something to do  with it ;)

Happiness is Celebrating The Last Day Of Winter

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:

if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, 

prosperity would not be so welcome.”

Anne Bradstreet

 

The winter season begins with the winter solstice (around December 21 in the Northern hemisphere and June 21 in the Southern hemisphere), and ends with the spring equinox (around March 21 in the Northern hemisphere and September 23 in the Southern hemisphere). So far, Georgia had one of the most "interesting"  winter season in years. We had one of the biggest snow storm ever recorded. It's very hard to believe that we accumulated a total of 5.3 inches of snow since snow is a rare treat in the south. However, as much as I love snow I'm more excited to welcome spring. Today I'm posting my favorite winter pictures as a tribute of the good memories we had during the season. Enjoy them, and I can't wait to see what happy memories will spring bring us. Are you excited or what?? ;)

Suzi Frees Her Bluebirds

Etsy "Happiness" Find of the Week

Suzi Frees Her Bluebirds - Print

What I loved the most about this print is what it represents. Like the artist of this print states "We all need to free our bluebirds of happiness!" and I couldn't agree more. This whimsical print retails for $20.00 and is available on AliceinParis.etsy.com

 

Eavesdropping on Happiness

Well-Being Is Related to Having Less Small Talk and More Substantive Conversations

Did you know that one study suggest that a higher sense well-being is associated with spending less time alone, and more time talking to others? Furthermore, the study indicates that a higher well-being is associated with having less small talk, and having more substantive conversations. However, the most fascinating aspect of this study is realizing that such deep conversations influence men more than women. So go ahead, sit down and talk to your hubby and please make sure you turn off the weather channel during dinner time ;)

Wordless Wednesday

Tracking Your happiness? There's an app for that.

I have iphone envy! Why do these apps never come for blackberry users. Let’s hope the developers get the message :) Anyway, meet Live Happy a comprehensive, first of its kind mobile happiness boosting program that is based on Dr. Lyubomirsky’s happiness research and key elements. The app is available at itunes for only 0.99 cents.