Send a postcard to a soldier!

I found this really cool website called Tonic. They have different "deeds" that you can participate in every day. The website tracks how many deeds are done and if the goal is reached, money is donated to a good cause. Today's deed is to send a postcard to a soldier. It is a super easy way to spread some sunshine! All you do is:

•  Go to the Tonic website
• Go to the History tab
• Click on the "Do the deed" tab
• The website will guide you from there!

You can choose from a variety of pre-drawn postcards drawn by children around the country.You can choose a  pre-written message or write one of your own. This is the one I sent:

Great job Let's Say Thanks  for giving people the opportunity to be day-makers!

*Life Update*

I was folding the laundry last night and I started to notice grease spots on all of Steven's shirts. What the heck?! There is no way I could have left chapstick in my pockets, (1) because I am more careful than that and (2) because I haven't done that since I was 14!! So I called to Steven to ask him if he left anything weird in his pockets. He was as confused as I was! So I kept folding and then to my surprise I saw my chapstick, sans the outer wrapper, in the bottom of the laundry basket! Oh dear. I felt so sheepish! It took me right back to when I was 14 and my Mom would get so frustrated with my sister and I for leaving our chapstick in our pockets. So I immediately called my Mom and asked her what to do, Mom's always know best. She said to spray it with Spray n Wash and wash them again ASAP. Well it was already almost 11pm and I had THE WORST headache and didn't really feel like going to the laundry room of our apartment complex that late to fix my mistake. So I sprayed them and hung them up to dry. This morning the spots were even bigger. Ummmm??!!! So I will be washing them tonight and crossing my fingers that the spots come out, or else Steven will be getting alllll new shirts, which wouldn't be a bad thing, except I feel bad about ruining some of his favorites! 

Lesson: empty your pockets every night and especially before you do the laundry!

Happy Day!!

I am addicted to these videos....

and they all make me smile! I have been meaning to write about this for awhile now. I love the Church's new "I am a Mormon" videos on YouTube. I love hearing about other people's challenges and how they overcome them. I love hearing about people's lives and how they got to where they are today. I love hearing about happy people and their secrets to happiness! You should really check it out, but only if you have some time to spare, it is really easy to get addicted! Here is one of my favs:

Visit the YouTube channel here.

Happy Day!!

1,000 Reasons to Smile!

Have you ever heard of the 1,000 Awesome Things blog? Well if you haven't you need to check it out! I have been following this blog since the end of 2009 and I absolutely love it! The blog is a countdown from 1,000 of awesome things. It is currently on #280 which happens to be "When little kids get really, really excited" The author includes pictures and sometimes videos to display the awesome things. I also think he is an awesome writer. Here are a few reviews about the blog:

“1000 Awesome Things might be described as optimism for the rest of us. Sunny without being saccharine, it’s a countdown of life’s little joys that reads like a snappy Jerry Seinfeld monologue by way of Maria Von Trapp.” – The Vancouver Sun


“Strangely heartwarming… perfect for rainy days.” – The New Yorker


“Honors the little joys of life.” – USA Today


Here are a few of my favorite "awesome things" that the blog has highlighted:


# 973- Sleeping in new bed sheets
http://1000awesomethings.com/2008/07/29/973-sleeping-in-new-bed-sheets/


# 941- The Universal Fry-Sharing Policy
http://1000awesomethings.com/2008/09/11/941-the-universal-fry-sharing-policy/


# 937- The smell of rain on a hot sidewalk
http://1000awesomethings.com/2008/09/17/938-the-smell-of-rain-on-a-hot-sidewalk/


#925- Watching The Price is Right when your home sick
http://1000awesomethings.com/2008/10/03/925-watching-price-is-righ/


# 895- Getting something with actual handwriting on it in the mail
http://1000awesomethings.com/2008/11/14/895-getting-something-with-actual-handwriting-on-it-in-the-mail/


# 858-The other side of the pillow
http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/01/06/858-the-other-side-of-the-pillow/


# 828-Remembering what movie that guy is from
http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/02/17/828-remembering-what-movie-that-guy-is-from/


# 769- When the thing you were going to buy is already on sale
http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/05/11/769-when-the-thing-you-were-going-to-buy-is-already-on-sale/


I could go on and on. Check it out, what are some of your favorites? 


Happy Monday!

Baby Hungry??

So my dear mother commented that I have been posting a lot about babies and kids. Then she asked if I was baby hungry yet??

My response? "NO MOM!!!"

Can't a girl love babies and kids and not be baby hungry??!! Can't a girl adore other people's kids without ever wanting one of her own??!!

Similarly, there are TONS of babies in our ward and I love looking at them and playing with them during church. It is quite the pleasant distraction! Every time this happens, Steven leans over and says "You REALLY want kids right now, don't you?"

My response? See above, replace "MOM" with "STEVEN"

I love little kids, they always make me laugh, smile, etc. I know I will have some of my own someday, but for now I can just look at cute pictures, watch cute videos, and play with kids at church and be perfectly content :)


http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2010/05/your-happiness-photos-group-5/




P.S. Happy Sweet 16 day!!!! GO COUGARS!!! I know you can do it!!!

More Baby Sunshine!

Enjoy!  Happy day!

HAPPY SPRING!!!!

Yesterday (March 20) marked the first official day of Spring! I don't know about you, but I am more excited about Spring finally being here than I have ever been! This past Winter was the LONGEST one of my life! I am so ready for the warmth and sunshine! I know, I know, I live in Utah so there will probably be about 3 or 4 more snow storms before we really feel some warmth but still!!

Spring is:

Blossoms
Green grass
Warm sunshine
Finally being able to run outside again!
Camera time!
Vacations
Graduation
Easter
New birth
General Conference
Mom's Birthday :)

What is Spring to you?

And for your enjoyment:

Happy Day!!

**March Madness Update** My bracket is currently #1 in both of my groups! In fact, I am in the top 99.9 percentile on ESPN! I am relishing in the glory now because I know I wont' be there long (given that I chose Pitt to win it all....)

Be a day-maker!

If being a "life-changer" sounds a little daunting to you (like it does to me), just be a day-maker! Who knows, making someone's day could eventually change their life! And yours! I really want to try to be a day-maker! Here are some ways that you can make people's days:

Be the Chocolate Fairy
Get a bag of good quality, individually wrapped chocolates – such as Dove or Hershey’s Bliss – and fill a mason jar with them. Attach a flower with raffia and a note that says, “Chocolate is nature’s way of making up for Mondays. Love, The Chocolate Fairy.” Pick a Monday and place the jar at the doorstep of a neighbor. Run stealthily away.

Breakfast’s on Me
When going through a drive-thru to pick up breakfast, pay for the bill of the person behind you, too. This act of kindness will probably be less than $10, and that person may do it for someone else next time.

Gardening Service
Pulling weeds is no one’s favorite summer pastime, but it’s a job that has to be done. While attending to your weeds, check your neighbor’s garden or flower beds for overbearing weeds. Spending just a few extra minutes weeding will give your neighbor a happy surprise and will allow you to help beautify your neighborhood.

Surprise Service People with a Treat
When visiting the doctor’s office, picking up your car from the auto shop, or going to the hair salon, surprise the staff with a treat. A box of doughnuts or a dozen cookies fits nicely into a budget of $5 to $10 and will put a smile on the faces of those who receive it.

Run Extra Errands
If you know someone who is busy with a new job or has a newborn baby, offer to pick up a few things for them while you are out doing errands. Basic tasks like grocery shopping or dry clean pickup can become heavy burdens when schedules are full or when unexpected events take place.

Coupons Instead of Casseroles
When someone new moves into your neighborhood, instead of the traditional casserole or brownie plate, provide a list of local grocery stores and restaurants in your area. Include a $10 coupon or gift card to your favorite grocery store or restaurant. This guarantees your neighbors the opportunity to have a positive adventure in their new hometown.

Music to Remember When
When friends have a son leaving for college or a daughter getting married, cheer them up by sending a CD of songs that came from the year their son or daughter was born. You can use iTunes to search for popular songs from those specific years, or use your own personal collection. Hearing those songs will give your friends a few laughs during their trip down memory lane.

* Taken directly from the LDS Living website. The article can be found here.

Though some of these are a little cheesy, I think they can all be adapted to meet various needs. I really like the idea of paying for the bill of the person behind you in the drive-through line! If only I actually ate fast food often enough to do this! Can you imagine how excited you would be if you got up to the window and started to hand them your money and they were like "oh, it's ok, the person in front of you paid for it already!" 

There are tons and tons of ways to be a day-maker and they definitely do not have to be elaborate. I think it can be as simple as a smile or holding the door open for someone. I dare you to try it and see what happens! I will too! Enjoy!

Happy Weekend!!!

March Madness!

Basketball fans: It's Time!!

The most exciting time in college basketball begins!!

I have a few things to say about this:
1. GO COUGARS
2. I hope my bracket does as well as last year and that last year was not just beginners luck!
3. GO COUGARS!
4. I hope I can figure out a way to watch the games at work!
5. I REALLY hope BYU never plays while I am at work!!
6. Jimmer WILL get Player of the Year!!
7. GO COUGARS!!!!

HAPPY MARCH MADNESS!!! oh and Happy St. Patty's Day!

Noodle Shop Owner Gives Away Free Food

The tragedies in Japan have been devastating to watch. I have found myself spending hours reading countless accounts of people and their horrific situations. But buried in all the tragedy, there are still stories that provide at least a little bit of sunshine. One of those stories is about a noodle shop owner who lost his home in the tsunami but he still manages to live outside of himself and give free food to others. It is SO easy to look inward when we are going through trials, but I know that if we strive to make others happy, even in the midst of our own personal tragedies, that we can truly be happy. This guy is a definite day-maker! Enjoy!

Prison Guard Donates Kidney

This story is a beautiful example of the true goodness that surrounds us daily. There are amazing people doing amazing things everywhere! Way to make someones life! Enjoy!

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/03/13/prison-guard-donates-kidney-to-man-hes-never-met/

Happy day!!

Daylight Savings Time

Longer days = more sunshine = more smiles and fun = happy me! :)

Jimmer- "Is this guy even human??"

I just can't help myself! I just have to include this guy in my list of sunny things! Jimmer makes people smile, laugh, and shake their heads in unbelief. BYU fans were all smiles last night after Jimmer's AMAZING 52-point game! Let's hope for another one tonight! WE LOVE JIMMER!!

The man:

The basketball player:

The Legend:

Happy 100th post on this blog!! 

FRIDAY!!!

There is a certain song that makes me instantly happy/excited every time I hear it start playing. I have provided three different versions for your enjoyment!

Happy Friday!! Have a great weekend! GO BYU!!!!

All my love and prayers are with the people of Japan and anyone who may have family or friends there.

Kids

Kids always have a way of making you smile, laugh, and bring sunshine into your day (Moms- perhaps you would add scream to that list?) I just love how little kids are so easy to please, eager to compliment, and ever fearless!

Exhibit A:

You can find the full article about this cute boy here : http://www.ksl.com/?nid=957&sid=14664019

Today I went to volunteer at Guadalupe School in downtown Salt Lake and I was helping the cutest little 1st grade girl with her reading. I got up to grab a white board from the shelf and as I walked back to our little desk the girl beams up at me; "You're pretty!" So sweet! Another 2nd grade girl had similar glasses to mine, both squarish and purple. When I pointed this out to her, she was so excited! She thought it was the coolest thing in the world that we had similar glasses! There are so many lessons to be learned from these little children! No, I am not suggesting that we go around requesting kisses from attractive people, but I think we (really I mean me) can all be a little more fearless, eager to compliment, and easy to please!

Happy Day!

Dreams

In my search today for something to brighten people's day (some days are harder than others) I came across this foundation- http://www.sunshinefoundation.org/. The Sunshine Foundation has a mission of making children's dreams come true. These children have terminal illnesses, injuries, or disabilities that make it hard for them to live a normal kid life. Generous donors have the opportunity to "adopt a dream" and make it happen for a special child. I just love Love LOVE the idea of making someones dreams come true or bringing sunshine into people's lives. I feel like it is something we can all do. Whether on a grand scale, such as this organization, or on a small scale such as smiling to a stranger on the street, anyone can take part. So thumbs up to the Sunshine Foundation for making dreams come true!

Happy Day!

Who's On First?

In honor of the 2011 Major League Baseball season starting at the end of this month, here is a great video that has me laughing every time! Enjoy!

Happy day!

Happy Monday!

This is a great story about a homeless man who found an envelope with over $1,000 in it and he turned it in to the police station! That takes some extreme integrity, what a wonderful example! It definitely makes me step back and ask myself what I would have done in this situation. I hope you find this article as refreshing as I did! Enjoy!

You can find the article here: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Homeless-Man-Finds-Returns-1440-Cash-117078068.html

Happy Day!

A smile in a box!

What a special girl! She saw a need and came up with a way to meet that need, all on her own! Very inspiring. Great job Emily!

Check out the Emily's Smile Boxes Facebook page or her website:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Emilys-Smile-Boxes/107097096799

http://www.emilyssmileboxes.com/


Happy Weekend!!

103 years of sunshine!

I just love this little lady! I dare you to not smile while you watch this! Her secret to a long life is JOY! How beautiful is that?! She is the epitome of bringing sunshine into people's lives!

Happy Day!

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess!

Dr. Suess was born on March 2, 1904, which would make him 107 today! Happy Birthday to a man whose stories and illustrations have brought smiles and laughs to thousands of children AND adults over the years! His classic and fun stories will continue to be loved for many many years to come! Thank you Dr. Suess for bringing us perpetual sunshine! So, take a few minutes to celebrate and read a Dr. Suess book or two! I promise it will make you smile! (or just visit this mildly annoying website about all things Dr. Suess! http://www.seussville.com/#/home)

What is your favorite Dr. Suess book? It is really hard for me to choose, but it is between Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Oh the Places You'll go.

Happy day!

Back to my roots

Don't we all need a little sunshine?

I have decided to get back to the real reason I ever started this blog; to remind myself that even when times are hard, we can still find reasons to smile and laugh-to bring people sunshine.

Ahem.

Hello, my name is Alison and I am here to bring you (yes, YOU!) your daily spot of sunshine :)


If you haven't already seen this video, here is something that will no doubt bring a smile to your face! Enjoy! :)