Thanks

#100 Happy Days

Posted on by jellybeanhq

If you’ve been on an social media platform recently, you might have seen this hashtag trending: #100happydays. People have been taking pictures every day for a 100 days to highlight the happy moments of their days. It is said to make you more appreciative of their lives and make them more optimistic. It is true that if you notice what good things you have in your life, you’re more likely to be happy.

If you want to sign up for it (you can get a book containing all 100 of your happy days in picture form at the end), this is the website: http://100happydays.com/

I have signed up myself and it has lead me to think about what things make me happy! So here are a few of mine:

1.) Cuddles

cuddles

I don’t know what it is about these, but anytime I get one I feel safe and happy, and all my worries have gone away. I especially enjoy them with my boyfriend, my happy place!

2.) Dancing

dancing

Sounds random, but seriously, try it! Once you start, you become instantly happy.Bonus points for dancing with friends.

3.) Books

books

You all already know this, but I am such a bibliophile! I get completely lost in the worlds that authors create, and when the characters are happy, I’m happy!

4.) Buying and giving people gifts

presents

I always prefer giving gifts to people than receiving them. It must be the reaction on their faces when they receive it that gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling!

5.) Friends and Family

family

I now know who are my true friends, and my family, who will always support me no matter what. They know how to cheer me up and what to do when I’m feeling down.

Hopefully this has inspired you to look at your life in a more optimistic way! When my 100 days of the challenge are over, I will make sure to make a post about it containing some of the pictures!

Happy Friday!

Heather x

An Easter For Everyone, Symbols of the Occasion!

Posted on by jellybeanhq

So after a small hiatus from everything to due an unfortunate spell of ill health I decided it was time to return with a lovely origin story about Easter and a few things you might not know about the celebration,

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I found this image the other day after wandering around on one of my favourite Facebook pages to while away some travel time.

So today we celebrate not only the Christian resurrection but also the celebration of fertility and sex. What better way to celebrate than with chocolate, good food and family. 

But let’s take a look at some of the traditional things we associate with Easter:

– Ishtar or Eostre links from the roots mentioned above to paganism and so on to Christianity as time went by. What they have in common is a resurrection. Wonderful myths and legends about how the son (sun) died on a cross (The constellation of the Southern cross) and resurrection was an overcoming of darkness. This was symbolized by many figures over time including the earlier Egyptian God Horus who has a beautifully rich history and meaning of his own.

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Not only is Easter a wonderful way to celebrate your chosen religion but it is also widely celebrated in secular culture as the spring equinox. So Whoever you are and what ever beliefs you hold today is a wonderful day.

  • Church Services, Rise and Shine!

Traditional Christian sunrise services originated from the pagan solar celebrations. Although the dates are not set as such it is a note of springs arrival with the sunny days getting longer and the nights shorter it’s not just a day of celebration but the start of months of beautiful weather. Get up early, greet the day and make the most even if it is the season for April showers.

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  • Bunnies

The Easter bunny as with most traditional elements is associated with paganism but founded in the Norse religions and comes from Eostre the Goddess symbolising and celebrated in the month of April whose symbol was a hare. It is the time for baby bunnies after all. Then there’s the Easter bunny, who delivers the eggs to children and of course like most fairytale’s this comes from Germany. Alongside the edible bunnies we would more often find in European countries. The Tale of Osterhase or the Easter Bunny as we know him in English is one of a rabbit who would lay brightly coloured eggs in nests that children would make should they have behave themselves. It’s like the Santa of springtime with a little more chocolate and perhaps a bit more terrifying if some of the costumes are to go by!

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  • Hot Cross Buns: The Defiance of Pagan woman.

These treats were originally bakes on Easter to celebrate and worship Gods but religious leaders attempted to put a stop to it. Alas anyone who bakes will know the persistence you feel not only with your recipes but the repeat of their enjoyment when you find one that works, and that’s exactly what the ladies of this time did until the point at which the cakes became blessed. A note to never give up on a good cause because someone will make a change eventually. These buns obviously eventually became a symbol of the cross in Christian traditions but more to the point they are a great thing to make with your younger relatives to get them into the tradition and also to share with those you love as part of the celebration. Not to mention how they turned into a nursery rhyme from ye olden days!

  •  Easter Eggs!

A foil wrapped chocolate treat that’s fun to break and even better to eat. From Easter egg hunts you never quite get to old for to the family members delivering them as you excitedly anticipate the day you get to eat them, studying the bright coloured boxes and potential hyperactivity waiting inside as you wait. If you partake in lent then it may be even great cause after a 40 days and nights of fasting. You could even make and decorate your own eggs in some way, here’s a link with some ideas. The egg symbolises new life, fertility and the circle of life. A wonderful thank you to nature and being.

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However you choose to celebrate whether it be Easter crafts, a family meal or a relaxed day at home to catch up on a few things I hope you have an eggstra special day (I’m sorry, I had too!).

I really enjoyed learning new things about the meaning of Easter and how lovely it is to know how long it has been around and how it has adapted to be a celebration for all to enjoy!

Love, 

Daisy

 

Need a Little Faith?

Posted on by jellybeanhq

So this week has been a little disheartening. I’ve spent the whole week a ill and still been running around like a headless chicken and trying to cheer people up. But I’ve been lacking my own ray of sunshine and feeling let down. But here are four short stories from my week about things that have slowly restored my faith.

1. It started off with a chocolate bunny and a sage flavoured sweet. My lovely flatmate is a regular schkolade sharer but one particularly bad day with my being ill at a peak and the prospect of going into work the next day an all time low moment it was all I needed and in the shape of a tiny rabbit. My flatmate is very German and so was the sage sugar-free menthol sweet that followed but the schokolade, the sweetie and sage bon bon gave me enough of a pick me up to go and do something useful.

2.On my way into the impending shift, cough causing disruption to the looks of passengers on the bus and clouds threatening rain as my tied back hair did not care I stopped into the shop for water. As I left there was a lady ahead of me who had also just been shopping and proceeded to give a homeless man a bag of food. It’s one of the only times I’ve ever seen a person like that smile, for good reason. Homelessness is something I can’t comprehend given the riches of so many. But greed is a terrible thing. I may not have much money but when I don’t get the bus and walk into town I try and do something with the money that will help someone who needs its more than I need public transport. We can all do something to help and this woman is a prime example. Putting a coffee aside at a cafe for a person who can’t buy their own, picking up a little extra when buying food of any kind, giving away the loose change you’ll probably waste anyway or even just saying sorry if you don’t have any and acknowledging that they are a human being. So much can help.

3. It’s not all about the money. I stepped of the coach, half way home after a 4am start and rang a taxi. Two minutes later, backpack re-arranged and mentally prepared for the train stage of my journey I get a call. It’s the taxi driver. He rang to sat that although he usually wouldn’t decline the business I was a two minute walk away from the train station and he gave me full directions. Upon reaching the station I got a call to check I’d arrived and to say that if I ever needed a taxi in that area again to give them a call. This was followed by a very friendly coffee Barista and an extra smile on my face when realising how lovely people can be.

4. Finally home, tired and still coughing like I was trying impatiently to get someone’s attention without will, I settled to unpack and played with the cat. An hour later my brother came down and asked if I wanted to go shopping where he really spoilt me. From medicine to cookies I have enough to keep me going until the rest of my family return from their holiday and even longer. I have the best big brother ever but it got better. I got home and unpacked the shopping and told my brother I was going to his house to cook for him. Ten minutes later and I’m sorting out the mountains of washing that I bought home and he not only fetches that but takes me over to his where he’s already started the cooking. I insisted on finishing it because he’s put my washing in before I’d even asked, set the table and made sure there was a good amount of colourful things on the plate. After lunch he hung up my washing before I realised he’s moved and fetched DVD’s for me to take home and watch. When he then accompanied this with chocolate it is safe to say I nearly teared up. The relief and amazement of having someone look after me and really show they care and this being mixed with it being one of my hero’s anyway was the best feeling I could have returned to. I love my big brother and coming home has reminded me how much my entire family mean to me because they don’t have to show they care but they never fail to.

I know my faith is restored but I hope this helped you consider all those things that restore yours.

Have a story of your own? We’d love to hear about it.

Happy Sunday Night, Have a Wonderful Monday

Daisy x

 

3 Mini Motivations: Mothers’ Day Edition

Posted on by jellybeanhq

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Here we are again and it’s Mothering Sunday. I had 14 hours sleep last night and it was fantastic, but it also meant I did not wake in time to call my mommabear before she disappeared for the day with my dearest big brother!

I sent my card two weeks in advance and have been a fantastic daughter and offered to re-decorate the entire house, in three weeks, when I go home for Easter! (I think I was guilt-tripped)

My Three Mini-Motivations for this week all involve Le Matriach.

Numero Uno. This video. Thank You Mother’s Everywhere. You show us how to love, how to care because you posses those beautiful qualities yourself. You are the strongest people we know and love us unconditionally whatever you have going on and today is the day to show endless gratitude because it’s there all the time. We just need reminding to say thank you sometimes.

#2. Image

You can get Mothers’ Day cards from your pets. (Feeling a little bit unloved by my cat right now ;))

And Finally (Number 3), To my own lovely mum:

A mother’s bond it does not break,

yet what of love that does not take?

A flower seed to decompose,

But endlessly soothed by the word’s a mother knows.

 

Call her, take her out for the day, say thank you in some way. Remind her of something you are endlessly grateful for and let her know in return that even though there is not a thing you must return, you would without a second doubt give her the world like she did for you.

I love my mum and always will and appreciation I can never express!

Have a beautiful day,

Daisy x

 

 

Thank you! Yes, you!

Posted on by jellybeanhq

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We wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has read, is reading or has followed out blog so far!

We have just reached another following milestone and endeavor to view each new followers page so that we can follow or like as many posts as possible in return.

Even though you may be thinking ‘Gosh their posts are varied’, we hope you’re enjoying out optimistic philosophies.

*Raises a glass of orange juice* To every one of you verbal geniuses out there, here’s to another beautiful day!

Love,

Heather and Daisy x