14,000 things to be happy about by Barbara Ann Kipfer

I love this 14,000 things to be happy about, The Happy Book by Barbara Ann Kipfer. Described as a quirky, compulsive, enchanting list of all the little things that make us happy, it is such a delightful book to read and I'd highly recommend this for everyone! This also would be a perfect little gift for your friends and families as this book is about the everyday's happiness that's all around us that we sometimes don't notice enough. 

Some of my favourites 'things to be happy about' from this book:

An unexpected message from someone saying something lovely to you

The colour, scent, and deliciousness of strawberries

A successful first attempt

Things that stand the test of time

Life choices

The art of following through

Doing your job like no one else could do it

Happiness coming in three ways: anticipation, realisations, memory

Living with the knowledge that you've done your best

Being nice to someone who bugs you

Giving your least favourite food another chance

Hour-long telephone calls

'Have a nice day' from a checkout person

Ice cream cakes

That vacation feeling

Lines from favourite movies or poems

Making a life, not just a living

A sense of humour in bed

When all your senses are engaged

Pleasure being life's major concern

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought." (Buddha)

Being too busy to notice trivialities 

Giving a soft answer to a not-so-soft question

A real person answering the phone 

Viewing every problem as an opportunity for learning new things

Paying attention to the sounds of each of the different instruments in a symphony 

The perfect spot

An odd couple 

Just-right-length necklaces

Orange segments 

Extra kisses

The contagious act of yawning 

When you pour soda and the fizz shoots right to the brim, you expect it to overflow, but it slowly drops down

The preposterous rituals that people resort to to get rid of hiccups 

People who just by their presence warm your heart

A 20-question marathon in the car

This thing called love

Moving from the needlings of nervous energy to a deeper level of stillness 

'Your cake will brown slowly in the oven and rise like a perfect sun.'

Honesty being so delightfully, pink-cheekedly seductive

Saying yes... yes... yes

Waking up with a really pleasant thought

The spirit of childlike eagerness

The cool underside of a pillow

Kisses: love's punctuation marks

Finding your own private pleasures

Vivaldi in the morning

The texture of cream 

Making sure the water from the shower hits the back of your neck

Learning to make the perfect cup of coffee

Mindful consuming 

Practicing 10,000 hours to learn something expertly

Doing the right thing even when no one is looking

Letting someone else shine

Not taking life that seriously because it's here to be enjoyed

Being all dressed up with somewhere to go

Being quietly sexy

Anticipation being the greater joy 

A new adventure everyday 

Wrinkle-resistant clothes

Fresh, free and sensitive people

The triple kiss, left-right-left 

Laughing till you cry

Tasting menus

Being street-smart

Best-case scenarios 

The happiness of heading home

Casablanca (movie)

Movie review that agrees with your view

Someone to kiss goodnight 

A bed that doesn't squeak 

Staying until the candle burns out

Years from now, remembering everything: the light, the words said, the magic mood

Being young at heart

An ice cold coca cola on a hot sunny day. 

The position of your head as you bite into a taco

Telling a letter, "Have a good trip" as it goes in the mailbox 

A deep, elegant, or beautiful explanation 

Watching Dead Poet's Society (movie)

Useful, preventive measures- the fruits of experience 

Revolving doors

Emoticons 

Open minded uncertainty 

The determination of an understudy

Absence making the heart grow fonder

Conflicts with an umbrella on a windy day

The last piece of pie, saved for you

Simplicity and sophistication 

Avoiding people who make you feel quilty

The very best tea, the very richest coffee, and the very thickest cream 

The electric touching of fingertips

The power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring

S.W.A.K.B.A.L.W.S. : sealed with a kiss because a lick won't stick 

A cut that heals quickly 

The light inside the refrigerator 

Eating a ripe peach and letting the juice trickle down your chin 

Listening to someone excitedly tell a story  

The intimacy of humour 

The craziest person in your life 

Ungodly hours

Butter of the peanut 

Putting things back where they were found 

Doing the common things in life in an uncommon way

Connecting with someone new 

People who give more of themselves 

Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl

Knowing how good you have it

The stroke of luck involved in sometimes not getting what you want

Never dramatising a difficulty 

Not worrying about what's going to happen 

Looking toward tomorrow

Three essentials for happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for

Walking at the same speed as an elderly person so he or she does not feel rushed 

Questions designed to provide revealing insights into your psyches 

Socks snuggling up to each other in a drawer 

Flexible, bendy straws 

Eating ice-cream sandwiches by first licking around the sides 

The applause of an audience  

'banzai', meaning, "May you live 10,000 years!"

A minor problem 

Too busy? Delegate or organise. No money? Borrow or work an extra job. Not enough time? Get up earlier or stay up later. Don't know enough? Take classes 

A fun person with a good appetite, interesting work, good storytelling ability, slightly twisted humor, fresh insight, brave choice

The journey of a lost dollar 

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mystery." (Albert Einstein) 

Delectable creations made hot and fresh every morning

The unhurriedness of brunch

Chewing your food so slowly so you can savor all the flavours

Foods that no one can eat gracefully: powdered doughnuts, corn on the cob, melting ice cream, barbecue ribs, Buffalo wings, a huge slice of pizza 

Eating Oreo cookies and then looking at your teeth

A smile from a stranger

The seven holes in a Ritz cracker 

"Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have." (Rabbi Hyman Schachtel)

Appreciating the effort of 12 bees making 1 teaspoon of honey

The gift of undivided attention 

Sucking in air so crisp and clean that you think you have never really had the experience of breathing before

The distance from your elbow to your wrist equaling the length of your foot

The craziest things you have done for love

Leve fit quod bene fertur onus, "That load becomes light which is cheerfully borne."

And many many more <3. Buy the book!!!!! X

'Emma' by Jane Austen

One of my favourite classic novel is Emma by Jane Austen. 

Emma Woodhouse, the main character is introduced as handsome, clever, and rich. Emma, however, is also rather spoiled and headstrong and imagine herself to be very good at matchmaking. 

One of the reason why I like this novel is because I fell in love with Mr George Knightley, whom Emma has known all her life. In his late 30s, he is noble, mature and wise which are qualities that I always like in a man. I loved him when he scolded Emma for her behaviour towards Miss Bates. Emma who is 21 years old can be spoilt and a snob sometimes, but she listens to Mr Knightley. 

I find this novel to be very charming and at parts, funny. I love Emma's father who is always worried about everyone and I find Miss Bates to be very entertaining. I love how English this novel is, the landscape, the characters, the manners, the language. It's all quite fascinating. 

These are some of my favourite quotes from the book:

“There was no occasion to press the matter farther. The conviction seemed real; he looked as if he felt it. She said no more, other subjects took their turn; and the rest of the dinner passed away; the dessert succeeded, the children came in, and were talked to and admired amid the usual rate of conversation; a few clever things said, a few downright silly, but by much the larger proportion neither the one nor the other—nothing worse than everyday remarks, dull repetitions, old news, and heavy jokes.”

“But they would have done better had they given her notice of it. Surprizes are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable”

“I am glad I have done being in love with him. I should not like a man who is so soon discomposed by a hot morning. Harriet's sweet easy temper will not mind it.”

“At first it was downright dulness to Emma. She had never seen Frank Churchill so silent and stupid. He said nothing worth hearing—looked without seeing—admired without intelligence—listened without knowing what she said.”

“Very lucky—marrying as they did, upon an acquaintance formed only in a public place!—They only knew each other, I think, a few weeks in Bath! Peculiarly lucky!—for as to any real knowledge of a person's disposition that Bath, or any public place, can give—it is all nothing; there can be no knowledge. It is only by seeing women in their own homes, among their own set, just as they always are, that you can form any just judgment”.

“Oh!" cried Emma, "I know there is not a better creature in the world: but you must allow, that what is good and what is ridiculous are most unfortunately blended in her."

"They are blended," said he, "I acknowledge; and, were she prosperous, I could allow much for the occasional prevalence of the ridiculous over the good. Were she a woman of fortune, I would leave every harmless absurdity to take its chance, I would not quarrel with you for any liberties of manner. Were she your equal in situation—but, Emma, consider how far this is from being the case. She is poor; she has sunk from the comforts she was born to; and, if she live to old age, must probably sink more. Her situation should secure your compassion. It was badly done, indeed! You, whom she had known from an infant, whom she had seen grow up from a period when her notice was an honour, to have you now, in thoughtless spirits, and the pride of the moment, laugh at her, humble her—and before her niece, too—and before others, many of whom (certainly some,) would be entirely guided by your treatment of her—This is not pleasant to you, Emma—and it is very far from pleasant to me; but I must, I will,—I will tell you truths while I can; satisfied with proving myself your friend by very faithful counsel, and trusting that you will some time or other do me greater justice than you can do now.”

“Do not imagine, madam,' she continued, 'that I was taught wrong. Do not let any reflection fall on the principles or the care of the friends who brought me up. The error has been all my own;”

“She had no doubt of Harriet's happiness with any good-tempered man; but with him, and in the home he offered, there would be the hope of more, of security, stability, and improvement. She would be placed in the midst of those who loved her, and who had better sense than herself; retired enough for safety, and occupied enough for cheerfulness. She would be never led into temptation, nor left for it to find her out. She would be respectable and happy; and Emma admitted her to be the luckiest creature in the world, to have created so steady and persevering an affection in such a man;”

Excerpt From: Austen, Jane. “Emma.” iBooks. 

Weekly Diary: bathtubs, books and more...

Oh my goodness, I love this gold vessel hammock bath tub! 

This hammock style bathtub is suspended from the wall and doesn't touch the floor. It is beyond luxurious to soak yourself in this gold-coated bath tub and it is also high in comfort as it spreads out longer than a regular bathtub. Wow, how unreal!

And this is another bathtub that I LOVE! This one is cut out of a large single piece of Quartz Crystal. So fancy! ^^

I love this beautiful vase!

I love this pretty colour...

I love these illustrations about the truth of having long hair. So funny and accurate :))

 I love reading and these comparison between books and relationships are adorable and so true <3

Here are some creative ideas for your next bookmarks ;)

I love this quote about reading:

"Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself. Reading is an escape, and the opposite of escape; it's a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it's a way of making contact with someone else's imagination after a day that's all too real. Reading is grist. Reading is bliss."

- Nora Ephron

I love these advices:

"The best advice I've ever received is, 'No one else knows what they're doing either.'"

- Ricky Gervais

"Self-love is a good thing but self-awareness is more important. You need to once in a while go 'Uh, I'm kind of an asshole.'"

Some more quotes that I love:

"Best not to mix the past with the present. The present paints the past with gold. The past paints the present with lead."

- Henry Rollins

"There is no favor better than one you never had to ask for; and no gift better than one you didn't expect."

- William Chapman

"Get excited about the little things. About wearing a new outfit for the first time. About Sunday brunches with your best friends. About the new cute guy in your class. About finding an extra dollar in your pocket. About anything that even remotely makes you happy because as you grow up, passions fade and enthusiasm gets mistaken for foolishness. So don't let the grey world stop you from shining."

Well, that's it for today. Until next time! :D

Sources:

http://pursuitist.com/gold-vessel-hammock-bath-tub-to-soak-in-the-lap-of-luxury/

http://dank-aliens.tumblr.com/post/101749630001/a-bath-tub-cut-out-of-a-large-single-piece-of

http://etsy.tumblr.com/post/100615409164/for-true-romantics

http://prettycolors.tumblr.com/post/111712704192/ffc7c2

http://c-cassandra.tumblr.com/post/107365988700

http://www.infinitecurio.com/blog/2011/07/13/comic-relationships/

http://incidentalcomics.tumblr.com/post/105271332313/i-can-never-find-a-bookmark-when-i-need-one-so-i