A Few New Things to Make You Happy

Our bikini waxer shared some unsolicited wisdom with us this week. She was in the middle of doing her business when she started talking about how the little things in life can make a big difference. A sweet look from a loved one can make you feel wonderful, while an eye roll from a colleague can make you feel like crap. The wax lady also believes that our own seemingly meaningless actions can make a big impact. A little extra in your waitress's tip can make her day, and a snide comment to a strange guy on the subway can ruin his. Nuances, small changes, and brief moments can completely change your life.

That random conversation over hot wax made us think about all of the positive new things, small advancements and baby steps forward that have been happening lately. Some of them are truly life changing and others are simple pleasures, but they are all making us smile this week. We encourage you to take a moment this weekend to appreciate all the small bits of goodness in your own life.

#1 - America's Next Top Model is Full Figured

Finally! With all of the crap out there that makes women feel like they have to be toothpick-sized in order to be considered beautiful, Whitney's win last week was as refreshing as it was overdue. The best part about it is that it wasn't a pity win. Whitney really was the best model in the competition this "cycle" - the fiercest, the most stunning, and by far the best ideal of beauty in the bunch. And we have another clue that this new definition of beauty is catching on. England recently crowned Chloe Marshall as a plus-sized Miss Surry, and she will be competing in the Miss World competition in July. We are so happy to see women all over the world embracing different body shapes and sizes as beautiful.

#2 - Tasti D Lite Has Two New Flavors

Our favorite frozen dessert (and probably our favorite thing on the planet) is about to get even better. We hear that the all natural, low fat brand that already comes in over 100 flavors is about to launch two more. Thank you, Tasti D Lite, for giving us two more reasons to indulge in guiltless pleasure.

#3 - Gay Marriages in California

This one's not so little. The California Supreme Court ruled that same sex couples have the right to marry, and we are incredibly happy that California finally had the balls to take a stand and quit discriminating. It's about time that all loving couples are able to experience "wedded bliss," or at least have equal rights. Let's hope that trendy California will set this important trend for the rest of our country.

#4 - Frito's Pinch of Salt

We love Frito's and Lay's potato chips because they are all natural and only have three ingredients, each of which we can pronounce. However, after eating a handful of these chips, the salt tends to make us look and feel like a thirstier version of the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters. But Frito Lay has just introduced their line of lower salt snacks, called "Pinch of Salt," which are the perfect compromise between bland low salt products and the standard salt lick varieties.

#5 - Iron Man

We were one step from kicking and screaming when our man dragged us to see Iron Man. But we were shocked and pleasantly surprised to see that a movie that made 180 million dollars could also be unbelievably entertaining and this well directed. John Favreau is a genius and we applaud him for casting real actors who are passionate about their craft. They may be former drug addicts and go on kooky raw food fasts, but their performances were engaging and humorous and we thank them for making this movie--because it made us happy.

#6 - Godiva Chocolate Covered Pretzels

They may not be brand new, but we just discovered them and we are extremely glad that we did. Imagine crisp, perfectly salted pretzels covered in Godiva's milk or dark chocolate. They are the ideal combination of smooth, sweet, salty, crunchy, and chocolaty. We ate a giant bag of the dark chocolate ones over the past week and they did more for our mood than a bottle of Paxil ever could. So go out and buy yourself a pound or so of these gems. It'll be the best $20 you ever spend on chocolate.

Comments

[vmonter]

Eat less and exercise. Not only is it what your doctor tells you, but it will make you more attractive.

Stop eating frozen dinners and all the junk food garbage like Slim Fast. Learn about nutrition for once...

[Maplebird]

1) The authors (along with most of the USA) are confused about the difference between pleasure and happiness. Chocolate gives pleasure. Fun films give pleasure. Seeing civil rights accorded to people who always deserved them? That would be a reason to be happy. See, pleasure is fleeting and cannot fill the heart and soul. Happiness comes from doing things that resonate deep within the heart, from earning our stripes, from being ourselves and being content with ourselves.
2) It bothers the bejeezus out of me how fixated on "happiness" our culture is. I have a problem with how our culture emphasizes that being unhappy/angry/sad is somehow freakish and shameful. I would love to see Western culture come to realize that we all need to take ownership of our feelings and face them head-on instead of trying to find ways to run from them.
3) As an aside, it gives me great pleasure to see ANTM choose a woman with curves as the winner.

[john77]

I would like to see male models on America's Top Model. Female models simply prop up the sleazy heterosexual male fantasy. It's classic pandering to sleazy liberal straight guys.

[jewelbug]

One of the things that really makes me happy is a book that allows me to see something new in the things I use everyday. These books made me realize that it's not necessarily the object you are bored with as much as it's your perspective that's tired. Here are the ones I've recently read and absolutely loved:

1. Brooches: Timeless Adornment by Lori Ettlinger Gross

2.Splendid Slippers: A Thousand Years of an Erotic Tradition
by Beverley Jackson

3.The Design of Everyday Things
by Don Norman and Donald A. Norman

[PuppaX]

The third book has two authors with the same name?

[SharonB]

What makes me happy:

1. Laughing at something silly with my husband.
2. Spending time with my grandson. (Soon, I will ahve another grandson so my joy will double!)
3. Being a mother in law. ( This is my favorite title... it means that my son has a strong, talented, sweet, loving generous, beautiful wife who loves him and has given me one WONDERFUL grandson already and a new one is on the way!)
4. Making quilts for friends, family and being able to donate some of them to the local Rape Crisis Center.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Thanks for the point of view.
It made me think of what make me happy.

Spending time with my wife trying to make her happy.
Spending time with my daughter trying to make her happy.
Not working. Thinking about retirement and not working so I could spend more time with my wife and kid.
Going on my 4 mile exercise walks, not thinking about work.

Geez. I guess my values are all f**ked up.

[SharonB]

You sound like someone who loves his family.... I hope they know how blessed they are!

[noam4prez]

I was really hoping to find things to make me happy here. Intead I found 5 product plugs and one thing that made me happy.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

My credo in life has always been never judge others until you walked in thier shoes. That said, Having the ability to accept people as they are, quirks and all, accepting what we have and making the best of it, not always wanting MORE, is what makes me happy. I am a simple gal with simple taste, understand that the classics never go out of style, and money cannot buy me or my love. Happiness isn't about things or what others have. Its about what gives you that sense of joi de vivre, regardless of how small the act or item may be. Inner happiness. Can't be bought, borrowed or stolen.
My pets, daughter, grand daughter, parents and siblings, boyfriend make me incredibly happy. Getting whatever time I have with them, is priceless, interesting, funny, fun, sometimes difficult, but something I wouldn't change for anything. Money to me is just a tool, does not buy happiness, causes more upset than its worth. Its what makes people greedy, unhappy, fulfilled, striving for what they don't have. Take what you have and don't leave a mess behind.

[carolinacowboyinla]

Things I do to make me happy;

Live in the moment (right now) "The Power of Now".
Really watch my kids, they live in the moment.
Try to read and learn something new everyday.
Find something to laugh about at least once a day.
Drink Monavie twice day ,this way I know I'm getting my nutrition and doing something for my health
(I buy mine at www.thefactsaboutmonavie.com)
Take a short (or long) walk everyday.
Try to take long deep breathes and check out for a moment or two a few times a day.

I simply can not stress enough what Monavie has done to change the way I feel, the way I sleep, the clarity I have. Thanks to Huffington Post for sharing the Sumner Redstone story with us and introducing me to this amazing, healthy, and nutritious drink. My life is happy and changed forever!

[TheWarOnHorror]

MonaVie is a pyramid scheme brought to you by former Amway scam artists like Brig Hart.

$49 for a bottle of glorified prune juice? Take a multivitamin and eat some fresh fruit and vegetables. This is merely today's "Noni Juice" -- snake oil by another name.

[peterg76]

"New Things To Make You Happy" together with a photo of an attractive woman.... It could be misinterpreted.

[swift goat pet for truth]

#6 - Godiva Chocolates?

if I lived in Europe, I wouldn't eat Godiva Chocolates if they were free. In Brussels alone I could easily walk from the town square to TWO chocolate shops with better chocolate (and cheaper) than Godiva.
But the best chocolate I found in my short stay in Belgium was in Brugge. Cheez, even Leonidas was better than Godiva (*barf*).

[SharonB]

OOOO! I am drooling like Homer Simpson!

Belgian chocolate...aaahhhhhhhhh!

[calliope]

Agreed! Godiva always tastes waxy to me -- and when I finally had a chance to try Leonidas, I was similarly underwhelmed.

Ironically, the chocolate-covered pretzels at Trader Joe's are delicious - a nice treat from time to time, and they're *not* as expensive as the Godiva version. But they must be using the same high-quality Belgian chocolate that they sell in those HUGE bars, which is delish (and great for recipes).

[vmonter]

It's true. We should all live in Brussels. What the hell are we THINKING!?

[rucognizant]

I can't afford a bikini OR a wax job!
Fortunately I find things that make me happy without prompting.
I sat in my yard today and watched a crow chase an eagle away from it's nest today. It follows the eagle plucking at it's wing feathers, and dive bombing it with a raucus chorus from the community of crows on the ground.
Maybe we need a new national symbol?

[ScottCandage]

A group of crows is called a murder of crows. I kid you not.

[monty]

HOORAY FOR #3 !!!

Although, lumping civil rights legislation in with ANTM and junk food reviews is a bit odd.

[FIREYFREE]

i here to speak on item #1... im full figured and i feel that our culture has gotten better about this issue. now we promote better eating habits and regular activity, not just being skinning by appearence. i think it amazing that this young women was crowned ANTM on world wide tv. this only sends the message that any size can be considered beautiful. thank u tyra banks for pushing us into a new era. now the designers can follow suite or even better a new face of fashion can set the standard.

[maryrat]

I was so happy when Whitney was chosen as ANTM I let out a scream. I was so sure they were going to pick Anya the toothpick. Whitney is beautiful and while she may be a different size than most models she is woman! I hope more "normal" sized women will be accepted into modeling now.

[RavagesOfTime]

I appreciate Ms. Lipper and Ms. Vince's sentiments, but they seem to have forgotten that blog commenters (left and right) are the biggest party poopers and ruiners of all things slightly fun, pleasurable, and not-so-bad-after-all in recorded human history.