Finding JOY in the ordinary

Hello dear! I'm still taking a little break to enjoy some little snuggles and maybe a nap with my new babe. In the meantime, I've asked a few bloggers to share how they find JOY in their every day life. They are amazing and I hope we can all apply their tips to our lives! I'll be back soon with an overload of baby photos. Until then, enJOY! xoxo ~Lis 

Hey y'all my name is Paige and I blog over at Moments for the Journey. I am a born and raised Southern girl currently living in Ogden, Utah with my hubby. When Lis asked me to guest post for her I was thrilled, and I am so excited to be here with all of you - her lovely readers!

Do you ever feel like your life is too boring - too ordinary?
I know that I have. I have the tendency to look at my life and see all of the things that aren't "just right" or super exciting. I see the unfinished kitchen in my house that has been unfinished for over 3 years. I see the constant dust on my furniture that appears two seconds after I dust. I see the old decor of my home that looks nothing like the beautiful homes on Pinterest. I see my normal daily routine of work, home, clean, and sleep. And I see the typical night at home with my husband that is boring and ordinary.

Here's the thing, if I based my joy off of the way I negatively view these ordinary aspects of my life I would be an extremely unhappy person all of the time.

So instead I have chosen to find joy in the ordinary moments of my day. Instead of thinking "Ugh I hate this kitchen. It's so ugly." Every time I walk in it I find joy in the fact that the kitchen, although unfinished, looks ten times better than the disaster it was when the hubby and I bought the house. Instead of seeing my daily routine as boring, I intentionally look for moments - big and small - that make me smile. Instead of thinking that my evening in with my husband is boring, I take pleasure in just being with him.

 God blesses my life in so many ways; He gives me so many ordinary moments take joy in. The older I get the more I realize that true joy does not come from things. True joy comes from God. Psalm 16:11 says, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

God is the source of true - real - joy. Do you struggle with finding joy in the ordinary?

JOY is... {lately}

Little surprises that come in the mail for our little man. Yes, it's a BOY! This bear happened to come from my younger brother which happens to make it all that more special.

Last minute celebrations that include chocolate fondue. The evening we found out we were having a boy, we headed to Max Brenner.

More happy mail that reminds me that I need to get ready in the morning and something new to try!

Cups of homemade hot cider made especially by my aunt to help me get over this cold!

Perfect Thanksgiving bird. We literally ate every. last. bite. 

Pretty homemade pies that are part of a Soules family tradition.

Globe lights hung up in our tiny studio apartment.

Double scoops of peppermint ice cream with chocolate sauce while watching Christmas movies.

The start of a simple Christmas season.

What has brought you JOY lately?

xoxo

Joy on Friday

Here's a few things that have brought me JOY this week:

My new ring to remind me to breathe and find joy. 

Clear Philadelphia city skies reminding me that spring could start any moment now.

Freshly painted pink toes, hoping that spring will decide to stay soon! 

My new happy Jonathan Adler key chain, with my new apartment keys.

Cheese plate! I love cheese.

I admit that instead of blogging in the evenings, I have been trying to get things organized and relax some. I think I've finally hit the point where I'll have more of a constant schedule next week!

Thank goodness it is Friday! This girl needs to get out and do something fun to get ready for next week!

What brought you joy this week? Are you doing anything fun over the weekend?

xoxo

Return to Joy

pinned from Tonya

To get my new readers up to speed, here's a little bit about me. Once upon a time, I wrote on a blog called Joyful Jones and it was a place for me to heal. I had been through some tough challenges and I often wrote about joy to jump over the hurdles. I decided to end writing that blog after some hurtful comments mixed in with being separated from my husband Kevin.

Fast forward. I started Happy Joyful Day as my new blog space because I loved blogging as an outlet and I wanted to join in with all my blogging friends again. Plus, I moved to the other side of the country and now, this is how my family and friends can keep up with me now. 

Fast forward to today. Kevin and I are back together. We're starting in a new city, with new friends, with new jobs, with a new apartment and soon, even new furniture. Let me tell you that moving my husband, him packing up all our stuff; selling what he could to come out here to be with me in three short weeks. . . it's absolutely crazy! 

Yes, I have been on a long journey and we have officially moved into our new apartment! It is a good feeling

Now as for the title of my post, return to joy. I want to return to why I originally starting blogging. To find joy. I want to write more about what brings me joy and how you can find it too. Remember joy can be something small, oh so small but be enough to carry you through the day.

Thanks for following along and I'm happy to have you along for this little journey we call life!

xoxo

Friday's Joys

from watters.com

10 joyful things in my life:

1. Sleeping in on Friday morning (hence, the time of this post).

2. A week filled with love, which included roses and chocolate covered strawberries.
The best.

3. Blue Bell's Banana Pudding Ice Cream
I was surprised that it even had the vanilla wafers in it.
Love southern banana pudding.

4. Evening drives that Kevin is so kind to take me on.

5. A clean kitchen.

6. The joy of baking (I totally got into a baking mood this week).

7. Kevin quietly sneaking around the house, cleaning it while I got some
much needed extra sleep.

8. Waffle week on Rachel Ray. I'm definitely going to be making these.

9. Hershey's Bliss Hot Chocolate in the mornings.

10. Dairy Queen hot fudge sundae.

Hope you don't mind the list of sweets,
it was just that kind of week.

from mochatini.org

10 joyful things around the web:

1. Do what you love, love what you do.

2. Surround yourself with goodness.

3. Sweet new book about food and family.

4. With swimsuits in the stores around here,
I'm totally crushing on this one.

5. Keynote address from Alt Summit. If you haven't watched it, you should.

6. Neglected dog bought on Craig List turns into Westminister Champ
after given some TLC from the new owner.

7. If you're ever in Phoenix, you must visit the Desert Botanical Garden.

8. Did you know there's one of these in Tucson?
Best pizza place EVER.

9. 15 Most Romantic Places to kiss around the world.

10. Don't hope, decide!

Happy weekend friends!
We're off to explore in Phoenix again.

Oh, Sweet Love from Amazing Grapes

Hi sweet readers! I’m Emily from Amazing Grapes.
When Lisa asked me to talk about what brings me joy, it came at a crazy moment. My Dad just had a heart attack, 
I was supposed to go to Hawaii and everything around me was beyond chaotic.

After everything calmed down, I was having a hard time thinking of what truly brings me joy. 

Sure so many things make me happy but what can I honestly say brings me joy…and often!?

Right at that moment, my phone began to ring and when I saw it was G-man (my love) calling in the middle of the day 
(which is a rare thing) I knew my answer.

Is it corny? –yes. Is it cheesy? –sure. But is it true? –absolutely!

G-man brings me joy. Seeing his name and picture light up my phone as he calls, hearing him say ‘I love you’, 

having him ask, ‘have I told you “you’re hot” yet today?’ just makes my heart jump for joy.

My mom has told me many times over that I have a unique one. I have a man who does the dishes after every meal I cook and sometimes after he cooks. A man who gets ‘upset’ if I begin to help by starting to clean up, because he wants me to relax and enjoy the rest of the night even though he was the one that worked all day. A man who’ll tackle the bathroom because he knows that’s the one room I hate cleaning.

A man who will almost get into a fight on an airplane while we’re 30,000ft. up because little miss Emily couldn’t keep her mouth shut to a rude passenger sitting next to us. {I’ve since learned to keep quiet}

I’ve grown so much as a person since being with him. Learning and seeing and doing new things. Like communication. Something I didn’t know how to do until he came along and I have to say the joy I get from being able to communicate a problem I have the moment it pops up, is phenomenal!! ..and freeing!!

I’m so thankful he’s in my life. I can’t imagine life without him and all the experiences I’ve had with him have truly been a blessing.

For the record, I hadn’t intended for this to be a gusher post, so hopefully I haven’t left you gagging on your keyboards, I just love the man a tiny bit…even if he is unwilling to let me share any pictures of him on the internet. So if you happen to swing over to my side of the web world, expect to see lots of arm, leg, hand pictures…pretty much everything but his face.

case in point…

Yep, its maddening but one day..I plan on wooing him into picture submission. 

Operation Picture Submission has commenced!

Readers, 

I couldn't help but share this on Valentines!

Thanks so much to Emily for sharing her talents with us.

Her blog is one of my inspirations. 

Be sure to visit and share some joy!

Friday's Joys

           Photo by Henry Fetchman found on Garden Design     

10 joyful things in my life:

1. I am almost finished with my second week of grad school!

2. I love great customer service.

I went to Target and bought some velcro strips to hang pictures up.
I saw they were on sale and picked up some extras. When I got to the cash
register, it said different. Not wanting to make a fuss, I bought them anyway.
Still, I didn't want to feel taken advantage of, I headed over to customer service.
The sweet lady there asked me what price I saw them for and gave it to me right there.

I'll be headed back.


3. With that said, we are finally starting to hang pictures up around our house.
It really does make our rental feel like a home.


4. I'm eating Tagalong's while I write this post. It is Girl Scout cookie season
and I'm going to be stocking up.

5. My mom mailed me my cookbooks this week. So happy to have them back
and I can't wait to share some of my favorites with you.

My cookbooks are the homemade kind filled with tried and true recipes from women all
over the neighborhood that I grew up in. Priceless.

6. Oreos with yellow filling. Bright, cheery and yummy with milk.
Plus, they were on sale.

7. I'm addicted to Arizona's sunny warm days.
Sandals in February? Never happened in my life before now.

8. I attended an Alt Channel online class taught by Nicole Blach.
I plan on taking my next class from Justin Hackworth.
You should join too! The Alt classes are only $15 a class.
Trust me, it's worth it.

9. Ready for the weekend. My dad is going to be in Phoenix singing with the choir.
Can't wait!

10. Now heading out to the Tucson Farmer's Market. Here's to keeping my goal of more
fresh food and less processed.

Photo by Celine from Bonjour
10 joyful things around the web:

1. 24 pretties that you can make for your daughter for Valentine's Day.

2. DIY heart elbow patch, so sweet.

3. Gorgeous pink and gold Valentine's Day Party.

4. 5 tips on how to create blog posts that inspire others.

5. My new favorite beauty product, rosebud salve.
Did you know that it not only helps dry lips but blemishes and diaper rash too?
So amazing.

6. He gives us hope and a future.

7. E Tells Tales has a new lovely blog design.

8. Swooning over this striped dress.

9. Beautiful bokeh picture that makes me want spring to start.

10. Last minute easy Valentine's surprise for your man.

Happy Weekend Lovelies!
~Lis

Weekend Joys

I didn't want to let this cold get the best of me!

So we're going to have a weekend edition of joys.

+I've been thinking a lot about beauty. How it is so much more than what people see
on the outside. There is nothing better than a good, hard working, respectable woman,
who stands up for herself and for great things in this world.

That's what being beautiful truly is, being the best she can be.

+I went to Papa Murphy's and bought a pizza for exactly $12.

I was so excited because I only had $12 (yep, poor college student).
Hooray that Arizona doesn't have a tax on food.

+Kevin brought me home a half gallon of chocolate milk since I wasn't feeling well.
I've almost drank the entire thing by myself. On the other hand, I'm feeling much better.

+The sun has been shining all week.
Happy to live in the Land of the Sun.

+I babysat the cutest little boy. He was smiling and laughing when I set him
down to play. I went into our office for a minute to print something out and
was worried because it became really quiet. That little man had fallen right to sleep
and stayed that way until for almost two hours. It was so sweet.

Believe this saying:

Because you are.

I'm convinced that women everywhere do so much more than they realize that
they're capable of doing. Too many of us fall into the trap hole that the media
has portrayed in how we need to look perfectly a hundred percent of the time.

I'm learning that it's okay to have stay-in-your-pjs-when-you're-not-feeling-well days.
Or the I've-been-working-and-cleaning-that-I-didn't-have-enough-time days.

Those days when for whatever reason we don't feel beautiful,
we are beautiful and we just don't see it.
But someone else does, they always do.

Learn to tell yourself,
"I'm beautiful."

One day you'll wake up and know that you're beautiful.

I know it's hard and that I struggle with it (especially, when it comes to acne)
but it's time to let go and experience life instead of worrying what others might think.

You're so beautiful, in every single way.

Sites that inspire Healthy is the new Skinny and Beauty Redefined.
Let's help change the way we see beautiful.

The top quote is from I am Project, you can buy it here.

The bottom quote is by Karen Walrond designed by Kal Barteski

as seen on Design Mom. You can pre-order it here.

More weekend inspiration on the topic of beauty found here.

Happy Weekend Lovelies!!!

Hugs and Kisses! 

Joy in the Home

Greetings you joyous readers!

We are Steph and Risa from Paisley Interiors!

Click here to see our blog

We love design, DIY projects, and we're addicted to Pinterest.

We are constantly trying to create joy in our homes.

We encourage UNIQUE design.

Here are our tips to create joy in your home:

1. Everyone has their own style, and it's okay that you love a lamp that your neighbor doesn't! And if you want that antler chandelier, go for it! The great thing about your home is that it's yours! And the more comfortable you are in it, the happier your family will be. 

2. Let your children have some say in the design. If they want a lime green pillow with orange sheets and a pink bedspread, bite your tongue and let them explore their creativity. And this goes for your spouse as well. Isn't it easy to treat strangers better than family? Don't forget that your spouse can have a say, and when you show sincere interest in their desires and unique creativity, the more they will grow and bloom. And isn't that what we want?

3. When decorating your home the focal point tends to be the walls, and what's on them.  You can put up great curtains, have a fantastic headboard, or an amazing rug, but what visitors really notice is what you've put on your walls. Our walls show what we value. I, Risa, grew up with paintings on the walls, but the best part of my living room is the huge installation of pictures of my little family. It's the first thing people notice and the one thing in our home everybody loves. It shows that we value each other. In other areas I have pictures of Christ, because I value my relationship with my Savior.  

4. Enjoy the journey! Design conundrums last moments, but family lasts forever! Enjoy the discussions and decisions and find comfort in the fact that all decor can be changed if it doesn't turn out how you had envisioned.

To give you something to start with,

we've created a Valentine's Day printable to decorate with:

Click here to download this free printable from our blog!

The fabric rosettes were made using this tutorial from Freckled Laundry.


We are grateful that Lisa gave us the opportunity to guest post!
We look forward to seeing you at our blog The Paisley Suit.


Be You-nique,
Steph and Risa

Friday's Joys

On my list of joys:

+This little blog of ours is going to be having a little makeover next week.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can figure out all the html and 

remember what I learned in my web design classes.

It makes me all excited to share with you a new clean look.

Plus, update all the pages that are now outdated.

+It's Kevin's Friday off and we're heading up to Phoenix for a day trip.

+I'm excited to do this project for family and friends.

We've already picked out all the songs and they're fun and cheesy.

More on that to come.

+We're having some friends over for the weekend and I'm excited

to be making this, this, and this.

Now for around the web:

+Above all remember this:

You can buy it here.

+With the sun out here, it's time to start buying some bright spring clothes.
Loving this polka dotted dress, yellow dress and casual dress.

(I have a thing for dresses, I put one on and I automatically feel dressed up).

+I love this journal.

+Our roots really do make a difference.

+Ah, sweet honesty about motherhood.

+I love it when people create their home as a haven with children.

Alright, I'm off to go live life!

Have a wonderful weekend lovelies!
Hugs and kisses!


Poster from Laura Winslow Photography via Lil Blue Boo
and yes, it's a printable for download!

Friday's Joys

Let's start off with sweet baby Wrigley!
Isn't he adorable?
This picture was taken by my amazing friend Dani.

We're to the END of finals! Wahoo! 

I'm beginning to feel exhausted and wanting to start celebrating Christmas.

The photos from this week were from last minute photo shoots for my final art project.

I'm really happy how they turned out. They look even better in print.

Tip: When taking Christmas tree pictures, make sure to open 

your ISO to about 1600 or as far as it can open.

It will turn out a bit grainy but it makes the picture look like an illustration out of a book.

Last year, I did this little service project. I'm still continuing it but in a simpler way.

More to come on Monday.

Still the question remains in my thoughts,

"What shall I give to the babe in the manger?"

This week around the web:

A new magazine about Seeing the Everyday.

I'm going to eventually subscribe to this. 

A wonderful blog I happened to stumble upon.

I love the simple easy designs and felt inspired.

Definitely adding My Life as a Sugar Lander to my Google Reader!

A sweet post on Motherhood.

Now that it's the end of finals,

I'm heading here for some celebratory treats.

My professor and I were talking the other day about Christmas Cameras.

We agreed that this, this, and this would be lovely to find under the tree.

48 hour sale on sweaters and jackets at Anthro. 

Yes, please!

My mother's favorite version of The First Noel.

You can get a glimpse of my dad singing in the choir.

Hope you have a wonderful December weekend!

What are some of your plans?

Me? I'm getting together with some friends for a gift exchange later tonight

and a neighborhood Christmas party. I hope to bring this along. It looks so good.

Merry Christmas!
And just one more sweet picture of Wrigley.

A special thank you to Dani Jensen Photography. 
Linking up with E Tells Tales.

Friday's Joys

I've decided that on Fridays, I'd like to make a list of JOY from the week

with some links as well that made me smile. 

She's trying to be all sneaky thinking I'm not looking.

Let's start off with this girl. She now calls me Sa. 

All I hear is "Sa, Sa, SAAA!!!"

So cute.

I am officially over the stomach flu and my family

is too. It's now gone through all eight of us.

Sigh of relief.

It's definitely time to get my craft on.

Festival of Trees is coming up the day after Thanksgiving.

Inspiration here, here and here.

I LOVE this gratitude garland. 

Thanksgiving always reminds me how lucky I am.

Classy dress.

My sister-in-law and I laughed for hours over this post.

We're going to be trying to take photos of her daughter
next week with this idea in mind.

Tonight, it's going to snow again.
Looking forward to peace and quiet, I love watching it fall.
Snow can be so magical early in the season.

I'm thankful for this time of year.
Holiday season helps put things into perspective
and it makes me grateful for what I have.

"I found the cocoa!"

"Hmmm, that taste's good."

Happy Friday lovelies!!!

{source}

I made it! It's my birthday.

I find that I happiest when I'm helping others.

Even if it's in a tiny way.

I love the song, "Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad

and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed."

It'll be a most blessed year if I remember to serve everyday.

Believe me, I'm running with it. 

Giving service brings me JOY and I promise, it will bring you and the person you serve JOY as well.

Spread joy everyday.

It'll be sunshine in our hearts and in our eyes

and most importantly in our soul.

The person you deliver it to,will never forget it.

For it reminds them, that God loves them.

~Lis