help!

i just finished reading the help - the amazing best seller by kathryn stockett. and i looooved it.

but quick, before i lose my reclaimed love for reading i need a new book suggestion!

help me, please! i need you all and your literary guidance...

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the awesomest thing.

the awesomest thing ever is the book and blog combo of 1000 awesome things. it is a blog chronicling - yup, you guessed it - awesome things. and to top of the awesomeness of this concept, it was just released in book form as well! what better book to have on your bedside table?

for example, yesterday's awesomest thing was dancing when you are home alone. they are correct. that is pretty awesome.

"yes, we’ve all been home alone and sometimes it’s fun to lose yourself in the moment.
after all, maybe you’re hanging with a heavy heart, burning with a hot temper, or just snowed in after a bad day. if there’s a black cloud hanging ugly over your head there’s no cheaper cure than having a solo dance party in the comfort of your place. so come on and turn it on, crank it up, and just shake it baby, shake it baby, shake it like that. AWESOME!"

some of my other recent favorites include - mastering the art of the all you can eat buffet, grass stains, when someone holds your keys and wallet in your purse, the night before a really big day, sleeping with one leg under the covers and one leg out, bed head all day long, and getting out of the car at home after a really long trip....

so please, sign up immediately to get an awesome thing sent to your inbox every morning. a pretty good way to start your day if you ask me (along with the ubiquotous messages from jcrew and the nytimes)

ps - ok, i lied, the awesomest thing ever is collin, the best boyfriend ever (besides mr. frederickson, of course) who was so inspired by this concept that he wrote his lady, abigail a song about the awesomest things about her. how awesome is that!?

if you have trouble viewing this link - click here

ps - clearly it's time to bring back to vermont the word awesome.

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the happiness project.

this holiday weekend was full of so many things i love - leisurely homecooked meals, the smell of spring, mr. frederickson (more on him later), perfect running weather, afternoon naps in the sun, cadbury mini eggs, and some time to get settled into my new book, which is a luxury in and of itself.

if you are anything like me, you have a pile of books cluttering your nightstand, just taunting you and begging to be read. and in my case, they are a constant source of guilt (i really should be reading these, but i really just want to fall asleep) and annoyance (dust seems to gather on my nightstand around said books more than any other place in my apartment!) so, i am going to challenge myself this spring to tackle this reading project (book club, anyone!?) and it seemed only appropriate that the first book be "the happiness project" by gretchen rubin.

i think gretchen and i might be soul mates...but even if you and she have very little in common, you will love this book. it is entertaining and full of helpful bits of wisdom (and lists!) to help even the happiest person get a little bit happier. and who can argue with that? plus, she has a blog, so you can stalk - i mean, follow - the happiness project everyday!

one of my favorite lists was her secrets of adulthood. clever, concise and i am fairly certain that this list alone will carry me well into the next chapter of life, whatever that may be.

• the best reading is re-reading.
• outer order contributes to inner calm.
• the opposite of a great truth is also true.
• you manage what you measure.
• by doing a little bit each day, you can get a lot accomplished.
• people don’t notice your mistakes and flaws as much as you think.
• it's nice to have plenty of money.
• most decisions don't require extensive research.
• try not to let yourself get too hungry.
• even if you think they're fake, it's nice to celebrate mother's day and father's day.
• if you can't find something, clean up.
• the days are long, but the years are short.
• someplace, keep an empty shelf.
• turning the computer on and off a few times often fixes a glitch.
• it's okay to ask for help.
• you can choose what you do; you can't choose what you LIKE to do.
• happiness doesn't always make you feel happy.
• what you do EVERY DAY matters more than what you do ONCE IN A WHILE.
• you don't have to be good at everything.
• soap and water removes most stains.
• it's important to be nice to EVERYONE.
• you know as much as most people.
• over-the-counter medicines are very effective.
• eat better, eat less, exercise more.
• what's fun for other people may not be fun for you--and vice versa.
• people actually prefer that you buy wedding gifts off their registry.
• houseplants and photo albums are a lot of trouble.
• if you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough.

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