#happyemorie

Yesterday I uploaded my final #100happydays post, much to my own disbelief. Had it really been 100 days already? Did I really actually completely finish a lengthy instagram challenge I decided to do on a whim? And, most importantly, did some of those rainbows-and-butterflies type of side-effects that were promised actually occur? Yes, yes, and yes. What even.

I decided to try this challenge simply because so many people I follow on instagram were already doing it! I'm a copycat. But also, honestly, because I am someone who battles anxiety and depression. I'm always seeking proactive solutions to make my life better and happier despite those struggles. Knowing that my depression always kicks me hardest in the summer, I wanted a head start to encouraging myself to seek out and create happiness. This was a perfect way for me to do so and to document the daily journey — I'm already taking far more pictures than necessary anyway! And because I like experiments, so why not :)

I wasn't expecting magic by participating in this challenge, but it would be silly to not acknowledge some changes and happy things that occurred over the last 100 days. I've shared, sort of in list format, some of my thoughts below — now that I can reflect on the challenge as a whole.



#HAPPYEMORIE: MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE #100HAPPYDAYS CHALLENGE
+ Posting every single day was SO HARD for me. I'm not the type to share daily on any social media account. But I pushed myself to do it. At first I told myself I was just doing it for documentary purposes. But the more I shared the more I became comfortable with it. I mean... I enjoy scrolling through instagram on a daily basis just to see little glimpses into other peoples' lives, to see beauty from someone else's perspective, to share in other peoples' happiness, and to grasp a bit of inspiration from the everyday of another. I realized I am just as much a part of that community as the people I follow and the people that follow me do so for a reason. I should feel no shame in posting anything. Instant confidence boost!

+ Spoiler alert: I'm not happy every single day. I stopped expecting myself to be. I realized it was okay to be angry or sad or hurt or sick and still have happy moments. For goodness sake, people are not one dimensional. And days and life have many ups and downs. But, it's still okay to pick out the happy moments to share — and it feels really good to, too. Sometimes that just meant lots of pictures of food, because come on yes.

+ I did notice my perspectives switching very early on. It is empowering to be in control of your own happiness. I remember having a really bad interview at the very beginning of this challenge, but not by fault of my own. I remember being upset that I wouldn't get a job at this company, but then consciously deciding to not let it effect me. I suddenly felt grateful that I had the opportunity to find a better job. Did I handle every bad situation this way? No. But, I do feel I am more aware of my reactions to things now. That's always a good thing.

+ Trying to find something to be happy about everyday actually made me happier. And somehow, I started feeling a little more confident in my skin along the way, too. I became happy with myself, I suppose.

+ So much changed over the last 100 days! It is so great to be able to look back through these pictures now and see how much happiness I experienced through all that change! We had just moved when I started this challenge, now my apartment feels like home. Spring was rainy and lovely and I spent all my time outside. Will and I celebrating 3 years together. I got a DSLR and have been spending time improving my photography. I got a job at Anthropologie. I got the courage to chop all my hair off again. I've started a bunch projects I never seemed to have time for before. I've started to really take my health seriously. And I'm feeling really happy.

See all of the images from my #100happydays challenge up close by looking up #happyemorie an instagram.
Did any of you complete this challenge?
xx Emorie


Want to read more about making happiness a priority? Read my post about Practicing Self-Care.

It's Here!

I had a Learning Happy and Healthy post scheduled for today, but I'm just too damn happy and excited to talk about anything other than the fact that I got my new camera in the mail today! Let me get all cheesy for a moment, okay?

It's all I've been talking about for days, so by now I'm sure you all know that I won a giveaway on the blog Of Trees and Hues put on by Latrina and her amazing team of sponsors. The prize was a pretty Canon Rebel T3i but I must say, that one of the best parts of this giveaway has been all the new bloggers I was introduced to. They are an impressive bunch of bloggers, photographers, designers, artist, writers, refreshingly genuine people. If you've been looking for some inspiring blogs, check out Of Trees and Hues and her Sponsors; you can see the full list of bloggers involved with the giveaway here, and take a hop around their blogs. I can't be more grateful to that bunch. They even sent me an additional/extra lens!

I can't wait to play around with this thing, so naturally I'm off on a quick photo adventure this afternoon/evening.

Hope your week is lovely thus far!
xx Emorie

On Pets and Happiness

This may or may not have just been an excuse to share some more pictures of Pippin with you. He is always so golden, I don't quite understand it myself. I'm always blown away when I look back at pictures I took of him. Like , I actually captured that. I bottled all your weirdness up and put it in this photograph. Is my dog-mom showing? I took these yesterday afternoon in the 78 degree heat while we took a little break from our hike at the top of Camels Back.

Sometimes I just look down at this little fella curled up on my lap and it doesn't seem real. How can something bring me so much happiness? Sure he can be pretty stinky, and he tries to hump guests sometimes, and he barks at the kind neighbors, and he doesn't eat his nutrabits (okay, inside joke). But I love him and he loves me/maybe has some attachment issues. It is amazing how much happiness this stinky butt brings. I wouldn't trade him and all his weird little quirks for any other pet. Our family feels complete with him around. He's part of the pack.

Hope you're enjoying a lovely, warm day.
xx Emorie

P.s. Why does blogger destroy the quality of my gifs? Ugh.

This Will Have To Do

I've been laughing over these pictures since taking them this morning and just had to share. Pippin and I went out for our normal walk/casual hike in the foothills this morning, and oh goodness it is a beautiful day — rather chilly and terribly windy, but definitely beautiful. I couldn't help getting out on the trails, and Pippin sure doesn't mind when we've got the hills too ourselves. I had my phone on me (I was expecting/hoping for a call), so I decided to try to get a picture of him, when we were standing up on the top of the ridge. He sniffs at the the air so enthusiastically, and looks rather small but majestic with his fur flapping about. Then this happened:



Hahaha! Right when I'd try to take a picture of him he'd either shake out viciously, jump from to side to side of the trail, or try to climb up me. I guess he was a little excited to be out and running free off leash. My next attack plan was to sit and try to get him on my lap for a selfie. Well...



He, of course, just wanted to lick my face. I don't know how I didn't see that one coming. I let him off my lap after that and decided to take a calming rest on that ridge. I love sitting up there and looking down at how small Boise is. It is also a rare treat to have the trails all to ourselves. I snapped one more picture, right before standing up to continue our hike and captured this:



This will have to do. I actually rather like it; I think it captured our spirits this morning perfectly.

I hope I didn't get you too excited, in my post yesterday, by promising a giveaway today. Because unfortunately it has been post-poned until tomorrow. So get excited for a giveaway tomorrow. Again. Please forgive me. Life stuff happens, you know?

xx Emorie