Ahhh. With so many things that bring me joy I decided to focus on friendship and fun today :)

Kind of a two-for-one.

First joy today; premium cable, yep. True. I don't watch very much TV, I don't really even Tivo anything anymore. But I have a handful of shows on HBO and Showtime that I am 100% addicted to.. Oh, they make me happy :)  I am a HUGE fan of Dexter, Weeds, and Big Love, was a super massive fan of The Sopranos, I LOVE PREMIUM CABLE>> These series are like little mini movies that just keep you HOOKED.. They are brilliant.

I recently started watching the first season of Breaking Bad, I'd never heard of it before, BUT, wow, after the first episode, I just wanted to sit and watch the entire season straight through. It's fantastic.

 So, part two of today's joy. Is watching said episodes with a good friend. I don't know why, but somehow it just makes them better. A glass of wine, good company, it's just fun. I have a great friend with whom I get together a few times a week and we watch Breaking Bad together. I think we both look forward to it, where we can rehash our day and then watch someone else's disfunctional life for a while.. Yep.

Truly good times :)

So I am having a blast sharing my joy journal with you :) It's refreshing to shift your focus once in a while and really think about the things in your life that make you happy. Little or big... The things that bring you joy. It does help to put what you have into perspective. And this journal has been very good for me.

Today's little joy, is food related. [Yes, I'm a foodie and PROUD of it!] But let's zero in, shall we? Today's little joy is more accurately known as.. Sushi... YUM.

Yes, Sushi just makes me happy... It's almost like eating an art form. How cool is that?? I mean just LOOK at it?? It's beautiful.

Couple that with a bowl of yummy edamame and I am in serious foodie heaven. Oh yeah, it's that good. I've even been able to get my girls to try some sushi too. Nothing too ostentatious, Brenna loves most things tempura, so she LOVES Vegas rolls, and Lorynn will actually eat a California roll or two before she decides she wants something else ;)  Start them young and by the time they are old enough we can enjoy Sushi and Sake together.. Cool Beans. 

Yep, it's the weekend, so since I've been spending it playing with friends I am combining ;)

Today's joy is pretty simple, but quite honestly something that can turn a bad day into fantastic. I am not sure why it is, but I LOVE driving... Not just any driving though.. I like to drive fast with the window's rolled down and the music cranked up as loud as my speakers will allow me. It just makes my heart sing. Yes, I've eluded to this before. There is seat dancing, loud belting of tunes and the occasional air guitar; and cold weather doesn't stop me.. If it's cold; you just crank up the seat warmers and the heater. It is instant satisfaction... And happily my girls enjoy it with me. Yes, sometimes the music is different when they are DJing, but nothing makes my heart smile more than to hear Lorynn singing along as loud as she can in the back seat..

Today was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the roads were clear, and it was just me and an ipod full of happiness.  Good times.

Today has been kind of a hard day for me. I seem to be trucking along as I often do, doing what needs to be done, then WHAMO. I get side swiped by a rush of emotions. [What is that about??]

Today was just hard. At one point. I had both of my daughters crying in the backseat on their way home from visiting their dad's house because they missed him, and they didn't get to snuggle him.

Sometimes divorce is heartbreaking. Then, me; sitting in the car, listening to music that was just too melancholy. Letting it take me to that place... Wait a minute.. This is a JOY JOURNAL. Snap out of it.

Today's little joy is COLOR. Ahhhh. Ok, it's a big joy for me. I find that if I surround myself with color, it breathes creativity into me. I need it. It's like a silver cocoon wrapping around me, feeding me, filling me. We've been in our cute little house for a bit over a month and I've painted 4 rooms :)

This is the painting that sits directly over my dining room table. It's painted with metallic acrylics, and it's so gorgeous it SHINES>> It literally brings sunshine to my soul every morning :) It has all of my favorite colors in it, although this photo doesn't show it very well.. Rusted Orange, Aqua, Limes and Browns. Its just yummy. Couple that with the calming blue-green on the wall.. Yes.. Pure Happiness :)

I finally stopped into a shabby chic consignment store today that has been calling my name since I moved to my new place. I ooooed and ahhhhhed for a good hour. It was fantastic :)

Chatted up the cute little store owner, and talked about the possibility of me selling some art to her... Hmmm. The wheels are turning, for sure.. I've been wanting to dive in more to painting. I'm still unpacking all those supplies (OMG, you should SEE my garage!!) But the plan is to organize the second car garage into a workable art space.. YEP, that makes me giddy with excitement. All my supplies have been tightly packed for over a year. They need to get out and stretch their legs, breath a little.. Poor babies.

I also fell in love with a sock monkey today. It was so cute, it needed a photo taken.

The colors alone make me happy :) Other items of joy today.. Tomorrow is Friday, and I have plans to have NO PLANS. AHHH :)  And while Friday holds NO PLANS for me, Saturday and Sunday are looking to be jam packed with excitement and fun.. I love weekends like that :) Best of both worlds...

Been getting into a good routine at the gym. I'm determined to be bikini ready come summer.. Yep, that brings me mucho joy. I am spending the weekend with my two best friends, nothing like a little wine, lots of laughter, deep conversations and heartfelt confessions to make a girl feel right with the world.. YOU KNOW?