Surfing The Web

Surfed the net today, as I like to do and have to do (a lot of) for work. Came across some pretty interesting pictures on the L.A. Times website.

Various photos displaying thought provoking images of people and situations throughout the world. The photo above is from Sacha Cunningham.

Very compelling stuff! Some are simple, many are heart-wrenching... all make you think.

Have a look! Click below...

"Framework - Los Angeles Times"

Not quite a joy moment today but more of a visual reminder of both the simple beauty and grand complexities of our world.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

It's That Time!

Can you believe we're at the last day in November?! Christmas is almost here. Seems crazy.

Radio stations already have Christmas music playing. Parking lots filled with Christmas trees are popping up all over the place. Commercials featuring Christmas sales are in hyper-overdrive. Christmas decorations are up in stores (since before Thanksgiving, naughty store keepers) and more than a few homes are decked out with enough lights to be seen from space.

It's Christmas time, kids!  No getting around it. That fat man in a red suit is coming... right outside a department store near you, LOL.

Might as well get in the mood for the holiday cheer!

My joy moment today was doing just that. I can't help it!  I'm a kid at heart. LOL.

Bring on the egg nog! The countdown begins...

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Catchy Tunes

Heard a great song today by the band, Maroon 5. I've heard it before but today it was perfect timing given it's title..."Sunday Morning."

It's a fun little diddy that can have you singing along and may even induce a cheery mood. One of those upbeat songs that sticks in your head... at least it did for me. Couldn't get it out, LOL.

Have a listen, click on the following link...

Maroon 5 -"Sunday Morning"

Listening to this catchy tune and humming it throughout the day was my joy moment for today. I always say it's the simple things!

Have an amazing Monday!

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Girl Time!

The holidays present a great time to catch up with friends and family. Tonight I had an opportunity to get together with a few girlfriends for dinner and a movie.

It had been some time since we've seen each other, so it was nice for us all to come together and catch up, laugh, enjoy good food, great conversation... and lively entertainment. Yes, we saw a chick flick. LOL. I did say it was girl's night out, LOL. The movie was, "Burlesque" with Cher and Christina Aguilera. Good movie! We all were pleasantly surprised. It had wonderful singing and dancing and two talented ladies with amazing voices. It was a nice way to end our evening out.

My joy moment today was girl time!  Good times!

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Long Weekends

It felt like a Saturday, but it was only Friday. Saturday's on the way. Yay!

Long holiday weekends... Gotta love 'em!

I sure do!  And it was my joy moment for today.

Have a great one, friends!

Stay tuned:-)

Ms. Girl

Day of Thanks!

No matter how big. No matter how small. It was a day to count our blessings, whatever they are...

Whether it was giving thanks for being with family and friends.

Thankful for a good meal or a roof over our head.

Thankful for getting to our destinations safe and sound.

Thankful for long distance phone calls from loved ones.

Thankful for being thought about or just thankful for our memories.

Thankful for being able to help another person or thankful for someone's generosity to us.

It was a day of gratitude.

I wasn't with my family today but I was thankful for the phone conversations with them. Thankful for the numerous texts and thoughtful notes from friends. Thankful for turkey, fixings and dessert. Thankful for spending part of the day in my P.J.'s. :-)

Thankful for this day... and each and every one.

My day-long attitude of gratitude was my joy moment today.

Hope everyone had a safe and pleasant holiday!

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Joy Moment

Long work day is done.  Non-stop movement. Night before the holiday. Turkey is being prepped for the oven... by someone else!  :-)

Very thankful!

Finally exhaling.  Finally settling down. Sleep is finally in my near future.

Thankful, indeed.

Oh, yes! This is my very joyous moment for today.

Hope you had wonderful day, friends.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Pie High!

A friend of mine made sweet potato pies for the upcoming holiday. After a bit of whining (and drooling) I was able to get a pre-Thanksgiving taste test. Two slices!

Yep, I ate both... I was on a wonderful pie high! They were amazing, melt in your mouth delicious. Just like my grandmother makes. But yours are still the best, Granny!

My early Turkey day treat was my joy moment for today. Yum.

The countdown continues.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Turkey Dreams

Beginning of the week... always a little hectic. But this one's a short one. Whoo-hoo!

Just a couple more days until Turkey day!

Whenever things got a little crazy today... I just thought about the upcoming turkey holiday. It did the trick.

Daydreams of turkey and nap times were my joy moments for today. Bring on the Tryptophan!  LOL.

Hope you had a good one, friends.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Movie Marathon!

Previously, I've mentioned that one of my fav activities is watching movies. I love to get lost in a good film that has intrigue, drama, adventure, and every now and then, a little romance thrown in for good measure.  I am a girl, LOL.

So today I took my favorite past time to the limit. I watched 4 movies back to back! Two dramas, a romantic comedy and an adventure flick. It was movie overload... and I loved it!  Of course, I had several intermissions and stopped down for refreshments but for the most part, I was in the zone. The Movie Zone. All from the comfort of my living room couch, LOL.

Yes, it was a lot, even for a self-proclaimed movie buff. But every now and then, it's nice to indulge in one of your fav activities. 

My movie marathon was a great escape and a relaxing way to spend the afternoon.  And it was my joy moment (hours! LOL) for today. 

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Pace Yourself

Most of us run around all week with life stuff, work stuff, personal obligations and so on. Sometimes it's hard to slow down, even when the weekend arrives.  And even then, we try to cram more stuff in. That was me today.

Although, it was Saturday, I was still on overdrive. Even after I'd stopped working, completed my day's obligations and my weary body was finally stationary... my mind was still racing. My body was saying, "slow down" but my mind was saying, "Hey, we can get more stuff done." Thankfully, the body won out.  

It took several hours but finally my restlessness subsided and relaxation started to kick in. It actually took quite awhile, and that's just wrong.  It was time to find some balance... because if I didn't, burnout was surely on the horizon. Today gave me a good reminder.

Sometimes your body will give you a warning that's it's time to slow down, time to slow your pace. And sometimes, we have to listen.

Getting that reminder and heeding my body's warning signals was my joyful (and restful) moment for today.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Yippee!

We made it through another week friends and that's something to cheer about.

That's just what I did... and it was my very joyful moment today.

Have a great weekend!!

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

A Little Peace and Quiet

The benefits of peace and quiet are so underrated.  As soon as we get up in the morning, there are so many sounds...

Alarm clock buzzing.  Coffee maker popping.  Cars starting.  Garage doors opening. Kids talking, dogs barking, radio blaring, water running... the hustle of bustle of a new day is loudly and proudly upon us.

And that's all well and good.

But if you can catch a few moments of peace and quiet during the day... it does a body good. A few moments to rejuvenate, rest your mind, reflect, or just exhale can do wonders. A little peace and quiet can go a long way... it may turn your day around or leave you in a better frame of mind. Take five... or ten, you'll be glad you did.

My joy moment today was stealing away a few wonderful minutes of peace and quiet.

How sweet the sound! LOL.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Off The Beaten Path

Today I got caught in a huge traffic jam on the way home. Cars were crawling along at a mind-numbing 5 miles per hour.

I reprogrammed my GPS and made my way to the nearest exit. The new route took me a long way around. Several miles through residential neighborhoods, through the city then eventually back to a freeway.

And you know what?  It wasn't bad.

Sure, it took me a long time to get home but I was constantly moving, out of traffic and I was able to take in completely new scenery. I passed a couple of great restaurants, unique stores, beautiful homes, a miniature golf place, a concert hall and even a car raceway. Huh?! I know! LOL.

Then before long, I started recognizing my area again... I was nearly home. It made me realize, every now and then, it's nice to go off the beaten path. Every now and then, making a point to see, do, or try something new can be a great adventure or just a needed change of pace. Tonight it was both for me.

My unplanned, yet very eventful, night drive was my joy moment for today.

Vroom Vroom!

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Simple Pleasures

Got my laugh on tonight with some funny shows on the tube.  Now I'm ready to roll into Wednesday with an upbeat attitude.

Sometimes it's life's little pleasures that can get you through the day or the night.  That was the case for me... and that simple pleasure was my joy moment for today.

Catching some rays. Enjoying a good cup of a coffee. Sharing a laugh with a friend or listening to your favorite song...

May you find a moment of joy today in life's simple pleasures.

Have a happy hump day, friends!

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Feed the Crave!

I said I wouldn't do it again.  But that was before.

Before I realized my to-do list was a page long.

Before I had to make it to a last minute appointment... on time.

Before I fought crazy traffic on my way home.

Before I almost ran out of gas.

So I did it.  Even though I told myself I wouldn't.

I quickly pulled into the lot. Made my way up to the box. Then rolled down my car window just in time to hear.... "Welcome to McDonald's, make I take your order?"

Cheeseburger and fries, please!  I exhaled.  It may not have been right... but I felt soo much better! LOL.

Sometimes you just have to feed the craving.

What do you crave? Chocolate, ice cream, glass of vino?!  Every now and then you have to indulge your craving and give yourself a happy moment. Responsibly, of course. Which I learned on my last fry overload. :-)

Feeding my craving was my joy moment for today.

Okay, that's the last time. For real, this time, LOL. At least for awhile.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Jazzy Brunch

A friend and I had a long scheduled play date today. I'd been looking forward to seeing her and checking out a popular brunch place we'd both heard about.

I.Cugini. An Italian restaurant located near Santa Monica beach. Fun place.

They had endless food and mimosas. Indoor and outdoor patio seating. Ocean views and an extremely pleasant and attentive waitstaff. They also had a live band playing snappy jazz tunes, hosted by the local jazz station.

You could tell everyone was having a good time. There were lots of smiles, laughter and loud chatter from just about every table. Our party of two was pretty lively, as well, LOL. The hype was right, it was a nice way to spend a sunny afternoon.

My joy moment today was my jazzy Sunday brunch. Good friend, good food, good music, good times!

Hope you had a pleasant one.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Life Stuff, On Demand!

On Demand.

I love selecting a movie on cable TV and instantly watching it On Demand.  I just scroll down, check out the list of genres, make a selection and voila!  Movie action! At your fingertips. If only other life stuff were that easy. Wouldn't it be great if everything were On Demand?

Ice cream, On Demand. With just a click of a button, the doorbell rings with a delivery of a cone or cup of your favorite ice cream.

Laundry done, On Demand.  Click of a button, someone arrives to pick it up and drops it off, all sorted, folded and still warm. Just the thought of it brings about happy tears, LOL.

Food, On Demand. Scroll down a list of restaurants, pick any cuisine and make your order. Doorbell rings, hot food at your service. Yes, I know we can do deliveries online but I'm on a roll, here, LOL.

Grocery shopping, On Demand. Housekeeping, On Demand. Hairstylist, manicurist, eyebrow plucker-ist, On Demand. All life's chores, mundane tasks, errands... all On Demand.

Sure, we (me) would probably be a lazier and more out of shape society... but that's where a personal trainer On Demand, a doctor On Demand (house calls!) and inevitably, liposuction On Demand, would come in. Kidding!! LOL.

Yes, I'm getting a little carried a way. But a girl can dream, can't she?!

My joy moment today is settling in to get lost in a good movie, On Demand...  and letting my imagination run wild, LOL!

A little daydreaming can be good for the soul :-)

Thanks for indulging, friends.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Dear Old Friends

Old and familiar.

Heard from a dear friend today. Haven't talked to her in awhile. We caught up quickly and laughed like school girls again. So nice to catch up with her.

Old friends... warm the heart like nothing else.

My joy moment today was my surprise call from my dear old friend.

Good times!

Hope you had a great one, friends.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Time to Exhale

Very late night at the office... at least there was no traffic on the ride home. :-)

Arrived home safely.  Caught my fav show. Ended the night with an awesome cup of tea.

Swift, Simple and Sweet.

My joy moment today was coming home after a long day, catching some couch time and finally exhaling.

Hope you had a good one, friends.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Shake it Off!

Shake it off!

Sometimes you just have to shake it off.

Rude or impolite person. Shake it off.

Bad day at the office. Take it in stride. Keep it moving.

Kids or family members out of line. Give them a pass...this time! Then move on.

Some days you might be shaking it so much, it may look like you're doing a crazy dance, LOL. But you may be better off for it.

Sometimes, maybe not all the time, it's good to just let things go. It saves your sanity and your stress level... and may even put things in perspective.

On crazy days, when everything and everyone seem to be out of order... I take a moment to say the serenity prayer. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Shaking it off and not letting life's craziness, or crazies, get the best of me was my joyful (and peaceful) moment for today.

Shake, shake, shake... and be well friends!

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Loving Story Time!

Found a great new way to make my long commute (47 miles!) seem less long.

Books on tape.

At first, I was a little reluctant because I love books... the feel and the smell of them. I didn't know what to expect and felt like I was being disloyal to the real thing. Ms. Girl is pretty old school. Can you tell? LOL.

When I first put the book's CD in the disc player it felt a little weird hearing someone read to me. The last time that happened I was five, LOL. But that feeling left quickly.

I enjoyed listening to a great story that piqued and sustained my interest. And before I realized it, I was pulling up to my destination... oblivious to (and much less annoyed by) the traffic and long distance. Lovin' that!

My joy moment today was story time! Formerly known as my drive time. What a wonderful distraction. I'm diggin' it!

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Turning Back Time!

Fall Back!

Daylight Savings Time! Gotta love it when the time goes back an hour.

What did you do with your extra hour?

I spent it catching a few more zzzzz's.

My joy moment today was getting an extra hour of rest this morning because of daylight saving's time.

Whoo Hoo!

I always say it's the little things.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Young at Heart

I'm a kid at heart. So when I came across an old school video game today... I jumped right on it.

Pacman is my fav! 

I'm not one for the newer, high tech games.  Oldies like Pacman and Tetris are still a blast for me and bring back fond memories.  

When I saw that Pacman video game I had to jump on and see if I still had any of my old skills. I was a tad rusty at first, but soon enough, I was chasing those little ghosts and racking up points. The girl was back! I even drew a little audience (of 1, LOL).  Another female adult who was also a Pac man lover... we're out there, people!  LOL. 

I totally got into the game like a kid... Making faces, exhaling, gasping, talking to myself and yelling at the ghosts that were chasing me. 

Yes, I got a little animated but it was so much fun! Best stress buster, ever! 

Entertaining the kid in me and indulging in a little child's play was my joy moment today.  

May we all stay young at heart.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl 

Aaah, Massage!

Treated myself to a massage today. Nearby place was running a great special. Which made it even better. :-)

The masseuse was amazing. She had the hands of an angel, a very strong one, LOL. You know it's a good massage when you fall asleep... and start snoring. Kidding!

It was just what I needed. All the aches and stress went away, I walked out feeling refreshed and relaxed... and ready for a nap. Yep, Ms. Girl's a big baby.

Enjoying an impromptu massage was my joy moment for today. It was Aaah-mazing.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Helping Hands

My Friday got off to a rough start. On my way to work, had to make a quick stop. Turned out to be longer than I thought. Car trouble.

The only thing I know about cars is where the gas tank is... and sometimes I still pull up on the wrong side of car, LOL.

To my surprise, not one or two, but three different strangers stopped to help. We can say what we want but there are a lot of good people in the world.  One passerby came by to assist and then two officers stopped to help and held up traffic while the other person pushed my car to safety.

I promise I wasn't playing the damsel in distress role. Quite the opposite!  I was just a stressed out dame, LOL.  And probably looked the part, at that point. :-)

Soon enough, my car was back up and running and I was on the road again.  I thanked each of them kindly. Grateful for their assistance.

My joy moment today was the wonderful kindness and helping hands of strangers.  Much obliged.

I think chivalry's making a comeback, LOL!

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Spread the Love!

Heard from two friends today that I haven't chatted with in awhile.

Was so good to connect with the both of them. One was by phone another by email.

Makes you feel good when people take a moment to let you know they've been thinking about you.  

Also makes you think.

I should keep the love train going and call up a few loved ones that have been on my mind, lately. I'm on it!

Such a simple gesture with big-time affects!  It was my joy moment for today.

Spread the love, friends!

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

Hi Ya Doing?!

How's Your Week Going?!

Need a pick me up?  Me too! Hope you enjoy the sights. 

My joy moment today was perusing some fun photos.  Seems my furry friends did the trick... oh, yeah, and that one limber dude!

Here's one more for ya. Keep your head up and enjoy the rest of your week!

Stay tuned :-) 

Ms. Girl 

Come On and Get Happy!

As you know, I'm always on the hunt for happy. Hence, my blog's website address, www.huntforhappy.blogspot.com, LOL.

While on Oprah.com, I came across an interesting article by Karen Salmansohn titled, "How to be Happy, Dammit: A Cynic's Guide to Spiritual Happiness.  

Sort of a no-nonsense list... that actually makes a lot of sense.

A couple of points from her article... "If you keep doing what you've always been doing, then you'll keep getting what you've always been getting." And...

"If you want to change your outer world, you must first change your internal mental programming.  When you try to change the external world first, it's like trying to change the picture of a TV screen by rubbing it with a cloth."

Again... it's a cynics guide to happiness, so she has a very sassy and wry point of view.  And if you have a sense of humor, you'll enjoy her straightforward and smart advice.

Check it out!

"How To Be Happy!"

Gaining some great tips and advice about not taking life, or myself, too seriously was my joy moment for today.

Stay tuned :-)

Ms. Girl

It's Tuesday!

Monday's done, kids. We're off and running!

Can you believe it's already the beginning of November?!

It's the start of a new month. The start of a new week.  A good time to start a new project, to start on something we've been putting off.

Just think, if we start now, by Christmas we could make some great headway... or  at the very least, we'll be a little closer to our finish line. What a wonderful gift to give ourselves... pursuing our dreams and goals.

My joy moment today was taking note of the start of a new month and brainstorming plans to make it a productive one. Hope the new month, inspires you to begin something new. Let's check-in Dec. 2nd. I'm game, if you are!

Don't forget, it's election day. Remember to let your voice be heard. Don't forget to Vote!

Have a Happy Tuesday!

Stay Tuned :-)

Ms. Girl