guest blogger - lindsay from shrimp salad circus:

May 13, 2010

Photobucket

i immediately loved lindsay's blog post she submitted about 10 ways to brighten today, i thought it was so happy + sweet. lindsay blogs at the lovely shrimp salad circus and runs a fabulous vintage etsy shop. follow her on facebook + twitter as well. hope you can find some inspiration to brighten your day or someone's day :) share some of your own too!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Well hello there, friends! If you're reading this, then you're a fellow lover of oh, hello friend, so you can relate to how much I just adore Danni's blogging style - always uplifting, bright, happy, and motivational! With today's guest post, I wanted to keep with that vein and put together something equally cheery and inspiring, so without further ado, I give you:

Ten Ways to Brighten Today, Right This Very Minute

1. It's spring - open a window, and watch the curtains flutter. It's hard not to smile while staring out at the leaves blowing in the wind. Just try it

2. Make a mix-tape (okay, okay - CD). Get in the car; roll down all the windows; and drive somewhere beautiful while blasting your new audio inspiration.



3. Write somebody a letter. No - not an e-mail, an honest-to-goodness handwritten letter. Now put it in an envelope, address it, and stamp it. Mail it, even if they live just a few miles away. You've just mailed an impending smile!

4. Donate five dollars to charity. You'll get a warm fuzzy and help somebody who needs it. Might I recommend donating to the National Foundation for Cancer Research in honor of Danni's beautiful mother?


5. Clean out the junk drawer. Yes, you heard me right. Cleaning is cathartic, and the junk drawer is a small, manageable place to start. You'll feel so fresh and so clean, clean afterwards - I promise!

6. Bake something from scratch. There's something endlessly satisfying in creating something from nothing, and all the better if it's delicious and makes your whole house (or impossibly tiny apartment...) smell positively heavenly.


7. Start a quote collection. Get a fresh, new, blank little notebook, and write down your favorite quote in the world. Fill it up with all the best, most inspiring quotes in the world, and then start Volume II.

8. Do something kind for somebody else, but do it anonymously. You'll be glowing all day with the knowledge of your happy little secret, and you'll brighten somebody else's day in the process!


9. Plan a trip. Whether you're going to Romania, Rhode Island, or just somewhere 'round the corner, there's a thrill to had in travel. Make it an event, and you'll be looking forward to it between now and then.

10. Wear an absurdly fancy dress to the grocery store, the post office, or the local diner, for no reason at all. You'll feel pretty and have a little extra spring in your step all day long!

Those are my ten. Now what can you add to list? What do you do to brighten your day, or perhaps even to brighten somebody else's?

27 hello's:

  1. awww this is a LOVELY post! reading each item really put a smile on my face! i love committing random acts of kindness AND getting handmade letters! along with letters, sending cute packages filled with goodies is always nice too!

    as a blogger, i also love leaving comments on others posts, as it brightens my day each time i see a comment on my own blog! =)

    and another thing i love to do is give my friends phone calls... i know that sounds soo simple, but this day and age with email, facebook, texting, all too often we will resort to these modes of communication, but i really think there is nothing like hearing your friends voice and a good heart to heart conversation!

    this was a great guest post, heading over to read shrimp salad circus right now! =)

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful list! Each one is so simple and easy to do - yet immensely satisfying. They are selfless yet serve the soul. This list is a keeper - thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. okay, i love this, it inspired my blog post today: http://bellacardco.blogspot.com/2010/05/easy-tips-to-brighten-your-day.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. great post! i've been thinking about this a lot.

    i vote painting--nothing at all--just putting paint on a canvas is quite therapeutic. also, paying for the person behind you in the drive thru and speeding away before they can see you! it's so thrilling. or tying balloons to a stranger's mailbox really late at night, maybe leaving a card or some flowers in it, too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. oh i forgot wearing lipstick and a tiara around the house for chore time is really helpful too (:

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is terrific! Just discovered your blog...and am on my way to being hooked :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love your ideas! Just love them! I am going to go bake something and write a letter - right now!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks! I really needed something like this to inspire me today. x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow. Just reading your post made me feel good already :) Thanks for spreading the good vibes xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm so glad to see that so many people are inspired by my guest post!

    Ironically enough, I'm only just [right] now taking my own advice. I'm cleaning out the junk drawer!

    :)
    Lindsay

    ReplyDelete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Whoops - posted from the wrong account (but cleaning the junk drawer, nonetheless)!

    :)
    Lindsay

    ReplyDelete
  13. what a lovely list! such great ideas... I especially love the quote collection idea. and those notebooks are too cute!

    something that always brightens my day is hanging out with my pooch, Hazel. taking her to the dog park and seeing the silly dog grin she gets on her face is just priceless. it makes me happy to see how something as simple as running around in the grass can make her so darn happy! it reminds me to appreciate the little things, too.

    ReplyDelete
  14. ooh thank you so much! <3
    Such an amazing and sweet post, just what I needed on this quiet, lonely day. To make it all even better, it is raining, the skies are gray for days now and it's nearly 10 degrees!

    But there's so much to be thankful for, to be happy out, to be looking forward to.
    But all seems so useless sometimes.

    However, some things that make me happy (or feel better in this case, haha):

    - working on my inspiration book and look at all the beauty i've pasted in there.

    - working on my French cross stitching project, that looks beautiful, if i might say so myself.

    - watch a beautiful Asian movie.

    - call my ex boyfriend I can still talk to so well, he just knows me so good and i can always tell him everything.

    Maybe it's time to write him a beautiful letter. ;)

    Thanks dear for this beautiful post!

    Mila
    x.

    ReplyDelete
  15. bunting is EVERYWHERE and i love it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a great, feel-good post. I also love cara's idea of wearing lipstick and a tiara while cleaning.

    ReplyDelete
  17. 11. Hold open the door, for someone, for anyone. The little smiles exchanged seem to go a long way.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Awesome! I definitely want to make a favorite quotes book, thanks for the inspiration ♥. Bless you!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I LOVE this post! It put a smile on my face just reading it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I absolutely love the list, i will actually start my quote collection asap.One question, tough...what made you choose Romania?Was it random or with a meaning?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ruxandra - My boyfriend is from Romania!

    ReplyDelete
  22. this post is amazing. i'm so inspired! the next time i sit down at my computer i'll put my prom dress on! j/k, but i really do adore that idea of dressing up to do everyday errands. thank you for this wonderful post!

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a great list! I love your blog, I'm a new follower ♥

    ReplyDelete
  24. These are such sweet ideas - I find that the "random acts of kindness" is always a good way to feel good.

    Personally I also like buying really vibrant coloured flowers or wearing colourful clothes - I have a purple coat that I tend to save for such occasions :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. i went to romania for a study abroad and helped the precious orphans. that country has a piece of my heart...

    anyways... brightening my day... I paint my toe nails (and finger nails too if i have the patience) a ridiculously bright color. it always puts a smile on my face.

    ReplyDelete

Friends, Thank you so much for reading + supporting my blog, and for taking the time to leave me a comment. Your comment support truly means so much to me. Have a lovely day! xo, danni