How I practice happiness

practice happiness
is a phrase 
that I've hand stamped 
on brass metal and made into CUFF
Did you know happiness is an emotion 
that can, needs and must be practiced? 
It is.


Instead of highlighting 
My Outfit


I want to highlight what I did and saw this July 4th weekend
that reminded me that everywhere 
you can
practice happiness

In my apartment complex
roses blooming


at my apartment complex
a bee doing his business


3rd Street Promenade


buying a special friend a couple of books about his idol
John Coltrane


Ocean St.
admiring these trees





riding my bike to the beach



hanging out with my DAD at his house 
He loves karoake
I like it a lot



coming home to a t-shirt I had ordered from a great shop on Etsy called

It's an awesome shop, which features calligraphy
The artist Joni James is a fantastic calligraphist

Calligraphy is a poem, phrase, or word in which the typeface, calligraphy or handwriting
is arranged in a way that creates a visual image. 
The image created by the words expresses visually what the word, or words, say. 

I purchased two t-shirts
Here is Miles Davis formed from calligraphy


Photo credit CalligramORama, Joni James

She has a lot of items to choose from,. She has a huge variety of card illustrations


Please check out her Etsy shop CalligramORama
You will not be disappointed.

As for my shop, I have hand stamped CUFFs that originally 
made for myself to help remind me that I need to practice
happiness, love, self love, kindness...

What emotion do you feel you need to practice?


Handmade jewelry & mannequins on Etsy

It's Monday
that means you must check out the ladies at
Not Dead Yet Style Visible Monday
und meine Deutsche Freundins
ZICKIMICKI MIXIT#58

Comments

  1. PattiJuly 8, 2013 at 1:15 PM

    Wonderful photo essay today about practicing happiness - and I so agree it is a muscle that has to be worked : > Love the pics of you and your father, especially. They made me well up, as I miss my dad so much and we used to have great fun like this. Thanks for sharing it with Visible Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ZalinaWJuly 8, 2013 at 1:55 PM

    Thanks so much, Patti.

    ReplyDelete
  3. sabine ingerlJuly 8, 2013 at 2:41 PM

    Zalina, jedes Deiner Bilder strahlt aus, dass Du Dein Leben genießt und das Glück in vielen kleinen Dingen findest. Die Bilder von den alten Bäumen am Strand sind wunderbar. Joni und Du, Ihr macht beide wunderschöne Dinge. Ihre T-Shirts und Deine Armreifen passen gut zusammen.
    Lieben Gruss von Sabine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ZalinaWJuly 8, 2013 at 5:08 PM

      Danke, Sabine

      Es ist schwierig, aber muss man es tun. Leben ist sehr wertvolle. Vor einige Jahren, habe ich sehr traurig sein weil ich nie verheiratet habe oder ich hatte kein guten Job oder meine Mutter ist gestorben oder fuhlte ich allein oder hatte ich kein Freund...es ist immer etwas kann man sich traurig ueber fuehlen. Mehr und mehr, versuche ich zu schaetzen was ich habe. ich bin nicht erfolgreich die ganze Zeit, aber ich versuche.

      Ich mag dein Post.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousJuly 8, 2013 at 3:43 PM

    You are so kind! I'm currently practicing gratitude because I'm looking down at my handstamped cuff YOU made. I need more practice in being gracious to my in laws. ;)

    Those trees are really incredible! I've shopped along that same street a few years ago and not too far from there is a really bad motel I stayed in and wouldn't stay there again. I can't remember the name of it...Sand something.....?? Ocean Castle...something like that. DO NOT go in there. ;)

    Thank you Zalina!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ZalinaWJuly 8, 2013 at 4:15 PM

      Hi Joni,

      You are funny! I heard in-laws can be tough to handle, but it sounds like you are doing a great job.

      Aren't those trees amazing!?! You were staying at the Pacific Sands Motel on Ocean Ave. I pass it all the time, when riding to the beach. I love the neon sign, but it does look a little shady.

      Until next time!

      Delete
  5. schönes nähenJuly 8, 2013 at 11:50 PM

    Liebe Zalina!
    Es ist so schön wieder deinen Blog besuchen zu dürfen.Du hast sehr tolle Fotos und man schaut sie gern an und darf teihaben an deinem Leben.Deine Ausstrahlung bringt Zufriedenheit rüber und das ist wirkliche Schönheit.Wunderbar!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Ganz liebe Grüße Annette
    Ich war jetzt über drei Wochen in den USA an der Ostküste

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ZalinaWJuly 9, 2013 at 12:39 PM

      Awww, danke, Annette. Das Wetter in Kalifornia war wunderbar. Hoffentlich, ging dir das Wetter an der Ostkueste gut. :0)

      Delete
  6. Megan, TfDiaries.comJuly 9, 2013 at 7:07 AM

    it's all so beautiful! Xo, Megan, www.TfDiaries.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownJuly 9, 2013 at 9:34 AM

    These are all wonderful pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownJuly 9, 2013 at 12:27 PM

    Wonderful, uplifting post, Zalina, that I really needed to see this week. You look beautiful, by the way, while uplifting! You are quite right, and thank you for the happy moment you gave us while showing yours. I love it that your dad likes Karaoke ... looks like he's getting right into it. And isn't Joni amazing? We miss her a lot on Visible Monday!
    I'm also happy to see the bee doing his business ... good to see them anytime, and doing well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ZalinaWJuly 9, 2013 at 12:42 PM

      Thank you, Jan. Joni is fantastic. When I bought my t-shirts, she included a little gift that made me cry. It was really wonderful. I hope you have a wonderful week. practice happiness.

      Delete
  9. AnonymousJuly 9, 2013 at 9:20 PM

    Such a good reminder to practice happiness. My "Let it go" cuff must be working because I am letting go of some of my irritations at work. Only some - I need more practice!

    That's so cool you bought some of Joni's shirts. She's such a sweetheart!

    ReplyDelete
  10. bluehuewonderlandJuly 10, 2013 at 1:26 PM

    Really great post! I'm with you--I think happiness is a choice and needs to be practiced. The Miles Davis tee shirt is really cool and fun to see you doing a variety of things that foster a positive attitude. This is a great reminder that it is truly the simple things in life that make us the happiest.

    blue hue wonderland

    ReplyDelete
  11. ZickimickiJuly 11, 2013 at 4:42 AM

    danke, liebe zalina!:) ein schöner post ist das!
    xoxox birgit

    ReplyDelete

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