What makes you Happy?

Tiara's make Mikayla happy. She loves all things girlie all things bright and fun. I can't say that I don't know where she gets it. From the brightest papers to the embellishments that are piled with bling are the scrapbooking supplies that I tend to grab for. So it seems that naturally she would shy in that direction as well. What makes you really happy is the tough question. These days I’ve found it increasingly harder to define what makes me happy. I know that a cheap plastic tiara wouldn’t do the trick. I know that clip on earrings and brightly colored simulated gem stones wouldn’t cut it. But maybe it should. I’ve been struggling with this for awhile. I am moving into a smaller home, I need to purchase a cheaper car, I’ve been clipping coupons and trying to stick to a budget so finding what makes me happy has been a little harder. Trying to find what makes my family happy I should say. Luxury vacations and top of the line toys are just not smart right now. The things that I use to do with the kids seem so materialistic and that is not how I want to be. I want my kids to appreciate what they have, to be happy with less stuff and to find that playing together is so much more fun than playing the wii. So I am trying to learn a lesson from my daughter’s plastic tiara. I am trying to raise my family with the idea that it’s the family that matters, the people you are with not what you are doing or where you are going that really counts. I must add that I am not against all things material. I think there is definitely room for that. I guess what I mean is trying to find value in what I am doing, what I am spending and what I am exposing my family to. I want my kids to really understand that they have it good. I mean I could never give up my scrapbooking stuff! Yet, I do have to understand that I don't need every new item that comes out with each idea book! I will say that I couldn't resist purchasing the three stamp sets to get my tickled pink set for free! I don't think that I could have found a better paper to compliment Mikayla's very enlightening plastic tiara!