14,000 to Be Happy About Book Review

What makes you happy?

14,000 Things to Be Happy About by Barbara Ann Kipfer is a book that makes you remember the little things in life that make you happy. The author recorded one line phrases of things that made them happy for 20 years. This book is just a list collection of the 14,000 things. There is no order to the list. The book is small enough that you can carry it around with you. 

These are some items in the book I starred as well as a few of my own:

• Doing your own thing
• Lying on your back in a snowy field; making an angel by moving your arms in arcs
• The first week of school
• Working on a project
• Horse show ribbons on the wall
• Running down a beach
• Falling in love again
• Reading all the books you never had time for 
• Farm fresh food
• Getting your hair washed
• The first day of spring
• Getting a gift
• Spending the morning in bed, watching old movies
• The wonder of life 

I love the idea of writing down things that make you happy. The book is the author's personal list, but the items might help you remember happy moments in your life. Whether you keep a notebook or a journal on the computer, just jotting down a phrase or couple words of something that makes you happy each day will make you remember those little moments that are worth remembering and practice gratitude. You can also look through the pages on bad days and use it as a journal to record your memories. 

I encourage you to write your own list or daily journal of things that make you happy. Let me know what makes you happy in the comments. 

No Chill Vegan Molasses Cookies Recipe

I love the flavor of gingerbread and molasses. I made these Vegan Molasses Cookies from Food.com. They are pretty easy to make and take about 20 minutes.

Ingredients

1 cup flour

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon clove

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups brown sugar 

6 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

2 tablespoons molasses

3 tablespoons sugar, for rolling

Note: If you want to make sure these are vegan, use vegan sugar and molasses. 

Instructions:

 

 

1. 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F or 165 degrees Celsius.
2. 2. In a large mixing bowl, sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt.
4. 3. In a medium sized bowl, combine brown sugar, vegetable oil, molasses, vanilla and apple sauce.
5.  
6. 4. Combine dry and wet mixture to form the dough. Stir until just combined.
7.  
8. 5. Using a tablespoon measure, scoop up dough and form round cookie balls. Roll the doughs of balls in to sugar (I forgot to do this step so they turn out okay either way; they just won't be as sweet without the sugar). 
9.  
10. 6. On an ungreased cookie sheet, add the dough balls. Press them down slightly with your fingers. 
11.  
12. 7. Bake for 13-16 minutes in the oven. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 
13.  
14. Overall, these cookies came out pretty good. They were not my favorite cookie ever, but they were pretty good. I think I will try rolling them in sugar next time. The texture was good and I liked the flavoring. I also like that you don't have to chill the dough so they were easy to make.
15. What kind of cookies do you like to make? Let me know in the comments.

Custom Items and Mailing List E-Mail Courses

I have some shop updates. In my Etsy shop, Move the Needle  I changed the decorative paper for custom items. Before, I had a bunch of listings for each topic of decorative paper (maps, watercolor, etc.), but I thought it would be easier to make it all one listing. If you want a different decorative paper other than the one listed, you can just contact me. I also added different colored card stock for greeting cards.

 

 

I think I will add some Halloween items in my shop soon. I do not think it is too early to list Halloween items. I am going to do custom items so I will just make items to order.

I am also working on a couple e-mail courses that will be free. I started a new mailing list under my name, Anna Leehey, where you will get updates on all my projects including my shops and blog. The reason I started a new mailing list is because I use different names for my shop and blog and I thought that would make it easier. You can sign up for my mailing list on the right side of this page. 

I think I will have one course for my craft shop, Move the Needle, where I give art journaling tips. The course for my new mailing list will be on how to start and grow a handmade business on Etsy. Let me know what courses you think I should do in the comments. 

What is Your Favorite Way to Make Money?

What is your favorite way to make money online?

There are many ways to make money online. With all the different options, it can sometimes be confusing what works and what doesn't. I have been experimenting with different ways to make money online. I often post reviews and different thins I have tried on this blog. I am curious what your favorite way to make money online is.

My favorite way to make money online right now is to do freelance work for other people. I have found it is a good way to make money quickly and also lets you connect with other businesses. Another way I like to make money online is to sell things. I sell things through my Etsy shops, Move the Needle and Printables and Things. I also like to use eBay to sell used items and things for other people.

Let me know in the comments what your current favorite way to make money online is and what works for you.

Desserts

 

Planner Inspiration

With the school year approaching, now is the perfect time to buy a planner. Here is some planner photography inspiration:

Do you like to decorate your planner?

Random Food Photos

These are a couple of photos of food I took recently. 

 These are dried pinto beans I made. I have been experimenting with different types of dried beans lately. I do not know if I prefer the taste over canned beans, but they are cheaper to buy. 

 

 

I like using the beans in bean and rice dishes. The photos above use brown rice and black beans. I like just mixing then together and adding salsa or another ingredient to give them flavor.

 

 

I love the vibrant colors in these two photos.

 

I have been having oatmeal for breakfast a lot. I am looking for more ideas of what to put in my oats. Let me know in the comments what you like to put in your oatmeal or what you have been cooking lately. 

Olympics: Gymnastics

Gymnastics is one of my favorite sports to watch on the Olympics. Gymnastics uses strength, flexibility, balance, agility, endurance and control. 

 

Artistic gymnastics is the most popular division of gymnastics. The women's events includes being judged on vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Men's events are floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar. 

 

Did you know gymnastics evolved from circus performing skills? Another version of gymnastics is rhythmic gymnastics. Rhythmic gymnastics manipulate one or two pieces of apparatus - rope, hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and freehand. It combines ballet, gymnastics and dance. 

 

Have you watched trampolining? Trampolining involves performing acrobatics while bouncing on a big trampoline. Athletes perform jumps, somersaults and twists. 

I took gymnastics when I was little. I also used to have a big trampoline in my backyard where I would play with my friends. 

Let me know if you watch gymnastics in the comments. 

Olympics: Equestrian

Equestrian events in Olympics started at the 1900 Olympics in Paris. There are three equestrian disciplines - dressage, eventing and jumping. There are individual and team medals. 

 

Did you know the equestrian related events are the only Olympic events that have animals? Women and men athletes compete together on equal terms.

 

 

This is a shot of me riding horses with my family when I was little. I used to horse back ride when I was younger. I did mostly jumping and not dressage. 

 

If you are a horse lover, check out this cute necklace. 

Have you ever gone horse back riding? 

Olympics: Swimming

One of the most popular sports in Olympics is swimming. There are events in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, individual medley and relays. 

 

Diving is another popular Olympic sport which involves diving from a platform or springboard while performing acrobatics. 

 

Synchronized swimming is a fun sport to watch that combines swimming, dance and gymnastics. It can consist of solos, duets, trios, combos, or teams. 

Did you know underwater swimming used to be a sport in the Olympics? It was held at the 1900 Olympics games in Paris. Underwater cameras could make this an interesting sport to see in modern day. 

 

I love going swimming even though I have never tried competitive swimming. I taught myself how to swim when I was little. I love swimming in open water such as in the ocean.

Do you like swimming? What events do you watch on the Olympics? 

Olympics Inspiration

Do you watch the Olympics? These are some Olympic themed finds on Etsy:

If you are having party, why not use a cute Olympics USA Rio 2016 Party Invitation for your guests?

Dress up for the occasion. I think this Olympics Rio 2016 Rings T-Shirt is really cute. This Wire Wrapped Olympic Ring would make a great gift.

Decorate your planner with Rio Olympics Planner Stickers. I like how these stickers use the colors of Rio. This Blue and White Washi Tape is perfect for decorating your planner or envelopes.



Show your patriotism with this American Headband or this Crochet American Flag Baby Hat.

Having a party? I love this Olympics celebration party invitation.

10 Recipe Articles to Check Out

I love checking out recipe articles on the internet. If you are vegan or thinking about going vegan, there are plenty of recipes you can find by searching the web. Here are ten recipes that are great recipes to try whether you are vegan or not.

Veggie Chili - This veggie chilli from Pioneer Woman uses a variety of vegetables and beans. Just skip the cotija cheese to make it vegetarian or vegan.

Watermelon Salsa - I like this video series by the Pioneer Woman. This recipe is for watermelon salsa.



The Ultimate Vegan Cheese Sauce - This cheese sauce takes 5 minutes and you can use it on pasta, vegetables or rice. I like that it uses white beans which is something I have never tried.

Raw Cookie Dough Recipe - This raw cookie dough recipe uses chickpeas or white beans to get a cookie dough texture. I love the unique recipes on the Chocolate Covered Katie blog.

Homemade Veggie Frozen Pizza - I love the idea of making your own frozen pizza. This recipe is vegan friendly and you can add any toppings you like.

Banana Coconut and Chia Popsicles - This recipe from A Beautiful Mess is a healthy dessert to try out. It uses coconut milk, chia seeds, bananas and dark chocolate chips.

Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowl - This burrito bowl uses cauliflower rice and black or pinto beans.



Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream - This vegan version of ice cream from Minimalist Baker uses coconut milk and vegan dark chocolate.

Coloring Book Cookies - If you want to try something fun, try making coloring book designed cookies.

DIY Rainbow Cookies - Another fun recipe to try is DIY rainbow cookies. I love the bright colors int these cookies.

Let me know if you try any of these out. Also let me know which one you want to post on this blog.

Printable Washi Tape

If you love washi tape, you will love these printable washi tapes in my shop, Printables and Things.

This washi tape has a black and white bird design. All you have to do is print it on a clear full sheet label and cut it.

Here is another version of the printable washi tape using a pink and green design.

You can use washi tape in packaging, envelopes, scrapbooking and other craft projects.

How do you like to use washi tape?

Poll: What is your favorite way to promote your business?

I have a question for you.

What is your favorite way to promote your business?

Whether you have a shop or small business, there are many ways to promote your business online. There are a number of methods including social media marketing, e-mail marketing. blogging, press releases, online directories and advertising.

My current favorite way to promote my business is through blogging and social media marketing. I like that these methods allow me to connect with other people and also allows me to reach out to other businesses. I also like how you can see results quickly through social media and see what is trending. Another promotion method I am trying is to use SEO more in my blog posts and content to show up higher in search engine results.

Let me know in the comments your favorite way to promote your business.

How to Make Money Online Being Creative

Do you have a creative talent? You can make money off your skill or hobby. These are a couple ways you can make money online by being creative.

• If you have a craft you love to make, try opening a shop on Etsy. I like using Etsy to sell and buy handmade items. You can see my shop here. If you sign up through my link, you will get free listings on Etsy. 
• If you make fine art, see my list for selling artwork online. Websites such as AbsoluteArts allow you to sell your artwork to make money. 
• eBay is also a good website to use to sell items whether it is crafts, artwork and vintage finds. If you are good at upcycling items, you can use eBay to find items to upcycle or rework.
• You can sell your photography to make money. You can license images on Getty by using Flickr. You can also use sites that pay you for your stock photos like iStockPhoto. 
• If you like to write, you can check out my article on how to become a freelance writer. I am currently using the site Hire Writers to make some extra  money. 
• Why not make a video or podcast? Learn how to make money with YouTube here. 
• If you love teaching, why not teach your talent in a class on SkillShare? 

How do you like to make money? 

How I Journal Every Day

 

Have you ever had a creative block or trouble finishing something?

I have always been a really creative person since I was little. I tend to go through phases of making art and not making art. One day, while I was in college, I was feeling kind of bored with my life. I was going through one of those phases of not making art and hadn't really made a lot of artwork consistently in a few years. I had a thought that I should create art again.

Art journaling is a great method for creating art whether you are a new artist or want to try something new. I like art journaling because it allows you to experiment. You can try out different methods and materials to create and not worry about the outcome. It doesn't matter what you create, write or draw. If you don't like it, you can cover it up and start again. Nobody has to see it but you unless you want to share it. Here are some ways to journal consistently:

Get some supplies.

Sometimes, just having a few materials is enough to get you started. Find a few materials you think you would enjoy. Maybe investing in a nice handmade journal or fancy pen will motivate you to get started. Do what' works for you.

Set a routine for creating. 

If you want to create every day, set a time and place for you to journal. Maybe you have a studio or a space in your bedroom where you like to work. Set a certain time each day to go there and work on your journal. The morning is a great time to create. One method of journaling is to write morning pages where you free write three full pages each morning. Working in the afternoon or at night might work better for you if you find you have more creative energy later in the day.

Set a goal or join a challenge.

Setting goals can help you create the kind of art you want. Maybe you want to finish a journal or art journal day every day for a month. Maybe you will art journal with only one medium for a week, such as watercolor. I find community challenges like Art Journal Every Day can be helpful in motivating you and holding you accountable for your goal. I am doing a blogging challenge now from ProBlogger and I like that it gives me positive pressure to create new blog posts.

You can also try googling art journal ideas or creative writing prompts to use each day. I like to print out prompts, cut them out and put them in a jar. Pull out of the jar each day and use it to inspire for your entry.

Share your accomplishments.

You should celebrate if you finish a goal. Announce on social media what you accomplished. Post photos or scans of journal entries on Flickr or your blog. Show off your favorite journal entries.

How do you like to set and complete goals?

A Beautiful Mess Happy Handmade Home Review

I received the A Beautiful Mess Happy Handmade Book as a gift a little while back. Since I did a review of the A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea book, I thought I would do a review of this book. 

This book is written from the creators of the A Beautiful Mess blog. It has a lot of good ideas and inspiration for painting, crafting and decorating a handmade home. 

The book is broken up by different rooms you can decorate including living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, studio spaces, outdoor spaces, playrooms and small spaces. Crafts include quotable wall art, cloth napkins for a dinner party and flea market chair. Even if you don't have a whole space to decorate, it is easy to try out any of the crafts. 

This book have me a lot of good ideas like te photo idea book. It is very similar to their blog so it may not be worth a purchase if you already read their blog. I like having things in book form though and I enjoyed this book. 

What books have you been reading? 

FAQ: How did you learn how to make crafts?

This post is part of the 7 Days to Getting Back Your Blogging Groove challenge on ProBlogger. 

 

How did you learn how to make crafts?

One question I get asked frequently is how I learned to make crafts that I sell in my Etsy shop. There are many ways to learn how to make crafts and become an artist. Here are a couple methods I use to learn new crafts. 

Sign up for craft related websites. You can learn crafts with free DIY tutorials and meet a community of crafters. These are some of my favorites: 

• Craftster: This site has tutorials in a message board style format. It is lots of fun to browse through the crafts. I learned a lot of crafts here when I first opened my Etsy.
  
• Martha Stewart: Check out the famous Martha Stewart website or magazine for lots of craft ideas. They especially have a lot of good ideas for the holidays. 
  
• Pinterest: Pinterest is a popular pinboard style website that has a lot of modern crafts from blogs. Commit to trying one Pinterest project a week to keep yourself creating instead of browsing.

Blogs are also great for finding craft tutorials. Besides this one, look at these blogs for craft projects:

• Design*Sponge: There are a lot of good DIY projects on this blog. Also, check out their 101 guides.
  
• A Beautiful Mess: This blog has a lot of fun craft ideas including home decor and scrapbooking ideas. They also have a few books out. 
  
• 30 Minute Crafts: Make quick and easy crafts in 30 minutes or less. Great for trying out new projects. 

Books are another option. They usually contain step by step tutorials and background info on the craft. If you don't want to buy a book, try going to the library. The good thing about the library is you can get a variety of books for free to try out different crafts.

• Crafts for Dummies: The Dummies series has a lot of great easy to follow information. You can find craft related Dummies books on general crafts or a specific craft you want to learn. 
  
• The Big Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano: This book has a lot of clever crafts to try. Mark Montano has hosted TV shows on TLC and Style Network. 
  
• Making Handmade Books by Alisa Golden: This is more of a book related to my niche, but it is an example of a specific book you can buy in a craft you want to learn. There are hundreds of bookbinding and paper craft ideas in this book. 

I love watching craft tutorials in a video format because you can easily see how a craft is made. Search on YouTube for craft and DIY video tutorials. You can also take a craft class online, which uses the video format. These are a couple sites to use to take free and paid courses: 

• Craftsy: Choose out of hundreds of courses on different topics. You can follow along with high definition videos. 
• Creative Live: This site allows you to take free classes on crafts, marketing and more.
• CraftU: This is another site wih craft courses you can take online. Easily sign up for the courses you are interested in. 

Another idea is to get a few materials you like and experiment with them. Just create using your instincts and natural creative abilities. This is a good way to come up with unique crafts and product ideas.

Keep practicing. With time and practice, you will get better at making crafts. Experiment with different types of crafts and different mediums to see what you like. If you are already good at a craft, keep learning new ways to improve or build on your craft.

If you decide to sell your craft, you can check out the business section of this blog for tips on running a business or my shop Printables and Things for business printables. 

How do you like to create?