If you guys don’t mind, I’d like to spend a little bit more time today on the subject of yesterday’s post – on the belief we hold that our lives are boring. It seems like a lot of people feel this way, and it’s not surprising really… We’re not celebrities, jet setting around the world and being fortunate enough to experience exciting new things and beautiful new places on a daily basis – we’re just regular people doing the same old thing in the same old place. Ho hum. But after a little bit of coffee…
… and a lot of thinking (or maybe it was the other way around…), I’ve come to the conclusion that life is about as exciting as you choose to make it. You can gripe about routine and the seemingly mundane things that make up your everyday existence (guilty!), OR! you can get freakin’ excited about those things instead…
Case in point. Yesterday, I glossed over the fact that I bought some new mascara (Maybelline Colossal Volum’) on a whim the last time I went to the grocery store. Today I’m telling you that holy crap it’s probably one of the best freakin’ mascaras I’ve tried to date. I mean, just look at these bad boys!
I apologize for the creepy eye-shot, but I was a little excited to share the good news with you guys and threw any reservations I had towards creepy eye-shots to the wind. Proof: I now have a good collection of creepy eye-shots on my phone…
… that I’ll probably have to delete soon because they’re really starting to creep me out. But I digress. It may seem ridiculous to get so excited and spend so much time talking about something as trivial as a tube of mascara, but ladies… I’m pretty sure most of you can relate to getting at least a tad bit giddy when you come across a good beauty product, am.I.right? And ridiculous or not (I’m siding with not), what’s wrong with being overly excitable? Nothing!
Doing so is a surefire way to make even the most mundane things seem that much more extraordinary, which in turn makes a ‘boring’ life that much more exciting. You may not always be able to choose your situations or your circumstances, but you can choose the attitude you approach them with.
So smile lots, get excited, eat good food, buy that mascara, and have yourselves an amazing day! I’ll be heading to church right away, and then stopping by my parents’ later on in the day to watch the Superbowl. I’m not really big on football (I’m Canadian – we do the hockey thing), but there’s still that buzz of excitement in the air that I can’t help but find a tad bit infectious.
Happy Sunday, friends! 😀
. – . – . – .
If you could be famous, would you choose to be?
What little things do you get really excited about?
Are you watching the Superbowl? If so, who are you cheering for?
I love this and totally agree that it’s all about the little things. I was actually thinking of writing my college essay about how that philosophy has affected my life. I also just previously had “Enjoy the little things” as my phone background. 🙂
I used to have the waterproof version of that mascara! It was my first mascara ever and it was good! But no mascara can really do anything for my super tiny thin lashes so it just did it’s job like any other for me. That’s okay though!
If I could be a celebrity, I would be Shawn Johnson. She is always doing super fun athletic things. And she’s just so down to earth and adorable!
I’m not really a football person and no one I know is hosting a party for it, so I’m not watching it. I’m spending my night doing some stuff for work instead. 😛
I get a lot of happiness out of the small things too… things like finding out there’s a good movie on tv, going out for sushi with friends, and buying myself a magazine. I don’t think it matters whether our lives are super exciting or not, as long as we’re happy!
i love that ryan adams quote…..and i absolutely love it when i get myself into the “enjoy the little things” kinda mood….it makes life AMAZING!! sipping a coffee feels like luxury, seeing friends/family makes you feel like the luckiest girl alive and putting on a great mascara makes you smile – i wear that mascara too and love the fake lash effect it gives 🙂 this post has spread the buzz of life to me!!
I was thinking something similar when I read your last post – we always imagine the lives of others are more exciting than our own but that’s rarely the case. ‘Excitement’ is what you make of life really – look at the number of celebrities with drug or alcohol-related problems. Even being ‘famous’ isn’t enough if there’s a facet of you that views life with a permanent sense of ennui.
Would I be famous if I could? It depends – I would never want the kind of fame where everyone knows who you are. It would freak the Hell out of me. But I would like to be famous for achieving something, preferably by an anonymous name. My dream would be to have a published novel under a pseudonym that everyone recognized, but only I’d know that person was ‘me.’ I’d be one of those enigmatic, secretive cave-dwelling authors 😉
xxx
You don’t even know how many times I’ve dreamed your dream…
Aww this was great! reminds me of a moment a friend and I were talking and I was just struck with how awesome life is and decided that I could get excited about everyday life, because it is pretty damn exciting
Okay, broken record time right there but once again you wrote about something that’s been going on in my mind. For the past week I’ve made an effort to practivce gratitude for the smallest, simplest things in life. It does take me a while at times especially if bigger not-so-nice things happened. This weekend, for instance, I felt like nothing had worked as planned and that’s true. But on my train ride home from my parents’ I felt so thankful for many things that DID happen. It’s the focus you choose that makes happening good or bad.
Getting excited about small things is wonderful – and mascara/beauty products in general are something to get excited about. Prettying oneself is such a pleasant feeling.
Enjoy the Superbowl evening with your parents! I doubt many people around here even know about the Superbowl :D.
I get excited to go to lunch with my mom…crazy huh…but its like girl time when we can talk about ANYTHING and I can let it all out! lol….I know weird
Not weird at all! I absolutely adore being able to hang out with my mom… especially now that I’m no longer living at home and don’t get to see her that often!
I get excited when I get to the bus stop JUST as the bus is coming. No waiting in the cold, no running like a maniac to catch it 🙂 I get excited when one of the things on my grocery list is on sale. I get very excited when they are sampling something new at the farmers market. And now I am excited to try that mascara! I always just buy whatever is on sale because I have never been partial to any brand, but that one looks like a winner 🙂
Oh my goodness, YES! So, so true Amanda…I have been thinking lately about how depressingly unexciting my life has been lately…read: two weekends in a row in (and no plans for the next one either) but really, I can choose to see it as more exciting than I have been. Especially since I blog about my life, I put pressure on myself to make sure it’s exciting…but really, I’m happy to have a relaxing weekend in, and I can make that as awesome/exciting as I want it to be.
And that Ryan Adams quote is just awesome.
I actually really enjoy having relaxing weekends in, and oftentimes I’ll choose those over going out – especially in the winter. If you’re happy, then what else matters?! I think a lot of people actually really appreciate a weekend in, so there’s no reason to put pressure on yourself 🙂
I love that you get excited over the little things. I get overly excited over little things. I couldn’t imagine being famous. I would hate that! I like my privacy! 😉 I’ll be watching the Super Bowl for the commercials this year since I don’t care about either team.
Love this! I completely agree, it truly is the little things that make life so special and sometimes we don’t even realize it at the time! I am graduating this May and moving back to Florida after 5 years here in Athens, GA. I have grown to absolutely love this town for it’s southern charm and all of the sweet people in it. Learning to appreciate every little thing like going to the grocery store and recognizing the cashier to taking Noah for a walk on the same route we’ve done millions of times. God has truly blessed all of us with “every day” things that portray just a glimpse of Him and His goodness.
Have a great Sunday and enjoy the Superbowl! I am not a big football fan either (I prefer the NBA- Go Orlando Magic!) But, I may go to a friends and watch (?) some of it later tonight. 🙂
Can you believe that I’ve never been in the southern part of the States? It’s somewhere that I really want to visit, though – I’d love to experience the southern charm!
I hope you enjoy your Superbowl-night. If I wanted to watch it I would have to stay up until 0:15 am (and that is just when it starts). But anyway, I might watch some recaps – just because I like the Superbowl commercials 😀 that’s the marketing geek in me and the Superbowl commercials are insane.
I really enjoyed this post and you are so correct on so many different levels. Sure we don’t have to have an outwardly exciting life every single day (that isn’t feasible) but if you can find one or two things that excite you daily…that is where the magic happens. I know the eyelashses are just an example but my god your lashes are so long-that mascara is awesome. I use MAC (my face breaks out really easily) and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t go back from that since.).
You use MAC mascara or foundation? The part about breaking out is throwing me off – can mascara make you break out? 😯
I am ALL about the cheap thrills and God’s little blessings…
I love sun glistening off water because too me it looks like natural glitter — anything sparkly really I adore, and let me just end with these four words of lovely:
Peanut, Butter, And Jelly.
I love this outlook on life! It really is all about how we perceive things! Maybelline really does make the best mascara! It’s all I ever use!
I can’t help but love thiS post…I’m all about the little things! I just ate the most divine dessert and it definitely counts as a highlight (amongst many other small things) in my day: chocolate sponge cake with layers of lavender, caramel & hazelnut ice cream! No Superbowl for me- I don’t understand American football at all…football to me means soccer! Happy Sunday, Amanda 🙂
I LOVE this 🙂 It’s the reason I made my mantra for February “Enjoy.” I want to notice and appreciate the little things more because I’m honestly starting to believe that they are what make life special, even more so than the “big things.” Little things I love include running when it’s snowing (I like to catch snowflakes on my tongue as I go…got lots this morning 😉 ), froyo, reading before bed each night, writing down a memory from each day, waking up beside Joe in the morning and getting to watch him sleep for a few minutes thinking about how thankful I am that he’s here, and hot mugs of tea on cold days…oh and chocolate milk after a long run…love that too 🙂
Awwr gush. Stop melting my heart with stories of you and Joe 😛 Happy Anniversary to you both, again 🙂
Is it weird that I’m totally stoked that my make-up guru is now using the mascara that I’ve been using for two years? Hope not! Because I’M OVER THE MOON ABOUT IT!!! It’s the only make up I ever wear. Ever. But it’s a daily staple. Maybe pointless because my lashes are so short and I don’t do anything else special, but that’s another topic altogether.
I would rather have my life than be a celeb. That being said, I think I live a pretty exciting life (I think there’s a little TOO much excitement sometimes!). Definitely happy with how things are (for the most part, at least — we all have our three wishes, do we not?).
Thanks for the inspirational post. I love all of the quotes that you posted!
That mascara looks killer. Your lashes look AMAZING!!
I am from the States and I am still not a big football person…so don’t worry, you are not the only one. I am more into the commercials! 😉
Hehe. I think the Superbowl is one of the only times that a good chunk of people only tune in for the commercials.
i’m glad you’re excited from canada about the superbowl because i’m holding down the “not excited at all” front here in the US. oh well. i love that mascara and won’t ever go back to a different one. your eyes are gorgeous by the way, not creepy at all 🙂
This is my super bowl today:
http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/puppy-bowl
Bwaha! Love! <3
I absolutely love this post! The enjoy the little things quote is one of my all-time favorites! Today, I am excited to head to the store, prep food for the Super Bowl, and be with my family and friends! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! 🙂
I lovelovelove this post. I think that first quote you posted is so true. Sometimes we just need that little reminder 🙂 Have a great day love!
No. Being famous doesn’t look like fun at all and I suspect celebrities have pretty normal lives underneath all the paparrazzi too.
I have never seen American Football! One of perks of being in the UK, I suppose. 😉 Or not.
Political programmes get me excited. 😉 Honest.
That is amazing mascara…I may have to give it a try. I have used Christan Dior forever but it is expensive and I have heard that mascara is one makeup item that is just as good from a drugstore.
And I have no desire to be famous…I’m content to live my so called mundane boring life. And lots of little things make me happy. Buying a new kindle book. When one of my TV shows comes back from hiatus. Being curled up on the couch watching a marathon when it does come back. Finding some cool new food item to try from Costco. Movie and lunch dates with my mother like today. Shopping days with my boyfriend.
I used to buy Dior and Lancome mascaras as well, and while I did like them, I found that a lot of drugstore mascaras were just as good… and switching over saved me some money so that I could buy even more beauty products 🙄
I get really excited over ordering Starbucks or making a cup of David’s tea. I also like getting magazines in the mail (it is like presents!) and watching some of my favorite TV shows.
I am not watching the Superbowl – I am cheering for Beyonce (?) ha!
I have that mascara and I agree – it is amazing! 🙂 It’s funny how we all think our lives are kinda boring but then we still love reading about each other so they can’t be all that dull! I love your words..I think that life can be great when we look at all the little things that we don’t stop and make time to appreciate and then we realise that actually, life is pretty damn good. The trouble is that we spend so much of our time looking at the negatives even when there are far fewer of them and they stand out more because they are bad.
I get really excited when my magazine subscription comes or when I know it’s the end of my Thursday because I have 3 days of lie ins ahead of me or when I see new clothes or food products that I might like out in my favorite stores 😛 OH and packages…you can’t go wrong with the excitement from a package! 🙂
Packages! Omigosh sometimes I swear I’m tempted to buy online instead of at the store just so that I can get some things in the mail – it feels like Christmas that way!
LOVE the first quote, it is one of my favorites! I get excited for breakfast, haha! I really do, mostly cook it the night before!
Your lashes look fabulous! So beautiful your eyes are too!
Happy Sunday love!
I completely agree that the little things can be so important! The little things that make me the happiest are really delicious foods, new songs that I hear and love (and then play on repeat for weeks after), and organization! I’m not watching the superbowl tonight. I’m not a football fan, and (strangely), neither is my bf!
I don’t understand football in the slightest. Just not my sport, I only cheer for the Seahawks when they play because that’s the team my Dad likes;)
Awesome post love! It is all about how we approach life! If we are negative, we attract negative people and live in a negative place but the opposite is true if we think positively!
Love it.
My favorite mascara is dior show, love that stuff! Mascara is the one beauty item I couldn’t live without.
I don’t understand it at all either. A few of my boyfriends in the past have tried to epxlain it to me, but it just never stuck… I’m a hockey girl 🙂
I might be a weirdo, but if I was famous, I would want to be famous like Jane Goodall or Steve Irwin. I wouldn’t have paparazzi or an entourage, but I would be recognizable and that would be fun 🙂 I get excited about anything in nature; get me talking about the ocean or the creatures that live in it and I get really excited and can talk your ear off (good thing I’m an environmental educator). I also get really excited about having a full cabinet/fridge, snacks (actually food in general), and good runs. I’m not sure if I’m gonna watch the Super Bowl. I definitely want to see the commercials and see Beyonce, but since I don’t watch football normally, if I’m alone, I probably won’t watch the game. I will, however, watch the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet at 3 pm EST 😉
I totally agree!! It’s the little things, and we choose how exciting our life can/should be. I love my boring life. Oh, and I am a huge fan of Maybelline mascara too. I have the ‘False lashes’, (pink). It is the only one I am not reacting allergic to. I only know what Superbowl is beacuse I was in San Diego 7000 years ago (I was 19) in Feb. But it is not even shown here in Switzerland and we do not know what the world outside of our country does. Except me, ha! 🙂
You’re right. It is the little things. For me, its the first cup of coffee in the morning, getting into bed at night with a good book, CLEAN SHEETS, a neat & tidy house, a hot shower after a good workout, getting a massage… I could go on for days! 🙂
Omigosh, clean sheets! Definitely. And being able to go on for days about all the awesome things in life is a wonderful thing 🙂
I loved this post! By choosing to be positive life will respond. It is the little things in life that matter. <3
Reminded me of this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRAMNWzfjcg
A little out of context, but hey, that’s the first thing that popped into my mind.
Wow that mascara looks amazing! I might need to splurge! I get really excited for time with family, good desserts, and nice walks 🙂
Well you have beautiful eyes but that was a given. I can’t wear mascara at all. It makes me look like a bug, my eyes and eyelashes are already super big so it makes me look like a doll. I had to do it for ballet and people would laugh because I was the only one who didn’t have to wear fake eyelashes. I adore that last quote, I kind of wish that could be a poster in my apartment.
No need to mess with natural beauty 😉
I think this quote by John Lennon is applicable here: “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.” Whenever I start to feel self-conscious about how I live my life appears to others, I just remember that quote.
Love that! Thanks for sharing, Sara! 🙂
Ack, I need to proof my comments before posting! Sorry for the atrocious sentence structure.
omg, great post. I often have this problem… but then I drink some tea and listen to some music and life is automatically better :3
I’m not a football person at all. Not even planning on turning it on. Maybe for halftime, if I’m feeling really crazy. But you’re right. it is the little things. Those are the ones that make up our life and make it what it is. Sometimes I feel like we, myself included, get caught up in those big grand gestures but the ones that truly make us happy are those little tubes of mascara that make our (your) eyes look incredible, a simple home-cooked meal with family, or a night on the couch with friends. Nothing fancy, just being ourselves. Love this post!
I’m not big on football either (I didn’t even know who was playing until this morning), but my dad is going to be watching so I figured I’d glance at the TV every now and then 😉