Wednesday 8 June 2011

Happiness is ... spreading the sunshine and more awards, prizes and recognition ...

Lenny’s Fest has been extra special for all of us ... we can read it in the stories written, the poems drafted, the posts posted and then there’s all the comments with other bloggers saying to themselves ... I’ve missed something here –

-         So the best thing to begin June and the Summer with was ‘Spreading Lenny Lee’s Sunshine’ via the blog fest – with many thanks to all participants and especially Theresa, Sharon and Shannon for arranging so much blog warmth across to Lenny and his family ... WONDERFUL.

-         I won another prize ... this time a butterfly scarf, which I knew my mother would love – and which she did ... saying Granny would look good in that – well it’s mine Mother dear!  But I shall drape it over her picture, as in theatre drape style – so she can, for a while, see the butterflies and admire the very pretty scarf.

-         This came from Madeleine our Scribble and Edit blogger ... who does a little hand-crafting on the side – have you seen her lovely Cloth Doll Creations?  This is one clever lady .. who I thought only scribbled and edited ...  well this is for Madeleine:



-         There was a young lady from Devon
Who purported to scribble and edit
But on closer inspection
Swapped  paper for patterns
In order to craft and create.

So Madeleine many thanks for the pretty scarf ....

On to a sweet award . – The Irresistibly Sweet Award ... from Susane Drazic, of Putting Words Down on Paper blog, .. many thanks Susanne ... love desserts – had to add some Cornish Cream – now I’m a happy girl!!


Then there’s Judy’s giveaway by Judy Croome as part of her promotional tour for her new book “Dancing in the Shadows of Love” – I highly recommend it ... the Amazon Gift Voucher goes to Munir of Focus through a Lens... chosen by another resident at the Nursing Centre .. as my mother hasn’t really come to sufficiently to participate – parcels missing obviously: thanks Judy!! 

Nota BeneJudy is running her Give Aways til the end of June .. so please go over to her blog and enter her competition .. good prizes to win!!


Giving is better than receiving ... but quite honestly if I’m included in a list of happiness blogs ... my little world bubbles right over ...  and I was shocked and honoured to be included in JD Meier’s Sources of Insight post on “Happiness Blogs” ...  so I emailed JD and asked if I could copy the post across here.


Film interference on a bubble
JD has some wonderful resources on his blog ... so please check it out – bookmark it, subscribe to it and follow him ... he uses the knowledge he obtains working for Microsoft and well as the depths of his wisdom from his knowledge of the blogging and internet world.

He’s a published author ... so has lots of useful information tucked away in those tabs on his website ... and is humble and generous enough to reply to our comments and when in temerity I ask if I can post his Happiness Blogs post on my site ... back comes the adage ...

“Hey Hilary
Sure
What's the saying -- copying is the best form of flattery :)
JD”

So – a big thank you from me to JD Meier over at his Sources of Insight blog – enjoy having a look around his Happiness Blogs post .... also it feels comfortable ... it's an A-Z!


“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence” – Aristotle
Happiness is a skill you can learn and practice the rest of your life.
Whether you drive from happiness, pursuit happiness, or simply grow happiness right under your feet, you can draw from many sources to help you on your journey.
To help you on your happiness path, I created a map of happiness blogs.  It’s my roundup of blogs that can help you master the art and science of happiness.  You can use this map as a hub of happiness (or a “happiness hub”).
Enjoy your journey.

JD's Short List of Happiness Blogs

  1. Dr. Bob’s Life Phrases, by Dr. Robert Henry Schwenk
  2. Happiness Blog, by Michele Moore
  3. Happy Life, by T.S. Chin
  4. Happy Maker Now,by Debbie
  5. Pathway to Happiness, by Gary van Warmerdam
  6. Positive Thinking Blog, by Bonnidette
  7. The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
  8. The Happy Guy, by David Leonhardt
  9. The Positivity Blog, by Henrik Edberg
  10. The Pursuit of Happiness

A – Z (Insightful Happiness Blogs A – Z)

  1. Abundance Tapestry, by Evelyn
  2. Always Well Within, by Sandra Pawula
  3. Be Happy, by Lenora Boyle
  4. Be Happy, by Robert Moment
  5. Britetalk, by Andrea DeBell
  6. Chief Happiness Officer, by Alexander Kjerulf
  7. Complexity of Happiness
  8. Creating Happiness Blog, by Michele Moore
  9. Creative Affirmations, by Danea Horn
  10. Discovering Happiness Now, by Aurindam Mukherjee
  11. Dr. Bob’s Life Phrases, by Dr. Robert Henry Schwenk
  12. Elevation Life, by Bryan Thompson
  13. Enlighten Your World, by Veronica Sierra
  14. Find Your Happiness, by Diana
  15. Great Good, The Science of a Meaningful Life
  16. Happiness (Psychology Today)
  17. Happiness Blog, by Michele Moore
  18. Happiness Here, by Jennifer
  19. Happiness Inside
  20. Happiness Is, by Shannon Eileen
  21. Happiness Series
  22. Happiness Quotations, by Erica Nelson
  23. Happy Life, by T.S. Chin
  24. Happy Life Blog, by Jacqueline Johns
  25. Happy Life U, by Susan McMillin
  26. Happy Maker Now,by Debbie
  27. Heal Your Life
  28. Health and Happiness Club
  29. How of Happiness (Psychology Today), by Sonja Lyubomirsky
  30. Jannie Funster, by Jannie Funster
  31. Living with Certainty, by Kristi LeBlanc
  32. Matthew Ferry
  33. My Beautiful Adventures, by Andi
  34. Pathway to Happiness, by Gary van Warmerdam
  35. Positive Letters … Inspirational Stories, by Hilary Melton-Butcher
  36. Positive Provocations, by Zeenat
  37. Positive Thinking Blog, by Bonnidette
  38. Positively Present, by Danni
  39. Powerful Living, by Lorraine Cohen
  40. Rainy Day, by Lynn Åsnes
  41. Raising Happiness (Greater Good, The Science of a Meaningful Life)
  42. Relentlessly Positive, by Queen Simply Be
  43. Smile My Day
  44. Source of Happiness
  45. Stumbling on Happiness, by Daniel Gilbert
  46. The Alternaview, by Siby
  47. The Happy Guy, by David Leonhardt
  48. The Little Blog of Happiness, by Erimentha
  49. The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
  50. The Happy Seeker, by Christopher Foster
  51. The Positivity Blog, by Henrik Edberg
  52. The Pursuit of Happiness
  53. The Reflective Self, by  Dandy
  54. Think Big, by Raimi
  55. Work Happy Now, by Karl Staib
  56. Zenhabits.net, By Leo Babauta
Some you will know ... but if like me - many you won't ... enjoy JD's site where he promotes Insight and Action for Work and Life .... 

Happiness is thank yous, giving, receiving and love ... Lenny and each and everyone of you embody these ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories




49 comments:

Judy Croome | @judy_croome said...

Hilary this is a terrific list of blogs to explore. I'm going to cut and past and save for future reference!

And Congratulations to Munir of Focus through a Lens - I'll be in touch right away to get your US$15 Amazon voucher to you. Thanks for participating in Hilary's great post!

Judy, South Africa

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Judy .. JD is one of those very organised individuals .. who puts most of us to shame - yet who is always recognising others and giving us structured and creative ideas to help ourselves. So I know you'll enjoy his readers, and the bloggers who've been kind enough to link here.

It's wonderful what we can learn .. and who we get support from.

Munir came from India to England to the States .. and I know will really appreciate the $ voucher ...

Lovely to see you so early .. thank you .. have a peaceful day as I know you have lots to do .. Hilary

Anonymous said...

Awh thanks Hilary for the shout out. Glad you like the scarf. I see you prefer my rag dolls to the soft sculpted textile figures.

Great list of blogs, too :O)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Madeleine .. pleasure, the scarf is lovely. I selected a picture that would stand out .. hence one of your rag dolls ... but I'd love to do more on your dolls - felt I needed to see them and understand them too .. not being a craft person!

Hope you can visit JD and some of his highlighted blogs .. cheers for now -Hilary

Joanne said...

Lots of smiles going on over here ... Spreading good cheer. Congrats on your Award and commendation, very much deserved Hilary!

Happy Wednesday to you :)

MunirGhiasuddin said...

Congratulatiions on this and other awards. Cheers.
I will have to go and check every blog that you mentioned in the list.
Lenny Lee's writing is very touching indeed. I will have to go back and check his earlier entries too. Thanks to yourself and Sharon I was able to read about Lenny and his writings.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Joanne .. yes lots of smiles - I'm a happy bunny! and love spreading that cheer around .. thanks I feel so honoured.

@ Munir .. there's a prize in the middle of the post for you - which you won from your comment on Judy Croome's generosity to me with my prize and the post I wrote about it - opening the parcel with my Ma. So please come back and collect!!

Thanks Joanne and Munir .. excellent to see you both .. Hilary

Bossy Betty said...

What a rich post! Lots to explore! Thank you. I always love positive, uplifting blogs,

Anonymous said...

Wow! That's a lot of links. Must have taken some time to do all that. I'm impressed. Can't have enough happiness blogs out there.

ANd the strawberry award looks good enough to eat. I usually put strawberries in a smoothie though. Can't ever get enough of them.

As always, thanks for stopping by with your awesome comments! Have a great week!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Bossy Betty - yes you're right .. JD provides wonderful information - enjoy your exploration.

@ Stephen .. JD is very professional in his approach .. and loves passing on useful information - a generous man indeed.

Strawberries are just lovely at this time of year .. fresh and straight from the gardens .. me I just eat them straight a little sprinkling of sugar .. and some cream ..

Pleasure coming by your blog ..

Good to see you both .. cheers for now - Hilary

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Congratulations, Hilary, on the scarf and the Incredibly Sweet award. Susanne's nailed it. You are incredibly sweet. Have a super sweet day.

Linda said...

Congrats on this award, and cheers for making this "happy place" we can come and hang out.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Joylene .. sweet is not a term I'd apply to me!! but it's a wonderful thought!! I'm delighted with the award though ...

Great on your publication .. go for it = believe ...

@ Linda .. thanks so much - that's why it's called Positive .. stemmed from friends saying love your positive letters .. since my Mama's been ill ..

Lovely to see you both - and am delighted if this is a happy place where friends can come and hang out .. have great weeks - Hilary

Jannie Funster said...

I am a super-extra-big Sources of Insight fan too!!

And that is one GORGEOUS scarf, Hilary. How lovely. Will you wear it to the ball at the biggest castle?? :)

xooxxo

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Love your beautiful butterfly scarf. I saw one in a store window a couple of hours ago that is a butterfly scarf embellished with lovely embroidery in gold and glitter.

Thank you for the positive links.

I hope to some day see one of your creamy big moons!

Monti

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Jannie - you and I both .. JD is amazing with sharing his knowledge and his support .. totally agree!

The scarf is gorgeous .. and of course I'll be wearing it to my castle dos .. just need that tall dark handsome stranger to come along and whisk me away .. Can't wait!!

@ Monti .. thanks the scarf really caught my eye .. there's a glint of gold on it, with an underlying sheen .. so will really catch the light.

Pleasure and I hope you enjoy and get to visit some of the links ..

I'm not sure when our huge great moons are around - there must be a scientific reason .. because it is enormous in the sky on those days .. and pops up across the Channel or the Hastings headland ..

I must get cameras organised!

Lovely to see you both - Jannie and Monti .. have good rest of the weeks .. Hilary

Empty Nest Insider said...

Beautiful scarf, beautiful blog, and so much happiness! Congratulations on your award and I'm very impressed with your long but uplifting list! I'll have to visit it often! Julie

Anonymous said...

That's a whole heckuvalotta happy blogs! Thanks for this fine list - I'll have to make a few new stopps on my blog-hopping today! ;-)

Ella said...

I love this post; Congrats on your awards and the beautiful scarf! Lenny's site is so special; I too need to check out earlier post~
Thanks for spreading the sunshine~
Cheers to you!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Julie .. honestly - many thanks .. beautiful .. happiness is providing others with joy - JD included me in his list and I was really chuffed. So please do come back .. as often as you like!

@ Marvin .. it sure is - JD knows his stuff .. and blog hopping sounds good: I need to check some out too.

@ Ella .. thanks so much - yes Lenny is one special little lad .. I'd love you to check out the earlier post - it's a fun one!

Pleasure - love spreading the sunshine and happiness ..

Cheers to you Julie, Marvin and Ella .. have good rest of the week .. Hilary

Helen Ginger said...

A whole post on happiness and good news. I love it! Thanks for all the links.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Helen .. it sure is that - isn't it! I'm sure you'll find some of the links extremely good ..

Cheers - thanks for coming by .. Hilary

Karen Lange said...

Congrats on your prizes and awards! You deserve them all. :) Thanks too, for sharing all these links. Will have to take some time and check them out.

Have a lovely weekend!
Karen

Paula RC said...

Wow with so much happiness spread around the internet the world should be full of sunshine.

Thank you for spreading your kind of happiness, Hilary ;-)

Arlee Bird said...

Wow! So much has been and is going on. I may never catch up. And what a great list of positive blogs to explore. You have really been doing some homework--as you usually do.


Lee
Tossing It Out

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Karen .. many thanks - lovely time for prizes and awards, lucky me! I'm sure you'll love some of the links - enjoy ...

@ Jamara .. it's so much fun this spreading the happiness - and thank you so much for your comment I really appreciate it.

@ Lee .. well you've been doing so much and have had other things .. but this is JD's list - he's brilliant over on his blog .. lots to learn there.

The credit is JD's over at his blog "Sources of Insight" ..

Thanks Karen, Jamara and Lee for coming on over - enjoy Friday and have good weekends .. Hilary

Ellie Garratt said...

Wow. Congratulations on your scarf. A fabulous list of blogs, too!

Ellie Garratt

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Eliie .. yes - JD's list is pretty comprehensive .. and as you say a fantastic list for us to investigate ..

Cheers - the scarf is pretty cool! Hilary

Anonymous said...

Hi, Hilary. Great post! The butterfly scarf is beautiful. Congrats on your award. It looks great on your blog. Have a great weekend!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susanne .. isn't the scarf great - thank you and thank you to Madeleine .. you too have a good weekend - Hilary

Laura Eno said...

Congrats on the awards and I can't imagine how much time it took to put this post together!

Davina said...

What a lovely butterfly scarf, Hilary. Lucky you. That was such a cute poem you wrote as a thank-you :)

And, congrats on being included in that long list of blogs! Positive Letters is shining today. Hugs.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Congratulations on the award, Hilary!

I'm so glad that so many people joined in on the Lenny Lee Fest. He's an amazing kid. I'm so grateful to be part of his life. :)

The scarf is lovely!

M. Reka said...

Hilary this is really great list of blogs to explore, amazing work! Well done :)
Thanks for sharing with us.

Short Poems

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Laura .. many thanks - not long fortunately ... and one email to JD asking if I could copy his post across - he is a wonderful blogger and a thoughtful man.

@ Davina .. the scarf is lovely and thanks for noting the poem ..

Finding out JD had included me was a huge shock - delighted of course that Positive Letters had been recognised by JD.

@ Sharon - many thanks.. and yes your instigation of the Lenny Fest together with Theresa and Shannon .. has been an inspiring time in my life - he deserves all the love, care and thoughts we can give him.

The scarf is gorgeous! Give much pleasure to my Mama - thanks for your hugs ...

@ Marinela .. it's all JD's hard work - I'm just lucky he said I could copy and paste. Hope you get a chance to check some of the blogs out ..

Thanks Laura, Davina, Sharon and Marinela .. have wonderful weekends .. Hilary

Connie Arnold said...

Congratulations on winning the scarf, your award and being included as a "Happiness Blog"! Thanks for sharing the list of blogs.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Connie .. good to see you and yes the scarf is lovely. Being included in JD's list was extremely cheering and I hope you get a chance to look through some of the others.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend .. Hilary

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Congrats on your well deserved award. also thanks for the visits to my blog. since coming back the comments from followers have fallen by half, I don't particulary write to get comments but it is nice to get the ones who usually write. why I can get through to others and not to some is beyond me. As I still have a degree of jet lag will sort it out when I have a clearer head,
Have a good Sunday despite the rain.
Yvonne.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Yvonne .. many thanks - so glad you've kept some of your commenters - others will be back I'm sure.

Lovely rain - though very sad for the tennis, and I hope Eastbourne can stay dry as the major tournament is here this week.

I know getting over jet-lag isn't desperately helpful! Sleep well and life will return to normal .. just delighted you were able to enjoy the trip - sounded such fun, and a necessary time to recuperate.

Cheers - Hilary

Liara Covert said...

You certainly offer something for everyone here. The blog list is beautiful. Thanks for being such a generous soul. Loving others as they are and being happy where you are make life something special.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Liara .. lovely comment and yes there's plenty for everyone - JD is an inspiring blogger.

I was just so grateful that he was happy for me to post across - so everyone could share, and I hope visit him and appreciate his wisdom.

Really appreciate your visit .. and I think I see someone special in your avatar? .. I must have a closer look .. cheers Hilary

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Fun post, Hilary! I'll have to check out some of these sites. :)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan .. thanks .. and that's good to know you'll have a look at a few of the sites .. happy times ahead! Cheers Hilary

Theresa Milstein said...

I'm glad you mentioned Lenny's blog again.

What a beautiful scarf. You should enjoy it!

Congratulations on you blog award. And look at those big lists of happy blogs!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Theresa .. good to see you - and yes I wanted to keep the hugs spreading across to Lenny and his family.

I will definitely enjoy the scarf .. and my Mama enjoys looking at for now elegantly draped across her picture.

Thanks - the blog awards are always lovely and JD's lists and blog are always worthwhile referencing.

Enjoy your week and thanks for coming by .. Hilary

Anonymous said...

Hi Hilary - so much on your post I took great delight in reading it and following the links. Such a long list of happiness blogs too - not sure I can visit them all but I will have a go.
(My husband had a minor heart attack last week and though ok now - I need not explain the emotions that one goes through). He now has three further stents in two minor arteries to join the one in the major artery that he had put in 16 years ago. Needless to say he is changing his lifestyle and after all the stress, happiness blogs are where I'd like to be!

Thanks again :-)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Deborah .. I can imagine what you've been going through - just so glad to hear your husband is alright and has been fixed up with the stents.

I can understand your need for happy places - and do hope JD's list gives you some upliftment ... not an easy place you're in.

It seems this post came at the right time and for that I'm so pleased to read .. good luck and enjoy your links across ..

Thinking of you both .. with thoughts - Hilary

Manzanita said...

Congrats on your well deserved awards. I agree Judy (1st comment) about the great list of positive blogs. It's so up-lifting to read positive, happy posts. The blogs with rants and sickness are downers. Oh once in a while, it's good to get something off your chest but not as a steady diet. thanks.
Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Manzanita .. many thanks .. I'm glad JD was happy to let me use his list ..

.. and I've always gone with the positives of life .. much easier to deal with - so I hope you can get a look around a few of them.

Enjoy the weekend .. Hilary