End of Can't Cook, Won't Cook

This is a very sad announcement for me, but this blog is being retired. This blog started in America, as part of my exciting journey there, and then continued in the UK as we began our lives together as husband and wife.

That's now over, so it seems fitting that this blog be too. I may re-start it one day in the future, so I'm not deleting it, but for now Can't Cook, Won't Cook is being officially retired.

I just thought you should know, so no-one's waiting for the next installment or anything.

It was fun while it lasted :)

Day 10 - The Happiness Project

Woke up with some serious Monday Blues this morning! I was quite shocked to realise it was time to wake up, it felt more like 3am than 7am! Terribly disappointing. Luckily my day did improve :)

1. I came back to a case that had left my mind boggled on Friday, and it wasn't that bad after all. Which is good, I'd been worrying about it all weekend!
2. One of the team leaders specifically requested that *I* rejoin her team, which was a huuuge compliment.
3. Several members of the team I currently sit with all leaped to fight my corner, insisting that I stay sat with them, as I'm still learning and they can help me. I'd be left to flounder with a whole bunch of other people, also still in training, if I moved. Plus they felt I'd been shuffled around a lot and it was unfair. I'm happy to move wherever I'm told (I'm just a temp after all), but I was quite panicked at the thought of leaving the safe haven of that team! They've been so fantastic, helping me out whenever I need it. I was really worried that I was a nuisance, but them jumping to my defense...I was really touched :)
4. Watching Kung Fu Panda with my hubby, who seems a LOT better today. I'm not sure I'm happy with the thought of him going to work tomorrow morning, since he's hardly eaten all day and he's got quite a physically taxing job.
5. I managed to NOT lose control of my car, despite skidding on the ice twice today. I was able to calmly and gently regain control and continue safely on my way :) And I now have de-icer and a non-broken ice scraper for my car - so I won't have to spend quite so long in the freezing air, scraping so much ice off my car in the morning!

All in all, a good day :)

Day 9 - The Happiness Project

Sadly I didn't have much to smile about yesterday, as my poor hubby was really quite unwell. He was very pale, couldn't stop shivering and was absolutely burning up - 24 hour stomach bug from hell it seemed. My poor baby :(

He spent a fair amount of the day in bed, and I had an Extreme Makeover : Home Edition marathon.

That made me realise how very lucky I am. I have a beautiful home, so kindly rented to us by our friends, I have a great car, loaned to us by my Dad, I have the most wonderful husband a girl could ever hope for, and we both (mostly) have our health. We have so many things that we take for granted, that so many others have to live without.

I might have had a weekend that was a little...well, lonely...but my husband was only temporarily ill, and he was here, with me, in the same house. That's something worth being thankful for, since a large portion of our relationship we've been 6000 miles apart.

Day 8 - The Happiness Project

Having a lazy Sunday today, so I'd better catch back up with what I've been up to! Here's what made me smile on Saturday -

1. Getting to help out my family by being in the gallery, so my Mum didn't have to staff with with two hyper little helpers!
2. I was able to show a wonderful couple their wedding photos, I loved how much they loved them.
3. They brought their GORGEOUS tiny son - 5 weeks old and absolutely adorable! He slept the whole time, and was just the sweetest little baby :)
4. Hubby had a gaming day with his friend, which really perked him up. He's been ill and feeling kind of down recently, so it was great to see him laughing and having fun :)
5. Hubby offered to take me out for dinner, which really made me smile :) Unfortunately we decided to do it another day, so we'd have time for dinner AND a movie, but the thought was there and that's all that matters :)

Day 7 - The Happiness Project

Falling a little behind again, this isn't good - I'm only a week in!

Things that made me smile yesterday (Friday) -

1. I've found this whole week to be very difficult at work, I feel like I've been thrown in at the deep end on something I don't fully understand and I'm just kind of fumbling along and hoping for the best. However, I am aware that once I get the hang of it, I'll really enjoy it and it'll really stretch me. I enjoyed what I was doing before, but this is something totally different and takes a serious amount of cognition. So, I suppose it's not making me smile yet, but there are smiles waiting on the horizon!
2. Hubby TRIED to buy me an iced finger from the bakery to have with my lunch. Apparently the woman didn't hear him, but he asked twice and really did TRY. I'd mentioned a few days ago that I really liked iced fingers, but had thought he'd totally forgotten that I wanted one. So even though I didn't actually get to eat one, I appreciate that he tried!
3. It was Friday - which means that the weekend was imminent, what's not to smile about?!
4. I got to spend the evening with my lovely family, which is enough to make anyone smile!
5. My siblings were so utterly pleased to see me. There's nothing quite like having a squealing bundle of curls fly across the room and rugby tackle you to the floor in a bear hug. It's sad that we lose that as we get older - the genuine utter delight in simply getting to see someone you love.
6. Seeing how much they missed my hubby when he wasn't there. I was sad for them that they missed him, but I love how my family have welcomed him with open arms. My siblings adore him, they worship the ground he walks on, and he's absolutely fantastic with them. I couldn't have married him if he wasn't :)
7. Seeing my little sister run across the room and leap on my Mum to give her a huge hug and tell her - "You da bestest Mummy in da WORLD". What had Mum done? She'd fixed one of her toys.
   
8. Watching a two year old try and get ready for bed. It involved a whole lot of spinning in circles, like a dog chasing it's tail, and lying on the floor (also, rolling around in circles) kicking and muttering "Get OFF you stoopid fing!". She did eventually get herself entirely ready for bed, with only a little assistance and minimal tantrums - and with all the legs in the right holes and with her t-shirt the right way around! Quite a feat for a short tempered, strong minded little madam!
9. Getting to tuck my little brother into bed. It's quite an honour to be chosen to be the one to tuck him in and kiss him goodnight - when hubby's there I don't get a look in! But it was nice to be the one he wanted :)
10. Having my brother (who is an exceptionally intelligent, wonderful little boy, but has a couple of special needs, including mild autism) NOT freak out when he was told he couldn't have what he wanted for dinner. I'd offered to stop by the chippy on my way over, and he had requested a Steak and Kidney Pie. They didn't have any pies. He calmly decided he'd have 2 sausages instead - no tantrums, no melt-downs, absolutely no freak out over having a sudden change of plan. I was very proud :) It might seem like a little thing to most people, but he doesn't cope well with things suddenly changing, and apparently he'd been having a difficult day up to then, including a few tantrums and door slammings, so that was a pretty good thing for him :)

Phew! Think I had better stop there, apparently it was a very smiley day though :) Here's hoping that today goes just as well.

Day 6 - The Happiness Project

Up to date again! This is pretty good for me, normally I fall way behind, and not just by one day! Here's what made me smile today -

1. Today I made the move back to "my" team (well, the other part of my team, sadly not back to the team I used to sit with). Everyone was really friendly and helpful, not minding when I kept bothering them with questions! I feel a lot more confident about what I'm doing now that I have people who are readily available to help.
2. Getting to spend my dinner hour with my hubby, who informed me that the cookies were very tasty.
3. The most spectacular sunset I have ever seen. Honestly, it was stunning. Sadly I couldn't take a photo as I was at work at the time. But it was so lovely that someone opened the blinds properly so we could all see it, and you could hear a gasp ripple around the office. Magical.
4. Bopping away on the way home to my new Steps CD! Had to keep my toes from tapping and couldn't dance though. It was terrible. Some might even say it was a...Tragedy!
5. Getting to spend my evening backstage at a prom show helping out with all the pretty dresses. It was a lot of fun :) I'd love to own my own bridal boutique one day, so I jump at the chance to do things like that!
6. Being told I could have a free beauty treatment in return for my assistance. I was really touched - I just helped for the sake of helping!
7. Getting to taste the cookies I made yesterday, and I can confirm - they're pretty damn tasty :)

Hope you're all having a good night :)

Day 5 - The Happiness Project

Well I had a pretty hectic day, so I didn't get to blog about it! So here's two blogs in one day :)

Things that made me smile yesterday (Wednesday) -

1. Being told I get to move back to "my" side of the building at work, so I get to be around people I know! I still get to work on the more complicated stuff, so that's still a nice boost for my confidence, but the very shy side of me appreciates getting to be around people I know.
2. Watching the Beauty and the Beast DVD I got for Christmas, I love that film!
3. Making COOKIES! It was really good fun and a complete fail which brought endless amusement to both myself and a large portion of my facebook friends. Spreading the joy!

Day 4 - The Happiness Project

Good evening and welcome to the next installment of The Happiness Project! Ah yes, I'm a budding presenter in the making :)

Things that made me smile today -

1. Mostly understanding the new stuff I'm doing at work, a big relief I must say!
2. Feeling like people actually miss me now that I've had to move to a different area in the building. I'm quite shy and struggle with a low self-esteem, so it's been a huge confidence boost for people to have so much faith in me, and for so many people to seem like they miss having me around.
3. Getting to spend another lovely lunch break with my darling husband, who may or may not buy me an iced finger tomorrow!
4. The long hot shower I'm about to go and have. I haven't even had it yet and I already feel happier and more human just at the thought!
5. I got my test results back today and have been prescribed a dose of antibiotics which will hopefully make me feel a lot better. I also got my blood test results back, and they're all good, so there's no underlying issues which is a relief!
6. I posted a daft little poem onto the facebook group for the Creative Writing course I'm doing through the OU and it's had pretty good feedback. Another big boost for my confidence! Yay me!
7. We've just been given a definite date when our assignment marks will be back, which means that I can stop worrying about it until then. Well, I can try to!

Hope everyone is having a good day, I'd love to hear what made you smile :)

All the best!

Day 3 - The Happiness Project

Good evening to you all!

Today is a Monday and it's back to the grind, but that hasn't stopped me coming up with a few things that made me smile today -

1. There was a very lovely sunrise out of my kitchen window this morning, which made me smile as I got ready for work - a difficult thing to do!
2. I got to spend my lunch break with my very lovely husband
3. This one originally started off as a thing that made me frown - I had hoped to get my test results back already, and was disappointed that I hadn't. Then I remembered - I'm very lucky to live in a country with free health care. I don't have to worry about how much it will cost me for my trip to the doctor, or my ultrasound that I'm being referred to, or any medication I might be prescribed.
4. Tomorrow I'll be starting a new and interesting challenge at work (though if that still has me smiling tomorrow remains to be seen!). My team leaders have shown a huge amount of trust in my abilities by putting me forward for this, and I'm very touched by the gesture.
5. Driving home the nightsky was a beautiful sapphire blue and filled with lovely stars. The moon was huge and a stunning shade of silver. It was fabulous.
6. Once again, dinner smells niiiice! Damn I'm a good cook ;p

Hope you all had a great Monday!

Edit : I also managed to finish this post before my pasta boiled over! that alone is a great reason to smile - no big mess to clean up :)

Day 2 - The Happiness Project

Good evening my lovelies!

Today I'm in a much happier and more rested mood than I have been all week, and let me tell you why :)

1. I got a lie-in! Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love my sleep, so I very much enjoyed staying in bed until after 12.
2. I feel a lot better today (probably related to getting caught up on sleep) - eating hasn't made me feel too terrible and my back isn't hurting. Huge improvement!
3. I got to see my family today, and got to help out with them getting jobs done. Hubby took stuff to the tip ("dump") and we babysat while they cleared out my Mum's soon to be "craft room" some more. My little siblings were very pleased to see us and had us all laughing and smiling.
4. Dinner smells gooood! Very excited about it, and, due to Reason 2, I might even be able to eat it all!
5. Hopefully going to watch the next installment in the Harry Potter series with hubby which is a wonderful way to end every day
6. I also enjoyed Hubby's excitement as he discovered things I bought at the supermarket yesterday - "Ooh you bought rhubarb crumble? Thanks baby! Any my vegetables! AH! JALAPENOS! Thank yooou!"

Love to you all, and I hope you found many reasons to smile today - you deserve to!

Day 1 - The Happiness Project

Today I have many things to be thankful for and happy about.

1. Hubby and I are both employed, which is something to be grateful for in this economic climate. I like my job, I like my team leaders, and we've all recently had almost a £1 pay-rise. I got the opportunity to go to work and do 4 hours of over-time at Time and a Half, the money for which could pay for a Date Night (dinner and a film)
2. When I got home, Hubby set up our new surround sound. This I'm doubly grateful for - I'm thankful that Hubby not only set it up, but cleaned it for. I'm also very thankful to my parents, who gave us their old surround sound when they bought a new one.
3. This one isn't one from today, but from the whole week - I'd like to say a HUGE thankful to my Dad, who has very kindly picked Hubby up from work at 6am almost all week. The week would have been even more difficult if you hadn't, and I'm really grateful. Thank you Daddy :)
4. Tonight we are joined by friends. Well, I say "we", mostly I mean Hubby. Two of our guy friends have come over for a Game Night, which makes me happy because it makes Hubby happy. I know he feels he has no friends here in the UK, and that he gets a little lonely. I love seeing him light up when people come over to see him - they didn't come over to shoot zombies with me after all!
5. And, as I am each and every day, even if I don't show it - I'm thankful for my husband. He moved 6000 miles to be with me. That's a massive gesture of love and dedication. I know he gave up a lot to be here, including his family, friends, a very good job and almost all his possessions, but he did it anyway. Baby, I love you more with each day that passes, and you make me more happy than anything ever has. I thank all my lucky stars that Fate brought me to you. I couldn't ask for a better man to be married to.

So, what's made you happy today? :)

365 Happiness Project - The Logic

I can't take credit for this idea, I stole it from a lovely Wedding Blogger and Planner that I follow on Twitter - Boho Wedding and Events. Here's a link to her Blog, reading which I have wasted many a happy hour :) http://blog.bohoweddingsandevents.com/

My Mum tells me that I'm totally behind the times, she's been doing this since the beginning of the year. Unfortunately Mum, credit goes to where I saw it first :P - http://blog.bohoweddingsandevents.com/2012/01/01/365-happiness-project-the-launch/

My first week of 2012 has been a bit of a downer. January is always a bit of a miserable month, Christmas is over but the cold, rainy weather is still here. Plus me and hubby are both unwell - I've had to have blood tests and he's got a really bad cold, I'll be making him go to the Dr on Monday if he doesn't feel better by then. I think it would have really helped this week to be positive and see the good things in each day. So for that reason, my New Years Resolution is to find something that's made me happy that day, starting today, and post it onto this blog. (Sometimes it might even be food related!). I'll then post it onto my Facebook and Twitter, as I realise I'm turning into a bit of a grouch on there :)

So, Happy New Year to all my lovely readers and may you find the silver lining in each day :)