Small improvements translate to big enjoyment when it comes to your home. A fresh coat of paint, new or rearranged decor, or timeless updates and improvements both delight your eye and add substantial value to your home.

Consider shampooing or replacing carpeting or installing new hardwood flooring in your living room area. Add a fresh coat of paint and rearrange your furniture and wall art in the room to create an entirely new look and feel for your space! Cover outdated furniture with a new slipcover to give it a fresh new look.

Remove existing shelving and clothing rods from bedroom closets and install closet organizer systems. You will love the functionality of these changes. Update one closet at a time, starting with your master bedroom and moving room to room until all closets are complete.

In the bathroom, consider updating to current styles. Add a splash of new color, remove old tile or laminate and replace with fresh new ceramic or glass tile. Replace the vanity with a new pedestal sink and for a reasonable expense you've added a great look and feel to the old and tired.

For your yard, small landscaping projects will add visual appeal and value. Create small annual or perennial gardens around existing trees and bushes in your yard. Add dimension by following the lines of the existing foliage. Edge your gardens with brick, stones or landscaping products to add value and beauty to your lawn. In the summer, hang baskets of flowers to add color and punch to your home.

Your home is your personal palace and each and every reasonable measure of improvement you invest will bring pleasure now and value later so enjoy fixing up your space!

What Makes You Happy?

What makes you feel good? Is there a technique or a special practice you follow to bring on a sense of well-being? As I pondered this question I began to imagine all the ways that I am able to produce my own joy and I wondered what kind of habits I could form that would help me feel good or happy all of the time. Naturally there will be hiccups in this theory, as life always finds a way to send little challenging nuggets to interrupt joy just when you begin feeling really on top of the world, but don't we always find our way back to those feel-good places?

What are some of the tricks to overcoming negative feelings such as doubt, fear and anxiety in general?

• Change your mind. Deliberately put your thoughts on something that makes you feel good. Think about your blessings, a comfortable bed, or a warm shower, or a family who loves you. Who and what are the experiences that bring you great joy? Focus on those as soon as you begin feeling doubtful or anxious.

• Get moving. Movement is a quick and easy way to get to a feeling of happiness. Take a walk, work in your yard or garden, take a quick jog around the block, take your dog for a walk or jump on your bicycle and take a quick ride around the neighborhood. Movement is a great tool for sparking energy and happiness.

• Do something different. Try to create a new stride in your routine which will shake up your emotional state and help you change your focus. Rearrange your rituals or daily habits so you feel a little "out of the ordinary" and help shift your focus to something new.

• Avoid negative people. Some people are just wired to complain about everything. Steer clear of those energy vampires and direct yourself to the more positive people around you.

• Call a friend. Pick up the phone and call someone who always cheers you up. I always choose a friend who makes me laugh. There is nothing like a good dose of laughter to improve your mood!

• Write it down. Sometimes it helps to document what you are feeling and what you would rather be feeling to begin to shift your mood from bad to good.

• Change your words. The words you use play a powerful role in how you are feeling. Replace "I'm so depressed" with something less daunting, such as "I'm feeling a little blue" or "out of sorts." When you get upset, see your obstacles as challenges rather than roadblocks or better yet, see your challenges as opportunities for growth. It's much easier to work your way through a challenge than a major roadblock.

• Monitor your self-talk. Correct what you are saying to yourself. Your mental chatter can be very self deprecating and unkind. Speak words of encouragement to yourself. Practice phrases like, "I always know the right thing to do at the right time" or "life is good to me" and remember to practice, practice, and practice more positive self-talk. Write a list of positive phrases and record them to play back as you are going to sleep at night. Positive self-talk is one of the most effective tools for increasing joy in your daily experience.

I'd love to hear, what makes you feel good!