happy video: bear playing tetherball

There is a sanctuary in Reno, Nevada called Animal Ark that takes in animals who have outgrown their pet-hood, if you will, but growing too big or by just being the best possible bear he knows how to be.

One of the residents of this sanctuary is this bear who at times is both pleased and frustrated by this large ball on a string. (:21 seconds in is a pretty fun moment when L.G. misses the ball.)

If your Tuesday just needed a little laugh, here you go. And if you feel inclined, check out the great work that Animal Ark is doing and donate to their extraordinary efforts.

{what to see: austenland}

I admit it. 

As I signed in for the press screening of "Austenland" I was expecting a basic chick flick. You know, girl obsessed with Jane Austen takes a trip to a land where she immerses herself in the days of yore and literature's most iconic crush, Mr. Darcy. It doesn't get more girly than that. However, I was happily surprised that this sweet film was more than just an ode to girl who like wine and Colin Firth. 

Based on the book of the same name, Keri Russell stars as Jane, an American who travels to England to indulge in her obsession with all things "Pride & Prejudice" at a themed country estate. Here she meets fellow Anglophiles played by Jennifer Coolidge and Georgia King for a week of flirting and fun in the Regency style. Unfortunately, Jane paid for the less expensive package so she's relegated to the brown dresses and servant's quarters but she still attracts both the stable boy (Bret McKenzie) and the Mr. Darcy clone Mr. Nobley (JJ Feild). 

The film plays out as you imagine it would with stolen kisses in a barn, plenty of tea drinking and swishing of era-appropriate dresses but there are genius moments like the play performance that make this film more than just a vapid chick film. 

Who should see this film: This is the perfect film for a girl's day out. Start with a late brunch then a matinee. Mom will love this movie. You'll have to hear how much she loves Colin Firth repeatedly but she's Mom so let her have this one.

(happy video) what to do when you encounter a bear

I love this reporter. She went all in to help viewers know what to do should they encounter a bear.

My favorite is moment :14. I'm not quite sure how being shifty eyed is going to help but it sure will give the bear a good laugh.

what to see this weekend June 28 edition

Rainy days and hazy, hot and humid days have one thing in common--it's too miserable to be outside. The perfect place to take solace is inside a cold, dark movie theatre. Looking at the weather conditions for most of the U.S. this weekend, it looks like this is a good weekend to take in a movie.

Here's what's opening this weekend. Your choice--the girls vs. the guys.

"The Heat"
Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, rated R
Director Paul Feig



Who will enjoy this film: Fans of Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy will get exactly what they expect from these two comic actresses who play an FBI agent (Bullock) and a Boston cop (McCarthy) partnered together to fight a drug kingpin. Sure, it's a classic buddy cop story but with the addition of a script from "Parks & Recreation"writer Katie Dipppold and director, Paul Feig ("Bridesmaids") the comedy is a fun way to spend 117 minutes with two funny women this weekend.



"White House Down"
Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, rated PG-13
Director Roland Emmerich




Who will enjoy this film: Director Roland Emmerich knows how to make a July 4th blockbuster. Just take a look at his 1996 film "Independence Day" starring Will Smith or "2012," or "The Day After Tomorrow." The guy knows how to make a motion picture about danger. This time around he directs Jamie Foxx as the President of the United States and Channing Tatum as a Washington D.C. policeman  who's in the right place at the right time to save the President from terrorist opposition. Sure, there's chases and explosions but there's also the buddy-buddy chemistry between Tatum and Foxx that just works.


Also playing: 

"I'm so Excited" (If you're feeling smart and cheeky, catch this sub-titled film by Pedro Almodovar)
"Monsters University" (It's hot. Kids are already bored. Take them to see this movie. Good dad.)
"World War Z" (Brad Pitt + zombies. That's all you need to know.)
"Man of Steel" (Superman. Period.)
"This is the End" (The end of the world with Rogen, Franco and Hill)
"Now You See Me" (You caught a illusion show in Vegas and now you're into magic)

{happy video} the cymbal fail kid who rules

You know that dream you have of turning up at school naked about to take a test? Or performing in a band in front of hundreds of people and your instrument breaks? It happened to this young man. His cymbal breaks but what happens next makes me believe in the amazing resilience of humans. (I wish I had had this poise when I dropped my full dinner tray in the cafeteria on the first day of college.)

The part you're looking for begins just after the 1:04 mark but why not just enjoy the brilliant music first?

Have a Happy Thursday!

{happy videos} piano stairs just make life more fun

I can be lazy.

I see a parking space directly in front of a store and I get giddy. It's like I won the soft stuffed koala in the claw machine. When I face the choice of an escalator vs. stairs, I have to actually force myself to take the stairs. Life is just made up of one good choice after another (or bad, I guess too.)

The cool folks in Stockholm decided to make this choice easier. To encourage people to add more activity into their lives, one day they installed piano stairs in the Odenplan Metro station. Given the choice of standing on a boring escalator or playing a little tune, what would you do? That's right, you'd choose the music. Watch and get your happy on. (I love grandma at 1:26 who is having her own little moment.)

Genius!  I wish they would install these everywhere. Imagine how much happier taking the subway would be?!

{video} the accidental flash mobber

Sure, flash mobs can be confusing for the people who are not in on it. Sometimes, however, it's a magical surprise and you just want to dance. Watch this video about a flash mob that took place at the College of DuPage. Keep your eye on the guy on the right side of your screen wearing a gray t-shirst and glasses. He just wants to dance and dance he does, perhaps a little mystified as to why everyone else seems to know these moves.

I love people who just want a little happy in their lives.

{video} kitty wants to nap, kitty doesn't want to exercise

Are there some mornings when hitting the treadmill is just too hard? This kitty certainly thinks so. He sees the treadmill more as a place to lay down rather than work out. Maybe he's used to his human's treadmill being covered in clothes? Either way, he's not exercising.

the song you should listen to before bed

This morning I heard Iz's version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" for the first time and I felt my eyes start to close softly. I have a hard time falling asleep but I think if I listened to this song when I climb into bed each night I might just think about moonlit palm trees blowing in the Hawaiian breeze and the sound of the soft surf on warm sand.

I imagine this would also be the loveliest song to play as your rock your little one to sleep at night.

Sweet dreams.

{video} after the tornado, a grandma reunites with her dog

What happened yesterday in Oklahoma is devastating. The extreme loss of life and property due to the tornado is almost hard to comprehend. There was one beacon of light, however. During an interview with an elderly resident who lost everything including (she thought) her little dog, a reporter spotted the woman's determined pup burrowing out of the rubble of her former home. Watch this video to see pure, absolute joy as this bruised and battered grandma is reunited with her dust covered, brave little dog.

To help the residents of Oklahoma, visit redcross.org.

{video} so a monkey and a puppy share a lollipop

{video} heartfelt farewell from the cast of "the office"

The series finale of "The Office" airs Thursday, May 16th on NBC. Before you say goodbye to the show you spend Thursdays with, watch this farewell from the cast.  Dwight cries? Yes, Dwight cries.

for boston girls and the boys that love them {video}

Last year a friend of mine sent me a message on Twitter. He said "You have to listen to 'Boston' by Kenny Chesney. It's you." I'm from Massachusetts and the first time I heard this song it felt like my anthem. It reminded me of how happy I am to be a Boston girl.

After everything that has happened in the Boston area recently, this felt like a good time to listen to this song again. Each time I watch this video and listen to the lyrics I feel like home is close, rather than 2500 miles away.

If you're a Boston girl or you just are in your soul, this is your song. For the guys who love Boston girls, this one is for you too.

{video} apple moonbeam and his dogs

Here's a happy video: Apple Moonbeam, a five week-old orphaned squirrel was found freezing alone in the woods. He was adopted by two dogs and their human. Here's a video of his two dogs, Maverick and Scout helping him walk along the carpet.

the most emotionally intense video. ever. {marina & ulay}

Sometimes our lives can seem so contrived, so planned down to the last detail. Life seems to be about meetings and texting and emailing. It's rare that you have the time or even think about looking into someone's eyes to see what's inside.

During her retrospective exhibit at MoMA is 2010, Serbian artist Marina Abramovic did just this as part of her 700+ hour performance. As she sat quietly at a table, one at at time, strangers had the opportunity to experience one minute of complete focus. The looked into each other's eyes, locking gazes. This was powerful in itself. Until Ulay showed up. In the 70's Marina and Ulay, a performance artist as well, shared an extraordinary working relationship and romance. They referred to themselves as a two-headed body. Marina and Ulay decided to marry by each starting to walk from one end of the Great Wall of China towards the middle and marrying. It took awhile to get permission from the Chinese government to do this and by the time they did, their romance had runs its course. So instead they decided to still walk towards each other, meet in the middle and hug for one last time.



Thirty years later, during "The Artist in Present" Ulay appeared, surprising her at the exhibit. This is just a short clip of this meeting but I highly recommend watching the entire MoMA retrospective "Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present" available on iTunes.

imagine your grandma lip syncing {happy video}

I saw this video of a grandma lip syncing to her favorite song "Happy Days are Here Again" and it's one of the most joyful things I've ever seen.

Look at that smile. I want to bake a pie for her.



Video of Carol Lyn Black courtesy of Michelle Alexis Newman.

what's happier than ferrets in a pool of packing peanuts? {video}

happy movie: "when harry met sally"

Last night I caught the end of "When Harry Met Sally." It was the scene in the ballroom on New Year's Eve. As I watched, I noticed for the first time the way Billy Crystal looks at Meg Ryan (at the 1:33 mark.) This is exactly how every woman wants to be looked at by the man she loves. I hit rewind at least ten times so I could watch it again and again. It's the loveliest thing.

happy music: Iz's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World"

The first thing I saw when I woke up this morning was gray, fog and rain and all I could think of was "Ugh!" knew I needed to change my perspective to start my day off on a happy note so I hit this song on my iPod even before getting out of bed.

I first heard Hawaiian singer Iz's rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ What a Wonderful World" in one of my favorite films "50 First Dates" and it never fails to remind me of sparkling sunny days.

Sometimes all it takes to change your mood is the perfect song.

I hope your day is wonderful!

does it get happier than rolling around with a baby elephant? {video}