Emotions. Boy, is there a lot. Of course, we all want to be happy each and every day, but emotions get the best of us. We can have a perfectly good day, but then some crazy person just cuts us off on the highway. Your mood can instantly change.

You can be having the worst day. You wake up and are just ticked off at the world — no reason why, just not your day. Then you walk into a store, and a stranger shoots you a smile.

Those smiles can literally change someone’s day. I swear it’s contagious. From then on, your day gets better.

My mood reflects in the music I listen to, too. If I’m relaxed or cooking, I love listening to Frank Sinatra. His voice just instantly sends me into calm and relaxation mode. If I’m working out, I want rock or rap. It just gets me hyped and ready for a good workout. If it’s a beautiful sunny day, I love having the windows down in my car with “Summer Breeze” by Seals & Crofts playing on the stereo. It takes me to summer days and makes me feel fine. This song just makes me happy. Country, well, it depends on my mood, but Luke Combs or Brantley Gilbert can get me through cleaning my house. I love my ’80s rock, classic country, and so much more, but my music really tells my mood a lot of days!

I try to live life with a positive attitude. We get one life to live, and if we live it being miserable, did we really live!? There was a person at a store the other day who had to wait in line for a whole three minutes because the clerk had to wait for the manager to override our purchase. He was having a hissy fit like it had been a ten-minute wait. The clerk apologized and said her manager had to run to the bathroom and would be right back. This person responded, annoyed, “Well, isn’t that a good manager you have.” He wasn’t being nice about it. He was being arrogant. He was lucky I was on the phone with my stepmom asking her about this return, or I would have made a comment to him. It was so rude, and I actually knew this person. If he reads this, oh well. Nothing I wouldn’t have said to his face. You were completely rude, and it was totally uncalled for. Period.

Why are people so angry and nasty!? Calm, you rear down! For real. My gosh, so a manager can’t go to the bathroom in an eight-hour workday!? People just complain to complain anymore. You can’t make anyone happy. So many sensitive people anymore who get their feelings hurt over the dumbest things. Good grief. Get a hold of yourselves!

Surround yourself with positive people. Choose friends who aren’t toxic. Choose happiness. Choose to live your life your way. If you aren’t happy with your life, make changes. You need to surround yourself with people who love you and care for you.

My momma’s wonderful and very dear friend, Sue Styers, made these cookies for my mom and me when we were healing together. They were absolutely delicious! We couldn’t stay away from them!!! So soft, and the flavor is fantastic. Sue has been a part of my momma’s life since before I was born. She’s one of those people you want a part of your life because she is always kind, positive, and a wonderful friend. Plus, she makes good cookies! *wink wink*

I love how they had different faces all over them — such a cute simple way to decorate cookies. Maybe if you have a grumpy neighbor, you could make him some happy-face cookies!! Or, for a meh day, like a Monday, do some silly face. Sad faces for Sunday nights?? Haha! The happy face, of course, is my favorite, and a smile is so contagious!

Remember, it can change someone’s day. So can a delicious sugar cookie with faces on them. Bake them and spread happiness with some smiling face cookies. Enjoy!

Soft Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup Crisco
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 6 cups flour
Directions:

Beat eggs for one minute. Add sugar and Crisco, and beat for another minute. Add milk and vanilla, alternate with flour, and dry ingredients.

Roll and cut as desired.

Bake at 350° for 8-11 minutes, depending on the thickness of your cookie.

Icing with your favorite icing, and make some fun faces!