Guest Blogger :: Fresh Flowers from Happiness Is...

Today is a very special day here on Dreams in HD.  First, of all it's Valentine's Day.  I'm not sure what we are up to {Ryan likes to keep it a surprise} but personally I am just happy to be able to spend the day with him and Yoda, and hopefully eat a little chocolate :) Secondly, I am thrilled to tell you that today's post will feature the first official guest blog post in Dreams in HD's history.  And you guys, it's a good one.  

I "met" Shannon of Happiness Is... about eight months ago and since then have developed what you might call a *total* girl crush on her.  Shannon's blog, dedicated to all things happy, has become a source of creative and personal inspiration for me since first visiting it last year.  She is an incredibly talented songwriter, singer, ukulele player, illustrator, reiki healer, painter, and all-around amazing person.  Her nostalgic movie-inspired wedding {which you can read all about here...please take five minutes watch their video, it will melt your heart} was featured by none other than MARTHA STEWART herself!  If I ever get out to Seattle Shannon is the first person I will call.  Oh, and did I mention that instead of just providing me a photo to include in this post she sent me this watercolor that she painted herself?  Yup, I told you she is amazing!  If you like her work, be sure to follow her here because she will be starting an Etsy shop later this year :) So without further adieu...

Hello lovely Dreams in HD readers! I'm Shannon of Happiness Is and I'm extremely honored to guest post on Molly's delightful blog today. Especially since it's Valentine's Day. A day you either love or hate. I'm one of those girls who milks it for what it's worth. I'm an unapologetic romantic, so bring me a dozen red roses and I'll be yours for the taking. Any extra reason to celebrate LOVE is good in my book.

I have a regular series on my blog called Get Happy, where I share some tips and tricks to boost your mood, create a positive thoughts and raise your vibration. For today's installment, I have a fun fact about those cliche dozen red roses. Flowers are beautiful, sure. But did you know they've been scientifically proven to make you happy? 

A recent study at Rutgers University found evidence that flowers induce long-term powerful positive emotion. Half of the participants were given flowers and half were given other gifts. When the two groups were compared, here's what they found...

1. Women given a mixed floral bouquet reported more positive moods 3 days later.
2. Daisies offered to both men and women in an elevator elicited greater social interaction.
3. Flowers presented to elderly individuals showed improved memory.
4. And my favorite discovery has to do with smell: Students who were asked to write an essay in a floral-scneted room, compared with those in a  neutral-scented room, wrote happier stories.

The researchers speculate it may have something to do with the co-evolution of plants and people, which can happen when two species evolve in response to changes in the other. Fascinating, right?

So if you didn't get flowers for Valentine's Day, stop by the florist on your way home from work and treat yourself to some sweet-smelling blooms. Or gift them to someone you live with and reap the benefits. I'm making a promise to myself, starting now, to swing by the local farmer's market once a week for a fresh $5 bouquet. I owe it to myself and my happiness.

Do you keep flowers in the home? Do you find that they elevate your mood?