#SmileStyle
This time of the year, it’s all about the holidays and entertaining!  It is the season for wonderfully planned events for family and friends to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  The clock says to come together to celebrate life and love for one another.  It is said, the best gifts are the ones that make people happy-and don’t have to be wrapped.  I say the best gift is a smile.  A smile is the most powerful gesture that we can all easily give one another anytime of the year, not just during the holidays. Who or what makes you smile? What is your #smilestyle?

#SmileStyle

 

Wearing old Cinzia Rocca silk suit, Carmen Marc Valvo black knit top, Kate Spade necklace with Kate Spade charm glitter shoes.
Wearing old Cinzia Rocca silk suit, Carmen Marc Valvo black knit top, Kate Spade necklace with Kate Spade charm glitter shoes.

I ask the question what is your #smilestyle because we live in a world linked by social media, where we connect with photographs and smiles matter.  By now, with the popularity of selfies, many have mastered their smiles. According to scientist, Andrew Newborn, the smile is the symbol that was rated with the highest positive emotional content.

Wearing Carmen Marc Valvo silk fuchsia suit with Kate Spade Charm Glitter Gold Evening Pump and Kate Spade necklace
Wearing  (old) Cinzia Rocco silk fuchsia suit, Carmen Marc Valvo black knit sparkle top with Kate Spade Charm Glitter Gold Evening Pump and Kate Spade crystal kaleidoscope necklace.

Let’s investigate the science of smiling. You know I like exploring, the following two studies provide some interesting and thought-provoking facts on smiling:

In the famous yearbook study, they tracked the lives of women who had the best smiles in yearbook photos compared to the rest.  Women who smiled the most lived happier lives, more satisfied marriages and had fewer setbacks.

The baseball card study also found a clear correlation between how big a smile someone made on a baseball card photo and how long they would live.  The people who smiled the most turned out to live seven years longer than those who didn’t.

Why smile? I think you know the answer but let’s see what we uncover. Smiling reduces stress that your body and mind feel, almost similar to getting good sleep, according to recent studies.  And smiling helps generate emotions within you. It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.

That’s why we often feel happier around children – they smile more.  On average, children smile 400 times a day.  While happy people smile 40 – 50 times a day, and average people only smile 20 times a day.

Colonial Williamsburg Swag I make every year for my front door entrance.
My #smilestyle Colonial Williamsburg Swag I make every year for my front door entrance. My 2013 photo.

Who makes me smile?  Needless to say, my friends and my loved ones.  What makes me put on my #smilestyle? My favorite holiday tradition that makes me put on my #smilestyle is creating the fresh fruit Colonial Williamsburg swag over our home’s front door.   This is my DIY signature decoration to help to usher in the atmosphere for my holiday entertaining.

Like the famous song says about Christmas, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,”  whether you’re watching timeless classic holiday movies, singing Christmas carols, baking cookies, decorating your home/tree, exchanging gifts while hosting your family and friends, use every opportunity to master your #smilestyle.

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