On The Blogroll: The Happiness Project

The NYMetroParents blogroll features the best blogs in the parenting world, from New York and beyond. Here’s a closer look at why we love these mom bloggers and dad bloggers and how they’re shaping the web for parenting today.

Blogging From: New York, New York

The pursuit of happiness is a far fetched idea for some and a popular movie title starring Will Smith for others. But for New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, her pursuit started over a year ago with The Happiness Project, and her commitment continues. The Happiness Project is Gretchen’s account of the year she spent test-driving different theories on happiness; her blog of the same name delves into her daily happiness adventures.

Her self-help-esque blog has sparked a worldwide happiness movement. How often do you really sit down and contemplate happiness? Gretchen provides serious food for thought in her daily blog posts: sometimes quotes, other times resolutions and always thought-provoking

Some of her weekly fan favorites are the Pigeon of Discontent, a video of Gretchen addressing those little hiccups that prevent finding the ‘Bluebird of Happiness’; Quiz/Tip/List Wednesdays; and “happiness interviews,” where other authors, bloggers and the like weigh in. A Moment of Happiness can be sent to your inbox every morning, helping readers to start their day of on the right note.

Gretchen’s upbeat tone can brighten any reader’s day, so who better to blog almost exclusively about happiness. Her simple strategies stretch to all walks of life because happiness knows no audience. Gretchen appeals to all ages and situations, anyone looking to improve their outlook. True happiness can be an obscure notion, but Gretchen and her blog are here to define it and help you reach it.

Are you a mom or dad blogger in our community? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at editor@davlermedia.com

Manhattan Mandarin

Manhattan Mandarin runs the Mandarin after-school programs at over 40 schools nationwide, including St. Bernard's, Chapin, Allen-Stevenson, and Buckley. Whether in schools, students' homes, in the office, online, or on our beloved China trips, our teachers and tutors have helped hundreds of students of all ages master the Mandarin language on their own unique paths to fluency. Our philosophy has always been to make private lessons and classes perfectly tailored for each individual student. We look forward to working with you. - Jamie Keyte, Founder

Instituto Cervantes

Children and teenagers learn to understand and express themselves in Spanish, while improving their communication skills through a dynamic immersion program taught by NATIVE TEACHERS that combines CLASSES, ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS and FUN ACTIVITIES! All of our high-qualified teachers are native Spanish speakers who adapt the structure of the class to the needs and levels of each group while conducting the classes entirely in Spanish. We offer both Spanish Summer Camps and Regular Courses for children along the year to foster language learning and multicultural understanding.

Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian's Legacy

The Morgan Library &amp; Museum will present a major exhibition devoted to the life and career of its inaugural director, Belle da Costa Greene (1879&ndash;1950). Widely recognized as an authority on illuminated manuscripts and deeply respected as a cultural heritage executive, Greene was one of the most prominent librarians in American history. The exhibition will trace Greene&rsquo;s storied life, from her roots in a predominantly Black community in Washington, D.C., to her distinguished career at the helm of one of the world&rsquo;s great research libraries. Through extraordinary objects―from medieval manuscripts and rare printed books to archival records and portraits―the exhibition will demonstrate the confidence and savvy Greene brought to her roles as librarian, scholar, curator, and cultural executive, and honor her enduring legacy.