Since it’s JUST ME and I work from home – I’ve made a fun, effective habit of INEFFICIENT shopping! By stopping by the grocery story every other day or so – for whatever item I currently need – I get more visibility and advertising time!

I have a LAFOLOT magnetic display on my car, a HA-HAHA license plate, etc. – I like getting out of the house and driving around so I get known. I go to a local grocery store where some of the carts still have my LAFOLOT, bright yellow background AD.

Yesterday, I stopped in and had one of my new: FLASH Someone …a SMILE! – iron on transfer – canvas shopping bags I created. I always look for my AD carts so I can ‘mess around’ with the folks and ask them if they recognize anyone familiar, since the AD has my photo.

First fun thing: I encountered a mom with two pre-teen boys. They were doing that thing where they FIGHT and WHINE over WHO gets to PUSH the cart? HA HA – I ran up and said (as I WINKED at the mom) – Nooooo Iiiiiiii Wannnna Push the Carrrrrrt! [the mom laughed, the one boy let go and the other kept pushing it! He wasn't going to give in, even with an over 50 menopausal woman getting in on the game!] Laugh out Loud!

Then, I went into an aisle and BINGO! I turned to my right and THERE I WAS! My AD and FACE were on the back side of the child seat in the cart. I said to the woman (who had a preteen son with her) – WOW! So YOU’RE the LUCKY ones today! She looked as I pointed to the AD. She stepped around the cart and laughed. She said to her son: ‘Come over here, do you recognize this person?’ He smiled (HUMORED us!) HA HA!

I saw a manager walk by and said: ‘WOW! As I pointed to the cart – this store has the BEST CART ADs!’ He laughed.

THEN! A Wonderful thing! I like meeting folks from different countries. I got to talking to a man stocking shelves. He was from GUYANA! What luck! I got to learn a lot about his country, directly from the source of someone born and raised there! I was blessed with his sharing of pride about his country.

Then, at the checkout, I joked with the cashier that I needed ASSISTANCE placing my two items (black pepper and paprika) on the conveyor belt. When she saw my FLASH Someone … a SMILE! canvas bag for my groceries – she exclaimed: WOW! WHERE CAN I GET ONE OF THOSE!

I said: ‘Do you REALLY like it? I just made it this morning!’ She said “yes!”
I said: ‘OK, IT’S YOURS!’ and gave it to her! The smile and thrill on her face was payment enough – of course – I asked her to use it to help me advertise and tell people about it. I also asked her to tell people about my website.

So, once again, I got to have fun, silliness, and get great information about a country, as well as a new fan – during one of my least-liked chores – grocery shopping! HA HA! Success!

Spread those SMILE by the MILES and you never know who you’ll meet while out shopping!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com

I was wearing my ‘ME!’ t-shirt. At the entrance were a captive audience of about 20 teenagers waiting to be seated. I walked up and announced: ‘IT’S ME!’ I got such a wonderful response – they just LOOKED, and STARED! [I was SO honored! It's the teenage way! I was thrilled! ... except one teen did laugh and say to his buddy - 'guess you didn't get it, did you? ME, Question Mark?' ahahaha I also got a couple wide eyes and almost an eye roll! I'm smiling, I LOVE teenagers!

Then I went to sit at the almost empty, smoke-free bar to get my soup/salad. A 'Senior' buddy of mine was there! So we got to exchange Hullos! then he had to leave.

Then a man asked if he could have the seat next to mine nearest the crowded lobby. No problem. He noted his wife was shopping and he had the 'buzzer' device with him due to a 45 min wait. He noted it was his wife's birthday.

I said: 'Oh, it's ashame, they don't sing their birthday song here anymore.' He said he knew. I told him I was a Laughter Wellness Leader, and how I had sun the HA HA Happy Birthday song to two women the other day. I said, if you want, I can come over and sing it to your wife, but I don't want to push myself on you.
He laughed and asked me more about what I did.

I described it and told him, maybe he could sing the HA HA Happy Birthday song to his wife! Then his 'buzzer' device went off after 5 minutes! No 45 minute wait! He had to call his wife, since she had gone to the plaza to shop.

Five minutes later he comes back to me at the bar (I'm eating salad with a mouthfull!) and says: 'If I bring my wife in to you, will you sing to her?'
What a silly question! I'm such a HAM! 'YES!' I said! 'No problem!'

Five minutes later, in he comes with his wife and son. I pull my chair out from the bar, sit facing his wife and say: "OK, try to stay with me now, this is a very complex version of the Happy Birthday song. I'm going to try to remember all the words.' She nodded with a smile.

I started at full volume: HA HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAA ... finished with 'and many more HA HA style' - then the grande finale' of VERY GOOD VERY GOOD YEAH! with a WEEEEE! as I brought my arms down. [the husband even HA HA HA'd along WITH me!]

She said to her husband: ‘Wow! You should pay for her drink after THAT!’ [note - I just had an iced tea - I don't 'drink']
As they walked away, I heard him say to his wife: ‘You meet the MOST INTERESTING people at the bar.’

LAUGH OUT LOUD!

HA HA Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Smiling after a wonderful evening of MIRTH-FULL MINGLING and SINGING
Live Life! Laugh Often!
Available for Ha Ha Helen of LAFOLOT LAF-O-GRAMS!
www.lafolot.com
helenoflafolot@yahoo.com

WELL! I just COULDN’T allow this soul to not be SUNG TO on their birthday, while dining out! *tee hee Super HA HA HELEN of LAFOLOT jumped out of her booth (okay, slowly slid out). I had on my: ME! t-shirt. I took one of my HA HA HELEN on a stick “STICK WITH LAUGHTER” items out of my purse as well as a SMILEY FACE bookmark.

I smiled and said, ‘I’m sorry to bother you (as I held up my GIFTS), but I heard it was your birthday and wanted to sing the HA HA Happy Birthday song to you! It turned out to be two, ‘grey haired women’ out having a fun birthday lunch – one treating the other.

Luckily! They both smiled. My intention had been to just give the gifts, sing my little ditty and let them be. Well! They started asking me all types of questions in excitement about what I did! The other woman didn’t want to be left out – so I got HER a Ha Ha Helen on a Stick and a bookmark! She took it ‘hungrily’ even though they had just eaten.

She told me she had COPD, asthma and Depression (as her eyes teared). I jumped in and said: Well, then! Let’s get you laughing! (I told her about the precaution of laughing and asthma – she noted she was OK with laughing.)

I explained the physical/medical benefits and started telling them about my TIME TO LAUGH gimmick: Looking at the clock at 7:07 and seeing it as upside down and LAUGH OUT LOUD, the 4:45 (Shh) quiet laugh, and the 3:34 (hEE) mid afternoon giggle. They both loved it and she was laughing and giggling. I got to hear about her bird bath, and rabbits in the yard, etc etc. Her birthday friend said: THANK YOU, ME! – I laughed.

I ended up giving them a LAFOLOT pamphlet I had on me as well as my FULL BELLY LAUGHTER – Free – donate food item event. Turned out the one woman lived nearby the event!

Sometimes I’m told I’m too forward which has caused me to not approach people as much. But when I TAKE THAT RISK and discover that I:

1) not only got to sing the HA HA HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG (they were surprised I knew all the HA HA words!) to the Birthday Girl!

but

2) got to help a woman, teary eyed over depression, have some HEALTHY LAUGHTER as DESSERT after the meal she bought to help her friend celebrate her birthday –

I find that I am doing the right thing. These moments are priceless – I keep them in my golden heart pocket – where they warm me when I’m feeling the cold effects of criticism.

My lesson – FOLLOW MY HEART. Never know when my heart will lead me to another soul in need.

LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!
Live Life in A-MAZE-MENT!
Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
www.lafolot.com

Someone had painstakingly taken the time to wrap a clear plastic straw cover around my head/mouth area and used red sauce to indicate blood dripping out of my neck. Then they had put it back on the AD board ledge. It was upsetting to say the least! The restaurant owner threw it out. We were meeting to organize a FULL BELL LAUGHTER – Food Bank collection event.

Well! Today was the opposite! After a FLUKE of a WONDERFUL opportunity to promote myself with a laughter wellness demo and 5 minute talk to my fellow chamber of commerce members at an A.M. Strategies meeting – the day just kept getting better!

I finished some of the FULL BELLY LAUGHTER promotional items (Press Release and POSTER) to take to THAI Palace and meet with the owner. When I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed there were at least 5 grey/silver cars parked in a row. As I parked ANOTHER grey/silver car had just pulled in!

Two women and a man got out. The one woman was wearing an ALL GREY dress! The guy had a grey/print shirt on! I said: What’s with all these GREY cars and GREY clothes, today! They laughed and nodded in agreement.

I have to note: Today is a GREY, overcast day but I LOVE IT! I haven’t had to run my A/C, the windows are open and the temp is a comfortable low 70s. At my meeting in the morning, TWO women both showed up with Black Shirts and Grey Pants!

Once I got into the restaurant, I noticed the owner/server was wearing a Black shirt and GREY pants! ANOTHER customer was wearing a BLACK shirt and GREY pants! I didn’t know if the weather had inspired the colors of the day, or lack, thereof!

AMAZINGLY! Remember the VooDoo HA HA Helen on a STICK? Well! Let me tell, ya! As I entered the restaurant, the one guy from the ‘grey’ car held the door open for me (THANK HIM VERY MUCH!). As I passed him, he called out: ‘IS THIS YOU!?’ He was pointing to another of my ‘untarnished’ HA HA Helen’s on a STICK’ AHAHAHA It is a printed photo of me wearing my tinsel deely bobber headband and holding a cheering flag. I’m wearing my LAFOLOT, Live Life! Laugh Often! t-shirt.

I tilted my head sideways and put on a big smile like in the photo. He said, is it you? I laughed and said: ‘WHADAYA THINK?’ He was thrilled! I gave him a Yellow, Smiley Face LAFOLOT Bookmark. I said: ‘Didn’t know you’d meet a local celebrity when you showed up here, today? Did ya?’ He said no, and laughed. I told him about the ‘defaced’ item from yesterday.

When I was getting read to leave, he and the woman in grey said: ‘YOU’RE NOT LEAVING ALREADY?’ I laughed. The ‘woman in grey’ said: I HAVE to tell you! Whenever my daughter and I come in here, I have to look and see what NEW items LAFOLOT has out on the AD board! She said they always make her smile, laugh and brighten her day.

I said: ‘THANK YOU SO MUCH! YOU’VE MADE MY DAY!’ I told her about my motto: ‘A little kindness goes a long way.’ I said: ‘You’ve shown me a kindness today and BLOCKED out all the negative stuff from yesterday!

I told her about the ‘defaced’ HA HA Helen on a STICK –

She asked me my name. I jokingly said: HA HA HELEN! She said: I guess that makes me: SH SH SHERYL! I said: ‘OH! You have the QUIET LAUGH name!’ I then demonstrated the Quiet Laugh and told her what a great laugh it was to be named after! I told her it was very isometric and toning! She laughed and smiled and I gave her a Yellow, Smiley Face LAFOLOT bookmark.

So I always tell people I am a person of opposites. It may have been a GREY, OVERCAST, COOL DAY – BUT IT WAS ‘WAY OKAY’! It was totally FLIPPED around from the previous day!

A little kindness goes a long way …
LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!
HA HA Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT – ‘Stick with Laughter!’
www.lafolot.com

I was SO THRILLED that I was in a NON-MENOPAUSAL mood; because when I got to the store’s gas pumps, they were PACKED with cars lined up! I was SO THRILLED when I found a line with just one car ahead of me. The guy was filling about 5 plastic portable fuel containers; BUT I DIDN’T CARE! I had a SAFE SPACE in line. [in a menopausal mood, I wouldn't have handled this that well! So I was SO grateful!]

I turned off my car engine and saw a woman pull into the wait/line to the right of me. I had put on my CLOWN NOSE to see how many smiles/reactions I could get. The woman’s face had a ‘Map of Her Life’ on it. I felt she had EARNED every one of those wrinkles and GOOD FOR HER! She had the jaw line of the character BEAKER from the MUPPETS! I thought, I’ll bet she’d be a real character to talk to and meet! I could see her hands flying, the annoyed look on her face – almost HEAR the possible curse words and words of disgust coming out of her mouth. [this is how 'I' would have been if I were in a menopausal mood - again, I noted my gratitude to myself!]

So I had a long wait, but had fun focusing and mentally encouraging her to look my way, to her left. It took a while but – YES! She turned and looked!

AH HA! HA HA!! Wonderful! She laughed! She did a double take! She laughed some more shaking her head in amazement at me! YES! I had succeeded in helping someone else deal with the backed up line at the gas pumps!

Once done, I headed to Olive Garden for a snack. I said to a woman as she held the door for me: ‘I heard if you wear a clown nose, they give you a discount!’ She laughed. I told the two hostesses, ‘Don’t you get a dollar off if you wear a clown nose?’ Just then, a man walked up and said: ‘WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOUR EYES!’ I laughed out loud and so did the hostesses. I said, ‘He must be a professional clown to have come up with THAT line!’

So, I was SO SO glad I was in the right frame of mind and fun, calm emotional state to be able to PLAY with others who may have been having trouble dealing with the long lines and rush hour.

Here’s to earning KINDNESS points that will hopefully come back to me – next time I’m in a grumpy mood during a stressfull situation! DRIVE YOURSELF HAPPY, even when you’re sitting at the fuel pumps!

Live Life! Laugh Often!
and carry a clown nose wherever you go!
Never know when you’ll need one to help out a fellow traveler in life!
Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be seen at VIBRANT NATION by: Helenoflafolot]

I had just finished making a SPECIALLY designed t-shirt for my niece who is on her Cross Country Team. I found out this past year, that it is abbreviated XC.

So, when she excitedly posted a message on Facebook about XC I was creatively inspired! I made a t-shirt for her that notes:

XCellent
XCiting
XCeptional

I placed the transfer on a grey/athletic t-shirt and had it with me in the car so I could get some lunch first, and then take it to the local post office.

Well, as we all know, our minds can wonder while driving; hence my Drive Yourself Happy campaign, to AWAKEN drivers. I get to a major intersection, and I start to ‘drift’. I suddenly look at the driver’s license plate on the car in front of me as the light turns green! It starts out with the first three letters:

EXC

How SYNCHRONISTIC and XCeptional, XCiting and XCellent was THAT!

Gotta LOVE the Snchronici-TEE!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often! and Drive Yourself Happy, Awake and Alert!
www.lafolot.com

[this blog can also be seen at VIBRANT NATION by: Helenoflafolot]

I see no recession when it comes to the ability to give a Kindness or Compliment! They are PRICELESS and worth more than all the gold in the world!

While at a business networking mixer, yesterday morning, a gentleman mentioned he had my Helen of LAFOLOT Night at the Piano Bar CD in his car and listens to it frequently! He had won it as a door prize at a previous meeting. I told him: YOU’VE MADE MY DAY!

During the meeting, after we gave our 30 second introduction commercials – I led everyone in a ‘cheer’ to wake them up. This same gentleman gave me a PLUG, suggesting I start off all their meetings with that warm-up! He called me Ms. LAFOLOT! …once again MY DAY WAS MADE!

When I got home to meet some Warranty Repair men for my new Modular Home – they were so EXCELLENT at their jobs, they were very great at explaining everything and answering my questions – I let them know they were WONDERFUL and I COULD TELL they knew and enjoyed their work! When I expressed concern over an issue for which they were not responsible, they were more than willing to check it out for me. Turned out I HAD NO WORRIES – there was no issue. I told the man his KINDNESS was PRICELESS and more VALUABLE to me than he could imagine! I told him: YOU’VE MADE MY DAY!

I later received an e-mail from a new business contact who is honoring my talents by having me speak on Laughter Wellness at her Business Women’s organization. Icing on the cake is that she asked me to SING – in order to promote that part of my business – another KINDNESS!

As if that weren’t enough – she then asked if I’d SING at a photography studio business open house! CAN I TAKE ALL THESE KINDNESSES and COMPLIMENTS!

Then, I received an e-mail from a NEW FAN of my website! He noted he is 26 years old and found my website to be so positive and upbeat, that he has shared it with many of his friends! THE GIFT OF A KINDNESS AND COMPLIMENT! Wow! I e-mailed him and told him: YOU’VE MADE MY DAY!

I have had many ‘young’ souls – highschool and college become fans of my SMILE CAMPAIGN and my book ‘Life is a Song in the Key of Love’ about appreciating life in all its forms of expression. I am truly blessed!

I see NO RECESSION – there is such an ABUNDANCE of COMPLIMENTS and KINDNESS being shared!

At one of my ‘Laughter? Let’s Get Serious!’ talks to a low income community action council two years ago; I mentioned that YOU DON’T NEED MONEY TO GIVE A GIFT! I talked about a book I read: ‘Good Hearted Living’ by Steve Wilson It talks about giving the gifts of: Compliments, Kindness, Gratitude, Flexibility and Forgiveness. None of these cost money and they can be given in bushel baskets!

I see no recession. I am wealthy beyond my dreams with all these gifts.

Check your HEART POCKETS, I’m sure you’ll find some there!

THANK YOU for reading my blog and believing in my passion.

Highlighted Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Living Life in A-MAZE-MENT!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be seen at VIBRANT NATION by: Helenoflafolot]

Have you ever watched television shows or movies where seniors just LET GO and let their INNER CHILD out! Well, not having kids, I have given myself permission to START EARLY!

I was sitting at Olive Garden Restaurant for lunch having just received my unsweetened iced tea and paper wrapped straw. I was seated next to a window and looking out into the open area seating. There was a table with three women. I’m ‘assuming’ a mother and her two highschool or early college age daughters.

The one girl put her partially unwrapped straw up to her mouth, with a mischievious grin on her face, as if to be ready to BLOW the paper off the straw, into the air – across to her sister. The mother was sitting inbetween the two.
The young woman didn’t follow through. It was like, I KNOW we did this as kids even though we weren’t allowed to, but I won’t really do it.

SO! I thought! THIS is a HA HA HELEN of LAFOLOT ‘permission to let your inner child out’ EMERGENCY!

Dun dun dun DAAAAAAAAAA! I had partially removed the paper from my straw.
I got up.
Walked over to their table with the straw up to my mouth.
BLEW.
and WHooooooooSH! the paper SWOOPED up into the air inbetween the women/girls as they looked at me.

I LAUGHED, SMILED and went back to my table – letting them there giggling, laughing and smiling.

WHO WAS THAT UN-MASKED WOMAN!

I got 3 of my SMILEY Face, Positive Statement, Bright Yellow LAFOLOT bookmarks out and walked them over to their table. I announced:

‘I figured if ‘I’ did it, YOU (the mischievious teen) wouldn’t get in trouble with mom!’ The mother looked up with a big smile and laughed.

HA HA Helen’s work is never done – never FEAR – HA HA HELEN’S HERE!

Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be seen at VIBRANT NATION by: Helenoflafolot]

Helen D. was about 96 years old,
full of LOVE, SMILES, LAUGHTER and SPARKLING EYES!
She had a wonderful, scratchy, high-pitched voice – which happens as we age.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED that Helen D. would show up and she didn’t mind if it was just us laughing together!
I said to her: I find it amazing, that the people that show up regularly at my laughter programs at Senior Centers are those over the age of 90! I said: THAT says something for laughter and longevity!

She agreed.

Well! Of all places, I ran into two women that also lived at her apartment building 2 days ago. It was at the DOLLARTREE store where I get supplies – a FUN PLACE. So it was APPROPRIATE that I should hear about my LAUGHING friend Helen D. when I went there.

Evidently, Helen D. had to have the last laugh!
Helen died in her apartment on THE FOURTH OF JULY (Independence Day!)
I’m sure Helen D., sparkling eyes, laughter and smiles is thrilled that

SHE GOT TO GO OUT WITH A BANG! I think her spirit flew to the heavens with all the Fireworks displays going on and she was LAUGHING WITH GLEE!

I miss her greatly, but just thinking of her brings smiles and laughter to my heart and soul!

FLY FREE LAUGHINGLY HELEN D!!!!!!

Just like you to have the last laugh and GO OUT WITH A BANG!

Live Life! Laugh Often! and maybe you’ll live to the ripe age of 96!
Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Living Life! and Laughing Often!
Next time you see fireworks – think of Helen D – laughing freely!
www.lafolot.com

[this blog can also be seen at VIBRANT NATION under blog name: Helenoflafolot

I GOT MY IMPLANTS TODAY! and SMILED!

She looked at my chest (in question, since I’m short, overweight and not ‘very defined’ in that area … eh hem….)

NO! I said: DENTAL! DENTAL IMPLANTS!

…COMMUNICATION is a curious creature, is it not? ;o)

Needless to say – my implants will never be featured on the cover of any magazine when I become famous. [unless it's the American Dental Association magazine!]

Or should I say they will – but no one will notice them … other than DUE TO MY FABULOUS SMILE! ;o)

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
and SMILE! and show off that dental work!

[I told my one friend, I'd WILL the implants and crowns to her due to the cost incurred!] ;o) ashame to bury them!
this blog can also be seen at VIBRANT NATION under blog name: Helenoflafolot