The Superbowl is very high on the list of things that I can’t even pretend to pretend to care about, along with pretty much every other team sport. I can look at the screen for about two seconds before my mind wanders. So that’s why I’m sitting at home on this Sunday night finding things to interest me while the rest of the world is interested in football (making business cards actually made the list.) You know, I actually played football on a winter team in university, believe it or not. It was called Powderpuff Football and the name led me to believe that it might be…
Twenty Something
-
Five Blondes
-
The anti superbowl post.
7 Feb 2010 | 5:53 pm -
Baby Nightmares
7 Feb 2010 | 6:04 amNope, not baby having nightmares, mommy having nightmares! Ever since Hailey was born I have been having one reoccurring and really weird nightmare. It can happen at any time of the night and or day, whenever I am sleeping. I’m think it is the result of being overtired. Here’s how it plays out. I am sleeping, but think I am feeding Hailey. I half wake up and think that I feel her leg and then try to find the rest of her body, because in my mind I was feeding her but we both fell asleep and now I can’t find her! I will literally throw away all pillows and blankets to find the… -
Three syllables
4 Feb 2010 | 7:13 pmVay. Cay. Shun. Since the last time I took a vacation day was in August, I do believe that I am ready for a trip. (Although does it count as a vacation when you are going to your homeland to visit family? I have promised myself that my next vacation or trip is for the sake of an adventure, not to see family.) I’m going to the Farm for 10 days to stare at my niece be a good Auntie, meet Hailey for the first time, help out in the barn, be a good maid of honour, meet up with this girl and this girl and hopefully plan a date with this girl (oh, did I forget to tell you that, Nancy? -
Hailey’s birth
3 Feb 2010 | 9:00 amThis story turned out a lot more wordy then I thought it would be. Here’s a quick version, click below the cut for the long descriptive one. Saturday January 23rd 2010 times are approximate, towards the end of the labour times are fuzzy. 3:00AM- Kate wakes up feeling contractions! They are 5 min apart but only about 20-30 seconds long. 7:00AM- Scott wakes up and learns that Kate has been having contractions and doesn’t know quite what to think. 9:15AM- Scott & Kate drive to the pig barn. Scott goes in the barn and Kate breathes through her contractions in the truck . 11:30AM-… -
My love for the bachelor, continued.
1 Feb 2010 | 8:32 pmTonight was my favourite night of the week – Bachelor night! It’s definitely the only show that I won’t miss. Last year I lived with a group of girls that loved to watch it along with me, but now that I live with Kent it’s just as good because he loves it too. Maybe I shouldn’t be giving away secrets about his girly side (of which Bachelor is pretty much the extent) but I’m sure it helps that the show is full of gorgeous girls. And that I always make popcorn. If you check out my post from last year’s Bachelor you’ll see that I picked the…
-
LFar Blog
-
Feeling bad for feeling bad
2 Feb 2010 | 8:56 pmSometimes it's really tough not to dwell on the guilt of certain privileges.You know, like clicking the "make payment" button to send off 5K for tuition. Mostly I just want to groan about how much money that is, and how long it took to make it or, in more recent school terms, how long it's going to take me to pay back that loan. It pains me to part with that money! But then cry-me-a-river-Lisa comes in being all "oh poor you, you get to go to an incredibly good school to get a top notch education and you have the means to pay for it, and the ability to work for it, or a government that loans… -
Celebrity Doppelganger Week
31 Jan 2010 | 7:12 pmSo apparently its celebrity doppelganger week on facebook? Here comes a brief tour of celebrities I have been told I look like. The tour starts with baby Olsen twins. Back in the Full House days, I apparently looked very much like a baby Olsen. This is not news, since all babies look the same, pretty much? But me more so than usual, I guess. To be clear, the similarities ended after age 18 months.My little brother tells me repeatedly that I look like the girl in Nancy Drew. Sure, but not really. He sees it, though.At camp one summer, this magazine seemed to float around. There was just one… -
The future isn't for another few years
24 Jan 2010 | 8:30 pm“The textbook comes with a floppy disk,” said the professor. The class erupted in laughter. What an absurd statement, they seemed to think in unison. For of course, such a statement has not been accurate to say since half the student’s lives ago. Imagine a $200 textbook coming with a floppy disk! The poor professor had already lost the respect of his students. What an out of date man! Was the textbook also written on stone tablets? Please. The students then purchased the textbooks and saw that the professor was right. Their new $200 textbooks indeed came with a floppy disk. They… -
The Internet Loves Harder
20 Jan 2010 | 9:00 amYou may remember my blogfriend Brandy. Well, she is every blogger's blog friend! And so the internet got together and sung her a song. I cringe at my part, but everybody else is great! Here is the video: -
Oreo and the kittens
7 Jan 2010 | 8:15 pmA few months ago my family decided to take in a pregnant foster cat from our local animal shelter. They try to find homes, or at least temporary homes, for cats when they are pregnant so that the kittens will be handled a lot and have more freedom. We got a lovely cat named Oreo. That name is a bad choice, so I call her Ori. Ori is a skinny little cat. They think she's about one and a half years old. I think she's a beaut.Ori had four kittens, but one died when it was a day old. My mom woke up one morning to find the last born lying dead in the corner of the kitten box, so she put it in a…
-
Jurgen Nation . Com
-
In Memories, In Finality
5 Feb 2010 | 12:19 pmI struggled with my words, tripping and slamming into walls. “You know he loved you, right? And that in doing what he did the last thing he wanted was to hurt you?” She nodded yes, my youngest cousin with whom I’m closest, her lower eyelids barely preventing waterfalls of tears. I don’t know the right things to say. I’m struck by the disconcerting fact I cannot articulate anything I feel – everything is just a color, a feeling, a hybrid of the two, names of feelings for which the English language is woefully inadequate. I feel grey and red and cornflower… -
In Memories
1 Feb 2010 | 10:05 amHis lashes were so long, like a halo over his big, chocolate brown eyes. We spent so much time together as kids; one of my earliest memories is watching on as he punched his fists into his first birthday cake, his eyes widening to the size of dinner plates when he saw his cake obliterate, bits of sweet pieces flying to a splat on the kitchen linoleum. I was 5, maybe 6. I don’t know. My childhood remains behind a lock and key in the darkest recesses of my brain; tiny memories seep out occasionally like ghosts that float behind me but disappear when I whirl around to confront them. Jacob,… -
Numb
28 Jan 2010 | 10:27 amI’m still reeling from my cousin’ssuicide last week and the trip home for his funeral. I’m processing and not in a very great place, but I’m organizing my thoughts so I can write through them and hopefully pull myself up from this funk. I’ll be back this weekend. I hope you don’t stop reading because I’ve not posted in a bit. xoSimilar Posts: BlogHer Chicago: A Gang of Losers and Misfits* I Must’ve Had Fun, But Now I’m Broke. Denial Ain’t Just a Psychological Coping Mechanism… Monday, Monday, Monday! A six act play with a… -
7 Habits of Highly Ineffective, Unhappy People
14 Jan 2010 | 10:45 am1. Live in the past. Feel, down to each cell, every slight, every wrong, every moment of pain. Defy mathematics by adding yourself up by subtracting yourself – you are the sum of your past experiences, therefore you are Zero. Null. *ERROR* PC Load Letter. The big blue screen of death. Multiply your pain and each insecurity by powers of 10, and then divide it all up to last through your entire life, leaving no moment unscratched. 2. Judge people early and often. Choose books by their covers, wine by their labels and people by superficial means. A clean cut, well dressed man who attends… -
Annie Are You Okay? Are You Okay, Annie?
12 Jan 2010 | 10:43 amI feel like an old Annie the CPR Doll lately. My mouth is fixed open at half-moron, a shiny drop of drool in the corner of my mouth and my face and body are slack, yet weirdly rigid. Also I am dressed poorly. I don’t want to keep harping on how sick I am (SICK! I’m SICK! Look at me, I’m SICK!), but – wait for it – I’m sick. It strikes me that as much time as I spend hoping I’ll get sick, I am miserable when I suddenly become unwell. It always seems to happen when I’d be having the most fun were I robust and healthy. And indeed it is now, for I…
-
Generation Y Examiner: Sharalyn Hartwell
-
Gen Y Dating Disasters: The Blind Date Common Denominator
8 Feb 2010 | 1:55 pmWas the problem that it was a blind date, or was it who did the setting up? (Image: Ivan Petrov) Related articles Sense of humor: A man's secret weapon What does his hug mean? Friday Face-off: She says, is it okay to expect ... -
Gen Y Dating Disasters: Chivalry vs. common courtesy
5 Feb 2010 | 2:09 pmEven if you believe chivalry is dead, common courtesy definitely should not be, especially on a first date. (Image: Ivan Petrov) Related articles If you think something nice, you should say it Friday Face-off: She says, is it okay to... -
Gen Y Dating Disasters: Mutual Facebook friends
4 Feb 2010 | 1:35 pmMutual friends on Facebook might not be the best basis for a new relationship. It might stir up trouble. (Image: Ivan Petrov) Related articles Technology Dependency: Google-stalking before the first date Why are Mom and Dad on Face... -
Millennials not as healthy as they think
4 Feb 2010 | 8:09 amDespite unhealthy behavior patterns, 84 percent of Millennials think they are healthy. (Photo: stock.xchang) Related articles Cookie diet to combat Freshman 15? Get real Top 10 nugatory things we say Gen Y Gives Thanks: Not ... -
Gen Y Dating Disasters: Excited or overzealous?
2 Feb 2010 | 10:36 amWe all want a date to be excited to go out with us. But, one can certainly become too excited. (Image: Ivan Petrov) Related articles Friday Face-off: She says in dating, more isn't always better, sometimes it is just more The Faceboo...
-
dshan.me
-
Oh, Canada
8 Feb 2010 | 3:33 amI was beginning to doubt my odds of getting a work visa in Canada. My two week provisional visitor’s visa was almost up. I’d spent all week locking down my very digital and very public life, and reassuring most of my friends and family at home that I was not, in fact, totally insane. I felt as if the whole bureaucratic ineptitude of a nation had decided to throw a tea party at my expense. I was in Canada, but I wasn’t allowed to work…much less build a company from scratch. It was Friday, and I was cellbound come Monday. Quick decisions are a part of life, and as… -
I Finished My Commute
5 Feb 2010 | 8:40 amI flew to Vancouver on January 18th, and haven’t blogged since. I pushed out [two nine] to share music, and thank heavens because it’s been my primary means of connection these last two weeks. The flight to Vancouver is a long one…I still haven’t taken it direct from Chicago so it really amounts to about six or seven hours in the air. That’s two long naps or a short book, and thankfully it hasn’t meant a painfully long conversation with an overzealous stranger. When I arrived I was admittedly nervous. Looking back, some of the difficulties I’m… -
A New Music Hunting Project
26 Jan 2010 | 5:00 amI’m undoubtedly annoying a lot of the people who’re wondering what the heck is going on in my life lately by writing this post, but for a short big longer I’m going to sidestep that conversation to let everyone know that [twenty-nine] has a baby brother, and he’s called [Two Nine], another super duper way to share music with anyone who’s interested. What Was [twenty-nine]? If you’re unfamiliar with [twenty-nine], it was a project conceived of on my 29th birthday (last year) during the holidays, as I was frequently being asked about the tunes I had been… -
Love Harder
20 Jan 2010 | 9:28 amJust before I left to ‘visit’ Canada, I got wind of a little internet awesomeness that was going to happen right around my departure, and I couldn’t resist being a part of it. Check it out below. It’s really cool. I sing, people. I SING. … The quandry: We feel terrible. Just horrible. And oh so helpless… if only there was something we could DO for them. The answer: Ummmm. Did you forget that WE ARE THE INTERNET?!?!!??! And also, Yes We Can!!! The result: Brandy and your Hot Awesome Dude… this one’s for you. Love, The Internet. Our Plea Our friend… -
Magnificent People You Are
15 Jan 2010 | 4:31 pmThere’s a cool breeze rolling through Chicago tonight and I sit here thinking about leaving indefinitely. Whenever I sit and contemplate what it means to relocate I keep coming back to the idea that it’s impossible to know what it’s like until you do it. Relocating your life is going to be a very different experience depending on the point in your life in which you do it. Sure, if you moved last year and you’re moving again this year, there may be some continuity between the experiences. I’ve lived here for roughly seven years now. Before my five in…
-
The Incomprehensible Alaina
-
PSA: Women, Know Your Limits
8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 amAttention! This is a very serious Public Service Announcement.This is a good lesson for all us dear, sweet, fragile things. -
Comes in 24,000 installments
5 Feb 2010 | 12:00 amFound at Funny PromosThis takes "one step at a time" to a whole new level. -
Ring Ring I'm calling you!
3 Feb 2010 | 12:00 amI know lots of people that still have land phones, due to kids and combined billing and such.But... I continue to be amazed when people tell me that they don't have a cell phone.It's not that it's bad or wrong or anything, but in today's state of affairs, how does one keep pace without one? -
I try to be different
1 Feb 2010 | 12:00 amFound via Sad and UselessBut some people don't give a fig. -
Thinking about it
29 Jan 2010 | 9:54 amI'm thinking about posting some posts... Seriously. :-)
-
Gals' Guide
-
“How can I get motivated to go to the gym… especially in this cold?”
8 Feb 2010 | 6:36 amThe righteousness of new year's resolutions are fading and Mother Nature has ramped up the chill factor with no regard for our precarious grip on a regular exercise routine. We want to be fitter, but going anywhere in this weather—no matter the reason—can be a hard sell. Below I’ll share some of the tips and principles I’ve learnt along the way. I strongly believe these habit builders can be the difference between good intentions and real, lasting results. Start with a plan. Take a minute to jot down your fitness goals. Read the list back and memorize each goal. -
Homemade Smoothie Tip: Freeze Your Bananas
5 Feb 2010 | 7:07 amEvery major city has 'em - those uber cool smoothie shops. I haven't purchased a smoothie in quite some time. As a reminder, here is a past post I wrote on smoothie how-tos. As I sip yet another one of my concoctions, I wanted to remind you of a stealthy ingredient you can use instead of ice: bananas. I buy a heap load of bananas. I consumer some during the week, but I also freeze them. Instead of using ice for my smoothies, I use bananas! Simple tip I know, but oh so good! -
Career Advice: "If you have to cry, go outside."
2 Feb 2010 | 3:58 pmLast night I watched the premiere of Bravo's "Kell on Earth," which chronicles the realities of the business of fashion through Kelly Cutrone and her public relations agency People's Revolution. As I watched the show and how Kelly interacted with her staff and clients, I thought it was a fascinating look at a woman entrepreneur in a tough business environment. At one point, she tells her staff in a team meeting, "If you have to cry, go outside." While her statement came off as tough, I thought it was actually very good career advice. (There's also a new book out by Cutrone by the same… -
Protect Yourself, Facebook Style
26 Jan 2010 | 7:55 pmIf you're like me, you have a love/hate relationship with Facebook. I love that I'm connected to people from a variety of different areas of my life. I don't have to worry about catching up at high school reunions because Facebook has done most of the work for me. With the touch of a button, I can invite hundreds of people over for an 80's party and then post the pictures after. This, however, is where I start to hate Facebook. It's gotten too public. WAY too public - I'm friends with my parents, my godfather, friends of my parents, professors. I'm even friends with the dean of my graduate… -
The launch of Gals Guide’s new, interactive fitness column!
26 Jan 2010 | 5:24 amWritten by yours truly, I’ll provide simple, fad-free, easy to understand, no-nonsense answers to your most pressing fitness concerns. There will also be suggestions and tips on how to apply these answers in order to gain the maximum benefit from your exercise efforts. Reading this segment will help you optimize your fitness routine, learn effective training methods and even improve your overall quality of life… or at least provide a quick distraction from a busy day at work. YOUR fitness related questions will provide the subject matter for my weekly posts. Email me at…
-
fanfrickingtastic.wordpress.com
-
A new breed
12 Jan 2010 | 6:59 pmWhile roaming free in the wild, I came upon a relatively rare breed of boy – the monogamist. In theory, this should be every girl’s dream guy – the boy who wants to be your boyfriend, wants to introduce you to mom, and wants to stay in on a Saturday night curled up in your bed watching a movie. Throw in a large bouquet of wild flowers in your favorite colors and this guy is adding up to be perfect. Then on the fourth date he asks to be your boyfriend (I’m exaggerating, he actually asked if we could “update our facebook statuses” –… -
Facebook (and social media in general) are destructive to the soul
14 Aug 2009 | 10:03 amYou have to delete. Deleting ex-boyfriends/whatevers/etc. is the only way to save your precious little soul from being attacked by relentless, unexpected tidbits of information that storm into your consciousness through the “internets.” The bastards. For example, you’re having a perfectly happy Friday…like a really wonderful, sun-shiney, doing no work, happy Friday. It’s the kind of day, where worries aren’t something you can fathom and your most pressing concern is what kind of delicious treat you will have for lunch. It’s THAT kind of… -
Subject: You’re a Douchebag (DCD Trick of the Week)
4 Aug 2009 | 11:46 amDear DC Douchebag, Email subject lines are for the general subject of the email – they are NOT for the actual text of your email. For example, the following is a flagrant abuse of the subject line: Now, I know this doesn’t seem like such a terrible crime (and in the grand scheme of your DCD tricks – it’s pretty low). However, it’s a flag – a big red, DCD, waving flag that the recipient of said email is warned…they are walking in DCD territory – be alert. This email says several special things about you, my little DCD friend: You are lazy You… -
Living a douchbag-free existence requires constant vigilance…
2 Aug 2009 | 8:52 pm…much to my own detriment, I forgot this rule. More than a year ago, I met this guy and I was pretty sure I hated him. My DCD-senses were tingling something fierce, but I figured worst case scenario he would be good blogging material. He was. The only reason I even entertained his foolishness last year is because I was going through a “low” period, and he smelled blood in the water. Quickly having come to my senses, I have spent a solid year ignoring him. However, you know life comes in waves and the past few weeks have been crashing against the rocks. In a… -
Best blog post EVER
14 Apr 2009 | 9:13 pmhttp://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/13/i-hate-david-dellifield-the-one-from-ada-ohio/ Penelope Trunk is my new idol. Fab.u.lous.
-
This? Is Not the Life I Ordered!
-
I Have Moved
24 Jan 2010 | 11:53 amIf you have stopped by here expecting to see Ashley write at This? Is Not the Life I Ordered!, I am no longer here. Instead, I am writing here. Please update your readers! Posted in Uncategorized
-
Chelsea Talks Smack
-
Gwen Bell and feeding little monsters.
9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 amThe other day I got lost in a time warp reading back posts of Gwen Bell's blog. Gwen is fantastic, as I'm sure all you bloggers know; she's intelligent, creative, innovative and all those other things we strive for....plus, she lives in Colorado. I sat there thinking; Fuck. I need to do more with myself- then she mentioned using the word fuck only weakens your writing, and I thought; FUCK. I should quit and learn to like kids (?? I don't know, cause it seems like it'd add harmony to my life, and maybe I'd cuss less.) The whole time, all I was doing (other being utterly in awe of her… -
Life is delicious, like cupcakes....and chocolate martinis.
2 Feb 2010 | 2:00 pmIt's becoming increasingly harder for me to take the time to be a part of the blog world. Which, on an incredibly good note, means that I've been as busy as P.Diddy's umbrella carrier on a trip to Seattle. I've had a one-track mind lately which unfortunately excludes the Internet, friends, and eyebrow maintenance. REGULAR BLOG PROGRAMMING WILL CONTINUE SOON, I promise. And yes...I do plan on attending Bloggers in Sin City. Holler.It's just that lately, I've been out; living, creating, running a muck. And, taking RANDOM opportunities to feed my bohemian existence...The last 6 days I have been… -
Im not dead: The time Lady Gaga almost stole my boyfriend
24 Jan 2010 | 11:42 pmWow, 2 weeks away from the blogosphere- hope I didn't lose you all!?....I do have a good excuse, no really....I do. Two weeks ago my agent (from when I lived in Hollywood and was fancy) called me about an audition. He said in an agenty-we're-important-and-make-shit-happen way, "Can you send me your headshot, resume, video clips, mp3's and an mp3 of you singing a Lady Gaga song......"...naturally, seeing where he was headed with this, I internally popped a hypothetical bottle of champagne for how awesome my life was about to get, I said, "Is this for her tour?......"Awesome Agent, "YES. She's… -
I'm fucked up AND AWESOME for a reason people
11 Jan 2010 | 1:44 amWhen I was a toddler my Great Grandma gave me a pin cushion and a Pope doll with a change of robes to play with. I undressed that Pope like he was my Barbie going to a ball in a hot pink convertible and I organized that pin cushion until that shit was color coded and neatly clustered...never thinking twice that those pins could make me bleed and that the Pope should have been "untouchable."These were my favorite toys. Thinking back, I wonder if my chances of "getting into heaven" have been diminished after seeing the Pope naked and wondering where his package was. They don't make Pope dolls… -
Maybe I had too much whiskey.....
7 Jan 2010 | 12:15 amEveryone has an Elvis story. And they'll always preface it with BPB&J, or APB&J (before and after he found peanut butter) Don't believe me? Ask you Mother, or better yet- your Grandma. Elvis gave everyone a piece of jewelry or a Cadillac at some point.....or maybe that's just my family and maybe they're all liars. Either way, I know this is true because My Love and I just spent four hours drinking whiskey, smoking Carlton 100's and eating Chinese takeout with my grandparents while we talked stories. Serious, serious stories. Elvis, Fats Domino, gambling and The Mob all made…
-
Apparently
-
Inscincere Melody
17 Jan 2010 | 3:47 pmMy stomach hurts like I’ve had too much coffee because, probably, I’ve have had too much coffee. January is a cold month, says Captain Obvious, but it’s never quiet. January’s upbeat melodies ring a bit insincere, the body aches for a silence wrapped in the back of eyelids. Silence sounds like warm sheets and mounds of pillows and the tiptoe blue of dawn through frosted windows. It must be actively stolen from January, from the guileless month of alarms and phone calls and buzzers and noise makers and of course (of course) the subtle, omnipresent warfare of domestic life, all root… -
freezing
11 Jan 2010 | 8:10 pmI’m like a hothouse flower, all dried and bitter cold withered lips pale and peeling. Planted in flickering pools of cool light, I’ve grown to appreciate the frozen windows and frost covered locks. Sometimes the only way to bloom is to force it, but suspended under glass under snow it hardly seems worth the effort. -
13 moons
31 Dec 2009 | 6:06 amI painted my nails dark blue and then covered them in sparkles because you know what? It’s a blue moon today… oh, yeah, and my birthday. And I hear there may be an eclipse somewhere in the world but I don’t think I can see it so I don’t especially care. You hear that, bitches? Christmas is over, so over, and now, now it is time to drink champagne and wear obnoxious hats covered in glitter and shoot off fireworks and merry make and toasts to me, (I’m turning 25 for the second or third time). -
the cool side of the pillow
8 Dec 2009 | 11:05 pmI wish I could photo people from above while they are sleeping. I think it would reveal something about them, about all of us. The sheet-hoggers, the teeth-grinders, the jaw clenchers- it all comes out in our sleep. To capture the basic letters of love we write with our bodies, all the Ls and Ss and Xs and Os, the alphabets of space and blankets, of tosses and turns and dogs not quite at the foot and kids tucked under arms and socks everywhere. -
condensation
3 Dec 2009 | 9:57 amI had some reason for opening this word document, some line I wanted to pick up and hold, some ripple I wanted to name, and follow. but I can’t remember it now… haven’t written anything for myself in awhile now, been storing up the words hoping to fill the damn of my academic life… but words, like water, are hard to contain; they find the cracks, leak through the barriers like so much condensation. I’ve had some damn good lines flow through my head, I try to capture a few drops, a few molecules but they fall through my fingers and I don’t bother to try and stop it…
-
Rhi in Pink
-
Wedding Miscellany
4 Feb 2010 | 6:09 amI logged into TheKnot.com this morning because I like to feel inadequate and stressed out. It told me that I have 161 to-dos and 205 days until my wedding. How many to-dos have I completed? ONLY TWENTY-EIGHT. So…here’s what’s going on: Engagement Photos: DONE and DONE! We had so much fun running around Portland on a beautiful day with our fab photographers Ashley and Aaron. I couldn’t be more thrilled with how they turned out. Dress: You may recall that I am a terrible daughter and instead of allowing my mother to go wedding dress shopping with me, I instead went dress… -
Friday Bullets: CHEESE! Edition
22 Jan 2010 | 6:58 amWedding talk shall be kept to a minimum in this post, because quite frankly, I’m sick of talking about it. I’ll be answering no more wedding related emails/texts/phone calls for the duration. I’m burnt out and I can’t take a break from work, so I’ll just have to take a break from the other huge cause of stress in my life. With that said, our engagement photos are tomorrow and I have nothing to wear. I am wearing my J.Brand jeans and my Hunter Wellies (if it rains) and that’s all I have planned. Please send suggestions. Keep in mind that I have to be able to… -
My Wedding, My Rules
19 Jan 2010 | 7:34 amApparently, the most asshole thing a bride and groom can do is not invite children to their wedding. So, I’ll just go ahead and put it out there…we’re not inviting children to our wedding. I do not feel bad about this, I’m not sorry about it, and quite frankly, I shouldn’t even have to justify it. This includes infants and toddlers, because, well, it’s my wedding and I say so. This does not include the children in our wedding, which include my two nieces (flower girls) and my step-nephew (ring bearer), also my best friend’s children who will be doing… -
Friday Bullets: I’m on a Boat Edition
15 Jan 2010 | 7:06 amFriday Bullets are returning. You’re welcome. I know delurking day was yesterday, but will do me a favor and delurk today? I was very, very busy yesterday and couldn’t post. I promise to come visit your blog if you do. (generous, I know) I’d like to be excited about my 3-day weekend, but I have to work tomorrow, so I’m bitter. The work in question is manning womanning a booth at the Portland Boat Show. Where I’ve so far spent two days trying to refrain from hopping on a mini-yacht and singing this. And, because I apparently can’t get enough of fluorescent… -
Toxic
5 Jan 2010 | 9:10 amI’ll admit it. I’m not the easiest of people to get along with. I’m kind of abrasive. I say whatever pops into my head. I’m not tolerant of much. I have many opinions, including many unpopular ones. But, I don’t hesitate to share them. But, if I’ve not totally offended you after that, I’m a very good friend. I listen and I give honest advice. I’m generous (sometimes too much so) and I’ll drop anything to help a friend. Unfortunately, I’m at a point in my life that my free time is extremely limited. I’m away from the house…
-
"20SB-Awards" via 01203887482075235036 in Google Reader
-
Clothes woes
8 Feb 2010 | 7:02 pmSince we found out we’re having a boy, people have bee spoiling him already left and right. We’re well on our way to a substantial little boy wardrobe, especially from my mom, and lately a little from Michael’s mom as well. On Sunday, my mother-in-law surprised me with not only a gift for my son, but a gift for me as well, in the form of clothes. I was a little apprehensive when I opened the bag, because clothes are such a personal thing. I usually don’t buy clothes for people unless I know for a fact they either wanted it, or would really, really like it. I’ve had some success… -
hibernation mode
8 Feb 2010 | 3:26 pmEvery year come November, I start dreading the winter. When February hits, I wonder why in the world am I still living in Chicago. That’s where I am at right now. I’m dreaming of California. Even by late March birthday? Still a chance for snow. Come May, we should be all clear. Then summer hits and I fall in love with my city all over and decide I never want to leave. Until winter hits again. Repeat. Year. After. Year. Right now I’m in full on hibernation mode. I hate leaving the house unless I absolutely have to because it’s way too cold to want to do anything. I’d much rather sit… -
Cooking with Molly (and Ina)
8 Feb 2010 | 8:15 amIt’s suggested that while pregnant, you avoid lunch meat in case it’s carrying Listeria — a type of bacteria that can cause problems in pregnancy. If you really, really want a lunch meat sandwich, it’s said that you can heat the meat through to kill the bacteria. I’ve never been a huge lunch meat person (and the idea of microwaving the meat kind of skeeved me out), so giving it up for nine months wasn’t a big deal. Until all of the sudden, I wanted a roast beef sandwich. Like, right now. It became all I could think about. All consuming. Who was this woman lusting over a… -
don’t lose it
7 Feb 2010 | 1:13 pm -
On BSG, Michael Bolton & a little team called the COLTS
7 Feb 2010 | 11:34 amOne of the best reasons to have a blog (other than the free swag- I’m STILL WAITING FOR GAP TO START THROWING PARTIES FOR CANADIAN BLOGGERS- I’M JUST SAYING), is that it’s easy to see what you were doing one week ago, or one month ago or one year ago. You can simply just click in the archives and you will find your past feelings and thoughts and anecdotes perfectly preserved. You can hit a particular month and find out what was breaking your heart, how drunk you got on cheap wine at your friends party, what social causes were causing you to lose sleep. A blog is like a time capsule that…
-
GenPink
-
25 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Sunday
17 Jan 2010 | 9:48 amIn the fast paced world that is microblogging and social media there are numerous blog posts, articles and various links posted every minute. There are a multitude sites you can browse most popular links shared, but even then the chance of catching all of the great content is pretty unlikely. I was lucky yesterday to see a link to a blog post written in July 2008 that absolutely inspired me. The blog is Marc and Angel Hack Life and the post is 20 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Sunday. I have 20 questions for you. These questions should be reviewed every Sunday morning or sometime… -
Proud as a Peacock
12 Jan 2010 | 8:59 pmProud as a peacock … Those are the words that my mother sent back to me in an email this afternoon when I asked her to check out the blog post my boss had written about me. Yes, I did say my boss blogs… she blogs a lot actually. I could tell you about my boss or I could just tell you that she blogs under the domain imstartingashitstorm.com – no I’m not kidding. Anyway, this has been an exciting few months for me and I haven’t taken the time to blog about all my fun news, and it looks like I don’t have to because Lisa was bragging about me on her blog this… -
Best of 2009: You Tell Me
8 Jan 2010 | 9:25 amI’ve seen numerous Best Ofs lists floating around. It’s kind of a tradition for a new year. Unfortunately usually these Best Ofs are very self promotery. So I wanna play it different. Share a few Best Of from 2009 that are not yours (and maybe 1 that is in the spirit of being good at self promotion in small doses.) I’ll share my faves soon. I’m thinkin’ categories to include: blog post, photos, twitter lists, all around blog. Have any additional ideas? *feel free to steal this for your blog – as long as you link back * -
A love story with few words
23 Dec 2009 | 8:05 amThe following video is #2 on Mashable’s 10 Most Innovative Viral Video Ads of 2009. The description on Youtube says “A simple short film about communication.” If I had to use one word to describe this video it would be captivating. -
TeuxDeux: a simple, designy, to-do app
16 Dec 2009 | 3:57 pmFor all my list loving friends … TeuxDeux Demo from TeuxDeux on Vimeo. How do you manage your to-dos? Thinking about, or already signed up for TeuxDeux?
-
Half Deserted Streets
-
Book Review: I Don't Care About Your Band
5 Feb 2010 | 6:40 pmI Don't Care About Your Band: What I Learned from Indie Rockers, Trust Funders, Pornographers, Felons, Faux-Sensitive Hipsters, and Other Guys I've DatedBy Julie KlausnerGotham TradePublication date: February 2, 2010ISBN: 9781592405619Today I bring you a very special GUEST book review from none other than...Samir! That's right, Samir is reviewing Ms. Klausner's newest book that discusses the many guys she's dated. I swear he's not gay - he just likes salacious gossip and comedians. I will say one thing - after hearing him laugh so much while reading, I'm excited to read the book… -
Book Review: Whirligig
31 Jan 2010 | 1:59 pmWhirligigBy Paul FleischmanLaurel Leaf (Random House)Publication date: November 9, 1999ISBN: 9780440228356Every September 21, Pinwheels for Peace spreads the word of, well, peace by asking people around the world to plant a simple pinwheel. It's a neat idea, really, one that I did with my students back when I was teaching. I asked them each to create their own paper pinwheels during class. The next day we went downstairs and planted those pinwheels for the entire school to see. I expected some to mock the idea, think it stupid and immature (which, yes, some did), but I didn't expect them to… -
Escape
30 Jan 2010 | 7:35 pmFor the longest time I had this desire for escape. I still do, every now and then. I have that vision of me driving, missing the turn off the interstate on my way to work. Keep driving, don't look back. Start a new life somewhere else; live paycheck to paycheck. See the world. Focus on travel and experience, not money and sufficiencies. Escapism at its best. But I never do. I can't. Strings hold me back, tying me in place. The other day my grandmother was admitted to the hospital. We didn't think it was serious; we actually thought she was overreacting. After numerous tests, we were proven… -
Book Review: You're a Genius All The Time: Belief and Technique for Modern Prose
25 Jan 2010 | 6:35 pmYou're a Genius All the Time: Belief and Technique for Modern ProseBy Jack KerouacChronicle BooksPublication date: September 9, 2009ISBN: 9780811870269A bit ago I mentioned loving Kerouac's rules of writing. Well, the people at Chronicle heard my praise and finally published his rules, as well as his Essentials of Spontaneous Prose. (At least I like to think it's because of me that they did it.) Although both of Kerouac's writing articles can be found online, I'm quite happy that I have this collection. Plus, when has something being online stopped people from buying books in the past? The… -
Book Review: Paper Towns
24 Jan 2010 | 11:28 amPaper TownsBy John GreenDutton BooksPublication Date: October 6, 2008ISBN: 9780525478188Ever since he was a child, Q was enamored with Margo Roth Spiegelman. She wasn't just a person, she was a presence, someone who warranted being known by their full name. Now, on the cusp of graduating high school and fully aware he'll never be more than a neighbor to her, he's ready to move on and go to college. That is, until she shows up at his window one night dressed as a ninja, and climbs back into his life. After a night of adventure, whereupon she inflicts an incredibly amount of revenge on some…
-
Young Upstarts
-
Om Republic – Apparel That Makes You Go Ommm…
8 Feb 2010 | 6:51 pmOm Republic's stylish and functional activewear employs eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton. What do investment bankers do when they are retrenched from their jobs in the financial crisis? They can sit, complain and suck their thumbs. Or they can be like Singaporean Min Sim, who chose to start her own business – in exactly what she enjoyed doing. Inspiration Min Sim loved yoga. An avid student of classical Chinese dance in her growing years, she was immediately hooked when she first tried yoga after college. It was a natural transition from dance, she found, and a welcome… -
BT, SPRING And IE Announces New Magazine for SMEs
8 Feb 2010 | 3:01 amIt’s been announced that a new magazine that focuses on the needs of Singapore’s small and medium-sized businesses will be hitting the streets, and which is touted as a “must-read” for business leaders seeking to operate more effectively in new markets. A collaboration between The Business Times, SPRING Singapore and IE Singapore (which pretty much means that the two agencies will underwrite part, if not most, of its cost), the imaginatively titled The SME Magazine will provide “news, stories and information to help Singapore’s homegrown companies grow,… -
AskGerber.com – Entrepreneur Magazine Columnist Wants Your Stories
5 Feb 2010 | 5:32 pmFind out how you and your business can be featured in Scott Gerber’s new book, Never Get A Real Job at AskGerber.com. In Never Get A Real Job, Gerber challenges the social conventions behind the real job and empowers entrepreneurs to take control of their lives, fears and careers. Drawing upon case studies, experiences and observations, the author dissects failures, shares hard-learned lessons and presents practical, affordable and systematic action steps to building, managing and marketing a successful business. The methodology presented in Never Get A Real Job looks at teaching… -
6 Steps To The Perfect Pitch
3 Feb 2010 | 6:12 pmScott Gerber is Entrepreneur Magazine's Young Entrepreneur columnist, CEO of Gerber Enterprises and founder of AskGerber.com. Shortly after my college graduation, a few friends and I started a new media company. Within a few weeks we fleshed out the concept, wrote a business plan and set out to seek financing. With a little hustle, I managed to get us a meeting with a well-known investment firm to discuss the opportunity. Even though our business had yet to bring in a single dollar, and none of us had ever been the CEO of coffee shop let alone a multi-million dollar enterprise, we were… -
What Can You Do With 24 Hours?
31 Jan 2010 | 6:27 pmParticipating teams at the Startup@Singapore 24-Hour Business Challenge. A lot, apparently. You can come up with a business plan. That’s what over 40 teams of 2-4 members each did, when they participated in Startup@Singapore’s first-ever 24-hour Business Plan Challenge last weekend at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School. The teams were tasked to develop, from scratch, a business plan for an idea in three identified industries – the silver industry (the elderly market, not the precious metal), social entrepreneurship and interactive digital media. At…
-
the cassinator
-
it’s all an illluuusssion
4 Feb 2010 | 9:16 amSitting in the lovely Java Joint working on a computer that has always had the wrong time. I know this. Came to the library and printed class handouts on a computer. Thought the time was wrong on this one too. 10.47am! That must mean it’s 11.47am! I have my oral history interview at noon! [...] -
b.a.d.a.s.s. = biking all dangerous as slushy snow
2 Feb 2010 | 12:52 amha. lame. yet true. badassery. i’m watching it snow outside and greatly looking forward to the ride in the snow in the morn. sans winter tire technique: when I hit a patch of ice I just keep on pedaling. which is pretty easy on a fixed gear. -
lapcat
26 Jan 2010 | 12:15 amcatboard on my lap. we call her Cat Woman. Shouts outside. It reminds me of the wild things in the awesome movie I just watched with Heather and Blue, well, actually with Heather and Blue’s snoring. her claws are in my arm. but she’s keeping my lap warm. Much like a laptop. Oh wait, those shouts are from [...] -
the end is here.
10 Aug 2009 | 10:22 pmhot damn. it’s the end of summer. packing up my stuff and driiiivvvving the ninety miles to Beloit in the am. i’m excited for it–FALL 2009. it’s going to be filled with starting crazy new shit and learning about education [and then knowing that i'm going to do everything the opposite of what i've learned [...] -
Light as a feather
25 Jan 2009 | 11:51 pmDinner out with my yoga friends, Elizabeth and Catherine, was the perfect way to begin my summer. We went to a wonderful Thai restaurant on University Ave (Siam Royal, I believe). The owner knows both Elizabeth and Catherine since they both frequent the restaurant often; I always love places that you have some connection to-not [...]
-
Schaefer's Blog
-
C.S. Lewis on Equality
9 Feb 2010 | 7:30 amMany know C.S. Lewis for his Chronicles of Narnia series or Mere Christianity, but few realize how much he discussed things like freedom and democracy. From his book, Present Concerns, Lewis wrote an essay concerning equality. The following is a segment from that essay that I came across via The Beacon blog: A great deal of democratic enthusiasm descends from the ideas of people like Rousseau, who believed in democracy because they thought mankind so wise and good that everyone deserved a share in the government. The danger of defending democracy on those grounds is that they’re not true. -
Friday Video: Do Schools Kill Creativity?
4 Feb 2010 | 10:56 pmA presentation I’ve come back to many times over the past year – a brilliant call by Sir Ken Robinson to rethink our education system and how it is currently set up to kill, rather than nurture creativity. Enjoy! Related posts:Friday Video: Nose-High C-17 Takeoff Haven’t done a Friday video in a while, so here... Friday Video: The Limits of Power – Andrew Bacevich Retired Army Colonel Andrew Bacevich, a West Point Graduate who... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. -
London, Not Central Asia the Real Terrorist Threat
4 Feb 2010 | 8:24 amFrom Foreign Policy’s Reality Check, Last month, an official told the Daily Telegraph that their country “has the greatest concentration of active al Qaeda supporters [in the West],” posing a threat to Britain and “the rest of the world.” The same article cited a fresh and ominous finding from the director of MI5. He estimated his service was aware of some 2,000 “radicalized Muslims” who might be involved in terrorist plots. That figure, of course, doesn’t include the population of plotters who have escaped MI5 scrutiny, like Abdulmutallab. As… -
Friday Video: Jeff Rubin on the End of Cheap Oil
28 Jan 2010 | 8:00 pmEconomist Jeff Rubin discusses the future of oil (peak oil) in an entertaining way that doesn’t take a PhD to understand. If you are a regular reader of Schaefer’s Blog this is a must-watch, even if you just watch the first 10 minutes. Basically, Rubin lays out a convincing argument why triple digit oil, translating to $6-$7 per gallon at the pump is all, but inevitable and will probably come sooner than we think. HT to Paul Kedrosky for this find. No related posts. Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. -
Lessons in Unsustainable Futures: GM and the DoD
27 Jan 2010 | 4:00 amIn a recent Washington Independent article, Spencer Ackerman asked the all-important, but seldom asked question, “Why Should Defense Spending Be Sacrosanct?” It’s not popular to ask this question, especially if you’re a congressman because in doing so you’re bound to be labeled as not supportive of the troops. However, the present course of the DOD is completely unsustainable. And in our current economic state ($12 trillion in debt and counting) I, like Ackerman and others, find it odd that there has been no serious talk of freezing the gargantuan DoD budget.
-
The Typing Makes Me Sound Busy
-
A Flat Chest & A Fake ID
5 Feb 2010 | 9:31 amAs for the Super Bowl, let's ignore the teams and look at the cities they're representing in Miami. I've never had the pleasure of visiting Indianapolis, but I've heard that it's the prettiest shade of grey. I have introduced myself to New Orleans on a couple of occasions and regardless of how bright eyed and well-rested I am when I get there, I always leave looking like a less hepatitis-y Amy Winehouse. When I was in college, some friends and I made an obligatory Mardi Gras trip, where we learned about the rich traditions of the Lenten season, the jazz-infused history of the French Quarter… -
A Word From Our Sponsors
3 Feb 2010 | 7:03 pm1) I'm not sure how or why I ended up wedged between the sofa cushions like an errant Cheez-It long enough to watch CBS's Best Super Bowl Commercials of the Decade. For an excruciatingly long hour, host Jim Nantz tried his best to look lifelike as he introduced several CareerBuilder.com and Pedigree mealtime ads I'd forgotten about forgetting about. Halfway through the program, I started to feel sorry for the regular commercials that were stacked in the breaks between the hand-picked Best spots; every cheese-drenched Hardee's Thickburger or oddly-belted TJMaxx monstrosity just looked more… -
The Bob Seger Song Title Goes Here
1 Feb 2010 | 7:40 pmI'm a month into training for my own twenty-six (point two) mile crampfest -- Nashville's Country Music Marathon -- and I'm increasingly apprehensive as I cross each day off the calendar. Distance running isn't exactly a good time, since it often leads to blisters the size of Schnauzers or the kind of chafing that feels like you've gotten to second base with a belt sander.It will be my fourth marathon and I'm still not sure why I'm putting myself through another Costco-sized serving of agony. Maybe I enjoy the sense of accomplishment that lingers long after the post-race ice bath. Or maybe I… -
Daily Double
19 Jan 2010 | 12:23 pmI spent a solid chunk of the weekend with my face buried in Douglas Coupland's Microserfs, a book that I snagged from the $3.99 post-Christmas clearance table at Borders. It's about a group of coders who abandon Microsoft for the greener, Lego-encrusted pastures of Palo Alto and their own startup company. It has aged remarkably well for a three-hundred pager that takes place at the dawn of the internet age and there's a voyeuristic part of me that enjoys anything written in Diary Style, except for Samuel Pepys because his journals are borderline-educational and rarely involve references to… -
Christmas. With a Bullet.
8 Jan 2010 | 11:50 amSo Epiphany was this week, which is historically the day when people remove their Christmas decorations unless they're unspeakably lazy or unspeakably Southern. Where I live it's not uncommon to turn off the main road in the middle of the summer, your tires crunching on gravel as you notice a hard plastic baby Jesus sleeping peacefully beside a lawn chair and a box of Black Cat fireworks. I spent Wednesday afternoon removing the lights from my living room windows, chugging the remaining holiday-themed cans of Diet Coke and wondering whether poinsettias were recyclable. The fact that I…
-
...and hijinks ensued.
-
Spinning around to reach full circle
24 Jan 2010 | 10:20 amCall it coming full circle or something. I opened up my computer, deciding again to write. I then looked at that plane shaped icon on the monitor in front of me, to find I am once again hovering over Lake Michigan, 37,000 feet this time. And Wild World started playing in my ears once again. And my head is all muddled. Perhaps I expected these trips to help resolve all this uncertainty, this stomach tightening ambiguity that makes what used to be statements suddenly become punctuated with huge bold question marks. But there was no real epiphany. None of those movie-perfect revelations in it… -
Love harder
20 Jan 2010 | 6:44 pmOur plea:Our friend Brandy is a brilliant writer, a wonderful teacher, and a generous friend. And she is in love with a man who has just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.We are raising money for the Multiple Myeloma Research Fund in his name. For the price of a cinnamon dolce latte, half-caf, hold the whip, you can be part of an effort to cure a disease that affects approximately 750,000 people worldwide.http://www.loveharder.orgEvery dollar brings us a dollar closer to a cure. And every donation brings a sliver of hope to a girl who needs all the hope she can get.Love Harder,Princess… -
32,000 feet over Lake Michigan
12 Jan 2010 | 8:07 pmIt’s an odd thing when flying becomes so routine that the fact that you are hovering 32,000 feet over Lake Michigan isn’t the slightest bit daunting. It seems perfectly natural to be suspended in space, eating complementary Bits and Bites and watching your vessel’s progress via an airplane shapes icon in front of you on a 5 inch by 5 inch screen. Until I graduated from high school, I had only taken a single round trip on an airplane at the age of 6. At 17, I took my second such trip, and spent the entire voyage in awe, nose pressed against the glass, marveling at the consistency of the… -
Little sister
11 Jan 2010 | 10:34 amMy little sister is getting married. True to her, it is happening in cyclone-like fashion. Move in after 2 months, engaged at a year, marrying 6 months after that. If it was anyone but her, I may be out of breath, especially in comparison to what may seem like my slow-and-steady tortoise like pace through similar choices. But, over the past year or so, I've had to come to accept that this is just who she is, how she operates, even if it seems foreign to me. The main thing is that she is happy-- which she is.I sometimes think that the differences between my sister and I were somehow created by… -
Quote of the day- New Years Eve edition
4 Jan 2010 | 12:36 am"Celine Dion is basically the White Canadian Puff Daddy."(I leave it to all of you to brainstorm the similarities. Alcohol may help the process along. And, please, spare me the update on Puffy's latest name.)
-
Because It's Better Out Than In
-
Half of a Whole
27 Jan 2010 | 3:17 amI am half way through my mothers whole life time. A few months ago it was her 33rd wedding anniversary, her husbands 58th birthday, Christmas, and the turn of the decade. January has seen her 57th birthday, a birth of a niece and my 28th birthday pass. Our first life events with that notable omission that I referred to in the eulogy are starting to becoming reality. I finally sent letter of thanks to all those friends and family of Mum who sent kind words of support at the time of her passing. Perhaps the most thoughtful note we received was only some weeks ago from a girl that went to the… -
Things Girls Say
19 Jan 2010 | 2:01 amA recent conversation between some girlfriends and I… “Getting flowers at work is the best” “I know. Flowers at home don’t count. No-one is there to see them” “When you see flowers get delivered there’s always that small glimmer of anticipation that you hope they are for you” “I know” “I want to be the girl on the bus with a big box of flowers” “I want to be the girl on the bus with a box of flowers so big that she can’t get on the bus” “Yeah. Someone must really love that girl”… -
2009 Wrap Up
17 Jan 2010 | 12:47 amSeen over at Hope Dies Last a few weeks ago, I finally kicked my bottom into gear and filled out my own: 1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Went to a funeral – and it was my Mum’s. 2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions and will you make more for next year? I don’t do resolutions. You can change anything you want to at any time of year. 3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, a few friends of mine. 4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes, my Mummy. 5. What countries did you visit? None. 6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? My… -
For My Mum
30 Dec 2009 | 12:54 amExactly 18 weeks ago I stood before a church and gave this eulogy. I never thought I would enter the new decade without my mum. I stand proudly before you today to honour a beloved wife, a special sister, a wonderful friend, a doting Grandma and our Mum. It is with overwhelming sadness and despair that I deliver this eulogy this morning, I cannot help but to feel its delivery is tens of years too soon. However, I can only hope that I can provide some sort of calm and comfort, as we unite in our memories of our very special lady today. Preparing the words to deliver to you today was more… -
21st Century Break Ups
29 Dec 2009 | 3:38 amI wish I was single in the 80s. Because my breaks ups wouldn’t have to endure the stalker-by-technology-stage that we inevitably are tempted by. How good would it be not to have the temptation not to drunk dial, text in bed, search on facebook, check his friend lists for new girls and see photos uploaded by mutual friends. I’ve blocked my ex 3 times in the same number of weeks. I’ve also unblocked him an equal number of times. And I don’t even have an iPhone. So easy just to send that email. Impulse is my nemesis. And if you have their email password, well,…
-
It's like I'm... mmmagic!
-
On BSG, Michael Bolton & a little team called the COLTS
7 Feb 2010 | 11:34 amOne of the best reasons to have a blog (other than the free swag- I’m STILL WAITING FOR GAP TO START THROWING PARTIES FOR CANADIAN BLOGGERS- I’M JUST SAYING), is that it’s easy to see what you were doing one week ago, or one month ago or one year ago. You can simply just click in the archives and you will find your past feelings and thoughts and anecdotes perfectly preserved. You can hit a particular month and find out what was breaking your heart, how drunk you got on cheap wine at your friends party, what social causes were causing you to lose sleep. A blog is like a time… -
“If the photocopier is jammed, I’m the asshole who just walks away and waits for someone else to fix it. Every time”
27 Jan 2010 | 6:57 pmIt’s The Secret Project Day! Yes, I know. Secret Project day is usually Monday and then this past Monday I said I would post the new secrets on Tuesday but people? I started teaching a new unit in Science and it’s kicking my ass all over town. The unit: Buildings and Materials. The scene: Each day it’s me and 18 eight year olds. Building things like gumdrop bridges and chocolate skyscrapers (okay the first one is true, the second one is only a dream, oh but what a dream it is). Sounds fun, doesn’t? Add in 4 kids who have NO self control (as in, “*weeeeee I just… -
“Everything seems impossible until it gets done”
24 Jan 2010 | 7:10 pmThat’s one of my favourite quotes. It’s one that’s been ringing in my head since last Wednesday when the internet ROCKED MY WORLD and showed me just how much people care. And how much people can do. Because internet? You are getting it done. You really are on fire right now. Not “what’s that smell?” sort of fire, but “Whoooo! LOOK AT US GO!” sort of fire. As of today, YOU have raised over $3,000 for multiple myeloma research. THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS. Cue confetti! Not only that, the loveharder shop is selling stuff at a rapid pace and the… -
Thank you
20 Jan 2010 | 8:41 pmAwhile ago there was a lot of talk about bloggers and cliques and 20somethings. I remember feeling frustrated that I couldn’t clearly express how I felt- how I still feel. Blogging is not a clique. It’s not a club of people who select members based on anything other than the fact that they have a blog. It’s not about living in the same city, liking the same music, swearing to the same faith, having the same job, sharing the same dreams. It’s not any of those things. It’s about having the courage to sit down and type out your thoughts- to be brave enough to hit… -
Tell Me I’m Normal
18 Jan 2010 | 5:50 pm1. When I go to Starbucks, I become irrationally worried that I’m going to forget my order. I will spend the entire time stuck in the drive thru saying my order on repeat. But attempting to say it casually as well, so I don’t come off as a *robot. (Because yes, that’s a serious concern I have- people mistaking me for a robot). “Venti, non-fat, no whip, white hot chocolate, Venti, non-fat, no whip, white hot chocolate. Why yes, it IS cold out today. Oh you like my hair? Thank you! What would I like? Oh that’s easy, Venti, non-fat, no whip, white hot…
-
i hate so much...
-
unsolved mysteries
9 Feb 2010 | 7:13 amdoes adidas (the shoe company) know that it’s initials spell out “all day i dream about sex”? Did they pick that name because of that? because if so they are WAY COOL in my book right now. still doesn’t excuse wearing trackpants to work though. or to a bar (MATT) how do hookers rent hotel rooms? What if they have an appointment at, say, 12 noon. that’s right in the middle of the changeover of customers. And I’ve learned from TV that they don’t just stay in skeezy hotels that charge by the hour. Do the customers just pay for both days? THIS IS… -
how to survive a weekend trapped in your house.
8 Feb 2010 | 6:00 amalternately titled: i am a fucking genius. I am about to ROCK YOUR WORLD. Remember the days when you could chug boxed wine with the best of them and not care about what it tasted like? Oh, you never chugged boxed wine? THEN WE ARE NOT FRIENDS. The only other acceptable answer is that you are STILL chugging boxed wine, and in that case we should probaby get married asap. Sorry, LiLu. you know i’m into polygamy. and bestiality. nevermind, that’s neither here nor there. Do you like the the raspberry deliciousness that is the miracle drug emergen-c? It cures everything! common cold,… -
getting ready for snokkake*
5 Feb 2010 | 7:46 amSo the DC happy hour has been postponed. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I know, I know. There’s not much that can keep me from alcohol, but since I still don’t own a pair of snow boots it’s probably better that I just stay in my apartment lair for the weekend. I have about a month’s worth of frozen food, so if things get really bad I’m good to go. Party at my place? Happy Hour is rescheduled for February 19th. Same time (6pm). Same place (Vapiano in Dupont). Same plan (you buying me tequila shots. me getting wasted) Be there or be sober. now excuse me while i go to the… -
Boom Boom Pow
4 Feb 2010 | 7:06 amI’ve had the same car since I was 16. 2000 Ford Escort zx2. BALLER, I know. As you can imagine, bare ass has touched just about every surface possible. Actually that’s kind of disgusting. Anyway. When I got the car it it seemed pretty pimpin’. And it’s a 5-speed so it is drives just like a race car, as you can imagine. Back then, my friends and I would drive around town blaring music like akinyele’s “put it in my mouth” or nas’ “oochy wallie” as loud as the volume would go. Within a few months of having the car I’d totally… -
Would You Wednesday
3 Feb 2010 | 7:28 amLittle bit of of a change up today. Would you Wednesday instead of a WYR. Pick the person you’d have sex with if you could do it with anyone in the whole world- guilt free, no consequences, no one would ever find out (unless you wanted them to). Got them in mind? Okay, good. The scenario: You get to have sex with them, but there are a few conditions. It has to be a part of a threesome. You have to have sex with the other person too. The other person is not at all attractive. They are of the opposite gender than what you normally prefer. Would you do it? I would. For Channing…
-
Business & Money
-
Toyota halts US sales of Camry, 7 other models
7 Feb 2010 | 7:31 pmWASHINGTON Toyota suspended U.S. sales of some of its most popular vehicles including the best-selling car in America, the Camry to fix sticking gas pedals that could make the cars accelerate without warning. In another blow to the world’s No. 1 automaker, Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it would halt some production at [...] -
After Brown victory, Obama struggles to control message
1 Feb 2010 | 7:26 pmWith the president’s State of the Union address coming up on Wednesday, the White House appears to be struggling to find its feet. Republican Scott Brown’s surprise victory in liberal Massachusetts has dominated the national conversation in the last week and made Obama’s goal of signing health care reform impossible before the big speech. Now, [...] -
Obama’s speech to tout plans to energize economy
29 Jan 2010 | 7:24 pmWASHINGTON President Barack Obama will try to pivot past rocky times for the nation and himself Wednesday night in his first State of the Union address, offering a skeptical public repackaged plans to energize the economy, stem a tide of red ink and strengthen anti-terror defenses. He’ll also be trying to revive his own “yes [...] -
Koreas exchange fire near sea border, markets drop
26 Jan 2010 | 7:30 pmSEOUL (Reuters) North and South Korea on Wednesday exchanged what appeared to be artillery fire near a disputed sea border with the South off the west coast of the peninsula, Yonhap news agency reported government officials as saying. South Korea’s presidential Blue House said both sides were firing into the air and there were [...] -
Economic incentives aid taxpayers
26 Jan 2010 | 7:23 pmWASHINGTON The deep recession that hung over the nation in 2009 has led to new tax credits and deductions attempts by Congress to boost consumer spending and get the economy moving again. These, along with increases in the standard deduction, personal exemption and alternative minimum tax exemption, may bring a little extra cash to [...]
-
No Ordinary Rollercoaster
-
From bad to good to sexing in the woods
9 Feb 2010 | 3:22 amIf you're not a blogger, you might not know the first lesson of blogging: much like when the water starts to tremble before a T-Rex comes to eat your face, notification of an anonymous comment means shit's about to go down.Your blood pressure skyrockets, you feel like you've been kicked in the stomach, and you prepare for someone to let loose on you with the fanatical dedication of someone who vehemently believes that yelling at you in Arial Size 10 will solve everything that's wrong in the world.- How dare you brag about eating cheese when children are starving?- Your committed relationship… -
Let Uncle Ben get you laid
8 Feb 2010 | 4:00 amSo V-Day approaches once again, hm?.....VALENTINE'S Day, you sickos.You're all gross.The big day of love, romance and i-just-bought-you-dinner-so-you-have-to-put-out-even-though-it's-not-Friday is just around the corner. That means that girls all around the world have already laid passive aggressive traps, setting their boyfriends up for failure mostly so that they don't have to make good on the bi-annual blowjob.It also means that boyfriends all around the world have the stress sweats from trying to deduce exactly which gift their girlfriends want from subtle facial cues of which seven out… -
You can't ask for a better set-up...
3 Feb 2010 | 4:50 amYes. I am one 'x' away from being the heir to a butt cream company.Do your worst. I developed thick skin from being called Bengay all through junior high.You can thank Caley for this. -
Boob Tuesday: The Finale
2 Feb 2010 | 4:55 amI'll give you all a minute to compose yourselves.Yes. After months and months of publicly embarrassing myself over and over and over again, I got my payoff. Not the pride of completing six hours of consecutive exercise. Not the satisfaction of setting two Guinness World Records. Not the incredible accomplishment of raising $1.14 million for new digital mammography equipment.No.It was getting my picture taken with Richard Simmons. And his compliment on my layering.That's right. He totally hit on me.(Depending who you ask.)Despite organized group exercise being my worst nightmare, I showed up… -
Hypothetical History Lesson
1 Feb 2010 | 4:00 amBack in my day, it wasn't this easy. You couldn't just burst onto the scene with clever wit, pop culture catchphrases and a tendency to abuse alcohol kick back and wait for the followers to come knocking on your door. No sir/ma'am/transgendered-alternative...Back in the the ole 2007, you had to be unemployed, living in a shoebox apartment above a herd of trollish women, spending so much time trying to housebreak a puppy that you actually forget to do your own business and get constipated but never blog about it 'cause that would be sort of weird so instead you just binge on Activia while…
-
Free and Flawed
-
How Ford Fiesta Can Help My Postcard Collection
3 Feb 2010 | 11:35 amI promise that one of these days I’ll be back for good. I’m still enjoying my blogging break (and secretly working on a brand-spankin’ new design) but I wanted to help spread the word about an awesome blogger’s even awesomer (what? that’s a word) plan. Bloggers, meet Phampants. I met Phampants almost a year ago and he’s quickly become one of my favorite Chicago buddies – Didja…didja see what I did there? He’s not JUST a blogger, he’s a buddy. He puts up with and even encourages my randomness. He spent all summer helping me grow my… -
Touche Universe, Touche
27 Jan 2010 | 12:46 pmSometimes I want to print out a picture of the universe, tape it to a dart board and throw away. And then sometimes the universe sends me something like this and the game has changed. ________________ What if funky, confusing, gray, lonely days were just part of a “system” that, in turn, created bright, rich, happy, friendly days? What if they were just meant to give deeper elements of your creativity a rest? What if they were deliberately crafted holidays, of a sort, devised by your inner psyche to relieve you from the pressure of artificial expectations? Would you still bemoan… -
Texts From Last Night: The Giveaway
24 Jan 2010 | 7:04 pmGiveaway is CLOSED. MinD is the winner! I know, I know. What’s the point of a blogging break if I keep coming back? Don’t judge me man! I’m popping in again to talk books. Not just ANY book, but a funny book. Who doesn’t love a funny book? I certainly love funny books. Just ask blog crush. I can spend hours in a book store searching through “Where’s Elvis” and laughing at Jesus riding a dinosaur. I’ve gotten off track haven’t I…? Anyway, by now many of you have heard about textsfromlastnight.com, and if you haven’t, you’re… -
Where to find the best iPhone apps
14 Jan 2010 | 9:57 amYou might be scratching your head and frantically checking your calendar right now. Is it February already? Fret not my blogger friends. My blog doesn’t have access to any time-travel abilities. Sad right? Actually I’m back a bit early to bring you some exciting news! As you know, I am quite addicted to my iPhone. I’ve had it a little over a year and it’s changed my life for the better (or worse, depending how you look at it.) I like to think it’s for the better because I can update my blog on-the-go with WordPress 2, learn the names of random songs playing at… -
A Blogging Time-Out
3 Jan 2010 | 8:04 pmIn only a couple of weeks my blog will turn three. As I tip-toe past toddler-status, I’ve been reflecting a lot on what this blog has meant to me. Lately I’ve felt that in the past year I’ve spent way too much time marketing myself at Jenn from Free and Flawed rather than Jenn. I’ve lost sight of what this blog was supposed to be about. That doesn’t mean that I’m not grateful for the friendships and opportunities that I’ve been given because of it. It just means that it’s time to take a step back and re-evaluate some blogging goals. I want to…
-
Du Wax Loolu
-
Two-tone
9 Feb 2010 | 5:59 amThank you so much for the input on the nursery painting. We are definitely going to go with the majority on this one and keep the chair rail (also, thanks to all of you for teaching me that term) white. Also, I was intrigued to see the suggestion of a darker turquoise below the chair rail. A lot of people said it but I was having trouble picturing it until Chris linked to an example. Of course, this is yellow and ours will be turquoise, but I love the concept:I showed it to Torsten and he likes the idea too, so I think we're definitely going to go with that (minus the cheetah). We'll pick out… -
Room painting choices
8 Feb 2010 | 6:02 amOur house has four bedrooms upstairs--the master and three others. Of those three, one is our guest room and the other two serve as Torsten's and my offices. Eventually, we plan to convert the rooms currently serving as our offices into kid rooms. If we're both still working from home at that point, either we'll both set up office in different parts of the basement, or we'll set up the guest room to double as an office for one of us. But of course the hope is that by the time we need two rooms for kids, Torsten's company will be big enough to require an actual office in an office building… -
Plans for the year
5 Feb 2010 | 6:01 amThis year is not going to be a big one for us in terms of travel. We don't really have any vacations planned, and don't expect to add any, mostly because of Torsten's company but also because I want to save up my leave time and roll it over to 2011 to extend my hoped-for future maternity leave. For example, this will be the first year of our relationship that we will not be going to Germany to visit Torsten's family.However, there are a few things we have scheduled, and a few things that I am still hoping to schedule. We have been saving up credit card rewards for ages and have quite a few… -
Deleting posts from Google Reader
4 Feb 2010 | 6:02 amSo, I had a thought. You know how if you delete a blog post, you can never REALLY delete it because it will always be there in Google Reader? This isn't something I do regularly, but I know some people post things and then realize their families can read them or whatever, and want to take them down, but the deleted posts can always be found in Google Reader, even months later.Well, I've noticed that if you update a blog post, after a little while the updated version shows up in Google Reader, even if the original post was already there.So, do you see where I'm going with this? I'm thinking… -
Concerns about international adoption
3 Feb 2010 | 6:01 amI keep reading these stories about Haitian kids being brought out of Haiti as fast as possible, about adoptions being fast-tracked and paperwork being missing and orphanages saving lives. Lots of the stories take the angle of the Americans, French, etc. as saviors, bringing these children away from misery and suffering into wonderful new lives. And in some cases, maybe that's true. But the whole thing makes me squirmy.I have to say, right up front, that I think that everyone involved has the best of intentions. But I have some serious qualms. I can maybe understand the kids whose adoptions…
-
These Little Moments
-
Clothes woes
8 Feb 2010 | 7:02 pmSince we found out we’re having a boy, people have bee spoiling him already left and right. We’re well on our way to a substantial little boy wardrobe, especially from my mom, and lately a little from Michael’s mom as well. On Sunday, my mother-in-law surprised me with not only a gift for my son, but a gift for me as well, in the form of clothes. I was a little apprehensive when I opened the bag, because clothes are such a personal thing. I usually don’t buy clothes for people unless I know for a fact they either wanted it, or would really, really like it. I’ve… -
Cooking with Molly (and Ina)
8 Feb 2010 | 8:15 amIt’s suggested that while pregnant, you avoid lunch meat in case it’s carrying Listeria — a type of bacteria that can cause problems in pregnancy. If you really, really want a lunch meat sandwich, it’s said that you can heat the meat through to kill the bacteria. I’ve never been a huge lunch meat person (and the idea of microwaving the meat kind of skeeved me out), so giving it up for nine months wasn’t a big deal. Until all of the sudden, I wanted a roast beef sandwich. Like, right now. It became all I could think about. All consuming. Who was this… -
Belly Friday
5 Feb 2010 | 3:43 amWeek 19 — almost halfway there! I must work on mastering the self-portrait. Happy weekend! -
18 weeks
3 Feb 2010 | 3:56 amDear Baby Boy, You have a pronoun! You’re a “he”, a “him”. This is so very awesome. Week 18 was my favorite week of pregnancy thus far, because we were able to see you on the ultrasound and this time you were so much more than a little lima bean. You’re a person — an actively kicking little boy, who at one point during the ultrasound put your little fist under your chin like The Thinker. Oh my goodness, you are just too cute. You spent most of the time on your side, waving hello and kicking Mommy in the kidney. Ouch. The ultrasound tech tried in… -
I should bottle this stuff
2 Feb 2010 | 7:10 amI’ve always had weird and vivid dreams, but there’s nothing more potent than the dream serum called pregnancy hormones. Every night I have at least two dreams that are so specific and detailed that I think about them most of the day. Last night I dreamt that I was witness to a drive-by shooting, and spent most of the dream running through a city to avoid the car that was trying to find me. I woke up out of breath! (This can also be because I still can’t breathe out of my stuffy nose and as things move around and more pressure is put on my diaphragm, I’m slightly short…
-
Oh! How Lovely! { jamieann dot net }
-
hibernation mode
8 Feb 2010 | 3:26 pmEvery year come November, I start dreading the winter. When February hits, I wonder why in the world am I still living in Chicago. That’s where I am at right now. I’m dreaming of California. Even by late March birthday? Still a chance for snow. Come May, we should be all clear. Then summer hits and I fall in love with my city all over and decide I never want to leave. Until winter hits again. Repeat. Year. After. Year. Right now I’m in full on hibernation mode. I hate leaving the house unless I absolutely have to because it’s way too cold to want to do anything. -
don’t lose it
7 Feb 2010 | 1:13 pm -
pretty headphones and current listenings
3 Feb 2010 | 8:52 pmI have this weird thing where earbuds hurt my ears super bad. Maybe I have exceptionally small ears or earbuds are abnormally huge. Whatever, they hurt and I complain a lot about it. Last week I finally decided to do something about it and did a search for “cute, pink headphones”. No, I’m not kidding. See? (I got new glasses too!) They are metallic-y hot pink over the ear Skullcandy headphones that are slightly obnoxious if worn in public but sometimes I just might want to be slightly obnoxious and make everyone jealous that I have cooler headphones than them. Plus the sound… -
being an ex-nail biter is fun
1 Feb 2010 | 8:37 amI’m still successful at keeping my bad habit at bay. No nail biting for this girl! Only pretty polished nails here. But I think I may have picked up another bad habit along the way though. Hi, my name is Jamie and I’m a nail polish addict. I’ve been changing polish at least once a week, if not more. I have to hit the beauty aisle at every store I’m in to see if there is any polish I need to add to my collection. I’m running out of polish remover at an alarming rate. (You would think I’d be better at neatly painting my own nails though). Yesterday at Sephora… -
texts from last night: the book and the giveaway
27 Jan 2010 | 3:56 pmI know another one, right? Well it’s just that awesome and now you have even more chances to win a copy of your own and trust me you want one. We’ve all had our moments where we have to wake up and check our outbox to see what exactly happened last night. I may or may not have had one of those nights after my whirlwind 26 hour Vegas trip… But that is besides the point. Texts From Last Night is probably one of the best and most hilarious ideas ever. Bored? Bummed? Has it been way too long of a day? Need a pick me up to send a friend? Texts From Last Night: All The Texts No…
-
Devin Reams
-
Seeking success via celebrity
23 Jan 2010 | 8:11 amThe American culture has become ever noticeably celebrity-centric. Ever since California elected itself a Republican Governor it’s become very obvious to me: no matter how bad the last guy did, how does the most liberal state in the union do that? For one, Schwarzenegger is recognizable and, through his acting and body-building days, a celebrity. Celebrities are now the focus of our media coverage. Sarah Palin, though previously a politician (and hopefully will remain that way), will always be more qualified to be labeled a celebrity: someone famously recognized in society or culture. -
Posterous: three months in review
17 Jan 2010 | 7:11 pmOne of the greatest hosted services on the web is Posterous (pronounced a few different ways but consensus is: pahst-err-uhs). I experimented with the service for a few months and came to love it. If you take photos, its great. If you record video or voice notes, it’s excellent. If you blog, magnificent. If you want to do all of these (and more) in one unified place, then Posterous is the site to do it. What is Posterous? The concept is simple: send an email to Posterous and it creates a post. If you attach a series of photos, it creates a lovely photo gallery. If you simply write a… -
Simple tweaks to your iPhone-friendly website
12 Jan 2010 | 9:48 pmIf you own and operate a website, odds are you have mobile users browsing it. Be sure you take care of these people as their numbers are ever-growing. Get me out of here! Hopefully you already have a mobile-friendly version of your site (for WordPress users, I recommend the Carrington Mobile theme). Bonus points if you have a mobile-friendly version but users can exit out of that version. Though the simpler, faster interfaces are often appreciated, users get frustrated if they’re trapped in a ‘dumbed down’ version of the site (especially if they have a ’smart’… -
Google Profile tips: OpenID delegate, resetting profile photo
30 Nov 2009 | 9:11 pmI’ve been more and more interested in having Google manage, store, and maintain my entire life. Not just my digital life, but my real life. Needless to say, I’ve been using Google Profiles and have come up with a few neat tips. Google Profile photo being reset all the time Some people have noticed their profile photo being reset frequently. I learned that if you use a client such as Pidgin or Adium to login to Google Chat (with the same account as your profile) then it sets your profile photo to, well, nothing. Simply add your profile photo in your client to the image you want to… -
Great web apps you may not know
11 Nov 2009 | 9:10 pmI have five web applications that excel in so many ways (beauty, simplicity, usefulness) and I wanted to share them in case you hadn’t heard of them yet. TrackThePack: Much like Google’s homepage, it’s so simple it’s perfect. Enter a tracking code and you have a simple look at where your package is. Register an account and you suddenly have a history of your deliveries, an iCal feed (history plus visual indication as to when a package should arrive). Plus, a smartphone-capable interface. Instapaper: need to read something later? Keeping dozens of tabs open wastes…
-
Beyond Megapixels
-
Poll – What Will You Photograph Next?
8 Feb 2010 | 7:07 amAs photographers, we are always trying to expand our horizons and break free from our comfort zones. We at Beyond Megapixels would like to know, what photography subject will you challenge yourself with next? Vote in our poll, and leave more details in the comments! Click Here for PollOnline SurveyEnterprise Feedback Management | Website Polls | Email Marketing | Crowdsourcing SoftwareView MicroPoll (If the embedded poll does not work for your web browser, you can still participate by clicking on this link.) Photo credit: Tiffany Joyce. Related posts:Poll – Your Next Lens Summer in… -
Photographer Focus: Devilicious-g
6 Feb 2010 | 8:21 amThis post was submitted by Ghada Abdulkhaleq and you can check out more of her photography here or on her facebook fan page here. We Dream Too I have been always in love with animals, specially cats and kittens, I do have a sweet connection with them, and most people say I do look like cats somehow, so I do believe I was meant to be close to them! This picture was taken for a cat we had in the family, it was very spontaneous and that’s why I love it. I consider it one of the best shots I have ever taken. Missing Only You I’m a big fan of puzzles, and I had an idea while playing… -
Gaining, and Keeping, Your Confidence
5 Feb 2010 | 6:00 amI’m betting I’m not the only photographer out there who thought they were pretty good, until they saw a photograph taken by someone else that just blew them away, and they thought, “I’ll never be as good as that.” Am I right? Show of hands. It happens to me all the time. And it can really shake your confidence in your growing skills as a photographer. Here are some thoughts on gaining, and keeping, your confidence. 1. Keep it all in perspective. How long have you been taking pictures? What kind of gear do you own? How much training have you had? Because rest… -
Tips for Focusing in the Dark
4 Feb 2010 | 8:18 amTaking a long exposure picture in dark conditions can be a challenge, because the camera’s auto-focus capabilities find it difficult to “see” a point of focus. Manual focus can be hard, too, because you can’t see what you’re trying to focus on through the viewfinder! In keeping with this month’s “long exposure” challenge, here are a few tips for focusing in the dark. Nikon D300 + Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 @ 10mm - 30sec, f/4.5, ISO 1000. 1. Use a flashlight to temporarily light up your subject (glow sticks work well, too). You will be able to see your… -
Lens Nomenclature Decoded
3 Feb 2010 | 6:00 amHave you ever looked at the text printed on the barrel or around the front element of your lens and wondered what all those numbers and letters and symbols meant? Some may be clear and obvious, some more obscure. Here’s a “decoder ring” of sorts, to help you sort it all out. Let’s take a Canon lens as the first example: Canon Lens EF 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6. Ø58mm - “EF” stands for “electrofocus”. This means the lens has an internal motor for auto-focusing cameras. - “28-80mm” refers to the focal length that the camera is capable of. In…
-
Discussion Forum - 20 Something Bloggers
-
In the spirit of Saint Val, what is your most horrendous date story?
I was studying abroad in London and met this French guy, Philippe, at a club. We danced together for the entire night and even though the loud music and his outrageous French accent were preventing me from understanding almost everything he said to me, I was completely enamored and began to envision the millions of French children we would inevitably have. When I was ready to go home he walked me to my bus stop and waited there with me until the bus came. He took down my number and we planned to go out on a date later that week. I may've been boy crazy but I wasn't a total moron, so I told… -
Introduce Yourself (part two)
HI everyone! I'm Ashley and totally new here. I blog about life, and my simple observations/opinions. I try to keep an open mind and heart, and love to share my thoughts as well as hear others. My blog is at http://pdbetty86.blogspot.com/. Hope you enjoy it! :) -
"Don't ask, Don't Tell"
I think it definitely SUCKS! Would a soldier be better if he was straight??? I think it's about time everybody expressed themselves without old hags (and their male equivalent) expressing (who are the only ones with a voice since they don't give it to gays) their disagreement with homosexuality. We are all the same!!! when will everybody agree on that??? Some people like chocolate, others not, some girls like men, others like women. I really can't see why people are so narrow minded and obsolete as to understand that they are the ones who are out of place now. I SAID! -
International Adoption: your thoughts
It should not matter whether it's more expensive or not. If you want a child, you should be willing to pay as much or go through all the red tape for this child. It shows you love them and aren't just using them... -
20 Must See Movies....need your opinions!
I <3 The Princess Bride, Shawshank Redemption, Amelie, Slumdog Millionair, 500 days of Summer and Pan's Labyrinth. Seen Sabrina. I still need to see the rest.
-
crazy miracle called * life *
-
Through troubled times
6 Feb 2010 | 6:21 pmWhen I'm alone and the light slowly fades Cold with the night closing in I know the shadow of almighty wings Lord won't you send them again Lord send your angels to watch over me I'm so afraid of the dark Lord send your angels to watch over me Wrap me in sheltering arms Shield me, Keep me Hold me safe in your arms Lord send your angels to watch over me Wrap me in sheltering arms Sometimes the child inside of me cries With fears of the dangers unknown And questions with answers I can't seem to find Then you send your angels to me Lord send your angels to watch over me I'm so afraid of the dark… -
Tomorrow’s all wrong
28 Jan 2010 | 7:16 pmYou whisper that you are getting tired got a look in your eye looks a lot like goodbye hold on to your secrets tonight don't want to know I'm okay with this silence it's the truth that I dont want to hear You're hiding regret in your smile there's a story in your eyes I've seen coming for a while hang on to the past tense tonight don't say a word I'm okay with the quiet the truth is gonna change everything So lie to me and tell me that it's gonna be alright so lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the night I don't mind if you wait before you tear me apart look me in the eye lie,… -
Death is a funny, crazy, painful, long-time-coming but comes-too-fast kind of thing
24 Jan 2010 | 5:48 pmDeath. I've known death for many years now, more than I can remember. Whenever someone at church passed away, Mom would dress her tiny girls in their little dresses, white tights, and black patent leather shoes. She would do our hair really pretty, and then our family of four would head off to the funeral home. On the way, Mom and Dad would go over etiquette as if we had never known manners in our lives. They just wanted to make sure we were on our "best behavior." And we were. We would hold their hands as we stood in line to see the body, and while Mom and Dad… -
To be free
24 Jan 2010 | 5:31 pmThe Notebook is on TV tonight. We have it on DVD, but for some reason watching it on TV is good, too. It's one of my favorite stories - boy meets girl, dad says girl too good for boy, boy and girl split up, think about each other forever... until they meet again and fall back in love. Something like that. But anyways, for some reason I liked this scene tonight... "Say I'm a bird!" To feel that free. To dance around in the water, making no sense at all, and enjoying every minute of it. Wanting everyone else to join in and experience what you're… -
According to you
23 Jan 2010 | 4:43 amAccording to you I'm stupid, I'm useless, I can't do anything right. According to you I'm difficult, hard to please, forever changing my mind. I'm a mess in a dress, can't show up on time, even if it would save my life. According to you. According to you. But according to him I'm beautiful, incredible, he can't get me out of his head. According to him I'm funny, irresistible, everything he ever wanted. Everything is opposite, I don't feel like stopping it, so baby tell me what I got to lose. He's into me for everything I'm not, according to you. According to you I'm boring, I'm moody, you…
-
Weekly Way
-
Unless It's a Movie or a Check, I Don't Want It
21 Jan 2010 | 5:43 pmThe Seattle City Council has a great opportunity to curb junk mail on Monday, January 25th by voting to approve the Do Not Mail resolution. Think of it as a spam blocker for your mailbox. According to Do Not Mail, it takes approximately 200,000 trees to produce Seattle's junk mail every year and another $400,000 dollars to dispose of it. If you live in Seattle, call or email the city council members, and if you can, attend the meeting on Monday at 2pm at City Hall, 600 4th Ave., 2nd floor. Whether you live in Seattle or not, there are simple steps you can take to greatly reduce the influx of… -
How to Help in Haiti
14 Jan 2010 | 4:45 pmWhat's happening right now in Haiti is devastating, and everyone I speak to wants to do something to help. The basics are what is needed, and the best way most of us can offer immediate assistance is to give money to a reputable organization that is on the ground in Haiti right now.Here are links to some of the organizations working in Haiti. Each of them has received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. Be sure to also check with your employer or university to see if they are offering matching funds.Doctors Without BordersOxfam AmericaSave the ChildrenPartners in Health -
Loving the Local Leeks
9 Jan 2010 | 3:44 pmI've been traveling a lot this year, and it seems that something different is in season every time I return home to visit my local farmers' market in the Ballard neighborhood.I'm happy to report that there are delicious possibilities for organic, local eating even in the middle of winter. This leek pasta recipe is one of my favorites. It's easy, delicious, and it utilizes leeks, which are a welcome, hearty green in December and January. Thanks to my friend Joe for initially coming up with this recipe, and my husband Steve for adapting it. As an added bonus, he can even find leeks in… -
Construction for Change: Building Community, Building Hope
5 Jan 2010 | 6:53 pmVolunteering with an organization is one of the easiest ways to make an immediate impact in the lives of others. In this week's blog, twenty-something guest blogger J. Renee writes about the work of local non-profit Construction for Change, which was founded by three twenty-somethings eager to make a difference. In 2008, I started volunteering with Construction for Change (CfC). I was immediately impressed by the vision, velocity, and integrity with which this small group of my peers was chasing a dream to help fulfill the UN's Millennium Development Goals. Construction for Change facilitates… -
Ten Ways - A User's Manual
18 Dec 2009 | 3:56 pmBy my mid-twenties, I had left a successful career in Hollywood film production in order to become a middle school teacher. I was experiencing the quintessential “quarterlife crisis”, and I was determined to find a way to make a difference, not just earn a living. I was also looking for resources to provide me with information about social and environmental causes, as well as organizations that I could easily get involved with, either professionally or as a volunteer. When I realized that there was no single book that did this, I decided to write one. I knew that I was not alone in my…
-
ThrillingHeroics.com
-
30 Global Perspectives on SUCCESS
1 Feb 2010 | 5:17 amWhat does success mean to you? Success is being able to live and work anywhere you want. Success is making a difference in other peoples’ lives. Success is unique for every individual, and you have to define it for yourself. There is no dollar-amount on your paycheck, no job title, no luxury car or status symbol that objectively demonstrates that you’ve “made it”. Success, above all, requires that you set your own unique, meaningful goals and work hard to achieve them. Jonny Gibaud from TheLifeThing.com has been working hard over the last month to bring together an… -
Coming to America: Help Change Someone’s Life
26 Jan 2010 | 6:41 amFor a majority of us, it has never been easier to grab the reins and create the life you want. It’s easy to say when you have a dream, all that stands between you and achieving it is yourself—and that’s why I write this blog: for anyone born in the West, into a middle-class family, with decent education, if you can dream it, you can make it real with enough hard work. But unfortunately, the reality is that not everyone is so fortunate. We live in a broken world where children are abandoned or orphaned—even worse forced into sex slavery or child armies—entire communities fall… -
Minds Wide Open at Thailand’s First TEDx Event
21 Jan 2010 | 4:03 amFeature photo © TEDx BKK & Aloha Lavina. If you travel in certain circles, you definitely know what TED is. If you aren’t familiar with it, TED is a nonprofit foundation best known for its conferences which focus on Technology, Entertainment, and Design, first held in Monterey, California, in 1990. Curated by former publisher Chris Anderson, TED’s popularity soared and it quickly spread to Europe, Asia, and around the world, hosting high-profile speakers including Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Gordon Brown, Bill Gates, John Doerr, Muhammad Yunus, and Google founders Sergey Brin and… -
3 Ways To Be An Unconventional Giver: What Jesus, Ghandi and Spiderman Knew
14 Jan 2010 | 3:00 amThis is a guest post I’m excited to host from Dwight Turner, founder of In Search Of Sanuk. You’re already en route to your thrilling lifestyle so why are you still giving the same way? In the footsteps of Jesus, Ghandi, Spiderman and all four Ninja Turtles, here are three steps to make your giving as revolutionary as your lifestyle. Stop Giving Only When It’s Convenient The template lifestyle dictates that you should probably begin thinking about what you can give back a few years before you expect to die. How much have you bought into that mentality? Have you repeatedly… -
Take Back Control of Your Life in 2010!
5 Jan 2010 | 5:00 amToday I’m really excited to unveil an exciting new community for twentysomethings, college students, and young professionals who want to shatter the ‘template’ lifestyle and live an awesome life on their own damn terms! Work where you want… Live how you want… Be who you want to be. Untemplater is the culmination of nearly four months of hard work with some incredibly cool co-founders: Jun Loayza from Viralogy.com; Adam Baker, nomadic family man at Man Vs. Debt; the philosophically-brilliant Carlos Miceli of OwlSparks; published author and consultant Monica O’Brien;…
-
Elizabeth Knox Photography Blog
-
Some of my (old school) favorites
26 Jan 2010 | 7:21 amI’ve obviously stopped doing session recaps, because I’ve been sending galleries directly to clients rather than starting them off here, but I do want to share just a few of my favorites from three completely different sessions over the last few months. I’m on my laptop again, so these images are not resized. -
We're moving to Boston!
25 Jan 2010 | 1:32 pmI’m here! Things have been so busy for us that the blog has just been on the back burner. That’s a terrible metaphor, isn’t it? But anyway, since I last posted (more than a month ago!) a lot has changed. A lot. We’re still busy figuring things out, so I’ll put some of the changes in a bulleted list: We moved out of our wonderful Austin apartment a few weeks ago, and we’re shuttling back and forth between our parents’ houses in the San Antonio area. We have flight tickets to Boston for us and the pups for February 15th, and we’re currently… -
Just really quick!
15 Dec 2009 | 12:34 pmEric and I are heading out the door to San Antonio for the night, but I wanted to share some pictures from yesterday’s session really quickly, because I’ve been remiss in sharing sneak peaks, and want to change that. I didn’t resize the pictures either, so I apologize for that, and thanks for scrolling. I love doing sessions of people who have become friends—it’s a lot of fun. I’m so excited for Melanie. She’s starting her very own photography business, and when her site gets up and going, I’ll share the link here. You’d never know it, but… -
Beachy peace
10 Dec 2009 | 6:56 pmI feel so grounded when I am near the ocean (well, technically Destin is on the Gulf, but still). That’s one of the reasons we are moving to New England. I’ve always wanted to live near the water, and now we will. Here I am, in all of my no makeup goofy gloriousness in Seaside, Florida, near Destin and Grayton Beach. Eric was playing around with our new 20mm 1.8, which is where some of that fun distortion comes from. Standing on the water’s edge brings me peace like nothing else can. I don’t like swimming, so it is more than enough for me to simply breathe in the salty… -
We're getting out of here...
25 Nov 2009 | 10:05 pmfor a week, at least. Between Thanksgiving, the Houston wedding of good friends, and our visit to Destin, we’ll be gone quite a while, without wifi, no less. It’ll be good to get away from the computer for a bit, but I have a feeling my iPhone is going to get a serious workout. This will probably be my last post for the week, so I do want to stick in a quick sneak peak. These little dudes were a blast—boys simply know how to have fun. In the hours that I was there, they played soccer, raced cars, played video games, ate cupcakes, chatted about life with me on the deck, and…
-
Thoughts from Meggie Poo
-
Book Signing Compilation Post
31 Jan 2010 | 7:51 pmIn the past year (and a few months) I've been to more book signings than I've ever been to in my life. Here's a snapshot (literally), in chronological order. Enjoy: John Hodgman, More Information Than You Require Jen Lancaster, Pretty in Plaid James Patterson, You've Been Warned John Grisham, Random Book Nicholas Sparks, The Last Song Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried Kathy Griffin, Official Book Club Selection RSS to Meggie Poo. -
Google Earth - Historical View
30 Jan 2010 | 3:05 pmAs I'm snowed in at my parents house (having a lot of fun! and no, that's not sarcasm), I downloaded Google Earth. I haven't played with this software since college --- but since I'm researching beach houses for our family vacation so I wanted to check out exactly how much beach space the house we want has available after hurricane season. After I got the images I needed... I played. Since I last used it, the Google Earth folks have added more functionality. Instead of only being able to see the image of the place Google chooses (usually from the previous day), you can now view each… -
A year and a half in --- my WMATA Metro Review
25 Jan 2010 | 5:25 pmI've been taking the metro to work everyday since August 2008. I'm an Orange Line rider, but occasionally have taken the blue, green and red to get around. Overall, I get where I need to go, but I hear complaints everywhere. It's a mix of 1) The metro employees suck 2) The metro executives suck 3) The metro riders suck. Here's my review: it's a mix of all three. First of all, I don't think we should blame everything on the metro employees. As much as we hate it when we hear them calling on the radio that we have to "de-train", I'm sure they aren't thriilled to be sitting in… -
Recipe Review: Mushroom and Swiss Chicken
24 Jan 2010 | 5:28 pmTonight, I made a recipe from "My Mama Made That", a cookbook my sister gave me full of "Virginia Favorites" from the Junior League of Hampton Roads, Inc. This is a big step for me because lately my "cooking" has been marinara and pre-made tortellini. Mushroom and Swiss Chicken Ingredients: 1/4 cup olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 4 tbs red wine vinegar 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 tbs Cajun seasoning 1/2 tbs pepper 1 cup chopped scallions 8 ounces sliced mushrooms 4 slices Swiss cheese Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350. Mix the olive oil and garlic in a 9x13-inch baking dish. -
Cyber Shopping Tips
22 Dec 2009 | 11:16 amI wrote this for the New Media Strategies blog, published on November 15, 2009. Since I deal with a lot of Bargain Shopping and Savings and Communities, I've picked up some tips to save money while shopping online. If you haven't finished your shopping yet, maybe some of these tips will help you save some money before Christmas! Savvy Savings When Cyber Shopping Since the beginning of September I’ve been asked on four separate occasions if I’m receiving more opt-in e-mail spam than usual. Of course, like the rest of my peers, I am. In the past, we would have…
-
DNC Worldwide
-
Review: Well Done Cooking Classes in Houston
1 Feb 2010 | 11:04 amFor those of you in Houston that have aspirations for food beyond just constantly eating it, I have the most wonderful recommendation for you guys. Megan and I had the pleasure of trying our very first cooking class last Friday and I have to admit I left very impressed and surprised at what a good [...] -
Becoming a Dad – Our Son Nicholas is Born!
6 Dec 2009 | 6:32 pmBEFORE AFTER See…. I told you guys I’d get it right! Our baby boy, Nicholas Leonardo Calimbas, was born at 7:24am today, December 6th 2009 at TX Women’s Hospital. He was 7 pounds 5 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long at birth with feet and lips like his momma. He arrived after 40 weeks and 5 days [...] -
Book Review – Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential
20 Nov 2009 | 10:46 amIf you’re heard the name Anthony Bourdain only ecently, chances are that you know him from his popular show on the Travel Channel, No Reservations, where he travels the world seeking to sample local cuisine and culture. As a fan of No Reservations, I’ve come to see ‘Tony’ as one of the rare unpretentious, down-to-earth type [...] -
Becoming a Dad – Racing to the Finish Line!
9 Nov 2009 | 10:07 amDue Date – December 1st: 3 weeks and 1 day to go. Don’t let the due date fool you, the day after Thanksgiving is my prediction. I fully expect our baby boy to arrive sooner rather than later! Mom-to-be and I had our 36-week OB appointment last Friday and saw our son for the first-time since August. Prior [...] -
Chatting with Ricardo Talavera on the Eve of his Fight at Legacy Fighting Championships
6 Nov 2009 | 8:50 amDNC Members, Houstonians, and MMA Fans everywhere, We’re sitting here with our very dear friend and fellow ninja, Ricardo Talavera, who is finishing up final preparations for his Mixed Martial Arts fight at the Legacy Fighting Championships, this Saturday at the Arena Theater in Houston. Ricardo, how are you feeling heading up to this fight? Oh man, I [...]
-
Jen-ology
-
Day 1: Success
8 Feb 2010 | 6:29 pmRemember how I was asking for suggestions for meal planning? Well I got my first meal plan done, it's two weeks long. I plan on doing a new one for every two weeks, so that I don't have to grocery shop as often. We had our first meal tonight, and it went really good. Adelyn and Jared both loved it.The entree was White Bean Chicken Chili. This was actually the first meal we ate in Missouri. Milli cooked it for us when we stayed at their house when we very first moved here and our house wasn't ready for us to move in. It was delicious!We also had Caesar salad… -
Boy crazy
6 Feb 2010 | 8:11 amI'm not gonna lie, I've been boy crazy my whole life. I got my first boyfriend in kindergarten and then just kept going from there. There was one or two that I thought were pretty swell (PS. they weren't...but try telling that to a lovestruck teenager) and then I met Jared. He was different than any other guy I was ever interested in. It wasn't until I fell for him that I realized what love really was. On the day that Adelyn was born, I fell in love with him on an entirely new level. I couldn't imagine ever loving another man, not even… -
Need some suggestions
2 Feb 2010 | 12:54 pmI'm trying to make some dinner menus, so that I might be more encouraged to cook regularly for my starving family. What are some of your favorite dinners to cook? Ones you find yourself always coming back to? Easy? Kids really like?My LEAST favorite part of cooking is preparing to cook...as in deciding what to cook and grocery shopping. So I feel like if I do a weekly menu it will take the stress out of it.So let me know in the comments...also, feel free to tell me as many as you like!PLEASE??? -
Almost had a heart attack
31 Jan 2010 | 10:22 pmEarlier today I was watching the kids while Jared was studying (or not studying?) on the computer. At about 6pm JR needed to eat and take a nap. I usually nurse him in the rocking chair and then go lay him down, but since Adelyn was being unusually disruptive he was having a hard time going to sleep, so I went and layed down with him to finish nursing. I guess I was sleepy too because the next thing I know I'm waking up about 45 minutes later and the house is completely quiet. So I go downstairs to see what damage she has done being unsupervised, but the living… -
Creative Freedom aka Adelyn being naughty
30 Jan 2010 | 6:49 am
-
Michelle Woo
-
Wedding To-Dos
9 Feb 2010 | 12:15 amCue panic attack. created with wordle -
(No more) WOO!
3 Feb 2010 | 11:03 pmIt has been decided that I will eventually change my last name. Yes, WOO! The greatest name in the universe, one that often doubles as an expression of “Yipeeee!” It is derived from the Greek name Wootemelagos, which means “awesome.” No, I am not so thrilled about this, but one morning, several months before Matt and I were engaged, we had the conversation. I think I casually said, “I’m gonna be Michelle Woo forever” and then Matt pretty much declared that his future wife would be taking his name. I never realized how important this was to him and… -
I’m Not Sorry
1 Feb 2010 | 3:21 pmOh God, is that title too harsh? I’m so sorry. Hi, I’m Michelle and I’m an apologiholic. I was just realizing that today. Every email I’ve sent begins with “I’m sorry.” I’m sorry for getting back to you so late. I’m sorry, but I’ve changed my mind. I’m sorry for the confusion. I’m sorry for all the emails! Do I really screw up so much that I must ask for forgiveness for every little thing? I don’t know but it’s truly exhausting. I need to stop feeling guilty about my imperfections and things that are often beyond my control. I need to have confidence in the… -
My Space
27 Jan 2010 | 1:16 amWhen it comes to my forthcoming marriage, what I am most looking forward to, and also most nervous about, is, well, living together. In this day, I suppose it’s rather odd for a couple that has been together for this long (let’s see, we reunited in 2003, so that makes it … forever) to have never cohabitated. But we just never felt the need to take that plunge. (Um, you think I’d give up my rent-free room in my parents’ spacious abode to share a teeny apartment with a boy who hates floral comforters? Heck nah.) So it’s gonna be an adjustment. And to be… -
Happy dance
25 Jan 2010 | 12:19 amThis weekend was wonderful. Saw some of my favorite people. Laughed a lot. Picnicked outside. (Can you believe it? Just a day after Storm Watch 2010. California is silly.) Ate too much. Drank just enough. Also, I really love my boyfriend/future husband. (I’ve decided “fiancé” is just not for me. I giggle-gag a little every time I say it.) Despite his predictions, I think we’re gonna have a very good life together. That is all. This post has no point but maybe that’s the point. (I’m so deep.) Happy Monday.
-
Cusp of Normal
-
Please pray for Luke
8 Feb 2010 | 8:13 amLast night we left the house for ten minutes to pick up wings for the Super Bowl. We came home to find Luke had gotten into some bread that was wrapped up and sitting on the kitchen counter. The problem is, the bread had raisins in it. As soon as I made this realization, I lost it. Panic mode set in and I could barely use the computer to search for an emergency vet. We loaded Luke in the car, as I cried not knowing what would happen to my pup. For those of you who don't know, raisins and grapes are very deadly to dogs. They cause kidney failure. It isn't known how many are a cause for… -
Laughing at myself
3 Feb 2010 | 11:05 amToday I am home sick. When I finally made it out of the bedroom and into the living room, I sat down at my desk to use my computer. After a few minutes, I saw a man crawling through the bushes towards the window. So, I did the first thing that entered my mind. I hid. I leapt from the chair and cowered in the corner just to the right of the window. My heart was racing. I wondered if he had seen me. And THEN I realized something. He wasn't crawling towards the window. He was crawling towards our gas meter. He was just the meter man. At least, I hoped he was the meter man. Because no sooner than… -
"Say Hello Wave Goodbye"
29 Jan 2010 | 7:56 amAndrew and I commute to work together each morning. We are lucky because we save money on gas, parking, and other transportation costs. We also get to start our mornings singing along to the radio together and making fun of the morning show deejays. (God, are they awful!)This morning, while belting out some Faith Hill..."IF I COULD GRANT YOU ONE WISH, I WISH YOU COULD SEE THE WAY YOU KISS!"(editor's note: corniest song ever?)I saw one of the six or so crossing guards we pass during our morning commute. He waved, and I waved back eagerly.Andrew interrupted our very spirited rendition of the… -
I'd be mad... if he wasn't so dang cute
28 Jan 2010 | 8:48 amLast night, beyond exhausted, I kissed my husband goodnight and walked to the bedroom--leaving him to have free reign of the TV. I put in my earplugs, turned off the light, and settled in for a solid eight hours of sleep. I was almost dancing with sugar plumb fairies when I heard a muffled shouting coming from the living room.Andrew knew that I went to bed, so I assumed his shouting was for something important... there was possibly even an emergency.I ran to the living room, pulling out my earplugs."Hey, I had my earplugs in, what's going on!?"Andrew laughed at the urgency in my voice."Oh..."… -
Torture? Or high fashion? You decide.
26 Jan 2010 | 9:27 amI present to you, Burberry Dog.(And no, it's not really Burberry. Just a similar plaid pattern. Can you trademark plaid? I don't think that's fair. Then again, I don't think you can trademark freaking smiley face cookies either. Sorry, Pittsburgh. You're wrong on this one. It's just icing, people! Let's take our cookies a little less seriously. They are, afterall, cookies.)Ahem. If you would like to humiliate suit up your pup, check out DOG-E-DESIGNS. Their website could use a little updating, but the products this Canadian duo produces are high-quality.
-
by teresa wu
-
(Select Answers) Formspring 2.8.10
8 Feb 2010 | 10:19 pmI’m painfully behind on this Formspring biz, and let’s face it, nobody cares about my life enough to read more than two blocks of text about it. So this post is already about nine blocks too long. But if you want to read the rest of my responses to personally invasive inquiries and notes from my UCSD stalker that I want to high five, feel free to check them out here. A little bird tells me you were an Asian piano prodigy child. Tell me more. I started playing piano at age five with Ling Lee in Fremont before moving on to Lena Grozman, an awesomely crazy Russian lady in Sunnyvale, Calif. -
annieisms: February 6th, 2010: kitchen dance! I dance like a...
8 Feb 2010 | 7:09 pmannieisms: February 6th, 2010: kitchen dance! I dance like a dinosaur.Thomas really likes this song.Teresa makes delicious eggs.Charlie does excellent camera work! SPOILER ALERT!! —> I sip water from a very large mug. :D Footage from Saturday night. I am playing “volume control police” and “hungry fatass.” -
While Discussing Verizon's 4chan Blockage
7 Feb 2010 | 10:32 pmThomas: 4chan? What's 4chan? Charlie: Uh, only the armpit of the internet. -
charliesuh: superamit: brit: So proud to have been part of...
7 Feb 2010 | 7:28 pmcharliesuh: superamit: brit: So proud to have been part of Google’s first Super Bowl ad. I hope you enjoyed it. Parisian Love (via SearchStories) Adorable! I haven’t seen any of the Super Bowl ads yet aside from this one. I think this is my favorite. So far? Period? Perhaps. *Heart melts.* -
Uh, ‘work-sesh’ turned into...
6 Feb 2010 | 2:28 pmUh, ‘work-sesh’ turned into ‘UrbanDictionary.com-ing our names’-sesh.
-
The Thoughts and Theories of Julie Minevich
-
A Postcard from St. John
30 Jan 2010 | 8:24 amShare and Enjoy: You might also enjoy these related posts:On Being Single Notes from the Road: St. John An Introduction… or a Conclusion -
Notes from the Road: St. John
27 Jan 2010 | 5:36 amI’m spending this week exploring the United States Virgin Island of St. John. Hopefully, once I return, I’ll pen my reflections in the form of a blog post, but in the meantime, here are a few things that I’d recommend to someone travelling to the island: BRING YOUR PASSPORT. There are day trips to some of the British Virgin Islands like Jost Van Dyke and sans passport, your excursion opportunities become limited. A GPS will come in handy. St. John is incredibly hilly and its easy to get lost. Luckily, I had my iPhone on hand and have been using it quite a bit to get… -
Ways To Support Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts
14 Jan 2010 | 9:52 amAfter the initial shock of the news about the recent earthquake in Haiti wore off, my next thought was, how can I lend my support? My immediate instinct was to do donate to The Red Cross since the organization’s mobile giving campaign (where participants can simply text a number to have a $10 donation be added to their next phone bill) was getting so much press coverage. However, Vicki Boykis pointed me to the comments in this Reddit post that caused me to take a step back and re-evalute my decision. What the comments highlight and what I’ve found in my research is that The Red… -
The Quest for the Perfect Cookbook
7 Jan 2010 | 11:29 amOne of my resolutions for a while has been to cook at home more but I think the fact that I only know a few recipes is what is hindering my progress. I’ve been searching for cookbook that ideally offers recipes that are easy, quick, healthy, kosher, and “for one”. I’ve come to realize that I also need a picture to accompany each recipe so that I can understand what it is I’m making and what it’s supposed to look like at the end. After quite a deal of searching, it’s become apparently that if I am ever to fulfill my quest I certainly need to drop… -
2009 in Review
3 Jan 2010 | 10:38 amI think it’s important to take time and reflect on one’s year. Unfortunately, it’s something that I only manage to formally do about once every three years. In any case, below is a survey that I’ve previously filled out in 2006 and 2003. 1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? I began contributing to a 401k. I know that’s not exciting, but doing so really solidified my identity as an adult. 2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? In the past, I haven’t made New Year’s resolutions…
-
Simply Fabulous
-
I Hate Winter; I Love My Hat
2 Feb 2010 | 6:40 pmIt's funny how your tastes change as the years go on. I don't think that a few years ago I would've been caught dead in a hat. I really didn't think I looked good in them. And yet today, as I exited the Metro and saw the wet snow falling (ick), I was so happy that I had read the weather report and had my cute hat in tow.Yes, sure, I'm a nerd for planning ahead and packing my hat early this -
I'm a Jaywalker
15 Jan 2010 | 10:41 amSince coming to the DC metro area, I have found the people and rules of the city to be quite interesting. One such thing in particular is the subject of jaywalking. In NYC, you have people constantly darting across the street when no cars are coming. I really believe that if you've looked both ways (even on a one-way street) and it's clear, you can totally go. It's all about saving time when -
Plagued By the "Type"
28 Sep 2009 | 4:36 pmI have a type. Yes, my friends, I tend to date the same type of guy over and over again. And what does that teach me? Apparently nothing the last two times. So now, I believe that means three strikes and you're out. That is the way it will be from now on. However, I think this same type haunts me. If you know me well you know what I'm talking about.Let's take my plane ride home from California, -
Battle of the Brands - GIVEAWAY!
16 Sep 2009 | 5:00 pmI have been completely crazy with schoolwork and stuff. However, I just needed to take the time to tell all of you about the fabulousness that continues to be Shop It To Me.I've blogged about them before and they have certainly made me -- or should I say my wallet -- the victim of some fantastic purchases. Their latest service? Battle of the Brands! Think of it as a Sweet 16 of College Basketball -
Elevator Etiquette
13 Aug 2009 | 8:08 amLiving in an apartment building puts me in the elevator quite frequently. And I always find it awkward. Since moving it seems interesting when I get off an elevator. Who gets off first? Is it the last person who walked on or the first person to hustle? Do all guys really let the females off first? This seems to be trending in my short experience in a new town.I also find that people are actually
-
Entry Level Living
-
Follow Friday: What Has Haiti Shown Us About Nonprofits?
5 Feb 2010 | 2:40 pmWith the immediate impact of the earthquake fading from people’s memories, many are beginning to focus on the nonprofits providing services to Haiti. Below are some of the interesting conversations I have read regarding nonprofits and their involvement in helping Haiti. I definitely recommend you follow these folks for powerful insight. Marketing: What has the millions of dollars raised shown us about public engagement in disaster relief? Dan Pallotta (@danpallotta), social entrepreneur, author of Free the Nonprofits, and blogger at Harvard Business Review, states that there is a… -
Reader Response: Inexpensive Professional Development Resources
4 Feb 2010 | 4:30 amWelcome to the fist edition of Reader Response! Do you have a question about developing a career in the nonprofit sector, navigating life in NYC, or working with social media? Send me an email! ajlovesya [at] gmail [dot] com. I might feature it here! Today, I’d like to tackle a question I get regularly: What free or low cost resources can a young person interested in a nonprofit career tap into for professional development? Understandably, as a nonprofit newbie, you’re focused not only on finding your passion but also on developing important skills to make you competitive… -
News and Notes
2 Feb 2010 | 1:21 pmSometimes my inbox is flooded with so many interesting opportunities, I figured I’d share! New additions to my blog: Reader Response: I get quite a few emails from readers with questions that range from how do I start a nonprofit to what kind of books should I read for my career? I think those kinds of questions would benefit lots of people if I addressed them and solicited input from other readers. So on Thursdays I will post a question I received, give my response, and hopefully others will chime in. I hope this will be helpful! If you have any questions you would like… -
Help Save Idealist.org
1 Feb 2010 | 2:37 pmI was floored when I read this tweet by Ami Dar, founder and executive director of idealist.org. While we are all aware of the impact the weak economy is having on many nonprofits, some organizations seem invincible because of the sheer impact they have on the entire sector. Idealist.org has become such integral part in how we create, share, and search for opportunities for social change that I couldn’t fathom it enduring the level of distress indicated above. In fact, my growth in the nonprofit sector has been fueled by idealist.org. Aside from finding my first job opportunity in NYC… -
When it Comes to Executive Pay, Numbers Arent Enough
24 Jan 2010 | 8:46 pmWhile much of the conversation about nonprofit pay focuses on how we are not paid enough given the work we do, every now and then someone will attract the wrath of the public for having what is considered a salary that is too high. Honestly, I generally don’t share the indignation because there is never any context given to the numbers. There are a few questions I think we should answer when deciding whether or not pay is excessive: What percentage does this take of the organization’s budget? We accept that, as a rule, the larger the organization, the larger the salary but have we…
-
Geoff at Mount Allison
-
The Importance of an Online Presence/Online Reputation Management or "How the Internet Can Help or Hurt Your Job Prospects"
4 Feb 2010 | 11:48 amWith the omnipresence of social networking sites in today's world you need to stay connected for most things. I know one person out of hundreds of friends and acquaintances who doesn't have Facebook. He says that he is sometimes left out of events because people assume everybody has Facebook so that becomes the sole form of communication about the event. But besides connecting with friends about a party or concert this weekend Facebook and other social networking sites have important implications for your professional life. A recent careerbuilder.com survey found that forty-five percent of… -
Studying International Relations at Mount Allison: Degree Audit and Preparing for Graduate School and Beyond.
28 Jan 2010 | 12:00 pm“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.” ~ Douglas AdamsIt's already been almost a month since second semester began and this is only my first post of the new year. I've been busy organizing everything and have finally gotten used to my class schedule after moving my classes around. This semester I've started taking International Relations courses starting with an intro class. Our first essay assignment is focused on judging the legitimacy of different theories which is fairly interesting but I'm anxious to move onto the Global Governance module that is the foundation for my upper year… -
Semester's End
27 Dec 2009 | 5:20 pmSo I realize that it has been a tremendously long time since I wrote a good length post but, as you may have guessed I just finished the juggernaut that is exam period at Mount Allison. Thankfully this time I had 4 exams (40%+35%+25%+40%= earning 1.4 classes worth of graded material tested over just over a week's time.). It turns out that I did fairly well. Now I'm finally done all of my distribution requirements and can move onto classes for my major. Next semester is French, Canadian Studies, International Relations, and two History Courses. They all seem pretty interesting and I'm excited… -
Shrimp Market Competition and Slave Labour in Southeast Asia
3 Dec 2009 | 11:29 amWe just finished our commodity chain term projects in GENV 2201: Geography of Economic Activity. Groups documents the different stages of each chain from the beginning to end use. It was an interesting project and in the video below it is clear that knowing the source and steps of commodity chains does have practical and moral implications. -
A view of Convocation Hall, downtown Sackville and the Radio Canada International Shortwave Towers on the horizon
21 Nov 2009 | 12:53 pm...is not what you'll see here...because I don't have a camera with me. I'm in the library writing an essay and so one of the best images of Sackville is one I won't be able to share with you here. The setting sun created a beautiful image of the town that was a welcome relief while I'm in the midst of so much of the everyday. Looking up to see where I'll be two and a half years from now graduating gives more meaning to the essay I'm writing, final lab report I have to finish, and my last live music review for the campus paper this year. In less than a month I'll have finished all my…
-
Temerity Jane
-
So he said, “Ow!” and I said, “That’s what I said!”
9 Feb 2010 | 8:39 amSo, I was going to update you guys on the goings on up here in Pennsylvania (I picked a dress! Not one of the seven! And then I unpicked it! And picked one of the seven! And I have to go buy it! But there’s a dangerous left turn! I don’t even like to make safe left turns! And someone else might be buying it RIGHT NOW!). However, something happened just a few moments ago that I would like to discuss instead. I shut the car door on my face. I tried to type that six hundred different ways, more clearly or more descriptively, but it is what it is. I shut the car door on my face. I… -
The state of me being in this state.
5 Feb 2010 | 9:39 amInternet, I’ve discussed this before – not with you, I don’t think, but I probably would have gotten around to it eventually – I just don’t care for travel. I know that the desire for travel is generally assumed to be present in anyone and everyone, as if it’s a certainty that anyone with half a brain would turn globetrotter at the drop of a hat, given the chance. Well, meet the girl who is CHALLENGING ALL OF YOUR PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS OF NORMALITY. I’m practically a “The More You Know” commercial. Doo DOO doo doooooo. I don’t like to… -
Protected: PASSWORD: IAmNotPhil
3 Feb 2010 | 7:42 pmThis post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: -
DO YOU EVEN BELIEVE IT?
2 Feb 2010 | 4:37 pmThe title of this post, Internet, refers to two things. Thing One: I went dress shopping today, and it was not a total misery, even though my mother started off the day by telling me she liked my shirt but it made me look “heavier than I am.” And then she was shocked when I went to change it. She wasn’t being mean, it just didn’t come out the way she intended (I was wearing a much less fitted shirt than my usual preferences, and she wasn’t used to it, as I am quite set in my “style” ways). There were very few dresses we were flat out displeased with,… -
Justify Phil’s completely ridiculous potential purchase. OR NOT.
1 Feb 2010 | 1:00 pmFebruary 16th is a very important day for me this year; I have a test that I really need to pass. I want to be a TSgt, not just because I have been an SSgt for way to long, but also I feel the need to have the next level of responsibility. I am not sure how to explain it, but I’m worried I am not trying hard enough. I do study, but I flash forward in my mind to the day they announce the ranks and when my name is not on it I will just be kicking myself for not trying just that little bit more. I just want this so bad and not just for myself, but to help secure my future with TJ and any of…
-
Clever Girl Goes Blog
-
Jasperated.
5 Feb 2010 | 2:01 am[Don't forget to enter my DiGiorno giveaway for a chance to win a $200 Visa Gift card!]Happy Fanged Friday, my lovelies!Here we are again: another week gone by, another vampire to lust over.(You'd think, MAYBE, at some point, I'd run out of hot dead guys. But fear not!)This week's Fanged Friday feature is the pensively handsome and oh-so-serious Jasper (Cullen) Hale, also known as Jackson Rathbone.Oh, Jasper... I like you so much better in the books than in the movies. No offense, or anything, but your barely-able-to-keep-from-killing-schoolchildren look is kind of a cross between "I smelled… -
The Valentine's Day Dilemma.
2 Feb 2010 | 1:47 pmAs some of you know, my wedding anniversary happens to be VERY close to Valentine's Day (as in it's February 10).Hubs and I have been married for almost 3 years now, and together for almost 5, but I think the only "real" Valentine's day celebration we had was year one. The last few years, Hubs we've just cooked at home and had a mellow night.(No gifts, even. I always insist on a card but that's about it.)(Which is SERIOUSLY monumental. Especially cuz Hubs is an extravagant gift-buyer on every other occasion. Yo, Marc Jacobs? You owe me a beer, bro.)Anyhoodle.People are always surprised when… -
Remember Me because I'm hot.
29 Jan 2010 | 2:00 amHappy Fanged Friday, everyone!!I know, I know, I'm a MAJOR slacker because I skipped last week, but that should make this week even more exciting! Right?(Just go with it.)This week we are breaking all the rules over here at Ye Olde Clever Girl Goes Blogge, but since I INVENTED Fanged Friday, I figure I can do what I want.Are you ready? Is the suspense killing you? CAN YOU EVEN STAND IT?(Do you want me to shut up and just post the vampire porn already? I thought so.)This week's Fanged Friday feature is the always adorably scruffy RPattz... in his new movie "Remember Me." Playing a human. Who… -
Tainted.
28 Jan 2010 | 2:00 amI love books, as you all know. Just when I'm not sure what I'm going to read next, TLC Book Tours always comes through for me with a fabulous new book.(Seriously. I must have a to-read list at all times otherwise I get crabby.)Brooke Morgan's debut novel, Tainted, is the story of Holly Barrett and her daughter Katy. Holly is a young mother with a tragic past who relies heavily on her quiet Cape Cod town and her grandfather Henry to maintain her sanity.One day, Holly meets an Englishman named Jack Dane who seems to fit in perfectly with her life, giving her the love and support she never had… -
Quotes from the weekend.
26 Jan 2010 | 2:18 pm[Don't forget to enter my DiGiorno Giveaway for a $200 Visa Gift Card!]***"Towards the end I ran out of steam so I was just putting stuff on my head because he thought it was funny." Tia on babysitting Lil Fooz."I made your lunch. Because I'm nice. And because otherwise you come home and complain." Hubs keeps it real."He was all judgey until I put it on and then he said I looked hot. My life is full of opinionated queens." J Fooz on being MILF-y with the gays."Sometimes I keep your text messages. Like this one: 'I want a million dollars and a pony. Or a pony that costs a million dollars. Or a…
-
Wonderland or Not
-
America’s Next Top Buttock
8 Feb 2010 | 4:34 pmAmerican Apparel contest has sparked a petition protest. If I thought it would do any good I’d sign the petition, but on reviewing the success of American Apparel’s (bordering on pornographic), marketing tactics over the years, I don’t think it would do any good. People need to stop buying the stuff in order for petitions to work and it just hasn’t happened here. Won’t happen. Throwing up a petition…easy. The root of the problem it is more difficult to tackle, and not nearly as fun to write about. Sex sells. More often than not anything which denigrates women, or represents women… -
The Blizzardly Blogger Blues (Snow Bound)
5 Feb 2010 | 9:33 pmEmail alerts all day “National Weather Service issues stern warning“ “as dangerous as winter weather can get” No one wanted to leave the bar. Chances of anyone getting back out this weekend were slim. Staving off the much feared “cabin fever” we lingered. The goal, to delay wall climbing due to temporary insanity of a forced weekend at home. Inevitably we had to leave. Walking, almost blinded to home, on streets which, when you could see them through the sideways falling snow, were impassable, unmarked by tire tread, snow plows nowhere in sight. The walk was more of a trek, almost… -
Me, Shaun White, And Weekend Notes
31 Jan 2010 | 10:03 amEvidence of the fragility of my bones came years sooner than predicted by my brother when, after being trampled by someone’s large child in the parking lot of the local ski resort on Saturday, I fell and fractured my right wrist, or distal radius as those in the know call it. So much for taking the day off from work and study to enjoy the more than predicted snowfall. I fell on both hands, but the wrists seemed alright directly after the fall. About an hour later I realized something was wrong with my one wrist. I stayed a couple hours anyway, but on the way home I had to stop at the ER.
-
She Takes On The World
-
Best PR Practices: How to Build Media Contacts and Get Press
8 Feb 2010 | 4:15 amImage courtesy of Shutterstock As business owners, we know that publicity is worth its weight in gold because it is a more credible form of marketing in contrast to advertising. Since publicity isn’t paid for directly by the company or person and advertising space is, PR specialists can’t control the size of a write up the way advertisers can. When your product, service, name, or company is in ink or featured on TV or the radio, it can generate great attention, which is why billions of dollars are spent using PR firms every year. Follow these steps to create a strong list… -
Build a Better Home Office
3 Feb 2010 | 9:18 amImage courtesy of Shutterstock If your lifestyle is like mine, chances are you spend a great deal of time in your home office. In fact, it’s probably the most used room in your house, next to the kitchen. So why then, does your workspace look like more of a dungeon than a sanctuary? Wouldn’t work be more enjoyable if your office was a place you liked to be, rather than a place associated with achy muscles, squinty eyes, and stress? Changing the way your home office looks and functions can have a direct effect on your personal productivity. Here are a few simple tips to help you transform… -
Interview with Olympic Figure Skater, Tuğba Karademir
26 Jan 2010 | 3:25 pmTuğba Karademir is a world class figure skater from Ankara, Turkey who lives and trains in Barrie, Canada. In 2006, she became the first figure skater to represent Turkey at the Olympic games and was also Turkey’s flag bearer. Now, Tuğba is Olympic bound again and aiming for a top 10 finish in Vancouver. Despite her crazy schedule (she just finished skating at the European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia) she granted an interview to She Takes on the World. Natalie: What does it mean to you to be an Olympic athlete and represent your country, Turkey? Tuğba: It means… -
Nine Powerful Social Networking Sites for Women Entrepreneurs
25 Jan 2010 | 10:56 amImage courtesy of Shutterstock What is the real power behind women entrepreneurs? A study by the Center for Women’s Business Research shows that women now own 40 percent of private firms, women-owned businesses generate about $3 trillion in revenue and employ 16 percent of the workforce; making them significant players in the national economy. In addition, the study found that 85 percent of women surveyed do not believe being a woman is detrimental to their business success, and 32 percent believe being a woman is beneficial. There is power in being a woman entrepreneur. There is even more… -
Add More ~ing to Your Life: Interview with Gabrielle Bernstein
14 Jan 2010 | 11:26 amThe New York Times calls her “the next generation guru.” She is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and sought after life coach. Today I’m pleased to be interviewing Gabrielle Bernstein about her new book, Add More ~ing to Your Life, and talking about an awesome giveaway. Natalie: What led you to write Add More ~ing to Your Life? And for those who don’t know, what is ~ing? Gabrielle: ~ing stands for inner guidance. Our ~ing is our intuition and our inspiration. ~ing is the cheerleader in the back of our mind that guides us to love ourselves. The inspiration behind…
-
Politicoholic by Nisha Chittal
-
My post at Mediaite: What the Sunday Shows Need is a New Media Makeover
13 Jan 2010 | 7:07 amThis was originally posted at Mediaite. And it was also quoted in The Nation, NPR, and Politico. “Since Sunday shows never really appealed to 20-year-olds, Thompson thinks that trying to skew younger or add new technology and graphics isn’t likely to work. “Even before cable and the Internet, you wouldn’t have gotten younger viewers,” Thompson said.” — from “Will the Sunday shows ever change?” Politico, January 9, 2010. A debate has been raging online about the Sunday morning political talk shows, one of the venerated old institutions in American political discourse. It… -
Can Twitter Help Raise Awareness for Gaza?
27 Dec 2009 | 9:25 amToday marks the one-year anniversary of the 22-day Israeli military raid on Gaza. Gaza, one of the two Palestinian territories currently under Israeli occupation. I know Gaza is not a topic of polite cocktail party or happy hour conversation for most people. Most people probably aren’t quite aware of where Gaza is (here is a map for that), especially since it’s a tiny territory that’s only about 139 square miles on the coast of the Mediterranean. So it is probably not widely known that one year ago, Israeli military forces killed 1,400 Palestinians, of which over 900 were… -
Thoughts on the Afghanistan speech: we can’t afford more war.
2 Dec 2009 | 5:45 amLast night, President Obama delivered his much-awaited speech announcing his strategy for the war in Afghanistan moving forward. I covered it, and my reaction to it, over at Care2 so if you have a sec I hope you will check it out — as well as the already very lively debate in the comments section. In short: I think we shouldn’t be escalating. Our total troop level in Afghanistan will be at 100,000 and although the timeframe for withdrawal is tentatively set at 2011, there’s no guaranteeing that we’ll stick to that timeline. In the meantime, we’re continuing to… -
New Lemondrop Post: Meet Congressional Candidate Krystal Ball
24 Nov 2009 | 7:02 pmI first met Krystal Ball in August at the progressive bloggers conference Netroots Nation. She walked into the room during our Youth Caucus and quietly sat down while people were making introductions. When it got to her turn, she announced that she was not here as a blogger: She was running for Congress in the First District of Virginia. And she’s just 27 years old. Heads turned instantly. A 27-year-old running for Congress? And a woman? There has never been a woman under 30 in Congress. And that name! I had the chance to catch up with Krystal recently and chat about her campaign and… -
Quick hit: Mainstream Media Using Twitter Lists
9 Nov 2009 | 6:30 pmI know no one wants to read another boring post about “Top 10 ways to use Twitter lists” so I promise this isn’t that. I just wanted to highlight what I think is a very innovative use of Twitter lists by the mainstream media – probably the last people I’d expect to have found an innovative way to use Twitter lists this quickly. Several mainstream media organizations, particularly the New York Times, have been using Twitter lists to group together users live-tweeting details about a breaking news story from on-the-ground locations. Over the past weeks,…
-
Black Marks on Wood Pulp
-
Old Man Vilhauer strikes again
8 Feb 2010 | 3:30 pmDear Person Ahead of Me on 69th Street in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Yeah, I get it. You’ve got kids and so you’ve got a serious need for a minivan. No qualms there. I may have the same need someday. Kids get bigger and soon they don’t fit in the backseat of a Volkswagen Jetta anymore and also it’s hard to have to bend down all the time to get them strapped in and ready to move. Like I said, I get it. I also get the DVD player. I can understand that. Long trips can be exhausting for everyone involved, and there’s no shame in slapping in a copy of Little Einsteins because, let’s… -
Jets to Brazil - “Sweet Avenue”
7 Feb 2010 | 2:00 pmJets to Brazil, “Sweet Avenue” - 10/10/98, Seattle, WA When Jets to Brazil formed from the ashes of Jawbreaker and Texas is the Reason, they went on tour with The Promise Ring and ran through Minneapolis on their way to bigger and better things. I missed the first song of their first MPLS show, showing up just as they were finishing. It was this one: a song so filled with hope and happiness and love that the crowd was left wondering if this, indeed, was the same Blake Schwarzenbach that had filled an entire career of Jawbreaker songs with depression and broken hearts. It was. And… -
Tate Gallery by Tube
5 Feb 2010 | 8:31 amIt seems as if once very six months I find myself longing for this print, wondering why I haven’t just bucked up and bought it, and it seems also, once every six months, I fight back the urge with the simple realization that, in fact, even if I were to buy it, I have nowhere to put it. That being said, nothing warms my cockles more than London Underground poster art. -
Two quick interviews for people not going to SXSW
3 Feb 2010 | 11:44 amI’m not going to SXSW. To remedy that, I’m living vicariously through pre-SXSW launch by boning up on the panels and interviews supporting it. Like a new series of short interviews with scheduled SXSW speakers at Scatter/Gather. Not quite the same thing, but it’s making me feel not so bad. For now. So far, they’ve posted interviews with Rich Ziade on article mills… “I love the Web and I love how dramatically it’s lowered the barrier to publish (even the word ‘publish’ feels outdated). Everybody can talk into the channel today. It’s an… -
BMOWP’s 100 Favorite Songs of 2K
2 Feb 2010 | 8:48 amI’ve listened to music for a long time. We all have. In the long time I’ve been listening to music, one thing has stayed constant: my favorite songs sound different from your favorite songs. The notes land in our ears with different expectations. Tastes differ. Qualities change. And, much like we never know exactly how color looks in the eyes of another, music isn’t analogous between listeners. Still, we insist on ranking them. The top this. The best that. The essential whatever. Which is why I wanted to look at things differently. These aren’t the top 100 songs of the 2000s (a decade…
-
American Girl in Australia
-
Fraser Island!!! and a whoooolllllle ton of pics!!!!
7 Feb 2010 | 8:36 pmThe Fraser Island adventure we did was with Fraser Roving Backpackers Hostel and included 2 nights (before and after) AT the hostel. Omgosh can we say so so so so so so so so so so so cool???? But NOT because of the hostel. When we arrived at the hostel the Random Stranger from LA and I were in desperate need of food. Both suffering from low blood sugar, he was getting a terrible headache and my hands were shaking and I was struggling to concentrate. I know – terrible huh?? But it wasn’t a BIG deal because WAHOO! there was an all you can eat Mexican Buffet waiting for… -
The next installment – I let my guard down
5 Feb 2010 | 3:16 pmThere is a lot of new stuff going on in the land of Daisy right now … stuff I want to blog about!! But I feel like I should at least kind of finish this story – seeing as it is THIS story which serves as the foundation for a lot of the excitement in my current life. (haha! current – as if this story happened like SO long ago and not just a couple weeks ago.) We all know I’m a serial quitter so I’m going to resist quitting and give you the next installment. But if you find there are like weird parts missing and a whole lot of “wickeds” thrown… -
The Boiling Pot and the car that was SUPPOSED to be there – but wasn’t
1 Feb 2010 | 11:59 pmWhat do you do when someone gives you a deliciously good but terribly wrong idea, it’s the middle of the night, you’re jetlagged, tired, overly tired, eating lollies because the first Oprah show you EVER watched in your entire life (which was 2 days ago) told you that it’s time for you to make a commitment to yourself to lose weight because you only eat because you crave balance yet you have no idea what that balance is and your niece just cancelled on her Valentine’s Day date with you?? I’ll tell you what you do – no no no. I’ll SHOW you what you… -
Brisbane and being ditched in Noosa
26 Jan 2010 | 4:46 pmOh roll my eyes already. I can’t even START this blog post without shaking my head and rolling my eyes. Deserted 2 hours from anywhere? If it hadn’t happen to me I’d be tempted to believe it didn’t happen!! WHO DOES THAT??? Deep breath. As I was preparing pictures for this post I realized I have pictures of Wenchface. Yep – I do. BUT I have decided to use a certain degree of discretion and not post them. I say certain degree because even though I’m not going to post a pic of her wenchFACE I am going to post a picture of her wenchA** hahaha! -
The Aquarium, the Wildlife Park, the Opera House and a proposition
21 Jan 2010 | 5:17 pmHave I mentioned yet that the Random Stranger from LA was a boy scout? Maybe it’s my domestic, Betty Crocker, Martha Stewart (omgosh I love her!) -ish ways but I DIG guys who have boy scout skillz. Want to know what else I like? Boys from my religion who are chivalrous, respectful and always a gentleman. Would it surprise you if I told you that the Random Stranger from LA was just that? Chivalrous, respectful AND a gentleman? HAHA! Of COURSE it wouldn’t surprise you. :) After all … If you’re going to meet some random dude on New Year’s Eve of all…
-
Young and Frugal
-
What We Used to Have
3 Feb 2010 | 6:26 pmWhen was the last time you looked at the world through the eyes of a child? The eyes of curiosity that see everything with an innate sense of wonder? The eyes it seems we all used to have. As we grow older everything seems to move at a faster pace, and in the interest of time we begin to accept things instead of wondering about the intricacies of why. We easily forget our curiosity that once wasn’t even satisfied by answers; we lose the curiosity we all used to have. As adults we all too often look at the simplest items and see them for what they are; a pencil is a pencil. We forget… -
Thinking Aloud
14 Jan 2010 | 11:11 amYou know that horrible mental state that you get in when you haven’t gone out of your way to spice up life in a while? Call it a slump, a funk, or a rut…I’m in one; it’s not just writers block either, it’s my entire mental state. I feel like I have to do something to get out of it, and for me this typically means creating something to look forward to…entrepreneurially. Seth Godin say’s that “you can’t have good ideas unless you’re willing to generate a lot of bad ones,” and while I’ve generated a lot of bad ones,… -
Live Like No One Else
23 Dec 2009 | 11:05 amIn school my favorite professor would always preach “live like no one else now, so that you can live like no one else later,” this phrase seemed to always get lost amongst a crowd of in the now college students, but he kept saying it with the true heartfelt emphasis of a teacher who really loved his students. In a moment of self reflection today I looked back and remembered this and it was as if the dots all connected. While this phrase can be applied to almost any aspect of life, it really hits home on the financial front. Think about what it would mean to live like no one else… -
The Art of What Not to Post
22 Nov 2009 | 6:12 pmRecently I read a blog post by a young woman who had been fired from her job. She went to lengths to complain about how she felt betrayed by the company, then somehow backtracked and explained how she understood why the company fired her…because she was a horrible employee. She didn’t say it in those exact words, but she lead me to believe that she was a horrible employee. As I read her post, I repeatedly asked myself “what is this girl thinking!?” She might as well just write “Horrible Employee, Don’t Hire Me” on her resume. All it takes is for one… -
Why I Blogged a Tweet
30 Sep 2009 | 6:14 pmOn Monday I posted the following: “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” -Antione de Saint Exupéry All 135 characters of this quote fits snugly into the 140 character limit of Twitter, but instead of just tweeting it (which I did), I blogged it. I think it’s fairly obvious why, but at the risk of having excess I will explain. I had a whole blog post centered around the quote, but the rest wasn’t an improvement on what he wrote, it was excess. All I can say is that throughout our lives we surround ourselves…
-
Life Is Like a Box of Chocolates
-
Close to Home
8 Feb 2010 | 6:35 amThey say “home is where the heart is,” and I really think that’s true. I grew up in Massachusetts, and moved to Long Island in high school. When someone asks me where I’m from, that’s exactly what I say. I haven’t lived in Mass. since I was 16, so I’m technically not from there anymore, but I don’t consider myself a Long Islander, or even a New Yorker, even though I live in Brooklyn. I’ve always been very close with my parents, and I don’t like to be too far away from them for too long if I can help it. When I applied to college, the… -
Too Quick To Forgive, Too Eager To Hold a Grudge
3 Feb 2010 | 6:00 amWhen someone wrongs us, we get mad. We are hurt and confused, often shocked and disappointed. At that point, we are faced with a decision: do we forgive them or do we stay angry? We weigh our options, or just act on impulse. Decide to forgive and be the bigger person; decide to let our anger fester and form a long-lasting grudge. Of course, every situation is different, and sometimes people truly deserve a taste of their own medicine. But, I’d like to think that there’s a middle road. Let yourself be angry for a while, but don’t allow that anger to reach a boiling point and… -
The Little Voice Inside My Head
1 Feb 2010 | 6:38 amI have a little voice inside my head. We all do. It’s our conscience, our moral compass, it provides encouragement and words of warning. Some people have quieter inner voices that only pipe up when needed. Others have blabbermouths who never seem to never shut up. My little voice is quite the chatty one. Always going on and on about things, overthinking, overanalyzing, self-conscious, and second guessing. I have anxiety issues, I’ve always had them. It’s better now, medicine helps, but I don’t think I’ll ever have a quiet mind. Recently, it’s been on… -
Happy Blogoversary to Life’s Chocolates!
28 Jan 2010 | 6:40 amA special 1st Blogoversary message from yours truly: Where It All Began: Entering the Blogosphere Opinions Can Change: My Journey From Blogger Hater to Blogger Some of Your Favorites: Life Is Precious Are Men Defying Gender Stereotypes in the Digital World? If I Am Not For Myself, Who Will Be For Me? When Does Personal Branding Go Too Far? Some of My Favorites: The Appreciation Revolution (yep, the whole darn thing!) Honoring Max: The Story Behind My Mission of Appreciation How to Be Nice Without Becoming a Pushover Ignorance Fuels Hatred, But Knowledge Can Put Out the Fire I can’t wait… -
Bloggers Can Be Friends Too V2
26 Jan 2010 | 6:32 amLast April, I wrote a post called Bloggers Can Be Friends Too. It was all about how the concept of friendship had taken on a new meaning since I became a part of the social media community. I was clear to point out that I didn’t consider every person I connected with a friend, but that it takes more time and effort, and one-on-one conversation. Nine months later, I still believe that bloggers can be friends, too. In fact, over that span of time, I’ve been fortunate to meet a number of bloggers in person. But, time and experience have also taught me some things about online…
-
Justin Plus One
-
Justin Plus One: Now Gone Bite-Size
7 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pmHello Plus One readers! (if any of you remain.)Please forgive the 2+ months of radio silence.I had to abandon Justin Plus One because, well, frankly, I only have 24 hours in a day. And until I find a way to sleep 1.5 hours, I just don't have time to manage and execute a daily blog of this nature while delivering to you quality and entertaining content you'd consider valuable.So instead, I've moved to short form: my new Tumblr blog. On it you will find much of what you found here. Just more bite-sized. Think of it as smaller bits of my non-stop overactive brain for your enjoyment.So please… -
Justin: Friendster's Back, All Right?
3 Dec 2009 | 9:01 amExcuse me while I grab some paper towels to mop up all the iced coffee that just forcibly flew from my nose and mouth and all over my keyboard and Mac screen. In case you haven't heard (and I'm sure most of us haven't)... FRIENDSTER IS COMING BACK?Wow. Do you remember Friendster? I hardly do. It's like thinking past LiveJournal and trying to remember Xanga and Diaryland. It's like remembering your Angelfire or Geocities web site (mine was covered in photos of Gwen Stefani while I pretended to be straight, btw).Anyway, here's Friendster with a new video set on grabbing all of you FaceSpacers… -
Justin: Gaga Puppet-La
2 Dec 2009 | 12:20 pmWe all know I love me some Lady Gaga. Sure, I don't bother listening to her lyrics, but I don't find them important. What I like are the tunes and beats and how they make me shake my booty on the dance floor. And she delivers those in spades.I also like really cool web videos that probably took some artsy folks a lot of time to create. So when I came across this music video version of Telephone featuring cut-out paper puppets, I knew I'd be very pleased.And you know what? I am very, very pleased.Special thanks to Homo-Neurotic for the heads-up on this viral genius. I wish it many millions of… -
Justin: iPhone? Droid? Help?
1 Dec 2009 | 7:11 amI do not like having to make choices. When I am presented with two options for anything, I often defer to whomever I am with. Chinese or pizza? Splash or Rush? Paper or plastic? Bank robbery or casino heist? Don't ask me, I'll be cool with either.Needless to say, when I am FORCED to make a choice, it overwhelms me beyond description. And right now, I am being forced to make a choice. Okay, well, not RIGHT now. But soon. In March of 2010, my Verizon agreement is expiring. Until recently, I thought I had my plan set: I would abandon Verizon and pick up an iPhone.That seemed easy enough. I… -
The Rachel Zoe Project Confronts the Recession
30 Nov 2009 | 11:31 pmSorry about the really somber, angsty first blog post. And now for something still related to the recession, but totally hilarious. My very own (Facebook) friend Beth Crosby, doing a PERFECT impression of Rachel Zoe. http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/6d6c0dd774/the-rachel-zoe-project-recession-fashion-tipsMore funny, weird, sexy and awesome stuff every day at http://www.justinplusone.com
-
rikin on the web
-
Move Along, There’s Nothing Left To See
3 Feb 2010 | 11:32 amI’ve decided to stop writing for this blog but you can keep in touch with me at rikinontheweb at gmail.com and at rikin.tumblr.com. I’ve kept this blog up with sporadic updates over the past year but have decided that the time and energy it takes to write, research, and build a community could be better focused elsewhere right now. Best of luck with all your efforts! -
Excited for the Social Masses
5 Jan 2010 | 10:07 pmSteve Rubel recently wrote that the early adopters are out of shiny new objects to play with. Twitter has grown immensely over the past year, Facebook has become commonplace by every member of the household, and we’re increasingly salivating at the thought of Apple’s purported iSlate. Although I agree whole-heartedly with Steve, whom I also work with, my thoughts recently haven’t been on the early adopters or the next big thing in the social web. My thoughts have been with my friends, the one’s who aren’t obsessed with all this dork 2.0 stuff, they’re the… -
My 2010
23 Dec 2009 | 12:08 pmWith the end of one year and the onset of another comes the inevitable attempt to take all our learnings and define new guidelines for whatever lies next. I wanted to document and share two of the lessons I learned during 2009 that will set the tone for 2010 and many years to come for me. 10,000 hours Malcom Gladwell’s 10,000 hour rule, described in Outliers, has been in the back of my mind ever since reading it. The takeaway is that across any activity or occupation, the best of the best have put in 10,000 hours of practice. The Beatles, were well into their 10,000 hours of practice… -
Expecting Information and Transparency
16 Dec 2009 | 9:27 pmDuring a recent doctor visit I had my blood pressure taken. Nothing too exciting to talk about. During my follow up visit a technician came in and took my blood pressure again. She then remarked, “Oh that’s great, your blood pressure went down.” To which I replied, “I never knew it was high in the first place, what are the numbers?” … A coworker just returned from a business trip complaining that his flight from Richmond, VA to JFK was delayed over 10 hours. His main gripe was that the airline employee offered little insight into the cause other than… -
Vevo is a Disappointment
14 Dec 2009 | 10:24 amEarlier this month Google announced Vevo, a music video partnership with some of the biggest labels in the music industry. Earlier this month I also happened to walk by the Vevo launch party only to be left with a huge sense of uneasiness. Vevo lacks passion. Vevo was not a Google engineer’s midnight stroke of genius developed during his or her 20 percent time. Instead, it was the product of business development deals signed during board room pitches to the music “industry” elite. Bizdev deals are a great way to help you get to your final destination, but they rarely inspire…
-
Intersected
-
Twitter Updates for 2010-02-08
8 Feb 2010 | 5:50 ama sick child means time @ home to work on #ReTrain but I greatly miss gathering for worship w/ Grace Bible Church http://gracea2.org # $300 4 official adidas all-star game jersey? Are they serious? Schizophrenic shoe designs &outrageous prices. No wonder they're irrelevant. # people who watch the #superbowl only for the ads are quiet disappointed. Count me among those # Seriously under-estimated how long it would take to read Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture for #ReTrain # Powered by Twitter Tools -
Twitter Updates for 2010-02-07
7 Feb 2010 | 5:50 amafter no work outs for 2 months, hittin it hard 2 days in a row is gonna kill me. Props to Mike @ Tortoise & Hare for the great core workout # My love for Jesus is best measured by my willingness to let Him be the hero and not me. # I must daily examine myself to put to death delusions of church planting grandeur. # If people know me, we both lose. If people know Jesus, we both win. # Powered by Twitter Tools -
Twitter Updates for 2010-02-06
6 Feb 2010 | 5:50 amwas just told by @mobileme tech support that being able to reply-to a message and delete part of the original email is not supported # really? Web MobileMe email is so limited that reply-to doesn't work well? Sure works for #gmail #hotmail #live com, #yahoo & everyone else # All done cataloging and labeling my library by LOC number. Thanks for the idea @PastorMark & @robberreth http://twitpic.com/11kzpl # Powered by Twitter Tools -
Twitter Updates for 2010-02-05
5 Feb 2010 | 1:50 pm#nike needs to sell designer sketches of shoes # watching part 2 of Sojourn/Church Planting for the rest of us Forum http://vimeo.com/9212588 # Powered by Twitter Tools -
5 Tips for Communicating without Starting a Fight
5 Feb 2010 | 11:52 amFrom the Crossway blog and Joe Carter, who writes for First Things, among many other places. Whether you are defending your faith, telling someone about God, or simply in a discussion—these simple tips can help you communicate effectively without high blood pressure or raising your voice: Start with examples your audience will understand: Always start with an example or concept your audience knows, understands, or finds interesting, and connect it to your core message. Speak your audience’s language: When you speak to an audience, to the extent possible, you must speak their language. Use…
-
The Rest Is Still Unwritten
-
Super Sexist Bowl? STFU
9 Feb 2010 | 10:57 amWhen this year’s Super Bowl matchup was announced, Saints vs Colts, I renamed it to the Super Snooze. I felt it would lack that action packed, hard-nosed, 60 minutes of thrilling NFL football I was accustom to watching. I’m happy to report that I was wrong. The game was actually competitive and pretty exciting! And the commercials weren’t too shabby either...or at least that was my personal opinion when I went into work on Monday morning. I figured there would be Peyton Manning fans whining, but what I didn't expect were women to be shouting sexism! Sexism, really? I’m sorry, the ads… -
Stupid Is As Stupid Does
5 Feb 2010 | 9:25 amI don’t know what I was thinking, apparently I wasn’t thinking. I took a story (a personal matter) and purposely twisted it, taking it out of context to create a humorous tale to post here on my blog. Stupid.STUPID.STUPID.STUPID.I’ve since apologized and removed the post I had published here earlier today. Still, I can’t take back what I did. Believe me, I sooo wish I could! I fucked up. I feel smaller than a midget, worse than an asshole, and dumber than a rock. I don’t know what my problem is, but I deserve the ending result.I won’t say more than that because I’ve already… -
The Selfish Giver
3 Feb 2010 | 1:43 pmI sometimes wonder if the act of helping others is actually fulfilling a selfish need of our own. In the sense, if I do for someone else, it makes me feel better about myself. In that twisted way, it almost feels selfish. Like I ask myself, "Am I REALLY doing this for them, or am I doing it to feel better about myself as the return?" They say giving should come from the heart, but the cynic in me can't help but wonder if all of us don't have ulterior motives attached. Ulterior motives that are hidden or just plain ignored because recognizing that ugly side takes away from the warm, fuzzy… -
Doodled Her Way Into My Heart
1 Feb 2010 | 5:16 amIf you’re anything like me, you hated Jr High! Where I grew up, we called it Middle School and it was the place that imprisoned 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students from September to May. It was the most awful 3 years of my life! I was a scrawny kid who could have been best described as a rib cage and a pair of high tops. My body was all lanky, awkward, and uncoordinated. I often tripped over my own clumsy feet and as a result my shins were camouflaged in lovely shades of blue, green, and yellowish-brown bruises. But nobody was looking at my legs when I had a mouthful of metal and anywhere from… -
Are Bloggers Real Writers Or Just Literary Dabblers?
26 Jan 2010 | 5:35 amI like to write. I like to blog. But am I a writer because I’m a blogger? Some say yes. Some say no. I say..."I am not a writer. You will never see my name embossed on a fine leather book. The dream of being published does not exist for me. At least that’s what I say in my About Me section here on my blog. Although these days that’s no longer entirely true. I do dream of being published and having my name embossed on a fine leather book. But, I still don’t see myself as a writer. I’m a blogger, a literary dabbler. I’m not a REAL writer. And if you’re a blogger, I’ll tell you…
-
Quarterlife Cafe blog - honoluluadvertiser.com
-
The Future of Work...Homework!
8 Feb 2010 | 2:34 amWhen was the last time you sent a work-related email from your iPhone or home computer OUTSIDE of work? Did you record the minutes you spent writing it, then send that info to your boss? Did you get paid overtime? The line between work and home is fading, writes former Financial Times columnist Richard Donkin in his new book called The Future of Work. USA Today ran a review of the book yesterday. Donkin's observations about how technology is merging work and home life aren't new. But his book calls attention to questions that concern just about every working professional I know who carries a… -
Visiting a community library
1 Feb 2010 | 2:36 amIn addition to setting up schools for migrant children, the New Citizen Schools Development Program also coordinates with and gives support to smaller non-profit organizations which share its goals. Last week, I got to visit one of these NGOs, called the Workers' Children Cultural Development Center (nongminzhizi wenhua fazhan zhongxin). The organization's coordinator, Teacher Zhang, met us close to a bus station in the far north of Beijing. The neighborhood is called Bantu Village and is home to many families who have come to the city to find work. According to Teacher Zhang, more than… -
Social work gains popularity among China's 'After-80s'
25 Jan 2010 | 11:57 pmOne of the most interesting parts of my internship has been getting to know the staff of the New Citizen School Development Center. They're mostly women in their twenties, fresh out of college and passionate about working for an NGO. Because NGOs are a relatively new concept in China, these women are exploring a field that their parents and many of their peers know very little about. The staff proudly call themselves "social workers" (shegong) and hold degrees in social work, education and human resources management. They come from places across China, including Sichuan, Liaoning and Qinghai. -
New Citizen Schools get by with little
21 Jan 2010 | 5:35 amAlmost an hour from Xinyuan, another New Citizen School is also trying to educate China's future citizens -- although with even fewer resources. Located out towards the Beijing airport, the New Citizen School in Ma Ge Zhuang is a collection of low concrete buildings surrounding two wide courtyards covered in soot-caked snow. The surrounding area is pretty run-down, with a market or two, and stray dogs and cats vying for food. When we visited on Tuesday, school had finished and the students had all gone home for the Spring Festival holiday. Two young co-workers from the New Citizen School… -
'WELCOME TO OUR SCHOOL!'
19 Jan 2010 | 6:33 amPrincipal Li reminds me a bit of my grandfather. His tough, brown face is creased by deep lines, which almost hide the youthful playfulness and optimism of his eyes. He sits across from me at the enormous conference table drinking tea and talks at length about a subject he knows very well: education. The Narada Foundation has set up three New Citizen Schools in Beijing. One is about to be "relocated" (chaiqian), which often happens to structures in China's hurricane of development. The schools are specifically for rural migrant children, many of whom wouldn't be able to attend public schools…
-
[Super Duper Fantastic]
-
Bye Bye, Kitchen!
6 Feb 2010 | 12:59 pmHere’s another sneak peak at the house if you haven’t visited already. One of the few “cons” to the house – an ugly kitchen. Of course, it no longer looks like this. It functions as a kitchen, but I think it is also the source of a wiring problem in the house. We’ve had more than a handful of electrical trips over the last month. I’m hoping that gets resolved SOON. I LOVE gas stoves, so that was a saving grace, but we had to replace the one in the photo. For some reason, the digital part controlling the oven fell off, and you couldn’t tell what… -
New House!
5 Feb 2010 | 1:28 amThis is the living room that made me fall in love with this house. Seriously, the large sunny window and spacious living area [which is now FULL of stuff] made this house one to remember on my house hunting spree. Tonight’s the first REAL night in the new house. We have stopped in every day to move stuff in, tear things out, or put stuff up. It’s an amazing learning experience – I found out that you can use a Lowes coupon at Home Depot and vice versa. SUPER USEFUL, considering we’ve made more trips to Home Depot and Lowes than I’ve ever made, and honestly,… -
Feeling Abused.
3 Feb 2010 | 10:35 pmThe hospital enjoys toying with my mind. I’ve come to that conclusion. After postponing my surgery for three months [and only after several false potential appointment alarms], they’re now messing with when I can get my bands/wire removed. So the surgeon got sick, but that doesn’t mean his residents can’t relieve me of this liquid diet of no foreseeable end. Seriously. We’re calling them every day, leaving messages, and getting no responses. The earliest date they gave me for an appointment was March. That’s more than a month away, and it’s after all… -
Hesitation and Growing Up
2 Feb 2010 | 4:39 pmEver since I downloaded a dream interpretation app to my phone [DreamBook - $2.99], I’ve been better about at least looking up the significance of objects/creatures that appear in my dreams. I still don’t remember everything in the dream to document it, but I remember bits and pieces. The dream interpretation app seems to point at my hesitation on moving into the new house. I think the idea of it being my permanent residence is what brings about those feelings the most. I mean, I shouldn’t mind it so much. It’s close to the parents’ house, and my stuff will all… -
Sigh.
30 Jan 2010 | 12:25 pmAll this counting down to when I can eat again, and I knew it would be too good to be true. I received a message yesterday. It was the oral surgeon’s office calling to reschedule. Of course, they don’t just call my cell phone, so I get the message right away. Instead, I have to call back on Monday. So not fair. This will surely result in a delay of splint removal. I’m hoping it’s not for more than a week because the Lunar New Year approaches. That means family feasts. I’ll need time to reacquaint my jaw to that chewing motion. [Related]About 1-Month Post-Op Hi…
-
The Everyday Adventures of Me in the City
-
Tardy for the party
8 Feb 2010 | 7:27 pmOh god now I have that awful song in my head. Ohhhh ohhhh, don’t be tardy for the party. No, no must refocus. What I mean to say is that I am a punctual person. When I need to be somewhere, I’m usually 5-10 minutes early. My Blackberry is perfect because I can always entertain myself cruising the Web or killing time on Twitter. I hate the feeling being late and people waiting on me. This weekend, I was 45 minutes late to brunch thanks to being hungover and oversleeping and it made me scream like a five year old girl when I looked at the clock. Fortunately, some of my friends… -
Weekend recap: Getting crazy with friends
7 Feb 2010 | 1:00 pmHappy Super Bowl Sunday everyone. Right now, I’m not feeling so good…because I went out last night and got a little out of control. How out of control? Well, I am missing an earring and Cheerios were all over my kitchen floor and counter when I woke up this morning. But I did come home alone, take my clothes off and remove my contacts and eye makeup. So that’s good. And I smell like a mixture of sweat, vodka and cranberry juice. Classy. God I have the worst headache too. We were out last night to celebrate a friend’s birthday and after some awesome pre-partying (with… -
The online shopping bait and switch
4 Feb 2010 | 7:00 pmWhy I love online shopping: It’s easy to do from home or work You do not have to wait for a fitting room You do not have to deal with unhelpful sales associates More likely to find your size (especially in pants for me) Yes, I love online shopping for all of these reasons. Plus, I get little presents (that I paid for) delivered to me at work. It’s like Christmas or my birthday but throughout the year! And sales tax is usually cheaper (especially if you live in Chicago where it’s 10.25 percent.). Sure, returns are annoying sometimes, but overall, it’s easy. The only… -
Snack time!
2 Feb 2010 | 7:00 pmI promise that I didn’t plan two food-focused posts this week. It’s so unlike me! Plus, I thought this was appropriate because lately I’m craving snacks bigtime. And my cravings usually lead me to chocolate or candy. Especially when I’m stressed. I want to resist it, but sometimes I can’t. I’m worst at snacking when I’m at home or work and I zone out in front of the TV or computer. Suddenly an apple or bag of chips that sits next to me is just gone. Not good. So I’m trying to be better about feeding my snack cravings with healthier options… -
Chicago: 5 years later
1 Feb 2010 | 7:08 pmToday is a very special day. Nope, Groundhog’s Day is tomorrow (in case you get confused like me). Today marks five years that I’ve lived in Chicago. It’s my Chicagoversery. I honestly can’t believe it’s been five years. Outside of Wisconsin, this is the longest I’ve lived in one place. Insane! I moved to Chicago not long after I turned 25, when I was recently laid off and working at a full time job I hated, desperate for some kind of change. I came down for a three month internship and never left. The funny thing is, before then, I never wanted to live in…
-
Writing to Reach You
-
Reading Again
9 Feb 2010 | 3:00 amI have mentioned several times that I don’t read anymore. Which is strange, because I used to read constantly, obsessively. Of course, blah blah, I read all the time, because that’s the life of a grad student in the humanities, but reading for fun is different. I don’t lay down on my bed and read until I’m lost in another word. I sit at a desk with a pen in my hand and force myself to concentrate on every sentence, because if I don’t, I will reach the last page and then realize I have no idea what I just read. I fell in love with reading when I was in… -
The Effect of Blogging On a Life
8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 amLately I’ve been thinking about what it is I love so much about blogging. People get into it for all different reason and I don’t begrudge anyone their motivation. I think it’s silly to pretend anyone does anything for only one reason, especially one admirable reason. I love to write, yeah, but I also love the attention of having people read what I write. Blogging is so much like everything else where it’s just too much damn work to keep up if you don’t really love it. The blogosphere is a self-selecting group already, but then the people who… -
I’m Floating
5 Feb 2010 | 3:00 amListen, I’m feeling a little crazy. Maybe it’s a contact high from watching too much Weeds. Or, maybe if I really thought about it, I’d realize this feeling has almost become normal for me. It’s just that it doesn’t match the idea of myself I have in my head. The person I was for a really long time. I’m not really crazy. It’s just that I used to be very sharp. Very on top of things. And I haven’t changed so fundamentally, but I have too much going now to remember every detail or to notice every little thing in the first place. Maybe the person I… -
Help a Vlogger Out
3 Feb 2010 | 3:49 pmI have never asked you for anything but your undying love and support. Today, though, I need a favor for a blog friend of mine. Despite how big it may sometimes seem, the blogosphere is actually pretty small, so I’m sure most of you know Pham. He’s made it his personal mission to support me in everything and boost my confidence on the regular, so please help me repay him. Also, he already owes me a Blue Moon when we meet at VidCon in July, and I think maybe I can get another one out of him if this goes well. Pham (John) and his friend Karen have applied to the Ford Fiesta… -
Being Cheerful Is Hard
1 Feb 2010 | 3:00 amI knew when I started that I have too many plates spinning right now to give Project Cheerfulness my full attention, but I was surprised to find myself thinking of it often throughout my busy week. I would see myself sliding backwards and try to take a positive step, however small, forward. Last week was a really good week and I was happy throughout, but my major project finding was that being cheerful is hard. I guess I’d underestimated the challenge ahead, because I thought, “I’m not going from 0 to 100 here–from miserable to overjoyed. I’m going from pretty…
-
your wishcake.
-
on being a hermit and stuff like that...
6 Feb 2010 | 10:20 amI'm slowly but surely returning from my self-imposed blogging sabbatical - short as it was. On a side note, I must admit that I realized just how closely my thoughts and tweets are almost completely synchronized. Mostly because I stayed away from it all week - and while it was freeing, it was also slightly maddening. I found it difficult to not immediately type out every emotion. I was all, "But who else am I going to tell about eating an entire box of spiral macaroni and cheese? Or about how my calves are becoming strikingly toned, whereas my belly remains the consistency of a marshmallow? -
on stepping away...
31 Jan 2010 | 7:21 pmI'm going to take a wee break from blogging this week. There are a few things tangling up my thoughts right now and I need to make sure I'm more present for the things and the people that truly need me. I think it's best for me to step away from the internet and all those shenanigans until I'm able to invest myself in it all again. You are all gems and I know you'll understand how things can be! Thank you for that.And because I know vague things like this can send the imaginations spinning:No, I'm not pregnant.No, I'm not leaving my husband for John Mayer.No, I didn't overdose on cheese.Until… -
on being here and there...
29 Jan 2010 | 7:03 pm[photo via weheartit]I can hardly believe it's been a week since I last posted. I hardly have any real reason, either. I guess that some days I just end up tucked inside my head and simply don't have the motivation to write. Which is odd, because I'm honestly always "writing" things in my head. I'm constantly writing things out in my mind as I experience them.Which makes me sound like a horribly awkward, female version of Rain Man (or something to that effect?) but I've grown to accept it.For some reason, most of my words have managed to stay tucked away this week, which sometimes I think is… -
on my life in photos (part one)...
22 Jan 2010 | 7:25 pmHere I am, finally getting around to taking some photos from this photo request post last month. (See? I told you I'd get around to it. Sooner or later. But probably later because I procrastinate.) Anyway, here are a few of the requests that I took care of this afternoon, between the following activities: feverishly cleaning our duplex (early "spring cleaning"), having a mild melt-down because apparently I have issues, eating two plates of delicious curry and being thrilled by how much it has rained here in the past week.Kerri (my name twin) wanted to see my favorite earrings, and although I… -
on how to love harder...
20 Jan 2010 | 9:00 amThe following video was compiled by a bunch of ridiculously lovely people for Brandy and her Hot Awesome Dude...this one's for you, our friend.Love, The InternetOur PleaOur friend Brandy is a brilliant writer, a wonderful teacher, and a generous friend. And she is in love with a man who has just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.We are raising money for the Multiple Myeloma Research Fund in his name. For the price of a cinnamon dolce latte, half-caf, hold the whip, you can be part of an effort to cure a disease that affects approximately 750,000 people…
-
Our Little Apartment
-
Four Months. One Awesome Experience.
5 Feb 2010 | 10:31 amphoto credit.I did it! I went four whole months without buying one new article of clothing. In fact, I ended up only going shopping for secondhand clothes twice, spending a total of $50. From October until February, I spent $50 on clothing. Booyah.It was, surprisingly, ridiculously easy. I avoided clothing stores, because there was obviously no reason to be there if I wasn’t going to purchase. I realized the usual culprit of impulse clothing purchases was surprisingly…Target! But by simply walking past the clothing section each time I entered Target, I was able to develop a habit of not… -
Ashley Starts Budgeting | Struggling with Living Simply.
2 Feb 2010 | 2:17 pmHere’s the bottom line: I’m pretty good with money, I’ve just never made much. We don’t follow a strict budget – instead, we’ve casually kept an eye on our spending. We spend modestly on groceries, restaurants, and trips to Target each month and manage to save a smidgen here and there. I’d like to We need to save drastic amount of money, so we will start paying closer attention to just where our money goes this year. Starting now. Using a very simple budgeting sheet, I’ve determined how much we can save a month and still have enough money left over to pay our bills and buy… -
Yeah, I Should *Probably* Read More Books.
28 Jan 2010 | 9:29 amEven though we don’t own a television, we still love watching TV online and on DVD. We get so into the shows together, squealing (okay, more me than him) when happy things happen and throwing things at the TV when characters make stupid decisions (*cough* RoryGilmore*cough*). We mostly stumble across shows by finding them at the library or recommendations from people with good taste. Here's what we like to watch. (* means it's a show I watch, Mike doesn't.) Currently On: 30 Rock – Best show currently on TV, in my opinion. It’s absolutely hilarious every week, for the entire episode. I… -
Motivational Blogs, A Venn Diagram, and Taking Risks.
23 Jan 2010 | 11:25 amSometimes I try to read those motivational, inspirational blogs that encourage you to find an alternate path in life. A different way of making a living, defining your drive, and discovering yourself. You know the kids of blogs I’m talking about. They usually break up their posts like articles - titling each section with big, bold fonts, want you to sign up for their newsletters, and are selling some sort of downloadable e-book in their sidebar. They always use a certain jargon and lingo that sounds a bit like a televangelist.I visit them from time to time, and after eying them… -
Love Harder: Saying a Little Prayer for Brandy...
20 Jan 2010 | 9:00 amHello, lovelies!The post (and video!) below is something that will be sprinkled across the internet today - please take the time to read. And not just because Brandy is adorable and a seriously fabulous writer. Read it, you'll see.And the video? Well, it's our attempt at cheering Brandy up with a little song. (Brandy, uh, sorry for being a terrible singer). I dare you to not sing along.PS: Mike and I sing in the video. Can you catch us? PPS: How crazy is it to see SO MANY bloggers in one video? Woah. Brandy, you are a very special lady. (Duh.)Our PleaOur friend Brandy is a brilliant writer, a…
-
Curly Su
-
The Power Went Out So There Was No Heat
7 Feb 2010 | 2:10 pm -
It's like coming home.
4 Feb 2010 | 2:53 pmWell, yesterday I managed to get myself to the Y to swim. (When did workouts get so hard to fit into my day? How have I become so lazy?)The pool is of 25-yard adequate length, but it tastes bad and is way too hot. But...Sigh.I love it. I get in the water, and it's like I can do no wrong. I glide through silkily — metronomic rocking from side to side pulses my way from one wall to the next, a flip turn divides the measures of the laps, and the sculling creates a steady current of jet propelled water behind me.Of course, I'm not as fast or strong as I've been in the past, but it didn't… -
Lately
2 Feb 2010 | 9:03 pmLately, I only blog when I'm drunk. No, not drunk - tipsy.Lately, that's way too often.Everything is good, grand, and happy - but I'm frustrated, silly, and morose. I wish I was part of the gay couple next door. They look so quintessentially... alive.But, it's okay. I'll just hole myself up with my murder mystery no. 2 and hope to G-d I know what I'm doing. -
Can I have more tea, please? It's not quite big enough.
27 Jan 2010 | 10:55 am -
A Glance Out the Window
23 Jan 2010 | 5:09 pmI've been sounding pretty damn good lately. I've been practicing a lot, so it's deserved, and not accidental. I was ready for this audition.It's only a summer festival audition; it's not that big of a deal. Breathe, calm down. What the hell is with all this shaking; you'd think you'd never taken an audition before...It was weird, the sudden onset of out of control nerves. I honestly didn't know if I would be able to play.But of course, I played. And you know? It wasn't as bad as I'm making it out to be. It was fine. Nothing was embarrassing. Except that damn it all to freaking hell low D that…
-
Sydney: Unfiltered.
-
#ImAwesome: Shatterboxx Media
9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 amthe tweet that started this whole mess. The #ImAwesome series was inspired by what I thought would be one giant post of awesomeness. Then, when more than three people responded to my tweet about what makes them awesome, a series was born. I’d like to take this time to thank Ed Cabellon for initiating the “#imawesome” tag in his response. The motivation behind the question “what makes you awesome” is inspired by a game that I like to play with Mari when we don’t know anyone. In this game, you go around the table, room, bar, whatever, and you have two minutes… -
What it means to be Gen-Y: Unfiltered.
8 Feb 2010 | 7:23 am::pulling out my hair:: There are eleventy-million bloggers out there these days branding themselves as “Gen-Y” and really using that for all it’s worth. And that’s great – really. I get it. I feel like the Gen-Y community as a whole is walking a very fine line that divides us between totally awesome advice-givers and shameless self-promoters that leave an icky taste in your mouth. What side of the line are you on? There is a fantastic group of bloggers who offer a great wealth of knowledge through the lessons they are learning in their own lives that they share… -
Need vs. Want: Unfiltered.
7 Feb 2010 | 7:00 amIn 2008, when I went through the breakup that should have never happened because it never should have been a relationship, I was given a fantastic nugget of wisdom from my first-ever mentor, Sarah. Now is the time to figure out who you are. Now is the time to figure out what you need from a relationship, as well as what you have to offer in one. You’ve got the rest of your life to spend with someone, but you’ll never find the right person to spend it with (or they’ll never find you) if you don’t know what you need and if you can’t identify what you have to offer… -
Being genuine: Unfiltered.
6 Feb 2010 | 5:45 pmWhen I was younger, I used to tell little white lies. A lot. I knew it was wrong, sure, but it was fun. My little lies made my world that much better, that much more interesting, that much more awesome than the kids across the street. The problem was, I sucked at it. I could never remember who I had lied to and who I had told the truth to. My dad gave me a little nugget of advice one day when I slipped up: “Sydney, you shouldn’t lie. You know it’s wrong, yes, but you suck at it. If you always tell the truth, you’ll never have to remember the lie you told… -
Travel Gods: Unfiltered.
5 Feb 2010 | 12:10 amSo as it turns out, there are travel gods, they just happen to present themselves at what seems to be the most inopportune time. As my parents dropped me off at the airport on Sunday, we realized that we didn’t know when I’d be back down. What was the timing looking like? Who would be buying a flight? Would I do the one-way thing and drive my car back? There was a lot of unknown about when I’d be seeing them next. Which brought on my dad getting choked up which sends me into an emotional tornado, because when my dad cries, it’s something serious. And I lose it. So the…
-
I Am
-
I am a Maid of Honor part II
5 Feb 2010 | 5:00 pmI am going to pick up right where I left off in the previous post. My day as a Maid of Honor (also known as my sister's wedding day) continued with snow immediately following the Temple photo shoot. We snapped the last picture and the sky opened to let freezing, wet, little flakes fall slowly down to the very surprised Dallas world. We were nervous the snow-scared Texas guests would be hesitant about driving to the reception, but it didn't seem affect attendance. On the contrary, and this is hard for me to admit, it added a little sparkle and natural magic to the… -
I Am a Maid of Honor part I
3 Feb 2010 | 6:49 pmI am so excited because...WE FINALLY GOT BROOKE'S WEDDING PICTURES! I know, I know - It's the post you've all been waiting for! These are actually just the proofs, but Brooke gave me permission to go ahead and post some of them. They haven't been cropped and photoshopped yet, so this how it all really looked. I'm going to do this in two installments. Today, I'm posting the morning pictures at the Temple, where Brooke and Garrett were married. In two days, I'll post the evening pictures from the dinner and the reception, so be sure to check back. Now,… -
I Am a substitute
1 Feb 2010 | 7:40 pmI am a dodger. No, no don't worry. This isn't another sports related post. I know you don't come here for that (because if you did, you'd be very confused about what sort of person I am). No, I am a dodger of questions. Specifically, I am a dodger of the one question I am asked three out of four interactions with other people. "So, what are you doing right now?" Instead of answering what I'm doing right now, I say, "I'll be starting law school in the fall." This successfully gears the conversation away from my current life to questions about my… -
I Am Mormon because...
31 Jan 2010 | 6:00 amof this quote from Craig C. Christensen, General Authority:The Book of Mormon is a book that testifies that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world. Great prophets throughout the Book of Mormon have borne solemn witness that Jesus Christ is the Creator of the earth (see Mosiah 3:8), the Redeemer of mankind (see Helaman 5:9-12), the Only Begotten of the Father (see 1 Nephi 11:18-21; Jacob 4:11). These Book of Mormon prophets knew Him, as Abraham and Moses did, and received and taught His everlasting gospel. As we read and study their words, we gain a deeper understanding of the Savior's… -
I Am coaching (no, I'm not kidding)
25 Jan 2010 | 9:21 pmI am a basketball coach. Yes, you heard me correctly - a basketball coach. Of course, I am defining "basketball coach" as one who jumps up and down sporadically screaming the one word she's pretty sure works both in offensive and defensive playing (REBOUND!!!), while the much more qualified assistant coach says things that actually inspire greatness, sportsmanship and good playing technique. Once a year, all the LDS young women (girls ages 12 -18) in McKinney have a basketball tournament. It only lasts one Saturday, but it is extremely competitive; church ball always…
-
Painting an Everchanging Canvas
-
Dear Dog Owners,
30 Jan 2010 | 2:56 pmplease take care of your furry, four-legged family member for the duration of its lifespan. I’m the type of person who cringes whenever I hear about fish and turtles dying because, oops my friends forgot to feed them. Or dogs who live outside in the backyard with no shelter during rainy days and cats who are left home alone for days while the owners go on vacation. Humans are a queer species. We breed dogs until the size of walnut-brained chihuahuas who have lost all survival instincts, and then we decide, oh shoot, I can’t raise this animal. Two days ago, a chihuahua wandered… -
What’s In It for Architecture?
22 Jan 2010 | 10:24 pmThe day before I left for New York, I was invited to AIA East Bay’s Emeritus meeting, since they were discussing the needs of under-employed emerging professionals and possibly forming a mentor/workshop program to keep us afloat. “What will happen [to the architecture industry] if three to five years of emerging professionals are gone?” Just food for thought. “Architecture is always heavily impacted by the economy, and I’ve worked through about five recessions. I’m just glad that I’m retired now, because this one’s pretty bad,” said one… -
The Empire State of Mind
20 Jan 2010 | 12:22 amIt hurts to pay $5.44 for a soy latte… and even more to inhale outdoors. It’s nerve-wracking to take the subway through Brooklyn to Manhattan then stand confused in the middle of Chinatown alone at night…and even scarier to wake up in the morning and realize that no one’s there. Yet it’s exhilarating to walk through Times Square for the first time and watch the sunset from the top of the Rockerfeller, powerwalk through all of Central Park then grace the steps of Apple’s glass spiral staircase, even hop on a megabus at 1:30 in the morning (with a Halal… -
LA: Cars & Glamour
14 Jan 2010 | 10:50 pmPast the windmills, cows, and grapevine is a valley blessed with year-round sunshine yet cursed with traffic and pollution. And the stereotypes are true—everyone does work in media and entertainment. Host #1, Jon, works for Formosa Films while host #2, Christina, manages people like Jaeson Ma and Vanness Wu with Plan C Agency (FarEast Movement, Jin the MC…). There was Adam Wang on my left during brunch at House of Pies on Sunday and Will Tiao on my right at Starbucks afterwards. And of course, how can a trip down to LA be complete without grabbing breakfast with Phil and Ted in… -
Business Card Inspiration & Free Giveaway Contest With PrintRunner!
5 Jan 2010 | 12:52 amAs a recent college alum and “unofficially employed” freelance designer, I’ve been trying to network as much as possible…and every time, I wish I had witty or beautiful business cards instead of flimsy ones straight out of my own printer—victim to a ruler, x-acto blade, and human error. After all, my business card is a representation of my design abilities; I better not make a poor first impression. (If you’re not a designer, you still need a business card if you’re a freelance writer or professional bum, because I’m not going to remember your contact info if we…
-
Sydney: Unfiltered.
-
#ImAwesome: Shatterboxx Media
9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 amthe tweet that started this whole mess. The #ImAwesome series was inspired by what I thought would be one giant post of awesomeness. Then, when more than three people responded to my tweet about what makes them awesome, a series was born. I’d like to take this time to thank Ed Cabellon for initiating the “#imawesome” tag in his response. The motivation behind the question “what makes you awesome” is inspired by a game that I like to play with Mari when we don’t know anyone. In this game, you go around the table, room, bar, whatever, and you have two minutes… -
What it means to be Gen-Y: Unfiltered.
8 Feb 2010 | 7:23 am::pulling out my hair:: There are eleventy-million bloggers out there these days branding themselves as “Gen-Y” and really using that for all it’s worth. And that’s great – really. I get it. I feel like the Gen-Y community as a whole is walking a very fine line that divides us between totally awesome advice-givers and shameless self-promoters that leave an icky taste in your mouth. What side of the line are you on? There is a fantastic group of bloggers who offer a great wealth of knowledge through the lessons they are learning in their own lives that they share… -
Need vs. Want: Unfiltered.
7 Feb 2010 | 7:00 amIn 2008, when I went through the breakup that should have never happened because it never should have been a relationship, I was given a fantastic nugget of wisdom from my first-ever mentor, Sarah. Now is the time to figure out who you are. Now is the time to figure out what you need from a relationship, as well as what you have to offer in one. You’ve got the rest of your life to spend with someone, but you’ll never find the right person to spend it with (or they’ll never find you) if you don’t know what you need and if you can’t identify what you have to offer… -
Being genuine: Unfiltered.
6 Feb 2010 | 5:45 pmWhen I was younger, I used to tell little white lies. A lot. I knew it was wrong, sure, but it was fun. My little lies made my world that much better, that much more interesting, that much more awesome than the kids across the street. The problem was, I sucked at it. I could never remember who I had lied to and who I had told the truth to. My dad gave me a little nugget of advice one day when I slipped up: “Sydney, you shouldn’t lie. You know it’s wrong, yes, but you suck at it. If you always tell the truth, you’ll never have to remember the lie you told… -
Travel Gods: Unfiltered.
5 Feb 2010 | 12:10 amSo as it turns out, there are travel gods, they just happen to present themselves at what seems to be the most inopportune time. As my parents dropped me off at the airport on Sunday, we realized that we didn’t know when I’d be back down. What was the timing looking like? Who would be buying a flight? Would I do the one-way thing and drive my car back? There was a lot of unknown about when I’d be seeing them next. Which brought on my dad getting choked up which sends me into an emotional tornado, because when my dad cries, it’s something serious. And I lose it. So the…
-
A Chase After Wind
-
The Morning After
8 Feb 2010 | 10:03 amEDIT: Check out the fantastic article on the Tim Tebow Superbowl ad, written by Sally Jenkins at the Washington Post.So, many of you may be slogging through your Monday with Superbowl hangovers, or belly-overs (too much guacamole, too many chicken wings!).As for me and my husband, just as most folks were settling in front of the TV and snack buffet, we were stepping out to take a long city walk. It was a beautiful, brisk Sunday afternoon, and we couldn't care less about football.We did turn the game on for the last half hour or so, and I am glad we did for one reason. We got to see this… -
The Beginning of the End
4 Feb 2010 | 6:58 pmHopefully those of you who do not watch the greatest TV show of all time Lost (and I know for a fact some of you don't) were mollified by my earlier good news post, so that you can now (please) be patient enough to skip over another Lost post without abandoning me.First off let me say that if you want to read an intelligent, thoughtful post about Lost, check out what Kacie had to say. Seriously, it's better than anything you are going to get over here. I wish I could say that I had lots of insight and ideas about the themes and philosophical implications of Lost. The fact is, I am… -
Baby, Oh Baby
4 Feb 2010 | 8:09 amThings are sure going to be changing around here!I'm only 8.5 weeks along, but I just couldn't keep the secret anymore. My husband and I are overjoyed (and a little terrified). Baby is due in September, God was really wise when he built in 9 months to get ready! So far, I have been feeling pretty good - just a little bit of queasiness and fatigue, but nothing to complain about. (Not that that has stopped me from complaining.) (I love complaining when I don't feel good, it turns out.) So far no throwing up, thank heavens!!!I ask for your prayers for a healthy baby, healthy mommy, and… -
Dude, I Know What You Mean
28 Jan 2010 | 3:25 pmThis is an actual flyer (which I redacted slightly) that was posted in Baltimore:HILARIOUS!!!(photo from Sugarfreak via Mamapop)*Apologies to my readers who don't watch Lost. I promise I won't post about the show too much. -
Good News
28 Jan 2010 | 10:04 amThe police found our car!And amazingly, apart from a busted ignition and car door handle (and those blinkers), it is in working condition. The police found it in just the neighborhood they expected. We learned that the police place decoy cars all over the city where cars get stolen frequently which are rigged to lock the doors and set off an alarm as soon as the thief is in the car. So experienced car thieves have taken to bringing large rocks with them, to bust out the windows if it turns out to be a decoy car. Well, sure enough, there was a big rock left in our car, along with a bunch…
-
Generation Y Journey
-
Lessons in Retail Customer Service (Listen up Macy's!)
1 Feb 2010 | 9:48 amWe hear every day about the impact of the recession on retail sales. Blah-blah-blah… One of the key measures we hear about monthly is Retail Sales (YOY, month to month, season to season). Retailers employ teams of marketers, advertisers, branders, strategists, consultants, auditors, whatever else to squeeze every dollar possible out of each consumer who walks through their doors. What these elite teams are often missing is the significance of customer service. HELLO…IT IS THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TRUE CONTROL OVER! My goodness…I recently purchased a pair of… -
Advertising: A Love Story
25 Jan 2010 | 5:23 amLong ago, a teenager learned his calling in life. As a young entrepreneur mowing yards, washing cars, and painting just about anything, the young boy quickly understood that waiting for the phone to ring wasn’t making him money. The public needed to be informed of the services he offered and the benefits of hiring him over more professional service companies. That teenager was me and thanks to advertising my services I built a savings account that helped make college much easier financially. Now, I’m destined to be an Adman. Advertising is “sheer… -
A Foursquare Victory!
20 Jan 2010 | 5:35 amI’ve been in the foursquare game for a few months now (I’m actually a Superuser – I got the badge to prove it…). I’m not real sure why I use it so much though. There are very few players and venues in Columbus, OH using it, the badges are neat but completely useless in the real world, and sometimes I don’t want people to know where I am. But…I’ve already checked into two places as of 7:30 this morning. The thing is, I understand the implications foursquare can have on marketing, advertising, branding and consumer behaviors and I believe that location based networking is one of… -
Make Networking Work For You
30 Dec 2009 | 6:28 amNetworking is a fundamental aspect of career success. For someone like me who has goals of leading a company, writing a book, and serving on the board of a major non-profit organization, it requires having relationships with many diverse people. Over the last 5 years, I’ve attended dozens, if not hundreds, of career fairs, national conventions, networking events and professional speakers. Through those activities, I’ve acquired business card after business card and now have a book filled with 4”x 2” cardboard cards of uselessness. Want to take better control of… -
Year In Review: What I've Learned Since College
21 Dec 2009 | 7:21 am1. There are no office hours The neat part about college is that professor’s (typically) have a genuine interest in their students. Their job is to develop young minds. Unfortunately, that’s not in your boss’s job description (though this small, often unwritten responsibility is the difference between a manager and a LEADER). Any minute you are spending with your boss, is a minute you are not out making money for the company. Instead, find small amounts of time to share your experiences with your boss (a cell phone call while driving…
-
Kristen Kouk
-
Listening to Roberts
20 Jan 2010 | 6:46 pm“Men and mascara always run,” sings Julie Roberts. She’s one of my guilty pleasure artists. Ya know the band/singer that you resort to on your long days? Your two bottles of wine friend? She’s mine. Along with the Randy Rogers Band, Brandon Rhyder and some other smaller Texas country artists. She has a point ya know? Men tend to be the heart breakers… that’s why I believed Up In The Air to be such a refreshing plot. *Spoiler Alert* The woman turns out to be the scumbag. Let’s get back to the music. WHY IS IT SO DANG THERAPEUTIC? Were we programed… -
Up In The Air
18 Jan 2010 | 8:47 pmWhich is a fantastic movie btdub, but not the reason for the title of this post. I usually try and entice my single digit readers with my titles, but this time… I’m just feeling like a lot of things are figuratively up in the air. 2010 has started somewhat hesitantly. I’m entering a new thingy [silly boy], I’ve endured some soul searching [why am I really on this earth type of ish] and I’ve started to think about what lies ahead for me [the unknown]. Will I adopt a Haitian baby? Will I become a hermit, move to the desert and write loquacious novellas on the… -
Something Rare
15 Jan 2010 | 9:38 pmI was completely honest, open and communicative tonight. Of course I stumbled on ummms and attempted a subject change multiple times, but I overall conveyed the message very clearly. The unexpected conclusion? I’m not perfect. Which, in all honesty, I didn’t know it was that simple to sum up. You see, I’ve been drifting the past couple of months considering my issues to be unrepairable, dire and just overly dramatic. However, the whole ‘damaged goods’ syndrome has come to an end tonight and that’s something to celebrate. A milestone. I just told him. It… -
Jake Pavelka
3 Jan 2010 | 4:04 pmWho is he? Oh, just my fantasy idealization of the perfect man. NBD. I’ve never met him. Never will. Unless he Google Alerts himself like I do… I mean I have my name Google Alerted, not his. That would be stalkerish [read: smart]. He is this season’s star of The Bachelor. Almost a decade old, this show keeps my love cynicism at bay every Monday night. For about two hours I believe I could possibly have a prince charming, a soul mate, a peas and carrots. [On a sidenote: I bet I could stick a Forrest Gump reference in every post if I tried, but I won't cause that's just not… -
Produce Section
19 Dec 2009 | 8:25 pmWriting this from a corner suite at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas… always wanted to write something like that. Very Bradshaw-esque. No, but seriously this hotel room is bigger than my apartment. I’m pretty sure last night, the first annual Kouk holiday party, I gave Twitter some street cred. I’ve been a Twitterer for a decade [gross over exaggeration] and have been able to enjoy some pretty incredible opportunities. A mucho gracias goes out to the Fairmont Dallas Twitter crew for letting me stay this weekend and impressing my high school buddies with my Twitter skillz.
-
Big Girl Domain
-
Why Women Empowerment?
4 Feb 2010 | 5:24 pmWhy should women be concerned about empowerment? Frankly, because the nature of society today creates so many opportunities for women, socially, economically, and emotionally, but such opportunities become distractions instead of opportunities when egos get in the way and women find themselves in the pursuit of goals they realized that after investment of time, energy, money, and emotions, those goals don’t really align with their internal values and as a result, much of their lives aren’t much to show for. Empowerment is refining independent thinking and having the right mindset… -
Welcome to Big Girl Domain
2 Dec 2009 | 7:25 amWelcome to Big Girl Domain.This is a social community forum for women to come together and support in the development and empowerment of our growth, personally and professionally. Many programs are currently in development to be unraveled, some locally and some web based. Big Girl Domain is a forum to share life lessons, tools for life, and insights to improve quality of life. It is also a community of empowered women who are passionate about growth and leadership. Do you have story to tell about your empowerment journey? Share it here – it’s a small community to begin with, but…
-
Eva Internazionale
-
Inspiration: Anna Mouglalis's suitcase and Parisian chic
9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 amRight click → View Image for the original sizeThis feature was published in the Vogue Paris August 2006 issue. Despite being aware that those quintessentially French items were put together solely for the purpose of the shoot, I was very much smitten by the selection because it represented everything I wanted my life to be at the time packed in a single Goyard suitcase.I'm still fascinated with this article because it reminds me of the many "Parisian chic in 10 easy steps" guides, only it's much better. There's a book of Mallarmé's poetry, not to mention the moleskine. They were obviously… -
The future of Eva Internazionale
5 Feb 2010 | 8:50 amI've realized that my vision of what I want to share online and how has begun to differ from what I've been doing with this blog so far, so I've decided to split Eva Internazionale, i.e. my two main topics (cities and clothes), into two blogs. I will be keeping Eva Internazionale as a fashion/style blog and expanding it with new features, but soon I'm going to launch another blog where I will primarily write about cities.Recently I've reached the 100 followers milestone and I'm really happy that the number of RSS subscribers is growing too. Whenever you put something out for the world to see,… -
When clothes make you feel shy
1 Feb 2010 | 11:40 amThenNowblouse Yohji YamamotoThis is the blouse I mentioned in On Fashion (Part II). I didn't start wearing it until 8 months after I had bought it because I thought its elegance and delicacy were beyond me. Oddly enough, even then I knew my shyness towards it would dissolve with time.It did take a while, but I'm glad to say we've been on excellent terms ever since. -
How I learned that nostalgia romanticizes the past
27 Jan 2010 | 12:33 pmDubrovnik was the first city I fell in love with. After spending a week there with my family in 2003, I vowed to return with a one-way ticket. Like many times before and after, my love for Dubrovnik was painful. I was so enchanted with the Mediterranean joie de vivre, old ladies in cafés with small dogs in their laps gazing into the distance as if trying to recall their lost youth, stone and marble, the hustle and bustle of restaurants on Prijeko Street and red brick roofs shining under strong sun that I wanted it to become my life. It couldn't because I had to return home, but the images of… -
Topshop disaster
24 Jan 2010 | 11:14 pmAdd me on Twitter!dress custom made, fox Almira Sadar, shoes Emporio Armani (close-up)My friends and I went to see La Bayadère on Friday. I'm not very good with ballet because my "opera deformation" always makes me wish someone would start singing, but it wasn't boring and one of the male dancers looked exactly like one of our high school teachers wearing blue pyjamas. We are still very silly sometimes, so things like that can easily make our evening.I had this dress custom made by a local seamstress after having tried on a similar one at Topshop. It was one size too small and at least 15…
