Showing posts with label Lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lists. Show all posts

Monday, July 9, 2012

21 Suggestions for Success


21 Suggestions for Success
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery. 

2. Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy of your time and talent. 

3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. 

4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know. 

5. Be forgiving of yourself and others. 

6. Be generous. 

7. Have a grateful heart. 

8. Persistence, persistence, persistence. 

9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary. 

10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated. 

11. Commit yourself to constant improvement. 

12. Commit yourself to quality. 

13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect. 

14. Be loyal. 

15. Be honest. 

16. Be a self-starter. 

17. Be decisive even if it means you’ll sometimes be wrong. 

18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life. 

19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did. 

20. Take good care of those you love. 

21. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Current Obsession #2

8 weeks ago from tomorrow, I was given a Kindle for my birthday by a dear friend.  At first, I wasn't sure about it.  There is something delicious about turning the pages of a book, and placing it on your shelf after finishing.  But, I wanted to be grateful and give it a go, so I downloaded my first book; Bossypants, by Tina Fey.  I was surprised when I finished it in less than 24 hours (not sure if that says more about the book or the Kindle...but anyway...).  While I have not been reading books that will change the world (some might even promote brain-mush), I have to tell you that I have been reading more than ever with this nifty little friend.  I am in the process of finishing my 8th book on the kindle...and yes, for you math fanatics out there, that means I'm reading a book a week now.  


Here are the completed books on my Kindle:



Any suggestions on what I should read next?

Monday, April 25, 2011

Headphones


So this isn't something that I typically reveal to the world; my choice of music.
A friend once summed it up when he said "you've got the musical tastes of a 14-year old blatina."
If you promise to still respect me even after you read this tiny list, I will share what's currently thumping out of my headphones.


I'll keep the first list short as to not overwhelm. It can be a shock to the system for those not used to having music make them dance around the room.

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT claim to listen to the words of these songs - one needs to simply sit back & let the beats wash over.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Things I can easily become obsessed with

1. Sudoku
2. Sewing Felt Hearts
3. Red Wine
4. Mono Mono's double fried chicken
5. Free Cell Solitaire
6. Rocky Road Ice Cream
7. TBS movies on the weekends
8. Going to the Pierre Hotel for cocktails and snacks
9. Looking online for country houses
10. Buying craft supplies

Sunday, April 25, 2010

List of Happiness



Twenty years ago, I stumbled upon a new book called 14,000 Things to Be Happy About by Barbara Ann Kipfer. My friend Jon & I (at the time sophomores in high school), excitedly started keeping our own book of lists. We wrote down things that made us happy & keeping these books was among the happiest of all. My little book traveled with me everywhere & was added to day by day, year by year. While over the past 4 or 5 years, I have neglected this book, all of my journals contain random "happy lists." Something triggered my memory of my book this afternoon & I ran to dig it out of the drawer that it's lived in for the past 10 years.

I regret that I didn't keep the book in chronological order and made no date of the entries, but many are telling on their own, whether by the bubbly teenage-writing or by the content itself that stirs up specific memories.

I thought I would share a few of my favorites I came across as I flipped thru the pages:

The color of Ginger Ale
Folding corners of pages to mark the place instead of bookmarks
The flat wooden "spoons" that come with ice cream cups
Candy lipstick
Steam of coffee in the foreground of morning sunlight
Making it to an 8am class before attendance is called.
Getting an email from a friend off campus
A pantry with lots of junk-food
The cool underside of a pillow
Yugoslavia
Homemade donuts
Hard cider and Mushrooms in garlic butter with bread
In the dark, trying to see wintergreen lifesavers spark when crunched
A&W rootbeer floats
Sipping white wine out of a thermos in the laundrymat
Gas for $0.98
Midnight picnics by the river
Getting a care package while staying in a motel
Eating grilled fish with your fingers
Faxes to & from Japan
Beaver logs
Wrapping gifts in maps
Blanket tents
Getting to be Senior class secretary
Sending aerograms
Drive-thru car wash
The sound of rain on the roof, windows or skylight
The smell of Play-doh
Flying on overcast days
Being so tan your arm hair is blonde
Jasmine tea
Snow picnics


Sunday, February 1, 2009

My list of 25

  1. I am completely grossed out by eggs and milk (though I love ice cream and cheese).
  2. I had the biggest crush on the bald guy from Sha-Na-Na when I was little. 
  3. If I were given the opportunity to choose my last meal on earth, I would choose Uno’s prima pepperoni pizza with ice-cold beer and for dessert, mango sticky rice (classy - I know). 
  4. I still play childish games with myself; “if I can continue at my same pace & make it to the sidewalk before the street-crossing sign changes to “don’t walk” then he’ll call me...or,  if the guy in the blue jacket looks me in the eye, then I’m going to get the raise I asked for.  Sadly, many decisions are often made this way too...if my groceries ring up to less than $21.54 then I should accept the invitation to Boston.
  5. I was old enough to be embarrassed when I finally realized that a flyce water was not what was used to kill flies.  
  6. I worked as a tour guide in a cave for a few summers in college.  
  7. My dream is to one day live in an old, charming, secluded farmhouse where I will make a living in the arts (or crafts) and travel into the city once every month or two for business.
  8. I remember on my first trip abroad seeing the watchtowers, barbed-wire fences & men with German Shepherds patrolling the border of Eastern Germany.
  9. I have a REALLY rough time starting a day without a great cup of coffee and time to relax and enjoy it.
  10. I go weak in the knees for great tattoos.
  11. If this chronologically made sense, I would swear that I had been a hip-hop street dancer in my previous life (yes, I loved the movie Step Up & Step Up 2).
  12. I am obsessed with America’s Next Top Model (and hate to admit it).
  13. I learned to snow ski & water ski when I was 7.
  14. I have worked selling Latin America travel for the past 6 years & am completely embarrassed by my pathetic ability (or lack thereof) of speaking Spanish.
  15. I wish I were gutsy (and talented) enough to be a graffiti artist.
  16. I am a list-lover.  I make lists of things to make lists of.
  17. I want to take a trip to Djibouti.  I’m not sure why I’ve been obsessed with getting there, but it’s been on my list for over 10 years.  
  18. I am a dreamer and a romantic and am not ashamed to admit it.  
  19. I have pins & screws in my leg from falling off the school bus & breaking my ankle in 7th grade.
  20. Peonies & Hydrangeas are my favorite flowers.
  21. I would choose genuine laughter over money any day.
  22. I am an only child.  Sometimes I appreciate this, other times I yearn for a sibling.
  23. I used to want to live on Little House in the Prairie so I could go fishing with “Half-Pint,” and use bread dough for bait.
  24. I would love to make a living creating party favors, decorations and invitations.
  25. I adore the smell of jasmine and orange blossoms.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

100 things that make me happy


1. care packages
2. the smell of silly putty
3. peanut butter & bananas
4. men who cry
5. mango sticky rice
6. movie previews
7. watching cotton candy being made
8. eating out for breakfast
9. colorful pinwheels
10. swimming by moonlight
11. ferris wheels
12. wearing flip-flops, jeans & a turtleneck
13. kids with balloons
14. weeping willow trees
15. beautiful tattoos
16. St. Germain Elderflower liqueur
17. catching subway connections in perfect time
18. Spanish guitar
19. Turbo hand dryers (it’s like a car wash dryer for your hands)
20. watching the 3 Stooges in Spanish
21. street dancing
22. mail art
23. pinot grigio
24. romantic comedies
25. silver “trophy” ice buckets
26. red & orange Dots candy
27. paper umbrellas
28. love letters
29. toy sheriff badges
30. No-Pudge brownies
31. colorful graffiti
32. board games
33. watching people on passing subway cars
34. kittens and puppies
35. clip art
36. peonies
37. mohawks
38. massages
39. my apartment by candlelight
40. lobster bisque on a cold Icelandic evening
41. jasmine tea
42. blond eyelashes
43. bone folder
44. Murphy beds
45. vintage sheet music
46. Colorado mountain towns
47. snow angels
48. cherry blossoms
49. books you just can’t put down
50. down comforters
51. moosetracks ice cream
52. Drives to nowhere with the top off the convertible
53. water skiing
54. creative inspiration
55. Strawberry Park Hot Springs
56. my grandmother’s gooseberry pie
57. rick rack
58. prima pepperoni pizza
59. dancing with headphones on
60. the smell of tropical islands
61. letterpress
62. subway tiles
63. McDonald’s ice cream
64. coffee in bed
65. making lists
66. Anthropologie
67. laughing until I cry
68. cozy bars and good conversation
69. crossword puzzles
70. getting strangers to smile
71. hip hop
72. house guests
73. sparklers
74. paper-craft books
75. homemade birthday cakes
76. pencil cases
77. gin & tonics
78. metal embroidery hoops
79. marathon phone conversations
80. old school honeycomb paper party decorations
81. stretchy pajama bottoms
82. baby giggles
83. friends who know your history
84. carnivals
85. American’s Funniest Home Videos
86. flea markets
87. road trips
88. mailing labels
89. painting each others nails
90. pine tree forests
91. travel journals
92. him calling just to tell you he’s thinking of you
93. riding my bicycle
94. Fuji & Gala apples
95. Midwestern yard sales
96. Barbapapa
97. greek yogurt with honey, berries & granola
98. Photoshop
99. Little Bear books
100. crisp autumn weather

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Let me know if you put this meme on your blog...I want to read yours.

You can only type one word answers, not as easy as you think!

 • your cell phone?  Ghetto

 • where is your significant other?  dreams

 • your hair?  long

 • your mother? laughing

 • your father? dancing

 • your favorite thing?  inspiration

 • your dream last night? scary

 • your dream/goal? happiness

 • the room your in? studio

 • your hobby? creating

 • your fear?  loneliness

 • where do you want to be in six years? Loveland 

 • where were you last night? Vault

 • what you’re not? graceful

 • favorite food? peanut butter

 • one of your wish list items? camera

 • where you grew up?  Corydon

 • the last thing you did? laundry

 • what are you wearing? pajamas

 • your TV? dusty

 • your pet? peeve

 • your mood? content

 • missing someone? Melodie

 • your car? sold

 • something you’re not wearing? lipstick

 • favorite store? book

 • your summer? sweaty

 • love someone? yes

 • your favorite color? red 

 • when is the last time you laughed? today

 • last time you cried? New Hampshire

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

A few of my favorite things...

Traveling with Mom...and staying at El Convento, with our private garden and fluffy robes and yummy room service...
Traveling in the back of a pick-up truck in the countryside.
After days of cloudiness and rain, waking up to the most glorious day to hike.  It was a "Colorado summer day."  It was perfect for hiking with the puffy clouds, cool breeze & strong sun.
This boy selling cotton candy in the Solola Market
The cream cheese stuffed french toast with blackberry sauce delivered to our room Sunday morning for breakfast at El Convento.
Laughing with Nicholas until tears came when Mom stepped into a huge mud "puddle."
The amazing variety of colors everywhere you turn.
The clapping sound of women making tortillas; a constant background noise in the markets.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Questions from Nisha

So, my friend Nisha sent out a mass email to friends & at the end she said "I look forward to hearing from each of you. If you're not sure what to write, how about answering these:" & then she listed the following questions.  I thought it would be fun t answer them on here.

I'd love to hear your replies to these questions.


What has your favorite experience of 2008 been? 

Fulfilling my dream of moving to New York; experiencing the city on a daily basis and feeling completely at home here.


Who has been someone you met this year who intrigued you the most? 

My friend Roma intrigues me because she escapes all stereotypes & I’ve yet to really figure her out.  I don’t know why I feel the need to “box” her into a pre-packaged person in my mind.  I guess it’s because I just never know what to expect from her & I’m trying to control my surroundings.


What new discovery have you made about yourself this year?

I’ve finally come to the realization that my best work comes from having clear directions and goal-oriented tasks.  I need to have something to mark off a list or something to show for the work in the end.  I don’t do well with open-ended assignments.  


Where did you last have a memorable meal?

An Argentine steak restaurant called La Rural on Amsterdam & 98th...it has the dreamiest steak & garlic fries (and great sangria)...with a delectable dolce leche crepe to end the meal.   The crepe seriously tastes like the most perfectly browned marshmallow that’s been slowly turned over an open fire with the greatest attention.  It’s as if someone bottled the taste of toasted-on-the-verge-of-burnt-but-just-perfect marshmallows & they use just a couple drops of the essence.


When did you last laugh till your side was in stitches? What made you laugh?  I know I have a more recent episode of laughter...matter of a fact I had a good laugh with Melodie last night...the conversation went from getting on the “stomach flu diet” to my planning on licking subway poles to get whatever sickness I could to help me get rid of excess fat...but that wasn’t quite to the side-stitches (that sounds pathetic...but I think it was one of those “you had to be there” things).  Anyway...back to the side stitches...the one that makes me laugh just thinking of it is from a little ways back...and I feel a little guilty about it...because it’s at someone else’s expense, and bless his little heart, I hope he never finds out.  It’s Melodie’s nephew’s school picture from a year or two ago (yes Lesley...if you read this, I’m still waiting on one of these for Christmas or my birthday).  The other one is of my dad yelling “I’m going to ring this thing until the cows come home” at the triathlon that Mom & I were participating in.  I’m happy to tell the whole story of my dad humiliating himself some time if you wish.


How's your family?

My family is doing very well.  My couple of months in & out of Indiana between Boston & New York really brought me closer to my parents.  I talk with them on a very regular basis, whereas there were times in Boston that we could go weeks with no communication.  Now we talk at least every 2 or 3 days.  I really like having them as close friends.  

Also, they have friends who’ve recently & tragically lost family members, as have I & I think this has brought the three of us to acknowledge how lucky we are to still have each other.  We cherish each other by keeping in touch and sharing our love for one another & recognize that we never know when one of us may not be here; we make sure we have no regrets or words unsaid.  

Sunday, August 3, 2008

A Few of my Favorite Things


Spicy Basil Noodles
mmmm


Sook 
The little Thai restaurant 2 blocks from my apartment



3OH!3
I'm officially addicted; headphones stuck to the sides of my head & jumpin' around the studio.  Gotta love 'em even more since they're from Colorado.



The multitudes of Flower Vendors just steps from my front door.


The Flowers I buy from those lovely vendors.


St. Germain Elderflower Liquor
Another addiction...hoping I won't have to seek help for it.  This is the greatest addition to a regular gin & tonic, or just alone with tonic.
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