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September 19, 2011
September 1, 2011
left and lost.
I. hate. losing things. I have a pretty good memory of where I put things or when I last saw something. I tend to keep things in the same spot so as not to forget what I did with them. I try to to spread my things out too much when I'm in an unfamiliar territory - hotel, friends house, car etc.
However.....
A couple weeks ago, we (oh come on, you know who "we" is...don't even give me that...yes, ok, Craig and I....) went on a little "staycation" to Fort Worth to eat at Brownstone (Casey Thompson from Top Chef's restaurant) for Restaurant Week. We spent the night at The Ashton and then visited the Fort Worth Zoo (yes, we braved the zoo in 104 degree temps...) on Sunday.
I have every intention of posting about the trip - pictures, fun events, where we ate.....
But no...instead I'm rambling about the items that didn't make it back from Fort Worth with me and are now lost in the oblivion that is "lost &found heaven".
Item #1: Turquoise beaded Stella & Dot Necklace
I thought since this is a nice bold, chunky necklace that the staff at the hotel would find it. I figured I'd call them on Monday and a nice man would answer the phone and our conversation would go like this....
Me: "I believe I left my necklace in room 203 when I stayed there this weekend. Have you retrieved it?"
Nice front desk man: "Of course! We've already put it in the mail to you!"
Me: "Fantastic! I'm going to leave you a super review on Yelp!"
Unfortunately, the conversation went nothing like that. Let me just cut to the chase and say that after 3-4 calls/callbacks, the necklace was never found. Honestly, whoever the next guest to stay there was, probably claimed it. Bummer. But she's gonna look rockin' in her stolen necklace.
Item #2: Black, strapless GAP dress (that I had literally just purchased hours before the trip....)
Ok, whatever, generic black GAP dress...but let's talk about how I purchased it at full price! Who purchases stuff from GAP at full price....we all know that everything goes on sale in about a week and they usually sell it for less than $20. But I was pressed...so I "splurged".
The end result?
Alessandra: -$120
The Ashton Hotel Lost & Found Abyss: +$120
I absolutely can't stand losing stuff.
However.....
A couple weeks ago, we (oh come on, you know who "we" is...don't even give me that...yes, ok, Craig and I....) went on a little "staycation" to Fort Worth to eat at Brownstone (Casey Thompson from Top Chef's restaurant) for Restaurant Week. We spent the night at The Ashton and then visited the Fort Worth Zoo (yes, we braved the zoo in 104 degree temps...) on Sunday.
I have every intention of posting about the trip - pictures, fun events, where we ate.....
But no...instead I'm rambling about the items that didn't make it back from Fort Worth with me and are now lost in the oblivion that is "lost &
Item #1: Turquoise beaded Stella & Dot Necklace
I thought since this is a nice bold, chunky necklace that the staff at the hotel would find it. I figured I'd call them on Monday and a nice man would answer the phone and our conversation would go like this....
Me: "I believe I left my necklace in room 203 when I stayed there this weekend. Have you retrieved it?"
Nice front desk man: "Of course! We've already put it in the mail to you!"
Me: "Fantastic! I'm going to leave you a super review on Yelp!"
Unfortunately, the conversation went nothing like that. Let me just cut to the chase and say that after 3-4 calls/callbacks, the necklace was never found. Honestly, whoever the next guest to stay there was, probably claimed it. Bummer. But she's gonna look rockin' in her stolen necklace.
Item #2: Black, strapless GAP dress (that I had literally just purchased hours before the trip....)
Ok, whatever, generic black GAP dress...but let's talk about how I purchased it at full price! Who purchases stuff from GAP at full price....we all know that everything goes on sale in about a week and they usually sell it for less than $20. But I was pressed...so I "splurged".
The end result?
Alessandra: -$120
The Ashton Hotel Lost & Found Abyss: +$120
I absolutely can't stand losing stuff.
August 29, 2011
blueprint for a woman's life.
Really? Is this for real? Well, Penelope Trunk sure thinks so! Don't get me wrong, I definitely do NOT agree with some of these "rules" but nevertheless, I found the article entertaining. Take a read and then leave me a comment - I'd love to know which ones you agree/disagree with! Also, most of her claims have some back up data via the links...click on a few and read some of her extended thoughts. This woman is apparently pretty successful at what she does...so maybe she's got a good thing going??
(My comments are in italics.)
1. Do less homework. (Agree. 100%)
Women do better in school than men, but school is not a harbinger of doing well in life. Other stuff is. Other stuff that men do all the time. For example, involvement in sports is a foreshadow of a great career. And video games are, too, because they are both collaborative and competitive–two essential skills. So do stuff guys do, and get grades that are as bad as theirs–after all, you should not be the hardest worker, ever.
2. Get plastic surgery. (Wait, really? WTF?)
This is the must-have career tool for the workforce of the new millennium. You will earn more money and you will have more opportunities for mentoring. Also, you will have a wider choice of men, which, of course, is another way to earn more money.
3. Go to business school right out of the gate.
Everyone has always wanted to go to business school right after college, but good MBA programs didn't allow it. Now there is an unwritten rule that women can get in earlier because it's so clear that women who want to have kids don't really benefit from going to an MBA program later. If you get your MBA early, you accomplish a few key things. Not only do you set yourself up for skipping entry-level jobs, but you also make re-entry after kids an easier process because you have higher level experience before you leave.
On top of that, you are more likely to marry well. Men like women who are smart but not making more than they are. (I do not have a link for this. I have instinct.) Business school is a way to show you are smart, but you don't make any money in business school. Side benefit: You will be surrounded by men equally as smart as you are but a little older, which is a good hunting ground. (Note: I still think business school is stupid if you are using it to actually become qualified to do something.)
4. Start early looking for a husband seriously. (This woman has her timeline down!)
If you want to have kids, you should aim to be done by the time you are 35, when your eggs start going bad fast. This means you need to get started when you are 30, which means you need to get the guy you want to have kids with by the time you're 28. People who marry too early are very likely to get divorced. But by age 25, you are safe from those statistical trends. So why not marry early? In any case, start looking very seriously for a husband by the time you are 24. Here is a blog post that summarizes this argument and links to the research to back it up.
5. Milk maternity leave for all it's worth.
Maternity leave is a complicated political issue, but whatever: For now, it's your right, so just take what's yours. Use all your maternity leave, and then make it very difficult to fire you when you return. Start a year before you want to get pregnant, by getting a job at a company that legally must give you maternity leave. I'm not saying you HAVE to take maternity leave, but if you don't have any, you can't decide to take it. Position yourself at that company in a job you can do with your eyes closed, in case you want to go back after maternity leave and work. Because if you are taking care of a newborn baby and working full-time, you'll be doing everything with your eyes closed.
There is an incredible amount of research to show that there should be a single, primary caregiver for the first year. I know that's not good for feminism. But none of this post is. So look, unless your husband is taking a year off, you're better off spending most of your time on your kid and not your job. The way to do that is to take all the maternity leave you can and then keep pushing for people to let you keep your job even if you're not really doing it. Make them fire you. It'll take their legal department a long time to give permission for that, and you can be collecting a paycheck the whole time. The extra cash can fund the rest of your transition.
6. Guard your marriage obsessively.
Educated women divorce at less than a quarter of the rate of everyone else. Divorce is not socially acceptable for most women reading this blog. We have decades of great data (read Judith Wallerstein) to show that divorce permanently ruins the kids. Yes, it's true, divorce makes life better for the parents. But kids don't care. They don't notice. Kids notice if two parents are paying attention to them, and that is one of the first things to go in a divorce. If you love your kids, you stay married to their parent.
This means that the wife needs to just bite the bullet and maintain the marriage. Stay-at-home spouses keep marriages together more effectively . I know: this is not popular, and not fair, but you do not need to make a crusade out of your family by showing that you can get a divorce and not fuck up your kids. So just bite the bullet and make sure you are keeping your husband happy so your kids can grow up with two parents.
7. Practice austerity.
Austerity is not fun. But you can call it something trendy, like minimalism or slow food.Your ability to manage your life will be nil if you are ruled by financial problems. So that means no big house, no expensive car, no huge vacations. You need control over your life more than you need that stuff. You have more career flexibility, more time flexibility, and more personal flexibility if you can keep your expenses way below what you earn. In this scenario, you do not have to fight with your husband about money. (You can fight about sex and in-laws, which are the other two of the three most popular fight topics.) Also, you can stay home with kids if you want to. And if you don't want to, you can just be you and admit it. Don't say you are not with your kids all day because you need the money. That would be a lie.
8. Do a startup with a guy. (I'd love to own my own business....now find me a guy!!)
Having your own company will give you tons of control over your life. It's nice to have a funded company because then the investors are taking the financial risk and you are drawing a nice salary even when you are not really earning any revenue. The problem is that VC funded startups require 100+ hour weeks, every week. You should only do one of these types of companies with a guy.
Smart women in their 20s are looking for husbands and cannot be 100% focused on some pie-in-the-sky startup. Women in their 30s are having kids and trying to figure out how to work less. Men are more easily focused solely on work. That's why there is a salary gap between men and women: Because women focus on work and family, and men focus only on work. Don't judge. Just get a male business partner. The problem is that men don't like doing startups with women—it's bad for them. But still, you can try.
9. If you can't get men to do a startup with you, do a lifestyle business.
A lifestyle business is one where the revenue is yours to keep. This is good since you will need to earn money, but it's a little more risky for you personally than a startup because you're not in it with deep-pocketed investors. Still, a lifestyle business is attractive enough to a woman with kids and a hankering for something interesting in the business world. Also, given the choice between no work, full-time work, or part-time work, Pew Research reports that 80% of women with children would choose part-time work. And we all know that the part-time work opportunities in corporate America suck. So a lifestyle business is the best path to that goal.
10. Homeschool. Your kids will be screwed if you don't. (What about all the other great benefits of being in a "school environment???)
The world will not look kindly on people who put their kids into public school. We all know that learning is best when it's customized to the child and we all know that public schools are not able to do that effectively. And the truly game-changing private schools cost $40,000 a year.
It's clear is that homeschooled kids will rule the world when Generation Z enters the workplace. So figure out a way to alleviate mommy guilt by homeschooling your kids to get them on that path. You don't have to do the teaching yourself. You can pay someone. But you need to get your kids out of a system that everyone knows does not work. (Note: I just realized this. This month. And last week, I decided: I'm taking my kids out of school.)
11. Spend money on household help and Botox to keep more doors open longer.
Look, it's really hard to be a parent and still have an interesting life. Not for men. We have seen enough of feminism to be certain that men are not derailed personally by kids. (In fact, Catalyst reports that having kids increases a man's earning power. Probably because he is then more likely to have a wife at home inadvertently performing the role of pseudo personal secretary. ) So the more money to spend to get people to help you with your kids, the more time and energy you'll have to help yourself.
Also, as women age they become more invisible. I know, this is not nice to say. And we are told it's only true in Hollywood. But since when has something that catches on in Hollywood not been relevant to the rest of us? Even pre-nups went mainstream. So the longer you can look younger than 45 the longer runway time you will have to figure out how to raise kids, hold a marriage together and still keep things vibrant and interesting intellectually. It's no small feat, but Botox and Restylane will be your best teammates in this part of the adventure.
12. Break the mold in your 40s.
Women get more unhappy as they age. So you can say you don't like the advice I'm giving. But look, in order to change the trajectory of women's happiness, we are going to have to drastically change the advice we give to women about how to run their lives. Most of the news about women in their 40s is pretty bad, to be honest. But the good news is that you can change that, by living differently in your 20s and 30s than women did before you. And, if you are in your 40s and reading this, take solace in the fact that by the time women are in their 40s they are great in bed, so if you do nothing else, figure out how to have a lot of sex to leverage your hard-earned talent.
About Penelope Trunk:
Penelope Trunk is co-founder of Brazen Careerist, a career management tool for next-generation professionals. This is her third startup. Each company Penelope built was focused on a community. Her own career path has had twists and turns, which she documents on this blog.
(My comments are in italics.)
1. Do less homework. (Agree. 100%)
Women do better in school than men, but school is not a harbinger of doing well in life. Other stuff is. Other stuff that men do all the time. For example, involvement in sports is a foreshadow of a great career. And video games are, too, because they are both collaborative and competitive–two essential skills. So do stuff guys do, and get grades that are as bad as theirs–after all, you should not be the hardest worker, ever.
2. Get plastic surgery. (Wait, really? WTF?)
This is the must-have career tool for the workforce of the new millennium. You will earn more money and you will have more opportunities for mentoring. Also, you will have a wider choice of men, which, of course, is another way to earn more money.
3. Go to business school right out of the gate.
Everyone has always wanted to go to business school right after college, but good MBA programs didn't allow it. Now there is an unwritten rule that women can get in earlier because it's so clear that women who want to have kids don't really benefit from going to an MBA program later. If you get your MBA early, you accomplish a few key things. Not only do you set yourself up for skipping entry-level jobs, but you also make re-entry after kids an easier process because you have higher level experience before you leave.
On top of that, you are more likely to marry well. Men like women who are smart but not making more than they are. (I do not have a link for this. I have instinct.) Business school is a way to show you are smart, but you don't make any money in business school. Side benefit: You will be surrounded by men equally as smart as you are but a little older, which is a good hunting ground. (Note: I still think business school is stupid if you are using it to actually become qualified to do something.)
4. Start early looking for a husband seriously. (This woman has her timeline down!)
If you want to have kids, you should aim to be done by the time you are 35, when your eggs start going bad fast. This means you need to get started when you are 30, which means you need to get the guy you want to have kids with by the time you're 28. People who marry too early are very likely to get divorced. But by age 25, you are safe from those statistical trends. So why not marry early? In any case, start looking very seriously for a husband by the time you are 24. Here is a blog post that summarizes this argument and links to the research to back it up.
5. Milk maternity leave for all it's worth.
Maternity leave is a complicated political issue, but whatever: For now, it's your right, so just take what's yours. Use all your maternity leave, and then make it very difficult to fire you when you return. Start a year before you want to get pregnant, by getting a job at a company that legally must give you maternity leave. I'm not saying you HAVE to take maternity leave, but if you don't have any, you can't decide to take it. Position yourself at that company in a job you can do with your eyes closed, in case you want to go back after maternity leave and work. Because if you are taking care of a newborn baby and working full-time, you'll be doing everything with your eyes closed.
There is an incredible amount of research to show that there should be a single, primary caregiver for the first year. I know that's not good for feminism. But none of this post is. So look, unless your husband is taking a year off, you're better off spending most of your time on your kid and not your job. The way to do that is to take all the maternity leave you can and then keep pushing for people to let you keep your job even if you're not really doing it. Make them fire you. It'll take their legal department a long time to give permission for that, and you can be collecting a paycheck the whole time. The extra cash can fund the rest of your transition.
6. Guard your marriage obsessively.
Educated women divorce at less than a quarter of the rate of everyone else. Divorce is not socially acceptable for most women reading this blog. We have decades of great data (read Judith Wallerstein) to show that divorce permanently ruins the kids. Yes, it's true, divorce makes life better for the parents. But kids don't care. They don't notice. Kids notice if two parents are paying attention to them, and that is one of the first things to go in a divorce. If you love your kids, you stay married to their parent.
This means that the wife needs to just bite the bullet and maintain the marriage. Stay-at-home spouses keep marriages together more effectively . I know: this is not popular, and not fair, but you do not need to make a crusade out of your family by showing that you can get a divorce and not fuck up your kids. So just bite the bullet and make sure you are keeping your husband happy so your kids can grow up with two parents.
7. Practice austerity.
Austerity is not fun. But you can call it something trendy, like minimalism or slow food.Your ability to manage your life will be nil if you are ruled by financial problems. So that means no big house, no expensive car, no huge vacations. You need control over your life more than you need that stuff. You have more career flexibility, more time flexibility, and more personal flexibility if you can keep your expenses way below what you earn. In this scenario, you do not have to fight with your husband about money. (You can fight about sex and in-laws, which are the other two of the three most popular fight topics.) Also, you can stay home with kids if you want to. And if you don't want to, you can just be you and admit it. Don't say you are not with your kids all day because you need the money. That would be a lie.
8. Do a startup with a guy. (I'd love to own my own business....now find me a guy!!)
Having your own company will give you tons of control over your life. It's nice to have a funded company because then the investors are taking the financial risk and you are drawing a nice salary even when you are not really earning any revenue. The problem is that VC funded startups require 100+ hour weeks, every week. You should only do one of these types of companies with a guy.
Smart women in their 20s are looking for husbands and cannot be 100% focused on some pie-in-the-sky startup. Women in their 30s are having kids and trying to figure out how to work less. Men are more easily focused solely on work. That's why there is a salary gap between men and women: Because women focus on work and family, and men focus only on work. Don't judge. Just get a male business partner. The problem is that men don't like doing startups with women—it's bad for them. But still, you can try.
9. If you can't get men to do a startup with you, do a lifestyle business.
A lifestyle business is one where the revenue is yours to keep. This is good since you will need to earn money, but it's a little more risky for you personally than a startup because you're not in it with deep-pocketed investors. Still, a lifestyle business is attractive enough to a woman with kids and a hankering for something interesting in the business world. Also, given the choice between no work, full-time work, or part-time work, Pew Research reports that 80% of women with children would choose part-time work. And we all know that the part-time work opportunities in corporate America suck. So a lifestyle business is the best path to that goal.
10. Homeschool. Your kids will be screwed if you don't. (What about all the other great benefits of being in a "school environment???)
The world will not look kindly on people who put their kids into public school. We all know that learning is best when it's customized to the child and we all know that public schools are not able to do that effectively. And the truly game-changing private schools cost $40,000 a year.
It's clear is that homeschooled kids will rule the world when Generation Z enters the workplace. So figure out a way to alleviate mommy guilt by homeschooling your kids to get them on that path. You don't have to do the teaching yourself. You can pay someone. But you need to get your kids out of a system that everyone knows does not work. (Note: I just realized this. This month. And last week, I decided: I'm taking my kids out of school.)
11. Spend money on household help and Botox to keep more doors open longer.
Look, it's really hard to be a parent and still have an interesting life. Not for men. We have seen enough of feminism to be certain that men are not derailed personally by kids. (In fact, Catalyst reports that having kids increases a man's earning power. Probably because he is then more likely to have a wife at home inadvertently performing the role of pseudo personal secretary. ) So the more money to spend to get people to help you with your kids, the more time and energy you'll have to help yourself.
Also, as women age they become more invisible. I know, this is not nice to say. And we are told it's only true in Hollywood. But since when has something that catches on in Hollywood not been relevant to the rest of us? Even pre-nups went mainstream. So the longer you can look younger than 45 the longer runway time you will have to figure out how to raise kids, hold a marriage together and still keep things vibrant and interesting intellectually. It's no small feat, but Botox and Restylane will be your best teammates in this part of the adventure.
12. Break the mold in your 40s.
Women get more unhappy as they age. So you can say you don't like the advice I'm giving. But look, in order to change the trajectory of women's happiness, we are going to have to drastically change the advice we give to women about how to run their lives. Most of the news about women in their 40s is pretty bad, to be honest. But the good news is that you can change that, by living differently in your 20s and 30s than women did before you. And, if you are in your 40s and reading this, take solace in the fact that by the time women are in their 40s they are great in bed, so if you do nothing else, figure out how to have a lot of sex to leverage your hard-earned talent.
About Penelope Trunk:
Penelope Trunk is co-founder of Brazen Careerist, a career management tool for next-generation professionals. This is her third startup. Each company Penelope built was focused on a community. Her own career path has had twists and turns, which she documents on this blog.
August 25, 2011
August 19, 2011
trace bundy.
Trace Bundy is an instrumental acoustic guitar player who lives and performs in Boulder, Colorado. He is known to fans as "The Acoustic Ninja" for his legato and finger tapping skills. His playing style features him playing with both hands on the fretboard, intricate finger picking arpeggios and inventive use of multiple capos.Bundy was influenced by a variety of musicians such as David Wilcox, Ani Difranco and Phil Keaggy. He stopped using a pick altogether when he realized he could play more complex music using all five fingers.Bundy was born in Austin, Minnesota and later moved to the small town of Buena Vista, Colorado. He first started playing guitar when he was 11 years old.
Thanks Pandora for introducing me to something new!
Thanks Pandora for introducing me to something new!
August 18, 2011
the reckoning.
Needtobreathe's new album will be released September 20th. Let the countdown begin. In the meantime, here is a taste of their newest single they just released off their new album, The Reckoning.
August 17, 2011
the little things.
"it's the little things in life..." yea, you've heard it before. It's cliche. Cutesy. Sentimental. People use it all the time to point out how often we miss the smallest things in our lives.
A thank you card or sweet note. (Thanks, Becca and Brian).
A kind compliment in passing.
A comforting hand on the small of your back.
An encouraging smile.
An extra squeeze as you release from a hug.
A helping hand.
A sweet touch.
A calming cup of warm espresso.
A hot ray of sunshine on a lazy Sunday morning.
A kiss on the forehead.
A fresh vase of flowers.
A call from home.
Yesterday, when my mom called for her regular update, she asked about the usual - work, friends, weekend, plans etc. She pushed more than usual. She was hunting for details, the little things. My mom is a great listener and I often forget to take the time to share the small notes from my day with her. I know that since she is far away, she feels more connected when I can share silly, sweet moments with her. I filled her in on time spent with friends over the weekend. I told her about the little, but oh-so-noticeable, gestures made by the new guy (wink*wink). But I kept a few for myself...a girl has to have a little mystery.
Enjoy little things in life now because you will realize that they are big things down the road.
Get some sticky notes. Keep a journal. Blog about them. Tape them to your bathroom mirror. Take a picture. Capture the little things so that you can always remember what makes life so special.
August 11, 2011
Goal 1: 5 Miles
I made a plan. I've set out to accomplish something. I listed my goals. I'm pushing myself.
Step 1: Run 5 miles by September 4th.
Here is this month's inspiration....
The ultimate goal is to run the Dallas White Rock Half Marathon in Dec. 2.5 miles down...10.6 to go.
Step 1: Run 5 miles by September 4th.
Here is this month's inspiration....
The ultimate goal is to run the Dallas White Rock Half Marathon in Dec. 2.5 miles down...10.6 to go.
August 9, 2011
August 3, 2011
Anxiously Awaiting Autumn.
As of today, we've had 39 days of over 100 degree temps in 2011. Basically, everyone in Dallas is just baking to a point way past 'well done'. I can't help but check the weather in Connecticut and day dream about summers in the 80's. You literally can't do ANYTHING outside in these temperatures. It feels like you are stuck inside a clothes dryer or a giant hair dryer.
....everyone thinks that AC solves this problem. It's merely a band-aid....
Instead, I'm dreaming of the months when it looks and feels like this....
And when I get to wear these....
....and these!
I want to wear this....
And I want to do this....
All if this in no way indicates that I like Halloween...I in fact, loathe Halloween.
....now Thanksgiving...that's a whole other story.
All images found on Pinterest
....everyone thinks that AC solves this problem. It's merely a band-aid....
Instead, I'm dreaming of the months when it looks and feels like this....
And when I get to wear these....
....and these!
I want to wear this....
And I want to do this....
 |
| Date Idea? |
All if this in no way indicates that I like Halloween...I in fact, loathe Halloween.
....now Thanksgiving...that's a whole other story.
All images found on Pinterest
August 1, 2011
Something beautiful.
July 12 - 3:03pm
(203) to (410)
Hey! Hope your week is going alright. I'm headed to Costa Rica on Saturday but if you're up for it, I'd love to get together before I take off.
....and then I waited. On pins and needles. Probably the longest thirty minutes of my life.
July 12 - 3:37pm
(410) to (203)
Hey. Yeah - definitely, I had fun the other night. I'll call you later. You around?
And that was that. My heart skipped a beat. That's when everything changed.
When I think back just 4 weeks ago, I never would have guessed this is where I would be. I feel grounded. I'm happy. Life makes more sense. It's really something beautiful.
(203) to (410)
Hey! Hope your week is going alright. I'm headed to Costa Rica on Saturday but if you're up for it, I'd love to get together before I take off.
....and then I waited. On pins and needles. Probably the longest thirty minutes of my life.
July 12 - 3:37pm
(410) to (203)
Hey. Yeah - definitely, I had fun the other night. I'll call you later. You around?
And that was that. My heart skipped a beat. That's when everything changed.
When I think back just 4 weeks ago, I never would have guessed this is where I would be. I feel grounded. I'm happy. Life makes more sense. It's really something beautiful.
pura vida.
I just returned from an amazing mission trip to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica with HPUMC High School students. I had the opportunity to go as a leader/mentor and hang out with some pretty awesome kids for a whole week. I watched them work hard, play hard and worship hard. I watched them grow closer to God. I watched them grow in their faith. I watched them build relationships and make new friends. I watched them grow up a little bit right before my eyes.
I was lucky enough to have the chance to go on two mission trips to Kingston, Jamaica when I was in high school. It was a powerful experience that taught me how to be more humble and thankful for all the things I have. What is blessing it is that these kids had the opportunity to experience that. I feel so incredibly blessed that I was able to lead them this week and see God working in their lives.
The pictures really tell this story best.
July 15, 2011
July 7, 2011
100 Great Things About America
Here are a few of my favorites:
8. Steve Jobs
The brain behind the iPhone, iPad, and iEverything finally managed to get the Beatles onto iTunes. What can't this guy do?
16. Duct tape
Everyone's first fix-it choice. Just ask MacGyver. Or MacGruber. (Especially the neon and tie dye colors!)
19. Carlos Santana
If you didn't already have "Oye Como Va" in your head, you will now. - I'm not entirely sure how this one fits in, but the song is now stuck in my head.
26. Ben & Jerry's
The only thing better than its AmeriCone Dream is the "flavor graveyard" on its website. - Back home in CT we had a Ben & Jerry's store and all my friends worked there so I always got free Oatmeal Cookie Chuck. Man, I miss it.
32. Poland Spring
Better than Perrier. - Why don't they sell this in Texas?
49. James Taylor
Even if you're not crazy about his voice, a great American songwriter. - I used to babysit for his kids when he would play at Tanglewood back in Lenox, MA.
59. Clif Bars
The iconic energy bar. Yes, it's come to this.
69. Michelle Obama
A formidable presence who's brought her own form of glam to the White House. - Need I say more?
82. Blogging
We're all writers now. Uh-oh ... - Ironic...
93. Vineyard Vines, Ralph Lauren,
Preppy clothing brands outfitting Nantucket-goers and wannabes year-round. - Duh!
96. Girl Scout Cookies
Creating Thin Mint addicts across the nation.
June 17, 2011
ACL Discovery Band: Foster the People
This great band came at the recommendation of my trusty Music Advisor, Mitch. He's yet to fail me with a music recommendation so I was floored when he burned me a copy of this awesome album, Torches.
Foster the People was started in 2009 by Mark Foster. Foster originally named his band Foster & the People, but people misheard it as "Foster the People." Eventually, he took to the nurturing image it evoked of "taking care" of the people, so the name stuck.
June 15, 2011
Repack, Refurnish, Rearrange, Relocate
Repack, Refurnish, Rearrange, Relocate - Lately, those are the only words in my vocabulary. Yet again (as I've previously alluded to) I am moving. I have moved...wait let's count it...eleven times in the past five years. That's not even counting the moving that my family did back home (we've moved three times since I left for college...). Whether it was into or out of a dorm or sorority house, moving abroad to Copenhagen or moving to a new apartment, my living situation has constantly been in transition. Most of the time, I BARELY unpack before I'm uprooting again and moving to a new place.
After graduation, we moved into a townhouse in Uptown where we planned on staying for at least two years but our plans quickly went south when our rent spiked and we could no longer afford our place.
So yet again, this weekend, I am moving. Ugh. Sigh.....
This is one of those times when I wish I was Harry Potter....or Ginny....or Hermione....even Luna, just so long as I could wave my wand and have everything moved and organized in my new location. That or I wish this would happen.... ....yea I wish that I could just pick up my 'house' and move it. Alas, this is NOT the case (I grudgingly admit that I do not, in fact, have magical powers. Blimey).
I am forced to resort to the old fashioned way - pack up my life into plastic bins and cardboard boxes, strategically maneuver it all into my car (that is now teeny tiny) and unload it at the new location.
Great, I can handle it. A little manual labor never hurt anyone.
Oh my, I almost forgot to mention.....
....it's supposed to be 102 degrees this weekend. Nah, that's COLD for a Dallas summer.
Don't all go feeling that badly for me just yet. I have hired a mover to move my bed, dresser etc and pick up a couch from my friends house. I have also recruited several handsome, muscular young men to slave away in the heat lifting all my heavy stuff. I've offered them a homemade baked good of their choice in return. I have also commandeered a truck for the weekend. Thanks Stew, you're a doll.
I. can. do. this.
Moving has it's advantages though. It's a great way to get rid of stuff you don't need, clean out junk drawers, throw away old school papers....YES! I had been hoarding finance and accounting notes since sophomore year! Go ahead, say it....NERD!
My new living situation is a huge change for me. I'll be living alone in a one bedroom place. All 560 sq. ft. to myself. Teeny tiny. Just like my car.....are you sensing a theme in my life?
Downsizing - you guessed it.
I'm downsizing my budget too and all these recent changes are contributing to that. Stay tuned for my new budget rules in a later post. For now, you can admire my new floorplan.....again, all 560 sq. ft of it (sans microwave...weird).
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