Monday, October 29, 2012

Quotes of the Day: Thoughts to Start Your Week

Some Einstein intelligence:

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”

“Life is all about choices. How many people are trapped in their everyday habits: part numb, part frightened, part indifferent? To have a better life we must keep choosing how we’re living.”

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” (one of my favorite quotes ever)

 And some others: 

 "Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light."
- Albert Schweitzer, theologian, physician, and Nobel Laureate 

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
 - Abraham Lincoln

“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.”
 - Chinese Proverb



Saturday, October 27, 2012

Book Review: MWF Seeks BFF

The short review: Great book discussing a very taboo topic. When you get older, making new friends gets a lot harder. This author went way outside of her (and most people's) comfort zone in search of friendship. Her experiences, coupled with some stats and opinions from other authors, make an interesting book that makes you reconsider what you want and need in a friendship and why it is so important to make these connections.



The long review. 

This is completely up my alley and after hearing about it for the last year, I finally put it on my library "wish list." This book is a detailed account of the author Rachel Bertsche's attempt to find a new or a few new best friends. She decides, through various methods (networking, Craigslist, websites, etc.) to go on 52 friend dates for the next year. She first works through how we typically make new friends, going to other friends and work colleagues, but also dives into the online friend-making world which is crazy scary (just like online dating). There are many comparisons to traditional dating here but there is an air of mystery and almost shame that comes about when someone says they need a friend. Bertsche looks at not only her experience but also consults other books and specialist to explain why we desperately need friends in our lives to maintain our sanity and balance.

There were many, many things that really stood out to me with this book and a few that I personally connected to.

1. She goes to different events/groups to meet new people such as improv comedy, book clubs, and has friends that can refer who to other friends. I loved (!!!) that she used so many different routes to meet new people and considering she is in Chicago, there are really an endless amount of options. I, on the other hand, am in a smaller city and am not yet comfortable enough to ask my co-workers, the only people I know, to refer me to other friends. Feels weird. Really, really weird. I have looked into social groups in the area and there isn't a whole lot going on there.

2. Bertsche describes depression in a certain way that gave me that "Ah Ha Moment." I've suffered/lived with depression for a while now so I am no stranger to the symptoms or life impact that it can have. In the book she says that someone who is, say, sad or upset or shy, may not make the effort to make friends but they want to. Someone who is depressed wouldn't even have the interest in making a friend or changing their situation at all. It may seem small but in the past I remember having my serious bouts of depression and in those times, I had absolutely no interest in anything; doing anything or changing my situation. When I am just sad, emotional (mostly PMSing), or anxious, I still have the feeling that I want to change or act but know that there are other factors and I just need to chill out a bit.

3. She is hardcore. She really, really tackles the search for a BFF even though she is married, has a job, and has family and friends that she cares about. I was impressed that she just kept going and going and going even after the horribly awkward dates, the really expensive dates, and even after renting a friend. She's got guts, that's for sure!

I don't want to give all of the book away including whether or not she does, in fact, find her BFF but I will say that this book may have you looking at your current relationships in a different light. There are stats included that discuss dynamics of relationships and how they reflect on your own self-worth and harmony in your life. I highly recommend even if you have your BFF 4 Life.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The World View

Ugh. I had all these great posts about new (successful, even!) recipes I've made lately and some different life thoughts but then "The Sickness" hit. I have officially deemed it "The Sickness" because it totally kicked my ass and made me feel old. Ancient, even. It sucked. I was suppose to have this great long weekend where I did a mini-road trip to Charlotte for thrifting and IKEA madness, ran a Color Me Rad 5k, did a special pre-opening tour of the new Whole Foods, and went to the South Carolina State Fair. Instead (and I say that with such sarcasm and hostility), I laid on the couch drinking diet ginger ale, living off saltines, and making serious headway through "Grey's Anatomy."

Bitter? Me? Naaaa.

So now with this new week, I can only take care of myself and get completely better. My breathing isn't quite perfect but really, some exercise and fresh air would help aid in my recovery so that is something I'm working on. Sleeping would help...a consistent sleep schedule specifically would help so I'm working on it. And eating regular food would help, which means I need to hit up some sort of grocery outlet for leafy greens and fruit.


What I would love to do this week really is: 

Read the rest of my library books. Two down, two to go.















Make Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding

Watch all the new episodes of The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, Hart of Dixie, and Bones

Go see The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Buy furniture so that my home feels more normal and cozy. I have GRAND plans!Also need to complete my very hip art projects.

And fix my phone. Major fail on my part that I didn't get it fixed last week.


What is one thing you would LOVE to get accomplished this week?

Friday, October 5, 2012

Thank You for Being You, Friday!

I am so, so happy that it is Friday! I have my GRANDE vanilla latte in hand and am working on trying to be as productive as possible today in between appointments.

A co-worker and I just submitted a proposal for a national conference which is incredibly exciting since it focuses on the populations that I hope to work more with in the future, transfer students and student veterans. I had a student the other day that said I was the most helpful person he has met here so far which was incredibly nice to hear. I believe that I am excellent at my job but some days I feel full of gibberish and swirlydoos.

Since it is Friday after all, I had to partake in Lauren's Fill in the Blank Friday again!


1.  The last thing I ate was...oatmeal raisin breakfast cookie that I made over the weekend. They are insanely delicious, easy, vegan, and very filling. 

2.  The last time I went to the beach was...oh man, it must have been last summer in Miami. I was in Orlando, Florida for an internship and took a trip down to Miami for the week of 4th of July.

3.  My last vacation was...when I went back home to Portland in February. It was a crazy busy trip but it gave me a little rejuvenation for finishing out my grad program. 

4. The last place I drove was...to work! Oh, somewhere more exciting? Does Target and Publix count??

5. The last song I listened to was...Katy Perry's Wide Awake on the radio this morning. Great song.

6. The last thing I watched on TV was...I watch all my TV shows on Hulu usually but have been watching Glee on Netflix lately.


7.  The last time I said "I love you" was...to my mom a few weeks ago on the phone. 


Anyone have an interesting lasts to share?

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Thankful Thursday: Music

Truly, music has been my meditation, outlet, and true stress reliever. I've been watching a lot of "Glee" lately strictly for the music numbers and then today I was privy to a free concert by Switchfoot near campus. Truly amazing.



And my favorite song from Glee:


An Outstanding October

Taking some cues from Gina's post at Fitnessista, I want to make the month ahead a good one! Although it doesn't quite feel like fall yet, it is still my absolute favorite time of year. There are always some sort of celebration, festival, or bazaar going on and it is my solemn vow to find some fun events to get me in the spirit.

In addition to getting out there and not turning into a gigantic dust bunny in yoga pants, I also need to commit to explore the area and also be more physically active. I say that a.l.o.t. and I swear I mean it but really, my bed looks more comfortable and the thought of taming said related bed head just isn't an enticing idea.


Here are some of my ideas: 

1. Embrace Halloween in more ways than candy corn. I don't know if I'll get trick-or-treaters but I plan to arm myself with a modest bowl of treats just in case. I also plan to have a little bowl of candy at my office to hand out to stressed out students. Oops, those all relate to candy. Oh! I'll watch some awesomely scary cheesy movies, too!

2. Volunteer. There are a few opportunities in town that sound like fun and would allow me to get more involved in the community. I might also look for a part-time job for some extra side money for the holidays.

3. Shake up the wardrobe. I am seriously wearing out every cardigan I own so I need to switch it up. I can rock the dark denim jacket with a skirt, pair a blazer with my skinny pink pants, and, if I muster up some energy, wear my heels more often.


4. Participate in a blogger recipe challenge. I'm excited to do a little more in this area and make some goodies! I also plan on making something seasonal for the little October birthdays celebration we do at work.


5. Read five books. I love nothing more than opening all the windows, snuggling in bed, and reading a great book. So relaxing. 


What are you all going to do to make October outstanding?