Opportunities Await

What a day, what a day!  I woke up and began cleaning my house. I'm going to tell y'all right now - Never let your home go a long time without cleaning.  I cannot stress that enough.  It took me three days to clean!  Dusting should happen regularly - duly noted. hahaha  For 2012, I'm going to work on maintaining a clean/tidy home and committing to weekly cleaning. It takes me back to being a kid and cleaning every Saturday before I could leave the house.  I need to commit to that and make that a standing date with my home.

1. Speaking of dates - I had another great one tonight. Here's to more of the same. Oh, and I love the gift I got. Very thoughtful. You're such a smooth operator. :0)
2. I just saw the new Robin Thicke video for "Love After War" and the new Monica video for "Until it's Gone" - I love both songs and the videos. 
3. Now that I have a clean home again, I have to say that I really love it. I added new lighting to my bedroom and it looks so much better. You can do magical things with IKEA  lighting options. I'll be adding new lights to the living room, too. 
4. OOoh - I have hot water in the house again. Gotta love that!  That's one of those modern amenities that humans have taken for granted.  When you suddenly don't have hot water you quickly realize how much you depend on it being there.  Granted, I had options but I'm happy that I now get to exercise those options in my home again.
5. I love having this sense of feeling good about lots of things. Life. Creativity. Dating. Friendships. Work. Doing this blog allows me to stay positive about things and opens my life up to many opportunities.

Water Heater Heaven.

It's funny how things happen in life.  Today I needed a new water heater. I knew this day was coming - I had only hoped that it would hold out another month or two.  I guess it couldn't go on living this way and after 25 years of service it passed on to water heater heaven. Now I just have to lay it to rest as my wallet gives birth to a new one and birthin' water heaters is NOT cheap!

Here are some other funny (and not as financially draining) things that happened today.

1. A friend of mind decided that she would post pictures she had scanned onto Facebook.  Well, I didn't mind too much. It definitely gave me a lot of laughs. I loved strolling down memory lane.  She says there are more to come, too.  Scary - but it's like a train wreck. You just can't bare NOT to watch. Flashback with me to the late 90s, early 00s with the pictures below.
2. I laughed the hardest tonight I was thinking that VG would say he were most like "Samantha Jones" from Sex and the City.  I probably woke my roommate up because I was laughing so hard. I love a good belly laugh!
3. IKEA was packed today. I guess everyone is still off (like I am).  I got an amazing deal on a desk lamp. Only $5.99 AND it came with the light bulb.  You can't beat that with a stick!
4. When I was at Home Depot trying to buy a water heater, I asked the sales guy how much delivery and installation usually ran.  When he told me it was $350, I couldn't help but laugh.  Laughter helps me relax from shock. I was definitely shocked at that amount considering it was more than the water heater.  It's important that you find humor is challenging times.  I love that I am able to do that.
5. I love that I now have a date for not only tomorrow night but also Sunday. Great idea, VG. I wish I had thought of it.  I'll take care of that next time! hahahaha :0) Great way to kick off 2012!

I'm guessing this was from some formal dance. It's truly a shame that I don't remember. hahaha

What I remember about this photo is that I LOVED this shirt. I had gotten it at Walmart.
Oh, and I'm drinking beer from a shoe. That's just what we did. Don't ask why. hahahaha

Spring break 2000? We were all grad students and went to NYC. I remember it being
crazy cold some days.  We had a blast though. WV - VA - MD - NJ - NYC all in a week.

Whoa! Who is this girl? LOL I remember don't remember - but clearly I knew her.
Graduate School was some awesomely good times!

All I Got Rid of Were Some Lousy T-Shirts

Wow.  The day got away from me.  Between my workout, purging things from my house and phone conversations I went to bed without posting to the blog.  I haven't missed an entire day yet and I don't plan on it.. so here we go!

1. Working at a university (especially in the department I work in) you collect plenty of t-shirts. I bagged up 5 garbage bags of mostly t-shirts. RIDICULOUS!  I started thinking about how much cotton that was and what it could potentially be made into by recycling. I also donated lots of pants and a few coats that were all now too big for me to wear (yay me!) Hopefully some folks who shop at the Salvation Army will get some use out of my donated items.
2. Running every couple of days is showing its benefits.  As I was stretching before my run I noticed two things.  1 - I can touch my toes without too much effort now. 2 - My legs are looking so tone!  hahaha I love it.  I began adding weight training after my runs now, too. I can't wait for the results of this training to show itself. 
3. The cleaning process of my home continues.  I have all of this artwork and I haven't done a damn thing with it.  That's changing. I'm loving how it's all coming together.  After a trip to Ikea, it'll be near completion.
4. Hahahaha I LOVE this video.  MakeHomosexualsMarry. So clever.
5. I loved the response a couple of my posts on Facebook got.  It brought back a lot of memories.

Diamond YoYos

What a rainy day it was today.  It caused me to not want to leave the house - instead I chose to clean.  I was doing well there for a while.  The area most affected was my office.  It's still looking cluttered but tomorrow I will fix that. Then I'll have to clean out my car if it's not raining.  You see, this is the time of year where you start to make resolutions.  This year, my resolutions will focus on finances and clutter.  Both are pretty messy for me right now. hahahaha Time to get real! Where is Suze Orman?

1. I found a cool "De-Clutter Your Home" calendar online.  It gives you one thing to do each day of the week. I'm going to give it a shot. Download it!
2. Today I learned that dusting is imperative.  There's nothing like having friends coming over that you clean your home really well. Gotta love having friends. hahaha This also goes for dates and your vehicle. Last time I wasn't prepared for someone to be in my car but you better believe I'll be prepared this time. hahahahahahahaha
3. Watching YouTube videos (that are gross and silly yet hilarious) was a good time tonight.
4. Speaking of watching something - I also watched the Kennedy Center Honors. I love watching this program each year. I always discover someone new.  Tonight I learned about Sonny Rollins.  I had heard his music before (jazz) but hadn't recognized that it was him until they played his music to honor him. He played with some of the greats of jazz - Coltrane, Dizzy and Miles to name a few. I didn't even know who Barbara Cook was until tonight - although I have heard a lot of her songs.  Thank you Kennedy Center Honors for raising this guys knowledge of the performing arts another level. Yo Yo Ma  and Neil Diamond haven't been presented yet and I'm excited about those!
5. Today I went through my closets and pulled out everything that was too big to wear so that I can give them to charity. It's awesome that things are too big to wear but dammit, now I need to replace some of these things.  :0) 

Let's Get Physical, Physical.. I Wanna Get Physical...

It ain't the type of physical you might be thinkin'!  I was doing some work around the house.  I bought the parts to stack my washer and dryer and my roommate helped me with the install. Man that was a heavy piece of machinery!  It's up there now. WHEW! My right shoulder is now sore and it's 12:04 AM.. I hope it's not worse tomorrow.  My next challenge is to install this new power cord to the dryer - the current one is now not long enough to reach the outlet.  The physical work is never done because I'm also supposed to go to the gym tomorrow.  Oh well - I'm thankful for being able to be physical. Things could always be worse - but this blog is all about positivity, right? LOLOLOL Let's get to it!

1. I ventured out to the stores - well, Old Navy that is.  I got a great deal on a couple of sweaters and a pair of jeans.  I finally have a sweater that's not navy or black. It's green!!
2. My neighborly neighbor, Don came by to invite me over to drinks. That was really nice of him.
3. While at my neighbor's, Don's partner's parents were over visiting as well. I love talking to them. They are so laid back and open to topics of conversation.  I have always gravitated to talking to the parents of friends of mine. It was a very enjoyable conversation. 
4. That chicken I made in the crock pot yesterday - um, yes, it is STILL delicious.  I love a crock potted chicken.  
5. Tonight Big Mac (my dog) moseyed on outside the front door as I was talking with my neighbor on the porch. He went a few houses down until I called his name and he came running back into the house with no complications to get him inside.  This dog is TRAINED!  I love that and I love that he is such a good boy.  When we both got in the house I praised him and gave him two treats. 

Do They Know It's Christmas Time At All?

Had you come to my house you wouldn't have really known it was Christmas.  I mean, there are decorations up but there were no excited kids running around - just an anxious dog. I'm sure he has no clue that it's Christmas. He just knows that he got this humongous bone to gnaw on for the next couple of days and he's perfectly content to lie on his bed trying to devour it. 

1. Today I woke up on a mission.  To bake a red velvet cake.  Mission Accomplished. It's really tasty. I also cooked a whole chicken in my crock pot.  Did you know that crock pots make an extremely tender chicken??  Mmm
2. The second mission of my day was to clear out the laundry area and prep it for stacking the dryer on top of the washer.  I should have done this a LONG time ago. I don't know what I was waiting for. Tomorrow it will be stacked and I will gain a ton more space!
3. If you know me well enough, you know I love popcorn.  More specifically - Movie Popcorn with the butter flavoring put on in layers. YUM!  Tonight I had that snack as I watched Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. 
4. One of the gifts that I got today was a gray plaid shirt with a bit of purple in it. I love this shirt and can't wait to wear it. 
5. Is it weird that I spent part of my Christmas weather stripping the doors?  LOL  They were a bit drafty. I'm happy that I've resolved those drafty issues.  Next, I'll tackle my car.

T'was the Night Before Christmas

It's Christmas Eve and I've been doing things all day.  Staying busy and finally slowing down this evening caused me to think about how, in the last five years I have kept myself occupied with a laundry list of tasks.  I remember the time when the weekend would roll around and I would be bored - just waiting on the night to arrive so that I could have a night out on the town. The only problem with that is that I would sometimes "do the most" and be out until dawn and recuperating the rest of the day.

Staying busy also helps to pass the time.  With it being Christmastime I find myself missing some of the traditional things that used to happen when I was younger that hadn't really happened in over 10 years.  Wrapping gifts. Giving gifts. Being around family.  Seeing friends.  It all sounds a bit sad in some regard - and it is on some level. LOL However, I'm not going to be a Debbie Downer any longer. :0)

1. Tonight I'm visiting one of my friends who is having a get together. There's nothing like food, fun, and friends - oh and a little wine and other libations!
2. Wow, someone made a purchase from my Etsy Shop on Christmas Eve.  That's awesome!  I hope customers do the same thing when the clearance sale starts on Monday. hahahaha
3. I went to the gym. I was determined.  Determination got me to run for 28 minutes continuously. I should also add that I did some weight training, too! Boo-Yaaaaah!
4. Pinot Grigio - I heart you.
5. I met three new friends tonight. Gotta love that.  I talked to them about what their passion is.  One girl bakes for fun and taught me a new type of frosting - ROYAL FROSTING!  I encouraged her to look into selling them.  Her cookies and brownies looked and were amazing.  She has a knack for it.

Crafty McCrafterson Strikes Again!

It's times like these where you wish you had made plans.  Well, I did make plans but I didn't really prepare well enough to execute them. Poor planning on my part.  Oh well, I have plenty to keep me occupied this weekend. Namely crafting and cooking.  C'est la vie!

1. Today I FINALLY picked up a reasonably priced rolling pin.  You see, I needed a rolling pin so that I can make some homemade dog treats for my dog. It'll be his Christmas present.  
2. I made some pretty awesome looking terrariums today.  I got the idea from Pinterest. I happen to love that website!
3. I ordered air plants this week and when I received them, I wasn't quite sure of how I'd use them.  I experimented with a couple of ways and I am loving the results. You can see the results on my crafting blog.
4. Sometimes I forget that I even have HBO as a channel. Luckily I flipped through the channels and saw that the movie, "Hall Pass" was on.  It was pretty silly - but it was funny because it was silly.. It's just what I needed tonight.
5. You ever have one of those days where you remember a lesson in manners that someone taught you as a kid? Today I had a mini flashback.  I flashback on this particular lesson often but today it really struck me.  The lesson was holding doors for people - women in particular. I remember my mother teaching this lesson and she always made me open the door for her.  If I didn't do it automatically, she would stand there waiting for me to open it. When I held the door for this woman today - she looked so appreciative. Chivalry is one of those things that isn't really instilled in folks these days. I love that I was taught to behave chivalrously.

The Honey Badger Don't Care!

This morning I discovered "Randall".  He's a narrator of nature videos and other random fun clips.  It reminds me of the game we played in the fraternity house when we were bored called, "Mute TV".  At any rate, it was a great way to start my day - laughing!

1. If you didn't know anything about the honey badger - know this. The honey badger don't care.  He don't give a shit. hahaha The videos (some of them) from Randall are hilarious. Check out these two:  The Nastyass Honey Badger, Jem and Crown Eagles are Nasty Bwahahaha!
2. While walking the dog late this afternoon on a new path, an older man walked by, smiled and said, "hi." Now I know that's not anything unusual to some but I think it's really nice.  It's nice to have a stranger smile and say hi to you acknowledges your presence in the world.
3. I haven't watched X Factor much this season but I did watch the finale.  I'm so happy that Melanie won.  She sings this song like the champ she is!  CHECK IT OUT!
4. Sara surprised me with some delicious cookies she made for me as a Christmas gift. This is a good thing and bad thing. The bad thing is that I've eaten most of the cookies already. hahahaha
5. The Governor told us all to have a Merry Christmas and allowed us to leave work at 3PM today. That's one good reason to like him. That's all I'll say about that since I try to keep this blog uplifting and positive. hahahaha

Girl, Listen to this Text Message

What's better than waking up and realizing that you don't have to go to work today?  Well, actually LOTS of things.  For instance, winning the lottery (which would come as a major benefit at this point in my life).  Since that won't likely happen - mostly because I don't play the lottery. This morning I got a text message from my supervisor to inform me that the office would be closed because of a power outage. I guess that leaves me with more time to reflect on the day's events.

1. I know some people think they're gross, but I LOVE pork cracklin's. I bought a bag of them today. If you love bacon, you will probably love these. 
2. I'm trying out a new project today. A photo transfer onto canvas.  I'm pretty sure it's going to work. It was way too simple!  I love easy craft projects. Here's directions on how you can make your own - Photo Canvas.
3. The woman at Home Depot was so nice and cordial. She has a nice Caribbean accent, too.  I felt bad because I didn't always understand what she was asking the first time she would speak. I would ask her to repeat it and she did without getting an attitude. That's how it's done, folks.  Just be nice.
4. Pier One always has some cool stuff. I went in the store tonight and found some cool items on clearance. 
5. A friend of mine posted a clip on Facebook that made me laugh.  "Shit Black Girls Say" is hilarious. I guess you gotta know black girls and grow up around them (as I did) to truly get each joke. "Girl, listen to this text message."  LOLOLOL

The Girl with the Tattoo in the Haberdashery

There's not much to say about today other than - "Whew!"  I went to an advanced showing of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and all I can say is "WHOA!" There were some gruesome scenes in there.  I have the book and hadn't read it yet.  This definitely gives me the desire to read it over the Winter Break.  Some not so gruesome things occurred today and those are the things that I loved about today.

1. This morning I received another compliment on my beard.  People are really liking it.  This time it came from a retailer that the office I work in does business with regularly.  She said that my beard looked sexy.  Heeeeeeeey!  :0)
2. To find time to really clean up your office is an awesome feeling.  What's even better is that I had few interruptions.
3. Speaking of interruptions, I had a welcome visit from a student who graduated.  She and I chatted a bit and now she may be joining the Etsy Online family!  She seemed really excited and I love when people get excited about life, learning and possibilities.
4. Someone said the word, Haberdashery.  Now that is a word that you don't hear very often but it is definitely a cool, underused word.  
5. My roommate asked to take Big Mac for a walk, asking if that were okay with me. Hell yes, it's okay and I appreciate you for doing so!

You're A Fun One, Mr. Hicks

Today was a craving vegetables day.  I've been having these more and more lately.  Maybe my body is saying it's vitamin deficient.  I'm not sure. What I am sure about is that I haven't really cared to eat much meat lately.  Don't get me wrong.  I still love Mexican food with the ground beef, seasoned to perfection.  I guess I have just developed a palate that yearns for good ol' veggies.  Tonight, I made what is normally an appetizer for dinner - grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil with balsamic vinaigrette. Mmm Mmm, good!

Enough of that - let's get to the daily loves!

1. This morning I was scraping the windows of my car (yes, they were covered in frost) and a neighbor I've never met asked me if I would assist her with providing a jump to a car whose battery had died.  I walked over to see what I could do to help out.  My assistance wasn't needed but the neighbor and I introduced ourselves to one another - and THAT was the cool part!  I got to know another neighbor.
2. I got an email this afternoon from the Vice President of University Life with the subject line "You are One Fun Guy".  That alone made me smile. She wrote:
   

   Hey Dennis - just a quick note to tell you how great you are at keeping
   a party lively!  I really enjoyed watching you at the holiday party. I
   really appreciate your fun-loving spirit!
   
   Have a wonderful holiday if I don't see you!

   I didn't even see her there!  Nevertheless, it just goes to show you that you should always put on your best face because you never know who might be watching your actions.
3. Hmmm... text messages from Italy.  I like those!
4. I got my shipment of airplants today and I'm excited for the new projects that will come from them.  I have a few things planned and hopefully they will be well received.
5. Nicole was able to report that she will be going on date #2 with this guy. I love hearing exciting news!
   

   
   

My Sunday Reality

Sunday was certainly a day of rest, except that my form of resting was working on my 30 Crafts in 30 Days challenge.  I didn't leave the house aside from going to my car to get the dog food from it that I bought on Friday.  I did have a really good weekend although I just don't know where the time goes!

1. I created more projects for the craft challenge, one of which I really like and I am considering doing more of.
2. The Real Housewives of Atlanta is keeping me entertained. I don't watch a whole lot of reality tv but this show just does it for me! lol
3. I made Orange Chicken from a boxed dinner I bought at Walmart and I am happy to report that it was DELICIOUS.
4. I was happy to hear that my friend had a great date last night.  She deserves it.
5. I found a quote that I love on Pinterest this is about bravery - if you're not on Pinterest, you soon will be.  This site is growing like a California wildfire! 

Wool, Warmth and Washington

Today was a good day and I have at LEAST five things to prove it. Tonight was also the perfect night for the inaugural usage of a real winter coat. I'm already lovin' this coat! It is warm. It is 

1. I went to the gym as planned and ran for 27 minutes continuously. 
2. When I returned from the gym I saw that I had a package waiting for me on the door step. It was my new wool blend toggle button winter coat.  Man, it got here fast! Thanks Old Navy!
3. I had a $20 Off coupon for a clothing store and used it on a shirt that was already on sale.  End result, I only paid $20 for the shirt.
4. Tonight I had the most excellent time with VG.  If you're reading this, you can stop smiling now. hahaha
5. Visited two new places in DC's Logan Circle area - Cork (wine bar) and Masa 14 (Latin/Asian Fusion restaurant). I really enjoyed both places. I'm finding more and more places lately.

Once Got Busy in a Burger King Bathroom...

It's finally the weekend! WOo HOo!  It's been a long, busy week and I am glad to see it come to an end and excited about the weekend. 

1. Day two of roasted veggies for dinner. YUM!  This time I added in carrots.  Why is it that I want to eat more of it for lunch tomorrow???  I get on small "kicks" with foods. I guess this is a good "kick" to be on. 
2. This particular Friday made for an easy commute.  It was almost like a summertime commute. Gotta love that.  Only 30 minutes to get to work.
3. I enjoyed making a few scarves for charity at the community service project on campus today.  It made me consider making more on my own. Hmmm
4. Took Big Mac for a walk today.  We walked a new route today so he was pretty inquisitive about the new territory.  I like that he felt as though he mattered - and he does.  I just have to spend more time with him.
5. On the way to work this morning I heard a song from back in the day.  "The Humpty Dance" by Digital Underground.  WOW.. after all these years, that song STILL ROCKS!

Broccoli Does a Body Good

Today I woke up with two things I wanted. 1. I wanted to continue to sleep. 2. I wanted to eat roasted broccoli. I did accomplish one of those things that were on my list. I managed to get through the day okay.

1. Well, I roasted that broccoli and it was delicious.  A nice way to close out the day.  I could think of other ways that are just as good if not better.. lol
2. I made it to the gym after a short hiatus (I haven't been since 12/10/11).  I was able to run even longer today.  I need to stop taking so much time between runs because my progress would probably be a lot better.  At any rate, I am lovin' that I ran over 3 miles!
3. Was that our University President wearing a homecoming button at the announcement of his successor this morning?  Why yes, it was!  That's awesome that Dr. Merten was wearing the homecoming button that I produced.
4. Speaking of University Presidents, I'm lovin' that we have a young president coming on board AND one whose first language is Spanish. Welcome, Dr. Cabrera!
5. I love, love , love that my housemate is gone for a few days.  It has reminded me of the serenity I once had when I wasn't renting out a room in my house and it was always peaceful.

Rock the Mic!

When I rock the mic, I rock the mic right! HAHAHAHA  I really enjoy performing. Imagine that.  I don't care if it's karaoke, hamming it up for a crowd, telling stories, etc.  If it's a fun presentation/performance, I thoroughly enjoy it. 

1. As I was walking toward a building a student who was on her cell phone and entering the building. She saw me in the corner of her eye and even though I was more than 5 steps away, she held the door for me.  I should do a study on students and how many extend that care to others. By her holding the door for me caused me to pause and consider her thoughtfulness.
2. While this may serve the ego, as many things in life do, I love how people enjoy my MC-ing the university's holiday party. This was the third year that I've done it.  All I really do is announce the different dances and make a few announcements - however, people seem to love it AND remember me from past years. That makes me feel good.
3. Bowling was fun tonight. It was made even more exciting when a girl bowling next to me bowled 7 strikes in a row!  Her score was 218, her highest score ever.  It was so cool to see the shock and joy on her face after her accomplishment. 
4. At the university holiday party, the committee tried something new.  We did sign-ups for the Homecoming Decorating Contest and had a game they could play to win some homecoming swag.  It went well and we have gotten more sign-ups than ever before.  I love it when an idea proves to be successful. Way to go team!
5. Mmm. At the holiday party I tried Baked Potato Soup for the first time in my life. WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS I WAITING FOR? That soup is delicious! I can't wait to eat it again. Oh, it was so good that I even had to give it a shout out to the crowd about how delicious it is.

A Flock of Seagulls

When you're used to waking up without the assistance of an alarm clock you have to love that type of freedom.  Today is one of those days where I had to use that assistance of an alarm that sounds like a flock of seagulls.  Yes, it makes such sounds.  It feels way more natural (so to speak) than to wake up with a blaring electronic horn. 

1. I have come to love Tuesday night shows on Fox. There's Glee, New Girl and Raising Hope. Tonight I was torn though.  Real Housewives of Atlanta has a special episode. 
2. I'm glad I caught that awesome online sale at Old Navy today.  I needed a new winter coat because all of my other ones are too big (and that's another thing to love!). I scored the coat I wanted for $35 - regular price was $90! Everybody knows I love a good deal (in Phaedra's voice).
3. Solidified plans for dinner on Saturday woot woot! I'm excited!
4. People seemed to be in a really good mood today and I love that.  I needed that because I haven't been feeling too well the last couple of days. People in good spirits pass along their good energy.
5. Happy to hear that my father's hospital stay isn't for something highly serious - although it's serious enough that he's in the hospital.. sounds weird, I know.. but he sounded fine on the phone.

Whores De Vores

I can't say that I didn't have a productive day, because I did. There was just a whole lot going on before I left for the holiday party.  Three cheers for office productivity! Wondering about the title of this entry?  Wait for it.... waaaaaait for ittttttt....

1. Traffic was manageable today.  I actually made it to work under 40 minutes on a MONDAY! WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT THAT??
2. I love it when I say something that makes someone laugh and it wasn't intentional. Glad to be of service Nicole! "Womp Womp". LOL
3. My cake was a hit at the holiday party.  I'm glad it didn't disappoint. I'm always a little self-conscious about that.  I think my gift in the gift exchange did disappoint though. No one traded for it.  That was a little sad. I usually bring the gift that everyone wants.  Oh well.. shit happens. LOL
4. I love that Melissa made that mozzarella, tomato and basil hors d'oeuvres.  DELICIOUS!!  Oh.. and this reminds me of a funny story.  When I was a kid, I was riding with my mother in the car on Michigan Avenue.  We were on our way to Detroit and there was this restaurant that had "dancers" for the businessmen lunches. Well, there was always a sign outside on the building that said hors d'oeuvres.  I said to my mother with honest naivety, "Look, they have whores devores". hahahaha I had NO IDEA what I was really saying.  LOL I have always remembered that. 
5. Tonight I won a bottle of Kahlua in the White Elephant Gift Exchange.  #WINNING

Hangover Hell

Today was one of those days where you wake up and think, "Damn, why did I drink so much?" I certainly asked myself that from 8AM until about 6PM.  My hangover was a full days work with no lunch break! Now that my hangover has died down enough to think - I'll list the things I loved about the day.

1. While I was recuperating in bed with the hangover from hell, I watched "The Help". I love the movie - it would have been even more amazing as a mini-series because I miss a lot of the details that are in the book.  
2. I made a cake today for a work holiday party.  I made the frosting from scratch (the best way to make frosting) and it is so tasty! I swear I am channeling my grandmother lately.  I have even been looking at getting one of those heavy duty counter top mixers. Hmmm
3. Received news today that Nicole and I will have our first paying customer in our resume business. That's awesome news! Hustle #3 is under way!
4. Tonight I had a very engaging conversation with a very interesting person. Looking forward to learning more. That's all I'll say about that today. hahahaha 
5. Tonight I revisited a favorite snack, Hot n Honey Cheesy Poofs. You can only find this in the Dollar Tree - which, by the way, has a ton of cool crafting items.  I will be making some new items from a couple of things I purchased soon.

Bargains and Birthdays!

WOW... Today was amazingly busy, yet fun.  So much fun that I am finally writing about it.

1. Tonight I experienced my first Spoken Word event that wasn't held at a college campus. This one was legit!  I really enjoyed it. 
2. I went to a birthday party after the spoken word event and I had so much fun!  So much so that I woke up the next morning asking myself, "Did you need to have THAT much fun?".  Man.. that hangover SUCKED!  hahaha But I loved spending time with some good friends.
3. Coupons, Coupons, Coupons!  I discovered a coupon for $5 Off a Blu-Ray Double Disc of the movie, "The Help".  Target had the movie on sale for $19.99 and I had a $5 gift card to help with the purchase.. I got the movie for $10 - I LOVE A BARGAIN!
4. I went to Busboys and Poets (the 5th and K location) and had one of the best hot alcoholic beverages - the Spiked Chai Tea.. delicious. Best yet, I got the first drink for free!
5. Gas prices have DROPPED.. at least in Manassas, VA.  I only paid $3.09/gallon.  WOO HOO!

Boom! Boom! KA-POW!

Sometimes you just have to ask a question. It's usually just that simple.  Today I asked a question and got an awesome answer. Today is all about asking the question that's in your mind.

1. Lately I've been trying to find a way to teach art.  I know I most likely don't want to end up in a classroom again but I just want to teach what I love doing to people who want to learn.  After some pushing from a friend I had a challenge in front of me. Today I faced the challenge and looked up the local community center.  I saw they didn't have many art classes being offered. Well, with me being a former art teacher, this seemed like the perfect opportunity. So I called the center and found out they had been looking for someone to teach art! Next week I will talk to them about the possibilities.  They said I could potentially start in February.  How exciting is that???
2. No matter what - I still love getting text messages from people I like.
3. I've come to understand that I vibe off of others creative energy and I love the synergy that comes from that. 
4. Rushing out of the office at 6:20 PM and trying to make it to Target to pick up my prescription was almost futile. The pharmacy closes at 7PM - I got there at 6:57PM.  WHEW!! I love that I made it there on time. 
5. I love that today is Friday.  It's been a crazy week and I am loving that I get to be housemate-less all weekend. I need the solitude. 

In a Flash!

I'm going to make this post SUPER FAST - I'm really tired and it's just been one of those days where finding the things I loved about the day is challenging. I know I can find the things.. I just don't feel like being very verbose.

1. My housemate is going to military drill this weekend, so that's good news for me. WOOT WOOT!
2. I made plans for tonight to do something in DC this weekend.  Always hoping for the best.
3. I got paid in cash for some bracelets that I made for someone in my office.
4. An Etsy buyer of mine left me some great feedback, " Exactly what I wanted! Seller even let me tweak design a bit. Very fast delivery."  It doesn't get much better than that one!
5. You just gotta love $20 Off coupons when you ONLY have to spend $20 to redeem it! I'm hoping for new pants.

Hump Day Happenings

All this rain makes Virginia seem like Washington State! I'm not gonna let it dampen my mood though. It's all about how you choose to react. 

1. I stopped by Ikea today.  The As-is Section was on POINT!  I might have to make visits to the store more frequently during the week. :0)
2. Bowling went really well tonight. I bowled two games in the mid to high 160s.  We won't discuss the last game though. hahahaha
3. I love that I had a pretty easy day at work. Aside from waking up early to get there - it was pretty light work. Just trying to tie up loose ends with regards to an event.
4. I just LOVE the show Modern Family! It made me laugh out loud tonight! "Look, Looook".... lol  "It's my Christmas sweater" LOL
5. I got a very nice message in my inbox.  :0)

Put it in the Bag!

Lately I've had so much going on that I've been slacking on posting my list of 5 things I've loved about the day.  I guess I have a lot of "irons in the fire." I just gotta keep up with my commitment that I made to myself.  I have noticed that it makes my disposition a lot better. So I will continue! I do have an idea to help with this. I'll probably debut that at the end of the month when I'm on vacation. :0)

1. I completed two craft projects tonight!  It's some work do keep this up but I love that it's something to do or think about every day. 
2. A phone call at work almost halted an order I put in for 2000 collegiate scarves. Luckily it all worked out in the end.  I'm glad that people at work are willing to "make it work".  Thanks, David!
3. In a meeting today, we discussed the possibility of me teaching a photography workshop.  It's exciting and scary at the same time. I'll see what pans out from this - I'm just happy that I took a step toward a dream of mine.
4. I got excited today because I bought etching cream and a paint it yourself bird feeder at Michael's Arts and Crafts.  I think I have a problem... but it's a good problem to have.  At least it's not drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc. hahaha
5. Etsy sent me a gift for being Team Captain of the Men of Etsy.  The gift was a canvas shopping bag with a cool little pattern on it.  How nice and thoughtful.

Thinkin' of a Master Plan

While running on the treadmill I think of lots of things.  Today I came up with a great idea. It's like my form of meditation. hahaha

1. What better gift to give someone than the gift of gratitude?  I thought of this while working out tonight.  Basically I'd write a letter about why I'm grateful for the person in my life.  It almost moved me to tears while I was running on the treadmill.  Part of me is afraid to show the tender side of myself while the other part of me thinks it's the biggest gift I could offer someone this year - to show how much they've meant to me. WOW!  That's deep.
2. I saw a video about job safety today. It was made in Canada and it is INTENSE.  Point well taken, Canada!  Check out the video here.
3. I got 4 orders for bracelets today!  WOO HOO!!  You can tell it's Christmastime! 
4. Today I was able to spend some time chillin' out with some students and that's always a good time. It keeps me in tune - Plus they ALWAYS make me laugh. 
5. I stepped on the scale tonight and noticed that I was down 5 pounds.  That's pretty substantial because you usually weigh more at night - so it's probably more like 7 pounds. Heeeeey!  hahaha The plan is working.

L.I.F.E.

1. L.I.F.E. Loving the Incredible Feeling of Existing. I just thought of this quote tonight. I'm going to have to do something with that acronym.
2. Who knew that I could have made so many cool little craft projects in one day?  I am so excited to make the next project. This is all part of my 30 crafts in 30 days challenge. Check it out here.
3. I had another talk with my roommate and things have gone back to "business as usual" except for the things that were the issue.  I'm glad I started that conversation with him.
4. The Peppermint Mocha International Coffee Creamer is DELICIOUS!
5. The spaghetti I made tonight... THE BOMB! That is all.

I Love the Nightlife - I Like to Boogie

Saturday, how did you slip away so fast?  I don't know where the last few days of my life have really gone.  I haven't even done these lists on the same day for the last few days!  I need to get it together. hahahaha I am definitely tired as can be this morning.  I need to rest up and get productive!

1. Running for 20 consecutive minutes - PROGRESS!  
2. I went out in D.C. and had a good time - sang karaoke (my signature song - Wanted Dead or Alive) and ran into some people I know.  I love the randomness of it all!
3. Who doesn't love Alberto's Pizza late at night?  If you say you don't love it, it's probably because you've never had it. hahaha
4. I love that I have an iPhone.  It makes navigating D.C. on foot so much easier.  
5. I went into Home Depot today and found something I had been looking for.  It was staring me right in the face. Just like it was waiting for me. 

Rockin' the Runway!

There are days where you are just extremely proud. Last night was one of those nights.  While I may not have children, I have students that I am connected with.  Last night those students amazed me. They put together a phenomenal fashion show themed around HIV/AIDS Awareness.  This is an annual event and this was the 4th iteration of the show.  Last year's show was mired in drama.  This year's show was drama free, clean of all egos (from what I could tell) and looked pretty damn flawless. Kudos to the Weekends at Mason crew for a magnificent show.

1. Today I survived 4 back to back, one-hour long phone interviews and we selected some great candidates to move forward in the process. I love it when it all just kinda works out (which it always does, honestly).
2. I learned how to use Adobe inDesign a little better.  It's good to add a new graphic design application to the skill set.
3. I scheduled a meeting with someone about the possibility of following a dream of mine. Teaching photography skills to students in the context of their own lives.  These students would be capturing their lives on film and telling a story much like that of a hip-hop artist. The first step is often the toughest.
4. I saw a students that I worked with this past summer tonight and it was really cool seeing them involved and being active in the campus community.  That was really nice. 
5. I got to participate in the Rock the Runway Fashion Show. I love how it just keeps getting better and better. AMAZING!!

Yesterday. Busy, But Fun.

I was supposed to start my 30 days of Crafting yesterday and time just got away from me. I also wasn't able to rattle off a blog entry yesterday.  It's all good though. There are worst things that could happen. I'll make up for lost time tomorrow because I will do three projects! If you want to follow the adventure - check me out here: http://mantasticcrafts.blogspot.com/

1. Planning for my crafting adventures I rolled into Michael's and found some items on clearance.  I will have to say, one of my concerns about this challenge on making a craft item each day was the money aspect.  Well, I'm happy to report that I picked up about 5 days worth of projects for less that $20! I love a good deal.
2. Dinner at Sweet Water Tavern. YUM!  Good food!
3. When I got home tonight, I saw that the kitchen has continuously remained clean. No dishes in the sink or filth on the counter top. I love that someone decided to keep things tidy (that someone being my housemate).
4. A student said to me, "You've been working out a lot, huh?" and I replied, "Yeah I have." She then said, "Oh yeah, I can tell. Good job!"  That was two comments within less than 24 hours about this.  I guess the running is doing what I had hoped it would do.  VIVA LA EXERCISE!
5. I can sense the slowing down of the school year as we approach the holidays.  I am so very excited to chill the heck out for a while. Should I take an extra week off work?  I have a ton of vacation days. Hmmm... I love having these kind of options.

Brr, Stick 'em Ha Ha Ha, Stick 'em

Today was like one of those old school hip hop days... and appropriately so (you'll see why). Things just felt so carefree today. Not a worry in the air and very social. I probably spent 3 hours in other folks' offices chillin' and chattin'. Similar to what I would have done on my dirt bike in the summer time - just rollin' up somewhere and hangin' out.

1. I realized that the shirt I had on was from 1999 today.  Someone complimented it and I thought, "Well damn, I bought this shirt my first year of graduate school."  Then I thought about why I kept it - the shirt is made of wool; it's gray; it has padded elbows; and when I gained so much weight that it didn't fit anymore, I vowed to make sure it would fit again.  It fits again and with ample room. I love that feeling.
2. I spoke about serendipity yesterday.  Today it's still in my head.  While there were no happy mistakes today, I certainly connected the concept to my life. I feel good about that.
3. I sat down in a friend's office today and she mentioned another office which caused me to sit down and ask her some questions about careers.  Needless to say, an hour later I left with "homework" to make progress on my endeavors.  I love getting a new perspectives.
4. Sitting in the same friend's office I saw this wall art application tool on her desk that had the rap lyrics, "Brr stick'em! ha ha ha, stick'em". How funny is that?!?  Does anyone recall this song? I know I did.  It's REALLY old school. Check out the song here.
5. Tonight my bowling was great!  I bowled over average in every game - with one game being int eh 170s.  Good stuff!

Marigolds and Mother Nature

Wow - I just wrote my first full-circle entry. I started the list one way and ended it in the same manner with a bunch of "stuff" in between.  It's almost like a Seinfeld episode. 

1. Serendipity means a "happy accident" or "pleasant surprise"; specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful without looking for it. This is a word I live in and thoroughly enjoy those serendipitous moments in life.
2. "And do not even sweat anything.  You are like family and we take care of family and those we love and care about." This was said to me today and made me tear up. I appreciate my friends so much.
3. This past spring I was so excited to plant some seeds and grow flowers outside of my office window.  They did pretty well until it got REALLY hot outside. Unfortunately they all died off after I had a couple of sunflowers brighten my days and then whither away.  Today I stepped outside and was so pleasantly surprised. The plants that I thought had died had survived and thrived without any help from me - only the help from Mother Nature. The seeds found their ways to the cracks between the tiles and took root.  Nature never ceases to surprise me with its ability to persevere.  I take this as a testament to the human spirit. No matter how bleak things may become, over time you'll survive and under the right conditions, you'll thrive. Seeing these flowers made my day and hopefully this picture of them will make yours.
4. I took about a week off from running and ran today.   I felt pretty good and motivated to do my long run on Thursday.  Long meaning 20 minute run. I love how the endorphins make me feel. 
5. Some days I feel like I am a freshman in college. You know.. not having a clue what I want to do with my life career wise. While they feel unsure of their path they take classes in the hopes to discover it. In my case, I'm working just because that's what I'm supposed to do until I discover my "path".  It's not a bad thing. Sometimes that's just what you have to do. I'm okay with not knowing what I want to do because I know what I love to do. Make sense?  Probably not...  bottom line - I love being creative and artsy and I'll keep pluggin' away until I experience a serendipitous moment. :0)

Monday, You're Too Funky for Me...

There was a funk in my spirit today. I didn't want to do a think at work. Why would I need to work after not working for so many days? hahaha  I finally got into gear after 4PM and did two solid hours of work.  Aside from working in the office I've been working on my plan of action for the 30 days of crafting.  The excitement begins in just a couple of days.

1.  I'm glad all of the things I needed to finish for homecoming planning is nearly over. WHEW!
2. I love that I finally said what I needed to say. What a relief!
3. I found a new craft site that I love to death... Curbly!
4. Today Barbara brought me some large mason jars. I love how thoughtful she is.  I'm going to have to make her something for Christmas. 
5. The weather today was amazing. It just doesn't get better than that at the end of November in Northern Virginia! 70 degrees????

Super Soul Sunday

I haven't done a thing today and I am okay with that.  Although I never left the house, I did find 5 solid things that I loved about today.

1. Myra stopped by to return the key. It was nice to chill out and chat with her. She's a good friend in the area.
2. I saw a video today that promotes marriage equality. It was made in Australia. It was done so well that I had to share it on Facebook and now I'm sharing it here. The video is titled, "It's Time".
3. I've spent most of the evening looking for craft projects. I'm embarking on a 30-Day challenge to make one craft per day.  I've found about 15 strong projects today. Lots of the ideas came from Design Sponge. Heeeeeeeeeeey, Design Sponge! :0)
4. Waking up early and being able to go back to sleep for a 2 hour nap is something I love. To have no real agenda for the day is awesome!
5. Super Soul Sunday on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) was great today. They talked about Taoism.  Maybe I'm a Taoist?  I don't know. What I do know is that I was fully engaged in the program.

Smurfiness, Trains and Automobiles

Oh what a day!  I left NYC on the Bolt Bus and 7 hours later, I'm finally sitting on my couch back home.  It's been a good day of resting - because I needed it for the trip back - although I kept nodding off most of the way home.  There's so much energy in that city.  I love it.  It's like, when you're around your neighborhood, its not so crazy and it all seems pretty normal.  Once you venture out to Times Square, it gets bananas!

1. I lucked out again on my ride back from NYC.  Although the bus was full a skinny guy sat next to me.  When my knee started bothering me and I needed to switch seats, he switched with no complaints.  I love when people are nice.
2. My timing on all of the public transportation that I had to take today was impeccable!  I probably never waited more than 5 minutes for the next bus or train - in some cases the train would show up just when I did.
3. The much needed sleep I got before leaving NYC was awesome!  
4. A homeless man was working his hustle when I went to reload my smart trip card at Union Station.  I needed just another dollar on my card and he shows up with a Metro Ticket that had $1.30 on it and asked me if I'd pay him for it.  We conducted the transaction and I gave him more than what was on the card.   
5. On the way home I picked up a small rack of BBQ Ribs at Giant for only $5!!!  I LOOOOOOOOVE that deal.

New York, New York, You're a Helluva Town

It was 5:30 AM and I was up and at 'em.  Ready to conquer the world - well, NYC anyhow and more specifically, Good Morning America.  There are many things I want to do during my visit here and today I achieved a couple of them.

1. We made it to Times Square to check out Good Morning America. I loved getting to see Lara Spencer and Josh Elliot in person.  We all got some face time on camera too - I loved that!
2. I scored a new t-shirt from the NBC Studios Store for $5!  You can't beat that with a stick!
3. I got to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular - all thanks to my friend Colby and a Groupon!  We all had orchestra level seats, too.  Great job! 
4. I required a nap this afternoon and loved that I got one.  It helped me feel a little more refreshed. 
5. We were on a search for a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf today and found one.  YES, we got that red velvet hot cocoa - DELICIOUS!!!

The Day just "Float"ed on By

Day two in NYC yielded new experiences - one including an "ok" $50 meal for Thanksgiving... yeah.. not too thrilled about that one but there are other things that I loved about the day.  So, here we go!

1. I FINALLY got to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Check that off my Bucket List! YES!!
2. Getting some awesome pictures of the parade just made my day.  It was definitely a different vibe seeing it in person and I got lots of great pictures of the floats. I will say that it DID feel like any other parade in all honesty - but it was something I always wanted to do and I am loving that I did do it.
3. We went to Greenwich Village for dinner and went to a couple of bars.  One bar was the historic Stonewall Inn. It was cool to be in such a historic venue.
4. After the parade I got a much needed nap.  It was good to recharge after being up so early for the parade.
5. I love that I have cool friends who just want everyone to be happy.  I appreciate that.

Big Apple Bonanza of a Day

I'm super excited to be in NYC!  So much so that I've walked a lot of miles already and I've only been in the city since about 2PM.  There was once a time where arriving in NYC made me nervous.  These days I don't even bat an eye.  Stepping out into the Big Apple and taking in everything.

1. To explore NYC with friends is something I love to do.  We visited quite a few places in the short time I've been here (They arrived yesterday). One of those places is Gaga's Workshop at Barney's.
2. I REALLY love the apartment I'm staying in.  It's like the coolest place.  Very cute and modern.  If it were possible, I'd have my place look a lot like this.
3. I loved that Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf were giving out free hot cocoa.  What made me love it more was that the hot cocoa was red velvet flavored! It was by FAR the best hot cocoa I've ever had. NO LIE!
4. Walking through Central Park at night with the road closed off was pretty damn cool.  There's not many times when a person would get to do that.  And probably not many times you'd feel safe doing it either. Luckily the police had everything blocked for the parade!
5. Foursquare is cool when you check-in at new places and you get badges. Tonight I unlocked 3 badges.  What I really loved about the check-in at The Dead Poets bar was that it unlocked a special - one free shot of Wild Turkey!

The Magnificent Metro and the Friends Along the Way

Today I commented on all of the people listing things they're thankful for.  It's a good exercise in gratitude.  It's kind of like the reason I do this blog - to find the positive things in life that I'm happy about or grateful for.  There are days where I am always trying to dig deep within to find a one or two more situations/items to list as a good thing.  It's especially hard if you haven't interacted with many people. Today I'm thankful for friends.

1. I had lunch with my friend Myra. It's always a good time. She's going to feed my dog while I'm away and I'm glad she doesn't mind.
2. Staying at my friend, Nicole's tonight so that my commute to Union Station is so easy in the morning. Shaving off an hour on the commute. I'm headed to NYC in the morning!  Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, here I come!
3. I love that Thai Crunch Salad at California Pizza Kitchen. I didn't realize that it had cucumbers in it though.... and despite the cucumbers, I still loved it. Now that's progress.
4. Sara brought me a brownie with sprinkles on it to my office this afternoon. That was really nice of her.
5. I loved that I rode the Metro today and I only had to wait about 4 minutes for the train to leave. That's pretty good timing - I guess it's pretty normal during the work week with lots of trains passing through. LOL  However, for me, it was something great that happened to me. :0)

The Best Things in Life are...

It's hard to stay motivated at work when you know you have a big trip coming up!  I'm headed to NYC on Wednesday to add another check mark to my Bucket List - The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!  WOO HOO! I'm sure I'll be adding a few NYC things to my daily dose of positivity.

1. I shared my "cakes in a jar" with staff members today and the best compliment was seeing a staff member running her finger around the inside of the jar to get the frosting out.  MY HOMEMADE FROSTING... clearly she thought it was delicious and that makes me smile!
2. I am happy to have friends around that I can ask favors of. It makes life so much more manageable.
3. I need more people to get hip to this particular CD, Michael Franti and Spearhead's "The Sound of Sunshine".  I heard "I'll Be Waiting" again today and thought, "Man, this song needs to make my list today!" Check out the lyrics.
4. This afternoon I was interviewed by The Daily Dot today for being a male seller on Etsy. It was pretty cool.  Shout out to Lauren Orsini for the interview.  The article should be published on Wednesday. 
5. Through a really good conversation with a student, I learned that he enjoys history and educating/mentoring youth. Who knew?  The lesson of the day - Never judge a book by its cover. I love when I have moments in life that remind me of the lessons I have learned.

Quotes on Financial Brutality

I spend a lot of time reading quotes.  They give me inspiration and sometimes offers a new perspective. Today, while I was shopping I said to the cashier, "You can't beat this sale" and he responded, "You can't beat it with a stick." And oddly enough, I was buying a dowel rod. At that moment, I instantly thought of my mother because she would always say that phrase as well as a few others. It got me thinking about my own sayings.  What is uniquely mine? If not my own unique saying, what am I known for saying?  Hmmm... Something to ponder at a later date.

1. Today I got to see my brother, sister-in-law and niece. They stopped by this morning on their way back to North Carolina.  It was great to see them!
2. Great quote: "Logic will get you from A - Z.  Imagination will get you everywhere." Albert Einstein
3. I made another journal today, better than the last. They just keep getting better. 
4. Today. I. Ran. For. 8. Minutes. Did it twice, too and didn't pay attention to the time. Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Progress.
5. I bought fabric remnants from Jo-Ann Fabrics and they were on sale for 50% additional off! You can't beat that with a stick!

Saturday In the Park...

Today started off a little, hmmm... different. Let's just leave it at that. However, I visited the National Arboretum this morning and I'm now wondering why I had never been before! Even though it's autumn, it was still a beautiful place to be. The sunlight on the leaves and other plants were fantastic.  I can't wait to upload the images.

1. Taking a friend's suggestion and visiting the National Arboretum was a great idea.  I found this tall plant with feather like fronds and photographed it a few dozen times. AH-MAZING images!
2. Although I am tired, I still managed to do a lot today. What's my motivation?  Being creative. I made the covers for two new cereal box journals.  I am getting much better at making them.
3. Today I decided to try making cakes in mason jars.  I made my own buttercream frosting too! YUM! Cake Pops are next - with the homemade frosting!
4. I listened to Mary J. Blige's song, "Empty Prayers" at least a dozen more times today. It's such a powerful song. I love it.  It's my new favorite song. Good ol' song binging! "I try my best to keep you here - but it's hard to hold a shadow."
5. I made another sale today on Etsy!  YAY!!!

Noodlicious Hicks and the Treacherous Drinks

Date: Saturday, November 19, 2011

Eating the curry chicken ramen at Toki Underground

I am writing my journal entry for Friday, today.  Why?  Because I wasn't home last night and have a lingering hangover to prove that I had a great time. This might be a pizza day with LOTS more water to drink. Oy Vey!

1. I tweeted @maryjblige today to let her know that I loved the songs that I heard on the show Private Practice.  She retweeted my message!  Out of that I got a lot more followers and responses.  How cool is that? 
2. I got a phone call from a friend in NYC who is letting me stay in her apartment for Thanksgiving. She called to fill me in on things before I arrive.  I love Barbara - she rocks!  I'm so excited for this trip and to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
3. While out in DC, I explored H Street - which is apparently in North East. hahahaha At any rate, I loved exploring the city and finding new places to chill.
4. Speaking of new places to chill, We went to several bars/restaurants.  A couple of them worth noting are Smith Commons and Fruit Bat. Smith Commons is a little "too trendy" and crowded - and LOUD... WHOA!  But they have a great Christmas Ale.  Fruit Bat has a nice bartender by the name of Angel. She has a beautiful smile and I loved that she was just so personable. She made us some amazing drinks - which is what this bar is known for.  Definitely check them out if you're in the area. It's like a quieter Adams Morgan. 
5. Tonight I challenged myself to try Sake and Ramen (not from a wrapper).  Sake is actually pretty good! I tried a sweet one and one that is served hot. I preferred the hot sake.  The ramen was a curry ramen with chicken. I wasn't sure about it but after that first sip of the broth, I was SOLD!!  Toki Underground (Which is actually ABOVE ground over a bar) I will be back!

What Do You Choose?

There's something to be said about investing in your own life.  Investing in your own happiness. Investing in your own ability to be at your best.  Today I had a conversation with someone I was dating that needed to be had - on a particular day when I saw a documentary called "Happy". The documentary is about how people in the world choose to be/are/are not happy.  How can you truly ever be happy when you're not your authentic self? The unhappiness always seems to spill out and manifest in other ways.  Sometimes we compensate with buying "things", making "things", eating "things", drinking "things", fixing "things", growing "things", smoking "things", etc. You get the idea.  In this situation someone gave up so that they could avoid the real "things" in their life.  It's sad that they don't have the courage to be "happy" - even when their happiness had to be veiled in discretion.

I wish nothing but the best for them while they embark on their journey to self-acceptance and loving themselves enough to be "happy".

With that said - while it may seem difficult to pull from the days events to find some happiness - I can. I choose to be happy.

1. Today I saw the inspiring and moving documentary, "Happy".  I love how it resonated with me and in a way, prepared me for the conversation that I had tonight.
2. I made someone's day when I brought them some chocolate! 
3. A blog writer contacted me today about interviewing me and some team members about being male crafters/sellers on Etsy.  I do the interview on Monday. How cool is that?
4. I talked to one of my brothers today.  We don't talk often but when we do it's pretty cool. I'd like to think that if we lived near one another we'd be closer. This goes for both brothers. hahaha As we get older it's like we put aside age differences in lieu of just general things in common. Today I learned that he always wanted to travel in an RV and see different things in the US like Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone Park, and the Grand Canyon.  Guess what? I do too!  We might have to make this happen!
5. Watching Private Practice tonight gave me two things I loved.  The storyline and the three songs they played from the new Mary J. Blige album.  Three great ballads on the show! "Need Someone" "Living Proof" and "Empty Prayers"
6. In further reflection, I loved my maturity in the situation tonight. I acknowledge that the only thing I can change is how I react to things in my life.
7. I loved how the different lessons I've learned over the years and by participating in Oprah's Lifeclass has really had a major impact on how I navigate through life. One of the lessons is expressed by Randy Pausch.
8. It's amazing how many more things I can list today as opposed to any other day.

Happy - A Documentary Trailer from Wadi Rum Films on Vimeo.

Small Things Add Up to Big Things

Today I'm keeping it simple.  Actually I have to because I can't think of any major things.  Strike that - I can come up with some things to list on this blog tonight. I have to change my view of this because no matter how insignificant something may seem, each thing that happens to a person feeds into more significant matters.  It's kind of like when you keep collecting change.  It's not significant until you add it all up. Having an understanding that it is all connected is the lesson here.

1. Today I went to work with a plan of action and accomplished 90% of it all.  The 10% that I didn't complete - I at least got the ball rolling.  Now that's action!
2. At the bowling alley, everyone was in good spirits.  At the end of the night everyone hugged and wished each other a Happy Thanksgiving.  That was a really nice thing to see and participate in.
3. I got a good bit of news today at work regarding an overspent budget.  It's NOT as overspent as I thought.  WHEW!!!
4. I read a comment on a photo I posted on Facebook and it garnered a "Woof!" That's a good thing. 
5. Peanut Butter M&Ms.  YUM!

Fall Fabulousness

I am feeling all fall-like today.  I guess it has a lot to do with the tea I'm drinking and the fact that I listened to REM.  Some of their songs just make me think of cold, autumn-esque weather.  Oh, and well, I had roasted turkey for lunch. That probably helped too.

1. Twinings of London makes a really good Chai Spiced Apple tea.  I'm diggin' it.
2. The more I look at this photo on the left the more I love it. I am so happy that I was able to capture the image on memory card. It will be framed soon.
3. Because traffic was so bad tonight, I made a pit stop at Trader Joe's.  I'm glad I did because I saw a reduced fat Mac and Cheese that look tasty. Guess what? IT WAS TASTY!! I LOVE TJ's!
4. Glee doing Hall & Oates songs?  LOVE IT!  There were quite a few 80s tunes tonight.
5. I got a sale on Etsy from a friend of mine that I've known since we were in kindergarten.  How cool is that?  It was quite a surprise tonight (although she has bought other things from me). I appreciate her support and love that I have life long friends like that. Thanks, Misty!