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!

Being a Student in Your Life

I can't express this enough how much I've learned by watching Oprah's Lifeclass.  I find myself quoting parts of the episodes and the lessons taught.  I've had friends ask, "Why do you watch that? It's just a rehash of her shows."  I respond with, "It's different though. There are these lessons she discusses and it causes you to place those lessons within the context of your own life."  I think those words fell on deaf ears.  Today I noticed myself discussing how much I love the show, again.   I reference the lessons in much of the way a religious person quotes scripture.  The only thing that's different is that I don't pray for some being to make my life what I think it should/could/ hope to be - I look within my own being to make it so.   I am an active participant in my life.  Constantly looking for the lessons and the things to be happy about.  Speaking of which...

1. I'm glad that today everything just seemed to work out. Only proving my point that I shouldn't worry or get all worked up about things.  It's never really THAT serious. Even when it appears to be - there's always something worse that could happen. When the worst possible thing you can think of happens - I'm sure you can think of something else that could make it worse. Depending on the perspective, the only thing that's worse is death. If you're a religious person, that's really not a bad thing either unless you believe in hell and you're going there.
2. Had a really good meeting with students where they recognized a lot of things on their own.  YOu gotta love those moments.
3. Traffic this morning and this evening seemed to be pretty light.  I enjoyed just cruising into work in just under 30 minutes.
4. A lesson worth noting - The life you plan is not necessarily the life you live. 
5. Things I was called today by people - VIP, A Protagonist, Creative, Funny.  I never really thought about things people would call me until today.  Those are all pretty positive words!

I Hate to Go But I Simply Mustache....

1. After several days of skipping out on going to the gym, I made my triumphant return!  I am proud to say that I did it and wasn't winded! Ahh yes, progress!
2. I hung out with one of my friends who just moved to this part of Northern Virginia. I got to show her a new restaurant and where the ABC Store is. hahaha
3. Tonight posed a great surprise.  I got a message from a customer on Etsy who wanted to buy three bracelets. Got it, no problem.  Then she messaged me again and asked for another bracelet.  WOO HOO!! Who doesn't love making a multiple sale?
4. With the sale of these bracelets I get to move up in the fundraising boards for Movember!  LOVE IT! I get to add another $10 to the mix. Would you like to contribute? :0)
5. Today I finished working the first resume that Nicole and I have taken on in our resume business. Looks like we got our second one coming in!!

When Your Body Says, "Slow Down" - LISTEN!

1. I had never gone to the Manassas Battlefield and took photographs before. Today was a first.  I'm pretty happy with what I captured on my memory card. It was great to just walk around and see the beauty of nature. I even saw a deer!
2. Ahh, my bed. I love that I was able to just be lazy today and sleep. There's something about the sheets on my bed that make me feel at peace.  I guess it's the 600 thread count.  Very comfortable. Very nice.
3. Taking my dog for a ride in my car even though I was only going to 7-11 was nice.  He was sooo well behaved. 
4. I rented several movies tonight and of them all, I have to say that The Green Lantern was my favorite. Limitless had a cool concept and the way it was shot was very nice. Jumping the Broom... Hmm this blog is about positivity, right? hahaha
5. As I was browsing for even more craft projects that I don't have time to create, I found this:  Bottles Full of Light Very cool idea that I love!

You Should Be So Lucky

1. I love that today's event went really well. It was cold but it went well. 
2. A student paid me a compliment and said, "Wow, Dennis, you're looking really good." She then paused and asked, "Is that inappropriate?"  That made me laugh. hahahaha
3. There was a caramel popcorn maker at the event tonight and I have to say, that was some DELICIOUS popcorn! I went back three times!
4. I have thoroughly loved and enjoyed Oprah's Lifeclass. While I'm sad that the season is over I'm happy to have shared in the experience.
5. Today is believed to be a lucky day because it's 11/11/11.  I don't know if I buy into that because I can find at least one thing that was lucky for me each day.  I love that I have been able to list at least 5 things each day that I loved about the day and that's lucky within itself. It's all about perspective.

What's Simple is True?

1. As simple as it is - that York Peppermint Patty was THE BOMB! LOVED IT!
2. I ordered a sample yesterday and it arrived today.  Less that 24 hours!  AMAZING! Oh and I loved the sample and we will be ordering the items of our office.
3. Brainstorming ideas in a meeting today was great. Everyone was working toward a solution and it went really well.  
4. I think I'm falling back in love with Grey's Anatomy this season. Tonight's episode was sooo good and dramatic.  WHOA!
5. I love that my 60 pound dog love's to lay next to me with his head on my lap.

Wondrous Wednesday!

Cornelius - G-Man

1. Today I only had one meeting and I am thankful for that because I have been UBER tired lately.   
2. I loved today's lesson on Lifeclass.  Slow down and be present in the moment.  I was thinkin' about this and how we don't practice that often enough.  We should all take a moment and pause - think about what we're really doing and not what we are going to be doing or should be doing. "The only time you live your life is in the present moment."
3. Seeing the G-Men (George Mason's Official Hype Squad) in full gear was really awesome!  I'm proud to be working with them! They will make their "official" debut on Friday.
4. How exciting is it that all the members of my Movember Team have gotten donations?  I know I am excited for our team!
5. The weather has been AMAZING lately.  I love the sun shining each day. I hope it last throughout the weekend!

Vote or Die

1. I've been thinking about the "Right to Vote" today. I said to myself this morning that I was going to vote.  The polling station is near my house but I didn't go. Then I started seeing signs all day that was telling me I needed to vote.  I made the effort and went to the polling station. Once I voted I received a sticker that said, "I voted - Prince William County".  That gave me a sense of pride and caused me to think about how often we take voting for granted.  I love that I didn't take it for granted and exercised my right.
2. This Oprah's Lifeclass is speaking to me tonight.  I need Suze Orman to come into my life and help me get it together!  I am a Financial Disaster.  I love that I can declare that publicly.
3. Melissa had brownies left in her office. I LOVE BROWNIES and it's just what I wanted to go with my coffee this afternoon. 
4. My desk at work is almost free and clear of clutter. ALMOST.  At least I'm making progress.
5. In my job I work with lots of vendors and I have developed relationships with them. I find it hilarious that a vendor called today and exclaimed, "YO!!!!!!!". That means she's pretty comfortable with me - rightfully so because I've been working with her for 3 1/2 years. Her, "Yo" made me laugh and smile.

The Itchy and Scratchy Show!

1. I love it when I get new music that I REALLY wanted.  Thanks, Chris! :0)  I know what I'll be listening to in the office tomorrow.
2. Tonight I ventured into new salad dressing territory.  I went for the honey dijon.  Normally I don't go for honey mustard on my salads out of fear of trying something new - this time I made a good choice in challenging myself.  Pair that dressing with chopped up chicken and you have pure bliss.
3. A pushy salesman called me at work, telling our reception desk it was a personal call.  I asked the student at the desk who it was and the name didn't ring a bell so I had her transfer the call. He was trying to sell me custom made clothing!  WTF?  So I told him nicely that I was not interested and he continued to push.  I held my ground.  I love that I'm getting better at saying, "No" to people.
4. You can't beat buying a whole, cooked chicken for under $5. That's a meal for at least 3 days.  AT LEAST.  You can't buy one, season it and cook it yourself for that price!  I love a good deal!
5. In another phone call I had tonight - I'm happy to report that we're back on track. 
6. I have survived week one of Movember. My face doesn't hurt anymore, it's just itchy.  Speaking of itchy, if you're itchin' to make a donation to help raise awareness and educate more people about prostate cancer, please make a donation to my page. Any size donation is welcome :0)  DONATE HERE!

Handy Dandy Sunday

1. It's that time of year where I want to try out 101 different crafting ideas.  Here's one that I think is totally doable in the next few weeks.  Paint Dipped Pinecones.
2. I got quite a few things done today and all before 1PM - I didn't get everything done but enough to where I feel good about the accomplishments!
3. Tonight's episode of Once Upon a Time was really good.  I'm lovin' how they're twisting the stories!  Next week we'll learn about Cinderella!!
4. I'm thankful that my roommate came back early and helped me rake the leaves in the yard.
5. I love that the kitchen counter is completely clear.  I bought a small pantry and that did the trick.

New Discoveries

Today I have been getting a lot done.  Today I also discovered a lot of new things. It's been a great day to say the least.

1. If you haven't guessed by now, I love quotes!  I saw this one today and it's almost like the quote is waiting for you to read it because they happen to seem to poignant!
2. I stopped by World Market today and found a nice late harvest Riesling wine.  Made in Washington State.  VERY NICE.. and cheap! hahaha
3. I had dinner with the Zeta Phi Beta Women tonight.  It was very nice and I made some connections.
4. Tonight I discovered a new artist whose voice I absolutely love:  Mishal Moore.
5. Oooooh... I just discovered a whole page of Mishal Moore!  I must keep investigating her. 

It's the Freakin' Weekend

This week has been "something else". Not bad, just different and I'm okay with that.

1. The Dennis M. Hicks Commitment to Diversity Scholarship is still awarded annually by UNLV's Residence Hall Association. How amazing is that??? I have to admit, my eyes watered up a little when I read this.
   

   Dennis M. Hicks, a former RHA Advisor, was an asset to the UNLV Office of Housing and Residential Life for many years. Dennis was committed to making diversity and multiculturalism a predominate concern of university residents and administration alike. In his honor, the Residence Hall Association allocates a portion of its budget every year to provide scholarships to continuing UNLV students who display a dedication to promoting diversity at this university.

2.  I had a really good day at work and got things done.  I may not have been there but for a few hours but I feel accomplished and that's all that matters.
3. Today I ran for 5 minutes straight - not once but TWICE! I'm movin' on up!
4. I got my first donation for the Movember Campaign!!  Thanks Doug Tilton!!
5. I love that it's the weekend and I don't have anything major planned.  Just some me time.

Peace.

1. "If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done." I love this quote.
2. Brainstorming an idea for a t-shirt designed helped us to come up with a FANTASTIC looking shirt. I love bringing creative minds together!
3. Mmm... homemade guacamole!  It's a little spicy but delicious just the same!
4. I read about some craft projects today that I liked a lot.  I think I might try making a couple things.
5. I love that I just feel at peace with things tonight.  No matter what happens - I'm okay with it.

A-ha Moment #1

1. Tonight's league bowling felt pretty damn awesome.  Everyone in a good mood and two new bowlers this week with two others considering joining and another coming next week.  Reminds me of fraternity recruitment in so many ways. I guess that technically we're rushing new members for the next couple of weeks. Beta Omicron Lambda? hahaha I love that!
2. I had an enlightening conversation tonight. One where I walked away having an "A-ha Moment". How do you contribute to the misunderstandings between someone and yourself? It takes two to have a conversation - otherwise it's just self-reflection. This is the first A-ha Moment that I've documented.  I'm sure I'll have more and plan to document each of them. They are important lessons!
3. The fact that there is chocolate candy still in the office is worth being happy about!  
4. Today I felt like I accomplished a lot of tasks.  There's nothing like having a sense of accomplishment in anything you do.
5. The organization that I advise invited me to dinner. That was really nice.

One-Hundred and Three!!!!

1. It's not everyday when a friend says to you, "your friendship is an important part of my world" especially when you haven't had the best day.  
2. Today I realized that I hit 50 consecutive postings since I made the switch to this blogging site.  My first post was on July 22, 2011! This post makes my 103rd!
3. I heard some music in a friend's office today that took me back to my childhood.  Madonna's "Lucky Star", New Edition's "Candy Girl", and Wham's "Careless Whisper". It brought up some great memories.
4. Avacadoes are 88 cents each right now.. That's a great price!
5. I saw a video tonight on how to cut glass bottles.  I love that the guy showed the technique. Now I'm excited to try it.

Disney and Semi-Sedation

1. Today I learned a lot about a software program that my office uses.  I actually enjoy learning this type of stuff but not too fond of having to learn somethin' like Chemistry. hahaha
2. I had a rotisserie chicken left over from the weekend. I thought, "Hmmm.  I'll make a chicken noodle soup out of it." Well, I am happy to report that rotisserie chicken makes an EXCELLENT chicken noodle soup.  I can't wait to eat it for lunch tomorrow.
3. I am happy to report a successful campaign to raise money for Susan G. Komen! - total sales for October is $181 with 20% going to charity! WOO HOO! That will sponsor one walker
4.  It's crazy how calm I've been today. I love that I've maintained that Zen state of mind.
5. Youtube has a lot of cool things.  Today I looked at a lot of old Disney clips and it just took me back to being a kid.  Very innocent times.