Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts

Fall Goals

>> Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Fall has always been a time of change and new beginnings for as long as I can remember. It's always seemed odd to me that people set goals at the beginning of a new calendar year, right in the darkest and coldest time of year. Fall in Las Vegas is actually a great time weather-wise. The temperatures drop to the 70s and 80s and the days (as usual) are nice and sunny. It gets dark pretty early here because we are on the eastern edge of the time zone, but the trade off is the nearly perfect weather.

So in keeping with the idea of new beginnings, here are my goals for the next few months. I am trying to keep the goals fairly simple and attainable because sometimes I get expecting too much and then I just throw my hands up.

1. walk 3 to 5 miles, six days a week
2. use my juicer to make a delicious green drink every morning
3. dedicate at least one hour a week to taking photos
4. spend time creating jewelry and give myself full permission to mess up
5. start my Etsy store
6. do yoga 3 times a week
7. launch my new blog with NaBloPoMo (will link to it and all that good stuff)

Are there things you want to accomplish in the next few months? How do you keep yourself on track and accountable?

(In other important news, it looks like nature/scenery is barely eeking out the majority over good food/drinks in the very scientific Why do you love fall? poll. The race is still tight, though, and there are still 13 hours left to vote, so it's really anybody's game.)

Read more...

Things I Heart About Nevada

>> Thursday, October 9, 2008

I got tagged by Karen to write up five things I love about my state, so here goes.

1. Location. Before I came out here, I am pretty sure I thought Las Vegas was in the middle of nowhere. That is so not true. We are within a four hour drive of the California coast (LA, OC, San Diego), AZ (Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona), and southern Utah (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Cedar City). Four hours sounds like a long time to drive, but with most of it freeway driving and the speed limit set at 75 in general, the time goes by pretty quick. A seven hour radius includes Santa Barbara, Lake Tahoe, Salt Lake City, Phoenix/Tempe, and Moab (Canyonlands/Arches). Plus, the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead are about half an hour from the house.

2. The weather. At least for a decent part of the year. Sure, summer gets a little monotonously hot, but lucky for us Mt. Charleston is right north of town and is a great place to go cool off on the weekend. Once fall hits and until about April/May, the weather is fantastic. The is almost always shining, meaning the car is never cold, and because of the lack of humidity, temperatures up to even 95 are not that bad. My skin gets dry, but I'd take a tether to lotion any day over the oppressive humidity back East.

3. The scenery. The valley is surrounded by mountains that rise up out of nowhere. Red Rock Canyon is right west of town and has beautiful sandstone and limestone formations. Valley of Fire (about 45 minutes north) is much larger and has stunning red rock formations. And the sky in the desert. You can see so much of it in the wide open. The scenery isn't quite as spectacular as Utah or Arizona, but it's more than you might think.

4. The hours. Going out late is not a problem. It's also easy to go out on a holiday here. It's a 24/7 kind of place -- very different from most places.

5. Entertainment. It's everywhere here. There are shows ranging from comedians to Broadway, to impersonators, to Cirque du Soleil. The Lion King is replacing Mama Mia in Mandalay Bay next year. Of course, the shows do tend to be pricey but there are often ways around the full cost. Plus, there is always local entertainment -- like shows at the Henderson Pavilion -- that is much more reasonably priced.

I'm not going to tag anyone in particular, but consider yourself tagged if you read this and want to play along. :)

Read more...

Platform Promises

>> Tuesday, October 7, 2008

10 Things I'll make illegal if you vote me President:


1. Leaving the restroom without proper hand washing.
2. Talking on the cell phone while in said restroom.
3. Gigantic SUVs.
4. Allowing your dog to bark all night.
5. Open mouthed chewing.
6. Smoking around me (extended to my friends and campaign supporters). Anywhere. Ever.
7. Spam e-mail.
8. Rip off movie theatre prices.
9. The 80s fashions that have reemerged in recent years.
10. People talking/texting while driving with no regard to traffic.

What would you make illegal?

(unashamedly stolen from sliceofpink)

Read more...

Books 2008

>> Thursday, August 28, 2008

Here are the books I've read in 2008. I'm going to keep updating it. I've become addicted to GoodReads recently. If you're so inclined, feel free to add me as a friend.

I am surprised how many I've managed to read considering that most of the reading I've done this year has been of the textbook variety. I am shooting for 50 by the end of the year. It is a lofty goal, but even if I'm close I'll be pretty amazed.

1. White Oleander - Janet Finch ****
2. The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger ***
3. The Road - Cormac McCarthy ***
4. The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle *****
5. The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory ***
6. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini ****
7. The Good Earth - Pearl Buck *****
8. The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls ****
9. Empire Falls - Richard Russo ****
10. Shopgirl - Steve Martin ***
11. Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert ****
12. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith ****
13. A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle *****
14. The Probable Future - Alice Hoffman ****
16. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer ****
18. Writing Down the Bones - Natalie Goldberg *****
19. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer ***
20. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer ***
21. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen ****
22. The Host: A Novel - Stephenie Meyer * DNF
23. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini *****
24. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd ***
25. Many Lives, Many Masters ****

30. Eat, Drink, & Weigh Less - Katzen & Willett, M.D. ****

Read more...

Mosaic

>> Wednesday, July 23, 2008



I saw this on a post by Megg.

Here's how you do it...
type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr search, using only the first page, choose an image, copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker (3 columns, 4 rows).

The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you attend?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10.What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your Flickr name.

The links to the pictures in my mosaic:
1. Allison 2. macaroni and cheese 3. Fort Hill 4. blue 5. James McAvoy 6. iced tea 7. Italy 8. lemon dessert 9. photographer 10. stillness 11. here 12. inspired hippie

Read more...

100 Random Facts About Me

>> Friday, February 1, 2008

1. I got my first pet when I was 20.
2. I was born in Texas.
3. During my school years, it bugged me that I had a January birthday. It was always snowing or doing something completely craptastic. At least I always got an extra-long weekend thanks to MLK Jr.
4. I was raised mostly in Western MD.
5. I love to sing and I am quite good.
6. It has taken a lot of years and a lot of self-reflection to get to the point where I am able to say I am a good singer.
7. I am usually a very modest person.
8. I am a loyal friend who will talk with you about anything, make you laugh and have your back in all situations.
9. I am on a quest to find my own satya (Sanskrit word for "truth").
10. I am trying to carve out time each day to to have private time between me and God.
11. I believe that realizing you have the power to shape your own reality is paramount in finding spiritual enlightenment.
12. I am primarily auditory with visual as a close second. For instance, I can carry a tune, but if I am taking an exam, I will remember exactly where the topic was on the page, even if I forget what it says.
13. On the Myers-Briggs test, I have always come out an INFJ.
14. I have never tried to smoke and I don't drink much alcohol -- probably only a few drinks a year.
15. When I do, I like the girly stuff.
16. I think beer is one of the nastiest drinks out there.
17. I think coffee tastes great, but I only have it now and again and am quite ok with that.
18. I primarily drink water. I haven't had soda for a long time.
19. I am a wannabe-vegetarian (who still eats fish). It is a struggle ethically and environmentally for me. Also, I love cheese.
20. I am strongly pro-choice.
21. I worked with kids for years and love being around them. I find them inquisitive, fun and inspiring.
22. I am not sure that I ever will have kids.
23. Sometimes I think I'd like to adopt a child.
24. I don't think you have to be related by blood to have a real family.
25. I love my family, but I also love my friends. In my heart, true friends are just as close as family.
26. I live in Las Vegas, NV.
27. I moved here in March 2004.
28. I finished my undergraduate degree after waffling back and forth for years.
29. I finished it summer 2008.
30. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
31. My major was Communications Studies and my minor was Psychology.
32. I mostly went with these fields because they fit with prior credits I earned and made it so that I didn't have to take more than 120 credits.
33. I am considering becoming a teacher.
34. I am a good writer and am trying to be more confident about it.
35. I am also very good at procrastinating.
36. I think it is an awful habit and one that I hope to break before I am 50.
37. I love podcasts. Listening to them is a minor addiction. But I don't own an iPod.
38. Since I have moved to NV, I have visited southern CA, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Washington, and British Columbia.
39. I still really want to visit Oregon, northern CA, New Mexico, and Hawaii.
40. Traveling is a passion of mine. I get the travel bug every few months.
41. I/we are considering selling the house and moving to southern CA in the next couple of years.
42. I am not sure I want to get married. But I think I do. Or maybe not.
43. If I ever get married, it is going to be a very small and casual affair. Extravagant celebrations are not my thing.
44. I earned a massage therapy degree.
45. I wanted to quit halfway through the program.
46. But I stuck it out.
47. Massage therapy isn't for me, but it is pretty cool to know how to give a real massage.
48. Ultimately, I want to work in a field like massage therapy where I help people.
49. I would like to become a photographer. Taking photos makes me happy. And I think I am pretty good at it, but there is always much more to learn.
50. I enjoy yoga, even though it kicks my butt at times.
51. I would like to become a yogini.
52. I'd like to become proficient at Pilates, but that REALLY kicks my butt.
53. I love to read books; I have an equal love for fiction and non-fiction.
54. I am not a big movie-watcher. I have to be REALLY interested in it to decide to watch or else I feel like it is a complete waste of time.
55. I like smart comedies and non-gory dramas with some kind of hope at the end.
56. My favorite kind of movie is action/suspense.
57. I enjoy TV much more than movies.
58. My favorite show is Lost.
59. That is the only show I truly get excited to see.
60. The only comedy I watch is How I Met Your Mother.
61. I have double ear piercings.
62. I don't and will never have any tattoos.
63. I think they are unnecessary and mar perfectly beautiful skin.
64. I don't like drama.
65. Sometimes I miss the East Coast.
66. I would definitely miss being so close to the West Coast if I ever moved back East, though. I feel more drawn to CA at this point.
67. Though it is packed with traffic, expensive and could have an earthquake or wildfire at any time, I think the San Diego area is one of the most perfect places in the country.
68. I am more scared of tornadoes, hurricanes and flooding than I am of earthquakes.
69. Moving back to Maryland was a consideration until my father left my mother in 2008.
70. I never thought I would live in a primarily Republican state.
71. I love jazz music.
72. I like music that makes me feel good, not depressed.
73. The worst thing about living in southern Nevada is the wind.
74. The 110 degree days in the summer aren't the best either, especially with fair skin that feels like it singes.
75. I am a good and defensive driver.
76. It took me a long time to accept that my parents were people with flaws. It is still difficult sometimes, especially where my father is concerned. I am not sure I will ever see him again. He screwed up royally.
77. I am a very good listener, and I am also very good at giving advice.
78. It has been a long time since I have had a close friend.
79. It is tough to find good friends in Las Vegas because it is such a transient place.
80. I am grateful that I have such a wonderful, caring and funny man in my life each day.
81. I try to take a few moments each day and thank God for the abundance in my life.
82. I try not to watch the news before bed; it is too depressing.
83. I remember random numbers and keep them in my head for what seems like forever. (Josey O's home number was 777-35** -- memorized when I was six, Marijke's birthday is 9/27, my great-grandfather was born in 1894, etc. etc.).
84. I have spatial synesthesia.
85. I see the months of the year in a 3-D circle in my head. I also see where numbers are. For instance, the numbers 1-10 go up like a staircase to the right.
86. I can't believe other people don't see things in their heads this way.
87. When I asked JP what he sees in his head when he thinks of the months of the year and he said he sees nothing, I didn't believe him.
88. I got this from my dad. My mom has no clue what I'm talking about.
89. I get a lot of traits from my dad, like my left-handedness and my ability to remember numbers.
90. Unlike him, though, I would never, ever leave my family without doing everything I could to work things out. I also would always make sure they were taken care of.
91. My favorite dessert is one that is lemon-flavored.
92. I have had Type 1 diabetes since I was seven years old.
93. I wish more people knew the difference between Type 1 and Type 2.
94. I am a very quick typer.
95. It has taken me about an hour to type up these 93 things so far.
96. I wear contacts and have since I was 15. I couldn't imagine having to wear glasses for an extended period of time.
97. I had to get glasses when I was in second grade. The year before, my eyes were a perfect 20/20.
98. When I was younger, I usually developed crushes on men who were in positions of authority. I am not sure what that means, but it is probably not good.
99. I love to read blogs. Keeping one has allowed me to get back in touch with people I haven't taked to since high school.
100. I plan to start an Etsy store before the end of 2008.

The End ... to be updated as things change.

Read more...

10 Things

>> Wednesday, December 19, 2007

I am in a picture-less posting state-of-mind tonight. Shea tagged me for a meme a while ago and I am finally using it! I am nothing if not prompt. Here are 10 (it was supposed to be seven, so party bonus!) random things about me, with a holiday twist.

1. I have never had eggnog. Ever. Not one drop. This doesn't make me sad at all.

2. The year we got the house (2004) was the first Christmas I'd ever had away from home. I don't really remember what we did, but I remember that it was fine.

3. I would LOVE to spend Christmas in a tropical location. The idea of spending the holiday relaxing by the beach and sipping a fruity drink has always appealed to me.

4. This year we are splitting Christmas week between New Jersey and Maryland. In years past, we have gone to my family in MD for Thanksgiving and JP's family in Jersey for Christmas. We will end up saving hundreds of dollars doing this.

5. I loathe holiday travel, but I haven't had too many bad experiences.

The flight home from Newark after Christmas 2005 was the worst experience to date. This included boarding an America West plane that wasn't functioning correctly, and having to leave the plane 45 minutes later and boarding another plane an hour later. It also entailed sitting for five hours in front of a man whose hair looked like it was last styled in the 80s and smelled like it had last been washed in the same, too. Every time he moved, I felt like I was going to throw up. When in doubt, never fly America West, now known as US Airways. This, though, will not guarantee you a seat away from the draft of Unwashed Hair Man.

6. I was never one to get up early on Christmas. In fact, my mom would have to come upstairs and wake us up to come down and open presents. This usually happened around 9.

7. I was also never one to try to discover where my mom hid the presents. I never really understood the point of that. Besides, my parents have a huge 3-story brick house built in the 1940s, including a full attic with many nooks and a full basement with many dark corners. Figuring out the present-stashing location would have been a lot of work.

8. I like being home around Christmas because my mom always has the tree decorated so nicely, and lights up all around the downstairs of the house. She also makes lots of cookies and other goodies. It really feels like Christmas there.

9. Though I live in Las Vegas, I have never been on the Strip during the New Year's fireworks. That does not seem worthwhile to me. Besides, we can walk down the street from the house and watch them.

10. I have never had champagne on New Year's. I was going to say I have never had alcohol, but I am not completely certain of that (I am relatively sure of it). I can say, though, that I have never been drunk on New Year's. That might qualify me as a freak.

Your turn!

Read more...

Shambala

>> Thursday, November 29, 2007

The Rules:

1. Put your iTunes/ music player on Shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down no matter what.

After you’ve answered all of the questions, tag 5 other people and then let them know
they’ve been tagged to do the meme themselves.

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?

That's Life - Michael Buble


WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?

The Joker - Steve Miller Band

This is sometimes true!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

New York State of Mind - Billy Joel

I do like New York...

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

Mary's In India - Dido

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?

To Show You My Love - Mike Schmid

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?

Let Go - Frou Frou

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

Do What You Have to Do - Sarah McLachlan

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?

Forever Love(Digame) - Anna Nalick

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

New Orleans Is Sinking - The Tragically Hip

All the time...

WHAT IS 2+2?

Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

We Both Reached for the Gun - Chicago

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Fallen from the Sky - Once

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

Big Shot - Billy Joel

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Help! - The Beatles

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

Fidelity - Regina Spektor

Hmmm... nope.

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

One Fine Wire - Colbie Caillat

Making fine wires is a secret passion of mine.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

Such Great Heights - The Postal Service

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

Oxygen - Colbie Caillat

WHAT SHOULD YOU POST THIS AS?

Shambala - Three Dog Night


This was not as completely lame as I thought it would be. I don't know enough blogging friends to tag, so go ahead if you are inclined. :)

Read more...

6 Things: Holiday Edition

>> Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Things I am digging:

1. Gingerbread milkshakes
2. Reading about people's Christmas plans/gift ideas
3. Having the heat on
4. Wearing long sleeves
5. Playing Wii
6. Sales

Things I loathe:

1. Exams
2. Having to come up with a Christmas list
3. Shopping with all the maniacs
4. Traveling around a holiday
5. The commercialization of Christmas
6. Taking down decorations

Things I need to do:

1. Send out card or two
2. Clean house
3. Resist spending lots of money we don't have
4. Finish a Christmas list
5. Try some new recipes
6. Watch what I eat

Things I'm looking forward to:

1. Traveling around to look at Christmas lights
2. Seeing family
3. John's birthday
4. Having some time off of school
5. Christmas
6. My mom coming out to Vegas


Your turn!

Read more...

Pleasures Meme

>> Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Karen tagged me for a meme. I couldn't think of six indulgences I participate in that would be a surprise, so I am taking one category and adding another:

Name six pleasures you once considered guilty but have now either abandoned or made peace with:

1. Soda. I stopped drinking it several years ago. My trusty H2O bottle keeps me hydrated.

2. Facebook/Myspace. I resisted social networking sites for a long time, but I finally gave in this year. Now I know exactly what everyone I went to middle school and high school with is up to.

3. Fad diets. They just don't work, or they work for a little while and then you gain the weight back.

4. Reality TV. I love it. Survivor and the Amazing Race are my favorites. I enjoy Hell's Kitchen, Top Chef and Kitchen Nightmares, too. At least I don't watch the craptastic ones on VH1!

5. Chick lit. I thought at one point that maybe it would be fun to read this silly genre, but I just don't have the patience for it. I like to be taken to a new place or learn something new or interesting when I read. I think this is because I had a complete overload of romance novels when I was in middle school!

6. Shopping. It is just not my favorite thing to do. If there is something specific I need I will go get it, but I am not about the browsing and the spending way too many hours walking up and down aisles for no good reason. I am not my mother's daughter. Does this mean I am not a woman?

3 behaviors/fads/indulgences I don't understand:

1. Snobby Mac people. You like your computer and like to spend a bunch of money on proprietary hardware and software. I get it. But is it really worth the righteous attitude? Lots of people use a PC and for good reason. If you like it, say you like it stop talking down to people who don't want to line Apple's pockets.

2. People who are rude online just because they are anonymous. Have some integrity people.

3. The obsession with designer purses/shoes. I really see this as a way to impress other people and nothing else. I like my purses/shoes to be as functional and cute as the next female, but there are certainly enough inexpensive varieties of these things that make me believe I will never shell out money for labels. I want friends to like me for me and not for the labels on my clothes.

So yeah, I obviously made this meme a bit easier. That is all I've got. :)

Read more...