Is there an insurance that covers stupidity?

Humans never cease to amaze me, more specifically the dumb decisions they constantly make.  These Darwinian errors never seem so apparent as when riding the subway.  I mean I fail to understand why people have to tote their dogs around as an accessory.  What is so ghastly wrong with letting a dog run around and use it's legs?  As far as the advertisement for dog plastic surgery goes...I honestly don't even know where to begin, but sincerely hoped that at some point Ashton Kutcher would pop out and tell me that I had been punked.  What's even worse is that one of the big newspapers recently ran an article on a woman who does everyday chores completely naked - including riding the subway (and that is the last time I will ever sit down in one of the seats).  I truly hope that all I can say is only in New York City...

I think that's a dog...

No, really?!

and then there is no doubt...

 

State of Mind

"Happiness is not a state to arrive at but a manner of traveling."

Despite the fact that I did, in fact, spy this on the front of a Hallmark card, it deeply resonated within me.  It resonated with me so deeply that I actually had to purchase the card so that I could look at it on a regular basis as a positive reminder that life is not about the destination but the journey, and attitude is the compass guiding every step. 

The problem is that life seems to be one constant "to-do" list.  Paradoxically, instead of feeling accomplished every time the tip of a freshly sharpened pencil swishes across the blue-lined page, am overwhelmed by anxiety and stress since the to-do list quadrupled in the amount of time it took to finish that one simple task.

Having taken this past weekend to step back and reflect, the answer is prioritization.  Now to everyone this is a embarrassingly obvious life observation.  What is different, however, is making happiness a priority.  Every day I am constantly focused on what needs to get done, that the things like pleasure reading and learning to speak Spanish are perpetually pushed further and further down the list leaving me miserably surrounded with grown up stuff.  That's not to say that taxes, grocery shopping, and laundry should be forgotten.  There's nothing, however, to stop you from taking 20 minutes to leaf through a trashy magazine or read a chapter from that mystery novel.

When every minute of every day is planned, make sure to schedule time for happiness.

Volunteering with a couple of other paralegals at New York Cares Day

Our finished painting to be hung in the public school cafeteria to help promote healthy eating habits - painting proved to be a pleasantly unexpected calming therapy!

"An analysis of volumes of previous research on the subject shows a strong consensus that volunteering contributes to happiness by decreasing boredom and creating an increased sense of purpose in life.  Volunteers, on average, are twice as likely to feel happy with themselves as nonvolunteers." (Crist-Houran 1996) ~ 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It (David Niven,  Ph.D"

Mondays (Mornings) Suck

After two short holiday weeks, it's finally time to get started again with a full work week replete with grumpy NYC commuters, significant vitamin D deficiency, and long work hours.  So to help turn my mood around, I've included a couple of snapshots of unintentionally funny advertisements.  Hopefully, they will make you chuckle too!

Picture from a grocery store across the street from my apartment.  Sadly, they can't speak English any better than they can spell it.

If the point is to go all natural, then why are they "changing the meat we eat"?  I feel like this is counterintuitive

Talk about technicalities!  I guess Splenda really is not a sugar, but I still don't see how they can get away with that claim of "no sugar added"

Do NOT underestimate the importance of a good coat...

Christmas has come and gone, but the weather has finally decided to get into the holiday spirit a tad too late and a tad too enthusiastically for my taste. Temperatures have dropped to the low 20s, but the killer is the wind off of the Hudson River, which rips through your skin like the razor sharp teeth of a demoniac ice hound.

That is, unless of course, you have a long winter coat. Gone are the days when a North Face fleece was sufficiently warm while jogging between my car and the garage or high school building.

The keys to staying warm are: a hat (as much as I hate to admit it since hat hair is never a flattering feature on me), a coat that is log enough to cover your butt and thighs (preferably a full length extending all the way down to your ankles), gloves (mittens are actually a thousand times warmer, but am adamant in my refusal to give in on the account that they completely eliminate any dexterity), and foot coverage (lots of women wear black uggs to work for a more inconspicuous appearance, but if you insist on wearing cute flats do so at least with some kind of socks or warm leggings).

As a disclaimer, these are all things that my mother had constantly told me while I was growing up...unfortunately, it took a self-diagnosed case of hypothermia and what felt like (but probably wasn't) frostbite in order for the message to click.

New Year's Resolution 2013

Given my horrific job blogging in 2012, where I averaged maybe one blog per month, have resolved to write a short post each day during the week. The big problem is that my mind sporadically wanders and consequentially try to write a novel in a paragraph...as is happening right now. Guess that is what happens when every day is comprised of 1,440 New York minutes.

More importantly, want to share a recently learned, albeit important lifeskill: how to buy refills. Again, most of these insights are stating the obvious, which is exactly why they are so easy to miss. Case in point - for the past 23.5 years, have always bought one refill after running out of a certain product. The 1:1 ratio seemed the most natural and cost-effective management. Recently, however, have learned the the best way to shop is to buy at least two refills at a time for the following reasons: the product may be discontinued, you may never be able to find that product again, or the store may inconveniently be closed at a time when you most need the refill. Granted, it may be more expensive at the cash register, but it is significantly more convenient to not have to run to the store on a weekly or monthly basis. Plus, over time the amounts are the same costs.

Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and prosperous 2013!

Do Not Underestimate the Power of Groupon and LivingSocial

There are more things to do in New York City than there is time in the day, and, in most cases, more money that is in my wallet.  Unfortunately, I've realized that when you live and work in New York City, you gradually neglect to see, or become oblivious to, the "magic" that countless tourists flock to see from all corners of the world.  My indifference became apparent when I saw an advertisement to see Paula Dean speak at a Times Talks event.  I was actually excited to get out and see something.  The ironic part is that I had this sensation as I was dodging traffic while crossing the street looking down at all of the blinding lights from Times Square (my office is located only a couple of blocks away).

Although the talk itself was somewhat different than what I had expected (it focused more on her personal life and struggles rather than a talk about her cooking), the book signing after the talk redeemed my $50 ticket.  As it turns out her body guard (I am assuming that is his responsibility) is named Hollis.  Until that point in time I had never met a male Hollis before (it is, after all, traditionally a boy's name - the masculine version of Holly).  So during the wait in line to have Paula sign my cookbook, decided to introduce myself to Hollis.  It was truly a bizarre experience trying to introduce myself to...myself.  Paula overheard the conversation between the two Hollises, and was curious how I came about my name, and her husband Michael told me that I was the prettiest Hollis they had ever seen (which is not that great of an accomplishment when you consider that I was being compared to a very large and muscular man).  

As a result of this experience, I resolved to be a active tourist in the city on a regular basis.  There really is no excuse.  Take home lesson: one of the best places for super deals to get out and about in your own city is Groupon and/or LivingSocial.  I have used both several times and have always been satisfied with my deals (see also Blue Smoke BBQ for evidence as to how much fun you can have through these discount websites).

The line before the event (and that was 30 minutes early)

The stage - designed by Design Within Reach

Closeup of the stage - no photos were allowed during the presentation

When Life Gives You Lemons...

I am without a doubt an "outside girl".  Consequently, being forced to confine my movements to a bedroom, bathroom, and living/kitchen area in my apartment for two and a half days during the storm was as close as I have ever gotten to experiencing house arrest...and being driven to the brink of insanity.  After dusting, sweeping, and mopping every surface of the apartment, reading every magazine from the past two months that had been compiling dust under my chair, and finishing two books, turned my attention to a project that had remained unfinished for a year: knitting a winter scarf.

One of my favorite trends are chunky knits, particularly the infinity scarves.  Not only is the look versatile and can be worn (with the appropriate complimentary pieces) anywhere from the office to a night out with friends, but is very practical for a girl who, dating a hockey player, spends several hours on weekend in an ice rink.  In general I prefer to make something when I can, instead of buying it in a store.  Unfortunately, in the fashion world, this means that I am limited to scarves (maybe one day I'll attempt a sweater, or a hat). 

Point of the story is that, although my scarf may not have a great name tag, it cost me $5 dollars for the knitting needles and $15 for four bundles of yarn (I dare you to try and find a scarf that matches that price anywhere online).  Living in the city has taught me to be more frugal in different and unexpected ways.  As much fun as it is to walk a way from a store with a new purchase, there is an equally - if not more - satisfying feeling when you step away from a finished handmade piece (granted it may take a lot longer than a sweep of a credit card).

The end result

I sewed the two ends together to make an infinity scarf

Tip: it is much easier (and faster) to knit if you wind the yarn from it's original wrapped package into a ball.