Happy Friday!

A gorgeous photo via a very talented photographer Tanveer Badal off his travel blog here. It's actually off his flickr page but don't think that's public. Definitely check out his blog and hire him for your wedding. His photos are inspirational and he's a super nice guy.

Activity Booster

Twenty Foods that will boost your activity. Re-posted below via LifeHacker, that was via Lifehack

"Most people eat to lose weight, get healthy and build muscle. There are some people, however, who snack correctly in order to enhance their productivity. The following is a list of 20 foods you can eat to improve your eye-sight, improve your performance, energize your brain and keep your day on track.

1. Avocados. These keep you from bloating up after a big lunch and are tasty either on their own, with sugar or salt on top, or with your salad.
2. Almonds. Great for brainpower. Read more here.
3. Raisins. Want more energy? Grab a pack of raisins. They are high in energy and antioxidants
   
   , and low in fat and calories.
4. Figs. They help maintain high energy levels while keeping your appetite far away. Whether you find fresh figs or a pack of dried fruit, enjoy its natural sweetness.
5. Olives. These are anti-inflammatory and they reduce symptoms to arthritis, asthma and menopause.
6. Walnuts. These are full of omega 3 fatty acids to help you think more clearly and keep you focused. Excellent source of protein, but be sure to chew well.
7. Carrots. I love carrots and have at least six carrots in a big glass of juice every morning. They are also good for other times too. Snacking on one cup of chopped carrots will give you six times your recommended daily value of Vitamin A. They improve eyesight, especially in the dark.
8. Strawberries. As with carrots and flaxseeds, strawberries surprisingly aid in better eye sight. Eating strawberries has also been linked to preventing cancer.
9. Flaxseeds. If you’ve been working hard all day, have some flaxseeds. They are great for your eyes to stop them feeling a little dried out, and allowing you to feel fresh even after a hard day.
10. Water. Nothing beats water, the healthiest drink on the planet. It speeds up your metabolism, makes you feel fuller instead of eating junk and keeps you hydrated.
11. Sunflower seeds. A popular way to beat fatigue. Chew properly as it can take some time.
12. Papaya. The colorful fruit helps protect you against the potential damages of secondhand smoke, rheumatoid arthritis
    
    , and even the common cold.
13. Pear. Usually only available during the pear season and when they come out, I always get them. They taste good, they’re cool in the mouth and they are hypo-allergenic.
14. Green tea. So this is probably one of the trendiest tea’s out there, but it’s also very healthy for your body. They are full of antioxidants and strengthens your immune system.
15. Ginger. Great for beating nausea and stomach gas. Have it as ginger tea, ginger in your stomach or as low fat ginger cookies. Also helps ease stomach tummy muscles.
16. Peppermint. If you have a stomach bug or just need to perk up a bit, have a peppermint drink. It’s a great muscle relaxant and helps you clean up your nasal passages and breathe easily.
17. Watermelon. There is nothing like cool, red sweet watermelon that gives you great energy and nutrients without any calories. It’s a great energy booster.
18. Low fat yoghurt. Yoghurt is refreshing and cool when you put it in your mouth so it’s a great, tasteful wake up call for your mind.
19. Dark chocolate. Having one small bar a day will satisfy your cravings for sweets and give you a load of antioxidants.
20. Raspberries. These beautiful fruits are a great source of antioxidants which are great to neutralize your free radicals which can affect your cells."

Totally Inspired

So far Summer 2009 is marked by change: New apartment, new roommate, new neighborhood, new approach to life.. and perhaps a new career. I've been seriously soul searching about grad schools and where I want to go with my career, flying on the coattails of my new move. I'm hoping this momentum will also encourage me to tackle my eating habits as well. I'm considering either the BluePrintCleanse or seeing a nutritionist once and for all. My attempt to go gluten free mostly failed although I have cut back on grains. It's hard to give up a major, dare I say, important part of my life without a specific diagnoses. And then there's that whole 10 year high school reunion coming in November. Weight loss and getting in shape is definitely not something you can put off. Boo. But then again, what's a few hundred bucks spent on getting in shape when there's a high school reunion involved. Hmmm.

I digress.

Today I went to a super awesome work seminar led by Niall McKinney, a digital marketing guru. And yes, your suspicious are correct: he is a charming, intelligent Englishman and also the founder of UTalkMarketing, a British company about all things marketing. I'm starting to think that digital marketing is where I'm going at this point. I know, I know. So ADD you say. Well! I can finally now vouch thanks to a recent doctor's visit that no, I am not, in fact, ADD but rather, slightly obsessive compulsive. Hmmph! I don't know how I feel about that diagnoses. But I agree that I over think things and go back and question decisions I've already made. However, I do find it exciting to immerse myself in an industry that's actually growing. I'm sure that if I turned photography into an actual business, I'd lose my passion for it.

That's all. I'm off to read "Anna Karenina" so I can eventually read "The Power of Now," by Eckhart Tolle, "The Long Tail" and "Free" both by Chris Anderson, and finally "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell. Phew. Good thing I still don't have a TV but I've gotten by watching episodes of Merlin and The Philanthropist on Hulu. I don't miss the morning shows although it's possible I was on Fox 5 this morning being interviewed by the weatherman? about my choice to buy iced coffee. Oh and eventually study for the GRE's.

On that note. Peace and LOVE.

Makes Me So Happy

Wow.. people from Minnesota seem so damn cool. A re-do of the wedding dance on the Today's Show. I've been listening to "Forever" about twice a day now.

P.S.

I spent the whole day "free boobing" it. i.e. Not wearing a bra. It was quite liberating and freeing. I only have one shirt that I can really pull that off with. It's a tube top so extra liberating not having sleeves. And I'm hoping that my term "free boobing" will catch on faster than my term for NJ (Schmersey). Work with me people.

Weekend Update

My mom told me that I don't love her anymore. Then she said that I don't update my blog enough. I'm not sure if the two comments are related but as an ode to my mother.. here's the good ole weekend update:

Thoughts about my new hood- it's really nice being able to walk around Central Park and explore Uptown. It's hard not to think that everything doesn't happen for a reason considering how happy I am. Or maybe as humans- we just adjust to our surroundings and make the best of things. I spent the afternoon walking through Central Park and reading. When I say walking, I mean I walked across the park to the Shake Shack which as of last week has become a weekly habit. Even worse, I stood in line in a downpour. But it was soooooo worth it. I savored every last bite of my cheeseburger, fries and chocolate milk shake. I worked it off by walking slightly North, then all the way across to East End Avenue and back to my apartment.

On Saturday, I had a similarly satisfying and relaxing day. I got highlights downtown. It was weird being downtown again in my old hood but sort of reinforced how much prettier uptown can be (at least East Village vs. uptown). Then had a lovely dinner with a good friend at a restaurant I used to frequent back 3-4 years ago before I moved into the city. After dinner, I met up with a coworker for my first real Upper East Side bar experience at Wicker Park. Well- at least first time as an Upper East Sider. I can't say whether or not the crowd was better- I was told that everyone is away during the summer. But I did feel like the atmosphere was possibly more condusive to meeting people- and the crowd closer to my age.

And finally, my weekend got off to a good start on Friday. I actually hit up a spinning class, then meandered back uptown to my apartment and saw Harry Potter with my roommate.

I have to admit, it feels soooo good to walk through Central Park. I think being able to do that on a regular basis will help keep me sane in the city and not need to go home to quieter New Jersey as often as I do. I just feel so at peace and relaxed.

Smile

This video made me smile. The wedding entrance took place in a church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Hollar. Represent. I definitely do not have that much rhythm and am not that brave nor do I have theatrical, dancing friends.. but I can totally see my wedding being something like that.

In Honor of Otterbaby

Kitty Curiousity

The parentals informed me that yesterday Mischief and Lola briefly escaped the safety of their suburban home and explored the wild unknown of (Gasp!) their backyard. Mischief made it as far as their neighbors backyard while Lola was found slowly sniffing her way from one end of the patio to the next, dumbfounded by her new freedom. Mischief was an asshole as usual and ran away from my dad until he pulled out the big guns; i.e. dry cat food. Oddly, my parents rewarded Mischief's behavior by presenting him with a new stuffed Otter and Otter baby toy. A very odd household obsession that I do not support.

Above Photo: Lola. NOTE: Adorable but devilish grin.

Above Photo: Mischief. NOTE: Appearance of anger and drunkeness.

Above Photo: Proud parents of stuffed toys. I am told are Otter Mommy #2 and Baby Otter #2.

Simplification

In an effort to simplify my life and delete some stuff, I'm posting things I've had saved on my Stickies for years, minus all my passwords of course. Below you'll find quotes, books I've meant to read and memorable IM conversations.

"the first man in rome" colleen mccoughla

"it's about you having so much sex that your vagina is broken." -Scrubs

REDACTED (10:41:45 PM): u are a good kisser so i understand ur unwillingness to work w/ the less talented
REDACTED (10:41:55 PM): i've cut off my fair share of bad make outs
REDACTED (10:42:04 PM): some people in this world just can't kiss
REDACTED (10:37:16 PM): whomever is overseeing the "REDACTED story" has a fuckin' funny sense of humor

"Founding Fathers, Secret Societies"

Investment Books:
* Four Pillars of Investing - Most detail, for those with longer attention spans
* Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing - Somewhere in the middle
* Coffeehouse Investor - Least detail, short and easier to read

SHIRLEY MacLaine - "The Apartment."

My Name Is Tanino (2002)- w/ rachel mcadams

"if your naughty go to your room, if you want to be naughty, come to mine"

OKAY, that felt liberating.

Friday Night

Last night I met up with some family friends to listen to the Philharmonics in Central Park despite the threat of rain. It was great seeing them, eating tons of cheese and having delicious wine. I especially loved how that particular form of enjoyment seemed timeless. Minus finding each other using our cell phones and being able to hear the music from afar because of technology, we could have been enjoying the same activity 100 hundred years ago. Even 500 years ago. There's something about running home in summer rain that's more invigorating than disappointing that it cut the music short.

Gorgeous Website

Thanks to Cup of Joe, just found this amazing website and posters, etc. Soooo inspiring. I so want to move to the North West for some odd reason. I'm on a kick. Or I really want to spend a weekend in a log cabin, by a lake. Actually, I can't decide between the ocean or the woods but I just know that I want it to be remote. Any ideas? I miss summer camp.

Updates

Wow, thanks to Twitter, I've been sort of lame updating my blog. Friday night, saw The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at the South Street Seaport. One of the guys in the band went to both my high school and college. They were awesome and I ran into people from every area of my life; long lost high school friends, college buddies, former coworkers, and even a girl from my spinning class. See favorite shots below. Afterward, headed uptown to meet up with a friend for a drink but it was kind of pointless. I was super tired and could only think about how badly I wanted to go to sleep. I'm getting old. I think on our way out, I spotted a guy I went on 1 date with but I'll never know for sure. The bitch never called me back.





Saturday was action packed with adventures. I went to a BBQ of a former coworker who now lives a block and a half away from me. It was really good seeing her and meeting her friends. The mix of her college friends, coworkers and boyfriend's friends sort of reminded me of the people I grew up with. I'm sure I'll be seeing them again. Went to bed early again Saturday night but it felt much later. Maybe the 5 flights of stairs instantly tires me out.

And Sunday, I hung out with my friend all day, roommate and his coworker. We walked around the Bastille Day Street fair on 60th street. Then I went home briefly with the intention of running, but ended up napping, then met up with him and his coworker again to see some special sunset. Of course we missed it by 10 minutes cause we dipped into a bar to get a drink. But yeah, I basically spent the whole day walking, and by the end.. I was spent. I'm starting to get used to the street noise and am really happy with my decision to be uptown. I suppose I'll always love the energy and style of downtown but LOVE LOVE LOVE the peace and quiet of uptown. I can only imagine what it will be like in the fall and how awesome it will be to eventually take advantage of running in the park. I can see myself living on the Upper West Side, even way uptown. I enjoyed my time on St. Marks and saved tons of money but am so glad that I moved when I did..





Can you possibly guess where the picture above was taken?

United Breaks Guitars

Found this via luckthelady and is also on Consumerist of course.

New Apartment

I'm totally late on the new apartment update but have still spent the last few days unpacking and then simplifying my possessions so they fit in a smaller space. So yeah, for those of you who don't know, I moved from the crazy East Village, St. Mark's between 2nd and 3rd, to the Upper East Side (or Lennox Hill) in the East 60s on 1st avenue. I went from an insane street with a quiet oasis of an apartment to a quiet oasis of a neighborhood with a loud apartment from cars, buses and trucks on 1st avenue. Such is life. I'm waiting to hear back from my architect friend on what to do to block the noise but am so far, relying on my ear plugs. It's hard not to regret a decision that cost about $500+ in movers along with countless other costs associated with moving when the apartment is so noisy.. I guess neither my roommate or I heard the noise when we visited and we were under some serious time constraints. Such is life.

BUT I love my new roommate. We have tons in common and similar, sunny outlooks on life. I love the neighborhood. Despite flirting with the thought of moving to Brooklyn, I'm happy with my decision to stay in Manhattan. There will be time for BK when I'm knocked up.. or at least coupled up. I'm excited to explore upper Manhattan and feel I'm already familiar with most of downtown from Tribeca to Chinatown. I'm hoping being surrounded by the wealthy and the successful will inspire and motivate me, or at least one might accidentally hit me with their Lexus so I can sue.

Will update more when I have a legitimate internet connection. OH! And you'll be so proud, haven't watched TV (minus today) since last Thursday. New roommate and I are just getting internet and no cable which I'm totally okay with. I may not even watch any TV until I get a newer digital TV (makes no sense to drag my old TV and buy a $50 converter). So more time for blogging/ writing my novel/ coming up with an amazing business plan/ or getting serious about going to grad school.

P.S. There's an awesomely adorable cafe directly across the street from me called Java Girl with coffee and food far better than some old faves that shall not be mentioned. (Nothing beats Abraco so far YET).

Converse Love

Someone loves converse as much as I do. See link to my picture here!

Wowza

Spending my last night in my St. Mark's apartment. Wow. Big changes. My new neighborhood is completely different. Like night and day. I'm excited for the change. Have I already mentioned that? Not so excited about more of the packing involved.