I’m trying a new thing now where I watch a few minutes of comedy clips on YouTube each day. Sort of a yoga stretch for the mind in between design projects. Since laughter is the best medicine, I’m hoping it gives me a boost of energy at those times when I need it most.
Favorites: Eddie Izzard and Jim Gaffigan
This week I was lucky enough to spend time with relatives who live in Denmark and let me tell you, they are the healthiest looking people I’ve ever seen. My cousin especially looked tanned, relaxed and lovely… granted she is on vacation but I think she has some secrets that are still quite foreign to us American women. I paid attention.
1. She wore no makeup and her hair looked pretty natural color-wise, but she was rosy cheeked and her eyes bright. When I first saw her, she was laying out by the pool… in a classic, black halter bikini. Toned, gorgeous and confident! For dinner she threw on a bright cotton mini dress over her bikini and put her hair up in a messy chignon.
2. She did not eat lunch because she was full from a “large breakfast” – which was probably one of our normal sized breakfasts.
3. When she did snack, she had just a handful of dried blueberries.
4. In the late afternoon, I put out a fruit and fancy cheese plate. She unabashedly cut off small chunks of blue, triple cream and organic sharp cheddar cheese then ate them one at a time – savoring each bite with an accompanying comment about how good it was. Never a comment about how much fat or how many calories or how she “shouldn’t”.
5. She didn’t drink overly much but she didn’t turn down a second glass of wine.
6. She jumped up whenever there was a vague chance that my Mom needed help in the kitchen. When she wasn’t needed, she happily perched herself wherever in order to keep a good conversation going.
7. She was always calm and easy-going, despite there being some confusion about the plans for the rest of the evening and a lot of back-and-forth chatter about what to do.
8. She had dessert. Not a lot but more than a spoonful.
Now maybe she went out the next day and jogged for five miles or maybe she was high on Xanax… I don’t know… but I doubt it. Anyway, it was funny to see the difference between how she behaved and how I behaved (basically the opposite).
Images ©Fifi Flowers and used with permission.
How cute are these commissioned house portraits by Fifi Flowers? The charming colors and whimsical style would brighten up anyone’s office, livingroom, kitchen, etc. If you’ve got a historic house that you are especially proud of, wouldn’t it be fun to get a painting of your house made into a set of notecards?
Fifi is also inspired by a couple of things that I love. Movies and Paris. Check out her Etsy shop for more loveliness.
Also, while we are on the subject of art. I enjoyed perusing the Ballyhoo! Posters as Portraiture exhibit online over at the National Gallery (Washington). Especially Charlie Chaplin and that great image of Garbo. Unfortunately the show is now closed.
I’ve talked before about Mondo Beyondo lists (title courtesy of Superhero) and writing it down to make it happen but there’s something new to this process that I’m discovering. It seems when looking at my gloriously long things to do in life from 2006 that I had a lot more… what’s the word… energy back then. Here’s a sample from 2006:
Ride on a sailboat in the south of France
Work from home doing a job that’s creative
Have a book on the bestseller list
Travel to Paris with [husband]
Work in an art museum
Take long walks in the English countryside
Go dancing at the Press Club without feeling old
Research something old/historic
Be my own boss
Live where it isn’t so hot [briefly lived in Bay area]
Wear Hitchcock heroine inspired clothing
Learn how to light a paper napkin on fire so it floats in the air
Study archeology
Swing in a hammock
Win a prize
Listen live to a Calypso or Reggae band with steel drums
Okay you get the idea… and as you see, I’ve marked out the ones that I’ve done so far. However these days when I think about making a new list or even a more specific list, I can’t really generate the excitement to put pen to paper. I’ve realized that it’s not depression or stress that’s blocking me from coming up with ideas but rather the lack of those things that makes daydreaming less frequent.
When I worked 9-5, I would work out all kinds of eleborate scenarios for my life because, honestly, you need to have that Cinderella story running through your mind when you are sitting in your six month review with your boss.
I think now my list would still include the things mentioned above but also the approaching mid-life crisis items like:
Eat more vegetables
Floss every day
Exercise every day
Start Tai Chi class
{Basically “don’t die early” type of items}
Hey and if any of you can help me out with the items on my list from 2006, please do give me a shout at web {at} sachistorichouse {dot} com. Thanks in advance!
This week has been one of realizations both grand and meager… well mostly meager. I’ll share, shall I?
Weight Watchers magazine is surprisingly cool – Now granted I’ve only looked at one issue but it was well produced and inspiring. The stock photos are bright and fun. There was even mention of alternative therapies and organic beauty products.
Google Adsense is not working for me – Being forced to look at unwanted advertising is so annoying and I apologize for subjecting you to it. I’ll be taking at look at different approaches to monetizing this site. I like the Art.com ad (to the right) because it’s nice to look at and it’s somewhat related.
Having groceries delivered is awesome – If you can stand a bit of middle-class guilt, then having your groceries delivered is the best service ever. The key here is to let Safeway.com lug all of those boring everyday items like milk and pasta to your kitchen while you enjoy a once a week European-style shop of the farmers market with your Etsy purchased tote bag. It’s more economical than you think!
I wouldn’t want to date The 4 Hour Work Week author Tim Ferriss (much to his relief, I’m sure) however the audio version of his book has helped me through many morning workouts – I am a bit uncomfortable admitting that I did enjoy this book… I’m more of an Eckhart Tolle girl. But my ears do tend to prick up whenever anyone has a strategy for working less and travelling more. If nothing else, it might inspire you to cut out some of your biggest time wasters and increase productivity. Or not.
I suck at selling things on Craigslist – Oh Happy Day’s Jordan bought a bubble machine off of Craigslist. A bubble machine! Someone had to have posted a bubble machine for sale and she found it and bought it. I can’t even get anyone to take back issues of Domino magazine off my hands. Maybe that’s it. Maybe if I had something as sexy as a bubble machine…
web{at}sachistorichouse{dot}com
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