I’ve been hanging pool side with my mom and grandma for the last few days. They have been coming to the same part of Florida every winter since before I was born; I’ve been here at least two dozen times myself. It’s been a quiet trip but I did snap a few pictures along the way.
Wish you were here!
I love this song. And it really says it all. Here am I baby, take me by the hand…and dance!
Yesterday I caught sight of the pink beauties below and just had to take a picture. Their brightness not only stood out among the otherwise standard tones of winter footwear but the personality they convey is uplifting, inspiring and fun.
When I was in Cleveland over the holidays, our father shared with us his practice of wearing “happy socks” or more generally, bright colored, playful socks that bring a little spring to your step.
Who can’t relate to the power of wearing something that simply makes you feel good and serves as a little reminder not to take anything too seriously.
Days simply flow easier when we put our best foot forward.
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I’ve always limited my thinking about outer space because, frankly, its vastness gives me a headache. But I recently listened to a story on NPR, ‘Space Chronicles’: Why Exploring Space Still Matters, that made me reconsider this avoidance of thought.
Author and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson “argues in his new book “Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier,” that if America’s leaders don’t invest more in NASA, if they give up on bold missions to the moon and Mars, students are less likely to dream about discovering, and they’re not going to be as interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.”
This made me think about the ways in which I personally, and we as a country, have blocked our own innate condition to dream and to imagine, and how doing so deprives ourselves and each other of our own greatness.
To me, outer space is too much. Too big. It makes me feel too small. So I excuse myself from thinking about it because it scares me. But, as timing would have it, I am spending a lot of time lately looking a the ways fear stands in the way of living in one’s own truth. And considering that, in fact, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” – Marianne Williamson
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Postscript: I finished this post and went to watch some “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” Low and behold, the guest is Neil degrasse Tyson, author of “Space Chronicles.” It’s a great interview and this guy is awesome. Watch for yourself here.
Last week I said goodbye to my life as a Blackberry customer and moved into the world of the iPhone. In the transition, I pulled these photos from my old phone. Have a great start to the week, everybody!
Coney Island lights — New York, New York
Allen St. and Rivington St., New York, New York
3rd Avenue — New York, New York
Our trip to see David last year — San Francisco, CA
Fireworks over the Terminal Tower — Cleveland, Ohio
A few years ago I spent a week in Black Rock City, Nevada for Burning Man. It was an awesome experience filled with many fleeting but meaningful moments with all sorts of people. Among them was an encounter I had with a palm reader, who asked if he could read my palm. I willingly presented my right hand, face up, and was taken aback when, with one look at my open palm, the man burst out in a personal, pleasant laughter. I asked why he was laughing and he told me simply that I had exactly equal head and heart lines, and that this was very rare.
I felt somewhat pleased to offer amusement to the man. While though I found his statement to be a compliment of sorts, it was clearly something with which he took more appreciation than did I. It wasn’t immediately obvious to me what it means to have equal head and heart; though it did resonate. Today, I kind of half know, and half feel what it means. And I guess that’s exactly what he read from me.
I like the idea of living in balance between the head and heart, optimizing the full extent each has to offer. They are both such powerful forces.
Just imagine all the good that can come when they work together.
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I have a notoriously horrible voice. For real. Can’t carry a tune to save my life. Nonetheless, sometimes nothing feels better than to turn on some music and belt your heart out! Enter the genius of karaoke. I can’t say I do a lot of karaoke but this should in no way be mistaken for a failure to appreciate its beauty. The golden combination of a mike in your hand and optimal song selection can spell nothing short of soul satisfaction!
As I’ve already alluded, the joys of karaoke need not be reserved for the activity itself. Simple reflection on song selection of karaokes past can be quite entertaining itself. As such, I recently polled some friends on their “go-to karaoke song” and marveled in the responses. Awesomeness!
Abby – “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz
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Wes – “Dr. Feelgood” by Motley Crue
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Monica – “Thriller” or anything by Michael Jackson
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Brian – “Return to Innocence” by Enigma
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Marjorie – “Your Love” by The Outfield
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and as for the two of us…
Farrell – “Real Love” by Mary J. Blige
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Lauren – “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson
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What’s your go-to selection??
Extra! Extra! We couldn’t resist doing a little bragging about our friend Laura who wrote an article in today’s New York Times about female street style photographers, which is featured on the front page of the Style section!! Way to go, La!
Read the full article here.
We are so proud of Laura, who in addition to being an awesome writer, has her own killer style!
via Downtownfrombehind.tumblr.com
via vanessajackman.blogspot.com
via citizencouture.com
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My close friends, Bridget and Steve, recently returned to the United States after three years of living in New Delhi, India. While they were there, they hosted many visitors and were frequently put in touch with friends of friends planning their own trips to Delhi.
While living in India, they decided to put together their own version of the New York Times 36 Hours in New Delhi and I asked if they would be willing to share it with us. Happy traveling!
Friday
Hit up breakfast at Sagar in Defence Colony Market (South Delhi) for a traditional South Indian breakfast, great fresh juices, lassis and masala chai. Make sure you go to the South Indian Sagar – as there’s a North Indian one a few doors down with the same name. Also, don’t go for dinner, it’s better for breakfast/ brunch/ lunch and doesn’t serve alcohol.
Next, head to Humayun’s Tomb. It is both beautiful, and surprisingly chill.
From there, make your way to Sundar Nagar Market. It’s a small, horse-shoe shaped market that’s pretty tame. There you can shop for old (and fake but cool looking) antiques and get tea & sweets at Bikanar.
Take a late afternoon walk in Lodhi Garden, then get a fresh lime soda and take a break at Lodhi Garden Restaurant, which is within the gardens on the Lodhi Road side.
Saturday
Start your day with a visit to Qutab Minar, the tallest minaret in the world. Follow with lunch at Olive (Mediterranean food) and a visit to the boutique next door.
Next visit Gandhi Smirti – or Gandhi’s House – where Gandhi lived for the last 144 days of his life and where he was assassinated. (Note: this is not the Gandhi museum, which can be skipped.) When you leave, take a drive past India Gate and parliament, though there’s no need to get out of the car.
From there, make your way to high tea at the Imperial Hotel which starts at 3 p.m. and goes until around 6 p.m. The Imperial Hotel is a Delhi landmark itself – check out its history. The tea will run you 800 Rupees (about $16) and will be comprised of unlimited sandwiches, tea and cakes. This is one of the most fabulous hotels in Delhi and will be a great break from the craziness.
Following tea, take a walk through Deer Park in Hauz Khaz. Spend the rest of your evening in Hauz Khaz market. First walk through the market to get to the park where there is a little lake and some cool ruins.
Next spend some time shopping in the market itself and then have dinner at Gunpowder, which is down some back alleys and very hard to find (ask people where to go and then look carefully for small, ridiculously hard to spot signs). End your night with live music and drinks at Living Room Cafe (also called TLR).
Sunday
The best way to see Old Delhi might be via bike ride with Delhi By Cycle. It leaves early, but it’s worth it. Take their Shah Jahan tour, which is their classic Old Delhi tour.
After biking, summon up some energy and head to the Red Fort. Though it is very touristy, hot and dirty, it is also very impressive.
From there, take the rest of the day easy and splurge with a Delhi social tradition: Sunday brunch. Head to China Kitchen, which is in the Hyatt, has great Chinese food, all you can drink champagne and a beautiful decor. Chinese food is really big in India and this is the best.
Bonus: If you have extra time, go to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, a Sikh Temple in CP, near the Imperial Hotel and not far from India Gate and Gandhi’s house. If you go at the right time, you can help them prepare food for the hundreds that they feed every day for free.
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One final note: we recommend that travelers start taking this pro-biotic, once a day starting three weeks before heading to India. (It is also available on Amazon.com)
The New York City subway system is a world unto itself. My daily commute offers everything from the mundane to the spectacular. It intertwines uninterrupted solitude with concentrated togetherness, often presenting unexpected moments shared between strangers. In the subway I have observed and displayed the range of human emotion in episodic segments between the overhead announcement to “stand clear of the closing doors please.”
I easily become lost in my own thoughts on the train, despite an awareness that each person around me carries his or her own story. And like all things New York, it is the culture that breaks through moments of isolation to reconnect you to the permeating pulse of the city.
“Sometimes while I ride the subway I try to look at each person and imagine what they look like to someone who is totally in love with them. I think everyone has had someone look at them that way, whether it was a lover, or a parent, or a friend, whether they know it or not. It’s a wonderful thing, to look at someone to whom I would never be attracted and think about what looking at them feels like to someone who is devouring every part of their image, who has invisible strings that are connected to this person tied to every part of their body. I think this fun pastime is a way of cultivating compassion. It feels good to think about people that way, and to use that part of my mind that I think is traditionally reserved for a tiny portion of people I’ll meet in my life to appreciate the general public.”
-Dean Spade
In addition to the unofficial, and often unsanctioned, art and culture that exists below New York City, the MTA also runs an Arts for Transit program to bring public art into the subway system. Included in this program is the Music Under New York initiative as well as an initiative in which the MTA commissions a selection of artists to develop posters to be displayed on the subways.
Just recently, illustrator Sophie Blackall, of Missed Connections – a blog in which Blackall illustrates Missed Connections submissions from Craigslist – developed this poster for the Arts for Transit Program.
“Needless to say I love the subway. I glean all my characters from my fellow passengers. The same sorts of things which attracted me to Missed Connections, I find on the train: subtle interactions, eccentricity, beauty, sorrow, secrets, kindness, generosity, excellent hairdos. Every sort of person imaginable and unimaginable. “
– Sophie Blackall
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A couple of years ago, my cousin told me about the book “The 5 Love Languages®” by Gary Chapman. Though I haven’t read the book myself, I am very interested in its premise, which as I understand it states that each person has a primary love language. It is the method by which feelings of love are translated into our outward ways of giving and receiving love.
The 5 languages Chapman identifies are:
I think it’s interesting to consider the primary language of various people in your life. It helps me remember that we are all love. And though none of us speak exactly the same language, the ability to translate the messages we receive from one another’s heart connects us to what lies at each of our cores: love.
You can take the Love Languages quiz here.
LOVE image found here.
When I first saw the video below, I thought it was SO weird. As I watched it a second time, I couldn’t stop laughing. The video’s title is Prisecolinensinenciousol and is a parody by Adriano Celentano for an Italian TV program called Mileluci. It is sung entirely in gibberish and is supposed to sound like American English.
Not only is the dancing totally amazing in this video, but I find it hilarious that this is what English sounds like to Non-English speakers. Most American’s hardly recognize that they are not speaking English in this segment. So, please enjoy this hilarious video. Ciao!!
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