Each week we pick a word, and both do a post based off that word.  However, this week I’m sneaking in and changing it up because  today is Farrell’s birthday!!  I couldn’t have been blessed with a better sister and friend; and I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to celebrate her with you today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FARRELL!

I asked many of the people in her life to send me one word to describe Farrell.  These are the words they chose.

*Thank you to everyone who helped out with this, especially to Teddy for the word layout.  And no need to stop here.  If you have a word you’d like to add, there’s plenty of room to do so in the comments.

Water is, and always has been, a major part of my life.  I’m not sure whether it’s growing up on Lake Erie or my being a water sign, but there are few things I find as soothing as I do water.  As I considered this word, and all it means to me personally, I wanted. but wasn’t sure how, to acknowledge the global water crisis thats going on.  As I thought about it my day was filled with other obligations.  After work, I rushed downtown to see a friend’s fabulous play but before arriving, I shamelessly stopped into the Aveda store to refresh my make-up.  And as it turns out, as part of Earth Month, the store is offering $5 manicures to support Clean Ocean Action.  I wasn’t familiar with this group before, but it seems its mission is to improve New York and New Jersey’s coast.  A worthy cause, for sure, however I am also cognizant that we’re facing a lager crisis and each of us ought to personally consider where we go from here.

I could not be more happy to be part of this particular pair.

Lauren and I (Sister Disco) circa 1990-ish. Lauren was an ostrich in a school play. I felt proud. I still do.

Growing up, the end of every school year was met with a trip to Cedar Point Amusement Park.  Though the rides were the obvious attraction, my friends and I would also entertain ourselves by seeing who could spot the highest number of “twinkies” aka couples who wore matching outfits.  This was quite a common practice among some of the park guests, and one which initiated for me so many unanswered questions.  Who purchased the outfits?  Was one member of the pair presented with a few options from which to choose?  How far into the relationship was it before the idea was broached?  To this day, I have no answers for you, only memories of some seriously decked out duos.

Click through images for source info

Right there, in the middle of the spectrum, lies this fresh, lucky, tone of prosperity. Its abundance can leave us sick or envious to say the least. Yet, we cannot deny the stature it gives our old colorful friend, Roy Biv.

Photo by Oleg Gordienko

Though we typically associate its complement on the color wheel with matters of the heart, not so, says the study of our energy centers.  Green is the color associated with our heart chakra.  Its most basic function is to love and be loved.  In balance.  Just as its color sits in the middle of the rainbow.

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About two years ago, I fell in love with greens. I am talking collard greens, spinach, and KALE (sweet, sweet kale). It was then that I started to drink green smoothies. I know the concept might sound yucky to some of you, but trust me, you can’t even taste the greens. Lucky for us, we are coming up on smoothie making season. Here is my favorite recipe:

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!

I have been thinking this past week that, really, all good things are open.

It always helps, though can be a struggle, to be open minded when entering a new situation.

It is always reassuring to know that someone’s door is always open to you.

It can be a blessing to have an open discussion about a problem or situation.

Saying the words, “open sesame” almost always leads to something awesome, right?

The list goes on and on if you think about it. Open road, open skies, open up to, etc.

I have found that most of the things above can be achieved by trying to maintain an open heart. And once you start to open your heart, it will speak louder and louder to you. This has been a recent realization for me that feels almost life-changing. In a good way.

It wouldn’t be a Saturday post without some music, and let’s try and be open minded and blast a little Newsies today, huh?

*

“To interpretation…”

Click through pictures for source info

Each week we pick a word and each do a post based on that word.  This week: Fly

Never hurt a fly

Time flies

Fly on the wall

Fly me to the moon

Fly by the seat of your pants

On the fly

Click through images for source info.

As you read this, I am most likely flying back to NYC from India. I am sure I will have tons of things to share and new, exciting things to discuss. Until then, I will never forget a podcast I heard on This American Life about flying. The story is about people who do not ordinarily cry, but are always brought to tears watching movies on airplanes. No matter what movie is playing, these people always end up in tears.

This episode really made me think. There really is something reflective and different about the way you feel when you are flying. You are on your way to somewhere else. My mom has always said that you need the time it takes to travel from one place to another in order to transition your thoughts and prepare yourself to arrive there. I think she might be right.

So the word of the day is mirror.  Of course I could talk about mirroring in acting classes or how much time I spend looking in the mirror (ha!), but I just can’t stop thinking about how awesome Arcade Fire’s interactive Black Mirror video, from their album Neon Bible, is. You can control how you hear the song as well as which instruments come into the song.

You also have to check out Arcade Fire’s The Wilderness Downtown interactive video, where you plug-in your address and they incorporate your house into the video through Google Maps! It’s pretty hi-tech

Still interested? The Neon Bible interactive video is pretty cool too.

Click on the links and play around a bit. It is Saturday! It will be fun, promise!

“Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.

"Ring" by Arnaud Lapierre - Cubic Mirrors Playing with Perceptions in Paris

Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior.

"The Largest Disco Ball" by Michel de Broin

 Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits.

"Mirror Box" by Yayoi Kusama

Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.

The MirrorCube Tree Hotel in Sweden

Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

Each week we pick a work and each do a post on that word.  This week the word is: Project.

Action and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling…
— William James

Courtesy of The Happiness Project

Artwork by Teddy Feighan

Monster Rally and Rum Tum (MR & RT) have a new music project together and I am so excited hear all they have been working on. You can listen to their new single, Raindrops:

If you like what you hear, pre-order it at Lefse Records.  The EP is set to release on March 13, 2012.

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:

• Words of Affirmation – “Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.”
• Quality Time – “In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.”
• Receiving Gifts – “Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.”
• Acts of Service – “Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.”
• Physical Touch – “This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.”

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!!