2012




As I sit here in my bling sipping a blue moon before I head out to celebrate with my oldest friends, I'm taking a moment breathe. To think about all that 2011 has brought me and all that 2012 has in store. Apparently, or rather against my will, 2011 was meant to teach me things I didn't want to learn. Loss, grief, moving on, letting go, forgiveness, friendship, loyalties, and most of all to take negative emotions, bundle them up, throw them away, and move on. Then, to not let other people hold you back and to follow your dreams. As unwelcome as many of those things were, that's a whole hell of a lot of lessons in one year. And I am so, so thankful. The best part? Even through all the crap, 2011 brought a whole lot of fun.

January - Honestly, I can't remember anything from this month. Reeling off of a Christmas trip / Yoga retreat in Mexico and a NYE at home, me and the ex probably just laid low for a few.
February - Philadelphia. Explored an old city in a new way. Met new friends and saw old ones. Great weekend.
March - Ecuador. An Alternative spring break trip with 12 amazing Northeastern students. We built a bus stop, organized a library, and helped out at a tree farm. We hiked, ate cuy, shared moments. An amazing journey.
April - Some Kind of Jam. Small music festival in Pennsylvania. Great friends, good music. Nothing better.
May - Transitions.
June - Birthday month. Enough said. Dispatch in concert.
July - My favorite holiday in my favorite place. Hiked Mt. Washington - Biggest accomplishment of the year. Also, Gathering of the Vibes. Big music festival in CT. Again - Great friends, good music. Nothing better. Favorite month.
August - I can't think of anything in particular that happened in August. I'll chalk it up to a great summer; Ptown, Jersey Shore, NYC - friends, family, love. Grace Potter and Stevie Nicks in concert [not together].
September - Hiking 3 peaks and camping in Acadia, ME. Absolutely amazing and beautiful. Big Gigantic and Pretty Lights in concert.
October - Halloween in Vegas. Hiking Red Rock Canyons. Visiting Michelle's place in Bakersfield. Reuniting with my cousin in LA. Hiking to the Hollywood sign.
November - Getting accepted to Not for Sale and deciding to move to California. Thanksgiving, long overdue time with my brother. Dark Star Orchestra in concert.
December - Fun. Surprising outcomes and happy celebrations. Life renewing itself, even among my seemingly never-ending funk. Disco Biscuits in concert.


Intentions for 2012:

Be my best self; be a better friend, sister, daughter.
Be kind.
Be creative.
Smile often, laugh much.

Happy New Years!!

One Day, by David Nicholls.

In approximately four days, I've read the book One Day and rented the movie On Demand. It's a must must must read AND see. Read it first. It's an interesting twist on friendship, love, relationships and life in general. It's written as snapshot of two people who meet on July 15th, and meets them on the same day, every year, over twenty years. It's refreshing and nostalgic at the same time. As with most books I'm obsessed with, I could relate on many levels, but the real-ness of the book is what spoke to me the most. It was a good reminder, especially at this time in my life, that no one ever knows. No one knows what they're supposed to be doing. Everyone pulls jobs they hate as a stepping stone for... what? Everyone dates people totally wrong for them because that's how you learn. And there are some friendships that will last a life time, for better or worse.

My favorite thing about the book? You will interpret it in a totally different way depending on your experiences and where you are in life. It's that good.

My favorite thing about the movie? Jim Sturgess, obviously.

[Full disclosure: You will cry. Marisa, proceed with caution.]

"'Live each day as if it's your last', that was the conventional advice, but really, who had the energy for that? What if it rained or you were a bit glandy? It just wasn't practical. Better by far to simply try and be good and courageous and bold and make a difference. Not change the world exactly, but the bit around you. Go out there with your passion and your electric typewriter and work hard at... something. Change lives through art maybe. Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well. Experience new things. Love and be loved, if you ever get the chance."

Sunday night, first dream about Not for Sale. It's my first day and I'm late. I'm late for everything. Assignment after assignment, I'm the last to turn things in. I'm always a step behind everyone else, and the director is disappointed. 24 hours and I'm stressed that I'm not going to be able to hack it.

Monday night, first dream about training the temp taking over my place at Northeastern. I show her where I keep everything, what she's responsible for, and start to introduce her to colleagues in other offices. She's terrible. She can't do even the easiest things, how am I going to trust her with all of my stuff! She can't keep anything organized and she's never going to be able to hack it here. I can't leave.



Apparently I'm freaking out over here.

"Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life’s path."

I found the following quote on Ben Casnocha's blog, but it's actually an excerpt from this Ted Talk. I have to admit I didn't watch the whole video, so I'm not sure what its meaning is in context, but I love love love this quote. If the ex read this, he'd be rolling on the floor, or slapping Mr. Cowen in the face. That's not why I love this idea, but it sure as hell makes me confident in my belief that it's not all what you know. One of my biggest strengths is that I go with the flow, and I'm open to learning new ideas constantly, because regardless of how educated I am, I know I don't know everything. I learn something new every day, and I love that about my life.

"It's just like the evidence that shows the most dangerous people are those that have been taught some financial literacy. They're the ones who go out and make the worst mistakes. It's the people that realize, "I don't know anything at all," that end up doing pretty well."

via heyambarrae

When you make up in your mind that you are going to do something and work tirelessly to bring your dream to life, one of two (or both) things will happen:

1.) You will achieve the outcome you set out to create.

2.) You will learn a crazy amount about yourself, your passions, your world.

Either way, you win. Given these two outcomes, you are guaranteed success by default the moment you decide to pursue the crap out of what you love.


Well that sounds good to me!

Putting some thoughts together for an end of the year, end of Boston (forever? for now?) post. Until then...

I came across this wonderful gem this morning. 30 things to stop doing to yourself. Number one is my favorite. If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that you have to be conscious of what you are bringing into your own space, what type of energy you are welcoming into your life. I believe that people come into our lives for a reason, and sometimes you learn what you need to learn from them and then you both need to move on. Not all friendships last forever, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean that while you were friends it wasn’t real or that they were lying when they said this or that or that the world is ending because you aren’t friends anymore. You’ve served a purpose in each other’s lives and now it’s time to move on. As Tristan Prettyman said, “At the end of the day, you have to live with the things you invite into your space, and if they aren’t working for you anymore, you have the right to escort them right out. If people frown, or your friends give you a hard time, or your family wishes something else for you, tough nuggets. It’s not up to them. We all deserve to be happy, healthy and loved." It’s true that it’s the people who stand beside you when you’re at your worst who are your true friends. I may have unintentionally put some people through hell these past few months and the strong have definitely survived. Or told me to shut up and get over it. Or let me cry in their beds at very odd hours of the night. Or just let me sit in silence. You really do have to stop spending time with the wrong people, and give the people who care a chance to take care of you when you need it the most.

Other gems:

12. Stop Thinking You’re Not Ready.

17. Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you.

18. Stop Holding Grudges

25. It's okay to fall apart for a little while

“When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you.”

As I prepare to leave for the unknown, Beeyond Yoga has posted another blog post for me. I hope I find a yoga studio that I like as much as Back Bay Yoga...

"Change, risk, a new beginning, a new perspective, and a new life..."

An old favorite on a Monday morning...

Album of the month: Since I first heard the album, sometime in my first year living in Boston with a crazy roommate who also loved music, I knew that Jack’s Mannequin’s Everything in Transit would be the soundtrack to my life when I moved to California. Now that it’s actually happening, I’ve revisted the album and just get so pumped every time I listen to it – I even deleted a Grateful Dead album off of my iPod so there was room to add it, so you know it must be serious. Every song gets me excited about the move, the lifestyle, the opportunities, and even the sadness of leaving certain things behind. I’m Ready and La La Lie are two favorites, but you should really listen to the whol album if you don’t know it.

"Oh, it's a picture of perfection / Ah, and the postcards gonna read / Fuck yeah we can live like this... / We can live like this"

Song of moment: Sitting on the Dock of the Bay. Why? Because I'm headed for the 'Frisco bay. You'd be surprised how many songs there are about moving to California. I may or may not post all of them. Suggestions welcome.

Quote of the last six months of the year: “Walk away from good-enough, in search of can’t-live-without.” See ya Beantown! 13 more days till I pack it all up…

You know it's a successful work party when you end up at Connors, black out by ten, and wake up at 3am in your friends apartment on a Thursday night. I'm gonna miss these fools.

My fabulous roommate and a wonderful best friend is running the Boston Marathon this year and I couldn't be more proud. Her goal is to raise $5,000 for her Mass General team, and I think you should donate!!! Any little bit helps. Asking people for money totally sucks, so I thought I'd do a little bit of asking for her. Check out her page here!

Our first 5k together (and my first 5k in years). And I can say I knew her when... :)

I JUST BOUGHT A ONE WAY TICKET TO SAN FRANCISCO.

Dreams are coming true. I'm so excited I can't contain it, but I can't post this on facebook because I haven't quit work yet. I'm assuming no one from work reads this blog. Ahhhh. I recently found out my friend Jenny, who I haven't seen in years, is also moving to San Fran in January and we're only about a half hour away from each other! And, I've been stalking my friend Meghan who lives there already. Here are two amazing pictures I found on her facebook. I literally cannot wait.

I'll be living in Half Moon Bay. Google image it, I dare you.

A round of what I've been catching up on...

Being Brave in Sadness, Brave in Love. "that we must sit with the wholeness of who we are and what we experience, that we must honor the beauty and the pain, that we can be sad yet grateful, angry yet compassionate, broken yet held in wholeness. This is life."

My hooping hero. A lot of practice in my future to live up to this.

One of my favorite writers on selling your sofa and going after your dream. Do whatever it takes. I'm selling my bed, that's basically the same thing. I wonder what I can sell from my dad's house...

Yup, another manifesto. For growth. "The prerequisites for growth: the openness to experience events and the willingness to be changed by them."

An incredible story on how yoga cured cancer. The reminder to consciously breathe resounds in my head daily, but that an abundant amount of oxygen can kill cancer cells is really just mind blowing.

“I’m grateful for anything that reminds me of what’s possible in this life. Books can do that. Films can do that. Music can do that. School can do that. It’s so easy to allow one day to simply follow into the next, but every once in a while we encounter something that shows us that anything is possible, that dramatic change is possible, that something new can be made, that laughter can be shared.”

~ Jonathan Safran Foer

I'm obsessed with Manifestos. Newest.

relax, release, breathe deeply.

I'm a time bomb of emotions lately, which is my only explanation for why I haven't been writing a lot. A lot of things are happening. I'm leaving. I'm leaving a place I love because I feel like I don't belong here any more, and that gets proven to me in small ways every day. I'm leaving because I got accepted to a fellowship at basically my dream organization and I'm finally going after my dream after years of suppressing it. Maybe it won't turn out to be what I want it to be. Maybe I'll be back. Maybe it will be everything I want and more and I'll find a new home out there. The only thing I'm sure of is that I'm not myself anymore, and I need a change.

I'm so totally excited for this opportunity. In January I'll be living in Half Moon Bay, California working at Not for Sale. Come visit, send love, keep reading. I'll also be writing on their fellowship blog. I might be leaving Boston but I'm starting a new chapter in my life in what could possibly (hopefully) open doors for the rest of my career. No pressure or anything.

"I believe that as long as we all follow our heart, continue to stand in our truths, take full ownership for our stories and be ok with who we are, we will eventually reach our fullest potential." - Via Beeyond Yoga

Loving this. Via Positively Present.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of my absolute favorite people in the world, Whitney Handrich.Whitney was my first friend at Northeastern, and the reason I met my college boyfriend, and everyone else I know today. We were on the MEISA board together (fellow music industry majors) and spent a ridiculous weekend in Stockton, CA (we don't recommend that ANYONE ever go there, ever.) I'm fairly certain that we are the same person. We both have a passion for music that was slowly killed by academia, and now we want to save the world. She visited me in Vietnam and then took a year abroad herself. She's now in Spain and I miss her every single day. We've lived together, danced together, laughed and cried together, saw some great shows together, watched that 70s show, ate cheddar pretzels and oreos, and both have a serious love for trees. We've even worked together and held the same job at different times. I think of her every time I see a squirrel. Our mutal wanderlust will probably keep us from ever living in the same place at the same time again, but that's part of why we get along so well. Happy birthday lady, I love you so much!

Red Sox game with the boss.

What one looks like after a night at Apocalypse Now, in Vietnam.

Vietnamese Dance Party

<3

Kristoff has done it again.

It's safe to say he's my number 2 crush. The first, of course, is this man. Please don't make me choose.

Ironically, the first paragraph of this blog post related to none other than, the blog post itself. Jesus, it was like she was writing a letter directly to me, stopped me right in my tracks.

I think I'm still trying to forgive myself for compromising too much.

You could have done better but I don't mind / You just kinda wasted my precious time / But don't think twice, it's all right. - Bob Dylan

___________

One way or another, we all have to find what best fosters the flowering of our humanity in this contemporary life, and dedicate ourselves to that. - Joseph Campbell

Via Abby. I'm glad we like all of the same things.

Nicholas Kristof is by far my favorite journalist. His passion moves me and I'm incredibly grateful to him for bringing light to the human trafficking movement. This past week he joined another hero of mine, Somaly Mam, to raid a brothel in Cambodia- an incredibly dangerous task as most brothels in the county are armed and run by people in the military or police force (and most of those mentioned are also customers.) He documented their steps on twitter, but you can read his article here. Additionally, his past few articles also hit home for me, on girls education, and an organization changing lives through literacy. When I read articles like this I miss Vietnam more than I can put into words, but I know that the work I end up doing will bring me back to my favorite part of the world. It chills me that Kristof sees progress - not something many human trafficking advocates can see in their day to day work. But still - there's just so much to be done. If you want to read more about Kristof's efforts I urge you to read Half the Sky, an incredible movement he started with his wife to "emancipate women and fight global poverty by unlocking women's power as economic catalysts."

His priorities lie directly with mine, now the question is, what am I doing about it?

"none of us are free if one of us is chained"

my L.A. ink

I've been away for about two weeks on what turned out to be an amazing journey. A few crazy days in Vegas with one of my best friends from college. A few lazy days in LA with an amazing cousin I haven't connected with in years. A night in San Diego, wandering the Gaslamp Quarter by myself. Meeting tons of new people, making new connections. I love a good vacation. I think it's necessary to leave your comfort zone every once in a while, experience something new and explore what's around you. Those few days when I wasn't a slave to the grove put a lot of things in perspective for me and I feel refreshed. Exactly what the doctor ordered! (Metaphorically, of course.) Since I'm still catching up on my life, I have a ton of interesting things to share. Beware, I have more than two weeks of google reader to catch up on... Enjoy!
____________________________________

I have a soft spot for anything New York. The video is simple, but I love the familiarity of it. And the song is beautiful. And, not for nothing, but I'm pretty sure 2:18 is Asbury Park...?!

I'm fairly certain Christopher McDougall is a genius. This article touches briefly on his theory - we should be running barefoot. I bought his book for my dad and he read it cover to cover faster than I've seen him read anything in my entire life. He sent it back to me (which was obviously my plan) but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I can't wait. I know a few people with the Vibram Fivefingers and I've heard mixed reviews. I know a few guys who love them and I know others who have horror stories. I think the problem with the latter is that they haven't changed their form. It's not just running barefoot, it's changing our entire way of running, and it's a process that takes time. I can't wait to read the book and venture out into my own exploration on the 100-ups and the pose method. Easier running with no injuries? Count me in. For more inspiration on distance running, a little Marathon training love from a track star. I love her ambition and her sense of humor; “I have to go be in a coma now,” Fleshman said, adding “All I want to do is lay down and be fed grapes and expensive cheeses by my good-looking husband.”

“You are what you are. Now, you just have to convince yourself that what you are is perfect and great. You don’t need to be better. You just need to be you.” - Fleshman, in the article above. This doesn't just apply for marathon training - this needs to be remembered for every day life.

"Deep practice is built on a paradox: struggling in certain targeted ways- operating at the edges of your ability, where you make mistakes- makes you smarter. Or to put it a slightly different way, experiences where you’re forced to slow down, make errors and correct them- as you would if you were walking an ice-covered hill, slipping and stumbling as you go- end up making you swift and graceful without your realizing it." -Daniel Coyle. I forget the first place I heard this but like the above quote because it can be applied to so many things. Personally, it reminds me of yoga and how the whole point of the practice is to make mistakes and push your body to places you didn't know it could go. It's only then that you get stronger.

Start a Revolution. I can't even explain how much I love this. Recreate yourself as you choose.

This video makes me so happy. Thanks Abby!

I taught this girl everything she knows. Okay so that's a lie. But I did teach her how to drink.

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray." -Rumi

Believe it or not I have more to share... look out for part 2 soon!

This article is blowing my mind right now. I love reading things exactly when I need to hear them. And of course I'd be a Gemini. I hate/love reading an exact description of myself. I go back and forth between believing in astrology, because what are the odds that millions of people are exactly the same as you just because of the time you were born. So weird. Also, every single time I need to hear it, I'm reminded that "We are always exactly where we need to be at each point in our life." That quote will follow me around for the rest of my life, and I'm 100% okay with it.

Also, this video is amazing. Very Requim for a Dream.

Feelin' Ben Casnocha's post today.


"We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. We forget the loves and the betrayals alike, forget what we whispered and what we screamed, forget who we were." -- Joan Didion

But it's our ability to forget that allows us to move forward.

My last few days via pictures...

Stylefixx at the BCA

Friends and a late Thursday night that may or may not have including roof hopping

My view of NYC as I drink coffee in Hoboken...

And at night.

Of course, once I was in Manhattan the pictures got a little blurry, but thanks to good friends, good music, and lots of dancing, I'm in a New York state of mind...

Obsessed. Soundtrack to my life.

Happy Monday!

Don't go to a Chinese restaurant for nachos.


My new life mantra. [And not only because I do always want nachos.]

Hanoi - Vietnam (Slow Motion) from Asiantrip TV on Vimeo.

I miss it so much <3

“Happiness equals reality minus expectations” Tom Magliozzi

I read A LOT. I think I read too much. Not books or homework, but blogs and advice and self-help type of posts. I sign up for every newsletter. I read more advice than I know what to do with and most of the time I just skim through the details. Most of the newsletters I delete after skimming through the headlines. If I get anything out of any of this, I certainly don't practice it. I just keep reading. Instead of sitting on facebook I'm now incessantly on google reader and gmail. I need to figure this out. I need to sort through the crap and keep to the basics. I need to spend more time on things that are important to me and less time wanting to read EVERYTHING. This is what the internet does. We have access to anything and everything and we are on information overload. I love that I can find anything I need or want at any given moment. But there needs to be some sort of filter, some sort of rhyme and reason for what I spend my time on, hopefully making more time for myself and things I really do care about.

More happiness, less expectations. It's related, I swear.

Seriously?

I just cried watching the season premier of I Used to Be Fat. Either that show is absolutely amazing or I have a serious problem.

Watch it. That show changes lives.

My Tuesday night... An introspective Nell, halloween costume in the mail, vinyl stevie wonder and never-ending reading for class. Not terrible.

"I see you as a tomato/basil/organic/low sodium kind of girl." - Coworker.

What kind of vibe am I giving off? Don't bring me tomato soup from Trader Joes (although I probably would really enjoy it). What I need to keep me happy in this place is SNACKS! And COFFEE! My god, there's a serious lack of chocolate in this office.

I'm obsessed with this family.

And trying to find a new job. And reading novels, even though I have a million journals and articles to read for classes. And figuring out a new haircut that would suit me. And moving out of Boston. And salad. And chocolate pudding. And this:

• I wasn't going to write a Steve Jobs post. I always find it confusing to mourn for people I know only through their fame and success. How sad can one be when remembering a nonexistent relationship? But then I watched Brian Williams' episode on Steve Jobs and I cried. I cried because I'm sad and emotional, and I love and believe anything Brian Williams says. But I also cried for our loss. Whether you know him personally or not, or you're a fan of technology or not, you can't ignore the massive impact this one man has made on not only the lives of Americans, but the lives of people all over the world. His voice sparks inspiration, that of a humble man with big dreams. His advice? To live the life of your dreams. To not be afraid of dying, but to be afraid of not having lived. To live the life you want to live, regardless of others' opinions. And so, in that one half hour of watching Brian Williams, I have been moved to mourn the loss of a man I never met, and consequently head for the life of my dreams.

Passion is something that shouldn't be ignored. Steve Jobs loved his life, but most importantly, he loved his job. How many people do you know that can say that? My passion, however broad it may be at the moment, is to make a difference. It's to think bigger than myself and my relatively small life, and spend my time helping others. So today I present you with one of my passions, and I urge you find a passion of your own, and to live your life as fully as you can.

Invest in girls. The statistics are staggering:

*When a girl in the developing world receives seven or more years of education, she marries four years later and has 2.2 fewer children.

*Research in developing countries has shown a consistent relationship between better infant and child health and higher levels of schooling among mothers.

*When women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90 percent of it into their families, as compared to only 30 to 40 percent for a man.

The list goes on. I urge you to check out their website and watch more of their videos for any information you can learn about The Girl Effect. This is a serious situation.

As an American, it's hard to understand these statistics. It's hard to recognize that while I bitch about wasting my money on Starbucks multiple times a week, or how I don't have a lot of money left after I pay rent each month, I keep nothing in perspective. Starbucks is a luxury. My rent allows me to live in an amazing town right outside of Boston where I have every essential need and more. I have no idea how to find my next job but I did have the luxury of going to a private University for both my undergraduate and graduate degree. We are the lucky ones, no matter how we feel about it during our biggest moments of frustration and aggravation. While thousands around the country are protesting their 99%, there are millions in the developing world starving to death. Girls are getting married off at the age of twelve. An estimated 2.5 million are trafficked into forced labor (including sexual exploitation.) This is the world that we all live in. I think it's time we start actively living in the world around us and recognizing the injustices. Maybe you can donate only a few dollars, don't forget that every little bit helps. Maybe you can tell everyone you know about The Girl Effect, because being an ambassador doesn't only hold monetary value. Spend a few minutes of your time thinking about the millions of girls who have the capability to shape the future of our entire world, if only we let them. This is bigger than you or me. This is an idea, an investment, that can change the lives of some of the 600 million+ girls living in the developing world today.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. – Anne Frank

This post is a part of the 2011 Girl Effect Blogging Campaign. If you have your own blog, I urge you to spread the world to those you know and love. This movement is only beginning, and we can do some really great things here.

I am not ashamed at all that I spent my Saturday night working on this masterpiece.

Who says rice crispie treats are just for kids? We successfully demolished about half during girls night, so I thought I'd bring in the rest into work so they wouldn't be lying around the apartment.

So now, they're just lying around my desk, and I will be eating them all day.

Videos.

"The real heroes are sometimes not who you think they are. They are right there in the street everywhere around you." I've seen aerial pictures of this before but never knew what it was about. This video is a must watch. So amazing.

Inspiration. I love this guy. Just an awesome video.

On loving food.

A few days ago I went to Qdoba for lunch. Before you judge me, please know that I am otherwise a fairly healthy eater, and my qdoba days bring back college memories, when it was the only thing that could cure my hangover.

So yes, I was hungover at work. And so I went to Qdoba and I ordered a steak queso burrito. If you've ever seen the size of a Qdoba burrito you will again start to judge me, but if you ever feel so hungover that you can't go on, please just try one.

Anyway, as I ordered the guy behind the counter (whom I recognized, from being there so often) literally stopped in his tracks, looked me straight in the eye, and smiled. "I like you. You look like a salad girl but then you go ahead and order a steak queso burrito." As he shook his head in disbelief I simply replied with, Well I love the queso. The weird part is I don't even eat meat that often, and I've actually never had this burrito with steak - it was a spur of the moment decision that I most certainly did not regret. I spent a few minutes wondering what a salad girl was, but quickly forgot the whole thing happened...

Until I went to a local deli yesterday for a good old fashioned sub. I stand by my theory that Boston does not know how to make a good sub, but apparently this is the best place in Brookline, and although I was highly disappointed when I went last year, I needed to give the sub another try. After waiting for way too long (seriously, what do they do back there? and how do they have so many awards?) the guy began to put my sub in the bag, but held it back while he looked at me and smiled. "I'd like to see you eat this whole thing." what? "There's no way you could finish this sub." you wanna make a bet?

I know some might attest that I should be taking these as compliments. I don't. I'm a normal-to-skinny girl and because I've worked out my whole entire life, this doesn't surprise me. But I love food. And that's okay. If I want to eat a queso burrito [which is, by the way, way larger than it really should be] I can. And I most certainly am not going to waste any of it. And there are also times when I'm not that hungry, and if I don't want to eat that much, that's okay too. Sometimes I'll be satisfied with a small salad and sometimes I'll come home and eat the funfetti cake right off of the pan with a fork. The day I put any sort of restrictions on my diet I'll be a sad, sad girl.

Why do we think it's okay to judge people based on their appearances? Will that ever stop?

PS. I definitely finished that sub. And now I'm off to bake something...

[via heyamberrae]

This album speaks to the importance of adapting in a changing and surprising world. All will change with time... the future none can see. In the reconciliation of seemingly opposing options (making up a changing mind) we can hope to find new perspectives and better ways to move forward." Derek Vincent Smith [prettylights]

Last weekend I went up to Acadia, ME for a hiking and camping trip. It is always amazing to get out of the city and explore parts of New England. Maine is absolutely huge and it always blows my mind. Even the one island that we were on had so many mountains to hike, and there are multiple islands you can camp on. There's so much to see! We hiked to three summits - Mt. Champlain, Mt. Door and Mt. Cadallaic. The last one is the highest mountain along the atlantic coast, and it's said if you drive up there (it's the only summit you can drive to on the island) before sunrise, you'd be the first person to see sunlight. We discussed that happening but there was no way we could function that early in the morning - hiking really wears you out!

Summit @ Mt. Door

Summit @ Mt. Champlain

The thing I love most about hiking is the feeling you get when you're done. It's not euphoria or endorphins, but just... accomplishment. There are times when I look at the rock in front of me and just can't fathom how I could possible climb up it, or walk on a ledge with no railing that will inevitablly lead to death if you take one wrong step or slip. But then those things don't happen and you make it. You do find a way to climb the rock that doesn't seem physically possible, it just happens. Our bodies are capable of incredible things. When you make it to the summit the view is incredible - but what's even more incredible is that you made it. I'm so grateful that these guys enjoy hiking, and are always willing to pick me up in Boston and bring me with them. And, like I said, it's always nice to get out of the city. Check out the whole album here.

On why I love my roommate:

-She forces me out of bed to go for a 3 mile run at 6am.
-She makes me feel better when I don't run all three miles, saying (and I think I quote) "Think of all the assholes that are still in bed!"
-She adds that the run equals a beer later this afternoon, although I may make it 3 or 4.

Ps. I borrowed one of your sweaters this morning. <3

"It's never you, it's them! Because when it's you, it's you. You know?"

[pause. minutes of straight laughter.]

"Wait. But I still mean it!"


Words of Wisdom from only the best. <3

[Via Happy Things]

[Via Beyond Yoga]

“The time will come when you can actually make a difference and choose a better life. The time will come when you will consciously create your life with your positive thoughts, intentions and actions. The time will come when you take the first leap into an unknown abyss to find that your fears are just old friends coaxing you down the path towards your happiness. The time come will come when you just effortlessly allow the world to be as it is and let life flow through you knowing you’re taken care of. The time will come when you’re done waiting for tomorrow to write that book, lose that weight, take that class, learn that language, or start that business. The time will come when your Spirit says enough with this procrastination; it’s time to move toward your greatness. The time has come and that time is Now.” - Jackson Kiddard

I'm doing this.

There's nothing I like more then quotes and lyrics, and recently, there's nothing I've wanted more than arts and crafts time. Anyone know where to find paint-by-numbers?*

*Serious inquiry.

Tristan Prettyman is always inside my brain.

"The upside to the crazy.

You get sad. You get angry. You cry.

And then you take that shiz, and you channel it into something, and come out on the other side, and you realize you dont need to take everything so serious. Gahhh.

And the next thing you know, your laughing and thinking to yourself ”Ahhhh, whatever…”

And you become that girl that drives everyone crazy cause you cant make up your mind.

And you realize, that’s ok too."

The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore. ~ Ferdinand Magellan

Boston <3

My wonderful roommate just shared this fantastic list for single people. Still getting used to terms like this, but I found this to be an incredibly accurate list and worth spreading. My favorites that I am either currently practicing or need to be:

7.Listen to love songs that remind you of no one; feel indifferent about feeling indifferent

8.Listen to songs that remind you of the past and cry in the fetal position

10.Do the things your past relationships discouraged; be the person your past relationships suppressed

14.Sleep diagonal because you can

Seriously. #14 is so freeing.

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” - Patanjali

“There are towns and cities where groups of people who reflect you and your own inner beliefs and interests live, and there are communities in which you will thrive. There are people we’re related to physically, and then there are people we’re related to spiritually, emotionally, and socially. The road to your dreams is sometimes dark, and it’s sometimes magical, but The Wizard of Oz had one thing right: it’s ultimately about the journey and the characters who accompany you on it, not the about the destination.” ~ Kelly Cutrone

Why hungover-hurricane weekends can be productive:

Laid on couch. This is known as relaxing.

Read half of The Help. Reading slowly while watching movies at the same time, but at least I'm finally reading it. It's really good I just have a terrible attention span lately.

Finally cleaned room and put away clothes that I cleaned last week.

Started cleaning my records! It's amazing how much better they sound.

Spent some quality time with a half-broken vacuum and a very stubborn rug.

Lots of good roommate time, including a great 3 mile run on a Monday morning.

Now, I'm in the office with a headache. If the two aren't related, I would be very surprised.

What I did on my lunchbreak.

Settling into the single life, I have noted, but not yet decided if I appreciate, that people around me are very concerned with "setting me up". Over the past week this has included;

a) my mom calling me to tell me that I just had to audition for Love in the Wild (season two is casting now, if you're interested),
b) my dad asking me (upon telling him that I am anywhere in public, like the grocery store) if there are any cute guys there,
c) my coworker telling me she knew a guy I'd just love, and showing me pictures on facebook, and
d) another coworker excitedly asking me if I was single (he wasn't sure, but he thought he heard it somewhere...) and subsequently dragging me (literally) over to a guy he thought I'd be great with.

I find this most interesting because this has never happened before. I've been in relationships, I've been in Vietnam where being 22 and unmarried is completely unacceptable, and so settled into the spinster role as quickly as possible, I've lived with boys, which is a whole other experience, and then I've been in relationships. I have to say, it's kind of exciting. What's most interesting is seeing the types of guys my friends think I'd be interested in. In case (d) after I assured him that I was, indeed, single, his response was "light or dark? blonde or brunette?" When I told him I wasn't really sure, he introduced me to multiple guys, all in good faith. I can appreciate that people are looking out for me, but I am slightly concerned with the need for me to be dating anybody. Can't I just be single for a little while? Although this could be fun...

Lunchtime stroll around the reflection pool, one of my favorite spots.

Oasis - Grace Potter

Don't let the sun beat you down

Steal your crown

Hold your head to the ground

Just keep on walking

Don't let your soul lose control

Let you roll down the mountain you climbed

Don't let the sand blind your eyes

Realize they're only lies and

Keep on walking

Let it cover you with grace

Let it take you from this place

And as your heart races

Pack your suitcases

And in the middle of the desert

There's an Oasis

Don't let your bones turn to stone

Cause you're feeling so alone

Just keep on walking

Don't count the miles

That you've climbed

Make you go blind

Cause baby there's something to find

Don't hide your eyes from the light

Just hold on tight

And soon it'll be alright

Let it cover you with grace

Let it take you from this place

And as your heart races

Pack your suitcases

And in the middle of the desert

There's an Oasis

And you know that it's closer than you think

And you know that if you're the first to blink

And you know you gotta swim before you sink so low

Let it cover you with grace

Let it take you from this place

And as your heart races

Pack your suitcases

And in the middle of the desert

There's an Oasis

Dear Andrew,

You are, hands-down, the most beautiful man I've ever met in real life. When you interrupted me this morning and asked where you should go to hail a cab, I knew immediately that you were from nyc, and put into my life to make me swoon. I told you more about my life on our five minute walk then I've told any other stranger. When we parted ways you told me to "Keep Rockin" and you were either trying too hard, or you are a man after my own heart. Despite our vast age difference, I'm leaning towards the latter.

Thanks for shaking my hand and simultaneously making me believe in fate,
Samantha

Watch this video.

[via That Girl]

I realized recently that I never shared my pictures from Gathering of the Vibes 2011! It was my first time there, and it totally blew my mind. I spent the weekend with amazing friends while we listened to Further, the Rhythm Devils with Keller Williams, Dark Star Orchestra, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Elvis Costello, the Levon Helm Band, moe., and a list of other bands I can't even recall. I love the atmosphere of a music festival. It's a great feeling to know you are surrounded by people who love the same things you love, respect the same things you respect. It was an amazing weekend and I'm so grateful for the experience. I'm not sure if I want to go to Vibes again next year or try another new festival because there are so many out there. It will definitely depend on lineups, and actually, it might depend on where in the world I am living :) See more pictures here.