"I always have to be doin' a little somethin'."

According to my Dad, my great-grandmother used to always say that she "had to be doin' a little somethin' all the time.  She liked to stay busy gardening, cooking and taking care of her rug rat great-grandchildren :).  Like my great-grandmother (& my dad) I'm a list-maker and like to stay busy - except for a completely lazy weekend here and there.

My dad sent me this post from another blogger: Country Consultant.  Within the post, there is a list of helpful habits.  Being the list-enthusiast I am, Dad knew that I would enjoy this.

Helpful Habits – by Carla Emery

1. Don’t discuss the obvious
2. Don’t own a television
3. Quit a job when you’re losing efficiency
4. Go to bed when you’re tired
5. Eat less salt and sugar and use less heat
6. Keep lists of things to do and things to buy
7. Then get somebody else to do as many of those as possible
8. Don’t drink coffee, tea, cola, or alcohol; smoke cigarettes; chew snooze; or use illegal drugs
9. Sing a lot
10. Pray a lot

While I can't adopt all of these habits - see number 8 sans the illegal drugs/snooze(?)/cigarettes part.  I really appreciate many of these suggestions and can see why these are "helpful" habits.  

To me, number one is number one for a reason - it is one of the best (ironically, the most obvious) suggestions I've heard in awhile.  This is what that says to me: skip the obvious complaint, the cheesy unproductive small-talk, Monday-bashing, weather-chatting, traffic, etc.  All of this is generally information of which we are keenly aware.  I'm not saying that I'm going to start deep conversations in the office kitchen rather than talking about traffic or the weather when I'm pouring my a.m. coffee, but to me, it means taking advantage of having meaningful conversations with the people we care about when given the opportunity to do so.  I already think that my future children are going to have such a different social experience than I ever did - I just hope that they pry themselves away from television and technology enough to develop basic social skills, a since of humor, the ability to make interesting small talk and the ability to navigate themselves out of awkward conversations.  Aside from learning how to read, write and spell in elementary school and how to type properly in middle school, I think that college and sorority gave me a crash course in effective communication, organization and millions of other things - I can plan a party and rush a freshman like it's my business ;).

The rest of the list, which I may blog about in later posts, seems to be a primer on how to make your life simpler and uncomplicated.  I like it.  I feel like while I love Chicago, everything is a little more complicated - mostly because there are more people to navigate around than in most places. Though, I guess every city has its pros and cons.  

Learning Projects

It's time for some self-evaluation.  I've decided to take on new projects and adopt a few old ones in the hopes of refocusing some attention on some interests I abandoned during law school and my entry into the real world.  


Here's the plan, each month I focus on learning something that I don't know but I feel like I should know.  This month, the flags and countries of the world.  Sounds silly, but I love maps, geography, travel and the like.  However, I am not always good with geography outside of North America and Europe.  I've become pretty familiar with the flags and am quizzing myself daily on both countries and flags in the hopes of memorizing them all before too long.  


With the help of my husband, I've also revisited my love for classical music.  Spotify has been a dream come true in giving me access to all of the classics I've been neglecting for the past few years. 


I have also started playing my flute again.  I played for seven years and sort of abandoned it when I entered college and became too busy with sorority and other fun college activities - obviously, learning :). 


Anyway, between this and my daily Q & A journal, I've really enjoyed cultivating some interests outside the law. 


Next up for February, training for my first half-marathon - April 1, here in the city! 

My Favorite New Habit for the New Year

I love blogging (obviously) and have kept journals on and off since I was a child.  I also frequent shops like All She Wrote  and Paper Source because of their unique paper goods, Lilly Pulitzer garb and fun kitschy items - like THIS:
 It's a five-year journal.  You answer one question about yourself, your life, your day, etc. every day for five years.  You end up reanswering the same question on the same date each year for five years - so it will be interesting to see how my answers change for each year.    I think that I remember my dad having one of these when I was younger.  I like the idea of keeping track of my life in that way.  I can often incorporate little things about my day or what I've been up to in the tiny 5 lines available for each day.  However, it's even better than a typical journal because there is zero pressure to fill up even a full page with ramblings - that's what this blog is for ;).  I think that it will be fun to show my kids one day.  I love my life - the good and the bad - and being young.  I am trying my hardest to remember all of it, since life is far too short to spend even a second wishing it away.  :)

Little things that make every day special . . .

It is so easy to get bogged down on all of the things that we hate about the daily grind and to take for granted the little things that make life easier, happier and generally more livable.  In the spirit of being grateful (and let's face it, between Facebook and Twitter, there is only so much Monday bashing that anyone can take) I sat down and thought of a few things that make me each day better

• Google reader - quick and easy access to every blog, news feed and/or design blog that I love; 

• Spotify - I find music I love, then I listen to it.  I don't have to pay for it.  You simply can't beat that :) 

• Starbucks so strong that I still feel jittery four hours later -- Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte is my favorite (not everyday of course & never with whip).  As an aside: whipped cream is only for emergencies i.e. break up, ex-boyfriend sighting, lost your job, snagged your panty hose, got splashed by a cab -- that kind of day).  
• iMessage - Thank you, Apple (& AT&T) for not making me feel guilty about text messages - at least to other iPhone users. 
• RedEye Chicago's tongue-in-cheek reporting & tweets :) 
• My super easy commute - 20 minutes door to door.  Living in the city certainly has its perks! 

My view of the Bean from my office (this, of course, is not my view - just a gratuitous shot of the bean): 

Oops!

Facebook Glitch Reveals Mark Zuckerberg's private photos

Interesting.  I wonder how Mark Zuckerberg feels about his personal photos being shared.  However, this could be a publicity stunt to somehow garner even more attention for Facebook.  If I had to guess, I would say that he probably minds a lot.  FB is only as strong as its best hacker.  Note: this is not a threat, as I know nothing about computer hacking.  I do think that Mark Zuckerberg has a cute dog.  In the interest of treating his private information with care, I will not post photos of said really cute fluffy white dog & MZ's girlfriend Ms. Chan.  Regardless, I think that any hope of "teaching MZ a lesson with the revelation of his own private photos" is an exercise in futility.  I'm pretty sure he'll lock it up shortly, if need be.

On a related note: my own Facebook diet has served to wean me off of my previously dependent habit of checking FB when I wake up, as I ride the train to work, at lunch, when I get bored writing a brief, on my way home, after dinner . . . I wasn't joking when I said that something needed to change.  I like the way that it feels to be a little less connected.  I am still glued to my work e-mail and my personal accounts.  I just don't need to know what my old friends from church camp ate for lunch or what some girl I didn't talk to in high school found on Pinterest.  Ahh freedom.

A little confession . . .

The social media diet is going well so far.  I've checked FB once per day this week.  In doing so, I realized that I am not missing anything.  At all.  I keep up with my friends via Twitter and their own blogs.  That certainly helps. It has really cut down on useless social media clutter in my brain -- leaving me more space to think about Christmas gifts for others and planning our trip to Austria.  Although work is already swamping me this week, I think that I'll notice more of a difference throughout the month.  I feel a little more focused already.

Note: I've kept Twitter -- not so much because I like to tweet. :)  I just really like the small bits of news and quick updates throughout the day.  I also have to admit that I love someecards' Twitter feed.  It never fails to crack me up.  My favorite posts lately were entitled, "The Worst Examples of Facebook Parenting."  Love it.
I also love this one labor and employment law feed that keeps me updated on new cases and issues in that particular area of the law.

So far, I don't feel deprived :)

I did it.

I am not exactly mechanically inclined.  

BUT when my husband was on night float and my exercise bicycle arrived, I couldn't help myself.  It was snowing and I wanted to get it put together in time for NBC Thursday night television. 

It all began with a box containing an 85 pound puzzle. 

With LOTS of pieces

But after 3 episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Glee (and some chocolate) . . . 

I DID IT!! 

Now, to use it. :)

The Vegetable Trick

We eat lots of veggies in this house.  I'm typically a huge fan of veggies; however, it can get tiresome.  In order to incorporate as many different types of vegetables as possible into our diet, my husband makes what he calls "stir-fry"  -- it's not really like typical Asian stir fry.  He takes all of the veggies in the house, chops them up, and sautes them in olive oil.  We store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator and use them in different recipes throughout the week.  Last week, we had a combination of red peppers, broccoli, carrots, peas, Lima beans and black olives.  We mixed them with past one night, rice another night, pork chops the next night, etc.  I ate the final serving with egg whites as an omelette.  Yum! It's an incredibly inexpensive way to eat quickly and healthily during the week.  

On track so far. . .

So I had a few less public resolutions.  I thought that keeping them private may make me less likely to give them up.  I know that accountability normally works the other way but I'm pretty good at declaring things rather than actually doing them sometimes.  However, I have done well so far at keeping them.

• Holding my tongue at work. 
• This is because my office is a drama-factory.  This includes everyone from the least to the greatest employees.  I'm doing okay so far.  I'd still give myself a B on that today.  Our billable requirement was increased by 25 hours.  This does not make my job any easier.  It also makes our office twice as demanding as many other firms in the city.  It also means that I have to work more hours for less money.  New year = pay cut?? Yeah, I'd say I kept my tongue in check as well as can be expected when my reaction could have been much worse.  We'll do better tomorrow . . .
• Going to church more often 
• Well, it was the first Sunday of the year.  I went to church and enjoyed it so much.  I'll definitely be going back to that one.  It has me thinking about a lot of the way I think about my faith.  I get an A+, mainly just because I'm one for one so far. :) 
• Reading more 
• The Fountainhead is amazing so far.  I'm definitely enjoying the philosophical aspects of it. A- because I could have read a little more and watched a little less ABC Family last night.  
• Doing more with my leisure time. 
• We saw Black Swan last night.  It was intense.  More about that later. I also got out a lot this weekend.  I was less tired than usual because of the very short work week.  
• I ran 3 miles. First time in awhile that I've run that much. I feel much less stressed than I did yesterday.  
• A for effort! 
• Staying in touch with friends. 
• C - but I plan on remedying that this week.  I just have to get back into the swing of things. 

On obligatory New Year's resolutions

Sometimes I make them, sometimes I don't.  I read somewhere that the top three NYR are:

By far, the top 3 new year's resolutions are: - weight loss, - exercise program, - stop smoking These are not mine.  I don't smoke.  I already exercise (possibly not enough but I am not a complete pessimist) and I don't really want to lose weight.  I'd like to tone up a little, though.  I don't think that it's worthy of a NYR.   I would like to stop talking so much -- I think that this is a result of being an attorney.  I am constantly persuading someone of something.  I need to listen more.  I need to want less and be content with what I have.  I need to get a hobby and stop letting work dominate my life.  However, I don't plan to start making sweet and low bras -- I was just really impressed that someone took the time to do this.  I found this as I was looking for the image below.  Seriously, stunning . . . .  I am going to read more.  Finally . . .  I'm going to give up artificial sweetener.  It may take me awhile to give up diet drinks but I'm giving up adding sweetener to my tea and coffee.  I think I can do this.   Okay, I want to go to the gym more often, too.  Happy new year!

On problem solving

My dry cleaner is the best.  Seriously.  She charges me depending on her mood -- and she's always happy.  She isn't afraid to criticize the way that Calvin Klein makes a dress if it doesn't fit me perfectly.  If I ask for my suits on a Friday after 5:00 p.m., she says, "No.  You take Wednesday afternoon. Okay?"  Best of all.  Mrs. Kwon is a problem solver.  

On a recent business trip to San Diego, a gel pen exploded on my brand new find from Banana Republic.  I was p.i.s.s.e.d. and covered in blue ink.  So after spraying the stain with hairspray (didn't really work, Mom), scrubbing it (thanks but no thanks Oxyclean), and letting it sit in my suitcase for the remainder of my trip, the stain is still loud and proud.  Fast forward to this afternoon -- after a rough day at work, all I wanted to do was sit on my couch and avoid the hurricane force winds plaguing the Chicago area for the 3rd day in a row.  I went to see Mrs. Kwon instead.  The first thing out of her mouth was, "Oh no.  That not coming out.  I not miracle worker."  No you aren't, Anne Sullivan, but you are creative, Mrs. Kwon.  She stared at it for a second as I began mentally planning Christmas arts and crafts with my poor sweater.  "I know.  We cut off sleeves!"  Not all of the sleeve. . . something like a 3/4 length sleeve.  Then she cackled,  "Better. No charge!" she was thrilled.  I was thrilled.  Of course, I liked the sweater with long sleeves but I'd prefer not to look like I'd been shat on by Papa Smurf.  <3 Mrs. Kwon