I Miss Landlines

There are many things that I have to say on the topic of guys and dating and technology and chivalry and the game and how crazy obscure this whole 'process' has become. RIP Chivalry was just the beginning. I have started tangents that are more composed than RIP Chivalry. [Let's face it, I wasn't having the best morning when I put that together. Though it's still pretty funny]. I have yet to complete anything, because I don't know where to begin. And I want these thoughts to be well executed [obviously]. 

In the meantime I have been reading pieces by published writers, watching book reviews on the morning news, catching articles on blogs, and stories in the New York Observer without really looking for them and all of the sudden it hit me. Everyone is writing about this! This 2K13 dating conundrum. This topic could start a whole new genre. Not like 'self help dating' books but more along the lines of 'how the hell are we supposed to approach this mechanism in 2K13' - a world of social media, online dating, premium escort services, Snapchat sexting etc etc. Think about it - with all of these new social norms, what is the point of courting someone if you can find what you are looking for instantaneously on your smart phone. [Assuming you are looking for attention/interactions]

It all leads back to these questions- Is chivalry dead? What are the new rules with this new dating reality? Is there hope? Are we all screwed? 

Or am I just seriously over thinking this? 

I would say that I am. But I don't think that I am. Evidence leads me to believe that we [as a generation] are all pretty confused. A large piece of this evidence comes from the published pieces that I find myself coming across. Another piece comes from the fact that even when I have no interest in talking/thinking about this confusion any further, someone else brings it up. And has all of the same things to say, or questions to ask more like.

[This could also be evidence that girls talk too much. But, nothing's changed in decades in that regard so. Moving on.]

The book that I saw on the news the other morning was written by Olivia Baniuszewicz, it's called Flirtexting. Oh yea. How to text your way into a guys heart, without texting something really stupid that effs everything up. [Guilty.] She was on the morning news because she is working on a new edition of the book that incorporates all of this crazy social media nonsense. 

I can only guess what it will cover. 

Tweet him into wanting you ! 
Instagram [PG non-provocative] photos that make him unable to keep his eyes off you, and the heart atop your morning latte. 
Linkedin, your connection to future business.. and so much more. 

Befuddled that people are actually publishing advice on how to use social media to secure a relationship, I found my starting point. 

I have heard stories of a magical time, and even seen it in shows and movies. A time when it was impossible to be dumped before dating via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Email, Keek, and/or Snapchat. A time when nobody sat around hoping for a 'Sup' text to appear on their phone during the light hours only to receive a 'Lets hang out' text at 1AM. A time when snooping to figure out if he actually liked you wasn't nearly as easy as updating your news feed. A time when you couldn't google names, and had no way of discovering photos of evil ex girlfriends. A time when there was really only one way of letting a girl know whether not you wanted to see her. There were no 'shades of grey'. 

A time of landlines. 

Today we think, "Weren't landlines an inconvenience? You couldn't just get ahold of anyone at the drop of hat. You actually had to call when you were home and they had to be home.. Preposterous."   

I am here to argue that they weren't inconvenient at all, they were in fact brilliant. And I am sad to admit that I was so young during this magical time of landlines and voicemail machines, that my mother was the secretary of my social life. And I was probably in Girl Scouts.  

How romantic and vintage is 'the landline'. 
I'm so jealous. 

Picture this. 

You are out one night with some friends and you meet a handsome stranger. After maybe a glass of wine [or beer] or two, handsome stranger has to leave and asks if he can have your number [your landline number]. With a little faked resistance, you give it to him. And then the anticipation is killing you! Perhaps next time you are out running errands you will return to find a little blinking red light on your voicemail machine. Could it be? Could it be handsome stranger from the evening before? You slip out of your shoes and hang your purse on the small hook next to the door. Walk to the fridge and crack open a diet coke before you dare approach your voicemail machine, and that little blinking red light. 

Perfect.

It is a much better story. And contrary to the 1AM booty text, it takes guts from the guy. What if you had roommates. Or heaven forbid, what if you and lover boy were in high school and he had to call your landline with the chance of your Dad answering the phone. Back in the day, if a guy was committed enough to call the landline at the risk of having to talk to someone that wasn't you, or actually leave a voicemail if he ever wanted to hear from you again - he had to have been pretty into you. To take those risks. Nowadays phone calls fall somewhere between never and rare. And if they do occur things must be serious, or he must be a keeper. Or maybe just really desperate.. since you didn't respond to his 1AM booty text. 

The more I watch Sex & The City the more I love Carrie, and relate to the little nuances of her character. And she had a romantic landline! She hated her cell phone. She didn't even get a smart phone until the second movie. Smart woman.

The other thing that I love about the landline, it made things pretty black and white. If a guy wanted to see you, he would call and you would answer. Or come home to find a little blinking red light. If he asked for your number and didn't really want it, or was being shady when he got it and was already romantically involved [heaven forbid that ever happens] he would never call. And it just leaves you with "Well, that's that!". Now maybe you don't get a text, but you get a 'like' on Facebook or a tweet or something and it leaves you thinking "Wtf does this mean?".

Romantic. Vintage. And Straight to the Point.

Sigh.

Until next 2K13 dating related posts [there will be more], find me on TimeWarner.Com contemplating the purchase of my new landline. 

XO - Dee


PS. If you like what you read I would love it if you subscribed to my blog via email. Box to do so is on the left bar of the page. If you do, perhaps I will give you a call to say "Hello!" and "thank you". On my new landline of course. 

Out-Hotted By Mom

You know those people who become more and more beautiful with age?

I realize the theory is that as you get older everything you know, gets lower or something.. Gravity gets ya! [Hahah gross] But I have reason to believe that this is just not always the case. And that reason is my mom, and her best friend Mary, who totally Out-Hotted me and my Rose last night on the rooftop of The Gansevort Hotel.

Every time I see these two women I am always surprised. Because I swear, they just look better and better. My mom for example has this amazing thick blond beautiful straight hair that since Christmas has become about 2 inches longer and even more mermaid - esk. ?! Nuts, I know. This is why I am replicating my moms lifestyle now. Yoga, ice tea, prenatal vitamins and lots of Splenda.

Rose and I knew the moment that we sat down at The Gansevort that we were going to have to stake out our territory and protect the moms against lurking strangers. Sure enough. About 15 minutes in we were approached by a man who asked if we [the four of us] were from Sveden or Svitserland. And I said:

"Yes actually, we are all from Sveden! Funny you'd ask."

Eventually he figured it out. Shucks.

"Okay fine, we aren't from Sweden. Me and Rose live here and our mom's live in Florida"
"You're moms??"
"Yes our moms."

[Rose adopted Mary as her mom for the evening. PDS - Protective Daughter Syndrome.]

Lurking stranger wouldn't stop talking to Mary [she is too nice] so Rose and I plotted our intervention.

"Get in there Kristin.. this is getting out of hand."

*Stands up grabs mans hand

"Well it was lovely meeting you, strange man from Hoboken. We'll see ya around."

Once our beautiful moms left Rose and I were just not as appealing anymore. Two young blond 20 somethings is way less interesting, and so overdone. We sat down for another drink and discussed how we are excited to become more beautiful with age. And how we are both glad that we were not at our best in middle school/high school. That really only leaves room to go up. Right? Then we decided to be Svedish for the rest of the evening. Which was entertaining. Until Rose accidentally said something in Italian and was caught by an Italian man in the elevator, who then tried to start a conversation with her...in Italian. It's always a bummer when you are trying to fake a language and someone actually speaks the one you are trying to fake. It happens more often than you would think.

More women that I think become more beautiful with age: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez [I just wished she'd tone down the unnecessary bedazzling], Sarah Jessica Parker, Elle Macpherson, Sandra Bullok, freaking Jane Fonda! Amazing. I bet you none of these women peaked in high school. But they probably all looked awesome in the 80's. How could you not.

See Forbes: 'Hotter With Age List'

Another thing.

For any of you guys out there that have wondered why girls go to the bathroom in packs [or at least pairs] I have the answer. You might think it's to get away, and gossip, and reapply make up, and strategize how you are going to capture handsome strangers attention who looked at you when you walked in but is now occupying his time with some other biddy. But that's really not it at all.

Last night after the moms left us at The Gansevort and we just weren't as appealing anymore, we decided to go meet up with some girlfriends at a whiskey bar. [It seems Rose and I are on a cold weather ensued whiskey bender. Does that make us cool? Or are we on the verge of growing chest hair? I can't decide.]

Anyway part way into our drinks Rose had to use the ladies room. So she went off [by herself] and a few things happened.

First she almost walked down a scary flight of stairs into the kitchen thinking it was the correct way to get into the bathroom, which just wasn't right at all. It would have created some havoc and confusion amongst everyone in the area, including Rose. Luckily a server popped up out of somewhere and pulled her back.

"Are you looking for the restroom?"
"Yes I am!"
"Well you don't want to go down there. It's actually right behind you." *Charming smile
"Oh! Hah... thanks."

After avoiding mishap #1 Rose turned around and walked into a private restroom. She pulled the door closed behind her when tragedy struck. As soon as the door shut the handle fell out of her hand and onto the floor in front of her. Thinking she could easily just push the door forward and escape, she quickly realized that she couldn't! She was trapped!! No phone and no friend! Suddenly the private room started to close in around her and she could see herself being trapped alone for days.

She started to shake the door hoping that it would come loose. When nothing happened she started banging. "Help! Help!" Her eyes welled up with tears when the same server who rescued her from the staircase came to the door and cracked it open.

"Is everything okay in here?"

Rose came bursting out.

"Oh thank God! The door handle broke off and I thought I was going to be stuck in there forever. I had no phone and no friend, I didn't know what to do!"

She rounded the corner back to the bar and I could tell something was a little off.

"I didn't go to the bathroom. The door handle fell off and I thought I was going to be stuck forever. I didn't even have my phone! It would have been ages before you guys came looking for me.. thank God that server saved my life."

About 10 minutes later when Rose had calmed down from the traumatic experience, I accompanied her to the ladies room.

This my friends is why girls go to the bathroom in packs.


Alverterzane!

XO - Dee

PS: If you like what you read and would like to help me become a super famous 'I don't know what kind of writer I am' writer, please subscribe to my blog! The little box to do this is on the left hand side of the page. Enter your email address, confirm, and you will receive a little note every time I write something new.

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Feeling at Home

I had something fun happen to me today. I was walking down Houston Street into SoHo to meet up with Rose. Even though it is a dreary grey day in the city, I felt really happy to be walking down Houston. To be passing the chain link fence that encloses the black top where I see kids from PS 8 playing. Past the Church where it reads "Peace To The World" about three quarters of the way up the weathered brick wall. By the Starbucks where I once saw Kelly Ripa [love her] and then past the PEACE YOU graffiti outside of Dos Caminos. All of these little things that I have noticed time and time again suddenly felt very familiar, and comforting, and dare I say... like home.

Last week on Thursday I celebrated the 6th month anniversary of my new life here in New York. Through the ups and downs, lessons and laughs, success and failures over my six month journey, I think I can say [not think, but say with confidence] that I am looking forward to living here for many, many more months.

I think this is a good sign! Right?

Since moving here I have had a lot of 'ah hah' moments. Some concerning me as a person, but most of them have been about New York. My new friend that I am learning more about piece by piece. One of my biggest 'ah hahs' was that not everyone wants to have New York as their friend/home/20s partner in crime - crazy as it sounds. Because of my six months, I understand why. It is tough living here. Maybe tough isn't the right word, but extremely different. Especially if you have never had one on one time with a pedestrian city before.

There are the obvious reasons that might prevent some from 'buying' into this relationship - housing and cost.  New Yorkers have all come to accept that no matter where you live in the city or in the boroughs (assuming you are living somewhere that is safe enough for a small blond girl) you are going to be paying a lot for a space that is small. Especially when you compare what the same amount of $$ would get you somewhere else.  Then you are faced with this, not only does the cost of your new small home seem excessive but everything is more expensive. It just is. This is where New Yorkers learn how to spend on what they really need/want, and learn how to cut corners where they are able.

For example, let's say I am looking to go out to that new restaurant this weekend with friends and drop a significant amount on amazing food and a decent amount of wine [a girls gotta eat rich sometimes!]. In exchange, I am willing to make the trek there and back to Trader Joes in Union Square, and make a deal with myself to not eat out at all next week. Or at least limit my eating out to coffee. [Which doesn't count anyway.]  The money thing becomes kind of a strategic challenge, and a lifestyle. Yes everyone is always on the brink of being broke, but it's okay! When you get your credit card statement you just peek between your fingers and think about all of that work and money saving you are going to do next week, or at least until the next GNO.

NYC is NOT for you if small spaces make you anxious, and you don't like saying goodbye to $$.
It IS for you if you think this video is inspiring: click here 
and you view Money Management as an innovative challenge.

For the most part, housing and cost met my expectations. Granted I was still surprised [see Finding an Apartment in NYC] but not as much so as I was by this next thing, Intensity. New York is intense. In every meaning, shape, and form of the word. You need your game face on every time you decide to leave the apartment. Otherwise something will happen. You will get lost, or bumped by a cab, or hassled by a homeless person, or pushed aside by a New Yorker who is walking faster than cab speed. This is why when I first arrived Rose would say "Listen you are doing really well! You have to understand, people move here and choose not to leave their apartment for weeks. I'm not kidding." Now I totally get it.

An Example: Day to day chores that I used to barely think about can be a [big] pain here. I've mentioned this before but I'm kind of an anti-hoarder. If there is something in my space that I'm not using, I need it gone. Especially now that my space is 'small' sized. The other week I went on a cleaning binge and accumulated a few bags worth of things to ditch. In CO this would have been a fairly easy chore - throw the stuff in my car, take half to Buffalo Exchange and the rest to the Salvation Army collection bin outside of Walgreens. Max 1 hour. It's a little different now. This was all I needed to do - get a few bags of things to Salvation Army. The nearest Salvation Army is about 15 blocks away.. too far to walk, OK to cab. Regardless I called to see if I could arrange a pick up. This was about two weeks ago and the soonest available pick up time was February 15th. Was I going to let this stuff sit around for a month?! Nuh uh. So I made the decision to just suck it up, gather everything and find a cab [since taking all this stuff on the subway was a recipe for disaster]. I stumbled out of the small entry way of my building, onto the street, around the corner, and down Christopher until I finally hailed a cab. The driver helped me load the back of his car and then we went over to Salvation Army which was [of course] closed. SO CLOSED. Like not a light bulb or open door in sight, and definitely no drop off station. Luckily, my cabby was a nice man from the Middle East and was more concerned about leaving me stranded somewhere with all of this shtuff than I was. So me and the cabby pondered what to do for a couple minutes and then I paid him to take me to a Goodwill just about 10 blocks up. I shlepped my things out of the cab, across 6th Avenue, down 28th and into Goodwill. I quickly tossed everything into their donation bin and ran out of there, afraid that they were going to throw everything back at me and be like "Sorry you can't actually donate this here. Try again. HAH!"

An entire morning, a new cabby friend, and at least 200 calories later, my 1 hour Colorado chore was complete. And I needed to sit. But on the way home, I happened to walk into a little nugget of amazing home goods stores. So I bought a few new things for my wall [that were on sale, of course].

NYC is NOT for you if you don't like planning mornings around small Chores.
It IS for you if you see chores as an excuse to stop into a new Gallery/Coffee House/Store on the way.

Another example of intensity that is fresh in my mind? Weather. After last summers hot spell and the recent cold spell [anyone who follows me on Instagram or Twitter saw me whining] I finally understand why New Yorkers complain about the weather. If you look at the numbers [temperatures] Colorado has higher highs and lower lows. But this is the catch, in Colorado you aren't really in the weather if you don't want to be. In New York you are IN the weather whether you want to be or not. During the summer when it's hot, and you are walking on and off subways or in between avenues you are sweating. In the winter when it is cold, really cold, you are cold. You can't escape it. I don't think I have ever been as cold as I was last week. Getting to and from work was like Dante's ring of Ice Queen hell. And the real kicker? My apartment felt like it was only about 20 * warmer than outside. For about five nights, I slept with two pairs of socks, sweatpants, a long sleeve, a sweatshirt, and three blankets. One morning, after slipping on my Uggs and into my ice box of a bathroom [nothing better than a frozen toilet seat to say "Good Morning You"] I stomped the yard over to the hardware store. Clearly something was wrong with my windows. So $65 and a lot of foam later I created this:

Before

After

Pretty right? By the time I was done I could barely move my fingers, and I was still cold. Bottom line, when you live in a building that was created in the 1880's [and that's probably on the younger side] the radiator just isn't going to keep up with 5* weather. No matter how hard it tries. By this time the only thing Rose and I could think to do was settle in at one of our West Village bars and drink copious amounts of Hot Totties and whiskey.. [yes I was That cold]. After a while you forget that you haven't been able to feel your toes for the past five days. And you wind up shutting down the Village Tavern with a bunch of hilarious new friends and 90's music and all is peachy :)

NYC weather is NOT for anyone. [Let's face it.]
You just have to really LOVE the city and you will make it through, and make some FUNNY memories along the way. 

A few more comments on intensity:

NYC is NOT for you if you like a quick work out.
It IS for you if you like to work out on your way to work out.

NYC is NOT for you if speedy walkers bother you.
It IS for you if you love matching your music to your SWIFT pace [because you Always have somewhere important to be].

NYC is NOT for you if you need alone time in the car.
It IS for you if driving in bad weather makes you anxious, and you love to walk.

Bottom line-

I understand why New York is not a friend for everyone to have.
But I am thrilled with the relationship.

I have never felt so lucky! Everyday I do or see something that amazes me. Everyday is unique and different in a way that you could never predict. Every little street and district offers a whole new plethora of special things to be uncovered. New York is like a giant treasure hunt, with endless amounts of things to be found. [Getting metaphorical] People that have lived here their entire lives are still discovering new gems. My new girlfriend Sandy who lives across the street, has lived in the same one bedroom apartment with her husband for 40 years. 40 years! Last week we went to lunch and she was telling me about how amazing the Village was in the 70's, and about all of the glamorous parties she went to, and the remarkable people she has befriended during her time on Grove Street.

40 years without ever thinking of leaving.. there is just something about this place.

You know you are meant to be friends with New York when you spend more time gushing about everything that you love than you do complaining about the things you don't. This is one of the biggest things I have learned.

More on treasure hunting in the city later. For now...

 ...nothing really matters because I am just 

SO STOKED THAT I'M NOT COLD ! 

XO - Dee


PS: If you like what you read and would like to help me become a super famous 'I don't know what kind of writer I am' writer, please subscribe to my blog! The little box to do this is on the left hand side of the page. Enter your email address, confirm, and you will receive a little note every time I write something new.

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Zero Dark Thirty

I mentioned in my post yesterday that I have to be cautious of the different things I put into my head, because I will think about it, and somehow respond. Whether it be staying up all night out of fear that a ghost is going to manifest in my kitchen sink, or making a happiness resolutions chart. 99% of the time I respond in someway.

On that note.

I saw an amazing movie the other day, that I think everyone should see.

Zero Dark Thirty - I know you've hear about it, but have you seen it?

It is one of this years blockbuster hits that everyone is talking about. Nominated for this and that and the likes. Normally I am terrible about seeing these kinds of movies, the violent ones that win awards, but this year I made an exception and wow. Really, wow.

This film is based on a true story covering the 10 grueling years it took for the CIA to find Osama Bin Laden. More specifically it is about a woman named Maya played by Jessica Chastain (not her real name, Chastain was never even allowed to meet her character: article here) who joined the CIA and Osama was her first case.

My Takeaways

1. The film was heavily criticized for being "Pro-Torture" - in no way can I deny that the torture scenes were disturbing and left a sour feeling. This is a tough thing for me to think about. On the one hand - torturing these ruthless souls is really just sinking down to their level, isn't it? On the other hand they are completely evil.  Is torture justified by the chance that you could get information to help offset the evil? Or does it just make us evil as well? I don't know. But as disturbing as it was to watch, I am glad that these scenes were included. This was a very real part of the situation and not including this part of the story would make the film less authentic. Which brings me to takeaway number 2.

2. This film stuck with the facts. In fact, controversy number two around Zero Dark Thirty was that the Obama administration provided Director Kathryn Bigelow and team with classified information during their research. All dates and events were accurate. I have a difficult time keeping up with the news, especially when it comes to events in the Middle East. The whole situation is so helpless in my mind, I am out of touch with it. Not to mention, you never know who is skewing what information in which direction. So I really appreciated the historical accuracy. It was indeed a historical film, yet a film that kept you on the edge of your seat and completely enthralled because of takeaway number 3.

3. The story of Maya. After seeing this film, I would classify this woman (actual identity unknown) as an idol.  Because of what she did, but also because of how she did it.  Maya was essentially brought onto the team as a rookie. Almost instantly, she found a lead and followed it with all of her heart and all of her being. This lead was her life for 10 years. 10 YEARS. She battled rejection, exhaustion, doubt, lack of resources, lack of hope, even death all to pursue her instinct and mission to kill Osama bin Laden.  This film was the story behind the story. Had it not been for Maya, this historical moment in "The War on Terror" might not have even occurred, bringing me to point 4.

4. Power to the V.  Even Chastain admits to feeling shocked while she was reading through the script. After shock she felt a pang of guilt - why was the vitality of her character surprising to her? Why wasn't she expecting to play this important of a role? Why is it shocking to hear that the core brilliance and drive behind this search came from a woman? It is not a story that you hear everyday, but it is absolutely one that is worth listening to. Zero Dark Thirty - directed by Academy Award Winner Kathryn Bigelow (whom also directed The Hurt Locker) featuring the beautiful and talented Jessica Chastain as Maya. Seriously. Power to the V.

Aside from the above, it was just a good movie. I of course tried to pick up on any symbolism that I could. This was my favorite catch - The men that were sent to raid the compound where Osama and his couriers had been hiding were referred to as The Canaries. Back in the day, coal miners would take canaries down with them into the mines. If there was toxic gas leaking into the dark corridors, the canaries would die before the men - signifying greater danger to come.

Here is the scene that takes place when Maya is watching her Canaries take flight to the compound, the night of May 1st 2011, the night of Osama bin Laden's death.

XO - Dee



PS: If you like what you read and would like to help me become a super famous 'I don't know what kind of writer I am' writer, please subscribe to my blog! The little box to do this is on the left hand side of the page. Enter your email address, confirm, and you will receive a little note every time I write something new.

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Project GF, and Happiness

In light of the new year and my new free time [no more internship and retail is dead in January] I have been doing a lot of reading. I am reading about five different books right now [E-Readers are awesome] each of which have some sort of 'enlightening' element to them. My most recent download and current favorite is The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.

This book is a memoir about a woman (Gretchen, the author) who has an epiphane that she might not be living up to her full 'happiness' potential.  The big question mark about her situation is that she doesn't know why exactly. She has a wonderful life on the Upper East Side in New York, a loving husband, two healthy children, and a good career. One day as she is traveling via bus through upper Manhattan it hits her.  She is just working through the motions, not unhappy, but not really happy - not as happy as she feels she is capable of being.

Intro: The Happiness Project

She starts by defining her mission and asking "What is happiness?". After reading extensive amounts by ancient philosophers and happiness experts, she comes up with a definition, outlines her Twelve Personal Commandments, and then breaks happiness into different categories [or elements]. She plans to conquer one category each month along with resolutions that pertain to each. She starts in January with this element:

Vitality 

"Boost Energy" 

Resolutions: 

Go to sleep earlier

Exercise better

Toss, restore, organize

Tackle a nagging task

Act more energetic

Something that you should know about me. I am not good at reading things/watching things/listening to things without really taking it in, and responding. This is why I have to limit what I watch (scary movies/hoarders/meth heads/honey boo boo's don't bode all too well with me) and why I am really bad about being around people that never stop talking.  I will keep listening and eventually work myself into exhaustion.  Anyway, I started reading this Happiness Project and was like "YES. I'm going to get my energy together too!" [Of course]

Another book I read on and off [and use for astrological evaluation of anyone who will let me evaluate them] is Your Personal Horoscope 2013. Ah yes. This book is all sorts of fun.  It gives everyone a month to month evaluation of themselves over the course of 2013 based on the stars. Coincidentally [or planned by the universe] I am supposed to be resting and regaining my energy until the 19th of this month. Great timing right?

I have indeed been exercising better, running too and from gym because if I don't I will turn into a little Lululemon adorned popsicle.
I tossed, restored, and organized the Container Store bins that were getting out of hand in my closet. And disposed of all my socks and hosiery with small holes.
I have been making a better effort to tackle nagging tasks before they sit around and become even more nagging. For example, returning the untouched clothing from H&M that needed to be returned to where it came from, H&M. [I really should add 'Avoid Impulse Purchasing' onto my list of resolutions.]
In turn, I believe that all of these things have led me to act more energetic because I do feel more energetic.

Her point for that last resolution is that if you act more energetic you will feel more energetic. Act happy, feel happy. Act sad, feel sad.  I think there is some [well, a lot of] truth to that.

The only thing I haven't been doing it going to bed earlier. But it's because I have been reading this book. So that really isn't my fault.

Along with my new found energy inspired by The Happiness Project I have decided to make another lifestyle change, as an experiment.

Team Gluten Free just gained a new member.

I have to admit I've been rolling my eyes at the GF thing a little, assuming it was another new health trend and not actually as miraculous as it was being made out to be. But after reading and talking to quite a few people, I am no longer rolling my eyes. For me it is a skin experiment [of course, since that is among my recent obsessions].  Apparently gluten can be the culprit of bad skin and rosacea. So I figured why not try it? Today is only day two but so far I don't mind the change. I did a pantry purge and GF grocery mission yesterday that I actually really enjoyed - probably because I love activities, projects, and anything that has to do with self improvement.

My first major observation: being GF makes grocery shopping way easier.  Why you wonder? Because you have dramatically fewer options. I think that might be why I hate grocery shopping - there are too many choices. And I already get distracted as is. For example. When a non GF person shops for pretzels [me three days ago] they can choose from sticks, rods, classic thins, pretzel chips, braided, twists, pieces, honey wheat, mustard, onion, large sized, mini sized, salted, extra salted, unsalted, sea salted, peppered, organic, whole wheat, etc etc etc. When a GF person shops for pretzels they can only get the kind that says "Gluten Free". Maybe there are two or three different choices. And that's that.

This could be a whole blog rant on its own - American's are grossly excessive with their grocery options. Holy farm animal.

Well dears that is all that is up with me at the moment. I will keep you updated on Project GF once [and if] I observe any changes good or bad. Until then if you are looking for a good read you should look into The Happiness Project. If anything, the book itself is very light and will probably make your day a little happier.

:)

XO - Dee