thought for thursday.

A huge dream of mine is just packing up and relocating - somewhere. 

That somewhere list is kind of like chock full of never ending options.

A lot of the time though when I talk about this desire - the feedback is something along the lines of "you can't just run away from where you are at."

But really, sometimes running away puts you exactly where you're supposed to be.

And that risk?  Maybe worth it, maybe not. 

But not risking it and never knowing what might have happened?  Now that's a terrible chance to take.

friday favorites.

I'm probaly definitely going to be a nervous nelly all day.

My bro and gf left for snowboarding first thing this morning, leaving me with the fire and his dog.

I said eff the fire and turned on the oil instead and took the dogs for a frolic in the fresh snow.

Upon return and prior to me leaving - someone hurled and my dog cried when I went to roll him over.

The last time my dog cried he required emergency surgery on his mouth.

Panic all day?  I say yes.

But alas - onwards to the favorites.

To start off several National Geographic Photos of the Day.

Growing up my whole dream was to relocate to Iceland and have an Icelandic pony.  So this picture by Marketa Kalvachova of horses in Iceland, well I love it and I want one.

I'm obsessed with the night sky, there really isn't anything that can compare to the amazing-ness of it.  One of my favorite times to be outside is late, late at night when the sky is crystal clear - including running a couple miles down a dark trail after 9PM.  So I'm obviously loving this photo by Chris Cannucciari of a Stargazer in Lake Malawi.

I love Argentina and it's totally on my list of places to go.  And this photo by Chris Schmid of the Iguazu Falls on the Brazil-Argentina border, makes me want to go explore the country that much more.

And my final pick from the photos of the day were these Elephants in Uganda by Joel Sartore.  LOVE elephants.

I'm kinda obsessed with the Rihanna "We Found Love" song.  And last night upon youtubing covers of the song, I found this version by Boyce Avenue.  I totally dig it and you should totally check it out.

You should make these Mint Creme Oreo Stuffed Fudge Cookies before the mint oreos are gone.  So effing good.

America's least expensive cities in 2012?  So there.  Somehow, maybe a little bit, kind of aligns itself with the Top 10 Cities for Dating.

Soooo, American Idol is totally one of my guilty obsessions.  And I love having my opinions and then seeing what others have to say - this blog for instance is something I look forward to reading the next day.

And now for a little Bing love.

First this picture of Blue Lake in New Zealand almost makes me tempted to go there.  It's all the poisonous animals that's holding me back.

Now, this picture of the village of Reine in Norway, makes me reconsider Scotland and potentially decide on a me & dogster relocation to Norway.

Soooo, I really wanted a new signature scent (not that I don't love my Calvin Klein Euphoria, because I do) - but I wanted something different.  And I was beyond skeptical to purchase a scent online but then I stumbled upon this Peace Love and Patchouli perfume oil by TenDigitCreations.  Really it was the fact that it noted it smelled like patchouli and peppermint leaf (I was thinking I would smell like a hippie at Woodstock who was chewing some mint gum) that made me take the plunge and I'm so happy I did!  I love it, totally my new signature scent and I just keep smelling myself.  Although the 10% discount code they have going on right now makes me tempted to test out another scent, Hippie Nights perhaps?

Also can we please discuss how amaze-balls Emma Stone is?  Golden Globes, ummmm her belt fucking kicked so much arse (an eagle, seriously?!) and her hair and make-up = totally bananas.

Anyways - happy Friday or something & enjoy your weekend!

thought for thursday.

A friend of mine asked me last night what it is that I want to do.

I without a doubt can't accurately answer that question because I haven't the slightest idea.

Then I stumbled upon a few quotes that answer that question for me:

"I don't know what I want to do with my life, I just know I want to do it.  I want to see my world.  I want to meet every single person breathing on this earth.  I want to give everyone a hug or a handshake and I want to make someone's life a little easier.  I want to be different than the people I know because that's what makes us beautiful."

"I may still not know what I want to be when I grow up, but I do know that someday I want to live in a house filled with my books and travel souvenirs.  And the walls that aren't covered in bookshelves will be covered with photos of my family and friends.  When I leave my house I will be going to a job I love, and I'll return to a person I love.  So, that's my dream I'm working on."

and my personal favorite:

"She's one of those girls who doesn't know what she's doing, but she wants to know everything will be worth it one day.  She isn't amazing at one thing, just good at a lot of things, and that's all she'll ever be.  She wishes she could be different, but she lives her life to the fullest anyway.  All she truly needs is love to keep her sane.  She looks at her world like it's a book, with pages being read every day.  She's her own worst enemy and hardest critic.  She knows she has flaws and tries to accept them, even though she knows she never fully will.  More than anything, though, she just wants to make a difference one day, and she wants someone to remember her name."

and well, that's that.

friday favorites.

I apologize for the semi hiatus from writing, but realistically nothing supremely exciting has been happening (minus the fact that my dogster came to work with me!) and I also have a new boss that actually pays attention to what I do during the work day leaving me with little time to blog.

But here I am hop, skipping, possibly jumping (although I attempted a flying leap jump over a semi frozen river this morning and obvs didn't make it and landed in the river, and really I'm pretty sure an Olympic long jumper wouldn't have cleared the distance, but then hind sight is everything - so let's just cross of jumping) into my favorite finds.

I'm gonna start with some National Geographic Photo of the Day stunners.

First here is a photo taken in Bandarban, Bandladesh by M Yousuf Tushar.  Perhaps me and the dogster could relocate to that house there in the middle, hm?

This submerged plane in the Bahamas by Bjorn Moerman is a siiiick photo.

Actually scratch relocation to Bangladesh - check out this picture of the Church of Rodel in the Outer Hebrides by Jim Richardson.  Scotland here we effing come (side note: as soon as this post is complete I am literally going to google relocation to Scotland, serious).

Stumbled upon this site of 20 Hysterical Roommate Notes, I actually laughed a bit out loud.

Did I just waste multiple hours browsing through outfit options after finding tobi?  After finding this amaze-balls times about a billion Party Rock Aztec Leggings, I nearly wept in glee.

Not that I think anyone would permit my use of power tools, a build-a-home (aka assembly required) - from a kit, sounds so effing awesome.  From those listed, I would totally pick the K1 by KitHAUS....legit.

The World's Friendliest Countries for relocation, count this girl and her dogster in!  But what would be epically, epic is an article on the Friendliest Countries for relocation with a dog.  Serious, right?

And finally a quote from Madeleine L'Engle (growing up was literally obsessed with her book A Ring of Endless Light and might have read it 957 times):

We try to be too reasonable about what we believe.  What I believe is not reasonable at all.  In fact, it's hilariously impossible.  Possible things aren't worth much.  These crazy impossible things keep us going.

Stop being reasonable and be the impossible.

Enjoy your weekend!

thought for thursday.

simple.

completely love.

friday favorites.

I've been a complete Scrooge and really totally lacked in any Christmas spirit posting and for that I apologize.

For some reason (maybe the lack of snow?) I've really kind of missed the mark with Christmas spirit this year.

But I am completely looking forward to being with my family all weekend.

Anyways, on to the favorites.

First up from National Geographic Photo of the Day: a girl with a kite in India, taken by Simon Christen, love it.

And then this one of Upper Yosemite Falls, California, taken by Andrew Coffing.  WANT TO GO.

Went to go see The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo last night.  OBSESSED with the books is an understatement, and generally I don't like movies based off of books, I get all sorts of frustrated with the differences, etc....but the director did an awesome job with this movie.  Lisbeth Salandar kicks so much fucking arse.

I'm a huge fan of well done street art, and well, here is a slideshow of the 10 best street art works.  Check 'em out.

Because smiling is my favorite - here's some rationale behind why you should all smile more :)

Dr. Seuss love, obvs.

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?  It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

Winter landscape in Bavaria, Germany....photo via bing.

Happy Holidays - remember the reason for the season and enjoy your Christmas this weekend!

only once.

friday favorites.

Heyyyo.

I've got a busy busy busy weekend ahead - not what I really dig, but I'll make do. 

Let's just hope everything goes according to plan, including my cookie making attempt on Saturday.

Anyways, I'm going to go right skip ahead into the favorites.

LOOOOVE this idea.  Global Giving - give a giftcard with a designated amount and the recipient gets to pick the charity of their choice....talk about the gift that keeps giving!

I have a seriously low attention span - so having a site devoted to providing 10-12 short articles or links a day, is seriously awesome in my book.  Brilliant, 22 Words, brilliant.  It totally allows me to keep up with what's going on the web.

Best quote I have stumbled upon today: nothing is more badass than being yourself.  Truth.

My travel list is seriously like never ending, 12 Most Beautiful Lakes in the World - ummm, duh, count me in.

Honestly, how freaking true is this?

via hellogiggles.

Sorry not much on here today - but alas, I will leave you with this little gem from Marilyn Monroe.

Stay crazy creepsters, I'm obvs gonna.

Enjoy your weekend.

thought for thursday.

LOVE this, enough said.

friday favorites.

ohhh heyyo.

It's Friday, phew.

I'm wicked excited because I'm off to a big city this evening with some fellow small towners to visit the very first friend I ever had.

Legit, like we had our picture taken in preschool so that I could take it home with me and I would know I had a friend there and not cry obnoxiously EVERY DAY.

I still cried.

Anyways, we kinda got separated in high school - and didn't stay in touch in college - but we recently got reconnected, so I'm excited to go visit her and party like a rock - or something.

Onwards to the favorites.

I've posted about living in smaller spaces before.  I'm a huge supporter of it.  I don't need a lot of room for me and my dogster and besides, less space means you live pretty minimally, you keep the clutter non-existant, and cleaning takes up so much less of your time.  So check out these options of the small home variety.  I especially love the Z-Glass house.

A photo gallery of Ryan Gosling, did I just pee my pants?  Yep, a little bit.

And a big shoutout thank you to People for wasting lots of my minutes perusing all the Best of 2011 various photo galleries.

Two photos from Bing.

The first is early morning light over Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, in California.  Love sunrise, and this one is pretty damn gorgeous.

This second picture is just really, really interesting.  It's the Plain of Jars, Phonsavan region, in Laos.

I mentioned my sweet ass shades in another post.  But perhaps you'd like a shirt, a trucker hat, even a beirut table?!  I give you the sorry for partying online store.  I need some more of these goods, immediately.

Historical (among other things) properties being utilized as completely awesome hotels - talk about GO GREEN in an amaze-balls way!  New travel idea?  I think yes.

And why didn't I think about wearing something so simple, yet fucking awesome, before seeing Mary Kate Olsen in it?

I hate money and all the associations with it.  This might be because I have minimal cash flow, ya know.  But for real, I think this is spot on.

And finally, spot on Maya Angelou, spot on.

"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass."

Go kick some ass creepers.

Enjoy your weekend - ok byeee.

thought for thursday.

I'm one of the most indecisive people EVER.

I more or less waffle back and forth until someone decides for me.

But giving up that decision means I lose out on choosing what will make me the happiest, or most content.

I think I'm gonna need to start listing to my gut.

“It’s important to know that there is a difference between listening to your instinct and listening to your gut. Your gut knows everything. But your gut isn’t cocky. It isn’t loud. It doesn’t force you to listen to it. It subtly lets you know what’s right, and then it gets quiet while you figure it out the hard way. Your instincts are trained habits that you created somewhere along the way. And they are usually just what you’re comfortable with. And some of us are comfortable being unhappy, being taken advantage of, being walked all over, ignored, overlooked, under respected, being made to settle. Your gut tells you the truth, it tells you when something is off. It tells you what no one else will…”

via everything lovely.

thought for thursday.

So gosh darn true.  And it's a good thing me and my sidekick dig adventures.

friday favorites.

My Thanksgiving was absolutely delicious, like the whole day.

I literally stuffed my face, cleaned my plate, and went up for seconds before anyone else was done with the first round.

And the pecan pie my Mom made, swooooon.

I swear Thanksgiving meal is like the fucking best ever.

Anyways, on to the favorites because yesssssss, it is Friday.

First some National Geographic Photos of the Day.

I'm Lithuanian, and totally embrace it.  This picture of a Lithuanian morning landscape by Eugenijus Rauduve is amazing.

And this one by Michael Melford of the Salmon River in Idaho, rocks.

Ummm, I want to be on this tundra trek in Svalbard, photo by June Jacobsen.  Seriously, I want to go, like yesterday.

I found this article on Cities That Have Vanished to be really neat.  There are so many reasons why a city could be found desolate, and the history of the place and the people just captivates me.  Yes, hello dork, I just said captivate.

Prepare yourself: 25 Sexy Chests to be Thankful for.  Seriously, and my man Ryan Gosling is the first photo, boom.  And then, Prince Harry, sigh.

Another photo slideshow, this one of Marilyn & animals, love it.

No secret I love Nicole Richie, and when I saw this photo I was so pumped!  I loooove the dress, but my favorite part is how amazing each accessory is!  Literally, she owned the arm party, neck candy, simple clutch, and kick ass heels.

And finally, well said Ward Foley, well said.

Enjoy your weekend!

friday favorites.

Lemon drop martinis are delish.

But they permit me to convince myself I should send facebook messages, probaly when I shouldn't.

Like to the guy I suggested getting drinks to last night - which I will likely not get a response from.  Whoops.

Or to a girl I used to coach in soccer who is going to become a hairdresser - a link with a picture requesting that she learn how to make my hair look exactly like that.  And that if she so happens to find mermaid pants like the ones being worn - to please snag them for me because I would like to wear them everyday.

Realistically I would probaly only wear them every weekend.  They look like I could own the dance floor.

Anyways, it's Friday and I can drink as many martinis as I would like as long as a computer is not within reach because I have zero self control.

Favorites time!

I'm a big fan of well-done graffiti or brightening up old and falling apartness.  Like not tacky, smorgasborg of shit, but well done murals.  These Love Letter For You Murals are amazing.  More places please!

Really?!  A photo gallery of Ryan Gosling versus Ryan Reynolds and their dogs?  Holy crap, love times about a thousand.  And as a side note, I'll take 'em both anyday.

People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive and Honorees, oh yea....um sure....let me just browse through those pictures several times today.

This photo from bing kinda looks like it should be from Jurassic Park or something, but instead it's clouds covering a seabird rookery high on a sea stack cliff on Boreray Island, St. Kilda archipelago, in Scotland.

So I have a pretty serious love affair with gold colored dresses (I swear it's because of the dress Kate Hudson wore in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days)....and well, so when I saw Zoe Saldana rocking this dress, I definitely ran a google search for some look alikes.

And then I came across this picture of Nicole Richie.  Honestly, I want her closet, everything she wears is fucking awesomeness.

My must travel to list grows by the day because of articles like 10 islands to explore before you die.  Holy crap, yes!

Now for a whole slew of pictures from National Geographic Photo of the Day. 

First up, holy amazingness.  Photo of a lion in Uganda by Joel Sartore.  Blew me away.

The Owyhee River in Idaho, taken by Michael Melford.

I love this shot of a girl with a pail in Tibet, taken by Li Fan.

I'm no city girl, as I've said before.  But this picture of skyscrapers in Dubai by Catalin Marin is seriously sick.

Annnnd, that's all I've got for now.  I gots to wrap up shop and get home to my dogster with the hurt leg.

We're majorly bummin' and laying low hoping like heck he heals up asap.

Have a good weekend creepers.

thought for thursday.

thought for thursday.

via blinks of life.

friday favorites.

Alright so an electrical truck came down to our lost valley this morning.

Threw down some cones and shouted "Holy fuck!  This is nuts!  That's the high voltage wire!"

Talking about the wire that nearly tore me down.

Then they beat feet and drove away.

Getting my power back is not looking good friends.

Anyways, it's Friday - so power or no power, keep on keepin' on.

National Geographic Photo of the Day right off the bat - serious they had 3 amazing photos I'm so diggin.  And it just dawned on me that all three were taken by this Michael Melford.  I didn't pick them based on the photographer, but ironically they all were him.  Kudos Mister Melford.

Here is the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes in Alaska - photo credit: Michael Melford.

Next the Merced River in Yosemite, photo credit: Michael Melford.

And finally, Leaves on Cascade Lake, photo credit: Michael Melford.

Throwback anything rocks my world, I mean seriously I spent the first half of my week feeling like I was living in Little House on the Prairie.  Anyways,  I kinda want to take a trip to visit all these Time-Warp Towns.  Who's in?

I love arm candy.  And these Mango Tree ones are way neat.  Kinda want a whole bunch.

I'm all about doing your part in making changes and helping the world any way you can.  Could it be anymore simple than just clicking your computer mouse?  Feed animals, feed people, protect wildlife, and so much more!  DO IT PEOPLE.

Cute little article on how owning a dog prepares you for having a baby.  No baby for me anytime soon - no worries, but the article is cute!

Awwww, dinosaur love!

Enjoy your weekend creepers!

friday favorites.

Dive on in friends.

It is frightening how much time I have spent going through this everything lovely site, to say I'm obsessed is an understatement.

Snow gum trees in Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania Australia - from bing....sooo pretty.

The first snow was yesterday - and while both me and my dog LOVE the snow, seeing articles about laying on the beach invokes some pretty lovely images.  And so I give you, the World's Best Islands.

I want this bike and I want it NOW.

No secret I love elephants which means I love this, a lot.

And I think this is pretty fitting, especially after last weekend.

Have a lovely weekend!

thought for thursday.

I was hoping to steal a few minutes today to post a Friday favorites a day early.  Unfortunately I had a bugger of a day and was unable to do so.

I will be running around crazy tomorrow, out of the office, and then well....it's the weekend.

So, I will leave you with this simple amazing-ness.

Receiving feedback regarding workable necessities is one thing.  But if someone doesn't appreciate you, for who and what you are, then seriously, move it along my friend.

You are awesome - be willing to fully embrace that.

friday favorites.

I'm attempting to regain some normalcy.

I like the rockstar lifestyle, but I also have to get back to being the everyday me.

Although, if I could live the rockstar way everyday - I would do it, for reals.

Anyways, I'm thrilled it is Friday - even if it was only a 4 day work week.

First up, from National Geographic's Photo of the Day, here is a photo by Matt Eich, of Grevy's Zebra named Elvis at a refuge center in Ohio.

Considering October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - here is a great link to Survival Diaries: 10 Real Woman who Share their battle with Breast Cancer.  Check it out.

I love Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, from Full House days on.  They're sooo purty.

I have a history of driving, A LOT.  I think it's because I can't just sit still at my apartment, so I go, go, go....after seeing this article, I want to take all of these Most Iconic Drives.  After I trade in my gas guzzler of course.

Nicole Richie is my style icon.  But she also is inspiring - she's overcome a lot and really settled into being her and I love that.  I think she rocks, she has a solid hubby, and her children are adorbs.

New shopping site obsession: LuLu*s....prepare to spend some serious browsing time.

Please check out this post Nature Lovers by Chanel Bags and Cigarette Drags.  Some serious LOVE from this girl.

I didn't blog about anything regarding Steve Jobs' death immediately after it happened because I wasn't sure what I would want to say.  I stumbled upon this and I think he says things better than I ever could.

Have a lovely weekend all :)