I Read it Somewhere: Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm in that weird stage at work. I have a few weeks left in my current job and have already checked out kinda mentally. I guess it's more ADD than checked out per say. I still put forth a quality work product, it's just not nearly as productive as it could be.

But emails have started rolling in from my new boss with updates about my new job. Most of the emails have been about training sessions that I have been signed up for and curriculum that has been added to my course listing, today's email was asking if we needed new mouse pads as they were placing an order. Yes I could use a new mouse pad, something that never gets asked in my current position.

Anywho, at work when you get an email you can usually see everyone that it was sent to. Slowly people have started to update pictures on their email profile so when I get an email from the new department I like to take a look and see if my new coworkers are hideous or not... I kid. Just trying to familiarize faces. But on your profile you can also add a "what are you up to" status (it's basically a Facebook for work) most people use this space to add a quote or something funny. One of the girls had this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt.

 " Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively, unless you can choose a challenge instead of a competence. "
~ Eleanor Roosevelt"

I like this quote. I think it just stood out to me because the word 'adventure' just stands out more these days. After I read this quote I was quickly sucked down the internet rabbit hole searching for more of Mrs. Roosevelt's wisdom. 

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt


“Friends, you and me... you brought another friend... and then there were three... we started our group... our circle of friends... and like that circle... there is no beginning or end.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

How is Canada Cooler than the US?

Commander Hadfield, that's how.

Chris Hadfield is a Canadian born astronaut whom I've been slightly stalking for months now on Twitter {@Cmdr_Hadfield} He was the first Canadian in space and has called the International Space Station home for the past five months. He's been tweeting some of the most amazing pictures from space and has been very active on social media... you may have seen his latest YouTube video in which he covers 'Space Oddity' by David Bowie, kind of crazy to listen to the lyrics and see the breathtaking images, that are real, like totally legit, no computer fancy tricks, real space. Definitely check it out if you haven't...

Adding to the list of why I'm obsessed with Commander Hadfield is this quote, that was brought to my attention by a coworker... When asked if he had any advise for a young person looking to get into the astronaut field he replied with this quote.

"Decide in your heart of hearts what really excites and challenges you, and start moving your life in that direction. Every decision you make, from what you eat to what you do with your time tonight, turns you into who you are tomorrow, and the day after that. Look at who you want to be, and start sculpting yourself into that person. You may not get exactly where you thought you’d be, but you will be doing things that suit you in a profession you believe in. Don’t let life randomly kick you into the adult you don’t want to become." - Chris Hadfield

The part that stood out to me in this somewhat lengthy quote was the last line..

"Don’t let life randomly kick you into the adult you don’t want to become."

Please do yourself a favor and check out his twitter and Facebook for the amazing/breathtaking pictures Chris took from space. It will give you a moment of awe I promise....and you're welcome, you will now have space oddity stuck in your head for a few days! :)  Love, Heather!

Wisdom Wednesday

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Don't Miss The Boat

The other night while I was further mushing my brain to nothing-ness and perusing my reality tv options while staying up way past my bedtime, I ran across a little gem called Ice Loves Coco...  of course she does.  I can always count E!

If you don't know Coco, you're really not alone all I know is she is know for her rather large ass-ets, and you may know Ice T from his role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit but my readers are probably most familiar with his controversial hit 'Cop Killer' either way they have a reality show on E! about their marriage and all kind of other things we common folk to relate to them about.

Apparently though for about 15 years Ice T has been giving lectures at colleges and they showed a clip. In the clip he told a version of this story.

A big storm approaches. The weatherman urges everyone to get out of town. The priest says "I won't worry, God will save me".

The morning of the storm, the police go through the neighborhood with a sound truck telling everyone to evacuate. The priest says "I won't worry, God will save me".

The storm drains back up and there is an inch of water standing in the street. A fire truck comes by to pick up the priest. He tells them "Don't worry, God will save me."

The water rises another foot. A national guard truck comes by to rescue the priest. He tells them "Don't worry, God will save me."

The water rises some more. The priest is forced up to his roof. A boat comes by to rescue the priest. He tells them "Don't worry, God will save me."

The water rises higher. The priest is forced up to the very top of his roof. A helicopter comes to rescue the priest. He shouts up at them "Don't worry, God will save me."

The water rises above his house, and the priest drowns.

When he gets up to heaven he says to God "I've been your faithful servant ever since I was born! Why didn't you save me?

God replies "First I sent you a fire truck, then the national guard, then a boat, and then a helicopter. What more do you want from me!!??"

He then followed up with, and I'm paraphrasing, but something along the lines of only so many boats are going to come along in life, and you have to take them as they come.

Who knew Ice T could have such an inspirational thought of the day.

True Story

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Don't Worry, Be Happy

Book Club Night!

This month we read 'The Happiness Project' by Gretchen Rubin. We had a very small group tonight, just four of us to discuss, it's a busy time of year to try and coordinate schedules with everyone. We had three people give the book a 4 and a stick in the mud who didn't like the book.  This book is very comparable to a Eat, Pray, Love (Which I loved)type book.

The book is about Gretchen, a woman living in New York who has it all. A loving husband, a job she loves, two kids and makes a good living. But one day decides though she isn't unhappy, is she really at her happiest potential, and doesn't quite appreciate the good life she has enough.

Researching the crap out of anything with happiness she decides to start her own happiness project. Every month for a year she will dedicate the month to something new to up her happiness level, from finding a hobby, focusing on love to lightening up a bit she uses the guidance of others to explore what really does happiness mean, and is finding ones own happiness a selfish thing to do.

You could categorize this as a self help, I like to call it more a self awareness book. Some of the things she brings up are duh! no brainers and others make you think a bit and reflect on your own life a bit. I like books that make me think about things in a different way or reflect how I feel about certain things. It's always nice to feel not alone in something.


You can check out Gretchen's blog http://www.happiness-project.com/ that she started as one of her resolutions.

There are lots of things I took away from this book, I dog-eared several pages of things that struck me as interesting and things I want to look into a little more.

I know I've been away for well.. a week. But my brain has been mush. Reading a book like this has lit a fire under my butt once again... sometimes you just need a nudge in the right direction or a little bit of inspiration from unexpected places.

In the book Gretchen starts a one sentence journal, because she's too busy to write the novel like entries we all associate with good journalers. So bear with me, but on days where the brain is too much mush I think I can at least write one sentence about my day or list my favorite part of my day because even though I may have had a crappy day, there was someone or something that made it worth it. Even if it's just sharing a laugh, that's at least something.

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." - Frederick Keonig

It's Yours

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Trust the Universe

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To the Bar...

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A Thoughtful Thursday Thought

Need More Mental Health Days

Yesterday I took advantage of the midweek decent weather and took myself a mental health day, life needs more mental health days. I managed to catch up on my sleep, watch parts 1-3 of Mildred Pierce on HBO and changed the oil in my bike AND I did it all by myself, saved 60 bones!

Today was yet another stressful day at work, they seem to be more abundant lately unfortunately. I'm glad to have a job don't get me wrong, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have such a good job, but that doesn't make me enjoy it any more. We have the option of working OT starting Saturday and I'm debating whether or not to partake. We are down several people and our work is piling up, it would be very nice to have the extra money but I don't know if it's worth the extra headache.

This has been one of the longer winters I can remember. I know it's technically Spring but I haven't been convinced. I know April showers will bring May flowers, but I'm ready to get out and about. Weigh in for Biggest Loser was yesterday too, I wasn't up but was only down like 2oz, better than nothing but I need to kick it up a notch or three or four. Warmer weather will help and I can get out on the bike finally!

It was also brought to my attention that I have a tendency to participate in things that are predomently older people. I don't know how this happens all the time but it very often does. I guess I have problems relating to people my own age, I've always been told I'm very mature for my age. I never did the whole big party scene in college like most people my age, partly because I was working. I worked full-time and went to class in the evenings; there were some people my age but most were older adults going back to school to get their degrees. I was hoping that getting out of my comfort zone and joining the HOG chapter would help, but again it's more older people. I don't really know how it keeps happening. I guess I'll have to work on it some more. Page Turner has given me the challenge of meeting people born before 1978. If you or anyone you know were born before 1978 let's hang out, have a drink and chat lol.

Love & Other Drugs

Tonight I watched Love and Other Drugs starring the gorgeous Jake Gyllenhaal. I think you could literally get lost in that man's eyes... anywho... cute movie. Will warn not for children or a movie to watch with your parents, that would be awkward lots of "whoopie" if you know what I'm saying. Love the quote at the end and I know it's supposed to make you feel all lovey dovey and movies like this probably aren't good for me, just like I shouldn't have read Pioneer Woman's book, but I really hope there are these make believe nice guys and hopefully one day I'll find one if I'm lucky... but here's the ending quote.

"You meet thousands of people and none of them touch you. Then you meet one person and your life is changed...forever."

Makes me rememberthat your whole world can change in an instant and all it takes is one chance meeting. That can apply to anything, works going not so great lately but I just have to take a breath and realize it won't be like this for long and this too shall pass. So I'm trying not to stress too much and just live each day as they come... cliche' I know, but I'm beginning to see the cornier the saying the more solid and true it is. And I keep going back to probably the nicest thing that has ever been said to me and that came from the Mrs and I thank you so much for that!  

"Regarding the age of 25, this much I know is true: I've seen more lives change in that one 365 day period in a person's life than any other age. I predict the same for you, and I also predict they will all be amazing changes."

Ok this was a little deep for a Tuesday if I'm honest, but it's true. I've become a sponge for optimism, dreams, and possibilities and I love absorbing life stories and lessons from all you guys. Page Turner says I'm lame for hanging out with old folk like her and OL, but I'm just soaking in all your knowledge so I'll be prepared when life throws something at me... but anywho Jake Gyllenhaal's butt should win an award for something and the movie was pretty good too ;)

New Life Motto... Thanks Coco

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Book Club: Hungry for Happiness

This month the Page Turners read Hungry for Happiness by James Villas. It's the story of Loretta who has dealt with weight issues her whole life. She has been almost obsessed with losing weight after she had gastric bypass surgery. The book follows her through some tough times with men and food and dealing with a family who like her better fat because they too deal with weight and are unable to be happy for her in her new found life. Loretta has always loved food and after her surgery she loved to share her joy of food with others and begins a catering business. Through the book we find her struggle still with body image, the ups and downs with me and constantly searching for happiness.

Some people think that being skinny will solve all the problems but as we see from Loretta that's not always the case, no matter your size, the grass is always greener.  During our discussion the quote was thrown out there "If everyone threw all their problems in a pile, we would quickly grab our own back." We had a great discussion the best we have had in awhile. It's something everyone can relate to, and as women most of us have some sort of issue with our bodies. But I think the lesson from the book was just finding something that takes your mind off of all of that, something that you can do and be focused and be in the moment; that was our other big theme for this book, "living in the moment". We felt that through cooking, Loretta was able to focus, although out of necessity to not spoil the recipe, she was able to be in the moment and be happy and forget about the other worries and things going on in her life good or bad.

Happiness and living in the moment, most of the time so much easier said than done. Life is too short to worry about tomorrow or yesterday, we have to learn to live in the now and remember Hakuna Matata (it means no worries)

I'm Stealing These

Because I love quotes and because I'm totally addicted to this blog. Here are some great quotes for a Tuesday.

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Life's Natural Highs

I ran across this on a new blog that I stumbled upon bitsotruth. It has daily great quotes, and I so love me some quotes. Until I am creative enough or experiencing a life high (come to work with me for a day and you will understand why life highs are in short supply these days) but I thought this was cute...



Move a Chair, Change your perspective

I've been feeling extra optimistic lately. It may have been the fact that I cleaned this weekend, threw some things out and organized. And I moved my bookshelf by the window and my chair where my bookshelf used to be. It's amazing that two little changes have totally changed my perspective; both literally and figuratively.


" Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is going to happy"

"Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful"

"Change is the essence of life; be willing to surrender who you are for what you could become."

"Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Fill your life with love. Spread sunshine. Forget self, think of others. Do as you would be done by."

"If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today." - E. Joseph Cossman

Happy Veterans Day!

My dad served in the Navy for 20+ years and served in Vietnam

Happy Veterans Day Dad!

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations." - Woodrow Wilson

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.  ~Author unknown

While we enjoy the benefits of living in the greatest democracy in the world, we must be ever conscious of the fact that none of the achievements or freedoms enjoyed in America would be possible without the price that has been paid for by our servicemen and women. --Mark Kennedy

Cowboys, Chaps and Chicago

Friday Night:
Rodeo/Fuedin Hillbilly's
Time I should have been at friends' house: 5:30pm

Left the House: 5:45ish-pm

In my bed: 1:30am
1-10 Scale: 9

Friday was a fabulous night out with the girls. Dinner at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants (in a different city though) then we were off to the Rodeo. Rodeo events are the Mecca of farmboy/cowboy/wrangler/cowboy hats/boots types. I was in heaven. I love how you don't have to get all cutesy'd up for an event like this. The thing that amazes me the most at the Rodeo is how frickin' huge the Bucking Bronc's are. They are HUGE, you think my little pony with a kicking problem but these things are ginormous. You'd have to see them in person to do it justice. More than anything the Rodeo is a fun time to drool at the eye candy.

After the Rodeo ended about 10:30pm we ventured to our favorite Country Bar to check out a favorite local band. I was a little worn out so I didn't get my drink on or shake it country style because I had to be up "early" the next day to head to Chi-town.

Saturday:
Chicago-Financial Seminar w/Bill & Giuliana Rancic/America's Got Talent
Left the House: 8:20am
In my bed: 11:30ish-pm
1-10 Scale: 10+

There are not enough words I can put together to explain how much fun was had on Saturday. Luckily for a friend we were heading up the Chicago the same day as the America's Got Talent Chicago open auditions were held, so he was able to hitch a ride up there with us. The way there and back was the quickest (felt like it anyway) trip to Chicago I have even been on (which hasn't been too many times actually) but me, 'Willie' and 'It's Sew My Style' in one vehicle = too much fun and a major ab workout from laughing so hard.

After we dropped 'Willie' off at his huge mile long line outside of McCormick place we realized that we neglected to print off our confirmation email that would allow us to enter our seminar. No big deal.

We found a parking garage (PS I may have broken every traffic law on the books. It's hard for a country girl to know where to go and avoid potholes AND taxi's AND other cars who can't drive. No ticket no foul, we survived and Simon didn't get a scratch on him). We then located the nearest hotel which turned out to be the Marriott off Michigan Ave. Very nice hotel and I'd recommend staying there if you have the means to do so, very nice decor. We found the business center and got our email printed off.. good to go. Now we were starving too, neither of us had eaten anything yet that day. So we hike it to Watertower place to the food court, we only had about an hour to play with and the line was huge. (everyone and their brother must have been in the city that day) so we decide we should probably head to the other side of town where our whole point of the day was.

With my crazy mad traffic skills and awesome navigator pointing the direction we were hoping the parking that was available for the event wasn't full already or we'd have to find the other place that would require a shuttle to take us and we were only 15 minutes early. Since the parking was in a Catholic Church lot, I said a Hail Mary and hoped for the best. SCORE! Open spots left. So we waited in line and ended up being fine on time since it started an hour late so everyone had time to get in line. Meanwhile, we checked in on our good friend 'Willie' who informed us 3 hours later he was still outside waiting (it wasn't a warm day in Chicago either)

Bill and Giuliana Ranic were the main draw for the MB Financial Bank/Mastercard sponsored Financial seminar. They took the stage and talked about some financial stuff. Giuliana is a twig, very skinny and OMG her ring was blinding us when it caught the light. They are so cute and funny together, a great couple. Giuliana told the story about how she took all the snack bars they had in their green room stating that in this economy you have to take advantage of every opportunity. They were very funny and cute and Bill (who was the winner of the first Apprentice) had some great points to make. The whole time we were listening to all the speakers talk we had a camera guy up in our face with a bright light on top of his camera. What they were filming for we don't actually know, it could be for Bill & Giuliana's reality show, we didn't sign any releases so I don't know how much of our face they could use. Hope I looked good and didn't pick my nose.

There was a Q&A section at the end and this douchey guy (who supposedly went to school with Bill and was probably wearing an Armani suit) really had no question but wanted to brag at how wealthy he was and that he is starting a consulting company and has a 3.2 million dollar contract lined up and doesn't know why he has to put his $700,000 home up for collateral blah blah blah. The crowd turned on him, love it. Then at the end there was a raffle of two tickets to an upcoming Bears game and guess who one. Yep Sir Douche, I'm sure there is a lesson in there somewhere. If we wanted to wait probably another hour or so in line there was a meet and greet with B&G, but we were worn out and too hungry to stay. We ventured back towards downtown.

We decided to have dinner at the Cheesecake factory and parked conveniently on the 10th floor of the John Hancock Building. That was a crazy ride up a spiral parking garage entrance and had to have the underside of the car and the trunk checked before we could enter. We didn't even have to step outside, just a few steps and an elevator trip down we arrived.. finally food... well sort of. We had to wait an hour for a table. It's been awhile since that hungry. Since we had time we checked back in with 'Willie' we had earlier received a text picture of the sign confirming that he had official reached the front of the line. He was now about ready to go in and perform in front of some of the producers for the show. We wished him luck and our table was ready. (Timing was amazing in Chicago too!)

We were so starved that once the waitress came back to get our drink orders we were ready to order (food would make it to us quicker) and we wanted our bread stat! After we had stuffed our face, we ordered our cheesecake to go and 'Willie' had called and said his audition went well he thinks and the friends he made in line were going to give him a ride to downtown where we were, perfect! Just as we exited the restaurant he was there too and we began our venture home.

The ride home went just as fast with tons of laughs and conversations that I can't repeat. We had so much fun on this trip. It's part of our plan to be a little more spontaneous and try different things. We decided we like to be a little more planned out ahead but we did good. I'm trying not to stress out so much about the unknown (aka not knowing my way around Chicago for this example) and anyone who knows me knows that I get a little stressed and uneasy about places I've never been or don't know exactly where I'm going. But this trip just goes to show that if you don't stress, laugh a little, and don't worry so much, things have a way of working themselves out.

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” -Greg Anderson

Doctor Knows Best

"And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed."
-- Dr. Seuss

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.” -- Dr. Suess

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."-- Dr. Seuss

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!"-- Dr. Seuss

If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.-- Dr. Seuss

Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. -- Dr. Seuss

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope, which is what I do. And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”

-- Dr. Seuss