Bigger smiles, better laughs?

Several weeks ago, while trying to persuade Alix to take a picture with me, she stated: "Open your mouth while you smile, it looks like you're having more fun!" So she finally got on board to take a photo with me. (She hates pictures!)

Well, this past weekend, Alix, AmyJane, and I tried the whole mouth-open smile technique again... And these are just silly! (Please excuse my cell phone's crummy picture quality.) We look like we're laughing creepily and hysterically. And when I say "we," I mean "me." ;)

Dear Mr. Peale...

(photo via ffffound.com)

Think positive! Have you ever heard this phrase?? When things are seeming dreary and depressing, people always say - "C'mon, Charlie Brown! Think positive!" Well you know... some derivative of this... Norman Vincent Peale was a major proponent of positive thinking... And even wrote a book about it, The Power of Positive Thinking. Of course, he got a ton of flack for it, as many of his references were anecdotal in nature and failed to reflect any ties to real people with real opinions on the matter.

Anyhoo, Norman Vincent Peale was sort of popular for something else. Regardless of his spooky psychological theories, he was able to succinctly turn our everyday hardships into little bits of nothing. This is hardly a critical endeavor, of course. With some of his sincere gestures, he was simply reminding us that life is too short for shenanigans of the dramatic variety.

Dear Mr. Peale... We owe some seriously profound awakenings to you...

"When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." - Peale

"If there is no fun in it, you're doing it wrong." - Peale

"Never talk to defeat. Use words like hope, believe, faith, victory." - Peale

Today, as I was walking downtown to meet Alix, I was about ready to climb into a hole. It was FREEZING today. 1 degree. 1, a single, degree. However, as I nearly ran to my destination, I noticed a couple kids galloping along with their backpacks in tow, rubbing their hands together so fast - eager to see who could make their hands the hottest. They were laughing sooo hard. It was epic. The young woman, who I assumed was looking after them, acted as the judge.

So, I thought of our Mr. Peale...

"Live your life and forget your age." - Peale

Single Lady

I don't mind being a single lady... Right now especially. I'm having waaay too much fun just living in New York, going to school, and going to work, and going out. Seriously. And so, the upcoming chick flick looks like a totally perfect opportunity to rendezvous with my other single gal pals... (Or maybe this whole thing is a bogus excuse for being alone on Valentine's Day.)

Whatevs!

She said whatttt???

(photo via ffffound.com)

So Alix, my dear roommate, made a wonderful blog suggestion to me yesterday. She knows how much I love the whole blog world...

This blog is DOWNRIGHT hilarious!

Overheard in New York... 

It's an open forum for people to post the silly things they hear in New York City. (Please note, some of these are kind of gross...)

My favorites...

Conductor: You do not want to take the 4 or the 5, because they will not be setting any land speed records.
--6 Train
Guy: She's vegetarian?! I thought she was an alcoholic?
--B7 bus
Stylish 20-something woman to overweight pug breathing heavily: Well, Winifred, you're out of breath because you're out of shape. (pause) No, you're not fat. You're voluminous. (pause) Yes, I am aware it's not all your fault. Mummy likes to watch you eat powder doughnuts. (pause) Pugs that look like they have a coke habit are very funny for mummy, yes they are.
--Central Park
Conductor: This train is very crowded. If you cannot fit, please step back and wait for the next train. If you manage to get onto this very crowded train, look at the person next to you and tell them, "Howdy!"
--Queens bound F train


And, they don't stop there! You can take a peek at... 
Overheard on the Beach
Overheard in the Office
Overheard Everywhere

Good Week? Bad Week?

(photo via ffffound.com) 

It's been a bit of a week! And it's only Tuesday! I wanna wrap up the shenanigans of the last 7 days with a little game of good week/bad week. Hold on, this is kind of a roller coaster.

AmyJane and I got into APA!!! Good week.
I spilled coffee on myself. Bad week.
And my cell phone. Bad week.
And a staff member at my externship. Bad week.
But I got a new phone! Good week.
I started my new externship! Good week.
Buuuut, I'm not getting paid for it! Bad week.
It's gonna look phenom on my resume! Good week.
But I'm actually paying John Jay for the credit. Bad week.
I broke my bed. Bad week.
Twice. Bad week.
I fixed my bed! Good week.
Twice. Good week.
I opened the emergency door at my externship. Bad week.
Everybody laughed at me. Bad week!
I had brunch with a few friends on Sunday. Good week!
We didn't have mimosas. Bad week.
But we did have sexy sangria! Good week!
I slammed the door on my finger. Bad week.
But my uber attractive neighbor heard me yelp and he stepped outside to check on me! Good week.
I start school on Thursday. Bad week.
I start my final semester at John Jay on Thursday. Good week!
I haven't fudged on my austerity program. Good week!
But I'm bummed - Gap is having a sale. Bad week!
I re-heeled my favorite pair of boots! Good week.
One of the new heels fell off. Bad week.
I started reading a new book. Good week!
But I don't really like it. Bad week.
So I finished it real fast. Good week!
And started another new book. Good week.
And I don't like that one either. Bad week.

And so it's Tuesday. Good week.
And tomorrow is Wednesday. Gooooood week! ;)

I love food.

My friend Betsy sent me this silly card a REALLY long time ago... The front said something like... "Why I Work: A Short Essay..." When you opened the card, it said: "I like food."

Haha! Ahh, Betsy is right. Food is good.

Anyhoo, I stumbled across this cute little thing on swiss-miss.com...

The answer is yes, always yes. ;) Haha! I especially love the "Don't eat it" qualifier... "Is it bacon?"

Happy

(photo via ffffound.com)

Cue soapbox.

We are all responsible for our own happiness. We certainly can't blame others when we're feeling shabby.

When I'm feeling shabby, I remind myself that every passing minute is another opportunity to turn it all around. Ahh, how refreshing, eh?

Hazelnut Coffee is Bad for Blackberries

(photo via tumblr.com) 

Whoops! 

So, I've been so psyched about starting my externship - a big kid job! (Even though I'm not getting paid! Blows!) So, I've been waking up early and having a cup of coffee... And even taking my fun new thermos with me to work - filled with my heavily "blonded" (lots of creamer) Hazelnut coffee. 

For whatever reason, I have a hard time finishing my thermos of coffee, so I just stick it in my purse and try to keep my purse upright. 

Two words... Bad. And... Idea. Eh, I have them every once in awhile... 

As I sat on the subway on my way home from my externship today, I caught a huge whiff of Hazelnut. At the same time, I realized my leg was a little wet.  

Ugh. The goods inside were OK... I guess? 

My Blackberry didn't appear wet, but it has a little Hazelnutty aroma. In my defense, however, the buttons were sticking last week... And, the charger stopped working. 

Whew, I'm a Blackberry mess. 

We Put Ornaments on Palm Trees

It was a very mellow trip home. I spent a lotta time with my family re-establishing some of those family ties, while canoodling with my pals. Baby Kate has gotten so big! She's nearly talking, but still terrorizing the house, just as a two-year old should. We did the whole ZooLights thing this year, which was totally fabulous. Plus, I was able to share in the festivities at Jen and Matt's wedding! Oh yeah - and I watched the Suns get killed on the court a couple times. Bummer.

Ahh, a photo journal of my trip...

First Day

(doesn't this photo just describe the first day perfectly?? photo via drapestakers.blogspot.com)

We all know how we felt on the first day of school or the first day of our new job... So an externship is like a mix of those - you have to do well like you do at work, but it's a reflection of how well you do at school...

Oye.

So today was the first day of my externship. I wasn't too nervous. I felt pretty good going into the day. A few little bumps in the road occurred, but I expected those. I was eager to go to lunch - get out of the office during those first day silences... Because you don't really know anybody that well, and you're not sure if they'll dig your crazy personality. Well, that was a mistake...

I've been to the office several times before, and each time - the stairwell door was open. I'm confident of this - because I took the stairwell those times... This time, the stairwell door was closed. Alrighty - I could take the elevator. However, it is one of my New Year's resolutions to take the stairs whenever possible. I wanna have killer legs... And thighs...

So anyhoo, I figured... I'll just push the door open...

No, the door was not labeled "Emergency Exit Only." Yes, the alarm went off. Yes, Lauren stood in the lobby with a few dozen people staring at her.

Ahh, I'll never forget my first day. :)

Welcome Back, Lauren!

(photo via intelligenttravel.com)

Thanks New York! Your warm and fuzzy welcome back was so lovely...

My flight was delayed. We had a medical emergency on the plane. I was parked next to a really creepy guy  in row 24. And, it was raining when we landed. (Ahh, I basked in the sun just a few hours prior!) Ok... I can deal with all of this madness...

I get on the SuperShuttle, cozy up to half a dozen folks who are on holiday in the city. We arrive at the Camelot and as I take a step off the van, I slip and fall onto the wet pavement. Whew! I was able to recover semi-gracefully. Rough day, eh?

Alix and I mingled over some mexican food - sharing stories about our vacations. Now, I sit on my couch, staring at my luggage - thinking *tomorrow* might be a more appropriate time to get on board with the whole unpacking thing...

Happy MLK!

My Austerity Program

(photo via trendupdates.com)

I quit shopping. Ugh.

Every month, I take a few minutes to review my bank statement. The past few months, I've noticed more and more that I spend a lot of money on frivolous little things - clothes and Starbucks. Lord knows I can't live without Starbucks... So I'm cutting out shopping.

On Monday! Monday, I'm cutting out frivolous shopping...

Gap.com is having a sale. I spent $40 and got a dress, a sweater, and a pair of cute shorts...

'

(photo via gap.com)

Bye Bye, Vacation!

Ahh, I won't lie to you. My vacation has been downright wonderful. (I even extended my trip by a few days, just so I could soak up the glorious Phoenix weather a bit longer!) I have so many silly stories to share about my trip. I got a crazy awesome hair-cut! I was in a wedding! I galavanted around town with my mom and sister and girlfriends! I saw some good movies... And some stupid ones... I ate. So. Well. (My dear mother and sister are fantastic little bakers.)

I'm back in the city on Sunday with tons of big things (and little things) on the docket! Can't wait to return to my groove!

Have a happy weekend. Plenty more to come! :)