The Tourist Lane

I literally burst out laughing after reading this blog post.

Improv Everywhere (if you haven't ever visited this site, YOU MUST DO SO IMMEDIATELY!) thought it would be a cool and exciting project. It was a huge hit! Really, this one photo hardly does justice to the comedy of this project. Please, please, please read! :)

Thx!

I got this from Joanna over at A Cup of Jo. How cute is this?? Leah, such a gem, started a blog to show off her thank you note skills, just because her mother always encouraged her to write a proper thank you note growing up.  My mom trained me well, too, insisting I write thank you's for every gift and well-wish. I've come to appreciate thank you notes as a lost art. Nobody (and I mean, hardly anyone!!) does thank you notes any more. So, these simply made my day. Plus, they're funny! Enjoy! :)

(She has a book that I desperately want to have!)

(Perhaps my favy so far!)

June 26 =

(photo via)

True Blood Season 4 Premiere. :)
(I'll admit, shamelessly, my gal pal AmyJane has persuaded me to shift my loyalties, a la Team Eric.)

Words to Live By

(photo via)

For whatever reason, Sinatra reminds me of being young (at heart). It must be that dapper suit.

Thanks Emily, for sharing an AWESOME blog with me a few days back. Well certainly, I love anything that will encourage introspection, and these Words To Live By do exactly that.

A few of my favorites...

Health:

6. Read more books than you did in 2010.

Personality:

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

Life:

4. The best is yet to come. (Sigh.)

I Love Charts!

And this website!!

East Asia

Research shows you're more likely to follow through on a commitment if you write it down, or verbally agree to said commitment. So here I am, writing it down.

I'll be honest, I was pretty shook up following the PhD news. I always felt that if I wanted something bad enough, I'd get it; that if I worked hard enough, I would reach my goal. I worked hard last year, and I did not get what I wanted. So, I learned a valuable lesson - something I always knew, but was too naive to really absorb and accept: sometimes things don't work out the way you plan, but everything happens for a reason.

Puuuhlease, do not misinterpret my moping for discouragement. I will obtain a doctoral degree someday. But until then, I'm gonna divert my energy elsewhere...

The plan is to leave the day after Christmas and fly to Shanghai. (The idea of flying "backwards" and arriving the next day creeps me out!) Look at these... It's a mini vacation right here at Cue!!

Nanjing Road

Yuyuan Garden

Lupu Bridge

After spending several days with my dear friend Sam in Shanghai, we'll fly down to Bangkok... 

The Floating Market

Wat Arun

Siam Ocean World

Really, this gives off the "cabana boy" vibe, but it looks AMAZING nonetheless.

Elephant Ride at Mu Ko Chang National Park

Finally, we'll jet down to Bali. (Anddd, it turns out I'm that cheesy person who read Eat Pray Love and fell in love with the idea of traveling to Bali.)

Bali Botanical Gardens

Besakih Temple

Really, need I say more?

I'll return the second week of January - hopefully rich with stories of East Asia, and eager to plan my next trip! :) Really, just doing the research and perusing through photos gets me psyched! I'll need some help. If you have travel recommendations, hit me with 'em!

Couch Surfing

(photo via)

Ever been Couch Surfing before? I have some friends that have tried it... Here's the sitch...

CouchSurfing is your ticket to explore the world -- from the road or from your own home. Over a million members are out there waiting to learn about your culture and show you some of theirs. Eat borscht in Odessa. Watch kangaroos in Adelaide. Find the best noodles in Tokyo. Show travelers the best live music near your home, or your favorite hiking trail. Meet locals in your own city who share your interest in travel and the world.

 - from the website


So basically you crash on a random's couch, or a random crashes on your couch. You get the chance to hang out with locals, because you'll be staying with locals. The treat is you get to share bits of your culture while picking up bits of their culture, and it's happening all over the world. (Note, too: It's a .org, a non-profit organization! Exciting!!) Honestly, this gives me a bit of a serial killer vibe, but if you do your research, you'll see that previous surfers rate their experience with the different hosts, very similar to eBay and etsy, when buyers can rate their satisfaction. I have some intense travel plans over the next few years, and I think I might have to give it a whirl... 


In addition, check out Janet! She had wonderful things to say about her experience. After reading her testimony, I'm sort of chomping at the bit to give it a try. 

Adele

(photo via sweetlyrics.com)

I can't get enough of her. I look at her and think: "50's Soul Sister." She appears short, 5'9", but she's taller than I am, and I am so obsessed with her bouffant hair, so sexy! Anyhoo, her recent hit, Rolling In the Deep, kickstarts my workouts. She's belting out words of a passionate love affair gone awry: "We could have had it all," but her voice is deep and sultry. Enjoy!

Floral Frock? I can do that!

I am doing my very best to avoid spending dinero on frivolous purchases. GOOBER! I've been down this road before, but now I'm an adult (pff!) and have serious financial commitments (ugh!).

Well, naturally, I have fallen in madly in love with this look...

(photo via francescascollections.com)

Before becoming impulsive and busting out my debit (no, not credit!) card, I took a step back. I "ooh-ed" and "aaaahh-ed!!!" over this lovely ensemble, but then reminded myself, I can pull this off with whatever I have in my closet already! 

Mission Accomplished! Slightly different colors, and I added a cardi because I'm a sweater kind of gal... However, I love the idea of adding leggings and boots for the transition into fall. This can be an all year type of look! :) YES! The dress was on sale from Francesca's (natch), 24.99; the cardi is from Target 14.99; the belt is from Old Navy, 4.99; the shoes are the priciest item on my bod, as they are Lucky Brand from Macy's. But, they too were on sale, 44.99. 

Oh yes, I still gaze upon the floral frock at Francesca's with the double loop belt and think, "I could pull that off so well!" But then I realize I am just as satisfied with my creation. Happy Monday!

We took [2] photos.

(the second)

What the heck! I spent four days in Vegas and took TWO photos. The first - pretty shabby (upon inspection, my eyes were closed), the second - less disastrous. Nonetheless, the trip was mellow and relaxing. (My dearest AmyJane, thank you for your hospitality!) It makes me wanna retire early and vacation somewhere forever.

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