between shit and syphilis

"The most important thing in life

is to stop saying 'I wish'

and start saying 'I will.'

Consider nothing impossible,

then treat possibilities as probabilities."

-Charles Dickens

One of my informal resolutions this year was to try to remain positive. I have a tendency to focus on the negative and then further the problem by dwelling on it. I have been feeling a little stressed out and down lately and last night I literally had to say out loud to myself all of the things I am grateful for. Because, really, in the bigger picture, I live a pretty charmed life. Instead of complaining about my problems, I am going to be productive and do something about it.

Despite my efforts, I still tried to invite everyone I knew to my pity party today. Shame on me. I had to laugh, picturing David Sedaris with his lisp, saying the following quote to me:

"If you're looking for sympathy

you'll find it between shit and syphilis in the dictionary."

the whole world wedged between my books

On my walk home from work today, I passed by this little globe in the window of a toy shop. I have a strange love for globes and have been wanting to buy one for a while now but I couldn't justify the purchase because my apartment is just so cluttered. But this one in the window was just a tiny globe so I had to buy it. So far the only space I could find for it is wedged between my books on the bookshelf (fittingly next to my travel guides). I'll de-clutter soon, I swear!

I'm dying for the opportunity to give it a little spin and see where my next travel destination will be!

homesick and sick at home

It's been about 2 weeks now and I'm still feeling under the weather, which is why I haven't been posting much. I've mainly been in bed watching movies and eating soup. This past weekend I took tons of meds and forced myself to get down to the Jersey Shore to see my girlfriends. It had been months since I've seen some of them and I had a blast, as I always do with them. But now it's back to soup, movies, and bed. : (

rice porridge

I've been feeling a little under the weather again (ah winter) and decided to make something a little different from my usual chicken vegetable soup. My mom always made me Thai rice porridge (called jok) when I was sick, so I decided I was going to try to make it for the first time. It was much easier to make than I expected, with very few ingredients (rice, water, pork, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, soy sauce, black pepper, cilantro).

It doesn't look so appetizing in the pot but I promise you it's delicious!



Throw in an egg and it's heaven!

you don't need a reason

...to give flowers. : )

the gifts keep coming!

Are you guys tired of looking at my Christmas gifts yet? Well I'm not! I just came home to find this beautifully wrapped package from London in the mail today. (It took a little long because somebody forgot to write the postcode on the package. :) )



In the package were these adorable kitty gloves. I'll be extra careful not to lose these!



...and this sweet NYC necklace. It will be a constant reminder of one of my most fun days in NYC where I visited the Statue of Liberty for the first time.



Thank you, Hans!

inspiration wall additions

I finally purchased frames and found time to hang up these new prints on my inspiration wall.





I think they fit perfectly. :)

flannel love

A friend of mine works for Superdry and hooked me up with a bunch of flannels from their samples. I have one in almost ever color now! I swear, with my love for flannels you would think I work as a lumberjack in the backwoods.

fancy sweats

I've been to so many yummy dinner parties over the holidays and it's starting to show on my waist. Instead of making a resolution to lose weight like everyone else (how boring!) I decided to buy a new pair of sweats!

These knit "un-sweatpant" from Jcrew are perfect because I can be comfy without looking like a slob.



I like wearing them with my denim shirt



And Minnetonka boots



Now there's really no excuse to still be wearing velour sweatsuits. Did you hear me, Steinway Street?

library additions!

My Amazon order arrived today! I got a giftcard from work and decided to spend it all on one thing; books!



1) Lit by Mary Karr

2) The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

3) Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman

4) Little Bee by Chris Cleave

5) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Net by Stieg Larsson (guilty pleasure!)

Have you guys read any of these? I can't wait to read them. Now I definitely can't buy any new books for a long time because I still haven't finished this list either.