Hello

I just wanted to quickly say hello and let you all know that I made it safely to my favorite place. :)
I've been doing well, and am enjoying life. It's what counts, right?
Yes it is.
I may from time to time update, but not sure when and how and all. I let life make the decisions for me this time. Karma is working with me I think.
Dogs are loving me (especially my feet!! - what is up with that, really?!), I am slowly getting rid of my jet lag and well, life is good. And weather too. I wonder what people mean by cold when it's wonderfully warm out with 60 degrees. Yes, that is warm people...I left Europe and it was super super super cold and somewhat snowy. :)

So, here I am.
More updates will follow.
Most of them via twitter anyways...so stay tuned.

Happy Monday everyone. :)
I'm having a fabulous time...are you?!

♥ Selma ♥

Up and Running

 

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My lovely readers...

I'm off again to some adventures and lots of me-time.

California awaits me, and I can't believe I'm going to be there in less than maybe two hours or so?! Maybe more or maybe less?! Again, I decided to keep it low and not have guest bloggers on here...I will show up from time to time and see how you are doing and I will keep you all posted on my whereabouts whenever I get time. Most definitely I'm going to use twitter and facebook. Why?! Well, I again left my laptop at home resting and waiting for me. That way I won't get too sucked into the internet while I'm traveling and trying to find myself, and my mom can use it if she ever needs to use the internet while I'm not around. Someone has to take care of my four walls and my belongings. :)  Besides I figured out how to use those two social medias on my cell phone (yes, don't own a smart phone yet - and still, my uncle handed me his old phone the other day so we're trying to have it set up by the time I get in so I can at least call, text, and surf for free while I'm exploring my area again).  We'll see how things work out.

In the meantime I'm hoping you are all doing fabulously and are ready for this upcoming holiday season...I sure as heck am not. I may have sent out all my presents a while ago, and I'm sure they will get to their destined places, but I'm not fully ready to acknowledge the fact that I won't spend Christmas in Europe. Exciting, scary, sad, and happy in one...yes, I'm a total mess now. ;) However, this will be a good thing and I will love it. Right?!

So, happy end of November to you!

Hope you don't go shopping today - I am waiting and will have plenty of time once the Black Friday Mania is over!!! ;)
Happy holiday season to you and well, write to all of you later!!!

xoxo,

♥ Selma ♥

Happy Thanksgiving!

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I'm thankful for so many things I will not get into details and list them all.
Just saw this cute picture and thought I could share it.

Wherever you are heading to this Thursday, be safe, have fun, relax, and enjoy time with family/friends. :)

All I'm doing is not traveling - that's for sure, and luckily not going anywhere near the Black Friday Shopping Mania. ;) Somehow though I miss that day. Yes I know. Crazy. Have you read my blog title?! Yes. I've done it, I've run and I have won, and I have cried, and whatnot...okay, I never cried but still...we know how crazy that day gets. For all of you that are working that day and do not get a chance to stay home...consider yourself hugged. Big time. 

Have a fabulous rest of your Wednesday and an even greater Thursday.

♥ Selma ♥

Ready!?

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I think I am.
Not just for turkey on Thursday.

I may freak out a little as always and rethink, and second guess and all...

...but I am ready.
Just like the girl in this picture!

Happy Tuesday.
Happy Thanksgiving week.

xoxo,
♥ Selma ♥

Monday Lights

How was your weekend?!
Mine was okay.
I stayed positive. It's a (second) start, right?
Baby steps are way better than big steps that may not show me the right direction. :)

So for today, and to start this week bright, fresh, and early (haha!!) I thought
I'd just post a few random holiday pictures.

Ready?!

 My future house!!!!
It just needs a little more decoration!

The traditional picture...I will always love this. Even at maybe 96 being all wrinkly. ;)

It's a bit too much light for me, but looking at it makes me smile!

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Apparently I love Christmas lights...just anything lit up and romantic looking or so. ;)
Ridiculous I know, but I love it!!!

Hope you're all having a fabulous start into this week.
It's going to be an emotional week I think.
Good though, absolutely not bad. 

Happy Monday.

xoxo,

♥ Selma ♥

Don't Forget Folks...

...because we so simply tend to do so every so often. Myself included.

This picture's source is somewhere in Atlanta, GA.

Where I got it from and how?! Honestly? I simply do not remember.
Blame it on my age!!! ;)

But even though I may not fully remember how I found this picture

I still remember though that we all depend on nature.

So, why are we ruining it?

Have Yourself A Very Merry...well, optimism

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I couldn't agree more.

I have been lacking in that department.
I blame it on reading the newspaper...and watching news and all.
It keeps me informed, but at the same time leaves me puzzled, speechless, angry, scared, and just so very annoyed. Quite sad actually.
Where are those fun days when you turned on the TV and those news seemed to be uplifting and not so gray?

I turned my TV off today, grabbed my book and continued reading.
And to make my weekend even more spectacular...everything I packed is now waiting to be packed again, because I had a little crisis going on and took everything out again. Who knows what happened, I just had a the strong urge to start from scratch again...and that's when it hit me. Optimism is key, and optimism is needed (hence the above picture). 

And I'm going to stay positive so all those germs out there won't get to me. I had people sneezing around me, not at all covering up anything. Naturally I was pissed, and naturally I will blame these exact people if I get sick!!!! Use your hands, or sleeves or whatever else but don't just sit or stand there and sneeze out loud so I can literally see spit and whatnot flying around. Very disgusting, very gross, and so very wrong. 

Happy Saturday!!!!

♥ Selma ♥

Fill in the Blank Friday - Thanksgiving

 

1.   My Thanksgiving plans this year will include  last minute packing, and eating some turkey and whatnot because well, living in Europe it's not really something that's celebrated. For the past few years though I always came up with something that would somehow come close to a traditional Thanksgiving meal. :)

2.  My favorite Thanksgiving was   (and this may sound bad now) while traveling up to San Francisco and skipping it all!! I was fed up with school and tons of paperwork, needed a break from all those people around me and the stress that that particular Thanksgiving day had in store for us so I ended up buying a bus ticket (yes yes!) and spent a few days in SF with friends. Best time ever!!

3.  My signature Thanksgiving dish is    something I still have to figure out. No one's gonna be eating anything this year, but I'm trying to make my very own stuffing and mashed potatoes...somehow. Maybe one day someone will appreciate it. :)

4.  My favorite Thanksgiving food is   stuffing (obviously I could eat it all year round) and turkey.

5.  Thanksgiving free association!     stuffing (yes, I love that stuff), turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, movie time, tons of leftovers for later on, and family/friend around the table.

6.  Thanksgiving is     time to pause and be thankful for all the things we have. It sort of marks the beginning of real winter and an invisible countdown to enjoy the last weeks of the year.

7.  I am thankful for    family, who always sees the best in me no matter what, for friends *far or near*, and for my health. I'm thankful for clean water, food, coffee, and heaters in the house. I'm thankful for being alive and breathing every minute, and for having a future. I'm also thankful for cute clothes, inspirational music, traditions, books, and possibilities waiting for me and for everyone else around me. This could go on, but I won't...it's little things that make up my list...even my daily alarm clock making sure I get out of that oh-so-sweet dream and get on with the day. We may take it for granted, but in all honestly we shouldn't.

For more fun answers, and if you want to play along...just go on over to Lauren's. :)

In other news...today is a hectic day.
Not only do I have to help clean everything but I also have to help prepare tons of finger food for this evening. Mom's got family over (or how she calls it, 10 people you also know!) and we sort of get all together as a pre-Christmas, pre-winter, farewell-gathering. It's something she does every year, so it should be a no-brainer. Nope. Wherever I am I get a call from her asking me if she should do this or that or buy this or that and then ends up not doing or buying any of what she just bothered me with. :( Tonight can only be fun, huh?

Happy Friday.

Off I go...attempting to help...maybe!

xoxo,

♥ Selma ♥

Happy Wednesday

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How cute is this picture guys?
I saw it and had to share it!!!
Sort of how I'm feeling today.
It's very ugly outside, very cold, and I had too much risotto for lunch.
Not that you care what I ate but I felt like writing it down.
To cheer myself up I'm watching reruns. Mostly TVD. ;) Do I have to write it out? Na!!!

See? I totally feel like this puppy!!
Awwwww.....cutie!!!

xoxo,
♥ Selma ♥

Mid-November?!

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Time has come...

...everything slowly starts to look like Christmas around here.
The mall has its annual and very boring XMas decoration up (and really, as beautiful as it may be it's literally boring to see the same old stuff again!), snow-rain kicked in this morning (so not my favorite), temps went drastically down and my winter jacket's out already. Slightly excited. Just slightly.
Though, I won't have much winter experience in here though...will be leaving soon, and different kind of weather will be awaiting me. That's for sure. Not sure if this should excite me or frustrate me, but I'm gonna take it as it comes.

This past weekend was rather busy/boring...my friend finally was able to welcome her little one on Saturday morning. Wish I could see them though. They live in Hamburg, Germany and it's not just around the corner from where I am at this moment. However, her text message early in the freakin' morning my day on Saturday!!! For sure! I'm just sad she won't be posting fun stuff on facebook anymore. ;)
My uncle visited quickly that same Saturday, too, which was nice. I'd seen him this year already but it had been a few years for my mom so that was nice. Had a very late-night dinner, woke up way too early on Sunday, then cleaned most of the time...decided it was time to watch some old movies, and then headed on out again...and Monday I spent the entire day rushing from one place to another, cooking, playing games, drawing, explaining myself, and making sure the kids stayed near us (preferably holding our hands and not running around!!). My friend has three kids; I think that says enough :) 

And today?
Heading out in a few hours...some funny looking boxes are going to be sent out, a few last "souvenirs" need to be bought, and then I might just sit back and watch reruns of some shows. My eyes hurt from reading so I'm gonna wait a day or two until I continue an awesome book. So, until then some bloodsucking TV show will just do the trick. ;) Ha! And some Sushi tonight? Maybe? Yes? $14 are going to be well-spent!

Hope you all had a fantastic Monday, and are going to start Tuesday with a smile! :)

xoxo,


♥ Selma ♥

P.s. Happy Birthday to my aunt, and three of my friends today!!!!

Sunday Morning Sun Is Shining

You only recognize true friendship when you least expect it.

And when you do expect something nothing happens.

That's all I'm gonna say today.
I had this whole paragraph written about friendship but deleted it all.

Not sure why but I did it. 

Weekend was weird and long.
Had dinner at 10.20pm, ended up in bed by 1 and woke up again at 6 again.
By nine I had my coffee in my hand and was sitting at Starbucks looking at the newspaper.

Saw some pretty things...and thought a cute/pretty/pink/girlie post is needed.
Especially on such a beautiful Sunday!!!

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And for once I was thinking about arranging these pictures differently...but then decided not to go there. Once I start I cannot stop myself. I'll leave them as they are. ;) Raw and fresh, just how I like it.

Hope you're having a fabulous Sunday.

xoxo,

♥ Selma ♥

Friday Funny - Total Randomness

Happy Friday everyone.

Instead of the usual Fill in the Blank I decided to go for some fun stuff I came across this week...thanks to Kelly's idea (when was that? Beginning of this year?!) to share whatever made our week fun and whatever made us smile. :)

So here we go:

Gotta love my preggo friend H. and her baby not wanting to come out of her...she posts the silliest stuff on facebook while killing time. Made me seriously laugh!!! Loved it! If you haven't heard of this or seen it, I highly recommend it! That was on Monday....

1. Go to Google maps. 2. Go to "Get Directions" 3. Type Japan as the start location. 4. Type China as the end location. 5. Go to #43 in the List of Directions. 6. Laugh, and repost...

*and today, Friday around 11am...no news on my friend's baby. Due date was Nov. 4, but apparently the baby likes the womb! I so wanna see my friend finally be able to hold her little one for real*

Then I came across this quote; it just made my Tuesday:

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But on Wednesday I saw some weird stuff on TV. People really need to find another hobby or something else that makes them special...and unfortunately, I was eating while I saw those pictures/videos...and I always thought I had a big mouth. ;)
Here's what's a found in writing and here's the video. Sorry about the quality but it's all I could find!

And click here for some more bizarre Guinness book records...I'm just shocked and in awe...can't decide.

Yes, that's about it for this week...I also had my very first yummy gingerbread latte which just made this November even more special. It's going to be even more exciting and amazing once I land in Los Angeles...and believe me, I've been organizing stuff, packing or not (I literally hate it - what the heck am I supposed to bring with me...I have no clothes, shoes, or bags...I'm lost)...but until then I try to get as much as possible out of this place, and then get ready for some awesome times back in my favorite state!

Have a fantastic Friday and weekend!!!!

My uncle's visiting tomorrow night and it'll be super interesting eating dinner at 10pm and then making sure he gets to the airport on time on Sunday morning...a visit is a visit...better than nothing! :)

xoxo,

♥ Selma ♥

Moments

Today, I have nothing to say...or so I thought.

I'm craving Sushi, want to walk in flip flops, wear just a T-shirt, and sit outside holding a book (or preferably an iPad) and read or surf the net or whatever. None of this is going to happen...but I can share some pictures I took last week and the week before and never had time to post! Ready...

Just had to take this pic...I mean, it's purple after all.

My favorite shoes...I tried so hard to get a picture but failed and ended up sitting in a restaurant taking weird shoe/foot pictures...people thought I was nuts. Who cares, right?!

Last week I went shopping (didn't buy a thing though) and ended up getting macarons...big ones.
I had to stop myself and take a picture because people wouldn't believe I had some.
They were gone in less than five ten minutes.
We only bought two per person but still.

And I just realized my fingers look old and cold...typical winter fingers. :(

A glimpse of Christmas...went to my favorite department store and as an annual tradition I just needed to spend at least one hour looking at and browsing through their Christmas/holiday section...sigh. I took my camera out and just took random shots until I got nasty looks (apparently, these days this is a very common thing among people here - and it's spreading...so don't want to walk around with a nasty look when I get to L.A.)...nonetheless I continued taking pictures. I love Christmas!!

And I found my palm tree, too.
They're having a so-called "American corner" this year...made me laugh.
Sigh...

And today I went out and got my well deserved (ok, depends on how you look at it) Gingerbread Latte!!
*And yes, I got it in a red cup and that cup is going to be reused by me
until it's just not going to hold any liquid or whatever anymore. :) *

I went last week and saw that they weren't having any Xmas/RedCup stuff in, but Nov.10 would be the date. I marked it in my calendar (brain, actually!) and yes, today I went out and splurged.
CHF8.40 which sorta is pretty much the same in $$...for a size grande, because let's face it tall is not enough. 

My wallet suffered but it's okay. I enjoyed it immensely.
Next one will be enjoyed back in Orange County.

Yay!

That's pretty much all what's happening around here.
I think it started raining a while back, and has cleared now.

Typical November weather, temps somewhere in between 30 degree and up to somewhere in the high 50s.
No snow so far though...at least in the city. :)

Happy Wednesday.
It's almost Friday everyone!!!
But still, make sure you enjoy today.

xoxo,

♥ Selma ♥

Tuesday Song

It's an old song, but it was the first one I heard this morning.
And it stuck. Quite silly though but this song always reminds me of the dancing baby.
Yes, I know it's silly...but the dancing baby and this song just sort of go together.

And if you don't what I mean by the dancing baby...sorry, this is way too weird to describe. ;)
And if you do let me know. hahaha.



Apparently I'm having a good day today.
The sun's out so I better enjoy some of it!

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo,


♥ Selma ♥

Monday Randomness

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Monday just barely started for most of you and for me it's almost over...okay, not really. But it could be. Ha!

This past weekend wasn't as eventful as I hoped it to be. Most of the time I spent it in bed, slept, dreamed, slept some more, tweeted sometimes, watched some shows online, read, slept more and more, and today I can say I'm feeling a lot better. I bet it was one of those weekend flu moments or something. Either way, no fever, no runny nose, no headache anymore. Just my lungs that still bother me. I blame it on the fog. :(

My Monday started with a huge workout (dang I feel sore now!), household chores (lots of them - good exercise too btw!!), a hot shower, some awesome body lotion that slowly makes me look like I'm actually having a tan again, two cups of coffee (thanks to my machine), a walk, and some grocery shopping. Though, while I was walking and waiting for the bus with 24 rolls of toilet paper I got weird looks. This never happened. This got me thinking though; don't people use toilet paper around here anymore? I mean why would you give me nasty looks?! Instead of 16 bucks I only spent 10 on them because it's one of those nice days I got a discounted deal on them. Either way I didn't get the reaction. Or, people have never ever seen toilet paper before?! I really wondered. Made me smile though, imagine them using their hands or whatever else available and that made me smile even more. It may have come out to a mean giggle or grin but I was feeling somewhat content.

Oh, and I went into Starbucks today and left again...didn't buy a thing. No muffin, lemon loaf, coffee...nothing. Wasn't easy but so worth it. The winter edition starts in two days, so I'm definitely going to be back there but I have to stop myself. I need to lose some pounds so I can wear my bikini or so next month!!! And with daily temptations this is not going to happen. Grrrr...so glad I'm going out for some bubbly in a few hours from now...this is so gonna help. Not! ;)

Happy Monday.

xoxo,

♥ Selma ♥

Wanna Join Me?

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I'm packing.

Have I ever mentioned I hate packing? Seriously, I'd rather clean toilets than doing this dreadful act of putting things together and trying to think of what I need to bring with me. I know one thing, I'm going to wear my half-winter jacket (not too think or thin) although I'm sure I won't need it. Either way, it's coming with me. It's kinda freezing here...unless the sun comes out and surprises us with its strength. :) But when I leave I'm sure it's one of those days that welcomes us with snowflakes or such. :(

Who wants to come with me?! Ha!!!

At least my suitcase is big, so I'm sure there's space for someone somewhere.

Any ideas on what to bring or not bring?

It's not my first time traveling (it sounds as if) but every time it drives me nuts!!!

In other news...good news!

One of my favorite bloggy friends just had a girl. :) I'm so excited for her.
And another one of my friend's is going to be a mom any minute...I hope. She's been waiting too long now.

And, very unrelated, I love wearing one particular perfume these days...bought it this week with a $20 gift certificate...not that it helped me much because I still spent like 80 bucks on the bottle regardless. I had to get it. I love it, and I even love it more at night when I let my hair relax for a bit, get rid of my ponytail or such, and then still smell its beauty. Ha, it's even named that. :)

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Have a fun Sunday.

And a great start into the new week!!!

xoxo,

♥ Selma ♥

P.s. oh and yes, I'm feeling under the weather! It's been a terrific weekend...lots of sleep, fluids, and sleep. :(

Green is the new Black!

This is going to be a very different and a very long post. So not me, but then again, so me!
*just so you know*

It took me forever, but here I am...with a tiny but hopefully helpful little list of how to help the environment, be more green, or stay more green. I'm not saying these are the only ways to engage in this topic and help out, but it's part of it. If you have anything to contribute feel free to share while leaving a comment. I'm open for new things. I'm also definitely very sure that I forgot about ten things that I'm doing and should be mentioning on here...good for a second post then. I also do believe that life and our ways of living are different and therefore maybe as a mom you have more ideas on what to look for in order to help, or as a teacher or as a regular non-working (maybe?!) student too. We all have different needs, and live in different parts of the world. Yet, this should never hinder us and make us think we're less important or less influential. Okay?!

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It is 2010, heck, almost 2011, and we should take advantage of this. We have resources,  and we can spread the word easily...it's not 1902 anymore where people might have lived recklessly without thinking twice about pollution. Ha, I even think the word pollution wasn't even used back then.

So green is my favorite color, or one of my favorite colors. I'm talking about green as in that color we refer to when we talk about the environment, our flora and fauna. We tend to forget how powerful we can be when it comes to this topic. I've mentioned it a few times but I never fully went into it. I never wanted to write a green post, a post about how to save the planet and how to do this or that better. I never wanted to raise my voice and say "you waste water and gas and all that other junk you're using" but by not saying anything at all I won't make it less important.

Therefore, I decided to come up with a tiny post *yeah, right* about how to be more green and how to make little contributions to help the environment stay as healthy as it is right now. And I'm not saying it is healthy but it can't get better and we should keep it at its current level and not worsen the progress.

So, here's what you could do or at least consider (and I'm sure, most of you already do all of this...and if not, you know what to do now, don't you?!)

• Turn the water off when you brush your teeth, or cleanse your face with soap.
  Water doesn't need to run within those 2 to 5 minutes you're brushing your teeth or trying to get rid of the last possible make-up residue on your skin. After you're done brushing etc, you can turn it back on and be quick.
• If you love bubble baths like I do and you've got a bathtub...have fun! However, don't overdo it...once a week is plenty...once a month is even better. That way you get to look forward to some you-time and can enjoy it. Besides, bubble baths or baths in general aren't necessarily good for our skin, so it's just logic not to take them too often. And just thinking about how many gallons of water are used to fill up a bathtub? Wow. 
• Turn the water off when you shampoo your hair, too. I love hot showers, and it feels all so very good in the morning I admit that, but just thinking about those gallons going down the tube for nothing?! I certain turn it off.
• Plastic bags...a whole post could be written about these but I won't. If you take them at a store because you forgot your own shopping bags, or you're handed one after your purchase something in a store and couldn't say "no, thank you, I don't need it!" don't throw them away. Reuse them. Be creative when it comes to those bags. Let's say a rather gross looking plastic bag from your local grocery store is used once and you don't know how to use it again? Use it as a trash bag for the tiny bathroom or guestroom or office trash bin. I use mine when I use garlic and onions...I put all the rest in, close it all up with a giant bow and then throw it away, so no garlic-onion smell will come out and ruin the house. Or use them as a cover up or something...there's tons to use them for, just be creative. Fancier bags from Abercrombie or A&E or Victoria's are great as gift bags. Yes, the new gift item may not  come from that store but the bag's being used again...and besides, you don't have to use extra paper to wrap the gifts anymore (or spend extra $$). And if those bags are strong enough, take them with you and use them next time you enter a store...who cares if you buy something at Wal-Mart and the bag's from Target or Sam's or whatever...it's a bag. Use it.
• Of course, rather than plastic bags...use nice looking (maybe colorful) shopping bags. There are hundreds of shops that have amazingly gorgeous shopping bags in stock! Some may be pricey but there are also cheaper versions available, too I have three and love them all. I can even wash them if they ever get dirty. Click here for example.

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• Turn your computer off when you leave the house. I know too many that leave it on just because it's easier when they return home. It may be, but it's not worth it.
• Unplug anything you don't need in your kitchen or in the bathroom or in the room. The toaster is not being used while you're at work, neither is the hairdryer, etc. It took me a while to get used to this but believe it or not, I pay less at the end of the month.
• Turn the light off. The bathroom light or kitchen light doesn't need to be on while you're in your room or in the living room watching TV. 
• Turn the TV off when you don't use it anymore. Who's watching while you are taking a shower?!
• Christmas and its marvelous lights and decoration. I love it. I know too many houses though that have those lights on even during the day and let's be frank here...no one sees those lights during the day. Around 6pm it's fine, so use a timer and the light will switch on when it gets dark. Before, it's just a total waste of energy and heck, money. And really, those lights looks a lot better when it's dark outside. Just so very wonderful!!!
• If you can, drink tap water. If you can't and need to filter it, do so. And if you still can't...get used to it.
  Bottled water may be great, but have you ever calculated how much money you spend on those?! And how much plastic is being used per household?! Buy one bottle or those cute drinking containers and then refill those. Saves tons of $$, saves tons of plastic and machinery/production time too.
• Air-dry your clothes. Dryers are quick, leave your clothes warm for a while but it's really not the best thing. Plus, I love how my place smells when I do laundry!!! And it stays for a while, too.  :)
• Reuse...instead of throwing away wine bottles use them as decoration or a vase. Gives some special touch to the room and area...and makes you save money, too.
• During fall I love candles. They smell nice (or not!), and I don't have to turn the light on at 5pm. Maybe at 7 but it's two hours later and that helps me save money and energy.
• During warmer times, especially during summer, try to get used to the heat and don't use your AC. Yes, you heard me. I know, 90 and 100-degree weather is not a lot of fun for most people...I for instance love it but again can't stand to be in an office for too long when it's that hot.
  There's a few things I learned over the years and it's mainly that we tend to stick to something we think is right and good. Air-conditioning is not at all that good. Yes, it cools the room while you're in it, but it also consumes a lot of energy, tends to filter the wrong particles, causes health issues, and makes you shiver when turned down too low. I always end up with a cold during summer, no voice, and red eyes. And the thing wasn't even blowing in my face.
  AC in the car? No, thank you. I rather have my windows open!!! :)
  Embrace the heat. Yes, if you can't live with hot and/or humid weather...use a fan (which isn't particularly good either by the way!), open windows (in 1902 they could do this!) or if you can't live without an AC don't make it cool down to 60 when it's 100 outside. So no worth it.
  And yes, don't cool your house down for eight hours while you are at work. Again, not worth it.
• Walk! Yes, easier said than done. But if you can walk to work, or school, or to Starbucks...do so. Don't drive there. Half a mile down? Plenty of exercise for ya...with or without the whipped cream on top of your frapp. :) 
• Use public transportation. Then again, most of you live in areas where there isn't any available and if, it's so awful you rather use the car. That's fine. But schedule your trips. Why? Does it make sense to use the car, let's say to get to Target only, and then head home and then ten minutes later you go out again to some other place whereas you could have combined those trips and gone out once instead of twice?
• If you can't walk or use public transportation...how about a bicycle?!
• Carpool. Enough said.
• Cook fresh food...not the canned ones, or the frozen ones. Sometimes frozen veggies are better (yes I read that someplace!) but again, where are they?! In a plastic bag...again. :(
• Separate your trash. I know lots of areas in the US and in Europe that do not know the word separate or recycle. Yes. Trust me. I know households that put everything into one bin, throw it all out and then forget about it. The "I don't care I don't have and want to deal with this gross stuff attitude" is one logic thing (and trust me, I don't want to be responsible for my trash) but it's part of the whole idea to help the environment...whether or not we want to see this.
  
  Do I separate my trash?! Yes, I do.
  How? Ok, let's describe this...
  I separate paper, put it all together into little package-look-a-likes. Once, sometimes twice a month paper is being collected in front of all buildings. All free. Then I separate cartons...milk cartons, tissue boxes, pizza boxes, just all kinds of carton stuff in general. Every Wednesday morning those cartons are being collected, too. And yes, free again.
  I separate glass. Wine bottles, vinegar bottles, or jars, or whatever else there might be...we have funny looking glass dumpsters that go by color and I walk there and throw them out...all part of the recycling process...and yes, I said they go by color...there's one for white glass, green glass, brown glass...blue too. ;) I also separate cans. Next to the glass dumpsters there's also a funny looking can dumpster.
  Batteries...yes, they're not thrown into regular trash...there's another dumpster for those too.
  Plastic bottles from juices, coke, sprite, dressings, mouth wash, etc...I flatten them, and recycle them, too. Most bigger grocery stores have plastic recycle containers and that's where mine end up in.
  Once a month or so, there's a day where they collect all sorts of metal too...
  And for anything electronic, like old cell phones, laptops, headphones, Walkmans, CD players, etc whether or not they're still working can be given back to any electronic store and they will recycle it, or reuse certain items again.
  I'm sure there's more I do but I can't come up with anything anymore.
  
  
  If you don't have a recycling system, and I know there are way too many areas that don't, why not go out and ask whoever you can ask when it comes to this in your area, how to start one?! I know it's not something a lot of people love to talk about. But it is important. It is possible to start something, even if it's small. It's a start. And yes, people need to get used to this, but it's all worth the trouble. Some areas have some fun system too...you bring your bottles and such to a container or dumpster area and they weigh it or count it or so, and then you get bottle refund money back. :) That's also one good thing. Think about it, find out what you can do in your area, or what is being done in your area and you don't even know about. Trust me, no matter where we live on this planet, there's always something new to learn and there's always something we can do.

We don't live in the 1900s anymore, we live in the 21st century and have power. We don't need to be so-called celebrities, we don't need to be politicians, we don't need to go all crazy either and chain ourselves to trees...but we have a voice and our voice needs to be heard. This sentence applies to so many aspects in our lives it's crazy. We take it for granted though. We think helping the environment means spending tons of money. If you've got it, go ahead and do so. If you don't have the funds don't be discouraged, because there are millions of ways to help and recycle and reuse. We tend to forget about this, we also really just love to ignore it because we have become lazy and comfortable in our own worlds, and those worlds should not be changed...out of habit we may still leave the water running while we brush our teeth because, well, I wonder, too. So, sit down, and think how you help the environment. Do you go to Starbucks and have your own cup refilled or do you get every time a new one?! Do you also get a sleeve? Why?! Too hot? Get used to it. It's not that hot...and if it still happens to be hot for you, move that cup from one hand to the other...not difficult and one sleeve is saved. You may now think it's just one, but by contributing with just one tiny step and one tiny move you are already helping...one by one...better than not helping at all.

It's now on us!

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There are thousands of websites available with information on how to be more green, on how to live, work, feel, breathe, eat better, etc etc etc. I could name a few. I'm not going to. I would come up with lists that would be endless. Every state, every county and every country has different rules, different views, and different ways on this topic. Find our for yourself what you can do in your area.
There are also thousands of places that want you to donate or help or whatever, but some of them are fraudulent. So be careful if you ever want to go that far. I think by just taking care of our every day energy consumption or use of plastic or whatever else we are already thinking ahead and are already helping. Earth Day may be in April but actually it should be every single day throughout the year...without any single stop whatsoever in between. 

Excuse me now...but I'm so exhausted I need to rest and read.

xoxo,

♥ Selma ♥

Good morning!

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Happiness today includes painting my toe nails...not sure what color but I'm leaning towards purple!
I'm saving money by not going to have a pedicure for $60 or more. So not going to happen. 

I'm also going to finish reading my book, and then start a new one...it's either going to be The Help or The Memory Keeper's Daughter. If you read one or the other or both, which one should I start with first?!

Catching up on some of "my" shows is also quite entertaining, calming, and distracting.

I can roll my eyes, laugh out loud, and just have a fabulous time!!

And as that quote so beautifully states...something wonderful is about to happen...I think it means my clean laundry! ;)

xoxo,

♥ Selma ♥

I vote for nap time - it helps!

 we ♥ it

Today is not a very good day.
I felt fine at first, slept in and all...the usual routine! ;)

Though during the afternoon a certain very uncomfortable rush of chest pain arrived and it wasn't funny. It's a weird kind of pain, it makes you believe you're running out of air and the walls around you would come closer and closer each minute that passes. I also have to say, looking in the mirror I looked worse than those vampires in the Twilight Saga movies...so I headed home the second it happened. Weirdest thing though was that music calmed me down. Thank goodness for my iPod in my bag at all times. Wouldn't know what to do without one. I took a nap the minute I got home. So far, so good.

Things will change and I'm hoping for some entertaining movie night.
Going out, yes! To the movies and no it's not a date...just me and my movie people. Yes, I have movie people...ok, movie watching people to be correct. We watch it all, and today in honor of Halloween this past weekend...we're going to watch a horror movie. :) Can't wait. Let's hope it calms me down, too. 

And to my lovely US friends and bloggies out there...have you voted yet?! 

No matter what you decide it is important to stand up for what you believe is the right thing. 

If I could, I know I would vote and I know how I would vote. No one could change my mind.

So if you haven't, go out and do so.

That's about it for right now.
Tuesday's been not a very good day today but this will change.

And I just realized I want a tattoo. Ok, weird I know, and so very random as my last thought today.

Hope you're doing fine!!

xoxo,


♥ Selma ♥

Happy November

How was your Halloween!!!???

...my pumpkin would look very much like this one! :) Pics via tumblr

Hmmm...I think the closer we come to saying good-bye to 2010 the more ridiculous my thoughts become. I'm having a real hard time getting used to a new month. I mean, wasn't I just in Philadelphia enjoying warm spring weather and having a blast at baseball games, chasing mice around, enjoying BBQs and such?! Wasn't I just working my butt off at a very unpleasant work environment that made me question every move I made and every thought I had? Wasn't I just in London? Or Germany? Where did this year go? Slooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww down please!!!

So, happy November to everyone out there.
Embrace it. Because in two months we will welcome a new year, with a new number and a whole new twelve months ahead of us. Kinda makes me think we're lab rats running in circles. Kidding, we're not but it sort of feels like it. And wow, in less than a month Thanksgiving will be over, and Christmas will pretty much just be around the corner. This reminds me now to get my boxes ready and put in all the wrapped stuff, so I'm done with that. And yes, I do have to get my suitcase out of its protective and warm room because I have to start packing, too. Crazy to think about it. Not sure what kind of clothes to bring but oh well...there are plenty of stores waiting for me if I fail in that department. ;)

What I wanted to do today was actually list a few things that made me happy this past weekend, and what I'm gonna do in the next few days. Not that this is a lot because let's be honest and write it down...my life is boring and dull. I don't do anything. Ok, I read. And I watch TV. I fail at the exploring part. Because, well there isn't much to explore anymore. That's where my big city thing comes in...wish we had China Town or at least a place with a giant Farmer's Market so I could go there...but nope.
And today, it's not only November 1, but it's a holiday...one I loved when I was in school, because it meant no school for us. Never really cared for its real meaning. Today?! I would have stayed home (again) and finished my book but I'm heading to a bigger city for some coffee, breakfast, lunch and shopping time. Not that I need to shop or drink coffee in another city but the change in scenery may just be what I need for a day. So, here's my list...:

♥  Halloween
♥  Twitter (yes I know, silly, but it made me laugh a lot over the weekend, and appreciate people around me!)
♥  Scary movies (!!!!!)
♥ This site
♥  Massimo Dutti
♥  Eye Candy on TV ;)  *I may share some later this week or so*
♥  Ray LaMontagne's Let It Be Me
♥  Thinking about my trip back to my favorite state ever!!

Happy Monday everyone.

I so need coffee right now.

xoxo,

♥ Selma ♥