simply happy.

hi bloggie friends!

how are you? i hope all is well in your worlds. right now, the clock is ticking for me to do some last minute EVERYTHING before easter time. a few months ago, i had no idea how busy my life would be though i wanted it to be.

i am so happy that a lot of you who know of my project(s) have e-mailed me to wish me well. i need it! my to do lists have had babies. i don't know what they've named them...as of yet. (this is me being silly on only one cup of coffee today.)

teeny to do list for this...month?:

1. find someone to help me redesign this website...if you know someone, please pass them along to me :)
2. fix my master-to do list
3. send one of my projects on their merry way
4. start researching for the next big milestone in my life
5. plan plan plan
6. work on resume, because it needs a total revamping
7. mark dates of events coming up on a calendar- i have been really bad about this and i don't mean to be
8. buy mousse for my unruly hair-- feel free to send me the name of a great one!
9. use old papers for scrap paper- something i've been doing for the last 4 years and you should, too! especially if you're into lists like me!
10. learn to make a new dish...my cooking has been amazing lately. yes. i am tooting my own horn. toot.
11. blog more. i've been lagging. the photos sitting pretty on discs will not be pleased about this. (this goes hand in hand with the new website idea- maybe i'm holding out?)

if you want me to add anything to my list, life, to photograph for your amusement, let me know! until then...happy weekend [even though it's thursday!]

also, if anyone is willing to do an agenda book giveaway- please just send one to me. i need it. lol

scrapbook adventure

it took me a while to compile all the photos over the years to put them into scrapbooks.

how do you think my day's- labor of love came out?

i obviously need more embellishments, but please give me some help!

if you scrapbook, what tips can you give me?

why, hello monday

i thought i was going to be sneaky this morning and sleep in past 6:30 am.

i didn't.

instead i got up, paid some bills, started the laundry and ran various errands and chores until i settled down to scrapbooking...which i am pretty sure i was supposed to have completed with my january list. due to the snow, a lot of the time we couldn't get to buy our organization supplies (like the photo albums that i needed).

when i picked up a photo album this weekend...

isn't it pretty?

i had to delve into my photo storage box...

(which, as you can see, was packed to the brim)

and enter 200 photos into the album. after all photos were entered into that album,

this is what my photo box looked like:

SO much more to put in albums AND i received another

bunch of prints i got for free in the mail.

yeesh.

i'm thinking another 2-3 more photo albums would do the job.

what do you think?

pup thinks that my time would be better spent making him more chicken.

he eats like a hound dog lately! nutty.

i am off to complete some more errands and chores before LML comes home.

he apparently is feeling the urge to cook dinner,

which is a welcome treat for me since i am feeling the urge to clean and organize.

stay tuned for my scrapbook post

and thank you for reading my blog :)

i love oprah and creativity

January 11, 2011

“The point of creativity is to express and challenge yourself, to make meaning, to embrace your life.”
— Peggy Orenstein

that's how my oprah e-mail started off yesterday. it's so true. and i love the articles that followed it...i'm always on the same wavelength...

7 Ways to Spark Your Creativity

Instant inspiration, courtesy of designer Anna Rabinowicz
 
 
1. Read Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis

A rabbit sits in a cardboard box and uses his imagination to transform it into a racecar, a mountain, a robot. The lesson? "Anything can be anything," Anna says.

2. Go outside
Nature informs most of Anna's designs: "A pinecone, a caterpillar, some gnarled gourds from a pumpkin patch—the natural world is full of bizarre, beautiful stuff."

3. Start a collection
Curating your own little exhibit of similar objects makes you more attuned to what's special about each one. "Try to figure out why the designers made the choices they did, and you'll get a peek into their creative process," Anna says. "I collect toothbrushes. They have to do something very specific—and it's not a very exciting something—but their simplicity is an opportunity for imaginative design."

4. Touch stuff
Everywhere Anna goes, she picks up objects she sees. "I get acquainted with a thing's thing-ness. I experience it with my hands, not just my eyes."

5. Travel solo
"Once in a while, go somewhere alone," says Anna. "It's much easier to experience everything around you and to cover lots of ground. I decided to be a designer at the top of the Antoni Gaudí cathedral in Barcelona, because I was so moved by the architecture." But you don't necessarily have to cross an ocean. "You can get inspired by traveling practically anywhere, as long as you're open to what you see."

6. Go analog
"Don't check your e-mail when you're creating," Anna says. "Nothing earth-shattering is going to happen in an hour or two."

7. Grab every opportunity
Hosting a group of friends? Make party favors. Received a gift? Write a handwritten note. "If you're having dinner at home tonight," Anna says, "why not make something you never made before?"



Show Us Your Creativity! Get out your camera and sketch pad and share your imaginative output

it figures :)

amazing, how things can go so well and then someone tries to bring me down.
get over it!

i am ~:)
monday and today have been exceptionally busy for me.
i am kicking ass getting things done- and have discovered there is still not enough time for everything.

for you- i have been photo-cataloguing what's been going on in the day-to-day life of me, though i have realized that i don't blog a lot about myself or things going on in my life.

the less than mundane things i mean (which i don't find mundane)...the reason for this is wandering minds want to know. these are the wandering minds i'd rather have NOT know- but what is one to do?

ah, ding ding! move on.

so here's my deal-
january is going to be interesting because i have a goal.
it's a big one. are you ready?

my goal this month is to finish ALL projects!
yes.

the list goes as follows:

1. edit and complete all stories and novels
2. illustrate children's stories (for my nephew)
3. clean out the house of negative stuff
4. clean it out of un-necessary clutter
5. take all loose photos and put them in album
6. complete all scrapbooks, unfinished or untouched
7. print out what needs to get printed out on this computer
8. delete un-needed files from computer
9. upload all photos into usb disc AND photo programs
10. select photos to be printed
11. get them printed (and repeat above)
12. finish reading all books left before i buy or pick up a new one
13. call church to pick up clothes for donation
14. go through and complete everything on my to-do list, which has come down considerably in the last two days. I am VERY excited about this.
15. send out those packages!
16. make those appointments (snow keeps stopping me from doing this)
17. start book club
18. organize all files/bills
19. make a list of places from here to long island i'd like to see
20. make my new years resolutions

is that enough? i can do that in a little over 2 weeks...right?
of course i can...
so follow along and let's see how this first month of my new year goes!
i hope you'll be with me every step of the way :)
in the meantime- do you have a similar month-to do list? i'd love to hear it!

much much love,
the globetrotting gamine

edited to add:
21. add all articles to blog i thought were interesting (and hopefully you will, too)
22. add to blog list of items i wanted to blog about

i'll go again before i start making even less sense...

you oughta know

welcome to 2011, once again!

welcome to my blog- thank you for following!

here's the run down:

i am a too-energetic, too-passionate about most everything

shrink-turned-writer

in love with life.

i love:

 my family and friends

photography

food- cooking it and eating!

all things travel,

crafts and scrapbooking.

oh yeah...and organization...

fashion...

cinema...shoes...

i am pretty sure you get the picture.

i am 100% Greek

married to the guy i've loved since i was 13

and we live our life to the fullest

my mom wanted me to be a concert pianist

i'm almost a black belt in tae kwon do

i absolutely love my puppy

and no one would allow me to become a cop

because they didn't trust me with a gun.

i love sushi

my friends are freakin' amazing

travel is in my blood, bigtime

and i enjoy reading

and sleep.

these are just some of the things i'll touch on this year...

and it all begins

again

...today!

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

Reflections '09/'10

A lot of people write reflections down... I don't know if I ever really have and I'm a journal/scrapbooking/list kind of a girl.

So I'm going to take a hint from the inspirational loves and put everything into words. I am sorry if I am driving you crazy, but am so thankful that you've visited. Please note, that if there is an old post you'd like to comment on, I will NOT think that you are crazy. I love comments :)

2009:

• I began my blog in August.
• Realizing, once again and on a daily basis, that I love LML more and more
• In January: We spent New Year's with my family- it was the coldest day ever! Anyone remember that? Many diner trips, my niece's 19th birthday at homeand at a hookah lounge, our first time ever in Montreal, hanging out with friends
• February/March: hanging out with friends even MORE, 10 year reunion (don't remind me!), weekend getaways with the best people in the world!, first time ever in the Dominican Republic!
• April/May/June: working on beautifying our backyard, planting tulips, multiple Home Depot and Garden Shoppe runs, planting trees and other flowers. We have planted over 30 species last year alone! Boy, the yard was empty. Atlantic City Trips
• realizing that writing and publishing my books were my only focus besides family, responsibilities, and gardening was a freeing experience
• helping out someone, only to let the outcome of the situation turn to crap because they suck: i.e. see crazy people posts.
• cooking and baking different things!
• my good friends having their baby!
• celebrating successes

2010:

• pursuing our dreams
• realizing that people will "show their ass" if you're happy and they're not
• realizing that some people will only care about you if you are miserable
• wondering what to do about said people
• taking time out for ourselves and our families
• wanting to change our lives, getting rid of all negative energies.

Ya. That about sums it up for now!

love me
the globetrotting gamine

may scrapbooking-part two

don't forget: all comments on any/all posts is encouraged! also, i love me some e-mails and thank you so much for them :)

my scrapbooking adventures led me to make one for my mom. initially, i thought it would be a mother's day thing. it is, but i realized i could help her clear some photo and stuff clutter in the process. this is what my mom's scrapbook looks like...also a work in progress <3

i shrank all the pictures so that you wouldn't have any difficulty looking at them!

what would you have added to your scrapbooks?

love,

mg

may scrapbooking- part one

(this is a picture heavy post!)

(front cover and inside flap of my travel scrapbook)

on vacation, a very good friend of mine turned around and asked me how my scrapbooking is coming along.

me:  "scrapbooking? wow, i haven't done that in a while now!"
my friend: "what do you mean? you used to do it so much you got me started!"
me: "well, i used to have the occassional scrapbook party..."
my friend: "every month."
me: "yeah...wow, that's something i..."
my friend: "you know, there's a dollar store that has great scrapbooking stuff..."
me: "WHAT?"
my friend: "yeah, i've been making scrapbooks for my family. everything there is super cheap, like 5 times cheaper than it is at target!"
me: "WHAT?!"
my friend:  "ahaha, well, you'll just have to go and see it when we get back."

we got back last sunday. monday morning, after coffee with another near and dear and Mom in tow, we head out to find this wonderful place. after nearly getting lost...thank god for navigational systems... we find it!
and of course, my friend was right.
so i picked some things up:

$28 for all that. not kidding.

so please keep in mind the pictures of my scrapbook are a complete work in progress. i would love to start a scrapbooking community at least through this blog...where we could vent about the projects and give each other ideas...it'd be so fun!

here are what my pages look like so far. please note that i have had about 10 years of hardcore scrapbook stuff collecting.

now you've seen my mess :) i hope that you can help me with ideas. though i've been scrapbooking since i've been 8, i didn't know that what i was doing actually had a name until i was 16. i want to make this book fantastic!

please let me know if you scrapbook and how amazing your projects look!

any ideas and comments, as always, are greatly appreciated!!

much love,

mg

a new day, a new life

(that's baby me.)

There's a lot of things that you should know about me. My name, where I'm from, etc. but...

I'm not going to get into specific details- it'll be more mysterious that way, and these days people need a mystery.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am currently living in New York and am unemployed. Isn't that shocking? Fine, I'll spare you my weak attempt at a joke. This economy is just not funny. I do a lot to fill out my day, as I am a complete DIY woman who is married and always in the middle of 100 projects.


Literally. 100.


I have a lot of likes and dislikes and I know it's not easy to start a blog when people know you. I love to write, cook, craft, photograph events or just anything, scrapbook...so I discovered blogging as a way I can do all three :)

Believe me, my life? It's not boring. I do A LOT during the day.

I have a passion for books, the arts, reasearching and learning. Eating and Cooking, Cinema, Languages, Fashion, and especially Travel. I love learning about psychology and nutrition and things to do around New York or anywhere for free or close to it

(re: UNEMPLOYED)


Yep.
Unemployed writer living in New York.
How cliche is *that*?


I know a lot of people, been in a lot of situations and am not afraid to divulge.

*Ha.*

Today I will be baking banana bread and popping my okra in the oven before it gets warmer out- I woke up to a lovely fall-like day.

Thank you for joining me on my crazy journey through my life, and blogging :)

love me,
the globetrotting gamine