Monthly Archives: December 2009

 My bed faces a wall to wall mirrored closet, so naturally I tend to sleep facing the mirrors. I know Feng Shui books always say not to sleep facing mirrors, but when I researched it, it turns out that the only reason Feng Shui beliefs say not to sleep that way is so that you don’t scare yourself if you wake up in the middle of the night. Funny huh? And hear I thought there was some mystical chi blocking reason for the rule.

So, last night I slept the opposite way, with my head to the mirrors. I was surprised that I fell asleep so quickly because I’d always heard that when you change a sleep pattern like that it’s a little harder to drift off than usual. Anyway, I sleep surprisingly well. Except that when I woke up in the middle of the night…a bit disoriented, I was all confused as I looked around my room. Wondering to myself, “who the hell moved my furniture!?” 

I eventually fell back to sleep and was rested and refreshed when I woke up this morning. Needless to say, #5 is a simple and great way to change up your routine.

I’ve always been a big fan of tattoos. Getting them. Watching other people get them. Even randomly checking out artists work. I’ve casually flipped through a tattoo mag or two, but they were normally just filled with images. Maybe, photos from a recent convention but that’s about it. So, the other day I was browsing through the magazine racks at Barnes & Noble and stumbled upon an issue of Inked Magazine.

Thinking it was just another tattoo mag I decided to but it. Much to my surprise, it was so much more than just pictures and conventions. Inked is a cultural magazine, showcasing everything from new music to tattoo artists to new techniques. They even had an article on new scientific developments in the tattoo industry, like “removable ink” and what the future of tattooing holds in store for us.

One artist the featured really caught my eye was Mimi S, an illustrator from Berlin. I seriously love art that depicts women in a bad ass way and Mimi has def perfected that. She combines sex, tattoos and fur in the appealing kind of way that you can’t seem to tear your gaze from…no matter how naughty it might be. It’s like that rush you get when you know a secret or get away with something. It’s deliciously devious. These are a few of my favs.

The musician I discovered in Inked was Kid Sister, a brother/sister duo taking club rap and dance music to the next level. His hip beats packed with her saucy lyrics are sure to have you singing along while you break it down on any dance floor. Perfect kind of music for driving down Hollywood Blvd with the top down. I’m def a fan.

Who knew you could get so much by just picking up a new kind of magazine?

Okay so I’m not exactly going in order, the point is that I do them. These are my baby steps. Baby steps to a freer me. Well that and number seven was so simple to do, it looked like a good place to start.

I normally use my laptop in my bedroom, on my desk or even the bed. Today I decided to take it to the dining room table instead of my usual comfort zone. To be honest, I didn’t really think something so minimal, so unimportant would make any kind of change in my day. Boy was I wrong.

I realized that my writing had been in a stump. I was experiencing some serious writers block and wasn’t even aware of it, until I tried working from the dining room. The moment I sat down with my tea and my laptop, the words just flowed. Right through me and onto the screen. There was no pause. No moment of hesitation wondering what to write. I had almost forgotten what it felt to be that in tune with myself…with my words.

Wow, if something that simple actually impacted my day, what’s going to happen when I try the big stuff? I can’t wait to find out. Think about how these little things can change your life? You’ll never know until you try…

In an attempt to bring a little more fun into my life I’m spicing it up by following this article by Molly Triffin in the recent issue of Cosmo. I’m going to blog on every item on her list and do my best to remain open to all these things. Let’s see how it goes…here’s the list.
1. Buy a new magazine that you don’t usually read but interests you. You’ll get novel ideas.

2. Use familiar foods in an unexpected way…like toss slices of peeled orange in a salad along with red onions and roasted cashews.

3. Switch up the way you do your hair-it can affect your frame of mind. For example, putting it in a ponytail (rather than wearing it down) is a playful look that can make you feel more energetic and carefree.

4. Listen to the radio instead of your iPod. You’ll get exposed to new music and trendy topics.

5. Sleep on the opposite side of the bed than you’re used to. You’ll have a fresh perspective as soon as you wake up.

6. Go to family member you respect but who has different taste than you do, and ask to borrow her favorite book.

7. Move your laptop to another room. So if you normally have it in the bedroom, put it in the living room. The change in atmosphere will affect how you work.

8. The next time you’re out to dinner with your guy or a friend, each order a dish for the other person instead of for yourselves.

9. Have sex blindfolded or with your hands or feet tied up. Restricted one sense (sight, touch) will amplify the others.

10. Buy animal-print peep toe pumps. They add a spunky attitude, whether your dress style is casual, conservative, or sophisticated. You can also wear them in a variety of ways (over tights or socks and with a dress, pencil skirt, or jeans).

11. Ask a coworker you’re friendly with but haven’t hung out with socially to grab drinks. It will be interesting to see each other in a non-work environment, plus it opens the door to meeting new people in her circle.

12. Request a free trial session with a personal trainer at your gym to get ideas on how to upgrade your routine.

13. Offer to babysit for a neighbor or family member. Seeing the world through a little kid’s eye will overhaul your perspective.

14. Stop by a free concert that’s unlike any music you’d download, from bluegrass to punk rock. Even if you hate the tunes, you’ll be exposed to a crowd that’s far from your normal social set and, thus, sort of intriguing.

15. While shopping with a friend, ask her to pick out an outfit that she thinks would look good on you but isn’t your usual style.

16. Whether online or in a DVD rental store, browse in a section that you normally pass over, like sci-fi, foreign films, or documentaries. Randomly click on or grab the first title that catches you attention, and (as long as the description looks compelling) rent it.

17. Go to a department store and request a few take-home perfume samples. Pick ones with varying notes-musk, fruit, floral. Scents have a strong effect on your mood, so you can go from feeling like a sexpot one day to girlie the next, depending on what you dab on.

18. Volunteer to take on a fun project at work, like Twittering for your company or helping plan events.

19. Check out uroulette.com, a website that takes you to a totally random site each time you click the “wheel.”

20. Swap apartments with a friend for a weekend. All the day-to-day minutiae you do without thinking about it will just feel slightly different: watching TV on her couch, walking around her neighborhood.

21. Ask your guy for a massage somewhere unexpected, like your legs, arms or scalp.

22. Buy a food you’ve never had before, like daikon, quinoa or bresaola. Then find a recipe, and make a meal using it.

23. Reconnect with a friend you haven’t spent much time with lately. (And ask her to pick the bar or coffee shop where you’ll get together.)

24. Think back: What’s one place where you used to hang out years ago that you stopped going to? Head there this week. It’ll put you in the mind set you were in then.

25. Eat lunch in a new place (a co-worker’s office, the park, a café) every day for a week.

26. Rearrange the furniture in your apartment.

NOTE: Pinpoint Your Passions. One reason people get stuck is we lose sight of what motivates us. With nothing to steer toward, we tend to drift by on autopilot. Try this tip from Marcus Buckingham, author of Find Your Strongest Life: For the next two weeks, make a note of any moments when you feel super energetic, from a yoga class to a great discussion with a friend. Then look back at what you wrote, arrange your schedule to incorporate more of those activities-yes, even if it means cutting out other things. The more time you devote to experiences you truly love, the freer (and happier) you’ll be.