Happy Birthday youtube!

Apparently youtube turns 5 this year! Can you believe it? It seems like only yesterday I started watching these videos. Time Magazine just posted their top 50. Here are my favs:



I cry everytime I watch this video. I love the sentiment at the end.




This video makes me laugh uncontrollably! "Shun the non believer...Sssssshhhhhhuuuuunnnnnn"




Much cuter than Charlie the unicorn, This little boy and his brother are so damn cute!




I feel so bad for this kid, because we've all had these moments before! "Is this real life?"




This is too damn cute!


I'm sure there are a ton more, these are my go to greatest hits. Enjoy :)

Road trip!

My roommates and started the day with a card game, then started cleaning the house, then decided to road trip to Rehobeth Beach in Delaware (which is about 3 hours from where we live).

As you can probably see it was rainy and so cold! The waves were HUGE. We drove all around the town (which is quite cute) and have decided we want to go back once its warmer.

I love the randomness of a normally very structured week.
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Where art thou Father

My Grandparents and Me.
My Grandmother and I reading together
Entertaining as always!


I'm 32 and have never met my father. Until now, I never really cared if I had ever met him. I told myself that if he didn't care about me, I certainly shouldn't care about him. Well, now, as I am on my journey of self discovery, I cannot fully know myself without knowing all the pieces.

So, I started the ball rolling last week, and nonchalantly asked my mom what information she had on his whereabouts. She didn't know, but said she'd call out to her friends from college that she still keeps in touch with to see if anyone had any info for me. It didn't take long, now all of a sudden I'm given an address, phone number, and an email address. This was all current...in 2004. So, this new info isn't 100%, but at least it's a start.

Now I am left with an empty white page. I don't even know how to begin this email. (I am so not ready for a phone conversation. I think email is a great first step) I know no one can give me the answers, and I am trying to make the words perfect. I guess the fear of rejection is the underlying reason for my writers block.

Who knows what the outcome will be. I'm not really sure what I WANT the outcome to be. I guess I will know that in time. I do want to have an open mind, putting myself into my parents shoes and thinking about what I would've done. I don't want to be angry...although I kind of am angry. I'm angry at my father obviously for not wanting to know me or fighting for me. I'm angry at my mom, who decided FOR ME that it wasn't worth him being in my life rather than wait until I could make that decision for myself. In the back of my mind, however, I am constantly hearing I wouldn't be the person I was today if circumstances were different. Well, yes, maybe not...maybe I would be a better version of what I am currently. Sigh, I should be able to make myself the better version of me.

Well this conversation could go on and on. I don't know the answers yet. I'll keep you posted.

Walk on Water

During tonights "Biggest Loser" episode, they played this song that really touched me. Her voice, the lyrics, and the melody all are so beautiful. Please take a moment and listen.

Hello Um!

"Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!" ~ Lewis Carroll

I saw Alice in Wonderland today and it was magnificent. I loved the scenery, the colors, and of course the story. When I originally saw the Disney version as a child, the story didn't really make an impact. I just enjoyed the cute and funny cat, and all the child like-ness that it offered. I loved that she was so timid and unsure of what she wanted out of life, but after her adventures in "underland" she throws fear out the window and decides what she wants out of life, not what is pre-planned for her.

I gotta say, I loved the Red queen. She was awesome!

Interestingly, as soon as Alice enters the little door and she enters this new world, I thought to myself "oh I would've loved to been there to take pictures." What does that mean? I think about taking pictures all the time...and I think I'd love to have that as my career...but I don't know what the next step is. Oh, lots of things to think about.

The Tao of Dana - Will you do this 30 day goal setting exercise with me?

The Tao of Dana - Will you do this 30 day goal setting exercise with me?

Will you do this 30 day goal setting exercise with me?
My dear friend brought this little exercise to my attention, and I’d love it if you join me in the adventure. Lets’s see what we can create!
Every morning, pick up a notebook and write down 15 goals in the present tense, as though you have them. For example: ” I own a stellar flat full of choice Contemporary art on Kings Road in London” instead of “I want a flat in London”. You see? Yes, of course you do…
So, you write out 15 present-tense goals that spring to mind at the start of the day. Two minutes tops. Let it flow. In the evening, on the flip side of the page, write 15 again ( just whatever comes to mind that you want). Don’t turn back to retrace your steps. The next morning, again, 15 in the morning and on the flip side 15 more goals. We will do this for a month.
By the time the month is up, the idea is that you should have a pretty clear picture of what you are after, and the new fun begins. Make a bunch of index cards of your refined goals. On the flip side of each goal card, write three actions you can take each day to achieve them and refine as you go. Clarity, like washing your windows, leads to great results. Are you in?!

(Thank you Mastin!)
Mar201014


I borrowed this from Mastin Kipp. How great is this?

Bringin' me back

I was just at Staples and saw these. I used to get so excited about getting school supplies! I loved the trapper keepers (god, I think I really dated myself right there). I of course couldn't have the same trapper keeper as last year, that would Not be ok. Folders, pens/pencils, eraser tops, etc. Now, I wasn't all that excited about school starting...just the supplies! I still get excited by office supplies...is that weird?!?
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Cherry Mocha

Yummmmm....tried a new drink @ Starbucks. Dark Cherry Mocha. Not my favorite, it had an odd aftertaste. I plan on going back to old trusty, toffee nut skim white mocha no whip. (I don't know if I said that correctly in the Starbucks way...but I don't care).

Its the little things that make me excited about tomorrow! :)
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Today was a good day...I was #1 on the bejeweled leader board on facebook. Its the little things, really.

Finally home from dogsitting in Hagerstown. Quite excited to sleep in my own bed! We (a group of friends) filmed a video for Jason to send to Biggest Loser producers. Its really hard just swallowing the pride and participating. I know he would do it for me, so I just deal and work through it. This certainly isn't my first rejection nor will it be the last so.... C'est la vie!
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words from a girl named Gaga

I am reading an article on Lady Gaga who is so deliciously weird. The article ends with a quote that I wanted to share:

"Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams.
If you're wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake
up and tell you that it doesn't love you anymore."

Love that!
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feeling a tad sorry for myself

Do you ever have one of those weeks when NOTHING seems to go your way? I feel like I must've done something bad to the universe, because it seemingly wants me to fail. I know that I don't always make the best decisions which then lead to me having craptastic things happen...I get that. I am having a pity party for myself, let me have it.

1) In the prior blog I discussed going to the Biggest Loser casting call. I went with my friend Jason and we decided that we'd apply as a team. You get approximently 5 minutes in a room with 10 other people to try to make an impression on a Casting director. I feel that between Jason, another lady, and myself really held the conversation and did the best. Well...despite applying as a team, Jason got a callback and I didn't. I couldn't even make eye contact with him. I was so hurt. None of this was his fault, I am really excited for him. My pride completely got in the way. What do they see in him that they don't see in me? I want to do something spectacular with my life...I was hoping that this would be it. (I re-read this sentence...and I know deep down that I have many opportunities to be spectacular and this isn't the only option. I know this.) I guess I am also jealous because this was my thing. I've wanted to do this for a couple years and Jason didn't care either way. He's had his callback interview today, and according to him, it went very well. sigh...

2) Overall, I'm not that happy. I live in a room (which I am certainly not complaining, Jason and Tony have taken me in graciously and I haven't been able to pay them that much...it's just hard to go from a two bedroom apt. on my own to a room), I am not enjoying my job (again, don't want to complain...I HAVE a job)

I don't seem to have drive. why can't I fight for things, for myself. What makes me just go day by day and just be? I watched the Michael Moore documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story. I got really fired up from watching that. I want to have a voice, and I want to do something that makes a difference. I'm ready to start my life journey. Not only losing weight (all by myself apparently, not with Bob and Jillian!), but bringing passion into my life. I know I have a ton of it, I just need to realize I am worth the passion.

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This is my friend Ed's dog, Kai. He's a very sweet boy. I am dog sitting for him until Thursday, so that means I am currently staying in the town I left in October. It kind of makes me sad, because I do miss living here. I have a lot of history here...but I don't think my future lives here!

I plan on trying to write later about the OSCARS!
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Yummmmm...my favorite food. Its quite dangerous because it is located right next door to where I work! Damn you Chipotle and your yummy burrito goodness.

Tomorrow is the Biggest Loser Casting call that I will be attending (how great that I've spoken about Chipotle AND Biggest loser in the same blog!). Anyway, I'm getting excited. I realized in the last blog I wrote about why THEY should want me...but I didn't write about why I NEED to be there.

I am an overweight 32 year old girl. I am ready for my life to go forward, rather than sitting in a holding pattern. I feel like I am a plane hovering around just waiting to land, but because there are so many storms between where I are am the runway, I just stay above making circles.

I know this is all a cycle...I feel like this (losing weight) will be the catalyst to putting my landing gear down and taking the plunge. I want to find another love, I want to have a family. I am ready.

I am @ work currently (shhh...don't tell) and need to get back. Wish me luck
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@ borders

sitting @ Borders with some coffee, my ipod, and reading crafty stuff. Yes, I was at Borders yesterday too, don't judge. I turned the page and this popped right off the page. I love it! Aside from the awesome message, I love the birds!

So...I am gearing up for pretty packed week. The next two days I have to work (blah...it's just getting in the way of my preparation for the rest of the week). Friday I am finally getting my hair done! In December I tried something new, I went RED! My hair was pretty dark, basically black, so going lighter was a challenge. I actually really really love it...the color is so rich and shiny. It makes my eyes (which have gone from being brown to green with the hair color) stand out. Anyway, off subject. On Saturday, I am going to the Biggest Loser casting call in DC. Cross your fingers! I certainly know the odds are not in my favor, an estimated 250,000 people come to these things, but what the hell. I think I would be AWESOME on that show. I am funny, kind, and very competitive. (by the way...that sentence was really hard to type. why is it hard for me to complement myself? It felt like I was being conceited as I was typing.) We shall see. Hopefully they just see me walk in the door and say, wow, we must have her on the show. LOL.

After that I am going to an Oscar party Sunday. (I will write again before then. I want to put my predictions down so I can see how I did.) Whew...I'm tired but excited thinking about the week ahead. Goodnight!

Photo jojo!

(sorry this is sideways...damn it!)

I'm sitting @ Borders, drinking a vanilla coffee and reading photo books, journaling and scrapbooking books. This pic is on the cover of this awesome book called photo jojo. This dog a) is the same breed of dog that my ex has. I love Lilly (dogs name) and miss her....and this doesn't help! b) is so damn cute! I love that attached a camera to a dog...how amazing would those pics be?!?

This books offers ideas of what to do with all those photos I take! I did make a vow to take part in the 365 photo a day project...and I have failed! Ok, so Lilly has brought me back and my pretty girl...I won't fail you again...I am back in the game!

I think I shall purchase this book. I cannot wait to make the cd cover photo collage, the photo lamp shade, and the other fun projects. Stay tuned, I'll take photos of those :)
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