2.09.2010

The Power of Small

Last night I finished this book "The Power of Small", it is one of the books I picked out for my 'transition' kick that I am on right now. It is basically a book about how in our busy lives we tend to disregard the small aspects of life, and when it comes down to it those small things really count. It is a collection of small stories that the authors (Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval) narrate, and here and there give in their two cents. At the end of every chapter there are little tips to help you achieve the small things that were focused on in the chapter.

Honestly, until I read this I didn't take into account how important small things meant to people. How listening and understanding the entire conversation before you take off is important, how nice it is to receive a card out of the blue, or when you stop and help someone.

There was one chapter that was all about how people helping others, or being motivated to change a situation made that persons idea flourish into a bigger company. There was one story about a man that was trying to teach his son vocabulary words for his upcoming SAT test (which I absolutely struggled through) he noticed that the flash cards that were generally used were not impacting the boy he was teaching and something needed to be done about that. The father that was using the flash cards was a computer programer and so he went to work on a program, he called it FreeRice. (http://freerice.com/index.php) The idea behind the program was that for every vocabulary word that was correct 10-20 rice grains would be donated to the UN World Food Programme. So, not only are the students that are playing this game studying for the SAT, but they are also collecting rice grains for people in need of food. I went on the website out of curiosity and played around for a little bit. Gosh, I wish that something like this would have been up when I was studying for the SAT, I think that this is a fabulous study tool, but also a great way to test your vocabulary.

Practical small hints for a good day/life are at the end of each chapter, things such as "Make a list of five positive things that happened in the course of a stressful day. Appreciate them" and "Start every meeting with a compliment...These little, positive acts take virtually no effort, but they compound over time to create an overall impression of you as a 'go to' person". "Take a minute to write a person a note, you will be remember better that way". "See how much loose change you can collect in three months, then see if you can double it in six".

This little piece of advice was obviously very important to me: "Never show up for an interview with a Starbucks cup unless you have one for the person you are meeting with".

There were a bunch of little sources that I wrote down wanting to check out the programs, and see if there is any way that I can lend a helping hand. The authors of this book have another book out called The Power of Nice, I ordered it about a week ago and I am going to add that to my collection of personal reading to do. I am trying my hardest to balance personal reading with school work, normally I am so tried of reading by the middle of the week that I don't have the interest in picking up a book, but I feel so much better when I read. I wake up happier, I go to sleep easier, my brain is always turning with ideas. Reading is very important.

I have a few books that I am getting ready to send to my mom: Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom, Greater than Yourself by Steve Faber and The Power of Small by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval. She just sent me The Pilot's Wife, which I will most likely start into after I finish up with In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan.

Lots of reading going on here!




2.08.2010

Back in the saddle

I have been spending a lot of time on my road bike spinning lately. My goal is go be ready to go for Sea Otter April 15th, I haven't been able to race in it yet, although I have ridden the course. I have my bike set up in the dinner room on my stolen trainer (thanks mom...its okay folks I gifted her a nicer one, what a great daughter). I pick out a show or a movie that I want to watch and pedal away until it is over, normally 45+ minutes. Honestly, I would spend more time on it but I hate being stationary, everything stays the same.
I guess I am so into thinking about biking again that I am starting to have biking dreams. Ohhh man, the other night I had one that I had to sell my road bike. I actually was so upset in the dream that I woke up. ha ha ha. Fear aside, my road bike is not on the market. I still haven't come up with a good name for it like I do for my mountain bikes.
This week I am doing a body cleanse. The good ole' lemon, cayenne pepper, maple syrup and water. You are supposed to only have this for 7-1o days. Well, seeing that I am so active I need to make sure that I am getting carbs and/or protein some how. I have opted to add veggies and some soups to my diet. I knew it was time to do something because my body was telling me 'Bud I don't feel good', I don't know if is from the crazy life style I am living right now or what.
I have recently started to understand the statement "over worked, and under paid", but I guess that that is probably the life style of a coach. Over the weekend I had to deal with some athlete to coach respect issues, never in my life did I think that there was going to have to be an intervention where the parents could potentially be involved. Woowzer, it is like my 20's flashed before my eyes and now I am dealing with grown ups on an adult basis.
School is going really well! I absolutely love all of my classes. I have learned so much, I actually wish that I would have known more about the SW (social work) major when I entered UNR, I have learned more stuff about day to day life in the last 3 weeks in these classes than I ever have (of course we are talking text book style here). We are down to 92 days on the count down. Wow, the days are really flying. I actually figured out the other day that I will be done with finals about a month and a 1/2 before all of the other people at UNR. This gives me some time to "play", and it will be the start of mud season. I am hoping that I might be able to scoot around the west coast a little bit, if not head back east and play with my mom for a little bit before I have to sport that lovely cap and gown.
Chris is in Colorado right now for a competition in Aspen (the Aspen Open). He will be there until Sunday (give or take a few days depending on if he qualifies, keep your fingers crossed that he does) and then he will make the 15+ hr trek back to Tahoe. He has been working really hard on getting his big spins down and back to back. I hope that it pays off. He is also trying to get into this competition up in Washington (I think...it might be Oregon) right now, it he gets in I am going to go with him because I REALLY want to see what it is like up there. I hear so many neat things about that area (minus the rainy/cloudy weather).
Well...time to go and get on the bike for a little bit, then cook my portobella mushroom! Yummmo! And then homework, homework, homework until I fall asleep (hopefully I will even be able to finish the book that I am working on for my own personal enjoyment right now "The Power of Small", I have the next book of the series on its way called "The Power of Nice").

Hope all is well!


2.06.2010

Saturdays are fun sewing days too


Another hooded sweatshirt creation of mine.
Pink plaid and snake skin...ohhhh yah!

2.05.2010

With all that spare time I have...

I am sure that most of you know I am full of spare time...NOT. I am so busy right now trying to balance 15 units in school and a full time job and trying to get back in to the swing of things on my big I really don't have much 'bud' time. I am exhhhhausted, but it has basically become my new lifestyle. I haven't really been sleeping to much (or if I do I am finally able to fall asleep at wee hours of the morning and sleep in until about 10). But the last two days I took some time to finish some projects that I have started/promised people. Most of them were sewing and the other big one was cover our beer can table. So....the table is covered, no more sharp edges! yesss! I sewed Dave a hoodie last night and we was super pumped on it today when I gave it to him. Then I felt like getting a little adventurous....

This is some of the fabric that Chris's mom (Stephanie) gave to us. I ended up using a little to make a skirt. I am super excited to wear it with some cute tights. Chris says that I look like mrs. muffet....but like he should be talking. His style on a scale of 1-5 is probably a 1 maybe a .5
This is a hoodie I just finished for Mike. I think it turned out pretty cool. I used all scraps of fabric I had over....Im actually kinda jealous and wish I made it for myself...ha! Hopefully he gets some good use out of it
This is a hoodie that I made by hand last year (before I had a sewing machine) it was always WAY to wide so tonight I experimented with narrowing. I have some stuff to learn...ha...but I really like it and ill actually wear it now. Ahhh the shoulders are the hardest part to deal with...I can't decide if I need to bring them in or not....

I love finding time to sew. It takes my mind away from everything. I have found that I cannot be rushed into doing a project...I have to naturally let it come....then...when that time comes I don't want to stop. I really need some more hoodie fabric and it looks like I wont get down to Reno until next week or the week after...ahhh so I have to find something else fun to sew until then.

Actually I found a really cute sun dress out of an old XL button up that I think I might try to play around with.....watch out Vogue.

1.31.2010

Chris turns 24.

Today is Chris's big 24th birthday. Last night I throw a party for him at Java Sushi (they are AWESOME there! I highly suggest checking out Java if you are a Truckeeian). Friends came out, we had an amazing DJ (Terry), good drinks and yummy sushi! Here are some pictures.

Liz, Alix and me.
Birthday boy
Yummy sushi
Beer and sushi. Doesn't get much better!
The mountain cake I baked him. Mt. Bosco.
The Liz's.....and Alix.
I love this girl so much.
Bosco and his old roomie and good friend Matt

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER!