Celebrating 30 with 30 Acts of Kindness
Career Advice from the World's Most Powerful Women
The 23-Year-Long Road Trip
Books of the Week: The Pigeon Pie Mystery and The Thing About Thugs
What We're Grateful for Today
Posted: Fri 09/07/2012 12:58 PM
It's finally Friday, which
means...it's gratitude journal time! Thank you, thank you, thank you
for...
A celebration of life's ordinary and not-so-ordinary moments filmed to convey how our minds perceive memories (via Thrash Lab)
Judy Blume's wonderfully good natured and optimistic account of her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment
Catroulette = Chatroulette for kittens who need homes (and yes, it’s SFW)
A history of New York in 50 items (via The New York Times)
A celebration of life's ordinary and not-so-ordinary moments filmed to convey how our minds perceive memories (via Thrash Lab)
Judy Blume's wonderfully good natured and optimistic account of her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment
Catroulette = Chatroulette for kittens who need homes (and yes, it’s SFW)
A history of New York in 50 items (via The New York Times)
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Topics: Gratitude Journals
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Oprah and Iyanla Go Soul to Soul
Posted: Fri 09/07/2012 10:40 AM
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Thought for Today
Posted: Fri 09/07/2012 07:00 AM
| | I haven’t yet met anyone who successfully made their body over without finding that their lives changed in ways--wonderful ways--that they had never imagined.—Bob Greene | |
Check out over 375 more life-lifting quotes
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Topics: Thought for Today, Quotes
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"Sometimes a Letter is Like a Prayer"
Posted: Thu 09/06/2012 03:19 PM | By: Amy Shearn
What do a widow, a relief worker in Haiti, a homeless shelter director, and a grieving girlfriend have in common? In the case of singer/songwriter Alex Woodward's multimedia project "For the Sender," all four wrote letters that inspired him to write songs. In his new book he writes about how he was feeling adrift, trying to pursue his artistic dreams, feeling discouraged, and then on top of it all, mourning his dog/best friend, when a letter from a stranger changed everything. Along with a group of musician friends, Woodward set about turning this letter, and three others, into a series of songs. (Check out the official site for facsimiles of the letters and more about each letter-writer's story -- each heartbreaking in its own way.) Then he traveled to meet each letter-writer and perform their songs for them, in private concerts that were culminations of each woman's original act of reaching out.
The project is, in a way, the crystallization of the artistic process: the wordless pain Woodward felt when his dog died and he felt his life had stalled; how connecting with others helped to find both his musical voice and the stories he wanted to tell; then the final closing of the circuit, when he reconnected with his unlikely muses. It calls to mind the advice of the late, great Kurt Vonnegut: "Write to please just one person." When Alex Woodward found someone -- in this case, his letter-writers -- to create for, he found his reason to create.
I found the Haitian relief worker's story especially compelling -- learn more about her, and see some priceless footage of Haitian school kids enjoying an impromptu concert, in the video below:
Read More:
Sharing the Work of Haiti's Artisans
How Creativity Can Be Applied to Anything
The project is, in a way, the crystallization of the artistic process: the wordless pain Woodward felt when his dog died and he felt his life had stalled; how connecting with others helped to find both his musical voice and the stories he wanted to tell; then the final closing of the circuit, when he reconnected with his unlikely muses. It calls to mind the advice of the late, great Kurt Vonnegut: "Write to please just one person." When Alex Woodward found someone -- in this case, his letter-writers -- to create for, he found his reason to create.
I found the Haitian relief worker's story especially compelling -- learn more about her, and see some priceless footage of Haitian school kids enjoying an impromptu concert, in the video below:
Read More:
Sharing the Work of Haiti's Artisans
How Creativity Can Be Applied to Anything
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Topics: Life Lifters, Books, Creativity
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Thursdays Are from Mars: Andy Roddick Says Farewell to Tennis
Posted: Thu 09/06/2012 01:01 PM | By: Ruth Baron
Men! What are they thinking? We can't always answer that, but we'll be posting our favorite glimpses into their world in this space every Thursday.
* "For the first time in my career I'm not sure what to say."—Andy Roddick retires from tennis after his fourth-round U.S. Open loss to Juan Martin del Potro. (Sports Illustrated)
* Recently, never-before-published photographs of Al Capone were discovered in the deepest of basement storage rooms of Chicago's Tribune Tower. The paper has assembled a few of them online, and they are spectacular. (Chicago Tribune)
* Curious drinkers have filed Freedom of Information Requests for the White House's beer recipe, but if you're really thirsty for presidential beer, try this one brewed for George Washington. (Lapham's Quarterly)
* "Some bromances are meant to last a lifetime. But for others, one night is enough." GQ tackles the thorny issue of 24-hour friendships between men. (GQ)
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| Photo: Getty Images |
* Recently, never-before-published photographs of Al Capone were discovered in the deepest of basement storage rooms of Chicago's Tribune Tower. The paper has assembled a few of them online, and they are spectacular. (Chicago Tribune)
* Curious drinkers have filed Freedom of Information Requests for the White House's beer recipe, but if you're really thirsty for presidential beer, try this one brewed for George Washington. (Lapham's Quarterly)
* "Some bromances are meant to last a lifetime. But for others, one night is enough." GQ tackles the thorny issue of 24-hour friendships between men. (GQ)
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Topics: Men
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Ask Val: Nothing Works on My Dark Under-Eye Circles!
Posted: Thu 09/06/2012 12:00 PM | By: Val Monroe
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Answer: Dark circles are to complexion problems as frizz is to hair problems. Which is to say almost everyone is plagued by them. Circles can be caused by puffiness (often from allergies), hyperpigmentation, and blood vessels showing through the skin, says Elizabeth F. Callahan, MD, a dermatologist at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Florida. Puffiness can be treated by taking an antihistamine and reducing your salt intake. Intense pulsed light treatment works well on hyperpigmentation; the Vbeam laser very effectively zaps blood vessels.
But if you've really tried everything and nothing has worked as well as you'd like, then concealer is your best friend. Choose a concealer one or two shades lighter than your skin, says makeup artist Carmindy. Pat it directly on the discoloration and set it with a translucent powder.Keep in mind: An eye cream can help reduce puffiness and shadows; try one containing niacin, caffeine, or green tea.
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Topics: Beauty
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Life Links: Instant Inspiration in One Click
Posted: Thu 09/06/2012 11:00 AM | By: Editors
Here's a few reasons to love your day today. Don't be surprised if they cause spontaneous smiles at strangers
The loveliest painting of an antique cake stands you've ever seen.
A tiff. A green gown. A convivial society. And 14 other ways people described making love in the 1800s.
What one woman can do underwater....strapped to a wheelchair.
Your personal reading style: diagnosed by the professionals.
How a handkerchief (and bravery) can help cure a broken heart.
The loveliest painting of an antique cake stands you've ever seen.
A tiff. A green gown. A convivial society. And 14 other ways people described making love in the 1800s.
What one woman can do underwater....strapped to a wheelchair.
Your personal reading style: diagnosed by the professionals.
How a handkerchief (and bravery) can help cure a broken heart.
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Topics: Happiness, Something to Think About
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Dearest Angel Girl: Borrow a Love Letter Today
Posted: Thu 09/06/2012 10:30 AM | By: Amy Shearn
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| Photo: Thinkstock |
The list is fascinating, in the way that it's always irresistible to peek inside a romantic relationship, to hope for a glimpse of that mysterious something that is invisible to outsiders. Peeking at the letters of lovers offers a hit of vicarious romance, and sometimes even a moment of shock (Mozart, please!). So read on. You just might get inspired to write to your own darling dear little lambie.
Read More:
Love Letters to the World
The President You Least Expected To Be Romantic
Write a Letter to Your Latte-Maker
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Topics: Happiness, Relationships, Creativity