Life of Something New

Celebrate Love!

2012-02-14T20:02:00.001+13:00

What if we celebrated love for humanity today, instead of a love for our romantic partners? What if we took to the streets and reminded ourselves that we are connected? I'd adore going out and seeing strangers passing on kindness like a hot potato in the streets. It'll be a radical social change... for a day! I want people to be opening doors, paying for bus fares, complimenting each other like it was their sole reason in living.

So why not?

This year we need to show our love for humanity.

Let's brainstorm!

Ways to share the love (for humanity):

Pay for a stranger's coffee
Hold open the door for a stranger
Compliment someone
Text your friends a simple, sentimental note
Leave a candy on a random desk with a note saying 'Enjoy'
Offer to help someone with a task
Smile at your bus driver
Take a dog for a walk from a local SPCA
Scatter the world with love notes like these
Give your neighbors flowers

How would you show your love for humanity?

Nobody Tells You

2012-02-11T22:59:00.001+13:00

Listen to NZ Music: Kora

2012-02-11T19:37:00.002+13:00

Must Do: Wellington's Rugby Sevens

2012-02-10T15:15:00.003+13:00

Wellington hosts Rugby Sevens each year and it is the perfect mix of costume, sports, and outdoor party. It's the closest thing to Carnivale in the Australasia area. It's called 'Sevens' because they do seven players a side instead of the usual fifteen. The games are only fifteen minutes each instead of eighty. Short and sweet, perfect for those with short-attention spans (like myself.)

I attended the Sevens for the first time last weekend and I loved it! It was so fun and exciting. I was having such a good time that I missed watching quite a few of the games. Most people are chatting with strangers, laughing it up and generally not watching the games. The group I went with dressed as 'Thing 1' and 'Thing 2', while the bf threw together a cow outfit in thirty minutes (so proud.) Take a peek at these great costumes and book yourself in for next year's Sevens.

Scandalous!

The Cat in the Hat kept us Things in line

Grown-up

2012-02-07T21:34:00.001+13:00

Painting. Moving. Unpacking. Decorating.

And VOILA!

Mr. C and I have finally moved into a flat of our own. Mature, yes?

I've moved countries, completed university, and taken my life into my own hands in many other ways, but nothing has felt more grown-up than this.

What events made you feel 'grown-up'?

Take a Risk

2012-02-07T21:01:00.001+13:00

Source: middlechildcomplex.tumblr.com via Bridget on Pinterest

Explore the Web!

2012-02-07T20:58:00.001+13:00

Source: flickr.com via Deann on Pinterest

Hey folks! The two scheduled posts for Friday and Saturday were delayed due to a connection problem. Please enjoy them, and regular scheduling is back up and running! Thanks!

Does time seem to slip away between your fingers? Then maybe this will help you make the most of it.

Going out this weekend? Watch and learn.

The Iron Lady people actually want to visit.

Mr. C and I moved to a (smaller) new place! It's exciting and also makes me fervently check for more tips like this.

Super cool DIY that'll have you smelling so fresh and so clean, clean!

Something about French women, is (seemingly) effortlessly chic, I want to be like them which is why I love reading this.

Yes, yes I do want to be more interesting.

48 things you need to be grateful for, particularly when you're shifting focus.

Do what you are meant to do. When? Right now.

I wish I had read this when Mr.C and I spent 5 months apart - how to survive a long-distance relationship.

Country-hop without breaking the bank - you'll love every one of these tips!

This story is fascinating: I gave up on my dream.

Retro LSN: 3 Ways to Pick a Travel Destination

2012-02-02T22:50:00.003+13:00

These are three original ways to choose travel destinations; not all are for the faint-hearted.

Spontaneity: Let's go wherever the wind may take us. I have two friends who I can suggest a massive road trip/ travel to someplace exotic and they are always game. Once it was Canada on the fly, the next time it was NYC. If you're open to it/ surrounded by easy-going people, traveling can be as easy as suggesting a side trip from the norm. Be prepared to get lost and not have a plan.

Purpose/Escape: Volunteering in China, teaching in Italy, sunbathing in Brazil - all of these help you get away from your normal life. You're driven to either do something great or escape your every day life. This is a great way to give your travels purpose and structure while diverging from the norm.

Recommendation: Friends tell you (rather convincingly) that you need to go there; that your life won't be complete till you see the Arctic lights or feel a Wellington gale. You trust these people's opinion and quite frankly, would like to talk about something different. You do it to cross it off your list and see what the hype is about, sometimes it lives up to it and sometimes it doesn't (I'm looking at you Napoleon Dynamite!) It's nice to have someone else do the ground work and let you know what to do and avoid. You have insider information while allowing you to try something new.

How do you decide where to visit?

If It's Important...

2012-02-01T22:07:00.001+13:00

The newsletter + free travel e-book is out! HOT OFF THE PRESS. Want to get your copy? Subscribe over in the right sidebar.

An Award

2012-01-31T23:18:00.004+13:00

I haven't seen the sun today but it's all for the best. I've been putting the finishing touches on the newsletter (plus free travel e-book) that's coming out on the 1st Feb (2nd for NZ). While also meeting new friends + creating a travel network! Whew. I love this.

So, when I saw that Kate over at The Pheonixplains awarded Life of Something New with The Versatile Blogger Award, it made my day! I even treated myself to ten minutes of sunshine. ( This guy may have been the reason LSN got the award, he's hypnotic.)

Thank you Kate, and everyone who is reading.

You make my day again, and again! Thank you.

RULES

1. In a post on your, blog, nominate 15 fellow bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award.

2. In the same post, add the Versatile Blogger Award.

3. In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.

4. In the same post, share seven completely random pieces of information about yourself.

5. In the same post, include this set of rules.

6. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

Time to divulge!

Seven completely random pieces of information about myself:

1. I fell asleep on a boat, in a science lab, while smelling formaldehyde with my face propped up on a microscope. It's my proudest moment.

2. I sleep on the left side of the bed.

3. I am naturally friendly/bubbly, but I work at seeing the positive side of things.

4. I'm planning on making French macaroons in a rainbow of colors + flavors, and then giving them away.

5. I used to dye my hair with henna.

6. I graduated with a BA in Japanese, Spanish + Linguistics.

7. At parties where I don't know people, I will speak to the household pets instead. We have a great time.

A goodie bag of blogs for you to try! (Many more fantastic flavors still to be included)

A Mexican In Scotland - You will laugh, you will hear swear words and you will have a good time. P.S There is no good mexican food in Scotland.

Can You Stay for Dinner? - She'll change your relationship with food one meal at a time.

A Sweet Release - Annika's blog is full of travel tips + domestic love.

Davinia Hamilton - She's on a mission to live a positive life. Full of travel. love. inspiration.

The Adventures of Kym + Dustin - All they do is live on glacier and work as dog sled guides. No big.

Head + Heart + Health - A guide for holding onto your authentic self.

Deer in a Bottle - Design + travel + inspiration, french bulldog included.

Darling Disarray - A travel writer with a penchant for new friends.

Loulou Downtown - An optimist in Toronto, add a boyfriend, and a cat.

Melanie Kristy - A writer finding her way in the world.

Love + Adventure - All of that and more! Great tips plus beer.

Lape Soetan - Holidays. Travel. The time of your life.

Reinvented in Seattle - Everything you need to be happy.

Nobody Too - Cupcakes. Movies. Books. Cats. You don't need more than that.

Dead Fleurette - Follow style, not trends.

There are so many more that I missed. Who else could I add to this list?

Black Keys

2012-01-29T00:51:00.000+13:00

This man's dancing makes me stare in awe. What a dancer!

I wonder what his story is.

Meet Someone New!

2012-01-27T22:44:00.001+13:00

This looks like an awesome friendship, not limited by sensibility, weather or rules, just the pure joy of having someone to share your stories with.

Lately, what's been bringing me joy is meeting new people through blogging and introducing them to each other. (The other one is making the world seem like a friendlier place.)

Which is why I'm opening up 'Meet Someone New' to everyone.

You'll never be without friends.

Here's how we invite more people to this friendship party:

1. Be 'Following' Life of Something New on Google Connect
2. Tweet about #meetsn @lifeofsn
3. Like us on Facebook

Then, say 'hi' and send me your 150x150 ad + quirky one liner to lifeofsomethingnew@gmail.com.

Your ad will be in the spotlight for a week and then carefully preserved on the ''Meet Someone New' page.

Life of Something New is where we discover new friends and new adventures. Are you in?

Calling All Travelers and Homebodies!

2012-01-26T22:33:00.001+13:00

Friends! What city/town do you live in?

I bet it's someplace interesting, and that you know all the small/big wonders of it. Anything from a perfectly baked croissant to a rosy sunset over the ocean to a field full of reindeer.

You know the best things to do also, don't you?

Flying in a WW1 replica airplane, diving into a underwater cave, drinking a flat white.

I bet you like making new friends as well.

Life of Something New is asking for kind people, who like meeting new friends, talking about traveling and offer visiting tips about their hometown, to raise their hands.

So I'm raising my hand for Wellington, New Zealand. Email me at lifeofsomethingnew@gmail.com for anything you want to know about Wellington. I'm ready to be your insider.

Let's create our own network of traveling friends.

Friends we can rely on for great tips and insights, so we can travel the world like locals!

Anyone keen to travel like a local and share like a homebody?

Do What You Feel

2012-01-25T23:00:00.000+13:00

Hey! Subscribe to Life of Something New's Letter before 1st of February and receive the travel guide Fun + Fancy Free: A Guide to Smooth + Stress-free International Travel in your inbox. Fun + Excitement + Something New = INBOX PARTY!

Photo Safari: Snow Village, Montreal, Canada

2012-01-24T22:20:00.003+13:00

One night, I made the rash decision to trim my bangs (fringe) and it was AWESOME, because who wouldn't want to look like a lady Spock on a really bad hair day? At an emergency hair appointment (I tried to pull it off, but my father said it looked like I lost a fight with a blender), the hair stylist told me about an ice village in Montreal. Intriguing.

I investigated and found out that the snow village is built in January and is open till March. They create a snow bar, restaurant and hotel and light it up; you become entranced with the play of light in the ice and feel like royalty.

When Mr.C came to visit the States, we rolled on up to Canada and may I say, oh, Canada! I loved Montreal, it was exciting and beautiful. The frosting was definitely the Snow Village.

How To Be a Maximalist

2012-01-21T22:25:00.004+13:00

See that beautiful dress you're lusting after? Get it. Scrimp, and save, so that exquisite silk glides against your skin and makes you lightheaded with delight.

Don't buy it if it brings you nothing but temporary relief of boredom/angst/stress/emptiness.

You're worth more than that. You're worth more than the meaningless stuff that fills your life. Which is why the minimalist movement is so appealing, but we get hooked on throwing stuff away only to find ourselves buying it all over again.

Stop yourself now. I want you to look at the stuff that surrounds you and sell/give away everything you do not absolutely love. That's right. We're going to be maximalists (just quietly, I made that up) and appreciate everything we have.

After my mom passed, she left a legacy of gorgeous, immaculate stuff, and I wanted to throw it all away. I wanted to be free of the burden of possessing, of being owned by things.

Till a friend suggested that one day, wouldn't I love to toast a special occasion with my mom's crystal wineglasses? Wouldn't I appreciate taking her leather handbag on my next great adventure? Wouldn't my life experience be deepened by savoring the feel of a cashmere sweater?

I picked all the things I loved and couldn't bear to part with and took them around the world with me. Now, I spend a couple minutes each day captivated by the painting in my living room, and feeling like a swashbuckling sea captain in a silk blouse.

Own the things that you adore and live life fully.

Jumping Into Your Inbox!

2012-01-20T22:29:00.003+13:00

Funny, invigorating and informative; that's what the new monthly Life of Something New's Letter is! It'll feature amazing people, jobs, places and tips on traveling.

Everyone who signs up for the New's Letter, will get a free copy of my travel e-book, Fun + Fancy Free: A Guide to International Travel. It's full of charts, tips, and sage advice to make navigating international airports a smooth and stress-free experience. I'll pop it into your inbox on the 1st of February!

Subscribe now, before it's too late!

***Life of Something New values your friendship, I would never sell your information or bombard you with a flood of emails. You can always unsubscribe if the overwhelming awesome makes you dizzy.***

4 Money Making Methods to Fund Your Dreams

2012-01-19T22:42:00.002+13:00

Sunbathing in Hawai'i, diving in the Galapagos, exploring the Louvre, trekking the Himalayans - all of our dreams require cash. Fast track your fantasy into reality with these handy money-making tips.

Garage sale: Make all that stuff you never use work for you! It all adds up and takes you a step closer to climbing Machu Picchu.

Become funded: I met someone who spent 6 months on a raft drifting down the Mississippi River teaching kids about alternative energy; it was all funded by the government through grants. Apply for grants and get paid to do what you love.

How can I help?: Great at finances/editing/copy+pasting? Become a VA (Virtual Assistant) and soon you'll be building yourself a cozy fire in the snowy mountains of Switzerland.

Create: E-books/calendars/cookies, make something and sell it to friends/co-workers/neighbors for a fair price and you'll be biking through China in no-time!

Think creatively (or logically) and make your pockets heavy with cash.

How do you supplement your income to travel?

Boney M

2012-01-18T22:48:00.000+13:00

Do not watch this if you don't like whimsy + Russian history + awesome disco. Just move away now before this music captures your soul.

Anyone

2012-01-17T23:00:00.000+13:00

Blogging Tips From LSN Readers

2012-01-16T23:00:00.000+13:00

When I tweak my blog, I like to see what my fellow adventurers think. I adore hearing what colors they prefer, what subjects they like to read about, what font and so on, because it helps to re-focus on what's important. Here's what the wonderful readers of Life of Something New have to offer on blogging:

Rachelia:

"I'm not sure how I feel about 2 or 3 columns. I guess it doesn't matter to me as long as it doesn't feel cluttered, or messy.

I don't like blog posts with tons of photos. I think like 5 photos in a post every once and a while is enough. But put some side by side, instead of making it a crazy long post to scroll through on Google Reader.

Sarah Von of Yes & Yes had a post about blogs, and she tries to choose images that stick to her color theme - it may be difficult, but it makes a big impact, and I'd never realized that!

The site Unicorns for Socialism does an excellent job of using bold, underlined and italic text in a way that isn't cringe-worthy."

Claire:

"Things that make me drool:

Sparse text, but with highlights of bold.2 columns.Tightly squeezed paragraphs.They make the content look so juicy and delicious."

Cortie:

"My favorite blogs are lifestyle blogs in whatever form that takes for the blogger.

Beautiful and interesting photos are a must. ;) "

Lape:

"The one thing I've noticed that blogs I like have in common is that they have a lot of white space. I made sure that mine does too. I also tend to like blogs with an upbeat, happy feel. I'm not so keen on the ranting and negative-toned ones. "

Lucent Imagery:

I think these honest tips are great and I agree with Lape above too. Also, I hate that when I go to a new blog there's too few options on how to Comment As. I use name/url and when it only gives a choice of OpenID or Google profile etc I leave the blog unable to interact or leave kind words. Both reader and writer miss out.

What do you look for in blogging/ blog design?

Guest Post: A Day in Edinburgh (as a Vet Student)

2012-01-13T23:00:00.000+13:00

This is part of the series of living a day somewhere new. Today we get to be vet students in Scotland, thanks to Sabrina from A Mexican In Scotland.

Hi New Friends! My name is Sabrina and I’m a first-year vet student studying in Edinburgh, Scotland. Here is a typical day in my formaldehyde-soaked life.

Explore the Web!

2012-01-12T23:00:00.000+13:00

'Meet Someone New' has begun! It's so exciting I can barely contain myself. Pop in to Awesomania and meet a new friend!

Because you want to be light on fire from the inside out!

What not to say to a cancer patient because it's new to them and you.

Go from blogger to book author with just four steps.

How to be annoying & actively repel opportunities, a word for the wise.

This is a must for all of us, develop happiness as a skill.

A year in review with great photos and stories, a peek into another traveler's life.

Spot on again, advice for emotional eating.

2 step crockpot chili, perfect for summer BBQ's or winter dinners.

So, you wanna hike to base camp, Mount Everest? I'm in!

How to party or the art of owambe.

Over-sharing saves lives.

Use it or lose it, are you on board for this year?

Explore with a day trip to San Fransisco!

The Air Hostess' Travel Diet

2012-01-12T15:55:00.001+13:00

Travel as a job sounds glamorous but long flights, standing on your feet and different climates can take a toll on your physical and mental health. Who better to find out the tricks of long-distance travel from than an air hostess who's circled the globe ten times, let's hear what the travel guru has to say:

Hydration: The key to successful travel. Drink plenty of water/ electrolyte drinks, it's the key to feeling fine when crossing the date line twice in the same day. {Make sure to get an aisle seat}

Whole grains/salads: They keep you 'normal' in changing climates. Stock up on your grains and veggies for happy insides.

Salt/sugar: Keep your distance from these bad boys. Although tasty they set back your body from it's much-needed hydration point.

Coffee/caffeine: That wonderful feeling of floating on Cloud Nine after the first couple of sips is fantastic until you realize it comes at a cost. Hold off on caffeine while you travel to allow your body to acclimate naturally.

Follow these tips and feel happier, healthier and better than you ever have before!

Any questions about the Air Hostess Travel Diet?

Make A Dream Come True

2012-01-12T15:26:00.002+13:00

How wonderful is this? You can donate to help a dream come true. I'm game!

Photo Safari: Connecticut

2012-01-09T23:00:00.000+13:00

Five Tips For A Better Blog

2012-01-06T23:00:00.000+13:00

For the past four months, I've been working for a blog editor; I spend all my spare hours surfing the net and reading other blogs. It's utterly fantastic.

Many blogs have sparkled like gems while some are diamonds in the rough that need a little polishing. I'd like to pass on some tips from my forays into the blog kingdom to share what makes a reader bolt faster than a swimmer from shark-infested waters.

Have contact/twitter info on front page: Preferably top right or left hand corner because when I link to/enjoy your post, I follow you, and then I usually tweet about how inspiring/funny/insightful it is. Increase your readership with this easy tip.

Music plays automatically: Please, no. I want to read your blog, not be bombarded by music. Put it on the side or in a post, it makes it work-friendly!

Give something back: Hard days happen to us all, but can you offer a nugget of truth, humor or wisdom that will help someone else get through it? If you can then you'll increase your readership from one to many.

Pick a sans-serif font and make it 12-14 pixels big: Help the reader's eyes out. Sans-serif is easier to read, probably due to the fact that it was created by wizards, so stick to Arial, Trebuchet, or Verdana (here's a cool list of free sans-serif fonts.) Use the flowery, spidery fonts for interesting accents.

Requiring a password to comment: I love leaving comments but find it tedious when the page reloads to ask me to spell 'MS#W@354" every time. Streamline this process for more comments and happy commenters!

What makes you stay/dash when reading other blogs?

Reading List For Success

2012-01-05T23:00:00.000+13:00

2012 is full of so many possibilities and goals, while we navigate those twisty roads to our happy places let's use these helpful guides for any dream.

Goal - Travel the world:
Sarah Von's amazing guides will bust you free of the cubicle and help you decided when/where and what shoes to bring on your international travel.

The Wanderlust Workbook // Smart + Sassy + Solo: Adventures in Lady Travel

Goal - Write/Get your book published:
This has been on my wish list since it came out. Danielle LaPorte and Linda Siversten help you turn that ethereal idea into paper reality.

Your Big Beautiful Book Plan

Goal - Live a year of adventure:
Lonely Planet's A Year of Adventures is the perfect way to pick your next thrill. I've already booked bobsledding and diving with sharks for my next year. What will you do?

Lonely Planet's A Year of Adventures

Goal - Become your own boss:
No shortage of greatness in this category. Marie Foleo, Tara Gentile and Design*Sponge can answer your questions about business development and growth. Time to thrive as your own boss.

Marie Foleo // Tara Gentile // Design*Sponge

Goal - Become an amazing cook:
Nothing can beat a culinary adventure in your own kitchen. Keep up to date on the latest taste-bud explosion with these two greats.

Can You Stay For Dinner? // Spoon Fork Bacon

Goal - Volunteer... around the world:
The beginning of something beautiful. Check these awesome websites for your next opportunity.

Global Volunteers // Go Abroad // Backdoor Jobs

Goal - Get out of debt:
Credit cards, loans, spending binges - all of these lead to a debt heavy lifestyle. Anna got herself out of 100K of debt and is as free as a bird, you can be too.

And She Saved

Goal - To make money from your blog:
Problogger has become the go-to source for everyone serious about making $$ from their passion. Soak in the wisdom and pump up your funds.

Problogger

Goal - Love yourself and bring love into your life:
Katie P brings good sense to this delicate and vital need. Be authentic, be loved.

Head Heart Health

What guides are you reading to help accomplish your goals?

Ships

2012-01-04T23:00:00.000+13:00

Guest Post: A Day in Alaska (as a Dogsled Guide)

2012-01-03T23:00:00.000+13:00

Kym from The Adventures of Kym & Dustin is sharing what it's like to live in her shoes as a dogsled guide for a day. What a fantastic adventure! Slide over and see what other splendid adventures they have.

Every summer for the last 4 years Dustin and I have traded in our flip flops and beach days to live on a glacier. Living on a glacier is crazy. There is snow everywhere! Every day we wake up to breathtaking views of postcard worthy mountains. However, our views do come with a price. The price is work. We are happily employed as dog sled tour guides and it is our job to help tourists explore the glacier via dog sled.

Here is a day in the life of us.

How to Create a New You

2011-12-30T22:00:00.000+13:00

"This year will be different." We write down our hopes and dreams and then file them away till the dawn of the new year following. Here's a plan that will take those embers of sparkling hopes and turn them into fires of accomplishments.

First step:

At the beginning of every journey it pays to see where you've come from. Write down all the improved things you've done this year. Odds are you've already started down the path you want.

Becoming more financially savvy? I bet you thought more about your finances - write that down.

Becoming fit? I bet you reconsidered eating hamburgers every night for dinner.

Being a social butterfly? I reckon you smiled at more strangers last year.

Second step:

Build in failure to your plan.

Nothing is going to succeed perfectly on the first try (you're lucky if you get 80% on the first go.) Feeling like you're struggling is part of completing a goal. Take a second to put everything you've done in perspective; you're trying to change habits that have had years to form, of course it'll feel hard. Persevere and remember, for every two steps forward you will take one back. Keep going forward.

Third step:

Break down the new year into the twelve months and then assign a task to each month. Give change a chance to settle into your habits.

For myself it'd look like:

//January//

Go bobsledding

Finish book proposal

Eat a salad for lunch five days a week

//February//

Three new clients for blogging development

Save $100 a week for a house deposit

Give away ten pieces of clothing

Make sure you don't clump all your similar goals together like: save for house, develop strict budget, no shopping, eating in each night - it sounds great, but by day four it turns into sawdust. Keep the changes small, give them time to set and then move onto the next.

If it seems hard, keep taking one small step forward. You will get there.

What changes would you like to grow this year?

Happy New Year's Eve everyone!

Friendship Party

2011-12-29T22:00:00.000+13:00

Friends! Remember how 'meet new people' and 'put yourself out there' are two of your New Year's resolutions? Perfect! Just in time for our 'Meet Someone New' series. All the smartest, funniest and coolest people from around the globe and net are coming together to say 'hi' and find a new friend.

//There are only three days left to be a part of this fantastic friendship circle!//

Details:

Follow Life of Something New on Google Friend Connect
Make an ad for your sparkling + charming blog ///
plus a sassy one-liner about your blog

Email it to lifeofsomething@gmail (dot) com

Spend a week in the spotlight and reach new people

Tune in and meet new friends every week!

BONUS: Luxuriate in an extra week of spotlight by inspiring a friend to follow LSN - you both win!

If you have already started following Life of Something New, I need your ads and one line blurbs by the 7th of January at the latest!

Project: Friendship Party closes on December 31st.

Do Not Regret

2011-12-28T22:00:00.000+13:00

Why not remind yourself of this when you fret about what isn't perfect? Embrace your wrinkles and the fact that you lived to earn them.

How do you feel about growing older?

Psst, I did a guest post for The Karina Chronicles on pampering yourself. You deserve it!

Top 4 Drugs For Traveling

2011-12-28T16:11:00.003+13:00

Nothing is worse than being sick while traveling, particularly when no relief is in sight. Here are the top four over-the-counter drugs I take with me for safety's sake. (This is based on personal experience, I'm a travel writer, not a doctor!) This is not to be confused for professional medical advice; check with a doctor first if you're unsure how it'll affect you, thanks!

Pain reliever: Nothing is worse when you're curled up in a ball unable to sleep due to a toothache/headache/sprain, and language/distance separates you from relief. Pain killers can give temporary help for a short term problem and keep you comfortable. (Clearly go see a doctor/hospital if it's serious.)

Allergy medicine: Swollen, itchy eyes, pounding headache, runny nose - nothing to sneeze at when they're hitting you hard. You may not have them in one country but a different country hosts new pollen. Fun, yes?

Laxative: You just can't ignore it; foreign food is a definite must but the change in diet can have unfortunate consequences. This is a worse case scenario solution that can bring excellent relief.

Sleeping pills: I can not sing the praises of sleeping pills enough. They have held my hand through twelve hour flights, jet lag and insanely loud traffic. A generic pain-reliever comes with a small dosage to help you drift off (ex: Tylenol PM.)

What over-the-counter drugs do you take with you?

Before I Die

2011-12-27T22:00:00.000+13:00

Christmas has passed and the beginning of a new year comes crashing in. Lacing our new year with wonderful goals that'll delight our joyful, adventurous selves is the perfect way to celebrate being alive. Why compile a long (seemingly hard to complete) list when you can sweep through a short one each year?

The next year will be bejeweled with:

Self-employment

Diving with Great White Sharks

Doing my hair in a beehive

Sleeping in a truck bed

Road trip across the South Island

Exploring an ice city

Create my own lantern festival

What are your next year adventure plans?

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T22:00:00.000+13:00

May your cocoa stay warm, your loved ones safe, and your holidays merry.

See you on Monday!

X Halley

This Is Me

2011-12-23T22:00:00.000+13:00

Rejuvenation!

2011-12-22T22:00:00.001+13:00

Hey friends!

Life of Something New is rejuvenating it's schedule to Monday through Friday - giving you the best of fresh, dazzling and invigorating posts! Bringing you a booster shot of awesome to get you through the week.

Play back some golden oldies:

Fix up two awesome people... and then run for the hills!

Friendship party, let's meet new people!

Create your own holiday!

Smooth your long-term relationships with verbal grease!

Why doing the right thing can seem wrong.

The many layers of pleasure.

How to have a meaningful Christmas.

Death is a fart joke gone wrong.

Unravel writer's block!

Which LSN posts do you enjoy reading?

Friendship Party!

2011-12-21T07:03:00.000+13:00

Friendship rocks my world.

Meeting new people is my personal catnip. So many great stories! useful tips! funny anecdotes!

'Meet Someone New' is Life of Something New's internet party extravaganza without any painful small talk about weather!

How do you get into this fun friendship circle?

Follow Life of Something New on Google Friend Connect
Make an ad for your sparkling + charming blog ///
plus a sassy one-liner about your blog

Email it to lifeofsomething@gmail (dot) com

Spend a week in the spotlight and reach new people

Tune in and make new friends every week!

BONUS: Luxuriate in an extra week of spotlight by inspiring a friend to follow LSN - you both win!

Project: Friendship Party closes on December 31st.

Cure For Anything

2011-12-18T22:00:00.000+13:00

How to Create Your Own Holiday

2011-12-17T23:00:00.000+13:00

Holidays are bound by traditions and people. They can be hit or miss when it comes to being meaningful. So, why not start your own? Imagine a holiday where you and your close family and friends pick a significant day, follow certain patterns and reconnect with loved ones. Let's do that! All holidays have a formula for success:

Meaning + Senses + Fun + Patterns

Meaning: The purpose you're coming all together. Do you miss Christmas in the summer? Do you share a love of the outdoors? Do you thrive for 'Talk Like A Pirate' day? Find a small but solid reason to come together and you'll have everyone coming back each year.

Senses: Nothing makes your memories stand out like smells, tastes, sounds and textures. The smell of pine shoots me back to my tiny person's Christmases. Pick out what will help create the holiday - the smell of cinnamon? The feel of sand beneath your feet? The taste of lobster sushi? The sounds of a badminton birdie being hit back and forth?

Fun: We all need it. The holiday should be heavily seasoned in fun. Encourage fun with group activities: sand castle making, coffee tasting, head massages, singing, anything to celebrate living with loved ones.

Patterns: This is where the comfort of tradition steps in. Have a pattern to the day that everyone can count on. Having a guideline can be really relaxing and increases anticipation. We are creatures of habit and it's ok to embrace that. Allow spontaneity but fall back on pattern.

A holiday I'd like to create in New Zealand is to have all my international friends over on a Sunday in the middle of NZ winter/ USA summer. It'd begin in the late morning, everyone would come over and we'd decorate the house in lights to cheer us up in the cold, dark, short days. It'd be followed by coffee and tea tasting. We'd then sit down to an early dinner of latkes and peroigis. At the table we'd say what we're grateful for and put in $5 each to donate to a charity we chose. We'd play a couple of board games and then all snuggle in to watch an Indiana Jones movie to finish the night.

Make your own holiday!

What new holiday would you create?

Outfits For A Romantic Airport Reunion

2011-12-16T23:00:00.000+13:00

In less than a week, I'll be excitedly peering around an airport baggage claim at midnight looking for Mr. C. He's coming back to the States for the holidays after three months apart. There'll be a lot of high-quality family time involving a variety of squirrel jokes.

There are no squirrels in New Zealand, thus his fascination, and the teasing by my dad about aforementioned fascination. It's a tough crowd.

When imagining the reunion, I picture slow motion, glitter and an impromptu musical number.

While I count down the days, I keep pondering the crucial question: what to wear?

Let's pontificate: The comfortable and relaxed outfit on the left or the sophisticated and sultry outfit on the right?

I'm assuming there'll be a pick-up-and-twirl moment - skirt friendly or no?

Running/jogging/walking fast to each other across a crowded room - heels or no?

Walking in the cold to the airport and then sweltering in the airport - sweater or no?

Wear perfume to intoxicate the senses - risk sneezing or no?

What would you wear/recommend to reunite with a bf/gf at the airport?

Khadja Nin

2011-12-15T22:00:00.000+13:00

Why Doing the Right Thing Can Seem Wrong

2011-12-15T06:32:00.003+13:00

This was a guest post I did for Marthe over at The Freedom Experiment. I adore her blog and I think you will too, pop in and say hi!

Three months ago, my mom, who was terminally ill with cancer, was arguing with me about a party. For a woman with a couple of massive tumors she had a lot of fight in her, and was in pretty great shape considering.

Her friends had been coming by for months, helping her out with doctor’s appointments, rides, medications, hugs on call, everything they could. So, having come back from New Zealand and arranged to be a 24-hour caretaker for her at home, I had decided to throw her a quiet party to create a happy memory with them all.

Cue, the disagreement.

Now, my brother and father thought that maybe, I should just listen to her wishes and follow them.
I was wracked with guilt, follow orders or do what my gut says is right?

A week later, my mom’s friends arrived with food, wine and love. They showered her with their love and care plus plates full of delicacies. I have an album full of photos that show my mom and her friends smiling, laughing and enjoying life.

She thanked me after for such a wonderful party.

Sometimes, life offers you tough problems – ones that twist you up inside and make you worried about the outcome. From the outside, it appeared that I was uncaring of my mom’s opinions and wishes, but on the inside, I wanted to show her how loved she was.

I did it because I wanted her to feel loved and happy.

That’s the key to doing the right thing – acting in a way that you can feel proud of, even if it looks wrong.

Welcome, all you StumbleUpon travelers. May I recommend discovering how you can travel the world from your bed? Perhaps being a Maximalist might be your thing? Maybe you need 4 money making methods to fund your dreams?
Thanks for stopping by!

Explore the Web!

2011-12-14T03:11:00.001+13:00

I love seeing into other people's lifestyles, how about a day in Alaska!

Think fast! You've overslept and you're ten minutes late, how to look great in a rush.

Missing fresh flavors in your life? Bo ssam will wake up your tastebuds!

15 golden rules to live by while traveling the world. Insightful and really useful!

How to skyline = highlining + base jumping. Believe you can fly!

It doesn't matter if you're single or married - 20 things to do that will raise your vibration in life.

Turn your own handwriting into a font, creative!

Greeting card DIY just in time for some holiday hellos.

8 posters for the nerd in all of us.

Looking for a beautiful and inspiring gift? Your friends will love this!

Melt. my. heart. This website takes your photo and matches you with a dog needing adoption! (I was matched with a greyhound/mastiff mix - perfect. If only I could have a dog.)

What internet gems have you found?

Life's Little Instructions

2011-12-12T22:00:00.000+13:00

Source: sueswink.tumblr.com via Halley on Pinterest

What would you put on this list?

Guest Post: The Travel Girl's Travel Essentials

2011-12-11T22:00:00.001+13:00

This glorious guest post is from Tara over at Deer in a Bottle. Peep into her gorgeous blog and delightful shop.

Hi Life of Something New readers! Packing for a vacation can be exciting and stressful at the same time. For me, I usually pack last minute and end up forgetting something essential for my trip. However, I love figuring out which outfits or items to bring with me. Here are some travel essentials that will make your trip more fun and more stylish!

1. A super comfy shirt from Gina Tricot is perfect for exploring, plus it matches anything.

2. You'll need as much sleep as you can get with an eye mask from Liberty.

3. Carry all your essentials in this roomy yet adorable Modella Morning Glory makeup bag.

4. A Concord leather bag lets you pack all your clothes while still looking fashionable.

5. Black skinny jeans from TopShop are great for day and night activities.

6. Don't ever leave home without a Lomo camera for capturing all your travel memories.

7. You'll be ready to walk all over town in these comfy ballet flats from H&M.

8. Avoid boredom on the airplane with an Ipod.

9. You'll be thankful for bringing along a Vio toothbrush sanitizer.

10. Bring a simple necklace that goes with all your outfits, like a layering gemstone necklace from Deer in a Bottle.

Do What You Feel...

2011-12-10T22:00:00.000+13:00

Guest Post: A Day in Melbourne, Australia

2011-12-09T22:00:00.000+13:00

Hello! I'm Sharni from The Pieces, for my guest post I thought I would show you all a day in the life with a photo an hour! I live in Melbourne, Australia and this is my average day when I go to work in the city. I tried to take a photo an hour but don't have time during work. I hope you like seeing a small snap shot of my day :)

6:45 am. Blues skies today! This is the view from my back door.

Michael Bublé

2011-12-08T22:00:00.000+13:00

This song, these images, encapsulate what it feels like to have Christmas in New England. It's a pretty unique experience, and one of my favorites.

What are the holidays like where you're from?

How to Turn Your Relationships Into Pure Gold

2011-12-07T22:00:00.000+13:00

Ah, relationships. They come in variety of flavors: platonic, romantic, complicated, distant, close. A veritable cornucopia. Once seasoned with time, stress and a dash of boredom, they tend to fray at the edges.

Fear not! I've figured out the optimum way to preserve your relationships and still express yourself.

Here's the problem that causes the most friction. You, me, and our friends we start thinking in the short-term. We forget that what we want in the short-term is sometimes at the cost of long-term goals.

Examples! I demand examples!

Your partner's family is having another dinner this week (for the past 6 weeks) but you two haven't had any alone time since the space launch.
Your long-term goal is to keep your relationship thriving, right? So, never make your partner choose between you and their family, it gets ugly fast; I'm speaking from experience on this one. Take a deep breath, be grateful your partner is family-oriented and then propose a date night. Tell them you need it cuz you're running low on romantic fuel.

Your brother/sister is dating a douche-bag (insert own reasons here) and your frustration increases exponentially in their presence.
As noted above, you love your brother/sister, but no way are they going to appreciate hearing how their smookie-wookie-whatever-lumps is a three-headed demon from Hades. Take a deep breath, realize long-term you just want to keep your relationship with your sibling strong and suggest doing some one-on-one bonding, sibling style. If they bring up relationship problems with Cerberus, just listen to them and support them, don't say anything bad about their lovely demon spawn.

Your aunt/uncle is bad-mouthing a close-relative of yours.
Oh, just in time for the holidays! Gotta love alcohol and loose boundaries. You look them straight in the eyes and say 'Huh, I really like him/her and they always have lovely things to say about you.' Then change the subject and pretend like it never happened. Family is a great thing. To thrive, all close, wonderful relationships need boundaries. Put your foot down and then move along. Don't gossip about it, don't pass along the ugly, just stop it in it's tracks and move along.

Your friend is once again talking about how they blame their parents/high-school math teacher/pet chihuahua for their life/body/career/romantic mistakes. Yay!
Nothing is as wonderful as supporting a friend in a time of need. When it starts to become an era of need, things can start to feel rough. Take a second to evaluate - are they always this way or just lately? Is this friendship going to work long-term? If you're in it for the long-haul, help them take their mind off of their problems and let them know you think they're capable of succeeding. Let them know you need to have fun/intellectual discussions/knitting sessions with them to appreciate the relationship, get the focus off the negative.

In a nutshell: long-term relationships need a wider perspective. Take a step back and figure out what's more important. Say what you need. It's ok to want to gossip/share your opinion/bitch but save that for something trivial that won't wear on your significant relationships.

Any advice for making long-term, close relationships go smoothly?

How to Have a Meaningful Christmas

2011-12-07T04:38:00.001+13:00

Christmas is a wonderful holiday. The rich smell of pine, a cozy house nestled in the snow, the ethereal lights amidst the early darkness; it's invigorating to the senses. The beauty of Christmas seems to get lost amidst the hurry and flurry of shopping malls, perfect presents and over-commitments. Let's pare this Christmas down to something meaningful and enjoyable.

You spend hours rushing around in the mall, leaving you drained emotionally and financially.

Simplify your gift-giving list. Family, friends, flatmates, co-workers - start a system where you only need to give one gift. Pick a name out of a hat and leave it at that.

You don't know what present to get them so you buy the first thing that looks semi-acceptable, leaving you without the Christmas cheer.

Don't buy them a physical present. Rushed-off-their-feet parents? One night to a local hotel. Perpetually-hungry college kid? Voucher to a supermarket or a monthly subscription to a CSA. Adventurer? Find a new activity to explore - swing dancing, ice climbing, fly fishing. Double-bonus: most of these you can buy online, meaning your time spent is minimal!

You spend three whole days up to Christmas cooking, cleaning and making the house look festive, by the time the guests get there you want them out.

Delegate. Are you hosting Christmas every year? Take turns with your other family members. Doing all the cooking? Ask everyone to bring a dish of their favorite Christmas foods; it makes it fun and interesting. Need help decorating? Invite them over early to help you set up, lay out cookies and coco, put some carols on - make it fun and make memories.

You can't make your Christmas dinner with family because of shift work, traffic, Godzilla, babies, etc...

That's fine. It's just a day. What's important about this and any other holiday is enjoying it and being with your family. You can get together on another day. I've had Thanksgiving in the middle of summer, I've had Christmas a week late and it still works.

Relax and enjoy the holidays. They're magical.

How do you make the holidays enjoyable and not stressful?

I See My Path

2011-12-06T04:39:00.001+13:00

Cookies For Nice People Are the Best Kind

2011-12-04T03:51:00.001+13:00

Coffee makes my day go smoothly. It might be a mental game I'm playing, since I functioned as well as, if not better, when I didn't drink it. Being back in Glastonbury, I have only had one thing stay constant and that's coffee and where I get it.

I'm pretty fortunate that I like to talk to people and that my face doesn't scare small children or the average adult (after coffee, no guarantees before.) So, I got to know all the lovely coffee ninjas behind the counter at the local coffee shop. Over the past few months, I've gotten to know more about them, gotten their names confused, and made a few syntactical mistakes ("liced latte" and "gingerbeard latte.") Thankfully, they're forgiving about the names and have a better grasp of English than I do.

They were also really kind to me about my mom and when she passed. It really helped.

So, what do you do with a drunken sailor? Get him a coffee!

What do you do for nice people? Bake them cookies!

That's what I did today. Slid a plate full of cookies to a group of kind people who make a difference, mentally.

Getting to Know You

2011-12-02T22:00:00.000+13:00

Hey friends!

Remember how I introduced this awesome, get to know new people idea? ( I love meeting new people!)

Well, I'm upping the ante. Everyone who refers a friend to follow Life of Something New gets a free week of basking in the limelight! (Make sure they mention your name when they send in their ad.)

It'll be a massive party over here at Life of Something New and you can be the star for a week.

This applies to everyone!

Tell your friends and let them know to join our group and let's get this party rolling!

Start sending in your ads and witty one-liners about yourselves to lifeofsomethingnew@gmail.com

Offer expires 31st December.

Explore the Web!

2011-12-01T22:00:00.000+13:00

That's right, Today, you were inspiring.

I went caving once, there was a lot of scooting on my butt in the dark. It was an awesome experience! How to become a good caver.

Winter is here but salads are still taking the limelight - 20 salads hearty enough for dinner.

Do you buy all the equipment for snowboarding for a one-day trip instead of running shoes you use every day?

I adore this woman's style, especially this outfit, perfectly masculine and feminine.

Looking for minimalist fonts for a sleek design?

Get the maximum enjoyment out of your clothes - when to wash it handbook!

How to make a dream come true in 30 days.

Looking to brighten up your living space? Top tips for choosing color for your home.

It's all about working smarter, not harder, ya'll.

Double win: How to pack for a long holiday weekend and how to pack for a Christmas trip home.

What do you do when you need to feed a tiny chihuahua with an appetite of a dinosaur? Open a card store, of course.

The beauty industry, so fickle and so fun. See how it affects women.

Help with hook-ups!

How did Today inspire you?

Cab Calloway

2011-11-30T22:00:00.000+13:00

Cab Calloway... you sing like you dance, Scat man. Which is mighty impressive.

Beautiful Things

2011-11-29T22:00:00.000+13:00

I sometimes forget a beautiful thing is not a perfect thing.

When I go to pick it up, I think, "Oh no, what if I mess it up."

Beautiful things are imperfect.

They are beautiful because of their imperfections.

It Is The Mark...

2011-11-28T22:00:00.000+13:00

Meet Someone New!

2011-11-27T22:00:00.000+13:00

Life of Something New is growing in leaps and bounds. In the past month page views have tripled. Whew, thanks so much, new buddies! To keep this fresh friendship bubbling along, I'm offering a tiny present.

Follow Life of Something New on Google Friend Connect (on the right sidebar, over there ->) before December 31st and you get one week of being in the spotlight!*

That's right, one week each of getting our full attention, so you don't feel like the middle child.

Here's what you do:

Click 'Follow.'

Make an ad for your blog/etsy shop (150x150 px)

Whip up one line about you, including a link (or highlight one of your favorite/popular posts.)

Email it to lifeofsomethingnew@gmail.com

For my devoted friends who've followed me from the beginning, I offer... snail mail! Email me your address and I'll send a card + tiny trinket to you, no matter how far away we are. X

Friendship - it's what's for dinner.

*This offer is valid only for blogs and Etsy shops.

Retro LSN: Mating Habits of India

2011-11-27T04:16:00.000+13:00

This is a retro-post of Life of Something New. I'm looking for more people to participate, if you're from South America, Europe or Asia - I would love to hear from you. X Halley

A good friend of mine is Swedish and we were comparing the differences between mating habits of Sweden and New Zealand. So here are our observations.

Courtship
NZ: The guy will hold the door for you. He'll even walk on the inside of sidewalk to protect you from being splashed by cars.
Sweden: Guys go first. They don't think about it.

Dating
NZ: Guys will usually buy the meal on the date.
Sweden: Everyone pays for their own (go dutch).

Relationship
NZ: Couples buy houses, have kids all without being married. No order or rules. NZ recognizes couples as de facto relationship after 2 years of being together, they also recognize same sex marriage.
Sweden: Same. No rules about the way to do it. Recognize same sex marriage.

Proposal
NZ: Man usually proposes to the woman. She wears an engagement ring. Ideally romantic.
Sweden: Couple decide to get married, shop for rings together. They both wear an engagement ring. Pretty practical.

Marriage Ceremony
NZ: Father usually gives away daughter to groom
Sweden: Couple walks down aisle together

What culture differences have you experienced?

Pop Into The Freedom Experiment

2011-11-26T03:13:00.000+13:00

Pop on over to The Freedom Experiment to read my guest post, 'Why doing the right thing can seem wrong.'

While you're there, check out these inspiring articles - three of my favorites - 'Create a regular creative or spiritual practice', 'Make a dream come true in 30 days', and '55 gentle ways to take care of yourself when you're busy, busy, busy.'

Gratitude on a Day of Thanks Giving

2011-11-25T04:08:00.001+13:00

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. All you need is gratitude and food to make it a success. It's traditional to say what you're thankful for before the meal is eaten. Usually, it's a roasted turkey with stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, pearl onions and cranberry sauce that adorns our table.

What I'm feeling grateful for:

Being with my mom to the last beat.
The kindness of everyone who supported and sent in postcards for SOS: Send Love.
Amazing fellow adventurers who leave wonderful, kind comments to boost my spirits.
A supportive family who helps me succeed.

Mr. C who is four weeks away from making the long-trip back to the States from New Zealand, to be with me for the holidays.

I want to know what you're thankful for, what makes you say a sweet prayer of thanks every day?

New Business Cards!

2011-11-24T03:44:00.000+13:00

I got myself an early Christmas present... new business cards for Life of Something New! I found a great printing company called Moo and I'm udderly (tee hee) delighted with the finished product. Sustainable materials, bright colors, great feel and fast delivery!

What topped it off for me was that they offer pre-made designs that are quirky-cool. So I slapped a compass rose on the back, slid in my order and then squirmed with delight when they arrived! The front of these are Cockney rhyming slang and the unusual and fun slang is definitely Something New!

Do you have business cards? What do they look like?

The Many Layers of Pleasure

2011-11-23T06:15:00.001+13:00

Well-painted nails, the soft warm breeze of Autumn, a good hair day, the feel of a thick sweater, a gentle, caring hug from a friend, the aroma of garlic sautéing - these are layers of pleasure.

Thick and thin, they bring your senses to life.

I've been pretty quiet and sad lately, and in this stillness, I kept noticing small things that gave me a spark of happiness, of delight. In my lovely dedication to worrying, I fretted that being so enchanted by the way a sweater feels against my skin would make me shallow - fickle even. Then I noticed that, as I layered on the pleasure, I fell more in love with life.

We rush around, trying to do as much as we can in life, so we feel like we've accomplished something, that we made the most of our time. I propose that if we stop ignoring the delights around us, we'll feel satisfied. We'll make better use of our time. Have dreams and follow them, just make sure to bring your layers of pleasure with you, because life is more than a checklist.

Layer on the pleasure and enjoy life.

What's bringing you pleasure, right now?

Relaxing Like An Owl

2011-11-21T22:00:00.000+13:00

Watching this movie was like getting a head massage: soothing with a touch of adorable.

Two of my lovely friends came down from Massachusetts to hang out with me. We did the simple stuff - walking around town, getting a coffee and eating at a nice restaurant. One of the highlights was getting my hair brushed - so enjoyable!! It's the ultimate way to reduce stress and a great bonding moment with friends.

What's your favorite, simple way to relax?

Side-note: I got some special news in the mail this week; my residency application has been approved. I'm going to be a New Zealand resident!

Anthems

2011-11-20T22:00:00.000+13:00

This is the American national anthem. I like to think it's about love and freedom, but the interpretation is loose.

This is the New Zealand anthem and I adore how it first is sung in Maori then English. Fun fact: Maori and New Zealand sign language are New Zealand's official languages, not English.

It's interesting how much the anthem shows about the country's culture and viewpoints.

Heard any interesting anthems or international fun facts?

Ever Since Happiness...

2011-11-19T22:00:00.000+13:00

Explore the Web!

2011-11-18T22:00:00.000+13:00

20 awesome travel jobs and how to get them!!

A creative challenge that I love: Be an explorer!

Hola, Mexico! You're looking fun, safe and ever-so-close: 5 sweet adventures in Mexico

The perfect breakfast - baked oatmeal (custard + oatmeal's love child).

Everything you need for swashbuckling adventure in Sweden (Europe's last wilderness)

I have a fear of these - Bedbug registry.

Wonderful comfort food - crispy sweet potato fries and sriracha mayo dip.

How to fix. anything.

I'm a font-a-holic, so it makes me tingle when I see fonts in use.

What captures your attention on the internet?

SOS: Send Love: the Metamorphosis

2011-11-17T22:00:00.000+13:00

Mom's last party with her friends went really well, tons of laughter, great food and plenty of drink. What really made it was the people involved; they lifted her spirits and brought her happiness.

SOS: Send Love did the same. Everyone who sent in a postcard took the moment to help my mom visit amazing places around the world. Thanks for taking the time to do that. It brought her immeasurable happiness.

I'm sad to say that the project SOS: Send Love is now closed.

All those wonderful postcards with snippets of love and sunshine aren't done, just yet.

SOS: Send Love is metamorphosing into a book. A book about love, travel and postcards in times of darkness.

Thus begins the next adventure.

Thank you for all your help. You've changed the course of lives.

Death is a Fart Joke Gone Wrong

2011-11-16T22:00:00.000+13:00

Claire and I did a post exchange on death a few weeks back. This was my post.

Death and dying aren’t something that most people are comfortable with. When people ask me how my mom is doing, I usually have to scrape up something to say like, "She’s keeping her spirits up" or "Still got cancer." It’s awkward for everyone. What do you say? How do you act? It’s like an elephant in the room has just farted in your face. You slowly want to baaack away from the stench of tense conversations.

My mom was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer and it’s been the most poignant experience of my life. I’ve felt a lot of intense emotions - despair, hope, joy, sadness. What’s unexpected is that there are positives; although they certainly don’t outweigh the unfairness that she’s sick, they help ease the pain.

She is surrounded by people who love her. The end of someone's life is when you see the essence of their existence. She's uplifted by friends who go out of their way to make her comfortable, happy and cared for. There is a constant stream of visitors popping in to check in on her. Which has been in part because as a massage therapist she was there to help people feel better, to ease their suffering and was always willing to go above and beyond to bring relief.

Her spirituality has been her constant companion. My mom believes in meaning in life and death, which is a solace for her in this trying time. Her beliefs give comfort and meaning to this unfortunate event.

Gratitude. Enjoying the last bits of life and being grateful for them. A tiny bite of a honeycrisp apple, roasted brussel sprouts and pumpkin soup are on her list of things she doesn’t take for granted anymore. Lying in her own bed versus being in hospice brings her so much joy, and it’s all a satisfying experience.

This is a worst case scenario, but even then it still has its up points, showing that life has a lot of offer us even when we’re at our lowest. This is why we need to talk about it, to give ourselves the chance to live fully. It’s awkward and serious but it makes us stronger and deepens our connection with life.

If it gets too heavy, you can always lighten it with a fart joke.

Gratitude

2011-11-15T22:00:00.000+13:00

Celebrate With Memories

2011-11-14T22:00:00.000+13:00

The memories of my mom surround me, comforting me and reminding me.

One of them is so small, it's weird how it stands out.

It's a warm Fall afternoon, I've just gotten a second round of coffee. Mom's room is off the living room and she's lying down in bed. I'm buzzed on coffee and can't sit still for too long, so I'm scooting around the house. Mom laughs and tells me I sound cute. I smile and we chat across the apartment about my upcoming weekend away. That was the last day we of us living together.

Do you have any fond memories of loved ones gone?

A Tribute To Sandy Waldau

2011-11-13T14:05:00.001+13:00

This Saturday, the 12th of November, my mom, Sandra Waldau passed away. Her best friend of 35 years and I holding her hands and talking to her about what a wonderful person she is. I watched as the pulse in her neck faded slowly with her breath.

She is inspiring, adventurous and loving. I'm so thankful for being there with her in those last breaths and letting her know she is well-loved. Lover of beauty, large words and hugs, my mother is an amazing lady.

I love you, mom. You'll be sorely missed.

Life Including Cupcakes

2011-11-12T22:00:00.000+13:00

Life can be a tad bitter sometimes, so it was with delight that I found these cupcakes. There's this great bakery, Sugarbelle in Glastonbury, that makes specialty cupcakes. As soon as you walk in, the air smells like raspberries and sugar.

A small delight is definitely an everyday necessity. Especially, with these amazing flavors!

*Chocolate mint

* Caramel Macchiato

* Raspberry almond

* Cookie dough

* Apple crisp

* S'mores (the tiny marshmallows are adorable)

Any great cupcake flavors making you jump for joy?

High Five Sponsors!

2011-11-11T22:00:00.000+13:00

Did I ever tell you how over the moon I am, about my sponsors? They fill my life with delight and joy. Let me introduce you to these amazing people!

1000 Days to Ruta 40: {Ewa} One woman planning, visualizing and savoring the journey of preparing for running/biking Route 40 in Argentina. Take a look at Patagonia!

Lape Soetan: {Lape} Fellow adventuress who loves travel, pop music and living it up in Nigeria. What do you think of destination weddings?

A Mexican in Scotland: {Sabrina} Meet cute boy in hardware store. Get married. Get accepted into Vet school. Move to Scotland. Have tons of adventures! About being 26 and reading a 4th grade math book.

Reinvented in Seattle: {Samantha} She found herself staring in a mirror, discontent, so she reinvented her life. How to be a lovacore.

Love & Adventure: Bursting full of great travel tips and beer! Travel tip!

Nobody Too: {Courtney} A lover of zombies, tattoos, sunshine and bad movies. We all need one - emotional emergency plan.

Davinia Hamilton: {Davinia} Originally from sunny Malta, Davinia left to live in misty Dublin while writing and photographing her adventures! How to be a writer with a cause is truly inspiring.

A Sweet Release: {Annika} She wanted a ring, he gave her a blog, now two years later they've got an inspirational guidebook of love and fun! Pass or fail, Pinterest?

Yes and Yes: {Sarah} Lady knows how to travel and pack light, it's funny, smart and inspirational, everything a renaissance woman needs for life. Fancy and easy - 3 product makeup bag.

The Pieces: {Sharni} Traveler, baker and new-born Etsy shop owner, sneak a peek!

Deer in a Bottle: {Tara} My personal guru of design plus a champion of travel. I love, love, love her Typography Tuesdays.

General Overachiever: {Claire} Music extraordinaire, travel-lover and all over awesomeness. On being fucking awesome.

Guest Post: How to Make Friends When Travelling Solo

2011-11-10T22:00:00.000+13:00

This wonderful guest post is by Lape, an all-round adventuress with a love of holidays, pop music and glossy magazines. Pop in and say 'hi'!

You’ve decided to travel and you’ll be going solo. Although you plan to travel alone, it doesn’t mean you want to be on your own every minute of everyday so what do you do? How do you make friends when you’ll only be in a particular place for a short period of time? Never fear. Here’s how:

Keep an open mind. You can make friends anywhere – even on the queue for the loo. You never know.
New friends don’t have to look like your old friends. So if most of your friends back home tend to be small and dark, it doesn’t mean you should ignore the tall, light woman smiling at you. Having said that, trust your instincts. If your gut says not to trust someone, don’t.
Learn the art of making conversation. If someone asks you a question, after answering, ask them an open-ended question in return. This means asking a question that requires more than ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as an answer. For example, instead of asking ‘Is this your first time in Lagos?’, ask ‘What brings you to Lagos?’
Smile! It makes you look more approachable. Also, sunglasses may look cool but to would-be friends who can’t see your eyes, they make you look cold.
Keep your eyes open for other solo travelers. They’ll probably be just as eager to make friends as you are.
If you spot a solo traveler holding a camera, offer to take a photograph of them. They’ll probably offer to take a photograph of you in return. This simple barter system is an easy way to start a conversation.

Remember: be safe, be open and before you know it, you’ll be making friends wherever you go.

Any tips for making friends on the fly?

The Past

2011-11-09T22:00:00.000+13:00

Explore the Web!

2011-11-08T22:00:00.001+13:00

Fun fact: CT has a state insect - the Praying Mantis. They also make gorgeous weathervanes.

This is inspiring, take your dream and then visualize it.

Still celebrating Halloween, you lucky ghoul, you? Costumes for glasses wearers.

Perfect gift for the entrepreneur in your life.

Sarah Von, helps us with Work vs. Life, Fun vs. Money.

Tell us who you are. No, seriously!

On the other hand, maybe you shouldn't tell us everything about you, including rectal exams!

Set your life on fire (not literally)! Live alive, not just a life: guidelines for rebelling against "Reality".

Did I ever tell you, I'm kind of awkward when it comes to dancing? It was with a quiet sigh of relief when I read how Lady Pants Dance learnt how to dance.

The ever important travel tip about international restaurant reservations.

Why you'll never get over anxiety.

I don’t get anxious because I’m un-evolved, spiritually deficient or lacking in self-esteem — it’s because it’s a natural human response to the unknown: hard-wired into us from the beginning of time.

What have baubles of internet wisdom have you unearthed?

How to Fix Up Two Awesome People... and Then Run for the Hills

2011-11-07T22:00:00.001+13:00

Nothing is as exciting as first love. The sort that has you giggling at every small joke, feeling electrified at the softest touch and sighing when out of sight of your beloved.

Now imagine you created it - the ultimate power!

My friend, Ewa and I decided that we too, wanted to create love. That way we could put it on our resumes - matchmaker extraordinaire. Impressive.

We found two, single, awesome friends - funny, interesting with full lives and then smooshed them together with panache and food. Voila! It worked, they had a successful first date, full of fun and excitement.

My co-schemer and I created three essential rules to a successful set up of a blind date.

Rule #1: We don't tell them anything about the other person beforehand. Thus, bypassing the awkward 'is she tall?' Or, 'how big are his eyes?' The questions will be endless, all they have to know is that it's a date. Do they want to try something new or pass on by?

Rule #2: We arranged the first date details - restaurant, time, day. We chose a down to earth, fun, affordable restaurant, nothing fussy. That way neither need to worry about impressing the other with their choice. We also had an exit strategy for them - one had a party they needed to go to, if it went well, they'd go together, if it didn't, they'd part.

Rule #3: We didn't ask for details. {The hardest rule by far} You get everything ready and you set them free! Although, Ewa and I wanted to call/text them every five minutes we had to hold each other back. No relationship can withstand being under constant surveillance. Step back and let them come to you. Don't pass on any sensitive information to the other side.

Have you set up any blind dates?

Aftermath of the Snow

2011-11-06T22:00:00.000+13:00

A snow storm is soft, quiet and cozy. It's the perfect setting for family and friends to gather with hot coco, blankets and board games to wait for the transformation to take effect. When I left my mom with her friend to travel up to Massachusetts, I was excited about my first snow storm in years.

SOS: Postcard

2011-11-05T22:00:00.000+13:00

This is one of the postcards sent from around the world to my mom, who has terminal cancer. Check out the beginning here.

Kenya

"Dear Mrs. Waldau,

I guess I'm a bit late to the party but I've just seen your daughter's blog post. Greetings from Nairobi! I am sending you two leopards because they are extremely difficult to see (the only animals I have never seen in the wild here) so if you were able to visit Kenya, they're what I would hope for you to see. But you'd definitely see lots of lions & giraffes & & zebras. All best wishes to you and your family."

(This postcard had a sweet, tiny lion drawn on the back with the note "Here's a lion, very life like." So cute!)

SOS: Postcard

2011-11-04T22:00:00.000+13:00

This is one of the postcards sent from around the world to my mom, who has terminal cancer. Check out the beginning here.

England

"Hello darling - I haven't got a postcard, but here is a photo I took last year on a spring evening. We went for a walk to a great big lawn between two beaches here in Falmouth, Cornwall, England. It was one of those beautiful, balmy almost - summer evenings, and I was running around in my white summer dress. I might send you another postcard from Norway in a month - I've just finished three years of study in England. Hope you're okay. S"

SOUP

2011-11-04T01:07:00.002+13:00

I'm starting to get sick and the idea of soup always appeals.

What's your favorite soup to eat when you're not feeling well?

SOS: Postcard

2011-11-02T22:00:00.000+13:00

This is one of the postcards sent from around the world to my mom, who has terminal cancer. Check out the beginning here.

Korea

"Hi Sandy!

This postcard is of Seoul Tower - at the top, along the fence, couples put a lock with their names on it and then throw away the key to show their love will last forever. There are so many locks now that the fence has started to bend!

Best wishes and much love from Korea!

Life Before the Internet, Courtesy of Snow

2011-11-02T07:02:00.002+13:00

There's nothing as peaceful as the soft sound of snow falling to the ground. Bundled up in comforters with family around, mellowing out in front of a fire. Imagine my surprise when the early snowstorm wipes out 100% of my town's electricity. 100%!!! Trees and power lines decorate the streets with a scanty covering of snow.

I've driven two hours to get somewhere with heat, power and internet. A bingo hard to find in the surrounding areas.

I'll load up pictures and share them soon.

Till then, hold tight and our regular programming will be back as scheduled tomorrow.

Explore the Web!

2011-11-01T22:00:00.000+13:00

Apple cider doughnuts are amazing, make a mountain of them for a Heavenly experience!

Hitting it on the head - 10 ways your website is breaking my heart.

No matter how old you are - dress up and stay active. Such sweet photos.

8 things white people will never know about travel. They were right.

Do it yourself: curling wand for perfect fall waves.

Pumpkins abound, why not make sweet pumpkin butter.

Love of comics + flashy wallet = wonder wallet!

Fantastic - travel essentials you didn't know you needed.

Because I wonder how it works in other places: guide for getting laid in Bangkok (NSFW)

Something that fits in your pocket that you need while traveling.

Considering I'm one of their customers, this worries me...

What links have you giggling with glee?

The Secret to a Good Party

2011-10-29T22:00:00.000+13:00

Hi Halley, I like the idea of building my community but I have to admit, I'm not very good at it. I like the idea of hosting parties and get-togethers but I never really like the reality because I spend the entire time wondering if everyone is having fun (and trying to make sure they do). Also, my friends are so diverse, some simply don't 'get' each other and I'm always nervous about throwing people like that together. I don't know how to get around these issues. Do you have any ideas?

There can be a lot of anxiety, worrying about if the party will go well. I used to worry heaps before a big party/get together especially since I'd invite everyone I knew, but I wasn't sure if they'd get along.

One day before a party, I was getting wound up, 'what if no one shows?' or 'what if they don't like each other?' or 'DID I GET ENOUGH FOOD/DRINK TO SATISFY THEIR HUNGER???? WHAT IF THEY BECOME CANNIBALS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DIP???'.

Not pretty.

Then I figured out the worst case scenarios - no one might show. I might be home alone with a mountain of Cheetos and Pepsi (I was fifteen). And, that was ok. I'd just relax and not worry about it because I knew that if no one showed, I'd have fun. I couldn't make them show; I'm always grateful when friends show to my parties. It takes time and effort for them to come and I appreciate that. If they don't, I don't put it against them.

What if they didn't like each other? Well. They might not. Which means that they'll either stay away from each other or not show next time. No big. I decided I wasn't going to try and make everyone get along. If they did, bonus! If they didn't, meh. Not all my friends need to like each other. It's not a big deal to me. It's more important that they have fun; they can do that with the other people at the party.

What if they become cannibals because there's not enough dip?? People are like goldfish, they'll adapt to their environment. Also, it allows for spontaneous baking - science for hungry people!

You're the hostess. You give your friends the opportunity to have fun, meet new people and eat tasty nibbles. It's up to them what they do with it. Let yourself have fun and enjoy being surrounded by friends.

Unpack: Minimalism

2011-10-28T22:00:00.000+13:00

Looking at the things I am bound to inherit (hopefully in the distant future), I can't help but wonder why I'd keep all of it. My mother's taste is for high-quality and great design, but will I ever really feel comfortable using crystal wine glasses? I can only imagine worrying when I give them out to guests and heaven forbid, someone should break one. Although every piece is so beautiful, I'm uncomfortable being surrounded by lots of things, let alone delicate ones. It makes my skin crawl with anxiety. Which is why the idea of minimalism appeals to me.

Do you hide away your good silverware/linens/shoes/pants/earrings or use them every day?

Are you surrounded by many things or few?

Would you care if your stuff went missing/broken or simply live without it?

When do you stop buying/collecting?

Brand new or second hand?

Do you always want to be prepared, just in case you need a clothespin/lemon juicer/shoe shining kit or do you worry about it when the time comes?

A few high-quality pieces or many affordable ones?

Does owning stuff bring you anxiety or contentment?

What is your take on material goods?

Photo Safari: New York City

2011-10-27T22:00:00.000+13:00

Hey New York City!

I've never really taken the time to get to know you, although we lived so close, but then I took the plunge. I did make a couple mistakes on my way to see you - I didn't know where my bus was picking up, my phone had no credit (thankfully you still have pay phones), and unknowingly I had no money in my account. Not a fortuitous beginning for our friendship but then you showed me why people love you: the hustle and bustle, bright lights, yellow cabs, and great fashion. It was exactly how I imagined you'd be and how the movies portray you. Glamorous, gritty and fun.

My best memories of you:

* Eating at Planet Hollywood and having a naked Sylvester Stallone hanging above me

* Being hit on by Cookie Monster

* Window shopping

* New York pizza - gooey cheese, fragrant tomato sauce, crisp base

* Going into Toys 'R' Us and seeing a full size ferris wheel inside, along with a T-rex.

* Naked cowboy

* Food carts on every corner

* Buying $5 tickets to a comedy club only to find out there's a 2 drink minimum (curses!)

* $5 scarves!

* Navigating New York streets and walking fast like a pro

Thanks New York City, you were fun. We'll meet again soon.

X Halley

(photo of the naked cowboy after the jump!)

November Ad Space

2011-10-26T22:00:00.000+13:00

That is how you'll feel when you advertise on Life of Something New. So. much. joy.

November ad space is available.

Wanna swap ads? Grab a button or request a special size and let the happiness begin!

Email Halley at lifeofsomethingnew(at)gmail.com

Explore the Web!

2011-10-25T22:00:00.000+13:00

Flying back to New Zealand includes a 12 hour flight. Now, I can understand why sleeping on a plane is so tricky.

Why asking 'why' won't help.

A Buddhist's perspective on Occupy Wall Street.

I love the idea of secret places all over the world, scattered like gems.

Good title - Masturbation is totally gay.

How to be totally perfect in only one hour a day!

Do you have a gf/bf who works long hours? Write them sweet, encouraging notes!

Want to have children right. now. but don't have a partner? Inspiring.

I dream of you, crispy Southwest chicken wraps... I bet you'd be good with tofu, too.

What an amazing Aerial Ninja!

It is never too late to help with a postcard!

What great links have you uncovered this week?

Three Ways to Choose Where to Travel

2011-10-24T22:00:00.000+13:00

There are three timeless ways to choose travel destinations; not all are for the faint-hearted.

How do you decide where to visit?

SOS: Postcard

2011-10-24T04:02:00.000+13:00

Australia

"Dear Sandy,

The air smells + tastes salty as the wind rushes through your hair as we drive the winding path of the Great Ocean Rd on the way to Melbourne. Our bellies are full from a seafood lunch of lobster and prawns from local fishermen, and the sunshine dances on the water as far as we can see."

Don't Think

2011-10-22T22:00:00.000+13:00

I'm an over-thinker and it doesn't solve my problems, but instead, makes them grow.

What about you, do you over-think things?

Photo Safari: Fall in Maine

2011-10-21T22:00:00.000+13:00

Maine is a place where the mind, body and soul can rest. The quiet will wash over you like a gentle wave and lift you up on it's peacefulness. I would drive for hours to get there. Being near the water and in the middle of nature makes me forget my worries.

The cherry on top is that fall is here. Turning the trees into debutantes, who are unsure of what to wear. The grays and blues of the water and sky creating the perfect backdrop for the jewel colors of their leaf dresses.

The leaves are changing up and I sneak up on them, trying to capture their glory.

Music to Drive to

2011-10-20T22:00:00.000+13:00

I love driving. It helps me decompress, watching the scenery shoot by, the vibrating motion of the car. It all adds up to a restful experience for me. Pumping up the tunes on the radio and singing/bobbing along is my method of choice for looking like a goon. I'm sorta shy to admit that I like what's been playing (repeatedly) on the radio lately. You may have heard these already but I can't get enough, they make me wanna dance.

What songs make you wanna dance?

Love Your Body! Right. Now.

2011-10-20T02:09:00.002+13:00

Baggy sweater, cargo pants, sports bra - an every day armor. I spent my high school years shielding myself from the outside world with these clothes. I didn't attract anyone's attention, I slid by.

While my classmates were dating, I was training horses.
While they were drinking, I was becoming a black belt in karate.
While they were partying, I was reading and planning my future.

I did things in high school that make me proud. I knew what I wanted and went for it. I didn't love the way I looked and had wanted a boyfriend, but I made the most out of my life, which is important. I could have spent those four years, trying to fit in and get attention. Instead, I figured out what I wanted to do and did it.

When I moved to New Zealand, I met a friend who helped me pick out my first bra. When I moved into my first flat, I started wearing more feminine clothes. When I was ready, I began peeling off those layers of armor to begin a new adventure - dating.

I love the way I look, I love the life I lead, I love the people in my life.
I love who I am and who I was. I love how I've changed.

I have made so many mistakes but that is a part of me. I'm imperfect and loving it.

Loving yourself is an action - you need to do it, to make it work. Continue loving yourself by bringing more of what you want into your life. And if you need to hide from the world for a day, wear a baggy sweater.

This post is a part of the 2011 NOW Love Your Body Day Blog Carnival.

Check out how Annika learned to love herself.

SOS: Postcard

2011-10-19T03:43:00.000+13:00

India

"Sandy,
The Ganuhal Himalayas - the foot hills - work out just fine if you haven't the time to go higher up. The air is clearer and fresher than anything you've ever breathed and even if this photo is too saturated, even the colours up there seem brighter so this is a pretty accurate representation. the tea up there warms you to your bones and your hair will never get greasy - not even after a couple weeks without a wash. The views are spectacular from everywhere. I'm heading back up that way this August, I'll make sure to mail you a postcard from Ladakh. Be well. "

Unpack: Blog Design

2011-10-17T22:00:00.000+13:00

Tinker, tinker, tinker, tinker. I've been tinkering with my blog and it's layout for a while now- learning new techniques and tips as I go. What I'm really interested in, is what you think.

What makes or breaks it for you in blog style/design?

What makes your eye-balls drool with design envy or roll up in horror?

What are your favorite fonts?

Three columns or two?

Sliding photos or snapshots?

All white and black, or color?

Lots of photos or none?

A spattering of bold, underlined or italic text?

What are your favorite blog subjects (cooking, travel, miniature poodles?)

Please, tell me what you like about your favorite blogs.