life lessons for every year

And finally, my last post for 2009.

As we continue on the journey we call "life" it's good to remember the basics. In this turbulent, uncivil society that we seem to find ourselves it's up to us to put it all in perspective and not be taken in by the rudeness around us.

And so as we end this decade, here are 10 of my favorite “life lessons” written by Regina Brett, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio. Perfect reminders for the spirit of the holidays.

1. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

2. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

3. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

4. What other people think of you is none of your business.

5. Your children only get one childhood.

6. Yield.

7. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

8. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

9. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

10. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

You can read all 50 of Regina's life lessons here.

never a year like '09

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once in a blue moon

Let's take this as a celestial sign of a better decade to come, shall we? This New Year's Eve, there will be a blue moon in the sky. No, not literally blue; the term "blue moon" actually refers to when there are two full moons in a given calendar month, an astronomical rarity that occurs just seven times every 19 years, hence the famous phrase "once in a blue moon."

What's more, this New Year's Eve, people living in the Far East will see a lunar eclipse, making this an even rarer...er rarity. A blue-moon eclipse only happens once roughly every 15 to 20 years.

Though we prefer to view this as a portent of good things to come (they can't get any worse, can they?), some believe that a full moon -- not to mention a blue one -- can cause strong emotions to flare. Some evidence shows that arrests for petty crime and public drunkenness increase 5% during a full moon, and police expect extra aggressiveness and antisocial behavior from revelers whenever a full moon occurs during a holiday.

-- Richard Metzger

Photo: December's first full moon, as seen from Phoenix. Credit: Rob Schumacher / Associated Press

from this is brand x

UPDATE: There seems to be some disagreements as to exactly what a "blue moon" is. Click here to read some other opinions.

operation nice

I don't care what religion you come from or where you grew up, there is something about the holidays that makes most people take inventory. Even if you do not celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or others, I think we all like to head into the new year with a fresh pair of eyes in an effort to make the most of it. Enter, Operation NICE, which is a blog about everyday niceties that most people take for granted. It's such a simple but lovely concept. And, while, I know I will have days where I forget the impact these simple acts can have on people, the writer's reminders are so relevant to me during this time of year when we are all trying our darndest to start fresh. I highly recommend getting your dose of warm and fuzzy from this blog when you have a moment. And, if you don't have the time to get over to her blog, some of her readers put together this list of very simple acts that you can do to make someone's day a little better and brighter:

# Give at least one sincere compliment a day and it doesn't have to be much. Tell someone they have a nice smile, or you like their shoes or you envy their patience. If you look for it, you can find something positive to say about anyone.

# If you buy something from a vending machine, leave the change in the change thingy for the next person. It's funny how someone finding an unexpected quarter makes their day.

# Make a bunch of small little notes that have positive messages like "Have a nice day!" or "Someone loves you" and hide them around a public area for random strangers to find. This is a good project for those who have kids.

# Overtip your waitress.

# Give an extra $5 when you pay for something (retail, fast food restaurant) and ask that they apply it to the next person in line.

# If you pack lunches for your loved one, stick a small note telling them to have a great day. Similarly, hide small love letters in your significant others pockets/bags/jackets.

# Clear the snow off a neighbor's car after a big snowfall.

# When you see a mom with a stroller going into a building - hold the door for her. She'll appreciate it more than you'll know!

# Send a random e-Card to someone you haven't talked to in a while for no special reason.

# Put an extra nickel, dime or quarter in a parking meter for someone.

# Leave flowers anonymously at a neighbors', May Day style.

# Make eye contact with people and smile.

# Wave when someone lets you merge on the road.

# Let someone who has five items at the grocery store go in front of you and your cart full of items.

# Pay the toll of the car driving behind you.

# Holiday season is a great time to recognize people who are underappreciated...leave some homemade goodies in your mailbox with a thank you note for your postal carrier.

# Buy a current bestseller and donate it to the local library.

# Give blood to the Red Cross.

# When a waitress or other service person has been exceptional, let their manager know.

# If you take walks around the neighborhood, bring along a bag and pick up trash as you go.

# During the holidays, bring some hot chocolate or coffee to the bell ringers who are standing outside in cold weather.

# Thank a co-worker or employee out of the blue for there hard work.

# Let someone turn left when the light turns green because there is a long line of traffic behind you.

# Give a child's old toys to a shelter every holiday season instead of trashing them.

# Buy a homeless person some water on a hot day.

# Let someone pregnant or older sit in your seat when none are available.

# Thank your spouse, significant other, roommate, mom, etc. whenever they prepare a meal for you. It shows great appreciation.

# When making dinner, double the recipe and deliver dinner to a neighbor.

# Offer your mail carrier, trash man or anyone else working out side on a hot day a bottle of water.

# When someone you come in contact with is doing a good job, tell them


Oh, and just in case some of you were looking forward to your Sunday snippet, here is my wish for all of you in the new year:

"Health, wealth & love. And, the time to enjoy them..."
~Anonymous

new year's eve cocktails

If I were hosting a New Year's Eve bash this year, my bar would be full of nothing but the classics and champagne cocktails. Any of the following are definitely worthy options for ringing in 2010. Oh, and if you need a bit to eat, a great charcuterie board with honey still on the comb, crusty breads, fresh berries and dark chocolate truffles would all be must haves on the menu. Happy New Year!










From Top to Bottom: Gin Fizz, Kir Royale, Side Car, Vodka Gimlet, Manhattan, Lambrusco, Bellini, Elderflower Champagne Cocktail, Gibson Martini, Irish Creme on the Rocks

rustic meets industrial

Childhood sweethearts Charmaine and Paul Jack came all the way from New Zealand to create their rustic-meets-industrial French home. 'We wanted good food, wine and style, but with space to breathe; a European version of how we grew up,' says Charmaine.

Before they settled just outside Uzés in the Gard region (famous for truffles) in the south of France, the couple spent six years in London – she as a fashion designer, he running a group of Italian restaurants. But, when Paul proposed, they decided to head to France to pursue their dream of a more chilled-out, family-based lifestyle.

So within two years of marrying, the couple had sold their north-London home and were running a restaurant in Uzés while renting a home nearby. The restaurant did so well that they sold it as a going business four years later, by which time daughter Scarlett had arrived (now joined by one-year old Flynn) and they were living in the derelict barn they now call home.

Bringing the barn to life has led to new careers for the couple, Charmaine as an interior designer – 'It was a natural progression from fashion design,' she says – and Paul as a property developer. 'We both love what we do, and have time to enjoy family life,' she says.

See more photos here.

spreading a little happiness

It's a gray day here and we're still feeling a little gloomy. Here's a sweet video: elderly couple Fran and Marlo walked into the lobby of the Mayo Clinic for a checkup and spotted a piano. They've been married for a whopping 62 years, and Marlo turned 90 this year. Watch them play!



via a cup of jo

a cat's life

Mezzo's absence is entering it's fifth day. Since there was never any evidence or eye witness it's difficult to grasp that he's really gone. I obsessively scan the hillsides hoping to catch a glimpse of him coming toward me across the meadow, like a widow whose lost her man at sea!

Mezzo had a short life. We think he was about a year old when he first arrived at our house in Venice four years ago. We came home from somewhere to find this stray cat sleeping on the bed. It turned out that he knew how to use the cat door so there was no way to keep him out. He was dirty and smelly but was definitely tame.

We reluctantly began to accept him while working to find his original owner. After posting many signs with no response we finally took him to the vet. There we found out that he had been micro-chipped at the Berkely-East Bay Humane Society but never registered. It was anyone's guess how he ended up a stray cat in Venice.

We continued to try to find a home for him since we already had two cats plus another two or three strays that we were feeding. No luck.

Eventually he became part of the family. He was tightly bonded to me, my shadow. He slept with me, followed me everywhere and would let out a mournful cry if he became separated from me. We think he was part Siamese which gave him a little bit of a mean streak but beautiful aqua blue eyes. He had a big personality with lots of curiosity.

We dreaded his move to Topanga because of the known dangers to pets from coyotes. But we thought if we only let him out while supervised, he'd be OK. But of course as time went by and nothing happened we got a little sloppy with our supervision. He made it less than a year and a half up here.

He took up a lot of space in our hearts so the void he now leaves seems huge. I keep wondering how he could have used up all his nine lives in just five short years.

Gone but definitely not forgotten.

h&m home collection: somewhere - just not here

H&M ventured out into home textiles and accessories in early 2009, move over IKEA! Exciting! If you live near a store that carries the stuff.

Per the press release, the range will be exclusively available online and through a directional mail order catalogue, this is H&M’s first foray into the interiors arena and will offer shoppers the opportunity to stylishly transform every room of the home. The first collection will be available from February 2009 in the markets where distance selling is already established: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. (Too bad US is not on the list yet, but I’m sure it will make way here soon if the outcome is good!) Here are some photos of the collection to really frustrate you!

My comment to H&M: could you please step it up and offer your home goods collection in my state? I'll settle for my country. Truth be told, I'll take it online or three days by camel. Who's with me??

More info here.

conran shop to move

After 10 years in its current location at 407 East 59th Street, the Conran Shop will move in April to the lower level at ABC Carpet & Home, 888 Broadway (19th Street).

Read more here.

Mezzo where are you?

Our wonderful cat Mezzo disappeared Christmas Day, presumably taken by a coyote. There's no trace of what really happened and that keeps us hoping there's still a chance he'll come home. We knew the risks of allowing him to go outside but allowed it anyway. It's a hard, painful lesson to learn about pets in wild areas.

life doesn't always imitate art

I was hoping that life would imitate art and my cat would come back.

pears and pinecones

If you're searching for a last minute placeholder solution, two posts over at Project Wedding should help. One on baby Seckel pears and the other on mini pine cone placeholders .

small is the new big

Most photos from Martha Stewart.

incredible paper art

I am totally floored by the amazing beauty of Pablo Lehmann's intricate papercut art pieces:



I mean, seriously – aren't these incredible? I swear these are crafted in part by magic. So, so beautiful, and so many more over on Pablo's website right here.

another magazine folds

Hmmm. Perhaps their current issue's cover was a prediction of sorts? I just learned that I.D. Magazine has folded. I am sad to see it go! Published by Cincinnati, Ohio based F+W Media, the I.D. staff was based in New York and shares an office with their sister publication Print. According to Fast Company, F+W plans on continuing the Annual Design Review competition and publishing the results online. The January/February 2010 issue will be the magazine's last.

and some comic relief

healthcare reform or is it?

Health Bill Passes Key Test in the Senate With 60 Votes

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and ROBERT PEAR 4:50 AM ET

The party-line procedural vote proved Democrats had locked in the margin needed to pass a far-reaching overhaul of the nation’s health care system.

Click here for more.

Deep in Health Bill, Very Specific Beneficiaries

By ROBERT PEAR

Buried in the Senate health care package are provisions benefiting specific states and constituencies, inserted by the majority leader to secure lawmakers’ support.

Click here for more.

just because

Happy Friday!

cop15 meets the fashion world

Designer Vivienne Westwood & artist Maya Lin call for crucial forest agreement

Vivienne Westwood

The event, during the UN climate change meeting, was aimed at supporting more funding toward slowing deforestation, a major contributor to climate change, also linked to poverty.

So far, six developed countries have committed US$3.5 billion in early funding for forest preservation in the first concrete financial commitment in Copenhagen.

The US, UK, France, Japan, Australia and Norway have pledged money over the next three years to kick-start a global financial fund, called REDD+, under which rich countries would pay developing nations to preserve and enhance their vital forests.

According to the rainforest nations, 20-25 billion euros are needed for capacity building, so that countries can deliver the full mitigation potential of forests for climate and local communities, when performance payments are due after 2013.

REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) has had wide support from rich and poor countries in the talks in the Danish capital, but kick-start funding has been a key demand from developing nations.

"We have shown over and over again that leaving forests standing saves billions of dollars. I ask us all to celebrate tonight, but not to be starry-eyed. It is not money for free, it is payments for performance. REDD will not develop its potential outside of an ambitious climate deal," said Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana, during the gala event.

"REDD represents one of the greatest opportunities for dealing with the twin challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. It is also a central measure towards a Green Economy in terms of jobs and livelihoods," said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Deforestation is responsible for nearly a fifth of mankind's greenhouse gas emissions and curbing forest loss is regarded as a key way to brake the pace of global warming.

Maya Lin, the world-renowned artist and designer debuted her new media piece - Unchopping a Tree - and British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and Anvil Knitwear joined forces to launch a limited edition T-shirt today to support the efforts of rainforest nations.

"I am so glad to have had the opportunity to do this tiny, tiny thing - design a T-shirt - every little bit helps," said Vivienne Westwood. "ACT FAST/SLOW DOWN and stop climate change. That's the message. We must all commit ourselves. Say YES to the Rainforest."


© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved.

gifts for the cat who has everything

See more gifts for Kitty and how to purchase here.