Monumental Tasks

Ya ever get the grandiose idea that you can sing even though your own cat runs from you while you're having a go at it in the shower? Or that you'd be a brilliant painter after watching one of those Saturday morning instructional shows? Or maybe you sometimes get the notion that you could be the next gazillionare businessman after a particularly satisfying bout of balancing the checkbook? But most of the time you realize that American Idol isn't knocking down your door, you don't own a paintbrush, and you're broke again the very next week because instead of saving your dough, you blew it on expensive shoes? What ever made me think learning Italian would be a breeze? I started my 2nd round of Italian classes tonight and whoo, daddy! I'm starting to think that it may actually require some seriously hard work. But you know what? Pablo Picasso and Donald Trump had to start somewhere, right? Although, I have to say that were I a cat, *I* would run from Kelly Clarkson.
***We had a trivia question at work today. It was: Who did Aaron Burr shoot in the famous duel? My favorite answer given: Bigfoot

Featured Fitness Link

A friend of mine has started yoga, so here's some info for ya'll that 'er interested:
Yoga info

Shoe of the Week - Issue #16

Here are my staple boots. The "Kerry" by Unisa. I wear them all the time. I mean all the time. And so, they get 4 1/2 stars. They lost a half because one of the zippers is cranky beyond belief. They are super comfy and look great with jeans. I still have my black Doc Martins, but they hardly ever see the light of day since I discovered these...
Happy shoe-hunting!

Top Picks

Here are a few of my favorite things this month:

Perfume:
"Lovely" from Sarah Jessica Parker. It smells soooo yummy. HOWEVER, in reading about the scent and talking to others, it seems to me, that about 50% of the folks who use it find that it doesn't "stick". I myself experience this misfortune, but I say "Stay stocked up and apply often - it's worth it."
Lovely Links:
General Info
Review site

Music:
"Amore" by Andrea Bocelli. If you don't know anything else about him, you probably heard him sing in the closing ceremonies of the Olympics. This album includes songs in English, Italian, Spanish and French. Here's a cool website you can find translations for his lyrics. Do yourself a favor - get this album!
Review site

Books:
"Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2006 : The Travel Skills Handbook" A friend loaned me the 2005 version. I haven't traveled yet, but I can tell already that it's a must-have if you're planning on going!
Rick Steves' website
Amazon Ordering and reviews

Games:
PS2" Katamari Damacy and We Love Katamari (the sequel)...awesome.
Info

Movies:
The last 10 minutes of "Walk the Line" was really good...the rest of the film was just OK.

Weird!

One reader e-mailed me this confession:

"...it's when it's late at night that I can't stop thinking about pink chewing gum. I have driven very far in the middle of the night just to buy it. The thing is I don't chew it, I eat it..."

This is a new one on me...I really hate to think about what this person's insides must look like!

Working-out Woes

I have to admit that I haven't been vigilant with the program. In fact, I haven't worked out at all in a while. I'm only confessing it here so that I'll be forced to get off my fanny and do something about it. (My fanny will be relieved) It's amazing the amount of fatigue you feel when you aren't working out. I haven't been good at all about keeping up the clean eating either. My new job doesn't allow much time for such things. Plus, they're always having these mouth-watering pot lucks! What's a girl to do?
So, I haven't had many e mails lately from you all. Drop me a line and tell me about some of your crazy food temptations and how you deal with it. As always, I love to hear from you!
Ciao Amici!

Shoe Quiz

Apparently, today I am "Big Black Boots"
....what kind of shoe are you quiz

PMS Moment of the Week

How does a whole week go by and I don't blog? Well, I am taking that Italian class, and now, some con-ed classes for my job. Me mucho tiredo! (Many eyebrows have left me in despair this week!) Plus, I've been catching up on my Olympics (I taped them)...so my PMS moment? I cried when the flame went out...and I don't even like sports!