tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22532375288581148732024-03-13T22:58:33.464+08:00Positively NatalieNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-36962720856959822272011-03-28T22:49:00.000+08:002011-03-28T22:49:23.782+08:00A collection of happy thoughtsOver the past two weeks I've been taking mental snapshots, Cam Jansen style. Whenever I hit a patch of stress or exhaustion I like to bring them back to the forefront to remind myself to breathe. Disjointed and strange as they may be, I take comfort in these human moments and thought I would share them with you, in no particular order.
Every morning and every evening there is a young girl on thisNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-81721412865281856592011-03-20T21:30:00.001+08:002011-03-20T23:46:32.137+08:00Getting back in the swing of the JingOne of the things I love about Beijing is its ability to provide me with little moments of amusement throughout the day. There will eventually be things that drive me crazy, but as it is at the start of any relationship the quirks are charming rather than infuriating. Take, for example, opening a bank account. While this is usually a simple process, China has a way of delightfully Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-46053709054023745852011-03-16T07:13:00.000+08:002011-03-16T07:13:52.553+08:00Like riding a bikeEven though I don't actually know how to ride a bike (despite being shamefully old for that declaration) the saying still holds true. Being back in Beijing feels natural to me, like I've only been away for three months rather than three years. The language skills are returning slightly slower than I would have liked, but I'm still relieved that Chinese stuck to my brain with such tenacity.
Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-38780734707648697032011-03-13T11:22:00.001+08:002011-03-13T11:23:18.971+08:00TEDx BeijingI've found that the most effective antidote to jetlag is pretending it doesn't exist. Even though I had just arrived in Beijing Friday evening, I had a pretty jam-packed Saturday thanks to my buddy Chris. He has generously let me take over the spare room in his apartment for a few weeks until I get myself up and running again and it would seem he is also doing double duty as my social Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-70791393219456153192011-03-05T10:22:00.001+08:002011-03-09T07:41:46.809+08:00Enjoy the rideI've needed a few little distractions here and there to keep me from getting totally overwhelmed with packing. Today has been almost entirely spent putting things in piles and then dividing those piles into smaller piles and fitting the piles into ziplock bags. I am admittedly slightly compulsive when it comes to things like this.
Thank god for Jimmy Fallon. Como se dice "Winning?"
Update:Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-47631569514538742972011-03-01T09:36:00.001+08:002011-03-01T12:33:24.651+08:00I'm back on my way to goneWell hello there my patient and loyal readers. I've been slightly remiss in getting in touch over the past few months and I apologize profusely. If this were the real world I would bake you something to make up for it, but since it's the weberverse you'll just have to imagine eating your favorite cookie courtesy of me.
While it's no excuse, things have been legitimately busy around here as my Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-40907157741362785652010-12-23T00:33:00.000+08:002010-12-23T00:33:19.744+08:00Best. Coupon. Code. Ever.Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-2116507131752334742010-12-03T12:12:00.000+08:002010-12-03T12:12:18.868+08:00Happy Spending DaysLet's just get this out of the way, right off the bat: I don't celebrate Christmas. When I lived in China this was inconceivable to people because they thought of Christmas as the quintessential American holiday. This was particularly evident in this classroom display my students prepared when I worked as a teacher.
I probably should have corrected their research, but quite frankly I knew it Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-22842591735495021422010-12-01T02:39:00.000+08:002010-12-01T02:39:16.415+08:00Waking the deadAs a lifetime insomniac (a fact I'm sure I've mentioned here on more than one occasion) I've tried just about everything to coax myself to sleep. When I was a teenager, what seemed to soothe my mind was memorizing poetry. Reading aloud, the repetition of lines was my version of counting sheep.
Now that I have a sound machine to calm my overactive neurons, my volumes of verse tend to be ignored Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-23502970814332560622010-11-29T08:53:00.000+08:002010-11-29T08:53:47.200+08:00Of mice and menI had a wonderful plan worked out to keep me writing on this wonderful blog. I also made a promise to myself that I would only use this space to talk about uplifting things (with exception for the occasional amusing rant) because I don't want to unleash my negative thoughts on you. Over the past few months, these two intentions have unfortunately conflicted and I have erred on the side of silenceNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-8212309128214219862010-10-09T02:36:00.000+08:002010-10-09T02:36:35.671+08:00PolyvoreI was browsing around on the L'oreal website trying to get makeup ideas for a wedding I'm attending on Sunday. On their main page was an ad for a contest through Polyvore, a site where you can assemble collections of items you love and share them with others. It only took about two minutes of browsing for me to fall in love with the site!
As someone who is slightly visually compulsive and a Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-58759947907690447502010-09-20T11:57:00.000+08:002010-09-20T11:57:01.105+08:00An Autumn Affirmation
Admiring the lighton the treesin the early eveninga passing breeze caressed my cheek.
As I looked up to face thecool embraceone yellow leaf rode the windto fall at my fingersalong the splintered wooden rail.
In that brief moment I feltconnected to everything.
I felt an energy radiatingthrough my feetinto the soilto signal the changing season.
Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-29356003106465109082010-09-13T05:34:00.000+08:002010-09-13T05:34:56.350+08:00Lazy Sunday MuffinsDon't panic, I'm still alive! This past month I've been busy preparing for and then enjoying my sister's wedding, with very little time for extra-curricular activities (like blogging). Now that my time is mine again, I've resolved to post at least once a week. I need to flex my creative muscles if I'm ever going to find a writing job!
The happy couple!
Today is quite a gloomy contrast toNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-17660431927979010902010-08-06T01:13:00.000+08:002010-08-06T01:13:57.946+08:00Now that's a catchy tune!Well, sort of. Catchy in that, dear lord I can't get it out of my head (get it out of my head!) kind of way. Infomercials (which I love dearly) are often guilty of ridiculous soundtracks, but this list includes some more mainstream products as well. It seems that this economic downturn has finally reached the product jingle department; either that, or they've evolved into a deadly combination of Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-4445592129663234852010-07-23T00:58:00.000+08:002010-07-23T00:58:09.553+08:00Get ChocomizedIf you follow me anywhere else on the Internet (hello and thanks!) you've probably seen me yammering on this week about a chocolate contest. Unlike running for office, a chocolate contest comes with zero responsibility and maximum enjoyability. And, thanks to your help, I'm a winner!
This particular contest was run by the fine folks over at Chocomize, a website that lets you build aNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-12569956311268920402010-07-17T09:52:00.001+08:002010-07-17T09:58:18.397+08:00Muffins and Cookies and Cakes (Oh My!)As many of you already know, my sister's bridal shower was last weekend. In preparation for the party, I spent all day last Friday pretty much chained to my oven making various sweets. Well, almost all day. I spent some time in the morning at the gym creating a negative calorie bank for me to fill later with sugar cookies. It was a very delicious decision.
First up I Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-52070682495276160292010-07-15T01:33:00.000+08:002010-07-15T01:33:11.162+08:00My verbal doppelgangerFound a fun website that analyzes a selection of your writing and then tells you what author best fits your style. I'm pretty chuffed.
<!-- Begin I Write Like Badge -->
I write like
Stephen KingI Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!
<!-- End I Write Like Badge -->Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-65148979972887185232010-07-07T01:15:00.000+08:002010-07-07T01:15:12.047+08:00A Man and His Fan: A Self-Fulfilling ParodyLet's be clear about one thing: I love James Dyson. I love him the same way I love researchers who spend twenty years living in the jungle watching one gibbon family eat bugs and breed. There is something fascinating about such single-minded dedication. Especially when that dedication produces something that's useful, but not so useful that we couldn't live without it. Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-52697343471953169482010-07-01T00:11:00.000+08:002010-07-01T00:11:10.166+08:00Old Spice, New Laughs
I was worried nothing could top "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like," the first ad in the most recent Old Spice campaign. In addition to catapulting the handsome and deliciously deadpan Isaiah Mustafa into sudden stardom, the ad actually made me consider reconsidering my stance on the brand's sex appeal. Previously having been mentally categorized to be as desirable as a drunk and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-9301952413434198282010-06-18T12:06:00.000+08:002010-06-18T12:06:23.986+08:00It's Good to Be BadI know it's been a little while since I've posted, but I've been rather busy with my internship (and loving every minute!) I'm not quite energized enough for a mega-post, but I thought I'd stop by and share some of my favorite spots airing right now. From silly to delusional to deadpan, these ads make me chuckle and, ultimately, that's what makes them memorable. So next time a Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-35270346164002590382010-06-01T11:02:00.000+08:002010-06-01T11:02:03.722+08:00Your NovelI'm not at this point yet. But I'm pretty sure that's only because I haven't actually started writing...
toothpastefordinner.comNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-84000204207522598672010-05-28T11:34:00.001+08:002010-05-28T11:34:35.257+08:00Social Networking (now with s'mores!)Coleman camping supplies is running a very charming series of ads where they declare themselves to be the "original social networking site." It's a refreshing look at how people come together in the real world, augmented in the digital world by the company's presence on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Having lived abroad for quite some time, I'm immensely grateful for the ability of Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-84212795833196404572010-05-24T11:06:00.002+08:002010-05-24T11:07:38.615+08:00Your Nerd Friends...
For more hilarity, check out Brevity at http://www.guyandrodd.comNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-26380655780194215642010-05-20T02:15:00.000+08:002010-05-20T02:15:43.561+08:00Unlikely Celebrity EndorsementsAdvertising often utilizes the celebrity voice to push products, and for good reason. These are easily recognizable figures who are larger than life. People who could eat anywhere in the world, but they choose McDonald's. People who could wear anything, but they choose to shop at Brooks Brothers.
Sometimes these endorsements make sense (like getting the cast of "Mad Men" to Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253237528858114873.post-3682424533531330082010-05-17T02:23:00.001+08:002010-05-17T02:25:13.252+08:00The Diet Diaries: #4 (Strawberry Pretzel Pie)If you haven't noticed already, my main diet obsession has become finding ways to eat dessert without feeling guilty. I don't eat it all that often, but when I meet up with Ryan and Laura for Survivor night we have a cooking system. Laura makes a fabulous dinner and I make a fabulous dessert. It's a good system, made even better by the fact that we are both happy to taste each Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15179172831039575877noreply@blogger.com0