A Few of My Favorite Things

I am sitting in Starbucks right now doing research on Organizational Effectiveness and Change Management, the industry(ies) I'd like to take my next job in, and Frank Sinatra's version of the famed Christmas song "My Favorite Things" is playing.  I think it was originally a Sound of Music song that it has somehow crossed over.

And by the way, YES, Christmas music is here already and we haven't hit Thanksgiving yet.  For all you early Christmas music haters, sorry. Year after year you are overruled by Consumer America and big corporations that need to be in the black by year's end and believe that cranking the carols will get everyone in the mood to spend big.  I'm in the Christmas spirit a little early this year, perhaps it's because I'm in a new place.  But for whatever reason I don't mind it.

Back to my point. It started me thinking about a few of my own favorite things.  Not regarding Christmas but regarding, well, anything.  Although raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens don't do it for me, here is what does... (And note this is not in rank order, it's simply a conglomeration of preferences.)


32 of my Favorite Things:
1. Chocolate.  Milk. But I dabble on the dark side too.  Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
2. Water. I drink a lot on a daily basis.
3. Fall. A new favorite since moving to Nashvegas.
4. Coldplay. 
5. WD-40. It's become my Windex.
6. Gift cards. I am picky.
7. Travel. It's how I recharge. International, Domestic, Weekend, Day- I love all trips.
8. Downloading music from Itunes. Yes, I still pay for my music.
9. Music over movies.
10. All things Apple.
11. All things Dave Ramsey. 
12. My closest friends. Engaging, enriching friendships are my fuel.
13. Dogs. I don't have one yet. Don't even know what type I'd like.
14. Celebrating my birthday. I tend to drag it out as long as possible.
15. Being 30. Had a blast in my 20s but ready for this new chapter.
16. Brushing and flossing my teeth. 
17. Business and/or personal growth books. 
18. Asking a lot of questions.
19. Facebook as my current social medium of choice.
20. Going to church.
21. Watching Football.
22. Watching the Real Housewives of (any city).
23. Starbucks. Hot drinks with a straw.
24. The treadmill these days.
25. Green Smoothies.
26. Fox News. But I'd watch Anderson Cooper.
27. Just about any type of cultural cuisine. Japanese, Chinese, Indian, French, Italian, you name it.
28. Taking pictures with my new camera.
29. Keeping my car clean.
30. Eating out of my deep bowls.
31. Collecting magnets from the places I visit.
32. Meeting and talking to new people.


I could list many more but I think this will do for now.

First impressions of Nashville: Fall Colors!

It's been a couple weeks since my last post, I've been distracted taking in all the my new surroundings.  But guess what, I'm experiencing seasons! Hands down the coolest thing about moving here so far has been seeing the colors of the trees and leaves on the ground. This may seem like a simple thing to some of you, but it's entirely new to this Cali girl.

Some trees have various shades of yellow, orange, red, and green all mixed in.  It's quite a lovely sight. Or sometimes I'll drive or walk somewhere and all of a sudden around the bend there will be an avenue of trees rich in various colors.  Here's a sample of what I'm talking about with pics taken in my neighborhood:

PARKS: I have visited 2 outdoor places so far- Edwin Warner Park and Radnor Lake.
Edwin Warner (the smaller brother park to the more popular Percy Warner Park) was really pretty.  Quite lush and full with many trees still holding their leaves.  I felt like I was walking through an enchanted forest and should have been wearing a hood riding on horseback. :)

Radnor Lake was really nice too.  As my friend Samantha described, it indeed "looked like a painting". The lake trail was about 2.5 miles all the way around.  Normally I'd walk that in about 45 minutes, but it took me 1.5 hours because I stopped so often to stare at the lake and take pictures.

Both times I was there I saw photographers taking photos of bands, and one time a model, against the backdrop of the lake.  It's a stunning backdrop for just about any type of shoot.

Weather: Most days have been in the low 70s or 60s.  Not too bad I've gotta say.  However, there have been a couple days it was in the 40s already and in the 30s at night...yikes! I don't think even my warmest clothes will be enough to sustain me through the encroaching winter, which I have to admit I'm slightly nervous about.  Good thing holiday sales are starting soon cuz mama needs a new pair of shoes, and boots, and coats, and gloves, and...well you get the picture. 

Happy Fall Season!

Walmart: I may be changing my ways

I've been here a week now and haven't done much besides get my temporary room set up and learn the general surroundings of the neighborhood like the grocery stores, gas stations, and the local Walmart. Yes, I said it, the Walmart.  Anyone who knows me well knows that if I had a choice I'd stay as far away from Walmart as possible.  It's not that I have anything against saving money, and/or accomplishing almost all my errands in one place, it's just that I have an overall negative impression of the place. The thought of it conjures up images of cheaply/poorly made products and oddly-dressed people of whom candid photos have made www.peopleofwalmart.com a popular website. (If you've never checked it out, then click the link above and click on Photos. Be prepared to be thoroughly entertained.)

I am a Target girl all the way. Even though some products overlap as the same as Walmart but at a higher price point, I just feel better shopping there.  Heck I've even purchased clothes there that fell apart only after a couple wears so I can understand the argument that Target is the same as its competitor. Regardless, the Target marketing department has done its job well in positioning the brand in my mind as the best. 

However, I'd like to report that I have been to Walmart 3 times this week. 3 times! The local Target is farther away and it is not a Super Target, so it has less to offer and doesn't lend itself to my multiple visits.  But with the other place, it is not only the fact that I have made 3 trips that has shocked me, it's the fact that in my mind when I think about needing to buy things that I think of Walmart first!  It's a natural thought, a natural reaction of sorts, an instinct. What is going on?!!

Has Walmart replaced Target as my discount retailer of choice?  If so, when and how did that happen so quickly?  And how can I prevent it from getting worse?!

I guess I'll have to include proximity to Target as one of the neighborhood criteria when looking for my own place.  In the meantime I've already made a mini-list of things I need to get at...Walmart.