My Sweet Step-dad....

Please take a moment today to do something you adore - spend time with someone, go for a walk, do a craft, something.

I will be attending my step-dad's funeral and celebrating his life.  Pop Pop (as Lil O always called him) was one of those lovely souls - full of generosity, kindness, zeal, and love.

With a heavy heart,

Jen

Life Updated: Almost Summer Edition

Right after my college's graduation last week, I could almost taste summer.  Speaking of taste, how about those homemade pop tarts from Ted's Bulletin in DC pictured above?  Aren't they fun looking and boy, were they tasty!  Mr. UpCyclist even bought me one that was peanut butter on the inside and bacon crumbles on the outside.  Yum and strange all at the same time.  Now, I have an intense desire to make my own.

Flowers.  Period.  Give. me. more.  This was the best $40 I've spent in a long time.  All of our planters are full and I even have a shepard's hook this year to hold more flowers.  More.  more.  more.  please.

I am obsessed with the recipes on the A Beautiful Mess blog.  I decided to make a kid-friendly version of their cocktail recipe for our "Cocktails and Cupcakes" night with some friends.  Lil O gave it a thumbs up.

Mr. UpCyclist just got back from Finland.  Yes, this would be his second trip there in under a month.  Puppy Jedi is becoming a pro at visiting the airport.  You remember his first trip to the airport here.  This time, an airport employee warned me that dogs weren't allowed unless they were crated.  Two minutes later, there were three police officers coming towards me.  Rats.  Busted, was all I could think.  Instead, however, the officers asked me if they could pet Jedi. Whew.

On a side note, Dr. G had her baby.  Yep, a tiny upcyclist is born!  Congratulations to Dr. G and her family.  #luckyluckykid

Off I go,

Jen

Your Positivity Ratio {for Tech Tuesday}

I just finished Daniel Pink's book, To Sell is Human (affiliate link).  Did you know there is a formula for healthy positivity?  Did you know it is good to have some negative emotions or feelings in your day to counterbalance the positive ones?  In fact the magic ratio is 3 to 1.  Three positives to one negative.  Who knew?

For today's Tech Tuesday, hop on over to this positivity assessment and see what your current positivity ratio is today.  The assessment literally takes under two minutes (maybe, under one minute - see, how positive that was?) though, don't get too hung up on your score (cue negativity, please).  Just like most things in your life, you are the master of your own destiny and your positive attitude.

Which thankfully, doesn't need to be perky and positive all the time - just three-quarters of the time for optimal well-being.  Here's my score, by the way.....

I'm a 2.5 - not quite a three.

What about you?  What's your positivity ratio?

Jen

PS - Knowing that some negativity is needed in life makes saying goodbye to perfect even more celebratory and lovely.

Sharpie Obsessed

I admit it.  I am Sharpie (marker) obsessed.  My favorite point is the "ultra fine" Sharpies pictured above.

However, I do appreciate an assortment of thick, chisel tips, too.

Lest not forget the traditional "fine" Sharpie.... a Sharpie staple, in my opinion.

And for my most recent Sharpie addition, the king size Sharpie - shown below next to a ultra fine point for comparison.

Ahhh, the joy of Sharpie obsession.

What are you obsessed with?

Jen

Summer Reading Recommendations, Yes?

It is that time of the year again where I get all crazy about what books you should read and end up spouting them off to you.  I hope life coach, Sue, isn't reading this.  Sue just wrote an insightful blog post about not telling people what to do, but instead "shutting up and listening" - as no one likes being told what to do, yet here I am telling you.  Could we just call today's post a thoughtful suggestion?

Like planting a seed.  A literary seed?

Ok, here's what you have to read might consider reading this summer in order of amazingness -

Daniel Pink's Drive

Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers

Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind

Jonah Lehrer Imagine: How Creativity Works

Tony Wagner's Creating Innovators

Daniel Pink's To Sell is Human

(all Amazon affiliate links)

If you get through this short list, email me.  I've got a few more you should could consider reading.

Ha!

Jen