Mondays on the Menu Board

Here's one of my biggest secrets: in most aspects of my life, I am uber organized. You know, like, co-worker-who-creates-the-seemingly-unnecessary-but-"oh-hey-this-is-actually-really-helpful"-tabbed-binder-for-the-first-client-meeting kind of organized. It's undoubtedly annoying to some folks, especially on top of my clear penchant for neat-freakiness. But the thing is, I ultimately do it because I am uber forgetful.

Now, I don't mean major-investments-made-in-belated-birthday-cards forgetful. I mean more like an everyday level of "forgot to let the chicken thaw" or "left my water bottle at the gym" absentmindedness. In turn, I live and die by Google alerts, notes left to myself on the desk, color-coded email labels, and lists crafted within smartphone apps. Mostly, these reminders are ways for me to manage stress; if I deal with making sure they're queued up on my calendar/to-do list/phone, I don't have to worry that I am going to forget them. Because I am a master of worry, and that factor, coupled with extreme forgetfulness, can be slightly exhausting.

This idea of reminders also works for me in the big picture. I have certain places I keep inspirational words--emails, notes from friends, quotes, passages from books--that remind me, when needed, to touch base with how I want to live my life. I keep these because, even though that's not something I ever forget, there are still times of worry or doubt or fear that simply require a little refresher.

One of the places I keep reminders is on the wooden menu board in my kitchen. I found it about a decade ago in the sale section in the back of a Pottery Barn catalog. (You know, back when we all shopped nonstop at Pottery Barn and got its catalogs in the mail every two and half days.) It came complete with a giant canvas bag of letters, numbers, and punctuation marks. It was a completely unreasonable purchase, but I loved the idea of letting it act like a piece of art that could be changed up periodically.

Today, it is the largest, most slightly obnoxious Note to Self in my entire home. I use it to remind, entertain, and/or motivate myself. (The above photo, for example, was taken while I was deciding whether or not to go freelance last summer.) I've been snapping pics of others along the way, and they're inspiring (or at least smile-inducing) enough that I thought I'd start sharing them here with you. So, every Monday, pending the health of my camera, I'll post a new one for you to get our collective week going. I'll just make sure to set a calendar alert ahead of time so I don't forget. Sound like a deal?

Completely True Tales from the World's Largest Rainbow Parade

Yesterday, 179 people in Brooklyn got CMYK-d out and marched across the Brooklyn Bridge in the “Largest Rainbow Parade” ever. And yesterday, 179 of us officially became world-record holders.

That means you are reading a very important blog right now. So, you're welcome for that.

Encouraged by my childhood friend Carolyn (who came dressed in glorious golden yellow) and marching alongside my adulthood friend Jenna and her two daughters (who were coincidentally wearing red like me, so we got to break the record together in rouges and raspberries), I became part of the weirdest, coolest, fruitiest project ever. And dang don't I like me some weird and fruity.

The parade was organized by the always-adorable Brooklyn designer Jessi Arrington--a self-professed color freak (I mean, check out her blog) who simply wanted everyone to gather in a colorful way for her birthday. So we did. And now we're all winners.

The best part? It created the most energizing sense of community--at one point, we were all even cheering for each other as we switched up our color orders during the march. Like maniacs. Cheering for Grreeeen! Good job, Bluuuuue! Nice one, Oraaaaange!*

(*We did like those Orange folks; Jenna, dressed in mostly reds but also sporting a few questionably orangey hues, declared herself more of an "ombre," so we figured we'd walk at the end of the red spectrum near Orange.) (Way to go, Reddddddd-ish Orange!)

I still can't quite get over it all. And I am sure the folks who encountered us while walking or driving on the bridge can't either. Take a look at a few articles about it here and here. UPDATE: Also here. (Can you spot me?)

 

Jessi's skirt. Too cute.

Things Worth Waiting For.

A few weekends ago at a family wedding, my sister-in-law said this to me:

"M-Dashing is stuck on Tuesday. Why is M-Dashing stuck on Tuesday?"

I know. It's not Tuesday every day. But apparently, M-Dashing thinks it is, considering how long it's been since I've updated things on the regular.

I, too, hate it when a blog I read suddenly goes dark, even if it's for a little bit. Or, say, when I come across a cool site on the web, only to find out that the newest post is from, like, August 2010. Such a bummer.

So where have I been, anyway? Lots of good places, many of which I will update you on soon. In the meantime, won't you visit me elsewhere? Check out HermanMiller.com/Lifework during the weekdays (you may even spy Jamie Latendresse there, if you're lucky) and you know I am always whooping it up on Twitter and Pinterest.

Hang in there with me. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming soon. And we'll make it past Tuesday. I promise.

xoxo

Happy Valentine's Day

Be mine?