(every season, but especially winter) makes me think about travelling.

I have the travel bug. I admit it, and I just love quenching it!! You can often catch me hitting up Google with questions like "cheapest flights in ___ (insert current month)" and "places you must travel to before age ___ (insert next year's age)" and oh the list goes on and on…

I like to plan trips, just for the sake of planning them, regardless of whether I will physically be going on them or not. I love mapping things out as if I were to be driving that route the following week or taking the bus between point A and point B. Pretending that I will be at those places eventually, I think helps me with remembering names and the proximity of different cities.

For my current travel obsession, I'm focusing on the Americas, you know, keeping it close to home. I have yet to treat myself to a trip to NYC and have been longing to go for years and years! I've planned my trip out so many times, not to mention the amount of films and TV shows I've seen with New York as the setting, that it feels like I have indeed been, several times over! My fixation however, is currently not just on NYC but on a backpacking adventure with New York as the jumping off point! Yippeee! How about NYC-Washington, DC (which will only take ~2.5 hrs by train!! I was quite surprised by this short distance too!) - Nashville - Memphis - New Orleans - and a charming two day road trip down to Miami for the win?!  Now, if that doesn't sound like a blast, I don't know what does! Here's a visual for y'all:

So, that would be fun. Who wants to join me??

Also, have you seen this super great list of world heritage sites:

http://www.travelycia.com/12-beautiful-world-heritage-sites/

When I see photos like this:

and this:

… I swear my dopamine receptors go through the roof! The first photo is of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, which I had the pleasure of visiting almost two years ago. The second, is in Petra, Jordan, in which my introduction to the historical "Rose City" was through the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Unfortunately, I have only visited in my dreams but hopefully I'll get there in more than spirit, someday!

American Music Awards >ReCap>

This is an Emily ramble:

How you doin'? Did you watch the American Music Awards (AMAs) tonight? Do you even care about the awards? Even one slightest bit? If not, I'm suggesting you move on from this post…

I did, and do. Actually... I'm watching them right now. Firstly, I really like Taylor Swift's new haircut and style. It's a lot more edgy with more layers than it has been in the past. Here's a re-cap of TS at the AMAs from 2010-2013 just for fun… I wonder what colour she's going to wear to the 2014 AMAs :P

I couldn't help but notice the fun-loving relationship it appears that JT and TS have.. which is interesting because I distinctly remember them meeting on The Ellen Show in 2008 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlOIDOmPZQI), when Taylor admitted that he was her musical crush! Speaking of Ellen… I'm a huge fan to the extent that when I first discovered her show when I was in high school, I faked sick for a week straight, just so that I could watch it! Here's a funny few clips from her show that, if you're a fan too, you'll probably get a kick out of: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mattbellassai/the-35-greatest-moments-ever-on-the-ellen-show-6z51

I loved Imagine Dragons, and One Direction were pretty great too. It shows that they're still rookies, even with all of this new fame. 

Lady Gaga was pretty badass; I was worrying that she was going to fall off of the presidential desk! It's nice to see some humour and more of a "story" from the performance, instead of simply relying on skin-baring and eccentric outfits. Also, nice, umm, man-horse entrance? (http://www.justjared.com/2013/11/24/lady-gaga-rides-horse-on-amas-2013-red-carpet/)

It's a big uproar as to who will be most shocking tonight, and of course the competition is between Gaga and Miley! I can't help it… but I'm pretty tuned in to how Miley's career is unfolding and her fashion choices, which I've actually been into lately. Here's what InStyle deems as her "best": http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20696519_20759200_30057609,00.html

I was disappointed with Katy Perry's kickoff performance. Usually her vocals are spot on, however tonight, her Geisha inspired outfit completely outshines her voice and she fell flat. This was one of my favourite stripped down performances of hers at the 2011 AMAs. Amaze-balls…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6wutZEvpNY

TLC... pretty cool, sounds exactly like the studio recording from 1994? 1995? I think the song was on one of the "NOW" albums. Next. 

I was a bit, mm, confused with the delivery of Rihanna's Icon award, more specifically, with the fact that it was her mother who presented it to her. I caught the highlights of the CMAs a  week or two ago, and there was TS receiving the Pinnacle award, with like 10 presenters on stage, including Faith and husband, Keith Urban, George Strait etc… and here's poor Rihanna with one official presenter, Jay-Z, and he just "phones it in", in all aspects of that expression! My thought process was like, so Jay couldn't actually make it in body, he sends his best and the AMA team thought, well, next best - Rihanna's mom?? Like, I'm sure she's a wonderful lady and everything, but I sort of feel bad for Rihanna, seeming that nobody else wanted to step up to the plate to hand her this supposedly prestigious award. You'd think if she was so important, SOMEONE else would want to do it, no? Anyways...

Ooooh so Miley is on now... she's switching up the pitch/ of Wrecking Ball a tad I notice… kitty cat background, leopard, nope, kitty print umm, outfit. Coo. 

Dun dun dun, TSwiz wins Artist of the Year. What else is new? Her acceptance speech(es) was quite great, she's such a pro, and yet she has such a beautiful way of appearing genuine. Aweeee. 

For a complete list of tonight's winners:

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5755250/american-music-awards-2013-full-winners-list

"20 Things I Should Have Known at 20"

Lists are fun. Here's one:

1. The world is trying to keep you stupid. From bank fees to interest rates to miracle diets, people who are not educated are easier to get money from and easier to lead. Educate yourself as much as possible for wealth, independence, and happiness.

2. Do not have faith in institutions to educate you. By the time they build the curriculum, it’s likely that the system is outdated– sometimes utterly broken. You both learn and get respect from people worth getting it from by leading and doing, not by following.

3. Read as much as you can. Learn to speed read with high retention. Emerson Spartz taught me this while I was at a Summit Series event. If he reads 2-3 books a week, you can read one.

4. Connect with everyone, all the time. Be genuine about it. Learn to find something you like in each person, and then speak to that thing.

5. Don’t waste time being shy. Shyness is the belief that your emotions should be the arbitrators of your decision making process when the opposite is actually true.

6. If you feel weird about something during a relationship, that’s usually what you end up breaking up over.

7. Have as much contact as possible with older people. Personally, I met people at Podcamps. My friend Greg, at the age of 13, met his first future employer sitting next to him on a plane. The reason this is so valuable is because people your age don’t usually have the decision-making ability to help you very much. Also they know almost everything you will learn later, so ask them.

8. Find people that are cooler than you and hang out with them too. This and the corollary are both important: “don’t attempt to be average inside your group. Continuously attempt to be cooler than them (by doing cooler things, being more laid back, accepting, ambitious, etc.).”

9. You will become more conservative over time. This is just a fact. Those you surround yourself with create a kind of “bubble” that pushes you to support the status quo. For this reason, you need to do your craziest stuff NOW. Later on, you’ll become too afraid. Trust me.

10. Reduce all expenses as much as possible. I mean it. This creates a safety net that will allow you to do the crazier shit I mentioned above.

11. Instead of getting status through objects (which provide only temporary boosts), do it through experiences. In other words, a trip to Paris is a better choice than a new wardrobe. Studies show this also boosts happiness.

12. While you are living on the cheap, solve the money problem. Use the internet, because it’s like a cool little machine that helps you do your bidding. If you are currently living paycheck to paycheck, extend that to three weeks instead of two. Then, as you get better, you can think a month ahead, then three months, then six, and finally a year ahead. (The goal is to get to a point where you are thinking 5 years ahead.)

13. Learn to program.

14. Get a six-pack (or get thin, whatever your goal is) while you are young. Your hormones are in a better place to help you do this at a younger age. Don’t waste this opportunity, trust me.

15. Learn to cook. This will make everything much easier and it turns food from a chore + expensive habit into a pleasant + frugal one. I’m a big Jamie Oliver fan, but whatever you like is fine.

16. Sleep well. This and cooking will help with the six pack. If you think “I can sleep when I’m dead” or “I have too much to do to sleep,” I have news for you: you are INEFFICIENT, and sleep deprivation isn’t helping.

17. Get a reminder app for everything. Do not trust your own brain for your memory. Do not trust it for what you “feel like” you should be doing. Trust only the reminder app. I use RE.minder and Action Method.

18. Choose something huge to do, as well as allowing the waves of opportunity to help you along. If you don’t set goals, some stuff may happen, but if you do choose, lots more will.

19. Get known for one thing. Spend like 5 years doing it instead of flopping around all over the place. If you want to shift afterwards, go ahead. Like I said, choose something.

20. Don’t try to “fix” anyone. Instead, look for someone who isn’t broken.

I didn't write this... I stumbled ( stumbleupon.com) upon this list which I believe has plenty of merit. It was written by New York Times bestselling author, Julien Smith, who titles it "20 Things I Should Have Known at 20", however I think that people of all ages can strive to be cognizant of these ideas claimed as necessary. 

"The sea, is really only drops of water"

What's wrong with our world? What can we do about it?

"Change comes about because of millions of tiny acts"

"Just being here is a cause for celebration"

"Everybody has that power of one -- just do something"

"We all cast our vote each day by what we do and don't do"

The documentary called I Am, currently on Netflix, touches on the science of connection, cooperation  and empathy between all sources of energy; the circle of life, an inspiring message, complete with beautiful cinematography. I really enjoyed watching it -- check it out:



What's right with the world?

About food.

Wow, what a hot heavy topic. The U.S. diet industry is worth 60 billion dollars, so I realize that I'm not going to be making any informational breakthroughs here. To be honest, I'm not even sure HOW to approach the topic of food, other than by stating that I think it's interesting that the word "diet" has two different meanings: 

1. as a verb, to restrict oneself to small amounts or special kinds of food in order to lose weight
2. As a noun, the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats

I would like to focus on the latter, as the more I learn about the simplification of choices, the more I realize that habits and structure play a significant role. 

There are so many choices to make when it comes to food. I would argue that what you put in your mouth is one of the most difficult choices you make in your life. Just how many books, articles, magazines do you think there are out there, solely dedicated to the topics of food, nutrition and the "best" foods to eat? The fact that it is a societal norm to have to make that decision at minimum three times per day, means the most difficult decision making of your life, is made at least three times a day! Talk about stressful!

When I was in a grocery store in the U.S., I remember marvelling at a whole aisle dedicated to sauces and dressings. There were so many variations of mustard, and pesto and Italian salad dressing... I absolutely loved it! But, it was also extremely unnecessary. I remember in my first year of university I had a roommate who ate Cheerios every morning for breakfast, a grilled veggie, cheese and meat sandwich for lunch and salad with some kind of meat for dinner. She would also buy a six pack of muffins from Safeway every week, freeze them, and eat one a day for a snack. Without fail, these were her meals for the week. Being an individuals who adores change and variety, I thought this was simply depressing. Looking back however, I can see how this sort of schedule worked for her, as she was quite the 'Type A' personality and with her scheduled meals, came her 7am daily workout and scheduled evening homework time etc.. and she excelled with all her activities! I took on more of an "I do what I want when I want" kind of approach and therefore often missed workouts and only did homework when it was necessary. Hm, what is this telling me? 

I think simplifying my meals might be something worth looking into, or perhaps even eating the same thing for a few days in a row (gasp!)... I NEVER do this! So, maybe it could be a good idea? Streamlining the options could be a start, but how about streamlining the ingredients, too? I have always really enjoyed learning about nutrition and micronutrients and for a period of about 5 years, on and off, I was a vegetarian. I dipped into veganism for about a month straight, and then on and off, but it has always been a lifestyle that I've been interested in transitioning into permanently. Veganism does not necessarily have to be simple though which I think is a common misunderstanding. In fact, items such as Oreos and Famous Amos cookies both have vegan ingredient lists, yet I wouldn't consider the contents "simple". Therefore the diet I suppose I am searching for is "plant-based", which indicates exactly that; items from the plants that make up the majority of your diet. One step further, even, would be eating only raw plant-based foods to get rid of the cooking process altogether. 

Obviously, the concept of simplifying food choices is multi tiered, starting with reducing the amount of overall meal choices to only eating raw, whole foods. Here is a great article written by a true minimalist, Joshua Fields Millburn, on his take on diet, which I think is pretty awesome. The concept of eating food solely for the purpose of fuel is something to consider, compared with a stereotypical European outlook, where food is important for social gatherings and is often the focal point. 

A boat in harbor is safe, but in time its bottom will rot out.

“Be brave. Even if you’re not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference. 

Don’t allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It’s there for your convenience, not the callers. 

Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is. Don’t burn bridges. You’ll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river. 

Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. Don’t major in minor things. Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Helen Keller, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein. 

Don’t spread yourself too thin. Learn to say no politely and quickly. Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Don’t waste time grieving over past mistakes Learn from them and move on. 

Every person needs to have their moment in the sun, when they raise their arms in victory, knowing that on this day, at his hour, they were at their very best. 

Get your priorities straight. No one ever said on his death bed, ‘Gee, if I’d only spent more time at the office’. 

Give people a second chance, but not a third. Judge your success by the degree that you’re enjoying peace, health and love. 

Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly. Leave everything a little better than you found it. Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation. 

Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life and death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems. Never cut what can be untied. 

Never overestimate your power to change others. Never underestimate your power to change yourself. 

Remember that overnight success usually takes about fifteen years. Remember that winners do what losers don’t want to do. Seek opportunity, not security. 

A boat in harbor is safe, but in time its bottom will rot out. Spend less time worrying who’s right, more time deciding what’s right. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life. 

Success is getting what you want. Happiness is liking what you get. The importance of winning is not what we get from it, but what we become because of it. 

When facing a difficult task, act as though it’s impossible to fail.”

— Jackson Brown Jr.