12/31/08 - New Year's Eve

I was a little put off this morning by the clear glee the CNN weather woman was expressing over the idea that people in Times Square would be freezing their butts off tonight. She said “I may just tune in to watch them suffer”. What the heck!? I bet Anderson Cooper wanted to take a swing at her as he will be out there suffering too. I don’t have any desire to go see the ball drop in Time Square but I do have a lot of respect for the people who do brave the elements and stand out there for hours and hours.
Matt and his roommate have been kind enough to host a New Year's party. I am forever grateful to them for keeping me out of the cold, not forcing me to pay $150 that I would have to pay if I went to a bar, and allowing me an opportunity to just be surrounded by wonderful friends. And I have the same wish for you…may your New Years Eve be warm, cheap, and filled with good friends.
Today’s song goes out to all the tough folks who are probably already gathered at Times Square. You show that nasty weather woman what’s up!

12/30/08 - 2008 with a silver lining

As another year comes to a close, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting. When I first started thinking back on 2008, my mind was flooded with memories of hardship and tragedy. But, as I’ve found with most things, if you take a deeper look you can find, at the very least, a silver lining. So here is a list of some accomplishments or things I figured out during the past year:

· Began to like sushi. Well, just California rolls but you have to start somewhere
· Got bangs
· Let bangs grow out
· Said goodbye to the best roommate ever
· Hiked in the Alps
· Got a new job
· Tried Pilates
· Watched good friends get married and have babies (well, I didn’t WATCH them have babies. EEEK!)
· Tried golf
· Realized I liked stuffing
· Realized I actually still don’t like stuffing
· Fell deeper in love
· Realized I am amazingly blessed and that I have the best family in the whole world

And last, but certainly not least…

· Started PositivelyAnna! There have been over 125 posts and Songs of the Day. Thank you all for your stories, support and song suggestions. Keep it up in 2009!

So when you do take a closer look at things and you still can’t find a silver lining, do as James Brown says and “Get up off of that thing and dance ‘til you feel better!”.

12/29/08 - Positively Delicious

I’m back! My apologies for not posting much over the past week. For some reason, when I’m home in New Hampshire my creative juices don’t flow as readily, but whatever juices make me want to eat, drink and sleep constantly overflow.
I would like to dedicate this post to all the wonderful cooks that made this particular holiday so special. I was spoiled with so many delicious meals from seafood chowder and lasagna to roast beef and roast chicken to a broccoli salad that would blow your mind (yup, I just described broccoli as mind blowing…it was that good!) If I were allowed one more Christmas wish it would be that weight gained from eating wonderful food would go to a wonderful place, like my chest or someone else’s butt. But alas it does not. And because I plan on making good on my promise to wear my new Diane von Furstenburg dress for New Years, I’m going to have to hit the gym. BOOOO. But I wouldn’t replace any of the new rolls in my belly for a single bite of all the great food I ate.
As promised I got rid of all the Christmas music on the Song of the Day playlist, well except Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You. People go nuts for this song! Today’s song is Cher’s Strong Enough which is one of my go-to songs when I need motivation to work out. Enjoy!

12/24/08 - Christmas Eve!

Hello all! I've added some of my favorite holiday songs to the Song of the Day playlist. This is what my family and I will be listening to as we decorate our tree tonight. I hope all of you have a very merry Christmas!

12/22/08 - Happy Hanukkah!

It has begun! I promised myself that I would not start with the holiday music until right before Christmas. And don’t worry, I’ll take these songs off the Song of the Day playlist once the holidays are over.

A friend reserved today, the first day of Hanukkah, for Adam Sandler about 2 months ago. So for all of you that are Jewish, grew up in New Hampshire (that is where Adam Sandler is from) or came of age in the 90’s, please enjoy Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah Song. Happy Hanukkah!

12/19/08 - Positively Successful!

Mission accomplished! Dinner last night was delicious and spirits were high! I’ve had several requests for the menu so here you go…

­Whole Chicken
My mom swears by this recipe. Super easy and the chicken was moist and flavorful. It didn’t even need gravy!

Ingredients
1 lemon (size of lemon should be determined by size of chicken)
¼ cup of orange juice
¼ cup of olive oil
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
1 teaspoon of paprika

Preparation
1. Place whole lemon inside chicken
2. Mix OJ, olive oil, kosher salt and paprika in small bowl. Rub chicken all over with mixture
3. Cook chicken as directed on package or 20 minutes per pound at 350
4. Relax and have 3 sips of wine

Sweet Potatoes with Apricots and Bourbon
This is one of my dad’s favorite holiday recipes. I believe he got it from Sunset Magazine. I made the sweet potatoes the night before which was a huge help.

Ingredients
1/3 cup bourbon
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
5 pounds red garnet or jewel sweet potatoes (sometimes sold as yams)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation
1. In a small bowl, pour bourbon over dried apricots.
2. Scrub sweet potatoes and pierce each in several places with a fork. Place potatoes on oven rack or in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a 350° oven until potatoes are soft when pierced, about 1 1/2 hours. Let stand until cool enough to handle, about 20 minutes.
3. Peel the sweet potatoes and place in a large bowl. Add brown sugar, butter, and vanilla to the bowl and mash with a potato masher or a fork until mixture is only slightly chunky. Stir in apricots and bourbon. Spoon into a shallow 2 1/2-quart baking dish and spread level.
4. Bake, uncovered, until hot in the center, about 30 minutes. Serve warm. (I heated them up the night of the dinner)
Source: Myrecipe.com

Asparagus
Matt prepared his famous asparagus. He places the asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzles it with olive oil and salt; cooks it for 10-12 minutes at 350; sprinkles with grated Parmesan before serving.

More Potatoes
We also made mashed potatoes. Everyone seemed mortified at the idea that I was making two starches but as I have mentioned, I love potatoes. And if you can’t have two starches at Christmas, when can you, dang it!?

Dessert!
I think dessert was the highlight of the meal. I had charged our friends with providing dessert and they rose to the occasion! They picked up a Mille Crepe, which is about 20 stacked crepes with a light, creamy custard in between each layer. They served it with raspberries. The Mille Crepe came from Lady M Confections on the Upper East Side of Manhattan http://www.ladymconfections.com/. Check it out!

I was comforted to know that so many of you get stressed while cooking as well. Not that I can consider myself an expert after one successful meal but I do think that there are a few tips that really will help alleviate some stress:
1. Do what you can in advance. Tackling the sweet potatoes the night before was a lifesaver because I have never tried that recipe before. I was able to focus on the directions and I didn’t feel rushed.
2. You may have noticed that all the dishes needed to be baked at the same temperature. This is a huge help for novice chefs like me. When the chicken was almost done cooking we threw in the asparagus and reheated the sweet potatoes. No worrying about over cooking or having to recalculate cooking time.
3. Don’t hover or critique. Matt helped peel some of the potatoes. I just didn’t look and before I knew it, I had a bunch of beautifully peeled potatoes. I don’t know how he peeled them and I don’t care.
4. If friends offer to bring something, let them! Having to make one less trip to the liquor store or not having to make dessert can be a total life saver when trying to put together a big meal.

I can’t wait to hear about all your holiday cooking adventures!

I received an excellent suggestion for today's song. Please enjoy Lionel Richie's All Night Long.

12/18/08 - The Evil Kitchen Monster

I generally consider myself a cheery person. I like to think that I am pleasant and that people like to be around me. But I have recently realized that I am a nightmare in the kitchen or rather my boyfriend, Matt, told me I was (He said it very sweetly of course so I wanted to hug him and not punch him). I love to cook but when I am cooking I’m controlling, tense, and almost always frantic. Not a pretty picture, is it? So I have set out on a search for the root of my nightmarish tendencies.

My dad is an excellent cook. Food has always been his major creative outlet. He understands food; what flavors work together, how to make a recipe even better, etc. When I am home I like to be his sous chef, helping when I can and trying to pick up as many new techniques as possible. Now, I love my Dad very much but he can be a little controlling in the kitchen. He will ask me to help by doing something simple, like peeling potatoes, but he will abandon his dish to look over my shoulder to make sure I’m doing it correctly. I have to glare at him until he goes back to his task so I can finish peeling or chopping MY WAY. During this Thanksgiving we were going about our usual routine of him hovering and me glaring when I had what Oprah calls an AHA! Moment. This is what I do to Matt! I will ask him to help me with dinner but then I will critique or hover while he is grating cheese or draining the noodles. Good Lord! Who cares how he does it as long as the cheese gets grated and the noodles get drained. I shared this revelation with my dad and we both agreed we would work on relinquishing a little culinary control.

Now I mentioned that I am also tense and a little frantic when cooking, but this is just because I am a good person ;). In my family you show people you love them through food. When we are home my mom spoils us with homemade rolls or fresh squeezed orange juice. And my dad will bring me a sandwich when he picks me up from the bus station. I love this tradition. I like to show my friends, roommates and Matt how much I care about them by making a fancy dinner or their favorite treat. But I realized, as my loved ones stare at me in horror as I run around the kitchen like a PMSing bat out of hell that this is not a great way to show love. I need to ease up on my desire to make the perfect meal and actually enjoy the time I get to spend with the great people in my life. Some would suggest abandoning trying to emulate Giada and just order take out but as I mentioned I do love to cook. So I’m admitting I have a problem (the first step) and I’m going to make a conscious effort to be more pleasant while cooking. I’m preparing a holiday dinner for some friends tonight which will be a great test. I have already done most of the shopping and prepared some of the dishes last night. And if that doesn’t help, I’ll just drink a lot of wine. Wish me luck! I will let you know how it goes.

I also like to show my friends I love them by playing the songs they request. Here is Lady GaGa's Just Dance.

12/17/08 - Hugh Jackman! That is all I have to say

I can’t decide what I am more excited about: Hugh Jackman hosting the Academy Awards or Hugh Jackman starring in X-Men Origins: Wolverine! That is like asking me which I like more: baked potatoes or mashed potatoes. It is an impossible decision!

Let’s start with the Academy Awards or, as I like to call it, The Best Night of Television EVER. I tried throwing a party on Oscar night a few times but, evidently not everyone is interested in sitting in silence, waiting with bated breath for the announcement of every award. That’s right! Every award! I even care who wins the sound editing and short documentary categories. And to find out Hugh Jackman is hosting this year, well that is almost too much!

But on the other hand there is the new X-Men movie. X-Men is my favorite movie series, well second to the Die Hard series. I was blown away when the first X-Men movie came out in 2000 and I had to wait 3 long years for the next one. I had just moved to Scotland when X2 came out. I had to bribe my two new friends to come with me on opening night. They were two blond sorority girls from Texas and comic book movies really weren’t their thing. However they were lured in by the idea of Hugh Jackman in spandex (who could resist!). They did, however, almost ditch me when I literally yelled “Woo Hoo!” during the opening credits. In my defense, I was a little buzzed at the time. They serve booze in the movie theaters in Scotland. What a great country! While I didn’t enjoy The Last Stand as much as the first two, I was still very entertained. And now they are coming out with Wolverine, which will give us incite into how Logan became Wolverine. Check out the preview! http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wolverine+trailer&search_type=&aq=0&oq=wolverine

It is the year of Hugh Jackman, which I know is a cause for celebration for every women and quite a few men. Starring in Australia, named Sexiest Man Alive, hosting the Oscars and now Wolverine. I’m comforted by the steady stream of Hugh we will be receiving for the next 6 months.

So now that you think I’m a giant weirdo I shall sign off with today’s song. Please enjoy Summer of 69.

12/15/08 - I Wonder

I went to a holiday party this weekend thrown by my friends Kate and Amy. They have it every year and it is always a great opportunity to catch up with old friends. And while the food, drinks and ambiance were fun and festive, the small talk had a different feel this year. When any group of young professionals get together “How is work going?” is usually one of the first questions asked, but this year the question was asked with hesitation. Many of the party goers had already lost their jobs and others feared that they would be next, myself included.

I was chatting with a friend who I always enjoy because she has opinions and is very passionate. I was saying how sad I was about my smart, hardworking friends getting laid off. I hadn’t turned on the news in the past couple days because I couldn’t bear to hear about the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have also lost their jobs. “There is no hope” I said (not very positive, I know). My friend smiled and said proudly “Except for President Elect Obama”. And while I too am excited about our new president, I wondered aloud if Obama would remain a source of hope and inspiration to the country once he takes office.

There have only been a few presidents during my lifetime. I obviously have no recollection of how I felt while Reagan or the first Bush were in office. I was a teenager during the Clinton years but I can’t really remember how I felt about him either. My recollection is clouded by all the controversy that surrounded his presidency. So the only real frame of reference I have is George W. Bush and to say he has not been a source of hope and inspiration for me is an understatement. I pose this question to my older readers or to my younger readers who paid more attention growing up than me: Is it possible to be proud and uplifted by your President? I’m not talking about opinion polls or approval ratings. Lots of people will say they support the president, but what I am wondering is if the President of the United States is a figure that people can be excited about. Or is the president sort of like a high school principal. The student knows he has their best interest in mind but they all think he is kind of a jerk.

I know that we can be inspired by ex-presidents. Growing up I had a picture of the Lincoln Memorial hanging in my room (I was a dork) and I have always found Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats very moving. But is the love and respect we have for these great presidents a product of hindsight or is it possible to feel admiration for your current president while they are making the difficult decisions that affect your life right now.

While this may seem like a pessimistic post, I ask this question with optimistic anticipation for the answers I will receive. My hope is that while Obama is president during these unbelievably trying times he will continue to be viewed with the same excitement and hopefulness that he was on election night.

Today's song is the Dixie Chicks' I Hope, something we could all use these days. Enjoy!

12/12/08 - A True Inspiration

My friend is a physical therapist at NYU. She works with patients who have recently been through a severe trauma or major surgery. She often comes home from work exhausted and frustrated because getting some of her patients to do physical therapy is difficult, even though it is vital to their recovery. But the other day when we met up she was elated, saying “I have a new patient who is a quadruple amputee”. My look of horror made it obvious that I didn’t understand why this was a good thing. She quickly explained that this patient’s attitude was amazing. She is hardworking and incredibly positive. Her story is incredible! Check out this news clip. My friend is the cute physical therapist in the green ;) http://wcbstv.com/topstories/brooklyn.hospital.lawsuit.2.885421.html
Tabitha is clearly an amazing woman and her idea of erasing “can’t” from our vocabulary is advise I know we could all use.

This inspirational story deserves an inspirational song. Please enjoy Garth Brook’s Standing Outside the Fire.

12/11/08 - Giving Back Made Easy

To help give back to the city we love, a co-worker and I decided to start a coat drive at our office. New York Cares, a volunteer/charitable organization, collects coats and distributes them to those in need in New York. They have set up collection areas all over the city and will accept coats until the end of December.
We have been pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get the coat drive started. Our building management has been very helpful and New York Cares sent us posters to help promote our drive. Once a week we bring the coats from our colleagues to one of the collection sites. It is that easy! Please consider starting a drive in your own office or looking for a coat collection in your area.
One of the fans of Positively Anna prefers the song of the day to relate to the theme of the post. I challenged him to come up with a fun song about coats. The best he could come up with is We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off. And while it certainly isn’t about giving coats to charity it is a great song that is guaranteed to pick you up.

12/10/08: Morally: Liberal; Fashionably: Conservative

I’ve never been a flashy dresser. When I was showing my mom my new clothes for my first real job, she said “Well, no one will confuse you with the office floozy”. My closet consists of mostly cable knit sweaters, cardigans and button downs. But just because I often look like I have just come from an afternoon of sailing doesn’t mean I don’t dream of fashion grandeur. I look at celebrities and in the pages of Vogue and long for the guts to wear something “fashion forward”. Sometimes I will get up the nerve to buy something that is not from the Gap, Banana Republic or JCrew. Once in college I bought this great sequins mini. It was fierce. And guess where it is? Still in my closet with the tags on it. Shameful!

Well a few days ago I was doing a little window shopping and I got up the nerve to go into a Diane von Furstenberg sample sale. It was jammed packed with angry, feisty fashionistas, which as I explained, aren’t exactly my crowd. I was afraid of what would happen to me if anyone noticed my LL Bean all-weather moccasins (it was cold out!). So I pick out this amazing little dress which, in true von Furstenberg tradition, is covered with a large, vibrant print. It fit like a glove. I was glowing on the walk home. I had just bought my first designer dress (it was a sample sale, remember. I’m not a millionaire). I tried it on for my boyfriend, rejoicing in beauty of dress and exclaiming all the places I was going to wear it. But the longer I stood in front of the mirror, the number of places I would wear the dress started to deplete. “I’m going to wear this dress every single day!”…“Maybe just on Saturday nights!”…“Well maybe just on special occasions”…“Shit! When am I EVER going to wear this dress!” So since I can’t return it and it really is a great dress, I have resolved to wear it on New Year’s Eve. For those of you who will see me on New Year’s, please hold me to this. Because while I’m sure the sequins skirt could use some company, my very first designer dress deserves to be worn.

Today’s song is one that used to pick us up in high school. Enjoy Tim McGraw’s Where the Green Grass Grows.

12/9/08 - Merry Christmas Paxton!

My friends Kelly and Ben just opened up their home to a new dog! Paxton was abandoned, along with his two sister, on the steps of a nearby veterinary hospital. They hadn't planned on getting a dog but as Kelly puts it "Paxton just kind of found us".

There are millions of animals in the United States and with this economic downturn, many families cannot afford to keep their pets. If you are looking for a pet please go to your local animal shelter. There are thousands of cats and dogs that need a good home and they make a great presents (hint, hint). Check out http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/data_root/html/Angel/AdoptAPetLanding.html. Iams has set up this site to help you find shelters in your area and will allow you to locate dogs by age, gender and even breed.

Today's song was a recommendation and it is a lot of fun. Please enjoy I'll Be in the Sky from B.O.B.

12/8/08 - Klutzes and the men who love them

Hello. My name is Anna and I am a klutz. My lack of grace mixed with a knack for attracting bad luck earned me the nicknames “Bonk” and “Spaz” when I was growing up. And while most people say goodbye to their klutzy phase after puberty, mine has lasted into adulthood. So let’s face it, for me klutzy is not a phase, it is a way of life.

I have grown used to the ripped clothes, broken glasses and head injuries over the years but it has definitely been an adjustment for my boyfriend. When we first started dating I think he was afraid that I would fall down a man hole or electrocute him some how. And he was living in constant fear that one of my flailing arms would hit him in the crotch. But he has gotten more accustomed to me over time. Now when I sit next to him he simply guards his drink and/or his crotch and when I ask him why he is doing it, he simply says “You make me nervous” and gives me a kiss.

And I am not the only klutz out there. Just this morning my best friend told me this great story: She and her man were just settling into the couch to enjoy some holiday cocktails that he had whipped up. She accidently kicked the tray of drinks, spilling them all over her boyfriend. Because there was cranberry juice in the drinks she immediately threw his pants into the washer. And because she is cursed, there was chapstick in the pants pocket. Goodbye pants! While her boyfriend wasn’t impressed by the complete destruction of his pants, he is a good guy who knows he as a great girl who will, from time to time, kick drinks on him.

So I tip my hat to the klutz loving men out there. Move your drink, cover your crotch and give your klutz a kiss.

Here’s a song that always makes people happy. Enjoy Cyndi Lauper’s Girl Just Want to Have Fun.

12/5/08 - Reason 210 Why I Love New York

As I have mentioned I live on Wall St. I was walking home from the subway last night and when I was in front of the Stock Exchange I noticed a bunch of people were gathered and music was playing. I took off my headphones and it only took me 2 seconds to realize who was singing. You will never guess who it was!? Aretha Franklin! Holy crap! I couldn’t believe it. She was belting out Christmas Carols about 30 feet away from where I was standing. Her voice is unbelievable. I stood in the rain with about 200 other people and was just blown away. When she was finished she said “I love you New York!” and we all shouted back “We love you Aretha!”. It was very cool. This city rocks!

In honor of the Queen of Soul herself today's song is Chain of Fools. Have a great weekend!

12/4/08 - Positive Geniuses

A few years ago I saw the play Three Days of Rain with Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper. Roberts and Rudd play siblings reuniting with their childhood friend, Cooper. Rudd is a brooding intellectual while Cooper plays a happy “golden” boy and Roberts is torn between the two. Rudd spends most of the play teasing and even berating Cooper for his “glass half full” attitude. Finally Cooper snaps and shouts “Just because I’m in a good mood doesn’t mean I’m an idiot!”. I almost shot out of my seat and said “THANK YOU!”.
For some reason it looks cool to put things down…this bar sucks, that teacher is a moron, this show is stupid. And it seems like you don’t have any taste or you don’t know any better if you generally enjoy things. Why is this? I know I am a culprit of putting things down just because I can but I try not to do this very often. This is not to say that people can’t disagree. I’m all for different opinions but if you don’t like something and someone else does that doesn’t make you a better person. So here’s to all you “glass half full” people out there! You are clearly geniuses!

In the spirit of this post today's song is Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry Be Happy.

12/3/08 - Ode to the Bagel Guys

One of the most important relationships a New Yorker has, beyond their doorman, is with the Bagel Guys. They are the fellows at the deli closest to your office who provide you with your morning sustenance. They are friendly and always happy to see you, which is impressive because they are usually crammed like sardines behind the counter. They support almost everything you do…new hair cut, a tan, etc. The only thing that they are not too thrilled about is your New Years resolution to cut back on carbs (NO BAGELS!) but we all know that will only last 2 weeks and then the Bagel Guys will welcome you back with open arms.
I switched jobs a few months ago and while I was concerned about my boss liking me and making friends, I was really worried about finding new Bagel Guys. I was very attached to my guys at Bagel & Bean (SO good – 54th and Broadway – Check it out!), where I had frequented for years. But after a week or two at my new job I found new Bagel Guys at Guy & Gallard. And guess what happened yesterday!? They remembered my order. When I got to the front of the line they were already spreading the cream cheese on my cinnamon raisin bagel and were putting the milk in my ice coffee. This is a major milestone in the Bagel Guy relationship! So thank you for making all our mornings POSITIVELY brighter Bagel Guys.

Today's song in Mrs Robinson. Enjoy!

12/2/08 - Wall-E

If you haven't seen Wall-E yet I definitely recommend it. It is funny and very sweet. Great for the holidays and the whole family. It has nice messages of hope and love and all that other junk ;)

Today's song is Wide Open Spaces from the Dixie Chicks. Enjoy.

12/01/08 - Giant Pool of Money

While ignorance may be bliss, it is not very responsible, especially in times like these. I’ll admit that until recently when anybody would mention terms like “economic crisis” or “housing bubble” I would shake my head and looked discouraged but I really didn’t know much about any of those topics. But once the problem came to my front door (Literally! I live on Wall St.), I resolved to figure out what the heck was going on! It wasn’t easy though. It isn’t like there is a “What Is Wrong With The Economy For Dummies” at Barnes and Noble. So I began my research through one of my usual references: Oprah! She did a show a few months back about the economic crisis, and while it wasn’t as detailed as I would have liked, it definitely started me off in the right direction. Next, I reached out to my boyfriend, who is wise beyond his years. I like to ask him really broad, important questions about the world when we have had a few drinks and are just about to fall asleep. He stayed up until 4 AM patiently trying to explain what was going on (don’t worry, we are still together). But I still had more questions! I was badgering my dad for answers when he mentioned that I check out Giant Pool of Money. Giant Pool of Money is a piece that This America Life (I worship this show) put together to try to give their listeners a better understanding of the housing crisis. You have to check it out! You can listen and/or download it at http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=355. It is an hour long and worth every second. I promise it isn’t boring and you will come away with a much better understanding of what happened to our economy. Check it out and tell me what you think.

Today’s song is Madonna’s Vogue. I hope Madge will forgive me for not including one of her songs so far….oops.

11/26/08 - I'm home!

Nothing smells better than fresh, New Hampshire, fall air! Especially if you now live in New York City. I'm so happy to be home and I hope you are headed to people you love soon.

My brother just introduced me to Brett Dennen. Check out today's song Blessed. I think you will like it.

11/25/08 - The Power of Granola

My friend has a great blog called Lick My Spoon (find the link on My Blog List). She is passionate about food and is able to make recipes for seemingly difficult and extravagant dishes clear and easy to follow. She posted a recipe for homemade granola on 11/14 and I tried it last night. It came out great (tooting my friend’s horn, not my own) and I had a wonderful time making it. I have always enjoyed cooking but I often find it stressful; making sure you have all the ingredients, trying to get everything to come out at the same time, etc. But I found making the granola very relaxing. All the ingredients smell amazing and you have to mix them together slowly. As I was carefully kneading the warm ingredients with my hands I was trying to figure out why I was enjoying it so much and I realized I never do anything slowly any more. I type, run, talk and even change the channels as fast as I can. I think we all do these days. With the priority we have put on speed I think we have lost sight of the pleasure that comes from taking our time. Things get crazy around the holidays, so I suggest taking the time to try this granola recipe. It will relax you and it makes a POSITIVELY wonderful gift.

While my post is about relaxing and taking your time, I have been thinking about a song with a little kick for today. Please rock out to Black Betty.

11/24/08 - Pumpkin Butter

This blog is all about things to make you happy and nothing makes ME happier than a good breakfast. This weekend a friend introduced me to Kitchenette, a wonderfully charming restaurant on Chambers and W. Broadway. The menu is full of comfort food with some creative twists. We had gingerbread pancakes with pumpkin butter. If you live in New York you should leave your desk right now and head to Kitchenette. But don't worry you non-New Yorkers, I wouldn't want you to miss out on the joy that is pumpkin butter. Check out the recipe at http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Butter/Detail.aspx. It will POSITIVELY add a holiday flavored sweetness to your pancakes, toast and muffins.

Today's song is Van Halen's Top of the World. I've always loved Van Halen (don't tell my dad...he would disown me).

11/21/08 - Hiccups

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I was grumpy! On the subway I was ready to punch anyone who bumped me, looked at me or even breathed near me (see, Positively Anna is not always so positive). I was wracking my brain for something to cheer me up but I just couldn’t pull out of it. And then I got the hiccups. Who gets the hiccups in the morning!? Plus mine are always loud and make me sound like drunken cartoon character. So now my grumpiness was reaching a new level, almost to bitchiness (eeeek!), but then the guy at the bagel place laughed at my hiccups, then the lady in the elevator, and then our receptionist. And finally I even a cracked a smile. Sometimes that is all you need…just a little “hiccup” to cheer you up.

And I just realized something! Today is my 101th post. Thanks from checking out Positively Anna. I hope the songs pick you up and that you keep coming back. Today’s song is Whitney Houston’s I Get So Emotional. Perfect Friday song!

11/20/08 - No Cable!!!

Our cable went out last night! It was horrible! It was torture! Actually it wasn’t that bad. Once my roommate and I decided not to pay our neighbors (neighbors in New York = people you have never met or even seen) $1,000 to let us watch their TV, we resolved to have a good night anyway. I made a big dinner, my boyfriend brought some wine and we all just talked! I felt like I was in a college dorm (in a good way). Now I don’t want you to thinking that all I ever do is watch TV and don’t talk to my friends, but when you live in a one bedroom apartment that has some how been converted into a 3 bedroom apartment you just don’t have a table and the only place to eat is in front of the TV. So if you don’t have a table like me or just choose not to use it, try not turning on the TV every once and while. You will POSITIVELY enjoy your meal and your company more.

Today’s song is Jean Knight’s Mr. Big Stuff. Have a great day!

11/19/08 - Team in Training

Have you ever heard of Team in Training? It is a wonderful organization where you train and raise money to compete in a triathlon or marathon. The money raised goes to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. As we all know at someone who has been affected by these diseases, supporting this kind of research is very important. Training for triathlons and marathons can be very challenging, so the athletes work closely with leukemia and lymphoma survivors to help remind them how important what their doing is. My friend Tricia will be competing in her first triathlon this spring. She has been touched by the cancer patience at the hospital where she works and wants to go beyond her every day duties to do something to help them. Please support Tricia in her efforts http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/wildtri09/tdelmonaco. If you can't make a donation today, you can find this link in the "For A Good Cause" section here on PositivelyAnna. Today's song is Gwen Stefani's Sweetest Escape. Fun song! Enjoy!

Tip/Thought of the Week: Who Says There Is Nothing Good On the News

While I was trying to stay up to speed on the election coverage I stumbled upon something really wonderful on CNN. It is the CNN Heroes campaign. People from all over nominated others who they feel deserve recognition for the work they have done to make the world a better place. CNN then chose 10 finalists and put together a short bio about their charity work. Go to http://heroes.cnn.com/default.asp. Vote on the Hero you feel deserves the grand prize that will help their organization grow. Take some time to watch the video bios. They are only about 2 minutes long and very inspiring. I voted for Marie Da Silva who opened a school in Malawi for children who have been orphaned by AIDS. It is hard to pick though! All 10 finalists are truly amazing people. I know we are all strapped for time these days and money is tight. We may not be able to do all that we want for charities and other good causes, but voting for CNN Heroes is a great opportunity to lend your support to some one who has dedicated their lives to helping others.

11/18/08 - Crazy Scots

Today's song is The Proclaimers' "I'm Going To Be". While this song may remind you of the movie Benny & June, where we all first started to fall for Johnny Depp, it will always remind me of when I lived in Scotland. The Proclaimers are Scottish brothers who are not only celebrated as rockstars but as symbols of Scottish independence. Without fail, every night in every bar across Scotland they will blast "I'm Going To Be". And everyone goes crazy! It is great! Think of your favorite "chill" bar (To qualify as "chill" a bar cannot include any of the following: a line, velvet ropes, table service, snobby bouncers or even snobbier bartenders). Now imagine that they can some how play Livin' On a Prayer, Sweet Caroline, and Don't Stop Believing all at once. You know everyone in the bar would go nuts! This is what it is like in Scotland every night. "I"m Going To Be" comes on and everyone stands up, sings as loud as they can, cheers and hug strangers. It is amazing and very contagious.

11/17/08

How was your weekend? I spent Saturday night having my mind blown by a Led Zepplin cover band called Led Blimpie with a lead guitarist named Thor! Only in New York!

I am always on the look out for fun stories to give you a little pick-me-up and I came upon a great one the other day. My boyfriend watches a lot of sports. A lot, a lot! And if we aren’t watching the Red Sox or UNC basketball I often tune them out, but something caught my interest the other day when we were watching a Texas Tech game. This September a local radio station in Lubbock held a contest where a lucky fan would get the opportunity to win free rent for a month if they were able to kick a field goal. During the 3rd quarter of the game a student named Matt Williams came on the field and crushed a 30 yard field goal to win the contest. The Texas Tech coach saw Williams’ kick and asked his staff to find out who that kid was. Williams was invited to try out for the team and now is an official member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders! Since late September he has kicked for 21 consecutive extra points. I love that story!

Today’s song is a fun one from The Holloways called Two Left Feet. Have a great day!

11/14/08

Today's song is my favorite new one! Beyonce's Single Ladies is so much fun. Blast it when you are getting ready to hit the town tonight or when you are getting ready to have lots of pizza and beer and sit on your couch ;) Have a great weekend!

11/13/08

Almost to the weekend! Hang in there! Today's song is Pat Green's Wave on Wave. This song is about the people that help you through the tough times and keep you afloat. And if you haven't noticed, I've added the Positive Quote of the Day at the top of the page. Check it out and I would love you to send me your favorite quotes at positivelyanna@gmail.com

11/12/08

I heard this song at a wedding last year. The couple played this song for their first dance. It is a very sweet song and kind of quirky. Please enjoy Ingrid Michaelson's The Way I Am. Have a great day!

11/11/08

This Tuesday is not as exciting as last Tuesday but I hope you have a good day anyway. Today's song is very cool and great for head bopping (you won't be able to help it!). Please enjoy the White Stripe's My Doorbell.

11/10/08

How was your weekend? Do anything fun? I think it is finally officially fall in New York. Here is a super fun song to start off the week. Feel better Al. Happy Birthday Mom

Tip/Thought of the Week: A New President

What an exciting night! What a historic night! Last night millions of Americans and people around the world celebrated the election of our new President. I took to the streets, along with many other New Yorkers, to shout, clap, hug and to be hopeful for the future of our country.But there are millions of Americans who did not vote for Obama. There will also be Obama supporters who will inevitably disagree with some of the decisions he makes while in office. But no matter who you support, Barack Obama is your new president. My hope is that we all continue to take part in the democratic process, which is never over, that when we disagree, that we do it with civility and respect, and that we all strive to make this country a better place. Below you will see an excerpt from last night’s speech that I hope will inspire you no matter what party you belong to.“To those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.”

11/7/08

Happy Friday! Who is ready for the weekend? Doing anything fun? Here is a song that always puts me in a good mood. Please enjoy Jackson 5's ABC and have a great weekend.

11/6/08

How's everyone doing today? Changing up the vibe a little bit today with the song. This song always makes me laugh. Please chill out to G Love's Baby Got Sauce.

11/5/08

Please check out the new Tip/Thought of the Week. Please also enjoy Bruce Sprintsteen's The Rising.

11/4/08

And if the redesign of Positively Anna isn't enough to get you in the voting mood, here is a wonderful Ray Charles song. VOTE!

11/3/04

Happy November! How was your weekend? Did you have a good Halloween? What was the best costume you saw? Here is a fun song that is impossible not to sing along to. Please enjoy Life is a Highway.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween everyone! Big plans tonight? I'll be party hopping and enjoying the craziness of Halloween in New York City. What do you think is going to be the most popular costume this year? My money is on Palin. Today's song is The Monster Mash to help you get in the mood. Have a happy and a safe Halloween.

10/30/08

Tomorrow is Halloween! I want to hear what everyone is going to be. I'm going as Princess Leia (giant hair buns not gold bikini). Today's song is kind of random but a lot of fun. Please listen to Scissor Sister's Take Your Mama while you come up with the best Halloween costume ever.

10/29/08

Who got snow yesterday!? We didn't get any here in New York. The first snow is always fun. I'm resisting the urge to start the Christmas music ;) Today's song is a fun twist on a very sweet Beatles song. I've Just Seen a Face is about love at first site and there are few things more positive than that. Have a great day!

10/28/08

Time for another country song! This is a fun song from Bon Jovi and Sugarland about being able to go home again and that is a good feeling. Have a great day!

10/27/08

How was your weekend? Have you seen Forgetting Sarah Marshall? You should check it out! What I like about it is that even though it is about a rough break up you still like all the characters (What a PositivelyAnna thing to say ;) ) For the song of the day please enjoy Rusted Roots Send Me on My Way which has been known to induce skipping and whistling.

Thought/Tip of the Week: Maybe Mom is Right

My mother has always tried to make me look nice. She permed my hair in kindergarten, plucked my eye brows in the 7th grade and sent me a letter in college about the importance of wearing lipstick. I fought her kicking and screaming the whole way. I thought her ideas were archaic and that she felt women had to look good to get what they want. But now as I’ve started to climb the corporate ladder I have been giving her efforts more thought. You have all heard the term “Dress for success” and ”Dress for the job you want”. Showing you care about your appearance can help others believe that you will care about their business, clients, product, etc. At one of my old offices there was a woman, we will call her Jennifer, who got promoted much faster than her colleagues, even though she didn’t have more experience. As it was one of my goals to move up the ranks quickly, I tried to figure out what she had done that others didn’t. And what I realized after about a week of observation is that Jennifer always looked great. Her clothes were conservative but you could tell there was a lot of thought put into each outfit. Her hair always looked neat and her make-up was simple, yet flawless. Jennifer didn’t get promoted because she looked better than her collogues who often looked disheveled and sloppy, but she did catch the eye of upper management who took a closer look at her work and saw she was ready for more responsibility. I would never suggest showing cleavage or wearing miniskirts to the office and neither would my mother! But dressing like you care about your job and about yourself is a good and totally modern idea for both men and women. So thanks Mom! I’m sorry it took about two decades to finally understand what you were saying. And you will be happy to know I wore lip gloss today ;)

10/24/08

As promised today's song is a little funky. Estelle's American Boy is playing all over the place in New York. I hope you enjoy it and have a great weekend.

10/23/08

Here is a chill, sweet song to ease you through your Thursday. Please enjoy Matt White's Love. And I promise something a little more rowdy for you tomorrow. Have a great day!

10/22/08

Hump Day! Are you going to make it? Here is a fun song that will most likely get stuck in your head. Please enjoy War's Why Can't We Be Friends.

10/21/08

Not only is the Supreme's Can't Hurry Love super catchy, it has a great lesson in the importance of patience. Hope you have a great day!

Tip/Thought of the Week: The Mystery is Gone

While I won’t deny the convenience of caller ID, it has taken some of the surprise out of our lives. I know I’m not the only one who screens their calls or once we see who is calling won’t turn off the TV or stop checking email when we answer. We greet friends and family with an unenthusiastic “Hey”. But God bless by father’s old school heart for not getting caller ID or call waiting for that matter (Damn the man, Dad!). Whenever I call he is excited to find out it is me. While it may not be surprising that my dad is happier to hear from his only daughter than some telemarketer, it still makes me smile that every time he has answered my call since I left for college I am greeted with a jovial “Hello!”. I guess the point of this Tip/Thought is to remind us all to take the time to let the people we care about know that we are happy to hear their voice.

10/20/08

How was your weekend? It is finally starting to get cold in New York. Here is a fun song by Eric Hutchinson I heard this morning. Have a great day!

10/17/08

As you will all remember getting your license is one of THE most important things in high school (right up there with getting asked to Prom and not getting caught when stealing booze from your parents) . One of my best friends got his license at the beginning of our sophmore year and there was nothing better than just driving around. And we never felt cooler than we were cruising the Volvo (Volvos were cool in New Hampshire, people!) and listening to Steve Miller's The Joker. Have a great weekend and I hope you get a chance to smile when thinking back on the good ol' days.

10/16/08

You have made it to the latter part of the week! Well done. Hang in there and enjoy this song from Coldplay which I find to be very good for fist pumping.

10/13/08

When I was young one of the tapes we listened to over and over again on family road trips was Paul Simon's Graceland (I appreciate my parents could only listen to Baby Beluga so many times). Call Me Al always reminds me of those times. What tapes did your family rock out to? Please also check out the new Tip/Thought of the Week.

10/13/08

Hope you had a great weekend. If you live on the east coast I'm sure you did because the weather was beautiful. And for those of you who are lucky enough to have today off please have enough fun for those of us who don't. Here is a very upbeat song to start off your week. Please enjoy The Emotion's Best of My Love.

10/10/08

Hello all! Apologies for not updating the blog. I have been sick all week and haven't had much inspiration for a positive song. But I am back!!! I have been waiting to post Spoon's Underdog for you since I've created this blog. This is a great song and I am a sucker for horn lines. Have an awesome weekend.

10/6/08

Hope everyone had a great weekend! For those of you who are feeling funky this morning, here is War's Low Rider. And for those of you who aren't feeling funky just yet, I hope this helps.

10/3/08

To all my little buttercups out there: Have a great weekend! Hope you have something fun planned. Please enjoy this great hit from The Temptations.

10/2/08

Are you registered to vote!? The election is November 4th and registration ends a few weeks prior. If you aren't registered, what's your excuse? Mine was I thought you needed a valid drivers licence. FALSE! You just need the last 4 digits of your social security #. That's it! Is your excuse that you don't have the time? It takes 3 minutes! Don't know how? Go to www.maps.google.com/vote. Put in your home address and it will send you to the registration website for your state.
Everyone can see that the U.S. is not in a great place right now. You might not be sure what to do to fix it, but what will certainly make matters worse is not voting. Here is a cool and funny clip a smart friend sent me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UaRXvRwhOk. Check it out and REGISTER TO VOTE! And if you need another push, please be inspired by Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.

10/1/08

I can't believe I've ignored the untapped positive resource of the Beach Boys! This song reminds me of Beach Day in elementary school. In the bleakest part of winter (which is Dec-Mar if you are from New Hampshire) we would have Beach Day! Everyone would dress up in Hawaiian shirts, lie on towels in the gym, play volleyball and listen to the Beach Boys. Ah the good ol' days. What crazy things did you used to do at your school? And was New Boston Central School the only school in the universe who celebrated Michaelmas?

9/30/08

Today's song is Beautiful World by Colin Hays, a sweet song about enjoying the little things. What are the strange little things that make you smile? I love getting to start a brand new notebook (of recycled paper, of course). Please also check out my new Tip/Thought of the Week. It is for a good cause.

9/29/08

Hope you had a nice weekend! Someone very sweet sent this song to me and reminded me how much I love Hall & Oats! Please enjoy You Make My Dreams Come True and refresh you memory about how awesome how awesome they are. I have two words for you: Man Eater!

9/26/08

It is only raining water out there today but I know there are a few of you who wish it was raining men ;) It is harder to be cheery when it is nasty outside but this song will definitely help. Please enjoy The Weather Girls' It's Raining Men. Have a great weekend!

9/25/08

This has been one of my favorite songs since as long as I can remember. And if you have never seen the movie The Big Chill, check it out ASAP. Please enjoy The Band's The Weight.

9/24/08

Time for something a little more funky! Please rock out to Metro Stations Shake It. This song is perfect for acting bad ass as you strut down the street.

9/23/08

Today's song is about the power of positive thought. Go West's King of Wishful Thinking is a fun tune from the Pretty Woman soundtrack. So for all of you out there still trying to get over that break up, hang in there and think good thoughts.

9/22/08

When was the last time you watched Almost Famous? I saw it again last night and I was reminded what a great movie it is. If you have never seen it, tell your boss you are sick, go to the nearest video store and check it out! Please enjoy one of the many great songs from the soundtrack, Elton John's Tiny Dancer.

9/19/08

Big plans for the weekend? Here is something kind of funky to help you through Friday. Please enjoy Outkast's Morris Brown and have a great weekend.

9/18/08

For my buddies and me Cat Steven's Peace Train was one of those old songs that you stumble upon in college that becomes part of your 4 year sound track. It will always remind me of them.

9/17/08

Wow! PositivelyAnna has some pretty funky visitors. Our karaoke party would be crazy!
I'm starting to feel the chill of fall in the air, or as I like to call it, Cable Knit Sweater season ;) Please enjoy Bob Marley's One Love and I hope your Hump Day goes quickly.

9/16/08

Good morning! I think Signed, Sealed, Delivered would be my favorite karaoke song (I say "would be" because I've only done karaoke once...hard to believe, I know). Drop me a post and tell me your favorite karaoke song.

9/15/08

How was your weekend? Have you ever been to Charleston, SC? You should check it out! It is a lovey city with tons to do and great food. Please enjoy Niel Diamond's Sweet Caroline.

9/10/08

Hope everyone is having a good week. Here is a chill song to help you through Hump Day. Please enjoy Amos Lee's "Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight".

9/9/08

Is anyone mourning the end of summer? I sure am. So to support our denial I thought we should have one more summertime song. Please enjoy Kenny Chesney's Summertime.

9/5/08

Here is a fun song by Nelly Furtado. I hope your Friday is going well and that you are ready for a great weekend.

9/4/08

We've reached 1,000!  There have been 1,000 views of PositivelyAnna.  I'm so excited!  Thank you for making my day.  And I hope Tina Turner's Simply the Best makes yours. 

9/3/08

How was your Labor Day? Today's song is Walking on Sunshine. I can't believe I didn't think of this song earlier. Have a great day!

8/28/08

This fun song was a suggestion from a friend. I had never heard it and it brightened my day. Love to get suggestions for Positively Anna! If you have a song that you like, please let me know. Enjoy Cheryl Crow's Love is Free.

8/27/08

I'm leaving my job and while I am very sad, I am excited to get to have one last party with my co-workers. And this is my favorite party song! Please sing really loud and fist pump to Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer.

8/26/08

When was the last time you heard We Built This City!?! It randomly came on my Ipod the other day and it made me smile. I hope it does the same for you.

8/25/08

This is a cool song about being happy and proud of what you have. Might be a challenge to feel that good on a Monday but we should all give it a try. Please enjoy Jill Scott's Golden.

8/22/08

Going with something a little different today. If you aren't familiar with Nina Simone you should definitely check her out. You will automatically be cooler by listening to her. Please enjoy Feeling Good.

8/21/08

Today's song was a toss up between Raspberry Berret and Little Red Corvette, my two favorite upbeat Prince songs. Have a great day!

8/20/08

LeRoi Moore, the sax player of Dave Matthews Band, died yesterday. They have been one of my favorite bands since junior high. Their songs are about having fun and the things they love, which certainly encompasses the spirit of this blog. Today's song is Stay, which is one of my all time favorite summer songs.

8/19/08

Here is a chill, fun song for Tuesday. And I for one need a chill, fun Tuesday. Enjoy!

8/18/08

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. This song is always fun. Try to sing the fast part in Natalie Cole's This Will Be.

8/15/08

Raise your hand if you are ready for the weekend. Ok, let's wrap this week up. Please have fun with Tom Petty's American Girl.

8/14/08

This is a song I can't help singing to every time (and I bet you can't either). Hope you are having a good morning and please enjoy Mark Cohn's Walking in Memphis.

8/13/08

This song comes from a man I have had a crush on since I was 8. I love Huey Lewis and I know you do too. Enjoy the Power of Love!

Week of 8/4: Thought/Tip of the Week: Patience is Overrated

"Good things come to those who wait". Who ever said that was probably very lazy! How about we start saying "ALL things comes to those who act"? What do you want right now!? I bet there is something you have been wanting to try or change. There is nothing out there that you want that you can't start right now. Try me! Want to lose weight? Eat a piece of fruit right now! You won't immediately lose 5 pounds but you have just officially started your diet. You want to find a boyfriend? Sign up for online dating! Most of the major sites have free trials. If it isn't your thing, you can stop but at least you tried it out. Want to run a marathon? Go for a run. So what if you can only run two miles? Next time you will be able to run two miles and 50 feet. I've recently become interested in psychology but was disappointed that I wouldn't be able to take any classes until the winter. But instead of forgetting about it, I went right to the bookstore and bought a psychology 101 book. I can start learning new things immediately. So that is your challenge for today (I'm not even going to give you a whole week). Start towards your goal. You won't reach it in one day but you will be one step closer than you were yesterday.

8/11/08

Well I know you will all enjoy this classic. Please belt out to Aretha Franklin's Respect.

8/8/08

This song is perfect for when your getting ready to go out on the town tonight. Have a great weekend!

8/7/08

While we may not all have women on our mind, we can all appreciate a good summer time tune. Have a great day!

8/6/08

This is song has been cheering me up since high school. Please have fun with Garth Brook's "Calling Baton Rouge"!

8/5/08

Here is a fun one from The Boss. Enjoy!

8/4/08

Here's a fun oldie that always reminds me of the summer. Hope you had a great weekend!

8/2/07

This song puts a modern twist on an old classic. Have a great Saturday!

8/1/08

Have a glamorous Friday that leads into a very glamorous weekend!

7/31/08

This song speaks for itself. Please enjoy Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World".

7/30/08

A very wise friend pointed out to me that Stevie Wonder had not made an appearance on my blog yet. For this I am truly sorry. Please enjoy this great song!

7/29/08

While the lyrics of Amy Winehouse's "Tears Dry On Their Own" aren't exactly uplifting, the Motown feel of this song is so great I think it is still blog-worthy. Have a great day!

7/28/08

I hope the rhythm gets you today instead of the "Mondays". Don't even pretend like you don't like this song!

7/26/08

Because Saturday is the perfect dance party day, I've decided to provide you with the perfect dance party song. Rock out to Pink's "If God is a DJ"!

7/25/08

This is a feel good song from Jennifer Hudson. Shake it to this song today and the weekend will be here in no time.

07/24/08

I hope you are a Shiney Happy person today!

7/23/08

Hump day! Albeit not the best day of the week but lets power through with this upbeat song, Sugarland's "Something More".

7/22/08

LOVE SHACK! Hopefully you can steal a little time for yourself to rock out this B52 song.

Tip/Thought of the Week: Neither Paper nor Plastic

We all know that the earth is not in the best shape these days and I often feel like I am not doing my part to help. While I'm not going to buy a Vespa or start wearing pants made of hemp, there are smaller changes we can all make. An easy one is to not take the bags provided when you go to the store. I KNOW that you are all carrying around purses the sizes of Buicks, so just plop in the new book you bought instead of getting a bag and then putting it in your purse anyway. I walk to the grocery store and it is much easier to carry my food home in a backpack than to schlep with 5 plastic bags. If you drive to the store, keep a few canvas bags in your trunk. We would all be better off with a healthier planet and without that ever-growing pile of plastic bags under the sink (oh you know you have one!).

7/21/08

While you may not be a Dolly Parton fan (although you probably should be), "Working 9 to 5" is the quintessential Monday song. Have a great week!

7/20/08

Today's song is Corrine Bailey Rae's "Put Your Record On". This is a chill tune about enjoying your favorite song. How great is that!?

7/19/08

A friend once told me that you can't stay in a bad mood if you listen to this song. Let's try it! Enjoy Van Morrison's "Domino"

7/18/08

This song is awesome! It is off Mary J Blige's new album. It is perfect for getting ready to hit the town. Have a great weekend everyone!

7/17/08

Ha! For those of you who check out PositivelyAnna first thing, you may have noticed that I thought today was Wednesday. What a pleasant surprise it was when I realized it was actually Thursday! Well, you can still enjoy "Magic Carpet Ride". Have a good day!

7/16/08

We all have a Dancing Queen or King (for my 2 male viewers) inside us. This song is a guaranteed to be stuck in your head all day and keep you smiling!

7/15/08

The most important thing in the world is family. Whether you are tied to them by blood or not, cherish them. The Pointer Sisters had it figured out, as families are something to be celebrated and enjoyed.

7/14/08

I have not abandoned you! I went out of town and didn't realize I wouldn't have internet access. To ease you into the week I've chosen The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun". Have a great day!

7/8/08

It is often true that during tough times saying "I love you" is the only right thing to say. Enjoy yourself while listening to this song.

7/7/08

When things are tough it is important to focus on the little things. Let small victories carry you through. Today's song is India Aries' "Little Things". Have a great day and enjoy.

7/5/08

Today's song is "I Can See Clearly Now", one of the most positive songs out there. We all need to "keep lookin' ahead for nothing but blue skies".

7/4/08

I've had a serious accident in my family. We aren't sure how things are going to turn out. I find myself drifting into a daze and imagining the worst possible circumstances. This is not helpful for me or my family. So I've been singing The Beatles' "Let It Be" to myself almost constantly the past two days. This version is from Across the Universe and I find it particularly moving. It has helped me to slow my brain down and come back to positive thoughts, which are absolutely vital at times like these.

7/3/08

Don't stop believing you will make it to the weekend! The countdown has begun to the 4th of July. Power through with this Journey toon and get the heck out of your office!

7/2/08

While the goal of this blog is to make you smile and brighten your day, I know that some days are just plain bad and unfortunately sometimes the bad times last longer than a day. So today I have chosen Dave Matthews' Band's "Grey Street". I was in a rut for a long time a few years ago and I was comforted by this song because it encompassed how I was feeling. I have a dear friend who is having a bad time. I would like to dedicate this song to her along with a wish for happier times ahead.

7/1/08

Happy July! Well I can keep it a secret no longer...I am a country fan! Today's song is Rascal Flatt's "I Want To Love You Out Loud". I can't think of anything better than loving someone so much that you want to shout it. So if you are blessed enough to already have this kind of love or if you are still looking for it, please enjoy.

6/30/08

Hope everyone had a great weekend. And while we all "wish it were Sunday", I'm sure this Bangle's hit will help you through today.

6/27-6/29/08

I'm heading out of town for the weekend and I won't have internet access (scary, I know). I didn't want to leave you high and dry for 3 days. For Friday's song I have chosen Loverboy's "Working For the Weekend" in hopes that your Friday will be quick and worry free. For Saturday you MUST dance to Christina Aguleria's "Come On Over". Whether you got stood up or you are having a bad hair day this song will lift your spirits. And to wrap up the weekend on Sunday I've chosen Xavier Rudd's "Messages". This song is a departure from the "get up and jam" tunes we have heard this week but it should help relax you and let you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

6/26/08

I made cookies tonight, which, as per usual, involved the fire alarm and burning myself. As I was holding my hand under the cold water, I took a deep breath, stopped cursing and started singing "Suddenly I See". That didn't stop my first batch of cookies from burning but it did make me smile (eating some batter helped too).
For today's song I've chosen Whitney Houston's "I Want to Dance with Somebody". So if you are having one of those Thursdays when you repeatedly think it is Friday and then you are repeatedly disappointed when you realize it is not, jam out to this song.

6/25/08

Hump Day! For today's song I have chosen KT Turnstall's Suddenly I See. This is an upbeat song about being completely awesome...who doesn't love that! Use this song to help you through today and you will be one day closer to the weekend.

6/24/08

My first song! For my first song I've chosen Michael Jackson's The Way You Make Me Feel. It is near impossible to listen to this song and not start shaking your stuff! Today when you start stressing about your next meeting or your split ends, start singing this song to yourself and you mood is bound to improve.