Before Ina Garten was The Barefoot Contessa, she worked at the White House. Not as a chef, but writing nuclear-energy-policy papers. Can you...I mean...what would our world be like if she hadn't figured out what she really, truly, in the deepest part of her soul wanted to do with her life?! I recently read this excerpt of an interview Garten did with Katie Couric, for Couric's book The[...]
A year or so ago (okay, early-pandemic), I set myself up with a project to go through all of my recipes--books, cards, clippings, scribbled notes on napkins--and get them organized. I'm still working on it. So, this week, I'm going to set aside time every day to work on this. This Nudge is part decluttering, but it's also a big part inspiration, as I hope I will find the energy to[...]
Every quarter I get a slew of emails inviting me to register for classes at Alliance Française. I would love love love to do this. But time, money, other responsibilities…nope. Not yet. What can I do? Pull out the big bag of flash cards I created the last time I studied the language and reboot that part of my brain. My goal is to flip cards until I get 10 right, then repeat every da[...]
Every quarter I get a slew of emails inviting me to register for classes at Alliance Française. I would love love love to do this. But time, money, other responsibilities…nope. Not yet. What can I do? Pull out the big bag of flash cards I created the last time I studied the language and reboot that part of my brain. My goal is to flip cards until I get 10 right, then repeat every da[...]
To take a break from the news (local, national, global). To distract myself from the pettiness that rules much of social media. Because 2020 to today has been a sh*t show (pandemic, another possible pandemic, warfare, politics, suffering on big and small scales). I have found that if I can make someone else laugh, my spirits get lifted in the bargain. So, I plan to combat the negativit[...]
To take a break from the news (local, national, global). To distract myself from the pettiness that rules much of social media. Because 2020 to today has been a sh*t show (pandemic, another possible pandemic, warfare, politics, suffering on big and small scales). I have found that if I can make someone else laugh, my spirits get lifted in the bargain. So, I plan to combat the negativit[...]
If you've been Nudging with me for a while, you know this one is a repeat. Why? Because I still don't do this consistently without reminders. So, here we go again: Break out the good silver/jewelry/candles/undies and—and this is the key—enjoy it! What Happened: All week long, I noticed what I was doing and consciously made decisions in the moment. For example, I scrunched up my[...]
If you've been Nudging with me for a while, you know this one is a repeat. Why? Because I still don't do this consistently without reminders. So, here we go again: Break out the good silver/jewelry/candles/undies and...and this is the key...enjoy it![...]
COVID has turned me into such a slob! It's become far too easy for me to spend my day in the same clothes I wore to the dog park or gym. Forget about hair and makeup! And I know I feel better when I dress better. I stand taller. I walk more gracefully, like a dancer, feeling the fabric float around my legs. So several Nudges here. I plan to pull out long-neglected items from my clo[...]
COVID has turned me into such a slob! It's become far too easy for me to spend my day in the same clothes I wore to the dog park or gym. Forget about hair and makeup! And I know I feel better when I dress better. I stand taller. I walk more gracefully, like a dancer, feeling the fabric float around my legs. So several Nudges here. I plan to pull out long-neglected items from my clo[...]