For the Best Time of Your Life

You know that guy who did the original 80s version of "Mad World", the one with the crazy videos?

It's okay, I didn't either.

Anyways to make up for your lack of original 80s musical knowledge (why give guys like Gary Jules all the credit?), I strongly suggest you hit these youtube links, in their respective order.

Best time of your life, right there.

"Head Over Heels" by Tears for Fears

Original video:


Literal version:

Maximum Desktop Productivity

Perfect.

The Concept of Mind Mapping

"Mind Mapping is an extremely effective method of taking notes. Mind Maps show not only facts, but also the overall structure of a subject and the relative importance of individual parts of it. They help you to associate ideas and make connections that might not otherwise make."

- Mindtools.com

"A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing."

- Wikipedia.org

Mind mapping is not a new idea. Also referred to as the "brainstorming cloud", it seems to pop up occasionally in everyday life. In fact, some people even prefer it to traditional linear note-taking.

I know, crazy!

But then I learned about the benefits of mind mapping... such as how it enables your notes to be more functional by being more open and how it uses both your right- and left-brain (what really caught my eye). They say to expand brain power you must constantly use tasks that use both sides of the brain as well as train yourself to learn new things and new methods of doing things. That's why it's good to do things with your opposite hand - it works areas of your brain that aren't being used when you do something that comes naturally to you. And anything that maximizes brain power is always a good thing!

Couple that with MindMeister, a free and easy online mind mapping tool which is visually appealing and highly customizable, and this "mind mapping" thing seems worth giving it a shot :)

How to mind map: http://www.jcu.edu.au/office/tld/learningskills/mindmap/index.html

So what to mind map? Notes from school, your goals, meetings, ideas, anything really. D*I*Y Planner suggests mind-mapping your achievements for an interesting way to look at your life so far.

Happy creative- & analytical-juice-flowing!

Major Head Cold #1 (Univ Year 2)

Head colds seem to have a hold on me during the fall/winter (and to heck with it, spring/summer) months. Sure there are many preventative measures you can take for them before they even come, but somehow I manage to disregard all warning signs until the cold is full-blown and I am destroying tissue boxes with regret.

In Order of Appearance:

1. Inadequate sleep + inadequate fluid intake + getting a chill
2. Feeling "blah"
3. Erratic sleeping schedule
4. Unable to feel warmth
5. Loss of appetite
6. Creeping sore throat
7. Sore throat
8. Throat on fire (consider preventative measures --> disregard thought)
9. Sniffles
10. Runny nose/cough
11. Stuffed nose, watery eyes, "puffy face" syndrome
12. Realization of head cold
13. Kleenex becomes best friend

And of course along with the cold comes the side effects of the stress on your body, as revealed in the personality. Crankiness, laziness, magnetism to wasteful & repetitive tasks (reading random articles while on the laptop, for example), and listening to unhappy music, to name a few.

Sometime this weekend I have do finish all the readings from my classes - no easy feat - but right now I can't bear to drag myself from the deadly mix of solitaire and Rise Against.


On a happier note, I switched the light bulb in my room from "barely-lit" to "luminous". My room is officially 3x brighter and with it, my mood. Light a few candles and I may even consider switching to Nickelback. Maybe.

Time-Tested Beauty Tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.

Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

- Sam Levenson

One of the favourites of Audrey Hepburn's and now mine. Happy Thanksgiving :)

One Task, Forty Distractions

[ONE]
Who was your last text from?
Mark

[TWO]
Where was your default picture taken?
My old room.

[THREE]
What is your middle name?
Don't have one.

[FOUR]
Your relationship status?
Yes.

[FIVE]
Does your crush like you back?
Sure.

[SIX]
What is your current mood?
Okay.

[SEVEN]
What's your brother's name?
Mike.

[EIGHT]
What color shirt are you wearing?
Black.

[NINE]
What's your favorite number?
188.

[TEN]
If you could go back in time and change something, would you?
Yes.

[ELEVEN]
Have a crazy side?
Who doesn't?

[TWELVE]
Ever had a near death experience?
Yes.

[THIRTEEN]
Something you do a lot?
Write.

[FOURTEEN]
Angry at anyone?
No.

[FIFTEEN]
Want to see someone right now?
No.

[SIXTEEN]
When is the last time you cried?
Not sure.

[SEVENTEEN]
What's your favorite food?
Whatever's in the mood.

[NINETEEN]
Who is your hero?
Batman?

[TWENTY]
What is the one thing you notice about the opposite sex first?
Smile and looks.

[TWENTY-ONE]
What's your favorite drink?
Ice cap.

[TWENTY-TWO]
What is your biggest secret?
Don't have one.

[TWENTY-THREE]
Where's your ex at?
School?

[TWENTY-FOUR]
Would you ever take them back?
We're not really right for each other.

[TWENTY-FIVE]
Do you still watch kiddy movies or tv shows?
Yes.

[TWENTY-SIX]
What are you eating or drinking at the moment?
Just water.

[TWENTY-SEVEN]
Do you speak any other languages?
Not fluently.

[TWENTY-EIGHT]
Whats your favorite smell?
Right now, green tea :)

[TWENTY-NINE]
Describe your life in one word?
Okay.

[THIRTY]
Have you ever kissed in the rain?
Yes.

[THIRTY-ONE]
Do you like the rain?
Sure except when I need to get somewhere and it is being a hindrance.

[THIRTY-TWO]
What are you thinking about right now?
Nothing really.

[THIRTY-THREE]
What should you be doing right now?
Studying for midterms.

[THIRTY-FOUR]
What is your favorite memory?
Too many.

[THIRTY-FIVE]
What are you listening to?
Baby-Making playlist.

[THIRTY-SIX]
Who was the last person who told you they loved you? Did you say it back?
Mike, and yes.

[THIRTY-SEVEN]
Who was the last person you yelled at?
Mike.

[THIRTY-EIGHT]
Do you act differently around the person you like?
No.

[FORTY]
Who was the last person to make you smile?
Nic.