This tote made me laugh this morning. It says “Nobody Panic I know Origami and… Pilates.”   Since I don’t know either, this would be an awesome bag for me to carry.  Sadly, it is sold out.   I’ve been taking the week to reset and reorganize after the marathon of thesis-land.  I looked up from my computer and realized that I haven’t done any real organization since before I was pregnant — some 18 months ago. I’ve been coasting on old systems and, frankly, letting things pile up.  I’ll share some scary photos later in the week of what my closet looks like.  My newest obsession is the blog the Unclutterer.  It has quickly become one of my favorite daily reads with common sense advice about owning your own life.  (Why is it that common sense seems in short supply these days?)

At 12:25pm today I turned in my Master’s thesis! My second baby weighed in at a trim 1 pound 13 ozs and 20,000 words.  My firstborn and a sweet poesy of flowers from the husband kept me going in the final stretch.

The iPad. All about it here.  I didn’t buy an iphone, I didn’t buy a kindle.  But this, I really want. $999 No wait, $499! Photo from here.

I read this great editorial last night and it got me thinking about those moments of “absolute and perfect happiness — the ten to twelve that comprise a whole life.”  What resonated with me is the truth that it is only a few moments of happiness that define our lives — the moments no one can take away from us.

Some of mine are what you’d expect: my first conversation with the man who become my husband; nursing my son in the early hours of the morning this summer in Vermont and watching the lacy top of the treeline emerge from the darkness; the day I was promoted to Vice President in my old job. Others are smaller, maybe more unexpected: closing up the video department at the Putney General Store (my first job as teenager) and then driving home with all the windows rolled down on a warm summer night; learning to pan fry steak.  Certainly some of them are prosaic and not so unusual.  But they are my moments. What are your yours?

I’ve also been thinking about this quote I found on Diana’s beautiful blog:

“life is not easy for any of us. but what of that? we must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. we must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” – Marie Curie

Diana emailed to say that there’s a plane leaving NYC for Haiti on Tuesday, 1/19, and the non profit charity: water needs your help filling it with cargo.  Literally.  Drop off supplies in person at their office in Manhattan TODAY ONLY.

These items are most urgently needed in Haiti this week:

Donate your lightly used:
Blankets
Tents
Sleeping bags

Also needed:
Soap
Feminine hygiene products
Medical gloves
Bandages/gauze
Cases of bottled water
Donation drop-off at 200 Varick Street 2nd Floor, Suite 201 on Monday, 1/18, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Please enter through the front door at 200 Varick St.  You will need a photo ID to enter the building.

More information on the on the ground situation in Haiti here.

I’m selling the white glass balls I used to decorate the fireplace in our old apartment (they aren’t exactly baby safe!). They are from that emporium of dreams, ABC Homes.

Largest  – 10 inches – $45
Large – 8 inches – $45
Medium – 6 inches – $30
Small – 4 inches – $14
Small – 4 inches – $14
Tiny – 2 inches – $10

First come first serve, but I’ll privilege selling them as a set (a mini discount for buying the set – $150).  Pick up in NYC or $20 to ship the set anywhere in the US. Email me and I’ll send you a paypal invoice.

SOLD! Thanks, Jennifer!

I don’t usually post about things like this, but,  I can’t stop thinking about what it must be like in Haiti right now. Ever since we read Mountains beyond Mountains Tim and I have been fervent supporters of Partners in Health, a non profit whose goals are:“to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair.” They operate an amazing clinic two hours outside of Port-au-Prince and they need our help so they can continue to help those affected by the earthquake. PS I just saw this — bloggers everywhere are contributing to the relief effort in Haiti.

photo via.