today i am grateful for...

1. being in a strangely energetic, optimistic, good mood all day. i was overdue!
2. catching up on sleep and rest this weekend
3. the music on my ipod
4. having a job and living on my own
5. the fact that i will once again be an aunt, my sister is pregnant :)
6. being able to wear a dress to work today since it was warm out
7. that school isn't in session yet so the trains are not crowded
8. my boss's upcoming vacation on the week of sept. 20th
9. the black handbag that was in my drawer at work that i just rediscovered
10. fashion blogs that i can read at work (where the websites are not blocked)
11. my sony e-reader
12. the leather jacket i bought last month, probably the best thing i ever bought to wear
13. my choice to turn the TV off at 7:30pm today and download the book, "If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You by Kelly Cutrone and Meredith Bryan."

this book so far is really excellent. it's hard to stop reading it. kelly cutrone owns her own PR company called people's revolution, and she's had her own reality show (which i've never seen) and has appeared on shows like the hills (which i haven't seen either), but i really like her story. she came to NYC fresh out of college and with barely any know how and no contacts or connections, she founded her own company and followed her intuition to make her dreams a reality. kind of reminds me of madonna's story, except that kelly came to NYC with something like $2,484 and madonna only had i think $37.

kelly's writing style is very persuasive and entertaining and she asks the tough questions, like how have you been able to hear your own inner voice over that of the media, your family, society, etc.? and are those things you've been told to want, really what your soul is telling you that you want? her story about having it all and then breaking down just to rebuild herself is so inspiring. right now i'm at the chapter titled 'it's not a breakdown, it's a breakthrough' and i can't wait to read the rest and see how she prospers when everything falls apart for her.

i hope this good mood i'm in lasts the rest of the week!

inspiring quote of the day from this site-http://www.deeshan.com/ (the Meditation Tip of the Day)

You are really rich when you accept yourself as you are, when you are contented with what you have