I’m always on the lookout for interesting ways to capture memories.  And memories are sometimes as fleeting as fireflies.

Photos are great but when hilarious moments happen, or someone says the sweetest thing, a photo just won’t do.  That’s why when I found book designer Brooke Reynolds (also former senior art director for Martha Stewart Living) write about how she captures her children’s little sayings and funny moments, I knew it was an idea worth keeping.

She just keeps a jar on her desk.  That’s all.  Scribbling on whatever she can find and dating each note, she’s able to go through them at anytime, record them in diaries, or giggle over them at dinner or holidays.

Try making your own memory jar inspired by Brooke.  You can read more on how she makes every day a holiday by visiting her site, inchmark.

Go to participating scoop shops on November 4th from 5-8pm, and you’ll get a free scoop of ice cream.  No coupon needed.  Just show your voter sticker.  Limit one scoop per customer.

For details and to find your nearest Ben & Jerry’s click here.

When I opened my menu, I realized just how out of my league I was! I giggled so hard at trying to figure out words like “nage” and “banyuls.” My date got tickled too (very worldly guy but some of the items even stumped him)!

When I got to the entrée side of the menu, I just couldn’t find anything I wanted. I mean, who wants to know their suckling pig (poor baby) came from Vermont or that their duck breast hails from Pennsylvania? I mean, it just got too personal. Somewhere I imagine little piggy families in Vermont being torn apart and some alma mater missing their ducky sorority sister all for the sake of haute cuisine.

Sheesh. I’m not a vegan but menus like that almost make me want to be!

Still, I tried something new. And it was completely outstanding.

So go ahead. Get uncomfortable. Stretch yourself and don’t be afraid to laugh or feel out of sorts. Get out of your ordinary routine of same ol’ same ol’. You never know, you might just do what I ended up doing.

Get this: My order?

Seasonal Greens with Goat Cheese Raviolis, Beet Carpaccio, and Truffle Vinaigrette
and
Black Angus Beef Tenderloin with Sweet Spices, Young Leek and Yukon Potato Salad

Um. I believe that is otherwise known as a salad and steak.

OK. So I still have work to do.

This is something you can do with a child as young as a year old. Create your own Jackson Pollock style art virtually just by clicking your mouse (to change colors) and dragging it around to make paint splatters.

Simply addictive.Try it here!

Blech.

But NEVER let any of the above deprive you of enjoying many works or exhibitions.  Many major museums now offer virtual exhibits*, or samples of them, to give you a taste of what is out there waiting for you to devour with your senses.

For example, visit The Museum of Modern Art (affectionately known or also referred to as MOMA) in New York City to see the extraordinary Color Chart exhibit depicting how color was reinvented from 1950 to today.  

From the introduction, “Forty-four artists take the position that art and life mingle rather than remain separate, and where beauty is found in the everyday rather than in the ideal.”

But we already knew that didn’t we?

Enjoy the exhibit.

All my love,
Kelley Taylor 

—-*Site requires the Flash 8 plug-in or higher and the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Optimal screen resolution: Site requires the Flash 8 plug-in or higher and the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Optimal screen resolution:1024 x 768 or higher. This site contains large images that may require longer download time on slower internet connections.  

See what’s working and what is not. Change up the order, revise them, add or take away some. There is no right or wrong. Just review them and keep moving!

 

Find something new!

If you ever just want to find cool videos, sites, news clippings, or just want to keep up with what you discover on your own with a simple and easy to use tool, you might want to try Stumble Upon.

Stumble Upon is a free downloadable tool that loads into your web browser.  When you sign up, you get to choose topics of interest to you SO THAT when you get incredibly bored visiting the same old sites you have visited a million times, you can click a button and it will automatically guide you to something new that’s in your interest category.

It’s simply a new way to surf.

Plus, if you’re looking to rate, collect, and bookmark your own sites of interest, you can do that too!  It’s a great way to get organized.

For more information on how to use Stumble Upon, there is a small tutorial you can read through.  But for more ways you can benefit by using a tool like this, click here. 

My StumbleUpon Page

Here, watch three of my high school buddies (the ones who sent this to me – they’re going to kill me)!  I laughed until I hurt, especially when focusing on them one at a time.

Upload a photo of you and three more friends (four altogether), record a message, and send it to some friends.   I see blackmail in my future. Mwahahahaha!Go to:  http://www.elfyourself.com/brought to you by OfficeMax.