Nina Simone

The High Priestess of Soul with her distinctive style of performing in her signature lower-tenor voice moves me everyday of the week.  Listen to Nearer Blessed Lord and picture yourself dancing with as much soul and passion you can muster up.

Top ten myths about the brain

This Fascinating article in the Smithsonian Magazine debunks the top ten myths about the human brain. The most fascinating part, for me, was on happiness and how we don't actually know what will make us happy. It turns out that we overestimate how much happiness we get from leisure time and underestimate how much we get from social relationships.

When it comes to this complex, highly resilient, malleable organ, things are never as they seem. But really - isn't all of life an illusion?

DID

Bye-bye bad day

Click here.

Hudson Urban Bicycles - HUB

I'm dog sitting for the sweetest little pup who I've nicknamed McSneezy (he sneezes all night in his sleep, hence the nickname).  McSneezy enjoys long walks in the village and investigative sniffing of other pups. Last week, we stumbled upon a bike shop that features old-fashioned bicycles - HUB.  Located on Charles, HUB offers new and used bikes for the hipster in all of us.

McSneezy made friends with Scout, HUB's handsome mascot, while I chatted with a HUB patron. The stylish patron had just selected a cream-colored Linus with all the trimmings to go with his perfectly selected skinny jeans and linen blazer. Style for style -  as they say. The offerings at HUB are, in fact, urban and chic (yes, I'm talking about bicycles here). There are retro selections that make sense only in New York.

For out-of-towners HUB has great rates for hourly bike rentals.

Schwinng!

You oughta know about...

1. The amount of extra stuff Myra brought home from Asia. I fit in the bag she used to lug it all back! See above. 


2. The film I Am Love starring Tilda Swinton. It is genius, tragic, and beautiful all in one.  There is something for everyone in this film. For all the fashionistas out there - the wardrobes are brilliant and definitely very Italian. 


3. Refinery 29's reserve with Dannijo. Click here for more information. Starting May 19, a $75 voucher snags you $150 worth of shimmering Dannijo loot, while $150 scores you $300. Ready for this? $300 gets you an insane $600 of summer jewel bliss!
 

4. The film The Ramen Girl - a quirky and silly tale of a woman stranded in Japan. The main character "finds herself" while studying to be a Ramen chef.  I found it silly, yet inspiring. Plus - I have a love affair with Ramen.  


5. Moroccan Oil - the key ingredient for silky and smooth hair. The Brazilians love it, I love it, and so do beauty gurus everywhere.  Read more about it here.  BELEZA. 


6. The novel Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea. The book was first released in Lebanon in Arabic. The novel recounts forbidden details about the private lives of four young women from Saudi Arabia's upper classes.  The reader follows the four women as they deal with the conflict of educated modern Saudi women growing up in the 21st century in a culture firmly rooted in an ancient way of life. Think Sex in City meets a Salman Rushdie novel.  

Word.