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	<title>Powered by Tofu &#187; 10 things that make me happy</title>
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	<description>Travel blog + foodie adventures + Portland living + listomania</description>
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		<title>10 Things That Make Me Happy {June}</title>
		<link>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2010/06/10/10-things-that-make-me-happy-june/</link>
		<comments>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2010/06/10/10-things-that-make-me-happy-june/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:30:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>poweredbytofu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[10 things that make me happy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Portland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[happy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.poweredbytofu.com/?p=3266</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s been a few months since I did a 10 things that make me happy post&#8230; so stuff that has my attention lately&#8230; Liberty of London &#8211; Remember when I went overboard on buying Liberty of London stuff? Yep, still like it. World Cup 2010 &#8211; Was I stoked for World Cup 2006? No, I [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s been a few months since I did a <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/category/10-things-that-make-me-happy/">10 things that make me happy</a> post&#8230; so stuff that has my attention lately&#8230;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/liberty-of-london-teapot.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-3330" title="liberty-of-london-teapot" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/liberty-of-london-teapot-150x150.jpg" alt="Liberty of London teapot" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/world-cup.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-3331" title="world-cup" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/world-cup-150x150.jpg" alt="pretty boys of World Cup. what?" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/haagen-daaz-ginger.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-3312" title="haagen-daaz-ginger" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/haagen-daaz-ginger-150x150.jpg" alt="Haagen Dazs -ginger" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/strawberry-plant.JPG"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-3276" title="strawberry-plant" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/strawberry-plant-150x150.jpg" alt="strawberry plant" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/she-and-him.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-3334" title="she-and-him" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/she-and-him-150x150.jpg" alt="She &amp; Him Vol I" width="75" height="75" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/iphone4.png"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-3332" title="iphone4" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/iphone4-150x150.png" alt="it's my birthday!" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/mumford-sons-sigh-no-more.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-3310" title="mumford-sons-sigh-no-more" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/mumford-sons-sigh-no-more-150x150.jpg" alt="Mumford and Sons - le sigh no more" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/gap-shorts.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-3329" title="gap-shorts" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/gap-shorts-150x150.jpg" alt="Gap shorts that fit" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/pink-gin-fizz.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-3333" title="pink-gin-fizz" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/pink-gin-fizz-150x150.jpg" alt="Pink Gin Fizz" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/oregon-coast.JPG"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-3335" title="oregon-coast" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/oregon-coast-150x150.jpg" alt="Oregon coast" width="75" height="75" /></a></p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Liberty of London</strong> &#8211; Remember when I went overboard on buying Liberty of London stuff? Yep, still like it.</li>
<li><strong>World Cup 2010</strong> &#8211; Was I stoked for World Cup 2006? No, I was on the &#8220;meh&#8221; level, but being in Marseilles and going to local pubs to watch games and then watching the French go <em>ballistic</em> after the Brazil/France (quarterfinal?) was awesome. So this time around, I have the infectious enthusiasm of my coworkers and a few work projects that are related, so yeah, excited for World Cup 2010? Definitely! Come on, it&#8217;s stuff white people <a href="http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2010/06/01/133-the-world-cup/">like</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Häagen-Dazs Five Ice Cream</strong> – Ginger &#8211; &#8220;It tastes like ginger&#8221; Yum.</li>
<li><strong>window gardening</strong> &#8211; I got a late start at my community garden spot, because of my move, so I started 2 small planters on my balcony that I moved to my windows after the move (arugula, basil, mint, and 1 strawberry plant). The basil died, and my kitteh is making great time on eating the arugula. Which inspired the <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2009/06/28/in-season-cooking-arugula-pecorino-pizza/">Arugula Pecorino Pizza</a> before it&#8217;s all gone.</li>
<li><strong>She &amp; Him</strong> &#8211; I won tickets to the She &amp; Him show in Bend on Memorial Day. le sigh! Volume I &amp; II. So good.</li>
<li><strong>iPhone4 </strong>- I can haz? birthday coming up, yes.</li>
<li><strong>Mumford &amp; Sons</strong> &#8211; Rather obsessed with these fellows of late. Also, you can listen to the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/mumfordandsons/music/albums/sigh-no-more-15069945">entire album</a> for free on [gasp] MySpace. And if you weren&#8217;t already in love with them&#8230;<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="420" height="300" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3KkUeRPjc-Y&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3KkUeRPjc-Y&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></li>
<li><strong>Gap linen shorts</strong> &#8211; You know how some people say you shouldn&#8217;t buy a ton of the same thing in different colors? Dude. Those people obviously don&#8217;t have issues finding shorts that a. fit in the waist b. fit in the butt c. are tight enough around the leg. So, I bought green, blue, and white. I did put the yellow and pink ones back&#8230; for another time?</li>
<li><strong>Pink Gin Fizz</strong> &#8211; not a big fan of sweet drinks, but I can get behind sweet/sour. Shortcut: Grapefruit Izze + oj + gin= tasty.</li>
<li><strong>Oregon coast</strong> &#8211; I spent some time napping in the sand dunes and sunshine last weekend. &lt;3</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>What&#8217;s on your list?</strong></p>
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		<title>10 Things That Make Me Happy {About Spring?}</title>
		<link>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2010/02/21/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-spring/</link>
		<comments>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2010/02/21/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-spring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>poweredbytofu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[10 things that make me happy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coffee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Groupon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kitteh]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Portland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shopping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vitamin d]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.poweredbytofu.com/?p=2977</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m officially declaring it spring in the Pacific Northwest and here are 10 things that make me happy right now&#8230; 1. vitamin d -  how amazing is our early spring in Portland? Pretty frickin&#8217; amazing. This 60 degree (sorry non-Americans) weather in February is stellar &#8212; skirt and flip flop weather &#8212; inconceivable! free the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;m officially declaring it spring in the Pacific Northwest and here are 10 things that make me happy right now&#8230;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/sunshine.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2992" title="sunshine" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/sunshine-150x150.jpg" alt="sunshine" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=opi%20taupe&amp;tag=poweredbytofu-20&amp;index=hpc&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2987" title="opi-over-the-taupe-nail-polish" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/opi-over-the-taupe-nail-polish-123x150.jpg" alt="opi-over-the-taupe-nail-polish" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.shoprelish.com/Store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=22&amp;idproduct=2863"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2989" title="blue-bird-necklace" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/blue-bird-necklace-150x150.jpg" alt="blue-bird-necklace" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/tom-selleck-250x272.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2990" title="tom-selleck" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/tom-selleck-150x150.jpg" alt="tom-selleck" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://ristrettoroasters.com/"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2986" title="ristretto-roasters" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ristretto-roasters-150x150.jpg" alt="ristretto-roasters" width="75" height="75" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/purple-tulips.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2985" title="purple-tulips" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/purple-tulips-150x150.jpg" alt="purple-tulips" width="75" height="75" /></a> <img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2988" title="mini-flat-iron" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/mini-flat-iron-150x150.jpg" alt="mini-flat-iron" width="75" height="75" /> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/chalkboard-menu.JPG"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2995" title="chalkboard-menu" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/chalkboard-menu-150x150.jpg" alt="chalkboard-menu" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416599061?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;tag=poweredbytofu-20&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=9325&amp;amp;creativeASIN=1416599061"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2984" title="guinea-pig-diaries" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/guinea-pig-diaries-150x150.jpg" alt="guinea-pig-diaries" width="75" height="75" /></a><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-3000" title="zipcar" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/zipcar-150x150.jpg" alt="zipcar" width="75" height="75" /></p>
<p>1. <strong>vitamin d</strong> -  how amazing is our early spring in Portland? Pretty frickin&#8217; amazing. This 60 degree (sorry <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&amp;q=60+f+in+c">non-Americans</a>) weather in February is <em>stellar</em> &#8212; skirt and flip flop weather &#8212; inconceivable! <strong>free</strong> <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&amp;q=97212+weather">the sun</a> <em>photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/notsogoodphotography/2239297723/">notsogoodphotography</a></em></p>
<p>2. <strong>opi over the taupe nail polish</strong> &#8211; I prefer to call this color Kalamata Olive, as taupe is such a boring color. I&#8217;m not a big nail polish fan, as documented by <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/08/29/84-take-care-of-my-nails-for-1-month-see-if-it-turns-into-a-habit/">#84: take care of my nails</a>, but I really like the mix of purple/dark. And who knew painting your nails was so easy? For some reason I remember it being extremely difficult to stay in the lines&#8230; I may have missed my calling. ;) <strong>$7</strong> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=opi%20taupe&amp;tag=poweredbytofu-20&amp;index=hpc&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325">opi</a></p>
<p>3. <strong>blue birdie lariat necklace</strong> &#8211; I finally spent my <a href="http://www.groupon.com/r/uu343109">Groupon</a> coupon for Relish &#8212; well most of it anyway (I&#8217;m waiting for all the new spring items to finish my shopping). Anyway, Relish is such a lovely shop and they stock Marimekko  fabric, that was begging me to start a sewing project, but I really don&#8217;t need anything at the moment. Regardless&#8230; &lt;3  <strong>$52</strong> <a href="http://www.shoprelish.com/Store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=22&amp;idproduct=2863">relish</a><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p>4. <strong>my kitteh</strong> &#8211; My cat is taking over my blog! She should have her own category, yes? So 2 weeks in, I&#8217;m well on my way to becoming one of those cat ladies. I&#8217;ve also been cleaning my apartment like a hypochondriac because the thought of having a &#8220;cat smell&#8221; apartment scares me. Thankfully, Mr Essa Selleck is quite the tidy cat. $85 <a href="http://www.oregonhumane.org/adopt/cats_kittens.asp?breed=&amp;Sex=&amp;Age=Kitten&amp;sort=name&amp;order=ASC&amp;search=search">oregon humane society</a></p>
<p>5. <strong>ristretto roasters</strong> &#8211; I&#8217;ve started a bad habit of going here for an afternoon or lunchtime wander. Superb coffee (ok, ok and an occasional ridiculously cheap donut) <strong>$1</strong> <a href="http://ristrettoroasters.com/">ristretto roasters</a></p>
<p>6. <strong>tulips</strong> &#8211; my favorite flower of all time. I bought a tulip plant at the grocery store for $3, (cheaper than flowers!) and then it promptly died a week later, but it was still worth it. <strong>$3</strong> safeway <em>photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joealonso/133743893/">smpte101</a></em></p>
<p>7. <strong>chalkdots</strong> &#8211; these are so cool! I got a set of three chalkboard paint wall stickers last month. Apparently they&#8217;re for children or some such nonsense. I&#8217;m using one as a menu board in my kitchen&#8230; now what to do with the other two&#8230;<strong> $15</strong> <a href="http://www.frugal-bonvivant.com/shopping/gilt-groupe-invitation-code/">gilt groupe (invitation)</a></p>
<p>8. <strong>mini flat iron</strong> &#8211; whoa, nail polish <em>and</em> a flat iron all in the same list? I&#8217;m on the road to high-maintenance&#8230; but my excuse for the straightener was that it was on sale at <a href="http://www.frugal-bonvivant.com/shopping/rue-la-la-invitation-code/">Rue La La</a> &amp; it wouldn&#8217;t hurt to add it to my travel packing list&#8230; and I do what I want. <strong>$25</strong> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=Linea%20Mini%20flat%20Iron&amp;tag=poweredbytofu-20&amp;index=blended&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325">linea pro</a></p>
<p>9. <strong>the guinea pig diaries: my life as an experiment</strong> &#8211; AJ Jacobs&#8217; third book did not disappoint. And I apologize for being that person giggling on the bus all week. <strong>$10.20</strong> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416599061?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=poweredbytofu-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1416599061">amazon</a></p>
<p>10. <strong>zipcar</strong> &#8211; I still kind of want a car again, but Zipcar is pretty cool&#8230; except for when I misplaced it the other night at the gym&#8230; that never happened when I had my own car. :P <strong>$6.30+</strong> <a href="http://www.zipcar.com/apply?promo_code=ktonjovi">zipcar</a></p>
<p><strong>What&#8217;s on your list?</strong></p>
<div class="linkwithin_hook" id="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2010/02/21/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-spring/"></div><p><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save"><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="Share/Bookmark"/></a> </p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>10 Things That Make Me Happy {About Winter}</title>
		<link>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2010/01/23/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-winter/</link>
		<comments>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2010/01/23/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-winter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:30:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>poweredbytofu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[10 things that make me happy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Groupon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morocco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shoes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.poweredbytofu.com/?p=2423</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s been a while since I did a non-travel related Things That Make Me Happy round-up (ok, the last one I did was in September for my frugal blog). So without further ado, here are 10 things that make me happy right now. 1. groupon &#8211; how cool is Groupon? OK, this week&#8217;s deals have [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s been a while since I did a non-travel related <em>Things That Make Me Happy</em> round-up (ok, the last one I did was in September for my <a href="http://www.frugal-bonvivant.com/living/10-things-that-make-me-happy/">frugal blog</a>). So without further ado, here are 10 things that make me happy right now.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.groupon.com/r/uu343109"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2831" title="groupon" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/groupon-150x146.jpg" alt="groupon" width="75" /></a> <a href="http://store.americanapparel.net/rsasklw.html#i"><img title="American Apparel - looks cool, but probably has cankles" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/knee-highs-american-apparel-150x150.jpg" alt="knee-highs-american-apparel" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/junior-drake-purse.jpg"><img title="junior-drake-purse" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/junior-drake-purse-150x150.jpg" alt="junior-drake-purse" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375413405?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=poweredbytofu-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0375413405"><img title="masteringartfrenchcooking" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/masteringartfrenchcooking-150x150.jpg" alt="masteringartfrenchcooking" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.frugal-bonvivant.com/tag/rue-la-la/"><img title="cuff-bracelets" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/cuff-bracelets-150x150.jpg" alt="cuff-bracelets" width="75" height="75" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/dahlias-bunch.jpg"><img title="dahlias-bunch" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/dahlias-bunch-150x150.jpg" alt="dahlias-bunch" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=14859185"><img title="love-it-or-leave-it" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/love-it-or-leave-it-150x150.jpg" alt="love-it-or-leave-it" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DPUXZM?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=poweredbytofu-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B002DPUXZM"><img title="burtsbees" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/burtsbees.jpg" alt="burtsbees" width="75" height="75" /></a><a href="http://www.hulu.com/better-off-ted"><img title="betteroffted" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/betteroffted-150x150.jpg" alt="betteroffted" width="75" height="75" /></a> <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/franco-sarto-pumps.jpg"><img title="franco-sarto-pumps" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/franco-sarto-pumps-150x150.jpg" alt="franco-sarto-pumps" width="75" height="75" /></a></p>
<p>1. <strong>groupon</strong> &#8211; how cool is Groupon? OK, this week&#8217;s deals have completely sucked,<em> but</em> maybe that&#8217;s a good thing, as I&#8217;ve bought way too many deals lately &#8212; really, you can never have too many home goods and massages though. Plus, it&#8217;s awesome getting a $10 credit when a friend buys something. <a href="http://www.groupon.com/r/uu343109">groupon</a></p>
<p>2. <strong>striped knee socks</strong> &#8211; Japan officially has the coolest sock selection. I bought a pair of striped knee socks when I was in Tokyo, and they&#8217;re my absolute favorite socks &#8212; perfect for winter and they make me smile. American Apparel sells some similar [almost as cool] ones, but not sure on the fit as they&#8217;re unisex, so they might be gigantic in the ankles. <strong>$10</strong> <a href="http://store.americanapparel.net/rsasklw.html#i">american apparel</a></p>
<p>3. <strong>green</strong> &#8211; I love green. Yep, I&#8217;m oddly drawn to green. I often find myself thinking &#8220;ooh I really like something about this&#8230;&#8221; and then I&#8217;m all &#8220;oh, it&#8217;s because that entire wall is painted green.&#8221; Perhaps that&#8217;s what prompted me to buy a green handbag a few months ago. <strong>&lt;3</strong></p>
<p>4. <strong>learning to make a perfect omelette</strong> &#8211; I checked out Julia Child&#8217;s Mastering the Art of French Cooking at the library last fall and as luck would have it, got to keep it for several months. I had lots of time to practice making the perfect omelette &#8212; as you may have guessed it&#8217;s all about the butter. $18.50 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375413405?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=poweredbytofu-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0375413405">amazon</a></p>
<p>5. <strong>cuff bracelets</strong> &#8211; Although I&#8217;ve never been much of a jewelry fan, I love cuff bracelets. I bought a silver one in Essaouira, Morocco and it&#8217;s one of my favorite travel &#8216;souvenirs&#8217;.</p>
<p>6. <strong>dahlias</strong> &#8211; I love dahlias because they&#8217;re almost obnoxiously colorful and every single one is completely different&#8230; and they remind me of summer.</p>
<p>7. <strong>love it or leave it coat rack</strong> &#8211; a daily reminder to live at 100%, instead of just surviving. Life. is. short. <strong>$24</strong> <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=14859185">urban outfitters</a></p>
<p>8. <strong>burt&#8217;s bees chapstick</strong> &#8211; every day&#8217;s a jolly holiday with you Burt! <strong>$3</strong> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DPUXZM?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=poweredbytofu-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B002DPUXZM">everywhere</a></p>
<p>9. <strong>better off ted</strong> &#8211; This show is incredibly funny. Add it to your Hulu queue stat! <strong>free</strong> <a href="http://www.hulu.com/better-off-ted">hulu</a></p>
<p>10. <strong>grey suede pumps</strong> &#8211; I <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">have joint custody</span> originally found/borrow often a pair of Franco Sartos. They make me smile. <a href="http://about.nordstrom.com/MapPoint/PrxInput.aspx">nordstrom rack</a></p>
<p><strong>What&#8217;s on your list?</strong><strong><br />
</strong></p>
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		<title>10 Things That Make Me Happy About Germany</title>
		<link>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2009/10/27/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-germany/</link>
		<comments>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2009/10/27/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-germany/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:00:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>poweredbytofu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[10 things that make me happy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Germany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[guest posts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.poweredbytofu.com/?p=2677</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a guest post by Bing from Life in the Left Lane. We&#8217;re swapping guest posts via Twenty-Something Bloggers. So without further ado, here are 10 reasons to love Germany. Great Beer. Germany, specifically Bavaria, is home to some of the best beer I have ever tasted.  It goes down smooth, even if it [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>This is a guest post by</em><em> Bing from <a href="http://lifeintheleftlane.wordpress.com/">Life in the Left Lane</a>. We&#8217;re swapping  guest posts via Twenty-Something Bloggers. So without further ado, here are 10 reasons to love Germany.</em></p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Great Beer.</strong> Germany, specifically Bavaria, is home to some of the best beer I have ever tasted.  It goes down smooth, even if it is served room temperature.  Each type of beer has its own special glass to be served in, and pouring a beer with good head is practically an art.  Plus, I don&#8217;t feel like I get the hangovers I get when I drink American beer &#8212; maybe it has something to do with the lack of preservatives in it&#8230;</li>
<li><strong>The mixture of old and new.</strong> No matter what city you travel to, large or small, Germany has a beautiful mix of 100-year-old buildings and modern establishments.  I love how you can explore churches that were built in the 1400&#8242;s then head next door to a newer restaurant for lunch.  Since America has only been established for a few hundred years, I feel like we don&#8217;t have all the rich history and ancient structures like they do in Germany.</li>
<li><strong>Amazing bread.</strong> There is something about the bread in Germany that is to die for.  Whether you get rolls or baguettes, the outside is golden brown and crispy, and the inside is soft and fluffy.  I have not been able to find anything close to this in the States.  It&#8217;s good, but not nearly as tasty as German bread.</li>
<li><strong>Döner kebabs.</strong> Quite possibly the best late-night, drunk food ever!  Döners are Turkish sandwiches featuring thinly shaved meat (beef, lamb or turkey) that is piled into special bread pocket and topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and a special sauce.  They are amazing!  In my college town they had a kebab restaurant, but it&#8217;s not quite the same as the ones you find in Germany.</li>
<li><strong>Awesome public transportation.</strong> I love how you can get around Germany without a car.  No matter the size of the town or city, there is some form of public transportation for you to take.  I am especially fond of the train system.  I have NEVER taken a train to travel extended distances in America.  I feel like it&#8217;s frowned upon to do so.  In Germany, everyone takes trains to travel within the country or throughout Europe, and they are very nice and comfortable.</li>
<li><strong>Proximity to other countries.</strong> I love how when you live in Germany, you have the opportunity to travel to a variety of other nations for not a lot of money.  There are a number of airlines that offer super cheap flights or you can buy a Euro-rail pass and just explore.  Sometimes it boggles my mind that a flight to LA from Atlanta can cost almost $500 but in Germany you can luck out and get a flight for much less than 100 euros.</li>
<li><strong>Interesting deli meat and cheese.</strong> My favorite deli meat in Germany is bologna-like and has mushroom slices inside.  It is so good, but unfortunately you can&#8217;t find it in the States &#8211; so sad.  You can also get this Gouda-like cheese with smoked ham pieces inside of it.  Paired with the mushroom meat and a fresh roll, it&#8217;s the best way to start the day.</li>
<li><strong>Laid back lifestyle.</strong> Most of the people that I met in Germany were much more open-minded and live a laid back life.  The legal drinking age for beer is 16 and for liquor 18, and the laws concerning it are not nearly as strict as they are here.  I have never been carded when in Germany, but I am nearly 27 and still get carded when I buy alcohol in most places in the US.  Drinking alcohol is considered a way of life over there.  In America, specifically the South, people look down on drinking and act like it&#8217;s the biggest sin in the world to drink a beer with dinner.</li>
<li><strong>Working to live and not living to work.</strong> Employees receive 5 weeks or more of vacation each year, and a lot more paid holidays.  People are expected to take lunch hours.  If you want to have a beer with lunch, no one thinks twice about it.  I feel like people are much more able to put their families first as opposed to here where companies expect you to give everything you have for your job, and don&#8217;t care if you have time left over to spend with the people you love.</li>
<li><strong>Being multilingual.</strong> Most people you meet in Germany can speak more than one language, and especially our generation, are fluent English speakers.  Some of them are able to even speak a third language, and people are proud of their skill.  Children begin learning languages at an early age and continue to do so throughout their schooling.  I wish America put more emphasis on children learning foreign languages in school.</li>
</ol>
<p>So, those are some of my 10 favorite things that make me happy about Germany!  If you&#8217;ve been there before,<strong> is there anything that makes you smile when you think about Germany?</strong></p>
<p><em>Germany is definitely on my list still (next time I&#8217;m leaving the airport)! Now go check out my potty humor guest post, <a href="http://lifeintheleftlane.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/blog-swap-toilets-of-the-world/">Toilets of the World</a>!</em><strong><br />
</strong></p>
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		<title>10 Things That Make Me Happy About Santa Barbara</title>
		<link>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2009/07/23/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-santa-barbara/</link>
		<comments>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2009/07/23/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-santa-barbara/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:16:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>poweredbytofu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[10 things that make me happy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Santa Barbara]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.poweredbytofu.com/?p=2223</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a guest post by A Oh Dub from Wheels in the Sky. We&#8217;re swapping guest posts via Twenty-Something Bloggers. So without further ado, here are 10 reasons to love Santa Barbara, California. The Santa Barbara Mission: As a kid in California, you learn about missions in fourth grade, and SB’s is known as [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>This is a guest post by</em><em> A Oh Dub from <a href="http://theleavesarelikecrunchy.blogspot.com">Wheels in the Sky</a>. We&#8217;re swapping  guest posts via Twenty-Something Bloggers. So without further ado, here are 10 reasons to love Santa Barbara, California.<br />
</em></p>
<ol>
<li><strong> The Santa Barbara Mission:</strong> As a kid in California, you learn about missions in fourth grade, and SB’s is known as the Queen of the Missions because it’s so darn pretty. They hold mass there regularly and you can also tour the grounds for a bit of a price. Or you can be like my friend and me, and sneak in the exit pretending you’re looking for your mom! 
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</li>
<li><strong>The Hills:</strong> No, not the MTV version, but the mountainous hills that back Santa Barbara. They’re absolutely exquisite all year long &#8212; and full of awesome hikes if you’re the outdoorsy type.</li>
<li><strong>State Street:</strong> State Street has something to offer every traveler.  It’s a shopper’s dream, a foodie’s desire, and can fuel people watching for hours. With stores lining State Street for miles &#8212; as well as a plethora of bars and restaurants &#8212; you might not be able to tackle it all in one day.</li>
<li><strong>The Gauchos:</strong> As a proud graduate of the University of California – Santa Barbara, I am a loyal supporter of UCSB athletics. The Gauchos (which is an Argentinean cowboy) offer 20 different sports to suit anyone’s fancy. The women’s basketball and men’s soccer programs are always good [and fun to watch]. When the soccer team won the national championship in 2006, the students in nearby Isla Vista (where everyone who attends UCSB lives), put the goal post in the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-aOJzj0vX8">ocean</a>!</li>
<li><strong>Beach Cruisers &amp; Bike Paths:</strong> All the students at UCSB, as well as a lot of the community, use their bikes as transportation <em>and</em> recreation. The bike du jour is a beach cruiser! Hop on one for a ride on the well-maintained bike paths that go all over SB. Can’t beat it.</li>
<li><strong>The Beach:</strong> Gorgeous beaches are all over Santa Barbara. The waves aren’t anything to brag about, because of where SB is geographically located, but it’s still great!</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.palazzio.com/" target="_blank">Palazzio</a>: This is my go-to restaurant that I always have to hit up when I’m in town. With family-style portions and a vast menu, it will be hard to choose just one thing to eat! My favorite is rotini with a Gorgonzola cream sauce. They also usually do a cheaper lunch version with individual  sized entrees.</li>
<li><strong>Flip Flops</strong>: Thongs of any variety are the suggested footwear for the entire year. It’s taken me a long time to start wearing real shoes again after spending four great years in SB.</li>
<li><strong>Wine!</strong> Santa Barbara and the neighboring Santa Ynez Valley (about 30 minutes up the road) are home to some of the finest wineries in the world. The movie <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007TKOAA?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=poweredbytofu-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0007TKOAA">Sideways</a> was filmed in nearby Solvang (a pleasant daytrip in itself) and lots of wineries offer free or low-cost tastings.</li>
<li><strong>The Weather</strong>: Santa Barbara runs a solid 75-85 degrees on a regular basis. Sure, they’ve got some morning fog and it can get cold (never below 50), but who doesn’t want to wear shorts and flip flops all year long?</li>
</ol>
<p><em>Great, now I need to add  Santa Barbara to my travel list!  :)</em><br />
<img style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=poweredbytofu-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0007TKOAA" border="0" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></p>
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		<title>10 Reasons to Visit Greece &#8211; Opa!</title>
		<link>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2009/06/06/10-reasons-to-visit-greece-opa/</link>
		<comments>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2009/06/06/10-reasons-to-visit-greece-opa/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:50:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>poweredbytofu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[10 things that make me happy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greece]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Athens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[biking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyclades]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ios]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mykonos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Naxos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paros]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sailing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Santorini]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Syros]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wine]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.poweredbytofu.com/?p=1318</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While Greece is the 20th most popular tourist destination for Americans (and thanks to the picturesque island of Santorini, one of the top honeymoon spots), there are still deals to be found and [almost] desolate beaches to explore.  I accidentally spent about a month in Greece last September.  While I had planned to stay for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>While Greece is the 20th most popular tourist destination for Americans (and thanks to the picturesque island of Santorini, one of the top honeymoon spots), there are still deals to be found and [almost] desolate beaches to explore.  I accidentally spent about a month in Greece last September.  While I had planned to stay for one week and then leave via Athens, I took a sailing trip which sent me even farther away from Athens.  So after I was done sailing I started the slow process of making my way back to Athens, one island a time.  Here are 10 things that I fell in love with along the way.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Photography: </strong>Greece is just one big photo op. It&#8217;s seriously hard to take a bad picture in Greece. The Mediterranean and whitewashed buildings with blue doors, combined with sunlight and sunsets, make the Cyclades islands a prime photography destination. 
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</li>
<li><strong>Beaches</strong>: With 6,000 islands in Greece (only 227 inhabited) you&#8217;re sure to find at least one to your liking: red sand, black sand, white sand, crowded, desolate, nude&#8230; The only type of beach that Greece doesn&#8217;t have is one that requires wearing a top. Beware ladies, old American &amp; Canadian men with telephoto lenses abound on Santorini (they&#8217;re on Mykonos too, but who am I kidding, they wouldn&#8217;t be taking <em>our</em> photos).</li>
<li><strong>Ferries:</strong> Transportation between the islands in Greece is fantastic. With the addition of high speed ferries several years ago, there always seems to be a ferry arriving or departing. While some people bemoan the slow standard ferries, they are the perfect slow travel option when you have no where to be, sunning on the open top deck.</li>
<li><strong>Sailing:</strong> Sailing the Med sounds like the ultimate luxury fantasy, but there are many budget sailing options if you don&#8217;t happen to have your own yacht. ;)  I took a <a onmouseover="window.status='http://www.gapadventures.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/rh79shqnhp478DD59C465B8586D?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gapadventures.com%2Fgreek_sailing%2F" target="_top">budget sailing trip</a> &#8211; 8 people to a 50&#8242; yacht.  It was close quarters, but still a fun experience. Highlights were swimming out in the middle of the Mediterranean (right off the boat!) and pulling up alongside Russian mega yachts in-port. Ahh, the sailing life.</li>
<li><strong>Windsurfing &amp; biking:</strong> Several islands in Greece are world renowned kitesurfing and windsurfing locations.  Since I was on a budget, I didn&#8217;t want to take the $230 6-hour windsurfing class in Naxos. I asked if they had any deals or intro classes and ended up getting a 2-hour lesson for $13! Add in my bike rental of 3 euros a day and I was sporting it up at a bargain.</li>
<li><strong>Wine:</strong> Ouzo is most often associated with all things Greek, but Greece is also a booming wine region, (very little of which is exported to the US or Canada).  Santorini has countless wineries and tours and is best known for their white wines. When in Greece, order the house white wine, it&#8217;s bound to be delicious and local. Opa!</li>
<li><strong>Small town friendliness:</strong> On some of the less touristy islands in the Cyclades, you feel like you could rent a room and accidentally stay for a few years. Naxos and Paros are generally skipped by the cruises and party crowd, so there&#8217;s a different sense of friendliness from the locals. A local in Santorini asked, &#8220;Why are you going to Naxos? It&#8217;s very quiet there, nothing to do. At night, not busy, no people out!&#8221; Excellent, I like quiet.</li>
<li><strong>Athens:</strong> Athens often gets a bad rap for being dull in a &#8220;if you have 5 hours, that&#8217;s enough to see all the sights in Athens&#8221; sort of way. It&#8217;s a very walkable city though and &#8211; when they&#8217;re not rioting &#8211; a fun place to spend about 2 days.  See the Acropolis and museums and enjoy being immersed in ancient history.</li>
<li><strong>Food, food, food:</strong> Fact: The Greeks know food &#8211; amazing fish, gyros, Greek salad, feta cheese, kalamata olives,  bread, olive oil, meze, sadziki,  saganaki, spanakopita, mousaka, dolmades, souvlaki, free ouzo with dinner, Greek yogurt and honey, gelato, nutella crepes&#8230; I ate <em>really </em>well in Greece. I was quite happy being a pescatarian in Greece and not a strict vegetarian.</li>
<li><strong>Affordability: </strong>Greece is incredibly affordable, especially if you travel in the shoulder seasons (spring or fall).  Greece gets the stereotype of being &#8220;European&#8221; expensive, but I spent less money per day than I did in Australia, Turkey, or Hawaii. As long as you stay clear of Mykonos, you&#8217;ll find budget options all through the Cyclades islands. I paid 20 Euros/night for a single room with a balcony and A/C in Naxos, add in your 3 Euro bike rental, 2 Euro gyro, 2 Euro gelato&#8230; and you&#8217;re on a budget path to luxury living!</li>
</ol>
<p>Now you have 10 new reasons to visit Greece.  Dust off that passport and start <a onmouseover="window.status='http://www.travelocity.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/ln79wktqks7ABGG8CF798EEEHHD" target="_top">searching for flights</a>!  I found fares leaving in September for ATH from $571 (from NYC, LAX, CHI, HOU &amp; PDX).</p>
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		<item>
		<title>10 Things That Make Me Happy {about Malaysia}</title>
		<link>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2009/05/29/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-malaysia/</link>
		<comments>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2009/05/29/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-malaysia/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2009 15:26:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>poweredbytofu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[10 things that make me happy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Malaysia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KL]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.poweredbytofu.com/?p=1316</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A year ago this month, I was traveling in Malaysia, so I thought I would share my favorite bits of Malaysia. In no particular order here are 10 things that make me happy about Malaysia&#8230; Culture contrast: Malaysia is a truly unique country, with a mix of three very different cultures &#8211; Malay, Indian and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>A year ago this month, I was traveling in Malaysia, so I thought I would share my favorite bits of Malaysia. In no particular order here are 10 things that make me happy about Malaysia&#8230;</em></p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Culture contrast:</strong> Malaysia is a truly unique country, with a mix of three very different cultures &#8211; Malay, Indian and Chinese &#8211; along with their respective religions &#8211; Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist.  It&#8217;s fascinating to see the cultures combined out on the street&#8230; an Indian girl in a brightly colored sari, next to a head covered Muslim woman, and then a Chinese girl in stilettos, miniskirt and a Prada bag walks by.
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</li>
<li><strong>The letter K:</strong> As previously mentioned, <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2008/05/10/brought-to-you-by-the-letter-k/">&#8216;K&#8217; is probably the most popular letter in Malaysia</a>.  After a few days in Malaysia, the letter &#8216;C&#8217; seizes to exist in your mind and suddenly you&#8217;re emailing and Fakebooking, I mean Facebooking, about taking teksis, buying a tiket, and going to the kafe!</li>
<li><strong>Shopping in Kuala Lumpar:</strong> While I&#8217;m not usually too keen on shopping, I had a great time bargaining at the night market in KL.  After buying 2 sundresses and some gifts, I was waiting for my travel buddy to finish their shopping.  I kept getting the &#8220;You buy, you buy, only $1&#8243; lines even though I wasn&#8217;t shopping anymore, I teasingly turned their pushy sales tactic back on them for a laugh, but got the biggest laugh when I was leaving the market, he ran out and gave me a coin purse for free.</li>
<li><strong>Cameron Highlands:</strong> One of my favorite places in Malaysia was the Cameron Highlands.  In contrast with the rest of mainland Malaysia, it&#8217;s higher in the mountains with low humidity.  The highlands are an agriculture zone, known for their tea plantations, strawberry fields, veggies, markets, honey bees and butterflies and excellent hiking opportunities.  The perfect place to go when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of SE Asia.</li>
<li><strong>Amazing Indian food for $2:</strong> I had read about a restaurant in Meleka that served a $2 10 item vegeterian lunch, so when my tri-shaw peddler recommended a place, I was happily surprised to find out that it was the same place!  After setting you up with your own banana leaf placemat, they spoon dish after dish of curries and rice, filling the leaf (utensils optional). Amazing!</li>
<li><strong>Pedaling Tri-shaws in Melaka:</strong> While I have no plans to move to Malaysia to be a tri-shaw peddler, I had fun taking turns pedaling with my tri-shaw driver on my tour of the town.  And the bicycle bell was quite useful to ring as I passed other tri-shaws.  I&#8217;m not sure who was more surprised, the other drivers or their passengers. ;)</li>
<li><strong>Massages:</strong> Let&#8217;s face it, sometimes the $3 massages in SE Asia aren&#8217;t that relaxing! You&#8217;re practically on the sidewalk, there&#8217;s lots of traffic and then they spend the whole time giggling.  I found that the average massage in Malaysia was a great value, a step up from Thailand, but way cheaper than Singapore.  Most of the workers are Thai anyway, but there seems to be more of a spa atmosphere in Malaysia.</li>
<li><strong>Monkeys:</strong> They&#8217;re everywhere!  Tip: keep shiny objects in your bag. They love cameras and candy wrappers and just about everything else. There are definitely some cheeky monkeys in Malaysia, and they&#8217;re so unpredictable!</li>
<li><strong>Tea fields in Cameron Highlands:</strong> I had no idea how beautiful the tea fields in the Cameron Highlands were going to be. Hill after hill of patterned green. Truly amazing.</li>
<li><strong>Malay food:</strong> I don&#8217;t know if Malaysia invented the sweet and sour approach to food, but they&#8217;re rocking it regardless.  I found Malay food to be a really unique mix of flavors, with a lot of coconut, mango, peanut, tamarind and fish sauce.  And I could have eaten for days on all of the treats I bought at the night markets.</li>
</ol>
<p>See more <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/category/10-things-that-make-me-happy/">10 Things That Make Me Happy</a> lists.</p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>10 Things That Make Me Happy {about Morocco}</title>
		<link>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2009/04/07/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-morocco/</link>
		<comments>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2009/04/07/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-morocco/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:17:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>poweredbytofu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[10 things that make me happy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morocco]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s time for another installment of “10 things that make me happy!”  In no particular order, here are 10 things that make me happy {about Morocco}… Moroccan architecture It seems that everywhere you look in the Imperial cities of Fes, Meknes, Rabat and Marrakech, you see amazing architecture: keyhole doors, stunning mosques, and intricate details. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>It&#8217;s time for another installment</em><em> of “10 things that make me happy!”  In no particular order, here are 10 things that make me happy {about Morocco}…</em></p>
<ol>
<li> <em><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-921" title="fes-door-morocco" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/fes-door-morocco-250x479.jpg" alt="fes-door-morocco" width="100" /></em><strong>Moroccan architecture</strong><br />
It seems that everywhere you look in the Imperial cities of Fes, Meknes, Rabat and Marrakech, you see amazing architecture: keyhole doors, stunning mosques, and intricate details.</li>
<li><strong>Tagine &amp; couscous</strong><br />
I admit, after two straight weeks of eating tagines or couscous for dinner, I was a little over it.  However, the simplicity of this style of cooking is so efficient and delicious.  It&#8217;s like slow cooking, Moroccan style.</li>
<li><strong>Henna</strong><br />
I finally got henna done while in the seaside town of Essaouira.  I ended up getting my hands, feet, calf, and stomach done.  The Moroccan woman did a beautiful job and it was so much fun watching her work.  The henna lasted for about three weeks and was a great reminder of my time in Morocco.</li>
<li><strong><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-922" title="tagine-couscous_morocco" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/tagine-couscous_morocco-150x150.jpg" alt="tagine-couscous_morocco" width="150" height="150" /></strong><strong>Bartering/shopping</strong><br />
I tried to save most of my shopping until my last stop, Marrakech. Overall,  I ended up purchasing two large pieces of material, a leather belt and bag, and about 10 pillow covers.  I had a great time bargaining with the locals, throwing out an occasional &#8220;Humdallah&#8221; (Praise God), and &#8220;Insh&#8217;Allah&#8221;  (God willing), and telling them that this same thing was only $x in Essaouira etc.  Most of the vendors were really fun to negotiate with, and they all remembered me when I went back through the markets a few days later.</li>
<li><strong>Arabic slang</strong><br />
OK, less slang words, more basic words.  :)  Anyway, I had a brilliant time using my basic words: &#8220;Merhaba&#8221; (hello), &#8220;Shukran&#8221; (thank you), &#8220;Yellah&#8221; (let&#8217;s go), &#8220;la&#8221; (no), &#8220;Insh&#8217;Allah&#8221;, &#8220;Humdallah&#8221;, and my favorite: &#8220;Mafi Mushkila&#8221; (It&#8217;s not a problem!).</li>
<li><strong>Being modest</strong><br />
While keeping my shoulders and knees covered isn&#8217;t usually what gets me excited about packing for vacation, it&#8217;s surprising <strong><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-930" title="taradounte-gorge-morocco" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/taradounte-gorge-morocco-150x150.jpg" alt="taradounte-gorge-morocco" width="150" height="150" /></strong>what you can get used to.  By the time I got back to Spain, I was shocked at how small my tank tops felt, and don&#8217;t get me started on the short shorts!  Being modest in a Muslim country not only feels respectful, but it really helps on the attention factor, especially if you have blonde hair and blue eyes!</li>
<li><strong>Mint Tea</strong><br />
I LOVE mint tea!  Everywhere you go in Morocco you get mint tea, whether you&#8217;re hiking through the mountains and meet a Berber family or shopping in the souks.  It&#8217;s definitely a tea culture, and it&#8217;s super fun to pour!</li>
<li><strong>Moroccans</strong><br />
OK, so the constant attention can be over the top if you&#8217;ve had a long day and sometimes you just wish you were invisible, but for the most part, it&#8217;s just curiousity&#8230; and maybe 50% the blonde hair and blue eyes bit.  At least now I know that I would hate to be a celebrity!  By the time I got to Barcelona, I was like &#8220;uh, no one has told me that I&#8217;m beautiful yet today or offered 1,000 camels for my hand in marriage!&#8221;  ;)</li>
<li><strong>Les chameaux (camels)</strong><strong><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-928" title="hiking-imlil-morocco" src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/hiking-imlil-morocco-150x150.jpg" alt="hiking-imlil-morocco" width="150" height="150" /></strong><br />
One of the most memorable experiences in Morocco was riding camels out into the Sahara, and sleeping out under the stars.  It was so quiet and peaceful and just one of those moments that I&#8217;ll always remember.<strong><br />
</strong></li>
<li><strong>Hamams</strong><br />
After several days of cold showers in freezing Imlil, we decided on a visiting the local hamam after a five hour hike.  Compared to the hamam in Istanbul, it was <em>very</em> local!  But it was really amazing to observe the sense of community.</li>
</ol>
<p>See more <strong>10 Things That Make Me Happy</strong> lists:  <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/11/07/10-things-that-make-me-happy/">10 Things That Make Me Happy</a>, <a href="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/11/11/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-fall/">10 Things That Make Me Happy {about fall}</a></p>
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		<title>10 things that make me happy {about fall}</title>
		<link>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/11/11/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-fall/</link>
		<comments>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/11/11/10-things-that-make-me-happy-about-fall/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:04:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>poweredbytofu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[10 things that make me happy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[101 Things in 1001 Days]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Summer is officially over. Last week&#8217;s list of &#8220;10 things that make me happy&#8221; was really fun and good for the happiness quotient. Maybe I&#8217;ll make this a weekly list. In no particular order, here are 10 things that make me happy {about fall}&#8230; rainboots As the rains set in, colorful rainboots make me smile. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Summer is officially over.  </em><em>Last week&#8217;s list of &#8220;10 things that make me happy&#8221; was really fun and good for the happiness quotient. Maybe I&#8217;ll make this a weekly list. In no particular order, here are 10 things that make me happy {about fall}&#8230;</em><br />
<img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/rainboots.jpg" alt="rainboots.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<strong>rainboots<br />
</strong>As the rains set in, colorful rainboots make me smile. No matter where you live, they&#8217;re just plain fun to wear. For once I&#8217;ll pray for rain.  <em>rainboots</em> <strong>$19.99 <a href="http://www.target.com/gp/search/601-8334406-9721714?field-keywords=rainboots&amp;url=index%3Dtarget&amp;ref=sr_bx_1_1&amp;x=0&amp;y=0" target="_blank">Target</a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/oregonchai.jpg" alt="oregonchai.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<strong>oregon chai<br />
</strong>Fall isn&#8217;t complete without a mug full of Oregon Chai (sorry Tazo).  <em>Oregon Chai Tea</em> <strong>$0.50/cup <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HDOOL6/?tag=poweredbytofu-20" target="_blank">Amazon</a><a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com" target="_blank"></a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/books_encoreprovence.jpg" alt="books_encoreprovence.jpg" /><br />
<strong>reading</strong><br />
With the cold, fall brings more time for reading. Whether you buy books or check them out at your local library, fall is the perfect time to catch up on reading. <em>Books, books, and more books </em><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/104-1995427-7119934?ie=UTF8&amp;docId=239341&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_s=center-4&amp;pf_rd_r=1YV2S7ZP2Q22M5A5EGGF&amp;pf_rd_t=101&amp;pf_rd_p=323937001&amp;pf_rd_i=549028?tag=poweredbytofu-20" target="_blank">Amazon</a><a href="http://usa.loccitane.com/" target="_blank"></a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/tickettoride.jpg" alt="tickettoride.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<strong>board games</strong><br />
When you&#8217;re trapped inside because of the weather, board games are the answer (and I&#8217;m not talking about Monopoly).  Newer board games, like Ticket to Ride, Settlers, and Ra are way more fun than watching TV. It&#8217;s officially time to bring back &#8220;Game Night&#8221;. <em>Ticket to Ride </em><strong>$44.99 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000809OAO/?tag=poweredbytofu-20" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> and <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com" target="_blank">BoardGameGeek.com</a><br />
</strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/fall.jpg" alt="fall.jpg" height="150" /><strong><br />
autumn walks and hikes</strong><br />
I think the perfect word to describe fall hikes is &#8220;crisp.&#8221; Almost too chilly, but not quite. <strong>Free! Go outside<br />
</strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/sweater.jpg" alt="sweater.jpg" height="150" /><br />
<strong>sweaters</strong><br />
A &#8220;fall list&#8221; isn&#8217;t complete without sweaters. The redeeming factor of having to put away summer clothes is being able to get out fall sweaters. And/or buying new sweaters! <em>Sweaters</em></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/coffeegrinder.jpg" alt="coffeegrinder.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<strong>coffee<br />
</strong>Fall brings the perfect excuse to drink one more cup of coffee, so make it a good one. <em>Hamilton Beach Deluxe Coffee Grinder</em>  <strong>$29.99 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000A1FFOK/?tag=poweredbytofu-20" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/itunes.JPG" alt="itunes.JPG" width="150" /><br />
<strong>iTunes fall mix</strong><br />
I love making seasonal mixes and breaking out a seasonal mix from a specific time. It&#8217;s like creating a soundtrack to your life. <strong>free  </strong><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=Y9AO*cGtbWI&amp;offerid=78941&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fphobos.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fi%253D252525863%2526id%253D252525828%2526s%253D143441%2526partnerId%253D30"><img src="http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/images/badgeitunes61x15dark.gif" alt="Feist - The Reminder - 1234" border="0" height="15" width="61" /></a></p>
<p><img src="http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/everyday_food/2007Q4/ed103255_1107_mashedpot_l.jpg" height="150" /><br />
<strong>mashed potatoes</strong><br />
Fall isn&#8217;t complete without mashed potatoes and gravy. Bring on the comfort food.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/trekearth010.jpg" alt="trekearth010.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<strong>finding summer so</strong><strong>mewhere else</strong><br />
Yes, it&#8217;s kind of cheating, but one of the fun things about fall, is traveling somewhere else (regardless of what season you&#8217;re traveling to).  <em>Traveling </em><strong>$depends <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/" target="_blank">TripAdvisor</a></strong></p>
<p><em>Who: me<br />
Where: Portland, OR</em></p>
<p><strong>What&#8217;s on your list?</strong></p>
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		<title>10 things that make me happy</title>
		<link>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/11/07/10-things-that-make-me-happy/</link>
		<comments>http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/11/07/10-things-that-make-me-happy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Nov 2007 06:42:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>poweredbytofu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[10 things that make me happy]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[As inspired by the last page in every Domino magazine. In no particular order, here are 10 things that make me happy. nike+ I never considered myself a &#8220;runner&#8221;. Being able to track your runs is the perfect mix of tech/exercise. It&#8217;s the best of all worlds. Nike+ sensor $25+shoes+ipod. Nike+ iSport Mixes on iTunes [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>As inspired by the last page in every Domino magazine. In no particular order, here are 10 things that make me happy.</em></p>
<p><em><br />
</em> <a href="http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/"><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/nikeplus.jpg" alt="nikeplus.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
<strong>nike+</strong><br />
I never considered myself a &#8220;runner&#8221;. Being able to track your runs is the perfect mix of tech/exercise. It&#8217;s the best of all worlds. <em>Nike+ sensor </em><strong>$25+shoes+ipod. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GQ3DRE?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=poweredbytofu-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B001GQ3DRE">Nike+</a></strong> <strong><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=Y9AO*cGtbWI&amp;offerid=146261.10001715&amp;type=4&amp;subid=0">iSport Mixes on iTunes</a></strong></p>
<p><em><strong> </strong></em><br />
<img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/chipotle.jpg" alt="Chipotle" width="150" /><br />
<strong>chipotle<br />
</strong>I could eat here everyday. Seriously. It&#8217;s a love, love, love relationship. <em>Chipotle burrito</em> <strong>$5.10 <a href="http://www.chipotle.com/" target="_blank">Chipotle</a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/havaianas.jpg" alt="Havaianas" width="150" /><br />
<strong>havaianas<br />
</strong>Owning every color gives a whole new meaning to &#8220;they go with everything.&#8221; <em>Havaianas flip flops</em> <strong>$10 <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com" target="_blank">Urban Outfitters</a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/verbena.jpg" alt="verbena.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<strong>l&#8217;occitane verbena eau de toilette<br />
</strong>Instantly transports you back to summer. It&#8217;s like a mini-vacation, every day. <em>L&#8217;Occitane Verbena Eau de Toilette travel size </em><strong>$17 <a href="http://usa.loccitane.com/" target="_blank">L&#8217;Occitane</a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/book_apartmentherapy.jpg" alt="book_apartmentherapy.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<strong>apartment therapy</strong><br />
This little book does wonders for your soul (and the respective soul of your residence). I&#8217;m a convert. <em>Apartment Therapy: The 8 Week Home Cure </em><strong>$11.20 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0553383124?tag=poweredbytofu-20" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/little-penguin.jpg" alt="little-penguin.jpg" height="150" /><br />
<strong>the little penguin</strong><br />
Cute label, excellent taste, excellent price&#8230; very cute penguin, indeed. <em>The Little Penguin White Shiraz</em> <strong>$6 <a onmouseover="window.status='http://shop.safeway.com/offers/swy/default6.asp?CMP=KNC-cjaffiliates';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/hl101iqzwqyDGHMMEILDFEILFMHL" target="_top">Safeway</a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/arrested_development.jpg" alt="arrested_development.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<strong>arrested development</strong><br />
As irony would have it, I didn&#8217;t start watching this show until it had been canceled, and then I was angry that it got canceled. <em>Arrested Development Season 1-3</em> <strong>$55 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JJ3Y78/?tag=poweredbytofu-20" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/oswaldwest.jpg" alt="oswaldwest.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<strong>the oregon coast<br />
</strong>The ocean puts life in perspective. Every time. <strong>$0 <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;time=&amp;date=&amp;ttype=&amp;q=Oswald+West+State+Park,+United+States&amp;sll=44.143125,-120.51484&amp;sspn=7.455825,20.522461&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;cd=2&amp;geocode=0,45.771435,-123.954460&amp;ll=45.771355,-123.95462&amp;spn=0.226543,0.641327&amp;z=11&amp;om=1" target="_blank">Oregon</a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/chamonix-martigny-print-c10217649.jpeg" alt="chamonix-martigny-print-c10217649.jpeg" width="150" /><br />
<strong>vintage travel posters</strong><br />
I love the Library of Congress travel posters that Cavallini &amp; Co uses for calendars. I buy one every year. <strong>about $10. <a href="http://www.cavallini.com/" target="_blank">Cavallini &amp; Co</a></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.poweredbytofu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/carrot-cupcake.jpg" alt="carrot-cupcake.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<strong>cooking</strong><br />
It&#8217;s not just about baking either. Good food (quality &amp; taste) is really important to me, and preparing food is 1/2 the fun. OK, maybe only 1/3 of the fun.</p>
<p><em>Who: me<br />
Where: Portland, OR</em></p>
<p><strong>What&#8217;s on your list?</strong><img src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=Y9AO*cGtbWI&amp;bids=146261.10001715&amp;type=4&amp;subid=0" border="0" alt="" width="1" height="1" /><img style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=poweredbytofu-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B001GQ3DRE" border="0" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></p>
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