Will Ferrell + Kristen Wiig = Pure Genius.

Brilliance.

Stewie, on Relationships:

Brian and Stewie of the hit cartoon series, Family Guy.

Brian: So what happened?

Stewie: Well, you wanna know what I learned this week? Being a grown-up sucks. Women, Brian, what a royal pain in the ass. It's like, it's like, why can't you just hang out with guys, you know, just live with someone of your own sex, just do what you would do with women, but with your buddy? You know wha...why don't guys just do that?

Brian: They do. It's called being gay.

Stewie: Oh, that's what gay is? Oh, yeah, I could totally get into that.

Tall Nonfat Easy Ice Chai Tea Latte.

For those familiar with the hilarity of complicated Starbucks orders, the "147xxxx" blog is for you. It is such a treat to read the well-crafted posts posted on this blog, all of which are written by an anonymous Starbucks barista. The author is talented, funny and witty, not to mention wise. Her anecdotes about Starbucks customers, coupled with her own insight on relevant topics, make her blog original, unique and a joy to read. 

The Proverbial Mango Tree.

Ghana, March 2009.

In Ghana, there's a tradition that the people use when acquainting themselves with each other. Friends and family will gather together under a mango tree when they meet newcomers in order to get to know one another. One person begins and explains where they have been and where they are going; everyone else follows suit.

While in Ghana in March, our team got to participate in this tradition, and it was so incredible to reflect on where we had all been and where we all saw the paths of our lives heading. Everyone had unique stories, backgrounds, goals and dreams to share. 

In the busy, tiring and stressful moments of life, take time to pause and think about where you have been and where you want to go. Be thankful for the moments in the past that have shaped you, allowing you to move forward and achieve the goals that are set out before you. 

Dorothy Got it Right.

10 Muirfield Circle. The backyard. My favorite spot.

There's no place like home.

I am contentedly sitting inside my beautiful house in Wheaton, IL, contemplating how blessed I am to have a job that allows me to work from home, wherever my home might be on a given day (whether that's Santa Monica, Malibu, San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago or Ghana). It's so nice to be home. I haven't been here since Christmastime. Home is the only place where I can truly relax; having had the privilege of exploring Wheaton throughout my teenage years, there's not much left in this city that I feel like I need to do. Instead, I can just be.

While at home, I can:

Spend delicious amounts of time with Mom and Dad.
Watch endless episodes of House and America's Next Top Model.
Have Starbucks waiting for me on the breakfast counter in the morning.
Enjoy home-cooked meals.
Spend evenings drinking Blue Moon beer or red wine by the outdoor fireplace, one of my most favorite places in the world.
Have friends stop by to catch up while sitting by the aforementioned fireplace.
Order (and consume) too much pizza from Taylor Street.
TiVo my favorite shows, a luxury not afforded to me at my great apartment in Santa Monica.
Sleep. A lot. Maybe too much.
Take trips to Target, Nordstrom, Anthropologie and Barnes & Noble.
Get a manicure and a hair cut.
Read long-lost books that have been re-discovered on my bookshelves, in addition to Mom's back issues of People and Self.

Hang out on the floral couch in the family room for far too long and not feel bad about it for one minute.
Reminisce about the good 'ole days at Wheaton Warrenville South High School.
Know how blessed I am by evaluating where I've been and where I'm going.

Chicago in the fall. Sitting by the outdoor fireplace is amongst my favorite pastimes.

I Like Texas.

Well, from Dalhart to Del Rio
And out El Paso way
I've been doin' fine on Houston time
When the sun sets on the Copano Bay
From way up where the Red River flows
On down to the Rio Grande
I was born a little native Texan kid
And I'm proud to say that I am

Yeah, well, I like Texas
Ain't it fine here
I like to pick my guitar down at 'ole Gruene Hall
And drink that Miller Lite beer
Yeah, well, I like Texas
Man, there ain't no doubt
Just listen to me 'cause I know what I'm talkin' about

Well, there's old dancehalls and little cafes
Where you can get a taste of the Lone Star state
You can strap on boots and have yourself a laugh or two
Well, there's no line dancing, just straight romancing
That Hill Country love is what I fancy
The streams running clear and the skies they are so blue

Yeah, well, I like Texas
Ain't it fine here
I like to pick my guitar down at 'ole Gruene Hall
And drink that Miller Lite beer
Yeah, well, I like Texas
Man, there ain't no doubt
Just listen to me 'cause I know what I'm talkin' about

Well, it's a two-day-old burrito
One lukewarm beer to go
On the Sunday side of a road trip weekend
And Lordy, I was feelin' so low
When somebody flipped on the jukebox, and I heard old Bob Wills say,
"Won't cha' stay all night, stay a little longer?"
So I held on another day.

Yeah, I like Texas.

Pat Green

The Reason for Journals.

Dwight Schrute and Michael Scott, of NBC's The Office.

Michael: Why do you have a diary?

Dwight (whispers conspiratorially): To keep secrets from my computer!