If Magritte Loved Starbucks

How often can you write a blog post about surrealist children’s books only to discover a surreal coffee cup immediately after?

The second I discovered I Am Not a Paper Cup—a Ceramic Coffee Cup with Silicone Lid modeled after the ubiquitous paper coffee cup—well, I had to spread the word.

The product name plays on Magritte’s painting “Ce N’est Pas Un Pipe” which makes you think twice about perception and reality. (Disclaimer: I made that up and have no idea what he wanted you to think.)

Sure there are a lot more functional travel mugs on the market. But this has a distinct coolness factor that makes it a great gift for the eco-conscious coffee addict in your life. It’s dishwasher and microwave safe too.

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Embrace Your Inner Surrealist with Art Explorers

Just last week I snapped a photo of a Claes Oldenburg statue at a museum. Then today I discovered Make It Pop! by author and artist Joyce Raimondo. And now I can make fuzzy oversized popsicles just like an Oldenburg!

While I likened some of the projects to looking at a Martha Stewart project—where my work likely wouldn’t resemble hers one bit—it’s worth a try. After all, who’s to say what’s art?

This fun creative book series could be just the thing to start you on your art-related life goals. Oh, and maybe your kids will like them too. Hello Dali!

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RescueTime Helps You Stop Surfing and Start Living

Watching life pass you by as you browse an endless road of YouTube videos? Wondering how the last 2 hours whizzed by? Want to know how long you actually spent working on a project for a client?

I just discovered application called RescueTime. It’s free to download and logs how you spend your time online. It’s mainly designed for people working on projects. But RescueTime is actually great for anyone wanting to analyze and manage how you spend your time online.

Why does it matter? The more time you save, the more time you have to work on your important life list goals!

When you’re on your deathbed are you going to wistfully remember all those funny videos you watched? Maybe? Well more power to you! RescueTime can help you meet that goal of 50,000 hours watched.

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Travel Richly by Couch Surfing

Have you always wanted to make friends around the world? I have. And so I joined the non-profit CouchSurfing site a couple of years ago. But only this summer did I surf my first couch: a truly enriching experience. Even if I never see my “host” again I feel like I’ve made a friend.

It’s not a mere “hotel substitute.” Their goal is as follows:

“CouchSurfing.com helps you make connections worldwide. You can use the network to meet people and then go and surf other members’ couches! When you surf a couch, you are a guest at someone’s house. They will provide you with some sort of accommodation, a penthouse apartment or maybe a back yard to pitch your tent in. Stays can be as short as a cup of coffee, a night or two, or even a few months or more. When you offer your couch, you have complete control of who visits.”

Feel Good Metrics

With the momentum of several years, Couch Surfing seems to be hitting the “mainstream,” and now I hear friends mention it all the time. Check out the good energy they’ve created:

CouchSurfers 697,357
Successful Surf or Host Experiences 606,243
Friendships Created 748,720
Positive Experiences 1,219,741
Countries Represented 232
Cities Represented 46,949

They focus on safety. A clever verification process uses credit card authentication to make sure your name matches your mailing address and credit card. (Do I need to add that you’re responsible for your own safety and to use intuition?)

Why Surf? Imagine the Potential Synchronicity

Whether you’re hosting or a couch surfer, you’re automatically going to have commonalities:

• You’re both curious about people from other cultures and the world.
• You’re adventurous and open.
• You seeking out friends and connections.

I don’t know about you, but just reading what I wrote made me all the more inspired to continue couch surfing and hosting on future travels.

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