40 Things I Can Do at 40 That I Couldn't Do When I was 20

By Wendy Fontaine, for Huffington Post
Additional comments by moi even though I'm not forty......yet. 
ps. I'm writing this post while watching the Grammys. Is it just me or this has turned to be the most boring show on earth? Mental note: I'm getting old. 

1. Cook a decent meal. Debatable, unless grilled cheese sandwiches with guava paste are considered a decent meal.
2. Make a killer cup of coffee. Hmm, nah, definitely nah. 
3. Tell the truth. 
4. Have a healthy relationship. Ay porfavor!
5. Look past a person's flaws. 
6. Look past my own flaws. 
7. Stay home on New Year's Eve. 
8. Pay my bills. Ok lady, this should have made it into the 40-Things-I-can-Do-at-20-That-I-Couldn't-Do-When-I-was-10 list!
9. Go out without makeup on. Go out with make-up on!
10. Go to the gynecologist without being embarrassed. Embarrassed?! About what? 
11. Go to a therapist without feeling ashamed. My poor therapist. God bless that woman for having the ability to keep a straight face when listening to me. 
12. Speak to a group of strangers. 
13. Buy the good wine. And drink it all. Alone ;)
14. Handle rejection. 
15. Read Didion instead of Cosmo. I have to confess I google'd Didion -as in Joan Didion I assume- and no, I still read more magazines than books. Immature me. 
16. Be happy for other people, instead of jealous. Always.
17. Ignore the trends (skinny jeans included) and wear what looks good on my body. 
18. Ignore the Kardashians, Rihanna and every other celebrity du jour. 
19. Ignore people's nasty comments. oh hell no!!
20. Ignore my ex. Who?
21. Stand up for myself. 
22. Stand up for people I love. 
23. Sit at a concert. 
24. Take a cab home instead of insisting I'm OK to drive. 
25. Wear a hat when it's cold. And not taking it off the entire day, my hat hair is ugly...really ugly. 
26. Stop worrying about whether people like me or think I'm pretty. 
27. Be my kid's hero. Be my cat's hero.
28. Show her what independence looks like. If I show my cats what independence looks like I will never see them again. 
29. Show her what real beauty is. Real beauty is my cat throwing up and then eating her own vomit....eeewwww!!!
30. Drive the speed limit. 
31. Drop that toxic friend. 
32. Avoid the drama. 
33. Swear in front of my mom. Everything I am I owe to my mom, vocabulary included. 
34. Swap the tanning lotion for eye cream. Yikes and yikes. 
35. Focus on the smart guy instead of the handsome guy. Focus on the smart and handsome guy. With age comes ambition. 
36. Say "no" to stuff. 
37. Skip the gym and go for a walk outside. 
38. Stop trying to be perfect. 
39. Let go of expectation. 
40. Adjust to changes. And one to grow on: Understand that the best is yet to come. Promise?

The grass is indeed greener in Cartagena

While browsing through the pages of a Veranda magazine, I found these great pictures of a "casa grande" in Cartagena, Colombia. I just love the way the architect (Alberto Burckhardt) managed to preserve the historic structure of a 250 years old house while still creating a modern & minimalistic retreat. 

Mental note: add Cartagena to the places I would like to visit this year list.

Editor's note: I love hammocks, they are beautiful & simple. Yes my back hurts if I use them for long, but don't we all deserve a bright soft hammock? Damn office chairs, damn you to hell!

Hey you! living in the North Hemisphere (more specifically in the North East area of the US), did you find yourself crying after seeing these pictures? I want you to know that you are not alone, I feel your pain, specially today when the wind had no mercy and froze us to death.

Oh Cartagena, why are you doing this to us?

...the grass is definitely greener on the other side.

Bean the Dog

Please don't tell my cats I'm posting this video about a dog, but this four legged creature has got to be the cutest thing I've seen lately. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. This video is a great day starter :)

Ann Burton's Beantown Handmade Town

Message from mars

Dear Earthlings,

Thanks for sharing these super cool pictures of your cities with us. It's very refreshing to find out how some of you living in concrete jungles understand that having a riotous behavior can become an expression of art and can bring smiles to others (including us).

Love,

The Martians

All images from www.streetartutopia.com/