What does your ideal lifestyle look like 10 years from now?
Presented by Intel, Sponsors of Tomorrow.

If I answer this, I need you all to promise that you won't hold it against me if it doesn't happen?  Okay?  Okay....

So 10 years from now I'd like to be healthy, happy and I want to look 10 years younger than I do now :)  Beyond that, I think a family would be nice and a successful career and allows me to continue to challenge myself and grow.   I'd also like to have enough money that I can travel a lot and take long vacations on the beach.  Is that too much to ask??

 

Originally posted on joydtaylor.vox.com

Hopefully flat shoes, comfortable jeans and cute dresses :)  My prediction for men however is that ties will be no more.

I spent the 4th of July week in Minnesota visiting my family.  I have to say, I think this might be the first time since I moved to San Francisco that I went home and was able to not work and not feel over-extended with personal obligations.  It was fun, relaxing and fulfilling.  Hooray!

Here are some photos from the trip.

 

 

 

So the first photos is the cabin, next two are my fabulous nephew Reece and the last is the first family photo I think we've taken since I was 15 years old (from left to right - dad, mom, sister (Kelly), me, and brother (Rod)).

Originally posted on joydtaylor.vox.com

I am home in Minnesota this week and had a lovely baby shower for my friend Carrie (one in black in the middle).  Since it is sadly becoming less and less frequent that we are all together at the same time, we thought we'd use this opportunity to take a nice group photo.  I've got fabulously beautiful friends, don't I?

Originally posted on joydtaylor.vox.com

What is the most valuable lesson your father taught you? Bonus points if you show us your dad.

I'll give my dad credit for this valuable lesson:  Work hard. Play hard.   

Happy Father's Day DAD!!

Originally posted on joydtaylor.vox.com

Who do you tell your secrets to?

Who do I tell my secrets to?  Let's just say, you know who you are :) 

Originally posted on joydtaylor.vox.com

What's the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome within the last 24 hours?
Submitted by ILoveYouMr.Dragon.

Not freaking out about the fact that someone may have stolen my identity.  Yes, good fun indeed.  I'll report back with all of the juicy details once I get back from the Police Station this afternoon - ugh...

Originally posted on joydtaylor.vox.com

Plastic water bottles.  I have friends that by cases every week.  Tap water is fine, refill your bottles people!

Maybe they haven't had enough practice?  And, they are probably more easily distracted.  So maybe they need to have more hours behind the wheel before they can get their license?

I don't think changing the driving age is the answer.  A driver's license should be given on a case by case basis.  There are people old and young that are poor drivers.  Teenagers shouldn't be punished just because some of their peers are irresponsible.

Um yes.  If it's not working, fix it.

Don't create an environment where people can spend beyond their means.

My friend Noel and I went to visit my friend Tammy and her family in Washington D.C. last weekend.  I posted a few mobile pics before but here are a few others.  We had so much fun.  Here are the highlights.

1. Tammy's husband works for the government so he got us a tour of the White House and we saw Michelle Obama and Sasha playing with Bo.  Michelle even picked up her own doggy poop!
2. Tammy, Noel and I sang some bad ass karaoke which included "December 1963"
3. We got to see all of the memorials which were way bigger and far cooler than I had expected:  Washtington Memorial, WWII Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial.
4. Visted the Holocaust Museum which was extremely sad and really intense but really amazing
5. Had a yummy home-cooked meal made by Miss Tammy (jalapeno chicken, cobb salad and a baked potato)
6. Became BFFs with Tammy's middle child Maty who insisted on wearing my sunglasses all weekend so she could look like a movie star :)
7. Spending quality time with Noel and Tammy which I haven't had the opportunity to do for a very long time.  I miss you girls already!

 

 

 

Originally posted on joydtaylor.vox.com

Here are my top Workaday Tips for April from my TypePad blog.  Enjoy!!

http://workadaysuperstar.com/2009/04/top-10-workaday-tips-409.html

 

Originally posted on joydtaylor.vox.com

How could you better “green” your life? What’s holding you back?
Sponsored by One Million Acts of Green brought to you by Cisco..

• Use less plastic.  I hate cooking and I work late so as a result, I order a lot of take out.   Good news is that many of the restaurants in SF have replaces their plastic "to go" containers with recyclable ones.  I also say "no" to the plastic forks and spoons.
• Take shorter showers.   I take really long showers. It's relaxing, I'm tired and it feels impossible to hurry up.  Not sure I'll be able to do anything about this one.
• Travel less.  I know planes have a REALLY BIG carbon footprint and I take a lot of them.  I live apart from my family and many of my friends and I love to travel so again, tough one to conquer.

On a positive note, I do have a hybrid car, I bring my own coffee cup and water bottle to work (most of the time), I recycle whatever I can and I bring my own bags to the grocery store. 

Anyone got other ideas on what I could do to be green?  I am all ears!

Originally posted on joydtaylor.vox.com

What is your biggest ecological or environmental concern? What are you doing to make a difference?
Sponsored by One Million Acts of Green brought to you by Cisco.

Global Warming

Originally posted on joydtaylor.vox.com

What three things do you regret not learning to do?

Ooh!  This is a good one.  So I am going to have to make this 5 things.

1. Downhill ski
2. Swimming well
3. Telling people what I really want
4. Saying no
5. Make risky decisions

Originally posted on joydtaylor.vox.com

The best part?  Being able to re-invent myself without my past defining who I am in the future.  The worst part?  Being alone, without friends and family to count on.

I try to financially support all of the causes that matter to my loved ones.  I wish I set aside more of my time to help others. 

Getting healthy. When I lost my job during the first dot com bust I had time to reflect and decided it was time to start taking care of myself. I quit smoking, started eating right and working out (running). I never looked back and I am definitely better for it.