Things I Love Thursday, October 7th
The air is getting colder, the A/C units are being packed away, and people are consuming pumpkin flavored anything at an alarming rate. You guessed it, it’s October. Not only is it October, it’s also Thursday. Which means it is the October 7th edition of Things I Love Thursday! It’s been another fun filled week full of things that I love, so let’s just jump right in!
Bank of American Fraud Protection: While I use ING Direct as my main bank (and I swear by them and recommend them to everyone), I still have a Bank of America account as a backup. I mainly use this to pay my rent (all my housemates also have Bank of America, so they’re able to just transfer me the funds every month and I just use bill pay to write the landlord one check for all of us). It’s also a great way to transfer funds to and from my parent’s bank accounts, since they use Bank of America as well. Needless to say, I don’t really check that bank account very often (usually once a month, around rent time). So when/if any fraud happens, I’m not as on top of it as I really should be. That being said, Bank of America totally had my back this week. There were two suspicious charges on my account, and Bank of America immediately put a hold to new charges on my account, sent me an email, and called me. Turns out these charges were fraud, so they simply turned off my card and helped me refute the charges. All I had to do was walk down to an actual Bank of America branch, and I left with a temporary debit card within ten minutes. Super easy, and barely any inconvenience. I know they’re not REALLY being completely benevolent (after all, they’re protecting their own money, since I wouldn’t be responsible for ANY fraudulent charges) but it’s still great that they’re on top of the ball so I don’t have to worry about it.
Tumblr: Tumblr is possibly one of my favorite web services, ever, and it’s surprising to me that it’s not more popular than it is. I should probably do an article here breaking down Tumblr usage, but that’s for another day. But in a nutshell, it’s everything that a journaling community should be. When you join Tumblr, it’s might be slow going at first (which is possibly why many people get discouraged), but once you find the right people to follow and start getting involved, it’s not only entertaining but rewarding as well! I can spend hours on that site, browsing through people’s pages, looking at pictures, liking things, and reblogging the best of the best. Much like a video mix tape (think: Retard-O-Tron or TV Carnage) prides itself in using footage no one has ever seen before, Tumblr is the same way. I’ve seen pictures on Tumblr that I’ve never seen anywhere else on the web, and I’m pretty prolific on the web. The main reason Tumblr made my list this week is because it was the first time a picture that I posted got pretty popular and was reblogged a lot. It was way more rewarding than I thought it would be, and still makes me smile. Again, I would not argue that Tumblr is a web service for everyone, but definitely brings a lot of joy into my daily life.
Focus Groups: This week I participated in a focus group for BuyWithMe (one of those Daily Deal websites that are popping up everywhere these days). Not exactly sure why I was chosen to get the email invitation to the focus group, but I responded and got in! $50 for an hour and a half of work, plus a discount code for 10% any BuyWithMe deal until October 15th (which you can use too! Enter “focusgroup” during checkout!). I love giving constructive criticism for stuff like that. Not only because I feel like I have really good input to share, but because I’d love to start a small business someday. Getting involved and catching a quick glance of what goes on behind the scenes is always fascinating to me. I mean, it’s one thing to read about these companies in Entrepreneur Magazine and such, but it’s a whole different experience to walk through their offices. And an even better experience to walk out of said offices with a $50 check! Oh, and if you do decide to join the site, for free, please do so through one of my links. I’ll get $10 if you end up buying something someday (totally shameless)!
Desktop Connect: Desktop Connect is an application for the iPad that I rarely use, but is absolutely amazing when I do. Basically, it allows me to connect to my home laptop from anywhere. I can see my computer’s screen on my iPad, and control everything. This week, it came in handy when I needed to find a photograph that was residing somewhere on my home computer. I was able to whip out my iPad, open desktop connect, and I suddenly had full access to find the picture. I simply opened Picasa (if you’re not using Picasa, what’s wrong with you?) and found it was limited levels of difficulty. From there, I just emailed the file to myself. Super easy. It’s also great if I’m ever in the mood to, say, watch a specific movie that night, but don’t actually have the movie. I can just on my iPad, open desktop connect, and set up the file to download and it will be ready by the time I get home. Like I said, I don’t use it all the time, but you’d be surprised how handy it can be to have your home computer at your fingertips if you ever need it.
Memory Foam: I don’t care if it’s gimmicky, overpriced, unnecessary, or any other adjectives you can throw at memory foam. That stuff is awesome. I converted to a memory foam pillow around six years ago and will never buy anything else. It did take a little while to get used to (a week at most) but that transition time was totally worth every second that followed. The pillow just plain feels better than any traditional pillow. In addition to a memory foam pillow, I’m also all about the memory foam mattress topper. I’ve had one on every bed I’ve owned since college. Totally worth the extra money. The level of comfort just increases exponentially once you throw one of those memory toppers on your bed. Even when I spent almost three years sleeping on a twin sized mattress on the floor, that mattress still had a memory foam mattress topper and a memory foam pillow. Comfort is everything, and you can’t beat a good night’s sleep.
The Rest: Amazon’s Kindle, valerian-mint tea, stickers, over used fonts, drinking coffee again. ranch dressing, rearranging my room, acting domestic, deep cleaning, Swedish Meatballs, dust busters, startups, Wine Insiders, feeling important, feeling connected to my city, soup, fall, October, hoodies, undershirts, Pop Tarts, free food, Penn and Teller’s Bullshit, going to bed early, UNO, Air Mouse, sharing chicken with the cats, being reblogged, open windows, candles, incense, Nag Champa, Ugly Dolls, following ridiculous people on Twitter, honey, peanut butter, Things I Love Thursday.
Twitterrific for the Mac: On both my iPhone and my iPad, I use the official Twitter application to access Twitter. But on my home computer, I use 
The iPad: I know, I know, many people roll their eyes when they even hear the mention of an iPad. And other people ask, “does Apple pay you?” whenever I talk about mine. But screw it. I love my iPad. It’s absolutely no surprise to me that the iPad has one of the 
Kleenex with Lotion: No, this is not a masturbation joke (masturbation joke are just so cheap, aren’t they?). This is really an entry in praise of the proper use of tissues! Kleenex with lotion might just be the best thing ever. This week I found myself with a bit of a runny nose, and I headed off to the grocery store to grab some tissues (all I had were paper towels). I opted to pay the extra $0.60 to get the kleenex with lotion, and I’m so glad that I did! One of the worst parts about having a runny nose is how your nose just aches and burns after a few hours of steady blowing. The chaffing is just unbearable, and eventually you just give up blowing your nose in favor of stuffing paper in your nostrils and just giving up. But not with this new kleenex with lotion! This stuff is great! I’m all about the little luxuries, and this is definitely one worth indulging.
Showers in Manhattan: One of my hesitations when making the decision to start biking into the city was needing a place to shower once I arrived. After an eight mile bike right, you’re not exactly at your optimum freshness. Luckily, my friend Leah jumped in to save the day with a FREE MONTH to 
Having a Clean Room: I usually don’t get my bedroom get too messy (nothing that can’t be straightened enough for company in about 20 – 30 minutes), but, for some reason, my room collects dust like none other! I usually put off dusting way too long, but when I do get around to thoroughly cleaning and dusting, it feels so damn good. This past Monday was my day off this week, and I decided to do some much needed spring cleaning. I woke up early, straightened the top of my desk, shelving unit, and coffee table. Then I sweeped my entire room, vacuumed, then swiffered. Then I took a swiffer pad and dusted every counter top and every ledge in the room. I then took a pet hair remover brush and de-cat-haired by bed and by couch, and sprayed allergen removing fabreeze on every fabric surface in my room. After finishing this last touch, I headed into Manhattan to run some errands, and when I came back the room just felt so good. You just feel better about life with a clean room. Every thing you do just brings a higher level of satisfaction. Even sitting back and watching some TV is more relaxing after you’ve cleaned. And only took me about three hours, which is not bad at all. Totally worth it.
Water: I absolutely love water. It’s not because I’m on a health kick, and I don’t constantly strive to consume my recommended amount of water each day. Hell, I don’t pay attention to any of that. All I know is that given the choice between water and any other drink, I’ll most likely choose water. I mean, sometimes I’ll be in the mood for a soda, fruit juice, or even a glass of wine. But most of the time I’ll just crave a tall glass of water. In terms of bottled water, I’m a SmartWater person. Not quite sure why, or what it is, but I rarely buy any other brand. That being said, I usually just reuse my old water bottles by filling them up with Manhattan tap water. Which works out perfectly, because New York City has some of the best tap water in the country. Seriously. It tastes as good, if not better, than most bottled water you’ll buy in a store. And there’s an endless supply, and it’s FREE. It makes saying “water is fine” in a restaurant all that much better, because the water tastes amazing. I guess I am just passionately in love with the good ol’ H2O, and I’m not ashamed. And for a water lover, there’s no better place than New York City.
hearts spray pained onto bike lanes, housewarming parties, giving housewarming gifts, discovering that while I’m unexperienced I’m definitely not the worst cyclist on the road, 
My New Chrome Bag: Since getting my bike back last week, I’ve decided to start actually riding my bike! Which means I needed to get all the essentials (helmet, bike lock, bike pump, etc) and the one splurge I allowed myself was a nice biking messenger bag. I decided to go with a 
New York City: I’ve lived in New York State for a little over six years now, and in New York City for around half that time. I still have moments, walking down the street, where I just stop and think, “I live in New York City. Seriously, New York City.” Even after all this time, it’s still surreal to me. I still glance out the window of my train as it’s crossing the Manhattan bridge so I can gaze at the Statue of Liberty. I still get overly excited when I stand on my roof to see the Empire State Building in the distance. I watch shows that are based in New York City or read books or stories based in New York City and relate to them on a whole different level. Hell, I read that recent 
The Rest: Espresso Coffee Soda from Rosa’s, super friendly bikers, buying all my bike gear and being all set to have adventures, Karma Hookah bar, people watching, “The Stepfather” by Chris Adrian, having people I’ve messaged respond to me, Chez stopping by the shop to hang out before she left, biking over the Manhattan Bridge, 
Todd’s birthday cake, Indian food at Milan, beets, random cocktails from my roommate at 3pm on a Tuesday, Angry Birds, Shirley the Sherlock, HBO’s Bored to Death, Kryptonite, coffee, lots of Red Bull, rooftop bars in New York City, faking confidence, wearing a hoodie, Maimonides, Jack Daniels, door curtains, peanut butter Oreos dipped in milk, going clothing shopping with friends, when people comment on things I write.
Being Anonymous: Sure, it’s great to get recognized for all the hard work you do, all the cool ideas you have, and all the things you create. But there is limitless joy to be had from doing things anonymously. And when I refer to being anonymous, I’m not talking about trolling 
French Vanilla Almond Crunch Cereal: Archer Farms (Target’s food brand) makes the absolute best cereal ever. Ever. It’s called 