British Bulldog Puppies on a Park Bench, 1994 Framed Photographic Print
(Mirrorpix)
Buy at AllPosters.com

I read an article a while back about how closely related happiness and health were.  Somewhere between extoling the virtues of a happy marriage (which I completely agree with) and extoling the virtues of saving money (which I completely ignored), the author said something really interesting.  He/She (I guess I ignored the name, too) said that we should fill our homes with things that make us happy. 

I glanced around and realized that I’ve certainly done that.  Animals are one of the rare things that I love as much as coffee, so there are animal-themed goodies here, there and everywhere.  I’m also all kinds of wild about movies and the golden age of Hollywood, so there are Audrey Hepburn, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe Prints on the walls as well as I Love Lucy memorabilia. 

Every member of my family loves books, so there are countless (filled) bookshelves as well.  Agatha Christie even has her own shelf.  She rubs that in Grisham’s face from time to time. 

Basically, our home is filled with things that make us smile, so it’s a fun place to be.  The same mindset should be adopted in one’s office, whether it’s a home office or not.  Just because work has to be done within the walls shouldn’t mean that the office can’t have some life and personality.  Bonus points if you cause it to mirror your own personality.

Putting a little creativity into your decorating will put a little more happiness into your world - even your work world. Take for example the print at the top of this post. It makes me smile every time I look at it. I’m flipping mad about bulldogs, anyway. In fact, we have an invisible one named Duchess. It’s the only kind of dog our cats will allow us to have. And even then she’s only allowed in certain rooms.

Click through the Bulldog Puppies to see other bulldog prints. There are countless other categories as well, of course. Just keep browsing until you see something that makes you smile. Then, find a spot for it in your office and make a date with future smiles!

Pretty, Pretty, Pretty. This beautiful burgundy executive chair screams class, originality, and comfort.  
 
The Burgundy Executive Chair would be perfect for anyone, of course, but it has a particular fondness for men and women who have more to offer than the average person.

Designed for the big and tall person, this chair offers a 500 pound capacity.  It features a swivel seat with pneumatic height adjustment, tilt lock and tilt tension on a five-star oversized base with dual hooded casters for added stability.

The Burgundy Executive Chair stands out in a crowd and looks all kinds of classy.  Just like the person who calls it home for 40 hours a week.

Click the link below for a video featuring a trainer that’ll get you in tip top office shape fast.

http://www.webmd.com/video/exercise-at-your-desk-overview

Hmmmm.  I’ve been feeling a little run down and haggard lately - I’ve been blaming it on seasonal allergies.  But as I was preparing this post, it hit me - I haven’t been inside of a STAPLES in over a week. I’ve been as busy as the Hogan’s lawyers, though.  Fool!  I know the dangers of not getting my regular STAPLES fix.  Eh, I’ll remedy that easily enough this afternoon.

1.  Get a McDonald’s Kunk Fu Panda happy meal. (LOVED this movie! I AM Tigress - you can be whomever you want to be, but dibs on Tigress. When it hits DVD, I’ll be first in line.)

2.  Pull into my STAPLES parking space, go in, answer to the questions of “Where have you been?”

3.  Shop. Shop. Shop.

As you know, ather’s-Fa  ay-Day is coming up and STAPLES is a great place for one Office Freak to shop for another and for baby freaks to shop for daddy freaks.

If you don’t have a STAPLES near you or if you’re one of those people who prefer to shop from home (that’s cool, too) - you’ll want very much to check out Staples Office Supplies online.  They’re smack in the middle of a killer sale for dads and grads.  The sale ends on the 14th, though, so you’ll need to shake a leg.

You’ll find savings on:

• Mp3 Players - you can save up to 30 percent
• SmartParts 7 inch Digital Frames are an sale for $39.00 - they’re regularly closer to $50.00
• You can save $200 on a Navigon 2100 Portable GPS!
• You can save $200 on Dell Inspiron 1420 Notebook PC’s
• Handsome chairs are on sale - marked down between $20 and $40
• Jabra Bluetooth headsets are marked way down. The Jabra BT2010 is down to $19.99! That’s a 50 percent savings.
• Monitors and Notebook PC’s are also on sale.

Of course, just because Dads and Grads are in the spotlight doesn’t mean you can’t do a little shopping for YOU.  After all, you were once a grad, right?  And you either are a dad, had a dad, or know a dad.  Hey!  This is your month!  Celebrate! Grab a happy meal, buy some STAPLES goodies, and see Kung Fu Panda. 

If you’re as into ”getting personal” as I am, you’re going to love these products from Personilization Mall.com.  Personilization …or getting personal… is their thang.

The “Shopping List” Ruled Notepads, on the left, are pretty cute - they’d be a good way to make sure you get credit for the “dos” on your to do list.  Then again, if they’re undone, you get the credit for that, too.

 The Initial Impressions Silver Post-It Holder is another one of the products they have geared toward offices and the freaks that inhabit them.  It holds the post it notes you see in every store as well as the personalized ones on the site, itself.  They’re pretty snazzy, I must say.

From the Website:
Our Initial Impressions Silver Post-It Holder is a premium choice for both personal and professional use.

Our stylish holder not only helps you maintain an organized desk, but it also makes an impressive, personal statement. 

The Post-it Holder measures 4″ square and weighs approximately 12 ozs.

We custom engrave your 2 or 3 initial monogram at the top for a lasting impression.

A single post-it note pad is included with the engraved holder, as shown. 
Will hold any 3″ x 3″ note pad. 

A truly great selection for graduates, colleagues, clients or of course yourself!

Add our personalized post-it notes or engraved silver pen for an impressive gift combination.  Sold separately below.

I have a complete obsession with pens, so I was an easy target for the Pinnacle Executive Roller-ball Pen (<—).   Not only is it a proverbial shiny object that we all love, whether we admit it or not, it’s classy.  And we office dwellers are nothing if not classy, right?

Click through using any link or image in the post to see everything else they’d be willing to let you buy.  Seriously, they have some really sweet things - from mousepads, desk sets, executive gifts, and coffee mugs to pillows, clothes, luggage, frames, and letter openers.

Next time you need a gift for a co-worker, this is the place to go. 

I have no idea where this originated or what brilliantly twisted mind actually wrote it.  When it came in my e-mail, it made me smile and I thought it’d do the same for you.  And you… And you… And you….

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road:

BARACK OBAMA:
The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a CHANGE! The chicken wanted CHANGE!

JOHN MC CAIN:
My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road

HILLARY CLINTON:
When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure — right from Day One! — that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn’t about me…….

DR. PHIL:
The problem we have here is that this chicken won’t realize that he must first deal with the problem on ‘THIS’ side of the road before it goes after the problem on the ‘OTHER SIDE’ of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he’s acting by not taking on his ‘CURRENT’problems before adding ‘NEW’ problems.

OPRAH:
Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I’m going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

GEORGE W. BUSH:
We don’t really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

COLIN POWELL:
Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road…

ANDERSON COOPER - CNN:
We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

JOHN KERRY:
Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken’s intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

NANCY GRACE:
That chicken crossed the road because he’s GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN:
To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

DR SEUSS:
Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I’ve not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY:
To die in the rain. Alone.

BARBARA WALTERS:
Isn’t that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE:
It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

BILL GATES:
I have just released eChicken2008, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet Explorer is an integral part of the Chicken. This new platform is much more stable and will never cra…#@&&^(C% ………
reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN:
Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

BILL CLINTON:
I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE:
I invented the chicken!

COLONEL SANDERS:
Did I miss one?

DICK CHENEY:
Where’s my gun?

I’m feeling all kinds of ritzy and glamorous today.  What can I say, Fridays bring out my inner diva, so how about high-assin’ down the road with me?

I know I’d be quite the big shot surrounded by the furniture in the Office Furniture DMI - Windemere Executive Office Furniture / Home Office Furniture Package #1  (Lookit, even it’s link is high brow.)  With my favorite cleaner (Murphy’s Oil Soap), It’d smell as good as it looked. And would it ever shine?! 

This is absolutely gorgeous and I’m way past smitten.

From the Website:

Features:

*  Constructed of wood and cherry wood veneers, featuring solid wood bases with leather strapping on columns
*  Tops are cherry veneer with ash burl veneer borders
*  All drawers are suspended on metal, ball-bearing, full extension slides
*  File drawers accept letter or legal sized hanging files
*  All desks, credenzas and file cabinets have adjustable levelers

Executive Desk Features:

*  Drop-front, pull-out keyboard drawer with a removable pencil tray
*  Box / box / file drawer per pedestal
*  Side located lock operates middle box and file drawer
*  Middle box features removable dividers
*  Top box drawer is felt-lined with a wood pencil tray
*  Fully extending file drawers
*  One touch power manager
*  Dimensions: 72″(W) x 36″(D) x 30″(H)

Credenza Features:

*  Right pedestal features a pull-out writing board, felt-lined box drawer with wood pencil tray, and ventilated CPU compartment with 3 media storage drawers
*  Left pedestal features a pull-out writing board, felt-lined box drawer with wood pencil tray, and printer cabinet with 2 pull-out shelves
*  Dimensions: 70″(W) x 24″(D) x 30″(H)

Hutch Features:

*  Canister lighting
*  Center fixed shelf
*  Center adjustable glass shelf
*  Two cabinets, each with an adjustable shelf
*  Task light
*  Dimensions: 72″(W) x 16″(D) x 50″(H)

Bookcase Features:

*  Two cabinets, each with an adjustable shelf
*  Four wood framed, adjustable glass shelves
*  Two canister lights
*  Dimensions: 60″(W) x 16 3/4″(D) x 82″(H)

Finish:  Manor House Cherry

I just took a look around my home office and envisioned how it’d look all pimped out in the Office Furniture DMI - Windemere Executive Office Furniture / Home Office Furniture Package #1  - Niiiiiice.

Yesterday was Earth Day, but due to a vehicle that got pissy, I didn’t get to my computer top put up this particular post. My lovely Dodge Caravan has thrown some amazing things at me over the years - a transmission that had to be replaced, a window that forgot how to go back up, tires that did the Sean Connery (balded), and other little glitches that I can’t even begin to identify.

This time it caught me off guard, though. My youngest daughter and I came out of Kroger (our grocery store and home away from home - it even has a Starbucks inside). We put our groceries in the back and ourselves in the front. She gets her Mayday Parade cd ready to throw in, I put the key in the ignition and….and… And nothing. The key won’t turn. My mini-me is like, “Are you kidding???” and reaches over to try (after all, Mom must be doing it wrong, right? There are so many different ways to turn a key…).

We’re stuck. One call to the husand and countless minutes later the wrecker hauls my darling off - the Caravan, not the Mayday Parade fan or my knight in khakis…

Anyway, here’s the link I would have posted about yesterday if yesterday hadn’t been in such a nasty mood: It’s Easy Being Green: Five Ways to Go Green in 2008 deals with how you can, and should, get your green on at the office. Great stuff!

Green is the New Black, and Yellow, and Red, and Blue… is a post on one of my other blogs - one that I did pre-Kroger yesterday.

Like a lot of people, I’ve been trying to drink more water lately. I figure that if every expert known to mankind recommends it, there must be something to the madness. I bought bottled water for a long time, so I could take a bottle with me wherever my day took me. But that $tuff adds up fast.

I work from home, so it’s not a big deal for me to trapse into the kitchen and grab a glass of water when the mood hits me (usually somewhere between coffee mug #3 and iced green tea #2). For people who aren’t near their kitchen during the day, there are other options. Like the handsome Avanti Tabletop Water Cooler, above.

From the Manufacturer:

There’s no better break during a long work day than a nice stroll to the watercooler, and even the smallest workspace or home office can fit this mighty mouse! The Avanti Tabletop Thermoelectric Water Cooler/Heater WD31EC offers separate push button faucets for refreshing cold drinking water or piping hot water for coffee, cocoa, and instant soup. Constructed of lightweight and durable ABS thermoplastic, the WD31EC uses compressor-free thermoelectric technology for quiet and cost-efficient cooling. Plus, it’s designed to save extra energy, offering separate on/off power switches for hot and cold water operations and a choice of normal and energy saver modes.

Key features include: full LED display for all functions; built-in cup storage compartment; convenient drain plugs for both hot and cold reservoirs; child safety guard on hot faucet; and uses standard 2, 3, or 5 gallon bottles (not included). The Avanti Tabletop Thermoelectric Water Cooler/Heater WD31EC allows cold or hot water to be dispensed wherever refreshment is needed, whether in the home or office…. or in the home office.

I love… I totally love… Survivor. This season’s no exception, and I’m already geared up for tonight’s episode. I think James might just take it all - maybe Ozzy.

If you’re as into the show as I am, you’ll love the Survivor Limited Edition Apple iPod Touch, above. It’s from the CBS Store and it’s one hot little devil.

From the Website:

The ultimate Survivor collectable. This revolutionary multi-touch interface allows you to flick through album covers and find your music. Download and watch your favorite movies and TV shows as well as tap into thousands of photos. The Survivor iPod Touch is custom laser etched with officially licensed artwork, each is numbered and only 2000 are available in this exclusive limited series. Personalize your collectable Survivor iPod by adding your name (up to 30 characters) for security and self expression.

Official “Survivor” gear from CBS. Shop now!

The Website also has Survivor mugs, bandanas, buffs, tees, a shark key chain, hot dog tag necklaces, and a lot more. They also feature other shows, too, of course - including CSI, The Amazing Race (!!!), Ghost Whisperer, Everybody Loves Raymond, Big Brother, Criminal Minds, 60 Minutes, daytime shows, Letterman, King of Queens….

Click through the link above or the snappy little banner below to check it all out.