Recently I have discovered it's often easier for me to do something every day than to do it just some days. I post to my blog six days a week. I take notes every day. I write in my one-sentence journal every day. Many people have told me that they find it easier to exercise when they exercise every day. If I try to do something just four days a week, I spend a lot of time arguing with myself: Is today the day, or is it tomorrow, or the next day? Does the week start on Sunday or Monday?

   If you do something every day, you tend to fall into a routine. Routine has a bad reputation for lacking excitement. It's true that novelty and challenge bring happiness and that people who break their rontines, try new things, and go to new places are happier, but I think that some routine activities also bring happiness. The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn't be overlooked. By repeating, you can find happiness in activities like doing dishes or sweeping the floor as well as in your beloved morning coffee-and-news routines.

   Two geniuses whom I know of also wrote about the power of doing something every day. Andy Warhol wrote, “Either once only, or every day. If you do something once it's exciting, and if you do it every day it's exciting. But if you do it, say, twice or just almost every day, it's not good any more.” Gertrude Stein made a similar point, “Anything one does every day is important and anywhere one lives is interesting and beautiful.”

   So if there's something that you wish you did more regularly, try doing it every day; if you do something every day, take great pleasure in it.

   We spent a day in the country, picking wild flowers. With the car full of flowers we were going home. On our way back my wife noticed a cupboard (橱柜) outside a furniture shop. It was tall and narrow. "Buy it," my wife said at once. "We'll carry it home on the roof rack. I've always wanted one like that. "

   What could I do? Ten minutes later I was￡20 poorer; and the cupboard was tied on the roof rack. It was six feet long and eighteen inches square, quite heavy too.

   In the gathering darkness I drove slowly. Other drivers seemed unusually polite that evening. The police even stopped traffic to let us through. Carrying furniture was a good idea.

   After a time my wife said, "There's a long line of cars behind．Why don't they overtake, I wonder?" In fact a police car did overtake. The two officers inside looked at us seriously as they passed. But then, with great kindness, they led us through the rush-hour traffic. The police car stopped at our village church. One of the officers came to me.

   "Right, sir," he said. "Do you need any more help?"

   I was a bit puzzled. "Thanks, officer," I said. "You have been very kind. My house is just near here. "

   He was staring at our car, first at the flowers, then at the cupboard. "Well, well," he said, laughing. "It's a cupboard you've got there! We thought it was something else. "

   My wife began to laugh. The truth hit me like a stone between the eyes. I smiled at the officer. "Yes, it's a cupboard, but thanks again. " I drove home as fast as I could.

Let us look at five excellent places to shop as follows.

Austin

“Keep Austin Weird” is the slogan of the city, so treat yourself at the host of vintage (古老的) stores when you are in Austin. The Texas capital also is home to many independent shops, which specialize in meeting the various needs of shopping lovers. If you are looking for an authentic (真正的) Texas style shopping, then do visit Allen boots and add those pairs of authentic cowboy boots to your collections.

Hong Kong

We all know thatHong Kongsurvives on international trade and therefore for a shopper this place is like a paradise.Hong Kongis mainly known for its street shopping, and don’t forget to bargain. We assure that you are bound to get a suitcase full of stuff. For electronic lovers,Hong Kongis a good place to shop.

Tokyo

Take some time off and visit Tokyo. The Shinjuku neighborhood is one of the city’s most famous shopping districts and will blow your mind with the options it provides. Skyscrapers, malls, and electronic large stores are all at your service.

Moscow

You might find the name of this city as a surprise on this list, but Russia’s capital is actually a fashion place that many people hope to visit as it is host to expensive boutiques (精品店). Right from bright to attractive, a shopper can find everything under one roof in Moscow to suit their personality. For a person who is fond of Soviet vintage and haute couture (高级定制服), you can have a list of options to choose from.

London

The Oxford Street in London is a popular shopping destination, spread across one arid a half miles with some top brands like Selfridges and Topshop. North London’s Camden market is another popular place where you can find something unique.

Norman Cousins was a businessman from the United States who often traveled around the world on business. He enjoyed his work and traveling. But now，Mr. Cousins got sick. Because he had pushed his body to the limit of its strength on the trip, a chemical change began to take place inside him. The material between his bones became weak. In less than one week after his return, he could not stand. Every move that he made was painful. He was not able to sleep at night.

The doctors told him that they did not know how to cure Mr. Cousins’ problem and he might never get over the illness. However, Mr. Cousins refused to give up hope. He thought that unhappy thoughts were causing bad chemical changes in his body. He didn’t want to take medicine to cure himself. Instead, he felt that happy thoughts or laughter might cure his illness.

He began to experiment on himself while still in the hospital by watching funny shows on television. Mr. Cousins quickly found that 10 minutes of real laughter during the day gave him two hours of pain-free sleep at night. After that Mr. Cousins left the hospital and checked into a hotel room where he could continue his experiments with laughter. For eight days, Mr. Cousins rested in the hotel room watching funny shows on television, reading funny books, and sleeping whenever he felt tired. Within three weeks, he felt well enough to take a vacation to Puerto Rico where he began running on the beach for exercise.

After a few months, Mr. Cousins returned to work. He had laughed himself back to health.

I was never very neat, while my roomate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled(贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.

War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming,“Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.

The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled(爬)under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.

   Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Kate had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

I always feel sorry for world leaders busy dealing with fights between nations. When my three children were young, most days it was hardto keep my house from becoming a battlefield.

      It got worse as they grew older. Three years ago, Zack, then 16, couldn’t make it through a day without making his sisters, Alex 11 and Taryn 9, angry.

      My husband and I tried to be understanding the boy at such an age. We reasoned, punished, and left heartfelt notes on his bed about how he was hurting our family. His answer was “I say it because it’s true.”

      I even tried telling the girls to fight back. Bad idea. Now I had three children at war. Whatever I said to them, they paid no attention. When there was no way out, I told everything to my sister, Mary, in an e-mail. She replied, “Don’t e-mail me. E-mail him.”

      Our son was online every day, mailing and talking with his friends. Maybe he would actually hear me this way. I didn’t say anything different, but e-mail just took the tension away. There’d be no shouting or door banging. Zack wouldn’t feel under attack.

      Zack didn’t reply for days. When he finally did, his entire message was four small words. I smiled when I read them: “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

      The children still fought, of course, but Zack changed. Best of all, I now have a better way to talk with not one but three of them. I like it that they don’t tune me out as much as they used to. They like not having to listen to me shouting to them. Or as Alex says, “You’re so much nicer online.”

      All I know is that the house is quiet. But we’re talking.

On April Fools’ Day 2016, at 7:10 am, the day before I was to be married, the telephone rang. It was our friend, Brad. “You’re not going to believe this,” he said, “but there are twenty-foot flames coming from Magic Moments Bridal Shop.” Neither my fiancé (未婚夫) Aaron nor I believed a word he was saying. We tuned in to the local radio station and heard the news ourselves. After months of looking for the “perfect dress”, the one I found was now in flames.

   The telephone rang again, and we were afraid to answer. It was The Bridal Boutique, the other bridal shop in town. A dear friend had informed them of our dilemma. They offered to let me come into their shop and pick out different dresses. Moments later, my mother and mother-in-law Shirley were at the door offering to help. One phone call after another, family and friends called to offer their services, wedding dresses, money, and sympathy. With all the offers to help, I began to believe that the wedding could actually go on.

In the midst of the commotion (混乱), I recalled that I had tried on the exact same wedding dress months earlier at Thelma’s Bridal, an hour’s drive from home. I called Thelma’s Bridal. I said, “I am supposed to get married tomorrow, and my wedding dress went up in flames this morning.” I Immediately, I had the salesperson’s sympathy. She found the dress I described and agreed to sell off the rack (现成的) — something they don’t typically do.

My mom drove for two hours and picked up the dress from Thelma’s Bridal. We brought it to The Bridal Boutique where its owners and my mother-in-law had gathered. They were cheerfully cutting apart and re-sewing the dress. It was an incredible and heartwarming sight to see everyone working together to make our wedding day a reality.

As I lay in bed that night, I reflected on the unbelievable day. The big day arrived, and what a wonderful day it was! I had the “perfect dress” and the fairy-tale wedding I had envisioned. Actually, the wedding was more memorable because of the many hands and hearts that helped to make it possible.

Field Trip Day

   On Friday, May 16, our class will take a field trip to North Park Zoo. The zoo has lions, elephants, and other interesting animals. Many of the animals we have been studying will be there for us to closely examine.

   Our class will be divided into six teams. Each team will have five students and one leader. The leaders are listed in the table.

   What You Need to Know

   The cost is $1.00 for students to enter the zoo. We will leave the school at 9:00 a.m. and return at 2:30 p.m.

   On the morning of the trip, the students will be divided into teams. One student from each team will receive a camera. The cameraman will take pictures of the team, the animals, and other fun sights at the zoo.

   All members should wear blue shirts. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes because we will be walking all day. Please bring a bag lunch and a drink. We will have a picnic at the park inside the zoo. Bring a healthy snack, such as a piece of fruit and a drink, for later in the day.

   When we are at the zoo, always remain with your team. Do not leave the team without asking permission from the team leader.

   Feeding the Animals

   The ONLY animals that students are allowed to feed are those in the children’s Zoo. Special food can be bought at the zoo for 25 cents and given to these animals. Do not feed your lunch to them. It is not food for the animals.

Sydney has a huge bus system. No buses accept cash, and a ticket needs to be bought ahead of time. The buses often run at busy hours and regularly during the day. The Sydney Explorer bus provides air-conditioned service and stops at 27 tourist attractions. Its partner, the Bondi Explorer, stops at 19 attractions. Tickets allow holders to jump on and off as they please, and they are valid（有效的）for one or two days. It’s an easy way to see the city and the surroundings.

Sydney’s train service runs throughout（遍及）the central city area and the surroundings. Tickets can be bought from machines that operate 24 hours a day or from ticket offices. The monorail（单轨铁路）travels through central Sydney. It is the most excellent way to gain a good view of the whole city. The monorail runs every three to five minutes, and it takes 15 minutes to complete its journey.

Sydney is built around a harbour, and the Parramatta River has a large ferry（渡轮）system. It serves the area around the harbour. These include Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbor, Rose Bay, the North Shore, Cockatoo Island and Sydney Olympic Park. The ferries have operated for more than 135 years and 14 million passengers take the ferries each year.

Water taxis can transport passengers to specific locations, and offer guided tours of waterways. They also offer special services that some visitors may enjoy. The tickets sell for 20 Australian dollars for a day or 57 Australian dollars for a week. It is strange, isn’t it?

It may seem like a bit of a challenge to organize a teenagers’ party, but it is surely not impossible. With proper planning and preparation（准备）, organizing a teen party can be a cake walk! So, just explore the ideas and have a lot of fun.

Teen Party Invitations

Teens really need not find a reason or an occasion to party. For them, any time is party time! It is one of the most important phases of life, when teenagers leave their baggage of fairytales and child plays and enter a new phase of life. So, a party would surely serve as the best way to make merry and enjoy to the fullest.____________________

Have you been invited for a teen party? If yes, then it’s time to search for teenage party clothes! Teen, these days, have a very varied choice and taste of clothes. The best part is that even the simplest of teen party dress can look extremely stylish when you wear it properly.

Teen Party Favors

A party can be made memorable forever by giving out party favors. Giving out party favors is the best way to end your party on a joyful note. After all, how many times do you get to see that look of respect in your friends’ faces!

Teen Party Games

Teenagers get bored very easily and need something to keep them engaged. In order to make your party lively and keep everyone entertained, you have to plan some teenage fun party games. These are many such games that can be played both indoors and outdoors that are sure to be a hit with your young guests.