I started playing.

Hours and hours and hours later, I was hooked. The next day, I played some more (5 hours worth). The next day, the same. The next day...OK the next day I had to go to work (it never got so bad that I skipped work, thank God). Slowly but surely, Geometry Wars and I became friends, lovers if you will. But then something happened. Our relationship grew darker. I began cursing at the shapes coming out of nowhere, began screaming as I died far far too early. I gave up the affair and went back to my old, shapeless, way of living.

And then...Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved!!! Oh no! Now I'm hooked again (and I'm freakin' loving it).

Is this a familiar story? I don't know. There's something about a simple retro game like Geometry Wars that's ridiculously addictive.

I'm no expert, of course, so I decided to look up some strategies. Here are just a couple of links that I found helpful.

-Geometry Wars Tips and Tricks: Has a particularly good description of what to do w/ gravity wells :

-Interview With Top 10 Scorer GibGirl: Old, but has some great tips, from an expert (oh how I admire her)

-Retro Evolved Guide: With links to basic strategies, enemies, and achievements

-YouTube Search for GW: Sometimes the best way to learn is just by watching others play

OK, am I the only one addicted to Geometry Wars? Have any tips for fellow Geometry Warriors?

So what exactly does all of this mean? Read on for more information about CASA and what you can do to become an advocate for children.

About CASA

CASA was established in 1977 when Seattle judge David Soukup expressed concern about making decisions on abused and neglected children's court cases when he didn't have enough information. David thought it would be beneficial to appoint community volunteers to speak on behalf of those children; and it was. He requested volunteers and 50 citizens responded. Since then, CASA has nearly 60,000 advocates and has helped more than 2 million children.

How You Can Help

By becoming an advocate! As an advocate, you work directly one 1 child's case at a time. This is the wonderful thing about a program like CASA. You're not swamped with several cases like lawyers are; you get to focus on 1 case--one child's life. Now for the nitty gritty details:  

1. Search for your local CASA program and contact them directly

2. Complete a 30-hour training course & background check

3. Take on your first case as an advocate. You will be asked to dedicate approximately 10 hours per month. Most cases last about 1 1/2 years.

For more details on the duties of a child advocate, see CASA's Top 10 Commitment List.

10. Homestar Runner

A classic, but a favorite. Homestar Runner features a cast of unique, funny characters. StrongBad email is a Homestar Runner fan favorite.

9. The Darwin Awards

OK, so it's not usually polite to mock the dead...but the Darwin Awards are too good to pass up. The Darwin Awards: "salut[ing] the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who
accidentally remove themselves from it..."

8. EBaumsWorld

From the mild-mannered office joke to the offensive video, EBaum's world is always a good way to waste an afternoon.

7. ComedyCentral

Yeah, we know ComedyCentral is a television station, but we couldn't pass 'em up. Their website features full-length episodes of some of their top shows, including The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

6. The Onion

The Onion is, quite frankly, "America's Finest News Source." And, with their spot-on satire, wit,  and headlines like 'I Am Under 18' Button Clicked For First Time In History Of Internet," they're one of the funniest as well.

5. FunnyorDie

FunnyorDie is YouTube for funny people. Will Ferrell, in particular, is a well known and accomplished Funny-or-Dier.

4. Best of Craigslist

Some sample 'best of' headlines include: "I Will Give You a Kidney for 2 Obama Tickets for Tonight's Speech," "I Will Trade My Sombrero for Your Kayak," and the always popular "My Pubic Hair Epiphany." Oh Craigslist, how we love you.

3. ICanHasCheezBurger

ICanHasCheezburger features lolcats at their finest. It wins the "award" (there isn't really an award) for best funny + cute combination.

2. Stuff White People Like

Features stuff white people like. It's pretty self-explanatory...and hilarious.

1. FailBlog

FailBlog may feature pwnd and fail moments, but it's made of nothing but win.

Is there an LOL site we're forgetting?

Leave a comment and let us know about your favorite funny website.

1. Because You're Poor (Or Just Cheap)

Dumpster diving = perfection for people who want to save money. It's free & fun. It saves you money on groceries and who-knows-what-else-you-find. And it's a great way to begin a new frugal lifestyle. So shred up the credit cards, get rid of the luxuries, and dive on in...

2. Because You're Quirky Like That

Don't get us wrong: we don't don't promote hobbies solely for their trendy/quirky/cool status. But, well, you are quirky and adventurous, aren't you? Isn't that why you're reading NotSoBoringLife in the first place? You love experiencing new things--and trust us, dumpster diving is a new experience at its very finest.

3. Because It's Practical

Not only is it an unusual way to spend a Saturday night (and a great first date experience) but it's also a way to accomplish the oft despised chore of grocery shopping. Practicality at its best!

4. Because The Environment Will Love You

Reduce, reuse, recycle--right? By diving headfirst into the dumpster rather than splurging at the grocery store, you're singlehandedly saving the environment. OK, so that may be an exxageration. But dumpster diving does mean you're consuming items that would otherwise be wasted, so the environment will certainly love you for it.

5. Because It's Actually Not (That) Disgusting

The one problem most people have with dumpster diving is the whole "IckEwwIt'sSoGrossHowCouldYouDoThat? Factor." Well, we're here to tell you that--OK, we have to be honest. It can be a bit gross--but it totally depends. Like restaurants, some dumpsters are nicer than others. Plus, food will often be wrapped up--completely sealed & ready to eat--and may actually be better for you than the food you'd order at some dicey restaurant (who knows what they're doing back there to your brocolli soup). With dumpster diving, you know where it's been.

Are you ready to dive head-first? Stay tuned for our next article on strategies for dumpster diving.

And yet...

Macrame watches, wine hangers, hammocks, and more!

...the crafty divas of the world are finding some pretty snazzy ways to use macramé.

A quick search for macramé on Etsy reveals dozens of homemade bracelets, necklaces, and even a macramé wine hanger.

So what do you think? Is it awful? Against my better judgment, I have to admit that I kind of like it. It's a bit strange, sure, but it's almost that good kind of quirky. The same seller who sells the wine hanger also sells some really nice macramé watches. I particularly like this one.

Of course, that's all about buying macramé products--a great hobby no doubt--but some might say the best part of macramé is learning to make your own stuff. You know...

Making Your Own Macramé Products

Macramé is all about knotting so if you're used to weaving and knitting, you'll need to make a few adjustments. That said, learning to macramé is fairly easy, especially if you're already a crafty person. Of course, making, say, a wine hanger might not be the best project for the first timer (might have a lot of broken bottles). So start of with something simple.

This is the best beginner's guide I could find about making macramé (pictures included!). If you have a better guide, let me know!

And then...there's the macramé hammock.

This site even shows you how to make your own macramé hammock. Of course, this is obviously for an experienced macramé enthusiast NOT a beginner.

So what do you think?

Love it or hate it? Will you be purchasing some macramé jewelry, or making your own? And of course the biggest question...

Will macramé make it onto NotSoBoringLife's list of the top 50 hobbies?

Breathe out.

OK--now how are you feeling? If your answer is still "pretty awful thanks" then you really might want to start paying attention to your pranayama. And if you're wondering what the heck am I talking about, then you probably want to keep reading to find out.

What is Pranayama?

Pranayama means "the lengthening of the breath." To be more specific, it is a Sanskrit word composed of Prana, which means either "life force" or "the breath," and ayama, which means "to lengthen."

Pranayama is common in yoga and is used as a way to control breathing.

OK--But Why Does Breath Control Matter?

Yoga isn't just a form of exercise--it's a combination of mediation and slow exercise that can be used for everything from relaxation and stress reduction to posture and concentration. And proper breathing is an essential component of practicing yoga.

By controlling your breath, you are able to encourage the meditative aspect of yoga. Some people believe that proper breathing can encourage physical health by reducing toxins and aiding in digestion. While we aren't sure whether or not this is true, we do know that it sure feels good to try!

How to Practice Proper Breathing

There are a few different techniques for practicing breathing in yoga. One of the things I keep in mind is the saying "abdomen, chest, chest, abdomen."

What this means is that you inhale first in the abdomen, then the chest.

Next, exhale--first the chest, then the abdomen.

This isn't something most people can perfect right away, so be careful not to strain yourself. Begin slowly by practicing taking deep breaths in and out. For more detailed information on proper yoga breathing, try here or here.

When I first started practicing yoga, I found this video helpful. It emphasizes the importance of proper posture before you begin practicing proper breathing techniques.

Click here to view the embedded video.

1. Oprah Winfrey - Philanthropy, Acting, Broadway Producer, Reading, Political Fundraising

Television host Oprah is, according to some, the most influential woman in the world. So how the heck does she have time for all of these hobbies? Well, there's no evidence of drug use (though that would be a fun rumor to start), so we're assuming she's some sort of superhuman hobbyist. What else can we say--we like her!

2. Tiger Woods - Diving, Spear fishing and Physical Fitness

Surprise, surprise--Tiger Woods isn't just adept at golfing. He's also a diver who's traveled all over the world diving and spear fishing (because, you know, he can afford it). The physical fitness part is, ummm, pretty darn obvious.

3. Angelina Jolie - Tattoos, People Watching, Dagger Collecting

Somehow we're not surprised that Angelina Jolie collects daggers. This is the woman, after all, who reportedly wore her ex-husband's blood around her neck. However, it appears cooking isn't one of Jolie's many hobbies. Poor Brad.

4. Beyonce Knowles - Shopping, Swimming, Reading, Dancing

Singer and actress Beyonce Knowles has to keep in shape somehow. She doesn't get her ridiculously tight abs by sitting around eating cheese doodles. So swimming, dancing--and of course shopping!--it is. She also apparently enjoys reading. Not just a hot body, but maybe some brains too? Maybe?

5. David Beckham - Tattoos, Fencing, Shopping

English soccer player (or, more appropriately, footballer) David Beckham is apparently a fan of both fencing and getting tattoos. It's been reported that he gets together with Will Smith and Tom Cruise in order to fence. We suspect being married to fashionista Victoria Bekham may have something to do with the shopping thing.

6. Johnny Depp - Playing with Dolls

Yes, that's right. Actor Johnny Depp has found the inherent joy of sharing tea time with Barbie and Ken. What else can we say? We love Johnny Depp, weird hobbies and all. He can do no wrong in our eyes.

7. Jay-Z - Philanthropy, Entrepreneur, Fashion

Rapper Jay-Z has a lot more going for him than that rapping career of his. He's--take a deep breath and get ready for the list--cofounder of clothing brand Rocawear, co-owner of the 40/40 club, part-owner of the New Jersey Nets, investor in J Hotels, and an active philanthropist involved in raising awareness of the global water shortage. And he even has time to rack up a few criminal charges--busy man!

8. The Police - Rollerskating, Cycling, Filmmaking, Polo, Photography, Painting

The Police members Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland, and of course Sting have a diverse group of hobbies, but we've included them all in one big jumble. To be specific, Copeland is the polo, cycling, rollerskating, and filmmaking fan. We're just assuming that the other guys share these interests. Birds of a feather...or something like that...

9. J.K. Rowling - Reading, Writing, Spending time with friends

J.K. Rowling is one of the lucky ones. She's managed to turn her favorite hobby, writing, into a full-time gig. We wanted to include "thinking about wizards all day" but it was far too obvious.

10. Brad Pitt - Architecture, Interior Design, Metal Art Collector

American actor and film producer Brad Pitt is a cultured guy who's into architecture and interior design. He also collects metal art. Why? Well, duh, because it goes perfectly well with Angelina Jolie's daggers.

11. Will Smith - Fencing, Rapping

When Will Smith isn't acting, rapping, or fighting aliens, it appears he's fencing with reported friends Tom Cruise and David Beckham. Not bad!

12. Justin Timberlake - Golf, Basketball, Video Gaming

Deep down we always knew Justin Timberlake was a video game nerd. We love it! He also famously enjoys putting his dick in a box. But you didn't hear it from us.

13. Steven Spielberg - Aliens

Director, producer, and screenwriter Steven Spielberg freakin' loooveess aliens. Are you surprised? We didn't think so.

14. Cameron Diaz - Snowboarding, Rafting

We knew Cameron Diaz was bad ass. She claims to love the speed and adrenaline of snowboarding and even had plastic surgery on her nose to repair damage done while snowboarding. Finally, a unique reason for celebs to get plastic surgery.

15. David Letterman - Racing

Wacky talk show host and comedian David Letterman is co-owner of the Bobby Rahal racing team.

16. Lebron James - Collecting Headbands

Hey, everybody needs a collection. And there's nothing wrong with collecting headbands. Pro basketball player Lebron James has our stamp of approval.

17. Jennifer Aniston - Hiking, camping, getting closer to nature, surfing the internet

Jennifer Aniston is not only your friend--she's an outdoorsy girl. Of course, she has to come inside sometime. And when she does, well, apparently she goes on the internet. We can only assume she spends most of her time surfing notsoboringlife.com looking for new hobbies.

18. Michael Jordan - Gambling, Retiring

Retiring isn't usually a hobby for most people, but Jordan has made it so. Also, his gambling hobby may be considered more of an addiction if we're going to get picky. Okay, we're being a bit hard on Michael Jordan. But he was a great basketball player. We'll at least give him that.

19. Kobe Bryant - Soccer

Besides being a successful basketball player, Kobe Bryant is a major soccer fan. He says if he hadn't pursued basketball, he would have gone for soccer. (As a note, if you google 'Kobe Bryant hobbies,' the question comes up "Besides being a rapist, what are some of Kobe Bryant's other hobbies?" Yikes. We here are NotSoBoringLife do NOT condone such "hobbies!")

20. Phil Mickelson - Pilot's license, Wining Championships

Phil Mickelson is a professional American golfer nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing. "Winning championships" isn't a normal hobby, of course. Honestly, there isn't a lot of information out there about old Lefty, but we know he has his pilot's license. Honestly, we assume he spends most of his time golfing and, you know, winning championships.

21. Madonna - Yoga, Reading, Writing

Madonna is the queen of zen, so it's no surprise yoga is one of her top hobbies. She also enjoys reading and writing, and has even written several children's books.

22. Simon Cowell - Spying on the Neighbors

Why aren't we surprised? We thought Cowell's favorite hobby was crushing the hopes and dreams of talentless singers everywhere, but we suppose spying on the neighbors works too.

23. Roger Federer - Sports, cards, sitting on the beach, playing and watching cricket and ping pong

Roger Federer is a tennis champ, but even tennis champs need to unwind, ya know? Federer claims watching cricket is one of the most relaxing hobbies he's found. His friends don't get it, but that doesn't stop him.

24. Alex Rodriguez - Golfing, Running, Reading, Traveling, Boating

Alex Rodriguez may be one of baseball's best all-around players, but he's also got a ton of hobbies. Honestly, we're just glad his favorite hobby isn't playing with his own action figure. But hey, if it was, he and Johnny Depp could have a good time together.

25. Jerry Seinfeld - Collecting Porsches

Well, of course. Isn't that everyone's favorite hobby? I mean, the first 20 porsches just weren't enough, ya know?--needed that 21st. While he may not be original, this comedian all-star has, by our estimation, picked an excellent taste in hobbies.

26. 50 Cent - Boxing

Rapper 50 Cent began boxing when he was just a kid. In the 80's he competed in the junior Olympics as a boxer. In an interview, he compared boxing to rapping, saying "I was competitive in the ring and hip-hop is competitive too."

27. Kanye West -Acting, Art, Fashion, Video Games (Among others)

Kanye West is not only a Grammy Award winning rapper, record producer, and singer--he has tons of additional hobbies. Before becoming a rapper, West attended the American Academy of Art but eventually dropped out to pursue his music career.

28. Celine Dion - Golf, Collecting Shoes, Swimming

Canadian singer Celine Dion doesn't just spend her days entertaining crowds of fans. She's also reportedly an avid golfer and swimmer and has a giant shoe collection. Well, don't we all?

29 . Bruce Willis - Boxing, Basketball

Actor Bruce Willis is a sport's fan who does his best to attend every boxing match and basketball game he can find. In fact, he's such a fan of the New Jersey Nets that controversy erupted when, during a live broadcast, he shouted "Yippee-ki-yay-motherfucker!" at the end of the interview. Now that's a fan.

30. Dr. Phil McGraw - Football, Swimming

Dr. Phil may offer advice to people with out-of-control hobbies, but he's got a few of his own favorite hobbies--most notably football and swimming. Dr Phil was a football player in High School and continued on to pursue swimming throughout college.

31. Tom Cruise - Flying, Fencing, Cooking

When Tom Cruise isn't jumping on couches and generally bewildering citizens of the world, he's probably flying, fencing, or cooking. He reportedly built a room in his house for fencing, where Will Smith and David Beckham go to attempt defeating him. Now that's something we'd like to see.

32. Jay Leno - Collecting Cars

Anyone who watches The Tonight Show knows that comedian Jay Leno is an avid car collector. He only talks about it every other show. In particular, he's known as having an extensive collection of antique cars.

33. Sean "Diddy" Combs - Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur, Dancer

One of Sean Combs's favorite hobbies seems to be changing his name, but we're not sure that qualifies as an actual hobby so we'll stick to the more "normal" hobbies. Sean Combs isn't just a successful rapper. He runs a successful clothing line for men called "Sean Jean" and is also an entrepreneur and dancer.

34. Stephen King - Walking

So the master of fiction has what may be the most boring hobby ever! Walking. But that's OK. There are, of course, worse ways to spend your time. Plus, he's probably coming up with all of his brilliant ideas on all of those long walks.

35. Miley Cyrus - Dancing, Cheerleading

Superstar Miley Cyrus is obviously a fan of singing and acting, but she's also an avid dancer and says cheerleading is her favorite sport.

36. Kimi Raikkonen - Snowboarding, Ice Hockey

Kimi Raikkonen is a Finnish Formula One race car driver and winner of the 2007 Formula One World Driver's Championship, but he's also a fan of snowboarding and ice hockey. His nickname is even "Iceman"--though more for his cool demeanor than his favorite hobbies.

37. Jeff Gordon - Playing Video Games

Everyone knows Jeff Gordon is one of the world's best NASCAR drivers, but we hear he's also pretty darn good with the remote control. I don't know about the rest of you, but he's one guy I'd be a bit nervous competing against--virtual track or not.

38. Ronaldinho - Karaoke, Playing Percussion Instruments

Ronaldinho is a Brazilian footballer (soccer, if you're in America) but we hear he's also pretty talented at belting out the karaoke songs. He's even got a karaoke machine in his house--you know, so he can practice.

39. Shaquille O'Neal - Target Shooting, Riding Motorcycles

Shaq is a professional basketball player (duh), rapper, and actor--but his favorite hobbies are target shooting and riding motorcycles. Somehow we have a feeling that he's good at that too.

40. Judge Judy Sheindlin - Boating

After the stress of dealing with the wacked out people who participate in televised court, it's no wonder Judge Judy needs to de-stress a bit. She is the co-owner of a yacht, called "Her Honor." (Awww)

41. Howard Stern -Politics

Controversial comedian and radio host Howard Stern does more than talk about sex and feces. Oh yes. In 1994, he even ran for the Governor of New York as a libertarian. While Stern dropped out shortly after, his interest in politics has remained.

42. Tyler Perry - Writing, Acting

Like J.K. Rowling, Tyler Perry was lucky enough to turn his favorite hobby into a job. Of course, not only is he a writer and actor--he's also a director and producer.

43. Fernando Alonso -Magic, Soccer, Cycling, Training

Is it really a surprise that one of race car driver Fernando Alonso's hobbies is magic? We knew there was a way he was winning those World Championships.

44. Leonardo DiCaprio - Pool, Basketball, Video Games

Leonardo Dicaprio is a talented award-winning actor. But he's also addicted to his PlayStation. Can we blame him? I don't think so.

45. Donald Trump - Golf

Darn! We were going to say "combing his hair," but it looks like the oh so filthy rich Donald Trump is an avid golfer as well. Of course, unlike most golfing hobbyists, Trump literally owns the course he plays on.

46. George Lucas - Bicycling, Home Repair, Model Kit and Prop Replica Building...Squirrels?

Okay, so most of George Lucas's hobbies are pretty standard. But squirrels? According to this source, one of Lucas's favorite hobbies is "keeping the local squirrel population fed." While it may be a unique hobby, it's also, dare we say, absolutely adorable.

47. Keira Knightley - Film, Spending time with Family & Friends

Actress Keira Knightley claims she doesn't have much time for hobbies because she "works too much." (Quick! Someone send her a link to NotSoBoringLife!). However, when she does find time, she enjoys watching film, going to the cinema, and spending time with family and friends--preferably all at once.

48. Jerry Bruckheimer - Photography

Bruckheimer may be a successful film and television producer, but he got his start with the art of photography. Bruckheimer claims he was always interested in film, but began taking photographs as a side project. And of course, we all know what happened after that.

49. Nicolas Cage - Buying Houses (Okay, Castles)

Nicolas Cage is a talented actor with a penchant for buying houses. He owns a ton of interesting and unusual houses, including the medeval castle Schloss Neidstein and the Midford Castle in Somerset, England. Cage also owns what he calls the "most haunted house in America."

50. Spice Girls - "Acting"

If you don't know why the word acting is in quotations, you haven't seen the Spice Girl's movie "Spiceworld." While the film was successful with Spice Girl fans, critics absolutely hammered the flick--and with good reason. To give you a better idea, it was nominated for 7 awards at the spoof film festival "Golden Raspberry Awards" where they won for "Worst Actress." There's an example of a hobby that apparently didn't go over so well.

51. Matt Damon - Philanthropy, Politics

After actor Matt Damon recently dissed Sarah Palin, (describing the possibility of her becoming president as "like a really bad Disney movie,") you've probably figured out he's into politics. He's also appeared on Hardball, discussing the war in Iraq. In addition, Damon supports the charities and organizations ONE, which fights AIDS and poverty in third world countries, Greendimes, and Not On Our Watch.

52. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Water Sports, Computers

Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't just a stud American race car driver and the son of racer Dale Earnhardt Sr. He's also, according to USA Weekend, a "sensitive son of a flinty stock-car racing legend," who "struggles with his dad's success." Awww. Oh yeah, and he's also into water sports and computers. We're not sure exactly what watersports or what he does on the computer (one can only imagine) but we're sure glad lil Dale has some of his own interests separate from papa.

53. Bon Jovi - Driving Cars, Baseball, Exercise, Football, Family-Time

So mega rock star Jon Bon Jovi enjoys "driving cars." It doesn't say "racing cars," so we can only assume this means responsibly driving to the grocery store at a reasonable and safe speed. Sure sounds like fun Bon Jovi. To his credit, he also enjoys spending time with his family and working out. He may be an old man, but he's certainly in great shape.

54. Jennifer Lopez - Yoga, Decorating, Tennis, Shopping

Like Madonna, singer Jennifer Lopez absolutely depends on yoga to keep her fit and looking fine (and of course relaxed too). And it's working for her--Lopez has received the sexiest woman in the world several times. We're sure the shopping and tennis doesn't hurt either.

55. Ben Stiller - Being a Trekkie

It's no surprise that one of comedian Ben Stiller's hobbies is being a hardcore trekkie. We knew he was a nerd--and we love it! Ben appeared on the TV special "Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond" and has referenced the show in some of his work.

56. Kevin Garnett - Soccer

Kevin Garnett, one of the NBA's best all-around players, is apparently a fan of soccer. Garnett has been spotted attending Los Angeles Galaxy games as well as the Chelsea Football Club of the English Premier League.

57. Nicole Kidman - Playing Nintendo

It may or may not surprise you that Nicole Kidman's hobby is playing nintendo--but it's true. The Oscar award winning actress apparently loves the game "More Brain Training From Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain?" and has even agreed to work as their spokesperson.

58. James Patterson - Philanthropy, Reading

Bestselling author James Patterson loves giving away his cash--and we love that about him. Patterson started the James Patterson PageTurner Awards and has reportedly given away over 600,000 to those who spread the enjoyment of reading.

59. Rush Limbaugh - Football

Rush Limbaugh is a huge football fan--so much so that he had a brief stint as an analyst on ESPN's Sunday NFL countdown. Of course, ole Rushy screwed himself over big time when he made what many took as a racist comment about a "black quarterback."

60. Reese Witherspoon - Collecting Antique Linens, Flea Markets, Yoga, Snowboarding, Cooking, Crafts, Reading, Hiking

Yikes, Reese. Have a bit of free time lately? Seriously, if we could give one celeb the NotSoBoringLife Award for Hobby Excellence, it would go to Reese Witherspoon. The actress enjoys everything from snowboarding to collecting antique linens. Great job, Reese!

61. Maria Sharapova - Russian music and food, Dancing, Reading, Movies

Tennis star Maria Sharapova has her fair share of hobbies besides tennis. In her off-time, she enjoys dancing (jazz, specifically) as well as reading and watching movies (she loves Sherlock Holmes and her favorite movie is Pearl Harbor). Maria also loves eating--so do we, Maria. So do we.

62. Ryan Seacrest - Wine Tasting and Collecting, Eating Out

Ryan Seacrest is a major workaholic. Seriously. Someone needs to get Dr. Phil on the Seacrest situation asap. However, he apparently does have a few hobbies outside of work, including chugging wine at the end of a hard work day--or maybe we're just being harsh. Yes, we're sure Seacrest drinks his wine with all the sophistication he can muster up.

63. Gwen Stefani - Fashion

Singer Gwen Stefani is the owner of the clothing line L.A.M.B., an acronym for--get ready for this--Love Angel Music Baby. Yikes. It's like she took every cheesy word she could think of and combined it into one super word, which incidentally spells yet another cheesy word, lamb. But hey, the clothes are cute. At least she knows where her strengths lie.

64. Daniel Radcliffe - Gymnastics, Football, WWF

When Daniel Radcliffe isn't pretending he's a wizard or prancing around naked on stage, he's apparently either doing gymnastics, playing football, or protecting the environment. Unless they meant WWE, the World Wrestling Entertainment--we're not sure. Either way, Daniel Radcliffe has some, let's say, diverse interests.

65. Alicia Keys - Classical Music, Playing the Piano, Philanthropy

Besides being a great singer, Alicia Keys is, apparently, a great person. She works with a variety of charities and organizations, including Keep a Child Alive and Frum tha Ground Up. In addition, her musical career began at a young age when she learned to play the piano. Her favorite classical composer is Chopin.

66. Gisele Bundchen - Volleyball

Gisele Bundchen isn't just hot (though you've gotta admit she's, umm, pretty smokin' hot). But she's also a volleyball enthusiast. Gisele admits that before she became a model she wanted to play volleyball professionally. But we're not worried--we think Gisele's career choice worked out for her just fine.

67. Gwyneth Paltrow - Learning a Foreign Language, Yoga

When she's not naming her kids after fruit, Gwyneth Paltrow is bending over backward and speaking Spanish. Honestly, we're not surprised Paltrow is a yoga fan--her long-term friendship with Madonna can attest to that. What we didn't know was that Paltrow enjoyed learning foreign languages. But apparently Paltrow has indeed spent tons of time visiting Spain and has learned to speak Spanish.

68. Tyra Banks - Painting, Rollerblading, Skiing

Who knew model and television host Tyra Banks was an artist on canvas as well as behind the lens. I've yet to see one of her paintings, but I'm sure they're every bit as wacky and fun as Tyra herself. Rollerblading and skiing are among some of her other favorite hobbies. Go Tyra!

69. Serena Williams - Movies, Football, Reading, Acting, Spending Time W/ Family and Friends

Tennis legend Serena Williams is a down to earth girl--though we could have suspected as much. Serena apparently enjoys nothing more than hanging out with friends and popping in a DVD--or watching the NFL game. Sounds like she's our kind of gal!

70. Eva Longoria Parker - Brazilian Waxing

Brazilian Waxing isn't the sort of thing we here at NotSoBoringLife usually consider a hobby. It's not on our list of most popular hobbies and it's certainly not something we do for fun. But hey, if sexy actress Eva Longoria Parker wants to make a hobby out of removing the hairs from her crotch, well, more power to her!

71. Ellen DeGeneres - Voice Acting

Comedian and actress Ellen Degeneres does more than make people laugh on her daily talk show, "The Ellen Degeneres Show." She's also moonlighted as a voice actor, most notably as Dory in the animated film Finding Nemo.

72. Sarah Jessica Parker - Knitting

"Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker reportedly knits between takes during filming. Parker's friend and costar Kristin Davis apparently introduced her to the hobby, and she's been knitting up a storm ever since. And we can't blame her--it's one of our most addictive hobbies.

73. Katherine Heigl -Kickboxing, Yoga, Drawing

Like a lot of actresses, Katherine Heigl enjoys practicing yoga. But she also apparently enjoys kicking ass. What can we say? It's hard not to admire her for her love of kickboxing. Of course, Heigl has an artsy side too and apparently enjoys drawing as a way to relax.

74. Regis Philbin - Baseball, Football

Television host Regis Philbin has long been known as a sport's fan. He is most notably a fan of the New York Yankees as well as his alma mater, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

75. Tom Clancy - Politics

Author Tom Clancy has been known as politically conservative, donating as much as $256,000 to the Republican. After 9/11, Clancy defended Islam and appeared on the O'Reilly Factor, saying that U.S. left-wing politicians were partly responsible for the attacks due to what he called the "gutting of the CIA."

76. Rachael Ray - Charity Work

Cooking star Rachael Ray is famous for her cutesy phrases--EVOO for extra virgin olive oil and the always annoyingly delightful "yum-o," so it shouldn't come as a surprise that her charities name is--you guessed it, "The Yum-O Organization." Whatever your opinion on the name, there's no doubt Rachael is doing good work. The "Yum-O Organization" is dedicated to helping children eat healthier.

77. Cate Blanchett - Environmentalism

Actress Cate Blanchett cares--and she wants you to too. Last year, she became the ambassador for the Australian Conservation Foundation's online campaign www.whoonearthcares.com, a site dedicated to convincing Australians to express concern about climate change. Now that's a hobby that makes a difference!

78. Heidi Klum - Ballet and Jazz Dance, Flea Markets, Traveling, Skiing, Spending time with Family

Heidi Klum has it all--she's beautiful, successful, and it appears she also has an abundance of hobbies! From ballet to flea markets to skiing. Of course, Heidi says her all time favorite hobby is spending time with family.

79. Carrie Underwood - Beauty Pagents, Softball,

Believe it or not, prior to American Idol, country singer Carrie Underwood was just one of us "regular folk"--except, of course, she's always been freakin' beautiful. As proof of that fact, I'll have you know that Carrie was Miss NSU runner-up in 2004. But she has a good heart too--Carrie participated in the 18th annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball tournament for charity, an organization which benefits researche for life-threatening diseases.

80. Jon Stewart - Crossword Puzzles

Jon Stewart, the king of fake punditry, is an absolute crossword puzzle fanatic. He appeared in the film Wordplay and, get this--he even proposed to his wife through a crossword puzzle created by Will Shortz. Now that's dedication to a hobby!

81. Justine Henin - Skydiving

Retired professional tennis player Justine Henin appears to seeks thrills on and off the court, citing skydiving as one of her favorite hobbies. From our estimation, Henin has picked one of the most intense hobbies on our list. Way to go!

82. Judd Apatow - Tennis, Spending Time With Family

Producer, director, and screenwriter Judd Apatow is a dirty, dirty man. His movies--Superbad and Knocked Up to name a few--are full of filth and vulgarity. And yet, they have heart and are also, by the way, completely flippin' hilarious. So it comes to no surprise that Judd's favorite hobby is spending time with his family. That is, of course, when he's not on the tennis court hitting the ball around.

83. Kate Moss - Charity Work

Oh, readers. You have no idea how deliciously tempting it was to include "doing cocaine" as Kate Moss's favorite hobby. But alas, we went with "charity work" instead. To be fair, Kate has been involved in several charities, including Breakthrough Breast Cancer and SamundRuby. We'll get you next time, Kate.

84. Patrick Dempsey - Antique Collecting, Home Remodeling, Skiing, Racing

Patrick Dempsey is our kind of guy. He's hot, talented--and completely random. Let's just say that most guys don't necessarily have interests as varied as racing in the Panoz GT Pro Racing series to, you know, collecting antiques. But hey, we're not complaining. We love a guy with eclectic hobbies.

85. Charlie Sheen - Baseball

Once again, we're trying to be nice, so we'll leave of Charlie Sheen's other hobbies, which include "sleeping around" and "injecting cocaine." Instead, we'll stick with baseball. After all, Charlie was the star pitcher and shortstop of his baseball team.

86. Drew Carey - Photography, Sports

Funny man Drew Carey is known as a sport's fanatic. He's a U.S. soccer fan as well as a devoted fan of the Cleveland Browns, Indians. In addition, Drew is an occasional photographer for the U.S. National soccer team and sells his images under the pseudonym Brooks Parkenridge. Clever, Drew, but you didn't fool us.

87. Steve Carell - Online Poker (Video)

We're leaving off what Steve Carrel says is his favorite hobby--*ahem* pornography--and including the one we assume he's more serious about (or is he?). Steve says he's addicted to online poker and that "most of the money that I've earned has been spent online." Is he joking? Maybe. But we'll never know for sure.

88. Lorena Ochoa - Waterskiing and Reading

Golfing pro Lorena Ochoa isn't just the world's number one ranked female golfer--she's also a waterskiing enthusiast and an avid reader. Lorena Ochoa has our seal of approval (not that she needs it of course).

89. Jonas Brothers - Playing Guitar, Bowling; Making Movies, Jogging and Working Out; Music, Songwriting, Baseball, Collecting Baseball Cards, Tennis

Besides melting young girl's hearts, the Jonas Brothers appear to have a variety of interests. Of course, there are 3 of them. Click on the link to see which hobby belongs to which brother.

90. Howie Mandel - Spending Time With Family

All right, so Howie Mandel may spend most of his day with dozens of models surrounding him (hey, every guy's dream, right?) But at the end of the day he wants nothing more than to relax and spend time with family. And we think that's great--of course, the models aren't bad either.

91. Wolfgang Puck - Skiing

Austrian chef Wolfgang Puck enjoys getting out of the kitchen every once in awhile to go skiing. "Particularly," he says, "while I am here in beautiful Colorado. I love the fresh air and the mountains."

92. Zac Efron - Golf, Skiing, Rockclimbing, Snowboarding, Playing Piano and Guitar

High School Musical star Zac Efron isn't just the "poster boy for tweenyboppers" (as declared by Rolling Stone). He's also, well, a well-rounded dude. Golf, skiing, rockclimbing, making thousands upon thousands of young girl swoon --what doesn't Zac do?

93. Annika Sorenstam - Cooking

Professional golfer Annika Sorenstam takes her hobbies quite seriously thank you very much. Prior to the 2003 golf season, for example, she worked 8 hour shifts in the kitchens of Lake Nona Country Club. Annika also occasionally participates in cooking demonstrations during LPGA tournaments.

94. Ashley Tisdale - Spending Time With Her Dogs, Shopping

Unlike Zac Efron, High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale doesn't have a ton of hobbies. From what we can find, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, shopping--pretty much doing the regular things any young girl likes to do.

95. Gordon Ramsay - Football

Chef and "Hell's Kitchen" star Gordan Ramsay wasn't always into food. Alas, he was once a football player--and a good one at that. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) Gordon injured his knee, "smashing the cartilage during training." This led him to a career in cooking, which, we think, is working out all right.

96. Jennifer Love Hewitt - Rollerskating, Horseback Riding

Are Jennifer Love Hewitt and Tyra Banks best friends forever? Well, we don't know--but they sure should be! Why? They're our two rollerskating celebrities. We can just imagine them rollerskating down the street together, hand in hand. Of course, if Jennifer would like, she could always ride a horse instead...

97. Lauren Conrad - Fashion

Lauren Conrad, star of "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills" really really really wants to be a fashion designer (imagine pouting and feet stomping.) In an interview, she told reporters “Fashion design is what I’ve always wanted to do, so when I get to do it every day, it’s fun, I get excited. My hobby is my life. Hopefully it continues." Hey, we love a girl who loves her hobbies! "My hobby is my life" may become our new motto.

98. Vanessa Williams - Singing, Dancing, Sports, Computers, Socializing

Vanessa Williams is a Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter and actress. In addition, she was the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America. Not only that, Vanessa has great taste in hobbies! The singing and dancing was somewhat expected, sure--but the sports and computers are, we think, great additions to her hobby list.

99. Tina Fey - Environmentalism

Tina Fey may look like Sarah Palin, but she's got a hobby all her own. Tina is a dedicated environmentalist who says she both recycles and drives a Lexus hybrid. We love celebs who have hobbies that help the earth.

100. Paula Deen - Acting

Paula Deen is a star in the kitchen--but that's not all. That's right--acting is one of Paula's hobbies. She even acted in a movie with *swoon* Orlando Bloom (oh yeah, and Kirsten Dunst too). The movie, Elizabethtown, was Deen's acting debut. Of course, her cooking wasn't left behind entirely. Deen's character, the aunt of Bloom's character, cooked up a storm in the movie.

Calligraphy is an ancient art, closely linked to the beginning of writing. Today, many people choose to learn calligraphy as either an art, a tradition, or even just for fun! Before beginning calligraphy, one of the most important things is choosing the correct brush.

If you’re considering calligraphy as one of your many hobbies, read on!

Choosing the Brush

When choosing a brush, one of the first things you need to know are the 3 categories of brush hair. These are: soft, stiff, and mixed. Pay attention because you’ll want a different brush depending on the kind of calligraphy you want to do.

Soft Brushes (for the experienced)

Soft brushes are better for more experienced calligraphy artists. As you may have guessed, soft brushes have soft tips. This means the brush has more flexibility. This is great if you’re experienced, but it may be difficult to control if you’re a beginner.

Stiff (for beginners)

Stiff brushes are made from a variety of materials, including horse hair and rabbit hair, but they’re most commonly made out of red sable. Stiff brushes are less flexible but they give you better control. In addition, stiff brushes are best for small calligraphy.

Mixed (my personal favorite!)

Mixed brushes contain both stiff and soft hair. For this reason, mixed brushes are my favorite. They seem to combine the best of both worlds—they’re not too stiff for the experienced calligraphist, yet not too flexible for beginners. In addition, they can be used for all kinds of calligraphy work.

Other Factors to Consider

While knowing the difference between soft, stiff, and mixed brushes is important, there are some other questions to ask yourself before purchasing a brush.

Is it Sharp?

A good calligraphy brush comes to a point, forming a defined tip. If the brush isn’t somewhat sharp, don’t buy it.

Is it Round?

This may sound contradictory, but the brush in addition to being sharp, the brush should be round. This means the body of the brush is full. Pretend to write with the brush and see if it holds its shape. If so, you have a good brush.

Is it Even?

The hairs on the brush should be even. If you see stray hairs, look away! Find a brush with straight, even hairs instead.

There are, of course, exceptions to every rule. Some brushes are purposefully uneven. If you know you want a brush like this then go for it!

Stay tuned for more articles about the art of calligraphy!

Have you always wanted to join the choir but have been too scared to actually do it? While in the shower, do you secretly belt out the tunes to your favorite Broadway show stoppers? If so, you may want to begin seriously considering singing in the choir as one of your next hobbies.

It isn’t hard to do. In fact, there are all sorts of unexpected places that offer opportunities to join choir. Try some of the following:

Church

If you already attend church, you’ve got a head start on singing in the choir. Most churches have choirs that perform during regular service. If not, they may have a special choir for Christmas or Easter services. Check with your local church to find out whether or not you need to audition.

School

If you’re a student, spend a semester or quarter singing in the choir. Most high schools have choir programs, and even colleges offer credited classes. Some schools even have choirs for the teachers! If there isn’t one already, ask around to see if others are interested. You may be able to start a new trend among teachers.

Your Job

Okay, please don’t start singing during work. Surprisingly enough, some workplaces actually have after-work choirs. If there isn’t one already, ask your coworkers if they’d be interested in starting something up. If you can’t gather enough people for a choir, at the very least you’ll have a snazzy duet or barbershop quartet!

Community

Local organizations sometimes have auditions for choir. Check your local theater or other community programs.

If you’re involved with a nonprofit, see if you could raise money for charity by putting on a show!

Friends & Neighbors

Ask around your neighborhood. You might be surprised to find that the couple next door can belt it out like the best of them. Hobbies that involve friends and neighbors really are the best. You’ll bring the community together while doing something different and enjoyable.

Remember: you don’t have to be afraid to join a choir. A good attitude and a desire to sing are enough for some choirs. If you prefer, you can take individual lessons from a private instructor before joining a choir. Whatever you do, approach it with a positive attitude and you’re sure to have a great experience!

Keeping a journal can be a rewarding experience, but lots of people don't know where to begin. Perhaps the best way is to decide what kind of journaling you want to do, though this isn't always easy. There are all kinds of different strategies, ideas, and purposes behind journaling.

My personal favorites are reflection and goal journals, but everyone has a different favorite.

And that's okay!

1. Visit Dream Land

There was a green robot. It had three fingers and twenty toes, and it was eating a peanut butter sandwich, and...

Dream journals are a lot of fun. Most people write in their dream journals immediately upon waking, which allows them to "get down" every aspect of the dream they had while sleeping. Furthermore, dreams often tell us things about ourselves we didn't know, and many people have found "dream journaling" to be a rather insightful experience.

2. Record-Keeping

A "record-keeping" journal is nothing but the facts. Whether you're on a diet or keeping track of the various birds you see, a record-keeping journal let's you record and store information. These kinds of journals are also great to look back on in attempt to find patterns in the information.

3. Be Grateful

Gratitude journals are extremely rewarding. Write a list of 5-10 things you're grateful for every single day. If you can't think of 5-10, write down 1 or 2 things you're grateful for. Your list is sure to grow as you begin noticing new great things about your life. If you already have more than 10, consider yourself an extremely lucky and grateful person!

4. Online journal/Blog

Online journaling, or blogging, has gained popularity in recent years. Whether you're using Livejournal, or hosting your own blog through WordPress, online journaling allows you to connect with an audience. This separates it from traditional journaling, which is typically an isolated experience.

5. Collage/Art

If words aren't your thing, consider a collage or art journal. Cut pictures out of magazines or draw your own--it doesn't matter! Expressing yourself through art can be just as rewarding as writing down your emotions.

6. Ideas, Ideas, Ideas,

Are you the brilliant thinker? The entrepreneur in the crowd? Use a journal to write down those wacky ideas your friends are always making fun of you for. Don't hold back. This is the place to express yourself. If an idea sounds crazy, write it down anyway. It may develop into something more over time!

7. Academic

Scholars regularly publish in academic journals, but what about keeping your own personal academic journal? Whether you're reading Proust for the 3rd time or observing butterflies in your backyard, write down your insights and hypotheses. You never know what brilliant phenomenon you might discover.

8. Journaling as A Gift

A gift journal is unlike every other journal because *gasp* it's not meant for you. A good example is a parent who keeps a journal for his/her small child before giving it to them when they turn 18. But it doesn't have to be a child, of course. Record memories, insights, and loving thoughts for any special person in your life.

9. Personal Reflection/Therapy

Therapy and personal reflection journals can be difficult. You might not want to delve into certain aspects of your past or remember the bad things that happened to you.

But it can be extremely helpful in allowing you to move on from those things. Many psychologists even recommend journaling to their patients as a way to work through their feelings.

10. Goal-Oriented

A goal-oriented journal is probably my very very favorite. The premise is simple: Just record your goals--both long-term and short-term--and track your progress. You'll be amazed (and proud!) when a month, a year, or a decade goes by and you can look back and see all that you've accomplished.

Many people like to incorporate several journal ideas into one--and that's fine! Just pick your favorite ideas and begin journaling.

Do you keep a journal? Has it has enhanced your life in any way?