Traveling alone without an itinerary would be wonderful, but I would spice it up by begging some amazing local cook in the region to host me so he/she can teach me the ways of regional cooking. Wouldn't it be amazing to spend two weeks with some amazing Italian Nonna in Naples as a mentor?

Oh, I love Sudoku. I discovered it in August, when I was in London I always saw some business-guys in the tube, making Sudokus in the Evening Standard. I was looking over their shoulder and was thinking with them… Now I have several Sudoku-books and somehow it's lost its attraction. Whatever, I will keep it up. Try it!

Austin, Texas–best city in the world to raise kids.

I highly recommend Elle Decor magazine. I'm getting hooked on domino magazine as well.

I love Living, etc, DOMINO, and Oprah's decorating magazine. Realistically, though, I have a dog. I can't have an all-white room with carpeting that resembles this month's "it dress." I do love interior design inspired by clothing and handbags, though. Oversized canvas. Hurricanes. A dark wooden bowl filled with bright green lentils might photograph well, but who keeps lentils on their coffee table? I also like the idea of a gold fish. But I don't like the idea of seeing it dead one morning.

Workout music – I find that even really upbeat/pop-y songs can get a little tiresome (when working out my attention span isn't even close to two minutes long). Depending on your taste in music, you might like mixes – either more techno or just pop songs mixed together, so there is no lag time. In fact, the tracks on the new Madonna CD are all mixed into each other (no pause between each song). Get friends to make you mixes, as well – that way it's a surprise as to what comes next, and gives you incentive to work out: the purpose of listening to it.

IMHO, self-esteem is less about psychology than it is a journey. I don't think someone with low self-esteem will ever become high self-esteem, since the wounds that caused the self-esteem issue will never go away and never be forgotten.

But I believe that, over time, a portfolio of accomplishments will go a long way to finally allowing you to truly accept yourself. Even now, I have a nice job, a wonderful family, and I have nothing to complain about. But I still feel the need to prove myself.

i don't think that feeling with ever fully dissapate, but I do feel much better about myself than I did ten years ago.

"8. What it will be like to pick up and move somewhere where I don't know anyone."

I noticed you said, "will" and not "would." If this is something that really is on the horizon for you, I can offer that I think it is one of the most exciting adventures. New places have a great way of feeling like new beginnings, don't they? I love that.

If and when you do leave NY, I don't think you'll struggle to make new connections. You're like the sailor with a girl in every port, except instead of girls and ports you have blog readers in every country. New friends abound.

Good luck with that adventure, when it comes upon you!

Sounds like you have some challenging interests here. It’s always hard to go off to a foreign country alone. I have a fear of flying, no less going by myself.

I think once we do something we all fear—-we get over it. I have anxiety disorder and panic attacks, so a lot of people say, “Well face your fears—go out and do what you fear.” Ah yeah—gimme’ a martini first will ya?

I hope you get to do all these things. As far as the beef Wellington, hmmm….never cared for it. I always wanted to learn how to make sushi… or should I say, ‘prepare it’. That’s gotta be an art!

#3… I'd love to do that, but always thought it was a bit dangerous to be a young woman travelling alone. I always take my boyfriend with me, but since we have different tastes and work schedules… Will check out the site the other reader suggested.
Oh, and sudoku is verrry adictive. Beware!

Re: workout music – for me it's 70's Stevie Wonder, India.Arie and the RH Factor, jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove's funk project. Great, high energy stuff.

And I didn't even MENTION the food. It may not be NYC, but I think you'll be shocked, delighted and impressed.

Careful: if you haven't been to this site already, you could easily lose days just browsing. Both the New York and Los Angeles site have contest submissions.

http://la.apartmenttherapy.com/la/101405/fall-colors-contest-west/ive-got-color-contest-turquoise-luxury-hotel-style-bed-room-004455

You'll need to buy frozen puff pastry.

Or if you meant, how to make puff pastry from scratch, then I don't know. Lots and lots of cold butter and flour, as far as I know! I haven't attempted that one yet myself!

I discovered Sudoku in November and got Sudoku book for christmas. Now I`m addicted.

I was in a store today and Ray LaMontagne's "Please" came on. It made me think of you instantly. The way I might think of a old friend when reminded of something we shared together. It is weird to think of someone you've never met in that way. I just wanted to let you know how much you have touched my life. Kisses and best wishes.

Sudoku? Noooo. Can't cope with numbers. At all. Give me The Sunday Times crossword puzzle any day of the week. Well, Sundays, anyway.

Picking up and moving to someplace where I don't know a soul? Love it. I remember expecting to feel that way going to college. New beginning. New people. No baggage. A Long Island girl should not go to George Washington University if she's looking for a place where she doesn't know a soul.

The only problem in moving is that I can't read maps. It's the numbers thing. Highways. Routes. They're all numbers!

#5 – Avenged Sevenfold. You'd think you could run down a Derby horse listening to "Bat Country."

Way back in 1965, when I was 23, I was exiting a relationship that just did not work. And I was devastated. While I had previously visited Europe once for a few weeks as a student with some friends, I NEEDED to get away and I NEEDED to travel but feared going alone.
One day in October 1965 I quit my advertising job in NYC and bought a one-way Icelandic Airlines ticket and left two days later. On the stopover in Iceland—you see in those days the DC-3's needed to refuel—I met a friend I have had for over 40 years. Later in the trip I met my future wife in Geneva. Our son is now 30 and just completed his travels……tme has flown by.
Stephanie, you listed your goals and dreams,…do them all. You will never regret having tried. The only regrets I have had are those I never attempted to do. I drivereally want to cross the Sahara in a 4-wheel Land Rover.

OK, I'm a new "runner." I'm going out for a "pretend run," I like to say. 2 blocks running, 1 block walking, repeat for 30 min., till I can go longer and still breathe. And I've accidentally discovered a few great songs for running–great because the beat matches a running pace, that is (also can work for stairmaster): The Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated," The Knack's "My Sharona," John Lennon's "Oh Yoko," Ray Charles's "Hit the Road, Jack," Pete Townshend's "Let My Love Open the Door" (the fast version), and, uh, Don Henley's "Boys of Summer." If you know of any others, please post 'em.

#7- Definitely check out Kelly Wearstler. She has an amazing book out(yellow and black cover). Her style is french chic meets hollywood glam meets modern lines. Her colors are lucious, very much a boutique hotel look. I love this designer!

And my favorite work out songs of the moment:
1. Hung Up- Madonna ( her latest release)
2. Doorbell- White Stripes
3. Perfect Gentleman- Wyclef Jean

Hotel ZaZa in Dallas has some cool looking rooms.