cat&kiboodle

FF #8

2012-02-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

The 2012 winter collection Art Class from Secret Squirrel is so simple and chic and needs to be in my closet.
via

It's pretty safe to say that I'll be making this Green Bean Casserole Grilled Cheese sandwich ASAP.

This DIY stencil pillow is a great and simple way to add a personal touch to your decor.

These custom Sakurako Shimizu wedding bands made from the couple's waveform when saying 'I Do' are amazing. So much more personal than a traditional diamond.

via

I don't have the credit for this photo but I really wish I did so that I could congratulate this girl on having the cutest finger tattoo.

via

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Six Ways to Stay Positive Even When It Seems Impossible

2012-02-15T01:47:00.000-05:00

This week has been a tough one for me. I lost a family member and have spent most of the week driving and attending a funeral. As the week progressed, I became more and more negative as I thought about death and life, and that's when I had to stop and remind myself that being negative won't bring anyone back. It won't fix anything, and it definitely won't help you move on. It's important to stay positive, even when it seems like there's no possible way to do it.

via

Here are six things that I do to stay positive. They may or may not work for you, but it's a good idea to find out what does and to write them down for reference for the next time you start to feel blue.

Be thankful for what you are fortunate enough to have. Chances are that someone in the world is dreaming of being so lucky.
Smile. Either think of something funny or fake it. Simply smiling can help change your mood.
Make a list of good things that have happened in the past few days. And before you say that nothing good has happened....
Remember that every thing that isn't a bad thing can probably be considered a good thing. Even if it's a small thing, it still counts.
Talk to someone. A lot of the time, talking to someone about what's bothering you is a good way to get it off your mind so that you can focus on more important (and hopefully positive) things!
Work out. I'll be the first to admit that working out is the worst, but when I finally get off my butt and do it, I feel so much better afterwards. Once your blood gets flowing, it seems like it pushes all of the negativity right out of you.

Do you have any other tips? How do you keep your chin up when times are tough?

Weekend Reading: Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

2012-02-13T10:00:00.000-05:00

This weekend I decided to finally read Slaughterhouse Five. To be completely honest, I've never been a huge Vonnegut fan but that's mostly because the only other books by him that I've tried to read just didn't grab me in the first few pages. It's a challenge for me to keep reading a book if I'm not interested in it. I figured it would give it another shot since everyone seems to love Vonnegut and this book in particular. I'm not that far into it, but I'll be sure to write a review for the other hold outs when I finish.

What's on your reading list?

Why It's Important to Take a Break if You're Feeling Unmotivated

2012-02-06T13:47:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure who the source of this photo is (blame it on Tumblr/weheartit), but I love this quote. While attempting to find out who said this or took the photo, I found out that it's a quote from Gossip Girl, but I won't let that cheapen it.

Whenever you feel overwhelmed or stressed, it's important to remember to take breaks and rejuvenate yourself. I've been making an effort to explore new places and spend more time outdoors lately and the new energy I've noticed is nothing short of amazing.

The gray winter days have left me feeling unmotivated and uninspired, but thanks to the freakishly warm weather we've been having, I got the chance to follow this quote. There is nothing like a drive on a back country road on a nice day to nowhere in particular to recharge your batteries. Sometimes the only thing to get you back on track is to completely get off the track you're on and explore some new ones.

Trying to force creativity when it simply won't come will get you nowhere, unless your goal is to be as frustrated as possible. If you can't go outside, close your eyes and imagine what outside feels like. Look at pictures of beautiful landscapes. Do whatever you need to do to separate yourself from whatever has you feeling stressed. You'll be astounded by the results.

Sarah Kay TED Talk Moves and Inspires

2012-02-03T19:16:00.000-05:00

Sarah Kay is a wonderful spoken word poet. In this TED talk, she recites two of her poems and talks about her journey to get where she's at now. Beautiful speech by a lovely spirit. I wish I could give a better summary of this video, but the video description on TED explains it best:

"If I should have a daughter, instead of Mom, she's gonna call me Point B ... " began spoken word poet Sarah Kay, in a talk that inspired two standing ovations at TED2011. She tells the story of her metamorphosis -- from a wide-eyed teenager soaking in verse at New York's Bowery Poetry Club to a teacher connecting kids with the power of self-expression through Project V.O.I.C.E. -- and gives two breathtaking performances of "B" and "Hiroshima."

Do yourself a favor and watch this.

Things I Learned This Week

2012-02-02T18:07:00.002-05:00

If you want to be a millionaire, simply make art for a company that will one day take over everything. Tell them you'll accept stock instead of money and just be patient.
You can make temporary tattoos from iPhone photos now.
According to the internet, whiskey protects you from getting cancer. I am going to live forever.
Daughter's EP, "His Young Heart", is really calming.
Morning people may be more creative in the afternoon.
The world's largest rooftop farm is in Brooklyn AND it is expanding.
You can learn basic HTML and CSS skills online for free! (I already knew this, but it's a good resource to share.)
The internet just GETS me:

Vegetarian Chili Recipe

2012-01-27T12:38:00.000-05:00

So it turns out that I have a knack for making vegetarian chili! Maybe it's really a knack for adding some extra seasoning to a recipe I found, but either way, it's delicious. It's perfect for a cold day or whenever you're just in the mood to eat something tasty and warm.

I got this recipe from Homestyle Vegetarian, but adapted it so that it's easier to prepare. I know that it's not the best idea to work away from recipes, but feel free to adjust the seasonings based on your personal taste preference. This chili is a bit on the sweeter side, so if you want it to be spicier, add more cumin or chili powder. Personally, I use 3 tbsp cumin, 1.5 tsp cinnamon, 1.5 tsp chili powder, and half a can of the tiny tomato paste.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons cumin

1 tablespoon coriander

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 can of chopped tomatoes

13 oz vegetable broth

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can chickpeas, drained

1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 tablespoon sugar

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a saucepan and cook onion in medium low heat for 5 minutes. Reduce heat and add the garlic and spices and stir for one minute.

2. Add tomatoes, broth, chickpeas, kidney beans, and black beans. Stir. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Add tomato paste, sugar, pepper, and salt to taste. Simmer 5 more minutes.

Enjoy!

Maurice Sendak meets Stephen Colbert

2012-01-26T09:10:00.000-05:00

Maurice Sendak, author of many children's books (most notably Where the Wild Things Are), sits down with Stephen Colbert to discuss people, politics, children's literature, penis cut outs, and some other really important things.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Pt. 1

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

Video Archive

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Pt. 2

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

Video Archive

Owen Mortensen // Organic Matter: Nature as Art

2012-01-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

Utah-based artist Owen Mortenson makes a living by creating art out of natural materials. His work is beautiful and simple, and I wish I had the patience and eye to create things like this. His prints are a bit on the pricey side, but when I finally have some expendable income, I'm definitely going to purchase one.

Maple Circle Print

Order Out of Chaos

Yin Yang Circles Collage

Reversed Angles Collage

If you have a Fab.com account, his stuff is on sale this week. For those who don't know, Fab.com features daily design inspirations and sales up to 70% off. There are a lot of awesome artists and companies that offer their stuff for great deals. If you don't have an account, but would like one, here is an invite link to sign up for one!

Things I Learned Last Week (But Never Posted)

2012-01-19T22:16:00.000-05:00

As you can probably guess from the title, I prepared this list last week and then never actually posted it. A lot of interesting things happened, but I just got busy and completely forgot to post the list. Better late than never, right?

The longest film ever made is 240 hours long and is called Modern Times Forever.
You can make cool planets out of your address on googlemaps , thanks to some creative people and the internet.
A lot of people don't read or watch the news, think SOPA is a typo of 'soap', and rely entirely too much on Wikipedia.
A lot of good films will be showcased at SXSW. Beauty is Embarrassing looks like it's going to be a winner.
Parks and Recreation is the best show on television. Requiem for a Tuesday will ALWAYS make me laugh.
There is a secret to making perfect french fries.
Margaret Cho will not take shit from anyone.

I might start doing this more often because there are a ton of things that I want to share on here, but someone else has already written about them or expressed my feelings a lot more eloquently and concisely than I ever could have.

Washed Out - Feel It All Around

2012-01-17T08:44:00.001-05:00

If you watch Portlandia, then you'll recognize this song as the theme song. I know the music video suggests that it's more associated with summer, but I've been playing it on repeat all day. Be sure to check out Washed Out's other songs. It's impossible to listen to them and not just vibe out completely. I'm kind of embarrassed that I used that phrase, but I'm going to stand by it.

Anyway, here's the song.

Present&Correct Envelope Journals

2012-01-16T09:57:00.000-05:00

I didn't notice until my last move, but I have a small problem with saving everything. A few of my boxes consisted completely of ticket stubs and notes and coloring book pages and scraps of paper with things on them that I don't even remember anymore. Some may call it a less severe version of hoarding, but I just call it preserving memories.

Holding on to things that have personal value is important to me, and these envelope journals from Present&Correct make it fun and easy to do. The front of the journal consists of an envelope for each month that you can put any little things you want to keep to remember the month by. The back part of the journal is notebook paper to keep keep any doodles or important notes.

This is a really neat way to keep track of the year, especially if you're like me and would enjoy opening each month and remembering what each item you saved is from. Present&Correct has a lot of awesome products, so do yourself a favor and check out the entire online store.

Apartment Art

2012-01-06T09:29:00.000-05:00

Scott and I moved into this apartment two months ago, and we still don't have any art on the walls. Now that Christmas is over and I have to take down all of the wonderfully cheesy decorations I put up, our walls are going to be bare and depressing.

There are definitely some prints I have my eye on, but I'm really bad at picking things that would flow nicely or go together in any way. These are my top choices as of right now.

(via IScreenYouScreen)

(via oldtomfoolery)

(via Kurt Tong)

(via Jon Contino)

(via Chris Piascik)

I actually won this in a twitter contest from 20x200, so it will be on my wall soon!

(via Don Carney)

Welcome, January!

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I got this fortune with my Chinese food the other day (third time in a week -- love being home). I'm definitely going to take this as a sign and not as a meaningless note in a cheap cookie.

There are a lot of things that I want to accomplish this month, and people say that sharing your goals with others can help make you more accountable. That's where you lovely Internet friends come in handy. I'm going to share my goals with you and then track my progress. Hopefully it will help me stay on track.

January Goals:

Start and keep up with my Photo-A-Day project.
Work out at least twice a week.
Begin freelancing as a full-time job.
Go somewhere I've never been.
Read 3 books.
Get better about my diet.

I know some of these goals are vague and that the first step to accomplishing goals is to set achievable ones, but these will do just fine for now.

What do you hope to accomplish this month?

New Year's Wishes

2011-12-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

Instead of a Friday Five this week, I just want to wish everyone a happy new year! I know that my blog hasn't been the most riveting this year, but I definitely intend to make it one to read in the new year.

Be safe and have fun, everyone!

What I Wore: Christmas Edition

2011-12-26T21:13:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! Now that Christmas is over, the focus has switched to New Year's. I'm not one for resolutions, because I think that if you're serious about making a change in your life, you shouldn't have to wait for some arbitrary date to do it. That being said, this year I will be making a lot of changes for the new year because this is the only time I've had to just completely dedicate towards reflection without abandoning work or feeling lazy.

Anyway, I'll be making a post about 2012 later on this week, but this post is supposed to be a what I wore, so I'll get to that. I think I'm going to keep wearing my hair curly and also try layering more.

shirt: H&M button down
sweater: H&M men's sweater w/ elbow patches
jeans: PacSun (Taylor)

FF #7

2011-12-23T12:56:00.001-05:00

Funny Or Die's new Drunk History 'Twas the Night Before Christmas is absolutely hilarious. Plus it stars Ryan Gosling and Jim Carrey, so you can't really go wrong there.

Drunk History Christmas with Ryan Gosling, Jim Carrey and Eva Mendes from Ryan Gosling

Don't these Peanut Butter M&M Blondies look delicious?! I will definitely be making these in the near future.

'Christmas in a Jar' seems like a wonderful gift. I might make it and use it after the holidays after over because why not.

This print by Nicole Lavelle is great for so many reasons. I'm going to approach 2012 with an attitude of possibility and determination and take all of my challenges head on. I'm sure that I'm going to come across a lot of people who think what I'm doing is silly or that I should take the traditional route, but I'm doing it my own way. I'm also super spiteful and when people tell me I can't do something, I have to to make a point.

This Puppy Christmas video is adorable. I have such a weak spot for puppies, which simply means that I am human.

Happy Holidays everyone!

5 Minutes of Remembering 2011

2011-12-22T10:45:00.000-05:00

Sarah did this a week or so ago, and I thought it was an awesome idea. 2011 was a huge year for me, to say the least. I graduated from college, traveled a lot, had a lot of 'firsts', and really just grew and developed more as a person. Overall, it was a fantastic year, and I know next year is going to be even better. Without further ado, here are my five minutes of remembering 2011:

• Graduating from Virginia Tech• Moving home for the summer and almost getting a job I might have enjoyed, but having it fall apart• Moving to Ohio with my boyfriend• Getting a job at a publishing company that allows me to explore my interests in marketing, PR, and sales• Getting a retail job that I don’t completely hate• Making new work friends• Missing Thanksgiving with my family• Working Black Friday• Going to a business seminar• Deciding to go into freelancing…for real this time • Getting serious about blogging• Getting my camera as a gift from Scott• Buying all of the furniture and driving to Ikea alone and doing it despite it being difficult • Spending time at the lake with Scott and his friends• Moving three times in a month • Finally going to California• Going to Canada • Sitting across from Ryan Gosling at a bar • Meeting a lot of people who believe in the secret• Making an ass out of myself in front of The Maine• Losing some friends, but not regretting it • Garage painting• Surprise birthday visit from Scott• Visiting family members • Babysitting Darius and knowing that I don’t want kids for a while• Being independent • Attending a wedding of people younger than me • Being terrified of graduating and then realizing that it’s kind of not that bad• Starting to understand what it means to be an adult

Adventures in Screen Printing

2011-12-19T09:46:00.000-05:00

This weekend I decided to try to learn a new skill. I went out and bought myself a screen printing kit for 50% off (thanks, Michaels daily deals) and mulled over what I wanted to print. My boyfriend and I both enjoy Parks and Recreation, so I figured I would try to make him a Ron Swanson silhouette shirt.

I got the shirt from H&M and will probably get all of my screen printing shirts from there. They're only $5, come in a variety of colors and necklines, and are ridiculously soft. The kit I purchased was a Speedball® Basic Screen Printing Kit for Stencil Screen Printing. I chose this kit because it had everything I needed in it and all the other kits were sold out.

To be honest, the instructions that came with the kit were a little confusing, which made me hesitant and that's probably why it didn't come out exactly the way that I wanted it to. The paper prints were my first attempts and the shirt was the last. You can't tell in this photo, but the right side of the shirt is a little fuzzy, so I had to fill it in by hand.

At least I know what I'm supposed to do now and still have the stencil, so I can re do it after I get more shirts. Not bad for a first try, right?

FF #6

2011-12-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

These Pantone Toothbrushes designed by Kikkerland are so awesome. I call dibs on red.

This DIY Ron Swanson cross stitch kit is probably one of my all time favorite things. I have to finish a bit of Christmas shopping and then I will definitely be getting one for myself. If you aren't watching Parks and Recreation, then you should probably get on that.

I am such a sucker for interesting bookcases, so naturally I love this shelf by MDA Italia.

This video. Just watch it.

I don't have to original source for this photo (Tumblr is the worst sometimes), but the holidays always mean dressed up pets looking miserable and I love it.

Have a great weekend!

Identity Crisis

2011-12-15T09:53:00.001-05:00

I've always had a natural knack for detecting when someone isn't being genuine. It's a good gift to have and has prevented me from making a lot of bad decisions and wasting time on people who didn't deserve it. That's why it's so crazy to me that I've been trying to be someone I'm not on my blog.

I follow a lot of blogs of cute girls with interesting lives and quirky habits, and I guess I thought that pretending to post like them would give me those lives. But that's pointless because I love my life, and I love the way that I am.

I'm not a manic pixie DIY queen who loves everything and everyone. I do like to drink a lot of whiskey and talk about great ideas and promote positivity. I like to learn about people doing interesting things, and save instructions for projects that I might undertake someday, but don't quite have the drive to do yet. And honestly I would rather watch Netflix and nap then spend all day baking cookies and decorating my house.

Bottom Line: I'm tired of pretending and trying to get online strangers to think I'm someone I'm not. I am who I am, and I won't hide that anymore.

From now on, this blog will be a tribute to things that I enjoy, tidbits from my real life, and anything else I want it to be because it's my blog. Deal.

I don't know who I'm writing this to, because only two of you follow me (and one is related to me), but whatever. Whiskey drunk and ranting.

(I wrote this last night and saved it to check for typos. I'm not drunk at 10 AM.)

Travel Bug

2011-12-13T08:34:00.000-05:00

T A H O E from Shortt and Epic Productions on Vimeo

I've got a bad case of the travel bug and just want to go anywhere and everywhere I can. I've decided that 2012 is going to be a year of adventure and exploring, so hopefully I'll get to see lots of beautiful sights like these.

FF #5

2011-12-09T12:40:00.001-05:00

Gift Couture is a start-up creative wrapping paper company that offers high-quality wrapping paper sets. Here is their cheeseburger set.

These Jasper + Black themed journals are so fantastic. I probably wouldn't use them for their theme, but it'd be fun to keep to-do lists in them.

These Lulu Forst numberings are also really cool. I have a hard time finding rings that I like, but these definitely make the list. I would either get 379 because those are my favorite numbers or 314 for pi because I'm a nerd.

I want all of the notebooks on Toxel's 15 Cool and Unusual Notebooks list. I guess I'm just really into notebooks right now. My favorite off the list is the Triangle Notebook designed by Tan Mavitan.

I will be making this design*sponge DIY vintage postcard calendar for someone this Christmas, and I'll probably also make one for myself. Such a good way to see how your life has changed over the years.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Gift Guide Round Up

2011-12-08T15:34:00.001-05:00

Gift guides are one of my favorite places get ideas for holiday gifts. Sometimes I get stumped on what to get people even if I know them well, so gift guides help me think of the perfect gift. Here are a few gift guides that I love and recommend that you check out.

>> Oh Happy Day's 10 Things to Give list is great. My personal favorite is the poster of the stars.

>> Design*Sponge's DIY Best Of list is also a fantastic list. I have two things from this list that I'll be making, but I can't post what they are in case someone reads them.

>> A Cup of Jo has several gift guides available catered to specific types of people. Her most recent guide is 'Gift Guide #4: Your Adventurous Younger Brother Who Planted Flowers on His Fire Escape and Taught Your Toddler How To Wink'. Perfect, right?

>> PhotoJojo's Holiday Gift Guide (Part 1 and Part 2) are full of really neat gifts for any camera lovers in your life.

>> Oh Joy has a Tasty Gift Guide that I want to buy everything off of and eat it all by myself. Merry Christmas to me.

>> Smock's 2011 Gift Guide is a good mix of gifts for a variety of people.

>> TBD's Holiday Gift Guide For Good is a collection of gifts that benefit people who need help. The gifts are awesome and they help others, so it's really a gift that keeps giving.

What other gift guides have you been looking at? I haven't even really started my Christmas shopping/gift making, but I should probably get started soon!

Big News!

2011-12-05T12:17:00.001-05:00

I got a new camera for Christmas! To say that I'm excited about it is quite the understatement. I've wanted a DSLR since I was in high school, and every time I got close to being able to get one, something would screw it up. The same thing happened this year, but my wonderful boyfriend surprised me with a Canon EOS Rebel T3i, and I absolutely love it (and him!). I am so thankful to have such an amazing person in my life, and now I have an amazing camera too!

FF #4

2011-12-02T12:43:00.001-05:00

These holiday cards by The Bungaloo sum up the holidays pretty well.

This ratatouille recipe adapted by Smitten Kitchen from the Disney film Ratatouille looks DELICIOUS and seems fairly simple to make. I can't wait to try it.

While we're on the topic of food, I watched Forks Over Knives last week and enjoyed it. The documentary essentially explores the health benefits of having a plant-based whole food diet. The title is about the importance of choosing food as opposed to medication to fix illnesses. It's on Netflix, so if you have some time to kill, I recommend it.

Yelle's new music video for "Comme Un Enfant" was released this week. It's fantastic, just like the song. Gotta love french power pop.

YELLE - Comme Un Enfant (official music video) from Yelle on Vimeo.
This advent calendar seems like such a cute DIY project. Oh Happy Day made these printables available for free, so all you need are the little sacks to store the treats and ideas in.

Have a good weekend!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T13:10:00.001-05:00

I'm spending this Thanksgiving alone (boooo working on Black Friday), but I'm still determined to have a good day. I'm just going to relax and watch Arrested Development and eat anything I can find in the fridge. I hope your day and life are full of laughter and happiness. Be sure to take the time to be thankful for everything you have and everyone in your life who loves you. Be sure to do that every day.

LAUGHS! from Everynone on Vimeo.

The Friday Five

2011-11-18T09:59:00.001-05:00

As I said in an earlier post, I've been busy trying to move into a new apartment. I underestimated how much time and energy that was going to take and missed last week's Friday Five. I thought about posting ten things this week, but instead I'll just hope you forgive me.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Two is my favorite thing this week. So adorable and funny.

I've been reading On The Road by Jack Kerouac, and I really enjoy it. It makes me wish I traveled more and knew crazy characters.

These are great words to live by. I like to aim to be the type of person I'd admire.

(via Tumblr)

This bookstore (Shakespeare & Company in Paris) is incredible, and I hope to go there someday.

(via Rachel Mooney)

This video version of the Holstee Manifesto is so inspiring and wonderful. It really makes you think about what matters in life.

That's it for now! I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

WIWT: Errands Edition

2011-11-16T12:22:00.001-05:00

One of the biggest things on my To Do List is to learn how to dress better (read: not like a 16-year-old boy). All of my clothing is really more appropriate for Virginia fall than Ohio beginning of winter, so I need to figure out how to get the looks I want for a price I can afford. Some accountability might also be helpful, so I'm going to try posting some 'what I wore today' posts every once in a while to remember the outfits that I liked.

This one is super basic and still not weather appropriate, but it's laid back and will work for my errands today. As I said, it's not the fanciest, but it's also not a giant hoodie, so we'll chalk it up as a win. I also got new Warby Parker trial glasses that I'm in love with and wearing everywhere. I'll definitely be buying them when the trial is over.

Jacket: American Eagle lightweight military jacket
Shirt: Old Navy v-neck
Jeans: really old and worn out jeans from Alloy
Necklace: Octopus necklace from some store in Virginia Beach
Glasses: Warby Parker - Miles in Amber
Shoes (not pictured): Born black flats

The Friday Five

2011-11-04T09:40:00.000-04:00

I've been busy trying to prepare for a move into my new apartment, so this week's Friday Five is mostly apartment stuff.

This Manchester Media Stand would be a perfect place to keep my albums and record player (which is actually the one shown in this picture)!

(via Urban Outfitters)

I would love to live in a loft like this. Wood floors and exposed brick <3

(via Tumblr, not sure who took it though)

The Poster List has a ton of great prints that I'd love to buy and frame. This is one of my favorites.

(via The Poster List)

This Henry Sectional is great and after looking for the perfect couch, I have my eye on this one or something very similar to it.

(via West Elm)

This BBQ Hot Pot is so clever and a great way to disguise a grill if you only want a tiny one.

(via Snow Home)

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

YESvember!

2011-11-02T17:43:00.001-04:00

For me, the end of October signifies the start of YESvember! During the month of November, I make a commitment to make it a month to remember. I do my best and work hard. I try new things and just really make an effort to have an exciting and interesting month.

This year I'll also be participating in NaNoWriMo (more details to come), so it will definitely be a great YESvember. I'm only two days in, but I've already accomplished a handful of things. It's important to give it your all with everything you do, and this month allows you an opportunity to see what you can accomplish when you operate at 110%.

Adventuring Outside of Your Comfort Zone

2011-10-31T12:54:00.001-04:00

I saw this illustration on Tumblr the other day, and it really resonated with me. With this movie to Ohio, I took a step outside of my comfort zone, and I want to keep stepping. I am determined to live an interesting life, and the best way to do that is to be uncomfortable. Comfort lets you sit at home every night, never meeting anyone new or doing anything you haven't tried before. Comfort lets you admire traits and hobbies of others while never actually developing any of your own.

It's time to be uncomfortable. It's time to shake things up a little and really find out what it means to live.

Illustration from Keri Smith.

Introducing The Friday Five

2011-10-28T15:35:00.000-04:00

In an effort to force myself to blog more consistently, each week I'm going to post five things that I really like at the moment. Here's hoping it sticks!

Dogs in costumes will always and forever be one of my favorite things. Part of me wants to get a dog just so I can dress it up for Halloween.

(via The Columbus Dispatch)

DIY elbow patches on comfy sweaters. I can't afford sweaters with the elbow patches on them already, so I'll be doing this a lot this season.

(via BizCore)

Wild Berry Zinger tea is so delicious (when you add sugar it tastes kind of like hot jello). I drink tea every morning, so that's a great way to start the day.

Amazing zombie pumpkin carvings made out of the world's largest pumpkin.

(via Nerd Approved)

Really cute embroidery projects. I actually like this entire blog, so if you haven't stopped by Thirty Handmade Days, you should get on that.

(via Thirty Handmade Days)

Hope everyone has a fantastic Halloweekend! Stay safe!

Greetings from Ohio!

2011-10-26T16:29:00.000-04:00

Last week I decided to take a big life jump and moved to Ohio! When Cam (my cat) and I got here, it was raining and 40˚, but I couldn’t be happier. It feels good to take steps towards independence, and even though I will miss being at home, I’m excited to see where this path leads. I’ve only been here a week, but I’ve already landed one job, signed a lease for an apartment, and become vaguely familiar with the area. Not too shabby, if I say so myself.

Here are a few photos I snapped while driving around. It's been raining a lot lately, but when it's not, it's gorgeous out.

They have a lot of parks in this area, and at one of them there is a monument known as the Leatherlips Monument. It’s erected completely out of stone to honor Wyandot Chief Shateyaronyah (Chief Leatherlips). More can be read about the chief and monument here.

The one thing I've already noticed that I'll probably have trouble with is dressing for the weather. I'm still used to Virginia being in the high 60s and 70s, but it feels like late fall here and I don't have many cold weather clothes. I wanted to avoid only wearing hoodies all season, so I need to start planning for that.

Tattly Halloween!

2011-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Halloween is right around the corner! I'm normally not a fan of holidays, but they're starting to grow on me. A few weeks ago, Tattly gave away 50 Halloween temporary tattoos to 500 people, and I was lucky enough to get some! Instead of rotting kiddy teeth, I'll be handing out cute tattoos to trick-or-treaters this year. Candy only lasts a little while, but temporary tattoos last ~~forever~~ until you wash them off!

Fall Boots Wish List

2011-10-17T12:29:00.000-04:00

If there's one thing I love about fall, it's getting the chance to wear boots! I have big feet (size 12), so it's usually challenging for me to find shoes that both fit and are attractive. Recently, more companies are starting to make shoes for women with larger feet, so my fall will be full of boots this year. Here are a few that I have my eye on:

1. Sperry Top-Sider 'Pelican' Tall Rain Boot

2. Gabriella Rocha Jadzia
3. Lumiani San Francisco
4. Gabriella Rocha Jadzia
5. Brash Ollie Plaid Cuff Boots
6. L.L. Bean Boots

Blood Orange: Perfect Music For A Dreary Day (or any day really)

2011-10-13T12:24:00.001-04:00

It's been dreary here for the past few days, and it takes everything in me to get out of my warm and cozy bed. I'm trying to cut back on my Netflix watching, because you can easily waste a day away on Netflix, and I have wasted many. Instead, I'm trying to focus more on music – both discovering new artists for fall and re-listening to ones that I've forgotten about. Blood Orange doesn't fall under either one of those categories, but I figured I'd share anyway.

Blood Orange, which is perfect for a sunny day or a typical fall day or a gray day like today, is the music of Devonté Hynes. Hynes is currently living in NYC and has also made music under the name Lightspped Champion. If you're interested in the man behind the music, you can read his background here.

This is the song that originally got me into him, so hopefully it will do the same for you.
Sutphin Boulevard by Blood Orange

Blood Orange Myspace
Blood Orange Tumblr

Dusty Signs

2011-10-11T14:54:00.000-04:00

There's something so unique and beautiful about a sign created by hand-lettering. This video showcases the talent of Dusty Signs, a small company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that creates signs for those interested in the art of hand-lettering. I wish I could learn how to do this, but my hands shake and I'm pretty bad at drawing straight lines. Probably wouldn't be the best career move for me.

Dusty Signs from Hunter Johnson on Vimeo.

Back from Los Angeles!

2011-10-11T09:30:00.000-04:00

Hello, everyone! I am back from Los Angeles, and I had the best time. Mary and I did a ridiculous amount of things in a week (including sitting across from Ryan Gosling at a bar), and I loved every minute of it. No humidity, tons of neat little bars and restaurants, and great hiking views make LA a great place to explore. I also got to go to Disneyland and House of Blues, so those are two more things to cross off of my bucket list.

Los Angeles is such a great (and huge) city, and I can't wait to make another trip to explore the other parts of California someday!

Trip to Los Angeles!

2011-09-25T12:11:00.001-04:00

(Photo taken by jondoeforty1)

I've been dreaming about going to California for the past nine years. Every year I make a plan, and every year something comes up. Well, I'm excited to say that in two days I will finally get a chance to see the west coast in all it's glory! I'll be staying in Los Angeles for a week, exploring the town and having a blast. My best friend moved out there in May, so I'm beyond excited to see her too. I'll be sure to take a ton of photos and share them when I get back!

Beers Not Bombs

2011-09-16T10:27:00.000-04:00

Beers Not Bombs makes bottle openers out of Peace Bronze, a bronze alloy created from cabling that once powered nuclear missile systems. There are three different openers currently available on the site: The Bomb (my favorite, shown below), The Aviator, and The Maverick. In addition to making cool and unique bottle openers, 20% of Beers Not Bombs profits are donated to peace and social justice organizations. They also have a second site called From War to Peace where you can buy Peace Bronze jewelry and other accessories.

Tattly

2011-09-13T10:22:00.002-04:00

Tatt.ly is a temporary tattoo store that combines the fun of temporary tattoos with the coolness of good design. Tina Roth Eisenberg created Tattly out of frustration over the poor quality of children's temporary tattoos.

"Tattly started out of my frustration that temporary children tattoos are often hideous looking. Think Clip Art gone Tattoo. I was ready to put designy, cool, typographic tattoos on my daughter’s arm. Tattly was born."

The store currently has 20 tattoos up, but hopefully the project will continue to expand as more designers discover the greatness that is Tattly. Here are my three favorite tattoos:

Rabbit by Marc Johns

Knuckle Tattos by Frank Chimero

Tattone by Josh Smith

Check out the site and buy a few! They're only $5 for a set of two and you'll have the most stylish (temporary) tattoos around.

Wallpaper Fun

2011-08-26T17:07:00.002-04:00

I spend a ridiculous amount of time on my computer. I'm cutting back (slowly, but surely), but I figured that seeing a message that encouraged me to do more things and make more stuff would also help. I've actually been making one background every day for the past week so I guess it's working.

(Also note how clean my desktop is. That never happens and is only clear because I didn't want a cluttered screen cap.)

Creative Mornings: Bobby Solomon | Kitsune Noir/The Fox Is Black

2011-08-25T11:56:00.000-04:00

CreativeMornings is a free monthly breakfast lecture series for creative people hosted in various cities all over the world. At the November 2010 Los Angeles CreativeMornings event, Bobby Solomon, creator of The Fox Is Black (formerly Kitsune Noir), gave a really interesting speech about his life and what he learned from being bored. I think what made Bobby's speech so good is that he's just a regular guy who did something he was interested in and it turned into a big deal. Watch the speech below, and be sure to check out his blog and see if there are any CreativeMornings events near you anytime soon.

2010/11 Bobby Solomon | Kitsune Noir/The Fox Is Black from LosAngeles/CreativeMornings on Vimeo.

I Get an F in Blogging...

2011-08-22T22:30:00.001-04:00

I swear I'll be better about this! I've been wrapped up in a new blog and it's Twitter account, but that's no excuse. I've also been busy looking for jobs and staying busy with some side projects that I'll share on here once I've finished them. To make up for the month I've been gone, here is a neat video of some childhood videogames being projected onto a building:

8 bit Invader (maping) from Darkfejzr on Vimeo.

The hunt for the elusive "perfect job" continues...

2011-07-08T01:57:00.000-04:00

Job hunting is one of the most daunting and seemingly endless tasks there is. I've checked Indeed, LinkedIn, Twitter, USA Jobs, and every green job board that looked somewhat legitimate, but I still feel like there are so many more places to look. One of my biggest downfalls is that I don't have a specific job that I'm looking for. I also don't have a great deal of experience, so I can't even apply to several jobs that I would be interested in.

My ideal job would be writing for something environmental/sustainability related that targeted young people. Writing for Incredibly Green was a great experience for me, and I really enjoyed being involved with that organization. Unfortunately, it was on a volunteer basis, and loans and bills make it impossible to devote a lot of time to something if I'm not getting paid for it. I probably should have done more job hunting when I was still in school, but I didn't want to send too many applications out and have to worry about conflicting job offers. I sure dodged a bullet there!

Tomorrow will be a new day with (hopefully) a refreshing start. If you have any recommendations for places to look for jobs that involve writing or sustainability, be sure to let me know!

Deck garden and the Summer of Skills

2011-07-03T21:49:00.002-04:00

I've been keeping busy with little projects ever since I got back from my vacation in New York. I've also been applying for jobs, but I haven't had much luck with that. I decided that I wanted to spruce up my deck, so yesterday I created my own deck garden. I'll post some pictures after everything starts flourishing, but I now have green beans, okra, tomatoes, peppers, and some pretty flowers to tend to. I also have a wasps' nest to avoid when I water plants, so if anyone has any suggestions for natural wasp repellents that work, PLEASE let me know.

I've deemed this summer the Summer of Skills, because I want to learn as many things as I can. Yesterday was a pretty good start. In addition to starting my deck garden, I installed a doorbell and learned how to replace carpet.

I have a lot of skills that I need to improve, so in addition to learning new things, I want to practice the things I already know. It's important to stay busy while I'm searching for a job, because it's so easy to fall into a pattern of sitting around doing nothing. I'm going to make an effort to include blogging regularly on my list of things to do, but we'll just have to wait and see how that goes. :)

Holstee Manifesto

2011-06-28T13:37:00.000-04:00

When the founders of Holstee quit their previous jobs and decided to start a company of their own, they created a manifesto to represent what they believed and wanted to accomplish. The manifesto has been circulated all over the internet and the creators hope that it serves as a reminder of what's really important in life.

The company has some really cool products available for purchase including a 18" x 24" copy of the poster, upcycled wallets, and recycled fire hose belts. Be sure to check out all of the cool things in their shop and help support them if you can.

Busy Night

2011-05-30T01:43:00.001-04:00

For years I've been talking about making a t-shirt quilt. I've accumulated a ridiculous amount of band tees, and I didn't want to give them to Goodwill, so instead I kept them in a bin in my closet and moved them around from apartment to apartment. Finally, on one of my last nights here, I started to work on it. It's actually a lot more work than I originally anticipated, but I'm pleased with the results thus far. I've added quite a bit to it since I took this photo, but I'm still not sure if I'll be able to complete it by tomorrow night. Either way, it's fun to see all the shirts that I once loved on a blanket!

Etsy Find Fridays

2011-05-27T18:42:00.003-04:00

Here are a few things that caught my eye on Etsy this week! I kind of want to start my own Etsy store someday, so it's nice to see such a variety of talent on the site. My favorite item this week is probably the kitty devil hat, but my cat is super sensitive about things touching her ears and would never let me put anything on her head.


	(via DreameryStudio)

(via xmoonbloom)

(via owlsofdestiny)

(via lulubugjewelry)

(via nealpottery)

(via womensgirl)

(via housefires)

Job Hunting

2011-05-26T23:04:00.001-04:00

I spent a good deal of today working on the job hunting part of my "big plan". I've been looking for sustainability consultant companies that would be willing to share some information and possibly give me some career advice. I know I'd probably be better off just flat out applying to jobs, but I want to get more information about a specific career so that I can start taking the necessary steps to get there.

I think I might also look into children's book authors and something involved with cats. If you know any good people to contact, let me know!

Big Changes Coming Soon

2011-05-24T15:03:00.001-04:00

I recently signed up for revolution.is, a mailing list that sends out weekly stories of up-and-coming change-makers, people who are changing the world by spending their energy living their passion. I recommend that you sign up, because the story today has inspired me to make a big life change.

Today's story is about Ben Parr, the editor-at-large at Mashable, and how he got to where he is now. The one specific part of his story that had the biggest impact on me was when he talked about how he was getting comfortable with his job and living situation and knew he had to make a change.

"I had always been interested in living in the world’s capital for technology and was tiring of the cold Chicago weather. While discussing my future with a friend, I said, “It’s time for me to change my life. I’m moving to Silicon Valley.”

Decisions are the easy part though. Taking action is far more difficult. Regardless of the fact that I was in a “safe” job and had no immediate prospects in Silicon Valley or San Francisco, I decided that I would move in one month. I gave my employer three weeks notice, took on a weekend editor role for the website I had been writing for occasionally – Mashable, and packed up my truck. With only a few of my things, I trekked over 2000 miles across the U.S. to reach my new home in the Bay."

I am setting a three month deadline for myself. I feel like three months will give me enough time to build up a nest egg, find a job, and prepare for a move. I'm still working out the exact details, but I will be in a new place on my 22nd birthday.

Etsy Find Fridays

2011-05-20T17:26:00.000-04:00

Here are a few things that caught my eye on Etsy this week! I can't wait until I have enough money to actually buy something and support this creative community!

(via matteart)

(via lulubugjewelry)

(via HoneycombPrintShop)

(via FuzzyMug)

(via memorydust)

(via whimsyandink)

(via blimpcat)

(via aedrieloriginals)

The perfect gift for list lovers...

2011-05-19T19:42:00.002-04:00

My Future Listography: All I Hope to Do in Lists encourages readers/writers to create lists of things that they want to accomplish in the future. There are over 100 list headings to choose from, including things like 'List Unique Sites to Visit' and 'List Places You Could See Yourself Living'.

As an avid lister (is that a thing? it should be) and a recent grad, this book will provide a space for me to discover some hidden goals and dreams that I have but haven't fully realized yet. This is my 2nd book in the Listography series, and I'm really excited to fill this one out.

P.S. I'm still working my way through Life After College, and I love it! Great work, Jenny! :)

"Tiny Hands" by Forbidden Friends

2011-05-16T21:07:00.003-04:00

I graduated from college on Saturday, and I'm still not ready to put all of my feelings into meaningful words. This song is called "Tiny Hands" and is by Forbidden Friends (the side project of Hutch Harris of The Thermals). I like this song a lot and have been listening to it non-stop lately.

Perfect way to spend the day...

2011-05-08T19:38:00.001-04:00

Today was absolutely gorgeous. The original forecast called for rain, so while the sun was out I spent a little time outdoors reading The Business Guide to Sustainability by Darcy Hitchcock and Marsha Willard. I've had this book out from the library for months, but schoolwork always got in the way of reading for pleasure. I'm only a chapter into the book so far, but it's pretty good! I definitely recommend it if you're interested in the advantages of sustainability in the business world.

I also spent a portion of today at the movie theater watching Something Borrowed, eating fried pickles, and eating corn dogs. It was a great day all around.

I am officially done with college.

2011-05-07T17:54:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that I've been here for four years, but I am finished! Today was the last nice day that we're supposed to have (weather wise), so of course I spent it in PJs watching a Star Wars marathon on Spike. It's my first time ever watching it, and I really like the story line. I'm not a big fan of Anakin in Episode II because he's whiny and annoying, but other than that it's pretty good.

A friend of mine sent me this video of a little girl pledging her alliance to Darth Vader at Disney World. Too cute...

Life After College: the Complete Guide to Getting What You Want

2011-04-27T20:36:00.002-04:00

I read about Jenny Blake's Life After College: the Complete Guide to Getting What You Want the other day on NY Creative Interns and was instantly hooked.

"Life After College is an essential manual for every graduating student and young professional. It features practical, actionable advice that helps people focus on the BIG picture of their lives, not just the details. Life After College will leave you feeling inspired, confident and ready to take action toward creating the life you really want."

Needless to say, this book is right up my alley, and I ordered it immediately. I graduate in 2.5 weeks (whaaat) and have no set plans yet. It's pretty difficult for me to write in books, but I want to really to complete these exercises and I'm excited to make this book my own. I'll let you know how it goes!

Ian Harding Follow Up Video

2011-04-25T15:23:00.000-04:00

Here's a nice video to follow up the interview that Ian Harding did with Incredibly Green a few weeks ago. He's such a sweet guy, and this video cracks me up.

Pale Blue Dot Animated Video

2011-04-22T14:12:00.001-04:00

This animated version of Carl Sagan's "Pale Blue Dot" is a great reminder that we need to start taking better care of our pale blue dot. Today is Earth Day, so make sure that you really think about what you can do to lessen your impact on the planet and start doing it.

About Me

2011-04-10T23:37:00.001-04:00

I don't think I've ever actually introduced myself on here. I just added a new separate 'More About Me' page on the sidebar where you can see a picture of me and my current top 10 list. In addition to that list, I've decided to create a list of 10 facts about me. What can I say? I like lists. So without further ado...

10 Facts About Felicia

I am left-handed. According to sources, this may make me more accident prone, and I've read other places that left-handed people tend to die 9 years earlier than their right-handed peers.
Thankfully, I am also a vegetarian and that adds 10 years back.
I've loved nature and the environment ever since I was a child.
I tell the best jokes and the worst stories you've ever heard. Actually, I tell the worst jokes too, but I think they're funny, and that's all that matters.
I think I was a cat in my past life. I don't really know what else would explain my extreme love of felines.
The smell of fresh laundry relaxes me.
I am always listening to music. If you have last.fm, you should add me as a friend.
I admire creative and ambitious people.
I make a ton of lists and notes. I'm always scribbling on scraps of paper or anything I can find. Lists help me get focused and organized.
Positivity is really important to me. I try to keep a positive attitude and surround myself with positive people.

I hope that helps you get to know me a little bit better. I'm sure you can deduce a lot from my posts, but if you have any questions either leave a comment or shoot me an email.

Things I Want In My Home

2011-04-09T13:00:00.019-04:00

These are some really cute and awesome things that I would like in my home in the future. These were saved in a folder on my computer, so I don't have sources for all of them. If you know where one of the unknown ones is from, please let me know!

This bed looks SO comfortable. I also love the brown and white color schemes.

(via homesweethome)

This bedside book caddy is so great. It has everything you would need!

(via smow)

These railings are really crazy looking, but I like them a lot.

(source unknown. do you know where this is from?)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this fridge. It has to be a custom job because I've never seen it anywhere else, but I must have this in my home!

(source unknown. do you know where this is from?)

Unique bookshelves are always awesome.

(via Olyvind Solstad)

I can't decide whether or not I want a more modern home or a quirky home. I'll probably end up with one in the middle. I definitely want a house with personality, but I still want that clean look to it. No real point in worrying about it now since I still have a lot of time before I have a house of my own. It's still fun to think about though!

Recommended Watch of the Day

2011-04-08T14:05:00.001-04:00

Morgan Spurlock: The Greatest TED Talk Ever Sold

While this TED talk pretty much promotes Spurlock's new film 'The Greatest Film Ever Sold', it is still definitely worth the watch. The film and parts of the TED talk show what really goes on in the world of brand marketing. He's a pretty funny guy, so if you have 20 minutes to spare I recommend you spend it watching this video.

One important point that Spurlock brings up is the importance of knowing your brand. If you don't really know your brand, it's going to be difficult to market it. That's one thing that I struggle with a lot. I need to work on identifying what my "brand" is and using it better in real life and online. (Right now it's probably a mix between crazy cat lady, Netflix enthusiast, and over eater.)

Ian Harding Incredibly Green Interview

2011-04-05T13:20:00.000-04:00

Check out this awesome interview I did with Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars) where he discusses his environmental side and why he thinks it’s important to care about the environment! Ian is a really sweet guy and he makes a lot of great points in this interview, so go check it out and leave a comment!

Operation Downsize

2011-03-27T15:17:00.000-04:00

With graduation fast approaching, I need to start addressing the ridiculous amount of crap I've accumulated over the past four years. You never really realize how much pointless stuff you collect until you start packing it up. Instead of groaning and packing it anyway, my goal this year is to leave with only what I can fit in my car (and maybe my mom's too).

Being an environmentally conscious citizen, simply throwing out the things I don't want is not an option. There is already enough waste in the landfills, and I don't want to add to it. Instead, I've started to research alternative options. Craigslist and EBay are always available, but what about the things I'm having a hard time selling?

One site I keep coming across is Freecycle. I've heard about this site for years but never really bothered to check it out until recently. The site is gaining popularity and creates an environment where users can offer their old unwanted goods to someone in their community who may want them. Users on Freecycle are not allowed to offer or accept cash or trades for any of their items, but if there's an item you're interested in that someone else is advertising, you are welcome to it.

There are some other alternative recycling methods I've found out about through Daily Danny. Right now he's doing a hard-to-recycle week on his blog, and it couldn't have come at a better time. To start things off, he shared a video of a TV appearance where he talks about some places that you can get cash for things you would normally just throw away.

I am definitely going to check out these sites because a little pocket change is always nice, especially if you weren't expecting to get anything back at all. As for the rest of my things, whatever I can't send away or sell, I'll give to Goodwill and hopefully they'll find a nice home for it. Let me know if you know of any other good places to part with unwanted things!

LEED Professional Credentials

2011-03-10T00:50:00.001-05:00

After a full day of job hunting and some side research, I am considering starting the process of taking the LEED Green Associate exam. The U.S. Green Building Council website explains the differences between the professional credentials, and the LEED GA exam is the only one that I am eligible for. I think it would be pretty beneficial to have that on my record, especially if I want to eventually have a career in sustainable/green consulting. Some benefits of having the professional credentials are that it's impressive to prospective employers or clients, you get listed in a directory of LEED professionals, and you can officially call yourself a LEED Green Associate or Accredited Professional.

All-in-all, it looks like there are a lot of positives to starting the process (especially since I still qualify for student pricing), so I think that might be my next big move. Even if I don't get to use those credentials right away, at least I would have them if an opportunity arose.

Cool Ways to Upcycle/Reuse Maps

2011-03-08T13:42:00.000-05:00

I collect maps and book jackets for no real reason at all. I was going to recycle them, but lately I've come across some really unique ways to upcycle or reuse any neat paper products you don't have a use for anymore.

Unique coasters make great conversation starters or gifts.

(via Martha Stewart)

You can make really cute wrapping paper...

(via annieisms)

or even cuter bows!

(via How About Orange)

If wrapping paper isn't your thing, you can always make your own gift bags. (I know these are technically newspapers, but you could definitely do this with maps too.)

(via How About Orange)

These recycled paper roses are so beautiful.

(via annarose photography)

When I get back to school, I'm going to try these with all the maps and book sleeves that I've accumulated over the years. All of these photos link back to tutorials except for the recycled paper roses, so those might take some trail and error.

On getting rid of negativity and negative people

2011-03-08T00:06:00.002-05:00

One of the things that I struggle with the most is staying positive. If you ask any of my friends, I always say to keep the PMA (positive mental attitude), but it's so difficult for me to actually follow through on that because I've surrounded myself with a lot of negative people. It's difficult to stay positive when everyone and everything around you makes you feel otherwise.

One of my new resolutions/goals/changes is to get rid of the negativity. I don't have time for people who are constantly bringing me down, and I won't tolerate it anymore. I am about to start my adult life, and I need to go into it with my head held high and feeling good about myself. People with no ambition or aspirations and people who only complain have no place in it.

I couldn't decide if I wanted to wait until graduation to let these people naturally fall out of my life, but I refuse to take another second of it. I want to make drastic life changes, and I either want to be inspired by those around me or not have anyone around me at all.

I am moving forward.

Neil Pasricha TED Talk

2011-03-02T21:08:00.001-05:00

This is a TED talk by Neil Pasricha called 'The 3 A's of Awesome'. He created the blog 1,000 Awesome Things, and this is a great lecture on the importance of optimism and being authentic. It's so important to try to stay positive and to enjoy life while you can, and I think that he really makes a lot of good points in this talk. I'm just starting my "real" life, and I'm sure that I'm going to have a lot of ups and downs. I just really hope that I think back to what he says and keep moving forward with my head held high.

New article on Incredibly Green

2011-03-02T18:48:00.001-05:00

Get the Scoop on Green Reading: 10 Books on the Environment That Everyone Should Read

Check it out, and leave a comment if you've read any of the books or have a recommendation!

Incredibly Green Internship

2011-03-01T15:01:00.000-05:00

A few months ago, I started an internship at Incredibly Green, a website dedicated to encouraging young adults to pursue their interests in the environment. I've been writing articles and pages for the site, and I wanted to share them with all of you.

Environmental Pathways (Environmental Career Opportunities and Environmental Studies)
Intro to Upcycling
Green Drinks and Eco Eats

Be sure to go and leave a comment and check out all the other articles on the site!

Concrete Steps To Feeling Better About Life

2011-03-01T14:54:00.000-05:00

I know I'm no expert on life, but lately I've been making an effort to improve myself and my outlook on things. I want to be a better person and enjoy life to the fullest, and I wanted to share my list of things that have helped me in case there is anyone out there also looking to improve.

Get a better diet.

Cut out all the fast food and other unhealthy food that you eat.

Exercise.

Commit to exercising a few times each week. You'll feel better and eventually look better as well.

Spend less time wasting time.

Spend less time browsing Tumblr, lurking around the internet, napping, and/or watching Netflix when you're bored. Instead, spend that time doing something you're interested in or getting a head start on something.

Have less stuff.

Get rid of a lot of the clutter and useless things that you've collected over the years. If you haven't used it in the last 30 days and aren't going to use it in the next 30, you can probably get rid of it.

Maintain a cleaner environment.

Keep the places you spend a lot of your time cleaner.

Make more ME time.

Spend time alone and use it for things that will help your future. Write, create, do whatever you need to to better yourself.

Dress better.

Take the time to dress better; you'll feel better.

Take vitamins.

Take a Vitamin C and multivitamin every morning.

Pursue your interests.

Research some potential interests or careers and then actually try to do those things.

Stop trying to be like everyone else.

Just be yourself instead of trying to be a combination of people you like. It will make you feel less stressed about not living up to someone else's lifestyle.

Stop procrastinating and creating unnecessary stress in your life.

Do things earlier rather than later. All-nighters really aren't that fun, especially when you had plenty of time to get whatever you're working on done early.

Try harder.

Give everything you do your all. You want your name to be associated with someone who works hard.

Stay positive.

Positive energy pays off. There's a good quote about not being able to control your situations, but being able to control how you react to them. Try to see the positive in everything. It might be hard at first, but just like anything, after you do it enough it will just become second nature.

If you have any other suggestions for ways to be happier or have a better life, please leave them in the comments! I'd love to hear them.

Finding Your Passion

2011-02-28T19:37:00.000-05:00

The Zen Habits Short but Powerful Guide to Finding Your Passion by Leo Babauta is a 10-step guide to figuring out what your passion is and pursuing it. Since I am approaching graduation with no clear idea of what I want to do, I decided to give the guide a shot. One thing I do know about myself is that I want to be my own boss. I’ve been interested in entrepreneurship for quite a while but haven’t devoted a considerable amount of time to it since I was in high school.

The Zen Habits guide requires you to answer a few seemingly easy questions about your interests and dreams, and then to use the various lists to come up with a concrete career idea that you can research and decide if it’s something you want to pursue. My biggest interests are cats, social media, sustainability, music, and the Internet. I have valuable skills, but I’m just not sure how to combine them with my interests or where to start to make them profitable. I haven’t started researching any of the dream careers yet, because I want to go back through my lists and see if I can add anything else or create a career by combining two or more interests.

My biggest regret is not devoting more time to this earlier. With graduation fast approaching, it doesn’t seem like I have time to really see what my options are. Instead, I have to take any job I can get, because I need to be able to support myself and pay off those college loans six months after I leave school. I just have to remember that I do have time and if I could create a career that I loved and that paid well, I wouldn’t have to feel miserable in a job that I took because I thought I had to.

I’ll be sure to post a list of the careers I come up with on here.

I'm Not Dead!

2011-02-25T18:50:00.000-05:00

Sorry I've been MIA. I've been extremely busy lately, but I'm going to make more of an effort to maintain this blog.

The reason I've been so busy is because I've been trying to juggle school, work, an internship, and a "real world" job search. I have about 2.5 more months until graduation, so the time to crack down is now. I sent my first interest letter yesterday, and my goal is to send at least three each week until I hear back from someone. Job hunting is a pretty daunting task, but I think it'll get easier as I go along.

Regardless of how overwhelming all of that is, I'm going to make sure to devote a little time each day to my blog. Kicking it into high gear! Oh, and if you haven't yet, be sure to watch a preview for America's Next Great Restaurant on Facebook and score some free Chipotle!

Goals for February

2011-01-29T01:14:00.000-05:00

I've always been a very goal-oriented person. I write to-do lists everyday (sometimes more than once a day) and always try to get everything crossed off. Actually, if I don't write a to do list, I probably won't get anything done.

My goals for February are:

Contact at least 3 companies that I'm interested in working with after graduation.
Create at least one thing each week.
Order business cards.
Get at least 50 followers on Twitter.
Finish rough draft of book.
Finish my daily goals lists.

The most challenging things are going to be getting new followers and finishing my rough draft. I've always felt that to do lists that don't challenge you are boring, so this is good.

Oh and if you're looking for a neat place to keep your to do lists online, check out TeuxDeux.

“What one tip do you use in your own life to bust / breakthrough low expectations?”

2011-01-16T10:59:00.000-05:00

Modern Audacity asked this to 18 of today’s most popular bloggers, thought-leaders, and change-agents, and their answers were actually really interesting. This one is my favorites:

“Remove the excess crap from your life. And, no, I’m not just talking about physical crap – although that was a big part of it for us. It was debt, clutter, fear, societal pressures, low income, conformity. All of these things combined to clog up our life – to create a burden that made it nearly impossible not to have low expectations.

You see, I believe that passionate expectations are at the very core of intentional living. And it’s just so damn hard to live intentionally when every decision, action, or desire is clogged with physical, mental, and emotional crap. Some call this “minimalism”… others “time management” or “simplifying”. I don’t care what you call it, but it’s an important principle. The less crap in your life the easier it is to fully embrace freedom. You gain flexibility. You are able to adapt more quickly and more passionately to your surrounding. Thus, you are more free.

Life doesn’t have to be a routine – in fact, our attempts to make life a routine are often the cause of low expectations. So how did we bust them? We just made it impossible not to bust them. By minimizing the amount of crap in our life, our newfound freedom did the trick itself. We are far from perfect, but high expectations are now common place in our life – and we aren’t turning back anytime soon!”

– Adam Baker, ManVsDebt.com

I definitely make an effort to do this at least once a year, and it’s surprising how much crap can find it’s way back into your life if you don’t stay on top of it. I’ll be doing this extensively over the next five months to prepare for my jump into “the real world”. It’s going to be hard enough to get everything together to move (hopefully across the country), and I really want my life to be together when I do. Less clutter/crap = more positivity = better choices = better life.

NY Creative Interns: Build an online presence in 10, 30 or 60 minutes

2011-01-16T10:58:00.000-05:00

NY Creative Interns put together a really good collection of tips to help build an online presence. I’ve been trying to get more into social media, but it’s pretty daunting to start from the ground up. I want to go into full force and see where I’m at by the end of the month. Hopefully with these tips and the others that I come across, I’ll be able to develop a good following.

About.me

2011-01-16T10:57:00.001-05:00

Sites like flavors.me and about.me allow you to put links to all of your social media and personal websites (Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, etc) in one convenient place. I set up a Flavors.me site a long time ago and forgot all about it. A friend recently mentioned that she was creating an account, so I logged back in to see if my old account still existed. I still had an active account, but a lot of site details had changed. To take full advantage of the new flavors.me, you now have to pay. I heard about another site called about.me that offered all of the same services as flavors.me did for free, so I set up an account with them.

I like having an about.me site because now I have a link to a website to put on my business card. There’s always the option of buying my own domain, but I don’t know when I’m going to get around to that so an about.me site will work for now.

In case you want to check out the site, my link is http://about.me/feliciabrower.

Winter Break

2011-01-16T10:56:00.002-05:00

Being home for winter break means having a ton of spare time to waste online repeatedly refreshing the same websites. This year I’m trying to be more future focused by spending the time I would usually waste looking up information about possible careers. I have one semester of college left, and I know that it’s going to fly by. As of now, I want to head west (Denver, CO to be exact), but I need to start getting my act together if that’s actually going to happen.

I’m majoring in Environmental Policy and Planning and Professional Writing, but I think I want a career that deals with social media, writing and/or editing, or sustainability. I still have a lot of thinking and research to do, though.

10 Online Tools for Better Attention and Focus

2011-01-16T10:56:00.000-05:00

The 99 Percent compiled a list of 10 helpful programs that aim to keep you focused and productive. My personal favorites are Track Time (allows you to track exactly what you’re doing and how long you’re doing it for) , Concentrate (only allows certain applications during certain modes), and StayFocused (only allows you to waste time on certain sites for certain amounts of time).

National Geographic Water Calculator

2011-01-16T10:54:00.000-05:00

National Geographic has a really cool water calculator on it’s Green Guide website that allows you to calculate how much water you use through your home, garden, diet, energy use, and more. After you see how much water you use, it shows how you compare to the average American and gives you suggestions on how to reduce that amount.

A few of my favorite websites

2011-01-16T10:50:00.000-05:00

In case you’re looking for some interesting sites to follow, here is a list of some that I check frequently:

27 Inspiring Young Online Entrepreneurs

2011-01-16T10:49:00.000-05:00

I couldn’t ask for a better article to start this blog than this one. Here is a list of 27 young entrepreneurs who are following their dreams and making tons of money doing it. I would love to have the chance to sit down with these individuals and pick their brains, but I guess following them on Twitter will have to suffice.