Day Eight: Why I'm awkward. Clothing stages through the years. When I was a punk. (:

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Writing Challenge Day 8
I'm doing a 31 day writing challenge, found on the Reverb website, designed to reflect on the past year and look forward to what's to come in 2011.

Beautifully Different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful.

This prompt makes me feel like I'm just going to be awkwardly talking about myself the whole time. That will probably be true. I also feel like they are two separate prompts and I'm not sure how related they are. I guess we'll see.

Part I. Different:
>>>> Clothing I have honestly felt "different" my whole life, but mostly in the awkward fashion stages I've gone through. I have almost never been content to wear "normal" clothes. I don't like to blend in with the way I look. I think the way we dress is a wonderful means of expression and art and creativity. I also understand that not everyone thinks like this,  and some people could care less about the clothes they wear. Allow me to explain my awkwardness through stages:




[Stage One: 2th grade - 6th grade] (Above) Anything horse-related, OR my dad's huge Gus Macker basketball shirts and any athletic pants. Oh, and a baseball hat. This might have still been my mullet stage. Ha. This is when I started getting really into volleyball (AAU, school team, travel leagues, summer camps). I also was obsessed with horses and rode at least once a week. You could tell. The volleyball and horseback riding didn't stop after 6th grade, but it stopped being apparent what my hobbies were based on my clothing. Haha.

[Stage Two: Middle school] Refused to wear jeans. Wore khakis and black pants everyday... mostly with chunky sweaters. Remember the ones with the single stripe running down the sleeves and across the chest? Anyone? I'm on the left in this photo. Perfect example of my khaki/cardigan combo above.

[Stage Three: Beginning of high school] Went through an awkward cargo pants and cords phase. I also bought knock-off shoes that looked like Doc Martins and colored the seam/thread thing yellow. I'm strong enough to admit that now. (:

[Stage Four: Sophomore year] I turned into a punk. I wore trucker hats non-stop. I cut up toe socks and wore them on my arms. Pink converses. Eyeliner. Vintage t-shirts from my parents' closet or Goodwill. Thrifting. (Thanks to my friends for still loving me through this :)



[Stage Five: Junior - senior year] I started to care (about half the time). I would still wear sweatpants and sweatshirts often, but I shopped at Express constantly. Back when it was not so expensive. For about 3 months of junior year, I wanted everything from Abercrombie.
 




[Stage Six: Summer after high school - Freshman year of college]
Went through a I-don't-care-about-anything-and-I'm-not-going-to-wear-makeup stage. Worked at Springhill. That might have something to do with it. This carried over to my entire freshman year of college. Did. Not. Care. Sweatpants all the time. Hurley sweatshirts. Hair in ponytail. Somehow boys still dated me. I don't know. (:

[Stage Seven: Middle of college] Did not like to match. Tried my very hardest to wear the weirdest combination of clothing I could get away with, and still have it look somewhat stylish. Mixing patterns. Bright colors. My mom would often say "you sure have a unique look," and other similar things. Haha. I had BLUE HAIR for a short period of time. Just the ends and underneath.

[Stage Eight: End of college - now] For a while, I wore hippie clothes. Headbands across my forehead. Tie-dye. Peasant skirts. Lots of layers. Blunt bangs. I liked it. I don't know what my style is now. It's so hard because I have a dress code at work, so I often feel like I can't fully express myself through my clothing. That might be why some of my outfits are so interesting when I'm home from work. If I could, I would just shop at Anthropologie now. Or Urban. Or Zara.




So, fashion identity crisis much? Seriously. I feel settled into my current style and I don't really plan on it changing a whole lot in the near future. It's still kind of out there, but toned down and professional. Favorite things lately:
          -skinny jeans,
          -boots with socks,
          -big necklaces,
          -neutral colors (usually with one bright color),
          -cardigans,
           -flower clips. (:

To summarize, I went from: boy clothes to grandma clothes to punk clothes to scrub clothes to hippie/gypsy clothes to semi-professional clothes. still kind of hippie sometimes. Phew. What a mess.




---------------- (Ways I'm "different" continued)
>>>> Food preferences. I like weird things. Like spinach in Greek yogurt. Falafel. Palak Paneer. Tabouli. I don't like a lot of normal things. Like meat. Cheesecake. Pancakes. Etc.
>>>> Ambition. Not that this is different than everyone, but I'm not a big talker. If I say something, my mind is usually set, and I'll do it. Starting a business, for example. Planning a trip to California on a whim with my BFF, for example.
>>>>Art. I love creative things. I need creativity in my life. I guess not everyone is like that. I say it makes me different because no one in my family shares that passion with me. I don't know where I got it from.



Part II. Lights people up
I like people. I think I'm pretty decent at reading people. I don't feel the need to elaborate on these things, but I think this is what I do to "light people up."
-encouragement. little notes. messages. affirmation. texts. whatever.
-creative gifts. i love giving gifts. a lot.
-dreaming. about travel and goals and inspiring people to pursue their passions and dreams.
-sharing/listening. aka conversations, i guess. i love asking questions about people and listening to their stories. i don't like talking about myself much until i really trust someone. 
-hugs. i like them. i'm such a physical touch person. 


Your challenge: answer both of those questions. I want to know how you'd answer them for yourself!

Day Seven: Top 5 winter drinks. Community. Thoughts on Dexter.

I have definitely been wanting to try a lot of new things lately. Food. Restaurants. Books. Outfits. Hairstyles. TV shows. etc. This is embarrassing, but I even bought Twilight on my new e-reader. I mean, I realize that it's not great writing. And it's definitely not my favorite subject matter or style of writing. I just felt like I had to read it. It's so I can relate to my students better...right? (;

Anyway, I have been hearing SO MANY people talk about this show, Dexter. It's about a guy who is a Miami forensics expert, but also a serial killer. I know that sounds crazy. He apparently only kills "bad guys" (mostly murderers?) who have not gotten caught. Today, my lovely co-worker brought me his copy of Season One and I just watched the first episode.

This is definitely not the type of show I usually watch, but I can see how it is addicting. The writing is actually pretty strong. The plot is complex and well-developed. There are even sub-plots of relationships and flashbacks to Dexter's childhood. I could do without the violence, but I guess it's necessary considering the subject matter. Character development so far is good; we know a lot about the motivation behind the actions of some of the main characters.

I just analyzed that TV show like it was one of my student's creative writing pieces. Haha. I need to stop. (We're doing 5-12 page short stories right now, along with in-class workshops. For each student, I'm typing a page or two, single-spaced, for their feedback for revisions. Now my brain can't think any other way.) I seriously love teaching Creative Writing. LOVE it.

I don't feel super motivated or creative today. I just feel really laid back and kind of lazy. It might be the weather. I did, however, just make some delicious coffee, which is helping a bit. (: I love coffee in the winter. Or, really, all the time. Here are my top 5 winter drinks at the moment:

5.) Pomegranate/blueberry protein smoothie

4.) Water (I know that's kind of lame, but I love water)

3.) Raspberry Green Tea with honey (I make this kind during my planning hour almost every day)

2.) JP's Milky Way Latte. Especially with good company. (:

1.) Hazelnut coffee from Wolfgang's. If you have not been there, you must go.

Your list? I'm really curious.

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Writing Challenge Day 7
I'm doing a 31 day writing challenge, found on the Reverb website, designed to reflect on the past year and look forward to what's to come in 2011.


December 7 – Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? 

I like this prompt. Mainly because community is always something I'm thinking about. I think finding community after college is a lot harder. In college, I had a ton of communities: bible studies, my Younglife team, college Younglife friends, Campus Ministry people, roommates, Springhill groups, co-workers at the Writing Center, weekly Founders crew, church friends, people from classes... It's unbelievable how plugged in you can be during college years. It was so busy, but I loved it. I don't think I would be happy if I wasn't constantly busy or constantly around people all the time.

That's why this year has been kind of tough. While I don't really have a ton of free time, I miss having so many communities to be a part of. I mean, I really don't have many now. I have great co-workers. Our weekly dinner crew. My wonderful friends from college. Some friends from high school. I need more consistency. I think that's a huge part of community. A set time to vent, talk to each other, cook food together, have deep conversations, encourage one another, etc. But it's also knowing that those people will be there when you need them. I'm such a relational person. I get a lot of my motivation and encouragement through interactions with others. I love people. I love meeting new people. I'm comfortable with community and I'm kind of lost without it. I'm not saying that's a good thing. It is what it is. I need really strong, close, trusting friends who know how to affirm me and tell me when I'm being ridiculous. (:


I have a few communities that I've been a part of in the past that I really, really miss. One is Springhill. Ugh. That place kind of forces you to grow close to your co-workers just because of the pure exhaustion of the job (physically, emotionally, spiritually). I made some of the best friends that I could ever have asked for. People there, it seems, just accept you for exactly who you are. Encourage you. Leave you notes and messages constantly. Go on weekend adventures with you. Love kids with you. Grow spiritually along side of you. It's amazing how quickly community can form there.

Some lovely Springhill co-workers on a weekend off (: or, a Saturday off, really... since we worked until Friday evening and came back Sunday morning. But we loved it.

Same with Younglife. When I did Younglife training, I wasn't planning on becoming a leader unless I could join a team that some of my friends were already a part of. I had some big change of heart when I met with Theule to get placed at the end of my freshman year of college. I told him to put me wherever they needed leaders... and again, met some of my closest friends through that. Like Springhill, because it's ministry-based, a strong community amongst the leaders is so beneficial. I miss those people. I miss hearing about everyone's life at dinners before club every week. Going to see our students' sports games and musicals. Leading campaigners. Having really good conversations. Hanging out outside of YL. I don't have anything like that right now.

My YL team. I love them.

I don't really know where I'm going with this, other than the fact that I know I'm seeking a strong community right now, but I don't know where to find it. I recently started going to a new church (which I love), and I'm hoping that it might provide some good community once I get more involved.

I also want to join a community of writers. I want to have friends with whom I can share my writing. I want to read theirs. That's why I miss having Alex here... I miss sharing writing we're working on over coffee, getting feedback on it, going thrifting, watching ridiculous Whose Line clips at Panera, etc. (: Come back to the US, please. Along with the writing community idea... I used to have an Art Conspiracy website where I would post things I had written... I miss that, too. I miss having writing workshops in college. I miss having time to write. I miss doing writing workshops at someone's house with our entire college Creative Writing class... complete with guitar music, food, and candles. And our professor. (:

But really, where do you find strong community after college? It's hard. But I think it's necessary. It's healthy. And worth the struggle and the search and the longing...


I don't know how to end this. I feel like a student who has no idea what a conclusion is or how to tie back to the hook. Ugh. Sorry about the organizational mess of this post, but I think I got out what I needed to get out. Phew.
(:

Day Six: DIY headbands. Finding time to make things. Why I love Jimmy John's.

I'm pretty sure Holland is turning me dutch. Yesterday for dinner, I went to Jimmy John's... you know how you can get the bigger size sub for like $1 more? Well, I did that. Then I came home and took half of the sub out, and put it on a tortilla for my lunch today. Someone at work asked me why I didn't just cut the sub in half. I don't really know. That's a great idea. Haha. Anyway, I always get either the #6 or #13, which is essentially the same sub. I never used to like Jimmy John's, but I love it now... for two main reasons. Sprouts and avocados. And I guess the bread is okay, too.

Last night, I spent a good majority of my evening making headbands out of a vintage lace dress I bought. I loved it. I even brought my sewing machine in from my trunk, but I haven't used it yet.
I'm going to do a quick DIY post today on the two different headbands I made. Both of them can be modified easily to use different fabric, colors, and designs.

Headband #1: Lace and Pearl.

You see that lace collar that's around the neckline of this dress (shaped like a V)? I started by cutting that off the dress.

I cut the thicker lace part from the collar and wrapped it around a headband (purchased at Ulta), securing it with hot glue. Burned my fingers a few times.

It took a while to get all the bumps smoothed, but this is what it looked like afterward. I was originally planning to attach a lace flower with a cameo to this headband, but I did not like the way it turned out... the lace was too thick.

Next, I made a string of pearls on wire and secured the ends with crimp beads and crimp tool.

At first, I glued the beads to the top of the headband to try to cover up some of the lace, but they stuck up way too much when I had it on my head. I took them off, and glued them more along one of the sides.

Finished product.

Headband #2: Applique and Felt. 

For this next headband, I cut out two circles from a piece of light beige felt (usually $0.50 or $1.00 at any crafting store).

I cut an applique off the lace vintage dress collar I used for the last headband. I glued and handsewed the applique to the felt  circle.

Next, I glued the felt piece to the headband, then glued the second circle to the back of the headband to secure it in place.

And done.

Pretty easy!

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Writing Challenge Day 6
I'm doing a 31 day writing challenge, found on the Reverb website, designed to reflect on the past year and look forward to what's to come in 2011.



Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?

Well, what good timing. I have been wanting to spend some time creating things for a while, and my antique store spree yesterday inspired me. Obviously, the beginning of my post answers the first two questions.

There are a number of things I WANT to make, it's just a matter of finding the time to do it. I wish I used my sewing machine more. Last year, my roommate and I would get our machines out occasionally and spend the evening making purses and clothes and headbands... I miss that.
I want to make a big painting. I always buy relatively small canvases, but I want to make one that's maybe 48 x 36". Maybe bigger. I want an ongoing project that I work on for weeks. Usually when I paint, I'll finish a piece within a couple days.
I want to make a sketchbook.
I want to keep a journal.
I want to make my own stationary and send letters to friends in faraway places.
I want to make more feather headbands.
I want to make another pair of moccasins.
I want to make a new, exciting recipe.
I want to make a recipe book.
I want to make prints of photos I've taken and actually do something with them.

I want to make a big map and mark the places I've been, and the places I want to go.

...I could go on.

Day Five: Antique stores (top 5 best and worst picks). Letting go of toxic people. Vintage lace dresses.

After work today, I went to a local antique store that one of my students told me about. I get lost in antique stores because I feel like I need to look at everything. There's so much random stuff and it never seems organized and I don't want to miss anything. I ended up buying a few things. A vintage lace dress. Five cameo pendants. A necklace. I decided to document my visit with a top 5 list for you. Apologies because these were taken from my iPhone. (:

Top five worst antique store picks:

#5: Dolls. Any kind of doll. I never liked these growing up. In antique stores, they're usually dirty and old and creepy looking. Bleh.

#4: Dutch stuff. We don't have this stuff in my original hometown (:

#3 Singing rattlesnake eggs. Or other random toys. Who would pay money for this? I don't even know what it means?

#2: Boots and flowers. No joke, this cost $25 if I remember correctly. Why?!

#1: Weird lamps. Come on. What on earth is this? It reminds me of that leg lamp from A Christmas Story. Haha.

Top five best antique store picks:

#5: Purses. Lots of beading, designs, and interesting colors.

#4: Vintage bikes. I've wanted one for a while. They're great in photos, too.

#3: Chinese porcelain. I like these patterns. I think I want a cabinet of stuff like this when I own a house someday.

#2: Old books. Coffee table books about interesting things. I love the yellow pages...and thinking about who owned that book before me. I recently bought a travel photography book from the 1970's that I love. It was $3.00.

#1: Tea kettles. These are more for decor, but I really want a vintage tea kettle. I have for a while. I always find a few that I like at antique stores, but they are way too expensive for me to actually purchase.

So much stuff. Multiple this picture by 1000 and that's how much stuff there was in this store. I was there for over an hour.

I bought this. I have a rough idea in my head about how I'm going to revamp it.

I almost bought this. I want one. I'm going to wait.

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Writing Challenge Day 5
I'm doing a 31 day writing challenge, found on the Reverb website, designed to reflect on the past year and look forward to what's to come in 2011.

Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why?

I let go of a lot of things this year. I let go dealing with guys who are insecure and don't know what they want. I let go of friends who aren't supportive or encouraging. I let go of feeling like I have to do what's expected of me. I let go of giving up my dreams in exchange for logic and practicality. I let go of not standing up for myself or speaking my mind.

I think I have grown in myself this year more than any other year I can remember. I am not afraid to tell people they hurt me. I am not afraid to say goodbye to (toxic) people who aren't good for me -- even though it's hard. I know what I deserve and I am not accepting anything less. That means a lot of honestly, heartache, and tough conversations. A lot of crying. A lot of anger. A lot of writing. My heart has been hurt more this year in many different ways that any other year... but those things, more than anything, have made me grow this year.

By letting go of expectations of others, I feel more empowered to really figure out what makes ME happy. For a lot of my life, I have cared what other people think of me and tried to make everyone happy. I am finally learning about myself and what I want. I think it's healthy to learn to be a little selfish. I know that certain things in my life right now are weighing me down and not providing joy and contentment... but I plan to change that. Soon. Within a few years. I know what I want now... and I'm not afraid to go get it. Identifying those things that weigh you down is the first step. What, in your life, do you feel like is taking away from TRUE happiness? And is it something you can let go of?

There are going to be people in your life that will try to control you. Tell you what to do. Manipulate you to get what they want. Use you. Hurt you. Learn to cut the ties. As hard as it is... you will feel SO much better afterward. You. deserve. BETTER. Don't waste your time with those people. I know they're charming and cute and fun to be around and friendly... but if the cons outweigh the pros... get them out of your life. Do some assessing of friendships and relationships. Are you settling? Why are you still clinging to those toxic relationships? Why are you still clinging to the people who continually hurt you and break your heart? I know. I've been there, trust me. You might not realize it at the time, because this type of relationship is masked by the occasional redeeming quality or thoughtful text or good laugh or promise to change... however, those relationships are heavy. They're cumbersome. They're suffocating. And slowly but surely, they will bring you down. But there's space to breathe on the other side. Just cut the ties.

I like the changes I've seen in myself this year...mostly. I am proud of myself for choices I've made in letting go of bad, hurtful, and unhealthy relationships. Even though I know what I SHOULD do in many cases, that doesn't mean I always do it... but I have tried my best to follow through with keeping these people out of my life. There is such beauty in the strength of letting go of the things that weigh us down. That DOESN'T mean it's easy. But it's such a lovely freedom.

Day Four: Really, who decided what type of food counts as breakfast food?

Quick sidenote before the actual post today. If you want some creative DIY ideas for gifts, visit this website:
http://www.giverslog.com/giftguides/

I'm personally thinking about doing the Flower Sash Tutorial first. I'll let you guys know how it goes. (:

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Writing Challenge Day 4
I'm doing a 31 day writing challenge, found on the Reverb website, designed to reflect on the past year and look forward to what's to come in 2011.
  

Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? // What do you wonder about?

I'll be honest. I think I tend to over-analyze, so I'm constantly wondering about things.

I wonder...
if I will ever travel enough to be satisfied.
what would have happened if I went to a different college in a different state.
where I would be if I had a different major.
why I wear certain shoes that I know will hurt my feet.
how taste buds work.
why I love watching dumb shows like the Bachelor.
why some words sounds weird when you say them a bunch of times.
why people tell me I'm intimidating.
what people bought before with the money I have in my wallet.
why I don't like movies.
why roses are supposed to be "romantic." I'd rather have wildflowers.
who decided what type of food is breakfast food. Why don't people eat sandwiches for breakfast?
why I like the people that hurt me.
what it would be like to live in other cultures.
what I'm supposed to do with my life.
why I like things that my family hates (coffee, for example)
why I people tell me I have a southern accent.
why more people don't like tofu.
why some people are so much harder to get over.
why professional athletes get paid so much.
why certain people are only in my life for a short period of time.
why certain people stick around.

I know this is weird, but when I was younger, I made a list of questions (like that, but simpler, obviously) that I had about life in general. My mind was always working. When I was 9, suddenly SO many things about life making sense to me. For some reason, that year, so many things clicked. Questions I had got answered. I started being able to figure things out on my own. It might have been because my best friend at the time was in 6th grade... but as a result, I stopped wondering as much as I did when I was young. It was like my curiosity was satisfied, and I didn't have the desire to ask those big questions anymore.
It's kind of sad. I guess it's a part of growing up. I just wonder if it has to be.

Day Three: Life lessons learned from backpacking trips.

Writing Challenge Day 3
I'm doing a 31 day writing challenge, found on the Reverb website, designed to reflect on the past year and look forward to what's to come in 2011.

  
Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). 


Definitely at the top of Hurricane Pass in the Grand Tetons. I went backpacking a ton this summer, and one of the trips was through the Teton Mountains in Wyoming. I have this strong affinity for the mountains and being in nature; it always makes me feel refreshed and alive and carefree. Unless I'm caught on the Death Canyon shelf during a huge thunder/rainstorm. Ugh.


This picture is the hike on the way up (we were heading up to the top of that rock formation). It doesn't look that steep, but it was pretty intense. The trip was pretty exciting, because as you can see ahead, our trail was covered in deep snow. We had to find a different way (that involved some bouldering and rock climbing). There were other hikers using ropes and anchors (and ice picks) to get up to the top of the pass.







This last picture is at the top of the pass. Honestly, the only thing I can tell you is that the air feels so much fresher and more purified up there. Even though it's thinner because of the 10,000 ft. elevation, it's like you don't want to stop breathing in because it's SO refreshing. I can't get enough of mountain air.

Another reason why I love backpacking is because there are so many life lessons you can take away from them. For example:

1.) Pick a goal (even if it's short-term) and stick to it.
The trick to hiking (especially steep rock faces) is to pick a spot ahead and set that as your goal to reach. Once you get to that landmark, take a break for 30-45 seconds, then keep moving. When climbing up a steep portion of the trail, you want to take few "packs off" breaks, because it expends a lot of energy getting the heavy packs on and off. It's best just to keep moving, taking short breaks the whole way. Looking at your end destination (a mountain peak or shelf) can be SO overwhelming at times. I remember looking at the top of Hurricane Pass and thinking, "There's NO WAY we'll make it all the way up there... before lunch!" Well, we did it.
---> Making short-term goals can make your long-term goals much more manageable. It's easy to get overwhelmed to the point of exhaustion or quitting. You can't give up in backpacking. You need to get to your next campsite, so you'll have shelter and a place to cook your next meal. Just. Keep. Moving. Break your long-term goal into a group of smaller tasks and tackle one at a time. Soon, you'll be standing at the top of your "mountain." (:

2.) Think ahead and be prepared.
Obviously, there's a lot to think about with backpacking; everything you need for the trip you carry on your back. There's no running to the store if forget a raincoat. There's no scrounging through the cupboard if you run out of food. It's SO important to think of any possible scenarios and pack accordingly.
--->Thinking ahead goes hand-in-hand with preparation. Make a list of things you want to do and see in your life. Writing goals is a first step to "thinking ahead" and being intentional about your future. Start with a list of 10 things, even. Maybe you want to learn Italian. Maybe you want to go on a cruise in the Mediterranean. Maybe you want to own a community center/artist workspace. Or maybe that's just me. (;

3.) Don't focus too much on the trail that you forget to look around.
In Cascade Canyon, I was so busy focusing on my feet and not tripping (the trail was super rocky) that I BARELY looked up to enjoy the view. I have a couple pictures from this part of our hike. I don't remember seeing those scenes in person.
---> Don't be so focused on your job, your finances, or whatever is important to you that you forget to relax and look around. It's good to look down sometimes and slow down to "get your footing," but don't let that stop you from enjoying life.

4.) Terrain changes. Weather changes. Plans change. Adapt.
On our trip, we experienced a lot of little (or big) setbacks. People in our campsite we had reserved. Animals that chewed through pack straps. Huge storms and hours spent under a rainfly waiting them out. The only way to survive and have a successful trip is learning to adapt.
---> Be innovative. Be creative. If something in life isn't going as planned, find a new trail. Flexibility is key. Things will happen in your life that you're not prepared for. Those are things you cannot control. You CAN control your reaction and response to those things.

5.) Plan for photo stops and a little off-roading.
Some of the best views are off the main path. I've met plenty of people while backpacking who think of the trip just in terms of the end destination. They can't wait to reach the mountain peak or the highest point of their journey. They don't take time to take pictures and relax because they're so focused on what's ahead. ENJOY the moment. It's not always about the destination.
---> Be unique. Don't follow the "trail" (or your life plan) just because it's what you feel like you should do. If you don't like your job or major, change it! Don't be afraid to get off the main path and do something you love. And always, always take time to take some photos or just soak in the view. The journey is not measured in miles, but in memories.

6.) Develop an appetite for adventure... at least to some extent.

7.) Love nature. Have a free spirit.

8.) Take risks. Do things you wouldn't normally do.

9.) Push your body.

10.) Be peaceful. Reflect. Take time to relax and rest up at the end of the day or the end of the journey.


Any more to add?

Day Two: Top five from Etsy. How Glee keeps me from writing. Pretty folk music.

Two things you should do right now:
1.) Go listen to "I Can See Glory" by Benjamin Riley
It's the first song that shows up when you click on that site. It's really folk-y and soulful. I saw him play at Founders the other night... ugh. His voice is lovely. I'm obsessed.

2.) Visit www.etsy.com if you haven't. I have loved this website for years, but I haven't ever ordered anything from it. Before I started my jewelry website, I considered selling only through Etsy, but decided against it. There is some AMAZING, creative, handmade stuff on there if you are ever looking for unique presents.

Here are my top five that I love at the moment:

1.) Neckwarmers
Infinity scarves. Chunky knits. I like the brooch on this one.

2.) Pillows
Lots of colors and sizes and styles. They're SO expensive in stores (I think I spent $25 on one pillow a few months ago), but they can be a lot cheaper on Etsy.







3.) Steampunk and Birds
Steampunk jewelry is a really interesting concept.  It's almost always handmade with an antique and feminine feel. Most feature gears, watch hands, or vintage looking keys.







4.) Clutches / Eyeglass Cases
Most of them are between $8-$20 on Etsy.









5.) Upcycled Art
I'm not sure that I would ever buy a lot of the "found art" that I've looked at on Etsy, but I think it's fascinating.







  

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Writing Challenge Day 2
I'm doing a 31 day writing challenge, found on the Reverb website, designed to reflect on the past year and look forward to what's to come in 2011.

Writing. What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?

 I really NEVER write for fun anymore, so there are probably a lot of things. Here are a few:
-Time. Obviously, writing takes time. I don't have a lot of it. If I do, I'm always thinking about what I can do to get ahead in lesson plans or grading. I can't relax. Blah.
-Motivation/ideas. I used to keep a notebook of ideas for fictional stories or poems, and I'd write in it whenever an idea popped into my head. I don't do that anymore. It made it easy to focus when I had a little bit of extra time, because I already had a set idea in my head.
-Glee and Millionaire Matchmaker. Haha. Usually when I have a spare hour, I'll catch up on some of my favorite shows online. Those are just two of them. They're so entertaining. I don't have cable in my room, and our TV in the living room blew up, so I'm stuck with online episodes.
-Routine. In the past, I've set aside a time of day where I would sit down and force myself to write. Sometimes freewriting, sometimes continuing a draft...

I really miss having time to write. I don't think a lot of things keeping me from writing are things I can necessarily eliminate, it's more that I just have to fit it into my schedule.
I took 3 extra writing classes in college (that didn't count toward anything) just because I wanted to and knew it would force me to make time to do it. I'm planning to get my Masters in Creative Writing eventually... I think it will be good for me. And thinking about that makes me really excited. (: