i entertain myself.

CNN.com: A Creative Life is a Healthy Life

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:04:06 -0400

CNN.com: A Creative Life is a Healthy Life:

The link between creativity and better mental and physical health is well established by research. Creating helps make people happier, less anxious, more resilient and better equipped to problem-solve in the face of hardship.

Studies say that the stress of work is consuming many of us. And that stress can lead to weight gain, elevated glucose levels, upper-respiratory infections and cardiovascular disease.

The creative path can be an unconventional one, and choosing it may sometimes be a difficult pursuit. To read about some creative tips from Tony Wagner, Innovation Education Fellow at Harvard’s Technology & Entrepreneurship Center and author of “Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World,” click here.

I feel like I just experienced exactly what is laid out in this article, especially the following points:

Shut out the noise. At some point it’s time to stop blaming family, friends and life circumstances. Ultimately the path to innovation requires a certain kind of inner strength, a spiritual discipline. It’s important to cultivate the discipline of listening to yourself. Even if you have no support, the support that ultimately matters most must come from within you.
Believe in yourself and your vision. Begin by making a declaration of yourself and your intentions. Put a stake in the ground by making a statement out loud in front of a mirror. Write about your passions in a journal entry, even on a piece of paper. We all have ideas and perceptions, but you can’t follow your dream and vision unless you can give it a voice.
Redefine failure and embrace iteration. By now, you have failed — and probably more than once. And if you haven’t, you are probably playing it too safe. We need to redefine “failure” as a society. “It has become a pejorative in our vocabulary,” Wagner says. No one wants to fail, and yet you can’t pursue passion and purpose without a great deal of trial and error and multiple failures.
Engage in self-reflection. Wagner emphasizes the importance of establishing a regular mindfulness practice, through meditation, writing in a journal, walking, yoga or other pursuits.

If the passion for and benefits of creativity are ageless, then imagination, creativity and innovation cannot just be a young person’s game.

The Wedding Industry Is A Load of Crap.

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:18:54 -0400

Shortly after getting engaged, I logged into TheKnot.com, as many other friends and brides mentioned that I might find it helpful as I began to plan a wedding. Maybe because of my background in television/web production I am more inclined to be able to organize the production of my own wedding better than other brides, but this website (like many other bridal sites) is a total load of crap.

Now that I’ve signed up with their site, they send me weekly emails trying to convince me to purchase things that I (and no one else on the planet) needs. Things such as:

Personalized Napkins, Matchbooks, and Coasters
Monogrammed Tote Bags
Friendship Vase
Monogrammed Cuff Links
And a ton of other crap that no one needs

Even as a soon-to-be bride, I cannot get into this nonsense. The industry has ballooned to a point where girls believe they need these things in order to have their wedding be “the most special day of their life.” Most women think about their wedding as an end-point, when in fact, a marriage is just a beginning. Maybe that’s why 50% of marriages don’t last. Maybe it’s time for women to stop feeding into this Princess Fairy Tale and start thinking about the realities of being a wife and sharing a life with another person.

joshmohrer: thedailywhat: Breaking News of the Day: Obama...

Wed, 09 May 2012 17:36:07 -0400

joshmohrer:

thedailywhat:

Breaking News of the Day: Obama Backs Gay Marriage: [UPDATED] President Obama has publicly announced his support for gay marriage in an interview today with Robin Roberts.

I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or Marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.

Obama, who is the first U.S. president to openly back gay marriage, had come under fire this week for remaining mum on the subject after Joe Biden and Arne Duncan publicly declared their support. The president’s announcement comes a day after North Carolina voted in favor of a constitutional amendment that bans marriage equality.

Obama’s interview will appear on ABC’s Good Morning America on Thursday. Excerpts will air tonight on ABC’s World News with Diane Sawyer.

[abc]

Opposing gay marriage is today’s equivalent of being pro-slavery.

It’s about DAMN time that this happened!

Photo

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:10:09 -0400

Big bags and a breezy boho vibe? Count me in.

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:36:00 -0400

Big bags and a breezy boho vibe? Count me in.

Wowzers.

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:34:00 -0400

Just watched both LIVE episodes of 30 Rock and was blown away. It was totally hilarious, ridiculous, nostalgic, and super impressive. I laughed harder at both of these episodes than I have at any SNL sketch in a really long time. I wish there were more shows like this.

Photo

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:25:44 -0400

Adios Barbie.

Wed, 02 May 2012 21:33:57 -0400

Adios Barbie.:

I just discovered this amazing new site that is focused on generating body-positive ideas, concepts, reinforcements, and resources. Their mission:

We say “adios” to narrow beauty and identity standards.

We say “hello” to frank talk about race, class, age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, size and how our multiple identities shape the way we feel in our bodies–and in the world. (Yeah, it’s a mouthful. But it’s also real.)

We’re committed to creating a world where everyone is safe, powerful and at home with who they are.

Think freely and live fully.

Don’t mind if I do.

i’m getting there. practice makes perfect.

Tue, 01 May 2012 16:59:47 -0400

i’m getting there. practice makes perfect.

I'm Getting Married!

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:08:34 -0400

I can’t believe it! Matt proposed to me last night and I was so shocked, I definitely did not see that coming. I don’t care so much about the wedding or being a bride, I am just so super-pumped to be his wife. We are such an awesome team and I am so blessed to get to share my life with him. I’m the luckiest girl in the world.

blowncovers: An illustration by Eleanor Davis - take a look at...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:40:48 -0400

blowncovers:

An illustration by Eleanor Davis - take a look at the fantastic step by step creation of this on Eleanor’s sketch blog.

Am I A Huge Nerd For Being Super-Pumped About This?

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:20:32 -0400

HISTORY debuts its new series United Stats of America on May 8 at 10p. Hosted by identical twins and stand-up comedians, Randy and Jason Sklar, the series relates the stories behind interesting and surprising statistics in American history. Future episodes reveal stats on how much money we make and what we spend it on; how long we will live; what we do with our free time and much more.

The New Job.

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:13:00 -0400

The New Job.:

thehilaryproject:

It’s official: I’m going to be working part-time as the Marketing/PR Associate for the Council for Relationships! I start on Tuesday, and I know that I am going to love it there.

The moment I walked into the office for my interview, I felt happy and positive—you could tell that was clearly part of the energy in the office and it’s very much in line with what I’ve been looking for. Then there’s my new boss, Irina, who is amazing. She and I totally hit it off and I know that I am going to love working with her. She’s been working in PR for about 20 years and she is going to be a great mentor to me. She’s also super excited about us working together, which is exactly what you want to hear when you are starting a new job!

And this is not just a new job for me, this is a whole new career. I’ve officially transitioned out of the media producer role and I’m going to be launching a whole new chapter of my life in the not-for-profit world. I have a 5-year plan, which right now includes soaking everything up like a sponge at CFR, continuing to volunteer and to network, and trying to pick up a second part-time job (I have an interview tomorrow!). Down the line, I’d love to launch my own business that caters to the non-profit world. I’m going to spend the next few years trying to strengthen my financial savvy and build a business plan. I am living proof that you can make your dreams happen, you just have to let go of your ego and never stop believing, even when everyone else does. At this point, I know I can achieve anything—it’s just a matter of getting clear about what exactly it is that you want to achieve.

I’m so excited!

lionskeleton: Mark Schoening

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:54:57 -0400

lionskeleton:

Mark Schoening

Saw this piece about how sugar and processed foods are ruining...

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:31:08 -0400

Saw this piece about how sugar and processed foods are ruining us on Good Morning America this morning. Katie Couric (!) sat down with Dr. Robert Lustig, an endocrinologist at UCal San Francisco, who espoused that sugar should be considered a controlled substance and more heavily regulated by law.

I was thrilled to see this on GMA because I think America is long overdue for a wake up call regarding the way they view food. I was lucky enough to grow up in an organic household, although I didn’t really appreciate it at the time (have you ever experience fruit leather? it’s not good.) and it’s been the foundation of how I choose to eat and feed my loved ones as an adult. I don’t bring anything into my house that is made with high-fructose corn syrup, I don’t eat Genetically Modified foods (check the labels!), and I try to only buy and eat organic. When I eat meat, I make sure that it was grass fed without any hormones or antibiotics.

It’s very important to know exactly what you are putting into your body everyday. We are given such a short amount of time here on Earth, and how can you make the best of it if you destroy the vessel that keeps you here?

On a lighter note, I LOVE these.

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:05:52 -0400

On a lighter note, I LOVE these.

Things That Can Get You Strip Searched (In America)

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:04:37 -0400

newsweek:

villagevoice:

From Victoria Bekiempis:

Unpaid Parking tickets

Adultery

Fortune Telling

Criminal Anarchy

Criminal interference with health care services or religious worship in the second degree

Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree

Making Graffiti

Unlawfully Using Slugs (fake coins)

While America was focused on the health-care hearing, the Supreme Court went and ruled you, average American, can legally be stripped searched for the pettiest of crimes.

Well, that’s not cool. Is anyone dreading December 22, 2012? Those Myans might have been on to something.

US Cuts Funding to UNESCO

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:10:46 -0400

US Cuts Funding to UNESCO:

mindsmatterphilly:

I was making my usual rounds on The Huffington Post today when I came across this article about the US cutting funds to UNESCO, which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Among other things, UNESCO has been a driving force behind global efforts that have helped put millions more children into school during the last two decades.

Here are just a few of the wonderful things UNESCO provides the global community:

An early-warning Tsunami system in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico

Holocaust education

Literacy training program in Afghanistan, for the Afghan National Police and Afghan Women

Improving the quality of education/higher education in Africa

Journalist training courses to cover elections objectively

What do you think about this?

Through my volunteer work, I have now taken on the responsibilities of Social Media Manager for Minds Matter Philadelphia, which is an amazing non-profit here in the city. They help high-achieving, low-income students prep for and eventually get into a four-year college. Above is one of my first blog posts for them (I also created a twitter @mindsmatterPHL—follow us!) and I hope you’ll follow us on Tumblr.

Fallyn sent this to me on Saturday and I can’t help...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:44:10 -0400

Fallyn sent this to me on Saturday and I can’t help myself, I just love it.

It’s a song by Carly Rae Jepson called “Call Me, Maybe” and the video features Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale and a bunch of their goofy friends who I don’t recognize. The video is so cute, mainly because it reminds me alot of what I did with friends when I was their age. I love it.

Also on the board—belted gowns. I might break this out...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:29:45 -0400

Also on the board—belted gowns. I might break this out for wedding season!