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Moving Beyond Self-Satisfaction

So you might have gained something from creating your gift. Great. What else is there?

This post is the fourth part in a six-part series. You might want to read previous posts from the Stretch Your Thinking Series.

There are a multitude of reasons why you might have begun creating a hand-made gift in the first place. You may have…

• wanted to create something
• dreamed about trying something new
• desired impress someone
• wished to give a unique present
• wanted to add love to your gift
• gone broke
• gone crazy

Either way, you’re at least thinking about it. Now that we’ve gotten the gist of the gains that you’ll make from doing this, let’s change topics to what the other person will receive from the fruitful labor of your talents.

Let’s imagine for a moment that you’ve finished whatever you’re working on. Say it’s a baby mobile for your sister’s newborn baby. You present to her some dozen or so hours of hard work with a smile. She accepts it graciously and can’t stop reveling in the pure beauty of such an object, and marvels at the kindness in your heart. Time is not only money – it’s also love. Now, wasn’t that great? Everyone’s all fuzzy inside, and your hard work has paid off. When the baby grows up, (s)he will have a cosmic respect for you, and will surely feel loved and treasured.

Mission: Almost Complete.

Forge a Sense of Independence

The question for today is: What do you get out of working on a gift for someone else? In this journey of self-exploration through art and creativity, you will stumble across the unknown, leading you to obstacles (that you will find in yourself to conquer). But, how exactly do you prosper from these situations? What’s in it for you?

I’d say that one of the most advantageous parts of working on a project is that you find yourself quite alone. This is where your growing independence thrives. Unless you’re working with a buddy, the thought process that you go through, and the careful attention that you pay to your project can only be completed by you. In fact, the most successful preschoolers that I’ve taught are the ones who can focus for a time on their own work, only looking for help during truly difficult points. These children tend to be among the fastest learners of the class, and definitely the most mature.

Some alone time might be all that you need to prove to yourself that you are worthy of your own time. It’s something like going back to the basics of time management and adulthood. If you don’t dictate some of your own time sometime, then when will you have your time? I’ve found it an exceptional piece of advice to never allow others to seize your day and make you pay attention to things that don’t interest you. Because in the end, you won’t get the most out of your life if you’re not mentally there.

Therefore, remember that a creative exploration in crafting gifts will deliver its value twice if you let it: once for the recipient of the product, and once upon you.

Check out the rest of the Stretch Your Thinking Series

Part 1: Try Out a New Creative Medium

Part 2: Exercise Your Imagination

Part 3: Problem Solving: Gaining Expertise

Part 4: Forge a Sense of Independence

Problem Solving: Gaining Expertise

When you make a gift for someone in a way that you never have before, you’ll be facing uncharted territory (aka facing a path of problem solving and learning). This is wonderful news, for you’ll not only be blazing the way for other artists (provided you share your findings), but you’ll also be keeping your noggin in tip top shape.

Boost your self-esteem.

Finding a problem and fixing it lets you prove to yourself that you are capable of dealing with unexpected situations and making decisions that deliver – a job skill that’s high in demand.

Knowing that there’s always an opportunity to problem solve later allows you to make mistakes, and let imperfect creation thrive.

It’s not a waste of time.

Even if you end up throwing your creation away, it’s okay. Solving the problems that arise, and trying out something without fear will be invaluable for future projects. You might be able to brainstorm new techniques to use later, which will add to your repertoire of knowledge about your art.

Check out the rest of the Stretch Your Thinking Series

Exercise Your Imagination

So what do you do with a bottle of glue, some glitter pens, cardboard, and a pack of scrapbook paper? Duh, you experiment!

Be wacky.

Create weird things. Make the tallest structure you can. Then paint it beautiful. Make a windmill, a recipe book, a toy box. Anything. Just create it. It might be cool and it might be perfect for someone in your life.

Just start.

If you’re stuck without a a good project idea, then a quick tip to convince your creative muse otherwise would be to just start. When you take a risk with your art, you begin to see new patterns, and throw away the notion that only certain craft projects are “possible.”

Carve out time.

What are the most thoughtful gifts that you could make for the people that matter to you? Ask yourself that question every time you sit down with a variety of materials (unless you’re making yourself a gift). And be sure to carve out enough time in your week for you to be able to create without restraint. It’s an essential part of sparking your creativity, and a way to really make the unexpected happen.

Perfect isn’t perfect.

Remember that the things you create don’t need to spell perfection. However, that doesn’t mean that a gift shouldn’t be well-crafted, because great craftsmanship shows that you’ve spent some time on the gift. And that will make the difference between random crap you found around the house, and something purposeful and filled with meaning.

 

Check out the rest of the Stretch Your Thinking Series

Try Out a New Creative Medium

Do you need to get your friend/relative/spouse/child a gift in a few days? Do you also suffer from a creative slump? Perhaps trying a new creative medium could be the answer to both of these problems. Creativity block is cousin to a well-known problem called writer’s block, and is rumored to affect just about everyone at some moment in time. Often times, the creative block is mental. Perhaps you’ve fallen into a rut with your art (in whatever form it may take) and can’t seem to escape the monotony of your daily routine of creation. It could be time for a change.

In terms of health, when you shock your body by following a new or slightly more difficult exercise regimen you can make larger gains in muscle, and become closer to your target goal of fitness. This lesson can also be transferred to making good use of your mental capacities. Your brain needs a change in scenery in order to function more dynamically. In addition, trying out new mediums of art will give you an opportunity to view the old medium with a new perspective. You’ll gain ideas about how to inventively approach your old hobby.

So, if you’re ready to shock your creative mind, and are willing to try something new, I’ve thought up a small list of potential creative mediums to try out today.

Writing

· Expository

· Narrative

· Creative

· Persuasive

· Poetry

· Prose

Drawing/Painting

· Watercolor

· Pastel

· Oil

· Acrylic

· Pencil charcoal

· Calligraphy

Scrapbooking/Paper crafts

· Card-making (for different holidays, seasons, occasions)

· Decoupaging

Sewing

· Fashion

· Felt stuffed animals

Miscellaneous

· Acting

· Woodworking

· Decorating (interior or garden)

· Editing/shooting videos

The beauty of trying out a new medium of art is that you might be inspired, but that you also might have something special that reminds you of someone in your life. As such, you can gift this creation to that certain person for their birthday or other occasion. Because after all, a special occasion creates a need for creativity.

Feel free to post any other art forms that I haven’t listed in the comments below.

P. S. If this list inspires you but it turns out that you don’t have enough money to fund a new artistic endeavor, then take this simple tip: Shop your garage. Much like shopping your closet, you’re bound to find treasures galore. Markers you never knew you had, oil pastels, prismacolor pencils, old cloth, etc. Next in the Stretch Your Thinking Series will be tips on how to use old materials and a little imagination to shape your creation into something giftable.

Check out the rest of the Stretch Your Thinking Series

Stretch Your Thinking by Hand-Making Your Gifts

There are various perks to creating hand-made gifts, but the subtle facets of creative exploration that you'll pursue will be the most rewarding. Over the next week I will be writing a series of posts about how to create meaningful gifts for loved ones and friends, and stretch your thinking in the process.

So - I advise you to get a little crafty and tune in with me over the next week.

Here's a topic list for the series:

1. Try Out a New Creative Medium
2. Exercise Your Imagination
3. Problem Solving: Gaining Expertise
4. Forge a Sense of Independence
5. Moving Beyond Self-Satisfaction
6. Personal Touches vs. Devout Consumerism
   

How I Wear Florals (by using the art of balance)

A floral piece can be quite obnoxious if not worn with the right ensemble balancing it out. Although sometimes difficult to style, I'm in love with them right now. My style has morphed over the years -- from an athletic look to one with a more glamorous and girly flavor, so it makes sense that I'd enjoy florals. They are the classic delicate touch to any outfit. In both photography and fashion, I can't stay away. Here are my tips on how to balance out and wear this (long-lasting) trend.



Balance the fit of the garment
The blouse above has a flowy feel to it, but is cinched at the waist for emphasis. I chose to add skinny jeans because they also provide a contrast to the billowy top. The chandelier earrings mimic the width of the sleeves. The powder blue clutch purse serves as another focal point for the eyes.



Balance the colors
A common method in art pieces is to add a color in multiple places to draw the eye around and create interest. When I fashion my outfits, I tend to choose one piece to work off of and then continue building out from there.To create this outfit, I began with the floral skirt. I chose the pink ruffle top because it brought out accents of the pink from the skirt. The blue braided headband and yellow heels do the same trick. The ring on the other hand serves as a "toughener," adding a bit of metal grunge to this outfit of ruffles and flowers.


There you have it -- a couple of key points that I think about before putting on my florals in the morning.


So tell me: How do you like to wear florals?

5 Secrets to Overcoming Indecision

There's a strain that comes with too much freedom. A healthy soul knows that there are no limits to the possibilities of what it could be achieving right now. However, the mind isn't equipped to rationalize limitless options. We become indecisive when we aren't sure of the "best" path, or when we're sure there's always something "better" out there. A problem that I'm grappling with right now is that I haven't been able to make up my mind about how I want my new blog layout to look. I mean, I know that I can make anything happen if I put my mind to it -- but what do I really want to happen?

Here's how I'm narrowing things down so that I can make decisions and finally create something:

1. Pinpoint where your true happiness lies
If there's a gut feeling, follow it. In my case, I know I enjoy the crisp, clean, white-background layouts of many fashion blogs out there, so that's probably what I'll base my design on.

2. Do a little research
Just because you yearn for a certain outcome doesn't mean that it will be the best for you in the long-run. I suggest you check out competition to avoid being sold short. Your gut feeling can change with the right key information.

3. Expose yourself to inspiration
Sometimes all you need is someone to show you the way. I've been looking at the websites of skilled designers, feeding my own designer brain with high-quality images and well thought-out placement of site elements. This will eventually help me to imitate the great.

4. Retreat into your own mind
It is wonderful to be affected and moved by the work of others, but it is up to you to process that information and come up with your own mixture of styles.

5. Choose something
And understand that it's okay to fail, to pick something inferior to the "best" option out there. Keep in mind that you can always update, upgrade, outdo your original decision. This can't be the end of the world. So, don't let it be.

Happy choosing!

How to Successfully Make Your Own Duct Tape Dress Form

Making one of these homemade dress forms can save you plenty of money in the long run if you plan on creating clothes for yourself. The average price for an already-made dress form is about $150, and it's not even the same dimensions as your unique body! If you are to make your own, you'll spend an average of about $5-$15. I first got the idea from Youtube after researching sewing methods and DIY fashion, but I think that the advice I got from watching several tutorials was incomplete. So I'm going to give a run-down of my experience and a tutorial on how to avoid certain pitfalls.

Materials
-duct tape (at least 60yds, preferably more)
-scissors
-two plastic garbage bags
-a buddy

Estimated time required: 30-40 minutes

The Beginning
I was originally going to use an oversized t-shirt, but realized that it might be more effective to use a garbage bag since it would lie closer to my frame.

1)Line your body with a garbage bag (or two). To do this, cut holes for your head and arms and slip the garbage bag on. I used a plastic produce bag to line my neck. Use the second garbage bag to cover your lower-half if one bag doesn't reach your mid-thigh.

2) Rip pieces of duct tape into ruler-length strips until you reach the neck area, then rip the pieces smaller since you're working in a more delicate area. Pictured below: duct tape already formed around mid-section. (I look sort of like I'm dressing up for a Lady Gaga concert, no?)

3) After completing the midsection, move on to the chest. My only warning for this part: be sure not to create a uni-boob effect. Allow the tape to contour to you so that it's an accurate representation of you.

4) Be very sure to triple (or quadruple) the layers of tape so that it's a sturdy structure. I made the mistake of only putting two layers of tape on my form and it was fairly flimsy. This might be fixed when I fill it with polyfil, but for now it cannot stand on its own.


5) To remove the form, your buddy needs to cut it off of you in the back.

6) Tape it up in the back so that it is one whole piece again.

7) Stuff it with Polyfil (or anything else that you think will work).

8) Find a stand on which to hand/mount your form.

The Finished Product
The dress form actually looks pretty cool and futuristic. This project has got me thinking about other times where it's appropriate to wear duct tape clothing. Visions of Halloween are in my mind!

Last Week's Goal Review

As a refresher, here are my last week's goals, and my progress with them.

Creative Expression
+redesign my blog layout (working on the concepts for this)
+create a music video to a song (first attempt) (this is also in progress; the song I picked is really funny)
-finish up past three weeks of doodle club entries (have not started this yet!)
+make duct tape body form (done! Post about this coming soon)
+research prices for sewing machine (researched. Still not sure which one is right for me)

Scholarly Approach
+check out at least two books from the library (perhaps one in Spanish and one about sewing) (not yet, but I've got a plan in place; headed there tomorrow with the fam)
-find Spanish conversation partner (no progress as of yet)

Traveling
-research volunteer in exchange for lodging locations (still no)

This week has been a fairly productive one in terms of continuing with my interests and creating things that I've been meaning to complete. It will be a personal goal for next week to be even more productive.

Crafts Toy Box: Bringing Back the Memories

A wallop of time will be freeing itself up due to the onset of summer. Due to this, I'm deciding to let my creativity run wild, which also means that I'll be taking on more artistic challenges.

Right now I've been dabbling, and dabbling costs money if you're not already set up for the job. Hence, I'm slowly building up the inventory to be able to unleash my creativity. I recently likened the act of creation and crafting to my younger years of playing. My sister and I had a specific way we "played" with our toys. We usually created stories with our characters, and it was how we spent most of our free time. Of course, for the sake of organization, we had a large toy box that housed our action figures, stuffed animals, and general play things. Every morning when we woke up, we'd dig into our toy box and pull out some new toys to spark our imaginations. I want to do this with arts and crafts. By transforming plastic storage drawers into my crafts toy box, I feel excited every time I peek in.

Here's a picture of what my box looks like:


The top of the box holds my scrapbooking paper and my tissue paper (inside the American Eagle box).

Drawer 1
This holds my writing/drawing/painting tools and the other basic materials such as scissors and a sewing kit.

Drawer 2
In the second drawer, I keep my ribbons and lace, and general paper materials.

Drawer 3
I have miscellaneous things in this drawer; some of which include paper bags, beads, bows, and felt.

Now that I feel sufficiently prepped for any craft-work that I might do, it'll be much easier for me to go ahead and make things at the drop of a hat, or even ponder over what I could be making. This drawer is the perfect rainy-day thing for me to do.

Craft Project Completed: Black Pillow with Beige Lace Trim

I made this pillow for my lovely best friend's birthday last Thursday. I hand-sewed this one since I'm still not versed in the language of sewing machines. But I will fix that very soon. I'm in the process of researching the best sewing machine for my needs.

Weekly Goals: Week of June 7th

It's often easy to fall deep into details and trap yourself. It feels like you're working on something important when really your goals are far removed from what you're doing. You forget to put time limits on things that don't matter so that you can spend time on things that do. This is what I'm struggling with right now (as you may have read about earlier). I feel like I'm veering off into multiple directions without satisfying any of my goals (what were they in the first place?).

Here's my plan to combat this negative attitude towards productivity: I'll write a list of what I want to accomplish in the next week. It'll be out here for (potentially) anyone to read.

Creative Expression
-redesign my blog layout
-create a music video to a song (first attempt)
-finish up past three weeks of doodle club entries
-make duct tape body form
-research prices for sewing machine

Scholarly Approach
-check out at least two books from the library (perhaps one in Spanish and one about sewing)
-find Spanish conversation partner

Traveling
-research volunteer in exchange for lodging locations

This list is by no means complete, but for now it should serve as a launching point for any moments which I find myself busily daydreaming away my productive time.

Finally Understanding

I always tell my boyfriend that he shouldn't play so many videogames/iphone games/games in general. To me, they don't really accomplish anything besides the occasional increase in reflex speed. Today I connected the dots and realized that it's just what he likes to do. There doesn't need to be a goal or measurable outcome, only fun that results from his hobby. That should have seemed perfectly respectable from the start.

Some of the things that I enjoy in life are: photography, drawing, crafting, reading, writing, and interacting with children. He's got gaming. I understand.

Craft Project Completed: Stuffed Animal Memo Holders

I made these penguin and lion memo holders for my site managers at my job with the help and guidance of my boyfriend's sister. I decided to do this for them as a thank you for all of the support that they've offered me throughout these past two years of my college experience.

It feels nice to have been able to use my own skills, patience, and effort to create something that was intended for other people. Presenting them their gifts was a reward in itself. To me, it's a million times more valuable to receive a labor of love rather than to receive a store-bought gift. In addition, my site managers each have a unique present -- that no one else could ever replicate exactly.

Money is Random

If I want something, and I deem it would be valuable in my life, I buy it. I don't count it coming in, and I don't count it going out. I've tried many times to put a leash on my money, but it only seems to hurt me. I feel more free and I let myself do more when I don't view it as a finite source.

After reading books such as Rich Dad, Poor Dad, I see money as something that I have the capacity to earn. Losing all my money would not be the end for me. Not owning property has allowed me endless freedom. I'm lucky to have a wonderful support network (my family), so I'm not afraid to take risks and enjoy the items that money can buy me. Although I hold a fairly liberal view on money, that doesn't mean I spend recklessly. I'm quite frugal, and quite lucky. I value this luck completely and utterly.

Internet Break = More Inspiration?

So, I was on hiatus for a material-making-monster-appreciation-memorial-day-weekend. Yes. The gifts that I made for important people in my life consumed my weekend and countless hours beyond that. I feel so happy after having given the presents away, however. The crazy thing is, I don't even care if I get anything back in return.

A break from the internet was like me taking a breath of fresh air after having inhaled the stale recycled air of an office building for so long. I stepped outside. Outside of my normal boundaries, and outside of my mental comfort zone. I was finally able to focus on producing and not consuming.

The things I made include:

-a stuffed animal penguin memo holder for my site manager
-a stuffed animal lion memo holder for my other site manager
-5 mini scrapbooks for my team members
-goodie bags for the children in my preschool classroom

Taking on these projects and seeing them through to the end was a real confidence booster. Spending time on gifts for people who are important to me is so much more meaningful than buying presents. Store-bought items can be well thought-out, but are usually last-minute and don't hold the same intrinsic value.

In essence, my vacation from the internet was a productive one, and I'm not sorry that I took it.

The Blogging Gap

As a newcomer to the production of the blogosphere, I have dived head first into analyzing the place. A few trends have stood out.

Striating Differences Between Males and Females
As a female, I closely identify with fashion bloggers, and the whimsical delicate touches of crafts bloggers. I devour personal development blogs, but these are mainly run by men. Now, I'm not trying to say that the market is forcefully weeding out exceptions to stereotypes. On the contrary, the internet makes it apparent that the most creative tend to do the best. And it's not like anyone is forcing these bloggers to write about certain topics. They just naturally gravitate in that direction. And I'm no exception to the rule.

Rule-breakers
Of course, I do see wonderful rule-breakers. A couple of women who've I've taken note of in the past week are Sacha and Allie. Sacha rules. She is one of the most intelligent and constantly growing people that I can think of. Her curiosity is fueled by her motivation to help others by creating value. Allie is awesome because she uses a (sometimes vulgar) sense of humor to brighten up people's days. Her art is all done on a program similar to MS Paint. She is just plain funny.

These women are exceptional in their blogging content and approach because they pop out like striped octopi in a tank full of goldfish.

My hope is that one day I'll be blogging and run across the perfect type of post topic, one that will break a trend, or inspire someone and then become my focus. I will find my niche and it will be epic.

Networking and the Danger of "Invisible"

There are so many invisible things that we are fighting, creating, and absorbing.

When you know a person’s name you feel more of an affinity towards them. I say that it’s ridiculously important to learn other peoples’ names. When you can use that information, they are instantly in your web. Your networking web, that is. You can ask them questions; shout their name when you see them in dangerous situations; invite them to things. The world grows by one more link.

Physical representations of others are only first impressions, and they say little to nothing about how developed one’s internal characteristics are. People walking past us can be severely ignorant, or perhaps know more languages than we can ever hope to learn in a lifetime. As such, how do we ever find the limits of their knowledge?

We don’t.

All we can do is spend time with them and see if there is any growth or enjoyment to be gained from the relationship. If there is, benefits will come to you in time. If there’s not, then the relationship may not be a healthy one for either of you. But to find out, taking risks by choosing friends outside of your comfort zone is essential.

A Little Encouragement Goes a Long Way

It feels so great to encourage others and give out rewards to those who are deserving. It's even more special when that person was never looking for recognition or gifts in the first place. I think that's what makes a strong leader or contributor. It also doesn't hurt when that person is supported by people who have been personally affected by said person's work.

I positively love my work team and the support network within my organization. I can't thank them enough for the love and selfless advice I have received. In my fleeting second year of college, I can honestly say that I've grown significantly thanks to the encouragement of others.

Constant Goals

For the last couple of weeks, I've been taking it easy. I haven't had much success in the way of goal-setting because I was trying my hand at living spontaneously and freely (all of this was done before finals week). Well, it didn't really work out.

Surprisingly, there wasn't a day where I went to bed truly satisfied with my day's work. Without self-education goals, I refrained from extending my mental capacity. I read others' blogs, and found inspiration, but on a low-level, meandering sort of way. I had room and time for dreaming, but didn't find myself to be imaginative. Without exercising discipline in my day, I wasn't able to produce much. Without that, it's impossible to record achievements and spur myself to do better.

I desperately need inspiration and motivation in my life. I do get more accomplished when I've packed my day full of activities, but that doesn't mean that I must let someone else dictate my day. I can self-implement my goals which are usually based self-education about interesting topics.

Here are some things that I'm currently interested in finding out about/working on:

• Finances (including investment strategies, etc)
• Autism (learned partially about this in class today, want to know more)
• Sewing (got started with one of my appreciation projects, want to make my own fashion line)
• Art/Design (how forms come together, how to draw fantastic backgrounds, digital art, web design)
• Increase my reading speed (read about this in Tim Ferriss's 4-hour Work Week, but need to put it into practice more often)
• Exercise (how to stretch the right way, how to work more muscles in a workout)
  

I will soon come out with a more refined idea about how each of these elements will work their way into my life in a patterned manner. As for now, any suggestions on how to further my expertise in any of these areas is much appreciated!

How I deal with Stress

Whenever I have too much work to do, I naturally become stressed. I use one main technique to deal with it all. I plan.

Even when I have way too much to do for the allotted amount of time that I have to complete the tasks, I tend to organize everything into bite-sized pieces and time blocks to complete them by. I give myself generous breaks and time to refresh (e.g., showers, bathroom breaks, eating meals). This helps me to prioritize. If I'm late for class, I don't wash my oatmeal cup.

Robotically planning out a couple of stressful days helps me to de-stress. But when I imagine planning out every single day, minute by minute, I feel suffocated. A cherished part of my life is having the flexibility to do spontaneous things, but when I'm overburdened, I like having a plan.

What's your tool for de-stressing?

Write it Down and You're More Likely to Do It

I've noted - on more than one occasion - that when I write something down I tend to gravitate towards getting it done in one form or another.

During my freshman year in college we were told to write ourselves a one-page reflection at the beginning of the year, outlining our goals, dreams, expectations, whatever. I got it back at the beginning of my sophomore year. Lo and behold I had completed all of the things that I'd set out to do. I was so happy, and I almost couldn't believe it. This was the first realization of the workings of the Law of Attraction.

When I was in Ecuador, reminiscing over my days in the U.S. and missing my freedom to cook, be with friends and family, and learn certain skills, I wrote myself a checklist. I created quite a long list of many activities that I wished to pursue when I got back to the U.S. The funny thing was that I looked over my list again today and found that I had not completed all of the things I'd set out to do. Instead, I found that I've been taking subtle steps to begin achieving those tasks/goals. For example, one of the items on my checklist was to learn how to play soccer. I remember asking one of my friends who plays soccer every weekend to teach me. I didn't even remember that it was on my checklist.

I suppose that a written copy of my goals didn't necessarily draw them closer to my grubby hands, but instead reinforced the fact that I wanted to achieve them sometime. Perhaps writing things down makes me more aware of what I want on a subconscious level.

Try it out!
And let me know what happens.

You can:

• Make checklists
• Write prose
• Put pictures together and create a vision board
• Tell a friend (or beloved pet)
  

I personally prefer something written because I can look back on it to see the context surrounding the goal, and perhaps if I missed any subtleties in the process. It actually comes as a big shocker when you can read over something and it's true to what is actually happening in your life. Whichever way you do it, recording your goals is bound to help you actively seek more ways to conquer your dreams and make them a reality.

A Photo a Day Challenge

My goal is to take at least one photo each day and showcase it on my Flickr to gain an eye for composition, color, and possibly develop a photographic genius. It's been challenging so far in terms of capturing just the right clips of reality, and leaving out the elements that don't seem to add any value to the photo.

Photography for impact is no easy business, but it's a fun one.

What I like about photography
Sometimes I look at a photo and am overwhelmed with feeling. I think images are such a strong form of communication in that it can provoke emotions from an audience. The effect might be different for every person, but I believe that certain images have intrinsic value as expression pieces.

Random Fun: Hand Animals

These hand animals can be made just about anywhere. Who knows, you might be able to impress someone with these little creatures!

The Snake

The Camel

The Frog

All hand animals courtesy of Samson Lam.

Empowerment Vs. Devaluation

The question of today is: Are you empowering or devaluing?

Empowerment is finding the best in people and helping them pursue their goals without questioning their abilities.

Devaluation is writing a person off because you might believe they are too young, inexperienced, or otherwise unable to achieve their dreams.

If you can help a young person become something great, why not do it?

Here are some ways to empower those around you:

• Teach someone a skill you know
• Provide your services anywhere that they are valuable
  
• Be enthusiastic
• Encourage others in their pursuits
  

Wardrobe Thursday

Short-sleeved cardigan ($15, Nordstrom Rack), Sandals with slight wedge ($25, Payless), Pink custom-made earrings (gift), Lace tank (<$5, Wet Seal), Black skinnies ($25, Wet Seal)

I went for an airy look today with creams and pinks since it was such a warm day. I think I need a professional photographer to take pictures of my outfits because this mirror-self-picture-taking isn't going to work much longer!

Fashion Cravings

I first saw this Nike Yoga Cover Up in black on Fashion Style Advice's article: 3 Ways To Look Good While Working Out. I'm digging the extra-long length and the collar, but I think I'll need to try it on in person before I make the purchase.


Another item that I've been keeping my eye on since last summer when I saw it on sale (half a size too big!) at Marshall's is this Clarks dusky hill sandal. It would be a perfect walking shoe because the padded insole makes it quite comfortable.

These two items have little to do with each other, but they would both fill in gaps of my wardrobe. I'm sad to say that I probably won't find these items at my local Goodwill or Buffalo Exchange, so I'm going to be buying them new.

How I Organize My Closet (and why you should too)

Ever since I had a closet to call my own I've been organizing my closet this way. Every now and then I'll change up the order and reverse it, but for the most part this is how it usually looks.

I organize my clothes by sleeve length. Tanks on the left, jackets on the right, tees, cardis, and everything in between in the middle. Formal wear and purses on the very right. My pants are folded and stacked below the hanging clothes. It feels good to have all of my clothes in their determined spot so that I can easily locate pieces in a hurry. I have less grief because of it, and I think most people would benefit from some sort of similar organizational method.



My scarves live on their own hanger. I find this method easy to use because whenever I'm looking to spice up my wardrobe with a zing of color I tend to go to my scarves. It's easy to match colors this way.

For my jewelry, I use a desk organizer that is meant to hold pencils, pens, paperclips, binder clips and such. It's a handy tool for storing earrings, bracelets, and a few necklaces.

How do you organize your clothes and accessories? Is there a method to the madness?

Why DIY (Do It Yourself)?

The mall is a nightmare. It looks glamorous until you have to fight your way through crowds, wait in the long lines of the dressing room, pay outrageously high prices for lunch at the food court, and leave with two items and zero cash in your wallet. A great thrift store diva to check out is Ms. Shopping Golightly from The Thrifty Chicks -- she explains how our consumer society is a wasteful entity, and what to do about it (thrift!). After a day of shopping at the mall, I usually leave stressed, with more than my fair share of fights with loved ones having occurred there.

Pictured above: A fabric sunflower planted on the wall at a Mother's Day brunch from last Sunday.

I want to escape from that. However, I don't shop online because I don't like being surprised by poor quality. So, to nurture my unique sense of style, save some cash, and unleash my creativity (so to speak), I think I'll start DIYing some of my clothes, and other craftsy stuff around the house and my room. I would love to work with colors and textures of fabrics because they brighten rooms up.

A couple of sites that have amazed me upon my research of DIY fashion are:

• Giannyl features creations by a woman named Gianny who sews up fun and simple projects that are presented in video-format.
  
• Threadbanger is a site that I came across on Youtube by chance one day and have kept coming back since. I first watched their tutorial on making a Duct Tape Dress Form, and have found their collection of DIY fashion advice to be a must for people aspiring to keep DIY in their lives.
  

The internet is brimming with craft projects that focus on decor. These tend to excite me since I love a cheerful ambiance that holds uniqueness. It inspires and motivates. Yee haw!

Responsibility in Planning

I'm in charge of a few things this quarter.

1) Mother's Day Dinner May 9th.
Despite the seeming simplicity of the event, it is proving hard to plan for. On Sunday we'll be feeding the largest amount of people we've ever fed in the history of our young lives. I think the total came out to approximately 11 persons. What fun! What horror!

2) Relay for Life on May 22nd.
I'm getting my Jumpstart team together to participate in this event that raises money for cancer research. We'll be walking nonstop for 24hrs in shifts, and it should be great fun. However, it requires me to take over the leadership of a team and coordinate the food, tents, and other necessities that we will need in 24hrs.

3) Old Team Leader and New Team Leader Gathering after May 28th.
I think the most challenging piece of this event will be that the date will coincide with many peoples' finals. I might not get a great turnout. Anyways, it will be wonderful experience to learn how to gather a bunch of people with a variety of backgrounds and differences, into a common space to socialize. It will be a new challenge, but an exciting one.

As for my summer plans, I had it in my mind that I should have taken a fellowship that would give me chances to showcase my leadership and organizing abilities, but maybe I'm already getting there without a formal institution to tell me that I've learned such practices.

Artistic Endeavors

This week I've spent a bunch of time digging around in other peoples' lives and gaining inspiration for myself for blogging and creativity.

A site that I've been frequenting is Geninne.com, the blog of a woman who watercolors birds and other delightful pieces of nature. She is a wonderful artist, and it turns out that her sons are as well. I think the most inspiring part of her whole journey is that she has grown as a blogger in her professionalism. It's nice to be able to track back to the times of her beginnings and see how far she's come.

This week I also joined a place called Doodle Club. Every week there is a themed assignment, and we commit to putting out one piece of art that we can say encompasses the theme. This week we are drawing our own super heroes. As practice, I've been doodling in my notebooks and doing some character sketches of my superhero before the deadline for this week's doodle.

As far as trying my own hand at art, I was recently inspired by a post on Letting Out the Creative Beast by Betsy Streeter. She uses a creative technique for many of her posts by taking pictures of her drawings as she tells us the best way to let our beast shine. It also helps that her drawings are adorable!

Another "artistic" idea that I've been playing around with is the idea that composing Polyvore sets can also be creative. It's a site where you can put together your own outfits based on the clothing items from popular stores. Here are some of my Polyvore sets. If you've ever been to CollegeFashion.net, then you already know what I'm talking about. I think I'll try my hand at it one day soon when I have some extra time.

Inconsideracy is a Disease

So please, don't catch it.

If you do someone wrong, but have at least thought about it and feel guilty, then maybe I still like you. However, if you don't even recognize and assess your wrongdoings, then I don't know if we can be friends. (And that would be a shame.)

Appreciation

I've been thinking a lot lately about the people in my life who've helped me to become the person that I am today, and I want to thank them. Many of you might be reading this right now, but others don't even speak English (like my host mom from Ecuador).

I have a list of people that could go on for days, but I think it's high time that I actually did something to show my appreciation for them. I'm going to make cards, gifts, homemade crafts, and send them all out in hopes that these people understand their wonderful mark on my life.

Wardrobe Monday

Cardi, Nordstrom. Boots, H&M. Scarf, Wet Seal. Nails, courtesy of bf's little sister.

It was a spring-like day today so I went to class without a jacket. That wasn't a very smart move however because as soon as I walked out of my two-hour lecture, the skies looked like they were about to spite me for being so optimistic about the weather.

In a recent wardrobe inventory, I've decided that I am in major need of staple pieces that I can wear during the summer. But, there's an easy solution to that trouble! I'll be going shopping on Friday with the sis.

Festival for Literacy

What I love about working with kids is I get myself in situations like this, and I don't feel embarrassed at all.

We had our Festival for Literacy today and although there were less children than expected, we still had a great time setting up for the event and encouraging bonding time between Corps Members.

There were fifteen booths in total, and each one had its own theme based on a popular children's book. I was stationed at the "Reading Corner" but actually just bounced around from booth to booth, helping out wherever I was needed, and taking photographs to document the event.

Yay for early childhood literacy!

Mayday May Day!

As I sit here reflecting upon my current life situation, I've realized that things are coming to an end. The end of this school year is 5 weeks away. I'll be parting ways with my beloved coworkers. These have been the main elements of my life for the past year.

There are also many beginnings that are yet to come. The beginning of my (possibly) summer fellowship, my junior year in college, and my third year at my job that will be implementing a new curriculum.

In essence, this spring is a time for goodbyes but also a time for a refreshing perspective -- the kind that I only see once a year.

The Internal Effects of Dancing

Dancing can be a wonderful thing for the body, but what exactly are the internal effects of dancing? In this post I will explore some immediate effects that I've encountered so far in my three lessons in Middle Eastern bellydancing.

Self-esteem
Each session I become progressively more in tune with my body and more awed by the grace in my movements (sounds narcissistic, no?). I'll tell you one thing though. It's a great self-esteem booster when you've been having a bad day.

Multi-tasking
Your feet are moving at a different tempo than your hands are. Does your hair look good? Are you smiling? Is your belt on tight? Don't bend the wrists -- it's bad form.

Knowledge of Other Cultures
My class is taught by a professional bellydancer who models traditional clothing of bellydancers around the world, and educates us about stylistic differences between cultures (e.g., Persian hand and head movements).

Great Observation Skills
Learning choreography is hard. It's especially hard when you're unfamiliar with the movements that are characteristic of the dance. But it's great practice. It's also very complex due to the nature of it all. I mean, you've got to mimic the movements of another person, in a way that transfers well with the composition and physical range of your body. However once mastered, the art is seductive. It's transforming. It's sublime.

Positive Affect
Last session I went into the class feeling drained of all my energy. I came out feeling refreshed and renewed. I don't know how expending energy was able to perk me up, but it did and I'm mystified.

And there you have it. A short list of wonderful (but not physical) effects of dancing.

What Volunteering Accomplishes

I spent some time this past weekend volunteering for Earth Day.

After sacrificing the warmth of indoors for baby tree recovery, one tends to feel pretty good about having volunteered. There is one caveat to the whole volunteering process that I feel like isn't mentioned a whole lot, and that's inflation.

I'm not talking about the kind of inflation that lowers the value of a dollar, but rather the kind that causes egos to rise (self-inflation).

When I hear of people who've volunteered, I tend to see that directly linked to a dusting-off of hands and the allowance of a whole year to pass by before the next session of volunteerism. We seem to think that once is enough and volunteering is only for special occasions. Some say that there is no time to complete much more than a once-yearly deal. Well here's a reality check: We make time for what we want. What is it that you want? If there's truly a change that you want to see in the world, you must take that initiative.

On another note, it's important to reflect upon service as well. Because without that reflection, there is no way to gauge the effect you've had on the community nor the impact that can be had.

Hope to see you all out on the field.

The Spark

An important adult in my life recently suggested that I do something I've never considered -- to take the initiative.

It seems simple, and yet the thought didn't occur to me on my own. Have you ever caught yourself wishing for a situation to become better, only to realize that you could be the very spark that creates that ideal future? It's intoxicating. And empowering.

After I warmed up to the idea of taking the responsibility for the events in my life as well as the life of my organization, it became clear to me that I hold power -- much more than I had imagined.

Writing and Drama: Do They Go Hand in Hand?

Must one have drama in her life in order to become an intense and passionate writer? I say -- to some extent -- yes. However, the magnitude of that drama need not be high.

When authors of fiction sit down to write, their heads brew conflict and turmoil, for those are the fundamental pieces of any story. I feel it's near impossible to create a world of rabid bunnies for your novel if all you've ever experienced are gentle, rolling hills and sunshine.

But what about for expository pieces? Those writers must have had at least some experience in the field of their art. My argument is that it doesn't take previous drama to write an amazing piece, but it does take some know-how of others' drama, and the ability to expound that into the simplest of situations.

Good writers make small things seem big.

The True Source of Meaningful Interaction

I've learned so much today from random interaction with familiar people and strangers. Topics of culture, education, career advice, adult-child interactions, peer-pressure, and volunteerism came up. The catch to these conversations is that these people did not immediately share the knowledge that I found to be most useful and engaging. In fact, the use of guiding questions is what had the most impact on my ability to connect with them.

I asked these people their favorite blank, why they like blank, and how they got started with blank. Forming a genuine conversation is not hard, but you need to be just that -- genuine. It always brightens my day to have communicated with someone in a deep way. So I'd like to pose this question: What have you asked about today?

Bonding Moments

I had a bonding moment today with a girl that I always see but have literally never talked to.

It happened like this: two boys raced down the hallway of our dorm and nearly knocked her over as we were both exiting the bathroom. We looked each other in the eye and immediately had the same thought -- that those boys were being ridiculous.

Each interaction with another person may seem unique at first, but upon further examination it's interesting to note that relationships have patterns. The natural progression of relationships (specifically friendships and romances) has been effectively categorized into steps by scholars such as Julia Wood. She explains that bonding over commonalities is a prevalent factor in strengthening relationships. When you're put into similar situations and/or must endure a situation together, you're more likely to form a connection with the other person. To reflect on this pattern, just think about how many close-knit friendships do you have that began from an initial spark of simple bonding through commonality?

Education's Pitfalls

As someone who works firsthand in a preschool classroom, I observe serious issues with the way that the education system works. Because of the way we are set up, the children who think and act outside of the box are punished. How will we create a generation of leaders when all we're doing is teaching children to follow?

Students should never be afraid of their teachers. In fact, I believe that students should actively seek teachers that they are most comfortable with to provide the learning environment most conducive to productivity and engagement. Anything less is a cheap trick. We need to recognize that the institutions that we're sending our children to for the better part of their day are not necessarily beneficial to their development as innovators. We need help.

Get That Laid Back Vibe

I've been doing some reassessing of my own life, and have found that many pressing issues that I face everyday don't merit my time and consideration. The source of my stress is the result of me convincing myself that all tasks assigned to me are necessary. Let me let you in on a little secret: they're not.

Homework was one of the first things I reevaluated and then crossed off my list as a "top priority." I complete tons less homework everyday and as a result I have less to worry about, more free time to spend with family and friends, and the opportunity to concentrate my efforts on learning about topics that legitimately interest me. I've been utilizing my homework time with maximum efficiency and less attention to detail so that I can experiment with other ventures with my new found free time. There is so much more to learning than what you'll find in a textbook or in the classroom.

The one question I'll leave you with is: Are you stressing about something that doesn't deserve to evoke such negative emotions from you?

The Very Beginning

I have made a choice. A bold choice that states that I will: Write often in this blog to improve and observe the evolution of my writing quality.

Before committing to this choice, I was motivated by the relentless dedication of Seth Godin, a man who releases his ideas to the public on a daily basis.

I say that it's a bold move because we often delude ourselves into thinking that we haven't the time to commit to personal growth. Like so many that have come before me, and some that have yet to come, I will honestly make the effort to write consistently (and update you in the process).