I just finished reading The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno. It is on my ever growing books to read list and I finally picked it up from the library. VERY interesting read, I thought. As I was reading it I contemplated the idea of trying it out for myself. I looked around my pig sty of a room and decided against it. Today I actually counted the number of shirts I own, 102. That right there puts me over the 100 limit. Plus there are all my DVDs, pants, skirts, dresses, and books. All things I would really struggle getting rid of. However, this book has inspired me to do better about the things that I purchase and bring into my personal living space as well as to dejunk alot of stuff. I have yet to get to all the dejunking but I have managed to go through some boxes and throw out notes from my high school chemistry class and things of that sort. You probably wonder why I would hang on to such nonsense for so long. My thinking was these will come in handy one day when I have kids and they are taking chemistry. I'll be able to help them.... Yea I know it sounds really dumb but I finally have freed myself from high school and college notes on the hopes that I'll actually be able to help my kids with it. All that info can be found on the Internet or at the library. It was awesome to get rid of it. I truly believe that every item that we own weighs us down. We obviously don't think about every single personal possession all day everyday but we know what we own and it all lingers in the back burner of our minds.
I have realized that I have increased my shopping/spending significantly in the past month or so. Not healthy for me to try to replace feeling empty with physical stuff, also not healthy for my "budget". Some points Mr. Bruno makes in his book that really stuck out to me were:
"Contentment is an attitudinal choice, not a buyable product."
"The truth is that our material possessions, rather than helping us understand our limits and our place in the world, regularly distort our perspective. Put a Coach purse of the keys to a BMW M series or the latest Nokia gadget in our hands and it's not uncommon for humility, respect for other people, and appreciation of our environment to drain from our brains."
"What we really want we cannot buy."
The point of this book isn't to necessarily get rid of all your stuff but to realize the whole American-style consumerism idea that we need stuff in order to be happy or to get to where we want to be. My thing is that I think buy new cute clothing will make me more confident because I will look great in it. It usually works until the new thing gets cycled into the closet with everything else that had that effect and eventually it is just another piece clothing I stare at while thinking I have nothing to wear. Which isn't true I have 102 tops to choose from that's a shirt everyday for almost a third of the year. And my shoe shelves and flip flop bin are over flowing as well. I definitely need to cut down the crap that I own and figure out the things that I like to wear and actually wear and get rid of all the rest. I hope I have the strength to make the tough decisions that I need to and be honest with myself about the things I don't wear and that as much as I say, "well I might..." that I can just get rid of it.
I am glad I read this book. I encourage you to read it too even if you don't accept the challenge, cause I certainly didn't. I still have found it very helpful and interesting to see the few struggles the author had with accepting his own challenge. =) Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Social?
This is more or less a social update. I really suck at blogging and my blog is just completely random... which I guess is just like me. =)
Still not luck on internships. Or new jobs that deal with graphic design. I guess I've kinda fallen into a "I don't care" state of mind on pretty much everything. (oops) I haven't really been actively searching. All the effort that goes into one application is a pain. Maybe I am just doing it the hard way. I look at the companies website kind of get a feel for what they do and then I revamp my portfolio to show stuff that I have done that are kind of similar to the ones that I looked at. Plus I write a whole new cover letter for each place usually sometimes I cut and paste and edit. Its alot of work and I think I have done it about 30-40 time so far this year and I've only gotten a first and second interview for one place. It's so discouraging that I just can't handle it anymore. However, I know that is not going to get me anywhere where I want to be. Oh and talking about this reminds me of school... yea still haven't registered. (oops)
I am basically trying to stay busy. Semi recent events have left me feeling like a rug was pulled out from under my feet so quickly that I ended up doing like 3 backflips in the air and came crashing down on shards of glass. Its been rough but I am surviving and just trying to stay busy which is hard to do when one only works 22 hours a week. I'm sure all you people that work 40+ hours of week are like I would love all that free time to get my huge list of things to do done. But lets be honest when you have all that free time you eventually waste it by watching whatever is on your netflix, or cable tv or just even thinking about all the things that you should probably do. Well I have things that I want to do but I just don't have the funds to do it.
To Do (when funds come):
Paint my room a light blue on 2 opposite walls and maybe white the rest or a sandy yellow
Buy a Luahala mat to put on one of my said painted walls
Buy white frames to put hawaiian style pictures in to put on my luahala mat
I have actually been working on dejunking my room.... well I started. It kind of ended when my mood dipped back down into the "I don't care about anything" mode. Currently my room is a pig sty (thats what my mom would say). Maybe I'll feel motivated this week to clean it. Not only is my room a mess I have a little area in my condo I call my art space. It has basically turned into the stack anything that resembles something that could be used for art here. It's one huge pile of stuff. Even more overwhelming than my room.
I have a lot of art projects in my room that I don't know what to do with. I guess I get too attached to my art work and I can't bring myself to throw it out. Maybe I'll take pictures of it and "auction" it off. Basically if someone wants it they can pay to have it sent to them lol. Some of it is really just garbage and I need to photograph it and throw it out. sigh more hard things in life.
OKAY- Good things. I have been doing some graphic design stuff. Designed a logo for my uncle
Still not luck on internships. Or new jobs that deal with graphic design. I guess I've kinda fallen into a "I don't care" state of mind on pretty much everything. (oops) I haven't really been actively searching. All the effort that goes into one application is a pain. Maybe I am just doing it the hard way. I look at the companies website kind of get a feel for what they do and then I revamp my portfolio to show stuff that I have done that are kind of similar to the ones that I looked at. Plus I write a whole new cover letter for each place usually sometimes I cut and paste and edit. Its alot of work and I think I have done it about 30-40 time so far this year and I've only gotten a first and second interview for one place. It's so discouraging that I just can't handle it anymore. However, I know that is not going to get me anywhere where I want to be. Oh and talking about this reminds me of school... yea still haven't registered. (oops)
I am basically trying to stay busy. Semi recent events have left me feeling like a rug was pulled out from under my feet so quickly that I ended up doing like 3 backflips in the air and came crashing down on shards of glass. Its been rough but I am surviving and just trying to stay busy which is hard to do when one only works 22 hours a week. I'm sure all you people that work 40+ hours of week are like I would love all that free time to get my huge list of things to do done. But lets be honest when you have all that free time you eventually waste it by watching whatever is on your netflix, or cable tv or just even thinking about all the things that you should probably do. Well I have things that I want to do but I just don't have the funds to do it.
To Do (when funds come):
Paint my room a light blue on 2 opposite walls and maybe white the rest or a sandy yellow
Buy a Luahala mat to put on one of my said painted walls
Buy white frames to put hawaiian style pictures in to put on my luahala mat
I have actually been working on dejunking my room.... well I started. It kind of ended when my mood dipped back down into the "I don't care about anything" mode. Currently my room is a pig sty (thats what my mom would say). Maybe I'll feel motivated this week to clean it. Not only is my room a mess I have a little area in my condo I call my art space. It has basically turned into the stack anything that resembles something that could be used for art here. It's one huge pile of stuff. Even more overwhelming than my room.
I have a lot of art projects in my room that I don't know what to do with. I guess I get too attached to my art work and I can't bring myself to throw it out. Maybe I'll take pictures of it and "auction" it off. Basically if someone wants it they can pay to have it sent to them lol. Some of it is really just garbage and I need to photograph it and throw it out. sigh more hard things in life.
OKAY- Good things. I have been doing some graphic design stuff. Designed a logo for my uncle
And I've gotten into making cards. I made one for my dad for father's day, a friend's birthday card and a bridal shower card (funny story: the font that I used on her card actually matches one of the fonts one her wedding announcement. I didn't get to look at her wedding announcement until after the bridal shower. Yes I am a nerd and I would notice that). I also had a design challenge for one of the internships that I applied for where I had to make icons for a computer program, very new and interesting. Designing a thing that is 64x64 pixels is difficult. I think I may start making a bunch of cards some occasion specific and maybe some just random blank ones. Its been fun and kinda keeps me busy. I love design =) Oh so if you know anyone that needs something designed let them know about me or let me know and I will do my best to help.
I am doing good. Not back to where I would like to be but I can now honestly say that I am okay and that feels like a miracle after the past month and a half or so. Thanks to my awesome friends and of course always my family I love you guys and always will =0D
Thursday, June 23, 2011
These are Irksome
Simply things that have recently or are currently annoying me.
1. The people that cannot parallel park at the rec center. I'll admit I'm not pro at parallel parking, however the rec center has made their parallel parking spots long enough to fit my car and then half my car. It amazes me that people can still manage to park there little car in such a way that the spot in front of them or behind them cannot be used. If it were a limo or something by all means use 2 parking spots but when you have a little car similar to a Toyota Rav4 you should not me taking up 2 spots. If you were idiotic enough to park that way I'm not going to risk trying to squeeze my car into the space you left in the parking spot ahead of it for fear of what damage might occur when you try to get out.
2. The old women at my pool that think they are 16 or 26 rather than 60. There teenie tiny bikinis don't really fit them, just my opinion. They are old, wrinkly and sagging (the ladies not the bikinis). And they have belly rings with jewels in them. Really? You look like you are trying too hard. Maybe if I were a 60 year old man I would feel differently but I am a female 23 year old. No fashionista by any means but I do believe in trying to dress your age. I guess belly rings speak people my age and not 60 year old women. They are out tanning every evening....I don't think they can get any tanner they already look like aged leather, only it walks and talks and has a jewel in the middle of it. I guess power to them for feeling comfortable enough with themselves at that age to wear bikinis but blah I don't like looking at it lol.
1. The people that cannot parallel park at the rec center. I'll admit I'm not pro at parallel parking, however the rec center has made their parallel parking spots long enough to fit my car and then half my car. It amazes me that people can still manage to park there little car in such a way that the spot in front of them or behind them cannot be used. If it were a limo or something by all means use 2 parking spots but when you have a little car similar to a Toyota Rav4 you should not me taking up 2 spots. If you were idiotic enough to park that way I'm not going to risk trying to squeeze my car into the space you left in the parking spot ahead of it for fear of what damage might occur when you try to get out.
2. The old women at my pool that think they are 16 or 26 rather than 60. There teenie tiny bikinis don't really fit them, just my opinion. They are old, wrinkly and sagging (the ladies not the bikinis). And they have belly rings with jewels in them. Really? You look like you are trying too hard. Maybe if I were a 60 year old man I would feel differently but I am a female 23 year old. No fashionista by any means but I do believe in trying to dress your age. I guess belly rings speak people my age and not 60 year old women. They are out tanning every evening....I don't think they can get any tanner they already look like aged leather, only it walks and talks and has a jewel in the middle of it. I guess power to them for feeling comfortable enough with themselves at that age to wear bikinis but blah I don't like looking at it lol.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Cookie Eaters
I've decided to start a club. The exact details are kind of fuzzy right now since I just created it about 10 minutes ago. Its going to be the Cookie Eaters club. We will get together and make or just share cookies whenever we can get together. Once in awhile we will have an "exotic" night where we branch out from cookies and make or taste other types of desserts... hmm maybe I should just make it a Dessert Eaters club... I'll think about it. So far I've only roped my friend Ammon into it. It wasn't that hard since I don't know anyone that doesn't like cookies of one kind or another. mmmm cookies.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Life, Love, and Loss
Something I've really decided that I hate is when people tell you crappy things that happen are for the better. It's like thanks I'm sobbing, arm-pit deep in tissues and you're telling me this is for the better good? In some cases it is true but in the mean time it never seems to feel true. I just find it an insensitive thing to say. I mean I've been told this very statement several times in the past 3 weeks and I just want to punch whoever says it. If you are saying it to make me feel better NEWSFLASH it doesn't do anything of the sort. If you are saying it because you think it is true... great keep it to yourself.
I have also been reflecting on rebounds. I've never really understood them, why people have them. Here is my take on how they happen. You are in a relationship, yay happy, then WHAM it's over. Now you feel like this little pathetic thing for believing in love and that someone actually loved you. You realize you can't sit and do nothing. You go out with friends but you still feel like half a person. After so long of being with one person always having his hand to hold, he was there to hold when you cried, he was a great listener, you could always snuggle with him and rough house with him. Now you are on your own. It's awkward trying to do any of those things on your own and you miss those things (plus others) like crazy. Basically the first few people who come along and give you attention you think Hey guy B could be like a replacement for guy A you think what they heck I need to move on anyway. After a while you realize you don't really actually like guy B and still miss guy A. That when you realize you rebounded.
I know this is just rambling on and I'm sorry but that is pretty much my brain right now all rambles no real complete thoughts. An update to my life... it kind of sucks. Nothing is working out, no internships, no new jobs, and so basically I work 22 hours a week and do whatever I feel like the rest of the time. Sounds nice probably to those of you that are busy pretty much all the time but trust me after about 3 weeks of this I feel like the lamest person on the planet. I create design homework for myself so that I don't lose all my skills over the summer. But its almost unfulfilling to do made up things because its like no one really cares about this design stuff except some fellow students. For those of you that are my friends on facebook you can see all my stuff there. I'm going to start playing waterpolo again this summer so I'm hoping having another thing to do besides work will help boost my morale. Fingers crossed
I have also been reflecting on rebounds. I've never really understood them, why people have them. Here is my take on how they happen. You are in a relationship, yay happy, then WHAM it's over. Now you feel like this little pathetic thing for believing in love and that someone actually loved you. You realize you can't sit and do nothing. You go out with friends but you still feel like half a person. After so long of being with one person always having his hand to hold, he was there to hold when you cried, he was a great listener, you could always snuggle with him and rough house with him. Now you are on your own. It's awkward trying to do any of those things on your own and you miss those things (plus others) like crazy. Basically the first few people who come along and give you attention you think Hey guy B could be like a replacement for guy A you think what they heck I need to move on anyway. After a while you realize you don't really actually like guy B and still miss guy A. That when you realize you rebounded.
I know this is just rambling on and I'm sorry but that is pretty much my brain right now all rambles no real complete thoughts. An update to my life... it kind of sucks. Nothing is working out, no internships, no new jobs, and so basically I work 22 hours a week and do whatever I feel like the rest of the time. Sounds nice probably to those of you that are busy pretty much all the time but trust me after about 3 weeks of this I feel like the lamest person on the planet. I create design homework for myself so that I don't lose all my skills over the summer. But its almost unfulfilling to do made up things because its like no one really cares about this design stuff except some fellow students. For those of you that are my friends on facebook you can see all my stuff there. I'm going to start playing waterpolo again this summer so I'm hoping having another thing to do besides work will help boost my morale. Fingers crossed
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Dreams, what are they made of?
I had a dream a few nights ago with the same event from many dreams I've had in the past year and a half. However, each time this even happens slightly differently and I react differently each time. This event was an old best friend coming to me and apologizing for some things that happened back well a little over a year and a half ago. The first time I had this dream I reacted rather violently and I was screaming and cursing. When I woke up my heart was pounded as if I just had a scary dream. Each time I have the dream it seemed my reaction was less and less anger. At one point I would be fence sitting on what to do, let her back in my life or keep her out of it. Those dreams I wake up feeling depressed and alone because it made me realize that I don't really have that BFF girlfriend anymore. This week I had a dream where she came in apologized and I forgave her but didn't say anything about letting her back in my life. It was kind of like a load off. Completely weird.
I am really curious about dreams now. I mean for the most part I believed that they were just your brain shuffling through the random things that you sensed through out the day. If you think about it your brain picks up on all the things that your 5 senses pick up. Some dreams that is the only way I feel they can be explained due to their pure craziness. But there have been a few dreams that I feel are more than that. For example, after my grandma died, a year or so after, I kinda wondered how she was doing if she was happy where she was stuff like that. One night I had a dream that I was at her house walking around her yard. I passed under the shadows of the big tree in her front yard and to the back where she had several rose bushes. She loved her roses and there she was. She took my hand and walked with me, even though she didn't seem to register who I was. We walked and she went on about the various roses and other plants that inhabited her garden. Then in the shade of the apricot tree, with its painted white trunk, we sat on a bench and a wave of peace and comfort came over me. I truly felt like she was okay and that she was happy. I don't think that was my brain pulling random facts from my day and meshing them all together.
What about those dreams where you are angry at someone and you wake up feeling so mad. You realize it was just a dream but it takes alot to get over being mad at the person nonetheless. Dreams seem to be powerful but they sometimes seem to be too crazy and random to be good for anything other than a laugh the next morning. There are dreams that make you want to avoid sleeping for fear of what might await behind your closed eyelids. There is so much I wish that I could know about dreams but I don't know that we will truly ever understand them.
I am really curious about dreams now. I mean for the most part I believed that they were just your brain shuffling through the random things that you sensed through out the day. If you think about it your brain picks up on all the things that your 5 senses pick up. Some dreams that is the only way I feel they can be explained due to their pure craziness. But there have been a few dreams that I feel are more than that. For example, after my grandma died, a year or so after, I kinda wondered how she was doing if she was happy where she was stuff like that. One night I had a dream that I was at her house walking around her yard. I passed under the shadows of the big tree in her front yard and to the back where she had several rose bushes. She loved her roses and there she was. She took my hand and walked with me, even though she didn't seem to register who I was. We walked and she went on about the various roses and other plants that inhabited her garden. Then in the shade of the apricot tree, with its painted white trunk, we sat on a bench and a wave of peace and comfort came over me. I truly felt like she was okay and that she was happy. I don't think that was my brain pulling random facts from my day and meshing them all together.
What about those dreams where you are angry at someone and you wake up feeling so mad. You realize it was just a dream but it takes alot to get over being mad at the person nonetheless. Dreams seem to be powerful but they sometimes seem to be too crazy and random to be good for anything other than a laugh the next morning. There are dreams that make you want to avoid sleeping for fear of what might await behind your closed eyelids. There is so much I wish that I could know about dreams but I don't know that we will truly ever understand them.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Valentines.
I have never really been a fan of valentines day but I have now found a reason to like it. I'm in LOVE =0) I have an awesome boyfriend. Due to my school schedule we are celebrating Valentine's Day today. I made him his gift and I am so excited to give it to him tonight! I took some pictures of it and I figure he won't be looking at my blog today so I'm safe in posting them. I made a book of a bunch of reasons why I love him or things I love about him. I'm no photographer so bear with me.
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