March 22, 2015

Optimistic & Lackadaisical || Weekly Finds 3.22.15

March 22, 2015/ ekfriend

1400099240-psychology-color-marketing-branding-color-emotion-guide

Ruffled - photo by http://www.kristinacurtisphotography.com - http://ruffledblog.com/diy-vine-wall-backdrop

|| Spring Fever ... You're here, but where's the Spring? ||

I'm ready for this to be over. I'm ready to feel empowered again and in charge and ready to break barriers and soar to new heights. I'm ready to feel like the world is at my fingertips again. Maybe it's just the week -- too much drama, not enough balance. Maybe it's just my attitude -- eh. Maybe it's feeling like there are a million things on my to-do list, and I'm too overwhelmed to do them -- cue the shutdown. No matter what it is, I've watched all the shows I can, I've procrastinated enough, and even though the sun hasn't come out in days (metaphorically & literally), it's time I put my big girl panties on and face my life head on. So who's ready to get down to business? Anyone? Everyone? Thought so ;-). Maybe I'll have some coffee first, though. Here's some links to hold you over ---

Speaking of shows what's in your Netflix queue?

LINKS & FINDS ||

For a guide on what to wear to stay trendy in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s – yeah, they’ve got you covered.

When you dream of your own place, you take tips from everywhere.

Surprising maps of America – actually fascinating.

The psychology of coloring in marketing and branding. Cool!

Clementine and Rosemary Mimosas -- need I say more?

DIY Vine Wall Backdrop – I’m not waiting for a wedding or event to make this.

See above about first places? How to choose the right size rug.

A little image – it’s never too late to start something. Be an entrepreneur. It's fun, I promise!

Explore, love, hope, and be yourself. Always.

xx

February 26, 2015

The Gift of Childhood

February 26, 2015/ ekfriend

The Wand. The Wonder Wand. Childhood? Magic? Wow.

It’s never easy becoming an adult. The payments, the stress, the leaving home --- and I haven’t even done all of that yet! And trying to be young at heart can gradually slip from fingertips, float to the ground, and be trampled with responsibility, overthinking, and day-to-day living. Sounds dull, doesn’t it? Growing older should be fun; at least that’s how I see it in my book. When we’re young, we want all the responsibility, and when we’re older, we mourn all the freedom. Why can’t we have both? Of course, one can be stodgy (yes, stodgy) and say to believe we can have responsibility and freedom and fun is naïve. Isn't that sad for them?

For all you skeptics out there, here’s how I know it doesn’t have to be all or nothing --

The other day I was given a wand.

One of those awesome, magical, water filled wands that have yellow sparkles and star and moon shaped sequins. The kind of wand that as you move, the wonder of the wand moves with you. Huh, that must be why they’re called Wonder Wands. I see you, Marketing.

In the store, I thought, wow I miss this. Fifteen years ago, I would have carried this around with me forever, bringing it to parties, placing it in my purse five sizes too large next to the pad of paper that housed my made up words and a tube of lip gloss I was never able to wear. In the present though, I sat the wand back down amidst the others and thought adulthood must be settling in, because I couldn’t justify a purchase of such a thing and I would never really use it, so what was the point? But at the end of the night, as I was heading back to my room, my friend pulled a wand out of her bag and said, for you.

You would have thought someone had just given me a year’s supply of chocolate or a million bucks (equally valued in my opinion).

That wand was pure magic in my twenty-year-old-and-change hands. And it wasn’t that I was going to take it with me everywhere or run around showing it to people. It was that the wand brought out the real me always told to hide – the carefree spirit, the dreamer, the one that screamed at the moon to show her face, because I couldn’t see her, and I didn’t want her to be sad and hide. I found myself watching the glitter move effortlessly and wanted the same for myself – effortlessness, bubbly excitement, happy spirits. Even though I was going through a pretty tough week, the hope the wand gave me was everything. The next morning I found myself singing to my toothbrush, dancing while I waited for my oatmeal, and laughing when I realized I was happy to be in the moment. Just plain happy. No exceptions.

So I’m here to rebel against the idea that to be an adult means one is stuck with responsibility and none of the fun. I’m having all of the fun, some of the responsibility, and enough of the laughs to realize life doesn’t have to be so serious all of the time. It can be crazy and dramatic and quite sobering, but it doesn’t have to be dull or boring or a means to an end.

Find what makes you dance to your hearts content, sing at the top of your lungs, and do something daring and carefree and spontaneous. It can be as simple as a wand. Who would have thought?

+ what takes you back to your childhood? what keeps you feeling young? Xx.

Want to feel like a million bucks with high energy, self-love, and freedom from fad-diets? Let’s work together.

February 23, 2015

Another Countdown || 2.23.15

February 23, 2015/ ekfriend

|| Is Life Just a Countdown? ||

Monday already? Thank goodness it's two weeks until Spring Break or I would be ready to disappear beneath my covers. After last weeks too-cold-to-feel-my-fingers weather and this weeks muddy-puddles-everywhere, I just want to sink my toes into the sand and run after my puppies. Mom visiting this past weekend, was just what the doctor ordered and the next 11 days will go by in a blur.

But will it always just be a countdown to the next event? Try and stay present -- I'll be writing my two cents on this soon. Have a great week!