What I Love Lately: Handbag Edition

While perusing the handbag section of Nordstrom on Friday, I learned that the fall lines were released early as part of a "pre-sale" (which goes until August 5th). My mom may be the real handbag-lover in the family, but it was hard not to be captivated by the new color schemes. Okay, so I might have enjoyed the browsing experience from more of an aesthetic point of view...but who doesn't love getting a new accessory every now and then?

COACH.

Dooney and Bourke.

Tory Burch.

Longchamp.

Longchamp.

What trends have been inspiring you lately? What colors are you excited about?

7 Ways to Be A Better (More Focused) Writer

 

I've started working on a novel. I've always loved the art of the written word. When I was 10, I began to write short screenplays about a teenage spy named Agent Tree (I think I picked the surname Tree because Bush was president at the time...who knows). My current desire to write was in part spurred by JulNoWriMo (cousin to NaNoWriMo), in which writers across the nation attempt to write a 50,000-word (175-page) story in 30 days. Naturally, the event is more than a little intimidating. I have yet to make an account on the JulNo website, which can be used to track how many words you are up to, because I prefer to work at my own pace. However, without the website to keep me focused, I haven't been writing as frequently as I would like to. Thus, I've compiled a list of ways to be a better, more focused writer. The ideas and suggestions are based on personal experience and the experiences of my friends.

7. Find sources of inspiration and let your creativity flow. Keep a notebook or Word document full of favorite quotations. Relish the beauty of words. Discover new music and record lyrics that let your imagination wander. Create a pin board (real or virtual). Let the visual loveliness aid in unleashing your ideas.

6. Get organized. Keep the inspiring words and images you find near you and begin to freewrite. Don't inhibit yourself. Jot down any idea that comes to you. Brainstorm character names, personalities, and idiosyncrasies and the story's setting(s). 

5. Find your preferred workspace, be it the desk in your bedroom, a table at a coffee shop, or a bench at a park. Write where you are relaxed and your mind is clear.

4. If you can, find a friend who you can share your ideas with. It can be very beneficial to have someone to give you feedback on your work. If possible, find a friend who is a fellow writer and give him or her feedback, as well. Bounce ideas off of each other. Email, text, go out for coffee.

3. Stay inspired - by thinking outside of the box. If you find yourself in need of direction, don't be afraid to be quirky. Dress up as your character and have a photo shoot. Talk as your character and record yourself. Go shopping and ponder what your character would buy.

2. On the other hand, don't be afraid to take a break from writing. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the process that we lose focus. While it can be wonderful to be consumed by ideas, too much creative energy can be dizzying. Take some time to gather your thoughts. Read. Watch a movie. Talk to your writing buddy. Return to your work after a few days (or even a month, if need be).

1. Keep track of your goals (and set realistic goals). The trick is in not overwhelming yourself by being overly ambitious. The words will come. If it helps, continue to freewrite. Plan out chapters (or key plot details, at the least) in bullet format. Work at your own pace. It's not a race; it's about exploring your creative mind.

Dreamy Dorm Ideas

I can't believe I leave for college (New York!) in a month-and-a-half. Therefore, I've been searching the Internet for dorm decor ideas. I know that the spaces won't be that big, so some of these ideas are more in theory, for the *dorm of my dreams*. Regardless of whether or not I'll be able to apply what these examples of decoration inspiration present, I can at least have these lovely ideas in mind. What would your dream dorm look like? (Even if you've already finished college.)

Warm colors make this room cozy.

A comfy reading/studying nook...and the cushions add a splash of color!

DIY lampshades, made from plastic party cups. Pretty neat.

Simplistic coziness, yet the lights/photos add a touch of whimsy.

Excellent way to organize jewelry. Practically wall art.

Love the lights. Ditto, the collage.

Colorful and creative.

Another example of whimsical-meets-comfortable.

Awesome pillows - think of world travel as you go to sleep.

Creative way to hang photos. Decorative, too.

The Thrill of the Hunt

Yesterday, I made the pilgrimage to the library book sale (okay, so the library's only two miles away, tops). But since books are the topic, in my mind, it was a noble journey. Volunteers crammed numerous cardboard boxes of books into one not-so-spacious room, and placed the boxes upon folding tables and below them. There was some semblance of organization...although most tables were just labeled Fiction. There were considerably fewer tables labeled Sci-Fi, Mystery, and Romance (and Classics, Women's Studies, and Self Help etc.). And if there were YA novels to be found, they were amid the disarray of Children's Books (however, a few copies of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series found their way into the general Fiction boxes, for some reason). Although the process of sifting through the books was arduous and a bit dizzying, it was enjoyable being around fellow book-lovers on the prowl for their New Favorite Novel or Great Summer Read. Ultimately, I came away with four finds...though the sale runs through Saturday, so there is a possibility I might make the journey once again.

The treasure:

Clockwise, 1. New York Days, by Willie Morris. 2. The Love of Stones, by Tobias Hill. 3. Three Junes, by Julia Glass. 4. Ghost Light, by Frank Rich.

9 Ways to Have Fun in the Summertime

July is speeding by...so, here's a list of things to do (aside from, well, going to the beach) while the lazy summer days last. From discovering new bands (or seeing long-time favorites in concert) to being inspired by the people in your life (young and old), there are plenty of ways to spend the warm days.

9. Enjoy your favorite cool treat (Frappucinos, iced coffee, froyo...you get the gist).

 8. Read! Get swept away by a romance, captivated by a drama, or lost in a fantasy land.  Discover something intellectual and inspiring. Or better yet - write. Try your hand at crafting your own world.

7. Go see a fun movie, like Brave (ogle at the wonders of digital animation). Or The Amazing Spider-Man...

6. ...and develop a shameless crush on Andrew Garfield. Or whoever else is your favorite celeb-du-jour. Get a poster, rip out pictures from magazines, and so forth. Indulge your inner fangirl.

5. Discover new bands, like Of Monsters and Men and The Lumineers. Let their music become the soundtrack of your summer.

4. Watch some of USA and TNT's summer line-up (White Collar, Covert Affairs, Rizzoli and Isles...). Or any other favorite shows. Even watch, dare I say it, reality television, if that's your cup of tea.

3. Go see your favorite band or singer (I just saw Broadway performer Idina Menzel at the Mann Center) in concert, if you can afford it. Many venues offer inexpensive lawn tickets. Go with your friends. Scream and cheer.

2. Go on a sushi date with your favorite people. Or discover new restaurants in your town. Catch up.

1. Be inspired by the various people in your life. We all have something to learn from those we encounter. We can learn just as much from a playful, curious baby cousin as from a grandfather's cousin who is in her '90s and still living a relatively independent lifestyle.

Pictures were found on Pinterest and Tumblr.

On Overcoming Certain Fears (or On Overcoming Fears of Uncertainty)

I, like many people, was not looking forward to getting my wisdom teeth removed. The idea of anesthesia freaked me out a bit because it meant surrendering control of my body/consciousness. While I could have been awake during the procedure (with "local" numbness injection only), the oral surgeon informed me that halfway through the procedure I would regret this decision. Thus, I went through with having the surgery while asleep. In addition to fearing the medically-induced unconsciousness, I worried about the repercussions, such as acting, well, silly afterwards. It turned out that my worries were for naught. While the numbness from the Novocain was not exactly pleasant, I felt like myself afterwards, joking with my mom, despite the fact that the cotton in my mouth muffled the words. It's all a mind game, really. The truth is that story we repeat to ourselves ad nauseum. The unknown is the pinnacle of human fear. While it can be quite difficult to trust implicitly that all situations, no matter how uncertain we may be about them, will turn out okay, it is fear that often holds us back in life. If we didn't overcome our trepidations to explore and to discover the world and ourselves, there would be no great progress. We must find ways to cultivate bravery and garner confidence and trust. Often, this trust comes from within. As I lay on the dental chair, I closed my eyes, breathed deeply, and told myself that all would work out, even as fear manifested in quiet pricks of tears. After overcoming the hurdles (both bumps and mountains) that make up our lives, we realize that the anticipation was the worst part. Uncertainty can be terrifying, but ultimately, we learn that dwelling on the uncertainty is far worse than the actual experience. We recover with resilience, with the drive and determination to live our lives until the next hurdle comes along.

Images of the recovery from this hurdle:

My mom made me Jell-O in adorable ramekins. We had the sunflowers prior to the surgery, but they're lovely as well.

Plenty of reading material - new books and favorite magazines.

The ducky ice pack my mom found at Whole Foods, and antibiotics.

My notebook of story ideas, Hello Kitty pen, and iPod - gathering more ideas for my novel while listening to Of Monsters and Men.