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.

My Adventures, of Various Varieties

 It's been quite a while since I've updated last. But now that the school year (and my high school years) are over, I'll have much more time to blog, at least for the next few months before I'm off to college. In the Big Apple. Let's see...most significantly, aside from the fact that I'll be graduating next Monday (Where have those four years gone?), I went on my first international vacation - to Paris! I'm planning my own travel guide to the City of Lights, so stay posted. Additionally, I've had some adventures within the States, at a local floral garden on an art field trip, and in Williamsburg, Virginia on a band trip. Entertainment-wise, I've seen some excellent films (Damsels in Distress, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom) and I've read an excellent novel (The Radleys). Here's to the sunny summer months!

Travel...

 

 Film...

 Words, words, words...

Spring: The View from the Deck

A lone bunny in the shade.

Gorgeous lighting on the tree.

Pansies.

Crisscrossing branches.

Squirrel.

The neighbor's cat.

More flowers.

There's beauty to be found in every nook and cranny. You just need to take the time to marvel at life's  wonders, big and small. Spring is the perfect time of year to rekindle your curiosity and observe nature's rhythms and patterns.

Weekends Are for Inspiration

What have I been up to lately? Well, aside from all of the end-of-the-semester work that teachers always manage to cram in, I've been reading more, going to the movies, trying on Mom's vintage sweaters, taking pictures... You know - the little things in life one should always make time for, the brief forays into realities other than your own. It's when you find the perfect balance between work and play that you can find beauty, find the infinities, in the smallest, quietest moments. (Pictures don't belong to me unless stated.)

Romance and Rippermania...couldn't put it down!

Tragic. Beautiful. Just incredible.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close...go see it!

Poignant and powerful.

There's something inherently magical in realizing how we're all connected.

Sheep sweater from the '80s...apparently others saved this same sweater. Found it on Google Images.

Button-down wool sweater.

An homage to the snow that was...

Taken last Sunday.

View from the living room.

How have you been spending your weekends? And what has been inspiring you lately?

A Lovely New Year's Sentiment: Magic, Dreams, and Good Madness

 

May you meet all of your goals in the upcoming year, and may all of your dreams come true. Dare to dream, and see where your heart takes you. And, most importantly, surprise yourself. We often limit ourselves, reduce ourselves to timidity when, in reality, we are perfectly capable of having our aspirations become our reality. The truth is the story we tell ourselves. It's the background noise amidst our daily comings and goings. Sure, we all want to bend to the pressure, but if we remain calm and confident, we'll make it through. We'll find something bright and beautiful - a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Farewell, December!

Oh, what a month - and a year - it has been! I turned 18. I got into my top-choice college. And I had many laughs with my friends, of course! So, here are some photos from the past few months, to commemorate the transition from childhood to adult, from fall to winter, and from this year into the next. Here's to 2012.

Holly Golightly for Halloween!

I saw Mandy Patinkin and Patti Lupone on Broadway and had tea at the Plaza to celebrate a friend's birthday!

My birthday dessert...the main course was Japanese!

Rockefeller tree during the day...went back to the city for a French trip!

Hanukkah with friends!

Had a photo shoot at a local park!