In case you guys haven't glanced at a calendar lately, I'm here to inform you: no more February! The next time we have to experience that dreaded month it will be 2016. That's a long ways away! By then I should be successfully relocated to Bora Bora.

As I said on instagram, bustin' out the spring shades & never looking back!

From top, clockwise: 

Mint Candy Apple // Cute as a Button // Turquoise & Caicos // Tart Deco // Pansy // Blanc

A few fun links for your 100% March weekend:

Red Pandas frolicking in the snow! (Aka the only good thing that ever happened in snow;)

"Diversity is beauty." Simply stunning.

TED talk of the week: Mental illness, from the inside.

Confessions of a comma queen (I love reading about different career paths & how magazines worked before computers & serial commas.)

11 writers who REALLY loved cats, just like yours truly.

10 of the most colorful places on earth (If I were to make a list of the most uncolorful places on earth, #1 would be Madison, Wisconsin in February.)

Mental health article of the week: "Women’s emotionality is a sign of health, not disease; it is a source of power. But we are under constant pressure to restrain our emotional lives. We have been taught to apologize for our tears, to suppress our anger and to fear being called hysterical. The pharmaceutical industry plays on that fear, targeting women in a barrage of advertising on daytime talk shows and in magazines."

Quotes of the week, from TED talk above:

"Don't take my devils away, because my angels may flee too." — Rainer Maria Rilke

"What those of us who suffer with mental illness want, is what everybody wants: In the words of Sigmund Freud, 'To work, and to love.'" —Elyn Saks

Throwback rap song of the week. (They're coming to Madison!)

On happiness & writing fiction.

What a creative, wholesome way to use #TheDress hype.

The funny, strict rules for the coyote and the roadrunner.

Happy weekend, friends! xx

On Meditation: An Awesome App

You might remember ages ago when I asked the question: Do you meditate? I had heard of a book and watched a TED talk and the seed was planted. I even added it to my 101 in 1001 list to meditate 10 minutes a day for a month. However, most seeds I plant in my head take a while to bloom. Like strawberries. Did you know you're not even supposed to pick fruit from strawberry plants until year two? The patience exhibited by everyone except me is astounding.

So, the idea seed of "maybe I should meditate" was "watered" by a couple more events before I actually tried mediation. First, as I've mentioned almost to exhaustion, I did a bunch of yoga in January. The mental benefits exceeded the physical ones. It was only while missing the constant yoga in February that I realized I missed the mental, calming aspects the most.

Also in January, I went to a luncheon in Madison where Dr. Richard Davidson spoke. Dr. Davidson is a psychology and psychiatry professor who actually knows the Dali Lama! He is using science and research to prove what eastern cultures have known for centuries: Meditation has huge health benefits. He founded the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds which is doing amazing work in the Madison area towards fostering mindfulness, starting in schools.

So between the yoga and the luncheon (and glancing at my incomplete 101 in list), I decided to start mediating. But how? Fortunately: I found the Headspace Meditation App, founded by Andy Puddicombe (former Buddhist monk, and guy from the TED talk I watched). 

I am currently using their "Take 10" offer -- 10 minutes of meditation for 10 days, for free. After that, there is a membership fee. So far, I am so impressed with the app that I'm really considering getting a membership after my 10 days are up. It has adorable animated videos to introduce you to the goals of meditation. It's like a gym membership for your mind! I'm obviously new to this, but I'm so impressed with the app so far I had to share. 

Have you used it? Would you set aside 10 minutes a day for meditation?

A Book in Review: Still Alice

Many of you were likely watching last weekend as the beautiful Julianne Moore accepted her Oscar for Best Actress. And, although I usually zone out during the long lists of names, for her I was listening closely for one particular name -- and she said it -- Lisa Genova! The amazing author of Still Alice!

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

I have not seen the movie, but read the book in about three days. I will warn you: it's a tear-jerker. Not exaggerating, I think I cried an average of once per chapter. Sometimes I read books in coffee shops. Not this book!

Still Alice follows Harvard psychology professor (and mother of three) Alice Howland through her devastating diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's and the progression of the disease. Of course, life doesn't stop as her memory gets worse -- Alice has a Harvard professor husband and three children who are also greatly impacted by her shocking diagnosis. Her oldest daughter is married and thinking of having children, and now has the potential of a genetic disease to consider before reproducing, her youngest daughter is rebellious, refusing to go to go college despite her mother's wishes. Alice also has a fascinating, tragic backstory that you learn bits and pieces of throughout the novel.

 Genova depicts Alzheimer's in such a relatable way; it feels like you are experiencing it along with Alice and her family. (Of course, hopefully none of us have ever actually have to experience the disease first hand.)

Genova weaves in intriguing facts about Alzheimer's (neurons! synapses! genetic mutations! dominant genes! etc!) And, although I was never particularly allured by neuroscience, I now feel much more educated about how the brain works, and how this disease takes its toll.

The heart-wrenching story of Alice did more than educate, it inspired. This compelling book made me thankful for every day I have as a highly-functioning 26 year-old. It made me grateful for all that I can do independently. After reading this story, I am determined to seize each moment and not take a day for granted. And because of that, I strongly recommend reading it. Just not in a public place if you're prone to crying.

Have any of you seen the movie? I'm obviously afraid it will be a cry-fest for me, but do want to see it. Watching Kristen Stewart (who plays the rebellious daughter) play something other than Bella is a fun bonus too! And of course, the Oscar winner herself!

101 in 1001 Update: 8 Months In

I fear I'm falling behind with my 101 in 1001 list, but, the point of the list is not to add a bizarre sense of stress to my life. (Anyone else who can take a inspiration source and turn it into a stress source? A gift, really.) It's been about 8 months and I've only completed 24 of the 101 items, but there are some that are very in progress, so I'm telling myself I'm almost a quarter of the way done, and choosing not to do the math about how many of the 1001 days have passed.

As the great Glennon Doyle Melton says in her book which I'm currently reading, "Happiness is low expectations paired with a short-term memory problem." I'm not sure if that quote is particularly relevant for this post, but it sure is helping me get through February. Without further ado, a few fun things I have checked off my list recently:

Go to an art museum.

I checked out the Madison Museum of Modern Art (MMoCA) on a special behind-the-scenes look for BRAVA magazine, where I intern. The Eric and Heather ChanSchatz: 22nd Century exhibit is really cool! (To use a super high-class pretentious artsy adjective.) Not only do the pieces offer a bold visual impression, they are also representative of a wide variety of populations/places. One, called "Revolution" was painted after the artists conversed with a group of people in Cairo, another one called "Millennials" after they spoke to a group of, you guessed it, Millennials in Colorado.

And, you guys, if you've lived in Madison for, oh, I don't know 3 and a half years yet you've only walked by the MMoCA to go to Fresco on the top floor (delicious cocktails there, by the way) and you somehow never realized MMoCA was super cool and 100% free, now you know! But seriously, who would be so dense?*

*Hint: me.

Go to a concert.

My friend Christie and I channelled our inner country girl and saw Kacey Musgraves play at the Orpheum! I really like her songs, and admire that she's also a song writer. (Fun fact: she co-wrote Miranda Lambert's Mama's Broken Heart.)

 My two favorite genres are R&B/hip-hop and country (keepin' it eclectic) but I usually lean more towards R&B. And the Beatles. Which are their own genre. But when I go to country concerts, I feel like a high schooler again. Kacey was a very solid performer - sang a ton of songs, and kept the talking to a minimum. Being a Texas girl, she did, of course, curse the unbearably cold weather multiple times. As we all are collectively doing. When is Wisconsin going to physically relocate? 

Do yoga 20 times in a month.

This was way harder than I thought it would be. 20 times? What's 20 times? 20 times is a LOT of times for someone who's cumulatively done yoga say, 15 times, in the first 26 years of her life. Full post on my month of saying "namaste" here. In short, I did like it, but I also did basically NOTHING else for exercise in January, so I am hoping to fine some balance with yoga in my life in the future. But I can do an arm balance! I'll show it to you the next time we're at a party together (much to my boyfriend's chagrin.)

Do a blog redesign.

You're looking at it! Vanessa from With Great Heart did my redesign and I couldn't be more thrilled about it! Vanessa was so professional, fast, and the whole thing was very affordable! I highly recommend working with Vanessa. Also, I know some of my "categories" up top aren't working, but that's my fault (for not tagging things appropriately) so I need to go back and do that in the name of Kaizen. ;)

Happy weekend, homies! xx

11 Things You Can Accomplish (During Lent) Without Standing

Right when the New Years Resolutions rush is over,  Lent comes along. Another season dedicated to self-improvement (or self-deprivation, depending on how you look at it). It's as if someone thinks we should constantly strive to improve as individuals? Weird. When I was younger, I gave up a ton of stuff for Lent (Chocolate, AOL Instant Messenger, you name it), and I wasn't even Catholic. I was just weird. But, over the years, I've decided to try to do something positive during Lent rather than give something up.

This inspired me to create a list of 11 "Lenten Promises" you can do from your beloved sofa! I'm not anti-exercise, I'm just pro-chocolate. I'm not sure if all of them really qualify as Lenten Promises or not, but still, they are goals you can accomplish while snacking, so what's better than that?

1. Unsubscribe from all those pesky emails that clutter your inbox. It takes under an hour, and the feeling of relief after clicking “unsubscribe” is incredible.

2. Update your resume. Even if you aren’t job searching, you never know when the next exciting opportunity will arise. Be ready!

3. Start a blog. I did this for a New Year's Resolution four years ago, and it’s still my favorite resolution to date. You can write about anything, and it doesn’t have to be for an audience at first. It’s a truly creative outlet that lets you express yourself. I'm also going to start sharing blogging tips here!

4. Meditate for 15 minutes each day. Sounds easier than it is. Spending just 15 minutes a day clearing your mind and thinking of absolutely nothing (this means zero electronics!) can really mentally benefit you. Check out this blog post I did on meditating.

5. Find a charity you support, and donate. If you're going to give something up, might as well give that something to someone else. Whether you’re able to commit to giving monthly or make a one-time donation, there are plenty of amazing charities out there. I give to World Vision and The Exodus Road.

6. Read all six of Jane Austen’s books. Plenty of people love Jane Austen, and many of those admirers haven’t read all of her books – which is perfectly fine! But Northanger Abbey and Persuasion aren't going to read themselves, you know? :) 

7. Write a letter to an elderly person each month. There are many homebound elderly people who who would really cherish letters. Now is the time to get back in touch with your great-aunt, or even write to strangers in the local nursing home. Many churches and assisted living facilities are happy to provide addresses of homebound people for just this reason.

8. Watch 3 documentaries on new-to-you topics.  I always want to watch educational documentaries, but television shows (cough*GilmoreGirls*cough) tend to get prioritized. Committing to watching a few intriguing documentaries can make you feel smarter and make for some ingenious conversation starters. Need ideas? Check out the Oscar noms!

9. Write more thank you notes. Can you write one a day during lent? One a week? You’ll never regret spending your time expressing gratitude for others.

10. Organize your computer desktop. If you’re like me, your computer desktop is as cluttered as your real desk, and let’s just say my real desk is not about to be featured in any interior design magazines. Organizing your digital world will leave you feeling refreshed, and able to think about more important things than "Where the heck is that document?"

11. Update your address book. Be it digital or in a Rolodex, it’s always nice to have an up-to-date index of where friends and family are residing -- especially in your 20's when everyone seems to be moving all the time. You never know when you’ll need to send spur-of-the-moment “Save the Dates.” (Sorry if I sounded too much like your mom there.)

I hope your end-of-February is going well! :) Let's hope it's the last "season" of negative temperatures for a while. xx

Wanderlust: Carmel-by-the-Sea and the PCH

It's the perfect time to be somewhere other than Wisconsin*, am I right? This weekend, as Stephen and I walked the 0.4 miles our Valentine's Dinner at Graze, we lamented not taking a cab because our faces were freezing into place. Thus, let's escape the torment of Wisconsin weather to the West Coast, shall we?

*Wisconsin here is metaphoric, representing anywhere where it's so cold outside you do anything possible to not take the trash out. I'm also literally in Wisconsin, conveniently.

We went to California in September, starting with a night and day in San Fran and then driving down to Carmel-by-the-Sea. We didn't take the most direct way to Carmel, we took the best way. And here's the life lesson nestled in this travel post:  sometimes the most direct and the best way are different.

In this case, it was obvious: THE PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY IS THE MOST AMAZING ROAD IN THE WORLD. No offense to the street I grew up on. (Much love, Trillium Dr.)

It was a breathtaking, leisurely drive down to our Airbnb in Carmel by-the-Sea.

If you couldn't tell by the charming hyphenated addition to its name, Carmel by-the-Sea is a city overflowing with charm. The city is on a hill that spills into the Pacific Ocean. The beach overlooks the famous last hole in Pebble Beach Golf Course. 

Carmel is quite possibly the nicest place I've ever been, objectively speaking. There were people there from all over the world. Foreign languages surrounded me; people clearly thought it was worth the international airfare to go there. Stephen told me Rome was like that, too. (I've never been to Rome, go figure.)

If time were no factor, I would have spent an entire day marveling at the cottage-style Carmel houses. Most have adorable names like Robin's Nest, Sanctuary, and Pear Tree cottage. Of course, we opted to spend our days driving along the PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY instead**. 

**I am still in such awe to this road, that I feel obliged to type it in all caps out of sheer reverence.

But before doing the PCH, we did the 17 Mile Drive, which had an entrance minutes away from our Carmel Airbnb. For $10, you can take your time driving through a well-marked route and stopping for the sites. The highlight of the 17 miles was seeing the famous Lone Cyprus standing triumphantly above the Pacific. 

Although you won't see the Lone Cyprus anywhere but the 17 Mile Drive, you don't have to pay for incredible views in California, because, duh, the PCH. Driving on the PCH south of Carmel leads to the Bixby Bridge, a must-stop location. The beautiful arched bridge connecting the winding highway cutting through the mountains is a site to add to your bucket list, stat.

It's difficult to leave the Bixby Bridge, but Big Sur beckoned. The road winded on and on, and right when you thought there couldn't possible be another magnificent view, there was one. We veered off the PCH to make stop at the secluded Pfeiffer Beach. This also had a $10 entrance fee but was worth every penny, as shown:

Although the wonders of the PCH continued on, we spent our evenings based in Carmel, watching the sun set over the beach and eating dinner at restaurants like La Bicyclette and Dametra Cafe. One thing was, it was dark (very dark!) walking back at night. Fortunately, we managed to navigate the crime-ridden streets safely back to our Airbnb each night ;)

Sigh. Looking at these pictures makes me want to book flights, immediately. Or better yet, move. (See ya later, land of beer and cheese!) I hope I've convinced you to add Carmel and the PCH to your bucket-list. Any other must-see places? I'm looking for any mental escape from winter's wrath! Hope you're all having a good week! xx

Memoir Monday: Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman

This series is dedicated to my deep love for memoirs, alliterations, and Mondays. (Note: I don't actually like Mondays. I'm not that girl.)

When I asked for Netflix suggestions, many of you suggested Orange is the New Black, but I wanted to read the OITNB memoir first before binge-watching. (Plus, we were busy binge watching House of Cards! #obsessed #countdowntoseason3) Well, I finally finished the book and here's my take!

Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison

Piper Kerman's memoir is certainly powerful. And I did like it. But I didn't love it. I found it decidedly eye-opening but I didn't find it particularly exciting. Still, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars on goodreads. I do recommend reading it if you (like me!) know nothing about the prison system in the U.S.

Still interested? A closer look:

People is quoted saying "The true subject of this unforgettable book is female bonding and the ties that even bars can't unbind." on the cover, and I couldn't agree more. Women immediately take Kerman under their wings and teach her the bizarre prison routines. They share contraband items, celebrate birthdays and holidays with limited resources, craft fancy prison foods in the microwave, practice yoga together. It's moving. The hard part for me was a lot how prison was like a revolving door -- women being moved to other units, women going home when their sentences ended, new women beginning their sentence. Because of this I struggled developing any bond with the supporting characters since they seemed to be ever-changing. I did, however, really like Piper and her unique perspective.

Kerman authentically shows us the mundane side of prison life, but sometimes that monotony does not translate into a page-turner. Much of prison is waiting. Chipping away at your sentence, one day at a time, one month at a time. Running around and around the track. Doing your boring prison job. Eating bland meal after bland meal after bland meal. Mail call. Weekly visiting hours. Cleaning your area for inspection. It reminded me of a war story, where you think the story would be all action-packed battles, but really it's just a lot sitting around and waiting in the trenches. I think this was fine, because it was a realistic depiction of her experience, but I'm willing to bet Netflix added quite a few action scenes.

For the first time in my life, I am absolutely convinced of the importance of prison reform in the United States. This is the reason you SHOULD read the book. Some startling facts:

*The U.S. has the biggest prison population in the world -- we incarcerate 25% of the world's prisoners, though we are only 5% of the world's population.

*In 1980, we had about 500,000 Americans in prison; now we have more than 2.3 million people locked up. You can basically blame the "war on drugs" and rules surrounding it (e.g. minimum sentences) for causing most of this dramatic increase. Therefore, there are many many low-level offenders who pose little threat of violence (like Kerman) behind bars.

*It costs ~$30,000 a year to keep a female inmate behind bars. (Again, most of these people are not violent.) There were even nuns in prison with Kerman!

*There are very limited programs to equip inmates for re-entrance into the outside world. The ones they have are hardly effective. This is one reason prisoners often get released only to return to prison shortly. Doing time makes you better at doing time. It doesn't make you better prepared for society.

The book lists a bunch of prison reform organizations in the back, and I'm thinking of researching a few. I'll let you know if I find any particularly interesting organizations! I'd love to hear what you think of this memoir if you've read it. Also, as always, I'd love to hear any memoir recommendations you have for future Memoir Mondays! xx