C’est La Vie

I feel silly saying this, but I’m blogging from a new location:

A Rose-Colored Lens

Nothing is ever set in stone when it comes to blogs and me, and I feel a little strange and sad distancing myself from the posts here by starting somewhere new (not to be dramatic or anything…), but I have been thinking about this change for a while.  You can read a bit more about why here.

I cherish the memories I’ve documented here.

PS – I am still working on (ie putting off) subscribing to blogs via an RSS feed. Soon!

The End Of An Era

Design and Travel

Last night I went to a Barnes & Noble for the first time in ages and had the opportunity to browse through several design books I’d read about online. I do a lot of online shopping, but it really helped seeing the real deal because I was able to choose a favorite (I didn’t buy it yet because of the whole being unemployed thing). I looked at:

Decorate
Undecorate: The No-Rules Approach to Interior Design
Modern Vintage Style
Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic
Downtown Chic: Designing Your Dream Home: From Wreck to Ravishing
Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces
The French-Inspired Home
Simply Scandinavian

…and many, many others. I would love to have them all for a wide variety of inspiration and resources but I came back to The Vintage Modern Home several times. I’m not sure what set the it apart from all the rest for me (especially very similar titles, like Modern Vintage),  but after several flips through, the pictures just spoke to me the most, and the tips looked helpful too, not that I spent much time reading.

In unrelated news, I visited my best friend in Pensacola, Florida last weekend and absolutely loved it there. We went downtown on Friday night and spent a long Saturday watching the Blue Angels and hanging out at bars on the beach. I’d have loved to have spent more time there. I was in ultimate beach town vacation mode.

Fireworks on the Beach

Jubilation

I went to see the Cirque du Soleil show Alegria last night. This is a little taste:

It was so amazing that I have a renewed appreciation for what the human body can do. It kind of makes me want to do some yoga, and at least get to the point that I can reach past my knees…

It was also a great excuse to dress up, but sadly, I didn’t get any pictures, except for this bad one of a delicious meal at a Mediterranean restaurant from before the show:

Fried jibneh (cheese), falafel, and spinach pies

You can listen to the soundtrack here, which is awesome. The theme song reminds me a little of Lady Gaga, particularly the chorus of Alejandro. But this just might be my favorite. I don’t know. I can’t decide.

Alegria!

Here’s to Introverts

I got this list from my friend Kristen (it’s originally from here) and I had to re-post. I first read about what it really means to be an introvert last year after filling out a long questionnaire about my personality, and I felt like it was the first time I’d seen a totally spot on description and analysis of my personality type, ever. In a way it helped me understand and accept my weird self. So I love this :)

10 Myths about Introverts

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers. That being said, there are still plenty of techniques an Extrovert can learn in order to interact with Introverts. (Yes, I reversed these two terms on purpose to show you how biased our society is.) Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

PS: A picture from my weekend that has everything to do with this post.

Rise and Shine

I am still “in transition” and will be for a long time to come. Life is crazy right now. Watching the sun rise is a good way to feel peaceful for a few minutes.

I have a job interview with an organization I would be very happy to work with, in the location I want, but I think it may involve extensive travel (driving), and I’m still a baby beginner driver. So it may very well be an impossible fit, but I’ll find out. I’m trying to stay relaxed about the job hunt. I’ve had enough responses to my job applications (not many, but enough) that I feel comfortable waiting until I find one that’s right for me. I could handle a few more months of searching before I really get worried (read: desperate). Still, when I start thinking about things like getting a car, a new apartment, replacing the things I didn’t keep in the move, and paying “adult” bills soon, it’s pretty scary.

There is so much other stuff going on and yet I have nothing cohesive to talk about, at least not here, for now. In fun news though, I may have a camping trip, a Britney Spears concert, a Cirque du Soleil performance, a day at Universal Studios, and/or a weekend visit with an old friend coming up.

In the Yard

Overthinking Home Decorating

On the plane during recent flights, I alternated between reading “The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life,” by Francine Jay, and imagining what I want my next home to look like. I recommend the book; it’s all about achieving that excitement you feel when you first move into a new place and it’s still empty, when the open space is inspiring and exhilarating, before you fill it up with all your things. It’s really a call for a different life style: looking at your belongings with a new eye, being more aware of how stuff gets into your home, letting go of items you don’t absolutely need or love, defining yourself in ways other than by what you own, and creating–and maintaining–a peaceful (beautiful, functional) dwelling.

These rooms from the Haven in Paris vacation rentals are what I’m sort of longing for right now (and not only because they’re, you know, in Paris). I’d have a little more art and decor, but not too much more. And have I mentioned that I need* hardwood floors? Minimal decor seems to work so much better with pretty floors.

*I use the word “need” loosely and excessively in this entry. I do not actually need these things, other than to achieve the images in my head.

When moving back in with my parents last month, I ended up selling more furniture than I anticipated on a last minute whim, including my sofa and an armchair. Patrick and I also sold our dining set and a few other things, and he and I split up the remaining furniture, a process that was very smooth. The truth is, I didn’t want to keep much. I like the thought of a fresh start, and I want fewer things overall. Even the stuff I did keep, currently sitting in a storage unit, is more than I need, but I’m waiting to see what my next living situation is like to decide what stays and goes, depending on size, layout, whether or not I live with someone else, etc.

Basically, the furniture I have left is:

All the items in this very IKEA-fied little reading nook. I will most likely change the color of the chair cushion to something more neutral.

Chair and footstool- IKEA, oak bookshelf – 2ndhand IKEA via Craigslist, white shelf – IKEA as-is section

This chair–happily, I’ve chucked the old cushions and will definitely be having new ones made.

Chair – Craiglist

This dresser, which I’m on the fence about keeping. If I do, it’s getting cleaned up.

Dresser – Craigslist

This small Danish table/bench (I love it).

Table/bench – Ebay

This even smaller side table.

Side table – found on a curbside!

This little green [bedside] table (guess I’m okay on small tables, huh?).

Bedside table – Pier 1

The desk and shelves in this picture, which I have no attachment to.

Desk and shelves – IKEA

Not pictured: An oak IKEA Expedit bookcase I never assembled.

So what I make of all of this is:

• I have a lot of brown wooden stuff, and I want to balance it out with upholstered pieces, glass, metal, other colors, whatever
• I want to change my chair cushions to more neutral colors
• I will not need everything I have above, and could probably do without some of the small tables and one of the chairs
• I will need a bed, sofa (white or very light), small dining table (probably white), and some rugs (I still have the white shaggy one in the reading nook)
• I need to phase out the oak IKEA stuff
• I don’t want to be too theme-y, including overly retro or vintage
• Color-wise, I want to be much calmer this time around than I was in Gainesville (despite the fact that this completely contradicts recent entries I’ve posted). I want a lot of neutrals with green as my main accent color. I’ve been inspired by this image from Anthropologie since 2005!

and I still have these curtains, which I love:

I cut down on my decorative items as well but still have plenty to spread throughout my next home. I think I’ll be pretty selective about that process too, though.

…And this concludes today’s over-analysis of how I will decorate my next hypothetical place.

Back…with Skills

I return from Louisiana with new-found expertise (ha) in baking/ cooking/ cake decorating, sewing (an apron!), couponing, and more. Aside from staying busy doing all those things, my friend and I also found time to sunbathe at the pool, drink daiquiris on the porch, play with her adorable dog, and of course, talk each other’s ear off.