Back in Action

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 After about a 2 month hiatus - I'm back.  

I've been waiting for most of my adult life to write this story - but more importantly, to live this life.  I'm not sure why it's taken me this long to put it down on "paper" - but here it is.

In the last two months I've started a new job and picked up everything to move to Washington, DC. It was what I thought I always would do post graduation - but when the time came, I didn't have the courage to do it.  I settled for a job and carriage house in a town I knew and loved.  It was easy and it was comfortable.  I was surrounded by people that loved me, knew me, believed in me and my capabilities and it was good.  But something was eating at me during that 4 month stint.  I felt too still, too comfortable, too settled.  I spent evenings looking up plane tickets, figuring out my next steps, itching for a new experience to the point of constant  anxious moments, sleepless nights, and a general unhappiness with my mental well being.   The weirdest part was the terror I felt living alone in a sleepy small town in the middle of a corn field - a feeling I had never felt living completely alone in a city of 1 million 4,000 miles away from anyone I knew.  I tried it all - running, reading, writing, tea instead of coffee, detoxing, more water - there was something that unsettled me about being in this small town.

Then one day, the universe sent an email asking if I would be interested in an open position.

The 24 hours of deciding to respond and accepting that I had, were filled with more anxiety, pain, and discomfort than I've felt, maybe ever.  I couldn't stop thinking of what could come from that email, the chances I would have to take, the risks, the money, the people that I would hurt, leaving the love and comfort of my friends to go chase a dream.  A great friend reminded me that I was forgetting the most important thing in this equation - myself.   Once the process began I have never been more excited and sure of my capabilities, my skills, and my direction.  Within 2 weeks, I had a new job, a new apartment, drove a U-Haul for the first time, and moved to the big city with my new craigslist roomie (who rocks.)

I feel like I'm finally pursuing my passion - really chasing the dream.  I'm finally back in the political world in DC and I love every minute of it.

I'm really liking being uncomfortable here - I know I'm growing.  I like the pace of the city, the walks to and from work that I use to clear my head and listen to music, metro rides - all of it.  I like that there is so much still to uncover around the corner or downtown.  I'm here and it rocks.  It's a challenge every single day but it's usually a good one.

Cheers to my new life in DC - excited to share more of it with you! 

Storify: The Smart Girls Summit

 I couldn't be more proud to be a part of such an incredible organization.  Unfortunately, my housing fell through for the 2 nights I was supposed to stay in NYC, so I wasn't able to make it up to the conference.  It worked out just fine as I lived through my twitter feed and retweeted like a crazy woman.

I've used Storify to piece together some of the best parts of the day!  Check it out.

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Life Update

A big life update coming at ya!  

Well, if you follow on Instagram you probably already know this.

I have accepted a job at Washington College and have moved to Chestertown full time!  Yesterday was my first day in the "real world" and I loved every second of it.  I will be serving as the Assistant Director of Chapter Programming and Alumni Networking.  If you are a Washington College alum reading this, I will be handling all of the Alumni Chapters across the country!  :) See you at an event!  

 My volunteer work with the Alumni Board and with the senior class gift campaign this past year totally sparked my interest in development, fundraising, and alumni programming.  I am so inspired by the team I work with, the volunteers I oversee, and the alumni I am engaging.  This move couldn't have been more perfect for me and I'm so excited to learn everything about this new realm.  

The decision wasn't easy, and there were days that I questioned whether Chestertown was the right place for me (cough, cough the last two summers in DC, cough, cough).  In the end, what really mattered to me was the work that I would be doing and my passion for it.  I am able to utilize my creativity and harness my ideas and vision for these programs that I have not only partaken in, but already molded and shaped as a student.  

Cheers to the next chapter, I am so happy you are along for the ride! 

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Take Note

Some awesome reading material for your Monday lunch break. 

1. Beyond the Pencil Skirt With Kirsten Kesicki, Project Manager at Live In The Grey :

Love, love, love this article.  I am deeply in love with all things Levo League and so into Live In The Grey!  A really thoroughly look at this powerhouse lady's everyday.  

2. Leighton Meester and Dana Williams Gorgeously Cover Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams":  

Okay, gorgeous voices.  This has been circulating a bit but I just can't get over it.  Leighton Meester, I have a huge girl crush on you.  

3. Instagram Lifestyle Accounts from What Dress Code:   I am so into Instagram.  People allow us to visualize their life in such a beautiful way!  

4. April 2014 Issue of Smart Girls Guide:   Our new issue is live on the Smart Girls Group!  So proud of this issue and excited for the issues to come!  I absolutley love being a part of this process.  

5.  Lena Dunham on Bill Simmons:  I'm just really into Lena Dunham and everything about her.  I just want to have a conversation with her over coffee.  

What are you reading/listening/watching these days?  

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TEDx Chester River 2014

This past weekend I gave my first TEDx talk. 

Eeeek! 

A few weeks ago I was sending TED talks to my Business professor when she suggested that I join their team for the TEDx Chester River weekend.  I joined the group just 1 week ago and when asked who would give the presentation, I jumped at the chance!  We are hoping to write up a paper on our ideas and have it published.  This was such an amazing experience and I'm so excited to post about it.

Lord & Taylor was having an ah-mazing sale the other week, and I found this perfect black shift for work, interviews, life.  

We heard from Mary Daley Yerrick, the Co-Founder of Vital Voices, married couple, writer Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr of Idiot's Books, Robbie Blinkoff the Cultural Anthropologist, and Washington College professor, Kaitlin Thomas.  The speakers at TEDx Chester River were so inspiring and thoughtful.  I can't wait to see the videos when they are published!   

Have you ever been to a TEDx talk?

The Netflix of Books

Have you heard of Oyster? 

It ROCKS.

They call it the Netflix of books.  

Your first month is free and you have access to a library of over 10,000 books to add to your reading list at no extra charge.  After your first free month it costs $9.95 per month.  I probably won't start paying for it until I graduate and have time to read for fun, but while I'm in Mexico for 10 days, this will be the perfect way to read.  The app is available for iPhone + iPad & after tweeting at Oyster, I found out that development of an Android app is in the works.  I have a Google Nexus so I'll be poolside with my phone most of trip but I don't mind. 

I'm also excited to use my Audible app.  

I love listening to books on tape.  So far I've listened to Arcadia by Tom Stoppard (my favorite play) and Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.  Each month that you pay a small fee to belong you receive 1 credit.  Most books are one credit so I haven't had to buy a book yet which is awesome!  

I'm so excited to unplug from my thesis for a few days and read for pleasure.

What's your favorite device to read on?  What's your favorite app to learn?  What books are on your list for the new year? Leave a comment below + start the conversation!

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November Watercolor

On my 101 things in 1,001 days project I vowed to do 1 watercolor painting per month.

It's such a great way to relax.  I usually do my paintings after lunch on Fridays.

I love getting inspiration from pinterest before I start to paint. 

I totally tried to copy this pin, and the color didn't work out quite the way I wanted.

So I cut out my sketch.

Then I found this elephant, which I'm sure I'll finish one day, but until then, he will look like this.

Be sure to check out last month's doodle.

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the scariest question

An obsessive, time consuming addiction I've developed.  

Asking myself, "Who am I going to be?"

With this fall semester over and time to myself to work on my thesis and job hunt, I can't seem to turn my brain off.  There is something so powerful and exciting about knowing that there is a whole world waiting to be seen, languages to be learned, food to be tasted, and skills to be sought.  

I'm usually faced with the argument that "now is not the time to worry about that."

So when is the time?  If I'm not mapping out my future now, when is it gonna happen?  My biggest fear is that it will be too late for me to pursue a dream.   But that's the thing about dreams, you can't have them all lined up like ducks in a row.  Sure you can pay your credit card bills, keep your credit high, remember to turn in checks, papers, signatures, buy cards, etc. You can schedule every last second of your day but inspiration, growth, creativity, how do you schedule that?  I think it's so evident in this very structure, this little piece of the internet that I have.  I can't sit here and type a post to you without creativity or desire to do so. It would be forced and unpleasant and not worth your time.  Hence, my sporadic appearances and jolts of activity.  Hi.

I feel like I'm living in a constant vertigo (ha!) of teetering between the fantasy of life's fullness and the ability to be anyone.. and the reality of what will probably be.  Why is that this second questioning of doubt always springs up before I have the chance to develop a second thought or longing.

I could create something new...how?

I could be famous...and spiral into a pit of self destruction?  

I could pursue politics in DC...and end up dead like that guy on House of Cards?

I could be a successful creative and blog for a living...and work from home?

I could pick up everything and move to San Francisco...and have no friends?

I could find a studio and move to NYC and struggle to afford rent...and not eat food?

I could be an actress yet to be discovered...and be in really awful commercials?

I could get over my fear of writing...and? I don't even know. 

I could just travel the world...without any money?

I could pay lots of money to take computer classes..and then find out I hate it?  

OR. 

i could live at home

work at a restaurant at the beach 

take a job from 'dad's friend'

move to baltimore 

What's wrong with safe?  Why am I scared of safe?  Shouldn't I be grateful that I have safe?  Especially when most people in the world are grateful to have a roof.  

With graduation 3,246 hours away, how am I supposed to sleep?  I know that I don't have to have it figured all out before I put the cap and gown on, but shouldn't I have a game plan? Is anyone else feeling like this?  

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Finals Survival Guide

Finals survival guide 2 by hilarybadger featuring a pom pom blanket


Happy Finals Week!
Not much has changed since last year's final survival guide, just the geographic location.

How do you cope with this extremely stressful week?

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Ted_Talks

Ted Talks are about one of my favorite things on the planet. 

My friend Kate from study abroad introduced me to 'Ted' during our trip to London last fall.  

We were staying with her family friends in 'Little Venice' and I asked about their professions.  She simply said well, he has a Ted Talk.  

That man made me tea. 

And his wife is just as magical and brilliant. 

So there ya go. BUT this is about the most recent Ted Talks I've been watching.  

One of my 101 things in 1,001 days list is to watch 10 Ted Talks.  I figured out the easiest ways to do that.  I've been listening to Ted, my new free app on from my phone, on long drives.  It's like book on tape, but BETTER. 

Yesterday on my drive home for Fall Break I listened to about 4 Ted Talks. I'll share two.

Janette Sadik-Khan on the streets of New York and how her role as Transportation commissioner has changed traffic and mobility.

After interning with ICMA over the last 4 months, I was so fascinated by this!  My love for city management and city planning have grown exponentially as well as my fascination with NYC. ;) 

More to come later.

The next is Michael Sandel.  "Why We Shouldn't Trust Markets With Our Civic Life"

Do you feel like we put a price on things that shouldn't be valued monetarily?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one!


What are some of your favorite TED Talks?
I'd love for your to share :)

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Saturday Southwester Loafer Love

These are too good to be true. 

Happy Saturday!  

If you're at Washington College, be sure to stop by the AOII & PhiDeltaTheta cookout tomorrow from 12-3 pm at the quad.  Come meet the sisters and brothers of our Greek organizations and enjoy some free food & the start of the weekend off right!

I'll be spending the rest of it in my study carrel in the library.

If You Can Read This, You've Got It Good

Everyone has been reposting this article, "How to Get Flat Abs, Have Amazing Sex, and Rule the World in 8 Easy Steps" from Kate Bartolotta at HuffPo.  It REALLY struck a cord when I finally read it.  Thank goodness someone is having this conversation.  Thank goodness we are picking apart our everyday discourse to bring it back down to a more humble understanding.  In addition to this, she is pointing out our biggest flaw; always wanting more & "I will be only happy when.." syndrome.  

At the start of her argument she makes a simple, valid point. 

 "If you can read this, you're life is pretty awesome." 

She explains to the average GenY or Millennial that by shear luck you have electricity, wifi that you are able to connect to, and a computer to use.  

But then I thought of something I had read earlier that day on Facebook posted by the Half the Sky Movement.  

"Globally, 123 million youth aged 15 to 24 lack basic reading and writing skills."

Let's drive the point home further.

"61% of them are young women."

In addition to reading this wonderful article, tonight Washington College hosted Don McPherson to speak to the student body about violence against women and the conversation revolving domestic abuse.  I could not be more grateful and excited about his basic message: Why aren't we having positive conversation?  Why aren't we working to love everyone around us everyday?  What is it in our human nature that flaws us so to assume the worst or fall to temptation to please the masses?  And most importantly, why aren't we talking about it?  

The former NFL quarter back introduced himself as a feminist and I nearly stood up clapping.  If only more men would join this conversation.  This isn't a women's issue, it's a human issue.  

Feeling pretty grateful today about my life, the opportunities I've received by luck, and the everyday experiences I am able to have.  

[Organize] Free Calendar & Monday Inspiration

School is officially in session & I am already bogged down with homework and looming thesis deadlines.  I've really tried to cut back on my involvement this year so I can put as much effort into my thesis as possible, yet somehow I'm still freaking out. In effort to help me stay on top of all my work, I found these precious printable calendars from Oh So Lovely just in time for September.

In other news, I'm really enjoying my Political Inequalities class this semester.  I've discovered I have a real passion for human rights, economic and social inequality.  I was reading "Why We Can't Ignore Growing Income Inequality" by Timothy Noah and loved his reference from Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett's The Spirit Level.

"Modern societies will depend increasingly on being creative, adaptable, inventive, well-informed and flexible communities, able to respond generously to each other and to needs wherever they arise.  These are characteristics not of societies in hock to the rich, in which people are driven by status insecurities, but of populations used to working together and respecting each other as equals."

I hope I'm still around to see that.