Showing posts with label What Makes Me Happy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label What Makes Me Happy. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Motivational Stuff...

Everyone likes those cheesy motivational posters, right?

You know the ones I'm talking about...with a few inspirational words, a beautiful background image, and a stunning lay-out that showcases all the elements of art (unity, harmony, balance, texture, line, shape...etc.).

And for you folks who will vehemently deny appreciating these works, I've got something that even you can't not like.

Enter Karen Salmonsohn.  I stumbled upon her website upon one of my blog-hopping adventures and fell in love with it.

After all, who could not love this:

source: notsalmon.com
source: notsalmon.com

Source: notsalmon.com

source: notsalmon.com


source: notsalmon.com




 Feel better yet?  :P

Check out her gazillion-and-one posters at notsalmon.com...click under "older posts" to see the full range of cutsey, pretty, and even breath-taking posters.  Happy viewing!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

the last one

I'm nearly there.

And in the process I've learned two things about myself:
a) I'm the worst procrastinator ever
b) I'm a perfectionist

a + b =  horribly, horribly high stress levels



Take this paper that was due Wednesday, for example.  It was too much, and I felt a little like this guy here:



All the while thinking: 
-must. not. do. this. to. myself.
-must. use. will. power.
-must. finish. this. dumb. dumb. paper.
-why. why. why. does. this. always. happen. to. me.


BUT, now that it's done, all I can think is, "THIS IS THE LAST DARN PAPER I WILL EVER WRITE FOR SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!  LAST PAPER EVER*!!!!!!!


AHHHHHHH!!!  THIS is what pure jubilation feels like!! :)





*I graduate this year!  Conditional on the fact that I never go back to school.  People who know me well are kinda convinced that I've got a PhD to tackle....aieee... don't even want to think about that!



Monday, January 10, 2011

For Yusuf

I like DIYing...but you already know that, right?

Well, here's a recent project that I worked on using scrapbooking paper, a bristol board and a whole lot of glue!  





Yep, it's a greeting card!  A giant one at that! 

I had such a good time making it that methinks I should do this more often.  Good stress relief!
Also, it reminds me of my childhood, when things seemed so much simpler.  Yes, I was a total art geek back then.  Look no further than my Origami Club membership and the fact that I was the school's rep at the DARE Arts Program.  

I love this stuff. <3

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Look a little harder

People really like their quotes, eh?

And whether it’s on a book, a frame, an agenda or some other random item, some people will buy it just because they really, really liked the quote that was on it.

But, this post is not about quotes.  Or even how wildly popular and ubiquitous they have become. But it does serve as a great segue into perhaps what is one of the most commonly known quotes:

Stop and smell the roses.

And while it’s not entirely clear where this phrase originated from, there are many, many theories.  Some speculate that it was golfer Walter Hagen who first came up with a similar quote.  In his 1956 biography, he is quoted as saying,

You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry. Don't worry. 
And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.

Apparently, “smell the flowers” was later misquoted as “smell the roses”.

In any case, I appreciate the sentiment of the longer quote.  It’s lovely, isn’t it?  It’s a profound reminder that we are so blessed – in ways that we will never be able to fully comprehend.

And it’s a message to look a little harder.

Like when you’re taking an ordinary walk to the subway station.  Did you notice the afternoon sun beaming down the tree lined streets?



Or take a peek outside before you head to bed.  What’s ordinary can become extraordinary...


And it’s a wonder that even a simple thing can make a difference.  Like looking UP for a change.

At times, even the most boring thing – like a 25 page paper- can suddenly look beautiful.



And sometimes, you’ll be rewarded with a sight that really is very magical.

 

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All pictures belong to the writer and are from her personal collection.  Please seek permission before using. Thanks!