under construction

I'm not really sure what I'm planning to do with this space yet. I have some ideas, I know what type of look I like, but I don't always have all of the "tools" at hand to do what I really want. I'm taking a web design class this summer as a part of my certificate program at Parsons, which should be done by the end of the year. I'm hoping that it will be what I need to gain a little more confidence in my limited web design skills - and to make this blog look like a cool place to hang out!

In other news of things under construction - I finally started an online portfolio! I'll be adding things in a little at a time, and I really hope to get myself out in the world as a designer. You can see I've been doing some fun work for my friends here and there, and I would love to do more of it.

Most recently, I worked on a logo and wordmark design for my friends new fitness company - you can see the design on his recently-launched blog. (oh hi shameless plug - go like him on facebook while you're at it!)

Anyway, that's what I'm up to around here. I also realize I've neglected to tell the story of how we got engaged! But that's for another post, in the hopefully near future :-)

<3 barb="" p="">
PS - can someone who is good with code tell me why code hates the typed heart symbol? because I'd really like it to work properly. thanks!

changes

So, you may have noticed a few things:
1. I havent posted in a while
2. I just changed up the layout quite a bit.
3. Things are looking sloppy because of the changes.

Those things are true.
I miss blogging, but I felt like this space wasn't representing me, so I just went ahead and cleared out a bunch of the junk so I could have more of a fresh start. I think more changes are coming... soon. I want to be able to just post and not feel like there's some standard or expectation for me to adhere to.

So, I'm going to try to update the layout and give myself the space to blog some more!

<3 barb="" br="">

race update

As I mentioned in my last post, which is now about a month ago, PJ and I are competing in a Race for the Ring - with the grand prize of a beautiful engagement ring!
Thanks to all of our friends and family, we were able to move on to Round 2 of the contest. For this round, we've made a video about how we met, and again we're asking for your votes! There are 13 couples in this round, and the top 10 will go on to the final Race for the Ring.

This is us at Staples, waiting for our "Vote for Us" flyers to print!

All of the voting is through facebook, so here is our direct link if you want to view the video and share! This round of voting ends Monday, March 11.

http://bit.ly/YYTwhd

We really appreciate your help, and are so happy to have the support of our family and friends!

Thanks,

<3 barb="">

PS - we shot the video using our GoPro Hero3 Silver, and the amazing song is Wild by Royal Teeth!

the race begins...

I know I've been mostly absent around here lately.  Truthfully, I just wasn't feeling the whole blog thing, and so I just let it slip into the background.  But today, I'm here for your help!

a different race... 

PJ and I have entered a race... not really similar to the one that the above photo is from, but a race just the same.  However, the finish line of this race includes a RING... and a PROPOSAL... YEA.
If you've met me before, or you've ever read this blog, you know that I love this guy.  I want nothing more in the world than to spend the rest of my life with him, going on adventures, acting silly, and being generally happy.  I'm totally crazy about him, and also totally secure in the knowledge that he is crazy about me too.
Anyway, the contest...

click to go to the voting page!

We need 500 *unique* votes to get to the next level.  That means I can't just sit here all day and vote for myself until my fingers go numb.  It also means that we need the support of you, our friends, to not just vote yourselves, but spread the word about how adorably perfect we are and how much you'd love to see us win this contest and get engaged!  

So click on the photo above, log into facebook, and vote.  And then, tell everyone you know... because we're cute, and we're happy, and you know we'd vote for you!

Thank you for your help, we truly appreciate each and every vote,
<3 barb="" p="">

good days, bad days, and better days ahead

A lot has been going on since my last post, which was about how running makes any day better... and, it totally does.  When I start my day with a workout, I know that I'm mentally prepared for anything.  My mind is free of clutter, because when I workout (usually alone) I have the time to let my mind wander and sort out all my thoughts.
However, no amount of running could have prepared me for that Sunday, when my Grandma passed away.  She had been sick for a long time, but she was also a very strong lady, and so it was unexpected.  I was hoping she could stick around forever, especially since I lost my Nanny almost 2 years ago.  Grandmothers are like super-moms, and it was a blessing to have them both in my life for as long as I did.

Just a few of my cousins and me last year,  at Grandma's 85th Birthday

Last week was a difficult week.  I spent it with my family, which is large and full of love.  We looked at old pictures, laughed at memories, and cried on each other's shoulders.  It helped me so immensely to have that time to grieve together, to share the loss and spread it out among us; it was like by sharing that feeling, it was less of a burden to carry my own piece of it.
I've been comforted by my belief in God, by the belief that Grandma is at peace now in a better place.  It's like another little angel has been placed on my shoulder, to watch over me and encourage me like she had done all my life.

And so, my life goes on.  I went back to work, resumed my workout routine, caught up on all my TV shows, and pushed ahead with my AlphaGam responsibilities.  On Saturday, PJ and I joined our friends for the High Rock Challenge Adventure Race, and on Sunday we celebrated PJ's birthday.

Cake!

It was hard to feel like myself again, but it gets easier every day.  I know that my Grandma would want me to keep pushing myself to succeed in every aspect of my life, so that's what I'll continue to do.  I'm proud to carry her legacy as a woman full of grace, style, and love :-)

<3 barb

PS - A huge thank you to all of my friends and family for your support, I appreciate it more than you will ever know.

crazy person

If you've been reading this blog longer than 5 minutes, you know that to get to work I take a train, a boat, and a subway.  It's a long commute.  If you know ME at all, or happen to see me in transit, you will know that this commute has the potential to drive me completely insane.
I know what you're thinking - but you take a BOAT, isn't it so lovely and peaceful?  Umm... sometimes yes, but many times no.  For example, sometimes in the morning I sit 3 feet away from someone listening to Nicki Minaj, at full volume, with 1 earplug hanging out blasting it to the world.  I like Nicki Minaj just as much as anyone else, but at 8am I don't want to hear anyone's music but my own.  Sometimes I don't want to hear ANYTHING at all.

Wouldn't it be awesome if this earbud worked? 

This problem used to be easily solved by my handy dandy earplug headphones, which blocked out all sounds and were exactly what I needed to zone out during my commute.  But they are now totally shot.  I used to be able to jiggle the plug and wrap it in place to keep the sound coming out of both earpieces, but that's not even working anymore.  Sadface.
Anyway, it's time for a new pair of headphones... you know, to save my sanity.  I'm thinking maybe these (more $$) or these (less$$).  I'd like some in-ear, noise-isolating ones, with in-line mic and volume controls... for all the fancy phone calls I make ;-)
Does anyone have a pair of headphones they love and would recommend?  I'm at the end of my rope here!

<3 barb

PS - If you want to see what it really looks like to commute in NYC, check out this article.  It's not very glamorous at all

this guy

I love him!

Today marks 2 years since I met PJ.  I could go on and on about how wonderful he is, but I'll spare you the details.  This guy makes me the happiest, truly.  I am always excited to see him, and we have fun no matter what we do.  He is so special, and I just wanted to make sure everyone knows it!

I love you, sweetheart <3 Happy Anniversary!

<3 barb

PS - If you're curious, last year I told the story of how we met.

tagged!

So, I've been tagged in a blog survey!  My sweet friend Patty over at Trail Mix tagged me, making me feel all special and popular (I never get tagged in these things!!)... so I figured I should do my best to make it happen.


Here's how the survey works:
1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 5 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this.


5 Random Things about Me (I'm adding extra, some other bloggers had 11!):

1. I am a lipstick addict!  This is new for me, as I only started wearing lipstick about a year ago... but I currently have 5 different colors in my work bag so that I can choose  which to wear at the beginning of the day.  My favorite "formula" is Sephora Rouge Cream, and I have it in both It Girl and Love Test.
2. I listened exclusively to country music up until I was about 9, when my friends and I were old enough to have our own CDs.  I once shook hands with Garth Brooks, and have a tiny violin signed by Alison Krauss.
3. When I was in college, I painted not 1, not 2, but 3 ROOMS with stripes.  For 2 rooms, I worked on it with my roomie.  They were awesome, especially if you like the feeling of living in a Tiffany Blue circus tent!
4. I have almost zero hand-eye coordination - like if you throw something at me, there's a strong chance it will just hit me in the face.  Thankfully, I make up for this by being able to learn dance moves, on the spot, like a pro.
5. I started skiing when I was 2 years old and switched to snowboarding at about 14.  I don't know what it's like to not know how to ski, which makes me totally useless when people ask me if it's difficult to learn.
6. My favorite color is purple... it has been purple for as long as I can remember.  Anytime I think I may be moving on to a new color, I just look in my closet and I am reminded that yes, I am a purple person.
7. I collect rubber duckies.  PJ keeps getting me more, and my collection is slowly taking over my shelves!
8. I've read the book Little Women twice... and I'd like to read it again.  It's such a long book, but its so worth it.
9. My favorite perfume is Stella... and I don't know many other people who wear it, but I think its the perfect mix of feminine and edgy - I'm not big on floral scents.
10. I worked as a lifeguard in high school for 4 years, which is unfortunate, since I sunburn really easily.
11. We never had pets when I was growing up.  My parents placed a high premium on spur-of-the-moment vacations.  I really never minded when they put it that way... what kid wouldn't want a surprise long weekend at an amusement park?

one of my college rooms... featuring my sister, the model

Patty's 11 Questions for me:

1. What is your all-time favorite guilty pleasure?  Just 1? Geez.  I love lounging on the couch all day in pajamas and watching TV... usually either something on Netflix or like, the Discovery Channel.
2. What is your go-to jam-gym-song?  This changes a lot, but lately I just turn on CMT and watch music videos while I work out.  My recent fave to listen to while snowboarding is Florence + the Machine... the whole Ceremonials album.
3. What is your favorite fashion trend of the season?  Clearly I'm all about lipstick lately, but I'm also loving colorful blazers.  (see below)
4. Best vacation?  I've been on some awesome vacays; Orlando with my big sis, Spain with my sisters, I even studied abroad in Rome! I've also gone to Nashville and Park City with the fam.  That being said, the trip that PJ and I just took to Mont Tremblant was pretty awesome!  How could I ever pick a favorite?!
5. Who is the person (dead or alive) you admire the most? My grandmother passed away about a year and a half ago now, and I miss her every day.  Maybe that wasn't really the question, but I really appreciate now how much she loved and cherished her family, and I wish that she could have stuck around forever to see how we have all continued to grow and succeed.  I know that her support and encouragement had an impact on me, and I admire her ability to give her love to me.
6. Dog or Cat person?   I was never really an anything person, but PJ's cat is my fave little kitty!
7. Favorite early 90's tv-show?  Full House, hands down.
8. #1 food you can't stop nom-ing?  I'm a big fan of the trail mix I've got in my drawer right now: peanuts, cashews, almonds, raisins, and M&M's... I'm all about the salty/sweet mix
9. Post-workout splurge?  Splurge?  After a workout, all I want to eat is eggs... like a dozen of them... usually I settle for 2.
10. Favorite Rom-Com indulgence?  I love pretty much ANY rom-com you sit me down in front of.  If I had to pick a favorite, it would def include Meg Ryan- either Sleepless in Seattle or When Harry Met Sally.
11. Biggest fear?  That something will happen to one of my loved ones, when I'm not there to do anything about it... something bad... and that's all I'm going to say because it will make me cry.

me and my kitty friend, Chi Chi

My 11 Questions: 

1. What do you consider your greatest talent?
2. What is the best thing you've ever eaten?
3. If money, schooling, or time was no obstacle, what career would you choose?
4. What is your favorite book?
5. What is your signature scent? (perfume or other)
6. What website do you visit most often?
7. What would your "last meal" be?
8. If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
9. What do you do to relax/destress/unwind?
10. Name someone who inspires you and why.
11. What is your go-to, pick me up music?

Now I know I'm supposed to tag some friends to answer, but I don't have a lot of friends who blog... so here are a few of my favorite bloggers and THEIR posts (FYI, I borrowed some of my questions from their posts)

Katie | Maria | Moorea | Danielle | Liz

Next I'll tag some friends:

Meggie | Mel

Also, if you're reading this and want to participate, let me know and I will add your link!

<3 barb

PS - Here's the link to Patty's post... since this was a while ago.

lately

dear alarm clock, please be quiet

Lately, things have been busy... not bad busy, but busy in the way that I spend my free time doing things I want to do with people I want to be with.  And that is awesome... but it also means I haven't checked in here in quite a while.  Sorry for that!  To make up for it, here's a few life tidbits:

NYC coffee cup and heat wrap

I'm taking a Graphic Design class that has me really excited.  It's fun to push myself to design, to learn new things, and to get some feedback on the work I'm doing.

Michael auctioning off Nick's necktie on stage

Last week Katie was home, and in addition to helping me clean out my closet (awesome), we went with our boys to see How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.  Nick Jonas was funny and charming in the lead role, but Michael Urie really nailed his role as the boss's spoiled nephew :-)
After the show, Michael came onstage to offer up Nick's costume necktie for auction to benefit Broadway Cares.  Bidding went up to $600 for just the necktie, and once a private backstage tour with the two of them was added to the mix, not one but TWO crazy fans paid $1300 each for a necktie and a tour.  Wow!

H&M dress

Since I cleaned out my closet (thanks Katie!), I treated myself to some pretties this week.  One was the H&M dress shown above, the other is a pair of pink Gap Khakis.  They don't have the color I bought in stock right now, but all the colors are great for spring/summer!

Obviously, that's not even the tip of the iceberg, but more will follow... I promise!
<3 barb

febphotoaday

If you're on Instagram, then you probably saw the January Photo A Day Challenge... I know I did.  Since I missed the boat on that one, I decided to join in the fun for February!  The pic above shows the list of images, and today I posted my first photo... my view of Manhattan from the ferry.  

You can follow along either on Instagram @bandsnbows or by using this site.  Let me know if you're playing along too!

<3 barb

PS- PJ reminded me that I'm going to miss a WHOLE WEEK because of our vacation to Canada, where I won't be incurring roaming charges just because I want to post pics.  I'll figure out a plan for that week as it gets closer :-)

a new year

I think by now just about every other blogger out there has managed to write a 2012 post, but it generally takes me a few days to figure out what I'm doing with a new year.  I'm feeling really positive about this year; I enjoy what I'm doing at work, I've already signed up for a class (because I'm nerdy and I love to learn), and I have so much love and support from PJ, my family, and my friends.

this morning... 

I don't think I've had New Years Resolutions since I was about 10 years old and we had to write them out and illustrate them for school (or something similarly awesome), but I do have a few goals for this year:

1. Work out 5 days a week. I know, I know, this is everyone's goal... But shouldn't we ALL be trying to be more healthy?  When I break a sweat, even if it's for only for 20 minutes, not only do I feel more focused throughout my day, I feel beautiful and confident too! 
2. Be more positive.  Starting the day with a workout already puts a good spin on my day, but it's easy for all of us to fall into patterns of negativity. I'm going to try to cut back on my complaining and focus on things that are going well for me, no more Mr. Grumpy Gills.
3. Save my pennies. I've been living at home since college to save money, but admittedly some of the $$ I should be saving goes straight to ALDO or Starbucks. Honestly, I don't need any more shoes (don't give me that look) and I sure don't need a 500 calorie latte. I'm pretty good at saving, but I know I could be better, and won't it be nice to have that money in the future?

I know that at times it will be hard to follow through with these; I have bad days and weak moments just like everyone else, but the more I push myself to adjust my lifestyle and way of thinking with these small changes, the better off I'll be.


Cheers!
<3 barb 


PS- PJ is starting to blog about his journey to back to fitness... go show him some love!

barb: a to z

Since I will be out of town and away from my computer this weekend, I thought that instead of the usual friday faves, I would share this AtoZ list that Liz and Moorea shared this week.  It's somewhat a list of faves, so it works, right?!

A. Age: 25
B. Bed size: full... since I was about 8 I've had the same bed; it used to be SO BIG!
C. Chore that you hate: i think vacuuming is pretty awful, or cleaning the bathroom
D. Dogs: are not really my thing... i think they're great, but just not enough to have one of my own
E. Essential start to your day: i'd like to say yoga, but that's only essential about 4 days a week... more likely its 1 cup of coffee
F. Favorite color: PURPLE! i've always been a purple girl
G. Gold or Silver: silver usually... or sometimes rose gold, lately I think its so pretty
H. Height: 5'5"
I. Instruments you play: i used to play violin... and clarinet for a bit too... but I didn't stick with either one
J. Job title: marketing associate, design specialist... its thrilling!
K. Kids: none yet, but someday... kids are so much fun
L. Live: Staten Island, NY
M. Mother’s name: Barbara... I didn't realize that might be weird until I put that down
N. Nicknames: Barb, BJV... or as my friend maegen likes to call me "Beejalish" :-)
O. Overnight hospital stays: none
P. Pet peeves: people who aren't familiar with the proper use of headphones: as in, they're only really working when I CAN'T hear your music/video game/tv show
Q. Quote from a movie: geez there are so many good ones... like "I hid under your porch, because I love you" -Dug the Dog (that's one of my Katie faves)
R. Right or left handed: Leftyyyyy
S. Siblings: just one, little sister Katie
U. Underwear: multicolored!
V. Vegetable you hate: peas... if I can tell its a pea, I won't eat it (I will, however, eat peas in a soup or casserole)
W. What makes you run late: the snooze monster
X. X-Rays you’ve had: pretty sure just my teeth... I've never broken a bone
Y. Yummy food that you make: I don't do a whole lot of cooking, but I DO make a mean eggie sandwich!
Z. Zoo animal: pony!  they're too cute, and were always my favorite when I was little.


I hope you enjoyed learning more about me, have a wonderful weekend!
<3 barb

remembering

It has been 10 years now since 9.11.01 and I still remember it vividly. I remember what I was wearing, as if I could look in the mirror and see my 15 year old self on that morning, without a care in the word besides if I looked pretty during those first few days of my sophomore year of high school. I remember that I was in Russian class, when my teacher received a call that sent her frantically out of the classroom, and I remember knowing something was wrong when my history teacher came in to tell us the news.
Once we knew that we had been attacked, literally WE - New Yorkers - just miles away from where we were going about our daily lives, the world changed. I was lucky that neither of my parents worked in Manhattan, I didn't have to spend all day worrying whether they were safe, as many of my classmates and teachers did. The next day, schools were closed, and my friends and I gathered to talk and to try to give each other a sense of comfort. I also remember what I wore on that next day- completely by coincidence, I was dressed in patriotic red, white, and blue.
Now, as a 25 year old, I travel into Manhattan 5 days a week for work. My subway line has a station that was re-opened just days ago, closed for the past 10 years as a result of damage sustained. It is a constant reminder to me of what happened. The day after Osama was found and killed, there was extra security -equipped with extra big guns- on all public transportation, but I don't live in fear.
I would be lying if I said that I don't think about it almost every day, that I don't think about the people I knew who were lost and sometimes get teary eyed over all of the people who were just doing their jobs that day... much like I do mine. I think often about the people of all ages whose lives were cut short - parents who would never see their children grow up, twenty somethings like me who were eager to start families of their own. But it would be crazy to live my life worrying about all the things that could happen; it would be wrong to stop living my life whenever there is a threat. I am part of a city that has come together and flourished despite the tragedy we faced.
At this point, it's hard to remember living in a world before 9.11, back when we were invincible. Maybe that's for the best; maybe now Americans are more aware of those who are not on our side, maybe that will help to keep us safe.
Whatever the future holds, I will hold in my memory the events of 9.11.01, aware that my world could change in an instant... the way it changed 10 years ago today.

<3 barb

it's in the bag

Note: I have to snag my Irene pics from PJ, but in the meantime I will entertain you with this highly ridiculous scheduled post)
Um, what's in the bag? ...exactly.  If you didn't think I was crazy already, I'm going to go ahead and convince you of the extreme crazy with a probably TMI list of what I carry with me every day.  It's a long list because I have a long commute, I've got about 80 minutes in each direction to keep myself occupied!

I featured this bag once before, and I finally bought it in April.  Its super sleek and holds a ridiculous amount of stuff, as you can see here:

1. My awesome backpack: the Farm Rucksack from Makr Carry Goods
2. I also carry a smaller bag that I can take out and use on my lunch break... yes, a bag in a bag: the Pleated Bag from Bayan Hippo (I have another BH bag as well, and I love both)
3. Rollerball perfume is so easy to carry, this one is my favorite scent: Stella by Stella McCartney
4. I like to carry my iPad in style... or as PJ's brother says, my iPad is "wearing a dress": Orange Lotus iPad Case from Gussy Sews
5. My blackberry... I'll be trading up soon... really...
6. I like to carry a notebook with me, obv... this is just a plain old Moleskine
7. Reading material on the ferry ride is a MUST... I usually carry a book or a magazine: Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin (I reviewed it too!)
8. Metro Card for the train/subway, and the key card to my office
9. Cords for the iPad: power cord (I frequently forget to charge) and camera connector
10. Seriously, who still carries an iPod?  Yea, I do... it's only like 5 years old now...
11. Shades and Specks: TOMS Classic 101 Sunnies (c/o Jeans Tees Travel Cakes) and my glasses that I should probably wear more often (I'd show pics of the sunnies themselves, but I was switching off wearing them as I took my pics...)
12. My lunch... I keep it in a ziplock bag just in case the container leaks!
13. Fold up tote bag in a tiny pouch, so I can just grab this smaller bag and throw in my lunch and iPad and go sit in the park on my break! (yes, this is yet another bag inside my bag)
14. I literally carry an umbrella EVERY DAY... this tiny one fits perfectly into a ziplock baggie so that I can stow it even when it's wet: Totes Micro 'Brella
15. Clearly, I need a pencil case full of pens and pencils to carry back and forth with me all the time (to write in my rarely used notebook): Muji Pen Case and Pens

Yea, so this is what's inside the bag that's inside the bag... because really, I need 2 bags full of stuff... obv...

a. My Bayan Hippo Purse <3

b. I'm getting more into lipstick lately... as you can see by this lovely shade of nude - I sometimes use the shiny cap as a mini-mirror: Sephora Collection Lipstick

c. I carry business cards, I generally forget to give them out... oh well: Muji Card Case

d. Subways are gross, so I'm always washing my hands... I carry lotion for when my hands get dry, and antibacterial spray for when I can't get to a ladies' room to wash up: Gap Hand Lotion, Clean Well Organic Hand Sanitizer Spray

e. Because I'm old school, I write things down in my agenda book: Moleskine Pocket Monthly Planner

f. Assorted random items: nail file, chapstick, advil, pepto chewables... also earplugs and a tiny binder clip

i. Wallet, for obvious reasons

g. This case houses my camera, its just a point and shoot... the camera isn't in the picture because I'm taking pictures with it!

h. Coupons, receipts, love letters, you know ...important things I need to save forever, or I need to clean out my bag...

Clearly, I'm carrying way too much junk around, but thanks for letting me share with you

<3 barb

PS - feel free to advise me on possible downsizing ;-)

follow me on Bloglovin

I finally gave in and decided to join Bloglovin... not really sure why it took me so long, it seems like a real party goin on over there!  So hit me up...
Follow my blog with Bloglovin

talking to girls

You know how sometimes you read something and it just sparks up a million thoughts and ideas in your mind, and you just want to talk about it and share it with everyone you know?!  Well, that is how I felt when I read yesterdays Motherhood Monday: how to talk to girls on A Cup of Jo.  It discussed how by always complimenting little girls on their clothes, hair, and accessories, we teach them that their looks are most important.  In the original article, Lisa Bloom suggests talking to young girls about books and shares how exciting it can be to have a really intelligent conversation with someone so young, who is learning new things every day.

yes, this is me and my cousin... yes, we have always been fabulous

While I am not a mother, and I don't know many little girls, I could easily relate this to MANY conversations I have with the ladies I speak to all the time.  The major brain wave I had over this was related to sorority recruitment.  As an active sister throughout my college career, I was heavily involved with recruitment.  During that time of the year, we were literally not allowed to talk about boys, parties, drinking, things you do behind closed doors, etc.  Basically, we wanted to attract girls for the right reasons, not because they thought we would bring them to awesome parties (which, eventually, we would).  But somehow, this translated to "since you cant talk about boys, compliment their hair or purse".  WHAT?!  I went to a really good college, full of amazing young women studying everything from Nuclear Engineering to Biology to Product Design.  If we are all so intelligent, why aren't we focusing on more intelligent topics?
The article especially hit me with the suggestion of talking about books.  I have ALWAYS been a girl who loves a good book, but I very rarely talk about all the reading I do, even with my closest friends.  Now that is just silly, so I'm going to make more of an effort to share my thoughts about books, news, and ideas (I'm thinking in the form of book and/or movie reviews, or linkups to intelligent articles like this).  Even though appearance isn't everything, I'll continue sharing my favorite clothing, accessories, and shoes as well, since  beauty AND brains are a great combination :-)

<3 barb

PS - speaking of brains and beauty, I'm sponsoring the amazingly Fancy Nerd Liz at srslyliz.com this month!  She is amazing, and you should all stop by and check her out!

journal day - what I know

Well, I'm a little late to the party, but I think the Journal Day series by Danielle is pretty awesome... so I'm going to post it anyway. I figure, she hasn't posted a new prompt yet so this one isn't expired!

The prompt posted on Sometimes Sweet last week is:
The older we get, the more certain we get about who we are and what our purpose is. For me, a lot of it is still unknown, but as I make my way down my own path, I have begun to realize that there are indeed some inevitable truths that I know for sure. On your own blog, write a post that talks about "the one thing you know for sure."

I've been rolling that around in my head for about a week now, and I keep thinking "I don't know anything for sure." And maybe I don't... But is that so bad? Truthfully, I'm only 25 and I really don't know where I'm heading in life. I hope that I've put myself on the right path, that I'm learning more about myself, and that I'm making the right decisions based on who I wish to become... but I don't know that for sure, not at all. It's been a trial and error process to get to this point, and I'm fairly certain it will continue to be that way throughout my life. Is that what I'm sure of? The fact that I'm not sure at all? Maybe, but that would be so cliche...
When I was 17, I was sure that I wanted to be an architect... I went to college and got my degree in architecture, and somewhere along the way I realized that wasn't really me. When I was 10, I was sure that I would be married by now... but I'm not, and I'm actually very happy with where I currently am in life, looking forward to a beautiful future. When I was 6, I was sure that my new baby sister would instantly be my best friend... I wouldn't say it happened instantly, but she is now!
I think that I can be sure things will keep changing, both in reality and in my perception... Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Every day holds the possibility of something totally unexpected, exciting, and new. As long as I keep moving forward and pushing myself to do what's best for me, I'm pretty sure I'll be ok. I can't be sure what tomorrow will bring, but I can be sure that right now, I'm happy.

<3 barb

journal day - first

On Monday, I saw something pretty cool on one of the blogs that I read. Danielle at Sometimes Sweet is a former English teacher, and she's bringing that experience to her blog with a weekly Journal Day prompt. The nerdy kid in me thinks this is awesome, and I'm hoping to participate every week :-)


This weeks prompt:
Describe a "first" (first date, first lie, the first time you experienced something, first time in a particular setting, etc). Include as many details as possible to paint a picture.

I was always one of those nerdy/crazy kids who looked forward to the first day of school. I know it was partly because I would get to see my friends every day after a long summer apart, but it was also because the first day always felt like a fresh start. It was a new beginning, the start of a new adventure (yes, new teachers and new subjects and maybe even new friends DO seem like a big adventure when you're young).
I remember especially vividly the first day of 6th grade; I'd be going to intermediate school, taking the bus each day, and for the first time I would be changing classes throughout the day. It was probably the coolest thing my friends and I could ever imagine... we had heard that in 6th grade not only could you wear makeup to school, but you could chew gum in class!


In preparation to be the coolest kid in school, I got a new haircut that year... specifically "the Rachel" haircut that Jennifer Aniston made famous. I also got new clothes, and I remember the polyester button down that I chose for the first day (no, this was not the 70's, it was 1997) and while I can't remember my jeans, you can bet they were wide leg or bell bottomed. I'm not totally sure why I thought it was a cool outfit, I think there were some particularly hideous brown oxford clunky heeled shoes as well, but I really couldn't have picked anything better in my mind.
Anyway, I woke up at about 4 in the morning that day... I couldn't sleep thinking about how awesome it would be. I remember sitting on the couch in the dark, watching music videos on MTV, Fiona Apple had a new one that comes to mind. Eventually I got ready, headed to the bus stop, and went on my way to school. I'd like to think it was every bit as awesome as I imagined... so I'll stop before I get into how outrageously awkward and silly those years were.
I don't remember my first day of high school or college, not what I wore, not what I thought. Starting high school, I remember being just as anxious heading off to Cross Country Team training camp before school actually started. And college? Well on move in day, I wouldn't let my dad stop for a bathroom break within an hour of campus. It's funny how when you look back on "firsts" you think about how long ago it was, how young you were, but in the moment, it was the oldest you ever felt, not to mention the coolest :-)

<3 barb

P.S. Is anyone else journaling with Sometimes Sweet? I'd love if you'd link up!

early days

I'm seriously writing this while I'm waiting for the train, at 6:45am, and really, I wish I weren't out this early. Sadly, this week is a busy one, and there's just not enough hours in the day to get things done both at work and after. So, I'm going in early... Literally a half hour earlier than normal. Boo that. Even so, I'm smiling:


I'm also using this early morning to test out this app i just bought for blogging on the go... Anyone else using blogpress for iPad? So far it looks good :-)

Sometime in the near future I'd like to do a post about my morning commute... It takes me over an hour to get to work each day, and if you're not from Staten Island, I think it would be pretty interesting to see. I'm hoping this app will help me do that.

I really wasn't sure what else's I'd have to say this morning (I don't do my best thinking before 7am), but I think i'll just tell you about another app that I really like. It's called Flipboard, and it basically makes social media into a magazine. You can log into twitter and Facebook, you can add feeds of different companies or blogs, and you can like and retweet things from it too!


That's the featured page, from there, you can click on one of the items or flip to your next page for more. Once you click into your content, it looks a bit like this:


See? That's my Twitter! It shows tweets as texts, it shows images, and it even shows snippets of links from my tweetos...it's awesome, and I'm starting to use it for everything. Yesterday I even threw in my google reader, why not?

Before I sign off, I need to tell you that I can't take all the credit for finding this app. PJ installed it while I wasn't looking (it's free, so I didn't flip out haha) and he tells me "look, there's a flipboard for bacon!". Of course there is, thanks for pointing that out dear. :-)

<3 barb

PS if you're more iPad savvy than I am, what apps are you loving?

thoughts

I promised that this iPad thing would equal more blogging, and so far it hasn't... Mostly my fault because it's just too darn fun to play with! But I've been dreaming up things to post, wishing I could take more pictures, and thinking a lot about why I blog...

I blog because I read other blogs, which sounds silly, but I assure you it's not. To me, blogs create a community, somewhere out in the inter webs. When I think about some of my favorite blogs, I think of people that I would be so happy to call my real life friends. And I like to think that at least some of them see me the same way... They read my blog, they get to know me, they want to be my friends too. But is my blog really showing who I am? Probably sometimes yes and sometimes no. Yesterday, I read a post on Chantilly's blog (you may have heard of it... It's called My Girl Thursday... It's fabulous... She's awesome) that made me stop and think. It made me think "I'm over-thinking this blog thing"... Which got me thinking... (sorry, that was absurd, but it made me laugh)

Like Thursday, I'm boring, or really I'm just normal. I only wear 3 makeup items per day, I never change my earrings, and I am the world's worst commuter if I don't have my headphones in. I like funky shoes and pretty dresses, but I have no patience to bother with my hair. So I'm going to make this blog about me, I'm going to write about my normal life, and I'm going to do it using this fancy iPad, while Im doing things like riding a boat to work!

Well, I was going to add a pic here, but apparently I can't do that using blogger in safari, so next time, a picture, I promise.

<3 barb