Inspiration

I’m excited to see what Elise’s Get To Work Book will look like and (hopefully) use it! Also, her World Domination Summit speech was finally put online this week and it was awesome.

If you’re following the whole awful mess of the Jian Ghomeshi case, I think this article is well-worth a read. I’m also offering support for the women who are bravely standing up and telling their stories.

Related: a little funny, a little sad – Lewis’s Law.

I cried when I saw how Canadians had honoured Cpl. Cirillo along the Highway of Heroes.

My friend Andrew is travelling around Africa right now as a photographer for International Volunteer HQ and he is taking some seriously stunning photos. He’s posting most of them to his personal page, but you can see some on his public Facebook page as well.

I am recently obsessed with John Green’s tumblr (been a big fan of vlogbrothers for a while) and started reading Will Grayson, Will Grayson for the first time yesterday and am already almost done (I love it).

Helpful ideas from Marie Forleo about dealing with criticism.

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In truth I wasn’t feeling overly inspired this week due to battling a cold (ie. sleeping in most mornings) but I’m hoping it’ll clear up soon. This weekend I’m planning to take it easy, go for a hike and hang out with my friends. And sleep. A lot. I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

ps. My newsletter is sent out the last Friday of every month (that’s today!). If you’re a fan of the blog but would prefer to get a highlight reel at the end of the month, sign up here.

I’ve been totally obsessed with this (sad) song all week. As in, the playcount is embarassing.

I read a book suggested by this bookstore and it was one of my favourites in recent memory. Their recommended reading Pinterest board is my new go-to for book ideas.

How to break blogger’s block? Solve your readers’ problems.

Olivia posted photos from her recent trip to Bermuda and they are so beautiful. Heart-eyes emoji.

The 2015 Calendar bundle is out! Beautifully designed Photoshop files that you can drag your own photos into and then print. I made these for my parents for Christmas and they came out beautifully.

This week I found out that there is a Creative Cloud membership option for photographers: $10/month for Photoshop and Lightroom. I think I’m going to do it!

I think at some point on my trip, I’ll be volunteering for a few weeks at the elephant nature park in Chiang Mai.

Huckberry has Explorer’s Grants! I entered to win a trip for two, $3K worth of equipment and private photo lessons on the trip with photographer Chris Burkard. Regardless of whether I win: what an amazingly cool contest.

I really want to make this homemade barbeque sauce.

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There must be something in the air, because I’ve been having more creative ideas lately than I know what to do with. To name just two: I’m planning out a new product launch for the store, and starting to map out ideas for my first e-course. I’m excited! There’s so much on my mind, but I’m excited about all of it. This weekend is the international fireworks festival here in Busan, and then on Sunday we might go for a hike! I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

ps. If you haven’t filled out my survey yet, I would love to get your input! I’ve been so interested in the responses so far. It’s only 4 questions long and multiple choice! Find it here.

This week I finished listening to the audio book “This is a Story of a Happy Marriage” by Ann Patchett and I absolutely loved the whole thing. But this story in particular about her grandmother was so touching and real that it made me cry while on an evening walk.

I like the idea of being the one who says “yes”. I also adore this idea about being a daymaker: “What if, maybe, we’re all wasting our time + spinning our wheels, agonizing over questions like: ‘What is the secret to happiness + success + wealth + greatness + impact + legacy + leadership + innovation + how can I fulfill my highest purpose, every day?’ When really, all we oughta be asking is: ‘How can I make someone’s day?”.

Joy the Baker’s new site is so pretty.

I was inspired this week by the idea of investing in your business in order to grow it. Strangely, this idea was inspired by two very different sources: this Medium piece on one woman’s experience as an escort (possibly NSFW) and from this podcast episode about wedding photography. Weird, I know.

This. “Then I realized my lofty ambitions were actually the problem. I needed smaller goals. Achievable ones. I didn’t need a grand vision, I needed a next step.”

As an expat researching the next place I might want to be an expat, this cost of living index is tremendously helpful.

Why it doesn’t matter how you feel about your friends. (Hint: because you have to show them how you feel).  This is such a powerful idea.

How to generate more good feelings by using positive language.

I’ve been loving the new fall capsule wardrobe over on Unfancy!

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The end of another week is upon us! I don’t even know how to talk about the fact that it’s October 17th, so instead I’ll just say things have started looking up this week after a couple weeks of feeling a bit low. I feel crazy inspired to do and start a million things and new projects which is one of my favourite feelings. This weekend there’s a fun scavenger hunt all over Busan, and then on Sunday I’m hoping to do some work on some freelance projects and hit the spa. It should be a good one. Hope your weekend is wonderful too!

I’m an INFJ through and through, and I spent a lot of time reading the comments section on this post this week. The people writing could have been me! It was at the same time disconcerting and reassuring.

I laughed at this “sexually enlightened R&B song” from College Humor.

I swoon for this pumpkin bread.

Also in beautiful food this week was the book trailer for Amy Chaplin’s new cookbook. It’s gorgeous and now I want her book (and her life).

I adore this cover of Beyoncé’s XO by John Mayer.

One of my pipe dreams is to become a radio producer for a show like This American Life. I found their Make Radio page this week and totally love it.

I’m always inspired by photographer Olivia Rae James – she’s so talented and it seems like she has such a sweet life. I liked this interview with her.

A great slideshow of the world’s best waterfront cities. Some surprises on there, and a lot of inspiration.

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I’m feeling grateful for the weekend today! On Saturday I’m going to a big lantern festival which should be beautiful, and on Sunday I plan to do nothing except relax and do some reading. I hope you have a gorgeous October weekend.