Inspiration

Inspiration | May 16

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This article listing 33 Amazingly Useful Websites kind of blew my mind. Some I knew about, some don’t seem that helpful for me, but some are just awesome.

Some very sage, practical advice for writers. I immediately sent this article to two of the writers I know because it seemed like a must-read.

We all always want to make big drastic changes, but most of the time what we really need are small, baby changes, one thing at a time. An excellent reminder.

Laura told me I was “winning” at this list, which is a huge compliment but I don’t think totally accurate. It’s good advice though, full of things that I think all us 20-somethings should strive towards. I’m definitely trying!

Tips on getting rich quick. It’s not what you think (it’s better).

Such a good, much-needed perspective on not shopping while travelling: “In general, shopping takes us into a mindset of “lack”. We go into a mode of “needing” something, of fear that we’re missing out on something. We can spend an entire day in changerooms and High Streets that could be anywhere, frantically on a mission.” I’ve fallen victim to this kind of mindset while travelling before, and I’ll be sure to keep it in mind next time I’m on a trip.

I listened to another old but excellent episode of the TED Radio Hour this week about millennials and how they (we) might be the next greatest generation. It talked about doing good, meaningful work and making your own jobs.

I liked reading about what mothers want to teach their kids. It seems like stuff we should all keep in mind: get enough sleep, treat ourselves with kindness, be grateful, talk about hard things.

This A-Z of Dance was super cool and well done.

Joy the Baker talked about her new cookbook this week! She inspires me big time, all the time. That title! That cake!

Some things I want to make + eat: best vegan nachos | strawberry rhubarb crisp bars | coconut date shakes.

Two Instagram accounts I loved this week: @cahmun (absolutely gorgeous food photos) and @8ruecaffarelli (a perfect-looking pastel life).

Some oldies-but-goodies: zucchini fritters for what ails ya, a few books for summer.

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This weekend I’m doing some beach yoga and going to my first Korean baseball game, which should be a ton of fun! You can see photos from my adventures by following me on Instagram @lifeinlimboblog. Have an amazing weekend, everyone!

Inspiration | May 9

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You’ve probably already seen this video about paying attention and losing the technology, but I thought it was really powerful and well done.

I adored these beautiful photos by Olivia Rae James. I just love her style, and all the flower crowns made the photos that much better. She makes me want to take better pictures.

I listened to an old episode of the TED Radio Hour this week about predicting the future. It was sort of scary and inspiring and exciting all mixed into one.

Joy the Baker’s guide to New Orleans made me want to go and visit immediately.

“Own your desires. Make joy a priority.” Danielle LaPorte wrote a pretty in-depth piece this week about our constant striving to be good in order to be spiritual. I’m still processing it, but there are parts I really liked, like this one:

I wanted to create an ecology for my life that included the rapture of meditation and guilt-free guilty pleasures, a way to live from pure intention without forsaking my primal preferences for, say, telling someone off, sleeping in, the occasional smoke after dinner, and staying up too late to watch stupid movies. I wanted a sophisticated devotion to life without sublimating my human wants — I wanted to lighten up.

Elise’s advice on blogging was absolutely great.

“Make things that help solve people’s problems. Operate like the world is already listening.”

I did my first barre method-inspired workout today and it was hard. I’ve been inspired lately to try new ways of working out – ones that are fun and effective. I’m not sure I’ll stick with barre, but it was fun to give it a try. (Related: I’m back to wanting a Fitbit, badly!)

Things I want to make soon: cast-iron skillet pizza | no-bake French silk pie | raw chocolate brownies.

Two Instagram accounts I’ve been loving lately: @xantheb (bright, colourful photos) and @dabito (so much ice cream and California living!).

Some oldies-but-goodies: thoughts on rejection (3 years ago!), how to make a hanging planter.

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This week I’ve felt a little off-balance, so I’m glad it’s the weekend again. I want to spend it re-centering with some beach yoga, relaxing with my friends, and preparing myself to start off next week on the right foot. As always, you can see my daily adventures by following me on Instagram @lifeinlimboblog. I hope you have a lovely weekend!

Inspiration | May 2

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I absolutely loved this in-depth answer to the question “What can I start doing now that will help me a lot in 5 years?” There is some truly excellent advice in there, and it makes me want to get going and doing!

I rarely keep watching Youtube ads after the 5 second delay is up, but this one caught my attention and I watched the entire thing. I still don’t really know what it is advertising, but it’s a stunningly beautiful video portrait of Vancouver and it made me want to live there forever and ever.

Taza made a video of her favourite spots on the Upper West Side of New York City and that too gave me some serious wanderlust.

Famous, powerful men talking honestly about sexual assault and how to stop it? And it’s endorsed by the White House? I love it.

An elegant phrase that can help you get out of doing anything you’re uncomfortable with. It’s like sleight of hand! Off the top of my head, I can think of about 5 situations in the past where having this language would have helped me say no. Important stuff.

How to find meaningful work: career advice for millennials. (via Millennial Abroad)

Awesome advice as usual from MarieTV about creating lasting changes in your life.

I watched a lot of VlogBrothers videos this week (after reading the fabulous book Looking For Alaska and watching The Fault in Our Stars trailer 3 times) and was especially inspired by this video of book recommendations. It made me want to read a book a day until I was as well-read as John Green.

I love This American Life every single week, but this week it had a story on hospices and the truly amazing people who work at them, and it really touched me.

Laci Green is a feminist, and so am I, and if you needed some persuasion as to why you should be too, check out this video she made this week. Good stuff.

Two Instagram accounts I loved this week: @sarahyates and @3191milesapart. Both accounts have amazing food and lifestyle pictures and just seem to embody living a good life.

Some oldies-but-goodies: a hand-knit red-and-grey checkered blanket, delicious easy homemade chive bread.

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I cannot believe it’s May! For the 4-day weekend we have in Korea, I’m going to Seoul with a few friends. I’m excited to see some beautiful old buildings, eat lots of traditional Korean food, and enjoy my time off. You can see all my adventures there by following me on Instagram! I hope you have an excellent weekend.

Inspiration | April 25

?? ??I recently discovered this beautiful blog Be The Change and I’ve already spent far too long scrolling through the gorgeous photos and lovely calligraphy and quotes.

I admit that I nosily wanted to know the reason why Joy moved to New Orleans, but I realized that it was personal and obviously none of my business. But when she did choose to share this week, I loved every word and felt I could relate so much: “I moved from California to New Orleans because I wanted to. I wanted a change in place, a jolt of inspiration, more crawfish on my plate, adventure. I wanted to feel out of my element and get to know a new place. New Orleans, with its little bit of magic, seems like the place my heart wants to be.” I also thoroughly appreciated her words on the JTB podcast this week about moving to a new place and how it’s not always great and she’s not always happy. I want to thank her so much for telling the truth and reassuring us all that we don’t always have to pretend that hard things are easy to keep up appearances.

I’m making my own version of these washi tape frames to decorate my sparse little apartment. I’m excited to share the results soon!

My sister strikes again with the catchy, lovely music. She should consider an alternative career in curating good music (she introduced me to “Call Me Maybe” about 2 months before it went viral). I totally creeped this one from a post she made on another friend’s wall (haha), but she should probably just start writing a weekly newsletter. ;)

I found this article so real and so inspiring. I’m still so young and I have so few responsibilities, but I too get caught up in overwhelm and I forget to be present, all the time. I’m glad I’m reading this article now and not when I’m 85. “I found it’s better for me to ask myself: Am I trying my best? Am I doing things for the right reasons? Do I make those I love feel loved? Am I happy? And then adjust as I go.” Conscious, intentional living. It’s hard, but it’s the move.

Another article I’m so glad I’m reading at 23: 10 Life Lessons to Excel in Your Thirties. Regardless of what age you are, it’s excellent advice.

How good does this pizza look??? Spring veggie pizza with caramelized onion cream. And it’s vegan.

I absolutely love this advice about attracting more serendipity. A thousand times yes.

I really want to quote this entire article about personal branding. I love Tara’s perspective – her view is that your personality is really the most important thing.

People don’t need brands. We already have brands. Your brand is your personality. We lead ourselves into a weird, objectifying split from self when we try to create or deliberately present a brand. Instead, approach it from the inside out. Work at being the most expressed, consistent, unapologetic version of your authentic self. Work at letting the real you come through. Work at having the courage to say what you actually have to say.

So the questions to ask yourself are: What style feels most like mine and how can I let it come through more? How can I put my strengths at the center of my work more and make sure those strengths impact others? How can I more fully bring forth my quirks, my hidden sides, or my authentic personality? How can I get braver about being me?

Two new-to-me Instagram accounts I fell in love with this week: @emolabs – he posts hand written poems in front of beautiful backgrounds, and @katiemitchellphotography – she posts absolutely gorgeous photos of Paris.

Some oldies-but-goodies: read these books by Sarah Addison Allen (one year ago today), Momofuku compost cookies!

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You can see all the everyday things I find beautiful by following me on Instagram @lifeinlimboblog. Hope to see you there!

This weekend I’m hoping for a trip to Costco, beers on the beach, and a relaxing afternoon at Spaland. I hope you have an amazing weekend too.

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