A Brief Moment

Well it looks like a girl can only try to squeeze so much into her time before she finally realizes she needs to hunker down and focus on the big stuff. Between working full time and prepping to launch a small business, I hardly have much energy left for writing fun posts. *Womp, womp* I know, but instead of struggling to squeeze in my hellos to you, I think it'll be better if I step away for a wee bit and then come back fresh and brimming with ideas. At least I hope I do.

In the meantime, tell me how were your Thanksgivings? I rarely eat much at those things because I just get so excited about catching up with the family over dinner and before I know it everyone's gone and I'm...hungry. And because I value my life more than I do shopping, I didn't venture out into the madness on Black Friday. Have you gotten started on your holiday shopping yet?

I'll be popping in soon with some cute holiday cards for sale so sit tight and I'll be back before you know it. (Maybe even sooner if you're lucky!)

Image: taken by the Bantu Girl and edited by A.'s friend Tommi

Sometimes It's Okay to Quit

Last week, as I left my therapists office, she said something that resonated with me in the days that followed.

"If you really wanted it, wouldn't you have done it already?"

She was referring to all the goals I keep going on about, always complaining about why my dreams haven't come true yet and the issues that I still haven't managed to overcome. She was right, if I really wanted these things as much as I keep saying I do, then why haven't I done them by now?

As I walked out and made my way back home I considered how tired she must be of hearing all my reasons for not changing my circumstances. Here I am blaming her for not directing me through my life choices instead of just taking responsibility or taking action myself. There's only so much she can do. She can help me figure out the root of my insecurities, the why behind my flaws, but she can't live my life for me. If I want to feel better, that's going to be all on Dorkys.

So I became a quitter because after a while you just get tired of yourself, you know?

I quit being scared of what could happen if I make a decision - any decision. I'm working on not going to everyone for advice instead of trusting my own tastes. If I like something and it makes me happy then that's what I'll go with. Feedback is great and I'll still seek out intelligent criticisms, but gone are the days when other's opinions automatically override my own. People pleasing hasn't brought me too far because I'll just never make everybody happy. That's quite all right. It makes the decision-making stages go by a lot quicker when each draft doesn't need to be approved by so many.

Last Thursday, I woke up and without giving it another thought I registered my limited liability company with the state. I'd been talking about it for so long that I needed to finally shut the hell up and bring to life the little dream that will not die - managing my own creative business. I'll be doing a soft launch of holiday cards soon and then prep for a 2013 debut. So stay tuned for updates on that journey as I figure it all out.

I also quit being so wrapped up in my hair. There's no reason why I should hold on so tightly to something that'll eventually grow right back. I've been wanting a different look, but the thought of ending up with a botched cut was enough to keep from taking the leap. So after hearing enough excuses about why I should just settle for how I am despite being unhappy with it, I'd had enough and made an appointment with Bumble and bumble (asking for the best curly hair stylist they had because, I said, "I don't want to be traumatized."). The experience turned out to be really pleasant and Carrie knew just what to do. Each snip had a purpose and she skillfully worked and styled my hair until I walked out with a bouncy head of curls instead of the mop I had before. I've finally found someone who won't make me anxious when she approaches with the scissors.

A. was pushing for me to keep my long locks, but I knew I wanted to chop it off so shorter I went. Once he saw the final result and how awesome I looked rocking out to a MarchFourth Marching Band show that night, he was happy I did, too. Want to see?

Now don't think that it's been an overnight transformation over here. I still stumble. I still have the urge to ask someone what they think of a design rather than sit down and discover the answer myself. Either way I'm about to get a hands-on crash course in sinking versus swimming when it comes to owning a small business and I'm learning to trust (and hope) that my instincts will guide me well.

Image: etsy.com

Adorable PSA: Dumb Ways to Die

Metro Trains Melbourne has teamed up with Tangerine Kitty to create "Dumb Ways to Die," a musical PSA about all the stupid ways you could kill yourself if you don't pay attention to what you're doing. The cute video introduces us to a cast of little blobs that think it's totally cool to poke grizzly bears, auction off your kidneys, and eat superglue (yum!). They've even made each incident into separate GIFs that you can send along to your common sense-deficient friends.

"For the majority of us, this advice is totally unnecessary," the site states. "Most people are able to recognise for themselves that trains are big, fast and not to be messed with. But sadly a few people just don't get it. And that's why we're running this campaign. To stop them from that brain fade, from doing something dumb and being hit by a train."

Hopefully the catchy tune (that's also available on iTunes) gets the intended point across because it's so darn cute it's almost hard to take seriously. I just want these adorable little morons to be my friends.

Thanksgiving Pecan Pie

Can you believe Thanksgiving is almost a week away? Yipers, this year (and all the other years before it, I know) has flown fast. After that the winter holidays will be upon us and let me tell you I cannot wait until the city is decked in lights and non-stop Christmas carols start playing on the radio. As much as the place irritates me at times, I still can't imagine being away from New York City during that time. The shop windows are already showing off holiday outfits and cozy wintry gear and the city received its first snowfall last week. I've also been drawing and painting up designs for this year's holiday cards so really I'm just waiting for when it's officially a sane time to be all about Christmas and the new year.

In the meantime, my close friend and master baker the Bantu Girl is selling gluten-free and corn syrup-free pecan pies made on a shortbread crust for Thanksgiving. The last day to place an order for her $15 6-inch pies is this Saturday, Nov. 17 so get your order in soon and you won't be that loafer that just eats and runs from your family dinner.

Image: thebantugirl.com

{Monday Inspiration} Dare to Fail

It's scary, but maybe if we focused more on doing rather than doing it perfectly how much more would we accomplish? I've been working on a little project for a friend and the thought of not creating something amazing has completely frozen me over. So I've been stuck between not wanting to let her down and wanting to give up. I've still a bit of fight to commit to the latter just yet, but it's really getting down to the wire. What will you be tackling this week?

Image: lisamanndirkes.com via besottedblog.com

The Color Run

Have you ever run a 5K? How about a 5K where people are throwing fists of color as you run the three miles so that by the time you cross the finish line you're covered in a rainbow of paint?

When my sister sent me a link to the Color Run, I wanted to sign right up (but NYC will have to wait a bit to register for March's race). The event is taking place in 50 cities around the country and looks like the most playful race. I've participated in the March of Dimes and the Revlon Run/Walk for Women in the past and while both raise awareness to two very important causes, sometimes you need a little craziness, too. I think this sweet mess of a race would do just that (and you don't even have to run the thing). Check out the video below and tell me if you don't agree. Then sign up for updates here and see if there'll be a Color Run near you.

Image: thecolorrun.com

Skinny Girl Diary: A Non-Relationship with Food

To me, food is just something that'll keep me from dying. There have been times when I've had an amazingly satisfying meal that makes me do my happy dance, but more often then not I just wish there were someway to throw food into my tummy without actually having to sit and eat. If I'm not too preoccupied with any number of things I need to get done, sometimes I'm just not hungry enough or motivated enough to stop for a meal. Clearly it's no way to sustain a healthy lifestyle.

I've never cultivated a healthy relationship with food. As a child, dinnertime was a stressful scenario in which I'd be forced to stay in my seat for hours until I cleared my plate, a huge mountain that even an adult would find challenging to get through. Cue the yelling and the tears, bribes, and stubborn cheeks full of food that would empty into paper towels as soon as I got the chance. To this day, I could be hungry and order apps and entrees only to lose my appetite as soon as it arrives.

Malnutrition and dehydration not only affects you on the inside, but also shows in your physical appearance. Over the last few months I've noticed that no matter what conditioners I use on my hair, I can't get my curls to look soft and healthy anymore. My face and lips are eternally dry and all the beauty products in the world won't seem to work because it all starts with the nutrients I put into my body - or lack thereof.

A couple weeks ago, I downloaded the MyFitnessPlan app onto my iPhone to keep track of my caloric intake each day because the funny thing is that the headaches and thirst aren't good indicators that I need more food and water. No, I need numbers and exact figures to tell me just how deficient I am. So when I saw that I was barely eating 900 calories a day, it was an alarm. At the very least that number should be 1,500 and so there I was wondering how I'm supposed to eat double the amount when it was already a struggle to eat as much (or little) as I currently was. The app has helped raise that number a bit as I've made a game of reaching my daily mark, but it's also made me realize how crazy it is that I have to put so much thought and effort into something many do naturally.

I've met with my doctor (who, gulp, recommended I gain 12 to 15 pounds) and will be seeing a nutritionist soon to map out a diet plan and learn how to eat properly. In the meantime, I've been making use of a gym membership to meet with a trainer to convert extra calories into lean muscle. It's been a long struggle for me, but seeing how my exterior is starting to look like how I've been feeling inside has been a wake-up call. It's never too late to get on a healthier path, right? Here's hoping a good habit finally sticks. I'd drink (water) to that.

Four More Years

"I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting." -President Barack Obama, Nov. 6, 2012

I stayed up late Tuesday night watching Election Day coverage all the way up to President Barack Obama's victory speech. At our friend's house, we had a nice view of the Empire State Building as it marked each candidate's race to 270 electoral votes and were so happy when the whole thing went Obama blue. While everyone says Mitt Romney's concession speech was a gracious one, I can't help but shudder when I think what it would've been like for me as a woman if he and Paul Ryan had been elected instead.

It took me about 45 minutes to vote and much, much longer for others, but I'm glad that we pushed through and made our mark no matter what side we stood for. Here's hoping the next four years bring job growth, health care improvements, equal rights no matter whom we choose to love, and that these politicians stop trying to tell me what I can and can't do to my own body.

Now, anybody else elated that this never-ending campaign is finally over?

Image: crabbygolightly.com