The Fear of Enough

Just about two years ago, I started learning Calligraphy from Anne Elser in a class at work. I've always loved words. I've always loved art and design, but I never thought of myself as an artist.

Full disclosure, my very first email address was creativeclare@aol.com. I was slightly embarrassed by that for years, but a look at the Instagram usernames of creativeclare pulls dozens of results. I should've stuck with my guns and started by brand as a 12-year-old. I find it very interesting that the parts of ourselves we most enjoy are the parts that have been there all along. 

Anne's class (and my constant exposure to fabulous artists who don't consider themselves artists) flipped this script on me. Writing with a pot of ink and a dip pen became meditative and soothing. I wrote words and sentences and names that made me feel joy in a way that looked pretty, too.

Still, it's something I've enjoyed for myself. I haven't been ready to share a lot of my work because I don't think it's good enough. But you know what? Other people think it's wonderful. They're blown away at the simple strokes and compound lines. I see uneven spaces, a shake in my hand during the upstroke.

Why do we become our own worst critics? Why do we let our insecurities about not being the best keep us from showing the world what we can do? Why can't we just embrace that we are enough?

A long-time friend is getting married in November and I'm addressing 81 envelopes for her big day. It's a honor I'm not taking lightly and I want her to be happy with the results. But even more, I want to be happy with the results. I worked maticulously on each one, spending about 10 minutes on each envelope. Around envelope 15, I realized I couldn't make every. single. envelope. perfect. I would be able to look back and critique each one and I had to let it go. But for the wedding guest, that card will bring a smile and maybe a bit of joy.

Time's going by too fast to risk holding back our talents for fear, certainly for fear of it not being good enough. 

welcome to the cottage...

i t ' s   t i m e   f o r   a   n e w   b e g i n n i n g . 

Lucy's a GYPSY... and I think I am, too.

"Write what you know."

That's what anyone will tell you. Unfortunately, I'm feeling like I know nothing at the moment and it's a pretty uncomfortable feeling. My blog previously featured the Harun Yahya quote: “I always wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth, then I ask myself the same question.” Then I took it off. I'm not wandering, so it made me sad. Good thing blog format is easy to change. 

I thought this post-graduate life would be more fun. It's not and I was having a hard time putting it into words on the page. I feel like I should be happy. Great family, friends, boyfriend, stream of income... Then I check facebook, and twitter, then I pin, look at blogs, check twitter again and gasp because I haven't been on instagram in a while. I spend about four hours a day on social media. That's just an estimation. It may be a little high, but not too high. That's embarrassing. What it also does is bring to my attention about 1,000 other people who are choosing to highlight their best moment, photo, thought, or joke for the world. But what I've been finding, is that it's making me feel like crap. Then today in the carpool line while I'm waiting on the Mercedes SUV in front of me with those ridiculous stick figures cutouts of the mom, dad, son daughter and dog to move forward, I find this article about Lucy. Sadly, she reminds me a lot of myself and almost all my peers. That's the point.

why generation y yuppies are unhappy

I usually cringe at the word yuppy, but this article hit so many nails on the head. I can't even hate. The bottom line, the article states, is that GYPSYs (Gen Y Protagonists & Special Yuppies) Are Wildly Ambitious... Delusional... and Taunted. So don't feel sorry for us, but feel sorry for us a little bit. We like compassion. 

Twain on Travel

Photo: Point Clear, Alabama / Fall 2008

Santorini

Hello beauts. The trip is over. Natalie and I finished an amazing twelve-day trip with practically zero mistakes. Other than that train incident in Cinque Terre. I wish I would've written more while we were traveling, but wi-fi was spotty and I wanted to enjoy every moment instead of staring at my iPad.

Arriving in Santorini after almost 20 bours of traveling was amazing. We booked our hotel, Dina's Place, through Hostelworld and were thrilled with it. The staff was so helpful and the location couldn't have been better for the price of about 30Euros each per night! The ferry docked in the port of Athinios and we stayed in Fira Town, the biggest town in Santorini where cruise ships docks. It was just as beautiful as one could imagine; an entire city built on a cliff. My jaw dropped every time we saw the view.

The public transportation on Santorini consists of charter buses for 1.60 a trip. Our hotel was about a minute walk from the bus station, so we took advantage of that on our trips to Perivolos and Oia.

Perivolos: Here's the thing about black sand beaches: The sand gets really hot. Like, wear your Chaco's while you're tanning because they'll get too hot hot. It was a pretty cool place though. We got off the bus with black beaches filled with lounge chairs and umbrellas to our left. The right side of the street featured restaurant after bar after restaurant with overly-zealous hosts requesting our attendance. We settled on a place called Rivas. It offered a pool behind the bar along with great beach chairs. It was a great afternoon! On the way back to Fira, the bus stopped in Perissa. It looked like a really awesome beachside town as well, but we wanted to get back to catch the sunset in Oia.

Oia: it's known for one of the most famous sunsets in the world. While Fira is the more touristy of the two large towns, Oia wins on sophistication with the fancy hotels and restaurants because who wants to be in crowded streets with cruisers? Anyway, Oia was amazing. It looks just like the pictures, except its hard for the brain to comprehend that it really is that beautiful. Natalie and I bought some amazing souvenirs including a handwoven rug for myself and crystal necklaces from a clairvoyant woman. It was awesome. Over an hour before the sun was suppose to set, we went to a restaurant to get a good view called Sunsets. The food was mediocre but the scenery made up for it. About 20 minutes before the sun hit the water, dozens of people gathered in the small streets to watch. You would've thought it was a concert or something. At least 30 people came up to the restaurant and asked for a table to no avail. Glad we got there early. With necklaces and rugs in tow, we headed back to Rita's Place to continue reading Scar Tissue. The next day, we were off to Paros!

Athens Farmers Market

It's one of my favorite events of the week in Athens. On Wednesday afternoons, the Farmers Market sets up at City Hall and offers visitors of all walks of life a chance to buy some delicious, delicious food. I find it so much sweeter and more personal than a supermarket. I get to meet the guy that picked the blueberries and cut the flowers from the vine that morning. The things I bought were too pretty not to share.

"The Comerian" Sourdough Bread at the Market.

The sandwiches I've made with the bread are out of this world.

Cooked these at 400F for 35 minutes with EVOO, Rosemary, S&P.

I may never buy blueberries from the grocery store again.

The flowers were an impulse buy, definitely unnecessary but I sure love looking at them when I walk in the kitchen. My time in Athens is coming to an end and I've been holding on to every little moment, like the Market and the great bands at Athfest I saw this weekend. Taking the time to look around and smell the flowers isn't just an option, it's the only option in a town like Athens, Georgia.

Finale

"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them."

It may have been the most poignant line Cornell grad Andy Bernard ever spoke. The Office ended this month after nine seasons on NBC and while the Dunder-Mifflin staff will forever live on in cable syndication, it's hard not to call it the end of an era. To me, it's perfect that television finales often fall at the end of a school year. If the show follows high school or college students, graduation is the best way to end a season. It's all about celebration, looking back at where we've come from and dreaming about the future. Maybe there will be a couple moving to different states for jobs or school and many people anxious about where the next years will take them. When the next season started, things would be different but all the beautiful people would be tanned from the summer.

On May 10th, I graduated from the University of Georgia. Bam. I mean, about 5,200 other guys and gals were there with me, dressed in our black robes, caps tilted by heavy tassels causing hat hair (it happens yall.. be prepared), waving and smiling at people that we'll probably never see again. That guy in your public speaking class or some girls on your hall from freshman year or maybe some you think you'll see again. It's like, throughout college your path makes a road and bends and turns and for the most part, I was really happy with the way that all went. Then at the end, you turn around and it's like WHOA. The little things matter. The decision to do this and not that, to go abroad or not go abroad, to go to a concert or not go to a concert... not knowing you'd meet a boy who'd change your life... I digress. Then you sigh and turn back around and hopefully smile at the beauty of it all.

The festivities continued over two days and wish it could have lasted longer! Everything was so much fun, so perfect. It couldn't have been better. I'll be spending the next few weeks in Athens and traveling to Hilton Head and planning a pretty special Mediterranean trip with my sister. So much to look forward to!

Hoop Girls: End of An Era

Whole group after the Kentucky game!

I remember walking into my Hoop Girls interview at Stegeman Coliseum in late August of 2009. Some older girls at chapter stood up and talked about it; I figured, "Why not?". Starting college was super overwhelming and the idea of being involved with a basketball team felt comfortable after being the Sports Editor for The Catalyst and Wheeler's 2009 AAAAA State Championship. Good times.

Hoop Girls became one of my favorite parts of college. We were the marketing and support team for Men's Basketball; we sold tickets, handed out programs, worked Hospitality rooms, promoted philanthropy events and shared news from the Athletic Association to the student body. There were a lot of great things happening for the program my freshman year. UGA just hired a new coach, Mark Fox, and expectations were high around campus. 

A 2010 game

Throughout the last four years, I've met some of my best friends, enjoyed some delightful wins and devastating heartbreaks, and a beautiful facility renovation to Stegeman. Every step of the way, our advisor, John Bateman, was there for whatever we needed. It was so assuring to have such a great teacher, mentor and friend during my time at UGA. 

Seniors!

On Thursday, we ended the (regular) season with a win over Kentucky at home. I couldn't think of a better way to end the season and my four years as a Hoop Girl. I'm excited to see what the future holds for Coach Fox's program and the girls in our group, including a Homecoming Queen, future doctors, media rock stars and spectacular leaders. We'll split different ways in a few months, but we'll always be welcomed back to Stegeman. Once a HG, always an HG... Right JB?

Seniors after the UK game with Coach Richt!

Warm Your Heart on a Cold Day

This sweet video was just what I needed today for inspiration and warm-fuzzies. Animation has come so far, borrowing techniques from cinema and doing the impossible on screen. I'm loving my classes this semester and I love watching a solid piece of art like Paperman. Enjoy and stay warm!

New Haircut!

I'd been feeling a little stuck in a rut. Romesick, Post-Grad Jitters... So I had a typical dramatic girl moment and cut off about 5 inches at Salon DM3 in Athens.

So refreshing. I love it!

Took in Kate Winslet's photo for inspiration. A girl can dream!

Great Gift Idea for Study Abroad Students!

If you're studying abroad, taking a big trip or want to give your parents and family a nice thank you gift upon your return, I would definitely recommend doing something similar to my project!

My roommate, Sam, came home from an awesome ski trip in Switzerland and explained the idea to our apartment. I knew my parents and grandparents would absolutely love it. 

Here's the gist:
Take a photo of yourself in front of an important location in the cities you visit. Ask to borrow a piece of paper from the hostel front desk or bring your own. As you can tell, I wasn't consistent with the type of paper I used, but I think it made the whole thing look authentic. Use "Thanks for Giving Me the World" or come up with your own special phrase!

I started in early March with my trip to Brussels (holding the beer at Delirium Tremens). It was so fun to plan it and think about how the final result would look. I printed the pictures, framed it for my parents and grandparents and gave it to them about a month after I got home. 

Thanks- Under the Eiffel Tower

For- Outside the Prague Castle

Giving- In the Courtyard at AUR

Me- Inside an Ancient Coliseum in Pompeii

The- Delirium in Brussels

World- Fontana di Trevi

Seriously, do this. It doesn't take that much work and you'll smile every time you look at it. 

Sunflower

One of my goals on my 21 Before 21 list was

17. Buy a piece of art by Jamie Calkin.

I've loved his watercolors of Downtown Athens since freshman year, but as a college student, collecting art isn't necessarily most practical use of money. I saw him at the North Georgia Folk Festival and couldn't take my eyes off this stunning 3x3 Sunflower painted on a wood panel. It's now hanging perfectly above my bed. I wake up smiling every morning.

I'm glad I waited.

T - 6 Days

Piazza Navona

This is my 100th blog post. Can you believe it?

Time is fading away in Rome. I'm a bit devastated. I don't know how else to say it. Hence why I haven't been blogging too much lately.

Luckily, my friend Sarah was here this weekend remind me about how great life is back at home. She left on Monday to head to Florence for the rest of the month.

Fiori

We had a great weekend, slept a lot, walked around Roma, had some amazing food. This week, I spent a lot of time working on a 2,500 word paper about the Italian perception of McDonald's. I turned it in yesterday. One class down, three to go.

It's really frustrating that my last week in Rome is getting filled up with studying. I'm in the courtyard studying for Italian for a bit, then spending the afternoon walking around this beautiful city. I'll be home this time next week and I couldn't be more grateful for my four months in Rome.

No doubt, I'm taking that home with me. I'll be spending my summer, and the rest of my life, happy about my time in Rome.

Not going to get to sappy, yet. Time to study for Italian. Andiamo.

That's Silly... You Can't Date A City.

4 Months ago, if you had asked me if I'd be dating someone by Valentine's Day, I would have replied, "Yeah, of course. Rome!"

Things changed. I threw caution to the wind at a concert at my beloved Georgia Theatre with the excuse, "Whatever, I'm going to Italy...", and shortly after, began a relationship that has been really wonderful. Christmas came, New Years Eve flew by, then the first day of class at UGA and eventually, my departure day arrived. There were so many great moments in those few months, there was no way I was going to let it go for 5,000 miles. It was really tough to leave something so special, but I realize that without Italy, this amazing thing probably wouldn't have come into my life. 

 

Yesterday, he sent me these flowers. Now they're sitting on my bedside table and the room smells beautiful. From Athens, GA to Rome, I feel so much love. 

 

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone who reads my blog, so like, my mom and probably my seventh grade teacher.

things that are making me happy today

1. living at this house, with this cool group of girls.
let's be real, every day isn't paradise, but there are a lot more good days than bad days. we have fun, we eat good food, we vent to each other, we laugh, we cry, we wonder if it's all worth it, then we realize... it is.

2. my sister
This was a picture of us from this weekend, right before the football game. my parents went home, leaving Natalie & I in Athens alone. We sat in some friends club level seats with a blanket and some boiled peanuts, then drank enough to forget how COLD it was in the shade. She's spectacular.

3. Conan's back!



I'm watching it right now. I like him. I like his jokes. I like his attitude.

4. Getting postcards from my mom when she travels. She's sent me cards from Paris, Rome and Brussels. Even though I don't get them until about a week after she's home, it's nice.

5. My new water bottle that has a filter built in, because I don't trust the water from the UGA water fountains. You can call it excess, I call it necessary.

6. Gaining an extra hour to sleep over the weekend.