Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

Sunday Lately, 20

I can’t believe it’s over halfway through the month and I’ve successfully written something every.single.day.  Huge thanks to Katy for that one!  Today’s Blogger, May I / Sunday Lately topics are…

What have you been up to lately? This is week 14 of Sunday Lately link up with Katy, Meghan, and Nicole!

Completing

Is it, can it be possible…I’m completing a blogging goal of writing every day for a month?  Yes!  I don’t know about you, but I’m loving Blogger, May I.  I want to keep writing every day even after May.  It’s a good habit to be in.

Speaking of habits, I’m almost done with Gretchen Rubin‘s Better Than Before (for a wayyy overdue Birchbloggers review).  She is fantastic, though, and I’m surprised it’s taking me so long to read her book because I ripped through The Happiness Project in about 3 days once I got going with it.

Visiting

Right now, my mom is visiting me.  My/her house is slightly chaotic and my schedule is kind of interrupted, but that’s okay.  It’s been since Thanksgiving when I saw her last, so I’ll take her company over a little schedule discomfort.

Seriously, though, I can be so set in my ways and get grouchy when my routine is thrown off.  I like things a certain way, I can’t help it.

Repeating

Trips to the Apple Store.  I’ve had problems with my iPhone charging, so I brought it into the Apple Store and of course, it worked just fine for them there, so I have to go back with the exact chargers I’m using and show them that I’m not insane, I can’t get it to charge in my house.  I’m about to rip the socket out of the wall and show them that, too.

Applauding

Everyone who is making their goals happen.  It takes a boatload of focus, dedication, and just plain insanity to pick something big and say to the world, This is what I want to do, this is how I want to leave the world having made it a better place.  Huge credit for this inspiration goes to Dale Partridge.  His book, People Over Profit, is so motivating.  Just the quotations that are in there are fantastic.  Go check it out, like, now.

Scheduling

Trying to get as much scheduled as I can before I leave for Virginia next weekend.  I’m very excited to have some time away and not worry about work or anything but enjoying myself.  Which is why I’m trying to get as much scheduled and crossed off my list as I can!  I know I can write all day if I wanted to, though, and my mom’s porch is the best place for reading/drinking beer/writing.

What are you up to lately?


Need the prompts for the Blogger, May I challenge?  Gotcha covered.  Want to use your own prompts?  No problem!  Just grab a button to show that you’re linking up with myself, Katy, and Meghan.  Oh, and use #BloggerMayI on Twitter/Instagram to keep the fun going even after you hit Publish!

A thank you

Today’s Blogger, May I prompt is tips for being a tourist in your own town.  I’m not going to lie, I didn’t even prepare to write this.  And it kills me because I love Pittsburgh and I always want to share new and fun places and people and things.  So I’ll still write about it, but not today.

Yesterday, I met with another Pittsburgh professional whom I knew from a breakfast group (that’s sadly disbanded, it seems).  You know how you meet people and you just instantly click with them?  He’s one of those kinds of people.  I haven’t seen him in about a year, but we still had a great conversation.

And it got me thinking about passing of time and growth and where I started off and how far I’ve come.  Back when I was in high school and thought I was hot shit all the way to the present day.  Pittsburgh has an interesting way of connecting people and I love it.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has laughed with me, who has let me be in their lives, who stood by me as I stumbled and fell, who have offered to help me out, who want to see me succeed, and who are with me as I’m standing up and moving forward.

Today my interview with Marissa at Ampersand Creative was unleashed.  So another thank you to her for asking me to share a little of me with her and her readers.

Choose to see the good in the world.

Thank you for choosing to see the good in me.


 Need the prompts for the Blogger, May I challenge?  Gotcha covered.  Want to use your own prompts?  No problem!  Just grab a button to show that you’re linking up with myself, Katy, and Meghan.  Oh, and use #BloggerMayI on Twitter/Instagram to keep the fun going even after you hit Publish!

Five places to get inspiration

There are so many places to get inspiration and it seems like it varies for everyone but damnit, I’m going to write about it anyway.  Today’s Blogger, May I prompt is who/what inspires you.  Here are my five favorite places to get inspiration.

Inspiration comes in different places for different people. If you need a kick of inspiration and want to try something new, here are five places to try. #BloggerMayI

Coffee shops

Okay, is this a surprise to anyone?  Seriously, answer truthfully.  I love being in coffee shops and hearing the people passing by, the espresso machine whirring, change being made, and just the general hum of the environment.  It’s so soothing to me.  It’s the perfect background noise to use when writing.  If I can’t get to a coffee shop, I like the Coffitivity app which mimics the sound of a coffee shop.

Museums

Anywhere artsy really should get lumped in here.  I always get inspired by being around other people who were inspired.  I’m a huge fan of the fun cultural things that are in Pittsburgh like the museums, the National Aviary, Phipps Conservatory, even some of the older neighborhoods in Pittsburgh are just works of architectural dreams and so beautiful.

Malls

Malls seem weird to appear here, what I’m really going for here is “place to people watch.”  I always end up seeing or experiencing something that needs to be recorded (aka: written and published on the internet until the end of time).   I’ve also gotten inspiration at gatherings (albeit a little buzzed), sporting events, restaurants, etc.

Side note: buzzed is also a good way to induce inspiration – write drunk, edit sober..y’know?

Outside

I always get the best ideas and (more importantly) the right wording when I’m running.  It also happens when I’m in the garden – what else is there to do but think?  The only challenge here is that here isn’t always something readily available to write down what you’re thinking.  Sooo many times, I’d have something beautifully phrased outside and then when I get home and can write it down it’s lost.  Ah creativity, you’re sometimes an elusive beast.

When I’m not thinking about something

Does this happen to anyone else: you focus on one thing so intently and you just can’t resolve it in your head.  And then you get started on another task, usually something mindless, and the solution to the initial problem just appears.  I always get a nice little hit of inspiration when I change gears and focus on something else.

Its also great to know when you’re most creative/productive or inspired.  The girls from Clarity on Fire recently wrote an interesting blog post about finding your “work flow” aka: when you’re the most inspired and ready to work.  It’s kind of cool!  I’m totally a morning person – my best ideas come in the morning – but sometimes I can ride on a second wave in the evening.

Where do you find your inspiration?  I want to see if I can expand my horizons!


Need the prompts for the Blogger, May I challenge?  Gotcha covered.  Want to use your own prompts?  No problem!  Just grab a button to show that you’re linking up with myself, Katy, and Meghan.  Oh, and use #BloggerMayI on Twitter/Instagram to keep the fun going even after you hit Publish!

Dream big

For some reason, I had such a hard time writing this post.  Today’s Blogger, May I prompt is a big dream/goal.  I have no idea why I totally blanked when I started to write.  Then I’d have thoughts flit through my mind that I instantly shut down because it seems impossible/impractical/narcissistic.

I’m so intrigued by bringing people together and I’d love to be known as a connector in Pittsburgh (and elsewhere).  As my internship with Yelp last year unfolded, I realized even more the power of connections.  Rachel is a master at connecting people with businesses who deserve attention.  She’s also a master at connecting people.  I got many emails from her saying, “Check out this job listing!”  She’s always willing to help others and I’m so lucky to have been able to work with her.

Connections are also my intention when blogging.  I don’t think I could say it enough.  I love making connections and I’m working towards making them count daily.  It’s crazy to think that I’ve had similar experience with a few people that I never would have known about had it not been for blogging.

I was talking to Marissa today (she interviewed me for her What I’m Working On feature dropping Saturday!) and I’m pretty sure I overemphasized just how much I’m drawn to making connections, especially using words.  They’re such a powerful tool.

Inspired by one of my favorite blogging ladies, Laura and her “I can’t wait to…” post, I’m making a someday list today.

This one is for dreamers, schemers, doers, and thinkers. Go get it.

In no particular order, someday, I want to:

  •  Make a living off of writing
  • Drink shameless amounts of coffee (in a cute cafe…while writing)
  • Connect lots of people with deserving readers/customers/other cool people
  • Have a book collection that rivals Thomas Jefferson
  • Have a kickass wedding reception
  • Get married to the man who has my heart
  • Continue the Steers and Beers concert tradition (working on year three)
  • Wear those jackets with wolves and snow-covered evergreen trees while sitting on the porch with my best friend complaining about how everything hurts and kids these days suck. Bonus points if there are canes to shake
  • Adopt a dog
  • Have matching furniture
  • Watch my parents (all three of them) meet their grandchild
  • Figure out a way to have my father and my step dad both walk me down the aisle
  • Go skydiving
  • See my best friend get married
  • Rock climb
  • Travel to the west coast, Europe, and Asia

I think that’s a good start.  Gotta get to work!

What’s your dream?

 Need the prompts for the Blogger, May I challenge?  Gotcha covered.  Want to use your own prompts?  No problem!  Just grab a button to show that you’re linking up with myself, Katy, and Meghan.  Oh, and use #BloggerMayI on Twitter/Instagram to keep the fun going even after you hit Publish!

Stop Shoulding, Part 2

Today’s Blogger, May I prompt is this time last year.  Perfect timing to bring up about a year ago when I went to TEDxGrandviewAve (now TEDxPittsburgh!) and heard Britt Reints talk about “shoulding on yourself” and wrote a long, gushing post about how awesome she is and how right she is about that.  If you remember, that’s awesome and I love you and you’re my people.  If you don’t, catch up here.

Okay, back with me?

I’m getting very tired of people telling me what I should do.  I want to yell at them and say, “You don’t get to tell me what I ‘should’ do because you don’t know my situation.”

By telling someone, “You should totally [fill in the blank],” you’re imposing your goals and values on someone else.  You have no idea what you’re talking about.

You know that quote, “Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about,” or some variation thereof?  Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m referencing here.

Be kind, for everyone you know is fighting a battle which you know nothing about. #quotes

I was thinking the other day that I will fundamentally not understand so many things.  I will never know what it’s like to be someone’s sister, to grow up in Texas, to be out on the street, to grow up without a dad.

So I have no right telling someone, “This is what you should do.”  I can offer advice, encouragement, and support, but not impose my beliefs on them.  Because my life that I bring to the table doesn’t at all reflect your life.  Sure, it can be similar, but we all have great experiences that are unique to us.

As such, I’ve been watching what I’m saying lately and trying to replace “should” with other words.  I was talking to Jonathan about work woes and I expressly said, “I’m not saying this is what you ‘should’ do, this is just what I’m thinking is a possible option.”

I love helping people and hearing them out, but I can’t tell them what to do anymore than they can tell me what I should do.

So what do you think?


 Need the prompts for the Blogger, May I challenge?  Gotcha covered.  Want to use your own prompts?  No problem!  Just grab a button to show that you’re linking up with myself, Katy, and Meghan.  Oh, and use #BloggerMayI on Twitter/Instagram to keep the fun going even after you hit Publish!

Let’s Play

           

People Really Dug These

We Belong in the Garden Together