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daily life

Musings & Updates After a Break From Blogging

Hello again. It’s been a minute since I posted here, creative burnout is real, especially when you’re supposed to be creative for a living, outside of your side project. Around April I was started to feel creative burnout fueled in part by the rat race that Instagram & Blogging can feel like sometimes, but also my 30th birthday was approaching in June and it had been on my mind quite a bit (dreading). By April, I’d honestly lost sight of why I had been blogging for so long and was so keen to keep up with everyone else around me that I couldn’t do it anymore. Why was I trying to keep up with the popular girls? I’ve never been one to do that and that’s not who I am at all.…

September 1, 2018
daily life

Enjoy the Silence: Decoding What It Means to Be An Introvert

I was watching reruns of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills the other day when Dorit rolled her eyes during one of her interviews and said that Erika wasn’t an introvert. If I’ve completely lost you with my Real Housewives reference, just know that Erika is a performer, who kills it on stage, but is otherwise reserved and holds back with people. Dorit’s comment bothered me quite a bit because it perpetuates the idea that introverts are just shy and cold people when it’s much more complex than that. It involves our brains being wired differently than extroverts and processing everything around us, and that results in a physical effect on us so we choose our interactions carefully. Over the last year and a half, my journey to discover what it really means to be an introvert began and I’d like to share what I’ve learned so far because for me, it was as if a light clicked on and suddenly everything, going as far back as grade school, made sense.…

January 28, 2018
new years resolution notebook
daily life

A Flexible Approach to New Year Resolutions & My Goals for 2018

Happy New Year! It’s a cold morning in Seattle. We had a fairly low-key NYE: watched TV, listened to our neighbors light off mortars from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM (we live far outside of the city), and then went to bed. I didn’t even open my bottle of Moët & Chandon, which I’m thanking myself for this morning. It’s the New Year so I want to talk about resolutions. I approach resolutions a little differently ever since I started working at Microsoft. Every six months, my manager and I and any other team member) go over the priorities that were set 6 months previously and adjust and adapt where needed. Resolutions should be an ongoing conversation with yourself because things change, and much like at work, where I was 6 months ago could be completely different from where I am now.…

January 1, 2018
Hawaii travel

Surf’s up in Kona

Hawaii. My winter escape to sunshine and marine life. For me, it doesn’t matter that every year I go to the same place with my family. We stay in the same condo complex and see the same friends and this is perfectly fine with me. I am baking in the sunshine while the dolphins spin by and the whales spout along the coast. This is the epitome of a mental reset for me.…

February 25, 2016
travel United Kingdom

Hello from a train in the middle of the UK

I wanted to update daily…honestly I did. I have been so overcome with my experience in London so far…I’ve plenty to write about…but I’ve experienced so much, too much, crossed so many things off a bucket list…that once I return back to Washington I’ll have plenty to write about then.…

October 8, 2015
design

An Event Apart: Key Takeaways from a Web Designer

Conferences. I love conferences. Compared to Seattle Interactive Conference, from a design perspective, I loved the format of this one. About 12 speakers over the course of two days, in one room, so there was no running between rooms or going to a dull session and feeling like you may have missed out on something better. This is a conference for people who make websites so it is pretty specific. I dig it. I always come out of these type of events feeling JAZZED, EXCITED, BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WITH CREATIVITY. And then comes the slow decline after realizing maybe only half of what I learned, I can actually take back and use in my design process. Because that’s just how it goes. 1. Writing and articulating your thoughts is key to a successful career. Dare to speak! Unlock your inner voice! It doesn’t matter how you do it, just do it. 2. Responsive Design is changing the way teams work together in an organization. Teams should be working together throughout an entire project. The practice of just handing off tasks between teams & not touching the project again is dying. 3. Designers need to start surfacing conflict. If we…

April 3, 2015
daily life Mexico travel

Vacation all I ever wanted: Cabo San Lucas

I love my job. I’m blessed to be doing something I love, but about every June/July, I find myself burning out. Overloaded, uninspired and in need of a break where I am completely cut off from email & any thought of work. It’s just how it goes. A few back to back 60 hour work weeks in June this year after no real break in 6 months made me thankful that at the last minute we booked a trip to Mexico with another couple. This was my first trip to Mexico & it was lovely. Cabo is vibrant and full of culture. The people are kind & personable. And the food is fucking delicious. I may have permanently ruined enchiladas for myself. A wildlife conservation booth by the marina let’s you hold a tiger cub that is eventually sent to a wildlife reserve. You donate to reserve to hold the cub. I would never do this if it was purely for someone else’s profit. I love animals & this little guy was too cute. They rescue these animals from black market sales & we were happy to support this cause. Senor Frogs was awesome. Cabo Pulmo is home to the…

July 26, 2014
travel United States

Newport Beach and VEGAS

Where did 2013 go? Seriously, I’ve failed pretty miserably at blogging this year, but I’ve been in my own quarter-life crisis mode trying to get it all figured out. It’s not all figured out but I’m feeling better than I was a year ago. I’ve been so busy with a move (no more commute!) and work – always work! It’s a good thing I love what I do. But I am working on posting more regularly, and for the first time in a long time I started sketching again. I still got it. Amazing what a little focus will do. And with that… It’s already been more than 2 months since my vacation in Newport Beach & Las Vegas. And another one is fast approaching! When I take a vacation somewhere in the U.S. I’ve been grouping multiple cities into one trip. Last year was L.A. & Chicago. This year was Newport Beach (for a wedding) followed by Las Vegas. Newport Beach & our dear friend’s wedding was beautiful. It was on a boat & I’m so glad we made the trip to share this day with them. Their family & friends were SO welcoming & kind. I left feeling…

November 19, 2013