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March 29, 2013

20 Before Twenty-One {Progress vol. 1}

A few months ago, I posted a list of twenty things I want to accomplish before I turn twenty-one. I've made progress on some of my goals and instead of doing what would be a (hopefully) massive post, I'm going to post little updates on my progress. View the whole list here.

8. Be more active as a feminist.
This is a goal that is extremely important to me. Depending on who you speak to or what your beliefs are feminism can be a dirty word. However, it's true meaning is that people should be treated equally and given the same rights, privileged and opportunities, regardless of gender. Lately, I have been doing my part in advancing awareness on my school's campus. As I've mentioned briefly in a few posts, I stage managed a production of Mrs. Packard for a friend who directed the play as a theatre graduation requirement. The play speaks about the unjust imprisonment of women during the 1800s. In that time it was legal for a man to place his wife in an insane asylum for disagreeing with him. Mrs. Elizabeth Packard was a remarkable women who worked to change the law in order to protect others from this fate. It was an incredible show to work on and I highly recommend researching the play and the remarkable woman who inspired it.


Also later this month, I was invited to speak at a panel hosted at my school about gender in the classroom. I'm super nervous about speaking in front of professors, administrators and fellow students! I'm currently working on what to say for my part of the panel and am so excited to share a cause I am passionate about with my academic community.

12. Learn to drive a car.
I'm learning. I can (almost) drive in a straight line and make turns. 

14. Dye my hair a crazy color again.
I wouldn't say it's crazy... but I used the Loreal "Wild Ombre" kit on my hair. It's just sort of blonde at the ends with some pink in the back from previous colorings but I'm thinking about dying it blue over that.

kristen from living bittersweetly

March 17, 2013

Every Cloud has...


I
'm the first to admit it: I'm cynical as they come. I'm the first to doubt, to make sarcastic remarks and to roll my eyes. Lately, I've been feeling overwhelmed and unaccomplished in everything. My relationships with friends and family have been shaky. I'm not confident in my design work. I've gone on the worst possible dates. The advice I've been getting is everything I don't want to hear: "Work harder." I'm burnt out. "Be patient." I hate waiting. "Give yourself a break." I don't have time for that.

But taking a step back from it all and doing little things has really made a difference. Treating my roommate to iced coffee when she's had a long night or texting my mom to see how her day is make all the difference. Through small acts that took barely any effort, I have already eased the strain I've felt with two people I care about very much. 

Like I mentioned in a previous post, I've been trying my hand at online dating because I'm really bad at introducing myself to people. I've met some of my aforementioned horrible dating on the internet. I'm kind of at the point where the thought of meeting someone else new and spending any amount of time with them makes me crazy anxious. But there was one guy who messaged me all the right things. And we had so much in common so I gave it a shot. It went amazing. Everything was perfect and the next day he wanted to see me again. I can't even describe how happy I am that things are working out.

My last graphic design project was a C. Read: not acceptable. I wasn't happy at all. But my current project is going really well and I'm so happy with it. It's a layout for an artist catalog inspired by illuminated manuscripts. As someone who would like to create magazine layouts in the future, I'm hoping that this piece will be an A and portfolio worthy.

It's nice to have things working out in the midst of all of my course work, various health issues affecting family members and just the general bullshit that is every day life. Looking on the bright side makes things a little more bearable in my cynical world and I'm doing my best to keep finding that silver lining.

kristen from living bittersweetly

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March 14, 2013

Currently


L
ocation. I am on Spring Break this week. I guess it's nice having a break from classes and homework and the general insanity my school life has become but home has it's own issues. On the bright side, as I'm sure you know if you follow me on Instagram, I've been spending a bunch of quality time with Penny. 

Reading. There seems to be no end in sight with the reading for my classes so no "fun" reading for me. I am reading Under the Feet of Jesus right now and so far I'm enjoying it. 

Watching. I've been on a total Netflix binge lately. This week from the hours of 11pm to 4am you can find me in various states of wakefulness in front of my laptop. I've been watching some good movies on Netflix, which I might post on soon, as well as, 30 Rock and Pretty Little Liars.

Trying. I have been (re)attempting online dating. I've had varying degrees of success in the past, I've met "friends" and boyfriends on various dating sites but I've also had many more bad dates and terrible messages through these ports. As someone who is terribly shy and had a fair share of my dirty laundry aired around a small college, it is hard for me to just meet someone. 

Achieving. I am working to finish my 20 before 21 list. I still have a good amount of time before December but I'm starting to exercise more regularly (at least once a week), I'm learning to drive and stage managing a show with a very clear feminist message (three out of twenty? not too bad!)

kristen from living bittersweetly

March 6, 2013

A Day in the Life...



Here are a couple of photos to document this mostly uneventful, rainy day. My best friend's mom made us delicious chocolate chip cookies. I had a presentation in my Marxist literature class on Zizek. Although the material was difficult and mind blowing, I really enjoyed the reading. Unfortunately, the presentation aspect of the assignment made me realize how badly my social anxiety has been taking over my life. I'm trying to stay on the positive side of things, as difficult as they may be. My new boots, from American Eagle, finally arrived and getting a package made today a bit more manageable. 


kristen from living bittersweetly