Big Flower

I love cardigans. Seriously, I wear one every single day. I am such a nerd, I know. Anyway, cardigans are comfortable and colorful and make it easy to adjust for temperatures which fluctuate wildly in the law building (some rooms are freezing, others are burning up). But lately, I have been feeling like my cardigans are just a little . . . blah. I don't feel stylish or inspired when I wear one. I need to find a place that makes cute cardigans with embroidery or embellishments or something.

So I decided to experiment in creativity. I bought a flower at a craft store for a buck, cut off the stem with wire cutters, and secured it to the front of my cardigan like a little brooch. Pulled my hair up in a vintage 'do, wore a ruffled shirt underneath, and voila - I had something new and different, reminiscent of 1948. Totally my own style - perfect. At least I thought so.

Then I went to school.

One of the first comments I got was from a professor who asked me why I was wearing an artichoke. Okay, so yes my flower was kind of big. And yes Paul laughed at me when I found it in the first place and teased me that I should rig it to squirt water at people. But an artichoke? Really? After feeling self-conscious all morning and getting 20 or more comments before lunch ("are you going to a wedding or something?" "Hey Amy - oh, um, nice flower"), I decided that it was either time to take my big flower off or it was time to own it.
I decided to own it. And I felt fabulous.

Seriously, So Blessed

If you haven't already seen the blog, "Seriously So Blessed", you must, must, MUST go read it today. It is the absolutely hilarious blog of a Mormon girl who is living the fabulous life in "Zion," and considers herself "seriously, so blessed." Go read it at http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com and you will see what I mean.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

I know a lot of you, my friends, are avid readers. Some of you may even have tried your hand at writing stories of your own. So I thought you might be interested in visiting the following blog of a debut author who is married to a friend of mine from law school (and who I have known for ten years now since I was a freshman in college). She has a great blog where she talks about what she is going through as a first time author who signed a four-book deal and will have her first novel, Wings, published early next year. You can read about her experiences and learn more about her book at http://apparentlyaprilynne.blogspot.com/. Plus she often gives reviews of books she has recently read and has great insights based on her experiences as an author.

I have been inspired and amazed at what she has gone through writing and revising her books and have a new appreciation for the books I read. Visit her site and get excited to read Wings when it comes out next year!

Yoga

I am one of the least flexible people on this planet (in more than one aspect of life, let's face it), but I still love Yoga. Sometimes I take myself through poses and stretches on my own as best I know how, and other times I go to classes to feed off the energy and vibes of twenty or thirty other people. Yoga helps me maintain what little flexibility I do have, in addition to being healthful for the spirit. The focus on muscle, breath, heart and mind in meditation is incredibly powerful, almost magical, and I always, always am glad that I took the time to slow down and regain balance in the otherwise crazy-hectic life I choose to live.

I just realized that tonight I have to miss Yoga class because of a Moot Court training I am helping with at the Law School. Namaste.