8 Inspirational Quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hello again, everybody.

Tonight I'd like to bring you some awesome and inspirational quotations from one of my favorite writers, Ralph Waldo Emerson. If you haven't already, check out some of his work! "Self-Reliance" and Nature are just two of my favorites of his. He has plenty of other great stuff that plenty of other people have and still do enjoy.

So here you go - end your day with a sweet list of quotes from an exceptional man.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” 

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” 

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” 

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” 

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” 

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” 

“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” 

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” 

And there you have it - eight of some of my favorite quotes for you to ponder for the rest of the night. Have a great night; sleep tight and sweet dreams!

xoxo, Clare

How to Have a Lovely Day

Good morning!
Guten morgen!
Buenos dias!
Bonjour! 

It's kinda / sorta late morning (almost the afternoon, in fact), but it still counts! Right? I hope?

I'm in a fairly decent mood this morning (if you couldn't tell!) and I thought it would be fun to write a post today about how to have a good / great / lovely / wonderful day! At least, my way to have a good day. Which, I can't guarantee anything, but maybe some of these ideas will spark up some other ideas for you to try. So why not give it a try? Get ready, get set... Vamanos! Let's go!

1. Start the day off right! With FOOD. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And I gotta say - they're probably right. Whoever they may be. I know I always seem to have a better day after I've had a full and hearty breakfast. And I'm not much of a breakfast food person (Crazy talk, I know. And very un-American of me -- Oh, well). So if you're anything like me and you don't love breakfast food, go for a simple bowl of cereal or some toast. These are the go-to foods for a quick and acceptable breakfast. Add a cup of coffee with some milk or a glass of OJ for something extra. If you're a huge breakfast person, go all out! Pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage: all great foods to give you that boost in the morning and start your day off the right way. Disclaimer: do not skip this meal. You will regret it a while before lunch time. And then you'll be trying to catch up on food for the rest of the day. Which makes you feel fat and gross and you'll be wishing you had had that muffin or bagel earlier in the morning.

2. Wash up. After breakfast, or even before breakfast (it's up to you), wash your hands and face, brush your teeth, comb your hair, or take a shower in lieu of the previously mentioned (but don't skip the brushing of the teeth or combing of the hair!). Wiping away all the bacteria and garbage that builds up in and on your body while you sleep will give you a better start to your day. So don't forget this step!

3. Dress up. Dressing up will make you feel like a million bucks. Put some make-up on (but not too much, please!), hop into your best Sunday dress, wear some pretty shoes, do your hair up all nice. Do whatever it takes to make yourself feel beautiful (or handsome). Feeling good about your outside will make you feel better on the inside! Take a look at your gorgeous self in the mirror and be proud of who you are! You are always beautiful, just so you know - no matter your shape or size - and this step is just to help you accentuate your beauty. Don't ever forget that!


4. Get out into the world! Once you've finished up all your getting ready for the day, get up and out into the world. Slap a smile on your face, say hi to strangers, hold the door open for others, say please and thank you, etc. There is plenty you can do out there in the big ol' scary world to make it that much better. Getting out there is also a thousand times better than staying in for the day. Even if you have nothing to do all day - get out of the house and go for a walk, meet up with a friend, do whatever it takes to get yourself outside. If it's raining, grab an umbrella! Or it's raining - and ONLY if it's raining - curl up by the window, and then read on to step #5.

5. Read a good book while sipping a cup of tea. 'Nuff said. But if you're not into tea, grab some juice or milk or something HEALTHY and enjoy yourself.

6. Stressed is desserts spelled backwards. If you're having a tough day, grab a treat. Chocolate is my favorite stress-free dessert. Don't overdo it however, keep it moderate. But if you're not feeling all that great, feel free to reach into your fridge or freezer or pantry and grab something that will make you feel better. For me, food always seems to make things better.

7. Slow down. Don't rush! If you're late for work or something, take your time; try not to stress. It will only make things worse. If you can't do anything about it, why worry about it?

I'm sure there is plenty more I am forgetting... So - leave me something in the comments that helps YOU have a better day and maybe I'll put it into this post!

That's all for now, folks!

Have a great day today!

xoxo, Clare

Avoiding the Racing Thoughts at the End of the Day

Hey, peeps.

I figured I'd write a post tonight because I need to get some of the thoughts out and into words that actually make sense. And what better way to do so than to write about something positively distracting!

I'm a thinker - my mind is always going. There are times when I'm coming up with a million and one great ideas, and other times when my brain will just not shut off - when I really need it to. Like at bedtime.

Every night, right as I climb into bed to read a book or just sit here and text my boyfriend, the ominous thoughts come lurking. They hide in the shadows, and in the crevices and corners of my bedroom. They wait for me to finally get settled in and relaxed. And then, like a scary monster or killer, they pounce. My brain becomes infested with thoughts about anything and everything; you name it. I look back on my day and think about everything that went wrong, everything that went right. I think about tomorrow and everything I have to do, what time I have to get up, etc. I create these long and seemingly endless lists in my head and I have no idea what to do with them. All I can do is lie down and stare at the ceiling, hoping and praying that the thoughts will just go away and I will fall asleep already. I usually give it a fair amount of time, a fair amount of tossing and turning, opening and closing my eyes, sitting up and laying down, etc. before my brain finally decides to just settle down. Now, I'm not one for patience, so this is excruciatingly frustrating...

If you're reading this now and you can completely and totally relate, then the rest of this post is just for you. So read on, friend. If you have no idea what I'm talking about and have no feelings or emotions at the end of the day whatsoever, then, well, you're a robot. Or a heartless red-headed stepchild. Either way, you have no business being on the internet and/or reading such things.

So anyway - there's honestly not much to it. You gotta do a number of very obvious, plain and simple things and you'll be waking up the next morning before you know it. Here's what you gotta do to keep your brain calm and cool and collected:

1. Wash away the day. Literally wash up. Spend a fair amount of time in the bathroom washing your face and hands and even feet, as well as brushing your teeth. Get rid of all the dirt and food and grime that collects on your body throughout the day. Once it's all gone (or most of it at least), you'll feel clean and refreshed and ready to take on anything - but in this case, make that "anything" your bed and your sleepy-time.


2. You + Bed = Pure Bliss. Hop into your comfy bed and under the blankets! Unless it's too hot, of course. And it is summer, so... In this case, invest in a fan if you don't already have one. Turn that sucker up to high and then hop into bed. Fluff your pillows, or do whatever you gotta do to make it perfect for sleeping in. Your bed should be your sanctuary at night. And if it's not, then you need to re-evaluate some things in your life at this current moment in time. But in all seriousness, who doesn't love their bed?!

3. Lights out! Turn all lights, electronics, or whatever else, OFF. There have been studies that say shutting down your iPhones, computers, etc. a decent amount of time before you call it a night will give you a better night's sleep. Give it a try. Try it first, try it last. Keep reading and then you can decide when you want/need to turn off your lights and other things.

4. Close those pretty little eyes. Cut right to the chase! I ain't wasting any time and neither should you. After you've done all the necessary things to get ready for sleep, SLEEP. After laying down in bed, closing your eyes is the next step to falling asleep. Let your body relax, and let the Sleep Fairy do the rest!

Now all of the above steps sound simple and easy and will help you avoid all the ruminating. But of course these simple steps will not always work - or maybe they'll never work. And sometimes you've done all of this and you think you've made it through without any problems and then BAM! The thoughts come flooding in. Here are some other options if you have trouble with the above steps and/or the thoughts have already invaded your brain:

- Open up a good book. Preferably a happy one. Or one that you will enjoy without having to do much thinking or emotional or mental work for. A children's bedtime story may be your best bet. No matter how old you are, they are always great. Goodnight, Moon is my all-time favorite children's book (Okay, my favorite BOOK ever). Read something simple, maybe even something with pictures. Get yourself engaged in the story and before you know it, those awful thoughts will be gone and/or your eyes will be get tired and your body will be signaling to you to get to sleep.

- Watch a funny video clip, tv show, or movie. Depending on how much time you want to give yourself, watch any of these three and you'll surely forget about any bad thoughts you may previously have had. Whose Line Is It Anyway? is the greatest option ever. Laugh your ass off and before long, you'll be thinking about what funny quotes to share with a friend or co-worker in the morning.

- Lather up. Put some soothing lotion on your arms and legs, or a facial mask on your face. Let the cool liquid or gel soak into your skin. Lather, rinse, repeat (last step optional). This step should also include the option of taking a nice hot bath or shower. Soak in the tub for however long you deem fit, and just enjoy the thought of the great physical feelings it brings you. You'll feel relaxed and ready to settle down for the night.

- Massages are heavenly. If you live with someone else, ask them to give you a nice back or neck rub before calling it a night. Just like the lotion, a massage or body rub will relax your muscles and in turn, relax your brain. If you live alone, try a back or head scratcher. You may not think it's the same thing, but it's seriously just as good.

Well, that's all for tonight. I'm headed to sleep myself. Writing this post really made me feel a whole lot better. Would ya look at that? Maybe even doing something productive before bed will help calm your brain and ward off those yucky thoughts.

Goodnight, friends!

xoxo, Clare

How to Start a Blog

Howdy y'all!

Sorry it's been a while since I've written anything. I guess you could say I've had some writers' block. But I've also been working on some short fiction pieces for another blog. I'm not sure how I feel about this new blog, however, so it's barely getting off the ground. If you're interested, I'll keep you updated. 

Anyway, here's today's post! Enjoy!

This should have been my very first blog post. But I had no idea what to write about at the time. Now that I have a bit more "experience," I find myself better able to write a blog post with a title such as this one: "How to Start a Blog."

It's actually a lot harder than you would imagine it to be, believe it or not. 

So you think you want to start a blog? Well, good! It's fun! It's therapeutic! It's productive! It's a million and one other things you want it to be! Here are some ways for you to get you going that certainly helped me quite a bit:

1. Pick a subject, any subject. Now, I will say that many blogs out there are not just boring, every day, tedious tasks we all do that one person just decides to write about. Instead, people write about what they know, what they do, what they've heard, said, experienced. But even if you are just creating a personal blog for yourself to read later on, go for it! Use whatever materials you have to pick a subject matter that will entice you, entertain you, and if you're lucky - captivate an audience. Write about whatever you hold dearest to you! Some great ideas include: funny stories from everyday life, a photo blog, a blog of lists. The list (see what I did there?) could go on and on. 

2. Know how to write, or learn. Even if it's the most boring thing you could ever possibly read, most popular blogs know how to write about their subject matter. They are detailed, yet simplified, matter-of-fact, to the point, etc. Great bloggers are typically great writers. Know your stuff - look back on your high school or college English class and try to remember what you learned. If you have no clue what to do - Google it. The internet is filled with examples of good writing, as well as tips on writing (Maybe I'll even blog about that myself!). Whatever you do, write as well as you can. 

3. Choose a blogging website. Now, I didn't do much research with this and I sort of regret it. But there are a million options out there for you to blog with. There's Blogger, which I am using, and I like it, but I feel there could be more to it. Wordpress and tumblr are just a couple others. I don't know many, personally. But you can always look online to find a variety of great options.

4. Write from the heart. In the words of Hemingway: "All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." If you start off by writing about the truth, it will take you a very long way. It may lead to some awesome writing and blogging material. 

5. Have fun with it! This is the most important tip of all. Whether you're writing for yourself, or writing for others to read and see, be happy! Enjoy it! Write about something fun or happy or uplifting. It may come from a dark place, but always try to remain positive in your blogging. It will lead to greater things - like a happier mood for yourself and your readers.

That's all for now, folks. I hope these five tips can help you out! Let me know if you're thinking of starting a blog and if any of this helped. If you need any more advice, I'm always here. Have a fabulous night and I'll be writing again tomorrow!

xoxo, Clare

How to Survive as an Adult Living with Your Parents

It's late at night and I'm contemplating everything in life that lies ahead of me. There is always so much that runs through my head at this time of day - literally the same time every night, just like clockwork. This blog post is an inspiration from just one of the MANY things on my mind. 

If you don't already know, I am 23 years old and I have never left home. Some of you may think that that's pretty pathetic, and I'd honestly have to agree with you. But lots of people do the same and they're not pathetic in the least bit. I guess it all depends on the person. In my opinion, my never having left home makes me quite the loser. I don't want to just beat myself up all night, so I think the further I go on with this post, the better I will feel about my current situation. 

I tried going to college right out of high school, but decided to stay local. So I went to the University at Albany in the fall of 2009, I packed all my stuff and moved into the dorms. Didn't last one night there. I was so depressed and miserable that I called up my parents and went home. Stayed home ever since. To this very day I deeply regret my decision. But I think now that I'm doing better these days, it's harder for me to understand where my mind was back then. I have my own reasons for staying home and for staying home this long. Some days are tougher than others. Anyway, I'm thinking a lot more about trying to move out of my parents' house and starting my life all on my own. But it's not working out so well. 

I've made it this far, however, and that's gotta mean something, right? I know there are a lot of people out there nowadays with no job, no money, etc., so they have decided to move back in with mom and dad. And if they'll have you, then why not? But I know it's not always the easiest thing to do, so here are my tips on surviving living at home with your parents as an adult...

1. Respect your elders. This is tip A-NUMERO-UNO. Your parents may not like being called "elders," but if they're your actual parents, then they're older than you, so... It just makes sense. Anyway, your parents have their ways and their rules of the house and though you may not always agree with them, you're living in their house and you need to respect them. This is all the needs to be said about this tip, because it's seriously self-explanatory. And you'll avoid a crap-ton of conflicts if you just back up off your parents and their oddly specific rules. 

2. Avoid conflict. This follows tip #1 perfectly. If you respect your parents and their rules, you will avoid most, if not all conflict. If you sense a conflict arising, get out immediately. This may mean having to tiptoe around your parents from time to time, but as long as it isn't hurting anybody, you should be good.

3. Get out of the house as often as possible. Don't sit in your room or alone in your basement in the dark. Make some friends, go out with them. Even if you have no one to go out with, go for a walk by yourself, go to the movies, go out to dinner. Do something to avoid staying in the house with your parents. Spending time with them is great, yes, but you can't spend every waking second with them. So do something separate from your family, and go and enjoy yourself.

4. Stay in school, or keep up with the job search. This tip is also super important. You can't live there forever - you need to make a life for yourself eventually. So go to school, study something you like/love, intern somewhere, get some college credits, graduate, find a career. If college isn't your thing (which, dude, I know, it's not for everyone!), find a job in which you can work a bucket load of hours for, and make some serious guap. Save that shit UP. This is also helpful in that it gives you something else to do outside of the house - tip #3 & #4 can go hand-in-hand in this sense.

5. Personal space is a MUST. You need your own space in the house to conduct whatever "adult-like business" you deem necessary. Drugs, porn, etc. (I'm only somewhat joking). But in all seriousness, you need some time alone in your own separate place to relax, watch some tv, read a book, whatever you do. Hopefully you have your own room, or even the entire basement to yourself from time to time. But when you wind up spending too much time alone, refer to tip #3. 

That's all I can think of for now. I hope some of it is helpful. I know it's all been very helpful for me lately. I basically live with Hitler, so I mean... That was a joke. My dad is just very particular and strict, but he's a good guy. And my mom is the best mom anyone could have asked for. So they're great people, and I love them to death, but it's still hard to live with people who have their own way of doing things and who pay for everything I use and eat and basically do. I need to remember that and be grateful.

xoxo,

Clare

5 Awesome & Inexpensive Things to do this Summer in Upstate New York

Afternoon, y'all! I hope you're staying cool in this God-awful humidity today. Go to the pool, take a cold shower, play in the sprinkler, or sit in an air-conditioned room - whatever it may take!

Just a few hours ago, I got home from work and I was inspired to write this blog post for today. I work at a baseball stadium in Troy, NY and it is the most fun job anyone could ever possibly have. I may not do all the fun stuff, but I'm surrounded by it on a daily/nightly basis. So here's your post for today - 5 Awesome and Inexpensive Things to Do in the Summer in Upstate New York.

1. Tri-City ValleyCats at the Joseph Bruno Stadium, Troy, NY. 
I start off with this one because this is where I work every summer, and have worked for about seven summers now. The Tri-City ValleyCats are a minor league baseball team in the Class A short season affiliated with the Houston Astros. These games are so much fun. Not only is the team really good this year, and has been the past couple years (they won the Class A short season championship last year), but the atmosphere at "the Joe" is fantastic. There is so much to do - there's the kid zone out in left field, so many food options, and, of course, the baseball! Tickets start at just $6 (standing room only), and go up to $12 (premium box seats). You can even get a dollar off with one of the following: senior discount, student discount, Price Chopper AdvantEdge card. You can even get a free ticket with a military I.D. And on Sundays, we have a whole bucket load of stuff going on - summer reading for the kids, Sunday Funday (4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 small sodas all starting at $25). Just ask yours truly or my friends and co-workers at the Box Office for other discounts and on-goings at the park. For more information, here is their website: http://www.tcvalleycats.com - so check it out!

2. Park Playhouse in Washington Park, Albany, NY. Let me just start off by saying that THIS IS FREE. You can pay to upgrade your seats, but seriously why would you? Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and sit and watch the summer plays going on at the park. The one going on right now is "Hands on a Hardbody." I don't know much about it, but it looks really good and it's gotten great reviews. There's also food for sale at the park, but you can bring in your own food as well. It's such a fun time, and the plays are great - well-acted and well-done. Check out the website for more information: http://www.parkplayhouse.com/ - You'll have a ton of fun!

3. John Boyd Thacher Park, Voorheesville, NY. If you're into the hiking scene or nature, yet you don't want to travel too far from Albany, go to Thacher Park! There's a beautiful view, lots of scenery and plants, and plenty of other people walking around enjoying the weather in such a nice place. This is free, of course, and what's better than free?! Pack a lunch, have a picnic, or just bring along a water bottle and enjoy the trail. It's a ton of fun to go with a bunch of friends
or family members. Get your exercise on and get out in the nice weather!

4. Jericho Drive-In Theater, Glenmont, NY. How can you NOT go to the drive-ins over the summer? It should be a tradition for you and your family or friends. They have two movies showing each night, and the movies change from week to week, so you have plenty of options. Admission is $9 per adult and $4 for kids 11 and under. So Google what shows are playing or check out their website: http://www.jerichodrive-in.com/


5. Altamont Fair on the Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, NY. This is an absolute MUST. There are rides and food GALORE. It's not the cheapest food out there, but it is so worth the carbs and calories and money. Just like any other fair around, there is plenty to do and to see - but if you live in the Albany area, the Altamont Fair is the best. I may be completely biased, but I completely love it. The fair this year is being held from August 12-15, 2014. Buy your tickets online now and save $2! For more information, see their website: http://www.altamontfair.com/

And there ya go! Five fun things to do this summer in upstate New York that won't break the bank! Get out there and do some fun stuff with your friends, your family, your kids, whoever! Have fun!

xoxo,
Clare

Unbelievably Fun Photo Ideas

Good morning, all! And happy Sunday!

Today's post has been inspired by my love for photography and my interest in bettering myself in the field. I'm also busy working on a project for my local library for a silent auction they will be hosting in the fall. Some of my photos and photo notecards will be up for grabs. I'm also always selling and giving away some of my photographs as well as photography services to anyone who is interested. If YOU are interested, feel free to comment on this post or contact me via e-mail or Facebook.

So here are some of my favorite photo ideas and tips that you can try out, or if you're going to get professional photos done, let your photographer know what you might like!

Friendship photos. These types of photos are oh-so-FUN. There are a million ways you can go about this. Here are several ideas:

• Jump for joy - 'nuff said. Get an awesome shot of the two of you (or three or four or more of you!) jumping in the air. I would suggest using a tripod and self-timer on your camera. These are not only awesome photos, but they're a ton of fun to make and you get in some nice exercise! Woohoo! 

• Flaunt that hair, girlfraaand - you've got long, gorgeous locks, why not show 'em off? Hang your head off a bed, mess around with your hair like in the photo to the left. Whip your hair back and forth. Do whatever you think is fun, silly, beautiful. Have fun with it!

• Use props. There are a thousand and one things (AND MORE!) you can do when you add props into the equation. Mix it up - look around the house, go out to the dollar store and buy some stuff. You can use anything and everything and have a ton of fun with it. Gigantic sunglasses, flowers, hats, scarves, you name it -- go craaazy.

• Go on an adventure - travel around town, around the country, around the world! And bring your friends! You can have so much fun taking a million photos in your favorite place, or in a new place! Find some great scenery and photograph away!

Friendship photos can be the most fun ever, and now you have documented proof that you have friends! Hooray! That's always a major bonus to taking all these photos.

Next up, family photos. Of course you have a family you love and you want to show the world how much you love them. Instead of taking those typical in-studio portrait photos, get out there and make beautiful pictures! Even if you're family is ugly. (I kid, I kid). Here are some fun ideas for family photos:

• If your egg-o is pregg-o... Maternity photos are some of my favorite photos. They can be beautiful and adorable and lovely all at the same time. Here are a few of my favorite maternity photos that you can give a try: gender reveal, "bump ahead," "about to pop!", week-by-week, scrabble tiles across the belly, baby announcement photos (little shoes, etc.) Being pregnant can be both fun and miserable - why not make the most of it and have some fun with it! 
• 
  
• Newborns and babies... Babies are the cutest things ever. So you need need need to photograph them immediately. A few ways to do so: frame your baby on a comfy bed, take shots of each adorable thing about them, photograph them week-by-week, and month-by-month, pose your baby in a variety of different ways. 

• Multiple children - stack 'em up! Capture them laughing, smiling, running around, being playful. Those are the moments you want to remember most. 
  

Babies and children make the cutest photos you will ever have. Cherish those times by taking as many shots as possible. You can never have too many! So shoot away! Also - black and white photos of your baby are absolutely gorgeous - just like this one here on the right. Get up close and personal, snap away. Sleeping baby photos might even be my favorite because they look so calm and peaceful and it's a nice, wonderful time for mama. Wrap them in swaddling clothes and place them on a comfy bed or pillow and you'll be all set! 

And now, my favorite, couples' photos. I have mentioned before that I am in a serious relationship and have been for over 5 years now. We plan on getting engaged and married within a few years and I would love love love to have a thousand photos of just us that we can hang in our house when we finally start our lives together. A few of my favorite couples' poses: arms from behind, arms around waist, forehead kisses, regular kisses, cheek kisses, hand-holding, head on shoulder, hand on chest, making a heart with your hands. The list could go on and on. I absolutely adore couples' pictures. Engagement shoots, wedding photos, even just anytime photo shoots for fun are fantastic.  

These are all just a very small fraction of how many photo ideas are out there! Get creative - have some fun - play with angles and lighting and time of day. Sit, stand, kneel, lie down. Do whatever pose you feel looks good or great! If you don't like the way something came out, try something a little different. Black and white, color, color splash, blur, etc. all make for intriguing and unique photographs. Try everything on for size. Check out Pinterest for some more fun photo ideas! They have a crap ton of awesome stuff - as usual. So get out there and start shooting like a mad man! You'll love it, have so much fun, and get some great pics! Trust me, you won't regret it!

xoxo,

Clare

'MERICA!

As you all may (and SHOULD) know, yesterday was the celebration of the birthday of the greatest country on the face of this here Earth. July 4th, or the 4th of July, or Independence Day is the most fantastic day in all of history - it is the day that America was officially born. Our forefathers put together a Declaration of Independence on this day in 1776, setting the groundwork for the best nation there is and ever was.

Hopefully you already know all of this, but if you don't, then feel free to leave at any time (the sooner, the better). Anyway - the 4th of July is a day to celebrate our American pride and honor all of those who have helped to give us our freedom.

I'm a day late, but I figured since the holiday was on a Friday, why not celebrate all weekend long? So this blog post for today is about 'MERICA and all of its most wonderful aspects, and how you can enjoy the day and the weekend as best you can.

Whether you celebrate with beer, BBQs, fireworks, or all three, here is a list of ways in which you can make the most of the world's greatest day of the year:

-  First off, if you're not decked out in red, white and blue this weekend, you are doing an injustice to your fellow Americans. However, make sure it's not the red, white and blue of Puerto Rico or England... I saw a customer at my job yesterday wearing a British flag t-shirt and I nearly lost my sh*t. I'm one damn proud American, and I was offended by this small act of rebelliousness.

- Second, start up the grill. Ain't no other way to say U.S.A. like a grill full of hot dogs and hamburgers. Break out the rolls and buns, ketchup and mustard, and you've got yourself a mighty fine meal there, sir.

- Third, APPLE PIE. 'Nuff said.

- Next, fireworks. Don't go blowing yourself up - go out to your nearest park and watch some professional ones. We have a nice show presented by Price Chopper downtown by the Corning Tower and it's so much fun to see. I used to go every year until I started working every 4th of July. But at my job, a baseball stadium, we too have fireworks and it's also a wonderful show that people from all over the Capital Region come to enjoy. So get out there and go watch some, you good ol' American you.

- Lastly, go have a beer. If anything, you deserve it. But also, having a beer or two is just one way to kick back, relax, and join in on the birthday party of your nation. Cheers to you, America.

How to Be More Creative

Good afternoon, folks! I hope wherever you are reading this from, you are not dying in this heat. But it's about 10 degrees cooler than it was here yesterday - thank the Lawd.

Anyway, for today's post, I'd like to give you some hints and tips on opening your mind a little bit. In case you're stuck in a rut, like I am currently, I figured exploring some fun options to climb out of that hole will do us all some good.

I like to think of myself as a creative person - I love all kinds of art: to look at, to make, etc. I feel like art is a fantastic part of culture that shows us who we are and what we're thinking. Expressing ourselves through all forms of art can even be therapeutic, and I know for certain that it is for me, as well as many others.

Creativity is defined as the state or quality of being creative; the ability to transcend traditional ideas and to create meaningful new ideas. Even if you hate art, or you think all you can do is draw a mediocre stick figure family, there is some creativity in everybody. Sometimes you just gotta dig deep down to find it.

Like Einstein so eloquently put it: "Creativity is contagious, pass it on." As soon as you jump in to your creative side, you'll want the whole world to know how much fun it can be. So share your stuff, share this blog post, share Einstein's quote.

Here are some fun ways to explore your inner Van Gogh, Picasso, or Frida (whichever you'd rather associate yourself with)...

1. Pinterest is a Godsend. First off, let me just tell you that Pinterest is the greatest website ever for anything fun and creative, as well as basically everything. But for now, we're sticking with the creative side of things that Pinterest has to offer. I have entire boards of fun stuff to do and to make. So go to Pinterest.com, sign up if you haven't already, and get to pinning some awesome creative stuff to do. Here is my DIY board to give you some inspiration: http://www.pinterest.com/claremckenn/diy/

Other ways to get creative:

2. Go to your nearest arts and crafts store. Usually at Michael's you can find a whole lot of fun stuff to get some inspiration from. I usually wind up spending way too much money on craft supplies that I hope to use at one point or another. And to be honest, I don't get around to much of the ideas I would love to try out, but just in case I ever do get around to them, I have all the stuff I need!

3. Collect things. Starting a collection of things like magazines is not only a lot of fun, but will also provide you with some inspiration for some collage-y stuff. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE collages, and I get a kick out of collecting a crap ton of magazines that I can use later to make some awesome art. I also dabble a bit in wedding planning collages. I love weddings, as well as art, as you know by now, and when I combine the two, I could not be happier. I don't have any wedding collages to show you on here, but here are a couple fun and random collages I have made in the past:

(Mountain Man, right). (Stepping Out, below to the left). (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Angelina, below to the right).























4. Grab your camera. Even if all you have access to is your smartphone or a cheap disposable, grab it, travel around, walk around your house, wherever you see inspiration, and start shooting! Take as many shots as you see fit - the more you take, the better chance you have of getting some good ones to keep. "Hire" a friend or family member to be your model for the day, and go out and photograph them wherever you want. Photography hasn't always been considered an art form, but I find it to be the most beautiful of all the art forms - and you can get super creative with it too. Tilt your camera to quirky angles and get some interesting perspective shots. There is so much you can do with a camera - play with the lighting, the zoom, the angles, etc. Get out there and start taking some awesome photographs.


5. Invest in a sketchbook or sketchpad. Buy a cheap one, buy an expensive one - do whatever you like. But find one you like and bring it with you everywhere. Stash it in your purse or pocket, along with a pen or pencil and whenever you see something you'd like to remember or draw, get out the sketchbook and start sketching! Your sketches could even lead you to make some more fun art later.

6. Art can make great gifts! It's true! My best friend Milly is the most creative person I know and she made me some FANTASTIC gifts for a variety of occasions. The last time I got home from the hospital, she made me a little gift that consisted of a small glass jar filled with rocks and some bigger-sized twigs, and she tied little pieces of paper around the twigs that had little inspirational and motivational quotes on them. It was the sweetest thing in the whole world and I loved it. For my birthday this year, she made me a big gift basket filled with my favorite things - some candy, a mug she drew on, a Batman comic book (I LOVE Batman), a small puzzle, etc. There is so much fun stuff you can do with a homemade gift or card for a friend or family member. So try it out!

7. Open your mind. This is the most important aspect of creating something. You can't be all scientific with art or creativity - although, sometimes we are inspired by science and make art out of it. But forget the numbers or whatever - grab some paint and a brush and slap it onto a canvas. See what you get! Be open to new things and ideas; you might just create a masterpiece!

I hope you learned some fun new things and ideas to try out the next time you get bored or are in desperate need of something to do. Give these tips a go and see what happens. HAVE FUN!

xoxo,
Clare

Is Being Single Overrated?

So lately I've been seeing a lot of BuzzFeed and HuffPost articles about single people celebrating their "single-ness." Don't get me wrong, I agree with these choices to some extent - even if it seems like I don't approve of some of it sometimes to my friends. I am not single, nor have I been for over five years; but to be honest, part of me wishes I had taken that time (like in college for example, from ages 18-22ish) to be single and explore who I was, etc. But I started dating my boyfriend when I was 18, and now I'm 23. Even though I never got to do any of that single stuff, I still love you, Vincent! But I say all that to let you know that I understand that people need those times, and even through their 20s and even into their 30s to explore their world, themselves, others, and relationships. I'm certainly not judging those of you who have decided to be single and not have children or anything and are those ages or older. I respect everyone's life choices, and so should you.

I mention all of this stuff because I feel that a lot recently, like I already said, lots of places all over the internet seem to be very anti-relationship/anti-children. And part of me really can't understand some of it. I don't have any children, nor do I plan on having any very soon. But I love kids, and I think they give a lot of people the perfect reason to live and be better people. I know a ton of parents (including my own) that would give everything for their children, and they could not be happier with the life they now have with kids.

I had this conversation with some friends and my younger brother last night. All of us agreed that none of us are anywhere near ready to have children. And the three of them aren't even in relationships nor have someone in their life to have children with. Ain't nothin' wrong with that, though. We're all between the ages of 21 and 25. Which, in my opinion, are all very young ages to have children. Not to mention our low maturity levels, which also plays a large factor in the decision to not have kids anytime soon. But I will also say this: lots of people are sometimes thrown into parenthood at an extremely young age, and though many struggle with it, and never learn to do it quite well, plenty get into a rhythm and grow up, learn to parent the right way and love their kids like nothing else. So there's always that. I hate when I hear people judging young mothers and fathers who accidentally got pregnant in their teen years. They make as good parents as the next person - if not better sometimes.

Anyway, it drives me crazy to see articles about being single being the greatest thing ever. Sure, it's great. You can live for yourself, go out and party, hang with friends, drink and drink and drink. (And trust me, I know some of these things seem super appealing and maybe even are, and I can agree - with the exception of the partying maybe). You can worry about yourself, and only yourself. And it's nice, yeah. With a significant other and/or children, you have a lot more people to provide for, and you may have to work long, hard hours at your job to pay the bills, put food on the table, etc. You may have more responsibility, but, is that necessarily a bad thing? You learn to grow up, and live your life for others ahead of yourself. And it provides all that, along with a sense of pride. So sure, you may not be able to go to that party tomorrow night and drink until the sun comes up, and you may be cleaning up poopy diapers all night instead, but... You're making someone else happy and content (as well as clean), and maybe that's better than feeling sick and hungover after a long night of drinking and partying.

I think it's also important to mention that there are these people called "babysitters." When you need a night out every once in a while, call one up (I'm available, for example), and enjoy yourself. Also, kids have early bedtimes, so I mean, feel free to stay up late to watch some Netflix with a nice glass of wine - who cares if work comes early? Live a little.

This whole post was all very jumbled, I feel like. But being single is great - I was single a long time ago, but I do remember some of the freedom I had then that I don't have now and I will admit that it was pretty damn awesome. But I think I actually like being in a relationship better. And I'm looking very much forward to having kids in the near future.

So, if you're single and writing some stupid article or something on BuzzFeed or the Huffington Post, take into account that you haven't really experienced everything yet, so you can't just bash parents and their way of life. Also, BuzzFeed articles are... I think, made specifically for single people who might not mind ending up living with 100 cats instead of a significant other or children. Just sayin'. Not judging.

But if you are single and you don't want a boyfriend/girlfriend or whatever right now, then live it up. Enjoy this time you have, embrace it, love it, be wild and free and young. Drink, party, have fun.

To answer the title of this blog post, well, I can't. And no one really can. Be single, be in a relationship, drink, party, have kids; do whatever makes you happy. After all, isn't that all that really matters? I told you my own personal preference, but who's to say that that's how YOU too should live your life? Have a little fun in life - you only live once.

I hope all of this makes some sense, haha. My point is this: this is a judgment-free zone - I respect everyone's life choices. Cats, drinks, children - you could have it all if you really want. Hell, why not give it all a try?

xoxo,
Clare