Couples Therapy: I wish I knew...

If you are in a relationship, have a serious boyfriend/ girlfriend, fiancé or husband/wife please go read this great article and thank me later ;)

Happy weekend all!

Be inspired: It's time to get real with David Foster Wallace

For ages I've been weirdly attracted to David Foster Wallace's work but a little hesitant to get near his literary work because something in the way he conducted himself while alive made me believe that his witty and humorous style would not be appealing to me. Until a couple of days ago when I rediscovered and dusted my platonic attraction to all things DFW and decided to give it another go.

 

I decided I would ease into his work by starting with This Is Water. A commencement speech he gave in 2005 that was greatly praised and later turned into almost a sort of quote book. Every sentence in the book is written in a different page. and even though it can be annoying at times, it also gives you the power to slow down, soak it in and think about the effect is has in your life.It was something so simple that actually changed my take on life and education a couple of years ago. I guess you can say that it woke me up from the stereotypical "life-without-school-is-no-life" mindset and allowed me to see that education is about awareness and life's colours about how you choose to see them. There's something so tragically beautiful about this speech that keeps me coming back for more. Maybe it has to do with how his life ended and his struggle to stay alive but maybe it has to do with the fact that he is so great at teaching us how to live a fulfilling life that he obviously couldn't follow his own example. Whatever it is, it sure is a great was to dive into this literary genius' work.

Have you ever read some of David Foster Wallace's work? If so which was your favorite and why?

I'm planning on reading some of his work in this order:

• A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments (Which I started last week and been eating up like crazy)
• Consider the Lobster and Other Essays
• Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
• The Broom of the System: A Novel
• Oblivion: Stories and finally
• Infinite Jest

Please share this with friends! I think it's something worth getting out and if you want to know more about the genius behind this speech please visit His site.

*Some of these links may be affiliate but that by no means determines what goes on my posts. 

I will never compromise quality of content for affiliates.

Just a little update: What a little love can do

I've been kind of M.I.A. from this place lately but I promise I have some good reasons. I've been working my butt of and it's been great. I started working out again regularly and eating healthy and it's been the perfect motivator for this slow morning and days when I don't want to do much. I think once in a while we all need to find a new perspective and find happiness again. and that is what I'm focusing on right now.

But the most important update that I have for you is that I wanted to let you know that I closed the discount code to help baby Jacobo and his family on 28/02/13. It was amazing to be able to help them out and bring a smile to their faces and it was all because of YOU! With the help of every single person that purchased something via Etsy, outside of Etsy or just donated even a couple of dollars we were able to help cover part of his medical bills with over $400 dollars. This is by no means all they need to pay for everything that is happening right now but it sure did give them hope and made their worries a little bit lighter.

Seriously I have no words to describe their faces when we sent the money their way. They didn't expect it at all and it was the best feeling seeing their heart explode with gratitude and love. They for once were not thinking about pain and could set it aside for a second to realize that people can unite to do good and that everyone is there helping, even people like you that don't even know them.

It really bring tears to my eyes seeing how much people rallied to help me help them. I can't say it enough Im so so thankful! Thank you for being so amazing! That you to Ashley from The Stork and the Beanstalk for helping me spread the word. I actually received a couple of donations from people that came from your blog. I can't even express how thankful I am to you. Thank YOU friend!

We'll still be taking donations and if you want to work with me and help them please contact me and we can do it for sure!

"Gratitude turns what we have into enough."

Be Inspired: A little pep talk for you and me... From Kid President

A much needed pep talk for all of us.
I was having a rough time finding my motivation this morning to get up and start the day but as soon as I came across this kiddo I knew that problem would be solved. As soon as he opened his mouth I felt uplifted and ready to tackle my amazingly long to do list that's been haunting me for the last couple of days. He made me laugh, made me tear up but most of all he made me want to get up and be the change.

I hope this video works wonders on you as it did on me!
Have a lovely and happy day

*photo by my talented friend Polly Anne

40% Discount on my shop to help a sick newborn baby.

Now I'm not one to ask for help very often if ever. But today I'm calling all of you, interwebz buddies to come help me help others. 

It is very heartbreaking to see friends suffering and it's even more frustrating when you can't do anything to ease their pain. I'm doing this to help a close friend of mine who's baby was born last week premature and with a serious congenital heart defect. 

This sweet baby's name is Jacobo and was welcomed at 11:27 on a Saturday night, 2 weeks premature. Soon after he was born nurses noticed that something was not ok with him. After examination it was determined that Jacobo was born with aortic valve stenosis. This means that the valve on his aorta is severely stiffened and narrowed the opening. This causes a big strain and his left ventricle has to pump harder to send the blood out to his little body.  

There are no medications that the doctors can give to this week old baby and even if they could, medications would only ease the pain. The only way this heart defect can be corrected is with heart surgery. While nurses assured the parents that even though the procedure is delicate, it is nothing out of the ordinary, The doctor came bearing some terrible news. Little Jacobo is so tiny and fragile that his heart won't resist surgery, and his situation is only getting worse.

I know we have all felt powerless when we see someone go through horrible things and the only thing left for us to do is just stand there and be witnesses of their pain and grief. I did. And I am. But that's not what I want to do. I don't want to be witness of such sad and tragic things. I want to help lighten the burden his parents are carrying. I want to help them feel like there is life outside what they are going through. They are my friends after all.

My biggest internal battle is that I couldn't seem to find a way to help. I'm not a doctor. I'm not a cardiologist, or surgeon and I don't have the power to heal this poor sweet baby. I'm just a friend. I'm a designer.

But that's it! The way I can help them is by doing what I love and know. That's why I wanted to let all of you know that everything in my shop is now 40% as well as custom designs and every single penny I make this month is going to help pay his medical bills.

I don't have a good pitch to convince you to help me. This is just what it is. I just want to help. So please! Please internet peeps! Help me help this little guy. Let me bring a smile to his parents face.

Please help me find more ways to help them if you can.

Let me make a difference.