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"I try not to expect things from people because that's how they let me down." New Year, new mindset. At least that's what's going around right? Give it another week and most of the people who are all talk around the start of the new year will fall back into routine. It's sad, but they're annoying and it's true. I on the other hand am not slowing down. Being happy and doing something worth remembering come 2018 is high on my list. With these goals in mind I've been trying to pay close attention to how other happy people are so d*mn happy. One word; EXPECTATIONS. As in lower, of course. Having no expectations at all can cause more harm than good. But I've learned that a good balance of expectations as they relate to reality, can have a better outcome. Try to rethink the equation as reality over expectation instead of the other way around. Meeting new people, for example. The reality is that they don't know you and that they cou...

It's thanksgiving and I know MOST of you are more excited for Black Friday than you are for free food. As a young person on a budget, the idea of  low prices on things we can't usually afford gets our blood pumping. But what if you could shop like this all the time? I could go into a long lecture about large companies, manufacturing costs, price inflation, and a all the little bits and bobs that most consumers don't understand when they're paying $40 for a sweater that cost $8 to make. (yeah, I just challenged your shopping choices) . But instead what I'll do is share with you why small businesses matter, why "Buying Local is Better", some of my favorite local shops, and what it's like being the child of a small business owner. To start, the definition of a small business is an independently owned and operated company that is limited in size depending on the industry. So a bakery employing 10 people and a manufacturing facility employing under...

Celebrating my triumphant return to the blog with a Religious Holiday that represents the start of a "new year" for pagans and also celebrates the lives of those who have passed on.  Halloween as a religious Holiday is a joke to most as the real purpose of the Holiday has been mocked through the years and has now become a corporate fueled holiday, much like Christmas. For me as a new pagan, and as one who is leaning more towards the practices of herbal-ism and mediation, my Samhain (SAH-win) focuses on reflection and renewal.   But here's some stuff you probably didn't know; All Hallows Eve, Saints Day, and Halloween are Christian names. Most of today's Halloween practices are christian ones. Pumpkin carvings to ward off spirits and dressing up in scary masks was the christian way of "protecting" themselves from the Celtic practices that they believed were bringing evil unto the world.  Dia De Los Muertos is closest to the TRUE S...

I've noticed that at this point in my life A LOT of my peers are doing things that I find myself turning my nose up at.  They're buying houses, getting married, and having children. This is all fine and good for them, but I feel like I want to live a little more before I make these steps. Have some Chelsea time before I settle down. Now I'm not so out of touch that I don't have obligations and priorities. I'm not out here living it up and doing whatever I want. But between the Needs and Wants, I try to find a middle ground. Hence my Adult Life Checklist.  I chose 30 solely because I wanted to make sure I lived before I started making huge decisions like marriage and where I want to live for the rest of my life. Also, I can barely remember to feed my cats and myself sometimes, so feeding a little human is out of the question. Conquer a Fear - Now I'm not talking about locking myself in a room with a huge spider and sweating it out. I m...

I used to be that person. Full of complaints with no solutions. Now I'm the person that will still complain (only the truth!), but I also make an effort to get off my butt and DO something about my "problems". The things I hear and see vary from things people want to do, to places they want to visit, and life changes they want to make. If you have so many gripes... why not just do something else? There are so many factors to consider when the time comes to make a change. I can promise you that I understand it. Some changes will greatly affect other things in your life while others will have no affect at all. For example, wanting a new job will affect the current job, the skills you may have to acquire or sharpen to switch, the time it will take to apply (and schedule interviews) , and the change to your income can affect your life negatively or positively. While on the other hand wanting to do something simple like learning to cook is as simple as GETTING OFF Y...

I am the master of picking up a million things and starting a dozen projects without considering the time and energy it takes to get them moving. This often results in potentially amazing endeavors going unfinished and forgotten. But if there is one thing I have been trying my hardest to master, it's time and task management. I have also come to the very grounding conclusion that as a young adult I am not the only one going through this. Our generation largely lacks the funds, time, and resources to get some things moving. Which is why it's important that we not dive headfirst into things we won't have the means to fix when it falls apart. Besides that, this post is more about how to prioritize things we need and want to do. Overall, everything I'm tripping over is fairly simple. THERE'S JUST SO MUCH OF IT! So step one: Make a List. My list looks something like this: re-vamp workspace gather artists and writers for art magazine get funds for pr...

Having a place to retreat to or a place to truly call home is one of the most important things in life that many young people overlook. I think that the notion of being free makes us forget what it's like to have a home. Who do you suppose decided birds are free? They can fly wherever they choose...but if there's no branch for them to return to they might regret having wings, don't you think? Perhaps true freedom is having a home to return to.   ~Unknown The moment I realized I wanted to move out I had no second thoughts, I was ready thanks to my mother training me vigorously on how to care for myself and why it's important to break away and become my own person. Moving out isn't always a necessity in creating your space, though having more than just your room can make it easier.  (seriously guys please stop trying to live by your own rules when you not paying for anything) I have seen other apartment spaces and the spaces of people still at home, a...

Or not. If you're smart you'll be able to resit that burning sensation happening in your pocket caused by more income. I started a new job last week. Full time. Thats 40 hours a week guys. It's not much more pay than what I made with my previous employer (Apple) , but for the hours and working in my field; it's pretty great. I have literally never had this much money to my name after paying rent and bills. I'm usually left with just enough (barely enough) to eat, gas up Victor (my car) , and feed my cats. This was my life every month. I couldn't afford to hang out, or sometimes even buy necessities like toiletries. It was hell. But now that I'm making almost three times what I made I've had to sit down and figure out how to not lose my shit and purchase the entirety of one of my amazon wish lists. Although I might still do that... So listen up! This is how you try to handle that wad of cash. Make a Budget Time to whip out those Mi...