Artist of the Week: Mars-1

Mars-1 is an artist that I recently came across online, and I'm glad that I did! His signature style is something that I think is rare, and that more people should appreciate.

Mario Martinez, or Mars-1, is a California based artist who has a distinct style that he carries out from piece to piece. His perfect use of color and depth is something that I personally envy. 

The above painting, "Transcendental Disaster," is remarkable in my opinion. The neon colors dance before the eyes like lights in the night. There are so many abstract and realistic images within it that it's absolutely mesmerizing.

 

You can find more of Mars-1's beautiful creations at mars-1.com/, where there are also prints and sculptures for sale. The perfect blend of imagination and detail, I can't seem to get enough of Mars-1.  

The Perfect Morning Routine

Happy Friday! After browsing through Pinterest this morning over a cup of coffee, I came across something that I had to write about, called "The Perfect College Morning Routine." Of course, if you aren't in college, that's fine too.

Blogger Courtney from aswestumblealong.com (awesome site that I wholeheartedly recommend, by the way), put together six steps for a wonderful morning routine that I really wanted to share with all of you. Even if you aren't a morning person, I definitely suggest incorporating some of the following methods into your own post-wake up regimen.

1. Silence 
Try start off by waking a lot earlier than you need to, in order for you to get a head start on your day and boosting your overall health. Spend about ten minutes on silence and meditation to get in tune with yourself. This is a simple yet effective relaxation technique as well.

2. Affirmations
 Positivity is key. Write down some statements and goals for a couple of minutes that you wants to be in the future (i.e. I am at peace with myself, I will not let stress take over, etc.) and read them over to yourself more than five times. By doing so, you're instilling these words into your brain to really make them a reality for yourself.

3. Visualization
Last night, I spend a few hours live-tweeting and reporting on a fascinating visual communications seminar, which is why I find this point so ironic.

Try taking a few minutes to meditate and visualize yourself being who you want to be in the future. I attended a meditation course about a month ago and I can attest to the fact that this really works. Not only does it wash a sense of peace over you, but it really boosts confidence as well. Posting images of your goals on social media (mainly Pinterest) is also a great way to visualize your plans.

4. Exercise
 Even if it's brief and in your room, working a few exercises into your schedule for ten to fifteen minutes is a great way to heighten energy levels and to help you get into a productive mindset. Yoga is a great way to be active after waking up.

5. Reading
Truth be told, I've always been a bit of a bookworm myself. For five or ten minutes, incorporate reading a favorite book of yours or some great articles pertaining to your goals.

6. Scribing
If you haven't caught on yet, I adore writing, and journaling is one of my favorite methods to unwind. Take five minutes out of your morning to collect your thoughts in a book, write some poetry, or whatever your heart desires. There are great writing prompt tools out there to help you along the way if you get stuck.

Personally, I can't wait to put these ideas into practice and make them a daily habit. Thanks, Courtney!!

5 Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

A day filled with trick-or-treating and parties to attend is a mere two days away: Halloween. It's one day where you can express yourself any way that you want to. Do you have your costume picked out for this year? If you haven't even put any though into it, no worries!

Because Halloween happens to fall on a weekend this year, there's a fair chance that you're going to need at least two or three costumes for the different parties that you might be going to. I've compiled a list of fifteen gender neutral and affordable (not to mention easy) costume ideas, just in case you haven't had time to think about it or you've completely forgot about one of the greatest holidays of the year somehow.

1.) "Biker"
Under the circumstances that I'm a broke college student and am trying to save as much money as possible (especially before Christmas), this is an easy one.

Guys: Throw on a leather jacket or denim vest and some ripped jeans. Pair it with some boots and a bandana to tie around your head. If you want, buy some fake tattoos or a tattoo sleeve to complete the look.

Girls: Same as the idea for guys, except you can choose to have a bit more fun with it. You can step up the shoe game a bit with some fashion combat boots or heeled boots. If you buy a red bandana to tie around your head, you can accent your ensemble with some classic red lipstick and/or nail polish.

2.) "Cowboy/Cowgirl"
If you're in college like myself, this is probably one of the easiest ideas that you can get away with. It's the same for both guys and girls: plaid shirt, jeans, boots with a Western look to them, and a cowboy hat. I quickly found out that, in the dorms, someone is bound to have a cowboy hat that they aren't using for some odd reason. 

3.) "Army Girl"
Sorry guys, this is really a look that girls pull off the best. Leather jacket, v-neck t-shirt, leggings or jeans, fashion combat boots, and a cheap camouflage hat is the best way to put this together. Feel free to add or take away anything that you want.

4.) "Tinder Match"
I've seen this on a few social media platforms this year, and it's incredibly corny but also the easiest in my opinion. Both guys and girls can take a white t-shirt and cut an "X" out of red paper, followed by a heart out of green paper. Tape the "X" to the left side of the shirt, and the heart on the right side. The rest of the outfit is up to you, because it really doesn't matter. The shirt is the most important part, because it is the costume. It's funny, it's simple, and it's basically free.

5.) "Facebook"
This is the epitome of laziness, but it's also clever. If you ever watched the 2010 Halloween special of "The Office," then you're probably familiar with Jim Halpert's idea of writing the word "book" across his face. No one in the episode understood that he was trying to literally be "Facebook," which made the episode even better. You really just need a marker and legible writing, and the rest is whatever.

Happy Halloween!

10 of My Favorite Quotes

 

I'm a sucker for a good quote, especially those that I find inspiring and applicable to my life or current situations that I may be facing. Here's a little list of some of my favorite quotes that I want to share with you. I plan on making more lists of quotes for you to enjoy every now and then, but for now, enjoy these. Who knows, if you are unfamiliar with one or two, maybe they will become your new favorites!

1.) "Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn."

-C.S. Lewis

2.) "One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world."

-Malala Yousafzai

3.) "I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not."
-Kurt Cobain 

4.) "We know what we are, but know not what we may be."
-William Shakespeare

5.) "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."
-Oscar Wilde

6.) "Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results."
-Anonymous

7.) "Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life."
-Mark Twain

8.) I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be."
-Douglas Adams

9.) "Everything you can imagine is real."
-Pablo Picasso

10.) How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
-Anne Frank

Cherishing the Little Things

Tonight, I chatted with my sister for awhile on the phone. I had caught a case of the writer's block in the middle of our conversation and asked her what I should write about. As I expected, she didn't really help at all, but we were still able to laugh excessively and have a great talk as we normally do.

It really just hit me a few minutes ago that she gave me my story idea on accident. Remembering to cherish the little moments is one of the most important things in life, from simple phone conversations to receiving great news. The picture above really sums it up for me: "Enjoy the little things in life, for someday you will realize they were the big things." I can't emphasize this enough.

Getting a good grade on a test, having a fun time with friends, or even just enjoying the scenery around you are all moments that are worth remembering and pausing for a second to take it all in. It's times like these that will leave you with the biggest smiles at some times.

So, in this shorter-than-usual post, I dare you to stop. Look at your surroundings, and think about all of the great things that you did or that happened to you today. Who did you talk with that made you happy, or what conversations made you smile? What did you see that caught your eye? What happened that was worth remembering? I can guarantee that everyone smiled at least once today or thought about a memory that they wish that they could go back to. Whatever it was, I challenge you to find it again and pursue it.

Seize the day.

Why I Love My Best Friend

My best friend has been by my side for about six years now, so I figured I'd do an appreciation post in honor of such a milestone. I wanted to put this post in a list format, but I quickly realized that the list could go on for pages and pages.

There's a saying, "A true friend is the greatest of all blessings."  No matter the challenges that I'm faced with or the treacherous paths I have to cross in life, I know that she's always going to be there cheering me on.

No matter what I've been going through, she's always been the person that I've been able to fall back on. She's my biggest cheerleader (especially when I'm skipping out at Sectionals). She gives me encouragement when I'm in my lowest of lows and slaps some sense into me when I need it, which I'm always thankful for.

You never truly appreciate an unbreakable friendship until you realize that you can't have the same range of conversations with anyone else, ranging from absolutely ridiculous to the most uplifting. We tell each other absolutely everything, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

We defeated the dreaded middle school years together before we went on to continue our high school experience side-by-side. Now, we're both sophomores in college and we're miles apart. It's so different and I wish we were conquering it together, but we're both pursuing great feats for our futures.

If there's anyone who can get through anything, I know that it's Shelby. She's been faced with a lot (including countless sports injuries), but you'd never know it by the smile on her face. It takes a special person to have such courage, and she has it. I'm not sure I know many people who have a bigger heart, either.

If I could look back and re-tell all of the stories and adventures that we've endured together, I would probably be talking for weeks. We've been through some of the craziest situations together and I really don't think that I've laughed with anyone harder than I have with her. From odd strangers to Pizza Hut floors, we've actually been through everything. I love you, and thank you for being my best friend, Shelby Claire Grove (and I hope your stubbed toe feels better)!

Artist of the Week: Audrey Kawasaki

Over the past few days, I've decided to dedicate one post each Friday to spotlight some of my favorite artists. Current or not, I'll be sharing some information and artwork on ones that I personally admire.

The first artist that I wanted to highlight is Audrey Kawasaki. Ever since my freshman year of high school, I have always admired her intricate work and how she creates her pieces. Honestly, she's probably become one of my biggest inspirations to pursue my interest in the visual arts. Her paintings intrigue me with the flowing movement, and have really pushed me into becoming a real artist myself.

A Los Angeles native, Kawasaki works slabs of wood and uses oil paints to bring her pieces to life. She is most known for her portrayals of young Geisha surrounded by beautiful wisps of floral designs. 

                    

I have always been drawn to Kawasaki's piece "Dishonest Heart" (pictured below) as one of my favorites. The portrayal of a young girl whose heart is in full visibility has a sense of mystery surrounding it. This is one of Kawasaki's more known works, and many people decide to get it tattooed onto themselves out of appreciation and admiration of the painting.

While I am certainly interested in all kinds of art, I have a soft spot for Kawasaki's. If you are a fan of her work as well, you can find some of her paintings or doodles and at www.audrey-kawasaki.com. There is true movement within each stroke of her paintbrush that she touches to every piece of wood.