As most of you know, I recently became the manager of my company's Employee Volunteer Program, which is a year-round volunteer program,
that empowers our employees to donate their time and skills
to make an impact in the communities we serve. Over the course of a year and a half, I have built the program from the ground up and it is now an official program. But this is only the
beginning. I am excited for what this
program and our employees will do in the coming year. My hope for this
program is to motivate, inspire, and empower employees to make a
positive change in their community and/or in the lives of others. Our
employees have so much to offer and the sky is the limit for what we can
all do to give back. I
came across this video and within minutes of watching it, I was
inspired. I was inspired by the words this little boy was saying and it
made me ask myself, what encourages me? What encourages me the amazing company I work for and the amazingly-talented employees we have there. Our
employees have big hearts, time, and talents that are going to change
the world. We work to change local commerce, and we live to change the
world. I am also encouraged by the new people I meet. I recently met some truly inspiring individuals from The Impact Engine at Demo Day. (Founders of Azadi and the Founder of Collaborative Group). These are individuals who are working hard to change the lives of young girls and artisans, and they are just a few people who are changing the world and lives. I love meeting people that are inspiring, innovative and energized. I think it is important to expose yourself to people like this, because if we didn't, we would stay static and complacent. I don't ever want to be complacent or uninspired.
It's time to DO something. So
my question to you readers. What encourages you? What will you create to make the world awesome?
This is our time and we can make everyday better together.
Today I am thankful. I
am thankful for all the wonderful people in my life amongst many
other things. Everyday I wake up and am thankful to have another day. Another day to spend with people I love, doing activities I love, and doing a job that I love. Sometimes it is easy to forget how truly lucky you are when the daily tasks can cloud our hearts and mind, but today, today I am thankful. Thankful for all the wonderful things God has given me and continues to give me with each passing day. Today I am spending my Thanksgiving with my family and eating food that is meaningful to us. Holidays are a time where we get to remember loved ones that have enriched our lives, create new memories with loved ones and help carry on family traditions. One of my favorite family tradition is our big family euchre tournament. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents participate and our tournaments are known to go into the late hours. No matter what comes our way, life is all about the people we love most in this world and cherishing the time we have with them. My life would not be complete if it wasn't for my family, friends and my boyfriend. They make me a better person and fill my life with joy.
Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy this special day with loved ones.
What are you thankful for today? What are some of your families traditions?
In the past year, I have become a documentary and TedTalks nerd-aholic (if there is such a word). As I continue to explore, learn and watch thought provoking documentaries (thanks to my Netflix account).
I recently watched this amazing documentary called Half the Sky when it was aired for the first time on PBS. The documentary showcases what life is like for women across the world and how women are overcoming oppression.
The film is based off the widely acclaimed book by two renowned journalists who also happen to be husband and wife, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Through these stories within the book and film, Kristof and WuDunn help you see that the key to economic progress and change lies in the unleashing of every women's potential. This film highlights how many people have helped do just that, even to the extent of risking their own lives, and conveying how we can each do our own part in helping women across the world be released from oppression.
I will admit that some scenes of this documentary were almost too hard for me to watch and I felt every emotion. There were moments when I felt angry, sad, horror, fear, and completely disgusted. Then there were moments when I felt motivated, empowered, and excitement for the progress women are making around the world against issues that are having an impact on their wellbeing.
One of the key takeaways I took from this film was how fortunate I am for the life I am living. Sometimes it is easy for us to want to turn and look the other way or want to "ignore" what is really happening in the world we live in. This film opened my eyes and has made me grow as not only as an individual but as a woman.
Learn about how you can help the Half the Sky Movement by visiting http://www.halftheskymovement.org/. You can volunteer or donate to any of the wonderful nonprofit organizations that are helping women overcome oppression.
Sports have been a big part of my life ever since I was little. Throughout my life I have played a number of sports and on a number of sports teams. Sports include: soccer, gymnastics, diving, swimming, golf, tennis, basketball, softball, indoor volleyball, and beach volleyball. Even now in my adulthood, my passion for sports still exists and I continue to play in a sports league each summer. Chicago is an amazing city for so many reasons and I especially love how active this city is with club sports and sports leagues.
When you are an athlete, whether you played in grade school, high school, or a collegiate sport, your love for sports stays with you and nestles inside your heart. I know this to be true, and I have always had the love for sports whether I am playing or watching sports, but my love for playing sports was taken to a whole new level after I met Mark Biery, co-founder of LTS (Live to Support) Chicago.
LTS (Live to Support) Chicago
was founded on the notion that young professionals are the key platform
to raise awareness to support to Chicago charities. LTS forms sports
leagues so people can participate in active sporting and social events
which, in turn, help Chicago charities through donations and awareness.
After learning about LTS, I reached out to Mark about getting some teams formed and playing in a summer softball league. It didn't take long for me to form a team and decide on a charity that we would represent.
Since July 10th, my team: Team Knockdown, has been venturing out to Stanton Park to play against fellow Groupon employees and other 600 West Chicago companies in a 16 inch softball league on Tuesday night's through Live to Support Chicago. Companies that participated include: ConAgra Foods, Wrigley, InnerWorkings, and of course, Groupon.
My team played for the Chicago Lights Urban Farm, an urban farm I have grown to hold near and dear to my heart and have become an advocate for the great work they do in the Chicagoland community. Chicago Lights has taught me how to farm, the importance of composting, and that farming is an education tool in the sense that it is a way to teach life skills to low-income children and families.
One thing I love about LTS's program is that before the start of each game, competing teams circle around home plate to give a brief speech on what charity they are playing for and a little background about their work. This also allows you to be educated about different charitable organizations that are doing great work in your community. We all know sports are competitive and sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the emotions and competitive edge sports can bring out in you. LTS gives athletes a reason to direct their energy of the game to play for selfless reasons, a charity. When you play for a charitable organization, your love for the game changes. You aren't playing for you anymore, you are playing for the mission-driven work that the charity does each and every day. Losing a game even feels different, because you know that the team you lost to is playing for a charity that is making a difference and could really use the funding. However losing makes you more determined to win the next game, so you can be one step closer to being in the championship round.
Before the start of each season, LTS automatically awards each participating team $100 to give to the charity they are representing. I love this because even if your specific team doesn't win the championship, you still played to raise awareness about the charity you are representing and the organization gets $100, and a $100 can make an impact for any charitable organization.
So you may be wondering, how did my team, Team Knockdown finish their season? In short, last night, my team played in the championship and won. We came back in the 6th inning when we were down 5 runs, to tie up the game. We could not believe it. The 7th inning was the final inning and with the score tied, we managed to hold the competing team at 8 runs and we managed to bring in a 9th run to win the game! It was a remarkable moment. Seeing my team of fellow colleagues, not only make such an amazing come back but to see the excitement on each of their faces because they knew our victory meant that the Chicago Lights Urban Farm would be receiving a check for $1,000.
It was a priceless moment and a moment I will treasure forever. My love of the game has been completely changed because of my experience playing with Live to Support and I cannot wait to play for a charity again.
A big congratulations to Groupon's very own Team Knockdown for beating InnerWorking's: Here Comes the Runs team in Live to Support's Softball Championship.
Be sure to check out photos from the season and a highlight video of the league. You can see the schedule, team rankings, and what charity each team played for here.
It was inspiring to see passionate individuals who have love for the game of softball but also it was even more inspiring to see individuals who are passionate about the charity their team was representing and played every play for them.
What do you play for? What charity would you want to represent in a sports league & why?
One of the cool parts about my job at Groupon Grassroots is that I am inspired on a daily basis. Inspired by the people I talk to, the success each Grassroots campaign has on our site, and the issues individuals are addressing and how their work is making an impact everyday.
Before I came to Groupon, I felt like I knew about the major issues that our country and world faces, but I have found that I was naive in thinking that.
Everyday I find my eyes being opened a little bit wider by the knowledge I am absorbing. There is a lot of great work being done by individuals in our country and the world to help make an impact in the issues and challenges happening here.
Today was one of those eye opening experiences. My team had the unique opportunity to see a sneak peak of a documentary called "Finding North." This documentary is about the hunger issue children, families, and individuals face across the United States. The film shows you what hunger really looks like today in our country. They also talk about the stereotypes we as a society have formed on what hunger really looks like and how child obesity is linked to food insecurity.
Finding North, showcases three individuals: a 5th graders named Rosie, a single-working mom with two children named Barbie, and a 2nd grader named Tremonica who is obese. In addition to their stories the film focuses on the challenges they each face in the issue of hunger. (Learn more about their stories at http://www.takepart.com/findingnorth)
The music throughout the film is by the renowned musicians, The Civil Wars', Joy Williams and John Paul White, who are big advocates on the fight against hunger in the U.S.
Amongst the many influential spokespeople throughout the film, Jeff Bridges (actor and founder of End Hunger Network) and Tom Colicchio from Top Chef are two of the key spokespeople and public eye figures who are helping raise awareness of this issue and taking a stand in the fight for those who don't have a voice.
The statistics shared throughout the film was what shocking and almost hard to digest. I found myself constantly shaking my head side to side in disbelief. I don't want to give them all away but here are a few that really caught my attention.
Did you know that there are 49 million people in the U.S. and that 1 in 4 children, don't know where their next meal is coming from? This is called food insecurity, which is when you don't know where your next meal is coming from and when you will have it. (this is something I cannot even begin to fathom and that thousands of people experience this everyday).
The U.S. has food deserts throughout the U.S. and amongst these food deserts, 80% of them are in urban areas. 80%. Food Deserts: can be described as any area where residents' access to affordable, healthy food options (especially fresh fruits and vegetables) is restricted or nonexistent. (i.e. absence of grocery stores within convenient traveling distance)
Did you know that the cost of fresh produce has gone up 40% since 1980 and the cost of processed food has gone down 40% since 1980? Commodity crops, like soy, wheat, and corn are highest food crops produced, and only 1% of our crops are fruits and vegetables. Hence why fruits and vegetables costs are so high.
Or that in the year 2000, there were only 200 foodbanks in the U.S., and today there are now over 40,000 foodbanks across the country?
You can learn more about current food insecurity data and what the local face of hunger looks like at Feeding America.
After watching this film, my eyes and heart have grown wider and bigger. The three featured stories have touched my heart and completely changed my view on hunger in America. I am angry, disturbed, shocked, but motivated and inspired. Motivated and inspired to want to help any way I can in helping raise awareness about this issue and empower the charities out there that are helping feed the hunger in the U.S.
My challenge to you readers is to help take part in educating yourself not only about the real hunger issue our country faces but how you as an individual can help make an impact.
Here are a few ways you can help:
1. Volunteer at a local foodbank or food pantry in your community (Foodbank locator: http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx and food pantry locator: http://www.pantrynet.org/)
2. Help be a voice and help advocate. Learn more at http://frac.org/
3. Donate to charities like Feeding America and Share Our Strength, that help provide food to the hungry.
4. Spread the word and talk about the issue of hunger in the U.S.
"Public charities, foodbanks and church pantries are doing more than ever before, but they can't keep up with the need. We can never end hunger only through the wonderful work of local charities. Like other Western democracies, we must end our national problem of hunger through national and political leadership. Charity is nice for some things, but not as a way to feed a nation. We don't protect our national security through charity, and we shouldn't protect our families and children that way either." -- Jeff Bridges
Today is "Ash Wednesday" which is also the first official day of Lent. Every year since I was little, I would try to "give" up a few things and some years I would be successful whereas other years I would "cheat" here and there. This year I am taking Lent with a different approach. Rather than giving up things on a temporary basis, I am approaching this holiday as a way to cleanse myself of some bad habits that need a good kick in the butt.
Jessica and bad habits? Yes it is true, I have some very bad habits that I need to break/fix. I thought by me blogging about them and sharing them with my readers will empower me to A. not cheat and B. take this seriously. So here they are.
1. Chocolate. I am giving up chocolate for Lent. All types of chocolate. White chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and Nutella (yes it deserves it's own category).
The reasons I am giving up chocolate are:
I happen to have a huge sweet tooth. Dessert is my favorite food group and it is nearly impossible for me to every pass up anything with chocolate, ever. Just ask my brother and father. Anytime a dessert is ordered at a restaurant, I am immediately consulted on what to order (since I am almost always the only one that wants dessert all the time and rarely pass up opportunities to have it), but whenever I do eat dessert, I scarf it down leaving not a spot of evidence dessert was even served. My mom and my sister also love dessert and usually help eat whatever I ordered. I also grew up in a household that had sweets in it all the time since we wanted to "fatten up" my brother any way we could. (he had the fastest metabolism and could eat anything and everything without gaining a pound!)
My dad does not have much of a sweet tooth and rarely eats desserts or candies. So my bad habit is partly due to my mom, since she has a sweet tooth herself and inherently passed her sweet tooth to her daughters (thanks mom!).
I eat chocolate almost every day. I love Nutella and toast for breakfast. I constantly have peanut butter M&M's at my desk and my pantry at home always has some sort of cookies in it. The thing is, I think I am addicted to sweets, especially chocolate and it's time I tame this sweet tooth.
2. iPhone. My cell phone is my life and I know for a fact that I am addicted to it. Between Twitter, Facebook Alerts, Foursquare, Words with Friends, Pinterest, email accounts, and text messaging- I have a lot of distractions and things on my phone that keep my phone busy.
Lately, I have realized that my phone also exhausts me. Exhausts me in the sense that I am always juggling the things happening on my phone and what is going on right in front of me. Whether I am in a board meeting, having drinks/dinner with friends, or sitting at home with my boyfriend, I have the "urge" and almost "guilty" feeling to check my phone. I shouldn't have these feelings nor guilt. I need to be in the moment and not distracted or "addicted" to my phone. I need to learn how to not be "so accessible" every waking minute. Bethenny Frankel is my role model in this actually. She recently relaunched her Bethenny Ever After Show on Bravo on Monday and in her opening episode she talked about her phone and her new habit of not having her phone out when she is with others. She feels the exact same way I do and gets anxiety that she might be missing something or someone might be trying to get a hold of me that could be urgent. I know something urgent is unlikely to happen but I take comfort knowing that my phone is right next to me at all times in case I do miss an important call or something.
So starting now, I am going to have my phone in my purse when I am out with friends or others. My phone will not be on the kitchen table when I am eating dinner with my boyfriend. I will not be on my phone after 11pm, because I should be winding down or asleep not on Twitter or Words with Friends! I am going to be in the moment and not feel like I have to constantly check my phone or feel like I have to respond to a tweet or text as soon as it is received. It will be there when I check my phone and it is okay to take a few hours to respond.
3. Read Two Books. Unfortunately this is not a joke. My goal is to read two books start to finish by the time lent is over. The books are yet to be determined but as soon as I pick them, I will definitely let you know. Over the past year, I have purchased at least 5 books and have yet to pick any one of them up! This is one of my bad habits and a habit I need to fix.
The reason for this is because I love to read, but making time for myself to sit down and read a book NEVER happens. Remember when I blogged months and months ago about Eat Pray Love? Well I am still reading that book. I think I am finally half-way done with it. How sad is that? The time I try to read is at the very end of a day and I usually get through one to three pages before I am literally falling asleep while reading. This causes a problem in itself because I usually didn't comprehend what I read and have to re-read those three pages the next time I pick up the book (which could be days later). During the times I could read a book, I choose to do other things instead, like go on social media or watch something on TV. Not anymore because I have two books that I must start and finish by the time Lent is over. Let the reading begin!
As I start off on day #1 of Lent, I already know this is going to be tough for me. I know I am going to be tempted by delicious deserts at events I attend and I will try to rationalize with myself like ("Jess you may never get to try this particular dessert ever again or it's a special occasion and it would be "rude" to not eat the birthday dessert") when I know I cannot cheat. Reading is going to be especially challenging because I will be tempted to want to watch something on Netflix or TV or even on my phone instead of sitting down and reading. But I will not give in and I will not cheat. I want to be tempted and have these be challenges for myself since that is a big part of Lent. I also know that these are bad habits that I need to break and work on and I could not think of a better time to start.
So wish me luck and I will definitely keep you posted on my progress!
What are some of your bad habits? Have you tried every breaking any of them? Are you giving anything up for Lent? I would love to hear from you.
The word gratitude. What does it really mean? It isn't a word you hear too often and when you do it is usually in a signature (with gratitude) or in a book/story. In place of the word gratitude, we tend to hear words that are similar to this word, like thankful, appreciation, thanks, and grateful.
When I watched a clip about gratitude today, the meaning behind this word gained a whole knew meaning to me. If you are human like me, you may forget how much each day is a gift and a blessing. I know I do.
Today I was literally awestruck after I watched a TedX Talk by Louie Schwartzberg. Louie Schwartzberg is an award-winning cinematographer, director, and producer whose notable career spans more than three decades providing breathtaking imagery for feature films, television shows, documentaries and commercials. His work is truly beautiful and in a sense mesmerizing. He has a gift of capturing the beautiful things and natural occurrences in our world through cinematography. You can see some of his work in action and how he fell in love with this form of art called, time-lapse photography. The images he captures are indescribable. Watch his full TedX Talk here.
Louie's TedX Talk is about gratitude and appreciation. Louie discusses his work and asks why aren't we grateful for our brains that can take electric impulses that come from light energy to create images in order for us to explore our world? Nature's beauty (that we rarely stop to take in) is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude. (so powerful and true).
He also showcases a documentary project he is working on called a "Happiness Revealed." "Happiness Revealed" gives a glimpse into this perspective from the point of view of a child and an elderly man in our world. The little girl's thoughts of imagination and the gentleman's rich and powerful words will move you.
I highly recommend you take a moment, stop whatever it is you are doing and watch this talk.
Will you look at the sky more? Will you really open your heart to the gifts we see each and everyday? Will you wake up tomorrow with more gratitude to have another day here? Will you look at each day as if it is your first day or last day here in this beautiful place?
I hope this opens your heart, mind and eyes like it did mine. I am inspired everyday by the people I meet and interact with and I am going to work harder at slowing down my life so I don't miss the precious moments every day has.
Today I had another eye opening and heart felt experience at church. I went into service tonight with some dear friends and my boyfriend since I haven't gone in over two months. Lately my heart has been "weak" and my energy level seems to have fallen a little. I knew that going to church always recharges my batteries and re-energizes me so I was excited to go.
I usually don't talk about religion too much on my blog but when I have these moments, I can't help but want to share them with whomever wants to read about them, but I also write them for myself as a reminder of how I felt and why. So I hope this blog post inspires you, touches you, or causes you to take a few minutes to reflect. We all deserve to take time every day if we are lucky if not at least once a week to just be quiet. Quiet from all the noise we are exposed to constantly.
Noise being technology, people, our surroundings, and the thoughts in our heads. It is almost impossible to stop, shut out the noises/distractions and just be quiet. We are such an overstimulated society and we are exposed to noises every moment. I am absolutely guilty of this and it has taken a toll on me. I cannot relax. Ever. I don't know how to be quiet and how to relax because I cannot shut out the noises and distractions, except when I am at church. So far that is the only thing and place where this happens. I hope you have a place or time for you to be quiet- if you don't. I highly recommend you find it.
The sermon that was shared today could not have been more perfect for me today. It was almost as if the big man upstairs knew that my visit today needed to hear this message. Being still a relatively young Christian believer in my faith, I had never read the story of Esther as well as stories in the Old Testament. The story of Esther is of strength and courage. Esther is known for her courageous act to save her people, the Jews. She put her life on the line to defend and save the lives of others, when she knew her odds could not be in her favor.
The timeless story of Esther, a young Jewish girl who becomes Queen, serves as an example of how God has a purpose for each of us. God has it all under control. He orchestrates, plans, sets-up and provides these moments for us with a purpose. i.e. the roommates we have, every job we have, every skill we have, the people we interact with, etc. Everything we do has a purpose.
Of course I find it hard sometimes for me to allow myself to think that this fully happens. It is sort of scary because I think we all strive to have "control" over our lives. Control of what path our career takes, control over our weight, looks, number of best friends we have, money in our bank accounts- the list is endless. To think that someone somewhere is sort of guiding each and every one of our lives is a little unsettling. But in this crazy, unpredictable, uncertain life we live each and every day, I think there is comfort knowing that someone is looking out for us every moment. I think that is why I sleep better at night (aside from times where I am reviewing all the things I need to do the next day or forgot to do that day or things I am anxious about), because I know that what I am doing and where I am in my life is meant to be.
Lately where I am in my life (26 woman, in a long-terms relationship, 2nd job outside of college, a friend, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece, obsessed with Twitter & Foursquare, socialite, workout guru), I find myself in a sort of reflection stage of my life. I find myself questioning where I am with my life. I know this is normal but lately I feel like I am going through a quarter-life crisis. Yes I said it. A quarter-life crisis.
According to Urban Dictionary, a quarter-life crisis "usually occurs sometime in your twenties, a few years out of school and still feel as though you're waiting for you're life to begin."After reading Urban Dictionaries definition of a quarter-life crisis, I could not believe how much I am feeling exactly what the definiton describes. I am totally questioning all of these things in my life but I know it is okay and completely normal. There is no need for me to rush through occurrances, events, and experiences in my life. Just because other people are in different stages of their lives, have experienced things I want to experience, visited places I want to visit; does not mean I have to rush to do them too. There is a purpose for everything I do and when I do it.
After listening to her story and how the story relates to my everyday life, I left church this evening recharged and refreshed. One of the final statements that was said to everyone who attended tonight's sermon was "our job is our occupation to our faith." Meaning what I am doing with my life, as my career and every day life is how I am using my faith. I should be making my purpose in life have an impact each and every day in some way, shape or form. We all should be. Instead of focusing on only us and others close to us, we should be thinking about even the small nuances in life have an impact. For example, who we smile to, open doors for, tasks we assist with, amongst many other things. Everything we do should have a purpose. I am thankful I have a job that allows me to work some incredible people and organizations who are making a difference in the lives of others, whether people or animals. My job is my occupation of my faith in that I get to help share the great work of ours with the public but also help them continue to have funding to fulfill the amazing work they do.
That energizes me and I know that my current job is just the next step for what my next path in life will be down the road.
What energizes you? Have you felt the weight of a quarter-life crisis? Do you believe that we all have a purpose and things happen for a reason? What is your quiet time and how often do you take time for it? I would love to hear your thoughts, comments, ideas.
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16.9.
To kick off the new year, I went to my first Vision Board Party. My boss is big on vision boards and wanted to host a party so people could create a vision board for the new year. I loved her idea and thought what a cool way to start off a new year. Before we got crafting, my boss amongst many of the other attendees who have made vision boards in the past, all vouched on Monday that things on their past vision boards have ended up coming true! I was blown away and loved hearing each of their stories.
Since the party, many have asked me what is a vision board and why did I make one? A vision board is simply a visual representation or collage of the things that you want to have, be, or do in your life. It can be anything like: finding love, losing weight, travel, discover your spirituality, etc.
The real purpose of a vision board is to activate the law of attraction so you can begin to pull things from your external environment that will enable you to realize your dream (deep right?) By selecting/gathering pictures and words that charges your emotions with feelings of passion, you will begin to manifest those things into your life.
What exactly is the law of attraction? The law of attraction states that we attract into our lives anything that we give attention to, regardless whether it be positive or negative. (The Law of Attraction. Webring, Inc. 2007. Law of Attraction Info. http://law-of-attraction-info.com) So by creating a vision board, you are opening a gateway for you to realize what dreams you may subconsciously have deep inside!
With 2012 being a Leap Year. My boss thought her vision board party would be a great chance for us to all meet Victor Saad of the Leap Year Project. He is not only an inspiring person but has created the idea of challenging people throughout the country to take a leap in 2012. A leap being a risk. A risk of some sort whether it is making something happen in your life (finally asking that guy out, sky-diving, learning how to cook). Doing something to better your community or the world. No matter what risk(s) you have been wanting to do or thought about doing, now is the time to do it (and why not now?) To learn more about #LYProject, watch this video. I promise you it will inspire you!
Currently I am still trying to figure out what my Leap Year Project will be for 2012. There are a lot of things I want to do but are more resolutions than risks. Once I confirm what my risk will be, I will definitely share it with you. For now I am looking for motivators and inspiration to help me figure out what my leap should be.
So how do you create a vision board?
Step One: Gather magazines, newspapers, booklets and cut out pictures, words, phrases of things you love. Don't think about the things you pull out of magazines, newspapers, etc. Choose images, words that make you catch your eye or attention.
Step Two: Arrange and paste the images, words, phrases onto paper. Start arranging your pictures creatively on your board. Don’t worry about being artistic (that’s not the point and I am definitely not artistic).
Step Three: Put your vision board in a strategic place. You want your vision board in a place that will allow you to see if everyday and as much as possible.
Step Four: Update your vision board. Your vision board should inspire you and if you come across new photos, words or phrases throughout the year, add them to your board.
So here are my challenges for you fellow followers. Take out magazines, newspapers you have lying around your house and spend a few hours one day and create a vision board for yourself. Take pictures of your vision board, post them on my blog, share them with me on Twitter and let's see if any of your visions come true within the year. I will be finishing mine this weekend and will be adding a photo of it to this post.
My other challenge for you is to think of a risk or risks you want to do this Leap Year. If you think of one, I challenge you to share it on Victor's site and spend this year chasing your idea(s). What do you have to lose? Nothing.
Happy collaging and may your visions come true!
Have you ever made a vision board before? What risk(s) have you ever wanted to take but never driven yourself to actually take them? I would love to hear from you.
After giving a helping hand to Inspiration Corporation's Holiday Party last week Thursday, my colleagues and our significant others wanted to grab dinner before our all staff Holiday Party and my boss suggested that to keep the spirit of giving back for the holiday's, we should dine at one of Inspiration Corporation's restaurant's here in Chicago.
Inspiration Kitchens is what you call a Social Enterprise. According to SE Alliance, asocial enterprise is an organization or venture that achieves its primary social or environmental mission using business methods. Social enterprises apply business strategies to achieve philanthropic goals and can be structured as a for-profit or non-profit.
A lot of you may know of some more "well-known" social enterprises like Tom's Shoes, Bright Endeavors, Clean-Slate, amongst many more. These social enterprises are product driven where you buy a product and the proceeds support the philanthropic aspect of their work.
There are a lot of social enterprises in every city throughout the U.S. and by you making a point to find them is one step you can take to help make an impact. Supporting social enterprises helps your local community but also helps them continue doing their mission-driven work. It is like double karma for one good deed!!!
So what is Inspiration Kitchens? Inspiration Kitchens is a 13-week restaurant skills training program designed to provide students with the tools they need to secure and retain entry-level jobs in the food service industry. The intensive training focuses on basic culinary skills and concepts, following and taking direction, teamwork, food sanitation and safety, and restaurant service.
Inspiration Cafe, located in Uptown, and The Living Room Cafe in Woodlawn, serve meals in a restaurant-style setting and provide supportive services in a therapeutic community designed to help individuals on their journey toward self-sufficiency.
An employment specialist helps students develop job-readiness skills, and each student is tested to receive a City of Chicago food service sanitation management certificate. Trainees gain hands-on experience preparing and serving meals to the paying public at our Inspiration Kitchens–Uptown restaurant during the internship period of the program.
Uptown Inspiration Cafe
The internship gives students real-life work experience and, when successfully completed, a reference for future employers. Job placement assistance expedites their entry into employment, where students can immediately apply and develop their newly acquired skills. Finally, post-placement services ensure that graduates are meeting employers’ expectations, receiving assistance in dealing with conflicts, and accessing retention incentives such as education opportunities.
On top of giving back to the community by dining at Inspiration Cafe, the food was AMAZING!! We ate one of every dish (they are all small plates) and every dish we tried was fantastic! You would never know unless someone told you that the people who had prepared your food were once homeless. Powerful stuff right?
This is why I love about social enterprises such as these. They are helping individuals in their community in addition to producing jobs. Inspiration Corporation helps people get back onto their feet and provide services for them every step of the way. Who knew that dinning out could be so rewarding. I already cannot wait to dine at the restaurant again.
So my assignment for you is to see what social enterprises are in your local community and pick one that you will check out. Whether it is dining in at a restaurant, buying a product, or giving up some of your time. I think you will find that the experience will make an impression on you.
Last week while I was out with friends at a bar here in Chicago, my night took a turn for the worse when I discovered that my wallet had been stolen. I have never had my wallet stolen ever in my lifetime and usually I am always VERY cautious and aware when I am out. Of course we all hear this story, it takes just one time for you to let your guard down for something bad like this to happen.
It has been stressful, upsetting, and a huge pain to take care of this. My wallet had everything and anything in it- credit cards, insurance cards, business cards, gift cards, membership cards, and so much more. Everything gone and most of it irreplaceable. Thankfully it was only my wallet and not my entire purse. My purse had my keys to my home, a camera and a number of other valuable things in there, which has been a big learning experience as well.
Instead of being angry at the situation, I want to steer my anger to instead inform other women out there on how to not let your guard down and what you need to do should this happen to you!
Whenever you are in a public place, especially in a city, the opportunity for theft is much higher and it is critical for you to be aware of your surroundings at all times and of your property. This has been quite the learning experience and will be a moment I reflect on any time I question letting me guard down.
What to do if your wallet has been stolen:
Cancel each credit card and charge card immediately! Request new cards with new account numbers!
File a police report- ASAP. Get a copy of the report in case your credit card company, bank or insurance company will want to see proof of the crime.
Call one of the major credit bureaus to report your credit cards being stolen: Equifax, Experian or Transunion.
Let your company/office know that your wallet has been stolen so they can notify your insurance agencies. You will need to reorder your insurance cards and any other health care related cards.
Get a new driver's license. You can bring your police report with you if you want, but it is not required. Make sure you check to see what identification requirements are needed for you to get a new license.
Tips on how to avoid this:
Don't carry your full wallet with you. Carry what you need with you when going out in public. Less is more.
Be mindful of the size of purse you carry with you out and about. Purses with zippers are the best purses to have when out in public.
Bring only your credit card- credit card companies can cover any fraudulent charges to your credit cards, but for debit cards, you are on your own. Any money that is spent from your debit card is LOST money.
Store phone numbers of the banks you use in your cell phone so you have this information readily available should this happen.
Keep your account information stored somewhere besides your wallet so you can access this information at any point in time. I recommend scanning your credit cards and saving a copy somewhere.
Keep your credit cards in a separate card holder instead of your wallet. This way your wallet only has other things like business cards, may be some cash, etc.
Take out items in your wallet before going to public places- if you aren't going to need your gift cards, insurance cards, etc. then why bother taking them with you? Trust me- it is not worth it.
My biggest shopping problem is that I LOVE purses. What girl doesn't have this as a shopping problem?? With my love for purses, my biggest weakness is BIG purses. The bigger the better! After having my wallet stolen out of one of my large totes, I have decided that my big purses are not meant for bars or restaurants. It is too risky and not worth it in the end. There are tons of cute purses for these public settings and good for any occasion. Plus shoulder bags and clutches are a "hot" trend right now!
Here are some functional and stylish purses for bars and public places:
I hope my tips and advise help you stay aware, prepared and on guard whenever you find yourself in a public setting. I know it is easy to let your guard down or want to believe that it will never happen to you. I can tell you I was guilty of this. I have had friends get their wallets stolen, phones, ipods, purses stolen but I never thought it would happen to me. I let my guard down because I got caught up in the moment while out at my boyfriends birthday party at a local/dive bar near my apartment, and during my time in between paying for my drinks I ordered and setting my purse on the corner of a chair I was sitting on, someone reached into my purse and successfully took my wallet. It can happen to anyone, so women especially be prepared and put my tips to use! I know I will be conscientious of them every time I leave my house.
Have you ever had your wallet stolen?? What did you do? How did it make you feel? What lessons did you learn from it? I would love to hear from you.
If you live in Chicago, you know how beautiful of a day it was today. Warm breeze, semi-cloudy fall day, with a hint of sunshine peaking depending on where you were in the city.
I knew the second I walked outside for a minute, that today was the PERFECT day for a walk. I put on my favorite weekend clothes (workout spandex pants and top, fleece shirt and my tennis shoes) and I set out on a walk.
As I began my walk from my place in Wicker Park, my boyfriend and I decided that this was not going to be a walk, but rather an "urban hike." Yes it is a real word. What is Urban Hiking you may ask, well here is a definition for you. Urban Hiking, according to Wise Geek, is a form of hiking which takes place in an urban environment, rather than in nature. While on an urban hiking expedition, people may explore points of interest around the city they hike in, find new and interesting places in the region, or stop for food in local eateries. Since I am an Urbanite, the only form of hiking in my environment is Urban Hiking.
The best part about Urban Hiking is that you don't have to have a route planned in advance. All you do is set out and let your course take it's own path. When you do it, you will explore the city in a way you have never experienced it before. I promise you. We walked for two hours, down streets we have never seen before and along paths we have driven down many times but never been able to appreciate on foot.
My urban hike was mentally refreshing and eye opening. I forgot how much life there is in this amazing city I live in. When you actually stop and take away all the noise pollution we clutter our minds with daily, you might be surprised at how great you feel after a nice hike/walk. You may be able to hear the leaves cracking under your feet, the water running down the streams, birds cooing under a bridge and the regular street noise.
I already cannot wait to take another hike through Chicago and explore new paths. We all need to turn the volume down and open up our eyes and minds. I did it and it felt great! I left my cellphone on mute and my only form of communication was with myself or with my boyfriend who was walking along my side. We talked about what we saw and just random thoughts.
I had no clue that today would end up being one of my most favorite walks in the fabulous city of Chicago. We all work so hard and get caught up in the daily hustle and bustle. I know I do. We deserve times where we can escape, even if it escaping within our own neighborhood. You never know what you might find yourself discovering along the way.
"One does not climb to attain enlightenment, rather one climbs because he is enlightened." -- Zen Master Futomaki
“After a day's walk everything has twice its usual value.” -- George Macauley Trevelyan
Last week the Young Associates Board, held a Halloween party for children receiving treatment at Children's Memorial Hospital. The children pick the theme of the party every year and this year they chose Superheroes as the theme. The theme could not have been more fitting since they are after all, the real superheroes.
For three days, YAB Board Members and volunteers transformed the 4th floor at Children's Memorial Hospital into a floor full of fun and excitement. Patients were given their own YAB super hero capes, head bandana's and Superhero goodie bags with candy and a Teddy Bear. While patients waited to see their doctor, they would take turns playing games like Tick Tack Toe and Bozo the Clown Bucket Game. If they weren't playing the games, they were coloring their bandana's and YAB Superhero pictures.
This was my first hospital party that I was able to help with and it truly was a memorable experience. Seeing the faces light up on the children when they step off the elevator to see their doctor's waiting room full of excitement, laughter and people dressed up like superheroes! The patients couldn't help but smile especially when they put on their special YAB super hero capes.
I found myself in awe of these brave little kids. Despite the obstacles they face each and every day, they still enjoy life and have the most positive outlook on life. They try to not let their battle get in the way of their happiness. The families of the children were smiling ear to ear because their child was. That is what YAB is all about. Helping provide care and services to the patients with pediatric brain tumors and their families. This annual Halloween Hospital party is just one way we give back.
Photo by Jody, Jody Kmetz Photography
The biggest takeaway I learned from this experience is humility. When you can put a name and a face to something, it automatically becomes personal. Sometimes it takes us to know someone who has a disease or been affected by a disaster for that issue to become personal. After meeting and spending hours with the same kids each day, I found myself leaving the hospital much more humbled and grateful than I was before I walked through the hospital doors. Each and everyone of the kids that I have met have a very special place in my heart. They are MY superheroes and I made sure they knew that before I left.
The children also reminded me of my good friend Reid VanGelderen. Reid passed from a long battle with cancer and he spent so much of his battle at the DeVos Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Oncology ward. Reid was a kind, genuine, compassionate and a true friend. His spirit lives within me and is my inspiration in leading me to join YAB. Now when things seem to be incredibly stressful, overwhelming, or unfair, I take a moment to allow myself to recoup and remember how small of a thing it is compared to what others are dealing with.
I think we all lose sight of this. We are all busy and can let things get to us. I am 100% guilty of this, but that is why I love philanthropy and the act of charity. To me philanthropy is what keeps my feet rooted to the ground and my head on straight. Volunteering and giving my time to help others is my way of being a real life superhero. I know I don't have super powers like Superman or boat loads of money like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, but I have my time and my knowledge. Two of the greatest powers anyone can use to help those in need. I love being on the Young Associates Board because I get to help a cause that is close to me and put my skills to do good.
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." ~ Christopher Reeve
If you haven't noticed I have been pretty M.I.A. September and October have been my busiest months yet and it's not work that is getting in the way. For those of you following me via Twitter, Foursquare or my blog (or lack there of posts), you have probably noticed that I am always out being social.
Accordingly to Urban Dictionary, I am what you call a Social Butterfly. "Someone who is VERY social and easygoing." My whole life I have been a social butterfly but lately my socialite life has gotten a little out of hand. These past months I have been busy attending Social Media Club of Chicago events, volunteering and attending Chicago Ideas Week events, weekly Young Associates Board meetings to evenings hanging out with friends. On top of it, September and October happen to be "hot" months to get married, so SweetChic Events has been busy bee's working weddings almost every weekend!
Don't get me wrong I LOVE being social and feel so blessed to have social activities almost every night, BUT I AM EXHAUSTED. Exhausted from constantly being go-go-go and not taking care or time for myself.
Being social leaves less time to do things for you. For example time to work out, do chores, and sleep. These two months of countless social events has caused me to wear down. This week especially has made me feel the aftermath of my late evenings and constant movement. I can barely get out of bed in the morning and am finding myself barely keeping my eyes open by the time 10:00pm rolls around.
How does Kim Kardashian do this? I wish I knew her secrets!! But even Kim one of the busiest and most publicized socialite goes through times of sheer exhaustion. Exhaustion from being booked all the time and having to constantly be go-go-go. (If only I had a stylist, make-up artist, and personal chauffeur like her than I wouldn't mind).
I know the holidays are coming up which means a really busy time of the year. I happen to LOVE this about the holidays but I want to make sure that I am fresh and ready for them and not worn down beforehand making me even more worn down when they arrive.
Starting next week, which is a new month, I am going to work on setting aside some evenings each week for me. Even when I try to leave at least one evening open for me to go to the gym, lay on the couch, or get some lingering chores done, my calendar ends up being completely booked. I need to make time for me and really make a point of sticking to this goal. My body doesn't feel as healthy, my mind is exhausted and I know I am sleep deprived. Lattes can only help so much and it is an expensive bad habit. :)
So. Starting next week, I will be making time for me to focus on doing things for myself. Kick my butt at the gym, FINALLY finish reading my Eat, Pray, Love book that I have been "sitting" on for over five months and spend an evening on the couch if I want too.
Being a socialite can be addicting and may be I need to send myself to a mini rehab. Learn to say no to a few social events so that I can have days of relaxation or "me" time. We all need them and most definitely deserve them, it's just a matter of making yourself take them.
How do you keep your schedule from overflowing? Do you make a point of giving yourself days just for you to relax or do things for you?
Macintosh, iPod, iTouch, iPhone, and the iPad. Technological devises our world has grown to love and depend on. The man behind these revolutionary devises, is Steve Jobs (Steven Paul Jobs). To many, he is an icon and an idol. His curiosity lead him to take technology to a whole new level. His products have changed the way we engage, interact, discover and learn on the go and at all times. Here is a great story about Steve and his life by LA Times.
Aside from his Apple products, he is the creator of Pixar, which revolutionized computer animation. Pixar films make you feel like you can touch the characters, capture you by their special effects, and connect you more the story. Some of my favorite movies are Pixar, like Monsters, Inc., Up, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Wall-E , and Ratatouille. Steve made animation movies fun for not only children but adults and families. I make my children watch these films so they can experience the magic each story shares. Steve Jobs gave animation a way to connect with their viewers in a whole different way.
Tribute page on Apple's Website- http://www.apple.com/stevejobs/
I found out about on Twitter about Steve Jobs passing. I was on my iPhone when I saw a tweet come into my Twitter feed. Suddenly tweet after tweet in my feed was about Steve Jobs. (I currently follow 1,326 people.) The tweets I was reading were inspiring, touching, and at times heart-wrenching. Steve Jobs was a mogul, an icon, a hero, and inspiration to SO many people. Twitter was full of people sharing their thoughts, prayers and appreciation to a man who has given so much to our world.
The world lost an incredible man, before his time should have been finished. For a man who was battling such a horrible/painful disease, he continued to put his energy, passion, and heart into his work, despite his health complications. The man never wanted to slow down and it is remarkable how much he accomplished in his life. He has changed our world and the way we function, and that is a rare thing for someone to claim.
I encourage you to watch Steve Jobs commencement speech from 2005 at Stanford University. In his speech he talks about getting fired from Apple in 1985, talks about life and death. His message in this speech is relatable to everyone and anyone.
RIP Steve Jobs. You inspire us all and has changed our lives. Thank you for all you did and what you have given to us. May your passion and curiosity live on forever.
How will you remember Steve Jobs?? Has your life changed because of his inventions/products? How do you think our world has changed because of him? I would love to hear from you...
"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." Steve Jobs
“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Steve Jobs
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