I've felt so overwhelmed with love the past couple of days. Valentine's Day is not Single Awareness Day as many call it, for me it's always a chance to reflect on how much love exists in this world. I am beginning to sound like a cheesy greeting card. Keep reading...
#EqualChance
Yesterday did not exactly start off great, it was supposed to be a fairly nice day (weather-wise). Lesson learned: do NOT trust St. Louis weather. One of my roommates and I were supposed to go to a professional development workshop in the morning. We walked to school and realized there was a small chance of snow. Snow it did not. It began raining (freezing cold rain), but on the bright side it was only sprinkling. By the time we got out of our professional development a mere three hours later, the city had iced over. A combination of sleet, rain, and ice was just bad news. I proceeded to walk across campus to catch the train to my internship. Normally this would take 10-12 minutes, but it took twice as long because of the flats that I was wearing. I know what you're thinking if you're reading this but I left my boots at my internship and rather than carrying around three pairs of shoes by the end of the day I wore the flats. BAD IDEA. I almost slipped at least three times, missed my train, and proceeded to actually fall while holding onto a rail when I got off the train. Happy Valentine's Day to me.
Despite all of this I still loved seeing the expressions of love around me. Those who stopped to ask if I was okay. The men on the train holding beautiful flowers soon to be delivered to their prospective partners. The beautiful posts of everyone who felt loved yesterday. Regardless of whether you believe Valentine's Day is a made up holiday or not. Love is not made up. This holiday is a reminder of that.
Thank you Valentine's Day for instilling hope. Then, I came across a beautiful and brave testimony by Ellen Page. Last night she bravely came out at the Time to Thrive conference sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign. So inspirational and just beautiful. I am constantly reminded that this is the civil rights issue of our time. Watch it below
"But what I have learned is that love—the beauty of it, the joy of it, and yes, even the pain of it—is the most incredible gift to give and to receive as a human being" - Ellen Page
Now go forth and give that gift every chance you get.
Today's post is a little different, it's about being chic, stylish, and classy glassy. If unlike me you are not a glassy person don't stop reading, this post is still for you!
A couple of months back I went to the optometrist and she told me my eyesight was getting worse because of my overuse of contact lenses. Given that I have been wearing contact lenses since I was twelve and rarely take them off it made sense to me. So in March I went on the virtual journey to find the perfect set of glasses that I would feel chic, smart, and stylish in. This is how I encountered Warby Parker and they are the sole reason behind my post today.
Warby Parker specializes in eyewear (both prescribed and non-prescribed glasses and sunglasses). Their concept:
"Warby Parker was founded with a rebellious spirit and a lofty objective: to create boutique-quality, classically crafted eyewear at a revolutionary price point."
Um, hello, this is exactly what I had been searching for! I've always wanted "cool" glasses, but designer frames can cost you up to $400. I want to be able to change my glasses at minimum annually and not feel like I have burnt a hole in my wallet by doing so each time. Warby Parker does just this by providing high quality, custom-fit glasses with anti-reflective, polycarbonate prescriptive (or non) lenses.
Now, let's get to my favorite part...if I haven't convinced you by now to go check out Warby Parker then you need to know that they are all about giving. Worldwide almost one billion people lack access to glasses. This means that 15% of the population cannot effectively learn or work. Warby Parker ensures that for every pair of glasses (sunglasses too!) that is sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need. (Read more here).
Let's sum up why you should give Warby Parker a try:
Affordable
High Quality
Glasses and Sunglasses (prescribed or non-prescribed)
The Meridian collection launches today! It's perfect for summer, perfect for traveling. You can get these designer quality frames in time for your next vacation. Who doesn't love a classic aviator?! Oh, and not to mention they look good on both men & women. Prescription or non-prescription, your sunglasses are still going to be a fraction of what you would pay for designer.
The Exley in Polished Gold and Jet Silver on top
The Raskin with a larger lens & wider frame available in Polished Gold and Jet Silver
The Flannery is a medium fit pair also available in Polished Gold and Jet Silver. I especially love the tortoise detail on the Jet Silver Flannery!
Can't decide what pair would look best? Keep in mind that you can choose all three styles in more than one color for your Home Try-On now!
Happy shopping.
Do you own a pair of Warby Parkers? Do you love them as much as I do? Comment below.
So many students have touched my heart so deeply. I could tell you stories for days....
Tonight I have this one particular student on my heart. I am currently serving as his mentor you could say. I have taken him under my wing even though he is not my student this semester. I see an immense amount of potential in him, and he works harder than many of the other students I have taught in the past. He has an incredible work ethic and I am immensely proud to have taught him for two consecutive years.
I realized recently that sometimes students like this, even while we may think they will reach beyond the stars, don't always realize they can. We, as their teachers, their mentors, their parents, their peers, and their friends, have to dream for them. We have to set their goals high and show them that we believe they can achieve anything.
This is exactly what I'm doing for this kid. I have a dream for him, a dream he will have the opportunity to expose himself to a world outside of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. Exposure to an engineering camp this summer, exposure to an excellent math education. A dream that he will advocate for himself and for the education he deserves. A dream that with my help and the help of those who care about him he will raise his ACT score and have the opportunity to attend college out of state at an affordable cost. That he will realize the injustice he has lived and doing his part to prevent that from continuing in this nation one day.
I have a dream for him. It is moments like this when my chest is overwhelmed and I know I am reassured about where I want my career to take me.
Life is moving fast. The transition back to Louisiana was hard. It was so hard that I had anxiety going back to work a week ago. No worries, I'm good now :)
Beautiful Yoga Ornament
The month of December will be so busy and I can already tell. Just in the past week I have attended two Christmas parties, graded at school twice, and have not stopped planning for what's left of my time with my current students. I get new students next semester so we have to finish off the semester strong.
Christmas Party with a lovely girl!
I've been practicing my fishtailing
I'm ready to be home for the holidays, but for now I'm trying to enjoy my time here in Louisiana with my roommates and with the community members. The University of Washington application is officially due tomorrow, even though I turned in my application a few weeks back.
Tonight, I'd like to reflect on two things. I've been full of thoughts lately, and I think a lot of these thoughts have to do with the year 2012 coming to a close. I have great feelings about 2013, I cannot even begin to describe them yet. There's a song, that wraps up how I feel about my experience here in Louisiana. The song describes a lot of the culture that is a small town, and that is the life of many of those whose lives I am encountered with regularly. For those that have not visited me in Louisiana and have yet to experience this part of my life, I hope this gives you some insight.
Second, I''m back on a Grey's Anatomy kick and lately I've been watching season six. There's a scene where Christina Yang's character is describing her last relationship with her current boyfriend. Her current boyfriend is attempting to understand why she won't let him in, she won't let him love her the way that he wants to. What she says at this point resonated with me so much...it got me thinking, and made me aware of something. I have to make myself be fully vulnerable with my next relationship, regardless of what happened in my last one. I have to trust, I have to let that person in, and if I cannot cross a boundary I must allow myself to justify that with my past. Because that past and those pieces that were once broken are what have made me who I am, and they are what make us human and teach us how to love better. They are what make our hearts grow bigger. Here's the excerpt:
Dr. Cristina Yang: Burke was... he took something from me. He took little pieces of me - little pieces over time, so small I didn't even notice, you know He wanted me to be something I wasn't, and I made myself into what he wanted. One day I was me, Cristina Yang, and then suddenly I was lying for him, and jeopardizing my career, and agreeing to be married and wearing a ring, and being a bride. Until I was standing there in a wedding dress with no eyebrows, and I wasn't Cristina Yang anymore. And even then, I would've married him. I would have. I lost myself for a long time, and now that I'm finally me again, I can't. I love you. I love you more than I loved Burke. I love you. And that scares the crap out of me, because when you asked me to ignore Teddy's page, you took a piece of me, and I let you. And that will never happen again.
Back in the south already my friends. I sure miss Washington already, and I can only hope that a move there is in my future. As I begin my week I would like to share some words that have been on my mind the past couple of days. I heard this poem/prayer back in college and it inspires growth through risk taking. I think that the fight for social justice requires courage and perseverance, and sometimes we need a little reminder to fight anyway.
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