On Sunday November 5, I did something I never thought I’d do: I deleted all of my social media apps from my phone (and had enough discipline not to look at the web versions). I decided that I would go on a week long social media cleanse. SNAPCHAT TWITTER FACEBOOK MESSENGER FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM Snapchat hurt the least (I use IG stories 99% of the time), and Instagram the most, but I felt like I needed to disconnect.  Keep reading to find out WHY I did it, WHAT it taught me, and HOW it changed my perspective. I, along with many other millennials, was guilty of scrolling through feeds and stories morning through night. It was just a gut reaction. Waiting in line? Open Instagram. Waiting for a browser to load on my computer? Let’s see what’s happening on Facebook. Most of what I was consuming was irrelevant or unhealthy information. My mind was cluttered with memes and gifs, celebrity gossip, stranger’s vacation photos, facebook memories with my ex, rants, etc. Yet somehow I’d been conditioned to …

This past Sunday’s church sermon has really stuck with me. The message was about what happens when we compare ourselves to others, and how we should be focused on how God made us. He painstakingly knit you and I to be unique individuals, unlike anybody else. So we should find solace in that. The pastor went on to compare a dump truck and a Ferrari. Both are vehicles, but one is meant to carry a large amount of items, and the other to drive fast. The dump truck isn’t wishing to be a Ferrari and the Ferrari isn’t wishing to be the dump truck. Although the two have similarities, they were specially designed for their own purpose. The same is true for us believers. We shouldn’t occupy ourselves with someone else’s assignment, but instead stay focused on our own. God doesn’t compare what he creates.  The next thing the pastor said is what made it all click for me: “Redefine success. Are you applauding things that Jesus isn’t?” On judgement day I am pretty sure …

Iconic American lifestyle brand Vera Bradley has 33 years of successful pattern development under its belt. While most known for her bags, clothing, and accessories, the Fort Wayne fashion brand has unveiled something new: coloring books! I am sure you’ve heard about the recent adult coloring book craze, but did you know the health benefits of it? Research shows  coloring has therapeutic potential to reduce anxiety, create focus or bring about more mindfulness. Groundbreaking research dating all the way back to 2005 (can you believe that was 12 years ago?) proved anxiety levels dropped when subjects colored mandalas: round frames with geometric patterns inside. Although, simply doodling, had no effect in reducing the other subjects’ stress levels.   I’ve had a chance to review Vera Bradley Floral Patterns Coloring Book and Vera Bradley Paisley Patterns Coloring Book, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I am in the midst of what my school calls “Hell Week.” It’s the week before finals (because unlike the rest of the university, in art school we don’t have final exams, we have huge projects due and presentations). …

So it’s been two weeks now that I’ve been back from my study abroad/service learning trip to Morocco. I went with a group of 15 University of Cincinnati students, and our faculty leader who quickly became our second mom. I didn’t know the majority of the people who went beforehand, but after spending 10 days and nights together, bonding with real human connection for the 23 hours a day we didn’t have wifi, teaching English to kids whose native tongue was Arabic, and experiencing a different culture together, I have an undeniable bond with each of them. When you travel to an unfamiliar place, there are things that stand out and may seem strange from your usual day-to-day experiences. In my temporary, exciting new world, I was overstimulated with newness, and tried to keep track in the notes app of my phone everything I was experiencing. Here are the most memorable observations… Public Bathrooms  It’s the afternoon, and everyone’s knocked out. We were on a bus on our way to our hotel in Marrakech after …