Mimick Michelangelo

One of my favorite past times is to check out interior design ideas on websites and in magazines. Sometimes the room has a BEAUTIFUL mural (or at least some kinda design) painted on the wall. I definately want to do something like that in a room in my house (once I get a house). Or... maybe it's not a mural that I want exactly- I don't want an entire landscape scene taken out of a child's Mother Goose book, I would just like some pretty design whether it is a big tree silhouette or perhaps some dandelions (my favorite) or maybe something as simple as a headboard.

I even know someone who painted their dining room a dark, FLAT, purple and painted a vine/flower design over it with clear, SUPER SHINY, gloss... GORGEOUS!!!!! I think that's what I want to do.

Anyway, you may be thinking to yourself... "I don't have the skills/ability to paint a mural (no matter what the size) on my wall!" Have no fear! Art-o-Graph as well as many other companies sell projectors (maybe you can even get one from a local school swapping them out for "smart karts") that allow you to basically trace your entire image on your wall- making it flawless! LOVE IT!

Here is also a video series on how to create an entire wall mural if you so desire- perfect for a child's room or play room!

If you don't want a wall mural simply because it is too much work and way too permanent, perhaps you should try wall decals. There are PLENTY available online for surprisingly cheap. Just Google "wall decals" or look at cool websites such as Etsy.com.

10 Inches Is All it Takes--- of HAIR, you perv ;-)

I would LOVE to be able to donate some of my hair to Locks of Love before I die. Maybe even more than once. There are some questions/myths that I definately want to clear up for those of you who would even maybe SLIGHTLY consider donating your hair.

First of all, it is NOT true that you can't donate hair if it has been colored or permed hair. However, if your hair has been BLEACHED, Locks of Love is not able to accept it. This is because the bleach can cause "a chemical reaction that occurs during the manufacturing process."

If you are planning on shaving your head to give every last inch of your hair to Locks of Love, that is a very sweet idea but, semi-ineffective. Locks of Love asks that, instead, you bundle your hair into multiple pony tails (as close to your head as you can) and then cut off the chunks and shave as desired.

If you have dreds, you simply can't donate your hair... sorry. Buuuut.... I know for a fact that there are people out there that will actually PURCHASE your dreads! So have no fear! Your hair will still benefit someone- it just may be yourself!

It doesn't matter if your hair is layered, as long as it is at LEAST 10 inches long.

If you don't have long enough hair to donate (like... if you cut 10inches off, you'll look like G.I. Jane), you can still donate your hair to Locks of Love. "Shorter hair will be separated from the ponytails and sold to offset the manufacturing costs. Although the shorter hair cannot be used in the hairpieces, it still greatly helps to reduce costs." AND, if you don't want to cut your hair at all, you can still contribute to this great cause.

For more information on how to donate hair, visit the Locks of Love website. You probably won't feel quite as bad the next time you have a "bad hair day."

Check out this video of a young girl donating her locks! Get inspired!

1, 2, 3 JUUUMP!

Just like most people, I would LOVE to sky dive before I die. How can you resist the feeling of weightless-ness, the wind blowing through your hair, your lips, your every crevice... it sounds just titillating (what a FANTASTIC word!)!

Some Frequently Asked Questions include:

• What is Tandem Skydiving?
• How does Free-falling Feel?
• What if I do not open the parachute?!
• Will I be scared?!

These questions can be answered at many informational websites including Skydiving.com

Skydiving usually begins at about $200 and can go way up from there depending on the type of job (freefall vs. accelerated fall) and where you jump (ex: Vegas will be a lot more $$ than say... the middle of No-Where, for example). To find a dropzone near you, click here.

Unlike the first two items in my bucket list: adopting a pet and getting a tattoo, it is clear that skydiving is perhaps... oooh... 93% more risky(depending on the dogs and needles involved in the other two). This is not a surprise or a secret for anybody (I hope) but there is plenty of information out there about the dangers and statistics behind this risky activity/hobby. A good, unofficial, website full of information and statistics is dropzone.com. This website even breaks down fatalities by year and by category... putting your mind at ease... don't worry! Collisions only result in 13% of fatalities (ha)!

If you are afraid of jumping OUT of a plane, and your budget is practically endless, an alternative to skydiving could be a ride on a zero gravity plane. Check it out! Its TOTALLY RAD! But way more expensive and... safe. Buuuut... I believe that I will make this officially item #3.5 in my bucket list.

Want to feel the wind through your hair without risking your life? ... parasailing? Or something even safer like... driving with your windows down or riding a bike (with a helmet, of course).

Master a Marathon

I have recently decided that I want to run a marathon before I die -or at least... PARTICIPATE in one (maybe a little running/jogging/walking/crawling).

I chose today to highlight this particular bucket list item because, unfortunately, I was informed last night that Erik Wellumson, one of my acquaintences, classmates, brothers in Alpha Kappa Psi, actually passed away while running a half marathon- the Rock'N'Roll Marathon- in Virginia Beach yesterday morning. The whole thing is so shocking- he was a young, super nice, good looking guy who was a GREAT athlete- I'm talkin' quarterback of the football team his freshman year in college. And he had suffered a HEART ATTACK! How is that even fair?

Anyway, in order to run in a marathon, you obviously can't just- run it that day with no prior exercise, training & etc. eHow.com has some great articles about how to train for a marathon. Not only should you (and I) probably follow these directions, but perhaps seek the advice of a professional (whether it's a doctor or maybe a very experienced marathon-er). Also... train with a buddy! That way you can encourage eachother and run together/celebrate come time for the marathon!

To find marathons near you, visit http://www.marathonguide.com/

Good running/jogging/walking/crawling! xo

Share the Love

I definitely want to adopt a pet sometime before I die. Hopefully I will as soon as I stop living in limbo, both house and job-wise. If I could I would have brought home a dog months ago- years ago- I would have.

Although I LOVE cruising the “pets” section of Craigslist, I think that when I finally adopt a dog, he/she will be from a pound or a rescue group. This is because, often, the people on Craigslist are willing to hang onto their pets they find the perfect owner/home for them. Pounds, however, are not as willing and often cycle WONDERFUL dogs through simply to make room for others (whether they’re just as wonderful or not).

Adopting a pet is not as easy a process as many people think. There are Questions to Ask Yourself Before Adopting including: Are you ready to make a long-term commitment? Are you prepared to deal with an animal’s health challenges? What is the right pet for you? These questions are often reasons why pets (like those on Craigslist) are given up in the first place.

Websites such as ASPCA have lots of advice on adopting animals. Definitely check them out and do your research before you open your doors to a lifelong friend! (Don’t forget animals other than cats and dogs need homes, too!)

Find an animal shelter near you today!

If you can’t have a pet, don’t want a pet, or just need some practice before adopting a pet, try a virtual pet!

Great Animal Adoption Resources:

ASPCA

PetFinder

AdoptAPet

Humane Society

Obama Dog Adoption

Everyone should make a bucket list

I, along with my good friend, A Breath of Frake-Air, have decided to write one blog entry for every week in September in order to get back on track in the blogging world.

The theme for the of September month is going to be my bucketlist (yes, kind of like the movie). I will list one thing a week that I want to do before I die. For each activity, I will research how to go about doing it so that you can do it too, if you feel so inclined. This list is not meant to be a totally outlandish, unattainable list that includes things like climbing to the top of Mt. Everest or curing that really rare form of a really rare disease found in the deepest jungle; instead this list is meant to contain activities that I think help create a more well rounded, interesting person. Even if my bucketlist isn't for you, get inspired! What do you want to do before you die?! *Image courtesy of seattletimes.nwsource.com

Why Job Searching is Like a Marathon

I found an article on MSN a few days ago that I thought was rather interesting. It compares job hunting to running a marathon. Definately agreed and liked the twist on it. It says:

• You have to be patient
• You must put in the effort
• You don't have to go it alone
• You should set goals
• You need the right gear

"Training for a marathon and looking for a job can both take a long time and require a tremendous amount of effort. But keep in mind the feeling you get when you cross the finish line or are offered a job you want; it's clear then that all the hard work has been worth it."

To check out my resume/website, visit www.emtier.com