I'm Emily & this is my personal inspiration blog. I'm an English teacher living in Cincinnati, Ohio. I like owls, patterns, typography, thrift shops, writing on post-its, making lists (that never get completed), reading in bed, taking pictures of my cat Atlas, & living my life as fully as possible on a daily basis. Want to know more? Click here!
Feel free to email me if you'd like to say hello or have something lovely to share.
I’m still here; quiet but alive. I’m in a brooding sort of mood that requires deep thought & pen to paper. I’m settling in & trying to figure out what to do with this space. In the midst of the move, a lot of strange memories were dredged up. I guess that’s what always happens when you are packing up your past in boxes. Things that had gathered dust under the bed for over a year. Things that seem so insignificant but had survived the moving process the past several times. No matter. I’m here at the new place & trying to make it my own.
In the mean time, I simply had to share this video. A friend posted it on Facebook & it inspired me & nearly brought me to tears. I truly value alone time. Relish in it, in fact. So, I totally get this video. Perhaps you will too.
Oh my gosh! This installation by French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot is too effing adorable for words. Cute little birds playing guitars? SHUT UP. I can hardly handle it.
Here’s an excerpt taken from its Youtube page:
French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot creates works by drawing on the rhythms of daily life to produce sound in unexpected ways. For his installation in The Curve, Boursier-Mougenot creates a walk-though aviary for a flock of zebra finches, furnished with electric guitars and other musical instruments. As the birds go about their routine activities, perching on or feeding from the various pieces of equipment, they create a captivating, live soundscape.
I start a new job tomorrow! For those of you that weren’t already aware, I’m a recently graduated education major with an emphasis in Secondary Education English/ Language Arts. In other words, I went to school to be a high school English teacher. I finished up my teaching internship right before Christmas & have been actively seeking a position ever since. Well, good news! I just got a job as a middle school (!!) English teacher at a local charter school. I start tomorrow & I’m terrified beyond belief. I don’t know what to expect which is what scares me most of all. I can only go into it “expecting the unexpected.” That’s essentially the best advice I’ve received on the subject thus far.
As a result of these recent events, I’ve decided to compile a list of things I tend to do when I’m stressed. Perhaps, if nothing else, it will help keep my mind off of tomorrow for a few minutes & maybe be something pretty for you all to look at. So, without any further ado…
Things I tend to do to avoid freaking out:
1. Watch cute Youtube videos. Some of my favorites at the moment include…
Kitty Maru is so determined to get in that dang box! It inspires me to keep trying! Hah.
I love this video because the little boy is just too cute for words. I love how he starts to nod his head & get into the music before … raging. Hahaha.
I love this video because it’s cute too but in a different way. There’s also that added supsense — are they going to make it? Watch & find out
I will be back in full force after Christmas.
In the mean time, watch this cute video by one of my favorite artists.
I hope it puts you in the Christmas spirit! Enjoy!
I feel the need to express my undying love for the band mewithoutYou. They are, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorites & have been since high school. I mean, just look at those gorgeous boys! What’s not to love!? I think one of the reasons I’ve been such a loyal fan is the fact that they are some of the most down-to-earth, kind fellows you will ever meet. They are always willing to stop & talk to their fans. And, when I say talk, I mean talk. The entire band makes a genuine effort to really connect with people. I find that refreshing on so many levels.
As far as their music goes, I just adore it! Every album they come out with is surprisingly different from their previous efforts. They are constantly trying to push themselves as artists in order to keep themselves from becoming stagnant. Not many bands can come out with one amazing album after another without disappointing!
Their newest album, It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream! It’s Alright, makes me feel like I’m a little kid at a carnival. It’s whimsical & has a totally different sound than anything I’ve ever heard from them in the past. I love, love, love this video for their song “The Fox, the Crow, and the Cookie”. The story it tells is just about the sweetest thing! Please watch it:
Alright now, what about you!
What musical artists have kept you coming back for more throughout the years?
Yes, that is me in the above picture. Sadly, it’s probably the most recent picture of myself I have on a bicycle. That probably goes to show you how much expertise I have on the matter of bikes and biking in general. Regardless, I have been mulling over the idea of riding a bike as an alternative mode of transportation for a little while now. There are a few reasons this appeals to me. First of all, with the fluctuating price of gas and the economy in the midst of a tail spin, biking would leave me with a little more spending money in my pockets. Secondly, although Cincinnati is not notorious for being the most “biker friendly” city– with its many hills and its lack of appropriately designated bicycle lanes– I still feel it is a shame to live at the heart of a city and not own a bike! I also would be remiss if I left out the whole “going green” and getting healthy motivation for biking.
Although, I must admit, one of the main reasons I want to get into biking is the sheer “coolness” factor that comes along with it. I have always thought that people riding their bikes to the grocery store looked pretty bad ass; especially when biking up next to me whilst I’m driving my (totally the opposite of bad ass) white Hyundai Elantra. I have always found the whole “bike scene” to be very appealing– albeit slightly intimidating. Therefore, I have decided to go on a quest to discover what a “wanna be” biker needs to know in order to make the transition with ease.
I began my research by posing a question on Bikeforums.net which is an excellent source of information about all things bike-related. I received several responses to my question in which I asked what sort of information I need to know before purchasing a bike and/or beginning to bike as an alternative mode of transportation. One member gave me some good, practical advice:
“If you can get some pointers from your local bike shop without having to buy an expensive new bike, then great. Personally I’d suggest your first bike be a used bike from your local Craigslist. You may soon find out that you don’t like some things about it, but you should be able to sell it for around the same amount you bought it for and try again. After you’ve ridden a used bike a little, you’ll have a better idea of your preferences in a bike, and you’ll be able to choose a better bike for your next one.”
I was also curious to know what types of things I should look for when purchasing a used bike. I don’t want to be swindled into purchasing a “lemon” used bike. Here is what one article said on the subject:
“Look over a used bike for bent wheels, worn out tires, and test ride to make sure everything is running as you’d like. Before test riding, check the air pressure and the brakes. Make sure the pedals, cranks, handlebar fittings and wheels are all properly secured. It is also a good idea to look over the entire chain to make sure there are no defective links. You can do this fairly quickly by pedaling backward while watching the profile of the chain. A damaged link will usually stick out compared to the others.” – (via bikewebsite.com )
Next, I was worried about sizing. It seems to be the number one reason as to why people struggle to purchase a bike. I know it’s one of the main reasons I have had trouble finding a bike. A member on Bikeforums.net told me this little piece of information: “If you’re 5’6″ to 5′ 10″ a 19″ frame should fit pretty well. Taller? Try 21″. Shorter? Try 17″. Seeing as I am barely 5’5″, I think this means I am going to need between a 17″ to a 19″ frame. Here is a link to another excellent resource for more specifics on finding a bike that will fit you properly. I believe another excellent and practical piece of advice that I received was simply to test ride the bike. If it doesn’t feel right or comfortable, it is probably not the right one for you.
Consequently, May is Bike Month. There are a lot of events going on around Cincinnati in order to advocate and help get people out there riding. Below is a short video that aired on the local news featuring some avid bikers in Cincinnati:
Although I haven’t found a bike quite yet, I believe I discovered a lot about the “nuts and bolts” of purchasing as bike from the feedback on the discussion board. I plan on keeping you posted and letting you know how my progression is going. I know there is still a lot to learn. Do any of you have any advice?
Here are a few helpful resources if you are interested in getting connected with the bicycling community in Cincinnati as well as some other basic and important information in regards to bicycling in general:
I really, really like this video. There is just something about the reality of stopping strangers on the streets to try to make a connection with them that warms my little heart right up & makes the world seem just a bit smaller.
So, you know I have to ask, what do you wish would happen by the end of the day? For me, I wish that I could get everything accomplished that needs to be accomplished & that I would end the day a little bit better in some small way. (Oh, and world peace! Heh.)
