Mentality Monday #8

This week I won't be posting - sorry guys - but I've got to get some things in order life wise so I'll have to take the time away. I wanted to give you a quote to keep in mind this week though and I hope you'll all spend the week being kind and helping those you can.  See you next week!

Thankful Friday

Today I'm thankful for movies. Specifically kid's movies. I've always been fond of them personally, but over the last year and a half movies have created a language for Owen and me use to communicate. Movies have taught Owen empathy, emotions, how to dance, and most importantly - words. He's learned words consistently from watching movies beginning with Toy Story (the only thing I really forgot to include in that collage up there). He laughs, he copies them, - he straight up acts out the movie as it happens. He gets obsessed with movies and we watch them 84,000 times for as long as he's in love with them and then we move on to the next adding the former favorite to our collection for roadtrips to be revisited and loved all over again.

I know, I know, TV is bad, he shouldn't watch that much, I shouldn't let him get obsessed with things, blah blah blah. Listen, I personally - and by extension this blog - believe that parenting strategies are good for the people they work for. There is no one right answer. One family may excel and love co-sleeping, or letting their kid's pick out their own meals - another may have the baby sleeping in their crib from night one, or the kid's only eat what is served to them as a family with no exceptions. I believe you do what's right for you. That's the winning strategy and advice in my opinion. It's the only advice I ever give to friends that are becoming parents. You do what works for you. If you know in your gut that something is right for your family and you have some naysayer lecturing you on how horrible it is - laugh in the face of danger and do it anyway (yes, I just referenced Lion King). And don't judge others simply because you have different ways of parenting. If both people's kids are living a healthy and good life - nothing. else. matters.

Back to the movies and the TV shaming - I let Owen and Mac watch movies and TV. Some days none at all, other days they'll have something or other playing most of the day. Deal with it. They play outside, they color and fingerpaint - they do normal kid things all the time. But they also watch movies. Owen has always focused in on movies like nothing else was happening in the world (he apparently gets that from his mama). We've gone through a hundred different favorites and obsessions and at the end of the day, I don't see him watching a lot of TV. I see him playing with it in the background some days, safely knowing his favorite thing is there with him, and other days cuddling with me when he needs to calm down and watching a princess movie or Mary Poppins, learning to speak when nothing else could get him to talk. Having watched other kids quickly surpass him vocally, I was and am happy to put on a movie that gets him to try new words (or any words in general). And when it's over, we'll go play with pipe cleaners or make brownies together. It's what works for us. And that's all that matters.

I'm grateful for those movies forming a connection with my son that didn't before exist. I'm grateful they have taught him how to speak Whale, how to make ambulance sounds ("bee bo, bee bo.."), how to hold your breath at the exciting or stressful parts, and how to dance while a creepy voodoo man sings incantations. I'm grateful for the things that he doesn't even know he's learning but is ingesting none the less. Like going after the life that you were made for, committing to be there for your family and friends no matter the obstacle, that his Mama and Daddy will ALWAYS come for him, that having what you need is far more important than having what you want, to be kind to everyone, and a little imagination can go a long way. For all the lessons he's learned so far and will learn in the future - I'm grateful for them.

Confessions can happen at any time...

 July 2013 - Dirty Girl Mud Run

I started going to the gym daily this week and it's been kind of an all new realization for me about how much I need to change my life to get back to how I used to be. When I say 'used to be' I'm talking about my lifestyle in high school and my size in college. I worked out regularly, could bench press 120lbs (not a ton, but a whole lot more than I could today) and squat over 200lbs. I could run a few miles and enjoyed generally being healthy. Now, I miss that life and have been trying to get back to it. I "ran" my first 5k last summer - let's be honest, I basically went on a 3.5 mile hike and got super muddy, but I was proud to complete all of the obstacles on the course. This year I've decided to do the Dirty Girl Mud Run as well as some other 5k's and possibly my first 10k so I'm working on getting my endurance up to be able to truly run these races. 

Going ziplining for the 1st time, January 2013

My confession is to share with all of you that this is not easy (big surprise). I've been doing a low carb diet since October 1st and so far have lost about 25lbs (December was not a part of that). In some ways, I'm used to it and it genuinely doesn't bother me, in others it just sucks. I watch my family eat pasta and bread and pancakes and I basically hate them. I look down at my healthy lchf meal, I have to force myself sometimes to remember why I'm doing this. Why I'm not eating cookies or birthday cake. Why I'm making low carb brownies from scratch instead of scarfing down the Mallowmars I really want. When my alarm goes off at 5:30 in the morning, I don't want to get up. Who wants to get up that early? The sun isn't even up yet! The sun is only just rising as I leave the gym at 7:30! But once I'm in the gym and I'm starting my routine, I'm glad I'm there and taking the steps I have to to become a better version of myself. I set tiny goals for myself inside of my long term goal and look forward to reaching each one (about every 10lbs is a milestone). I tried on a bikini a couple weeks ago and decided that if I lose another 25lbs by summer I'll buy it and embrace wearing a bikini for the first time in 7 years knowing that I'll have made huge progress and that despite still having stretchmarks, and imperfect body, and a 7" scar from having the boys - I'll have lost at least 50lbs in less than a year. 

 Me this morning, January 2014

So all the cravings, the soreness, the blisters, the general annoyance - it's worth it. It isn't fun and I don't always like what I'm doing (read: frequently) - but eventually I'll come to love it and I know it'll be something I'm grateful for doing.

My own personal Batman.

 Owen with his Aunt Brittany at his 3rd birthday party on Saturday

 So - many of you know how awesome my kids are. There's no debate about it really - they're just freaking adorable. Owen (the oldest) turns three today and so I thought I would return to an idea I had when he was first born to write something to him but had since bailed on because I'm just lazy and forgetful. For about a year now I've (very) slowly been working on a journal to him and Mac starting with 30 different questions to answer so they know me better, so I'm trying to get through those and write more consistently to them but we'll see how long that actually takes me.

Owen on his 2nd birthday last year.

Back to the matter at hand. Owen is three today. At this time on the day he was born I'd been in labor for about 6 hours and had another 7.5 hours to go before we'd have to have an emergency c-section. I would love to say I was really excited about meeting my baby and that's all I could think about, but really - I was most excited about not being pregnant anymore. Meeting Owen was to be a close second. My pregnancy was not great with him. That's the nicest way I could put that. But through his birth process I got to experience a little bit of everything, just like I did with my pregnancy, and much the same way it's been ever since he was born. I had my epidural wear off twice, the second of which was at 9cm so I experienced the last of my labor (as well as a little before that from the first time) and all of my pushing for an hour and a half with no pain killers. I experienced labor and pushing, like I said, but then went into surgery for a Cesarian when Owen's heartrate rose and wouldn't fall (p.s. trying to stop pushing once you've started is basically the worst thing anyone could ever tell you). Since he's been born, I have experienced most of the good and bad things that parents talk about with babies and into toddlerhood. Owen had trouble breastfeeding, he's covered himself and his crib in poop multiple times, he's had delays and issues, he has given us his first E.R. worthy scare, and he's finally discovering Santa and other awesome traditions that we all look forward to with little ones.

Owen on his 1st birthday

When he turned two last year, Owen still barely spoke - his vocabulary consisted of about 10 words, and only about 3 or 4 that were used consistently. This past year he has worked in Speech and Occupational therapy and done so incredibly well it's like he's a new kid. His vocabulary is now over 200 words, a ton of which has been gained in the last three months. He socializes with other kids for the first time in his life, instigates offering hugs, talks with kids, readily makes eye contact, and only has melt downs every once in a while compared to 5-7 times a day. The amount of progress he's made this year makes me tear up a little each time I watch him doing something that only a few months ago had still never happened. At his birthday party Saturday he played with other kids for hours, said bye bye to those leaving, and hugged his cousins when they left the party. It was the best thing I'd ever seen him do. On Monday, while stealing my watermelon for lunch, he took bites and repeatedly looked and me smiling and said, "Delicious! Mmm yum!" - He's now said, "Love you, Mama" and is starting to learn to construct sentences, and it's simply the most amazing part of my life right now.

For the last month or so, Owen has been really into superheroes and in particular he's been obsessed with Batman since he discovered the cartoons on his Kindle. He has been wearing Batman clothes for over a week now, and runs around saying "Batman!" or "Super! Cape!" all the time. Since he's been so into it we realized a couple weeks ago there was no better theme for his birthday! I made capes for him and all the kids to wear and got to work planning a Batman/Superhero party for him. I really love that he's into superheroes honestly, because I'm a nerd and I can get into it with him. I once read that Batman is one of the best superheroes (this could be debated until the end of time so let's not *really* get into it) because he is one of the most brilliant minds in the DC Universe and he's a tactical genius who uses all of the benefits of technology possible and has worked to master all of the martial arts. He has no superpower that puts him on par with the villains he fights - he's simply that good from hard work and natural talent. He fights his own inner battle between ethics and emotion just like everyone else. He is the superhero that is like everyone. He shows us what it is to pursue something with one-minded dedication, and how that can turn into it's own flaw if you don't keep it in check. He's both a role model and a cautionary tale for how careful we must be to avoid being consumed with our own pain and anger. He's a great superhero to start a comic book love with.

I'm excited to see Owen grow another year older. To watch him bond with his little brother more, go with us on new adventures to new places, to learn new words and new things, and to surprise me in ways that I couldn't even imagine today. A year from now I'll be amazed all over again at how much he's changed and what a great kid he is. A year from now he'll be bigger, stronger, and better - obsessed with different things and with new favorites and silly preferences. But for now, he's still my Batman-loving, PB&J eating, train-set watching, trampoline bouncing little three year old Monkey. Happy Birthday, buddy!

Fruitful Living: The Ones Who Built You

From a paper I wrote last semester on my ethnic history.

I think that there are many definitions of family. There is your immediate family (siblings & parents), your extended family (grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc), & your adopted family (friends who are as good as blood). There are always certain people in your family that mean a lot to you for things you learned from them or the example they set for you. For many, our family is one of the first and most important influences on who you become and how you live your life. It's important for us to remember how much they taught us and to let them know how much we love them when we can. Coming from a large....no, correction: huge... family, I have quite a few people who were like that for me. Today is a time for me to send them some love, say thank you, and to explain how they've influenced me. The only exception is my immediate family, as I think they deserve they're own post on another day (mind you, my immediate family is 7 people).

First up I'll write about my grandmothers, the matriarchs of both sides of my family. I learned a lot from my grandfathers, but they both passed a bit over 10 years ago so I've had a lot more time with my grandmothers both growing up and now as an adult. My dad's mom, who we call Grandma or Grandma Lovvorn, taught me many things. I would say one of the biggest things was how to work with my hands. Growing up she and my granddad had a plant nursery and small farm and I worked there during the summers and on weekends or holidays - or generally when my dad wanted us out of the house. :) I learned how to plant things, tend to them and grow things - I learned how to harvest crops of corn, cucumbers, green beans, blueberries, and a host of other things they grew every year. I learned from her the importance of family. This is a woman who always has time for any of her 6 children, 14 grandchildren, or her growing clan of (currently) 19 great-grandchildren. She'll play with them, dye eggs with them, teach them how to cook, or generally just talk and share with them. She's amazing and an entirely beautiful woman.

My mother's mother, Nanny (or as we've renamed her in recent years, Nan), has become a good friend in the last few years after I had the fortunate opportunity to live with her for a year after college before I moved away with my husband. She also was an amazing example for teaching the value of family, but she taught me how to be adventurous and to love learning and exploring as well. She raised me on tales of her travels with my Papa, with whom she had traveled the country for most of their marriage, spending time in campers and state parks. She (and he) gave me a love for nature and the outdoors that I don't think anyone else has been able to match in influence yet. She's visited almost any state or national park that you could think of and seen every ounce of natural beauty this country has to offer. She showed me how much there is to experience in my own backyard and how much excitement awaits me. It's an awesome gift with such an effect I could never explain.

My aunt Sheila, the youngest of my Dad's sisters, is a great woman who is a major reason in why I love education. Closer in age to many of my cousins, I watched her and my cousin Dana go through their undergraduate and graduate programs and enter the field of teaching as I grew up. I saw them learning and committing to the fight of helping others learn. Now she's a wonderful resource for me and a ton of fun to talk to about teaching or any other thing we love to talk about. She is a fantastic mom to two young ones, setting an example for me in that sense as well. We disagree sometimes (though always respectfully), but so much more often we are able to simply enjoy conversations and I learn from her something new more often than I don't. I'll always look up to the example she sets in life, both professional and personal.

Dana, one of my cousins I just mentioned, and her husband Jed, as well as Dana's sister Janet and her husband Jon, are all examples of the kind of adult I want to be. They've grown to be more than family but to also be friends. I've watched them go after dream jobs & the lives they want, explore new homes in Janet and Jon's case, and raise kids that are turning into some of the best youngin's you'll ever have the privilege of knowing. The four of them are rolemodels without even realizing it I'm sure, and they have been showing me how to be an adult for many years.

My aunt Donna and Uncle James are the last I'll write about today, before I bend your ears too much. Donna has been a lifelong example for living an organized and wholly active life while still be entirely involved in her children's aspirations and activities. She taught me that there is nothing you can't learn to make yourself, you can always take the time to do what's needed if you're willing to get up early enough, and there's nothing more important than what your kids are doing. Uncle James has been incredibly hardworking my entire life and has always shown that you can not only make things yourself but you can build them yourself. My dad and all of his brothers know how to basically build anything you could ever need and it was great growing up watching them and helping in the little ways I could to see that you can build your dream house or whatever you might want if you take the time and work hard. The city of Gainesville's current Deputy Fire Chief, he's a rolemodel and awesome person for anyone to have the chance to know - consider yourself lucky if you get to know any of them.

I really could write something about essentially all of my family, but I fear that I would drive all of you off a metaphorical cliff into boredom abounding if I did. More to save for another day. In any case, I love you all and hope you all know how much you're appreciated.

Causes Worth Supporting: Your Family

Photo credit to the amazing Lauren K. Photography of Cleveland

This week's Cause Worth Supporting is a simple one that not many of us think about. We forget how important it is to support ourselves and our families, to make effort and sacrifice for the betterment of their future - to invest in ourselves! So today it's all about how you can support your family by saving more, spending less, and paying off debts as quickly as you can to become debt free!

My husband and I have been in debt since we got married (we both came into the marriage with debt from college - his credit cards, mine student loans) and it's only snowballed as the years have passed. I have made a lot of progress on our little mountain in the last year using Dave Ramsey's Snowball Method and paid off about $8,000 worth of debt (in total we probably have around $120,000 - though the majority of that belongs to my student loans and the car we purchased last year and make payments on each month). So while things like that are on hold and we're burning through what little savings I held built for us - a lesson learned that won't ever be forgotten - I'm working to eliminate any extraneous spending (which is really hard sometimes) and do what we can to keep all of our bills current.

What you see up there is Dave Ramey's Baby Steps to becoming debt free. For at least the next few years Step 6 won't apply to us except that we'll be saving for a home in our future. Regardless, this is the pattern I follow for our goals (steps 1-3 in particular). When I was working on our savings and debt last year, I would take a few hundred dollars of our flex paycheck each month (the first paycheck was devoted to almost all of our bills, the second would be focused on debts and other needs) and put it towards paying off some of our debts (while paying minimum amounts on our other debts/bills). Another $100 would get put into our savings account and then I had a little cash savings I was building at home that I would add to any time I went shopping at Target or to buy groceries by getting $10 or $20 cash back and just taking straight home to the little billfold I was keeping it in. When things were going according to plan, I could save $2-300 a month. I'll be honest, that didn't happen for as long as it should have and it several times would get spent on minor emergencies or needs - hey, we've got kids and they need some pretty expensive stuff sometimes. Anyway, that's how things were and we'll return to that style again when we're back on our feet. My husband and I have also agreed we're going to try out the cash envelope concept from Dave Ramsey (can you tell I'm a fan?) and I'm also considering the idea of opening a savings account at a different bank from The Nester - or just a different account than our usual savings - so that your savings don't get touched as easily as when they're attached to your checking account.

Below are a few other links I've found in the last couple years that I really found helpful or interesting about paying off debt, managing finances, and/or savings -

A Starter Post for Saving Money Tips & Couponing

'And Then We Saved' - a great blog on becoming financially solvent

The Spending Diet from ATWS - or the more intense & quickly successful Spending Fast

All Hail the Life Changing Ecstasy of a Home Management Binder
 *a note on the HMB - there are a thousand different styles and free printables for these available on the web (just search it on Pinterest and you'll be set for life really). I've used one for a couple years and it's insanely helpful. Invest the time to set it up right and you'll love having everything all in one place!

Enjoy your day and your family, everyone. Here's to a 2014 where we all get a little closer to being debt free and having the life we want!

Mentality Monday #7 & Healthy Living Monday

So I decided to merge the two Monday posts today because the quote I picked for today works so well with both posts! I want you all to remember as you begin this new week the beauty that comes from surviving struggle. You're never as proud of yourself for an achievement as you are when you have fought for it. It's what makes watching athletes and artists so amazing - they're doing something you either couldn't do or it would take a lot of pain and effort to be able to do (granted there are some things I will simply never be able to do, but there are a lot that I could do if I worked for it). Embrace your struggle this week and think about what you're working for.

There is no recipe for this fitness Monday post, but I have started my gym routine today of going to the gym every morning at least 5 days a week. It's not the best thing in the world to have to wake up so early (considering I'm really not a morning person) but there's some great things with it too. I get to start my day with fitness and set the tone for the rest of the day, and I also get to have some time alone first thing in the morning. Which - let me tell you - is just awesome. I'm still eating healthy and low carb (yay eggs and bacon!) but the daily exercise will be a big move of improvement to not only losing weight but just returning to the fit person I used to be. And to getting me closer to those 5 and 10k races I want to do this year!

Hope that you all have a wonderful Monday and enjoy the week focusing on the good that will come from the bad in your life. There's always something to be grateful for - you just have to find it.

Thankful Friday

Today I'm thankful for having had the opportunity to begin a new year of my life with a new perspective. I (like everyone) spend so much of my time thinking about what I need to do for me, my sons, and our life as a family - that I rarely if ever think about what I can do to make the lives of others better. After my birthday this week, I've decided to make that a bigger part of my life and incorporate it whenever I can. I have already told you that I plan to make food to take to the homeless once a week, but I'll also continue to tell people compliments whenever I think of one - because who doesn't like hearing they look really pretty? Or having a stranger second and support your clothing decision in the dressing room? I'll be trying to do what I can to think of others whenever I can.

Mind you, this is not to say that I won't also spend time focusing on myself or my family. Doing too much of a good thing can lead to bad things if you aren't trying to keep a healthy balance. Moderation and all that, yes? I also don't want you all to think that I write about these things to tell you how amazing I am or how you should all spend every minute of every day thinking about how you can do acts of kindness. My goal with this is to make myself a better person. To be more - and do more. This isn't about thanks or recognition. I want to do these things because I know I can, and that I should. I hope that if you start doing acts of kindness or charity that you will do them for the right reasons as well. 

I hope you all have a great weekend, I'll be spending the rest of today getting things ready for my son's birthday party and the weekend enjoying time with him, my other little one, and my newly returned husband. Until Monday, here are a couple things for you to enjoy and fiddle with:

The Perfect Paper Airplane

The Good News About Cancer

Einstein Didn't Fail Math

15 Things Worth Knowing About Coffee

My confession today is...

Photo credit to the amazing Lauren K. Photography

My husband just got back into town after being away for two weeks - so my confession today is simple and plain: I need to spend time with him rather than time on my laptop. So I'm taking today off. Hope you all have a great Thursday!

27 Acts of Kindness

Yay I'm finally writing what you've all been waiting for since Monday ended! I spend my 27th birthday doing 27 random acts of kindness - 28 actually....one to grow on. It was truly an amazing experience and my best birthday to date. I'll be doing this for my birthday every year from now on I think. The list I wrote out to plan our acts for the day had some changes, but I did replace them with other acts as we went. It's best to go with the flow in these situations. This is going to be a long post, so - here we go!

Fruitful living - loving others.

Monday's acts of kindness were one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. I'd been thinking about what I would write for this week's post so that I could write about focusing on loving others after focusing on loving my kids last week (more about that in a minute). I realized Monday that the most beautiful of all the things we did was when I was able to feed 3 different homeless men a little lunch. Not as much as I would like to have, but it was food none the less and they were so incredibly grateful it broke my heart. All day I was focused on sending out as much love towards others as I could and trying to make others feel happier. It made me happy as well as my sister, and ended up being one of the best things I've ever done. I decided that I'm going to do my best to try and go once a week to visit with and feed a few homeless people in town - I wish I could feed them all and even do so much more, but I know that I can do at least this little thing. I don't think after having talked with those men this week and seeing their faces as I gave them sandwiches that I could ever stand to go another week without trying to help ease their pain and troubles in some way. So, this week's post about loving others....it's not a post about how I'm going to focus on something for a week... it's a post about how I did something on my birthday that changed my life and my perspective.

Regarding last week and my focus on loving my sons - I wasn't too great at the whole yelling less concept, but hey - they're 1 and 3 years old. It's hard to make it through an hour much less a day without having to raise your voice so they stop doing something they shouldn't (such as hitting/shoving each other, or climbing on top of tables, or trying to play with the burning fireplace...). I did, however, enjoy them more. I spent time smelling their hair (a favorite past time), holding hands and playing and trying to focus on how amazing they've become already. It was great and definitely made the week go by more cheerily.

Here's to all of you finding a way to show more love to those around you - be they family, friends, or strangers in need. Everyone needs some love. Do what you can to share some. Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Causes Worth Supporting: Athena's Warehouse

Last month during my Shopping for Good project, I introduced you all to Athena's Warehouse in Atlanta. Today we're going to get to know them so much better with Law of Bambi's first interview! Without any further adieu, let's get right to it! I asked Bee, the founder and Managing Director of Athena's Warehouse 10 questions and these were her answers:

The beautiful and amazing Bee!

1. How did the idea for Athena's Warehouse come about?
Originally AW started out as an organization with just a simple idea; we wanted to recycle our bridesmaids and cocktail gowns and provide teenage girls with an opportunity to go to prom without worrying about the financial aspect. Other organizations similar to ours already existed. But we wanted our program to have a twist. Instead of a princess or a fairy tale, we wanted to embrace the concept of empowerment. So, we chose Athena as our icon and asked the girls to complete three hours of service to earn a dress.

                                                                           

2. What would you like to see AW accomplish? 
AW has expanded quite a bit since we first started. As we spent time with the girls doing community service and helping them choose a dress, we found that they were very curious and wanted guidance about college, dating, and other important aspects of their lives. So, we added an after school program called Be Awesome, Be Aware. We teach life skills that encourage graduation and college, and we provide resources that help achieve economic independence.  

Currently, we are working with junior and senior girls, but our vision is to start reaching young women at an earlier age—when they are entering high school as freshmen and staying with them until they graduate high school. More and more, we realize the importance of positive role models for young women, especially for those who have economic challenges. We see change and we see our influence and impact, so it reinforces our beliefs. We can make a difference.

 

3. What do you think we as a society need more of in our everyday lives? (eg. kindness, laughter, whoopie cushions, etc.) 

Our society needs more vulnerability. As AW works with teenage girls, I am often surprised by the girls' willingness to share their stories and by their openness with each other and to the organization. Many of the girls have stories to tell and their stories are difficult; they are not afraid to shed tears or share with us feelings that are extremely personal. As we grow older, most people learn to put up a wall and become less willing to show vulnerability. We're taught to hide ourselves, or that vulnerability is a weakness. But it is, in fact, the opposite, and though teenage girls can sometimes be hard to work with, they are above all honest about the way they feel and are willing to share it with just a little nudge and a safe space.

4. If there was a 30 day challenge that you could make everyone do - what would it be? [*I'll be doing whatever challenge you say here*] 
As technology has become more readily available, people are becoming more and more addicted to the internet and their cell phones. When I go out to dinner, I notice so many people constantly checking their phones. Their level of engagement and their connection with one another has diminished in the process. I know I have been guilty of looking at my phone instead of the other person's face.

So, my challenge to you is to leave your cell phone in your car or in your purse every time you meet a person out for dinner. No checking it even when the person is in the bathroom. I have found that the more detached I am to my cell phone, the more content I feel in general.   

You asked, and you've got it Bee - I'll be leaving my phone in my purse (for safety reasons compared to the car) and not touching it at all when I'm out with someone else for the next 30 days. Since that would finish on February 13th, I'll actually extend it to include Valentine's Day and make it a 31 day challenge! No more Instagrams of date meals or mid-date/hangout Facebook statuses - it's time to tone down the phone and internet binging. I'll post about this 2 weeks in and then at the end of the challenge to share with all of you how it goes and what I learn.

5. What is your (or AW's) life philosophy in 5 sentences or less?
I really believe in the concept of leaving the world in a better place than how we first encountered it. If that means being socially conscious on a large scale or inventing something that changes the way we live or making art or music or photographing the world, then I encourage and embrace it. Other decisions like rescuing an animal or calling your mom every week or standing against racism or bullying are also important ways to better society and create important changes.

I truly couldn't think of a way to say this better than you did, Bee!

6. Who inspires you? 
My family inspires me for their honesty, tenacity, and strength.  I am always inspired by pioneers who are courageous in their will and unafraid of being themselves or working for a greater cause. Some of my heroes are Frida Kahlo, Hillary Clinton, and John Lewis.

7. What helps brighten a bad day for you (or AW)?
Fresh air and exercise!  I love Atlanta, so being outdoors in the city is important to me.  It can take form of a run on Freedom Parkway, a bike ride on the BeltLine, the dog park at Piedmont, or Stone Mountain.


8. How does AW find and decide on projects to coordinate with? (Headbands of Hope, etc.)

We collaborate with local organizations that have mission alignment. We've worked with Ahimsa House, Hands On Atlanta, Project Open Hand, MINT Gallery, and the Atlanta BeltLine. We're always open to new ideas and projects.

9. Where is AW headed in 2014?
We're celebrating our five-year anniversary, and we have some exciting changes and additions coming in the new year. We'll be expanding some programs, but also making a few changes to our structure to better serve the community.

10. What is your (or AW's) New Year's resolution?
My resolution is to become less car-dependent. For me, that entails walking to the store and taking MARTA to work and biking more often. I find that by sometimes when I simplify my life, I feel much happier.

Thank you so much to Bee & Athena's Warehouse, as well as my correspondence pal, Kim who helped me to organize all of this from the very first message on Facebook! I am so excited to keep in touch with and follow the future of AW - maybe sometime soon I can come do some volunteer work with you guys! I'm only a mere 6 hours away these days in Gainesville, Florida while I visit my family so I could enjoy a short roadtrip up to visit and do some good with all of you.

I hope all of you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed coordinating it and reading the answers myself. This is truly a beautiful organization and deserves whatever support we can give! Head over to the AW website and Facebook page to find out more on how you can help support and empower these young girls!!