Little Victories: My Etsy Shop

- Entry from September 11, 2012

Well, I did it. Small steps towards bigger things, eh? :]

Introducing: Parsamend Prints

Feels

Edit: I wrote this a couple months ago and found it in my drafts. But it fits. So... here. :]

I believe

the skies

are doorways

home.

I think one of my favorite things about this video is that all the kids were his relatives. He paid them in pizza.

I've been doing a bit more reflecting these past few days than I have in months. My whole life has kind of been full steam ahead for the past year now, and I reflect so less often than I used to. Usually, this is an incredibly good thing. But I've changed so much recently without reflection that I almost feel disconnected from the Allyson who didn't have clear, aggressive career goals over two years ago.

I feel like this is also why I write less. Why I blog less.

I have less time in my head.

I don't even know what my emotional outlet is anymore. Huh. That's weird. Is it crying? Do you cry more when you have less emotional outlets like writing or singing or things as such?

I don't know. Maybe I've just been emotionless lately. The feels. I lack them. #INTJ

I just think I'm losing touch with who I used to be. And that's confusing to me. How are you supposed to explain that to someone you used to know. 

But I suppose it's okay, because we're all different... right? Humans are not meant to be stagnant creatures. But how are you supposed to remain close to someone who isn't experiencing your growth? 

And frankly, my dear, I am so ready for a glass of wine.

2012 Favorites: Albums/Concerts

Albums:

1. Mumford and Sons // Babel

Well, I certainly don't claim to be the only fan who claims that Mumford owns a piece of their soul, but gosh. I am very much certain there will never be a year in which they make an album that isn't my number one. 

2. Passion Pit  // Gossamer

This came out in early summer, and I still just let the whole album play out. It's just brilliant for every mood.

3. Coldplay // Mylo Xylo

Not my personal favorite Coldplay album, but another solid and brilliant record.

4. Sigur Ros // Valtari

Also soul owning. Seeing this live so soon. I may burst from elation.

5. Alt-J // An Awesome Wave

Okay. I can't believe this is top five, and maybe it's because it's still fairly new to me... but I am becoming increasingly obsessed with it as I listen. Just, give this guy a shot.

Highly Honorable Mentions:

Sleigh Bells // Reign of Terror

Stars // The North

Regina Spektor // What We Saw From the Cheap Seats

Ben Folds Five // The Sound of the Life of the Mind

David Byrne & St. Vincent // Love This Giant

Andrew Bird // Break it Yourself

*cough*

One Direction also Taylor Swift okay?

Concerts:

1. Needtobreathe // Dublin, Ireland

I still get goosebumps when I think about this night. I have never danced so much in my life. I just. Best night of my summer, best night in Ireland, best feeling.

2. William Fitzsimmons  // Madison, Wisconsin

3. Ingrid Michaelson // Dublin, Ireland (The Ps. I Love You pub)

4. St. Vincent & David Byrne  // Chicago, Illinois

5. Andrew Peterson // Green Bay, Wisconsin

Highly Honorable Mentions:

JJ Heller // Green Bay, Wisconsin 

The Hush Sound  //  Chicago, Illinois

Christmas Eve Musings

(Pretend it's still Christmas Eve. :] )

Today I am an only child. Today I am an only cousin. I’m in no concerts this year, no services, no big family gatherings, and presents won’t be opened this evening.

My biggest decision of the day was whether to watch Spy Kids or stay festive with The Santa Clause and recite every line.

Traditions shift. A few years ago I feel like this would have massively thrown me off. But that’s what you get for being the youngest by far, right?

I remember the first year traditions started to change. I was 13, in 8^th grade, and we spent Christmas in China. China was our present, so there weren’t really any gifts to open, Christmas Eve was in an apartment, and Christmas Day was with thousands cramped in one of the only legal churches. The service came with a two hour Chinese sermon and Santa on the altar.

From there, traditions just… shifted. Presents moved from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day.  Siblings had their spouse’s families to attend and we didn’t always leave for Memphis the week after.

Then, two years ago were in Memphis for my grandpa’s funeral. Christmas Eve was in an assisted living chapel and Christmas Day was spent in an airport.  I think people watching in airports on Christmas Day is the most interesting type of people watching I have ever encountered.

But. This isn’t meant to be a sad post. It’s a… hmm… growing up sure is a weird thing post.

Anyway, there are still peanut butter balls in the refrigerator, so all is well.

How have your traditions changed since you were a kid? Have they?

Merry Christmas, dears. :]

Ooey Gooey Love

As my social networks grow and expand, I have been realizing more and more how much this blog means to me. There's something incredibly special about it. About you guys. I like this. I like you.

My semester ended yesterday. I worked really, really hard this semester and probably reflected upon it zero amount. I just. Kept. Pushing. So, as I face this next month of nothingness, I will probably be jumping to the other end of the reflecting spectrum and reflect much too much on life stuff and growth.

Especially since I feel like you guys have seen and witnessed my growth from the most realistic perpective. More than anyone who follows me anywhere else and in many cases, IRL friends too.

So, guys, I dedicate my entire portfolio site to you. My blog friends who have been with me since the start. I just made my portfolio live this week and I would love to show it to you.

allysonkate.com

Time to catch up on each other's lives, okay?

Letterpress Love

I am quite fond of letterpress and woodtype. It's like the best of both worlds, handmade and digital. I'm in a printmaking class right now that consumes my entire life, and it's actually showed me that I enjoy it less than I thought. It's much more illustration heavy, and drawing is not my strong suit. I love how minimalistic and geometrical type is. Perhaps that's a cop out. 

Anyway, this font was originally a letterpress typeface. I'm working with it all semester in my Intermediate Type class. I'm also applying for an short internship over winter break at a wood type printshop, so I wanted to cater to that. This is digital, though. Don't get confused. This was printed by a printer, not with a press. 

SO I'M SHOWING YOU MY WORK! 

Gosh. That doesn't happen very often. :]

Ladeda.

A Letter

It's weird to think about how I'm in a place where I feel comfortable addressing this properly. Wasn't it yesterday I was stuffing dining hall cheese curds in my body every night, when "working out" was like talking in a foreign language, and skipping pointless classes to play Super Smash Bros with my new boyfriend who I was only semi-interested in was actually a thing I did with my life?


"I am having such a hard time balancing school work, social life, living healthy, and getting enough God-time."



Dear Lovely Friend, 

This is a letter to you. You're not alone. 

There's that oh-so-overused annoying infographic that looks like this:

I mean, fine. I guess it makes sense. Woe is the college student. We're too busy to do everything. Whine whine cheese whine. But I want to think that instead of whining about it, more people should just plain take initiative in their lives to work on fixing that bits and pieces that are more difficult or lacking.

Let me address the topics you mentioned and how I deal(t) with them:

1) School Work

Remember that you are in school to learn. You are paying so much money. Get everything you want to get out of it. The resources you have are crazy convenient  Use. Them. Now, obviously, if you would have told that to me while I was sitting in the back of the 200 person Geography lecture hall texting the boy I swore was my soulmate, I would have retorted a wittism about how my professor had her master's degree in dirt. True story. I didn't care about that class. I did minimal work and skidded by as apathetically as possible.

And it's okay to have classes like that. If you know you can do well enough in a class without caring, this is great. You know why? Because if leaves more time and brain space to pursue the crap out of the subjects you care about.

It's okay to not do as well in subjects you feel aren't worth your time. You don't need to know everything. It's true.

With that being said, self-discipline. Miss a night out. It's okay. Trust me, everyone understands and there will be more.

2) Social Life

There was a point in my first two years where I felt like I was losing friends back home more rapidly than I losing hair in the shower. I had a lot of best friends. It took me a really long time to readjust and become comfortable with accepting the fact that all of my friendships were shifting. But guess what?

The good ones will always be there for you. It's honestly honestly the truth.

And that goes for friends back home and friends at college (and on the internet, and in foreign countries...)

And if it comes down to it, force yourself to plan around social nights. Like, if you know you're getting boneless wings at BDUBS on Thursday night, force yourself to get more stuff done the night before.

Also, what helped insanely much and my best friend and I still think of fondly, were comparing schedules and planning on campus lunches with our friends. Middle of the day friend time is a weirdly therapeutic.

Also, for the record, let me tell you all one thing. Ahem. YOU DO NOT NEED A BOY TO TEXT EVERY DAY. IT DOESN'T SUCK AS MUCH AS YOU THINK IT WILL.

Oh, I'm sorry. was this a letter to past me or you? ;]

3) Living Healthy

Buy. A smaller. Meal Plan. This forces you to not only think in terms of feeding yourself, but it also is a fantastic way to make sure you're aware of portion control and what goes in your food. Fit as much real food in your frig as possible. Eat. Real. Food.

I get not going to the gym. Boy, do I get it. (I mean, it's an insanely long process, amirite?!) But you can, believe it or not, walk up the stairs to your forth floor class.

Sign up for 5k races. This is kind of like using the Law instead of the Gospel. The law shows you your sin, right? In the same way, it will be quite evident if you don't ever work out when you're huffing your way through a 3 mile jog. Hahaha. What did I just do with that comparison.

Anyway, 5k races are usually really really fun.

4) God-Time

From what I understand, you are in a pretty awesome environment of supportive people in this department. Just like school work, this is just something you need to make time for. Join a Bible study. Yes, it's weird the first few weeks. Yes, you might have to scavenger your way through 2 or 3 Christian groups before you find one you're comfortable with, but doooo it. Do it. Do it.

Bring it up in conversation with friends. It's way more awesome than talking about how much boys suck. 

Also, read that Bible app on your phone during Geography. For goodness sake, your professor has her masters in DIRT.

When you make TIME for God, he will bless you from it. You will never regret making time for Him, I promise.


What you're insterested in matters the most, your friends will always love you, eat real food, and make time for God.

Love,

An Ever Learning College Girl