Guest Posting at C Squared W

Today is the day! As you are reading this, I'm on my way to St. Maarten. {insert happy dance!} I have some awesome guest posts set up for you over the next 3 days, but today I'm guest posting over at Clare's while she is in Rome.

Head on over to C Squared W to read about the trip I took to Rome before my semester at Oxford. You'll even get to see some old-school pictures of me, circa 2005! 

{This one didn't make the cut!}

It's a Vacation - Unplug!

I am getting so excited for my trip to St. Maarten! Tonight I'm spending the night at Mary's house because we have to catch a bus really early tomorrow morning. The bonus is that it will feel like I'm extending my vacation an extra day!

Maybe we will get lucky & catch this bus again:

Is it totally lame that I want to bring my laptop (aka Big Mac, Mac Daddy, the Precious)? Yes, I fear it is. Would you like to hear the 'excuses' I'm telling myself for why I need to bring it?

• What if one of my lovely clients has a design problem, that can't wait till next Monday?
• What if I have a stroke of genius & need to type or Photoshop it? 
• But I can't just not answer my email.
• It will be useful, we can watch movies on it at night.

I think it's partly guilt over taking a vacation and partly separation anxiety. I should leave work & the laptop behind, right? If I really need the internet, I will have Paddy with me (yes, my iPad has a name too.) The funny thing, is this wasn't even a Question until I saw this video on Katelyn's blog today. Not a question, as in of course my laptop is coming.

Hi, my name is Katie and I might be addicted to my computer/the internets.

Do you have problems unplugging? or is it just me...

5 TV Series You Can Watch with Your Guy

Thank you all so much for your encouraging words on Thursday. Your comments really helped me get through the day & look at the bigger picture. You all are so wonderful.

Chris and I did a lot of sleeping, eating, and watching TV yesterday & Thursday. We started watching Game of Thrones and are halfway done with the first season. Let's do a little TV update, shall we? Here are 5 TV Series that you can watch with your guy & both enjoy.

1- Game of Thrones

When I heard people talking about Game of Thrones (IMDB link) I always envisioned it was set in space (why? isn't all science fiction set in space?) but actually, the story takes place back in the days of kings & knights & dragons. It is sci-fi, but it's also old school. Your guy will love you for watching it with him, and it really is interesting. If you liked the Tudors, you will like this.

2- Mad Men

I'm working on the second season right now. Mad Men is another series that I had the wrong idea about. My first thought was it was about comic book heroes. Ya guys, I really pay attention. Actually, it's about the men and women who work at an ad agency in NY during the early 60's. It's full of glamour, drama, and will make you shake your head at how different things were back then. Chris wasn't interested in this one, but it's definitely geared at both men & women.

3- House

Yes, we watch House religiously! It's been more & more fun as Chris can play doctor alongside Chase & Taub. Recently, the drama has overtaken the medicine a little bit, but it's still top notch in my book. If you have never watched House, give it a shot. p.s. It's never sarcoidosis!

4- Dexter

We finished up Dexter a few weeks ago, and can't wait for season 7. I was really skeptical that a show about a serial killer who kills serial killers would interest me. I'm not a fan of blood & guts or scary movies. Dexter though, is just so love-able.

5- Weeds

Weeds is one of our very favorite series, especially the first few seasons. Nancy Botwin is a suburban housewife whose life spirals out of control after she starts selling pot to help make ends meet. This show is hilarious & fun & overall awesome. Season 8 starts July 1 so you have time to catch up!

Bonus for the Ladies- Downton Abbey

I recently finished up Downton Abbey and want more! This series by PBS is set in the early 1900's around the first World War. It chronicles the lives of both the servants and the Lords & Ladies of Downton Abbey. For those of you who have seen it, check out this spoof, Downton Arby's.

Do you watch any of these? Have any other recommendations?

Journey Forward ∴ 10 - Getting Real about Worry

If there were ever a day where I need to RELAX, today is that day. Today, Chris takes his 4th semester final exam. Today, he determines if we get to move on to the second half of medical school. Today, I feel sick to my stomach with worry. I know that I have to think positive about it, but my stomach doesn't lie. I am nervous.

The biggest obstacle to me becoming a more relaxed person is: I have trouble letting go of things I can't control. It's a mindset that I wish I didn't have. In situations where there is nothing I can physically do, my brain turns to worry.

by Cory Say via Behance

I'm a nervous wreck today, guys. Since I'm having trouble thinking positive thoughts and prayers, would you mind sending a few out for us?

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How I set up Blog Lovin'

Did you guys know that I read blogs via RSS? Yes, I'm one of those. Until recently, I exclusively read my blogs using a cool little mac program called Reeder, which syncs with Google Reader. But I started getting frustrated at the inability to pin the cool things I found without re-opening the blog in my browser, and also how frustrating commenting could be. In steps Bloglovin'.

A few weeks ago Emmy June did a Review of Bloglovin' and I couldn't help but wonder if I might like it better. Go read her post, it explains why Bloglovin' is awesome & also the basics of how to set it up. I love the little navbar on the bottom, that lets you click "next" and move on to the next blog.

My main concern was how I would get all of my blogs from Google Reader into Bloglovin' because there are well over a hundred blogs that I follow. But, I found a solution for that. I know what you are thinking,

If you have a gmail account and follow blogs via Google Friend Connect // Google Followers then you already have a Google Reader list set up of all the blogs you follow! Google owns Blogger & is smart like that. They automatically import your Google Followers into your Reader, even if you have never set it up!

I bet you've already put two and two together! Instead of having to add all your blogs one by one, you can export your blogs from Google Reader & import them into Blog Lovin'. Problem solved!

And because I'm hip like that, I made y'all an infographic to walk you through how to add the blogs you follow via Google Friend Connect // Google Followers to BlogLovin'. Give it a shot, and if you have any questions, let me know!

NOTE: INFOGRAPHIC UPDATED MARCH 2013

GOOGLE READER SHUTS DOWN JULY 1, 2013

Dreaming of St. Maarten

In 10 days I will be packing up to go to St. Maarten! I am so stinking excited about this. This will be my first official "island hop" vacation, my first girls trip abroad, and my first real vacation since Christmas of 2009. I wish we were going tomorrow!

Here are some reasons why I'm stoked for this trip:

• watching The Hunger Games {they have movie theaters there!}
• shopping at a mall 
• attending Kristen's wedding
• good food
• swim-up bar
• white sand

I'm really proud of myself for earning the money for this trip through my design business. I can't think of a better way to reward myself for the hard work. Because whats the point of working if you don't get to spend some of your earnings on something nice for yourself?

And don't worry, I have some awesome guest posts lined up for you while I'm gone. Until then, I'm dreaming of St. Maarten.

Journey Forward ∴ 9 - Quarter Check In

Can you believe we are a quarter through twenty12 already? This weeks Journey Forward was to look back at the progress we have made towards our one word & goals.

• Complete 4 or more blog designs per month.

Holla! I'm not quite up to four every month, but my average is right around four. Blog design can be tricky in that some projects take longer than others & carry over from month to month. Nevertheless, I'm quite proud of myself & these 15 designs!

January (3): Mrs. Alana's Miscellany, Lattes & Love, Of Our Parents
February (6): The Shelton Family, Reading, Eating & Dreaming, You are the Roots, Post Cards from TG, Creative Bug
March (3): Human Sparkler, Keep Your Sunnyside Up, C Squared W
April (3): Maggiano Takes Austin, Lovely, Flowers, Ribbons and Pearls

• Find an online teaching job at a college or university. 

Fail. I did have one fun job opportunity sent my way, but it didn't work out. I have a feeling this is going to be hard to accomplish before moving back to the states. The good news is that I have my portfolio & resume all ready to go when the time comes! {www.kathrynprice.info}

• Make dates with my husband to have fun together at least twice a month.

At the beginning of the semester Chris and I were going out together almost every Saturday night. In March we had fun at his 4th Semester Banquet. But as the semester has started closing in (tests!) he just hasn't had the time for it. Hopefully in 5th semester there will be more time for these sorts of things without the stress of so many exams.

• Read 12 books. 

Yes! I'm at 4 books: Love Wins, Outlander, Sing You Home, Fifty Shades of Grey. Reading is one of my favorite things to do, so I think I will always find time for it. It helps me to relax.

• Relax

Seriously, I feel like I'm working on this daily. Starting my own little design company has been a lot of hard work and a lot of long hours. That little list of 15 blogs up there represents my heart and soul for the past 4 months.

I feel like the Journey Forward challenge has helped me stay accountable during this time. Knowing that I have to write a post every week about how I am doing with relaxing has really helped me to stay in check. I get so easily lost in my computer & design; two hours can feel like twenty minutes for me. Living with a relaxed attitude is a work in progress for me.

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What about you? Do you want to join in on the Journey Forward challenge? It's not too late!