On introversion

It came to my attention that I casually drop the term "introversion" in my writings quite often. I'd like to define what I mean by that word and explain my little introverted self.

What introversion means to me:

• I need time by myself, especially if I've been spending time with other people
• Writing and thinking introspectively are a top to-do
• Sometimes I make a bubble around myself to observe rather than participate
• Loud noise and/or music can be overstimulation and make me power down
• When I get the chance, I like to take myself on "dates" to the library, coffee shop, or farmer's market

Coffee and studying... by myself

What introversion isn't for me:

• Shyness- I may look like I'm timid, but often I'm just listening 
• Fear of people- spending time with good people brings me joy... but I still need to recharge afterwards
• Something to overcome- Though I can push it aside when needed, I've accepted my introverted nature and respect it. It doesn't prevent me from living fully.

Taking myself on a farmer's market date

We all describe ourselves differently. Some who identify as introverted might find all that I have written above to be entirely inaccurate in defining themselves. Some who identify as extroverted might connect with what I have written. The power comes when you define what you need as an individual human and stand by that with all of your might.

Enjoy today,

Addie

P.s. for more reading on introversion read Quiet, visit Susannah Conway's blog, or check out this old post of mine

Feeling the love

As you know, a few weekends ago I visited Portland for a weekend of tiny house dreaming, scheming, and learning. There, I met lots of wonderful people who shared my passion for living tiny. One of those people is Lina, a graduate student in Portland who lived in the same tiny house that I visited and now lives in a yurt as she prepares to start her build.

I think Lina is super cool and she'll for sure be invited to the grand reveal of my tiny home in the future. She even has a blog (like me!) where she writes about living tiny. Visit it at This Is The Little Life for some great writing and inspiration!

While in Portland, Lina admired my etched mason jar that I use as a to-go drink container. I sent her one as a thank-you for the wonderful weekend and she wrote this glowing review of her new jar (and me too)! I'm definitely feeling the tiny house community love. She also wrote this post about the Portland workshop (I'm hiding in the back of the group picture!).

Lina's new jar!

I strongly recommend that you check out Lina's blog here, as it has become an instant favorite of mine. Also, if you would like to check out my jars (and maybe help fund my tiny house dreams!) visit my Etsy site here.

My jar at fancy hotel for my good friend's birthday. Making tea with the in-room coffee pot and using my jar cozy is one of my favorite things to do when away from home!

Lina also inspired me with her 200 things challenge to continue to tackle my stuff. I decided to start with my closet and discovered that I have 200 things just in my wardrobe (socks and underwear count as one each). Uh oh. Read more about my journey to pare down my wardrobe... coming soon! *Update: read about my great closet overhaul here

Enjoy today,
Addie

DIY: Cord station

Everyone has it. That big, unruly tangle of chargers and cords and headphones that never finds a proper home. It's almost impossible to organize a tangled clump of electronics. I came up with this simple project and completed it within a few hours- problem solved.

                    

What you need

• Thin wood (found near 2x4s and such, I think labeled as craft wood)
• Screw gun and a screw
• Small nails
• Vinyl decals (I made my own with my scrapbook craft cutter, but you could find them online or draw/paint something onto the wood)

What you do:

• Coil all of the cords you want to organize and lay them along the wood. Mark with a pencil where the nails are going to go
• Put your decals on the wood, about an inch below each nail spot (so that they center within the cord loop)
• Gently hammer in the nails at an upward facing angle (so they hold the cords)
• Find a stud, and screw it into the wall at the top (I got the screw started on a flat surface and then held it against the wall)
  
  
  
  And that's it! A easy, quick, and functional DIY project. 
  
  
  Enjoy today,
  Addie
  

Reorganization! (one of my favorite things)

I wanted a way to simplify this blog. All of the posts were jumbled together and each one had numerous different labels. After thinking about it for a while, I had a brain blast. Now, I am excited to introduce to you the new style of this blog.

Everything that I want this blog to be about can be summed up in four genres: healthy living, joyful living, creative living and simple living. Sometimes, posts may overlap multiple themes, but everything I write can be organized into at least one of these categories. 

At the top of this blog, you'll find tabs that take you to a page for each section. Each page contains all of the posts for this theme. 

These four categories represent the four focuses in my life. I can't wait to continue to share with you.

Enjoy today,

Addie

DIY: Stained tank to hand-stamped tank

I really don't like to throw things out, or buy new things when what I have is in good condition. So when I noticed a stain one of my basic camisole tank tops, and the white one at that, I figured I could do something to cover up the stain. This characteristic in me most definitely comes from my grandmother on my mom's side- she sews buttons on her shirts and pants to cover bleach stains.

This is my tutorial for the modern take on button-covered bleach stains.

Step 1: Acquire target stain.

 Step 2: Pick a design. I thought balloons might be nice, and they would make an interesting pattern peeking out from under a shirt or sweater. Cut the design out of craft foam sheets using scissors and/or an exacto knife. I bought the thickest foam for maximum stampability. Make sure you're aware of how your design will look when reversed, or put the "up" side against the wood of the stamp later if you want it to look just like it does now.

Step 3: Using thin hobby wood from your local home improvement store (sold in lovely pre-cut pieces like this one) measure how big you would like your stamp to be. Make sure your foam piece fits on the wood you are going to cut.

Step 4: Cut the wood! I used our hand crank clamp and a Japanese saw. After cutting, check and make sure you still have all ten fingers. Yes? Good, let's move on.

Step 5: Get out your handy-dandy glue (I used Gorilla Super Glue) and glue your stamp to the cut wood piece. Make sure you know which side of your stamp gets glued so you don't reverse your design.

 Step 6: Brush on fabric paint. I use a brush because it gives a uniform coat, unlike dipping it in paint which can leave blobs oozing where you don't want it.

Step 7: Test stamp on paper. This one is self explanatory, I think.

 Step 8: Begin stamping, reloading your stamp with paint each time. I put thick paper between the front and back of the top just in case the paint bled through. It didn't, but better safe than sorry.

 Step 9: Finish your design, making sure that you covered any stains (if that was your goal to begin with).

 Step 10: Add additional details with a paintbrush. I wanted my balloons to have strings, but then they needed something to attach to. So I painted a fence all the way around the top (including the back).

Step 11: Allow to dry as recommended on your paint bottle, wash as recommended, and wear!

I love how this tank top turned out. It looks cute on its own with yoga pants for a Pilates class (as shown above) or layered under a shirt for school. The only thing I had to buy for this project was the foam, everything else I had as leftovers from various projects. I've already used the leftover foam for a Valentine's Day project, stamping hearts onto the envelopes of Valentines for my friends.

I'm so happy to have saved a tank top from being tossed away and to have saved the stress of finding a new one (they don't carry them anymore where I bought it). I certainly love a project as well.

Enjoy today,
Addie

My beautiful new header

Oh goodness. I cannot start to explain how excited I am about my new header. After seeing the adorable ones featured on blogs (see one here) I dreamed of having one of my own.

My wonderful friend Beth said she would draw me one for the holidays/my 18th birthday. She drew up some ideas, and we collaborated (okay, I gave a little input and she did the rest) to make this beautiful masterpiece. I could not have imagined anything more perfect! She even made the drawing look like me!

Needless to say, I have a new Facebook profile picture and a beautiful feature on my blog. Slice, Serve, Savor feels like a fancy "official" blog to me now that I have a hand drawn, custom made, looks-like-me header. All my thanks to my darling friend Beth for making my blog a better place!

Enjoy today,
Addie

365 photo challenge: Week 5

I'm loving this week! I had plenty of down time (including a day off of school) and managed to not spend an inordinate amount of time in the theater. I tried snowshoeing for the second time in my life (the first was in kindergarten) and had so much fun. It seems like January just flew by, and it still doesn't feel like 2013! Taking pictures is helping me slow down and see all the little things that I would normally miss in this time-flies world.

Enjoy today,

Addie

365 photo challenge: Week 4

This week was the first that I struggled with this project. First, I flat out forgot to take ANY pictures on Wednesday. I really don't know how that happened. Second, I realized once I was in bed, half asleep on Thursday night that I needed a picture, hence the "selfie". Third, I didn't take any pictures on Saturday but the ones of me in my prom dress, which I had to crop since I can't go revealing my dress to the world quite yet. So, moral of the story is that when I get tired, I get forgetful! This week's photos are a bit underwhelming, but I'll try to make up for that next week.

Enjoy today,
Addie

365 photo challenge: Week 3

365 photo challenge: Week 2

This week was a whirlwind. School, rehearsal, Pilates- I keep myself busy. Saturday was my 18th birthday. I had a lovely and low-key time at my scavenger hunt party on Friday and then spending time with my parents and boyfriend on Saturday. I'm enjoying my photography e-course and I feel like maybe I'm starting to get better at this. So, without further ado, here is week 2 of my 365 photo challenge.

Enjoy today,

Addie