Geronimo! 26 Tips to Feel Inspired By Life

I was originally going to write this post from the focus of how the songs on One Direction's new album can be applied to life, but I had a firm talking to the 12 year old girl inside of me, and we opted to leave that one for the pages of our diary. The one that my sisters will likely find and read out loud. Typical. But seriously, "Story of My Life"….I can't even.

Instead, I'm letting a project I participated in the other night guide the inspiration for this post. For those who know me, I'm not a fan of setting new resolutions at the start of a new year simply for the sake of doing so. I much prefer the ones that transcend 365 days. At the same time, there is something to be said for being actively involved in any goals, be them new ones or old ones, we set for ourselves.

The other night I got together with some friends to compile a "vision" board and it was an eye-opening experience. The point is to create something that helps you visualize and manifest your goals/dreams. Not to mention, you can appease your own 12 year old girl by creating a collage of magazine cutouts.

Beyond the fun aspect, though, it got me thinking about my future and reflecting on the past, and appreciating the moments that fill the gaps between those two. With those goals and reflections in mind, I've compiled a list of tips I find helpful to appreciating all that life throws your way. As I just celebrated my 26th birthday, we're going with that number. Brace yourself. Excessive adjectives and touchy-feely emotions ahead.

Glam on the Go: 7 Ways to Amp Up Your Wardrobe

Want more ensembles? Comin' at ya!

I'm just going to come out and say it: I love clothes.

Not just the clothes, but how you can mix and match them, what accessories to pair them with, and how they can make you feel ready to take on the world. 

I'm not a person with a never-ending budget, so shopping for clothing is also about getting the most for less. This is particularly true when I'm shopping for outfits I regularly pack in my suitcase for work conferences, short jaunts, or weeks on the road.

I've been on a countdown to fly out to California to see my family this week and as it's the holiday season, I've thus been on the hunt for outfits I can bring home for the occasion. When you have three younger sisters, it's also about what you bring home to share with them. And let's be honest: the four of us girls like to taunt each other with unique finds (while I figure out ways to sneak them into my suitcase before they notice).

Today on What Would Jane Do, I'm bringing you some of my tips for finding outfits to help you stand out from the crowd this holiday season. 

Full disclosure, I'm no fashion expert but I love having fun with outfits and working with what you've got. I have what can described as a quirky style, and will wear the heck out of the things I love. You can click the link to see all my favorite everyday ensembles.

Girl in Transition: Two Years & Counting

"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."    

- C.S. Lewis

I've always loved that quote. I like to think that as you get older, it's discovering the magic in reality that makes for a true fairy tale. If we can discover the happy endings in every obstacle and challenge that comes our way, it's safe to say that one never really has to outgrow fairy tales.

Earlier this week, I marked my two year anniversary with GoAbroad.com and it's been a fairy tale of the best variety - filled with ups, downs, moments that made me laugh and cry, and the kind of learning that comes with a job you truly love.

Working in international education isn't everything I imagined it might be - it's more. It's more work, more persistence, and more passion than even someone as obsessed as myself thought it would be. And I'm not even close to done learning or connecting with others who dedicate themselves to international education opportunities. 

This is what they call a girl in transition. Or something like that. And on this #ThrowbackThursday, I'm jumping back to take a look at two of the biggest lessons I've learned about international education so far. Grab your coffee or tea. It's about to get all sorts of introspective up in here.

Thankful for a Kick@$$ Year: A Photo Essay

What a kickass year 2012 has been. I know, it's not exactly the end of the year yet, but when I woke up this morning it hit me that it was actually Thanksgiving. I mean, when did the end of November even get here??! Can someone explain that to me?!

Even with the speed that 2012 has gone by, it has been such an amazing point in my life and I'm entirely grateful to so many things and people. Rather than go off on page-long tangents about how grateful I am, I'd rather share some of these photos from 2012 with you to better demonstrate how damn lucky I've been - and to demonstrate to every person who has been a part of this journey how appreciative I am that life works out the way it does.

And yes, I've officially turned my Christmas music on while writing this. It's Thanksgiving and that means no holds barred to getting into the Christmas Spirit. The only thing I'm missing is my mom's pumpkin cheesecake. Dreamers will dream, right? Ok, let's do this. Here are a few of the things I'm most thankful for this year:

An Ode to Autumn, Travel and My Father

Does anyone else enjoy how autumn comes swinging into season? Yes, the bad pun was intended. I guess it depends on where you call home. For Northern Colorado, it seems to have arrived over night. Colors are changing left and right and and my level of excitement at getting new boots was probably considered inappropriate. Or not, if you're also a sucker for this season and the wardrobe that accompanies it.

Regardless, the crisp air, crunchy leaves, and variety of lattes I probably don't need reinvigorate my spirit like no other time of year. As the equinox came and went this past weekend, it also had me thinking a lot about my father. Yes, there is a connection that will eventually make sense here.

His birthday falls--another bad pun, get used to it--on the first day of Autumn and this year marked birthday number 52 for him. If you're like me, living far away from family means celebrating birthdays with a phone call and an embarrassing gift delivered via post. It takes getting used to and I still hate that I can't be there in person. At the same time, I've come to realize that's it's also a chance to better appreciate these people.

And my father - dorky, stubborn and peanut m&m hogging man that he is - deserves some serious appreciation.

If Happiness is a State of Mind, Why Change It?

They aren't kidding when they say time will fly when you aren't paying attention. I've heard that saying more times then I can count--and certainly believe it--but I never truly understood it until recently.

A little over six months ago I arrived to Colorado from California to start an exciting new career, and build upon the amazing experiences I'd already accumulated. Some days, it feels like no time has passed at all; on others, it seems like just yesterday that I was pulling up with a U-Haul to my new apartment. In between that spectrum, there are a range of memories and moments I wouldn't trade for anything.

The question is, though, if you've “arrived” to where you've worked your a%* off to be, what's next? How do you sustain the happiness and success you've found? Is it even possible? Here is my answer to that: 

Picture Perfect - Striving Towards Your Future Self

Be yourself....in the here and now

Do you ever look in the mirror and imagine what you might look like five, ten or fifteen years down the road? Do you have an in image in your head of what you should look like and what you should be doing? 

Or maybe you look in the mirror and compare what you see to past assumptions of yourself. Even if you don't recall doing this, we all tend to place some sort of expectation on ourselves. It's natural to want to map out the future, but it rarely goes goes according to plan. The same can be said of how we strive towards our future 'self.'

I started thinking about this when I came across a blogger-friend's post the other day that really caught my eye. Grace is the creator and author of Grace, What Are You Doing? and she always has something insightful to share. After reading her posts I'm continually amazed at how eloquent and meaningful her words are. Her post titled "Decisions, My Future Self & The Value of Being Disturbed" addressed the idea of imagining your ideal, future self and what it takes to get there. Humorous and touching, the post inspired me to reflect on living in the moment with your present 'self.' Whether you're a college student, post-grad, or young professional "trying to figure it all out" (with no clear idea of what "it" is), I hope you can relate to my words of advice.