2013

Well hello again and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope you guys ended 2012 well and are looking forward to a 2013 of happiness, health, and growth.

How did I end my 2012? Well, I was very busy! I was waist deep in projects and finals for the end of the semester which I capped off with three A's, two B+'s and a B. Then, I only had a week to get all my Christmas shopping and preparations done. Between visiting friends and family and working part time, I hardly had a minute to breathe.

Then, I had the brilliant idea to enroll myself in a winter class. Talk about go hard!!! Besides being extremely condensed and early in the morning, the class is pretty cool.

2013 brings a birthday, a new semester, and more responsibilites for me. I'll be focusing on school a lot more, interning, and saving up to begin spreading my wings sometime in the future (insert independent song here). 

Let's see how it goes :)

~ Lisa Lou

Don't Push Me, 'coz I'm close to the EDGE

lweuhc euclg jfcehc dlsfjv fbjnf djngc; gn!!!!

ULTIMATE frustration with what's going on in my life right now. I wanted to have a chat with someone and vent, but who do you share your insecurities with when everyone's looking forward to your success???

Don't get me wrong, there are people willing to listen to what I have to say, but I tend to feel that I've been blessed with so much that I shouldn't be complaining.

I've had this chart on my desktop for a few weeks. It's ample time that I made use of it. 

 

~ Lisa Lou

We're Not in Kansas Anymore..

Project 1 is complete!!! I finished it, considering all the...obstacles..I encountered along the way. I think it came together well and I'm proud of it although I know, as always, there's room for improvement. 

But, this post is about the rude awakening that I had after I worked my butt off. Well, you guys know I started a little late on the project and I was able to pull it together and get it finished. Great accomplishment I think. But NO, my teacher threw me under the bus for not having something every week and that's when I realized, 

Upper division is a killa!

The easy out, quick fixes that I was getting away with before...not gunna work.

Then, I went to church yesterday and basically the sermon was about God doing a new thing; only if you prepare yourself, commit yourself, and change your 'stinking thinking.' So I got the message. I need to work harder. Plain and simple. 

~ Lisa Lou

Project 1

Wondering where I've been? What I've been up to? Trying to get this project done that's what!!! Project one and upper division is no joke. Basically they expect you to really know stuff. The first project is the design of a condo made from combining three apartments on two different floors. I know... O_o. 

I'm not going to lie...I had a slow start. I don't design in the same way everyone does and my new teacher especially has his own style. He wanted us to pick our clients and furniture in one week. I'm here thinking..ummm...where's the programming? what's the back story? how about I see the plan? But nope. So while everyone was designing and starting perspectives, little ol' me was still....THINKING. Not a good look, but the good news is I figured it out and my plan in bangin'!

Since then, I've been living in the D&D building finding pretty fabrics for my palette and living in the "oh so UNinspiring student lounge". You see how desolate it is. It seems like only interior design and illustration students have homework because everyone else is nowhere to be found. 

I'm living like a squatter, lol. I only leave here to shower and get food. I haven't even washed my hair in a week! And I'm still trying to dress cute. I think I deserve major points for not sinking into bum mode. 

Anyway, the project is due on Friday. Wish me luck because I still have a bajillion things to do.

~ Lisa Lou

NVRD

Hey guys. If you didn't know, September 25th is National Voter Registration Day. I'm happy to say...I'm a registered voter!!! Yay me. But seriously, with everything going on in the debates, everyone has their opinions and wants to be heard. Well you definitely have a voice when you utilize your right to vote.

Want to know a little secret? I didn't vote in the last election. I know what you're thinking....o_O what?!?! But I was that stereotypical percentage of the population that didn't vote because they felt their vote wasn't going to make a difference, the issues didn't directly affect them, and I was just too LAZY to fill out a piece of paper. Yes, I'm ashamed of past me too. 

Well! I'm registered now and I'm being active in this here government thing! So cheers to growing up and being responsible. I haven't quite gotten everything figured out. I pretty much see politics like this....

However you view it....let your voice be heard. Visit the rock the vote website for more info. #wewillmakeadifference

~ Lisa Lou

Speak

pic: corbisimages

 One of the things that sets humans apart from other creatures, besides the ability to walk upright, is their mind and their ability to communicate. It's so fascinating how we've developed speech; a way for us to transcend our thoughts and ideas. It truly is a powerful thing.

Even though we have this great skill at our disposal, when tough times arise, we often look elsewhere for help. We try to lean on someone and ask for advice or words of encouragement. We try searching for answers by looking everywhere but at ourselves.

What is it that makes us think, that in our moments of need, we are no longer powerful enough to fix our own problems?? 
SPEAK to your OWN situation

It comes with believing in yourself and having faith that your words mean something. It also comes with determination and accountability. Once you've spoken to your situation, you have to follow through with it. But trust me, it works. I've done it time and time again. It takes time (like everything else does) but it works. Give it a try :)

~ Lisa Lou

Bad House Guests

 Today a report was released listing the 100 most endangered animals and plants in the world. Most of the list has creatures and fauna no one's ever heard of or seen and that's probably why they've been dying off for a while and no one took much notice. The fact is, in this world humans are the most selfish of all the creatures. I mean, they are the only animals to hunt for....fun. Not many of us stop to consider how what we do affects the animals and environments around us because we're all living for the fulfillment of right now. 

The competition between the super powers of the world has them reluctant to change because no one wants to fall behind in economic and technological growth. So, everyone's pushing forward with destruction, construction, pollution and contamination and as a  result, the original inhabitants of the earth, are being displaced, forced to adapt to the new environments we push them into and when they can't survive it, they die. 

Japanese River Otter- Declared Extinct 14 days ago

It seems like humans are the only ones with rights; if an animal doesn't benefit us in any way, then it's existence is irrelevant. The truth is, the animals were on this rock first. It's their home and humans are the bad house guests that keep messing it up.

The African Quagga - Declared Extinct 1883

~ Lisa Lou

Having Trouble Saying How I feel...

Some days things are a little tougher than usual. There might be SO much on your mind and where do you even start to try to figure them out?! Often times, getting the words out immediately do more harm than they help, and it's probably best to keep your mouth closed, take a step back and think .....

Sitting and pondering for long periods of time drives me cRaZy! I just need something to do but I don't want to go anywhere, I don't want to be around anyone. Then I remember, ..there's always music and I can dance dance dance :)

Dance Dance Dane - Lykke Li

~ Lisa Lou

Winding Road

photo: corbisimages

It's the first day of class and after the teacher introduces themselves and gives you a short bio, they're going to ask you to do the same and then there's that dreaded question....what do you want to do after graduation?? Usually this is the part that I dread but before asking us, my teacher basically described an extensively winding road that he took after sitting in the exact seats we're in right now. He did everything from furniture design, to show rooms, to celebrity homes, to TV and now he's extremely successful flipping homes. 

That was the best start I ever could've dreamed of and sitting in the back of class (I was late of course -_-) helped even more because I got to hear everyone else's paths so far and their plans for the future and quite frankly, not everyone has it all figured out.

I AM NOT ALONE!!

The truth is, design school is hard stuff and pretty much the only thing you have figured out if you aren't a design prodigy is that you want to do this thing. The field is so diverse and can transcend into pretty much anything so it's hard to pinpoint where you're going to end up, how you're going to do it, where you want to do it, who you want to do it with..quite frightening to think about. 

The upper division is about refinement and preparation for the work force (wherever we find ourselves). I'm so glad I get this time to work on my skills. Did I mention how excited I am to dive in?

~ Lisa Lou

That word...

photo: corbisimages.com

Bored. When I say it, it means I'm putting everything I have to do on hold to intentionally do nothing. When other people say it, it means they have nothing better to do but sit and complain about the fact that they have nothing to do. I hate that. I for one, can not find enough hours in the day to get everything done! So much so, that I'm ever the night owl burning the midnight oil to get it all in for the home stretch. So here's a few things people should consider before they tell me their bored. If they do, this ---> o_O will be the look I give them. 

1. Get a hobby

2. Volunteer Somewhere

3. Meditate or Journal

4. Organize Something(because I'm totally anal about that stuff)

~ Lisa Lou

Forward Thinking

I stumbled across this list on Facebook re-posted by thisisyourconscience and I thought 'YES' because aren't we always supposed to be moving forward??? No matter what you're doing or going through, there's always room for improvement and room to grow. Despite some of the cliche quotes, it's a pretty nice idea to go by so check it out and I hope it helps :)

~ Lisa Lou

First Post :)

Hey Guys, just wanted to say hi and get this blog thing started!

Why a blog you ask???

Don't we all have way too much going on in our lives and on our minds??

I know I definitely do. 

So here's to growing up and making sense of things, one blog post at a time!!!

Looking forward to sharing my randomness with you ^_^

~ Lisa Lou