It’s the middle of January in 2012. Also, my blog has been neglected for months. And yet, I’d like to share with you my New Year’s Resolution(s) like the cliché that it is.

The most fantastic thing I’ve read in a long while was from Meg Worden: Eat Like an Artist. I read it out loud to my husband (he liked it, also). Then, I printed it out and taped it to our kitchen wall just before people started arriving for our New Year’s Eve celebration.

I intend to, yes, eat like an artist and below is an outline of some of my other intentions for the upcoming year.

Here it goes:

• I’m now vegan, officially, again. Recommitted and inspired to stick with the lifestyle, even here in the Midwest. No excuses.
• Move: to stretch, jump, walk, dance, run, squeeze, lift, swim, bend, and otherwise not be still. This I intend to do at least 30 minutes of everyday.

• Hydrate for the skin, the brain, and the body. This also means more frequent restroom breaks. Ha!
• Coffee is for coffee shops. No more silly coffee from the office coffee maker that’s average tasting. When I want to indulge on the black stuff, it will be enjoyed at the best coffee shops around. This implies less coffee for me, too, as I don’t have time to sit and enjoy a soy latte every morning.
• Stop the silly habit of watching TV in bed just before nodding off. Turn off the MacBook and pick up a freaking book!

So, how does one with such lofty goals begin?

21 days.

Reset button.

My most efficient reset button for eating habits is a cleanse. This time I’m going with a completely new one (to me): Kaeng Raeng.

Schedule.

Goals.

This might be the most important motivating factor for me. I’m going to be in a wedding in Panama. In February. And I’ve got to wear a slinky dress, and go with friends to a beach, and wear less clothes as it will be super hot. So, yeah, there’s that.

And what are your intentions for 2012? I hope you are dreaming big, as that’s the only way. ”I’m the hero of the story, don’t need to be saved.”

Here’s to the best year yet!

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One of my favorite blogs, Lovely Bicycle, is giving away a road bike. I know, so exciting! She is accepting bike ride reports to enter the give-away through the end of the week, and I decided to join in on the fun. My husband has a road bike and enjoys long rides by himself, but my city commuter simply could not keep up so I have yet to join him on rides outside the city. A road/touring bike would be a fabulous addition to our one-car, multiple-bike family!

I have yet to post an update on Designing 4 Life about my new bike, Alice, and how we’ve been getting along. So, this give-away is the perfect reason to share with you a recent bike ride Alice and I shared.

Below is my “ride report” which is my first attempt, so bear with me folks! Enjoy…

My favorite bike ride is my commute to work and back home, so I will share with you what a typical commute looks like for me, documented through iPhone4 photos and my silly ramblings.

The ride begins on a warm summer morning. I dress for work in a sensible black dress with tights for comfort. Note that it is cotton and tends to fly up, so I use safety pins and make the dress pantaloons. I have a sweater in my purse for the office, as it gets quite chilly with the AC. If it’s really warm I won’t wear my helmet, but I will bring it with me for the ride home. Sometimes I’m at the office late (boo, I know) so I have my bike equipped with front and rear lights for the occasional night ride home, which is also why I always bring my helmet.

I work approximately 1.6 miles from my house, so the commute is minimal and I simply have no excuse not to ride due to the short distance. Even though the distance is short, there are many sights along the way. Sometimes my husband rides downtown with me and works at a local coffee shop, which is a nice time to chat in the morning during our ride.

I ride through my alma mater, Drury University, everyday. Riding through campus is calming, and gives me a healthy dose of nostalgia. Not to mention I avoid a doozy of a hill and two sets of railroad tracks with this route. It’s great to ride slowly by bustling students going go class, a sort of excitement in the air with hope and fresh ideas. I also get to admire some of the best works of architecture in this midwest town, and as an intern architect the buildings always keeps my design eye happy.

Along my route, I pass by the local high school girl’s drum line practicing in the parking lot before school. They are loud and sassy, part of the ride’s soundtrack (if there was one). Then, riding past the local dry cleaners, which hasn’t changed in decades (love the retro sign!), I remember there is drycleaning I need to drop off that is still hanging in my closet. There is also the cutest Subway next door, but I haven’t snapped a photo of that building on my ride yet.

At the stoplight of a major intersection, Alice takes a break and I look down at the flowers pinned to her handlebars. I double-check the security of my things, and take a quick snapshot of the moment. My large purse fits in the Wald wire basket perfectly!

After the stoplight changes and just after crossing the intersection, a wonderfully wide bike lane appears on the bridge. Also on the bridge is one of the best views of downtown, but I’m always too afraid to stop and take a photo as it is a fast road here with no sidewalk. Then we reach an old-fashioned burger joint named “Taylor’s” and the bike lane ends. I continue on the same road, though, with traffic that is courteous enough as we have reached downtown with more pedestrian and bike traffic. A few more blocks and I’ve made it to the office, where I proceed to haul my bike up one flight of stairs to park it in the safety of the office (we work in a turn-of-the-century brick building with no elevators).

Arriving to work a bit early, I freshen up by using some wet paper towels. Breakfast after the ride includes some fresh fruit and always coffee. Then it’s time to boot up the computer and get to work!

After work, my favorite part of the day is riding home in the hot afternoon. Sometimes I stop by the gym on my way home to get a more rigorous workout, and park Alice by the creek (below).

I love slowly pedaling home on the quiet streets, having the road without cars. By the time I open the front door of our Midtown house, all of the stress of the day has lifted.

Thanks for reading my first ever bike ride report. I hope to share many more ride reports with you here in the near future!

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As I’ve been sharing my daily happenings using the wonderful instagram app, I thought I would share a bit of my snapshots. The following images quickly paraphrase this summer for us. Enjoy!

Hope you are having an enjoyable summer, getting plenty of sunshine!

To your summer tan,

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It’s hard to start writing. And finish what I was writing. Hence the big pictures and vast time between blog posts. Sorry about that folks. Glad you could stick around. There’s plenty more to share, the hardest is finding the time to sit down and write.

I’ve been consumed with designing, construction administration (yes, things are being built right now that I drew!), marketing, organizing PechaKucha Nights, and so very much more. Still no excuse to leave you hanging, dear reader.

There are so many places to interact, connect, and catch up on the web, and now that I have a fancy iPhone, there are plenty of apps to update everyone. I thought you might like to know what’s happening lately, so I’ve compiled a list so that all you creepers won’t miss out.

Instagram: Follow me @designing4. Instagram is like Twitter for iPhone owners that are more into pictures than words (totally me). Post pictures of your everyday happenings with one click to Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, email, and all of your followers. This amazing app takes great photos, too!

Pinterest: Remember bulletin boards? They are a great way to keep inspiring pictures and clippings together to remind you of a great color or pattern. Pinterest has created a way to “pin” pictures super easy from your web browser and catalog it to a specific categorized board. There’s even an app. Fantastic!

PechaKucha: 20 slides x 20 seconds per slide x numerous creative people = an amazing quarterly event. If you are anywhere near Springfield, Missouri, we would love to have you out! I foolishly signed up to be the founder/organizer for this global organization here in Springfield, and haven’t looked back since. Next one coming up is #3 on July 1st, and then #4 on September 23. Oh the distance I’ve come… this introvert planning community events!

Don’t forget about the basics, either: I’m always on Twitter, and Facebook is a great way to know when a new blog post is up.

Alright. Now you have properly been informed of the best ways to stalk *umgh* follow me from your smartphone (or “iNeglect” as my lovely man calls it), laptop, desktop, HTPC, work computer, or maybe even an Apple store. Enjoy.

“You can do anything, but not everything” -David Allen

Sweet dreams,

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…or you could simply call it goal-setting, setting your intentions, asking for what you want, knowing what direction your going, or painting a picture of your ideal life. Whichever speaks to you, go with it. What’s important is that you do it.

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.

-Rumi

Here at Designing 4 Life, I hope to create a place to inspire others to design their life. Here we can create, surround, & grow in beauty and abundance. As I just started writing less than a month ago, I plan to develop my voice and focus in on things that really matter. Right now there are 5 categories, which may be a bit eclectic. These are things I know about, can write about, and I’m passionate about all of them. Over time, the focus may shift to narrow in on one topic. For now, though, relish in the variety of posts and know that each one is written with intensity and love.

Paint your picture,

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…from scratch.*

Oh, yeah, we’re going big time. I was skeptical I could pull off a vegan pie. But this recipe is soooo easy and simple.

‘Tis the season for kitchen fun, and I’m here to bring you the best flavors of the holidays… vegan. After all, it’s Vegan Mofo time!

I suggest making this recipe the night before, so plan ahead! It will take a few hours (not prep time, just oven/cooling time) so factor that in, too. It’s worth it, I promise. This makes 2 Vegan Pumpkin Pies:

Ingredients

Happy Pumpkin-ing!

*I was going to make the crust from scratch, but then soon realized I didn’t have a rolling pin. So, not technically from scratch.

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I used to make the wimpiest salads that didn’t keep me full for long, which leads me right to the snack drawer a few hours after lunch. A better salad was needed to sustain me throughout the afternoon and into the night. Enter: The Better Salad.

Best Lettuce

Forgo the iceburg lettuce, and reach for a variety of different salad bases:

• Romaine
• Spinach
• Arugula
• Dandelion Greens
• Butter Lettuce
• Swiss Chard
• Kale

Nutritious Toppings

• Leftover veggies (zucchini, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, asparagus, etc.)
• Tomatoes
• Shredded Carrots and Beets
• Sprouts

Ingredients to Keep You Satisfied

• Avocado (a must!)
• Quinoa (a grain, like rice but with more protein)
• Brown Rice
• Nuts (pecans, walnuts, pine nuts)
• Hemp seeds (tons of protein, and great substitute for parmesan)

Light Dressings

Skip the Ranch and other fattening, calorie-high bottled dressings, and make your own quickly. Here are my favorites:

• Lemon Juice + Sea Salt
• Balsamic Vinegar + Olive Oil
• Sesame Oil + Red Pepper Flakes + Tamari

See? A salad doesn’t have to be boring or leave you wanting more. And be sure to take the time to chew, as absorbing all the rich amounts of nutrition in a Better Salad requires this. It also allows you to slow down, and take the time to enjoy a meal.

Have fun building,

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To prepare for the mighty job interview, I like to write down some big questions and try to come up with the answers. This exercise gives me the right frame of mind going into an interview, and prepares me for some of the things they will ask me.

Here are some of the big questions I like to ask myself:

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Why are you pursuing this profession/lifestyle?

How are your dreams going to become reality?

When are your goals going to be achieved?

Who is going to help you? Who are you affecting?

No one can truly, accurately, precisely answer these questions. BUT (and that’s a big but) trying to answer them gives you a huge advantage on this winding journey of life.  Also, I consider these questions the framework of all interview questions. If you can answer the above big ones, your answers will lead you to the more focused questions the interviewer will ask.

Beyond the Interview

The questions not only prepare you for a job interview, but can clear up any doubt you may have about your chosen profession. If the exercise just muddies up the picture, then you simply don’t have the answers yet. That’s fine. As long as your working towards the answers, albeit cloudy, then they can come into focus in the future.

Clear as mud?

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This is the first post of a series on Designing 4 Life of me reviewing products. I do not get paid for the reviews, but sometimes the links to the product will be affiliate links. I will always keep my reviews honest and helpful, so you get the most out of the review and have a first-hand account of the product before you buy. Know that I would not recommend it if I was not super excited about the product!








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You may have noticed the book I have displayed to the right on Designing 4 Life, called Simply Car-Free. This e-book is one that I highly recommend if you are thinking of changing biking to your main form of transport.

The E-Book Format

First of all, I love the e-book format, as it is paperless and you can travel weight-free with as many books as you like. I used to work as a freelance graphic designer designing e-books for a living, so I have an intimate relationship with the format. It is also a great way for independent publishers to share their work, and create a living for themselves. This is exactly what Tammy Strobel is doing, and I find her so inspirational.

The Book

Are you in debt? Do you want to save $8,000 per year? Are you out of shape and want to loose weight? Do you want to lower your impact on the environment? These are all good reasons to get on a bike and leave your car at home (or sell it!). But now, where to begin? This is where Tammy Strobel steps in, to answer all of your burning questions about biking to work, the grocery store, in the rain, and with traffic.

Tammy’s writing is really helpful, to the point, and shares simple tips to apply right now. She talks about everything from reasons to go car-free, shopping for the right bike, and safety tips. I love how she skips out on the filler text, and tells her experience with as few words as possible. It makes for a fast read, but one that is extremely effective. What I like the most is that she lives this lifestyle everyday, and gives real life stories to help us learn how to go car-free and live a simpler life.

Tammy has whipped me into shape on getting a bike, having a yard sale, and taking control of my finances. All from an e-book about going car-free that I read in a few hours! I’m constantly rereading Simply Car-Free, as there are little tips and tricks that I’ve applied since I first read the book. I am so glad to share this with you, and hope that you find the book as helpful as I do.

Extra Stuff

There is a section in the back filled with links to articles and blogs that will keep you busy for weeks reading, and not just about going car-free! There are some great tips on simplifying your life, minimizing expenses, saving money, and creating a more meaningful life. This section alone has helped me create Designing 4 Life, following her sound advice and recommended readings. I am also on the path to simplifying my life by minimizing the amount of stuff I have, and focusing on life experiences that really matter. Experiences like long bike rides with your love!

Personal Update

One of my goals this year is to be mostly car-free here in the Ozarks. Right now, the bike I got from Craigslist is in pieces and I’m waiting for some parts to come in from an online company. Once I get it put back together, Pinky is going to take me to the grocery store, work, dinner dates, and joyrides. I would love to see you out and about on your bike, too!

Tammy and her family have recently gotten lots of exposure in the media, so I’m sure her book is flying off the (hypothetical) shelves. Be sure to order your copy and join in on the fun Tammy has had lately. There’s even a cash-back guarantee, what’s to loose besides that belly?

To Long Bike Rides,

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Thank you for supporting my writing by utilizing affiliate links contained in this post.

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Once I wrote Part I of How to Keep Track of Your Favorite Blogs, I realized there was much still to write about. After all, the world of RSS readers is vast. In steps Daiane, a fabulous fashion blogger and semipro internet user. She wonderfully offered to write the first guest post for Designing 4 Life on the subject of different RSS readers. I will let her take over now…

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As you surf the Internet on a daily basis, it is very likely that you continuously keep up with many blogs and sites. Or maybe you just want to have all the news in one place so you can read them at a later time.

Enter the RSS reader. If you’re not familiar with the term, check out Amanda’s previous post. Once you are, read on and find out what options are available!

Online readers

These are recommended for light, easy reading. There are hundreds of them out there. How will you know which one to choose? This are my top three choices:

1. Bloglines (Beta) -> http://beta.bloglines.com

I used this one for three years. It has a classic interface for a RSS reader: reading list on the left, posts displayed on the right.

It also has the key feature that any RSS reader should have: marking posts as “read” once you scroll past them. This option saves incredible amounts of time and it is only available in the beta version.

As much as I dislike to admit it, Bloglines Beta was getting slower and slower at news aggregation, and most of the time it got stuck or denied showing me the feeds. It was time to end the three year long friendship and search for something better.

2. Google Reader -> http://www.google.com/reader

A very good competitor to Bloglines. The interface though looks heavier and a little bit confusing. Google loves to add on top of the page various gadgets like a search box, an “add subscription” button and other such things, which make the reading space become less important.

3. Bloglovin’ -> http://www.bloglovin.com

The launch of Bloglovin marked a new era in the world of RSS readers. Instead of having panels with blogs and posts, you have short summaries on the homepage. By clicking on these, they take you to the original website (still under Bloglovin) from each you can browse further either by keep reading your own subscriptions or by clicking away on anything else on the specific page. You can return anytime on Bloglovin, mark favorites, read the next feed etc.

Desktop-based readers

As a semipro Internet user, not all of my needs were met by the readers above: I wanted autonomy, self-management and, most of all, social features for sharing what I read.

If you are anything like me, this is what you should look for:

1. Free of charge readers: not all desktop-based RSS readers are for free (or at least not fully-featured). If you are not a business-head, you probably won’t need all the complex extra features.

2. A user-friendly look: If the color scheme, fonts or features don’t make you want to use it, just click the download button. Look at the screenshots (where available) to help with your decision.

3.Download the latest version. I know this may sound silly, but the existence of multiple versions of an RSS reader means that the product is being updated and improved on a regular basis. Take a look into the comments section to see what people are saying: some of them maybe be developers and have something to say that can influence your decision, be it good or bad.

What I use now:

As you can see, I experimented a lot when it comes to choosing and using an RSS reader. After a few trial runs with various RSS readers, I decided to keep Sharefire (-> http://sharefirereader.com). This is a completely free, open-source reader. What sold me on? The possibility to switch between the feed and the real website (without leaving the reader), the smart topics option and the social sharing possibilities.

What RSS reader do you use?

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Daiane is an architecture student by day, fashion blogger by night, & occasional geek. She has been running her website since 2007. You can also find her on Twitter @sweetdaiane and Facebook.

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