Several people asked how I made my world map after I posted a photo on Instagram. Well...I can't take all of the credit, because I got the idea on Pinterest. I think this may be the most successful craft project I've attempted after finding it on Pinterest. And just know...if I can do it, then so can you.

 

What you'll need:
3 canvases (I used the ones that come in the two-pack at hobby lobby
World map (I bought mine ab Books a Million, but I'd imagine you could find them on Amazon as well)
Modge Podge
Brush

The hardest part is measuring your map and knowing where to cut it. For a reference, I cut mine along the 75 and 155 degree longitude lines. Leave room to wrap the map around the edges as well. You will also need to trim the top and bottom considerably. I lost Antarctica on mine...oops.

Once you measure and cut the map into thirds, the rest is easy. Spread a very thin layer of Modge Podge on your canvas using a sponge brush. Make sure it is thin and even so you don't end up with wrinkles like mine. Unless you want to go for the old, distressed look.

Finally, carefully lay one section of your map over the first canvas. Starting in the center, smooth the bubbles out of the map, working your way to the edges. I like to think of this process like putting a screen protector on your phone. Let your canvasses dry laying flat overnight.

If you love to travel, begin placing pins on each of the cities you've visited and watch as you see the world, on step at a time.

I have a love hate relationship with Mondays. On one hand, it's the end of the weekend and I hate to see it go. But on the other, I feel most refreshed on Monday morning after getting adequate sleep for the last few days. And then it's a slow downhill slide towards Friday. And then we begin the cycle again.

No matter your take on Mondays, whether you are for it or against it, here are two prints to download. Hang them up in your cubicle and make the most of your Monday.

download HERE

download HERE

I hope you are enjoying your weekend so far! Mine is being spent getting my hair done and waiting on the rest of my furniture to be delivered. Oh, and there is also lots of Mad Men being watched. Have I mentioned that I have a habit of not starting shows until their final season? It happened with Harry Potter (a book, but you get the point) and I didn't start reading the series until the fifth book came out and I found myself reading all five books within days. So I decided to give Mad Men a second chance, and it's amazing how watching more than an episode every few months can get you hooked on a show. And now I don't have to sit through months in-between seasons.

1. You might recognize a few of your favorite bloggers in the documentary "American Blogger." I'm excited to watch it, but somehow I'm more interested in the filmmaker's trip across the country to film it.

2. Z mixed two of my favorite things, blogging and magazine design, for a school project. And I'm a little jealous that I never thought of the idea in some of my classes. 

3. Mother's Day is coming up and she would love to receive this print.

4. Lauren shows off our my favorite crepe stall in Paris...which just happens to be next to my two favorite falafel stands. Go to both, and be sure to order a cup of the mint tea while you're at it.

5. Mackenzie does a weekend in Austin right. Her photos and itinerary is everything I would want from the lone star capital. Less "keep Austin weird" and more "eclectic j crew."

That's it for today. I'm off to work on designing my own prints to hang up. And who knows, maybe they will be up here for you as well :)

The sun is shining. All of my winter clothes are carefully tucked away in my spare closet. And now I'm left dreaming of getting comfortable in a little cabana tucked away by crystal clear waters, preferably miles away from shrieking children building sand castles and splashing in the waves. 

What is inspiring you right now?

I am a creature of habit. I drive the exact same routes, wake up at the exact same time and listen to the same playlists over and over until I have the transitions memorized. Although I've been told people with entrenched habits and routines are more likely to develop alzheimer's, it isn't enough for me to give up the comfort of routine. 

I read this article about how people with strict morning routines are more creative. The habit frees up space in your brain for more interesting and important thoughts instead of "Will I shower or eat breakfast first today?" Also, you begin to crave the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing a routine. It's actually quite fascinating.

My morning consists of quickly scrolling through my Twitter feed from the night before (even though I know "they say you shouldn't immediately grab your phone first thing in the morning. Whatever.) Showering followed by the top of the news cycle, typically Good Morning America, while I drink my coffee and eat breakfast (toast with jam and a banana.) Those 30 minutes could be spent under the covers a little longer, but that's the time that I begin to feel like I can actually take on the day ahead. And finally there is makeup, hair, picking an outfit, and packing up all my snacks for the office. And I'm off.

I'm more of a morning person than a night person. And thankfully I was able to work out a work schedule of 8:30 to 5:30, which, (one) allows me to miss the worst of the traffic, and (two) gives me a little extra "me" time when I feel the most alert and productive.

Even in college I took the extra time to wake up a little bit earlier to develop a routine instead of racing around trying to look as presentable as possible before my first class. Perhaps you love working out first thing in the morning. The key to making that happen is by ingraining the action into your morning sequence that you don't have to even think about "where are my shorts? socks? tennis shoes?" Or maybe mornings are your time to write and spark your creativity. Whatever it is, by doing it in the same order morning after morning, you'll have more brainpower to think of the exciting things in life.

What about you? Do you have a routine set in stone or do you begin your day however you feel like it at the time? 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. Mine was spent back at home making use of my birthday gift to get my nails done. Best two hours I have spent in a while. I also went to the new Mexican restaurant by my parent's house, ordered the tortilla soup, and was unpleasantly surprised when they brought out a watery-brothy soup that was like the evil twin of tortilla soup, which I just assumed was tomato based. Wrong. So wrong. Note to the chefs, broth and tortilla chips do not mix well. It was a mushy hot mess. But the fish tacos were spot on, so they made up for the horrible soup. 

Last week I had a lot of things that I wanted to check off my list, such as read this month's book club selection. And well, last night when I went to download it on my Kindle I discovered that it is the only book not available as an ebook, so I'm off to pick it up after work tomorrow. I also wanted to go to bed earlier, and besides Thursday night when I just had to watch the Scandal finale, I think I did a good job with that. I also made an appointment to get my haircut next weekend and worked on editing some of my older posts to make sure the formatting and links are all up to speed. 

And on to this week: 

Find a dentist. And sign up for dental insurance.

Thankfully I can stay on my parent's primary care plan, and just have to get dental. But the whole insurance process kind of baffles me. So I'll be calling around hoping that someone on one of the cheaper plans is currently accepting new patients. 

Find out where the nearest hospital/ER is to my apartment. 

After a brief stomach pain, that in my mind just had to be an appendicitis (for the record, I wasn't sick, I just had one too many spoonfuls of cookie butter), made me realize that I'm not 100% sure where the nearest hospital is. I know it has to be close because there are a lot of doctors and nurses in my building leaving at 4:30 a.m. for work. But I thought about it, and in a state of emergency, I don't think I would be able to navigate myself using my phone's GPS. And I don't know my neighbors well enough to ask them to drive me. So I should probably work on this.

I'm writing this before the season finale airs so to not be tempted to, or accidentally, give away any details about last night's episode. I know that once a season ends, I go through some serious Scandal withdrawals. So much so that I always end up starting back at the beginning and watching all the episodes. In my opinion, the first season was brilliant and the show is slowly going downhill, but I'm invested in it, so of course I'm going to stick it out until the end.

Question...am I the only one who is getting extremely fed up with the Olivia and Fitz tension? Because I'm over it. So over it. 

If you find yourself wondering what you will do in these next few months without our favorite lady in the white hat (and impeccable white suits, coats and gloves), here are my favorite quotes from my favorites at Pope and Associates.