It's World Cancer Day! Go to http://t.co/iL9kISBV to get an #istandupfor placard in your native language and join the movement.
B
Monday, February 4, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Your Valentine's Day Shopping Guide..
Well, Valentine's Day is once again rolling around. Please, don't get caught with your pants down (gift-wise, not literally). Here are some great gift suggestions for you:
For Him:
Candy Heart Boxer Shorts from J. Crew
Do I need to tell you why? SO CUTE.
For Her:
Copper Heart Double Album
Fill it with pictures..and memories..and it's the most perfect gift ever. :) Trust me.
There's more to come. :) Happy love day.
Bliss
For Him:
Candy Heart Boxer Shorts from J. Crew
Do I need to tell you why? SO CUTE.
For Her:
Copper Heart Double Album
There's more to come. :) Happy love day.
Bliss
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Public School and the Arts
In RL I have the distinct pleasure of working with artists, artist foundations and not-for-profits of all types.
An friend of mine told me that he knew he'd be a sculptor after he took an art class in junior high school and his art teacher encouraged him to continue outside of his classroom. Because of that, every year he rents out space at an old elementary school and allows up and coming young artists to display their work. The profit for all sold artwork gets donated back to his old junior high school.
Just as an aside, let me just say that the one thing that I've grown to love about artists is that for the most part, despite the stereotypes, they're extremely well rounded individuals. I would even take it so far as to say that some of them are brilliant in their own way. They're not solely focused on the arts - they're often very politically involved and charity and awareness advocates. Their spirit of giving back is ridiculously amazing.
Being a child of public school myself, I can see his loyalty. For many kids public school is the main and sometimes only source of the arts brought into their life. I grew up in an impoverished neighborhood in Brooklyn, and I know first-hand that access to music education and art classes aren't widely available. Let's be honest. You're either running with the gangs are hiding at home to avoid the gangs.
I was incredibly lucky to have amazing teachers in public school that encouraged my creative writing and also provided me information for after-school creative writing groups and classes. I consider myself to be blessed, and I know that having writing in my life has made me a somewhat more rounded person in life.
This month's Concerned Blogger's topic is the arts. How does one become a well-rounded person, and does the arts play a key role?
According to the Morrison Institute, 95% percent of Americans believe that music is a key-component in a child’s well-rounded education. And according to American for the Arts, young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours, three days a week for a year are: 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools, and 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair.
Was this coherent? Let me say it flat out - get involved in your neighborhood and let's save the arts for public schools.
WOOHOO! I should have just started with that, no? :)
An friend of mine told me that he knew he'd be a sculptor after he took an art class in junior high school and his art teacher encouraged him to continue outside of his classroom. Because of that, every year he rents out space at an old elementary school and allows up and coming young artists to display their work. The profit for all sold artwork gets donated back to his old junior high school.
Just as an aside, let me just say that the one thing that I've grown to love about artists is that for the most part, despite the stereotypes, they're extremely well rounded individuals. I would even take it so far as to say that some of them are brilliant in their own way. They're not solely focused on the arts - they're often very politically involved and charity and awareness advocates. Their spirit of giving back is ridiculously amazing.
Being a child of public school myself, I can see his loyalty. For many kids public school is the main and sometimes only source of the arts brought into their life. I grew up in an impoverished neighborhood in Brooklyn, and I know first-hand that access to music education and art classes aren't widely available. Let's be honest. You're either running with the gangs are hiding at home to avoid the gangs.
I was incredibly lucky to have amazing teachers in public school that encouraged my creative writing and also provided me information for after-school creative writing groups and classes. I consider myself to be blessed, and I know that having writing in my life has made me a somewhat more rounded person in life.
This month's Concerned Blogger's topic is the arts. How does one become a well-rounded person, and does the arts play a key role?
According to the Morrison Institute, 95% percent of Americans believe that music is a key-component in a child’s well-rounded education. And according to American for the Arts, young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours, three days a week for a year are: 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools, and 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair.
DoSomething.Org says that students who participate in arts programs are at least three
times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, elected to class
office within their schools, participate in a math and science fair, win an
award for school attendance and win an award for writing an essay or poem.
I could sit here and cut and paste more facts, but the reality is that I know how important having the arts is for public schools. And funding is being cut like crazy. And where does that leave our future generations? Imagine a school with no art, no music, no writing, no plays, and no outlet for creative kids.
What's that old saying? Idle hands are the Devil's tools.
And believe me, in the impoverished neighborhoods of America, the idle hands are a danger to everyone. The youth are plagued with drugs dealers, drug users, dropouts, teen pregnancy, gang violence and worse.
Don't believe me? DoSomething.Org says that only 33% of students
take music classes. Out of 160 middle schools in Brooklyn, 26% of schools don't
even offer music education.
Let's make arts in education a priority. Let's save the future. We can work with Americans for the Arts and help bring the arts to areas that are needed.
Otherwise we might be left with....
Was this coherent? Let me say it flat out - get involved in your neighborhood and let's save the arts for public schools.
WOOHOO! I should have just started with that, no? :)
XOXO,
Bliss
This Public Service Announcement was brought to you by the Concerned Bloggers Association. If you would like to become involved, please contact Marleen Vaughan for more information.
Bliss
This Public Service Announcement was brought to you by the Concerned Bloggers Association. If you would like to become involved, please contact Marleen Vaughan for more information.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Happy Birthday, Dolly!
Little known secret, but I love Dolly Parton!
:) Just sharing a little quote from one of my fave ladies.
Happy birthday, Miss Dolly!
Bliss
:) Just sharing a little quote from one of my fave ladies.
Happy birthday, Miss Dolly!
Bliss
Monday, January 14, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Greetings from 30,000 Feet...
...or however high up I may be.
I'm presently on a flight from NYC to Miami heading to a four day cruise to the Bahamas.
Just a little sunny break during this cold, cold winter.
Wishing you all a great weekend filled with lots of love and light.
B
I'm presently on a flight from NYC to Miami heading to a four day cruise to the Bahamas.
Just a little sunny break during this cold, cold winter.
Wishing you all a great weekend filled with lots of love and light.
B
Sunday, January 6, 2013
It's 2:30 AM....
It's 2:30 in the morning. I've got Wendy's spicy chicken nuggets and a ton of BBQ sauce.
I'll share a thought with you that I just saw while surfing:
That is all.
Happy Sunday.
XOXO,
B
I'll share a thought with you that I just saw while surfing:
Happy Sunday.
XOXO,
B
Monday, December 31, 2012
Goodbye 2012....
This is insane. I feel like 2012 just started..like I was just saying goodbye to 2011 and trying to think of how 2012 would be different.
2012 is still kicking my ass, and now 2013 is getting ready to steamroll over me. Sheesh! Where did the time go?
Well, let's take a look at the year in review:
1. I am now officially well into my 30's. I'm not sure how exactly I feel about that.
2. I went to Quebec City for the first time in my life. I am completely in love with this city. I will absolutely be returning.
3. I've stopped being scared enough to open up and let someone into my heart. I'm still SCARED......just not scared enough to hold back anymore. Mostly because, for the first time in my life, I've realized that someone is willing to love me despite how incredibly broken I am.
4. I survived Superstorm Sandy, but New York was devastated.
5. I lived through several predicted doomsdays and 12.12.12. While that doesn't seem like an accomplishment, it is pretty damn cool.
6. We discovered that my dad's prostate cancer has returned, and with a serious vengeance. It spread to his liver and the lymph nodes in his stomach and back. He started chemotherapy in September, and (knock on wood), so far he has handled everything well. He survived a blood infection that had him in the hospital for 12 days, and just got a clean bill of health from the infectious disease doctor.
We have no idea what the future holds for him, but I know that we have gotten three more years with him than we ever expected - and I am thankful for every day with him.
My year, while somewhat uneventful, has been really busy. Between dad and Sandy, some days I went to bed wondering how I'd get through the next.
But, I did.
And I guess that's the lesson I've learned this year.
So my goal for 2013 is to be more:
and more
and less
I also plan on becoming more environmentally friendly:
I 100% plan on remembering the following every single day:
To close, I want to share the fantastic speech Hilary Swank delivers in the movie 'New Years Eve'. Not a great movie, but this particular speech is extremely moving:
"...it's (the ball) suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by.
To remember both our triumphs and missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt. Because that's what new year is all about -- getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about what if and start embracing what would be.
So when the ball drops at midnight, and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight but all year long."
Thank you for reading my blog, for staying a part of my crazy life (both first and second), and for being a part of my world.
Love,
Bliss
2012 is still kicking my ass, and now 2013 is getting ready to steamroll over me. Sheesh! Where did the time go?
Well, let's take a look at the year in review:
1. I am now officially well into my 30's. I'm not sure how exactly I feel about that.
2. I went to Quebec City for the first time in my life. I am completely in love with this city. I will absolutely be returning.
3. I've stopped being scared enough to open up and let someone into my heart. I'm still SCARED......just not scared enough to hold back anymore. Mostly because, for the first time in my life, I've realized that someone is willing to love me despite how incredibly broken I am.
4. I survived Superstorm Sandy, but New York was devastated.
 |
| Ground Zero During SuperStorm Sandy |
5. I lived through several predicted doomsdays and 12.12.12. While that doesn't seem like an accomplishment, it is pretty damn cool.
6. We discovered that my dad's prostate cancer has returned, and with a serious vengeance. It spread to his liver and the lymph nodes in his stomach and back. He started chemotherapy in September, and (knock on wood), so far he has handled everything well. He survived a blood infection that had him in the hospital for 12 days, and just got a clean bill of health from the infectious disease doctor.
We have no idea what the future holds for him, but I know that we have gotten three more years with him than we ever expected - and I am thankful for every day with him.
My year, while somewhat uneventful, has been really busy. Between dad and Sandy, some days I went to bed wondering how I'd get through the next.
But, I did.
And I guess that's the lesson I've learned this year.
So my goal for 2013 is to be more:
and more
and less
I also plan on becoming more environmentally friendly:
I 100% plan on remembering the following every single day:
To close, I want to share the fantastic speech Hilary Swank delivers in the movie 'New Years Eve'. Not a great movie, but this particular speech is extremely moving:
"...it's (the ball) suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by.
To remember both our triumphs and missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt. Because that's what new year is all about -- getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about what if and start embracing what would be.
So when the ball drops at midnight, and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight but all year long."
Thank you for reading my blog, for staying a part of my crazy life (both first and second), and for being a part of my world.
Love,
Bliss
Friday, December 28, 2012
A Blogger's Dilemma...
So here's the thing...
Blogging can be difficult.
I'm not trying to say I save lives or anything, but it can be a tough task. As a blogger, you have to find a way to put your thoughts and emotions into a coherent post. You need to engage your audience without seeming like you're 1) a moron 2) stuck up or 3) an all around jackass. I think I'm 50/50 on those three - mostly because I blog just to get things off of my chest. Depending on the topic...it can go either way, and I never really know how you guys feel about a blog post. *insert impossibly awkward silence*
Anyway.
Now, if blogging is difficult, fashion blogging is downright IMPOSSIBLE. Fashion blogging is a whole other animal. You've got WAY more to consider, such as:
1. Credits. EVERYONE needs to be credited. If you forget, you're the plague of the Earth. If you mistakenly say one designers name instead of another, you're a liar and a fraud. Seriously.
2. Photos! To be a fashion blogger, you have to take photos. Pics. Snappies. Whatever you call them, you can't blog without them. They need to show you AND the item being blogged about in a flattering light. Otherwise, people will post on your blog that your pics are too dark, or too photoshopped or not photoshopped enough. *exhales*
And above all else, your photo needs to be original. As a fashion blogger, I seriously worship the ground that Stella Stapleton, Sylvia Olivier, Lysie Aristocrat, Strawberry Singh and Marleen Vaughan walk on. Their pictures are always fresh, original, AMAZING and fitting to the blog post. I can understand seeing someone's photo and saying.. "Wow, that's great. I'd love to do something like that." I can't understand "Wow, that's great. I'm going to copy it exactly." Don't do that.
3. Staying Fresh. It's not easy. Believe me. To blog daily is a job I am unable to undertake. So, I try to blog as much as I can when I have the chance. I don't blog new releases. Why? Because if you are a fashion blog reader.....you've seen them. The same dresses, the same jackets, the same hairs, the same skins, the same boots. Why on Earth would you want to read five blogs that post the exact same item during the same one week span?
I like to think that I blog things that are not always mainstream - things you don't always see when you go to an SL party. At least this way, when folks are blogging the new "bloggers pack" from whatever the day's most popular store is, you can click over to the Black Sheep Fashion Diaries and see something different. Not that there's anything WRONG with blogging something from a blogger's pack. A lot of talented bloggers do it, and that's perfectly cool.
But yeah, staying fresh is tough. But it's fun when you can look at a blog post you did and feel that pride and amazing feeling of accomplishment for what you've done.
4. Content. What are you blogging? Some people can blog a flour sack and it'll be really trendy. Others can look like fools. Really, it all depends on how you present it. I love the people who don't say anything about their outfit (aside from credits), but just post song lyrics..or poems instead. It's so cool without being pretentious (and that's the name of the game sometimes). I'm not so much a fan of people that dissect an entire outfit - including the intricate details, yada yada. Ultimately, don't fashion blog crap text (that's a personal preference there. Someone, somewhere may love technical blog posting on fashion).
So now you ask...what started this chatter in my brain that became a blog post chattering at you?
Well. Every now and then this thing happens when people blog the same thing. It happens. Tonight I looked at my reading list and I saw two blog posts that were identical. The pictures, the items being blogged, the EVERYTHING was the same. I'm not saying someone did or did not do something here. I'm just saying...................nothing. I'm actually saying nothing.
But I'm saying something. And I hope if you take anything away from this blog post, it's the following:
I like to read blog posts that aren't a carbon copy of another person's thoughts, emotions, creativity and imagination. And you should too.
I'm Blissie Boucher, and those were my two cents.
B
Blogging can be difficult.
I'm not trying to say I save lives or anything, but it can be a tough task. As a blogger, you have to find a way to put your thoughts and emotions into a coherent post. You need to engage your audience without seeming like you're 1) a moron 2) stuck up or 3) an all around jackass. I think I'm 50/50 on those three - mostly because I blog just to get things off of my chest. Depending on the topic...it can go either way, and I never really know how you guys feel about a blog post. *insert impossibly awkward silence*
Anyway.
Now, if blogging is difficult, fashion blogging is downright IMPOSSIBLE. Fashion blogging is a whole other animal. You've got WAY more to consider, such as:
1. Credits. EVERYONE needs to be credited. If you forget, you're the plague of the Earth. If you mistakenly say one designers name instead of another, you're a liar and a fraud. Seriously.
2. Photos! To be a fashion blogger, you have to take photos. Pics. Snappies. Whatever you call them, you can't blog without them. They need to show you AND the item being blogged about in a flattering light. Otherwise, people will post on your blog that your pics are too dark, or too photoshopped or not photoshopped enough. *exhales*
And above all else, your photo needs to be original. As a fashion blogger, I seriously worship the ground that Stella Stapleton, Sylvia Olivier, Lysie Aristocrat, Strawberry Singh and Marleen Vaughan walk on. Their pictures are always fresh, original, AMAZING and fitting to the blog post. I can understand seeing someone's photo and saying.. "Wow, that's great. I'd love to do something like that." I can't understand "Wow, that's great. I'm going to copy it exactly." Don't do that.
3. Staying Fresh. It's not easy. Believe me. To blog daily is a job I am unable to undertake. So, I try to blog as much as I can when I have the chance. I don't blog new releases. Why? Because if you are a fashion blog reader.....you've seen them. The same dresses, the same jackets, the same hairs, the same skins, the same boots. Why on Earth would you want to read five blogs that post the exact same item during the same one week span?
I like to think that I blog things that are not always mainstream - things you don't always see when you go to an SL party. At least this way, when folks are blogging the new "bloggers pack" from whatever the day's most popular store is, you can click over to the Black Sheep Fashion Diaries and see something different. Not that there's anything WRONG with blogging something from a blogger's pack. A lot of talented bloggers do it, and that's perfectly cool.
But yeah, staying fresh is tough. But it's fun when you can look at a blog post you did and feel that pride and amazing feeling of accomplishment for what you've done.
4. Content. What are you blogging? Some people can blog a flour sack and it'll be really trendy. Others can look like fools. Really, it all depends on how you present it. I love the people who don't say anything about their outfit (aside from credits), but just post song lyrics..or poems instead. It's so cool without being pretentious (and that's the name of the game sometimes). I'm not so much a fan of people that dissect an entire outfit - including the intricate details, yada yada. Ultimately, don't fashion blog crap text (that's a personal preference there. Someone, somewhere may love technical blog posting on fashion).
So now you ask...what started this chatter in my brain that became a blog post chattering at you?
Well. Every now and then this thing happens when people blog the same thing. It happens. Tonight I looked at my reading list and I saw two blog posts that were identical. The pictures, the items being blogged, the EVERYTHING was the same. I'm not saying someone did or did not do something here. I'm just saying...................nothing. I'm actually saying nothing.
But I'm saying something. And I hope if you take anything away from this blog post, it's the following:
I like to read blog posts that aren't a carbon copy of another person's thoughts, emotions, creativity and imagination. And you should too.
I'm Blissie Boucher, and those were my two cents.
B
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)