New Art
Our city got a new permanent art piece! ‘Austin’ is the newest and last Ellsworth Kelly piece (above) and is at the Blanton Museum of Art. The building has colored glass windows that reflect differently throughout the day. Inside the museum building is a temporary exhibit sharing more about the piece’s concept and inspiration.

Class Differences
I had never thought about class differences with my parents until I read this post. My biggest concern is how we can raise kids who aren’t spoiled and work hard.

First 3D-Printed House
The first 3D-printed house was made in less than 24hrs in Austin this month! Two organizations want to bring this tech and concept to countries like Haiti and El Salvador. Currently, the 800-sq-ft house costs $10,000 each but they’re working to get it to $4,000. I’m interested to see how this pans out and am hopeful that this will be a good solution for affordable and sturdy housing.

Girl Power Books for Kids
I’ve got a handful of mama friends with baby girls, and these kids books are SO GOOD! Speaking of books, I love that the non-profit We Need Diverse Books is promoting children’s books featuring diversity!

#HereWeAre
Twitter released this ad during the Oscars and it’s getting cheers from women. Some people may be wondering why all this girl power is such a big deal. It is a movement towards an equal society where no matter your gender, you are allowed and encouraged to do and dream bigger things.

Barbie Dolls of Historic Ladies
Mattel released new dolls for their ‘Inspiring Women’ series that includes Frida Kahlo, Katherine Johnson, and Amelia Earhart. Their Shero line will feature 14 modern-day role models like Olympian and skateboarder Chloe Kim and ballerina Misty Copeland.

Gun Laws Around the World
Very interesting look at what is required to get guns around the world. Also, March for Our Lives happened this month. It’s a very emotional and powerful subject. I have no problem with guns. I’ve shot guns at a gun range, even an automatic. I don’t have a strong desire to own a gun, so I can’t speak to that side, but I do know that human lives are valuable and some kind of change needs to happen to ensure no more lives are lost.

Viral Breastfeeding Ad
A Gap ad featuring a woman breastfeeding her child went viral and people had lots to say about it. Here’s one opinion.

Turning 30
Blogger Jessica Lawlor turned 30 recently and I contributed to her blog post featuring 30 women talking about turning 30. Take a look here!

Headless Women of Hollywood
This is an interesting project. A woman gathers movie and TV posters with headless women to show the prevalence of objectifying a woman’s body.

Love Letters to Trees
Back in 2015, the city of Melbourne assigned email addresses to trees so that residents could send maintenance requests. Instead, there were inboxes full of love letters to the trees. Some examples here.

Four Keys to Building a Love that Lasts
I don’t have the experience myself but from observations, I know marriage is hard. I liked this article that lists four things you need for a love that lasts. I’m beginning to accept the reality that there is no list, tip, or ability to predict the success of a marriage, and I hope one day I’ll be ok with that. Related, I wrote this post about what I’ve learned about love and relationships.

Vietnamese Refugees
8,600 Vietnamese nationals are currently subject to a final deportation order. Some came to the U.S. as refugee children. You’re privileged if you’re on the right side.

Everyone is going through something
Humans are complicated. Even if everything in our life is going well, there is something you could worry about. We have pasts, failures, and emotions. What life continues to teach me is that it’s ok to talk about them and it doesn’t make you less of a person. You may know Kevin Love by his accomplishments as an NBA player, but in this post, he’s a guy who’s reminding you that it’s ok to talk about things.

Now Listening: Music

• Seeing Blind by Niall Horan and Maren Morris
• A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Pope
• So Insane by Discovery
• Easy by Dragonette
• The Night We Met by Lord Huron
• Space Cowboy by Kacey Musgraves
• Infatuation by Maroon 5
• Wait by Maroon 5
• The Gold by Manchester Orchestra

Something kind of crazy
After three-plus months going through the quick and easy process, I am now on the bone marrow registry. That means I could be called if a patient matches with me. I heard about bone marrow donation through GQ Trippin’s donation experience, and I thought, what if there’s someone waiting for my bone marrow and what if I need bone marrow one day? Here’s a little more info:

• A bone marrow transplant can help save the life of someone with leukemia, lymphoma, bone marrow diseases, immune system diseases, and more.
• Ethnic background is a big part of finding a match, and Asians have a 72% likelihood of finding a match.
• If I am matched, I’ll go through a check-up to confirm I’m able to donate.
• Depending on what the patient needs, I would be donating marrow (surgical procedure) or peripheral blood stem cells (non-surgical procedure).
• If I can donate, the time commitment is 20-30 hours over 4-6 weeks.
• My medical expenses would be paid for by the organization.
• Anyone between 18 to 60 is encouraged to register.
• I’ll be on the registry until I turn 61 and the call could come anytime or never.

I get woozy from getting shots, so I try not to think about the extent of what this would involve too much. Of course, there is always the opportunity to decline to go through with it if I am matched. I know it is a big and scary endeavor, but if I’m healthy and able, I’d be humbled to give someone another chance at a long, fulfilling life.

What’s captivating you lately?

P.S. Where am I right now? I’m probably telling you all about it on Instagram!

Keep up with me! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Captivations v.45: Girl Power appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Natural Products
I’ve been trying to use more natural beauty products because of the possible effects of chemicals. I used Nature’s Gate Shampoo and Conditioner but after many normal months my scalp started rejecting it and I got bad dandruff. I would love to find a great alternative. Have any recommendations? I’m trying Sam’s Natural Deodorant this month.

Less Plastic
One of my goals this year is less plastic! From straws to bags, plastic is everywhere, and it’s ruining the environment and killing wildlife. Here are a few related links.

• 10 Ways to Reduce Plastic
• Tote Bags vs. Plastic Bags – was not expecting this!
• This movie trailer was sad and eye-opening. (The movie came out in 2014 but I haven’t seen it yet.) This article is about the movie.

Lola
Combining natural products AND less plastic, I got my first shipment of Lola tampons. These tampons are made from 100% organic cotton, which means no toxins or synthetic fibers. You can get them with a BPA-free plastic applicator, with a cardboard applicator, or what I did, applicator-less. I was considering the Diva cup but not sure I want to make that jump yet because it sounds…messy.

Write Better
Want to write better? I definitely do! Here are some tips to make it happen. (Psst: reading more is one of the ways to do it!)

The Reckoning of the Restaurant Industry
The restaurant industry has its fair share of sexual harassment issues and top chefs have made the news in the last year because of them. We even saw this happen in Austin where one bar owner removed himself from ownership and another chef distanced himself from the restaurants he started. This New York Times article has some good points about the topic.

#MeToo
After the accusations about actor Aziz Ansari came out, the internet was confused about who they should be supporting. Some said what the accuser experienced wasn’t really assault while others called the #MeToo movement a witch hunt. This NSFW response by Samantha Bee is great, especially this quote: “If we go public with a story, we’re petty crybabies hell-bent on destroying men’s careers. If we write a secret list to protect each other, we’re gossipy shrews telling lies in the shadows. What men literally can’t understand is this isn’t about them.”

Women ultimately want to change the culture that has made any form of harassment ok, which is no easy, quick-fix task. This means going wherever we want and not being scared of harassment. It’s going to involve a lot of discussions and it’ll take time, but we’ll be closer to what needs to happen.

Have you read this NSFW article about Mario Batali and the cinnamon roll recipe yet?

The Reckoning of the Church
While we’re cleaning out the closet, let’s talk about church too. Did you hear about the Memphis pastor who admitted a sexual incident with a teen and his congregation gave him a standing ovation? Or how about Rachael Denhollander’s story? She was one of the gymnasts that accused Larry Nassar of abuse. She revealed that her church pushed her out when she became an advocate for sexual assault victims. I’m sure you’ve heard stories about Catholic priests sweeping molestation of altar boys under the rug. I’m not sure church has a responsibility to be pro-active educators and police but they definitely shouldn’t be afraid to stand up for others and they should certainly be a place where people can get guidance and comfort. They shouldn’t put abusers in power. Thankfully, I know not all churches are like this, and stories like these help further the discussion in churches today.

The Power is Back
How did Puerto Rican teachers and students react when the electricity came back on in their school after 112 days? THIS IS HOW. This is how you know Puerto Rico, while a U.S. territory, is not treated with any importance.

When Breath Becomes Air Meets The Bright Hour
When Breath Becomes Air was one of my favorite books last year. I’m delighted to read that the spouse of the author (who happens to be the twin sister of popular blogger Jo of A Cup of Jo) has found love again with the spouse of The Bright Hour‘s author. Basically, two memoirists died of cancer and their surviving spouses met and fell in love. *hearteyes*

Now Listening
–Tell Me You Love Me by Demi Lovato
–Jealous (Gospel Version) by Nick Jonas
–El Patito by Sesame Street (the Despacito parody haha)

3D Printing with Clay
Watching these videos of the printing process are fascinating, and the finished vases are beautiful!

Now Watching
We flew through the eight episodes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – a very clever show with cute 1950s outfits and another strong female lead by the creators of Gilmore Girls! We also (finally) jumped on the Stranger Things train and watched both seasons. I love the 80s! I’m also caught up on The Good Place, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and This Is Us. (I’m NOT ready for the next episode of This is Us!) What are you watching?

Do you like sentences?
We are obsessed with finding our calling and passion. It seems to be the solution to all our unhappiness. I can’t say that it isn’t but I like that this post makes figuring out what we would like to do a simpler process than we think. When you break it down to the core, does your passion still remain?

Scrapbooking in 2018
As I’ve gotten rid of all my old scrapbooking stuff, I wonder if scrapbooking ever truly goes out of style? Is doodling and watercoloring the new scrapbooking? I can’t stop watching this Facebook video of the process.

Moving On
So, you voted for Trump. You had your reasons and we’re past the confusion about what you saw in him. Now that he’s president, is he delivering on everything you wanted him to? This list speaks for itself.

7 Food Trends
Have you noticed these food trends? No joke, I had a turmeric cupcake the other day. And YES to root to stem eating! Boyfriend is currently trying intermittent fasting to sleep better.

The Power of Journaling
I had plenty of emotional days in high school. I struggled with being a mediocre student, the pressure from my parents to get better grades, the desire to be truly known by my friends, and feeling lonely. I journaled like crazy. I found those journals recently and they were so full of despair and sadness. Studies show that journaling actually helps get you out of a bad mood. I’ve never been consistent at journaling but I know when I get emotionally charged, writing is a great way to soothe me.

Goals Progress
One month down! How are you progressing on your goals? I made strong progress on my 2018 Goals, especially when it came to cooking, reading, and working out. The things I didn’t do well on are things I need to specifically make time for. I’m reading Essentialism right now and it talks about how you can do anything but not everything, which is very different from what I’ve learned. This next month, I want to honestly look at what habits I want to create and if I actually have enough hours in the day/week or if I’m giving excuses to why I can’t make time for it. It’s also smart to think about whether it’s something I truly want to do or if it’s something I feel like I have to do. This all echoes back to my belief that life isn’t set in stone.

What’s captivating you lately?

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The post Captivations v.43: Less Plastic and Reckonings appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

ACL Festival and Portugal the Man
Did you go to ACL this year? I went Sunday on weekend one because I might still be tired from last year. We saw Portugal the Man the night before at their late nite show, and at the festival, we saw Milky Chance, AJR, The Head and the Heart, Vance Joy, and The Killers.

Life is funny. I spotted this yellow smiley face flag at one of the stages. I last saw this flag at Free Press Summer Fest four years ago and as I vaguely write in that post, I was going through a sad time in my life after a break-up. Seeing that flag made me happy to remember that sadness doesn’t need to last forever and I’m thankful for all the growth I’ve had since then!

Read: Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
Option B is a great read about how to respond to grief (your own or someone else’s) and how to move forward. The book centers around the experience of Sheryl Sandberg’s husband unexpected death but also gives stories of how others overcome adversity, including workplace failures. I like that it addresses multiple “elephants in the room.” What do you say or not say to someone who is grieving? It addresses all of these things and issues I haven’t thought about because I haven’t been in deep grief. We face grief and people who are going through grief, so I think everyone should read this book to get a better understanding.

Ramona
It’s a social media manager’s nightmare to accidentally post to your company’s account when you mean to post on your personal account. (Knock on wood, hasn’t happened to me!) Someone at NPR posted about ‘Ramona’ (his child) and it actually was a happy accident because sometimes the internet is curiously kind. I loved the follow-up post with the photo!

Museum for Experiences
This was a very interesting interview with the 25-year-old creator of the Museum of Ice Cream. The mindset of the “museum” is what can easily be categorized as Instagram-worthy rooms. The interview made me feel a little uneasy because our society is so drawn to selfies but I’m glad people are interested in these creative experiences. What do you think?

I’m Nitrox Certified!
The next step in my diving adventures after getting my open water certification and advanced open water certification was being nitrox certified. Nitrox is oxygen-enriched air, which means there is more oxygen than nitrogen in it. Regular compressed air is 21% oxygen while nitrox has 34% and above of oxygen. Breathing nitrox means diving longer (but not deeper), shorter time in between dives, reduced risk of decompression sickness, and less tired bodies. What’s next? Down the road, I could get Rescue Diver and Master Diver certifications but until then (maybe a couple of years?) I’ll be diving any chance I get!

65 Million Refugees
Over 65 million people in the world today have been forcibly displaced from their homes. A new documentary by activist and artist Ai Weiwei called Human Flow is coming out and I think there will be tears. Here’s the trailer:

#MeToo
On social media this month, you might have seen #MeToo flood your feeds. People were calling attention to the fact that they too had experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault. From catcalling, physical touch, offensive language, and more, forms of sexual harassment have become normalized because the perpetrators respond that it was a joke or wasn’t intentional. Why are these discussions (or any discussions, like the ones I talk about later) coming up now? Because we know and want better. This article from The Everygirl about why women stay silent about harassment was informative. I also respect actress Lupita Nyongo for writing this New York Times piece. Moving forward, I think it’s good to acknowledge our societal faults (allowing this behavior) and find solutions. I see you, I hear you, I believe you.

Is it Creepy?
I followed Sophia Bush and Ruthie Lindsey on Instagram way back when and now they are besties and is it creepy that I’ve never met either of them and I follow their friendship? My point is, it was Ruthie’s birthday recently and Sophia posted this about it. May we all find people who are this passionate about community and friendship as this!

Now Listening: Music

• Adore by Amy Shark
• Slow Hands by Niall Horan
• Passion by AWOLNATION
• Take It All Back by Judah & the Lion

Birth Control
This short Facebook video was insightful to understand the disconnect between lawmakers and the people they serve. Did you know 31% of women take birth control because of menstrual pain? Did you know 28% of women take birth control to regulate their flow? Did you know 14% of women take birth control to control their acne? As hard as you try, you’re not going to stop people from having sex. But you can decrease teen pregnancies and relieve pain. The last fact in the video about Viagra makes me roll my eyes!

Wasted! The Story of Food Waste
I’m looking forward to watching this new documentary about how we can change the way we buy, cook, recycle, and eat food. Some of the world’s biggest chefs team up to show us how and tell us why. Here’s the trailer:

Trying to Understand + Braving the Wilderness
This year is the most I’ve been vocal about political-related issues. It’s hard to avoid the conversation and it’s a privilege to be an active citizen. I think it’s healthy to voice your beliefs, have civil conversations, and to keep talking about issues even when it’s not a presidential election year. It’s crucial to keep talking about the issues of race, economy, environment, guns, and mental health because we’ll be starting all over when we decide to bring it up again and it’ll likely be more heated than now. We have to move forward and not stay stagnant.

I read Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown this month (I recommend it!) and it was eye-opening and comforting. America has an ugly history. It started with taking things from indigenous people and slavery. We’re also a big melting pot of cultures, beliefs, values, and traditions, which makes things beautiful but messy. Our history and who we are today has a lot to do with the tensions today.

In the current, tense state of our world, I surround myself with people who think and feel like me. These people post articles I agree with and stand up for things I do. This makes the gap between me and people who do not think and feel like me greater, which dangerously makes interactions heightened. We on both sides have so much pain that we are quick to anger and judgment. We forget that we shouldn’t stereotype groups (ie: Republicans vs Democrats). We forget that even though someone is on the “other side” he/she can be/is a good person. So, I’m trying harder to understand where people are coming from and what pain they are feeling. Maybe that will not only help communities but our sanity.

Read: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
How is American history a result of how our country sees race today? This book might break your heart. But if you want to understand racism and its cost a little, this book will help. There are no words really, only the desire to stand (or kneel) alongside those who have lived this fight their whole lives.

Gun Violence
Maybe we should think about this in a different way to bring change. Read this opinion piece from 2015 and let me know what you think. It’s sad to see that no change has happened since it was written after the Sandy Hook tragedy.

Rohingya
The Rohingya people are an ethnic group of 1.1 million people, majority Muslim, from Myanmar, a country that is predominantly Buddhist. Since 1982, this group has been denied citizenship. They have been raped, tortured, and murdered. Their homes have been burned down. In 2016, the UN accused Myanmar of ethnic cleansing of this group. Refugees of the Rohingya have been pushed back from neighboring countries. A photojournalist documented the crisis. The UN and human rights groups are trying to help. As with any world issue, I think rallying the most powerful (rich) countries in the world to care and back the UN’s efforts will bring change. Here’s an article to learn more.

Heart Transplant
A woman who received a heart transplant ran her first marathon with the father of the woman who gave her the heart. TEARS! Organ donor stories always get me. It’s a beautiful thing to give another human being the ability to live on. If you’re not an organ donor, consider becoming one.

Bright Spot: Dallas Clayton
Dallas Clayton is an illustrator, author, and a bright spot on my social media. I encourage you to check out his website, Facebook, and Instagram to see why!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dallas Clayton (@dallasclayton)

Gratitude Moment
My check engine light came on this month. My car is eight years old and recently hit 100K miles so I had an inkling that things might go downhill. Well, a visit to the mechanic told me it would cost $2300 to fix the problems. The thing that frustrated me the most was that it’s assumed that I need to get a second opinion to make sure they weren’t scamming me. People should be fair and not shady anyways, right??! I gave them the benefit of the doubt and hope karma will take care of them if it wasn’t deserved. I felt so defeated that night I found out that instead of cooking the vegetables we had for dinner, Boyfriend said, “let’s just go get margaritas and eat bad food.” Chili cheese curly fries, wings, and ribs didn’t fix the problem, but it reminded me that I was thankful for savings that will cover the repair costs, a car that has kept me safe and efficient for so long, a partner that’s on my team, and the privilege of the life I live.

Thinking
Would you have hidden Anne Frank and her family? Would you have risked your life for people who were being discriminated and more?

Secret to a Happy Marriage
This feature on Jane and Terry is the sweetest!

Chicken Shit Bingo at Little Longhorn Saloon – an Austin Gem!
You probably won’t find these many people concerned about an animal’s droppings outside of a farm. A decades-long tradition at Little Longhorn Saloon, bingo happens every Sunday from 4-8pm. You buy a $2 or $5 ticket with a number on it and hope the chicken poops on your number. The winner gets about $120 or $300, depending on if you bought a $2 or $5 ticket.  Also, as we sadly found out, there is a ticket with the word “line” on it so no need to judge whether there’s more poop on a particular square; line wins! I’m glad I finally experienced it. Another Austin bucket list item checked off.

A few quick points to make your experience better.

• Parking is tricky. Try surrounding businesses that are closed or side streets.
• Bingo happens outside around the back of the bar but you can also listen to the band and order drinks inside.
• We were there for two rounds since they sold out of tickets the first round. A round takes about 10-20 minutes, depending on how long the chicken takes. They play four rounds every week.
• There are no formal instructions or set schedule. Get there early, hang out, and be ready to jump in line. There are only 55 tickets available for each ticket price so get in line quickly!
• There’s a cash-only bar with a limited selection outside. There is usually a food truck.

Austin Bakes
It’s happening again! Mark your calendars for THIS Saturday, November 4th for the next Austin Bakes fundraiser. This is a citywide bake sale to raise money for all the disasters that have happened recently. Our bake sale last month for Hurricane Harvey relief raised $20,000! Get more info about it here.

What’s captivating you lately? Did you dress up for Halloween? Read any good books lately?

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Captivations v.40: ACL and The Things We Do For Love appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Let’s Talk
Hate has no home here. It’s not fun to talk about and it would be easy to push it to the back of your mind and go about your life. Sometimes that’s necessary for sanity’s sake. But racism and hate are very present in our country and it’s not something that will be fixed overnight or maybe even in our lifetime. Just ask Holocaust survivors who are seeing the happenings unfold today.

I think it starts with humbling ourselves, realizing what we think we know and understand isn’t all correct, and being open to listening and learning. We also can’t sit back and say, “well, I marched a few months ago, isn’t that enough?” The beauty of life is that we are always evolving and improving. Sometimes it’s not pretty going through growth spurts and awkward teen years trying to figure out how to move forward. But it’s worth it to keep trying and discovering what we can become.

Here are some articles that are worth a read. I’m thinking about you and your heart as we move forward together.

• Because This is Important by A Beautiful Mess
• How to Love Your Friends of Color Well by Preemptive Love Coalition
• We are living through a battle for the soul of this nation by Joe Biden
• To my friends who are sick of politics by Motherwise

Texas Strong
Houston and the Gulf Coast was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey, and recovery efforts are in full force. The recovery will take months and maybe years as families and businesses heal their homes and hearts. Please consider donating to the American Red Cross and food banks in the area. Money is better than physical items. Here’s a list of places to donate. Here’s another great list. I’m so thankful for the people in the area who are physically helping with rescue and recovery and fundraising.

Trying Something New
I tried bouldering this month! Yowza! My upper body (fingers, forearms, upper back) was sore for days. You’re supposed to use your legs a lot but on my first visit, it was hard figuring out how to do that when you need to grip the rocks. It was definitely fun trying it out and I’m looking forward to doing it again. Have you tried it before?

Currently Listening

• Don’t Take the Money by Bleachers
• The new Lorde album Melodrama, especially Green Light

Mari Andrew
Mari Andrew is one of my favorite illustrators out there. You should follow her on Instagram for insightful posts like this one.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX5NH6-gtDY/?taken-by=bymariandrew

Craft Breweries Revitalizing Neighborhoods
This is an interesting article about craft breweries and its effect on the cities where they’re located. The number of breweries has grown from 27 to 4,225 from 1985 to 2015 (30 years). WHAT!?! Not only are they creating symbiotic relationships with businesses around them, but they are making areas cool, to describe it lightly. I’ll ‘cheers’ to that!

Here Comes the State Fair of Texas
There has been no shortage of pride in the State Fair of Texas on my blog, and the season is coming around again! Every year, there’s a contest for fried food to be awarded Best Taste and Most Creative. Check out some of this year’s finalists. I believe all of the 10 finalists will be available to try at the fair, which runs September 29 through October 22 in Dallas.

Nine Months
This incredible and in-depth piece about what has happened in Mosul, Iraq by the New York Times is worth a read.

Changing Up the School Lunch
Many kids eat plenty of unhealthy foods, from quick instant fixes to any meal that is not enough vegetables. I’m so excited about this new program in Austin schools and the people behind it that will make lunches healthier. It’s enriching for kids to try different foods because it can spark their creativity and interest not to mention healthier eating habits. This program means the “harmful seven;” which includes high-fructose corn syrup, trans fat and hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors and flavors, artificial preservatives and bleached flour; will not be allowed! Kids getting excited about salad? That would be awesome!

Currently Watching
Ahhhh Game of Thrones has been so intense this season! Have you been nervously watching also? I’m also chugging along with Parenthood and started season five this week. I also watched Lion (on Netflix) and Moonlight (on Amazon). What are you watching these days?

Taylor
The new Taylor Swift single and music video for the single was released this month along with news that her next album will be out in November. If you follow pop culture and Taylor news at all, you might know it is DRAMA. Is the media adding fuel to the flame for the drama? (Yes because ratings.) Are fans and spectators fanning the flames for the media? (Yes because humans love watching drama.) Where is the line between letting the haters hate and standing up for yourself? Do you ignore it and hope it goes away or do you call the haters out? We’re all acutely on the defense these days; we get so worked up about snide remarks and every little incorrect sentence. (ie. Facebook comments are breeding grounds for hate.) Even a comment of “who cares?” will get an angry response about why you should care. It’s GREAT that people are becoming enlightened to who they want to be and what they want to stand for, but can we go back to picking our battles and not reflexively tearing each other down? Too naïve or agree?

Kindness
In this article, I read this line: “In the 50 years since I first met Don, I have never, ever heard a bad word said about Donny Baylor.” One of my co-workers who I don’t see on a daily basis ALWAYS greets me with a big smile and “Hello, Anita!” whenever we do see each other. These two examples got me thinking about how I would describe people and how I would want to be described. More importantly, I know how those two examples make me feel – that I want to be a person that brightens up someone else’s day every chance I get. I want to be known for more than being nice or good at what I do. I want to slow down and make time for genuine connection for humanity’s sake. Shouldn’t that be something we aspire to?

Team Greyjoy
[GoT Finale Spoiler Alert!] We’re all a work in progress. Remember Theon’s big transformation in the GoT finale? He’s done a lot of awful things, some in the recent past. But every moment is the opportunity to do something different to become the person you want to be. The ultimate flipped switch was a long time coming for Theon and the final episode showed a clear example of this season’s theme. We are better than we were yesterday, better than the people that came before us. We work towards better every day with strong people around us.

What’s captivating you lately?

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Captivations v.38: Fighting for What’s Right appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

March has flown by! I lived vicariously through all my friends who went to SXSW event after event. I felt more at ease than the last two months because I’m scheduling less and preparing ahead more. What else is captivating me? Take a look!

Love
This New York Times article might make you cry. What a relationship goal to pursue! The writer, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, died 10 days after the article was published. The article is a bittersweet reminder of how to live and how to love.

BE Conference
I was excited to join my friend Janna at the first BE Conference this month. The best session was hearing from my hero Kristen Bell talk about women empowerment, partnerships, and the hustle. The day was an inspiring program of female leaders who have worked their way to where they are, and it was interesting to hear their stories and encouragement. Here are some tidbits I walked away with:

• Every single founder of a big company stuck with it when things got difficult. (Don’t give up!)
• Be true to what you believe and what you’re building. Filter feedback.
• Do your best work as much as you can.
• Show up and kill them with competence.
• Take the time to be a critical thinker.
• As women, vulnerability is our superpower!

Read: What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding
Reading has been fast-paced this year! One of my favorite books so far is What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman. It’s filled with travel stories and an over-arching story about how Kristin learned what she wanted in life. The book inspired my wanderlust and gave thoughtful wisdom about how to view life. Overall, it was entertaining and I would recommend it for travel lovers!

Goals: Workout 3x a Week
I rocked this goal this month! I took at least one spin class every week (sometimes two) and enjoyed my last month of ClassPass. I haven’t decided if I’ll keep using it but I do have a one-month membership to one of my favorite studios to use first. I would love to run more (cheaper and closest workout to home) but we’ll see about that. I’ve loved rotating between some of my favorite workout studios in Austin. What do you do for exercise? Anything you’d recommend?

Blogger Parties + Crawfish Boil
I’ve loved throwing blogger parties this month! It’s a win-win to promote a business, create fun content, and get to know my fellow Austin bloggers better. I posted about our aerials class at Sky Candy and I’ll have more details about our pole dancing class next month. Boyfriend and I also hosted our 2nd Annual Crawfish Boil!

#ATXBloggerMixer
This month was the latest #ATXBloggerMixer event, and this time it was a workout at SoulCycle. We had a sweaty class and then enjoyed juice and snacks from JuiceLand and cookies from Shortbread Baking Co.

Now Listening
-I listened to Jim Gaffigan’s audiobook for Dad is Fat. So funny! Great read/listen for parents, I bet!
–It Ain’t Me by Kygo and Selena Gomez
–Stay by Zedd and Alessia Cara

Tiny Wardrobe Tour
I’m going through a BIG decluttering process right now. I’ve gotten rid of lots of stuff and am continuing to pare down what I own. This includes half my wardrobe, the majority of my books, and lots of items that I wasn’t using in every room. Seriously, the amount of stuff that has gone to Goodwill, the trash, and recycling is baffling. So, when Courtney Carver, a minimalist blogger, had a tour stop in Austin, it was the perfect timing. While I don’t think I’ll have a capsule wardrobe of 33 items every month like she does, I can do more to live more with less and to own things that I truly love. Her talk was encouraging to pare down my stuff even more and seek out higher-quality clothes that fit well. Any recommendations of where to shop? I’m thinking Madewell and Loft so far. (See more minimalism posts on my blog here.)

What’s captivating you lately?

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Austin City Limits Festival
I crossed off two life list concerts at ACL this year! Willie Nelson was a must-see because of his impact on the music industry. Mumford and Sons is one of my favorite bands, and it was so fun to see them live. I’m already hoping to see them again! Despite the crowds, dust, and after-ACL sickness, it was a fun weekend!

Changing the World
I love this thoughtful and tear-jerking piece by Thomas Davis, linebacker on the Carolina Panthers. It’s an eye-opening account of how he got to where he is today and how he’s making sure kids in his hometown have more opportunities than he did.

Happiness and Regret
This insightful interview with a cognitive psychologist gives findings about happiness and regret. It’s interesting that when you ask a young person what they regret, it’s something dumb they did like getting too drunk, but when you ask an older person in a nursing home, it’s something they never did, like visit a foreign country. So, as you live your life, think “what will I regret not doing?”

I also liked this line about happiness:
“The problem is we adapt to that [stuff we buy] really quickly, and so the stuff we have doesn’t make us happy for very long, whereas the experiences we have make us happy for a long time. And I think sometimes much of our happiness comes from the expectation, the experience and then remembering it later.”

A Letter to the Doctors and Nurses Who Cared for My Wife
Death is never an easy thing to endure, especially when it comes suddenly. The care of doctors and nurses is an impacting part of the process. So, this man wrote a letter to those who cared for his wife for seven days before she passed and who was a thankful source of comfort and understanding.

Thanks, Canada!
Only a few more days until the election season/nightmare is over! Canada made the USA a website and video telling us how great we are to help us endure it. What a great idea!

Lessons Learned While Traveling
This article features insight from nine people who quit their jobs to travel long-term. While I was expecting to read travel tips, I was surprised to find life lessons instead. From appreciating simplicity to finding your true self, these lessons are great reminders of how we can improve our lives, even if we don’t travel long-term.

Sweating at SoulCycle
My friend Michelle at the blog StyleBeacon hosted a workout session at the new SoulCycle in The Domain. Yes, SoulCycle has landed in Austin! This spin studio is popular on the east and west coasts and I can see why. It was a sweaty and energetic workout!

Advice from Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an incredible woman who has paved the way for many women with her hard work and independence. At 83 years old, she is a wise voice on the Supreme Court and in the media. Check out this piece she wrote for the New York Times. I’ll paraphrase one her life lessons: “tune out the haters!”

Enchanted Forest Baby Shower
My friend Corey was thrown an Enchanted Forest Baby Shower this month! Her friends did a terrific job at decorating the house, planning activities, and creating a snack spread. We can’t wait to celebrate baby boy’s arrival!

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Getting Sweaty at The Lab
My friend Amy organized a workout and tasting at The Lab, a new workout studio in downtown Austin. This place is swanky! I love that it has ALL types of classes that I love: cardio/boot camp style, cycling, pilates/barre, and yoga.

The rooftop yoga and cardio area at The Lab

The pilates/barre room at The Lab

Cool and thoughtful design around every corner at The Lab

We tried all four types with owner Beverly, and it was a sweaty morning! Afterwards, we enjoyed bites and drinks from The Honest Bar, their in-house juice and snack bar. If you’re in this area, I highly recommend making this place your workout studio!

Me, Kathy, and Amy enjoying The Honest Bar after all the sweat!

The Lab’s Inspiration Wall upstairs!

How to Speak More Respectfully About Global Cuisine

The result of a recent controversial Bon Appetit video has opened up the food community to discuss how to approach unfamiliar cuisines in a culturally sensitive way. The lesson is to stop, listen, and learn. Read these responses in the Austin Chronicle to open your mind.

On Jealousy
I think jealousy is naturally developed. As we grow older, we want to become better people and better at our skills, so it’s easy to see others who are already there and feel jealousy. Also, our society is driven by insecurities and it plays on our jealousy. I loved this post by Hannah Brencher because it speaks clearly to something we don’t know how to deal with or talk about in our lives. Jealousy doesn’t magically go away. Sometimes the process is long and hard, but with conscious decisions and showing more love than fear in actions, maybe we can get past jealousy.

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Shibori Indigo Dye Workshop
One of my goals this year is to complete a creative project every month. This month I took a shibori indigo dye workshop at HIVE. The result was two very colorful tea towels! How have you been creative lately? Any crafts you’d recommend?

For the Record
Actress Jennifer Aniston wrote a piece on Huffington Post speaking out about the expectations society put on women daily. It’s a great reminder that we should see the characteristics of a person and not only their roles in life as valuable.

Change
I think the word change is always an unconscious ‘word of the year’ in our lives. (See the actual words I picked out for my 2016 here.) We encounter a lot of change throughout the year and many times, it’s only in hindsight do we realize its effects. And then there’s active change. Things we want to accomplish or things we need to accomplish. I like this thought-provoking quote from Nicole about change: “Change is hard because it forces us to confront the size of the gap between our ideals and our actions.” How big is your gap and how do you work to narrow it?

ATXBloggerMixer
Fellow Austin blogger Jesse Coulter and I hosted the quarterly ATXBloggerMixer this month and it was so much fun! It’s always fun to connect with bloggers in real life and talk shop about what we do. I also enjoyed hearing Kirsten, CEO and founder of Raven + Lily speak about how she has grown her company and the importance behind their mission of empowering women around the world.

• Thank you to Raven + Lily for having us at their new store in the Domain Rock Rose!
• Thank you to Mighty Swell Cocktails, Shortbread Baking Co, and Salvation Pizza for the yummy snacks!
• Thank you to Oh Happy Day Booth for the photo booth!
• Thank you to Viva Day Spa, Birds Barbershop, and CorePower Yoga for the giveaways!

Foodies of Austin Unite
Speaking of bloggers, did you know there is a vibrant food blogger community (Austin Food Bloggers Alliance) in Austin? It’s no secret that Austin is a foodie city, and many restaurant reviewers and recipe creators are a part of this group. Check out the Facebook page to see regular posts from members and check out the annual City Guides to find the best eats in town!

On Growing Up
It’s my 10-year high school reunion this year. (Cue all the exclamations of being “old.”) In our alumni Facebook group, people have been posting “where are you now” updates, giving a few short paragraphs about what has happened in their lives in the 10 years since high school. I was thinking about these stories and my story and I think we all ended up ok, despite what we might have thought then. Sure, where we are now might not be exactly where we thought we would be, but we’re smarter and stronger. In reflecting, I’m proud of the personal growth I’ve experienced to become more bold and thoughtful, the degree I earned, and that I no longer have a middle part and bushy eyebrows. What have you learned or are you most proud of in the last 10 years?

Now Listening
Here’s the music on my playlist lately.
“Stole the Show” by Kygo
“River” by Bishop Briggs
“Close” by Nick Jonas ft. Tove Lo
“Never Be Like You” by Flume
“Into You” by Ariana Grande
“Capsize” by Frenship and Emily Warren

50 Best Burgers in Texas
Texas Monthly released their annual 50 best burgers list, so you’re in for a treat. I would definitely vouch for two of Austin’s winners – Chicon (had the burger at Contigo and Gardner) and Hopdoddy – and I can’t wait to try the ones at Central Standard, Clark’s Oyster Bar, Texas French Bread and Second Bar + Kitchen. Have you tried any of these fine burgers around Texas?

Simple Living and Finding Your True Self
Sometimes we think way too much about life and make it more complicated than it needs to be. This simple post on Becoming Minimalist was a great reminder of aligning your values and coming back to your true self. Be sure to give it a read!

What have you been captivated by lately? Any cool articles, videos or products you want to share in the comments below?

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Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Snapchat (@wanderlustanita). You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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