The Life, The News

Wanted: A Deeper Dive Into The Success of Kate Spade

"I think it took people a while.  Even my family -- my sister was working at Gucci and actually called me and said, 'We're all pitching in for Mom for Mother's Day to get her a Gucci bag,' and I thought, What?! Are you serious? because they really didn't think it would be much...." - Kate Spade … Continue reading Wanted: A Deeper Dive Into The Success of Kate Spade

Adulting, The Life

Home is Where the… Work Is?

At the start of April, I moved to a new city and began working remotely from home. On the surface, this sounds wonderful.  Like a godsend.  A blessing.  I had hit the jackpot.  I was able to retain my job.  I no longer need to get up early to prepare for and commute to work.… Continue reading Home is Where the… Work Is?

Graduate Life, The Life

A Fiction Girl in a Poetry World | Marginalia

Another one of my blogs is up on Columbia College Chicago's Marginalia blog! In an earlier post of mine entitled “Life, Magic, and the MFA,” I mentioned there being think-pieces on how Creative Writing programs may stifle creativity by forcing a growing writer to limit their art to within the self-imposed confines of a label. I also… Continue reading A Fiction Girl in a Poetry World | Marginalia

Graduate Life, The Life

Don’t Die in the Winter | Marginalia

Another of my blog's is up on Columbia College Chicago's Marginalia blog! In middle school, my mother let me read one of her books on spiritual/faith-based growth entitled Don’t Die in the Winter: Your Season is Coming. I can’t remember everything about it, but have since resonated with the basic gist—keep persevering, pressing through the hardships because better days… Continue reading Don’t Die in the Winter | Marginalia

Chronicles of a Christian, On Spirituality, The Life

A Bible Favorite: Jacob

When Tony Trigilio introduced author and professor Aviya Kushner (The Grammar of God) during a reading series event hosted by Columbia College Chicago's Department of Creative Writing in the fall, he recalled a question she'd once asked him. Who's your favorite prophet?"   Trigilio, the Chair of the Department of Creative Writing, said he was amazed… Continue reading A Bible Favorite: Jacob

Graduate Life, The Life

Catching My Breath

Unlike some schools, Columbia College Chicago's winter break lasts a really long time. This year's fall semester officially ended December 18 and the spring semester won't begin until January 25. A month. That's a pretty nice chunk of time. What does a second year graduate MFAer do? Read more of my latest post for Columbia College… Continue reading Catching My Breath

On Spirituality

The Bible & the Nerd

Recently (since September) I've begun growing spiritually.  What does that mean?  For me, it means transforming my faith (Christianity) from a noun into a verb which means actually reading my Bible daily and going to church regularly and praying/thinking of God more. This is, in part, due to my now attending a church that has… Continue reading The Bible & the Nerd

The Life

Jada, the Oscars, & The Artist’s Recognition

It's been less than a week since the Academy Awards announced its nominees for the 2016 Academy Awards last Thursday, January 14.  But it didn't take long for fans to notice the glaring lack of diversity: For the second year in a row, there were no people of color nominated for Academy Awards in any of… Continue reading Jada, the Oscars, & The Artist’s Recognition

The Life

Hello 2016!

Self-control is the ability to control one's emotions, behavior, and desires in the face of external demands, to function in society. In psychology it is sometimes called self-regulation, although that is itself a somewhat broader concept. -A super-quick Google search I am now able to admit this publicly: I lack self-control. This finally hit home… Continue reading Hello 2016!