I Did my First Periscope...and it was AWESOME!

Periscope quickly became something I wanted to try after I downloaded it and saw a few business owners and entrepreneurs scoping. They were simply talking about their businesses while sharing their knowledge and answering questions which seemed pretty cool to me!

If you aren't familiar with Periscope, its a live video broadcasting app where people host "scopes" and broadcast video while viewers can chat and send hearts (the native periscope currency similar to Instagram hearts or Facebook likes).

I strongly recommend using Periscope! Here's why:

People came and checked it out as soon as I went live!
It was unbelievable to me that almost 30 people viewed my scope as I was recording it. Trust me. It does not feel the same as it would if you uploaded a YouTube and then you received some views. This was live and people were watching me raw and unedited! It was both exciting and nerve-wracking all the same!

People encouraged you to keep talking.
I invited my best friend to the scope in case no one asked any questions or sent any hearts and in case I was stuck and started to show how nervous I was, he would be able to change the subject for me. But, it didn't happen that way. Once people were there, they wanted to have a conversation and loved tapping the screen to encourage you to keep the scope going by sending hearts!




It was so much fun!
Everything was fun - everything from learning to get over the nerves (because you're being watched live by people you've never met) to answering questions by people you've never met. There are some things I could have done differently, but the learning experience was also so much fun! I can't wait to broadcast another one!

Definitely follow me on Periscope to get notified of my next live scope!

Have you tried Periscope yet? Are you nervous to give it a shot?

10 Things I've Come to Terms With

There are a lot of things in life you'll face in every part of your life. You'll feel out of place in a crowd, you'll have a bad day at work, you'll have to accept certain shows being knocked off the air, and your favorite products being discontinued.

Here are 10 things I've come to terms with:

I am not going to graduate college in 4 years. 
The reason being is because I am double majoring in Computer Science and Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and minoring in Economics. With these heavily weighted subjects and the fact I'm taking 6 classes every semester is why I've come to terms with it taking me longer to graduate.

Pumpkin flavored Iced Coffee is only served in the Fall.
Why Dunkin' Donuts must you take away the only thing that makes me happy?! But, I've come to terms with it, I swear. (Okay, maybe not completely...)

They cancelled that show Jane by Design on ABC Family.
I know it happened 2 years ago, but I've finally gotten over it.

I lost one of my favorite zebra print socks, but I still have the other to remind me it's gone.

Miley Cyrus was once my role model. NEVER AGAIN.

My most comfortable white capris no longer fit my waist. 
I'm not going to lie, I still keep it in my closet in case I ever become a size 0 again. EVER.

Public Transportation.
It sucks and everyone deals with it.

Paying for business services.
I've been running my Fragrance business for 3 years, but refused to pay money to business services such as storefronts, email marketing, and a business phone line because I did not make enough money to be able to afford it, but I've established a balance and am willing to pay for services that I have no experience in so I could do what I do best.

Going to work early and coming home late so I can have Fridays off.
This will pay off in the end, right?

Not eating Frozen Yogurt every day.
It's been my summer tradition since 2013 to have Frozen Yogurt on every summer day - rain or shine. Not anymore. Too much sugar = so not fitting into those white capris.

Summer is Coming to an End

Back in May,  I set out to do a whole lot this summer. I said I would (try) to have fun and not work 24/7, but I also said I would work on my web design business 24/7 which is an absurd contradiction. But, that's who I am. I can't help being indecisive about how I spend time. I've tried and I can't. I also set out to relaunch all my paused projects before the Fall semester starts the first week of September.

Summer is coming to an end and so it's only natural for me to try to revaluate my summer goals and see which ones I could actually achieve before August is over.

Instead of working on my web design business, I have been spending most of my time after work watching reruns of How I Met Your Mother. Something about the show makes me nostalgic of a time where I felt I was a great navigator in my own life. I wouldn't know how to explain it, but I know it makes me happy. Plus, I can't believe how many of these episodes I just overlooked...they're even funnier than I remember. I have also found that there have been blatantly obvious clues about who the mother is in the first few seasons. How didn't I catch them before?! I did, however start creating awesome templates which will be on sale soon!

I made progress on making my blog better. I just added my first media kit as well as advertising options so I can make better relationships with other bloggers. I would also be happy to swap a sponsorship ad or help you get the word out on your blog/business at no charge, just send me an e-mail! 

As for the fun part, it's not something I'm generally good at. Don't assume I'm a boring stick in the mud though. ANYTHING, BUT THAT!

I am pretty funny if I say so myself and I do enjoy working a whole lot. That's fun for me.

Sure, it's not what "normal" people think of as fun. Honestly, I wouldn't know how to have fun with my family on the beach or with my best friend at a movie. I would appreciate it, I just wouldn't enjoy it as much. Does anyone out there understand what I'm sayin'? 

Are there any goals you've set out to accomplish before summer comes to an end?

Essentials for a Conference in NYC

I have been talking about the Live Smart Conference in NYC quite a lot on all my social media channels as well as poking around the subject on my blog. It was truly a great conference and I can't wait to put up a post sharing all the details with you all soon! In the meantime, I thought I would share the essential items I packed in my bag everyday before heading out to the conference in NYC.

Eyeshadow trèStique | Lipstick Forever 21 {Similar} | Blush Sleek Cosmetics {Similar} | Sunglasses Kohl's | Notebook Target {Similar}

I love my trèStique eyeshadow crayon in pink pearl. It's so easy to apply that even I can do it! Plus, it takes less than a minute. I carry it around with me in case I need a touch-up. All of the makeup shown in this photo is fairly small in size so I carry it with me after getting ready in the morning in my pretty Ipsy bag.



For a conference, it's very important for me to take my idea notebook. This notebook was given to me by a pen pal I met while blogging and I've created so much with the ideas I've logged in here. Did you miss that post? Check it out here.  At the conference, I was super excited to be able to log even more ideas I have for future projects.

Of course I had to pack my favorite Guess wallet, a pen, a comb, and my business cards.

Last, but not least I most definitely need my sunglasses. I love this black and dotted pair from Kohl's. I could pair it with any outfit and while in New York City during this time of year, they definitely came in handy. Check out Salt City Optics if you're in need of a stylish pair of prescription sunnies (which always comes in handy while traveling!) Use the promo code 'SunEssentials25' to take 25% off all prescription eyewear this summer!

Thanks for reading about my conference essentials. What would you pack for a conference? 

P.S. Before Sunday ends, check out my advertisement options and get 50% off with code "SUNDAY". 

Links I've Stumbled Upon v.4

I have not posted a list of awesome links I've stumbled upon for some time. I love doing these posts because I often find a lot of useful information and sharing it with those who might find it useful too would be even better.  So, here are some interesting articles I discovered ranging from landing your dream job to money tips you'll surely want to read about. 

♥ Did you know Facebook changes it's icons depending on where you are? How cool is that?

♥ Want to get a job, but the company you're going for is not hiring? Try these tips and make a place for yourself!

♥ Productivity tips from extremely busy people.

♥ Here are hilarious e-mail signatures that people actually use.

♥ 26 Time Management Hacks You Should Know

♥ 7 FREE Coding Courses You Can Take/ Tools to Use

♥ Just for laughs, if you haven't seen pictures of this man who cut the stuff he and ex-wife owned, here it is. Everything from his car to his iPhone has been cut in half. It's hilarious!

♥ 6 Money Tips from Mark Cuban (Billionaire investor from ABC's SharkTank)

Until next time!

10 Things I CANNOT Stand

Those of you who know me outside the internet bubble know that naturally, I am a very enthusiastic and optimistic person. Those of you who only know me through the internet bubble might even feel the same way. My blog and social media posts might just come across with the same positivity that I exude in person.

Regardless, the way I deal with the non-positive is pretty much by ranting about it (not through social media and no I do not go around pointing people and things out, that would be rude!). 

Usually, I complain in the form of a conversation with my best friend and it usually starts out by me saying "You will not believe what happened to me today..." or "Why do blah blah always have to blah blah..."

Now those of you reading this are either charmed by the fact that I am being honest and others might just think I'm just complaining. Either way, I am sure you'll get a laugh or two out of this post. 

So here are 10 things that I CANNOT stand (in no particular order):

1. When people on the bus think sitting on the seat closet to the aisle is okay when the seat near the window isn't taken. NO IT IS NOT OKAY! 

2. When people on the bus sitting closest to the aisle turn on their side to allow another passenger to occupy the vacant seat instead of just moving over. Seriously? Why do people feel so entitled to things? It's public transportation.

3. Girls who wear skinny jeans with flip flops. Umm...did you leave your house without remembering to put on shoes?

4. When people question my intentions or decision making. If it's not effecting you directly, then please log on to leaveitalone.org. 

5. Working in retail is horrible. Take it from someone whose been there and done that. I cannot stand when customers are just rude to those trying to help. Try to be respectful, working in the industry is horrific enough. Keep that in mind the next time you're rude to a retail employee. 

6. When you pickup an iced coffee and it's either too much sugar, too much ice, or not enough sugar and not enough ice. It's not hard to pour ice, coffee, and cream into a cup and mix it. Not hard. 

7. When people overspend money on things they don't need and not have enough to pay for things they do. (Fact: About 75% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.)

8. When people ignore you when you might need help, but are eager to ask for favors. It's a two-way street.

9. When you are running late and you can't find the outfit you set your mind on wearing that day and have to settle for whatever you grab (I end up running late a whole lot, is it obvious? #commuterprob$) 

10. When people who are ill advised on certain topics try to offer you advice on that topic.

What are some things that you cannot stand? 

Reflections on Small Businesses and Corporate Franchises

I have taken quite a few entrepreneurship classes over the past year. In high school, I took a class that spoke towards all aspects of entrepreneurship and I loved it. I was set on becoming an entrepreneur. My first semester of college I took two different entrepreneurship courses. One class focused on the type of a person an entrepreneur must be and how to spark imagination and creativity and act upon it. It was awesome! It expanding my knowledge on what entrepreneurship really is. The other course took ideas and turned them into proven business concepts. These courses excited me and motivated me to become the entrepreneur I want to be.

The other day, I was grabbing a latte at a Dunkin' Donuts near the train station after work. I've stopped by this location several times and every day I see the same employees with a smile on their face while serving customers with respect and I see customers returning the positive gratitude as well.      

I frequent many coffee shops, but this one felt special. I realized how more often than not, those that work in retail, fast food chains, and corporate franchises, either put up a front to seem positive and courteous or stay within their company's means without going the extra mile for customers. I understand it though, each location no matter what the company sells probably gets thousands of customers a day and going the extra mile for every single one, every single time must be hard.

But, when I realized how well this coffee franchise was doing in this location, I reflected on corporate franchises. What inspires these employees to exude a love and respect for their job that leaves each customer genuinely happy? They seem to be working even harder than other franchises to make a brand that is not even theirs more memorable without a reward.

In the entrepreneurship course that explored topics between the type of person an entrepreneur must be, our class had a discussion on what it means to be autotelic. From it's dictionary definition, having an autotelic mindset means to find a purpose within itself.

It's a hard concept to grasp and implement in one's life. Like anything, it takes practice to master.

Putting yourself in the mindset to feel as if you are fulfilling a purpose in everything you do keeps you mentally positive and determined to generate outstanding results.

When you own a small business and need to play all roles within the business; customer service, salesman, marketer, promotor, and the face of the company, it is very challenging to find purpose in everything you have to do to keep your business up and running and your clientele genuinely satisfied.

You have to work hard and it won't pay off until the very end.

My point is sometimes we don't focus on the wonderful energy people put into starting a small business or running a corporate franchise. It's not easy to feel purposeful in such competitive industry.

The next time you are served with a genuine smile and great customer service, remember to thank them for doing a great job! 

7 Things You Probably Didn't Know...

I am usually not one to link-up to blogger prompts created and shared by other bloggers. Sometimes I feel as if my answers/response to the prompts aren't as interesting as the others or if I may be repeating something another blogger has said which is usually the case if the prompt isn't personal. But, this time I discovered an interesting prompt two of my favorite bloggers linked up to so I quickly joined the party.

So here are 7 things you probably did not know about me.

- I have a weird dislike towards eggs. I love omelets and I love little pieces of egg whites in my vegetable fried rice, but I absolutely hate eggs boiled, scrambled or sunny-side up.

- I often get told that I talk too much and too loudly in person, but in my high school marching band I was known as a quiet band member who was switched from playing the trumpet (a loud brass instrument) to a euphonium (a low brass instrument) because my voice didn't project. Strange? Maybe.

- I worry far more than I should about how I am perceived by others. (I hope I am not the only one.)

- If you ask me if like country music, I would say "Heck, no! I'm more of an alternative/indie rock type of person!" and act slightly offended. The truth is, some songs that fall into the country genre happen to be some of my favorites. One I love listening to on repeat currently is "What I Love About You" by Logan Mize.

- No matter what happens on any given day, you'll find me smiling anyway. It's not a staged smile, I'm always exuding positive energy.

- My best friend's name is a secret, but it will be relieved soon and I cannot wait to share that all with you. (HINT: I'm not sure you're prepared for this).

- I hate the phrase "I'm busy" and I try not to use it at all. Everyone seems to use it as an empty excuse and even though I have been guilty of using it as well, it's not a good excuse and shouldn't be used as one. I get it. No one has time to commit to yet another obligation, but has hours on hand to post photos on Instagram and tweet nonsense.

I hope you learned more about me!

Is there something about you I probably didn't know? Leave me a comment! I'd love to learn more about you!

On Niches, Giveaways, and What I'm Up To

Blogging is something that needs to be attended to quite often. If you blog once in a blue moon when something worth blogging comes along, it's a hobby. If you blog a few times a week or even a few times a month routinely then you're a professional blogger. Lately, I have been neither.

Working full-time + (attempting to) restart my first freelance writer gig + fixing up my fragrance shop + officially launching my fully functional web design business + relaunching my tech blog has put me in a situation where I'd be lucky to even spend time with my family and loved ones let alone blog.

Miraculously, however, I was able to put in some time giving my blog a much-needed makeover. The theme is now black and gold and it definitely elegantly describes my little space on the web.

Speaking of, I also redesigned my personal website (ZobiaAlvi.com) with a much more professional approach.

I also decided (FINALLY) that the niche I will blog under will be business. I used to label myself as a lifestyle blogger, but at times that didn't make sense for me so I decided to label myself as a lifestyle and business blogger aspiring to be an entrepreneur.

In honor of my new found vision, I figured I'd throw in some giveaways on the blog to represent my seriousness in getting back into blogging.

If you have any ideas for a giveaway, are hosting a group giveaway, or would like to be part of a group giveaway, please share in the comments below! Thank you for reading this blog update, I hope I can pickup the speed soon and start blogging on a regular basis soon!

$250 Starbucks Giveaway

I have been hinting at throwing a giveaway on my blog throughout a variety of previous posts. Since I decided to improve my blog this year after pretty much abondoning it while I was working on other projects and what not.

Regardless, it truly makes me happy to get back into the blogging community and the best way to do that is by hosting a giveaway with several other awesome bloggers. So, here's to spring, blogging, and the love of coffee! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by: Jenn's Blah Blah Blog // Simply Sinova // LABELTWENTYNINE // All That's Glittered // Memoirs of a Clueless Woman // Lush to Blush // The Eternity Journal // The Queen Life // Orange Marigolds // Parenting Healthy // Brewing Insights // K O T F W | Blog // Here We Go Again Ready  ♥ Giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck! 

Giveaway ends 5/8 and is open worldwide. The winner will be notified via email.

Are you a blogger who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your blog? Click here to find out how you can join a totally awesome group of bloggers!

Dreaming of Berlin

I was browsing through the study abroad program at Montclair State University and I found an economics program in Berlin, Germany. This happened last spring right before I was accepted into the university as a Computer Science and Business Administration with a concentration of Finance major along with being an Economics minor.

Let's rewind back a little more, almost four years ago in the summer, I discovered an app called Wunderlist and I loved the app's concept, the company's' beliefs on productivity, and the beautiful way they presented those concepts and beliefs. 

Although I was only fifteen at the time, I had saw a recruitment ad on their Facebook page stating that they were looking for either a website developer or UX (User Experience) Designer.

Having had experience in website development and a hunger for experience in graphic design, I jumped on the opportunity to find out about the position and even apply as an intern if I could.

I was completely qualified as a website developer as per their requirements at the time. Wunderlist (company branched under 6Wunderkinder) didn't have an age requirement listed. 

So why didn't I go for it? Their headquarters is located in Berlin.

I have written reviews about their products on my tech blog several times and adored their inner-workings from afar. 

Within these four years of college, I will go to Berlin, take on that study abroad trip and work at this wonderful company. It just feels right. 

Is there a city you have dreamed about visiting? Have you studied abroad? I would be happy to hear some experiences! 

10 Reasons I Look Forward to Daylight Savings

After spending this Saturday with my little sister at the mall, I realized I was pretty damn excited about no longer working at Kohl's. I remember leaving from that horrible dungeon of hell with high hopes that I will never settle for a part-time job or even a full-time job that barely pays anything and crushes any aspiring goals and dreams you might have. If you're not trying to get into retail, THIS is the definition of a dead-end job. I figured with all the time I have not having my soul pushed into a tiny tube called the cycle of consumption would allow me to find my way back into the person I want to be.

At the mall, we picked me up a White Chocolate Raspberry Latte, shopped a little and had dinner at Panera Bread. All I have been doing this week is studying for exams and in a sense it made me feel empty - I want to be the person who makes things happen for herself and breaks out of this daily routine life. The last two photos in this collage show me catching up on blog reading after a hectic week and dreaming about Berlin, Germany - the city I want to study abroad in.

I had stopped by hell to use some Kohl's cash I had and didn't want to go to waste (by the way, if you shop at Kohl's and your Kohl's cash expires, you can still redeem it a few months after it expires if you ask. I've even seen people redeem Kohl's cash from 6 months prior. Literally, a customer had $90 in Kohl's cash from May of 2014 and redeemed it November 2014. You can get away with anything if you ask). One of my ex-coworkers had asked "Don't you miss it here?" as she rang up my purchase and to which I without hesitation replied "NO! NOT AT ALL!" 

I came home to checking through e-mails and browsing blogs to come to the realization that it's time. It's time to finally push the envelope I've been trying so hard to push for so long. 

So I'm wrote this post at 3 AM, right after Daylight Savings changed the time from 1:59 AM to 3 AM because I'm excited for these 10 reasons:

1. The Days are Longer! Just thinking about how awesome it would be to have the sun out while I'm commuting home from college is overwhelming! 

2. The Winter is ALMOST over. Hasn't this winter just been horrible? 

3. Spring is coming! This means trips to the park, light jackets (bringing out my favorite leather jacket again - that makes me happy), and allergies! (Wait, allergies aren't something to be excited about...who cares? It's spring!) 

4. More Iced Coffee. 

5. Ballerina flats instead of boots.

6. Soon I won't have to use the excuse "Its too cold/dark too go out."

7. More time to do things I want and be that person I want to be. April 3rd is going to be my official launch date for my web design business, Little Eternities. This is the date I chose and I'm sticking to it! 

8. Here's something you might be excited for, more giveaways for all my loyal readers and newbie followers too! Because hey, why not?

Today I am giving away this cute iPhone 5/5S case from icing. Enter to win at the end of this post!

9. 85 percent less of a chance of waking up on any given day and feeling sluggish. Soon, the sun will almost be up before 6 AM, I'll be thrilled to get up every morning! 

10. Daylight Savings has been one of the factors today that led me to pull out my iPad and just start to write.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you excited about get the days being longer? Are you ready for Spring? I know I am! 

10 Things I Learned at the Smart Girls Conference + Review

A few weeks ago, I attended the Smart Girls Conference hosted by the Smart Girls Group. I became a member of this online group some time in 2012. The group empowers young women to network with each other, help one another, and ultimately live a well-rounded "smart" life. There is no membership fee for joining the group, all they ask is you to contribute your passions and interests to benefit the group as a whole. My contribution is writing for technology column on their blog called the Smart Girl's Loop. I enjoy writing for their blog and reading articles written by other girls just like me. 

This group was only a virtual network I was a part of until I decided to attend their very first self-hosted conference. The conference overall was an awesome experience! It was the first conference I ever attended and it exceeded my expectations completely. 

There were several interesting guest speakers ranging from media, blogging, fashion, and career, keynote presentations, lots of food and snacks, and incredible gift bags. Speakers such as Stephanie Ruhle from Bloomberg news, Makenzie Horan from Design Darling, Carly Heitlinger from The College Prepster, Kayla Webley from Marie Clare, Renata Mutis Black from Empowered by You, Lauren Lally from RewardStyle, Brenda Berkman the first woman firefighter of NY, Arthur Woods from Imperative, Shiza Shahid the CEO of the Malala fund, Soraya Darabi from Zady and many more! 

All these speakers and presenters had great things to offer over the course of the 2-day conference. I learned a whole lot (10 things in particular that I would like to share) from the presenters and attending the event itself. 

1. Saying I can't do this because (I have a family, I go to school, I have a job)... is not an excuse. You can make time for anything that is important to you.

2. Work hard on yourself, don't be hard on yourself. I took personally to this lesson because I am one to always be hard on myself, but it shouldn't be that way. We are all here to progress, not to finish the race.

3. Don't compare yourself, your brand, your blog, and your company to others.

4. Be sweet and kind to everyone, all the time, in every way.

5. Finding your purpose is a continuing process.

6. Take a vacation away from work, travel, and relax. Don't worry about work changes and deadlines while you're gone. When you come back, everything will be where you left off.

7. Traveling into NYC is not as hard as I thought it would be. I traveled to and from NYC both days of the conference and the second day I even found myself knowing where the nearest Starbucks was in order to pick up some coffee before the conference. 

8. Becoming a grown-up means tailoring your professional decisions according to who you want to be as a person. 

9. Media gives you the perception that success happens over-night, but you don't see the seven years of hard work that happened before the success.

10. Networking is hard to do. It's not easy approaching someone you don't know and making a good enough impression to hand out a business card that leaves them remembering who you are.

It was a great experience, I was able to meet so many of the people I e-mail and network with online, in-person. I even met the founder of the Smart Girls Group, Emily Raleigh. She's a wonderful inspiration and a very strong leader. Plus, she's only a couple years older than I am and she managed to create this community of hundred of girls striving to be successful! 

I am certain I am attending next year's conference and you should too! If you do, send me a tweet and we'll exchange business cards!

P.S. This gift back was awesome and I love the Day Designer Planner by Whitney English!

It Happened...I Graduated

Graduating high school may not be such a big accomplishment to many people since hey, it's just high school and all you really have to do is graduate with a sub-par grade point average, just enough school credits, and a decent attendance record. If you ask me, it's really not a hard thing to do. I am not celebrating the fact I graduated in this blog post. I am celebrating the fact that I was able to push through the finish line these past four years, did what I needed to do (regardless of what was going on around me), performed better than most academically, and was able to learn and grow beyond what what was being taught in school.

These past four years I was a member of our school Marching Band, member of the Future Business Leaders of America and then eventually President, someone acknowledged by teachers and faculty as a student with outstanding potential, and most importantly known as a well-rounded person. Graduating high school isn't an accomplishment to me, but that is. 

I am very grateful to have found myself in various instances in which I was tested to see if my true character would advance. It really is a great feeling knowing that instead of simply graduating and leaving high school, I left behind a little trail where I hope many of the people who I have come to know through those years will one day follow and celebrate even bigger achievements with me that I hope to have accomplished by then.

Here's to a new stage to advance from or in my best friend's gaming language, a new level to clear. 

Links I've Stumbled Upon v.3

I have been missing in action from my blog lately, but I am back and I figured a great way to start blogging again was with another addition of "Links I've Stumbled Upon", the series of blog posts in which I share some interesting articles and blog posts I have found all over the internet! 

♥ If you have any of these 5 characteristics than you're probably an entrepreneur! 

♥ Ever wonder what happens to your social network accounts after you die? Although, it's a scary thought, this is pretty interesting. 

♥ Become a millionaire by 30. Read all about it here. 

♥ Did you know your Gmail account comes with multiple e-mail addresses you didn't even know existed? Check this out!

♥ Are you familiar with the virtual currency of bitcoins? Well, did you know you could buy a Dell laptop in exchange for them? Find out more.

♥ Start your day off early and you'll actually find yourself to be more productive. Here's 5 reasons why.

It has not been easy this past month for me and I am still trying to get things together. I work at a new job which I am not exactly excited about every day, I have not been able to complete anything I set out to do this whole time, and although I always considered myself a night owl, I think I have been in need of a timely sleeping schedule. How has your summer been? Are you getting things done or barely holding on? 

Links I've Stumbled Upon v.2

I love scrolling through my Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest feed and finding interesting content. It's really cool to discover new things, tips, apps, hacks, and stuff. Although I set out to do these posts every Wednesday morning, I figured it could get a bit boring every Wednesday on my blog. So I decided I'll post once every couple weeks or so that way I could make room for diverse content as well! Here are some awesome articles I've stumbled upon this week.

♥ Being a millionare starts with a millionaire state of mind. Learn how to be a millionaire...

♥ This article is awesome. It left me feeling motivated and inspired to start my own business in just 10 days!

♥ Saying no will make you a better entrepreneur and a much more productive person. It's okay to give off a polite decline sometimes.

♥ Ever wonder where money actually comes from? This is extremely interesting.

♥ 17 Things Extraordinary People Do. I didn't even realize doing these things made me an extraordinary person. It's a great read!

I've been very motivated about reading about finance, money, and entrepreneurial characteristics lately. I've been reading these articles after coming home from work and they really seem to make me happy.

This Summer I Will...

After my high school graduation, this will be the first summer that I am free to do as I please. Throughout high school, every summer was dedicated to Marching Band and last year it was both Marching Band and my first work experience/internship. This summer all of this ends so I made a list of some things I would like to accomplish this summer and before I go start college in the Fall.

This Summer I Will...

• Officially launch my website design business (A name and more information will be released soon!)
• Hopefully finish my novel (or come pretty close to finishing), Within the Bindings
• Really get down to business with Fragrance Essence and take it to the next level
• Catch up on writing journal entries from 12' (I am pretty far behind, aren't I?)
• Create my first Windows App for Fragrance Essence 
• NETWORK! NETWORK! and well, just make new friends. 
• Go on an adventure with my family!
• Start driving on my own
•  Attend my first conference
• Take a trip to NYC on my own!
• Spend a day with my best friend doing something out of the ordinary (go bowling, laser tag; etc)
• Get back to freelance writing
• Start focusing on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Coding
• Develop my own portfolio website!
• Spend lots of time with my family! 
• Buy lots of maxi dresses!

As you can see this summer will be focused on my businesses, my professional career, and my family! What will you do this summer?

Links I've Stumbled Upon v.1

I love scrolling through my Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest feed and finding interesting content. It's really cool to discover new things, tips, apps, hacks, and stuff. So I decided that every Wednesday morning to post a list of some interesting, inspirational, or helpful stuff I've stumbled upon.

♥ Want to start a business and need an idea? Here are 55 business under $5,000 to start. 

♥ If you're like me, procrastination is one of your skills. Doing these three simple things could help you keep your brain focused.

♥ Your financial situation can actually affect your happiness...to an extent. Read all about that here.

♥ Wondering how entrepreneurs stay productive? Here are 11 productivity hacks that you'll enjoy! (This post includes lots of useful links!)

♥ What is the true cost of owning a website? Find out here.

♥ How often should you update your website and why is updating it so important? Answers to your questions are here. 

Hope these business, website, and productivity articles were helpful and interesting! 

Being Your Own Hero...

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Lately everything has been rushed.

I have been avoiding a lot of my overdue tasks and even though I do, I still feel the weight of it all falling down on me.

Create one major client website. Create two client blog designs. Finish this semester's homework. Get back to novel writing. Re-do my web design business. Venture out my fragrance business, Fragrance Essence. Write a MEANINGFUL blog post. Make a college choice. Organize my desktop files. Edit my personal calendar.

Okay so it's just a handful of tasks, then why am I so taken aback by them? Well, it gets a bit complicated.

I don't have the motivation I used to (or tried to have) to get things done. I lounge around in my night gown, get my butt off the couch for a completely non-healthy snack at Dunkin' Donuts and come back home to browse the interwebs as if I have no responsibilities.

During those "lounging-around" days I convince myself the work I have to do is a waste of time and then I find myself rushing at the very last minute to get things done.

Clearly, I need someone to force me to do these things. I need a hero.

Last night at literally 1:51 A.M. I believe I became my own hero.

I took down a piece of paper from my bulletin board and started to scribble random thoughts. I started by writing a few things I liked, jotted some ideas on what I'd like to do, and then I started creating new tasks that I was actually excited about doing. A simple creative spark is what we'll call it and it led me to writing up this blog post and thinking...all I really needed was a place to start.

Lesson here: being your own hero means getting out of your head and taking one small step towards your goals.

Do you get unmotivated often? Who/what is your hero? 

The How I Met Your Mother Finale...

The How I Met Your Mother finale was to say the least interesting. This post is actually extremely hard for me to write, I've had 3 cups of iced coffee today and as I write...I still think I should have more.

However, before I start going into my views on the finale, I want to begin by stating that this show meant a lot to me. I started watching this show during the summer. All eight seasons on Netflix then onto CBS for the final season. I loved the way the show made me feel, it made me happy, it made me laugh, and it taught me a few things about love. Though just like other TV sitcoms, other How I Met Your Mother viewers probably felt the same way.

The show captured the long and incredible story of how the main character, Ted Mosby played by Josh Radnor met his kids' mother. It was a story that detailed every turn in his life and every little step that brought him to the desk he sat in telling his children the full-on story.

The story was beautiful and after every episode, I felt more reassured that Ted will find the love of his life. Throughout it all, I fell in love with Marshall & Lily's relationship (played by Jason Segel & Alyson Hannigan) and the slightly surprising, but wonderful match that Barney made with Robin (played by Neil Patrick Harris & "Cobie" Smulders). So naturally, Ted and the mother's relationship became one that I had high hopes for and in the final season, I was happy to see their relationship unfold a bit.

The writers, producers, and everyone else behind the creation of this show did great, they made all nine seasons (minus the very last episode) pleasant (although sometimes heartbreaking) and just out-right breath-taking.

The finale had lots of ups and downs. The ups being the fact that Ted finally met the Mother and she was perfect. She was everything Ted seemed to have wanted and much more. She was loving, charming, and made Ted feel like the luckiest man on earth (because he was). The other up being that we were able to see Marshall & Lilly grow their loving family even more.

On the other hand, the downs being Barney & Robin getting divorced after three years together, Barney impregnated some random woman (as part of one of his old Playbook schemes), the Mother, Tracy (played by Cristin Milioti) becoming sick and then dying, and the biggest down...the person Ted finally ends up with is Robin.

This in simple terms just broke my heart. 

Ted finds the woman he loves deeply, he starts a beautiful family, and tells his children his life's complete journey on his quest to find the "one" and as it so happens...no matter how much he loved the Mother...she ended up not being the "one".

For a little personal perspective, I must say finding the "one" will be a magical moment for me. I believe there is only one person you can ever truly love. Sure, love is infinite and one may love many people...but there is just something about the "one" that makes you realize why no one else could have ever been the "one".

Tracy was just a love in Ted's life. She was not the "one" fans like me were hoping for. She was just the mother of his children. Robin was the "one" all along.

This is crushing for fans that believe in true love since we were set up to believe Ted would find that love with the Mother of his children. That was the love we all thought Ted was looking for, but instead Ted only always had a place in his heart to be with Robin.

Barney was a great match for Robin, they seemed messed up in their own ways, but they were madly in love. It didn't seem fair to me that Barney spent all these years loving Robin only to give it all up in the end.

It made me feel like true love doesn't exist and that life goes on whether you have found it or not... It really took away the magic of this series from me.

Not everything in this world has to be realistic. Too much realism takes away our love of life, our motivation to become better humans, and definitely defies the definition of life we're all secretly trying to find.

Beyond that, Barney never found real love as he raised his daughter, Ellie. Marshall & Lilly kept their family together which was a sweet touch. But, overall, the episode was not bad, but my aching heart says otherwise. Ted could have moved on from the death in another way (even with another person) as long as the Mother was the last person he was with...as long as she was the "one" he truly loved.

I trust you all to take it from here. What are your thoughts? How did you feel after the finale?