College Prepster Digital Brand Review

What an amazing entrepreneur from the start! I have followed Carly's blog since I was in high school. She is a wonderful example of a true self starter. She has grown with social networking through the years. She may have started with with only her blog, but she now utilizes FB, Twitter, Pinterest, and other outlets that she uses to further extend her brand. 

One thing that Carly could due is possibly let her brand grow as she does now that she has graduated. I know it is hard because her whole identity is focused around "College Prep", but sometimes it is good to have change. She is a fabulously devoted and motivated woman. I don't understand how she does it all! 

She also has a lot to say about personal branding for those who are looking to aid their own brand! 

The Instagram Debate

For a while I have hesitated with Instagram. I first thought that it eliminated the appreciation for good photographers or good photography. I thought that with the ease of the app cell phone photography would eliminate the need for the hard work put into the knowledge of a camera and its inner workings. 

I have changed my mind. I now have joined the pack of glorious people that adore Instagram. It is an adorable little app that makes your photographs all the more personal and aesthetically pleasant. 

For example: 

I especially love using the Instagram-editted photographs on this blog! It gives it a warm, cozy, and delightful feel. [in my opinion:)]

They also give your Facebook wall a little artful delight when Instagram links them!

smiles & sunshine 

DF

Unexpected Library Adventure

I have been wanting to go the library FOREVER. I came out of there with 9 CDs and 5 books. I would say it was a pretty successful adventure. 

nothing excites me more than a stack of books and CDs

ALBUMS 

1. Ben Harper's Both Sides of the Gun. Ben Harper is a musician that I do not listen to as much as I would like. He's a feel good, rainy day type of artist. I am quite excited that I finally have some of his music. 

2. Mat Kearney's Nothing Left to Lose. There are a few hits from Kearney's other album Young Love that I really enjoy. I am glad that I now have the opportunity to feel out some of his other work. 


3. of Montreal's Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? of Montreal is a band that I constantly hear word of, but I have never been able to experience them for myself. I have listen to the album one time through since I checked it out and I enjoyed their eclectic sound. They are similar to Animal Collective in a *slightly* tamer way. 


4. Van Morrison's Veedon Fleece. I suppose I needed some old school in the mix. I am currently reading Steve Jobs' biography, and Morrison is mentioned every now and again. It was fresh on my mind so I thought I would borrow it. 


5. Fleet Foxes' self titled album. Love them. Just a good solid sound. They are always coming on 91.1 KLSU which is in my opinion the best college station. 


6/7. Modest Mouse's Moon & Antarctica and We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. Love them once again. Modest Mouse rocks.


8. Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robot. This CD is the beholder of one of my absolute favorite songs. Do You Realize?? is up there with the greatest love songs ever written despite it being not your "typical" love song. If you haven't listened to it stop reading this post and listen here!


9. Jeff Buckley's Live at Sin-e. My situation with this throwback is similar to the Morisson album. I just don't listen to him enough. 

BOOKS

(all titles are links to see a summary)

1. The Greatest Show by: Michael Downs. I will start this off by saying I loved Water for Elephants just like many others. This book is similar in a few ways, mainly because they are both about circuses. I immediately wanted to read it after reading the back. 

2. Groupon's Biggest Deal Ever by: Frank Sennett. Who doesn't love Groupon? Also, who wouldn't like to hear about the "greatest deal ever"? On the cover it says: "The inside story of how one insane gamble, tons of unbelievable hype, and millions of wild deals made billions for one ballsy joker." You know a book will be good when on the cover the adjective "ballsy" is used. 

3. Girlchild by: Tupelo Hassman. The title struck me. It made me think of Jungle Book and the use of the term "man cub". This book is a darling little tale of a girl and her love for girl-scouting without actually being a girl scout. 

4. Sound by: T. M. Wolf. The first thing that caught my eye about this beauty is the size. It is not the size of your average novel. It is larger and closer to a square. Also the way the inside is laid out is also quite interesting. It is a book about an average guy. It looked intriguing and different. 

5. French: Step by Step by: Berlitz. We have to French students coming to stay with us in a few days, and I am taking French next semester. I have passion for the language that I can't what to kindle. 

I hope y'all enjoy my library adventure as much as I did! 

smiles & sunshine 

DF

Simple Acts of Kindness

There are so many simple ways that you can brighten someone's day! All these acts (as I have come to realize) also brighten your own day, so it is a two way street of happiness! 


1. Thank you cards are something that can easily brighten someone's day. When I say thank you cards, I don't mean an email or a typed up document. I mean a sweet little card that has your effort put into it. When you write a card and hand deliver it or mail it, it shows that you really care. You can give a thank you card, it can be for anything. It could be for a gift that you got on any kind of special occasion. It could be a act of kindness, watching your child, house sitting, pet sitting, helping you study, hosting an event, volunteer work, ANYTHING! 


2. Also acknowledging a person with a compliment or a kind hearted hello/how are you can be a wonderful way to make someone feel special. Along with this, including someone's name in one of these "small talk" conversations is a great way to make someone remember you or make things more personal.


3. Now the last thing has some southern terminology. Happies or sussies are little presents that can have a reason or could also have no reason at all. I love this! Everyone loves getting a little present every now and again. Also if you make them, they mean even more! 

flowers from the farmer's market
downtown- i love hydrangeas 

4. Flowers. This is something I don't do as often as I should, but it EASILY brightens someones day. Flowers are so simple and lovely. Can you imagine the smile on someone's face if you showed up on their front doorstep with flowers that are from your yard?! What a glow. 


smiles & sunshine
DF

A blog that you can finally count on!

For a long time I have been wanting to make my blog an every day/once a week kind of commitment. I have thought about it many a time but I have never had the will to commit. 


There have been many people that have inspired me to commit to the blogging experience. 


My undying excitement to check my iPhone's Reeder app every morning is the main source of inspiration. 
Gosh, there is nothing I love more than a good DIY post. 


I am not exactly sure what I have in store for my blog just yet, but I know that it will be lovely. 




smiles & sunshine
DF

First Sunday post: Inspiration in a photograph

Burano, Italy- although this lovely place is known as one of the most colorful places in the world, i changed the gradient to emphasize how important my subject was to me. the two little darlings in the first photograph were working for their grandmother. they were sorting all the shells that were for sale. they were absolutely darling. the second photograph is of a little girl that i photographed around her little play area for approximately 10 minutes. i don't believe that she ever noticed. she was a fabulous subject.

i took this photograph 3 years ago. it is a photo of my little brother's friend and our neighbor. they were all pretending to be superheroes this lovely afternoon.

and this one stars the love of my life. my little sister mathilde had her birthday party last sunday. the little sweetheart turned two. isn't she beautiful? her innocence always inspires me. 

smiles & sunshine

DF