Happy new year!

Can't believe how fast this year came and gone, but I'm excited for the new year.
For me, 2014 was the year to get things done. To recap, I graduated school, got a full time job, some freelance jobs along the way, and left it all to move to Portland.
I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish, and "got things done", so I'd say it was a successful year.

With my plans changing up a bit and my mind wandering everywhere, I want to name 2015 as the year to not settle and see where the wind takes me.
I've decided on three options: go back to school, job search back home and intern/find a full time job, or take advantage of this free moment in my life and travel. From what it looks like, I may end up doing all three this year and I'm totally fine with that. I don't have a weight on my shoulders anymore and I want to take advantage of this confusing time.

Everything I shared from my Portland goal post I want to apply to everywhere and no longer limit it to my Portland life, or soon to be lack thereof. I want to take advantage of the world outside of my little bubble, and that's what I want my 2015 to be - an introduction to the world.

This one post I found on Tumblr basically sums up everything for me currently:

"Nothing will ruin your 20s more than thinking you should have your life together already."

And because of this weird mindset I've been in lately, I've been curious to know how that will affect this blog in the future, but I guess time will tell. It's cool seeing transitions of blogs because of important life experiences that affect daily life. That's what makes life cool. Evolution, and not necessarily Darwin's version.

I couldn't think of a better way of spending new years day than a trip to the Oregon coast (see photos above). Yesterday was fantastic and I'm hoping to make every day even better.

There's a lot that I limited myself to when living in New York. Looking back on it now, living close to the city, I should have been more active in the communities. But at the same time, if I had a second chance I probably wouldn't have done all that much more. I had a goal in mind: to move out of state. I felt the burden of a time crunch, so why join anything when I would have to leave pretty soon?

That was my state of mind. Probably not the best excuse. I should have enjoyed what New York had to offer, and the truth is I did! I loved New York, and I participated in what I could handle. But I do know I could have done more.

Now that I'm finally moving to my dream city, I no longer see an expiration date. Why not actually do things and enjoy life, right?

I made a list of stupid little goals and things I want to do in Portland, hah. I'm going to keep this list handy and make sure they make appearances in future posts.

So,
01. My main priority is to get a job. I may have some cool things rolling my way. I'm not stressing though; I'm feeling confident!
02. Moving to a pretty active and nature filled city, I obviously want to get more into nature. Every time I've visited, I loved all the hikes I went on. More hikes, please!
03. On the topic of being active, I think it's pretty mandatory I get into biking. I can't even tell you the last time I've been on one. I'm moving to the biking capital. I should jump on board the biking trail.
04. About the transportation, I love public transportation which is why I haven't gotten my driver's license yet. Public trans has been too convenient for me, especially traveling to/from/all-around NYC 5 days a week since graduating high school. I just need to pass my road test.
05. Another important goal is to make new friends. So far I've gotten familiar with my neighbors. They're all great. I'm not too concerned I won't make new friends; I feel like I'm still at an age where it's still possible.
06. I want to attend a lot of events - concerts, festivals, local events, anything that will keep me busy and socializing. In New York, I rarely attended anything. From what I see, Portland has some very interesting events.
07. Artsy and active things are also on the menu. I want to become a member in some awesome art studios that fill up the city, and even participate in craft fairs. I also want to join the roller derby so bad. Are there such things as clubs in the adult world?

08. I've been exploring and trying different foods. LOVE Indian cuisine. Portland has so much variety, and they're big into food trucks. My taste buds are going to go on a fantastic journey for sure.
09. Speaking of journeys, I'm hoping so many road trips will happen. Long Island is sorta a trap; 3/4 of directions you go, you hit water. Not the same case in any other state outside of New York. I'm excited to have the option to explore without constantly running out of land.
10. I also am excited to just explore the inner city and go on adventures right around the corner. There's so much to do waiting to be discovered.
11. I've spoken about guitar things a few times before. Unfortunately my guitar won't be moving due to space issues. I'm considering buying a new guitar out there, but it won't happen for a while until I settle. I want to get back into playing the guitar again. Like, DIVE into actually learning.
12. I also plan on being in full craft mode, depending on how much free time I have outside of jobs of course. I want to do so much. Not shipping out all my art supplies, I'm excited to just focus and use what I have.

Bring it on, Portland!

It's officially 2014! New years - the one time a year to start fresh.
I talked about my goals yesterday, but I started thinking about my resolution.
I think I want to keep up with saying yes more; many good things can come out of saying yes. I also want to make things happen. That's what's great about life, nothing's impossible.

Ever since I was younger, I always had the mentality of nothing's impossible. Whether I acted on that is a different story, but it was something I always had in the back of my mind. Since we are getting older each day that passes, life is only getting more interesting, it feels important to act on it and treat each day as an adventure.

Ever since I found this fortune years ago (I have a little collection of worthy fortunes, and I also just love eating fortune cookies) my belief seemed legit. It made me believe nothing is impossible, but there is such thing as acts being improbable. They're two different things, it makes sense.

So with that said, I am taking this to heart starting now and I want you all to think about this too. If you believe in doing something, keep trying. Don't give up, even if things don't seem likely to happen, don't shoot down the idea because you never know what will come out of it. It may be something amazing. Life can surprise you like that.
It really never hurts to give anything a try.

To end this post, here's a beautiful Depeche Mode song; one of my favorites. Although it's a love song, it gets the same point across.
Happy new year :)

This year had so many ups and downs. Began nicely and took a big dive until the beginning of the summer. I picked myself up, sorted out my priorities, and life has been wonderful since. Some highlights from 2013 were:
• This semester that had just finished was fantastic and hard as hell. I learned so much.
• I opened myself up to new things: food, music, art methods, etc. I said no a lot less, and in result had fun.
• In the world of friendships, my school friends and I have really became a tight knit group. We're all in the same boat and we all understand each other. We support each other, and I have so much to thank them for. They're keepers.
• I've been trying to begin some kind of career in illustration/the art world, and although it's been a tough one, I've been feeling more and more confident as each day passes and I've been making things happen. I set up a portfolio website, I made a physical portfolio book, I created my own business cards, I've contacted companies to get myself out there for potential freelance jobs. At this point I'm determined and I won't let anything stop me.
• Aside from my potential growing illustration career, at the end of the semester I began an internship at a screen printing company in NYC.

My determination is growing more and more everyday, and with 2013 ending I have so many plans for myself in 2014.
The beginning of 2014 is already booked to be fantastic because I will be visiting Portland for a week!

My goals for 2014:
• Continue with illustration and get as many freelance jobs as possible.
• Work as much as I can and save money.
• Graduate in May!
• Move to Portland in July.
• Create & sell more things for my Etsy store.
• This will be the tough one, but I'd like to get a book deal; I have so much brewing in my head that I'd love to get into a book. An art book, that is. I ain't no writer.
• Grow collections. I have so many art books that I invested in this year and I'd like to see that expand. I'd also like to begin vinyl collection. I got a record player for Christmas which I'm super excited about.
• Mainly, I just wanted to make life happen and be happy, in Portland. Life goal.

I want to make 2014 the year to make things happen. That's my main goal. To make things happen. Here's to a wonderful new year!

A while ago, I posted about my switch to Storenvy. After talking to some friends and gaining insights and working up motivation to actually give a damn, I decided to move back to Etsy, and I'm sure this time it's for good.

I wouldn't say Storenvy wasn't a satisfying experience, but being that I am not one to self promote (not purposely that is, I'm just not good at it) it seemed challenging to get myself out there. Etsy makes it easy because it's the go to site for crafted goods (everyone and their mothers browse through the site) and they make it easy to promote and whatnot without really trying. I need that push and assistance. When I moved stores the first time around, I felt Etsy was a temporary thing. I couldn't really get into it, but now that I'm back on there, I think the flow will be more comfortable. It really is all about trial and learning, right?

So anyway, here I am back on Etsy, giving it another go. Once again, the thrill of a new store makes me feel motivated and I've been really sewing up a storm this summer break. Got to take advantage of the free time I have these days, right?

While on a roll with changing things up, I also went and changed my blog layout. I am totally loving it, and I hope you do too!

I also feel the need to share my song of the moment. I currently have this song on repeat as I continue to sew up that storm.
I love Grimes. Have I ever shared that before? Well now you know. I love Grimes.

Here's just a tiny list of things that are currently making me a happy camper.

01. Crayola Crayon Maker

Seriously, this thing is the coolest ever. I've only used it a few times since purchasing it, but I'm so happy I did buy it. I'm all about reusing and upcycling and whatnot, so being able to make old gross crayons into new nice ones is pretty wonderful.

02. I finished my summer job on Friday which basically means that summer is pretty much over and the Fall semester will start up in no time. One thing that's keeping me positive is the fact that I'll be going on vacation this week! I'm leaving on Monday for Seattle, and I am so psyched.

03. Here's another little store update: I officially have eleven items listed. I am currently working on a bunch more and hopefully before the semester begins, I'll have about twenty items up. That's my goal for now, so we'll see how that goes!

04. I've downloaded the app for StumbleUpon, and I do not regret it. I have really come upon some awesome links that I otherwise wouldn't have found on my own. Such a handy app to keep me busy during train rides and such.

05. I feel like I should have known this, but I just discovered that Aimee Mann was the vocalist for the band 'Til Tuesday. I was really surprised when I found that and I feel like I appreciate 'Til Tuesday much more now.

...Now to do some last minute packing.

I've decided to move my online shop off of Etsy. It was a quick, last minute decision, but one I probably won't regret.

I've never felt that the shop I opened on Etsy was really official. I just had this weird deep feeling that I wasn't comfortable with, and I didn't want to continue on some site I just wasn't feeling. Ever since I've opened it, I only had two items listed and was never motivated to add more. I needed to fix this.

I browsed for other options and came across Storenvy. It seemed like an answer to my prayers. I Googled more about it - compared to Etsy and Big Cartel, it seemed like it was the best way to go. So on a whim, I signed up.

I don't think I have felt this motivated in a long time to actually continue something I started. I feel encouraged to create more, and list item after item. The layout and posting process is less intimidating, and I feel so much more comfortable using it than Etsy. Of course thinking about how much traffic Etsy gets, it may be a little difficult in my part to really promote this by word of mouth. I'm not good at promoting myself whatsoever. But it's a challenge that I'm willing to face.

The shop is still in the early stage, as I only do have four items up at the moment. Hopefully I'll have more up at the end of the week.

Words can't describe how excited I am to finally get the ball rolling. It's about damn time.

Visit my currently tiny shop at marsenroute.storenvy.com. Thanks!

It all started when I was doing some harmless Google-ing this morning and I came across this photo of Tina Weymouth from Talking Heads - I wanted to cry.

(source.)

I instantly fell in love with her bass. I HAD to figure out what it was. After painful Google-ing, I discovered it was a Carlo Robelli Beatle Surf Green Bass. I needed to know more. There are no photos of it in Google, no website selling one - pretty much no traces of it anywhere. Only few message boards spoke of it saying it was a "cheap brand", which, I admit, sorta turned me off.
I decided to type in "surf green bass" into Google to see other options, and I entered a magical world.

I started playing guitar when I was 12. It was around the time my older brother started playing, and I wanted to join him for jam sessions. My first purchase was a crappy burgundy Yamaha bass that I bought for cheap - you have to start cheap in the beginning. I borrowed my brother's guitar up until the point where I finally invested in my own. I bought the most beautiful Schecter Diamond Series S-1 Elite Black Cherry Guitar, which I will always cherish.

While browsing some more, I came across guitars that caught my attention - not that I would ever replace my Schecter, but they're pretty to look at.

(Charvel Surfcaster C8657 + Chandler Guitar)

Then I came across this beauty. I want to cry even more looking at this one. It's perfect.
It's a G&L ASAT Semi-Hollow Belair Green bass, and I want it now. I wish.

(source.)

All this talk of guitars and basses is making me miss playing music, not that I was any good. But it's all about practicing. I just wish I had the time. Sigh.
I guess I could make it a goal to start playing more, which will make a new bass worth it. When that happens, I'll make sure to make the best investment of my life.

While surfing through the web today, I came across a DIY tutorial on how to make a disco ball helmet.

(source.)

That had me thinking, when will I need a helmet? OH YEAH, when I buy a Vespa!
I have wanted a Vespa for SO long now. The only thing holding me back from buying one, besides financial issues, is the fact that I need to get a motorcycles license to ride one in New York. I probably should focus on getting my driver's license first though. But still, obtaining a Vespa is one of my goals in life.

My dream Vespa would be turquoise, where I plan on painting pink cherry blossoms on the sides. Oh it sounds perfect! And of course, wearing that disco ball helmet will make everything better.

(source.)

Funny thing is, while thinking of all of this, I noticed I was wearing my Vespa t-shirt!
My friend bought it in Italy for me a few years ago. I wear it all the time, the graphic is starting to crack and peel.

Things have been a bit hectic the past couple of days. Finishing final projects, or at least trying to. For some reason it's been a bit hard for me to just sit and paint. I guess my mind has been racing a bit, and I'm really anxious for the semester to end.

I'm currently taking a five minute breather to let a movie finish loading before I continue to paint. Need some kind of entertainment as I work on a project I really don't want to work in. But during this five minute breather, I decided to compile a list of goals I'd like to accomplish during winter break.

01. Finish projects. Over the years, I've always started projects and never finished them. Yep, I'm one of those people. I get ideas and I start them before I forget, but the pile always grows and never shrinks. I always plan this every break from school, but this time I'm really determined.

02. Set up an Etsy account. There are so many things I'd like to sell, and some unfinished projects I'd like to finish and sell. Obviously, I have to sell myself a bit first before selling my products. I need to network and spread the word to make people interested. That should be a whole other goal, but I'll keep that one with the "Etsy" goal.

03. Read. I need to read. I have so many untouched books that I buy but don't read. A year ago I started this routine where after waking up in the morning, I'd lay in bed and try to read at least one chapter, and I did well. Carried this into the semester, but once it started getting overwhelming, I needed all the sleep I could get which cut into the reading time. So I gave up on it. But I plan on starting it up again.

04. Organize. My room has gotten so messy, it's out of control. I need to bring it back to the way it was before the semester started. If possible, I'd like to make it even cleaner. I want to get rid of things I don't need, donate clothes and shoes I don't wear, and not to collect things I don't use. I've made quite a dent over the year throwing out lots of things, but I want to make more of a difference in here. It's so cluttered.

05. Keep up with social networking sites. I'm not one to use them often, but the accounts I do have I'd like to use a little more, which in a way would relate to number 2. Social networking sites are there to help you in that sense, so I'd like to take advantage a little more. This also includes the few other sites I've had for years. I'd like for them to get more traffic, but that's really up to me and how I "spread the word".

06. Socialize. While I have all these things I plan on doing, I need to keep up with friends and such. I've listed things that are for me to handle on my own, at home. I sometimes tend to forget about friends and hibernate during winter, and I'd like to have a decent social like this break. So many things to do and so many people to see. I want to keep busy.

Six, a nice even number and a good amount of goals. They're for the most part pretty vague, as I didn't get into much detail. But they're things that I know I can handle but need to actually keep up with.
This ended up being longer than a five minute breather.

Had this song on repeat this whole week.