TED Tuesday: The Magic of the Words "Thank you"

In this quickie 3 minute TED Talk, Laura Trice suggests we all say thank you. A simple suggestion, yes, but a powerful suggestion nonetheless.

This incredibly well-done video about gifting, specifically at my most favorite yearly event - Burning Man, has been circling my various social networks for the past few days. Gifting, when experienced the way Halcyon describes, is one of the most heart-widening and mind-opening experiences one is able to have. It creates a new ideal for human relationships and exposes the thinker to new ways of interaction with society as a whole.

I feel the same way about an open and genuine expression of thanks. To be appreciative of the things we share, time, experience, or love. In fact, it is quite easy to compare a thoughtful and sincere gift with the simple yet thoughtful and sincere act of saying Thank You and realize that when both are done properly, they can be considered one and the same.

Be honest with your loved ones about the thanks you might need to hear. Ask those around you if you are meeting their need to be appreciated, too. I agree with Ms. Trice that peacefulness starts household by household. By listening to the needs of others and filling them with praise for the things they work hard to do - we are in fact inspiring our family and friends just by expressing how they have inspired us.



So I just want to take this opportunity to say Thank You for reading my blog. I appreciate every reader, from those who stumble across my collection of weird thoughts randomly, those who know me through facebook or twitter, to those who subscribe to this blog via rss or otherwise. I cherish each person who has taken time to comment to me on my blog, either publicly or privately, and I have enjoyed the perspectives and thoughts that people can add to my own. What a lovely forum to share thought, and what a lovely bunch of people who have come forward to do so. Thank you.



One of the ways that I occasionally choose to give back to Etsy artists who have supported me, shared tips and knowledge with me, or simply inspired me with their style is to feature their art in my blog. So here are a few of those artists and their own unique and interesting ways to express thanks:

20 very original Poetry Thank You Tags by 42things

A set of 8 totally cute Green Apple Thank You cards by craftedbylindy 

An elegant handlettered rubber "Thank you" stamp by ampersandity 

Farren Square's Vintage Condition Guide

Well, there you have it. It didn't take very long. My love of thifting and vintage apparel has finally and full spilled over into my etsy store.

Because I understand that vintage items come pre-loved, I strive to be an honest Vintage seller and communicated fully the condition of everything I sell. Perceived flaws (can we call them love-spots?) will always be disclosed in the description!

In the interest of simplifying everything, I wanted to make a universal guide available to all my friends qualifying the condition of my vintage clothing and housewares:

Mint: An item is as perfect and pristine as when it was originally made and shows no sign of wear (mint condition is rare for vintage clothing).
Near mint: An item shows only the slightest signs of wear.
Excellent: An item shows typical signs of wear due to occasional use.
Very good: An item is considered wearable but has some visible surface flaws (staining or soiling, for example).
Good: An item is wearable but cannot be returned to excellent condition even if repairs are made.


This is a widely used guide, but not all vintage sellers are the same, so don't be afraid to send a message and ask that lovely person a few more questions before you make that vintage purchase. Know what you are getting into!

My latest Vintage find now on Etsy:

TED Tuesday - A Case for Skepticism

Can I admit that I swing back and forth between skepticism and blind faith? I know, I know... if Carl Sagan were alive today, he'd probably have something to say about it. So does my handsome mandude, and on a regular basis, too, whenever I toss salt over my shoulder, hesitate before opening an umbrella indoors, or (yes! I admit it!) talk to him about my favourite rocks and crystals. Placebo effect or not, I love my quartz.

Using video and music, skeptic Michael Shermer explains why people see the Virgin Mary on a cheese sandwich or hear demonic lyrics in "Stairway to Heaven" and shows how we convince ourselves to believe -- and overlook the facts.

Though I can identify with what Mr. Shermer says - all of it rings true - I still get creeped out when using the Ouija Board. Whether you are a skeptic or not, anybody with style and smarts will appreciate any of the following completely awesome pieces:

An Altered Antique Plate by BeatUpCreations on Etsy

 A seriously rock n' roll  Led Zeppelin Album Cover Bag by Aproduction Ink on Etsy

A ridiculously awesome, ridiculously tiny book of Carl Sagan quotes by IDoubtIt on Etsy






Enjoy your new found truth!
xox
Farren Square

TED Tuesday - Let's raise kids to be entrepreneurs by Cameron Herold

When I was a child we used to run a lemonade stand in front of our house in the summer time. We would make lemonade and charge 25 cents a cup and close neighbours would come, pat us on the head and buy a glass. When we realized we had tapped out our market, we offered lemonade AND iced tea. After that fizzled out and most of our nearby friends and neighbours had a taste of each, we realized we needed more business. We set up signs and sent little sisters and brothers out on their bikes to holler our address at people to get them to come. Then we realized that my cousin lived just two blocks away but directly in front of a playground, and the walking traffic there was ten fold what we were seeing. Soon, the lemonade stand was moved and we were on our way to riches as far as an 8 year old can see!

Our lemonade stand would have never gotten off the ground if we didn't get the help from our parents. A float to make change, cups and materials offered for free, and emotional support when business became slow - they constantly asked us what more we could do to sell lemonade to people who wanted some.

Maybe they simply thought it was cute, but I'm sure they knew that even though we didn't rake in big money - enough to buy a ton of candy, I'm sure! - we were learning valuable life lessons with every quarter we earned.

This TED talk was filmed at my local TED gathering and Cameron Herold is a home-grown Canadian boy who speaks of a school system that tried to fit his square peg into a round hole - and how he and his father cultivated certain skills which allowed him to succeed despite the odds.

Here is where I disagree with what he has to say:

• Cheating to get to the top is never okay. If it isn't working for you, find another path. But don't cheat those who work hard out of what they have earned.
  
• If you are going to be an entrepreneur, offer fair trades. Better your own situation by bettering the situation of those around you at the same time. Everybody wins when people are paid what they are worth.
  
• Not all schools and teachers are out to crush your kids into a mold.

Here is where I agree with what he has to say:

• Kids do need to be taught to negotiate, to think critically about the service they receive, to be creative, to handle failure and still move forward, and to be comfortable speaking in front of a crowd.
  
• Entrepreneur does not have to be a dirty word.
  
• Our life mistakes should lead us to where we are, not bring us down. Did Mr. Herold partake in a few activities that would be considered unethical? Yes. But ultimately he learned from those mistakes to create his own success.

Adam Sadowsky and OKGo's Rube Goldberg Machine of Awesome

How can one gigantic Rube Goldberg Machine and a 3 minute 45 second music video teach us about the intricacies of life?

-The small stuff may stink, but it is absolutely essential.

-While planning is important, so is flexibility.

A Rube Goldberg Machine

-Life can be messy. And difficult. But the ending is always worth it.

-This, too, shall pass.

Why am I posting this TED video that is basically a glorified music video? Not only because I believe that there is much to be learned from their experience, but also because I have never seen such an intricate music video in my life (If you have, please post a link in the comments!), and I do believe that video art is still art. This OKGo video is indeed art to me. Plus, not only can I watch this video over and over without catching each intricacy - I also get a little emotional at the end when I realize that the team needed 85 takes to get the job done. They must have been so elated and relieved!

Adam Sadowsky engineers an OKGo music video:

Looking forward to hearing what you think!

xox
Farren

TED Tuesday - Why to believe in others with Viktor Frankl

I'm going to preface this by saying that I have been, at many times in my life, a pedestrian, a cyclist, and a motorist.

I know what it is like to be cycling on a busy road, to feel intimidated by other vehicles around you. And I know what it is like to be hit by a truck while cycling! I'll just say, none of it is fun. I go out of my way to be non-aggressive when I am passing a cyclist, to leave the appropriate amount of space (half a lane), and to stay calm behind a biker even when I have somewhere I really need to be right. now. But it really really really irks me when cyclists don't take the time to follow the rules of the road themselves. Most of those rules are there to protect themselves! And many of them are there to uphold a standard which helps motorists know to respect cyclists as a vehicle.

What is this all about, you might be asking, why is Farren ranting about cyclists today? Did a cyclist kill her entire family?!

No, no... This post is actually about Expectations. It is popular these days, and especially in my circle of friends, to expect very little from those around us. We are all people with our own predisposed ideas and we will all make our own decisions, and they may seem random at times, so don't expect anything from anyone, and the world is your oyster, correct? While I do agree in some cases and situations, I also wholeheartedly disagree. I do have certain expectations. I expect you not to spit in my food, I expect you to be honest when speaking, and I expect you to respect all living things. These are common expectations, no?

So the other day, I am driving down a long and winding road and there is a cyclist in front of me. Since I am about to turn right onto a one-way street, I decide to slow and wait for the cyclist instead of passing and immediately turning in front of them. To my surprise we turn the corner together, and he immediately darts to the left directly in front of my car - out of his designated bike lane - and takes the first left without signaling to me at any point! I had to slam on my brakes to avoid him. My first instinct? My window was already down, so I called after him - "PLEASE SIGNAL!"

Rude? Maybe. It embarrassed the manfriend something awful. He argued that yelling out a car window probably won't influence anyone and instead they might defiantly ignore my request... my request to look after his own safety. I considered his point for a long time, I really did. After all, you do attract more bees with honey (or flowers, really!!), than vinegar.

F.Y.I.

But ultimately, I have decided that it is not only appropriate for me to register my expectation that he communicate with me properly while putting his life at risk - it is necessary. Maybe he had never even considered signaling before. And whether or not my request influenced his decision, I can only control my output and not the reactions of others - but I do feel that it is absolutely VITAL that, as a society, we communicate our expectations to the others who share our communities. This is how we build vibrant and respectful places to work and live! If it happened again, I would do the same thing. Cyclists need to signal if they want to be successful and alive at the end of their journeys, and I'm willing to be that jerk who tells them. Besides, I said "please."

By being idealists about the intentions and the power of humankind, we are pushing ourselves to attain those goals, says Viktor Frankl, legendary psychiatrist and Holocaust-survivor, as he delivers a powerful four and a half minute long message on why it is important to believe in others. This TED Talk was actually filmed in 1976 and has been declared by TED to be "best of the web" and definitely worth seeing. Please spare the 4:21 to listen to this funny man tell you about the human search for meaning -- and the most important gift we can give others.




In many ways, we do create our own reality, and in general, the people around us will rise or fall to our expectations. Do you think it was wrong of me to request this cyclist signal?

A History of American Motherhood

I don't have a TED talk for you today. I'm in the middle of moving, actually I'm going through all my creative gear and crafting supplies right now, and things have been so hectic that I haven't really had the time to watch anything!

But I have been listening! Today I listened to an incredible podcast from backstoryradio.org about the History of Motherhood in America. Though at first I was skeptical [how can three men present an accurate and unbiased representation of Motherhood?], it turned out to be a very entertaining and very informative historical podcast with several different guest questions and viewpoints. They even presented a feminist perspective.



Though I don't think it is a complete look at what it is to be a Modern Day Momma in North America, I do think it was worth listening to, and definitely worth checking out if you are into the cause and effect that historical accounts can so often underline.  While I do not have a TED talk for you today, I present to you the first podcast I have recommended,

Click here to Listen to The Good Mother: A History of American Motherhood 

The most interesting piece of information, in my opinion, was the account of Anna Jarvis, the "inventor" of Mother's Day - and what she actually intended Mother's Day to represent and to celebrate. Her intentions were much more noble than a box of chocolates and a bouquet of $9.99 roses - and next Mother's Day, I intend to make sure that people are aware of positive ways they can celebrate their mothers as well as make positive changes to their communities.

Wedding Finds for Bride to Be

My Naughty Love Coupons (sure to add extra spice to any wedding night!) were featured on the Oh Canada! Team blog along with some other very gorgeous pieces.





Check out this beautiful Corocraft Leaf Necklace by Blue Jeans Jewelry







Or this absolutely divine Peacock Feather Headband by Miss Merete

Check out the Canada Team blog to see more incredible items for your wedding!
and don't forget to
Check out my store for more Vintage and Handmade Designs.

TED Tuesday - Radical Women Embracing Tradition

When I was 15 years old, my naive self fell desperately in love with a tall ginger-haired athletic boy who ended up -predictably to everyone else- breaking my heart. And in the entire time that I basked in that silly teenage romance, I have but one regret; I can remember the day that he asked me, in front of his guy friends of course, if I was a Feminist. I had no idea how to answer. I spun the question and told him that I believed women deserved equal rights and equal opportunities. But his friends chose to laugh and call me a "feminazi," that I was probably going to burn my bras and expect better jobs than men. Why this didn't enrage me, I'm not sure. My boyfriend - and in my 15 year old heart, my One True Love - took my hand and asked sincerely, "You aren't actually a Feminist, are you? You aren't a feminazi?" And, regretfully, I said No. I'm not.

Since that time in my life I have done a lot of growing, a lot of reading, and a lot of self-reflection. I can remember the day in University that I stood up and started telling people - "Of COURSE I'm a feminist, and I will be until I feel that championing this cause is overkill." But sadly, that day hasn't come. Realistically, it may never come in my lifetime, and that is why - I explained to anyone who would listen - it was up to us to tell people that we aren't afraid to call ourselves Feminists in order to highlight the gap that still exists. As Kavita Ramdas, today's speaker, says: "Feminism is not about fighting one distinct oppressor. Its against a deeply held set of beliefs and assumptions that we, as women, hold ourselves far too often."

This week's TED Tuesday Talk is given by Kavita Ramdas, a brilliant woman and feminist who has traveled the globe speaking to amazing women everywhere. Her insights are wrought with experience, anger, acceptance, and intelligence. In a time when women are universally seeking to overthrow many traditions, she gives her speech about Radical Women Embracing Tradition - and how this empowers them to make change.



We can be flowers, we can also be sparks of change.

TED Tuesday Returns: Social experiments to fight poverty

I'm back! I took a long hiatus from this blog, and I'm sorry to anyone who came to find my weekly feature and found nothing, for quite some time. I was dealing with a few new health situations that were putting a lot of things into perspective and some priorities had to be changed around.

BUT GUESS WHAT! I feel great today! I feel amazing lately. I am inspired by the world, inspired by possibilities and ideas, and I'm back to share them with you. After all, TED's tagline runs: "Ideas worth Spreading," and I have to agree.

A Child Receives a Free Bed Net

Today's idea worth sharing is from Esther Duflo, who has worked with researchers to find not only efficient, but effective ways to fight poverty. Her and her team have some incredibly simple solutions, and some very incredible findings while working and experiementing in Africa - that, in my opinion, highlight the similarities in our interaction with the world.

Will bed nets and lentils save Africa? Maybe not, but it will save Africans. Perhaps this is an idea worth listening to...


Esther Duflo: Social experiments to fight poverty

Farren Square's TED Tuesday: The world needs all kinds of minds

Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds

"Temple Grandin, diagnosed with autism as a child, talks about how her mind works -- sharing her ability to "think in pictures," which helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss. She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids."

This TED Video has become very popular recently and, in my opinion, speaks for itself:




xox
Farren Square

Who Won the Narwhal Journal Giveaway!?

This last week has been really exciting for me! Making gifts for people I love is originally how I got into loving handmade. It all started with wanting to remove the commercialism from our favourite winter holiday and spiraled into this awesome Etsy ride I'm taking right now.

But hosting this contest knowing that I was going to be giving away such an awesome little whale of a journal really re-ignited my passion for designing and creating journals.

So it is with absolute pleasure that I announce the Winner of the Happy Little Narwhal Journal:


Laura from MABJEWELRY!

A heartfelt Congratulations from me!

As a consolation to everyone who didn't win, I will offer a post-giveaway promotion!! From now until Thursday, March 18th I will offer 15% off any item in my store

BUT FIRST! You have to Congratulate MAB over Twitter
..OR..
Congratulate MAB on her blog!

Use the phrase "I tweeted" or "I blogged" in the notes to seller and I will refund you 15% off the price before shipping through paypal. But you only have one week to take advantage of this awesome deal!

A HUGE thank you so much for entering and making my first giveaway so exciting. I think I'm addicted to the excitement, so stick around to hear about upcoming events!

Much Love,
Farren + Happy Narwhal

http://FarrenSquare.Etsy.com

Srikumar Rao - Plug into your Hard-Wired Happiness

Do you generally feel that you are a happy person or a cynical person?

Srikumar Rao, the speaker in this video, believes that all of us are hard-wired to be happy all of the time. Every moment. And that we are taught to be unhappy, to be constantly reaching for something new that will bring us happiness, that success is measured by the accumulation of WHATEVER as compared to our social peers.

Have you ever been so happy that you could sink to your knees in gratitude at the tremendous good fortune that has been bestowed upon you? That you become radiantly alive several times through out a day?

If your life isn't like that, he claims, then your life is sadly wasted.

Srikumar Rao commits to providing us all with strategies and tools to get there and start Plugging into your hard-wired happiness and living life to the fullest. Watch this short video lecture and see if you are on the right path to happiness:




Do you invest in the outcome, or do you invest in the process? Since actions are within our control, and outcomes are not - perhaps investing on the outcome is the same as focusing on failure. Live your life in a way that celebrates your success while leaving what is out of your locus of control behind. You will be infinitely more satisfied with life and the choices you make.

Do you like Free Stuffs?

Today I received my 200th Etsy Shop Heart! That means that over 200 people have declared my shop as one of their favourites. I feel so blessed to have so much support from so many amazing people that I have decided I am going to do my very first shop give-away!

I will be giving away this ADORABLE Blank Happy Narwhal Journal. He's just dying to swim into your heart!


The Happy Narwhal is Unicorn of the sea, swimming and splashing joyfully - unless someone tries to sneak a peak at your inner secrets... then he will stab them with his horn! Thats what those are for, right?

Details:
♥ Hand bound with a coptic stitch.
♥ Stiff covers.
♥ 6.5 inches X 9 inches
♥ 60 pages (120 front and back)
♥ Made from Recycled Materials & 100% post-consumer Recycled Paper.

Enter as many different ways and times as you like, I will be drawing randomly on March 10th and announce the winner on March 11th!

Here are different ways to enter:

1) Follow my blog, then post a link to this blog post on your facebook or elsewhere!! Don't forget to leave a comment here telling me where you left the link and a way to get a hold of you.

2) Follow me on Twitter and ReTweet the following: "RT @FarrenSquare WIN THIS NARWHAL JOURNAL http://bit.ly/b2vyIB RT once/hour MAX to win! "
(Please only retweet once per hour! All other entries will be ignored, sorry!)

3) Purchase something from my shop between now and March 10th and your name will be entered three times!

I'm so excited to be hosting my first give-away, I can't wait! Good luck to all!

xox
Farren Square

TED Tuesday - Simplicity Sells

This hilarious TED talk highlights a key message to all who work in design. Simplicity sells. Whether you design furniture, websites, or sell on Etsy - limit the hoops your customers have to jump through, and you'll gain life-long supporters. Plus I can't resist a TED Talk that features parody songs!

"New York Times columnist David Pogue takes aim at technology’s worst interface-design offenders, and provides encouraging examples of products that get it right. To funny things up, he bursts into song:"



I think this is a TED Talk celebrating the fact that I am getting my new iPhone Today! I have been waiting a long time to upgrade, and it is finally time, Yeehaw! Good bye, really terrible cheap cellphone, hello Personal Electronic Organizer!

Here are a few of my favourite *simple* iPhone cases & sleeves...



A gorgeous show-stopping customizable wooden iPhone Sleeve from GreenHouseFX.Etsy.com









A very cute tongue-in-cheek Vegan Leather iPhone Sleeve from
Squirrellicious.Etsy.com







An incredible and impossibly adorable felt Monster iPhone Sleeve from Kelsey @ Appleblossom21.Etsy.com

And a bright and cheery well-crafted yellow knit iPhone Sleeve from AmandaFenniak.Etsy.com




xox
Farren Square