Link Love January: Rom Com Dialogue & Millennial Burnout

January 16, 2019Leave a comment

Now that we’re halfway through January, how are everyone’s New Year’s Resolutions holding up? Normally by now, I’d be back to my usual deviant habits, but so far my 2019 Happiness Project is going strong! My focus for the month has been to boost my physical health, and I’ve been doing that in a few different ways: embarking on a round of Whole30 (it’s getting easier!), tackling those nagging tasks to clear up “brain clutter” (we’ll talk about that in a future post), and even by simply acting more energetic when I may not feel that way. I’ve been more successful in some areas than others, but I’m happy to share that I am starting to feel a lot healthier than I have in a long time.

Of course, in the midst of all of these changes, I’ve been doing a lot of reading! Check out my latest link love below and be sure to drop your own favorites (along with a resolution you’re working toward!) in the comments section below.

Photo Credit: NatureCoaster.com

Millennial burnout is a real thing, and I’ve never felt more validated than I did by this article. It’s a longer one, but well worth the read.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, tea drinking was once considered irresponsible and reckless for women. Guess my mom and I are the two most irresponsible and reckless people I know!
In case you’re planning a trip to Miami, check out my recent guide to the beautiful Art Deco Walking Tours.
One man built a miniature village for a family of mice living in his garden. Cuteness ensues.
As a writer who loves Nora Ephron (may she rest in peace), I absolutely loved this New York Times article on the art of rom com dialogue.
What’s on your Central Florida bucket list for 2019? Ten local bloggers shared their favorite local hidden gems on a recent collaboration, so be sure to check it out!
Guys — are you stuck on a Valentine’s gift? Check out these fun accessories from Civion and use the code VALERIE25 for 25% off your order!
Looking for ways to travel more sustainably? Asia from Dreams to Plans has you covered!
If you’re looking to add more wine to your life, check out Courtney’s recent guest post on the Island Grove Wine Company at Formosa Gardens in Kissimmee.
According to Inc.com (and me, independently of this article), open-office plans are officially the dumbest management fad of all time.

Link Love Wednesday: Crazy Stock Photo Edition

May 14, 20142 Comments

What a wonderful week it has been! In the last seven days, I celebrated my one-year anniversary at work, played my favorite arcade games and won a silly mask, visited my family for Mother’s Day, and went on a shopping spree. I’m looking forward to the weekend already, but as always, the Internet has done a great job of keeping me entertained after work. 🙂

BuzzFeed posted these 50 completely unexplainable stock photos (like the man with the corn dog, pictured left) that had me literally laughing out loud. For the record, I would probably have a similar reaction if someone asked me to eat a corn dog!
New bloggers: These are some great tips for blogging etiquette.
The Onion is creating its own parody of sites like BuzzFeed and Upworthy, and I’m excited for it to launch!
PR and marketing professionals will appreciate this one: 11 ways dating and public relations go hand in hand.
In honor of Shailene Woodley’s misguided comments about feminism, enjoy this list of non-feminist celebrities who actually owe their careers to feminism.
What happens when you remove one letter from your favorite book title? Huffington Post investigates. (Here’s looking at you, Twilight New Moo!)
Loved reading about this young woman’s experience working for Miss Cleo’s psychic hotline.
Want to see some of the Disney attractions that were never built? Now’s your chance! (My favorite is probably Hotel Mel.)
I watched Rocko’s Modern Life as a child, but I never realized how dirty some of the jokes were!

What were some of your favorite links this week?

Link Love Wednesday: Farewell, April!

April 30, 2014April 30, 20142 Comments

AryRSYECAAAWU7G

I can’t believe how quickly the month of April has passed us by. In the past 30 days, I have conquered another clean eating program (details to follow in an upcoming blog!), coordinated a few big projects, and even fallen in love with my city’s arena football team! What a fantastic month, and as we gear up for the next, I can only hope that May is as exciting and wonderful as April has been.

Let’s end the month on a high note with some fabulous Link Love!

In honor of the 10th anniversary of Mean Girls (man, don’t you feel old right now?), Jezebel composed a ranking of every character in the movie. Enjoy!
Here’s one tiny detail that shows up quite a bit in Disney and Pixar movies. Have you noticed it before?
Attention, writers! Blog and Retire provides five online tools to improve your writing.
I loved this list of 25 things you need to stop wasting time on. Which ones are you guilty of?
As much as I hated the How I Met Your Mother finale, this scene that was edited out may have made it a little better.
We all have our bad days, but these tips will help you start over when you’ve already woken up on the wrong side of the bed.
I enjoyed the movie Frozen, even if I thought it was a little overrated. This “honest trailer” of the film had me laughing out loud!
Salon posted an interesting read about the inconsistencies in what women think men find attractive versus what men actually find attractive.

What great links have you come across this week?

Link Love Wednesday: One Week Till Christmas!

December 19, 2013Leave a comment

The gifts have begun to make their way in. My office building is decked with trees, wreaths and holly. And the holiday light shows are finally in full bloom! Christmas season is finally here, and it is definitely a jolly (if not uncharacteristically freezing for Central Florida) time of year. Wishing a happy holiday season to you and your family! My gift to you? A fabulous round-up of articles and links you will love!

Looking for gifts for the book lovers in your life? Check out this awesome list of Etsy items for bookworms.
Sarah from Yes & Yes also compiled a list of ideas for original gifts you can DIY and customize for your friends and loved ones.
This awesome calendar juxtaposes images of Kanye West and adorable pugs, accompanied by ridiculous Kanye quotes.
This list of old fashioned dating habits has been making its rounds, and I couldn’t agree more!
Thinking of quitting blogging? Gala Darling has some great advice that can be applied to blogging or nearly anything else you’re struggling with in life!
There are 13 things that mentally strong people avoid. Which ones are you guilty of?
Sometimes supporting characters are just way more interesting than the leads! (Here’s looking at you, Mercutio.)
I cracked up at this compilation of completely wrong test answers, many of which were written by young kids! Click this link if you are ready for literal LOLs.

Any great links you’ve stumbled upon this week?

Happy Holidays!

Kind Words from Tales for Scout: Blog Exchange

December 3, 2013Leave a comment

Good afternoon, friends! As you may know, I recently did a blog exchange with Megan from Tales for Scout. Want to see what she had to say about So It Must Be True? Click here to read her review of my site and a few favorite posts! 🙂

Bloggers – interested in doing a blog exchange in the near future? Email me at vmoses90@gmail.com and we can get the conversation started!

Blog Spotlight: Tales for Scout

December 2, 2013Leave a comment

Not long ago, I exchanged blogs with Julie Kesti, a Minnesotan ex-pat artist living in Shanghai. I am happy to say that the experience led to a blog swap with Megan Lierley of Tales for Scout, a blog I will now be reading regularly! Tales for Scout focuses on especially on Megan’s travel adventures in San Francisco, where she lives, but is also a fantastic read for twenty-somethings.

Here is a round-up of a few of Megan’s wonderful blog posts. Definitely check out her page, especially if you plan to visit San Francisco any time soon!

Megan’s “Live Like You’re Abroad” series allows her to explore and write about some of the hidden gems in her very own backyard, San Francisco. She has traveled extensively out of the country, but these posts feature travel adventures on a much more local scale. (They definitely inspire me to do a little more exploration in my own city — and they instill in me a desire to visit San Francisco!)
This post features anecdotes from when Megan taught underprivileged students at a high school in New Orleans. The stories are eye-opening, and a few will even make you laugh.
I loved Megan’s list of lessons she learned from her mother. Very sweet!

So what are you waiting for? Check out Tales for Scout and let her know what you think!

Interested in a blog swap? Email me at vmoses90@gmail.com and we can get started. 🙂

Blog Spotlight: Meet Julie Kesti

September 17, 2013Leave a comment

This week, I had the chance to “swap blogs” with Julie Kesti, a Minnesotan artist living in Shanghai. Her blog features beautiful original artwork, quick recorded interviews with other artists, Friday love letters and posts about her experiences as an American living and creating abroad.

I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites of Julie’s recent posts. If you have an appreciation for art and culture, you’ll have to check her page out!

As part of her “TELL ME MORE ABOUT” interview series, in which she plans to conduct 30 interviews in the month of September, Julie asked one photographer about how she met her dog, Max. It’s an adorable story, and if you have a heart, you’ll definitely want to give it a listen.
Julie recently completed her first artist residency in Canada. Don’t know what an artist residency is? This post will give you plenty of insight into the process, especially for those of you aspiring artists.
I loved this blog about a cosmetology class that Julie accidentally took in Shanghai. It’s interesting to think about the way we talk about our physical appearances, and how that can completely differ by culture.

Interested in learning more about Julie’s art and travel adventures? Hop on over to JulieKesti.com!

Fellow bloggers: Want to do a similar blog exchange? Drop me a line and we’ll talk about it!

Link Love Wednesday: Graduation Edition

May 8, 2013May 13, 2013Leave a comment

I graduated from college on Saturday (look out for an upcoming post about it!), and as I prepare to begin my first full-time job next week, I look forward to a lot of the changes I am about to experience. Of course, with every monumental life event comes at least a twinge of nostalgia, and I can credit my university for giving me the best four years of my life thus far.

Some of this week’s articles and links are geared toward graduating seniors in particular, while others are merely meant to make you think or smile. What have you been reading lately?

Have you secured a job for after graduation? Mashable composed this list of digital skills every college graduate/liberal art major should know in order to stand out in the job market.
A lot will change between your freshman and senior years of college! BuzzFeed lists some of those major changes, complete with animated GIFs. (I especially like the one about going out to bars.)
The ladies at We’re Calling Shenanigans shared a delicious black bean salsa recipe that I’m just aching to try!
According to PR Daily, “awesome” is the most overused word. Find out why.
Virgin is now rolling out a new in-flight flirting feature that allows passengers to send drinks and food to other passengers on board. (No Mile High Club jokes, please!)
Did you know that Mavis Beacon was never actually a real person? My heart was broken when I heard the news! Cracked.com shared a list of five “famous people” who never truly existed, and a few of those shocked me.
The month of May may have been named after the goddess Maia, but its origins are still up for debate.
What does a week of groceries look like for families around the world? (Hint: Very differently in Chad.) Check out these photos for an interesting look into the lifestyles of families across cultures.
This video outlines everything wrong with The Room in just eight minutes. My friend Robert sent this to me and I could not stop laughing! If you’re an ironic fan of the movie, you will love this video.

Enjoy this week’s link love, and feel free to share your own favorites in the comments section below!

The Weekend Five: Blogging Highlights of 2012

December 31, 2012January 24, 20146 Comments

woohoo I can’t believe the year is almost up!

For me, 2012 has been a spectacular year in the realm of blogging. Although I didn’t have as much time to write as I did in 2011, I experienced some major milestones here at So It Must Be True throughout the past 12 months. Today, as we approach the very end of 2012, I would like to share some of this year’s most memorable moments, and to thank each of you for being such an integral part of the blogging experience.

The Weekend Five: Blogging Highlights of 2012

1. In 2012, I received nearly twice as many visitors as I did in 2011, and I had visitors from at least 77 countries.
It is so exciting to look at the blog’s analytics and discover that people from all around the world are reading! I love hearing from you, and am always thrilled when I receive a notification that someone has subscribed to the blog. I am hoping to grow the blog even more in 2013 through stronger branding and more frequency in posts.

2. My site received a makeover, including several new pages that made it easier to navigate.
This year, I created a Portfolio page, complete with all of my written work that has been published elsewhere, as well as a special Links page that readers could reference for suggested reading. I also made some major revisions to my About page, and revamped the Awards & Press page as well. A new look is a girl’s best friend, no?

3. I wrote my first guest blog.
Earlier this year, I was asked to write an article for a very cool site called HUGstronger.org for its September series. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity! My post, Unhealthy Relationships: 5 Signs That The Nice Guy Isn’t So Nice, was a blast to write, especially on a topic so close to my heart. In 2013, I hope to be able to write more guest posts for HUGstronger and other blogs out there!

4. I received four blogging awards.
In 2012, I was extremely fortunate to receive the Versatile Blogger Award, the Very Inspirational Blogger Award, the Illuminating Blogger Award and the Kreativ Blogger Award. How awesome is that? I am so thankful to have such supportive fellow bloggers, and I look forward to passing the awards along to other talented writers out there.

5. I was able to connect with more writers and readers than ever before.
Ultimately, having this blog would be completely worthless without having such wonderful readers. I have been lucky to have the chance to interact with so many of you in the last year and, in turn, explore your sites and share content. A huge thank you to everyone who reads, subscribes and comments on my blog! I read each and every one of your comments, and I truly enjoy looking at your blogs as well.

Thank you to everyone for making 2012 so bright! 🙂 I look forward to an even brighter 2013.

Fellow bloggers, what were the highlights of your blogging experience this year?

FSPA District 7 Conference

October 20, 2012April 28, 2013Leave a comment

Home sweet home! 🙂

This weekend, I took a trip back to my hometown to attend the Florida Scholastic Press Association’s District Conference, which took place at my old high school. I gave two presentations this afternoon: Enhancing Your Professional Image Through Social Media and Finding Your Audience: How To Market Your Blog To Readers, each of which I geared toward high school students.

A few personal realizations today: First of all, even though I’m only 22 years old, I feel ancient. I attended this conference as a high school student and yearbook editor in 2008 and 2009 (and won first place in the on-the-spot news writing competitions, thank you very much!), and when I mentioned that to students, they seemed surprised. As someone who is usually mistaken for much younger, I suppose that a nice shirt and slacks will make you look a whole lot older!

Also, during my social media workshop, I asked students if any of them had ever created a MySpace. The answer? None of them. In fact, as I spoke with students later in the day, I found out that some had never really heard of MySpace to begin with! It made me wonder how obsolete our current forms of social networking will become in the next ten years, and what I will tell my children about them.

I also realized that as much as public speaking intimidates me at times, I love to teach. This reaffirms my belief that pursuing a Master’s degree would be a beneficial path for me, because then I will have the opportunity to teach the subjects I love at a higher level.

Presenting my workshops today (as well as a resumé building workshop last weekend at a leadership conference) was a huge honor and privilege, and I look forward to the next opportunity I have to present a workshop.

Wellness & Wanderlust

A Lifestyle and Adventure Blog

Tag: blogging