Linger

Inspired by Petra Collins, I, Maggie, did a photo project with some friends. I titled it based off of one of my favorite songs, "linger" by the Cranberries. 

Doof Of The Week: Annie Buck

Meet our amazing friend, and total doofykook, Annie Buck! She's newly seventeen, beyond smart, and a complete inspiration. Check out what she has to say...:) 

What are you listening to/reading/watching right now? 

    Currently, I am reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for school, but it is honestly one of the best books I have ever read. Mark Twain is such a realist, which I feel I can relate to, especially when I am living in a world where everything is not as optimistic as some people try to envision it to be.  Music wise, Tune- Yards are my favorite artist at the moment. I have never heard anyone like them before and I don't think I will anytime soon. Their music is so unique and can't be reproduced. 

Secret skill?

    I have tried my whole life to find some secret talent of mine, but after 17 years, am still not able to conjure one up. I can make my tongue into a clover and I know how to play several instruments, so I guess that is something. 

Sartorial signature?

    I have a ring that I wear every single day. It is a blend of gold and silver, representing the moment when the waves of the ocean and sand on the beach collide. It is from Sannibel, Florida which was my grandmother's favorite place. I am usually never seen without it. 

What does being a doof mean to you? 

    Being a doof to me means transcending all social limits and defying all social norms. Though society is something I have learned that we need, it is not something we need to confine ourselves to. Doofs are the people who realize that and draw outside the lines. 

Latest discovery? 

     i am currently enrolled in AP Physics and I feel like everyday I am making a new discovery for myself. I feel like I discovered some new scientific theory although people have really discovered them amazing theories years and years ago. I think that is what I like the most about the class is that we, as students, are given the chance to develop our own ideas and test them.

 

What's your take on feminism? 

    Feminism is the greatest movement and the most urgent one. I am currently doing a research paper on the feminist movement of the 1800s and have realized how many components of society the lack of inequality between the sexes is present. So many people don't notice because right now, people are comfortable and find that the life we live in now is normal, but it takes a certain amount of being uncomfortable for change to happen. 

Who are your idols/inspirations?

    Honestly, everyone that I know is in one way or another an idol to me. Everyone I have met has some piece of advice or is an example of the life that I want to live and that inspires me. It's the people that keep going daily even though there are so many reasons to quit that are my idols. 

Where would you like to travel and why? 

    I would love to travel to India. It is such a beautiful and foreign country to me. I am fascinated by Buddhism and Hinduism and India is rich in both of those religions. Indian food is also great :)

Quote/phrase you live by?

    I try to remind myself to live in the moment every day because honestly, right now, this very instance, is all that we have control of and as clique as it it sounds, life is so very short and I want to live it to the fullest. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans."

Words of advice for millennials? 

    My advice for millennials would be to not confine themselves to any sort of expectation and to be confident in that they believe in.

Talk about something you think is important? 

    Being an adolescent, I find that the most important thing to me right now is being comfortable in my own skin and knowing that my body is beautiful. So many people lack self confidence and I breaks my heart to see people tear themselves apart over something that in the long run, won't matter at all. I actually wrote a letter to the principal discussing this issue as it pertains to sex education in the school district. 

Anything else you'd like to talk about or add? 

    I am very proud to be the doof of the week! I have loved 

watching this account evolve since the beginning - its one of my favorites!!

Doof Of The Week: Bridgette Muller

This week is very exciting, because one of our favorite bloggers is our Doof Of The Week! Bridgette Muller, of the blog Hummusbird is a total one-of-a-kind girl. We have followed her since her days as a blogger for Free People, which she still contributes to, as well as through her personal life shown on her blog, and even on her snap chat, where she creates the most hilarious stories. She's a rare kind of person who ceases every day, and even when it's going awry, she comes at it with a smile and a funny snap story. The work she does is always inspiring, and the words she writes are always beautiful. Bridgette is so talented and a doof inside and out! Get to know her a little here on the blog, and check out more of her work on her blog hummusbird.blogspot.com, and her Instagram @hummusbirrrrrrrd

What are you listening to/watching/reading right now?

Listening to FKA twigs & Dej Loaf / Watching fall slowly turn to winter outside / Reading my own feelings as I write them across a page in my notebook.

How would you describe yourself?

Just a weird little nature spirit learning how to be herself more and more each day. 

What are you most passionate about?

Positivity. I want to help make this world a place where everyone is overflowing with all things good. Where everything is funny; everything is beautiful; everything is perfectly imperfect. 

Sartorial signature?

High waists + crop tops, and earth-toned everything.

Secret skill? 

I've been told I make some bangin' scrambled eggs.

Latest discovery?

Mixing a natural creamy concealer with a few drops of natural face serum makes for a pretty awesome foundation.

What's your take on feminism?

I think men are beautiful and so are women. Women are hysterical and so are men. Men are intelligent and so are women. Women are insane and so are men. We're all everything, and we should embrace ourselves and one another for being just that.

Who are your idols/what are you inspired by?

On a celebrity level, I really really love what Jhene Aiko is doing -- using her incredible talent and beauty to gently push the general population towards spiritual enlightenment. So, so into that. I'm inspired by the people in my life who are all doing them; just trusting their own feelings to guide them to whatever is seeking them in this life. I'm all about those who are comfortable and secure being unique -- even (especially) if that means being a ~weirdo~.

What does being a doof mean to you? 

It's all about taking life lightly -- being silly, being unique, letting go of inhibitions and just being.

Words of advice for millenials?

Be YOU x 10000000000000000000000. Do what you like to do, and do it in your own way. Be excited about the path you're on… and be kind to everyone along the way -- they're all just finding their way, too.

Quote/phrase you live by? 

"You're as happy as you want to be." - My momma.

Why did you start your blog and where do you see it going? 

I started my blog because I wanted an outlet for sharing little pieces of life and happiness with the world. There have been times where I was very gung-ho about posting multiple times a week, but now I just let everything happen naturally. If I go two months without a post, I'm more than okay with that. I know that my little online space is there for me when the mood strikes -- although I imagine that blogging as we know it won't be around forever. Everything evolves, and I'm into that. I'm excited to find out what's next… I have a feeling that it'll be less digital than we may expect. ;)

Thanks for featuring me!!

xoxox

Brigette

Thanks Bridgette for answering our questions, keep bein you, and stay DOOFY! More on the blog to come... :) 

Birthday Girl: Our Mom

It's our Mom's birthday today!!! So of course, we had to do a post for her, throwing it back to some of her cutest moments as a kid, and some of those amazing photos of her when she was the same age as me... weird! Our mom is someone who never stops going..seriously. She is constantly moving, doing things for others, seeing how she can help out. It's in her nature, and it's something we all aspire to be like, but it's also something we completely admire about her. Her never-ending spirit and enthusiasm for life, for beauty, for people, is inspiring. This year, we wish her another happy birthday, and we can only hope that she slows down a little...at least long enough so she's at the dinner table for dessert! We love you mom:) Enjoy your special day.

15 Ways To Be Happier

It's Wednesday, the slump of the week, and the weather, at least in upstate New York, is dreary and grey. As a student, the semester is really catching up to me and my class mates, as everything seems to build up right before Thanksgiving break. So here, Molly gives you fifteen ways to be happier. Some of these are common sense, and some might be things you have never considered adding to your life, but all of them can make a big difference on your overall outlook as well as physical and mental health. 

15 Steps to a happier you: 

Eating the right foods is a relatively simple way to be more happy. If you learn the right ways to create food with great nutrients that also taste good, this won’t be too hard. When you get the unprocessed sugars, nutrients, healthy fats and healthy amount of energy you need, it stimulates your brain, leading to happiness and overall energy. Try to include more whole foods into your diet, consume lots of fruits and vegetables that will give you energy and fill you up, and listen to your body! Eat when you're hungry, don't eat when you're not. The key is to listen to what your body wants, and it will respond the way you want. The body is your machine, so give it the stuff it needs to get you through the day. 

While it might seem like a hassle to take pills everyday for regular health benefits, supplements are very helpful and can make a huge difference for your body and mind. Many people rarely get ALL the vitamins they need and it comes back to haunt them. Even just taking a multivitamin can increase overall health and increase energy. 

Daily activity and exercise are VERY influential to living a happier, healthier lifestyle. It keeps you feeling good about yourself, the way you look, and the way you feel. It can also releases endorphins that can reduce stress and anxiety, and add to happiness. Even if you can only incorporate a thirty minute walk into your day, it can make all the difference. The hard part is getting yourself to do the work, but the rewards are much better than the struggle to get there. 

Sleep! It seems so silly, but it is so vital to our mental state! This is where our brain processes all of its information. It would be very hard to pass your classes if it weren’t for sleep. Teenagers are supposed to get about 8 ½ to 9 ½ hours of sleep each night, and it’s not good to get more or less than those. It also helps to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day even the weekends so that your body can remain on the same time clock each day. Make your bedroom a place YOU want to be, a place that can become your oasis, and then this step will be even easier to incorporate. 

Going outside can affect your mood a lot. Not only does the fresh air and sunlight give you necessary nutrients, but it adds to a healthy lifestyle where you’re not always on your devices. There are many things to do outside that are proven to make you happier. Sunlight gives us vitamin d which is necessary to live a strong life, and it’s not very hard to get. Fresh air is sometimes the best medicine, and can lift a mood in just seconds. Next time you're sitting on the couch on your phone, consider stepping outside for a minute. Taking it all in. Breathing in the outdoors.  

Meditation and reflection can have a very positive influence on overall happiness. During meditation you empty your mind and only concentrate on your breathing. This is proven to reduce stress and also help with happiness. It is hard to master although it seems very simple, and all meditation takes is about 10 minutes. The more consistently you practice this, the more effect you will begin to see on your life. 

Smiles and laughter seem to be things that go hand and hand with being happy...But what about when you're not in a good mood? Trying to smile or laugh when you really aren't feeling like it actually increases the chances that your mood will change, and you'll actually become happier. 

With all the social media, information gets passed along very quickly, and sometimes it is too much for us to handle. Avoiding an information overload is very key to happiness because a lot of times we know things too soon. Knowing things creates a lot of stress and anxiety which is the enemy of happiness. So try to spend less time on the internet and on social media, and instead, pick up a good book and lose yourself, or write in a journal--anything to clear your mind. 

Focusing on gratitude is something that may not seem like it helps us as much as other people, but it does influence us a bunch. Being grateful for even the simplest things brightens your outlook on life as well as others. Most of the time we don’t realize how much there is to be thankful for. If we can appreciate everything that’s good and helpful as well as know that all the unfortunate things in life are meant for something else to take its place. 

Don’t ALWAYS rely on others to have good vibes because that doesn’t mean you’ll be happier! Spread your own good vibes including: charity, empathy, compassion, and forgiveness. These things seem like they’re going to make others lives better and yes that’s probably true, but there is something undeniably uplifting about forgiving someone for something, or giving money to someone because you have been in their place. And never underestimate the power of YOURSELF to lift your own spirits, and create our own good vibes. Spend time alone with your thoughts, and learn to be your own best friend. 

If you’re doing some or all of the above listed things there is no reason to let other's bad vibes bring you down! Keep good company and expand the happy trend to others who bring out the best in you! Friends are the best medicine, and when your truly find those people that you can connect with on many levels, who are always there for you, and who can lift your spirits any time, there's nothing better. Sometimes when you can't find happiness by yourself, you've got to lean on others.  

Surrounding yourself with beautiful things brings out the beauty in yourself and allows yourself to see the beauty in the world around you. Going to art museums or creating your own art is a great way to do this. Also, having fresh flowers nearby brings the outside in, and shows the cycle of how pretty things can get bruised. Giving fresh flowers to someone is also a sweet idea! Like mentioned earlier, make the spaces you live a reflection of yourself, and places where you want to be. Comfort and expression are imperative when it comes to how and where you live. 

It may sound strange but touch is very powerful. From a pat on the back, to a hug, to a high five, these little things impact each other a lot. Knowing someone is there for you or is proud of you can make you feel content, safe, and happy. 

Gardening and playing with dirt is a real stress reliever. Just getting your hands on something and losing your worries is very beneficial for your mental health. Connecting with the outside world is very therapeutic, and sometimes letting out your stress and frustrations and channelling them into creating something beautiful is a meditation in itself. 

A pet of some sort help definitely help with happiness. They will be excited to see you when you get home and want to spend time with you. They love you unconditionally and be your companion no matter what. Sometime there is nothing better than cuddling with your pet and forgetting the stresses of everyday life.  

So there are our 15 steps to happiness! Of course, there are many other things you can do, but starting with these can make a big difference. We hope you enjoyed, and have a very HAPPY WEDNESDAY :)

(all found photos except for the first)