INSPIRAMAIL

What does living an inspired life mean to you?

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Evolving

It was close to - but not quite - what I wanted the blog to be. So I made changes. Now accepting both email and postal submissions. New look and feel. Content tweaks. I still have a couple of submissions to post as well, if you've been waiting for yours.

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This is the stuff of fairytales and longings and fairytales and longings look best on film.

From Ukrainian photographer Oleg Oprisco ( oprisco on tumblr).

Comes by way of Amanda Brubaker (via a Facebook post, I think). Amanda is also doing some great work with film.

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He is a delight. And this is a delight.

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I want the internet to be a little quieter. A little less quick to fill our voids with constant content.

Narratively takes it down to a whisper. The site focuses on “slow storytelling.” Each week a different theme, each day a different story. Just one. No need to check back later or to compulsively refresh the page.

So treat yourself to some great storytelling and a little time away from the screen.

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Just in from Scotland.

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I was in New Orleans for the first time this time last year. Since it was a mother-daughter trip, I didn’t do much drinking – but we did explore some of the little museums in the French quarter. One exhibit that struck me in particular featured stories of those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

I was 16 or 17 when Katrina hit, struggling with my own losses (two grandparents) and my own life changing events (SATs, picking a college, and at that time – auditions). I certainly wasn’t paying much attention to what was happening in New Orleans. But I knew enough, and know enough, to know – that it was quite terrible for many.

Shortly after that, I went to a summer session and became friends with a boy from New Orleans who had been displaced by the disaster. Although I don’t remember his name, I certainly remember his spirit. He was so full of absolute joy. Looking back, it must have been a really difficult time for him. He had won a scholarship and was staying in Philadelphia that summer – but I don’t think his family was truly settled. I think they were still unable to return to New Orleans, and were relying on the kindness of relatives in Tennessee.

How hard it must be to not have a home – especially when you’re that age. When you’re life is already on the verge of its own upheaval. College or a job, no longer secure in the stability of school. But you wouldn’t know it, not with his smile.

Michael McDainel’s portable homes were inspired by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (and a coffee cup). Aside from the obvious boon of safety and comfort that the Exo can provide – I think it’s so very important that people who’ve lost their homes will be able to claim a little space as theirs again. What a wonderfully brilliant and simple idea to help the lives of so many.

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"Do you want me to send you the picture?" "Nah, I know what I look like"

-Photo by @365ken, one of my favorite Philly photogs from 2014's 24 Hour Project

For 24 hours on Saturday, around the world, photographers shared some of the stories that give breath to their cities and towns. 

You can explore these photos on tumblr via the24hrproject.

Fun to see how different - and how similar - we all are.

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Inspired by a photo by austinxc04.

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No one has time to watch a 7-minute video. But maybe treat yourself to this one. Grab a warm beverage. Get comfy. And just hit play.

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Alchemy.

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Outgoing - Late February

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Looking Good, Loo-king Good

Took the blog through the magical blog-theme machine and Inspiramail came out shiny and some-what new.

Feels good.

Take a look around (I also updated some of the language). If you notice anything that looks like a mistake - it probably is - and I'd be much obliged if you'd share it with me: [email protected].

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This week I came across two awesome sites for helping set a creative mood.

Coffitivity

Coffitivity strictly features sounds from coffee shops (my favorite background noise when I'm working). You can hear the chatter and laughs of people, and cups clinking saucers, through your smartphone, the website, or - you can download the computer app if you have a Mac. The app lives in your top navigation bar as a cute little coffee cup graphic that with one click turns on or off.

Noisli

Noisli (pictured) is great if you're looking for a variety of sounds. You can even layer them - so if you want to feel like you're snuggled up in front of a campfire on the beach, your fantasy can be at least an aural reality. While it doesn't seem to have an app for a smartphone, it does offer a (beta) distraction-free text editor (no formatting, no 'nuthin) AND a particularly soothing color generator that slowly cycles through a rather calm yet invigorating palette.

Something to help keep those brain juices moving this week. Enjoy!

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The combination of how we choose to adorn ourselves, paint our faces, style our hair – coupled with our natural features, scars, wrinkles, and other marks of time or environment – is inexhaustibly interesting to me.

So when I saw these portraits by photographer Jimmy Nelson, as part of his documentary series Before They Pass Away, I had to share.

  Enjoy.

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Happy to share that Chloe reached her goal of creating 100 original ice cream flavors in just one year.  Visit her blog to see all of her fabulous creations (turmeric? black sesame? mind BLOWN) Can't wait til I can get a pint in stores.

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Inspired Sundays

When I was younger I used to record my favorite prime time TV shows on a blank VHS tape so I could get my homework done and watch my shows later.

Take a second to digest that last sentence. Realize what a nerd I am. Now let’s move on.

I remember taping the Golden Globes and watching them afterwards, forwarding through the commercials and the speeches mouthed by faces I didn’t recognize. I only cared about the big names and the big gains – best picture, best actor. And I feel like most people watch award shows the same way. Albeit, DVR instead of blank VHS tapes. 

But there’s a format of film that I shouldn’t have overlooked. The shorts. I love short stories. I think they’re an undervalued medium, much like short films. You have a condensed amount of time to share one idea. I think this is done best when a director and writer put a moment under a microscope. Take a small amount of time and makes it expansive – spend more minutes of film on rich details and quiet moments that drive character, over plot.

Last night I went to a screening of the Oscar Nominated Live Action Shorts with some friends. We all agreed on one favorite: Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything) – a perfect little French thriller that focused on a few hours of a very important day.

It – along with the four other nominees this year, are really worth a watch.