wednesday wisdom: the olympic creed

1948 Olympic Games - London

The Olympic Creed:

"The important thing in the Olympic games is not winning but taking part.The essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well." - Baron de Coubertin

In light of the 2012 Olympic Summer games currently being held in London, I thought it fitting for this week's Wednesday Wisdom to honor this grand tradition. I did some research to find out more about how the Olympics came about and the history behind the Olympic creed.

The man to which we owe the sentiment known as The Olympic Creed was named Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin. A french educationalist and historian, he created the Olympic Creed based on the following philosophy:

 The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.

Today, Coubertin is largely considered the father of the modern Olympic Games. He began his efforts to establish an International Olympic Committee in the late 1890s. While others during and before his time had experienced some success establishing Olympic-type competitions within their own countries, Coubertin was the first to advocate international competition.

The International Olympic Committee was officially formed on June 23, 1896. Later that same year, the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece.

Click here to read more about Baron de Coubertin and the modern Olympic Games.

Click here to see more fantastic images from the 1948 Olympic Games.

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last weekend of July...

This Saturday I ventured over to the Randolph Street Market in the West Loop. I've wanted to go all summer but have been busy or out of town the other weekends it's been held. The market was amazing! There were so many neat items I wished I could have taken home with me. The vintage furniture was amazing (including the asking prices). It made me wish I had a bigger apartment and more money to furnish my place.

Aside from a plethora of furniture options, there was tons of jewelry, Schwinn bikes, vintage clothing, art, and household goods. Admission is regularly $10 but I scored a sweet discounted ticket for only $3 because I am a student. There are some perks for paying thousands of dollars for an education.

As I perused the different booths and vendors I stumbled upon an old books seller. Jackpot! I love buying books and am always on the lookout for great finds and deals. The seller had an impressive assortment of Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames, Hardy Boys, The Bobseey Twins etc. I had a difficult time choosing which books I wanted to purchase. I only brought $20 with me to be sure I curbed my spending. Ultimately, I selected a copy of Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. They're copyright 1926 and 1928!

Other fun things that happened this weekend: 1) My J.Crew bubble necklace found for $16 via eBaby came in the mail and 2) I started reading The Hunger Games (I know, I'm a little behind the trend but better late than never).

The only thing that would have made this weekend better was if I'd gotten my butt to church today. I'm trying to be better about consistent attendance but I'm still falling short. I've got to do better next week!

I can't believe the start of August is right around the corner.

The Statement Necklace

Adding a statement necklace to your ensemble is an easy way to be on trend without spending a lot. There are plenty of wallet-friendly options that mirror the high-end versions you love.

Forever 21 and Target are my favorite places to shop for affordable accessories. I also recently discovered Bauble Bar. Their pieces are amazing! Anna of In Honor of Design also prompted me to search for deals on eBay.

I've been lusting after the J.Crew Bubble Necklace all summer but it's price tag of $150 definitely doesn't fit my grad student budget. After reading this post by Anna, I went to eBay and searched "J.Crew Bubble Necklace". I found a kaleidoscope of color options for under $20 including shipping! My yellow bubble necklace, which I bought for $16, should be here on Friday. Bauble Bar also has a great version for only $38.

Whether you desire a piece echoing ladylike simplicity or funky originality, here are several comparable necklaces sure to fit a variety of tastes and budgets. Check out my Pinterest board for even more options!

J.Crew - Bubble Necklace $150                   BaubleBar - Violet Princess Bib $38

 Forever Now - Kathryn Necklace $29.99                   Forever 21 - Horn Fringe Necklace $12.80

 Kate Spade -Moonlight Pearls Necklace $378      Forever 21- Pearl Rosette Necklace $14.80

Bauble Bar - Beaded Link Collar $44                   Target - Glass Bead Link Necklace $19.99

I wrote about statement necklaces for The DePaulia: Weekend Edition last week. Click here to read my article!

wednesday wisdom from zooey deschanel

You can't help but love Zooey Deschanel. She's so quirky, orginal, and adorable. I came across this quote from her and absolutely loved it. Enjoy!

“Being tender and open is beautiful. As a woman, I feel continually shhh’ed. Too sensitive. Too mushy. Too wishy washy. Blah blah. Don’t let someone steal your tenderness. Don’t allow the coldness and fear of others to tarnish your perfectly vulnerable beating heart. Nothing is more powerful than allowing yourself to truly be affected by things. Whether it’s a song, a stranger, a mountain, a rain drop, a tea kettle, an article, a sentence, a footstep, feel it all – look around you. All of this is for you. Take it and have gratitude. Give it and feel love”. – Zooey Deschanel

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wednesday wisdom: stephen r. covey

Earlier this week the revered Stephen R. Covey passed away.

Mr. Covey's impressive CV cites many accomplishments. MBA from Harvard University. Doctoral degree from Brigham Young University. Eight honorary doctorate degrees.

His most notable and well-known publication, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. Forbes called it one of the top 10 business management books of all time. In 1996, Time magazine named Mr. Covey one of the 25 most influential Americans.

Although his accolades are many, I believe Mr. Covey's greatest achievement was the way he lived his life. He was successful because he put common sense into action. He took his own advice and shared his knowledge with others. His values were rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mr. Covey was a noble and great man. He was not perfect, but worthy of every accolade and praise. More would find happiness and fulfillment if they were to pattern their lives after his.

Two of my other favorite quotes from Mr. Covey:

“Independent will is our capacity to act. It gives us the power to transcend our paradigms, to swim upstream, to rewrite our scripts, to act based on principle rather than reacting based on emotion or circumstance.”

“How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and keeping that picture in mind, we manage ourselves each day to be and to do what really matters most.” 

Click here for additional quotes from Mr. Covey

New York Times article: Stephen R. Covey, Herald of Good Habits, Dies at 79

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new beginnings...

Friday was my first day as an intern at The Everygirl.  I am so excited and feel honored to be joining this fantastic team of ladies. I've been following The Everygirl since its infancy. I never thought I'd have the opportunity to work on the creative side and actually write for them. Thank you Danielle and Alaina!

My first day I successfully wrote one blog post. That's right. One. Only one. My fingers felt like lead and it was as if every good idea I'd ever dreamed up had exited my brain for good. But, never fear, I'm sure it was just first day jitters (it better be). It'll take a little bit of time to settle in, but I have confidence that I can be a great asset to the team.

I'm still working on determining how I'm going to juggle my internship with my current job but I have faith it will all work out. If only we didn't need money to sustain ourselves. :-)

Here's to new beginnings!

singin' in the rain...

Thursday night I had the once in a lifetime experience of seeing Singin' in the Rain on the big screen. Turner Classic Movies presented the event in celebration of the film's 60th anniversary. My mom had told me about it earlier in the week and it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. My lovely friend Charlotte accompanied me to the theater and we had a splendid time.

Prior to the movie starting, interviews with Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds were shown. I had no idea Debbie was only 18 when the movie was filmed and that she had no prior dance experience. She talked about spending hours practicing routines under Gene Kelley's intense tutelage. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been trying to keep up with Gene and Donald, both trained, accomplished dancers. Watching the film today you'd never know Debbie was a novice.

An affirmed lover of musicals, Singin' in the Rain is definitely among my top five, all-time favorites. After each dance number the audience would gleefully clap. You could feel the joy in the air. I had a smile on my face the entire 103 minutes. My cheeks hurt afterward. It was a simply wonderful evening.

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something pretty cool...

Tonight I logged onto Pinterest and discovered something pretty cool. Refinery29 repinned one of my pins to their Summer Essentials board! I know it's kind of a silly thing to be excited about but I'm a frequent visitor to their website and would love to write for them someday.

Happy pinning indeed!

wednesday wisdom...

original photo source 

utah here I come...

leaving on a jet plane...

Tonight I'm catching a plane to Utah! I'm so excited to get to see my friends and family I love so much. It's been way too long since I've seen them last. I finally get to meet baby Sophie even though she's not really a baby anymore. She's almost one! Mimaw, Grumpy, and Harmony: you're pictures should be on here too but I don't have any. Forgive me!

For those of you who I'm not going to see I'm sorry. Next trip.

The next five days are going to be filled with four-wheeling, boating, shopping, eating good food, watching movies, and hanging out with friends and family. No worries and constant fun. Get ready guys...I'll be there soon!