Uttori Life: Holiday Edition 2018 by Always Uttori

Uttori Life Holiday Edition 2018

FASHION, FOOD, & DIY

GIFTS

for Everyone on your List

Foraging a Holiday Wreath

Clever Girl Holiday Gift Guide

A Vegan Thanksgiving AFROPUNK

Nutcracker 1

Uttori Life Winter 2018- Issue 1

Imari Avey Editor in Chief Mechelle Avey Co-Editor in Chief Christian Avey Creative Director Bryant Avey Technical Consultant

Published by Always Uttori LLC ÂŠ 2018 Always Uttori LLC All rights reserved. No part of Uttori Life may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Always Uttori LLC. For permission request contact marketing@alwaysuttori.com.

Follow Always Uttori on Social Media Blog- www.alwaysuttori.com Instagram- @alwaysuttori Facebook- @alwaysuttori YouTube- Always Uttori Pinterest- @alwaysuttori

uttori adverb, to-adverb uttori

/u:tου:ri:/

うっとり

1 2

A Japanese memetic word meaning to feel enchanted or to feel enthralled by beauty. As a publication of the blog Always Uttori, Uttori Life is about finding inspiration to live your most enchanting life.

Photo by Wout Vanacker on Unsplash

Contents nchantments

INTJ: The Secret Artist pg. 8 A Vegan Thanksgiving recipes pg. 11 Cultivating Thankfulness in a Demanding World pg. 20 Holiday Gift Guide for Everybody on Your List pg. 23 Mission to Munch: 3 Make Ahead Christmas breakfast ideas pg. 29 DIY Hippo Ornament pg. 36 Clever Girls Holiday Gift Guide pg. 44 Foraging Your Own Holiday Wreaths x-mas wreath pg. 50

Afro Punk Nutcracker pg. 56 On Fairy Wings pg. 78 Prism Beauty pg. 88 From Minnesota to Ghana: Learning about Tropical Diseases pg. 92 Guo Pei Expose pg. 96 Living that #Pei-per Doll life pg. 99 Fractured Light New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fashion pg. 107 Ask an INTJ pg. 119

Meet the Task Force

Angel Lynne On Fairy Wings pg. 78 Interview pg. 84

Elizabeth Geiser Foraging pg. 50 Interview pg. 54

Brooke Wilkerson Hippo Ornament pg. 36 Interview pg. 40

Rachel Winegardner From Ghana to Minnesota pg. 92 Vanessa Skotnitsky Cover Image Interview pg. 74 Astra Williams Vegan Thanksgiving pg. 11 Interview pg. 18

X.S. Schwinning Pei-per Dolls pg.99 Interview pg. 105

Editor’s Letter Welcome to the first Uttori Life Magazine.

chance to get to know.

ver the past three years that I’ve been writing the Always Uttori blog, I have met a number of fascinating and talented women, many of whom share the same cognition style as I do—INTJ.

Most of our articles were contributed by INTJ females, though we have contributions from other introverts. Even so, the magazine isn’t only for INTJs. It is for anyone who is touched by the wonder that is part of the holiday season, for those who pursue the beauty in moments of reflection and peace, and who desire to fill their lives with a sense of enchantment, as that is what it means to be Always Uttori.

Getting to know these women, as they shared their unique perspectives and talents through social media, has served as an inspiration to me. Fueled by such creativity, I wanted to do my part to add to the conversations taking place in INTJ and introvert communities, as well as to highlight the many talents of the people I’ve met along the way. The introvert community is a diverse one, and we need to support each other in our journeys of selfactualization, which is one of the primary motivations of introverts. At first, I didn’t know how I could highlight the various talents I’d seen, but soon my desire to create a shared dialogue led me to the idea of a digital magazine, a place where I could highlight some of the amazing and hardworking women I’ve had the

Introverts do find great pleasure in time spent alone, yet we know that we cannot grow as people without engaging with others from a wide range of perspectives. This magazine aims to explore our connection with others through the stories, images, and knowledge so graciously shared in these pages. The magazine’s theme is holiday fantasy. We hope you enjoy the hard work put in by our contributors, and that within the pages of Uttori Life, you find inspiration for your own holiday enchantment.

Happy holidays,

Imari Imari- Editor in Chief

INTJ: the secret artist Photo Credit: “Art” by Svetlana Pochatun on Unsplash

Though naturally suited for a business paradigm that requires understanding of both the creative and the analytical, merging the two almost oppositional ways of thinking can be difficult, especially given that INTJs tend to pursue careers heavy with the scent of respectability, meaning anything that can be seen as practical. We are doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers . . . heck, some of us would rather justify being lint catalogers over being artists. Because of a distrust of creativity, INTJs who do follow creative yearnings tend to be incognito artists. We go to art fairs or collect photography books. We are supporters of the arts, but rarely the artist. Supporting other artists scratches the creative itch, but if creativity is the protagonist and rationality the antagonist, can they coexist in one mind harmoniously?

This article was published on the Always Uttori Blog April 13th, 2017. One of our unexpectedly popular articles, we felt this was the perfect primer to the excellent work you will see in this magazine. It has been updated and expanded.

any INTJs experience conflict between what feels to them like two very distinct mindsets: the comfortable practicality of the analytical and the tension inherent in the creative. It is a conflict that arises not from an embrace of the creative, but a discomfort with it. Psychologist and pioneer in the study of creativity, Frank Barron, defines the creative this way: “The creative person is both more primitive and more cultivated, more destructive, a lot madder and a lot saner, than the average person.” As the cynical

Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that creatives aren’t rational, but many cognition styles within the MBTI framework are not beset by a constant monitoring of the logic of a choice. When an INTJ takes on

We’re the ones who come up with plans, backup plans, and tertiary plans. We weigh the cost of every choice. We second-guess our second-guesses. a creative pursuit, there is always a struggle to let the vison grow (the hero protagonist) without the logical overlord checking and challenging the untested hero (the antagonizing antagonist). “Just do it!” said no rational ever. We’re the ones who come up with plans, backup plans, and tertiary plans. We weigh the cost of every choice. We second-guess our second-guesses. When your mind is always considering multiple possibilities, it’s just so easy to see how things could go wrong. Perhaps this is why a study published in 2017 found that 20% of Mensa members reported an anxiety disorder, higher than the national average of 10%. While there are no correlations with being a Mensa member and having an INTJ cognition style, there is a correlation between introversion with 70% of Mensa test takers being introverted versus 43% of the general population (And as an aside, while taking the test doesn’t mean you’ll become a Mensa member, ISTJ’s were the largest group to take the test, and INTJs were the second largest group to take the test).

idealists of the MBTI world, the INTJ mindset reflects this tension with a cognition style that gives equal weight to both the rational and the creative; yet, far too often, we only respect our rational mind. While other cognition styles embrace the creative as both natural and affirming, INTJs may view it with suspicion, preferring the certainty, and safety, of the analytical. When well-honed, creativity and rationality can blend together wonderfully, but INTJs can’t shake the sense that they should be focused on the weightier problems of the world. They are problem-solvers and the problems that can be found in art and design don’t seem . . . well, serious enough. As Peter L. Phillips says in Creating the Perfect Design Brief, “Traditionally, designers have no credibility as business savvy people; as a result, they aren’t trusted enough to make critical business decisions.” Yet Philips, and others like him, are at the vanguard in the rise and adoption of design mind thinking as businesses reshape themselves for a new generation of consumers.

I’ve met many creative and talented INTJs who are artists, but they don’t consider their pursuit of creativity as a serious endeavor, regardless of their level of artistic success. There is always an accompanying sense that art isn’t a practical career choice. In addition, social pressures may influence INTJs to go the more practical route to avoid the perception that they are not working a real job. Finding a happy medium for both sides of the INTJ mindset is probably one of the biggest challenges all INTJs face. It’s just that for us, art and creativity seem to be a dirty, little secret. We don’t talk about the importance of feeding that side of our brain, and yet, I’ve met so many INTJs who produce great art, whether it be fashion, photography, drawing, painting, writing, or music. It’s a shame we don’t celebrate this more.

in this discussion on creativity, but there is a point to all of this. Martin describes design thinking as the balance between the two approaches, analytical and intuitive. Design thinking is open to exploring ideas while also being analytical. Design thinking also practices the balance between innovation and systemization. While Martin’s book describes design thinking as the next frontier for businesses, for the INTJ, there is hope that a balance can be achieved. For those who have shunned their artistic side, it’s important to remember that creativity and artistic expression require order, logic, and a rationale, if not rationality. For those who already practice a form of artistic expression, don’t be so hard on yourself. Logic will always be there to check you. As Martin explains, the synergy between these two energies is a major advantage, and as it turns out, one an INTJ may be naturally suited to. So, don’t forget your creative side, whether it be expressed through traditional artistic means, or something else. The secret is out. Despite the, sometimes, opposing nature of these two disciplines, creativity balanced by the analytical can yield important insights in business, and in our own personal lives. Let’s embrace our creative expressions as an aspect of our rationality and something to be taken seriously.

For the INTJ, there is hope that a balance can be achieved.

NTJs are more than just rational robots. Expressing your viewpoint through artistic pursuits isn’t shameful. Art and design are serious enough for even the most rational of minds to pursue. In the book, The Design of Business: Why Design Thinking is the Next Competitive Advantage by Roger Martin, the author discusses the two current forms of business thinking: analytical and intuitive. Analytical is based on the quantitative, focused on standardizing and getting rid of bias, whereas intuitive is driven by creativity, innovation, and instinct. This sounds similar to the dichotomy of the INTJ mindset. As Martin describes, analytical thinking has taken over the business world because it’s easy to measure, it’s consistent, and it scales well as businesses grow. Intuition, on the other hand, is considered valid because it is based on pushing from a place of instinct and creating innovations based on what you know. Not to get too business-y

Vegan hanksgiving By Astra Williams

Baked Butternut Squash Gnocchi Ingredients 1 Package of gnocchi, about 18 oz.

½ tsp. Mixed herb seasoning

About 20 oz. Butternut squash, cubed

½ tsp. Salt

¼ c Vodka

½ tsp. Black pepper

3 tbsp. Tapioca flour

¼ tsp. Cayenne

3 tbsp. Olive oil

¼ tsp. Cumin

1 ½ tsp. Garlic powder

Handful of Seasoned or unseasoned breadcrumbs (optional)

1 ½ tsp. Nutritional yeast

Directions:

Prepare Sauce:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large saucepan, combine the mashed butternut squash, vodka, oil, tapioca flour, and seasoning. Stir frequently, cooking on low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Add a few tablespoons of the pasta water until a smooth, but still thick consistency is achieved. Continue stirring for a few minutes, then combine with the gnocchi.

Prepare Butternut Squash: Roast the butternut squash in the oven for approximately 30 minutes in a covered shallow baking dish, or until it’s easy to mash. Alternatively, the squash can be steamed in approximately 20 minutes to the same consistency, however, roasting is preferable because it creates a nuttier and more complex flavor. After roasting or steaming, mash the squash until no chunks are left. Keep oven on at 350 degrees. Prepare Gnocchi: While squash is cooking, bring a large pot of water to boil. Boil the gnocchi for 3-5 minutes. Retain the pasta water afterwards.

Prepare Casserole: Put the gnocchi and the butternut squash mix in a casserole dish, preferably a cast iron dish if one is available. Sprinkle with a handful of breadcrumbs if you want some added crunch. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from the oven, let it set for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Pear Cake Dry Ingredients

1 c Soy (or other non-dairy) milk 1 ½ tbsp. White vinegar ¼ c Water

1 c White flour ½ c Whole wheat flour ¼ c Almond meal (flour) 1 c White sugar ¾ tsp. Baking soda ¾ tsp. Baking powder ½ tsp. Salt ¼ tsp. Cream of tartar

Topping 2-3 medium sized crisp (not quite ripe) pears, thoroughly washed 1 ½ tbsp. Brown sugar 2 tsp. Cinnamon ¼ tsp. Ginger powder ¼ tsp. Nutmeg (optional) ¼ tsp. Allspice (optional)

Wet ingredients 1/3 c Vegetable oil

Directions:

Pour your cake batter into your baking dish. Arrange the spiced pear slices in any pattern you like on top of the cake batter. Don’t press down too hard, the slices will naturally sink a bit. Sprinkle any remaining cinnamon sugar & spice mix on top, focusing mainly on the pear slices. Place the cake dish on the top rack of your oven and bake for 30-50 minutes, depending Sift all the dry ingredients together in a large on how deep vs how shallow your baking bowl and stir, making sure everything is dish is. If it’s a shallow baking dish (like a thoroughly mixed. brownie dish for example) it will need less time; If it’s deep casserole style dish, it will Add all the wet ingredients to the dry need more time. Check the progress after ingredients and mix with a hand mixer, counter/stand mixer, egg beater, or manually. 30 minutes. If it’s a shallow or medium depth dish, check if it’s done by sticking a Don’t overbeat. toothpick into an area that has cake only Core and thinly slice the pears. It doesn’t matter what shape you choose, just maintain (no pear, since the area with pear will always seem wet). Return to the oven if it needs that shape and thickness throughout. Mix your other topping ingredients together in a more time; repeat if necessary. shallow dish. Dip each pear slice in the spice Remove from the oven when done. Let cool for at least 20 minutes. Slice, and serve with topping mix. Each slice should be covered vegan ice cream! front and back in cinnamon sugar & spices. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8 x 4 loaf pan, or a 9 x 9 square pan with parchment paper, or if you prefer, grease the baking dish. The baking dish should be large enough that the cake batter will only fill 50% to 75% of the dish. Combine the soy milk with the vinegar and let it sit for at least 5 minutes to get clumpy.

Chocolate Truffles Ingredients 8 ounces of 72% cacao dark chocolate 4 tablespoons of Soy milk, or other nondairy milk 4-8 large Medjool dates A dash of cinnamon Cocoa powder, nuts, seeds, coconut for topping (all optional)

Directions: Dice, shred, cut, or grate your dark chocolate into small pieces. Slice dates in half, remove pits, dice into tiny cubes. Heat the chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat, stirring constantly. When the chocolate begins melting, add the nondairy milk one tablespoon at a time. Stir to combine. When the chocolate is completely melted and smooth, add the dash of cinnamon and the diced dates. Continue to stir until combined. Turn off the heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Cut ping-pong ball sized pieces from the chocolate mass. You should have between 10 and 14 pieces. Roll each into a ball. Your fingers will get sticky! To coat your truffle, roll each ball inside a bowl of cocoa powder, nuts, seeds, or whatever youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like for your topping. Plate your chocolate truffles, then enjoy your high antioxidant dessert!

M a ke It A M EAL : Mi s sion to Mu nch Side s Pickled Green Beans Ingredients

Directions:

1 lb. green beans

Steam the green beans until tender but still crisp, about 6 minutes. Rinse under cold water and set aside.

1 green onion sliced 1 tbsp. white vinegar 2 tbsp. fresh dill weed chopped 1 tsp honey 1 tsp salt

In a small bowl, mix green onions, vinegar, dill weed, honey, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Pour the mixture into a Ziploc and add the green beans. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.

¼ tsp pepper 2 tbsp olive oil

Wilted Spinach Salad with Candied Cashews and Dried Cranberries Ingredients ½ c halved cashews 2 ½ tbsp. brown sugar 1 tbsp. vegan butter 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 small red onion 1 lb. of spinach 1 tbsp. lemon juice ½ c dried cranberries Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Dice the red onion and set aside.

Spray a nonstick baking sheet or piece of parchment paper with cooking oil. Place brown sugar and vegan butter in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until the sugar and butter are dissolved. Add the cashews and continue stirring to coat the nuts. Once the nuts are well-coated, pour the mixture onto the baking sheet in a single layer. Let cool.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the spinach and season with salt and pepper. Cook approximately 3 to 5 minutes, until the spinach has wilted. Be sure to stir the spinach so no part gets cooked more than the rest. Add the lemon juice, red onion, and dried cranberries. Stir for a few minutes to incorporate. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the candied cashews.

Eat. Travel. YuM!

Vegetarian home chef Astra shares her drool worthy creations on Instagram (@astra_williams). Inspired to get into cooking after several of her favorite vegetarian restaurants closed, Astra is always looking to recreate flavors she finds around New York or her travels abroad.

ou share your love of tasty vegetarian and vegan food on Instagram, what attracted you to a plant-based diet and do you ever eat meat?

I’ve been a Vegetarian for 19 years, I may transition to Veganism one day, maybe for my 20th Anniversary (fingers crossed!). I cook vegan at home, but when I’m out & about in the world I order Vegetarian foods if Vegan isn’t available. I grew up having pets and loving animals. As a child, I anticipated that I’d become a Vegetarian when I had the ability to make cooking choices for myself. It’s hard not to drool all over the phone when we see your pictures, do you create your own recipes, or do you have any recommendation for great vegan recipe books? Thank you! It’s a combination of recipe books, hobbyist cooking classes, and my imagination. My lovely cousin Vanesta, who btw is a Pescatarian (and has a wonderful Find Astra on Instagram: @astra_williams blog and Instagram @bellycomesfirst) gifted me a Vegetarian recipe book for Christmas several years ago. I started with that book and made a few of their recipes. I live in NYC and I’ve taken cooking classes whenever I’ve seen something offered that I liked. The Whole Foods Bowery location used to offer classes, I’ve taken several of those. I enjoy taking cooking classes whenever I travel, I’ve taken basic classes for tourists in Thailand, Morocco, and Mexico. If classes aren’t available, I inquire about preparation and local spices. When I get home, I try to replicate the tastes of what I’ve eaten abroad.

“I love to visit spice markets when I travel, and I often bring large spice packages home.”

I love to visit spice markets when I travel, and I often bring large spice packages home.

I also enjoy watching the Food Network, and any food program on television. I learned plating from watching those programs, and I also gain inspiration on new dishes to veganize. Gordon Ramsey is one of my favorite celebrity chefs, I love his attitude!

What is your favorite food at the holiday table? This is a difficult one! I really like pasta with garlic & oil. The more garlic the better! INTJs often have a difficult time sharing their hobbies, what would you tell other INTJ females who want to share something they’re passionate about?

If you were introducing someone to veganism, what would you recommend as a first meal?

My only advice would be to share with yourself first. Perhaps scrapbook, build an at-home shrine, collage, or create a social media page dedicated to your hobby, and see where it goes from there. If you’d like to interact with other like-minded folks, start or join a meetup.com group dedicated to your craft.

I’m partial to mushrooms. My go-to simple meal is grilled portobellos, or smaller mushrooms like criminis sautéed in garlic & olive oil. Mushrooms are versatile, they combine well with garlic bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, and likely any other starches you have available.

“The absolute easiest food tip anyone can follow to accommodate vegan friends and family for holiday meals is to ensure that the only item that contains meat is the actual meat itself !” What are some of your other hobbies besides cooking?

Do you have any tips for people who aren’t vegan but have to make vegan friendly food for family and friends over the holidays?

Hobbies also include travel, watching documentaries, visiting museums, art galleries, and the theatre.

The absolute easiest food tip anyone can follow to accommodate vegan friends and family for holiday meals is to ensure that the only item that contains meat is the actual meat itself! Sounds simple, but it is quite revolutionary. If turkey is served for Thanksgiving, or if ham is served for Christmas, a Vegan/Vegetarian/Pescatarian won’t eat that for sure, however all other items, rice, pastas, beans, etc. shouldn’t contain any meat or animal products in its preparation. Consider stocks used, seasoning packets, gelatin, dairy, lard, and etc. and read labels! This way, your friend has almost as many dining options everyone else. When cooking, be sure to avoid cross-contamination, use different utensils for each dish. And as always, inquire about allergies. Bonus tip, they’ll love you forever if you provide a vegan dessert!

You’ve traveled a lot, but what fictional place would you most like to go? I’d love to visit Wakanda! What are you reading currently? I’m currently reading Pedagogy of the Oppressed, by Paolo Freire What do you wish you could tell a younger you? I’d tell a younger me to focus on myself and to always chose myself.

CULTIVATING

T hankfulness

Photo Credit: Seth Hays on Unsplash

priorities, it’s a lot easier to push selfreflection and feelings of gratitude to the end of that priorities list. What gets lost in the shuffle is that while thankfulness may be the reason for the season, research has shown that practicing thankfulness everyday helps to boost mood, eliminate stress, and help us approach problems more confidently. In other words, Thanksgiving is really a primer to help us practice a discipline that is vitally important to our well-being and success all year long.

hanksgiving is rapidly approaching, which, of course, means that we are all meant to slow down and reflect, if only for a day or two, on all of our blessings. Oh, and in the meantime, we must also produce several large celebratory meals, go into debt giving gifts to everyone we know, navigate family, travel, wear appropriate fashion, behave appropriately, and who knows what other holiday stressors, but, you know, be grateful.

“While thankfulness may be the reason for the season, research has shown that practicing thankfulness everyday helps to boost mood, eliminate stress, and help us approach problems more confidently.”

Lest you think I am falling into grinch mode a bit too early, it’s not that I am against slowing down, reflecting, and being grateful. If I am against anything, it is making the Thanksgiving holiday the only standard bearer for an attitude of gratitude. This is the time of year when articles about thankfulness proliferate, yet gratitude is actually a success discipline that is important to cultivate. Rather than something that defines one day out of 365 other days, it should be integral to the mastermind’s way of life. Of course, we all know that we need to be grateful, at least during the Thanksgiving holidays, but if you’re like the 46% of women and 56% of men who don’t regularly express gratitude (according to a 2012 survey by the John Templeton Foundation), it’s probably because you are familiar with our culture’s attempt at guilting you into gratitude, but wholly unaware of what a powerful asset gratitude can be in achieving one’s goals as a mastermind. The reality is that it’s not that most people aren’t thankful about the blessings that they have in life, instead, when we focus on thankfulness as part of a seasonal priority, during a period when we may feel overwhelmed by multiple competing

Don’t believe me? Numerous studies have identified thankfulness as a powerful tool for improved mood and happiness. In the past, the attitude of thankfulness was approached from a philosophical perspective and lacked scientific research, but now functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) has shown that gratitude produces real effects on the brain. In a study by psychologists, Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami, participants were asked to write a few sentences each week, over the course of 10 weeks, about what they were grateful for. The study showed that those who were asked to write about gratitude were more optimistic about their lives than both the group that wrote about irritations and the neutral control group.

Lessons in Thankfulness

s a discipline for those who pursue the mastermind mindset, gratitude practice doesn’t have to be about current events. Gratitude can be cultivated

“When practicing gratitude as a discipline, it’s important to remember that feeling thankful isn’t about suppressing or inhibiting negativity...” by recalling positive memories from the past, as well as thinking about future events in a hopeful and positive way. While applying thankfulness as a discipline has been shown to help improve mood, there is one caveat. Trying to trick yourself into being grateful, simply reciting meaningless, positive affirmations, or trying to create positivity when you don’t truly feel positive does not work as a strategy, it only creates cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is when the conscious and subconscious mind are at odds with each other, and in this case “thinking positively” is merely a lie told unsuccessfully. This is important to keep in mind, especially since many thankfulness practices don’t take this into account. So how do you cultivate thankfulness when the stress is too much for you to create positive vibes? Well, the brain is a muscle, so just like we work to tone the body, to cultivate thankfulness is a daily task that must be practiced. On some days, thankfulness is easier than others, but if you can make every day a day of thanksgiving, the gratitude attitude can overcome those moments, or days, when the struggle for gratitude is all too real. Cultivating thankfulness does require effort. It requires the time to think and reflect on those things for which you are truly grateful. Many who practice gratitude as a discipline add intentional effort by writing out why they are thankful. They talk about the things they are grateful for, not in a preachy or superior way, but with a sense of genuine thankfulness because gratitude demands that we throw away any

sense of entitlement and that we understand that the human experience comes with both challenges and blessings (a blessing is something that make us happy, but it’s not necessarily things that we worked to get for ourselves). When practicing gratitude as a discipline, it’s important to remember that feeling thankful isn’t about suppressing or inhibiting negativity, it’s about redirecting your attention to those things that will enable you to move forward. When you focus on what’s real and positive in your life, it breeds a type of reinforcing resilience in your ability to overcome challenges and to continue being grateful for what you do have. Concreteness breeds belief, which in turn reinforces awareness of those things for which you can be grateful. So, as the saying goes, gratitude is an attitude, but it’s one that must be carefully cultivated. Viewing gratitude as a daily habit that improves the mind and thoughts over time means that not only is it a work in progress, it is work that requires discipline. How amazing is it that we live in a culture that can recognize the great value that gratitude has in our lives. So, let the proliferation of gratitude articles this Thanksgiving season not only inspire you to take on the task of gratitude, but to make it a daily discipline to be practiced at every opportunity.

References and Resources for You: The Leading Brain: Neuroscience Hacks to Work Smarter, Better, Happier by Friederike Fabritius In Praise of Gratitude, Harvard Mental Health Letter A Practical Guide to Gratitude 7 Ways to Cultivate more Thankfulness Beyond Thankful: Cultivating a Life of Gratitude

The Holiday Gift Guide f o r eve ry o n e o n y o u r list.

Finding the perfect holiday gift for everyone on your list can be a major time sap. Our one stop holiday gift guide has you covered with something for everyone on your friends and family list. (This article contains affiliate links.)

Photo by Nonki Azariah on Unsplash

For Those Who Are All About #aesthetic Aesthetics create mood, and for those who prefer to indulge the senses, gifts that develop or indulge in aesthetics are perfect.

Galaxy Beanie with LED Stars ThinkGeek- $24.99 The Aesthetic Brain: How We Evolved to Desire Beauty and Enjoy Art Amazon- $17.94

UGG Women's Fluff Yeah Slide Sandal Amazon- $99.00

Cedar Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle Amazon- $12.99

Playable Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt ThinkGeek-$24.99

UGG Men's Hanz Slipper Amazon- $50.00

The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups Amazon- $19.04

You Are a BadassÂŽ: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life Amazon- $9.59

The Awkward Storyteller Party Game Amazon-$25.00

You're Not Lost: An Inspired Action Plan for Finding Your Own Way Amazon- $11.00

Circular Reasoning Game ThinkGeek- $24.99

For Those Who Want to Rule the World According to the British pop group Tears for Fears, everybody wants to rule the world. Well, maybe not everybody, but the money mover or power player in your life isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t interested in a fruit basket. This holiday season get your mover and shaker a gift to help in developing their world domination skills. 25

For Your Beloved Introvert Being a homebody is a lifestyle choice. Instead of trying to get your homebody out, make staying in all that more enjoyable with these gifts.

Bluetooth Sleeping Eye Mask Headphones Amazon- $24.92 Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave Amazon- $23.99 Retro Gaming Mat Urban Outfitters-$28.00

Stay Home Embroidered Amped Fleece Throw Pillow Urban Outfiters-$39.00

Fizz Boom Bath! Book + DIY Bath Bomb Gift Set Urban Outfitters-$19.95

Computer Monitors Memo Pads Amazon- $8.98

Universal Phone Mount Urban Outfitters- $16.00

Chalkboard Wall Storage Organizer Urban Outfitters-$59.00

Portable Mini Smoothie Maker Amazon- $36.99

Productivity Planner Urban Outfitters- $26.00

For Those Who are Too Practical to Have Fun There are those who bah humbug their way through the holidays; scoffing at the notion of gifts just because. Maybe the perfect gift for the Grinch in your life means choosing the practical gift, instead of the fun. Find your practical gift here. 27

Fashion Guru

Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford that pair of Balenciaga boots your fashion buddy covets with her entire being? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not all bad. While finding something for a fashionable friend can be a challenge, these gifts are perfect for the fashionista in your life.

Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon Amazon- $22.48

The Incomplete: Highsnobiety Guide to Street Fashion and Culture Amazon- $45.52

Harper Crossbody Amazon- $19.99

Guo Pei: Couture Beyond Amazon- $37.40

Wool Blend Pea Coat Amazon- $64.99

Travel Backpack Amazon- $165.99 Plaid Overcoat Amazon- $52.99

M i s s ion t o Mu nch Make A h e ad Chri s t m as Bre ak f as t Ide as Make Christmas morning a lot smoother with these three Mission to Munch make ahead breakfasts! 29

Gluten-free Japanese Soufflé Pancakes with Caramel Apple Sauce This gluten-free take on a fluffy soufflé pancake makes for an impressive tableside presentation. While the pancake is usually cooked in an English muffin ring and then served, we cook ours in a rice cooker for an easy, no fuss Christmas morning breakfast.

Pancake Ingredients

to cook)

3 eggs

1 tbsp. butter melted

3 tbsp. sugar

Cooking spray

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

Apple Caramel Ingredients

2 tsp. lemon zest (optional)

½ c butter

2 1/3 c Gluten-free flour blend of choice (preferably one without xanthan gum)

2 c brown sugar

¼ tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking soda 1 c buttermilk ¾ c water or unflavored carbonated water (Don’t add the carbonated water until ready

1 tsp. salt ½ tsp. baking soda 1 tbsp. vanilla 2 honey crisp or apple of choice peeled and diced

Directions: Make Pancake Mix:

wait to cook it the next morning; however, the flavors develop a bit more overnight, making the pancake slightly more flavorful than if cooked fresh. Our taste testers preferred this method, despite the tougher texture.

Separate the egg whites from the yolks, keeping both. Chill the egg whites in the freezer for 15 minutes to facilitate a firm meringue.

To cook fresh, take the pancake batter out of the refrigerator and gently stir to reincorporate the ingredients, making sure nothing separated overnight. **Add the carbonated water at this point if using. Pour the batter into the rice cooker and follow the instructions above. You will know the cake is done when it pulls away from the edges and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. To remove the cake from the cooker, place a plate over the top of the rice pot and flip. If the cake does not come down, then use a spatula to gently separate it from the edges of the pot and try again.

Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest in a bowl until frothy. Sift dry ingredients together into a large bowl and stir to blend. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture then add in the buttermilk, water **(see cooking instructions if using carbonated water and cooking fresh the day of), and butter to the dry ingredients. There should still be a few lumps. Remove the egg whites from freezer. Using a stand mixer, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Once soft peaks have formed, gently fold the egg whites into the flour mixture.

Let cake cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Cook:

Make Caramel:

There are two options when making this pancake ahead of time. You can either cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator overnight OR cook right away.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add in brown sugar and salt. Stir until blended. Slowly pour in cream. Stir well. Allow the mixture to come to a roiling boil. Let cook for about 5 minutes. Add in chopped apples. Cook for approximately 1 minute more. Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. Let cool for about 10 minutes before storing in a covered container until the morning.

If cooking overnight, pour the batter into a rice cooker. Rice cookers vary so using either the rice cook setting, or if you have a fancier rice cooker, the cake setting, cook for 45 minutes to an hour. Head to bed and let the cooking cycle complete as the rice cooker will switch to warm once the cook period has passed. In the morning, your pancake will be ready to be removed from the cooker and drizzled with the caramel sauce. Leaving the cake overnight makes the consistency a little tougher than if you

Before serving the pancake, microwave the caramel sauce for 3-5 minutes. Either pour the mixture over the pancake and let soak in or serve as a side to the pancake. Enjoy.

Peaches and Cream Croissant Pudding This crispy croissant bread pudding isn’t too sweet and it’s quick to prepare. If you want to go the extra mile, you can make the optional vanilla cream sauce to pour over the top. It’s safe to say this one is a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

Optional Toppings

3 large croissants

Powdered sugar and cinnamon for sprinkling on top

1 ½ c of canned, frozen, or fresh peaches ½ tsp. cinnamon

And / Or

1 (8oz) package cream cheese softened

Vanilla Cream Sauce Ingredients

1/2 c sugar

½ c light brown sugar

2 eggs

1 c cream

1 tsp. vanilla

½ c butter

¼ c cream

1 tbsp. cornstarch

2/3 c milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

the refrigerator to soak overnight.

Roughly chop or tear croissants into small bite size pieces. Place croissant pieces in a 9-inch square pan.

Vanilla Cream Sauce:

Prepare peaches. If using frozen, thaw by warming in the microwave 3-5 minutes. Pat excess moisture off peaches and then toss with cinnamon. Layer the peaches over the croissants. Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in medium bowl with an electric mixer until well- blended. Gradually add cream and milk, making sure to mix well. Pour mixture over croissants. Cover pan with plastic wrap and place in

Melt unsalted butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in cream, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Let cool for a few minutes then store in a covered container in the refrigerator. Optionally, you can make the morning of and serve fresh. You can cook this the night before, or on Christmas morning. Bake the pudding at

overnight, for 3-5 minutes in the microwave. Once the pudding is done baking, dust the top with powdered sugar and cinnamon. If you’ve prepared the cream sauce you can pour it over the whole bake or let diners pour their own.

You 350 for 35-40 minutes or until set in center and golden brown. You may want to cover it with foil for the last 10 minutes if the top is browning too quickly. Microwave the cream sauce, if stored

Enjoy.

Swedish Smörgås If you prefer a savory breakfast, you can’t go wrong with this build-your-own smörgås recipe. These open sandwiches represent a renaissance in new Nordic cuisine. In our version, we layer smoked salmon, cream cheese, and a variety of pickles on toasted sourdough, making for a hearty start to Christmas morning.

Ingredients

2 c vinegar

1 package sourdough bread or bread of choice

2 c water

Smoked Salmon Roll Ingredients

1 c sugar

4 3oz packs sliced smoked salmon

¼ c kosher salt

6 oz cream cheese softened

2 sprigs dill weed

2 tbsp. chives

1 lb radish sliced

1 tsp. horseradish (optional)

2 cups red onion sliced

1 tsp. lemon juice

Extras

1 tsp. lemon zest

1 cucumber

¼ tsp. salt

4 boiled eggs

Pinch of pepper

capers

Pickle Ingredients

dill weed for garnish

Directions: Make Pickles:

wax paper twisting the ends to help the roll keep its shape. Repeat until all the salmon and cream cheese is gone. Refrigerate in wax paper overnight.

Wash radishes and slice (or chop depending on preference) into ¼ inch slices. Thinly slice 1 large, red onion. In a medium saucepan, combine vinegar, 2 cups of water, sugar, salt, and dill weed. Bring to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, place the radish and red onion in separate lidded, heatproof containers. Once the liquid has boiled, remove from heat and pour evenly over the onion and radish. Let cool to room temperature then cover and chill overnight.

Extras: Smörgås are about creating your own sandwich “visio.”. Add garnishes such as boiled eggs, cucumbers, capers, dill weed, and anything else you like on your sandwich.

Assemble: The next morning, thinly slice the sourdough bread and toast until crispy.

Smoked Salmon Roll:

Get out your pickles, and any extras, and place in small serving bowls.

In a bowl or stand mixer, combine cream cheese, chives, horseradish, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.

Unwrap the smoked salmon roll and slice in ½ -inch slices.

Divide salmon in such a way to make 3-4 rolls. Lay out a small piece of wax paper. Lay slices onto wax paper layering the salmon so there are few holes. Spread cream cheese mixture on salmon. Roll up using the wax paper as a guide. Tighten with

Let people make their own sandwiches using the salmon rolls. One of our favorites is on toasted sourdough with a base layer of salmon roll followed by sliced eggs, pickled radish, pickled onion, and garnished with dill weed. Yum! Enjoy.

See how to make these ideas below!

DIY Hippo Ornaments By Brooke Wilkerson

Hippo Ornament Supplies x x x x x x x x

for SEWN version:

Craft felt in 2 colors Sharp precise scissors Ultra Fine Point Sharpie marker 2 black sequins for eyes (6mm size) 2 white sequins for eyes (8mm size) 3 sequins for body decoration (8mm size) 1/8” wide ribbon for hang loop (at least 6 inches long) Toothpick or straight pin

x x x

Hand-sewing needle Thread to match felt colors and sequins Contrasting thread for details

For GLUED version: x x

Craft glue (Elmer’s white or gel kind is fine) Squeezable dimensional paint and/or glitter glue in contrasting color for details

Instructions 1. Print pattern – make sure printer settings are “actual size” or “no scaling” – not “fit to page”. Check scale after printing by measuring the 1-inch test square. 2. Cut out the three paper pattern pieces around the outlines. 3. Use Sharpie marker to trace the pattern pieces on the backside of the felt, with printed side facing the felt. (This is so you don’t have to worry about cutting every mark off the felt.) 4. Cut out the felt pieces as precisely as you can. 5. Add nose swirls with thread or dimensional paint/glitter glue. 6. Stitch or glue white sequins with smaller black sequins on top where the eyes go on the head piece. Use toothpick or straight pin as a tool for positioning and pressing into glue. 7. Stitch or glue hang loop to one of the 2 full body pieces of felt. Make sure loop is slightly closer to the head than the center so the ornament will hang level. If gluing, glue each layer together and finish with 3 decorative sequins on body and dimensional paint/glitter glue to define separate legs. (Optional: use toothpick to paint edge of head where it touches the body for more definition.) If sewing, sew all the details before attaching the back body layer (layer with loop) in order to hide all the stitches and keep the back clean. Using a loop instead of a knot is easiest when beginning a new length of thread (see photo detail of threaded needle with buttons). Whip stitch around the edges of the layers with matching thread. You can hide the thread tails after you knot off at the end by using the needle to bury the tails with a long stitch inside the layers and then trimming off. A tail can be added with four strands of thread – a short crotchet chain with a knot at the end was used in the photo example. And that’s it! Now you can give everyone a Hippopotamus for Christmas!

Use Sharpie marker to trace the pattern pieces on the backside of the felt, with printed side facing the felt.

Add nose swirls with thread or dimensional paint/glitter glue.

Stitch or glue white sequins with smaller black sequins on top where the eyes go on the head piece.

If gluing, glue each layer together and finish with 3 decorative sequins on body and dimensional paint/ glitter glue to define separate legs.

Stitch or glue hang loop to one of the 2 full body pieces of felt. If sewing, sew all the details before attaching the back body layer (layer with loop) in order to hide all the stitches and keep the back clean.

Visit Always Uttori.com for PDF print out of pattern, curtesy of Brooke.

Boldly

Find Brooke on Instagram: @SewBrooke Twitter: @SewBrooke Custom Style

Brooke may have shared how to make whimsical DIY hippo ornaments, but the skills required for her career as a costume technician are the result of serious, passion driven focus. Sewing since the age of seven, Brooke graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a B.A. in Theatre. There she spent hundreds of hours in the costume shop. She works now as a freelance seamstress with gigs including The Dallas Theater Center, Barney & Friends/Hit Entertainment, Irene Corey Design Associates (ICDA), The Dallas Opera, and a number of production companies in the film & television industry. If that weren’t enough, Brooke also runs her business, Custom Style, which specializes in the creation & construction of vintage style wedding gowns, period costumes, and custom clothing. We asked Brooke to share the inside scoop on being a costume technician.

ow did you get into sewing and costume design?

I started hand sewing at the age of seven, and after persistently begging my mom, she finally taught me how to operate her sewing machine. I don’t consider myself a designer – I did some costume design in college, and I hated it. I’m a stitcher and a Costume Technician and it’s my job to construct what someone else designs. I am the hands-on skilled labor. (For a look at the different titles and job descriptions of people who work in a costume shop, see my old blog post about it.) What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day at work in the opera costume shop involves me assembling the pieces a cutter/draper hands me to build a costume or altering a rental or existing stock costume based on the fitting notes. Sometimes the alterations involve repairs. When I work backstage jobs for concerts and touring shows that come through the area, I usually don’t know what I’ll be doing until I show up. But

it usually consists of repairs, laundry, steaming & ironing, shining/touch-up painting shoes, and helping dress during the performance. Television and film productions can involve building & altering clothing, laundry, steaming & ironing, setting actors’ wardrobe in their trailers, dressing extras, helping a sound guy wire actors’ clothing with a mic, and working on set. Fights and stunts call for duplicate garments and working with special effects department for blood rigging etc.

“I usually don’t know what I’ll be doing until I show up.” What do you like about creating clothes? I like the 3-dimensional engineering challenges involved with construction. And clothing is practical & functional art. I may work behind the scenes and people may not realize I made something I’m wearing, but I hear the appreciation when they admire the details. My work is tangible and that makes it satisfying. What’s the hardest part of your job? In a lot of ways, my career has forced me to adapt to work situations and environments I would have stayed completely away from otherwise. There’s so much outside my natural comfort zone that has slowly become comfortable enough for me that I don’t avoid it. I can walk into a job without knowing exactly what to expect and not be a nervous wreck. I’ve also found that as long as I have a task to focus on, I can work in over-stimulating surroundings without having sensory overload. I hate driving to new places, but I’ve learned to look at a map and just get in the car to go without having to do a test drive the day before (tv shows will hand you a map for tomorrow’s location after a 12+ hour workday). I now have an extremely large cognitive roadmap. Nowadays, the hardest thing about my job is probably just the long-hours required at times. As long as I like the people I’m working with on a gig, it can be fun. And when I don’t like the people, I know it’s only temporary as a freelancer. I have never walked away from a job, but I have come very, very close on a couple of occasions. Hardest project you’ve done? Episodic TV production is always the hardest. The

days are long (12-19 hours) and the work is just a revolving door from one episode to the next. I can work a couple weeks on a television show and not remember much about what I did. The shortest timeframe we had for one costume completely built from scratch was 24 hours from casting to the time it needed to be in front of camera. I think there were 8 of us, plus the costume designer, who were needed to make that happen. How do you stay in the creative mindset? I try to find inspiration from outside my work. I consider a lot of my online sewing friends to be my “continuing education” because they share tips & tricks I might not have thought about, and they sometimes ask me questions that cause me to research the answers. I don’t think you completely understand something until you’ve had to teach/ explain it to someone else. What advice would you give someone interested in getting into costume design? Learn to sew even if you don’t enjoy it and aren’t very good at it. Knowing some basic construction will help you design on a realistic level and will help you better communicate with people like me, who are building your designs. Designers who don’t understand sewing can be very frustrating to work with. Your personal style is very defined, how would you describe it and what draws you to that particular style? I have a lot of variety in my closet. I think there are different versions of my style depending on where I am and what I’m doing. I know that my coworkers see my style as casual and practical (costuming is kind of a dirty job), while those who only see me at church think I’m a very put together fashionista. I love retro details, bright colors, and interesting textures or prints. Do you think what we wear can reflect our personality? I think most people (especially women) dress to their insecurities. Every individual client I’ve sewn for tries to hide what they dislike about themselves, but because they haven’t been trained in ways to draw focus away from perceived flaws, they usually want to add more where they shouldn’t. What so many people don’t understand is you can wear anything as long as you don’t act insecure or uncomfortable while wearing it. And some of the

people with the worst body image issues I’ve known are actors. I know I dress to please myself, because I don’t care if I stand out as unusual or individualistic. For example, I wear hats in the winter, and people often comment that they wish they could wear hats. No one’s stopping them. (It’s that confidence thing again.) Besides, wearing a hat gets me a lot of random smiles from strangers. :) Does your personality influence your design in anyway? When it comes to sewing for myself, comfort and ease of wear both play a major part in what I make. I don’t like my clothing to distract me throughout the day. If a t-shirt gives me underarm wedgies, I won’t wear it. If my jeans are too tight around my knees, I’ll end up avoiding that pair until I need to do laundry. If a dress has a side zipper making it hard to get on and off, I won’t reach for it very often. And forget jumpsuits! I refuse to undress every time I need to go to the bathroom. In what specific ways does being an INTJ female impact your work that wouldn’t be possible if you were another cognition style? I can see the big picture and break a project down into construction steps and reverse engineer a build. I am very good at anticipating and preventing problems during the process, and because of this, I’m not having to back up and redo a lot work along the way. I have no problem asking questions if I don’t know or understand something. I’m also weirdly accurate with time estimations – if I think something will take an hour, I’ll finish in 59 minutes. What are you reading currently? The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair – a fascinating non-fiction book about the history of certain colors and where they came from. When you’re not working how do you like to spend your time? I enjoy spending quality time with my ISTJ husband – we sometimes just sit and watch tv/ movies, and other times, we have deep discussions about everything ranging from theology to politics to psychology to just plain silly geeky topics (like what amusing details we think might be in the next Star Wars movie, etc).

What so many people don’t understand is you can wear anything as long as you don’t act insecure or uncomfortable while wearing it.

What’s your next project? I never really know what my next work project will be until I start – so many things never make it past the pre-production phase. My next personal project will probably be some fun t-shirts for myself, my nieces and nephew (Christmas gifts). If people are interested in hiring you/buying your work, how can they do that? Easiest way to contact me is by email – CustomStylebyBrooke@yahoo.com – it all depends on your deadlines and my schedule whether I have time to do custom work.

Clever Girls

H olid ay Gift G u id e Finding the perfect gift for the clever girls in our life can be quite the challenge. Never fear, we’ve got you covered with this clever girl holiday gift guide. And if you don’t believe us, we’ve also asked our Task Force members, all clever girls themselves, to share what’s on their holiday list this year! (This article contains affiliate links.)

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Support Her Craft The clever girl has many talents and interests. Show your support with gifts that elevate her craft.

Blue Light Blocking Computer glassesAmazon- $18.99

—On Schwinning’s List A drawing tablet with a pen would be nice! Huion H610 Pro Graphic Drawing Tablet 8192 Amazon- $76.99

Sass And Belle Black Cat Chalkboard Box Lunch- $16.90 Three By Three Seattle Jotblock Watercolor Set Amazon- $30.00

— On Brooke’s List Kai scissors. They are the best and there are so many great kinds – I have some, but I want them all! Kai brand also makes kitchen knives that I bet are amazing.

Kai Seki Magoroku Kinju ST Japanese Deba Knife 180mAmazon- $56.79

Kai 7205 8 Inch Professional Shears Amazon- $36.72

Feed Her Sense of Adventure For the clever girl, anything that feeds the mind is an adventure, whether it be learning a new skill, expanding the senses, going somewhere new, or thinking outside the box. —On Elizabeth’s List Breville Duo Temp Pro Espresso Machine. I would really like to learn how to make espresso drinks at home.

Manual Cold Press Juicer Amazon- $58.63

Cold Press Juice Bible Amazon- $12.33

The Curious Barista’s Guide to Coffee Amazon- $21.20 —On Vanessa’s List Mini Video Projector The things I want Amazon- $59.99 to experiment with next require drone photography, so any drone that has a quality camera built into it, or I would also like a projector which I would use for not only display purposes but I would probably experiment with it for lighting in images. Holy Stone GPS FPV RC Drone HS100 Amazon-$249.99

—On Astra’s List I’ve heard friends discuss Go Pro cameras, and drone cameras, those probably would be good for when I travel.

Breville Duo Temp Pro Espresso Machine Amazon- $399.95

GoPro HERO5 Amazon- $174.78

The Leading Brain Amazon- $11.00 Style Your MindAmazon- $14.99

Letters to My Future Self: Write Now. Read Later Amazon- $9.91

Washi TapeAmazon-$6.99

The Elusive Fashion Habits of the INTJ Female- By Always Uttori Available end of November (Shameless self-promotion) Bloom Planner Amazon- $17.95 Planner Stickers Amazon-$12.95

— On Angel’s List I might not plan shoots methodically and prefer to let them unfold, but I do like to plan my life in an actual old school analog planner! So, I always have need for glittery gel pens, planner stickers (can never get enough ‘pay bill reminder’ stickers!) and washi tape.

Gel Pens Amazon- $7.85

Empower Her Mind

The clever girl has a lot on her mind, which means she needs all the help she can get organizing her environment and improving her thoughts. 47

Remind Her To Care for Herself Clever girls get busy, and when work mode is on, it can be hard for her to remember to take care of herself. Help a girl out with these thoughtful gifts. Portable Tea Set Amazon- $49.99

Chai Tea TRIO Amazon- $29.99 3D LED Gala Essential Oil Diffuser Urban Outfitters- $65.00

Poppy Moc Slipper Nordstrom- $49.95

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;On Rachelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s List Noise canceling headphones for those 12-hour bus trips to the capital.

Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones Amazon-$50.00

ENTIA Meringue Cloud Mask Pack of 5 Amazon- $19.99

2019 Star Trek TNG Cats Wall Calendar ThinkGeek- $10.49

Marvel Avengers: Infinity War Tank Box Lunch- $28.90

Overwatch Yoga Mat Box Lunch- $29.90

Studio Ghibli Kikiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Delivery Service Mini Backpack Box Lunch- $59.90

Star Wars R2-D2 Mini Popcorn Popper Box Lunch- $39.90

Indulge her Nerdy Side Clever girls arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t serious all the time. Sometimes we like to indulge and wax poetic about our favorite obscure Easter eggs from Avengers. 49

Foraging

Your Own Holiday Wreaths By Elizabeth Geiser

Foraged wreaths are simple to make and a great way to add a touch of handmade festivity to your home this season. They also make great gifts. With just a few supplies and a little know-how, you can start creating. Tools You Need: Wreath Form Heavy Duty Scissors or Clippers Florist Paddle Wire Foraged Materials That’s it!

Wreath forms can be made or purchased from a craft store. Examples shown above include a simple triangle made of stiff grapevines (top left), a thin pine branch bent into a circle (bottom left), and grapevines that were woven together (bottom right).

Start off with your base. For mine, I simply bent a pine branch into a circle and then wired the ends together. Easy! Now, we can start wiring on greens to the form; if you are going to make a full wreath, make the first few stems a little longer, so you can tuck the unfinished ends under. Lay a stem or two on your form and hold in place, then wrap your paddle wire around fairly tightly a few times to sandwich your stems to your base.

Rules of Foraging! 1. Ask before you take (please don’t steal from your neighbor’s flower beds!) 2. Never take more than you leave 3. Look for the unexpected; sometimes weeds can be truly lovely. Your backyard can sometimes have great materials, it just might take a second look

What to look for while foraging: Pine trees. You don't have to limit yourself to always using pine, but it does work well as a base. Avoid kinds that have extremely stiff needles, your hands will thank you! Pine cones. With pine trees come pine cones, these can be wired or hot glued in to your wreath. Look for stiffer cones; the soft ones will break when you try to add them in. Rose hips or holly berries. Both of these are perfect for that classic Christmas red berry look. Watch out for thorns on rose bushes! Dried flowers. These can be flowers you have in your flower bed, weed flowers, or ones you bought. For best results, use flowers that are already dried and not fresh ones. Small shrubs. Shrubs such as boxwood and other woody landscape plants work well as a base with, or in place of pine. Grasses and other small additions. I used foxtail grass in mine; decorative landscape grasses work well too as well as various feathery weeds. Ingredients I used in my wreaths: two kinds of pine, wild rose hips, dried flower heads, foxtail grass, and blueberry leaves.

Don’t cut the wire, it will be wrapped around in one piece until you reach the end. Once you have your first few stems down, lay one or two more down a little farther down, but covering the wire from before. Wrap with wire and repeat. Keep layering and adding stems until just before you reach the point you wish to end at.

To finish off a partial wreath, add a few small stems going the opposite direction of the previous stems. If you have pine, wire can be hidden in the needles, or larger leaves can be used to cover exposed wires. The wreath can also be finished off by gluing leaves on or adding a bow. For a full wreath, keep adding stems and wiring as far as you can, tucking them under the longer stems you added first. A bow can be added as well.

Now is when dried flowers, pine cones or any other small extras can be glued or wired in.

And you’re done! For the longest life for your wreath, keep it outdoors in the cool; if you put it indoors, it won’t last as long and will shed eventually. Now you can enjoy something that you created this season. The hard part is finding places to hang them all once you get started; I know I’ll have trouble with that…!

I Am R ESPLEN DEN T Find Elizabeth on Instagram: @resplendent_artist

Elizabeth, also known as Resplendent Artist, wows with her striking floral photography. Mostly self-taught, she is also a portrait, food, landscapes, and engagement photographer. Outside of her interest in capturing images in digital media, one of Elizabeth’s passions is foraging, something that not only provides the necessary materials for her floral designs, but also serves as an on-going inspiration for her interest in photography.

ou use foraging as a way to gather materials for your beautiful floral photography. How far does your foraging interest extend? Are you pursing foraging as a lifestyle or only as it pertains to floral/fauna arrangements?

develop, and what advice do you have for other INTJs who are struggling with narrowing their focus? Even if I am good at something, without motivation, it is incredibly difficult. The things I do are mostly the ones I truly enjoy and I just kind of happened across them. To other INTJs, find what you enjoy and love, then decide what helps you in real life. It’s okay to have hobbies, but at least some of them should be applicable and useful in your life.

Find what you enjoy and love, then decide what helps you in real life. In what specific ways does being an INTJ female impact your work that wouldn’t be possible if you were another cognition style?

I only use foraging for arranging, both wreaths as well as other floral arrangements. I’m not brave enough to try it for food yet.

I analyze my work objectively and see what I need to learn and improve on to make it better. Not that it’s exclusive, but it’s what come to mind.

How did you get into photography?

Do you have any introvert tips/secrets?

I picked up a point and shoot camera when I was maybe 10 and I’ve just been doing it ever since. I’ve taken several photography courses as well as read books along the way, but I’m mainly self-taught. The best way to learn is by doing it.

Learn and understand how your brain works. If you know that you’re always tired and done on Friday nights, don’t say yes to going out. If you know that being around sensory stimuli is incredibly tiring, don’t fill your day with it if you can. You’ve shared some great baking pictures on your Instagram feed can we expect more, and what’s your favorite thing to bake?

You’ve recently gotten into portraits, which do you feel is more difficult to photograph, florals or people? Definitely people. They don’t hold still like flowers do. I enjoy some portraits, but I like that I can take my time with a bouquet and get all the angles.

Hopefully yes, I really like creating them and setting them up, but they do take a significant amount of time. Favorite thing to bake, probably chocolate cake. Simple, but so good.

From looking at your Instagram, you seem like a multi-talented person and as is common for the INTJ mindset, you have many interests. How did you decide what areas you wanted to focus on and

If people are interested in hiring you/buying your work, how can they do that? I only do paid work for commercial/businesses and the occasional exception for people. I also don’t have an online store, so right now my work is not available for sale anywhere.

“The best way to learn is by doing it.” 55

PuNk Nutcracker

t was Christmas eve at long last, and Maze could hardly wait for her family’s annual Christmas party to start. The festivities were always grand, with food, dancing, music, and of course, gifts in abundance. Hearing the first strains of music from her upstairs room, and eager to join in the festivities, Maze picked up the skirts of her long dress and hurried to greet her family and friends. It was time for the festivities to begin. And there! Her most favorite person of all, Godfather Drosselmeyer, was preparing for his annual performance, something that all the guests looked forward to as Godfather Drosselmeyer always put on a great show, sharing stories from his travels and amazing everyone with his magical inventions. Maze made sure to claim a prime spot in the audience, sitting directly in the middle of the front row so as not to miss one moment. Tonight, Godfather was dressed entirely in black from his black roquelaure cloak, black leather vest, black ripped jeans, why, even his vest chains shimmered in a black tone. If this wasn’t unusual enough, Godfather’s usually white hair, which he often wore in a close-cropped curly style, had been grown out and dyed in a shocking lime green color. What’s more, the hair was done up in a riot of short braids, the overall effect giving him a look very close to that of a gothic grinch. Yet, far from being put off by his appearance, Maze found she liked her Godfather’s new style. There was something in it that spoke of a creativity and a freeness of spirit. It appealed to her. The room was now completely packed with guests and a hush fell over those who waited as Godfather strode forward, taking his place at the center of a wide dais that had been built just for the party. It was time for the performance. Godfather Drosselmeyer made a waving motion with both hands. At once, his aides rolled two large boxes up on the stage for the guests to see. “I have traveled far and wide, scouring the globe for the zeitgeist of humanity.” Godfather proclaimed in a deep raspy voice. “And I have found it. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present, Afropunk!” Godfather Drosselmeyer paused and then chuckled softly. “Now, now, you might be wondering, what is Afropunk? What is so great about it? Well, I’ll tell you. Afropunk is a coming together of worlds. Rebellion. Expression. Culture and creativity. Afropunk celebrates all of this through music.” Godfather Drosselmeyer moved toward the first of the two large boxes, though he continued speaking, his tone now conversational. “My Nephew Tian has introduced me to this magnificent world. As some of you may know, Tian is the lead singer of Between Worlds, the punk band taking the

Billboard charts by storm.” Godfather Drosselmeyer dramatically flipped a panel on the first box. It opened to reveal a life-size man. “Tian can’t be here tonight as he’s performing this Christmas Eve, but with his permission, I have prepared a magnificent show of my own for you.” Godfather Drosselmeyer maneuvered the man out of the box and turned him to reveal a large wind-up key placed at the center of his back. Rotating the man so that he once again faced the audience, Godfather turned the key until

“I present Between World’s hit song, Fritz Got Axed, performed by dance punks!” it could turn no more. He then opened the second box, revealing a female toy with a wind-up key at the center of her back. Cranking the key until it could turn no further, Godfather Drosselmeyer bowed, took a step back, and then with a dramatic flourish of hands proclaimed, “I present Between World’s hit song, Fritz Got Axed, performed by dance punks!” Godfather stepped down from the stage, and taking a small device from his waistcoat, he pressed a button. Suddenly, the most discordant, yet most amazing music began to play. Like magic, the two toys came to life, their movements in perfect synchronization to the music. And yet, it was like nothing that had ever been seen before. The toys thrashed, there was no other word for the movement; they head banged, they krump danced, each movement in perfect coordination. Soon, the audience was on its feet, many of them trying to copy the moves they were seeing from the toys, others were just dancing to the music, enjoying this new wonder, Afropunk, that Godfather Drosselmeyer had shared. Through it all, Maze remained the only one seated, her eyes glued to the stage as she tried to absorb the energy and the creativity, but most of all the music. At last, after several songs, the dance punk toys wound down and were placed back into the boxes. Maze, along with the other guests, clapped and cheered. This was Godfather Drosselmeyer’s best show yet, and one Maze would not soon forget. As the crowd dispersed to nibble on hors d’oeuvres and to chatter excitedly about what they had seen, Maze told her mother that she would go to bed. “But, the party.,” Maze’s mother was surprised. Yet Maze wanted to sit in her room and think about the music and the dance.

She wished that the performance could have gone on forever. As she turned from her mother, she found that Godfather Drosselmeyer was standing behind her. “Now, my dear Maze, there has been a great deal of excitement, but if you get ready for bed and promise to come back to say goodnight, I just might have a special gift for you.” A new excitement filling her, Maze hurried through her bedtime preparations. In record time, she had returned and begged Godfather Drosselmeyer to tell her what gift he had brought. “Of course, my anxious one,” he said fondly. Then from deep in his cape, he pulled out a long, narrow box. Excited, Maze opened the

whipped her hair into her eyes. Snow pelted her face. Her house? Where was her house? Maze closed her eyes against the onslaught of wind and snow, frightened that she would somehow become lost in the raging storm. All at once, the wind faded and a deep, still quiet surrounded her. Cautiously, Maze opened her eyes to find herself in a dark forest, but she wasn’t alone. Her heart froze in her chest as she gazed about her. She was completely surrounded by even more of the oversized rat creatures. And worse still, her nutcracker was gone.

Hearing a series of growling squeaks from behind her, Maze slowly turned to find the rat with the crown of skulls. He glared at her with narrow eyes. Somehow, without quite understanding how the information came to her, Maze knew that this creature was the Rat King, and he had declared war upon her. The Rat King brandished his sharp sword at her. Speechless with terror, Maze took a step back; but there was nowhere she could go, as the rats behind her took up the same menacing squeaks that she had heard from the Rat King. Then suddenly, there was a sound of cannons booming through the night, and soldiers in red burst through the circle of rats that surrounded her. Leading the charge was a brown skinned boy, box, only to find it empty. Smiling at her look of with a coat of red and a tall, black furry hat, just like disappointment, yet always the magician, Godfather her nutcracker. But he couldn’t be her nutcracker. It Drosselmeyer whispered, “Why, the gift, it has gone was impossible. on before you. I wager that if you check just outside The Rat King swirled to face the new threat. The in the courtyard, you’ll find it waiting for you.” boy, leading the attack, jumped high and slashed Slipping away from the noise of the party, Maze down toward the King, but at the last moment, the went to the couryard in search of her gift. It was a Rat King dodged the blow. Fury evident in his beady dark and quiet night. Soft snow glittered from the eyes, he raised his own sword and charged at the boy, light shining out through the large windows of the who met the Rat King’s attack with brave resolve. house. Gazing about, it took a moment before Maze The sound of battle filled the forest as the two crossed spotted a shape on the steps. Excited, she reached swords. On and on it went, neither of the combatants down to pick it up. It was a nutcracker! Maze hadn’t seeming to gain a lead over the other. Maze watched seen anything so beautiful before. The nutcracker the battle, unable to look away. As time went on; she had brown skin, a red jacket, and a tall, black furry could see that the boy was tiring. He needed help! hat, and a strong jaw for cracking nuts. Lost in the Yet Maze had no weapon, no experience fighting, eyes of the nutcracker, Maze was suddenly drawn even so, she had to do something. Summoning her out of her reverie by a strange sound. Turning courage, she took a halting step forward, looking for around quickly, she was startled to see that the low, an opening. If only she had a weapon, something menacing grunt that had startled her had come that could defeat the Rat King in one blow. She from a terrifying creature. It took Maze a moment imagined herself wearing a magnificent general’s to understand that what she was seeing was a large, uniform and brandishing a fierce looking sword. no, not large, giant. The creature was a giant rat. He And as if conjured up by her imagination, Maze’s was dressed in a military uniform and on top of his clothing was suddenly transformed. She was clothed head there was a crown of human skulls! Horrified, in an army guard’s coat with a furry hat just like Maze stared at the creature. Her hesitation was a the boy’s. And though it was no great sword, she mistake as a split second later, the rat charged at had her weapon because a fire poker appeared in her her. Terrified, Maze spun on her heels and ran. She hand. With a mighty yell, Maze ran at the Rat King, didn’t get far, however, as suddenly, a strong wind swinging and stabbing her fire poker. Unfortunately, she still had no experience fighting.

“Why, the gift, it has gone on before you. I wager that if you check just outside in the courtyard, you’ll find it waiting for you.”

In her haste to help the boy, she tripped over her own two feet and completely missed the Rat King. Amazement in his eyes, he stared at her lying on the ground, and then, a moment later, he was looming above her, beady red eyes filled with hatred. Frightened that she was about to die, Maze cried out. As she did so, she brought the fire poker up and it hit the Rat King, knocking his crown of human skulls to the forest ground. As the crown rolled away, the Rat King gasped. He stuttered, and then vanished in a puff of smoke. All around them the other rats began to scatter, and the soldiers let out a cheer. She had done it. Maze had defeated the rat king. A sense of joy flooding her, Maze looked around to find the boy who had led the charge, but a sudden faintness overtook her, and she saw no more.

pink goddess braids piled atop her head in an elegant bun, stepped forward to greet them. “Welcome to Afropunk, Queen Maze. I am Sugar, the greatest punk vocalist this side of the Snowflake Forest. In your absence, I have cared for the land, and it is my great honor to welcome you back. We have prepared several performances for your entertainment in celebration of the tyrannical Rat King’s defeat.” “Thank you for the warm welcome, Sugar,” Maze responded, her training in etiquette coming to her aid, “but what do you mean, welcome back? Do you know me? Have I been here before?”

“Certainly, for ours is a story of time and eternity,” Sugar replied in a mystical manner. “Now come, hen Maze awoke, she found herself in a let’s get you dressed in something more befitting an sumptuous palace room. She had been lain Afropunk celebration.” atop a soft bed with a multitude of satin covers placed on top of her. The boy, her nutcracker When Maze and Sugar returned to the hall, Maze was was how she thought of him, was there, a worried look dressed in a printed dress with beading at the collar. on his face as he hovered near her bed. Upon seeing Her lips were painted blue and she had a faux nose her move, his worry melted away and a huge smile ring. Maze certainly looked the part of an Afropunk transformed his face. “You’re awake!” he exclaimed. Queen, yet she still didn’t know much about the land or it’s people. “Where are we?” Maze asked. She still felt a bit dizzy. “Queen Maze, you look stunning!” The Nutcracker “The world between worlds,” came the boy’s came to greet them. He met Maze’s eyes, and she immediate reply. “We are in the land of Afropunk, could tell that he truly meant his words. Heat rose my queen.” to her cheeks. And she was happy when he continued “Queen?!” All dizziness gone, Maze sat up straight. talking, saying “Come see the feast that has been “The land of Afropunk, did you say? Why, whatever laid out in your honor.” Maze and Sugar followed the Nutcracker to a long table set out with foods and do you mean by that?” desserts of all kinds, many of the foods were items “You defeated the Mouse King, which makes you the that Maze had never seen before. After they had filled their plates with various delicacies, Sugar said, “Now queen of this land and its protector.” the people of Afropunk wish to show you what we’re Maze was stunned. “And who are you exactly?” about. The best punk bands from around the land “I’m your loyal soldier of course, and this land’s have gathered to perform in celebration.” greatest warrior. They call me Nutcracker for my A group of people stood in front of the stage Maze had strength and sharp wit.” seen earlier. Some had colorfully braided hair, similar “Nutcracker!” Maze exclaimed, a joyous feeling to what Godfather Drosselmeyer had worn. Others spread through her. So, he was her Nutcracker come had closely shaved heads and some had voluminous to life. Surely this was Godfather Drosselmeyer’s curls. Just like the food, the fashions were unlike doing. His toys always had a touch of magic to them. anything Maze had seen before. Boisterous patterns and prints, leather, chains, beads, florals and jewels “Now that you’re awake, we can celebrate your mixed to create a multitude of truly unique looks. arrival and defeat of the Rat King. Sugar, who has How fascinating the people of Afropunk land were! served as the regent in your absence, has put together Maze couldn’t wait to see the performances. a party. Come.” With that, Nutcracker led Maze to a magnificent hall. At the far end was a stage, very “Places everyone!” Sugar gestured to the group of much like the one that Godfather Drosselmeyer had performers. Most of the group moved off to the side perfomed on; however, before Maze could get a good of the stage but one group jumped up onto the stage. look at the room, a grand woman, wearing a gown of Sugar left Maze and the Nutcracker and joined the yellow satin that clashed brilliantly with fluorescent group on stage. Bowing almost as dramatically as

Godfather Drosselmeyer had, Sugar said, “I present, Ginger Snapped.” Sugar then stepped aside and the lights in the room dimmed. A fellow with tight, curly hair and dark shades began to play the guitar. Maze felt the same thrill that had coursed through her during the first Afropunk performance. This was Afropunk, and she loved it. Soon Ginger Snapped was singing with electrifying passion. After Ginger Snapped finished, Chocolate-Aide performed, followed by Pumpkin Spice Losers, SpearedMint, and Dead Petals. By the time Sugar herself performed with her band The Cavaliers, Maze, Nutcracker, and those not performing had formed a mosh pit of their own, jumping and dancing to the guitar riffs. Maze was having the time of her life, especially when she was lifted into the air and surfed onto the stage next to Sugar and her band. Looking out at the people she had met, Maze wished her family could be there. And just like that, a sudden longing for home overcame her. Even as Maze continued to dance, swinging her arms wildly, she couldn’t help but to think of her family. Were they worried? Did they know she was gone? Were they searching for her? Even though she was having fun, Maze didn’t want to cause her family grief. She knew that she must return home.

isn’t complete. If you are to return home, you must return as the Queen of Afropunk Land. Only then will the spirit of this world remain in your heart so that it can lead you back to us when we again have need of you.” And with a wave of her fingers, she transformed Maze’s clothing into the perfect outfit for the Queen of Afropunk land. Her hair hair had been cut into an uneven pixie style colored electric blue. She wore a top made of a navy-blue faux fur over a navy satin skirt. Wire armbands and floral boots completed her punk-formation. Maze couldn’t wait for her family to see.

fter that, Maze said goodbye to her new friends and followed Nutcracker out of the great hall. He led Maze to a large, brightly colored sleigh, making sure that she was comfortably settled with a blanket covering her. Then the sleigh raced onward, carrying them through Snowflake Forest past the spot where the battle had taken place, and a bit farther beyond until at last the sleigh slowed and came to a stop. “Here we are,” Nutcracker said, and with a snap of his fingers the snow began to swirl and dance. There was a faint sound of a guitar on the wind. Then, with a blink of the eye and a bright, white flash, Maze was back on the steps of the Once Sugar and The Cavaliers had finished their courtyard. And there, tucked safely in her arms, was set, they invited her as Queen Maze to address her the Nutcracker, returned to his original form. Maze subjects. Nervous, because she knew she couldn’t stared at the figure in awe, not quite believing all that remain, Maze cleared her throat and spoke into the had happened to her. mic that Sugar handed her. “Thank you all for your warm welcome and passionate performances. Even “What are you doing out here!?” A voice spoke from though I’ve only been here a short time, you’ve the darkness, startling her. Maze turned to see a young taught me so much about the land of Afropunk. I man, slightly older than she, coming up the steps. He couldn’t be more grateful.” Looking to Sugar, Maze had brown skin, brown eyes, and curly brown hair. added, “I am grateful. I truly am. But, I can’t stay. He looked familiar. It couldn’t be… My family will be worried.” “Ah, I understand,” the boy said with a chuckle as Sugar nodded her head in understanding, “Of course, he pointed to the nutcracker. “It looks like Uncle Queen Maze. We knew that our time with you would Drosselmeyer has worked his magic on you too. So, be short. The connection between our worlds closes what did you think of Afropunk land?” at first morning light, but you have renewed us, and “It wasn’t a dream?” Maze asked, still awash in a we will continue to rage in your name.” feeling of wonder. Maze! Maze! Maze! The people cheered as Sugar “I don’t know,” the young man replied. “You tell me.” helped Maze down from the stage. Not sure what to think, Maze stared deeply into Maze was sad to go home, but she knew she had no the young man’s eyes. Even in the dimness of the other choice. courtyard, his eye held a twinkle, and looking into “Before you go,” Sugar said, “We can’t let you return their depths, Maze saw a swirl of snow and a hint of magic. She smiled, and whirling around to face looking like that!” the house, she cried, “You’ll have to catch me to find “What do you mean? I love it!” Maze exclaimed. She out,” and she raced back toward home, her electric had no desire to go back to the bland fashions that blue hair dotted with the swirling snow. she had worn before.

The End.

Sugar smiled gently. “Yes, but your transformation

Comi ng u p w ith A f r o P un k N u t c r ac k e r

e hope you enjoyed this reimagining of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker. A story of adventure, fantasy, and inexplicably, rats. The Nutcracker is a story that has stood the test of time. The original tale, Nutcracker and Mouse King was written by German author E.T.A Hoffman in 1816. The story was a little different than the one we might be familiar with, contrasting a rigid home life with the freedom of imagination Marie experiences in the realm of the Nutcracker. This story was later adapted by French author, Alexander Dumas, who made the story lighter and less scary. In 1892, Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov adapted Dumas’ version into the ballet, The Nutcracker. Why has this story been able to stand the test of time, being adapted over and over again? The answer just may be as simple as this: We all share a desire to escape the restrictions of the mundane and to explore the world. The longing to do so is very human. The Nutcracker introduces the uncommon and exotic as an exploration of a child’s imagination. The musical score makes the story translatable across culture and time. It is something we can all enjoy. For me, The Nutcracker started with a love of the music. When I was a child, I had the ballet score on cassette tape. I spent countless hours listening to the music, rewinding it and listening again. Of course, being in ballet at the time probably fueled my obsession as dancing in the yearly production of The Nutcracker is every little ballerina’s dream. I never got to live out that dream, but when trying

to think of this year’s holiday fashion editorial, The Nutcracker came to mind for its classic appeal. While I love a good classic, especially in fashion, The Nutcracker as a holiday fashion editorial has been done before, many times. With my personal connection to the music and the ballet, I didn’t want to just copy what others had done. In an effort to find our own take on The Nutcracker, we first thought about doing a hip-hop version of The Nutcracker, only to find that someone had created a hip-hop dance version. Searching for something that was hip-hop adjacent, I came to Afropunk. I’ve long admired the fashion styles coming out of the Afropunk music festival, and even though I’ve never been to a festival myself, I had wanted to do an Afropunk inspired fashion editorial for some time. As it turned out, The Nutcracker was the perfect vehicle to showcase Afropunk. As a ballet, The Nutcracker is built around music and dance, and what is a music festival if not a celebration of music and dance? More than that, the fashions showcased at Afropunk are unique and often created by makers expressing their creative vision. Sounds a bit like a young girl dreaming up a grand adventure. Of all of these goals, however, the most important aspect of our editorial was to demonstrate imagination and transformation because ultimately, that is truly what The Nutcracker story is about. In the journeys of life, it can be difficult to be open to new cultures and the experiences they bring, but when you see the world with the wonder of a child, life can be full of unimaginable new experiences. We hope this holiday season is one that is filled with wonder, magic, and Uttori.

IN PURSUIT

of imagination Find Vanessa on Instagram: @wild_empress Facebook: Wild Empress Photography Youtube: Wild Empress Holly, Vanessa Skotnitsky

Vanessa, also known as Wild Empress on her social media, created the cover and back cover images for this magazine. Known for composite photography that explores her imaginative inner world, Vanessa is a jack of all trades. She not only creates composite portraits (often selfportraits or featuring her children as models), she designs book covers, does family portraits, writes, paints, shares tutorials on her YouTube channel, and gives back to her community by encouraging and inspiring others. Vanessa is a person who pushes the imagination and translates the complex inner world of an introvert. We asked Vanessa a few questions to learn more about what she does.

an you share a bit of your background as well as your journey into photography and interest in compositing?

My interest in compositing is much more recent than my interest in photography which started around 15 years ago. I had a friend that liked photography and asked me to model for him and that was what first sparked my interest in photography. Compositing came up for me around 4-5 years ago. 2012 was a really hard year for me, I had a lot of emotional issues come up and my father passed away. By the time 2013 came around I had decided life was precious and too short not to be doing something that I loved. I actively pursued teaching myself Photoshop and allowed myself the freedom to go after what I loved and be someone I enjoyed! I felt like I had explored every genre of “normal” photography I could and was ready to drop expectations of what I should be as a photographer. I wanted to explore imagination and push the boundaries of my tools. What is the most difficult skill to master as a composite photographer? The most difficult thing that I struggled with isn’t so much a skill, but just giving myself the time and patience to grow and practice. Like anything new that you start, you are going to suck at first. I hated that part! I pushed myself really hard and criticized myself harshly. But I wouldn’t change any of that, it kept me going and motivated to learn.

You often use your children as models for your images, do they get a chance to contribute to the overall concept and what do you enjoy most about working with your kids? My kids (I’ve got two daughters and a son) are basically collaborators. I don’t make them do anything they are not interested in doing. Most of the time, I will approach one of them with an idea and they will be excited about it and add their own thoughts. Sometimes, I will shoot something that is their idea, but I have refined it to work better. My youngest who is 8 is the most active in the decisions and even coming up with whole concepts on her own. My 14-year-old is content just to show up and model. I rarely get images of my son because he really isn’t that interested in being a model, but he is usually my behind the scenes helper. He holds reflectors or an umbrella over my equipment, sometimes he throws skirts for me; or if I am doing self-portraits, looks into the view finder to tell me when I’m in the right spot. Social media doesn’t see him so much, but he still plays an integral role. I love working with my kids, they are the only people that I can be 100% myself around, and we have a really great time together every time we are out shooting.

I actively pursued teaching myself Photoshop and allowed myself the freedom to go after what I loved and be someone I enjoyed! You often use your photography to express your inner world/introversion, what is the most difficult thing about introversion to express? I am quiet. People would never guess that I have a vivid imagination, or that I enjoy the fantasy and sci-fi genres. I do not speak or express any of my opinions in social settings. Basically, if I did not express myself through photography, I would appear to have the personality of a potato. Introverts are not potatoes!! We are complex, rich, and yummy with ideas on the inside. I kind of want people to start looking at the quiet ones with curiosity and

not write us off as boring. Do you have a go to resource for the images you use to composite, or do you take some of the images yourself ? I would say that about 99% of my images are shot myself. I keep a collection of photographic elements on my computer. Folders for animals, items, textures, hair, fabric, everything. Only within the last few months, I have started using pieces from a stock agency called, Pixabay.com, which is free to download and use. All the images on that site are copyright free images. My opinion on using outside sources is “meh”. Pixabay.com has allowed me to play with animals or locations I wouldn’t otherwise have access to, but it has its pitfalls, being I have no control over the angle or focus, or lighting, which are all things that need to match well for a composite to work seamlessly. I also just do not tend to like the images that use outside stock as much as I like images that are completely created with my own work. I do not know if I will continue to experiment with outside stock or not, but if I do at all it will be a relatively small percentage of my images that feature outside work. In what specific ways does being an INTJ female impact your work that wouldn’t be possible if you were another cognition style? I am super curious about my style of photography and what kind of personality is drawn to making it, so I have asked quite a few other photographers that work in a similar style and have found the majority of them seem to be INFJ, and to a lesser extent INFP. The differences I believe between myself and the feeler-types is that our approach and ultimate intentions are probably quite different. I think it’s true for a lot of art genres to have emotion as a central theme. There is emotion in my work, but I do not think I have ever once used an emotion as the jumping off point for an image. I have never said to myself, “I want to portray sadness,” and then figured out how to do that. The emotional element has always been an afterthought. I plan things like composition, color psychology, the symbolism in my mind. Making an image comes from a story and character aspect. I want to spark people’s imaginations, and I think that an INFJ might want more so to create an emotional response, or connection. I can’t speak in totalities for all people of differing types, but it’s just a loose theory that I have. INTJs are known for being

strategic, and I definitely use that mental process in my work, but I do heavily rely on intuition as well. I think that the thinker aspect relates well to planning the technical aspects of how to put things together in photoshop, or which settings on the camera to use, while the intuitive part takes over in picking out the story, setting, symbolism aspects of an image. I do say “I feel” often when describing one of my images, but I’m aware that when I use that word I mean that I feel something intuitively about the image and not emotionally. To an outside viewer, the difference between intention and process wouldn’t be necessarily perceived. Something else that I have considered is that negative comments online do not upset me. If anything, they motivate me. Either they are right, and I take it as constructive criticism to do better in the future, or they are trolls and I find humor in their comments, and often want to take their negative feedback and emphasize it into its own sarcastic image, essentially mocking the comment. An example of this is someone said my kids are sad in all the photos, so my kids and I decided we should do some images of super depressed kids in really happy situations. I’m really looking forward to working on that project idea! What do you wish you could tell a younger you? The loudest person in the room doesn’t mean they are right. People don’t really care. If you make a mistake no one else is going to be thinking of it that night as they fall asleep, you shouldn’t either. Explore anything that sparks your interest. Don’t play a role, make your own. Its ok (and usually better) to spend lots of time alone. You can’t fix other people, they have to fix themselves. Walk away from those who don’t take action. Take action and fix your own damn self. If people are interested in hiring you/buying your work, how can they do that? Most of my images are licensed through a stock agency site called arcangel.com so for any existing work that would be the place to contact me. As far as commissions though, contacting me directly through whatever online platform you happen to find me on would be sufficient.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I kind of want people to start looking at the quiet ones with curiosity and not write us off as boring.â&#x20AC;?

n fairy

A whimsical collection of photos taken by INTJ photographer Angel Lynne. As midnight bells toll and ring in a new year, join in on the fairy fun.

ings

By Angel Lynne

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll give thee fairies to attend on thee and they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep and sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Queen Titania, Queen of the Fairies

Through the Lens With Angel Lynne

Find Angel on: Instagram: @mapchild

Canadian photographer Angel Lynne is a woman of many interests. Through her business, Mapchild Photography, she captures the secret world of filmmaking as a behind the scenes photographer. Always on the go, Angel loves to travel and is also an avid foodie. On Fairy Wings is just a taste from her broad range of work. As Angel takes on the world, her unique view is expressed through the lens of her camera. We asked Angel a few questions about her work and process.

for film projects — and this is where story really matters. They are acting out a preconceived, scripted story, and I’m just there to stay stealthy and capture moments that are created. In that case, I’m a bystander experiencing someone else’s story, but it has to be a compelling one for me to want to capture it with 100% enthusiasm. How do you find inspiration for your behind the scenes shots?

Photography really takes the cake here. It’s through the lens (pun intended) of photography that I really came to relish traveling and trying new foods. It’s not just to document, but to see things in a different light. I essentially trained myself to notice details that would otherwise just pass by unnoticed. Just through practicing photography, I remember beautiful textures and colors on my travels and all the delicious food I ate while traveling.

I absolutely love people watching. On a film set, it’s infinitely more interesting because every person there has a definitive purpose, and it’s amazing to watch them go about doing their thing. I do love providing shots of people working hard on their craft, being completely absorbed in what they are doing and not even realizing I’m taking pictures. After shoots, sometimes I get messages like, “Wow I love this picture of me! I didn’t even know you were there!” or “I finally have a new profile photo thanks to you!” It really makes my day. Film crews work really hard, for long hours, and usually the only acknowledgement is their name in the credits that most people don’t sit through. When I take photos of them it’s like I’m saying thank you for doing a wonderful job, thank you for putting in your time and effort into putting together a cohesive product. I see you working hard! I see you!

Concept or story, which is more important to you as a photographer?

What is your primary goal when you are composing a shot?

Photographing for my own projects, I believe concept is more important. I usually have a vague idea of what aesthetic I’m trying to achieve, and then the model/makeup artist/stylist are able to contribute and add to that. It’s really a team effort. We go in together with a concept/idea/theme and come out with images that contain a little bit of everyone’s efforts.

Lighting is definitely the most important. Without the magic of light, it’s impossible to photograph exceptionally. I usually look for where the light source is, if I’m not able to manipulate it, then I will move around it, and ask my subject to move accordingly. Shooting in natural light is the best! Sunlight is the best source anyone can have, but it can also be overpowering, it’s all about knowing how to angle to avoid odd shadows and make it work for you.

ou’re a traveler, foodie, photographer… you do it all, is there one of those things that you like more than the others?

But of course, I also do on set stills photography

“When I take photos of them it’s like I’m saying thank you for doing a wonderful job, thank you for putting in your time and effort into putting together a cohesive product. I see you working hard! I see you!”

It’s also worthwhile to criticize yourself. I don’t mean beating yourself up for not getting a shot, but really go through your archives and see what worked, and what didn’t, and how you’ve improved. Sometimes I look at my shots from just half a year ago and can’t understand why I chose to shoot something in that particular way. Your eye evolves and improves over time, so really be open to improvement and not assume that you don’t need adjustments to how you shoot. What was your first camera? What camera(s) do you use now?

“It really shows you what’s happening behind the scenes - crew and gear all crammed into a corner, sometimes we’re taking photos of people taking photos, but on the other side of the camera, there is an emotional scene unfolding.” This is from the short film The Day We Met.

My first camera was given to me by my mom when I was 12: A little red Konica pop (that I still have!) My first DSLR was the Canon Rebel XTi, I still have it and still use it -- it’s so old that the grainy quality makes the photos look analog, I hardly have to edit them to mimic film! And it’s a much cheaper alternative to actually shooting film.

But speaking of film, I do have a Pentax K1000 given to me (or is it on loan? My friend never asked Are you self-taught or have you taken photography for it back because she never used it…) It’s built like classes? a tank and I traveled all over Europe with it. I went to film school, so the basic technical knowledge For unit stills, my main camera is a Fujifilm X-A3. came from there. But I do think the best way to learn It’s small and silent, and the image quality is great. is to just do it. You’ll fumble a lot, mess up a lot, but I have 3 lenses to go with that, and my favorite one then you learn from your mistakes. Learning to be is an old Canon 50mm lens (mounted on a Fuji X empathetic to your subjects and anyone who helps mount,) the pictures taken with that lens are super out was something I had to pick up on my own. In sharp and the bokeh is insane. One drawback of that school, we’re all in it to pass the class, so it was easy. lens is it’s fully manual. I had to really train myself to In the real world, you have to navigate more diverse focus really fast manually, or I would miss a precious personalities and motivations. You have to learn how moment. I also use a Fujifilm X Pro 2 when I get the to compromise, and I think that’s something that is chance (also on loan! I love that people trust me with completely self-taught. their gear…) What’s the most important thing you’ve learned as Sometimes I use a Canon 5D Mark III for portraits. a photographer and do you have any advice for other It’s the bread and butter of any professional photographers? photographer, but I find it too heavy to take to sets I would say be humble and shoot as much as you can! (also, it makes clicking sounds!) Don’t ever assume there’s nothing left to learn as a I should also give my phone a shout out, as phone photographer. You may know how all the technical cameras are getting insanely advanced -- I use a details work, but that’s just the baseline of being Huawei P10 plus with dual Leica cameras on the a photographer. As a photographer, you have to back. The photos that phone takes are sharp and constantly consider timing, framing, composition, vibrant. what colors go together, foreground, background, your subject’s emotions, their posture, what angles Don’t ever assume there’s nothing work for them— the list goes on and on. With every left to learn as a photographer. shoot, I learn something new.

In what specific ways does being an INTJ female impact your work that wouldn’t be possible if you were another cognition style?

If people are interested in hiring you/buying your work, how can they do that?

Shoot me a DM on Instagram @mapchild or visit my I think the fact that my brain automatically jumps site for contact information! http://mapchild.net/ into calculating how to set up and angle a shoot on the fly is really helpful. If I’m shooting on location, or candidly on the street, I will instinctively place myself where I can conveniently get the best light possible. INTJs like to plan things out, but sometimes that’s just not possible, so instead of freaking out about not being able to meticulously plan ahead of time, I use my intuition to anticipate where I can get the best shots and change my lenses as quickly as possible to achieve a certain look. I think being intuitivedominant makes me less susceptible to distraction. I look at a scene and can know exactly where to go to get the best shot I know how.

“This is a good example of being flexible and being able to shoot when the opportunity arises! My friend Meghan works at a venue for rent, and for whatever event was happening, they had a smoke machine! There were a few hours left before they had to return the smoke machine so I dropped by for some quick pictures… quick pictures that turned out to be one of my favorite sets to this day!”

A shot from The Day We Met.

“Valerie Mallory Finkelstein -- I absolutely loved this film, it was quirky and whimsical and really a visual treat. I think these photos really goes to show the weird world of film you can walk into. It’s almost like stepping into someone else’s brain and seeing how they see things. It’s truly fascinating.”

Prism

The holidays are here, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got three Lazy Girl Makeup hacks to amp up your holiday season beauty looks.

Frosted Dusk

Keep it simple with 1 shade of shimmery eyeshadow and a bold glitter lip. For extra points, wing your eyeliner over the eyeshadow but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fill it in. Eyes - Wet nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Wild Paint Pallet- 12913 Metallics Julep Fluid Eye Glider Lip - Lime Crime Velvetines in Fetish Lime Crime Diamond Crusher in Unicorn Queen

Star Dust

Take it up a notch with glitter freckles and an easy, but festive metallic eye created from party streamers. For extra points add a bright lip andâ&#x20AC;Śmatching wig!

Eyes - Lime Crime Diamond Crusher in Unicorn on upper brow bone For metallic eye: cut a strand from a metallic party streamer to the length you want. Keep it boxy for a bold look or cut the ends at a diagonal for a tapered look. The material of the streamers should stick to your eye with little trouble, but for extra security use a bit of lash glue or lip gloss to help it stick to the eye for longer. Face - use cosmetic grade chunky body glitter. Use your finger to stick pieces of glitter to your face, mimicking a freckle pattern. Glitter should stick easily to face, but for added security, you may choose to use lash glue to stick to face. Lips - Katy Perry Cover Girl in Cobalt Kitty Lime Crime Diamond Crushers in Black Unicorn

Moonlight

Shine from within with this easy iridescent look created using cellophane.

Eyes - Karity Frost Pallet in Envy and Madam on browbone. We used green colors to highlight the color the cellophane reflects. For cellophane eye- take a piece of cellophane and cut into a slim rectangle that fits your eyelid. Cut the edges diagonally to make a tapered point going in opposite directions. The diagonal should face down on the side closest to your eye well and the opposite diagonal should face up on the outer part of the eye to create a winged look. Press cellophane to eyelid. It should stick easily, but for extra security, use a bit of lash glue. You may wish to add eye liner on top of the cellophane for a more dramatic look. Lips - Covergirl Demi Matte in Ying Yang We cut a holographic piece of craft mesh tubing in half to create the net look on the bottom lip, but while this is a cool looking lazy girl hack, for long term wear itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that comfortable. Maybe only pull it out for epic photos.

From Minnesota to Ghana Learning about Tropical Diseases and More

Rachel Winegardner is a public health professional currently working in Ghana. Originally from Minnesota, she moved to Wisconsin and earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University. Soon after, she received her MSPH in Tropical Medicine from Tulane University. She has spent the last two years as a Health Educator with the Peace Corps before moving to her current position which focuses on malaria prevention research. She plans to return to the U.S soon and continue working with health data doing disease surveillance. We asked Rachel about her experiences in Peace Corps and what we need to know about Tropical Diseases.

Your background is in biomedical engineering, and your masters is in tropical diseases. What drew you to such an uncommon area of study?

Find Rachel on: LinkedIn- Rachel Winegardner

I think I got here by simply following the coolest classes. I knew I wanted to go into public health, but I didn’t know what area. I was looking through the course offerings and classes like “Malaria” and “Helminthology” stood out to me. Although I would have been happy in any public health class, now that I knew the parasitology courses existed I needed to take them! The holistic and multidisciplinary way of approaching problems within the field of public health appeals to me. Being able to problem solve and incorporate worms and parasites, well that’s the dream.

Problem-solving is what brought me to engineering, but I couldn’t see myself specializing in a certain device or product. Engineering school teaches us to solve impossible problems; I wanted to be able to continue that process and apply it to infectious and neglected tropical diseases.

“Being able to problem solve and incorporate worms and parasites, well that’s the dream.” Minnesota is a long way from Ghana. What made going to Ghana an attractive choice for your enrollment in Peace Corps? Until recently, Peace Corps did not allow volunteers to choose their country placement. Prospective volunteers could request a region of the world but there was no guarantee on a country or even the region. When I found out that the system had changed, it solidified my resolve to serve in Peace Corps. My mother is from Ghana. I wanted to see what it would be like to live long-term in the country where she grew up. I considered applying to other regions, but I figured if I was going to learn a new culture, I might as well learn my own heritage as truly and deeply as I could. I am so glad I chose to come to Ghana. Peace Corps service is 2 years, which seems like ample time to learn a new culture, but even now, in my third year, I am still learning new things every day. This experience is priceless. Books and articles could not have given me the full appreciation I have for the country today. Americans have a lot of misconceptions about the African continent. What do you want people to know about life in Africa? Africa is a growing and diverse continent. There are 54 countries and each of them has their own unique culture. Within Ghana alone, there are over 250 languages and dialects spoken. Just like everywhere else in the world, your experiences are different if you are in cities or rural areas. Peace Corps volunteers are often assigned to rural areas, so we are entrenched in lovely tight-knit communities. But you can find very different but vibrant communities in the cities as well. I have never felt more welcome than I have here in Ghana. Someone is always willing to help, and the dinner invitations never stop.

We keep hearing about West Nile and other tropical disease threats. How prevalent are they really and what precautions can we take to protect ourselves? Tropical disease threats are often exaggerated by media outlets. For instance, in the last 18 years, only 2,002 cases of West Nile virus were reported to the CDC. That’s about 100 cases a year for the entire United States. In most areas of the US, we are lucky to have adequate resources to treat and prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases. Additionally, a large portion of the US experiences a temperate climate which proves difficult for tropical disease survival. However, as temperatures rise, insect populations spread, creating the necessary environment for a lot of tropical diseases, such as West Nile virus, that require a mosquito vector population. Therefore, global warming along with land use and environmental factors are creating an increased risk of seeing a rise in these diseases soon. We, as individuals, can protect ourselves by being more vigilant about following the common-sense advice we’ve always been given. When spending long periods outdoors or in the woods: • Be sure to wear insect repellant with DEET • Wear clothing that is treated with an insect repellant such as permethrin • Cover up with long sleeves and trousers when possible (fun facts: ticks are easier to spot on lighter-colored pants) • Check regularly for ticks • Know your body, and don’t hesitate to visit the doctor if you notice something different

“...global warming along with land use and environmental factors are creating an increased risk of seeing a rise in these diseases soon.” What research still needs to be done in the study of tropical diseases? There’s still a ton research to be done in the study of tropical diseases. Malaria is one of the “big three”

diseases along with tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. This classification means that it gets a good amount of resources and attention (although it could always use more; many US diseases generate a lot more revenue for pharmaceutical companies and are therefore researched much more than even these three diseases are). Diseases outside of the big three often get completely forgotten. This is especially true of one class of diseases called Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD). Treatment and prevention of these diseases are severely underfunded. In addition to revenue earned, the funding disparity is often due to how the disease affects a population. Many of the NTDs have low mortality (death) rates but high morbidity (health degradation) rates. This means that, while NTDs are unlikely to kill you, they will have chronic – and often severe – effects on your health, lowering your overall quality of life. Many NTDs, such as numerous parasitic intestinal worms’ species, can be treated quite inexpensively through mass drug administration in schools; however, funding is often inconsistent or insufficient.

empowerment camps, including:

“Diseases outside of the big three often get completely forgotten. This is especially true of one class of diseases called Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD). Treatment and prevention of these diseases are severely underfunded.”

Most aspects of being a female INTJ didn’t help with the main aspects of my service, but they did allow me to learn, grow and adapt. I had to recognize that there were certain aspects of my personality that might have to be turned down or put on pause to be successful. For instance, female INTJs are known for being fiercely independent. For me, the magnitude of that independence had to change as it is literally impossible to do this job alone. Or rather, it is possible, but not if you want to do the job well. Having to depend on others for information and some basic needs was difficult at first, but I got used to it. As I began getting familiar with my community and was warmly accepted into it, I could start to be more independent again.

Ending high morbidity diseases is an integral step in working to end global poverty. But in addition to funding the required medications, further research about the parasites themselves is also needed. Due to the difficult logistics of working with entire populations affected by these diseases, understanding the communities affected and centering them in problem-solving is integral to effective program execution. A good example of a successful battle against an NTD is the effort to eradicate guinea worm. After decades of adopting innovative solutions that complement community environments and behaviors, eradication is within grasp. But while guinea worm is a positive story, there are far more numerous diseases that still require more research and planning. What projects are you working on next and are there ways people can support you and your goals? Right now, I’ve finished all the projects in my community. But camp season is coming up! Peace Corps Ghana has several annual leadership and

GLOW (Girl’s Leading Our World) BRO (Boys Respecting Others) STARS (Students Taking Action Reaching for Success) Leadership Camp for the Deaf These camps rely on fundraisers every year to come to fruition. I had the privilege of being involved in my region’s GLOW/BRO camp. Being able to witness the students coming to life and expressing themselves outside the classroom was a highlight of my service. I hope to continue to be a part of the camp even after service through donating, and you can too! Check out peacecorps.gov/donate/projects and search the camp name and country. In what specific ways does being an INTJ female impact your work that wouldn’t be possible if you were another cognition style?

Being an introvert in Peace Corps can be a bit of a challenge at times. In a program based on world peace and friendship, being someone who takes a while to make friends seems at odds with the mission. Being a private person, I had to challenge myself to go out in the community and start conversations even when I would have been more comfortable staying inside. Another aspect that needed to change was my projectcentered mindset. In the context of Peace Corps, I personally consider success to be contributing to positive, sustainable change that is communitydriven while avoiding paternalistic or colonialist undertones. Because of that philosophy, I had to seriously check myself to make certain I was not controlling the pacing or direction of our projects. Similarly, I needed to keep constant communication with everyone involved so as not to overstep or

efficient ways, but sometimes there are other factors at play. Be open to stepping back and talking through solutions even if you’re sure yours is the best.

potentially marginalize any community member’s ideas or opinions. In many secondary projects such as planning large events or training with other volunteers, these same personality traits were strengths. It was nice to be back in my element during these projects. Unlike the challenges I initially faced as I adjusted to the implementation style of projects in my community, the collaborative approach and faster pacing I experienced working with other PCVs felt familiar. I’m glad to have been able to see and participate in both types of planning and management styles; each gave me insight into what my strengths are and what I’m capable of as an INTJ.

When you’re not working how do you like to spend your time? Playing sports - I love connecting to people through sports. Everyone on a team is working towards a common goal and I love how that brings people together. Oh, and there’s no small talk when everyone is out of breath and sweating. Reading/Watching/Listening to Stories - I love gaining new perspectives from the media I consume. I especially like reading memoirs or autobiographies. There’s no better way to get to know someone than to examine how they see and present themselves.

Although being an INTJ in Peace Corps comes with its challenges, I wouldn’t change a thing about my service. I learned a lot about myself, interpersonal communication and cultural competency. I’m extremely grateful for the experience.

Writing - I like writing things that are just for me such as, journal entries, poems, song lyrics, and jokes that only I find funny. I hope these things never see the light of day, but it’s fun to just get it out.

Do you have any introvert tips/secrets? Adapting to a different culture (and then adapting back to American culture on visits) has taught me a couple things about being an introvert in extrovertdominated environments: 1.

Know yourself and advocate for yourself – you know what you need to stay mentally healthy. Whether that is private housing or a quiet workspace, make sure it is prioritized when you are settling into a new area. If having those things doesn’t seem to be in the cards, don’t be afraid to ask others in your space for a little quiet or privacy. That conversation may be awkward, but it is way better than blowing up or burning out.

2. (Specifically for the INTJs:) There is no one way that a project should go - Sure there are more

What do you wish you could tell a younger you? Be confident in yourself you have an interesting and unique perspective, even if your voice isn’t the loudest Learn how to communicate - learn the way that you best communicate and observe how people around you communicate as well. Practice ways to let your voice be heard. Don’t settle for being misunderstood. See the value in everyone - everyone may not become your best friend, but they do have something special about them that may not be immediately apparent. Ask for what you need - the worst thing that could happen is they say no.

G P uo

expose

arlier this year, on a chilly February day, I wandered into the Pei Ling Chan Gallery in Savannah, Georgia as the result of a whim. It may have been a decision made on impulse, but once beyond the outside walls, it was as if I had stepped into another world. The gallery exhibit that day was a capsule collection from the fantastical mind of haute couturier, Guo Pei, the first Chinese designer to become a guest member of the renowned Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. The eight-piece exhibit offered a brief introduction to the chimerical intricacy inherent in Pei’s designs. Anything but minimalist, Pei’s artistic vision is reminiscent of the Han Dynasty tradition of fashion, employing intricate beading, frills, florals, fur and other extravagant fabrication techniques that highlight Chinese mythological motifs. Such styling is far removed from the fashions worn in the Maoist China in which Pei grew up. It is the rare person who could see the limited show and not want to know more. There was a full show being hosted in Atlanta, so a few weeks later, I made the trip and experienced the Guo Pei exhibition, her first solo showcase in the U.S. The exhibit displayed more than 30 of Pei’s most dramatic looks, complete with Dress Rhianna wore to the 2015 Met Gala

footwear and accessories, including the famed 55-pound fox fur and gold thread dress worn by American pop singer Rhianna to the 2015 China Through the Looking Glass Met Gala. While Pei’s celebrity grew in the Western world after Rhianna wore her dress to the Met Gala, she is certainly not an overnight sensation. Sewing since she was two years old, Pei graduated top of her class from the Beijing School of Industrial Fashion Design in 1986. She worked designing clothes at Chinese manufacturing companies for ten years before starting her own brand, Rose Studio, in 1997. Once she was able to create for her own brand, Pei worked to pass on traditional Chinese crafts, like embroidery and painting techniques, to those in her employ. Pei has dressed celebrities, royalty, politicians, and even designed costumes for movies, as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The opportunity to see so many extraordinary works in one place was inspiring. When I say pictures don’t capture the full beauty of Pei’s work, I mean it. Her work must be viewed in stages, first taking in the whole, then looking closely at the details. Even then, the fashions retain a sense of the illusory, as if they

have been presented in a fantasy movie rather than existing in the reality that is before you. Pei’s work is breathtaking and inspiring. It is also a reminder that far too often, we forget that fashion can be art. We live in a world in which the commoditization of design makes the majority of fashion dull and repetitive. In that dim world, Pei’s painstaking work shines bright like the rarest diamond. In Pei’s case, the craftsmanship of fashions that have, in some cases, taken thousands of hours, or multiple years, to complete is an invitation to a different world, one in which fashion serves as a canvas to the designer’s artistic impulses, as opposed to more avaricious motives. We are, therefore, excited to present our own recreation of Guo Pei’s works from her Fall 2018 collection, as well as one bonus look from the expose I attended at the SCAD Fashion Museum in Atlanta. The paper doll recreations were drawn by animation artist X.S. Schwinning. We hope that this playful take on Pei’s work ignites your creator’s spirit.

#Living that Pei-per Doll Life By X.S. Schwinning

Find PDF printable version on Always Uttori.com, curtesy of X.S. Schwinning

Look 1 Crown

Look 2 Hair

Earrings

Shoes

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Look 3 Hair Ornaments

Rings Shoes

Look 4

Hair

Rings

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Bonus: Look 5 Crown

Earrings

Yo u n g T a l e n t Inspirations from X.S. Schwinning What were some of the comics and art that inspired you as a child? I read a lot of manga. Naruto was a biggie (I still watch it time to time). I’m currently reading the Buddha series by Osamu Tezuka. I don’t read a lot of DC/ Marvel stuff though (Sorry!). You are currently a student at a prestigious art school, what is your artistic focus and what do you hope to do in the future? I’m currently a senior Animation student, with a minor in Sequential Art. I love comics and hope to become a published graphic novelist in the future! Are there any artists you admire and look up to? I really enjoy Mattis Adolfsson’s work. He is an illustrator that does these fun pictures with aliens and strange characters. I also like a lot of manga artists, such as Katsuhiro Ootomo, Masashi Kishimoto, and Takehiko Inoue Find Schwinning on: Instagram: @schwinning123 and Schwinning Tales

Animation student, X.S. Schwinning, recreated the intricate details of Guo Pei’s work with her own whimsical spin. Currently a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design, Schwinning also does illustration and comic art. In her spare time, she shares her travel, food, and slice of life stories on her blog, Schwinning Tales. We asked her what inspires her imaginative style and how she interpreted Guo Pei’s work. What is your MBTI Type? I seem to get different answers every time I take the quiz, but I mostly get INFP. When did you first get into art? I started drawing as far back as I remember. I remember doodling while waiting for my parents to wake up in the morning when I was maybe 5.

“A lot of people worry about developing a style. I would say don’t focus on that, but rather develop your skills and your style will naturally convey itself.” What are you reading currently? Meanwhile by Jason Shiga! It’s a chose-yourown adventure comic about time travel. It’s really interesting because you have to flip back and forth to get through the story. Your art has an element of whimsy and honesty that is difficult to portray, how do you infuse that into your art? Hmm… that’s a good way to describe my work. I guess my style stems from my personality. I’m a goofy person. My friends sometimes describe me as being child-like. Besides being whimsical, I also enjoy drawing details in technical illustrations. As an artist, “style” is really how one thinks displayed on paper. A lot of people worry about developing a style. I would say don’t focus on that, but rather

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develop your skills and your style will naturally convey itself.

You had the opportunity to see Guo Pei’s work in person, what inspires you about her work?

What about fashion inspires you?

They say, “Devil is in the details.” This is true in Guo Pei’s case. Her work is so ornate and elaborate that I just want to draw it! It may seem overwhelming to draw out every single little detail but it’s actually quite relaxing for me.

I love the freedom of creation that fashion designers have. They can literally be inspired by an old piece of cardboard and make that into a fashion piece. I mean, that’s really cool! There’s a lot of conceptual work done before each piece is created. I really enjoy the ideation phase of fashion. What was your process/inspiration for creating the characters who would wear Guo Pei’s work? I take a lot of inspiration from Fifi Lapin. She was the artist that got me into fashion illustration. In terms of process, I pick out animals that I think would make good models and try to simplify to basic line work. Usually I like to do cats, bunnies, and other cute animals.

I love the freedom of creation that Fashion designers have. They can literally be inspired by an old piece of cardboard and make that into a fashion piece.

In what specific ways does your MBTI type impact your work that wouldn’t be possible if you were another cognition style? I guess I’m more observant than other people. I pick up details that are otherwise missed. INFPs are supposed to be more altruistic and positive than other types. (The icon for INFPs on 16 personalities is a fairy. I like fairies.) If people are interested in hiring you/buying your work, how can they do that? Please visit my site, Schwinning Tales http:// schwinningtales.wordpress.com/! You can find my email and contact me there!

FLi gh t

ract ured 107

For I am I: ergo, the truth of myself. My own sphinx, conflict, chaos, vortex - asymmetric to all rhythms, oblique to all paths. I am the prism between black and white. Mine own unison in duality. ~ Austin Osman Spare

Dress: Zara Earrings: Asos Shoes: Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;gaci

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Dress: P & R Shoes: Circus by Sam Edelman

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Dress: Pretty Little Thing Shoes: C. Label

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Dress: Asos Shoes: Asos

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Dress: Hale Bob

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. . . a n I N T J 119

INTJs can be quite the enigmatic bunch. They don’t tend to congregate together too often. That’s why we took the opportunity to ask our INTJ Task Force what it’s like to view the world from the perspective of an INTJ female.

O n t he I N TJ E x p er ienc e

Did you ever experience hardship as an INTJ female before you knew your MBTI Type?

Vanessa I believe the biggest hardships I’ve had to face were as a result of not embracing my nature of being an INTJ and trying to be things that I am not. I do not do stereotypical women stuff like gossip, or live vicariously through my children, or give two shits about what men want from me. In my opinion, there are a lot of “shoulds” that women are expected to fulfill, and many times they do not have much logical standing at all. We really are expected to sacrifice a lot, especially as mothers and wives. I think those roles particularly are not consistent with INTJ...I’ve had to redefine what a mother is and find my own way in that regard. I do not see myself as an authority figure, or even as a nurturing caregiver, though I step into those roles when the situation calls for it. On a day-to-day basis, I am a team leader, and I think that is not a term most people would use to describe motherhood. I’m also a single mom. I think that being INTJ has actually helped A LOT in that regard because I’ve had to rely on my own resourcefulness. I had my first child when I was 19, so I was already an unconventional mother. In my later

years, I have often thought that if I hadn’t had kids so young and had discovered myself first, there is a chance I wouldn’t have chosen to become a mother. I’m glad that things worked out the way they did, but I just want other INTJ females to know that not having kids is a valid option. Don’t feel pressured to conform to society’s expectations. If I had not accepted myself as an INTJ and embraced it, but rather continued to try and conform like I did in my younger years, I would be depressed, unfulfilled and inefficient in life.

Brooke Girls, in general, don’t make sense and I have very little tolerance for all of their emotions. I’ve always known I “think like a guy,” and I’m sure I would have had more long-term guy friends had I not moved as much as a kid. Looking back, my closest friends have mostly been ISTJs – they’re easy to connect with because we can sit together in silence without being uncomfortable, but we can also talk each other’s ears off about common interests when we feel like it.

Angel Definitely. Throughout my life, I was constantly being told, “You need to go out and socialize,” and

that was really a thorn in my side. I think girls in particular are expected to be warm and happy-golucky, and make people feel welcome. Thinking back, I think my parents tried to raise me to be an ENFP -- well socialized, enthusiastic about people, wearing my emotions on my sleeve. But what they got was a girl who liked to hide in the back corners of a library, to read and make lists about anything and everything whilst being alone. It was honestly the hardest in elementary school and high school because the quiet weird kid was always ostracized. I didn’t mind being alone but being considered an anomaly was pretty rough. It wasn’t until well into adulthood that I started to be more comfortable knowing that I don’t have to conform to anyone’s expectations to be ‘normal.’ My friend sent me the MBTI test and reading more about how I functioned really made me feel like I’m not some weird alien (although we are rare!) Things started to make sense, and I started to give myself more slack for the quirks I had, but also to work on them a bit -- i.e. that robotic, thousand-mile stare. I still do it, but now if someone catches me doing it, I can laugh about it.

Are there any INTJ stereotypes that you feel don’t fit you?

Vanessa While I feel like I fit a lot of the INTJ stereotypes, there are a few that I feel like do not relate to me. I am not sure if this is because it is a natural aspect of self or if my behaviors and awareness around certain areas are a result of life experience. I am not blunt at all, and I am very careful about the words I use when speaking to people. INTJs are apparently rude and can sometimes hurt people’s feelings with their straight-forward manner of addressing subjects, but that is not me at all. Especially if I know the person well enough to have a vague idea of their personality type. I will tweak my words and how I present ideas or opinions so that it is received well. I actually think of this as very INTJ as it is strategic communication and relies on intuition to pick up how the other person will react. I never really understood why I keep seeing online that INTJ are brutal and harsh with their words. I also think that INTJs are also considered more creative in the fields of math, and science, so applying my creativity into visual arts isn’t necessarily an INTJ thing. INTJs are like always presented as cold or evil beings. I have the strongest inner morals of anyone I have ever met in my entire life. Just because I don’t have warm fuzzy feelings for everything doesn’t mean I would have any incentive to be cruel. In my opinion, it’s the opposite, I am less likely to fly off in a fit of rage and lash out in violence, because I am in control. The worst thing that I do to anyone ever is completely and utterly ignore them. If I am done with someone’s bullshit, it’s like they do not exist. As far as I’m concerned that is the kindest way of dealing with a perceived “enemy” I’ve got no energy to plan your demise, I just want to focus on my own life. Are there any INTJ stereotypes you feel you do fit?

Angel Well, one of my best friends nicknamed me Miss Lecter, as in Hannibal Lecter (also an INTJ.) I know I get very quiet and calculating when confronted with a new situation/problem, it’s just me automatically going into analysis mode to assess what the most efficient way to do something is. But all of this happens internally, so combined with a very strong

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resting bitch face, makes me look like I’m plotting murder more often than not. I guess the one stereotype is that I’m a cold calculated robot… when in fact I’m probably thinking about how long it would take for me to pre-heat the oven vs. ready baking ingredients so I can bake some cookies. What is one thing you wish others would know about INTJs?

Elizabeth That we’re not cold and we take time to process our feelings, so we might not react in the moment. What are your favorite introvert activities?

Rachel My absolute favorite introvert activity is reading a book to the soundtrack of its movie adaptation (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Hunger Games, etc.…) I love retreating to the cozy comforts of indoors in the winter. Making a cup of tea, listening to some soft music and reading a good book, preferably with a beloved pet nearby. Here [in Ghana] it has been too hot for cozy, but I still have grown to love retreating from the rain or finding a shady tree with a good view to read or journal under.

On Fashion As an INTJ do you like fashion?

Vanessa On a regular day to day occurrence I dress either completely plain, or sometimes quirky. (I have a love for tie-dye) Both of these serve a purpose, either I go unnoticed, or I am too oddball to approach. I really do not like talking to random strangers in grocery stores. While I do not overtly practice fashion, I do have an interest. Fashion is a creative area, so all the regular art type aspects apply, colors, textures, shape, symbolism, mood etc... are all things that I can think about and interpret, which I love. There is also a researching aspect that I enjoy, reading up on historical, cultural influences interest me. Currently, I am inspired by gender-neutral fashion. I kind of wish I had known more about it when my kids were younger because I would have totally dressed them

neutrally until they displayed their own preferences for clothing. I think I am going to start purchasing more neutral items for our entire family anyways. Also tie dye is gender neutral, so yay! I am a visually-oriented person so aesthetically I am drawn to fashion, and of course clothing and costumes and fashion play a role in my photography. I will never be a photographer that shoots fine art nudes, so clothing will always be part of my work. What do you wish you could tell fashion designers about your INTJ fashion aesthetic?

Elizabeth Women’s clothing needs functionality!! I do enjoy aesthetic, but functionality is also important to me; I’m not always going to buy something just because I think it looks nice.

Brooke Make something comfortable but add interesting details (especially retro details) or use unusual fabric, and you’ll get my attention every time. Make it in colors besides black, and you’ll hook me.

On Relationships Name three ways to ruin a relationship with you as an INTJ.

Angel 1. Not giving us alone time and a lot of space. I live on my own, and I absolutely love it. I love coming home to a quiet space that’s entirely my own. After long days at work I really do not want to interact with anyone, and this includes significant others. I think partners of INTJs need to understand that our need for space and time doesn’t mean we don’t love them, we just need that padding to recharge ourselves. I make it extremely clear with anyone I’m dating to not expect me to ever move in with them, no matter how serious we get. Some of my friends don’t understand this, as they want to be around someone they love all the time. But for me, it’s precisely the fact that I love someone that I need that space -- so I can recharge and be 100% my best self when I’m with them. I can love you to the

moon and back, but I need my own spaceship

2. Interrupting my workflow. When my mind is set on something, and I want to get it done, get out of my way. I will rejoin you as soon as I’m done. I know this sounds cold and harsh, but when I’m on a roll, I don’t want to be slowed down. It usually means I have mapped out exactly what I need to do, and I know roughly how long it will take for me to complete the task. For example, if I have a batch of 2000 photos to edit and I’m really getting into the groove of it, I don’t want to nap, I don’t want to stop and eat, I just want to finish my work while my mind is set on it, because I know exactly when I will be done, and what I will reward myself with once I’m finished (A cake! A nap! A movie with friends!) Interrupting me would make me very irritable and that really causes some abrasions in relationships because I get really snippy.

extrovert some undesirable emotions – my feelings are just as valid as yours. Three ways to ruin a romantic relationship? Astra Prying/personal questions, dishonesty/deceit, and cheapness. What qualities do you value in the people with whom you spend time? Elizabeth Honesty, integrity, a perspective to make me think outside what I normally would, can spend time together without the need to always talk. Astra I value generosity and sincerity in others.

...tsundare

3. Telling me to get out a socialize. As I’ve mentioned earlier, telling an introvert to go out and socialize is basically telling them there’s something wrong with their personality. We socialize when we feel the need to, and we like being alone when we need to. I had a roommate once that couldn’t understand why I go straight to my room after work and sit there zoned out without talking about my day with him. He also habitually told me I should go out and hang out with friends more instead of locking myself in my room. It makes sense for him because he was extremely extroverted and constantly needed people around. But he didn’t realize and refused to understand that was just how he functioned and that it wasn’t right for me. Needless to say, we’re no longer roommates. Brooke Don’t pretend to listen but not hear what I’m actually saying. Pretense – do not lie to my face because you think it’s what I want to hear (I can see right through an act). Do not tell me I shouldn’t feel a certain way just because it makes you uncomfortable when I occasionally

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