Unexpected Ideas for Creative Projects

Back when I was in elementary and high school (you know, when people walked five miles in the snow, uphill both ways), we basically “rented” our textbooks each year. They were given to us on the first day, our name was added to the list on the inside front cover, and we spent the last week of school assessing the condition of each book and receiving our fines. Bent corners were a quarter each, scratches on the cover were a dime, and marks or tears on the pages inside were a dollar. You couldn’t move to the next grade or go to Field Day until you had paid your book fines!

My classmates and I always covered our textbooks to avoid the damages that had the potential to keep us from Field Day on the last day of school. But when we made them way back when, they we no fun – no fun whatsoever! Covering our books meant taking a brown paper grocery bag apart at the seams and putting the store logo inside (facing the book) so there was a big, blank, brown space to draw on the cover. It sure wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done. ...read more

Ah, summer. The days feel longer, the sun is shining, the kids are out of school and the beach/mountains/your favorite vacation spot are beckoning. But what about your responsibilities at the office? No worries! We here at the Out of Office blog have some tips to help conquer the frenzy that always arises in the days leading up to that glorious summer vacation! ...read more

Not too long ago, I finished my first marathon. It was quite an effort but it was rewarding. Now, I am wondering what to do next – another marathon, an Olympic triathlon or something completely different? No matter what, I will keep running. And if you are thinking a marathon is too daunting, a fun way to compete is the marathon relay.

In a marathon relay, you and three to four of your friends each take part of the marathon and only run a section of it. I did one last December with my sister and three of my friends and it was great. Runningrelays.com is great website that even has Random Team Name Generator that helped us figure out our own team name – the Questionable Motley Crew. It also has lots of tips and tricks for running relays of all lengths. If I can find a team, I’ve even been considering running the “Capital 2 Coast” relay that goes from Austin to Corpus Christi, Texas.  ...read more

As a graduate student in art school, I was surrounded by talented graphic artists. While I was studying advertising and not design, I have always had an interest in art. Even though my skills are limited, I still like to think of myself as a creative individual. Lately I have been trying to use my artistic side to reinvent the artwork on my walls at home. We recently reorganized our furniture and I was thinking of a way to spruce up the walls, rather than continuing to look at the few random things I have accumulated at garage sales in years past. ...read more