L'Italia

This is where I am right now:

Florence, Italy.

I've only been here a few weeks but I feel like I've been here for months. I know the city like the back of my hand. I could navigate you from the Santa Maria Novella to the Palazzo Pitti with no hesitation. I know what streets to take and which ones to avoid, which are the best markets, and what restaurants serve good food.

Here are some things I love about this part of the world:

1. The history. It dates back thousands of years, and everyday I encounter something incredible.

2. The art. I have never seen so many masterpieces in one location. I've been able to see the works of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Donatello, Bernini, Brunelleschi, Giambologna, Botticelli, among countless others.

3. The architecture. Almost every building here looks straight out of a storybook. The churches are breathtaking, and even the apartment buildings have so much character.

4. The food. Just like any other country, the cheap food is not good. But when you find a restaurant with a grandma cooking in the back and a family running the front, you've struck gold.

Some things I miss about America:

1. Free water. Here, you have to pay for water anywhere you go. I really miss those nice, tall, ice cold complimentary glasses of water they give you at restaurants.

2. Familiarity. I've never been to a place where I can't understand the language, and where so few people speak english. It has been an interesting and comical experience so far, and I've learned some key phrases in Italian, but I do miss being able to have a smooth transaction at the market.

3. Transportation. It's nice having public transportation and being within walking distance of most things, but I miss being able to get in my car and go wherever I want whenever I want. The Italian train and bus schedules are pretty hard to understand.

I miss America, but I am so grateful to be in such a gorgeous country. I am continuously in awe of how amazing and beautiful this place is.

And in three days, I will be here:

Hi, I'm Maggie and I shop at Ann Taylor.

I recently went to a secondhand clothing store targeted to teenage girls to sell some clothes I've purchased and worn once or twice. These items included brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Hollister, etc. Also, a large portion were Ann Taylor that I simply did not wear anymore. I gave the sales girl my bag, waited for a couple minutes until she called my name.

She gave me the clothing they didn't want along with the money for whatever clothing they did. Every single Ann Taylor piece was still in the bag. I was a bit puzzled, seeing as everything in there was in mint condition and was (at least I thought) very cute. I asked her what was wrong with them, and she told me they didn't buy Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, or other "old lady" brands. I blushed, laughed sheepishly and left the store, while I was wearing head to toe Ann Taylor and Banana Republic.

I am 2o years old. I love Ann Taylor. I've been shopping there since I was 15 or 16, and it is by far my favorite store. I've been praying for the day they open one in Southern Utah so I could possibly work there. I thought back to the times I've been in the store, and realized that I have never seen any girls around my age in there. Their only customers are women 35+ toting along their children.

Apparently I have "old lady" style. I've never been a fan of pink flames and neon colored shirts. I shy away from bold unnatural hues and too-tight t-shirts with various cliché sayings. Is that a bad thing? I guess I don't need to impress anyone anymore, so should I really care? Probably not.

This is for you, Small Business of America

It's funny how any human being with a simple knowledge of computer software assumes they can make a decent design.

For those of you who think you're better than the graphic designer you hired, you're probably not.

look, a painting!

Okay, I know it doesn't look like much. A couple of messy tan brush strokes on a small white canvas... Well that's exactly what it is.

This is the skeleton of my next project. I've started painting again! Gasp!

What's that you say? Of course I can paint! Strange!

Bet you can't guess what it is. I'm not telling.

Here's the thing. I hate sketching and drawing in general, unless it's with charcoal. So I just go for the gold whenever I paint and hope that it turns out somewhat recognizable.

I haven't painted for years. I used to paint when I had time, when life was simpler. Then college came and work came and "love" came.

Now, life has settled down. I'm still in college and work is as busy as ever, but I've grasped the handle, found my best friend, and somehow am finding time to return to one of my few true passions.

the life of a sell out

Disclaimer: To any art major/artist, I still respect you.

I am an art major, more specifically a graphic design major. For some reason, whoever organized this institution decided to put graphic design in the school of art. This makes some sense, seeing as any decent graphic designer should know how to draw, but graphic design belongs more with advertising and marketing in my opinion. Or at least equal class requirements from each end.

Anyways, in the years I've been an art major, the minute I mention my specialty to any coffee-addicted, high-wired, paint-covered artist, they roll their eyes and somehow imply that I am not an artist, I am simply someone who wished they had a creative bone in their body who happens to be computer savvy.

I'm okay with it. At least I'll make some money in my career...

Now, I'm not saying there aren't any talented art majors at my school... I'm just saying that most of the time my artistic skill is dismissed right when I confess my unworthy major.

This is where I am going to share my journeys in the art world, critique other sell outs and hopefully redeem my seemingly low and laughable career.