How has your perspective shifted over the past five months? How have you grown?
 I’m recognizing how big the world is outside of my QLC tunnel vision.  I feel stuck?  Maybe I’ll go to Thailand.  Maybe I’ll take an art class.  Maybe I’ll write something.  Maybe I’ll say I’m going to write something but go to Trader Joe’s instead.  Maybe I’ll go dancing!  That “stuck” feeling isn’t as unknown as it once was, which makes it a wee bit more manageable.  I still don’t like it (!), but I’m more aware that when it creeps up on me, it’s usually because my days have gotten a little stagnant and/or monotonous.  I’m shifting my perspective to look at the big picture, and to remember that exciting things are ahead.  (!!)

What do you wish you’d known before you started your QLC journey?
  I wish I’d known that it was going to feel like I jumped into a rip tide and have a part of myself washed away.  It’s been a whole, unexpected rebuilding season for Team Jill, and I totally expected things to go more smoothly.  That being said, that also means there is a Big-Gulp sized cup of possibilities right in front of me.  I’d remind myself to have fun with them, to make stronger relationships, and to take more pictures. I would also like to know that you can drink too much coffee so try not to do it at work.

What are you going to continue to work on after Season 6?
  Fierce Love, for sure.  Figuring out which career path I’d like to stumble down.  Learning how to do my hair in the morning (it’s only been 24 years…).  Catching up on Weeds. I’d like to work on just looking up at the tops of the palm trees and thinking, “You know?  Life is damn good,” instead of getting caught up in the details of everything that is the slightest bit imperfect.  Appreciation & Gratitude. I want to work on being a better friend, and a better stranger.  I want to work on balance.        

What little things in life right now make your toes curl with happiness?  Big things?

Little: Breakfast!  Picture frames.  Nostalgia.  Bright nail polish.  Sundresses and bikinis.  The beach!  Cake.  Iced coffee.  Cake with my iced coffee.  Cake flavored iced coffee.  Ice coffee flavored cake.

Big: My upcoming trip to San Francisco for a best-friends-forever-reunion!  The Color Run in San Diego (3 of my favorite things!  Colors, running, San Diego).  Some hard core goal setting.  My mom and my dad and my brothers and my dog and my grandma who says “warsh” instead of “wash.”

In the movie of your life, who would you want to play YOU? Lassie.  Or I want Cassie to draw me.    


 What goodies (books/music/travel/quotes/ideas…) have you found over the past few months that are helping your inspiration and creativity?
 I find that the more I run, the more creative, inspired, and just generally happy I am.  I’m still in awe of every single one of my co-bloggers, and they inspire me on the daily.  Well written articles and/or interviews with interesting people are big.  I’m still a sucker for journaling…  

If you were able to start over and start blogging for Stratejoy right now, what would your “Goals” post look like? What do you hope to accomplish by the end of 2012? How is it the same/different from your “Goals” post from earlier this year?

 Well, first of all, I’d have the cajones to write a “Goals” post.  One of the tough parts of being a smidge directionless is that goals carry more weight.  What goals do I make?  What if I don’t achieve them?  What if I make them, then realize that’s not what I want?  What if, what if, what if?  Of course, I have a million lists of “goals.”  A lot of those goals I’ve achieved, and a lot I haven’t.  Regardless, I would have shared them, so we could all track some progress.

A Spark Notes version of my goals for the end of 2012:

1.)  Run in a half marathon.

2.)  Submit 3 (!) articles to be published in various magazines.

3.)  To have a better handle on my finances.

4.)  To learn how to make really good chocolate chip cookies.

5.)  To create something uniquely mine and share it with the world in some way, shape, or form (a work in progress…)

Name 5 things you absolutely positively could not live without.



1.) My family and friends.

2.) Sandwiches

3.) Sunshine and beach days.

4.) A trusty pair of running shoes and a quality trail.

5.) Compilations of words in all sorts (Books, plays, magazines, blogs, poems, Twitter, Hallmark cards, Post-it notes, etc….)

Who are your top 3 celebrity crushes of the moment?

 Hope Solo, The Men’s Volleyball Team, and America (The Olympics, guys!)

If you had to dedicate your life to one cause for your life, what would it be? Why?

 I’d dedicate my life to women empowerment.  I’m such a sucker for all things girl-power, and I feel most fulfilled when involved in organization supporting women (especially women in the arts).  The environment, animal rights, and health issues aren’t too far behind.

What is one of your favorite memories? 
 Using my QLC time frame parameters, one of my favorite memories of the past year is drinking margaritas with my best friend at the beach.  All of my soul mates know that beach days and cocktail hours with friends are two of my favorite things.

What’s your hidden talent?

 I have a bitchin’ card trick that I pull out whenever a deck is handy.  Come over and I will blow your mind sometime.

What was the last book you read that made an impact on you, and what effect did it have?
  I just finished reading Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walters (highly recommended!).  The book was well written and full of morals and stuff, but it really just reminded me how much I like reading.  It was one of those pieces of myself that washed away in the rip tide that magically washed up on the shore.  “Oh yeah, I used to do this a lot, and I used to like this a lot.  I think I will start doing it more!”  Simplicity at its finest.

What quote best represents you or motivates you in your current place in life?



“Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”  Marilyn Monroe.

What are three things that you are totally obsessed with right now?  



1.)  Beat poetry

2.)  Self discovery

3.)  Cuddling

What is one thing you’d like to change about the world?

 Life would be like a musical!  (One of the not annoying ones.)

If there is one gift you could give to a stranger, what would it be?

 I’d give them a little smile, a single flower, and maybe a light compliment to brighten their day.  The little things go a long way, and also, I’m broke.  

If super heroes are real (and they are), what super power would you have?

 I would be all over Aquaman’s powers!

What do you see when you look into your own eyes?  Oh, I have my grandpa’s eyes.  I’m reminded of the good days with gramps, and also that I have gunk in the corner of my eyes, again. 

What songs are you loving right now?  Can we still be friends if I say “Call Me Maybe?” I also get pretty excited over good acoustic covers of cheesy pop songs.  Starbucks music and my Scott Joplin Pandora station.  My best friends Taylor Swift and Zac Efron singing on Ellen.

What 3 lessons will you take with you from over the last 5 months?

1.) Taking myself on a self-date is sometimes all I need to hit “refresh” on a funk.

2.) When I put some solid effort into something, I’m really proud of my work.

3.) Carry tweezers in the car in case of an emergency stray eyebrow…or weird neck hair.

What’s turning you on right now? Fuckin’ cuddling.  Good stories.  Spending way too long in Barnes & Noble to find good stories.  Summer excursions.  Early mornings.  Possibilities and optimism.  Journal sessions accompanied by some sort of beverage, man.  Self dates.  My Season 6 crew.  All of you

[Photo Credit: Me!  I wrote this not long after my 24th birthday (February 13th), in the midst of applying for Stratejoy aka my favorite part of 2012]