:: More Than You Probably Want to Know About Me ::

I’m a sarcastic, witty UX professional, sitting on the cusp of Gen X & Gen Y, born in Milwaukee and currently living in the metro Phoenix area. I’m obsessed with education, texting, music, and pop culture. I love hot pink, accessories, thunderstorms, dancing, breakfast, bad assery, randomness, laughter, ice cream, people watching, wine, board games, the middle brownie, day trips, roller coasters, and music. You will rarely see me without a matching handbag, my iPod, or my BlackBerry. I enjoy craft brews as well as ones from my Milwaukee roots, MMA, NFL, singing, and small town festivals. My serendipitous cooking techniques are the talk of the town. I prefer square plates and round beds. In other words, I like to think outside the box.

I live by the phrase RainbowAwesomeUnicornWow!

I spent most of my life living in various states in the midwest. Most of my life was spent in Ohio (T County represent) followed by Wisconsin, Michigan, and a very short time in Virginia I don’t care to recall. Growing up in the midwest was fun and I would not trade it for anything in the world, though I have now learned I love dry heat more than I ever loved humidity. I still miss the snow. I come from a rather large family, 8 to be exact, where I am the oldest of 6 kids and the oldest grandchild on both sides. My parents are still married. I will be in my upper 30′s when the youngest graduates from high school. I always helped out around the house and with my siblings. Because of this, I in a way I feel like I’ve already had children, and I’m not in a hurry to have any of my own. I’m also a huge daddy’s girl. My dad is the voice and reason inside my head and it makes me absolutely giddy to hear him say he’s proud of me.

I’m also single. Probably for the longest time I’ve ever been single. This is fine with me. I don’t really settle all that often. I did that once and it turned out horribly wrong and I was miserable. I don’t think I’m all that particular, but many do. Something about wanting a man that has their feet on the ground, is pretentious without being an ass, can sit down and have a PBR one minute and hop to a wine bar the next, one that realizes I am independent and need both me time and girl time, one that will watch football and UFC with me, and a guy that respects me and is smart seems to sound impossible to most. It’ll happen when it happens. I’m not going to actively seek male attention. You can read about my set me up or shut up philosophy here.

My day job is making things people use suck less aka a human sciences/interaction designer. Pretty much I’m an advocate for the user and I research and observe in order to make recommendations on how to make interfaces easier and more intuitive. I fell in love with this profession about 5 years ago and I could not be happier. I am constantly getting to meet with intriguing people and helping make their lives less frustrating.

When I’m not at work or play, I am usually working on various side projects. I am the leader of the Interaction Design Association’s (IxDA) local group in Phoenix as well as the local group initiative lead for IxDA global. Additionally, I am assisting in making the first Phoenix Design Week the best it can be and am the co-founding visioneer for Phoenix Actually, Phoenix’s optimism movement.

:: The History of this Blog ::

Why the title? Back in 2006 when I was in my last year of graduate school, I discovered one of my classmates that was in several of my classes had this amazing bracelet. It was silver and had five tiles on it that had the words grace, balance, courage, truth, and wisdom on them. I asked where she had gotten it and for graduation, she surprised me with my own as a present. Ever since that day, I have never gone a day without wearing that bracelet unless I had a special occasion. It has been with me through the years since then, and those have been the years that I have faced the most difficult life challenges. The bracelet’s still here, and I’ve managed to get through everything.

On that note, as I was still pondering a name for this blog, I received a text from my mom when I turned my phone back on when I landed in Phoenix to start my life here. My mom doesn’t text very often, so that, in combination with the contents, made it ever more clear. It said,

“Been thinking of you all day. I am so proud of your courage and independence. Go far and be happy. Call when you get home to Arizona. Love, Mom.”

I would like to thank all of my friends and family for giving me the support and courage I needed to make the decision to move and accept my new position. I know it was hard on so many, especially with the end result being a move so far away from most of you.

In conclusion, I’d like to welcome all readers. Feel free to post comments, contact me, and subscribe to my blog via email or RSS.

If you want more frequent updates, follow my random thoughts on twitter.

:: Fine Print ::

The opinions and thoughts I express in this blog are solely my own. They do not represent the opinions and thoughts of an organization or business I am affiliated with nor those of any I am not affiliated with.