csa adventures: week two.

26 Saturday Nov 2011

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This year, I’m exploring a new grocery option: community supported agriculture (known as a CSA).

I went with a small farm located in Little Haiti called the Little River CSA. I forgot to share what I got last week, but from now one I’ll post what I get every week. It’s interesting because it really makes you realize what’s “normal” in a tropical climate like Miami. I know I often have a real lack of understanding what’s in season and when since the grocery stores have everything all the time.

Here’s what I got for Week 2:

on living.

20 Thursday Oct 2011

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As my adventures at Miami Ad School start wrapping up, a lot of my newfound friends are moving to New York City in search of the perfect creative position to propel their careers.

Me? I’ve already lived in NYC. In Paris. In Sydney. In Miami.

None are perfect. None are horrific. They’re all special, but Miami especially seems to get a bad rap.

Miami “ex-pats” are the first to criticize Miami.  I used to be one of them. In high school I was so desperate to get away from the superficiality and grotesque suburbia that was Miami in my eyes. I would argue that the opportunities here professionally are next to none. I went to college and attempted to spend every moment away from Miami, which eventually led me to New York, as most journeys in advertising do.

During my last visit to NYC, concerned friends implored:

“Your talent is going to waste away in Miami.”

“There aren’t any good ad agencies there.”

“You deserve to be here, in NYC.”

But as I’ve mentioned before, something’s brewing in Miami. Fine, the creative class isn’t as established here as it is in NYC. Why do I have to take the easy way out and move back to grey, agency-laden NY? Why can’t I take my alleged talent to the beaches and clouds of Miami and blast them through our clear blue skies? Why can’t great creative work be coming out of Miami hispanic agencies? Why can’t we raise the bar when it comes to what we want out of Miami instead of throwing our hands up in despair and packing our suitcases?

No city is perfect, but Miami is allowing me to be a pioneer. An adventurer in creative life. And I’ll gladly accept.*

Come graduation from Miami Ad School, I will begin looking for gainful employment as a creative in Miami. And if I’m wrong? If Miami proves to really not want more creative people? If Miami puts up a fight? Well… New York will always be there.

*I am not immune from Miami thinking – it took me quite some time to be ok with staying in my hometown.

idea sprouts marketing & yoga.

16 Friday Sep 2011

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I have my first guest blog post up today on Idea Sprouts Marketing’s blog. It’s for a series they’re running called How I Tweet. Needless to say, it’s all about Twitter. Check it out here.

Aside from what I’m doing in the digital world, I’ve been pretty busy in the physical one. Yoga has been kicking my ass, really. I feel great, but I also am constantly aching in one location or another. All these aches just have me focusing on “listening to my body”, a phrase that gets repeated over and over again in every yoga class I’ve taken.

ohai.

07 Wednesday Sep 2011

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For the last 20-30 weeks or so I’ve completed two internships through Miami Ad School as an junior art director. The first one was eye opening. I was lucky to be surrounded by super talented people. I learned a lot. I got faster at designing. Got to be involved in a new business pitch that was a success. The second internship was a test in endurance. I felt like I was on a 10 week sprint. So much work. So much to do. The people were great, but I had no life. I had no sleep. I had too much stress. I did get to work on some pretty awesome projects though, so I’m definitely thankful for that.

Now I’m on a long break. It’s taken me longer to recover than I originally though. I have six weeks before my last quarter in school. I’m already three weeks in and I haven’t done any of the creative things I wanted so far. Instead, I’ve rested. I’ve been cooking a lot, and doing a lot of yoga.

I decided to do a 30-day challenge that a local yoga studio – Green Monkey – is calling a mat crawl. I’ve just completed a yoga class every single day for the last seven days. It’s already been a journey. I can feel my strength increasing every day. Soreness seeps through my body like a welcome friend. I know I’ll be able to complete this portion of the challenge.

The other portion of the yoga challenge is to fundraise for the 305 Spiritual Gangsters – a local non profit organization that teaches yoga to inner city Miami kids. An added incentive for me, if I am one of the top 6 fundraisers, then I “win” a free year of yoga classes at Green Monkey. With that said, here’s a shameless plug: If you are able to donate any amount (50 cents, a dollar, more…) then please do so on my page http://yogaaid.com/nadiapayan

If you did feel inspired to donate, then thanks so much and please let me know you did so that I can send you a little gift! If not, then that’s ok too.

xo, my dears! – Nadia

03 Saturday Sep 2011

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This is how I feel today. Stuck.

I’ve done some house cleaning on the blog and it’s got a new look, a tiny bit closer to what I envision for this little home for my thoughts.

I’m on vacation now, but despite the look update, I’m not in the right place to start catching you up with my latest adventures. Be back soon. Real soon.

{photo via}