stay curious
Tag: perspective
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Costume by Request – always YES!
My kiddo was invited to a friend’s birthday party, it was a costume party, and that was a very important part of the invitation, so naturally we took it very seriously. Before I could even ask if she knew what she wanted to be she screamed out
“I AM GOING TO BE A MAGIC KITTY CAT WITH WINGS AND A WAND. AND PINK. okay mom, that’s what I am going to be”
After some further discussions on details, there was a plan.SKETCH pix coming soon*
I was raised to DIY. I actually love making costumes (in theory). I hate making them halfway through the process, but I cannot explain how much I love seeing how PROUD she is when she puts it on in the end.
I tried to throw some photos together of the pieces. On Party day, she didn’t wear the sweatshirt cardigan “because it didn’t have a zipper”, so that is back on the adjustment pile.
The tail got beat, so it needs some reinforcements. She’s obsessed with the wings, so we will be exploring more shapes and materials there this spring/summer.
And of course her favorite part of it was the pink disco ball wand (better photos coming soon). She asked for paw covers which I made out of socks and felt, but really they were just fingerless gloves with a heart patch.
Now I just need to practice making stuff for her without needing her to try it on, she refuses most of the time, and I get it… this time around we learned she DOES NOT and WILL NOT wear rough/itchy tulle anything. More to come soon. Now taking questions.
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The What If Project (an overview)
CHECK OUT SOME OF THE CAMPAIGN ASPECTS BELOW:
Welcome to the world of WHAT IF…
Hi there, my name is Laura Rex and I am trying to buy and restore Cedar Terrace, a 60s Motel Resort in the crossroads of the Catskills, aka Cairo, NY. Welcome to [What If].
You could call it a social experiment, or a community project. The property was built circa 1956, it’s been sitting for a bit, but it is the most magical little bit of history. I fell in love with the property and the town of Cairo, NY. Through research, I fell in love with the Errante Family, owners from the 1950s-2000s – who originally hailed from Ridgewood Queens, maybe we could have been neighbors!On the logistical side of things – follow along at rexmakescoolshit.wordpress.com – I am updating it daily, and the entire project is meant to be transparent. I am selling everything I have, as well as offering up services to raise the funds.
The GoFundMe Campaign
The initial GoFundMe campaign is to get things going, there are a lot of moving pieces. I am selling my stuff and my services. The goal here is to raise awareness and capital to secure the property.
Shop The Store
I’m not here to beg, so I’ve whipped up some cool stuff for you to snag! Dive into unique services from my 20-years of adventures, or grab some snazzy merchandise—all to fuel this project’s fire!
Kickstarter Campaign
Explore the packages Septeber 1st*. Once the property is secured we will launch our Kickstarter campaign. The goal here is to raise awareness, and fund a large chunk of the initial renovations. We are also exploring NYS grants and incentives.
Trade or Donate
Once upon a time people used to trade and barter their skills and services. We are working rapidly to put together the comprehensive list of what will be needed across all phases of the project. If you already have an idea, send it our way, let’s collab.
Need More Info?
If the project has piqued your interest, and you would like to explore the details, the numbers, or partner in a different way, shoot us an email at whatifmotel @ gmail.com or drop us a line on the contact page.
What If It’s A Bummer?
BAH HUMBUG — But if you were wondering what will happen to the $ if we can’t lock in Cedar Terrace property?
A) look for a different location in Cairo, NY
OR
B) Donate all proceeds to the Cairo Development Foundation.
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The Idea Graveyard – A Concept
Welcome to The Idea Graveyard, the place where thoughts and ideas may not live up to their full potential, some get laid to rest. Some are forgotten, and some deserve a second chance.
What’s in your Idea Graveyard? Why did the idea die? Was it loss of interest? Fear? Doubt? Would you raise it from the dead?
Tell me about an idea from your graveyard, or let me know if you got sparks from one of mine. I am always looking to connect and collaborate. I’d love to hear from you.
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Manifesto
Manifesto: a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer. Subject to change at any time.
What is my manifesto? My beliefs? My values?
What do I identify with now? How will it change? How will it stay the same?
i like to do cool shit.
i like to do new shit.
i have no filter.
i believe in magic.
i am here to share what I know.
i am not here to tell you what you know, or what you should know.
i love to learn.
i ask a lot of questions.
nothing is permanent.
i have big feelings.
words matter, and context is important.
transparency is key.
i hate small talk.
i am awkward.
i am awesome.
i love connecting people.
there is no such thing as the “right way” to do ANYTHING
i believe that creativity has the power to change everything.
i hate being interrupted. but I interrupt a lot.
curated chaos and collecting things.
What would you add to your manifesto?
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Tell Her I Hate Scary Movies…
The below is an email I sent in response to someone who was part of a team dynamic I was getting to know. I was brought in because of my previous work. Edited for privacy.
Here’s my take — FUCK NO. She can take her satisfaction and eat it.
As far as answering her questions, I could ask the same thing except I don’t have to. I will not spend more than 20 minutes addressing this situation past this email.
After that point, I will move along and do my thing, and do what I am good at (noted below). If she wants to play difficult, she picked the wrong person to do it with.
She knows how to do keywords – that’s cool. SEO, PPC, and Advertising are successful when the brand, the messaging, the platform and the target are aligned. Right now, based on what I have seen and heard — they are not. So let’s get on with it…
*I think there are still some unanswered questions about Laura, and I think for me, those questions are do the skills that it takes to fill a concert hall translate to the skills that it takes to sell a subscription technology product?*
holy toxic hellhole. this is a fucking startup, and calling bullshit is an important part of my skillset.
*And also, what functions would she perform?*
i don’t perform, and I am not a robot. I am a person, and clearly I am here to remind everyone that your product is also for humans.
*I kind of struggled to get an answer out of her when I put that question to her when first we spoke. She said well I kind of do everything and so I said well do you do paid media and she said no I don’t do that and I said will you do PR and she said no I don’t do that*
The ability to do everything, and having a preference and/or skillset are NOT mutually exclusive. In the current context, I see that the best use of my time is to stop wasting time and resources. Let’s start with the messaging, solidify the audience on both the product front and fundraising part. Pitch Decks -take that off of Founder X’s plate so they can focus on the product. Adjust and expand on the decks – Work with you (Founder Z) to align the lanuguage in the upcoming fundraising campaign. Prepare for it. Evaluate the current “resources” that are available that she still hasn’t made available and stop wasting everybody’s fucking time.*so is it content?*
yes
*Is it business development?*
duh it’s a start-up in the fundraising and product development stage…
*Is it email, social, higher level strategizing?*
all of the above, why is this even a question? Higher level strategy is the fucking top, it dictates the email, the social, the ads, etc. I don’t care how many fucking keywords you put in a website, if it doesn’t connect to the right investor or the user, or command some type of attention it’s wasted money. also impressions are trash.
*And what support will she need?*
none from her. I will need information, and open communication from all parties involved if anyone expects me to stay on the project, let alone for free. ‘Founder X’ has been an absolute pleasure to interact with, and has provided me with plenty to dig into.
*Will she need design support, copy support, what is it?*
no, not at this point in time.
*So those questions are still unanswered for me and I can’t full-heartedly give my blessing until those questions are answered to my satisfaction.*
As previously mentioned She can take her blessing & satisfaction and eat it.
Cheers!
Me.
P.S. As a Chief of anything, this is petty AF. Girl needs to do her research. The passive aggressive digs are sad. I am not here to prove myself. Her immediate need to defend and deflect is just screaming red flags at me. I will build a temp site myself at this point, a brand guide is future shit. The waitlist WILL be better, and people will TRUST your brand and product.
death to the ego. call me whenever.
I am not meant for the land of corporate. that’s ok. all of this made me realize that I don’t do what I do for the credit, I’ve spent most of my career having other’s claim my work, sitting back waiting for someone to notice. But I’m not here for that these days. I noticed. I am the problem FINDER, gap filler, and solutions expert. I want to be in and out before I get bored. Those who have taken my advice have succeeded. I like to shake shit up, force people out of their comfort zones, and call it how I see it.
END RANT. for now.
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The Age of My Darkness
The age of my darkness is coming to an end — perhaps not forever but at least for now. The days are getting shorter, and the air is getting crisper. The birds are calling, and the trees gently whisper. The forest is a place to rest. I have found a place I can feel my best.
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WORD SHIT: Persistent
Persistent
[pərˈsistənt] adjective
continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
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WORD SHIT: Stubborn
Stubborn
[ˈstəbərn] adjective
having or showing dogged determination not to change one’s attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so.
Thoughts to come….
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Unsolicited Advice: Natural Peanut Butter Packaging is WRONG
First of all: shout out to Paul Brown, the guy who invented a tiny little valve that changed how stuff comes out of things back in 1991, I was like 3 years old at that point. Yet the ketchup people didn’t start using it until 2002. WHAT? Not to mention the guy made millions. But moving on….
I am hoping that this message finds the people who work for the companies who make natural peanut butter. While I understand it is also generally stored in glass jars — that is a YOU problem to figure out. Call me when you are ready for product testers, but please look into this. We have rinsed and tested it ourselves, and it’s AWESOME.
The oil sits on the top when stored in the cabinet. You can shake it up before use so it mixes well, and then squeeze it on whatever you want.
For anyone who bought one of these peanut butter jar accessories, I am sorry for you. It would still create a mess in my kitchen, and I don’t want another kitchen “tool”. This one even got a write-up in the New York Times.
Sincerely someone who appreciates convenience, but is also worried about the future.
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WORD SHIT: Audacity
Audacity
[ôˈdasədē,äˈdasədē] noun
1.a willingness to take bold risks.
2.rude or disrespectful behavior; impudence.
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WORD SHIT: Cautious
Cautious
[ˈkôSHəs] adjective
(of a person) careful to avoid potential problems or dangers.
(of an action) characterized by the desire to avoid potential problems.
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WORD SHIT: Comply
Comply
[kəmˈplī/] verb
(of a person or group) act in accordance with a wish or command.
See also: Compliance
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WORD SHIT: Compliance
Compliance
[kəmˈplīəns] noun
the action or fact of complying with a wish or command.
See also: Comply
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WORD SHIT: Efficient
Efficient
[əˈfiSHənt] adjective
(especially of a system or machine) achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.
productive of desired effects especially : capable of producing desired results with little or no waste (as of time or materials)
These days corporate beans are hyper-focused on productivity, efficiency and growth. Upon inspection of said beans, it appears that the more corporate the bean, the less efficient the bean.
Let me explain:
To be continued….
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Undefined – Fear of Labels – part 1
Context. Interpretation. Understanding. Judgement. Acceptance. Definition. Perspective. Experience. Knowledge. Algorithm. Rabbit Hole. Blinders.
“What do you do?” is a common conversational question, it can have a variety of meanings, depending on the context of the question, the tone of the questioner, and the perception of all parties involved.
I do a lot of things. Don’t label me. Don’t put me in a box. Don’t assume you know me based on anything.
Are you an artist? sometimes. Are you a parent? Yes. Do you work? yes. What kind of work do you do? can you be more specific?
I can’t take a compliment, because I wasn’t raised receiving them.
It’s different now. I finally reached a point of realization, a place of knowing that I can’t control what anyone thinks of me, and I was never here to be approved. I know myself, I know who I am, I know what I like, I know what I am good at, I know my strengths and weaknesses. I am not here to be tolerated.
To be continued….
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WORD SHIT: Brilliant
Brilliant
[ˈbrilyənt] adjective
1.(of light or color) very bright and radiant.
2. exceptionally clever or talented.
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Dear Parents – part deux
The following was an email sent to the parent community at my kids school.
Hi Parents & Friends!
Laura Rex, back again with some updates, ideas and general thoughts.
It’s a new year and for me personally it has been an absolute dumpster fire so far. If we haven’t gotten to know each other yet, that’s cool. There is always time. For those of you I have gotten to know, I appreciate you. We might not be cut from the same cloth, but everyone loves a good quilt.
Now let’s get some of the admin and reminders out of the way
It’s Tuesday, and the 2nd Tuesday of every month is FAMILY NIGHT at The Seneca. After lots of chats with different folks, I am stoked to share that Family Night is becoming a weekly, we are adding a VCR for that nostalgic
VHS goodness, and revamping some of the deals. Hope to see you there 
The 2nd Annual *school* Auction will take place April 7-13 2025, and we need help with sourcing and collecting donations — There is a quick survey HERE for preferences and auction ideas, do me a favor please and check it out. If you have an idea, we want it! Want to promote your business, let’s do it! Know someone who might be interested, let us know!
In Other News: THANK YOU to everyone who donated to the parent fund. Back in November I used one of my awkward tokens to ask the community for a monthly contribution ($5/month was the suggestion), and I was blown away at the response. We raised $1100 collectively! ROUND OF APPLAUSE.The $ will be covering the following: All teacher appreciation initiatives, Special events & Supplies (Holiday party, Spring Picnic, Moving Up Ceremony, etc), Ideas have been floated about Leaving a cushion for the crew next year to get started, or donating the leftovers to fundraising, Insert your COOL idea here (but really in the form I will share soon).
Let’s Be Real. Hi I’m Laura.
I believe that transparency is the best policy – so for me you get what you get at all times, in all places. I have ADHD, I’m on the spectrum somewhere, I am awkward, often loud, brutally honest, filled with love, ideas, and questions. I ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I use “curse” words regularly, and I do my best to not offend people, but I’m generally an unfiltered person. If you have met me, you’ve probably seen me cry (no shame here).In 2024, the Surgeon General issued an advisory related to parenting, so if you are feeling alone in how stressful this shit is, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
We were all people before we were parents. Parenting is fucking hard, and it has recently come to my attention that many of us have been looking for a village, a friend, or literally any type of connection — So let’s connect!
Please don’t mistake this for me expecting everyone to be my “friend”, but some of y’all peaked in high school and it shows. If I am not your cup of tea, no harm, no foul. You just keep doing you. However if you’d like to have tea or coffee, vent, rant, walk, etc. I’m looking at hosting it on Friday mornings after drop-off after break.
THE FUTURE IN 2025:
In an effort to not exhaust myself yet again, or “over promise and under deliver” by attempting to do ALL of the things, I have put together a brief list of ideas, events, initiatives, etc. If something resonates, let’s find a way. Throw your expectations and assumptions out the window. I’m here for it.
Clothing Swap – As Springtime quickly approaches and everyone starts thinking about “spring cleaning”, a number of folks have communicated an interest in participating in a clothing swap.
School Retreat/Vaca takeover – Aiming for Spring break dates. More info coming soon.
Community Cookbook – I attempted this last year, made it WAY too complicated, and it got lost in the shuffle when the timing lined up with the auction, spring picnic, and the chaos of life. The goal was to create a communal resource of recipes and meals that our kids and families love, that are easy. We had a decent amount of responses, and I would love to share them with current, past and future families.
Parents Night Out Rotation – With coordination and communication, I’d love to explore giving parents a break for personal time, date night, or whatever TF you want to do with your time, while simultaneously fostering connections of the kids.
Next week, you can expect another update/reminder about all of the things. Feel free to text me at any time, or shoot me an email with your thoughts, questions, feelings, no matter how weird or silly they may seem.
Thanks for coming to my REX TALK – hope to see you out and about.
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Perspective on Industry Experience
Industry Experience Perspective
Recently I was thinking about resumes, the rules for job applications, the interview process, and the absurdity of what minimum qualifications are theses days. How your experience and experience for a specific industry to Industry.
And it made me think about how I’ve been in so many different Industries and that’s a large part of the reason I’ve been successful in past roles. Not to mention if I am interested in something, I will absolutely believe I am capable of doing it and learning how to do it on the fly.
Why do you want someone that’s only been in one industry, or doing the same thing at the same place for like 10 years? That seems unbearably narrow-minded and honestly counterintuitive when you really think about it.
New hires, consultants, contractors, vendors, etc. are generally brought on when a company is experiencing growth or is stuck.
You’re bringing them on to either fill a gap, expansion or because of what you think you know about their expertise and experience in a role/industry.Too many brands are ignoring the aspect of curiosity.
A new hire, a new contractor, or any new relationship should bring new things to the table.
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. A NEW SOLUTION.
Both of those things often come from experience working in different Industries, roles, companies, teams. Someone who can look at a problem differently, flip it upside down and shake it the fuck up.
That’s the point. The basis of it at least. I will come back to this…
To be continued – with examples…
