“Self Portrait” by Katie McDowell (18), New Orleans Center for Creative Arts "An Old Man in Military Costume" by Simone Wuttke (18), Dartmouth College (recent Benjamin Franklin High School graduate) "This oil on canvas painting is inspired by Rembrandt's 'An Old...
I have sat with anger ingrained in my ribs night after night. I know the five stages of grief. Why am I so stuck on anger? Denial was the first one. It hit when I stood in front of my fridge all alone in my house with my knees wobbling, staring at the screen on my...
Partner Yoga Poses by Laurie Azzano of Lolo’s Youth StudioYaaaas, finally! Hello, summer! Inhale deadlines. Exhale freedom. If you’re like most, summer represents one big sigh of relief. No more early morning alarm clocks, homework, tests, school drama, or crazy,...
Makes 20-24 brownies (depending on how big you slice them) BAKE TIME: 30 minutesIngredients 6 eggs 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 3 cups brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 2 sticks butter 1/2 cup Crisco shortening 1 1/2 cups baking cocoa powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons...
If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, or any form of mental distress, reach out to someone right away who can be there for you. Professional help is always an option when your psychological well-being is at risk. There is zero shame in...
Teen-Friendly NOLA ClinicsClinics that serve adolescents usually focus on the reproductive health needs of adolescents and young adults but may also provide primary care services. The ages served vary depending on the clinic, but they usually include preteens (11 or...
Have you ever wondered how you can apply astrology to your everyday life but don’t know where to start? Astrology can be very complex and sometimes overwhelming to interpret, so I have compiled a quick guide to help you consciously incorporate daily practices to...
Did you know clothing isn’t biodegradable?That means it doesn’t decompose once it’s dumped in the trash—it just sits in a landfill and creates nasty greenhouse gases in our environment. “We have to think longer and harder about the clothing we wear, where it came...
New Orleanians love their glitter, and, more than ever, we all deserve a little extra sparkle in our lives. Addie Ellis of the local biodegradable glitter company Glitter Nymph shared with us how to make shimmery oil that is good for your skin and nature. Since you...
I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea What it’s about: Laure will do anything to prove a Black girl can be a star in the cutthroat world of Parisian ballet, even make a deal with a primordial power she finds in a pulsating river of blood in the...
Are you looking for inspiring ways to volunteer in the local community while fulfilling your school’s service hour requirements? We’ve talked to some great organizations in the area that rely on volunteers to help their wonderful programs run. Learn more about each...
Imagine that you just found out you are pregnant. For some young people, this may be exciting news; for others, it is not. Questions swirl: How can I take care of a baby and finish school? How can I afford to be a parent if I don’t finish school? How will my parents...
Lucy Scholz is my “shero” because she ran 300 miles from Los Angeles, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of The Speed Project. That’s roughly like running to Houston, Texas, or Seaside, Florida, from New Orleans! Not only did she win the 2023 competition and...
Careers in Skilled Trades With the cost of college continuing to rise, skilled trade careers are a great alternative pathway to stable, well-paying work and upward social mobility. Many trade workers provide essential services and help build and maintain important...
by Erin Zimmer Strenio
Who said string lights are just for the holiday season? We love hanging strands of the twinkly lights, also known as “fairy lights,” all year round to add a soft, cozy glow to any room. Lighting can really define a room’s mood and energy—and there’s something so welcoming about walking into a space with string lights hanging, right!? They instantly create a candlelight-esque sparkle, minus any open flames. And best of all, they’re inexpensive and easy to hang.
Dust off that box of holiday lights, or head on over to Target, Walmart, or Amazon to buy some new lights. They come in all sizes and shapes—the classic clear white ones, LED colorful ones, lantern lights, and plenty more. Choose whichever style speaks to you! Drape them around your bed posts, frame your mirror with them, dangle them around a doorway or window, or simply hang them on a wall that needs a little pizzazz.
We had fun turning some globe string lights into twinkle-twinkle little stars!
Another great way to feature string lights? Around your bike wheels. Not only do they look cool, they’ll also keep you bright and visible (and safe!) when biking around at night.
Our friend Marin Tockman, owner of Dashing Bicycles in Mid-City—hurray for women-owned businesses!—has a great selection of colorful Sunlite WheelGlow lights ($20 per box) which you can easily weave through your bike spokes. It takes all of ten minutes to install the lights on each wheel (it seriously couldn’t be easier) and they come with zip ties to keep the lights secure around your wheels. The pack also includes batteries to keep you glowing for 40 hours. The lights come in a variety of colors such as pink, blue, green, and multicolored disco lights (aww yeahhh!).
NOLA Social Ride, a local community of bike lovers who organize social group rides around town, is another great resource for DIY bike lights. Head to their website for recommendations on great string lights along with an instructive video on how to install them: nolasocialride.org (look for their DIY bike lights section under “Resources”).
Erin Zimmer Strenio can always get down with an arts & crafts project, whether it’s making flower crowns, quilting, or indigo-dyeing textiles for her side project Saint Lydia (which you can find at the Ogden Museum shop and elsewhere around town). By day, she’s a content designer for the federal government, but in past lives she’s been a food editor, jill-of-all-trades marketing strategist, and cookbook recipe tester. Originally from a beach town in Southern California, she’s proud to call New Orleans home.
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