Archive | July, 2012

Easy DIY French Manicure

30 Jul

Do you ever wonder how some people have such perfectly manicured fingernails? Especially when those fingernails sport the always classy and in-style french tips? I always wondered whether everyone always went to the salon to have them professionally done, or whether the nails were complete fakes –simply too good to be true.

I’ve had my fair share of manicures and I know how talented nail artists/technicians are. It certainly is not a job that I could ever have the talent, ability, or coordination to do.

But, ever since I stopped biting my nails last summer, (hooray for kicking a bad habit to the curb!) I’ve been obsessed with keeping my nails polished and looking nice. This, of course, has led me to buying way too much OPI nail polish…but that’s a story for another blog post.

It also, though, led me to learn an easy an inexpensive way to french tip my own nails without going to the salon.

So, here’s my easy how-to guide to a Do-It Yourself French Manicure!

 

DIY French Manicure

Tools:

  • French tip white nail polish (or any solid white nail polish)
  • UV Top Coat (or any clear nail polish)
  • French tip nail guide stickers (any brand)
  • Nail polish remover
  • Nail file
  • OPI Drip Dry (optional)

 

Instructions:

1. Before you begin, you need to prepare your nails. Make sure your cuticles are pushed back and look even. Depending on whether you want your nails to be rounded or squared, file them appropriately and make sure they are even.

My fingernails are squared, so before starting my manicure I used a nail files make sure each of my nails looked neat and even.

2. Wash your hands and dry them thoroughly to ensure you are working with a clean nail surface.

3. Place one nail guide sticker on each nail. Be careful to leave enough room between the top of the sticker and the end of your nail for the french tip. Remember, the area you are painting will look smaller after you’ve removed the sticker guide.

The stickers are much wider than your fingernail. Try to center the sticker guide when you place it on the nail.

4. Using French tip white nail polish, paint the tip of each nail. Try not to paint too thick of a layer — this could make the polish gummy and cause smudges later. You can always go back and do a second coat if necessary.

For this tutorial, I used Avon’s French Tip White nail enamel.

This is what my nails looked like after one coat of the French Tip White polish.

5. Allow the first coat of French Tip White to dry for at least 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, add a second coat of the white polish if necessary. Allow to dry another 15 minutes.

6. Once your nails have dried for at least 15 minutes after your most recent application, carefully remove the nail guides. Don’t be alarmed if the white polish pulls slightly when you remove the stickers. As long as you have let your nails dry long enough, removing the stickers should leave a clean line.

7. After removing all of the sticker nail guides, apply a coat of clear nail polish such as a UV Top Coat.

Here are my nails after one application of the UV Top Coat. For extra shine, apply a second coat after the first has completely dried.

 

8. To ensure that your nails are completely dry and to prevent smudging, consider applying a drying agent like OPI’s Drip Dry.

9. Your nails are now french manicured! Enjoy the classic and sophisticated look!

 

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5 Must-Have Beauty Products for a Glamorous and Naturally Beautiful Weekend (and Whole Year)

27 Jul

The weekend and end of July are almost upon us, so it’s time to talk beauty. Whether hanging out around the house or going out on the town, this Dame always likes to look her best. Here’s five of my favorite beauty-related products to help you embrace your glamorous and naturally beautiful side.

 

1. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiance Cream, SPF 15

I cannot tell you how much I love this cream. And let me tell you, I do not exaggerate. Up until a few months ago, I never wore any kind of moisturizing cream on my face. I don’t really know why — I just never got into the habit. One of the main reasons, I guess, is that I was blessed with a very good complexion and have very few skin issues on my face and never really felt the need to moisturize. Earlier this year, I started noticing that my skin was a little more blotchy than normal but I didn’t really know what to do about it. After seeing a TV beauty segment on radiance creams, I decided to give one a whirl. So, I ran down to the neighborhood drug store and picked up Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Radiance Cream. After using it consistently every day for several weeks, I noticed that my skin tone had evened out and that the red blotches were gone. This cream makes your skin feel amazing and gives it a cool and slightly tingly sensation. But the best part of the radiance cream: it truly makes your complexion brighter. You truly glow.

Pros: Gives you an even, glowing complexion; inexpensive (around $10); makes your face feel fantastic.

Cons: None!

 

2. Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam Foundation

A lot of my friends don’t wear foundation, but for some reason I do. I started in high school and once I got used to wearing it, I feel naked without it. That being said, however, I’m never entirely happy with any given foundation. It’s always to orange, or too light, or too heavy on my face. Maybelline’s new Dream Nude Airfoam Foundation is one of the better one’s that I’ve tried over the years. I comes out in a mousse-like spray, goes on even like you’re airbrushing your face, isn’t heavy, and doesn’t make you look like you’re wearing a lot of make-up. Unlike the Neutrogena Radiance Cream, however, the Maybelline foundation does have a few drawbacks to consider before your buy it. But, if you’re looking for airbrush quality foundation at a drugstore price, I suggest you try it. Plus, during these summer months when many of us a rocking a tan, this foundation goes on light enough that you don’t have to buy a darker shade for summer.

Pros: Provides an even, airbrushed finish; isn’t heavy; versatile.

Cons: Color really sticks to hands/fingers during application; can stain polished fingernails.

3. Covergirl Exact Eyelights Eye-Brightening Mascara

I’ve been using Covergirl’s Exact Eyelights mascara for several years. It comes in four shades, all that correspond to your eye color: brown, blue, green, and hazel. I truly adore this mascara. Not only do I feel that this mascara does what it is supposed to do to make my eyelashes long and full, it truly make my eyes brighter. When I wear this mascara, I never need eyeliner.

Pros: Great mascara, comes in both regular and waterproof, brightens eyes.

Cons: Doesn’t give you specific color choices if you like to mix it up.

 

4. Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover

The fact that I had and still have a good complexion is something of a wonder, since I really did nothing to take care of it. A fact that makes me even more thankful for it today. In addition to never using moisturizer, I also never took my make-up off or washed my face with a cleanser. I just washed my face in the shower with whatever soap/body wash I was using. So, when I bought the radiance cream, I also bought Neutrogena’s Naturals Fresh Cleansing wash and makeup remover. I like it because it leaves my face cool and soft. It doesn’t dry it out. It also doesn’t leave my face red and feeling hot like some other cleansers do.

Pros: Good for sensitive skin; leaves your skin clean and removes make-up; gentle; doesn’t burn eyes.

Cons: None.

 

5. Nite White Teeth Whitening System

This is the only item on my list that you can’t buy at your local drugstore. I’m including it though, because it’s a great teeth whitening system that really works. I purchased Nite White through my dentist — which is my suggestion to you. Truly, always ask your dentist or dental hygienist before starting a whitening regimen so you protect the strength and health of your teeth. Nite White comes in little syringes which you place into trays (I have personalized trays that fit to my teeth that were made at the dentist’s office). While you can (as the name suggests) use the whitening system overnight, you also can do it during the day as one treatment only takes about 2 hours. Each syringe gives about 4 treatments. Nite White provides great whitening results and I had no adverse effects.

Pros: Great results; better that whitening strips; effects last for a long time with periodic maintenance.

Cons: More expensive. (Example: My dentist runs a special every spring where you can purchase the system for $100. All proceeds are donated to charity. Normally, however, the system costs at least double.)

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Well, I hope that my 5 Beauty product suggestions have given you some great ideas for staying glamorous.

Remember: Beauty products are meant to enhance your natural beauty. You’re already beautiful. Embrace that beauty.

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Own Your Initial: DIY Framed Button Artwork

26 Jul

After 21 non-stop years of school, I’m used to being busy. So, it’s no surprise that my graduated and unemployed state this summer has left me a little bored. The problem with this is that I a) don’t handle boredom very well and b) discovered over those 21 years of school that the busier I am, the more I get accomplished. And I have a lot to get accomplished — namely job applications.

I’ve been doing pretty good on that front though. Unfortunately, however, you can only fill out so many job applications in one sitting, so I have to find other things to do with my time. Not to mention that any down time I do have leaves me feeling guilty and depressed about not having a job in the first place.

So, I’ve taken to other pursuits, like scouring Pinterest for ideas. One of my favorites on the site are the various examples of Button Artwork that are constantly floating around.

I tried this particular project out once already when I made one in the Spring for my cousin’s daughter. I was supposed to make one for her son — I had all the supplies and everything — but life (namely my Master’s thesis) got in the way and I never made it. Lucky for you though, I finally got around to finishing it and remembered to document the process!

What You’ll Need:

  • Buttons (color of your choice)
  • White cardstock
  • Hot glue gun (and hot glue sticks)
  • Ruler
  • Pencil (with eraser)
  • Photo frame — NOTE: Since the button art is not completely flat, you will need to choose a deeper frame that allows for more than a flat piece of paper to be placed inside.

Instructions:

Step 1:  Assemble your supplies. For this project, I used lime green buttons that I bought at Pat Catan’s. They were less than $5 and I have more than enough left over for another button-related project. I also used regular white cardstock as the backing. Finally, I bought a plain white 8″x10″ frame from IKEA.

Pat Catan’s sells assorted bags of buttons in various colors. In addition to green, they have pink, blue, teal, white/pearl, and more depending on availability.

Because this button art is for a child, I decided to use a white frame and white background.

Step 2: Plan out your artwork ahead of time — you don’t want to start gluing and have to start over because your artwork is crooked or doesn’t fit on the paper. Using a ruler and pencil, draw out the letter you are creating on the cardstock. Make sure it’s centered and looks even. Tip: place the cardstock in the frame for a second to make sure the letter looks okay.

I traced the letter P on the cardstock lightly in pencil. Later, I erased it slightly so that that pencil marks wouldn’t show through on the finished product.

Step 3: Spread out your buttons on the table and plug in the glue gun.

Step 4: Start arranging buttons on the letter you traced. Try to vary the sizes of the buttons as you go so that you have both bigger and smaller buttons next to each other. Since my buttons were not all the exact same shad of green, I also tried to avoid putting too many dark or light green buttons next to each other.

Before you start gluing, lay some of the buttons out to get an idea of how they look and fit next to one another.

Step 5: Start gluing! The letter that you traced on the paper is meant to be a general guide — don’t worry about going outside the lines slightly. Also, don’t worry about the gaps that will show through between the buttons. Later, you can go back and add a smaller second layer of buttons to cover some of the holes.

CAUTION: You will be handling a hot glue gun to secure the buttons to the cardstock. Be very careful as the glue is extremely hot and can burn you if it comes in contact with your skin. Please use extra caution when applying the hot glue to the buttons as they have a very small surface area.

Just have fun selecting and gluing the buttons — don’t worry about perfection!

Step 6: Once the letter is completely filled in, go back and place a few additional buttons in a “second layer” to cover any gaps that exist.  Don’t worry about covering all the gaps — the second layer can cover up any mistakes, globs of glue, or pencil marks as well. It also gives the project additional depth.

Here’s what the art work looks like after both the first and second button layers have been completed.

Step 7: After the artwork has dried and cooled completely, place it in the frame.

And you’re done!

The finished product!

Another, close up view, in the frame.

From start to finish, this project only took me about an hour and a half. Some letters may take longer than others.

I’d love to see your button artwork! Let me know if you attempt your own (or someone else’s) initial and definitely feel free to contact me with any questions!

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Daycations: The Best of Northeast Ohio and Pittsburgh

22 Jul
If you found your way here from Once Is Enough, welcome! We hope you’ll click around and check out our other posts!
 

Earlier this week, I wrote my first ever guest blog post for Sam over at Once is Enough while she went on vacation. I focused on daycationing, outlining several tips to help you have a great time while being a tourist in your own town. Head over to her blog to read more about finding the best local spots to explore and save money — great for the college girl on a budget! While you’re at it, read posts from Sam and the other guest bloggers for the week. 

If you’re still in school, summer is pretty much half over already… unless you’re in graduate school, and you’re very likely still in class till very late at night or early on Saturday mornings. I feel your pain. I’m currently still looking for a job, and while I’m cutting back on unnecessary purchases, I still plan on taking a daycation or two. I’m lucky that I live in an area filled with hidden cultural jewels, right between two large metro areas with experiences totally unique to each of those cities. It’s unlikely that people from outside of the area plan to vacation in Northeast Ohio, there’s much to do for those who are willing to explore, and do a little research ahead of time. Here are four of my favorite day-trips for a quick weekend excursion. Click through on the links to each of the attractions for more information about hours of operation, admission, and directions. 

Youngstown, Ohio

Home of my alma mater and Ed O’Neill from Modern Family, Youngstown is in the middle of a cultural revival, working to rebuild itself from the fall of the U.S. steel industry and shed it’s image as hub of organized crime. It boasts a rich ethnic heritage, and on any given weekend in the summer, you can sample Greek gyros, Italian sausages, or Polish pyrohies at any of their popular festivals held each year. In the six years I spent living in Youngstown earning my degrees, I learned to love the area and discovered many of the gems of the city and surrounding area. 

First, visit the Butler Museum of American Art, the first museum of strictly American art in all types of media, dedicated in 1919. Featured on the National Register of Historic Places, admission to this museum is free. Take time to reflect on paintings by Edward Hopper, Mary Cassatt, Georgia O’Keefe, and Robert Rauschenberg. For lunch, take a very short drive over to Casesse’s MVR, one of the most popular restaurants in the Mahoning Valley. While you wait for a (massive) plate of cavatelli, or any of the other old school Italian dishes, look around at all of the Youngstown sports memorabilia, from the years the YSU Penguins won four national championships under Coach Jim Tressel (just before he went on to coach for Ohio State) and boxing greats, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and Kelly Pavlik. Take your to-go box and head to Mill Creek Park, the second largest metro park in the United States. With over 4,400 acres for you to explore, its easy to spend an entire day here out on the hiking trails, paddling around Lake Glacier, or simply relaxing and enjoying nature. You might even happen upon a wedding in any area of the park, especially in the gorgeous Fellows Riverside Gardens and its visitor’s center. As the sun sets, head back into town for dinner and drinks at the Lemon Grove, part bar and restaurant, part performance venue, and part art gallery. Almost every night of the week, you can catch live music, poetry readings, or events like trivia games or karaoke at this lively downtown establishment. Don’t forget to check the schedules for the Dana School of Music and the Department of Theater and Dance at YSU, bringing top notch vocal, symphonic, and theatrical performances to the valley. 

Bonus Youngstown Sites
Charlie Staples’ Original Bar-B-Cue
Mahoning Valley Scrappers Baseball
The World’s Largest Pair of Drum Sticks, in honor of Warren native Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters 
Oakland Center for the Arts

Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio

Geneva on the Lake has become one of my favorite weekend getaways for two simple reasons: there’s a beach and the wine is plentiful and delicious. The beach is on the shores of Lake Erie, and though I don’t think I would take a dive into it, it is quite beautiful to look at. Start your day at Geneva State Park, and don’t forget to pack your towels, sunscreen, and a good book. Bring a picnic lunch, too, and soak up the sun watching the waves coming in from the lake. After relaxing at the beach for a few hours, head over to Lake Road for food, drinks, and entertainment. For family fun, stop at the Adventure Zone for mini-golf, bumper boats, and go-carts. You can also rent bikes, golf carts, and surrey limos. To sample some of the area’s best vino, grab a map and choose your destinations. I recommend Ferrante Winery, Chalet Debonne Vineyard, and The Lakehouse Inn & Winery.  In the evening, park your car along the strand and grab a bite to eat at one of the many food stands that line the road, or pop over to my personal favorite, The Old Firehouse Winery, for a breathtaking view of the lake and live music nightly. Don’t miss their Ferris wheel and the wine slushies! Find your favorite wine and bring a bottle or two home to enjoy for the rest of the summer.

Bonus Geneva-on-the-Lake Sites
Eddie’s Arcade (on Lake Road)
Laurello Vineyards
Old Mill Winery

Cleveland, Ohio

While you could easily visit their amazing visitor’s page, I thought I would highlight some of my favorite things to do while in Cleveland. Since Brian and I love going to zoos, the first place I would go is the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo & Aquarium, featuring The Rainforest and the new African Elephant Crossing. It doesn’t matter how many times or how many different zoos I go to, I’ll always take pictures of the penguins and the bears. They’re just too cute. After a hot morning and afternoon wandering around the zoo, head over to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a uniquely “Cleveland” experience. Nowhere else in the world can you find such an expansive collection of rock n’ roll memorabilia and learn so much about the music and it’s roots. See tour costumes, handwritten lyrics, and other belongings of your favorite musicians and watch films featuring all of the inductees. In the evening, find dinner and drinks in the East 4th Street entertainment district. I prefer the House of Blues for dinner — their cornbread is nothing short of incredible — but there are plenty of great little restaurants in the area, including Flannery’s Pub and the Corner Alley Bar & Grill.

Bonus Cleveland Sites
The Christmas Story House
CLE Clothing, Co. <– Stop here! The shirts are brilliant!
West Side Market
Great Lakes Brewing Company

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ok, so this one isn’t necessarily in Ohio, but I live within 45 minutes of Pittsburgh, hence why I’ve always been a Steelers fan over the Browns. Recently, the city appeared as part of Gotham City in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, and I won’t pretend that I didn’t get more than a little excited to see Bill Cowher’s face on the sidelines during the Heinz Field scene. I must insist that you take the Fort Pitt tunnel entrance into the city. There’s no other way to arrive, as Pittsburgh truly is the only city with an entrance, and it blows me away every time. Start at the Phipps Conservatory and immerse yourself in the beautiful botanical wonderland, featuring art glass hand-blown by Dave Chihuly. For lunch, make your way over to Oakland and stop in at Primanti Bros. for one of their famous sandwiches.  Take in the architecture of the University of Pittsburgh and other universities in the area as you head to the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History. Admission gives you access to Dinosaurs in Their Time, the Hall of Ancient Egypt, Monet’s ”Water Lilies,” the stunning Hall of Architecture (can you sense a pattern here?). Cross the river to Station Square for dinner at Bar Louie, and at sunset, take the Duquesne Incline to the observation deck for the most beautiful view of Pittsburgh.

Bonus Pittsburgh Sites
Warhol Museum
Carnegie Science Center, IMAX, Laser Shows, and USS Requin
The Mattress Factory Art Museum
Pittsburgh Public Theater <– Always check for Student ID discounts!

While I could go on for days about the cool things to do in Pittsburgh, I really recommend checking out this link for lots of free ways to explore the city. Let me know if you’d like more ideas about where to go!

Locals, did I miss anything? Have you been to any of these places? Add your must-see attractions in the comments, or give me the daycation of your city!

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DIY Braided Strap Tank Top

15 Jul T-Shirt Refashion: The Finished Product

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a DIY tutorial on this blog. The last one was how to revamp a pair of plain Jane high heels into something a little more fabulous. This time, I’ll show you how to make an item from your t-shirt surplus a little cuter and much more suitable for hot summer days. (In Ohio, that’s all we’ve had lately.) If you’re anything like me, you have drawers full of “free” t-shirts from college or high school. I’m pretty sure that t-shirts were the currency of the realm during my undergrad, getting a new shirt for every major event in which I participated. Many of those t-shirts are being transformed into a quilt as a sort of souvenir for my years at YSU. I’d be further along in the project, but I didn’t realize how tedious it was to iron on interfacing to the backs of each of the quilt squares. I went through half of them and quit to start on a new craft project. It will be finished this summer, though, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

I also have a lot of t-shirts that I’ve picked up along the way from different things. Concerts, travel, or even a random wandering through Goodwill… I’ve found some pretty cool shirts. I really only wear t-shirts to work out, but lately, it’s been too hot to wear a t-shirt with sleeves, and it gets annoying to have to push them up every twenty steps or so. Sometimes, I like the graphic on the shirt, but wish I could wear it under a cardigan (the basic staple of my wardrobe) without the bulk of sleeves. Taking those t-shirts and making them into cute tank tops easily takes care of both of those problems.

This step-by-step tutorial should take about an hour or less, with very little sewing involved. You’ll want to use a baggy shirt in your size or a shirt one size larger than what you normally wear.

Step 1.

Lay the shirt out on a flat surface. Cut the sleeves off just outside of the seam. Measure about 2 inches down from the bottom of the collar, and make a small mark. Starting at the sides of the collar, cut down to the mark in a “V” shape through both sides of the t-shirt.

Step 2.

On the front of the t-shirt, use the bottom of the “V” as a guide. Draw a horizontal line straight across the bottom of the “V” from sleeve to sleeve. Flip the shirt over and cut each shoulder section into thirds. Stop when you reach the same level as the bottom of the “V” on this side (the back) of the shirt.

Step 3.

Pull on each of the strips to stretch it out. The edges will roll in a bit, but that’s ok. Braid one set of three strips and sew the strips together at the end to secure them. Repeat on the other side. At this point, I stretched the braids out a bit too, just to keep the length.

Step 4.

To do this step, I put on a tank top I already like and put this shirt on over that one so I could find where I like the straps to fall. On me, that’s about 10-11 inches apart. Pin the straps where you want them to be. Sew one strap securely onto the inside of the t-shirt towards the top. Repeat on the other side. It should look fairly tank-top-y by now.

Step 5.

Using scrap material from the “V”s you cut out or from the sleeves, cut a strip about an inch and a half wide by four inches long. Wrap this strip tightly around the area where you connected the strap to the t-shirt to cover it and make it look a bit neater. Sew the strip to itself on the back of the braid so it’s on the inside of the tank top and not easily visible. Do the same thing on the other braid. You’re done!

This is my sister, Carmen. Thanks, Carmen!

The top may roll a bit, and you can feel free to fold it over and hem it, but it’s not necessary. That’s the great thing about t-shirt material. The tank top does a cool drape-fold type thing in the back where the braids start.

Give this refashion a try and let me know how it goes for you! I’d love to see a picture of your refashion!

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Making a Symphony Out of Science and Making Learning Fun

9 Jul

It’s been a while. Summer, weddings, and Caribbean vacations will do that though. But, that’s no excuse. So I’m back! Miss me? Haha.

One of the main reasons that I’ve been MIA for the last month is that I’m on the job hunt, and every time I use my computer I feel that I need to be searching for jobs and not blogging. And every time I think about blogging I feel kind of guilty. But, I feel that I applied for an acceptable number of jobs today, and as I’m bored at the moment, I’m taking some time to pen the blog post that I’ve been thinking about for a couple weeks.

If you haven’t realized, I’m a nerd. I mean, I have a Master’s degree in History for Heaven’s sake. If that doesn’t qualify as one of the pillars of all that is nerdy, I don’t know what does.

Well, actually….I think this post will cement just how nerdy I can be.

History, social studies, grammar, and literature were always my strong suits in school. Math and science — not so much. But, that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t interested in those two subjects. For example, I wanted to be an astronaut for most of my childhood, then amended that to wanting to be an aerospace engineer who designed the next space shuttle. I quickly determined, however, that I could never be either of those things because, like I said, math and science simply didn’t agree with me.

Despite my shortcomings in those subjects, I’ve maintained a hobby-level interest in science — especially in the study of outer space and its proper, related subjects of astronomy and physics. I keep up with the new theories, love Stephen Hawking and Brian Greene, read books on black holes and string theory. But, it’s all very complicated and I would be lying if I said that I completely understand it.

Now, I’m sure this all sounds like pure intellectual insanity. It does even to me. But, there’s something about the subject that enthralls me.

It’s about learning what lies in the wider world beyond us, about how it’s almost impossible to fathom that we are seven billion people living on this one tiny planet, circling this small to average size star, in a solar system, in one small part of a large galaxy, that is an even smaller part of a huge universe.

Our planet, our universe is an amazing place. It is awe-inspiring.

The best thing about it though, is that you don’t even need to be a nerd like me to grasp its awesomeness, or appreciate its beauty.

And you don’t need to be a nerd to learn about the universe, its parts, or the forces that hold it together.

I recently discovered something fascinating on YouTube: a series of videos called the Symphony of Science. The Symphony of Science is not just on YouTube. In reality, it is a musical project created and produced by musician John D. Boswell who aims to “deliver scientific knowledge and philosophy in musical form.

In his videos, Boswell takes clips of well known scientists from various television documentaries and programs and strings them together to present  short yet engaging “lessons” on various scientific subjects. But, these aren’t just dry video compilations of interviews. No. Boswell then sets the videos to music and auto tunes all of the clips, creating a musical lesson that leaves you replaying the videos over and over again.

I wish science class had been like this in school.

Up to this point there are 15 music videos, which are available on YouTube or on Boswell’s website. Most are related to outer space, physics or astronomy and heavily feature scientists like Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michio Kaku, and Brian Cox. Others are concerned with the animal kingdom and life on Earth and feature other scientists like David Attenborough and Jane Goodall.

Here’s a sample of some of the videos:

1. “A Glorious Dawn” – the first video in the series and probably the best of them all.

 

2. “The Quantum World” – Morgan Freeman helps explain the forces of the universe.

 

3. “The Unbroken Thread” – the beauty of life on Earth and our interconnectedness.

 

4. “We Are Star Dust” – the universe exists in us.

 

So, what do you think? Do you need to be a nerd to appreciate science? To appreciate the universe around us?

Watch the videos. Learning can be fun.

Besides, it’s okay to be a nerd sometimes.

That way you can say:

DISCLAIMER: All Symphony of Science compilations are owned by John D. Boswell. All clips used within those compilations are the property of the programs from which he collected clips.

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