Justine Crowley
Bio
UX Designer/Internet Moderator/UX Writer/Author/Graphic Designer
http://justinecrowley.design/
http://smashwords.com/profile/view/JustineCrowley
Insta: @justysinuxdesign
linkedin.com/in/justinecrowley
Lives in Sydney, Australia. Loves life.
Stories (79/0)
I Was Invited To Give Up Dairy For An Entire Week: The Lowdown (Memoir)
My cheese has been moved (literally). There is no need to cry over spilt milk, because there really isn't any. It is canny how opportunities come to you when you ask some quality questions. Based on the title of this article; all of this is quite personal and intimate. Quitting dairy (going cold turkey on dairy) for nine days straight was no easy feat. It was all in the name of losing a bit of weight, as well as gaining a bit of moolah from a paid research project on the effects of consuming lactose on the digestive system in particular. Some really cool coin was offered as an incentive, as well as the golden opportunity to rise to yet another almost impossible challenge, and here we are.
By Justine Crowley2 months ago in Motivation
Capitalism On Both Ends Of The Stick: My Two Cents Worth
What this article is about, and is not about. This article highlights all sides of capitalism. It is a political and tender subject, yet needless to say, it is not a criticism or a complaint of any politician who was and is in power, as at the time of writing this. This article is about the system created by Adam Smith, author of The Wealth of Nations, and that the system as a whole is a complex machine; where creativity should (and I am not saying this lightly) trump over rigidity and linear ways of thinking. Again, what this article is about is sharing some recent perspectives of capitalism; both the joys and the constructive criticisms of such, of which some of these concepts could be quite personal in nature; simply to illustrate a point. It is not a full rundown or debate on this system; otherwise this article would be a thesis in and of itself; and quite frankly, I do not have the time or inclination for that right now. It is encouraging you to think a little deeper if you so choose to, in order to be aware, and to make your own decisions.
By Justine Crowley2 months ago in The Swamp
Valentines Day Is For Everyone (Really)
The point of the story is that many of us know how Valentines Day started. We all know that Valentines Day is on February the 14th. For those of you who are attached, loved up, and perhaps happily married; it is a chance to really tell your partner how you really feel. Then again, when it comes to being in a relationship of that kind; isn't every day Valentines Day? I mean, us humans have always had that need to be seen and heard, where according to relationships expert Dr Gary Chapman; we all have our own unique love language, in how we prefer to be loved. The spirit of this momentous day is all about gifts galore (thank you capitalism); yet what if your love language is not gifts, as in bouquets of flowers, chocolate fountains, and expensive meals? It really makes you stop and think as to what your love language is? You could have more than one of Dr Chapman's five love languages. It is great to know, because that is how you can communicate your needs to your partner. Valentines Day (if not any day of the week) is perfect for that. It is how you express love to that person. You and I know that love has no boundaries. #celebrateyourrelationship
By Justine Crowley2 months ago in Motivation
I Recently Drowned in the Surf, and I Was (Thankfully) Rescued.
2022 (the year that almost was, as at the time of writing this) is feeling more and more like a cracked record...especially with these article headings on Vocal Media. Yours truly is normally regarded as an eternal optimist - a glass half full kind of person; yet my recent holiday (not, as it mainly turned into a business trip) to Queensland, Australia literally turned my world upside down.
By Justine Crowley3 months ago in Lifehack
No Cabin Fever Anymore
We drove up the snowy, winding road towards the cozy A-frame cabin in the Snowy Mountains, all thanks to a quirky find on Airbnb. How could we (we as in Hamish and Lulu, a de-facto couple) get so lucky. If three is a crowd, Hamish and Lulu brought their Siberian Husky called Lara with them for the weekend in the snow.
By Justine Crowley4 months ago in Fiction
Interstate Travel for Family is Bittersweet
Being able to travel is a wonderful experience, while at the same time it can be rather frustrating. Having traveled interstate (and sometimes overseas) since 2006 after completing University (college in America); the time came to fly the friendly skies quickly thereafter. For some of us, flying interstate (and maybe even overseas) is the only option in order to spend some quality time with family during a busy holiday season (think Christmas, Easter, and even thanksgiving to name); or on any other self-announced holiday of choice, and despite the hijinks attached with such. I can speak for myself in saying that I was so grateful to have seen them, and the relevant family members echo such sentiments. My foster mother lives in a country town called Deniliquin, and it is right near Echuca along the Murray River; a place that was recently affected by the floods that continue to plague Australia. That town is an eight-hours drive from Sydney (where I live), and therefore it is not an easy adventure to plan in advance anymore. The easiest way is to fly to Melbourne in Victoria, and then catch a four-hour coach to get there, and back into New South Wales for that matter.
By Justine Crowley4 months ago in Journal
Looking at the High Inflationary Climate/Economy From Another Lens
You can slap me in the face on this article if you really want to. I have already written an article on Vocal Media, on some effective ways in which you can beat inflation; yet as much as it could be a little too much to swallow for some...you can still find your joie de vivre in a high inflationary climate. A couple of these ideas might resonate, or they might not. They could also ruffle your feathers. Take it or leave it as always. Please note, this is not solely an article on saving money, budgeting, or in making more money. I will share with you a handful of strategies in which you can take advantage of in these strange economic and high inflationary times, so that when the economy recovers (it will, at some point); you will find yourself in a happier position in life.
By Justine Crowley4 months ago in Lifehack
What Mrs Harris Going to Paris Teaches Us All
Thank you to Paul Gallico for writing the novel regarding the same in the first place. Set in London in 1957, a widowed cleaner by the name of Mrs Harris is a gentle soul who sometimes gets taken advantage of in life. Then again (spoiler) she has a few lucky wins in the end. When you stick the course, work hard, and never give up on your dreams despite a myriad of obstacles; you might (just might, or actually you will) come out on top at the end of the day. There were times where Mrs Harris wanted to throw in the towel, yet persistence paid. As well as having a little help from her support crew.
By Justine Crowley5 months ago in Geeks
Discovering Your True Values In Life
That's right, your personal values definitely shapes your destiny in some way, shape or form. They can be likened to your golden nest egg in life. That kingpin...maybe. It is human nature to be motivated and laser beamed focused towards those activities and areas of life that are highest on your personal values list or hierarchy. For example, you cannot hold an individual back from waking up at the crack of dawn in order to work out at the gym or go for a run; no different to a seven-year old playing video games for hours on end, with laser beam focus, while they complain of boredom when it comes to learning algebra in the classroom. What we focus our time, energies, and attention on all boils down to what we value the most in our life.
By Justine Crowley5 months ago in Lifehack
An Ideal Property Settlement Playlist
Change is a powerful thing, and that power is real and true when settlement day is here, whether you are the buyer or a seller in a real estate transaction. When yours truly purchased her very first property back in 2006; there was a 42 day wait from when the contracts were exchanged. The same was true when yours truly recently sold the same property; however that 42 days became 30 days. It does not matter, celebrations are still in order.
By Justine Crowley6 months ago in Beat
I Recently Sold a Home, and I Cried on Settlement Day.
This article is also equally as relevant to renters, of who need to move on from such a rental home for whatever reason. Reasons for leaving a home are not necessarily due to terrible experiences happening in your life. They also have nothing to do with having a shortfall of cash. Positive experiences are also causes of needing to move from living and/or owning any form of home (investment or otherwise), where ample memories that are unique to you have been created.
By Justine Crowley6 months ago in Lifehack