Special Projects

I sometimes like to embark on creative challenges, as a way to marry my curiosity, love of gameplay, and desire to raise awareness about causes I care about. Here are a few of them.

50 STATES BOOK CLUB

For this challenge, I set out to read one book from each US state. In preparation, I asked my followers: “Which book best captures the personality of your state?” Hundreds of suggestions poured in, along with requests that I start a 50 States Book Club. And so I did, with members from across the country that meet remotely each month.

EXTREME COUPONING

For this challenge, I aimed to do a full year of extreme couponing, but in the end, gave up after only two months. I wrote an essay about my experience, entitled “I saved $801.23 in two months and all I had to do was spend $1475.17.” I’m hoping to publish this essay in a larger collection at some point.

101 DAY DRESS CHALLENGE

For this challenge, I wore the same little black cotton dress every day for 101 consecutive days, never styling it the same way twice. Each week, I posted photos of what I wore to my followers, along with facts about the fast fashion industry’s impact on the environment. At the same time, I asked them to name their favorite environmental nonprofits, all of which I donated to at the end of my 101 days.