Paper Pizza: introverts

Pizza Flower | Podcast Launch

12:00 PM
By Kenzie
8 Comments

*waves frantically and enthusiastically* Oh my gosh, hi!! ...I can't believe I haven't posted since last year.

Wild, right?

I know a lot of peeps enter the new year with goals and aspirations for all the things they want to accomplish, and I try to do the same... But there's one thing that I'm starting to live by and that is to do what I can and be okay with it.

And since I'm going back to school (hence new obligations and pressures) and there are always so many projects that I want to work on... I need to be a little more careful with the expectations I put on myself.

But there is one thing I've been working on...

I HAVE A PODCAST!

This is something I thought about doing but never thought I'd actually go through with. But thanks to Rosie (from Two Point Perspective), we now have one together! And I am so excited.

Introducing Pizza Flower

A play off the pizza flour you bake with but this one is defined as me (pizza) and Rose (flower).

What you should expect

Our motto is happy vibes and deep souls. Which means we intend to discuss topics centering around positive and inspirational subjects from our perspective (deep souls).

What we want to accomplish

We want to approach these topics by looking at them from a different perspective (aka how the INFJ views them) and fully immerse ourselves in the discussion.

BASICALLY, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ART, CREATIVITY, INTROVERSION, AND BOOKS.

All the things that set my soul on fire.

Where you can find us

The main platform we will be publishing our podcast on will be YouTube. That way you can join in on the conversation, too! Leave us a comment and maybe we'll mention it in our next episode.

And don't forget to check out our aesthetic board on Pinterest! We are super visual people.

Our Official Website

YouTube

SoundCloud

Why January 14th?

We started talking about doing this sometime in December, I believe? So we knew we wanted to launch it in the new year, but we picked the 14th because that is when Rosie and I met 7 years ago. o-o Crazy, right?

Now we're here, talking about all the things we didn't know about ourselves in the beginning whilst learning even more about each other. And we want you to join us in the conversation.

TALK TO ME

What is something you have always wanted to do and are finally doing it? DO YOU HAVE A PODCAST, TOO?? If so, link it to me baby. I want to listen. I REALLY HOPE YOU LIKE WHAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YOU. You have no idea how happy my soul is by doing this. I am SO thrilled for y'all to see what is to come.

p.s. Don't forget to check out my friend, Anna's podcast (it's all about books and I'm kinda in love). And while you're at it, sign up for my friend, Vanessa's wellness newsletter. You won't regret it.

blogging

Inside an INFJ's Mind | collab with Vanessa

12:00 PM
By Kenzie
12 Comments

Whoa whoa whoa, long time no see, eh? I have perfectly reasonable excuses as to why I have not published a blog post in almost a month. One of them includes going away for a super duper top secret mission (you will find out one day!) and the other includes being too overwhelmed to actually get on my laptop. So, like I said, perfectly reasonable. But anyhow...

Vanessa and I did a collab a while back about bloggers and all the things we do that you don't know about. We had so much fun chatting and relating to one another while working on that one so we thought we'd do it again! But this time with our personality type.

The mysterious, contradicting, but rare INFJ!

If you're not familiar as to what an "INFJ" is, it is a MBTI personality type. And if you aren't sure what that is... You can go here to learn more!

We gathered up some topics for us to discuss but before we get into them, you must know... We are not directing this post to ONLY INFJs! Of course, if anyone can relate or wants to share their opinion, please feel free to join in on the conversation!

But let's also explore a little bit of the inner chambers of the-- *insert spoopy music here* INFJ.

INSIDE AN INFJ'S MIND

How We Look At The World

Vanessa: As one big challenge. Are we talking about the world and all it’s people or the world and beautiful sights it has to offer? I think that the world is a place where you’ll find a little bit of everything. Good, bad and ugly and you can try to hide from all the ugly (I am guilty of trying to do this) but you won’t see the beautiful unless you step out of your door. I’m always telling myself it’ll be a challenge to get out there and be myself but it’ll be worth it because I’ll grow. I enjoy my home and the internet, okay?

Kenzie: I like to look at it from the outside as if I’m peeking into a snowglobe. For someone who has always had a lingering fear of the world, I do see it a deep and beautiful perspective. The world itself and the people in it inspires me... It’s like listening to a song that makes you feel like your heart is about to burst. It can be sad but also wonderful in so many ways.

Meeting An INFJ

Vanessa: I think one of the biggest misconceptions about INFJs is that we are shy and that’s all. Shy: doesn’t have a lot to say, won’t open up. That’s only entirely true... We are quiet at first until we find comfy grounding. Once we find we are comfortable with someone we will open up and share all of our deepest secrets with you. But note this is only if we find you trustworthy and for me that doesn’t happen to be a lot of people.

Otherwise, you’ll probably be a cared about acquaintance to us. We’ll listen to whatever you have going on in your life and you’ll learn little things about us. INFJs make great listeners since we care so much about everyone.

Kenzie: When you first approach an INFJ, the first thing you will realize is that we are very quiet. I honestly feel so downgraded when people call me “shy” because I’m really not! I’m constantly thinking which means sometimes I might forget to speak... INFJs notice things others may not. We take notes and listen. We are the listeners. And sometimes we might feel more comfortable around certain people over others. We are definitely more talkative and open to people we are close to over people we just met. It takes time to get under our shell but once you do, it is so worth it. ;)

Our Feelings

Vanessa: WHERE DO I EVEN START? Feelings are a hard thing for me to deal with and explain. Complex intense feelings is the best way I can explain them. When I feel something I feel it intensely. Happy is much more than happy it’s joyful, content, radiant, full of life, adventurous, and other things all in one. The same thing applies to darker feelings, making those times a real ride.

Kenzie: VANESSA KNOWS WHAT’S UP. INFJs are very intuitive and sometimes we may feel something so intensely and not know why, exactly. Trying to understand my feelings is like putting a very, very complicated puzzle together. We love being understood, so when someone can actually “get” what we are feeling, it’s the best comfort feeling ever.

Why Our Brains Are Always Talking

Vanessa: Because our mouths can barely do it so our minds must take the stage instead?

Kenzie: BWHAHAHA. Vanessa pretty much just summed us up. If we’re very silent, it’s most likely that our brains are having an intense party filled with every little thought you could possibly think of in such a short span of time. We think A LOT. We’re in our heads probably 100.5% of the time, either daydreaming about the future or thinking of all the different ways we could have done THE THING. The downside of being in our heads all the time is that we end up in a spiral of thoughts, leading to none other than the imperial doom of #overthinking.

Vanessa: YES! Couldn’t have summed that up better!

How We Deal With Decisions That Result In Change

Vanessa: Let me talk about decisions INFJs make that involve others. We are very sensitive towards others which means when it comes to making a decision we tend to think about EVERYONE'S feelings. We truly want everyone to be happy so making those choices can be a back and forth battle between what will make others happy and what you think is right in the situation. We care too much for our own good and sometimes don’t realize we can’t make everyone happy.

Kenzie: I really like your take on this question, Vanessa. Initially, I was going to answer this by going on about how I fear change so my decisions are usually based on that fear lingering in the back of my mind... But I love how you said that our decisions are usually based on what will make others happy and that is so true. We typically look at how the decision will benefit the overall group of people rather than just ourselves. We care so deeply for others and I think it’s because we carry so much empathy with us. Many INFJs reflect the emotions of others- especially me. If someone is sad, I start to reflect those feelings due to my ability to feel for them. Thus, I feel like unintentionally strive to make others happy so we can be happy. (Notice how I totally went off topic from that question?)

Things We Wish We Were Better At

Vanessa: Dealing with emotions, talking to people, stepping outside of my house with confidence (kind of kidding… not really.) For real, a goal of mine has been trying to do things without thinking too much about them. Maybe that’s an anxious mind thing but I struggle with doing things without overthinking them.

Kenzie: This may not be because I’m an INFJ but I wish I was better at accepting the things I cannot control. I beat myself up when I think, “Maybe I could have done THIS to prevent THAT from happening.”

Another thing I wish I was better at would be maintaining my emotions and not letting others control the way I feel. If someone looks at me the wrong way, I end up thinking about it for the rest of the day. It’s just how I am.

How We Perceive Relationships & Love

Vanessa: I’m looking for “The One.” and if you aren’t it I’m moving on!! It’s as simple as that. As soon as I see a red flag or something that doesn’t match up to what I am looking for I might as well break loose and move on. To me there’s no point in sticking around if I don’t like how things are turning out. Honestly, I just want a fairy tale romance which is why I think I am going to stick to loving the characters in books. Kenzie are you with me?

Kenzie: I am totally with you, Vanessa. I’m a hopeless romantic so if my love story isn’t an actual love story then... *shrugging girl emoji* But while we are on the topic of love and relationships, I have to add that I’m the type of person who believes in being friends first. I feel like I have to know the person before pursuing them in any way. Another thing I look for in someone is how they perceive the world. I want someone who looks at the world the way I do. I need our souls to feel connected. Having someone who understands me (because, let’s face it, I’m extremely complicated) would be an a+ for me.

How We Take Care Of Ourselves

Vanessa: Life is a lot for anyone! There’s so much to handle and every little move takes thought and effort. Taking care of myself is about doing what makes me happy. That’s taking days before I get overwhelmed, pre-planning my commute, waking up early and enjoying my morning. Slowing down helps. I also have a made a habit of not doing anything school/work related after 8pm. My mind does not work at night! Ice cream and some journaling is a favorite when it comes to self care. No one said taking care of ourselves was going to be easy. (:

Kenzie: Sometimes I’ll bury emotions inside me until one day I just snap. And that’s not good... So there are some things that I will do to take care of myself so that doesn’t happen. When I’m feeling anxious or overwhelmed, I usually try to take a step back and turn away from everything for a little bit. Sometimes if I’ve been out in a social environment for too long, I’ll feel a little temperamental so that’s when I basically put myself to bed. I’ll give myself some alone time (something INFJs really value) and I’ll do something I enjoy doing such as reading a cute, fluffy read or the webcomic I’m currently obsessed with. Doing those little things such as having a cup of tea, getting a little more sleep, or relaxing really does help. For me, it’s all about the little things. We are like plants. We still need our sunshine and water, even when we think we’ve had enough of it.

Thank you so much for doing this with me, Vanessa! You know I'm always down to having one of those #deepconvos. ;) I am seriously super excited to do another collab with you! Everyone, please go give Vanessa some love because she is super inspiring and a deep soul. You will instantly feel a sense of comfort while reading her posts. <3

TALK TO ME DUDE

Are you an INFJ? If not, what is your MBTI type? COULD YOU RELAT TO ANY OF THE SUBJECTS WE DISCUSSED? Do you have a different take on them? LET US KNOW! What do you think about relationships and dating? How do you take care of yourself? I can't wait to chat with you!

xx Kenzie

p.s. i did this photoshoot such a long time ago and i'm finally breaking out the photos and it feels so weird. o-o

concerts

An Introvert's Survival Guide to Concerts

12:00 PM
By Kenzie
12 Comments

Back at the beginning of the summer* I went to two concerts in the same week. Mind you, it was my very first concert experience(s) so I had no idea what to expect. I'm an introvert who hates crowds or big social-like events that are loud and full of people, so those types of situations are not ideal for me.

*lol I make it sound like summer is over HELP I DON'T WANT IT TO END

Does anyone else ever feel that way?

If you do have no fear! Because now that I'm the concert expert* I am going to give you some helpful tips on how you can survive your first concert experience like me and talk about what to expect if you haven't been to one like Before Summer Kenzie.

*I hope you read that with a flourish of sarcasm.

AN INTROVERT'S SURVIVAL GUIDE TO CONCERTS

As you know, I got to see Imagine Dragons (featuring Grace VanderWaal) and Harry Styles in early June (it felt so surreal, my dude). I was lucky to have two really great concert experiences (best nights EVER). I did have to wait in line for a little bit at Imagine Dragons and we did have to pay an outrageous amount for semi-reasonable parking but thank goodness we had a VIP package and we were able to get in stress-free. So, typically, it's all according to the venue. At Harry Styles, we didn't have to wait in line AT ALL. We didn't have to pay for parking either! It was so laid-back and easy peasy lemon squeezy. And even though both shows had completely different vibes, they were amazing in their own way.

So, I guess you can say that I got lucky. But there are some things you should do as a form of self-care before going to a concert in order to have your best and fullest experience...

Put your introvert in the back seat.

It's time to let your inner extrovert shine! And what I mean by that is to let yourself sing at the top of your longs and dance even if everyone is watching-- which is something your introverted self may not care for... But the night is yours. Let yourself be completely and wildly free.

Take care of yourself.

I knew that loud music and being surrounded by thousands of people would give me The Ultimate Headache so I made sure to take ibuprofen before the show started and drank lots of water (not too much though- I didn't want to miss anything). If you are well taken care of (i.e. fed, watered, dressed nicely) you will enjoy yourself so much better. I brought a flannel with me to both shows just in case I got cold but I didn't end up needing it because I was too bUSY DANCING AND SINGING LIKE THE CRAZY FAN I AM! ~(•-•)~

Make friends!

Waiting in line can be overwhelming and full of anxious vibes. You're either too hot from standing in the sun or too cold from standing in the rain. Someone might have cut in front of you or bumped your elbow with their metal lawn chair. But you have to remember: Everyone is there for the SAME reason you are. You're about to see one of your favorite artists LIVE. This is a monumental moment, my dude. So... Smile at the person next to you. Offer to take a picture for the group of friends over there. Compliment someone on their outfit (they probably thought long and hard about it!). Ask someone if they're as excited as you are!

Afterall, you probably won't ever see these people again.

My sisters and I asked this group of girls to take our picture for us and we offered to take one for them. They were so sweet and giddy and eager about the whole thing. We never saw them again but there's nothing better than that feeling of connecting with a stranger because you both are experiencing this moment together.

I remember when Imagine Dragons started playing some of their throwback songs and I noticed there was a guy behind me, standing in his seat as well, singing along to Demons like it was his anthem. It really took me back to when I was 16 and sitting in my room, writing while listening to the Night Visions album... I never would have thought I was going to actually be seeing them in concert one day. I never thought I'd actually touch Dan Raynold's bicep. •-•

Yes, that actually happened. My mom practically shoved me at him. His arm was really soft.

Plan it right.

I know sometimes the best experiences are unplanned... But if this is your first time going to one, you need to time it with some sort of plan in mind.

Since we knew that parking was going to be pretty crazy for Imagine Dragons (the venue had a lot of complaints the night before), we made sure to get there two hours before the gates opened. For Harry Styles, we had to drive over 5 hours* so beforehand, we decided not to worry about making it to the opening act and get there a little bit after the venue opens since our seats were reserved. With that mindset, we felt more at ease evEN THOUGH WE MADE IT JUST IN TIME TO SEE HARRY STYLES GET READY BEFORE THE SHOW.

* why yes, we did get home at 6am.

And yes, he did end up waving to us. *insert teenage Kenzie sobs*

So, I think planning it in the sense of knowing how much time you'll need for parking and the possibility of waiting in line, going to the bathroom, getting snacks, etc., would make your experience feel way less overwhelming.

Have fun!

There is honestly no way to describe what it is like to go to a real concert. There's a rush of adrenaline that flows through you the moment before the artist gets on stage and the crowd just goes insane. You feel as though you've entered a whole other universe when you're singing along to your favorite song and standing on top of your seat and time no longer exists.

I hope everyone is able to have that feeling, no matter what type of experience it is.

TALK TO ME!

Are you an introvert who loves concerts LIKE ME? Have you ever been to one? DO YOU GET OVERWHELMED WITH BIG CROWDS? Which do you think was the most helpful tip? DID I TELL YOU THAT I TOUCHED DAN REYNOLDS'S BICEP?? Thanks so much for reading, friend!

xx Kenzie

awkward

Untamingly Introverted | What You Don't Know About Introverts

3:48 PM
By Kenzie
0 Comments

Hey, guys. So, um, I've been keeping something from you. I've had this blog for four years now and it just doesn't seem fair that I've held this in for so long. So, I think it's time that I've shared this with you. Okay, so here it goes...
*deep breath*
I'm...
An introvert.
But you probably already knew that.
But in case you didn't...
I am an introvert.
And there are things I do that maybe other introverts (or introverted extroverts) can relate to.
What is an introvert, you ask? If you Google the term, the definition that pops up is "a shy, reticent person". Oh, but there is so much more to that.

Introverts value their internal environments. This is the place where they get their energy from. As an introvert, I am constantly thinking about what I will be doing in my alone time.

Introverts Like To Be Productive

This doesn't have to apply to everyone, but I feel as though a majority of introverts value their productiveness, and they like to do it alone.
Me: *being productive*
Person: ~~Hey, need some help?~~ Hey, I see you're working really hard at being productive right now, so I'm just going to leave you alone to accomplish your goal of extreme productiveness. We shall chat later (after you're finished being productive).
Me: *thumbs up*

Introverts Can Get Lonely

Of course, none of these things relate to everyone. Each person is different, extroverted or introverted. However, I feel a certain stereotype that could get loose. Just because introverts prefer to be alone, does not mean they don't get lonely! In fact, (and I think I read this somewhere) introverts tend to crave a stimulating relationship with someone. Perhaps not with a group of people, but they like to have a few peeps around.

Me: Hey, can you sit with me while I work on this?

Person: Sure!

Me: But pretend you're not there.

Person: Okay...?

Me: Thx.

We Tend to Love With Every Ounce of Our Soul

I don't know about you guys, but I tend to get emotionally attached to people...

Person: *holds door open for me*

Me: Our firstborn will be named Noah Ryder and we will have 12 dogs.

I'm sure extroverts love deeply as well! But if any introverts can relate to this, lemme know.

Yes, We Like to Talk. No, We're not Going to Text First

I don't know about you, but when I talk about something I love to talk about (books), there's no shutting me up. You see, introverts can be talkative. I mean, we're not totally reclusive and anti-social (those people are typically serial killers). We can be friendly! But I will say this, I'm definitely 100% not the first texter type of person.

Me: We have so much in common.

Me: *doesn't message said person whatsoever*

Me: I don't understand why we don't talk more.

I just simply refuse to be the first text, and I don't do it on purpose.

We Like to Travel

Sometimes I just crave to travel. Somewhere. Anywhere. And it's weird because I love to be home. But I do believe introverts can crave this sort of need to be out in the world. I know I'd love to just discover new places all while being invisible to everyone in it.
Me: *wants to go places and meet new people*
Also me: *doesn't want anyone to know I exist*

Of Course, I'd Love to Come! As long as I Can Stand in a Corner and Observe

Yes, we want to be invited to the party! Yes, we want to go out for coffee! And try on dresses at the mall! But once we're out, there's a certain craving lingering in our minds that says "I cannot wait to get back home".
Me: *gets out of house and has fun*
Also Me: *thinks about what I want to do when I'm alone*

Our Rooms Are Our Sanctuaries

Parent: Go to your room.
Me: Finally.

There are things introverts do that surprise you. There are things introverts do that surprise themselves and make them question "am I really introverted?" (but as soon as you get home, you know you're fine).

We Like to be Around Extroverts

My one-year-younger-sister is an ENFJ, which makes me laugh because I am an INFJ. And what screams "sisters" more than that combination? Anyways. We're like two peas in a pod. You want her, you get me. You want me, you get her. But the thing is, introverts need to have an extrovert around to maintain the balance of nature.

Talk to me!

Tell me some things that you do as an introvert or extrovert! Can you relate to some of these? What kind of pizza do you like? Are your socks pink? Hi.

But there is one thing I've been working on...

Introducing Pizza Flower

What you should expect

What we want to accomplish

Where you can find us

Why January 14th?

TALK TO ME

The mysterious, contradicting, but rare INFJ!

INSIDE AN INFJ'S MIND

How We Look At The World

Meeting An INFJ

Our Feelings

Why Our Brains Are Always Talking

Things We Wish We Were Better At

How We Perceive Relationships & Love

How We Take Care Of Ourselves

TALK TO ME DUDE

Are you an INFJ? If not, what is your MBTI type? COULD YOU RELAT TO ANY OF THE SUBJECTS WE DISCUSSED? Do you have a different take on them? LET US KNOW! What do you think about relationships and dating? How do you take care of yourself? I can't wait to chat with you!

xx Kenzie

p.s. i did this photoshoot such a long time ago and i'm finally breaking out the photos and it feels so weird. o-o

Does anyone else ever feel that way?

AN INTROVERT'S SURVIVAL GUIDE TO CONCERTS

Put your introvert in the back seat.

Take care of yourself.

Make friends!

Plan it right.

Have fun!

TALK TO ME!

Are you an introvert who loves concerts LIKE ME? Have you ever been to one? DO YOU GET OVERWHELMED WITH BIG CROWDS? Which do you think was the most helpful tip? DID I TELL YOU THAT I TOUCHED DAN REYNOLDS'S BICEP?? Thanks so much for reading, friend!

xx Kenzie

Introverts Like To Be Productive

Introverts Can Get Lonely

We Tend to Love With Every Ounce of Our Soul

Yes, We Like to Talk. No, We're not Going to Text First

We Like to Travel

Of Course, I'd Love to Come! As long as I Can Stand in a Corner and Observe

Our Rooms Are Our Sanctuaries

We Like to be Around Extroverts

Talk to me!

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