Entries Tagged 'Inspiration' ↓

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(270/365) @ driving

i thought about a series of items and people repeatedly this weekend. one of the items was this blog.

(271/365) @ chili's

i take all of these photos to share. so i post them on flickr. my flickr feeds to facebook now, and i post my photo-of-the-day to twitter. so i’m sharing photos and friends are seeing my photos, but what i really, really want is to share them here.

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so i think i need to create another blog or two. one for my random everyday life things, one for my crazy adventures (i’m so far behind), and one for design and inspiration to be a designer (i got two new books this last week).

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i’ve been looking to blogs like the pioneer woman or dooce for their set-up and how they manage things. i also read raymi and covet the simplicity of her posts and blog style (anything goes, post all photos, forget things/remember things, write like you’re gossiping with a friend). so i guess i’m conflicted on how i want to use this little pork chop cutlet of the web.

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it’s somehow already autumn and for about a second a couple months ago i was full of motivation. then i went on vacation to new england. when i came back, i didn’t really want to be back. it was just so great going from town to town, stopping where we wanted and doing what we wanted and eating really great seafood. we got back to minneapolis and suddenly summer was over and the fun had stopped and my calendar was empty and i was broke and it was cold enough in my house that my cats are on me all of the time. in the span of my 6 vacation days, things in this fair city slowed to a seeming halt. (though work got busy, but that’s something else.)

(274/365) @ parma 8200

i guess it’s becoming more and more okay that it’s autumn and soon it will be winter. this happens every year, i think. i complain about how it seems like other minnesotans forget how to drive in the snow (and rain, and at 8 a.m., and when the sun is shining, and when there’s a game…); i guess i forget how to keep up my spirits in the autumn?

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luckily there are occasions such as happy hour (“happy tower” at parma 8200, though i’m not really sure why) and the minnesota renaissance festival to ease me through the transition.

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also, the sky has been just incredibly lately. i spend too much time taking photos while i drive lately, maybe. i just can’t resistant purple and pink clouds!

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so i spent friday night watching chick flicks and thinking about my blog and knitting. early the next morning, vani and i went to the renaissance festival. of the 40 years of renfest, i would guess i’ve gone to about 10 of those years? not all sequentially. i went once or twice as a pre/early-teen, then a couple times as a snotty high schooler, and a few times during my college years, then i’ve gone the last three or four years… so, it’s a place i enjoy, obviously.

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always must have chicken and wild rice soup in a bread bowl. my own personal tradition. since i went with vani this year, i even got fresh ground pepper. (she carries it in her purse! because she’s a genius.)

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vani played an olde strategy game while i photographed chess pieces.

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(275/365) @ minnesota renaissance festival

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we enjoyed a turkey leg. geez, that thing was massive. tasty, though.

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and to offset the photo of vani digging into said turkey leg, here is a cute photo of her wearing a bodice from felix needleworthy. i always stop by the shop and say “hi” to estelle.

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vilification tennis is hilarious. i introduced the show to vani as jason introduced it to me at last year’s fest.

@ minnesota renaissance festival

this dude was making little glass critters.

@ minnesota renaissance festival

we stopped by to ooh and aah at twig the fairy, but she was out and about. we borrowed her backdrop for a memory moment.

@ minnesota renaissance festival

this dude again.

@ minnesota renaissance festival

@ minnesota renaissance festival

this camel is peeing. vani thought that if i tweeted that i was watching a camel pee it would be too much information, so i got the camera out instead. (?)

@ minnesota renaissance festival

i bought a pretty gypsy-style bodice because i want to be a gypsy girl. i’ve got a whole lot of costume left to develop, though.

@ minnesota renaissance festival

@ minnesota renaissance festival

i didn’t see very many fairies this year. maybe it was too cold of a weekend? or maybe they were extra sneaky.

@ minnesota renaissance festival

glass blowing! i had a prime seat.

@ minnesota renaissance festival

@ minnesota renaissance festival

i was all: how much?! but there was still a long, finishing process for the vase to go through. after we watched the demo, we went through the shop again with open eyes. all amazed at the beautiful. i wanted to buy something but anything i thought was worth buying and that i would use was well over $50. if i hadn’t bought the bodice, would i have bought some glass? hmm…

glass blowing demo was by david tate.

@ minnesota renaissance festival

@ minnesota renaissance festival

post-festival, i laid on my couch all night and watched john hughes movies. because that’s how i roll.

@ chez daniel

this morning i brought kristi to chez daniel to help me spend a groupon. i had read that the brunch was amazing, and i love a good brunch, so away we went. it was a weird little restaurant inside of hotel, so it was kind of hard to find at first. or maybe my hunger was blocking my direction skills. in any case, we got in, got seated, ordered coffee, and went to town on the buffet. all sorts of breakfast items, cheeses, pasta salads, plates upon plates of dessert, and a chocolate fountain! (i went in for a chocolate-dipped pineapple before bothering with anything else.) the mashed potatoes were among the most notable menu item.

(276/365) @ chez daniel

afterwards we went to ikea, where i wanted everything. mostly i want a new desk and desk chair and an expedit shelf with boxes for organizing stuff. i didn’t buy anything though: i told myself i have to clean out that second bedroom that i keep closed and ignore before i can even think about buying furniture i probably don’t need at this point in my life.

those idea houses really are full of genius ideas.

@ home

parting, unrelated note: sometimes i look in the mirror and admire my hair. i haven’t dyed it in years; all of my highlights are natural. my color is my own. i look in the mirror and wonder how i got to be so blonde. am i having more fun? maybe.

man, i miss summer, though.

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Strengths Finder 2.0

My friend, Mary, showed me this book last weekend. It sounded a lot like Myers-Briggs (INFJ), but more insightful. So, I went and got a book (in order to get an access code).

My Top 5 Strengths
Adaptability (I can “go with the flow”.)
Maximizer (I want to make great things better.)
Futuristic (I’m inspired by what could be…)
Learner (I want to continuously improve myself.)
Empathy (I can easily imagine myself in someone else’s shoes.)

Interesting results — and accurate, I think. Do you?

I especially appreciate that the book (and website) also give me an action plan on how to best use or develop these strengths, and how to work best with others who share these strengths.

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Why I Blog

As I continue to ponder my place in the blogging world — a world I love to get lost in — this quote resonates so closely to what I want to convey in my little corner of the world.

Because with all of this talk of social media and the miracle that it is for business (I use the word ‘miracle’ facetiously) and personal branding, at the end of the day these are human interactions. It is our humanity that moves the needle forward — a little at a time. With all of our tweets and status updates, pictures and connections, I want us to recognize that ‘transparency’ is just a buzz word. What we really want is honesty and authenticity and humanity and, even a little vulnerability. We are not connecting because we are fabulous. We are connecting because we are real. We are flawed. We NEED each other. We learn and grow from and support each other. We challenge each other. The tools have changed. There is more possibility for connection. The conversations might be bigger. But we are still perfectly imperfect humans.

Read the full article »

I really need to get more involved in the blogging community that surrounds me here in Minneapolis.

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Duluth for a Day

kristi and i wanted to get growlers and lay on a beach. so we went to duluth!

Hello, Lake Superior

we actually missed the correct exit in order to get to the beach. oops.

Bridging

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is duluth ever really warm and sunny?

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duluth is always scenic, at least.

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i imagine that countless people have gotten engaged on that boardwalk. i know at least one, i guess.

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giant beer at fitger’s brewhouse.

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i got a growler of starfire, yum!

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and then we decided to take a scenic drive up a very tall hill!

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i am constantly photographing flowers. they are just so photograph-able!

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on our way home we very nearly got smashed by a tornado. can you believe that! silly midwestern weather.

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Three Cheers for Turquoise

In case you haven’t heard, Pantone just announced that the color of the year for 2010 is turquoise!

Pantone is pleased to announce PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the Color of the Year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.

I’m quite a fan of the color.

Me in turquoise and grey

In many cultures, Turquoise is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that to many people, Turquoise represents an escape, taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting—even if it is only a fantasy.

Me in turquoise in Hawaii

Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.

Me in turquoise and green with Arbor Day cupcakes

If you need suggestions for a turquoise fix, go visit the House of Turquoise.

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