Brand Design Photography & Styling Clarity Consulting

nerdy me tid bits

Oh Mishka, a blogger gal pal and I were talking on Twitter and coincidently we were both typing up a “nerdy me” kind of post to share with our readers. I’m definitely a nerd and I think my readers should be aware of my weirdness.

The boy and I frequently say things like, “it’s ok. we can say that…we’re nerds”. Being openly nerdy allows you to say things like “by golly” and “who woulda thunk”, which are two amazing phrases.

Here’s some nerdy tid bits about me. Stop over at Michelle’s blog to read her list. Because I’m a nerd I can…

1. Sing Aladin by myself in the shower. Who doesn’t love the song Magic Carpet Ride?
2. Drive to work and add up all the speed limit signs. I hate math, so this little activity is an odd one. (50 mph + 65 mph + 55 mph)
3. Spend a whole day filling out Suduko puzzles. I’ve even graduated to using pens while filling out the numbers.
4. Wish Bill Nye was still on television!
5. Say “Television”
6. LOVE typography. I could stare at the nuances of Futura and Bauer Bodoni for hours. You don’t want to get into a debate with me why those two fonts are the best fonts EVER!
6. Use an entire pack of post it notes in one sitting. I like notes….lots of notes.
7. Have a Hello Kitty stamp set at my work desk that I randomly stamp papers with. A Hello Kitty stamp makes documents much more important. Did I also mention I have a desk gnome standing on my desk?
8. Make up words on the fly and use them to describe things. The good ones like fridgidoor and horizontical have hung around. (refrigerator door and something that is not quite horizontal, but not vertical either) For more info visit pruittvillefarms .

After writing this post I asked the boy what he thought was my nerdiest quality. His response was “giggle”. Does that make me nerdy???

If you create a “Nerdy Me” post I’d love to see them!

*I also wanted to thank all of my new readers that have stopped on over from Sometimes Sweet. I really appreciate your visit and all the comments you guys are leaving. Thank you!

quilt update

It’s been some time since I’ve updated you on my quilting process. It’s moving along at snail’s pace, but I want it to turn out perfect. Here’s what’s been going on this past month in quilt land.

1. I finally decided that I wanted to make the quilt big enough to wrap myself in it and not just a baby sized one to look at. I want this quilt to be used and loved.

2. I started cutting out all the fabric squares to make the quilt. I choose to use 3″ squares which I think is pretty standard size. These squares will later be turned into a gagillion triangles. I am a little more than half way done with this part and let me tell you…get a rotary cutter, for sure. (*must have sharp blade)

3. I’ve started to determine how I want to colors to be show in the quilt. I’ve chosen to make the base of the quilt a creamy white color with all the bright colored fabric triangle in a radiating pattern. I think this will be the best was for the pattern to show with so many different fabrics. Oh! Have I told you how much I love my fabric choices!!

4. Next step is to finish up all the cutting and lay all the squares out on the floor in the chosen pattern. I’ll then collect them up in the right order and start sewing. I’m nervous for this part because I’m definitely not a frequent sewing machine user.

5. I’ll keep you updated and I hope to report more progress soon. Lindsay over at Eileen Josephine has some killer quilting skillz. Check her out!

See my other quilting posts. Choose from below.
Deciding to Start
Choosing the Pattern
The Fabric Arrived!

Oh and guess what? I’m in the blogger spotlight over at Sometimes Sweet!!! I’m extremely flattered, in awe, and soo excited to be featured by my favorite blogger of all time. Stop over to Danielle’s blog to see it’s greatness!

recently thrifted

I always have my eyes open for that one little object that can steal my heart. The thrill of the hunt, the styling of items once you bring them home and the possible DIY/restoration to bring an item back to life…these are the things that keep me thrifting. Here’s what I’ve recently found.

1_Kodak Brownie home video camera (1961)  2_Black Leather boots (my aunt’s wardrobe from the 70’s) 3_Vintage Aluminum  Thermos Brand Lunch Box (bought from Frecklewonder’s Etsy Shop)  4_ Metal & Wood Type Letters (mixed typefaces)

Have you found some “keeper items” recently?

4.3.11

This weekend I’ve been on my own because the boy was attending an industrial design conference. I planned on getting a bunch of DIY things marked off my list, but when the time came…I wasn’t all that into it. I picked away at the little things on the list and spent the rest of the time catching up on my blog roll and writing posts for the upcoming week. I’m amazed at home much this new blogging adventure has taken over all of my free time, but I’m not complaining because I’m really enjoying it. I think I’ve found something really special here and I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.


1^ I received a new 3 lb bag of chocolate chai in the mail and after a week of not having any…I was so excited. I even carried the heavy package around my office showing people what I got in the mail and no body seemed as excited as I was. (check out Big Train chai and you’ll know what I’m talking about) I think I’m going to go make a cup before I finish the next items on the list…brb…..
2^ OK back. I skipped both my yoga classes this week because I just wasn’t into it. I’m regretting it now with tension headaches. ICK!
3^ I’ve been spending a lot of time researching vintage companies of all kinds. I’ve been caught up in the dream of starting my own vintage clothing/home goods company and after my research efforts, I think my dream may become a reality someday.
4^ Wishing I had two of me to accomplish everything I want to do. Feeling a little anxious that I will miss out on something amazing because my schedule is too busy.
5^ Sourced a shipping flat for my spring DIY dog bed project. Concerned that the flat may be treated wood, so we’re looking into all the details before continuing the project. Wouldn’t want the pup sleeping on a bed filled with chemicals.
6^ Thankful my freelance projects are going to be wrapping up soon. I think I’m going to take a break from freelance for awhile. Exhausted.
7^ Are we friends with Google Friend Connect?? If not, all you have to do is click the button in my side bar and I’ll come check out your blog!!!

Still taking music suggestions but with a focused intent.
Who’s your favorite French singer??

Happy Sunday!

 

taking it all in

Today, spring decided to make an appearance again. Mr. Spring has been in hiding this past week, so when I woke up to sunshine I was ecstatic. When I woke up I immediately check the weather app on my phone and sure enough it was going to be sunny and 60! Wahoo.

Around noon, I took the pup out for a nice long walk through our beautiful neighborhood, just he and I…taking it all in. Our neighborhood is dreamy and if we ever have to move, it will be severely missed. The hood feels like it’s been transported from the calm side streets of Paris and plopped down in the center of a bustling city, it’s own small contained bubble of bliss. It’s a small square that has a fantastic vibe and a batch of extremely nice homeowners and renters, making it a place worth holding onto—even with practical solutions like self storage in UAE to keep things organized during transitions.

We stepped outside to the smell of warm sun and white and yellow blooming trees. There was a slight chill in the air, but if you stayed in the sun and closed your eyes, it felt like early summer. I took several deep breaths, practicing some breathing techniques learned through my practice of yoga. We walked EVERY street of the neighborhood and the pup stopped and smelled EVERY blooming flower we passed. It took a long tim to get home, but I was enjoying every minute of it.

On a particularly straight stretch of road I closed my eyes and let the pup lead the way. (dangerous…yes, but totally worth it) I had Beau Fixe by Coralie Clement playing on repeat in my head all day, but this ended up being the perfect background music for our outing. I soaked up all the sounds and sights of early spring and reminded myself about the importance of life’s simple pleasures.

Once we finally made our way home we both, the pup and I, curled up on the couch and took and much needed afternoon name. We continued to enjoy the spring day from the couch. Perfection day.

How have you been spending your Saturday?

friday finds & favorites

*from page 96 & 97 in Est Magazine (click image to view magazine)

I’m excited that today is the first day of april AND it’s Friday. Can’t get much better than that. I plan on spending the weekend alone actually while the boy attends an industrial design conference here in St. Louis. Let’s hope I can get a bunch of things marked off my to-do list and enjoy a little down time. What are your plans?

I also wanted to let you guys know that because I love bloggers I choose to sponsor two lucky ladies this month, Busy Bee Lauren and Seablanket. Please stop over at their blogs and give them some love.

1. Have a photo journal made at Pinehole press. I’ve seen some really great baby books made with this company.
2. Are you interested in how minimalist design can enhance a brand? Some really great brand explorations with companies like Tabasco, M&Ms and  Evian.
3. This fancy pants electronic color picker. I need one of these!
4. A beautifully crafted online EST magazine. Click image above to flip through all 104 pages!
5. Build a high quality website for yourself at Cargo Collective.
6. Loving these art prints in ReStyle’s Etsy Shop.
7. The Quitting Your Day Job Esty Series on the Etsy Blog.
8. This beautiful cook book. All you foodies need to pick this one up!
9. These Mondernist Coffee Mugs and bowls from West Elm. I’m sooo in love!
10. The coolest site this week. Swap your art with other artist for Free!! How cool!
11. All Modcloth dresses. haha. Especially this one, and this one, and this one.

I’m still working on putting together my FAQ page. Please leave a comment below with any questions you may have. I’d like to get all questions compiled into one helpful place!

One last thing, I know I’m rambling…Know of any music artists similar to The National and Mumford and Sons?? (desperately needing new music)

Love you all!

 

the beauty of lists

I must thank miss hulaseventy for reminding me how important it is to make list, even for the simplest things. Simple pleasure lists are free from expectations and instead should be used as daily reminders. If you don’t mark anything off the list, who cares….try again the next day.

I thought it would be fun to do a compare and contrast type post where I’d compare what simple pleasures I hope to mark off the list compared to the items the boy would like to mark off this spring season. I tasked the boy to come up with 10-ish  items to share. Here’s what we came up with.

For me this will be the perfect exercise to improve my ability to “stop and smell the roses”. I’ll keep you updated on our progress, but since so many items on our lists match I don’t think we’ll have any trouble marking things off.

*Note. I’m going to be putting together a FAQ page on my page because I’ve been getting a lot of questions about this and that. If you want a question answered please leave your question below and I’ll include it.

If you create a list of your own, leave your link in the comments section and I’ll check it out!

I must say THANK YOU for all the sweet comments on my outfit post yesterday and all the great healthy snack suggestions. You guys inspire me to keep on truckin’.


fur coats and cloudy days

……PLAY ME (Jenny Lewis, “Rabbit Fur Coat)…..

Fur Coat: Vintage
(found at antique mall or $50!)
see our thrifting trip here–>
Jeans: F21
Flats: Not Rated
Purse: street vendor in Florence, Italy

This outfit shoot went a little more smoothly than the first. The key was to leave the dog in the house and go out on our own. I had my first experiences with people driving by and staring and the awkward, “hey…I’m going to look at this blank wall” moments that just happen to come with the territory.  Hope you enjoy them!

spring DIY adventure

Sometimes you just have to pick an idea and run with it. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got an inspiration book that is as thick as a dictionary and none of it is being put to use. I collect images here and there and say “someday…I’m going to do this/make this”.

Well this spring is time for me to jump in. I’ve narrowed down my home renters to-do list to a manageable 3 things that are all doable and should be relatively inexpensive to make happen. The list includes: art wall, dog bed & unique clothing storage. I’m excited!


*original image source*


*original image source*


*original image source*

I’ll keep you guys posted on the progress and hope to post some DIYs along the way.

Do you guys have any spring DIY projects that you are just dying to mark off the list? I’d love to hear all about them!

The Raw Food Challenge

If you know anything about me, you know that I eat goldfish crackers, bananas, bread, fruit…and that’s about it. I’m the pickiest person on the planet and I can give your two-year-old a run for their money. I’m getting a little better and have recently added Ceasar salads to the list of things I like and mixing chicken with cheese is a big one.

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You get to enjoy a sense of calmness and more focus. CBD affects learning positively and it also motivates learning. It is also helpful in reversing the symptoms of the Alzheimer disease. You can get a heart that is healthier with the use of CBD, like those industrial hemp flower, for instance. CBD has a lot of benefits that it brings to the heart, these include the capability of lowering high levels of blood pressure. You also get relief from the stresses that are part of your daily life. CBD has been known to provide therapeutic cures for symptoms like stress and anxiety, thus helping in the reduction of psychological levels of anxious behavior. It also helps in reducing the feeling of depression and anxiety.

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Anywho, I decided that I need to try some new things and with me, I only try new things when it’s my decision and want to do so. Constant nagging from the boyfriend is not how you get me to try something. If it smells like dirt, I’m not going to eat it no matter how many times you tell me it’s delicious.

Here’s the plan:
I specifically chose 6 foods I could use as snack foods throughout the workday. They needed to be raw foods with little to no sugar in them. This is what I chose – almonds, celery, edamame, hummus, oatmeal, and cucumbers. I also read many good reviews about Morning Complete by ActivatedYou so I decided to try it. Holy cow that’s adventurous for me! I shocked myself with the list, but I was proud of myself for putting on my first pair of big girl panties and sticking with the plan. But does you feel nausea, headache, etc after eating? Then one must know about the food intolerant. A food intolerance test is becoming very popular these days since very often people suffer from symptoms like indigestion, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, constipation, diarrhea, etc after the consumption of certain food substances. Food intolerance occurs mainly when certain food substances make the person feel unwell. The signs and symptoms of food intolerance greatly vary from one person to another. food intolerance test uk is quite necessary to find out the types of food substances that you are sensitive to. visit this website for more information.

I shopped around the grocery store with my head chopped off, tying to find those 6 things. I don’t usually spent too much time in the produce section or the nuts and seeds aisle, so I was lost big time. If felt good leaving the store with everything on my list and no sweet treats for “just in case”. $50 dollars latter I was ready to do this.

Here’s what actually happened:
I hated all of it. Every last item. I was hoping that I’d be able to report that hummus was my new favorite snack, but that’s a no-go. I’m a bit frustrated because I was determined to like these simple snack and my taste buds refuse to let it happen. I’m in need of your help.

I need your help:
I need healthy snack option suggestions to add to my second “Food Challenge”. Keep in mind things need to be simple, nothing too fancy and easy to make.  What are your favorite things to snack on? Send em over! If your food suggestion is accepted by my taste buds you’ll be getting something special. Can you tell I’m desperate?

Oh, how was everyone’s weekend?

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