Still no news.....

Aside from the obligatory 'working' that comes with any Monday, I'm going to do as much of this as possible, until I hear something (anything) about the moving situation!



So, coming off one craptacular week and hopefully heading into a new (great) one, I have a little more perspective and control than I thought over my situation. When I get into a funk I get pretty bleak. I'm trying to keep perspective and grasp what is truly important. I recently came across a blog written by a woman in her twenties diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer and given 6-12 months to live. While her situation is dire, she has the best outlook on life. I find that the people who are closest to death often have the most profound things to say about living. And it makes all the petty shit seem not so important.

still nothing

Still no news on the official move-in date, so any/all moving activities remain 'on hold' for now. Instead of moving into the new place like I had hoped, I'm going to spend the day exploring the bustling suburbs that surround me. Le sigh.

New Wardrobe = $500

It's true, one of my guilty pleasures is Lucky magazine. Of all of my guilty pleasures (trust me, I have many) this is perhaps number one on the list. The March issue features an article on how to buy a new wardrobe for $500, and shows you 90 different outfits that you can assemble from those wardrobe pieces. If you're not a Lucky subscriber, you can check out a video that captures the same information and wardrobe pieces that are featured in the article. Now if only I had an extra $500 laying around....

Link to the video below

http://www.luckymag.com/video?videoID=773276911001

I swoon over Einstein...

Hooray, it's Friday! But this particular Friday is bittersweet...I'm still without an official move-in date, and all of this 'living in limbo' is driving me bonkers! I just bought some coffee yesterday...whole bean - my favorite but realized that I had already packed the coffee grinder (in which box? oh, who knows). I have a whole day off of work tomorrow...but don't know what to do! I think that in an effort to take my mind off of the moving situation I'm going to go on a mini photo expedition and celebrate the end of the day with a Salty Dog (recipe here)

Stressed to the Max!

I apologize for the lack of posts - it's been a stressful past week, and of course I got sick to top it off! My body is terrible at handling stress - I'm fully aware of this fact yet I can't seem to change it. My living situation was turned upside down, and as I scrambled to find another place to live, the original place seems to be working itself out again (believe me, my fingers are crossed on this one) Hopefully everything works itself out by next week!



Sooo tired.....

I can't shake the weekend! I'm exhausted today...plain ol' exhausted. We'll see how much of today I can pretend to be productive....



To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.”

By now, I gather, you've heard about the protesting happening here in Wisconsin. My home state has always been a progressive force in moving the country as a whole forward. In fact, 'Forward' is our state motto. I could not be more proud of my fellow citizens for standing up for the social justices for all and no doubt a defeat of this legislature would most likely mean that other Republican senators in other states proposing these same changes to current government-based unions would make it harder for those bills to pass as well.

With any great protest comes great signs. Here are a couple of sites that highlight a few:

http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_news/116548/wisconsin_protests_bring_out_brilliance


http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-best-protest-signs-at-the-wisconsin-capitol

This one is my favorite.

Old photos given a new life.....

I recently had another one of those 'why didn't I think of that first' moments...check out photographer Irina Werning's site http://irinawerning.com/back-to-the-fut/back-to-the-future/. She recreates vintage photos....what more is there to say? Check out her site to see the rest. I am in love! 

Who, me?

the street is in the house

It's true, my brain is consumed with the idea of the new loft. As a result I'm always on the hunt for unique/interesting ways to repurpose furniture, and today I came across the link for artist Carlo Sampietro while visiting poetic home's website. His pieces are awesomely 'industrial chic'. I can't believe I just used those two descriptive words together, but how else can one adequately describe this furniture?

http://www.poetichome.com/2011/02/06/new-york-city-trash-repurposed-into-industrial-chicness-2/

or for the direct link to the artist's website you can click here....http://www.thestreetisinthehouse.com/



Miniature Heaven

What is it about miniature people/things that make me smile? It has to relate to reading the story 'Indian in the Cupboard' when I was in elementary school. I remember going to sleep every night and wishing with all of my might that I'd wake up to a cupboard full of miniature (alive) people. Alas, my wish was never granted, so instead I continue to pretend.

And check this out......

Photos of food AND miniature people??? I've just died and gone to heaven.

http://www.minimiam.com/

Moving day = Forever Away

Time is slowing down, I'm sure of it. Moving day is still scheduled for the end of February, but lately I feel like IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. I'm keeping busy for sure, but my mind is so preoccupied with moving that everything else in life kind of feels like an inconvenience. So meanwhile, I'll continue to make plans in my head and draw design scribbles on notepads. And wait.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Whether your spending the evening alone or with someone you love, I hope you find the time to do something that makes you smile. xx

Thank god it's Friday

My Friday present to you is the world's tiniest/more adorable polar bear!! Serioously...I want one of these too.

Another day, another dollar

Oh good....somehow despite the fact that I'm really, really trying to focus my internet research on finding ways to EARN money, it turns out that I'm (still) more successful at finding ways to SPEND money. Case in point....this awesome wesbite that I discovered today. It's a great resource for unique items for the home as well as gifts for anyone and everyone you know. The best part is that there are plenty of options, regardless of your budget.

http://www.highfashionhome.com/

Two of my favorite items are picture below...



wall decor - climbing army men! $79.95




origami post-it notes $4.95



I'm screaming for you to save me!

It's going to be a mighty long day....

I'll see you in my dreams (when we can finally rest our eyes).



Canary Coalmine

Are you in need of a graphic designer? Perhaps someone who can create a logo and/or website for your new business? Or someone who can design album artwork and promotional materials for your latest music endeavor? Then I've got just the guy for you! One of my dear pals from Milwaukee (who has since moved to Boston) is hands down one of the most talented graphic designers I know (and happens to be an awesome human being as well).

He has red hair. He likes cats. He plays a mean guitar. His name is Aaron Spransy.

You can drool over samples of his work and request his services by visiting his website;

http://www.canarycoalmine.com/



http://www.canarycoalmine.com/



http://www.canarycoalmine.com/

this is where i 'work'

So I kind of stumbled across this while checking Post Secret like I do every Sunday. There's a website called Sound Cloud where you can upload sound bites and post them to your social media site. Frank Warren at Post Secret posted a few bites pf people's deceased loved ones as kind of a memorial to them. Pretty cool. It's nice to have something tangible to remember your loved one by.

Oh Milwaukee, you've done it again!

This short film is visually stunning, and the best part is that it was filmed in my old neighborhood (Riverwest, Milwaukee)! I love you Riverwest, I miss you. You're in my heart always. xx

Click below to watch the short film

http://vimeo.com/19307987

Fabric Backed Business Card Tutorial

Let's be real, friends - if you work in the creative field you need a business card that screams originality. I believe the fabric backed business cards made by candimandi convey that message exceptionally well. The best part is that if you fancy these cards yourself, she's included a tutorial on how to make them! 

Count. Me. In. 

Link to tutorial here

In hiding....

Second Valentine's Day Post? Who, me?

You know what it is that I dislike about Valentine's Day? The general feeling that any/all romantic gestures are forced......expected. I don't find that romantic at all. However, I found this picture on designsponge's website and despite the fact that the article has a heavy Valentine's Day theme, I wanted to share this photo with you.

This....this appeals to me greatly. Even if it just so happens to be constucted on Valentine's Day. 

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2011/02/diy-project-justinas-valentines-day-fort.html



Let's Hear it for Milwaukee!

First of all, this website, http://www.atomicbooks.com/ is amazing! They have an enormous collection of interesting books and music. The book that happened to catch my eye (today) is Graphic USA. And guess what....one of the featured cities is MILWAUKEE!!!! Way to be cool, Mil-town.

Abundantly illustrated and lovingly laid out, Graphic USA is like having hip, insightful chaperones in multiple cities across the United States: graphic designers living in 25 metropolises (from capitals of cool like New York, Portland, Miami and L.A. to less predictable locales such as Anchorage, Charleston, St. Louis and Phoenix) were invited to write and illustrate mini-guides to their stomping grounds. With listings for places to stay, bars, restaurants, galleries and clubs, the book gives readers everything they need to live it up like natives in the know. From the blue-collar dive bar that serves tumblers of local whiskey to the slick hotel designed by the hippest architect in town, or the weird restaurant in the strip mall that makes the best breakfast burrito this side of the border--the designer-contributors to Graphic USA have got you covered. All this user-friendly information is accompanied by brilliantly vivid illustrations that reflect the designers' experiences of their cities.
A beautiful object as well as a useful guide, this volume offers a truly unique insight into the heart of American culture. The cities included in this book are: Anchorage, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Mineappolis, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Providence, San Francisco, Seattle, St Louis and Washington D.C.



BUY HERE!





Looks like I'm moving....again

I was approved for the loft space!!! I'm excited and anxious - I hope I'm making the right decision by moving into this place! It's not exactly the cottage in the woods that I was originally envisioning, but 'm keeping the mentality that I might as well do this while I'm young....right? (I'll get back to you on that one) Meanwhile, I'm thinking hard about how to efficiently define the loft space. Right now I'm stuck on room dividers...check out some of these interesting ideas!

Color me.....hungry

Waiting....is the hardest part

I found the coolest live/work loft Sunday while exploring the city, decided to submit a rental application yesterday, and am now waiting to see if that will be my next Los Angeles home. The wait is killing me! I just want to know so I can start making lists of the awesome ways that I can decorate the place. I swear I'm not an alcoholic, but as this space would be an ideal location for entertaining, I'm already thinking of interesting, repurposed bars that I could make. So far I'm kind of stuck on the idea of a surfboard bar (after all, we ARE in California!).

Surfboard Bar?