Field Candy

We've got a problem. I'm already dreaming of summer and it's not even December yet. How will I handle the next six months? Maybe by pitching one of these bad boys in my living room and roasting some marshmallows in my fireplace? Yeah, that sounds like a grand plan.

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Sheep Sculptures

My friend sent me a link to this thinking maybe, just maybe I would like it. I LOVE it! It is so clever...the entire sheep is made out of the phone. I will never look at a rotary phone the same way again.

I think sheep are the cutest animals ever. My first pet was a sheep named Fern and I will never, ever forget her!

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Jean-Luc Cornec’s Sheep Sculptures from the Museum of Telecommunication in Frankfurt.

It's A Dandy

How is it that dandelion's are one of the most annoying plants ever but also one of the best looking when it comes to design??

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The Enchanted Barn

I may be jumping the gun a bit but I found the perfect place to get married.

The Enchanted Barn is an old barn located in Northern Wisconsin about 15 minutes away from where I grew up. I had never heard about it until I randomly came across it today. It is beautiful. I love everything about it.  

Now, all I need to do is find my husband. No problem!

I'm Not A Quitter. No. I'm. Not.

I've been tempted to quit this little blog project. I wonder what the point of it is, really. Who actually reads this frivolous thing and why do I spend so much time on it? One of my goals was to post daily. I thought it would be easy-peasy but not so much!

The few people who actually read it won't let me quit. So, for all seven of you, I'll continue! Plus, I really set out to do it for myself as a place to post all the things that inspire me and so I should keep at it.

Of course, I compare myself to other bloggers out there who do this full-time or work in creative fields and are surrounded by daily inspiration. Oh, and it seems that almost every blogger has advertisers! I'm just one girl living in a little city posting about a few things that I like. And have seven people who read this.

I also don't want to be one of those people who just regurgitates stuff from other people's blogs (that have been reposted from other blogs...which have been reposted from other blogs...and, well, you get the picture). How unoriginal. But, sometimes I will post things I see on other blogs and I'm ok with that!

Alright, enough rambling. Moral of the story - I'm going to keep trying to post regularly (when I'm feeling inspired) and I'm going to have fun with this and not worry about all that other stuff that doesn't matter. I've got people relying on me!

Phew! That was quite the rambling for sure.

Now I must recover from my lovely weekend where I spent a few days at home and a few days in Minneapolis. Oh, how I miss the city. I had a good time catching up with friends and visiting with my old buddies at work (totally worth the $42 parking ticket! Oy.).

But, I failed to indulge in a Grain Belt or two! The horror.

(Image via adamturman.com)

It's Here. Almost.

Today. Was. Gorgeous. Though the snow is still around there are glimpses of spring. I love it. It couldn't come soon enough.

Soon flowers will be blooming and the lake will reveal itself from the cover of ice and snow. It's already starting to smell like spring. Yippeee!

 (Images via polaroidmandy, juju_84, silentmellow, mocassina & frangrit)

It's Bob Time!

What is Bob Time, you ask? Well, Bob Time is when I bust out the tried-and-true Bob Marley Legends album and play it non-stop to remind me that soon, yes very soon, the warmer weather will arrive. Bob Time usually occurs right around the end of February when it seems that winter will never, ever end.

Why do I call this Bob Time? Every spring during college, just as the weather was getting nicer (thank goodness, there really IS an end in sight!), people would be out on their porches blasting Bob Marley. I loved it. It was a sign that the end of the semester was approaching and, more importantly, summer just around the corner.

How should one celebrate Bob Time, you ask? Easy.

Play some Bob Marley. There is nothing like Is This Love to get me feeling happy and stress free.

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Drink some tasty beverages, like a mojito.

(Image via flickr) 

Or sangria. MMMM, tasty.

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And relax. Preferably with friends. It's that simple.

Oy!

Yep, that about sums it up.

I drink lots of this.

 

(Image via reallynatural.com) 

Because this statement is so true (usually).

 

 

But I must study if I want to design things like this someday.

 

(Image via graphiquebureau.com.br/) 

  

(Image via marimekko.com) 

  

  

 

(Image via miljoshop.com/)

 

My Goals For 2010!

Because I work in education my schedule is based on the academic calendar so instead of posting this a few weeks ago at the beginning of the year I decided I would instead post it at the beginning of the semester which starts tomorrow!

I present to you My Goals for 2010 & Beyond:

Learn to take a great photograph.  Straight and to the point.

Create. Spend more time creating my own things rather than reading about other people doing it!

Career. Do informational interviews with people who inspire me and are in careers that I may want to pursue. Not get frustrated with my "I should have done this 10 years ago" attitude. Enjoy class even if it stresses me out. I love learning but hate the homework and exam aspect of school! 

Save money! This is always a goal of mine but I like "stuff." It's hard. But I am inspired by so many design & fashion blogs that focus on vintage & thrifted items so I know that a person can be surrounded by beautiful things even if these things aren't brand spankin' new.

Garden. Grow a few veggies for myself this summer.  

(Image via syrendell) 

 Maintain positive attitude. I can be a cynical person but over the past few years I have really tried to change this mentality and surround myself with other positive people. I really want to focus on the positives of others rather than finding their faults. Just as important, I want to be more positive about myself. I tend to dwell on the past and think of all the mistakes I made (see Career goal!) and compare myself to others. In my mind everyone has a more fabulous life than I do. Envy is one of my most unattractive traits I possess. My goal is to stop being this way!

Health. Continue going to the gym on a regular basis even if I get overwhelmed with work and school. Run a few 5K's. Complete Bike the Barns again (and be able to bike up every hill!).

(Image via macsac.org) 

Blog (almost) daily. Conquer writer's block and improve my writing skills. They've gotten rusty since graduating from J-school years ago! Write about what I like and what I love and what inspires me rather than what I think others will like. Use blogging as a way to connect with others, to offer and gain support, advice and encouragement.

Words To Live By

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

I'm not a quote girl. In fact, I often find their use to be cheesy and/or pointless. Really, does everyone need to use the "Be the change you wish to see in the world"? No offense, Gandhi, but if everyone is proclaiming this why is our world not changing for the better??

I know so many people who have their saying and it works. Their little blurb that sums up their life, their purpose, their whatever. You read it and think, yeah, that definitely fits him or her. I never had one. Until now!

Well, I wouldn't say this is definite but good ol' Thoreau is pretty much the King of Quotes and I dig this one. And it is how I hope to live my life.

Colorstrology....for Jesus!

I love Colorstrology. It's so fun to send the info to friends on their birthday. So, why not do it for good ol' Jesus, right?

I'm not too technologically savvy so I couldn't figure out how to paste the page in heremperfectly (weird flash stuff on my parent's ancient computer). But here is the basic info that is molto importante.

The big J's birth color is....Hunter Green!

He is determined, unusual (ya think?), and goal oriented. You can find more information at http://www.colorstrology.com/. And while you are there find your own birth month and birth date color.

The Death of the Glossy

It is often the simple things in life that make me happy.

The most perfect skim vanilla latte, getting to the bus stop just as my bus arrives, pb + bananas, and people who say "thank you" when you hold the door for them.

One of my simple daily perks during work is to go to the bookstore and spend an hour catching up on the latest design mags. To me, this simple act can improve my entire day.

For 60 minutes I am in heaven. I lose track of time and am transported to a world where my surroundings are no longer scuffed linoleum flooring, fluorescent lighting, generic white walls and people who mistake wrinkled khakis for professional attire.

Instead, I am lounging in the most beautiful mid-century modern abode in Silver Lake surrounded by my equally hip boho friends.

(Photo from apartmenttherapy.com via Beth Zeigler) 

Or I am making dinner in my modern kitchen, furnished with all the latest gadgets, with my Prada-clad hubby (a girl can dream).

(Photo from pointclickhome.com) 

If I meander over to the section of French magazines, I am instead transported to my villa in Champagne.

(Photo from www.aupresdeleglise.com)

I love magazines. Fashion, design, food, whatever. They are eye candy for the design obsessed. They are a simple pleasure, no matter your interest. And they are dying. Today, I.D. Magazine announced that its January/February issue would be the last.

A few months ago Gourmet and Metropolitan Home closed. At the beginning of the year, Domino died.

Yes, I admit that I didn't subscribe to these magazines (yikes, it's my fault!) and I instead spend countless hours reading design blogs. But taking a look at my bank account you will see that plenty of my money has been spent on magazines even if I was not a faithful subscriber.

There is nothing better than feeling the pages of a hot-off-the-press magazine in your hands while sipping a cup of coffee (like a skim vanilla latte!). The sound of changing the page on a never-read magazine; it is a crisp sound that can not be compared. The glossy paper, the colors, and the smell. Oh, the smell of fashion mags are my favorite!

I fear our world may become an uglier place if more magazines go to the magazine graveyard.