Alt Summit in Salt Lake City {Travel}

“it's kind of fun to do the impossible.”

walt disney

Alright alright alright.  See if you track with me on this one:

 Narnia, in the winter.  Trees and snow and castles in the distance?  Great.  Remember that.

Now go ahead and enjoy the Sultan's palace from Aladdin.  Lavish and layered and courtyard-y, snuggled richly into a valley by mountains.

Okay, so, now, put them together.  Narnia. Sultan's Palace. Narnia.  Sultan's Palace. Narnia Palace.  Chronicles of Sultan.  Palace of Nartan.  Narnia and Sultan.  GRAND AMERICA HOTEL IN SALT LAKE CITY.

 

Hey? Heeeey? Yeah, hey.  Do you see what I see?  A child, a child... er- a town, a town high above the sea, with a view as "whoa" as could be?  Heeeeey:

It even works at night.  Let's do this thang again.  Glowy, sparkly lights, tiny town:

Moody mountainous moonlit night? 

GRAND AMERICA HOTEL AT SALT LAKE CITY.

I've been channeling my inner Disney Princess by sighing to myself and saying "Ooooh Rajah!" as I gaze out my hotel room window, longing to experience the real world - beyond these walls!!!   But next thing I know I'm worried sick for my four-legged friends, hoping they don't turn into statues.  It's extremely emotional being a guest at this hotel, let me warn you.

;)

Obviously I'm kidding.  I'm really quite spoiled with the unreal quality of this town and establishment (great choice Alt Summit folks!), the stirring and sweet classes (good work Alt Summit folks!), the head-turning fashion of EVERYONE (nicely done Alt Summit attendees!) and the quality time with my Canadian bestie, Jamie Delaine (Also known as "Jamz" between 6:00am-7:30pm, or "Gramz" from 7:31 pm and on.  She jams hard, then turns into a one-woman-old-folks-home.)

 
Once I'm home and my conference brain has turned back to normal brain,  I'll tell you something actually helpful/interesting about this conference.  I probably won't even use a Disney reference.  Except that tomorrow I get to meet Anya from Project Runway (like how I said that so nonchalantly? Like I don't really care at all? It was smooth like the first shave of your life.) (Also, I care a lot that I'm meeting her.  I'm not even going to pretend like I just want her to have a normal life with normal friends, like I'm not some crazy fan-girl who just wants to touch her maxi dress.  I AM A CRAZY FAN GIRL.) Anyways,  it'll basically be like having a real-life Jasmine in a Disney Palace.  It was cool when I was five and in Anaheim, and it's still cool now!


Alright.  Good night.  It's been a long day and I am kind of feeling like I didn't give Narnia much facetime in this post, so why don't you read these last few words in a British accent and I'll feel better.  Cheer up, darling!  And go to sleep you blessed, blessed doll.  (And go to Alt Summit next year everyone.  You will truly love it.)

Design + Alt Design Summit {Events}

"i've been amazed at how often those outside the discipline of design assume that

what designers do is decoration.

good design is problem solving."

jerffrey veen

I'll be the first to admit that I know barely anything about fine art, graphics and design.  I do know I like it.  And I do wish I knew more about it.  My mother has passed on to me her natural "taste" in design and her creative, ever-turning and imagining, mind.  This past year I've become more picky with what I like in visual arts.  At first everything on Pinterest seemed cute and special!  No.  It's not at all cute.  Especially (mostly) what is on the home page. Blah.  

With that in mind, my world-traveling friend Jamie asked me if I wanted to attend the Altitude Design Summit in Salt Lake City with her.  I usually always say yes when she asks me to do things.  She usually does all the researching, planning and take-action-ing.  I usually do all the showing-up and paying her back for the hotel she booked.  We're so compatible.  Anyways, I said "Yes!"  She had the hotel booked within hours back in October.  I just confirmed my flight this morning.  (But I have had my outfit planned for the Friday night mini-parties for six weeks.  The dress code is "sequins."  That is the kind of planning I can get into!)  

Though I did buy my pass to attend before I had read much about it, I was thrilled with what I found when I did do some research. "If you're obsessed with lifestyle, food and fashion blogs..." Um. Check! "...fantastic images, smart ideas and great design inside and outside — all wrapped up with a social media bow — ..." Yes, that's me!  That's me!  Where do I need to be if this is me? "...Altitude Design Summit is the place to be..." Yahoo! Now I know where to be! "Because we feed those obsessions."  Bingo.   Winning.  Wa-la.  Snaps.Yes.Lovely.Thank.You.

We've created a place where design and lifestyle bloggers in all their forms— foodies, photographers, travelers, fashionistas, interior designers, product placers, adventurers — come together, share ideas and connect with marketers.  Don't you want to come now too?!  I actually had to double check that I had indeed registered because I was afraid maybe it didn't all go through and that I wouldn't be able to attend ;)

The pot only gets sweeter.  This year's line-up of speakers looks simply hellacious (big word! used in context! ow ow!).  I'm thrilled to spend hours sifting through the creative minds of this people through their words, wardrobe ;) and presentations.  

Here is a sampling:

The genius and also down-to-earth blogger for the Jealous Curator blog is constantly inspiring me.  Her "about me" section sums up her blog well: There is one moment, in the first few seconds, when you look at a piece of art and know that you love it. It’s the moment when, if you’re an artist yourself, you look at it and feel a rush of uplifting inspiration… and total soul-crushing jealousy all at the same time. It’s when you walk away thinking, “I wish I thought of that.”

She daily(ish) posts an assortment of one particular artists' work.  I love her Amber Ibarreche post.  Amber is brilliant at making the "everyday" become very visually and creatively intriguing.

Or how about this piece from Marlene Vergara?  Never heard of her before!  But I'm a fan!  I would love to get my hands on fabric like this:

Any HGTV Design Star fans out there? Past season-winner Emily Henderson will be speaking it up!  If you don't know who she is, check out a quote from her site: "Lastly, I believe strongly there is always a time and place for fresh flowers, and that nothing is more important than simply being nice to every person, every day." 

Come'on.  Just try to not like a girl like that!  She and her husband are the sweetest pods.  I have a couple crush on them.   I love her blog greatly.  My favorite recent post of hers was about "weird color-blocking in rooms."  Deeeeelightful!

Are your design taste buds whetted yet? Mine have been for months.  Eeek!  Last but hardly the least is Miss Piper Toth of the online store One Sydney Road.   I always feel cooler just looking on their site, let alone owning anything from them ;)  To add cool-ness to cool-ery they were recently featured in Rue Magazine.  Big props, folks :D

  

While I'm in Salt Lake City I'm also hoping and wishing upon a star that it works with to meet up with Melissa Blackburn. Whoooo is Melissa Blackburn?  She is the "fine dressmaker and designer" most known for her Heidi Dress (shot by Amelia Lyon.)  I'm one smitten kitten when it comes to her work.  Go leave her some blog love or e-mail her and tell her she's amazing or do your own post about her.  Every artist needs encouragement, especially out of the blue, right?  Right.  So go go...!

Even if you can't go, you should follow their twitter, enjoy the pictures, get excited about coming next year? and be inspired!

Doolin, Ireland {Personal + Travel}

Many times, I've wondered at your gift of life,And I'm in that place once again.
matt redman | once again

There is a pretty well-known Dr. Suess quote that I seemed to have most commonly seen on Facebook Bumber Stickers back in 2008, but I've loved a phrase in it:
"...when reality is finally better then your dreams."

This whole trip was certainly a trip of a lifetime for me.
But especially the day Jamz + I took a bus tour through all of Ireland.
I've never dreamed in such beautiful visions.

(Hi Irish chicken! Hi!)

Pictures, as always, don't do County Clare justice.
Because you can't hear the rain shaking in the trees,
and you can't hear the click-clunk of our shoes on the cobblestone and gravel,
and you can't smell the fresh old-ness,
or the peat-burning fire coming through the thatched roofs in the Folk Park.

It was everything an Irish countryside town should be.









I would like to have a house with flowers hanging over the door just like that,
thank you.

By the way, the beer situation in Ireland is quite a situation.

Y'all love your drinks in this little green land! 
The man at the airport tearing our tickets even had two little shot glasses of Guinness.  Too funny ;)





Jamz loves ivy.
She thinks ivy is fun stuff.

...just.
... breathe.



While we were in County Clare,
we also got to see Bunratty Castle!
DUN.
Dun.
Dun.
DUN.
DUUUUUUUN.
(ratty!)

This place is old.  It was built in the 1200's.
It's very old.

And the spiral staircases are very spiral-y.
And steep.
And slippery.
And small.
And scary.
And Jamz didn't like them very much at all.





Sadly it was rainy-rainy while we were here,
so not only were Jamz and I pretty cold and damp,
we also couldn't see "the view" too well.

But what we could see was still lovely.

BUT.
It was all okay.
Because we went here.
Where is "here"?
Here is Doolin.
Doolin, Ireland.
I'm going back to Doolin someday.
And I will be merry.







It was the happiest of all happy's, it was.

















We also got to witness these beauties live and in-person and with singing French girls.



These cliffs are about the size of Delaware.
I'm not kidding.

I love this picture Jamz took.
I was saying a little seaside prayer.
It was just overwhelming being in such a beautiful place.





On the way home a rainbow followed us.
Typical, Ireland, typical.
Way to be like every single chick-flick steretype I've ever had about you.

And dreams?
Sorry that you are ruined forever.
My memories are just better.

London, England + Edinburgh, Scotland {Personal}

"my favorite thing is to gowhere i've never been."diane arbusPictures need to do the talking today.
I'll give you some minor details to give some context.6:30 pm on Sunday I flew to London, England to meet up with Jamie.I arrived at 7 am Monday morning at Heathrow.We wandered London and ate some Indian food.By 3:00 we were at a different airport headed to Edinburgh, Scotland.Here are some pictures thus far.It's been too lovely for words.
Enjoy :D[London on a Monday Morning](Jamie's mom was with us for a few hours then flew home. She's lovely and funny.)[Edinburgh on a Monday Night][Edinburgh on a Tuesday Morning][Edinburgh on a Tuesday Afternoon](This made me think "Aw! The wind got to make so many wishes!")(speechless.)[Edinburgh at Lunchtime]


After this point in the day, I let my camera take a breather.But Jamie blogged a pretty hysterical summary of our late afternoon and evening,memories captured via my iPhone 4.You should check it out ;)
Tomorrow we head to St. Andrews to see more of the work of His hands, the people He loves,and lands He's created.I'm too excited to even dream.