Middle US Part 1 | Trip to Minneapolis

So, funny story. In this two-month-trip of 20 total flights, 16 days of rental cars, 12 Megabus tickets, nine nights in hotels, seven weddings, five sessions, and 14 cities, I missed a few logistics. And for me, only missing a few is pretty great. And having one of the main mishaps involve a best friend... well, it makes it easy. 48 hours before we were set to fly into Minneapolis Lyd texted and said "I'm so excited to see you guys! Where are you staying?" Oh no. I thought for sure I had touched base beyond a casual conversation six months ago saying I booked a wedding in Minne. But. Nope. Never did.

"Uh, at your house hopefully!" Lyd was a gem and classic best friend. Jumped into action and gave us such a welcoming, easy two nights in her world (complete with goldfish crackers for Roo in the kitchen and other treats for us, enormous fresh flowers, a fun itinerary, and being a mama-hen by tucking us into bed and charging our phones when we crashed the last night. She even set her alarm and woke us up on time so we wouldn't miss our flights. Best friends, I tell ya.) Though, to be fair, I gave her much more notice than the first visit: we just showed up in Minneapolis (Stefan knew) and surprised her at her front door! That was fun. Both trips were. Thank you for being the kind of buddy who knows me, gets me, "compliments me," teases me, and loves me ;) And for welcoming my brood and I at the drop of a hat. We love you so! And we can't wait to come back again! #twoweeksnotice 

Each meal, sight, memory, and hour was wonderful. We'll be back Minneapolis! You rock! And take good care of our Lyd and Stefan <3

East Coast Part 2 | Trip to Cape May

"Rest is not idleness,
and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day,
listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky,
is by no means a waste of time."
John Lubbock

As I mentioned in my last post, traveling is hard work... but man: when it just "works out" without much effort, it's fantastic.  My friend Janet and her family were taking a trip to Cape May with her mom right while we were in the general eastern seaboard area. Last minute her mom wasn't able to make it (we missed you G-ma!) but we were able to stop in for a 48 hours and take a bed.  

One of my favorite parts of the east coast is how much there is to it. I've lived here for over two decades, and grew up going to the teacher three hours away, but somehow this little gem of a town never made it into my life. Bethany and Fenwick and Rehobeth are magical in their own right, but Cape May just captured my heart.  We can't wait to go back again! (Ps. If you ever do end up that way The Blue Pig Tavern (for breakfast, especially), Peace Pie (get either the coffee toffee caramel sandwich or the strawberry shortcake sandwich), Hot Dog Tommy's (their hot-dogs are wonderful, but I enjoyed the potato chip pepper tuna salad just as much) and The Red Store (farm to table and the bacon is literally called "bacon steak." It's so good.) are where you need to feed your body and soul.)

A few iPhone pictures because it's just so much easier to plop in your pocket...

Lake Tahoe + My Family | Personal

"i can't help feeling,  we could have had it all." adele It's no secret that we've had deep sadness in our family this year.  My mom left behind her seven kids and husband in January, and our second kid left behind his mom, dad and brother in May.  But it's also no secret: we have had a dream-like year.  Caleb, Rowdy and I eat all three meals together nearly every day.  We both have more steady work this year than we've both had in years.  We have traveled more this year (after having a baby) than we have any other year of our life.  We've made great progress on our home in Oklahoma.  We've spent significant months with both sides of the family, even though they live 1500 miles apart.  We've been able to enjoy our healthy, weird, sweet, curious son learn and develop a personality. We haven't been away from each other for a single night.  The blessing of these things is not missed on me, and I'm sure life will not continue to be quite like this.  In fact, it could be drastically different one day.  But today?  My whole self will sing a thankful song, and then we'll swim in the blue. (Lake Tahoe was my mother's childhood summer hang-out.  The house her parent's bought when she was two is about 45 minutes from the lake.  I heard stories and saw pictures of long, hot 1960's days, colorful umbrellas against the mountain horizon, and small blonde girls jumping off rocks.  Once my mom had children she brought us back as often as she could.  This trip was Rowdy's first time to this heritage-place.  We went with my two sisters, one brother, and Uncle Scott.  There is power in place.) “Every place is given its character by certain patterns of events that keep on happening there… The more living patterns there are in a place - a room, a building, a lake, or a town -  the more it comes to life as an entity, the more it glows,  the more it has that self-maintaining fire which is the quality without a name.”   Christopher Alexander -- The Timeless Way of Building

Enjoy Project | Children's Books + Front Royal

"Good night, little girls!Thank the Lord you are well!And now go to sleep!"Said Miss Clavel.  Ludwig Bemelmans - Madeline

"We'll end up hand in hand, somewhere down on the sand, just me and you."  

"We'll drive until the city lights, dissolve into a country sky, just me and you."

For Memorial Saturday we drove over to the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The Skyline Drive starts in Front Royal, Virginia at the Shenandoah National Park.  Caleb smelled good.  He wore his new H&M shirt.

The roads were winding.  The trees were green.  Me and you.

Oh, it was "almost Heaven." We love "West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains,  Shenandoah River." "Life is old there, older than the trees!" Older than you and me. 

We have many nicknames.  I call him Slim Jim, Cowboy, Corn Cob, Short Stack, Mister Mister, Cockatoo, Morrison, Lone Ranger, Stallion (and sometimes Mare... but I'm just teasing.)  He calls me Little, Silly Woman, Rose of Sharon (also teasing),  Red Robin, Sweet Elizabeth Jane, Baby Doll, You. 

Sometimes I call him Country Roads.  Sometimes he calls me Mountain Mama.  We don't have a lot of money.  And I'm afraid of mice.

(free - zac brown band // country roads - john denver)

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.

Noah and The Whale {Travel + Music + Personal}

Oh well in five years time 
We could be walking 'round a zoo

With the sun shining down 
Over me and you.

5 Years Time - Noah and The Whale

--


Quick update!
WiFi hasn't been super accesible this trip
(which in almost every way is wonderful)
so I have much to post later,
but just a teeny shout-out to Noah and The Whale!

Jamz found last minute tickets for their live show at The Academy for a great price.
I'd never heard one of their songs before,
but now I'm smitten.
Very classy, friendly, talented band. With great LYRICS.
You know how I love good lyrics ;)

OH. And the venue was rad.
Two stories.
The second story loft required more expensive tickets we didn't buy.
But the guy let us up anyways ;)
Score! So we had a great view.
Yeah. Just a great night.

One of my fave songs of the show

(check out the funky un-embed-able real music video here.)

Oh well, I look at you and say

'It’s the happiest that I’ve ever been'

And she’ll say

'Yah, well, I feel all pretty happy too,

And I’m always pretty happy 

When I’m just kicking back with you.'

Although maybe all these moments are just in my head

I’ll be thinking ‘bout them as I’m lying in bed

And all that I believe might never really come true

But in my mind I’m havin’ a pretty good time with you.

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.

Little Lives {Personal}

"And I learned what is obvious to a child. That life is  a collection of little lives, each lived one day at a time...
(pic from a wedding two years ago.)That each day should be spent finding beauty in flowers and poetry and talking to animals. That a day spent with dreaming and sunsets and refreshing breezes cannot be bettered. "nicholas sparks
Unless those breezes come from air in Ireland.Three.more.days.
;)

Fake Family Vaca {Personal}

on the road again

goin' places that I've never been

seein' things that I may 

never see again

willie nelson | on the road again
--
If you are friends with me on facebook,or follow me on twitter,or read this blog,(that's always an endearing way to start a blog post)you MIGHT have seen that I've been traveling recently.
Since this blog is partly "for me"I like to record things like travels.Who doesn't?
My trip this time around began with a quick visit to Vancouver,to see my Canadian BFF Jamie,and be a cheerleader while she spoke at ImageQuest.
First I got an a little plan with propellers (those are my favorite kind of planes.)

Then I landed at an unknown airport in an unknown state (seriously.  I was confused there for a while. A lady on her phone said she was at a layover in Delaware, the souvenirs said NYC and lot's of other things said "Garden State" which is New Jersey.  I felt stupid.  And pranked. I also ate at SmashBurger and it was delicious. I finally (after 10 hours of flying) got to the Jamster, we rocked out in the hotel,and rose nice and early for her presentation at 9:00,and I put my belt on the wrong place of my dress.I take really amazing pictures of people speaking. Hire me for all your speaking gigs.Afteeeeer her outstanding talk, we went to her outstanding studio. I'm waving! Then within hours it was time to go to more airports. And eat more airport food, like Rick Bayless brilliance from his new digs Tortas Frontera.When I got home I showered and slept.And woke up just in time for my weekly South Mountain Veggie delivery.
But within hours I was headed back to the airport. With these two crazy cats. We were literally ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT, but we stopped for 20 minutes to eat at a new bbq joint.I'm going back soon.Where was I headed with a belly full of bbq + with those two cool cats?To Florida!To see my family!And the beach!And baseball!And Mickey Mouse!Do you remember last year when Dre, Becca + I got stuck in Florida? We shot a wedding together, but got snowed out of Maryland.  So we had a spontaneous "fake family vacation."This year, since my real family lives in Florida, we decided to keep the tradition alive.(Hi Tan Mom!)The tradition was kept alive! And the air was hot! And the sky was blue! After the beach, the first day, we went to see our Beloved National's Baseball team, play for spring training.  It was a perfect night.Cool cats with cool eyewear! The next morning, was back to the beach. Why did I ever leave? I'm stupid. That night was my daddy-o's birthday. He loves getting his picture taken.I love you Dad!After the banqueting-feast-of-birthday-dinner, we went to little Dude's football game. My heart pitter-pattered.And my sisters + I hooted and hollered for the Chiefs! And I don't wear my bottom retainer so my teeth are crooked.NEXT DAY! Disney day!In my real family, Disney IS the best place on earth.My fake family almost agrees.They so in lub. I want an umbrella like this when I have a house and porch that needs an umbrella. Lady Cat's favorite ride is "It's a Small World After All." She likes all the animals. And the slow-pace of the ride.Dre Cat and I like the fast rides. The magical space rides!But my favorite part of the whole park is the castle. Because Cinderella is my favorite favorite favorite.I can quote that whole movies and watch it for hours.After we had a perfect dinner (with gravy that ruined me for all other gravy) we watched fireworks!  And went back to the hotel.This day was rest day. We went to another Nat's baseball game, but it was hot and some of us were tired and cranky.

Let's skip to the rain day!

You know what happens when it rains?

Everyone seeks shelter!

We did too.  Inside the best outlets in the world.

We bought things on great deals.

And before we knew it,  it was time to go back home.  Mom + Shanny drove us to the airport.Hi Cute Shanny + Tan Mom!I miss you!

Now I'm back in real life, 

eating Cilantro Chicken Soup,

peeling my shoulders,

and being a grown-up again.

But I mostly just want to get back on the road again?

Sorry if that was the worst blog-post ever.

I just love my real family and fake family and beach and food and traveling so much.

And when I love something, I have to share.

:D