March 2011
1 post
fleurs
<images via Sarah Ryhanen for Sapiua>
Been so inspired by flowers lately especially these ones from Saipua a NY city flower boutique. Instead of yoga today I’m going to work in the garden while the sun is up and maybe go for a run later.
February 2011
1 post
2011 - In progress
Well the new year is zooming ahead. I have put some thought into this blog and I’m working hard to come up with a redesign for 2011. Right now I’m in the brainstorming stage… It can get a little overwhelming when you think about it: new logo design, new platform (possibly), new camera (eventually), new exciting content (hopefully). I’ve been a little bit of a hermit...
November 2010
2 posts
Watch”..you don’t always start in the place you think you’ll end up” this is something that is resonating with me lately as I approach the big 30 next month. The founder of apartment therapy Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan on Creative Mornings.
Isle of plenty - Gotland
Just watched a beautiful design blog podcast about the Island of Gotland in Sweeden. You can download it for free in Itunes or check it out here.
October 2010
4 posts
new found joy & contentment
Not sure if it’s my busy schedule of training for another half-marathon, volunteering, designing, soccer, or the yoga-30-day challenge, but I’ve recently found a totally new amount of joy and contentment. I’ve had the time to sit back and sip my tea while reading magazines, sketching ideas, listening to audiobooks and watching amazing acts of strength. I’ve been...
“fear of the unknown is the greatest fear of all”
– yvon chouinard
September 2010
1 post
staycation equals innovation
Back home again, one more (working) year completed. This has been a very inspiring week so far! It’s like my whole body is down shifting from the frenetic pace of this last few months. My lovely sister got married last sunday and I had the exciting experience of being a bridesmaid for the very first time! Now her and her new hubby are enjoying hawaii while I get to figure out my place...
July 2010
4 posts
berry picking and jam
Last week I was invited to go berry-picking with my man-friend. In his parents front yard. Yes I think they may be the only people on their street that have a small (actually rather large) garden growing in front of their house. Right now it’s just berries. We decided to take advantage of the long summer light and pick as many as possible. The next day we ran/walked miles, jumped into the...
design is like flying
On the way to work this morning while listening to an audiobook called “winning” I discovered something about myself that I hadn’t before. I always knew I came from very fearless and artistic parents, but then realized that my parents were also passionate particularly my mom. I mean what other women do you know goes and takes flying lessons and decides to become a pilot when...
“The person who’s in love with their vision of community will destroy...”
– Dietrich Bonheoffer
reconnecting with nature. happy 4th!
Hope you all have a happy 4th. I’m heading out camping. Hoping I can find some time to chill out under a tree like this cute little horse. Cheers!
June 2010
2 posts
can design save the world?
Last week I attended a debate at the Scuplture Park called “Can Design Save the World.” It was a pretty weighty topic choice, but being curious I decided to attend. The panel included a handful of designers. Many of the designers come from some form of usability research backgrounds. Most of the debate centered around the idea of empathy and communication in developing countries. A...
somewhere
I’m intrigued by this new sophia coppola movie. I’ve been watching/reading her flicks since virgin suicides. This one looks interesting and her beau from phoenix did alot of the soundtrack.
May 2010
5 posts
italian films
So, after some time in italy last summer I spent some time studying Italian Cinema. Below are a list of my must must see Italian films. Most Italian Films revolve around love, politics, history and some range of irony. It’s really just the nature of the genre. And I’m silly for being strangely intrigued by them. Maybe they speak to my heart maybe they are just an indulgence for me....
“It takes a sensitive ear to tune in to the silence of the heart, it can offer us...”
– Daily Om
friendship bracelets
Last summer while traveling in Italy, I noticed a huge trend of friendship bracelets. In Italy there is a myriad of street vendors in most major cities that hit you up as you walk out of the train station. Many of them are immigrants selling hand made bracelets. I told my friend Laurel that once I found a real street vendor I would buy her a friendship bracelet. Well we ended up finding one in...
1 tag
just ran a 5k
Yay! I just finished my very first 5k, for Hope Heart Institute! It helped that today was one of the most beautiful days so far this year. Can’t wait to start prepping for the half-marathon next month :)
April 2010
1 post
1 tag
peace, quiet, and tea in the ID
Last weekend at the Panama Hotel. The Angel Peach Tea is amazing and they also give you a little bag to brew two more cups at a later time! Things are good. Sun (when it comes out) feels warmer. Balance the stress with lots of yoga and yummy cooking. Had a blast watching the sounders win in the last minute too. Can’t wait for some much needed outdoors time next month with camping. More...
March 2010
2 posts
3 tags
flexibility learned or inherited
Lately got back into hot yoga. I feel fortunate to easily remember most of the postures. I find myself surprised at my muscle memory sometimes. I’ve been doing yoga since I can remember, as my mom was a yoga teacher when I was a kid and often used yoga as a way to help me relax and sleep at night. Later on in high school I found hot yoga and began taking classes three times a week in...
color, color, everywhere
The wondrous displays of color that define the world around us are manifestations of light and, as such, each possesses a unique frequency. Its easy in Seattle to overlook the colors that surround us, since it is more of a seasonal thing. On the contrast Costa rica is filled with color for most of the year from clothing, to food, to animals, to plants (see bird of paradise), language, to even...
February 2010
2 posts
pick a box
Most of my life over the past five years is packed up into each one of these colorful boxes. I like how simple they look.
catching up
I have to say good things are happening.
January 2010
5 posts
I can't stop watching this :) →
creative excercises
Last week a group of students from my Italian class and I went to Molly Moon’s after class and enjoyed speaking in Italian to each other. The cardamom was amazing!
I’m also putting together a little montage of all of my pictures of seattle. Once I get it put on vimeo, I will post it here as well.
goodbye 2009, hello 2010
2009 has really been the year of exploration for me. In the last 12 months I’ve been able to travel to four different countries, strengthen my closest relationships, learned a new foreign language, volunteered and keep this blog alive. I am closer to what truly inspires me creatively these days. Sometimes challenging yourself is when some of the best ideas you have come into play.
As for...
December 2009
4 posts
effortless ease
The last year of my twenties is now here. I like with age comes a effortless ease. Felt very fortunate to have my whole family get together to celebrate this day with me even my brother got to come home early. Can’t wait to spend the next few days relaxing near the fire, watching movies, and sipping hot mulled cider. I picked up the recipe from Christina Choi a few weeks ago at the...
soul surfing
Venice beach personifies a beachy-relaxed california life-style. Saturday enjoyed a great time dodging the rain to check out some cool shops and some good food on abbot-kinney. Surfing is gentling tugging at me lately. Just finished up reading the Way of The Surfer and now I’m onto a really cute book by a girl from Seattle called Chasing Waves. Surfing has planted a seed and now I find...
exploring the future
Went on a short trip to LA last week. It was a dedicated time to check out art center college of design, meet with the director of the grad media program, visit the grad show, get a feel for Pasadena, and spend some time with some close people in my life. It was very eye-opening and intriquing to see the place in a completely out of the norm setting….rainy! LA sometimes feels like a portal...
simplicity
Simplicity doesn’t seem to always come naturally our interconnected world. Had a very nice thanksgiving dinner with my family at my sisters house. We played the Wii and watched three movies while I worked on my latest knitting project with the help of my mom. I enjoy the close time with my family. Ultimately we may always have different world views but we all agree on loving each other...
November 2009
3 posts
transitionary phases
Wow, the world has it’s way of quieting us down. How fast this month is going. Between school, work, design events, my study group and the New Italian Film Festival November has shaped up to be quite a busy month. I’ve had little down time and am finding myself clinging to the idea of hibernating any chance I get. I will be moving at the end of the month and there is so much to...
everyday is a good day
The entry point is right where you are. Halloween I made some yummy pumpkin chocolate muffins for a friends halloween party, took some photos of her cute pumpkin and dressed up like a colorful fairy with wings. Also if you are looking for some good sunday soul time music i’ve been really digging this record “make the road by walking.”
thicker than water
It’s pretty amazing that I float over this body of water twice a day during the weekly bus ride to and from work. Last week it looked nothing like this calm water. There were huge waves and it felt like I was on a ship, but really I was on the bus. Another time I saw a guy paddle boarding right by the bridge as we sat in traffic this man just slowly paddled by on his surf-board.. it was...
October 2009
3 posts
look around
Just got done watching a beautiful movie with this poem written at the end. It is synchronicity that this poem was quoted at the end. It is quite beautiful….
“And it was at that age … Poetry arrived in search of me. I don’t know, I don’t know whereit came from, from winter or a river. I don’t know how or when, no they were not voices, they were notwords, nor...
states & regions
Since starting back to work a few weeks ago I’ve been busy busy. Began my first Italian class exactly a week ago today. Giving alot of thought to the idea of the classification of regions vs. states. Studying alot of politics (surprisingly) lately. Its one area that you have to work hard to stay informed on in this country. Lots of very interesting perspectives. Also decided to get back...
space between
These days are slowly getting darker and the space between summer and fall slowly coming together here in Seattle. The last few weeks have went by so fast. I’ve been focusing on learning mostly lately. There are many personal and professional projects on my mind right now, which have pushed me in the general direction of being less on the computer and more into the land of paper, planning,...
September 2009
5 posts
“I think that we learn more from extreme circumstances than anything else;...”
– malcom gladwell “outliers”
mind like water
There are areas of my neighboorhood which I cherish because they remind me of the hidden wonders I saw while traveling…It is good to make it so here. Also made fresh pizza for dinner. Meditating on this quote “If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything: it is open to everything”
taking a leap
Sometimes life gives you options. You can stay where you are or you can challenge your self to take a leap. That leap maybe something as simple as trusting a deep rooted feeling or knowing that you need something else: plain and simple. It is important for humans to not be afraid of taking these leaps. I can’t promise that there won’t be days when you’ll have your doubts, but...
california fires
Although most of the four fires took place in Orange County you could still see the plumes of smoke in LA. Took this picture as we waited to get into Cinespia. Had a wonderful Raclette dinner with my roommate, her husband, my brother, his wife and not to forget lovely Shep (their dog) in Pasadena Canyons the night before. I enjoyed so much slowing down and unwinding over slow cook food, good...
August 2009
4 posts
construct
Spent the morning reading aboout constructivist & productivist artist. For a few years now I’ve been filing a books with these collages from different magazines.. I do it as a way to get rid of magazines and create something I like. Also to remember themes and ideas that one day I’d like to have in my life, peace, good food, the sea, love, living close to nature and...
wind in my heart
Last night enjoyed my very first Flaming Lips concert. It was filled with many amazing visuals. It’s also considered one of the top 50 concerts to see before you die and I can definetely see why. It was beautiful. Last night was one of those moments of pure creativity at work, which I really loved witnessing and experiencing as an active audience member. I also realized that not...
this moment
Yesterday and today Seattle amazed me. I woke to beautiful weather, went to the beach, read, went for a swim, rode my bike to Ballard, green tea with mint and talking. Then tonight we went to get pizza in Ballard at Delancey. It was started by Seattle blogger Orangette’s husband. The tomatoes were amazing. ps. this picture is actually from a farmer’s market in Italy..
reinvent your reality
Since returning from my trip I’ve had a hard time adjusting back to life here in Seattle. It isn’t helping that the weather in Seattle has been consistently grey since I got back. On my trip were so many days infused with energy of young people figuring out what they wanted from the world, especially in the hostels I stayed in. I cannot deny the shifts and personal growth that...
July 2009
6 posts
manarola
One of the most beautiful places to swim. But watch out for the Jellies.