I wish I could bring myself to write more substantive stuff, but after many long hours at work, I really just want to browse for eye candy and creative ideas when I get online. That being said, I thought I would take a moment and share the work of one of my favorite artists. I absolutely adore most everything that Lisa Congdon creates and constantly find inspiration in her work (even in her home decor). She's been featured like everywhere, but in the event you've existed without knowing her artwork, I want to do my little part to remedy that :-) All the work below is hers and links to various sites she has or has been featured on.

we <3 it

I think everyone should join we heart it. It's like Flickr faves but for all of the internet. Made of total win for all of you inspiration junkies.




















courtesy of https://www.redvelvetart.com/art-prints/chrismerritt-nintendo

Summer isn't all bad

Even though I've been out of school for longer than I care to discuss, I still think of Labor Day as summer's last fling, and judging by the buzz on the internet, I am not alone. Despite that fact that I've never been a fan of the heat (and that fall is my favorite season OF ALL TIME), I thought I would mark the end of my summer with a list* of those things that make summer a-ok.

- popsicles
- flip flops and the ability to wear them without eliciting looks of concern**
- getting a little summer color and a new crop of freckles
- fireflies
- cool water on a hot day
- driving with the windows down
- outdoor concerts and movies (though I only took advantage of one of each this year)


* an easier way to get back into blogging
** You try wearing them in the winter time and see if you get weird looks.

Today I said goodbye

We buried my grandma today. She died* on Tuesday, August 25, and my world got just a little bit smaller that day. 

There was no funeral to mark the passing, but I can't let this day pass without recording a few thoughts about the woman who helped make me who I am. It's funny because as I reread that sentence it sounds so much more formal and "together" than I really am. Inside I'm a mix of being okay and raw at the idea of having someone so close to me no longer there. She was there every day of my life...from driving me to and from school to later watching Jenny Jones with me in the afternoon when I came home for a break between classes. Even after I moved away, there was comfort in knowing she was there. She was there for every major life event, never faltering in her support, and now all I can think about is how she won't be there to share my getting married or get to tickle her great grandchild**. She's better off now, but what about me?

My grandma was the friendly one. She was the person who would strike up conversation with a stranger in line at the grocery store while my mom and I looked on, wary and skeptical. She was both a bitch on wheels and a woo-er. She snagged my grandpa at the young age of 15 with her charm and was a nursing home favorite with all the staff in her last couple of years. 

She was a strong woman who always told me I could do or be anything I wanted. She was a Navy wife, a preacher's woman, owned a restaurant, raised an amazing daughter, and helped raise her grandkids.

It's my mom and grandpa I worry about most now. My mom lost a mother and a best friend, and my grandpa lost his partner of 61 years. One of my favorite recent memories of her is playing Uno as family when I went to visit at the beginning of this month. Crafty and cunning even as her body was ready to call it quits, she was vicious competitor who liked to pump her arm every time she won a game (and she did win most of them) and knew enough to trick me into thinking she was going to lose by faking a "loopy" spell. Man, she would have kicked ass at Poker.

I love her and miss her, but such is life. I'm just glad I got to spend the years I did with her. Not everybody is so lucky. 

*It seems so much more frank than "passed away".

**IF I ever decide I want children.

Ways to make me happy

One of my new blog obsessions, Naomi over at Rockstar Diaries, has been
posting lists people send her of 10 things that make them happy.

Sometimes you just need to remind yourself of the little things that
make you giddy.

10 Things That Make Me Happy

1. Emails from special people who know just what to say to make you
smile

2. Being caught in a rainstorm with my arms out and head back

3. Train rides along the coast

4. Roadtrips

5. Vintage cameras

6. Oversized sunglasses

7. Red toenails

8. Clear river water running over a rocky bed

9. Photobooths

10. When you can tell they wore cologne or after shave just for you
--
Sent from my T-Mobile Sidekick®

Last Tuesday, instead of hopping on the orange line out to Vienna, I chose a bus to the 9:30 Club to meet gal pal Allie for the Faint concert. It is not unheard of for me to leave my apartment bright and early with an idea for what I would like to do after work only to decide later in the day that my apartment just sounds more inviting. My grand plans to take in a different aspect of this great city fall prey to a long day at work spent saving the world. A girl can get a little tired. That's why I am so glad I was able to tap my energy reserves and make it to the Faint. It.Was.Amazing. I love the Faint (and have been known to proclaim this while pounding a fist to my chest after a couple of drinks). We danced our butts off (well, as much as one can dance their butt off in a small box of space). Everyone shared in the energy of the Faint's driving beats, jumping and writhing. We were sweaty and spent, and I can say without a doubt that there are few better ways to blow off steam after work than dancing with abandon*. Every week should contain this kind of release.


*Helllooooo...have you seen the therapeutic powers of the after work dance on Grey's Anatomy?

Evidently worse than zombies

So I hear that fat people are now a major factor contributing to global warming? I'm sorry, but please excuse me while I haul my giggly legs up on my soapbox and rant.

How convenient that scientists have determined fat people are to blame for much of global warming. Don't get me wrong...I'm not arguing that the way our society consumes food isn't detrimental to the environment, but the study in question makes so many broad assumptions. First off, thinner people don't necessarily consume a lot of food? I know plenty of thin people who eat just as much as your normal fat person. Oh, and let's examine this whole argument that fat people are more apt to drive and not walk. Maybe the scientists should visit my neighborhood and see that, while you may see thin people jogging or walking that 2-mile loop (and we'll ignore the fact that there are larger people doing it, too), they are also just as guilty of hopping in the SUV and driving 2 blocks to pick up groceries. Oh! Oh! I know! If we like stereotypes, what about the fact that I bet thin people are more apt to get married and have sex! This means they are more likely to procreate and have children. Great...more people on the earth to feed and to produce CO2. Damn you, thin people.

If scientists are looking for additional targets, why not look to gardners? Just look at all of the water they waste trying to keep their suburban lawns green. Speaking of green, scientist might want to have a go at golfers for perpetuating the environmental blight known as the golf course. In fact, why don't we let the owners factories, power plants, etc. off the hook and just target rich people? Their need to consume things and buy useless goods has to have a much bigger impact on the environment than your run of the mill fat person. Oh! I've got it! Maybe poor people should be to blame. Studies will probably tell you that they consume more fast food and keep McDonalds, Wendys, and that damn Taco Bell dog in business, and we all know how bad that is after reading Fast Food Nation.

Get a clue. We all suck. We all contribute. And, as for those scientists, they can kiss my big, fat...

Practice

Inspiration

A little bit of what's inspiring and keeping me going lately. What inspires you?

Maira Kalman Lovely illustrations with remarkable lessons we sometimes forget.

The Ruby Press blog. Scroll through their archives for images like this!













Photo by ieve.

The Daily Heller Print Magazine blogger who provides a bevy of inspiration daily.

Faceout Books A new find thanks to the Daily Heller. This guy chronicles book cover design. So awesome. I think the bibliophiles here will love it.

Flickr. Nuf said.
















Photo by extrasupercutie

Electra Bikes Mama want.

All over the map

The past few weeks have found me all over the map. There were a slate of
winter birthdays to celebrate that involved big band dancing, party
favor crafting, and paper crane and paper mache making. Saturday after
Saturday has been filled with balloons and streamers. I hosted brunches
and unwound with wine and worked on a couple of art projects. Work has
also been stressful. Long days, lots of meetings, last minute scrambling
and trips that fizzled. All of these are my excuses for neglecting my
blog.