Creole Wisdom

tea time

I've been thinking about what new photographs to hang in the new apartment come August. I haven't really decided on anything, but I think my happy roosters may need to be retired. I love what Jen did in her kitchen, see link here- I may do something similar.

When I was in Ireland I noticed that I loved to take photographs of my breakfast beverage, which let's face it: is almost always tea. Here are three favorites that I hand edited in Photoshop CS5 (love it!) I think they would look especially nice matted in off-white matte with a simple black frame.

Tea Time:

what to do/not do during a storm

Do not:

-Take refuge in a basement (waste of time, tried this once and regretted it)

-Worry that the sky is yellow or gray or some other apocalyptic shade

-Hesitate to get in the car and do errands when it's pitch black and raining sheets

Do:

-Eat fresh mozzarella and crackers

-Check off to-do lists

-Look outside and watch the storm roll in

-Create this:

This is so simple and kind of mindless. I wanted the photos to speak for themselves, I think they did. Can I just say that I hate American Crafts rub-ons? They totally suck, Making Memory's makes way better ones. I'm trying to use up all my stash though, and since I don't use too much on each page I am hardly making a dent. So those pesky AC rub-ons will be with me for a while. 

I'm contemplating doing new spine ids for when I move into the new apt. I think I'll keep all my albums on a bookshelf in my room- all lined up. Then I'm thinking a beautiful or antique basket for mini & blurb books. Hm.

In other news: I have one month left living in Dinkytown! And I f*ck#ng hate dust, I'm not kidding here. Disgusting. You'd think with all the new technology we'd of thought of a way to eliminate dust!

a little look book

For the record, I have been way more creative this summer than any other. I have really no idea why, but I have. I think it's good.

The ad agency I went to asked me to create a photo book for them. Nothing big, just to see some of my work and keep it on hand if they are ever interested in using me at some point. I loved putting this together. It was easy and took probably 2 hours total.

 

  
Like I said, easy to put together- just cardstock, photos and some rings. In the real book all my contact information is visible, obviously, and I think I'm going to remake a few of these for the future. I absolutely love the quality of prints that comes from my Epson Artisan 800, I am very thankful for that.

In other  news I am really tired and need coffee.

my day off

Days off are, well pretty plentiful in my life. I shouldn't complain. I'm sure one day when I'm working a more "normal" job I'll pine for when I had more time and a little less money. Today I wanted to document my new apartment and our search for it. Very simple, just cardstock some patterned paper a few things here and there and most of all: photos + journaling- the bread and butter of this all.

The rest of my day will be spent meeting with the art director of an advertisement agency, doing laundry, going to H&R Block and the bank, making something good and healthy for lunch (out on the balcony with Karen), figuring out to work in exercise (or not, haha), and then off to the wine bar with friends. 

Happy Weekend!

Ireland Blurb Book

I designed and created this Blurb book for my mother's upcoming birthday. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. This is the third Blurb book I've had printed, and I just think it's a pretty damn brilliant idea. Someday I'll order my own.

These photos don't do it justice, truly. I cannot wait for her to open this up on Sunday!

While I love using Blurb software I also made some collages in Big Huge Labs and downloaded some Irish fonts off of Da Font.

Amelia

My grandma passed away almost two weeks ago. She was the closest person to me to die. It was and is incredibly hard. Death is a funny thing, at moments I find myself at peace with her passing and then at other times I wish I could see or speak to her one more time.

Her funeral was beautiful, but so very painful. I am very thankful that my prayers for a still and calm voice while I said the prayers during the service were answered. I loved the poem my Aunt Mary wrote and mom read during mass. The white lilies outside of the church reminded me of her. I know that grandma was looking down and smiling when we sang her favorite grace before having lunch:

Oh the Lord's been good to me

And so I thank the Lord

For giving me the things I need

The sun and the rain and the apple seed

Oh the Lord's been good to me

Amen.

While grandma and I did not see eye to eye on some things, she was an incredibly powerful force in my life. She was a strong woman with an immeasurable influence on her family. She knew everyone in her tiny town and was "like a second mother" to many.

My beautiful grandma Amelia was born in Summit Township in 1923- she survived an alcoholic father, poverty and more pain in her own life that seemed fair. She raised nine children and valued being a stay at home mother. My grandma loved Christmas, Halloween and Independence Day. She had a crazy sense of humor (dressing up in religious clergy clothing and acting silly) and didn't have a racist bone in her body. She loved to make fudge and always had a "goodie bag" in her gigantic purse for sweet-toothed grandchildren.

Speaking of grandchildren she had 25 and 34 great-grand children, too. She told my mother once that, and I quote, "the only form of birth control is self control." Tehehe. She never apologized for having a large family!

Growing up I loved visiting grandma in her giant white farmhouse with the incredible front porch. Dressing up her fantastic costumes, putting tinsel on the Christmas tree, sliding down the wooden slide that my grandpa made for the stairs and playing house or school in the play area in the back hall. As a young adult I learned to respect her points of view, and understand her opinions. Now I will remember my grandma for all the things she was and I hope that many of her good qualities will live on in me.

I love her, and I will truly miss her.

I have always loved this photo of grandma + I. Taken July 2007 at Aunt Mary's House in NY.

a macbook miracle

Hi friends. It's good to be back. Before I talk about saying good bye to my grandma, do I have a funny story for you...

A few weeks ago I noticed that my laptop was working a bit slower, and more concerning- small lines were appearing on my screen. I had no idea what it could be or mean, and I scrounged message boards trying to understand what might be causing it. Unable to figure it out myself I took it into Genius Bar hoping they could fix it in 5 minutes and I would walk away thinking- how silly of me to not realize it was x all along that was causing those lines! 

Nope. Sorry, not this time.

Can I just note that if our medical system was as wonderful and caring as Genius Bar, a lot of people would be healthier and happier. They treat your laptop like it's a child, and realize that your technology is precious to you. I am always impressed with the service there. Which is why I keep purchasing great Apple products year after year after year... (shameless, unpaid* plug done)

The verdict? I would need a new screen, or in the words of the man who helped me, "only the second most expensive part to be replaced." Then I got really scared. He told me I could have it fixed in house for $700 or send it out for $240 where they would fix everything possibly wrong with my laptop, but some or all of my data could be erased. I went with the $240 option.

That night I took my MacBook Pro home and backed up everything on my external hard drive. I truly do not do this as much as I should, but I am glad I did-

The next day I took it back in, with all my personal data erased and everything backed up. As I was waiting for the Genius Bar another Apple employee started to talk to me. He asked me how long I had used Apple products, what I use my laptop for and why I was sending it in. Then he looked at me and said, "we're going to go ahead and pay for your laptop to be fixed*." I was dumbfounded and my hands started to shake. I told him thank-you probably 10 times. When I asked him why he said that he sometimes does this, and that I am a loyal Apple customer and he wanted to do something nice for me.

If that's not a technology miracle I don't know what is.

The kindness of people often amazes me. And there have been a few thank-you cards and a call to Apple headquarters about this nice manager who helped me out.

So, here I am today blogging on my refurbished MacBook Pro. I've got a new screen and hard drive. It's faster and I've cleaned out my iphoto and started over (backed up all my photos, naturally). I feel very lucky and thankful.

slowing down

A few reasons why blogging may be a bit slow for a while:

My grandma died yesterday (mom's side). Death is a part of the life cycle, and my faith is strong as to where people go after this life, but it's still a lot to deal with–

My beloved macbook pro screen is worn out, so I have to pay a hefty bill (well, not too horrible) and send it in to be replaced– so no computer for about a week. 

I am taking this time to read and pray and create. I just ordered several photos from shutterfly. I'm making a list of things I want to do in Dinkytown before I move. I'm still taking photos everyday. 

Both events remind me: we have no control often over what is thrown at us. But, we can control our actions and reactions. 

I had a fabulous 4th of July weekend up in McGregor where I was completely unplugged and did things like: read books, laughed with friends, tried not to be devoured by mosquitoes and cooked a s'mor for an Irish boy who had never had one (he loved it!) It was a great way to celebrate this nation. 

apartment hunting, the final chapter

I know you've all been dying for an update on my apartment search. Well, I signed a lease on Monday along with Becky and Kate. Here's the story:

We all initially thought that we wanted to be in uptown. There are a few natural patterns in Minnesota living step one: college & life in Dinkytown step two: Uptown step three: suburbs. I'm not kidding. So, we wanted to follow in the natural progression.

Then we started looking at properties. And we had little luck. One place would be in a good neighborhood, but it still had the original kitchen sink dating back to the turn of the century, another would have tons of space and be in a so–so part of uptown. It was no hit and a lot of miss. Early on we did look at a property near Lake Harriet, farther away from the center of uptown, but still close to things we liked: the lakes, stores/coffee shops nearby.

Three bedrooms, a pretty bead-board bathroom, fireplace... The only catch was, it was a bit out of what we wanted to spend. So I asked the landlord if he would go done, and he did! Despite getting another offer from another party for the amount he was asking for he gave it to us for less. How's that for luck?

On Monday we signed and took another peak at the apartment. I am so excited. A new place to live, a nicer one at that, for less money than what I am paying now and... lots of new space to decorate. This is going to be good.

I took a moment to walk around the neighborhood for a bit, which I know well since one of my favorite shops is there– there's a new yoga studio and this shop that sells flavored olive oils. I think I'm moving to the right area.

Move in time is end of August/early September. We are all looking forward to this, and what do you think my mind is consumed of these days?

Should I get a red couch, or do a brown one with pretty marimekko pillows sewn by me? A lone green tea colored wall in my bedroom, or the prettiest pale blue: violet light? Rooster + chicken photos by me in the kitchen or pretty plant photography instead? TV out, or tucked away in a painted thrifted armoir? ... you get the idea!