Creole Wisdom

the jig is up

Source: eplans.com via Katie on Pinterest

I have a little secret and I think it's time to share. No, no one is getting married. My secret is this: I want to live out of the city, out of the suburbs and yes, in the country. Here is how I know: whenever I leave my apartment for a weekend or trip somewhere rural I am immediately happy and I feel at peace. Just getting out of the city, the traffic and all the noise makes a huge difference for my mood. Wait, I know what you are thinking: that's just because you are going on vacation. Perhaps you are right, but I don't think so. It goes a little further than that for me.

You see, my roots are rural. My mother grew up in a small town and my father's dad grew up on a farm. I grew up in the suburbs and they are just fine. Here are my reasons why I would like to live in the country:

-Stars at night. I would like to see them every night.

-Quiet at night. I would like to sleep without hearing sirens, cars and sometimes people.

-Nature and wildlife. Of course I would be photographing everything constantly. I was admiring some heather and golden rod on the side of the highway yesterday, how sad is that?

-Room for a big house. Yes, I would like a huge house someday. I also would like to have about five children. Go big or go home.

-Less shopping temptation. This is ridiculous, I know, but if I didn't live so close to such incredible shopping I might spend less and then save more.

-People leave you alone. Okay so I don't know if that's true, but sometimes you just want your own space to do as you want.

-Nice people. This is relative. Every visit and time spent in small towns (and I've racked it up) has been pretty positive for me. People, I think because they see each other, tend to be better about interpersonal relationships. Maybe I'm wrong.

That being said I currently love where I live and think Minneapolis is perfect. Still, someday I will hopefully live a bit farther out.

Who else is with me?

on a gloomy saturday

Well summer came and then winter came back for the weekend, of course. Kate and I were very gloomy. Becky up and left us for an excursion to Texas and I missed K so badly (I'm such a baby and cry on the phone to him when I cannot see him, but then he says too-sweet-for-the-blog-things and by gosh I guess I'm in love.)

I was up early to shoot images in Excelsior for The Magazine. I met all sorts of wonderful people, but it was cold and I had to wear a jacket, which of course caused me to mope a bit. However, it must be said, that I completely plan on settling in Excelsior one day, it's perfection in a town.

Afterwards, Kate and I did what any decent young women would do: first a quick stop to Pinestone Manor (that'd be the deliciously perfect home of Kate's parents) and then to our little Linden Hills duplex for a two hour nap only to decide on Cafe Latte for dinner.

I got what I always do and was sad to see that sprouts are no longer available. Then Kate told me it was because they are a "food safety risk." That my friends is reason #341 why boo boo is my best friend, she lets me in on things I would otherwise never know.

So what do you do when you're gloomy with your best friend?

the goal list. end date.

Are you curious to know how I did? I didn't achieve it all, but here are a few that I did do:

3. Buy a new pair of running and walking shoes

4. Volunteer at five events (1-Photographed a church fundraiser, 2-8 taught a photography class to the elderly)

6. Purchase three new pieces of jewelry from local designers

10. Purchase new pillows for my bed (made them)

11. Get work in the communications industry (The Magazine, ya!)

12. Go fishing

13. Buy Ireland Blurb Books

14. Find an antique dresser and refinish it (I re-did the one I do have, and I love the new look)

15. Purchase new towels and have them monogrammed (mom beat me to this and gave me some as a birthday gift)

18. Find a job/internship at a local magazine (see #11)

19. Read at least 5 books (read 8)

20. Get a subscription to two magazines/newspapers (Food Everyday, Martha Stewart and Real Simple)

21. Really launch a photography website

22. Keep my weekends as work-free as possible

 

What just didn't happen:

1. Pay off my credit cards

2. Work out 3 times a week at the very least (I was very good until summer hit)

5. Go to a flea market (could NOT find one for the life of me. Very disappointing)

7. Make my own cleaning products & use them (sorry, scrubbing bubbles works really great)

8. Save 10% of every paycheck, and give 10% to church (live happily, and gratefully off the remaining 80%)

9. Continue to read the Bible and journal everyday

16. Document what we eat at dinner club and with Emma in my journal

17. Create a plan for grandpa's photos

23. Have a meaningful phrase, quote, or symbol made into something (letters, photos, necklace)

 

I pray and hope I can do better this year, maybe I'll take you along for the ride by blogging through it more and that might keep me better accountable. We shall see.

Christmas chop

It's t-minus three days until Christmas and lucky for me my hair is cut and my toes are painted. I love my stylist at Marc Daniel. Courtney is the best. I know when I'm driving up to Maple Grove it's for one of two reasons, I'm going to visit Karen at her parent's home or else I'm getting my hair chopped. I went short, dear readers.

I was a little nervous for K to see me. We know how men can get about women's hair. I said over the phone "it's going to be very short." He said he loved it. Whew. Just kidding, I knew he would.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some photo shoots to do for The Magazine, and a cookie party to prep for.

I'm okay with a hammer

For my dad's birthday, I decided to hang some artwork and photographs. It's hard to get things up on the wall, but to me that's one of the differences between a house and a home. This was long overdue and I'm glad I could sneak this in while he was away on business.

Dad admired the food photography in my kitchen so much that I had to do the same for him. He's got more wall space so I settled on doing six images, including one shot of potatoes that I took on our farmer's market trip a few weeks ago.

That little canvas below the cool clock from Crate and Barrel? Painted by me circa 1992 :) Dad has always love this and it's never really found a spot on a wall. Now it has- I love it, too. I actually remember painting this and was rushing through it just wanting to be done. I showed it to dad sort of like 'ya here we go another painting, no big deal,' and he loved it. I was honesty shocked at his positive reaction. That was the moment where I learned that it's often not about the amount of effort put in but the product you put out and how it's received.

a little "autumnal"

The people I nanny for crack me up. They are funny, and sometimes remind me of characters in an Emily Giffin book (in a good way). Yesterday they asked if I would pick up some fall items to add an "autumnal touch" to their home. Baby O and I had a blast picking out pumpkins and Indian corn- we even did an art project and painted a pumpkin until O cried. He just wanted to play with his dump truck. Oh boys :) Here's what I did:

the bad & the good

The bad news is my room still looks like this. It never has looked this bad. Wow, someone commit me. Yes, I am ocd and this is killing me.

The good news is I'm home and about ready to start a really nice fall schedule, God is a God of miracles and... the cowboy and I are getting together friday I think (yes, I have read Pioneer Woman's blog and love it).

So excuse me why I go clean up all the $%#& in my room :)

a cupcake for your thoughts...

It's crunch time dear readers, crazy crunch time.

I've got:

•Two good byes to friends- Alicia and Claire are leaving the country. Ugh, I hope I don't cry.

•A move... ugh, it's going to be so fun (not. I hate and love moving all at the same time)

•A bedroom and a bathroom to paint (fun... maybe?)

•An insaine amount of work to do at The Magazine

•Two trips coming up: up north and out east

•Another photo shoot tonight

•My Aunt's party Friday

•A date tomorrow (eek)

•The Fair with Emma possibly on Sunday

•And a new work schedule starting soon

So I think I'll take a little break and be back soon with some good updates about all of the above. Why is it that the last weeks of August and the first weeks of September are so nuts? I should run away...

In the meantime, I'll leave you with this:

Damsels in the Dark

Last night I did my usual bedtime routine, meander slowly to the bedroom and put on my new pjs (thanks Target). Karen and I chatted for a bit in her room and then I headed off to get my rest. Or so I thought…

Then our power went out.

Of course calling our joke of a property manager* several times did not help. Of course he didn’t get back to us. Karen and I were irate. “What if this was a more serious emergency?” “You know damn well he doesn’t go to bed at 11pm” “he looked like a frog in his wedding photos.” Tehehe.

So step one, try to do it your own damn self, find the fuse box in the silence of the lambs basement. All was well down there, and while our main floor power was on the upstairs (where our bedrooms are) was not.

Naturally we started to call every boy we knew. Thankfully Brian and his friend Elliot were at a bar and left to help us. We opened the door, and let’s just say we were happy to see them.

By this point it was 1 a.m. and we were thrilled to be getting some help.

Down we went to the basement again, and I’m not going to even tell you about the animal skeletons in the coal chute. Yuck.  Whoops, guess I just did.

Elliot figured out that there must be a second fuse box, and since our top floor was an addition it had to be up there. And what do ya know,..he was correct! Karen led us all up to Jackie’s amazing closet and we flipped the switches of that fuse box.

And… all was well. We’re so lucky to have these Minnesota boys to help us out, *well some of them…

Of course this reminded me of Girl Scout camp when my leader could not put the tent together for the life of her and I turned and said, “we need a man.” Yeah, that went over real well.

Once and a while, you just need a man, and sometimes, it’s just nice to be rescued.

a little cocktail party

When T.G.I. Friday's contacted me about throwing a party featuring their ready-to-serve cocktail drinks and offered me $200 to do it, I could not say no. I had such a good time throwing together this little vintage-y summer themed soiree. It was too much fun, and I don't know about you, but I never get to spend that much money on a party. So it was time to go all out, and have some fun, too. Here's what I did:

Don't these pretzels and gummy worms look good? It's too hot to be slaving over a stove, so I made desserts that were easy. For the pretzels, just dip in melting chocolate (use the microwave!) and garnish with sprinkles... Do you see that the gummy worms have faces?

The snack spread, which Karen so sweetly helped me throw together: blue and hint of lime chips, salsa, queso, pretzels with chocolate and brownies. We also added celery sticks and apples to dip in peanut butter... you know, let's keep it healthy, or you can just be like me and drink the whole time and eat three chips! That beautiful table cloth and handkerchief on top the cake stand are both from my grandma.

Karen snapped this little number for me- see the fun polka dot streamers she added? It was fun to throw on this dress, a string of pearls and my great-great aunt Rosie's pin. Vintage indeed, now where's my Don Draper?!?

I could not ask for a better guest list, it so fun to see Allison and her love Jason- and Emma looked smashing in her pretty black dress and platforms. I was lucky to have Claire, Becky and Margaret come by, too. My friends are fine! PS- don't you adore Karen's sexy frock here? I love it.

What made this party so easy... T.G.I. Friday's cocktails- all you have to do is blend with ice, not too hard. Yes, the alcohol is already mixed in, very easy- I told you so! The margarita came in first, followed closely by the pina colada. Not too shabby.

 

Now, every party has a surprise guest. And wouldn't you know that my lovely Big Bro Dan moved back in town and was able to make it (in his company car, hahaha- sounds so "mature.") We were glad to have him!

Later- we decided that those streamers would be better headbands. Don't you think? I loved Becky's pretty red number here, and she had lipstick to match!

  
I loved my guests, they made the party what it was, and I am thankful that my drinks were easy to fix, tasty and fun.
 
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