Our Summer Adventure

Since we first started dating, Ned and I have always talked about our dream roadtrip. Packing everything in the car, rolling down the windows and just driving straight west. Stopping when we see something interesting. Cruising through some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country and seeing it up close, instead of out of some airplane window. Ideally, some sort of retro teardrop trailer would be involved. It’s always been a nice dream, something to plan on for future days.

Well this year we decided to stop saying “sometime” and actually make it happen! In about a month, we’ll be packing up our little car, filling our iphones with audiobooks and heading out on a 3-week do-or-die, no-holds-barred drive across the western half of our big country. All in all, over 5300 miles. We might be insane.

We’ve had a rough plan of attack for a while but the other night we sat down, opened a google doc and started mapping everything out. Google docs is my saving grace for times such as this. Here, my friends, is a short list of all the planned stops we have so far.

Also…if any of you have great recommendations for places to stay/see at any of these stops I’d love to hear ‘em. We’re staying with family in Portland but the rest is all open!

This trip is quite the undertaking, with many chances for a lot to go wrong. But that’s what makes it an adventure, right?

Love of Walks

This might sound obvious but walks are one of my favorite ways to unwind & relax. I’ve recently re-discovered how much I love a long, silent walk by myself. I’m lucky to live so close to Cue that my commute is just a 20 minute walk. I get some time to collect my thoughts and snap some quick pictures along the way. A nice little ritual to rely on. A calm, consistent start and end to each day. I had forgotten how much I need these moments.

Some days walks are silent while other days a soundtrack is needed. In that case, it’s usually something along the lines of Zoe Keating, Billie Holiday, M.Ward and my latest favorite Youth Lagoon.

Simple Things

I came home from work this evening to find a bundle of fresh flowers next to a note with a heart simple little heart scrawled in pencil. How did I get this lucky?

(flowers from Bastian & Skoog)

April Fool

I’m spending my 27th birthday in Chicago, eating at some of my favorite places and then making the 6 hour drive back to Minneapolis with my husband. Couldn’t be happier.

27 is going to be a good year.

Did you guys know…

that March 23rd is National Puppy Day? I finally have an excuse to plaster pictures of puppies all over this thing. Also, it’s a nice reminder about how great animal adoption can be! I don’t have one (yet) but we’re hoping to get a puppy this year and I’m excited to scoop one up and save it from a shelter.

If you’re lucky enough to have a puppy, give them some extra love today.

Fresh Start

Guys….guess what!? Last week I was officially hired on as a designer at Cue, a branding-based design firm here in Minneapolis! I’ve been freelancing there for a few months and couldn’t be more excited to jump on board.

So let’s take look back, shall we? For the past 2 years I’ve been freelancing/running my own business. I LOVED certain aspects of it all but there were other parts I was not so fond of. Last July, when I was feeling particularly aimless, I sat down and wrote this post. I was struggling with a lot of the aspects of working on my own but namely, I realized that I was missing the structure, inspiration and drive that other people provided. I was beginning to question if design was even something that I was meant to do for a living, or if it was just something that I enjoyed doing on the side. That was the hardest part. I’ve always closely identified myself by my career and so when that started to waiver, I freaked out.

After a healthy bit of wallowing & self-pitty, I decided I needed to dive back in head-first. I updated my portfolio, took a fresh look at my work, finished up some long overdue projects and started really planning out where I wanted to be 5 years down the road. Not just dreaming but really figuring out a strategy that would take me there. Through all that, a well-timed email and 3 months of freelance, I landed a really great job that I couldn’t be more excited about.

My point is, we all go through those times of self-doubt or lack of motivation/direction. We fall in and out of love with our field of work. The hard part is realizing that that’s OK! It’s normal, and frankly, healthy to step back and question where you’re going. Just don’t let those little doubts, fears and insecurities chip away at what you know you want.

(image via Cue)

Legit at Last

Well I finally got around to making some business cards. Whoops? Sometimes I feel like the only designer who just isn’t that into business cards. Honestly, I really just wanted to try out the cards from Moo. Both the printing and paper used turned out great…just bummed it took me 2 years to get around to ordering some.

What I Can’t Live Without

We all have those products we use daily, almost religiously. As I was going through some things, I pulled a couple of my own favorites to share with you guys.

My purse always has bobby pins (#4 – and look how cute these mini ones are!), a travel-size Nivea tin (#6) and roll-on perfume (#10). I was unfortunately blessed with some killer under-eye circles that make me look perpetually exhausted so anything I can find to minimize that is gold (#1, #5 & #12). The Cuticle Care (#2) is GREAT for a quick dry-nail fix (much better than just lotion) and the Aveda wax (#7) works on both long and short hair. Best part, all of this stuff can be found at either a drugstore and Saphora or Ulta.