Ikealand

As with most residential moves comes the fun task of new things. Things to make the place you live the home in which you live.
A few days ago I traveled to Ikealand. That is -- the Land that is IKEA.
I thank my lucky stars and I browsed online before I acutally went in. Whew!
The Krebbs Boys and I began our journey without reading the Laws of the Land which I am sure perfectly describe how one is to experience and function in the Land. We blindly browsed through the store carefully stopping at all of the displays and then somewhere along the way the pace seemed to pick up. This mission to find cool things was on.
We saw the kitchen shelves, that I had been online eyeing for days, beautifully displayed in a mock kitchen. sold. As the miles of "rooms" seemed to get longer we hurried our pace and began power walking through the store but the end seemed no where in sight! At one point Chris saw the sun shining through a window and shouted "Look! The Outside!"
The trek through the displays ended at the same point that the Pick-It-Up-Yourself-Because-Thats-How-It-Works-Here section began. Then came the miles the display items modern and minimally packaged for your own carrying convenience. We saw the shelves and decided that grabbing them ourselves was a great idea! -- had we read the Laws of the Land we might have know that was the only idea.
I lingered too long in the Bedding and somehow lost the Krebbs Boys. I assumed they were just ahead of me but as my gait became a full-on run I couldn't find them anywhere. To my left Home Storage and to my right Bathroom Accessories and The End was no where in sight. I had a minor panic attack. And then decided that I would have to forge forward without the Boys.
After the Pick-It-Up-Yourself-Because-Thats-How-It-Works-Here section ended the Massive-Warehouse section began!
My cell phone calls went unanswered and by that point I was running through the Land trying desperately to reach the end.
Relief! The checkout was in sight and the Boys had found a cozy patio bench to rest themselves. As we were checking out I pointed to the chandelier that was part of my mission and told the cashier I would take that as well. He looked at me like I was crazy and at that point another employee told us that we had to get it ourselves. "Its in the Lighting Department." (thanks.)
I looked up at Jonathan with desperation in my eyes and I knew that I was the only one who wanted that chandelier enough to brave the Land again. I handed my things to Jonathan and said
"Im going back in."
Success! I got my chandelier. The Knappa.

DAM finds

Although the Lubbock weather was crazy this weekend (66 degrees and windy during the beginning of May!) the Downtown Art Market was great fun!
This month was our first one back since November, before Baby Meg was born. It was delightful to see all of our Art Market friends and catch up with who is doing what and where the creative minds have been.

I broke even. Meaning I spent the same amount of money at the Art Market as I made at the Art Market. But I think that is what it is all about anyway. Supporting the community in which we too live.
One of my favorite vendors Summer Studios brought it to the Market. I couldn't leave without purchasing these beautiful one-of-a-kind ceramic earrings --

I am so happy and proud to be a part of such a wonderful community!

Having guts always works out for me.

Things in my life are ending. Just as things in my life are beginning.
I am bracing myself for the wave of much needed change that is upon me.
AND
I am finally feeling the spark of inspiration that I lost somewhere back there.

Although tempting, I refrained from reading the newest book in my collection from cover to cover. Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far by Stefan Sagmeister
Reading the pages of this book felt like seeing a movie and leaving with the impossible feeling of wanting to see it again for the first time.
I read 10 of the 15 mini books yesterday & today and I think I will save the last 5 for a special day.

Sagmeister explains the culmination of this "experimental" work that came from his year long sabbatical in which he "would design no projects for clients but investigate how the work would change with no outside briefs or deadlines attached."
"Veteran designers Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar (of Chermayeff & Geismar fame) told me they had been planning a similar move for the past fifty years."


I need a bigger book shelf.

blooming

Flowers, from the one you love, for absolutely no reason could brighten any day!
Just the other day I was wishing (to myself) that he was the kind of boy that gave flowers just because -- and then I realized that HE IS the kind of boy that gives flowers just because!

We are 2 weeks away from moving into our new house and I am learning new things about him everyday. What an exciting time in life <3

"Longevity" eh?

The "greenest" way to start the greenest (Earth) day?..
Green Drink.

Yesterday, I spent the most amount of time in my entire life in the produce department searching for things i have never even heard of, only to spend the most amount of money in my entire life on the produce i have never even heard of.

But I believe it was money very well spent.

The Green Drink concoction started early this morning. Me cutting and measuring things and Jon forcefully stuffing them into the blender. I was a little hesitant-- as I am with most things but the sight of Jon (literally) chugging the Green Drink made me dive right in.


And as I read in a few blogs it really did taste like "salad in a glass". Not too bad!!

The effects were instant.

I am a habitual coffee drinker. I gave up on limiting my coffee intake to only the weekdays a few months ago. And I am now a 1-3 cup of black coffee kinda girl. So as the word "habit" implies-- i arrived at work and poured my first cup, took a sip..... ..
and that is where that cup of coffee sat all day. I was so energized by what must have been the Dr. Fuhrman's Miracle Green Drink that i needed not the caffeine induced boost today!

And more importantly I felt a little smarter today. a little braver. As i told my co-worker Sarah -- " I don't know if the World could handle me on the Green Drink everyday." :D

Gettin' Grown

For the first time in my life i can actually feel my growing pains.
The pains of gettin' grown.

I am traveling the path between who i used to be and who i am becoming.
the person i used to be has been naturally easy to let go of and i am quite comfortable letting the person i am becoming move on in.

I am now officially a "morning person". not by choice. But rather because i just get tired early and then my body wakes up early.
(Oh, and all of this is aided by the fact that Jonathan is the happiest ray of sunshine the morning has ever seen). so i too, am coming around to the idea.
For the first time in my life, i actually owed money to the IRS for my income taxes. ! which i am sure is what happens when one is found somewhere between a young adult -- and dare i say -- AN ADULT.

Thoughts that have never crossed my mind have as of late:
Do i belong in the Misses or Ladies section?
Am i too old to wear pig tails?
Could i plant a garden?
Is it inappropriate to have Ugly Dolls, pez dispensers and musical monkeys in my office?

As I wrap up my first year as an internship supervisor or as my interns like to say "Boss" -- i realize that i am no longer "that kid". That hungry kid who couldn't get enough.
And lately i have felt a slip in my creativity... or at least in the way i find it. It is just different than it used to be. Just as with all things -- Gettin' Grown is not easy -- but i am embracing it.

Treasures

I spent a few hours a few Sundays ago sifting through larges piles of old, found, vintage, costume and disregarded by one yet collected by another jewelry. It was a small portion of a large collection from that of Jonathan's late "G Dad" who once mapped the ocean floor in a submarine and "found" over $10,000 in change throughout his lifetime.

I love jewelry but have never really been one to buy a lot of it. My almost-everyday earrings a bridesmaid gift from my sister's wedding, my favorite silver ring a birthday gift from my mother, my Nixon Rotolog an exchange mistake and gift from my friend Tom, and my precious gold cocktail ring a Banana Republic clearance find.

The G Dad finds are truly treasures.

Apple strikes again!

The Apple Magic Mouse is one of my favorite Apple products!
i've had mine for almost 2 months now and just realized how much I love it.

I spent the last 4 years with an ergonomic 3M mouse that worked wonders for my carpal tunnel so I was a little skeptical when making the switch.

The first few days i found the Magic Mouse to be too heavy and hard to keep under control. My carpal tunnel surfaced again for the first time in years. i considered the idea that maybe the Magic Mouse and i were simply not meant to be. but then.. with the "click of a finger" it all changed and became very natural.
i fell in love with my Magic Mouse and i am sure he fell in love with me too :)

Last week, i traded out my Magic for the 3M due to low batteries and i realized how natural the Magic and i had grown to work together. i dearly missed the one finger scrolling and zooming options and found the 3M "cord" cumbersome. So, with fresh batteries locked and loaded in my Magic Mouse i am free to mouse wirelessly, scroll right/left/up and down, shortcut right click and zoom all with the magic touch a my hand!

nixon now.. and again

Nixon -- another brand i have grown faithful to.
Last week I found this watch buried deep within the archives of bracelets, charms, necklaces and rings that i once loved, could never get rid of, but will never wear again..
i instantly remembered that i discontinued the wear of my beloved watch because of a loose clasp. well!, i took the watch to a repair shop immediately -- a new clasp, a new battery, and $27 later -- I have a new watch!

i cant recall exactly what year i got it or where i bought it from but i know i have found love again.

this watch, which apparently is not available anymore, is clearly the coolest women's watch Nixon has made to date. its more like a bracelet than a watch. lightweight and very functional.

time frames and deadlines are a part of my everyday life -- so if i wear a watch it is under constant observation. however, things are different when i wear this watch! -- checking the time is an option requiring a small flip of the face, kinetic movement, to know what time it is. brilliant!

Something really Fantastic

OH! Of course. One of my all time favorite design firms working with my all time favorite film maker. Thats all.

The Making of Fantastic Mr.Fox

"Wes Anderson was closely involved in the book design. He provided Hyland with his starting point, the book Truffaut by Truffaut, and worked in conjunction with the Pentagram team, approving overall structure, layouts and use of font."

Oh to be so lucky.

Dear Wes Anderson,
I have cleared my schedule for the rest of my life in anticipation of working with you on your next film/book design.
Love, The Office of Val Brown