Friday Optimism

All these posters come from the Detroit Institute of Art and Let's Save Michigan's Poster Contest. 

Michigan needs some saving lately. I love the use of art to promote social change. Plus, these posters are just plain awesome. (the 3rd one down is my friend ian's - he made the figures from clay!). I love how this site focuses on all of the positives surrounding us here in the Mitten State. 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, darlings! It's supposed to be a snowy one here, and I vow to stop complaining, put on a brave face, and enjoy the little bit of winter left (power of positive thinking?).

Latest Addiction

My craftiness really goes in spurts. I am constantly inspired by things I see on blogs, in shops, and all around me every day. This means I have way too many craft supplies that have only been used for a couple of things, and that I never really perfect any one venture before moving on. It also means I have a rockin' collection of crafty supplies.

Making these little notebooks might be my addiction for a while. I'm loving my padding compound and cutting up fun collections of paper. Here's a couple of my latest ventures:

This little Love Notes book is 3" by 2.5" - perfect for slipping into the pocket of someone near and dear. Made from recycled gift boxes and the pages are from old maps, construction paper, and catalogue paper.

I like this how this sketchbook turned out, too. The cover is made from an Arbor Brewing Company six-pack box, and the pages are from are artist's sketch paper (out of an old, half-used book i had laying around). It's only 5" by 4".

I love being able to reuse all this random paper that would otherwise end up in our recycling bin. And I'm a little addicted to notebooks... but there is no way I can fill all of these little ones. My poor family should be prepared to get these for all upcoming holidays!!

Real People In Love

I feel like I talk about Matthew and I and all our adventures a lot around these parts, but I don't often get into nitty-gritty relationship details and such. Have a few burning questions about the little things that make our relationship work??

The lovely Cole at Love and Happiness featured our love story today on her absolutley wonderful blog, Adventures in Love and Happiness.

Make sure you stop by some of the other love stories she's featured. They are wonderful!

Oh, and happy Wednesday!

You know you are truly successful when...

You get asked to do a cameo on Sesame Street.

(feist sings one, two, three)

(jack black teaches about octagons)

(jake gyllenhaal teaches about separate)

(larry king and the letter w)

(so this little girl isn't famous, but she definitely takes the cake for cuteness)

Sigh. What I wouldn't give to spend the morning with a big bowl of cereal and Sesame Street circa 1988. I bet I would learn all sorts of new stuff!

What was your favorite show when you were little?? 

Back to the Real World

Our Chicago get-away was beyond wonderful. Having four straight days of lovey-dovey time and adventures were spectacular. Going to work this morning pretty much sucked. 

 I'm usually the queen supreme of trip documentation, but for some reason, I failed this time. So just a few snaps:

Our lovely hotel, one block from the John Hancock Building.

The king size bed that we didn't have to share with a puppy bed-hog.

View from one of our long walks. We love walks. Especially ones that lead through Lincoln Park Zoo.

While wandering around on Saturday evening, waiting to meet a good friend for dinner, we were handed super great 3D glasses. That turned all light points into smiley faces. For the fireworks that started over the river a half hour later.

Waiting for fireworks to start!

Here's what we don't have pictures of: shopping, walk walk walking, eating way too much food, checking out cool neighborhoods and scoping them out for walkability and dog-friendliness, apartment looking, friend visiting, local pub finding, and grocery store snooping. 

Since both of our jobs are one-year positions, we're beginning to look for jobs outside of our beloved state. Because, amazing Mitten state or not, we do rank 50th out of all 50 states for unemployment and economy and all things that make futures bright. And Chicago has everything we're looking for in a city, and is still only a 3 hour drive from 'home.' 

So we came home with a few answers and a few more questions. All in all, a wonderful getaway.

(oh, and i think winslo missed us)

Weekend away

Sorry for my recent absence around these parts. Matt and I are enjoying a long weekend in Chicago. We're shopping, exploring, meeting up with friends, and just loving being together. I promise to check in soon!

Cupcakes - Attempt No. 1

Step One: Choose a cupcake recipe. I thought Martha's One Bowl Cupcakes looked like something I could handle. And Dark Chocolate Frosting a la Martha, as well. And of course, perfectly chocolatey enough.

Step Two: Gather supplies and invite a friend over who has just as little baking experience as you do. Then when you wonder about the difference between baking soda and baking powder, you will be equally stumped. The adorable Katie B joined me on this adventure.

Step Three: Somehow turn one bowl cupcakes into two bowl cupcakes. And make sure you remember: Cocoa powder only looks tasty. (Oh admit it - you've made that mistake recently. It just smells SO good!)

Step Four: Realize you don't have any stick butter for the frosting, and then glance at the cupcakes already in the oven. Send dear baking partner-in-crime out to pick some up. Then attempt to soften by placing under the fridge (like katie's mom used to do??). Then stand guard to shoo away curious puppies.

Step Five: Mix frosting and improvise a paper bag for a wire rack. Eat more frosting then will go on a single cupcake. This frosting is AMAZING, people!

Step Six: Frost and decorate for Valentine's day, because that was what was 50% off at the store. And because hearts are always in style!

Step Seven: Prepare to taste your beautiful creation. Wave your thumbs up in the air to show your excitement.

Step Eight: Bite into cupcakes. Make excited noises about how good they are. Then make eye contact with your baking partner, notice she is faking her smile. Realize that something is definitely not quite right with the cake portion.

Step Nine: Examine recipe. Realize you both thought the other person was adding the vanilla. Wish Winslo could eat chocolate so you could get rid of just a few of your TWO DOZEN vanilla-less cupcakes.

Step Ten: Decide to stick to cookies from now on!

Fat Tuesday or How I learned to be a good Polish Wife

My last name, which used to be so short and sweet, now contains the consonant combination of sz. And ends in ski. And since marrying into a Polish family, I've come into contact with many forms of breaded pockets filled with things (perogis, stuffed cabbage, etc...)

Today, though, I ate devoured a paczki (pronounced pont-ski) for the first time. And it was amazing. By far my favorite breaded pocket yet!

We headed out to my favorite local Pastry shop - Vans. 

Oh my, look at that dream of a pastry!

Matt is from the north side of Detroit, where Polish families reign supreme. He has introduced me to all sorts of cool traditions, all of which revolve around food (my favorite kind of tradition!)

Our friends, Jared and Sarah - not new to Paczkis at all!

Some of the amazing cookie jars on display - yes, that is a hamburger. They also have one of Michael Jordan in traditional Space Jam uniform!

So I went and wikipedia-ed paczki's. I can't believe I missed such a yummy tradition all these years. Interesting paczki facts: In Hamtramack, a Polish-American suburb outside of Detroit, there is a Paczki Parade every year on Fat Tuesday. Check out this video:

Is your mouth watering yet? I might have to go back and get another! 

Happy Paczki Day, loves!

Wonderful Weekend

What a lovely weekend! 

It was filled with heart garlands:

Late night dance parties to David Bowie with Lindsay and Dave (who like to play dress up with Winslo)

Sunday brought lots of cuddling on the couch:

Being inspired to join a roller derby-

(my roller derby name would be Snarls Barkley, if you have to know...we are now officially on a hunt for a roller derby in greater Grand Rapids)

Then deciding on a late night photo shoot:

Matthew decidedly does NOT like Valentine's day. In fact, I made him a little something but I'm saving it for a random time to surprise him. Even so, he woke me up early yesterday morning saying, "Where do you want to go for your Valentine's breakfast date??" We went to the delicious Real Food Cafe and snagged seats at the bar within 5 minutes of walking in. Then, he (GASP) took me to Schuler's, our favorite local bookstore, so I could browse for as long as I wanted. Yes, I married a man who doesn't like sitting in bookstores, and yes, I knew this before we got married. Everything else was just to perfect to resist :)

So now it's Monday, and I have a whole-wide week off stretching out in front of me. I'm going to be doing lots of crafting, lots of blogging, maybe some cleaning? And I think I'm going to tackle baking cupcakes. Because for all my crazy adventures in the kitchen, I have NEVER made cupcakes from scratch! 

So, how was your weekend? Did you do anything surprising?

Trying my hand at fill in the blanks Friday!!

I loved making my little list yesterday, that Lauren's Fill in the Blank Friday was more than I could resist!

1. I am hoping my Valentine's day this year includes,   a long walk with the pup, long conversations over good food, and some homemade love. And maybe some homemade chocolate cupcakes that I don't have to make myself!

2. My biggest guilty pleasure is  KARAOKE! I love it, and can't seem to stop going to our favorite dive bar to sing my hear out!

3. I am most proud of  getting such a perfect job right out of college. Even if it is only a one-year gig, I love going to work every day and having an impact on families and little ones!

4. If I could choose one outfit to live in it would be   my favorite tall brown boots, skinny jeans, and a cardigan. 

5. People are   inspiring! I can't imagine the world without such different people to interact with each day - I am inspired to my core each day by the creativity, joy, and love of other people!

6. I would rather    make a gift     than   buy one  .

7. I love my  hubby's pictures  more than  any I could ever take myself, and I love to take pictures. 

Happy Friday, loves! Hope you find some sunshine in the little things this weekend and have time to reflect on all the love in your life!

always, sometimes, never

Laura, over at madness of mundanity is currently hosting a fabulous vintage camera themed giveaway. As I love cameras and vintage and lists, I couldn't help but join in the fun! To enter, you have to complete the saying of 'I always/sometimes/never...'

I always:

check the sale racks first

have the best of intentions

say 'i love you' before hanging up

cry during hallmark commercials and extreme makeover home edition

I sometimes:

remember to floss my teeth

eat dessert first

forget to be grateful

think with my heart

I never:

go to bed angry

read the last page of a book to find out what happens 

miss a chance to wear my galoshes in the rain

say no to a chance to go thrift store shopping!

That was fun... if you want a chance to enter, head over here.

itty bitty love letters

Sometimes, the littlest notes can have the biggest impact.

A little note I made Matt, just for fun. He has kept it hanging on the wall ever since:

While away for a week, I made Matt a little package of things to open each day so he wouldn't miss me too much :) I put notes inside tennis balls, made a lovey dovey mix and left little goodies. Here's Wednesday's card:

Love notes: elementary school edition. I hid the note under his pillow back before we lived together, so he'd get a surprise when he went to sleep:

the card was made from a kid's book from the 1960's. I loved the way the little boy stares at the little girl.

So all this posting about love notes makes me want to do something extra creative this year. I think I still have time...

Are you making anything fun for your significant other or friends this year? Can you throw a little inspiration my way? I'd love to know what you are making!! 

Mi Amor

Translation:

Diego, my love,

Remember that once you finish the fresco we will be together forever once and for all, without arguments or anything, only to love one another.

Behave yourself and do everything that Emmy Lou tells you.

I adore you more than ever. Your girl, Frida

(Write me)

Okay, so this little letter is obviously not mine. But I love every bit of it. Not just because I love the crazy romance of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera... I love the tattered scrap envelope. The note to 'behave yourself'. The lipstick kiss (oh! the lipstick kiss!!)! 

(letter from here)

THE Journal (love letters, continued)

You know that little book I made Matthew for Valentine's day?? Well, it was nothing compared to what he had given me for my previous birthday.

We had been dating about a month when my birthday rolled around - a birthday I would be spending hiking a 20 mile section of the Appalachian Trail with my good friend, my brother, and my dad. A birthday miles away from computers, cell phone reception, and showers. An amazing way to turn 22 (but that's a different story).

About a week before we left, he gave me this little waterproof case (and yes, he made the stencil on the front. he is amazing). 

Inside was this book:

He had taken the pages out and stitched in pages made of recycled paper bags. 

Each set of pages had pictures he had taken and found places... notes he had written and scraps of paper he had found.

I was able to write my many, many thoughts each day on a lovely backdrop.

my favorite page:

(the typed lyrics from our song)

Um yeah. I should have known as soon as I opened the journal that he was the man I would marry. A Jerry Maguire moment: "You had me at journal..."

(oh, and I'm debating... do you want to see a couple more love letters? this one pretty much takes the cake, everything else pales in comparison! but i was awfully excited and i love bragging about my man!)