Blog Design

You've probably noticed that I've done a little housecleaning around here! As you probably remember, a blog redesign was one of my Tackle 10 projects. There'll still be a few tweaks here and there as I refine things, but I'm happy with it!

Tackle 10

Quote from Frank Borman

I've had a certain restlessness in me lately. Maybe it's the weather - things are warming up - or, more likely, it's due ot the fact that Three Oranges has finally launched and I can take (a bit) of a step back to breathe. I'm also realizing that I need other creative outlets besides Three Oranges to be happy. So I'm working on getting back into project mode, blogging more regularly, etc. It's exciting!

I've decided that the best way to ease back into things is to tackle just 10 projects for the remainder of this year. 10 seems like a perfect number - it will keep me busy but still allow me to grow Three Oranges, and attend to all of the other little things that life can bring. So here's what I'm plotting....

FINISH A PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT
I have a few project ideas stewing, some which I've already started and others that are just little seeds that need to be watered. I think it's always good to have personal projects, especially if you use your creative skills in a business capacity. It reconnects you with why you fell in love with your field in the first places, and allows you to expand your creative skills, which means - yup - a better business.

FIX UP MY BALCONY
Ever since I moved into this apartment I've been talking about fixing up my balcony with plants, lanterns, and a nice chair and table set. I've even invested in a few urban gardening books, which I have yet to use. This year I plan to actually put my ideas into action!

HANG ART AND DECORATE MY WALLS
If you walked into my apartment today, you wouldn't believe that I'm a HUGE art lover. My walls are shockingly bare, especially in my bedroom. I have a few prints that need framing, and there's one piece that I saw last year at an art show that I just can't stop thinking about. As far as I'm concerned, this is license buy!

START PROJECT LIFE
Ever since I started following Elise's blog, I've been admiring her Project Life prowess. I tend to think that my day to day existence is pretty dull, but Elise has shown me that there's magic to be found in everyday moments, and that those should be committed to memory. Time goes by SO incredibly fast and I want to be able to look back and have a record of all of these incredibly, tiny moments. I hope to start my own Project Life on July 1st.

READ FIFTY BOOKS
I try to do this every year, but the past few years have slilpped through my fingers. It is tough, but doable. Time to try again!

ARTIST DATE
The concept of the Artist Date is taken from The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. She encourages creatives to take one day a week to take themselves out on a date - alone - to see/make/do something creative. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just some time to get out and let go of the craziness of the week. I plan to mix it up by going out and sometimes staying in and doing things like watching films, baking, writing, etc. I also plan to continue doing my monthly creative retreats!

TRY A NEW PROJECT/CRAFT/ACTIVITY
I haven't figured out exactly what I want to explore, but I love trying new things! It could be anything from trying a new sport that I've always been curious about, to trying a new craft project that I've always been intimidated by.

HOST A REGULARLY SCHEDULED EVENT/PARTY/GET TOGETHER
I love having people over and I doubly love the idea of doing something regularly. I can imagine a quarterly girls poker night, or a party with themed drinks and boardgames, or even getting back to doing my yearly crafting for charity party I used to host in Brooklyn.

REVAMP THE BLOG
The blog has been lovely, but I think it's ready for a few little tweaks!

CREATE A BOOK OF PHOTOGRAPHS
I've never actually compiled my photographs into a book, and I think it would be a great little project for me. Being able to self-edit, arrange and publish my own little book of images would be fun!

Currently...

WATCHING the new season of Sherlock on PBS, which just started last night. Love it!

LISTENING to Quantic's "I Just Fell in Love Again" from his album Traditions in Transition.

READING "The Shadow of the Sun," a fascinating, non-fiction account of a Polish journalist's experience in newly liberated, post-colonial Africa.

EATING lots of salads from a place across the street from my office. You pick the toppings and they whip it all together for you. It's SO good!

DISCOVERING that I need to give myself permission to be okay with taking time off here and there. It'll keep me from feeling burnt out.

MAKING lots of new photos using my Zone Plate Lens Cap.

PLOTTING an escape to...I don't really know. But I'd really like to get away.

THANKFUL FOR Black Cat Espresso from Intelligentsia.

The Covet: Chloe Marci Mini Saddle Bag

I love just love the style of this bag. I've been looking for awhile for the perfect little crossbody satchel. Something that I can head out with that's not too heavy and that can hold just what I need. The circular detail of the front of the bag is just darling, and those tassels are beautifully decorative without looking like some weird summer camp craft gone wrong. *swoon*

Interestingness Elsewhere

The past few days have oscillated between the type of chilly, wet weather that reminds me of England and the warm, almost tropically humid weather that reminds me of Costa Rica. Spring has definitely sprung in Chicago and no where is it more apparent than in these strange vascillations in temperature.

The week was a good one. Among other things, I met up with an old friend from Brooklyn who was in Chicago for a few days for a conference. We decided to head over to a popular tex-mex restaurant that's known for it lively outdoor patio. Over gin + tonics we talked about the differences between Chicago and Brooklyn, the joys of travel, and life in general. It was a lovely way to spend the post-work hours, with Friday just on the horizon. It reminded me that I shouldn't wait until the weekend to be social, but I should try to get out more during the weekdays too.

Here are few things that I just loved this week...

I wrote a tiny bit about my changes in diet, and will write more at some point about it, but it's been two months (roughly) in and I feel great! The big focus is on reducing sugar and carbs. I've gotten used to zucchini and cabbage noodles, and have been looking for other ways to a.) mimick some of my favorite traditionally carb heavy foods and b.) incorporate even MORE vegetables into anything I make. So you can imagine that I was THRILLED to see this recipe for a cauliflower pizza crust over at Love + Lemons.

I recently picked up a few cards from Colette Paperie and I cannot tell you how beautiful they are! I've always been a fan of writing letters and of REAL paper cards that you send in the mail (imagine THAT!), but lately I've been a bit lax about things. So I've been stocking up with new lovlies for every type of occasion. Colette has become one of my favorite suppliers!

Somehow this escaped me, but Daily Candy now offers deals! This could create major problems for me, but I'm striving to remain calm!

If you've been reading for awhile you know how much I love Jennifer Causey's work. Well, she has a new book coming out featuring photos from her Brooklyn Makers series. I think I literally squealed out loud when I saw this!

Hope you're enjoying your weekend. I've spent mostly spent it puttering around the apartment, but I did get in a wonderful quartet rehearsal and some time at the gym. Now it's time to clean up a bit before starting dinner and watching the season premiere of Sherlock Holmes. Enjoy the rest of your day!