The courage to be imperfect.

Brené Brown gave an excellent TEDx Talk at the University of Houston this month. Thanks nettekins for sharing it with me. <3

I am going to go ahead and order all of her books. A genius this woman I tells ya.

Self-initiated Challenge

For 7 days I will extract something positive from my daily gripe(s). I want to have constructive experiences instead of destructive mood-downers. I want to really put forth the mental effort involved with making lemonade out of lemons.

Do stuff.

“Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.”
- Susan Sontag

Saw on swissmiss.

Design Ranch 2011: I Survived

Fellow Design Ranchers and I were so lucky to have great weather at Camp Waldemar in Hunt, Texas. The hill country is beautiful! It is the perfect setting for creativity, relaxation and shenanigans. Shenanigans? Yes, I was slightly surprised. I should have guessed that there would be shenanigans to be had when I saw other designers showing up to Waldemar Camp with coolers full of booze and wine in hand.

However, that mostly relates to the loosened inhibitions under the night sky. During the day there were plenty of workshops to attend and camp activities to do (with or without respective hangovers). For myself I would like to thank the workshop leaders that were part of my DR schedule:

Dan Ibarra & Michael Byzewski (Aesthetics Apparatus)
Jessica Hische
Chris Sickels (Red Nose Studio)
Craig Jensen & Gary McLerran (BookLab II) —Thanks for all the prep work!!
Armin Vit & Bryrony Gomez-Palacio + cute kiddos (Under Consideration)

And for those leaders that I heard great things about, but didn’t personally attend the workshops:
Debbie Millman
Zeke Leonard
Judy Shulz
Wayne Geyer
Casey McGarr
Keri Smith

I would also like to thank all the hard working folks that put Design Ranch together & make it run right (darn tootin’ great team of chairs + director from AIGA Austin and friendly volunteers)!

Lynette and I are now believers and we have seen the light. Definitely needed the fun. We shall return in 2013 with bells and whistles. Better start saving.

FRANDZ

Pot Kettle Black

Skrillex will be in Austin

Skrillex this Saturday!! This delightful young man rocks my socks off. I am going to go to the show for my birthday present from to the ever-thoughtful and oh so very kind nette. THANK YOUUUUUU!!!!! <3 <3 <3 YAY!

Little Bit

Obviously I am a little bit obsessed with Lykke Li. Just a little.

hands down
i’m too proud for love
but with eyes shut
it’s you i’m thinking of
but how we move from A to B
it can’t be up to me
’cause you don’t know
eye to eye
thigh to thigh
i let go

i think i’m..

a little bit, a little bit
a little bit in love with you
but only if you’re
a little but, a little bit, a little bit
in lo-lo-lo-lo-love with me
oh

ooo-ooo…

and for you i keep my legs apart
and forget about my tainted heart
and i will never ever be the first
to say it
but still I,
yes you know I..I..I..
i would do it,
push a button
pull a trigger,
climb a mountain
jump off a cliff,
’cause you know baby
i love you love you a little bit
i would do it, i would say it
i would mean it, we could do it
it was you and i and if only i..

i think i’m
a little bit, a little bit
a little bit in love with you
but only if you’re
a little but, a little bit, little bit
in lo-lo-lo-lo-love with me

come here, stay with me
stroke me by the hair
’cause i would give anything, anything
to have you as my man

a little bit, a little bit
a little bit in love with you
but only if you’re
a little but, a little bit, little bit
in lo-lo-lo-lo-love with me

I love my purple hair

Thanks to Camille from Birds Barbershop

Want: Jawbone JAMBOX

Thanks to nettekins, I want:

I don’t have the moneys for it, but it’s nice to imagine. I’d rather keep my money for silly things like food and gas.

Southwestern Sampler Road Trip

My sister and I were lucky enough to join Stacy on her roadtrip home last month. We had a German Sheperd, a Ragdoll cat and five days to get from L.A. to Houston. It was such a great time and I fell in love with that part of the country. The weather was challenging at times, but the landscape was absolutely stunning! Everyone needs to drive through. You miss out on so much in an airplane. I want to do more road trips in the future for sure. Wooohooo!