Park Street

Sunday Dreaming

2012-01-22T17:43:00.005-07:00

More caramelized brussels sprouts, my go-to vegetable lately. This was the first time I've ever bought fresh ones. Normally I buy the frozen packages, and there's just no comparison.

There isn't even much of a cost difference.

I've been saving crazy amounts of money lately by cooking meals at home instead of eating out every weekend. I've pretty much mastered the art of the frittata.

Eggs + herbs + whatever is in your fridge= delicious, cheap meal.

Attempting to curb my spending urges by organizing. There's nothing like realizing how much stuff you've already amassed to keep your credit card in its slot.

Spending hours and hours and hours on the classifieds looking for lovely, two-bedroom apartments so that we can begin to start spreading out. Between trips to unimaginably lovely neighborhoods to see top floor apartments we can't afford, I'm mapping the space left in our apartment like a rubik's cube. Shelves need to be bought soon.

Movies I saw and liked:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Artist

Paper Moon

Pan's Labrynth

Feels good to get some stuff done (yay!)

It's Spring in my Mind

2012-01-20T16:45:00.001-07:00

It's The Dead of Winter and It's Raining Outside

2012-01-19T00:30:00.004-07:00

There's nothing like training for a new job to truly appreciate a Saturday morning in bed with toast and a laptop.

My new job credentials include being able to talk up to (but not limited to) 270 words per minute, swearing without stuttering and making sure no "uh", "um", "hmmm", or "huh" is left behind. I'm a word machine.

Can't wait to be able to use that on a future resume.

I caught the Wilco documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart on Netflix, and I was pretty captivated. Their creative process is really fascinating, and I kept thinking over and over how boys in bands are mostly all the same.

Certain personalities tend to gravitate towards similar things, I suppose.

Uchida-San

2012-01-14T17:04:00.003-07:00

House of Hitoshi Uchida on the Selby.

The Year of Eating

2012-01-09T23:41:00.004-07:00

The New Year has proved itself to me already.

2012, you are doing things to me... And I don't mean that in any sort of sexual way. Just to put that out there...

I have new hours at work for a little while, which is preventing me from enjoying very much actual sunlight, and I'm feeling it. I've been overcompensating with lots of delicious food though, and I wish I had the light to photograph it all. Chocolate on chocolate cake, caramelized brussels sprouts, medium-rare hamburgers marinated in several different sauces AND shallots, plus a roasted broccoli cheddar soup for good measure...

Yes, 2012, you have been good to me thus far.

Please enjoy this photograph of malt o' meal with butter and maple syrup as substitute for all the delicious things we've been eating and not photographing.

I really look forward to having extra energy to be creative and bloggy again. I'm really started to miss my camera. Sad face.

P.S. I've been channeling a bunch of energy into my tumblr as well. Still straddling the line on that one. Can't decide whether Pinterest is a better resource for spreading inspiring images. It's amazing to me how many people don't properly source their material on Tumblr and it's infuriating and just... a lot of work for a few pictures that simply look really pretty and may or may not live on by being further tumbled. Opinions?

P.P.S. I just finished watching the series Portlandia, and I'm crazy in love. My resolution to live in that city has quadrupled. Also cannot get that Washed Out song out of my head for the life of me now. Too good!

Home of Jennifer Sarkilahti on Design Sponge

2012-01-04T22:21:00.005-07:00

Jennifer Sarkilahti's home was finally featured on Design Sponge. I've been waiting ages for this. What an amazing treat for the week.

I'm a huge fan of Odette and Jennifer's blog Odette New York.

Tumbling.

2012-01-02T23:24:00.002-07:00

Let's see if it sticks this time, shall we?

parkstreetblog.tumblr.com

In the sketchbook

2012-01-02T00:00:00.001-07:00

Top four images: 1. 2. 3. 4.

I've been thinking about our home a lot lately. We had a lot of new things come into our home over the holidays, which really displaced us for a while as we don't have any extra space to put it all.

Because an extra room isn't an option, we're really going to have to start utilizing our tall walls with some shelving to keep up with our collecting. That's a great new year's resolution, actually. Be more efficient with the space we have.

Does anyone else find comfort and solace in cleaning? It's a ritual that I really enjoy when I haven't got any pressing projects. I find I do some of my best thinking when I straighten. Clearing the cobwebs makes room for new ideas.

01/01/12

2012-01-01T14:01:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year.

Make a soup.

2011-12-31T18:29:00.003-07:00

I've been craving a hearty Clam Chowder lately and I think I found a forever recipe.

Make this in your dutch oven. It doesn't have to be a Le Cruiset. Thick metals will make the flavor incredible.

Don't underestimate the power of fresh herbs.

This is the recipe I leapt off from.

-6 slices of bacon

-A small onion (I used a red onion) chopped

-6-8 small potatoes (I used red) cubed

-1 1/2 cups of water

-1 cup of half & half

-Milk to get to your preferred consistency

-1 1/2 teaspoon salt (I almost always use more)

-pepper to taste

-2 cans (10 oz) clams

Optional: Chopped parsley, red wine vinegar, and a tablespoon of Greek yogurt.

Directions: Wash and cube potatoes and add to salted, boiling water. When fork tender, drain and set aside.

Cook bacon on stove-top till extra crispy. Set bacon aside to drain on paper towels and pour remaining grease into your dutch oven with a medium-low heat setting. Add onions when grease is hot and onions sizzle.

Stir until fragrant and losing color.

Add your potatoes and mash them with a spatula or wooden spoon until the pieces look deliciously consumable.

Add clam juice to the potato and onion, keeping the clams aside for last (they'll get chewy if you heat them too long).

Mix well and gradually add water, milk, and cream. Be sure to keep your flame low. DO NOT LET THIS SOUP BOIL. Keep stirring.

Chop bacon into tiny delectable pieces and put whatever you've managed not to eat into your soup.

Add clams.

If your soup is too thin for your liking, thicken it up a bit with about a tablespoon of cornstarch and water (mixed prior).

Add your salt and pepper to that gorgeous, steaming pot of calories and marvel at your amazing chef skills. If you're feeling up to it, add a bit of that red wine vinegar (go easy- this stuff can overpower if you're too generous).

Topping off with parsley will ensure a pretty picture.

Enjoy.

Happy New Years Eve

2011-12-31T15:24:00.003-07:00

I did a guest post for Anne Kristine's blog 11.54 for the new year.

Just a little collection of things I put together to get into the spirit of celebration.

I'll be watching movies tonight and quietly bring in the new year with a beer or two. I've decided to make a list of easily attainable goals like to recycle more often and to relax a little more.

This song is pretty much perfect for today.

Pinned

2011-12-30T16:19:00.003-07:00

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

I'm in an organizing mood. Everything in its right place.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-27T14:34:00.002-07:00

Thanks for the incredible gifts and lunch, Grace. You made my Christmas extra-special with your visit.

Christmas Morning

2011-12-27T14:31:00.004-07:00

This may have been the most perfect one yet.

It wasn't a white Christmas, but it was very blue and bright.

Christmas Loot

2011-12-27T00:58:00.002-07:00

This is my fourth Christmas with Trent and my third in this house and it's been different each time.

This year we set a budget and gave each other free reign to buy whatever we felt we wanted or needed. For myself, I kept in my mind my love for movies, art projects to keep me preoccupied during the oncoming snowy winter, and some new additions to my wardrobe.

The ceramic to-go mug was an incredible surprise from Trent. I've been wanting one for such a long time, and this particular one is so beautifully designed and crafted. Perfect for morning commutes.

The only thing Trent really asked for this year was a new computer monitor for the kitchen, which made it very easy for me to shop for him. We now have not one, but two computer monitors on our desktop. Blogs in high definition? Worth. Every. Penny.

The laptop was also a gift for ourselves for Christmas, bought during the Black Friday madness at a discounted price.

The leather card-holder was a gift made by my friend Grace, who lives in San Francisco. Amazing incentive for me to have some business cards made someday.

I love documenting my favorites after Christmas so that I can come back and remember. We have a tendency to forget so quickly how blessed we are.

Merry post-Christmas everyone. I hope you got everything you needed and then some.

Analog

2011-12-21T22:16:00.005-07:00

I keep having these moments where I'll go into the kitchen for an orange or to make a cup of tea and I end up cleaning something out. I know my mom used to do things like this- which makes me sort of terrified that I'm turning into her. I'm joking, of course. Sort of.

Our apartment is pretty tiny, but extremely efficient with storage. It has the ability to look like no one lives there when everything is in its right place- which is exactly how I want it to be. I'm a wannabe-minimalist with a lot of (hidden) stuff.

Anyway- I pulled everything out of the cabinets above our computer and spent a whole day going through hoards of notebooks (I've started and abandoned what feels like hundreds of notebooks) and a lot of fun things I've cut out of magazines over the last few years. The above notebook is actually my current sketch book and diary- so it's filled with a lot non-sense and angsty stories about feeling lonely or creatively constipated. Putting something fun in the pages make my trips down memory lane a little less... depressing.

I love looking at others' inspiration boards, and particularly when they're in a personal setting, but I feel like I'm seeing less of those lately. Pinterest has become so completely overwhelming with the best of everything, and I've started to find myself scrolling with eyes glazed over. Has this been happening to anyone else?

There's this overwhelming feeling to break free and go analog. There's just nothing like a pair of scissors and a glue stick on the couch with Netflix going, am I right?

Paper and Twine

2011-12-18T00:31:00.004-07:00

Trent and I woke up super early this Saturday morning (9:30 on a Saturday is unthinkable for us!) to go to a free movie screening of Tintin, which we've had planned for weeks. We're obviously newbies at this, because we didn't have the foresite to arrive early enough to get in! They were completely full, and we left disappointed. The upside of this story is that because we were already awake, we got more errands done in four hours than we have in four weekends. We did the last of our important Christmas shopping, bought the last of our gift supplies, and got to work wrapping and packing so we could make it to the post office in time, which was so crowded I nearly forfeited.

I can proudly say that all the gifts are now on their way to their destinations with time to spare before Christmas. I couldn't be prouder.

Also- we finally made a trip into a quaint little bakery at the end of our street that we drive past every single day and have not- in the three years we've lived here- ever gone inside (this is beyond me). Probably a good thing too- because they have the most delectable donuts and pastries I've ever tasted. One of each, please.

Mid-December

2011-12-15T23:25:00.011-07:00

Christmas is ten days away and it feels a month away. Maybe it's the lack of snow.

My to-do list is filled with things like packing cookies and candies into sparkly take-out boxes, cutting and pasting photographs, shopping, and wrapping piles and piles of Amazon boxes. A few things are still on their way in the mail. Waking up to packages on the porch is the equivalent of Christmas morning magic to me.

The past few weekends have been so filled with movies.

-Midnight in Paris (my second time in the theater and I can't recommend it enough)

-Bill Cunningham New York (A purer soul never lived)

-Last Night (Three stars. The ending completely ruined it for me, but the film was crazy gorgeous.)

-180° South (This one made me cry it was so beautiful)

-Broken English (Love Parker Posey in this)

Things of note: The sunsets in my city have been breath-taking this month. That one was taken from a moving car on the freeway.

Keeping hands warm with hot mugs of green tea.

Frosted windows and an extra cuddly cat (I suspect the cold is to blame)-- and four o'clock in the afternoon Sunday pancakes, a first of many batches by my lover. (From Martha's recipe.)

Dark Blue

2011-12-13T10:32:00.008-07:00

The best thing is when you find someone with inspirational style- and you realize that all of the clothes consist of layered basics worn so perfectly you wonder if she's not wearing something extra special. I could not, could not pick just a few favorites.

The entire album, named Dark Blue, is just so inspiring.

Via Vanessa's pinboard.

Felted kitty vessel

2011-12-12T23:39:00.008-07:00

Hand-felted wool cat bed by Vaivanat. Love.

A Collage

2011-12-11T17:38:00.002-07:00

I spent my Sunday on the couch with a cup of tea and Bill Cunningham New York, which was so, so incredibly inspiring. What a cool dude. It prompted me to do a digital collage of some of my favorite Pinterest images from the past few weeks.

1. Apologies for no source // 2. 3191 Miles Apart 3. // Vintage Knitting 4. // Walt Whitman // 5. Audrey Hepburn in How To Steal a Million // 6. The Selby // 7. The Streetstyle, originally from Zara // 8. No Source // 9. Branch Candelabra From Apartment Therapy

A story about our first Christmas tree

2011-12-09T22:17:00.013-07:00

Neither Trent nor I had ever bought a Christmas tree before now.

This amazing, skinny little thing that a burly young man will strap onto the top of your car with a ball of twine he keeps in his pocket.

A mixed cluster of gentlemen sit with hands extended towards an industrial-sized heater glowing orange and a sign with various prices and state taxes looms above. A poster advertising that tips are "greatly appreciated" is tacked to the side of a running motor home.

We make small talk about the tree farm in Montana where they're from, and he makes a joke about his long commute.

At home, I watch A Christmas Story while I wrangle lengths of lights awkwardly around thin branches. In a terrible moment of misjudgment, I cut off the towery tip. As soon as I do it, I realize that the top was the whole reason why I loved it in the first place.

It's now in our living room in a tight spot where we swore there couldn't possibly be enough room. It drinks a lot of water and it makes my home smell like a pine forest.

Cold Visuals

2011-12-07T22:25:00.004-07:00

Darling Bonnie Barton from Flashes of Style // Jessica, on It's My Darlin'

Rachel and David's Apartment Therapy House Tour

Masala Chai latte from Yummy Suppers (this is such a beautiful blog) // Pine Cone from Wit+Delight tumblr.

Happy 23

2011-12-06T21:29:00.003-07:00

So... today I turned 23. Not a monumental age, but a good excuse to take a pause and reflect. I'm at a really good place in my life and I'm surrounded by some really amazing people, and I'd call that pretty successful.

I took a four day weekend this past weekend to spend time with my family- my brother Ryan came into town from Portland, Oregon and we had a super action-packed four days, so I barely had time to shower, let alone blog.

My mother, my brother, and I all have birthdays within a few days of each other. Mine on the 6th, my brother's the 12th, and my mom's the 14th. Crazy, right?

I love the madness and rush of December. I cling to it-- the smells, the food, the symbolism- I never want it to end.

Also, having family that works for MAC pretty much ensures the best presents ever. I am a very lucky girl.

BawkBawk Shop

2011-12-01T01:34:00.006-07:00

Jacinta Moore's shop, BawkBawk is perfect for the first day of December.

Her blog is just about, if not more lovely.

Would make an amazing gift for the holidays.

Youth Lagoon

2011-11-30T21:42:00.003-07:00

I saw Youth Lagoon over this past weekend and wanted to share the

video that my friend Shawn took with his iphone. I'm so blown away by the quality of picture and sound. What you see is what we got there. Not pictured is the sold-out crowd of mostly underage teenagers in the all-ages venue being ridiculously loud and rude. It was sort of a strange show, but I was still blown away by the sounds. I had a nice, cozy spot against a speaker that made my entire body vibrate with the music. Heaven.

Gift Giving

2011-11-30T20:55:00.008-07:00

Christmas shopping makes me realize that I am terrible at buying for other people and very, very good at buying for myself.

I've flipped this over though, and every time I find something I can't turn down, I choose someone to gift it to. This is the most fun way to gift gifts, and also the hardest. I want to keep it all for myself- but I realize the holidays are about being selfless and bringing joy to other people.

The boots were a Christmas/birthday present for myself. I've learned not to pass over a pair of shoes that are 3/3- Comfortable, affordable, and sexy.

Boo!

2011-11-27T11:20:00.001-07:00

Self-awareness week.

We go for a walk in the park

2011-11-27T00:40:00.003-07:00

Took a walk around my neighborhood with a good friend who's in town for Thanksgiving. We had brunch at the Park Cafe and then walked along 9th where the shops are lined up. It was so good to have a girl day and buy Christmas presents at boutiques I'd never otherwise have seen the inside of.

It was one of those times I felt like I was on vacation in my own city.

Your Fall 2011 mix tape

2011-11-26T02:09:00.005-07:00

I realize we're now transitioning into winter, but I've finally finished up my Fall playlist for your listening pleasure. Many, many months of jamming out to tunes took place to make this special mix, and I hope you enjoy. I've made a playlist in grooveshark, which is super easy to listen to. Just click the play buttons to the left of the songs to add it to the track player.

Want a hard copy? Email me.

Christmas Mood Board

2011-11-25T23:07:00.006-07:00

Finland Christmas- (photographer) Kaisa Rautaheimo (Stylist) Jonna Kivilahti via Tine K Home blog.

Paper ornaments- Mangle Prints

Twine- Cox&Cox (no longer available)

Chunky throw- Lombok

Lingerie- The Loved One

Antler lights- Chateau De Konstanse via Norseke Interior

Wreath- no source

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I can blog about Christmas, right?

Thanksgiving Day

2011-11-25T21:02:00.007-07:00

The whole day was pretty much a whirlwind of cooking, driving, and eating. I did my best to keep a thank-you in the forefront of my mind, and while not everything turned out perfectly, we were still grateful. Grateful for loving family, tradition, and warm homes.

We took a few very long drives to places we only visit maybe once a year, and I couldn't help but feel awed by the changing landscapes of each place we drove to. The sky changed every time we got back into the car. It's bittersweet to connect with extended family. They have a way of reminding you of how much you've changed.

I hope your Thanksgiving was a fulfilling and delicious one as well.

Kater style

2011-11-24T01:43:00.003-07:00

Kater has the most wonderful style. Her blog: http://allthishappiness.blogspot.com/

Full Bellies

2011-11-23T23:23:00.004-07:00

Roast chicken, by the Kitchn

Gwenyth Paltrow's caramelized brussel sprouts by Emma

Buttery buns, by Lynne

Chive smashed potatoes by Jenny Steffens

Apple galette- Elephantine

Bread, cheese, starches, and soft, savory meat. Here's what I've got on my mind for tomorrow.

May you eat until you fall asleep.

Hush

2011-11-23T00:31:00.003-07:00

So much deliciousness happening at Hush UK.

Cashmere scarves, cold-weather leggings, and cable-knit socks. Classic.

Mood Board

2011-11-22T20:38:00.007-07:00

Rainy day breakfast, by Hannah Queen

◯○。#3, by Ta　

Untitled, by Astrid

still life #25, by Ta　

Untitled, by stephanie renee

Changes

2011-11-22T10:59:00.002-07:00

I've been working on the layout of my blog for the past few days, which is why there has been a lack of quality posts. I'm actually considering the possibility of operating two separate blogs so that I don't have to keep choosing between personal, diary-style content, and pretty pictures-only content. I want this space to stay what it is and how it started- as a space to record my creative ventures and the people who are inspiring it.

I'm aching for a second outlet though. I need a place to keep all of my not-good-enough-for-park-street photos and a space to write about more personal, in-depth content and more room to interact with people (potentially). Let me know what you think!

Clementine Trio

2011-11-22T00:25:00.002-07:00

My favorite winter fruit.

By Jamie Shelman.

Aviator Jacket

2011-11-19T17:44:00.008-07:00

I've been looking for a leather jacket forever.

I'm not sure how to wear it yet. Maybe with a thick sweater beneath for extra coziness.

Also found two pairs of leather boots. One pair doesn't fit me, but I couldn't pass them up. It might be time to open up shop to get rid of the excess.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Home of Lena Corwin

2011-11-19T00:50:00.003-07:00

Lena Corwin's home.

From Design Sponge.

Knits

2011-11-18T22:00:00.003-07:00

Brilliant styling by Deborah McLean with Ric Wallace behind the camera.

Click photos to go to Deb's beautiful blog.

Pending Cold Weather

2011-11-16T23:50:00.004-07:00

Images to keep you warm.

Clockwise from the top: Nette Leather Goods, The Pioneer Woman, a selig chair- lost in the madness of tumblr, and Toast.

Beatlemania

2011-11-16T10:45:00.006-07:00

A local record store downtown is selling their business, and marked all of their merchandise down to 50% off. I made my way down there to make a measly contribution by buying a few band posters. I feel terrible for not making more of an effort to buy my music locally. To tell you the truth, I don't buy much music at all.

I have a really stellar collection of Beatles trading cards too that was passed down to me by my father, who was a fan in the sixties.

His record collection didn't survive, much to my disappointment.

Someday I'll hang up all that art lining the floor of my living room and put an end to dashing towards tipping frames every time we come in or out of the front door.

Rasysa

2011-11-16T01:06:00.003-07:00

More haircut inspiration from my very favorite resource, Rasysa. I've blogged about this website before, and it is still my go-to website to match my ideas with an image. The Japanese really know how to do a good fringe, don't they?

Click the photos to go to the individual links.

Weekend Reflection

2011-11-13T21:37:00.005-07:00

It's been a week of extremes.

I learned an important lesson earlier this week. If you want something- if you really want something- you can make it happen. It's usually not going to be the way you think it's going to happen, so when things start to fall apart, keep searching for the possibilities.

Also, come prepared. Imagine the worst case scenario and then prepare for it.

And one more thing- people do notice you, but they're not judging you, so quit worrying about it.

Update:

I just realized I may be giving people the wrong impression with my somber writing style for weekend reflection posts, and I've decided to be a little more specific on this one.

What prompted this particular advice was an experience on Wednesday night to see a very dear-to-me band, which ended up being sold out. Due to my lack of foresite, I hadn't bought a ticket ahead of time. Our plans seemed completely shot and it was horribly upsetting. I had to conciously make the decision to either be fine with missing it completely, or else do everything I could to still make it happen. Trent and I ended up waiting outside in the freezing cold for over an hour trying to buy tickets off of scalpers. We ended up with one ticket between the two of us, so I went alone. There were several steps involved to getting there, and it sounds really silly now writing it down, trying to describe the bad emotions that were involved, but I'd never done anything like that before and it was a whole new, crazy experience for me.

I realize that 99.9% of people would have a reaction like "What's the big deal with going alone?" Well, it's not a big deal. At all. And I realized that by going to that concert alone.

No one bothered me. No one asked what I was doing there by myself. No one questioned any of my actions (Even when I was doing some pretty intense singing and dancing along with the music). No one was judging me, and I had absolutely no reason to be afraid. I was absolved.

It's a pretty great feeling to conquer a fear. Especially one as big as self-consciousness. So there you have it.

Wardrobe

2011-11-13T18:19:00.006-07:00

The weather was so dark and gloomy yesterday that I was convinced fall was over and done with. We even got snow. As I drove to my hair appointment, the wind was blowing leaves all over the road. When I came out it was snowing.

Today it had cleared up and felt much more like friendly fall weather. I managed to convince Trent to come shopping with me so we could get him some new pants and a winter coat. The kid won't spend money on clothes, I swear. You'd think I was asking him to come get his teeth pulled.

What is it with guys and buying clothes?

We found a couple pairs of really, really nice jeans at Pib's (a used clothing shop near us in Sugarhouse) for super cheap, and a warm faux-leather jacket, so I'd call that a success.

Wendy's Lookbook

2011-11-12T21:14:00.003-07:00

Pictures from Wendy's Lookbook.

She has such impeccable style. I have the Steve Madden version of those boots and they're pretty much all I wear. A worn in, brown leather jacket would pair nicely.

Photographs of Evelyn Dragan

2011-11-10T22:57:00.005-07:00

So inspired by the work of Evelyn Dragan. I had a hard time choosing my favorites.

Click each picture to go to the individual posts.

See more here.

Misc.

2011-11-06T18:29:00.003-07:00

Hello, world.

Weekend Reflection

2011-11-06T18:17:00.003-07:00

Be confident in yourself. Make a decision and then say "This is my decision." Don't worry about what everyone else is doing. If something comes up that you have to deal with, have the confidence to say "I can do this." Don't let it stop you from trying.

Those are things I learned in the last week.

It's been a harder one, but I can feel my bones growing.

Harlex

2011-11-06T17:51:00.004-07:00

Leather products from the Etsy shop Harlex. Click pictures for direct links.

New Arrivals

2011-11-05T18:53:00.003-06:00

Beginning of November. Look what it brought me.

Ralph Lauren Polka Dot Sweatshirt

2011-11-05T14:34:00.002-06:00

A thrift find from last week. I'm still trying to decide how to wear it.

Real Estate

2011-11-05T13:45:00.002-06:00

Browsing Swedish real estate.

Did you know Sweden receives between 1100 and 1900 hours of sunshine annually?

There's perpetual sunshine in the summer and perpetual darkness in the winter.

It shouldn't go without mention that Sweden also has:

-A low population density-

-The second most competitive economy in the world-

And

-Low cost healthcare-

I wonder what sorts of things are left for Swedish people worry about on a daily basis.

A Day in the Life

2011-11-05T13:23:00.003-06:00

A Day in the Life of a Beatle. (Click me)

Life Inspiration

2011-11-05T02:31:00.006-06:00

A Gold Mine. (Click me)

Home Comforts

2011-11-05T01:36:00.005-06:00

It gets cold very suddenly here, and I cope with extra thick socks and hot drinks. It takes me a good 30 minutes to wake up for the day, and I do it by warming my belly up with tea.

I took the day off, so I went all out. Oregon Chai latte with cinnamon and nutmeg on the top.

The places we spend the most time should be as comfortable as humanly possible.

Plans that fell through. It's okay though, I made the most of my time in by testing Grace's recipe. I think I'm over-mixing.

So many new things in the kitchen this week.

A chicken stock that morphed into three different kinds of soup- one ended up with spicy marinara in it. Just because.

Leftover pumpkin muffins in a basket.

My belly is stuffed.

Sweater Weather

2011-11-01T21:48:00.002-06:00

Some of my favorites for Fall.

Top to bottom, left to right:

Sarita Lolita- via Kate

Source unknown, lifted from tumblr

Stockholm Street Style

Hanneli

Mariah (My amazing friend and penpal)

Weekend Reflection

2011-10-31T19:59:00.005-06:00

Craving the comforts of home.

It's natural to lose your way a little bit when the weather starts to change.

I find myself morphing into the cold-weather version of myself, the summer version of me screaming for just a little more time.

Like falling asleep, sometimes it comes ever so slowly.

Small Things

2011-10-30T01:04:00.003-06:00

It's the small things, isn't it?

http://www.khwjewelry.com

CDC Online 2

2011-10-29T01:07:00.002-06:00

More Inspiration from CDC. Click pictures to go directly to links.

CDC Online 1

2011-10-27T23:28:00.006-06:00

I followed a link from the blog of Cats Dreaming in Keylime and stumbled onto the mother of inspiring images on this Japanese website. I got sucked in for hours and favorited no less than 20 pictures. (That's an exaggeration, it was 19)

Also, a tangent about Japanese Aesthetic.

A follow up on honesty

2011-10-27T23:18:00.004-06:00

It seems the consensus is that our blogs are for the brighter side of things, and I don't mind that one bit. It's good to have a "happy place" to come back to.

I loved getting feedback from you. It's awesome to have a dialogue with the Invisible Readers every once in a while. I hope we do it again soon.

Can we just be honest?‏

2011-10-26T21:03:00.006-06:00

I read a blog post written by Susannah Conway titled "Can we just be honest?" and I really had to write my own response on the topic.

I had a conversation with a friend of mine this summer about appearances and how they can be decieving. We were talking specifically about our relationships and how they look from the outside, and I realized that I may have been giving the impression that I live a really charmed life because I don't talk about the bad stuff. Is that wrong? To project a perfect image?

It's definitely not honest.

I keep writing this blog because I can be creative on my own terms, and I love documenting my life in an aesthetically-pleasing way. The thing about that though, is that when I've had a hard week, or I'm feeling completely uninspired, I don't write in my blog. This paints a distorted view of my life, which isn't neccessarily wrong, I guess, but the point is-- it's not easy to relate to. My ultimate goal is to attract other quiet girls who have a hard time interacting with people in their day-to-day lives.

But how honest are we supposed to be?
What's okay to write about on an inspiration blog, and what's not?

Maybe we WANT to be seen this certain way. We want to look like we have it all together, and we don't lose our shit over small things-- BUT WE DO! Or at least, I do. I totally lose my shit sometimes, but I don't put it on my blog, because I don't want to perpetuate that kind of thing, and also (mostly) I don't want to come off as a whiny girl with first world problems.

So where do we draw the line?

I choose not to write about things like sex and politics and awful, shitty situations, because it's just really far from my surface interests of design and photography. I don't see how it "fits". I try to create an inviting, warm enviornment for people to come to and feel like they're in good company. That's what I'm all about. So if writing about real emotions more often makes people feel better, I'm totally all for that.

What do you think, Invisible Reader? Do you ever wish things got a little deeper and more "real"?

These are Things

2011-10-26T00:16:00.003-06:00

An Etsy compilation of favorites.

Weekend Reflection

2011-10-25T21:36:00.006-06:00

In my neighborhood there's a food cart ran by a man named Joe who makes gourmet hot dogs with names like "The Memphis".

I don't remember the name of mine, but it had sprouts, tomato, avocado, and vinaigrette with a beef frank. Amazing.

Renovations

2011-10-20T21:29:00.004-06:00

I have this really terrible habit of browsing rental properties in downtown Salt Lake City looking for old charmers so we can uproot as quickly as possible and move into my dream home. My addiction has moved onto harder fixes--

Foreclosures.

A 3-bedroom 1890 fixer-upper for $50,000, oh God, please, no. I'm only 23. I can't afford property right now.

In the meantime, I'm reading blogs about people doing their own hellish renovations, which I get to enjoy via fabulous photography minus the actual hard labor.

This blog in particular has me pretty fascinated:

http://thehousethatkatandfredbuilt.blogspot.com

Which is where I've lifted these amazing pictures of their current renovation.

I can't wait to see the finished project. Those bones are amazing.

Living Room Details

2011-10-18T00:12:00.007-06:00

The whole goal of my flea market adventure was to clear some space for some new things to come into the house. I've been mentally spending the profits ever since, and I think I've finally nailed down the new look.

I sort of fell in love with the idea of a nature inspired, organic-feeling living space, which really wasn't too hard to shop for. We're really lucky to have an Ikea nearby, or else I have no idea what I would have done.

The mirror was a half-baked idea that stuck. Our place is tiny, and as strange as a full-length mirror may sound in a living room, I think it's really going to open up the space a lot and reflect the light that comes in from the tall window directly across.

I'm obviously being influenced by the impending cold weather (see woolly pillow above).

The Alseda stool is going to be great for house visitors. I love the intimacy of floor seating, honestly.

We've had the Mandal 6-drawer dresser now for quite a while, and I really love it as an entertainment stand. The drawer space hides all of Trent's games and gaming stuff, as well as our ridiculous movie collection.

Baskets are great organizers. I love this one from Pier One.

I'm really glad we waited as long as we did to really decorate our place. It gave me some time to experiment and really find my style, and it's saved us a lot of money in the long run by not buying a bunch of stuff we wouldn't have ended up using.

I'm still indecisive about our curb find coffee table. For now, it looks pretty sweet.

Greetings from San Francisco

2011-10-17T21:29:00.003-06:00

A surprise package over the weekend.

She has no idea how happy it made me.

Weekend Reflection

2011-10-17T21:14:00.009-06:00

Sometimes I feel helpless at how quickly the time passes, yet I still manage to wish away the hours day after day- selling my time so that I can come home to the same collected possessions and wait for the next weekend to finally come.

The most I can hope for is that one day I'll realize what it is that I can do with my life that gives me complete satisfaction and support. In the meantime, I'm distracted by the glorified and garnished versions of basic human comforts-- good company, food, drink, sleep, and rest.

I learned this weekend that life is too short to spend your free time doing something you'd rather not.

And also, it's not wrong to seek approval, but be selective in who you choose to take it from.

Can you tell I've been reading a lot of Sylvia Plath?

Fall Gifts

2011-10-14T21:58:00.007-06:00

The day before the flea, I went to the thrift store and found this wooden bowl. It's so beautifully carved out in the center. It's perfect for throwing in my jewelry. I like to be organised.

A five dollar trip to see the Eiffel Tower. It was 100% san-tourists.

I used 8 hours of vacation to take the day off and unwind on Thursday, which resulted in me in my bathrobe on the porch at 1 PM. Margarita heard my door open and came almost immediately over, saying she had something for me.

She ran inside, and I gingerly walked across our yard to the fence that separates our homes.

She came back with a glass tea-strainer, still in its box. I was delighted to see it-- as I had a strainer on my Christmas list, and here it was, two and a half months early. My excitement encouraged her, I think, to throw in the white Christmas loose leaf tea and biscotti as well. Sometimes I'm genuinely shocked at how much she's willing to offer me-- and how much I take. I'm always good on my thank-yous.

The glass is so thin and pure. It's like a flask (damn you, breaking bad, for putting my mind in a lab). My cooking is much less meth-ey though and much more "witches brew".

It's Decorative Gourds Season, Motherfuckers!

I'm going to make Martha Stewart proud and carve these babies.

Bedroom Freshening

2011-10-13T16:03:00.007-06:00

I've been channeling all of my "I want to move into a bigger house so badly" wishes into freshening up our own space. One of the rooms I've been focusing on a lot is our bedroom and making it as humanly comfortable as possible.

I'd really love some big, fat, fluffy pillows for our bed and a nice little spot for some magazines.

I already have that bamboo trash can. Trent bought it for me as a stocking the first Christmas we were together. It was filled with a lot of really fun, amazing goodies that I got to pick out from Target. Now it's our bedroom trash can, and it fits perfectly in the space below our headboard shelf. I love it.

Apparently Ikea has recalled every single one of their roller shades because of a potential choking hazard if installed incorrectly. It's pretty maddening now that new shades aren't going to be possible for a while.

I love our bedroom. Bright, white, and comfy. A place for resting and relaxing.

Oh! and that beautiful leather basket is from Gildem. I really love their shop.

Weekend Reflection

2011-10-10T20:44:00.007-06:00

Fall swept in on us forcefully in a matter of days. Very much like Utah. Eighty degrees one day, forty the next.

Our heater turned itself on-- which I'm convinced is magic. (Or a reliable self-sensor?)

Though crossing a narrow bridge over a moat is slightly terrifying, it's awfully romantic.

In a bout of self-sustaining thoughts, I decided to carve open this massive 20 pound squash that Margarita gifted me, scoop out hundreds of tiny seeds one by one, clean them, rinse them, and pat them dry in order to roast them at 250 degrees for 40 minutes. They make a crazy-addictive snack that are actually surprisingly good for you.

I roasted the insides too with lots of butter, sugar, and spices.

I can't tell you how pleased I get with myself after accomplishing a project like that. It makes me think I've reformed my life in some amazing way.

The cold rain has started.

Clinging onto the last bits of green in whatever way I can.

That day, I woke up to work on preparation for the flea and didn't go back to sleep until 36 hours later. It was intense, and I'm still feeling the after-effects. That flea meant a lot to me, I worked hard and earned that success.

Urban Flea Market 2011

2011-10-10T09:39:00.007-06:00

The flea was held at Washington Square in front of the gorgeous county building. We set up our table right in front of it, surrounded by giant shady trees.

I remember when I was little seeing a giant pumpkin skewered onto the point of that statue above the clock. The guy who did it must have had to strap that pumpkin onto his back with a harness and scale the side of the building.

I had very different groups of people walking past me at all different times of the day. I made the most sales early in the morning with the early-risers. I need to remember to start high, and gradually get lower.

When we woke up, our breath came out in white smokes. We had to defrost the windows before we could drive out. I wore four layers of clothes.

By the afternoon, I was down to my undershirt and cursing my knee-high boots.

I actually had a lot of fun switching out accessories all day. I got to re-live my past with all my old things. That's the upside to selling your possessions on a table.

Next time I won't put prices on anything. The price of an object had little to no effect on whether or not someone bought from me. I offered things for free that people would turn down-- it was sort of flabbergasting.

Also, it was fun to gauge people's reactions to a price I threw out.

My very favorite things didn't really sell, or sold last. That was the most surprising bit. It actually made me really happy.

I could not have done any of this without my incredible boyfriend, Trent. He lifted, he counted, he set up, dismantled, and drove me around all day and asked for nothing at the end of it. (He at least let me buy him dinner.)

Heart of gold, I tell you.

And to the girl who bought the film + case + film-- I just realized I may not have re-loaded it with film. That thought woke me up at 4 AM and kept me awake. That makes me look like a total liar, and I really hope that you're still happy with your new camera and case, even though you may go to develop those special pictures and realize there was never any film. I'm so sorry.

I'd never been so tired in my entire life though. I came home immediately after the market and fell asleep at 5:30 PM.

I didn't get up until 9:30 AM the next day.

Flea Market Preparation

2011-10-08T21:12:00.003-06:00

At Urban Flea last month, I looked around and thought, "I'll bet I have enough stuff to have a table here." Once I went into the garage and started unpacking the boxes I realized that was a huge understatement.

It was only $30 for a space, so I went ahead and made the leap. Trent has agreed to be there for moral support and heavy lifting, so it's much less daunting.

I've never done anything like this before, and I'm simultaneously terrified and excited to see the outcome. The worst thing that could happen is that people laugh at my inexperience-- but that is highly unlikely. What's more likely is that I don't make my money back.

That's okay too. It's about the experience.

This is the very last Flea of the year, so I spent the entire day Saturday organizing, pricing, packing, unpacking, and basically purging all the amazing things I've collected over last two years.

Wish me luck.

J-Crew Fall Wardrobe Inspiration

2011-10-08T14:25:00.004-06:00

J-Crew Fall 2011.

So clean, so simple.

On building a body

2011-10-07T21:19:00.007-06:00

Beautiful photo by Montmarte.

I need to find a good exercise.

I have been doing this really insane series called Ab Ripper X with Trent in an effort to "have more energy", and the more I work my body, I realize I don't want to look like a crazy bodybuilding athlete. It's doing insane things to Trent's body that I very much approve of, but my own bony body doth protest.

At one point I was considering ballet, but then I was like "Who starts ballet at 23?"

Yoga, I think, is a good alternative. It's all about the stretches.

On blogging

2011-10-04T20:52:00.007-06:00

Anyone who has a blog knows how difficult it is to not only operate it, but to keep it going, and keep it evolving. I read all sorts of different blogs, and over the past two years of my own blogging, I've watched myself go through a lot of changes in style and personality. A lot of times I felt like giving up-- I felt like my content was all over the place and I had no real direction, but I hoped that if I kept it on, it would evolve into something I was proud of.

One goal of mine was to find some way to create entirely original content. This was an insane goal for me two years ago, as I had no real hobbies or even a medium to work with as a creative person. All I had was my blog, and people and photographs that inspired me. Pinterest came along and was one of the very first mediums that helped me organize the overflow of inspiration I had outside of a dusty file folder somewhere on the desktop. I started blogging by blogging about other people, and projects that I liked, as well as photographs that really resonated with me. This was the best thing I could do for myself at the time, because it taught me a lot about managing a blog, and it also helped me to realize that blogging is something that I truly love and want to persue.

Staying true to yourself and paying attention to what it is that you truly like about something that resonates with you is really important to finding your style.

I try not to let stats and page views dictate what I do. I'm not going to lie, when I see a huge spike in traffic, the feeling is incredible. Knowing that anyone cares about what I'm doing is exhilerating to me, but when I give it too much power, I also feel the self-doubt when no one is looking. It's important to focus on your love for the activity rather than the praise of your finished product.

The reason I'm writing all of this is because I feel like I've finally reached a turning point in my blog life after finally buying my camera. I had no idea that buying the right tool would help as much as it did with my creative flow, but it did. I was very conscience about using the tools I already had for a couple years though before I took the leap.

This blog has gone through A LOT of changes recently, as I finally have the time and energy to cultivate it. I'm really proud of it, and for anyone who's stuck around long enough to notice a change or two, thank you, your presence is very comforting on those hard, uninspired days.

The Avenues

2011-10-04T00:24:00.007-06:00

On Sunday, Trent and I took a walk through what he cleverly described as "Pleasantville", referring to the pristine landscaping and honest-to-God white picket fences in a small area of the Avenues.

The Avenues was the very first neighborhood established in Salt Lake City in the 1850's. They're notorious for their particularly affluent occupants and historically preserved buildings. It's a terribly rich area, speckled with decaying, decrepid homes and shadier apartments buildings against a backdrop of impossibly lush vegetation (for Utah desert standards). It's hard to grasp how enormous this area is until you walk or drive through it. The immaculately-planned blocks grid the hills leading up to the Wasatch Mountains, making steep, crumbling sidewalks that burn through even the strongest calves.

Every few years, I'll take a long walk through these blocks and gape at the ivy-covered bricks and shady trees and daydream about living there. Trent and I have all but made the decision to move out of our current home next year and head for these hills. The architecture of the house we rent was built in the same era, so it has almost identical construction and architecture of many of those homes in the Avenues. Sometimes I wonder though if we can do any better. Sugarhouse has a really special place in my heart.

It was fascinating to walk about like tourists photographing these spaces that were so foreign to me-- Observing people in their carved out spaces made me realize how small mine had become.

I'm starting to really fall in love with my city.

Weekend Reflection

2011-10-02T12:31:00.003-06:00

This weekend was all about exploring. Exploring emotions, exploring people, exploring places. Occasionally, I like to put myself in situations that confuse or challenge me so I can understand myself a little better.

Every experience is an opportunity to learn.

A Year of Mornings

2011-10-01T15:35:00.004-06:00

A gift from Trent.

I remember when I very first started reading blogs, I found the photographs of Stephanie Congdon Barnes and Maria Alexandra Vettese (MAV) and I've followed their projects ever since. Their photographs have done more inspiring for me than any other artist, and it feels really amazing to own some of their tangible work. The photographs inside are a perfect mix of ordinary and perfection.

Sometimes I wonder how close I'll get to achieving what I hope to, and if I'll ever be as great as some of my heroes.

Weekend Reflection

2011-09-25T20:39:00.004-06:00

Enjoying the last bits of hot sun with a coconut popsicle and harmless gossip.

Packing away the summer clothes.

A lot of socializing this week. So amazing and exhausting. I find you learn so much about yourself when you have the same conversations with both strangers and old friends. The best kind of friends though are the kind that you can pick up with exactly where you left off.

I've got sparkles on my mind after going to the Rock and Gem Fair. I wished so badly I could buy all the beautiful things I saw there. I kept seeing things like this and this and these.

Beginning of Fall

2011-09-25T01:58:00.006-06:00

It's officially Fall. I drank a fizzy drink with cantaloupe in it tonight as one last hurrah to Summer, but it's over.

Summer of 2011 is officially over.

It was a really good one. I'm going to miss the hot weather and summer fruit, but now it's time for changing trees and cold, rainy afternoons.

I'm making a promise to myself that I'll find the little things to enjoy about the cold weather. I tend to disappear under layers of down comforter when it gets cold, and while that's nice and all-- it's good to get out and breath that crispy air.

Weekend Reflection

2011-09-18T21:37:00.005-06:00

Surprise packages.

I broke my rule for not shopping at cheap barely-legal-age clothing stores, but I needed some fall tops and leggings.

A reminder that it's still summer. Sort of.

The most delicious gourmet doughnuts. Trent had a maple bacon. I had the toasted coconut and caramel.

The most amazing thrift store shoe find. Nine West leather studded flats-- they fit like they were made for me. It was like a Cinderella moment when I tried them on.

Visiting Ron and Missy at their shops on our walk through Broadway. We were apartment shopping.

Someday we'll move into the city instead of skirting the outside.

The drive home from the theater. We saw "Drive" with some friends and we were both blown away. The soundtrack is especially phenomenal. I've been listening to "Nightcall" by Kavinsky on repeat for two days now.

Favorite Thrift Finds

2011-09-18T21:13:00.011-06:00

Katherine Bishop silky kimono-style robe.

I had this conversation with Trent a few months ago about wanting a better bath robe. I was totally hoping for a vintage kimono, but it was pretty impractical as far as my bath robe funds were concerned.

I fell in love with the colors and the pattern of this one at the thrift store and it cost me next to nothing.

Having a list of things you want to find really does work. You have to be looking for something to find it.

There's Something Inside You

2011-09-17T13:51:00.006-06:00

I love Saturday mornings. They ask nothing of you except to sleep in and to forget your work week and to remember the things you're forced to forget for 40 hours a week.

I love these moments.

Listen.

Ilana Kohn

2011-09-15T20:47:00.004-06:00

The only thing I love more than Ilana Kohn's collection is the styling of the photo shoot.

So well done.

Found on hello lindello*

Les Composantes in action

2011-09-14T10:00:00.000-06:00

Les Composantes + http://blog.lescomposantes.com

Etsy Love

2011-09-13T22:05:00.004-06:00

A new limited edition calendar from the shop of Debbie Carlos.

"Comes with a bonus weekends calendar that only includes weekend dates! Because the weekend days are the best days."

Ramen Girl

2011-09-13T21:06:00.008-06:00

The Internet filter at the place where I work is crazy stingy with what it will allow me to access on my browser. I'm not sure what message they're trying to send by blocking job search sites and cooking blogs, honestly. For some reason, the filters are down right now, and as a result, I can access the Internet again. As an act of rebellion, I went straight to my blog archives.

I finally had the opportunity to spend the day between phone calls reading through hundreds of posts written between November 2009 until now. I took a crazy trip back into time two years ago when Trent and I were still babies who had just moved in together and my naive excitement at finally starting college and learning Sign Language. I realize that I'm living the way now I wished I had been back then, and that makes me happy and proud.

Happy almost-two-year-old birthday, Park Street. You're the second best thing that's ever happened to me.

Of course I followed some links from some of those past blog posts, and in the process I stumbled upon Ramen Girl, and her awesome Flickr.

So inspiring.

Weekend Reflection

2011-09-11T22:20:00.007-06:00

Today Trent and I collaborated a super delicious Sunday meal together. It's always been a dream of mine to cook together and we never got around to it until now. I like to think he feels emasculated by grilling the meat, which frees me up to make yummy sides like spicy potatoes and soy broccoli.

We got a late start, but we made it to the Urban Flea, a monthly summer flea market downtown. It was much smaller than I anticipated, but there was a great sense of community and a lot of friendly vendors. The six wooden dip-dyed roses were my favorite find. There were drops of rose essential oil in the centers, which made them fragrant.

My little sister came by this afternoon to announce her engagement. It was great to catch up with her and to be able to congratulate her in person. Her ring in beautiful.

More on clothing

2011-09-11T01:09:00.004-06:00

Click pictures to go directly to links.

Some more inspiration for my Fall wardrobe from Yesstyle.

I'm extremely skeptical of the quality of clothes from the website, but they really know how to create a good lookbook. Also, never in my life have I ever seen clothes sold in outfit pairs. That's totally genius. The convenience seeker inside me is screaming yes while the buyers-remorse-preventer side of me is screaming no.

Silky dress pants, comfortable cotton tops, a whiskey-colored bag, flowy tank tops and thick leggings. Onto the list they go.

Crisp Whites

2011-09-10T17:18:00.005-06:00

All pictures from YESSTYLE. Click for direct links.

I like the stark simplicity that white gives off. It's completely classic, and will never go out of style. I just wish it wasn't so hard to keep clean.

Summer to Fall Transition

2011-09-08T00:18:00.004-06:00

Currently inspiring my summer into fall transition.

Click pictures for direct links.

Weekend Reflection

2011-09-06T21:46:00.005-06:00

I mentioned a few weeks ago that my neighbor was giving me vegetables, and I've been officially upgraded to Elite Neighbor status. The perks, apparently, include grocery bags filled with freshly picked produce grown right next door, tours of her amazing 100-year-old home, and apple crumble right out of the oven.

Her name is Margarita, and her parents were Italian immigrants. She's super sweet and motherly. She even offered to show me how to cook authentic Italian tomato sauce. I think the deal is that I keep smiling and leaving thank you notes on her door and she'll reciprocate with ridiculous amounts of delicious food.

Trent and I only worked for 30 minutes on Labor Day. We got sent home almost immediately after we arrived. We went to the park and fed the ducks.

The last few photos were my first "official" day with the new Canon. We went on a crazy four-hour long bike ride downtown and around our neighborhood to test it out. I saw a lot of parts of our town that I had no idea existed.

I'm nostalgic for summer already.

Future Islands "Balance"

2011-09-05T18:38:00.007-06:00

Samuel Herring of Future Islands

"Balance"

Watch.

Listen.

“It just takes time

Hard work and your time.

You can change your life.”

Thanks, Miss Moss.

She makes amazing mixes.

New Camera

2011-09-05T14:58:00.005-06:00

It's finally mine. The Canon XTi and a 50 mm lens.

I bought it used off of Amazon, which saved me a lot of money and allowed me to pay cash for it, which was really important to me. I couldn't have done it though if it weren't for Trent, who agreed to help out as part of an early birthday present.

So far, this little guy and I have been on a bike ride, to the park, through the neighborhood, and a home photo shoot or two.

I do believe it's love.

Estée Lauder overnight bag

2011-09-05T14:05:00.008-06:00

I had a chance to get to know my camera a little better by having a late-morning photo shoot with the Estée Lauder overnight bag I found at the thrift store a few weeks ago.

Spook approves.

Collar Bones

2011-09-03T14:07:00.002-06:00

North Highlands "Collar Bones"

A really hauntingly beautiful love song.

Watch.

Listen.

Photo from FSNCPS blog.

On Failure

2011-08-31T22:57:00.005-06:00

Trent and I had a really interesting discussion about failure today. It can be hard to know what to do after putting yourself into something for so long and then abandoning it.

We put pressure on ourselves to have everything figured out in our early twenties.

You just gotta remember that your twenties are for making mistakes and figuring out who you are. We don't need careers and families to make us happy.