A Map.

I have a big empty wall that I've been trying to fill in my bathroom.  Trying to fill it with something interesting, colorful and inexpensive.  Something to off set my rather serious gray stripe shower curtain.  I really like my shower curtain, but needed to introduce a little color.  I was in a fun little shop over the weekend that had a bin of old maps and other papers, each for $2 or $3.  And that's when I came across this map.  It's really nothing special.  Just an old AAA map for $2.  But I thought that if I threw it in a frame, it might brighten up the place.  I bought a standard poster frame, trimmed the map down a little, stuck it in the frame and bravely hung it on the wall.

Exactly the look I was going for.  Bright, cheerful, simple. 
At the same fun little shop, I purchased this little piece of string art.  It was only $22 and I could not pass it up!  (If you ever find yourself in Minneapolis, I highly recommend you stop in Piccadilly Prairie!)

Here it is hung on the opposite wall, with a few other things I've had for a long time. 

And with that, my bathroom is complete!

4 Things.

I've been fighting a bad case of wanderlust lately.  I'm used to being a fairly frequent traveler and since my job doesn't require travel, it seems strange to not make a monthly (or so) visit somewhere.  Getting used to it, but a strange feeling.  One tip I received when moving to Minneapolis, to help in getting through the winter, was to plan a winter getaway somewhere warm.  So that's exactly what I'm doing! 

And now onto this week's 4 Things:
I'm anticipating a colder than I'm used to winter here in Minneapolis, perhaps I need to make a new throw to keep me warm?
-Letting go of insecurities....  Easier said than done.
-Mini-Pancake Push Pops?  Yes, please!
-I'm late to this party (I believe it was the hot book last year.)  But have you read Girl Gone by Gillian Flynn yet?  I'm not finished yet, but it's so good!  I highly recommend it.

4 Things.

Hello, friends!  Hope everyone is having a great weekend.  After an unseasonably cold summer here in Minnesota, the weather has warmed up this past weekend.  It finally feels like summer!  I plan on heading down to the pool this afternoon.  Must soak it up while it lasts!

And now a few things I found on the web this week...
-I have not been cooking much since I moved, but need to get back into it!  I think I'll make this yummy recipe this week.
-A few creative apps for your ipad.
-12 things you own too many of.  Take it from the girl who just moved and is STILL GETTING RID OF STUFF.  It's annoying.  Get rid of stuff you don't need!  Once you started, it gets easier, I promise.  And be really careful about what you bring home.  I feel like this is a big lesson that I've learned this summer.
-Here's a fun take on a classic dessert.

4 Things

A dandelion fountain! 

Berger Fountain in Loring Park.

Change often teaches you something about yourself.  Sometimes big things, sometimes little things.  A little lesson I recently learned about myself is that I hate furniture shopping.  If you know me at all, you know that I love shopping.  For just about anything.  (But I dislike malls, perhaps that's for another day.)  But what is it about furniture?  It's not even about the money.  I made a point to set aside money once I knew I was moving just for this purpose.  I've been getting completely hung up on interior design.  What is my style?  I'm not entirely sure.  Since I'm a grown up now, I'm trying to curate a well put together look instead of just buying stuff.  I think I'm getting there.  I bought a couch the 2nd day I was in Minneapolis and I've also purchased a coffee table. The media console was completely a different story.  I've been shopping for one for weeks and weeks on end.  Finally, yesterday, I actually bought one!  I'm happy I held out for one that I really like.  And that it has storage.  It's the one in the middle of the picture below.  Whew. 

I purchased it at a crazy small and congested furniture store called Nadeau.  As you can see in this picture, they had things stacked up at least 3 high! In a mass produced, Ikea world (not that there is anything wrong with Ikea, I have plenty of things from there too), they have a different approach.  Their tag line is "Furniture with a Soul."  From their website: "we are dedicated to enhancing our customers' lives by consistently discovering and offering unique, handcrafted and affordable furniture that brings beauty, warmth, and a bit of authentic, ethnic culture into their homes."  Nothing is mass-produced or assembly required!  They have locations all over the country, perhaps there's one in your neck of the woods.

Now on to this week's 4 things.
Potato stamping.
This looks like a great way to use farmer's market purchases.
Happy people.
Are you an introvert like me?  I've been reading Quiet by Susan Cain.  Can't recommend this enough!!

I know, I know....

source

It's been a while since I've blogged!  I've missed it and will be getting back to regularly scheduled programming.  I used to research for my blog at lunch time and then would write my scheduled post on Thursday, also at lunch. I don't have that luxury any more, I plan on researching in the evening and writing on Sunday morning, posting on Monday morning.  Sound good?
I've been doing well and feel like I'm fitting in pretty easily here in Minneapolis.  My apartment is coming together.  I still need to buy a few pieces of furniture.  I detest furniture shopping and have realized that I don't have a knack for interior design.  At all.  So, there are a few piles of things here and there.  I also realized that I have too much stuff and have been editing my collection of junk.  I've also been very careful about what I bring home.  But I digress...
On to this week's "4 Things"!
-Love this video about a family that sold everything and is taking a country wide road trip.  I really admire people who have the courage to live differently.
-An interesting dating experiment. 
-Love these curtains!!
-This looks like the perfect summer dinner. 
(I forgot to mention...the above picture is of Lake Calhoun, the biggest lake here in Minneapolis.  So beautiful!  I live about a mile from it.)