happy heart.

This last weekend has been magical.  It was my last "off" week before I started work and class for the summer, and there's no doubt I did it right.

The original plan was to have a morning meeting before having lunch with a friend.  My meeting ended up getting canceled and when I texted my friend to see if he'd like to meet earlier, he was at the coffee shop next to my place getting work done.  I finished up some things and walked down to the coffee shop to meet up with him.  We wound seeing friends, grabbing food, enjoying patio weather, and getting sun and laughs to last for days.  We discussed how crazy it was that, for the first time in months, no one in our party had any other commitments for the day - it was just us, enjoying the day.

There was plenty of cleaning, errands, painting, runs, and long walks between, but I was soon joined by a dear friend from England.  It's been over two years since I last saw her, and it was such a treat to have her with me for a long weekend!  We hit up some great Minneapolis spots (Stone Arch Bridge, Moscow Hill - I know it's St. Paul!, U of M Campus, Main Street, the Guthrie, Mall of America, to name a few), she met and we went out with my darling J. Crew family, and made it to a Twins game.   

Experiencing this city as a tourist, experiencing the Mall of America through the eyes of someone who'd never been, and then catching up with even more old friends just made it even better.  Watching the Tony Awards to finish off a great weekend doesn't hurt either!

P.S. I also received this in the mail...wonder what it could be!? ;)

How was your weekend?xx

commencement.

Nearly three weeks ago, I was sitting in this crowd, waiting to hear speakers and ready to walk up and receive my diploma, or at least, the diploma holder they would give me while I waited for the actual document.  It was a weird feeling.  This wasn't going to be my final college moment - German classes were planned for this summer - and yet, it felt like it was all going to be over.

(I see you up there, Mom!)

I had participated in one on-campus group, had a couple on-campus jobs, and attended events sporadically.  I never went Greek, didn't do band, choir, or arts shows, made a handful of really good friends, and a few handfuls more of people I could wave at on campus.  People walking across stage were high-fiving each other and hugging faculty members, while I couldn't think of a faculty member I had kept in touch with.  There were plenty of exciting thoughts running through my head, but I was beginning to think I had seriously missed out on something, that I'd done something horribly and terribly wrong.

At the time, the speakers were poignant - nearly three weeks later I couldn't quote one line for you.  I don't know why that is, and sometimes I wish I could remember.  But even if I could, it wouldn't make a difference.  As a recent grad, as a 20 something, the words of advice are inescapable.  

I laughed a lot through the ceremony, sitting by a good friend, talking about people we knew walking the stage, cheering when our mascot accepted his "diploma" and celebrating as we threw our caps in the air and then searched for our families

Goldy Gopher graduated!

I couldn't have been happier to have my family and Nathan there to help me celebrate.  College was the single hardest thing I've ever done in my life, physically and mentally.  Numerous times I called a meeting with my parents to discuss the possibility of transferring or dropping out.  I'm not destined for education, college wasn't glamorous for me, and I'm okay with that.  While I sat, thinking in that moment that I had failed the social aspect of college, I needed to remember that I was content with the experience that I had.  Sure, I didn't join clubs, but I had a great group of friends my first year at the U that kept me company with late night dining hall trips and marathons of watching Sherlock.  Brownie bites and half off apps, bad chinese food, football games, even my job...  Those were  my "clubs", those are my memories.  I am so utterly blessed to have them.

Three weeks after graduating, I'm getting ready to start a summer job and my last bit of German.  I'm searching endlessly for full-time positions in September (using my on the hunt methods) and an apartment to go with it, while simultaneously attempting to make time for dankbar, family, and friends.  It's stressful, and exhilirating, and the beginning and end of something.  It's commenced.

my biggest six year-old fan

my grandparents

fellow UofM alum, thanks for everything Nathan

my mom and step-dad, always supportive and 

doing their best to keep me in school and positive

daddy, always there for rational advice and a kick-in-the-butt when

laziness seems like the best option.

What are other recent grads up to?  How was your commencement and college career?

bakery series:: Spyhouse

Spyhouse has been on my radar for awhile.  Photos of the Minnesota mug have been showing up on my Instagram for the longest time and, once I figured out where they were from, I have been wanting to order a drink in one forever.

I finally got the chance.  Nathan and I went to the Northeast location before I went home for my sister's confirmation.  The coffee was delicious (as was every single one of their iced teas!), as were their pastries.  Here's the secret to their amazing pastries - they order them from Patisserie 46!  I got the almond croissant this time and I was not disappointed.  The coffee cake Nathan picked out was absolutely HUGE.  Again, we did computer work (me) and read the WSJ (Nathan).

The atmosphere was FANTASTIC.  Rustic, cozy, plenty of space.  Not too much outdoor seating, but the giant picture windows make up for it.  Probably my favorite of bakeries for atmosphere alone.  You will not be disappointed if you head here on a sunny, rainy, or snowy day.

bakery series:: Patisserie 46

For Easter, Nathan and I received a gift card to Patisserie 46.  What a treat!  So many great pastry options, and the coffee was delicious!  Nathan chose an almond croissant, while I was in a rare muffin mood and opted for banana chocolate chip.  Neither of us regretted our choices.

It was such a lovely atmosphere, and had so much table space.  I was able to set out my laptop and get some work done and Nathan enjoyed his WSJ.  There was a little patio out front, maybe three or four tables, though I thought it was too breezy to work outside.

This is a short review - because there's nothing bad to say about it!  As Nathan says, "a nice little gem in the neighborhood".  For being small and not incredibly well-known, I bet you'd be surprised to find their pastries and breads in places you wouldn't expect!  Can't wait to go back and hit that patio!

dankbar designs.

Here it is guys.  I've been hinting for awhile at the project I've been working on - well, here it is.  Dankbar Designs is my new project.  Working with acrylics, canvases, ink, and paper, I'm working on bringing my love of typography to you.

It's been a lot of work - making designs, creating words, floating them past friends and family.  After making a housewarming gift that my sister requested, it truly catapulted and I decided now was the time.  You know I've been looking for a job, that I went through Cake for Breakfast, I did the Willpower Council last year with Molly Mahar from Stratejoy and loved it.  Each of those steps, the steps that have required me to dig deep and press uncomfortable buttons, has pushed me towards people, creation, and collaboration.  I want to work with you to put your words to paper, or to canvas.  I want to make things that speak from my heart, your heart, our collective heart that we put into it.  I am so grateful for all of you, my family, friends, future customers, past customers, and everyone in between.  I wouldn't be here without you; this is not only something I'm doing for myself, but it's for you, in a way.  Dankbar is German for "grateful", and putting that on everything I do, in front of me and my work, it's to thank everyone for getting me this far.

I can't wait to see what comes of this, so feel free to check out the Etsy shop, and please, please, like Dankbar Designs on Facebook!  I love you all, thank you!!

sundown on the sunshine state.

                                        

Well, as I'm preparing to leave Florida, I'm looking back on the last week and smiling. I'm quite happy to be heading back to Minneapolis, but seeing my family has been wonderful, albeit exhausting. I've had a blast with every experience, with every daydream, and every life revelation I've had on this trip. I can't wait to get home and share them with you! Xx

beach must-haves

Before we go down to the beach each day, Mom makes sure we have bags packed. Plenty of water, - SmartWater on doctor reccommendation for all of us, for the electrolytes - a hat, some sunnies, a pair of head phones, a good book, and a cover-up. 

As fair skinned girls, Mom, the Sisters, and I are pros at protecting ourselves from the sun. Sunscreen is applied in copious amounts, and reapplied two hours later. I choose my outfits carefully for sunny vacations - a tank top cover up for early in the trip, and a light popover for when I don't want the sun directly on my lobster skin, but don't want to swelter. Hats have become a must for me over the last year, as I've started to notice more signs of aging on my face (eek!), sunglasses are necessary, and Chapstick with SPF is my most forgotten item, but one I'm working on making sure I remember! (Burnt and chapped lips are no fun!)

I'm notorious for lugging way more books around with me than I need, so it's no surprise that I make sure I'm good on reading supplies. I like to have a good book and a magazine, just in case. Today I have The Golden Notebook and the June Vanity Fair with me, so I am completely satisfied. 

What are your beach must-haves?