SUITCASE STORAGE

I'm using old suitcases as storage containers. They look better than those big, plastic totes you see at box stores and when I'm ready to move (which seems to happen pretty frequently), I can just grab the handle and go.

ROAD TRIP READY

Stopped by the library this afternoon to pick up a couple books on tape and some fresh music for my weekend road trip to West Virginia. Amy introduced me to the magnificence of driving to books on tape when she rescued me from New York.

RECENT FINDS

I recently picked up this vintage Wisconsin sweatshirt, as well as the clothing stand which I'll be utilizing for upcoming clothing alteration projects.

LETS

Local Exchange Trading Systems. Most of my graphic design services are offered on a bartering basis, so I'm very interested in LETS. Anyone have any additional info?

GO OUTSIDE. NOW.

It's finally warming up here in Wisconsin and there's nothing like emerging from a long winter to make you appreciate the great outdoors. If I ever find myself feeling anxious, worrisome, etc, my coping mechanism is to simply spend some time outside. Photo taken atop Parnell Tower in Kettle Moraine.

MADE FROM SCRATCH

A recent new purchase has been the book, Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life. Jenna Woginrich is my age, works a full-time desk job, and has written a very practical, easy-to-read memoir about her adventures in self-sufficient living. A lot of the chapters aren't quite applicable to me in my yardless studio apartment, (beekeeping, chickens, house dogs, etc), but I mostly wanted to support a 26-year old writing about homesteading. Check out her blog, Cold Antler Farm.

ZIPPER REPAIR

When the zipper on my favorite pair of pink pants stopped working, I thought I had to retire them. But low and behold, Arnst Zipper is located across the street! For $5.25, my pink pants will live on.

USING THINGS UP

Came across a post on one of my favorite blogs, Re-Nest, about spring cleaning by means of using things up. I recently overheard some friends discussing skipping a week of grocery shopping and using up everything collecting dust in the cabinets. Brilliant.

I'm also reminded of a story I once heard about a girl, let's call her Betty. Betty was moving to the big city and knew that she would not be able to buy new clothes often because the big city is freakin' expensive. So Betty, being such a clever girl, divided her wardrobe into 3 mini-wardrobes. She took one of the mini-wardrobes with her when she moved to the city and when she got to that point where she felt like she had "nothing to wear," she had her mom ship her another wardrobe. Free new clothes! And Betty and her 3 mini-wardrobes lived happily ever after. (Until she got sick of the city and moved back to the Midwest).

DISHRACK

Instead of buying a dishrack, I'm using a towel to dry my few dishes. (Besides, I really hate cleaning those things.)

HDMA

map #W1, Guardo, Spain

Hand Drawn Map Association Open Studio

John Michael Kohler Arts Center
May 2, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Free

Map your day with artist and founder of the Hand Drawn Map Association, Kris Harzinski. Use a variety of materials to tell the story of your day- a routine day, a work day, a school day, or a special day- and then add your map to the collection of hand drawn maps on Harzinski’s website. The Hand Drawn Map Association is featured in the exhibition, All Over the Map.

Why buy a new map when you can draw your own?