Never Too Old

Legos + Architecture + Frank Lloyd Wright + me = Fun!

Great Idea: starting my lego Guggenheim Museum

Bad Idea: starting my lego Guggenheim @ 10pm on Thursday evening

(I'll let you know that I started it last night and actually went to bed before midnight...
and then woke up this morning at 5:30 am just fine, thanks!)

10pm on Thursday evening

this is what I called the 'disaster zone'

When I was younger, you could not pry me from my lego collection. I hated to leave what I started in order to eat dinner or do anything really. I even made a working carousel once, and that was not built from a kit. It was built from sheer imagination.

My aunt and cousin gave me some 'big girl legos' for Christmas this year. They knew that I would appreciate putting together my very own Guggenheim Museum (the architect is Frank Lloyd Wright), and I am thoroughly enjoying putting it together! You're never too old to play with legos.

The Guggenheim Museum kit comes with an easy to follow step by step booklet, and it made putting every piece into place a snap (pun intended).

 The beginning

 I'm starting to see it now...

 The home stretch

Finished Guggenheim!

I was actually kind of sad when I snapped the last piece into place. Guess I'll need to go looking for a new museum to 'build' now. Nate just asked me if I was going to break it apart and rebuild it again, and I said "absolutely not!" After 'construction' we just sit and enjoy the finished product. Tada!

Start With Yourself

This is probably not the most focused blog I've ever written, but I'm sharing it anyways. I have a lot running through my mind at the moment... so that's probably how this blog is going to 'sound'. Bear with me.

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After watching the State of the Union (let's call it the SU for short) address this week, I couldn't help but feel at least a little hopeful at a few of the things that Obama said. I'm not one to get really involved in politics, because, quite honestly, I find the division of people into two very different groupings (Repubs vs. Dems) to be incredibly discouraging. However, there were glimmers of good (like there are in pretty much everything) in some of the things that our president spoke of in his speech. I hope maybe you picked up on something that sounded good to you too!

In the SU address, I heard a common thread of holding ourselves accountable. (Or am I crazy? Did anyone else hear that?) He talked about how parents have to do their jobs in order for teachers to better be able to do their jobs, and he also mentioned some incredibly amazing people and what they have done to stay relevant, and even thrive, in this turbulent (hey, there's an aviation reference) economy. Honestly, some of what he said in the SU made me want to be a better person. (Not that I didn't want to be a good person before, but this served as a reminder) I think that if everyone tried to be a little bit better at something that it would make a huge impact on the world. (maybe I'm crazy optimistic, but I like it that way!) I feel like in order to make a difference, I need to start with myself. Honestly if you aren't happy with yourself... why would you be happy with anyone or anything else?! Instead of complaining about what politicians are doing wrong (I mean hey they're human too... aka not perfect), I hope to see what is going right instead. We really are accountable for our own happiness and success in life. When we get it ourselves, then we can share it with others.

I really hope to do my best to give to this world. Whether it be to give my gifts (which I'm working on figuring out), my time, anything really. The SU address really shook me up a bit, and it made me realize that I have this life to live... and if I don't live it, then it's my fault. It's not the governments fault... or my parents fault... or my friends fault. Hold yourself accountable to be the best person that you can, and don't let anyone tell you differently. If I know anything, it's that happiness is super important... and it starts here.

I love this quote!

... it also scares me.

What Inspires You?

Today I feel that it's necessary to think about things that inspire me, because I could use a bit of a boost.

So here goes:

LOVE

It's amazingly inspiring to feel loved. The kind of love that is unconditional and makes you want to be a better person kind of love. I believe that everyone deserves to be loved like that. So to me, love in one of the most inspiring things out there. Love someone today!

I love this quote from Moulin Rouge, "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

THOUGHTFUL INTERIORS

source: Traditional Home

There's something about an interior that is creative and comfortable that makes me a little weak in the knees. I love walking into a space and it makes me feel 'at home' immediately. When an interior makes me feel safe and comfortable, while letting my mind relax at the same time, I just want to stay there forever! There's something special about an interior that has spaces for everyone to gather yet also has spaces for people to get away and relax. When I was younger, I always imagined my dream house with little hideaways and all my favorite things. Thoughtful interiors that reflect your life and the way you live are inspiring to me!

FOREIGN DESTINATIONS

Cinque Terre, Italy

Read this previous blog about why I love to travel, and you'll get a little understanding for why I am inspired by visiting new places. I also think you can consider almost anywhere that you've never been before a foreign destination, but the language barrier does help with seeing something differently for the first time. I find inspiration in places that I've never been before, because it takes me out of my comfort zone and forces me to learn something new... and that to me is inspiring.

KIND PEOPLE

This might seem like a strange picture to represent 'kind people', because it's just an image of mine and Nate's shoes. This picture reminded me of the older couple who shared a bench with us on the Naples's pier during our honeymoon. We were all waiting for the sun to set, and the older man next to us started talking to Nate about how long him and his wife had been married and talked a little about their family. The fact that he was a stranger yet oozed love and interest about his life and family was amazing. It made us both look forward to just growing older together and sharing this life. So for that... kind people inspire me, because sometimes it's the smallest things that strangers do that can make the biggest impact!

THE BEACH

I find the beach incredible, because it's this amazing place where human inhabited land meets uninhabitable water (at least to humans... unless you're on a ship). It's a little bit of mystery and unknown meets real life on land. The sounds and sights at the beach are soothing, and I could spend all day just silent but watching the water and animals that live near the sea. The beach and everything about it inspire me.

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I think that I could now go on and on with things that inspire me, and the great thing is that I know these things surround me every day. Some days I fail to see inspiration, but it's not for lack of inspiring things in life... sometimes I just forget to open my eyes to it.

M.i.A.

I've been missing from blog world for a few days.

I guess you could say that I was busy... and also a little uninspired. Sometimes when I hit a little slump, I just want to sit around in my pajamas and eat ice cream and not socialize with anyone. That didn't happen though, because we have been busy with family and friends.

In these past few days, Nate and I visited a microbrewery with friends, played trivia with friends, and visited with some family that were in town. We both had a good time getting out and having fun.

Today though, I am going to sit around and read Harry Potter (don't judge, it's for 'grown ups' too). I am going to drink coffee, and I might even watch some crappy reality television. I feel like I need to be anti-social and re-charge.... oh well, it happens. :) I'm going to be doing lots of thinking today too, and let me tell you... I think that's tiring on its own!

So that's where we've been lately. Do you ever feel the need to 'hibernate' too?

The Little Things

Yesterday while we walked around the University of Denver campus, Nate spotted a little bird's nest. Height worked to his advantage in spotting the nest, because it was above my head and I was not looking for anything small up there. Glad that he noticed it though, because obviously I had to take some pictures of it... which proved slightly difficult since it was almost higher than I could reach.

After standing on tip toes with arms over my head, I nabbed this picture of the little nest up close. Wonder if it had been abandoned? The nest looked like someone, or something, had left in a hurry. Either way, I'm glad that Nate spotted it and that I could snap a picture of it to share with you.

It's not only people that enjoy the protection of a well-designed shelter. Birds love a safe place to raise a family too! Smart birds if you ask me. The creator of that nest definitely chose a lovely place to call its home. I'm sure it was more out of necessity than for the sheer joy of living next to a college campus, but I like it anyway! :)

If you don't slow down and take a minute to breath and observe, you just might miss the little things.

Words to Live By

Nate had some stitches taken out today, and I went along for the ride. His doctor's office is basically next door to the University of Denver, and I wanted to take some pictures on the campus while we were in the neighborhood. I just love college campuses. They are always full of such great energy... not to mention the architecture and the inspiration that lives there!

While walking across the DU campus, I spotted this beautiful metal fence complete with wonderful words of inspiration. It was as if it were talking directly to me, because the words were just what I needed to see at that moment.

I feel like the words in this sign are something that I need to do more of, because recently I've been feeling a bit like a failure. I am my own worst enemy.

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."  -Henry David Thoreau

"Some [wo]men see things as they are and say 'why'?
Others dream things that never were and say 'why not'?  -George Bernard Shaw

I would really love to believe this next quote:

"God gives us dreams a size too big so that we can grow in them."  -Unknown 

Nate and I also walked by the Evans Memorial chapel that's on the DU campus. Not too long ago we were married inside of that chapel. Our first anniversary is creeping up on us, and it was fun to see the chapel where our wedding took place and to think that was almost a year ago already!

On our way back to the car, I noticed this sign on the beautiful brick building in front of us. I thought to myself "that is such an odd sign to put on such a beautiful building!". Oh the irony. Hopefully it's not necessary to use it as a fallout shelter after all.

"Fallout Shelter"

Just thought I'd end this blog with a laugh or a smile. :)