beetch-side reading

Why hello, hello!

Short post tonight but thought I would just share my newest --and quite anticipated I might add-- book to my yet small collection. It's top notch! New York City BA boss woman, PR mogul, and supermom, Kelly Cutrone's book If You Have to Cry Go Outside (and Other Things Your Mother Never Told You) has been a must-read on my list for ages (okay, since the memoir came out in February). Not only is she an amazing career-driven mama, but she also works hard mentoring young women everywhere in achieving their ultimate potential and beyond. I would love to work under her someday. A woman who knows what the heck she's doing and is not too good to point out her own blasted mistakes..she's wicked.

The back cover copy I believe says it best: (quoting Miss Cutrone)

"I'm not here to tell you how to get the perfect Margiela wardrobe or the perfect man or the perfect job in fashion. I've had all these things, and trust me, there's a bigger prize to be had. I believe the world will change only when we change ourselves. An that starts with finding ourselves. And that starts with listening to ourselves, learning to quiet the clamor in our minds and the voices of everyone around us and moving toward what feels right. It means taking a journey like the spectacular and terrifying and ultimately mind-blowing adventure I've been on. I hope that you, too, will choose to have a journey instead of just a life. Actually, I hope it's a full-on expedition."

Can't wait to dig into this little publication pleasure on the plane in between elbow nudgin' and fist pumpin' our way down to Mexico tomorrow. Think it'll make for some perfect beachside reading as well, with a fresh piña colada at hip, while my boyfriend tries swimmin with the fishes..what am I sayin, I'll be right there with him.

Must go pack! ugh..I have nothing to wear. Have a great Wednesday!

Love, LZ

u.f.o. sightings about lake

Not really. But similar sightings. On land. I call them U.C.O.'s. Unidentified Cyclist Objects. Some quick odd, a few downright hilarious and others, very warming. My run/walk (more like a stroll?) around Lake Zorinsky yesterday was just what anyone deserves at the end of an eventful weekend. Not that my weekend was anything to squak or complain about, but it was needed nonetheless. To wind the social nerves in me down I suppose. It always helps clear the senses if you know what I mean?

Literally, by the end of my two hour, what felt like, "hike" around the pond, my stomach was acting like it was on the verge of collapsing in starvation. Dang weak sauce stomach. This is when I came to realization I could never flounce about with my nature-loving, daredevil of an adventurist/idol, Bear Grylls. I would never survive. HUGE disappointment.

Anyways, here are some of the U.C.O.'s I came across along my footloose journey about lake, some in which I even made awkward eye contact with. Hello creepy man with ghouly, almost expressionless face, wearing unnecessary shades (it was misting for petey's sake), an old school Nebraska letterman jacket and rolled up jeans (he passed me twice so I can't be certain he was even human!)..

(unfortunately these photos are not of exact U.C.O. sightings. they are for pure reenactment purposes, which don't do the sightings justice, but work for show-'n'-tell)

imagine this guy in an old school Nebraska letter jacket..cha-chinging his way past you. Yes, kind of adorable I suppose.

yes, there was one that looked exactly like this..almost giggling in mockery as he zipped past. "you'll never catch mehehee"

I'm dead serious. A man boy sporting a propeller hat. 

he wasn't quite in this attire, but--a propeller helmet?

last, butt certainly not crack...jk

a photo of my shoezees and colorful fall leaves..

to get your mind off the last image ;)

All in all, my stroll about lake was a refreshing venture. I leave you with a few new sections I shall be updating weekly in random posts..Enjoy!

++ Places to Try

 Dante Pizzeria Napoletana, Omaha; one of my fav pizza joints (can I call it a joint?) in town. Wood-burning oven made and fresh ingredients. Went with my friend Laura this past Saturday and split a margherita pizza, which fed us perfectly, paired with sparkling water. Topped it off with a caramel apple custard for dessert. Both the company and eats, heavenly. 

++ Blessings

For my sister Brooke, in her successful self-choreographed dance this past Friday and for her strength in dealing with losing a good friend.

For my sister Meagan and her husband Anthony, in their new and improved humble abode in Norfolk that they just moved into this weekend. Happy dwelling!

For my parents, who are undergoing mass changes in their living arrangements as well with remodeling. Hope it all continues to run smoothly.

For my friend Heather, who just landed a sweet ace job as the Event and Administrative Coordinator for the Douglas County Historical Society. Congrats!

For my boyfriendy Troy, in having his best month ever in sales at Print Co last month. Hot dawg.

Have a splendid Tuesday and feel free to fill me in on your happenings if I have in any way sparked any. Throw out any random ya got. Dare ya.

Love, LZ

bubba gumbo burrito

Hello All!

So sorry I had to skip my Wednesday post. Crazy busy day, like most. But the evening..even wilder. Got to sneak in a little Qdoba action which included a giant chicken burrito that I tried to force feed Troy (he absolutely loves burritos, but turns down mine?), gumbo which I got to try for the first time and then of course a couple refreshers of dr. pepper. Uh-yummm. And it was an early evening meal for once! I believe it was around seven bells, which has to be a record for us. Count it!

Speaking of fine dining, did you know that Omaha's very own restaurants were featured on Food Wars last night?? It was a battle royale between two Italian steakhouses, Caniglia's Venice Inn and Piccolo Pete's. Venice Inn happens to be only a couple blocks away from Troy's place so I would of been biased. Also, because it's the only one I've tried. So which fine establishment took home the steak? Don't know. We forgot to dvr it! But my guess is Caniglia's. They have the best salad bar in town hands down.

After Qdoba it was a little Bed, Bath and Beyond time. Actually, it was just one of those things that you just kind of stumble upon before the drive home. "Oh yeah, I need some new pillows!" Troy blurts. Thirty minutes and a couple distractions later, we finally made our way over to pillow land. After some high profile pillow experiments were conducted (which for Troy included leg squeezes and head trials with various plush cushions), he finally decides...on a TempurPedic. I've never seen someone get so giddy about a dang pillow before! "But Lindsay, my back don't you know?" Ah yes, your back.

Fast forward a couple hours later to a finicky old man in his late twenties, laying in bed. "Man, this pillow is so stiff! I hope it doesn't annoy me." I give him two days before he's back in BBB exchanging that rock. I think I'll place my bet...now.

 Troy Pillow Trialing...a new Olympic sport.

Have a Grand Friday! Can't wait to fill you in on our adventures from the pumpkin and berry farm from today. Maybe this weekend? Hope your enjoying this spectacular fall weather!

Love, LZ

 

I actually HAD a dream

So today's theme was bridges. Only because I had a dream about them last night. Folks, I barely remember my dreams so I figured I better put what I had left in memory about it all into good illustratable use. And yes, I am visually quoting a dream from last night at midnight the following day..which I guess would make it two days later? But that's besides the point. The point is, I remembered a dream. It included a bridge --a massive, futuristic, black and white, odd looking bridge-- and that's it really. Location: maybe Vermtown (if that really matters?)

The reason for being on that bridge, I have no idea. Kind of a pointless little dream I would say. But I do remember carrying a skateboard, having a sidekick and rocking skinny, punk-like jeans only my youngest sister could maaaybe pull off. I believe my Clyde was a childhood friend who I haven't been in a room and/or a conversation alone with for probably..ever. But we used to be friends. I guess we are still Facebook friends. So I guess that would make us...dream buddies?

Anyways, I figured I would make something of this glorified "suspended skate ramp" from my dream for home decor ideas. I always have been quite intrigued by them (bridges, not skate ramps) and really dig all the angles you can capture from them, depending on where you are standing. Except for under the contraption...I think that might be downright dangerous!

So I bring to you my Random Brooklyn Bridge Decor Collection for your..wherever!

Dream Away and have a great Wednesday!
Love, LZ

how I would LOVE to put this up on one of my stark white walls in my apartment!

Vinyl Wall Decal Sticker, Brooklyn Bridge New York NYC, $55, etsy.com

 

what a cool idea for coasters! this needs to be a future DIY project :)

New York City Stone Drink Coaster Set-Set of 4, $36, etsy.com

 an alternative way to learning the architecture of the bridge while kitchen cleanin'

Brooklyn Bridge Architectural Floursack Towels, $20, etsy.com

 does this photo make anyone else dizzy? love its focus on strength though 

Photography NYC Brooklyn Bridge print 5x7, $13, etsy.com

let's make things official

This is my first official blog post, Hoo-Rah!

I would love to thank the academy and all those around me who have inspired me and brought me to start one. Without you, my glorious thoughts would be kept inside..left to only torture/bore myself with. Hurumph. Lucky Yous! But seriously, I do have my own muses..and they best know who they are. I'm not in the mood to list names but they are really great people. I promise you. In every step, glance and confused face I create, I somehow become inspired..sometimes more than my little mind/imagination station can handle! So I'm really hoping this will relieve a little of my pent up creative frustration..you better pray it does anyways.

The interpretation of my blog --country muse, city muse-- is quite simple. The first 18 lovely years of my life was spent on a family farm back in Pierce, Nebraska. And I mean a real live milking, chore listin', tractor ridin' abode. With stay-at-home parents for a majority of my childhood and two younger sisters, most of my upbringing was spent outside. Playing. Working. Dreaming. Until now.

Country Life: I believe this is where most of my creativity stemmed from. Not in just your normal outside, playing in the dirt, getting your hands (mostly fingernails) grimey..but moreso in the other free-form moments. Boy, I took so much pride in my imagination when it came to "playing" house/school/radio shows..yes radio shows (don't judge). I'm sure it had something with being the eldest, but I always liked the sense of control I had when coming up with a new playtime activity. And my-oh were some of them silly..to some, quite strange? Yeah, let's go ahead, take a broom and sweep "roads" throughout the whole entire farm and create our own little "Sim Village" for bike people? Sounds like a great idea..

All in all, I credit the country for sparking that little bit of -although juvinile- creativity in me. The craziest of ideas were spilled out here...filterless. This is where my love for design, and all things beautiful, began.

City Life: Some might laugh when they hear me use this term..especially given where I live right now. Omaha, Nebraska is not quite the ideal spokesperson (place?) for city livin that's for sure..I mean come on, we don't even have a city slogan? No, "Omaha is my Homaha" does not quite count--although catchy? Catchier than most.

I don't know exactly when my desire for city life and for the world unknown began, but let's just say -as much as I loved growing up in the country- that I always knew I was made to go against the grain. I wanted to break away from all the things I knew and experience everything else I hadn't the slightest, grass shard, idea of. Even if it meant I look like an outcast. I need one of those "easy" buttons for that comment.

Almost every one of my dad's siblings grew up on the farm and then moved away..states away..the second they graduated high school. A lot of my family vacation time was spent traveling to see these aunts, uncles and cousins galore--exposing me to the great "land of the west," one Holiday Inn at a time. Although we aren't talking straight urban talk here, traveling is where I developed my love for everything music, art, architecture, food, fashion, culture..and eventually, design. But the nomadism continues. Never do I have an "untraveling" moment with my eyes when it comes to design. I could be looking at pieces of a broken mirror and appreciate the aesthetic of its own destruction. Superstitious, I am not.

So with that said. I hope you look at my posts with a little more appreciation now understanding a fraction of where all these crazy blurts come from (or you could just blame my mom..I do). If you have any thoughts, sidenotes or experiences to add--by all means, share! After all, that is the point of this little bloggy. Like most, to inspire and become inspired!

+++ And let's Thank God that this blog has been brought to you in digital form..you wouldn't be able to read a lick of it otherwise. Also bear in mind, I may create a few words up along the way. Journalist friends..back off.

So grab a fig newton and a glass of cheap chardonnay while we channel into new dimensions of creative stimulation! A little much? Maybe so..