Inspiration of the Month {August}

Copper has definitely been on my radar lately. With an unmistakable color somewhere between rose gold and rust, copper has a way of brightening a room without stealing all the attention. I love how it gives off a rustic industrial look while still maintaining that classy modern vibe. Whether it's with kitchenware, lighting fixtures, jewelry, or home decor, copper looks good with just about anything. And not to mention the strikingly beautiful natural patina that forms on the surface of copper over time (think Statue of Liberty). Nature is just incredible, isn't it?

While we're on the topic of nature and its breathtaking phenomena, let's just take a minute to talk about the world's largest cave, the Son Doong Cave in Vietnam. I was literally left wide-eyed and speechless after reading an article about this wondrous gem, staring at my screen with the strongest desire to travel and see this jaw-dropping sensation. Discovered by a team of British cavers in 2009, the Son Doong Cave is over 5.5 miles long and is home to its very own river, jungle, waterfalls, stalagmite, and natural skylights. I am not ashamed to admit I spent several hours reading articles, browsing through photographs, and watching National Geographic videos about this magnificent cave. The only thing is...it's $3000 for a tour. Someday, Vietnam. Someday. Check out http://www.sondoongcave.org for more info! Trust me, you'll be in complete awe after you see these photos:

Hank Butitta recently finished his Masters in Architecture at the University of Minnesota. In architecture school, Hank was "tired of drawing buildings that would never exist, for clients that were imaginary." So for his Masters Final Project, Hank bought a $3000 school bus off Craigslist and decided to convert it into a living space. After 15 weeks of hard work and $6000 in improvements, the bus was successfully converted into a comfortable and functional living environment. This 225 square foot "ultimate road trip vehicle" is complete with skylights, insulation, electricity, dimmable LED lighting, a portable toilet, a kitchen with a foot-pump sink, and sleeping capacity for up to 6 adults. Once he'd given his final presentation, Hank embarked on a 5,000-mile road trip around the country with some friends to test out their new home on wheels. Check out his website, Hank Bought A Bus, to follow their journey and find out more about this incredible project. I can only hope to have the sort of passion, ambition, innovation, and creativity that Hank has embodied in this continuously growing project. A true inspiration. (Fun fact: The black lines on the floor of the bus are actually pieces of the 3-point line from a reclaimed gym floor!)

You should know I'm a sucker for good poetry. Something about the way 26 single letters can embrace one another to create such a delightful (and often deep) literary masterpiece. For as long as I can remember, my parents' bookshelves have been stocked with Shel Silverstein books. In addition to his indisputable talent for poetry, Shel Silverstein's accompanying illustrations still inspire me to this day. His one-of-a-kind illustrations complement each poem in the best way possible, evoking a specific feeling as you ingest the words on the page. While the words are the true beauty, the poems just don't quite have the same effect when the illustrations are missing, like cereal without milk. I recently rediscovered an old poem from Where the Sidewalk Ends, a collection of children's poetry by Shel Silverstein (1974). Feeding my mind with these poems for the first time since elementary school, I've fallen in love with them all over again and now understand things I never even slightly discerned at the tender age of 7. These poems are soaked in the most enlightening knowledge and deep meanings—meanings that are not fully comprehendible for young children. Poems that may seem completely straightforward and non-convoluted on the surface are often filled to the brim with invaluable life messages. Take at least a few minutes to read this "Hector the Collector" poem and think it over. One of my favorites. (P.S. I'm sure everyone has been exposed to Shel Silverstein's well-known "Masks" poem, but if it has somehow slipped by you, read it here.)

Hector the Collector

by Shel Silverstein

Hector the Collector

Collected bits of string,

Collected dolls with broken heads

And rusty bells that would not ring.

Pieces out of picture puzzles,

Bent-up nails and ice-cream sticks,

Twists of wires, worn-out tires,

Paper bags and broken bricks.

Old chipped vases, half shoelaces,

Gatlin' guns that wouldn't shoot,

Leaky boats that wouldn't float

And stopped-up horns that wouldn't toot.

Butter knives that had no handles,

Copper keys that fit no locks,

Rings that were too small for fingers,

Dried-up leaves and patched-up socks.

Worn-out belts that had no buckles,

'Lectric trains that had no tracks,

Airplane models, broken bottles,

Three-legged chairs and cups with cracks.

Hector the Collector

Loved these things with all his soul—

Loved them more than shining diamonds,

Loved them more than glistenin' gold.

Hector called to all the people,

"Come and share my treasure trunk!"

And all the silly sightless people

Came and looked...and called it junk.

August: summer adventures, long drives, and hot afternoons. The last full month of summer has come to an end, and the start of classes is just around the corner. Not quite dreading it, not quite looking forward to it. I'm just gonna let things happen and see where life takes me. Cheers.

xx Kristin

Inspiration of the Month {July}

The ample amount of free time in the summer calls for lots and lots of leisure reading. First on my list: "Looking for Alaska" by John Green. Despite my slower-than-normal tendency of reading books, I finished "Looking for Alaska" in one sitting on a lazy Sunday afternoon, lost in a heart-wrenching fictional story of adventure, mischief, young love, loss, impermanence, and suffering. My very first John Green book; let's just say I am now dedicated to reading every book he's ever written (three down already!), because this guy is an ardent writer of inimitable young adult novels. I honestly can't express how much I loved this book and everything about it. I felt like I was sprinting through the forest just steps behind Miles and Takumi, my heart racing faster and faster as my mind consumed each string of words. I befriended the wildly enigmatic personality of Alaska Young, growing closer to her with every flip of a page. I shared Miles' aching loneliness and his endless thirst for knowledge and answers. I felt the thrilling rush of rebellion and the fear of getting caught when Alaska snuck into the Weekday Warriors' rooms and lit up cigarette after cigarette in the smoking hole. And lastly, I felt the wretched, sick-to-my-stomach pain of losing a piece of your heart forever. A sensational masterpiece of a novel. Depressing? Yes, most definitely. But you should know that the sad stories are always my favorites.

A few quotes from the novel that really struck something inside me:

"I have lost something important, and I cannot find it, and I need it. It is fear like if someone lost his glasses and went to the glasses store and they told him that the world had run out of glasses and he would just have to do without."

"The times that were the most fun seemed always to be followed by sadness now, because it was when life started to feel like it did when she was with us that we realized how utterly, totally gone she was."

"If people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane."

"We need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken. We think that we are invincible because we are."

Mathilde Aubier is a wonderfully talented French artist, graphic designer, and illustrator. Most of her artwork creatively combines organic shapes, earthy colors, and black and white photos to form simplistic masterpieces with a unique vintage feel. I admire the fact that she has created an unmistakable identity amongst all of her pieces. Her work has sparked my infinite love for collage illustration.

Wes Anderson's work is truly an art form in itself. Of the five Wes Anderson films I've had the pleasure of watching thus far, The Royal Tenenbaums takes the cake (although Moonrise Kingdom is a close second). A melancholic story about family, separation, true love, living life on the edge, a father's honest efforts, and a seemingly dysfunctional family that makes a heartfelt recovery. Beautifully played out. I especially love Margot Tenenbaum's infamously secretive character, played by Gwyneth Paltrow.

New music discoveries are just the best, right? Pacific Air is an American indie pop band consisting of two brothers, Ryan and Taylor Lawhon. Their debut album "Stop Talking" is the perfect soundtrack for summer. Every single song is a brilliantly catchy anthem, but "Roses" and "Float" have been on repeat the most for me. Give them a listen and I promise your ears will be thankful! :) These guys definitely deserve to be heard.

We're about halfway through summer and blue skies are calling. I've been keeping busy and filling my weekends with carefree adventures in the awe-inspiring outdoors. Can't believe August is here already!

xxKristin

P.S. Other outstanding bands currently on my radar: The 1975 and Finish Ticket, both irresistibly captivating. Check them out!! What new music has made it onto your list of summer jams? I'd love to hear! :)

the deep end

when i was young
they taught me to swim
in the shallow waters
of a backyard pool.
what they never taught me
was how to swim
when you're drowning in sorrow
and it's swallowing you whole.
trying to stay afloat
with an anchor on my heart
salt water in my lungs
and pouring from my eyes.
i'm fighting, heaving, gasping for air
but it all winds down
to my impending demise.
thrown into the endless abyss
the deep end never prepared me
for this.

Inspiration Palette {Neon Yellow}

Electric and joy-evoking, there's nothing quite like a touch of neon yellow in your home furniture, tabletop decor, or summer wardrobe. Paired with a neutral grey or a calm wash of palladian blue, it makes everything come alive without overdoing it. Splendidly illuminating and perfect for summertime.

xx Kristin

P.S. How cute is that DIY paint-dipped stool??

Inspiration of the Month {June}

The carefree and lighthearted essence of summer is playfully illuminated by these painted images. Los Angeles-based photographer Alexandra Valenti imaginatively combines daring colors, whimsical patterns, and boundless vivacity in each photograph that makes me yearn for the outdoors. I can just smell the trees and feel the invigorating caress of lake water around my ankles.

Benjamin Zank sure knows what he's doing. There's an indescribable serenity about each of his photos, and it's obvious that they have been thoughtfully composed. Ben's numerous self-portraits "aim to stretch the viewer's imagination and express his feelings when words fail," which he undoubtedly achieves. I love the somber colors and the subtlety of human presence. Inspiring.

As an avid lover of rooftops, city skylines, and movies, the idea of Hot Tub Cinema makes my eyes widen with excitement...it even makes my love for drive-in theaters seem a little pathetic (who knew that was possible, right?!). During the summer, Hot Tub Cinema takes over rooftops in London "with astounding views across the city's inimitable skyline." What a perfect evening getaway, breathing in the fresh air, surrounded by city lights and best friends. And apparently they have plans to tour internationally in the near future. Sign me up! :)

The Capilano Suspension Bridge. If you haven't heard of it before, just be glad you have now--if you're not afraid of heights, that is. I stumbled across these stunning photos (the first two listed below) by Amitabha! on Flickr, and of course that led to some research and now I'm left with the unyielding desire to visit this place...in Canada. To walk amongst the trees and casually gaze down upon the vast green abyss, what a phenomenal feeling that would be.

So who's ready for roadtrips and popsicles and heat waves and July 4th celebrations? I sure am! ...Although I could actually do without the triple-digit heat waves. June wasn't exactly one for the books, but here's to hoping July restores the happiness in my heart. Here's to hoping.

What are everyone's plans for the summer?

xxKristin