happy hour

What is the best cure for a rainy day?

Eating good food, drinking good wine, and spending time in good company. 

My coworker hosted an after work get together at her adorable home. 

We shared stories that made me deeply appreciate how such different life paths can all lead to one place.  

where my heart is

I spent a long weekend in St. Paul recently. It was filled with love, celebration, milestones, and renewed connection. And it meant the world to me.

one spark

What can I say about One Spark? It was a transformative few days for downtown Jacksonville. The "world's crowdfunding festival" was a hard idea to explain. What does that even mean? I'll let you read about the ins and outs of it, should you be so curious. For now, I will say that the idea seemed ambitious and undefined and cumbersome when I first encountered it. But I suppose that's how all new things sound, even if they're based on old things?

I don't think any of us really knew what One Spark would truly mean until the streets closed, the "creators" set up, the bands started playing, the drinks started flowing. In my mind, the success of One Spark did not live in ideas being funded, but in ideas being shared. For a few short days, Jacksonville seemed like Paris or New Orleans or any other city in possession of a culture so big, it cannot be contained in buildings, but must spill out onto the street.

By concentrating so much under one banner, in the confines of our downtown streets, One Spark revealed a vibrant culture of passion, creativity, and quirkiness that is otherwise obscured by a city that sprawls out. I ventured out on several occasions to watch the people, eat from the food trucks, hear the bands play, and to be witness to the myriad passions igniting the creators. Every day and night were unique experiences.

 

 

 

What can I say about One Spark? My dear friend summed it up best: "I miss it." 

new orleans | three

Just some more of my NOLA trip, including the absolutely surreal French Quarter rental home I stayed in, my car in the French Quarter's BEST parking spot (at least that's what the neighbor said), and me enjoying the warm sun in Armstrong Park during what was an otherwise chilly trip.

orchids

Would you ever guess that these photos were taken at a Winn-Dixie? I'm a sucker for photographing flowers, wherever they show up. 

fernandina beach

I recently spent a leisurely Sunday antiquing with my best friend in Fernandina Beach, just outside of Jacksonville. We took the scenic route and caught up on all of life's crazy and wandering developments. We had lunch outside, paired with margaritas and beautiful weather. It was my first time exploring the area and it truly felt like I was on vacation far away, instead of just a short drive from home.

Antiquing is one of my favorite past times. There's something about exploring an unexpected mixture of objects imbued with intrigue and history that just gets me. I love the process of "hunting" through the charmingly chaotic collections of antique shops. It's inevitably personal, as I'll find something that evokes childhood memories. Often, I'll wonder how a given object found itself waiting for someone to come along and give it new life and new meaning.

These are just a few of the things that caught my eye, but only the brooches came home with me. I would have happily taken the shop cat, though. 

The shop owners in the area were the most cordial bunch I've ever come across. They were truly welcoming and the absolute personification of southern hospitality. One woman keeps water bottles and cookies ready at all times, whether you buy something or not. When I tried to offer her a few dollars for the water fund, she jovially declined. The last shop we ventured to was supposed to be closed. When we walked up to investigate further, an older gentleman greeted us and informed us that yes they were closed and no we should not leave. He gladly turned on the lights and let us poke around without the faintest sense of urgency. These sweet-as-honey, warm-hearted people were gems that added a little sparkle to an already shiny day.

thankful | four

Right now, I'm thankful for roads that lead to new places ...

... successful chartreuse-hunting missions, singing with the trio, late night strolls ...

... swanky digs on the cheap and detours that take you away from traffic and toward a Dark and Stormy.