After getting gelato with the parents in the 9th and 9th area yesterday, we waited to walk across the street where I saw my father tap my mother on the shoulder and sign to her “I love you.” I thought this was an endearing moment until he quickly pointed across the street. He was showing her the walkway sign where someone incredibly creative and possibly very tall, put a piece of duct tape on the two middle fingers to translate the sweetest phrase. I am smitten by this simple street art.

A few weeks ago I picked up City Weekly‘s 2011 City Guide with full intentions of reading it all later that day. But the reality is I only get to read while at one of my six jobs where I nanny a 4.5 year old (he’s not 4, guys). When Ansel and I aren’t trying to calm my + his 2 dogs down, playing Chutes & Ladders and Legos, brewing up some mint milk, counteracting his “Why?” to my “Why not?” when I have no more answers, or talking politics (Woody vs. Buzz Lightyear), we’re watching episodes of Casper the Friendly Ghost/secretly reading behind his back. The City Guide so far is actually pretty amazing. I wish I had it when I first moved here nearly a year and a half ago being that it’s jam packed full of places to eat and things to do that all support local businesses. Today, I made it to the section highlighting the double-numbered street districts, much like 2100 E & 2100 S, where one of my other jobs is located.  I glanced at the photo for Signed & Numbered and thought, “Hey that girl has the same ugly sweater as me… oh crap.” Yes, that’s me on one of my “I just don’t want to get ready” sort of days. It’s a great side shot, isn’t it? I like that you can obviously tell the camera man was creeping behind some posters to capture this gem. The weird part is all the other photos seem to be set up shots with the owners or of the entire space. Not a secret behind the bushes type of shot. Oh well. It was a fun surprise.

PS
I’ve just discovered the wonderful world of bribery. A full week of niceness and being a first listener gets a donut from Banbury Cross. Note to self: Bring baby wipes to hide the evidence from the school you drop him off at next time.

PPS
Breakfast with your ma at Caffe Niche is a pretty wonderful way to start the day.

‎”It’s really beautiful when you’re at a certain point in your life where most of the adventure lies ahead of you. And it’s a sad thing when you feel like you’ve lost that. But you can get it back.” -Lykke Li

I saw this quote via Sycamore Street Press and I wanted to cry. With all the crazy changes in my life over the past few years I have forgotten how at peace I feel when I am traveling. I feel more like myself when I am far far away then I do sitting home at times. Soon after high school I found myself in 4 different countries within 3 years. It seemed I always had a plan/something to look forward to. My last big adventure was 6 months in Australia and somehow that was 3 1/2 years ago. Now it’s all about marking projects and tasks off my to do list – a list that never ends. I had been semi-secretly saving money (semi-secretly meaning I told real people and not blog people) to go to India at the very end of this year. But recently I’ve decided to invest more into restoring my poor Kelsey that I rescued well over a year ago. I’m gonna buy that roller, that base, and WD-40 the hell out of it. Then hopefully with it in use and not having an excuse to not print great work from it, I’ll be able to start/look forward to my big India adventure.

But to anyone planning an affordable adventure, please whisk me away with you!

It’s been just over a week now since I got back from a long weekend in New York. I’ve been getting caught up with work and doing some heavy thinking about what happened during my time there. I initially went for a job interview with a custom stationery company. Months ago I applied for an internship with said company and a week before Christmas I was asked if I had interest in a manager position. This all sounded pretty dreamy but the process of setting up an interview made me question a few things. On my way to the big apple I already decided I didn’t want to work for a company who couldn’t communicate well, but I still wanted to give it my best shot and see it for myself. I couldn’t believe it could get worse than that, but the interview turned rather offensive. You would think flying basically coast to coast, you would be given invested time and interest. That is hardly what I got and I made it clear the company wasn’t a good fit for me. If I could give any advice to this interviewer it would be that there are two sides to the interview, you are also being evaluated, so especially don’t say negative things about my employers at Boxcar Press. It shows what kind of person you really are when you bad mouth a company that is so great and you clearly need their products. Bad move.

I am taking this experience positively. I fully trust my gut instinct, I know what my value and talent is worth and I know what I want in my career. I spent the rest of the weekend with my dear friend Emily and being inspired by the immense use of fantastic type around the city. I also set up appointments with Heartfish Press (interview on the Boxcar Blog coming soon!), The New York Center for the Book Arts, and lastly – the most inspiring part of my trip of all – The Type Director’s Club. The trip ended with satisfaction and possibilities.

This trip also made me think a lot about where my life is at currently in Salt Lake City. I’m a little surprised to say this, but I really love it here. It would take something much bigger for me to actually leave, but I know I would come back if I did. Who knew?

Above photo is in Emily’s apartment. Check out that view of the Financial District. Also, I shipped that deer head to her half as a birthday present and half as a test to see if it’d make it there in one piece. Looks pretty great in her place!

On TRAX today, a cute elderly couple came and sat in front of me. The lady asked her husband, “Do you want to sit here or frontwards?” then the man said, “That depends. Do you want to see where we’re going or where we’ve been?” They both laughed and simultaneously stood up and switched seats to see where they are going. As simple as it was, it touched me. I feel like everyday I am trying to figure out how to get to where I want to be in my career/life. Some days it seems impossible or far, far away and other days I believe it can happen right around the corner. In any case, as long as I am trying I will eventually get to where I am going.

And I hope to be part of a cute old couple one day. Maybe a creeper will take a picture of the back of our heads and blog about how cute we are.

Here’s to the future.

I am a little attached to this thrift shop ring I always wear. I’ve never taken it off for nearly 3 years now and it’s been with me through a lot of thicks and a lot of thins. I wouldn’t mind this being “the ring” either. Future husband will have to pay the $3 for it though because a lady can’t pay for her own ring, damn it!

I just got this in the mail today! I’ve been intrigued by it since I’ve seen it posted numerous times in other blogs I follow of successful print/handmade businesses. Just by reading the introduction it seems like it holds the answers to all my questions. I’ve been feeling more and more inspired to get this site running. It’s warmer out, the plans are getting locked in, and I’ve been printing more which always keeps me more motivated to keep printing. After graduation I think I hit a lull of what to do with my life. I had no where to go and no where to be. No obligations to anyone but my dog. I had too many options but in a way didn’t have enough. It was the most confused I’ve ever felt.

After moving to the city, getting a job, meeting new people, finding a studio to volunteer/print at, I feel more like I am where I need to be. I’m excited about the direction I’m in and building towards the life I want to live.

Here’s a look at 2009:
Became USU Art Guild President
Volunteered at the Sundance Film Festival for the first time
Attended Southern Graphics Printmaking Conference in Chicago
Sheila and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary
Broke up with a boy and moved out which resulted in -
Lived in the Boathouse which is the coolest house with the coolest girls in Logan
Graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design and Printmaking!!
Took a Harmonica class
Started internship at Fluid Studio which resulted into a job
Took 2 Letterpress classes via BAP and fell in love!
Visited my best redheaded friend in Atlanta, GA
2 real and successful freelance jobs
Went to New York, and visited Fire Island (what an experience)
Live completely by myself in SLC
Bought my first press – a Kelsey Excelsior 6×10
Took a Holga class which resulted in-
Met and befriended Eva of Sycamore Street Press
Met a boy with a girl’s name
Went to San Francisco and checked out The Renegade Craft Fair
The series of unfortunate events close to a close…?
Still vegetarian
Still living life

(Sheila trying to bite at her splashes today. Her and water will have a constant battle, I think.)

I have been away from home since I was 13. This is when we moved away from this very creek that had a swing where I spent most of my adolescent days. We moved away from fresh apricots, pears, cherries, plums, raspberries, green apples and red, walnuts, and honeysuckles. We left the house which stores memories for more than half of my life. I learned to walk, to talk, and to ride a bike (and how you’re suppose to keep your mouth shut to not eat bugs). We left a time where we were all under one roof and we all knew each other – where we were, what we did, and how was our day. We saw each other grow, we saw each other laugh, we just saw each other. And we almost went back. Almost.