#91 MARLBOROUGH MOVE IN
01 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Here’s a fun update: we bought a condo!!
I honestly thought owning a home in San Diego wouldn’t be feasible with the cost of living and all. But this year’s theme seems to be surprising myself. This house turned out to be the right decision at the right time.
Pics to come eventually, but if you can imagine a room filled with a bunch of snowmen made out of cardboard boxes, that’s sort of what it looks like right now. Instead, enjoy the courtyard and the handmade logo concept I made. Yeah, I’m enough of a branding nerd to give our house a logo, and it’s based on the banana leaves that peek in our windows.
#92 NEXT STOP, COLOMBIA
02 April 2019 // San Diego, California
I figured this would be a slower year, starting the year without much on the calendar. Then, after a quiet past six months, I’ve had several opportunities come up. I feel confident about the journeys I’ve said yes to. Look out, Charleston, West Virginia, Dominican Republic, Wyoming, & Colombia!
#93 RECESS WITH GARY
03 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Gary came in to the Plant With Purpose office today to lead us all in a mandatory recess. Meant to take some pics, but I was having too much fun. Instead, here’s a snapshot of lessons we learned through play.
#94 DINNER AT RED SEA
04 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Enjoyed a dinner with the parents by introducing them to the rich, delicious world of Ethiopian cuisine.
#95 DOG PARK HUSTLE
05 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Exploring the new neighborhood in the very best way… with a dog park visit!
#96 ABBA
06 April 2019 // El Cajon, California
Because my life refuses to be predictable, this weekend took me to an ABBA tribute show.
#97 FIDEL’S LITTLE MEXICO
07 April 2019 // Solana Beach, California
Forgive me friends, the taco challenge has been suffering from a bit of neglect. Let’s try to get things back on track.
#98 LET’S GIVE A DAMN
08 April 2019 // Los Angeles, California
I got to spend a beautiful Monday in a park in LA on an interview with Nick Laparra. If you haven’t checked out his Let’s Give a Damn podcast, he regularly features fascinating guests, and now that includes me and Christi!
We talk about our personal origin stories and how they led us to Plant With Purpose, how faith serves as a motivating factor towards sustainability, and how we envision making the world a little bit smaller.
Check out http://lgad.co/2Gc8mRC to give our episode a listen. And consider adding his show to your podcast feed. It’s a great one.
#99 inside the marlborough house
09 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Six weeks ago it felt like nothing was working out. We two weeks to be out of our apartment and no real options. Our earlier attempts to buy a place didn’t work out and instead we were just trying to find a place to be. Also, Deanna had a broken leg at this point so moving wasn’t looking fun.
Then we found this spot. And we liked it. And over the couple weeks everything started to click.
We moved in last week. These pictures hide all the piles of cardboard I tucked around the corner for the mini photoshoot, but here’s a little look inside.
It’s small, but it’s a space and it’ll always remind me that even when things seem at a low, you never know what surprises are around the corner.
Also, we need some plants!
#100 more than words
10 April 2019 // San Diego, California
This book was a smooth and sincere read, and another pleasant surprise this year. While the story doesn’t have a whole lot of curveballs, it manages to make you wonder how each character will play their cards based on the decisions they’re facing. The book draws out the strength of attraction in contrast with the allure of familiarity and home, and I thought that tension was portrayed nicely.
#101 breakfast views
11 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Mmmm I like the way breakfasts look in our new place.
#102 charlotte nights
12 April 2019 // Charlotte, North Carolina
Fun night out in Charlotte and I’ve found myself in the middle of a Space Invaders game.
#103 high water festival
13 April 2019 // North Charleston, South Carolina
These days, modern soul music feels like my current home base while the indie rock vibes that carried me through high school and college will always be the soundtrack to my story.
That means that the lineup for this year’s High Water Fest felt like it was chosen for me and that weekend passes were a perfect early birthday gift.
The show was a great mix of old favorites (The Head and the Heart, Dr. Dog) current playlist mainstays (The War And Treaty, Leon Bridges) and pleasant discoveries I want to listen to a lot more. (Phosphorescent, Durand Jones and the Indications)
#104 the head and the heart
14 April 2019 // North Charleston, South Carolina
Having NOLA’s Preservation Hall Jazz Band join for Rivers & Roads at the very end of the festival was the perfect way to close out the weekend.
#105 west virginia
15 April 2019 // Charleston, West Virginia
My love. 💐
I take you on a bunch of adventures and some of them turn out better than others. Either way, I’m happy I get to share them with you, just like we share dreams, laughs, moments, and slices of Thai curry shrimp pizza in the middle of West Virginia. 🍕🍤🍕🍤🍕
#106 charleston, w. va.
16 April 2019 // Charleston, West Virginia
Morning in Charleston, W. Va. It’s chilly but bright, and the city center is just starting to open up shop.
My first time in West Virginia makes for my 48th State, and possibly the one I’m least connected to. I think I know maybe five people with any ties to the state and I’ve never spent much time in places like Pittsburgh or Charlottesville that are somewhat close.
That’s always shrouded the state with a little more mystery, as I’ve been trying to visit all 50.
A lot of what I hear about West Virginia paints a picture of hard times and that’s worth exploring. But it’s also ruggedly beautiful around here and I hear very little about that. I wish I had just a little more time to do a bit of hiking, because if the views from the turnpike are any indication, there are some gorgeous ones to be found around here.
#107 mindful silence
17 April 2019 // San Diego, California
These days, modern soul music feels like my current home base while the indie rock vibes that carried me through high school and college will always be the soundtrack to my story.
That means that the lineup for this year’s High Water Fest felt like it was chosen for me and that weekend passes were a perfect early birthday gift.
The show was a great mix of old favorites (The Head and the Heart, Dr. Dog) current playlist mainstays (The War And Treaty, Leon Bridges) and pleasant discoveries I want to listen to a lot more. (Phosphorescent, Durand Jones and the Indications)
#108 the teralta tree
18 April 2019 // San Diego, California
I’ve been loving this book.
Phileena Heurtz connects ideas from great sources like Thomas Merton and Richard Rohr to her own practices and experience to show that contemplation and activism, as contrasting as they might seem, belong together.
Looking forward to talking to her next week.
#109 frutitorta
19 April 2019 // San Diego, California
The color palates of our new neighborhood help keep things lively.
#110 mayar rice
20 April 2019 // San Diego, California
When you’re enough of a branding nut to geek out over the aesthetic of a sack of rice.
#111 Easter 2019
21 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Think of a moment when your fear was suddenly proved unfounded and you were surprised by joy.
A moment when something you thought you lost forever was found again and you could hardly believe your eyes.
Such was Easter, and it was a beautiful one indeed. Even if our pastor told Deanna and I that our late entry and sneaking in the side looked a bit like the walk of shame.
#112 Hope Never Dies
22 April 2019 // San Diego, California
This is one of the more ridiculous books I’ve read this year, but sometimes a Hardy Boys-style mystery novel starring Barack and Joe.
#113 Busted Axle
23 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Can’t believe I’ve been driving around on this messed up axle for over a month, but I’m glad the damage wasn’t more expensive.
#114 Long Sleeves
24 April 2019 // San Diego, California
A new design for Plant With Purpose! Designing merch is always fun, modeling it is okay.
#115 Loose Leaf
25 April 2019 // Oceanside, California
I love this tea spot in Oceanside.
#116 Run River North x SD
26 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Took Deanna out on a surprise date to see Run River North perform. Haven’t seen them since the night we adopted Beignet, and we saw them in a much different (read: small and packed) venue this time. But it was a fun show.
#117 Oceanside Route
27 April 2019 // Oceanside, California
Every time I come to Oceanside, I start to think that I need to spend more time up there. Maybe I’ll eventually make good on that.
#118 earth day 2019
28 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Another year, another Earth Day full of the eclectic in Balboa Park.
#119 One door north
29 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Found a new restaurant to fall in love with, just 10 minutes from where I live.
One Door North takes my love of camping and the outdoors and turns it into a culinary experience. And they do this with everything from earth inspired plates, to a s’mores set up, to the way they’ve decorated with safari tents. I love it.
#120 we cast a shadow
30 April 2019 // San Diego, California
Such a clever and provocative book. If you’re a fan of everything Jordan Peele touches these days, from the Twilight Zone to Us and Get Out, this book has a very similar aesthetic and theme, but in the form of a novel.
The protagonist has to climb his way up the corporate ladder at a firm in order to access a procedure to render his biracial son completely white. Doing so requires taking a plantation tour, participating in diversity day, and promoting community outreach activities.
It’s a book with a ton of subtext, but I admire the bold choices it takes.