#1 The Parents
01 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Can you believe we’re now less than a year away from the roaring twenties? And just about a year left in my own twenties.
This past decade has been such a wild one for me. It’s taken me to some unexpected places, towards incredible people, and to do things that legitimately seemed impossible.
Right now, at a moment that feels both like a beginning and an ending, I’m letting go of more expectations. But I’m holding on to the truth that even when things seem stuck, empty, or fixed, you never really know what good lies right around the next corner.
#2 Office Fiddle Leaf
02 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Back to work! But coming back to a three-day work week makes it pretty easy, as does coming back to a job I enjoy.
Still, next week will be my first five-day work week in a while and that’ll be the real test.
#3 The Living Bread
03 January 2019 // San Diego, California
I’ve started the past few years by reading some Thomas Merton really early in the year and I’d say I’m better off for it. This book is more centered on the sacrament of communion and Merton comes from a different perspective than what I’m used to. I love it, though, and I’ve learned to appreciate quite a bit.
#4 Good Gifts
04 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Just showing off one of my favorite presents from this Christmas– my mother in law is a master knitter. And this is now my best sweater that I never really want to take off these days. She caught wind that I’m a fan of the knit pullovers in Iceland, and perfectly captured that style. Now to book a return flight to Reykjavik.
And a bonus gift- Scott Harrison’s book showed up in the mail a couple weeks ago as a rad gift from Plywood People and I’ve been enjoying it thus far. Such an awesome and completely unexpected surprise!
#5 The Hunt for Home
05 January 2019 // San Diego, California
We are on the hunt for a house! Note- the one we’re taking a tour of here is a bit out of our price range. If it wasn’t though, it’s a great one, and a few relatively easy fixes could easily add $100-$150K to the value.
It’s been a bit of an adventure, first feeling like a sweet house with our dream yard is right within reach, and then feeling like we’ll be forever renting the next minute. But right now the prospects for something right in between seem reasonable, and that makes for an early piece of excitement for 2019.
#6 Running Uphill
06 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Tecolote Park is a pretty underrated spot to get outside. The trails aren’t bad for running either.
#7 Lovely Point Loma
07 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Started this morning by meeting for coffee with a bunch of guys I go to church with. And that was just the beginning of what turned out to be a really, really good day.
#8 Cortez
08 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Took the quick trip downtown to visit some patch manufacturers. Too quick to even stop at The Donut Bar.
#9 University Heights Walk
09 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Did some work at Lestat’s and got some errands done at the bank. Then took a quick little walk to explore the neighborhood.
#10 Most Ethical
10 January 2019 // San Diego, California
We’re still so pumped Deanna passed her Law & Ethics exam. Even the dog was pretty ethical tonight.
#11 Liberty Tree
11 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Got to grab a coffee with Tyson Motsenbocker at Liberty Station to close out my work week.
#12 Barrio Art Crawl
12 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Went on a date night around Barrio Logan’s art crawl and discovered a great new coffee shop. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite neighborhoods.
#13 Baby Zara
13 January 2019 // Escondido, California
So happy I got to meet Baby Zara over the weekend. 💕
#14 Plant With Purpose Stickers
14 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Designed a whole lineup of new stickers for Plant With Purpose. Excited to reboot our Merch.
#15 The ER
15 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Well, this wasn’t expected. Deanna fractured her knee while rock climbing, so our day ended up in the Emergency Room for hours on end.
#16 Mission Valley Trolley
16 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Since it’s the week of everything going haywire, my car also managed to get a flat while at the ER.
#17 This Pin Empowers a Female Farmer
17 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Just got a package of something fun I designed… these pins! Each one will support women’s empowerment programs with Plant With Purpose. Can’t wait to put these up for sale.
#18 Harbor Island Mornings
18 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Home is home.
A bunch of trees in our neighborhood fell over last night and did some serious damage. All it took was 25 MPH winds, and the pines in the area were tall and heavy, but ultimately had shallow roots.
If that’s not the perfect metaphor...
I could happily live as a nomad forever, always changing scenery, trading one hub for the next. I did that for years. But I know my best work comes with a home base.
I know what home feels like. To come home from an epic journey abroad or out of state, happy to be greeted by the buildings that line the road from the airport, the street signs in their quirky font and color.
I remember feeling that way about Santa Barbara after stints abroad. After a long adventure, it felt like coming back to my people, my place, my story that had some plot lines to get back to.
It’s been years since I’ve felt that about anywhere and if I’m honest, I’m just not there yet with San Diego. One of my big goals this year is to try and get there.
Every now and then I catch glimpses of that feeling. Increasingly familiar faces at church. Afternoon hikes. Spots where you can see the skyline from a distance.
#19 Botanical Building
19 January 2019 // San Diego, California
The in-laws are in town, which meant we spent most of the weekend hanging with them around Balboa Park.
#20 Mission Beach Walk
20 January 2019 // San Diego, California
The in-laws rented a spot a block away from the ocean. Makes for sights like these.
#21 Escape the Nat
21 January 2019 // San Diego, California
The Museum of Natural History has an escape room- and it’s actually one of the best escape rooms I’ve ever done. Plus you get a day of admission with a booking. I loved the botany theme. Some of the clues were hid real cleverly.
#22 Protect Yo He(art)
22 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Unexpected things are inevitable, but staying hopeful makes a huge difference. You never know what good waits right around the corner.
#23 Alaska Postcards
23 January 2019 // San Diego, California
The Museum of Natural History has an escape room- and it’s actually one of the best escape rooms I’ve ever done. Plus you get a day of admission with a booking. I loved the botany theme. Some of the clues were hid real cleverly.
#24 Crossing Fairfax
24 January 2019 // Los Angeles,, California
Spent just about the entire day driving. First, San Diego up into Downtown LA. Then onwards to San Jose, with more road to be covered tomorrow.
#25 Tahoe
25 January 2019 // Lake Tahoe, California
I needed to get to this kind of scenery more than I even realized. Tahoe is absolutely gorgeous right now.
#26 Meemaw’s Last Hurrah
26 January 2019 // Lake Tahoe, California
My ideal trip these days looks more and more like splitting up a big house with a bunch of friends- especially when they’re ones I don’t get to see often enough.
Getting to explore Tahoe with my extended college family was a real treat. And I’m glad Meemaw the dog managed to somehow make it through the weekend.
#27 The House Turns 30
27 January 2019 // Lake Tahoe, California
We’re kicking off a yearlong pact to spend all our 30th birthdays with each other and to be in bed by 10:30.
#28 Maggie Rogers
28 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Based on the one month sample size of January, I’m guessing 2019’s gonna be a year full of fun music. And I’m guessing Maggie Rogers is a good representation of what I’ve been into lately- uncomplicated and sincere fun. That’s kind of what I’m craving from life in general right now.
#29 Plant With Purpose x Known Supply
29 January 2019 // San Diego, California
I’ve been in the process of revamping Plant With Purpose’s merch, and I had a blast partnering with Known Supply to come up with new shirts.
I think a simple grey shirt with the main logo on it- when executed well- can go a long way. I have a few like that, including some I’ve worn for almost a decade. When the shirt is a soft, heathered texture, and the black logo on grey comes across with subtlety, it can easily turn into a wardrobe staple.
#30 The Logo Shirt
30 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Getting to partner with Known Supply for this project was a real treat, though. Some of you may be familiar with them as Krochet Kids. Like Plant With Purpose, they believe products should be made ethically, and that we should spend more time thinking about those who produce and make the items we use every day.
Each shirt is hand-signed by the artist who made it. These are women entrepreneurs in Peru, Uganda, and India. The shirts allow them to have an income in a dignified way, and I love being able to celebrate that.
#31 Wet Roads
31 January 2019 // San Diego, California
Shoutout to San Diego for throwing a few days of my favorite weather on to this week’s playlist.