Hungry Dog Designs

A Little Can Go a Long Way....and a Pleasant Surprise.

2012-02-23T15:05:00.001-06:00

This is one of Robinson's favorite things about living in Bogota... street performers. These talented people come to intersections and public transportation vehicles around Bogota everyday to help make a little extra cash and entertain commuters stuck in traffic. It's not uncommon to meet someone who does this as part of their regular "job" if they are unable to find traditional employment elsewhere. Should you come here, help support these talented artists by giving them some spare change. A little kindness and generosity to support their innovation and talent can go a long way.

Photo caption:

A young man ties a rope between two street posts to tight rope and juggle at the same time.

What's even better is I found myself passing this young man because I initially went down the wrong street. My first reaction when I came to the intersection was, "Sh*t. I forgot to turn on 119. Now I have to go two blocks out of my way..." and then I noticed him. What a nice lesson in learning that things don't always have to go exactly as planned and that sometimes life's little detours offer us a pleasant surprise if we're willing to let go and see something new.

On a side note, Robinson has started an initiative to help people displaced by conflict (such as the young man in this photo) find employment in the traditional sector. To support this initiative, please visit: http://www.bogotawagesubsidy.org

Oscar (again)

2012-02-22T15:07:00.000-06:00

I know I take a lot of pictures of my dog and blog about him a lot, but I love him :) Day #38 of my 365 project is all about him... only from different angles.

This is Oscar's little face peaking out from the covers. We make the bed each morning and within minutes, Oscar "remakes" it, digging a little cave for himself. Often times you can just see the white of his muzzle sticking out. Other times you will just see a lump under the bedspread because he buried himself so deep in the covers.

This is the back of Oscar. I love these little white patches he has, it's as if white paint splattered on him.

This is his little paw. He has one with only a little white (this one) and one where the white goes half way up his leg.

This, obviously, is his back side. It's not a great side as Oscar tends to be pretty stinky sometimes, although I love the two little fur swirls he has on each of his little buns. Believe it or not, it was rather difficult to take a picture from this angle. He was curious about what I was doing behind him.

2012-02-21T21:21:00.001-06:00

I've started a list of ideas of things I'd like to take a picture of this year for my 365 project. The best moments, however, are when I'm walking down the street and I see something I never could've planned for. Like today.

Today's photo is of a bunch of piggy banks stacked up against the back of an old car.

Day #36 or my 365 Project... Cooking

2012-02-20T15:36:00.000-06:00

I made these goat cheese quesadillas with caramelized onions, tomatoes and spinach today. That's the best I could do on a Monday :)

Dessert!

2012-02-19T19:08:00.000-06:00

I don't care what anyone says, sometimes you just need to treat yourself, and sometimes the best way to do that is with a good meal, good company... and dessert!

We stumbled upon Rausch Patissier, a wonderful little restaurant in the Zona G known for its desserts (http://www.hermanosrausch.com/rausch-patissier). It was a feast for my taste buds, eyes and camera lens! This place has not seen the last of me.

Street Art

2012-02-18T14:31:00.001-06:00

Mu Leather

2012-02-17T17:26:00.001-06:00

I love the Mu Handbag and Leather store here in Bogota. I need more handbags like I need a hole in the head, but there's no harm in looking right?!?

Yoga Self Portait

2012-02-16T14:21:00.002-06:00

These are sorry excuses for pictures because, well, quite frankly it's hard to photograph myself while I'm doing yoga.

I wanted to take a couple self yoga portraits to mark this day. The day I taught my first "real" yoga class and by "real" I mean the first time I didn't teach to people I knew and actual strangers showed up for the class.

So here is part of me in tree pose and here is part of me in king pigeon pose.

Oh, I guess I should mention (shameless plug), if you're looking for yoga lessons, check me out at: http://yogatainbogota.blogspot.com/

The New Sympathy/Pet Sympahty Line from Hungry Dog Designs

2012-02-15T09:07:00.000-06:00

Today's photo (#31 of my 365 Project) is from my Hungry Dog Designs paper doll greeting card line. These two designs will be featured in my Special Occasions line under Sympathy/Pet Sympathy. More at: www.hungrydogdesigns.com

Last month my sister's dog, Lucy, was hit and killed by a car. Lucy was a rescue dog that was really starting to come around. My sister's father-in-law had taken Lucy for a walk when he slipped and fell on the ice and Lucy took off running. I went to the store to find a sympathy/thinking of you card to send to my sister as a gesture of my condolence and found it hard to find one that reflected the loss of a pet. It seemed only fitting to make one of my own and once I did, I don't know why I didn't do it earlier. I can think of at least five good people in my life, in addition to my sister, who lost a beloved pet last year.

I have to say, it made me a little sad to see Oscar's picture featured in a sympathy/pet sympathy line and it made me think about losing him. My little buddy is only seven (he turns 8 next month). I know he still has a lot of time left with us, but it made me sad nonetheless.

It also made me want to take him to the park, take him for a walk, buy him some of his favorite treats and cuddle with him. I have to remember, it's not just about the quantity of time I have with someone or something, it's also about taking time to make it quality.

Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T14:26:00.000-06:00

I bought these beautiful artisan chocolate truffles from a woman I met in my yoga class. The chocolates are delightful, but even more so, I love the opportunity to support someone who is taking a risk, fulfilling their dream and following their heart. I think it's good karma.

I wanted to give them to Robinson as a valentine's gift, and I did, but not after breaking into the tin yesterday and sampling one for myself. (I took the dark chocolate with sea salt caramel one). I tried to rearrange the tin the best I could so he wouldn't notice and I think I successfully made it look like there were supposed to be nine artisan truffles in the tin and not the original ten truffles :)

For more about Suzi, her dream and her awesome Choco Q business, please visit: http://www.chocoq.com/index.html

I ate the one in the top right corner yesterday (before giving the tin to Robinson today). I don't regret it. It was awesome.

I should mention, in return, Robinson gave me these beautiful red roses.

Spicy Avocado Bahn Mi

2012-02-13T15:01:00.000-06:00

This is the new dish I decided to make this week... spicy avocado bahn mi. I'm kind of obsessed with it right now. Yesterday I made one for both Robinson and me, but I gave him the smaller half. I rationalized my greed by telling myself you couldn't handle all the spice. Ha, ha, ha, ha!

It's Sunday... why not post a photo or two of a church?

2012-02-12T11:06:00.002-06:00

Here are a few snap shots of a couple of churches (and some close ups of the church windows and doors) around our neighborhood.

Little Things that Remind Me Where I am

2012-02-11T17:43:00.002-06:00

License plates. It's a detail often over looked, but nevertheless they remind me of where I am as well as tell me where other people are coming from.

Museo de Botero

2012-02-10T22:58:00.001-06:00

Fernando Botero has become one of my favorite artists. His body of work and the number of mediums he works is in most impressive, as is his commitment to keeping his art accessible. Here are some shots I took today in the Museo de Botero.

Dog Walkers

2012-02-09T15:09:00.001-06:00

It's a pretty common site to see dog walkers walking anywhere from four to eight dogs at a time around northern Bogota.

Finally, with help from my 365 Project, I finally took a picture of one of them.

Andres Carne

2012-02-08T22:10:00.000-06:00

Tonight we took our friend Elly to Andres Carne in the Zona Rosa. Andres is a bit of an institution in Colombia and named one of the best bars to visit before you die. (http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/the-worlds-biggest-bar-crawl/?scp=2&sq=bogota&st=Search)

It turns out it's a great place to take photos as well. Here are more than just my one picture for the day:

Color (and Shoes)

2012-02-07T13:30:00.000-06:00

Teeter-Totter

Close up of a children's playset bridge

Different colored shoes in a store window.

Believe it or not this store, Melissa Shoes (http://www.melissa.com.br/en/produtos)

is only a block away from my apartment and I have yet to go in it. "Plastic Dreams" the sign says and all of the shoes are these amazing colors and funky styles and made from Brazilian plastic.

I love looking in the window, but I'm avoiding actually going into this store because my instincts say the chances of finding something I think I "need" are pretty high. With all the walking on concrete and working from home (i.e. sitting on the couch in my yoga clothes with a computer on my lap) that I do now, sadly these shoes just don't fit my current lifestyle. I am now in the "sensible soles and low heels" category, two descriptions I thought were only make-believe when it came to purchasing shoe and boots.

Fruit

2012-02-06T15:09:00.001-06:00

Another Sunday in Usaquen

2012-02-05T22:16:00.000-06:00

Sundays in Usaquen are becoming a habit for me. Last Sunday I went to Usaquen to meet a friend and her parents for lunch. This Sunday I brought my friend Elly who is visiting de Seattle. It's a great place to take photos. Here are a few:

Tiny little artisan cupcakes from Baked by Ana (http://www.bakedbyana.com/)

Artist replicas of Bogota colectivo signs by Yeimid Marin (at http://www.btacapital.com.co/)

Panama hats at the Mercado de Pulgas.

Random Assortment

2012-02-04T23:55:00.001-06:00

Today's photos include a menu from Central Ceviche, creative takes on everyday household items and a case of beer :)

Oscar Met a Cat

2012-02-03T14:44:00.000-06:00

Today I brought Oscar to the park, as I do on most days. The difference is that today he met a cat. I think these three photographs, taking in sucession, illustrate how successful (or rather, unsuccessful) that meeting went.

The Grocery Store

2012-02-02T16:08:00.000-06:00

My friend Elly (of http://surlyinseattle.blogspot.com/) is coming to town tonight. I wanted to run to the grocery store to pick up some basics for her visit and decided to take some pictures while I was there. Not only was I able to get my picture taking in for the day, but doing so forced me to walk the aisles a little more slowly and with more intention. I found a couple things--like asparagus in a jar--that might come in handy for the future :)

Canned vegetables. They seem so much more exotic in another language.

Panela based sweets. A Colombian favorite.

The beer aisle. Featuring... Club Colombia, Aquila and Poker. All local brews.

Oscar y Oscarito

2012-02-01T18:53:00.000-06:00

I got this little beanie baby Boston Terrier from my good friends Lauren and Cathy as part of my Christmas and Birthday gift. Armed with a handful of treats and a little help from Robinson I was able to get a few pictures of Oscar posing next to it. Oscar y Oscarito! (Oscar and little Oscar)

Just for the Joy of It

2012-01-31T13:35:00.000-06:00

I think one of the things this 365 Project is going to help me with is experience over perfectionism. I often try to find the "perfect" photo and sometimes it prevents me from just taking photos for the joy of it. Today I took a number of pictures just for the joy of it while out on a walk with Oscar, including...

I love the view of the mountains. It was the first thing that really struck me when I first moved to Bogota, yet, believe it or not, when I get busy I forget to notice them.

A Colombian flag. Little things like this, a flag or a licence plate, surprise me sometimes. It makes me think, "oh my gosh. I really live here."

A near perfect sky.

A shrine to Mary and a woman praying.

An empty swing set. This is something I don't think I would've taken a picture of on my own, prior to doing this 365 Project, but I really like it.

Promotional posters pasted to a light pole.

A flower blooming in the park.

Huevos Rancheros... and perspective

2012-01-30T19:02:00.000-06:00

Maybe taking pictures of the new things I cook is cheating a little bit for this 365 Project, but it's still a picture, right? Plus, I want to pace myself as I have 350 more days to go :) So here's my photo for today, a lovely plate of Huevos Rancheros I fixed for myself this morning.

This is one of things that most surprises me about my new life: cooking (and not hating it!) Working from home gives me a chance to take a twenty minute break during the day to cook something and I like that. It was something I couldn't do before when I was in an office environment for nine or more hours a day and the last thing I wanted to do before I went to work in the morning or came home from work in the evening.

I have to keep reminding myself of this when I start to worry about not having the security of a nine to five, permanent, full-time job with benefits. Everything has pros and cons, it's just a matter of which one I decide to focus on... the pros or the cons. I'm coming to learn, more and more, that's it's a matter of perspective and happiness is really a choice.

Street Performer

2012-01-29T20:18:00.002-06:00

Today's photo was taken in Usaquen, a quaint little neighborhood in Bogota. Sundays in Usaquen are filled with artists, street vendors and performers, such as this fella'.

Signs and Menus

2012-01-28T18:35:00.001-06:00

I love signs and labels. Today's pictures are from a menu made out of tarot cards outside of a restaurant in Usaquen and a ceviche restaurant in the Santa Barrbara neighborhood in Bogota.

Blooming Flowers in January

2012-01-27T14:38:00.000-06:00

This is one of the things I was hoping to love about my 365 Project: Doing something that I would normally do, but taking time to do it a little differently.

Today I took Oscar for a walk to a park by our apartment, a place we go often. I decided to take pictures of the flowers in the park. I knew this park had a lot of flowers, but I didn't know how many... and I didn't even get pictures of all of them because of bad lighting. I also never took the time to go off the path, the walking path through the park that is, to look at some of the flowers in the background. I think the red kind of spiky ones are my favorite.

I also have to say, being a native Minnesotan, I love being able to see blooming flowers in January!

Back in the Kitchen

2012-01-26T13:33:00.001-06:00

Now that my four + weeks of travel--of being transient and eating out all the time, of satisfying every craving I could imagine, of filling up at my favorite old restaurants and trying new ones, and of letting family and friends treat me to lunches, dinners and drinks out--I'm quite stretched, to put it kindly, or at least my pants are :)

I'm getting back to cooking and eating healthy and found a bunch of new recipes I want to try in 2012. I think I'm going to keep challenging myself to try to cook one new thing a week, even if it's a twist on an old favoirte, like shrimp tacos (see below).

This is what I made for myself this week and also, my photo for today.

My dog in a bow tie

2012-01-25T13:57:00.000-06:00

I found this bow tie in my old room at my parents' house. It was likely worn by one of my prom dates; however, at the time of this writing, I'm not sure which one (there were a few ;).

Anyway, I brought it back with me because I thought it would look becoming on Oscar... and indeed, I think it does.

Bogota Beer Company

2012-01-24T14:15:00.001-06:00

For my first day back in Bogota for over a month I thought it was only fitting to snap a picture of this institution, the Bogota Beer Company.

Plus, our Internet, electricity and gas is turned off because we couldn't pay our utilities from abroad so I came here today to use their free wifi... At only 2:00 in the afternoon I'm glad I opted for a coke instead of a beer :)

Travel

2012-01-23T22:05:00.001-06:00

I took this photo today while traveling from Cancun to Miami to Bogota. We had such a nice trip but the travel fatigue is setting in... Until probably next Monday :)

A little artist market

2012-01-22T21:04:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow we head back to Bogota after over a month long visit to the States and Mexico. I'm ready. Everything has been so great, but I'm tired and ready for a normal routine.

Today we went to Cancun for the day and I took these photos while visiting a little artist market.

My little brother got married today

2012-01-22T00:46:00.000-06:00

Here's wishing them the best.

Day five into my 365 Project, I'm posting five pictures

2012-01-21T00:34:00.000-06:00

Today I took a few photos at the El Dorado Royale resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. We visited the resort for of my brother's wedding....

The tide coming up to the shore.

Rocks piled up on the shore.

Those green bushes that seem to grow only on sand.

Coconuts.

A hibiscus flower.

Here's hoping it tastes as good as it looks!

2012-01-19T19:18:00.000-06:00

We left Minneapolis and a cold -9 degrees this morning. Tonight we're in Puerto Morelos for a few days for my brother's wedding before we head back to Bogota.

After filling up on seafood tacos at a little mom and pop place down the road, we stopped by a tienda to pick up a couple of cold beers. I fell in love with this Indio brand... because of the cool labeling. Here's hoping it tastes as good as it looks!

Paper

2012-01-18T17:22:00.000-06:00

Today's my last day in Minneapolis before heading back to Bogota. I'm both excited to get back to my "new home" and sad to leave my "old" one. It's funny how you can look so forward to something; plan and anticipate; and then "poof", it's over.

While out and about today, I stopped into one of my favorite little places, Paper Source, for some eye candy. I love shopping for paper. I love the colors and the ideas it provides me. Here are a couple photos from my favorite section of the store, the loose decorative paper section.

Doggie Passport

2012-01-17T17:38:00.001-06:00

I brought Oscar to the vet today to get his papers, aka his "doggie passport", so he can travel with us to Mexico this Thursday for my brother's wedding and then back to Bogota.

Last year when we did this I was so nervous. I remember thinking, "it's okay for you to do this, but is it going to be okay for Oscar?".

Needless to say everything worked out and Oscar seems happy... I know he doesn't miss the cold!

Fittingly, today's photo is Oscar sitting in a chair in the waiting room of the vet's office.

Starting my 365 Project!

2012-01-16T17:11:00.000-06:00

A year ago today I bought a one-way ticket to Bogota and freaked out a little bit. A year later, I can honestly say this is has been one of the best (yet hardest) years of my life and I'm excited for the year to come.

I'm going to celebrate the year ahead through my 365 Project. Here are my rules:

· I will take a picture every day for the next year and post it to my blog.

· I can take more than one picture a day.

· No matter what, I have to take a picture. I can't count a picture that I took in the past.

· If I'm not in a place where I can post the photo, that's okay... as long as I take a photo. I can post it at a later date.

· I can write about my photos if I want, but I don’t have too.

The purpose of my 365 Project is to remind me to pause every day and stop and see the world around me; to challenge myself to continue to see things with a new set of eyes; and to incorporate creativity and storytelling into my daily life…and if I’m lucky, challenge a few stereotypes along the way.

Here it goes... this is my first picture. A picture of me, a little greasy, un-showered and with no make-up on, cuddling with Oscar and taken in my friends Bob & Jenny’s basement on my 38th birthday. The same place I was a year ago when I booked my one way ticket to Bogota.

365 Projects

2012-01-12T13:21:00.000-06:00

This coming Monday, January 16, is my birthday and the day I will start my 365 Project--taking a picture a day for the next year. It’s a small, yet conscious effort to challenge myself to take time to notice the things around me and continue to see things through a new set of eyes.

Last week I was contacted by a woman named Jennifer who is doing her own 365 Project--sending a handwritten letter every day for the next year. Jennifer's idea is all about "reconnecting, making people smile and stirring up positive memories." She is committed to writing a letter every day, either to someone she knows and loves or someone famous.

While my 365 Project is about seeing things with a fresh set of eyes the whole year through, I love that Jennifer’s 365 Project is about the art of the handwritten letter. Something, especially in this day of age, which really conveys a sense of thoughtfulness and personal connection.

Please check out Jennifer's blog. She is looking for suggestions for who to write or who you would write and why.

http://letteraday2012.blogspot.com/2012/01/day-11-david-tigges.html

Also, if you are starting any 365 Projects of you own this year, or have ideas about a 365 Project you’d like to begin, please share them!

Today is January 1, 2012

2012-01-01T17:55:00.000-06:00

Today is January 1, 2012. It's been quite the year.

Last year we moved out of our apartment on New Year’s Eve. It was cold and slippery and I fell on the ice with a mirror in one hand, my dog and a bowl of spare change in the other hand. I didn't want to get back up. I was tired and scared and uncertain what the next few days, months and the year ahead would bring.

We moved into our friends' basement. Robinson only lived there until January 5th when he left for Bogota. I stayed through the middle of March. I had three boxes of art and household items piled up in one corner and three suitcases worth of clothes and personal items in the closet. These would be the only material things coming with me to Bogota.

My mantra for the next few months became, "Please let me release all that no longer serves me."

We're back in our friends' basement, but only for a short while. We are visiting Minneapolis, friends and family for the holiday... then it's back to Bogota and the new life we're building there. As temporary and uncertain as things felt last year, it's weird to think I woke up a year ago in this very same bed, this very same room.

I don't know what 2012 holds, but I do know that I'm hopeful. I know I believe in possibilities more than I did a year ago and for today, I know that's enough.

Follow up from my last blog

2011-12-20T16:30:00.000-06:00

So... I did go back to Usaquen for my pigs. I'm considering it a Christmas gift to myself (although I've been saying that a lot lately. Along with these pigs, I've gifted myself a new leather bag and clutch). Anyway, here's a photo of them in my bedroom. I think they'll bring me a lot of joy.

After walking away with these two designs in particular, a luchador and a frog, it got me thinking about mutual interests, attractions and inspirations. I too find inspiration in these two figures. Check out the Hungry Dog Designs Luchador and Frog design below. Maybe this is one of the reason these pigs jumped out at me.

I'm obsessed with these pigs!

2011-12-15T15:24:00.000-06:00

I stumbled across these painted piggy banks a few weeks ago at the Usaquen Flea Market and I can't get them out of my mind.

Terracotta piggy banks are very Colombian. You will see them at a lot of artisan places and in little craft huts on the side of the road. I love the extra creative touch that this artist 'Marran Arte' puts on them: brightly colored paint and fun and comical characters. I love when people take something that's traditional and common place and put a new twist on it. I think that encapsulates the word ‘creativity’.

I bought one of these piggy banks as a Christmas gift for a friend, but I think I'm going to go back and get one for myself. I'm particularly obsessed with a Kermit the Frog version I saw (complete with bulgy frog eyes). Hopefully he'll be coming home with me this Sunday :)

Who: http://www.marranarte.blogspot.com/
Where: Usaquen Flea Market, Bogota Colombia, every Sunday

365 Inspiration

2011-12-13T19:46:00.001-06:00

This blog entry is for my friend, Elly (of Surly in Seattle... http://surlyinseattle.blogspot.com). She just started her own 365 project, where she is taking a picture everyday for the next year. I was so inspired by her I decided to do it too, although my 365 Project won't start until January 16, my birthday. I thought that would be a fun time to start and a good way to capture the year ahead.

I've already started thinking about my 365 Project. I've started a list in my mind of some things I want to take pictures of and I decided I'm going to get an i-phone as a birthday gift for myself, so I have access to a small camera I can take with me everywhere (as opposed to lugging around by bigger SLR).

I'm excited about doing the 365 Project for a few of reasons. For one, I think it will help me hone my photography skills. Two, it falls in line with my personal commandment to practice and value creativity daily. Third, I think this new challenge will continue to help me see my world with a new set of eyes - both an opportunity and a challenge that I'm sure may be easier said than done some days.

Thanks for the inspiration, Elly!

New Designs for 2012

2011-12-06T16:20:00.000-06:00

I've been working on some new designs to add to the Hungry Dog Designs line next year. These three new designs will be part of the Museum Line and include an Einstein, Che and Frida Kahlo inspired paper doll greeting card.

Special Occasion Paper Doll Greeting Cards

2011-11-28T13:51:00.000-06:00

I decided to take a few of the "All Occasion" designs from Hungry Dog Designs and put a slight twist on them for debut in 2012.

The 'Thank You', 'Thinking of You', 'I'm Sorry' and 'Congratulations' paper doll greeting cards are shown here with the Santos, Hungry Dog, William the Frog and Steve the Monkey designs, but can be customized with character from our line, as well as a custom photo.

What 'Fashion Plates" Said About Me

2011-11-26T14:32:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I was killing some time browsing through Pinterest and I ran across a picture of these fashion plates. I loved this toy when I was a little girl. I used to play with this for hours at a time.

It struck me how much this toy says about me now, probably 30 years later.

For one, I still like fashion and clothes and putting outfits together. I still also like to draw and color and create; but the thing that sticks out most in my mind is how I would choose the same outfit combinations time after time. That should've been a big clue to some of the rigidity and all-or-nothing nature of my personality, as well as my obsessive need for structure.

I've been thinking a lot about that lately. One of the things that I think the last year has taught me is that everything has polarity. There is a lot more gray than black and white and I'm reminded of that every day... often several times. Nothing is all good and nothing is all bad. For every challenge, there is an opportunity. For every opportunity, there is a sacrifice. For every sacrifice there is a lesson. For every lesson there is an opportunity to grow, and the list keeps going on and on.

I would hope, now 30 years later, if I brought out my fashion plates again, I'd be more open to trying different outfit combinations and use some different patterns and colors. I also hope that I wouldn't work so hard at trying to make everything come together just right and spend so much time trying to create the "perfect" outfit. I'd hope I'd be easier on myself and those around me and realize it's less about the product and more about the process of getting there.

They can't love you back

2011-11-17T23:45:00.000-06:00

We are going to Santa Marta this weekend to celebrate Robinson's 40th birthday. It's the first time I realized I either sold or gave away something that I still want... my navy blue tunic with white embroidery. It was the perfect beach cover up. I thought I had kept it in the move, but I looked high and low (and by that I mean in the two remaining storage bins I have here from my past life) and alas, it's not there. I must've weeded it out along the way.

I was waiting to have some regrets about everything I gave away, sold or purged to make this move possible. I've thought about my brown cow chair often, but only in a way that drives me to make the most of this new experience... as in, "I didn't sell my brown cow chair to come here and fail!" I've thought about my old gray Gap sweater, but only when I'm feeling bad about myself and want to hide in it. I've thought about my navy blue sequence top, but only to remember that as fancy as it was, I never wore it. I thought about the folk art pillows I sold, but they were from Colombia and I was able to replace them here. The last few days I thought about my navy blue tunic, but it's gone. There's nothing I can do about it, so I replaced it today with a beige tunic with beading around the collar and cuffs.

There it is! A house full of things I spent most of my adulthood collecting and curating, things I thought defined me and personality, almost all gone and I barely miss them. That's surprising to me. I thought I would miss them more. It's a good reminder that most "things" can always be replaced. Things are nice, don't get me wrong, but at the end of the day they are just things. They can't love you back.

Operating from a Place of Abundance

2011-11-10T21:14:00.000-06:00

One of my core values is to operate from a place of abundance. For me, this means believing that I will always be taken care of and always be able to find more... more ideas, more friendships, more money, more creativity, more inspiration. It means making decisions and acting from this belief versus from a place of scarcity. Operating from a place of scarcity, to me, means not wanting to share ideas, not wanting to give praise, being possessive or being greedy. Believing in abundance lets me be more generous.

First, I want to be clear, it's a luxury to be able to put this belief into practice. If I was in a position where I had to fight for clean water or food for my family, this might not be a reality for me and I am extremely grateful for that.

That being said, it's a hard belief to always put into practice. My recent trip to NYC reminded me of this.

I was in New York City this past May for Hungry Dog Designs and the National Stationery Show. It was shortly after I moved to Bogota and the Show required a significant investment of time, energy, talent and money. It was a leap of faith and I came back to Bogota without a regular source of income, tired and close to depleting my savings. At that point, it was really hard to operate from a place of abundance.

I returned to New York City last week for some contract work I'm doing (non-Hungry Dog Designs related). This time, I had restored my savings and had income coming in. These circumstances alone gave me a completely different mindset.

I found myself recently having to turn down work. It's really hard to turn down work when I don't really have a job. Hungry Dog Design orders can come and go, so can contracting. Yet, I knew if I added more work to my schedule that my health, quality of life and time to pursue other important goals (like building Hungry Dog Designs, taking care of myself and learning Spanish) would suffer. More than suffer, they just wouldn't happen.

I made the decision to turn down work and I hope it was the right one. I'm going to believe it was and that—by making the decision to operate from a place of abundance, of believing that there will be more work and opportunities for me when the time is right and when I need it—I am making the first step in living a life of abundance. And that an abundant mindset leads to gratitude and generosity.

As luck would have it...

2011-11-09T16:25:00.000-06:00

Two Tuesdays ago I came down with some stomach problems. It was right after I experienced with making sushi for the first time and the thought crossed my mind that it might be food poisoning. I still felt crappy the next day and into Thursday so I dismissed it as a bug.

The following Monday I tried making sushi again... same frozen salmon, same frozen crab meat. My body gave me maybe two hours before it rebelled again and I finally put two and two together. The frozen fish went into the garbage.

I went to New York a couple days after that and all was fine, until Sunday when my stomach issues came up again. I started to question my food poisoning and started wondering if something else might be wrong... that was until I cleaned out the fridge and discovered the milk I had with my cereal (two bowls) was bad.

Seriously. I gave myself food poisoning three times within 12 days. I feel like this is something some 24 year old joker living with his eight friends might do. It’s not something I’m particularly proud of.

This... on top of coming down with a cold... has inspired me to turn over a new leaf. I've scheduled the next six weeks to be healthy time. I'm back to filtered water, fresh fruits and veggies and yoga. Wish me luck (and quite frankly, I don't see any other alternative).

A few things happened on my way to New York...

2011-11-08T19:04:00.000-06:00

I was traveled to New York City last week for work and I didn't make time for blogging. A few things happened along the way that I want to catch up on and will write about this week, including:

Hungry Dog Designs among the top ten finalists (this is what I'm writing about today)
Food poisoning
Generosity & Abundance (reflections and observations...what a difference a few months can make)
Observations on conflict
Taking care of myself
General fun: Hungry Dog in NYC

So... if that random list of topics doesn't make you want to come back for more, I don't know what will :)

Okay, on to the first topic: Hungry Dog Designs is among the top ten finalists!

A few weeks ago I used my blog to try to get you to vote for both the T-Rex Paper Doll Greeting Card and the Mona Lisa Paper Doll Greeting Card. It worked! Thank you!

I found out last week that both of these items were among the top ten in their respective categories. Now I'm going to ask you to vote one more time to help Hungry Dog Designs be the top vote getter in each of our categories. This final round will be the most competitive and I need your help.

Here's what I'm asking you to do...

1.) Go to: http://museumsandmore.com/giftys/gallery/?p=giftys_home

2.) You will need to log on to vote. You can use the same user name and password from when you voted in the first round. If you weren't able to vote in the first round, it appears you can still sign up and cast a vote in the finals. When you log on to register, you will need a company name. If you don't have one, just enter N/A.

3.) Note that for the final round, you can only vote for one item per category. Just click the item you want to vote for (hopefully it's Hungry Dog Designs), then click the "thumbs up" icon and bam! You're done!

My nominations are in the following two categories:

Gifts and Souvenirs: The T Rex dinosaur paper doll greeting card
Paper and Stationery: The Mona Lisa paper doll greeting card

4.) Voting ends at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, November 14... just a few days away!

5.) For extra special ask, please find a few other people who owe you favors and ask them to vote for Hungry Dog Designs too! Consider reposting this blog to your Facebook or Twitter account, or visit the Hungry Dog Designs facebook page and share the vote for us post.

Thank you! Seriously, thank you... for voting, for following Hungry Dog Designs and for supporting Hungry Dog Designs along the way. Your support has and always will mean so much to our business. Thank you.

Happy Halloween from Hungry Dog Designs!

2011-10-29T11:45:00.000-05:00

I sold or gave away Oscar's famous hotdog Halloween costume with the move. It just wasn't something that seemed worth trying to pack... at least not at the expense of my shoe collection.

This year we're still celebrating Halloween with Oscar, but his costume in much more DIY. Either way, we wish you a Happy Halloween!

I don't want to forget a thing

2011-10-25T22:10:00.000-05:00

The other day, when I was taking Oscar for a walk through the park (unleashed), he spotted a group of kids playing hacky-sack. I could tell he was watching them, but he was also staying close to me... that was until one of the kids kicked the hacky-sack a little too far and it left the circle. Oscar didn't miss a beat. He ran, grabbed the hacky sack in his mouth and then took off running, begging the kids to chase him.

We all had a good laugh about it. I couldn't wait to get home and tell Robinson about it. It was soo Oscar, fearless, gregarious and comical. I so wish I had this on video.

I write this tonight as I just learned one of my friends lost her dog. His name was Bam and he was a pit bull rescued from some pretty bad circumstances. My friend Lisa and her husband Mark loved him very much and despite everything Bam had went through; he loved them and trusted them too.

I write this tonight as I want to cherish every day I have with my Oscar. I don't want to forget a thing.

I loved taking baths

2011-10-21T19:33:00.001-05:00

One of my absolute favorite things in the world used to be to take baths.

I would take really long baths... until the water got cold and sometimes I would stay in the tub and just add more hot water. I would read in the bath tub, give myself facials, relax, talk on the phone, do my nails. Almost anything.

Oscar would camp out on the bath mat to be close to me. Sometimes he'd wine a little bit if he thought I was in the bath tub too long. Mostly he'd just form a little ball on the bath mat and sleep beside me as I bathed.

I loved taking baths.

Sadly, we don't have a bath tub in our new apartment and I have been missing the luxury of taking a bath with intensity lately. I have two travel dates planned in the coming month... both involve a hotel stay and I am planning on taking a bath in the hotels on both trips. I just want to be in water.

I found this bath tub on Pinterest today.

Someday I want to have a bath tub again, and be able to sit in it for hours, lighting candles, listening to music, reading a book and relaxing. But for now, I'll keep to stocking my future dream bath tub on line. I guess.

Amateur Video!

2011-10-20T18:42:00.000-05:00

I've been playing around with some new ideas to promote Hungry Dog Designs. Something that captures the playfulness of the brand, but also helps customers interact with the product in a way that one dimensional photos don't allow. I came up with these three videos... let me know what you think.

Also, the "real" Hungry Dog Designs makes a special appearance in one of them. Let me know if you spot him :)

"In a world of bad news and bills, it's good to cross paths with a ...."

T Rex video

Zebra video

Hungry Dog video

Don't make things harder than what they need to be

2011-10-19T19:08:00.000-05:00

I think I have a tendency to make things harder than what they need to be sometimes. And by sometimes I really mean quite frequently or very often.

I've been struggling to find a schedule and get into a routine. I tend to think that I need a routine and a consistent schedule in order to be productive and to take care of myself. I can let this turn into a little bit of a mind game for myself. And again, when I say a little bit, I really mean a lot of bit. I tend to think that if something doesn't go as planned or if something changes, then everything else I want to get done has to suffer.

I caught myself doing this twice recently. One time I was emailing a friend, saying this same thing, about how I'm still trying to find a routine and a schedule, but then I stopped myself. Maybe I don't really need a consistent schedule. Maybe I just think I do. Maybe just the belief of thinking I need a routine and structure is what is actually tripping me up and not the actual routine in and of itself.

So what if I walk my dog in the evening when my to do list said I would walk him in the morning. I'm still taking him for a walk! Who cares, really, if at the end of the day I haven't responded to every email or task? Why do I think if that doesn't happen I can't take time to work out or do something else? Why do I feel a sense of panic when I travel, even though I love to travel, about not being able to eat right, exercise or get things done? These things can still happen... just in a different environment.

I think I really need to remember this.

I think this might have to be my mantra for the next 30 days: Don't make things harder than what they need to be.

2011-10-17T22:14:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity a couple weeks ago to hear one of my friends--and someone I deeply respect--talk about failure.

The topic really resonated with me as I've spent a fair amount of time recently reflecting on my life choices and what brought to where I am today. For me, re-defining failure was crucial to starting Hungry Dog Designs, quitting my day job, and moving abroad.

Failure has begun to take on a different meaning for me. It has become less about right and wrong or good or bad and more about learning. I told myself, and am slowly coming to believe, that failure is less about results and more about if I learn something along the way that I can build upon and take with me.

I see embracing failure as a key for where I want to go in the future. I think the biggest failure is being afraid to try, or is essence, being afraid to fail. My friend highlighted the following seven ways to overcome the fear of failing and I love each of them:

Consider the cost of missed opportunities
Research the alternatives
Put the worst-case scenario in perspective
Understand the benefits of failure
Make a contingency plan
Take action
Burn the boats.

I especially like this last one. Burn the boats. Sometimes you just got to jump in and see what happens. When there's no safety in return, nowhere to run to when things get hard, you find out your true character.

Now that is both a scary but tremendously wonderful thing and I hope I have the courage to try it.

Because I don't have to... I'm still cooking

2011-10-13T09:40:00.001-05:00

I've been trying to stay true to my commitment of making at least one new thing a week. I don't know how long I will keep it up and I'm kinda glad I made this commitment with no end date. I think that's why--quite honestly--I keep making something new each week, because I don't have too!

Here's a quick rundown of some of my recent creative endeavors in the kitchen...

Strawberry Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese. This one was really good... and super easy (and pretty).

Fish tacos with a cilantro lime cream sauce. I love tacos.

This one was my absolute favorite: Fried Green Tomato BLT with Shrimp and Remoulade Sauce. Naughty... but definately nice.

Here's another shot of the Fried Green Tomato BLT. I was quite smitten by this sandwhich.

Shrimp with Cilantro, Lime and Peanuts.

I'm finding most of the food recipe ideas via Pinterest and starting to get less and less intimidated by ingredient lists and words like "sautéed" and "braised"... you know, words I always appreciated when I ate in a restaurant but had no idea how to actually do them myself. Let me know if you have any creative recipes that you like. I'm open to new ideas!

Please Vote for Me

2011-10-10T19:25:00.000-05:00

I'm excited. My little paper doll greeting card business has two paper doll greeting cards nominated for the Gifty Awards: Best Specialty Product by Museums and More Magazine.

As an independent artist and business owner specializing in handmade products, it can often be hard to compete with big companies and lots of resources. Opportunities like the Gifty Awards can provide much needed publicity for us little guys. Right now I'm using every opportunity possible to get out the vote for Hungry Dog Designs... including my blog.

If you haven't yet done so, please take a few minutes out of your day and vote for Hungry Dog Designs. You can vote by visiting: http://www.museumsandmore.com/giftys/gallery/?p=giftys_register.

A couple things to note as you get ready to cast your vote:

You will first need to register online. Don't worry - this will only take a minute.
You will be asked to provide a business, company or store name. If you aren't affiliated with a business, you can simply enter N/A into that field.
Once you register, you will then be taken to the page to vote. My paper doll greeting cards are in two categories -- Gifts and Souvenirs has the T-Rex paper doll greeting card and Stationery and Paper has the Mona Lisa paper doll greeting card. Please vote for both of them. (Voting ends at noon on Friday, October 24).

Thank you. Seriously, I so much appreciate your time, attention and support. It means a lot to me and Hungry Dog Designs.

Everything I'm trying to learn I'm learning from a Curious George Book

2011-10-04T20:09:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to really turn up the volume on my efforts to learn Spanish. Currently I'm trying to read "Jorge el Curioso" (or Curious George). I have to say it's really good practice to read a children's book in Spanish, but I also have to say it's very humbling.

I think that's been the hardest thing about moving abroad. In the States I was considered a fairly educated and intelligent person (at least by some standards). I could communicate and express my feelings; I could easily engage in small talk; I could give directions, presentations, pitches... many things. Now I sound like a six year old. It's humbling and it's hard.

It has me thinking a lot about the commandments and values I laid out for myself... mainly, everything is a teacher. I try to reframe the situation from all the things I don't know to all the things I can learn. I do learn something every day and that's a really, really good thing. I know that is a luxury and one that keeps life interesting and evolving.

It also reminds me of the importance of practicing gratitude. I can be thankful every day for a teacher in my life, no matter what form the teacher comes in. I’ve observed the teacher can be the nice woman who sells strawberries in front of the Citibank by our house, who always takes the time to talk and listen to me and pretends that my Spanish is improving. I’ve also seen that the teacher can be hopping on the wrong bus that takes me to the wrong part of town, only to leave me to learn how to find my way back home. I guess that goes to the importance of not judging something as “good” or “bad”, a “success” or a “failure”, something else I’m working on.

It also reminds me of the importance of laughing at myself and not taking myself too seriously, as well as the value of doing something every day that frightens me. Wow, that’s a lot of life lessons from a Curious George book!

In essence, it's a healthier alternative...

2011-09-27T20:47:00.000-05:00

I am not a food critic or a food blogger or a food reviewer, but I do like food and I must share that I stumbled across the best donuts I've ever had.

The "Donut Factory" glazes all of their donuts BEFORE topping it with anything else. This morning I had a glazed donut, topped with chocolate and peanuts. No longer will I have to choose between my two favorite donut choices... chocolate or glazed. I can get both in one!

While this may not be the best news for my health, I have to admit it might not be that bad after all because sometimes, when I need a donut and I can't choose which one, I get both a glazed and a chocolate. Now I only have to get one, so in essence, it's a healthier alternative.

Breaking the Spell

2011-09-26T19:01:00.000-05:00

I'm going to be honest. I got pretty busy and was traveling for work and didn't keep up my blog over the last almost two weeks. I told myself I have to write today in order to break the spell, but I can't think of anything compelling except to post a couple pictures of things I cooked recently. While this may not be a thought provoking post, at least it breaks the spell so something new can come to me. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Crab, lobster, grapefruit and avocado salad.

Sweet corn arepa with goat cheese, avocado and tomato.

Lucky me, indeed

2011-09-13T19:12:00.000-05:00

I know I've posted about Pinterest before and I know I've posted about my dog Oscar before. Today these two come together in one post.

I know this may sound silly or simple to some, but last night before I went to bed, I was scrolling through Pinterest. I saw someone had posted a picture of a Boston Terrier with the caption, "I want a Boston Terrier so bad!!!" With reading that, I shut down my computer and snuggled with my Oscar.

I thought, how luck am I? This person wants something so bad that I already have and love. Lucky me, indeed.

As a bonus, here's a picture my husband took of Oscar and me laying down for a nap.

Sneak Peak at the Limited Edition Year of the Dragon Paper Doll Greeting Card

2011-09-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

Every year I make a special, limited edition Hungry Dog Designs paper doll greeting card for the holidays.

The "girl" Year of the Dragon Paper Doll Greeting Card by Hungry Dog Designs

The "boy" Year of the Dragon Paper Doll Greeting Card by Hungry Dog Designs

The Year of the Dragon Paper Doll Greeting Card by Hungry Dog Designs unfolds into a writable greeting card and includes a magnet so it can be displayed all 365 days of the dragon.

This year I was inspired by 2012 - The Year of the Dragon. Not only does it seem appropriate, being the year of the Dragon is a pretty powerful year and only comes around every twelve years, it was especially fun to do because it made me think of a young friend of mine.

The little girl I used to babysit for (she was eight months old when I met her and she'll be turning 17 this October) used to to love dragons. She's more of a little sister or daughter to me now and working on the dragons made me reminisce on the days she was a little girl, sleeping with her dragon stuffed animals, drawing dragons on paper and creating dragon drama and dialogue with her plastic dragons of all sizes.

They say that the dragon is a sign of good fortune and intense power and I'm choosing to believe them. May the coming year be filled with good fortune for all of us.

Here's what I've made since I last posted about the things I've made

2011-09-05T16:15:00.000-05:00

I am still finding enjoyment in making food to eat. It continues to be a new source of creativity and independence for me, as well as gives me something to share. Here is what I made since the last time I posted about something I made :)

Guacamole and Mango Salsa

Avocado and Tomato Sandwich. Super easy, super quick, but super good. I think this will become a regular snack of mine to make, but next time I am going to smash up the avocado on the bread first and then layer with the tomatoes.

Chicken Burrito. I have to be honest... I think this was the first time I ever cooked chicken. Honestly.

Salmon with Avocado and Mango Salsa. Can you tell the avocado and mango combination has become a favorite of mine?

Some of my finer teaching moments

2011-09-04T21:57:00.000-05:00

Two of my five personal commandments for myself include:

1.) Be willing to laugh at myself, and
2.) Everything is a teacher.

These two rules have been coming in handy lately as I continue to learn Spanish. I regularly post my mishaps on my facebook page, but thought I would accumulate of some of my finer "teaching" moments all in one place.

Warning PG-13 post. The word “ballena”, I’ve learned means “whale.” However, the “b” is pronounced as a “v” and the “ll” makes the “ja” sound, so you can imagine my confusion and embarrassment when a new friend suggested I go to the Pacific Coast to see the “ballenas”… (because I thought he said I should go see the vaginas.”

A common thing for non-Spanish speakers to do is to just put an “a” or “o” behind an English word & hope that that will make the word Spanish. Take “armas” for example. You think it would mean “arms” but it actually means “guns” or “weapons”…so you shouldn’t tell the store clerk you need more “armas” to carry the groceries. It could cause confusion. Lesson learned. Again.

Another Spanish lesson: Compartir is to share, competir is to compete. 'Tis much better to order a dish to "compartir" with a friend than to order a dish to "competir" with a friend.

Spanish lesson of the day: Pagar is to pay, pegar is to hit. I accidently told our doorman that the administration should hit him more.

Managed to call a taxi by phone in Spanish all by myself today, but also mixed up 'debajo' (under) with 'antes' (before) & told the taxi driver my parents wanted to see Monserrate under water instead of before it rains. One step forward, one step back.

Dos y media (2:30) & Doce y media (12:30) can sound a lot alike. In fact, they can sound soo much alike that you might miss the time your train is leaving while showing your parents around Colombia & leave you stranded in a small town. Sorry Mom and Dad!

Must remember this one: Casarse is to marry, cansado is to be tired. I think I told a man I was tired of my husband instead of married to him…

When I don't know how to say something in Spanish I resort to charades. It's pretty darn hard to act out the words "adhesive magnet" but I put on quite the show and somehow the clerk understood what I was looking for. I’ve also now learned adhesive magnet is ‘iman adhesivo’ in Spanish… seems pretty obvious now.

For the record the word "Secar" is to dry and "Seguir" means to continue, as in if someone calls you from the front door of your apartment and asks if they can come up, you say "siga". Bad news: If you confuse the two verbs & tell this person "to dry" it only confuses them. Good news: Everything is a teacher.

Here's to the little things

2011-08-30T20:12:00.000-05:00

My little Oscar wasn't feeling good today. I could tell.

I should preface this statement by saying we went to a friends' finca this past Sunday and Oscar spent the majority of the day hanging out in the kitchen where he was given table scrap upon table scrap of food. Oscar is a momma's boy and I knew something was up when I left to go for a hike and he wasn't at all interested in coming with me. Anyone who's met Oscar can vouch for me when I say that in new places or where there are a lot of people, he won't let me out of his site. He found a new home in the kitchen of the finca.

Anyway... I won't go into details but we've seen evidence here and there that his Sunday feast was catching up with him and today he just wasn't himself. I'm not worried (at least yet). I think it just takes a day or two to work itself out.

Here's what is significant about this story. At least to me. Oscar just wanted to cuddle and I got to just cuddle with him. Almost all day. I don't want my little dog to be sick, but it felt so good to be able to just cuddle with him. That is one of the priceless benefits of quitting my day job and having the luxury to work from home. I could take calls, send and respond to emails, respond to clients, craft memos and talking points... and do it all from my couch, with my little dog snuggling on my lap.

I never want to forget this. I never want to believe that the secret of life is in the big and the grand and the fancy. I never want to forget what the little things in life mean and add up too. Here's to the little things.

For a Treat...

2011-08-20T16:53:00.000-05:00

Last night I stayed in and made dessert thanks to my recent obsession with Pinterest. I made these chocolate chip cookie dough truffles. Mmmmmm....

Chocolate chip cookie dough truffles.

We are going to our friends' house tonight and I'm going to bring some with me. I'm also going to try to save some to give to a couple more friends I’m hoping to see this week. I feel like it will make a nice little gift, something homemade... but selfishly, I shouldn't be eating them all myself, which I am more than likely to do if I don't get them out of my house.

Lists: Three of Three

2011-08-18T19:35:00.000-05:00

So... my third and final list was who I want to be when I grow up or who I want to be when no one is looking. Here's what I came up with...

Grateful. Practice gratitude for who I am & what I have—rather than focusing on who I am not or what I don’t have.
Open. Live with an open heart & assume the best—from myself, situations & other people.
Generous. Live generously with my time, words, ideas, mentorship skills and values.
Focused & centered. Know who I am and what I stand for and stay true to that.
Creative & curious. Explore and wonder.
Authentic & genuine. Accept myself for who I am; be comfortable in my own skin.
Playful, happy & joyful. Because life is too short to be anything but.
Resilient. Indifferent to set-backs & challenges (after all, everything is a teacher), as well as external praise & validation (because I want to live as if no one is watching).

Lists: Two of Three Posts

2011-08-17T14:14:00.000-05:00

So, the list I posted yesterday are my personal commandments, the rules I will choose to live by. After I came up with this list, I decided to create another list of my core values. These are the personal beliefs I will use as a basis for making decisions. Here's what I came up with in this category:

1.) I can't take care of anything or anyone until I take care of myself. Learned this lesson the hard way. A few times.

2.) I will operate from a place of abundance, not scarcity. For example, I will act based on the assumption that my needs will be provided for. I won't do things (or not do things) because I'm afraid. This is related to money, my ideas, my time, my creativity, and the people in my life.

3.) I will value creativity. I will challenge myself to see things with a new set of eyes and with a belief that there are many ways to approach the world and the things and people in it.

4.) I will practice empathy and strive to build genuine and authentic relationships.

5.) I will operate by the belief that everyone is an expert in thier own way and in their own story and has their own wisdom, experience and culture to draw from.

I'm really sincere when I ask this question... I want to know, what are some of the core values that determine your choices and/or actions? What drives you to do the things you do and/or want to do?

Lists: One of Three Posts

2011-08-16T17:40:00.000-05:00

There's been a lot of self-reflection going on inside my head lately. I don't know exactly why, but whatever the reason, I thought I'd take it and run with it. I spent the better part of a day writing down my thoughts and I came up with three lists.

These three lists include:

1. My personal commandments, aka the rules I will choose to live by;

2. My core values, aka the personal beliefs I will carry with me and that will serve as the basis for my choices and actions, as well as how I will make decisions; and

3. My character attributes, aka “who I want to be when no one is looking”.

Here’s what I came up with for my first list--my personal commandments:

Don’t complain. Either change it or get over it. Complaining limits possibilities and plays too heavily on my own biases.
Cultivate as much kindness and goodwill as possible. Try to treat everyone as if they are the most important person in the world.
Laugh at myself and let others laugh at me too. I can’t learn if I’m not willing to make mistakes.
Be okay with being afraid. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Do one thing every day that frightens you.”
Everything is a teacher. Everything.

I’ll post the other two lists in the next few days. I’m curious though… do you have your own list of personal commandments to live by? If so, what are they?

Kitchen Creativity Continued...

2011-08-08T21:12:00.000-05:00

I'm continuing to challenge myself in the kitchen and viewing my efforts as both doing something outside of my comfort zone and finding creative expression. Here are a few things I made over the last couple of weeks...

Pomegranate and prosciutto salad. Reminded me how much I like pomegranates and how pretty they are.

Grapefruit and avocado salad with olive oil, white wine vinegar and salt and peppar. This was was of my easiest attempts, but also one of my favorites.

Tomato and goat cheese tart. Looking for frozen pie crust in the grocery store forced me to learn a new word in Spanish. Unfortunately I made this on a rainy day and wasn't able to get good light for the photo. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to make it again!

Asian steak marinade. This had a really good flavor and I am getting less scared of cooking with meat. In hind sight I wish I would have cut the steak in smaller pieces and lined it up nicely in a row for the photograph. Another "next time" I guess.

Ah! Roasted peaches with goat cheese, candied walnuts and honey. I really liked this one, plus it helped me get to my five-a-day goal!

A Little DIY Win-Win

2011-08-07T13:21:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'm not going to pretend that this is anything over-the-top creative, but nevertheless, it has made a nice difference in my routine over the last two days.

When I moved, I hung all my necklaces on the knob of the bathroom door because I needed someplace to put them, and then promptly forgot all about them. Other than making a rattling noise every time we shut the bathroom door, my necklaces became out of site and out of mind.

This weekend we cleaned, rearranged and did some last minute reorganizing in anticipation for Robinson' moms visit this week, including finding a new place for my necklaces. I hung them over a towel rack in our spare bathroom. This bathroom is floor to ceiling white tile (and a rental) so I am limited in drilling holes and hanging pictures or other decorations in there. The necklaces adds a little bit of color and most importantly, are now front and center so I don't forget to wear them , which will help add a little bit more creativity to my wardrobe. I’d say this has been an easy “win-win”.

Ta-Da! My "new necklace holder"

It's good to be glad.

2011-08-06T17:54:00.000-05:00

There are a couple things I get homesick for, mainly the long summer nights and the very hot summer days. We are close to the equator, so we get the same amount of daylight year round. It's light from about 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. I know I will appreciate this come the winter, but I do miss those great Minnesota summer nights where it stays light until 9:00 or 9:30 p.m. I also miss those crazy hot days. As much as they can be suffering, it makes it feel truly like summer. Everyone is out around the lakes or eating or drinking on an outdoor patio, making the most of what often feels like a short summer.

This weekend is the Art Fair weekend in Minneapolis. This was always my favorite weekend of the summer. Usually Robinson and I would go to the Uptown Art Fair on Friday night to check out the artists, but mostly just to walk around, soak up the summer and have a few cold beers. Saturday I always walked to the Powderhorn Art Fair with Oscar. We'd take a walk around the lake as I browsed the art vendors, then I'd buy him some cold water and me some type of a treat, like mini-donuts or a corn dog. I'd always give Oscar a couple of bites of my treat as well.

I don't know if it makes me sad to be missing summer and Art Fair weekend in Minneapolis, so much as it brings up good memories. I'm glad I can look back and say I loved my life in Minneapolis, just as I'm glad that I can be happy here in Bogota right now as well. It’s good to have memories. It’s good to make new memories. It's good to be glad.

Back on my mat

2011-08-02T21:12:00.000-05:00

I finally got around to doing yoga tonight. It's been on my "to do" list for maybe, I don't know, the last two and a half months. It's the longest I've gone without practicing yoga for a long time. I've been busy, I have a new routine to get used to, we had company... it doesn't really matter the reasons why I haven't been practicing, what matters is that I practiced tonight.

True, some poses didn't work so well for me after not practicing for a while, but it felt good to be back on my mat. It felt good to pause. It felt like I came home to something. It reminded me of why I like to practice yoga and the importance of being kind. It also reminded me that everything is a teacher, if you're open to it.

About three quarters through my routine Oscar came up to sniff me. He gave me lots of licks and kisses, and then snuggled up next to me while I was in a supine twist. I stopped to give him some pets and scratches. It was like he knew something too. Maybe that was his own way of practicing yoga and pausing to be kind.

New Designs!

2011-07-27T21:30:00.000-05:00

I've been playing around with a few new designs to diversify my current line of products. I love using animal heads in my paper doll greeting card designs, but wanted to try something a little different.

I came up with one inspired by the Mona Lisa and another one that is a Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur. The T Rex reminds of me the little girl I used to nanny for. I met her and her family when she was eight months old, she's now 16 and driving! She loved her "dinos" as she called them and after all these years, it's hard to see a picture of a dinosaur and not think of her.

The Hungry Dog Designs 'Mona Lisa' Paper Doll Greeting Card

The Hungry Dog Designs 'T Rex' Paper Doll Greeting Card

Comfort food

2011-07-24T18:44:00.000-05:00

I came down with the gripa (pronounced greepa and I think it sounds best when you say it with a closed fist in the air, as in: "I have the gripa! [fist clenched]). The gripa is the Spanish word for flu. It was only the flu and I know things could be much worse, but still, it knocked me down and out. For almost a week.

Whenever I get sick I go through a short vulnerable phase, followed by this renewed sense of getting my priorities in order and a strong commitment to take better care of myself. The gripa has me doing a lot of self-reflection this week, which I think can always be a valuable exercise. It also has me thinking a lot about the quality and value of resilience. I imagine these topics will weave themself into my blogs over the next week or two, but for now, I'm babying myself.

Here are a couple pictures of some comfort food I made for myself, ironically right before the gripa knocked on my door. Either it was a premonition that I would need comfort... or maybe a sign that I should learn to eat better (and cut out sugar).

Homemade peanut butter cups. So easy... I will make these again (in moderation).

Peanut butter chocolate chip pancakes. If I was superstitious, I might believe these will bring on the gripa.

That’s my funny, little dog

2011-07-19T17:02:00.000-05:00

My dog Oscar has this curious little habit. Every night before he goes to bed he looks for his chew toy and hides it in our bed, usually close to me or under my pillow. He doesn't do this with any of his other "things" - not his stuffed doll, not his bone - only his chew toy.

Last night I wasn't feeling well and went to bed early. He brought me his chew toy to hold on to and then went back to hang out in the living room with my husband. I took the chew toy and put it under my pillow.

In the middle of the night Oscar got up and went back and forth between our bedroom and the living room about four times. I was tired, sick and trying to ignore him so I didn't put two and two together right away. On his fourth or fifth trip back into our bedroom, he walked to my side of the bed and tip toed around for a while (sometimes the chew toy gets hidden on the floor on my side of the bed instead of in the bed).

I finally figured it out, reached under my pillow, grabbed the chew toy and showed it to him. He sniffed it briefly and then hopped back up on the bed and crawled under the covers next to me. That was all he wanted, just to know his chew toy was safe and secure. That’s my funny, little dog.

A little of everything

2011-07-18T18:34:00.000-05:00

Last week I bought some pita bread and a handful of pizza-related ingredients including different cheeses, prosciutto, olives, sun dried tomatoes, onions, spinach, fig and basil. I've been having fun making different kinds of pita pizzas, mixing and matching ingredients and trying to come up with something different each time.

Here's a handful of my creations over the last week or so:

This one was made with goat cheese, olives, sun dried tomatoes and pizza sauce.

I think this one was my favorite. It's made with olive oil, blue cheese, ricotta cheese, fig and spinach. I think it's my favorite because I never cooked with fig before and the fig here - or higo, in Spanish - is different from the fig in the United States, so it accomplished two things for me: 1.) Trying a new food and 2.) Trying a new recipe.

This bad boy is your standard pizza sauce, ricotta cheese and basil pizza.

This was the mother of my attempts. It contains olive oil, blue cheese, fig, prosciutto and spinach. A little of everything!

Creating is really a beautiful thing

2011-07-17T15:49:00.001-05:00

Last week I wrote about my recent obsession with Pinterest. Today when I was browsing through paper art on the site and I ran across someone who pinned Hungry Dog Designs. (Here's the link: http://pinterest.com/pin/22446366/).

I can't tell you how happy that made me. It's fun to think that I made something that someone else - a complete stranger - found fun and interesting. Being able to create something—no matter what it is—is really a beautiful thing.

I am both lucky and happy

2011-07-15T15:30:00.000-05:00

I just got off the phone with a good friend. Talking to her made me stop and realize that I'm living in a moment where the smallest things in life--trying a new food, learning a new word or expression, getting to a new or unknown part of town--make me ridiculously happy. And that's a pretty sweet realization.

That's not to say that things are without their challenges. In fact, every day brings with it a new challenge. I find I have to push myself daily to show up... to try, to look like a fool, to sound like a fool, to accept rejection or a blank stare and to do it with a sense of humility. But somehow, these challenges lead to little victories in and of themselves, and I find myself content again. And for that, I am both lucky and happy.

Sometimes it's made out of paper

2011-07-11T11:05:00.000-05:00

To help celebrate Hungry Dog Designs' two year anniversary last week, I asked people to say why giving and/or receiving a physical greeting card still meant something to them (in light of email, e-cards, facebook, etc.)

Some of the responses were really touching so I wanted to put them all in one place. Here are the reasons people shared... I should note that 1.) I didn't want to edit other people's words so these are posted "as is", and 2.) I honestly wasn't looking for compliments or specific references to Hungry Dog Designs, but am very flattered and grateful for the nice things people said.

· Cards are something you can save (and savor)! I keep somethings in a smile file (also a smile pile) that I take out, hold, re-read, look at and enjoy over again. There is also the multitudes of "things" adorning my desk and office walls---that is wear my hungry dog goes!

· It is so important to me that greeting cards like Hungry Dog Designs get out to the masses, first of all, it makes the sender a unique person and secondly, it's an opportunity to receive something that's not run of the mill. Unique is good but better yet, receiving something unique is awesome. Help me as a card sender to continue to be unique minded. Love you and Hungry Dog Designs. Cherish The Good Times

· Emails are convenient, but will never replace the sense of thoughtfulness and feeling of anticipation you get with receiving and opening a personal greeting card. Happy 2nd birthday! So proud of you!

· Getting a card in the mail (especially a Hungry Dog Designs card) means that someone was REALLY thinking of you. They took the time to pick out something you would like, write in their own handwriting, and put it in the mail. In other words - it feels like a bigger deal.

· Sending and receiving a handmade card is special because it's made with someones hands, eyes, heart and mind. Putting so much into something is what makes it special. It's more important now then ever, because of the electronic age to keep art and culture alive. It's how we define the current state of our humanity. I prefer something made with hands, eyes, heart and mind over emails and tweats as our definition.

· Its easy to send an email (or write a facebook post), and it does keep people connected on a daily basis, but there's nothing like getting a cute, funny, real, handmade card in the mail. Happy 2nd Birthday Hungry Dog!! And, thanks!

· This is a real time moment for me and my family. My father in law is in hospice care right now. His world is very small and getting smaller. Around him are a few things that have mattered in his life... Family photos, objects given by special people, etc. A Hungry Dog card has made the cut. I don't want to be maudlin...but good to stay mindful of what is lasting in life. Sometimes it’s made out of paper.

· E-mails do not have that same tactile quality that cards do, and definitely have never had the honored place on our fridge, as a Hungry Dog card had for 6 months. The art of HD cards have held a special place in many homes and hearts over the past two years...thank you for your creativity!

· My mom wrote letters to her parents, and vice versa. i have a bit of their correspondence saved in a safe spot, in addition to letters that i sent (to my mom/grandparents) and received. i love having the physical reminder of their presence ...

· I love personal greeting cards in part because they've become so rare - which makes receiving one feel that much more special. What I dig most about Hungry Dog Designs in particular is how multi-functional the cards are. I have one on the mantel for decoration and another on my fridge, that I use as a fun magnet. Plus, all of the cards are impeccably stylish to boot! :-)

· One: Receiving anything in the mail other than a bill is super special and spectacular! Who doesn't go straight for the envelope with the handwritten address to tear that one open first?! Two: Handwriting is magical and personal and makes you feel closer to someone who may be far away Three: A handcrafted Hungry Dog Designs card that is also an awesome paperdoll says a lot! It is one of a kind and unique just like the person both sending and receiving it :)

· I love to give greeting cards, because it I enjoy finding the perfect card. I think it shows that you've really put some thought into what you've selected and who doesn't like to get something in their mailbox that's not a bill!

· I love receiving cards because it means the sender has had you on their mind before the occasion, and went to the trouble of making a trip to the store and the post office/mailbox rather than a "whoops... just remembered it was your Birthday" and then sending off an email.

My reminder to laugh more

2011-07-10T12:39:00.001-05:00

I took this picture of Oscar yesterday, with the help of a sharpie marker. May it remind me to laugh more and not take myself, life or anything else that comes my way too seriously.

My four discoveries yesterday

2011-07-08T16:28:00.000-05:00

I had four discoveries yesterday and they included the trivial, the fun, the obvious and the transformative (at least for me).

1. The Trivial. I was my hair every day. Everyone says not to, but my hair gets so oily going into the second day I can't stand it. It's so oily that it separates into lines when I comb it and then it stays that way. Someone told me that if I stop washing it every day, my scalp will gradually become accustomed and stop producing so much oil. Right now I'm trying to give it an honest shot and only wash it once every other day. I discovered that I can sprinkle baby powder on my scalp and that will suck up some of the oil in day

2. The Fun. I learned a new saying yesterday in Spanish, "No dar papaya” or "don't give papaya". It’s not a literal translation, rather it means don't give people a reason to mess with you. Now I can use this expression and feel like I know what I'm talking about.

3. The Obvious. I am really busy right now. I'm balancing a number of different things. I realized yesterday that the only way I can manage is to take better care of myself and get more sleep.

4. The Transformative. Maybe this could also count as an obvious discovery, but to me, it really was a new revelation that I'm hoping I can remember and implement, and that is, not everything needs to be done right now. I am a slave to my to-do list. I love deleting things from my list, but what I notice is that I will spend my entire day getting to the things on my list and not take time for myself. I need to remember that things can wait, but creating and living the kind of life I want can't.

Creative kitchen attempts this week...

2011-07-06T19:33:00.000-05:00

Here are my creative attempts in the kitchen for the past week. Short and simple :)

Shrimp & Mango Ceviche. Next week I'm going to branch out a bit and make something that doesn't have shrimp or mango in it. Those have been my two "go to" food sources.

This one might become a regular breakfast staple. Smoked salmon and pouched egg sandwich.

Dessert! Assorted soft cheeses with honey, toasted pecans and fresh fruit.

I've rekindled an old love

2011-07-05T21:01:00.001-05:00

I just "pinned" three more things on to my board. Pinterest. Wow! Have you tried it? My friend Ann just introduced me to it. Some people might call it a guilty pleasure, but I love it - way beyond guilty pleasure capacity.

Paper Art. One of my latest pinterest "pins"

I used to love to keep journals and notebooks. I had them each categorized by themes... house decor, inspiration and ideas, clothing, books I want to read, books I've read, places I want to go, places I've been, etc. I packed up most of these journals and notebooks (I'll be honest, I even tossed some) in our move and the ones I do have left are buried in a box at my parents’ house. I used to love looking through these journals, updating them by tearing out photos that no longer appealed to me and adding new ones from websites, magazines, newspapers, catalogues, and anything else that came my way.

Looking through these journals gave me new ideas, helped me keep focus and made me feel good. They helped stretch my creative thoughts, gave me new ideas and the chance to record things that were meaningful or inspiring to me. Sometimes I'd even bring them out to show my friends when they came by to visit. When I shared my journals, I left like I was sharing a special secret.

I didn't realize how much I missed my journals until I joined pinterest. Even better, now I can keep all these images and ideas online. I can also see other people's loves and inspirations, making my universe of pretty, creative and inspiring things to draw from even larger. I just stumbled across a "pin" of a vintage children's book full of animal illustrations and it's got me thinking of new Hungry Dog Designs ideas. I also found some cute outfit ideas that have me thinking about how to play around with my wardrobe in a way that fits the weather, culture and my new life style here without breaking the bank.

Pinterest has renewed an old creative love of mine. Thank you pinterest. Thank you other people posting things on pinterest. And thank you, Ann.

I used to love to keep journals and notebooks. I had them each categorized by themes... house decor, inspiration and ideas, clothing, books I want to read, books I've read, places I want to go, places I've been, etc. I packed up most of these journals and notebooks (I'll be honest, I even tossed some) in our move and the ones I do have left are buried in a box at my parents house. I used to love looking through these journals, updating them by tearing out photos that no longer appealed to me and adding new ones from websites, magazines, newspapers, catalogues, and anything else that came my way.

Looking through these journals gave me new ideas, helped me keep focus and made me feel good. They helped stretch my creative thoughts, gave me new ideas and the chance to record things that were meaningful or inspiring to me. Sometimes I'd even bring them out to show my friends when they came by to visit. When I shared my journals, I left like I was sharing a special secret.

I didn't realize how much I missed my journals until I joined pinterest. Even better, now I can keep all these images and ideas online. I can also see other people's loves and inspirations, making my universe of pretty, creative and inspiring things to draw from even larger. I just stumbled across a "pin" of a vintage children's book full of animal illustrations and it's got me thinking of new Hungry Dog Designs ideas. I also found some cute outfit ideas that have me thinking about how to play around with my wardrobe in a way that fits the weather, culture and my new life style here without breaking the bank.

Pinterst has renewed an old creative love of mine. Thank you pinterest. Thank you other people posting things on pinterest. And thank you, Ann.

My week in review...

2011-07-03T16:11:00.000-05:00

I went grocery shopping today. All of the major grocery stores here have these "point cards". The more points you have, the more discounts you get -- plus certain items are cheaper if you have points. It's like having a coupon that no one else has.

I've wanted one of these point cards for a while. Every week I say to Robinson, "Will you come with me to Carulla (my favorite of the grocery stores here in Bogota) and help me get one?" And every week, for one reason or another, it just doesn't work out for him to go with me. Today I got up the nerve and applied for a Carulla point card by myself. I did it. The cashier could understand what I was talking about. I could fill out the application without help. And I now have a Carulla point card.

I also have a hair stylist. A pharmacy. A dry cleaner. People on the streets know me and greet me. Tonight we're invited to a bar-b-que at a friend's house. Tomorrow we're meeting friends to go see a concert. Thursday night I have an invitation to join a couple of new friends for a girl's happy hour.

This past week I also added new contacts to my Hotmail address book. I spent a fair amount of time organizing and cleaning out this address book before I moved. I wanted everything to be current and relevant. This week I added five new contacts. New friends I've met that have gone from "knowing" to wanting to put in my address book – real friends, not acquaintances.

I'm thankful every day for these seemingly small victories and I cherish the simplicity of each of every one of them.

Two years ago today...

2011-06-29T19:59:00.000-05:00

Two years ago today I officially launched Hungry Dog Designs. I was worried about going public with my paper doll greeting card designs for two reasons:

1.) I was worried I was investing in a website, materials, time, etc. and no one would buy a single card, and

2.) I was worried people would judge me... making such a big deal about some simple greeting cards, just paper at the end of the day.

Starting Hungry Dog Designs was more than a business adventure for me. It was also a personal challenge. Hungry Dog Designs has been teaching me to let go of fear and those little voices in my head that say I'm going to fail. It's taught me to challenge my definition of failure. I've learned to let go of black and white visions of what success and failure look like, and instead judge the situation on whether or not I've learned something and if I'm at least better off for trying. It's also challenged me to continue to look at things differently, to go not only from seeing a discarded playing card on the ground or a drink coaster in the bar and wondering how I can turn it into some part of a Hungry Dog Designs card, but also thinking how I can continue to challenge and stretch myself creatively in other aspects of my life. It's teaching me to let go of the final outcome a little bit and get better at just enjoying the ride.

I can't say how thankful I am for Hungry Dog Designs and all the customers and stores who have supported me over the last two years. I was worried about not selling a single card and today I can say Hungry Dog Designs is for sale in more than 31 stores. People have shared some really wonderful stories about their Hungry Dog Designs cards with me - either what they've done with one that they received or what happened to one they gave away and for all of this, I am most grateful.

My goal for this month has been to focus. Focus is bringing me some new ideas and discipline and I'm excited where this next year can take me. Thank you!

This week I've been on a role

2011-06-27T20:41:00.000-05:00

I decided to put cooking a meal into my try something new and do something creative column. I've been trying to cook one new dish a week, but this week I've been on a role. Here's a glimpse of my culinary creations over the last week:

Pasta with shrimp in a lemon caper cream sauce

Black bean and blue cheese quesadilla with mango and jalepeno salsa with friend plantains

Roasted beat, goat cheese and pecans on a bed of spinach

This week I recharged my minutes on my cell phone, got my prescriptions refilled & got a haircut...

2011-06-24T10:55:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday my pay-as-you-go cell phone (I won't qualify for a plan until I'm here at least six month to a year) ran out of minutes. I walked to the cellular store a few blocks from my house and bought additional minutes. On my way home from teaching an English class on Wednesday I stopped by the pharmacy and refilled three medications. Today (Friday) I got my haircut.

What was remarkable about this week? Nothing. And that's what makes this week so remarkable.

I didn't sell my car this week, or my house or my furniture for that matter. I didn't quit my job. I didn't say any tearful good-byes to anyone. I didn't hop on a plane. I didn't accidently take a colectivo or a taxi to the wrong part of town. I didn't have to act out anything on my grocery list using charades. I didn't even have to ask Robinson to help me buy my phone minutes, my medication or translate my hair cut desires to my new stylist. I even got a pay check.

I had a regular, normal week. And it feels good.

Plant Wallpaper Inspiration

2011-06-22T17:13:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure this picture does it justice, but I visited an Irish pub recently and the entire courtyard wall was covered with these plants. Probably 45 feet wide and 15 feet tall - a kind of living plant wallpaper if you will.

I'm living in an apartment now with no outside space to call my own. Honestly, I'm okay with that. Maybe more than okay with that as years as a home owner with a yard and big garden, as much as I enjoyed it at the time, have left me with enough memories of the day to day maintenance that I am comfortable without an outside space to call my own. The time I spent pulling weeds can now be spent on other creative challenges. That being said, the next time I do acquire outside space to call my own again, this living plant wallpaper is going to serve as an inspiration.

Recent Custom Work

2011-06-20T09:34:00.000-05:00

I recently made this "double" custom paper doll greeting card for a customer, who in turn was giving it to a mutual friend of ours for her birthday. My friend loves her dogs - she calls them "her boys" and she was kind enough to post a picture of the card on her Facebook page yesterday. It made my day.

This same customer also ordered a double custom paper doll greeting card for another friend of hers who loves her guinea pigs. Both cards were so fun to make and I'm quite honored I was able to play a part in my customer's unique gift giving.

Technology & creativity are both pretty cool

2011-06-19T12:24:00.000-05:00

Before & After.

I made the salmon eggs benedict (bottom photo) for brunch last Sunday. I froze the left over salmon & today made scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, gorgonzola and capers (top photo). The meal helped cleaned out the fridge - our remaining eggs, left over salmon, opened jar of capers, fruit & English muffins. Now my fridge is able to start the week off fresh & I feel the left overs challenged my creativity in more ways than following a recipe would have.

Speaking of food, I started following this new food blog here in Bogota (http://bogotabites.wordpress.com). Then the author started following me on Twitter. We messaged each other a few times and now we have plans to meet up this Friday to review a restaurant in the Usaquen neighborhood together for her blog. She’s from the States as well and I'm super excited to be able to come along for the ride, hear more about what brought her here and learn about her new creative endeavor with her blog and her website. It will be fun to have the chance to share in some of her creativity and it’s left me with my thought for the day... technology & creativity are both pretty cool.

I didn't sell my cow chair to...

2011-06-18T13:51:00.001-05:00

I got this chair on sale because one of the legs was damaged. I brought it home, fixed the leg & had it re-upholstered from a nubby forest green fabric to this micro-suede cow print. I called it my "cow chair" (for obvious reasons) and it was my most prized piece of furniture. It was both accessible and unique - one-of-a-kind - and I thought it embodied my creativity. I sold it to a stranger on Craig's List when we decided to move to Bogota, but I kept this picture of it.

When I get scared I think of this chair. When I start to doubt myself - like wow, you left a good career and a good, comfortable life to come here - I think of this chair. This chair represents my past, but also my future ambitions. Maybe this sounds cheesy, but it motivates me & gives me courage. I've become quite fond of saying (to myself, Robinson, really - anyone who will listen) "I didn't sell my cow chair to come here and fail," "I didn't sell my cow chair to fall on my face," "I didn't sell my cow chair to doubt myself... to give up... to you name it."

I was reminded of my old cow chair last night. I had drinks with a couple people - Americans - who are now living in Bogota. Both came here to try something different. Both had been laid off from their jobs in the States. Neither one had all the answers, but both were determined to at least ask the questions.

Since I've left my old career behind, I've seen friends and past colleagues advance in their jobs. Sometimes it makes me jealous, sometimes it makes me question myself, and when I do, I come back to the same answer. I didn't want that. I wasn't unhappy, but my soul wasn't alive either. I think it's time for me to let go - to really start believing in myself, to focus on what I do want (as opposed to what I don't want or what I left behind), and try to fly.

Three months & moving forward...

2011-06-15T21:14:00.001-05:00

Today I celebrated three months in Bogota. I feel like the world has quit spinning as fast as it was and I'm in a place where I can slow down a little bit and regain some of my focus.

I've been reading the book the 'Happiness Project'. In it, the author chooses a new theme for each month, small things, but things that add to her overall, day-to-day happiness. Now that I'm in a place to focus a little more, here are the things I came up for myself for moving forward:

The remaining part of June: Focus
July: Practice gratitude and acceptance for who I am and where I'm at instead of focusing on what I don't have.
August: Let go. Don't look for things to complain about or be mad about. Don't look for things to go wrong. Let go of old grudges.
September: Think big. Be open to possibilities in any and all forms.
October: Be kind. Starting with myself.
November: Don't worry about money or resources, instead, trust I will be able to provide for myself.
December: Reflect.

Dogs, Guns & Cigarettes

2011-06-14T14:41:00.000-05:00

I can't say exactly why, but I saw this sign hanging in a restaurant recently and it cracked me up. I think it's because of the cute little Beagle positioned next to the machine gun. It's hard for me to put my little Oscar on the same "danger list' as second hand smoke, much less a semi-automatic weapon, but there you go.

I crossed off everything on my "to do" list & I made chocolate chip cookies

2011-06-12T16:33:00.000-05:00

This was the first week in a long time - maybe since I moved - that I was able to cross off everything on my "to do" list for the week. That felt really, really good.

Random, and I'll get back to the above in just a bit, about a month ago I wrote about how I was going to dig deep to honestly find the five words that best describe me. Here's what I came up with:

1.) Scheduled, inflexible (as in the opposite of flexible) & a bit of a perfectionist. Let's just say I am my best when I have a "to do" list in front of me, I'm not incredibly open to embracing changes that I haven't planned for, and I have an all or nothing streak in me that is pretty powerful.

2.) Playful & humorous. I like to play, be funny, laugh, make up rhymes & sing little songs (mostly to my dog), and I can often find something to laugh about even in the harder of times. I think this trait might not always go hand-in-hand with being an overly schedule focused perfectionist, but after reflecting on this exercise, I'm learning I'm a bit of a contradiction.

3.) Creative. I have a talent for seeing things differently & for coming up with solutions. I like to put things together that are a bit unconventional. I like pretty and unusual things and look for ways to surround myself or incorporate these things into my life.

4.) Empathetic & thoughtful. It's easy for me to put myself in other people shoes and I often lead with my feelings versus my head. Sometimes this trait gets my feelings hurt, other times I think it can help me sell myself short, but it gives me capacity to let a lot of people in to my life as well.

5.) Judgmental. This is probably the exact opposite as empathetic & thoughtful, but it's also me. I can - when I'm not careful - look for and grab on to small things and not let them go. I don't forgive and forget easily and it scares me how fast I can sometimes play judge and jury.

I was also going to come up with five things that I *wanted* people to see or say about me, but I decided not to do this part of the exercise because the more I thought about it, this is who I am. Each trait has its strengths & weaknesses. I decided my job is not to change myself, but rather become more in touch with how I use each trait and how the strengths & weaknesses of each trait serves me.

Anyway, back to my "to do" list. Getting everything crossed off my list this week feels so good. It gives me breathing room and I feel like I can now approach the week ahead with a clean slate. This anal-retentive, overly scheduled side of me helped make way for me to be more creative & playful in the week ahead, hopefully it also freed up some space for me to be more thoughtful and empathetic as well. For instance, I had time this afternoon so I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

I also purposely made this week's "to do" list a little shorter, a little more manageable, a little more realistic. I'm thinking that if I can't break away from a "to do" list, I'm going to embrace it and make my list more friendly.

Maybe my grades were never strong enough...

2011-06-10T13:50:00.000-05:00

I met the Manager of the Princeton Art Museum Store recently when I was in New York City for the National Stationery Show. Princeton's mascot is a tiger and she asked me if I could put together some custom tiger-themed paper doll greeting cards for the Princeton Art Museum Store. Here is a photo of three different tiger designs that I sent to Princeton recently. Maybe my grades were never strong enough to get me admitted into Princeton, but hopefully my Hungry Dog's can :)

Isn't that the secret...to look for inspiration in every day circumstances instead of trying too hard?

2011-06-08T13:25:00.000-05:00

I was going to post this photo of a bowl of fruit I took yesterday but I thought it might be "too easy" in terms of finding something inspiring or creative. But then I thought, isn't that one of the secrets of finding inspiration & creativity - to look for it in every day circumstances instead of trying too hard???

So... here it is. My bowl of colorful fruit.

As long as the recipe is colorful and easy...

2011-06-07T19:50:00.000-05:00

So in my effort to infuse more creativity in my day-to-day, I started cooking. My goal right now, for the time being, is to cook one new dish a week. To be honest, I still don't enjoy the act of cooking, but am I enjoying picking out new recipes, taking pictures and sharing what I made and, of course, eating what I made.

I choose my recipes based on the following three conditions:
1.) The recipe is colorful
2.) The recipe is easy
3.) I like the food that goes into the recipe.

Here are some pictures of my latest accomplishments:

Crab, mango & avocado salad.

Goat cheese, tomato & basil brushetta.

Spinach salad with gorgonzola, caramelized pecans & craisins.

* I should note that the brushetta and crab salad recipes came from http://simplyrecipes.com/. I am loving this site as the recipes are simple and often shown with pictures :)