Somewhere in Middle America

keep calm and carry on

I can’t say for sure, but I think that sfgirlbybay started the whole “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster craze when she blogged about it back in October of 2006. I wanted one for myself, but at the time, the only option was to order one from Barter Books in the U.K. Not feeling like paying for international shipping, I held back. Shortly thereafter, a bunch of people, including sfgirlbybay, began selling reproductions of the poster online. Suddenly they were everywhere–including my apartment.

Check out the original:

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Now they come in many different colors…

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And lots of people have them…

Keep Calm Carry On mosaic

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Including my friend, Katie

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And me!

So what got me thinking about this all of a sudden? I mean, it’s certainly made it’s way ’round and ’round the blogosphere. It’s because I just came across this painting by Wexford Girl, which might be my favorite of all the versions of the iconic WWII poster.

Click here for the history of “Keep Calm and Carry On.” I think the message is a good one, especially in uncertain times like these.

kansas city on a hot summer day

On Saturday Jamie and I took a road trip to Kansas City. Our primary goal was to return or exchange gifts we had each received for our weddings (she got married a month after I did) and to use our 10% off completion coupon to buy what remained on our registries. A trip to the plaza was also on our agenda, as we both wanted to go to Anthropologie, Paper Source and American Apparel, among other stores.

Here’s a rundown of our day spent in KC by the numbers.

360 = Approximate numbers of miles we traveled roundtrip

2.5 = Hours spent at Crate & Barrel

3 = Number of bags containing Jamie’s purchases from C&B

12 = Number of bags and boxes containing my purchases from C&B

2 = Number of fast food meals eaten in 12 hours. Lunch at McDonald’s and a snack at Wendy’s on our drive home.

25 = Percentage we got off on our purchases from Anthropologie thanks to Jamie’s sister’s Friends & Family discount.

1 = Number of travel centers we stopped at on our way home. SAPP BROS, somewhere in Iowa, is a site to be seen.

4 = Number of folding knives in a collectibles kit available at SAPP BROS — and on sale!

45 – Minutes listening to “Learn Italian” CD. (io capisco un po l’taliano)

1,000,000 = Degrees it felt like outside as we walked up hills, down hills and in circles

Jamie’s bags

My boxes and bags

More of my purchases

Lunch

The craziest gas station store ever

Knives on sale

Watches and wax

roses are a girl’s best friend

photo by me

J surprised me the other day by having a bouquet of small roses delivered to the apartment. We haven’t seen in other in over a month, and I was really touched by this gesture. He’s not usually a flower-giving guy; he’d rather spend his money on “things that don’t die.” But I love flowers, especially when they are artfully arranged.


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i know it’s a fanny pack, but…

As many of you know, while J is away I’m in charge of planning our belated honeymoon to Italy in September. One of my favorite things to do is imagine what outfits I’ll wear when we visit Venice, Florence and Rome. I don’t want to look like a tourist; I want to look like a young, fashionable newlywed! I picture myself wearing cute sundresses, slim capris, and comfortable walking shoes that are NOT made by Nike.


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send me an angel

I need my own business angel like this one in Bubbo-tubbo’s Etsy store. I’m feeling totally overwhelmed with the business. I need some guidance. I know I have to write a business plan, and I’m pretty sure I can handle that. It’s the financial projections that are the tough part. And I’m confused as to what order thing I need to do things: get an EIN number, find (and secure) a location, get a loan from the bank, pick a name, design a logo… I have a couple of business books, but they’re no subsitution for talking to people who have “been there, done that.” If anybody’s opened their own shop, or knows somebody who has and would be willing to talk to me, I’d love to learn how they did it. Because right now I’m feeling pretty discouraged, and I want to be feeling as motivated as I did when I returned from the Rengade Craft Fair.


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