Tiny Office

Speaking of Tiny Houses, how about a Tiny Office?

I think I need a job where this makes any kind of sense. At this point I don't, but someday!! I'll just have to get creative since I do not have a green thumb. Not even close.

I was thinking that maybe I should get a trailer like this for my great American road trip and deck it out with a bed and a desk.
Thanks Sunset! You always keep me focused on the important things.

Tiny House How-To

NPR is offering some advice on how to get your own Tiny House. Unfortunately I don't live in Vermont, otherwise I might be spending some time learning how to build one of these masterpieces.

I also think I need to check out this web series Tiny Yellow House, specifically because they described it as Wayne's World meets This Old House. Perfect!

Queen B Quilts

Business has picked up a bit for Queen B Quilts, my t-shirt quilting business adventure which I started four years ago. I haven't put much effort into advertising or sales, but have relied merely on word of mouth, facebook and my blog to get my name out there. I have had the right amount of sales for my needs and wants up until now. However, I'm considering an expansion of sorts.

Recently, I approached the store Assemble in hopes of partnering to host quilting classes at their shop. We will be offering this class (a two parter) in July. I'm really excited by this idea of teaching a group to make their own quilts, because... well, I'm a social person and quilting alone in my apartment doesn't really thrill me. Just having the class listed on their website has boosted visits to my blog and facebook sites.

So, now I'm starting to think I could really take this somewhere. I have a few ideas I would like to implement as soon as I get a second to really concentrate on this project. I don't ever want to veer away from t-shirt quilting, but I'm trying to find new ways to offer it to everyone.

Stay tuned...

Frugalista

The Frugal Traveler, Matt Gross, spent a summer traveling across the US on $100 a day. I think I could do it for less, but I'm still taking notes.

Piano Man

New York, you continue to impress me! Yet another take on "keys to the city" here with instalation/interactive art.

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I don't think would work here in Seattle. Too many hills and rain.

Lanch Party

What is the point of a "product launch" and is it right for you? Here is a useful how-to from Inc. Magazine.

Steps:
1. Determine Your Purpose
2. Scout Your Location
3. Give Your Audience a Reason To Go
4. Follow Up

They also warn that holding a product launch event isn't for everyone, especially in cases of today's super busy, triple-booked customers.

I will be taking this advice and also thinking creatively about how a re-imagined product launch might look in the era of the busy and easily distracted mentality.

McMenamins

This is really exciting stuff! The McMenamins family is coming to Seattle! Well, Seattle-ish. And really I guess we do already have McMenamins' pubs here, here and here, but this is what I've been hoping for.
I frequent the Kennedy School in Portland whenever I can, so I really hope that this new renovated school they are setting up in Bothell is comparably awesome.

Post 101...

... and I'm ready to hit the road.

New goal: Save up enough money to quit everything and take my life on the road for at least 3 months.

Jennifer O'Keefe has lived my dream. See her pictures of The Great American Road Trip.

Listening to: The Helio Sequence

I Need A Nap

This might be the best looking and most inviting bed I've ever seen. I love small spaces, especially bedrooms where the bed is crammed in a corner. I also enjoy the messiness of the bedding and the fact that it's right up against a window. Perfect for lazy weekends and people watching.

Get Noticed

7 Ideas for Generating Buzz for your Business

Sculptivate

Cleverness from ROOT.

Popsicle Picnic

Cute idea for a Popsicle Picnic via DesignSponge.

As soon as it's warm enough to eat a popsicle in Seattle, I will do this.

Key to the City

New York is having a giant scavenger hunt!

New idea: Create city wide Seattle Scavenge.

Saved!

Finally! A good way to save all of the links I find without clogging up my favorites bar or frantically posting everything on this blog!
Thanks SwissMiss

Phone Phobia

Are you afraid of the phone? It seems we might be a new generation with a phone phobia. I don't think any official studies have been done, but I know that I don't particularly love using the phone and I've heard many friends and peers say the same.

A comment on the linked post above says that it's not fear but inefficiency that keeps them from using the phone, to which I agree. I often get phone calls where people are asking for documents to be emailed to them and then I have to get their email address (hoping I don't misspell something) and email them back anyway. I would just prefer an email in the first place. I'm also just a person who really likes to get to the point and I think email or text messaging does a nice job of that.

Another reason I prefer email or text is that it's always in my face. I mean, when people call and leave a voicemail, I sometimes delete it and then forget about it. I rarely delete emails or texts so everytime I check those, your name is still sitting there waiting for a response.

So now you know why I don't answer my phone.

Quick Starts

I always seem to be in a search to define myself through a test or put myself into a category, and judging by the number of personality/temperament tests out there I think most of us are searching for definition too.

Anyway, back down to earth. Inc. has a two parter on Entrepreneur personalities! I got a little bit lost in the first part, since I'm not much of a baseball fan but part two really lays it out nicely.

I didn't take any test, but I know myself well enough to know exactly which category I fit into right away.

“Quick Starts” enjoy initiating new things. They are creative problem solvers and think laterally. Easily bored, Quick Starts tend to begin lots of projects but need help finishing any of them.

I've managed to teach myself to stop starting so many projects, but that desire is always ALWAYS there. As Lewis Carroll wrote in Through the Looking Glass, "Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

My challenge is, as always, how do I put this strength to good use? I often think this is a good skill for millionaires who don't mind losing a few bucks on a new business or at least have a few bucks to get something off the ground. How can I find a way (within my means) to put my creativity to work?

Backyard Party

I keep wishing I had a backyard so I could have an outdoor party of some kind (not that the weather is cooperating either). Rachel Ray has some fun outdoor party ideas. I particularly enjoy this Backyard Rose Party idea. Maybe you could host this and invite me. :)

Wish I Was Here

via random
via sfgirlbybay
via sfgirlbybay

Gadgets and the Multitasking Myth

Interesting article from the NY Times: Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price

Glow

Smiles

Some Days

I saw Some Days Are Better Than Others last night. It is part of the Seattle International Film Festival. It was a beautiful film with a very simple storyline and a few clever jokes and relatable characters. My favorite part involved Eli (James Mercer) practicing for karaoke, singing Total Eclipse of the Heart in his bedroom.
There is another showing today at 4pm. You should definately check it out if you can!