The One with Berlin, Germany


Tuesday, January 4, 2011

When Chris graduates from dental school in May 2013 we'll be going who knows where for four years to fulfill our commitment to the army. We've heard but don't know if it's true that we can request three places stateside and three places abroad. Our top choice for abroad is Germany. Then perhaps Japan. Stateside I'd like Hawaii (natch), then Washington state then Colorado. Close to family is always nice. But speaking of Germany, I love it there. I went to Berlin for a few days in the summer of 2006 while I was on study abroad. I love the architecture, the atmosphere, the culture, the history, the everything. I thought I'd share some pics from my brief time in Berlin.
The flat we stayed at. This is me, Allison, and Katie.
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The bauhaus-archiv Museum. Super neat inside - definitely worth a visit!
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Anywhere you go, you're sure to find an LDS church! That's one thing I love about our church - it's universal.
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Cool street signage.
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Berlin Victory Column.
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Radical building.
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I don't know if this is an office or a house - it was in the middle of a park - but wouldn't it make a sweeeet house?
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Love the vines taking over these flats.
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I love the colors they choose for their buildings.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
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Random break dancers everywhere!
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We went to the Berlin Zoo, or rather, Zoologischer Garten - supposedly one of the world's largest and most visited?
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Hiding orangutan. He's not doing a very good job of it, hehe.
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Pretty pink flamingos.
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Cheetah.
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Silly seals.
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Two churches right next to each other (Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church). One is old. One is new.
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Here they are side-by-side (pic from Wikipedia):
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This is inside the new modern church.
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Berlin Wall. Or what's left of it.
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The new(ish) Holocuast Memorial.
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The Jewish Museum. Such a cool and unique facade.
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Here's a pic of the Jewish Museum from above, not taken by me. So funky right? Just another example of why I love Berlin!
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Pretty skies exist all over the world.
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Cool art.
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Had to eat a real Bratwurst in Germany!
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Thank goodness for maps!
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One super great thing about being in Germany? Prague (my favorite city in the world) is only a few hours drive away.
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I'll prolly do a Prague post soon now that I'm thinking about it.

The One with Magic Eye 3D


Monday, January 3, 2011

Remember those Magic Eye 3D puzzle thingies that were so very popular in the 90s? Yeah, I could never do 'em. I always got so frustrated at parties when kids would bust those books out and I could never see anything no matter how hard I focused or stared. Oh whoa is me.
Until now!
I got this book for Christmas and have been having a BLAST seeing the images! (Granted my eyes are a little sore now - but supposedly it's a good exercise for them...)
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I've finally realized what the book means by "looking through" the image instead of staring right at it. That was my problem. No matter how hard I stared right at it nothing ever changed. Cuz that's not how it's done! But now I'm (finally) part of the special magic eye seeing club :) Good times.
PS - Can you see what's on the cover of this book!?!? I CAN I CAN!
(a duck and an egg)

The One with Things I Like Right Now


Sunday, January 2, 2011

Wanna know what's inspiring me/making me laugh/making me smile/making my wishlist/making me want to make some right now, the second day of 2011? You got it!
I love bright colors in all forms - even soda pop! No idea where I found this...
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From Elsie's shop opening - just like UP!
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Love this ceiling in a hotel room called Peacock Pavilions in Morocco! Found via decor8.
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Wow could this Pomeranian BE any cuter? Its name is Boo and it has its own Facebook page.
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Gimme gimme gimme.
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Awesome alphabet bookshelf from Kayiwa.
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First saw this t-shirt on Stephanie Howell's blog. Purchase from BustedTees. Isn't it funny?
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Really neat New York vinyl record die cut clock. Wish I knew where I found it...
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These paintings called Caravan by Liz Tran. I want one something fierce.
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I love the design and colors of this print by Carolyn Gavin. Actually, she has tons of stellar work. Check out her blog.
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Doilies are very popular in the scrapbooking world right now. Therefore, if I were to be getting married right now (hint hint wink wink Tanya and Eric :) I would sooooo use this idea of printing the dinner menu on doilies. Found via Love Jenna.
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I heart this calendar (particularly the colorful month of August) from E.M.Papers. Found via Design Crush.
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This thank you card design from Helen Dardik is perfection.
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Must get this 2011 Fox calendar for Fox! (Okay, you caught me, it's really for me). From Paper Sparrow's etsy shop.
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Altered typeset tray by Justina featured on Design Sponge. This would fit perfectly in Fox's room.
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Hanging beds from The Bumper Crop, featured on Design Mom. Definitely gonna utilize this idea in Fox's future big-boy room.
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Penguin Classics Hardcovers. Such eye candy!
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I really like abstract art. Especially liking this painting called Friendly Atmosphere by Robert Langford.
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I just need the right Cricut cartridge and I can totally a mobile like this one from Frazier & Wing for Fox.
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I don't know what creweling is.... is it like knitting or crocheting or embroidery? None of which I know how to do... But if I did know how I would totally make this partridge in a pear tree and flower bouquet from The Purl Bee.
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Beautiful vintage dictionary art print from Kiintage.
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Jessica Hische's dock icons. When I have time I'm totally changing all my dock icons to these bad boys.
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Cute pillow from I dunno where but I want it - or rather, I want to make one myself!
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I think all pictures, even bad pictures, look great when they're in a series. Individually, these rainy day pictures by Gregory Thielker are so-so - anyone could take them. But put them all together in a series called Under the unminding sky and they rock my world. I love rain.
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Filed in my "crafts to make with my kids some day" folder. By Ginette Lapalme.
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Felted pillows by PBTeen. Alls you need is some felt and die cuts and you can make these yourself (and save yourself a lotta moola!).
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While we're still on pillows, here's another cute one I want to make (and I don't know where it's from...):
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I could go on forever! Maybe I should get one of them tumblr accounts to store all my inspiration...

The One with the 2011 Rose Parade


Saturday, January 1, 2011

Our entire winter break was pretty low-key. After Fox got sick we decided to stay close to home. Last year we went to the 2010 Rose Parade and we probably would have gone again this year, but we didn't want to risk Fox getting sick again. HOWEVER. Just because we stayed home today doesn't mean we didn't enjoy the festivities going on all around us! Last night around 10pm Chris was coming inside after taking Joey to go potty and he passed the front window and yelled, "Floats!" He scared me half to death cuz I was already half asleep. (I don't think we've ever stayed up 'til midnight on New Year's Eve since we've been married. How lame are we?) Anyways, I jumped out of bed, grabbed my camera, and went outside to take (really bad) pictures of the floats passing RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR APARTMENT as they made their way up to Orange Grove/Colorado Boulevard for the Rose Parade this morning.

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And then this morning I looked out our back window and saw the blimps that were circling the parade just a couple miles away. (It's the white blur between the blinds).
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There are two blimps above and slightly to the left of the chimney on that house in the middle of this photo.
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Zoomed in as far as my camera would go.
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Hopefully next year we'll be able to go to the actual parade again! But seeing the floats pass right in front of our apartment was unforgettable.
Happy New Year!
Paige Taylor Evans © // Quinn Creatives DESIGN