Monthly Diary: November

I loved creating the mood board for October, so I think I'm going to continue making boards each month to kickstart creativity for the 30ish days ahead. This month I've been greatly inspired by something I never thought I would be.

Honestly, at the beginning of every month I think, "It's 'Jan-vember' already!!" Each year goes by so fast. I want to remember each month by inspiration. I want to remember what I loved during every stage my life. On Spotify, I create playlists by month and it's exceptionally fun to look back at the music during random months like February 2015 when I got REALLY into Hans Zimmer or big months (when I got married or graduated from college). 

You may judge me for what I'm about to say. I categorize November as the lull of the fall. There isn't much happening my life because I don't particularly LOVE thanksgiving. I like it, don't get me wrong; but, I partake mostly for the people I love. My family and friends love everything about turkey, cranberry sauce and pie. I love the left overs but have a hard time getting over the history of the holiday that's rooted in our countries horrible racism and genocide.

On the lightest note possible, I love sharing a meal around a group of amazing people. I love getting together for friends-giving when everyone brings their favorite recipes from their childhood or new recipes from novel bakers like Erin Jeanne McDowell or Deb Perelman. What's not to like. But most of November is work. On the downside again; it's an extremely busy time. Most companies are getting ready for the end of the year, which means making sure that you hit your budget quotes and income goals for the annual total. The 9 to 5 in no joke. It's really stressful and needs to be delt with many inventions and inspirations. 

Stress Relief: Relieving the Massive Stress That Comes with the End of the Year

This November, I'm realizing (for the first time in my life) that baking and cooking is a stress reliever. I should have known this earlier because my paternal grandmother (the Czech wonder women) is one of the best cooks/bakers I've ever known. She was a single mother of 4, an amazing architect/interior designer and chef/baking guru who immigrated to the US right after the Nazi invasion of the Czech Republic in 1939. She seriously did it all. By no means am I saying you have to do it all to be happy or successful. There is so much wrong with that. But I am saying, if you find something that aids in relieving your stress, do it, no matter what it is. If you find sweating into water takes the stress away; take baths every night. (Note: make sure you make some awesome bath bombs and have an essential oil explosion.) If it's running, I envy you. If it's baking, I'm so with you. (If only I was a runner. Maybe I'll try it and update you.)

I've been spending most of my drives listening to the Milkstreet Radio podcast. Christopher Kimball, the former editor of Cooks Illustrated, breaks down food in the most inventive way by interviewing key chefs and bakers in the industry. I've already fallen in love with David Lebovitz; so much so, I'm chapters away from finishing his book The Sweet Life in Paris.  He is hilarious and makes the simple stories of his life absolutely mesmerizing. I've laughed out loud countless times only to keep reading well into the night. Creating food is slowly becoming a passion. I'm realizing that through food we are a part of a larger community, beyond ourselves. By following recipes created by chefs before us, we enter a new kingdom of participants. We are creators, alone and together. It's beautiful. The recipes are important to the community driven food culture, but the ingredients are key. So many hands come together to create the food we eat. Hours and hours are worked for us to enjoy one lemon (hence the picked lemon photo.) There is so much work and love that goes into every element of what we eat. It's magical.

November Inspirations

This month, my inspirations are simple. It's baking, Scandinavian decor and the haunted spots that the eery forests of my dreams bring. November, this year, is all about baking (with the number one goal of fashioning a beautiful tart), listening to Sam Smith on loop and going to bed dreaming of the made up lands that would host a filming of The Blaire Witch Project. As a creative person, I love to imagine places in my mind and travel there as I go to bed; I tell myself stories and fall right to sleep. It's a little trick. I've done it since I was young and it aids massively with stress. I can go to bed without thinking of the failures of the day; I can travel as I sleep without stress. 

As a designer, this november is all about white space. It's about mimicking brilliant Scandinavian interior designers who create living spaces that are so homey and clean with so much white space and no clutter. It's fascinating and original. I'm in love. I'm not sure I've been able to master the white space that I dream about; but that's my goal. I aim to create logos and formatted letters that balance type and negative space so well that they mix together like latte art poured by a barista in the middle of hipster New York City.

As a person, I'm inspired by belief in the impossible. The graphic of type (below) is so true. "Be kind. Work hard. Stay humble. Smile often. Stay loyal. Keep honest. Travel when possible. Never stop learning. Be thankful always. And love." This is the dream. Some days all of these things seem harder than others; we all know this. But the idea of being the best I can be for God and those I love keeps me energized for the next hardship ahead. What a joy.

I would love to know your inspirations currently! Sometimes, I feel like I live in a bubble of movement. I'm constantly moving, working, attempting things without the time to think and connect. I would love to connect and hear what you all love to love. That's the dream. 

Check out where I got these inspirations here: The Pie from @Mollyyeh; the white table from @oncewed; the cabin bed from @poppgytalk; leaf pattern table cloth from @dominomag; the white living room from @designsponge; the white hallway from @myscandinavianhome; barista coffee from @twohandsnyc and the wonderful Sam Smith from @samsmithworld