day 285 : kindness carousel {week 26}

another round of awesome links from around the web! //

1) you have until midnight TONIGHT to vote for Daph {as Harry Paw-ter} in this costume contest!


2) YES! ---> 30 avoidable mistakes first-time entrepreneurs make repeatedly

3) colorado is doing AMAZING things to eradicate homelessness! this coffee shop is working hard to employ folks who are trying to get out of homelessness!

4) this video about kindness on mindy's blog had me in tears ; its so sweet! also, if you love books & want a great blog to read, hers should definitely be in your reader!

5) woohoo! -- simple ways to make someones day better! 

6) i played softball from the age of 4, all through high school. i remember watching the us softball team in the 1996 olympics and being so incredibly blown away by their speed, talent & accuracy! i loved watching mo'ne davis throw out the first pitch for the 2014 world series! 

7) i am a huge believer in purging // decluttering! i really think that we find contentment & happiness {which in turn, makes us kinder humans!} when we strip away all of the materialistic things we don't really need! this article is great!

8) this cotton throw is hand-stitched from reclaimed sari cloth! the colors & quality are SO beautiful! they also have holiday stockings here!

day 284 : you've been ghosted & carving pumpkins {FALL BE NICE BOX}

the fall be nice box {grab yours here} contains a list of 30 acts of kindness, 10 tangible items & a gift! we still have quite a few fall boxes available ; so, i would love for you to play along with us! 

halloween is tomorrow! our pumpkins are already carved & most of the roasted seeds have already been eaten! 

i will get in a run & some yoga & then blake & i will stay in ; {probably} eat pizza and watch 'its the great pumpkin, charlie brown.' {i have all the charlie brown shows on dvd ; so we watch them every year!}  and to be honest, we will probably also catch up on 'scandal' ; this season is totally scary! ;)

{please forgive the poor photo quality!} mine is a castle & blake carved a skull!

the #9 good deed in the fall be nice box is 'Boo a Neighbor // leave a sweet treat on the doorstep'

all subscribers received these awesome tags from artsyville {grab yours here} 

you can grab a small bag ; throw in some chocolate, a baked good or a fun mini-gift {fall-smelling soap or candle!} and leave it on a neighbors doorstep! 

i really love fun surprises like this! 

tell us: what are you doing for halloween tomorrow? 

day 283 : #52coffees // week 2

this is my second outing for my #52coffees project! 

{read about it here & week 1 is here} 

 

last week, i met with jen {who runs this great blog! seriously, her photos are beautiful!} jen & i met last spring during a #30daysofbiking social ride. since then, we have been trying to get together & following one another on twitter.

we met at the dunn brothers in linden hills & chatted about biking, jobs, the internet and MORE! 

     

so far, i am really loving this project! 

day 282 : half-marathon training plan {week 1}

alright, i am going to do it!
sign up for a half-marathon! {this one}
i am really not a huge fan of running {biking comes so much easier to me} ; but have always wanted to be a stronger runner! right now, i am pretty slow ; so i know that following a great plan will help me build my endurance and shave time off my mile.

i am following a 20-week training plan that starts today! i will be using this space to track & record my progress each week. {i use to run a fitness // vegan // lifestyle blog and i actually miss having a space to record race training and my fitness endeavors}

i will be following this run // walk program!
week 1 // 
monday 27th: 30 min run // run 1min + walk 2min {repeat 10x}
tuesday 28th: cross train 30-60min {hot yoga // bike ride // barre}
wednesday 29th: 30 min run // run 1min + walk 2min {repeat 10x}
thursday 30th: rest
friday 31st: cross train 30-60min {hot yoga or bike ride}
saturday 1st: run 3miles // run 1min + walk 2min
sunday 2nd: 60min of hot yoga

i apologize for no photos!
have you completed a half? is there a certain race // ride that you have your sights on?

day 281 : new plantable flowers in the shop

are you looking for tiny {but super awesome} addition to a gift or card? 

we have a new color of plantable paper flowers in the shop! 

they are all pinks & blue & super fun!

each packet is $1.25 {free shipping!} & you will receive 7-8 flowers in each!

all flowers are paper with wildflower seeds embedded in them!

you can head here to check them out!

i like to include a packet of these coins whenever i send someone a card or a gift!
it adds a fun, planet-saving twist!

day 280 : apple picking + mini-recipe round-up {Fall Be Nice Box}

the fall be nice box {still available!} contains 30 acts of kindness, 10 tangible items & a rad gift for the subscriber! 

i am going to take the next few weeks to showcase ALL of the good deeds from the box! 

{you can see a full recap of the box here}

todays good deed : #5 go apple // pumpkin picking

this is actually one of the first years in a really long time that we haven't gone to an apple farm to pick our own apples. lucky for us, we live a block away from a co-op and have two weekly farmers markets within 5 blocks of us! there are plenty of local apples for us to purchase! 

apples are easily one of my favorite fruits & i usually eat 2 apples a day {cut up and dipped in peanut butter is my favorite!}

i have gathered a few of my favorite apple recipes below :

1) apple nachos ---> here

2) apple cheddar biscuits ---> here

3) butternut squash & apple pizza ---> here

4) apple quinoa salad ---> here

tell us : have you picked apples yet? whats your favorite way to eat them? 

day 279 : kindness carousel {week 25}

FRIDAY!
today, i am at a conference about NGOs ; i am super excited to meet awesome folks who are working hard to change the world.
tomorrow is the MN Blog Conference!

check out the links below to find some of the coolest content from around the internet!

1) did you check out my review of manitoba harvest hemp hearts? this recipe for banana chocolate hemp brownies looks awesome!
2) are you a fan of andrew mcmahon? {he's the genius behind something corporate & jack's mannequin!} he just released a new album AND he's coming to the cities next week! he just did this interview & it makes me SO in awe of his talent! {i still remember exactly where i was in 2002, the first time i heard 'if u see jordan' on the local college radio station!}
3) one of my october goals has been to super-purge our apartment! i only have the kitchen left, but have already taken 4 big loads to the recycling AND i have a huge ikea bag FULL of things to donate! this article offers 5 questions to ask when decluttering.
4) this story brought me to tears! the acts of kindness between two rival schools ; proves that there is ALWAYS room for kindness!
5) my sweet friend hannah posted this picture of her friend completing one of the good deeds from the fall box! {ps : fall boxes are STILL available!}

6) LOVE this! photos of children around the world & what they eat for breakfast.

7) another one that makes me cry --> the Boston Opera House launched an Autism-friendly showing of The Lion King! as someone who has worked in the Autism community ; this makes my heart SO full!
8) the folks at Minneapolis Happening wrote this sweet article about the Be Nice Box!

what other awesome things have you read this week?

day 278 : {REVIEW} Manitoba Hemp Hearts

hey everybody!
this post is sponsored by manitoba harvest & sweat pink, llc! as always, opinions are mine.

the folks at manitoba harvest gave me a bag of hemp hearts to try out! 
i have posted before about being a huge smoothie fan. each and every morning, i make a smoothie {usually banana, peanut butter, chocolate vega & almond milk}. i also make sure to add in a scoop of hemp hearts, chia seeds and/or flax seeds each morning!

 

hemp hearts are great because they contain 10 grams of protein & 10 grams of omegas. {hemp hearts are a great nutritional option for vegans & vegetarians!}
also, they don't have a weird taste ; they taste slightly nutty, but when added in to smoothies, you can't taste them at all! i know others love adding them to soups, salads & yogurt! 



want to save 20% on your first // next order of manitoba hemp hearts? 
head here & type in HHSweatPink14! {awesome note : they also sell organic hemp hearts!} 

                   

on top of the great discount code, manitoba harvest is also running a contest to win a 5lb bag of hemp hearts! 
how?
get creative in the kitchen, tag @manitobaharvest, #hemphearts, and #sweatpink in your Instagram and/or Twitter post and you'll be automatically entered!
Contest deadline: November 30, 2014

bonus : they have a really great selection of recipes on their website

day 277 : share wedding photos with my family

two weekends ago, my baby sister got married. 

and while they hired a professional photographer {which, by the way, i have seen a couple of sneak peeks & they are going to be SO beautiful!} ; blake spent the day taking photos. {since i was the maid of honor, i didn't take as many.}

      

i gathered some of my favorite shots {hello, it was outside and the trees were so colorful!}, printed them out & sent them to various family members!

i try to send my grandpa {my dads dad} a couple letters each month. he likes to hear about daphne, our bike trips & 'living in the big city.' i always try to include a few photos, because hello, grandparents love photos! 

this photo of my sister, grandpa & i might be one of my favorite pictures on the planet! i know that the lighting isn't awesome & as far as 'perfect pictures' goes, its not, but LOOK HOW HAPPY HE IS! 

also, another one of the bridesmaids did my makeup {i don't even own makeup outside of one liquid eyeshadow & a mascara!} & it looked so great! and isn't blake's shiny tie awesome?

day 276 : #52coffees // week 1

last week, i wrote about my newest social project ; #52coffees! 

{you can read all the details here}

the idea is that i will connect with one person a week, for the next year. there really aren't any rules ; just me, someone awesome & some time chatting. some folks, i have never met. others, i have. like i said, no rules. my big goal is to be more intentional with my time & energy.

i kicked off this series with wendy jacobson, who runs a digital magazine called 'minneapolis happening!'

                           

we met at the dunn brothers in linden hills & chatted for a couple hours! we talked about the kindness business {she wrote a sweet story about the box here}, moving around, families, rescue pups, and more! 

i find that i am just so inspired by people who take big steps, follow their dreams and do rad things! along with that, its so cool to see how many people i am surrounded by who are doing just that! {just to clarify, you don't have to quit your job & move across the country to be inspiring!} i am SO pumped to kick off this #52coffees project ; so many awesome humans to connect with!

also, if you live in the twin cities {or plan on visiting} ; be sure to check out minneapolis happening! lots of great articles, resources and a calendar full of upcoming events! 

day 275 : Fall Be Nice Box REVEAL

happy monday, all! 

tonight, blake & i are heading out to see anberlin play their very last mpls show EVER! we are both pretty big fans & knowing this is their last tour is making me all emotional! i had an old boyfriend back in 2005 make me a mix cd with 'audrey! start the revolution!' on it & they have been one of my favorites ever since! 

anyways, lets talk about the fall box! 

this is our very first quarterly box & contains a list of 30 acts of kindness to complete, 10 {awesome} tangible items to help complete some items on the list, along with a handmade gift! 

boxes are STILL available & will be until the very beginning of december.

you guys, i am really proud of how these boxes turned out! 

also, we have new boxes, a new shipping & labeling system and had the chance to work with some really great folks! also, we changed the way we present the good deeds {which i am super pumped about!}

{ps : winter boxes are now on sale & you can grab one here} 

with past monthly boxes, i have written out each of the good deeds, but since there are 30 {and because this box is such a fun surprise!}, i am going to pass this time around! BUT, on the bottom of the post, you can find out about all of the awesome companies & artists we worked with this month! 

INCLUDED in the boxes // You Are Beautiful gift wrap from YAB // paint chip gift tags // KINDNESS bookmark made by Taeamade // salt dough ornaments // hand-wrapped yarn mini-wreath // TWO bars of soap from Hope Soap Project // Big Bloomer card from bloomin' {each card has a plantable piece that you can take off & plant!} // 'you've been ghosted' tags from Artsyville // two mini-boxes of Glee Gum // a crocus bulb from Eden Brothers // two notecards with handmade envelopes from Elizabeth Millard
and your gift : this awesome Give Thanks garland designed by DajonSmiles
{she also designed all of the good deed cards that were included}
{PS : if you are looking for graphic design work ; let her know! she's awesome!}


{i just want to give a HUGE thank you to all the amazing folks who have supported me & this little business in the past year ; my gratitude is infinite!}

day 274 : donate a load of books {part of SuperPurge2k14}

one of my October goals is to super-purge the apartment. i try to do this at least 2-3 times a year and fall always seems like such a great season to go through everything! 

the other day, i spent 8 hours going through every drawer, cupboard and closet {the kitchen and craft room aren't finished yet} i have a huge bag ready to go to the second hand shop, a few items i am trying to sell and a bag of books that daphne & i will be delivering to different little free libraries around the neighborhood! 

most of the books we own are from other LFLs or thrift stores ; we really never purchase new books. we are lucky enough to live a few blocks from the library!
tell us : do you have a little free library in your town? your neighborhood?

day 273 : I'm an elected official, man!

this is a fun one, folks! 

anybody who knows me in real life, knows that i am pretty political. i follow the news, i *always* vote and i try pretty hard to advocate for causes that mean a lot to me.

and while i believe that every american should vote to elect our congresswom/en, senators & the president, lately, i have realized how important local politics are! 

with each passing election cycle, it seems that our country becomes more and more divided ; which makes ALL issues harder to compromise on. 

a few months ago, i joined a neighborhood committee for sustainability and environmentalism. we are a small group, meet once a month and find ways to engage our neighborhood re: recycling, composting, solar panels, ect. {for those of you who aren't local ; our neighborhood is really incredible & is by far, one of the most progressive 'hoods in the mpls // st. paul area}

we have a few neighborhood committees, and one neighborhood council. anybody can join a committee, at any time during the year, but the council is a 2-year term, with an election. 

there have been a few openings on the council, and with elections near, i knew i wanted to put my name in the hat! 

i feel like kindness and local politics go hand in hand. seemingly small issues {by washington standards} such as city-wide compost programs, or new bike lanes, or safe routes to school programs are things that we can change! each of us can be involved in making our neighborhood better. better neighborhoods mean better cities, which means better states. and like the late {great} paul wellstone said, 'we all do better, when we all do better!' {probably one of my favorite quotes of all time!} 

so, here i am, the newest member of the linden hills neighborhood council! our first meeting is in a few weeks & i am really excited to document the things that i learn!

{and spoiler alert : in the {{far-off}} future, i would really, really love to run for city council!}

day 272 : {another awesome} gift for Harry Potter LOVERS

you know i love harry potter! 

i showed off this amazing hp book collection {its SO cool!} and blake & i even went down to florida this year to check out the wizarding world of harry potter {here}

both my sister and i are huge harry potter fans ; she started reading them when she was just a kid and its always been 'our thing.'

she got married this weekend {super excited to share some photos this week!} and i knew a potter-themed gift would be awesome! 

fun, right? 

if you are local, both the print & the candle can be found at Paper Hat {50th&Penn}

if you aren't local : puzzle // candle // print // wedding card