Weekly Recap : What I Love This Week

Here are a few things I came to love this week so much, I had to share with you!

• Waterlogued App : This app, available for iPhone and iPad transforms your photos into watercolor pieces of art! I spent way too much time going through my old vacation photos, DC scenery and of course, my foster dog Dori. I think one of my favorite uses for this app is to use it to create backdrops for quotes I like (in conjunction with the Over App)- you saw them here, here and here!
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• Thunder Beast Root Beer : I met owner and brewer Stephen at Tea Time DC's Premiere event Sunday night at the Ulysses Room. He brought a couple kegs of his absolutely delicious and refreshing, non-alcoholic brews. He told me they brew a number of seasonal root beers each year but their flagship has highlights of maple and butterscotch. I don't usually drink sodas but this brew had me wanting more and more! Find out how to get a taste of your own here!
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• Business Cards : I finally have business cards!! I've been networking and walking around town without them for over a month! It feels so good to be able to connect and be sure people know how to find you. I found a general design I liked at Mallory Hope Design on Etsy then worked with her to tweek it and make it my own. I'm working on my personal brand so I decided to promote that on the back of my card.
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• Dori, my first foster dog : I received notification late last week that I had been approved to be a foster mom for Lucky Dog Animal Rescue and I took my first dog home on Sunday afternoon. Dori is a 15 month old Shepard mix. When Dori was born, one of her back legs had two paws on it and that leg eventually stopped growing, so it was amputated and she now has three legs. She is the sweetest and cuddliest and sleepest puppy I've ever come across, but still playful and full of puppy play. She went to her forever home on Wednesday and I know she'll be happy.
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• My Dad : Well my dad certainly isn't new :) But, this picture is an outtake from a family portrait session with Leigh Burnette Photography . Leigh is a super talented up-and-coming photographer based in Virginia Beach. You'll be hearing more of his praises from me when I get around to talking about my 30th birthday party. My dad is one of the most thoughtful, caring men I've ever met and I'm very lucky to be his favorite (and only) daughter!
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Quote of the Day : No Explainations

Quote of the Day- Passion

What Will Inspire You Today?

As a person who has spent her life in & out and around & about all different types of creative experiences and ventures, I'm always interested in what inspires people. This goes much further than just artists, designers and musicians and spans to politicians (though I didn't care as much about this until moving to DC!), humanitarians, and people in all different walks of life.

What drives you? What are you passionate about? What, ultimately, makes you the best version of yourself? How do you do it everyday?

Life becomes distracting, redirecting the energy we wish we were spending on our passions to activities that we prioritize to simply live life (i.e.: pay rent & stay healthy). For those moments, I suggest you find a very simple and quick way to inspire yourself and keep your head in the inspiration game!

Here are a few things that I do to keep an inspired mind and heart:

• Inspirational words : I have several books lying around my house in key places that I can pick up, open to a random page and read something that inspires me. (The books pictured above are a few of those... see below for info!)
• Pictures & Ideas : Pinterest is used by a lot of people for various reasons. My wedding planner colleagues and I use it to create storyboards for our couples, my mom uses it to find ideas on how to help her occupational therapy clients, one friend used it to find ideas on remodeling his house and another friend uses it to fulfill a constant need for new shoes. It's a great resource for those of us who are more visual, that can lead us to answers and ideas.
• Local community : Surrounding myself with people who are living an inspired, creative life always pushes me to think about my next creative adventure. Finding those people in your own community, especially in DC, is absolutely wonderful! I often will go to one of the many local markets in DC (ex: DC MEET Market, Eastern Market, FRESHFarm Markets). I also try to keep up-to-date on local shows (Have you ever been to a free show at the Kennedy Center's Millenium Stage? Did you know that Shakespeare Theatre offers $18 tickets to the under 35 crowd? Not to mention the huge array of music venues available ranging from the iconic 9:30 Club, The Fillmore & the Birchmere, to the IOTA Club & Black Cat and newer venues such as U Street Music Hall & Gypsy Sally's and TreeHouse Lounge). I also just go for a walk! DC's monuments and memorials never cease to fill me with a sense of awe or you can just pop in to any museum you want, whether you have five minutes or five hours!

What will inspire you today? Share your comments & favorite ways you stay inspired below!

xo, Sarah

Books pictured above are:

1. "Feeling good: 100 ways to feel better every day", picked up at an old military conference from Military OneSource
2. "Theories of Everything" by Brian Andreas, one of my favorite writers and artists. Find more on his website: StoryPeople.com
3. "happy: secrets of happiness from the cultures of the world"  from Lonely Planet 
4. "Inspiration" by Leonard Roy Frank, given to me as a gift years and years ago