We are back from our eight day trip to Nova Scotia and my brain still hasn't fully reset itself back to work mode. It's to be expected after a long and mellow (and extraordinarily picturesque) holiday. I will post photos of the trip soon, but in the meantime I found these rather beautiful lookbooks from Maiyet and I thought I'd share. 

They look like they've been shot on film with all that grainy goodness, don't they? I admit I am a sucker for film, especially when the setting is someplace exotic like India for the Spring 2013 lookbook and Kenya for the Fall 2012. Match those elements with an adventurous tomboy spirit and it doesn't get much better.

+maiyet.com

I am waaaay late in posting the current star sign, Aries, oh my goodness. I figured I should probably sneak it in here before we move on to Taurus! Ha. So here's the weird thing, I know so many Aries it's kinda crazy. From family to friends, I am surrounded by these folks. One of my favorite Aries of all time was my Mom, so it's a sign that's very special to me. But before I get all misty-eyed, let's dig right in...

Things of Note about Aries:

Aries are the very first sign of the Zodiac and a Fire sign, which means they tend to be born leaders. Yes! They own their fearless certainty. This determination is what fuels their pioneering attitude, so it's no surprise that Aries love their independence and creative expression. People take note of Aries' natural confidence and are often drawn to them like moths to a flame. The flipside to this fierce ambition and fighter spirit can be a tendency to come across as self-centered or egotistical, so Aries must remember to make an effort to foster an awareness of their peers and tune in to how their energy impacts others.

Aries are passionate creatures (Fire sign, people) and can be impulsive too, but this is also what makes them so irresistable. Their stars shine brightly indeed.

The Aries Mantra: I am a strong leader yet I remain humble and patient.

Some recent photos I've taken seemed like they would rest well together as pairs. They are matched by themes—Feasting/Adorning/Observing. Which now that I think about it, is not that far off from the fundamentals of many of my days. :)

The image of the Madonna and Child was taken at the Milwaukee Art Museum last weekend. Jim and I took a little fieldtrip up there for a change of scenery. I fell in love with the colors and scale of the piece. It was petite and just radiant, like a little beacon of hope.

Aren't the colors of those ranunculus ridiculous? I mean, really. It doesn't get much better than that. My sweet husband brought those home for me after a really lousy day to cheer me up. Yay for flowers and boys that know how to woo a lady even after three+ years of marriage.

+Instagram @notstatic

Imagine taking a holiday underneath a sky filled with more celestial goodies than you've ever seen in your life. A smorgasbord of the cosmos. Fellow urban dwellers, are you struggling with this concept too? Yatzer just featured this place, but it jogged my memory from a few months ago when Jim found this tiny little hotel in faraway Chile called Elqui Domos. It is nestled in a valley north of Santiago and its main purpose, being situated out in the middle of nowhere, is to stargaze. Yes, a hotel built around the purpose of peering out into the brilliant open sky to take in all of its wonders. It's a spectacular idea.

They also offer night-time horseback riding (how cool is that?!) meditation and tarot readings. In summary, it sounds pretty much like a dreamy escape right up my alley. Take a look at this time-lapse video of the property. It starts getting good right around the 2:00 minute mark.

They offer lovely modern cabins or geodesic tents for sleeping arrangements, both outfitted with skylights to better take in the stars while falling asleep at night. There seems no better word to describe it than heavenly, don't you think?

+elquidomos.cl

+jamesflorio.com

A few days ago, we got a break from the perpetually cloudy late winter Chicago weather. The skies cleared and smiled down on us with bright, brilliant sunshine. It was cold, but by golly it was beautiful. I went for a long walk around my neighborhood and this thought came into my head:

We must cultivate joy the same way we would a garden: with dedication, with intention, and above all, with a willingness to let it grow with abandon.

I sometimes forget to put this into practice, but that sunny day sure did remind me to breathe in deeply and choose to create my own joy. Every. Single. Day.

+annstreetstudio.com

"Everything imaginable and unimaginable is created from stillness. Stillness is where all creations begin. I am the messenger of stillness is about bringing back the strength of humble appearance with hidden nobility."

So well said. And that stillness is communicated beautifully in the art direction and photography too, it's why I couldn't stop looking at these images from Atifa Rasooli's S/S 2013 Collection. They remind me of an old world painting. Maybe a touch of Vermeer in there. If you have a moment, take a look through the whole line—the clothing is gorgeously haunting in its simplicity.

+atifarasooli.com

I'm super excited about sharing this latest Collection, which I've dubbed The Feel Good. It features a variety of odds and ends that I enjoy on a regular basis and all of which make me feel really good all the way down to my tippy-toes:

Juniper Ridge makes the BEST incense sticks. They smell like you're out in nature breathing in its bounty. Not at all like the icky traditional incense people normally think of. No patouchli around these parts.

My friend Jo recently sent me this book as part of an early birthday present. It is absolutely brilliant and chalk-full of inspiring words and visuals for creative spirits. Whenever I'm in need of a quick pick-me-up, I fan open the pages and let my finger land on another gem.

I've been wearing Frye boots since I was in a college, every year steadily building up my collection. They are SO well-made and never, ever go out of style. I particularly like the short, Western styles and feel like I have an extra sassy spring in my step when I wear them.

This quinoa dark chocolate bar sounds like it would be super weird, but it's not at all. It tastes like a Crunch bar (remember those?) full of puffed quinoa bites and rich, sweet chocolate. And bonus: it's good for you! Um, yum.

Music makes the world go 'round. Music and love. Love and music. I love me some Fleetwood Mac, Sam Cooke and Tycho. All totally different from each other and all guaranteed mood elevators for me. I like to turn the volume waaay up and sing right along.

What are some things that make you guys feel good?

It’s a tricky thing balancing how much I reveal about my personal life on this blog and being true to myself in my nature. Because by nature, I am a super direct communicator. I go for honesty. I talk it out, always. My friends and family know and tolerate (and usually love) this about me. And so it’s with the same brutal honesty that I look inwards and deal with my own issues too. Sometimes what I find ain’t pretty. (More on that later.) Sometimes it is. It’s life.

Why am I even getting into this here, you may be wondering? Because every once in awhile, I come to a fork in the road of wanting to share more on the blog of what’s going on outside the lovely and safe world of design but not knowing exactly how to do it. I usually chicken out on writing the more personal entries under the excuse of this being a “design” blog and not a “personal” blog and that I should stick to my brand. But really, this is my space, right? And I determine exactly what my brand is. Maybe it’s a design-slash-personal blog? It’s whatever feels authentic for me and that’s all I should be answering to. So. I’m giving myself permission to let that happen. The thought is mildly terrifying.

The topic of today then? Well, lately I’ve been asking myself what the concept of enough means for me. A product of conditioning and my environment (aren’t we all?)  I am rarely satisfied with the state of things as they are, right in this very moment, and that very much includes the state of me. Moi. The usual laundry list of wants on continuous repeat include but are not limited to: I want more clients. I want more Instagram likes. I want better ideas for my blog. I want to be a homeowner. I want to have kids. I want to move away from the city to the country. I want less cellulite. I want to be better. At everything. I want, I want, I want. The list goes on. And I am always left, ironically, wanting.

It’s a crappy feeling. It goes nowhere except to further dissatisfaction. It doesn’t propel me forward, not at all. My own determination does that. So why the wanting? Why isn’t me, where I am now, who I am now, what I have now, enough?

The answer is the not-so-pretty part of the post: because at the root of it is fear. Fear and self-loathing, like Hunter S. Thompson said, minus the Las Vegas part.

I won’t get into why I have these issues, but I think they’re pretty common and I know the why is an important piece of the puzzle but maybe more so is the what are you going to do about it? Admitting you have a problem is the first step, as they say. So ok, I’ve admitted I have this problem (and I’m guessing some of you reading this are finding yourselves relating to all this too) and I’m starting to take active steps in addressing the root of the problem. I’ll let you know how this journey goes maybe a few months down the line if I don’t chicken out. Just kidding. (Hold me to this people!)

I’m also going to start off a list right here, right now, of stating a few things I like about myself. Yes, this feels a little strange and yes this feels like I’m in the middle of a cheeseball self-help workbook exercise, and yeah I feel completely and totally exposed right now, but I’m doing it anyway. To harness that kickass spirit I know is inside, but also to give you guys permission to do the same for yourself. Make your own list of 5 things that are just the cats pyjamas about YOU. If you feel like sharing them in the comments section here, I’d be delighted and honored to read them. If not, keep the list for yourself and add more items to it as you discover them. I promise to do the same.

MY LIST:

1. I’m pretty funny and good at making people laugh, most often myself. I can crack myself up to the point of side-splitting-can’t-breathe-silent-hysterical laughter. Usually at the goofiest of things.

2. I’m a keen art director, specifically when it comes to design. I can spot what needs tweaking in a project lightening-fast. For a while, I thought I would pursue being an art director and not a graphic designer, but I later realized I loved the process of creating too much to give it up so I came home to graphic design.

3. I have great hair. I do! It’s got a soft natural wave and all the hair stylists love to love it whenever I’m getting it cut. They swoon over the texture. I used to hate my waves, now I love them.

4. I am resilient. I’ve been dealt a fair share of hardships in my time, but I am here and hopefully wiser, definitely stronger, because of these challenges. They remind me of my courage.

5. My first impressions of people are never wrong. Never. I can read people within a minute or two of meeting them. I’ve learned to always trust my intuition and I use it to guide me in all decision-making.

When I sat down to write my list, I was super surprised at what bubbled to the surface. I decided not to omit anything, I just let it flow out. Now, it’s your turn. Go on and give it a try. You just may surprise yourself too.

Be well, friends. And may we each find the courage to believe that today, in this moment, we are all enough.

xo, Jess

+instagram.com/notstatic

It's been a very long time since I posted a Spare Room but I was inspired to do so after finding these beautifully unusual pieces. I've also been wanting to bring fine art into the blog too, and I thought evolving Spare Room to include art (that's what the + sign is all about) was a good place to do so.

What do you guys think of the idea? 

1 . 2 . 3

These minimalist terrariums swept through Pinterest with such a vengence the other day and then I noticed them over on Justina's blog, I almost didn't want to post about them on Not Static because I worried they'd already gotten too much exposure. But then I said to heck with that and here I am posting about them anyway.

I can't resist their architectural beauty and how each plant is exposed for viewing like a botanical drawing, roots and all. Plus, the glass and solder vessels that contain them are so spare and so clean, I think they'd look beautiful in just about any setting you put them in. The old adage rings true once again: less is more.

+1012.stores.jp