tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697Fri, 01 Jun 2012 02:29:46 +0000runninglife happeningscreationssketchbookinspirationsweekend recaphttp://www.secondwindstudios.com/noreply@blogger.com (jsc)Blogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-5873048224871007846Thu, 31 May 2012 05:02:00 +00002012-05-31T21:29:40.370-05:00It's been a long standing 'joke' with my husband, family, and friends that I don't finish projects.  I get really excited in the beginning and then when the excitement wears out and I start to lack motivation, the project sort of fizzles and dies.  The joke of it all is that this theory is based on one project in particular that lasted for over ten years...and still isn't finished. When I was inhttp://www.secondwindstudios.com/2012/05/table-redoround-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jennifer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-7754561286926060426Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:56:00 +00002011-12-08T22:56:36.873-06:00life happenings 10 reasons that being sick is the worst.Lets go ahead and knock out the fact that you can't breath. sure, sometimes you get one nostril cleared up, but who can really suck in enough oxygen through one nostril at a time? Not me. So then you have to breath through your mouth which inevitably dries out your throat causing uncontrollable coughing Snot is consistently running down the back of your http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/12/sickness-sucks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-7755091605820563208Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:48:00 +00002011-12-05T17:10:46.726-06:00weekend recaplife happeningsWe headed out of town last week for our traditional "urban family" Thanksgiving.  Upon moving to Chicago, flights back to the east coast for both Thanksgiving and Christmas were a bit tough on the budget.  So we started a new tradition of spending Thanksgiving in the city with close friends (a.k.a. our urban family).  While our t-day group has varied in size over the years, there have been three http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/12/sf-adventures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-3793036165855173016Sun, 20 Nov 2011 06:03:00 +00002011-11-20T00:03:30.265-06:00weekend recaplife happeningsinspirationsIt's been beautiful the last few weeks.  Let me catch up on what's been going down.October was full of hikes with Riley at the forest preserve (did not realize there were so many trails so close to the city).  I love taking him to new places...he gets so excited.  It was also hilarious to watch him meet a horse for the first time.  I really wish I had a video of that. October brought some http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/11/fall-is-my-favorite.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-2926110850827686678Sun, 16 Oct 2011 05:17:00 +00002011-10-16T00:17:32.740-05:00weekend recaplife happeningsinspirationsSand, sun, and hiking through the woods make for a very happy puppy and a pretty happy me.  Last weekend was absolutely gorgeous weather so I decided to take our new car out of the city with my dog, Riley to explore the Indiana Dunes hiking trails. I was well aware of the fact that I was going to sand dunes, but I did not anticipate all of the hiking trails to be sandy paths with steep sandy http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/10/to-dunes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-6329132090187596362Mon, 26 Sep 2011 01:38:00 +00002011-10-16T23:38:04.395-05:00inspirationsI have to give full credit to my husband for sending me a link to the illustrated children's book by Andrew Kolb depicting David Bowie's "Space Oddity".   Being a huge fan of this song and also an admirer of great illustrations, I was impressed Kolb's interpretation.  This classic song released in 1969 tells the story of Major Tom, a fictional astronaut who cuts off communication with Earth and http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/09/space-oddity-listen-and-read.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-888895029849447004Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:51:00 +00002011-09-11T16:51:13.594-05:00weekend recaplife happeningsinspirationsI just got back from the Renegade Craft Fair which is hands down my favorite street fair in Chicago.  Over the years, I have learned that it's better if I go to art festivals by myself.  Otherwise, I feel bad for lingering at each and every tent while whoever I am with inevitably ends up bored and disinterested.  So this time I attended solo.   It was perfect.  I could easily dodge in and out of http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/09/renegade-bike-theme.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-8370655995728921532Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:42:00 +00002011-09-04T16:45:33.084-05:00inspirations An international search for a design team to revitalize Navy Pier was announced last week.  The plan is to redesign the outdoor spaces along the south dock, east end, and west entrance.  Almost anything they do will be an improvement on what is currently a long expanse of concrete filled with tourists. I tend to only venture down to the end of Navy Pier when requested by family and friends http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/09/navy-pier-revamp.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-6529705498939788757Mon, 29 Aug 2011 04:52:00 +00002011-08-28T23:52:53.450-05:00inspirations Could you do this?  Quickly?  In open water, with a lot of other people?  I couldn't.  Not today anyway.  The past few summers I have been thinking about competing in a triathlon.  I almost signed up for the Chicago Triathlon this year and if I had, I would have been swimming, biking, and running this morning (and probably all summer long for training).  Alas, I just couldn't psych myself up to http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/08/tri-chi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-4090367360381579232Sun, 14 Aug 2011 01:19:00 +00002011-08-13T21:05:06.056-05:00life happeningsinspirations Did you know this little oasis existed in the middle of Lincoln Park?  I stumbled upon a story about the rehabilitation of the lily pond a few years ago and made a vow to check it out.  While I have passed by the pond countless times, for whatever reason, I hadn't meandered through. So, the lily pond was added to 'the Chicago list'. It was sunny for a few hours last Sunday so I decided to go http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/08/list-lily-pond.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-7794698999631878229Sat, 06 Aug 2011 04:50:00 +00002011-08-06T02:06:30.245-05:00inspirationsMy little sister and her boyfriend fiance have been doing a little walking this summer.  Actually, they have been walking since the end of April.  They have been walking with 30lb backpacks on their shoulders.  They have been walking from one white blaze to the next through woods, muddy fields, and up and over mountains of boulders.  They have walked past rattlesnakes, biting flies, and black http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/08/other-peoples-amazing-ness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-3756300692281036549Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:26:00 +00002011-07-31T20:26:11.578-05:00sketchbookI think I need to give some background on my artistic abilities.  I used to be fairly good at drawing/ painting/illustrating.  I took a few art classes in high school and was accepted into design school where I decided to major in architecture.  In between drawing perspectives of buildings, I was able to take an illustration studio and a few other art and design classes.  Then I graduated, http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/07/sunday-sketch_31.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-2825767557333310252Wed, 27 Jul 2011 05:25:00 +00002011-07-28T22:34:30.520-05:00life happeningsinspirationsWe went to see The Decemberists and Head and the Heart last night at the Aragon Ballroom.  The show was absolutely amazing.  If you don't know either of those bands, I encourage you to check them out.  While our relationship was slow to develop, The Decemberists have become one of my favorite bands.  The vocals of a band will ususally make it or break it for me.  At first the strange needling http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/07/king-is-dead.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-1177013892372179809Sun, 24 Jul 2011 23:19:00 +00002011-07-31T20:27:17.346-05:00sketchbookOne of the things I want to start doing more often is sketching.  I went for a little bike ride today and on my way home stopped at a park I usually run around and decided it was a good place to sketch.  Here's my quick sketch that I did on my break at Holstein Park: pencil sketch, 10 minutes I hope this becomes a regular post!  I may just turn into one of those artsy people who whips out theirhttp://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/07/sunday-sketch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-4648164143900339036Wed, 20 Jul 2011 05:33:00 +00002011-07-24T18:29:12.837-05:00weekend recaplife happeningsinspirationssketchbookrunningLast weekend was pretty amazing.  I crossed a few things off of my Chicago list, got some exercise, and had some tasty food with new friends. Saturday:  the sketchbook project comes to Chicago! Here's a little taste of the sketchbooks I checked out at random...  1. julia yellow, theme: capture the flag 2. katie mcewen, theme: i'm sorry i forgot you 3. melissa reynolds, theme: jackets, blankets,http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/07/weekend-recap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-7193258005558265758Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:57:00 +00002011-07-17T18:11:40.256-05:00life happeningsinspirationssketchbookRemember when I talked about The Sketchbook Project?  I just checked the tour dates and apparently today is the last day in Chicago, so get there with a quickness. Hyde Park Art Center5020 South Cornell Avenue Chicago, IL 60615 In case you are wondering, no, I did not make the deadline to submit my sketchbook.  However, it is pretty awesome to go and see all of the books that other, more http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/07/sketchbook-project-comes-to-chicago.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-2196181955518179672Sat, 16 Jul 2011 03:39:00 +00002011-07-24T18:29:56.019-05:00life happeningsThere are two things that most Chicagoans have in common.  They complain about the cold, windy winters but stick around for the amazing summer.  The sun finally appears sometime in May, the weather slowly (but surely) becomes warm, the lakefront bike path becomes congested, the "beaches" get packed full of volleyball nets and sunbathers, and there are neighborhood festivals EVERY weekend!  So farhttp://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/07/festival-update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-6329505680929901720Sat, 02 Jul 2011 18:38:00 +00002011-07-28T22:50:56.177-05:00life happeningsinspirationsrunningWhy do people run? Most 'normal' people hate running, but I love it for many reasons: I can eat whatever I want after I run b/c damn it I just burned like, a million calories. Therefore, the more I run the more pizza and beer I can consume. That's easy math. I get to buy cute running clothes that automatically transform me into an athlete. I can't really see what I look like from behind, buthttp://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/07/i-run-so-i-can-drink-beer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-6655426581150835969Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:01:00 +00002011-07-15T15:13:32.518-05:00inspirations Check out the new 'Architect Barbie' that is being released later this summer.  Isn't she lovely?  Just so you know, this is what I look like when I go to work.  I look amazing in pink. It's great that Mattel decided to send Barbie back to school to become an architect.  My Barbie role model was in the band 'Barbie and the Rockers' (the red-head in the spandex).  I almost opted out of design http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/06/if-we-all-looked-like-barbie-wed-get.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-9136724114396686264Fri, 17 Jun 2011 05:42:00 +00002011-07-16T00:55:16.254-05:00life happeningsinspirationsI have no idea where my nomadic tendencies come from, but I get the urge to move frequently. We've been in Chicago for 6 1/2 years now and have lived in 4 different neighborhoods! This time moving across town might not be enough. We've still got a lot to figure out on the where, when, and how to move, but there is a chance we will eventually be moving from Chicago. I make lists of everything. I http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/06/pack-it-up-pack-it-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-5439472831288763737Mon, 13 Jun 2011 03:26:00 +00002011-07-16T00:56:48.069-05:00life happenings Obviously, I've been on a blogging hiatus.  I have a list of excuses:  there are only 24 hours in a day I'm not all that interesting the internet scares me I don't know what words mean Crap...all of it.  I made some new personal rules that hopefully will stick and counteract my list of excuses:no more working 60+ hour weeks become more interesting (by not working so much) realize thathttp://www.secondwindstudios.com/2011/06/please-stand-by.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-6871113003619509007Fri, 12 Nov 2010 06:51:00 +00002011-07-16T00:57:29.366-05:00inspirationsI'm back...I KNOW it's been a long time since my last posting where I said I was going to keep up with this whole blogging thing and staying motivated to do creative non-architecture things.  I lied.  Work sucks the life out of me, but I'm hoping to change that now.  I just signed up for The Sketchbook Project.  It's an awesome idea that some artsy folks started in an effort to get people to behttp://www.secondwindstudios.com/2010/11/sketchbook-project-day-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-3286304742996538463Wed, 19 May 2010 04:19:00 +00002011-07-16T01:05:25.213-05:00life happeningsinspirationsWe've moved!  We're still unpacking, but we are definitely finished moving.  The move actually only took a day BUT the packing and unpacking is never ending.  Back to back deadlines at work have made unpacking the last thing on my mind (along with writing on my blog) for the last few weeks.  Now that deadlines are over (for now), I have some time to relax.  While there are still boxes piled up inhttp://www.secondwindstudios.com/2010/05/spring-cleaning-phase-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-5295377321132008017Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:52:00 +00002011-07-16T00:58:49.063-05:00life happeningsI'm going to skip over the fact that I haven't written in...well, you can see the dates.  Let me just fast forward to the latest news... We're moving...again.  We've lived in our current apartment for almost 2 years now which is our standing record.  I have changed apartments (or dorms) every year since moving away to college.  If I'm lucky or somewhat happy where I am, I'll end up staying in http://www.secondwindstudios.com/2010/04/spring-cleaning-phase-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7429618104902823697.post-5211658507735077760Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:18:00 +00002011-07-16T00:59:40.552-05:00inspirations ... make Lemonade. "What do people who were once paid to be creative for a living do when they’re laid off? They get creative with their own lives. Lemonade is an inspirational film about 16 advertising professionals who lost their jobs and found their calling, encouraging people to listen to that little voice inside their head that asks, 'What if?'" Ok, so I wish I had found this video about ahttp://www.secondwindstudios.com/2010/02/when-life-hands-you-lemons.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsc)0