So this week was really a special one because, wait for it, we got a new dog!  It was my Christmas gift to the New Jerseyite and we got her from an English Bulldog Rescue.  We’ve been spending a ton of time just trying to figure out where she’s going to sleep, when she’ll eat, etc.  I just can’t believe that someone didn’t want her!  Here are some things I’ve observed throughout this process:
1) This dog snores like a full grown man. I will now be investing in a white …

Eeks! I’ve been MIA since last Friday Funrise, but it’s for a good reason. I’ve got some new exciting changes coming to the blog soon so I’ve been devoting a lot of time to those. I am also planning a really sweet post next week on how the restaurant industry can teach us how to create great strategies for business and online. This from last week when I was in Chicago sampling some of the new restaurants and got into a conversation about Charlie Trotter who …

Do you ever have those weeks where you find yourself up every night tearing through books?  I have been reading like a madwoman the last month or so, having tons of new ideas for projects, and feeling way sleepy in the afternoons.  I finished “Just Kids” this week – about Patti Smith and John Mapplethorpe when they lived at the Chelsea Hotel.  Great for some 60′s creative inspiration!
This weekend we’re headed to Chicago again for a conference.  Well, I plan to attend some of the conference but I also want …

I usually get pretty excited for Halloween since I love to gorge on all things Fall.  So this year, instead of just buying a costume like a normal busy person I found my costume when I stumbled on the artwork of Sylvia Ji – and determined that I would be able to copy the painting at left onto my face.  I have considerably less confidence now that it’s almost game time and I’m envisioning all of the ways that I will likely NOT be able to make this work. …

Whew!  Week one in the new office is complete!  No one was harmed, work was done, things were good.  I spent a lot of it listening to my Bob Dylan Pandora station (soooo good to work to, it’s impossible to be stressed with Bob playing in the background).  Don’t you love it when you rediscover a musician you haven’t listened to in a long time?
So, some really interesting social media info this week that I wanted to share -
The short life of a tweet – if you get a retweet …

I can tell it’s fall when the weekend rolls around and all I can think about is how my tall boots from last year need to be replaced, which apples I should buy to make applesauce, and how I no longer want white wine (it’s all red from here on out).  To kick the weekend off, a friend of mine is hosting a fancy pants wine party tonight – I think I’ll bring this Rued Zinfandel.  It’s really wonderful and fairly easy to find.
Do you make applesauce in the Fall?   …

This weekend, the New Jerseyite and I are headed to Chicago to visit some friends and go to our second Renegade Craft Fair.  I’m excited to see what people have made this year but I’m also really interested (warning, this is quite dorky) to see how the sponsors are going to be interacting.  I know that Firefox is a sponsor so I’m hoping that they do something cool.
Some  Chicago people to follow on Twitter: @rick_bayless @jasonfried @ambercadabra @urbandecorsue (home design lovers you’ll like her a lot)  @captavist (home design …

Photo Credit – DethJunkie
If you’re new here, the Friday Funrise is that time just before the weekend hits (as in sunrise, but for the weekend).  It’s a list of cool things that I found over the week that hopefully helps you get excited for your weekend and even for the upcoming Monday.  This week was especially good because I met some new blog friends, started 2 new projects, and ummm… I’m going to Cape Cod tomorrow!
4food in New York is a new restaurant in NYC that’s really into social media …

This weekend is the weekend when I officially refurbish the old dresser in the bedroom.  I got the idea from this amazing magazine called Living Etc. (UK) that I discovered a few weeks ago.  They have an absolute TON of ideas for things you can do to your apartment / home that you can actually do yourself.   Another one that I love for ideas is Readymade, which I am going to do a whole post on next week.
Fast Company named the Top 10 Most Innovative Architecture Companies – prepare …

This week will be the one where I sat right by Steve Martin in a restaurant.  I just love him, and how funny was the 3 Amigos?  I still watch that movie at least once a year.
Also this week, I read an article  that I’ve been thinking about ever since.  It’s the 4 Burners Theory by Chris Guillebeau and it’s all about work / life balance which everyone should read.  It adds some dimension to the whole thing by adding  “family” and “social life” to “work” and “personal” which means …