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 noise machine.

2) There is an extremely high number of people at the pet stores here that wear Teva Sandals with socks.   I was really interested in this because I guess I didn’t realize people did that at a certain place.  I’m trying to figure out the connection between pets and sandals with socks….

3) I am ready to stop making fun of my sisters for having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with their pets.  I already have over 30 pictures on my iPhone of Lucy.

Check out these retro flight bags!

I just stumbled across this Dutch design duo that has some really interesting ideas about creative process.  They even have a project that really cracks me up that includes some videos of different artists explaining their jobs to their parents. They also have a lot to say about procrastination, a topic I just love and have written about too.

“For our new series “The Procrastinators” we interviewed 26 artists, writers, fashion designers, and comedians about their daily struggle against procrastination. To conquer this behavior many of them invented clever ways to keep them inside the creative process, or at least try.”

I wish these were easier to ship to the US – aren’t these tea towels fabulous?

I just tried out Instagram this week – it allows you to post your phone pics to any of your social pages and it’s really user friendly.  Thanks @clayherbert for the recommendation.

Bloggers and marketers, a good read about self promotion.

Amazing roommate, friend present alert! This is a juicebox (French) that’s actually a camera.  $25 Photojojo

I’m a sucker for great ads, here’s a great Japanese one.

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 is one of the most amazing restaurateurs in history - can you believe that after years it’s still more than 8 weeks to get a reservation?

So long story short, Charlie Trotter is more than a chef, he’s a philosopher and wrote a book about the service industry and business called “Lessons in Excellence” which I immediately purchased so that I could learn more about how this guy runs such a successful business.  You should read it with me!

photo credit for the above picture – Kamila M - she’s got such great photos on her blog.

Check out this chandelier made of bike parts. 

A couple of tools that I’m trying out this week are:

Thrive Solo – a project management tool for freelancers.

Time Flies - An iPhone app that tells you how long it’s been since you’ve done something (like laundry or haircut).

IceRocket - a free tool that searches the social web for mentions of your brand or keywords.

Are you guys watching the 20/20 Cure videos on Apartment Therapy?  Maxwell makes a video a day to help us make design improvements to our homes.  I liked the second one titled ‘buy flowers’.  I went straight out and bought $4 flowers and arranged them like he taught and they look so adorable.

YES!!!   Architects Southwest is hosting a competition to see who can design the most zombie safe structure proving that I am not the only one who thinks about this stuff.

A film called Minka – home design lovers you must, must watch this:

“Minka” trailer from Birdling Films on Vimeo.

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 to go to:

Three Aces Restaurant ‘marrying rock and roll to farm to table’  Yes!

There’s also an exhibit at the Art Institute for Tom Palazzolo who made experimental films in the 60′s that I’m dying to see.

‘What Happened To Creative Pause?’ is a great article if you’re trying to justify less computer-ing time

1000 people live UNDER Las Vegas in 200 mile long tunnels.

Aren’t these pillows so great?

2 blogs you’ll want to see – a Lovely Being has some really pretty house interiors as well as some great artist posts.  My friend Grace has a spectacular new food blog – GraceFullPlate.

I am a die hard Moleskine fan and I love that they choose nontraditional marketing to talk with us.  Since most people apparently use theirs to write ideas, brainstorm, or keep secrets, they’re using artists and creatives to develop messaging.  Check out the video of Brooklyn based Jessica Findely.  Also, here’s an article with 10 hacks to customize and play with your Moleskine.

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. I meant to do a trial run this week but ran out of time…. wish me luck!

Anyway, I also got these drinking goblets in black to bring to the Halloween party, aren’t they fancy?  I think I’ll use them year round.

Looking for an amazing movie that’s not super scary and filled with European design to watch while you hand out candy?  Let The Right One In.

Love this!  Paris Vs. New York, a tally of two cities.

Found a great design blog – prepare to spend some time here.

Sears launched a whole campaign around Zombies – you can even follow their zombie tweets.

If you’re looking for a quick, snarky, read – I just finished “I Was Told There’d Be Cake” by Sloane Crosley (which I bought solely on the title) and loved it.

Home design lovers – a guide to non serious decor.

I’m really into the whole idea of different collectives helping each other to get business, create art, write, make amazing online projects, and then I saw this Dutch Breakdance Collective:

IRC dance movement from . on Vimeo.

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 – you’re in the minority!

People are really attached to their tech device brands – as in emotionally attached.  Can you believe that this list is topped by iPod and iPhone when 20 years ago the number 1 brand attachment was to Hellman’s?  Mine would be Anthropologie and Metcalfe’s grocery store – loooove those two.

This is such a great gift idea for foodies!!  You get a cool gourmet gift bag every month.  $35 per month.

Advertising for the Copenhagen Zoo -

I love this indie, crafty, arty, blog! Bike photo above is from this quirky bike blog.

This Greek house is so pretty and simple.

Feist’s film “Look at what the light did now” is premiering in Chicago soon.  The trailer is definitely worth a Friday watch.

Aren’t these bird houses built into the roof a great idea?

Risky X The Wild Ones from The Wild Ones on Vimeo.

Great video on LA graffiti!

Have a wonderful weekend!

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?   Confession, the New Jerseyite is away this weekend and I’m using his absence as an excuse to subsist mainly on different versions of applesauce all weekend.  I love it that much.  Here’s a recipe.  It’s only 4 ingredients although I usually add a whole load of apple pie spice to mine as well.

Also, here’s a food blog from Sydney that I love.  It’s different looking than all of the rest yet still simple.  Worth a look.

Sarah Wilson talks about giving herself the permission to quit ‘low rent’ things, an expression I just love.  You know those things that you just feel are not you?  Great read.

Lots of sites claim they will “replace Facebook”.  This one is actually getting some press.

If you ever wondered about where the guy who created the TED conference lives, here’s a full spread on this quirky family and their amazing home.

I’m a huge sucker for work snark - these cards – hilarious.  You can customize them to whatever work crisis you’re having and email them out.

This street art is one of the most amazing finds,  you must see it. It’s in Lisbon and brought to us by Blu (those creative guys that make the graffiti stop motion videos).

Coke Zero make a fantastic store display.

I am running out of fun places to work during the day – This Amsterdam restaurant called Taste is adorable, has a really organic kind of bohemian feel, and is really well designed.  I could totally work here.

I cannot WAIT to see this movie: Somewhere.  Have a great weekend, make some applesauce!

top photo credit

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 stuff)

Great Reads from Chicago:  Urban Daddy (slick things to do, guy stuff), Chicagoist (things to do, offbeat news).

This week I found a site called Hooked On Houses – it’s like house porn.

A Chicago couple built a separate house for their teenagers – ha!

The New York Times has an article that says newspapers are deciding what to print after seeing how popular the content is online – smart!

Ever feel like different stores have different sizes?  They Do!!!  Esquire investigated sizing at popular stores.

Ever have a day like this?

Accessible art: Open Doors Project

3rd world- in studio with artist: Wendell Mc shine from wendell mc shine on Vimeo.

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 – right down to their ordering system.  Good idea?

I love how important storytelling is becoming! this article about teaching businesses about storytelling was a great read.

Facebook launched their “Facebook Places” platform yesterday - here’s how to use it.

I am a major people watcher so I am just loving the new Trendland Street Style videos – extra bonus is the music by Kings of Leon.

Take a Walk: NYC #2 from TrendLand on Vimeo.

I just bought Creative Inc. to read (by Joy from the Oh Joy blog) and I’m so excited to start it!  It should be a good read for people wanting to create their own freelance work.

Song Mix by the 99% that’s a great listen.  Love the name too, it’s called “Inspiration is for Amateurs”

The MIlk Studios in L.A. have made a video of their cooler-than-yours office….

Milk Studios in Los Angeles from The Milk Group on Vimeo.

I often complain that there are no real loft style places to live in Madison – but look! Someone made concrete wallpaper.
How great would this be in an office?

30 Hilarious print ads.

Alexander James took some really great photos of taxi cabs in Tokyo – Have a great weekend!

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 to spend some time with this, all of these companies’ portfolios are worth a look.

While we’re on the subject of architecture, here’s a house built into a hill that also has amazing design and even an outdoor bathtub. It originally came from this blog, which I instantly loved.

I must have these Robot Cupcake Cups!

Janelle Monae is coming to Milwaukee – I’m definitely going!

Stuart Brown has some interesting ideas in his book on the concept of play and how your style of play as a child can influence your adult life:

“If adults can begin to reminisce about their happiest and most memorable moments, they can capture the emotion and visual memories of those moments and begin to connect again to what truly excites them in life. Generally, a person’s purest emotional profile—temperament, talents, passions– is reflected in positive play experiences from childhood.”

You’re Lucky Day by Dan Brown is a really well crafted short film about a convenience store (15 min) if you’ve got some time today.

I just love how many old school companies are revamping themselves lately – Pop Tarts opening a New York restaurant and now Chef Boyardee’s new commercial!

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 that balance is really more like juggling instead of just balancing.  Which also means it’s more of a circus than a simple balancing act – and I’d say “circus” pretty adequately describes my daily life.  photo credit

Facebook is rolling things out faster than ever this week.  Publishers can now publish to the newsfeeds of people that “like” them. You can see in the comments that people aren’t all that pleased about it.  They are also rolling out an “Ask a Question” feature that’s still in Beta.

McDonald’s starts selling smoothies and creeps in on Jamba Juice’s territory.  Jamba Juice retaliates:

A really good read from Adage on brand equity where they explain why Good N Plenty should revive their brand.

I love that Detroit is trying to woo 20 somethings with a great marketing campaign.  How brilliant are these?

These suitcase stickers would get you in huge trouble but I think they are hilarious.

Yuken Taruya makes amazing things from toilet paper rolls, paper bags, and other found items.

I splurged and had dessert twice this week during restaurant week.  My favorite was Sardine’s vanilla berry custard! On the walk back to my car I saw that someone had covered their ride in rubber duckies! 

Have a great weekend!!