Archive for Blog

Friday Faves

May 10, 2013 / Tan

Is it just me or has anyone else found this week inexplicably exhausting?
The above photo was taken in Morocco and I must admit, a huge part of me wants to drop everything and just go travel. Do you get urges to flee and escape real life?
Sadly that’s not possible for me right now, but I rejoice knowing today is Friday.

While I’m spending much of tomorrow working on Squirrelly Minds and projects, for the first time in months I am determined to take a day off this weekend. Who knows, maybe on Sunday I won’t go on my computer at all.
Yell at me if you see me on twitter.

I hope you also have a relaxing weekend! Here are my favourite things this week for you to look through at your leisure while you sip your hot beverage and listen to the birds chirp out in the sunshine.

This beautiful video reminds us to step outside our little world and really think about those around us. Remember to reserve judgement. You don’t know everyone’s story.

• I love how artists Chris McMahon and Thryza Segal have taken boring/ugly thrift shop paintings and added monsters to them, don’t you?
• I was obsessed with Roald Dahl as a kid as much as I’m curently obsessed with these posters.
• I so want this to happen in Victoria but just don’t have the time to organize it. Anyone want to take this on? Please?
• Someone, anyone, please find me the fabric from this skirt. I’ve had zero luck.

What are your plans this weekend?
Whatever they are, may it be carefree and filled with love!

Category: Blog, Life, Various / 6 comments

10 Lessons from Blogshop

April 23, 2013 / Tan

I regret to interrupt your regular programming (April’s Pinterest Via will be on Thursday) to bring you something a little more fun and a lot more informational – lessons learned from my time at Bloghshop Vancouver!

*First off, apologies for the instagram quality photos. I didn’t bring my camera.Now, I nearly didn’t go to Blogshop, and that would have been a huge mistake. If you take away one thing from this post let it be this:
Time is always worth more than money, and Blogshop gave me the skills to bring back time that would have otherwise been wasted, and no one has enough time in their life for it to go to waste.

Image (and delicious cupcake) by Coco Cake Cupcakes
The entire two days was full of “aha!” moments and “OH MY GOD THAT’S SO MUCH EASIER”.
While I knew a lot of what we learned I didn’t know how to do it the easy and proper way. Until Blogshop I wasted hours struggling with photoshop to make things look just how I wanted. Bri of Design Love Fest and Angela of Angela and Ithyle taught us how to do the same things in mere minutes.
Thank you girls for these valuable lessons:

You can’t put a price tag on your time. Every second is so precious and should be spent wisely. This knowledge Bri and Angela gave me has brought back hours of my life I otherwise would have spent in front of the computer, fighting with a program I know but don’t fully understand.

I understand photoshop now. I know how to efficiently do what I need to, and now I can trade those past hours of frustrations, screaming at the computer (oh there were many nights like that) for valuable time with my husband, family, and friends, the people that count in my life.

Thank you Bri and Angela of Bloghshopfor such a fun and fulfilling workshop, and making photoshop a cinch!

Now I just need Blogshop for Video to come to Vancouver…

Category: Blog, Life / 9 comments

Create Curate

April 22, 2013 / Tan

I am so excited to announce this, Create Curate is a go!

“Huh? What’s Create Curate?” You ask?
I always felt alone in the blogging world, not because there’s a lack of fantastic blogs on the internet (heck it’s the opposite!) but because I felt that there weren’t any here in Victoria where I live.
I was wrong.
One by one I started to find all these incredible local blogs which made me beyond happy. So I decided it was time we all met.
Cue in Create Curate.

I’m so excited to be planning this event with Reb, a local blogger I adore going for coffee with. And I am beyond excited to meet and hang out with the local Victoria blogging talent. It’s so nice to be among blogging folks in person isn’t it? May 29th feels so far away!

Head over to the Create Curate page to see who’s going (and perhaps add some blogs to your list!) and to check out our incredible sponsors who are making this night happen.

So excited!

image source unknown (please e-mail if you know!), design by squirrelly minds

Category: Blog, Life / 5 comments

lovely links

April 12, 2013 / Tan

image by sara carle photogrpahyI have to apologize.
This week has been an insane one. I was sick Monday. Went to work anyway. Stayed home sick Tuesday, then went to work Wednesday not because I felt better but because I had too much to do with my students not to be there. Then that night we had our dance performance. Yes. I like to move it move it. And we rocked it rocked it. Then finally yesterday was school, a 1.5hr break for me to visit my parents to wish them a happy 42 years of marriage (42 years!) followed by student led conferences and finally dance class. This squirrelly week has left little time for blogging I’m afraid.

I feel really horrible for not giving you guys very many original posts this week, but I enjoyed sharing my favourite PDX shops and LOVED hearing your wedding ring stories. Since I can’t leave you with a DIY for the weekend (and I had one planned and ready!) , I will leave you with lovely links to fill your lovely weekend with:

• I’m in love with Joy’s first video. So so adorable.
• I’m still drooling over these
• I cannot get over the fabric on this box bag. Way cute.
• They’re here
• I need to have a donut party just to make this garland
• This is the next ice cream I’m making with our Moroccan purchased saffron
• I love these tips on being an organized blogger
• There’s still a bit of time to start some sweet peas!
• I’m a sewing amateur, but I need to make this skirt

And a little FYI in case you’re curious, the above photo was taken at our year end performance last June. It’s hip hop, I always look angry. I’m working on that.
You will hear about/see my dance life in a post some day. Just wait.

I don’t have weekend plans and you know what? I’m in love with that.
What are your plans for the weekend?

Category: Blog, Craft, Eat, Life / 9 comments

      

• Hey I'm Tan, and it's no secret I love anything pretty and fun (especially polka dots). Squirrelly Minds is where I create and curate lovely items to prettify your home, wardrobe, dinner plate, crafting table, and your next celebration.
  Read more

  Squirrelly adj.
  1.) Unable to concentrate, focus, or otherwise stay on task
  2.) Hyper or energized

  Minds n.
  1.) The human consciousness that originates in the brain and is manifested especially in thought, perception, emotion, will, memory, and imagination.

• Giveaway



• Celebrating Now



• Sponsors




• Readers Favourites

• Categories

  • Categories
    • Blog
    • Craft
    • Eat
    • Entertain
    • Holiday
    • Home
    • Instagram/Pinterest
    • Life
    • Print
    • Shop
    • Style
    • Various
    • Weddings

• Subscribe via e-mail

  Enter your e-mail address:

  Delivered by FeedBurner

• Credits

  Unless otherwise noted, all recipes and DIY's are mine, and all photos taken by myself or Ryan Rutley. Please e-mail for permission to use images for your non-commerical website and give proper credit linking back to Squirrelly Minds.
  Squirrelly Minds receives revenue through ads, sponsored posts, and may receive compensation from links posted from affiliate companies.
  © Tan Rutley

• Archives

  Select Month May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011