Nap Time in the fancy chair

Today I went to a movie in a fancy mall downtown, and this gentleman was sleeping right outside of the fanciest of fancy department stores. It’s just a great juxtaposition of life happening here in the big city.

Self Portrait on Day One

On November 15, I signed up to go to a conference in Salt Lake City called the Altitude Design Summit (Alt). Several of the bloggers I have been following for years were speaking, and since I like reading their work online, I figured I might enjoy hearing what they have to say in person too.

After the holidays, chatter about Alt picked up everywhere. Some bloggers were hunting for tickets and hotel rooms while others were creating ‘what to wear’ boards for every hour of the conference. I watched it all from the sidelines and gave in a little because I did stress about what I would wear for the dinner-en-blanc party. But generally, seeing everyone so worked up about what clothes and accessories were going into their suitcases concerned me. I was interested in this conference because of the content and the people, and not their outfits. I’ll be honest, I am intimidated by overly fashionable people.

Fast forward to last Wednesday when I passed through the doors of baggage claim at the Salt Lake City airport and walked to the passenger pick-up area. To my right and to my left, there were ladies in high heels looking lost. We were all searching for the airport “shuttles” which consisted of a few sedans with magnetic logos on the side, and we were all slightly guarded. We were all bloggers, and most of us were there for the first time. We didn’t quite know what our blogs were or where they were going, but we were here for the same reason…to figure that out. The few that had been there before seemed unapproachable in their confidence. We were freshman and cramped their sophomoric style.

The Grand America where the conference was held

Fifteen or twenty minutes later, I packed into a car with two other ladies and went to the main hotel to check in. I split off to rest a bit before leaving for the scheduled dinner with ten others. The evening was the perfect start to an intimidating weekend. The food was prepared by Stephanie and Romina and served in five courses. Over each course, I got to know Molly, Mindy, Taylor and Ruth (all freshmen) a little bit better. By the end, I had four names and faces that I could connect with throughout the week. The only question was would I actually recognize them given the drastic costume changes that would occur.

The following two days were a blur of high heels and red lipstick, with spots of clarity and inspiration thrown in here and there. During the first panel, one of the speakers did elude to the fact that we chose our friends by the clothes they wear, and I must say that that was not what I wanted to hear. I was there because this group of people was giving this new platform of personal expression their all, not because they all wear cute clothes.

After all of the sessions, I came to the conclusion that these bloggers have all been successful thru calculated chance. Blogging is so new that none of them expected to “go pro”, and the platform is also nimble enough that each of them made mistakes and recovered quickly. I also learned that “design bloggers” are not all “designers” in the traditional graphic, interior, industrial, fashion, or architectural sense. They simply have developed an appreciation for their own personal design whatever that may be. I am very interested in knowing what others think design blogging is. We all design our own lives to make ourselves happy, so are we all designers? Or is there a particular rigor or discipline that distinguishes a designer? I am not a design blogger, but I am a designer that blogs. Is there a difference?

Then there were three keynote talks that were all equally amazing. The first discussion between Pilar Guzman, Deborah Needleman, and Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan made me want to have coffee with each of them at least once a month. Then Ben Silberman’s discussion of what Pinterest is and will be gave me my biggest take aways of the entire weekend. First, you have to make things happen if you want them, and second, if you are in a position to expand your business, hire people that are smarter than you so that you can let go with confidence as necessary. Then the final keynote given by Gretchen Rubin was both encouraging and funny, and left everyone wanting to make changes in their daily lives to make them a little bit happier.

The remainder of the time really was a blur to me. All of the chit-chatting between sessions and at big parties was overwhelming. Since I came alone, I didn’t have anyone to serve as my social crutch, and pretty much felt like a loner. I eventually began seeing beyond the pretty faces and glitter, but by that point, I was way behind. Everyone else already had their friends, so I played the part of the wall flower, and I do not sit on the sidelines when I am confident. I must have still been intimidated. I did introduce myself to a hand full of people that I really admire, because I knew I would kick myself if I didn’t.

Then on the very last day at the very last moment….I asked a girl I had chatted briefly with if she wanted to have dinner that night. I know, I actually kind of made a friend!!! Who knew that would make things better? So my last hurrah of the whole experience was by far the best. My new friend, Meg, and I went out to dinner with her friend,  Allison, to a quiet dinner at the Copper Onion downtown. It was one of those evenings where the conversation never lulled, and we felt like old friends the entire time. It was constant and funny and inspiring and energizing and the food was delicious. I know that this is why the sophomores I met on the airport curb returned this year, but it took me, a freshman, some time.

My spot next to two friends

For more Alt recaps, go here.

I started a new photography and story telling project called 366 Objects! My plan is to photograph an object and tell its story every day of 2012 which is a leap year, hence 366. Most things I own were either given to me by people I care about, were found on fantastic adventures, were purchased to fulfill a very specific desire or need, or are simply beautiful (in my eyes at least). The stories will be the easy part, and the photography will be the hard part. 366 Objects is definitely inspired by some other great projects I have followed, including A Collection a Day by Lisa Congdon, multiple projects at 3191 Miles Apart by Stephanie & MAV, and Drawing A Day by Lauren Nassef. Click here or the 366 Objects logo above to go to the website.

Next week I will be going to the Altitude Design Summit in Salt Lake City!! It will be the first time I have ever spent multiple days with five hundred people I don’t know talking about something I am interested in. I will be surrounded by ladies & gentlemen I have admired via the internet for years, and I get to wear a vintage white sequins top from my mother-in-law’s shop to one of the big parties. I am definitely a little nervous because I am not really a design blogger….but I am a designer and a blogger, so I guess that counts. Right? I hope to do a post or two while I am there.

As I gear up for Alt, I am trying to streamline myself on the internet. I am active on several social networking sites, and you can now find me by looking for @jamiesinz on Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr.

Finally, since I do not carry my full camera around every day, I have started taking photos with my phone. Many of these have been posted to Instagram and if you have the app, you can find me @jamiesinz. Since we cannot access Instagram directly from a computer, I am also posting them to my Tumblr blog. To see the blog, go to jamiesinz.tumblr.com or click any of the images below.

I have several more ideas about how to push my personal and professional limits, and I cannot wait for them to evolve enough for me to share those too!!

In January…
Nik searched for geo-caches all over the city,
We visited the main branch of the San Francisco public library for the first time,
I started a monthly quilt project with my mom,
I went to a birthday party on the beach with a bon fire,

We spent the first of the year in Dallas, and*

We went to the Pie Ranch Barn Dance.*

In February…
Nik and I discovered a few new hikes,
We went to the Alameda Flea Market,
We went Arizmendi’s in the Sunset for the first time,

Nik ate raw oysters for the first time,

We took a long drive thru Sebastapol, Petaluma & Bodega Bay with friends, and*

Garlic & Avocado plants were growing on our back stoop.*

In March…
I took my first of seven licensing exams for architecture, and passed,
A photo of mine was purchased to be included in an economics book,
Nik & I both were offered full-time positions,

We bought a couch, and*

Three small tomato plants found a home in our living room.*

In April…
I found out that I am an ENFJ according to Meyers Briggs,
My brother moved from Denver to Atlanta
My mom & sister came to SF to help me finalize wedding stuff,

We were "rescued" while sea kayaking trip in Tamales Bay,

We witnessed a bunch of naked people riding bicycles, and*

We picnicked in Golden Gate Park, and*

In May…
Nik bought a new camera…and I inherited his old one,
I went to Death Valley & Monterey for work,
Nik got his first traffic ticket on the way to the Maker Faire, and

We made the trip to City Hall to obtain a license to marry,*

We used our new sleeping bags for the first time at Rob Hill with the Presidio Volunteers.

In June…

We spent an amazing day with 60 of our closest friends & family and have the rings to prove it, and **

Oaxaca was graced with our honeymooning presence for 10 days.

In July…
We rode the big dipper in Santa Cruz,
I hung white curtains, and let out a huge sigh of relief because the mismatched mini-blinds were driving me bonkers,
Nik spent most of the month in Europe for work,
I saw the final Harry Potter movie with 14 friends-of-a-friend,
I turned 30,
I took exam #2, and passed,

We saw Neko Case at Stern Grove, and*

We took the ferry to Angel Island & watched fireworks from the Presidio on July 4th.*

In August…
I went to the coolest back yard concert ever,
I had my first dentist appointment in 3 year and came out with no cavities,
Nik bought a unicycle and rode it twice,
I took exam #3, and passed, and

I met Nik in Prague for a long weekend.*

In September…
I went to a Giants game with coworkers,
I took exam #4, and passed,

We took a drive to Big Sur for Labor Day, and

We went to the Sing-a-long Little Mermaid at the Castro Theater, and it was one of the best things to do in San Francisco.*

In October…
We spent a weekend in LA with friends,
We had our first dinner at Cookhouse,
We got a flat on the Vespa,

Nik bought a bike, and*

Nik and I made a video for his Kickstarter project.*

In November…
My last day work was on the 4th,
I took exam #5, and passed,
I finally took the driving test to get a California Drivers License,
Our wedding albums arrived,

I gave my iron a run for its money,*

We had Friendsgiving at Maggie's,*

We had Thanksgiving in Tennessee.*

In December…
I took exam #6, and don’t know if I passed yet,

I enjoyed the home maker's life of cooking, cleaning & sewing while avoiding thoughts of what my next job will be,

I drove the Vespa for the first time,*

We had Christmas in Dallas,*

We took a drive on the last day of 2011 in search of Edgerley Island,
And then I wrote this blog post.

Now, 2011 is over, and it is time for the NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Photos by Nik

**Photo by Steepstreet

All of the necessary supplies laid out & ready to go

A unique tiding for each card

Our cards were super simple this year. Nik wrote a bunch of little tidings that would make you laugh, and I made them. The perfect collaboration.