Integrity

This shall surely be a ramble of thoughts that have crossed my mind lately, so bear with my license as a blogger to sometimes write less than coherently.

Integrity. This is what is on my mind of late. What does it look like? Do I have it? Does it really exist much anymore? It seems like a big word that can be evident in so many small ways. Although I won't get into the details of why this word is weighing on my mind, let's just say that there seems to be a lack thereof these days.

What does it look like? It is a combination of honesty, selflessness, respect for others and a willingness to  separate yourself from something even if it isn't the most popular thing to do. Well, that is my definition and may be a bit off from Mr. Webster himself. 

Do I possess it? That is the question. Not as much as I would hope. I would love to be an Austen character like Elizabeth who always finds herself doing the right thing even when hard. Wrestling with her own desires in the pursuit of doing what is noble above all else. In a society that is so "me" centered and obsessed with loving oneself, that truly and sometimes thought old fashioned virtue called integrity gets kind of lost in all the narc ism. 

Jane, your wisdom was for the ages and thank goodness for that. No one tells it like an Elizabeth Bennett - full of poignancy and fire that cuts you to the quick.

So, for all those who feel like their tank of integrity is running a little low, pick up some moral morsels from our friend Jane and remember that although sometimes forgotten, integrity never goes out of style...

Sweet Mother of Mine

Oh, for all the fanfare and shameless Hallmark exploitation of Mother's Day, there is nothing wrong with celebrating the one person who makes the world go round who is no other than your mother. 

Someone I know recently commented that he had not called his mother in years on this day as he thought it was so silly and predictable. What I say to that is, "shame on you." If we all appreciated each other everyday as we should, then there truly would be no need for Hallmark to remind us to remember these special ladies. However, the expectation to remember on a special day is a good reason to make much of those we love. Mothers do so much which goes unnoticed. The nights worrying about that conversation with you where you were upset and unhappy, the prayers that went out on your behalf when you had that important interview, the thoughtful check ups just to see how you are. Then there are the home cooked meals, the stories about how cute you were as a baby and the words of encouragement and unconditional love. Who thinks you are beautiful like none other? Of course mom does. Even if you know she may be a little biased, you can't help but smile a little broader and hold your chin a little higher because there is that one person always in your corner.

So, here is to you moms - our number one fans who have kept us in one piece all these years and nursed our hearts and stomaches with all the love in the world.

We love you~

Welcome to A Little Piece of Heaven Called Bryn Mawr

Yesterday was the annual Bryn Mawr Minneapolis Neighborhood Garage Sale. This kind of event is something I anticipate all year long and is always a highlight of the year.

Bryn Mawr is neatly tucked away off Penn Ave and highway 394 - minutes from downtown. A neighborhood that is one of many of Minneapolis's hidden jewels & you kinda have to be a local to know about it. The beauty of this area is that is has preserved its original architectural charm and relatively the geographical landscape as it was when this was a new and booming community. If you are an independent retailer, you will survive here. The locals love to support another of their  assets, unique shops and eateries along the main strip that are not part of a national chain. We started our marathon of garage -saling by starting the day with delicious local java brew at Cuppa Java which is a featured photo in this blog.

If you are not a tag sale - O'phite, then come for a beautiful walk through a hilly, nature filled piece of utopia in the middle of the city. One observation is that this is an eco-centric neighborhood. It is the exception rather than the rule to find a home without a rain garden and their landscape full of plants that contribute to a greener earth. Many of the homes are of the Arts and Crafts Bungalow persuasion, but there are gorgeous rest orated Victorians mixed in as well. Bryn Mawr dwellers have preserved architecture and community to make you feel like you belong to something that matters. Spend a day at the annual garage sale and you will walk away knowing a little bit more about the people that live here and how proud they are to be there. After purchasing several vintage items at a home that I had garage saled the previous year, I told the woman running it I came back as I had been so happy with my purchases the previous year. She was so happy to hear it and she gave me some fun history of the items I was purchasing besides.

At the end of a morning filled with fun, you must stop at the Bryn Mawr community church where freshly grilled brats and dogs await. Stand in line for  cute little cub scouts to serve you as your money goes towards a great cause.