Speaking at Alt SLC

alt slc summer // a thousand threads
About two weeks ago, while devouring a concrete and some new, less-crinkly, fries at Shake Shack after a somewhat disappointing (but totally saved by Shake Shack and also the guy with the comb-over and the awesome pick-up lines) night out, I glanced at my phone, squealed a little, emailed my mom, and then promptly lost my purse… but just for a minute.

Let me back up…

On my phone, in my email, was an invitation to speak at the Altitude Summit this summer in Salt Lake City, and I won’t even pretend I played it cool, as evidenced by the squeal and the email to mom. I also won’t pretend that I talked or thought about anything else the rest of the night… including my sad, lonely little purse that I left on the floor of Shake Shack, just asking to be acquired by someone new while we walked the seven blocks back to our car, traveling exactly six and three quarters before Mark looked at my hands and face-palmed the hell out of us both.

Of course, night in shining armor (and respectable man shoes without all of the heel) that he is, he ran back as fast as he could and, this being the Dupont Circle Shake Shack at 10 o’clock on a Thursday night, found my purse exactly where I’d left it, undisturbed.

Minor panic and entirely pointless almost-lost-my-purse stories aside, what I mean to say is… I was really, really excited. And I still am. The recognition is huge, and such an honor, and such a welcome surprise after a few weeks of feeling sort of discouraged (also a good reminder that those welcome surprises almost always come when you least expect them.)

I’ll share all of the details as I know more, but if any of you are planning to attend this summer (there’s still time to register!) I hope you’ll grab me and say hi! I can’t wait to catch up with everyone in person this June!

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52 dates // 18

52 dates // a thousand threads
The date // The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival
Why // Sheep, wool — clearly, it’s pretty awesome.

Really though, we try to go to the sheep and wool festival every year because it is pretty great, even if it does make me feel like I need to take up knitting… and maybe get a loom.

This weekend was just as restorative as I’d hoped. We spent Saturday browsing and picking out a few new plants at the festival, then curled up under the covers and started (a bit late but hey…) our first season of Breaking Bad.

Sunday we pulled out the grill and gathered with good friends and good food to spend a beautiful warm evening outside. It was just what I needed to reset after so many busy weeks, and left me even more excited for what’s to come.

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May flowers

// a thousand threads
Spring has sprung and good things are cropping up everywhere.

I’ve officially booked each and every place where we’ll be staying on our trip to Ireland, tackled some serious 2-minute tasks I’ve been putting off for a while, and I dare say you guys (close your ears if you can’t stand a good cliche) that it really is darkest before the dawn. Maybe it’s just the weather, but things are looking up… and I’m looking forward to a nice long weekend and a very short list of to-dos.

Happy Friday! Any big plans on your end?

/////

Eye this lovely lunch and every single recipe included in it.

Buy eeeeeverything from Kinfolk’s new venture, Ouur.

Make a big, beautiful eucalyptus chandelier.

Bake lots of things with rhubarb, especially this rhubarb-raspberry tart.

/////

How I haven’t come across this until now I don’t know, but Theo and Beau you guys? I’m going to explode from the cuteness.

A really great post on sponsorships that has me rethinking my use of hashtags ever. Hmm.

Also, Elsie & Emma’s new e-course looks pretty fantastic. (Did I ever tell you I took one of Elsie’s old e-courses way back when I started this blog? That one’s long gone now, but if it’s any indication I’m sure this one is amazing.)

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Throwback

oregon on holga // a thousand threadsoregon on holga // a thousand threads
To that time we took a ton of Holga shots in Oregon and didn’t develop them for a year.

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The two minute rule

the two minute rule to get shit done // a thousand threads
It’s no secret around here that I’m a list maker… an organizer with a penchant for itineraries and planners and 40 different apps to schedule my day. And I wouldn’t change a thing.

But this one little rule might be so brilliant as to shatter just the tiniest bit of a corner of my list-loving regime.

I’ve heard the tip before, but applied to email, and for some silly reason I never thought to apply it to everything else. Essentially, the rule is that if you think of something you need to do that would take two minutes or less, do it right then. Don’t wait, because all of that planning and organizing and putting it on your list will take longer than the task itself. Not only will you save time, but you’ll get the productivity ball rolling in the right direction.

What do you think? Is this something you already do? Or, if you’re a list-maker like me, would you consider making an exception for the two minute rule?

Photo by Sharon Radisch.

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Sweet potato tacos with black beans and mango

sweet potato tacos with black beans and mango // 1000threadsblog.com
On Sunday, we wandered up the street to our (very… just a few blocks away) local farmers market on its first day of the season. Things are just starting to thaw out around here, so it’s still relatively early for most fruits and vegetables… but we were able to make off with some of the prettiest (and tastiest) late season sweet potatoes I’ve ever seen.

I don’t usually think of sweet potatoes as a spring vegetable, but here in Maryland they’re still managing to turn a few up. And that’s good news for us, because they’re one of our favorite staples… and silly me I thought they were long gone. I was so excited to bring that bag of orange beauties home I went to work right away to dream up a tasty, slightly more spring-y, way to use them… and since Cinco de Mayo is almost upon us (and also since tacos are pretty much my most favorite food ever) I decided to roast the little guys up and pair them with some fresh ingredients and a good creme fraiche. The result, with the addition of a little avocado, jalapeño, and the sweetest mangoes ever (Mark, that genius man, brought those into the mix) is a sweet, savory combination that we’ll be keeping on heavy rotation anytime we can find both sweet potatoes and mangoes in supply.

So, May… but what better way to welcome in spring and transition to summer than with this perfect combination of winter and summer flavor?

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52 dates // 17

52 dates // a thousand threads
The date // A walk in the park.
Where // Baker Park in downtown Frederick, with coffee from Dublin Roasters.

This weekend was intense. Super busy, a little stressful… so rewarding, but nonetheless, by Sunday afternoon we were in need of a little break. It was a gorgeous day, so we picked up two iced coffees and went for a walk in Baker Park.

We wandered past the park’s pretty outdoor amphitheater (which I usually associate with the coldest of cold Christmas shows that I try my darndest to avoid every year — like the cold weather Scrooge that I am). Everything has turned back to green and, just like the grass that’s been hiding under a thick layer of snow for so long, my poor pale skin was so happy to see the sun, I think I could’ve sat in those bleachers all day.

Tell me, what were you up to this weekend?

To those in the mid-west and south, I hope you and your loved ones stayed safe through the storms.

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Brands that give back // Minted + Every Mother Counts

minted + every mother counts // a thousand threads
Mother’s Day is almost here, and in honor of both our own mothers and many more mothers out there in need, I’m excited to announce a special promotion.

Minted — I think you may have heard of them? But just in case. — already gives 2 percent of all of its art print sales to Every Mother Counts, an organization that makes sure pregnant women in struggling countries receive the healthcare they need. The partnership is an amazing and admirable one that they announced at Alt 2014.

For this Mother’s Day, though, Minted has agreed to give 20 percent of all art print sales between now and April 28th straight to the charity, just as long as you use the code 1000THREADSEMC.

It’s a special promotion that I’m proud to offer, and a great opportunity to give a little back to a good cause. Plus, I bet your mom would love an art print.

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Rhubarb pisco sour

rhubarb pisco sour // a thousand threads
We never did have a chance to try the guinea pig in Peru, but we did sample plenty of pisco, and we’ve been drinking it ever since.

Certain things stay with you long after you go. You might forget the name of this hotel or that restaurant, or what mile marker it was where you started your trek surrounded by locals just waiting to hop the train… but the flavors and the feelings, and most of all the people, stick around.

When I think of Peru, my mind wanders to a tent above the clouds; a hotel pool in Urumbaba; sweet, delicious meals and finally, always, the porters who guided us, cooked for us, and carried more than their fair share of weight for far less than their fair share of pay.

Though the Inca Trail isn’t treacherous, it is a difficult climb and a beautiful thriving environment that Peru’s government would – rightly – not like to see ruined. So in order to make the trip, each visitor must hire a guide, and a guide comes with porters.

Going into the experience, we thought nothing of it. We’re used to carrying our own bags and have trekked for days at a time with 30-40 lbs on our backs on many occasions. Heck we have a trip planned for the first weekend in May. That said, the idea of ditching our bags, sitting back, eating real food and enjoying the hike seemed like the perfect honeymoon trip. We could still get in our adventure, but in an ever slightly more luxurious way.

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Small business diaries // Bree of Capitol Romance

an interview with bree of capitol romance // a thousand threads
For some time now, I’ve wanted to start talking to all of you about the process of starting a small business, partly because this little blog has become a small business of its own, but also because soon I’ll have another slightly bigger business to talk to you all about.

In this new series, titled “Small business diaries,” I’ll interview some of my favorite small businesses, share tips, and throw some of my very own diary entries into the mix… because a lot of the process is fun and games, but a whole lot is also not (Mark and I are trudging through some seriously un-fun stuff right now). And whether you have your own small business dreams, or you just enjoy hearing about the day to day, I want to give you the real stuff… the whole story.

The story that sometimes means working 3-4 jobs like this lovely lady here… who runs one of the coolest businesses (the coolest business?) in DC. But also the story that brings a sense of community and satisfaction like no other around… and the story we wouldn’t give up for the world.

I can’t wait for you to get to know Bree and her story below — and when you’re done, be sure to check out her amazing new workshops. I so needed one of these when I was planning my wedding — frankly I’m jealous of you brides out there who get to go.

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