Where I've lived

My friend and fellow blogger Mary mentioned that she's lived a lot of places since university. It got me thinking about all the places that I've lived in my life. I've been thinking a lot recently about the concept of home and what home means.

Here's a list of all the places that I've lived.

• Birth - 18 years old

1. House of St Paul Avenue ( Highland Park, St Paul) - house I came home to after I was born.
2. House near Cretin ( Highland Park, St Paul) - house we lived in when I was a toddler.
3. House on Norfolk Ave ( Highland Park, St Paul) - house we lived in until I was in 2nd grade.
4. House on Ottawa Ave (West St. Paul) - house we lived in until I was in 4th grade.
5. Linda Trap's House (West St. Paul) - where I lived for two weeks when my mom got sick.
6. Dennis and Peggy's House (West St. Paul) - I stayed there at night when I lived on Ottawa after my mom got sick and went into the hospital.
7. Gorman Ave (West St. Paul) - where I lived from 4th grade to 7th grade
8. 43rd and Upton (Minneapolis) - apartment I lived in with my mom and her friend Carol for a few months.
9. Selby Ave (Cathedral Hill, St. Paul) apartment where I lived with my mom from 7th grade until 8th grade.
10. Scheffer Ave (Highland Park, St. Paul) Grandma's house where my dad lived after my parents separated. I lived there from 8th grade until the middle of 9th grade.
11. Angie Roder's family (Minneapolis) I lived with Angie's family in two different houses during 9th and 10th grade.
12. Arts High School (Golden Valley) I lived in the dorms during 11th grade.
13. Scheffer Ave (Highland Park, St Paul) I lived there for part of the summer after 11th grade.
14. Molly Roark's family (Blaine) I lived there during 12th grade.
15. Dennis and Peggy's House ( West St. Paul) I lived there for the summer after 12th grade.

After the age of 18

1. Randolph Ave (Highland Park, St Paul) - My first apartment when I was 18 years old. I lived alone for awhile and then Angie moved in with me.
2. Cleveland Ave (Highland Park, St Paul) I lived there with a roommate when I was 19.
3. Norfolk, VA - Apartment withTroy.
4. Suffolk, VA. - Apartment with Amy.
5. Suffolk, VA. - Moved in with Chris and his family
6. Suffolk, VA - Apt with Chris.
7. Randolf Ave (Highland Park, St Paul) - Moved there with Chris.
8. Stevens Ave (Minneapolis) - Apartment with Paul.
9. Purity Bakery Building (Minneapolis) - Apartment with Karey Degnan.
10. Aldrich Ave (Minneapolis) - Apartment with Raya.
11. Aldrich Ave (Minneapolis) - Apartment with Gina.
12. 2nd Ave (Minneapolis) - My own apartment.
13. Pleasant Ave (Minneapolis) - Apartment with Dave.

London 2007

1. Bethnal Green (Student accommodation London) shared.
2. (Chiswick, London) Matthew and Wayland.
3. (Shepherds Bush, London) Matthew and Wayland, Ian and Alice.
4. (Brixton, London) - Just Matthew

Vintage haircut

think it might be time for another retro vintage haircut.....

London Bloggers Meetup

I went to my fist London Bloggers Meetup event last Thursday. I had heard about these meet ups, so I was happy to finally attend one. I couldn't believe my luck when I read that the key speaker for the event was none other than Leo Babauta.

I  just couldn't believe it, I love this guy's book!

I keep a copy of Leo's book The Power of Less in my bathroom! I first came into contact with Leo's book when I joined the Personal MBA community two years ago. I've been making my way through the 99 best business books list and Leo's book is in the productivity and effectiveness section. 

In a nutshell it's about "simplicity as the art of focusing only on what’s essential to your goals and your personal satisfaction, and ignoring the rest." Have a look at this summary of the Power of Less from the personal MBA website.

It's one on those books that just makes sense and isn't too self helpy. I usually flip through it once a week, when I am having a soak :)

So to find out that Leo was going to be there was really cool. I brought my book along for him to sign, I know I am a bit of a nerd. 

Leo's talk was about how he started his blog and insights that he felt were worth sharing. To be honest I hadn't read Leo's Zen Habits blog, just his book. So it was interesting to hear his story and to know follow his blog.

What I took away from it was:

• Write from your life and write with passion. 
• Think about how you can help solve people's problems.
• How can your experience help others. 
• What stories do you have that people can relate to. 
• If Leo could do it in Guam with six kids...so can you.

The second speaker was Arvind Devalia and he was billed as someone who is living by Leo's teaching. He was very kind and gave me an autographed copy of his book Get the Life you Love and Live it. I am going to be taking a look at it this weekend.

At the end of the day it's not rocket science. You also have to feel passion for what you're writing about. Don't blog about something because you feel you have to. No one wants to read about something that's hollow or forced, or just published for the sake of making someone a social media star.

I found the meet up to be inspiring. All I was expecting was a networking event, but I came away with ideas for my own blog. I am looking forward to putting what I learned into practice. I also met some great new people, while seeing some lovely familiar faces. Thanks to the organiser and the sponsors. I am enjoying my Total Greek yoghurt!

Post on the London Bloggers site from the Leo Babauta event, there are some great videos there.

London Blogger Meet Up
London Bloggers 
Zen Habits
#LBM

The Crafty Fox Pop Up Market

Crafty Fox Market

I love this super cute, super fun pop up craft market. I stopped by today to check it out and wished I wasn't feeling so rubbish (bad cold) otherwise I would have spent the entire afternoon there. Not only are there loads of amazing things to buy, but they have a really nice set up where you can sip tea or cocktails and have cupcakes! 

I bought a present for my friend Mary from Charlie & the Fox ( great blog) some little badges and prints. The badges and prints are from Seventy Tree and I love her design and illustrations.

Charlie & the Fox

Seventy Tree

Seventy Tree