When a stranger reads your blog (from Seth Godin's blog)

I had a surreal experience the other day. I was sitting in a coffee shop and watched someone (at the recommendation of a friend who didn't realize I was within earshot) open up my blog and start reading it. Right there, out of the corner of my eye, someone was experiencing me (well, digital me) for the first time.

Here it was, my first impression writ large. No fair running over and saying, "no, skip those two, those two aren't so good, go back a month or two and read the generous, thoughtful ones I wrote..."

It's like DNA. One cell carries the coding for all of them.

That meal you served at lunch yesterday might be the first impression, or that comment you left on someone's page or that customer service interaction with the new guy at your big client's office...

There's a riot of information racing by, and to survive, we snatch little bits and then magnify them into what we embrace as the full picture. Nuance? No time for nuance.

Every interaction might be the whole thing.

-Seth Godin

berlin: runde drei (?)

Piggybacking on my post yesterday about fashion, funk and freshness in Prague at Code Mode last weekend, I thought I'd write a little about Berlin, my fav city.

Ventured to Berlin with one of my dear friends and colleagues, Chicks, a few weeks back and still haven't had a chance to report back to you all. If you've never been to Berlin, I highly, highly HIGHLY recommend it. In fact, it is very likely that Berlin is one of my most commonly recommended cities-to-gander-at (second to Cesky Krumlov, of course). When I was in Munich back in September for Oktoberfest, I remember one Bavarian we met saying something to me like, "We don't consider Berlin to be the capital of Germany...it's not authentic like Bavaria. Berlin is a melting pot of cultures." Melting pot indeed. And this gal likes to stir the pot (hopefully there are some yummy noodles from a berlin noodle bar in that pot:))!

Berlin has been a sort of escape for me, an escape to subtle reminders of Minneapolis: bright colours, people, personalities, foods, shops, markets, flavours and more. Welcome to a place where originality is pivotal to the vibe of the city. Not only is it accepted...it's the norm (hmm, how could originality be considered the 'norm'?!).

A special place where hipsters run wild, frolicking (okay, you got me there...hipsters don't really 'frolick' so much, do they?!) from shop to shop looking for their next pair of skinny jeans, plaid shirts and hipster shades (ahem, hee). Local designers' creations spill out of storefront windows. A place where you worry more about dodging cyclists than cars. And of course, a place where you can go to bars called 'white trash' and DJs dress up in drag.

Ahh, yes...sweet, sweet Berlin in all of its odd glory and bold eccentricity. I love it.

And, I HIGHLY recommend it.

In Berlin this gal trusts,

Me

artsy musings and not-so-melodical meanderings

This past weekend I hit up Code Mode Free Fashion Weekend at Karlin Hall. Located in a massive, unfinished warehouse - the event was the perfect mix of vintage and urban/mod a fashion-lovin' gal could ask for. Complete with a funk-fresh-fashion show, DJ, essence-of-cool-tattoo artist and more, Code Mode was a boutique-vintage-shopping-diva's dream (yours truly included).

For more than just a moment, I felt as if I were in Berlin. Totally unreal atmosphere. Prague needs more of this. My dream for Prague is that it would have more of this...not just twice a year during Design Supermarket and Code Mode, but cool flea markets galore and much more influence from the young and fresh designers. I am quite confident this will happen.

It also reminded me of one thing I'm really going to miss...interacting with expat and Czech artists here in Prague (particularly the young Czech artists). With the introduction of a more structured gallery at Czech Inn, I've been blessed with the opportunity to interact with the local artist community - both Czechs and expats alike. What an exuberant and creative group of individuals I've been able to interact with in my time here!

As I reflect on the last 15 months of my life, I think about the beautiful artists I've met...not just the painters, illustrators, musicians, photographers, comedians...but really, the numerous individuals I've met who are really living their own unique artistic abilities out every day (including conversationalists, mothers, yoga instructors, language teachers, dancers, friends, missionaries, etc). Seth Godin focuses heavily on this theme of artistry/gifts in his latest book, Linchpin, which I strongly recommend to everyone I know (seriously). I will dedicate a more detailed post to Seth Godin in the near future, as he and his new book certainly deserve it. But, for now - what I am trying to get at is that everyone has a gift and I've had the chance to come into contact with so many gifted individuals in my experience here who have made a huge impact on me and my life in ways previously unimaginable. I tell myself every day that I am truly blessed. Beyond belief.

From my perspective (very likely skewed), the uniquely different and beautiful thing about the artist (what we traditionally know as 'artist' - aka painter, photographer, designer, musician, etc) crew here in Prague is the sheer number of 'em. There is an artist influx in Prague! I swear, at times I feel like the only one who can't create something gorgeous with my hands or voice. Everyone is an artist (of course in reality, everyone IS an artist, as Seth Godin has taught me...but for the sake of this blog post, you know what I mean). And, because of this, the artist community has a sense of excitement and humility I had not previously encountered in artist communities. The musicians I've worked with are excited to fill a room with their sweet sounds. The painters and illustrators and candlestick-makers (just sounded right here, k? ;)) and photographers are thankful and overjoyed for space to showcase their creations. And they all seem to have an edge of authentic ingenuity (Did I just make that up? Ah well, I'm going to go with it, because I think it sounds cool.) and enthusiasm behind their gifts I hadn't encountered in the States. It is a truly special place for this reason.

And that, my friends, is one of the many, many reasons I have been blessed in this experience in Prague. Oh how I will miss it. Let me count thy reasons.

Wishing you all of the authentic ingenuity possible...today and beyond,

Megan

we know your type.

vintage one day. mod the next. you've redecorated your living room almost as many times as you have pairs of shoes. you're style is hip, yet classic, funky yet timeless...and that's just on tuesday. you crave variety. you loathe monotony. you are a piece of work-in-progress.

yeah, we know your type.

(totally random, i know...but couldn't resist. saw this on stationary in patina and instantly identified. also, if i may add, love at first sight.)

love,

me

walking barefoot was rad!

yesterday we celebrated 'one day without shoes' at Czech Inn and had a blast. It was such a great event and felt so good to spread the word about TOMS and their vision.

More pictures can be found on the @Czech Inn Hostel facebook fan page (click on facebook badge in the right nav. on this blog), taken by the beautiful and talented Cat Norman! Kudos to my amazingly crafty friend and colleague, Chicks, for organizing the event!

our bare feet

I know I've been horrible at keeping up with blog posts lately, and owe you some from Switzerland, Berlin and Maiken's visit. I will try to get to an update this weekend. Until then, random thoughts will have to suffice.

Smiles and thanks for walking barefoot yesterday!

Me

HELP US WIN!

NEWS ALERT from Prague...we're short on votes and we need your help!!

The situation...460 votes, need around 900+ total in two days. WHOA.

The voting period ends Wednesday. If you haven't yet, now's the time to help Tom and I out with a vote, as we try to make it into the top 50 finalists. VOTE NOW!

If you all vote, we have a chance. I know what you're thinking...'I am not going to vote, because loads of other people will.' WRONG. You should all approach it with a mindset that no one else will vote, and vote with as many email addresses as you can. :) TIP: You CAN indeed use multiple email addresses, but you have to vote from computers (/IP addresses/browsers).

'What's in it for me?!' How about a free weekend stay in Prague?

I know this whole time you've most likely been thinking, 'alright, yeah - so this is cool and everything, but what's in it for me?!' Well, now I have your answer.

We've decided to sweeten the deal a little bit, giving you the chance to win a free weekend stay in a private ensuite room at our three existing properties, if you vote.

Here's how it works...

_Simply visit each of their fan pages: Sir Toby's Hostel, Miss Sophie's, Prague and Czech Inn Hostel

_Look for the promotional post, click on the url to vote (or vote by clicking url at top of this email)

_Reply to post with 'i voted'

_Tell all of your friends about it by forwarding this email, or posting it on your facebook page.

For more info about each property: www.sirtobys.com / www.miss-sophies.com / www.czech-inn.com

Thanks for your time, guys! And, thank you for your support!

Love from Prague,

Megan (and Tom too!)

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