Often, it’s the little things, the ordinary, the unexpected encounters that spark our imaginations. A surprise find can lift us and elevate whatever comes next (especially this year with its many unexpected challenges). That’s certainly true for our insight180 team. We’re delighted to share just a few of our Fun Finds with you here. Enjoy exploring what caught our attention. We’re hoping some of our discoveries will inspire you, too.
Color of the Year 2021. (Bethany)
The Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2021 is Agean Teal! I love color and like to follow these trends just to see what is making others happy because it is the little things that can help you find joy and reset your mind. I think this is a great pick. Maybe I am a little bias because I love teal but I think accents of this amazing color would look great in your home decor, your wardrobe, or even in your new design materials. This blue-green feels inviting and soothing. It is uplifting, something that we all may need a little bit of lately. So if you need a little pick me up, try adding a throw pillow or even a coffee cup in this hue to your environment. It may make you smile every time you see it.
Starbucks Holiday Cups. (Nastasia)
Starbucks is known for many things, including its holiday coffee cups. Just recently, on Friday, November 6th, they released this year’s set of holiday cups. They launched four new designs: “Ribbon, Dot, Sparkle, and Brand Wrap.” According to Today, “The Ribbon design has ribbons of green and a jolly red wrapped like a cozy holiday sweater, with the classic mermaid crown, tail and scales subtlety woven in. This design is also seen on the collectible red cup this year. The Dot design has stripes swirl around a field of green with fun polka dots, instructing the cupholder to ‘carry the merry.’ There’s also the Sparkle design, a red cup with cutout shapes in green like that include fun holiday ornaments, and Brand Wrap, which features a ribbon design with the Starbucks logo woven in.” Which one is your favorite design? We hope they bring you a little holiday cheer!
Commuting from Home Mug. (Elizabeth)
One of the things I’ve always loved about traveling to new cities is public transportation. Back in the pre-COVID days (when travel was easy and fun), I’d gleefully arrive, snag a transit map, and run to the closest station to get started. My first trip to San Francisco started with a three-hour jaunt via trolleys, darting back to the hotel in time to meet my arriving colleague. Atlanta’s MARTA took me to a fabulous martini bar. In Barcelona, I stumbled through “Spanglish” with a bemused concierge who directed me to a corner of the city that was safe(r) for women on their own. I proudly discovered bookshops, clothing boutiques, and the sweet restaurant he recommended. (Where a kind waiter slipped me an English menu when he saw my struggle to decipher the one in Catalan).
As much as I enjoy such adventures, I almost love the maps more! Those colorful little lines intersect, twist, and turn …. They instantly convey a sense of order to any city, inviting exploration. Every line, every dot, opens up a sense of possibility that makes my heart go pitter-patter. Is it any wonder, then, that my “fun find” features a transit map? This timely Commuting from Home Mug maps out the latest destination we’re all exploring: our own homes! Take the green line from the Bedroom to the Shower. Switch to the yellow line to get to the Home Office. (Avoid the Couch or Cluttered Draw stops, though, if you still have work to do!) It’s a colorful, fanciful promise of adventures still to come. Bon voyage!
Creative Recycling. (Nikole)
I’ve always loved the idea of using things until they can’t be used anymore (read: I use my tea bags twice) so it’s not surprising that I think recycling is not only an efficient use of resources, but it helps lower carbon emissions! (those are yucky)
This past spring was the first time I have had a large-scale garden. I can’t take all the credit as the basic framework was already there. What I can take credit for, is clearing out the 6-foot-tall weeds that had been growing there for nearly a year and planning and planting a garden full of yummy fruits and vegetables. And yes, I had help. My two semi-willing boys and my willing boyfriend pitched in to mark the beginning of what would become a bountiful garden that we enjoyed through late August.
Gardening is in and of itself an exercise in recycling …you plant the seeds, give them nourishment, they grow, create fruits and veggies which create seeds, which you can plant and so on and so on. Some of the recycled items I used to help my garden along were, DIY no-sew bags made from old t-shirts to carry my bounty, old pantyhose (those are yucky too) to tie up my tomato plants, and after the growing season was over, I used all those amazon boxes that I had collected since the pandemic to cover the beds so that weeds won’t grow in them AND I can plant right through them next spring! Here is a link to an old article but one with some decorative garden tips, because recycling will never go out of style. You can start now planning for your spring garden!!
Design Delights in the Age of Physical Distancing. (Wendy)
In this age of physical distancing and a bit of social isolation, so many people have been enjoying the great outdoors. One of the beautiful things about this time, perhaps, is that people have been noticing the beauty of what’s been here all along. On some of my long walks with the dogs, I’ve been delighted by some of the special treats on my path. One artist made a big heart out of leaves on a cleared area of our path. And every once in awhile I’ll see a bright pop of color (not in nature) painted on a rock. Lovely and encouraging messages that put a smile on one’s face. I found out that this might be part of the #TheKindnessRocksProject (or HoCo Rocks on Facebook), which encourages people in the community to leave rocks painted with inspiring messages along the path of life. Some like to take them and “re-hide” or relocate.
While we can’t wait for the day that we can meet again safely, in person, and maskless, we love some of the creativity we’ve seen with masks. From designer fabrics to kind or compelling messages, to “branded” masks, to masks that look like our pups, there is something for everyone. This past Halloween brought creative costumes to a new level and kudos to those who inventively make a face mask an integral part of their costume. I laughed out loud when I saw this iconic Surrealism masterpiece brought to life.
One of the things, I have especially loved, though, is how some of the companies (or individuals) that are making the masks are also giving back. Buy one mask, and another gets donated to essential workers. Buy another, and $1 gets donated to No Child Hungry or Feed America. The causes are broad and the lists are inspirational. It’s a win-win.
Check back in a couple of months to see more “Fun Finds!”
