Skip to content
  • HOME
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
  • HOME
  • custom-logo
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
Saying Goodbye to Crystal the Writer

Saying Goodbye to Crystal the Writer

In 2022 I read over 100 books. This might not seem like an accomplishment to some, but for me it was huge. In recent years it has been a struggle to reach my yearly goal...

continue
The Day the Sorcerers Visited Baby Jesus
January 6, 2023

The Day the Sorcerers Visited Baby Jesus

Today is Epiphany, which is the day we celebrate the Sorcerers visiting Baby Jesus. Maybe you haven’t heard it stated quite like that before. We prefer to talk about the Wise Men visiting the Baby...

continue
Thoughts on Hope
December 31, 2022

Thoughts on Hope

Last week I posted a music playlist and looked at some of the most recent posts on this blog and saw a link to my Word of the Year for 2022 post. … My what?...

continue
Christmas Playlist // 2022
December 21, 2022

Christmas Playlist // 2022

Hello, friends! Christmas is just days away and I’m finally sharing a Christmas playlist with you. It used to be a tradition: in November I’d start building a new playlist each year and I’d share...

continue
Life Under Construction
April 5, 2022

Life Under Construction

A few years ago, a huge construction project started on one of the major freeways that wrap around the city of Minneapolis. It’s a freeway that I take to get to one of the churches...

continue
Explore the Wonder of Wonderspaces
Adventures ► March 11, 2022

Explore the Wonder of Wonderspaces

Let’s go back to 2020. February of 2020, to be exact. I spoke at a conference in Phoenix, Arizona and knew it would be tight to get back to my hotel to grab my bags...

continue
Coffee Date // March 2022
Uncategorized ► March 7, 2022

Coffee Date // March 2022

We walk into the coffee shop with masks on. This coffee shop used to be pulsating with voices and music, packed with tables, just enough space left open for a line at the register and...

continue
52 Meals: A Year of New Recipes Weekly / January
Life ► February 9, 2022

52 Meals: A Year of New Recipes Weekly / January

A few months into the pandemic, when we realized we weren’t going to see each other in person soon, my writing buddy and I hopped on FaceTime to chat. “Have you tried any new recipes?”...

continue
Word of the Year // 2022
Life ► February 7, 2022

Word of the Year // 2022

The first few years I designated a word of the year, they were ones I intentionally thought of. After a few years that just felt… ungenuine. I didn’t like the idea that I was choosing...

continue
To My Niece on Her 18th Birthday
Uncategorized ► December 14, 2021

To My Niece on Her 18th Birthday

Hi Teenager, (Because even though you’re now officially an adult, you still have teen at the end of your age for the next two years.) 18 years ago today… Just kidding. We went down that...

continue
Immersive Van Gogh & Exhibit [& lots of work] | Vlogs are Back!
September 21, 2021

Immersive Van Gogh & Exhibit [& lots of work] | Vlogs are Back!

Hello! Happy Monday, almost Tuesday. It’ll probably be Tuesday by the time I click Publish on this post, but right now we are still ten minutes from midnight. I’m here to make a quick announcement:...

continue

Posts navigation

Older posts

hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. 💙
Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. “The water looks cold,” I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. 😂)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle tour with a stop at Thingvellir National Park. My fingers froze as I took these photos but it was worth it to capture this view. 😍 PS - the last photo is from a lake we stopped at on our way from Geysir to Thingvellir.
See More Follow on Instagram

RECENT POSTS

  • Saying Goodbye to Crystal the Writer
  • The Day the Sorcerers Visited Baby Jesus
  • Thoughts on Hope
  • Christmas Playlist // 2022
  • Life Under Construction

CATEGORIES

  • Adventures (52)
  • Beauty (16)
  • Books (147)
  • Creativity (57)
  • Entertainment (18)
  • Life (224)
  • Uncategorized (539)
  • Wellness (8)

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Follow
  • Book Review Policy
  • BOOKS
  • Contact
  • DISCLOSURES
  • Insta Links
  • Seint Links
  • THE DREAMER
Copyright © 2023 | All Rights Reserved | © 2023. All text and photos belong to Crystal Brutlag, unless otherwise stated. Theme designed by Little Theme Shop: https://littlethemeshop.com

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Dreams, etc. // Minneapolis Lifestyle Blog
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.