Skip to content
  • HOME
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
  • HOME
  • custom-logo
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
Life

Little Moments // September – November 2018

December 14, 2018December 14, 2018 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 13 comments
Little Moments // September – November 2018

Hello, friends! Happy Friday. 

It’s been awhile since I’ve talked about something other than books, but that is going to change. I’m not going to stick to a schedule… yet. A schedule is in the works, but for now I want to ease back into blogging and incorporate it back into my life again.

This year has been a whirlwind. I worked a lot and there were times that I felt like I was hardly ever home. And while there were times Dreams, etc. was far from my mind, it’s actually been something I’ve thought quite a bit about throughout the year. Back in February I attended a conference in New York and the entire conference was helpful, but there was one session in particular that made me think about what I want Dreams, etc. After almost a year of having these thoughts circle around in my mind, I’m finally solidifying my vision and why for this space and I’m so excited to dive back into everything. In some ways I’d like to say I’m disappointed that it’s taken me this long to think everything through. In some ways I am, but… I’m also not. If I had moved forward with everything in spring my logo would have looked different than the one I’m working on now, because the design I’m going with now came into my life in July. If I had jumped into everything earlier this year I wouldn’t have had as much time to sit with these thoughts and really work through them. And I probably would have burned out pretty quickly.

But now… now is definitely the time to get back into it. So keep an eye out for a new logo and a new layout. I’ll also share more about my vision for this space soon.

Until then, let’s take a look back at the last few months and the little moments that filled them. What were some of your little moments this fall?

I have an assortment of shapes and sizes for this. Some of them aren’t event the best, but… it is what it is today, I guess. 

 

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

I have really gotten into plants this year. I’m not necessarily the best with them all the time, but I’ve kept quite a few alive. Two of the plants in this photo aren’t around anymore and one doesn’t look as great (I moved it to a different location and it started to drop leaves, so I moved it back), but the other two are doing well!

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

There was a family wedding, so we traveled to Wisconsin. This drawer kept opening, so obviously I assumed it was haunted. 👻

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

I spent the last night of the weekend at my brother’s so that I could soak in the peace and quiet. And drink coffee by the river in the morning. 💙

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

If you follow me on Instagram, you might remember that I was obsessed with this hibiscus this fall. It grew so so so tall and had the most gorgeous leaves. It was obviously healthy, but hadn’t bloomed for awhile. We cut it down a little bit, removed some of the branches, and it started to bloom. It was so beautiful and the blooms were a different color than last year. After all the blooms opened, we cut it back down and brought it in for the winter.

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

My bro-in-law and I attended a weekend conference in Minneapolis and Francis Chan spoke on the last night. It was fantastic!

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

And then I was off to Colorado. This was actually a work trip, but I went a day early and spent the afternoon touring Denver. I almost skipped it, but I ended up touring the Molly Brown House and I’m so glad I did! After the tour I walked to the capitol.

I had a great time touring Denver, but the highlight of the trip was definitely the work I did while I was there and meeting someone IRL who I had been working with for over a year.

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

The second highlight was visiting the aquarium after the capitol. I got to pet and feed stingrays and it was the best thing ever!

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

And then it was back home to this one. 💙

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

October started off with a Hocus Pocus bar crawl with a friend of mine, because… Hocus Pocus! It actually didn’t have quite as much Hocus Pocus activities as we thought it would, but we still had a good time.

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

V.E. Schwab came to Minneapolis on book tour, so I went to the signing with my critique partner and his book club. She is amazing and I loved everything she had to say.

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

A friend of mine has always wanted to go to the Museum of Historic Torture Devices in Wisconsin Dells, so we decided to sneak away for a few days and go. However, Google is not always accurate and the museum is closed on weekdays and we weren’t able to stick around for the weekend, so… she still hasn’t been there. But we decided this is probably a story we’ll tell when we’re older.

And we had horses to visit! We stayed at my friend’s in my hometown, so I finally got to meet the baby Emmie. And I got to see Taz again. Look how big he is! 😭

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

The next day we called ahead of time to make sure the hours listed online were correct and then drove out to the House on the Rock, also in Wisconsin. I still have no words to describe this place, but my critique partner did a great job when he described it as a “fever dream” and something that you look back on like a hallucination. Definitely a must-visit!

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

I needed some time by myself and felt like I was long overdue for another solo travel trip, so I spent the week in Maine and it was a dream come true. I’ve wanted to visit Maine for as long as I can remember and it was amazing.

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com
The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

And then it was time to leave, which was so sad. For awhile I wasn’t sure I would actually make it home after some flight delays. And apparently our plane almost blew up. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

But I made it home to my pup.

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

My critique partner hosted an Edgar Allen Poe vs. Alfred Hitchcock party a couple nights before Halloween and it was the best party ever.

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

Can you have too much Mina?

The little moments from fall. // dreams-etc.com

November was a great month, but apparently I didn’t take a lot of photos. It ended with a talk with four female entrepreneurs in Minneapolis. I loved hearing what each of them had to say and left feeling inspired.

Tell me about your fall! What were some of the highlights for you?

About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

Post navigation

3 Things to Consider When Setting Weekly Goals
Hello 2019 // Reflections on New Starts

13 comments

  1. Cara Owens-Kindly Unspoken says:
    December 14, 2018 at 10:15 am

    What an awesome fall season! It sounds like you’ve been busy but still had time to get in some relaxation as needed. Love that stained glass- super pretty!

    Reply
  2. Trish says:
    December 14, 2018 at 2:09 pm

    I loved reading about your favorite fall moments and especially seeing these fabulous photos! Your plants are beautiful! I have never been good at growing plants unfortunately!

    Reply
  3. Catherine says:
    December 14, 2018 at 3:49 pm

    Ack! A haunted hotel!!! Looks like your life was full of ups and downs, like everyone’s life, but that you made the most of it.

    Reply
  4. Beth_Daily_Dog_Tag says:
    December 14, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    It sounds like you had a great fall! I’m excited to see your new logo and where you take your blog. (And no, you can’t have too much Mina!)

    Reply
  5. Lecy | A Simpler Grace says:
    December 14, 2018 at 9:19 pm

    I can’t wait to see what changes you make! I’ve also been taking a little break and am just easing back into a rhythm. Looks like you had a lovely fall. Hope you enjoy the holiday season!

    Reply
  6. Aishwaryaa says:
    December 15, 2018 at 4:06 am

    It sounds amazing reading and seeing your favorite fall moments. Beautiful pictures and well captured..🤩

    Reply
  7. jillconyers says:
    December 15, 2018 at 5:02 am

    You have a lot of great shots in this post. I love the variety of colors and perspectives.

    Reply
  8. Pink Caboodle says:
    December 15, 2018 at 12:33 pm

    Wow! Seems like you had so many great moments! Isn’t Francis Chan amazing!?

    Reply
  9. Clair says:
    December 15, 2018 at 12:47 pm

    Love your recap! So much fun had and the pictures are great! We were just busy with fall festivals and pumpkin carving:)

    Reply
  10. Sheila says:
    December 15, 2018 at 3:21 pm

    Wow! You have had quite an adventure! Your pictures are gorgeous! Unfortunately, I had parathyroid surgery in Tampa, but at least I was able to go to the beach for a few days afterwards. We had a great time renting a cabana and chilling by the pool. šŸ™‚ I love Francis Chan! He is one of my favorite pastors of all time. I’m a Stephen Furtick fan too!

    Reply
  11. Jasmine Hewitt says:
    December 15, 2018 at 5:16 pm

    I love hibiscus flowers! I dont have any growing though

    Reply
  12. Jackie says:
    December 17, 2018 at 8:44 am

    I love that you stepped away a little and now have a strong vision for your blog! Sometimes that’s so necessary!

    Reply
  13. Chelsea Jacobs says:
    December 18, 2018 at 9:17 am

    oh my gosh that halloween party sounds amazing!!

    Reply

Share Your Thoughts! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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.

If only we always remembered to be in touch with o If only we always remembered to be in touch with our loved ones regularly; to tell them that we love them.

This thought has been on my mind the last few weeks as I’ve been in touch with one of my best friends almost daily. They’ve been navigating a scary situation.

But that’s what everyone says, isn’t it? Reach out to those you love. Tell them you love them. Don’t let a lot of time pass.

We all know that. We think about it sometimes. We hear about it when others are in crisis. We’re thankful that we aren’t the ones in crisis and we can remember this lesson through someone else.

But eventually we get caught up in life. Our daily ā€œI love you’sā€ are reserved for those we live with and sometimes we forget to text someone back… or it takes a few days to do so.

This week as I wondered why we don’t remember this more often I realized it’s probably a good thing. It’s a good thing that we can live life without worrying that tragedy is right around the corner. That would be an exhausting way to live.

It’s also good that we can get little reminders, sometimes not from our own life. So from someone who spent one week numb, another week weepy, and this week sad, remember to send your friends a text. Tell them you love them.
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. šŸ’™
Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ 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. ā€œThe water looks cold,ā€ 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. šŸ˜‚)

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.
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 | Ā© 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.