Friday night my mother offered my brother four tickets to the Gopher's hockey game. Luckily for me I was with Kevin (and he couldn't find any one else to go to the game with) so he asked me, MF and somehow SC got the invite. Kevin is a student at the University of Minnesota so obviously he cheers for the Golden Gophs and I do also, out of state pride. But the other boys went to school in Duluth so they were cheering for the Bulldogs, who surprisingly got the first goal of the game. Don't worry though the number one college hockey team pulled it together and won the game 6 - 1 er aw that was the score when we left. 

I feel like I have been going to a hockey game a  week lately. Honestly a friend told me that I was the most dedicated lady hockey fan that he knew. Jeez! I can't complain though, I love the game and it is Minnesota in November. 

After Blarney's we made our way to Mesa Pizza, ordered a full pizza and tried to get them to deliver us home with our pizza. We thought this was a genius idea, unfortunately they were not about it and we ended up taking our pie and cabbing it back to NE where we grubbed and hit the sheets relatively early for a Friday night. 

I woke up unreasonably early to drop the little brother off in Dinkytown for some pre-Gopher Football game activities. Then I went home and actually ended up working all day. Working on Saturday? I don't mind, with my crazy freelance schedule I end up having a lot of fun time during the week so if a bit of work spills out into the weekend I am ok with it. 

 And don't worry, Saturday night I more than made up for how lame I was during the day light. First off a crew of us rolled out to Roseville where a high school buddy was having a Marine Themed party for another buddy in the service. Everyone was wearing camo and shooting each other with air-soft guns, which actually can hurt pretty bad no matter what anyone says. It was good to see some old faces but around 11 Kaitlin and I decided to venture down town.

We ended up going to Cowboy Jacks, Sneaky Petes, Auggies & Skyway Theater for Datsik. For those of you who might not know, the bars in Minnesota close at 2am meaning that we fit that all into our night within three hours! I honestly don't know how we did it, but it was fun to run around downtown Minneapolis with KB just like old times.

I had stopped drinking after the house party so after we got a ride back to our car from a friend who bar-tends downtown I drove us to my house and we ate party pizzas while chatting like 7th graders at a sleepover until around 4 or 5 am when we finally went to sleep.

Hands down, great night.

Slept in and then spent the majority of the day thinking about the power of a year, the amount of time that has passed since one of my dearest friends passed. This amazing person has been an angel for one whole year, 365 days without her and I haven't gone one of them without thinking about her crazy contagious laugh, her huge heart or her lust for life.

Around 4pm I met up with a rowdy bunch of nomadic party people that were all also mourning our friend and we spent the next few hours doing what our girl loved best, spending quality time with quality people. Some of us drank, some of us smoked, a group of us ordered a large Mesa Pizza and we all had a beautiful angel on our minds. We all are sharing in the pain of losing a loved one but over the last year we have also spent much time sharing in life, creating more memories yet, always remembering to talk about the days past, lesson we've learned, hilarious stories that still makes us laugh and friends that changed us forever.


xo, kp

I planned all day to lay low Friday night, rest up for my full day of activities that was planned for the next day. Instead @nielsonnr calls me up and tells me that she has tickets to the Wild game, without a moments hesitation I was committed.

This particular girlfriend is one of my favorite people to watch hockey games with at the Xcel Energy Center; Her energy matches the intensity of the structure, she knows the game and can talk about the players as well as she can shit talk the referees. All of those things combined with the fact that we are equally talented party animals made Friday nights' Wild excursion a great success. Many thanks to Polaris for the tickets & to Nikki for taking me as her date! 

Got home from celebratory activities around 12am on what was technically Saturday morning and after 6ish hours of sleep I woke up to drove my butt to Hudson, Wisconsin...

Saturday morning was all about the Project Footsteps - Change Starts with Me Camp! I got to hang out with four founding members of the camp, whose minds were full of fantastic ideas. We took a walk around the grounds, ate lunch in front of a fireplace and rode some beautiful horses! I had so much fun and I hope the boys had a great time as well.

After my adventures in Wisconsin farm land I came back to the city and started preparing for my long night of girl time!

Around 5 o'clock Kaitlin & I made our way over to Gypsy Castle (the name of our girlfriends' apartment) for a Pure Romance Party! The party was thrown together very last minute but apparently the ladies were in serious need of some sensual bedroom products ASAP ha! We drew pictures of penises, sampled products, drank wine, passed around dildos and had a really, really, really good time!

Then around 9 pm after all of the wine had been consumed and the pink whips had been packed up the woman of the hour, who had facilitated the rest of our night, showed up in her shiny carriage and drove us on out to Maplewood's Myth Nightclub for Pretty Lights' Analog Future Tour!!

The five of us looked fantastic, felt even better and are all unbelievable amounts of fun when we're together! AV is a superstar and landed us backstage with All Access, not to mention access to the Owner's Box! Seriously we felt like rockstars and are so thankful to Pretty Lights for his dedication to music and always taking it up a notch. And an extra thank you to the tour crew, because without them DVS could not do what he does, who were incredibly accommodating and made our night into something that we will never, ever forget!

I must've tweeted this around the time we went to bed, because on Saturday I was up around 6:40am, and I remember looking at the clock around 5am we had all calmed down and relaxed into AV's guest bed. We ate popcorn and giggled and when I woke up it was about noon on Sunday. Oh boy! Dancing in platforms takes a lot out of you, plus the horseback riding on Saturday had my legs feeling like jello.

I spent majority of Sunday laying around with Lgeezay reminiscing about the show, looking at pictures and just recovering from a crazy night. I love my friends and we truly are blessed with love and life experiences. My hope for this blog and especially Weekend in Review is that it inspires you to make lasting memories with people who bring love and light into you life! 

xox, kp

Winter is upon us and my outfits are definitely starting to reflect it, here are a few looks that I have rocked in the last week or so. I can't even talk about how much I love those leggings that I paired with the socks and boots in the image left of the middle. The socks are Zkano, the leggings are second hand (from Nancy's) and I have had the boots for years. I love all sorts of scarfs, thick chunky ones, short ones, Turkish ones, if you can wrap me up in it - I'm about it. Also I just realized how much I have been slappin' on a baseball hat. (But that is just cause I have been too lazy to do my hair.) 

This weekend was full, full, full but yesterday I started to succumb to the fact that I was worn out and a bit under the weather, so I have been resting and I am not proud to announce that my Weekend in Review post is not yet ready. I apologize profusely (especially because there are so many fun stories that I will fill you in on tomorrow). In any case, I hope you like the collage and I also hope that you are having as much fun dressing in layers as I am. 

xox, kp

Friday night I went out to Harvest Moon Co-op to an event centered around Will Steger, a Minnesotan who has dedicated his life to the exploration and better understanding the planet. An explorer, a carpenter, a teacher, an activist and that is only a few of his facets. Steger spoke to the crowd mostly about The Steger Wilderness Center for Innovation and Leadership in Ely, MN that he has been building for years with the help of many eager hands. The architecture is incredible but the mission behind the whole project is world changing. From what I gathered during Steger's talk, the intention for the space is to host vastly different innovators and leaders in a place that will inspire and ultimately heed solutions to the serious problems facing our one precious earth.


If you have money, give it to this foundation because climate change is serious and if you can fund some sort of break through your karma bank would be full.

By around 8:15pm I found myself in St. Paul, at Express Yourself Clothing on Selby for Timeless Trunk Show. Students from one of Anupama Pasricha's (a member of the Sol Inspiration's Board of Directors) classes were asked to take items from EYC and rework them into a new design. I love supporting the local Twin Cities fashion scene, especially when the event is centered around reworking existing materials and enhancing their worth.

All of the students did a great job, the diverse styles were great to see and the excitement was so apparent. Photos of the event should be up on EYC's Facebook soon. 

Shell and I were lucky enough to score comps to Jay Larson's show at ACME. The show was hilarious, and we had a great time. Never having been to the venue before, I was super impressed with the classy digs. Although we did not eat the restaurant looked very nice with divided seating coves for privacy, possibly romance. The seating once inside the stage room is fantastic, low ceilings, cozy seats and minimal pillars. Jay Larson and Adam Newman both came out for a meet and greet in-between shows, meeting the talent is always a plus. Not to mention wait service during the show and strong ass cocktails.

While in the North Loop after the show we listened to our stomachs and found our way over to Stadium Pizza to ingest some slices of heaven. While we were scarfing down our pizza one of my favorite bartenders decided to sign me up for karaoke without my knowledge, I made the mistake of telling her which song I WOULD sing, if I wanted to sing. (Which I didn't want at all.) So, naturally this bartender, who is no longer such a strong favorite) took full advantage of the situation and I found myself pulling Shell up on to the 'stage' with me. Being called out on the microphone is apparently all I need to do something I REALLY don't want to do. 

I have certain beliefs that help me through my life-journey and one of the more steadfast things on that list is that TLC's 'No Scrubs' is a great karaoke song. Contrary to this entirely over tested, and highly intoxicated theory I was sober enough, while I was doing my best Lisa 'left eye this Saturday, to come to the somber realization that NO SCRUBS IS NOT A GREAT KARAOKE SONG! It's actually a terrible karaoke song (disclaimer, this song might be a jam for you to sing in a room full of people but not for me); I'm not a member of TLC, I was barely cognitive in the 90s, and I stumble over the very few lines that aren't the chorus. Then when the chorus does hit, I ungracefully yell the lyrics over and over, worse than a broken record, which probably is not enjoyable for anyone who has adequate hearing. 

In light of this realization I owe many people apologies, the biggest of all to my best friend MF (so sorry) and also the patrons of a late night karaoke joint in Chicago's Wicker Park. Photo proof of what I am apologizing for - here.

I pretty much just bummed around with some girlfriends watching movies and catching up on life. We ordered Ginger Hop from Bite Squad... talk about won-ton overload. It was a delicious addition to our relaxing day on the couch making a bucket list of things that we want to do before we turn 25! 

I hope that your weekend was half as busy and had ten times more laughs, which might be impossible - but worth shooting for!

xox, kp

TED and I have been in a relationship for about three years now, we have spent countless hours together learning, laughing, relaxing in bed, challenging perspectives and tossing around inspiring ideas. TED is never the same, always has a fresh story to tell, and is sometimes more visual than verbal and vis versa. If you haven't yet gotten the joke yet, I am trying to make TED sound like a man I am having an affair with but in fact TED is a website / format for 'ideas worth spreading,' a tag line that fits the organization so perfectly. I've never had the funds to meet TED face to face so instead I religiously watch TED | Talks.

The main idea for TED | Talks is that almost every single day of the week a new video is posted, normally close to or under twenty minutes long, and all taped live in front of an audience. The videos are of speakers from insanely diverse walks of lives. Different TED conferences have different themes and then the videos are tagged and classified in many different ways on the site making it incredibly easy for everyone to find a TED | Talk that they are genuinely interested in.

Since 1984 these conferences have been happening and speakers have been educating people about endless topics in hopes of creating connections and furthering the betterment of the planet.

I will not explain them all, or even say too much, there are summaries on the site but after many moons exploring the site I have a pretty good collection of favorites. I could have been watching reruns of Modern Family on TV, laughing my ass off to Bridemaids for the millionth time, or re-watching my favorite season of Parks and Rec but TED | Talks leave me with a feeling of intellect, often I am inspired to challenge myself and expand on what I want to accomplish. These feelings are not often paralleled  in our media landscape, so I could live with out TED but I choose not to. I feel that I am never through learning and with these twenty minute videos I can be educated by some of the most innovative people on our planet whenever I want.

+ Aimee Mullins: It's not fair having 12 pairs of legs

+ Arianna Huffington: How to succeed? Get more sleep

I have spent a lot of time educating myself about our changing climate, peak oil, the Tar Sands, etc; And I always run across the doomsday attitude that turns people off to even wanting to learn about it because everything you read makes you feel like we are beyond the point of hope. If there is no time to fix anything why would you want to spend your time trying to understand what the problem is. This video is technical and is a bit hard to follow at times but it is very positive overall while delivering a message of hope and inspiration. 
+ Rob Hopkins: Transition to a world without oil

An INSPIRING & HOPEFUL story from LA!
+ Pearl Arredondo: My story, from gangland daughter to star teacher

Most of these videos on the list I have watched several times because like I often do with full length films I pick up something new every time I watch it. I have seen this video at least twice but would watch it again and again. 
+ Kiran Bir Sethi teaches kids to take charge

Talk about a heart warming story.
+ Angela Patton: A father-daughter dance ... in prison

The lesson I will hold on to from this talk can be boiled down to this cute catch phrase.. 'Don't Live for the Oprah Moments'
+ Natalie Warne: Being young and making an impact

Once of those cool vids where a hand draws out everything that is being said really fast and with a fun, quirky style that makes the lesson more easy to digest and much more interesting to watch. 
+ Denis Dutton: A Darwinian theory of beauty

If this title doesn't sell it to ya, let me tell you that this vid offers new perspective and a few laughs!
+ Hans Rosling: The magic washing machine

+ Charlie Todd: The shared experience of absurdity

+ Tony Porter: A call to men

+ Rick Guidotti: From stigma to supermodel

+ Dave Eggers: My wish: Once Upon a School

Super cute, funny and very short!
+ Julia Sweeney has "The Talk"

+ Ben Dunlap: The life-long learner

This idea is no near and dear to my heart and I hope that adults will start opening their hearts and minds to the potential of empowering youth.
+ Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids

I love Maddie A and it is not just because of her ground breaking work in politics but because she lays down gems like this, "There is a special place in hell for women who don't help each other." 
+ Madeleine Albright: On being a woman and a diplomat

This woman is amazingly articulate and if you can stay awake while her soothing voice explains trust and ways to build it you might learn something that will help your everyday relationships.
+ Onora O'Neill: What we don't understand about trust

+ Colin Stokes: How movies teach manhood

+  Joan Halifax: Compassion and the true meaning of empathy

"Being true to yourself is freedom."
+ Caroline Casey: Looking past limits

I am so obsessed with learning from TED that I have the app downloaded of my phone and my iPad, this allows you to download the video or audio for any talk so that you can play it later without internet connection, very helpful! ANother feature of the site I love is that there are themes that you can explore, sometimes the options are too vast and you can't decide so just pick a theme and go from there. Some of my favorite themes are shown below in screen shots from my iPad.

I don't care if you watch any of the videos listed about, BUT I do hope that you spend some time on the TED website, find a topic that you are passionate about and then LEARN ABOUT IT. 


Our world is full of opportunity to better ourselves but a lot of times we got lost amongst the distractions of mindless TV or endless sales of stuff. I know that everyone reading this post has the potential to do more, express their passion in a new way or even discover a new interest. TED is your friend, go explore the possibilities. 


xoxo, kp

I had the pleasure of going to an epic house-party on Friday evening. Kegger style, this house was filled with about 20-30 people most of whom I have had the honor of knowing since high school. It was a throw back for sure, I see these lovely faces very rarely but I enjoy it thoroughly when I do. It is good to see everyone and catch up, wish each other well and do a few shots for old times! I even ended up sleeping at my girl @aboleman's house after her grandfather picked us up! Talk about reliving high school memories! 

I will admit that I made some dumb decisions in high school but for the most part my friends and I took turns being the designated sober driver. I continue that tradition of excellence today, drinking and driving is one the most selfish & stupid decisions a person can make. If I can't afford to have a couple cocktails and pay for a cab afterwards then I don't go out. At my weight I don't fuck around with driving if I have had more than two beers in two hours because I will not be that person to take someone's life because I just had to sleep in my own bed, or party hop, or get that booty call, NOTHING IS WORTH TAKING THE CHANCE OF GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL DRUNK. Car services like UBER are revolutionary, cabs are easy and not drinking if you have to go somewhere is the cheap, smart way to go. Read more rants about this topic here.

I had a glorious brunch with @aboleman & @shannersk in uptown at Bar Abilene, we had all gone to the same house party Friday night. It was nice to have more time with these ladies in order to hear more about their lives and ambitions. Our conversations were as diverse as a freshman course load, we went from different kinds of shots, to relationships, to careers but things got much deeper than even all of that. Even I was impressed how profound we got over $5 bottomless mimosas. 

We were reflecting on the fact that some of our friends from high school belong to a group that are literally so close that they rarely venture far from their pack. They have traditions, weekly get togethers, bromance inside jokes; it is kind of like the Anchor Man quote, "We've been going to the same party every night for 12 years now...and in no way is that depressing." I won't lie, I started to hate on them a little, I get a bit frustrated with a particular person in the group that I'd like to spend more time with but in order to do so I must jump into their pool because my hot tub is to exotic for their taste. (That is all a metaphor of course.) A.boleman, with her beautiful, worldly, wisdom, reminded me that a person's preference to stay tight to what they know is no better than someone who has the urge to explore endlessly. She could not have been more right, and I am so thankful to have a friend like that, a friend that wouldn't just listen to me be negative but instead offered me a different perspective. It is important that we constantly remember that each person's journey looks incredibly different and one is never better than another. 

The conversation continued and we talked about how it is hard to realize that the people you tried so hard to fit in with during high school are so vastly different from you and are now walking such a different path from your own. Being accepted by your peers seemed like everything for such a long time and now that all of my peers are coming into their own and becoming comfortable with who they are it is time to come to terms with the fact that we are all hella - different. 

Saturday night, after deep talks and two hours of mimosas, my mind and body were ready for a nap. 

After plenty of lazy time, I united with a college friend for a while, then with some old high school friends. We ended up at a bar that my friend AV works at and we were confronted with the fact that  apparently Halloween is the never ending holiday. So many people downtown were STILL dressed up in costumes. I feel terrible for all of the service industry professionals that have to dress up half a dozen nights in a row. But of course my girls AV looked amazing as always.

Delicious brunch at Psycho Suzie's with many of my most loved, including my brother and several people I have had the privilege of knowing for five plus years! Suzie's has an amazing Blood Mary bar, we added our own spices to the tiki-inspired space by talking of travel plans, new grown up jobs, shared cheese-curd group love. One friend even got real-real with it and declared a renewed respect for his mother, after everything that has happened over the year he was abled to take a different approach to interacting with his creator. I love that my friends are constantly pushing themselves to evolve and my hope is that I can share bits of their stories so you can be inspired by them, as I am everyday!

xox, kp


PS...Oh yeah the deep dish pizza thing... and Shell and I dominated a delicious veggie za from Suzie's. Large, obviously!