zoodles

This weekend I am going up to Chicago to visit one of my closest friends. Mara and I have known each other since Kindergarten and I deeply treasure our friendship. Mara graduated from DAAP at University of Cincinnati this spring and moved to Chicago to work with a design firm, Gensler & Associates. Mara has always been incredibly talented and super smart. She would have excelled no matter what she studied, but I am so happy that she chose to go to DAAP and am confident it was the best decision for her. I am so proud of all she has accomplished. 

Mara's New Year's Resolution was to complete a watercolor illustration of an animal, once a week. 

Her adorable drawings absolutely make my day - and I am sure I am not the only one that feels this way. 

I selected some of my favorite zoodles below, for you to enjoy! 

I encourage you to follow Mara on Instagram @mararussodesign - you can keep up with her weekly zoodles, as well as her other life musings (food, puppies, and everything in between!)

If you are interested in contacting her about either custom art work or a graphic design project/consulting, you won't be disappointed. 

I mean, come on, I've only been friends with her for 20 years - and I think I have a pretty good head on my shoulders when it comes to things like that :)

Check out her website. 

Follow Mara on Instagram. 

Enjoy your weekend, stay tuned to my Instagram for some Chicago pics. Toodles!

via mararussodesign

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The Dreamer & Other Essays : Morgan Treni

A wonderful friend and acquaintance of mine from college just made her first album debut! 

Morgan was an English major, with a concentration in non-fiction writing. On a couple of occasions we had class together and I always treasured her presence in the classroom and around campus.

Morgan lived on the floor below me one year and occasionally I would pop into her room for help with a paper or material we were reviewing in class. Visiting her room was an escape to another world. Empty mugs with tea bags lined the desks, tapestries covered the walls, a few plants decorated the windowsill, there was a slight musky-incense odor, and Morgan was usually entertaining someone on the guitar. Everything about Morgan was like that. A perfectly whimsical glimpse into a life that seemed vintage, carefree, avant-garde, and truly inspirational. There was a rich bohemian sense about her, a charming spirit with an old soul humming around campus always wearing a scarf, sporting a disheveled up-do with glasses absentmindedly tucked away, and carrying more books in her arms than in her knapsack. She'd walk with a little spring in her step - and when Morgan was in a good mood, everyone was in a good mood. 

There was a brief period where she just couldn't think to attend class when it was rainy. She made me chuckle, but also appreciate the reasoning. Why embark upon a day that is not cheerful or inspiring? If Morgan didn't make it to class - we'd know Mother Nature having an off-day. 

After a couple weeks of spring in central Ohio, you learn sooner rather than later that it's better to start finding inspiration in the rain - or you'd be out of luck :)

Morgan has a way with words and language unlike anyone I have ever met. 

When I graduated she was immersed in the food and drink industry, helping a local Delaware, Ohio brewery get on its feet. When you'd ask her about work - it was incredible. You would have thought the hops were characters in a story. Each one was different...some exaggerated, some more subtle, some subject to entirely different tastes and flavors when paired with certain foods. Welcome to the early days of the craft beer craze. Even though I wasn't a fan of beer, after talking to Morgan you couldn't help but completely regret all of your Barefoot Wine nights!

Did I envision that Morgan would be behind a microphone singing her way to success? Not exactly. I knew her father was a musician and she was musically inclined, but two years ago that didn't pop on my "where in the world would Morgan be" radar. However, I am really not surprised in the slightest. Morgan is one of those people that I could never be surprised by, maybe because she is so surprising? She is full of creative energy and passions that bring beauty and art to the world, in all different forms.

So, why not add music to the mix?

My words cannot even begin to do justice to this creative spirit, but I hope they can give you a little snapshot of this incredible artist. 

Morgan's album, the dreamer and other essays debuted just a couple weeks ago and is available on cdbaby. Her album is described as a "fusion of folk, indie-pop, and jazz" influences. Listen to a preview of the album HERE.

Enjoy!! 

Morgan Treni: Musical Essays

Sound Cloud: Morgan Treni

Meet the Band, The Columbus Dispatch

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i'm coming back!

Happy Monday everyone! Over the past 10 days or so I have run into a surprising number of people (both near and far) who have brought up the blog. They have told me how much they enjoy it, but want me to post more often. It's funny, can you be both flattered and stressed at the same time? Because I have definitely felt that way. It makes me so happy and pleased when people mention how much they enjoy my little blog, but they want me to hop back on the blog roll more consistently. 

Within the past two weeks or so I have spent many evenings lamenting over not having the time to blog. My posting whittled down to once a week and I felt horrible about it. I want to post the right things, but I just haven't been in the swing of it. As much as I like to think of this as a hobby and personal portfolio, I have learned that it's much more than just an activity for me. I realize how many people are influenced by Twirling Clare.

My mom runs into women who tell her they read my blog every week. Friends, family, and past teachers read my blog as a way to keep tabs on my life. Even mothers of people I went to college with keep up with Twirling Clare. And, of course, the countless readers I don't even know! 

When I first started blogging three and a half years ago, I remember how excited I was to have a couple dozen visits a day. I'd obsessively check my stats page and try so hard to get followers...but, after awhile, that didn't seem as important. I valued having a unique space, a true reflection of me rather than a top-trending blog. I wanted to inspire the world with stories, articles, and images. It didn't matter to me how many read my blog; I just wanted to keep scattering the seeds and see what came of them. 

Like everything in life, you can't predict when things will take off. Patience is a beautiful thing and God always has a way of coming in when you least expect. The past couple of weeks (especially this weekend) has been very motivating for me, and it's funny how these unexpected "messengers" have helped encourage me to keep up my little creative exploration. My inner turmoil of finding inspiration, time, and the passion to continue, was answered. Not exactly how I'd expect it to be...but that's what makes life a beautiful adventure. 

With the kind words and appreciation of Twirling Clare and my creative spirit, also came a request to keep it alive. Not that I was ready to shut-down the blog, but Twirling Clare deserved a bit more love and attention. All good things in life need nurturing, cultivating, and love and Twirling Clare really is part of my spirit than needed reinvigorating. So thank YOU for the encouragement and passion!! 

It makes me incredibly grateful to hear of so many people enjoying my happy space and little musings. Twirling Clare is one of my proudest accomplishments, I won't be posting every day, but hopefully be more immersed back to my creative space. 

 Thanks for not just inviting me, but challenging me, to come back to the party...

(via)

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Support Maddie's Maukingbirds!

Hi everyone! Every spring I devote a post to the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk. If you are new to the blog or even a returning fan, I'd really appreciate if you'd take the time to learn about CF and why I walk each year! 

One of my closest friends has Cystic Fibrosis. Maddie and I met in college at Ohio Wesleyan. She is an amazing person and a special friend of mine. Maddie is from Connecticut and I met her when I was a sophomore, and she was a junior, at Ohio Wesleyan. We quickly became fast friends and I have some of my best college memories with her! After college, Maddie moved to San Francisco for a few months to explore the city and spend time with her art (she is an amazing artist!) Unfortunately, she had to move back home around Christmas time to focus on getting healthier due to a lot of challenges in San Francisco with treating CF. 

Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and the digestive system. An estimate 30,000 children and adults in the United States have CF; 70,000 worldwide. Over 45% of people with CF are adults, which shows the amazing progress over the past decades!! The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world's leader in the search for a cure for CF. The non-profit and donor based Foundation funds life-saving research and works to provide access to quality, specialized care, and effective treatments for people with CF. Nearly EVERY drug available today was made possible because of the Foundation's support. And, the life expectancy of a child with CF has doubled! 

While I was at school, my friends and I participated in the annual Great Strides walk each May. This year I am participating and volunteering for the walk in Cincinnati. I would truly appreciate to have your support this year as I help raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis and collect donations to find a cure.

The Cincinnati Great Strides walk is on Saturday, May 17th at 10:00 in Sawyer Point. If you are interested in also participating or volunteering, we'd LOVE to have you! In fact, we are specifically looking for the following volunteers: photographer, security, and medic. If you have any suggestions of who could help, please let me know! You can either comment below or email twirlingclare@gmail.com. If you are just interested in learning more about the walk or attending, I'd be happy to give you information as well! The walk is free to participate, but we are actively trying to campaign and raise funds, so your financial contribution would be greatly appreciated as well. No amount is too small!!

MAKE A DONATION TO MY CYSTIC FIBROSIS TEAM. 

Thank you in advance for your support!!

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christmas party

I threw a little Christmas party last night. It was a small gathering with friends, many who I haven't seen in a long time. Since graduating from college and entering the grown-up world, it has taken some adjustment to join the social world. To be blunt, sometimes I feel like it would be just wonderful to have a fraction of the social life I had in college! Although I am happy with this new phase of life, I miss the festive nature in gathering with friends, having parties, and attending other events that seemed effortless in school. I haven't been out too much in the Cincinnati scene, with working six days a week between the PR firm M-F and then the boutique on the weekend, sometimes all I want to do is relax at home. And, hangovers are 1000x worst when you're 22. Taylor Swift should have wrote about that in her song...

Anyways, I decided to start small with what I do best. Put on some tunes, pop the champagne, cue the lights, and let conversation, stories, and laughter flow. 

In true Christmas spirit, I was happy to let all of our holiday decorations steal the spotlight and be enjoyed by the company. As for food, I am not a culinary queen, by any stretch, so a quick stop at the grocery store to get crackers, cheese, summer sausage, humus, fruits, veggies, and cookies was sufficient. I offered white and red wine and made a signature cocktail which was a HIT for the evening. 

Here's the recipe for the most perfect holiday punch:

6 cups of cranberry juice

2 cups of freshly squeezed orange juice

1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 bottles of champagne

Mix the juices together in a large punch bowl and add the champagne last. For a festive touch, cut up an orange to add the slices into the drink. The recipe serves 20. 

Of course, I had to give this outfit another go, and sported my most favorite holiday necklace EVER. Let me know if you have attended any fun holiday gatherings over the past few weeks. Do you have any favorite recipes, drinks, or outfits you'd like to share?

I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season because it truly is the most wonderful time of the year, merry, merry & toodles!

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fyi - the illustrations are by inslee, one of my favorite illustrators. 

AND, there are still a couple of days before Christmas...plenty of time for a party! See the playlist below for your perfect party tunes, in case this list didn't suffice earlier this month :) 

(via)

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Life Lately

 I will probably be off the radar for a couple of days thanks to my wisdom teeth surgery this morning. 

So while I am conked out on my bed, you can take a peek at my life the past couple of weeks. 

I graduated OWU in December, but wanted to take part in the spring commencement ceremony. I came back to school for the last week of school to catch-up with friends and I had a tremendous time. Between celebrating birthdays, DJing at the bar, walking dogs, graduation party hopping, and taking part in Great Strides on behalf of cystic fibrosis; I was able to reflect on the wonderful time I had at OWU and the friendships I made throughout the past four years.

I am so grateful I spent time up at school prior to graduation because it gave me the opportunity to reconnect with people who have truly made an impact in my life. It was comforting to come back to school after not seeing friends for months (some of them even a year) and have things pick-up like it was just yesterday since we had seen each other. In addition to reaffirming friendships, I was able to meet and engage with people I might not have known too well before. There are a couple of people that I had fantastic conversations with and I feel both blessed to have met them and confident that the relationships will continue. I have met people who will be lifelong friends and I look forward to the many memories in the years to come!

Now with sentiments aside, here's a sampling of my week:

(in case you can't tell...I got my fair share of cardio dancing in!)

  

 

 

 

 

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