Gathering Experiences

Hi there, we hope you had a lovely weekend. Elisabeth is recovering from a long journey home from a week of family fun with Dod and Claire (we can't wait to hear about her trip), and I'm revving back up after a restful (but productive) weekend at home with Jordy and Emi. I've been thinking a lot lately about money (haven't we all, right?)--how we spend it, what we choose to spend it on, and what those choices have to do with our overall happiness. Part of it is this article from the Times that I know sparked a few discussions in the blog world, part of it is this post on decor8 about the gorgeous print below by Lizzy Janssen, and part of it is Jordy and I trying to manage on his resident income with me having abandoned my safe trajectory to take a stab at making a living being creative (and to raise a baby, but that's a story for another day).

The other day, Emi and I were in the East Village running some errands, when I remembered that there is a photobooth in the basement of The Smith. I spent $6 on two strips of photos that I easily could have spent on something else, but the satisfaction that I got from this particular purchase couldn't have been topped by anything else, $6 or $600. So for this week's gathering column, here are some ideas for inexpensive experiences that will hopefully leave you feeling like you spent your money well.

Hop into a photobooth (obviously one of my favorites, since that's what sparked this post)!

{taken in the photobooth at The Smith}
Find one near you on this neat-o website, which is seriously one of the best online resources out there. Feel free to bring props, but don't feel compelled to.

Take a(n extended) trip to the greenmarket.

{Image by my dear friend Meg}
I know, I know, you do this anyway. But this time, make a commitment to stay after you've gotten your run-of-the mill stuff. Listen to music, pick up an extra nectarine to eat on a park bench, seek out the most exotic produce you can find, and resolve to cook it exactly the way the person at the booth tells you to. I always think that I won't find something new, but I do almost every time if I'm looking. Or put yourself completely at the whims of the purveyor. My mom always does this and comes home with amazing produce every time. You can come home with super delicious stuff if you ask "What's good this week and how would you make it?"

Attend the opening reception for a show that you'd like to see.

{Image by Stina Persson, whose other work is also amazing, amazing, amazing}
Many of these are free, and you can find them pretty easily if you stay connected with your local galleries. You'll meet new and interesting people, and see artwork that you might not see otherwise. I myself am itching to go to this one. How gorgeous is this work by Stina Persson (you should go look at her work right this very second--it's seriously beautiful)?

Take a class or workshop.

{image by Michelle, taken during a Lomo workshop}
Obviously, some classes are way more expensive than others. Michelle from It Rained on a Friday gave me the heads-up on this one: Lomography offers workshops that are around $10 and you get a loaner camera and a roll of film. If you're lucky enough to live by one of their stores, you can look for listings here.

Clearly, these are just a few ideas; I hope they are off-the-beaten-path enough to be helpful. Though we post lots of things you can buy on this blog, we are big proponents of the idea that things don't make you as happy as relationships and experiences. What about you--what relationships and/or experiences have made you happy? Have any things managed to make you happy (cough*my ice cream maker*cough...although I would argue that that's because it provides an experience)?

Have a happy Monday, everyone, and don't forget to enter our giveaway with Brookelyn Photography!

xo!

Comments

[greenapril.net]

I love Lomography stuff, and I had no idea they held classes. Thanks for the heads up!

PS: Have just bookmarked the photobooth locator and plan on dragging the hubs to one asap.

[ME*]

Right? Lomography is the best. Tomorrow I'm sharing lomo pics of our dogs (as part of a larger post), and was having such a good time going through all of my lomo pics from a few summers ago. The photobooth locator is also clutch. If you have a smartphone, you can always, always know where the closest one to you is.

[It Rained on a Friday]

Heads up! I found a photobooth in the Bedford Avenue Mini Mall on Bedford between North 4th and North 5th streets in Williamsburg last weekend. It's digital, so you get to choose your frame and color options. :o)