*notcot - 06.04.17 , 11:40 -

Nashville Adventures + Project House #2

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Go Preds! Stanley Cup madness is becoming quite the party throughout Nashville right now! What a trip… just back from yet another Nashville trip. We’ve been back and forth quite a bit the last few years, but especially the last few months! It feels like our American Airlines LAX-BNA flights are becoming our commuter flights.

While friends keep asking what it is about Nashville that I love (beyond Shawn’s family being there, and his having grown up there) ~ this flight home helped me realize it’s been a great escape! It’s an amazing city in the midst of SO much growth, and their momentum and rate of change has been infectious. It’s that perfect scale of small enough to keep up with what’s new (even from afar) and big enough to constantly find new things… and the real estate market is booming (still!) There’s been non stop construction on every scale for the last few years, a few new hotels (from luxury boutiquey artsy ones to mega business traveler hotels) each trip, so many new restaurants and shops, and it feels like a new neighborhood emerges each trip (realtors and developers just keep coming up with new names?) Getting to catch up on their complex history, while exploring the present state of things (growing pains and all), and diving in to understand the future of Nashville has been quite the hyper-speed education. I’ve learned more about how a city grows and evolves from the cultural, political, and financial aspects the last few years than ever before… and while i’m not sure how it all fits in with the NOTCOT side of my brain quite yet, i’m sure it will all make sense soon! But for now, buying houses we adore (that need some love, but have so much potential) have been our little way of investing in the future of where this amazing city is going.

As for the more NOTCOT side of things… while it’s fun to see all the new shops/design projects emerging, much of it does seem to reflect things you can find all over the world (from the hipster coffee shops to the boutiques that seem better at instagram than face to face customer service to the reclaimed wood/tile overdoses) - but what most inspires me are the products and experiences that are uniquely Nashville… and that seems to come in the form of nice people, great food, and lively music (and the Predators!) The real trick with visiting Nashville lately, seems to be unearthing the older hidden gems before they might disappear!

Take a peek on the next page to see some of the fun we’ve had, and the progress on our latest NOTCOT Nashville Project House (in Lockeland Springs!) on the next page.

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*notcot - 02.13.17 , 14:08 -

CURVES: Soulful Driving Magazine

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I love a good road trip. Always have… ever since my first car and all those LA to San Diego trips and back during college… which quickly expanded to drives up and down the majority of California on a whim. And over the last 20 years, I have so many favorite stops all over the world that were found by getting lost and wandering!

While automotive design/technology is fun and inspiring, my love of driving always trumped all looks and stats. There’s something about being able to just DRIVE… not necessarily certain where you’re going, or when you’ll get there, or what you’l lfind along the way. The option to take a random road, exit, or turn on a whim, or follow signs to possibilities, or now with navigation/google maps in your pocket - spot something interesting and just aim for it! What happens in a world of autonomous cars? Will the adventure of a road trip still be possible? Will there be a “surprise me” mode?

But i digress - when i saw Frizzi Frizzi’s post on CURVES - a magazine dedicated to “soulful driving”, filled with maps, stops, and luscious pictures of not only driver’s views of roads, but also aerial views of beautiful curve filled roads… i had to know more! So i picked up the California and Sicily (two of my favorite epic road trip spots!) issues of CURVES Magazine to see how they are in person… and they are stunningly inspiring. For the roads you’ve driven, it’s like a time capsule filled with driving memories… for roads yet to be experienced, it’s like a guidebook! And for armchair travelers who like the views but not that much time in the car - it’s a peek into a stunning adventure.

Take a peek inside CURVES Magazine’s California and Sicily Issues on the next page!

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*notcot - 02.01.17 , 12:55 -

Bernardus Lodge & Spa - Carmel, CA

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Just back from a quick trip up the coast to meet friends and try out the new Villas & Suites at Bernardus Lodge & Spa in Carmel Valley! Between the various (much needed) rain storms, we got a lovely sunny weekend to drive up California, explore Carmel/Big Sur, and most importantly, relax, catch up, and indulge in delicious wine, spa pampering, and silly leisurely activities like bocce and croquet! Also - between the 3 fire places in each suite and fire pits to curl up by throughout the property, even the chilliest nights were cozy. Tucked into Carmel Valley between vineyards and golf courses, you’re about 20 minutes into the adorable Carmel By The Sea. I’ve been torn trying to decide what to share with you, but overall, there were so many lovely details (the bathroom! the fireplaces! the views! the stars!) - here’s a look at my favorite parts. As for whether i’d recommend the Bernardus Lodge & Spa - i’m not sure, we did have a bunch of strange moments that stuck in my head, but fill you in on a few of those later. For now - take in the sights on the next page!

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*notcot - 11.25.16 , 21:50 -

Rumpl Faded Puffy

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I can’t stop staring at this stunning photo of the Rumpl Pyro-Fade Puffy - those colors! That lush forest! Can’t deny that the colors scream with a bright pop of colors that flow right into each other, and photograph stunningly! (AKA perfect gift for your instagram/photo obsessed friends?) Also the Ocean-fade blues are just mesmerizingly beautiful too! So tempting - these special Rumpl Faded Puffy throw blankets are exclusive to REI. I’m currently curled up in our Rumpl Down Puffy (which is SO warm, almost too warm for me when it’s not winter) as i write this, and dreaming up how fun the Faded Puffies would be on our adventures (or wrapped up under the tree for our adventurous friends!)… see more pics on the next page!

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*notcot - 09.05.16 , 13:01 -

Inspiration: Nashville + Project House (V)

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This may be the last update before the house reveal! We’re that close to having it all done! Subdivision is finally in and accepted and we’re just waiting on them to register the mylar!!! We drove out 3 months ago to buy a house and now we’re nearly headed home to LA with a house and two pieces of land! It’s surreal - but a hell of a learning experience. We took no short cuts on this project and really dove in to learn as much as reasonable - we joke that it’s been a summer of Nashville internships! But we’re going home with far more knowledge and experience that we’re just itching to apply to more of our creative projects to come! So take a peek at the latest house updates and some of the other Nashville randomness on the next page!

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*notcot - 08.08.16 , 09:58 -

Inspiration: Nashville + Project House (IV)

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Yes - here’s yet ANOTHER one of our Nashville + Project House Instagram filled updates, but less house this time, as we’re in a little bit of a holding pattern and needed a bit of a break as we wait for flooring to arrive, and we focused on sorting out surveying, prepping for a planning commission meeting, hiring a gardener and more. The in betweens house work however, have been filled with more natural inspiration (the colors here are SO different from LA!), more attempts to find new shops and spots that inspire, and diving into the history of Nashville through vintage maps!!! Ready to take a peek? To the next page!

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*notcot - 07.30.16 , 23:06 -

Inspiration: Nashville + Project House (III)

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It’s been a truly eye opening adventure the last few MONTHS (?!?!?!) here in Nashville. Unfortunately we’ve been taking the time to tackle a less visually inspiring process for the recent leg of the NOTCOT Nashville Project House - so the posts have been extra sparse as we slog through it to lay the foundation for SO MUCH CREATIVE POTENTIAL! I’m pretty giddy about the possibilities brewing, but first things first. Got to get the house cleaned up and the basics covered… including diving into adventures with the metro government, planning commissions, and the bureaucratic world we’re catching up fast on (sink or swim, right?) Also, the more time spent in a city of this scale, the longer we’re here, the faster we blast through the exciting new inspiration to share, and currently my real world inspiration seems to be lots of details in nature and street art (as you can see via @NOTlabs Instagram) While some might see this hands-on-creative-inspiration drought as a travesty, i’ve been surprised and delighted that it has sparked even MORE ideas, MORE drive, and MORE clarity regarding what we’re itching to design and create - SOON! So don’t worry, more crazy fun and back to normal after this summer vacation house adventure!

It’s also been a weird few weeks in the real world. Pokemon. RNC. DNC. Prisma. And so many heartbreaking attacks around the world. Weird times for sure. So if you’re ready - dive in on the next page to see what’s been keeping me busy and inspired IRL.

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*notcot - 07.10.16 , 17:00 -

Inspiration: Nashville + Project House (II)

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Yes, believe it or not, we’re STILL in Nashville - and still happy, exhausted, and working our butts off on the NOTCOT Nashville Project House! It’s been such a fun adventure - like construction summer camp? Or like a contractor apprenticeship? It’s been a such a fun way to get out of our heads, escape our stresses, and just dive in head first on a new project that is so physically and mentally challenging… all while exploring and distracting myself with all the newness to discover and get inspired by in a new city. Even though Shawn grew up here - this city is changing SO fast, there’s lots i’m dragging him around to discover too! So between the posts i’ve shared so far, here’s a look at some of the smaller inspirations and discoveries since the last @NOTlabs Instagram Nashville Inspiration post… see the adventures on the next page!

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*notcot - 07.06.16 , 12:00 -

Nashville Craft Distillery + Naked Biscuit

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Field Trip! We’ve been trying to mix up construction worker schedules and manual labor exhaustion from the Nashville Project House with mini adventures to keep the random inspiration flowing… today i convinced Shawn to swing by the brand new Nashville Craft Distillery! The architecture and signage were enough to draw our attention alone… but once you step inside, the mid-century inspired design continues, a stunning copper still will mesmerize, and then there’s their first spirit - a truly unique Naked Biscuit!!! Unlike anything i’ve tasted - it’s a 45 proof spirit made from 100% pure sorghum syrup. I got caught up on sorghum - “Sweet sorghum cane has been grown in Tennessee for generations. Unlike sugar cane, it is well adapted to our state’s climate, making it an ideal ingredient to ferment and distill into a delicious, locally sourced specialty spirit. Our inaugural batches were produced using 100 percent pure sorghum syrup from Muddy Pond Sorghum Mill, in the Tennessee hills midway between Nashville and Knoxville. For decades, the Guenther family business has kept up with the growing demand for sorghum syrup.” Apparently a lot of people use sorghum syrup on pancakes and biscuits - totally trying that soon! As for their Naked Biscuit Spirit, it falls into the rum/tequila family, but you have to taste it to understand the subtleties of the flavors! And this is only the first release of this nascent distillery.

Wandering in midday, we has the chance to chat, taste, and tour the facilities with founder, Bruce Boeko. His story is pretty fascinating - from forensic scientist, musician, homebrewer - to a distiller with a passion for design and doing things right! He’s taking no shortcuts as he and the team learn and craft their spirits from scratch while supporting local farms (and designers) whenever possible! The results promise to be something distinctly Tennessee thru and thru. In a world where things are getting more and more accessible and similar globally, it’s always inspiring to find things that are truly a product of their unique environment. I can’t wait to taste their whiskey in a few years (must be patient as it ages!) - but for now - take a peek into the beautiful Nashville Craft Distillery and check out their Naked Biscuit Spirit on the next page.

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*notcot - 06.26.16 , 11:10 -

Inspiration: Nashville + Project House

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This post is long overdue! But WOW. (As you can see on @NOTlabs Instagram…) Real life got a bit crazy the last two weeks - Bucky, Shawn and I hopped in the car and drove from LA to Nashville… for a whole new adventure!!! Since we’ve arrived, we’ve been getting our hands dirty on the new NOTCOT Nashvillle Project House! An cute little post WWII bungalow on a half acre of overgrown jungle in adorable East Nashville - with some of our favorite spots minutes away, and the huge park and river SO close! And of course, we’re also exploring and finding new inspiration all over the city - as often as we come back, there’s always more to discover and so much that has changed (even since December!) For those who keep asking - are we moving to Nashville? Probably not. Will we be back and forth between LA and Nashville more? Possibly…

Anyhow - if you’re ready to see the fun, madness, and laborious adventures - to the next page!

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*notcot - 04.02.16 , 09:21 -

Eastern SoCal Bday Adventures!

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Shawn (+ Bucky) and I love a good road trip - exploring new places, finding new spots in old places, and just seeing where the road (or dirt paths) take us! For his 30th birthday, we decided to carve 60 hours out of our busy schedule to hop in the NOTFZJ80, and aim southeast… exploring our way out to Murrieta and Temecula on our way to hide out in Julian (for pie! and nature time in a little cabin on top of a hill amongst 30 acres of wildlife refuge!)… with a day trip to the Salton Sea and off roading to/thru The Slot in Anza Borrego… and swinging back home through Ramona, Poway, and up the coast via San Diego.

It was an amazing and rejuvenating trip filled with surprises! Also… Julian Pie Co. is still worth the drive after all these years. Mmmm that dutch apple pie. (Also the cherry pie. And the take and bake chicken pot pie was divine in the cabin on a rainy night!) There were far more breweries and wineries than we ever expected out there! Best find was definitely the Refuge Brew Blood Orange Wit! So delicious, and the can is gorgeous! Apparently Bucky is more interested in bunnies than squirrels… and deer and horses just aren’t that exciting anymore to him. We found a lot of similar Land Cruisers out at the Slot and squeezed through as far as we could!!! Who knew there’s even a Camel Dairy in Ramona along the highway!

Check out our mini adventure in pictures on the next page!

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*notcot - 03.18.16 , 15:54 -

Timothy J. Reynolds for North Face 2016

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The North Face Homestead Collection grabbed me instantly with the popping faceted, shadowy graphics… which are by 3D illustrator Timothy J. Reynolds. They feel like a modern digi-camo taken to a whole new level… you’d blend right into a vintage video game campsite made of polygons? Somehow the Americans get red, and the UK get green (and their tent comes with the Tentertainment system?!?!) - but both are pretty stunning. Discovering the Homestead Collection on Timothy’s twitter, i had to know more! See the pictures and more details of the collection on the next page!

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*notcot - 01.01.16 , 09:13 -

NOTFZJ80: Off-roading Arches National Park

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There’s an incredible 20+ miles of unpaved/4x4 trails in Arches National Park! And it’s especially spectacular on a sunny, snow covered winter day! Also incredibly - while there were tons of tourists packing ever view point on the main roads, we spent hours off-roading and taking in the stunning rock formations without seeing another car - or person! The funny thing is that we’d tried to go find some of the off roading trails around Moab, but many of them were heavily snowed in and pretty unpassable, so on the way home we figured we’d cruise through Arches quickly to get a peek at what to explore next time… but then we looked down at the map… noticed the 4x4 trails… and a few hours later we popped back out of the park! The trail put our NOTFZJ80 (and our driving skills) to the test - and it handled fantastically. Take a look at our adventure - and if you find yourself that way, we definitely recommend it. Lots of pictures and videos on the next page.

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*notcot - 12.31.15 , 19:35 -

Epic Holiday Road Trip: LA-Nashville-LA

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It has been QUITE the holiday season this year. 2015 will definitely be remembered for all the labs in our life… from Shawn’s Beast who lived to 12.5 years old, our Bucky the NOTpuppy, and the brand new Caleb! With Beast getting ill, family situations, and more - an Aspen christmas turned into an epic 3 week 5000+ mile road trip for Shawn, Bucky, and I in the NOTFZJ. We quickly went from LA to Kingman, AZ to Albuquerque, NM, Fayetteville, AR over to Nashville where we spent a week and a half with his family before venturing back west slightly slower. On the way back we bounced from Nashville through tornado weather over to Columbia, MO to amazing BBQ in Kansas City, spending the night in Burlington, CO… venturing to dim sum and dog parks in Denver/Boulder for Christmas, out to Grand Junction, CO… then ending up in a tiny cabin high in the La Sal Mountains in Utah for two nights… offroading the incredible trails in Arches National Park… then on to St George, UT and finally back home to LA yesterday. PHEW Exhausting and amazing to recap all the places we’ve been, the things we’ve seen… and on the next page is only the @notlabs instagram highlights! The journey as been incredibly fun, exhausting, eye opening, and thought provoking on so many levels - so jump in and see what we’ve been up to on the next page while i go relax and reflect on how awesome 2015 has been!

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*notcot - 10.28.15 , 16:30 -

INSPIRATION: North Park, San Diego

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Sometimes you just need to get away… catch up with an old friend… take a day trip… for tacos… and donuts on the beach… and check out some fun new shops… and that’s just what we did! Day trip to San Diego to see the new spots in North Park… and cruising up the coast to see what’s new in Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside… and stopping off in the OC for soup dumplings and puffles! Check out the inspiration and goodies we found along the way on the next page!

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