This is What

On Letters and Things

2012-01-02T13:45:00.000-08:00

In some respects I have old fashioned taste. While I embrace the ways in which technology lets us communicate quickly and efficiently, I still love the old fashioned art of letter writing. I love the feel of good paper and seeing ink on the page. When I open a letter, I imagine the writer sitting down and thinking of me as they wrote. This fills me with joy.

When I have time, I love to make cards for friends and family by hand. However, I admit that I don't do this as often as I would like, but I am usually glad when I take the time to do this. Usually I opt for a collage technique. Recently, I've enjoyed using scraps from an old wallpaper sample book my mom gave me.

When I don't have time to make a card I love using cards from small letterpresses. As we enter the new year, I've been thinking about stocking up for the upcoming birthdays and weddings in 2012. Esty offers some lovely options. Here are some of my favorites.

Berry Birthday from Smock.

"Congratulations on tying the knot" by Leland Manufactory

Cupcake Wrapper Letterpress Birthday Card from FINE DAY PRESS

Special Occasions Letterpress Variety Pack from ilee

I wish you all a letter-filled and joyous 2012.

All Etsy images from their respective owners.

Packing up

2011-12-15T04:31:00.000-08:00

I am not a great packer. I aspire to be one of those people who flits away for a weekend and can produce stunning outfits from a tiny piece of luggage. I am not that girl. I have read articles about how to pack, the types of luggage to buy and how to fold clothing correctly but to no avail. Most of the time I end up with a too heavy bag and nothing to wear. While this problem is a combination of luggage and clothing; I think having the right suitcase can help lead to accurate packing. Over the past year and half in Romania, I've been traveling a far bit and I can admit I have become a bit better at packing. However, I am still lacking the right luggage.

This summer I went to Germany. I brought the one rolling suitcase that I own which in the States has always fit in the overhead bins, but I discovered in Europe the bins are smaller. Thus it rendered my carry-on not that. I have now found myself in the market for a smaller suitcase that will actually fit in smaller overhead bins. I also am the kind of girl that will fill space if I have it, so limiting the size is a must for my success.

I was recently inspired but an advert for The Container Store and have been looking around to see what my options are. Here is some luggage that is currently inspiring me:

Sherpani Meridian LE Wheeled Luggage 22" from REI $175

Orla Kiely Travel Set from Garnet Hill $138 - $305

Rolling Tote from The Container Store - $169


A la Carte Bagg from The Container Store - $69 (this is made to stack on the Rolling Tote above)

All images from their respective owners.

Clutches and purses and bags, oh my!

2011-10-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

In my current existence in Romania I only have two purses. One is a fake leather one that was a free gift with purchase at DSW a couple years ago and the other was a gift last year, it's small and cute and cloth. Both are nice, but have taken quite a beaten from the amount of use they have received in my Peace Corps life. The lining of the fake leather one is ripping away from the outer shell. They will both last me until I leave Romania, but I have begun to dream of a new purse for when I return. I picture a buttery leather, something that I can hopefully use in whatever job awaits me.

I believe that to find the right purse you must touch it; to feel the weight of it on your shoulder and make sure it fits all your "necessities." Today I found myself looking at some beauties that I would definitely like to check out in person.

Gypsy from Hobo International

Newsstand tote from J. Crew

Kirtley satchel from J. Crew

Brompton hobo from J. Crew


Lovingly Prescribed Satchel from Anthropologie

Orla Kiely Stem Print Medium Tote from Garnet Hill

Umbria Leather Shoulder Bag from Garnet Hill

images from their respective owners

Hidden Work Spaces

2011-09-20T01:56:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I was obsessed with the Brambly Hedge book series by Jill Barklem. I loved the elaborate and tiny illustrations of the mice homes. My favorite story was The Secret Staircase, a story about two mice children finding the abandoned royal hall of the hedge they inhabited. The children find the key to a secret door that leads them on an adventure. It's not an uncommon theme for children's books, but this was before I was capable of reading about Narnia and long before Harry Potter was created.

As an adult, my love for the secret spaces had translated into a love of hidden away work spaces and convertible furniture. I love the idea of being able to hide the television or computer when they are not in use. Also, I know that my desk always tend to be organized chaos and I like being able to hide my piles of paper away when they are not in use. Recently, I've seen a lot of people converting old wardrobes, dressers and entertainment units into work spaces and I love this idea!

I love the cheerful bright pattern inside this one!

An idea for a pattern on the outside!

To be honest, I don't like color or pattern here, but the idea is clever.

Or a giant, unused(?) closet can be transformed into an oasis.

images from their respective owners

Birthday Calendars

2011-07-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

My grandmother had a birthday calendar in her hallway; with 11 children and an ever increasing number of grandchildren it was necessary. The concept of the birthday calendar is simple; it's a year-less calendar with days so you can just pen in the birthdays. My grandmother's calendar featured Monet's impressionist paintings that were perfect for a year-less calender, adding to its timeless, dreamy quality.

I've been searching for one for a number of years and I finally feel like I am getting close to the right one. The challenge is to find images that you will enjoy year after year. Long live the birthday calendar!

Birthday Calendar from Linda & Harriett

letterpress birthday calendar by larkpress on Etsy

Time Flies Birthday Calendar from ModCloth

images from their respective owners

Pillows!

2011-07-09T01:17:00.000-07:00

I love this video for "Is There a Ghost" by Band of Horses and it made me contemplate great bed linens. I have always been a fan of cheerful bed linens. I always think it's a great place to play with patterns and colors in a room, plus you can make your bed and throw on a plain duvet and no one needs to know what is underneath. Here are some of my current favorites for a colorful and summery bed.

Woodland Organic Sheet Set from Pottery Barn

Everyday Percale Bedding from Garnet Hill

I Heart Trees Percale paired with French Dot Percale, both from Garnet Hill

Flecked Stripes Sheet Set from Anthropologie

images from their respective owners

Autumnal Closet

2011-07-06T04:43:00.000-07:00

It's July, but it feels like October. We've been having rain, wind and clouds aplenty. I don't mind this as long as I have a good book, a blanket and endless cups of tea and coffee.

As it felt like fall, I started thinking of more fall fashion. Here are some goodies I recently saw online that I thought could be layered for cooler weather. I love a sweet dress paired with leggings and boots.

Souvenir dress from J. Crew

Rib-knit long open cardigan from Banana Republic

I also love this whole outfit from J. Crew, but especially the Pouch pocket cardigan

Blues and Golds and Everything Goes

2010-12-03T15:41:00.001-08:00

Marimekko Linens from Crate and Barrel.

Harvested Honey Coat from Anthropologie.

This is Something New

2010-05-31T08:16:00.000-07:00

The original concept for this blog was a play by play of my life. The idea was to post often with reports of what I had been doing like, "This is what I did over the weekend..." Kind of lame, I know, but it was my way of dipping my toe is the blogosphere. Unfortunately, I didn't do a great job of keeping up with the blog, but I did create a sort of digital scrapbook of things I was enjoying. My main problem was that I felt I wasn't really doing enough in my life. I had the job, the apartment, the car, the occasional trip, family and friends, but I always felt that something was missing.

I felt like something was holding me back from being fully engaged in my life and committing to where I was. I watched friends get married, buy houses, going to graduate school and have babies, but my life seemed static. However, it's hard to want to make a change if your life is comfortable. I am fortunate enough to have great family and friends, but this made the idea of making a big change even harder. Finally, about a year and a half ago I decided that pursue one dream that I had always had.

I had always dreamed of living abroad and joining the Peace Corps. I decided to apply and spent the next 6 months doing paperwork and having interviews with no concept of my chances of getting in. Over a year and a half after originally applying I got accepted for a post teaching English in Romania. When I got accepted I was completely at a loss. I evaluated all the things I loved in my life and almost declined. However, I thought about all the milestones my friends had passed and the feelings that I had when I watched them doing exciting things. Therefore, I came to the decision that I could not decline this opportunity. Therefore, I have a new blog: Mo-Mania.

High Line

2010-05-05T23:53:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I visited some of my dear friends in New York. The weekend was full of many great experiences. I watched one of my closest friends get ordained at a rabbi, met a friend's new baby, basked in the sun in Central Park, and went on a historic scavenger hunt in the financial district. One of best places that I visited was High Line. A garden park on the West Side of Manhattan that sits on an old elevated train platform. You can read about the history of the park here.

Only a portion of the park is finished at this time, but it is well worth a trip. I plan to make another visit on my next trip to the city to see the new section that is due to open in 2011.

Waiting

2010-02-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

NPR's All Songs Considered featured the below amazing song by the lead singer of Sigur Ros, Jonsi Birgisson. The album won't be out until late March, but I can't wait to share this song. I love it and I hope you do too!

Lovely things

2010-02-12T09:23:00.001-08:00

Spring is in the air and I am inspired by bright colors and interesting designs. Below are a few things I am currently loving.

The ultimate cardigan
I may own this beauty in 2 colors already, but I can't help coveting even more! The sweater has some cashmere in it too, so it's warm and soft.
GAP ($49)

Chains Indoor-Outdoor Rug
Cost Plus World Market ($39 to $479 depending on size)

Vera Neumann Scenic Mugs
Anthropologie ($8 each)

Currently Listening: Sonos

2010-01-24T13:31:00.000-08:00

I love White Winter Hymnal by the Fleet Foxes and Sonos does a great cover. They were featured on NPR this morning. They are also coming to Seattle on February 5th. I think I am going to have to get tickets!

Christmas Ornaments 2009

2010-01-08T17:07:00.000-08:00

My review of 2009 would be mixed. However, I can confidently say that creatively I missed my mark. I am hoping 2010 will give me more time to focus on things I enjoy doing and that I will have more to show from it. I did manage to squeeze out a couple ornaments for friends this Christmas.

For Sarah, Dan, and Hazel a tree:I also made a little ornament stocking for Hazel's first Christmas, but I forgot to take a photo of that one.

A beaver for my friend in Portland. Her last name is Beaver, if you're wondering.
As for projects that I started in 2009 that I am hoping to finish in 2010:

needle felted squirrel
2009 summer travel photo album
Amy Butler travel bag (to be fair I never even started this one, I just have the pattern)
framing prints
the great American novel

Holiday Romance

2009-12-04T00:42:00.000-08:00

During the holiday season I spend a lot of time day dreaming about going on perfect Seattle holiday outings. In reality, December runs away from me as I dart from one obligation to another. This year rather than wasting my time dreaming about a lot of things I will never get to I thought I would share my ideas for wintry Seattle dates and hope they could be of use to someone out there.

1. Candy Canes, Christmas Lights and Bread Pudding: Dress for the evening chill. Start at NE 55th St and 30th St NE. Walk east on 55th down the hill, across 25th and veer to the right as 55th becomes Ravenna Ave NE. Walk north two blocks and stay on Ravenna as it veers left. Walk one more block and on the right side of the street you will see the entrance to Candy Cane Lane (The street is named NE Park Rd). Wander through Candy Cane Lane and enjoy the lights and decorations (you can drive this if it's bitterly cold). When you have had your fill of lights walk back to your starting point, hopefully you have worked up an appetite! You will conveniently be at Pair where they serve a mean bread pudding and many other delicious options (Pair is open Tues-Sat).

2. Escape the Chill: Head to the Volunteer Park Observatory to look at their winter display of Gardenias, Poinsettias, Azaleas, Forced Bulbs and enjoy the warmth of the greenhouse. The Observatory is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bonus points: Enjoy a killer view of the city from inside the old water tower in the park, located directly south of the observatory. Climb up 106 steps to see a great city scape (and mountain view if the weather is clear).

3. Crafts and Cappuccinos: December 5th and 6th the Phinney Neighborhood Association puts on a wonderful winter festival filled with lots of unique gifts made by local artists. My highlights last year were a letterpress desk calendar and a cool necklace for my sister-in-law. At 5pm, after you exhaust yourself shopping, head up the street to Oliver's Twist (70th and Greenwood Ave N) for a mini grilled cheese, a tomato cappuccino and the best French 75 in Seattle.

4. Finding a Tree: Growing up my parents were always supporters of giving trees. We would go to a local shopping center and my brother and I would each pick one tag to and buy a gift for someone less fortunate. It's a tradition I still find enjoyable. I couldn't find much info about finding giving tree locations online, but I know the Olympic Athletic Club has one and I found this link for the Phinney/Greenwood Neighborhood trees. I think most malls still have them too.

5. The Best Coffee in Seattle and Santa (I think this might be heaven): Get an eggnog latte or a traditional latte at Monorail Espresso (520 Pike Street). Then wander over to 6th and Pine and watch kids get their portrait with Santa. Maybe you even head in yourself and get your own photo with Santa, this is a nonjudgmental blog.

Happy Holidays!

A Week

2009-11-25T15:30:00.000-08:00

Although we only have three days at the office this week, it's been more than exhausting. We have had a restructuring and a lot of goodbyes have had to be said. I've been listening to Bon Iver to take the edge off.

Setting the Table

2009-11-25T15:12:00.000-08:00

In a perfect world, I would have gigantic kitchen cupboards to fill with stacks of dishes for endless dinner parties. In reality I have a small kitchen with even smaller cupboards so I content myself with daydreaming of a pantry filled with items from Fishs Eddy like the below.

Happy Birthday Sesame Street!

2009-11-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

Growing up we were only allowed to watch PBS and Saturday morning cartoons. I was (am) a huge fan of Sesame Street. The show had been educating and entertaining kids for 40 years now! I can't say I've adjusted to Elmo (I am more of a Grover fan) but I love the continual effort the show has put into holding the attention of each new generation of kids.

NPR replayed a great interview with Caroll Spinney, who plays Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, this week. He explains how he morphed Big Bird from a simple character to a more childlike creature. I couldn't help but include the below clip that I remember watching when I was little, I think it was one of the first times I learned the concept of death. The adult political conversation at the beginning is also awesome, I don't think they have scenes quite like this on the current show. I will warn you reader, that I still can't get through the clip without crying.

Lost in Translation

2009-11-07T14:25:00.000-08:00

Last week I decided to be brave and joined an online dating site. I've spent a few days poking around the site and felt generally inspired. Reading profiles is a entertaining and dangerous way to pass time. There was one profile that I couldn't help but linger over. The profile started normal: general likes and dislikes, background, what he's looking for, etc. He ended with this, saying "now for some humor:"

A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he wants. is
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't want

A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

To be happy with a man you must understand him a lot and love him a little.
To be happy with a woman you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.

Married men live longer than single men.
But married men are a lot more willing to die.

Any married man should forget his mistakes.
No sense two people remembering the same thing

Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change and she does.

A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

Tip to guys creating profiles out there, sexist jokes aren't really that likely to make the ladies want to date you. Or at least not this lady.

In a Word, Awesome

2009-11-07T14:11:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday, my roomie and I went to see David Gray in concert. I had never seen him live before and he is amazing! He played straight for over two hours with no breaks, even his band took a break, but he kept on playing. His voice was perfection and he seemed to truly be having fun on stage. I can't say enough about it. If you are a fan, I think you must see him live.

Lisa Hannigan, Damien Rice's former musical partner, opened for him. She was also great. Her new album, Sea Sew, is lovely (listen to the above interview for more details about this). During the show she also covered Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode which was very fun. I found the below video from an earlier stop on the tour.

Attention: it is October 29th!

2009-10-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

Today is October 29th, I headed to my local drugstore, Bartell Drugs, for Halloween treats. While strolling the aisles, I noticed the music being played in the store. Christmas carols. I do love a good carol, but it's still October. Somehow the chorus of "snowflakes falling" wasn't quite as compelling as I was starring a bags of trick-or-treating candy.

Advice for an Uncle

2009-10-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

My uncle often tells a story about the day of his high school graduation. He graduated from high school in the early sixties. As he was walking to the ceremony in his cap and gown, an elderly woman stopped him on the sidewalk to congratulate him. As he thanked her, she offered him a piece of advice. “Savor these times,” she said, “high school was the happiest time of my life.” He remembers mumbling thanks and walking away and then thinking to himself that this is the worst advice he has ever received.

My uncle laughs a lot when he tells this story. He remembers being scared for a second and wondering, “What if this was the best time of my life?” Then he laughs a little more. In his sixties now, he confidently says that each year has been better than the one before. I hope in my sixties I can say the same thing with just as much laughter.

Current Listening

2009-10-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

In a few weeks I am going to see David Gray in concert. I have loved his music since I was a barista at Starbucks in college. White Ladder was sold through the Hear Music station in the store I worked in. It was one of the few albums that wasn't painful after the 500th listen. Believe me, there were some bad ones!

I have been listening to the newest David Gray album, Draw the Line, in preparation for the show. I can't quite pick a favorite song, but Jackdaw is in the top three. I love the song opening more and more each time I hear it.

Light Bright

2009-10-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

Last spring while shopping at a flea market I bought a giant glass lamp. I was attracted to the design in the glass and was sure it would look lovely when lit up. It was only $20 because the wiring was faulty, also because it weighed a lot and I am sure the seller just wanted to get rig of it. The lady who sold it to me urged me not to plug it in as it would cause the fuse to blow (I think she learned this the hard way). I heeded her advice and was sure my dad could teach me how to rewire it. It only took me about 6 months to buy all the supplies and get a lesson from my dad.

It costs an additional $15 to get the new wire, a more attractive chain, a new plug and a switch. I also had my dad help me hang the lamp to make sure the ceiling wouldn't fall down, but here are the results and I am quite pleased! Not too bad for a $35 investment and a little elbow grease!

I am old

2009-10-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went to a housewarming party for some friends. Five young people renting a house with a fire-pit in the backyard, what could be better?

I arrived between 8:30 - 9:00pm; I hung out, ate some delicious food and chatted with people. Finally I started to feel sleepy, it seemed late. The party was still raging and beer pong was starting, but I was driving so I skedaddled thinking it was quite late. When I got in my car and looked at the time I saw it was only 10:30pm. I am officially an old person.

Would You Rather...

2009-10-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite books growing up was Would You Rather... by John Burningham. The book is filled with ridiculous dilemmas like, "Would you rather... get crushed by a snake, swallowed by a fish, eaten by a crocodile, and sat on by a rhinoceros?" or "Would you rather... your dad did a dance at school or your mom made a fuss in a cafe?" I found the absurdity of the book hilarious (and still do).

If given a "would you rather" situation today I would be least likely to accept a karaoke challenge. I would much rather be swallowed by a fish. I wish I could sing; I love the idea of being able to hold a tune or have rhythm, but I simply have none. Last night, however, I was listening to an old music mix and I found a song that I think I could do in karaoke. It helps that I listened to this song endlessly in middle school. So without further ado, The Lemonheads. Make sure to note the awesome dancing in this video too.

Warning

2009-10-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

Warning: the below song is a little corny, but I love it! I love the Carter and Cash, via Phoenix and Witherspoon, vibe of the video. Please enjoy!

Rainbow Connection

2009-09-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

Last night I was talking to my roommate about kids music she could play for her kindergarten class that wouldn't be painful for her to listen to. I mentioned that Jason Mraz does a great cover of The Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie. She had never heard of The Rainbow Connection. I was shocked! So, I dedicate this post to her.

Also, here is the Jason Mraz cover.

On the Shelf

2009-09-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

I don't like to read past the first few sentences of book jackets. I find the summaries frustrating, usually giving away far too much of plot of a book. In a slow book, one hundred pages into a story I wonder why I have bothered reading something that was eloquently summed up in a short paragraph on the back of a book. I like to see characters outlined in the way the author set out to do it, which in most cases is slowly.

I like the idea of a character to be exposed in pieces, like peeling back layers of an onion. Chapter one you meet Joe, chapter three you find out he lives alone, chapter five you find he is widower, chapter seven you discover his addiction, etc. Rather than the dust jacket which is likely to say; "Recently widowed, Joe lives alone, struggling with alcoholism." This is why when I picked up Love is a Four-Letter Word, I didn't really pick up on the theme of the short stories. I didn't read beyond the first few sentences in the jacket synopsis.

I knew the idea of the book was supposed to be love told from the other side. However, I didn't realize that all the first person narratives were going to take one of two veins. Either they would focus on a significant other who turns out to be a complete asshole and hurts the author or the narrator would be the one inflicting the hurt on their lover. I had picked Love is a Four-Letter Word thinking that some stories would be ultimately be redeeming, but this was not the case. In the end the reason I had picked up the book, focusing on the word love is what I walked away not wanting. I would only recommend picking up this book if you want to feel that nothing will ever quite work out.

Autumn Evening

2009-09-25T16:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel myself slipping into a complete and utter funk. I wish I had the ability to sit down and just have a good cry and get over it, but I don't. I apt to wallow until I am able to kick my thoughts of despair.

Last night I felt myself slipping. I thought in order to kick this mood, I would go watch a movie that I knew would make me cry. I thought crying about someone or something else might help put things in perspective. I chose "The Boys Are Back," the story of a sports journalist, Joe, played by Clive Owen, who finds himself being a single parent after his second wife dies of cancer. Joe has spent his life traveling the world covering sporting events arriving home to play with his six-year-old son and deliver "pressies," but has never had to really discipline his son. Joe's teenage son from his first marriage also arrives from overseas wanting to get to know the father he has only know from afar. Joe caves under the pressure of being a single parent to two boys he doesn't really know while dealing with own grief and non supportive in-laws.

Joe creates a "just say yes" philosophy, trying to make up for the loss of his wife and his inadequacies as a father. Ultimately, as you can imagine, this does not work. However, the film goes about showing this in a creative and non-cliched way. Joe seeks to build a family with his boys that will not crumble under the strain of everyday life.

In the end, this movie did not quite create the tears I thought it would. The story focuses on moving on with life rather than grieving. I walked away from the theater satisfied and in a little less of a funk.

Sideways by Citizen Cope

2009-09-23T10:00:00.001-07:00

My lovely friends Sara and Jay used this song as their first dance at their wedding last week and now I can't get it out of my head.

It is a good day when

2009-09-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

You receive the following e-mail:

Congratulations! You have officially ordered delicious, freshly-baked cupcakes over the internet!

Thanks Internet (and Cupcake Royale)!

Back to reality...

2009-08-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

You don't have to be Peter Pan to have a distaste for getting older. For the most part I have loved getting older (and hopefully a little wiser), but I do have one complaint. The lack of vacation time.

Every June, I feel like I am missing something. It gets harder to go into work as I know kids everywhere are getting let out for summer vacation. However, this summer I was able to remedy that a little bit. I took vacation for 2 1/2 weeks to Norway and France. This is the longest vacation I've had since 2002. It was a great relief. I haven't fully gotten back to Seattle time, but I am working on it.

Here are a few photos from my time in Norway.

First Train Home

2009-07-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

I can't wait for Imogen Heap's new album to be released. I'm hoping she comes to Seattle again soon.

Coffee of the Day

2009-07-24T21:54:00.001-07:00

Available at tableandhome.com.

Some day...

2009-07-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

I hope to have a wedding this awesome.

Doctor, doctor

2009-07-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to the doctor. I saw a new doctor and as she was getting familiar with my chart, she piped up with, "Oh, I'm twenty-eight too!" The first thing that crossed my mind was, "Damn, what have I done with my life?" The idea that someone my age could have both figured out what they want to do with their life and finished all the schooling necessary to go into the profession was a little humbling to say the least. Regardless of my intimidation, my doctor was great and it was nice to have someone my age to talk to.

Her Morning Elegance - Oren Lavie

2009-07-08T11:50:00.001-07:00

28 Things

2009-06-24T14:45:00.000-07:00

Today I am turning the big two eight. As I officially move into my late twenties, I have decided to reflect on things I have learned throughout my twenty-eight years.

I have learned how to make delicious oatmeal chocolate chip walnut cookies.
I can not brush my teeth without ending up with toothpaste all over my face no matter how hard I try.
Rattlesnake isn't a totally revolting meat.
In a car vs. marta battle; the car always wins.
I can run 13.1 miles as long as I can take it slow.
When trying to be health conscious it's not really a good idea in all recipes to substitute apple sauce for butter, no matter how many cookbooks endorse this. Right, Elizabeth?
Travel is great as long as you have home as the final destination.

I wish my stuffed animals did this

2009-06-07T23:53:00.001-07:00

Heard on KUOW today: "Today's day sponsors are lion and polar bear wishing Rosa a happy 9th birthday."

National Cathedral

2009-05-19T15:21:00.000-07:00

I was in Washington DC over the weekend and visited the National Cathedral for the first time. I found the whole building breathtaking. Growing up in Seattle I haven't seen many buildings of such grand scale.

Flexible and Mellow

2009-04-29T22:22:00.000-07:00

Today I was standing in line at Trader Joe's and the girl in front of me in line was flirting with the checker. She was telling him how she was really into yoga and had just been to a great class. He said he'd never tried yoga, but he thought he would be good at it because he was very flexible. She said, "Oh yeah?" He said, "Yeah, I'm very flexible and mellow."

It was then my turn to check out and they both turned towards me; I made the mistake of saying the first thing that popped into my head. "Wow, that sounds like quite the personal ad."

Well Played, Internets, Well Played

2009-04-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

The newest and most entertaining time waster I've seen yet.

texts from last night

Now, where is my phone?

Literary Journal Publication

2009-04-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

One of the photos I took on my recent trip to California was published in Wanderlust, a great new online literary journal focused on travel. You can see a larger version of my photo in Wanderlust here.

For information on submission guidelines read the FAQs here.

Redesigned Designs

2009-04-15T00:36:00.000-07:00

Astrid Chair, Naive Tropical from Anthropology $1298

Gerber Upholostered Chair from Target $299

Canary Print Armless Chair from Target $299

Risk

2009-04-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

I have thinking a lot about risk lately and what makes me afraid to take it. I have spent the past few years struggling to figure out what I want to do with my life, but when push comes to shove I find myself inextricably stuck. I think about where I would like to be and try to visualize my future, but I find myself unable to make the leap. I am full of excuses and I seem to hold myself back. I thought making a list of some the excuses I make might be helpful.

Excuses for not making potentially life changing risks:

Fear of failure
Not being financially secure
Dreams not being the reality
Having to start climbing the ladder again
Being afraid to be away from family and friends
The unstable economy (I feel I should be grateful for the job I have, but I still fell stuck)
Fear of the unfamiliar
Not wanting to do things alone
Fear of embarrassment

2009-04-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday evening I got a haircut. I've been going to the same person for about 5 years and have had a number of different cuts and colors with her. For some reason we started chatting about where to part your hair. She told me that I should really be parting my hair on the other side as that is my "softer side." I don't really understand why, but I went along with it. For the past couple days I've been trying to get used to having my hair on the other side, it feels a bit like I have a comb over. I would like to apologize to all the people out there that I've been facing with my hard side. I hope the new soft side of me will treat you much better.

This Just In

2009-03-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

Minutes from the fun committee meeting just arrived in my mailbox - so not fun.

Wine Country Snaps

2009-03-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

This is What is Not

2009-03-20T10:27:00.001-07:00

My division at work has a new leader who decided to start a 'fun committee.' The group will be responsible for planning events, volunteer activities, and building team spirit and community. I thought it was a cool idea, even if the name was lame, and signed up. We had our first meeting yesterday. I can confirm one thing after the meeting, having a two page agenda with time allocations for each item is not really my idea of fun.

It could have been a great beginning.

2009-03-19T23:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was excited to learn that Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett is being made into a movie. I told my boss how cute the trailer was and she paused and said, "Great title, but I have no idea what you are talking about." I was sad because she has a little one and I decided that it's a book he needs to grow up with. So last night I went to remedy it.

I went to Half Price Books on Capitol Hill and poked around the kids book section for a while until I realized I had no idea who the author or any hope of finding it. I went to the front desk and asked the very cute guy working at the desk for the author. I said the title and he gave me a surprised look. I said, "It's a kid's book." He said, "No, I know! I was just thinking I should know the author, I totally remember that book!" I explained to him why I looking for the book at 10:00pm on a Wednesday, which I'm sure made me look even weirder. After I got the author I wandered back to the section and found one copy. I sat on the floor and read the book cover to cover, reveling in the story of the people of Chewandswallow. I then walked by the front desk as I was going to the lower level to look in the adult books.

As I walked by the desk, the previously mentioned cute guy said, "Oh, did you not find it?" I said, "No, I found it. I was just reading it. It was still good." He smiled. I asked him if he wanted to read it while I looked downstairs. He looked a little hesitant, I said, "You know you want to*." He said, "Yes, I do." When I got back upstairs he was changing shifts at the front desk, but telling the guy taking over for him to make sure to give the book back to me. He thanked me for sharing the book. Sadly, this ends my tale, but as Carrie Bradshaw would say, "I couldn't help but wonder..."

* Author's note: Clearly reading a book from the 1980's transported me back to my elementary school manners. I should have just pinched him and ran away.

This is What I Actually Love

2009-03-19T01:57:00.000-07:00

Recently one of my co-workers accused me of being a hater (in an over the top sort of way). As many people around the office started to weigh in on my the things I abhor I started to think about all the stuff I like. This evening I found myself digging through some old boxes to find my happy thoughts list. My friends and I all started making list in eight grade when 14,000 Things to Be Happy About: The Happy Book was really popular.

Here are some excerpts from my personal list, most of which was written in 8th & 9th grade, but I still agree with:

leaves changing color
Q cards
thunderstorms
soccer
snow near Christmas
... and they lived happily ever after. The End
cherry trees in bloom
otters
tea time
the smell of summer rain
vegetable gardens
soft wool socks
frost
coffee
getting mail
skeeball
hedgehogs
clothes fresh out of the dryer
valentines
fro yo
sidewalk chalk
art classes
phone calls from friends just to say hello
fresh mint
weekends
Queen Anne's lace
family
yoga
waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of rain
Mariner's 1995 season
road trips
the Garden of the Gods
Westminster Chimes
freesia
secret compartments
saving the best for last
giving people presents
the edge of sleep
scarves
taking pictures
friends
snorkeling
mix tapes
home

Ab Time

2009-03-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

I joined a new gym three weeks ago and yesterday while I was there I decided to look at the class schedule to see if there was a class I wanted to attend. This comes with the caveat that I have an intense fear of any aerobics type class. I have no rhythm and find that these classes provide much more stress that they are worth for me. By the time I finally get the hang of any move the class has invariably moved on to the next step and it's always awful to be watching yourself in a mirror and see you are the one always the one person on the opposite beat of everyone else.

On the class schedule there was a 25 minute class entitled "Awesome Abs." I figured that this class wouldn't have any aerobics or dance moves I could screw up and if it did I could handle 25 minutes of humiliation if I was on the road to "awesome abs."
I showed up at the class which is held on the gym's basketball court, I looked all around and couldn't figure out who the instructor was going to be so I asked one of the students what I needed for the class. She told me I'd need a mat, step, barbell, band and hand weights. The class started and about 15 minutes into the class we had only used the mat. I thought it was a little odd. What I did not know was that "Awesome Abs" leads directly into "NRC Bar." I still don't know what NRC stands for, but what I do know that it was an hour long class full of crazy aerobic moves while you are holding a barbell, hand weights or jumping on and off a step.

The best part was that I got a barbell without really knowing what I was going to be using it for, thinking that in a 25 minute ab class I could go for a heavier barbell. This was a big mistake. I also have terrible balance which made the whole experience even more interesting. In the end, I couldn't help but just laugh at myself and enjoy my totally uncoordinated workout.

Changing It Up

2009-02-24T00:04:00.000-08:00

Spring is in the air (or at least I hope it is) and I've been gearing up to do the annual spring closet purge and try to sort through the detritus I seem to gather. I have a bit of a hard time getting rid of stuff and always feel daunted with the piles of stuff that accumulate around me.

As I was trying to sort through stuff I realized I wanted some sort of change in my room. It came in the form of a new bedside lamp. I purchased a couple lit branches from the University Bookstore and put them in a vase I had. The pictures don't quite do the best job because I had to turn off the flash for the "after" shot, but hopefully you'll get the idea.

Before:

After:

This is What I Get

2009-02-23T11:26:00.000-08:00

My office is extremely casual. We have a large concentration of computer engineers in our building and we don't share any common space with other businesses which makes it even more casual. I routinely see people walking around in sweatpants, there are even a few who walk around in socks or bare feet. If you dress up it breeds a level of suspicion. I been hounded with questions about it I am going out to interview just because I've worn a skirt.

I wear jeans to work quite a bit, but I also try to dress up a few times a week just so I stay in the practice of looking somewhat presentable. Today, however, it bit me in the butt. My boss comes into my office and comes to my side of the desk to see what I am wearing. She says, "Oh good, you're dressed up today." I immediately sense trouble. I am wearing black flats, black slacks, a gray and black striped sweater, and little pseudo blazer made of sweatshirt material from H&M. Apparently I now have to go to what I've sure will be a very painful meeting with a potential client and one of our sales guys because I wore something nice.

Tomorrow I am going to wear sweatpants!

Happiness

2009-02-19T14:08:00.000-08:00

It's been a down couple weeks for me. After growing up in Seattle I thought I was immune to the winter blues, but I think working in a windowless office has finally done it to me. I went to the doctor and got a recommendation of a combination of vitamins to take and that seems to have helped a little bit. However, I have finally found something to cheer me up...

Griffey is coming back to Seattle! While I personally was always a little more smitten with Dave Valle (I met him at a fan forum when I was 7 or 8), I will always have a soft spot for Griffey and all the fond memories he provided for me and my family in the Kingdom. I especially loved seeing him play with his dad during the 1990-1991 season. I'm hoping this means the Mariners will be back in top form this season.

Somebody's Baby

2009-01-30T10:10:00.000-08:00

Last night on NPR I heard a story I can't stop thinking about. It starts with Charlie LeDuff, a reporter who gets a call about a body at the base of an elevator shaft encased in ice. He goes on to investigate to see if it a hoax and find the body there exactly as it was described to him (you can listen to the story on All Things Considered). As LeDuff investigates further he discovers that the body has been there for a month and nobody made a move to call the police to try to get the body out or identify it. LeDuff was able to get the police to come after two calls and they exhumed the body and are now waiting to conduct an autopsy when the man thaws out. He has committed to do an obituary for the man. As he said on NPR, "Everybody is somebody's baby, right?"

Here is the original story (warning: it does contain images of the body),Frozen in indifference: Life goes on around body found frozen in vacant Detroit warehouse.

Yes We Can

2009-01-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

Florida Photos

2009-01-24T01:30:00.000-08:00

Please enjoy a few miscellaneous photos from my trip to Florida

Not the best photo, but there was a pod of dolphins with a baby offshore.

Snuggie

2009-01-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

Another Song I'm Loving

2009-01-12T16:39:00.000-08:00

Joshua Radin & Ingrid Michaelson on tour Photo by Deborah Lopez

This week I've been enjoying, "Lovely Tonight" a sweet duet with Joshua Radin and Ingrid Michaelson.

New Favorite Song

2009-01-06T12:21:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege of seeing Dala live last fall and I'm so happy to have found a performance of Levi Blues online as the song hasn't been put out on a record yet. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Favorite Children's Books

2008-12-30T16:23:00.000-08:00

My cousin recently called to ask for some book recommendations for a friend's new baby. As someone with former aspirations to be a children's librarian, I realized I had a lot to say on this subject. Here is a list, in no particular order, of some of my favorite books:

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
When Sheep Cannot Sleep: The Counting Book by Satoshi Kitamura
The Frog and Toad Collection by Arnold Lobel
Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel
Vera the Mouse Books by Marjolein Bastin (these may be out of print)
Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban
The Secret Staircase by Jill Barklem
Hippos Go Berserk! by Sandra Boynton
George and Martha: The Complete Story of Two Best Friends by James Marshall
Professor Wormbog in Search of the Zipperump-A-Zoo by Mercer Mayer
Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Ollie the Stomper by Olivier Dunrae

Another great resource is Vintage Kids' Books My Kid Loves.

Quote of the Day

2008-12-30T15:11:00.000-08:00

"It is impossible not to love someone who makes toast for you."
~ Nigel Slater
British cookbook author. Quote from his memoir, Toast.

Pancakes or Patchouli?

2008-12-28T12:29:00.000-08:00

Every year for Christmas my family gets a package from friends in Colorado. The package always contains homemade jam and some baking mixes. This year the package arrived per usual and contained huckleberry pancake mix. The problem began with the fact that the pancake mix was in a cloth bag that smelled like patchouli soap.

I'm sure the mix was purchased at some nice gift shop that sold lots of nice stuff including soap, but it was as if the mix has been stored in a box with soap or incense for a very long time. The aroma was overpowering. I made the suggestion that we should, perhaps, toss the mix. However my dad said that because there was a plastic bag inside the cloth one, "It'll be fine!" I was informed we would be having it for breakfast the next morning.

The next morning my dad makes the pancakes and thinks as he is cooking that it does smell soapy, but thinks it's the cloth bag sitting on the counter. I am served the first pancakes and am presented with a pile of what can only be described as steaming soapy pancakes. I don't want to be deemed as picky and they do look normal so I am brave and take a bite.

This was a big mistake, the pancakes taste just as they smell or maybe worse. My mouth is engulfed with a soapy, horrible flavor. I spit the bite back on to my plate. Luckily, my mom has been equally dubious since she smelled the pancakes cooking and takes a small bite and also spits it back out. We ended up having toast for boxing day breakfast instead.

Random Pretties for 2009

2008-12-26T13:29:00.000-08:00

Winter Fawn by Stephanie Congdon Barnes from her holiday shoppe (Sold Out)

Chasing Feathers Bangle from ModCloth.com ($14.99)

ilee's 2009 Letterpress and Silkscreen Calendar avaliable on etsy.com ($22.00)
I bought one for my mom and one for me!

Christmas Crafting

2008-12-24T19:33:00.000-08:00

I've been busy making a few ornaments this season. I have been experimenting with felt this year. I don't really know how to sew. I can sew on a button, but that's about it. So, its been a bit of a challenge, but I made a couple things that I thought looked pretty good.

A tree for Margaret.

A little owly for Eliza.

A little stocking for Ona.

Filled with a licorice stick!

Selected Holiday Links

2008-12-23T22:57:00.001-08:00

Claymation Christmas "Carol of the Bells"

The Doghouse Video

Claymation Christmas "O Christmas Tree"

Terrible Santa Photo Advent

Betty Crocker Cookie Commercial (totally lame, but it still makes me laugh)

Claymation Christmas "We Three Kings"

This is What Shuts Down Seattle

2008-12-23T10:36:00.000-08:00

Seattle was hit with an unusually large snow storm last week, with a city full of hills and where buses are the only public transportation we've been quite ill equipped for the storm. My boss is calling it Snowmageddon.

Here is the view from my bathroom window.

Some ducks walking on frozen Greenlake.

Below are a few quality news items around Seattle's inability to deal with snow:

Sledders take to area streets, and injuries sometimes follow

Crews Remove Buses From I-5 Near Denny Way

Snow Forces Metro to Shelve Its Lowriders

David Horsey Snow Cartoon

Seattle P-I Reader photos

Seattle refuses to use salt; roads "snow packed" by design

This is what the tree search should always look like

2008-12-15T13:56:00.000-08:00

We had beautiful, if cold, tree hunting weather this weekend. I thought I'd share the festive photos. My mom was very excited to get a non-flocked, "wild," tree.

Admiration

2008-12-10T22:33:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last day catching up on Vinyl Cafe podcasts and admiring the stories of Stuart McLean. His stories are touching, funny, beautiful, and thoughtful. Every time I hear one it makes me appreciate life a little more.

For father's day last year I bought tickets for the live Vinyl Cafe show in Seattle. This October we finally got to go. As we left my theater, my dad turned to me and said, "My stomach hurts." My thoughts immediately turned to the dinner we'd gone to before the show, afraid he was going to be sick. He saw the look on my face and said "No, my stomach hurts from laughing so hard." It was a great evening.

The Vinyl Cafe also encourages people to send in little stories and each week Stuart reads one on the air, "Christmas Tea Rings" is one of my favorites.

Do you know me at all?

2008-12-10T15:50:00.000-08:00

Click on the above to enjoy "Nobody Knows Me At All" by the Weepies, one of my favorites.

Sing-along?

2008-12-10T14:03:00.000-08:00

Last night I attended the Holiday Sing-along with the Seattle Symphony Chorale. I bought the tickets weeks ago. I was so excited to belt out tunes at Benaroya Hall. I conned three friends into going with me.

As we sat in our seats we took out our programs looking to see what songs we were going to sing we noticed a small note at the top of our programs, "The audience is invited to join in on the selections listed in bold." Apparently, it was a selected sing-along. We were invited to take part in approximately 40% of the music. The evening was not exactly panning out the way I thought it would.

Especially odd was the local weatherman, Jeff Dubois, they got to MC the event. Why do you need an MC at a chorale performance? The answer is you don't. In between classical sets to have a weatherman doing "shtick" was just wrong on many, many levels.

Overall, the music was pretty, but it didn't fill Benaroya. I didn't realize that it was only the chorale and not any part of the symphony. They had an organ player who rotated between the piano and organ. It was actually kind of quiet.

The two highlights of the evening were Fantasie on Adeste Fideles which was an organ solo which was unique, to say the least. During the song the dad in the row in front of us leaned over to his son and said, "Do you think he's gone mad?" I thought the dad might be right. During the song I counted five kids that had to be taken out of the hall crying because the song was just too much for them. The show ended with exerpts from the Messiah which were indeed gorgeous and finally highlighted the specialty of the chorale. My recommendation for anyone is to just buy tickets to theMessiah performance and skip the "Sing-along."

Calm

2008-12-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

I am a major escapist reader. My nightstand has a whole shelf of books that I pick up when I want to forget about what is happening in my life for a little while. Most of these books I would never really recommend to anyone else, but they all offer a bit of comfort for this sentimental girl. Perhaps sometime I''ll publish the list.

Today, I would like to share a book that I do feel comfortable recommending to anyone. I laughed and cried and in the end I ended up going back and rereading some of the book. Listening is an Act of Love is a series of interviews done for the StoryCorp where people sign up to go into a booth an interview each other about some portion of their life. It can be a momentous event or just a story about their everyday life. What comes out is remarkable, touching and beautiful.

Check it out from your local library today!

For the mood

2008-12-04T11:57:00.000-08:00

My darling friend Elizabeth sent me this e-card today. It made me smile. Thank you hun!

Ready for the Season?

2008-12-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

Every year I am always excited for the holiday season. I make cards, I bake, I get a tree, I play carols way too much, but this year the season is filling me with dread. In our current economic crisis everything feels excessive. How do you celebrate when you feel like the world is crumbling around you?

Ready to Run?

2008-11-29T23:30:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow morning I will be attempting half marathon #3. The weather looks promising and I am lucky enough to have a few family and friends cheering me on along the way. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

To bed, to sleep and to not dream of running.

Oh Imogen!

2008-11-18T17:21:00.000-08:00

Imogen Heap! How I love her! (see evidence above) On Imogen's vBlog last week she said that the first new song from her album had been illegally recorded at Pop!Tech. I spent a bit of work search for the song, but it was well work it! It's here, and it's amazing. Watch it while you can.

Nostalgia

2008-11-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

Today I am having a bit of a blah day. However, I can only blame myself because I hit snooze about 20 times and thus ended up sleeping a bit too much and woke up with a headache. I am on cup of coffee #2 and am thinking positive thoughts about my friend, caffeine.

I am making myself feel a little better by listening to one of my favorite records from childhood, Really Rosie, on Rhapsody. The song lyrics are all the stories from Nutshell Library by Maurice Sendak which I was obsessed with when I was little. I carried the books around with me and loved that they were pocket-size. I still have my very beat-up set.

Cleaning and Discovering

2008-11-08T00:14:00.000-08:00

This evening I've been cleaning the house, my room, and trying to minimize the stuff packed away in my closets (yay Friday night!). Thus far it's been somewhat productive. I've pulled together a bag of clothes for the fall clothing exchange we're doing next weekend, packed up a couple things to mail to my cousins, and gathered a large bag of recycling.

Amid the papers I found an illustration done by John Hendrix for the USAA magazine. The magazine is from my insurance company/credit card agency and it always has interesting illustrations amid the finance tips. I had torn out his illustration about insurance disasters because I thought it was clever and athestically attractive. I finally googled him and discovered John Hendrix's blog, Drawing on Deadline, and I'm even more enamored! I wish I was on his Christmas card list so I could get the reindeer drive-in card.

New Hampshire in the Autumn Time

2008-10-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy a few photos from my trip to New Hampshire and the Pumpkin Festival in Keene!

What is Stuck in My Head

2008-10-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

My uncle showed me this video and now I can't get the song out of my head, but it's not a bad thing though. I think you'll enjoy it too.

Barack Obama is Irish

In the East

2008-10-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend in New Hampshire visiting my family and going to the Keene Pumpkin Festival. I got to meet my cousin's 18 month old son, Karl, who is an absolute joy. He is learning both English and German and has great expressions like, "Danke you" and loves his auntie's dog "Jabber" (aka Jasper).

The weather has been amazing, and although I missed peak leaf season, it's still pretty gorgeous in New England. I went for a hike this morning in the sunshine with Jabber, Karl, and Corona. I'll post my photos when I'm back in Seattle.

On the way out from Seattle I had a layover at JFK and got to spend time in the 2 day old JetBlue terminal there. It was very mod and enjoyable.

Last night I had a cocktail with my cousins at the Burdick Restaurant and who was sitting at the next table? Ken Burns! I know, Laremy, he is a PBS celebrity, but I was still excited!

Tomorrow, I am going to spend the day in Boston for the first time since 2001!

Memories

2008-10-20T23:40:00.000-07:00

Today I found a mixtape I made my freshman year of college. I had borrowed CDs from a few people in my dorm to create an awesome mix. Here are some highlights from the tape:

I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - the Police
In My Room - Brain Wilson
Angel of the Morning - Chip Taylor
Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell
Selections from the soundtrack of Grease
Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
Told You So - Barenaked Ladies
Selections from Abba Gold
Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

It may be the worst mixtape ever.

Gearing up

2008-10-15T16:01:00.001-07:00

As I get ready to watch the debate tonight, I thought it was important to share something that made be laugh out loud today. Sometimes we all need a little break from politics. So, please enjoy this idea that is pure genius with no political spin!

I plan to try to get Seamus to do something like this tonight!

Inspired

2008-10-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

Today I volunteered at the KUOW (Seattle's NPR station) fall pledge drive. I had a woman call in and donate $50. After I took down her information I asked her is she had any comments or programming notes for the station. She choked up a bit and said, "Well, I wouldn't want this mentioned on the air, but we're losing our house and my husband just lost his pension, but I couldn't stand the thought of losing NPR so I'm donating today."

The next pledge I took was my own.

Hallocute!

2008-10-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

Lauren Alane makes amazing little felted birds and has some new birdies she'll be selling in her etsy shop tomorrow. Check out a preview here. I want BatOwl!

Debating the Debates

2008-10-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

Today I asked a co-worker if he watched the presidential debate. He said, "No, but I watched the Daily Show recap. That was enough."

Re-review: Corazonas Chips

2008-10-08T14:57:00.000-07:00

Last month I reviewed Corazonas Potato Chips. Corazonas was nice enough to send me some additional chips to taste test again. A couple days ago this beautiful package arrived at my office. Yesterday after our run, Eliza help me taste them again.

We tasted three kinds of potato chips: Slightly Salted, Pacific Rim Barbecue, and Italiano 4 Cheese. The first thing I must address is the reason my first review was unfavorable, the oily coating of the mouth after eating the chips last time. This time there was no oily coating of the mouth and thus I enjoyed the chips much more!

The Slighty Salty are a good basic chip and a great choice against other chips because of the less fat. Eliza and I both found the Pacific Rim Barbecue flavor to be a little too strong. I kept feeling like it tasted similar to something I had recently eaten, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. The Italiano 4 Cheese was very interesting because it has blue cheese in it. I didn't love it, but Eliza did because it tasted like real cheese. She ended up taking the bag home with her.

We also tasted three kinds of tortilla chips: Margarita Lime, Original and Baja Bean Dip. One cool feature is that these chips are made with whole oats that you can actually see in the chips. We both heartily enjoyed the original flavor, they reminded us a lot of Wheat Thins and have a little more of a cracker flavor. With the oats the chips are a little more moist that traditional tortilla chips. The Margarita Lime were quite solid, tasting very similar to other Lime and Chili chips we've tried. My favorite was the Baja Bean, Eliza wasn't as big of a fan of it, but I thought they had a great zesty taste.

The bottom line is that I would buy the tortilla chips again, so thanks to Corazonas for having me try them again!

Le freak, c'est chic

2008-10-03T15:08:00.001-07:00

The Guardian put together a most entertaining slideshow as a fashion week follow-up. View it here. I promise it's well worth the click.

Rave Review: Nike Timing

2008-10-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

I got a Nike running watch for Christmas almost two year ago (thanks Mom and Dad). It suddenly stopped working a few months ago. I think the battery may have been dead, but the watch didn't petered out, just went from working fine to nothing showing up on the screen. I looked up in the directions and found a service number to call. It took me a couple calls to reach them, but once I got through during stand central time business hours I got an address to mail it to. I just needed to mail then the watch and note explaining what was going on, no serial numbers or proof of purchase required.

A couple weeks after I mailed it, my watch showed back up running great and the best part is that they didn't charge me anything. I only had to pay to mail it there. So bravo to Nike Timing for great, hassle-free service.

What I'm Currently Listening To

2008-09-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on Sound Opinions I was delighted to be introduced to Joan as Police Woman. I would describe her as a softer Feist (from me this is a big compliment). You can hear some of her songs here. As is typical with me I also discovered after looking at her website that she was in Seattle a week ago - boo!

I did manage to make it the Westerly show on Saturday night (thanks to Andrew for texting me that the booking order changed otherwise I would have missed it), per usual they rocked it! They are a fantastic alt country band with warm and somewhat folksy overtones (what? there is a reason I'm not a professional music reviewer). Anyway, check out some of their performance videos here.

For the Mighty, Mighty Bulldogs

2008-09-27T15:57:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the Garfield High School Re-opening. I took photos for friends who are not in Seattle and my fellow Bulldogs who are spending their weekend remodeling their bathroom. Enjoy!

The new gym and performing arts center.

The cafeteria/commons area is in the area that used to be the stage.

The library.

They still have Jimi's head!

The stairwells were still intact with the original steps and wood banisters.

Some of the hallways are still very narrow.

No more purple lockers.

The courtyard is a little different. Also the 2nd floor on the far wall is the new hallway that connects the annex with the 3rd floor - crazy! How will the freshman find the 4th floor pool?

The new greenhouse.

The view is still pretty awesome.

The new aforementioned annex connector.

Lopez!

Be prepared to be shocked ladies - there were about 10 bathrooms in the school!

And they have stall doors, oh the insanity!

I have not thought about the attendance office in year - oh the good times!

The new construction shop is where the ladies locker room was in the school.

Alder!

Parking on Alder?

Notice something missing? No more smokestack! What will the seniors do?

For the love of Craigslist

2008-09-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

I recently got a new bed frame and decided to post the old frame on Craigslist. Below is the second reply I received. I'm afraid I won't be responding to the post as I just don't know where to begin.

please call me my moms needs this bed frame for leverge on her back & arm my name is horace u can contact me at ---------- thankxxxxxx or email me back at ---------

Weird pairing, or not?

2008-09-24T09:21:00.000-07:00

I was cruising through my daily web reads when I stopped at 3191 (a great visual blog with photos posted daily from Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon), I was excited to see that they were featured on the Martha Stewart show. I clicked on the show link to check it out, when I came to this post on The Martha Blog.

Martha dedicated a whole show to blogging which I thought was interesting, but I didn't understand the inclusion of Perez Hilton. Yes, I will admin he's huge on the blogisphere, but really? To have him as your model for how to create a blog was a little scary.

This is what beautiful dahlias look like

2008-09-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

My lovely friend Jay was visiting from Chicago this weekend and we stopped at Volunteer Park to go to the top of the watertower. While we were in the park we wondered through the dahlia garden in search of a black dahlia. We found none, but did see these beautiful blooms.

Snacking Review: Corazonas

2008-09-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

This week I tasted Corazonas' Slightly Salty Potato Chips. They are advertised as having 40% less fat than regulars chips. The chips are thicker and heartier than other chips with a great crunch that reminds me more of Terra Chips. However, there is one large drawback with these chips that will keep me from eating them again.

These chips coated my mouth with a disgusting film after I ate them that left my mouth tasting of oil. It reminds me of eating very greasy donuts when you get that filmy, oily taste that remains after you are finished eating. Thus I don't think I'll be partaking in these guys for snack again.

This is what I did last weekend

2008-09-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I went to Washington Wine Country for the first time. After my roommate and I heard it was still going to be warm over there we were set. It was glorious and warm in Yakima and the surrounding areas. We managed to visit five wineries: Bonair (very good), Hyatt (not so good), Two Mountains (pretty solid reds and a very friendly atmosphere), Maison De Pagett (okay), and Paradiso Del Sol (they get the award for most creative tasting).

I think I actually may have enjoyed the fruit event more than the wine. It is prime season for Washington nectarines, pears, melons, plums, and peaches. Please enjoy my photos below.

For your review

2008-09-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit slacking on the posts so I am posting three floral photos I took for your viewing pleasure.

This is what I overheard today

2008-08-25T10:18:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting in my office today and the guy who sits in one of the cubes today is talking on his phone. Out of nowhere, he says, "I was stung by a jellyfish." The person on the other end of the phone, much like what I was thinking, must have said, "what?" The he says very loudly, "I was stung by a Portuguese man of war!" I keep waiting for him to laugh, but apparently this is not a joke. He says much more quietly, "On my arm, it hurts a lot." Now I just feel bad.

Happy Monday!