birthday

via Ladies with Style

This weekend is my birthday weekend.  I hope I can celebrate like that girl... minus the cigarette.

no. 71 up, up and away!

For my birthday, Pat arranged for a hot air balloon ride - which effectively became the coolest birthday present ever.  I can't really explain how wonderful it was.  The ride is so smooth, and suddenly I looked over and we were over 7000 miles over sea level. 

We flew over a horse farm and over kids playing in their yard.  I waved and waved and smiled til my face hurt.  We caught an excellent wind and flew just between two mountain peaks and I felt like I was in a movie. 

The balloon was beautiful, tons of color and so so big.  The landing was completely different than I imagined.  We had to brace ourselves with our back against the side of the basket, facing away from the direction we were going.  The basket nearly toppled over (and I may or may not have shrieked a little...).  But before we knew it we were sitting on a makeshift picnic table sipping champagne with our balloon's captain. 

Wee Brie? Yes, please.

cheesy name.... no pun intended (or maybe it is intended.)

Presidente has come out with "Wee Brie", tiny triangles of delicious brie.  This has changed my life.  I would never buy brie before because Pat doesn't like it and I'd end up eating 8 oz. of cheese in 2 days.  Which is bad for multiple reasons. 

But thanks to this lovely idea, I had a brie, apple, turkey, dijon sandwich on a baguette for a random Tuesday lunch.  Brilliant!

stacks, lists, and piles

This blog has been making the rounds on many blogs that I follow - but it is so much fun that I'm totally ripping it off. 

picture via black*eiffel

I am a slave to my lists, stacks and piles.  If chaos is stacked, piled, and listed - its half as intimidating. 

"I need a new book, any advice?"

I actually hate giving book recommendations.  I feel like reading preferences are such a personal thing... and I worry that by sharing the ones I like the most, I am sharing a page of my journal or some strange glimpse into my core.  Maybe that's lame - but its intimidating!

So I like it when someone I don't know personally gives me great recommendations.  That's why I receive email newsletters from countless independent bookstores (p&p, powells, changing hands, etc.).

But one of my favorite blogs (Where the Lovely Things Are) is having "Book Week" and I'm obsessed.  Especially this post about fiction. 

So next time you want to ask me for a recommendation, please know that I'll likely ignore you and feel guilty about it... it's just who I am.  But you can look at links like this instead!

rationalizing yet another list

via book lovers are never alone (ps. I want to live here)

 
 ok.  so.  I know I have my own list that I need to work on - but I think I am going to tackle this one as well.

1001 books to read before you die.

I'm doing this for a variety of reasons:

1.  I love to read
2.  I am always looking for new suggestions
3.  I just got a library card.
4.  I've read quite a few of these
5.  This list has includes authors from all over the world and of all different sorts - including short stories.
6.  This list obviously likes some of my favorite authors:  Amy Hempel, Graham Swift, Ian McEwan, E.L. Doctorow, J.D. Salinger, etc. 
7.  I always feel slightly guilty if I read multiple books that are from the same generation all at once - so I like the variety in this list.
8.  Kate Spade likes it. 

Penguin Classics Clothbound Series - have been on my Christmas list for two year running (hint, hint.)

kate spade

I think I'm quite late to the party - but I want to be Kate Spade.  Or at least be friends with her.  Look at these awesome photos from her new pop-up shop in London.

(is it weird that I want to be friends with the girl on the right?)

Now I just want to buy everything Kate Spade makes.  Especially this:

totally not practical but totally awesome.

mourning

via audrey hepburn complex

To Those Who Mourn

For that is the real truth; man is a soul and has a body. 

The body is not the man; it is only the clothing of the man. 

What you call death is the laying aside of a worn-out garment,

and it is no more the end of the man

that it is the end of you when you remove your coat.

Therefore you have not lost your friends;

you have only lost sight of the cloak

in which you were accustomed to see him. 

The cloak is gone, but the man who wore it is not;

Surely it is the man that you love and not the garment.

-C.W. Leadbeater

no. 100 The most perfect (and grossest) Christmas gift

It was a few days before Christmas and I had nothing for my little sister, Allison.  She is very difficult to shop for, because we have different tastes in.... well, everything. 

Then it dawned on me - I already had the worlds most perfect gift for her.

Some may think giving your little sister your extracted wisdom teeth is gross.  But I'd say it was the happiest I've ever seen her.

no. 84 learn to play poker

I have the world's worst poker face

Over Christmas this past year, I learned how to play poker (well, kind of).  My Uncle Tony has this incredible kitchen/garage/mancave at his house that is complete with a refridgerator that is not plugged in, but instead acts as a spice rack and the worlds largest gas stove.  He and my dad are quite serious about meat in general, and for Thanksgiving they typically cook 3-5 turkeys for 15 people in a variety of flavors.  Around holidays, we somehow always end up in the garage, perched on stools or leaning against card tables, begging for "samples" of whatever they are making. 

One one such night, I found a deck of cards and asked if I anyone could teach me poker.  My cousins, sister and brother-in-law, and soon to be husband spent the next several hours trying to keep a straight face. 

I didn't win, but I had such a lovely night...

no. 9, no. 68, no. 69, no. 74, oh my!

Wowza.  I hit a home run a few weekends ago, Project Renovate wise.  And it was so very very lovely.

Pat and I took off toward California and out of nowhere we were in the midst of a windmill farm.  I've never seen anything quite like it... I barely got a photo in because I was in such awe.  Really, I can't express to you how many of these windmills there were.  Thousands!

no. 9

We stopped for a pretty awesome picnic in Joshua Tree National Park.  Hilariously, both Pat and I were picturing a forest (probably due to the "tree" in the name), but this park is about as far from a forest as you can get.  But it was incredible - rock formations like nothing I had ever seen.  People repelling off some of the highest points.  It really felt like a desert, and I liked that.  Our picnic was simple but perfect, sandwiches, carrots, strawberries, melon, and oatmeal raisin cookies.  We will be doing it again soon :)

no. 68

We certainly "hiked", but I wasn't really planning on it... in fact, I was wearing a sundress and flip flops.  So it may be a stretch to say that it fulfills a goal, but I enjoyed it so much because it was such a surprise, so I'll take it. 

no. 74

And then we wonderfully, magically ended up at the beach in Oceanside.  We saw a beautiful sunset, watched a man catch a stingray from the boardwalk (which drew quite the crowd!), ate a progressive dinner which included appetizers and drinks at a very fancy local restaurant and some amazing fish tacos at a complete dive mexican restaurant(/night club after 9pm).  It was such a quirky fun place.

Tempe needs an ocean

Then came the shining, wonderful, most perfect morning I've had in a long time.  My husband got me a really great kite as a wedding gift, knowing that I was dying to put it to use.  So on Sunday morning we got up early to attempt to fly it.  I must say a few things: 

1.  Thank goodness it was overcast, its so much easier to fly a kite when you are not squinting into the sun
2.  This kite is incredible
3.  Pat stopped at one point and said "holy cow, where did you learn to do this so well?" to which I responded "I'm a natural."

no. 74

no.74

inspiration

via Audrey Hepburn Complex (as usual)

...comes in so many forms.  Why is it, then, that I find it so hard to be motivated lately?

Here are some inspirations for today in various forms:

1.  This awesome post at Abby Goes Design Scouting.  These articles are all insane!
2.  This beautiful plate.

i love postcards.  i love plates.  i love postcard plates.

3.  This hilarious photo of my neice, Naomi

i love naomi.  i love tongs.  i love naomi in tongs.

the malady of homesickness

my favorite tree on my walk home on w fairmount

I'm not sure if its the heat.  Or the let down of so many happy and emotional things.  Or a combination of both.

...but

I miss State College so much this week. 

In some ways its actually really bizzare, because its the first time I've been homesick for a place that wasn't North Lima/Greenford, OH.  Maybe it means I'm growing up.

Things I miss about State College (in no particular order):

my beautiful walk to work
the giant tree house on said walk
the gorgeous trees
my cozy home
my little porch
the weather (i know, i'll eat those words later)
college ave
access - best store ever
websters
india pavillion
bill pickles pitchers of blue moon
rotelli's $5 martinis


....... the wonderful people that i shared those things with.

my new family

Everyone who knows me knows how much I adore my family.  Dave, Dawn, Katie and Allison (and Andy and baby) mean the absolute world to me.  I love the unique quirks each one brings to the table.  My extended family is ridiculously important to me as well.  My aunts, uncles, cousins and especially grandparents have had such a crucial part in making me who I am today.

And how ridiculously lucky am I that this is my new family?  I think people are supposed to be annoyed/intimidated/confused by/frustrated by their in laws.   I am none of those things.  I feel so lucky, and so grateful, to have them all in my life.   (and aren't they adorable?)

photos courtesy the amazing, talented, beautiful Jaci Clark

no. 80 the photo paradox

No. 80 on my list is to take a photo every week.  Which hasn't been a problem in the least - and for the most part, I've enjoyed it.  But sometimes I get a very weird feeling about it.  It boils down to this:

I want to have a photo to capture the moments that transform me.  I want to have a photo of the moments that make me who I am.  But if I am stopping that moment to take a photo, is that moment even real?

I stumbled on this when I was taking pictures of the pain au chocolat a few months ago (still my favorite desert btw).  I would do one step, and then stop to take a photo, then think about how I'd put it up on here.  And then I got really mad at myself for interrupting what was a lovely moment of pastry making to take a photo.

This project's purpose is to push me to make my life fuller and denser and happier.  If I'm interrupting myself for photos, is it fulfilling that purpose?

Thoughts?

photos via Audrey Hepburn Complex

font

I'm not going to lie.  Since I was a little girl I've loved all that is paper, pencils, crayons, pens (oh pens!).  So it is a natural urge to love typeface and fonts.  I spend so much time with books, I recognize the necessity of excellent font.  I just spent approximately 1 hour with this chart - which I adore.

for a larger sized verson, click here.

wistful

via Design Sponge

This photo makes me wistful for two things:

1. my perfect state college bedroom with bookshelves and a slanted, wood ceiling
2.  to be unpacked and settled (why does it always take so long??)

no. 40 & no. 49 Spinach Pasta with Arugula, Tomatoes and Bacon

please excuse the not-so-great iphone photo - i was really hungry.

So Pat went to Vegas for a bachelor party last weekend and I was home by myself.  Which I actually usually do not mind at all, a little alone time is good for everyone I think.  But I was having a bit of trouble because one of my closest friends was getting married in South Carolina and another close friend was having her bachelorette party in New York.  When you live in Arizona, these things are not easy.  I'm adjusting to being from far away.  Enough of that.

To spruce up my attitude, I decided to try a new ingredient and make up a recipe all in one. I had never eaten arugula, which is just dumb - it is quite literally my new favorite food.  Since last weekend I've had it in salads, in a pita with hummus, in roasted veggies.  But this was its inaugural use - and I'd recommend it, it was very good!


Spinach Pasta with Arugula, Tomatoes and Bacon
(sorry, my recipes are never exact)


Short cut spinach pasta (mine was trader joe's and perfect), cooked al dente
1/2 onion, rough chop
8 mushrooms, quartered
3 slices bacon, cut into bite sized pieces
2 ripe tomatoes
3 cups packed arugula leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated parmigiana cheese

Preheat oven to 450.  Put onions and mushrooms in baking dish lined with foil.  Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes.

{drink a glass of wine and wait 10 minutes while veggies roast}

Cook bacon in frying pan over medium heat, stirring frequently until crispy.  Remove bacon with slotted spoon and cover with paper towel.

Put tomatoes in bacon skillet for 2 minutes.  Add mushrooms and onions for 1 minute.  Add 3 cups arugula and stir till wilted.  Toss with pasta.  Add parmigiana cheese.

______________________________

It really was lovely.

mirror mirror...

I want this in my home very badly.  However, it costs $700 at anthropologie.  So I think I'm going to try to make it.  If you find any mirrors - save them for me!!

Project Renovate (renovated)

so...  big changes forced some small changes on project renovate.  I've had to remove a few little things (mostly because we moved away from State College), so I put some new things in their place.  And, voila! (you'll notice how many things I've crossed off - how many things I have to write about)

Check it at the link in just under the header.  You can check back whenever you'd like!

these are a few of my favorite things

So when I am very sad, there are several things that can always make me feel better.  Books, beautiful things and Audrey Hepburn rank very high on this list.  Lately I've been a little sad here and there, so these are the things I go to for inspiration and a moment of joy.

book lovers never go to bed alone
books by color, books by size, books on shelves, books on tables, and an occasional kitten.   a sure fire pick me up.

the audrey hepburn complex
this person clearly can read my mind.  there is rarely a photo on here that doesn't make me smile.  many of the photos i have put on this blog are from this tumblr.  and an occasional audrey photo is always accepted.

being audrey / fred baby
i came across this site very recently and literally spent an hour of pure delight. 

return

So I have returned.  Married, moved, employed.  Oh I have so much to tell you!!

serendipity

i got the job.  things are absolutely working out how they are supposed to.

its a good day.

bookstore living

So I visited Tempe for the first time ever and was really pleasantly surprised :)  I think I was expecting only heat and strip malls - and while there is a good share of both in the Phoenix area, there are also some really wonderful things. 

We also found an apartment!  It is 10 minutes from Pat's work and 10 minutes from Arizona State, where I will try to work or take classes.  And most importantly, it is close to bookstores (and some very good ones!).  Bookstores literally define my experiences in different places.  When I was 12, my grandma gave me $25 dollars for my birthday and the option of getting my ears peirced or going to the bookstore.  I still do not have my ears peirced.

I always say that I explored Asia one bookstore at a time.  Whenever we had a weekend trip planned, I would search the internet for an English language bookstore near by, and would hunt it down as the first activity.  My favorite was in Bangkok - positioned right in the midst of an incredibly busy pedestrian street with bars and restaurants.  They even had a cat!  And really amazing books.  Due to luggage restrictions, I could literally only purchase 5 and I spent at least 3 hours selecting the right ones.

I have been so lucky to live near some genuinely incredible bookstores in my life. 

My favorite is of course Politics and Prose in Washington DC -literally 2 doors down from where I lived with nightly author talks and the most perfect beat up rose colored chair in the basement that I would spend hours on.

 But DC also boasted Kramer Books, which is a gem as well with a seriously delicious restaurant attached (their desserts are out of this world).  Both stores are tightly packed with books of exceptional taste and character. 

Here in State College, I'm close to Webster's which is a lovely used bookstore with mismatched chairs shoved in every corner.  And they serve a billion teas - including "Pecan Pastry Green Tea."

And with our new place - Yippee!!  Hooray!!! there are some gems so close by.  EcoBooks is intriguing - relatively new - and .5 miles away. 

And then Changing Hands (which seems to be the best independent bookstore in Tempe from what I can gather) is 2 miles away, definitely close enough for a weekly visit.  And it certainly looks like my kind of place.  I'm looking forward to getting to know a new city, one bookstore at a time.

love

this is what i needed. via Audrey Hepburn Complex

it is official...

we are moving to arizona!  I put my notice in yesterday and am having very mixed emotions.  Its so strange to watch your job be parcelled up and to watch a search start for your replacement.  Particularly when you are going to be around for 2 more months. 

The worst part is that my site visit to Israel has been given to someone else, which is heartbreaking but completely understandable. 

I'm feeling nostalgic and chaotic all at the same time.

The good news is that there are TONs of things on my list that I'll be able to do from Tempe.  And the thought of Pat and I starting totally fresh once we get married is really exciting to me as well. 

Whew.  I need a nap.