Life in Loki's Backyard

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T08:33:00.004-05:00

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have a real spirit of Christmas.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Merry Christmas! I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday! May the spirit of the season stay with you all year long.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 18- A Saying, Quote or Scripture

2011-11-21T21:00:00.001-05:00

{image from pinterest}

This is the Holstee Manifesto. I first came across it about a year ago. It was features on several bogs that I read: Elements of Style, La Dolce Vita, and more.

There are so many inspirational quotes out there in the blogosphere, and as you can tell, I like most of them. Choosing just one quote was not an easy task. Here's what I like about this one- it's big. It's not just about love, it's not just about getting ahead on your career, it's not just about surrounding yourself with the people who bring out the best in you. It's about all of that, and that's what I find appealing.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 17- A Store

2011-11-21T20:30:00.002-05:00

It seems like an interesting thing to be thankful for- a store. In a time when we're all paying so much attention to the way we spend and how we spend, it's nice to take a moment and be thankful for the ability to spend at all. We could be in a very different place than we are right now, and I'm very grateful for all that the Big Guy and I have achieved and all that we're able to do. We work hard, and sometimes we take our opportunities for granted.

In thinking about a store that I love, there's one that comes to mind right away. Anthropologie. I love their mix of home decor, clothing, kitchen accessories, jewelry and shoes. Some of my favorite pieces have come from their store, and some of the pictures that are most inspiring to me in terms of home design and fashion come from their catalog.

Some of you may remember the frames that are a floating headboard in our 3rd bedroom- well all of the images in those frames are actually pages from old Anthropologie catalogs.

There's something about the store that I seek out every time I'm in a mall that has one. I love the atmosphere they've created, and I love being able to bring that into my home as well.

Big Guy Studies the Classics

2011-11-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

In the under thirty crowd these days you can get a strange look from your friends for ordering a dirty martini or a Manhattan. It’s partly due to the atmosphere of most bars we are in. Once you get past the post college blackout phase, you start thinking a lot more about what sort of atmosphere you enjoy. You start looking to nicer places and all of a sudden the drinks of our parents and grandparents become way more common.

To give your home that grown up atmosphere, you need to learn of a few of the classics.

Martini
2.5 oz of gin or vodka
.5 oz dry vermouth

Shaken over ice and put in a tall martini glass, (Yes you should have martini glasses at your disposal). Garnish with an olive, pickled onion or lemon twist. To go Dirty just add a half oz of olive juice.

Big Guy’s Manhattan
3 oz bullet bourbon
1 oz sweet vermouth
.5 oz maraschino cherry juice
A dash of bitters

Shaken over ice and put into a highball glass (or a martini glass if you feel dashing) Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

White Russian Brought to you by the dude…
3 oz vanilla vodka
1 oz Kahlua Especial
1 oz half and half

Fill an old fashioned glass halfway with ice. Pour the vodka in first, then add the Kahlua. After that add the half and half and a stir straw. Stir and enjoy.

Long Island Iced Tea This is the frat punch that doesn’t make it look like you are still in college
1 oz clear rum

1 oz gin
1 oz vodka
1 oz white tequila
1 oz triple sec
1 oz lemon or lime juice
2 oz cola

Fill a tall sling style, or double high ball glass with about a third of the way full with ice. Mix the liquors in the glass with a long bar spoon. Add the cola and lemon juice last. Garnish with a lime or lemon.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 16- An Experience

2011-11-16T13:00:00.002-05:00

If you want change: choose it, leap, act. Don't wait for life to happen to you. Make things happen.
~ via Making Things Happen

The summer after my junior year in college, I had an internship with a small theatre company. In London- Chickenshed Theatre.

It was an amazing experience, one that I wouldn't trade. At first I was nervous, I wasn't sure that I'd get into the program- it was a study abroad program with Purdue. I think there were about 20 of us who went, and all of us worked with different companies. The way the program was structured, we had two days with class in the morning and four days a week we were working either all day or just in the afternoon.

That left us with 3 day weekends every weekend. Amazing. I spent a weekend in Paris where I actually woke up to the sounds of an accordian playing La Vie en Rose. I swear. I backbacked through Scotland and Ireland.

The theatre company was amazing. Their philosophy is that the arts should be inclusive and that everyone has creativity in them, they just need an opportunity to express that creativity. You can dance in a wheelchair, you can sing a beautiful song even if you can't talk. You can read more about them and what they do on their website. It's amazing.

I'm itching to plan a trip back. I'd love to show the Big Guy where I lived and where I spent my time that summer.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 15- A Recipe

2011-11-15T21:28:00.000-05:00

We try a lot of recipes. The Big Guy and I like food. We like all kinds of food. My favorite things to cook tend to be comfort food. Thick sauces, pastas, rich flavors, aromas that fill the whole house. Here's one of those recipes. Really easy to make, but delicious and plenty of left overs.

It's baked rigatoni pasta in a tomato-vodka-cream sauce with ground turkey. I can't post the actual recipe, because the cookbook I have it in is still in print. I'm pretty sure that's less than legal. But I do have a lot of pictures from the last time I made it.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 14- Something New

2011-11-14T22:05:00.000-05:00

If I'm honest, I have to tell you that I still read fairy tales and I like them best of all.~ Audrey Hepburn

My something new is a collection of Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales. This book is one of the latest additions to my collection of the Penguin Clothbound Classics, with cover designs by Coralie Bickford-Smith. Not only do they look great on the shelf, but the list includes some of my favorite titles. Adding this book to the collection is also progress on Goal 36.

{image from www.cb-smith.com}

30 Days of Thanks: Day 13- Something Old

2011-11-14T21:26:00.000-05:00

I got a little out of order on this one, but that's ok. My something old is my teddy bear.

I've had him since I was a baby. His fur is worn and his nose came unravelled on a regular basis. From my perspective, that just adds to his charm. Sure I'm 30, but there's something about that bear that just makes me smile. Lots of good memories.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 12- A Gadget

2011-11-12T17:00:00.000-05:00

This is my kindle. I was totally the girl in the commercial who's all "no I don't want to give up actual books" and then falls for the kindle. Don't get me wrong, I still love books and will never give them up entirely. There's something about the feel of the pages and the binding and the smell of a brand new book that I love. (Yes, I'm a giant dork for writing that. That's not news.)

Now I can be a bit more selective about what actually sits on the shelf. A nine volume Hemingway collection with ivory cloth binding and gilded lettering on the spines? Of course that can be on the shelf! A trilogy written for young adults about a secret troll society and their princess who doesn't know that she's a princess with incredible psychic powers? Ummm, I maybe don't need to be seen carrying that one around. (It's the Trylle series by Amanda Hocking in case you're wondering and it was FANTASTIC.)

Plus, if I'm ever on an episode of hoarders, it will be because of books. That tiny little thing holds up to 1,000 books. Challenge accepted. I think it'll be easy to get to that number with the help of sites like Pixel of Ink, a blog that posts great deals and free downloadable books for the Kindle and the Nook. Some are great, some are not, but when they're free I'm willing to give them a try.

If you haven't tried one out, I highly recommend it.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 11- A Tradition

2011-11-11T12:54:00.003-05:00

Today is Veteran's Day, so it seems fitting that the tradition I'm thankful for is our military. I find myself humbled on a regular basis by those who choose to serve our country and protect our ideals and our freedoms. As the daughter of an Air Force veteran and the grand-daughter of Navy veteran, I am immeasurably proud today. I'm proud of them every day, but today I get to take a few minutes out of my day and really think about all that they've done.

So to all those soldiers and their families- Thank you. The sacrifices you make are not easy, but they are appreciated. Though we frequently take them for granted, we would be lost without the opportunities provided to all of us through your sacrifices.

{image found via pinterest}

Big Guy’s Bar Etiquette

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Every man should be prepared. They should have flashlights with batteries if the lights go out. They should have cold weather gear in their car in case they have to change a flat in the winter. Likewise, a true friend keeps his bar fully stocked. This way when company comes he is ready to entertain at a moment’s notice.

Stocking a bar in college was easy, all you needed was a handle of Captain Morgan and whatever cheap vodka was nearby. Often both of these items could have been kept in the freezer. Now that we have jobs and careers the bar says a little bit more about you. It reflects on if you are a reserved and sophisticated or looking to party at the drop of a hat.

First, start with the basics. I believe a liquor cabinet should have a bottle of rum, a bottle of whiskey, a bottle of vodka, a bottle of gin and a bottle of something fun like tequila or cognac. When setting up your bar you should think about everyone you might have over. I keep a high end bottle of bourbon in case my dad comes over. I also keep a honeyed whiskey because I know it is on of my friend’s favorite.

Making sure you have the basics, and then adding a few fun pieces helps show your guests that you no longer live in the fraternity basement. You can go from classy to trashy depending on who you are hosting.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 10- A Time of Day

2011-11-10T20:00:00.001-05:00

There's something about the quiet of the evening, right around sunset that pulls me in. I think it's got something to do with that transitional time of day.

For me it's a break between work and school. It's a few minutes to sit clamly and relax before moving on to the next thing on what can at times be an overwhelming to-do list. It's time where I can just be with the Big Guy and not be thinking about what's just been done and what's next. There's something very relaxing and almost zen about it all.

Sadly, it never lasts quite long enough. Too soon I'm jarred back into reality and am moving on to the next thing that needs to be done.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 9- A Blog

2011-11-10T18:00:00.002-05:00

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.
~ Mother Teresa

There are a lot of blogs out there in the world. The list in my Google Reader seems to get bigger all the time. Every now and then, a blog really stands out for one reason or another. In this case it's because I know the blogger and have come to think of her as a good friend. Her name is Lindsay, and her blog is the one that inspired me to do this 30 Days of Thanks series that you're reading. This is her blog. She's funny, she's stylish, she's great at what she does, and she's a great friend. Basically, she's the type of woman I want to be when I grow up.

Lindsay is one of several women that I met on a popular wedding planning board a few years ago. The only thing that we had in common at the time was the month we were all getting married- October 2011. I don't think I knew what to expect at the time, aside from a place to go and share all the little details of the planning with people who would be just as interested and making some of the same decisions at the same time. It saved my friends from conversations about the best napkin colors and whether the sash on the chair should be tied in a bow or a simple fold. (Black and a simple fold in case you're curious.)

Somewhere along the way, these women became more than just names on posts, and we found that we had a lot more in common beyond the weddings. We've been there for each other through some of life's biggest moments- marriage, divorce, births, infertility, death, new jobs, new homes. We've been there for each other to share little moments as well. We're all there to support each other and occasionally remind each other that we're not crazy after all.

It's funny looking back on it, but I really have gotten so much from them. I'm better for having known them, and happier for having them in my life.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 8- A Restaurant

2011-11-10T12:00:00.003-05:00

Today I will be happier than a bird with a french fry.

Not sure exactly where I came upon that quote- but it really is a perfect tie in for today's post. One of our favorite restaurants here in town is Brugge Brasserie.

It's a Belgian gastropub in Broadripple, and we always have a fantastic time when we go. It's a great place to go with friends for dinner, or to sit outside in the summer with a pot of mussels and french bread, some fries and their roasted garlic aioli and people watch. One item on their menu that we get when we go with friends is the L'Enorme- it's a giant cone of fries with each of their sauces: fresh mayonnaise, horseradish, blue cheese, hot curry, homemade ketchup, sweet chili, aioli, roasted garlic aioli, sea salt & sherry vinegar, poplar syrup and French dijon, and fresh herb pesto. It's huge- as the name implies- so you'd definitely want to share with friends.

The crepes are wonderful- my personal favorite is the grilled chicken with Roquefort, endive and spinach. The Big Guy is a fan of their mitrailettes- sandwiches piled high on French bread. They brew their own beer as well- one of which is actually in the Big Guy's 1,001 Beers You Must Try Before You Die book, the Trippel de Ripple. It's one of my favorites.

The atmosphere is relaxed, the food is great. There's really nothing missing!

{Both images are from the Brugge website linked above.}

30 Days of Thanks: Day 7- A Scent

2011-11-09T18:00:00.001-05:00

"Sometimes," said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
A.A. Milne

{image via pinterest}

Here's why I love this scent- my mom wore this when I was little. I remember her srapying it on my pillow before my first sleepover so that I wouldn't feel scared and it totally worked.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 6- A Pair of Shoes

2011-11-09T12:00:00.001-05:00

There is no formula for glamour. It combines shimmer and charisma. It's elusive but you know it when you see it. ~ Mary McDonald, Mary McDonald Interiors

That's what I love about these shoes. I always feel glamorous in them. They're satin and the best shade of apple green. I wore them to our rehearsal dinner. They're also surprisingly comfortable, which is just an added bonus.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 5- A Place

2011-11-08T18:00:00.002-05:00

The place I'm most thankful for is our home. (Oddly enough, I have no pictures of the outside of the house. I'll have to work on that.) We're extremely lucky to have our own home, and proud of the fact that we've done it all on our own. It's got everything we need, and plenty of room to grow.
Most importantly, it's the place where we get to relax and just be ourselves. It's the place we come back to that allows us to come back to each other. You know that feeling you get when you've been away on vacation, or even just after a long day at work, and you walk through your door? You know how in that moment everything just feels better?

I love that feeling.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 4- A Snack

2011-11-08T12:00:00.000-05:00

Nachos.

{image found via pinterest}

Yup, I'm thankful for nachos. Seems like a silly thing to be thankful for, but there's a pretty good reason for it. Before the Big Guy and I were an item, we were friends. We met at work, and frequently found ourselves at functions hosted by the company. After one of these functions, a few of us went out for drinks. While we were out, there was a guy at the bar who was getting a little too friendly for my taste and I asked the Big Guy to pretend to be my boyfriend so that this guy would back off. He agreed, but was pretty sure that by the end of the night I would want him to be my boyfriend for real. (He'd been trying to get me to date him for a while at this point.) We stayed out for a while longer and went to get some nachos as a late night snack.

You can see where this story is going. We had a great time, and it turns out the Big Guy was pretty good at predicting the future after all- I did want him to be my boyfriend.

He's cute when he's right.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 3- A Cozy Place in Your Home

2011-11-07T18:00:00.000-05:00

A house is much more than a mere shelter, it should lift us emotionally and spiritually.~ John Saladino

I love our house. I love making little changes here and there that make it really feel like it represents us. One aspect of my personality that gets incorporated in almost every room is the fact that I'm a bookworm. We have books everywhere. But just having the books isn't enough, there has to be someplace to read them. This is one of my favorite places in the house.

This is a corner in our master bedroom. There's a small table for my glasses, the book I'm reading, and a glass of wine. The faux fur blanket is super cozy, and it only takes about 5 minutes to fall asleep for a little nap between chapters. Because of that, not much studying happens here. I might try, but it never works. Here's what we have in that corner that makes it work.

Chaise- Craig's List
Table- Pier 1
Lamp- Crate and Barrel
Blanket- Z Gallerie
Painting above the chaise- I actually painted that with my friend Mandy at a Wine and Canvas event. It's an art class with a bartender. How could I not try that out. We've been twice.

It's just a comfortable, cozy place.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 2- An Animal

2011-11-07T12:00:00.001-05:00

I'm pretty sure you know which animal I'm choosing for today's post. It's Loki. (It's kind of his blog too, it would just be mean not to include him in the list.)

There's something about those big brown eyes and that wiggly butt that just makes me smile. Like all the time. I love coming home to such excitement- all because I came home, I haven't really even done anything. It's hard to remember a time when we didn't have him. It's been four-and-a-half years since we adopted him.

If you have a pet, or have ever considered one, you know that they're a lot of work. But totally worth it. There's more to it than vet visits and bags of food. There's the companionship, and that unconditional love and acceptance that only a pet can provide. He doesn't care if I've had a long day at work, or if I'm struggling with an assignment for school. He doesn't care if the bed is made or if the floors have been vaccuumed. He only cares if his bowl gets filled at dinner time and if his belly gets rubbed and if I scratch behind his ears.

He's easy, and reminds me that at the end of the day it really doesn't matter all that much if the bed is made and the floors have been vaccuumed. It matters that we spend quality time with the people we love and who make us feel loved in return.

He's my favorite furry partner in crime- assuming that crime consists mostly of afternoon naps on the weekend.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 1- A Person

2011-11-06T21:14:00.000-05:00

Take chances, take a lot of them. Because honestly, no matter where end up and with whom, it always ends up just the way it should be. Your mistakes make you who you are. You learn and grow with each choice you make. Everything is worth it. Say how you feel, always. Be you and be OK with it.
~Unknown

The first thing on the list to be thankful for is a person. I'm actually cheating a little bit on this one, and I'm picking two people.

These are my parents. If you've met them, you know how great they are. This is the two of them dancing at our wedding. They're preparing to celebrate 37 years of marriage at the end of this month. That's pretty amazing. Their commitment to each other, and the way they approach their marriage as a partnership is inspiring.

They raised me to always believe in myself and to trust my instincts. They listened to me and taught me that what I have to say is important. They came to ballet recitals, high school choir performances, musicals, singing competitions and plays, and they still have the videos to prove it. Really, my husband has seen them- including the kindergarten Easter program where I was a lamb. Yup. Furry white hat with black felt ears.

They taught me to respect myself and other people and to treat them the way I want to be treated in return. They always told me and showed me how much they love me and made sure I knew that I was important. They make home a wonderful place to be. Their encouragement and support has meant more to me than I can really say. I wouldn't be where I am or who I am today without them.

For that, I am grateful.

30 Days of Thanks

2011-11-06T20:16:00.001-05:00

Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of travelling.~Margaret B. Runbeck

How easy it is to forget all the little things, and not so little things, that make life unique and special. It's far too simple to take things for granted. Even as one of the 99% in this country, there's very little for us to complain about. We're all exceptionally lucky and should take some time to remember that.

I'm not always great about it, but I try. So for the rest of this month, I'm participating in something that my friend Lindsay is doing on her blog. I've added a new button on the right side of the screen for it. For the 30 days of November, I'll be posting about something that I'm thankful for. Now I'm a little bit behind, so I've got some catching up to do. That just means you get to hear more from me than you're used to, which can't be all bad right? Right. I thought so.

So what's involved in this 30 days of Thanks? There's a list- which I like. You're not surprised by that. I'm pretty sure the big guy laughs out loud when he hears me say that. Ask him about the Gantt chart I made while wedding planning- well, on second thought, maybe don't. So here's the list that I'll be working through for the rest of this month:

1. a person
2. an animal
3. a cozy place in your home
4. a favorite snack
5. a place
6. a pair of shoes
7. a scent
8. a restaurant
9. a blog
10. a time of day
11. a tradition
12. a gadget
13. something old
14. something new
15. a recipe
16. an experience
17. a store
18. a saying/quote/scripture
19. a favorite piece of clothing
20. a keepsake
21. a disappointment or fear
22. a book
23. a feeling
24. a photograph
25. a luxury
26. a charity
27. a song
28. a gift
29. something in your home
30. the thing you're most thankful for

I'll be adding pictures along the way. I need the practice with my camera. Not for anything in particular, but just for fun. So here's to the next 30 days, and to having the opportunity to be thankful.

Our 3rd Wedding Anniversary

2011-10-11T08:36:00.003-04:00

The best thing to hold on to in life is each other.

~Audrey Hepburn

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!

Here's to three wonderful years being married to each other. I'm a very lucky girl. Occasionally I say that jokingly, but I hope everyone knows how much I actually mean it. I have the luxury, and I truly believe that it iss a luxury, of going home every day to a wonderful man.

He's my partner, my cheering section, my reality check, my reminder to laugh about the little things, my shoulder to lean on, my access to high shelves. He's my best friend. I can't imagine where I would be and what I would be doing without him as a part of my life.

I love you.

I'd marry you all over again.

September 11, 2001

2011-09-11T13:58:00.000-04:00

The internet is filled today with thoughts about that day and the people who lost their lives, and the survivors who lost friends and family members. I consider myself to be incredibly blessed that everyone I love was safe that day. I know how easy it can be to take that safety for granted.

I think there were many of us who, up until that day, took a lot for granted. Our safety was certainly one thing, but our freedom was another. We are so lucky to live where we do and to have the choices and options that we do. To live, to learn, to worship, to love the way we choose is not a God-given right elsewhere in the world. It's far more unique than any of us want to believe it is.

There's so much that we have to celebrate, and a day like today helps us remember that. It's hard to think of September 11th and celebration in the same sentence. It almost feels insensitive or disrespectful. But we have to celebrate life. We have to. We have to celebrate opportunity. We have to celebrate everything that makes this country and its people great- the things that make us different and the things that bring us together.

Today is a difficult day for many people, for many reasons. Today, I am grateful. I am grateful for my husband and my parents. I am grateful for our family and our friends. I am grateful for the opportunity to make choices. I am grateful to live in a place that allows me to have those freedoms and more. And most importantly, I am grateful that there are people who fight to protect those freedoms and the people that I love.

So today, take some time to be thankful for all that you have, and make sure you tell someone that you love them.

Tis the Season

2011-09-06T19:00:00.002-04:00

Well hello there cold and flu season. How nice of you to stop by. Right before we go on vacation.
Jerkface.

Half-Full Glass

2011-08-31T20:41:00.000-04:00

It always seems impossible until it's done.

Well, it's not totally done. Last week final papers and exams were finished and turned in. As of this morning the final grades have all been submitted.

I'm officially half-way through my MBA program.

You're probably wondering what this all means. Me too. For starters it means three weeks without classes. Three weeks without homework. Three weeks to enjoy spending time with the Big Guy in the evenings instead of running away to hide in something to study after dinner. It means reading things that have nothing to do with activity based costing, lag time, or management structures. It's more likely than I'm really comfortable admitting that what I'm reading now involves teenage paranormal romances. You can't get much further away from activity based costing than that. It might even mean more blogging. (I missed you guys!)

More importantly, it means that I'm 50% closer to achieving this major goal I set for myself. It means that my family and friends have already supported me through the toughest part of this journey. I can't promise that there will be that many more Friday nights that I show up to things than there were in this past year, but I'm optimistic. I'm halfway there.

So the glass is half-full. As in half full of knowledge. Knowledge and awesome. Assuming of course that awesome can be defined as a unique combination of wine, chocolate and Skype chats with some pretty amazing people.

Yeah, I didn't make it this far on my own. I couldn't have. The program has a strong emphasis on team work and having the right people is extremely important. I might be biased, but I think I had the best teammates. This past year would not have been the same with any other group, and I will forever be grateful that I had them to rely on, laugh with, keep me in check and on track.

So now it's time to prep for the next half of the program. I'm not sure what exactly it will bring. A new team, new professors, new classes, new challenges, and this time next year- a new degree.

It's a lot. I'm not going to kid myself that it's going to be a walk in the park. I know that's not true. But I've done it before. I know how to manage my time, and more importantly my expectations. I can only do so much, and those things will be what's really important. So maybe the dishes sit in the sink overnight and the laundry gets pushed to next week. I'd rather be spending quality time with the Big Guy and Loki anyway. The dishes won't go anywhere and we can always buy more socks.

Because I Have Too Much Free Time

2011-08-23T20:52:00.001-04:00

Somewhere between the statistics homework, the corporate governance scandal research, and general obsession that is studying for me these days, I had a chance to visit my parents. The purpose of this visit you ask? Well, aside from a much needed reminder that there is life outside of textbooks, and that they're the most supportive people ever, my mom wanted some help picking out paint colors.

You see, my parents have lived in their house for over 5 years now and have yet to paint a single room. I could barely go 5 minutes before putting up paint chips to see what I liked best to change my space. I'm teasing because I care, Mom.

I loved it. I loved everything about it. From pushing my mom outside of her beige comfort zone (into greige if you were wondering), to seeing how the promise of new colors can make everything look new again, to being able to capture the right personality for the space so that it reflects the people who live there and welcomes their guests.

None of this really ties in with the title of this post yet, but I'm thinking that a few of you have guessed where this is going. Probably because I've told you. I'm the type of person that has to say something out loud, preferably several times to several people, before it can become real. So here's me saying it again:

I'm starting my own design firm.

I get goosebumps looking at that logo. I really do. Right now it's just some squares and a little text (Edwardian Script and Book Antiqua in case you were wondering. Which I doubt you actually were. See why I should be doing this?), but soon it's going to be bigger than that. Yup, a desk in the guest room. Whoa. I know crazy fast, right?

Honestly though, I'm nervous and excited. Currently I exist in Indiana as a sole proprietorship, but will be filing the official paperwork to become a corporation soon. This could be the best $40 I've ever spent!

In the meantime, I will be making some plans. No, none of them involve leaving my job. I like my job, and I like the people I work with. It's hard to give that up for some text in boxes, or even for a desk in the guest room. But I will be looking to get some more things to put in my portfolio. So if you're looking for some design help, let me know! Maybe you're like my mom and need help picking out paint colors. Maybe you've painted, but you're not sure how to style the room, or need help with a space plan for art or furniture. Maybe you really like my logo and want one of your own. Maybe you need some help with some graphics for a presentation.

I'd love to help!

The Mini Marathon

2011-05-08T15:52:00.003-04:00

I just finished my first half marathon; it was the Indianapolis Mini Marathon in downtown Indianapolis. I was fortunate to finish alive, let alone with a decent score. I came in at 2 hours and 38 minutes and 40 something seconds. I was shooting for 2 hours and 30 minutes, but at least I was close.

A great friend trained me and helped get me into as good of shape as I really expected over the last few months. Without Michael it would never have been possible.

The one thing that really helped me get through it all was my play list. I know you are not supposed to use an IPod or other music device during a half marathon, but I did, so sue me. For the first six miles, every time a song came on, it reminded me of a story and a friend. Thank you all for inspiring me.

Stand Tall The Dirty Heads – Michael, thank you for helping me stand tall. It was part of the mix I did on the 10 k. Your leadership and guidance was the main reason I survived.

All My Life K Ci and Joe Joe – It was our first dance, so it always makes me think of my Wifey, you have been so sweet even though you are going through so much with your degree. Thank you for being there for me after all my runs. So many more songs remind me of you but that would make this even more boring…

I’m Coming Home Murder By Death – The song is about coming home, and my brother introduced it to me. Thanks to my family for supporting me even though me running a half marathon was not always completely plausible.

Yeah Usher – After our exciting ride to Hilton Head it would be tough to forget Tim, thank you for coming up and joining me. All the tips and newsletters helped put me at ease. Thanks. I will even include your lovely wife. I am so glad you could make it out Courtney.

Smash the Offspring – Best song to take you back to highschool. Danny took me to my first real show. Thanks for the cigars.

Iron Man Black Sabbath – It was probably my third real CD ever purchased. Bought it with Steve when we went up to Canada in 8th grade. Thanks for keeping it light even though I’ve been stressing.

Time of Your Life Greenday – Thanks for all the fond memories of Where it’s @. Bryce you have always been such a great friend. Glad we could grab a few drinks over the holiday.

Party Hard Andrew WK – Thanks to Nick for getting me pumped up. One of the best roommates a man can ask for. Wonder twin’s powers activate!

Deliverance Bubba Sparxxx – for the Schultz family who introduced it to me. Thank you for what you are doing for our country. I am proud to consider you part of my family.

Country Grammar Nelly & Living on a Prayer Bon Jovi – all my boys from Freshman year at IU. It has been a while, but we will always be boys.

Jesus Walks & Never Let me Down Kanye West – Thank you God for all the blessings you have bestowed on me. I am humbled.

Lastly I would like to thank my new favorite podcast, Filmspotting. You can find them at Filmspotting.net. They provided much of the entertainment that kept me going through the early runs. Thanks guys.

There were more times than I can count where I wanted to give up, but it always seemed like something came on the IPod that got me excited and gave me that extra push. It is always cool to me how things like that work out..

Fairy Tale Friday

2011-04-29T18:37:00.004-04:00

Have you seen the pictures? Of course you have. I'm talking about the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton. AMAZEBALLS!

I thought about getting up super early to watch, but just couldn't do it. I give a lot of credit to everyone like my mom who did. I've got it recorded though so I can watch it later. :-)

Not everyone does, but I love the pomp and circumstance of a formal wedding. I love the ceremonial air that comes with the celebration of two people making such a profound commitment to each other. I think it's a serious thing, one not to be taken lightly, and as such deserves special attention. Now I don't know that I would have wanted the attention of the entire world watching me on my wedding day. I have to say, Kate handled it with so much grace and poise. Exactly how a princess should carry herself.

Love this picture of Kate and her sister, Philippa. So sweet.

And the dress. Swoon. It was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. I've seen a few places say that it looks like she's channeling Grace Kelly on her wedding day, and I agree. Kate's is definitely a more modern and accessible take on the look. Both are timeless, elegant, and so much what I picture a princess's wedding dress to be. I'm not one who pictures a lot of sparkle or bling for something like this. Instead I think of things are very traditional, like lots of lace and impeccable craftsmanship and attention to detail.

What a beautiful bride! I can only imagine what it must feel like to actually be a princess. Probably a lot more work and responsibility than most of realize, or would even want in real life. But on a day like today, it's awfully fun to get caught up in the fairy tale.

Loki’s Hot Tub Party Machine

2011-04-29T17:30:00.000-04:00

My lovely wife neglected to mention our newest addition to outdoor hosting. It has proven fantastic through the winter months and we are both amped up to start using it this summer. We were able to get a great deal at the end of last summer on a brand new Tropic Seas 7 seat hot tub. It took a bit more work to get set up than we had expected, but after having a qualified electrician come out and run a 220 amp outlet to our back yard, we were able to power up.

There are ten rules for hot tubing in Loki’s Backyard

10. My tub, my tunes.
9. Frozen hair feels funny.
8. Always bring a cooler; the wife gets angry if you track water from the door to the fridge every time you run dry.
7. Even hot tub water freezes after it sits on the patio long enough, and stamped concrete hurts when you fall.
6. Loki likes the taste of the water, but does not want to go in the water.
5. Alcohol is magnified ten times over, if you want to play hooky and bring a bottle of bourbon, it is not smart to try and finish it before the wife gets home from work.
4. Seven man hot tubs do not hold seven men, especially if they are my size. It gets way to friendly.
3. Drunk is not an excuse for a wardrobe malfunction, because so far it has only been dude malfunctions.
2. No peeing in the hot tub!
1. Don’t ask what goes on in the hot tub after hours, if you aren’t careful I might tell ya.

Big guy in the backyard

2011-04-27T20:17:00.002-04:00

Hello all you people out there in internet land. With my lovely wife working so hard on all things MBA and the weather becoming very nice out here in the Midwest, I will be starting to contribute to the blog. I will be looking at landscaping, patio design and other super manly things like that. If you are lucky, I may even contribute a few of my summer grillin recipes.

I look forward to keeping the fun in Loki's Backyard going!

Quote of the Week

2011-04-15T08:42:00.001-04:00

There are people who have money and people who are rich.

~ Coco Chanel

Completed Goal: Goal 99

2011-03-09T08:49:00.040-05:00

Goal 99: Turn 30 and like it

Life is not a dress rehearsal. Stop practicing what you're going to do and just go do it. In one bold stroke, you can transform today.

~ Marilyn Grey

This was tougher than I thought it would be, but I have to admit it got easier. I struggled with the idea of turning 30. I kept having all these thoughts about where I thought I'd be by now, and whether I was close enough or just really far off. The more I thought about it, I realized that it didn't matter. When had I put this "plan" together? College? High School?

Basically I had made some decisions about what my life should be without actually giving myself a chance to live any of it first. I don't know that I could have predicted where my life and my opportunities would have taken me when I was 16. I don't know that I could have predicted what the next 14 years would bring. I could barely predict what the next weekend was going to bring. But that's kinda how things are supposed to be at 16. Now I like to plan ahead a little bit. OK, a lotta bit.

So where did I think I'd be. First, I thought I'd be married. OK- check. I thought there might be a kiddo around. Not so check. I thought that I'd have some high-powered title. Not so much with the title, but a little but on the high-power. Not that I'm quite in the C-Suite yet, but I get to work on some pretty cool projects, and overall I'm excited to go to work. I think that rounds up to a check. I thought I'd have a house. Check- a big ole mortgage sized check and a stack of design magazines with pages dog-eared to prove it.

I came pretty close to everything on that list. And to top it off, I did some things that maybe I didn't expect.

I lived in London and worked for a theatre company for a summer in college. That's a dream come true right there. I've seen Paris at sunset and the hills of Ireland at sunrise. I've stood backstage for countless performances, both at work and for shows that I was actually in, though none of those happened outside of Illinois or Indiana. I tried out for American Idol. Didn't make it on TV, but that also means I didn't get made fun of on TV. That's a win. I've stood next to my best friends while they got married and had them stand next to me. I get to come home to a dog who acts like seeing me walk through the door is the best thing that happens to him all day. I've gotten to hear my parents say that they're proud of me and that they love me. I get to hear my husband say it every night.

All in all, the first 30 years have been pretty fantastic. Who knows what the next will bring? I don't. And really that's going to be part of the fun.

International Women's Day

2011-03-08T21:57:00.000-05:00

Apparently, today is International Women's Day. I didn't know that there was an International Women's Day until I saw it in a few emails today. Side note- I get a lot of email. Some of it's useful, most of it's not, but I'm willing to delete and glance through on the off chance that I get something useful. Like finding out about International Women's Day.

I'm not a crazy femi-nazi or anything, but I definitely believe that women deserve to be treated as equals to men. Note I didn't say identical. Equal is not identical. There are certain innate differences between the sexes, and I think that's a good thing. Evolution and genetics have made us that way. Rather than minimizing or working to eliminate our differences, I say we embrace and celebrate them. It's part of what makes us interesting and attracts us to each other.

I think it's good to have someone who's strengths compliment your weaknesses. For example; the big guy and I tend to score on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to introversion/extroversion. I'm super-introverted; give me a book and some music or a bottle of wine, and I'm set. The big guy is super-extroverted; you don't earn sales rep of the year for North America by being a wall-flower. He helps bring me out of my shell in situations where I might be shy at first, and I get to show him how relaxing a quiet night at home can be.

What's nice about this? We're a team. There are countless other ways that we compliment each other. Compliment, not complete. I'm a complete person on my own, as is he. By acknowledging that we need each other, we actually get a little stronger as a couple, and as people. We live in a place that makes this partnership possible. Our parents have set this example for us, our society encourages men to treat their wives well. But what about women who don't have that?

A while ago I finished, Reading Lolita in Tehran, and found myself being extremely grateful for something as arbitrary as the geography of my birth. There are so many places where women are taken for granted, where women are undervalued, under appreciated, and worse. I'm not naive enough to think that those same things don't happen here, but I am hopeful that our culture doesn't encourage it and that someday we'll have the courage to change it, for good.

I also found myself grateful for some not so arbitrary things.I'm grateful for the women in my family and my female friends. As I read the story, I was amazed at the way they came together and supported each other. That need for female companionship and that shared experience is universal, I think. We all need someone to talk to who gets our perspective right away. Someone who understands what it's like to be a woman and face the pressures that bombard us all every day. Someone who understands the unique trials and tests we face every time we walk out the door, turn on the TV, or open a magazine. I've been truly blessed to have some amazing women in my life. Whether it's over dinner and drinks, or across the Internet.

Today, and every day, I'm proud to know them. And I'm proud of the woman they're helping me become.

Bathroom Saga: Day 7

2011-03-07T13:00:00.000-05:00

Day 7 had us getting into the fun stuff for me- namely paint. There's finally some color in the room! Very light color, but color none the less.

We wanted to bring in the blue of our duvet cover in the master bedroom. You can see a good picture of it in this post. To do that, we decided to go with Olympic paint in Beachcomber (B56-1). It's the lightest on the color card it comes on. We knew that we had to go light with the blue, otherwise it would wind up feeling like we were stuck in a swimming pool. We're definitely OK with deep colors in a bathroom, as you can see in our guest bathroom, but we wanted something a bit more serene for this space. I'm not what anyone would consider a "morning person" so I need to kind of ease myself into the day.

These are the new shelves. Perfect for what we need to store in this room. It really wasn't much, so losing the space we did won't be a big change. It may actually be better for seeing what we have! I'm constantly forgetting if we have cold medicine. If the door is open, you actually can't see them.

I love the way the wall color plays off the tile.

It's very similar to the color scheme in the bathroom on page 108 of this month's issue of Traditional Home. I know that because when my issue came in I dog-eared the page so I could show it to my mom. Which meant that the next time she and I were on the phone I told her to grab her issue and turn to that page so she could see it. Yup, there we were talking on the phone flipping through Traditional Home together. Not a bad way to spend some time on a Wednesday night :-)

Bathroom Saga: Day 6

2011-03-06T13:00:00.001-05:00

Day 6 was the last of the tile installation. The shower is complete! We did the same accent tile here that we used around the tub.

I don't know what it is, but I love the look of white subway tile. I know it comes up a lot in various design blogs, but I think there's good reason for that. It's classic and it goes with so many different styles. We're going for a slightly more modern feel in this space, and it fits right in. With the right accents and the right color palette it would look equally appropriate in my mom's house which is much more traditional than ours.

A close up of the tiles, and me attempting to get a cool angle with my camera. I should probably not be attempting to start a photography business any time soon.

And the floor tile. We wanted something that would give us the look of marble, but definitely not in that price range. Enter a ceramic tile with a carrera-esque gray vein pattern.

So much more light now. This corner was so dark before, it just felt closed off from the rest of the room. The whole thing was more like a series of cubbies. Now it feels like a cohesive, open space.

We added a piece of trim to the half wall to mimic the one we have at the top of the stair case. It's identical. We do want to keep some flow throughout the house.

This little cubby is what's left of the linen closet we removed to expand the shower. The brackets are for shelves. We'll have plenty of space for all the things that we need to store in the room. We were really using less space than this in the linen closet anyway, so it's not going to be a big adjustment.

I can't wait to show you what comes next :-)

Bathroom Saga: Day 5

2011-03-05T13:00:00.002-05:00

With all the changes we made to the structure of the bathroom, we had to fix the drywall.

Oh the glamour of construction.

Bathroom Saga: Day 4

2011-03-04T13:00:00.001-05:00

Day 4 meant that all the prep work was worth it. We have tile! And we have a new counter. No more faux blue marble sea shell shaped sinks for us. It's just white. Totally simple, and very sleek.

Subway tile around the tub with marble accent tiles.

Close up of the tile. No grout yet.

Subway tile in the shower. We're really starting to see the difference in the shower. So far, so great!

Another tile close up.

Here's the new faucet, out of the box an on the sink. Love the shape.

A little more tile detail, from around the tub. We went with a brushed nickel band. Less expensive than tile, and it lends a nice industrial vibe to the whole thing. Keeping with our nod to steam punk style.

Loki approves of the changes. And of all the new smells that seem to be happening. Very interesting stuff.

Bathroom Saga: Day 3

2011-03-03T20:30:00.002-05:00

Obviously, there's been a bit of a delay between the actual third day of the renovation and me posting. I got a little distracted by some schoolwork :-) Fortunately, no such distractions hit the guys doing the important work. Not that organizational behavior papers aren't important, but it has significantly less impact on my ability to shower in my own bathroom. Here are the pictures from Day 3.

That half wall is starting to take shape!

Shower is ready for tile.

More tile prep around the tub.

And tile prep on the floor. Lots of prep work to be done, but all important to get done right.

Then we did what we do best: we went shopping. New light fixtures from Lowe's for over the sinks.

And new faucets. A little bit vintage, a little bit steam punk, a whole lotta great!

It's definitely getting there! What comes after all this tile prep- well, tile :-)

Lokis Thoughts: The Power of Dreams

2011-02-21T13:00:00.002-05:00

I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas. They've gone through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind.

~Emily Bronte

I like dreams. I run faster, I chase cool stuff, I get all the best treats. Sometimes, I wag my tail in my sleep. That's one way you can tell that I'm a happy dog.

Bathroom Saga- Day Two

2011-02-18T10:00:00.001-05:00

And the renovation continues. A lot of the work today was under the floor, in the walls. All things that I can't really see. In any event, there were some pretty fun things to see today.

This is what the cabinet looks like without the crazy blue sinks. I like it better already. It's a neutral style in addition to being white so I think it'll work with a wide variety of styles for the counter and sinks.

Without the counter, this what the inside of my side of the cabinet looks like. Makeup, hair products, curling iron, and a little bit of drywall dust. We'll have to give everything a good once over when things are finished.

This is the wall of the shower. Where the cans are sitting is the shelf that we're adding. I'll be able to fit so many bottles of shampoo and shower gel up there. Not that I have that many. Well, I kind of do. It's going to be great. We had a few inches between the edge of shower basin and the wall of the room, so this was our solution. I'm a fan.

This is the new shower basin. It's great! Although the picture is on its side. Can't quite get it turned the right direction. If you tilt your head a little bit, you get the idea. You probably don't have to tilt your head. I did if it makes you feel any better. The room feels bigger already.

Tomorrow- the electrician comes. Finally, we'll have some light over the bath tub!

Goal Progress: Goal 58

2011-02-17T21:58:00.000-05:00

Goal 58: Renovate Master Bathroom

That's right, we started the bathroom renovation this week. You can see some of the very first pictures of the space here. We took these right after we moved in. Even before we signed the papers, the millions of pages of paper, so that we could officially own the place, we knew those stylish blue seashell sinks had to go. We also knew that a bathroom renovation completely exceeded our DIY expertise. Anything involving plumbing and electricity requires professional knowledge. At least it does in our house.

We found a contractor that we liked, that Loki liked, and that some friends and our realtor recommended. We worked out a budget and a plan, and we made some decisions about the placement of new lights, and what walls needed to go. Basically, we had a linen closet that we didn't need. What we need is light and a little extra space in the shower. As of today, we're making great progress.

Day 1 was demo. Tuesday night, we moved ourselves into our guest bathroom, and got everything unnecessary cleared out of the bathroom. Then on Wednesday, the guys got things started. Here's a peek at what our bathroom looked like last night.

This used to be the shower. In the morning it was a 3' by 3' square. Everything's been pulled up, and the new wall you see is in place so that we can have a 60" shower basin. Hello room to stretch!

I don't know what any of the stuff in this pile is. That's why we aren't doing this ourselves. Loki wasn't allowed in the room while the work was going on. He was very interested in sniffing out the details of the progress. Then he was interested in chewing on an unattended 2 x 4. He didn't get to have that for very long. You can also see in this picture that the vinyl flooring is gone.

This is our bathtub. We're not changing the tub itself- garden tub with jets can definitely stay. But we are having the tile around the top and sides replaced with the tile that we use in the shower to tie it all together. Just enough to keep things coordinated. And I do like it when things are coordinated.

The blue sinks are gone! This change will be one of the biggest impacts we have in the space. I cannot wait to see how it all looks with a clean, sleek, modern counter. We're keeping the existing cabinetry. It's in good shape, it's white so it'll go with everything we have and are bringing in. Plus, getting a new cabinet would have blown the budget.

Because everything had to come out of the bathroom, the toilet gets to live in our bedroom. Not permanently.

So Day 1 was a big day. Lots more updates to come. It's going to be an interesting three weeks.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T11:59:00.012-05:00

Ok, I know that not everyone likes this holiday, but I think it's fun. I like taking the time to let the people I love know that I love them. I think we could all stand to do that more often than we do. If it takes a Hallmark holiday to remind me to take that time, I'm ok with that. So whether you buy into the whole chocolate hearts, champagne and roses routine, I'm sure you have someone who means so much to you, that you want to let them know.

Someone asked me last week to think of something that I'm grateful for, something that makes me happy. My first thought was about the big guy. Since it's Valentine's Day, it's a good time to share what I wrote about him. Because I was writing this as a response to the question- I got wordy. You're not shocked, I know. So here's what I had to say about all the people that I'm grateful for this Valentine's Day.

I'm grateful that I get to spend my days with a wonderful man who supports and encourages me in everything I do. I couldn't have taken on some of the challenges I have if he hadn't been my own personal cheerleader. I'm grateful to have such a fantastic partner building the life that we want, for the family that we want.

I'm grateful for my parents and for all that they continue to do for me, and for us, every day. Their love and support is priceless. I wish they could be closer geographically, but I think the distance has actually helped me appreciate all we have together and all that they do.

I'm grateful for our friends and family. I sent out a silly request on Facebook to some close friends and our families (his & mine) to like a page I just created for work so that we can build our numbers and get the FB URL we want. It was late last night and almost everyone has already liked it. I was floored. I seriously started to cry checking the page. They continually surprise me with their caring and the time they take for us. We're incredibly lucky.

I'm grateful for a job that provides challenges and opportunities for me to grow professionally. Having a job at all right now is something to be valued and appreciated, let alone one that you get to truly enjoy.

I'm grateful for a happy & healthy dog waiting patiently for me to come from work. Seeing that tail wag when I walk through the door makes the day's little annoyances go away.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! May you find yourself surrounded by love today, and everyday.

Super Bowl Sunday: At Least My Menu Was a Winner

2011-02-07T21:47:00.000-05:00

Even though his team wasn't in the game, he still took the time to celebrate with friends.

I have to admit, I had a blast getting ready for this party. For the first time, I got to use this cookbook:

It was a Christmas present from my mom. :-) Here's what I love about this book. It gives you a checklist of everything you need for a variety of parties. Holiday parties, dinner parties, theme parties. You get a timeline of all the things that need to be done, from sending out invitations to centerpieces to signature cocktails. There's tips on decor, and a complete menu plan. It makes it super easy to put together a great time. Of course, one of the parties listed is the Super Bowl party.

I didn't do all the things listed as far as decor goes, but I was all about the menu. I won't be posting the recipes, as I'm sure that would put me in violation of some copyright laws. I tend to avoid violations of that nature. Really any nature. I'm what you might call "risk averse." Which is a business-school way of saying I'm a big chicken. It's true.

But I will tell you what was included in the menu:

Sugar-and-Spice Pecans
Jalapeno Bean Dip
Paninis with Chorizo, Green Chiles, and Cheese
Chili with Chicken and White Beans
Jicama-Citrus Slaw
Signature Drink- The Kickoff

We also had some of the Big Guy's pulled pork, and some of your standard party appetizers like a veggie tray, shrimp, and chips and salsa. You'll never be hungry at a party we host. That's just how we roll. Oh, we also had rolls, to go with the chili.

I spent most of Saturday cooking. The pecans, the chili, the bean dip, the slaw were all done the day before. Everything else was prepped (veggies cut, spices measured out, etc) and ready to go. It was so nice to have time on Sunday to enjoy getting ready rather than trying to get everything done at the last minute. It freed us up to do things like buy a George Foreman grill. We were stoked about the paninis, until we remembered that we don't have a panini press. Quick trip out to the store, and voila! Problem solved.

And with so many new recipes, I feel like this puts me closer to where I should be with the goal for one new recipe a week. Maybe we make that an average of one new recipe a week. A few more of the parties from this book, and I'll be right on track!

In the meantime, Loki's got some training to do. The Colts might need him next year.

Perspective

2011-02-06T14:00:00.001-05:00

Whatever is true
Whatever is noble
Whatever is right
Whatever is pure
Whatever is lovely
Whatever is admirable
If something is excellent or praise worthy
Think about these things

~ Philippians 4:8

Goal Progress: Goal 83

2011-01-26T19:29:00.001-05:00

Mission accomplished! I can see the top of the desk again. Of course it was easy once I got started.

Yes that's a headset you see sitting on top of the notebook. Necessary for class conference calls. I actually have one tonight.

Still some sorting and organizing to do in the file cabinets, but it's much better than it was this time yesterday.

I even made it to the top of the bookshelf. Much, much better.

Goal Progress: Goal 83

2011-01-25T20:14:00.000-05:00

Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it's not all mixed up.

~ AA Milne

Goal 83: Organize paperwork/office area & keep it that way

I love being organized. It's not that I have an extreme love of order, my love of order falls well within normal ranges. I think. I'm a little bit on the scattered side, a bit flighty if you will. If given the option between focusing my energy on one thing completely or doing some combination of 5 things at once, I always choose the 5. So being organized helps me get to everything that needs to get done, everything that needs my attention.

Admittedly, that hasn't been easy to do lately. School takes up a lot of time and energy. All that means is that things go a little longer before getting organized and put away. Which isn't bad, but eventually enough things pile up that it starts to clutter my workspace. Then I start to feel like the clutter is actually overtaking my mind as well. It gets hard to focus.

That's where we're at today. Take a look at the pictures below to see exactly what I mean.

This is what a desk looks likes when it's shared by two busy people. One using it for work, and one using it for school. That's right, on top of this being my study area, this is the big guy's office. He works from home, or at least tries to with the little space left.

I'm embarrassed. I'd like to say that I staged this photo, you know added some things to it to make it look worse. But that wouldn't be true. Yup, this is the actual chaos that lives in our house right now. Fortunately it's really only here and in our closet. I will spare you the horror that is our laundry pile. It's about ready to stage some sort of revolution. That's on the list for tomorrow.

A closer look at all the randomness mixed in with the school work. Sometimes a girl needs a break from accounting, hence the magazine and open Crate & Barrel catalog. I got right back to the accounting, don't worry. Well, maybe not right back.

Just in case you though the insanity stopped with the top of the desk- wait there's more! This is the top of the bookshelf. Again, any inch of available space has been claimed with papers and magazines, and school stuff.

My mission this evening, should I choose to accept it, is to make some order out of the chaos. To make sense out of the mess. Basically, to prove the existence of the top of the desk.

We'll have to see how this turns out.

I've Got Big Plans

2011-01-21T20:15:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday!

Quote of the Week

2011-01-20T19:10:00.001-05:00

When the solution is simple, God is answering.

~ Albert Einstein

Sometimes the view from our backyard is more than just pretty. It's inspiring.

Loki's Thoughts- On Birthdays

2011-01-19T09:33:00.002-05:00

I believe in animal rights, and high among them is the right to the gentle stroke of a human hand.

~ Robert Brault.

I'm not sure who this Brault guy is, but I like what he's saying. I'm not real fancy, but I know what I like. I knew right away that I liked my people when they came to get me from the shelter. I knew they'd be good to me, and probably be a little bit easy to persuade with some tail wagging and puppy dog eyes. I was right.

I turned 4 this week. I'm not sure what that's all about, but my people think it's a big deal. They think a lot of stuff is a big deal that I just don't understand. But they're pretty good to me. I get lots of petting, plenty of cuddling on the couch, and if my grandparents are over- I even get table scraps. Yeah, I think I'm a pretty lucky dog.

Completed Goals: Goal 75 & Goal 78

2011-01-18T15:29:00.003-05:00

Beauty is invigorating; it's essential to the human spirit. I can't imagine being as productive and buoyant as I am if I did not work from an office that is as carefully considered as my living and bedroom... your environment plays a big part in how you feel- and you should live in harmony with your desires.

~ Mary McDonald

Goal 75: Finish Jewelry Frame Coark Board
Goal 78: Overhaul Jewelry Box

I have a lot of costume jewelry. Not a crazy amount, well not to me anyway, the big guy may question my sanity at times. But I think he has other reasons for that completely unrelated to my bracelet collection. ;-)

I wanted something that would give me a few things as far as jewelry organization goes. I need to be able to see what I have quickly. Some of my things were so buried, I kinda forgot about them. Most of those pieces were things I got in high school, so that's probably not a bad thing, but it wasn't great either. This project took a few steps that I hadn't anticipated.

Whatever it was, would have to be pretty. I'd flagged the space above my dresser in our closet. It's a space that not everyone will see, so it can be a little more on the girly side or a little riskier than what I'd do in the main bedroom.

I'd seen a few different cork boards and bulletin boards that have been turned in to jewelry boards across the blogosphere. I figured I could try making my own. I'm not crafty, but I like to pretend. We had an auction for charity at our office earlier in 2010 and I picked up this picture for $7.

The irises were not really my thing. This is just after I'd gotten it set up in the garage to paint it. Yes, in case you're curious that is an old Slip N Slide. Makes a great drop cloth.

What I really liked about it was the detail on the frame. That's the part I was planning to keep anyway. My initial plan was to paint the frame bright red, using the last of the red paint we still ahd from the accent wall in the apartment. After painting that wall, and then having to prime over it when we moved out, I think it's safe to say we're done with red walls.

This is the first coat of the red paint. It probably took me a bout 5 to get it where I really wanted it.

After painting, I tried filling in the frame with some cork tiles. They weren't quite the right size, so some cutting was necessary to get them to fit. A little shifting and everythign seemed to work out fine. I used a spray adhesive to keep the tiles on. Of course my trusty side kick was there to help. He didn't help very much though, I think he was more interested in searching the garage for bugs.

This is where I think I made my mistake. I painted the cork tiles. I'd painted a corkboard before, the one that hangs in our laundry room so I hadn't really thought anything about what the paint would do to the cork. Cork is absorbent. It soaked up a boatload of paint. So much paint in fact that the cork warped and pulled away from the picture. The spray adhesive did not hold up to that. So I was left with a lovely red frame and a hot mess of painted cork. This was not going to work.

I was trying to figure out how to salvage what I'd started and make the cork work. The big guy suggested cutting my losses, removing the cork and the picture and just hanging the frame. As you can see in the picture above, that's exactly what we did. I had a lot of stuff on top of my dresser. I'd like to say it was all organized, but it wasn't.

Once the frame was up it was time to fill it in with the jewelry from the top of the dresser. I took this opportunity to clean out my jewelry box. It's the red one on top of the dresser. I wound up with this configuration of some 3M command adhesive hooks to hang all my necklaces. Earrings and bracelets are still in the jewelry box.

It's much more fun to look at than the blank wall.

20 Books Read in 2010

2011-01-17T20:03:00.000-05:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions for 2010 was to read 20 books.

1. The Luxe This is the first of four books in a young adult series. It's about New York high society at the turn of the century. Interesting take on friendship and dating/marriage withing the confines of the world of the very well to do. Quick read. Great for a vacation.

2. Rumors This is the second book in the Luxe series. Still interesting, more scandal, a little shock. Entertaining.

3. Fables: Legends in Exile This was my first graphic novel. Cool story. Not sure that I'm sold on the graphic novel format though. I like it, but I think I'll only read it on occasion. Although, maybe I'll pick up the next few in the series to read during school.
4. Chasing Harry Winston Great vacation read again. Classic chick lit by the author of Devil Wears Prada. Love the differences between the three main characters. Such different worlds, but such good friends. I think that happens. It's hard not to grow apart, but good friends are worth it.
5. A Lion Among Men This is the third book in the Wicked series (Wicked, Son of a Witch). Pretty good story of the Cowardly Lion. I like the cowardly lion as a character and the details of Oz from a different perspective. I enjoyed the first two books in the series, so this was an easy choice to pick up.
6. Miracle at St. Anna This one wasn't really what I expected. Not nearly as heavy into the war details as it could have been.

7. The Automatic Millionaire Good approach to finances and saving. More of what we should be doing for sure.

8. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner I'm one of those people who are totally caught up in the Twilight craze. I'm not embarrassed to admit it, well not too embarrassed anyway. I liked the short format of the story, and the more in-depth look at one of the side characters. What I'd really like to see is a novella for each of the main vampire characters. Let's read more about Emmet or Alice or Esme. Stephenie Meyer if you're reading this, it'd be a great idea.
9. Envy This is the third book of the Luxe series. More characters are being brought in, and there's a twist I didn't see coming. Love it when books surprise me- even books for teenagers.

10. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter Totally entertaining. What if slavery was really about vampires? Crazy take on a volatile subject. But a funny look at a sequence of events that actually happened. Not quite as good as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but a similarly fun read.

11. The Colorado Kid Interesting book. Not at all what I'm used to from Stephen King. Not scary at all. Very much a crime/mystery novel. Not sure that I'm a huge fan of the ending, but that happens every now and again.

12. Winter Garden This book was awesome. One of my VPs at work lent it to me. Amazing story about family and the stories we tell ourselves, and the stories that no one tells. Wonderful look at the mother/child relationship. I cried, several times. It was such a good book.

13. The Link There's no link to this book. It's an antique, and really it was awful. Even if there was a link I wouldn't share it. About 5 pages in I decided that the main character was a sociopath. That made the remaining 200-plus pages very difficult to get through. Not a good read.

14. Swan Lake Love this story. It's beautifully written, and the illustrations in this version are striking. I'd already been gearing up for Black Swan, so this was a natural choice to pick up off the shelf. es it's a kid's book, but in the middle of reading for econ I needed something a little less intense.

15. A Little Princess Again, some beautiful illustrations. Tasha Tudor has a great style to compliment classic British children's literature. My parents bought me this version of the book when I was little. We were on vacation in the Wisconsin Dells and we'd gone to a theme park called Story Book Gardens. It was all fairy tale themed. I loved it, and yes, Mom, I remember that. :-) I also have the copy of The Secret Garden with the same illustrator.

16. The Old Man and the Sea It's a classic, and I totally have a thing for Hemingway. I'm impressed by the respect the old man has for the fish, and for the fight.

17. Blink Whether or not you agree with anything Malcom Gladwell says in his books, he's an entertaining author. I don't know how much credence I really put into the theories, but I like to think that I've got some good intuition. Maybe I could benefit from listening to my gut more often than I do.

If you don't count the reading I had to do for school, I only hit 17 books. Still, not too shabby considering that I started grad school. But if you count the books I actually read all of for school, that gets me to 20. I'd rather have been reading something else, but it does get me to the full 20 of the goal. What's disappointing are the four other books that I only got through half of for school. They weren't any more exciting than the titles finishing up the list, but it was a lot of reading and I'd like to have something more to show for it.

18. How to Read a Financial Report
19. Economics of Strategy
20. Financial Economics

New Recipe: Taco Soup

2011-01-17T19:05:00.001-05:00

this recipe came from our realtor (Thanks, Jennifer!). It's been hanging on the side of the fridge next to the stove for a while, and seemed like a great recipe for a cold day. Well, today was a cold day and since my office was closed, I had plenty of time to try a new recipe.

Ingredients
1.5 lbs ground beef
1 onion (chopped)
2 pkgs dry ranch dressing mix
2 pkgs dry taco seasoning mix
1 can black beans (drained/rinsed)
1 can pinto beans (drained/rinsed)
1 can kidney beans (drained/rinsed)
2 cans corn
3 cans original Rotel tomatoes
2 cups water

Directions
Brown ground beef with chopped onion, drain and put in crock pot. (I actually used a big pot on top of the stove.)

Add the remaining ingredients to the pot and cook on low 2-3 hours or until desired temperature.

It was just that easy. And very tasty! It makes a lot of soup. I've got 4 containers in the fridge waiting to be lunch.

New Years' Resolution

2010-12-31T09:10:00.001-05:00

Let there be more joy and laughter in your living.

~ Eileen Caddy

I've decided not to do an official New Year's resolution this year. Really, there's enough to do based on the 101 Things list on the second page of the blog. So no specific resolution was really necessary. Instead, I'll be looking to have more of what this quote mentions. More time doing the things that make me happy with the people that make me happy. I like that. We could all use more of that, don't you think?

For example, take a look at what happened the day of our first big snowfall in Indy. This is our backyard that morning. Our very own Winter Wonderland.

And I'm not the only one who loves the snow. Don't be surprised if this picture finds it's way onto next year's Christmas card!

That's all you need for a great day. Fresh snow, a giant stick to chase, and a comfy spot for a nap. Lots of joy, and plenty of laughter.

I hope 2011 brings more of both to all of us.

Thanksgiving Mantle

2010-12-30T11:29:00.017-05:00

As we express gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

This quote was perfect for Thanksgiving, which is right around when I found it. Yup, still getting caught up, and there's more to come! In the meantime, here's what our mantle looked like for Thanksgiving.

Almost everything for the holiday (all the white pieces) came from Z Gallerie. The mirrors are from CB2, and the candle holders are from Costco. Not everything in the house is as fancy as you think. But it sure is fun to think it!

A squash on both ends for balance next to the candle holders. And of course there had to be a place for the little turkey.

My favorite new addition was probably the pheasant. Loved his lines and the curve of his head. Just right for the centerpiece of my Thanksgiving mantle.

Completed Goal: Goal 46

2010-12-29T16:17:00.015-05:00

Completed Goal: Goal 46 Go to a Purdue football game with the big guy

Date Completed: 11/27/2010

We went to a Purdue football game together, and not just any game, the Old Oaken Bucket game. This game is probably my favorite game of the season. For those of you not familiar with the game, it's the last game of the Purdue football season and it's the always against Indiana University (IU). It's the big rivalry game and the winner gets to put a "P" or an "I" on the chain attached to the bucket, and bragging rights for the rest of the year. Now, I will say, the bucket has significantly more "Ps" on the chain, which I'm sure helps with some added enjoyment for me.

The really fun part about this game- I went to Purdue and the big guy went to IU. Yup, we're a house divided when it comes to college sports. We decided that a friendly wager would be a great idea for the game. No money was involved, it was just for pride. We decided that Loki would wear a collar representing the winning school for a month. We figure the bet can be an annual event, and he can wear the collar for the whole month of December.

It sounded like a great idea at the time.

Mommy lost the bet. Even Loki looks disappointed. It's like he understands.

I suppose he can have the win, it was his birthday after all. We'll meet on the field again next year. I've got Loki's Purdue collar ready.

Completed Goal: Goal 38

2010-12-28T15:03:00.005-05:00

Goal 38: Go antiquing
Completed: 9/4/2010

I know what you're thinking, September was a really long time ago. It's true. I've been totally slacking in getting this post actually written out and posted. We went antiquing at the Noblesville Antique Market. It's three levels with tons of things to sift through. It's right on the town sqaure in downtown Noblesville.

We didn't really have anything in mind when we got there, so we started on the main level and just worked our way through all of the displays. Just as proof, here's a picture of the big guy at one point in the shopping trip. Isn't that the face of a man who loves antiquing? It actually is, we've been several times since that first trip.

We were able to find a few cute things to add to the house. The first being a lovely ash tray for the big guys cigars. It's outside in the picture because it was September, and a beautiful day in our backyard. Well, Loki's backyard, I suppose, if you want to believe the blog title.

The other piece that we were really excited about is the crystal decanter in the picture below. The big guy has decided that a small decanter collection would be a fun thing to have in the house. So we've started one near the bar. It looks great so far. We got one decanter as a gift for our wedding and have added another as an anniversary present. Our little collection is looking good! They're all different shapes and styles so there's a lot of visual interest to the sets.

All in all, our first antiquing trip was a success! We're still looking for more decanters, and I'm always on the lookout for books.

Design Sherpa Conest Entry

2010-12-22T10:20:00.002-05:00

A while back, like back in June, I entered a contest with a chance to win a trip to Paris. My entry was chosen as one of the top 100 from the first round. This meant that I had the opportunity to submit another entry as part of the next round. I did, which you can read here. I'm a little disappointed to say that I wasn't chosen to progress to the third/final round of the contest.

But I did get to have my original entry published on the Design Sherpa website. You can read it there. It's pretty fun to see yourself published somewhere other than your own blog. But, I've also included it in this post. It's also fun to go back and take a look at something you've written to see how your perspective has changed. I still love the room in the picture below. I'd love to see our house have this much personality. Though somehow I doubt that turquoise lacquer walls and a gold leaf ceiling are really the big guy's thing.

There are a few things about this room that really stand out for me. I love the luxe feel of everything from the zebra rug on the floor to the turquoise finish on the walls. I tend to gravitate towards pieces that give the room a distinct feeling. I think that inspiring design elicits an emotional response and tells a story. There’s a character that comes together once the room is complete. There’s boldness in the room that comes from the combination of materials and colors. It’s adventurous and really speaks to the person/persons living in the space.

It would have been great to win that 10-day trip to Paris complete with tickets to an international design trade show, really great. But, it looks like it wasn't in the cards. C'est la vie. So now I'll just have to shift the focus of my Parisian daydreams to a different trip. One without the bragging rights of being a contest winner.

I Survived Grad School Finals

2010-12-20T13:04:00.000-05:00

I survived my very first set of finals in grad school. Was it easy? Nope. Not easy. Not exactly the way I wanted to spend a collective 32 hours a few weekends ago. That's right- 32 hours. As an undergraduate student, I used to enjoy the occasional take-home test. It meant more time to think through answers and access to course materials and other resources.

As a graduate student in an online program I now look at my take-home tests and quizzes and cringe a bit. They're all take-home, because the entire program is based on me being at home, or in some location other than a traditional classroom. Which means more time to think through answers, because they're significantly more detailed, and access to coursematerials and other resources, because you can't answer the question without them.

But this was only my first round. Both classes happened to be in fairly difficult subjects. Well, difficult for me at least. I highly recommend having some exposure to accounting prior to beginning an MBA program if you've not had any. If your first exposure is at the graduate level, it's tough. Trust me. Overall I'm happy with my grade, I think it's fair, and I think I actually showed some progress throughout the term. But I'm still not going to be a CPA. Like, ever.

The business strategy/economics class however, was much more my cup of tea. Psychology of consumer spending habits? Why, yes please. Analysis of competitor pricing habits to predict responses to new strategies? Don't mind if I do. Formulas to quantify price elasticity and probable return on investment? Uh... can we go back to the psychology stuff? Again, happy with my grade, and I know I showed progress in this one, as evidenced by the A I got on the final. Woo and hoo.

So now, it's time to relax, enjoy some time with friends and family, and celebrate the holidays. Of course, I've got loads of blogging to catch up on. Between the quizzes and tests and papers and team projects, there's been a lot going on around me!

Quote of the Week

2010-11-25T10:34:00.001-05:00

Someitmes, if not most of the time, you find out who you are by figuring out who & what you're not.

~ Kelly Cutrone

Quote of the Week

2010-11-18T10:29:00.001-05:00

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.

~ William Morris

Quote of the Week

2010-11-11T09:41:00.000-05:00

Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.

~ Unknown

Happy Veteran's Day!

2010-11-11T08:28:00.000-05:00

Today is one of those days where I find myself immeasurably humbled by all that others have done for me. My freedom shouldn't be something I take lightly. I take it for granted on a regular basis, and sometimes forget just how fortunate I am to live where I do. Regardless of your politics, and your feelings towards war and fighting, be grateful today. Take the time to say thank you. Take the time to really think about what you have. I'm willing to bet that you'll be surprised by just how lucky you really are, and that the people protecting what you have will mean a little bit more to you today because you've taken that time.

The fact that there are men and women fighting all across the globe and at home to defend my rights, and keep my home safe from those who would take those freedoms away is almost beyond my comprehension. How can people be so selfless? How can people care so much as to risk their lives for someone, many someones, they've never met and never will? That's bravery and courage at it's finest.

Freedom is a blessing, and I am truly grateful.

To all who have served, including my dad and my grandfathers, and to all currently serving- THANK YOU!

American Flag Image from Textually.org, via Google Images search

Quote of the Week

2010-11-04T12:00:00.000-04:00

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

My Study Buddy

2010-10-29T13:00:00.005-04:00

It's been quiet around here lately. I know. I appreciate you guys sticking around even while things are kind of on a break. (But not like a Ross and Rachael kind of a break. Nice Friends reference huh?) I'm on a study break. A 30-hour a week study break.

Fortunately, I'm not studying alone. This is what my studying eventually leads to.

He's cute. Not terribly helpful or conducive to me actually being productive. But cute.

Quote of the Week

2010-10-28T12:03:00.000-04:00

If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything.

~ Win Borden

Quote of the Week

2010-10-21T12:02:00.001-04:00

It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.

~George William Curtis

Wedding Week Quote of the Week

2010-10-14T12:06:00.005-04:00

It's not what we have in our life, but who we have in our life that counts.

~JM Laurence

Perfect timing for this quote. I found it back in August, but waited until now to post it. I think about this a lot, but especially around our anniversary. We're both so lucky to have our friends and family, we're truly blessed.

But even more than that, I'm awfully lucky to have the big guy. Love you!

Wedding Week- Day 4, Post 3

2010-10-13T18:00:00.001-04:00

I'm trying to catch up a bit, can you tell? Note to self- next wedding week, have more posts ready in advance. I wasn't really interested in blogging on our actual anniversary. I was mostly interested in spending some quality time with the big guy.

Back to more of what we did for our wedding. We tried to make all of our decisions about the reception with our guests in mind.

Should we add the vegetarian option to the menu? Yes, and it was delicious!

Should we try to use the outdoor patio area if the weather allows? Yes, and the guys got a chance to enjoy some cigars and any of our guests who happened to be smokers had a much prettier place than the parking lot to look at while they were outside. And we found space for a second bar. It was a pretty big hit.

Should we let our guests submit suggestions for music? Yes, we set up a page on our wedding website that took suggestions and the DJ was able to accomodate almost all of them. He seemed pretty impressed with some of the suggestions. And on that note, he had something in his system that allowed him to record. At the end of the evening he gave us a CD that was our reception: all the songs, and even the speeches. Very cool.

But what about favors? Should we find a token or trinket that our guests could leave with? We didn't really see anything that we liked that we'd want to give out, and we figured we'd wind up with a lot of left overs. So we looked for alternate ways to spend that budget. Instead of favors, we made a donation to the local Humane Society with that money. It's a charity that I feel pretty strongly about, as you probably know by now, and it gave us a way to bring Loki into our big day.

We made signs with the table numbers and a little note to our guests so that they'd know what we'd decided. "In lieu of favors a donation has been made to the Humane Society to help dogs like our Loki find good homes."

Here are some of the pictures we used.

Just another way that we tried to make our wedding a little more personal. Plus if he'd been there in person, he would have eaten all the cake :-)

Wedding Week- Day 4, Post 2

2010-10-13T12:00:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite things about our wedding, besides the wonderful man I married, was all of the paper stuff we had. For a lot of people, the paper stuff isn't a big deal, but being design-oriented at work, it was important to me that everything go together and look like a cohesive suite.

In order to do that, we branded our wedding. Everything we did had some version of this scroll pattern:

It was on our save the dates, our invitations, our programs, the cards at the tables, the seating chart, and our florist even found little ferns, finnial ferns is what she called them, to put in the arrangements and bouquets to further bring out our design.

I loved seeing everything come together, and I loved how many unexpected things tied in.

Another item we added was a map to our locations.

I put it together in Photoshop and we had it included with some text directions on one of the pages within our invitation. A little something to help everyone get around. Most of our guests were coming from somewhere other than Geneva, so we wanted to make it as easy as possible. I highlighted the three hotels where we had room blocks set up, the church, and the reception hall. I only did the main roads, just to keep it simple.

Wedding Week- Day 1

2010-10-10T21:40:00.000-04:00

This is the first time I've really done the whole wedding week thing, but it seems like a lot of fun. Tomorrow is our second anniversary. It's hard to believe that it's been that long, these past two years have gone by really fast. We've gone through the excitement of promotions at work, buying our first home, the big guy getting recognized as sales rep of the year (shameless bragging), and me starting a graduate degree.

I'll warn you now, this is a long one.

But two years ago right about now, I was sitting in a room with some of the most important people in our world (some really important people weren't able to be there in person, but we knew that they were thinking about us, and they were part of the celebration in spirit). I was getting about a million kinds of antsy and excited and nervous about what the next day would bring. It was a whirlwind kind of a day. It all started at 5am that morning, with my dad and I getting ready to hop on the commuter train from La Fox to Chicago. An odd trip for the day before a wedding, but one that was very necessary. Here's the story if you haven't already heard it. (Or in my dad's case, lived through it with me.)

Wednesday before we got married, we packed up and got ready to drive from Indianapolis to Geneva. I had everything but one important piece- my passport. I had previously given the big guy a lot of grief for not putting his passport in a safe place. Apparently mine was so safe, I couldn't find it. Massive amounts of panic ensued, and we tore our apartment apart trying to find it. No luck. Which was totally scary, because we had an international honeymoon planned. I was not going to be able to go to Aruba sans passport.

So then we found out a very helpful piece of information. There are places across the country where passports are physically made. If you make an appointment and go in person with all the right forms, you can get your passport the same day. One of these places is the Federal Building in downtown Chicago.

So back to my story. We call on the way to my parents' house and make an appointment for me to go and get another passport. But I'm not quite as familiar with Chicago as I pretend to be, and I was nervous about going alone. Enter my dad.

Here's the thing about my dad- he's the best. I know a lot of people say that, but when I say it, it's actually true. He got up crazy early on a day when he should have been able to sleep in and relax, and he hopped on a commuter train like it was no big deal. Trust me, it was a really big deal. We walked from the train station to the Federal Building, navigated the gauntlet of security, and got in line with all the forms and paperwork.

Then I get up to the window, like the DMV, but with glass separating us from the federal employees. People were shouting, people were angry, and people were not happy. The guy behind the glass turns to me, already bored at 9:00am, and we have this conversation:

Federal Employee Guy: Do you have your forms?
Me: Yes, sir. I have them here. (pushes paperwork through the hole under the glass)
Fed: I have to ask this, is it absolutely necessary that you get a new passport today? What's so important that we have to rush it?
Me: (bottom lip begins to quiver, big sniff) Well, sir, you see... (cue uncontrollable sobbing) I'm getting married tomorrow (hiccup) and I lost my passport, but I didn't know it (hiccup) and my dad came out all this way with me (hiccup) and my fiance is the best man in the whole world (hiccup, sniff) and he's planned this great honeymoon in Aruba (hiccup) and now I can't go with him (hiccup) and it's almost my wedding day ... I may have said more, but there were no dogs around to translate the high-pitched ball of emotions I had become.

At this point he reaches his hand under the glass, pats my hand, and says "Honey, you're passport will be done by noon."

Well at this point, I feel like this man has single-handedly saved my honeymoon. And if you think about it, he kinda did.

So I go back over to where my dad is waiting, and tell him the good news. He looks at his watch and says "It's only 9:15. What do you think about some breakfast and a walk around the city?"

That's what we did. We went to the Marriott on the river and had breakfast. We walked through Millennium Park and went through the exhibit hall of a technology conference. We walked, we talked, and I had the best unplanned morning a girl could have the day before her wedding. I didn't get a lot of time just me and Dad leading up to the wedding. Napkin colors and centerpieces just aren't his thing. This random morning was exactly what I needed. Unplanned though it was, I wouldn't have traded it for anything.

For the record- never found the original passport. Totally lost. I think our apartment ate it.

Quote of the Week

2010-10-07T12:04:00.001-04:00

The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.

~Henry Ward Beecher

Quote of the Week

2010-09-30T09:45:00.001-04:00

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.

~ T.S. Eliot

90 Day Challenge: Weigh In

2010-09-29T13:22:00.000-04:00

I missed last week's weigh-in. So I wanted to be sure that I didn't miss this week's too. Good news is that even with the craziness that is my schedule, I've been able to stay relatively on track. I haven't hit the gym as much as I wanted to, but I have been able to get some studying done. There was even one night that I took my Economics text book to the gym with me. Yup, I was that girl walking on the treadmill reading a book, highlighter in hand. Not my favorite, but it did knock two things off my to-do list for the day.

Some of that hard work has paid off, I'm down another pound.

Total Weight Loss: 6.8 lbs

That's pretty darn good. It's right at the pace my trainer recommended, which is slow and steady. Another nice moment this week; one of my coworkers asked if I'd been losing weight. It's nice when other people notice the change. It helps keep the motivation going!

Quote of the Week

2010-09-23T10:26:00.000-04:00

I am always doing things I can't do, that's how I get to do them.

~ Pablo Picasso

Tea for Two (Just Me?)

2010-09-22T18:00:00.001-04:00

I don't drink coffee. I know that comes as a shock, it usually does. I'm weird I guess. I get funny looks, and I can sometimes tell that the person on the other side of the conversation actually feels bad for me. The look gets even more pitying when I tell them that I drink tea.

Here's the thing. I like tea. Tea is tasty. Take today's drink for example.

You can see the label, and yes it's true. Chocolate Hazelnut. It's sweet, it's rich, and downright cozy on a dreary-rainy day like today. I actually didn't need to add any sweetener. (This is my desk at work in case you were curious. I'd like to tell you that the rest of it is really glam and exciting, but it's not. It's mostly covered with papers and files. That's because I actually do work. And I'm just a little bit scattered in my approach to said work. Our desk at home is equally unglamorous, again, we're actually working on it. Perhaps that could be a new project, making the desk space glam and workable. Hmmmm...)

The word you're thinking of by now is "anyway." I'm pretty happy with this tea. I tend to gravitate towards the traditional black teas, although lately I've been doing more red tea (rooibos). Green tea is a little light for me, although nice in summer.

With the weather getting cooler, what will you be reaching for in the morning (or late afternoon)?

Quote of the Week

2010-09-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.

~Gore Vidal

Quote of the Week

2010-09-16T11:58:00.001-04:00

There is no remedy but to love more.

~ Henry David Thoreau

Clean & Green: Microwave Cleaner

2010-09-14T10:09:00.000-04:00

Microwave Cleaner

1/2 cup vinegar
2 cups water

Combine inside microwave safe bowl. Heat on high for 3-4 minutes. Remove bowl and wipe down inside of microwave.

90 Day Challenge: Day 38

2010-09-13T13:52:00.000-04:00

Another week into the challenge. After last week's weigh in I was a little disappointed. This week, I missed my regular Saturday morning weigh-in, so I hopped on the scale this morning. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I wanted to at least have a starting point for the week.

This Week:
Weight Loss: 1lb
BMI Percentage Change: 0.2%

Overall Progress:
Weight Loss: 5.8 lbs
BMI Percentage Change: 1.1%

I'm pretty happy about that. I'm back to where I was two weeks ago, and hopefully this week we'll continue to go in this direction. We've got a new meal plan from our nutritionist that feels like we're constantly eating, but it seems to be adding a nice boost to the workouts. We've gone to more weight training than cardio, so we'll see how that continues to change things. It's turning into quite the wait and see process, but ultimately I know that a slow & steady change is best. But man am I getting impatient!

Quote of the Week

2010-09-09T09:42:00.002-04:00

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

90 Day Challenge- Day 31

2010-09-07T12:42:00.000-04:00

I'm a little bit (or a lotta bit) behind posting the results from this week's weigh-in. That's probably because I'm not very happy with myself. I indulged a little too much, and definitely saw the impact it had on my progress.

This week (Weigh-in happened on schedule on Day 28)
Weight lost: -1 (Yup, I actually gained a pound. Ugh)

Overall
Weight lost: 4.8 lbs
BMI percentage change: .9%

So overall, still going in the right direction. Just with a slight detour. It's going to happen every now and then, so I'm trying to keep it in perspective. As long as the progress stays consistent, that's what will bring about a lasting change. And that's really what I'm working towards.

A big plus for this week was getting a new weight lifting routine. I'm spending more and more time in the part of the gym that I find most intimidating. But it's not as bad as I thought, mostly because of something our trainer said that really put things into perspective.

When I mentioned that this particular area is a little scary for me, he said that was fine and nothing to worry about. I expected the standard "nobody's paying any attention, they're not going to be staring at you and judging response." Instead he asked me to look around the gym and just observe people, specifically to look at body compositions that were most common in each activity area. Then he asked me which group I want to be in. Gave me some things to think about.

Clean & Green: Laundry Settings

2010-09-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

Laundry Settings

Set your washer to cold/cold for the most eco-friendly laundry settings.

Completed Goal: Goal 97

2010-09-03T09:41:00.003-04:00

Three days in and I already have a completed goal. It wasn't hard, but it was a lot of fun.

Goal 97: Define our (me & the big guy) design style

Here's how I checked this one off the list. I was one of many people watching and waiting to see who would win HGTV's Design Star. I love everything about the competition and this season did not disappoint. I was especially happy when they announced the winner and it was Emily. I love the way she combines finishes and time periods with colors and patterns to really give a lot of character to a room. I also love her blog. She's funny and kinda goofy and totally the type of person I'd want to hang out with.

So naturally when the first episode of her new show, Secrets from a Stylist, came on this past weekend, I was there. And by there I mean on my couch, remote in hand ready to watch something awesome happen. One of the things I really like about her approach is the combination of styles. By defining three styles that really work individually for the person, you get a lot more to look for and combine to really get a personalized design for the home.

After watching the show we talked a little bit and picked three styles that we really like and that we want to pull from as we continue to decorate and finish getting our home the way we want it to be. I say we, but really I mean me. The big guy is interested, but I won't push him too far. Here's a peek at what we decided we like. (All images found via Google Images.)

1. Modern: clean lines, geometric patterns, chrome/steel, bright colors, minimalist style, think CB2

2. English Manor House: traditional pub style, worn leather, chesterfield sofas, dark wood tones, books/libraries, crystal

3. Hollywood Regency: metallic/mirrored finishes, high end fabrics, light & airy colors, black & white, feminine lines

Now that we've defined our style, the easy part is done. The hard part will be figuring out where & how to mix them. But it'll be fun too.

Quote of the Week

2010-09-02T12:00:00.003-04:00

Find life experiences and swallow them whole. Travel. Meet many people. Go Down some dead ends and explore dark alleys. Try everything. Exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life.

~Lawrence K. Fish

It's like the ultimate To-Do List

2010-09-01T10:57:00.000-04:00

I've seen this around the blog world many times, and I've always been intrigued. It's 101 in 1001 list. You pick 101 goals and give yourself 1,001 days to complete them. They can be big or small, expensive or free, silly or serious. They just have to be something clearly defined and easily trackable/measurable. And it's really a good amount of time, just about 2.75 years to get everything done. Sounds reasonable, especially since a few of mine are already in progress. Maybe that's cheating a little, but I think it counts as long as it hasn't already been finished.

So what does my list have on it? Some house projects. Some items about getting healthier, because really couldn't we all make some healthier choices? Some entertaining stuff. Some work and school stuff. Some spiritual stuff. Some financial stuff. Some time with friends and family, especially the big guy and Loki.

The list has been added as it's own page, here. This will make it easier to keep track of what's done and what's not. I'll do a separate blog post about each goal as it gets crossed off the list, and I do like to cross things off lists.

So when does it all start? Today. Nothing like the first day of a new month to get you inspired about taking on a new challenge. Apparently Fall 2010 is all about challenges. I've got the 90 Day Challenge at the gym, I've got this 101 in 1001 challenge, and I've got the challenges that come with a Big 10 MBA program.

Maybe the first thing on the list should have been a vacation!

Clean & Green: Make a Little More

2010-08-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

Make a Little More

Premix large batches of cleaning formulas so they're always on hand and you're not tempted to buy store formulas.

90 Day Challenge- Day 21

2010-08-30T10:27:00.002-04:00

Ok, so technically as this posts it's Day 24 of the Challenge, but the weigh in actually happened on Day 21. I've just been behind in getting it posted.

This Week:
Weight lost: 2 lbs
BMI percentage change: 0.2%

Overall:
Weight lost: 6 lbs
BMI percentage change: 1.1%

Pretty good so far! We've got another session with our trainer this week, mostly because we missed the first one. Totally our fault. So we'll get a new workout and hopefully have some time to go over our meal plans.

Textbooks, & CDs, & Tests- Oh My!

2010-08-26T22:21:00.000-04:00

Some of you may have noticed the giant stack of books sitting on our kitchen table as I was eating my yummy soup the other day. If the title of this post is any indication, school is about to start! There are 2 weeks and 3 days until the first day of classes. Not that I'm counting down or anything ;-)

I'm just about done with my first week of the three week orientation. I've met my team, I'm figuring out the online course environment, and I've even turned in a few assignments. My inner nerd is oh-so-very-excited right now.

And then this arives...

These are the textbooks I'll be using in my first term classes.Which makes the intensity of the program all so very real. It's been mentioned several times in the orientation webinars- this is a Big 10 MBA program, and just because it's delivered online doesn't make it any less demanding. So the first term is designed to challenge all of us. Not a surprise, but still a little nerve-wracking. It's all finance. It's accounting. Any guesses what I've never taken a class in before? You're right! Finance and/or accounting.

Fortunately I have amazing team members. We're getting along great, there's already a sense that we're in this together and we're going to help each other a lot over the next two years. These guys are great. It's going to be quite the adventure. And I have some big plans to take the accountants from work out to lunch. A lot.

Quote of the Week

2010-08-26T11:59:00.000-04:00

True generosity must benefit both parties. No woman can control her destiny of she doesn't give to herself as much as she gives of herself.

~Suze Orman

Sweet Mint Pea Soup

2010-08-25T12:58:00.047-04:00

Ingredients

2 Tbsp unsalted butter

1 small sweet onion, chopped

two 10-ounce packages frozen peas

4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

1/2 cup fesh mint, minced

1 tsp grated lemon zest

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup heavy cream

plain yogurt

In a stock pot over medium heat, melt butter.

Add onions and saute until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add peas, broth, and mint. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook 20 minutes.

Stir in lemon zest, salt, and pepper. (This was especially fun because I got to use my lemon zester for the first time. Apparently I've not been very zesty before now.)

Cover and cook an additional 10 minutes. Transfer to a blender (or use an immersion blender, I love mine) and puree until smooth.

Return to pot and stir in heavy cream.

Cook on low for 10 minutes. Serve garnished with a dollop of yogurt and a small mint leaf.

Even Loki was excited by how the soup was smelling as it cooked. It's hard to see, but there's just a little bit of his tongue sticking out because he was licking his lips. He knew how awesome it was going to be.

Here's my final product. In a little soup bowl that used to be my parents. I have a set of two. There's something very comforting about having soup in the bowls that I used to use when I was a kid.

But the important part, it tasted amazing! I also made some baked chicken with garlic powder and rosemary. Simple clean flavors that paired well with the soup. I didn't take a picture of that though, I was halfway done with it before I remembered that I should take an after shot.

He's still interested. That's really how I know that a recipe is a keeper.

Yield: 6 servings (6 cups)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time 50 minutes

Recipe from Katie Lee, Lonny Magazine, June/July 2010 issue

More on the giant stack of books later...

Clean & Green: Get Rid of Sponges

2010-08-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

Get Rid of Sponges

Replace sponges with washable and reusable items like microfiber cloths and dish rags.

Loki's Backyard: Adding Flowers

2010-08-23T12:45:00.001-04:00

It's been a while since we did this, but I'm just getting around to putting up the pictures. I should clean my camera's memory more often. Note to self.
Anyway- after the fence and patio were finished, it was time to add some more fun things to the backyard and give it a little more personality. The big guy and some friends cut some flower beds on either side of the patio. Pretty grueling work, especially in the hot summer sun. Once the beds were cut and ready, we went shopping for flowers and plants.

A quick trip to Lowe's and soem discussion over color scheme and annuals vs. perennials, we were on our way home. We decided to start with some perennials and had 3 hydrangeas, one Japanese lilac tree, one Japanese blood maple, 3 arbor vitae, and an elderberry balck lace bush. I may have gotten some of the names wrong, but I think that's everything.

All will get much bigger with proper tending, and build up a little more privacy around the patio, and especially the area where we plan to put the hot tub.

This spot will hold the Japanese blood maple.

Our Japanese lilac.

We found these solar lights at Wal-Mart. They've got a clean modern feel to them, and I love the way the coppery finish plays against the grays in the patio. You can see a little bit of one of the chairs in our patio set. More about that later.

Loki does an excellent job supervising whenever there's work going on. He's very particular about what we do with his backyard. Perhaps the blog has gone to his head.

The black lace edlerberry bush

Our supplies. Lots and lots of potting soil to add the dirt we already had. We've got clay about two feet down, so we're hoping this will help give the plants more of what they need. We may to incorporate some Miracle Grow as well, but we'll see.

One of our hydrangeas waiting to be planted and some very dirty gardening gloves.

This is the Japanese blood maple waiting to be planted. The bucket it's in actually served dual purpose that day and helped to haul some of the dirt/grass away while the beds were being cut. A pretty far departure from holding kegs, which incidently is what we originally bought it for.

Look at us turning into grown ups.

90 Day Challenge: Day 15

2010-08-21T16:12:00.000-04:00

Week 2 is complete. The weigh-in is a day late, but all in all, I'm pretty happy with the results.

This Week
Weight lost: 1 lb
BMI percentage change: 0.1%

Overall
Weight lost: 4 lbs
BMI percentage change: 0.7%

Not bad, not bad at all. In addition to the workout schedule, lots more weight lifting, we met met with one of the gym's on-staff nutritionists. It was great. I went in thinking that it was going to be about what we need to stop eating and what we need to cut out of our diets.

Instead, Austin asked us a lot of questions about what we like to eat. He's taking that information and will be giving us a better plan for eating the things we already like. I'm sure there will be some modifications and shifts in the balance of what we eat, but if we already knpow that we like it, it'll be much easier to stick with.

He's meeting with us again on Thursday. He's going to be our trainer as well as our nutritionist. Kinda nice to have the one stop shopping and be working with someone who's going to have the whole picture of where we're at, where we want to go, and how we're progressing on the way there.

I'm already looking forward to seeing what Week 3 has in store.

Quote of the Week

2010-08-19T23:59:00.000-04:00

Don't let a fear of being tacky render you tasteless

~Celerie Kemble

Clean & Green: Dishwasher Tip

2010-08-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

Dishwasher Tip

Run your dishwasher at night without the heat dry setting. Let things air dry overnight instead.

The Inspiration Files: A Calming Influence

2010-08-16T09:06:00.000-04:00

I love this image. I think it speaks for itself.

You can see this and a few more, here. I originally saw it on Elements of Style, here. I would love this above our bar.

90 Day Challenge Check In- Day 7

2010-08-13T20:30:00.001-04:00

Ok, the first week of the challenge is complete. I added a trip to the gym on Tuesday, got an additional 5 miles in. Not my first choice, but definitely a better choice than sitting at home. And that's what this is about right? Making better choices. Slowly but surely the choices that seem hard now will become second nature. That's what I'm working towards.

Wednesday night was Zumba.Thursday we worked out with one of the gym's trainers, and tonight I got another 5 miles done on the elliptical. I'm a little tired now.

So how has this week's work shaped up? Let's take a look.

Weight lost: 3 lbs
BMI percentage change: 0.6%

Not bad for the first few days. We'll take another look next week. I'll be looking at the overall changes, so it'll be a running tally in addition to the specific week data. We'll watch as these numbers get bigger, and my waist gets smaller!

The August/September Issue of Lonny is Out!

2010-08-12T12:02:00.000-04:00

The newest issue of Lonny has hit the virtual newsstands. Enjoy

Quote of the Week

2010-08-11T11:54:00.002-04:00

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says "I'm possible."

~ Audrey Hepburn