Ben and I are really hoping to squirrel away enough money this year to take an international trip. Between new car & student loan payments kicking in, it will be tough. But hopefully with the help of curbing my consumer instincts (and limiting Ben's intake of fancy beers) we can do it. Maybe. We keep flip flopping between going to Japan where my Dad, the airline pilot, is based, and going to a few places in Europe. (Spain? Paris? Morocco?)

But some of the food/cafe images on ii-ne-kore are killing me. I wasn't sure what our food options would be like as vegetarians in Japan. Apparently they would be just fine.

Speaking to me even more is the image of this cafe, in Kyoto I think. When I think of Japan I usually envision the fast, urban, concrete nature of places like Tokyo, driven by technology. Of course I want to visit Tokyo, but seeing the softer side of Japan is really appealing to my heart.

Why can't we take two trips? or 3? or 9?

Guys, when it rains it pours. Prompted by a tweet from LPC and the stormy weather I decided on Friday evening would be a fine time to bake some chocolate chip cookies. Item number 15 from the list, bake something.* I know, not too lofty of a goal, but honestly I could not remember the last time I baked something (from scratch anyways**). It was CERTAINLY before architecture school took over my life.

I went directly to my favorite source, where I found exactly what I had in mind. Chewy chocolate chip cookies, modified WITH ORANGE zest. YES. I was proud to find that I had all ingredients except two, brown sugar and flower**. Make that three, vanilla extract. I borrowed missing items from my chef neighbor.

As I began the process I was disappointed to be thwarted at the very first step, sift together the dry ingredients. I don't have a sifter. Then, deja vu. I remember needing a sifter in the past, and then it all came back to me. I had baked something in the last x years.

It was the Christmas before last, and despite being in the middle of writing my thesis, I decided we should host a gingerbread house making party. I told our guests (at least 15 of them, I think, but with couples sharing a house) that I would supply the ginger

bread parts, and everyone just needed to bring trimming. Easy, right?

The night before the party I came to be literally sitting on the kitchen floor, long past realizing I didn't have a sifter (let alone a mixer), trying to mix together all the gingerbread dough. There was a lot of dough. Ben had fallen asleep on the couch as it was way past our bed time. I was nearly in tears, with ingredients all over myself and the floor, because there was something dreadfully wrong with the consistency. I had forgotten to add to molasses.

All ended well. It was a fun time, and everyone got houses. But I got SCHOOLED in the challenges of baking.

Fast froward to Friday, baking my cookies. It was a *much* less stressful process. Sadly, I do not know my oven (or any oven) and I put the cookies in after cooking dinner. I think it was too hot. The first batch was burnt. But hey, learning curve, right? The second (much smaller, probably to my benefit) batch was perfect.

*yes, i know the irony that in one day I did a list activity exercise related and one that would negate the benifits in the same

**at our Christmas brunch a friend, who plays drums in the band Ben plays in, a total 20 something bachelor, brought a home made apple pie. I must have asked him 5 times if he made if from scratch before i believed him.

***the only reason I had chocolate chips is because I never got around to making the candied oranges I literally swore I would make

A while back Britt was musing that all you really need in your home is plants, art, and floor cushions. These images certainly reinforce the plant part. (ok, so a dynamic open space with high ceilings, white surfaces and exposed piping, and skylights helps, but still.)

Images from Converted Into Houses on Windy Days found via ii-ne-kore

sorry to bump you, mannie.

Manray felt as though he should be up on the top of the blog, seeing as kidchamp kindly linked to him.

[yes, I do this. speak on behalf of the cat. it is usually saved for the benefit of me telling ben that the cat does not like him doing something that I actually don't like. ben does not appreciate or tolerate this, usually]

29 things # 7- Hike Cowles Mountain

hiked up here, *finally* today with Britt. I look forward to doing it again soon. Having every other Friday off is THE BEST. (As I was reminded by the guy from my office going up hill as we were coming downhill who called my name and I SO didn't recognize him. REALLY need to make an effort to get to know every one I think)

image source

Arrested Development CRACKS ME UP. Going to have a marathon tonight, while I do our taxes. Gotta keep it interesting, right? Here are some of my favorite gags.

Michael Bluth: So this is the magic trick, huh?
George Oscar 'Gob' Bluth: Illusion, Michael. A trick is something a whore does for money...[sees children watching his magic show]...or cocaine!!!

Buster: [Startled by the title on Tobias' business card, Analrapist] Tobias Fünke: No, no, it's pronounced a-nal-ra-pist. Buster: It wasn't really the pronunciation that bothered me.

Tobias Fünke (David Cross): [while rehearsing his "frightened inmate #2" character with his wife] Say something that will terrify me.
Lindsay Funke (Portia DeRossi): Fuck me.
Tobias Fünke: No, that didn't do it.

Michael: [Talking about the family cabin] It is going to be up in Tahoe a couple more days. Maybe you could take a date.
Lucille: How am I supposed to find someone willing to go into that musty old claptrap?
Michael: [Michael stares at her awkwardly] The cabin... yes! That would be difficult, too.

Michael Bluth: You seem more villainous than usual, Mom; are you sober? Lucille Bluth: Michael, it's eight a.m. Michael: So, it's not that. Lucille: I don't know. Maybe it's because I went off my post-partum medication. Michael Bluth: You were still taking that? You had Buster thirty-two years ago. Lucille: And that's how long I've been depressed about him.




* UPDATE. I've been told that the dialogue here isn't very funny if you have not actually watched the episodes. So I will cut down the quotes, add this clip, and tell you to GO WATCH IT already.
The LAST thing I want to do is to make those of you who haven't seen it think that it isn't funny.

**Crap, I am so limited at work. There will be no embedding. Click here to see a clip from the pilot.

image via

I have been following the story of The Day You Arrived (in which Lauren & Family welcome home a new kitten) with rapt, vicarious attention. Look at little Steve Nash, there in the crook of Joe's arm. Look!

And upon seeing this, it was almost too much. Manray wants a kitten friend! True, he loves emmylou. But she usually denies him cuddling rights.

Hiding my face behind the kitchen wall, I sheepishly ask Ben "Um. Can we get a kitten." Ben, thinking he has heard me wrong, "What?" "Can we get a kitten?" Even quiter, I reply. "What?!?" He asks again, in further disbelief. I repeat myself one more time. He answers, and it's not pretty. (We arn't allowed to go over 3 beasts. But LOOK.)

All images via kidchamp.

After a slow month, I finally have gotten to work on list item 2: Print/organize/archive photo collections. It started with disassembling the albums I made as a teenager. [They were not OK] Then organizing the HUGE mess of photos into piles- toss, album, box. Then making sure they were loosely chronological. That was phase one, it was actually much quicker that anticipated.


Phase two, where I started putting them into new albums, has gotten to a good start. I have been holding on to this really nice collection of grey binders that I got for free. I wanted something versatile, clean and simple. Something matching. I just filled them with thick thick heavy acid fee paper, and used white corners or acid free sticky backs to put the pictures in.




I have only completed one binder. It is a big one, and goes from before my time though about kindergarden age. My favorites are always of my parents in the years before I was born. They looked so happy and fun and stylish [which might just be cause I was born in '80, in which mainstream fashion went a little downhill]. My mom was Drop Dead. And my dad was a total cool guy. To say nothing of the film style.



Course I like the ones as of me as a baby>early childhood.


J: look look! wasn't I cute!?!?
B: yes, but you already showed me that one.






Now, I just have to get through the next 20 years.


And all of Ben's.




The last 6 or so years [read; the beginning of architecture school] I largely went digital, and didn't get around to having many prints made. So after I album the prints we have I need to start on THOSE. I have not decided if I want to print the individual pics and album them, or go an easier route and make books....?

[my all time favorite sunday morning record]

It's totally official. After weeks off my computer I am not exactly missing it. I am signing off to listen to records, read the printed word, and draw by hand.

I *finally* got my computer back. I was all set to post a whole slew of glorious and inspired posts, but I am not feeling it as I thought I would. So, I will start slowly with this. It is the *before* shot of our bedroom. Suddenly after years of general contenment I realized it was all wrong and that everything had to change. How the fuck did it end up looking so girly, and, shabby chic??? I am NOT shabby chic, people. And yet. I had a few pink things. (The old rusty metal medical cabinet, an old rusty metal suitcase thing used as a jewelry box, surely metal things even pink are not so girly?) Ben, when we met had the teal dresser. The sun above it was painted for me years and years ago by a dear friend. The very shabby mirror (yeah, the one with the wooden frame with chipping white paint? s.h.a.b.b.y. was picked up at a thrift store for a few bucks when our old one broke). I knew the key to a successful and dramatic change was a new dresser. It took months and months of daily craigslist diligence until I found one that we loved, that was what we wanted to spend. It is not "the perfect dresser" but it is DAMN fine, and I am pretty sure we will love it long into our lives.

So here is the plan of attack:

*GET A DRESSER
*hang the lampshade acquired from mom
*arrange for the nightstands that I started crafting YEARS ago to finally be completed
*curtains, have made
*repurpose furniture into other parts of the house
*deal with bedding
*paint walls
*update wall decor
*deal with the mirror situation
*new tend for the dresser top
*decide about the pink thing

Much of this has been accomplished, but you will have to wait to hear about it.

San Diego people, if you haven't already, scoot yourslves on over to the Tara Donovan exhibit at MCASD. (The downtown location.)

It is STUNNING. SRSLY. The museum has free admission tomorrow from 5 to 7pm, so WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR. (oh, and if you are under 25, you lucky kiddos get free admin all the time!)

If you are not a San Diego person, well them you will have to wait patiently until she exhibits near you, then GO.

***Sorry I am a bad blogger. The image is via MCASD. (no photography allowed inside, bummer)

K. So. You know how, like us, our friends Britt & Scott were wed in the desert. And, like us, they LOVE owls. Well, like us, the last day of their wedding weekend they had a special (lucky) owl presence.....

"On our last day, this appeared on the Hatch House window. Consensus has it that this western screech owl headed for the glass in the middle of the night but managed to put the brakes on last minute. dust later blew onto the feather oils, leaving a perfect feather-for-feather imprint complete with intricate facial details. A blessing." {Britt & Scott}

I had heard the story, but I just now saw the accompanying images. F!!!!


A blessing, indeed. And I couldn't think of two more deserving people! ♥

Images by the oh so talented groom-photographer-dj-birdwather-sharp shooter-astonomer-music maker- Scott Caligure

"My husband is up in the Eiffel Tower with the other two kids, Claudia, 11, and Drake, 6. We take them on trips every single summer. They each have their suitcases, their backpacks. We’re like a spectacle in the airport, but they get it, they know exactly what to do. My husband goes in front, then Claudia (the oldest), then Ingrid, then Drake, then Mila, and I’m in the back. People look at you like ‘Wow, how are you doing that?’ But we’ve never traveled as a couple by ourselves — we’ve never even gone to Vegas for two nights without them. For our next vacation, we’re off to Norway for 19 days. We don’t really think that it’s not doable — we just book the trip and go.”


Still no progress with the computer situation. (we are tottoring between repair and new.) But I wanted to share this snippet from the NYT Why We Travel slide show. It helps reafirm that some of my seemingly conflicting day dreams don't have to be so.

Miss ya'll.

So much for blogging this week. And I had been doing so good. Computer is still non functional, and posting from work isn't ideal. Here are some crummby iphone pics, on the left? The new Dresser. This I am especially excited to blog about. It has, as I knew it would, fixed everything. Who says stuff can't make us happy? :) On the right? A polaroid Michelle took a while back when she was down our way, and it finally came to us in the mail the other day- hanging on the wall of our now gloriously pink and teal free bedroom. Yipee! I love hanging around photographers.

Since you all seem to enjoy answering my calls for help, I am going to put another request out there.

(Also, because my computer is in the shop (wail!) and it is hard for me to do "real" posts from work.)

I have been thinking alot about my personal consumption habits, and my constant wanting of things. And, I don't like it. I want to cut back. I could try the 3 or 6 month spending ban as I have seen many of you do, but I think I need something more though provoking.

If, when at the age of 13 I decided to become vegetarian, my step mom hadn't suggested that we go and get a book on the matter (as she did) then I am afraid it wouldn't have stuck. More important than the tools it provided me with was the never ending motivation.

Rationally, I think I know a lot of the reasons I need to curb my consuming. But I need to pound myself over the head with it a little bit. Y'know?

So, do you have a favorite book (or?) that you recomend?

Thanks kiddos.

Emilia and I have been busy bees. [The Captain, too] Check it out here for a full scoop.

"My new years resolution is to make an infographic on every This American Life ever made. The idea is to expand and add context to the stories and information contained in the shows. Basically, anything I am curious about while listening to the pieces." Source.

Seriously? When two things that you deeply love and are totally unrelated come together, it is magic.

Thanks for the heads up, Kate.

*did I put make info graphics on my daydreams list? cause, that is one of them.

I have been looking for something to hang over the couch.

I hung a stick that we brought back from the desert.

It came from a burned down tree. It is all charred on the back.

It required much agility and patience hanging a charred stick on your newly painted white wall by yourself.

Doing it a second time after it fell down when you were not sure you liked it in the first place just required a bit of stupidity.

Still not sure if I like it.

HELP!

I need recipes. While I refuse to use the word d _ _ t, I am embarking on a more, er, stringent eating plan.

Ben and I are both vegetarian, and we generally eat pretty healthy. But I think I need to cut back on a few things for some extra assistance. (read- beer, cheese, sweets, fried stuff) So, here is the general idea. I try to eat salads and soups at lunch. Or leftovers. We have good healthy dinners at home. Then when we go out, or are feeling naughty we eat whatever the eff we want.

For dinner I want to mostly stick with whole grains. Preferably not wheat. Ok, let's just come out and say this is a big fat {skinny?} hippie diet. I want brown rice, quinoa, lentils and other healthy things that grow and are not processed with lots of vegetables. Steamed NOT fried.

And as for breakfast? I am at a total loss. I have never been much for cereal. Or yoghurt. I tried having hard boiled eggs this morning, but I wasn't sure if that fit with the new diet. Plus? They gave me gross little egg burps. I need something that I can eat at work {prepared in the toaster over or microwave or brought in a tupperware} and I would really like something warm and savory. {savory, as in not sweet} Am I asking too much???

So I ask you- RECIPES? I can only do tempeh and brown rice with steamed veggies and braggs so many times a week.

Favorite book? Favorite blog? Please? Do you all think I am crazy and know of no tasty delights without rich, wonderful delicious, perfect cheese? Mmmmmmmm. Cheese.

Also- weeknights, we can be kind of lazy when it comes to making dinner. Minimal steps, people. Hey, I work long days.

***ahem. I would be a vegetarian, *not* a pescatarian. {grin}

After hearing ESB rave about organic vodka (and it's magical anti hangover quality) I decided to give it a go.

I took some extra measures too- on new years eve I drank only one cocktail type (besides a beer with dinner)- no mixing my boozes, and I only used low sugar mixers like lime juice and club soda. I also was careful to drink normal water in between, specially since I was in the desert.

It worked! Ok, I hardly drank that much, but it really doesn't take much for me these days. A couple cocktails and I DEF feel it in the morning. And new years day? Didn't feel a thing. Rad.

What is going on here? Is this an Andy Goldsworthy or an everyday natural occurance? Really, people, I don't know. Las Vegas- born and raised.

Whatever, it is awesome.

***oops, my linking was not adequate, sorry! image via here, [Lena Corwin] not me! I don't get pretty snow. :)

Step by step instructions on how to make a teepee.

I don't think there is exactly room in our house, but if/when we have a little one I will MAKE room. And outfit it just a little like this.

The high Desert was magical, of course.

I got my bulb wrapped antlers, after all.

Ben strummed his guitar, I learned just how much I love shooting BB guns. (At cans, boots, and pine cones, of course)

I really loved it.

Nerdy boys made electronic music late into the night. Aided by more antlers.

Going out was forsaken in favor of LOTR Trivial Pursuit. 2 NIGHTS IN A ROW. (We won the second night, thankyouverymuch.)

I gathered sticks, as usual.

Ben carried them, as usual.

We hiked the desert.

We layed around in the desert.

And most importantly we schemed and dreamed about pooling together to buy a plot of high desert land. Preferably, rocky bouldery land.

Well, when it came down to it, I had time to either bake the candied orange peels that I literally swore I would make, or cut some little last minute snow flakes to hang over the table.

Old habits die hard.

Brunch was still yummy, and we were so glad to spend the day with friends.

No antlers were sourced, but after a few back and forth twitter suggestions, Celia helped me settle on this:

(It's a birch branch wrapped in big bulbs)

I am really digging all the decorations, and am thinking they just might stay up for a while. Actually, I am pretty happy to find a holiday style I can get behind, kinda wintery instead of just Christmasey.

Off to Joshua Tree tomorrow. Happy New year !!!

Merry, merry guys. I will be sporadic next week, if at all. Heading to one desert, and then another. So, maybe see you next year. ♥

via

12.22.09 crossed off item 13 from the list watch Labyrinth with Lorenzo & Massimo. Off to a pretty good start, I'd say.

image via

Listening to Mojo Blue Christmas at work. Supposed to have a half day tomorrow, but I think I am going to work some Christmas Magic and turn it into a full day off.

image from, via

Over the last holiday the urge to host kicked in big time, and so decided last minute to host a little brunch on Christmas. Some of our most beloved friends wil be joining us, I am very excited. (This will be good practice for item #6 on the list.) I am more worried about the food tasting good than the table looking stylish, but I wouldn't say no to some antlers. [wrapped in lights, maybe?]

Any ideas on sourcing these in San Diego?

[Left foreground; high desert rocks]

[right foreground; DC gift for me and ben (a total one for me, one for you. I bought his companion, a great horned, for my friend whose birthday is a week after mine)]

[Background; fuji instant (I'm sold, btw, fuji instax 210 on my wishlist) taken of me and Ben the night of my birthday by Aimee]

I am pretty excited about turning 29 actually. Since I was in elementary school, 29 has been my lucky number, so there's that. Also? I'm just excited about life in general. I am finally done with school, I have started some sort of (albeit murky) career, and life is really about life now, you know what I mean? (mostly I mean it's not about school) Not to mention, this past year was pretty rough. A lot of hard things happened in our family and with our friends, and I know a really good year has to follow. Plus? I won't be working on a f*cking thesis. So, to help me focus on all the good things I hope to do this year, I took a page out of the ever inspiring Hula Seventy and wrote a list of 29 (oh how I love that number) things to do before I turn 30.


1.Take sister on a road trip (or fly to a really cool city)
2.Print/organize/archive photo collections
3.Go back to Yosemite, preferably with a group of friends
4.Register for ncarb
5.Start a drawing journal/sketchbook
6.Host Thanksgiving (with my mother in law's help)
7.Hike Cowles
8.Visit dad in Tokyo
9.Ice skate with sis
10.Start an exercise routine
11.Open an etsy shop
12.Engage in volunteer work
13.Watch Labyrinth with Lorenzo & Massimo
14.Find chocolate brown boots
15.Bake something
16.Take a textile course
17.Visit Scarlett in Portland
18.Use a laser cutter
19.Find a campground we like near San Diego
20.Learn and refine photoshop skills
21.Trick out my bike
22.Host a summer outdoor movie series
23.Finish cleaning the effing shed
24.Start a real adult serious savings
25.Finish the Buffy comic series
26.Work again in a woodshop
27.Take mom to hot springs
28.Branch out beyond the IPA (and the IIPA, and the Pale Ale)
29.Garden, with Ben

Thanks for your birthday wishes and list support. I got most of it done, not bad considering. Thanks Lauren and Kate for clueing me in on how to cross of my lists.

DC was great. I loved that city. (As you know if you follow me on twitter. I didn't shut up about it, sorry.) It wasn't too cold as I feared, and the suits were not even necessary after all. (all that worrying for nothing) Thanks for all of your recommendations! I was a total dork and printed everything out and kept suggestions in a folder with my itinerary and metro maps. My favorites were Pizza Paradiso (RIGHT by my hotel, 8 page beer bottle list, olives brought to your table when you sit down, done.) and the gem & mineral exhibit at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. (Holy wonder.) Also? The metro. Yeah, I am a big dork who gets excited about a good public transit system. LOVED it. Except for the part where I couldn't bring my coffee on with me in the morning. Boo.