a couple of things

1. i am a bad memphian. at the gas station, a man from out of town asked me how to get to graceland. i threw a couple of blank stares his way, then said "um" about five times before giving him C-grade directions. and i think i said something stupid like, "you can probably just follow the signs." and here's the thing- i KNOW how to get there. i think i just crumbled under the pressure. it's a good thing i'm not a doctor.

2. in a move that i can only assume is to save money, the semi-decent paper towels at work have been replaced by these  t h i n g s  that are SO un-absorbent that it they can best be described as tree bark. i'm concerned about the future of the toilet paper.

resolutions*

*reloaded

i came up with a NEW new year's resolution a little while back. this is pretty much the only time i can remember actually following my resolutions pretty well... ok, so maybe the reason i've done well with my resolutions so far is because i actually enjoy doing all of the things i resolved to do. it makes it easy. maybe that's cheating, i don't know. but i don't care. because i'm getting s#*t done and enjoying myself in the meantime. but continuing on...

i bought SO MUCH scrapbook paper and card stock in after-christmas sales that i have now created work for myself. but it's fun work. and that's the best kind :) i have resolved to HAND-MAKE ALL of the cards i send out this year: birthday, valentine's, congrats, get well, halloween, thanksgiving, even christmas. i've always had a small passion for making greeting cards with random stuff i find in my craft box. so i figure i can take it to the next level. i mean, it's always so hard to find the perfect card, or i end up thinking "i wasted all that time looking for a card and i could have come up with most of those myself"... christmas will be the real challenge.  s o o o o o  many cards to send, but i'm determined to do it. and everyone will get a unique card. i think i like that aspect the best. truly personalized greetings. 

so watch your mailbox because some day soon, you may receive your very own, one-of-a-kind greeting! i just hope they're not cheesy or stupid. if you think they are, please just keep it to yourself. that's my heart and soul. my blood, sweat and tears. but not literally, because that would be gross, and then you'd be entitled to hate them. 

that's how i roll

i had the best day!! well, maybe not the best, but it was pretty damn good. lately i've not only been waking up early on the weekends, but i've actually wanted to do so. on days when i desperately need the sleep (i.e. post-2 am bedtime or after slightly too much vino) i can definitely  s l e e p  as long as necessary. but i find that i don't really WANT to do that anymore. if i can accomplish x y and z before, say, 1 pm then i feel victorious and unstoppable. 

so today went something like this:  i woke up at 8:30 or so and read a little, did some sudoku, feed zoe, and strategically contemplated when i should wake up sean. this is a delicate process. wake him too early and you could get the evil eye... but wake him too late and he will start the day feeling as though he's already behind. i've got a 2 out of 3 chance of screwing it up, but i've gotten good at reading his sleep "mood" and can fairly accurately predict the best time to interrupt his beauty sleep. 9:00 we made breakfast. and by we, i mean me. bagels and eggs scrambled with fat free ham and cheddar cheese. delicious. 10:00 field trip to starbucks with sean and paul, then back to the house to enjoy. 11:00 i did some emailing, facebooking, cleaning, and kitty cuddling before grabbing my grocery list and heading to superlo. 45 minutes and $77 dollars later, i'm at home and having a tumultuous inner dialogue about whether or not i'm going to go for a run. i beat myself and decided to go for it. 1:45 it was definitely cold outside today- was 37, but no sun and a slight wind made it much worse. it was torture for the beginning. i kept thinking "i should have worn a hat, or another shirt, or put some vaseline on my lips" but eventually i warmed up and really fell into a groove. 3.6 miles in 33:07. not record-breaking, i know, but i was proud of myself. 3:30 i spent the afternoon at my parent's house, where i read my new book (which after only 15 pages i ADORE- i'm sure this book will have a post all it's own in the near future) i was told there'd be cake, essays by sloane crosley, drank some wine, 5:00 gave my mom a facebook tutorial (yeah, my mom's on facebook!!), 6:00 had dinner, 7:00 dessert, and 7:45 watched some of the SAG awards.

now here's the highlight: the following conversation took place as my dad was preparing to make dinner. i was so amused by this that i had to write it down immediately. i will most likely tell this story every chance i get for the next week or so. hopefully i can just continuously meet new people so i can just keep on telling it.  

dad: "you'll never guess what i found at the store- i had to search everywhere..."

mom: "ooo-what!?"

dad: "thick spaghetti!"

mom: "eww, i don't like thick spaghetti"

dad: "well that's just too bad. that's how i roll."

and i'm spent.

happy birthday, mom

mom and dad, memphis botanical garden

possibilities!!

SO. in addition to whatever trip sean and i take this spring, there is a very real possibility that i may be going to california to see my family! yay! this is my mom's brother and his family.  they've lived in california my entire life, so we really don't see much of them. they have 4 kids, the youngest of which is still six years older than me. 

they live in palo alto, just outside of san francisco. i swear that palo alto is my perfect place. perfect weather, perfect scenery, PERFECT EVERYTHING. without being repulsively perfect. aside from trips into san fran to see my cousins and do tourist things, we usually spend lots of time in p.a. eating, visiting, looking at my aunt's artwork and walking around stanford university.

side note: stanford is MY university. i am a huge fan of anything they do, mostly because it is such a beautiful place. i wish wish wish i had gone there for college. but 1. they don't have an architecture program, and 2. i'm poor.

recently, my uncle and family built a house in carmel-by-the-sea, ca. we had been to their previous vacation home there, and around that time they were putting together plans for building a new one. i'm not sure if we would go down there or not - i guess it all depends on the amount of time we have. but i sure hope we do. it, too, is A-mazing.

side trips from carmel include:

monterey bay (fantastic aquarium with the cutest little sea otters EVER!!!

and big sur. quite possibly one of the most beautiful coasts in the U.S.

and after all of this build-up, i REALLY hope i can go. i think i have the vacation time, so it really depends on flight prices. yesterday, i found a rt ticket for $250. and that's not bad, but if i can get something better, i'm in for sure. 

i have done this trip countless times, and it's amazing how it never gets old. 

i'll send you a postcard :) hopefully.

it's been a g o o d day.

1. got 8+ hours of sleep last night

2. came home for lunch and got quiet time with sean

3. finished my 'assignment' at work - proud of what i did and ahead of schedule

4. did 40 minutes of cardio - my power song: "let it happen" jimmy eat world

5. cooked new recipe - delicious, reduced-fat mac and cheese

6. visited with roommates and friends

7. watched PRESIDENT Obama's oath of office and inauguration speech. tears came. the good tears.

the good ol' days

while cleaning out my inbox today, i ran across this article my mom sent me a while back. it's an excerpt from Transportation Magazine in 1943 - a guide to hiring women. it is equally hilarious and ridiculous. it reminds me of watching Mad Men with rachel. i will say no more... just read and enjoy.

Eleven tips on getting more efficiency out of women employees. There's no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formally held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage.

Here are eleven helpful tips on the subject from Western Properties.

1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they're less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and deal with the public efficiently.

2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.

3. General experience indicates that "husky" girls - those who are just a little on the heavy side - are more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters. 

4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special examination - one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.

5. Stress at the outset the importance of time the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.

6. Give the female employee a definite day long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instruction every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but they lack the initiative in finding work for themselves.

7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change. 

8. Give every girl and adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick, and wash her hands several times a day.

9. Be tactful when issuing instruction or making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.

10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hear too much of this.

11. Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy.

just a few thoughts.

i love my job. like any job, it has it's good days and bad days, but ultimately the firm is wonderful and i feel lucky to be a part of it. i work in the multi-family studio, where our work consists of urban infill apartments/condos and mixed use projects. i always saw myself in residential architecture- i love the idea of being able to directly influence (hopefully for the better- haha) the way people live. the built environment impacts every aspect of everyone's lives. rich or poor, that is one of the things we all have in common- and one thing i believe we all deserve. and organizations like Architecture for Humanity have made in incredible difference in struggling communities all over the world. and their belief is simple- good design is not a luxury. it doesn't have to be fancy, but it needs to work for the person using it. they deserve nothing less.

how we live, how we use space, how we shape space, how space shapes us; the challenge is to use architecture to respond in a way that not only meet our current needs but is adaptable for the future. as architects, i believe we have a great opportunity. along with our clients, we can shape our built environment in an efficient, beautiful, and responsible manner- hopefully to improve quality of place, quality of community, and quality of life.

what's for dinner

i am typing with a massive band-aid on my left index finger. i cut myself while chopping cilantro for the following recipe. this handicap will no doubt make this entry tedious and time-consuming, but i believe it will all be worth it.

just to give you this:

CORN-TORTILLA SOUP

serves 4

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, seeded & chopped

1 garlic clove, chopped

2 (6-inch) corn tortillas, coarsely chopped

4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 (14.5 oz) can stewed tomatoes, with their juice

1 (10 oz) box frozen corn kernels

1 medium-large all purpose potato, peeled and cubed

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

heat the oil in large saucepan. saute the onion, bell pepper, and garlic until the onion is tender; about 5 minutes.

add the tortillas, broth, tomatoes, corn, and potato; bring to a boil. cover, reduce heat, and simmer until the vegetables are tender; about 10 minutes.

stir in cilantro.

[tip from the cookbook: for a more substantial soup, stir 3/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into thin strips) into the soup to cook with the vegetables.]

notes: 

1. i did not have an onion. to add more to the soup, i added a small can of black beans (drained) along with the tortillas, broth, etc.

2. i did not peel the potato - the skin is the best part for you! 

3. i served with my signature (ha) cheese quesadillas, although baked tortilla chips of a dark green salad would also finish off the meal nicely.

oh, and did i mention that this is a weight-watchers recipe!? YAY!

per serving (1-3/4 cups)

228 calories _ 5g total fat _ 1 g sat. fat 

and no cholesterol!

frustration is setting in...

sean and i have decided on a low-key, sun-filled, beach-themed vacation in april! yay! sounds wonderful right?? well... i'm searching everything i can think of and i cannot believe the kinds of prices i am finding. 

ARE THESE PEOPLE NOT AWARE THAT WE ARE IN A RECESSION!? 

at least offer me some sort of discount, other than "7th night free". seriously. if i could afford to stay for 6 nights, then i HIGHLY doubt i need discounts to stay for another night. 

maybe i've been too ambitious. maybe i've set the bar too high. but is it too much to ask that i find a nice little place for two, that merely serves our simple need for sand and serenity??? yeah, i didn't think so either. 

ahhhhh bargains!!

i finally bought a pair of brown riding boots! i've been searching for them for a few months now. earlier today i saw a pair at banana republic that i felt luke-warm about but they were still $80, even after a plethora of sale reductions. and i definitely liked that $80 more than the boots.

BUT THEN...!! an unexpected trip to kohl's produced a surprising result... for only $32.99!!!

and strangely enough i actually like them MORE than the pair from banana. go figure. i think it was destiny.

boots and i plan on having a long and happy life together.

and it only took six months

i've just finished a project that's been in the works for almost six months. 

after we returned from europe last summer, sean had a wonderful idea for displaying our photographs. a photo collage of all the places we have been. between the two of us, we've been blessed to travel to greece, italy, spain, france, the netherlands, tanzania, egypt, india, thailand, and throughout the u.s. those are the memories and experiences that have helped us at least try to begin to understand the world around us, and we both feel as though our opportunity is something we should be thankful for and reminded of every now and again. so we went through a few thousand pictures - seriously - and picked our favorites to display above our bed. 

below is the end result, followed by some of my personal favorites.

_________________________

piazza san marco, venice

candlelight at the duomo, florence

graffiti, barcelona

look ma no hands, egypt

sweet children, tanzania

super-DUPER-lo!

i just returned from my weekend errands, and i must say that it was one of the more successful trips i have had in a while. everywhere i went, i found everything i needed. and on top of that, i didn't spend impulsively!! cheers all around!!

i realize that what i'm about to say is kind of pathetic. but i get excited about the weirdest things nowadays. super-lo is my new grocery hot spot. i cannot claim discovering it- my friend rachel gave it rave reviews so i had to try it out. it's a regular grocery store, and they have all the name brand stuff. but unlike kroger or schnucks, their own generic brand is WAAAAY cheaper. for instance... this upcoming week's dinner menu looks something like this:

corn-tortilla soup

pasta with roasted red pepper sauce

turkey rolls cordon bleu

quesadillas

baked chicken breasts

i got the makings for these dinners, PLUS snacks and lunch stuff for THREE people.

and guess how much i spent!? 

$68.24

and we split grocery bills three ways. so i am essentially eating this week for less than $25. getouttahere. now who wouldn't get excited about that!?!?!

i rest my case. 

super-lo you rock my world. 

and one more thing.

i have to tell you how IN LOVE i am with my new 2009 daily planner. i know this is old skool, but shut your iphone and blackberry faces, and let me enjoy this moment.

MOLESKINE www.moleskine.com

i have used these notebooks for journaling, sketching, traveling, and NOW... PLANNING! they are fabulous in every way possible. i actually bought my planner in barcelona this past summer, bc i had never seen them in the stores here- stores only carried the notebooks and sketchbooks. but guess what!? now they sell planners!! yay! 

it's wonderful. and organized. and red. i love it.

you should go buy one: Borders, Davis Kidd

goodnight.

let it happen

i had a great workout, for the second night in a row. last night was 30 minutes on the elliptical, tonight was a 2.5 mile run. i felt great until about mile 2. at that point i just kept trying to figure out how long i could last. the most frustrating thing is that i was running at a slightly slower pace than i normally do, but feeling more exhausted. i blame this (mostly) on the treadmill. 

when i run outside, even when i become fatigued, i at least feel as though i am going somewhere. there's a physical destination. a motivation. if i get tired, i slow down. but i'm always moving forward. on a treadmill, i feel like a damn hamster that never goes anywhere- no matter how hard i try. 

in my relationship with running, i have figured out one truth: ultimately, it's a mental exercise. one of the things i love most about running is how you can get lost in your thoughts. since it's a pretty basic movement, you can think about things other than your stride. sometimes the thoughts influence your pace. and sometimes you can think about absolutely NOTHING. running is the only way i can accomplish that. 

the treadmill doesn't allow my thoughts to flow as freely as the road does. in fact, i find that my thoughts greatly mirror the concept of the treadmill. completely repetitive with no real progression whatsoever. the thoughts actually start to work against me. all i can think about is how tired i am, i'm not actually going anywhere, why am i doing this? at this point i'm at 2.2 miles and... like magic... kanye + ipod saves the day: Stronger. and for the last 0.3 miles i actually am. 

and when it's over i'm glad it's over. and i'll do it again tomorrow. 

proud member of the YMCA

yay! i did it! i joined the gym!! i braved the cold, wet weather and finally got it done! it was quick, painless, and now comes the hard part :) anyway, i didn't have workout clothes with me tonight, so i headed home - victorious - for a dvd workout. my parents got me a new workout for christmas... and just so you don't think "what kind of parents' give their daughter that", i'll let you know that it was on my wish list: Skinny Bitch Fitness : Body. 

the creators of Skinny Bitch have written four books, and most recently released two dvd workouts. the dvd that i have contains four twenty-minute segments, each focusing on a different area. tonight, i did the "ab blast" and the "leg shred". the moves are definitely challenging and something out of the ordinary. but what i found most interesting about the dvd was the use of phrases like "this workout is gonna kick your ass"... it was refreshing to NOT hear the woman on the tv tell me how wonderful i am and how fabulous i look despite never having laid eyes on me. 

so far, i give it two thumbs up!

www.skinnybitch.net

vacation planning

sean takes his boards in april, and we are planning on a (much needed) vacation once he finishes. we've had several ideas so far, but haven't actually done research on any yet. the only priorities are  1. that it's relatively affordable (let's face it, the economy is not going to be THAT much better by april) and  2. that it's somewhere that has lots to do but we can also relax and enjoy some down time. with that said, here are the ideas we've had so far:

seattle

portland

grand canyon & southwest

hawaii 

(most likely unrealistic but it HAD to go on the list)

san francisco & napa

chicago

sean and i have both been to san fran and chicago (i have family in both places, so i've been several times) but they are such amazing places- we definitely have no problem going back. we are also thinking that we may be able to find some last minute deals to europe. "last minute" really isn't my thing... i've always been a planner. but i think i could find a way to deal with last minute europe plans :)

i could prioritize these according to my desire to go there, but in the end, the numbers will prevail. the cheaper the better. if you have any advice on finding cheap flights & hotels, or general information about travelling to any of these places, please share. 

starting off the new year right

first thing's first: i feel as though i am channeling carrie bradshaw. i am WRITING on my MAC while drinking a COSMO. now if only i wasn't wearing pj pants and a wife-beater...

moving on.

i made the following appetizer for our new year's eve dinner party and it was so delicious that i had to share. it's from a cookbook that i bought at costco a while back called "Best Ever: Three and Four Ingredient Cookbook". some things in this cookbook are surprisingly complicated, but this is most definitely not.

SPANISH SALTED ALMONDS

serves four to six

1 egg white

1 generous cup shelled, unblanched almonds

a good handful of flaked sea salt

preheat the oven to 400. whisk the egg white in a bowl until it forms still peaks.

add the almonds to the egg white, and stir until the nuts are thoroughly coated. tip the mixture onto a baking sheet and spread evenly into a single layer.

sprinkle the salt over the almonds and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the egg white and salt are crusty. leave to cool completely. serve in bowls.

they are perfect as an appetizer or just an afternoon snack.

enjoy, and happy new year.