"Cleaning" the beaters (as we've always dubbed it in my home) never gets old, no matter what age I am. You better believe that I not only licked these clean, but also scraped the bowl. Today is my Grandma's 19th birthday, since she's a leap day baby, and my Mom was in charge of the cake. She was going to do the standard boxed mix, but I decided that we should delve into the array for food recipe links I've been saving. One, because they all sound delicious, and two, because I can taste the results without investing in the goods :)
I must say, I chose a winner. Snickerdoodle cake with brown sugar buttercream frosting, both made from scratch. Quite frankly, I feel confident that I could make this one on my own. The only problem would be having enough self-control to not indulge myself in spoonfuls of cake batter and frosting straight out of the bowl. I have to wait until that whole ritualistic singing of Happy Birthday before I'm allowed to taste the finished product, but I feel as though the raw goods already sold me on being a believer.
cake batter \02.29\
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Labels:
food
I must say, I chose a winner. Snickerdoodle cake with brown sugar buttercream frosting, both made from scratch. Quite frankly, I feel confident that I could make this one on my own. The only problem would be having enough self-control to not indulge myself in spoonfuls of cake batter and frosting straight out of the bowl. I have to wait until that whole ritualistic singing of Happy Birthday before I'm allowed to taste the finished product, but I feel as though the raw goods already sold me on being a believer.
I don't usually put people in my photos, but that long-haired guy is my brother. And that stage is where he does his thing, every Tuesday night. He doesn't get paid for it, but I highly doubt that crosses his mind as his fingers work across the strings. As you watch him play, it's plain to see that his body and soul resonate with his music. He's living inside of the notes he's playing at that moment. When he finishes a song, his face lights up and he bows his head as a shy smile of satisfaction spreads across his face.
Although he has a day job, sometimes a revolving door of them, he knows where his heart is and never loses sight of that. In some way, shape or form, this is the main mission in my current quest. I want to find something that inspires me, lights me up, and leaves my passion forever unsatiated...so that I keep going back for more.
up in lights \02.28\
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Labels:
music
I don't usually put people in my photos, but that long-haired guy is my brother. And that stage is where he does his thing, every Tuesday night. He doesn't get paid for it, but I highly doubt that crosses his mind as his fingers work across the strings. As you watch him play, it's plain to see that his body and soul resonate with his music. He's living inside of the notes he's playing at that moment. When he finishes a song, his face lights up and he bows his head as a shy smile of satisfaction spreads across his face.
Although he has a day job, sometimes a revolving door of them, he knows where his heart is and never loses sight of that. In some way, shape or form, this is the main mission in my current quest. I want to find something that inspires me, lights me up, and leaves my passion forever unsatiated...so that I keep going back for more.
The pier at Grand Haven would likely qualify as an iconic image of my childhood. I couldn't begin to count the number of summer hours spent on this shore, and a few winter hours for good measure. It's one of the many facets of my home state that I haven't found a comparable match for in or near Chicago. I'm not sure if it's because they don't exist or I haven't searched hard enough (maybe far enough?). All I know is that those Pure Michigan tourism commercials narrated by Tim Allen are capable of stopping me in my tracks, inciting a slight sense of melancholy and a strong urge to jump in my car. As much as I love my international jaunts, my current state of unemployment has me thinking about spending a little quality time with my Michigan this summer.
pure michigan \02.27\
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Labels:
beach,
lake michigan
The pier at Grand Haven would likely qualify as an iconic image of my childhood. I couldn't begin to count the number of summer hours spent on this shore, and a few winter hours for good measure. It's one of the many facets of my home state that I haven't found a comparable match for in or near Chicago. I'm not sure if it's because they don't exist or I haven't searched hard enough (maybe far enough?). All I know is that those Pure Michigan tourism commercials narrated by Tim Allen are capable of stopping me in my tracks, inciting a slight sense of melancholy and a strong urge to jump in my car. As much as I love my international jaunts, my current state of unemployment has me thinking about spending a little quality time with my Michigan this summer.
Blick Art Supplies is a dangerous place to wander on any given day. There's something in every aisle that gets my creative wheels turning. While it's great to feel an infusion of inspiration again, my bank account needs to be a little more focused on groceries and rent for now...
paint the town \02.26\
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Labels:
art
Blick Art Supplies is a dangerous place to wander on any given day. There's something in every aisle that gets my creative wheels turning. While it's great to feel an infusion of inspiration again, my bank account needs to be a little more focused on groceries and rent for now...
Snow in Chicago? What is this, winter? Bring on the springtime. Besides the fact that my newly thinned blood thinks 43 degrees feels almost like death, I had forgotten about things such as scraping a half inch of ice from my windshield before I can go anywhere. I suppose I'm still a little nostalgiac over the "pura vida" lifestyle.
rare breed \02.25\
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Labels:
snow,
urban,
winter
At this time, two years ago, I was traipsing around jolly ol' England. To be exact, I was on a day trip in London, playing tour guide. I can remember the flutter in my stomach and uptick in my pulse as we started up the steps from the tube, anticipating my first sight of London in five years. That was the city where it all started, this indefatigable desire to globe trot.
London in a day, on foot, is a pretty whirlwind adventure. We had a streak of luck with some 50 degree February weather, even catching a few glimmers of sun when we first arrived. I still remember the itinerary I spent most of a morning mapping out. Mostly we passed along the outside of each venue, not feeling the need to spend time or money to look within. (I also saw most of this in 2005.)
Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery, Pall Mall and Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Parliament and Big Ben, along the Thames to Tower of London and Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, through the business district to Covent Garden.
union jack \02.24\
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Labels:
architecture,
england,
travel
London in a day, on foot, is a pretty whirlwind adventure. We had a streak of luck with some 50 degree February weather, even catching a few glimmers of sun when we first arrived. I still remember the itinerary I spent most of a morning mapping out. Mostly we passed along the outside of each venue, not feeling the need to spend time or money to look within. (I also saw most of this in 2005.)
Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery, Pall Mall and Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Parliament and Big Ben, along the Thames to Tower of London and Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, through the business district to Covent Garden.
I've already been back in the U.S. for a week. My body is still rebelling against the cold, my skin is not pleased with the dry air, and I still have the urge to respond to people with Spanish phrases. On the upside, I finally stopped experiencing momentary confusion about whether to toss my toilet paper in the trash or the toilet (most places in Costa Rica have a no flush rule when it comes to TP).
I'm slowly assembling pieces of the puzzle known as my future. Although I'm fully cognizant that I don't need to be in a rush, and that it would actually be detrimental to do so, it's easy to get swept along in the "go, go, go" American mentality. So, I need to continually regroup with myself and objectively examine any of the decisions I'm contemplating.
Upon my return, Chicago was kind enough to grace me with some unseasonably "warm" and sunny weather. Now the days are reclaiming a bit more of that late-winter gloom. It will require effort to keep my mind unclouded (pun intended) and my days non-sedentary, BUT I'm convinced that I've been heading in the right direction...even if I can't tell quite which way it is yet.
On another note, a full arsenal of Costa Rica photos are now sorted and posted for your perusal. By "full", I mean 350+ photos. Click here to head over to my album!
finding the groove \02.23\
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Labels:
everyday,
spanish
I've already been back in the U.S. for a week. My body is still rebelling against the cold, my skin is not pleased with the dry air, and I still have the urge to respond to people with Spanish phrases. On the upside, I finally stopped experiencing momentary confusion about whether to toss my toilet paper in the trash or the toilet (most places in Costa Rica have a no flush rule when it comes to TP).I'm slowly assembling pieces of the puzzle known as my future. Although I'm fully cognizant that I don't need to be in a rush, and that it would actually be detrimental to do so, it's easy to get swept along in the "go, go, go" American mentality. So, I need to continually regroup with myself and objectively examine any of the decisions I'm contemplating.
Upon my return, Chicago was kind enough to grace me with some unseasonably "warm" and sunny weather. Now the days are reclaiming a bit more of that late-winter gloom. It will require effort to keep my mind unclouded (pun intended) and my days non-sedentary, BUT I'm convinced that I've been heading in the right direction...even if I can't tell quite which way it is yet.
On another note, a full arsenal of Costa Rica photos are now sorted and posted for your perusal. By "full", I mean 350+ photos. Click here to head over to my album!