figuring out 40

hello monday.

(imagine that there's a Hello Monday graphic of some sort here. putting that on my to-do list.)

hello to a list that feels overwhelming. trying to just write it all down & move through it.

hello to a new Starbucks Gold Card that will be used at lunch today.

hello to a busy blogging week - lots of stuff to share.

hello to wishing that I was at CHA this week (and it's been a looong time since I've felt that way!)

hello to SMASH, the TV show - watched the pilot online & loved it.

hello to 2 weeks w/o travel. yay!

what are you saying hello to today?

(hello monday is a lisa leonard inspired practice)

back to (beauty) basics.

As January winds down, I'm closing the books on my first month of 41...and to be honest? I've felt old this month. I've put on a little weight (I like to call this my winter weight - but really it's my where is the gym again? weight). The reflection I see in the mirror seems a little frumpier (is that a word?), a little more haggard, a little less pulled together. Time to practice a little self-kindness & pay attention to me! Perfect timing to answer these questions from my friends over at BlogHer...

What are your beauty resolutions this year? How do you plan to shake up and streamline your routine? What are the good habits you are committing to developing?

I'm going back to basics, really - although I work in the beauty industry, I'm a pretty minimalistic girl when it comes to all things beauty-related. Here's my simple plan - 

1. Get Clean - I washed my makeup brushes last weekend and threw out a few old/expired products. I'm also committed to getting into the habit of washing my face each & every night. Simple, yes - but I'm terrible at it! I think the key for me is actually going to be washing my face when I get home. When I wait until bedtime, I'm so tired that I just want to drop into bed. 

2. Get Glowing - I started dry brushing last year after reading Crazy Sexy Diet. I loved it, but fell out of the practice. It really makes a difference, particulary for winter skin. I'm a fan of using coconut oil instead of lotion (I know, how anti-product of me!). 

3. Get Green - green smoothies & green juice make a WORLD of difference in your skin. I've never stopped drinking them, but I need to be a bit more disciplined with drinking them regularly. 

4. Get Help - (I couldn't think of something clever to call this) I scheduled my first ever facial for next weekend. Yeah, I'm 41 and have never had a professional facial treatment. Checking that off my list! 

5. Get Sleep - really trying to get more sleep - cures a multitude of ills! 

Got any beauty resolutions on your list? Head over to BlogHer to see what others are doing - and while you're there, enter to win a Kindle Fire! 

Please visit the Life Well Lived Sweepstakes starting on January 26^th  and enter for a chance to win a Kindle Fire and a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

foodie friday.

I'm spending this Foodie Friday in NYC (eating fabulous food, of course), so today I thought I'd do a long-overdue review of this Giada cookbook. First, a confession/reminder - I don't watch much TV, so I have only seen Giada on The Food Network if I happen to catch an episode on a Jet Blue flight. So it wasn't really the lure of Giada that made me want to try this cookbook - it was the lure of "weeknights." Now, a disclaimer - I don't have little kids. I don't need to get dinner on the table at 6:00 to facilitate an early bedtime. Most nights I get home from work/gym around 7 and dinner is on the table by 8. I know that is late for a lot of of you. So just know that my idea of quick/easy might be a little different than yours. Also know that I enjoy planning meals & cooking them (another post on that soon, Mom!) - so most of the time, dinner doesn't feel like a chore to me. Wow. Long intro!

In short, this cookbook rocks. I found myself choosing at least one, and usually several, recipes per week. Risotto with Currants, Feta, & Pine Nuts is now a family favorite. There's a Whole Wheat Penne & Arugula recipe (that I can't recall the name of) that was really yummy. I've read a few other reviews of this cookbook that complain that using fresh herbs, micro greens, and specialty cheeses isn't realistic. I disagree - adding in a few out-of-the-ordinary ingredients are what made this cookbook fun for me. Currants in risotto? Huh? They're fabulous. That same recipe is responsible for my current obsession with feta cheese. There's a nice mix of veg and meat recipes - and a few recipes that I just altered a bit to make veg.

We'll all have to wait just a bit to add this one to our bookshelves - it releases in March. (although I've already got it on pre-order...I liked it that much) I've been on a bit of a cookbook binge lately - what do you think I should add to my collection?

disclaimer - I was provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher via netGalley.com. I was not compensated for this review, and the opinion expressed is my own.

over the hump.

It's Wednesday, which means that it's downhill to the weekend. I'm treasuring my weekends more & more these days. Thoughts that are bouncing around in my head...

*I am spending the next 2 days in NYC. It's work...but it's NYC. I will dine with Kelly. Sleep in a cool hotel. Have breakfast at my favorite Soho spot. Talk lip gloss with lovely colleagues. I am grateful for a (mostly) fun job. 

*I ordered macarons for my meetings from Macaron Parlour. If their macarons are even half as fabulous as their service, I will be thrilled. 

*Austin got into driver's ed. I am more than a little bit excited that someone else can teach him how to drive in the winter. 

*I bought an animal print scarf today. Am I too late for this trend? 

*Speaking of clothing - is it me, or does transition shopping just suck?? I am not going on a cruise. I have approximately 3 months of winter left. This leaves exactly 3 clearance sweaters (all in size XXXXXXL) on the racks. 

*Hope decided to come home for her spring break - so she'll be here in just 3 weeks. Yaaayyy!!!

*Another trend that I am late to - chevron. I want a chevron shower curtain. Links?

*I am grateful for email threads with Barb, Em, Angie, and Stephanie. These girls make me laugh on a daily basis. Laughter is good. 

*We have had the mildest winter that I can remember, but my SAD is still rearing it's head. Remembering to use my lightbox, take my meds (better living through chemistry!) and not feel guilty when I go to bed at 9:00pm. 

And that, my friends, is all for today. 

 

 

project life : week three.

How many weeks does it take to establish a habit? Still in a good groove with Project Life. Here's week 3 - 

week three: the spread.

page one.

thinking that "Austin said" will be a regular feature. witty kid.

week three had a really rough spot. lots of tears. journaling is hidden in the fold. docmented & moving on. (thanks to Barb, Becky & a lot of wine). oh, that Ali E today stamp? Picked up in a kit about 4 years ago and just opened it up. hoarder much?

insert (from...say it with me...pinterest)

week three : page two.

hotel room self-portrait.

Deep thoughts from week 3 - 1) I definitely found that my color/paper choices reflected my mood. Darker colors. More black. 2) It's fun to dig out really old supplies - the Ali E stamp, some AC stickers, a Fontwerks rubon. I've also been discovering a few things that just need to be tossed. PL purging! Good times. 

I'd love to see your week three! 

 

project life : additions

When I got home from Ohio last week, my WRMK page protectors were waiting for me. Wheee! I was dying to get everything put together so that I'd feel like I'd really started this project. I've added several inserts, and I'm loving the look of everything all in one place. 

A quick note about the tall inserts - these are just shy of 6x12 - I think they're more like 5.5x11. I wanted to be able to easily print at home, w/o messing around with custom settings and/or custom paper (I don't have a wide format printer). I also wanted to be able to use the hundreds of page protectors that I already have, so I'm cutting them down & sewing the edge. That way, it really doesn't matter what size the insert is! 

So, before I move on to week 3 - the additons to the album so far - 

Intro page view with calendar & manifesto. 

manifesto.

twelve practices blog post on back side of manifesto.

week one : birthday week inserts!

from pinterest, of course.

CZ Weekly Wrap Ups.

take twelve blog post/pictures - nothing on the back side of this for now, although I may add patterned paper.

hello monday.

hello pretty tulips easing me into the thought of february (my toughest winter month).

hello weird dreams about large lizards.

hello leftover pasta with wild mushrooms, lemon-scented ricotta, & thyme. yum.

hello project life : week 4 - still going strong & loving this project.

hello challenging week in many ways. trying to maintain a calm attitude.

hello NYC at the end of the week. looking forward to dinner, KP!

what are you saying hello to today?

(hello monday is a lisa leonard inspired practice)

 

 

2012: manifesto.

You might recall that #29 on my 40@40 list was "write a manifesto." I didn't quite get around to it in 2011. I had recently pinned this manifesto from creating clever. I definitely have a thing for subway-art-ish manifestos. Drawing inspiration from that pin, today I created my own - crossing off #29, putting this on my vision board & in my project life album - 

Hope you're enjoying your weekend! 

foodie friday.

I've unofficially declared 2012 as "the year that I learn to make bread." Actually, since it's #3 on my Twelve Practices list - I guess that makes it official. So far, I've made one loaf of artisan bread (lackluster) and one loaf of this bread...

Now that's a beautiful loaf of bread. Quite tasty, too! 

The recipe can be found pretty much all over the internets - just google "no knead bread" or "dutch oven bread." I followed the recipe from Please Note, which I found on Pinterest. This bread is NOT quick. There's a lot of rising & resting. Austin dubbed it "sunday bread" b/c it basically takes all weekend to make. It also requires a dutch oven, which I braved a snowstorm to buy. 

This has all of the characteristics that I love in bread - a hearty crust, airy center, and a sourdough-y taste (w/o the need for a starter). I predict that this one will be used in heavy rotation. It was perfect paired with a simple grilled shrimp & bleu cheese salad....

Oh, and one last note - be a butter snob with this bread. Go european. Go organic. This bread deserves it. 

sisterhood of the traveling smash.

A few months ago, a co-worker made a comment about my circle of friends - the circle that is made up of friends from school, friends from scrapbooking, and friends who are practically family. She (the co-worker) said "oh, I wish that I had a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants group like that." Being a huge Sisterhood fan myself, the comment stuck with me. Several days later, I was working on a Smash book about adventures with that same group of friends. The next night, while driving home, this idea came to me - 

Sisterhood of the Traveling Smash.

I like naming things. I did what I normally do when I have an idea that might be dumb - I emailed Barb. She confirmed that she was in, which is pretty much like a gold star. And just like that, the Sisterhood of the Traveling Smash started coming together. What is it? It's Smash book (oh, sorry Barb - SMASH book - Barb prefers all caps) meets circle journal. We each buy a SMASH book, decorate it how we see fit, throw in some "rules" and then mail if off to the next person on the list. That person adds in a few pages (working loosely on a "day in the life" theme) and mails it to the next person - and so on & so on. 

I am very excited about this project. 

The Sisterhood: 

Kristi

Stephanie

Barb

Emily

Melanie

Lee

Colleen

Kelly

me

Lain

Kelli

So freakin' excited.

My SMASH book is ready to roll - I'll be mailing it off to Lain later this week. Here's a peek -