being 30something

crazy food in pittsburgh...

I ventured to Pittsburgh this week for meetings with clients (yes, plural...weird that I have multiple clients in Pittsburgh). Can't say that I'm a huge fan. The two things that really stand out for me - 1) it's NOT a very cab-friendly city and 2) there is some CRAZY food. 

Had dinner at Six Penn on Wed night. I'm sad that I didn't take a photo of the giant bowl of truffle tots (tater tots with truffle salt) that Jessica got as a side. Equally crazy - lobster mac & cheese and a circus dessert (cotton candy, whoopie pies, cinnamon donuts, and cracker jacks).... 

Lunch the next day at the Square Cafe - I didn't take any photos, but the food was very good, and the vibe was great. 

Trying to catch up with life this weekend...school starts next week!

be good...

the show that inspired the blog...

before anyone had even heard of a blog.

thirtysomething comes out on DVD tomorrow. I've been waiting for this day.  I loved this show. LOVED this show. I'll be bold and say that I loved it as much as I love Grey's Anatomy. ::gasp!:: The show aired in 1987, so I was far from 30 when I watched it...but I remember thinking that the characters were who I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be beautiful & smart & funny & able to balance work/home like Hope Steadman (so I named my daughter Hope). I wanted to be funky & artistic like Melissa. I wanted to be driven like Ellyn. I don't remember liking much about Nancy, but maybe that was unfair. Everything about the show...the characters, the costuming, the writing...everything appealed to me. Oh, and when Gary died in an accident? It was like discovering that it was George who was hit by the bus. Good tv, people...freakin' good TV. 

(PS. Michael always reminded me of you, MB.)

and the winner is....

chosen by Random.org... emily, please send me your address! thanks for playing everyone...I've got more fun Fiskars stuff, so I'll do another giveaway soon! 

Wow! So generous! I just want to let you know I am a blog fan of yours...check it for new inspiration every morning :)

Posted by: emily | August 21, 2009 at 11:52 AM

friday free-for-all...

If you loved Fiskars Apron Lace Border punch, you're going to LOVE the Lace & Lattice Border & Corner punch...and I just happen to have an extra one! Leave a comment by midnight EST on Sat, and I'll draw a name on Sunday. Along with the Border & Corner punch, I have a new Combo corner punch, a new 3-in-1 corner punch, some October Afternoon...and really, who knows what else! (I'm sure some lip gloss can find its way into the box) PS. domestic shipping only, please :)

 

happy friday!

be good.

the beginning of the end.

the end of summer, that is...it's preseason!

Today marks Hope's first day of her last high school soccer preseason. Crazy! We were up at 6, and already into our usual routine, which looks something like this...

me: do you need papers signed?

Hope: yeah.

me: what year did you have the bad concussion?

Hope: sophomore

me: are you eating protein for breakfast?

Hope: yes, mom. peanut butter.

me: don't forget your water!

Hope: i know, mom.

me: you should leave soon. don't speed.

Hope: i've got it, mom!

and off she goes...

With Hope having soccer 2x per day, and Austin having 2 hours of football per day, I'm feeling like I need a little boost in my gym schedule. For the next 5 weeks, I'm following the strength training regimen from the Five Factor Diet. I'll follow the eating plan loosely...I don't agree with everything that the plan recommends. I had thought about tracking my progress on a separate blog...but I think I'll stick with the Daily Plate instead. Not sure that anyone is really interested in what I'm eating or how I'm exercising! 

I picked up some rice paper wrappers at a local vietnamese grocery yesterday (handy for wrapping up veggies for lunch). I had to giggle at the translation on the package. "Deeping" sauce, anyone?

coming home.

I finally arrived back in VT this afternoon. A day later than planned. Flight delays cause a domino effect, so we bailed on our already delayed flight last night...opting to stay the night in a familiar place, rather than getting stuck in some god-knows-who-died-here motel in Philly or DC or wherever. I'm exhausted after being up at 4am to get to the airport in time to catch the first flight out of Columbus. Fortunately, today has been a good reminder of the comforts of coming home...

side note - grateful to the barista in Columbus who said "do you want the fourth shot on the house?" this am...I wouldn't have made it without a quad latte.

• when I turned my phone on as the plane touched down, I got a text from Hope asking if I was home. Simply b/c she wanted to know. Good kid.
• I had dinner with Lori & Colleen...definitely comforting to not have to cook!
• After dinner, we saw Julie & Julia. Cute movie!
• While I was gone, 2 new magazines arrived in the mail. I do love new magazines.
• I also rec'd a box from Steph @ Fiskars (THANK YOU!)...fun stuff! Cardstock from Core'dinations & Bazzill, and the Eerie Collection from Basic Grey. Who doesn't love a box of scrappy stuff?

I'm now off to enjoy the comforts of my pillow. :)

be good.

the week that flew by.

This week is going by entirely too quickly. I have more on my list than gets accomplished every day...and am functioning on very little sleep.

Sunday night - I was up late working on some things...I do try to get to bed by midnight on most nights, but this one slipped into 12:30ish. As Rob was leaving for work, he noticed that the tire was flat on my car. Since I was still up, I took him to work so that I could use his car. Went to bed at about 1:30/2:00...then got up at 5 for a 7am flight. Sat at the airport for a couple of hours, then bailed on the trip after multiple flight delays. Headed in to the office, worked until after 6, then went home and crashed for an hour before the kids got home from soccer/football.

Monday night - another late night of working, but got to bed by midnight. Planned to get up at 5:30 so that I could be in the office early. Didn't happen. Got on an 11:30 flight to Ohio...thankfully caught a nap or two on the plane. No lunch yesterday...connections were way too tight!

Tuesday night - had a great dinner with some folks that I work with, and somehow STILL didn't get to bed until almost midnight. Planned to get up this am and go to the hotel gym. Again...didn't happen.

So now, it's Wednesday already. I have a day of meetings, and fly home tonight. Which means another late night. Thank god for caffeine!

(yes, I realize that this is a completely boring & whiney post. it happens.)

today, I...

[sat on the deck for 2 hours...surfing, reading, jotting down ideas]

 

[ignored the weeds that are growing rampant in my gardens...and instead, enjoyed the color]

 

[marveled at how grown-up (and gorgeous!) this kid is]

 

[had dinner at the waterfront, and was happy that I had my camera when I saw these fabrics hanging against the pastel walls]

the final issue.

I've stalked our local stores for this issue, and even came close to ordering it online...but then my contributor copies finally arrived in the mail yesterday. This is it. The last issue of Memory Makers Magazine. We didn't know, when we were working on the issue, that it would be the last...the announcement was made just before the issue went to print. It was bittersweet to know that I'd have a part in this final magazine...

I was thrilled to work with an adorable photo of Susan Weinwroth's little boy for the cover layout:

 

I have a feature article in this issue, also - It's All about You (pgs 28-33). The fabulous work of Summer, Becky, and Barb are included, along with 4 layouts of my own. (Mom, you'll want to look for this one at Wal*Mart...you're in it!)

 

 

And finally, I had a fun assignment for this issue - create a layout for under $1.00. Think it can't be done? Be sure to check out page 42.

Farewell MM....

(ps. THANK YOU for all the congrats about the ACDT!! There are so many terrific designers on this team...I'm honored to be a part of it.)

absolutely, positively BEYOND excited about this...

American Crafts Contributing Design Team

This was the 3rd time that I'd applied for this team - I figured it would either be "third time's a charm" or "three strikes, you're out!" I can't wait to work with this fabulous team!