So... I pretty much disappeared there for a few weeks. But, I'm not going to make an excuse. I hate when people go on and on about how busy they are, as if they somehow have fewer hours in the day than the rest of us. We are all busy. We all have a lot going on that we have to juggle and find a way to prioritize and get done what we can. Over the past few weeks, I have had more to get done than I usually do, and at the end of the day my priority was to relax (aka - binge watch Netflix and turn off my brain). So, the blog kind of fell by the wayside.
Instead, my focus has been on work. Last week was my big event. THE big event. The event that my every action at work this past year has been focused on and building to. And I couldn't be more thrilled with how it went! It was surreal, and rushed, and over before I even had a second to catch my breath. Overall, I just kept pinching myself that I was involved in an event of this caliber.
For those that don't know, I work in intelligent transportation. It was a new industry for me this year, and it has been incredibly welcoming. It's a niche group of people that are dedicating their lives to making transportation safer, more efficient, more connected, and more environmentally-friendly. By now, you probably have heard of autonomous or connected vehicles - those are my guys! But they're also doing incredible things with traffic and weather monitoring, parking, traffic lights, emergency response, and connecting with your cell phones to make getting around easier. It is mind-blowing and I'm incredibly proud to be able to help in telling their stories.
If you have any interest in experiencing the magic that is the future automobile, I'd recommend googling "ITS World Congress" or visiting the YouTube page.
I'll be back later this week with normal content.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Thursday, August 21, 2014
The World is our Oyster, Right?
Earlier this week, Layne texted me at work and asked if I wanted to go to the
Nats game because - why not? So, off to Craigslist we went and found
some tickets.
Our seats were amazing, maybe 10 rows back, parallel with the pitching mound on the third baseline. As we sat down I said, "Wow - you really got these tickets for only $15 a piece!?" And Layne, nonchalantly replied "Yeah, but he wanted $70 each."
HOW?! How do you talk someone down from $140 to $30?! The game wasn't until 7 p.m. and Layne had these tickets secured by noon, so this was no desperate Criagslister. I don't know about you, but if someone tells me $70, I'm offering $50 not $15!
But that's Layne. He never takes no for an answer. He asks for things that nobody else asks for. Once we were at ColdStone, and he asked for a sample of Birthday Cake Remix and they mashed it all up and gave it to him. Who even thinks to ask for that? Just Layne. I know it's small, but it's an example of his overall attitude toward life.
He has this amazing way of viewing the world - it's his for the taking. He operates under the guise that he can and will do as he pleases, and he is relentless once he sets his mind on something. Instead of asking "why?" he always asks "why not?" I am the kind of person who is determined, but can quickly become deterred if an obstacles apppears. If Layne wants something, absolutely nothing will stop him or he didn't really want it. Being with him is like magic. People give you things and do things for you that would never happen if you were on your own. Free sodas, seat upgrades on airplanes, cuts in line, and casual job offers fall into his lap.
I do not possess that kind of charisma. But, I can adopt that attitude. When I, too, act like everything will work out for me, it almost always does. I don't necessarily believe in karmic energy or anything like that, but I do believe that a positive outlook and strong work ethic will take you far.
Why don't we all view the world this way? It's a vast place, but we can conquer each day if we decide to.
Our seats were amazing, maybe 10 rows back, parallel with the pitching mound on the third baseline. As we sat down I said, "Wow - you really got these tickets for only $15 a piece!?" And Layne, nonchalantly replied "Yeah, but he wanted $70 each."
HOW?! How do you talk someone down from $140 to $30?! The game wasn't until 7 p.m. and Layne had these tickets secured by noon, so this was no desperate Criagslister. I don't know about you, but if someone tells me $70, I'm offering $50 not $15!
But that's Layne. He never takes no for an answer. He asks for things that nobody else asks for. Once we were at ColdStone, and he asked for a sample of Birthday Cake Remix and they mashed it all up and gave it to him. Who even thinks to ask for that? Just Layne. I know it's small, but it's an example of his overall attitude toward life.
He has this amazing way of viewing the world - it's his for the taking. He operates under the guise that he can and will do as he pleases, and he is relentless once he sets his mind on something. Instead of asking "why?" he always asks "why not?" I am the kind of person who is determined, but can quickly become deterred if an obstacles apppears. If Layne wants something, absolutely nothing will stop him or he didn't really want it. Being with him is like magic. People give you things and do things for you that would never happen if you were on your own. Free sodas, seat upgrades on airplanes, cuts in line, and casual job offers fall into his lap.
I do not possess that kind of charisma. But, I can adopt that attitude. When I, too, act like everything will work out for me, it almost always does. I don't necessarily believe in karmic energy or anything like that, but I do believe that a positive outlook and strong work ethic will take you far.
Why don't we all view the world this way? It's a vast place, but we can conquer each day if we decide to.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Tasty Tuesday - Fresh Strawberry Sauce
Quick and SUPER simple recipe for you today! I love pancakes, but sometimes want a break from the norm. Although, normal pancakes for me involve bacon, chocolate chips, peanut butter, whipped cream, and maple syrup... but that's a recipe for another day.
A lighter option is to whip up a strawberry topping - and it is seriously amazing. The tartness cuts through the heaviness of the pancakes, and topping the whole thing with a generous (always generous) helping of whipped cream is the best way to start your weekend. This would also be really good on an ice cream sundae - yum!
So, basically, all we're doing is speeding up the process of mascerating the strawberries and bringing out their flavor.
First, rough chop some strawberries. You could dice them if you wanted to, but I like to just give them a rough chop and keep a bit more texture. Second, throw in some sugar and lemon zest. The amount of sugar depends on how sweet you want it (obviously), but it will become looser and more like a syrup the more sugar you add. I like it a little more tart, especially if I am adding the whipped cream, but Layne likes it to be more syrupy and sugary sweet, so I add a bit more for him. Next, toss the strawberries in the sugar and put them on the stove over low heat. You can just let it sit and give it a quick stir every few minutes while you whip up your pancakes. Finally, I give it a quick turn with the hand blender. If you added more sugar earlier, you probably don't need to do this, but if you want it completely like a syrup, then I'd still recommend it.
1 lb strawberries, 1/2 cup - 1 cup sugar (preference), 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
A lighter option is to whip up a strawberry topping - and it is seriously amazing. The tartness cuts through the heaviness of the pancakes, and topping the whole thing with a generous (always generous) helping of whipped cream is the best way to start your weekend. This would also be really good on an ice cream sundae - yum!
First, rough chop some strawberries. You could dice them if you wanted to, but I like to just give them a rough chop and keep a bit more texture. Second, throw in some sugar and lemon zest. The amount of sugar depends on how sweet you want it (obviously), but it will become looser and more like a syrup the more sugar you add. I like it a little more tart, especially if I am adding the whipped cream, but Layne likes it to be more syrupy and sugary sweet, so I add a bit more for him. Next, toss the strawberries in the sugar and put them on the stove over low heat. You can just let it sit and give it a quick stir every few minutes while you whip up your pancakes. Finally, I give it a quick turn with the hand blender. If you added more sugar earlier, you probably don't need to do this, but if you want it completely like a syrup, then I'd still recommend it.
1 lb strawberries, 1/2 cup - 1 cup sugar (preference), 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
Monday, August 18, 2014
Home Tour {Part 2}
As promised, here is the second half of my living space. With 600 sq. ft., you have two spaces - living and sleeping. I shared our TV and sitting area a few weeks ago, and this week is more about the office/kitchen table area. This space is all about function.
This is pretty much the worst picture ever taken, but it does give you an idea of the layout of the space and just how much light my paint color sucks up. The big picture window from the sitting area is 10 ft. away and wide open, and this area is still super dark. Also, I hate that office chair but it's Layne's and he insisted on comfort over fashion. Sigh...
The gallery wall. A huge thanks to my mom for helping me make sense of it! I love the mirror reflecting the light from the window. But again - this wall is FACING the window, which you can see is open, and it is still this dark. I honestly have the worst paint color in the world.
I have to admit, we pretty much use the kitchen table as extra counter space. I am ashamed to show you the kitchen. It is as small as a kitchen could possibly be and still call itself a kitchen. It has all the necessities, and nothing more. Necessities include a mini stove, 12 inches of counter space, and a single drawer. Necessities do not include a microwave or full-sized fridge. So, this space is usually covered in pots and pans and cutting boards while we're cooking.
(Note the completely random, mid-wall electrical outlet. Why...?)
You can probably tell by the tone of this post that overall I don't like these spaces as much as I like the sitting area. It's weird extra space. There's plenty of it, but I'd much rather have a functional kitchen or bigger closet instead. Still, I've tried to make the most of it.
Do you have any oddly shaped rooms? How do you increase their functionality? Any tips for me?
Here's a picture taken in that exact same spot toward the sitting area.
The gallery wall. A huge thanks to my mom for helping me make sense of it! I love the mirror reflecting the light from the window. But again - this wall is FACING the window, which you can see is open, and it is still this dark. I honestly have the worst paint color in the world.
I have to admit, we pretty much use the kitchen table as extra counter space. I am ashamed to show you the kitchen. It is as small as a kitchen could possibly be and still call itself a kitchen. It has all the necessities, and nothing more. Necessities include a mini stove, 12 inches of counter space, and a single drawer. Necessities do not include a microwave or full-sized fridge. So, this space is usually covered in pots and pans and cutting boards while we're cooking.
(Note the completely random, mid-wall electrical outlet. Why...?)
You can probably tell by the tone of this post that overall I don't like these spaces as much as I like the sitting area. It's weird extra space. There's plenty of it, but I'd much rather have a functional kitchen or bigger closet instead. Still, I've tried to make the most of it.
Do you have any oddly shaped rooms? How do you increase their functionality? Any tips for me?
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Want It Wednesday | Early Fall Clothing
Yesterday's post got me so inspired! I kept thinking about all those jewels tones while doing some online shopping for early fall, and I think it shows in my picks! I love when the seasons majorly change and I get to switch over into my winter or summer wardrobe. I have always forgotten about half of it, so it's nice to see it again and feel like I have fresh options.
What do you have your eye on for early fall?
What do you have your eye on for early fall?
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Color Trends for 2015
I saw this article the other day on Twitter and was so inspired. ElleDecor and House Beautiful took a look at color trends for 2015 and their finds were just too good not to share. Basically, gray is still the hottest neutral around, pops of color are still encouraged, and jewel tones are making a big come back. Deep blues, ruby, olive green, plum - these luxurious colors will be everywhere.
Don't these rooms all look so grand, yet cozy? Layne has been warning me for years that I have a love affair with jewel tones that he is not into, so I may not really be able to indulge in this trend. I firmly believe the house is as much his as mine, so if he doesn't like a design decision then it needs to be switched. But I'm still swooning over the richness and warmth!
Would you decorate with jewel tones? What do you think of these colors for 2015?
Monday, August 11, 2014
Weekending! {Linkup}
This weekend was very much needed. Things are getting increasingly busy at work, and after the week I had, I needed to recharge.
{Friday}
Layne suggested going to Home Depot and Target on Friday night and I just about had to pick my jaw up off the floor. He hates taking me to either, so for him to suggest it was, to put it lightly, a pleasant surprise. I think it may have been out of pity, but I'm ok with that.
I think I maybe killed this plant? My mom told me that you could return plants to Home Depot for up to a year, so I thought I may as well take it with me. It has been dead for a solid two months, and I only bought it three months ago. Well, she was wrong. I had three months to return it, and I missed it by a week. CLEARLY this plant has not become this desiccated in a single week, but whatever. I just left it on a shelf in their garden area. Regardless of getting my $10 back, maybe they can resurrect it. I don't deserve to own plants.
{Saturday}
I had asked Layne to help me with a few home projects, so Saturday he got to work on fixing that stupid IKEA dresser. I'll have to share the fix a bit later, but I LOVE that my towels are not all over my living room anymore. It has only been broken for, oh, about three years. I asked Layne to fix it just last week and have no idea why I waited so long.
Saturday night we made it out to Wolf Trap (bucket list!) to watch Jim Gaffigan. We got some Smash Burger with friends first, then drove over to Wolf Trap and plopped our blanket out on the lawn. I had a bunch of candy, there were no mosquitoes, a full moon, and Jim Gaffigan. Pretty much a perfect summer night.
{Sunday}
Sunday, we binged. I had been wanting fondue, so Layne made some and it was soooooo good. Fondue is supposed to be a social thing, but the room was almost silent as we both shoveled gooey, perfectly melted cheese into our mouths. It was just the sort of indulgence I needed before beginning another long week!
Linking up with B~loved Boston!
{Friday}
Layne suggested going to Home Depot and Target on Friday night and I just about had to pick my jaw up off the floor. He hates taking me to either, so for him to suggest it was, to put it lightly, a pleasant surprise. I think it may have been out of pity, but I'm ok with that.
{Saturday}
I had asked Layne to help me with a few home projects, so Saturday he got to work on fixing that stupid IKEA dresser. I'll have to share the fix a bit later, but I LOVE that my towels are not all over my living room anymore. It has only been broken for, oh, about three years. I asked Layne to fix it just last week and have no idea why I waited so long.
Saturday night we made it out to Wolf Trap (bucket list!) to watch Jim Gaffigan. We got some Smash Burger with friends first, then drove over to Wolf Trap and plopped our blanket out on the lawn. I had a bunch of candy, there were no mosquitoes, a full moon, and Jim Gaffigan. Pretty much a perfect summer night.
{Sunday}
Sunday, we binged. I had been wanting fondue, so Layne made some and it was soooooo good. Fondue is supposed to be a social thing, but the room was almost silent as we both shoveled gooey, perfectly melted cheese into our mouths. It was just the sort of indulgence I needed before beginning another long week!
Linking up with B~loved Boston!
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