the little things.

This week at work has been pretty hectic. In fact, since the beginning of January it's been all around chaotic and in the midst of all the new work, I'm still finding my rhythm and routine. Sometimes, it feels like I've been at my job way more than just 3 and 1/2 months. Sometimes it feels like I've been there forever. And, then there are times when I ask so many questions in a day one would think I'd never done the type of work in my life. Oh well, I can still blame things on "the learning curve," at least for a little while longer.

A couple little things that have made my week better are:

1. Granola Cups



Foodgawker has done it again and they have ingeniously connected me with a new favorite. These granola cups are great. Like a healthy cupcake in the morning. Lately, starting my day on time has been a challenge. Why, oh why, do I keep pressing the snooze button!?! But, these little bites of wonderful granola and yogurt and fruit are splendid, and seriously helped me get up earlier than normal this past week. I'm not ashamed to admit food can motivate me to do something.

2. Cheese, Crackers, Fruit, and Nut Spread



I don't know if I love anything as simple so much. Chunk of cheese, cut up some apple, toss in some almonds and crackers, and I am a happy person.

Sometimes it's the little things that help make it through a busy week.

It's 2012 and I've been thinking.

It's two thousand and twelve and I've been thinking a lot about the new year and new decisions and ideas and new experiences I want to have. It's two thousand and twelve and I've been thinking a lot about last year and the accomplishments, challenges, and changes it brought and how those experiences carry with me into this new year. It's two thousand and twelve and I've been thinking a lot about this blog and how it hasn't seemed to really fit into my life and whether I want it to fit into my life and what would need to change in order for it to fit into my life (if I want it to).

You see, lately this blog has felt a lot like a chore and I don't like chores and especially in the last 6 months I've been particularly good at avoiding this chore. I've had moments where I want to just delete the whole thing, to not post bits and pieces of my life for all to see. But something stops me from throwing in the towel. And that something that stops me is the other blogs that I read, the inspiration of their ideas, the power of their thoughts and the vulnerability of their emotions, and the general idea of being connected to other peoples' worlds through even the mundane aspects of life. And to be honest, I really love and hate that connection all at the same time. I hate it because it's not tangible or personable, it's not words spoken between friends. I hate it because in ways it reminds me of the lack of (geographically) close friends I have, and the difficulty of building a new support network. But, I love it because it facilitates "knowing" new friends and staying connected to old friends (and family) when time is short and space is great. I love it because it gives voice to my thoughts and provides a record of my experiences. I love it and I hate it and it is two thousand and twelve and I'm still thinking about how to resolve those two feelings.

So, I'm not going to promise anything. I'm not going to make any grand resolution to blog more. I'm only going to try to be more honest with myself about how I can use this format to stay connected but not feel empty at the same time. It's two thousand and twelve, a new year, and I'm going to keep thinking.

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree! O Christmas tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

O Christmas tree! O Christmas tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

How often has the Christmas tree

Afforded me the greatest glee!

O Christmas tree! O Christmas tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me.

A present and a cheesecake.

This year for my birthday, Micah gave me a food processor, something that I've been wanting for a while. I had talked about buying one for over a year, but had always found a reason not too. Good thing I have someone that is willing to indulge me. And, really, sometimes the best presents are presents that you've written off buying for yourself.

Of course with any new kitchen gadget or electronic, it had to be christened with a great recipe. I chose this Spicy Pumpkin Cheesecake. Boy, am I glad I did. It was decadent to say the least. I pretty much followed the recipe to a "t," so I'm not going to repost it here. But, I will be honest and tell you that this cheesecake almost came to a fatal end.

I made a ridiculously tragic mistake when I read the directions and pressed the yummy crust into my springform pan. Because instead of pressing the buttery, nutty, gingery crust into the pan itself, I somehow read that the whole pan needed to be covered in foil (Let's not go into the details of what had to be going on for me to have come to this decision).

Suffice it to say, I didn't read the directions carefully or thoughtfully enough

and I baked that beautiful crust in a foil lined pan.

And, oh the drama that commenced when I realized this fatal mistake of mine. This poor, innocent cheesecake filling almost got poured down the drain because I was up in arms that I had ruined the whole thing. Good thing I had Micah to talk me away from the edge and convince me to just re-make and re-bake a new crust. And you know what, it all worked out.

(Here I am fake smiling for the camera.)

After letting it cool in the refrigerator for 8 hours,

it was ready to be decked out with maple caramel sauce and topped with toasted pecans.

This really was great cheesecake. Very flavorful. Incredibly rich. And super creamy.

I'm not sure whether or not Micah would say it was worth all the trouble,

but it definitely was a worthy recipe to christen my new food processor.

It's a Woodstock Thanksgiving, Part II.

Seriously, where does the time go? I swear I just got back from thanksgiving break, and yet the plethora of christmas parties would dictate that the holiday season is in full swing. Sometimes the days just blur together and then all of a sudden two weeks have passed and it's hard to believe.

Well, since I already left you (two readers out there) hanging in suspense over the end of my thanksgiving, I suppose I'll finish that up before moving on to anything more recent.

Thanksgiving day started with a 5k run/walk. The whole family participated. It was cold, as evidenced by our facial expressions in the picture below. Micah and I finished in somewhere around 35 minutes, not too shabby for not training beforehand.

We were all pretty hungry when we got back, so it was a good thing that we didn't have to wait long for the snacking to commence. (If you want a full account of our menu for the day, see the post my sister wrote on it).

Our appetizers:

This year was my first vegan thanksgiving and it was darn good. We even veganized my grandmother's sweet potato casserole, which is an all-time holiday favorite of mine.

We also made this pretty and amazing cocktail: The Floating Star

After dinner, came the desserts.

And after desserts, there was thanksgiving dance offs via the kinect. Unfortunately, there is no photographic proof, but trust me when I say there's is nothing more wonderful than watching family members battle it out through mimicking some killer dance moves.

Lastly, I just want to give a shout out to these cupcakes fully decked out in their houndstooth finest for this year's Iron Bowl. We stayed in Woodstock for most of Saturday so we could all watch the game together. It was definitely worth it given that Alabama won and that these cupcakes were fantastic!

It's a Woodstock Thanksgiving, Part I

This year was the first year for my family to celebrate a holiday at a "kid's house." My sister and brother-in-law hosted in Illinois and we dubbed the occasion "It's a Woodstock Thanksgiving" (sounds like a great title for the next big blockbuster holiday movie).

We started out the festivities with a day in Chicago. We went to lunch at Karyn's on Green. My sister and I split a couple dishes, the BLT sandwich and the sausage and broccoli pizza. In my opinion, the pizza was better than the sandwich, but both were tasty. I also got the Southside cocktail, which was great, sour, but great. I would definitely recommend the restaurant to all those vegan and not.

From Karyn's on Green we headed over to the Willis Tower (formerly Sear's Tower). My sister had 4 free tickets that she had been trying to use for the last 3 years, and we decided to see if they still worked (Spoiler Alert: they did). Thankfully, we didn't have to wait in too much of a line. And, we got this winner of a photo from the lovely employees at the tower.

It was clear skies at the top, which made for great views.

Chicago is a really pretty city, with the lake right there and the river running through it. Whoever was the genius behind, "this looks like a good place to build a city," deserves some major props.

I love how this red building pops.

There are some seriously great views from the top.

We also took the opportunity to take a few family pics.

On the skydeck there are three glass skyboxes that overlook Chicago and if you have a fear of heights they will terrify you to even get close to them.

Micah was the most brave, stepping all the way out for longer than 30 seconds.

You can't tell, but this is Micah.

My sister and I, on the other hand, could only muster up enough courage to step out long enough for a picture to be taken.

As we were leaving, the sun was dropping and light was streaming in.

It was a great visit into Chicago and to the Willis Tower skydeck!
Stay tuned for Part II!

Wine tasting in the fall.

Who knew that vineyards go through such a beautiful process of changing colors in the fall?
New England, eat your heart out.

Thankfully some friends decided to go to Sonoma a couple weekends ago, so Micah and I tagged along and were able to witness first hand the vineyards in the height of fall colors.



It always amazes me when I go up to Sonoma or Napa just how beautiful and rugged and and so-not-city it really is. And, it is SO close. Oh the reasons I love Northern California!

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

The leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

by Robert Frost

Seeing the changing colors makes the changing of seasons more tangible, more believable, more real. Sometimes, being in the city, surrounded by what seems to be a constant shade of green, seasons can all too quickly disappear. It was good for me to see the reds and the golds and the purples, they tell me that the end of the year is near. That colder mornings and darker nights are coming. That the holidays are close and with it more purposeful time spent celebrating with those that we are closest to. These colors tell me of the richness of life and the fleetingness of its moments.