doing it right.

May 23, 2013  ·  10 comments

hey everyone! we’re nearly to the weekend!! a few things happening lately in my world. . .

1. the new daft punk ‘random access memories’ is streaming on spotify (my fave track ft panda bear) is called ‘doin’ it right.‘

2. i’ve never felt ‘more like myself’ and have been listening to my intuition and taking more risks. . .kinda like the girl i used to be before i got all boring and adultlike. a very wise person told me that ‘stress is expensive and happiness is cheap.’ i could not agree more!

3. the universe is swinging things into my favor and i managed to score tickets to the penguins game tomorrow night. there is nothing more magical than playoff hockey! the air is electric i promise you! look for fun pics on my instagram feed ;)

4. i’ve even been taking better care of myself lately (more sleep, regular meals & treats and even get this. . . jogging?! who am i?! it doesn’t hurt that i found some shorts that make me feel like a superhero ka-pow!! let’s not kid ourselves into thinking that running is going to become a regular thing for me here (so.sorry.so.lazy) BUT i did enjoy a 20min romp around the neighborhood.

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any plans for this memorial day weekend? don’t forget to have some fun this weekend! eat some gelato, light up some sparklers and dance like no one is watching you! i have to go to work on monday to keep things running in the lab but i’ll make sure i get some downtime on sat/sun!

the power of light:::random edition

May 19, 2013  ·  6 comments

happy sunday! thank you for all the kind words and support on my last post! i’m always waxing poetic about the difference a day can make. i don’t really want to continue the circle jerk of self reflection but if you’ve kept up with my last couple posts…it’s been a bit chaotic around these parts.

i’m happy to report that some very positive happenings have taken place in the last 48hrs! nothing short of a miracle no less. i’m still kind of reeling from things and will have more to report tomorrow (so.sorry.so.cryptic). first of all, my mother had seen a specialist who upon review decided against surgery and that a new diet regimen be implemented for the healing of her gut. the mirco-perforation has healed without intervention!

secondly, i was contacted on friday afternoon with an important request to set up a meeting for this upcoming monday morning. i am very hopeful it’s what i think it is and will share as soon as i conclude my teleconference.

also, we are still on track with the whole house closing stuff and will be doing so in a mere 3 weeks! i’ve been ordering different color samples of wallpaper (i don’t do accent walls with paint ;) i’m going bold in this 1920s home)! also, chose a countertop (i’m obsessed with silestone) and hoarded a bunch of paint samples to color the kitchen cabinets. once i nail that down, i’ll show you what we’ve got.

hey, look at me! so adult-like and stuff.

i leave you with my current summer uniform. high-waisted shorts & an everlane ryan pocket tee that i’ve twisted up because i’m having an 80s flashback. also, my hair is ombre-ing itself with reddish tones from the sun…some people go blonde…somehow i got ginger?

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did you get all that? what’s new with you? hope you had a great weekend!

i need a cake.

May 13, 2013  ·  16 comments

ok… my mother was finally discharged from the hospital on friday and is currently en route from south carolina to visit a doctor here in pittsburgh. she will need surgery in 6wks so my parents will be staying here for basically the entire summer.

nate and i will be moving in july and have had renters visiting our current place so that’s an added fun bonus of ‘clean up your crap and get out‘ in the midst of everything else ha.

oh yeah, and i had a few job interviews last week too. i am exhausted. i did something yesterday that i haven’t done since college. i stayed in my pyjama’s all.day.long. i don’t regret it a single bit!

now, i’d be mostly recharged if someone made me this cake:
typography-cake

who’s got fondant skills? someone? anyone?

quirk it

May 10, 2013  ·  6 comments

we all have our quirks right? i mean, it’s those little nuances that set us apart and make us different from another person. the characteristics that can either promote progress or set us back. i have this aversion to clutter and hoarding in general. i actually cannot even watch that show on tv featuring hoarders. i literally feel my heart rate begin to quicken and then i flip the remote to another channel.

when i stumbled across this blog in particular, i felt an overwhelming calmness! not only are the photos artfully composed, but they are so neat! so there you have it. one of my ‘quirks.’

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here’s a book that might pique your interest called ‘things come apart: a teardown for modern living

what’s your quirk?

urban hiking inspiration

May 7, 2013  ·  4 comments

first up i want to wish a belated 30 to my favorite twins over at purelytwins! i recently did a post about feeling lost and the significance of it. you can read more about that here.

now, on to a favorite activity of mine: take an urban hike around the city! sure, it’s no lush, green forest but i’m also not really into just HOW quiet it can get out there! i like the imperfections of the ‘lived in’ city life!

sometimes, i take a walk that is a bit too far for my ballet flats and i need to wear a sneaker so i don’t get hot spots on my feet. maybe, i’m vain but i still want to look put together. nothing ‘grinds my gears‘ (my brother’s words) more than seeing women wearing clunky bright white tennis shoes with pantyhose and a nice dress.

cue the casual-retro inspired gola jersey runners for free people! i love the colors and can just tell that these would be like little clouds of comfort for a nice city walk!

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do you prefer heading out of the city or staying in the limits?

p.s. anyone else wear adidas sambas growing up? or how about umbro shorts outside of a soccer game?!

when it rains. . .

May 1, 2013  ·  15 comments

it pours. you might have noticed some sporadic and impersonal posting lately. there’s good reason for that! in the last 10 days. . .

1. we bought a house (more on that later)
2. nate’s grandfather passed away suddenly
3. impromtu whirlwind trip to philly for funeral arrangements
4. my brother and sister-in-law are moving into their new place
5. my mother was in the emergency room (she’s ok now)
6. i had a job interview
7. home inspection tomorrow (thurs)

i lead a pretty ‘boring’ life most weeks, but this has proven to be much more than i thought i could handle in a matter of a few days. i’m thankful for the support of family and friends and not freaking out even when a surprise visitor decided to show up early (prob from the stress). it’s fun being a woman yes? that said, i am definitely taking some time this weekend to pause, breathe deeply and be thankful.

after the memorial service concluded, we made a pit stop in central pa. this is my mother-in-law’s garden. . . i’ve always admired it before but this time as the sun was getting lower in the sky, i sensed an overwhelming peace. i felt a call to stop and capture the view from my eyes. some people envision a beach or a blue sky when they are trying to bring a calmness to their mind. i hope you can appreciate the love and hard work that went into this garden! i know i sure do!

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workstation inspiration?

April 29, 2013  ·  4 comments

no bones about it, we live in a digital age! as much as i love technology, sometimes there is no replacement for the physical act of scrawling out the ‘to dos.’ i’ll admit that i don’t spend eight hours at my desk (it’s split between the lab bench) but it is still an important part of my day to sit at my desk recollecting data and organize for next experiments.

i don’t know about you, but there is something very engaging about cool desk gear. i swear it motivates me to put the pencil to paper and get my lists written and tasks accomplished! these are on my ‘wish list!’ plus, sometimes i have to do math (my favorite! ::groan::) and a fetching post it note just might make it a tiny bit easier to accomplish.

desktop-collage

pencils//post its//paper weight

what’s on your desk?

rule breaker: caught in the act

April 25, 2013  ·  8 comments

***popping in really quickly to say that we have some really big news to share but a death in the family has taken our attention right now. please keep us in your prayers and thoughts. i’ll see you guys around in a few days! hope you have an incredible weekend!***

this is an old story, but i am interested to hear your thoughts on food photography in restaurants. yay or nay?

guilty as charged.
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this stuff

April 19, 2013  ·  10 comments

we’re nearly there…weekend!!! do you like the mini tweaks on the blog (the header got a facelift and my profile picture has been updated since the old one was from 2011) —->

today i wanted to share a summer sun essential and one of my favorite natural skincare products. wipe away the sweat and shine with green tea wipes! i get perfect skin with this water based bb cream in ‘light.’ it’s so new that i couldn’t find the right product link since it just launched! this is the old color. my skin is super sensitive so i tend to do the ‘less is more’ routine in terms of makeup. i use this in place of an AM moisturizer and provides hydration, spf and skin soothing qualities. the ingredients are amazing! notable players include:

-Abyssine: A naturally-derived survival molecule that shields and soothes skin.
-Beta-Glucan: Provides essential moisture and protects against environmental damage.
-Arbutin: A powerful antioxidant derived from bearberry that helps brighten hyperpigmentation and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
-Titanium Dioxide 7.55%
-Zinc Oxide 0.98%

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what’s your summer skincare tip? any fun plans this weekend? share in the comments!