My 30 by 30

I have been a bit depressed about this birthday, so I decided to make it interesting with a little to do list.

5 Classic Movies to see:

1. Casablanca

2. Breakfast at Tiffany's

3. Gone with the Wind

4. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

5. The Great Gatsby

6. Host a dinner party

7. Go sailing (Sunset cruise...)

8. Hike a Mountain

9. Create a piece of art to hang in my house

10. Create an inspirational work place - not just on the couch

11. Refurbish a piece of furniture

12. Go to a play

13. Create a signature cooking dish

14. Go sea kayaking

15. Read a classic novel (Pride & Prejudice....not sure which one yet)

16. Take a road trip

17. Go camping

18. Go to a yoga class

5 Movies I probably should have already seen

19. Dumb & Dumber

20. Cape Fear

21. Donnie Brasco

22. (NEED Suggestions)

23.

24. Make a piece of furniture (probably to be thrown out)

25. Go to Narrow River Arts to see some live music

26. Complete 75 and Sunny

27. Take Lou to a dog park and not have a heart attack

28. Head up north for an outdoor adventure weekend

29. Get an exciting internship

30. Learn to love 29

Image

Perfection

2009 Sucked A**

I wish I had thought of this. I just didn't have the time or spirit to send out Christmas cards this year, but these would have been the ones I would have gladly sent out.

Found Here

"you know you're in love when you can't fall asleep

because reality is finally better than your dreams"

dr. seuss

Happy Friday

Click HERE to see my Illustrator final project.

Today is a day for celebration! This semester will be over at 2!

It's Done, It's Finally Done

Click HERE to see my Web Animation final project.

There's a Light at the End of the Tunnel

This is the last week of this semester. It has been a tough one. I have finished the bulk of my final projects and will post them soon. I cannot wait for Friday. Maybe then I will be ready to get into the Christmas mood.

And next semester I get to look forward to a second photography class....only four more days!

Hotel Envy

Seriously impressed with this vacation...I could take the cold weather to soak in natural hot springs.

Wishful Summer Thinking

I have always wanted to go to Martha's Vineyard, but just can't seem to make it there. When I do, I will surely use this guide.

Something must be wrong with me. When I hear Christmas music all day long, I want to vomit. I feel bad that I don't have the spirit for it, but I feel even worse for my ears.

Don't let today's disappointments cast a shadow on tomorrow's dreams.
-unknown

All I want for Christmas..

I once asked for Claire Huxtable pajamas for Christmas.

My sister once asked for a dentist mask for Christmas.

What's the funniest thing you asked for?

Aquidneck Island

52 Weeks on Aquidneck Island

(through a camera lens)

Dear Gray Hairs,

I am NOT ready for you!

Thanks!

Yes, Please!

Portable fireplace!

via here

Gluttoneous Post

Maple Walnut Apple Crisp

1/3 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar
1/3 Cup Oats
1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 Cup Chilled Butter, cut into small pieces
3 Tablespoons Walnuts (or Pecans)
7 Cups Sliced Peeled Rome Apples (roughly 3 pounds)
1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, oats, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a medium bowl, cut in butter until mix is crumbly. Stir in walnuts.

Combine apples and remaining ingredients in a large bowl; toss well. Spoon apple mixture into an 8-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with crum mixture. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

Happy Thanksgiving

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Thanksgiving is America's national chow-down feast, the one occasion each year when gluttony becomes a patriotic duty.

~Michael Dresser

Forever on Thanksgiving Day

The heart will find the pathway home.

~Wilbur D. Nesbit

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving reminds me of my Grandmother's apple pie. So good. I think I need to practice so that mine is as good.

Book Cover

Click HERE to see a book cover design

Animation

Click HERE to see my animation finally....

I am still trying unsuccessfully to upload a video of some animation that I have done. For all this trouble, it really is just a simple and not very impressive movie.

adventure is an invitation for common people to become uncommon.

~snowriders

Stumped

How cool are these side tables....Would be awesome for a deck.

Maybe I could try to make them...
Found here.

Home

I am heading home this weekend. Even though I haven't lived there for 10 years (wow, that's a long time!), I still get that feeling I always have. There is just something about that feeling about heading home that brings comfort. Maybe it is knowing your family is a stones throw, instead of 3 hours away. The fall and winter seem to require that feeling of home.

Character Drawing

Here is my character for my Digital Illustration class. All dram in Illustrator. It had to be a side profile, because we will be using this character in my Web Animation class to animate to a song. Yikes! I am in for some serious work.

Gluttonous Post

I need to come up with a better way of organizing recipes, so in the meantime I am going to use this blog. I will only post yummy recipes, so if you want to steal them go right ahead.


Gluten Free Cheesecake with Nut Crust Supreme

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2 cups Gluten Free Baking Mix
½ cup dark brown sugar
2/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces1 cup
finely chopped pecans
Spray cheesecake pan lightly with vegetable oil spray

The Crust
In a medium bowl stir together the flour mix and brown sugar. Cut in the butter until fine crumbs form. Stir in the nuts and pat into your pan. The crust will be “crumbly” but will hold together once pressed into the pan.

The Filling
4 – 8 oz bars of gluten free cream cheese, softened
1 cup of granulated sugar
2 eggs
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon gluten free vanilla

Mix all of the ingredients with a beater until smooth and pour into the unbaked crust. Place in preheated oven for 30 minutes.While that is baking, prepare the topping.

The Topping
2 cups gluten free sour cream
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon of gluten free almond extract (Maybe less depending on how Almondy you want it)
Juice from ½ a lemon

Mix the topping ingredients in a bowl. After the first 30 minutes of baking, remove the cheesecake and spoon the topping onto the cheesecake. Be careful not to overfill the pan. Return the cheesecake to the oven and bake for an additional 10-20 minutes. You may want to place a piece of foil under the cheesecake just to catch any drippings. Cooking times can vary dramatically depending upon the amount of topping you choose to use. Watch to see when it starts to solidify but don’t let it stay in so long that the crust begins to burn.

Wooowww

Hi.

Two months from today I turn 29.

Yup you read right, 29.

I better start preparing.

Birthdays generally don't scare me.

I actually love them.

This seems like a BIG one.

How did this happen?

DIY

Remember this project?

I saw this and it reminded me of it.

So I think I am going to make a calendar of my own.

Project spotted found here.

Happy Halloween

I kinda think he looks like ET...

New England

It's time like these that makes me love New England.

Dogs are not our whole life,

but they make our lives whole.

~Roger Caras

Doesn't this picture look kind of fake?

Rain

When I was little, I used to get excited for a rainy day so I could wear my rain jacket with the matching umbrella. It was red and blue with bears on it. I was a weird kid. Now it is a struggle to get out of bed when it is dark, cold, and raining.

Touron (Tourist + Moron)

Awesome list for visiting Newport or springing some ideas to play tourist for a day.

Poughkeepsie in my Pants

Carrie Bradshaw: What makes you think something bad is gonna happen?
Charlotte York: Because! Nobody gets everything they want! Look at you, look at Miranda. You're good people and you two both got shafted. I'm so happy and... something bad is going to happen.
Carrie Bradshaw: Charlotte... you pooped in your pants in Mexico.

Maybe there is hope that my bad luck is over.

I am Murphy's Law

If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

Murphy's Law

Seems to be the theme of 2009 for me.

Happy Friday

Lou enjoying Friday early!

Fall Love

I love apple cider. It is my favorite. It's one of my favorite things about fall. I am hoping to make it here this weekend. I am either getting old...excuse me more mature :)...or digressing back to my youth. Anyways I am excited! Warm apple cider freshly made. Yum!

Blossom Fruit

Click HERE to see some fruit labels that I designed for my Digital Illustrator class.

I am learning web animation and am trying to post something I did in class, but cannot figure out the problem....ugh!

You Can't Hold Down Angels

"There are people who tell me I've helped him. Mental health experts who say that the simple act of being someone's friend can change his brain chemistry, improve his functioning in the world. I can't speak for Mr. Ayers in that regard. Maybe our friendship has helped him, but maybe not. I can, however, speak for myself. I can tell you that by witnessing Mr. Ayers's courage, his humility, his faith in the power of his art, I've learned the dignity of being loyal to something you believe in. Of holding onto it, above all else. Of believing, without question, that it will carry you home. "

from the movie The Soloist

Bean Town

BOSTON Tourism

Stewie Love

Check out some of my fun homework.

Where the Wild Things Are

Oh, I used to looovvveee this book.

I am excited to see the movie and hope that it doesn't disappoint.

Strange Fits of Passion Have I Known

Strange fits of passion have I known:

And I will dare to tell,

But in the lover's ear alone,

What once to me befell.

When she I loved looked every day

Fresh as a rose in June,

I to her cottage bent my way,

Beneath an evening moon.

Upon the moon I fixed my eye,

All over the wide lea;

With quickening pace my horse drew nigh

Those paths so dear to me.

And now we reached the orchard-plot;

And, as we climbed the hill,

The sinking moon to Lucy's cot

Came nearer, and nearer still.

In one of those sweet dreams I slept,

Kind Nature's gentlest boon!

And all the while my eye I kept

On the descending moon.

My horse moved on; hoof on hoof

He raised, and never stopped:

When down behind the cottage roof,

At once the bright moon dropped.

What fond and wayward thoughts will slide

Into a lover's head!

"O mercy!" to myself I cried,
"If Lucy should be dead!"

William Wordsworth

Strange Fits of Passion Have I Known

Fall

"I saw old Autumn in the misty morn

Stand shadowless like silence,

listening to silence, for no lonely bird would sing

Into his hollow ear from woods forlorn,

Nor lowly hedge nor solitary thorn;

-- Shaking his languid locks all dewy bright

With tangled gossamer that fell by night,

Pearling his coronet of golden corn. "

~ Thomas Hood

Understand, I'll slip quietly
Away from the noisy crowd
When I see the pale
Stars rising, blooming over the oaks
I'll pursue solitary pathways
Through the pale twilit meadows,
With only this one dream:
You come too.

Rainer Maria Rilke, "First Poems"

Columbus

It has been a crazy week of mixed emotions. Some highs and some lows. It has been exhausting, so I am looking forward for an extra off. I did start a whole new round of classes this week and call me a dork, but I love them already. I am taking web animation, digital illustration, and XHTML (haven't had that one yet and it sounds like the least interesting). So what projects are on the horizon? I get to design some fruit labels, draw Stewie from the Family Guy, and create, create, create! Have a happy weekend!

Lou vs. Me

Some people say that dogs are like having children. Well, I am hoping that if/when I do have kids they don't eat sticks of butter, loaves of bread, and insulated lunch bags. I will say, it is a test of my patience, which I was always told growing up, "Patience is a virtue."

I know some times I am overly emotional.
I may cry too much.
I can worry too much.
And in the end, I usually see it wasn't worth it.
So why all the fuss?
I don't know.
I ask myself the same thing.
I do know that I am trying to be better.
I am trying to breathe when it gets difficult.
Move forward when I keep wanting to look back.
Think things through when I jump right into over react.
I am learning that the bumps along the way are necessary.
That when I land on solid ground, my feet are more firmly planted.
And through this I am thankful for your patience.

Treat every stressful situation like a dog.

Pee on it and walk away.

Image

Next week I start classes again. A new semester, a new start. I also have a tough day on Tuesday. I'm nervous and know I shouldn't be, so I am making chocolate cookies and cleaning like a mad woman. I better figure out something to keep me busy this weekend or I will have a pile of baked good in a sparkling clean kitchen. I can't seem to sit still.

Hmmmm

I don't know if it because I am preparing for the winter and staying inside or that I really just don't know what to do with myself during this week I have off of school or that I am just plain crazy and like to plan things, to do things, but I am trying to figure out a long-term project to occupy me. Should I start a cooking challenge with myself? No, I will eat myself stupid. Should I try to make wine again? It might make me nostalgic. Should I try beer instead? Maybe, but I don't drink beer much. Should I try refinishing some furniture? I have no where to put said furniture. What should I do?

A friend sent this to me and it brightened my day, so I think it is worthy of a post....

"For what it’s worth, it’s never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit... start whenever you want... you can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that stop you. I hope you feel things that you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life that you’re proud of and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."
-Benjamin Button

If you surrender to the wind, you can ride it.

~Toni Morrison

One Year Ago

Some times it is healthy to look back, to reflect on what's past, to analyze your growth, to know you are moving ahead.

One year ago, I was working in a job I hated, for a boss I despised. I wasn't sleeping because this job, this boss, was causing such anxiety. I knew I had to make a change. I wasn't happy. It felt almost like I was drowning in an unhappy life that I had no clue how to fix. I knew I needed to make small steps to change this, but I was exhausted, I was confused, I felt like a failure. And then became a quest on how to change, how to navigate back from this dead end. All I knew is that was the direction I needed to be heading, away from this job, this boss.

When I look back, I realize that you never really know how strong you are until you take stock of where you have been, what you have been through, and how in the end you are ultimately responsible for where you want to be. As I do this, I realize I don't feel is if I am drowning any more.

One Year Ahead

One year from today I will be finishing my degree. Where is time going? It is flying by and I am actually enjoying it. It is a little scary to think that I will be faced with that question that epitomizes adulthood, what's next? Where do I go from here? I feel better equipped even one year out then I ever have. I am excited for that next chapter for whatever path I choose to take, but in the meantime, I will enjoy this journey I am on right now.

Jamestown

This just doesn't look or feel like it should Rhode Island. I think that's what I love about RI.

And this is what he does when I leave for work....

Off to a Bad Start

You know when things just start going wrong as soon as you step one foot out of bed?

Today is one of those days. I wanted to post pictures that I found last night of Jamestown, but I forgot my jump drive at home after being a half hour late to work because of 2 traffic jams caused by 2 different multi-car pile-ups, then almost running out of gas and getting lost after taking an exit I have never been off of. What's next?

Guilt

This morning while I was getting ready for work, Lou got in my bed under the covers and sulked the entire time. Now I just feel guilty. He knows how to get his way and prove a point. I wish I had a picture to show you what I mean.

The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had.

~Author Unknown

Happy Birthday Miss Amanda!!

Can't wait to celebrate!

Rhode Tripp'n

My little website...Rhode Tripp'n RI

And Today it's Fall

It is chilly, the grass is dewy, and the air smells crisp. Time to pack up the sundresses and bring out the boots and sweaters.

It's fall.

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must sit still and watch the leaves turn."

~ Elizabeth Lawrence

Sir Lou Dog

The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.

~ Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912

Daydreaming

Today I wish I wandering the streets of some strange European town, getting lost, stopping at cafes, with no particular plans for the day. Maybe because Tuesdays are such a long day and I ready for a break.

Let'er Buck

The gates...
The boot flask...

The bathroom studs...

The bar...

The Queen...

In honor of my favorite Oregon family...Hope you all have the best time this week at Round-Up. Wish I could be there to take a sip of whiskey from the boot flask, watch the Court enter, and catch the wildness in the Let'er Buck Room, but mostly I wish I be there with great friends.

Remember

If you are looking for a good book to read, pick up Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. Its about September 11th and it has an amazing message. This post was is my favorite quote from the book. It is one of those events that seem to effect everyone, but must not be forgotten that it should change us all.

A Cup of Obsession

So I have been reading the blog A Cup of Joe obsessively this past week. Guest bloggers are writing in with their secrets to a happy marriage. It is very interesting reading what people have to share in regards to a happy marriage and much like making a happy list, which I did a while ago, I think it helps to focus on the positive aspects of a relationship. When things get bumpy, that positivity can make all the difference.

It has also got me thinking about what a happy relationship means to me and the secrets that I have to share. I must also add that I still have soooo much to learn, so this is my secret list in progress.

Do it with your best friend

That way you can be confident in sharing all the details with them. From a bad day to a great achievement to a monstrous trip and fall in front of a restaurant full of strangers. If you can share it with a best friend, it is that much better.

Listen, Learn, and Laugh

Be willing to listen and learn from each other. While learning from each other, you need to be able to laugh with each other. For example, when I am golfing and miss the ball 5 times in a row, laugh with me and at me, don't get annoyed.

Explore

Go on as many adventures as you can, both planned and unplanned, as often as possible. I love seeing the world through someone else's eyes. You see twice as much.

Do something nice

Once a day, so something nice for each other. Make dinner, send a text message unexpected, offer to give them a massage...

This is also in honor of my parent's upcoming 39th wedding anniversary. One major thing about their relationship that always comes to mind is their nightly talks in bed. They always would talk about the day and what lie ahead, so communication would the most important secret I learned from them. Happy Anniversary M & D!

I must note that I am forever learning what I value and appreciate in relationships, but the more confident I have become in myself the easier it seems to be.

image via

Fall To-Do List

So it is the beginning of a new season, which means a new list of things to do.

1. Scenic road trip through Vermont

2. Apple picking, then apple pie baking

3. Carve a pumpkin

4. Hike at least 2 new trails with Lou Dog

5. Check out a museum or Freedom Trail in Boston

6. Make homemade soup

7. Go to a farmer's market

8. Go horseback riding

9. Teach Lou Dog a trick

10. Spend some time with my family

It's weird looking at the difference between the summer and fall lists. Summer seems to be so active and you can feel yourself slowing down for the fall. What are your plans?

image via drurydrama (Len Radin's) flickr

Meet Luther

Meet Luther (I know the name is iffy),

or "Lou Dog" as I am trying to get him to answer to.

He's my new roommate.

Sometimes you just need to spoil yourself

When you just want to feel special...go on a helicopter ride with a friend!

the BIGGEST lession I have learned

The biggest lesson I have learned this year is that it does not pay to take a job just to get out of another one. I should have followed my gut when interviewing for my last company that the job would seriously not be something that would make me happy. Trust is the ultimate foundation for any relationship, especially one that you spend 40 hours a week at. I try not to regret things. Instead, I think it is important to learn from experiences. I can say that although I wish I didn't work for that company and that even after ten months of not working for them; I am still dealing with the crap, I have learned the most about what I don't want in terms of employment EVER again. I can only hope that one day when I am successful, the owner will either see work of mine, read an article about me, or run into me and see what a schmuck he is and how AMAZING I am. It would be the ultimate revenge. That is now #278 on my bucket list (kidding).

Uncle Jim

James Taylor Concert is already added to next years summer "to-do list."