Dear Little Me,

If time travel were possible, here are 10 things I wish I could tell you.

1) Your love for the beach will never subside. Your love for your blanket, Napooh, however will.

2) You and your sister WILL get along someday--even though she stole your Barbie and all of your clothes.

3) You'll always love french fries more than hamburgers. And you'll still despise tomato soup. Don't listen to Mom when she tells you have to eat them.

4) You'll never be neat, despite your good intentions.

5) You'll major in American History and not use a drop of it in your "professional" life.

6) You'll meet some of your best friends in college, and you'll continue to be friends with them for--evah.

7) The people in High School don't really matter, so don't worry about "impressing" them.

8) Friday night sleepovers at Mama and Poppy's will forever be some of your favorite childhood memories, so enjoy them!!!

9) On July 11, 2005 you'll meet a very special man, who will become your rock--the anchor in your life. Be sure to dress nicely that day.

10) You're more athletic than you think, don't be afraid to get out there and try things! 

...And It Hasn't Started Raining Yet.

I'm a little nervous.

San Francisco: Alcatraz Part II Inside

The actual prison on Alcatraz Island was as creepy as it was intriguing. Perhaps because I've never actually been to prison, I couldn't help imagining what the place would have been like when it was in its prime. With inmates in every cell and officers patrolling 24 hours a day. The cells themselves were extremely depressing, a single bed, toilet, chair and desk was all the inmates had. I couldn't imagine what it would have been like to actually live there but at the same time I was intrigued by the  history that came with the facility. Did you know that someone dug themselves out using only a spoon? Or that the officers didn't carry guns around the cell block for fear that one of the prisoners would steal them? See, these are some of the fun facts I learned on my audio tour! I would go back to this place in a heart beat. So interesting and so strangely beautiful.

The exercise area

The library

The kitchen--they painted the knife outlines so that they could easily see if one was missing

Did You Know

....that I hate ketchup

…and raw tomatoes too

…that I’ve been with my boyfriend for 7 years

…and that I’m pretty proud of that

…that my sister is my bestie

…and most people think we’re twins

…that I’m SUPER excited for it to be Friday

…and that I’m going to see Louis CK tomorrow

…that coffee is my favorite beverage

…and that beer and water are close runner-ups

…that I love waking up early

….but hate setting my alarm

Damn You Diana

I brought my Diana Mini with me to San Francisco and only got one decent shot out of the entire damn roll. I'm not sure why she's so finicky. I thought I was doing everything right, I guess not. Thankfully, the only surviving picture is a pretty awesome shot of the Bay Bridge, otherwise heads would roll.

Questions The Harry Potter Series Forces Me To Ask

So, anyone who really knows me, knows that I heart the Harry Potter series hardcore. I love they way that it takes me to another world, to a place where almost anything is possible & nothing resembles my day-to-day life. But the more often I re-read the series, the more questions it provokes. I mean, how different would your life be if you were a witch or wizard, I mean THINK about. It would change the way you approach everything.

For example, where would you live if you could disapparate (for you non-HP nerds, it means that you can vanish at a moments notice)? I mean, you wouldn't have to worry about long commutes. Or visiting family. Or anything of the sort. You could just POP in and out of places. It would totally change where you'd live. You could work in a major city but live in a rural town. I'm still wondering where I'd choose to live myself. Probably on a little beach in Rhode Island.

Second burning question, do you think couples would use polyjuice potion (a potion that can change you into somebody else) to spice up their sex lives? Think about how easy it would be, your relationship hits a lull, and you decide you fancy the guy down the street, so you grab some of his hairs and BOOM spiced up sex life. Do you think the divorce rate would increase or decrease? I'm curious.

Do you think you would be more adventurous or daring if you knew that you could be cured from pretty much everything? I mean, hair would grow back, bones could be mended, etc, etc. Would you be more daring with your haircuts if you knew that you wouldn't have that horrid grow-out-period? Would you try more action sports?

Do you think you'd be a neater person if you only had to flick your wrist to do chores? I know one of my least favorite thing is cleaning, but I wonder if I'd be neater if a clean house was a mere wrist flick away. Hmmmm....

These are the kind of questions that the Harry Potter series provokes. I'm still wondering what the answers would be...but until magic becomes real, I'll just never know.

XO.

San Francisco: Alcatraz Part I Outside

Last week I went on business trip to San Francisco & lucky enough for me, I was able to squeeze in some touristy stuff in between my work responsibilities. One of my little excursions landed me on Alcatraz Island.  The morning I went, the infamous San Francisco fog was in full effect, and the 12-mile island was cast into a gloomy, murky, light which only made the place more eerie.  I was able to take some pictures when I was there and have to say that they don't do the place justice. If you're ever in the area, you must go. It's a once-in-a-lifetime place.

What I think I loved most, was the strange beauty all of the green moss added to every surface. Part of the reason why the facility was closed was due to the up-keep costs and I could only imagine how costly it would have been to keep that beautiful moss from growing.

Best Quote

"if you don't give me a dollar, I'll vote for Mitt Romney" - some dude in San Francisco

A Saturday In Southport

One of my favorite places on earth is Southport, CT. It sits right on the water and is filled to the brim with stately homes, slate sidewalks, and beautiful sail boats. Sometimes when I want a change of scenery, I'll head down to this little park that looks out onto the moored boats and just take it alllll in. I mean, look at it...it's absolutely beautiful. 

And I'm Off

to San Francisco for business. I'm pretty excited!

Image via

Guess What's Awesome

Walking out of the pharmacy and seeing THIS. 

This was one of those moments when you stop and think sometimes life is funny. NEY, sometimes life is laughoutloud hilarious. 

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Mums The Word

Dontcha just love mums this time of year?

I know I do.

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Coconut Red Lentil Soup For Cozy Nights

My love for soups and stews runs deep in my veins. Nothing appeals more to me than making a good soup & eating it on a cold, snowy day. Although snow is no where to be seen, I still managed to make one of my favorite vegetarian soups this week.

This coconut lentil soup will make your home smell edible and could easily feed 6 people without breaking a sweat which makes it perfect for entertaining. PLUS it calls for curry powder, and anything that calls for curry powder is a cut above the rest in my book. 

Here's what you need:

1c. dried red lentils RINSED

1c. dried split peas RINSED

6 1/2c. water

1c. chopped carrots

3 TB minced fresh ginger

3 TB toasted curry powder

3 TB butter

8 green onions sliced

1/2c golden raisins*

6oz tomato paste

1 14oz can coconut milk

cilantro/cayenne pepper/ green onions for garnish

salt and pepper to taste 

2c. cooked plain quinoa 

What you do:

Add lentils, split peas and water to large pot and bring to boil.

Once water is boiling, add carrots and 1/2 of ginger and reduce to simmer for 20 minutes.

In saucepan, toast curry powder until fragrant--YOU NEED TO STIR CONSTANTLY OR IT WILL BURN. Put aside and move on.

Melt butter over medium heat, add green onions and remaining ginger.  Let them cook for 2-3 minutes. 

Add golden raisins to butter mixture and cook for 1-2 minutes.

Then add tomato paste and curry powder and stir to mix together.

Add tomato paste/butter/ginger/deliciousness and coconut milk to lentils/split peas. I normally like my "soup" on the thicker side, so I let it simmer away for about 25-30 minutes from this point.

I always serve it over rice or quinoa, and always add cilantro, green onions and cayenne pepper as toppings! 

It's truly scrumptious and easy to make, which in my mind is a WIN-WIN scenario.

Enjoy!

*when I first made this recipe I seriously thought about omitting the raisins, but trust me on this, they add a pop of flavor and don't overpower this soup! So add away!

Beauty In The City

Not last Sunday, but the one before, Ryan and I headed into the city for a little adventure. Amongst other things, we brunched, walked extreme distances (we're talking 8 miles here) and frolicked on The High Line. The view was outrageous! So many things to be seen and windows to be peered into. I found this artistic gem during our day and have to say that the psychedelic colors rocked my world. More pictures to come...

 

An Addiction

So the other night my boyfriend made the huge mistake of singing NKOTB's Step-by-Step, and I have to say, I've been singing it for the last, umm, 5 days straight.

And when I say that I've been singing it for the last 5 days straight, I really mean it. I've been singing my conversations, naturally to the beat of Step-by-Step, doing my side-by-side dance moves and generally acting like a 12 year old, which I'm sure is super awesome for those around me.

SIDE NOTE: when I was younger I had a kissthepicturehangingonmywalleverynight crush on Joey McIntyre . Now isn't that special?!?

xo.

Guess What...

Ranunculus are beautiful.

Unwritten Words

I'm the type of person that always has a journal or day planner on hand. Despite my iPhone addiction, I just can't get over my love for day planners. It goes back to my college days when I would write down EVERY SINGLE THING I did, right down to what I ate (I'm not kidding). One of my favorite activities is looking through planners-past and seeing what I was up to. Another special treat is finding to-do lists, or grocery lists, or....unfinished love letters? I found love letter to my [current] boyfriend while looking through my 2009 planner:

There is an undoubted wonder that surrounds us when we're together, wrapped in each others arms. A wonder about what ridiculous statement will come out of my mouth. A wonder if you'll laugh. A wonder that locks our eyes in a crowded room. This wonder anchors us together like the moon and earth; love's gravitational pull is our unconscious movement towards one another. One without the other would be...

I was really onto something there...

Does anyone else like going through journals/day planners/ etc and reminiscing about your old life? It undoubtedly brings a smile to my face and, in this case, reminds me of how I really should finish love letters when I start them.

A Trip Cross Country

This past summer, I drove cross country with my friend Sara (who was moving to LA). We drove through 12 states (CT, NY, NJ, PA, OH, IN, IL, MO, OK, NM, AZ and CA). It took us 5 days, which is pretty insane if you really think about it. I would totally do it again if I had more time to really enjoy each town I stopped in. We only had 12 hrs in each place, and when you subtract our 8 hours of much needed sleep, so we really only had about 4 hours in each place...which was a little bit stressful. But all in all, I'm glad that I got to go on this adventure, I'm glad I got to see a bit more of this country I call home. Every town we stopped in, I stopped and thought "this is someones hometown, this is where their heart is" and that thought humbled me. There are so many people in this country, it's amazing to think about.

Well, here are SOME of my favorite photos from the adventure. Some are from my SLR and some are from my Diana Mini.

LA!

Venice Beach Eatery

Surfs Up! LA, CA

St. Louis Arch

The Arch

We saw this for literally 48 hrs straight. There is a lot of open land in the USA (oh and there are a lot of cows too!)

Santa Fe town square

Santa Fe

More Santa Fe, I really loved it there

The GRAND Canyon!!