Posts from — October 2011

You know I don’t particularly love Halloween, but I felt somewhat obligated to at least honor the spooky day. Even though orange was never, and will never be for me.

Photos found on Pinterest here, here, and here.

Who dressed up this weekend? Tell me what you wore!

Rise and shine, sweet peas. It’s time to face the real world again. I can’t believe that it’s already Monday, that I’m back in Boston, and that it’s time for work. I had such an emotionally fueled weekend. One filled with sorrow, and grief, after a dear family friend lost her courageous battle with cancer. Her passing, in a way unlike any other, reminds me that life is so, so fragile, and that for all of us, our days are limited.

With her constantly on my mind, I surrounded myself with family and friends. I said no thank you to Halloween and instead went downtown with mum and dad on Friday. We walked through the cobblestone streets of Portland, shared a cheese plate and bottle of wine, and enjoyed a yummy dinner at Vignola. Saturday morning meant the normal breakfast routine, during which I was wildly entertained by my parents try to figure out their smartphones. I shopped with my mum, had lunch with two girlfriends, and baked cupcakes that filled the house with scents of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg.

When the snow finally started to fall that afternoon, I bundled up and visited with my best friend and her fiance. The boyfriend and I joined them for a long dinner in the town just north of us. We sat in an old wooden booth near the front window, watching the unseasonable snow accumulate quickly on the road. We shared wine, a delicious dinner, memories from when we were 5 years old, details of upcoming weddings.  Hours of laughter and a warm feeling in my heart.

Sunday was snowy. I wore my longjohns and wool sweater all day. Sipped pumpkin coffee for hours on the couch. I taught myself to crochet, nibbled on my most incredible cupcakes (recipe to follow) and found myself smiling as the snow storm retreated to bright blue skies and sun.

I can’t quite describe what my mood was this weekend, but I’m glad I spent it bundled up in a snow storm, cozy with friends and family. I guess at the end of the day, there’s not much more I could ask for…

I had so much fun making chocolate chip banana muffins last week, that I decided to make another batch of little bite sized deliciousness. This time, I went for cinnamon blueberry muffins. To quote my favorite movie of all time: “beautiful muffin for a beaaautiful lady!”

Nom, nom, nom. Now get in my tummy!

Good morning, sweetpeas! It’s Halloween weekend, and while most of my twenty-something friends are eager to dress up and black out, you can probably already guess that I’m not. I don’t particularly love events like Halloween and New Years, which often require more time and energy in the planning than it’s worth. I’m especially unfond of Halloween because I hate dressing up. The past few Halloweens I was a good sport, and even enjoyed myself (would you look at that).

But this year I’m just not having it, so I’m spending the weekend with my family and some similarly minded friends. Family time is extra special to me right now, considering the past few weeks have been emotionally tolling, and just devastating. A dear family friend is losing her battle to cancer, and as one of my sister’s classmates, she’s just far too young. Our families grew up incredibly close. We lived within walking distance, took family vacations together, spent countless days at the pool. Our parents are still best friends and the memories that our families share are just so meaningful at a time like this.  So as my heart breaks, knowing the pain that her parents, brother and husband are experiencing, I don’t feel much like dressing up and going out. I want to feel cozy and comforted by the company of my family and friends.

I can’t wait to get breakfast with my parents this morning, bake these scrumptious looking pumpkin and cream cheese cupcakes with my mom, and have a triple dinner date with my two best girlfriends and their boyfriends tonight.

With that said, I can only expect that most of you are enjoying your Halloween weekend, correct? So tell me, what are you dressing up as this year?

This season I’m a huge fan of navy blue. Similarly fond of marigolds and goldenrods. Light grays also top my list of favorite colors this fall, so seriously, this picture just jumped out at me. Plus, pancakes? Blueberries? Fresh fruit and hand squeezed orange juice? Please, I’m sold.

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of meeting with an incredibly talented (and equally busy) business woman.  She’s an entrepreneur. She started her own companies. She’s a mother of two, stays active in the local non-profit scene, and her two companies are wildly successful.  Her full service print and web studio works with its clients on everything from branding, naming, logos, to website development, email, SEO to collateral, direct mail, posters to web strategy, social strategy, communication plans.  Her publishing company (which, by the way, prints one of my absolute, favorite magazines in the world) prints magazines, guides, booklets.

So anyways, she’s amazing. She’s brilliant, and sharp, and inspiring. And a family friend arranged for me to meet with her. If you remember my post about my career dreams, you may have already realized that this woman is living my dream. Tenfold. So we spent a couple hours getting to know each other. I shared with her my goals, my interests, my strengths. My fears about leaving a ‘typical’ job to try something creative. She knew my forever dream was to work for a magazine, so she introduced me to her publishing team. I watched as her art director played with different layout options for a bridal magazine spread. She laid out different cover options for the upcoming issue and let me take a look. She showed me a sneak peak of different wedding spreads.

I saw walls pinned with clippings, floors covered with photos. I was in heaven.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to have met casually with someone in the field of my dreams. It took off the pressure of an ‘interview’ and gave me the chance to learn more about magazine publishing and design. She encouraged me to keep learning, to keep meeting with folks who are doing what they love, and what I love. She encouraged me to give my time to people in exchange for experiencing a field hands on.

The meeting was exactly what I needed. She gave me insight, understanding and advice. A tour, a masthead, and the courage to maybe one day, take a dare on the job of my dreams.

Colors are quite similar to yesterday, I suppose I may be in a certain mood.

Photo found on Flickr

I came across this quote on tumblr today. The quote refers to someone in the past tense, but with our morning coffee routine, and our new life together, I just couldn’t help but think of us. Even though I steal the covers at night, and forget to put away my nail polish. Even though you don’t share your hash browns, and you sit on the couch in your sweaty gym clothes, I love you so, my dear.

“He was my cream, and I was his coffee. And when you poured us together, it was something.” – Josephine Baker

Brilliant work space for two and company. Plus, you know I’m a sucker for upholstered chairs.

Photo found on Houzz.

Meet my massive, gorgeous, made of stone neighbor. I love waking up to the sun rising from behind the church, and saying my good nights to the dimly lit structure. When the fog rolls in, I feel like I’m living in a Halloween movie, and on Sundays I watch families come and go, children playing on the grass lawn. The best part is the beautiful sound of the Sunday bell tower.

Sure beats living above a loud, college bar like I did for the past two years.