Category Archives: photoblog

Photoblog

Grapefruit Marges and Other Gifts

I just finished reading a book that multiple friends have been asking me to read for a couple years: The Five Love Languages.

While trying to figure out what my own “love language” is, I’ve been trying to remember what I do to make myself feel loved and cared for (beyond the priorities of sleep, working out, a healthy way of eating and a clean/organized home).

It turns out that my love language is gifts, and I do buy myself gifts when I’m feeling blue, ecstatically happy, celebrating closing a deal or feeling stressed out. And we’re not talking “retail therapy.” I don’t go bonkers on clothes and shoes (though I’d have such a great wardrobe if I did).

No, I either buy myself flowers or take myself out to a special meal or get stuff to make a great dinner and cocktails at home.

Tonight, I made a beehive to the fancy local grocer and picked up some ingredients to make grapefruit margaritas and a bleu cheese, walnut and mushroom tart.

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How do you take care of yourself? Do you have any rituals that are sure to cheer you up or make you happy?

Everything’s Fine. I Just Ate All of These.

These things are never allowed in my house again.

There’s a reason they only come three to a box! I ate them today. I ate them all.*

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I’d like to say that I would not have done that if I weren’t fighting off a cold (ice cream feels good with a sore throat) but that is a lie. When I have things in the house that are way outside what I generally eat, I typically eat them as fast as possible to get them out of my house. Because that’s a normal thing to do.

Just wanted to share.

* I didn’t eat them all at once. I had one for a snack, one for dinner and one a few hours later for dessert. Are you judging me?! I can hear you, you know.

Abundance (Photo Blog)

I have a rare free weekend coming up, and it’s a holiday weekend to boot. I’m still toying with the idea of jetting off to Phoenix for a friend’s huge Valentine’s Day costume party or to Killington to snowboard.

It’s just as likely that I’ll stay in, make desserts from this book and decorate my home for my housewarming party at the end of the month.

I am the worst at getting things up on the walls. This is the first apartment I’ve been in since I got to the city where I truly feel at home and can settle in and breathe. So, it’s time to get some art up.

I have a poster I want matted and framed and some prints I want to order. As a former dancer, I’ve always loved these prints from Bill Brauer.

Where I need help from you is on suggestions for good sites to use for photo printing.

I took the four shots below at a farmers market (one of my favorite things to do), and I’d like to get a couple of them printed and framed. They make me think of abundance and harvesting and generosity. They just make me happy, and I want that feeling of abundance in my home.

What site or store should I use for printing? Which of the shots below do you like best?

French Breakfast Radishes, Evanston Farmer's Market, Illinois

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devoted

I got a tattoo on Friday night. It’s my second one (and my last). I’ve wanted to get this word on my body for over a decade, and I’m still kind of high after going for it.

I only told one person that I was doing it, so most people are just finding out here and now.

My friend John (the one person I told ahead of time) helped me take photos and video. Clink any of the below photos to view the full photoset.

Getting started.

Pleasure & Pain

Finishing touches...

Fresh ink

Finally get to tell a friend!

Showing off my new ink.

A lovely day for a bouquet

I got a bouquet at semi-new florist Root, Stock & Quade on Myrtle Ave.

The flowers are for my hairstylist, Leona and Cynthia, the owner of the salon. I’ve been getting my hair done at Joseph Tyler Salon (also on Myrtle) since I moved to the neighborhood nearly three years ago.

They take fantastic care of me and my multultural mop of hair, so I wanted to just give them a reason to smile. Flowers always do that.