Life List

I've seen a lot of people with bucket or "life" lists, so I decided to start my own! It's starting out slow...but I'll continue to add things as I think of them. I'm not setting myself any time limit (30 things before I turn 30, for example - I don't think I have a hope of accomplishing that at this point), just things I hope to achieve someday in my life!

(Note: I'm including things on the list that have already been accomplished.)

1. Visit Museum of Modern Art
2. Visit a Californian Winery
3. Go to England + Visit British Family (Summer 1998 [I think] + Summer 2006)
4. Go to Europe (Italy, Greece, France, Spain...)
5. Get married! (August 20, 2010)
6. Visit New York City 
7. Go to Disney World! (April 2009 post here, May 2010 [wait - is that right? was it May?] posts here, here, here and here.)
8. Have kids!
9. Buy a *new* car (December 2010)
10. Be on TV (Summer 2009 Extreme Home Makeover! post here)

Do you have a bucket list? Do you have a list of things you hope to accomplish within a certain time frame? If you have a life list - leave me a comment with a link to your list, I'd love to check it out and get more ideas!!

fabric friday: 07-29-11: Arc|Com NeoCon Showroom

Arc|Com is one of my favorite fabric vendors to use at work. They recently posted some pictures of their showroom in Chicago for NeoCon on their Facebook page. Just wanted to share the goodness!

I love how they displayed the fabrics!

Beautiful fabrics!

View from outside the showroom.

Love this!

Beautiful fabrics and beautiful showroom, as always! Wish I could have attended the show, but thanks to Arc|Com for sharing pictures of the space!!


Pictures from Arc|Com: Shutterfly

Honey Mustard Balsamic Vinaigrette

I know I've posted my love for Apple Crunch Salad back in April, and though my own version was delicious, I didn't think the dressing I created really made this salad the best it can be.

I searched and searched and came upon this Honey Mustard Balsamic Vinaigrette at chaos in the kitchen.  Everything she posts looks delicious and the ingredients sounded like the perfect combination for this salad.

Total. Winner. This dressing puts this salad over the top amazing. I love it. It ended up being a mess for me to create (I really need a salad-dressing-vinaigrette-appropriate-bottle-thing) as I somehow sprayed balsamicy oil all over myself and our kitchen when making it, but, it was worth it.

I've also starting using straight spinach in an attempt to recreate the deliciousness found at Jerome Bettis Grille in Pittsburgh last month, as well as using Gorgonzola instead of bleu cheese, and I really like the difference that is made. I use regular pecans - candied are delicious, but I'm attempting to "watch what I eat" (hence the spinach). Oh, and I always use a whole apple for myself and for lunch I eat it w/o any meat, though you could add chicken if you want to make a full dinner out of it.

I suggest you check out this dressing if you're looking for something new and slightly sweet! I think the addition of the shallots and mustard really makes this dressing special! (and the honey, too, I guess!)

weekend update: July 22-24, 2011

This weekend wasn't very exciting though it was fun for me!

A church in our area held it's first annual volleyball tournament on two sand courts on their church property, so that's what I did with Staci and some other friends Saturday morning. It was hot and good times, but I sure was sore and tired the next day.

Also that evening I assisted my sister in a wedding at Peek N' Peak Resort where it was HOT as all get out, but an absolutely gorgeous wedding. The bridal party was super fun, looked amazing, their flowers were gorgeous and the reception was beautiful.

Exhausting Saturdays result in laid-back Sundays with Josh, though we visited my parents for a few hours which was fun and ate s'mores made with marshmallows toasted over our gas stove.

Here's a favorite pic from the wedding:

Check Rachel's BLOG or FACEBOOK for more pictures later this week.

This upcoming weekend Josh & I have a wedding reception (Friday night) then Saturday & Sunday we're spending the day (Josh is coming up later than night with Katie's hubby) with the SKANK's at Staci's in-law's cabin and boat. So excited! Can't wait!!

Hope you guys had awesome weekends! Anyone do anything fun?

fabric friday: 07-22-11 / KnollTextiles Giveaway

Image from KnollTextiles on Facebook

KnollTextiles is giving away 30 bottles of this new nail polish - 10 winners a week for 3 weeks - on their Facebook page. Just like them on Facebook and stay tuned next Wednesday for the 2nd week of giveaways. All you have to do is name the textile they post. And guess who won one of 10 bottles for this first giveaway?? That's right. ME! Woo! I love my Knoll Red nail polish. Can't wait for this.

Baked Eggplant w/ Fresh Tomato Sauce

So. I pretty much made this and knew I had to share it. It was SO GOOD. I think Josh may even like this eggplant.

First you cut open, score and salt the eggplant. Let it sit for 30-45 min, then squeeze out the excess water, rinse and pat dry. Spread olive oil on both sides and add some pepper. Put a few fresh thyme sprigs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put the eggplant face down on the thyme sprigs. Bake in 400 degree oven for about 45 minutes.

The tomato sauce was pretty simple. Chopped onion, garlic and one plum tomato (this was for one serving). Cook over medium heat, add about 1/4 cup water, cover and let sit for 10-15 minutes. I used a potato masher after it had cooked and threw in some fresh basil (Yes!! First time cooking with my own homegrown basil!)

The chicken was rolled up with ricotta/garlic powder/pepper mixture inside. Cooked in olive oil, water and cooking wine.

Mmm! That eggplant was so so delicious!! Yum-o!!

EDIT: Hannah reminded me with her comment that I had forgotten to write where I got the info to cook the eggplant this way. I wish I could take the credit, but I found it when searching the internet for "baked eggplant." Recipe/technique found here.

current obsessions: July

July obsessions + loves:

• ice cream inspired nail polish colors (reminds me of mint ice cream)
• hand-me-down patio chairs + table thanks to my aunt & uncle 
• a tomato plant full of (hopefully delicious) still growing green tomatoes!
• out of town friends visiting
• wedding anniversary trip searching/planning
• peep-toe wedges (still looking for a pair to buy...)
• a beautifully growing basil plant! (I killed our first two...) 

weekend update: July 15-17, 2011

This past weekend was fun, busy, nostalgic and exhausting!! I actually was off Friday because I had worked so much earlier in the week for a bid that was due, so I took advantage of that time off by sleeping in, lounging around and doing some cleaning and grocery shopping.

My girlfriends Nicole and Carri came up from Pittsburgh Friday night, and I haven't them since (college) graduation in 2006. Nicole and I were interior design majors together and Carri was her roommate-turned-best-friend-turned-totally-inseparable. They moved to Virginia/DC area after college and just within the last year moved back up "north." We met up for dinner/drinks at Texas Roadhouse, then planned our next day festivities.

Other than visiting me, the girls had a few reliving-college-memories staples that had to be accomplished during this trip. These included: a visit/drive around Mercyhurst College, Little Caesar's Hot & Ready pizza, Valerio's pizza,  Seawolves Baseball game and The Cellblock Bar/Club.

We started the walk down memory lane Saturday with Little Caesar's at Josh and I's townhouse. Then we drove down to Romolo Chocolates for ice cream and milkshakes and a walk around Frontier Park. Originally we were going to stop at Presque Isle but it was ridiculously busy due to Roar on the Shore bike rally so we rethought our ice cream/walk plans.

Nicole + Carri swinging at Frontier Park

A walk around Mercyhurst College

So, they obviously don't need this fire extinguisher spot anymore (there was one mounted on the wall on the other side of the tree)

Old Main building. We also saw a wedding here that ended up being the one my sister was shooting. Weird!

Carri, Me + Nicole at Jerry Uht Park

Jerry Uht Park

Funnel cake at the game. <3

Cellblock - the girls used to love this place!

Classy club-bathroom-pic

We had so much fun reminiscing about old times, catching up on life since college and laughing together. I'm so glad they live closer now so road trips and visits can happen much more often!!

Josh and I didn't get much time together Friday and Saturday since the girls were in town and we were so busy off doing crazy things, so Sunday we laid low and just hung out in the comfort of our AC-house.

Hope you all had great weekends! I'm looking forward to the next three weekends also being crazy busy as well...but they should be fun!

Senior Project, Mercyhurst College, 2006

I've been trying to get more of my design work up on this blog. I finally took some more pictures of my Mercyhurst College Senior Project from 2006. Here they are!

Taken at the show.

These next pictures were all taken over five years after graduation. They had been laying in plastic in my parents basement since the show. It was cool looking at them after so much time has past - remembering the time spent doing each board and everything I went through on this project. Looking back on it - I am still proud of what I did for this project, and I think that's a very good thing.

Be warned...there are A LOT of pictures. The overall pics of the boards are great, but the detail shots are necessary!

I think I always envisioned that to be me on the stage...and I think we can safely say that - little did I know then - that is Josh by my side :)

I had these little markers on my boards, to designate which floor the perspectives, finishes or alternate drawings related to.

One of my favorite perspectives - showing the "Outdoor Exhibit/Eating Area." (Note the Knoll Toledo chairs/table. We have these at our office @ AGBI. I've loved them since I first saw them.)