World with a Thousand Corners

Busy in the Kitchen

2012-02-12T23:27:00.000-08:00

I've been busy in the kitchen this weekend. I just posted a few recipes on my developing food blog, From Almonds to Ziti. The site still needs some work, but I am enjoying getting all of my recipes into a digital format. Here's a snippet of what I posted . . .

Egg on my face

2012-02-08T21:39:00.000-08:00

I made an angel food cake tonight. While cleaning up, I had a hard time throwing away all of those egg yolks. Enter Google.

My Google search brought up a suggestion for making a facial mask using an egg yolk. The recipe:

1 egg yolk
1 T. honey
1 t. olive oil

Since I had all ingredients at my fingertips, why not give it a try?

The mask, waiting for my face

Now, I'm sitting with egg on my face for 10 minutes, waiting for the mask to dry and my cake to finish baking. It's making me wonder about the entomology of "egg on your face." Why do people say this? Does anyone else wonder about these things? Enter Google.

Definition: to be embarrassed
Origin: mid 1900's, American - from the tradition of an incompetent actor in a theater would be pelted with eggs

The result of the mask: Wonderful! It actually left my skin feeling smooth, clean, and soft. I'm not kidding. I will absolutely do this again! The next time I make angel food cake.

If a mask just isn't your thing and you find yourself in my same predicament, here is a link to 73 recipes to use up extra egg yolks. Enjoy!

Bake off!

2012-01-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

I had a bake off between two recipes for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies I have been carting around with me for at least a decade. They were both recipes I had acquired but never made. Since my sister specifically made a request for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, I decided to make both, have a taste test, and simplify my recipe box.

On the left: "181"
(a recipe I got from when I was in the 181st Ward when I was at BYU - if you have no idea what that means, click here)

On the right: "GM"
(a recipe I got from a friend of mine in Long Beach, G.M. - initials are being used to protect the innocent)

And the winner is . . .
181!

GM called for twice the butter and no salt - which lead to its demise.

The winning recipe is shared on From Almonds to Ziti

Cake Stands

2012-01-23T23:21:00.000-08:00

I made these cake stands in December and thought I would share them with the world. You may not have noticed, but they made their debut here.

I had been collecting vintage plates for several months. When I saw this idea for turning plates into cake stands, I was obsessed. I found the pair of candlesticks at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire. The vintage parfait dish was discovered on my trip to old town Folsom. And they came together with a little epoxy from Home Depot. Total time = 10 minutes.

I really like how they turned out!

Newts and Cows and Labyrinths, Oh My!

2012-01-22T22:57:00.000-08:00

I went on a hike on Saturday at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve as part of the monthly Women on Common Ground program. This group of women meets once per month and hikes in a different park in the system. As only a group of women can, we gathered for lunch on the trail and shared treats with each other.

It was my first time at Sibley - which, interestingly, was formed by ancient volcanos. The naturalist who led the hike explained the rock formations as we went along and demonstrated what happened anciently to form the surrounding hills by giving us all different colored play dough that we were instructed to form into the shape of volcanoes. It was fun, albeit, slightly grade-schoolesque.

The weather was unpredictable - we were hit by a downpour, then gale force winds, and then the sun came out. All in all, a great day!

One of the members of our group almost stepped on this
little guy. They are not fast movers!

This labyrinth was created in the park in the 1980's.
It was a little flooded out but I still walked it.

Treasures at the center of the labyrinth.

Waiting for Superman

2012-01-18T23:39:00.000-08:00

One of my goals this year is to watch a documentary every month. January's documentary . . . Waiting for Superman (2010) about the educational system in the US.

They followed five students and their families, discovering what was working and not working in their schools. Interestingly, all of them ended up applying for charter schools or other alternative models of education in their districts.

After having worked in the public education system for a few years in two states (CA, VA), I completely agree with the conclusions drawn in this film. We need great teachers. We already have some great teachers. But it's adults that are getting in the way of having ALL of our teachers be great teachers.

If you haven't seen it, I think it is a must watch.

If you have seen it, updates about two of the students, Anthony and Emily, were recently posted at the Waiting for Superman website.

Final note: Here are my two favorite students from the movie . . . Anthony and Daisy. They are so darling!

Stairs really can be fun!

2012-01-17T22:22:00.000-08:00

I came across this fun picture tonight on Pinterest. I want to find this staircase, but don't know where it is located.

My attempt at researching its location lead me to discover a fascinating experiment done in Odenplan, Sweden to answer this question: Can we get people to choose the stairs by making it fun to do?

Click on the picture below to find out the results!

World With A Thousand Corners: Red Mountain Spa

2012-01-14T00:47:00.000-08:00

I went on a little vacation in October to the Red Mountain Spa, outside of St. George, Utah. It was such a fabulous few days - but it never made it to my blog.

I had not previously been to a resort spa and wasn't sure how I would like it. I had heard a lot about Red Mountain so I decided to try it out. I flew into Las Vegas and drove the few hours to get to the resort.

Being at Red Mountain was a little like being at a summer sleep away camp for adults. There were enough scheduled activities to keep you busy from sun up (or before, like the daily guided hikes through Snow Canyon State Park that left at 6:30 am) to sun down. But unlike summer sleep away camp, you could choose to participate or not. One of the few advantages of being an adult.

I found the surroundings stunningly beautiful. I had never spent any time in the desert in southern Utah and I was amazed at how much I liked it.

A Winter Sunset

2012-01-11T21:10:00.000-08:00

I treated myself to lingering over a beautiful sunset tonight. Life is such that I don't always take the time to savor this little artistic touch at the end of each day. But I did tonight.

Downtown Oakland in the foreground, the Bay Bridge in the
middle, and the Golden Gate Bridge in the background on the right.

To see where I took these great pictures, click here. To find out more, click here.

The Secret Lifes of Dresses

2012-01-11T00:03:00.000-08:00

We discussed The Secret Lifes of Dresses in our book club tonight. It was a fun, quick read that was a little bit fluffy but a lot of fun.

In the book, the main character takes over her grandmother's vintage dress shop. As I read this book, I decided that I would like to wear a vintage party dress every day. So, here is a peak into my new {imaginary} wardrobe, courtesy of Etsy (COMPLETELY not practical for my actual every day life!).

For gardening

For housework

For grocery shopping

For lunch with the ladies

For that important meeting

For dinner out

For a trip to the museum

For church

For the symphony

Saturday Stroll

2012-01-07T23:33:00.000-08:00

I went for a little hike this morning at Anthony Chabot Regional Park in Oakland. I had never been to that park before - it's like a little hidden gem in the Oakland hills. It was a {beautiful} day for a hike. While I was on the trail, I set another goal for 2012: spend more time outside!

Sweet and Salty

2012-01-06T18:42:00.000-08:00

The week before Christmas I had a little holiday get together - A Sweet and Salty Party! Although it's been a few weeks, I never posted pictures from this little fete. It was good to get together with some friends, eat some food, and celebrate the holidays.

My favorite part was the Italian Soda Bar . . . A great way for everyone to get a personally customized treat!

The House That Mom and Dad {are building}

2012-01-05T22:39:00.000-08:00

My parents are in the process of building a house in Huntsville, Utah. I was able to do a walk-through when I was there last week. It's the first time I had seen it. My parents have done a great job designing a fabulous house! Should be done in early summer.

Family room

View from the kitchen deck

So this is my future room. I am advocating for Moroccan-themed decor.

I'm thinking something like this.

Or this!

Don't think it's going to happen. But a girl can dream!

3 ways to tell it's going to be a great year . . .

2012-01-01T21:46:00.000-08:00

You know the year is going to be great if on New Year's Day:

1. You discover your new necklace perfectly matches your Kindle case.

2. You play a rousing game of Apples to Apples with your extended family.

3. You eat the last of the mint holiday cookies while browsing the Weight Watchers website for meals for the coming week.

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2011!

2011-12-31T14:02:00.000-08:00

As 2011 comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the year . . . the good (I've taken some great trips, made some fabulous friends, was given a promotion at work, learned a lot about myself), the bad (a few things . . . but nothing I want to recount here), and everything in between (the daily humdrum part of life).

I am looking forward to 2012. For the first time in a few years, I've set goals for the year. I am actually really excited about them. {Check them out here!}

The ever popular, but cheesy line (from one of my favorite movies, The Sound of Music), sums up how I feel right now . . . "When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window." The door of 2011 is closing but the window of 2012 is opening . . . and it is bright and sunny outside.

Unglamorous

2011-12-27T17:08:00.000-08:00

For the past two days I have been sorting through old papers, purging things I don't need, and getting ready for the new year. It is the unglamorous part of life. But I'm looking forward to 2012!!

Current state of my kitchen table:

My homepage: NGPOD

2011-12-26T16:36:00.000-08:00

For the past few years, my homepage on my computer has been set to the National Geographic Photo of the Day. It's like having an amazing little treat, every day!

Today's photo:

A little different

2011-12-25T21:32:00.000-08:00

So this was my atypical Christmas color scheme year. Even my wrapping followed suit.

And to all a good night!

2011-12-25T21:21:00.000-08:00

There is something magical about sitting in a dark house at Christmas time with the only light coming from your Christmas tree. Sometimes I think I want to do this every night of the year - and then I see all of the pine needles scattered all over my floor and remember why it's magical - it's something to enjoy for a few weeks of the year. But for those few weeks, there's magic in my house!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Merry Christmas {to me}!

2011-12-24T12:16:00.000-08:00

I stayed in bed until noon today. My little Christmas gift to myself. No guilt about not getting up to go running, make cookies, wrap presents, clean my house, or a million other things I could be doing. Just pinterest, a good book, and some chocolate. So indulgent! Merry Christmas!

view from my nest

Nativity - Palestine

2011-12-24T10:04:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite nativity sets. The YWCA in Israel has an ongoing project where they have Palestinian women make these nativity sets with traditional Palestinian clothing. The proceeds go assisting Palestinian refugees. I love the bright colors and the little yarn sheep.

Old Town

2011-12-20T23:25:00.000-08:00

I spent the weekend in Sacramento with Jason, Gabby and Baby Sweet. We went to old town Folsom on Saturday. The shops were fun to explore and we had lunch at Pizzeria Classico. I highly recommend the Garlic Chips, if you ever go!

A great idea for glass jars . . . fill them with ornaments!

Nativity - Seattle, Washington

2011-12-20T23:24:00.000-08:00

I have two nativity sets that are from the US, an East Coast set and a West Coast set. I bought this one in Seattle several years ago. It doesn't say "Seattle" to me as much as it says folksy Americana.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

2011-12-19T22:05:00.000-08:00

My decorating is finally done! It's not that I actually did all that much in the world of decorating for Christmas. It's just that I was a little slow in finishing some of my projects. I love my Christmas tree. Although the colors I chose this year are a little unconventional (dark grey, mustard, tiffany blue, burgundy), I think they are happy colors!

Inspiration for my ornaments: Jones Design Company Flower Pin Tutorial

I basically made two "pins" and put the backs together to form a ball. I added a jute rope as a hanger before I glued it all together. I also enlarged the pattern before I printed it so they would be a good size.

Inspiration for the pennent garland: Jones Design Company Bunting Tutorial

She made pennants that were black, white, and yellow and strung them in her Christmas tree.

Nativity - Prague, Czech Republic

2011-12-19T22:04:00.000-08:00

Prague is one of my all-time favorite cities. The architecture is beautiful and the history is remarkable. I bought this set in a little shop off the Old Town Square middle of the city.

Chocolates and Cookies and Cakes, Oh My!

2011-12-18T17:20:00.000-08:00

Jason and Gabby had a few friends over for a little party on Saturday. A "few simple desserts" turned into a table full of sweet and savory dishes that were all to die for but enough to feed a small army. It was all delicious . . . even if I ate more than my fair share!

Check it out . . . a chocolate yule log! Amazing!

Jason and Blaise

I love how Gabby wrapped her Christmas presents. So cute!

Nativity - Johannesburg, South Africa

2011-12-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

This is a small three piece set that I got when I was in South Africa. I love the beadwork clothes and the unique hair.

Me, my brother Jordan, and the elephant handler on an elephant walk.

Nativity - Guatemala City, Guatemala

2011-12-18T00:35:00.000-08:00

Although this set is labeled as from Buenos Ares, Argentina, it is actually from Guatemala City, Guatemala. I love this set because of the bright colors and the height of the figures. Again, I went to Guatemala before I had my digital camera. So, no I don't have pictures readily available of this great place. But I've included a few pictures of one of my favorite places in Guatemala . . . Tikal.

A World with a Thousand Corners: San Francisco to Half Moon Bay, Day 3

2011-12-16T18:26:00.000-08:00

San Francisco to Half Moon Bay

October 18, 2011

Here is the next installment from my little walk in October from San Francisco to Half Moon Bay.

Day 1 - San Francisco to Pacifica

Day 2 - Pacifica to Montara

Day 3 - Montara to Half Moon Bay

On Day 3, we woke up to fog - LOTS of fog. But it doesn't really matter when you are just walking. It made for great pictures!

A banana slug. They were everywhere.

A beautiful spider web!

Part of this road started to slide away. After multiple attempts to fix it, they have closed the road to vehicular traffic and opened it up to hikers.

We made it! Half Moon Bay!

Nativity - Jerusalem, Israel

2011-12-15T23:38:00.000-08:00

I love this set. It is made of olive wood. My favorite part is the archway in the backdrop. Unfortunately, I went to Israel long before I had a digital camera so I do not have other fun pictures to post.

But here are some of my favorite things . . .

Dome of the Rock

Western Wall

There are a zillion bakeries in Jerusalem and they are all amazing!

Nativity - Lisbon, Portugal

2011-12-15T00:26:00.000-08:00

Have you been to Lisbon? It is a beautiful city on the coast, rich in history, and a lot of fun. If you haven't been, and you are planning a trip, you must eat at Pasteis de Belem. Their specialty: a yummy little custard pastry. To. Die. For.

A small nativity from Lisbon

Nativity - Chartres, France

2011-12-13T23:36:00.000-08:00

A {tiny} little nativity set from Chartres, France.

A fairly terrible picture I took several years ago of the cathedral in Chartres. The cathedral is amazing because it is so old and is, by far the largest building in the area. You can see it for miles as you approach the town.

My Little Obsession

2011-12-12T22:53:00.000-08:00

So I have a little obsession - I collect nativity sets. Specifically, I collect nativity sets from places that I have traveled. I love how the characters reflect local beliefs and perspectives. It is a fascinating mini-study in culture!

Last night there was a Christmas concert and creche display at our church. I lent a few of my sets to be displayed. They are a little random - not the biggest or the prettiest or the best - just a few of the collection. I snapped pictures of a few of them before I packed them away.

I think I'll post one picture every day between now and Christmas. Enjoy!

Cape Town, South Africa

An Afternoon at Ardenwood

2011-12-12T00:08:00.000-08:00

I spent Saturday afternoon at Ardenwood Farm with my mom and my nieces. We went in search of the Monarch butterflies who spend the winter en mass in various spots in Northern California. We found butterflies but, since they were hard to spot, we spent more time feeding the animals at the farm. I didn't have time to go through the farm house - next time!

Butterflies - huddled so tightly
that they look like leaves

Whimsical Trees

2011-12-11T00:14:00.000-08:00

Our ward (church congregation) had a Christmas breakfast this morning. I helped out with the decorations. We made these fun trees for the tables out of paper and cupcake liners.

Since my pictures didn't turn out very well (I took them in the dark the night before when we were setting up), here is a picture from the blog tatertotsandjello and a {TUTORIAL} so you can make them too!

Family Portraits . . . {and the success of the chalkboard project}

2011-12-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

I pretended to be a photographer a few weeks ago and took some family portraits of my sister and her family. Since I received her Christmas card in the mail today, I thought I would post some of those pictures. Although I took 500+ pictures that day, there were precious few actual options. Aren't we all grateful for digital photography!! For a comical collage of some of the photos that DIDN'T really turn out, click here.

By the way - Julie and I made the chalkboard below using a frame that my mom wasn't using and some chalkboard paint. All we did was spray the glass with the two coats of paint, let it dry, chalk the whole board with chalk, and erase. A fun quick project!

A World with a Thousand Corners: San Francisco to Half Moon Bay, Day 2

2011-12-08T23:12:00.000-08:00

San Francisco to Half Moon Bay

October 17, 2011

Here is the next installment from my little walk in October from San Francisco to Half Moon Bay.

Day 1 - San Francisco to Pacifica

Day 2 - Pacifica to Montara

We started off at Rockaway State Beach in Pacifica. As we left Pacifica, we headed up to the hills of McNee Ranch State Park and on to Montara.

Rockaway Beach

Looking back toward Pacifica as we climbed into McNee.

My feet at the top of McNee.

And a few minutes later in the sand of Montara Beach.

We stayed at the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel. It was a great find! I became a little obsessed with taking pictures of the lighthouse in the fading light, as evidenced below.

A Christmas Surprise

2011-12-07T23:57:00.000-08:00

I was gone for a few hours this evening. When I got back, look what I found on my porch . . .

Christmas cookies! From the young women in my ward (from my church). It was so kind and thoughtful. I love Christmas, I love cookies, and I love surprises! It truly made my day.

Let's Ring!

2011-12-06T23:28:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year! We have been practicing every Sunday. Since Christmas is on Sunday this year, guess what song we are FOR SURE going to play. Anyone?

You guessed it! I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day!

I really enjoying performing as part of a group. And I LOVE Christmas music!

A Walk in Bernal Heights

2011-12-05T23:49:00.000-08:00

I took a little wander through Bernal Heights in San Francisco on Saturday. Combining information from a magazine article and Stairway Walks in San Francisco, I explored an interesting, and previously unfamiliar, section of the city.

Bernal Heights has the distinction of having the most stairways of any neighborhood in the city. There were several streets I found that had houses that were ONLY accessible by stairs. Can you imagine moving into one of these houses? You'd have to haul your couch up four flights of stairs before even reaching your front door!

Joy Street - All stairs, no street

My day started at Alemany Farmer's Market. Although not the prettiest market in the city (we'll leave that to the Ferry Building Farmer's Market), this place was hoppin'! Great deals, real people, lots of fun.

Have you ever had a wood fired pizza made in a parking lot? I hadn't either. But it's possible at this farmer's market. I chatted with the owner. He explained his system of moving his VERY heavy wood oven to the farmer's market every weekend - complete with a hydraulic trailer. Great pizza!

A few other pictures from my day.

Stairs

And more stairs.

Aren't the colors of this house GREAT!

This library was built in 1940.
It is a great historic building.

Red Hill Books, a used
book store on Cortland Ave.

A World with a Thousand Corners: San Francisco to Half Moon Bay, Day 1

2011-12-01T23:16:00.000-08:00

San Francisco to Half Moon Bay

October 16, 2011

Last month, I took a little walk from Ocean Beach in San Francisco to Half Moon Bay with a friend of mine. It was a great 3 day hike. And I am still amazed that you can actually walk between those cities! We had fabulous weather and it was so beautiful!

Here are some pictures from Day 1 - San Francisco to Pacifica.

Near Fort Funston

Not working.

My friend, Kristin - we took a wrong turn and
ended up in a closed area without knowing it.

Mystery of the day: How did this chair get here?
It was miles from any road access to this beach.

Remnants from an old pier

There were very few people on the beach in the stretch
just south of Fort Funston and Pacifica

Sunset near the Pacifica Pier

The ocean, just before we lost light for the day

A Visit to Apple Hill with my Nieces and Nephews

2011-11-30T20:19:00.000-08:00

Have you ever visited Apple Hill? A collection of farms, orchards, and vineyards outside of Placerville. The area is hopping during the fall months as people come to pick apples, buy apple pies, and drink apple cider. We visited this past weekend where cutting-down-your-own-Christmas-tree was all the range. It was a beautiful area to visit.

Our first stop was at Kids Incorporated where we visited with a few animals and devoured a Walking Apple Pie.

We then rode the rails at Hillside Tree Farm.

And we finished the day with a little window shopping.

The current count: Girls = 5, Boys = 2

Elise, Haley, Melodie, Addy, Cody, Sophie, Tyson

Sweet Baby Sweet

2011-11-29T23:01:00.000-08:00

Baby Sweet has a name!

Melodie Blanche Adams

On her blessing day with her parents, Gabby and Jason.

You can also check out:

Baby Sweet with big flowers

Baby Sweet without a name

But who will bring the horn of plenty?

2011-11-29T08:42:00.000-08:00

What's a Thanksgiving celebration without a cornucopia?

Thanks to my 4 year-old niece, we had a very special cornucopia centerpiece at our Thanksgiving meal this year (see below).

Special, right?

My niece had been asking for a few days leading up to Thanksgiving about a cornucopia and what was going to be in it, who was going to bring it, etc. My sister kept brushing her off, not feeling that having a cornucopia was completely necessary if you are trying to commit your life to simplicity. Then, the night before Thanksgiving, they had this conversation:

My Sister (S): "Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Everyone is going to come over. It is going to be a big day so we need to get to bed."

My Niece (N): "But who will bring the horn of plenty?"

S: "Ummm. I'm not sure."

N: "But where will we put all of our fruits and vegetables?"

S: "Ummm." (Brief silence. Thinking hard about anyone that might have a cornucopia at 8:00 pm on Thanksgiving Eve.)

N: "A cornucopia is just a basket. A horn of plenty is when you put all the things in it."

Clearly the vocabulary curriculum of preschools has changed in the 30 years since I attended.

Needless to say I got a phone call a few minutes later asking if I happened to have a cornucopia. I did not. But one was found, my niece filled it with food, surrounded it with all of the things she was thankful for (mostly princesses and toys), and it found it's way to the centerpiece of our Thanksgiving feast.

A few other pictures from Thanksgiving 2011.

Nametags created by Haley.

Jessica and Dallen

Jason

Baby Elsie

The whole gang (except Julie and Elise)

20 . . . and counting!

2011-11-27T23:32:00.000-08:00

My whole family was together over the Thanksgiving holiday. Two of my sisters-in-law announced that they are expecting in June. That means that there are 20 of us currently and we are about to gain a few more. When we are all together, things get a little crazy. And loud. But I love being with my family!

More to come about our weekend. (I promise this time!)

Home, sweet, home

2011-10-24T00:18:00.000-07:00

I've been gone the past week on several fun adventures - which we'll call my "Sea and Sandstone Week." It has been wonderful and restorative. I've seen so many beautiful places! Here are two pictures - more to come!

A World with a Thousand Corners: Traditional Tibetan Hospital

2011-10-13T22:54:00.000-07:00

Traditional Tibetan Hospital

Lhasa, Tibet

5 June 2011

While in Lhasa, we spent time at a traditional Tibetan hospital. The director of the hospital lectured us about how traditional Tibetan medicine addresses diagnosis and treatment of several medical conditions. Differential diagnosis was outlined graphically on tapestries, the main tool in the education of traditional practitioners. So interesting!

A Birthday Fête!

2011-10-12T22:59:00.000-07:00

My niece, Elise, had her {FIRST BIRTHDAY} on Saturday! A few pictures from the party.

Unicorns and Rainbows

2011-10-11T23:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, fine. I haven't seen any unicorns, but I HAVE seen a few rainbows lately. Three, to be exact! And all just over the last few days as I have been driving to and from work. The first two pictures are two of those rainbows - terrible pictures - taken from my car while driving (NOT a good idea, I know). The last picture is a GREAT photo of a rainbow and is not mine. But it's pretty cool!

Look closely!

Can you see it?

Denali Highway, Alaska
by Rich Reid
for National Geographic

Raspberries . . . making everything better!

2011-10-10T23:19:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a new favorite treat - funfetti cupcakes with fresh raspberries. Why are all of my favorite treats sweet?!

Silly Sunday

2011-10-09T21:48:00.000-07:00

My niece and I . . . being silly on a Sunday afternoon.

A World with a Thousand Corners: Braille Without Borders

2011-10-06T21:29:00.000-07:00

Brail Without Borders

Lhasa, Tibet

6 June 2011

This was one of the highlights of our time in Tibet, visiting Brail Without Borders - a residential school for Tibetan children who are blind, founded up by a European couple. Children come to this school from all over Tibet. When the founders are not there, the daily affairs are managed by Niema, the man pictured in the second photo. He attended the school when he was younger, has traveled the world, speaks English amazingly, and now perceives his blindness as a blessing because of all the opportunities he has been given. I think of Niema every time I need a little perspective.

So long, Steve

2011-10-05T22:23:00.000-07:00

I don't know Steve Jobs. I don't have any friends who know him. I don't even have friend of friends who know him. I do have a friend whose boyfriend works at Apple and saw him once. But that doesn't really count. Still, I was sad to hear that Steve Jobs died today. And so, here is my small tribute.

My first computer was a Macintosh Color Classic, circa 1993 (and yes, that is me, circa 1993 as well). A high school graduation present from my parents. It was really sweet. It made cool sounds! It could record voices! It had a mouse! It had a word processing program with spell check!

Here's a better picture, not my own.

And it just got worse from there. I currently own (and use on a daily basis) an iPod mini, a MacBook Pro, and an iPhone. An iPad is on my "To buy" list. I've attended Mac World, the annual gathering of Mac-crazed fans in San Francisco, where the latest Apple-related apps, hardware, software, and accessories are showcased. I could go on, but I don't want you to think I'm in a cult or something.

Not that Steve Jobs was personally responsible for the development of all of these products - but he was a visionary in his field - and changed the way that we relate to electronic equipment and digital entertainment. This remembrance of Steve Jobs sums it up well.

So long, Steve.

Eating my way through Berkeley

2011-10-04T22:07:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday afternoon, I enjoyed the flavors of Berkeley, between the gallery and the concert.

The highlights:

Dinner at Summer Kitchen and Bake Shop. The corn, tomato, and burrata pizza was great! Such a cute little place.

Desert at Ici. Handmade, small batch ice cream . . . freshly made cones with a surprise of chocolate at the bottom . . . what's not to love?

I was too busy stuffing my face to take a picture.
This one is from their website!

Love their flavor combos!

An Evening at the Paramount

2011-10-03T23:56:00.000-07:00

Reasons I want to be Esperanza Spalding:

The name {Esperanza} is about 1,000 times more interesting than {Jennifer}.
She has the best hair style ever! It's the hair I have always wanted but will never have (sniff, sniff).
She has AMAZING natural musical talent (IMHO, teaching herself how to play the violin before the age of 5 counts as natural talent).
I love that she is leads her band, sings, AND plays the bass - all at the same time! And she writes her own music.
She has incredible vocal range.
Her band, The Chamber Music Society, consists of two violinists, a cellist, a pianist/keyboardist, a drummer, and another vocalist - not your typical jazz band composition.
They were FUN FUN FUN to see in concert on Saturday night at the Paramount Theater in Oakland. Part of SF Jazz Fest. A great show!

General Conference {October 2011}

2011-10-02T22:47:00.000-07:00

A few of my notes from General Conference. If the phrase "General Conference" is unfamiliar to you, click here.

You can make one too! www.wordle.net

The Art of the iPhone

2011-10-01T23:50:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I heard about an art exhibit in Berkeley comprised exclusively of photographs taken with iPhones using apps available in the Apple app store. The gallery notes indicate that most artists use between five and ten apps with each picture. I was intrigued. So today I went! The photos were interesting. Very artistic. The amazing part is that they were taken with a simple camera phone. Somehow, the pictures I take with my iPhone don't quite look like these!

Giorgi Gallery

P1xels: The Art of the iPhone

Book Club: Cleopatra's Daughter

2011-09-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

Last night I met with one of my book clubs. We discussed Cleopatra's Daughter, by Michelle Moran. I enjoyed reading this work of historical fiction. I find that here are a few frequently discussed eras in historical fiction (World War II, British Royalty, the Renaissance) but I had never read a book set in Rome in the decades before the coming of Christ. It really brought to life an era to which I previously had a hard time relating. The book was a little high school-ish - but I'm glad I read it!

I shared a cheese plate, complete with tags created 30 seconds before everyone arrived (made from address labels, a scrap of purple paper, toothpicks, and some tape!). Why do I love cheese so much?!?!

A World with a Thousand Corners: Only in China

2011-09-29T23:49:00.000-07:00

A Few Random Pictures from my Adventures in China

Beijing, Lhasa, and Chengdu

June 2011

Graffiti on bamboo
Chengdu

Haven't you always wanted a pair of tiger boots?
Chengdu

Scorpions for dinner
Beijing

If you paint your suspenders onto your shirt,
they will never fall down!
Beijing

KFC delivery bicycles
Beijing

The best mullet I have ever seen
Beijing

Oxygen tanks in hotels -
helpfully delivered to your room for a nominal fee
Lhasa

Bicycles on the tarmac - a great place for a ride
Beijing

Lemon tea flavored potato chips
Beijing

A wheelchair going up a non-accessible ramp
(That's Helen, one of the delegates - a trooper!)
Beijing

Everyone's favorite snack: mini bananas and tomatoes!
Chengdu

Strangely shaped buildings
Beijing

A missing letter
Beijing

Glass walled bathroom - curtains added for privacy
Lhasa

Unnaturally colored creme brulee
Chengdu

Pants without bottoms (or with bottoms -
depending on your prospective!)
Beijing

Book Club: Wuthering Heights

2011-09-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

I am currently in, not just one, but TWO book clubs. Crazy, I know. And they are both meeting this week! Tonight I met with my book club with my work friends and we discussed Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I am the one who suggested this book because I thought it would be good for us to read a classic. I know many people for whom Wuthering Heights is their all time favorite classic. It wasn't mine.

In searching for a picture for this post, I came across a woman on Etsy (where else?!) who makes dolls of historical figures, characters from books, famous authors, and famous artists among others. The next time you need a doll of Eleanor Roosevelt, T.S. Elliott, or Neil Diamond, you need not look further!

Heathcliff and Catherine, Wuthering Heights.

Quilts Among the Oaks

2011-09-26T22:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I went to a quilt show, uniquely held outdoors in an oak grove. It was a really cool setting for an event! There were some very impressive quilts. Some people are just so dang talented! Maybe by the time I'm 80.

To Have and to Hold

2011-09-25T23:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend I attended a bridal shower for a friend who is getting married in a few weeks. Loved the pink heart cookies!

Welcome Baby Sweet!

2011-09-23T23:07:00.000-07:00

Baby Sweet has arrived! Her parents, Jason and Gabby, have still not settled on a name, so Baby Sweet it is for now. I went to Sacramento last night to see them. She is so precious!

A World with a Thousand Corners: Jokhang Temple

2011-09-22T23:43:00.000-07:00

Jokhang Temple

Lhasa, Tibet

7 June 2011

Built in 642, the Jokhang Temple is considered the most sacred and important temple in Tibet.

Morning Musings: An Invitation

2011-09-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

I frequently pass this gate on my morning walks. It always feels like it is inviting me to come in. (Don't worry - I've never accepted!)

Morning Musings: Leaf at Dawn

2011-09-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

There was something about this leaf covered with dew that caught my eye as I left for my walk the other morning. It made me go back into the house to get my camera to capture it.

Zzzzzzzz

2011-09-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

I love reading the comics. I look forward to the Sunday paper each week, largely because of that fabulous colorful page that you have to hunt for, somewhere in the middle. That and the travel section, but that is the subject for another post.

When I saw Garfield on Sunday, I thought about all {four} of you, my blog readers. You may be able to identify with this since I started my post-to-my-blog-nearly-every-day routine!

Welcome to my Home!

2011-09-18T23:00:00.000-07:00

I bought this silhouette a few weeks ago at an antique market. I really liked the June Cleaver do.

I felt like it needed a little bit of color, so I painted the frame and distressed it a little.

Her new home is on my entry table.

Forest Hill {A Hidden Gem}

2011-09-17T22:36:00.000-07:00

I met up with my friend, Marisa, in the city for a little exploring today. We followed one of the walking tours in the book, Stairway Walks in San Francisco, a present from my sister-in-law, Gabby a few years ago.

Our walk today took us to the Forest Hill neighborhood in San Francisco. We saw some lovely sites . . .

some things that were interesting . . .

Check out the cobweb window!

An entire aquatic scene adorned a
cement wall near a garage of one house.

and some thing that were puzzling.

Why are there Easter eggs hanging from
this tree? No clues were provided.

The sky was blue, the sun was out . . . a lovely day!

I then went to Golden Gate Park to the de Young Museum to catch the Picasso exhibit before it leaves town.

I ended the day having dinner at Lavash, a great {little} Persian restaurant in the Sunset.

I love Saturdays!

My Favorite Things: The Farmer's Market

2011-09-16T21:42:00.000-07:00

Every summer and fall I become fairly obsessed with the farmer's market. I find that I even schedule my week around it, making sure that I can go! I love the amazing fruits and vegetables that are everywhere - some known and some unfamiliar. And I love the colors!

A World with a Thousand Corners: The Great Wall

2011-09-15T22:18:00.000-07:00

The Great Wall

Beijing, China

4 June 2011

My favorite sign ever!

My Giada De Laurentiis Weekend

2011-09-14T23:27:00.000-07:00

My brother Jason and his wife Gabby will soon welcome a still-to-be-named baby girl into the world. We've been calling her Baby Sweet. I spent this past weekend in their home in Sacramento cooking and freezing meals for them to eat over the coming weeks and months. I spent most of the past few days in the kitchen, with my apron feeling like Giada De Laurentiis, minus the camera crew, the team to clean up, and the producer to make sure everything is prepped and ready! Why can't I have a producer?

The freezer waiting for food

Julie's Mexican Lasagna

A version of Mac and Cheese with Spinach!!

Some yummy fajitas

Julie's metloaf

Ready for the freezer

A little list to keep track - so that lasagna doesn't get forgotten behind the ice cream!

Done.

The End.

Christmas . . . in September!

2011-09-14T23:15:00.000-07:00

Although it's a {little} early, I have been making my Christmas tree decorations for this year. I know the colors are a little unconventional - but I LOVE them! I took the idea from the flower pin tutorial from the blog Jones Design Company. When I saw the flower pin, I figured that I could just make two flowers, glue them together to create a ball, and then add a loop of jute for a hanger. I love how they have turned out! A little time consuming - but that is the beauty of Christmas in September!

We Will Never Forget

2011-09-12T22:15:00.000-07:00

It has been 10 years. September 11, 2001. I was in my last semester of grad school in Long Beach, California. I had just started my school placement at an elementary school and was working with my master clinician setting up schedules and getting ready to start therapy with the children. I left my apartment early, not waking my roommates. I drove to the elementary school listening to a CD, not turning on the radio. My master clinician had a similar morning. Neither of us had heard the news. We worked together all day in her office, never leaving, never talking to anyone. I had no idea that the world had changed that day - until I returned home. One roommate was sitting on the couch watching the news. I was stunned. I dropped my bag and sat, for hours, never moving. The whole country had been sharing together in grief and sorrow all day and I had missed it. I had been oblivious of the world around me. It was a day that changed me in many ways. I made a decision that day to be a more of an active participate in my world, to pay attention, to be more involved, to stay informed, to be knowledgeable.

I will never forget.

Over the past 10 years, I have visited ground zero several times, watched the area change from a few make shift memorials through the rebuilding of the current memorial. I have taken tours with volunteers who were involved with the events of September 11 and heard their moving stories. I moved to Arlington, VA and lived a mile from the Pentagon. I heard the stories of many of my friends who were living in the Pentagon City area on September 11 and the way those events have shaped their lives. I traveled with friends to the field outside of Shanksville, PA and saw the many memorials that have ben errected to memorialize those who died there.

I will never forget.

I spent this past weekend in Sacramento with Jason and Gabby. We visited a memorial set up by John Vinson, an average American who wanted to never forget. Each year for the past 10 years he has done something to commemorate this day. And each year it has grown. This year, over 3,000 American flags were on display. He worked with the city to use an empty field for his weekend display. Quite amazing.

My Favorite Things: A Reading Corner

2011-09-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite places in my house - my reading corner in my bedroom!

A World with a Thousand Corners: Pandamania!

2011-09-08T21:57:00.000-07:00

Giant Panda Research Base

Chengdu, China

9 June 2011

Morning Musings: Fall is Coming!

2011-09-08T00:02:00.000-07:00

I pass this little apple tree on my daily walks. These small apples tell me one thing . . . fall is coming! The season of crispy apples at the farmer's market, fresh apple cider, and yummy apple pie. And of course crunching leaves, sweaters, cool nights!

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

2011-09-06T22:47:00.000-07:00

I recently saw the movie The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Amazing! It tells the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a French journalist who had a stroke and became paralyzed but retained full cognitive capacity. He learned to communicate with an alphabet board by using eye blinks. He went on to dictate a story about his life, all through eye blinks as his method of communication.

I was so taken by this story, not only because it highlights a beautiful speech-language pathologist (which could have been played by me - good looks, impeccable French, amazing actress, etc.), but because of his determination. I loved how the audience had access to all of his thoughts - not just the communication he was able to express.

It's a French film - what's not to love?

The actress who stole my role!

Morning Musings: A Favorite House

2011-09-06T00:06:00.000-07:00

I pass this house nearly daily on my morning walks. It always makes me happy. I love the color of the trim!

My Favorite Things: Caprese Salad

2011-09-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

I could eat caprese salad, and nothing but caprese, every night for dinner. It is a frequent meal in the summer. Thank you farmer's market for the heirloom tomatoes and the fresh basil!

Favorite Foods

2011-09-03T22:16:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite scenes from the movie Elf is when Buddy delineates his favorite foods.

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup."

I recently asked my four-year old niece about her favorite foods. In one breath, without hesitation, she recited the following list:

Gummy worms
Gummy bears
Gummy fish
Gummy S's
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Apples
Grapes
Juice
Water
Milk
Tomatoes
Peaches
Pizza
Hot dogs
Mustard
Ketchup
Popsicles
Sponge Bob yogurt
Cheese and
Ice cream

I think I should adopt these foods, and only these foods, as part of my new diet.

Enjoying a favorite food

"Damila" Ice Cream

I think ice cream tastes even better when
sitting on these chairs!

Pie: The new cake

2011-09-02T21:37:00.000-07:00

A birthday just wouldn't be a birthday without a little pie! Am I right, Rondee, or am I right?! Last weekend we had a little family fete to celebrate two of the {many} August birthdays in my family - mine and Gabby's.

The BIGGEST strawberry pie this side of the Mississippi!

Chocolate cream - a delicious choice

My mama with a knife

Happy birthday!

A World with a Thousand Corners: Lhasa, Tibet

2011-09-01T18:54:00.000-07:00

Potala Palace

Lhasa, Tibet

6 June 2011

Morning Musings: A Little Old Couple

2011-08-31T18:25:00.000-07:00

I don't actually know who lives in this house but in my imagination this is the home of a little old couple - he whittles woodland creatures and she makes a mean blueberry pie.

Make the Most of Your Time on Earth

2011-08-30T22:42:00.000-07:00

Such a great title!

This book caught my eye as I walked through the library the other day. I checked it out and have found that reading through a little each night is like getting a hit from your favorite drug. Not that I actually know what that is like, but a girl can use her imagination! It reads like a how-to guide of all of the travel adventures you would love to have, if you had unlimited time and money.

Of the 1000 "Ultimate Travel Experiences" in this book, I have, sadly only completed a few. Here's a random sampling of things I've done and things I'd like to do.

Complete

#073 Listening to Mozart in Salzburg{Austria}

#108 Schloss Neuschwanstein: The ultimate fairy-tale castle {Germany}

#166 In search of the perfect tart {Portugal}

#179 Moorish Granada: Exploring the Alhambra {Spain}

#252 Living it up on the Amalfi Coast {Italy}

#334 A walk of repentance: Climbing Mt. Sinai {Egypt}

#447 The smoke that thunders at Victoria Falls {Zimbabwe}

#448 Touring a township {South Africa}

#526 Cruising the Inside Passage {AK, USA}

#536 Leaf peeping along Route 100 {VT, USA}

#542 California in a convertible: Driving the length of Highway 1 {CA, USA}

#733 Savoring ceviche in Lima {Peru}

#767 Circuiting the Jokhang {Tibet}

#786 Dwarfed by Hong Kong's skyscrapers {China}

Not Yet

#068 Climbing Mont St-Michel {France}

#207 Soaking in Lake Myvatn's hot springs {Iceland}

#224 Walking Dubrovnik's walls {Croatia}

#242 Greek island hopping {Greece}

#263 Cappadocia: Land of the fairy chimneys {Turkey}

#328 Learning the art of travel writing in Marrakesh {Morocco}

#389 Swimming with turtles in the Indian Ocean {Seychelles}

#525 Leaving it all behind on the Appalachian Trail {USA}

#552 Playing ball at the Field of Dreams {IA, USA}

#565 Lost for words at the Grand Canyon {AZ, USA}

#640 Trekking in Corcavado National Park {Costa Rica}

#894 The hills are alive: Tribal trekking {Thailand}

#897 Moonlit maneuvers through Hoi An {Vietnam}

#907 Exploring the temples at Angkor {Cambodia}

Anyone care to join me?

My New Ride

2011-08-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

My first purchase out of grad school (MANY years ago now) was my 2000 VW beetle. I love my car. She has served me well. I bought her in California, shipped her to DC when I moved there, drove her all around the Atlantic seaboard and New England, drove across country with her when I returned to California, and she has taken me everywhere I have needed to go since then.

Awkwardly trying to hug my car, with a sad face

But, now that she has more years than I have fingers to count, I decided that it was time to look for a new car.

My criteria:
1. Zoomy
2. Manual
3. Sunroof
4. Small
5. 30+ mpg
6. Bluetooth
7. Not boring

After much deliberation and discussions with my brothers (who became surprisingly engrossed with my car decision), I purchased . . .

A Mini Cooper!

A great car!

My Mission Mission

2011-08-27T23:21:00.001-07:00

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I have been pondering visiting all of the California Missions. I've been to a few, but not many. Maybe it will be my Mission Mission.

Although I have driven by it 100 times, I had never been to Mission San Jose, confusingly located in Fremont, California. And so I went for a visit this last weekend.

The Queen Bee

2011-08-27T22:56:00.000-07:00

I was in Redwood City on Friday for work and happened to made a golden discovery . . . Queen Bee Ice Cream. I had an ice cream sandwich there . . . To. Die. For.

You get to choose your cookies AND your ice cream. Does life get any better? My choice: chocolate chip cookies and chocolate peanut butter ice cream. And then I went to the gym.

Housed in the same space is Angel Heart Cakes. They were selling homemade jam. I thought the jars were beautiful!

Morning Musings: For Sale

2011-08-26T22:24:00.000-07:00

I have started taking a walk every morning. Although I am NOT a morning person, I have found I really enjoy this start to my day. Morning Musings is a collection of things I see along my way.

This house is for sale around the corner from me. Built in the 1800's. If I only had $750,000 to spare!

A World with a Thousand Corners: Beijing, China

2011-08-25T22:45:00.000-07:00

I've taken a few trips and I'd like to share some of those pictures. So, on Thursdays I am going to share some of my past adventures!

The Forbidden Palace

Beijing, China

3 June 2011

Part of the Forbidden Palace complex

Detail of a building

A curvy roof!

Detail of a building

Gotta love the Self-Portrait!

A little girl playing along one of the stairways

I loved the intensity of the colors!

End of the Day

2011-08-24T21:27:00.000-07:00

Today's necklace - ends up in a pile at the end of the day.

Grandmas and Jello

2011-08-24T00:12:00.000-07:00

What is the connection between Grandmas and jello? Both of my grandmas make jello for nearly every family dinner. My GramBernie has been in California on a visit. We had dinner at my aunt Sandi's house on Sunday before she left to go back home. As you can see, she made sure that we all had our jello by strategically placing the jello on our plates so we had to go through the jello to eat anything else.

My grandma is also notorious for force feeding anyone who comes to her house while never eating a bite of food herself. Thus, she weighs 94 pounds and I weigh . . . more than 94 pounds. This is how conversations with my grandma usually go:

"Do you want some cake?'
"No, thank you."
"How about some cookies?"
"No thanks."
"Can I make you a milkshake?"
"That's OK Grandma."
"How about a piece of toast?"
"No thanks."
"Why don't you have some cereal?"
"No, thank you."
"I'll make you some hot chocolate."

At this point, you say, "Thank you," take the hot chocolate, and try to leave the kitchen.

To our great surprise, my grandma actually ate her dinner on Sunday!

GramBernie's plate before dinner

GramBernie's plate after dinner
Guess what her favorite part of the meal was - the jello!

GramBernie - approaching 90!

My Visit with the Steins

2011-08-22T21:56:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am a Gertrude Stein groupee - when I have actually never read any of her works. It all started earlier this summer when I went to see the movie Midnight in Paris.

It was a quirky little film where Owen Wilson plays an American writer visiting Paris and, at the stroke of midnight, somehow travels back in time, meets up with Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and a host of other writers and artists living in Paris in the 1920's. Directed by Woody Allen. Need I say more?

Then, on Saturday, I went to San Francisco to see two art exhibits featuring the Steins.

I saw Seeing Gertrude Stein: Five Stories at the Jewish Contemporary Museum. It was an interesting look at her life. I then walked across the way to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and saw Steins Collect: Matisse, Picasso, and the Parisian Avant-Garde. Gertrude and two of her brothers collected quite a few pieces from Matisse, Picasso and other artists during their early years. I was amazed at how they were able to collect so many pieces for this exhibit. They were once all together, eventually sold off piece by piece, and then recollected. I thought the exhibit was extremely well curated.

Some of my favorite works from the exhibit:

Flowers, Henri Matisse, 1907
I love the colors!

Soup, Pablo Picasso, 1902
It is not a piece that you would typically assume was by Picasso. I loved the tones of blue in this painting.

I had a great day exploring the city. A few other pictures from my wanderings:

Exterior of St. Patrick Church on Mission Street

St. Patrick Church

Exterior of the Jewish Contemporary Museum - I love the juxtaposition of the old and the new parts of this building

Lobby of the Jewish Contemporary Museum - it is house is an old electric building - a little bit of old and new

The ping pong table was available for fames - part of an exhibit about Jewish ping pong champs during the middle of the 20th century

Interior of the Jewish Contemporary Museum

I had a mid afternoon snack from Beard Papa - a vanilla cream puff! Never been? GO!!

My walk over to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Part of the rooftop sculpture garden at SFMOMA

My restaurant for dinner - a great little find!

Dinner! I had the best corn chowder I've ever had, yummy bruschetta, and a Caesar salad.