CHARMED

Switzerland (Honeymoon Part 1 of 3)

2010-11-22T12:03:00.000-08:00

We still pinch ourselves when we think about our honeymoon.

We had two backpacks, two plane tickets, and no reservations. Literally.
We flew into Zurich, Switzerland - and had a return ticket for 2 weeks later from Pisa, Italy.
Anything in between was up to us and our spur of the moment whim. It was liberating and freeing. With our two travel books, we'd simply decide every morning where we'd like to go to next (or if we'd like to stay where we were) - finding cheap rooms on the fly was not hard - and partaking in 'the chase' was often fun. (we only had ONE close call, in Florence. It was a holiday weekend there, and it took us almost 3 hours to find an available room) ;-) Those are the breaks.

Our adventure as mentioned, began in Switzerland.
From Zurich we took the train to Luzern, a small city on the water.

After a couple days spent strolling the cobblestone streets, eating fondue, and shopping for Swiss watches, we ventured on to one of my most favorite places on this earth. The swiss alps.

There are little villages dotting the alps region - and the only way to reach them are by lift, funicular, or by foot. We slept in the town of Murren, perched on a cliff.

We also spent one day venturing to the top of the Schilthorn. It took a string of the steepest and scariest lift rides I've ever been on in my entire life. We ventured so high, we found ourselves submersed in the clouds.

Even when out of the clouds, we were still only part of the way there. This station ahead was just a stop-over - we had to board yet another lift to finish the journey.

The view from the stop-over station. ALREADY above the clouds! The cable disappears into whiteness........!

Cannot BELIEVE my eyes!

REACHING THE TOP!!!!!

There is a rotating restaurant, commissioned and built originally for one of the early 007 films.

Looking down at the stop-over station.

Drinking cappuccino at 10,000 feet!

Below is the town we stayed in.

On our way to Florence, Italy..........more to come. :-)

A Slice of Our Wedding Day

2010-11-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

There really is no combination of words that can fully convey the joy and happiness of day we wed. Hence, I won't even attempt an intricate account......but I will outline the simple things that when rolled together created a day unlike any other, an experience that elevated to something greater than we ever expected, and memories that we'll cherish and carry with us throughout our life together.

I wore my mother's wedding dress & veil. From 1979. Minor alterations, and it was a dream come true, for both of us I believe.
Our ceremony was short & meaningful. Non-denominational since we were married in a chapel. And every word that was said echoed deep.
We thanked our parents and gave our mother's roses as part of our ceremony, which was one of the most special parts to me.
Everything was homemade or DIY. From the garland hanging behind us at the chapel, to pinecones I gathered up from our backyard and spraypainted. Our felt "H" location marker, chalkboard signs at the reception to direct guests, hand-stamped name cards, tissue poms hung from the beams, aluminum cans I wrapped in happy tape and finished with vintage lace for candle holders, a gift trunk (that I thrifted for $2.50!) hand-decorated with vintage fabrics and homemade bunting, and custom 'merch table' items designed and ordered by yours truly.
Being a professional in Marketing/PR, and having our reception at a barn converted into a state of the art music hall - it came to me naturally that we should 'brand' our wedding (T&S) and also stage a 'merch table' - custom designed pins, wedding 45s (CDs - that I designed to look like records), and custom designed T-shirts.
We ate catered BBQ.
We danced to music that moved us.
Our friend's band played all night.
The dance floor was NEVER empty.
The drinks never stopped flowing, even after the bartender left. A cousin stepped in to continue the service ;-)
After the first couple songs & more 'formal' dances, I kicked off my shoes and was barefoot the entire rest of the night.
The love and energy encapsulated in that music hall was the most wonderfully overwhelming and beautiful feeling you could ever imagine to feel.

May 15, 2010. Since that ethereal glorious day, life has seemed to be a slippery slope of events that have usurped all of our time....in an equally exciting and terrifying way! :-)

More on that later.......in the meantime, I hope you ENJOYED this little slice of one of the happiest and euphoric days of our life.

Announcing.......Baby March!

2010-10-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

IT'S TRUE. We are almost 5 months along!

This evening was one for the family history book.

At 19 weeks, Sean & I not only found out the little being growing in my belly is a baby BOY, but we officially spread the word and announced the big news to everyone outside of our immediate families.

Due March 24th, 2011..........our arms are open and ready to welcome this precious soul.

We love you endlessly already.

Alive

2010-10-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

I'm here. I am!

It's been quite the epic year. I've gotten married in May, embarked on the most magical and dream-like honeymoon to Switzerland & Italy into June, and have since been on a whirlwind of activity.

A HUGE announcement will be made this Thursday evening!

Have a feeling I'll be finding myself back here more regularly - lots to update!

Saturday Night Painting

2010-03-29T06:54:00.001-07:00

I was a fine arts minor back in college........and really, very picky about the artists I truly honestly loved. It's a small handful. As in one person. And that person was Vincent Van Gogh. I was obsessed. I painted his classic "Cafe On The Terrace" about 39 times.

{the Van Gogh Original}

Including a mono-color version sitting on my desk at work done in all blues.

{my BLUES version}

WELL, with a new house and lots of walls to cover, I embarked on an art expedition online to discover a future-new-favorite. And who I found was Gustav Klimt. BEHOLD:

and my personal favorite....

Saturday night, I broke out my stash of paints, brushes, and nabbed a blank canvas from my growing pile and made it happen. Why spend money on a print or re-production? When you can re-create - injecting a smidge of your own style, and enjoy the tangible paint strokes? The true medium it was created in.

I Heart Sparklers

2010-03-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

The Garland Obsession Continues

2010-03-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

Random Excerpts of My Morning

2010-03-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

'Inspiration' slash things I love BOARD at work

Blueberries, oatmeal, vanilla soymilk, splenda........best. breakfast. EVER.

It's my water.

DIY - Custom Designed 1-Inch Button Pins

2010-03-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

Since we're having our reception AT a music venue......I came up with the idea to stage a MERCH area with custom designed wedding-esque wares (of course FREE for guests to take.....)

After coming across Minepress on ETSY......I died a little, and knew I had to order some button pins. What's great is you can send over the photos or text you'd like and have Rebekah arrange for you onto a pin template.....OR you can do what I did, take her blank template and GO TO TOWN creating a custom masterpiece. Absolutely in love. What a conversation starter......and I can't wait for the POKEMON effect to happen with our guests - gotta collect them all!

Got the finished product in the mail yesterday......in love. Will post photos!

Planning Planning Planning

2010-02-24T06:41:00.001-08:00

More inspiration.....

[tissue paper poms]

[monogrammed floral flag]

[hanging lanterns]

[cupcake towers]

[fabric flower garland]

Sigh. So much to do, so little time.

The Plunge

2010-02-07T14:03:00.000-08:00

I think we've given in!

After endless back and forth.....we've decided to NOT run off and elope completely alone for the attractive cost of $50........we've decided to rent a space and throw a party for our wedding. It really would be special to be surrounded by those we love. Not a full-on-traditional 'reception' however.......a rough around the edges laid back live-music EXPERIENCE.

We're looking at a really sweet music venue - and hopefully planning on having a friend's AMAZING band play. I've been up ALL night researching. I want to stay on a strict and tight budget..........and I want it to be DIY/handmade/homemade.......simple, eco-chic.

Some inspiration I've fallen in love with thus far.......

[Clear wine bottles - with gorgeous tapered candles at all different heights......how GORGEOUS and stunningly simple is this. I can hunt these bottles for free and pull this 'centerpiece' idea together for just the cost of candles!]

[Lovely home-made garland!]

Oh man.........the planning commences.

Momma Bear

2010-02-03T08:57:00.000-08:00

My mom is my everything! I don't have enough proper vocabulary to begin to describe how marvelous she is. I affectionately call her my momma bear, and yes, although I am a 25 year old 'grown up' lady, I will always be her BABY BEAR.

On a girls trip to New York City last year, during which I was esteemed tour-guide, my momma pulled her shoulder dragging a suitcase with broken wheels through the maze of staircases and train stations. I to this day feel terrible that I didn't snatch it from her and help more along the way.......because her shoulder has been bothering her ever since. She's recently been getting acupuncture which seems to help. I was thinking what I could possibly do to help in some way. A way that preferably utilized my sewing machine. :-)

I GOT IT. A homemade rice-filled HEAT PACK! (or cold pack - if you pop it in the freezer) All-natural to boot, gotta love that. I excitedly went out to get all of the 'ingredients' for this project. Muslin for the inner sack of rice - linen, felt, velcro, and stuffing for the outer cover. I had a vision. It would be a 'momma bear'.....for the Momma Bear!

I cut out the body and arms -- I specifically wanted to make arms so you would be able to 'wrap' it around and secure it in place of whatever body part.

Sewed around most of the muslin 'sack' and left a little opening to funnel rice in.

TA DA!

This is what ended up happening for the MOMMA BEAR cover:

Velcro on the hands....Excuse my TERRIBLE embroidery skills! :-) haha

And I sewed all 3 sides and left the bottom open with lace strands to tie bottom together, easy access!

A great tip I wish I knew of BEFORE sewing the rice sack closed........is to add some essential oils into the rice and/or potpurri type dried flowers or herbs. Great idea.

Home-Sewed Laptop Sleeve

2010-01-28T19:17:00.000-08:00

I've been extraordinarily busy at work lately. Which I'm happy for - since I absolutely LOVE my job. Being the PR/Marketing person for a branch of doctor's offices doesn't sound like it would be a dream job.....but it certainly is to me, my friends.

It's been chaotic since our practice has merged with another and now we are officially a NEW practice all together - since January 1 2010. I've designed a new logo, announcement ads for the newspaper, written radio spot scripts, and put together press packages to send off.

In my case, I really believe just putting myself out there has served me more than I even realize. My job 'description' has surpassed any kind of outlined list of tasks you can put on paper. I walk through the reception areas in our different offices and my photos are framed and hanging on the walls. I have a make-shift photography studio in the X-RAY department. I update the employee "INTRANET" with my latest photoshop creations (along with the latest news trickling through the office-grape-vine)

I guess I realized that there is only ONE single pretty big negative about my job..............and that would be that the laptop bag they gave me for my computer is like tugging an oversized boat on my back. :-)

This girl can't be weighed down. With 8 different compartments, 20 different straps and formations, and the weight of the bag empty ALONE already being too much. I'm always traveling and moving around and doing things away from my desk......I need to be MOBILE!

After (as always) stalking all of my favorite DIY blogs......and coming across this killer tutorial on how to sew your own laptop sleeve.....the angels sang, and yeah, I {attempted} to do it.

This was a challenge.

I have never taken classes, never been trained or taught, haven't even read books or watched videos on how to sew (which I need to...) I've only READ THE MANUAL that came with my sewing machine and that is literally how I learned to make it work (along with distinct vivid memories in my head of watching my mom sew when I was a little one)

BLUNDER #1 - I sewed the velcro onto the WRONG SIDE of the sleeve. Figures I got perfect stiching too, right? Oh the pain....of having to cut it apart.

BLUNDER #2,3,4,5,6...........-----> - The stiching is uneven, the flap is lopsided, the finishing is less than stellar, and I can name a bunch of other nit-picky details that didn't turn out to perfection.........but the bottom line is - IT WORKS!!!

And I absolutely LOVE IT....love. love. love. I'll only (theoretically) get better from here..........................................maybe....hopefully. perhaps. EEEK!

What should I make next?

Scrappies Dilemma

2010-01-23T18:32:00.001-08:00

I am a DIY-design-blog junkie.

A. JUNKIE.

As in........21 messages on my phone, a pile of work to complete in the next 45 minutes, people stopping by my desk for a quick favor, 3 pages of to-do-lists (99% of the lines highlighted for importance........) yet...........my eyes cannot be peeled away the How-To on creating my own winter hat fashioned out of a crotcheted rectangle of yarn and a puff ball.

Anything I can make on the cheap that looks outrageously fabulous and endlessly interesting is something I am obsessed with.

With my new sewing-love I'm finding myself surrounded by tons of little scraps of fabric.....which I cannot bring myself to throw away.

WHAT DO I DO WITH THESE SCRAPS?!!?!?

Solution #1 {of I'm sure a million}
- Sew them onto homemade Thank You cards!

FOCUS

2010-01-22T08:43:00.001-08:00

A freak stomach-virus has swept through my household. I stayed home in bed sick all day yesterday....dragged my butt into work today, although I remain half-un-concious and hazy....floating through the day under a slow cloud of Tylenol PM and general weakness.

I find myself unable to focus.......and have just been staring blankly at my wall for some inspiration. I have SO MUCH WORK TO DO!

This Is Going To Be Dangerous

2010-01-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

Well I'm happy to report I've been logging in some quality time with my NEW SEWING MACHINE. (a most lovely gift from my future mother in law)

I've read the manual front to back, scowered the internet reading sewing blogs and looking up how-to's.....I've become well acquainted with Jo-Ann Fabrics....and I think I single-handedly cleared out the soon-to-be-obsolete fabric department at my local Wal-Mart as everything was marked down to $1.50/yard. The poor man who had to stand there and cut yard after yard after yard asked if I was making a quilt - with all that fabric! I happily proclaimed NOPE - I DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW HOW TO SEW!!!! :-) To which I think his reaction was bitterness and confusion.

.......but guess what, once I grasp what the hell I'm doing, I'll have plentyyyyyyy of fabric to do it!

At this point we all know I've made a headband, showcased in my last post. Well the options of what I can make for you haven't evolved TOO much.

I can offer you a too-small-pair of pajama pants that are awfully tight and tugging-off-to-one-side around the crotch......

{Using my Love's OLD pair of pajama pants even as a 'guide'.....and my pants just came out all wrong}

...or I can offer you a somewhat mis-shapen but well-intentioned clutch that can be dressed up or down.

ALRIGHT, I'll admit for only sewing 4 items previously to this clutch IN MY LIFE, I will say I am secretly {now, openly} proud. It's pretty sweet.

I've been through some terrible threading/tension mistakes

BUT stayed committed and would eventually get the hang of it....

WHAT SHOULD I MAKE NOW?

What's good for a beginner?

The Blur Ends

2010-01-07T07:29:00.000-08:00

TOTAL BLUR! So much has happened in December, my mind spins thinking about it all!

My soon-to-be husband purchased a new car (Toyota Yaris, now there is 2 in our garage! Luckily NOT matching.......because that would obviously be lame) This was not a completely voluntary action. It was necessary after his dinosaur from 1993 pooped the bed for the very last time.......THE MONDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS. With our job locations and schedules, there is no possible way to operate with one vehicle in the family. And I just had a quick deja-vu of last Christmas/Winter when 3 of his 4 tires POPPED within the span of two weeks.....and I had AAA on speed dial and was approaching stalker status with our tow truck guy. WE WERE OVER IT.
It happened like magic, browsed local listings online, printed out the one he wanted, went to the dealership and within a few hours he DROVE OFF THE LOT in it :-) JUST BEAUTIFUL......and meant to be. 2:30pm he's calling me in a ferociously bad mood.......8pm same day he's shreiking in excitement driving his new car off the lot. Best (& worst) day ever? Life can be so low....and turn so high at the drop of a hat.

As expected, the holidays (and in-turn, VACATION) has blurred by in a flash, I've been back at work for 3 days, wondering where the time went and wishing it could have lasted much much longer. Now that I have to be GETTING MARRRIED (!!!) it was our first official Christmas ON ROTATION.

This year was Christmas in New York, and next year will be with my family here in New Hampshire.......continue the pattern. Which I am happy for! I love visiting New York, seeing all of his family and friends, and MY friends who I still keep in touch from my time living there.

We celebrated almost a week early with my father.

Then the issue is - my mother's BIRTHDAY is CHRISTMAS EVE! How amazing yet terrible is that. I took her out to lunch to her favorite place - TOKYO STEAK HOUSE - where they cook on the table right in front of you :-) THEN later that night we went to her house for a yummo Christmas Eve dinner (yummo obviously because I MADE IT.........big lasagna!)

{Mom & Brother}

I have to see my mom on the double-whammy of special days.....so we ended up LEAVING to drive down to New York past 1am - on Christmas MORNING.

Didn't arrive in New York until 5:30am.....luckily my love DROVE......while I attempted sleep. I was going on a string of sleepless nights - staying up to get all of my big home made GIFT BASKETS together and all of my cooking/baking & wrapping.

I only got a picture of the CRANBERRY ORANGE WALNUT BISCOTTI I made :-) This is before cutting into diagonal slices and baking once again for the crispness. And here is the final PRODUCTS!!!

A SAVORY basket containing:
Homemade Sauce,
Whole Wheat Pasta,
Champagne (some baskets had wine),
cheddar popcorn, and a small photo album of pictures from the last year.

A SWEET basket containing:
Homemade Peanut Butter Balls (PB, sugar, rice krispy balls, dipped in melted chocolate!)
Homemade 7 Layer Bars (graham cracker, chocholate chips, coconut flakes, sweetened condensed milk)
Caramel Popcorn
Homemade Cranberry Orange Walnut Biscotti
Homemade Peppermint Bark
Jar of Sugar Free Jam, for those wanting sweet without the fat!

These are........TERRIBLE photos. However, I WAS IN THE BLUR!

ANYWAYS........we arrived in New York at 5:30am Christmas Morning......and walked into a CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND. SO MAGICAL. Sean's mother seriously goes ALL out with her decor for the holidays, lights & garland strung everywhere, over doorways, on staircases, on the mantle, just everywhere (inside AND outside), the tree is always lovely, and there is no detail overlooked. She had left all of the lights on inside so when we walked in we would see - and be entranced. It was such a special moment.....gorgeous.

After admiring all of the decorations we immediately fell into bed and furiously tried to get as much sleep as possible before waking up for the big day! Before we knew it our noses woke us up.......to the smell of YUMMYNESS cooking in the kitchen! Eggs, bacon, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, coffee, orance juice........mmmmmm. And of course THIS is the scene we stumble upon when walking out to the living room.

LOVELY. It was a perfect morning, visiting and catching up with Sean's parents, and his brother and brother's wife - who came over for the morning. SOOO. PERFECT.

{My Mom&Pop #2)

Perfect company, perfect setting, and such thoughtful cards and gifts were exchanged. This was to us from Sean's parents:

Since we've moved to New Hampshire, Sean has been wanting to snowboard. We worked as a sneaky team and got Sean everything he needs! Snowboarding Jacket, Snowboarding Pants......and of course an ACTUAL snowboard!!

I got an amazingly stocked CRAFT organizer with a craft-lover's DREAM ASSORTMENT of items! Tons of designer papers, professional cutters, designer scissors, punches, stamps, stickers. You name it, it was in there. And to top it all off.......my large gift was a NEW SEWING MACHINE..........I still interally scream inside when I talk about it. I've been wanting my own sewing machine for the longest time. Because......I DONT know how to sew. But I've ALWAYS wanted to learn. I even saved a big bag of old clothes (with sweet PRINTS that I still loved) so that I could cut them up and sew them into something new and useful. Needless to say I got some time earlier this week to sit down, read the entire handbook, and TEACH myself how to get going.........and I MADE A HEADBAND. Which was so exciting to me, people were probably worried something is off in my brain.

ANYWAYS

Christmas Morning was simply lovely. The doggie lay nearby staring out the window as we tore everything open.

THEN, Sean's brother and sister-in-law went back to their house to prepare a LARGE YUMMO CHRISTMAS DINNER -- we'd re-convene that night at their house, which was equally GORGEOUS and decorated to the NINES. In the meantime, we cleaned up, got showered and dressed up pretty, dabbled with our gifts, and had some delightful conversation. OH, and me and my Mommy #2 decorated a GINGER BREAD BOY.

We drive over to Sean's brother's house................walk in......and THIS. IS. THEIR. TREE.

the end. It's over 10 feet tall.

We all sat down to eat dinner, and the table was covered in jewel-tones feather trees.

{Soon-t0-be brother & sister in-law)

ATE a delicious meal......and like any other holiday, wanted to immediately roll over and lay down. My love.....

Before we had to drive back home to New Hampshire I got to see my bestesttttttttt friend from college, MELISSA. We lived across the hall from each other in the dorms in college, we went to school together, we worked together at the mall (Williams-Sonoma!) -- so we were always together. Living, working, school. She's one in a MILLION!

We sadly had to come home......hard to say goodbye to all of our loved ones in New York. However we were brought some MAJOR JOY with the task of DOG-SITTING for my cousin! Her mostttttttttttttttttt adorably amazing MALTI-POO, named Rags. He melted ALL OF OUR HEARTS.

And now I'm trying to savor the last days of having OUR OWN decorations up in our house :-) OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS IN OUR FIRST HOUSE! Soaking it up......

This is going to be QUITE the year.

Happy Holidays <3

2009-12-24T07:21:00.000-08:00

A Wall Display For $25 Or Less!

2009-11-19T07:30:00.000-08:00

Whenever I'm thrifting-sniffing-around one thing I always make a point to look for is old frames WITH matting included - if you find a framed photo that's matted, PARTICULARLY CUSTOM matted - blind your eyes away from whatever shade and texture of ugly the frame is - and how terrible the photo is.

You've struck gold!

Matting is really the element that catapults your framing into a higher level of sophistication - and unless you are crafty enough to buy and cut your own mats, or are fine with purchasing the selection of pre-cut run-of-the-mill-sized mats - it's pretttttty pricey to have professionally and CUSTOM done.

So here we are -- I found a very LARGE CUSTOM matted and framed (puke brown) photo (a duck....from the 80s.....an 80's duck). It cost me $4.50.

Throw in a couple of knick-knack wall-hangings I got over a year ago and quickly fell into hating.....and a cheap gold-framed mirror - ALSO being sold for peanuts.

I gathered up the motley crew and spray painted ALL of them the same glossy black.

Picked up some 89-cent sheets of designer paper from the craft store.......and used old black ribbon I've had laying around to cover the seams of different cuts of paper in an interesting proportion. Tape it up - and you have a COHESIVE group that collectively makes an impressive wall display.

ALL FOR UNDER $25!!!!!!!!

Modernizing The Queen - Part 2

2009-11-18T20:57:00.000-08:00

I DID IT! And completely by myself at that! It required some diligent measuring, many swipes with the stud finder, heavy duty hooks, and a steady hand.......BUT I DID IT.

Feeling accomplished :-) My $10 goodwill-find-transformed is looking stunning.

Modernizing The Queen - Part 1

2009-11-17T12:45:00.000-08:00

So while on one of my thirft-scouting-adventures I spotted the following amazingly fabulous mirror at goodwill.........for $10. $10!!!!

One thing I love to do is mix throw in antiquey/old/worn items randomly into our mostly clean and modern designed home decor. What is more classic than a curvy "Queen Victoria" mirror? I honestly have no idea if that's the proper name for this shape mirror, however we're gonna go with it.

ANYWAYS - Of course it was not only a disturbingly bright shade of orangey brown when I found this little gem......it was worn on the top and reminded me of a musty basement. Nothing a little surface cleaner, elbow grease, and black paint can't solve!

I had already begun painting/staining with the black paint in these pictures - however you can still see the NEON-ISH hue of the original stain on the inside lip.

I will have Part 2 up shortly hopefully. I had finished fully painting/staining with the black to my liking - and hope to hang this sucker up over our dining area table this evening...........knock on wood! The thing HAS to weigh like 20lbs and may involve anchors if there aren't studs where I need them to be. Sigh. Fingers crossed!!!

The Ring

2009-11-15T12:40:00.000-08:00

Green Amethyst & Diamonds!

I Confess (Unhealthy Fixation on Frippery)

2009-11-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

Seriously, I have officially stooped to an all-new shockingly horrifying low.

I am utterly embarrassed, amused, confused, stunned, and in disbelief as I prepare to divulge the following information.

This morning I was in a frenzy to peel myself out of our pillowy-cloud of a bed, get myself presentable for the day, hair, make-up, pack my lunch (chicken stir fry! my first attempt in life to make it and I have to say it was a rather yummmmmy success) ----------- I grab my multitude of bags (including hand-, computer-, lunch-, and make-up-)....jump in the car, rush to work and of course I had to get here at 9:01am. OH-ONE. One minute late, I'll cut my losses.

I'm going about my morning, chugging down my jug of coffee, eating my banana, going through emails......I throw my hand up to my face and lean in on my elbow - today is one of those days! All of a sudden, as I'm unconciously tugging on my ear........I realize........I forgot to put EARRINGS ON.

Necklace on. Oversized ridiculous costumey ring on.

No. Earrings.

I GASPED!!!! I literally grabbed my desk and had a moment of statue-esque stillness, my eyes wide - a quick panic - and an immediate string of possible solutions! Drive home? Do I have an extra pair in my bag? In my car? THE HORROR! How many people have seen me this morning? I feel like I came into work NAKED. My skin crawled and tingled in nervousness. AND to make matters worse - I am wearing my hair BACK on this particular day....just showcasing those naked ears even more.

WELL......I did it people. I DID IT. I went, on my lunch break, to the next exit up on the highway.....and bought a pair of simple stud earrings....

I can't help but feel like some kind of irrational addict. WHO DOES THAT???? Apparently me.

Sneakily I attempted to sashay my way back into the office and to my desk like nothing happened - crisis averted - a huge weight off of my shoulders now - my offending lobes were covered. All is right in the world again.

Should I even attempt to wrap my head around all the levels of wrong here?
What can I say. I'm a piece of work.

DIY Glam Silver Canvas Tiles

2009-11-05T12:10:00.000-08:00

As with any home, ours is still a work in progress. I have so many projects I’d like to do! I should really stop for a minute, step back, and be proud of everything we’ve accomplished so far.

After years and years of living in college dorms with white brick walls, and then strings of white-shoe-box apartments in New York City, I vowed to myself that the day I finally had a place of my own, every single inch of it would be PAINTED IN A COLOR. No more white walls ever again! Life is wayyyyy too short for me to be blinded by the white!!!!

Well, we’re on our way to achieving that dream of mine. The most important and large rooms are painted. However the bathrooms are still sadly weepy and stark in white. I've done some punches of color to tide me over for now -- and here is the DIY step by step for these fabulous damask canvas 'tiles' I did for our master bathroom. Hmmm....I'm thinking we’ll most likely pull a color for the walls from the awesomely hippie-hemp-esque stiched shower curtain we have up. Sage green? Wheat taupe? Chocolaty brown? Stay tuned for that.

All you need for this extremely easy wall-decor-project? Four items.

Canvas (any size or shape you'd like)
Silver spray paint
Damask stencil (or any stencil you like - widely available at craft stores)
Paint & brush (your favorite colors!)

Standing on the Edge

2009-11-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

Have you ever stopped and wondered where this seemingly ‘age-old’ tradition and inherent list of “set steps” for getting married came from?

Don’t you remember reading those elder novels in high school speaking of women’s dowries? What exactly happened in this world that caused the tradition of handing over your little girl and her most pricey possessions as a perk to the lucky man – to the lucky man now emptying his bank account and handing your little girl a shiny rock to display on her finger?

What’s it all mean anyways? What’s the significance? Do we just accept it because lots of people in the world follow the same suit and have been for decades…so that’s what is proper to do?

Call me a cynic or call me a modern day woman. This wedding hoopla just isn’t for me. AT ALL.

I think we decided we’re eloping on the summit of a mountain. Preferably near a cliff. Not so we can jump afterwards (you negative nancy’s!) but more to remind us at that moment of the overwhelming forces of nature and how overwhelming the fact we’ve found each other is. On top of the world and standing on the edge. Literally & figuratively. Imagine? Quick, simple, laid back, easy, relaxing, and focused. I love it. Done.

"Wearing a ring on the fourth finger of the left hand dates far back to ancient Egypt, where it was believed that the vena amoris (the vein of love) ran from that finger directly to the heart."

"A great marriage is like a long conversation that always seems too short."

DIY Art Prints

2009-10-31T20:49:00.000-07:00

The best part about having our own space in this world - whether it be a single room, an apartment, a house, an RV -whatever space is completely and utterly yours....the best part is the freedom we hold to pick and choose what we would like to surround ourselves with and look at everyday of our lives.

What makes you happy? What's your favorite color? What makes you smile? Reminds you of special memories? What is your creative vision?

Well, the biggest shock to me personally about people's selections for their homes - is when the walls are decorated with store-bought-dime-a-dozen-generic-general-just-because art/photo prints.

Admittedly, I am a photographer and have a professional side-photography-business (www.charmbytasha.com) in addition to my full-time duties as a publicist - however I promise making a beautifully original custom art photo print is easy as pie.

Step 1 - Take a photo. Since this is an ART print objective - your photo should be of a place or thing that holds special meaning to you- and for better abstract-art-effect, it should be a close up - zoom in to the little bit that is just your favorite. The bit that drew you to think of this special place or thing. If you're unable to zoom in as far as you'd like, try an interesting and unexpected angle.

{I was in California last Thanksgiving for my lovely cousin's wedding. In the guest room I was sleeping in was this STUNNING chandelier....it was such a special trip, a whirlwind, a welcomed break from my life on the east coast - and as I drifted off to sleep this is the angle I would see the chandelier from and I just thought it was gorgeous and needed to be captured in an image - when I see this now I don't just see a chandelier - I see all of the memories from this trip playing back in my mind.}

Step 2 - Upload it to your computer & using a photo editing program (I use photoshop, but for the basic beginner - you can use the editing option in your iPhoto, or an online simple FREE photo editing program like BE FUNKY, which is amazing - www.befunky.com/create/ - or picknik or FotoFlexer) -- and just simply play with color hue, contrast, saturation, and effects. Press all the buttons you can and SEE WHAT HAPPENS. :-) You'll eventually land on an effect and color you love, and voila - a home made art print is born!

Step 3 - Order prints, frame & hang! And again for large prints I can't stress enough how incredible perfectposters.com is. So affordable, ships the same day, and so many options for print material - just fabulous.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Happy Halloween-EVE!

2009-10-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

I flippin' love Halloween.

{ode of the kitchen towels - and NOTE: my fool proof BAMBOO! I don't lie!}

I will be closing this laptop and in about 2 seconds I'll be sinking into that couch right there....looking greatly foward to relaxing in front of our newly installed eco-friendly and energy efficient pellet stove. Best invesment. Ever. I just have to say if you're looking into alternative heating - pellets are marvelous. So affordable, renewable, and you still get that flame that gives you the cozy homey "gather 'round and snuggle in" feeling. Just in love. We'll see what winter brings....but theoretically only $500 worth of pellets is all it will take to keep our little dream home heated for the season!

Oh.......and did I mentioned I got engaged on my birthday? {10/21.....no wonder October is my favorite}

Whatta week.

<3

The Green-Thumb-Gene (& lack thereof)

2009-10-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

Did anyone else not inherit their family's green-thumb-gene? Am I the only one over here leaf-ily-challenged?

What is it specifically about the concept of:
#1 dig a hole.
#2 plant something.
#3 water it so it doesn't die.

That I don't get?

It IS that easy, right? 1,2,3. Ugh.

Perhaps it's more horrifyingly embarrassing for me that I need fool-proof bamboo desktop plants (that actually SAY on the tag....NO DIRECT LIGHT and barely needs water so don't worry if you forget for 2 and a half months) because I grew up in a house that could in all likelihood qualify as the next great rain forest after the Amazon. With all of my mom's floor plants and hanging plants and table plants.....seriously, walking up the stairs into the living room might feel to a stranger like hiking in a heavily wooded national park.

Now this is not to make fun of my green-thumbed mother - oh no. I'm in AWE of this magnificent woman!!! I just don't know how she does it. Her yard is a botanical garden. Any and all colors you can imagine, the widest array of most beautiful plants, trees, flowers, it never ends, you can spend hours marveling at her work...I've told her many-a-times she should start charging $5 at the beginning of the driveway to enter.

Me on the other hand......ugh depressing! I'm not giving up though! Dreams of a grand garden - where I can pick my own herbs and veggies - will happen.....eventually.

Until then, I guess I'm fine enjoying my lovely (&fake) lillies ;-)

DIY Graphic Headboard

2009-10-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

When we moved out of our apartment and into our house, I had a grand vision. Everything would be home-made, re-purposed, re-made, hand-crafted, and all considered 1-of-a-kind via my thrift-loving ways and DIY addiction.

Nothing more I hate than a home that looks like a cookie-cutter-show-room.

Exhibit #1 - One of my first orders of business was to create a dreamy master bedroom. That evokes the feeling of floating on a cloud and serenely calms your bones the minute you walk in. When I think of a dreamy state I think of things becoming blurry......that lapse of time in between falling asleep and fully waking up where your eyes aren't focused.

This train of thought led me to thinking about FADED LIGHTS.....and their soft glow. How I would love to always be surrounded by that.

I dragged out our strings of Christmas lights - in the dead of spring - and after the sun set, I secluded myself into the darkest corner and snapped a string of shots.

After selecting my favorite shot, I just brought up the picture in photoshop and played around with the color hue.

In the end I wanted the hue to match the exact color of our room - however this could be really great for contrasting colors - a stunning statement that would stand out. After finalizing my color hue, measuring around the bed and nailing down the perfect size print - I headed to my favorite printing website -- www.perfectposters.com.

Don't be fooled by the lackluster website! Don't be put off by the non-fancy format! This service absolutely delivers - at an extraordinarily low price. You can order poster size prints for a mere $8. Since a headboard is a special focal point in a bedroom, I sprung to get this printed on CANVAS. Once my gorgeous canvas print arrived I embarked on stretching & staple-gunning it myself onto a wood frame (this included the first staple being excellently lodged into my hand) and after a few bandaids, help from the Mr., and some frusterating sighs...........VOILA!

The photos are from when we first moved in - hence the BARE-ness. There's been many-a-changes made in this room and some lovely additions. Also - we've painted ALL of the walls that soft jade color -- keep your eyes peeled for dream-state-bedroom-pictoral-update!

Today Is That Day

2009-10-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

Hersheys. Ghiradelli. Godiva. Lindt. German chocolate. Belgian chocolate. Swiss Chocolate. Haut-Designer Chocolate to generic store-brand chocolate chips. Chocolate fondue to chocolate syrup. Chocolate chip cookies to chocolate cake.

I'm sorry, but some days I really do believe chocolate - of any brand/lightness/darkness/texture......is the answer.

Who cares what the question is?

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever (proclaimed by me)

2 sticks of butter at room temperature (vitally important!)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract (I'm big on flavor)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups chocolate chips (plus a couple extra handfuls for good luck!)

Simple enough, the run of the mill blend the butter with the sugar, once creamy add the rest of the wet ingredients, slowly add the dry ingredients until all incorporated - then dump in ALL OF THAT CHOCOLATE. Extra handfuls necessary. And why not throw in some white chocolate chips for good measure.

Bake 350 degrees about 8 minutes (I like my cookies slightly UNDERcooked and chewyyyyy)
That perfect world right in between eating cookie dough and fully crumbly cookies.

YUM.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Charm By Tasha - Professional Photography

2009-10-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

CHARM by Tasha

{professional photography}

Quarter Life

2009-10-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

Today is indeed the day my lovely mother borned me into this world - 25 years ago.

VINTAGE ME

25 years on this earth I have lived, and it's quite extraordinary to think of what a human can experience in this amount of time. What realizations are reached, what things are learned, what people are met, what situations we're faced with, what range of emotions we feel, what level of self-awareness and world-awareness we achieve.

Growing up in a wonderful town, a beautiful state, surrounded by an endlessly kind, loving, and supportive family, making lifelong friends in elementary school, living in Germany with a marvelous family, traveling all over the world, moving to New York and living my big city dreams, graduating college with a degree I'm passionate about (public relations&photography), meeting my perfect match and falling in love, landing my dream job in my hometown of all places in the world, buying a home, achieving what I've always worked hard for....

I couldn't think of a better life and I'm so thankful, especially today, for everything, everyone, every memory, every adventure past and every adventure waiting to happen. CHEERS! To the next 25 years - I will love, I will push myself to uncomfortable limits, I will take risks and chances, I will travel, I will seize the day, I will make sure everyone I love knows I love them every time I'm able to tell them, I will cook new recipes, I will up my crafty-ante and challenge my creative brain, I will continue living in the moment, I will give, I will make people happy and help whenever I can, and, unfortunately, I will learn to love running on a treadmill. With surfing over for the season, I needed a cheap winter sport...and this new treadmill of mine was too good of a deal at $399 - on sale, plus coupons, plus no tax in New Hampshire. Beats an outrageous monthly gym membership! I'm running into the next quarter of my life!

ME & BABY BROTHER!!!

Childhood home

Oh godddd

My besttttttt friends, junior high mall trip

Beautiful MOMMA!

Poppa!

Little Brother

Mom in the middle, Aunts, Nana, Cousin

My love, surfing portrait

SMOOCH!

At the FAIR!

Our little dream home <3>

Me & Baby Brother, this past weekend

A self-portrait painting from college....how telling ;-)

Diet Coke Cupcakes

2009-10-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

There's nothing I love more than the warmth and smell that permeates your home when something yummy is baking in the oven.

The thing about baking is the general consensus is it's time consuming - to schlepp all of your needed materials out - measure, mix, beat, add, mix more, add more, let sit, put in the fridge to chill, mix again, add more, finally get baking.

My friends, THIS IS THE ANSWER. The answer to all the times you fall through the door, home from a long draining day at work - and have zero effort left for crafting anything fancy, but have an insatiable craving for something sweet and not from 7-11. This is the answer to that diet you're on - where you think you can't have a cupcake! And this is the answer to all of you lazy @$e$ out there who can make this, and insanely impress people who underestimate you.

This is all it takes to make some freakin delicious (& healthIER) cupcakes!

1 box reduced sugar store-bought cake mix
1 can (12oz) of diet coke

THE END.
Mix it together, slap it into your cupcake pan, bake according to the box directions. Boom.
DIET COKE. Man, who is the genius who thought of this?

If you're really feeling like an over-achiever - adding a packet of instant Jell-O pudding is rumored to make your cupcakes even more chewy and moist.

These corresponding pairings work fabulously.

Chocolate cake mix & diet coke (optional: chocolate Jell-O pudding mix)
Vanilla cake mix & diet gingerale (pictured ABOVE - optional: vanilla Jell-O pudding mix)
Strawberry cake mix & diet raspberry (optional: lemon Jell-O pudding mix)

Baby Carrots

2009-10-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

A sandwich bag full of baby carrots is a staple in my lunch pail. Just kidding, I don't use a lunch pail, I usually just throw stuff haphazardly into a leftover plastic grocery bag. Which needs to change because that's no kind of stable support for food swimming around in Tupperware containers. I'm holding out for one of those fancy neoprene designer BYO lunch bags. Such as below:

In any case, as usual I digress.

Baby carrots. Now my first thought when it comes to carrots brings me back to Gerlingen, Germany. When I was a young eager girl (hey wait, I still am!) - well, back in the earlier 2000's - I wanted to live in a foreign place and assimilate completely into the local everyday life. So I participated in an exchange program and lived with a family in southern Germany. A family of four, the Boehmlers, complete with a doggie and elder Oma living just down the street. I have to say, grandparent's houses are universally alike. They all have some type of musty old-people odor, the fridge always has some type of odd juice, and the color scheme is always from the 70's.

My german host parents were pretty damn hip. They owned a Metalbau (a metal-work company), they were well off, energetic, so welcoming, and full of zest for life. I loved this family, including their daughter who happened to be right around my age - absolutely PERFECT placement I have to say on behalf of the exchange program. She was my instant-german-BFF. Gerlingen is a 'burb right outside of the city of Stuttgart - easy access - and she spent the entirety of my many months living with them showing me every facet of her life and region.

Now Momma Boehmler when you first met her looked a little bit shockingly tan. I never pictured Germans having such a glow - with a slightly orange tint. By the end of my time there it was clear how she achieved this look - and it's been branded into my brain forever.

Every single night, after we finished our dinner of sausages, assorted cheeses, little baby pickles, and yumm-o fresh bread and butter.......Momma Boehmler would take stance behind the big countertop peninsula in the kitchen, and whip out the juicer. She would then proceed to plop down a monstrous bag of HUGEEE thick long stalky carrots - still covered in dirt, still with leaves attached, as if she had walked in straight from yanking them out of the farmer's tended ground. She peeled them all in a flash - astoundingly quickly - and would begin shoving each one down into the juicer. By the end of her pile she had a JUG of carrot juice at her fingertips.......and yes, she would drink every last drop.

This occurence happened.......every single night.

And this occurence.....caused her to have orange skin. And this is a not a joke. She knew it - owned it - and was even proud of it! Her carrot-juice-drinking-self. It's healthy for you - (insert illustrious list of health benefits here)

So I sit here at lunch everyday....and as I crunch into my first baby carrot my mind always shoots back to my orange german. And then I wonder if I keep eating carrots everyday at lunch, will my skin achieve a shade of orange too? Good thing I stick with the babies, and it's only a sandwich bag full, not a sack full.

I also wonder if anyone would take some baby carrots if I did a carrot bowl instead of a candy bowl at my desk.

Scanned in from the ye-old-days of developing actual film

My exchange program counselor - who I'd check in with periodically about how things were going

I WILL find some photos of my actual host family :-) And I'll have new ones soon anyways as they're currently in the US and I'll be seeing them this weekend - for the first time in years!

The Slump

2009-10-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

IT'S dreadful, unpleasant, periodic, involuntary, unavoidable, and at this point we can all deduce that IT'S an inherent part of basic human nature.

"It" is: being engulfed in a SLUMP.

A slump, or “trudging through a valley on my way back up to the hills” as I like to call it, generally lasts a few days. You know the onslaught has occurred when you encounter a handful of select telltale signs, one being when you wake up and begin ready-ing yourself for the day you all of a sudden feel like a lazy-aimless-slow-moving Zeppelin, looking down into the stadium of rallying ill-fitting-clothes, shouting, shaking their big #1-SLUMP foam fingers at you. Or rather, perceived to be “ill-fitting” clothes at the moment, because I’m pretty sure it’s virtually impossible to gain 5 pounds in a 24 hour period. (however, I always say never underestimate the core-shocking habits of Americans – need I point to the latest TLC show:
“My Monkey Baby”….documenting a Tennessee couple who are raising a capuchin monkey wearing a dress, lipstick, and eyeshadow, named Jessica. Literal quote from the ‘dad’ – “She’s not a monkey, she’s my daughter!” Another gem he directed at the ‘mom’ – “She looks just like you!” )

I digress.

Uncomfortable in anything for some preposterous reason, you throw on ‘whatever’ and just get going. However even after a jug of caffeine, your morning POWERBAR, and some internal-cheering-for-yourself, you look at the clock – 11am – annnnnnnnd yup, you’re still slumping. Why is everyone and everything SO painfully annoying today? Why is looking at someone in the eye and enduring verbal communication so repulsive? (hi, and my JOB is public relations, what is THIS girl supposed to do?) Why so pessimistic today? You’re normally always an endless fountain of sunshine.

You start second guessing everything about yourself. Are you trying hard enough? Period? In Life? Are you working up to par? Are you eating healthy enough? Are you getting enough REM sleep? Are you exercising enough? Are you not doing a good enough job keeping in touch with friends? When’s the last time you visited Nana? Are you happy? Are you on the right path? Are you making every day meaningful? Did you make the right decisions? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!!!!

Normally when this periodic slump/crisis comes around, I re-evaluate, I look at things objectively, and most importantly I get a haircut.

I am an advocate for risks. What is more liberating when you’re overly consumed with the-meaning-of-life – than to stand on the edge of it all and take a huge risk, push yourself to an uncomfortable limit, and remind yourself of your mortality? It’s a quick perspective that pushes all of the trivial-worrying to zero.

For me, the quickest, most affordable, and always exciting risk-therapy is to get a drastic haircut. It’s just the gift that keeps on giving. Chop this, layer that, color here. Boom – a transformation.

Alright, I know you’re thinking getting a haircut isn’t risky and it’s certainly not “living on the edge” – but for me personally it’s the game-changer to knock me into the next greater mind-set – where soon thereafter I’m searching out all of the REAL possible risks I can take. The person who walked in feeling like a less-than-esteemed-glob, walks out with a kick in their step, a new image to showcase to the world, and a revived attitude that life is constantly changing – so let’s go with the flow and find something new that I’ve never done before. A new layer to add to my already heavily mosaic-ed life.

Of course I always come out of the slump realizing I didn’t gain 5 pounds, all of my clothes do fit – and I’m always especially loving the NEW items I purchased DURING my slump…..and yes I can have a day where I don’t want to exert effort to talk to other humans, and yes I try very hard, and I do my best work, and I eat quite healthy, alright – I could use more quality REM sleep, but I always make an effort to exercise in one way or another, and I keep excellent contact with friends, and I’ll visit Nana this week. I am happy. Exceedingly happy actually, and very lucky. I’m on A path, and it’s a pretty damn good one so I’m not going to complain. And since I refuse to regret anything in my life, I’m going to say I always make the right decisions according to my gut at the time.

This was a particularly good slump I have to say. The great slump of October 2009. I’m bidding it farewell and it’s bittersweet. We start new chapters all the time. Big chapters, tiny chapters – in a lifetime we’ll have lived through millions of chapters. I know this particular small slump and following new chapter had to have been set on by some recent key elements – namely one of my best friend’s since pre-school getting married and jetting off to her honeymoon. Can you think of reality giving you a bigger smack in the face than your childhood friend getting hitched? A bright red flashing light in your face and alarms sounding all around you - TIMES ARE A-CHANGIN'!!! This same best friend also lost over 100 pounds in the last two years and literally looks like an utterly different person. Awe-inspiring to say the least – it was incredible to see her hard work culminate on her wedding day. OVERWHELMING actually to think of our long history in life and the paths we've both traveled. It’s impossible not to turn the magnifying glass onto yourself and wonder what limits you can break within you. Additionally, my other half is away for a 2nd week of business in Maine. And oh you know……I happen to be turning 25 shortly. So here is Tasha, left alone to stew on all these developments and over-analyze.

A smattering of conclusions have emerged for me. I’m going to appreciate all of my times slumping during life – because they make reaching the hills of revelation that much more of a overflowingly enjoyable experience. I will forever continue to indulge in hair-invoked-therapy. It works. I’m going to make a concerted effort to discover one new thing every month, and challenge myself every day.

And I’m buying a treadmill.

Best Friends Since Childhood......MARIANNE - THEN in 2006 - and her now husband, Sterling

Marianne - NOW - and Sterling, last week

Best Friends

It's the Most Wonderul Time of the Year

2009-10-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

And we're not talking about Christmas.

We're talking about the REALLY most wonderful time of the year. At least in the book of Haddad.

It's the yellow-electric-hues, the neon orange hues, the blood red hues. The crisp wispy air. The perfect chill that makes snuggling under a blanket just THAT much more enjoyable. The pumpkins. The corn. The crispy leaves. The costumes. The CREATIONS!

It's my birthday month. It's mysterious, full of fright, full of family memories, and full of annual apple picking. Jack-o-lanterns. Black cats. Witches. Candy. Hay-rides. Haunted houses.

Seriously, can someone name me a month and corresponding-happenings that could ever possibly beat this?

Admittedly, I've fallen off of the costume-band-wagon in recent years, however the discovery of the following astounding design by a MAC make-up artist has truly inspired me. I've never seen anything like it.

Speechless.

Additionally, I've done some serious research on a subject vitally important at this time. And I'm referring to my research on pumpkin carving. Who came up with this idea of pumpkin-stacking? Flippin' genius. Two pumpkins stacked, stars carved, and a lovely winding creepy black tree is painted on to bind the pieces together. Love. I'm also newly obsessed with white pumpkins. So mod man.

Life Is Not a Journey, It's an Adventure

2009-09-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

Life is a funny bastard. It's just donned on me in this past year.

I was always the girl who had a mapped out trajectory for my life. 5 years, 10 years, 15 years. I was researching college in junior high, I was looking up average salaries for my career in high school, by the time I finished six internships and Hofstra University graduation rolled around, I had landed my "dream job". Everything went perfectly according to plan.

It's the age old story - that hard workin' determined gal gets everything she's wanted for years, and whoops! Ends up loathing every aspect of it. The reality FAR from matches the fantasy in your head. What to do with life now?

One year later I look at where I am sitting and the adventure I've been on, how drastically a human life can change in 12 months.

ONE YEAR AGO:
I was working as an entry-level (aka slave) Publicist at MS&L Worldwide. One of the top PR firms in....the world. I skipped along to work in Times Square, 52nd & Broadway. And by skipped I really mean paid $400/mo in train tickets and took the commuter train, subway, and walked 4 blocks totaling almost 2 hours each way. I was living with my boyfriend and his family in Oceanside, Long Island - which was only supposed to be a transitional few months between graduation and me finding a place - but not so. I had to spend so much money on trains to commute while also paying my boyfriend's parents rent - it was impossible to save.

I had an impressively large office. And by office I mean cubicle. My large cubicle was marked by balloons when I first started as the cube-farm was so expansive when you looked out yonder there was just no knowing which box belonged to you. I worked on the PR for Febreze. Dabbled in a little Swiffer. And towards the end of my time there, was added onto the Brother team. Brother....famous for their sewing machines. We did the PR for so many well-known businesses. Heineken! Match.com! Charmin! Mr. Clean! Outback Steakhouse! Best Buy! Ferrero Roche Chocolates! Don't let these big brand names glamour you...like a vampire. Because ultimately they do the same thing. Suck the blood out of you until your body is pale and lifeless.

It was a joke as far as my daily tasks in the office. I was the data-entry, excel-wizard, fed-ex mail, conference room and company car booker, meeting note taker, order the food, stuff these envelopes, put together this package....I often sat wondering "Why did I work so hard to get here? My skills are being completely wasted" I was taking 10 steps backwards.

Now I will say I got to criss-cross the country on business trips, promoting Febreze at different events. However after the 5th trip, this one seemingly "saving grace" starts to suck as well. You're away from the ones you love - the ones that you actually WANT to spend time with when the work day is over, and more importantly, and this fact is often overlooked..........ummm you're WORKING the whole time. Hello. It's cruel. Hey - look at this intriguing city you're in! Now go into a building all day and work, and when you're finished fly away. See ya!

I was completely lost with what direction to take. I had virtually endless possibilities and I was continuously frying my brain trying to grasp the overwhelming reality that I had to select a SINGLE next step before I could really leave. Another job in the city? Moving closer to home and getting a job in Boston? Moving to Asia for a year to teach english, see the world, and take time off? Transfer to MS&L's Los Angeles office in California? I even considered moving to Austin, Texas.

Staying true to my indecisive-self, I pursued ALL of them equally. I posted my resume on Monster, I applied for jobs in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin, and Asia. I figured what is meant to be will be - whatever bites first or seems promising right now is where I will go. I did this for 3 months. I sent out HUNDREDS of applications, I would literally spend my 8 hour day at work scowering online listings.

Randomly one day during my incessant online job-searching while at MS&L I decided to take a look at jobs in New Hampshire - HOME. I had ruled it out completely at first because I figured PR has to be in the city. To my surprise I found a small handful of listings....only two in my hometown - Nashua, NH. My hometown. I painfully struggled with this, because if you knew the Tasha who left her hometown 5 years prior to move to New York you'd meet a girl who condemned people who stayed in their hometown their whole life - so cliche, boring and expected, who sped out of there at 100mph never to look back, who couldn't wait to leave and experience something MUCH more fulfilling, exciting, and worth one's time. And everyone at home saw me as the city girl, the traveler, the adventurer, the one people "lived vicariously through". However, it became more and more apparent to me...as much as I tried to keep myself in denial and uphold my 'free spirit' reputation, every time I went home to visit for a long weekend, I was secretly envious. Of everything. The polar opposite - the relaxed friendly people. The slow pace. The NO TAX on goods. The emphasis on relationships and quality time with people you care about. I saw it in a completely different light - an oasis that offered a great quality of life.

The first job I applied for was my new #1 hope - even more than Asia! To be the Public Relations Director for THE CITY OF NASHUA - working in the Mayor's office. Promoting my own hometown to people. Imagine? What a homecoming that would be.

The second job I applied for simply because it was the only other PR job listed and I couldn't put all my eggs in one basket. It was a newly created position - the position of PR/Marketing Coordinator for a growing branch of doctor's offices throughout southern New Hampshire - Orthopedic Surgeons to be exact. I've done entertainment, music, consumer, business to business.....healthcare was the unknown and the new frontier. Why not?

The Orthopedic Center (that's the official name) got back to me and asked for an interview. I drove up to New Hampshire to interview, having absolutely no idea what to expect, just glad SOMEONE had finally expressed interest in me. I walked into a CADILLAC of a building, so incredibly posh and fancy. Fancier than my office in Times Square. But most importantly, by the end of that interview, I wanted the job more than anything - mostly due to the two people who interviewed me - Head honco #1 and Head honcho #2, otherwise known as Therrin and Janet. They were.....unreal. For the first 45 minutes we talked about favorite movies, concerts, family, hobbies, and what qualities we like in people we work with. Therrin told me straight up that family and friends come first, and work is something we all have to do to pay bills. How bluntly truthful! TELL ME MORE I thought to myself. Janet told me plentyyyy more - 17 days vacation to start, 9-5pm work hours, all of the efforts to retain employees, to keep everyone happy and unified and balanced, turn over rate is ZERO. Ummm. Count. Me. IN.

Not to mention the actual position afforded me absolute freedom and absolute responsibility. They were done dealing with a sub-par PR agency, creative consultants, with the rest of the PR/Mktg opportunities dispersed randomly among all the managers who did everything last minute and half-heartedly. They needed someone to come in, take all of the PR/Marketing responsibilities from all of those different places, and streamline it, focus on it, and build on it. With a budget of $100,000/year.

They wanted a follow-up interview! To my delight they were gracious enough to make it a conference call so I wouldn't need to drive back up from New York. On the call they told me I was their "Numero Uno" (VERBATIM) and they just needed to check my references. I GOT THE JOB!!!! Not to mention making almost DOUBLE WHAT I WAS MAKING in Times Square! They offered me above the salary range I requested to show their commitment to my new position, and to show their "appreciation for my enthusiasm." It seems my enthusiasm in life has scored me many a point. I'll never forget at the end of that call they said "Are you really sure you want to move back here?" Not one ounce of me hestiated. "Absolutely. I'm ready." I later found out they had over 80 applicants for my position.

Figures the Mayor's office called me some time later and said they wished they received my resume earlier - they had already committed to someone, but thought I would have been an "outstanding candidate" - so much so that they wanted me to meet with the President of the Chamber of Commerce to speak about other opportunities for me in town. Lucky enough for me I was able to say THANK YOU much, but I've accepted another job anyways.

MONTHS AND MONTHS of applying, searching, figuring, hearing nothing, dreaming about Asia - and in the span of THREE WEEKS last August, I get a response, interview, get a job, quit MS&L, and make moving arrangements....for myself AND my boyfriend who agreed to move WITH ME. I gave MS&L one week of notice.

NOW:
I'm still sitting in a cublicle technically. However this cubicle has never felt like a cage. And in fact, I would sit on the floor in the corner as long as I'm on premises and employed by this place. I'd sit at a picnic table, I'd sit on the roof, I'd sit in the waiting room with patients. Where I sit is really the last thing I care about, because I love my work, I love the people, and I love coming in every single day. I drive 20 minutes from the flippin' HOUSE that my boyfriend and I bought 5 months ago thanks to a terrible economy, an $8,000 first-time-homebuyers tax credit, and my mom. I live near my family. And I live near a farm stand - we're talking walking distance. I am THE (singular) publicist not for household air freshener, but for 14 surgeons. Doctors. Who fix people. I'm not micro-managed....I'm set free to "do what I do" and I check in weekly with Janet. Therrin is what I like to call a grown up child. The man who is the head of this business plants fake fart machines at people's desks. He sends me emails with a subject line of "WTF?"...."Did you send that check out yet?". He crumples up ideas I've had on paper and throws it at my head. He even made me sit in his office for 25 minutes one day to play "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" cards with him. He eats peanut butter and jelly, pudding packs, and string cheese for lunch. He says "chop chop" to hurry people along. And best of all, when I try to tell him where I am and what I'm doing via text, he texts back and says "I don't care." HA! Can anyone illustrate a better boss to me please?????

With my free time (*GASP* YUPPP I have some of that now!) I've started up my photography business and freelance design. I'm back somewhere familiar - but in a completely unfamiliar way. On my own, at my own home, meeting all new people, all new relationships, it's re-discovering the old and adding on so much new. It's not your location in the world that creates adventure, it's you. It's taken some time to recognize you can be a lot of things at once. It's alright. I can own a home and have a great job and be grounded - and still be a traveler, a free spirit, a creative person who always looks for the deeper layer. I surf, I paint, I photograph, I create, I spontaneously drive, I travel, I read, I listen to music, I cook, I clean, I pay bills, I mow the lawn....it's all part of the adventure.

What's my trajectory now you ask? What's my 5 year - 10 year - 15 year - plan?

I have no clue. And I like it that way.

(those muffins are still RIDIC the next day)

{Healthy} Raspberry & Lemon Muffins

2009-09-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

I love raspberries. I love lemons. I love fruit in general.

I always eat my daily dose of fruits. However that can get quite boring fast. Same old apple. Same old banana. If you haven't caught on by now...I'm a person who prefers pretty much everything in life to be spiced up - somehow. Unfortunately for me, the majority of things you can make fruit into have to do with either: adding tons of bad-for-you-ingredients ......or.....no, that's it. You can only make fruit into a dessert-eqsue item. Apple pie. Bananas Foster. Raspberry Buttery Scones. Lemon Meringue Pie. Peach Melba. Sugar. Flour. Butter. Clogged Arteries. Completely counter-acts any good-benefit of eating fruit in the first place.

So it's my ongoing work to find SWEEEEEET healthy recipes....that actually taste amazing! Where you bite into your concoction and do the happy-food-dance (we've ALL DONE it) and the farthest thing from your mind is how you're amazed that it's healthy.....it's just GOOD. The end.

Which leads me to a realization I've had about myself. I like things that appear to be what they are not. It endlessly entertains me. These Raspberry Lemon Muffins taste like they are frickin full of butter, they melt in your mouth and are so moist and chewy......NOPE. Healthy. The fancy trendy knee-length black spring jacket that I was wearing last night - my momma complimented me on it thinking it was so posh & expensive.......NOPE! I told her it was $10 at Kohls. In which she replied "I hope you don't always tell people that kind of information when they dish out compliments to you". To which I replied "Of course I do, I ALWAYS do." Is that bad? Does it diminish your liking of my jacket now? You loved it before.

I guess it's along the lines of how I love optical illusions. Surprising people with the unexpected. You think it's this? NOPE it's THAT! Mull it over, because it's true.

Raspberry Lemon Muffins

1 lemon
1/4 cup splenda
1 cup nonfat milk w/ 1 tablespoon lemon juice added
1/3 cup canola oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen (not thawed) raspberries

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat 12 large (1/2-cup) muffin cups with cooking spray or line with paper liners.
Use a vegetable peeler to remove the zest from the lemon in long strips. Combine the zest and splenda in a food processor; pulse until the zest is very finely chopped into the splenda. Add milk & lemon juice, oil, egg and vanilla and pulse until blended.
Combine whole-wheat flour,baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add the liquid mixture and fold until almost blended. Gently fold in raspberries. Divide the batter among the muffin cups.
Bake the muffins until the edges and tops are golden, 12-18 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack. Serve warm.

Free Mismatched Chairs: Extreme Home Makeover Edition

2009-09-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

There's a lot of chairs in the world. Zillions of them. A chair is a chair is a chair. They all have some type of leg-system, some type of large expansive flat surface for your butt to spread out onto, and generally some type of back support. My personal thought is if a chair works, and really it doesn't take a lot for them to "work", then what's the point in perpetuating and buying into the manufacturing of NEW chairs to add to the excessively overhwhelming pile of already-made chairs. Already-made chairs that are even being given away for FREE! Imagine that. Just go to craigslist and type in free chairs, you'll be overwhelmed. Most likely initially overhwhelmed by their ugliness - INITIALLY I said. Here's my tip -- boil it down people. Look past the pooey brown 80's wood, look past the pukey green 70's plastic, look past the moldy 60's fabric...look past all of that and boil it down.

Legs attached and sturdy? Check. Acceptable butt-holding-area? Check. Back mechanics in place? Check.

The whole making it pretty to your liking part? Easy.

I gathered up a motley crew of mismatched chairs, and simply gave them all the same treatment. It achieves a cohhesive yet still interesting and dynamic look. One part your favorite colors, one part a funky fabric, mix in some hot glue, ribbon, and a staple gun (which seriously, use with caution. My first staple was successful! Successfully lodged into my hand.)

And you got some one-of-a-kind-masterpiece-butt-holders.

{fondue night pictured....fondue should be my next post}

{I even used leftover fabric as a makeshift runner}

My Earring Tree

2009-09-27T21:46:00.000-07:00

So there's been many mentions to me ever since sharing my humiliatingly hilarious story of my 8th grade french teacher widdling down my existence on this earth by simply remembering me after 10 years as "the girl who always had the unique and elaborate earrings".

Alright fine. I'm owning my reputation as a crazy earring lady. Whether that be negative or positive in connotation, it's who I am. And upon further examination I've come to realize I'm a crazy bracelet and ring lady too. Might as well just merge it all together and let the world know I like outrageous accessories okay.

Since I like tips, my tip for your accessories, crazy or not, is to display them - on your dresser, on your night stand, on that useless weird side-table taking up space with a lamp on it and nothing else, even on the wall. Why spend all that money on pretty pretty things and then keep them hidden in a box 99% of the time?

I was gifted one Christmas the most fabulous thing ever. An earring tree. (obviously this person knew me very well) Not only does this earring tree put your baubles on display as art when you're not wearing it, but everytime you walk over to your dresser you feel as if you're shopping around.....in your own collection! (is this a bad side of me?)

The Goal

2009-09-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

In this fleeting life, cities empower and defeat, jobs arise and disappear, green pieces of paper rule decisions while the heart falls by the wayside. Our one constant in the choppy seas of incessent change are the special moments with the people we love most. The moments you usually don’t realize are so special until a time later when it pops like a bubble out of your frontal lobe. It plays over, a vivd deja-vu - you can see distinctly the overwhelming smile on your mother’s face and the sparkle of happiness in her eyes, flickering back on the movie screen of your mind. You wish time would freeze back at that moment so you could revel in the beauty forever. Your bones overflow with tingling joy. The next feature plays and the next and the next. You see his piercing blue eyes fade to black and feel his fingers sweep along your forehead, transported to the time when you fell asleep on his lap. Your heart is warm. These are the moments I want to dedicate my life to achieving. No city, no job, no money in the greatest stretch of the imaginiation will ever equal something as rich and fulfilling.

Magical Mood-Changer

2009-09-24T17:20:00.000-07:00

We've all had those days. Those days. Nothing specifically happened, everything (in theory) is actually perfect, we can't point a finger at anyone, and there is no logical explanation for why we're draggin', can't focus, and can't motivate ourselves to be a productive human being for the day. Just BLAH. The BLAH days. A bad case of the BLAHs.

Well I'm happy to profess that there is a pretty simple and fabulous antidote for BLAH days. It will make you smile, make you feel like a kid again, make other people happy by default, and most importantly it's really flippin' yummy. I'm talking about making a PIE!

Pie just can't go wrong, can it? Even just finding out that I was referring to pie made you happy didn't it? And honestly I have no clue what makes a good pie - so if I can pull this off to success so can anyone.

One blah day not too long ago I decided PIE was indeed the answer. I went to the store and bought pre-made pie dough. Bam, just roll it out and slap it in the pie dish. As for filling, my thought process went as follows:

- I love fruit pies, but I don't want to do apple pie because there will clearly be an overload of that in the fall months to come
- I have a bunch of huge bags of frozen strawberries. Strawberry pie, done.
- Hey I have some leftover frozen blueberries let's throw those in too!
- Ehh I really love apple pie, so maybe I'll toss in a couple apples diced up
- Hmmm I wonder if cinnamon goes with strawberries & blueberries? Whatever, I'm still throwing it in for the smidge of apples I added
- Add splenda to act like making a pie isn't going to be totally bad for me
- My eyes lock on the bag of chocolate chips in the cabinet.......
- Chocolate covered strawberries are delicious! Melted chocolate is good with any fruit, isn't it? Melted chocolate would even be good on a sneaker.
-I've never heard of a pie with chocolate chips in it before. Whatevs, I'm throwing a couple handfuls in.

Mix all together and dump into the pie pan, already with the bottom pie crust in. This was too easy. Which is what led me to "fancy up" the top crust.....cutting it into strips and weaving - you know, to make it look like I #1 knew what I was doing and #2 spent soooooooo much time slaving over this mish-mashed masterpiece.

350 degree oven for however long........(I had no idea, just kept looking until it "looked right")

IT WAS FREAKIN' DELICIOUS.

My blah day was absolved. Yours will be too.

A Little Creativity, A Little Time, A Little Imagination

2009-09-23T23:58:00.000-07:00

Now anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker for a great bargain.

I'm also a sucker for french onion soup on any menu, sparkly and funky printed scarfs, and most notoriously I'm a sucker for apparently outrageous earrings. To the point where my 8th grade french teacher, whom I happened to bump into at the town dump while dropping off garbage, squinted her eyes at me after I squealed in happiness to see her after 10+ years......her brain was racking and racking and finally her squint turned into a look of surprise and amusement.......I was "the girl who always had the unique and elaborate earrings!!!". 10 years and this is the single tidbit my existence is widdled down to by someone. Might as well be swinging crystal chandeliers from my ears. My reputation precedes me! But those are different stories all-together.

This particular story is about the fact that whenever I'm in close proximity to any kind of thrift/antique/consignment store....my involuntary bargain radar goes off. And not only that, my *design sponge-loving-self starts to get lightheaded with all of the thoughts and possibilities racing through my brain. What could I find, what could I transform, what can I create? Reuse? Recycle? Give new life to.

Exhibit A: $4.99, what I like to refer to as "fugly grandma lamps", obviously the best part being they were realllllly repulsive - to the point where when I first spotted them my gut told me to avert my eyes immediately and hold back the gag. Just makes for that much more of a shockingly enjoyable make-over. A Little Creativity, A Little Time, A Little Imagination

A Lovely Weekend

2009-09-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

There really is nothing better than getting away for a long weekend. Leaving any trivial concerns, any partially made to-do-lists, any good-intention to start that project...leaving it all behind - and for a few days wipe your slate clean, just live in the moment, let your hair blow in the wind, drink too many martinis, and spend a little bit too much money. Re-energize, re-fuel, review. A long weekend spent back in the city in which I arrived eagerly & anonymously and departed almost as eagerly 5 years later with a crystal-clear understanding of who I was and who I DIDN'T want to be. I still have lots of love for New York, but I have to say it was an absolute pleasure to be visiting purely for fun. To ride the subway as a novelty and not a necessity. To run through the streets trying to make it on time to a Broadway show and not to a meeting. To stand still for a minute and marvel at the canopy of city lights at night...instead of cursing that I haven't seen the light of day from my desk. A great revelation and appreciation for what I've learned at a young age. Sharing this trip with my ever-hip mother and two spunky aunts was the icing on the cake.