Photo Week: Song Titles #4

4.) Too Much of Nothing, Bob Dylan

Going L*I*T*E*R*A*L. Too much chocolate left over from the wedding, but that's not a bad thing. Nothing in the dreary hallway at work. Luckily our interior office halls are much more uplifting. I really wanted to go crazy, so I turned it upside down. The lights look more theatrical that way.

Photo Week: Song Titles #3

3.) Slippery People, Talking Heads

My thought process: slippery = water = raindrop on leaf. Take a minute. Let that sink in. Deep. Oh, I know.

Photo Week: Song Titles #2

2.) Torn and Frayed, The Rolling Stones
We returned from our honeymoon to find out that our lovely 100 year old white oak tree in our front yard was in the right-of-way covering a manhole. Due to sewer expansion work, the City needed access to the manhole so our tree was going to be removed. Four days later, I came home from work and our precious oak was gone. How did I feel? Torn and frayed.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

The upside: The City is giving us three 12 foot trees and will re-seed where the old oak
used to be. Guess that's our lemonade.

Photo Week: Song Titles #1

1) Of Angels and Angles, The Decemberists

I wasn't familiar with this song, so I listened to the freebie on iTunes and looked up the lyrics. The second verse goes:

"There's a tough word on your crossword.

There's a bed bug nipping a finger.

There's a swallow, there's a calm.

Here's a hand to lay on your open palm today."

The last line is what jumped out to me so I took a picture with it in mind. I went literal with it and opted for a pose. But since Ruby is my angel puppy, it proved two fold. I liked the idea of using black and white pictures to capture the essence of the music.

Baking for Breast Cancer Awareness

Inspired by the lovely Jen of Boston's challenge to make something pink in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, I opted for the ever simple yet totally delectable strawberry cupcake with vanilla frosting & pink sprinkles. I used the cholesterol free recipe because that justifies eating twice as many. Kudos to Jen for championing the cause! There is still time to participate in the challenge, which runs through Oct. 31, should the spirit or the Pillsburgy Doughboy move you.

Photo Week is Back: Sue's the Boss

All are welcome to participate in more Photo Week fun. This challenge is hosted by Sue in the Windy City. Check it out!

28 for 28

While I could be coming down from the cloud 9 whirlwind that has been this past year of wedding prep fun, I'm happy to say I'm on cloud 11. Who knew it was out there? I'm so grateful for the amazing and inspirational people in my life. Maybe there is something about being in the latter part of your 20's that you stop fretting about the career (as much) and realize that relationships & non-work experiences are more rewarding. Or at least taking the time to realize it - and taking advantage of it when you can. Or it's what an MBA professor calls a "chemical bath" of joy, which in my case would be newlywed bliss. I'll probably freak out about the career next week, but for the time being I'm not.

The latest wave of inspiration comes from Amy's discovery of the birthday list. Her 28 things to do while 28 list is the coolest thing since Photo Week. (I don't have a creative job - can you tell an ounce of creative energy elates me to no end?) What I like about these lists is that they're a combo of little things, with a few largeer "New Year's" type items scattered throughout. Little things that you can easily forget to do unless you write it down. Then when you see it and get around to crossing it off the list, the experience from the little stuff (here comes the cheese/cliche) packs a punch.

With my 28th birthday a little over a month away (Nov. 25), I'm really eager to post my list in an effort to hold myself more accountable to it. Here goes:

1. relearn Spanish
2. get my aquatic fitness instructor certification
3. read two classic novels
4. write in my journal at least once a week
5. update our travel scrapbook
6. become a tutor at IPS
7. write my grandparents monthly
8. shave 8 minutes from my triathlon time
9. camp out in the backyard
10. create a landscape plan & find the names of all the plants in our yard
11. meet more neighbors
12. bike the entire Monon Trail
13. go on a hike
14. confront my fear of math
15. have Sophie and Macy (nieces) over for a slumber party
16. go to a show at Radio Radio
17. surprise someone
18. take Ruby to a dog park
19. plan another girls weekend
20. attend Spirit & Place festival
21. compete in a 5K with my parents
22. bake an outrageous dessert
23. have a fun family game night
24. organize our file pile
25. learn how to use the functions on the Canon camera
26. do a 5K
27. walk to The Meridian Restaurant for dinner
28. swim in an ocean