Superhero Photo

As a gift to myself, I enrolled in a photography course,  Superhero Photo: The Basics.  I've always wanted to take a photography course and it doesn't hurt that I get to tick something off my Life List .  I've long admired the pictures of friends and, of course, professional photographers but my inner critic has consistently convinced me that I lack the "eye" of a photographer.

Anyhow, a big lesson I've learned from Superhero Photo (at least in the beginning) so far is: "Ready, Fire, Aim!" If you're trying to be perfect in your creative process, then you will never get anything done Creativity, by it's nature, is  imperfect.  If there were a crystallized model for it, it wouldn't be creativity, it would be exact science (which I happen to know a little about). So here I am.  Firing now, fixing it later...at least until I get a better hang of things. 


When I write it here, it sounds ridiculous, but I sometimes don't take pictures of my girls because their faces or clothes are dirty, or they're only in DIAPERS (the HORROR), or the angle is wrong.  It's like, do I want to memorialize this moment of motherly imperfection (since, of course, good mothers keep EVERYTHING perfect ALL OF THE TIME).  The numbers your mind will do on you, huh?  How could I have been hesitant to capture all this beauty?  

Life List No.9: Have at Least One Squishy Baby

Well Friends,
I've outdone myself.  I've been out of commission for a while for various reasons.  Among them, the first trimester of pregnancy!  I was approaching Life List Item 57 with much vigor until 'restrictions' got in the way.  Restrictions being my spontaneous incubation of not one but  TWO squishy babies.  YES! TWINS! I'm over so much of the shock  now.  Ashkenaz Spice and I are pretty excited and proceeding as I'm sure many neurotic first time parents do.  I'm hoping to scratch two more items off my Life List before the twinkies arrive.  Hurray for Wigs and Squigs!

Life List No. 54: Continue to throw Ashkenaz Spice Fabulous Birthday Parties

2010:

 Joe's Birthday Beer Dinner for Men...An Evening for Men to be with other Men

Peach Carpaccio topped with stracciatella dressed with Local Mead and Apricot White Balsamic Vinaigrette 

Beer Pairing: Vielle Provision Saison Dupont

Chocolate Porter Cake

Beer Pairing: Pretty Things Baby Tree, Quad with dried plums

Menu writing, technical assistance, beer pairing expertise and photography provided by the ever notable Neighbor Sister

Renewed, Refreshed, Returned...

From vacation!  And I have no pictures, because it was that kind of vacation, the kind during which you wear yoga pants on the cool California coast and graduate to flowy dresses and skirts in the scorching California heat.  There are pictures forthcoming of various Life List endeavors.  Ready yourselves.  They'll be up soon.

About Life List No. 40

I've completed my first project...and it's NOT a lunch bag.  Here's a teaser:

via: jcarolinecreative.com

For now, I'm going to ask you to wait patiently and forgive me for the teaser...it's a gift!  I can't wait to give it in two weeks.  Once I do, I'll post the pics.  

Life List No. 29 Obliterate My Credit Card Debt

Hi friends, It hasn't been all Midnight Moon and Oma over here.  I've been busting my behind, in earnest, to tick #29 off my life list and I'm here to tell you that...EGADS, I've done it!  Honestly.   I can hardly believe it.  This is awesome for so many reasons.  I reached my time goal.  Holy Cow! Credit debt free before 30.    What's that I hear?  A savings account?  Retirement?  CD?  IRA?  Months of not living extravagantly have paid off AND proved not to be so trying.  The sky is the limit!  I had two feelings as I submitted the last e-payment to the credit bear 1. I'm almost free.  2. Oh ass, this is a lot of money.    I can't promise I'll never carry a balance on my credit card again.   Unforeseen circumstances do arise, but I thought of something to say to my future self: "Self, don't go into credit debt for ten years without a consciousness about you.  Do you really want to pay for that Yves Saint Laurent Parfum and that Mulberry bag when your kids are in fifth grade?" **much vigorous finger wagging**

I've learned so much about how to live manageably and affordably.   I will continue to shop at the Goodwill.  I will continue to order things from Target and Old Navy online (surprisingly saves me money and guilt.  I buy what I need and don't feel guilty for having left something I don't need in the store), I will still prepare many meals at home.  I will still choose walks with Ashkenaz Spice over some more expensive entertainment option, I will continue to bargain hunt when it comes to things like my awesome panniers and bike rack.    In short, I will continue to be my fabulous self.  Without a huge debt monkey strapped to my back.  What to do with all this newfound freedom?  Hopefully start saving with the same fervor I applied to kicking this credit debt in the rear end.

Life List No. 40

Avariation of this will be my first sewing project.  I'll keep you posted.

Mighty Life List

Taking my inspiration from Maggie Mason at Mighty Girl, with no further ado, my Life List*:

1. Drink Absinthe, the right way
2. Travel to Morocco
3. Travel to Africa (other than Morocco&Egypt)
4. Travel to Egypt
5. Travel to Argentina
6. Travel to Cuba
7. Send Mom to Hawaii
8. Live abroad for at least three months
9. have at least one squishy baby
10. take the hill on the bike path at UCSC again
11. settle in a place where the seasons are less pronounced
12. Travel to Israel
13. Take a road trip across the U.S.
14. Take a road trip punctuated by East Coast diners (especially oceanside ones)
15. Start a business 
16. fund a scholarship
17. finish my PhD
18. Write a book
19. Take a photography class
20. Have enough
21. Take a fabulous vacation with my BFFs
22. Take my mom on a spa holiday to Calistoga
23. Take my mom wine tasting in Napa
24. Have a wedding/commitment ceremony in a public park at dusk  10.24.2009
25. Take Mom, Aunt Billye and Granny to Dinner in 2010, the banner year and raise a fabulous toast to the matriarchs
26. Travel to India
27. Travel to Iceland
28. Run a Marathon 
29. Obliterate my credit card debt   5/2010
30. Build a stock portfolio
31. Learn European knitting  Yay!! 8/2008
32. visit Brazil
33. Have a flower garden
34. Skinny dip in warm tropical waters
35. Have business cards made with the text 'Cocktail Enthusiast' 3/2010
36. Pay down student loan debt by half before I graduate
37. Throw a party to meet my neighbors
38. Do fun things that make me happy (ongoing)
39. Spend more time creating things in my creative space and less time wondering what I'd be watching if I had a TV
40. learn to sew 
41. learn an aerial dance
42. learn to make croissants
43. vacation in the French countryside
44. knit/crochet a blanket  2/2011
45. compile a book of family favorite recipes
46. get my Etsy business spinning
47. Visit Indonesia
48. Be a tourist in Boston
49. Be more photodocumentary
50. Learn to can/preserve produce well
51. Go back to camp in Tahiti
52. Throw impromptu summer and autumn dinner parties
53. Get back to piano lessons (probably after graduate school)
54. Continue to throw Ashkenaz Spice Fabulous Birthday Parties
1. 2008-- BBQ and Bowling Surprise Party with Birthday Pie 
2. 2009-- Kickball Classic 
3. 2010--Birthday Beer Dinner for Men
4. 2011--
55. Embrace my friends
56. Grow a larger social circle
57. 52 Cheeses in 52 weeks! 
• chevre
• taleggio
• cheddar
• oma
• blue cheese
• parmigiano reggiano
• shy brothers hannahbells--which are FABULOUSLY DELICIOUS!!! and deserving of their own blog post coming soon
• lavender
• shallot
• St. Agur Blue
• Triple Cream Goat Brie 
• Ewe's Blue
• Midnight Moon 
• fig burrata 
• mozzarella
• gouda
• colby
• ricotta
• paneer
• panquehue
• boucheron
• raschera
• summer snow, soft like camembert--Woodcock Farm
• Lake's Edge, blue--Blue Ledge Farm
• Brillo di Treviso 
• Bayley Hazen Blue--Jasper Hill Farm
• Minolette...it's conditioned by cheese mites. not sure how to feel about this
58. Organize a girly retreat in the Vermont or NorCal woods
59. High Tea at the Russian Tea Room
60. Visit the Musée Dupuytren whilst on a leisurely trip to Paris
61. Accupuncture for my trick wrist
62. Write at least one first author paper
63. Go whale watching
64. Eat like a Pilgrim
65. Make a paper garland
66. Make a picnic blanket and gift it in a picnic basket!
67. Start a handwriting journal! (added: 11/2012)

*This list is in no way exhaustive.