20111228

19. Snowshoe.

Today, my younger sister, Ali, took me snowshoeing. It was quite the adventure! Exhausting, but fun. She kept me going with a promise of a surprise treat at the end.

We found a trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon,
just southeast of Salt Lake City.
We snowshoed along Butler Fork Trail!
The drive through the canyon, as usual, was beautiful!
Ali is a fearless snowshoer!
I look freakin' awesome in my mismatched attire with gaiters!
My treat at the end for pushing on! California Cutie and a candy cane!
We are planning to go again before I leave. I learned many important things... (1) small steps work best, (2) the snow is my friend, (3) snowshoeing is for the tough, like Ali!

It was so much fun. It was nice to hang out in the snow and, afterwards, enjoy some warm drinks. Mmm!

Four down! Twenty-one to go!

1. Go backpacking.
2. Walk across the Golden Gate.
3. Have a gluten-free beer tasting. (I don't like beer! 12/17/11)
4. Take a midnight walk on the beach.
5. Make gluten free pasta.
6. Paint.
7. Do an entire roll of instant film using strangers and subjects.
8. Make my own goat cheese.
9. Take the train to Reno.
10. Solve a Rubix cube.
11. Attend Midnight Mass.
12. Pick a pineapple in Hawaii.
13. Host a dinner party.
14. Lose 25 pounds.
15. Get my A1C below 7.5.
16. Take a trip along CA-1.
17. Make gluten free bagels.
18. Go on a Segway tour of San Francisco.
19. Snowshoe. (Whew! Exhausting and fun - 12/28/11)
20. Make my own amazing CrockPot recipe. (Spaghetti with veg and sausage! 12/19/11)
21. Camp in Yosemite.
22. Learn to and catch a fish.
23. Take a wok around Chinatown in Vancouver.
24. Make stained glass.
25. Embroider pillow cases.

20111225

11. Attend Midnight Mass

Merry Christmas! Yesterday was a wonderful Christmas Eve. I hit the snooze for over an hour and headed to my friend Vanessa's house for some delicious pumpkin cheesecake! It was so fun to see her, Ryan, and her little Ev. I then visited with my grandma. We talked about San Francisco and other things. After visiting my grandma, we headed to Emily and Taylor's place for an early dinner. I assembled ingredients for a pot roast the night before, and my mom got it cooking in the morning. It was DELICIOUS.

I got to open my gift from Emily, Taylor, and Daphne! Adorable cafe curtains for my kitchen. I am so excited to put them up. I'll post a picture when I do! Afterwards, we drove around Salt Lake looking at Christmas lights, including my favorite street...


We spent some time hanging out with Wes and then Ali and I went to Midnight Mass, knocking #11 off my list!


We got there early for some caroling (very, very fun!) and a few minutes before Mass began, a man approached us telling us that we were so lucky to be sitting in the back, and that we got to deliver the wine and host to the priest! Pretty sure my face was a mix of nervousness and excitement, because he asked if we were Catholic. Nope! He then asked, if he could, what faith we belonged to. "Ummm... nothing really." His response? "That's great!" It was fantastic to be a part of the service. 

The priest gave a wonderful talk about Christ, power, and weakness. A few points that have really stuck with me, and I hope will continue to stick with me, were that God chose to become human in, essentially, poverty, and to be born weak as an infant. Further, the priest talked about in our weaknesses is perfect power, and where love comes from. I thought a lot about my weaknesses and how empathy grows from them. It's a beautiful idea to not focus on squashing weakness but accepting, embracing, and appreciating it. Wonderful things to think about. 

Three down, twenty-two to go! 

1. Go backpacking.
2. Walk across the Golden Gate.
3. Have a gluten-free beer tasting. (I don't like beer! 12/17/11)
4. Take a midnight walk on the beach.
5. Make gluten free pasta.
6. Paint.
7. Do an entire roll of instant film using strangers and subjects.
8. Make my own goat cheese.
9. Take the train to Reno.
10. Solve a Rubix cube.
11. Attend Midnight Mass.
12. Pick a pineapple in Hawaii.
13. Host a dinner party.
14. Lose 25 pounds.
15. Get my A1C below 7.5.
16. Take a trip along CA-1.
17. Make gluten free bagels.
18. Go on a Segway tour of San Francisco.
19. Snowshoe.
20. Make my own amazing CrockPot recipe. (Spaghetti with veg and sausage! 12/19/11)
21. Camp in Yosemite.
22. Learn to and catch a fish.
23. Take a wok around Chinatown in Vancouver.
24. Make stained glass.
25. Embroider pillow cases.

20111224

Christmas Eve Eve!

I had a wonderful Christmas Eve Eve today! Full of Christmassing and hanging out with the family. I spent the night at my sisters and had a delicious brunch with my dad and his wife! He brought me tasty gluten-free cookies and muffins. So much good food! Then I went back to my mom's for gingerbread housemaking...

My simple abode with a gingerbread robot!
My mom's house is so festive...

Her Christmas village.
Awesome ornaments!
Gorgeous ornaments.
Ali and I had a little eggnog, which we do about every year, remembering how not delicious eggnog is!


Mmm! More calories than ice cream.
We then relaxed, watching some classic Christmas cartoons, and Ali organized Christmas presents while I snuggled with Ben...


I am so excited that it is Christmas Eve! I am making a pot roast for dinner and hanging out with family all day. It is going to be fantastic. And I can't wait to open up presents and see if my family likes their gifts!

Merry Christmas Eve!

20111223

What a year!

I've been thinking today about how much has happened this year and how different 2011 was from 2010, how different I feel this December versus last. It's been an amazing year. A quick recap of the big things!

January 2011...

I was still living in my old apartment (see here), 390 square feet of happiness but ugly carpet, furniture, and appliances that were dated in not-a-cute way. But I enjoyed it. My first place. PhD applications were in, I was nervously waiting to hear from the five schools I applied to. I was spending lots of time with my friend, Caitlin, who I had good, eye-opening discussions with. Winter quarter was starting and I took one of the most interesting courses of my graduate school career. Mid-January, I found out that I was accepted to the PhD program here at Davis. A huge weight was lifted, I could see my future. I also got into instant photography and got my nose pierced -- because I wasn't sure if I would be staying in California, and it seemed like a bit of California I could take with me. I was "in love" with Ned from Pushing Daisies and dreaming, laughing my way through the series. I also knew, but kept quiet, that my sister was pregnant!

February 2011...

In February, I got even more excited about having a niece or nephew! I remember spending the month looking about baby clothes and other items online. Like adorable infant Armani suits and Dior dresses. Aww! I was also recruited by Davis, which was one of the most fantastic weekends ever. So much wining and dining, feeling excited about continuing at UCD. I spent much of February getting stoked for my travels in March -- including trips to Auburn, Alabama, and Montreal.

March 2011...

I spent March travelling and making a huge, life-altering decision. First trip was to Auburn University, in Alabama. I got into a PhD program there and they recruited me that weekend. I stayed in a gorgeous, old Victorian bed and breakfast and had fascinating conversations with the owner about Alabama, politics, his ideas about development, etc. I met with faculty, two of whom really wanted to work with me and I (of course) was very interested as well. I met with students, explored the town, and thought about a life in Alabama. I drove from Atlanta to Auburn late at night, which was very rewarding, and I also got to visit the World of Coke, which was awesome. After my trip to Auburn, I spent two days in Salt Lake, then two days in Davis, then I was off to Montreal where I presented my research on ethnic differences in dating and body dissatisfaction, and the relationship between those two. I got to explore the city with Mayra. One of my favorite days was when we walked around Old Montreal and stumbled into a gorgeous cafe, where I asked if they had any gluten free treats. The whole cafe was gluten-free! I had a delicious hot chocolate and chocolate mousse. I talked with Mayra about Auburn vs Davis.

April 2011...

I made the decision to stay in Davis! It just felt right. After letting Auburn know, I knew it was the right decision. And I still know it was right, so, so right. My mom got me an early graduation gift of the oh-so-awesome iPad and I hit the ground running, taking a class on aging and adulthood, working on my thesis, and administering a big survey. I struck up conversation with a boy... and while I was having an amazing time at the Happiest Place on Earth, we texted -- I did so very, very slowly earning the title of worst texter ever. This boy and I went on a couple of dates, and I really, really started to like him...

May 2011...

Sean and I kept on dating and I started making plans for graduation and moving! A busy month, with the study, school work, and the wonderful beginnings of an amazing relationship...

June 2011...

I graduated! And my mom and younger sister stayed with me for a few days! We went to San Francisco, with Sean, where we went to the SFMOMA, Twin Peaks, and the Walt Disney Family Museum. And we explored Old Sac. So fun. Then I moved! An intense couple of days/weeks, packing and moving with a trusty Honda Element. Thank goodness for friends who helped me move the big stuff and Sean for helping me build furniture! I spent the first weekend of many with Sean and his siblings in the bay area, full of exploration and fun.

July 2011...

On July 1, my niece was bornSean took me to see the San Francisco Symphony. It was an awesome date! I spent a lot of time studying for prelims. I fell, head over heels, in love with Sean. And at the end of the month, I went home for a great visit! I loved spending time with Daphne. The last couple days I was here, Sean visited! We had great adventures and I think he sort of ended up appreciated Utah, at least!

August 2011...

got a car! I wrote up an abstract for a poster for SRA (which got accepted)! I studied for prelims a lot and made lots of trips to hang out with Sean's family in the bay area!

September 2011...

I made a trip out to the bay area to visit Caitlin and Evan in their new place! So cute. And I got a great tour of Google. Prelims were over, I almost chickened out!, and I was sure I wouldn't pass. It was hell. But everyday after the exam, I was greeted by Sean, once with peanut butter M&Ms! We had adventures to clear my head, like trips to Walmart in Woodland. He was my perfect distraction and support.

October 2011...

A month full of teaching, recovering from prelims... actually, I honestly don't really remember this month very well. Sean and I went wine tasting! And my mom and older sister, along with my niece, visited, doing lots of apartment improvement projects! It was wonderful to have them here!

November 2011...

The challenges of teaching continued but I had lots of fun activities to make life less tedious! I went to the best party of the year. It was wonderful to spend a weekend with Sean and his family and to play such a huge role in his sister's wedding. LOVE! I found out I passed prelims! Sean gave me the incredible presents as early birthday gifts! He also accompanied me home to Salt Lake for Thanksgiving.

December 2011...

We started out the month in San Francisco, with my dad and his wife. We had fun being tourists! It was a nice break before the end of the quarter. The quarter came to a close and I got to spend a lot of time with Sean before coming home for the holidays. We exchanged gifts early. Another wonderful holiday with lots of love and gifts!

It's been an amazing year. Full of family, California, and love. Everything has come together. I am the luckiest girl in the world. Last December, I was a little lost, I didn't know what paths were before me. But looking back, everything happened perfectly with perfect timing. Incredible.

I hope you are having wonderful holidays!

20111219

20. Make my own amazing CrockPot recipe.


Today I made, what I think was, a totally delicious dinner with my CrockPot. It gets the "amazing" stamp because of its tastiness and economic value. Behold! Spaghetti with vegetables and sausage!

Where the magic happens!
It's quite simple. Pour into the CrockPot a 16 oz can of spaghetti sauce. On top of the sauce, add 3-4 hot Italian sausages -- or more, if you wish. They can be frozen or not. Top that with a large onion, sliced thin/chopped fairly well. Add a good amount of frozen spinach and frozen julienned bell peppers. Spice it up with garlic salt and Italian seasoning. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

Then, right before serving, cook 8 ounces of spaghetti per package directions. I used corn pasta, my favorite. Mix in and enjoy!

P.S. I have discovered that you can put pretty much any soup or sauce and meat and it turns out delicious! I love my CrockPot...
P.P.S. When Sean ate this he gave it high compliments and told me that the way to his heart is through his stomach. AWWWWW!!! Success.

1. Go backpacking.
2. Walk across the Golden Gate.
3. Have a gluten-free beer tasting. (I don't like beer! 12/17/11)
4. Take a midnight walk on the beach.
5. Make gluten free pasta.
6. Paint.
7. Do an entire roll of instant film using strangers and subjects.
8. Make my own goat cheese.
9. Take the train to Reno.
10. Solve a Rubix cube.
11. Attend Midnight Mass.
12. Pick a pineapple in Hawaii.
13. Host a dinner party.
14. Lose 25 pounds.
15. Get my A1C below 7.5.
16. Take a trip along CA-1.
17. Make gluten free bagels.
18. Go on a Segway tour of San Francisco.
19. Snowshoe.
20. Make my own amazing CrockPot recipe. (Spaghetti with veg and sausage! 12/19/11)
21. Camp in Yosemite.
22. Learn to and catch a fish.
23. Take a wok around Chinatown in Vancouver.
24. Make stained glass.
25. Embroider pillow cases.

20111217

3. Have a gluten-free beer tasting.

I decided I wanted to cross an item off my 25 before 25 list before I left Davis for Salt Lake. I had the beer and the snacks for a beer tasting so I went ahead and did it solo.

3. Have a gluten-free beer tasting.

Unfortunately, no one who knew anything about beer tasted with me and my beer drinking experience is extremely limited. When I was 18, I tried a sip of Budweiser, I want to say, when I was making beer-battered onion rings. I didn't particularly like it nor did I drink at the time, so I never tried beer again until a little after my 21st birthday, when I had a Redbridge, thought it was "eh" and gave it to my brother to finish (which often happens with my booze). Anyway, I thought having a tasting might turn me on to beer... keep reading to see if I am now a beer fan!

The contenders:


Redbridge: "Gluten-free sorghum beer made without wheat or barley" made by Anheuser-Busch (found in pretty much any grocery store these days).
Bard's: "The original sorghum malt beer"
and New Grist: "Beer made from sorghum and rice extract. A crisp and refreshing session beer."

The snacks included gluten-free pretzels and bagel chips (yum!!!) and two of my favorite cheeses, probably not wisely paired: brie and Dubliner.

A variety of colors. Two golden, one yellow...
All set up and ready to go!
Redbridge: Smelled very sweet, was bubbly, light, and not very delicious. My least favorite of the three.
Bard's: Smelled sweet, had complex flavors, bitter particularly at the end. It was more interesting than Redbridge but not very... delightful.
and New Grist: Had a very faint, sweet smell. Bitter up front, but does not linger. It was pretty refreshing and definitely my favorite.

The winner is...



That said, the most delicious thing on my table were certainly the pretzels, bagel chips, and cheese. I have three more bottles of beer and would like someone who knows something about beer to tell me which one they prefer and if any of them actually taste like beer... just because I'm curious.

And there we go! #3 knocked off the list!

1. Go backpacking.
2. Walk across the Golden Gate.
3. Have a gluten-free beer tasting. (I don't like beer! 12/17/11)
4. Take a midnight walk on the beach.
5. Make gluten free pasta.
6. Paint.
7. Do an entire roll of instant film using strangers and subjects.
8. Make my own goat cheese.
9. Take the train to Reno.
10. Solve a Rubix cube.
11. Attend Midnight Mass.
12. Pick a pineapple in Hawaii.
13. Host a dinner party.
14. Lose 25 pounds.
15. Get my A1C below 7.5.
16. Take a trip along CA-1.
17. Make gluten free bagels.
18. Go on a Segway tour of San Francisco.
19. Snowshoe.
20. Make my own amazing CrockPot recipe.
21. Camp in Yosemite.
22. Learn to and catch a fish.
24. Make stained glass.
25. Embroider pillow cases.

20111212

Twenty Five Before Twenty Five!

It took me a while to compile this list but, voila!, here it is! It does include a number of items from my twenty four before twenty four list...

So excited to knock these off!

25 before 25
1. Go backpacking.
2. Walk across the Golden Gate.
3. Have a gluten-free beer tasting.
4. Take a midnight walk on the beach.
5. Make gluten free pasta.
6. Paint.
7. Do an entire roll of instant film using strangers and subjects.
8. Make my own goat cheese.
9. Take the train to Reno.
10. Solve a Rubix cube.
11. Attend Midnight Mass.
12. Pick a pineapple in Hawaii.
13. Host a dinner party.
14. Lose 25 pounds.
15. Get my A1C below 7.5.
16. Take a trip along CA-1.
17. Make gluten free bagels.
18. Go on a Segway tour of San Francisco.
19. Snowshoe.
20. Make my own amazing CrockPot recipe.
21. Camp in Yosemite.
22. Learn to and catch a fish.
24. Make stained glass.
25. Embroider pillow cases.

20111208

San Francisco and Merry (Early) Christmas!

I spent the weekend with Sean, my dad, and his wife in San Francisco. It was a beautiful weekend. Warm and clear, sunny skies! It was actually warmer in SF than Davis. Crazy. Anyway, Sean and I enjoyed being tourists in San Francisco. Here are some photos!

Lombard Street.
By my favorite bridge.
The view from Twin Peaks on a clear night.
Isn't it an incredible photograph? Sean has some serious skills.
In Chinatown.
My dad and I near Chinatown.
Me, my dad, and Caroline at the Golden Gate.
Another Golden Gate photo!
We ate delicious food. Like this AMAZING seafood Cobb salad.
Crab... shrimp... salmon... what more could a girl ask for?

It was a fantastic weekend. And when we got back we started our holiday festivities. I made some pretty tasty gluten-free white chocolate pretzels...


And I'm loving my slow cooker (artichoke pasta shown below)!


As we did with our birthdays, we just couldn't wait to give each other Christmas gifts. Sean rocks at shopping...

My new coat!
My new bangle!
My new water bottle!
Really cool -- has a filter built right in.
I got Sean an immersion blender which we tested out last night. We made delicious, fresh pesto mayonnaise! It's going to be fun to taste all the sauces Sean makes!

20111130

Holly Jolly Apartment, Thanksgiving, and Birthday!

Hello! It's been a great week, full of food and celebration...

Happy birthday to me!
Emily made me this awesome garland! 
Birthday/Thanksgiving Bingo!
My birthday cake of Dixie Salad -- the best pomegranates in the world with apples and fresh whipped cream.

It was such a fun, happy day! Feasting and presents. Doesn't get any better than that. Sean and I spent the rest of the break with my family, Emily, Taylor, and Daphne, mostly. It was HARD to leave.

I came home and decorated my apartment...

Winter-y wreath!
Garland (thanks, Em!) and shimmering star lights.
A little cheer for my bedroom!
My mom got me knew flannel sheets and a super cozy blanket for my bed.
Heaven.
Sean's and my stockings!
My tiny tree! Click to make it big...
All lit up!
It's the most wonderful time of the year! I have Pandora playing my favorite Christmas mix (based on the Christmas Waltz by the Carpenters) and have already started Christmas shopping. So happy it's almost December!

20111121

Autumn, Food, and Protest

Hello from Davis, California!

I am currently in my office hours, missing out on a huge protest outside. It's crazy what has been going on. On Friday, I walked by pepper sprayed students being helped by firefighters with their burns. It's nothing like what happened at Berkeley, but it is still out of control. Here are a couple of great articles if you need to get caught up on the situation...

From NPR
Militarization of Campus Police (written by a UCD faculty member)
And one that puts all of this in perspective

These events have created lots of opportunities for conversations. Thinking about what we can do as a community and what I can do as a teaching assistant. I know the economic pressure is affecting my students. It's been thought-provoking.

And, on a completely different note, autumn is in full blast here...


I love seeing the trees turn their wild colors, especially when they are coupled with palm trees. Perfection.

I've been eating a lot of delicious food lately too. I can't help but share...


NOM. I am hungry for lunch. Additionally, this weekend, Sean, his brother, Scott, and I went to Chico to have a Jiffy burger. A peanut butter burger. Twas quite delicious.

The quarter is coming to an end. I have oodles of papers to grade and a presentation to put together about my thesis. Eep! It will get done. Mostly I am just pumped to go home on Wednesday for Thanksgiving and my birthday! Get to hang out with the family, enjoy the cool Rocky air, and Sean is traveling too! I couldn't be happier. Ah, life is GOOD.

It will be interesting to see what happens this week at UCD. Times have to change.

20111113

Eleven Wishes

My sisters posted eleven wishes for 11/11/11 at 11:11. I am doing it a little late but... here are my eleven!

I wish that...

1. Daphne grows up healthy and strong, ready to take on and change the world.
2. Sarah and her love have a wonderful marriage and happiness forever.
3. Ali keeps on rocking at the U, has oodles more fun dates, and ends up where she wishes to be (with Pulitzer and/or Nobel in hand!)
4. Emily and Taylor enjoy their new jobs, get lots of rest and relaxation as parents, and move to Salt Lake!
5. Scott does well on his math teaching exam.
6. My mom's law office continues to be successful and Ben will continue to charm her clients.
7. Wes enjoys his job this winter and finds one that he loves!
8. My dad and Caroline are happy in their new home and have safe travels for the holidays.
9. My students do well on their projects! I hope I've taught them well and that they have at least a little love for research methods (or at least the ability to critique what they read in newspapers and magazines).
10. Sean keeps on kicking butt at his job and in school and that he will continue to enjoy spending time with me. I love all our adventures, I want more and more of them!
11. Everyone is happy and healthy, are able to find time to enjoy autumn before winter sets in, and have great holidays with loved ones!

Happy 11/(13)/11!

A Very Good Week

Greetings from Nat Flat #2!

Hoo!
This week has been pretty much amazing. Last Tuesday, I received an email containing this...


THANK GOODNESS. I really didn't think I passed. And I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to go through it again. But all is well! HOORAH! I am so glad I didn't chicken out! (Read all about the exam here.)

On Friday, we had a grad group rock climbing activity. It was very fun (and my arms are very sore)! I almost got to the top...


Kickin' it with the grad group!
Then last night, Sean surprised me with birthday presents! So far, we have had a terrible time actually waiting for the special occasion, but I was too excited to say no to the opportunity of opening them early! He got me the perfect gifts...

TOMS! Olive TOMS! Aren't they darling? 
A new necklace. It's just perfect -- I love it so much.
I'll be wearing it every day!
So excited about my new gifts!
Sean takes a great portrait!
Happy be-earlied birthday to me!