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May 29, 2015

Doodlegraph | Chores With Toni & Day...

This past Saturday I spent the entire day with Day and Toni, helping them with various tasks around Toni's new house. And here is how that went...


More power washing happened... And then a tree got cut down...
And then we built some furniture for the kiddies...
And as you can probably guess, we went to have sushi and called it a day.

Despite spending the day doing chores at Toni's house I had a lot of fun and learned that I love playing with a power washer. So if anyone needs anything power washed, lemme know.

Stuck In My Head: Bombastic...

As I was driving home from work last night I was listening to Slumber Party with Alie & Georgia (Which is my favorite podcast ever for those of you that don't know) and they were chatting with Bonnie McKee whose new single "Bombastic" just came out and since hearing it I've had it stuck in my head.

May 27, 2015

From The Hold Shelf (Or What I'm About To Read)...



Modernist Cuisine is an interdisciplinary team in Bellevue, Washington, founded and led by Nathan Myhrvold. The group includes scientists, research and development chefs, and a full editorial team all dedicated to advancing the state of culinary art through the creative application of scientific knowledge and experimental techniques.  

Change the way you think about food: Modernist Cuisine at Home opens up a new world of culinary possibility and innovation for passionate and curious home cooks. In this vibrantly illustrated 456-page volume you'll learn how to stock a modern kitchen, to master Modernist techniques, and to make hundreds of stunning new recipes, including pressure-cooked caramelized carrot soup, silky smooth mac and cheese, and sous vide, braised short ribs. You'll also learn about the science behind your favorite dishes, what's really happening when you roast a chicken, and why pressure cookers are perfect for making soup.

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"AMC's Best Day Hikes Near New York City" by Daniel Case
You don’t have to travel far from New York City to find some of the best day hikes in the Northeast. This guidebook from the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Best Day Hikes series takes you to 50 of the best excursions in New York, Connecticut, and northern New Jersey. Perfect for beginners, seasoned hikers, families, tourists, and local residents, AMC’s Best Day Hikes Near New York City unveils hidden gems of the New York City metro area.  

Hike the Palisades Interstate Park, explore the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge, discover the Paugusett State Forest, trek the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt in Long Island, or even ramble through Central Park from end to end – no matter what your ability level, this guide is a must-have resource for an hour or day of adventure. Many hikes in the guide are accessible by public transportation, making it easy for you to get out on the trail.

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"Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs" by Henry Carroll
Photography is now more popular than ever thanks to the rapid development of digital cameras. Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs is for this new wave of DSLR dabblers and users of compact system, and bridge cameras. It contains no graphs, no techie diagrams and no camera club jargon. Instead, it inspires readers through iconic images and playful copy packed with hands-on tips.  

Split into five sections, the book covers composition, exposure, light, lenses, and seeing. Images taken by master photographers – including Henri Cartier- Bresson, SebastiĆ£o Salgado, Fay Godwin, and Martin Parr – serve to illustrate points and encourage readers to try out new ideas.  

Today's aspiring photographers want immediacy and see photography as an affordable way of expressing themselves quickly and creatively. This book answers that need, teaching readers how to take photographs using professional techniques.

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 "Off Track Planet's Travel Guide for the Young, Sexy, and Broke"
This all-encompassing travel guide features approximately 100 exciting destinations like Buenos Aires, Brazil, Columbia, Greece, and Thailand, and everything college students, grads, and those in their twenties and thirties want to know about them, including: the cities with the craziest sex shops; the best places to get a tattoo; where to check out some amazing street art; why you should try fried bugs; the best clubs to party until dawn; and much more. Broken into three parts, the first section focuses on what to do and where: food, fashion, music, sports, sex and partying, and more. The second half of the book dives into practical tips and advice on budgeting, hostels, and transportation, and the third section offers great ideas about extending your stay. Entertaining and informative, this lively guide also includes fun charts and graphs and 100 to 150 full-color photos throughout.

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150 all-natural skin, hair and body care recipes that are inexpensive, toxin-free, and easy for readers to make themselves.  

Homemade Beauty is a beautifully packaged collection of 150 all-natural skin, hair and body care recipes. From turning blueberries into a lush detoxifying mask to fresh lemongrass into a non-toxic bug repellent, Homemade Beauty takes the ubiquitous eat-local, farm-to-table concept and brings it to the beauty category.  

As reports on the dangers of chemicals in cosmetics become increasingly alarming and the aspiration to live a more natural life grows, many of us are eager to take beauty regimens into our own hands to ensure we are putting only the safest and most natural ingredients on our bodies. Commercially available organic beauty products are expensive, but they are easy and cheaper to make at home and most require 5 simple ingredients or less. Recipes like Almond Rose Body Lotion, Coconut Lavender Shampoo, and Brown Sugar Vanilla Scrub will enchant you with heady scents – and thrill you when you realize these pampering products take only 5 minutes to make!

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I absolutely loved "Abandoned NYC" by Will Ellis and thoroughly enjoyed learning about places I never knew existed and more abut places I have visited myself throughout my little adventures. Because of this book Phil and I have a handful of adventures planned for this summer.

It is a beautiful guide to tons of abandon locations in the New York City area. And if you love that sort of thing, you will love this book.

May 24, 2015

Coldplay's Game Of Thrones: The Musical...

If you couldn't tell from my "Game of Chairs" post last month, I am a big fan of Game of Thrones (2011-Present) and I love a good parody. So here is another one for any of you that may not have seen it yet, it's a video Coldplay did for Red Nose Day called "Coldplay's Game of Thrones: The Musical" and it is just amazing.


How great was that?! I'm so glad Phil told me about it because it was the best twelve minutes I've wasted on YouTube in a long time.

May 22, 2015

This Just Pinned: Week One Hundred & Forty...

Here are the highlights of my last week pinning...
(via: Beth Cakes)

As always if you want to see what else I have up on Pinterest you can check out my account here.

May 21, 2015

Catching Up | My Life As Of Late...

So I thought that I'd do an update/catch up kind of post because I've been dealing with little bouts of randomness for the past few weeks.

For example, Justin was out of state the majority of last week for a work conference. So I pretty much did nothing, with the exception of having my sister, Erin, Nicole, Eileen and their kids over to hang out and have dinner. Which was great but the only thing I really did in the seven days he was gone.

The day before he left we had Rob, Erin and Day over (Phil attended our meeting via Facetime) to book the majority of our excursions for our trip to Iceland and Amsterdam. Which I'm super excited for. Justin did a really good job planning out things for us to do while we were on vacation so we could get the most out of our time in both countries.

This past Saturday I worked all day and then on Sunday Justin and I got into an argument so we each did our own things. He went to a baseball game and I spent the day shopping and drinking hanging out with Erin, Day, Toni and Toni's kids. Which was blast -- Justin and I made up when we saw each other later on in the day.

Also throughout all of that randomness my sister ended up in the hospital with what ended up being gallstones. So she is going to need surgery in a few weeks -- I'm taking the day off to be there for her, so I'm sure there will be a post about that.

And then today I woke up earlier than I had to and had the urge to check my bank statement, only to find out that someone had made fraudulent charges using my debit card. Which just ruined my day. I spent hours making phone calls to the bank, etc. and going to get a replacement card. I'm still pretty pissed about it.

In terms of work... For the past week my Department Head has been off, so basically I've been running the ship but not really because God forbid anyone actually tell "Julia" that she is incompetent and thus the only other librarian in the department is in charge (Yes, only other librarian. "Amy" quit back in March but because things were so weird here at the time I didn't want to mention it). So our Director keeps popping in asking how things are going, even though we all know the truth as to what's going on here.

So yeah, that's been life as of late. Nothing crazy crazy fun or exciting, but I am super excited for this upcoming three day weekend and hope you all have a happy and safe Memorial Day.

May 17, 2015

Sunday Steal...

1. If You Were To Attend A Costume Party Tonight, What Or Whom Would You Go As? 
Leela from Futurama (1999-2013)

2. What Are Your Choice Of Toppings On A Hamburger? 
I don't eat beef.

3. You Are Chosen To Have Lunch With The President. The Condition Is You Only Get To Ask One Question. What Do You Ask?   
If he has ever seen a ghost.

4. It’s Your First Day Of Vacation, What Are You Doing?
If I'm having a staycation, I'd stay in bed half the day watching daytime TV. If I'm on a real vacation I'd probably go on some sort of excursion.

5. What Is Your Concession Stand Must-Have At The Movies?
Popcorn with lots of "butter" and salt with a cherry soda.

6. Which Do You Dislike Most: Pop-Up Ads Or Spam Email?  
Pop-up ads.

7. What Do You Think Captain Hook’s Name Was Before He Had A Hook For A Hand?
It was probably something boring like Captain John.

8. Rock, Paper Or Scissors?   
Paper.

9. Let's Say A Brick Fell On Your Foot & Your Kid Is Standing Right Next To You, What Is Your 'Cleaned Up’ Swear Word?   
What makes you think that I care if a child is next to me if a brick fell on my foot? I will scream "Fuck!" in that situation no matter who is next to me.

10. Which Is Worse, Being In A Place That Is Too Loud Or Too Quiet?  
Too loud. I don't like when I can't hear the people I'm sitting across from.

11. What Is One Quality That You Really Appreciate In A Person? 
A good, wicked sense of humor.

12. At The Good Old General Store, What Particular Kind Of Candy Would You Expect To Be In The Big Jar At The Counter?   
Honey sticks.

13. What Is The Most Distinguishing Landmark In Your City?   
Not telling...

14. Everyone Hears Discussions That They Consider Boring. What Topic Can Put You To Sleep Quicker Than Any Other?   
Math number type things.

15. How Many Times Did It Take You To Pass Your Drivers Test?
Two times.

16. If You Had To Have The Same Topping On Your Vanilla Ice Cream For The Rest Of Your Life, What Topping Would You Choose?   
I don't need a topping on vanilla ice cream. 

17. What Food Item Would Need To Be Removed From The Market Altogether In Order For You To Live A Healthier, Longer Life?  
Cheese.

18. You Are Offered An Envelope That You Know Contains $50. You Are Then Told That You May Either Keep It Or Exchange It For Another Envelope That May Contain $500 Or May Be Empty. Do You Keep The First Envelope Or Do You Take Your Chances With The Second? 
Always take the chance. 

19. If You Had To Choose, Which Would You Give Up: Cable TV Or DSL/Cable Internet?   
Cable TV.

20. What Is Your Highest Level Of Education? 
Post Masters.

21. How Much Is A Gallon Of Gas In Your City? What Was The Highest It’s Been?   
Last time I got gas it was $2.79 and the highest was almost $4.

22. What Kind Of Lunch Box Did You Have As A Kid?   
I honestly do not remember.

23. What Would You Rather Have: A Nanny, A Housekeeper, A Cook  Or A Chauffeur?
Housekeeper.  

24. Would You Rather Be Trapped In An Elevator Or Stuck In Traffic?
Stuck in traffic all the way.

May 15, 2015

This Just Pinned: Week One Hundred & Thirty-Nine...

Here are the highlights of my last three weeks pinning...
(via: Jojotastic)
(via: Flickr)

As always if you want to see what else I have up on Pinterest you can check out my account here.