tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58177998714821757482024-02-21T13:06:56.721-05:00The InternatLife, love and the pursuit of craftiness.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-70422076696671547432011-09-12T11:10:00.003-04:002011-09-12T11:10:48.967-04:00Just Peachy KeenAfter a much needed weekend at home in NYC after weeks of travel, I had the pleasure of visiting the Union Square Green market this weekend. In addition to <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/Nat_S/status/112563810098880513">a special surprise from Kate Spade</a>, I was overwhelmed by the bounty of the late summer harvest. Corn, tomatoes of all colors...and my favorite, peaches! I picked up quite a few.<br />
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While they need a couple days to be juicy ripe for biting straight into, they are perfect for baking in the meantime. Ever since I purchased, Martha Stewart Pies and Tarts cookbook, I've been obsessed with this recipe for <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/336048/pate-sucree">Pate Sucree</a>, which is a nice sweet pie crust that is easy to make (especially with a food processor) and when baked is the flaky light crust that just melts in your mouth. Especially when it is covered in peaches!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZMHsTV-Gm9A2vldXCUAuMz6yPwu__KjA2fiZ0ZynDm0Ivi-RwpIqfIeFHseWJWlWVx_m4zkL4ls9LPfFi4vE19u2lgFH-r4UT-JhCGYVKpA0hNthpnqcZY1iVkASgPDXppwYAc7sBlca/s1600/IMG_20110820_232913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZMHsTV-Gm9A2vldXCUAuMz6yPwu__KjA2fiZ0ZynDm0Ivi-RwpIqfIeFHseWJWlWVx_m4zkL4ls9LPfFi4vE19u2lgFH-r4UT-JhCGYVKpA0hNthpnqcZY1iVkASgPDXppwYAc7sBlca/s320/IMG_20110820_232913.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm particularly fond of this free form galette style pie/tart which requires you simply roll out the dough, pile a fruit of your choice on top (mix it with 1/4 cup of sugar and the juice from half a lemon), and fold the edges in. Bake it for 45 minutes at 375 and it will be golden (literally)! I've made it with blueberries, peaches, and a mix of the two (as pictured). It made the end of family dinner just peachy!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-46755396079197552182011-09-08T12:42:00.004-04:002011-09-08T12:42:49.512-04:00Big News!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59PNg2jc1FDB_gj8oiUiqD2JQ3AibSbaBo3nnERd4R5pYwccbqmwMnGKrHCc4bdACGztjD_jXXrvaVw4rpBQossbwNayuXsIjKKpIHlbuRnp2QgWaxHZ0H8h1IMAgkjFt87XXiF8WS3JJ/s1600/IMG_20110907_162911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59PNg2jc1FDB_gj8oiUiqD2JQ3AibSbaBo3nnERd4R5pYwccbqmwMnGKrHCc4bdACGztjD_jXXrvaVw4rpBQossbwNayuXsIjKKpIHlbuRnp2QgWaxHZ0H8h1IMAgkjFt87XXiF8WS3JJ/s320/IMG_20110907_162911.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>It's finally official!</b> After 6 weeks of contracting, I was hired full-time on Monday as a Product Marketing Manager at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a>. Here I am at my desk with my hand embroidered Etsy Labs coat! How cool is that?!<br />
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I couldn't be happier about this. Here is a pic of me with the <b>entire </b>Product Marketing Team.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-o1cEqAIz8BFOqLTj0GN9G-1R1QWTGzlsbIHzbshfcEBREPNfnBK81IqIPFDIY_vCRyjW65YsLRcQknGuE_U-NKz7iOMAr_H2P-mGl9_dEoQTIajjpj3g3I7n0TTcVU059DPwYtNu3y0Q/s1600/IMG_20110907_162820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-o1cEqAIz8BFOqLTj0GN9G-1R1QWTGzlsbIHzbshfcEBREPNfnBK81IqIPFDIY_vCRyjW65YsLRcQknGuE_U-NKz7iOMAr_H2P-mGl9_dEoQTIajjpj3g3I7n0TTcVU059DPwYtNu3y0Q/s320/IMG_20110907_162820.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, yeah, I'm the first one, but we will be hiring soon! <a href="mailto:natalie@etsy.com">Contact me</a> for more details. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-56627101216370962802011-09-03T08:41:00.007-04:002011-09-03T09:29:52.276-04:00Come on Irene<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6tAjd4qLdVvfGNW1T3uZvbiIaVXrPisg0PiZI9DIvW5VlIPhSOEQEBppP_9bhgltR4qKi31ZocZbXQqWaBGt12tC-tstdvk8MYU8v95utOFNw0iHy9X2yAM64onnf0xWXzrS4XcubV-9/s1600/IMG_20110829_082849+%25281%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;">I'm 6 days late on this, but its still worth reporting that last week held many natural disaster 'firsts' for me, and for New York City. I actually felt the earthquake on Tuesday, and on Saturday and Sunday there was enough rain and wind to shut down the city. Hurricane Irene, possibly the most over-hyped storm I've experienced, was proof that the media can essentially fabricate natural disaster. After a weekend of hibernation, board games and eating like it was the end of the world, Monday brought sunny skies and little damage (aside from some minor flooding) in NYC.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Here are some photos I snapped on Monday morning of "the aftermath" in the West Village. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2z1sxZiY-jNCVU2mDFepDUCKnGRKAZOm9hSOB3-QXA6aRLm5nmoZerOCY92Mo2lXHTLshQ3b2weyD9hOH3GypoliqJGJjDxUO3pQp1HGS19-_IRWjIYnwFKSD_N9sEI0bBWJS33flAXE/s400/IMG_20110829_083152.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648115117106055410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Hair Salon</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6tAjd4qLdVvfGNW1T3uZvbiIaVXrPisg0PiZI9DIvW5VlIPhSOEQEBppP_9bhgltR4qKi31ZocZbXQqWaBGt12tC-tstdvk8MYU8v95utOFNw0iHy9X2yAM64onnf0xWXzrS4XcubV-9/s1600/IMG_20110829_082849+%25281%2529.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6tAjd4qLdVvfGNW1T3uZvbiIaVXrPisg0PiZI9DIvW5VlIPhSOEQEBppP_9bhgltR4qKi31ZocZbXQqWaBGt12tC-tstdvk8MYU8v95utOFNw0iHy9X2yAM64onnf0xWXzrS4XcubV-9/s400/IMG_20110829_082849+%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648115697337901874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Restaurant/Venue</div></span></div><div>
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<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAVZUjNe89R-pW3AZ8Z2qGoxCnh3R9LuwE58Jr7wREFJVIjRGBxwO2mITva6i7yhwgyW0uFMJCMn5TQqcILvQrZkP4KqketdI5omu3TQeVlhm9TGnPeV9QE2qIJYB5eqwkY_jb0S46RBB/s400/IMG_20110829_083236.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648114753193272098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Jonathan Adler, I'm rather embarrassed that the design store couldn't do better than this.</span></div><div> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-59098000580392976662011-08-25T09:32:00.014-04:002011-08-25T10:19:37.306-04:00Love DoctorsOh hello, yes, I <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span>, it's been a while. Truth is, I've been refraining from blogging for the past few months, while I was funemployed because I knew it would just be too mean. You didn't really want to hear about my life of midday outdoor yoga classes in bryant park, leisurely afternoons reading on the highline, evenings cruising with a cocktail on my way to the Yankees game now did you? See, it was generous of me, I knew the jealousy would be too much. So you're welcome.
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<br />But now I'm back, a month into my new job at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a>, which I understand may make <span style="font-style: italic;">some</span> of you jealous (who could blame you, I get to craft AT work), but I think it's an appropriate enough time to start blogging again. Some notable things have happened since I last updated the Internat, and I'll fill you in little by little. At the moment I'd like to dedicated this post to several very special doctors in my life. These three docs are all <span style="font-weight: bold;">very</span> important in the well-being of one my vital organs: my heart!
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<br />First up: The Drs. O'Malley, finally got married this month (see <a href="http://natschwartz.blogspot.com/2009/04/big-month-for-soon-to-be-drs-omalley.html">this post on their engagement</a> a mere 28 months ago!), and it was a blissfully wonderful weekend in Sonoma. We stayed at the beautiful H2 Hotel, and I felt like a VIP getting to spend some great quality time with the future Mrs.O'Malley on her big day. The whole bridal party took off for a group run and bike on the morning of the wedding, borrowing perfectly picturesque white beach cruisers from the hotel. Later when we were dressed up, the bikes came in handy for ridiculously adorable pics! (<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/PaulDavidSchwartz/KRWedding?authkey=Gv1sRgCLzon4zzyL3nbQ">See many more here</a> thanks to the Paul-parazzi)
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwP8-Vk-BXZrhF_W16Z9eiIrzZEsU3K8Q_i_aCBxFeXVGIdnjZi6f3nKIwBdOOvsM4UCqAWILcQaG4zVYk7T2juJMSjKzovPC2KUpjkgGcBkKf4uDDK1GuyW-2Kn5W4iljIrsoA_o2ceQ/s1600/DSC_0249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwP8-Vk-BXZrhF_W16Z9eiIrzZEsU3K8Q_i_aCBxFeXVGIdnjZi6f3nKIwBdOOvsM4UCqAWILcQaG4zVYk7T2juJMSjKzovPC2KUpjkgGcBkKf4uDDK1GuyW-2Kn5W4iljIrsoA_o2ceQ/s400/DSC_0249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644792710497834290" border="0" /></a>
<br />It was a tearful day as I watched my mom preform Kit and Ryan's thoughtful and personal ceremony and pronounce them husband and wife. Hey, it's not every bridesmaid that gets to kiss the officiant in the recessional.
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<br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwmJ5qK9-rHaJSK1Z0Hh_IqkXpIfOjhKWwNeccwM6p2PEW5mfSNsneEcknZBSDaSmtHyT8VTGrZJ1uHlnmZObT3dzvj9quUjauiz7E1J4Ckpt0iTKQbA2jOIhf5P6ckQ1cTkJnUzfNq_x/s1600/officiant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwmJ5qK9-rHaJSK1Z0Hh_IqkXpIfOjhKWwNeccwM6p2PEW5mfSNsneEcknZBSDaSmtHyT8VTGrZJ1uHlnmZObT3dzvj9quUjauiz7E1J4Ckpt0iTKQbA2jOIhf5P6ckQ1cTkJnUzfNq_x/s400/officiant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644792142949381234" border="0" /></a>I must say after a weekend full of such love, I've been suffering from a little PWSD! The only cure will be seeing them soon, so I'll have to make a trip to Boston.
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<br />The third Doctor is actually a Dr-to-be (can we call her a DTR?), one Rebecca Sista-girl Schwartz, is officially white-coated and ready to take on the world of medicine at UPenn armed with endless textbooks, a stethoscope and a banana. Clearly.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKuIREsho7S2pIUxAchuD4mCPAuzvFri47oN-qZzFoy6136JFNh8LLtv1eY1MFSut90Sp4qDPtmfSL7bUddcilF8dLEMsO-xWqj8qHEIGyZMHcRDU1FEk_0ZDaP0oeHP8ALe_iWIUa1Zn/s1600/banana.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKuIREsho7S2pIUxAchuD4mCPAuzvFri47oN-qZzFoy6136JFNh8LLtv1eY1MFSut90Sp4qDPtmfSL7bUddcilF8dLEMsO-xWqj8qHEIGyZMHcRDU1FEk_0ZDaP0oeHP8ALe_iWIUa1Zn/s400/banana.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644797381387448482" border="0" /></a>I think that during this glamorous white-coat <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/PaulDavidSchwartz/August12RebeccaSWhiteCoatCeremony?authkey=Gv1sRgCK6ByqunuZDOlQE">photo shoot</a> (talk about Dr. McDreamy) my mom said something like "Paging Dr.Schwwwaaaartz!" and Bec whipped that out of her pocket. Not sure though. I, sadly, could not make it to the white coat ceremony, but I came in for the celebration dinner (and fro yo).
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKcRmMuSXhxDtOeRNYQefD7p02nbSzKITHep4qQ7Pn-V4V2NkzVcR36j9JwRZ1gIhCHih8NZpuO-1i1zB9fogqWbnXfFurlJOZuqoE36MASAGYf3mGAuvre-H374y4Rkxa65fbkS9mt-H/s1600/whole+fam.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKcRmMuSXhxDtOeRNYQefD7p02nbSzKITHep4qQ7Pn-V4V2NkzVcR36j9JwRZ1gIhCHih8NZpuO-1i1zB9fogqWbnXfFurlJOZuqoE36MASAGYf3mGAuvre-H374y4Rkxa65fbkS9mt-H/s400/whole+fam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644795455711296802" border="0" /></a>Can you tell we are very proud?
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<br />I love you Drs!
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-34626124541575213382011-06-14T17:06:00.003-04:002011-06-14T17:21:29.560-04:00Dressing Up<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">As I mentioned in my last post, Lily and Matt's fabulous nuptials kicked off my wedding season this year. It was a flawless event at the Boston Seaport Hotel, and the bride left no detail behind. If I had to pick one favorite detail of this spectacular event is was Lily's absolutely swoon-worthy dress. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">There hasn't been a wedding so far where I haven't loved the bride's dress pick-- it always seems to fit the bride's and setting's personality. I have loved some of the simpler dresses, like that worn by Alex last summer; but at the same time, I always adore the big fabulous dresses with trains and the whole nine-yards, which I call "the cupcake dress" (that is not a technical term). It doesn't fit every bride, but for those who can handle it, I say embrace it. It's your day and it's probably the only day you will be able to wear a dress that you could hide people under (unless you're into victorian reenactments or something).<br /><br />Clearly it was the perfect choice for Lil. So perfect in fact that even Vera Wang decided it should be </span><a href="http://www.verawang.com/veraunveiled/2011/06/real-fitting-lily-maltz/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">on her blog</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> :)<br /></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-78683194304075529652011-06-03T15:20:00.004-04:002011-06-14T17:06:52.262-04:00What do you like better, Christmas or Wedding Season?!Wedding season!!<br /><br />On my way to the official kick off of this years wedding season, and I feel like a kid on Christmas eve! Lily and Matt are first up this summer so I'm headed to beantown to celebrate with some high school friends and the parents. I know these Colby kids like to party (nothing better to do when go to college in Maine) so it promises to be a great time...stay tuned for pictures post weekend! <br /><br />Ok off to keep playing on my new iPad...which I'm blogging from right now. Woot! I heart technology. And weddings!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-12528625380710962652011-05-23T09:28:00.010-04:002011-05-23T10:07:22.756-04:00Smartification<div style="text-align: left;">It's smartification season. It's May, and the April showers have brought May <a href="http://natschwartz.blogspot.com/2011/04/im-bacccccck.html">flowers</a>, <a href="http://natschwartz.blogspot.com/2011/05/spring-babies.html">babies</a> and graduations. I had the pleasure of attending one cousin's graduation last week from Penn. Most of Schwartz-Sweet-Petri-Egger family (Schweetezieneggers?) headed to Philly to be there to watch Alex get an award and get her wizard of city planning diploma. In between, we did a lot of sitting, waiting, eating mini sandwiches, clapping, reading in seats, biting nails (I know, sad, I relapsed) and trying not to fall asleep. But for the 30 seconds that Alex was being honored, we were really excited and proud. Here we are looking <i>so</i> proud:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgutpwBjz3hFLU_b8D4xX6QxOSqLLWeP_vkM73u8OzivFUUihM7wl5TkdaPIfy_WRVwECny2FPpBAEIsbm9JO72zN6718veUGzuTl8ifIndiyGnbKFRobUsXKHX0YNSnFXoqTwK34PpHd5/s400/5737776069_9800a996ca_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609905604954429218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Being on the Penn campus around so many students made me nostalgic-like-whoa for the years of sauntering through the sun-drenched quad, biking through campus, and living within a half mile radius of all my friends. It made me smile, it made me want to cry, and most of all it made me wish Kaitlin would hurry up and get that time machine running already so we could go back and relive the glory days. Hurry up girl, Senior year is waiting!</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In honor of Alex's Master of City Planning degree, I decided to test my Master of Sewing skills and make her a bag to show of her style as the queen of urban transportation. Here's the bag I sewed myself:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvIkqupKfolHYmoESQ294N-i_qXJF2pY_MHbVnygCdsTTIhqwasxx4kSo5EtQ3VvMznU5YSXjaEFugtL3oJApEVF-65HbJa_YBghIN08hH5g3KTTAlBNi4D-QQqhV_G4tWoYD1eWT3atK/s400/IMG_20110418_220721.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609908057929531762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Bikes on the outside, subways on the inside. And yes, that is a customized "Handmade by Natalie Schwartz" tag (thanks Allison!). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5p_7XIzNcEON3X-4K4ybB56N8gyNyDIT9bH5AcP-n9lTzLermfSvZ1NOZ1_anGi3ljKNOoiOYJpW-lrN_kRlW5GZ1fbiIB6X0tETo2lo84sD27_GnkN6ebyCAbwxmnoWA74FHn1ICFka/s1600/IMG_20110418_220750.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5p_7XIzNcEON3X-4K4ybB56N8gyNyDIT9bH5AcP-n9lTzLermfSvZ1NOZ1_anGi3ljKNOoiOYJpW-lrN_kRlW5GZ1fbiIB6X0tETo2lo84sD27_GnkN6ebyCAbwxmnoWA74FHn1ICFka/s400/IMG_20110418_220750.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609908381878851922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a>I also made some matching pencil cases:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN_GVYdmJ7th-qlnPPE8B2A4walXMzj-0tj_cvvQolrLXAfwY_Nis6Kl-Q5m3WVdgw1m1AfvAXqTowTMLWaSKdrmAQGYaP6qIQnFUfo3nWkz68ixZLtcTOLL__fijdXYlOpP2MPKTPbsY/s1600/pouch.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN_GVYdmJ7th-qlnPPE8B2A4walXMzj-0tj_cvvQolrLXAfwY_Nis6Kl-Q5m3WVdgw1m1AfvAXqTowTMLWaSKdrmAQGYaP6qIQnFUfo3nWkz68ixZLtcTOLL__fijdXYlOpP2MPKTPbsY/s400/pouch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609909800545628770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px; " /></a>Here is Alex with her gifts: I think she liked them? Yay.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5p_7XIzNcEON3X-4K4ybB56N8gyNyDIT9bH5AcP-n9lTzLermfSvZ1NOZ1_anGi3ljKNOoiOYJpW-lrN_kRlW5GZ1fbiIB6X0tETo2lo84sD27_GnkN6ebyCAbwxmnoWA74FHn1ICFka/s1600/IMG_20110418_220750.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUQ-hAC8OVyaPQUGsSyJp4_Bo0XtNSBeoCE2Ky9z-DLQeyxXnq6lsOVFBvMDlTN6cmIFqM_w5vWzIPupwV_jOuuhbwUlcs_V0VayTosr4oT7zqb_1o-TiTL4cqMpf5LdrtJMHYebZyTsl/s400/alex.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609910049981918114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 384px; " /></span></span></span></div><div>This week much of the same crowd is headed out to Colorado to watch Kroger graduate from college! Sadly I'm sitting this one out in NYC, hoping to make someone proud and get a job... It's a proud time for families everywhere, and I am also very proud of my San Francisco Stanfordites turned MBAs Dary, Kat and Chase who are graduating this week and next! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-87634165779287160412011-05-14T17:34:00.003-04:002011-05-14T17:57:51.129-04:00Spring Babies<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Chelsea has decided to be coworker extraordinaire (not surprised) and commissioned me to make this preppy fresh diaper cake for what promises to be the best dressed baby boy in DC! </span></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijavvxlU9xBSIJXnNeTiWTwIsUzdq_IThmSBEcPeQVnN6zhtq-XSmjp6ksX5gxzQfVCXBX5Wb68y__TPLV41fTz1p5MHv_3Q95o930dSASfTAU6JKIrxnseoeRqCSO2oPv4AhX31FA8w_K/s400/IMG_20110512_190312.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606693704802662530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >In other news I got my first order from a stranger on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61619587/custom-diaper-cakes">Etsy</a>! Woot! Maybe I can just build cakes (points for the movie reference on that one) full time? Probably not. </span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-12392862449543623132011-05-11T09:51:00.005-04:002011-05-13T16:34:29.229-04:00Books<span class="Apple-style-span" >Hello, hello. I got a lot of positive response from my <a href="http://natschwartz.blogspot.com/2011/02/rekindling-my-love-of-reading.html">previous book review post</a>, so figured I should let you all know what I have read since then. I'm not necessarily proud that I spent hours reading some of the books listed below, but cut me some slack, I don't have a TV. I'm allowed to read for mind-numbing amusement sometimes. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Did-You-This-Number/dp/1594487596">How Did You Get this Number</a> by Sloane Crosby</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This is the second book by the brilliant author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Was-Told-Thered-Be-Cake/dp/159448306X">I was Told there'd be Cake</a>, <a href="http://natschwartz.blogspot.com/2011/02/rekindling-my-love-of-reading.html">which I wrote about previously</a>. I thought this was only slightly less amusing than the first, (perhaps it was just the novelty of this hilarious writer wearing off) but definitely still great. Sloane recounts stories from her childhood, to life as a 20-something in NYC with descriptions so vivid you will feel like it was you...who was doing an illegal furniture trade in a dark alley of Manhattan with a mysterious man who you met at Design within Reach? Really, funny. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1582346186/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0446552445&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0XM8QEH86HMX853TG86W">My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Handler">Chelsea Handler</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This is where the aforementioned note about not judging my junk reading comes into play. I had always wanted to read this book when I saw it on display in the airport book stores, but I was too embarrassed to be carrying it around, risking that a co-worker or elder might see me (or hear me laughing) and look over to see me reading about *gasp* one night stands! Well, that is the glory of the kindle, my friends- no one knows what you're reading! So I downloaded this sucker and plowed through it. It is, as titled, a bizarre and truly unbelievable--not as in "amazing" unbelievable, but as in "I'm really not sure if I believe you" unbelievable-- collection of one night stands. Whether true or not, they are laugh out loud funny, and I quickly hit download on her next title.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416596364/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0446552445&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1Z76R4XCME1TMQ1SWHVV">Are You There, Vodka? It's me Chelsea</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Handler">Chelsea Handler</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This didn't differ all that much from the first book, and honestly I can't remember which stories were from which book at this point. Despite the adult-only titles, Chelsea writes a fair amount about her childhood: from walking in on her parents, to the missteps of her embarrassingly nerdy father, and stories of trying to fit-in with the cool kids. After finishing this in a day, I read....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chelsea-Bang-Handler/dp/0446552445">Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Handler">Chelsea Handler</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This is the most recent of Chelsea's books and so recounts more recent stories from her life. The book takes place when she already has 'made it' (she has a show apparently? yes, I don't have a TV). It contains some pretty funny stories of the ridiculousness of the LA scene, and how much she seems to torment her long-term live in boyfriend. Mostly it made me feel bad for him. And laugh a lot. Luckily she doesn't have any more books so I was forced to return to more intellectual reading.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/">The 4-Hour Workweek</a> by Timothy Ferriss</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Appropriately, I decided to download this on my way to Mexico which marked the start of my time off from work, in search of new work. It's a best-seller, but honestly I think it's a little shallow. While there are some lessons to be learned from this guy about how to maximize efficiency in life and in work, I think his overall proposal was weak. Basically he thinks that everyone should create some sort of online business in which they can set up to function almost completely without their supervision, but by which they can rake in buckets of money monthly to spend on travel and fun. Sounds nice, huh? He uses himself as a model-- he managed to set up a very lucrative online vitamin business. I think he over-simplifies the ease of doing such a thing, assuming unrealistic demand and success. Furthermore, he makes the assumption that to all of us, this would be satisfying. This part bothered more more than the simplification-- the idea that no one would actually derive pleasure or satisfaction from his/her job, or life's work and that everyone should work on minimizing their time working. It is the complete opposite of the more popular concept of finding a passion that can be your work, or work that ignites your passion. In any case, interesting read, if for no other reason than for suggesting that everyone hire a remote personal assistant in India. I'm looking into it. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Night-Forgiveness-Survival-Homeless/dp/0786868910">Breaking Night</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Murray">Liz Murray</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >If you're going to read one book from this list, read this. In fact, if you're going to read one book all <i>year</i>, read this. This is an <b>incredible</b> memoir of a girl who was born to two drug addicted parents in the Bronx. She lives with them through her middle school years, as they spend their welfare checks on coke, and she scrounges for food on the street, sometimes resorting to eating ice cubes because chewing makes her think she's eating. Despite the clear abuse of her addicted parents, Liz tells her story without distaste or anger towards them, which leaves the reader feeling compassionate towards the whole family. After her mother's mental illness causes her to be taken to a hospital, and she ends up living with her mother's abusive boyfriend and finally runs away, spending almost two years sleeping in the subway and on friends' couches. She misses all of her first two years of high school, but at the age of 16, after her mother dies of AIDS, and Liz feels she's about to hit rock bottom, Liz comes to the realization that she wants to turn her life around. She begins applying to alternative high schools and eventually gets in, impressively finishes in two years, and wins a NYT Scholarship to Harvard. This story is real, and it is one of the most unbelievable testaments to the will of the human spirit. It's beautifully written, humbling, heartbreaking and inspirational. MUST READ.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bossypants-Tina-Fey/dp/0316056863/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305315589&sr=1-1">Bossypants</a> by Tina Fey</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >As you've probably read in every liberal publication, Tina Fey wrote a book. And, no surprise, it's funny. My experience of this book was definitely influenced by the fact that Lauren and I read it aloud to each other in Mexico, while lounging in on the beach, or while listening to the waves as we fell asleep. I'm pretty sure I would enjoy it anywhere, but in that setting, it was pretty much heaven. I enjoyed the first half more than the second-- her stories of her childhood and post-college days of "making it" as a comedian and actress are hilarious, and as is the story of a cruise ship fire on her honeymoon (confirming my commitment to lifelong avoidance of cruise ships). Read it. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023483">The Hunger Games</a> by Suzanne Collins</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I'm embarrassed that I started reading this, and even more embarrassed that I finished it. This is the first of a series (but the last that I'll read of it) set in a futuristic world where teens from each state are chosen for an annual survival test called the Hunger Games, where they fight to kill each other off while living inside some sort of life-sized terrarium controlled by the game makers. Now I know I'm not one for fantasy, but if I'm going to read it, I'd at least like it to be vivid and well-written. I was as disturbed by the attack of the larger than life foxes as I was by the horrible writing quality. Apparently after the whole Eclipse saga swept the nation, teen lit is now completely socially acceptable for not-so-young adult readers. Verdict: I'd rather read Judy Blume. </span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-18421773800114393482011-04-26T10:06:00.008-04:002011-05-11T10:07:51.756-04:00I'm Bacccccck<div style="text-align: left;">Sorry. I'm back to fill you in on a couple of things, and then hopefully pick up blogging more regularly.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>1. It's spring in NYC. This makes me <span class="Apple-style-span">VERY </span>happy. There are birds chirping, I got the bike tuned up, there's a skip in my step and I went outside with bare legs yesterday. GREAT NEWS. If you don't live here, come visit now, it will make you want to move. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqo-vLfK7chMSyethLLDKXE-jVWAsdynXQBENjytHNerx-JK3xcmybZjxFTZ93qXZS_7CUhDRsxEt3NTBx4Zcf5ir8pcDt8Jy5q1NL0Xvt7TEO9TjBSdcsC6265ulX2zq5ff0uPbofntO/s400/IMG_20110427_151358.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605458929956288466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></span></div><div>2. I went on an incredible vacation to <a href="http://threejewelsretreats.com/">Three Jewels Retreats</a> in Puerto Vallarta for some yoga, surfing and R&R with Lauren. I simply cannot speak highly enough about it-- I got hooked on surfing, back into Yoga, a nice tan and some amazing authentic mexican food. Going back next year for sure. Here's what Yoga looked like every morning:</div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiehFeg660L4r6wmhSe2J9cz7JI6w5lYOcngnPCLh1JGgDVfQLJ9u8fVMTxMZpWDjbcUR8ofGWQ4f6aOG7W9tIEom51W_WFxxNyUlVYmxPMn89KCp4xU1L2mMU9GzdRjn4m8bItNQKlPM/s400/IMG_20110410_083610.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605454058087606882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div>3. I'm officially on the market for a new job. Please forward any potential prospects my way. I'm taking the month off from Goog to look both at new jobs at Goog and outside. Holler if you have some ideas for me (or if you want to play hooky and hang out during the day and pretend to be funemployed like me!) In the spirit of job searching and self-promotion, I have seen this poster several times in the subway:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcT5RWJu2aUV1yappM1HUfRBPca6QhrXIxRCZV25YKF12k1edNzlw4Wup6bUcOiip6uXxeOgr-hh0d2-Bze59uQJYW5_fmRFZ3pFhEeDtAiUAK_8L94VblIh1u8wNo_FOnZBqbksgGY0lr/s400/IMG_20110426_104953.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605458635744296002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>Maybe I should just print my resume on poster-sized hot pink paper and start papering the subways? Or print it on a sandwich board and hire some homeless man to wear it on the corner of 23rd and 8th?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-47096887758378645642011-03-30T16:34:00.005-04:002011-03-30T16:41:34.648-04:00There's Sunlight at the end of the Tunnel<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">As March draws to a close, it's still freezing in NY. Literally: 30 degrees, and it was sleeting and snowing last week. Enough is enough, Mother Nature. You're a </span><a href="http://www.groundhog.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">liar</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">, Punxatuney Phil. Good news is, there is sunlight at the end of this dark NYC tunnel. Well, for me at least.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Headed here tomorrow:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_qJ0bcl78HBuchHJbgXdsT_yEwqe2gWHcLid7RK2DtdXYMPBcEKndQrqIQTu-aMkyh7DMDkmkuqOcJpILhv-xNNgZXzh90LR_10OZel7d63mkakMYGUhg1vpvzLjbSrHMtiKbew7WIq9/s400/Screen+shot+2011-03-30+at+4.32.43+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589975054969328610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 104px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Then here for a week:</span></div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrOpfWEm2F0BOUstb1NcF55OH0uYTpF-C4R5C2Sro5EjB8tqDQpTWsqPh9oUE6qJWgpEdE3umx0aAhwTl61OHo1NykOSIBqKgALCzM0xC-Vt7Pw0aBjqp5bBZGkf5GEtoLzpymvmepIzo/s400/Screen+shot+2011-03-30+at+4.33.48+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589974965917307410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 97px; " /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-70414256809292353302011-03-22T12:21:00.007-04:002011-03-22T14:09:51.475-04:00Magic Stick Pesto<span style="font-family:verdana;">Of all the kitchen appliances stuffed into my mini-kitchen, each one has a special place in my heart and in my overflowing cabinets. But today's post is dedicated to one very special appliance which I call the Magic Stick.<br /><br />If you've never owned an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CSB-77-Blender-Chopper-Attachments/dp/B0006G3JRO">immersion blender</a>, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. But if you have, I bet you'll be calling yours the magic stick too...because this little electric wand has tricks to make treats like you've never seen. It can turn lumpy potatoes into a silky smooth mashed, it's a souper way to puree soups and, in the case of last night, make a presto pesto.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />So I came home last night and had a serving of delish fresh pasta from Eataly left in my fridge....unfortunately, I did not have any sauce leftover. I quickly surveyed the contents of the fridge (which are quite dismal) and noticed I had half a bag of arugula that looked like my best bet. I quickly whipped out the magic stick and turned that half a bag of arugula into a delicious arugula pesto. I loosely followed a pesto recipe and created my own masterpiece (that's the magic of the stick)-- here's how I did it.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5qiMZncqws_f0NXAqy4xa5f0XX_vCBtjs-y4eTTZlG8cgQ0xp5eh3ljLh_IBQshNpubK8zL8WmBSvQWTFYW9udg9lNJvERfY6iMGUOxuYINKy5fG5anTRgh_4XZi7ke6FCKMd0MU35Da/s1600/IMG_20110321_202032.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5qiMZncqws_f0NXAqy4xa5f0XX_vCBtjs-y4eTTZlG8cgQ0xp5eh3ljLh_IBQshNpubK8zL8WmBSvQWTFYW9udg9lNJvERfY6iMGUOxuYINKy5fG5anTRgh_4XZi7ke6FCKMd0MU35Da/s400/IMG_20110321_202032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586966563775499314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Arugula Pesto<br /><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Ingredients:</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">- 2 cups arugula</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />- 1/4 cup olive oil</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />- 1/4 cup of freshly shaved parmesan </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />- 3 tablespoons toasted pinenuts</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">- 2 pinches of salt</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">- 1 pinch of pepper<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Throw all ingredients in the mini chopper attachment to the magic stick and press GO until its chopped into a creamy greeny pesto! Yum.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">PS- You can also make this with a mini or full sized food processor (it's just a lot bigger mess to clean up).</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-89959897975115027932011-03-17T11:06:00.008-04:002011-03-17T11:37:32.892-04:00Go Green!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsj-teqlht2X4UVTXD8ijB1Ju56bhAq6loONVS-EW5Noby9meNpKpbPSBvkazA327DlaVDP8RHMcRLtFjggCE76Czfk_9XBTfaSc_INPxIXxLswQelc33m4M0iCme6xlcEF8JPkraR1ev/s1600/rice+crispy.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaBSSO9TabZBKaINyFTeHA5rAPhwKFMWWRP7MN9c1BMQCx91zFVSkJI0xtTipLyd_6pgUk0nZorTiehUWzB5t3kJsSZE7aGVG7rjBDxD1gSfqdJprdvzjkTijgZtwQOsyP4yVfThiZ4SW/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnFOjTm6eoQJT0Xupq3q7CxEGtLfXjx9Abtb9At0fGzucI5gSVJzsFLt8U4-bav5miJbWMtQMfMK0fVlcFfuLq2S5PDDiHJzUe9mf7dGAOx3T5oJfsSckZsiteQZGbfpmZis74AzA55ZL/s1600/IMG_0052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnFOjTm6eoQJT0Xupq3q7CxEGtLfXjx9Abtb9At0fGzucI5gSVJzsFLt8U4-bav5miJbWMtQMfMK0fVlcFfuLq2S5PDDiHJzUe9mf7dGAOx3T5oJfsSckZsiteQZGbfpmZis74AzA55ZL/s400/IMG_0052.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585067516539093474" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VAiU_-Eb3wwGKzVfcA2alBHSZwpPyvQOjjzaY1r_-fLIaWNjIyAc3kyYl0-eXECp4V7w9b4GMUU4oORiDdkBEl5iyMb96oXEOKeNgYllzoxGdrPp3etJQ29avBG0efdyQqZYf0BTPbhh/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-17+at+11.11.33+AM.png"></a>So, it's St.Patty's day. I have no idea what this celebration is actually for (other than four leaf clovers, Irish people and green beer drinking), but I never met a holiday I didn't like. Any excuse for dressing in theme, wearing costumes and using food coloring.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This morning on my run (sporting a green jacket, duh) I ran into a little dog wearing a hat....I didn't have my camera but this is what it looked like:</span><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VAiU_-Eb3wwGKzVfcA2alBHSZwpPyvQOjjzaY1r_-fLIaWNjIyAc3kyYl0-eXECp4V7w9b4GMUU4oORiDdkBEl5iyMb96oXEOKeNgYllzoxGdrPp3etJQ29avBG0efdyQqZYf0BTPbhh/s400/Screen+shot+2011-03-17+at+11.11.33+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585067179237036130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Things like this always make me smile-- New Yorkers never do seise to surprise me.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >To celebrate the holiday I decided to whip up some rice crispy treats with a hint of color. It was an experiment but it worked surprisingly well-- I just added about 8 drops of green food coloring to the melted marshmallow mixture before adding the cereal, and then proceed with the </span><a href="http://www.ricekrispies.com/recipes/the-original-treats.aspx#/recipes/the-original-treats" style="font-family: verdana; ">classic rice crispy treat recipe</a><span class="Apple-style-span" >. Then I melted some chocolate and let it cool in the fridge until it was frosting-like enough for spreading into a little clover (please excuse my drawing skills, I didn't have a clover cookie cutter in my collection so this was freehand).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsj-teqlht2X4UVTXD8ijB1Ju56bhAq6loONVS-EW5Noby9meNpKpbPSBvkazA327DlaVDP8RHMcRLtFjggCE76Czfk_9XBTfaSc_INPxIXxLswQelc33m4M0iCme6xlcEF8JPkraR1ev/s1600/rice+crispy.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsj-teqlht2X4UVTXD8ijB1Ju56bhAq6loONVS-EW5Noby9meNpKpbPSBvkazA327DlaVDP8RHMcRLtFjggCE76Czfk_9XBTfaSc_INPxIXxLswQelc33m4M0iCme6xlcEF8JPkraR1ev/s400/rice+crispy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585071149872680898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 228px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >(and yes, Meg, I still have fake nails on)</span></i></div><meta charset="utf-8"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >It struck me after the fact that maybe I should have substituted Lucky Charms for Rice Crispies, since they are all about rainbows and leprechauns and seem to be related to the holiday more than Snap, Crackle and Pop (or were they leprechauns too?)...but oh well.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Best thing about Rice Crispy treats? They're cereal, so it's totally appropriate to them eat for breakfast! Go Green!</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-34699607318801551452011-03-15T16:39:00.009-04:002011-03-15T17:16:28.043-04:00Magic in the Middle<span style="font-family: verdana;">Everyone loves a surprise inside. That was the theme for this Winter's edition of the Winsor Weekend (the WWW for short). Luring us by telling us she had recently renovated her kitchen to include TWO ovens (as well as literally 10x my counter space), w</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">e headed deep into suburbia to visit Meg in her West Hartford home/palace.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">First things first, Dr.Rossin arrived with her stethoscope to see if she could hear Baby G's (yes, there is a new baby-to-be G!) heartbeat....There's magic in her middle! (stretch, sorry)</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOnbEzGv1NWA-vTlDyxedy2xrSS18it9e59JPgPDv0JZgd7Ie8rx6nZHlpYacpVRdd9umaScyRLSuTDIe7RLEn0rXJGwdBV_q7DXtGXKdhcP-1-Pyw96hoYLgmpJcDuEuQFGfpCieIhEv/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOnbEzGv1NWA-vTlDyxedy2xrSS18it9e59JPgPDv0JZgd7Ie8rx6nZHlpYacpVRdd9umaScyRLSuTDIe7RLEn0rXJGwdBV_q7DXtGXKdhcP-1-Pyw96hoYLgmpJcDuEuQFGfpCieIhEv/s400/IMG_0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584409666156714386" border="0" /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">We then made ourselves at home and set up shop for an afternoon of baking and reminiscing. We whipped up some </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.thecapitolbaker.com/2010/04/magic-in-middle-cookies.html">Magic in the Middle cookies</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> which were the pretty much a cookie version of a peanut butter cup. Its a much easier recipe than the sophisticated result may suggest, so I recommend you </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.thecapitolbaker.com/2010/04/magic-in-middle-cookies.html">test it</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> out. </span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYX3FQr7A5teK313Otf3HTk0xzJmei2nNLfRAqdTZgrDb0L59UFpgSJ-rNlAY2iHasmO404iMukfg4wypJs7f-PwlMaesgmYLgFRErq9NdHk5jY5r03-w8aY1xMDbXO-Y-4neKTRiU2thI/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYX3FQr7A5teK313Otf3HTk0xzJmei2nNLfRAqdTZgrDb0L59UFpgSJ-rNlAY2iHasmO404iMukfg4wypJs7f-PwlMaesgmYLgFRErq9NdHk5jY5r03-w8aY1xMDbXO-Y-4neKTRiU2thI/s400/IMG_0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584409491751925858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Completely chocolate and unassuming on the outside, but a delish peanut butter surprise when you bite in!</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6uZtWIrXTVhnF3zIpI8h5LpLCaYLCrcTWJanJ1iAqQEur5ybifum-r8pdkTueSb0OFhAOOA0XoP5GuKy9uDddy8gunpJSzwkP-F1bZP8QL_ba5QsDQNZLEd4pChwEWdJzfPfnr5jPNvi/s1600/IMG_0045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6uZtWIrXTVhnF3zIpI8h5LpLCaYLCrcTWJanJ1iAqQEur5ybifum-r8pdkTueSb0OFhAOOA0XoP5GuKy9uDddy8gunpJSzwkP-F1bZP8QL_ba5QsDQNZLEd4pChwEWdJzfPfnr5jPNvi/s400/IMG_0045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584417352731843170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for the Magical weekend Meg, we'll be back!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-62486760638453783602011-03-14T14:37:00.004-04:002011-03-14T14:42:40.970-04:00Yay, Sista Girl!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKp2Si1xTP22FwApfYkjkohrydiebwlvCSIHbOdnYaxRHjiIVNPJQtuU2f73U32NohzIVNo6KwIQUDvIMX6F5MslXhjL8SjJoiEeyWtKKo2zjz7LioxSVgBcZTPgFgsp4h_l0e2EKZ9R-/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-14+at+2.38.02+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 349px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKp2Si1xTP22FwApfYkjkohrydiebwlvCSIHbOdnYaxRHjiIVNPJQtuU2f73U32NohzIVNo6KwIQUDvIMX6F5MslXhjL8SjJoiEeyWtKKo2zjz7LioxSVgBcZTPgFgsp4h_l0e2EKZ9R-/s400/Screen+shot+2011-03-14+at+2.38.02+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584007234424354354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you cant read her text it is "Here's a photo of me being provisionally accepted to Penn. Taken by my physics partner as I opened the status page."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So yes, jury is out, the future Dr. Schwartz (!!!!!!!!) will be going to UPenn next year, provided she nail the MCAT out of the park next month. GOOOOOOOOOOOOO BEC!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzbHJeHc5rX3VsiY556LkmJZeLLbEshD5Lu-OHeH20TkmDDUac3ljrYxI8CtJeJtdwfMVNa6mjMc61fr_24mfndP8g4RTVKZBhoAiopRecbmh5IvJal-Xa96qxt-7YF8TWTZ_BvA6tG4w/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-14+at+2.38.02+PM.png"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-54465406665140618182011-03-11T11:40:00.003-05:002011-03-11T11:43:08.349-05:00Email of the Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHg00ni_7uKeyhjLalo07zqft2MeGTSxF9S_u9d6lw5VSamdUGDb01V45nLVMZHffvjeD5YA1wYTfNni30IQP9qhSyjGlI4Fp2Q6Bj1yQIX2F0xG2Wgfzf2whzZHC6w2wmgP4Gdzrx8N08/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-11+at+11.41.13+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHg00ni_7uKeyhjLalo07zqft2MeGTSxF9S_u9d6lw5VSamdUGDb01V45nLVMZHffvjeD5YA1wYTfNni30IQP9qhSyjGlI4Fp2Q6Bj1yQIX2F0xG2Wgfzf2whzZHC6w2wmgP4Gdzrx8N08/s400/Screen+shot+2011-03-11+at+11.41.13+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582863534411188690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sent by Meghan in correspondence regarding my visit to her house in West Hartford tomorrow...Needless to say, I can't wait for a suburban bake-a-thon.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-8076296726188181202011-03-10T11:16:00.007-05:002011-03-10T11:37:08.172-05:00Gimme S'more Whoopie Pies!<span style="font-family:verdana;">As you know, </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://natschwartz.blogspot.com/2010/08/stanford-family-camp-roundup.html">I love me a campfire</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and not just because it's cozy and smells like summer. S'mores have long been on list of favorite desserts--nothing tops their gooey, chocolatey, crunch!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />So when looking for inspiration for a dessert to bring to a dinner party tonight, I nearly started drooling when I saw these </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.thecapitolbaker.com/2010/07/smores-whoopie-pies.html">S'Mores Whoopie Pies</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> on the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.thecapitolbaker.com/">Capital Baker</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (Allison's step sister) blog. I've never made whoopie pies, but if there was ever a recipe that would inspire me this was it!<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFoQF-q8Qma8OBcmuURrFdoQ99FzqJzRNrKDPfdvwJGCeyrJLWx56m6MdR5Ay218B1iUASy8FBOXUOtIV10JBO5vD9FdUJJ8MOIMyf5-oL0KWKO3Zsqd8ybZmaNAdWfTLvczfQ_8QWdka/s1600/s%2527mores.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFoQF-q8Qma8OBcmuURrFdoQ99FzqJzRNrKDPfdvwJGCeyrJLWx56m6MdR5Ay218B1iUASy8FBOXUOtIV10JBO5vD9FdUJJ8MOIMyf5-oL0KWKO3Zsqd8ybZmaNAdWfTLvczfQ_8QWdka/s400/s%2527mores.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582490670138531346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I must admit it was a little more involved than my standard weeknight baking project, but thanks to my </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://natschwartz.blogspot.com/2011/02/surprised-and-delighted.html">AMAZING new standing mixer</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, start to finish it probably took about 2 hours. I followed the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.thecapitolbaker.com/2010/07/smores-whoopie-pies.html">instructions</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> using just a tablespoon dollop for each pie but they turned out a lot smaller than I expected....more like mini whoopie pies.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh-3L1MmjUyH-7SUZy8QiBXN8sulaTHaOX7ssojZJkcWNJCVHIiCNxqsKndfX8rSRgCL1_Up_atQ_zdntprrgsowj1aM9Df9q87dvtUQh2lRkuaDwPGkqqky_BSphp1bOii52yjqS11Im/s1600/IMG_20110310_091053.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh-3L1MmjUyH-7SUZy8QiBXN8sulaTHaOX7ssojZJkcWNJCVHIiCNxqsKndfX8rSRgCL1_Up_atQ_zdntprrgsowj1aM9Df9q87dvtUQh2lRkuaDwPGkqqky_BSphp1bOii52yjqS11Im/s400/IMG_20110310_091053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582490945345890530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Equally tasty and adorable, but more fun-sized, making it even easier to justify saying gimme s'more!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-2961484670859542722011-03-08T10:17:00.006-05:002011-03-08T10:36:40.669-05:00This Weekend Was Sew Productive<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsA0A6AfegOtDQjepYXYla2F63ggJctYE8A1oYBNcNMGudgpI4aHvnKjJh5mEr-b4k05OaHEmXp2U0-reKjuuMUGUPaYLE2rC4KKmQ7VWTzBb3T03OpHJiQVe8GfOpJOLf0gDXIsM8xvN_/s1600/close+up.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHKWMtxCTnsMGbLX3T75Zpl9SZE0HRTju8f65pFNaojWcUNnejB_EGrIoq72WTNcfCdkaRZrFpxF9Iw_8INj5XlupOY9hshPkJfdiJh7G55XhG-FTVRTGhbv13tZAJAtzgJKvFDab5YVU/s1600/happy+flags+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHKWMtxCTnsMGbLX3T75Zpl9SZE0HRTju8f65pFNaojWcUNnejB_EGrIoq72WTNcfCdkaRZrFpxF9Iw_8INj5XlupOY9hshPkJfdiJh7G55XhG-FTVRTGhbv13tZAJAtzgJKvFDab5YVU/s400/happy+flags+1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581730559761632290" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWDw9ShC_BZ-w4x_qvdGr2Mt-hOqPdibcyHKVDH6wbyCRKi0bJAKMPmmhsKcnjpEuvrjN75q7AW9s-xIe-qRW3EHK-q2Wp1j8Pg-cb46rkGgzXMDHOQBzh-ZLHLT5M62PgY9WHb4jEiE6/s1600/happy+flags+2.jpg"></a>My first weekend in NYC in a month was domestic to the max with a hint of spice-- yes, I got out on Saturday night. I vacummed, did laundry, got a facial, cleaned, ran errands, went running, made delicious <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lentil-sausage-soup-recipe/index.html">lentil soup</a> and finished my first home sewing project! (Am I housewife year old trapped in a 28 year old's body? Sometimes I wonder...)
<br />
<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I've had bare windows in my kitchen/living area ever since I moved in. I managed to put up some blinds to prevent any perv neighbors from watching me vacum in my birthday suit, but they're plain white-- borrrrrring. Since curtains seemed a little overwhelming for my first solo sewing project, so I decided to try something a little easier to practice my skills. So here they are: </span></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWDw9ShC_BZ-w4x_qvdGr2Mt-hOqPdibcyHKVDH6wbyCRKi0bJAKMPmmhsKcnjpEuvrjN75q7AW9s-xIe-qRW3EHK-q2Wp1j8Pg-cb46rkGgzXMDHOQBzh-ZLHLT5M62PgY9WHb4jEiE6/s1600/happy+flags+2.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWDw9ShC_BZ-w4x_qvdGr2Mt-hOqPdibcyHKVDH6wbyCRKi0bJAKMPmmhsKcnjpEuvrjN75q7AW9s-xIe-qRW3EHK-q2Wp1j8Pg-cb46rkGgzXMDHOQBzh-ZLHLT5M62PgY9WHb4jEiE6/s400/happy+flags+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581730358104130098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px; " /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Yes, some may say they turn my already nautical or childlike apartment into a circus, but they make me happy (and isn't that what apartments are supposed to do anyway?). Here's a close up of the happy flags, so you can marvel at my imperfect sewing skills:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsA0A6AfegOtDQjepYXYla2F63ggJctYE8A1oYBNcNMGudgpI4aHvnKjJh5mEr-b4k05OaHEmXp2U0-reKjuuMUGUPaYLE2rC4KKmQ7VWTzBb3T03OpHJiQVe8GfOpJOLf0gDXIsM8xvN_/s400/close+up.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581731769633535490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I got the pattern/instructions from this little book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811864030">Home Sewn: 30 Projects for Every Room in the House</a>. Lots of fun little projects in there-- next up, new tablecloth!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-49219737486617898172011-03-02T19:03:00.008-05:002011-03-02T19:37:08.904-05:00Bonjour Baby Batiste!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >So I've been in SF since Friday. Apologies for the Internat outage, and even more apologies if you happen to live in SF and I haven't seen you. I've been working, wedding showering and hanging out with a special little man who I realize has not yet made his Internat debut. So at the ripe age of 5 weeks, here he is:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSbdt3t3ulDJIECSG5RoRuHOeHpRwzDsQTJo8LsZVkKwvrL-lfJu-AGsosLkMvCLMuhGQDGg0L7XwQD6N9q1cH6gC8uOBXOqz2z_eUFCCXb5oJpnfQRlCOsWRpP5CUsKafPn_gaPIVIYu/s400/batty.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579642690075855842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >As you know my middle name is babysnatcher, so naturally the birth of Baby Batiste, <a href="http://natschwartz.blogspot.com/2010/10/baby-gs-showerhomecoming.html">Dyani </a>and Brice's little bi-lingual bebe, has made me batty (in the best way possible). I visited him last month when he was 6 days old; which I now realize was probably pretty inappropriate at the time since only family had visited, sorry Deej. He slept through approximately 99% of my first visit, a boy after my own heart. This time though, he was a whole new little man. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Since I consider all teammates sisters, I have already assumed the role of Tante Natalie and am gunning to be his favorite aunt by the time he can say "Oui!" Which, I may add, is probably going to be sooner rather than later since he is the product of an MD, DDS and PHD from Harvard. Anyway, I spent Friday afternoon strapped into the baby bijorn (watch out Deej, I could make a run for it with him) and bouncing around the house singing and dancing. Pretty much a typical afternoon for me anyway...aside from the 10lb nugget. </span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Clearly I insisted on seeing him again this visit, so Jess volunteered to host <a href="http://sodiumgirl.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/look-what-i-made-wednesday-bun-in-the-oven-edition/">Baby's first dinner party</a>, where I spent the evening bouncing Batiste with one hand and sipping low sodiYUM cioppino with the other. Heaven. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-69973455201759997612011-02-25T14:13:00.005-05:002011-02-25T15:11:36.807-05:00Rekindling my Love of Reading<span class="Apple-style-span" >Ever since I got my Kindle in the fall, it's become my favorite device of the dozens of digital goodies that can be found in my apt or bag. Not only is the Kindle the cutest little thing in the world, but it's often smaller, lighter and and more versatile than its paper and cardboard book counterparts. Plus if you are someone that likes to read more than one thing at a time, or is tearing through books at the speed of light, this device will change your life because you can buy new books at the snap of a finger and access dozens of them all at once. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The best feature is that you can keep up with your reading even if you forget your Kindle, using the iphone or Android app. So if I'm in the subway and can't even access my email, I can still get ahead in my book-- and it auto-syncs with the kindle so I just pick up where I left of. Rad. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">Ok, enough of the Kindle love-fest. And no, Amazon did not pay me for this promotion...though they should. The<i> real</i> p</span><span class="Apple-style-span">urpose of this post was to tell you about my favorite books of the year so far. Here's what I've read: </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Help-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0399155341">The Help</a>, by <a href="http://www.kathrynstockett.com/">Kathryn Stockett</a></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This was the first novel that I have read in probably a year, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out how much I enjoyed a novel! If you are a frequent novel reader (and a female), you've probably read this already, but if you haven't, buy it, read it, love it. It's a page turner (or in the words of R. Kelly, "a cliff hanga"), with a very compelling plot about racial relations in the south in the 50s, and a very lovable cast of female characters. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><a href="http://www.deliveringhappinessbook.com/">Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose</a>, by Toni Hsieh</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The story of the man who started <a href="http://www.zappos.com/">Zappos</a>, this book is not as impeccably written as some other of the business books I've read, but Tony's exciting story through the ups and downs of starting, selling, funding and running tech companies kept me reading. Lots of lessons to be heard about entrepreneurialism...and of course, many interesting anecdotes about Zappos. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Making-Ideas-Happen-Overcoming-Obstacles/dp/159184312X">Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision and Reality</a>, by Scott Belsky</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Unlike, <i>Delivering Happiness</i>, this book takes the more traditional business book approach of stating and explaining best practices about business behavior, through research and examples from experts and example companies. I felt it was lacking a true point of view, and subsequently repeated itself often, hammering home somewhat obvious efficiency techniques for successful teams and businesses. Verdict: Eh, skip it. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><a href="http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/the-happiness-project-book.html#buy_book">The Happiness Project</a>, by Gretchen Rubin</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This is hands down my favorite book of the year. It may sound cheesy, and I must admit it holds the same sort of stigma as <i>Eat, Pray, Love</i> (which after getting over it, I finally read last year...and loved), but this book is great. This is the story of a very successful woman, in a happy relationship, with two great kids and a great job, who simply decides that she is not as happy as she wants to be. She takes the self-aware approach to focus on happiness for a year-- making resolutions to promote her happiness, reading and researching the history and schools of thought around happiness, and ultimately discovering that we are all in charge of our own destiny and can chose whether to be happy! This is not a desperate woman attempting to make herself happy-- this is a busy New Yorker who is sick of being always in a rush, unappreciative or feeling that her mood is not within her control. I highlighted and note-took all over this book (yes, you can do that electronically with the kindle!) and caught myself making changes to my behavior based on the things I'd read. I even did a massive kitchen clean and reorganization which was one of the most satisfying Saturday's I've had in forever. Read it. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Was-Told-Thered-Be-Cake/dp/159448306X">I Was Told There'd Be Cake</a>, by Sloane Crosley</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Recommended by a co-worker as a fun read, I've since recommended it to everyone who wants to be entertained on a vacation, plane, or just wants some light-hearted reading before bed. It's a collection of true(?) short stories about a Westchester native and 20 something Manhattanite, told with a heavy dose of sarcasm, self-deprecation and wit. From stories about locking herself out twice in one day (sounds familiar doesn't it?), to serving as a bride's maid (and yes, that spelling is intentional: this job is equal to that of a household maid/slave), the writing style is hilarious, and I found myself literally laughing out loud on the subway. The only disappointment was finishing it; and with that, I pressed "order" on my kindle and purchased her second book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Did-You-This-Number/dp/1594487596">How Did You Get this Number</a>, which I'm currently plowing through. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
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<br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-21360577076565307672011-02-24T13:23:00.003-05:002011-02-24T13:26:38.206-05:00Words to Live By<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeu9KU5dZsRnE9sh6DCtuoA37_r6ccmEUQnaLMgZfKTiQQShnh_SZ96-zwqvMVHTGo-EqtsUk4aGHERJxEcf4aOL5Emboq_e0gGOC8Bz4YHAPvS9xh-c9w098WpCOrHH74rkU5g7LvExUE/s1600/IMG_20110224_125607.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeu9KU5dZsRnE9sh6DCtuoA37_r6ccmEUQnaLMgZfKTiQQShnh_SZ96-zwqvMVHTGo-EqtsUk4aGHERJxEcf4aOL5Emboq_e0gGOC8Bz4YHAPvS9xh-c9w098WpCOrHH74rkU5g7LvExUE/s400/IMG_20110224_125607.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577323533499665234" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >This birthday gift arrived today (thanks Neva!), and I think you know it's right up my alley. And what better to wear while I cover myself in glitter and glue?!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-24464579541078473552011-02-23T10:22:00.002-05:002011-02-23T10:29:47.034-05:00My Child-IdolsMost likely you (and 6 Million others) have already seen Jessica's daily affirmations (below). If you haven't watch this immediately. Even if you have, its always a good way to re-orient yourself with a fabulous attitude. When it first became popular a couple months back I had more than one friend send it to me wondering whether I was blonde as a child? I was not. But thanks for the compliment. <div><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qR3rK0kZFkg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />Yesterday one of my coworkers sent me the below video of a very young feminist with a strong stance on women in the workplace. I'd love to see how she feels in 20 years, once she's been in the workforce for a while...</div><div><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0rbMHLDY1pA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-7931990745163557542011-02-18T15:30:00.005-05:002011-02-18T15:55:34.735-05:00Surprised and Delighted!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">Surprised and Delighted is the theme for today, February 18th, in New York City. Why?</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br />1. I woke up and, as I often am after a night of many glasses of wine, was a bit disoriented and had forgotten that my sister was in bed with me. Surprise #1, oh how wonderful it was to find her there! She had come into town for a 12 hour flash visit to spend my birthday eve with me. Horray. I was also surprised that she brought the birthday bird with her, along with some Patagucci loot. Delightful!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" >2. IT IS 66 DEGREES IN NY! Yes, 66. Yes, it's Febuary. Yes, I'm thrilled. Yes, I went for a run on the westside highway to start my day, and yes, I actually danced while waiting at the stop light. And sang. Oh and during my run there was a topless man on rollerblades gliding down the westside highway. I'm serious. Clearly, this is my day.
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<br />3. I got to work and after logging into my email, I went to google.com and BAM- this is what I saw.
<br /><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCn3XjZyMpvuQS7igZNG0ViRUgRHcGSB0WwxpyaGdEf9-qsiVCZayVSGmt7PYzyMuSFGPf1yURHEKd9JpLLkUbdZE-fKP9uRUatT8vmV7WRviKFtrLXCiG56CHtZNnaHIuSNYQFD7FGeC/s400/Happy+Birthday+to+me.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575131947476215650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 169px; " /></span></span><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >This was surprising-- why would Google have a birthday doodle on the homepage? (I mean, I know I'm kinda a big deal but not THAT big a deal.....yet). When I rolled my mouse over it it said "Happy Birthday Natalie!" OMG. That is QUITE a delightful little feature that seems to be only for logged in Google employees on their birthdays. Loves it!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >4. I've gotten showered with love in the form of flowers, phone calls, facebook messages, emails, texts, cupcakes, chocolate cakes, and hugs. WIN WIN WIN I love you all! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Also as my team at work managed to <a href="http://natschwartz.blogspot.com/2010/02/celebration-continues.html">out-do last years</a>' celebration and get me this. WOW, this is VERY exciting.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfG0ij_4nR8elRBHMZ-iPobVYLGjiNyOCjcN4RVRkzel2O9O5whLerTOxrSrNMSDQo1gvz4zkC98A7uDSkOoBKNHROc7UWVUpJPkjzDaDOAFtQmSUNd75eOx9u2bd7jyVLMb5IKkB82Gv/s400/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575135427921925474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-89702233418266376972011-02-17T09:30:00.005-05:002011-02-17T10:01:03.481-05:00Granola!<span class="Apple-style-span" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJhVF8TPX5Pn3fWMhUlQYcLm7giJmP0iSswe72z-HylyX5_VMNRbr8mvYBN4MG6DK6o78L5tVPxjxWAG95YnC7rhjJyuVwatdmml2JLqsw9G13WsmCOt89JuybTko8I6BKEoEzs8FpSMZ/s1600/Granola+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 236px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJhVF8TPX5Pn3fWMhUlQYcLm7giJmP0iSswe72z-HylyX5_VMNRbr8mvYBN4MG6DK6o78L5tVPxjxWAG95YnC7rhjJyuVwatdmml2JLqsw9G13WsmCOt89JuybTko8I6BKEoEzs8FpSMZ/s400/Granola+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574666224702298706" /></a>Mmmmmm, Granola. It has always been one of my favorite breakfast foods (and nicknames for my sister). Sometime over Thanksgiving I was randomly inspired to try to make it myself, and Kit and I made our first batch with some pretty good success. Since its not a very common thing to make from scratch, people always seem especially surprised when you say 'I made this!', which is a bonus, because, if they knew how easy it was, they'd be <i>much</i> less impressed. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Since Thanksgiving I've made a about a half dozen batches, experimenting with varying recipes and baking times. Drawing from the best, and my personal taste, here's my go-to recipe. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Natty's Granola</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Ingredients:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >5 cups of Quaker Oats</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >2 cups raw slivered almonds</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >1 1/4 cup raw coconut shavings</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >1 1/2 cup raw pecans </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >2 teaspoons cinnamon</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >1 1/2 cups of dried cranberries or raisins</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >1/2 tsp salt (unless you are making it for Jess)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >2/3 cup canola oil</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >2/3 cup pure maple syrup (don't even ATTEMPT with fake)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >2 tsp almond extract</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >1 tsp vanilla extract</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Here's what to do:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Preheat oven to 300. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Make sure your baking sheets are rimmed-- if yours are flat, you are going to make a mess. It's worth buying disposable rimmed ones if you don't have them. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Mix all dry ingredients, except the cranberries or raisins, in large mixing bowl. In a separate small mixing bowl whisk together oil, syrup and extracts. Then pour the wet mixture over the try and toss with wooden spoon to coat. Spread the mixture evenly over the two cookie sheets and put in the oven. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the mixture is browned but not burned, rotating baking sheets and moving the mix around with a spatula every 15 mins or so. Sprinkle the cranberries or raisins (or both!) over the mixture and let cool and dry completely. Then sprinkle on top of yogurt and berries, enjoy straight up with milk, or package it up in some mason jars for a sweet and healthy treat for friends! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcj9V2PkhFHMcPczimza5luHjr7zOPHzBbi2OrWQ_QvVUiwZLM0ap1bWZ7wOZaWnCSjeklAxQKwdusVOjF0jN5mRvZU7jM_Ue6GDz7O283XtW89npBbbaXLHeE6UvRwBrjmPD2J_IVMm6/s1600/Granola+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcj9V2PkhFHMcPczimza5luHjr7zOPHzBbi2OrWQ_QvVUiwZLM0ap1bWZ7wOZaWnCSjeklAxQKwdusVOjF0jN5mRvZU7jM_Ue6GDz7O283XtW89npBbbaXLHeE6UvRwBrjmPD2J_IVMm6/s400/Granola+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574665947203834258" /></a><meta charset="utf-8"></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Granola will last at least 2 weeks in sealed containers, and is a lot less fragile than trying to send cookies!</span></div></div></div><div>
<br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817799871482175748.post-1389392318979819652011-02-16T17:03:00.009-05:002011-02-16T17:28:53.650-05:00Valentine's Day Card Round Up<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >So yeah, it's too late to provide inspiration for your card making this year, but thought I would share some of this years' creations from my den of love anyway. Because, after all, you never know when you may want to surprise someone with a heart-inspired message. Rather than focus on paper valentines, I expanded my mediums this year with some new craft tools and techniques...</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br />The two cards below are brought to you by the glorious glue gun that has recently joined my ever-expanding collection of craft tools (thanks, Santa). It has proved it's worth not only for securing buttons and ribbons on paper, but also for repairing furniture in my apartment. Loves it. </span><div><meta charset="utf-8"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPxMGWWXzU7sCZXZNzKBlY8DGECVPpA1vR7PrSUj3QxPYgMEcZrTUAuW3v7jZSxy65CHUWvw5AY0rm9bW-cpGOpdKq_gwSgINv4irFHMqRBTW7fqwHl8yl-AcGdtvhgqY0Tl3Dd78As3J/s400/glue+gun+valentines.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574412546780184194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >On a side note I'm considering launching a glue gun marketing campaign called "Make Crafts Not War," with some iconic hand gun and glue gun imagery...think it has potential? prob not. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The cards below require no glue at all-- they are pure tape. <a href="http://www.happytape.bigcartel.com/">Japanese masking tape</a> of assorted colors is REALLY fun. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fkgjB8kPEiaNY_gaESJKcF5H5_55dsMQbAwnPYHizBTBrvcwVQtL4EFAL6iwR1sxFzWBFAZjtU7sCpVm9ojDaHhmUg_mPJ2Vk5WH9CQRnEA133OFx-LMNTpxuDsplpjAJ5YT9fyFk61O/s400/Tape+Valentines.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574413581626286658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >For much less neat project, I tried stenciled valentines over at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/storque/events/come-stencil-postcards-with-ed-roth-at-etsy-labs-12280/">Etsy Craft Night</a> last week. I usually try to avoid using paint in my apt as it will likely end up on my furniture and clothing, so trying it out in Etsy's amazing craft studio was rad. I made this <i>real </i>heart Valentine with a stencil, then I got my thumbs dirty and created this little thumbprint heart bookmark.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ylMs6MMLmSHmx0TESjfKluFt7jupUyRyjRhlR3rKaMrXdtmVHV5Om-rWnOVrUrheHMvSXlrt_9ydKggWGHr1FLegNrvcYgmJSM9_P37U1zpLjFGTxkPCfqu_VAHdOCclYnB-BFN6vRsr/s400/Stencils.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574414862493596610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 380px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Last of all of all I had to create this web-inspired card for the nerdiest of my valentines. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbciPVqcwLysjtxd4QJLGiRLn-VsBbVxa3C6NSh0-h0CNlVy1uCpS5-I-wlti12NLdl5EORWXVx8Qoyvi-RSQ1LZKSNmLSUstaUOatSsszwydDR_iJhfASD4BNwb1xbdDNILt5x1juKrT/s400/%2540kmlake.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574415980982917378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 357px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Ok, now time to get over vday and on to the next holiday....my bday is Friday! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1