Rockhoppin' Around the Christmas Tree

Hello from a Rockhopper Penguin in an ugly Christmas sweater.

Christmas Card 2011 #2!

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in purchasing any Christmas cards or gift tags, either by email or leaving a message here or on my Facebook fan page. I still have to color my third card for this year's set, and I will be putting in an order tomorrow. I also hope to set up my Etsy store soon to make things a little more organized, but until then, email works jusssst fine.

When I have my third card finished tonight, I will post all six cards available for you to see here, as well as the giraffe gift tags.

.......aaaaaand it is Friday!

The Friday Five

1.) What I'm Reading:

Almost done, and I really like it. The setting (Puerto Rico and other islands) and characters are very intriguing to me....and I have a feeling things are about to get wild. It's an easy read...could've done it way quicker if I carved out more free time for reading. One chapter in bed at a time and I zonk right out. I look forward to seeing the movie....may wait to Netflix it, though.

2.) What I'm Listening To:

Finally! Post-Thanksgiving, I am all about it.

Although I was, and continue to be, a little freaked out by a Bieber Christmas song I heard yesterday.

3.) What I'm Watching:

More Chopped along with my five gazillion other shows. Loving the holiday episodes.

Oysters, pomegranate juice, red chard, & gingerbread cookie dough in an appetizer? Show me whatchu got, chefs.

4.) What I'm Eating:

Well I have been drinking my new favorite thing...Bigelow now makes Green Tea Chai. Green Tea (antioxidants!) + Chai Tea (spices!) = best duo ever. Add a little unsweetened almond milk and a little Splenda. So. Good.

5.) What I'm Pinning:

I probably need this. 

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Have a great weekend! Mine will start off with a little Zumba, Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown, and coloring my last Christmas card. 


xoxox

I Think I'll Go to Boston....

Hollaaa!


It's finally the end of the work week. Wahooo!


The Friday Five

1.) What I'm Reading:


Put down the last book I was reading...for some reason, it was just taking me a while to get into it, so I started another book in the meantime before I revisit it.


The Rum Diary.

So far, loving this! And I am reading it way quicker. Can't believe Hunter S. Thompson started this novel when he was just 22. Insane!


2.) What I'm Listening To:

Childish Gambino!


And Howard Best of the Week, as per usual. Chris Cornell and Chaz Bono!


3.) What I'm Watching:


Catching up on my gagillion shows, as always...and one I have failed to mention before here...I'm just loving New Girl. Girl crush!

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This episode....absolutely my fave so far. Hilarious.


4.) What I'm Eating:


This mornin'....Pumpkin Protein Oats. Plus my favorite Twinings Green Tea with Jasmine (and honey).

But I am way more excited for the meals I will be eating this weekend!!! :)

5.) What I'm Pinning:


Snickerdoodle Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches...WHAAAAT.

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Also these trees. I LOVE driftwood.

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They remind me of my new candle holder from Anthropologie.

It's nice to have a baby sister that works there. ;)






Oh yeah....and as for the hockey game last night....it was my two homes, head to head! Philly killed the tie with only 18 seconds left in a very uncharacteristic last-second win. SO exciting! Matt Read is pretttty phenomenal. Sorry 'Zona....I love you, but Philly sports will always have my heart. <3


Crab Fries were obviously consumed.

Also, Giroux is rocking a serious Movember 'stache. Gotta love that.

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Any fun plans for the weekend? I am going on a mini-getaway to BOSTON for the first time ever (in case you didn't realize that already from my "hints" and post title)!! We have so many things planned, and I cannot wait to recap it all! Any places I should try to hit up while I am there? SO EXCITED. :)

See ya next week, babes!

xoxoxo

Wackadoodle.

That is exactly how things have been around here lately...crazy work, gym, yoga studio, illustration commissions, family get-togethers and minor crisises, shows in the city, trying new recipes....I've been all over the place! This post will pretty much mimic that.

You are right, Miss J. I will try.

(ANTM fans out there?)

Little photo recap of my past week:

Birthday Pup!!! No party hats were to be found, so I bought his collar a ribbon. That'll do.

Kissing his birthday bat.

^...those still exist? And Poppy's 84th birthday (with birthday ice creammmm)

Get it, Office fans? Three Hole Punch Jim and Black Cat Pam:

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I made us Dunder Mifflin ID tags to make it a little more authentic....aaand so that people didn't just think I was a bad version of a black cat. C'mon, I am a little more creative than THAT.

(Pre-Pam Halpert....and that's the date that Halloween episode aired.)

It's FRIDAY again, and you know what that means!!!

The Friday Five

1.) What I'm Reading:

Still the same ol'  LARGE PRINT from last week. I remember the days when it would just take me a couple days to read a book...now it takes weeks! I just juggle so many things at this point that reading has taken a bit of a backseat for me lately. But don't get me wrong...still love it!

2.) What I'm Listening To:

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The new Coldplay album that was just released...Alt Nation on SiriusXM has been doing a fab job of playing many songs from the CD and I think I am going to buy it on iTunes later tonight. I'm diggin'. The new Black Keys album sounds like it will be awesome as well.

3.) What I'm Watching:

Been waiting for this for a loooong time. And was as impressed as I could've hoped. Same amazing humor and animation laced with current icons like Twilight, Jersey Shore, MGMT, and Skrillex? Perfect storm. That Mike Judge...he's pure fabulousity.

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Um...Chopped??? Where have I been? OBSESSED! For some reason I had not seen this show before, but had heard of it. Now I have been watching marathons and DVRing old and new eps this past week. Love!!! Also Restaurant: Impossible. 

Really into food shows lately. 

4.) What I'm Eating:

Comin' at ya: Black Bean soup recipe that I made for lunch earlier this week. I wish I had taken pictures, but I will definitely be recreating this soon.

Wawa turkey and veggie hoagie today...heavy on the veg. And their slammin' chicken noodle soup. The noodles are so doughy and delish. Get ready for a recycled pic...

Bam.

Oh...and these freakin' peanut butter filled pretzels. Addicting.

^who gets to wear Lululemon jackets to work? Me. Half because I'm the only female and I don't always have to look like a fashion plate, whew, and half 'cuz my boys keep it ARCTIC up in here.

5.) What I'm Pinning:

Some swoonworthy shtuff I am lusting over:

Vitamix! Nikon1! And that workspace! Oh my!

And in addition to holiday decorating ideas, I've been brainstorming ideas for DIY Christmas gifts. I'm going home with Coop for Christmas this year and meeting most of his family for the first time, and I do not plan on going empty handed! Plus, I love all-things-festive. It'll be fun to create a mixture of homemade and baked little gifts, and decorate them to make them very "me."

(All sources and links can be found via my Pinterest.)

On tap for this weekend:

• My first Zumba experience tonight. Eek!
• A two hour mash-up of BodyCombat and BodyPump tomorrow morning. My thighs are hurting just typing that!!!
• A night in Philly for one of Coop's shows and possibly another Halloween party after if we can make it.
• Make more Black Bean Soup and post the recipe....omigosh I'm in love.
• Catch up on Breaking Bad, How to Make It in America, and a new episode of Dexter on Sunday!

Have a good one!

xoxoxo

Beginning to Look A Lot Like...Christmas?

....As you know, I equate cold and snow with being about as desirable as smacking your forehead on an open cabinet, resulting in a bleeding head wound (not that I did that at lunchtime yesterday, or anything...).

However, there is an exception to that. A BIG one!!! I. Love. The holidays. And everything that comes with them (although once New Year's passes, I start an agonizing countdown to Memorial Day Weekend).

In an artist's world, we have to plan ahead when it comes to getting "holiday stuff" out on time. We were working on holiday displays at my design job months ago, as the seemingly endless web of production takes quite a bit of time. And as I have been thinking about my own holiday card set to sell/send out this year, I have gotten a few requests from clients for commissioned Christmas cards of their own.

This week, I brought this commission from last year:

To this:

I actually like this one better! Details like a background and some accessories make it more interesting.

The Charlie Brown tree was my client's idea, and I LOVE it! So clever. I have a version of the tree with the traditional ornament, and I definitely can put that to use. Clearly, I love all things Peanuts.


It's Friday, and you know what that means!!!

The Friday Five

1.) What I'm Reading:

My mom had just finished this book about the persecution of Japanese Americans during WWII and she decided that I must read it.


Here is a review from Garth Stein, author of one of my very favorite books, The Art of Racing in the Rain (if you haven't read it, and especially if you are a dog lover, get on it):


"Jamie Ford has written a tender and satisfying novel that is tucked into a part of Seattle history we would rather not face.  Set in a time and a place lost forever, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet gives us a glimpse of the damage that is caused by war--not the sweeping damage of the battlefield, but the cold, cruel damage to the hearts and humanity of individual people.  Especially relevant in today's world, this is a beautifully written book that will make you think.  But, more importantly, it will make you feel." 

– Garth Stein, NY Times bestselling author of THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN



My mom would have accidentally ordered "large print" from the library. At least my eyes don't have to work overly hard after staring at a computer screen all day. Oh, Kim.

In case you wanted to read an excerpt, Large Print to the rescue.

Yes. My bookmark is a Flying Dog label. Don't judge. All hail Ralph Steadman.

2.) What I'm Listening To:

Somehow, I knew the song, but this video slipped through the cracks. Thanks, baby sister, AKA my video vixen and music finder, for showing me this fabulous video. Love Temper Trap.

3.) What I'm Watching:

How to Make It in America...

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Excited to get caught up on it this weekend. I've already seen the first episode of the new season, but have waited for the rest. We have to rewatch the finale from the first season and then the first three or four episodes from this season to catch Coop up to speed. Love this show! It's an easy watch....reminds me of Entourage's early (read: good) days. Doesn't send me into an emotional rollercoaster (cough cough new fave Breaking Bad cough). Plus amazing camera work. 

And I still love Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi...he plays Domingo on the show)...even though when I saw him in concert I was about one of 12 in the place that was old enough to have a wristband for beer. Who knew?

(Sorry for dragging you to Tween Central, Coop. I see the pain in your face.)

I will drink my large beer and you will like it, Teenyboppers. And no, you can't pay me thirteen dollars to buy you a(n underage) Bud Light.

4.) What I'm Eating:

In keeping with the holiday theme...

I was so excited to receive a package from CLIF Bar in the mail yesterday! They had a Twitter giveaway a few weeks ago...they were giving away free samples to try their new Peppermint Stick bar.  

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but oh my goodness. Peppermint in an energy bar with oats and soybeans sounded a little peculiar, but I really loved this. The way that mint chocolate chip just works, so does this bar. Low in fat, and high in fiber and protein, it was great fuel before my BodyCombat class yesterday. I loved the flavor as it didn't taste "chalky" like some energy bars tend to do, and I would definitely get it again. On top of that, 1% of sales of CLIF seasonal bars will be donated to the Winter Wildlands Alliance..."With this, we hope to protect the outdoor places we play for countless seasons to come." How cool!

5.) What I'm Pinning:

I wish I could come up with costumes this cool.

Um, can you imagine having ever been small enough to fit into a pot (although...I can fit into a suitcase...#shortgirlproblems)?!


Also, these cupcakes (!!!!):

(Hey, Arizona!)


And this pink grapefruit margarita:

 I don't like overly sweet alcoholic drinks; a margarita is about as sweet as I can handle, and I am a huge fan of them (I think it runs in my blood...thanks Mom and G-Mom). Bet these add even more sour to the mix and I think I'd love 'em!




Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! 

xoxoxo




Oh yeah....and Happy 1st Birthday to this cute little critter:

My little life-changer. He will get a nice walk, lots of extra peanut butter and a new bat toy today!! :)
(And I won't make him try on his halloween costume...which his LEAST favorite part is 100% the whipped cream and cherry hat.

My little banana split.

Heh heh....I am evil.