I love Fall!

Sheesh, I love Fall! That is, until all the leaves fall and it gets really cold n' stuff. I'm finding a bunch of fun ideas for this time of year that I'll probably never do but I'll never be bored as long as there are projects!

Check out some of Sunset's ideas for a Backyard Oktoberfest. Our Ann Arbor friends did this one summer and it was one of the best nights, ever. They set out long tables in their front yard with tents over them and made a "faux Oktoberfest". Just add a keg with really good beer, some cafe lights and a Boot to go around.


I also can't wait to make chili! Who doesn't love chili, seriously. You can make vegetarian chili or even a white bean chicken chili if the ole stand-by isn't your thing. I'm curious about this "Devilish Chorizo Chili with Hominy", but does anyone have a killer recipe that they could share with me?

And of course, Martha has outdone herself this year, with a whole new "Halloween Workshop" section added to her site. It is her favorite holiday, afterall.

Christmas Ideas

Found this cool post on how to make really neat beads out of paper. Possible Christmas gift project? I'll have to try it out! {Folding Trees}

AOTD: Shadows

By artist, Seeder, via Wooster Collective.

Making Beets

Ahhh....the domesticity continues! I made pickled beets since we got a giant bunch of beets from our produce delivery last week - they turned out really good! I went ahead and used my "Quick Pickled Beets" recipe (sans the red onions this time). Stay tuned for the tomato and beet salad I made with them later!

Ann Arbor & DC: Culinary Capitols of A'merica

I wanted to post a pic of the bread salad that Alicia made with fresh ingredients from their farmer's market over in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We've been experimenting with different ways to eat organic produce here in DC with our farmer's market and using "Door-to-Door Organics", an organic produce delivery service. Pretty much all of it is expensive, but sometimes it's worth it because the food tastes better, and it just feels good to eat what's in season.


PS. Alicia: start an Ann Arbor blog! ;)

Flip this House

This house is about 2 1/2 blocks from us. We have this dream where we buy it and turn it into a mini manse. Doesn't it have potential? We would totally be able to make an entire part of it into another apartment, where our friends and family could stay when they come visit. Think white, with blue trim and gray shutters and a red door...

Friday DC Pics

On my way up to Baltimore again this weekend, to visit our friends and hopefully get some shopping done for "professional" outfits at the Baltimore malls. Woo-hoo! I leave you with some more pics from over here in DC...happy Friday everyone!


Fun row of houses on the street near our apartment.

Georgetown Law School campus. Learning, in Keene's case, or in mine, catered events! I have been masquerading as a student a lot these days...

Kelly's Irish Times - the pub near Keene's school where we hang out, and where all the kickball teams do on Tuesdays. It must be the East Coast "Underdog".

And...our street. Our apartment is at the other end of this row. Not sure what I was going for with the "angle" in this pic but the rooftops are what caught my eye.

AOTD: Hotel Everland

Pics from mini-manse hotel, Everland, a project by Swiss artists, "L/B" (aka, Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann).





































"Also the concept for operating the hotel was defined by the artists. All facets are important constituents of the artistic idea: The room can be booked for one night only, the mini-bar is fully stocked and included in the price, breakfast is delivered to the door and a record collection stands at ones disposal."

Be sure to check out the panoramic images of Everland in Paris. {thanks, Abigail!}

The MALIBU

Check it out people: this is my Nice Cycle. Pretty rad, huh? This vintage '92 beauty is my new mode of transpo. After two trips the District Hardware bike shop (sandwiched with a *small* public tantrum where I flung the Malibu down on the sidewalk), my baby has a new lease on life. I'd say it's even better than new (right, Dad?). Just check out those white walls. Now that this hottie is all fixed up, I can show off her hot pink brake wires on my way to the Market, Safeway, Hardware Store, Liquor Store, CVS, Georgetown campus...ok, you get it. Go environment!

House GF

So, as a person currently looking for employment, I'm trying to embrace the "free time", and actually enjoy it. It seems like when I'm working, I'm always saying I wish I wasn't and talking about all the cool stuff I'd do if I only had time. So instead of getting bummed and letting my unemployed bummed-out ego take over, I'm trying to do all those things I always said I would.

This is my second batch of mini pies, and they rocked even more than the first batch of blueberry ones. These are apple, and the apples right now are so fantastic! I would usually choose pizza over a fruit or veggie but I highly recommend hitting up some organic apples right now - these were from Eastern Market and they're delicious! I didn't have eggs, so couldn't put an egg wash on this batch, but they taste just as good without the golden glow!

AOTD: The States

The States, series by Frank Chimero:

"The States project started out with an off-the-cuff remark I made during a conversation when I said that I always thought California kind of looked like a snuffed out cigarette...The illustrations for the states don't necessarily have to deal the thematics of the state's culture, it's just a nice exercise for my creative muscles."

Gettin' Around

Well since Annie has been doing such an awesome job of showing us life in Casablanca on her blog, I thought I'd write a bit about what my new life is like in lil' ole DC.

This is our Metro Station at Eastern Market, where I catch the trains that go to most major spots in the city, including Virginia. We also take the bus because it's right near our apartment and goes straight to the law school and Union Station, where you can catch trains that go to Baltimore (I'll be making that trip tomorrow!).


So far it's been pretty safe, full of all kinds of folk just getting from one place to another. It's also really fast and the trains come about every 10 minutes, depending on the time of day. So far, life without a car has been challenging, but totally doable, and better for us as far as getting to know our neighbors and the place that we live.

The Metro Station (on the left) in our neighborhood and the capital off in the background.


Right near the Metro station and Eastern Market - pretty houses!

Save the Pink Bathrooms!

Now, while I can't say that all colored porcelain tubs make for a fun bathroom, there's still something to be said for stopping all the renovation madness. "Save the Pink Bathrooms" is dedicated to "preserving vintage pink bathrooms"...

AOTD: Type on Black

A beautiful collection of samples of typograpahy illustration
done on black backgrounds. V. Cool. {via Drawn}

What would your "tax cut" be?

Supposedly this site, ObamaTaxCut.com, has no association with the Obama campaign. It's pretty interesting...go ahead and see what your tax cut is...{via SM}

AOTD: Molly Murphy

Great new illustrations by my friend, Molly Murphy, being posted over on her blog, NoPoMo. They're for her very charming and wonderful "ABSeas" book.

























W is for Whales





















O is for Giant Pacific Octopus

Apartment

New pics of our apartment (it actually has stuff in it now though, stay tuned for that) and our surrounding neighborhood...
{DC apartment flickr set}

















His/hers closets!


















Lincoln Park, 1 1/2 blocks from our house.

No More Phone Books!

Just found this link where you can sign up to stop receiving yellow pages. Because seriously, who uses phone books anymore? Mine go straight into the recycling bin. {YellowGoesGreen}