Too lazy to write a legit post

Ok you guys, I "work" these days, so there just aren't enough hours in the day for the Tivo AND the blogging. But my Google reader is filling up with stuff I want to post!

Here we go...just some stuff...

* UrbanPotluck is the new blog name winner! Stay tuned...

* Our friends welcomed their beautiful, 8.7 lb, 19" baby girl on Saturday. Well done and congratulations you guys!

* Check out this blog, "Little Diggs" - The big things that make small spaces liveable. If you've ever lived NOT in the suburbs, or shared a 1 bdrm with a 6'2" boyfriend, you'll appreciate this.
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* People are getting tattoos of Edith Macfield's house. {MyBallard}



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* I love these paper fans on PartyPerfect. I want to re-create them for a shindig some day.
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Aaaand, a happy Tuesday to everyone :)

Pilgrimage (30 min metro ride) to The Spite House

Pics from last weekend when Court came to visit (yay!) and we went to check out the famous itty bitty mini manse, Spite House. 6 ft wide, 25 ft deep and just as cute in person! This street was taken over by old timey flags as well! PS. Why did someone have to park in front of the Spite House? No respect! PPS. Who knew Court was so much taller than me that she'd have to squat next to me?
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Warm Fuzzies

This morning on my crowded, stuffed bus, the bus driver announced:

"Today is my last day driving this route, and I'm gonna miss y'all and I hope I've provided you with good transportation and a good service."

Then everyone cheered and clapped. That never happened on the #18 in Seattle. Just sayin'. Yay public transpo.

Old Timey Seattle

Check it out - it's the Seattle Municipal Archives Flickr Stream.
{via MyBallard}


Ship Canal and Fremont Bridge, 1957.

University Way and 45th Street, 1959.

Ballard Bridge, 1924.

Even More Irish Stuff!

I made this Guinness Chocolate cake and Keene made Corned Beef and Cabbage for St. Patty's Day - they both turned out awesome! The corned beef was SO GOOD and SO IRISH! The cake was actually pretty easy to make. Next time I'd just get store-bought frosting though because making it from scratch was seriously unnecessary.
{Guinness Chocolate Cake recipe}
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Irish Stuff!

Check out all the domestic enthusiasm for St. Patrick's Day this year - my mom put together this beautiful table for her treat week at school. She made a green lace celtic clover bowl in embroidery and lacy shamrock tea towels to set the stage for green mint cookies, mint candies, frappacinos and a vase of daffodils - a perfect breath of fresh Spring air!
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Vote!

Don't forget to help me choose the new blog name and vote now!

Really Cute

I think I will make these when I am a mom.
{via Craft, originally on ChocolateCranium}

::Petite Watermelons::
2 limes
1 small box of red Jello
mini chocolate chips

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Cut both limes in half lengthwise. Scoop out all the fruit with a spoon. Place the limes in a muffin tin to keep them from tipping over. Make the box of Jello according to the Jiggler directions. Carefully spoon Jello into the limes halves. Chill until almost firm. Using a skewer push the mini chocolate chips into the Jello for "watermelon seeds." Chill until until firm, then cut into slices.

Mansion of the Day

"This 3,700-square-foot home was designed by the famous modern architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1955, and it was completed in 1961, two years after Wright died. The six-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath home is situated on 80 acres, and hunkers down into the farming landscape, with a low-pitched roof and angular wings that reach out into the fields."

Super-awesome Frank Lloyd Wright home in Central California for sale ($2.7 mil) - slideshow on CasaSugar.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Water in the White House fountains has been dyed green today!

"First Lady Michelle Obama came up with the idea for the festive touch, said spokeswoman Katie McCormick Lelyveld. She was inspired by the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in her hometown of Chicago, where the city marks the holiday by dyeing the river green." {via The AP}

You Guys!!!

I need your help Y'allz. I've cooked up this new blog idea, and I need your thoughts on what to name it. It's going to feature similar topics to those on Mogulling, but it'll be collaborative (raise your hand if you want to be a team member!). Categories to include: Art, Food, Culture, Crafts, Home, Entertaining. Get ready because you're going to have to dedicate at least 2 minutes a day at work reading this thing. Ok now, don't navigate away from this page without voting for your favorite name!

Let's Talk About Mole

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Mole does not photograph well. But it tastes awesome (thanks for the yummy dinner Honey!). This sauce takes about 35 minutes to put together and then another hour to bake with the chicken, but it's worth it. If you are trying to shorten the cooking time I'd make the sauce the night before so that all you have to do is pop it in the oven. Oh yeah, and the leftover sauce makes a wicked quesadilla the next day :). {Mole directions on RecipeMogul}
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Mini Burgers!

Why are mini burgers so much more fun than just regular-size burgers? I think it might have something to do with being able to eat three instead of just one burger. This was a great Saturday night dinner - mini burgers, all seasoned different ways. My favorite was probably the *baconsalt/cheddar/guacamole* mini burger.

Four Rules/AOTD

I think we're all wanting a few more self-help/rules to live by lately...
or maybe it's just me?

"FOUR RULES" {via SM}
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1. Whoever comes are the right people.
2. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
3. Whenever it starts is the right time.
4. When it's over, it's over.
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AOTD, Kokeshi, by Mark Giglio. {Portfolio: Pen Pencil Stencil}

AOTD: Liverpool Bldgs

Derelict buildings in Liverpool photographed on listenperez's photostream.

Parmesan Chicken

It's Parmesan Chicken time. Ok so frying is annoying and time-consuming, but the rest of this recipe is a piece of cake. Or piece of chicken. HA! Anyway, I sauteed some onions and tossed them with fresh baby spinach, the juice of half a lemon, and some olive oil to go with this. I like to use a high cast-iron pan when I'm frying so it's less messy. I also used the leftovers with spaghetti the next day.
{directions on RecipeMogul}

Mansion of the Day

I am posting this solely for Megan and John because I know how they dig lofts. This mansion/loft lives in Brooklyn, NY and it has all the loft must-haves: exposed brick, open floor plan, high ceilings...it's dreamy. See more pics on LoftLife. {via StyleFiles}

List & Comment Friday

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List Your Favorite Teachers:
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Mrs. Wilson
Mrs. Lowery
Mr. Mansur
Mrs. Melby
Mr. Verver
Mrs. Powers
Professor/Frau Fiero
Professor "Kent" Smith
Professor "Elsi" Vasdall-Elis
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Who are YOUR educational all-stars?

AOTD: Rebecca Horwood

I love a good illustrator! Rebecca's sometimes simple, sometimes lace-like whimsical line drawings are a new fave.
{Rebecca Horwood's Gallery}

Remembering Names

After networking and interviewing the last 8 months, I've realized that I am terrible about remembering names. They just, leap right out of my brain seconds after I've heard them. I've got to become better at it because it's embarrassing! In looking up tips on how to remember names, I came up across this list...

1. Commit
Begin by making a commitment — a conscious decision — to remember people's names. Before going to a meeting or a party or anywhere you might meet people, remind yourself of your commitment. And recommit yourself: I will make my best effort to remember the names of the people I meet.

2. Concentrate
You can only remember what you observe in the first place. If you are distracted or if you aren't paying attention, you won't register the person's name so you can't possibly remember it. Concentrate, then, on 1) paying attention to the person's name when you first hear it, and 2) forming an impression of the person by using all of your senses possible.

3. Repeat
Use the name immediately.
Repeat it silently to yourself.
Comment on the name, if possible.
Use it occasionally in the conversation without overdoing it.
Use it when leaving.
Write it down afterwards.

4. Associate
Try to make an association between the person's face and an image the name suggests. Even if you can't create an image for the name, don't despair. All this takes time and energy and that's the point. Just by working on it, just by trying to figure out an image that goes along with the name, you have reinforced your memory.

Tips from Witt Communications.

DIY: Modern Painting

This modern grass painting technique looks great and also not too intimidating to try. All you need is a canvas, some shelf liner, craft paint and basic paper cutting supplies. Check out this easy tutorial on Cathie Filian's site. {via CraftZine}

Yummy Turkey Salisbury Steaks

After cooking throughout this year, I've realzied something that's very desirable in a recipe: when it's mostly made up of ingredients that can be kept in the pantry or the freezer. We don't always have time to perfectly schedule what days we'll cook, or what our needs will be. Things come up, schedules change, snowpocolypse happens and having flexible recipes is so much easier. I love buying fresh ingredients, but if I have a majority of things in my kitchen already, then it really cuts down on the amount of shopping trips and waste. It may not be fancy, but it's cheaper and faster! {salisbury steaks on recipemogul}

March 2nd in DC