thankful : day 1

I am going to attempt to do the month of posts for things that I am thankful for... here's hoping I get something posted everyday! Today I am thankful that I have the means to treat myself to special things.  Things like travel, concerts, mani/pedis, massages, fancy chocolates and meals out and about with friends!  I recognize these things all cost money and not everyone can treat themselves like I do.  Work hard = Play hard!

let there be light

This is my home office - where all the photo editing magic happens.  (ha!) It's also my KU shrine, but the newest addition to my desk is the amazing gold lamp!  I have been looking for just the right lamp for some time now.  I don't like traditional "desk lamps" and since I have that shelf above it has to be a very specific size.  Well, it's proven to be a difficult thing to find. I was watching the Today Show one morning during my staycation and they had a style segment that included this lamp.  I have seen similar for hundreds of dollars, but when she said this one was $39 at Homegoods, I had to actually rewind to make sure I heard it right.  I hopped in the car later that day and popped into Homegoods.  There it was!  For $39!  I love it when I find just the right thing for just the right price.

Frost!!

Finally made it to Highland Park to get some gelato from Frost. I had heard many good things, so my expectations were high. Let me tell you, it lived up to the hype. Wish I lived closer!! You are looking at cookies n cream, dark chocolate and sea salt caramel mix - sooooo good!  Also sampled their lemon - perfectly tart, perfectly refreshing.

the new flickr

Do you Flickr? What are your thoughts on the redesign?

I'm slightly on the fence.  I do like the layout of my photostream.  I do like the larger photos of my contacts, but ... it seems a little clunky to me.  It is some kind of merge between Google Plus and Facebook.  The social aspect - comments and such - is pretty much gone because the interface is awkward to actually comment on a photo.  I have been a member for a long time and have seen very little change in the interface, so I like that they are forward thinking, but ... with all the other photo sharing sites that have come to the web since Flickr, they need something awesome.  Flickr was really the first site of its kind.  I loved the early days of Flickr.  It was a real community, no funny business.  Now, not so much.  I continue to upload photos, but was blocked from "explore" years ago - so it's really only for me, but I have to admit I am not a regular like I used to be ... What are your thoughts on the redesign?  

P.S.  I seem to have a thing for flowers ... Spring has gotten to me!

Liebster

The super sweet Angela over at Please mommy no more daddies nominated me for a Liebster.  Like her, I had no idea what it was!  So glad she found an explanation!! "What is a liebster award you say? It's basically a generic award passed all around the blogosphere from blogger to blogger. It’s a sign of appreciation that one blogger bestows upon another blogger with less than 200 followers...."

THE RULES:

- Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves.- They must also answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for them.- They must then choose 11 bloggers to tag & award with the Liebster award (nominees must have less than 200 followers). These lucky bloggers must be told in a comment on their blog.- They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag.

So .. here are eleven things about me.  You've been dying to know ... I know you have!

[1]  I hate endings

[2]  I am addicted to tea.  Black tea.  Give it to me!

[3]  College was the BEST time of my life.

[4]  I love cinnamon.

[5]  I am allergic to cats and dust … I have both.

[6]  I horde chocolate - I want to try every kind of amazing chocolate there is, but never finish it.

[7]  I am a planner.  But, also able to go with the flow … seems odd, but I really am.

[8]  I need to travel.  It's my fuel.

[9]  I read tons of blogs, but rarely comment.

[10]  I believe in something greater than me.

[11]  I have been blogging since 2004.  That's a lot of nonsense I have added to the inter webs!

And .. now Angela's eleven questions …

[1]  favorite color

Navy blue - it's a classic!  Not only does it look great on me, but looks great in my house too!  I tend to always come back to navy …

[2]  where were you born

Leavenworth, Kansas.  Yes, there is a prison there.  No, I don't click my red heels to get home.  But, seriously, I loved growing up in LV.  It is a beautiful blend of city and country -  Kansas City on one side and farms on the other.  And… I met my very best friends there and love them to this very day.

[3]  number of places you have lived

Two states - Kansas and Illinois Four towns - Leavenworth and Lawrence, KS - Chicago and Evanston, IL

Lame, I know … but I like living in the midwest.  It's got a great pace, friendly vibe and easy access to travel anywhere in the world.

[4]  oldest friend

That would be Mrs. Hollister Shehorn Pittman.  We met in kindergarten!  We are both only children and have adopted each other as sisters.  She and her family are truly my second family.  We have traveled near and far and I love that she lives only an hour away now!!

[5]  tv show you can't miss

This has changed so many times over the years.  Right now … I would say Project Runway.  I love the creative process and love seeing how they respond to the challenges.  I am consistently amazed at the outfits they pull out.  LOVE that show!

[6]  e-reader or real book

I am all e-reader for books that I want to read.  But I still love a design coffee table book!

[7]  pc or mac

100% Mac since 2007!  Once you go Mac you'll never go back!

[8]  favorite store

The Apple Store!  *giggle*

[9]  favorite girl scout cookie

All time fav has to be the thin mint.  And I like them frozen best!  Have you ever tried to suck milk through one?  Take a small bite from two sides of the cookie, dip into milk and suck like a straw, then eat the cooke with milk inside .. sooooo good!

[10]  best memory

I have been really blessed with some incredible moments in my life.  I don't know how I could pick a best.  But, since it's college basketball season and March Madness is upon us, I will say in 2008 when I managed to convince my friend Carla to join me at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, TX to watch Kansas play for the national championship.  And they WON!  It is a moment I will never forget.  Never.

[11]  are you happy

Wow… she throws a doozie here at the end.  Am I happy?  I have been thinking about this a lot lately.  I am only days away from forty and, like many people,I have kind of taken a little inward check as I approach life's midpoint.  I have so many things to be happy about.  I have a successful career, which was a huge goal of mine growing up.  I never wanted to be dependent on anyone else for financial stability and I accomplished that.  I have great friends.  Weather we are near or far, we make time for each other.  We love each other.  But when speaking of love, I am pretty unlucky.  I feel it's the one thing that is missing in my life.  It's my own fault, having focused my efforts on things other than dating and finding my soul mate.  I think that may be the one thing keeping me from being able to say, definitively, yes I am happy.  But, I don't let it get me down.  I am happy.  But, I think I have it in me to be happier.  Does that make sense?   *wink*

Now for tagging … I will tag these folks, but no idea how many followers they have … And honestly have no idea who reads my blog.

Natasha

Selika

Paige

Allison

My eleven questions for you ...

[1]  why did you start blogging and when? [2] what are you most passionate about? [3] plays or musicals? [4] what is your single biggest accomplishment? [5] do you print the photos or keep them digital? [6] do you smartphone? [7] right brain or left? [8] what is your favorite movie and why? [9] sweet or savory? [10] fashion risk taker or go with the flow? [11] share a little about your best friend

I heart theater

I booked tickets almost a year ago for this show!  It's been sold out for months and has extended it's run twice now - that's how popular it's been in Chicago.  I find it so odd that the TV ads are just the music and a graphic - not even a glimpse of the show at all -  so I had no idea what to expect. It's full of emotion, somewhat obscene and just damn funny.  With each new number I found myself going 'oh my gosh' did they just say that?  The actors are fabulous and oh those voices so powerful.  I just love, love going to the theater.

try as I may . . .

before midnight !!

OMG I am so excited !!!  And from what I hear, it got rave reviews at Sundance!  I am a HUGE fan of Before Sunrise and Before Sunset... HUGE!  I backpacked around Europe post college and kind of wished I could have found a beautiful traveler to spark up a little romance.  Sadly, it was not in the cards for me... but there's still time, right?

Frozen

Frozen, a photo by YF [ yffoto ] on Flickr.

Man have I been a BAD blogger ... I guess I should be thankful that it means I have been living life offline, but I miss blogging.  I think a lot of my problem is that I'm not getting out and taking photos either ... must do better.  Must.

LesMis ... wow!

Have you seen Les Miserables the Movie yet?  I finally made my way to the theater tonight and WOW, WOW, WOW!  That was just outstanding!  The actors were amazing (well didn't loooove Russell Crow), voices amazing, set design amazing.  Everything.  Amazing!  It's so true to the theater production that I wanted to stand up and clap after the first act.  I felt like I was seeing the most amazing theater production, really.  Cannot say how much I loved this movie!