Ventage Tuesday: Peace

It's Thursday. Have you heard? My concept of time has been completely thrown off by Christmas. 

And, I didn't manage to get this post up (even though it was my idea) on Christmas because I was busy eating and drinking and snuggling little people.

And, I woke up early this morning ready to conquer all sorts of unpleasant things on my "To Do" list and was derailed by technology.

And, I needed to feel a little peace in my life today.

So, I bring you the Thursday edition of Ventage Tuesdays: Things That Make Me Feel Peaceful.

1. Water
Ocean. Lake. River. Being around water makes me feel peaceful.

2. Pampering
Facials are my favorite right now but massages or pedicures will also do the trick.

3. Memphis
The unconditional love and the cuddliness and having a warm spot in the bed all made me feel peaceful. I miss him. A whole lot.

4. Doing Nothing in an Extravagant Way

5. Fresh Flowers in the House
No matter how chaotic the rest of my house or life is, it makes me feel good to have fresh flowers - preferably simple and in a Mason jar - on my kitchen table.

So, I may just get a pedicure and buy some flowers today.

NYC: A Quick Visit

I took a whirlwind trip through NYC to celebrate my birthday weekend.

Friday night it was just Katrina and me. We stayed at the Park Central Hotel and had an amazing dinner at Kin Shop where I discovered that I do like stir-fried aquatic vegetables and do not like duck. I can't even talk about the coconut cake without wanting to hop a plane back to the city.

Saturday morning we met up with Kelly (and struck out on rush tickets to Once). Katrina and I had breakfast at Max Brenner, walked through the Union Square Holiday Market, and shopped at Fishs Eddy before meeting back up with Kelly for a matinee of Annie.

We fought the crowds to see the tree at Rockefeller center and warmed up with some Blue Bottle Coffee before heading to dinner at The Mermaid Inn. 

Oddly enough, dinner Friday and Saturday both included Brussels sprouts.

We stopped for a beer and went to the movies.

We stayed up late talking and gossiping. We ate Holiday JoJos. 

We were normal, everyday friends instead of friends who live in three different states.

We had breakfast at Good Enough to Eat, and Katrina had to head back to VT. I hate the saying goodbye part.

Kelly and I wandered around the city, enjoying the park, making fun of the ice skaters, doing some window (and real) shopping, and eating some Shake Shack.

Know what is missing from these pictures?!? The best part of my trip - Kelly and Katrina. How did that happen?!?

Ventage Girls: Holiday Soundtrack

Confession. I didn't bust out my Christmas music until last Sunday. I thought about it the day we got a little bit of snow, but I didn't make time to do it. Deciding we'd all do this post today was what pushed me over into adding the Holiday 2012 playlist to my phone.

Here is what I find myself replaying this year.

And, there were some songs on my larger playlist that reminded me of my Ventage Girls.

"Elf's Lament" has Stephanie written all over it. She introduced the song to me.

George Winston's "Variations on a Kanon by Pachebel" makes me think of Em. I downloaded the album after she blogged about it. 

"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" also makes me think of a particularly hilarious Em blog post about Grinch insults.

Willie Nelson's "Please Come Home for Christmas" seems like just the kind of thing that should be playing in Angie's kitchen.

And, last but not least, I'm going with "Mele Kalikimaka" as a song that remind me of Miss Katrina. Why? Because I'd love to be sipping drinks with her on a Hawaiian beach to forget about the crappy parts of 2012 in place of Christmas. 

Currents

Current make-up stash sprawled on a bathroom countertop at a hotel

Time: 6:54 PM
Location: Futon in front of fireplace
Watching: too much CNN coverage of the tragedy at Sandy Hook School
Eating: Holiday JoJos
Drinking: lots of water lately in hopes of curing a lingering headache
Feeling: unsettled
Thinking: how I would have handled today in a classroom
Wanting: a condo downtown
Needing: an early bedtime
Making: cookies with Stephanie on Friday
Loving: getting Christmas cards - especially today's gem

Currents stolen from Tina Aszmus.

Ventage Girls: Traditions

Today we are talking about holiday traditions. 

Thinking about writing this post made me all sorts of sad. Writing this post made me all kinds of sad. Tears were shed looking for pictures for this post.

New life = Letting go of some traditions I loved
New life = New traditions

I thought it would be difficult to find five holiday traditions I love. In the end, it was hard narrowing my list to only five.

1. Unfinished December Daily
I love making the album, but I never seem to make time to actually use the album.

2. Bake-a-palooza (photo circa 2008)
The holiday baking extravaganza began with just Stephanie and I in 2007. Over the years we've gotten increasingly ambitious. The tradition is on hold this year, but it will - I am confident - be back in 2013.

3. Photos with Santa
My mom has a collection of photos of us (Rob, Laura, and me) with Santa beginning in 1979 and lasting well in to the 1990s. I love looking at them every year.

4. Fancy Wrap Job
I'm the proud owner of a giant roll of kraft wrapping paper. I always put it to use at Christmas. Not quite sure what the plan is for this year.

5. The Tree Hunt
This one really brought on the tears. Cutting down a tree was always how we kicked off the holiday season. I think we started in 2000 - the first Christmas we lived together. This year, I jumped in the Bullet with Angie & Co. and carried on the tradition.

6. Christmas Eve Hors D'oeuvres 
Pepperoni, salami, Italian cheeses, olives, meatballs, Italian sausage, crusty bread, pierogies, boiled shrimp. Yum.

7. Favorite Decorations
The only thing that has been hung in my new space is an advent calendar mitten garland. Someday I will have a mantle this will hang on.

8. Lights
My parents got bubble lights as a wedding gift when they were married (December 1978). I remember loving them on our tree as a child. I made sure I had bubble lights when it came time to have my own tree. And, my mom and I have bubble lights on our tree this year.s

Hello

Hello. . . snow. The white stuff has made me feel a little more in the holiday spirit. I'm considering starting the endless Christmas music.

Hello. . . eyeliner. Had a coupon for Sephora tonight. Picked up an Urban Decay eyeliner. Realized I bought the one I already have. Guess I really like Bourbon.

Hello. . . Christmas planning. Thinking the Moscow Mule will be our drink of choice this Christmas Eve. It requires some cute copper mugs. I think it's more of a warm weather drink, but the mugs sure are cute and will require some antique store shopping.

Hello. . . tickets. I have tickets to see Lion King with Stephanie in April and tickets to see Book of Mormon with Em and Josie in January. I enjoy being a patron of the arts.

Hello. . . Homeland. I'm seriously addicted.

Stole the idea for "Hello Monday" from Katrina who Stole it from Lisa Leonard.

Hello (a list for my 33rd year)

We Sagittariuses need to stick together.

Hello. . . 33. You actually arrived two days ago. I just didn't make time to greet you.

Hello. . . to what I am wishing for, thinking about, and working toward in my 33rd year.

Hello. . . to a home to call all my own - a place just for me.

Hello. . . to at least one fabulous and indulgent vacation.

Hello. . . working on myself. I'm not committing to exactly what that looks like quite yet (fitness? healthy eating? financial responsibility? mental health?). I'm just committing to be better.

Hello. . . getting smarter. I see some more school in my future. Barb, Ph.D. has a nice sound to it, no?

Hello. . . macaroons. I've been talking about making macaroons for a couple of years. My 33rd year will be the year I actually make macaroons.

Stole the idea for "Hello Monday" from Katrina who Stole it from Lisa Leonard.

Ventage Girls: Love Fest

Imagine my surprise when I sat down to write a Ventage post for today and realized I was the Ventage topic.

In response, here are five things I love about being a Ventage Girl.

 1. Distance is no obstacle.
Maybe I'm wrong about this, but I don't think any more than three of us have ever been in the same place at the same time. Wait. I take that back. One time, in 2008, four of the five of us were together. We need to remedy that sometime soon.

2. No idea is too ridiculous to be seriously considered.
Of course you'll win the lottery! Considering buying cowboy boots? Think it's a good idea to quit your job? Want tips on avoiding your in-laws? We will entertain and email about just about any random brainstorm.

3. We protect those we love.
This applies to their protection of me. They have been especially fierce in their insults and suggestions at all the times I've most needed them to me. This applies to their protection of their children. This applies to our protection of each other. Mess with a Ventage Girl and expect the wrath of all of us.

4. The same question would get five answers.
We have incredibly varied tastes, values, preferences, habits, and hobbies. Somehow, this all works.

5. We are perfectly imperfect.
We forgive, accept, and even encourage messy houses, fashion flops, dinner emergencies, failed plans, emotional breakdowns, road rage, and any other number of imperfections. We love each other just the way we are.

A photo collage to document the perfect imperfection.

Stop by: Angie, Em, Katrina, and Stephanie.

Friday Wisdom, Vol. 7

Taken from Indulgy.

I haven't made time to tell you this yet, but I met Gabby.

That's right. I met Gabby.

It seems strange to even say that because I cannot believe I haven't met Gabby before now. Really. From the moment I met her, I felt that we had known each other always.

She is warm. She is funny. She is generous. She is a fabulous mama. She comes from a kind and loving family.

And she lives too damn far away!!

Photo is completely unedited. Just us. After lots of conversation and lots of pizza. 

Gratitude

I never actually wrote down a gratitude list this November. Better late than never.

1. My Parents
I don't take enough time to remember how lucky I am to have healthy parents that are passionate about seeing me happy and healthy and safe. I get impatient with them. I get annoyed with them. The truth is, though, that I wouldn't have the opportunities I do without my parents.

2. My Friends
It is overwhelming to think about the circle of people that love me unconditionally, pick me up when I fall, welcome me into their lives, and take the time to care for me. They are a million times better to me than I have managed to be for them - especially lately.

3. Opportunity
I can't go so far as to say that I'm grateful I failed a lot this year, but out of that failure has come tremendous opportunity. I worked hard for a lot of that opportunity, but it would not be possible without my parents and friends. These people have encouraged me to pick myself up, take crazy leaps, and see opportunity in great sadness.

4. Ability to be frivolous
I am grateful that I am in a position to have things that are wants, to travel, to indulge in amazing food, to treat myself, to give to others.

Made: Thanksgiving

I know I'm behind on this, but I can't miss my annual opportunity to blog about Thanksgiving.

Sigh.

I love Thanksgiving.

I love the food. I love the dessert. I especially love our traditions.

Cooking with Snow White was an new addition to our traditions.

We intended to do lots of drinking. That didn't really happen.  The Bourbon Bog was delicious, though.

Our menu was all of our favorites, including rutabagas mashed by Luke.

Not pictured:
Special dinner guests, Jake and Ryan.
Special dinner guests, Mary Jane and Andy.
Angie's crutches.
Afternoon nap.
Going to see Lincoln after dinner.
Late-night expedition to Walmart.

Only 364 days until Thanksgiving 2013.

Ventage Girls: Wishing For

I excel at shopping, specifically online shopping.

I can't imagine how you don't already know this about me. 

Today's Ventage topic is perfect for me. Without further ado, here is what's on my Christmas list.

Journaling card from In A Creative Bubble

For Barb The Reader:

Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust

Subscription to Cook's Illustrated

A pretty copy of Wuthering Heights

For Barb The Cook:

Some new Fiesta in a variety of colors (rice bowls, chip and dip)

Stainless steel cookware (because a girl can dream)

Starbucks Verismo

Glass bowl for Kitchenaid

For Barb The Aspiring Fashionista:

A new home for my iPhone

Adorable polka dot pajamas

Ridiculous but adorable Orla Kiely bag

Bracelet from The Lucky Elephant

Earrings from Tiny Galaxies

For Barb The Decorator:

This reminder to hang on my wall

Gnome reading lamp (spotted at Target!!)

Smile pillow

"Everything is Wonderful Here" poster for Wisconsin

Wake Up and Be Awesome sign

An adorable bird dish

Really, though I'd trade the whole list to be able to plan a get-together get-away with my Ventage Girls. 

Angie, Emily, Katrina, and Stephanie - I would whisk us all away to some sort of secluded location. It doesn't even really matter where because the weekend would just be all about us. We would eat and drink and talk and laugh and sleep and be pampered.

Currents

There has been LOTS of Girl Scout cookie-eating going on at my office. Too much.

Time: 7:49 PM
Location: Bedroom. Door closed.
Watching: Elizabeth Gilbert talk on Oprah (recommended by Katrina)
Eating: avoiding all things turkey 
Drinking: Meil's (in mass quantities from a local coffee shop by my office)
Feeling: Overwhelmed, stressed, lack of confidence
Thinking: I need to shake off the crabbies and focus on what I'm looking forward to
Wanting: A warm-weather vacation instead of Christmas
Needing: To learn to be more disciplined about money
Making: Project Life. . . still. . . always
Loving: my gray Uggs

Currents stolen from Tina Aszmus.

Ventage Tuesday: Thanksgiving

It's no big secret around here that I love Thanksgiving more than any other holiday. It's a holiday that is just - in my mind, anyway - about food. What's there not to love?

Here, in no particular order, are five things I love about Thanksgiving.

The Company.
Angie and I went family-free for Thanksgiving in 2005. It's a frie-mily Thanksgiving, and it's awesome. It's mellow. It's relaxed. We've come up with all of our favorite foods. And, I love that we have a tradition that is all our own.

The Dessert.
Pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake. No pecan pie. No apple pie. Just pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake. With real whipped cream.

The Napping.
There is generally some napping or at least serious relaxing happening at some point in the day.

The Friday.
I don't use it to shop. I don't schedule anything that day. It's just a day to be.

Friends episodes.
I love that a Thanksgiving episode was always a Friends thing. My favorite is the one where Joey wears Monica's maternity pants in preparation for eating an entire turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends.

And don't forget to visit Angie, Emily, Katrina, and Stephanie to learn what they love about Thanksgiving.

Friday Wisdom, Vol. 6

Journaling card: Fairytale Paislee Press

I'm headed "home" for the weekend. 

I'm not sure what to call it. It sure feels like my home. It's where most of my people are. It's the last place my stuff was unpacked. It's the place I know exactly who has the best Chinese take-out, inexpensive pedicure, and ice cream treats.

No matter what I decide to call it, I'm excited for a weekend filled with my favorite people.

Project Life: Week 27

It was fun to think about Costa Rica. There was lots of sunshine there.

The week I got back from Costa Rica was also the week the divorce started. There will eventually be some hidden journaling about that. I'm just not ready to write it yet.

I want to remember.

Screen shot. My Facebook timeline from about one year ago.

Not too long ago I caught myself telling someone, A year ago, I never would have guessed my life would turn out this way. And, a year from now I hope I can forget this part.

I'm sorry I said that. I don't want to forget this part.

This is the part where I got brave. The part where I started taking care of myself. The part where I realized the things that it never occurred to me I wanted.

And, the really hard truth is that I don't want to forget the part where I was married either.


No matter how much it hurts right now to think about being married, there are some things I want to remember about it.

Being folded into a big, safe hug after a difficult day. Enjoying time by myself as a special treat - little things like Thai take-out eaten on the couch while watching Gilmore Girls. Cooking and sharing Sunday breakfast. Cutting down a Christmas tree together. Reminiscing about shared moments and memories.

I don't want to forget those parts.

They are part of who I was, am, and will be.

Ventage Girls: Random Facts

Five Random Things About Me (in no particular order)

1. I like to mix Kraft mac and cheese with canned tuna. 

2. I've never broken a bone.

3. My first car was a 1978 Chrysler LeBaron. . . in 1996.

4. I started taking piano lessons when I was four.

5. I never had cable as a kid. I missed 90210. I missed MTV.

Learn more about:
Angie
Emily
Katrina
Stephanie

Hello

Hello Life Brushes and Stamps Ali Edwards for Designer Digitals

Hello. . . thinking, "I should put that on my Christmas list." That will have to be another post.

Hello. . . new television shows. I'm hooked on Homeland and am loving watching Weeds again. 

Hello. . . family dinner on Sunday. It's been a long time since I've lived in the same city as my parents or my sister.

Hello. . . lots happening at work this week. I'm excited to actually have some projects of my own.

Hello. . . Thanksgiving menu. It will be written by the end of the week.

Hello. . . reading. I've been trying hard to make reading every night before bed a habit again. I'm back into Art of Fielding and just started The Diviners.

Hello. . . plans with friends. Working on a little Book of Mormon weekend in January and looking forward to some Taylor Swift August 2013.

Hello. . . wisdom from the Internets shared by friends. Check out these ideas to remember during a personal apocalypse and advice about how to move on.

Stole the idea for "Hello Monday" from Katrina who Stole it from Lisa Leonard.

Meal Plan # 2

Chicken Paprikash - a meal from last week.

Have I mentioned that I miss my dishes?!

Meal 1. Chopped Salad with Ranch Dressing and Shrimp Cocktail

Meal 2. Supreme Pizza Burgers with left-over salad

Meal 3. Pizza with Kale, Butternut Squash, Bacon, and Smoke Cheese with  more left-over salad

Meal 4. Pork roast with Spicy Parmesan Green Beans and Kale

Meal 5. Beef Burgundy Crockpot Roast with steamed broccoli

Extras. Red Velvet Cupcakes with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting (for a traveling lunch party at work)

Friday Wisdom, Vol. 5

Found via Pinterest from Isabella.Nina.

Actually the art of Sabrina Ward Harrison.

I'm the kind of person who always has a plan. I often fail at the steps needed to get to the plan, but I generally have some kind of a plan or scheme, some sort of grand next steps, something to work toward, or just something to countdown and look forward to.

I can't remember what that was in my marriage. 

Awaiting a holiday, putting other commitments on the calendar, getting promotions at work. None of that is really something meaningful to work toward together. 

I truly can't remember the last time we really had something we were working toward together. 

We worked toward a house. . . 7 years ago. We planned a wedding. . . 8 years ago. We moved from one city to another. . . 9 years ago. 

And, I'm not even really confident we is the right pronoun to apply to any of that.

But, really. We were holding onto a future together for a whole lot of years with absolutely no plan or direction. Why was it such a surprise, then, that things fell apart?

What really matters right now, though, is the choice to let go of all of that planned life.

What I've gained by letting go of that is a life I never ever realized I wanted.

And, that's pretty damn awesome.

Project Life: Week 39

Big apology for the terrible pictures. I leave for work when it's dark. I get back from work when it's dark.

I really like this week. It even has an insert.

The insert is all about fashion. There's been lots of photographing of outfits lately. . . . 

I shouldn't have done this, but I just figured out that I need to do four weeks each week to finish 2012 before 2013 starts. I'm determined to not start the new year weeks and weeks behind.

Made: Fancied Up Brussels Sprouts

I'm slowly cooking my way through the recipes on my Fall Food List.

Brussels sprouts and I have a complicated relationship. I've only cooked them myself one other time; it ended in a Sonic parking lot. I've cooked them with Angie before with success. It bolstered my confidence enough to try it solo.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Barley

1 lb small Brussels Sprouts
1 Tbsp olive oil
Salt
2/3 C fresh cranberries (or 1/3 C dried cranberries)
1/3 C crumbled Gorgonzola or goat cheese
1/3 C freshly toasted pecans
1 1/2 C cooked barley, reheated
1 Tbsp maple syrup, or more to taste
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, or more to taste

Prepare Brussels Sprouts. Cut off tips. Remove discolored leaves. Slice in half.

Prepare broiler.

Warm a 12" cast iron skillet over medium-high heat on the stove. 

Meanwhile, toss Brussels sprouts with olive oil and salt until evenly coated in a thin layer of oil.

Dump the sprouts into the hot pan. Quickly rearrange them so the flat sides are down. Let them cook for two minutes.

Toss the fresh cranberries into the pan and transfer the pan to the broiler. Let the sprouts broil for about three minutes. Check the sprouts for doneness - their tops should be a little brown and the bottoms caramelized.

Toss warm barley, sprouts, cranberries, cheese, and pecans in a bowl.

My Notes:
This was my first experimentation with barley. It worked.

I mixed up a little extra balsamic vinegar and maple syrup to drizzle over the chicken. It worked, too.

The cheese made the difference here. I went with a high quality blue instead of a gorgonzola. I liked the bite it added; I'm not sure the goat cheese would have added that touch.

I'd make this again.

Ventage Girls: Sing Along

Some things you should know about me and the music.

• I'm terrible at knowing who sings a song. I'm so terrible at it, that I get furious whenever someone asks, "Who sings this?" It's my kryptonite.
• I'm also terrible at choosing favorites - especially when put on the spot.
• I don't buy new music very often. In fact, I only do it when my friends suggest things. 
• I like plenty of crappy pop music. I listen to it countless times. I may or may not have driven around the block a few extra times this morning to listen to "22" one more time. And, it's possible that this crappy pop music never goes out of style for me. Maybe I even still listen to "Party in the USA."
• There are some songs that I just can't listen to right now. Lots of these are songs about love. They are also songs that were important to my relationship.

So, I went with a list of my timeless favorite songs.

3 x 4 List Journaling Cards - Splendid Fiins for Jessica Sprague

I learned to love "Walk Like an Egyptian" as an adult. I have no recollection of ever hearing it as a child.

Johnny Cash didn't come into my life until Walk the Line. Thank you Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.

Nothing to say about Joan Jett. The song just makes me smile.

I started loving "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" when it was the theme song for Life Goes On. Remember that show?

And, "Barbara Ann" is a favorite because a family friend (one of my dad's HS besties) used to sing it to me as a child. He thought it was my actual name.

What do you love listening to?

Check out my girls:

Angie

Em

Katrina

Stephanie