325 { 10/29 } self portrait : 10on10 { feb 2012 }

Freakishly busy day ... phone calls from people on site before I was even dressed this AM.  Installed new server at the office and it snowed!  Big fluffy flakes!  AND three photo challenges today!  My 365 project, Feburary photo challenge via instagram and 10 on 10.  Wow!  

So I will use this selfie as my official 365 and instagram challenge photo.

Back to earlier in the day ... updating the Air while having breakfast

Updating the Up band to see if my sleep is getting any better ... nope.  Problem is that I need to get 8hrs and that never happens.  

Unpacking mac mini server and thunderbolt drive - new server in the making

Stepped out for lunch and it had begun to snow - fun!

After dinner mint

Server install still going ... and going... and going ... 

My new camera pouch for the Leica - love it! (sorry about the crap iPhone pic here)

Adorable candle holder my coworker brought me from India - hand carved 

Home to junk mail ... joy!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!  Happy Friday! 

10 on 10 : 1.2012 : 356

See the full gallery on Posterous

It's been a very long day. Remembering my fabulous grandmother and meeting all of her friends. Pardon the short post and shakeitphotos - working remote this month.

... via iphone ... 

10 on 10 :: 27 of 30 :: hello sloane

Oh what a day!  It's 10 on 10 challenge day { on the weekend, yeah! } and day 27 of my 30 days of gratitude challenge and the first time I get to see my bf/sister's new baby girl!!  So let's jump right into the fun!!  

day 27 of 30 :: daily routine :: I start every day with a cup of tea.  I love the little leaf stem on the forte triangular tea bags! 

Then I hit the new market at the Evanston Ecology center - was hoping for a couple of vendors to be there, but sadly they were not ... maybe next week. We saw some good stuff tho! 

Then it was time to hit the road ... it was a beautiful day, the sun was shining bright ... if only it wasn't so cold! 

I arrived in Chesterton just a couple of hours after momma and baby came home from the hospital.  Little Sloane was all snug as a bug... she is super cute and so stinkin' tiny she doesn't even fit into premie clothes!  Look at her tiny little bracelet! 

I spent a little time snuggling with her before we decided to start the photoshoot.  I gotta give huge props to baby photographers!!!  I do not have any idea how the pose these little munchkins.  They just don't cooperate.  I'm thinking maybe she was a little too young at only five days old, but I did get a couple of cuties! Holly purchased this crazy long santa hat off etsy and she wanted to try to recreate the shot from the website - impossible!!

After Sloane was done with her first photoshoot, Holly's friend Nikki came over to bring them dinner { so nice } and hung around for a little bit.  Her adorable little boy was so excited to hold the baby.  

Meanwhile, Bella was busy taking photos with her camera.  I caught her snapping a self portrait and asked her to show me.  She's such a ham... 

I hung around till it was about dinner time for the Pittman clan ... snapped a few photos of Jeff with his little girl before I left.   He is one proud papa!  Oh and I caught the BEST baby yawn!  Oh how I love a baby yawn!!! 

Oh and I had to snap a photo of Xavier's sign.  He made this adorable little sign to hang on the hospital room door - they said the nurses were gaga over it.  Apparently this was a first.

Couldn't officially leave till I got one more snap of Sloane and her big sister Bella B!  We were cracking up because it looks like Sloan is throwing the peace sign... 

Back on the road home... 

What a great day!  And then I arrived home to this adorable Christmas Card from my friend Kathryn.  Happy Everything!!! 

10 on 10 :: September 2011

Hello!  Hello!  Happy 10 on 10 on a weekend!!  I'm always so excited when the 10th falls on a day that I am not in my office - there is only so much to photograph there ... So much easier to find beauty in my city and my travels!!

9 AM :: leaving Chicago and heading to Indiana to spend the day with the Pittman's - I never tire of the Chicago skyline... it's even more dreamy with a little fog

10 AM :: Still on the road to Chesterton ... it was raining and the sun was shining at the same time. Can anyone explain this? Just seems wrong to me! Oh and I love the old Skyway signage!

11 AM :: Bella B shows her cheer spirit at the Trojans game! Now, we didn't have these mini football games complete with cheerleaders when I was a kid, but they are darn cute!

12 PM :: Second half of the game ... Bella's still got the spirit. Sadly neither team scored any points on the field.

1 PM :: Hit the European market to pick up those rosemary flatbreads I love so much! No trip to Chesterton is complete without bringing these home with me!! I love their little market - even picked up some French macarons that were very good. And how delicious do these cupcakes look??

2 PM :: Arrived at the annual Popcorn fest!! Had to get kettle corn and found some adorable little pet toys and holiday decor at a couple of the booths. We buzzed through super quick because there were some sort of flying ant and bees EVERYWHERE. Holly and I were both pulling bugs out of our hair, it was the most disgusting thing!

3 PM :: Finally got Holly's elephant ear - tried on our way in, but they had run out of sugar! Oops! It was super good - worth the wait for sure.

4 PM :: Linus, one of their three dogs, the most adorable great dane. She truly is a gentle giant ...

5 PM :: Slip n' Slide

6 PM :: Still at it ... Don't you sometimes miss being a kid?

7 PM :: Decided to stop off by the museum campus to watch the sun go down behind the city. This is one of my favorite views of the skyline and you can just sit along the lake, people watch, snap a photo or two, enjoy the breeze and watch the lights come on as the sun sets. Lovely.

Hope you had a wonderful day filled with sun, fun, family and friends! So long Summer...

10 on 10 :: August 2011

Hooray it's the 10th and that means it's time for the 10 on 10 Challenge!  I almost forgot, but saw Yepallmine's post on Twitter this morning just as I was checking all of my social media and having breakfast!  Wheew!  Would have been totally bummed if I had missed it. Even though it was "just another day at the office."  

8 AM : started the day on Google+ even thought the only active participants seem to be photographers ... not sure why that is the case.  I still find myself mostly on Facebook and Twitter these days... Are you on Google+?  Do you use it?  If so, add me  !!

9 AM : I rode my bike to work for the first time EVER and seriously about killed myself.  I will admit I am much more of a "cruiser" when it comes to biking.  You know, a stroll along the lake to enjoy the weather and the sights.  I am not a "biker" and with all of my health problems, I am horribly out of shape.  By the time I got to the office, I felt like I was going to pass out ... lots of water and slowly walking around the office to catch my breath again.  Ridiculously sad shape, I tell you!!!

10 AM :  That's my Townie among the other bikes in the office - for some strange cosmic reason, everyone decided to ride their bike today.  And as funny as that was - my boss forgot about a meeting he had mid day and had to ride his bike there.  Good thing his is the carbon fiber job in the foreground and he is the next Lance Armstrong.  If that had been me, I would have called a cab!!!

11 AM :  Picking colors for a new project that I am working on.  Something only a designer can appreciate.  : )

12 : It was simply the perfect day outside today - mid 70's, no humidity, a few puffy clouds.  I attempted to have lunch on the deck, but was attacked by all sorts of bug life - first a wasp then some horse fly the size of Texas and the final straw, a cicada!!  Back inside... 

1 PM : CPK leftovers for lunch ... not great, but it was something. 

2 PM : Loving my new Puma's I picked up while in San Francisco.  These are seriously the most comfortable fashion sneaker I've ever had.  They are light as a feather, but actually have some padding on the bottom.  Oh and super breathable too!  { love }

3 PM : Got a sample vinyl message that will be put on a mirror at a client office - they have some sloppy people ... apparently we do to!  drip.  drip. 

4 PM : This fraction to decimal chart is my lifesaver!  I've had it for 16 years and use it almost daily.  You'd think I would have committed this to memory by now ... but sadly no.  

5 PM : (well more like 5:45ish) I hit the road home and took the long route via the lake.  Terrible view huh?  That's the city of Chicago there in the distance.  The winds were from the east over the lake so we were getting lots of splashes along the rocks.  Pretty to look at and listen to.  

6 PM : Lingered long enough to creep into the next hour so thought I'd take a selfie to say hello!  I shot all square format with my new Leica D-Lux 5 - it's a dream of a little camera!  Hope you had a super day!  I'm now off to see all of your 10 on 10 sets!!  

10 on 10 :: June 2011

Yep, it's that time again.  Time for ten photos in ten consecutive hours on the tenth of the month!  And hooray for not having to work today!!  I am traveling back to my hometown in Kansas for my twenty year high school reunion (yikes!).  I did manage to get the photos done all via iPhone (camera + app) - sorry for the late post ladies.  I look forward to seeing all of your days! 

10 AM leaving a cool, very foggy Chicago

11 AM waiting for my plane

NOON some in-flight entertainment and refreshments

1 PM arrival at Kansas City International Airport and ran across this cute little Hertz guy on the way to pick up my rental car

2 PM a swing over to Habitat to do some shoe shopping - picked up some Bensimon sneaks and these crazy string tie Sseko sandals that are so comfortable, so cute and for a great cause all in one!  Was thinking about the beige heals, but ended up not taking them.  

3 PM hit up Dean and Deluca for a late lunch  -  these parmesean fries were HELLA good

4 PM picking up some last minute groceries for Mom - Aren't these Shatto Milk bottles the cutest you've ever seen?  

5 PM driving into the sticks - not really - but I have to go thru some rural areas to get to the P's house

6 PM hanging with mom and grandma for a few before heading to the meet-n-greet. This photo makes me so sad, seeing my grandmother like this is pretty depressing. My mother is doing an amazing job taking care of her - but she's got to be in a pretty low place.  She just turned 92 and the room is filled with cards, flowers and baloons from her friends - hopefully that helps to keep her spirit strong!

7 PM off to see my old classmates - so excited my BF teeny weeny tiny E made the trip in from Amsterdam and brought her adorable sister, Robbie - love these two girlies.  It was a great night - literally closed the bar down!  More posts about the reunion coming ... 

10 on 10 :: May 2011 :: Things on Tuesday

Today I decided to do a combo  "Things on Tuesday" and "10 on 10 challenge" - it gave me a little bit of a purpose for shooting my boring work day.  Click on the photo above to see everything larger - not a very exciting set, but wasn't a very exciting day.  So here goes!

This week's loves

• Breakfast and the Today Show - I am grumpy without them
• Music is something that I am passionate about.  It wakes me up, surrounds me in the shower and puts me to sleep at night!  Weather it be my own mixes or Pandora - I am listening right now!
• New bags!  I seem to be on a forever search for just the right bag... most recent bags are the quilted *emera, an adorable chevron tote and leather Banana Republic convertible shoulder/cross body that I scooped up on ebay (thanks Kendra, hope you don't mind I copied).
• The first day of open toe shoes!!!  It was a beautiful 80 + degrees in Chicago today - yeah!!
• Scoring tickets to Oprah's Surprise Spectacular - WOOT!! I am so excited and freaked out about what to wear.  They say to wear color and my wardrobe is chalked full of black, white, beige and gray... ack!  What to do??

This week's loathes

• That I don't eat better - I have a salad but still have to have a croissant or something that's not so good for me... ugh!
• That I cannot seem to get rid of carbonated beverages and stick with water.  They just taste better.
• My damn sweet tooth - I just have to have something sweet to keep me going through the afternoon.
• Neck and shoulder pain that I cannot figure out what the trigger is and how to control it.  Two acupuncture treatments and I'm about 80% - am seeing a Naprapathic doctor next week.  Sheesh!
• Work.  Work.  Work on a beautiful day.  Ah well.  Hope you got out and enjoyed your day!! 

10 on 10 :: April 2011 :: Diptych

I am participating in the 10 on 10 challenge again this month - one photo per hour for ten hours to document my day.  I was so excited that the 10th finally fell on a weekend day, but a little sad I did not have more planned for my day... it seems my life is all or nothing.  Last weekend was birthday brunches and shopping and next weekend will be spent with the girls too.  So, you get to see what the typical lazy Sunday looks like for a single 30 something .. enjoy!

9 ::  Made my favorite oatmeal pancakes (recipe here) with a little bit of bacon on the side.  This is my favorite weekend meal because it will last me the whole day.  The pancakes are so filling, and actually healthy (minus the syrup!)

10 :: Brewing...  I typically brew tea fresh every morning, but thought maybe I could be a little more efficient with things and brew a batch in advance (picked up the glass bottle at IKEA yesterday).  This should last me three or four days.  Yeah!

11 :: Logging a little computer time while the kitties enjoy the 80 degree temps with the windows open.  P. S. Aren't kitty yawns the best??  

12 :: Finally picked up the floating shelf I had wanted for my desk area last weekend and decided to break out the tools and install it this weekend.  Now I have my little shrine to KU all in one place!  Rock Chalk!

1 :: I still love cards and care packages in the mail... online stuff just isn't the same.  I spent a little time writing notes to family and packing goodies.  (Mom, be on the look out!)

2 :: I know I said it before, but it was 80 degrees today - a good 30 degrees higher than usual for our Spring.  I wandered out to get a little sun, exercise and snap a pic or two.  I love seeing all the buds on the trees!!  Oh and found this adorable note on the sidewalk ... 

3 :: Still walking around the neighborhood finding all sorts of Spring flowers.  It sure takes me longer to walk when I have my camera.  : )

4 :: Took a little time to rejuve - hydrate, stretch and have a little snack.  These are pretzel grahams from Salted Caramel - thanks Selika and Alex !!

5 :: Time to finish laundry and clean this place up.... Do you find that by mid-day on Sunday your house is a mess?  I always end up cleaning on Sunday afternoons.  How does one woman generate so much laundry and clutter in a week?

6 :: Pizza for dinner on the balcony while watching the sun set.  I love that I get the afternoon sun, it fills my home with the most beautiful amber light.  It's my favorite time of day.

Well that's it for a lazy Sunday.  Here's hoping yours was as relaxing as mine!