30 days of gratitude : fourteen thru twenty

OK .. so I have been completely consumed by work and that has caused a huge failure in my photo taking and posting for this challenge.  I suck.  Sorry.  So ... in an effort to try to catch up, here goes.  I hope I can finish out the challenge stronger than my super weak ass start.  

30 days of gratitude :: Day 14 :: movement ... My flight was delayed so I had plenty of time to watch people pass by.  

Day 15 :: technology ... being able to capture a moment in time by simply reaching into my bag and pulling out my iPhone.  Being able to drive home from another state without a printed map/atlas.  Being able to see the radar to see if the blizzard I am driving through will ever come to an end.  

Day 16 :: animals ... my little Phoebe has been quite the lover lately.  Isn't she cute all curled up like this?

Day 17 :: memories ... I have a million great memories in this big, beautiful city.  

Day 18 :: something new ...  I got this new chevron pouch from an etsy seller and it is so cute! 

Day 19 :: best friend ... This is an old iPhone photo since most of my bff's live far away, I went back into the archives. This is Laura and Holly - they are both crazy fun! 

Day 20 :: seasonal ... tis' the season for sure!  I love having the house lit by twinkle lights, don't you?

Homemade Maple Cream

via americastestkitchenfeed.com

Oh I gotta make this....

Makes about 2 cups

Maple cream is a delicious topping for toast, scones, biscuits, and waffles, and it’s really good in a peanut butter sandwich, but it’s a bit too thick to spread on delicate pancakes. If your batch comes out a bit stiffer than you’d like, you can roll it into small balls and coat them with finely chopped nuts—instant confections, perfect for gift-giving. Or, something I’ve always wanted to try: Use it as a filling between two cookies.

The maple cream can be stored for two weeks at room temperature and up to several months in refrigeration. Theoretically, maple products are vulnerable to mold over time, so if you’re not planning to eat your maple cream right away, you should probably store it in the fridge. That said, I have never seen it go moldy. The only way a jar of maple cream would last longer than a couple of weeks in my house would be if I fell into a coma, in which case it is quite likely I would be discovered with a maple-encrusted spoon clutched in my hand.

3 cups pure maple syrup (Grade A or B)

¼ teaspoon vegetable oil (or butter), optional

1 pinch table salt, optional

1. Combine syrup, oil, and salt, if using, in medium saucepan, and cook over medium heat, without stirring, until temperature registers 235 degrees on instant-read thermometer.

2. While syrup heats, fill bottom of large bowl with ice. Place second medium saucepan on top of ice; scatter more ice around sides of saucepan. When syrup reaches 235 degrees pour into second saucepan in ice bath. Leave to cool without stirring until temperature reaches 125 degrees.

3. Remove saucepan from ice bath. Stir vigorously with wooden spoon until maple syrup turns thick, pale, and opaque, 15 to 25 minutes. Using rubber spatula, quickly scrape maple cream into clean jar.

30 days of gratitude : thirteen

30 days of gratitude :: Day 13 :: written words ... Unlucky thirteen that is!  These words are for my grandmother's recipe for a parker house type of roll she's made my entire life - heck probably hers too!   She used to bake a pan full and overnight them to me - oh how I loved receiving that package!!  All of my friends and coworkers know about grandma's rolls and give me a hard time because no matter how I try I simply CANNOT make them!  I suck, suck, suck at making any type of yeast based anything and it frustrates me to no end!!  

I babied this batch, but nooooo.  Still no luck.  Jeff actually described them as 'flatbread' when talking with his mother.  WHY OH WHY can I not figure these damn things out?  The photo below is my pitiful attempt.  I am seriously about to toss in the towel.

30 days of gratitude : twelve

30 days of gratitude :: Day 12 :: hands ... Hands on my new camera and shooting everything in sight.  Really working low light and loving life!!  

Totally Rad!

via gettotallyrad.com

This is how I spent my black friday funds ... I will admit, I am wicked lazy at creating my own workflows in Photoshop and Lightroom. So I love it when I find some really great actions and presets ... I do feel like some of the looks I see out there are too "processed." But I have learned that pos-processing is kind of key to getting an image that really pops. I cannot remember how I stumbled upon Rad Lab, but they have some really fun stuff ... especially the Photoshop actions. Looking forward to getting out and shooting so that I can have some images to play with!!

aaron hobson || c i n e m a s c a p e s

via aaronhobson.com

Saw this posted somewhere... google street views, soo cool!

30 days of gratitude : eleven

30 days of gratitude :: Day 11 :: something old ... That's my BF Holly and her beau, Jeff.  Why am I posting these two as something old?  Well, because my friend Holly and I met in kindergarden and have remained friends ever since.  We certainly had our ups and downs and crazy shenanigans, but, like sisters, we forgive and forget and remain BF's!  She and her hubby hosted me for a Thanksgiving feast!  I am so thankful to have such wonderful, old friendships.  

See the full gallery on Posterous

30 days of gratitude : ten

30 days of gratitude :: Day 10 :: nature ... Sadly work has killed my hopes of getting any sort of decent photography for this particular challenge.  I was lucky to get a shot off before the sun was completely down... seriously had to go outside specific to take this, then back to the computer.  It's a sad sad tale to tell... I had a bit of a breakdown late this afternoon because client rep is asking for something first thing Friday morning.  SERIOUSLY?   Does she really expect our team to actually work on Thanksgiving?   

Oh and I totally missed yesterday - day 9, someone inspiring.  Most of the people that inspire me are not in my daily life, so not much opportunity for that shot anyway.  Boo.  I promise I will try to do better... 

30 days of gratitude : eight

30 days of gratitude :: Day 8 :: favorite color ... I got the blues.  I love navy blue - it's the color that looks the best on me (brings out the eyes) and is the color that is pretty deeply rooted into my life.  High school colors were blue and white.  College colors were crimson and blue ... I could go on, but I won't ... because I'm still at work.  Late night kids! 

30 days of gratitude : seven

30 days of gratitude :: Day 7 :: something funny ... I got nothing.... Not one funny thing happened to me today nor is anything around my home funny.  Sad, but true.  So ... I leave you with a photo from the super cute baby shower I attended yesterday.  Today has been nothing but work and grocery shopping.  B O R I N G!!  Hope you had a great weekend!