30 days of gratitude :: Day 25 :: artwork ... We have a new graphic designer in the office and she's working up something fun *wink*
30 days of gratitude : twenty five
Milwaukee Art Museum: Photo Contest Finalists
via flickr.com
One of my images has been chosen among the favorites at the Milwaukee Art Museum! Honored to be among these beautiful images.
"The Milwaukee Art Museum invited visitors to submit their personal photographs of the Calatrava-designed Museum addition, demonstrating how significantly the building has brought a sense of pride in, as well as international attention, to Milwaukee. These are some of our favorite images."
salted caramel marshmallows
Oh my gosh I have found marshmallow heaven. No, really. I have! Picked up salted caramel marshmallows at the one of a kind show from Katherine Anne Confections, a local chocolatier. She makes supberb chocolates - they are even at many of the local Whole Foods - but her caramels are to die for! Combine that with a marshmallow ... get out!!! They are the perfect combination of sweet and salt and literally melt in your mouth. Go order some now!! I promise you will not regret it. Oh and the pepppermit marshmallows are delish too! And while you're at it, try the rosemary sea salt or orange cinnamon caramels too... Oh I cannot say enough good things about Katherine Anne caramels!!!
the kids
These are my kids ... Lucy simply loves laying in the lit garland, likely because it's warm. And Phoebe, she loves sleeping under the down throw and emerges now and then to check out the scene. What funny kitties I have. I really don't know what I would do without a pet in my life...
The Christmas Story
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWq60oyrHVQ?wmode=transparent]
via youtube.com
The most adorable version of The Christmas Story. Seriously so cute!!
sweet thank you :: 30 days of gratitude :: twenty four
Look what I got in the mail today! The cutest thank you note from Elliot!
We went to the Chicago One of a Kind show this past weekend and she REALLY wanted this four leaf clover pin ... she had enough money, but I thought it was make a great little Christmas gift for her. So I gave her a crisp twenty dollar bill so that she could purchase the pin. She was all grins from ear to ear. Oh how it's the little things...
P.S. I am skipping ahead and making this my 30 days of gratitude :: Day 24 :: gratitude post. Trust me, there is nothing interesting in my closet.
30 days of gratitude : twenty two
30 days of gratitude :: Day 22 :: clothing ... Thinking I should look for a little more color during my next trip to the mall...
2 minute Chocolate and Salted Caramel Mug Cake
Did you see our 10 TASTY MUG CAKES IN MINUTES? Well I have another one to add to that incredible collection. It’s a salted caramel chocolate mug cake that takes JUST 2 minutes to make. It’s rich decadent and oh yes delicious. The recipe makes1 mug cake in a regular sized coffee mug. It will take you 5 minutes top to bottom. How’s that for quick and easy. If you can’t find salted caramels you can sprinkle a little fleur de sel salt into the mixture as you’re dropping in the caramels. I like a little sprinkling of it on top of my cake too. I can’t get enough of sweet and salty together.
Salted Caramel Mug Cake
What you’ll need: {makes 1 mug cake}
4 tablespoons all purpose flour
4 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg – beaten
3 tablespoons skim milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 salted caramels
What to do:
1. Into a small bowl add: flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt, egg, milk, and vegetable oil. Mix to combine.
2. Pour mixture into a regular sized coffee mug. Drop caramels into center of mixture one at a time.
3. Microwave on high for one minute and 30 seconds. If needed {if cake batter is still gooey}, microwave on high for up to an additional 30 seconds.
via blogs.babble.com
OMG!!! This could be dangerous...
The Four Phases of Design Thinking - BusinessWeek
Question. If you spend any time around designers, you quickly discover this about them: They ask, and raise, a lot of questions. Often this is the starting point in the design process, and it can have a profound influence on everything that follows. Many of the designers I studied, from Bruce Mau to Richard Saul Wurman to Paula Scher, talked about the importance of asking "stupid questions"—the ones that challenge the existing realities and assumptions in a given industry or sector. The persistent tendency of designers to do this is captured in the joke designers tell about themselves. How many designers does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Does it have to be a light bulb?
In a business setting, asking basic "why" questions can make the questioner seem naïve while putting others on the defensive (as in, "What do you mean 'Why are we doing it this way?' We've been doing it this way for 22 years!"). But by encouraging people to step back and reconsider old problems or entrenched practices, the designer can begin to re-frame the challenge at hand—which can then steer thinking in new directions. For business in today's volatile marketplace, the ability to question and rethink basic fundamentals—What business are we really in? What do today's consumers actually need or expect from us?—has never been more important.
via businessweek.com
Ran across this article on Twitter and could not agree more with the findings. I pulled out the "question" part because it resonates with me. I was a huge pain in the butt student in my collegiate years - always asking questions. I had one professor that would always say "you can't do that" and my response was always "why" while most everyone else just said OK and made the change. I was the only person that actually liked that class too ... maybe I feel like I learned more than they did because I actually got answers. Dunno really. Then cut to my job search. I was connected to my current job by one of my old college professors. I always ask him how he knew I'd be right for the position... he's never answered me specifically, but maybe this is my answer...
30 days of gratitude : twenty one
30 days of gratitude :: Day 21 :: where I sleep ... I hopped out of bed, came back and there was Phoebe. It was a super gloomy day, so hard to get out of bed and get motivated to do all the stuff I need to do.. It took me a while, but I ended up getting quite a lot done. Still doesn't mean I'm ready for the week ahead. :)