sunshine, blue sky

today when i got home from work i took Bama on a 2 mile walk down to where my friends play on a beach volleyball league. this was the view behind me as i sat in the sand and watched them.

not bad at all! Alabama met a groundhog on the way home. he was super cute.

yesterday and today

yesterday i got dragged candle pin bowling. it's a very New England thing. the balls are small, the pins are shaped weird, you get three turns per frame and there has never, ever, even in professional series, been a perfect 300 score. isn't that wild?

and today i'll i've got is my girl 'Bama. isn't she enough?

 

where are you fools?

by the Sea

i didn't want to do another food picture but when you have this for dinner...

how can you not share? my good friend Stephanie (B's old roommate, found on Craigslist) is from Milwaukee and her awesome family rented a house on the Seacoast this week to vaca and visit. they invited all of Steph's good friends over for a lobster and steamer feast tonight. all 30 lobsters were caught THIS morning. the lobster-man that caught them cooked them for us at the bbq. talk about fresh and local!

the Brad Special

this is the only thing i accomplished today. breakfast/lunch/dinner around 3PM.

this is definitely the most-frequently eaten thing in our household. it's also the first thing B ever cooked for me. basically, a veggie burrito but made into a Special by crisping it up. this one has sun-dried tomato hummus, tomato, cuke, black beans and feta. a Special is always served with avocado and a greek-yogurt-Cholula volcano. soo delicious!

Citizen Cope

rocked Portsmouth, NH last night.

and i'm paying for it today.

friday night lights

B and i went for a bike ride tonight. if you go out of our driveway and hang a left, there is a 7 mile loop that will bring you right back to our driveway. there are a million places to stop and take a photo. for tonight, i chose Riverside Cemetary in Newcastle, NH.

 

you can see the Shawshank Prison in the distance along with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (the oldest active shipyard, opened in 1800). to say we live in a beautiful place is a giant understatement.

i still miss Detroit.

Satisfaction

I just cut the grass - in a circular pattern. ahh the simple pleasures. Cutting the grass is therapeutic to me. I really do enjoy it - today I copied my dad in creating this pattern - my ipod was on shuffle and my favorite Radiohead song came on "No Surprises" followed by my girl Adele. I had to do a second shot tonight because while doing yard work I discovered this absolute beauty.. I put my hand in there so you could see how big the flower is! Rockstar. Nice Friday evening. Now I am headed up north to relax at the cottage. I may not be able to upload tomorrow without internet but I'll definitely take a photo. have a great weekend you beautiful babes xxx

Out

I tried so hard to do this from an iPhone last night - unsuccessful... i had 3 people trying to help me... My friend Kathryn took me out for my birthday and we ended up bopping around town - one of our many stops was this place, Gemmayze. The owner took us to the upstairs which is very cool- I highly recommend going here, but maybe not on a school night like I did... which I am regretting this morning at work.

Re "tie" erd

Tomorrow officially marks the end of several things here in Auburn for me.  First of all, the current Master's students will fulfill their final requirement before graduation by presenting their Capstone Projects (equivalent to defending a Thesis) during a day long seminar.  Secondly, by attending these presentations, it will wrap up my last commitment to the program before leaving for Kansas.  And lastly, it will likely be the final time I will be able to sport this snazzy getup:

Everything is ending/transitioning/beginning so quickly!  Whoa...

---AB

make 'em say daaaang Panang Curry

being on the road, in hotels and eating-out for breakfast, lunch and dinner can start to make you crazy and fat. one of the first things i want to do when i get home is make a meal from scratch. it helps heal my mind and fat bottom.

 

 check out my panang Thai curry with sesame jasmine rice. MMM! a mix of curries, coconut milk, lime and other deliciousness. i was given a version of this recipe by a chef in Vermont who was given it by a Thai grandmother. i've made it my own (added garlic and Thai basil, subbed tofu instead of chicken) and developed the sesame rice all on my own. B licked his bowl clean. i wish i could cook up some lovin' for you babes!

want to cook better and cheaper? check out your local Asian market. i got everything i needed for this meal for <$10. especially great for expensive herbs and spices.

Toomer's Corner

As I have been driving through certain parts of Auburn over the past couple of days, some sites are already evoking feelings of nostalgia...  Crossing over the intersection of Magnolia and College today, I looked out at the Oaks on Toomer's Corner and had a sinking feeling as their imminent fate was even more so apparent.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this corner's 130 year tradition or of the recent drama surrounding it, but this place has been the epicenter of celebration for decades and as evidence by the blockades guarding the base of the old oaks and the sickly branches stemming from the trunk, it's future looks grim.  (Although, I did just receive an email from the University stating that they will allow for individuals to "roll" Toomer's Corner after football victories this season.  Yay!)

Some of my best Auburn memories were made at this site.  (sigh).

---AB

Be The Change

My new mug from my momma... My mom gave me this new mug for my birthday - and my friend Lyndsay got me a card with the same Ghandi quote on it. I love it! I had 3 cups of tea out of this mug today, and every time I looked at it sitting next to my computer I felt inspired to do something different with my life :) We will see.. Feeling very motivated at the moment.

appliance pushers

i'm finally home from Albany. all of August is taken up by the Sears Appliance Roadshow. i facilitate the same 50 minute training, six times a day, all month.

that right there is a shot of a day in my life. i had Mitch, the Whirlpool rep on the right, take over the training for a few minutes for me to snap this shot. the Sears associate on the left sure is happy to demonstrate how to adjust the upper rack on the new Kenmore dishwashers! if you can't tell from the back of their heads, the rest of the associates are thrilled as well.

i'm beat.

Delicious

Red Wine & Cheesecake... This is strike 1 for me! I do not have a smart phone and was not around a computer that I could hook my camera up to last night so I am a little bit late in uploading... But this was dessert last night - my friend Liz had some girls over to her parents house for a little pizza party- her sister brought over her 3 kids, including her snuggly little 3 month old - it was wonderful chaos. yum xxx

this moment is your life

the sun sets over Albany, NY.

this shot was taken from the Holiday Inn Express parking lot. there were five others pulled over/parked taking the same shot. lesson here: the world is beautiful, even from the HI Express parking lot in Albany, NY.

off subject but OH so good, Mayer Hawthorne finally released his video for "A Long Time", a tribute to Detroit. B and i saw him perform this song in Boston last fall and i've been dying for it to be released. the video features footage from the vintage Detroit dance show, "The New Dance Show". check it here. does it get any funkier/cuter/better than that?

Momma Knows Best

This afternoon's heat index of 104 degrees had me searching for a food joint where I could seek refuge from the sun and cool down with an ice cold sweet tea and small snack.  Without hesitation I proceeded to head to one of my favorite retreats over the past 3 years -  Momma Goldberg's Deli .  Home of the famous "Momma's Love" sandwich and some of the best sweet tea on the southern plains, this deli offers up one of the most unique and delicious snacks I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying.  Never to be imitated nor replicated and always to be appreciated, I introduce you to "Momma's Nachos" :

Allow me to describe the wonder that is pictured above.  They take a snack size bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos, place them on a sheet of foil (pictured), toss on a handful of Jalapeño slices, cover in pepperjack cheese squares, and place in a Nacho Steamer (actual picture from MGD) for several seconds, and then you get this tasty treat...  Accompanied by a refreshing sweet tea and this dynamic duo is a match made in snack heaven.

YUM!

Hope you babes enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed eating it :)

---AB

Pathway to Paradise

I spent the evening with my friend Kathryn at the house where she nannies. This house is approaching 100 years old - a beautiful, old, classic tudor. This photo is of the pathway that leads out their backdoor into a private lush backyard. Very peaceful place. Lovely night. See you babes tomorrow xxx

Maxin' & Relaxin'

No better way to deal with the steamy, sticky, and sweaty afternoon in the south than with a lazy dip in a luke warm pool.

"Aaahhhhhhhh....... So serene."

I was determined to begin my vacation poolside and to document that, yes, every once in a while, I do find time to rest and relax.

---AB

life on the road

hello from scenic Rensselaer, NY.

please note the Detroit City pride. let's get this show on the road, beautiful babies!