5 Things: Fall Update

I love the fall. (So does everybody though, right?) Weather-wise, Seattle has been having an amazing late summer—early fall and I am all the happier for it.

A few things I'd like to share, in no particular order.

1. I quit Facebook for a while last month. It was only like 25 days or something, but it was refreshing and I felt a lot more productive during that time. Sometimes I will become fixated on the page of a friend, looking at their old photos, catching up on their lives. Some of these "friends" however are people I never actually see in real life. Then before I know it an hour has passed but at least I know what "Shannon" from high school has been up to the past 4 years! Who cares, Facebook, you crazy time suck. However, whether I like it or not, Facebook has become a big part of our lives (over 1 bazillion users) and the way we communicate; birthday invitations, other invitations, random bits about what people are doing on the daily. Is it important to know what the girl I may never see again from high school is up to? Probably not. But my friend who's taking a trip for a few weeks and what they did on it? Probably.

2. I've been reading more books lately. It's admittedly taken a very long time for me to recover from all of the reading that was forced upon me in college, effectively killing my desire to read for pleasure. I used to be an avid reader and wrote a few short stories growing up, but I think school really did a number on me and I started to think of reading long books or novels as a chore. A friend's mom recommended I start with some light reads to get back into it. Over the summer I read The Jane Austen Book Club, The Fifty Shades trilogy (don't judge), skimmed Steinbeck A Life in Letters (this book is massive), Paris I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down, Paris in Love (I was on a Paris kick), Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me (a very silly, quick read by Mindy Kaling) and I just started Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I have Cloud Atlas (there's a movie coming out soon based on this) and What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell in the queue.

3. A few weeks ago I went to an open audition for the casting of supernumeraries for the upcoming production Beethoven's Fidelio at Seattle Opera. Everyone who went to the audition made the cut as they were casting for a large group of "townspeople" for the final scene. I've been to rehearsals a few times a week since, and opening night is this Saturday. I'm maybe onstage for five minutes, but it's fun being a part of the action with the chorus and principals. Here's a little video about what we're doing.

4. A friend is saying goodbye to Seattle in a couple weeks after finishing his Ph.D. (congrats, F!). He had a fun going away party on Saturday night. As much as I thought I was ready for him to leave, I'm really going to miss him.

5. I am planning an extended trip to New Zealand next year. More about that in the coming months.

September

¡Bienvenidos, Septiembre! It feels like I've been waiting for the end of August for forever, despite it being an amazing month. I'm in no hurry to rush summer away (it basically just showed up in the PNW), but exciting things are on the horizon. Primarily, Barcelona. A part of me can't believe it's actually happening. I leave next Thursday and I can.not.wait!

I'll be here soon!
(View pic from the apartment in L’Eixample.)

The first week at my new job has also been going swimmingly. I think I'm going to really enjoy it; a nice respite from my work at the City. However, it does have one major bummer - the commute. To remedy this I've decided to move to the neighborhood where the job is located. It's a great 'hood and I would love nothing more than to be able to walk to work, the surrounding theaters, and decent restaurants. I basically live in the 'burbs now and have to bus or drive to anything remotely cool.

Fall is definitely in the air. Temps are significantly cooler at night and dew awaits me on the windshield each morning. I'm desperately in need of a wardrobe update and J. Crew has been on my mind. Can someone just gift me everything in Jenna Lyons' wardrobe? Thanks.

Credit.

I'm looking forward to my vacation and the possibilities on the horizon. New job, hopefully new place to live soon, and perhaps a new l'amor? Only time will tell...

I hope everyone had a great summer and that you also have a few things to look forward to!

Lions and tigers and pumpkins, oh my!

I was a bit frazzled this past week and weekend to say the least. Add a side of annoyed to that as well. Loose plans to attend a local music festival on Saturday night were vetoed in lieu of an impromptu pumpkin carving party at my friend Dan's house. Unfortunately come fiesta time my annoyance had turned into full on upset (oh, boys) and a bad attitude followed me to the party. A friend noticing my bummed outttedness offered up her extra pumpkin for me to carve (I didn't have my own because originally I was going to the music festival, but I digress) but I was not feeling very inspired, until....

wait for it (Tom's concerned)

...this little gem came to mind! Angry much? haha

Well, I'm happy to say by the end of the weekend, misunderstandings became understandings, F-ck Yous were no more, and I made this delicious baby, mmmm mmmm good.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup organic turbinado sugar (or white sugar)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pumpkin purée
1/2 cup olive oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/8 tsp ginger

1 Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Sift together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda.

2 Mix the pumpkin, oil, eggs, 1/4 cup of water, and spices together, then combine with the dry ingredients, but do not mix too thoroughly.

3 Pour into a well-buttered 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Bake 50-60 minutes until a thin skewer poked in the very center of the loaf comes out clean. Turn out of the pan and let cool on a rack.

Makes one loaf. Can easily double the recipe.

Hope everyone had a good weekend! It's already Tuesday.

LOVE

This outfit is simple perfection! Also, Kendi Everyday is my new favorite blog. Credit.

Fall

This morning while getting ready for work, the boy said he'd never seen me wear pants. Note: I do wear pants, just not very often. I aspire to wear solely skirts and dresses someday, although I do like the occasional skinny jean. Anyway, I put on a pair of dark grey trouser jeans from Banana to wear to work today. They look more like pants than jeans though.

I love this causal fall look. I'd probably pair it with of a pair of oxfords though, perhaps these.



Credit.