Project 365: 163 | Joe-Joe's | 11.30.12

Project 365: 163 | Joe-Joe's | 11.30.12

We will be baking cookies at some point this holiday season but I couldn't resist picking up a box of Candy Cane Joe-Joe's to tide us over until then. So yum.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 162 | Snowpeople | 11.29.12

Project 365: 162 | Snowpeople | 11.30.12

Every year, my mom buys each of us the newest "Jingle Pals" from Hallmark. This is a photo of this year's edition. They all sing, light up, and move around and are super cute.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 161 | Decorations | 11.28.12

Project 365: 161 | Decorations | 11.28.12

Part of our decorated living room.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 160 | Late | 11.27.12

Project 365: 160 | Late | 11.27.12

This is what the parking lot looks like when I work late.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 159 | Card | 11.26.12

Project 365: 159 | Card | 11.26.12

We received our first holiday card from one of my college roommates and her family and I snapped a photo of it on our entryway table. Stella often shows up for a photo bomb opportunity.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 158 | Lights | 11.25.12

Project 365: 158 | Lights | 11.25.12

Twinkly.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 157 | Radio | 11.24.12

Project 365: 157 | Radio | 11.24.12

Tis the season for 24/7 holiday tunes!

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 156 | Cajun | 11.23.12

Project 365: 156 | Cajun | 11.23.12

I did a little Christmas decorating the day after Thanksgiving. This is my favorite time of year so get ready for lots more holiday-ish photos. This one is of two Cajun Christmas books I have had since I was a child.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 155 | Thanksgiving | 11.22.12

Project 365: 155 | Thanksgiving | 11.22.12

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving at my mother and father-in-law's house without at least three kinds of cranberry sauce. A fourth arrived shortly after I took this photo.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 154 | Pies | 11.21.12

Project 365: 154 | Pies | 11.21.12

My contribution to Thanksgiving dinner was an olive oil, herb and parmesan dip and a pecan pie. I went ahead and made two because it is just as easy as making one and I wanted to have one at home for us to enjoy.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 153 | Home | 11.20.12

Project 365: 153 | Home | 11.20.12

I love to travel but I also love coming back home.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 152 | Dolly | 11.19.12

Project 365: 152 | Dolly | 11.19.12

This was one of my favorite pieces, Andy Warhol's Dolly painting, that we saw during our visit to the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. It is an incredible museum with tons of American art in a beautiful building, surrounded by lots of water and trees and a nature/art trail. Admission is always free.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 151 | Tree | 11.18.12

Project 365: 151 | Tree | 11.18.12

On Sunday, we drove with my parents from New Orleans to my cousin's house in Arkansas. He goes above and beyond with Christmas decorations and luckily he had most everything up by our visit. This was the Christmas tree in our room -- one of the eight in his house.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 150 | Cemetery | 11.17.12

Project 365: 150 | Cemetery | 11.17.12

I find the cemeteries in New Orleans to be so interesting and quite a bit spookier than others because of the above ground vaults. On Saturday, we were wandering around the beautiful Garden District and came across the Lafayette Cemetery. I took a lot of photos but settled on this one for my photo of the day. I will be posting more photos soon.

Camera: Canon Rebel T1i

Project 365: 149 | Carousel | 11.16.12

Project 365: 149 | Carousel | 11.16.12

One of my favorite bars in New Orleans is the Carousel Bar inside Hotel Monteleone. They serve up lots of classic cocktails and yes, the bar moves slowly around in a circle. While enjoying our drinks, we chatted with a fabulous couple from Chicago and later walked with them to Frenchman street where we listened to a reggae band and drank beer. Good times.  

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 148 | Beignet | 11.15.12

Project 365: 148 | Beignet | 11.15.12

We arrived in New Orleans early last Thursday morning, checked in at our hotel, and made our way to Cafe Du Monde for lattes and beignets. It was the perfect start to our first day in the big easy.

Camera: Canon Rebel T1i

Project 365: 147 | Redeye | 11.14.12

Project 365: 147 | Redeye | 11.14.12

Late last Wednesday night, we boarded a red eye flight for New Orleans.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 146 | Metro | 11.13.12

Project 365: 146 | Metro | 11.13.12

At home manicure. Nail polish is Sephora by OPI Metro Chic.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 145 | Meatloaf | 11.12.12

Project 365: 145 | Meatloaf | 11.12.12

One of our favorite recipes -- pan fried turkey meatloaf in bell pepper rings with tomato sauce and fried sage.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 145 | Pioneer | 11.11.12

Project 365: 145 | Pioneer | 11.11.12

Sunday fun day wine tasting.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 144 | Shadow | 11.10.12

Project 365: 144 | Shadow | 11.10.12

This photo was from almost two weeks ago (I'm a bit behind in posting photos.) when I got up super early to drive my parents to the airport. They were heading to Arkansas and my honey and I followed a few days later, to meet them in New Orleans.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 137-143 | 11.03.12 - 11.09.12

Project 365: 137 | Mimosas | 11.03.12 

Last Saturday we met our former roommates for brunch and lots of mimosas. 

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 138 | Fluids | 11.04.12

This is my only photo from Sunday but I am impressed I even got this one. I woke up in the middle of the night, horribly sick with a stomach bug. I was out of commission Sunday and Monday and, although I was feeling much better, I still felt "off" until later in the week. 

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 139 | President | 11.05.12 

I vote-by-mail but usually fill out my ballot the night before the election and then turn it in at a polling place. It makes me feel closer to the process and I wanted an "I Voted." sticker.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 140 | Vote | 11.06.12 

Voting Day! Woot! 

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 141 | Celebratory | 11.07.12

We stayed up late on Tuesday night to watch President Obama's speech (yay!) but I went to bed worried about California's Prop 30. First thing Wednesday morning I woke up, checked the news, and was thrilled to learn that Prop 30 had passed! That night I had a belated celebratory drink.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 142 | Boots | 11.08.12

The temperature dropped ~20º over the course of a few days this week and I was happy to have a reason to put on these boots, a pair of leggings, a sweater dress, and a scarf.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 143 | Bag | 11.09.12

With a birthday gift card, I purchased a camera bag insert thingy. It didn't fit into the messenger bag that I already own soooooo I used that as an excuse to buy a new bag. I went to a local store that sells my favorite ones at a discount and this was my favorite. It is made of recycled materials and the camera bag fits perfectly. This will be great for our upcoming trips and it will also be my new work bag.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 130-136 | 10.27.12 - 11.02.12

Project 365: 130 | Pumpkins | 10.27.12

This was the extent of our Halloween decorating this year. $2 pumpkins from Trader Joe's. 

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 131 | Lagunitas | 10.28.12

On Sunday afternoon we decided to take an impromptu trip to split beer samplers at two nearby breweries.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 132 | What was that?! | 10.29.12

Stella Kitty concerned about an outside noise, right after she stole sips of water from my glass and just before I got myself a fresh glass.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 133 | Trees | 10.30.12

It was nice of the trees behind our house to get all pretty and fall like. They are even more beautifully colorful now. 

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 134 | Pig | 10.31.12

Happy Halloween! I had a meeting out of the office and missed the costume parade. Luckily I got a sneak peek of some of colleagues' outfits, like this pig from Angry Birds. Another colleague was the yellow bird.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 135 | Scarf | 11.01.12

I celebrated the first day of November by wearing one of my favorite scarves.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 136 | Patio | 11.02.12

We went out to eat last night and enjoyed a late afternoon beer on the restaurant patio. Soon after I took this photo we ran into friends and joined them inside. 

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 129 | Boos | 10.26.12

Project 365: 129 | Boos | 10.26.12

Some of the decorations at a local Elks Lodge where we had dinner for my father-in-law's 70th birthday. In case you can't read the little sign, it says, "I'm just here for the boos." 

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 128 | Cooler | 10.25.12

Project 365: 128 | Cooler | 10.25.12

This cooler holds two sets of lungs, one healthy and one unhealthy. Ah, the life of a health educator.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 127 | Wedges | 10.24.12

Project 365: 127 | Fries | 10.24.12

One of my new favorite potato side dish recipes is oven roasted potato wedges. You just cut some potatoes into wedges, toss them with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, pour them onto a baking sheet, and bake them for 35-40 minutes at 450 degrees, shaking them around a bit halfway through.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 126 | Invite | 10.23.12

Project 365: 126 | Invite | 10.23.12

I was excited to receive our first official invite to a party this holiday season -- an ugly Christmas Sweater shindig at a dueling pianos bar. We RSVP'd yes, of course.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 125 | Honey | 10.22.12

Project 365: 125 | Honey | 10.22.12

I cooked up a batch of homemade honey syrup to use for brown derby cocktails that we were introduced to at a lounge in California Adventure. Honey syrup is just equal parts honey and water, simmered and stirred on the stove until combined well. A brown derby is 2 ounces bourbon (we used bulleit because it is delicious and I found it on sale), 2 ounces grapefruit juice (Simply Grapefruit is the next best option after freshly squeezed) and 1 ounce honey syrup. The drink is best stirred and served in a champagne coupe glass. (We just used small tumbler glasses because we don't have coupe glasses.)

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 124 | Flo's | 10.21.12

Project 365: 124 | Flo's | 10.21.12

Cars Land, Disney's California Adventure.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 123 | Soarin' | 10.20.12

Project 365: 123 | Soarin' | 10.20.12

One of my favorite attractions at Disney's California Adventure, Soarin' Over California.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 122 | Disneyland | 10.19.12

Project 365: 122 | Disneyland | 10.19.12

My honey and I went to Disneyland this past weekend at it was. SO. MUCH. FUN. I was especially excited to visit The Haunted Mansion since it is currently the Nightmare Before Christmas edition. We rode it three times and I still can't believe how different it is from the regular version. It was awesome.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 121 | Dates | 10.18.12

Project 365: 121 | Dates | 10.18.12

Trying to schedule a statewide meeting, on dates that work for everyone, is impossible. Those marks next to the dates are the number of people who said the potential dates don't work for them. Keep in mind that this was already after listing all the conflicting dates based on other meetings, conference, etc.

Hmm.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 120 | Palms | 10.17.12

Project 365: 120 | Palms | 10.17.12

I was away on business last week and while walking back to my room after dinner on Wednesday night I snapped this photo of the palm trees.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 119 | Packing | 10.16.12

Project 365: 119 | Packing | 10.16.12

Stella Kitty helping me pack. Apologies for how dark it is but it was early in the morning.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 118 | Five | 10.15.12

Project 365: 118 | Five | 10.15.12

Yesterday my honey and I celebrated the fifth anniversary of our first date. Five! We celebrated with a date night. The restaurant treated us to a dark chocolate tart after we enjoyed oysters, caesar salad (prepared from scratch table side), and entrees. I had scallops and they were awesome.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 117 | Beers | 10.14.12

Project 365: 117 | Beers | 10.14.12

We recently joined a beer club at a local restaurant. Along with discounts, if you drink 100 different beers there, you get your name on the wall. We have these little books to keep track of the different beers we drink from their rotating selection. So far we have each had 5 beers there. It is going to take us a while.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 116 | Bangin' | 10.13.12

Project 365: 116 | Bangin' | 10.13.12

I get my hair done every 2-3 months (ish) but usually have to stop in between appointments to have my bangs trimmed. Otherwise they start hitting my eyeballs.

Camera: iPhone

Project 365: 115 | Charcuterie | 10.12.12

Project 365: 115 | Charcuterie | 10.12.12

We met friends for drinks/dinner/karaoke on Friday night. My honey and I split this plate of meat. It was pretty darn good.

Camera: iPhone