Welcome

Welcome to my blog. My blogging journey began about in August 2009 as a photo-a-day blog which has since transitioned to combine my love of good food and photography. Today, using as many local and fresh ingredients as we can, my boyfriend and myself spend time researching recipes, making our own adaptations, cooking, taking photos, eating, and finally reflecting on all or part of the above listed process here. I hope you take the time to not only read and look at our photos, but please cook some of the recipes yourself. You are invited and encourage to leave feedback as we continue our culinary journey!

Monday, August 31, 2009

I'm tired today, really tired. And some days there is just nothing to take a picture of.

Sunday, August 30, 2009




I used to think I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life, but all I'm sure about anymore is that I want to travel. Everywhere.


These are old, but nice to look at. I miss you, Spain and Italy.

Friday: Fran's birthday



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Saturday: Columbia Heights Afterparty

Friday, August 28, 2009

"We have to take issues seriously, but never take ourselves too seriously." -Senator Kennedy to Senator Kerry

Senator Kennedy, thanks for all you have done in your fight for woman's rights, disability rights, health care reform, and justice overall. You will be missed but never forgotten.

And thanks for this quote. So true.
Me, along with an MS Activist, meeting with Congressman Gerry Connolly to discus Health Care Reform in the United States. This is an important issue and we need to take a stand! Call your representatives about this issue and let them know you are supportive and just how important health care is to you.

Think about it, what would happen if you lost your job? Would you be able to find health insurance? Maybe, but very expensively. And, the answer is no if you have a pre-existing condition like MS, Diabetes, heart disease, etc. Even if you start a new job and have a pre-x, insurance companies can choose not to cover you. Everyone deserves to be covered, people who are sick deserve to have health insurance just like the rest of us. Plus, one day it could be me or you with a chronic condition and in need of care.
I already know there will be no photo today. I'm meeting with Congressman Gerry Connolly at 5:30 and then going straight to Francisco's birthday dinner, so although I will have plenty of things to take photos of, I probably won't be home until after midnight and won't bother with the photo until tomorrow.

I know the photos I've been posting haven't been that artistic or even interesting...but sometimes its the most ordinary things that make an impact on us. I think it will be interesting 365 days from now to look back and see what I took photos of.

Lately I've been feeling stressed and anxious. I think its a sign of the times---the economy has everyone on edge. Plus, with the whole Health Care Reform bill going around I feel thats all I can think about. But when I think about it, I'm actually very lucky and I think I really need to focus on the positive things in my life instead of the stressers that I've been emphasizing for the last month.

I have a wonderful boyfriend. And also wonderful friends who are extremely patient with me. Some of them I will be spending the evening with tomorrow night at a "girls night out" in my neighborhood. Should be spectacular. I have enough money to survive and I even enough to realistically daydream about taking another vacation. Tomorrow I'm looking forward to a nice, long run and an evening with the girls.

Photo tomorrow.

Thursday, August 27, 2009


Republicans, you can stay on that bench! Actually, there was a bench across from it that said "Democrats" but I didn't have time to take a photo.


This photo may not be interesting, but it certainly does show a certain injustice to people with disabilities. I happened to be with an individual in a wheelchair when I stumbled across this curb cut. Since she could not get up, we were forced to walk on the street for about two blocks and nearly got hit by a bus. Needless to say, we will definitely use this photo as evidence in our fight to improve accessibility for people with disabilities!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009


A night of sushi and martinis with 3 lovely ladies.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009





People will do anything for a free cupcake. Myself included. Today was Hello Cupcake's anniversary and they provided customers with free cupcakes. See me about to consume my root beer float cupcake in my office, and also how many people were waiting in line to get their free cupcake. Note: The line goes around the corner of the next building.

Monday, August 24, 2009

I studied abroad in Spain when I was 20 years old. Everytime I feel sad, upset, or stressed, Spain is where I want to return. It seems that as I get older, the instances in which I strongly desire to travel to Spain grow closer and closer together.


I wonder, If I lived in Spain would I still have this reaction towards the country? Where would I then turn or what would I desire when I am upset?
Its with deep shame that I admit that on the 3rd day of my 365 day photo diary I forgot to bring my camera with me. I tried to take a photo with my phone, but with no way to transfer the photo from my phone to the computer, I will have to describe what I saw.

Tonight I went to a Health Care Forum discussion. The purpose of the discussion was to listen to everyone's ideas and do research across the country on whether or not the country is ready for health care reform. This research has been going on across the country for the past year. Let me describe what I saw:

-People of every color, background, and race
-Physicians, nurses, everyday citizens, the unemployed
-Immigrants from other countries
-A room filled with people determined to get their point across and passionate about changing health care in one way or another

People listened. People spoke up. Differences were raised. But in the end, as a group consensus, we agreed that health care is a human right and everyone should have access regardless of race, income, health status, or even immigration status. Health care is a right for all people.

Sunday, August 23, 2009






If only I could also be that carefree.
Sometimes I run to escape, but I never get very far. I can't decide if its because I'm lazy or because I always realize that where I'm going is probably not as good as where I'm already at.

Saturday, August 22, 2009


I like this secret and I know how this person feels. Although I enjoy writing, sometimes I get lost in my thoughts and end up rambling without saying what I truly mean. I've decided that it may be more effective if I try to share a) a secret or b) a photo everyday to express myself. I've been wanting to do a photo diary but am not sure I can keep up with it daily. Lets see how this goes.
This is bound to be one of the most boring blogs that ever existed. I seem to start a new one every couple of years, but never follow through with updates. But lets be honest-sometimes it feels good to write about whats going on, what you're going through, in order to get things out in the open and off your chest. It feels good, even if nobody reads what you're writing. Plus, now that I'm finished with college and graduate school--I don't write as much as I did previously. I miss academic writing. Writing about what I care about. Research. These days, my writing consists of emails, legislation (I'm a lobbyist/community organizer), political platforms, action alerts, and newsletter articles. Boooooring.

So, first, my job. I'm a community organizer in the health care field. I organize state level advocacy days in three states and coordinate advocacy efforts that promote our political platform in those three areas. It's basically my dream job, my goal was to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities in order to improve their quality of life. And, I'm in the middle of something huge right now. I mean, just pick up the newspapers-we all know how big the Health Care Reform bill is right now, and how controversial. (Personally I don't see how you can ignore the flaws with our health care system and deny health care coverage to those who need it, but that's an aside).

This is my dream job. My dream job. I keep saying that over and over, but its really amazing how sometimes the things we dream don't end up exactly how we imagine them to. Don't get me wrong, I love it. But sometimes I feel as if there are other things I'd rather be doing and I would be equally happy. So, does it matter what you do with your life? Would I be equally happy doing something else? Maybe I just just take a jump off the deep end and do something different.

I'm tired and do not feel too much like writing right now, but this week I'll post something exciting, that doesn't have to do with my job. Even though my job is pretty much what controls my thoughts. Hey, I guess thats what happens when you really care about something.