tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932173531520113432024-03-14T02:12:00.649-05:00beauty:design:lifeerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.comBlogger199125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-20537611836790361012012-02-10T10:27:00.000-06:002012-02-10T10:27:18.317-06:00the end.<div style="text-align: center;">
well...here it is.</div>
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as you have probably noticed from the dwindling posts over the last year or so, my heart's really not into blogging anymore. so I've decided to shut my blog down.</div>
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I started b:d:l during law school when I was in desperate need of a creative output, and it helped give me an escape from a law school routine that made me pretty unhappy. so I'll always be grateful to the blog for getting me through that. but now my life has changed, and I no longer have the drive for blogging that I once did.<br />
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so it's time to say goodbye. thanks to all of you that have read and commented over the years. I appreciate you more than you know.<br />
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and who knows...I may be back someday. <br />
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xoxo,<br />
erin</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-56951829094185433002012-01-27T09:53:00.000-06:002012-01-27T09:53:24.553-06:00Minnesota is so pinteresting<div style="text-align: center;">
A few recent <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/pins/">pins</a> featuring my beloved Minnesota...</div>
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it's true.<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/230316968413269495/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/182114378651589680_WZqZc4d9_c.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordan_a/5815716649/in/faves-smcgee/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">flickr.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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biking in Minneapolis = the best thing ever<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/230316968413270855/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="NaN" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/125045327123467108_B0O7Xsog_c.jpg" width="undefined" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/69847-Twin-Cites-are-Best-on-Two-Wheels" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">dribbble.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Summit, Surly, Lift Bridge, Fulton, Flat Earth...shall I go on?<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/230316968413280462/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/230316968413280462_bZMda1ve_c.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.shorthandedstudio.com/the-united-plates/minnesota/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">shorthandedstudio.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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I can't get enough of Minneapolis bike prints.<br /><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/230316968413300200/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/74872412524565703_40AldcI6_c.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=minneapolis+poster&um=1&hl=en&biw=1396&bih=674&tbm=isch&tbnid=Q0cfvqBHmIBlPM:&imgrefurl=http://marthaandtom.com/tag/bikes/&docid=0rwXFPCpj3O7cM&w=452&h=603&ei=IGiOTvzENYTc0QGBucBW&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=321&vpy=268&dur=627&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=105&ty=166&page=1&tbnh=121&tbnw=99&start=0&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">google.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Well, if I wasn't excited for summer and biking/beer drinking weather, I am now.</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-30675805956771924662012-01-20T09:27:00.002-06:002012-01-20T09:28:12.718-06:00squeaky clean<div style="text-align: center;">
In my never-ending efforts toward a greener lifestyle, I've all but eradicated plastic from my shower. And it was surprisingly easy!</div>
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To be honest, I never really considered the environmental impact of using products in plastic bottles until last summer, when my mom, tired of constantly throwing away plastic bottles, decided to stop buying body wash and switch to bar soap. "But I recycle plastic bottles," you're probably thinking. And I commend you for that, of course, but plastic recycling is not as efficient or eco-friendly as we would like to think (you can read more information about plastic and recycling <a href="http://www.ecologycenter.org/ptf/misconceptions.html">here</a>). So, really, the best way to reduce the impact of plastic bottles on the environment is to buy less of them.</div>
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So I made the switch to soap.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgH1angqeUnTZkrzQtJuWEo4W0YJIxKGb3yS5CnTAUUsZfm_ALq-MFEJ4gekUixK2zjDVeFGR-Oydjm85QEjY4maGWWjrEuttCQIKCIp0u6gcwtkT685DsBe82naAzxwyhlqP-OAmD6k/s1600/archipelago_pomsoap_300x300freeship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgH1angqeUnTZkrzQtJuWEo4W0YJIxKGb3yS5CnTAUUsZfm_ALq-MFEJ4gekUixK2zjDVeFGR-Oydjm85QEjY4maGWWjrEuttCQIKCIp0u6gcwtkT685DsBe82naAzxwyhlqP-OAmD6k/s200/archipelago_pomsoap_300x300freeship.jpg" width="200" /></a>Buying bar soap is actually kind of fun. There are so many delicious-smelling soaps around, and it's easy to find soap that is locally-made from eco-friendly products that are good for your skin (check farmer's markets or local gift shops). A few of my favorite national products are <a href="http://www.tomsofmaine.com/products/soap/product-details/natural-beauty-bar">Toms of Maine Daily Moisture Beauty Bar</a>, <a href="http://alltressedup.net/reviews/products/114-tj-oatmeal-honey-soap.html">Trader Joe's Oatmeal and Honey Soa</a>p, and the heavenly <a href="https://www.birchbox.com/shop/archipelago-pomegranate-body-soap">Archipelago Pomegranate Body Soap</a> (which I got in my January <a href="http://beautydesignlife.blogspot.com/2011/11/friday-favorites.html">Birchbox</a>!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7E7SOiRLSO_eXUDZSfKkFy9jWk3U8bbecV8tCUosII-alnFMl1pxWcoL_0qfsx4_IiNiSi-0xxA8xOXKccTxgF-IItwYbibsFVnp62SEfFjsWtVx9OrFY3Sqso2xuTIedE2lpdBRFOw/s1600/hwthumb.asp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7E7SOiRLSO_eXUDZSfKkFy9jWk3U8bbecV8tCUosII-alnFMl1pxWcoL_0qfsx4_IiNiSi-0xxA8xOXKccTxgF-IItwYbibsFVnp62SEfFjsWtVx9OrFY3Sqso2xuTIedE2lpdBRFOw/s200/hwthumb.asp.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div>
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After tackling body wash bottles, I moved on to shampoo. I had read about Lush's bar shampoos but was a little freaked out by them, to tell the truth. But after I bought and started using the <a href="http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/hair/solid-shampoos/seanik">Seanik Shampoo Bar</a>, I was afraid no more. It is easy to use, lasts forever (I'm going on 2+ months of daily use and still have about half the bar left), and leaves my hair soft, shiny, and healthy. Win, win.</div>
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If you use this, I highly recommend getting a wire soap rack - unless, of course, you want to turn your bathtub bright blue...</div>
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What about you? Do you think you could make your shower plastic-free?</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-71972046787272297982012-01-19T12:10:00.001-06:002012-01-19T12:10:49.064-06:00a little of this, a little of that<div style="text-align: center;">
all the <a href="http://traycina.blogspot.com/2011/11/words-blah-blah-words-blah.html">best blog posts</a> are in list form. it's true.</div>
<ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzS9osJlUmTZ0HBSsKL6gyvMoCLkRlr4Y7BO8Sfy3Gswv8fltjxXBzIeB5ZRLvUMveMvzsp1TfHRcz5izZXUnHT4sjmKYI9n_Rue_DSP-9ofYHNPTIsQZalHNB4t-iTR85oxG0a2IMv0/s1600/2e31980642aa11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></ol>
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<li>Again, it's been over a month since my last blog post, and again, I have no excuse except that the holidays happened, I've been crazy busy at work, and I just didn't feel like blogging. In fact, I contemplated shutting the whole thing down, but then I thought of all of the hours I've spent getting the formatting <i>just right</i> and I couldn't do it. So I'm trying out something new: actual writing about my life, verbal-diarrhea-style. Get ready.</li>
<li>Because I would probably lose my Native Minnesotan card if I didn't talk about the weather, I need to mention two things: it has been unseasonably warm this winter, like 50 degrees in January. Until today. It is currently five degrees below zero. </li>
<li>And because he's smart like that, my cat picked last night to escape out the back door, which I didn't realize until this morning. I found him across the alley, scared and shivering, but thankfully he's okay.</li>
<li>Cold weather = dog booties. Who's my special boy? </li>
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<li>Ryan and I recently realized that we were in a very boring mac and cheese/Chinese food/veggie burger rut, so I've been trying to actually make some of the recipes from my <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/eat-and-drink/">Pinterest food board</a> (what a concept!). So far I've made <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/230316968413228007/">this</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/230316968413015079/">this</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/230316968412981236/">this</a>, all of which were pretty freaking delicious.</li>
<li>I'm not much of an Ani DiFranco fan, but I randomly started listening to her new album on Spotify today and I'm really loving it so far. Who knew?</li>
<li>We can all agree that Angelina Jolie looked terrible at the Golden Globes, right? And that Nicole Kidman looked amazing? Good, I'm glad we're on the same page.</li>
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stay warm!</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-53227738706205330482011-12-07T13:06:00.001-06:002012-01-19T12:11:20.042-06:00thankful<div style="text-align: center;">
Today, I am thankful. </div>
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Ten years ago, I was home from college for the weekend to see friends and go to my high school's Christmas musical. I was downstairs in my bedroom when my mom came in to ask me if I felt okay. "Dad can't stop throwing up," she said, "and I'm worried it might be food poisoning." None of us were sick, so they figured it was just a bug. Dad went to sleep, hoping whatever was ailing him would pass by morning.</div>
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He's lucky to have survived the night.</div>
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When he didn't feel better the next day, Mom took him to urgent care. When the doctors began to suspect what was really wrong with him, things started to happen fast. He was transferred to one hospital and then taken by ambulance to another on the University of Minnesota campus, with my poor, panicked mom following behind, getting lost, and calling us frantically to help her navigate to the hospital (this was well before the days of iPhones and GPS). He underwent scans and tests and then Mom heard a scary, scary phrase: brain aneurysm.</div>
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It turned out that he had an aneurysm on the right side of his brain that had sprung a leak. It was near his vomit control center (that is apparently an actual medical term) which is why he had been so sick. And he, and we, were very, very, very lucky that the whole thing had leaked instead of just rupturing.</div>
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Because if it had? That would probably have been it for my dad. I wouldn't have had him proudly tearing up as he watched me sing or give speeches at my sorority formals. He wouldn't have been at my side at UND hockey games or biking the MS 150. I wouldn't have had him cheering me on as I graduated from college or when I got into law school. My husband wouldn't have been able to ask him for my hand in marriage. And I wouldn't have had my dad to walk me down the aisle.</div>
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The next morning, my dad underwent emergency surgery to place a coil inside the aneurysm and prevent it from rupturing. He eventually made a full recovery. <i>Thankful.</i></div>
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In the days and weeks that followed, I was blown away by the outpouring of love and care we received from those around us: the meals, the cards, the calls, but also the bigger things. Like the family friends who brought a Christmas tree into our house and put it up in our living room while my mom was at the hospital. I was back at school finishing my finals, but my mom told me that she and my younger sister, upon discovering the tree, had simply laid under it, exhausted, and just cried and cried. Or my bff who worked at the hospital and went into the operating room to check on my dad's progress during his initial surgery and kept us apprised of all hospital-related matters. And all of the love we got when he had to have a follow-up surgery a year later.</div>
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I can't imagine life without my dad and I am so, so, so glad I don't have to.</div>
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So today, I am thankful.</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-42951567208005864292011-11-28T09:22:00.001-06:002011-11-28T09:41:55.520-06:00Cyber Monday<div style="text-align: center;">
I've never been a fan of Black Friday. After a day full of family, food and wine, I much prefer sleeping in and being lazy to dragging myself out of bed at an ungodly hour and being pepper sprayed or trampled or whatever.</div>
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But I do love a deal, so when Cyber Monday became a thing a few years ago, I was right on board. My credit card has already gotten a workout this morning (as I sit at home in my pajamas), and there is still much damage to be done.</div>
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<u>A few of my favorite deals so far:</u></div>
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50% off all full-price items at <b><a href="http://www.thelimited.com/">The Limited</a></b> (code: CYBER)</div>
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50% off everything at <b><a href="http://www.loft.com/">Ann Taylor Loft</a></b> (code: SHOP50)</div>
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Lots of stuff on sale at <b><a href="http://drugstore.com/">Drugstore.com</a></b> (Clarisonic Mias are only $95 today - the best price I've seen!)</div>
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And you know how I love a <b><a href="http://www.katespade.com/">Kate Spade</a> </b>Sample Sale...</div>
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and I'm just getting started.</div>
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BUT WAIT!</div>
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Whether you are a regular online shopper or you are just online today to celebrate Cyber Monday, you should definitely be shopping with <b><a href="http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=O3HZYISm7xGCZc6I61BisA%3D%3D">Ebates</a></b>. Today they are offering double cash back on all purchases, which means that I earned 12% back on my Drugstore.com purchase, for example. It takes awhile for your savings to add up (those people in the commercials who say they get thousands back from Ebates are either liars or have major online shopping addictions) but, I figure, if I can save even a couple of dollars with literally no work at all, why not?</div>
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Happy shopping!</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-62758413868322709852011-11-21T10:35:00.001-06:002011-11-21T10:57:01.818-06:00Spicy Black-Eyed Peas<div style="text-align: center;">
During my most recent trip to Texas, we decided to skip our usual outing to Rudy's Barbecue and try something different by going to Black's Barbecue in Lockhart (which, we later learned, has been declared the official barbecue of Texas by the state legislature.)</div>
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As a vegetarian, barbecue obviously isn't my favorite thing in the world. But I fell in love with Black's as soon as I tried their delicious black-eyed peas, and I came home determined to recreate them. I think this recipe came pretty close.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGso4ZKY7F4WcR3sVnsc4xNsbPTlWS2o_lC_MF4LQH3DAQXCYQXXEqS8hvoP3hjEotNMuW2Stq3Msq4oIon6jy1PXl35xaZ10vSW_y4U0n7WmXt8xVl6vLJohY2T7nmIA2hxQOgusULY/s1600/blackeyed_peas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGso4ZKY7F4WcR3sVnsc4xNsbPTlWS2o_lC_MF4LQH3DAQXCYQXXEqS8hvoP3hjEotNMuW2Stq3Msq4oIon6jy1PXl35xaZ10vSW_y4U0n7WmXt8xVl6vLJohY2T7nmIA2hxQOgusULY/s200/blackeyed_peas.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (<a href="http://cirquedusare.blogspot.com/2010/09/perfect-boyfriend.html">source</a>)</span></div>
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<b>Spicy Black-Eyed Peas</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (adapted from <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooker-spicy-black-eyed-peas/detail.aspx">this recipe</a>)</span></div>
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<li> 6 cups of water or <a href="http://beautydesignlife.blogspot.com/2011/01/soup-week-prep-homemade-veggie-broth.html">veggie broth</a> (I used water + 1 tsp of <a href="http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeyssoupbase.html">Penzey's vegetable soup base</a>)</li>
<li>1 pound dried black-eyed peas, rinsed and sorted</li>
<li>1 large onion, diced</li>
<li>3 cloves garlic, diced</li>
<li>1 red bell pepper, diced</li>
<li>1 jalapeno, diced</li>
<li>1 tsp smoked paprika (the original recipe called for bacon and ham, so it's important to use smoked paprika here to mimic the smokey flavor of the meat)</li>
<li>1/2 tsp cayenne pepper</li>
<li>2 tsp ground cumin</li>
<li>1/2 tsp salt</li>
<li>1/2 tsp pepper</li>
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Put everything in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours, or until the beans are soft. Add more salt and pepper if desired. This is good as a side dish or on its own with some crusty bread or over greens.</div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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<br /></div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-15434609656603832852011-11-18T12:17:00.001-06:002011-11-18T12:37:03.167-06:00Friday Favorites<div style="text-align: center;">
It's been awhile since I've done one of these, so let's go for it.</div>
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<b>Glade Apple Cinnamon candles</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHZ7RjA0ZB_49YUVPdv82fnLeoAiP_301gvS6FpC-yLt3EOfbXnBNWN5ZFtte7Th6vNLNbEZ8UEG_klBT0KYU0jp5VZZ0Q4uj5sLBm6HoxsDg25FtaJHQ3MXxgSaWKOIcDnuZjCS4zec/s1600/apple-cinnamon-holiday-edition_jar-candle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHZ7RjA0ZB_49YUVPdv82fnLeoAiP_301gvS6FpC-yLt3EOfbXnBNWN5ZFtte7Th6vNLNbEZ8UEG_klBT0KYU0jp5VZZ0Q4uj5sLBm6HoxsDg25FtaJHQ3MXxgSaWKOIcDnuZjCS4zec/s200/apple-cinnamon-holiday-edition_jar-candle.png" width="165" /></a><b> </b></div>
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I buy these every fall/winter and burn them pretty much 24 hours a day. Well, not really, because that would be irresponsible. But seriously, I love this candle. It makes my house smell so warm and delicious. I can't get enough.</div>
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<b>Birchbox</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsYqfbhAIHR0uKVkPidv10oFND-ucK0c_ns0dLd-k7FqB-nAHseuY1Sx3LRr9XNmeJ_yX-J0M8g60vpUS0RaJD52BtjvZ3NV2ef6xa2nkHHv_gJcj4zIeMsdpajH8GqoAY1Qq93eOLno/s1600/Home_MainImage05_600x380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsYqfbhAIHR0uKVkPidv10oFND-ucK0c_ns0dLd-k7FqB-nAHseuY1Sx3LRr9XNmeJ_yX-J0M8g60vpUS0RaJD52BtjvZ3NV2ef6xa2nkHHv_gJcj4zIeMsdpajH8GqoAY1Qq93eOLno/s400/Home_MainImage05_600x380.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I received my first Birchbox shipment last week and I can already tell that this is going to be a long and happy relationship. I love getting mail, and I love beauty product samples, so it's pretty much perfect.</div>
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<i>If you're interested in signing up for Birchbox, I would love it if you'd use <b><a href="http://www.birchbox.com/?raf=8no82">my referral code</a></b>!</i><b> </b></div>
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<b>White Noise app</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NnXSYrHn50AAaNe349J_r_JfGrmkd4cQ81orOO2XBCp07qjvMub1tNey-FNJPhqIAKk4C55G9n4H5H6j7QA1DrJ0gfggTUDJf9PRL9UiA5t684zmRMNXd7wRXsnb2GZQjV-dQIN1KpE/s1600/white-noise.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NnXSYrHn50AAaNe349J_r_JfGrmkd4cQ81orOO2XBCp07qjvMub1tNey-FNJPhqIAKk4C55G9n4H5H6j7QA1DrJ0gfggTUDJf9PRL9UiA5t684zmRMNXd7wRXsnb2GZQjV-dQIN1KpE/s200/white-noise.png" width="200" /></a><b> </b></div>
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I've heard a lot about the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/white-noise/id289894882?mt=8">White Noise app</a> but, like so many things, I was tragically late to the game on it. I finally downloaded it a few days ago and have already been incessantly nagging my friends to download it, too. Love at first listen.</div>
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<b>Have a wonderful weekend!</b></div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-70132441945939338782011-11-15T17:32:00.001-06:002011-11-15T19:14:34.493-06:00healthy recipe round-up<div style="text-align: center;">
I just got back from my annual Austin vacation to see my sisters and to attend <a href="http://wurstfest.com/">Wurstfest</a>, an annual festival of sausage and beer in New Braunfels, Texas (I confess: I meat-cheated just a little. Don't judge me.) The trip was really fun, and it was wonderful to spend time with my sisters and family. </div>
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Ryan and Kate with two of the ELEVEN pitchers of beer the seven of us drank. We were pretty proud of that number, to be honest.</div>
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Alison and I cheers-ing to Wurstfest! </div>
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Dad, beer, sausage. </div>
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And the delicious barbecue we had the next day, as if we hadn't consumed enough greasy food... </div>
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But like all Texas trips before, this one consisted of too much beer, queso, chips, tacos, and ice cream, and I left for home feeling pretty sick. So this week I'm rebooting with lots of vegetables and very minimal cheese. Here are a few healthy recipes I'm pulling out of my <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/">Pinterest</a> archives to help get me back to normal.</div>
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Slow-Cooker Vegetable and Chickpea Curry</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/314530316/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/230316968413044960_sgu0fsBW_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/vegetable-chickpea-curry-10000000701091/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">myrecipes.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Risotto with Butternut Squash, Leeks and Basil</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/245135994/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/230316968413020883_O4NoOAwm_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/photo/Risotto-with-Butternut-Squash-Leeks-and-Basil-362289" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">epicurious.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Creamy Broccoli-White Bean Soup</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/132387935/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/230316968412994672_NzcVt9Oz_c.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.wholeliving.com/recipe/creamy-broccoli-white-bean-soup" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">wholeliving.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Creamy Quinoa Primavera</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/50923873/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/230316968412981236_tzaG90t2_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://letsdishrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/03/creamy-quinoa-primavera.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">letsdishrecipes.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Sweet Potato Cakes with Sour Cream and Black Bean Salsa</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/275873306/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/230316968413031037_hQ9imPiR_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://lisaiscooking.blogspot.com/2011/09/sweet-potato-cakes-with-sour-cream-and.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">lisaiscooking.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Spinach and Artichoke Pasta</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/119670450/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/230316968412991636_hZRkcYHz_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://team-t-adventures.blogspot.com/2011/04/delicious-spinach-artichoke-pasta.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">team-t-adventures.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Herbed Pea and Quinoa Pilaf</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/45667416/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/230316968412980558_uu8C6Hex_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://foodfitnessfreshair.com/2011/06/20/free-form-herbed-pea-and-quinoa-salad/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">foodfitnessfreshair.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Two-Tomato Pasta with Mozzarella, Basil and Pine Nuts</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/216386722/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/230316968413015079_QmvcBuzm_c.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://theitaliandishblog.com/imported-20090913150324/2011/8/5/two-tomato-pasta-with-mozzarella-basil-pine-nuts.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">theitaliandishblog.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Have you tried any new healthy recipes lately?</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-53858921235792828242011-10-31T11:07:00.000-05:002011-10-31T11:07:26.981-05:00boo!<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Halloween from Levi!</div>
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Ryan is out of town tonight (on what I believe is his last work trip ever, hooray!) so it'll just be me and my skeleton pup at home handing out candy. Levi completely loses his shit whenever someone knocks on the door so I'm hoping tonight will serve as some sort of immersion therapy for him. Wish me luck.</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-57700189563514051242011-10-21T09:48:00.002-05:002011-10-21T09:49:09.143-05:00minty fresh<div style="text-align: center;">
While shopping at the Mall of America a few nights ago, I decided to stop in to <a href="http://www.lushusa.com/shop/">Lush</a>. I had read about their bar shampoos and, in my ongoing efforts to switch to a more natural beauty regime, wanted to give them a try.</div>
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Well, I bought the shampoo, but of course that wasn't all I left with. I also found this lip scrub and have since declared it one of the greatest beauty products I have ever owned.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQRYMKBGI6N5HHfGAtFF5ZESm62zt69yWPZILaJvno-IOJNRTwkbn29lNsAx9aif6vRYegq4pjQiIg4jWpjweM1_2ZACACpkQHUpiXYvyPnrF7lA3C-6JJBikv5QrFjwhrq-BY2kOUM0/s1600/hwthumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQRYMKBGI6N5HHfGAtFF5ZESm62zt69yWPZILaJvno-IOJNRTwkbn29lNsAx9aif6vRYegq4pjQiIg4jWpjweM1_2ZACACpkQHUpiXYvyPnrF7lA3C-6JJBikv5QrFjwhrq-BY2kOUM0/s1600/hwthumb.jpg" /></a></div>
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Lush's <a href="http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/face/lip-balms-and-scrubs/mint-julip">Mint Julip lip scrub</a> is an all-natural, sugar-based lip scrub that is flavored with peppermint oil and chocolate. It smells amazing, and the best part is that you get to eat it when you're done scrubbing. No, really. That is what you are supposed to do. And it is delicious.</div>
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<br /></div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-85338308906551155352011-10-20T10:40:00.003-05:002011-10-20T10:41:24.793-05:00and at once I knew I was not magnificent<div style="text-align: center;">
As promised, a (not very) brief recap of our wonderful Seattle trip:</div>
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At midnight on Friday, September 9, Ryan and I boarded the Amtrak Empire Builder at the St. Paul train station and headed west. We had never taken the train before, but we have always been a little enamored of the idea. It seemed so quaint and old-timey, but also a really awesome way of seeing parts of the country we'd never seen. It did not disappoint, despite the 36-hour train trip each way, the shaky tiny bathrooms, and the questionable food.</div>
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We didn't spring for a sleeping car, so we didn't get too much sleep that first night (or any night). The train was freezing and we just weren't able to get comfortable. But that was okay, because before long, it was morning and we were in North Dakota.</div>
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<i>the sunrise, somewhere between Grand Forks and Devils Lake</i></div>
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We made our way to the observation car, drank coffee, and watched North Dakota fly by.</div>
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<i> </i>Soon, we were in Rugby. It was a refueling stop, so we were able to get off the train and stretch our legs.</div>
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<i> </i>Because it had been dark when we began our trip the night before, this was our first chance to see the train. That sucker was long.</div>
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<i>"All aboard!" (yes, the conductors really do yell that)</i><br /><i> </i><br />Then it was back on the train. We spent the morning traveling through North Dakota, and then hit Montana that afternoon. I had never been to Montana before, and it did not disappoint: vast prairies with mountains in the background, and, yes, a very big sky.</div>
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<i> </i>We spent most of the afternoon and evening drinking wine in the observation car, listening to trail guides from the "Rails to Trails" program talk about what we were seeing out the windows. Then we hit Glacier National Park and lost the sunlight. We went back to our seats and tried to sleep while the train took us through Idaho and Eastern Washington.<br /><br />We woke up to this:</div>
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This is where I stopped taking pictures. There was just no way that my camera could capture the mountains and the water and the beauty of Washington, and I just wanted to take it in without trying to take pictures (cue John Mayer's "3 x 5").</div>
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<br />The train took us through those mountains, through completely untouched wilderness, and there are really no words for how beautiful and awe-inspiring it was. This part of the trip, alone, made the sleepless nights and awkward conversations with retirees over dinner worth it.</div>
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<br />And then, at about 11 a.m., we arrived in Seattle! We weren't able to check in to our hotel yet, so we dropped our bags and took our tired, unshowered selves and wandered around the city.<br /><br />We ate fish tacos on the water:</div>
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made our way up to the Pike Place Market: </div>
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saw the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gum_Wall">gum wall</a> (so gross):</div>
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and the original Starbucks. </div>
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We then walked back to our hotel (we did a LOT of walking on this trip), showered, went to dinner at a fabulous French/Cajun restaurant nearby, and slept for about 14 hours.</div>
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The next morning, we headed to the monorail, spotting an awesome fountain and the Space Needle on our way.</div>
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We monorail-ed and walked over to Pike Place Market, where we had lunch and delicious beer at the <a href="http://www.pikebrewing.com/">Pike Brewing Co</a>. We loved it so much we bought some to bring home, and now I'm dying to find it somewhere in Minneapolis (help?)</div>
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We got touristy and did the <a href="http://www.undergroundtour.com/">Underground Tour</a> (which was actually really cool), had dinner and pumpkin beer at <a href="http://www.elysianbrewing.com/">Elysian Brewing</a>, and then headed over to Safeco Field to watch the f-ing Yankees stomp all over the Mariners.</div>
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<i>birds up high at Safeco</i></div>
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The next morning, we boarded the ferry to Bainbridge Island.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15khTMd7Skg22D3yS26R2fZl29wgScmcghoMEWC5zSUH6y6eBWQzkgWtju2pORTPv8hkc8SL_eNWOG4Fkk-FMKsIhimQICD2KALEbwZApBMBbS7yM0pYqHtiE5R2Z7MmoJx8o1HxOVKw/s1600/IMG_1489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15khTMd7Skg22D3yS26R2fZl29wgScmcghoMEWC5zSUH6y6eBWQzkgWtju2pORTPv8hkc8SL_eNWOG4Fkk-FMKsIhimQICD2KALEbwZApBMBbS7yM0pYqHtiE5R2Z7MmoJx8o1HxOVKw/s400/IMG_1489.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We had a delicious late lunch on the island, did some wine tasting, and walked around and window-shopped. The island was adorable and I kind of want to move there.</div>
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The next day, we went to the Experience Music Project.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi_M61376PpjWtF0cLTCt4bS0zHj9A4_t55UJFAMWFsAvEb6_LkH0ystQtTQqV-EVrpz_rENEJfSp5Ukywylmd4PlptYhbzGTTam2spyL3s0Ox0VS66EeIBo7jYsCNMhnW1VFRNVnlJ8/s1600/IMG_1462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi_M61376PpjWtF0cLTCt4bS0zHj9A4_t55UJFAMWFsAvEb6_LkH0ystQtTQqV-EVrpz_rENEJfSp5Ukywylmd4PlptYhbzGTTam2spyL3s0Ox0VS66EeIBo7jYsCNMhnW1VFRNVnlJ8/s400/IMG_1462.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I remember seeing this on MTV when it was built, and thinking that it looked OMG SO SUPER COOL. Well, it was. They were running a special exhibit on Nirvana to commemorate the 20th anniversary of "Nevermind" which was really cool and also incredibly sad.</div>
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The next day was our last day in Seattle - our train was scheduled to leave at about 4 that afternoon. So we hiked the long, long distance over to the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle to find the troll that lives under the bridge.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxtHXDfXBBsCPdtiwK2axsaf4Z5IdGnm3DwAkGPC3X7SmPWxaOxb9cuumvY7tNXMkrwuEhGvc0rWMiDdcHxMD0hMUoTF3d64jQdUS76XzMyuNoNIRciHN7VToio5YEPZwQ2uehDY_3ZY/s1600/IMG_1512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxtHXDfXBBsCPdtiwK2axsaf4Z5IdGnm3DwAkGPC3X7SmPWxaOxb9cuumvY7tNXMkrwuEhGvc0rWMiDdcHxMD0hMUoTF3d64jQdUS76XzMyuNoNIRciHN7VToio5YEPZwQ2uehDY_3ZY/s400/IMG_1512.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We had lunch, browsed in some of the shops in the neighborhood, headed back to our hotel, got a cab to the train station, and said goodbye to Seattle.</div>
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As our train drove east past Puget Sound, the sun began to show through the clouds and shine off the water. It was gorgeous, and a very fitting farewell after a wonderful stay in Seattle. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWdaxJphGSLLSjM5Cm3ZCgTAY095N9nGnmQIaO4ssJdrrON8MGBKyDytO_ewSK7UtTkdJK-bsW_uMssWHIPIoseQ6s2l0QEh0LZHGM48qGXJAhRpYWU6-Jot2f2NfXz61KGOJpexGn_I/s1600/IMG_1531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWdaxJphGSLLSjM5Cm3ZCgTAY095N9nGnmQIaO4ssJdrrON8MGBKyDytO_ewSK7UtTkdJK-bsW_uMssWHIPIoseQ6s2l0QEh0LZHGM48qGXJAhRpYWU6-Jot2f2NfXz61KGOJpexGn_I/s400/IMG_1531.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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During the train ride home, we played travel scrabble, watched movies, and spent more time in the observation car drinking wine (duh). And, 36 hours later, we pulled into the St. Paul train station at about 8 a.m., sad that our trip was over but happy to see our little Levi.</div>
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The title of this blog post comes from Bon Iver's "Holocene", which felt like it was especially designed for long train trips through the moutains. I listened to this song and the album it comes from on repeat during the train ride, and now I can't hear it without remembering the trip, which is actually pretty great.</div>
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</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-4158884124307407572011-10-14T14:00:00.000-05:002011-10-14T14:00:02.744-05:00pinterested<div style="text-align: center;">
a few of my recent pins...</div>
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the very definition of "pretty things"</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/314503064/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="undefined" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/314503064_SGF4GxY0_c.jpg" width="undefined" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=893217353152011343" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">None</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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a chalkboard coffee mug for morning love notes</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/314482449/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/314482449_e7ZpKaqO_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsfx5ajVkZ1qzw43co1_500.png" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">26.media.tumblr.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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a handmade cupcake gift set</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/279496169/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/279496169_IB4ChVcN_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.bakeitpretty.com/item_914/Cupcakes-101--Honors-Club.htm" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">bakeitpretty.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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<br />I need this outfit. and then I need somewhere to wear it.</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/314474408/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/314474408_BVdukgTx_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=37291853" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">polyvore.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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chickpea chili with green olives. I KNOW.</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/314542012/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="undefined" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/314542012_7GTq0ENA_c.jpg" width="undefined" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chickpea-chili-50400000110434/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">myrecipes.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erin</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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have a lovely weekend!</div>
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<br /></div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-5828744626423729462011-10-13T09:22:00.000-05:002011-10-13T09:23:09.053-05:00nailed it<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm totally in love with the fancy nail polish trend that is making its way around the Internet.</div>
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A few examples...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILAnNAehMXX67ozpfVaMWb7Hk2HqyBFuNx60L0QTvb04LOZdG-ubMt-CHnVEtRXOm73uiqrYWuYWFJG0IpOMwU9zAJi8ScLaj9Aa14WUxoG3pJMPoNT-PuWMCO9bJWjwLpikEmRc8n5o/s1600/final%25252520nails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILAnNAehMXX67ozpfVaMWb7Hk2HqyBFuNx60L0QTvb04LOZdG-ubMt-CHnVEtRXOm73uiqrYWuYWFJG0IpOMwU9zAJi8ScLaj9Aa14WUxoG3pJMPoNT-PuWMCO9bJWjwLpikEmRc8n5o/s400/final%25252520nails.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/sparkled-apricot-nails/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CupcakesAndCashmere+%28Cupcakes+and+Cashmere%29">Sparkled Apricot Nails</a> via <a href="http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/">Cupcakes and Cashmere</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0To7kdqTxSO-M5-iaQa_RWdbDI4whcXVUx4OfyCwd8hnUEN78Lja3V9Wh9eB-Z7OYjdUzCpSvgQxzOBAAPPrb0xif2BRPKMITzu9EwH5PPueVXqZ1Z0HOnREmyXGH_elzC6qOaSKm0HU/s1600/tumblr_ll6te3RQAy1qhvg1to1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0To7kdqTxSO-M5-iaQa_RWdbDI4whcXVUx4OfyCwd8hnUEN78Lja3V9Wh9eB-Z7OYjdUzCpSvgQxzOBAAPPrb0xif2BRPKMITzu9EwH5PPueVXqZ1Z0HOnREmyXGH_elzC6qOaSKm0HU/s400/tumblr_ll6te3RQAy1qhvg1to1_500.jpg" width="391" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://alllacqueredup.tumblr.com/post/5734213613/its-like-dippin-dots-on-her-nails-i-love-a">Dippin' Dots</a> via <a href="http://alllacqueredup.tumblr.com/">All Lacquered Up</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1FJrCB3at_8fc3GcTa729vl7si2nB3Ki5ZD-gT6rP7erq6wy-1XZ_9wq9mYCVzsPpZZpMNwrx9bd28Ecf1em6YAQ3vbzFqjNkjRvfWrQejTCo1zJNGFsToUUG8OOjctKyh9z1RItTxQ/s1600/nails_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1FJrCB3at_8fc3GcTa729vl7si2nB3Ki5ZD-gT6rP7erq6wy-1XZ_9wq9mYCVzsPpZZpMNwrx9bd28Ecf1em6YAQ3vbzFqjNkjRvfWrQejTCo1zJNGFsToUUG8OOjctKyh9z1RItTxQ/s400/nails_thumb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://fitnessista.com/2011/10/two-new-hair-and-nail-faves/">Teal French Manicure</a> via <a href="http://fitnessista.com/">The Fitnessista</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmBZokS9XXrs7Ps2u1EVwzkbIUfVn3xLm6ace65CpFDePjoaH5kyImE2NlQtZJg1ej-xN_ZnaBOso0WkoJflB93n_LLi8Skp8hRaMnipHhfD8IevRH74FrQhbW9S648lWwddnrARZiGQ/s1600/tumblr_lay90tZJch1qaqmj7o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmBZokS9XXrs7Ps2u1EVwzkbIUfVn3xLm6ace65CpFDePjoaH5kyImE2NlQtZJg1ej-xN_ZnaBOso0WkoJflB93n_LLi8Skp8hRaMnipHhfD8IevRH74FrQhbW9S648lWwddnrARZiGQ/s400/tumblr_lay90tZJch1qaqmj7o1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://blog.blowfishshoes.com/blog/outer-space-nails">Space Nails</a> via <a href="http://blog.blowfishshoes.com/">Blowfish </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiwA5Qij1pdpbhfOhXj8AhujYGm4JpIsPYnWp60n1ZEn2fxzpTwCGOdw76XruAdbls0Y0PwvUl4Vhta2ZFyDINXKOn1Y7-B3ybmC6iGKhCjZUm3C0suNFYNVgkCk_DNW7wfF4vduZ4-o/s1600/gradation-nail-taupe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiwA5Qij1pdpbhfOhXj8AhujYGm4JpIsPYnWp60n1ZEn2fxzpTwCGOdw76XruAdbls0Y0PwvUl4Vhta2ZFyDINXKOn1Y7-B3ybmC6iGKhCjZUm3C0suNFYNVgkCk_DNW7wfF4vduZ4-o/s320/gradation-nail-taupe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://manicure-design.com/tag/chocolate-manicure/">Gradient Manicure</a> via <a href="http://manicure-design.com/">Manicure Design</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85lSRzlh-oORvNeis4hyphenhyphenZbd0IaRevjeVsg7ZpcScafIqDBfUttbDZxTZKPO99cGv-VyXQU0i6Ws1wGbbe52JIveN2p0hjY2N6A82OZbyteYMZMzFOGO0zbojz0-v60kormjwaqNztROc/s1600/6007503913_8910b71397_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85lSRzlh-oORvNeis4hyphenhyphenZbd0IaRevjeVsg7ZpcScafIqDBfUttbDZxTZKPO99cGv-VyXQU0i6Ws1wGbbe52JIveN2p0hjY2N6A82OZbyteYMZMzFOGO0zbojz0-v60kormjwaqNztROc/s400/6007503913_8910b71397_o.jpg" width="322" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lovemaegan.com/2011/08/my-nails-for-blogher-conference.html">Gold Sparkle Manicure</a> via <a href="http://www.lovemaegan.com/">Love Maegan</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
and my own feeble first attempt at fancy nails...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl6dBKcp-vziK0CdqCPvAAmD8QrkBK6BLW1ObMTrk6tVuJVs3JOZ0PNJTEqOYz0-tJS1X-9tKyc6euSw2vbzKQLZXw59wmiE-T-CLL94t3Qd2MUdBF2l_uyers3yqrsAuCD-7njZwKAs/s1600/IMG_1551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl6dBKcp-vziK0CdqCPvAAmD8QrkBK6BLW1ObMTrk6tVuJVs3JOZ0PNJTEqOYz0-tJS1X-9tKyc6euSw2vbzKQLZXw59wmiE-T-CLL94t3Qd2MUdBF2l_uyers3yqrsAuCD-7njZwKAs/s320/IMG_1551.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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which I achieved using two colors of nail polish, sticky labels, and a hole punch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk6-0HXx2KtISB_6otSoT4CKXbT5GD4FScOSHZfhpiBOckRY4FkOHc9GldeweserOQsbdVlsuG6W1q_IkcQgIB1Cdu8R4neCvE9rTzva8Jk4EKWqIEj1wysh71HDm4QeAEWlCSxM8CF0/s1600/IMG_1585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl6dBKcp-vziK0CdqCPvAAmD8QrkBK6BLW1ObMTrk6tVuJVs3JOZ0PNJTEqOYz0-tJS1X-9tKyc6euSw2vbzKQLZXw59wmiE-T-CLL94t3Qd2MUdBF2l_uyers3yqrsAuCD-7njZwKAs/s1600/IMG_1551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk6-0HXx2KtISB_6otSoT4CKXbT5GD4FScOSHZfhpiBOckRY4FkOHc9GldeweserOQsbdVlsuG6W1q_IkcQgIB1Cdu8R4neCvE9rTzva8Jk4EKWqIEj1wysh71HDm4QeAEWlCSxM8CF0/s1600/IMG_1585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk6-0HXx2KtISB_6otSoT4CKXbT5GD4FScOSHZfhpiBOckRY4FkOHc9GldeweserOQsbdVlsuG6W1q_IkcQgIB1Cdu8R4neCvE9rTzva8Jk4EKWqIEj1wysh71HDm4QeAEWlCSxM8CF0/s320/IMG_1585.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Have you tried any nail polish tricks lately? In general, I don't have the patience to paint my nails at all, let alone attempt a fancy design. But these photos make me want to try!</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-19319145526522011322011-10-10T09:57:00.000-05:002011-10-10T09:59:01.174-05:00better late than never: our bedroom redesign<div style="text-align: center;">
More than A YEAR ago, I <a href="http://beautydesignlife.blogspot.com/2010/10/friday-favorites.html">posted</a> that we had just decided on the final colors for our bedroom redesign. Well, <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/">Young House Love</a> we are not, because it was just a few weeks ago that we hung the last of the pictures in our room, finally completing our year-in-the-making bedroom redesign.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsHNkFgV6Ef3pS1UkW3iIbF_DjAr2x7QHdP4RHKi4YCdlzFgqMnDYRNhQuNbTucWsvnPnPI0TLewFetRfQymu4QFW2pvSVU_Ylgs_vTGRb0LC0VpF2VYhfa3cjAe2tbBwhvY4GCNx_yQ/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsHNkFgV6Ef3pS1UkW3iIbF_DjAr2x7QHdP4RHKi4YCdlzFgqMnDYRNhQuNbTucWsvnPnPI0TLewFetRfQymu4QFW2pvSVU_Ylgs_vTGRb0LC0VpF2VYhfa3cjAe2tbBwhvY4GCNx_yQ/s400/IMG_1587.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Oscar the cat welcomes you to our new bedroom.</i></div>
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The bulk of the work got done last fall, when we painted the walls and the ceiling, spray-painted the radiator, and bought and assembled the furniture. But then it took several months to paint the closets, buy the ceiling fan and bedside lamps, and buy and frame the art. The devil's in the details, I guess.</div>
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But now! It's all done! And I'm SO excited to share it with you!!</div>
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First: our inspiration.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcwDLWN6-81XMJKLLPp9WdwSHUH-psf6A9-1MWwwxK5Z1X1IUHoPsYwK8HJAohhEv4ckzkxb4gujN9wnuWO9aSh5eXMT339AzNHw3C5g5pRZ_PZqIZkLG0t_V0FWc2qH0L36I1AA8UpY/s1600/IMG_1561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcwDLWN6-81XMJKLLPp9WdwSHUH-psf6A9-1MWwwxK5Z1X1IUHoPsYwK8HJAohhEv4ckzkxb4gujN9wnuWO9aSh5eXMT339AzNHw3C5g5pRZ_PZqIZkLG0t_V0FWc2qH0L36I1AA8UpY/s400/IMG_1561.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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A dear family friend made us this quilt for us as a wedding gift, using our wedding colors and including, completely coincidentally, a verse that our officiant used during our ceremony (which was unplanned by me). We love this quilt and what it symbolizes, so we wanted to incorporate it into our bedroom decor. All of our colors were pulled from it, including the wall color, curtains, and artwork.</div>
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Here are our paint colors (all Behr paint from Home Depot)</div>
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I knew I wanted a bright green for at least one of the walls. But I had a very specific idea of what I wanted that green to be: not neon but still bright, a little olive-y but not TOO olive-y, etc. And after testing a bunch of different colors, we settled on Scotland Isle. It's perfect.</div>
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The tan color was an easier decision. We saw Brown Teepee and loved it immediately. We still love it so much that we'll probably use it in many other rooms in our house.</div>
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And our trim is Polar Bear in an eggshell finish, which we used for the closet doors as well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EJrl29tm35FsSuT9_UFP7M-JiM3G6-26IUQvBp0kRzmz1s94OSj3ZmLQB-unycEm4VLo7yihP21waSlri-gqb3sNSjPLbFTHnTG7YPLmrdrD1feW2NT0DFNAIxE0xrqlBhLsAejADBM/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EJrl29tm35FsSuT9_UFP7M-JiM3G6-26IUQvBp0kRzmz1s94OSj3ZmLQB-unycEm4VLo7yihP21waSlri-gqb3sNSjPLbFTHnTG7YPLmrdrD1feW2NT0DFNAIxE0xrqlBhLsAejADBM/s400/IMG_1565.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<i>the paint colors in action, along with our <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/decorating-and-accessories/ledges/archetype-espresso-large-wall-box/f10447">Crate and Barrel wall boxes</a> and new flat-screen TV (thanks, in-laws!)</i></div>
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Because our house is more than 100 years old, there are some cool old quirks that we used to our advantage when painting and setting up our room. For example, the sloped ceiling allowed us to paint a continuous line with the tan from floor to ceiling to opposite floor.<br />
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What isn't so great about an old house, however, is the tiny-ness of the room. With the door into the room on one wall, the windows and a giant radiator on the opposite wall, and closets on both side walls, it was difficult to find a place for our bed. Previously, we <a href="http://beautydesignlife.blogspot.com/2009/12/design-dilemma.html">shoved the bed into a corner</a> and called it good. But now, since we were buying <strike>grown-up</strike> Ikea furniture, we wanted to make our bed more of a focus. So we said sorry to the radiator we had just painstakingly painted and put the bed right in front of it (several inches out so as to avoid a massive fire).</div>
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<i>The shiny new spray-painted radiator, which we had to paint in the room because it weighed approximately eleventy-billion pounds and we couldn't move it. Spray-paint fumes, hooray!</i></div>
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As previously mentioned, we got our furniture from Ikea. This wasn't exactly planned - we loved the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/11731/">Hemnes</a> collection from day one, but looked around for several months to see if there was something better out there. There wasn't. Who knew it was so hard to find non-ugly, non-overpriced bedroom furniture? </div>
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<i>Hemnes dresser next to our built-in drawers and the shoe closet. In the frame is the 2010 St. Paul Bike Classic poster, which was done by <a href="http://adamturman.com/">Adam Turman</a>. </i></div>
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The story of our curtains is largely the same. We wanted something simple and relatively inexpensive, and after searching around for some time, we found curtains at Target - the <a href="http://www.target.com/p/Eclipse-Twine-Thermaback-Wine/-/A-12437073">Eclipse Twine Thermaback curtains in Wine</a>, to be exact. We liked the grommets and the heavy fabric, which blocks out the sun and cold weather and sometimes makes us accidentally sleep until noon on weekends.<i> </i></div>
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<i>The bedding and throw pillow were also Target purchases.</i><br />
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This admittedly bad photo of our curtains also gives the best look at our bedside lamps. Instead of traditional lamps, we decided to stick with a modern, clean look and chose two <a href="http://www.creative-lighting.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductName=DM1958-SC">table lamps</a> from Creative Lighting in St. Paul. We got super-bright CFL light bulbs and I swear you can see those things from space. Which is kind of good because they pick up the slack of our ceiling fan.</div>
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In the interest of eco-friendliness, we got an LCD ceiling fan from Home Depot. Upon getting it home and installed, we realized that LCD lights are not so great for lighting an entire room. We love the look of the fan (and it proved essential for sleeping in our non-air-conditioned house during this hot, hot summer) so we decided to leave it.</div>
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For our artwork, we found an <a href="http://www.adamturman.com/index.php?p=11&s=17">Adam Turman print</a> of the Duluth lift bridge at <a href="http://beautydesignlife.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-like-you.html">I Like You</a>. Because that's where we <a href="http://beautydesignlife.blogspot.com/2009/11/sun-on-water.html">honeymooned</a> (and where we return every year to celebrate our anniversary), we had to have it. The fact that it was almost identical to our wall colors was just a bonus.</div>
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We hung the lift bridge print next to our wedding card from the Obamas and a greeting card from <a href="http://madebygirl.com/">MadeByGirl</a>.</div>
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We also decided to paint the inside of both of our bedroom closets.</div>
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Here is my half of the big closet looking out (with the florescent light on, which is why it looks so neon):</div>
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and with the light off, looking in.</div>
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and the shoe closet, which we painted tan:</div>
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And that's our new bedroom! We love it so much - it turned out modern and bright while still being comfortable and relaxing, which is exactly what I wanted. And it only took a year!</div>
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<i>Oscar bids you farewell.</i></div>
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Thank you so much for reading through this long post! Let me know if you have any questions/comments/suggestions on how to hide the cords from our TV (please?)...</div>
erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-2081943010659389452011-10-07T08:12:00.001-05:002011-10-07T08:15:06.636-05:00bikes and puppies and cupcakes, oh my!<div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday, my mom sent me this video. The following is my internal reaction as I watched it:</div>
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<i>Ooh, Kate Spade. I love Kate Spade. That dress is adorable.</i></div>
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<i>Is that a Kate Spade bike? I MUST HAVE IT.</i></div>
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<i>OH MY GOD A PUPPY. I need a puppy that fits in the basket of my Kate Spade bike.</i></div>
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<i>Okay, the hopscotch is kind of cheesy. But I really love those shoes.</i></div>
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<i>Wait. What is happening. CUPCAKES???!!!!?!?!?!</i></div>
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<i> </i>and then my head exploded. because Kate Spade + a bike + a puppy + cupcakes is just too much for me.</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="257" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xi00af" width="427"></iframe></div>
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<a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xi00af_the-cut-exclusive-kate-spade-and-adeline-adeline_lifestyle" target="_blank">The Cut Exclusive: Kate Spade and Adeline Adeline</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/NYMag" target="_blank">NYMag</a></i>
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Happy Friday!</div>
erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-15569798660668764702011-10-06T09:22:00.001-05:002011-10-06T17:25:24.496-05:00genius<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB28ucp5e0Ie5zpMyiYsmSXcuYhUJ58Tg5a59vvKhaogdjO4FIAe-l-5khXcq9cY9I_EEAUGfjBDwfWnejygRp3y-slaoF6LdUOxZeQh29zpMBlmovMrAQyTXnIcffdbI0-C8BPUC6QPI/s1600/283962134_Psva7gGm_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB28ucp5e0Ie5zpMyiYsmSXcuYhUJ58Tg5a59vvKhaogdjO4FIAe-l-5khXcq9cY9I_EEAUGfjBDwfWnejygRp3y-slaoF6LdUOxZeQh29zpMBlmovMrAQyTXnIcffdbI0-C8BPUC6QPI/s320/283962134_Psva7gGm_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{<a href="http://thedailywh.at/2011/10/05/in-memoriam/">source</a>}</span></div>
erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-55866857187891552092011-10-04T12:37:00.001-05:002011-10-04T12:40:28.183-05:00sister sister<div style="text-align: center;">
I found this on <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/">Pinterest</a> earlier today and I am still giggling about it. It sums up my relationship with my darling sisters oh-so-perfectly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJPhgFpVhlwZcBxMiIwWT_OpYbFOWReCTLigMGkwKNIpQ2qPIHV-moIbs116iDP60ZwRBZzF7SzBB9Jhp6MsMZpXfj4NOqfo2BZgSflwFD4myq8zuL4ROTkawLhUnG81ZHojvDOYHxMg/s1600/274597832_uzwGoJP3_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJPhgFpVhlwZcBxMiIwWT_OpYbFOWReCTLigMGkwKNIpQ2qPIHV-moIbs116iDP60ZwRBZzF7SzBB9Jhp6MsMZpXfj4NOqfo2BZgSflwFD4myq8zuL4ROTkawLhUnG81ZHojvDOYHxMg/s320/274597832_uzwGoJP3_c.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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Truth.</div>
erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-29687470435828963182011-09-29T16:28:00.002-05:002011-09-29T16:29:25.138-05:00banana soft serve<div style="text-align: center;">
Although I'm working on becoming a healthier eater, there is one habit I can't break: I <strike>need</strike> want dessert after every.single.meal. Obviously, it would not be very good for me to eat chocolate or ice cream or cupcakes after every meal (I'm not one of those people who can eat, like, 10 m&ms and be satisfied. Do those people seriously even exist? I'm skeptical.) So, I'm working on finding healthyish alternatives to satisfy my sweet tooth. And this amazingly easy recipe is one of them.</div>
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<b>Homemade Banana Soft Serve</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJuIoDeEe6r0E7vvJ3dQeTaimTpr6MVYMla0Z258JBghqdNkrz8H7geY3j42jHHhgebErMafJ4pV8kttDtyurUYLnH4APPGz0Y8PRnBFME2z_O4722qQyGVyW-i7i5Ne-IdeNY9S6RLM/s1600/ice-cream1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJuIoDeEe6r0E7vvJ3dQeTaimTpr6MVYMla0Z258JBghqdNkrz8H7geY3j42jHHhgebErMafJ4pV8kttDtyurUYLnH4APPGz0Y8PRnBFME2z_O4722qQyGVyW-i7i5Ne-IdeNY9S6RLM/s320/ice-cream1.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://www.choosingraw.com/this-post-will-change-your-life/">source</a>)</span></div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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Frozen bananas.</div>
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...</div>
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Seriously, that's it. </div>
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Take frozen bananas (I peel and chop them into 2-inch chunks before freezing), toss them in a food processor, and process them until they're creamy. </div>
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Top with chocolate syrup if you'd like (I highly recommend this step). </div>
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Eat and enjoy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJb4CeRE144Ojbphd_KijkEfr19Fsl2izUPVVqJ0QoIqfGSu_WwRYoia-V6mYhOIUwdmLIMu6djiLY2kn0Eh6-bbDA8dULXqokcvnkb5ryDrdigH6XVXnvSPb7sfkeKFGbliHo8_cenc/s1600/ice-cream-sauce.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJb4CeRE144Ojbphd_KijkEfr19Fsl2izUPVVqJ0QoIqfGSu_WwRYoia-V6mYhOIUwdmLIMu6djiLY2kn0Eh6-bbDA8dULXqokcvnkb5ryDrdigH6XVXnvSPb7sfkeKFGbliHo8_cenc/s320/ice-cream-sauce.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://www.choosingraw.com/this-post-will-change-your-life/">source</a>)</span></div>
erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-89348834032666955562011-09-23T15:31:00.000-05:002011-09-23T15:33:38.011-05:00pinterested<div style="text-align: center;">
a few of my recent <a href="http://pinterest.com/erin_rohne/pins/">pins</a>...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uflFmEpT6WypfTCbXx2pNcz6hARrIrZfLVHn-vlYy1cXvsZNdlEz-_MGLDF32-8iRw1SOza1NoHaYXCWqIEV2_ZM5zeepckjQZsAMhzp_uGV9Nccw4w2Vxen4UrhhMeMo6HBNXhpII4/s1600/224562103_BhmBcEJz_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uflFmEpT6WypfTCbXx2pNcz6hARrIrZfLVHn-vlYy1cXvsZNdlEz-_MGLDF32-8iRw1SOza1NoHaYXCWqIEV2_ZM5zeepckjQZsAMhzp_uGV9Nccw4w2Vxen4UrhhMeMo6HBNXhpII4/s320/224562103_BhmBcEJz_c.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS3qEQg1dZGsfGusxo-VDCPl-UurAprEJO0WoH6MYmf6cEQxTFtIZxjJYTx6zzmlR7eDnKKpdG26JYDPIrBri4byo6pBGAe_QrCac4pkdbF0N12Pmbft4HJ2_oeVtd8EEMGZNIAjVS5A/s1600/155228341_oAhIT0nx_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS3qEQg1dZGsfGusxo-VDCPl-UurAprEJO0WoH6MYmf6cEQxTFtIZxjJYTx6zzmlR7eDnKKpdG26JYDPIrBri4byo6pBGAe_QrCac4pkdbF0N12Pmbft4HJ2_oeVtd8EEMGZNIAjVS5A/s320/155228341_oAhIT0nx_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love both of these handmade pillow ideas.</div>
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Next week, I'll start my long-awaited community ed sewing class (yes, I am an old old lady) and I can't wait to learn how to sew fun things like this!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qGAdnT-tlLOVpTt-eCFS1dk5hzvzXO0cOrUeqVAAX4gMQ54a4XmqQ0_cPvDmFH84ASiddKrJrrJa2GTm5Tnxf-FVNnjcRskWpO3Moh83S6gN5NtQ1Uq_aD3Q5iswLCGyQz5-lH5n63w/s1600/224612327_aeCvsiAQ_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qGAdnT-tlLOVpTt-eCFS1dk5hzvzXO0cOrUeqVAAX4gMQ54a4XmqQ0_cPvDmFH84ASiddKrJrrJa2GTm5Tnxf-FVNnjcRskWpO3Moh83S6gN5NtQ1Uq_aD3Q5iswLCGyQz5-lH5n63w/s320/224612327_aeCvsiAQ_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fall has definitely made its presence known in Minnesota. Not that I'm complaining - I couldn't wait to break out my riding boots & skinny jeans and start making meals with the approximately 27 butternut squash that my garden has produced. This Curried Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Soup from <a href="http://www.eatliverun.com/">Eat Live Run</a> is definitely next on my list.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFNtVWGygHAiaBiMTQH61CHVJsXmiDOuW7WdeKEq3OB3BUqzsb5TeWBa6ng5BmyQxgQwu6AMpul7_6V5EqtDI7GbvRXONZj-4FH2kzQ0TZ11V7QfC8HKvYA-SvFQWe8EO2sJPT58vHWg/s1600/228831285_Sao4SaY1_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFNtVWGygHAiaBiMTQH61CHVJsXmiDOuW7WdeKEq3OB3BUqzsb5TeWBa6ng5BmyQxgQwu6AMpul7_6V5EqtDI7GbvRXONZj-4FH2kzQ0TZ11V7QfC8HKvYA-SvFQWe8EO2sJPT58vHWg/s320/228831285_Sao4SaY1_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can't handle this Kate Spade trench coat. If only I had $450 (which is the sale price!) to spare...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2nzAwk_Qaue4fvMGuRuLV8XuswFMbVgQ9krMwjgnF4XI7pDTjqQlWyapqxLwp_XJ7HdTF0O22bM9F3U8hlvv_rT9Bg6J_9Kp0evnTmtkevnQJH_vpQp61p_IC9HHW5vgVrMYdQpz5x4/s1600/221027502_sWa2rHqR_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2nzAwk_Qaue4fvMGuRuLV8XuswFMbVgQ9krMwjgnF4XI7pDTjqQlWyapqxLwp_XJ7HdTF0O22bM9F3U8hlvv_rT9Bg6J_9Kp0evnTmtkevnQJH_vpQp61p_IC9HHW5vgVrMYdQpz5x4/s1600/221027502_sWa2rHqR_c.jpg" /></a></div>
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I love the colors of this gorgeous bedroom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhly4EnEtLy07LjlqYmLkpKwTbBAHlmxCJsqhzciSqgBTlDbJqwXcSZOS5q9HBC28eMiFk9jPDB5hO-GiCwxHMDqz7-L7t4oN1TXoP3oN16_e98osrlM2ro4ec7UVv4y6YkaJIDPsCtO3Q/s1600/221020994_UfiNdZVg_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhly4EnEtLy07LjlqYmLkpKwTbBAHlmxCJsqhzciSqgBTlDbJqwXcSZOS5q9HBC28eMiFk9jPDB5hO-GiCwxHMDqz7-L7t4oN1TXoP3oN16_e98osrlM2ro4ec7UVv4y6YkaJIDPsCtO3Q/s320/221020994_UfiNdZVg_c.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
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and I know the holidays are many months away, but I already know what I'll be bringing to my family Christmas celebration this year. Cheese tree!!</div>
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Have a lovely weekend!</div>
erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-39704098820570586252011-09-22T12:33:00.000-05:002011-09-23T15:34:29.320-05:00life in pictures<div style="text-align: center;">
how my summer ended:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhftEQbgRBSX-FoourNunm2OtTt8qDJxXyS0r5S-vomKdQajP2r06S-iqdUKV6Kja5NngMwzdB4NQ4uXcTV6BJjKzrdRat5NkDZC9_TOSGfloV1cplY9awJwfCk8f2PhZLqEZC1jCZk38/s1600/state+fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhftEQbgRBSX-FoourNunm2OtTt8qDJxXyS0r5S-vomKdQajP2r06S-iqdUKV6Kja5NngMwzdB4NQ4uXcTV6BJjKzrdRat5NkDZC9_TOSGfloV1cplY9awJwfCk8f2PhZLqEZC1jCZk38/s1600/state+fair.jpg" /></a></div>
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a trip to the Minnesota State Fair</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJmOdxiLnStH5jHp2t3CJLoRF7jwJClQyAcgqvbZ23JYQmVILq8fQuiz6pFXVe_5m7LVxyuVLtZmwUlQSsacmzWnQctWMDcuXRq4_Mh52MowheugZXailtZb-EFo5t2VrxjAVuGO-GRE/s1600/blue+moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJmOdxiLnStH5jHp2t3CJLoRF7jwJClQyAcgqvbZ23JYQmVILq8fQuiz6pFXVe_5m7LVxyuVLtZmwUlQSsacmzWnQctWMDcuXRq4_Mh52MowheugZXailtZb-EFo5t2VrxjAVuGO-GRE/s1600/blue+moon.jpg" /></a></div>
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baking <a href="http://www.missmake.com/2011/08/blue-moon-cupcakes.html">Blue Moon cupcakes</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH1js6MVuRrWzwNBU6zpyzG-FURkDvzP4Gvuwrzmk12isbJXd6bW704EsylMQUcvVjPAhZCtGdSTWQRFuAAYCCVnxCToKsX4LPLKl7_i_7pYlkZPOFRBPJYdYnKhDanlLBEEWH2bg8ao/s1600/Levi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH1js6MVuRrWzwNBU6zpyzG-FURkDvzP4Gvuwrzmk12isbJXd6bW704EsylMQUcvVjPAhZCtGdSTWQRFuAAYCCVnxCToKsX4LPLKl7_i_7pYlkZPOFRBPJYdYnKhDanlLBEEWH2bg8ao/s1600/Levi.jpg" /></a></div>
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spending time with my silly pup (this might be my favorite photo of him ever!)</div>
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going to the amazing Bon Iver concert with my dad</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVC84CncuXjKOSnxD7CeQN496SqzdKv-jX9IPoXWcFfqhKokq0yF1zpt0GxioeaZqiCt0lF41hxKkplrRFAU1A30HhXUFRqDg6kqTlybGMnlUUZgNeVpGTshZc5matxFHA_06mXGiAPk/s1600/ravioli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVC84CncuXjKOSnxD7CeQN496SqzdKv-jX9IPoXWcFfqhKokq0yF1zpt0GxioeaZqiCt0lF41hxKkplrRFAU1A30HhXUFRqDg6kqTlybGMnlUUZgNeVpGTshZc5matxFHA_06mXGiAPk/s1600/ravioli.jpg" /></a></div>
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making homemade butternut squash ravioli with a squash from my garden (it was super easy: roasted squash + Trader Joe's honey goat cheese + salt and pepper inside wonton wrappers)</div>
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and, our big summer finish: Ryan and I took the train from Minneapolis to Seattle!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf39-3-hMNH6QC_yCJJRZRmk9QNBMFIyGesG4aW8r0XhBilt-56sTht_p5Zw1KRCeAiqxh4WZbkO7jNtLHc6hvL5x-1io_NjZvjVtmXAjBa3WrOSV1Y7d5R2_uteYLhPO0JLDvd4yKR0/s1600/train2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf39-3-hMNH6QC_yCJJRZRmk9QNBMFIyGesG4aW8r0XhBilt-56sTht_p5Zw1KRCeAiqxh4WZbkO7jNtLHc6hvL5x-1io_NjZvjVtmXAjBa3WrOSV1Y7d5R2_uteYLhPO0JLDvd4yKR0/s1600/train2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Washington mountains</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSQzkeiJPllhT2gLwujShlp199YjoVyqAQd6O_ei4I4pGL3-FX0xK6gg43uqfv6VnXtoYp1dbeenYzW4BgQYlxpN-OfKEeQKH33k-ZCxITm9NWkjiryvbWpj9Cq-y2J9yjq0r2BzAZQ4/s1600/Starbucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSQzkeiJPllhT2gLwujShlp199YjoVyqAQd6O_ei4I4pGL3-FX0xK6gg43uqfv6VnXtoYp1dbeenYzW4BgQYlxpN-OfKEeQKH33k-ZCxITm9NWkjiryvbWpj9Cq-y2J9yjq0r2BzAZQ4/s1600/Starbucks.jpg" /></a></div>
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the first-ever Starbucks!</div>
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(more on this trip later)</div>
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it was a fantastic summer, but I'm ready for fall: boots, soup, pumpkin spice lattes...it's no wonder fall is my favorite season!</div>
erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-33454345479133313262011-09-02T16:43:00.002-05:002011-09-02T16:43:55.213-05:00yogi<div style="text-align: center;">
This afternoon, I went to a yoga class.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAGJ9moTXLGU2Kk3OShe2lo1oEFPHWHI-T_emo6UxsGJtkc44dPVuBQiR0QbFfob9y0PIFhHURBssGM26y5J1tHbhpqOgNb1mv6TOlR46R3IAhoKQz9W7djGIh03F7Sit5N5UqlfpnDU/s1600/126764062_PsAa6I5M_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAGJ9moTXLGU2Kk3OShe2lo1oEFPHWHI-T_emo6UxsGJtkc44dPVuBQiR0QbFfob9y0PIFhHURBssGM26y5J1tHbhpqOgNb1mv6TOlR46R3IAhoKQz9W7djGIh03F7Sit5N5UqlfpnDU/s320/126764062_PsAa6I5M_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://healthful.tumblr.com/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></div>
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For some reason, I never remember how much I love yoga. I always leave a class feeling strong, centered, refreshed and re-energized. I've practiced on and off (more off than on) for the past several years, but I've never really been dedicated. But after today's sweaty vinyasa class, I think it's time to re-dedicate myself.</div>
erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-51915021500148520102011-08-30T16:51:00.000-05:002011-08-30T16:51:42.733-05:00on quitting social media<div style="text-align: center;">If you read this blog (obviously, because here you are), or follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, etc., you have probably (hopefully) noticed that I've been absent as of late. That wasn't unintentional.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been thinking a lot about social media lately, trying to figure out what it means to me and my life, and my reasons for participating. And I realized that I'm kind of over it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I mean, let's think about it. I check in on Foursquare so I can earn points that do nothing, while in the meantime my husband or friends or whoever sit there and wait for me to get off my damn phone and pay attention to them. I tweet so I can get @ replies and more followers, which does nothing, while in the meantime I am losing time that could be devoted to my work or my life or, I don't know, sleeping. Now that my wedding is long over, and until I have a baby, no one on Facebook cares what I do (don't deny it), and the time I spend uploading pictures or crafting the perfect status update or stalking people from high school is wasted, because WHO CARES???</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Also, I'm just tired of the constant self-promotion that often comes with social media. I'm tired of being all "hey read my blog!" or "hey follow me on twitter!" or "hey I said something funny!", and feeling like I'm constantly seeking approval.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Certainly, there are a lot of people to whom social media is very valuable, for very valid reasons. But for me, it has simply become a distraction from my real life. I have begun to feel like something isn't valid until I blog/tweet/Facebook/whatever about it, which isn't okay with me. I want to live my life, not just report on it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I've decided to go on a social media diet. I've pared down the tweeting, all but stopped the Foursquaring, and I'm working on the Facebooking (that one's harder than the rest). I will continue to use my Pinterest and Goodreads, because I love those sites. And I'll blog, although probably less often (if I had a dollar for every time I've said that here, I would have...several dollars).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And there you have it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I'm interested to know how others feel about social media. Is it valuable to you? Why or why not?</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-39410342708391634092011-08-07T16:49:00.000-05:002011-08-07T16:49:17.673-05:00upgrading<div style="text-align: center;">It's been a big weekend around here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">A partial list of all we got accomplished in the past 36 hours:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>had our new sectional delivered</li>
<li>listed and sold our old couch and chair on Craiglist</li>
<li>purchased and assembled our new bookshelf, transferred books </li>
<li>moved our old bookshelf to the basement for storage</li>
<li>purchased new pot for lemon tree (hoping to re-pot it yet today)</li>
<li>re-stuffed Levi's dog bed </li>
<li>purchased frames for our gallery wall a la <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/03/the-hallway-full-monty/">Young House Love</a></li>
<li> ordered prints to go in said frames</li>
</ul>...whew. We also walked to and around the Powderhorn Art Fair last night, and spent the afternoon at Paws on Grand (along with every other dog in the Twin Cities, it seemed), so we (and Levi) are pretty tuckered out.<br />
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But not too tired to talk about our <a href="http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?GrpTyp=ENS&ItemID=19d1751&DeptID=70752&CatID=70827&SO=0&Ne=949+4294957900+5+586+1031+877+1274+838+580+8+18&CatSel=4294950397%7Csectionals&NOffset=2&x5view=1&shopperType=G&N=4294950397&Nao=0&PSO=0&CmCatId=70752%7C70827&sa=1">new sectional</a>! I was a bit unsure of it at first, mostly because making big purchases really freaks me out, but it wasn't too long before I fell head over heels in love with our new living room set-up. It all began to come together when I discovered Ikea's <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70103085">Expedit bookshelf</a>, which seemed tailor made for our living room windows (when we flipped it on its side). Perfection.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a sneak preview of our new living room setup...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqJue955yPU2FoYax-XnZ3SkGUokgWNon_j57BmFbROSu-purzx6Y5uv3ujASeOsLs2e8LewbJs31tYwzlvsePozRYFX4jSKn7esFjjf-xyCf-hcC6BnpqCkmqMP-qH4t4VLgd_ZFtt4/s1600/12yfg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqJue955yPU2FoYax-XnZ3SkGUokgWNon_j57BmFbROSu-purzx6Y5uv3ujASeOsLs2e8LewbJs31tYwzlvsePozRYFX4jSKn7esFjjf-xyCf-hcC6BnpqCkmqMP-qH4t4VLgd_ZFtt4/s320/12yfg.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>I know it's a dark photo, but I want to save the awesomeness for my future Big Blog Living Room Reveal (date TBD). <br />
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<span id="goog_1839156325"></span><span id="goog_1839156326"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is still a lot on the to-do list, such as buy a new coffee table and rug, find new lamps and some new art for the wall behind the sectional, buy a new entertainment center, etc etc etc. But for now, I'm pretty pleased with how it's turning out.<br />
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Since I started working (almost a year ago!) we've been going room from room, upgrading our old hand-me-down furniture. And while we're not buying the fanciest stuff out there (i.e. bedroom set from Ikea and sofa from JC Penney), it's nice to be able to upgrade, just a little. It's funny - buying new furniture makes me feel like more of an adult than getting married, graduating from college or law school, or even buying a house did. I'm weird.<br />
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I hope you had a good weekend!</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893217353152011343.post-23400643589164253582011-08-03T07:15:00.000-05:002011-08-03T07:15:29.000-05:00you say it's your birthday<div style="text-align: center;">Today is my 28th birthday. Cupcakes for everyone!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IFxw55Cn9JmBVIXTggimp1i6RRUkTs-dMJLoTxqASqjv-2wINZB6-BjvP3LGmtNNEEoAKro9AtqzgUHOOKqco_J39BSKAPbtWl_lTk8-z-9cB4QCyQ1vV_977Yph9EviTF5DERZf3MQ/s1600/493I2802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IFxw55Cn9JmBVIXTggimp1i6RRUkTs-dMJLoTxqASqjv-2wINZB6-BjvP3LGmtNNEEoAKro9AtqzgUHOOKqco_J39BSKAPbtWl_lTk8-z-9cB4QCyQ1vV_977Yph9EviTF5DERZf3MQ/s320/493I2802.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Surprisingly, I'm really okay with turning 28, and with getting older in general. In my 27th year, I transitioned from law student to full-time employee and normal member of society, and with that, managed to kiss my years-long quarter-life crisis goodbye. I'm excited for what 28 (and beyond) has to offer.</div>erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18227023493372815673noreply@blogger.com3