inauguration pics - coming soon!

so many pictures (and emotions) to filter through! there are a few entries in the hopper but need some time to edit. will try to buckle down tonight.

twit happens

in one word - what happened to my blog? twitter.

it's quick. and you avoid my needless ramblings since there's 140 character limit. genius!

i've been lagging on the posts and unfortunately have not updated on the many things that have been going on. not-so liveleah of me huh? so bear with me, i think there will be a blitz of stuff coming up soon - some kinda old; some new. with the inauguration coming up and a pretty aggressive plan to get into the city (i'm going to end up walking over the memorial bridge - bet!), the SLR will be getting some play. that, and i've got "the bug" so i'm hoping that i'll be taking a few trips in 2009. that is, if my uber practical "we're in a recession" conscience doesn't get me first.

anyway, who wants to teach me how to get my tweets up on this? preferably on the side bar -->

you will be paid in food. [UPDATE: blogger has a search function. sweet! tweets are below!]

speaking of, check out my dinner tonight (i love my SLR!):

pancetta, peas, pasta, pepper & parmesan (+garlic, but that wasn't pretty to write)

p.s. it was yum.

happy new year!

my new year's day brunch of baked brie, apples and crackers

it's 2009! i started 2008 barely being able to move (nye. eighteenth street lounge. shots. enough said.) so in an effort to give my liver a small break and letting myself enjoy the daytime of new year's day, i decided to keep it simple this year.

i had a small nye's happy hour/open house. people came after work, had a few drinks, some funny/great conversation, and then went off their separate ways for other bashes or in the case of a few of us, bed (a lot of us were sick).

anyway, with such a small gathering of people (i sent out invitations less than 24 hours before), it was perfect to make some of my favorite (and easy!) appetizers.

on the menu:

• endive spears with orange, toasted almonds, goat cheese and olive oil
  
• meatballs in the usual party sauce
  
• brie en croute with raspberry preserves and toasted almonds (picture below)
  
• a flourless chocolate cake with hints of orange (picture below)
  

all, in all, it was a great night. and i fulfilled my goal of waking up without feeling like i'm going to die. YAY 2009! hope you had a great one.

brie en croute with raspberry

flourless chocolate cake in dome

santa's workshop

my work table

no, i didn't tamper with my timestamp. i'm pulling a semi-all nighter to finish wrapping presents. if you didn't already know, i have a huge family.

don't we all have that person that's hard to buy for? it's so much easier to make something pretty for them. here are a few of the decoupaged ornaments that i made. didn't they come out cute? and really, it took no time, just a little bit of patience and creativity.


my family celebrates christmas on on christmas eve, so i better get to bed. tomorrow's agenda? baking. if i have time, pictures later. merry christmas!

barack wins again.

who says being a big office nerd doesn't pay off?

our holiday office door decoration contest had a secret prize which ended up being a $100 gift card.

yay for me! woohoo!