Back to the grind
Today was my first day back to school in 10 days. It was nice to have a break but I always fall in to a slump of not doing anything but catching up on TV shows I’ve already watched.
Our Director set up an alumni panel who came in and discussed what their lives have been like since leaving school. We were able to get some really interesting advice and ask them any questions we wanted, too.
Then she dropped a bombshell on us. She’ll be leaving to pursue other projects as of Wednesday. I hate goodbyes, but she had a point, explaining new blood can be a good thing. And I guess there’s a high turnover rate in our industry anyway. Goodbye is never really goodbye.
Anyway, this afternoon I met with three groups and furthered some ideas from earlier in the quarter. Each group got some awesome feedback from the class and instructor, so I’m pretty excited right now.
I just want my book already!!!
Being out of school for a week sure makes a girl think.
This week is Thanksgiving break from school. My plan was to rehab myself from caffeine, alcohol and shitty foods and to also clean my apartment and work out. So far not so good. The only things I’ve avoided are alcohol and cleaning. I broke down with the caffeine yesterday and the only reason I cleaned today was to avoid working out.
Whatever, there has been some progress with the working out. I did try Bikram Yoga. And liked it! My skin was all dewy yesterday. I even went to the grocery store and Starbucks WITHOUT MAKEUP today. That’s HUGE for someone with adult acne. HUGE!
See how excited I get when I achieve things? You’d think I’d have motivation.
Anyway, having had time to breathe and think this week, I came up with a list of things I need to do to rededicate myself to the things I think are important. Sorta like New Year’s resolutions. Only I’m supposed to keep these:
1. Recommit to veganism. I knew this would be a challenge when I went back to school. Even in Chicago it’s hard to be a busy vegan. I usually wind up as an ovo-lacto vegetarian on bad days. I know that I need to buy intelligently at the grocery store and bring snacks with me wherever I go. So now I have to do it.
This means cooking something at least once a week that I can eat off of for a few days. I love cooking, what’s the problem?
2. My old buddy Al. Alcohol. I didn’t truly know 3 of my 4 grandparents and a part of the issues there are with addiction. From stories I’ve heard, both of my grandfathers had alcohol issues. I don’t ever recall my grandad drinking, but I’ve heard stories from my dad’s youth leading me to believe that he liked the bottle. I met my mom’s dad when I was in high school – he was battling stomach cancer and pulled one of those deathbed “finding Jesus” apology things (I know I shouldn’t crap on other people’s epiphanies, but seriously, from what I can tell, he spent his life being a bastard. Even when he was sober.) I don’t recall my mom’s mom drinking either, but she had all of the health signs of a former addict of some kind as well.
So I’m limiting myself to two nights out a week. Those nights have to be Thursday through Saturday or Sundays if it’s an occasion.
3. Working out. Ugh. I will work out six days a week, no excuses. I have the time (if I wake up earlier), I feel better and I’m more pleasant to be around when I work out. And all I want for Christmas is abs that stop bullets.
4. Speaking of school…now that I’ll be waking up earlier, I have to work on a portfolio piece every day along with my homework. I’ve had a list going forever, but I haven’t revisited a lot of it because I’ve been unmotivated.
5. Keep in better contact with friends and family. I have this whole dream of never saying “no” to hanging out with friends and family members. Not going to happen while I’m in school. But that being said, if I don’t have a legitimate school-related excuse, I’m not allowed to be a hermit this winter. And I have to call/email my friends/fam in other cities.
6. Blogging! WOOT! Holler! I love blogging. I realized how easy it is for me because I’m a naturally long-winded storyteller and through beginning my That One Little Thing experiment. I must blog here three times a week.
7. Agua. Clearly I’m not drinking enough. And if I’m going to do Bikram and abstain from Al, I have to replenish my fluids. Water: at least 64 ounces a day.
8. Cleaning the damn apartment. It’s embarrassing how often I don’t clean. I do clean up after myself – like when I’m cooking and I do laundry religiously, but still, I should have a disease or something. I have to thoroughly clean one room every week. Besides, if I do something Gabe usually follows suit. Husband see, husband do.
9. Balancing my checkbook. I used to do this religiously, too. People would make fun of me. But I’ve gotten out of the habit and I now have a credit card balance. So now Fridays are “balance the checkbook” days!
10. Singing! I’m good at it when I try and I’m paying for lessons, so why am I not practicing? Practicing: Four times a week, excluding the day of my class.
And there you have it! My challenge to me. Here goes nothin!
Vegan Almond Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie
Woot! Just made Vegan Almond Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie. I subbed almond butter from this recipe. I used the almond butter because I already owned it…here’s why:
I got turned down for a Sallie Mae living loan today, so I’m looking for ways to save money pretty much everywhere. I have a bit left over from my school loan as well as savings, but I REALLY didn’t want to touch it. But I guess now I’ll have to. Good thing I’m buckling down during Thanksgiving break so I’ll have the best portfolio ever – and consequently the best copywriting job ever – in a few short months!
Anyway. Pie. I’m second guessing myself about the almond butter. I didn’t think there was going to be a difference between the almond and peanut butters since I love them both equally. But when I licked the spoon, there was a bit of a bitter aftertaste. I MAY have been imagining it because I want everyone to like it so much.
So I asked Gabe to pick up coconut milk and peanut butter on his way home from band practice. Maybe I’ll make two pies and keep the loser here. No one has to know!
There is a chance the flavors will meld a little better over night. So I’ll make the call tomorrow. Either way, there’s a pic of the pie before it went in the fridge.
Why did this post start out so happy and get all sad-sack-y? Whatever. Tomorrow is a voice lesson and then Pre-Thanksgiving with my friends! Can’t wait!
I like a good tee.
Woke up “early” (ha. 10:30) and went to Trader Joe’s for pumpkin pie ingredients. Met some friends for lunch at the Chase Tower – which has an amazing food court – DIY stir fry!) and then it was on to school to finish homework.
When I got there, Erini gave me my Mucca Pazza tee! There’s a pic of me modeling it. Oh yeah, I’m still stoked about being winning a major award! ‘Rini also notified me that my original design is featured on The Post Family’s blog! Holler.
On to class…My headlines missed the mark, but I got some good direction to move forward. As well as the added confidence to ask some people if they wanted to work on some campaigns over break. Time to get that portfolio a-goin’. That’s why I’m in school, right?…not just to find drinking buddies? Although, they are an added benefit.
I finished the day at Whole Foods picking up CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PIE ingredients. Something tells me Friday’s is also going to be a good day (Pre-Thanksgiving Party. I’m in charge of pie. I’m killing it)!
Wow. Could that day have gotten any shittier?
I woke up with just enough time to shower and get to school. Had to let two trains pass before I could get on a car and my phone battery died while I was on the platform. No music, no app telling me why there was no train in sight.
The morning was okay. Erini had her 500th blog post, complete with contest. Which is totally exciting(!) and proved I was capable of focusing on something – since WebDev wasn’t keeping my attention.
Then Gabe called me with some bad news…too personal to get in to…but I will say that we’ll be broke for a while.
But we’ll survive. How do I know? Because there is a magic elixir that will surely save us all from complete and utter ruin:
*Booze.
After working feverishly to finish the comps due for tonight, I got to my final class of the day and my instructor had brought us Firefly Vodka and lemonade**. THANK THE GODS!!!
My parents are culturally Southern. I don’t know if that’s actually a thing, but my mom was born in Kentucky and later transported to Mishawaka. My dad was born in The Princess City, but moved around in both the Hoosier state and in Tennessee quite a bit. They both begin to drawl when speaking to relatives on the telephone and also pepper their own regular conversations with words like “cattywompus.” So sweet tea and I are no strangers.
You can’t get it made correctly unless you’re in the south (I refuse to drink McDonald’s Sweet Tea because I don’t want diabetes) and I’ve never seen anyone try to spike it before. But it was delicious.
The sweet tea flavor was just as I remember it from frequent trips below the Mason-Dixon. And it made me yearn for a humid summer evening spent fanning myself in a rocking chair on a front porch – clinking ice cubes and buzzing skeeters the only things within earshot.
Anyway, yep, I’m saying I chased my bad day away with alcohol. But it’s not like I was hold up in the bottom of my closet with a handle of Jameson. Firefly Vodka actually made me slow down and think about some pleasant memories with my family. How southern is that?
*I fully accept that people see booze as a way to exacerbate problems. Nannynannybooboo.
**Firefly is the product we’re focussing on next week, so we HAD to try it. And yes, we’re all 21+.
Oooooh, letterpressing!
A couple of the other copywriters from school and I decided to take a typography class this quarter. And I am so glad we did.
I mean, they’re going to be my words, right? May as well have some say in how they look.
I really had no idea what I was getting myself in to, typography is not a simple thing. Fonts, cases, spacing, kerning, leading, white space, bowls, counters, ascenders…all things I never think to think about when I’m reading and writing. Not all of it will fit in my head, but I’m enjoying it and learning a lot. Kind makes you appreciate those silly designers.
Anywho, the teacher man, Bud, took us to The Post Family today to learn letterpressing. Awesome. We worked in teams of two and set all of our own type, inked the plate and rollers and then ran the two ton press – with no finger squashings!
If you’re in Chicago and like to look at things, check out The Post Family’s website. They have events as often as they can – which should be a fun time. David, who showed us around, was really nice and eager to share whatever he could with us. I’m told their blog is also inspiring, so if you’re just looking for some fun, check that out.
What an eventful Sunday!
CPS blog/2011 Cusp Conference link
As a student at Chicago Portfolio School, we get a lot of opportunities to meet some really cool people. Let week I volunteered at the Cusp Conference here in Chicago and met more cool people than I realized could fit in one room.
I wrote a little about my experience on the school’s blog. I intend to write more here later, but this is the first week of classes – and with quitting my job to focus on school (more on that later), Royal Rumble (more on that later, too) I’m in one of those “not enough hours in the day” moods.
Anyway, the post says “by Katie,” but that’s just bc I don’t have a log-in. Enjoy!
PS- I’m totally a blogger now. SO exciting!
The Hen of the Woods
So this weekend I went a little bit crazy at Real Naked Food and the Wicker Park farmer’s market. Two days in a row I overfilled my reisenthel carrybag (a gift from my sis after she returned from a trip to Germany this summer-LOVE IT!) and barely got home without injuring myself. (Produce is heavy. And it was raining.)
When I go to the farmer’s market, I try to buy something I’ve never eaten (or seen) before. It’s not hard to do. What is difficult is trying to figuring out what to do with my find before it goes to waste. Here is one of those attempts:
Behold! The hen of the woods mushroom!
This one was a pretty vibrant shade of orange, so I knew pretty early on that it was going to be this trip’s impulse buy. I got it home and promptly made Gabe come have a look. We both puzzled over it for a minute, poked at it a bit and then went on about our day.
Cut to Monday and Gabe came for a visit to my desk at work. He had done a little research and apparently this little lady has both a lovely and a sinister side! I’m not quite sure where Gabe did his research, but according to my own Google search, they are quite good for you – having been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. But have also been known to cause nasty allergic reactions including nausea and some other things I won’t mention while discussing dinner.
Who’s hungry?!
Feeling daunted, I went for the onion and garlic, pretty much can’t go wrong there. I had some leeks and summer squash from the farmer’s market, so all of that got tossed in, too. Then I realized we’d need some protein, so I grabbed a can of my favorite cannellini beans from Trader Joe’s. Mmmm. They truly are a magical fruit.
Truth be told, I actually left the cooking part up to Gabe. So I’m not quite sure what spices went in here. Let’s go with oregano, salt, pepper and possibly some basil. I did see the white wine come out. So, yeah. My bad.
There it is all hanging out in the pan! Kinda looks like crab, huh?
Here it is on the plate with roasted fingerling potatoes and some jalapeño cornbread I made Sunday afternoon while trying to make room in the fridge for all of my purchases:
That last pic is a wee bit dark, but you can still tell it was a pretty beige meal. Note to self: it’s okay to not eat the ENTIRE can of cannellini beans.
All in all, it was a decent attempt. The aroma of the raw hen of the woods was super mushroomy, but it lost it after being sautéed. I wasn’t overwhelmingly excited by the flavor or texture, part (most) of the problem was probably the mishmash of a meal I masterminded. I think if we’d have gone a little more minimalist, I would have enjoyed it more. Let the little dear shine.
Oh well. Better luck next time!
Bill Wanek’s hair
Hey grizzled grizzly,
Have a gin drink please,
Mark is really hot.
Mac served us drinks,
To see who’d get drunk,
Steve didn’t show, so he’s not.
The Ballad of the Hoosier State
I’da been half-tempted to eat that musk melon,
But it needs put in the ice box.
I guess I’d settle for the corn I been smellin’
Only it looks like it’s got the pox.
I’m glad about my pickiness you’re being a good sport.
Let’s go have a mango on the davenport.
How’s come you don’t want to sit out there?
Because I haven’t run the sweeper?
Next time I’ll make sure the cupboard’s not bare
And be a better housekeeper.
All’s I know is, your visits make me a fan-a
You coming to stay with me in Indiana.
