Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Gift Guide: Your Sister

A simple girly sweater to throw on for a sister brunch. 

To pretty up her desk at work but also show everyone she's boss.  


A few things for her trip to Paris

She's been jealous ever since you bought this decor piece.

She may not need more makeup, but she'll love this bronzer palette.


She'll appreciate this all white catchall/organizer
 

Monday, November 28, 2016

Weekend Wrap Up...

 quick work break calls for a coffee stop...
 a few (new) end of the year reads...
an overcast and rainy weekend :)
 a gilmore binge. 
waiting for thanksgiving dinner. 

(images via instagram)

Sunday, November 27, 2016

City, Cozy Chic







As I'm nearing my thirties and leaving behind the hoarder and cluttered twenty year old self, there is so much I love about the minimal approach this renter took in her apartment in Brooklyn. Its sophisticated and chic but modern and youthful. As you get older what are some of the things you let go of? How does your style change and evolve as you enter a new decade?! Are you someone who stays with the same interior design and decoration most of your life or do you change your style often? 

(images)   

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Gift Guide: Your Wishlist

What's on your list? 

Now that you're out of school, you can start to plan more trips
(It also makes for an excellent coffee table book)

Stand out and the cutest luggage tags for your next escape.

Winter appropriate mugs for your favorite cold weather drink, wassail. 

Pretty rose gold vase by your favorite brand. 


Black and cool statement coasters.

Only big and ultra chunky scarves are allowed.  

For simple, easy home cooked meals and kitchens to drool over. 


You'll love this subscription service.

A classic candle.

An affordable bar-cart that will brighten up any corner.  

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Giving Back

When I think of this holiday it's mostly about food, family, napping, holiday movie nights and going back for seconds. Yes, Thanksgiving is about celebrating a piece of our history and being with family but it is also a holiday about giving. How do you you help out others? This past weekend was my birthday and my family took me to Disneyland to celebrate. The first thing my sister and I did was hurry to was Space Mountain, I hadn't been on the ride in twenty years. As we were trying to figure out the line situation, a stranger gave my sister and I two of her fast pass tickets (it was a little before 10 AM and it was already a forty-five minute wait). My sister and I looked at each other, thinking did that just really happen? We thanked the woman many times and waited five minutes to get on the ride. Because of her kindness, I wanted to continue the act. I entered a holiday swap with people I don't know and gave four bucks I would have spent on a cheap and unhealthy lunch to someone who needed bus fare. So think about helping someone out that you may not know or give a lending hand this week. Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving!!! 

(image)

Monday, November 21, 2016

Weekend Wrap Up...

 Weekend birthday plans - Disneyland.
 Rose infused goodies thanks to Sugarfina :)
the perfect ornament for my tree.
Slightly channeling Jennifer Garner this birthday (but 
in reverse), 29 going on 9.
 Equipment to start my podcast I've been working on.
 Preparing for an exciting trip next spring...
A snowy castle in Pasadena...

(images via instagram)

Saturday, November 19, 2016

this week's favorites...





Photographer Kei Nomiyama, who is also an environmental science professor took these beautiful shots in a Japanese Forest. The long exposure from his camera was able to capture these fireflies suspended in mid-air.
Looking at these beautiful images, I can't help but think of Fern Gully.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Friday Morning...

Hey guys, what are you up too? Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week, and I have so much to do before next Thursday. The good news is that I'll be reuniting with Lorelai and Rory in almost exactly week. But seriously where did this year go? Life has been crazy to say the least (for almost the entire year) and while it's a good thing to be busy, I also wish life would slow down a bit. I need more days where I have nothing going on so I can be more appreciative and grateful for everything I have in my life. I hope you have an excellent weekend. Wishing everyone safe travels as we all jet off to visit with families and celebrate Thanksgiving. (Also this bedroom - goals)




Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Mac & Cheese with a Jalapeno Chipotle Sauce

LORELAI: What is that?
SOOKIE: It’s macaroni and cheese.
LORELAI: It’s green. Why is it green?
SOOKIE: Because I made it with a jalapeno-chipotle cream sauce.
Besides the magic risotto, the homemade twinkie and the beef-a-roni Emily Gilmore made for Rory for a special occasion for the infamous Friday Night Dinners, I'm most excited to try out the Mac and Cheese with a Jalapeno Chipotle Cream Sauce. What is your favorite Gilmore Girl Recipe? My sister plans on making this for Thanksgiving next week and I cannot wait!!!

Ingredients:

12 ounces gluten-free elbows (or 16 ounces regular pasta)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (plus more for greasing the pan)
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
1 large jalapeno, halved and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons white rice or AP gluten-free flour
1 quart whole milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
16 ounces coarsely grated mild cheddar cheese (about 4 cups)
 Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter a large cast-iron skillet, casserole pan, or a 9 × 13-inch baking dish, and set it aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, following the package directions, until 3 minutes shy of al dente. The pasta should still have a bite to it. Drain, and shake out all the water. 

Meanwhile, In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter. Saute the scallions and jalapenos over medium-high heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook until it is fully incorporated, 1 minute. Add the warm milk and whisk gently over medium heat until the mixture has bubbled and thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Stir in the salt, pepper, mustard, and most of the grated cheese, reserving 1/2 cup. Add the pasta and toss to combine.
Distribute the mixture evenly in the prepared skillet or baking dish, and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbling and browned. If the top is not browned and toasty, stick the pan under the broiler for 1 minute. Serve piping hot.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Weekend Wrap Up...

 the last bookstore in downtown l.a.
 first stop is always Alfred's...
 not even two weeks until Lorelai and Rory return.
 the perfect ending...
so many cool nooks and crannies... 

(images via instagram)

Friday, November 11, 2016

Friday Morning

I don't know about you but I am wiped. With the election ending up the way it did, I haven't been able to sleep very well because I'm nervous. I'm nervous what the next four years are going to be like. But I'm hopeful and I'm going to try to have a positive attitude about this despite all the horrible things that will probably happen. How are you?! How are you feeling, were you shocked and surprised or did you see this coming?! No matter your opinion or your political affiliation, this space is a safe one and I promise I will never make you feel uncomfortable or unwelcome here. I'm concerned and scared and thinking of everyone in this country. If you're hanging in there, make sure to reach out to those who are upset or possibly in danger and offer them a coffee and a shoulder and maybe even shelter. More than anything let's just be here for each other. Have a good weekend, I'll be celebrating my birthday a little early this year since I have an intense week next week. I'll be hanging with my sister in L.A. Peace!!!


 
 

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Note to Self

A few years ago I created a bucket list (of sorts) of items I wanted to reach each year. Some harder than others, I'm still working on older goals like the 5K, yeah - that one may not happen for a while but others like cooking more at home, hosting or participating in book clubs, podcast clubs, creating and attending meetups to meet new people, doing community oriented activities like going to fall festivals/walking for breast cancer and mastering a manageable hair-cut for an almost thirty year old. 

Whereas some of the hardest ones, I'm just now getting to this year. I helped support a Rwandan Woman attend school and over the last year she sent me letters of her family and the progress she was making. She even felt confident enough to show me her grades in school and she was the top student - you go girl. The hardest thing yet, stop being a workaholic and make the effort to see and visit with new/old friends and follow through meeting up with them. I took a few trips to visit my sister in New York, an original piece of art was made just for me by a fabulous illustrator that I'll never get rid of, I own a handful of super fancy purses, I try to invest more in quality than splurge on junk, and I'm going to Paris for two weeks in the spring with my sister and friends. Naturally, the librarian in me has already found a great French tutor and I'm stalking up on books for the best vintage shopping, restaurants, not-so-touristy things to do and how to attain the effortless chic look of Parisian style. Oh and losing weight so that I look good trying to dress the part.

Since I've been a student nearly my entire life and now that I have the freedom and time, I can't imagine going home day after day and doing the same unproductive thing (i.e. staying on your phone the entire night) over and over and over. Now you're probably thinking, this girl has an insanely Type A Personality that has to plan every second of every day and has to be doing something all the time. I can be lazy and I enjoy being lazy but our lives are too short to not do more spectacular things with our time. Learning and incorporating new habits/hobbies (whether that's coloring, puzzling or learning a language or instrument) doing adventurous things and seeing the world are just a few things on my yearly list, what's on yours?
  

Monday, November 7, 2016

Weekend Wrap Up...

what I wore this weekend...
 what's on my desk.
 Working on Harry Potter riddles, craft and experiments.
 daily beauty routine.
obsessed with these candles. 

(images via instagram)

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Things to Remember

Two things to remember in work and in life, 
take care of your thoughts when you are alone
and you words when you're with people. 

Saturday, November 5, 2016

this week's favorites...





In his series titled Neon, Brazilian photographer Hid Saib creates portraits with neon paint which is illuminated by a single ultraviolet light. For more stunning photography, check out his site. What are you loving this week?

Friday, November 4, 2016

Friday Morning...

Good morning readers, how are you?! Can you believe it's almost the end of the year? I seriously can't!!! What are you up too this weekend? I'll be trying out different potions to make sure they actually work (and taste good) before our Potions Making event this coming week. At our library we celebrate Harry Potter all month long in November, so between catching up on reading for book clubs and working on potions, I might have to have a Harry Potter marathon. And if you're interested in what we listen too (and read) for the library podcast clubs, I'll include the articles we provide for supplemental reading for our nonfiction (Stranger Than Fiction) club. This month we listened to Lore, Episode 43. Have a good one and see you next week!!!


(Podcast Club Reading)


Wednesday, November 2, 2016

The Working Girl

This past weekend I went to the podcast festival, Now Hear This and had a blast. I went with little expectations, it was the inaugural event and now I only wish I had more than three days to talk to everyone I went to see. I never thought in going that this was in anyway work related but I had a defining moment while attending. I was lucky enough to meet some of the producers and stars of the shows. I have to admit that sometimes the starstruck takes over but I was reminded by the casual nature of the festival that these people are just people doing a job. I feel like I have spent so much time with some of these characters, their goofy, serious and straight forward, their comical and in your face. Given that I've been listening to some for more than five years, it's more than just a obsession. I've made it a part of my morning, workout and winding down routine so I can listen to what's going on in the world and enjoy long and in depth interviews and pop culture round table discussions.

 It was an experience and  I am so glad that I convinced myself to go. Most of my time was spent waiting right outside the door before each show. As we watched crew members and the podcast hosts walk in and out of the room you could see the irritation on their faces. They were irritated by the constant flashing of phones and being asked to take pictures. While I did take to social media, I took one picture with one of the guests. I wanted to talk to them. I didn't need the physical proof that I was there and I wasn't constantly posting. I wanted to pick their brain, ask them about the early conceptual stages of the show, why they took to this platform and what it's like to work nearly full time in podcasting. One of the producers I met and actually spent a lot of time with asked if I wanted to join his crew after the festival to get drinks. It was flattering but I didn't take the offer, I wanted to respect the boundaries between myself and the writers. They had to be exhausted, people were flying in from all over the country. And that was that.I didn't even realize it but I was networking at an event I went to enjoy! When I got into work yesterday, I had an email from that young producer and it totally made my day. He gave me what I needed most - inspiration. 

It's been near an eighth month hiatus for the blog but believe me it's on my mind everyday. I'm in a place where I'm constantly questioning everything and everyone around me. I'm still figuring things out when I thought I had all the answers. Remember when I pointed out that we (or more specifically me) are more than our jobs, I tend to forget that a lot. These people, these writers that I fell in love with over the weekend reminded me of just that. There needs to be more life in my day, I spend almost every hour of the week consumed by work. There's something I've been wanting to say for awhile now, I've lost the love and joy in what I do. There it is, out loud and now etched into this space. I've given a thousand percent on the job and I feel nothing. There's more to the story but that's where I'll leave you. Rejection and failure is constant, it builds character and it's good for you. Perseverance is key. Love, joy and happiness is everything. And permanence, nothing is certain in this life, except death. 

Just when I thought opportunity was around the corner, doors have been slammed in my face. So, I've been handling rejection very maturely with chocolate, wine and binging episodes of Revenge.  And then this weekend happened and possibility seemed very real. The conversations, the smiles, the passion and laughter. It put me at ease. For the first time in nearly a year, a connection was made between a girl and a stranger. That stranger gave me the advice and inspiration I needed to hear. I was surrounded by passionate people. A passion for writing, story telling, connection and communicating with one another. I never knew this space where I've been logging in post after post, time and sweat has been reviewed by some of the people that were presenting this past weekend and they each gave me words of wisdom, constructive criticism, motivation and inspiration and I already feel better.

So in case you're wondering if I'm half way out the door with the blog, I'm not. I'm still here. I want to be real with my readers and with the content I would like to produce - it takes time, planning and prioritizing and I'm working on it I swear. If you've made it this far, I applaud you. Every once in awhile, a long post is needed.  I'm hard at work with several projects but next year will be the seventh birthday and I have big plans for Sit and Stay Awhile. I hope you continue to read the blog and make sure to follow along on social media: facebook, instagram ,snapchat: sitstayawhile.

(image)

Leading Ladies

Five Things to Know About Bernadette Marie: 1. Trained and completed two degrees, an AAS in Communication Design and BFA in Textile S...