moop shmoop

(Photo by Moop)

Yes, I finally own a Moop bag. I've had my eye on this Letter Bag in Gunmetal Gray forEVER. Biding my time, saving my pennies & stalking it. It does not disappoint. The design is so thoughtful and classic and spot-on. The construction is impeccable. I mean, just wow. It's sturdy and beautiful and it is mine.

Photos of my very own Moop to come....

new haircut

Chop chop.
New haircut at the end of February.

this week on tumblr...

A few recent favorites from my tumblr...

(L.L. Bean Signature Women’s Classic American Outfits)

(The Sartorialist: On the Street….Emmanuelle After Dolce & Gabbana, Milano)
& this almost makes me want to buy a navy blazer with gold buttons. minus the shoulder pads. i hate shoulder pads.

Mark Your Calendars: Liberty of London for Target March 14th | Apartment Therapy San Francisco
Umm, I’m EXCITED about this.

build-a-thon

Master Carpenter, 2005

If you read this as an RSS feed, you may not have notice the new tab on my sidebar. So I'd like to draw your attention to it. Reader, meet my new tab, "Capital District Habitat for Humanity Build-A-Thon Donate Button". I'll call it The Button for short.

Throughout the entire month of April, folks from around New York's Capital District will be working together to build decent and affordable housing for our low-income neighbors. Each volunteer has pledged to raise $150 to support the Build-A-Thon and Habitat's mission. Companies, churches, civic groups, schools and individuals can form Build Teams and register to volunteer on the Habitat construction site for one day in April.

• Live in the Albany area? Then sign up to build! Info and registration available at Habitat's website.

• Not in the area/can't build this April? Well you can sponsor me! Click on The Button to donate safely & securely online through Firstgiving.com.

I've told you guys about Habitat before (here and here). Some of you know that I'm a long-time volunteer with Habitat. You may or may not know that my grad degree, volunteer time and professional career have all centered on affordable housing and social justice (what?! you aren't a Professional Blogger and Maker of Beverage Cozies?!). Safe, decent & affordable housing is important, and it's even more crucial in these tough times when so many families are feeling the pinch.

Donations of any size are tremendously appreciated :)

count me in

Who is else super pumped for the Census? Being somewhat of a data person, I was really looking forward to participating in Census 2010... democracy! be counted! liberty! one if by land, two if by sea! citizenship! flags! elvis! fourth of july! etc.

I sat down with a few black pens, cup of tea and my reading glasses, ready for an exhilarating evening. Then 45 seconds later, it was over. I mean, the questionnaire was completed and the envelope sealed and it was totally over. That's what you call a classic nerd let-down, my friends.

chocoholic chicken

My cousins gave us a little pasta gift basket for Christmas that include a package of chocolate pasta. I'll let that sink in. CHOCOLATE pasta. Can you imagine?

We followed the directions on the back (kind of) last night to make a Savory Chicken Mole. But I cooked it in the crockpot, because, well, I love the crockpot. Here's my take on the recipe:

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 vegetable or chicken bouillon cube
• 1-2 tsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• 3 chicken breasts
• 1-2 cups diced tomatoes, undrained
• green onions, optional
• 1 package chocolate pasta*

And the beauty of the crockpot, is that the rest of the directions are:

1. Throw everything in the crockpot except the diced tomatoes and pasta. Cook on low for 8-9 hours. Add in the diced tomatoes and keep on low for another 30 minutes or so. Cook pasta. Serve yourself, throw on some green onions, eat.

*If your cousins suck and did NOT buy you chocolate pasta this holiday season, then I suppose you can just use regular pasta. Too bad about your sucky cousins, though.

tea time

I could really use a tea party right now, couldn't you? With hand-thrown mugs, of course.

blog & business workshop

Just a quick note to let you all know about the blog & business workshop, that has been happening all this week over at m.writes. It's full of great ideas, inspiration & conversation, for all of you fellow bloggers & entrepreneurs out there!