Thursday, March 31, 2011

letters


Dear Inner Crafty Goddess,
You totally put a new zipper in a dress and saved it from being unwearable! You might be better at this sewing thing than you give yourself credit for!
Dear Wino Self,
Remember how you felt the morning after ladies night and a whole bottle of wine. Please don't forget that feeling. It wasn't good. And you don't want to do that again, trust me!

Dear Sweet Toothed Self,
Keep it in check. I know it's fro yo stand season. Don't go crazy!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Hometown Hearts: Chicago, IL

 


I left New York State last summer after 20-something years -- my entire life -- to go to graduate school in Chicago. I'd only visited the Windy City once before but I'd fallen for its midwestern charms and it's comparatively low rents. Well, and I just needed a fresh start - I'd lost the job I loved, ended a long-term relationship and frankly, I needed to try something new. I've been a reporter for several years now, for the Associated Press and other publications, including www.alloveralbany.com. When I'm not busy with graduate school, I blog about gluten-free living (lifeofmymouth.blogspot.com) and walk my little dachshund-mix Ruby Tuesday Weld along Lake Michigan. I also tweet: @jmpasko96.  Random fact: I've known Capow since high school and we even did a stint as roommates a few years ago.

     Chicago has a really unique feel about it, something that I'm not totally sure I can put into words. It's a big city and it has lots of big city sophistication, but it's also a lot less pretentious than many cities, namely New York City. It's got a far more laid-back feel to it. There isn't as much pressure to look a certain way or be a certain way, and there's a hometown pride among its residents that I've really started to love. Ask a Chicagoan which city makes a better pizza and be prepared for a tirade on the pros of deep-dish versus New York-style.

     There are over 70 neighborhoods and "community areas" in this city so I've only explored a small portion of it after six months of living here, but here are some of my favorite places so far:



Edgewater
I really love my neighborhood, Edgewater, on the city's north side. One of the major issues in Chicago is that although the city has an incredibly diverse population, it's actually very segregated when it comes down to it. I'm fortunate to live in a vibrant neighborhood that's legitimately diverse and that hasn't quite undergone total gentrification yet. I kind of like the little bit of grittiness - most of the time. Back in the 1950s and 60s, Edgewater was where wealthier folks would come to spend their summers in Chicago, and there are still tons of towering condos and hotels along the beach. These days the elite has left those hotels and condos behind in favor of more exotic locales, but the buildings still stand, resplendent in their vintage quality.



Lake Michigan
 One of the things I love best about where is live is that the beach is right across the street from my apartment. There is little that makes me happier than being able to stroll along Lake Michigan with my dog. I had no idea how big the lake was until I moved here - you can't see to the other side - and on sunny days, the water almost looks turquoise.  It's even beautiful in the winter, when the snow and ice give it this amazing arctic look.


Andersonville
 Andersonville is the ying to Edgewater's yang. Or something. Technically Andersonville is part of my neighborhood, Edgewater, but it's really it's own little place. It's far more gentrified but none the less, very cute, chockful of cool houseware and vintage stores, cafes and great little restaurants. It's a short walk from my place and it's just such a charming little neighborhood. I love spending an afternoon here window-shopping, browsing and sipping coffee from the Coffee Studio. It was originally established by Swedish immigrants so many of the businesses still have that Scandinavian charm and the 'hood is even home to the small Swedish-American Museum.

The Chicago River Riverwalk 
This is one of those places I really like but don't go to enough. Hopefully that will change with the warmer weather. This photo shows the Chicago River on St. Patrick's Day, when it was temporarily dyed green in celebration. I'm standing below on the riverwalk, the promenade that goes along the river. You have to walk down a big set of stairs to get to it and it's just so pretty down there. It's a great place to spend a little time strolling along and watching the hub-bub of the city up above.

Millennium Park 
Okay, it's a little bit cliche to include one of Chicago's most well-known landmarks on this list, but I can't help myself. I love Millennium Park. It's no Central Park by any means, but it's awesome in its own way. Outgoing Mayor Richard Daley helped establish the park next to Grant Park and it contains some amazing installation pieces. One of those most popular pieces is this large silver kidney bean-shaped sculpture that everyone takes their picture in front of. Technically it's called the Cloud Gate, but everyone knows it as just "The Bean." In the summer there are also sprinklers to run in and concerts on the lawn in the Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion.

Pilsen
 Pilsen is a great neighborhood that I never go to enough because it's quite a long trip on the L from where I live. Originally it was established by Czech immigrants but it's now home to a thriving Mexican population, serving as something of a central spot for the city's large Hispanic community. I love the taquerias here, the plenitude of beautiful murals and other street art, and the wonderful little array of shops. I love that when I go into a business here, more likely than not I will be greeted in Spanish. I love that I can buy fresh tortillas at the grocery store from a number of tortilla factories located in Pilsen. But more than anything else here, I love the National Museum of Mexican Art,  which was the first of its kind in the entire nation. It's free and their Dia de Los Muertos exhibit each fall is not to be missed.

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Thank you so much Jess for showing us your side of Chicago!

If you would like to share your hometown with the world, please email us:
windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

petting zoo

 Ok, so not *technically* a petting zoo. My parents' neighbors have pet goats! This weekend I was visiting them, and my one year old nephew was there. He is obsessed with all the animals next door, so we bundled hm up and took him over to see the goats!


 They are all super cute, hand raised, and totally friendly goats. They were like little puppies, and clamoring for attention from us.


 The nephew's newest thing is giving kisses, and he wanted to give the goats kisses.


 The goats were loving it!


 This guy liked licking the nephews fingers. He was so gentle!



I've always thought goats were  cute (especially babies) and would be really cool to have around. These guys totally won my heart this weekend seeing how great they were with my nephew. Total sweethearts.

Monday, March 28, 2011

going out

Last week for the first time in a while I had two back to back events that I had been looking forward to attending! I was a little disappointed that the winter weather had stuck around and kept me from breaking out my new dresses, but still had fun none the less.

The first outing last week was the All Over Albany 3rd Birthday Party. I brought my great friend Kelly with me, and we met up with another awesome lady she's friends with. We had a great time, but didn't get to mingle much because this was the packed mob scene:


Fortunately, Kelly was able to make her way to the cupcake table and snagged each of us one of these delicious beauties:


As if that awesome party wasn't enough fun for one week, the very next night Severe Severe had a show! It was at Valentines, and I had a great time listening to some good music with great friends.




Sunday, March 27, 2011

March Giveaway Winner!


Congratulations! Please email me ASAP so I can pass your info on to Kat!
windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

Thursday, March 24, 2011

letters


Dear Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt Shop,
You are open for the season. This is very dangerous. I'm just glad that you don't keep pistachio yogurt on tap the entire season!

Dear Supermarket Up The Street,
You are more convenient, it's true. But the fact that I can't get dried figs from you is enough to make me shop elsewhere. Sorry.

Dear Miyagi,
Please stop meowing at the door every morning. I know you miss us, but I'm sure you can wait another couple of hours for us to get up on our own.

Dear Dentist,
I'm visiting you this weekend. I am not happy about this. Please be nice to me.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Hometown Hearts: Santa Cruz, CA



My name is Melisande, and I'm 21 years old. These days, I call Santa Cruz, California home. I moved here nearly 3 years ago, 18 and fresh out of high school. After graduating, I made a pit stop in San Francisco, and ended up moving to Santa Cruz. I'm studying to be a kindergarten teacher, and I wait tables on the Santa Cruz wharf. I live on the Westside of town, known for it's gorgeous, sprawling coast line and ridiculously close proximity to the ocean (I'm talking 200 feet from the end of my driveway!) I love that I have the best of both worlds here- the ocean and the mountains. I love so much about this city, but here are 5 places close to heart.


 

1. Wilder Ranch. This is the state park where my boyfriend and I had our first date, and first kiss, so it's very special to me. There are nearly 40 miles of hiking and bike riding trails, all along the bluffs and cliffs overlooking the ocean. 



2. Gilda's on the Wharf. Gilda's is my personal favorite breakfast spot in all of Santa Cruz, and that's saying something because the food in this town is amazing! It's "our" place to get breakfast, and we like to sit by the window and watch the waves. I always get scrambled eggs with sausage and bacon- SO GOOD!

 

3. Planet Fresh Burrito. Hands down, the best Mexican food in town. Also, the healthiest! I always get a veggie burrito or just rice and beans because their Spanish rice is the best! It's causual, fun, and within walking distance of my favorite ice cream shop (Penny Ice Creamery) and downtown. I probably eat here once a week, atleast.

 


4. Westcliff Drive. Westcliff is the stretch of road and sidewalks connecting the wharf to Natural Bridges Beach. The most beautiful houses line the road on one side, the ocean on the other. It's the perfect place to clear your head, go for a run, or take gorgeous photos. I like to climb down to the small beaches or sit on the rocks and watch sunsets. This is also the road I "commute" on to get to work - it's a rough life! ;)



 
5. Kelly's Bakery. This French bakery is less than a mile from my house! Over the summer, my boyfriend and I would bike there for breakfast- they have the best pastries in town. We later discovered their delicious burgers. I love Kelly's because it's so friendly, welcoming, delicious, and there is nothing better than sitting outside on the patio enjoying a pain au chocolat.

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Thank you so much Melisande for being the inaugural Hometown Hearts post!

If you would like to share your hometown with the world, please email us:
windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

green protein bowl

A couple of weeks ago, I came across this delicious and healthy sounding recipe on Jeremy & Kathleen, and I had to try it myself. If you want the recipe, please visit Jeremy & Kathleen's post. They've also included a TON of cool nutritional information graphics, so their post is definitely worth checking out!

 De-stemed and quartered mushroom caps. Seasoned and ready to be roasted!


 The quinoa cooking.


 The quinoa cooked!


 The recipe calls for you to make your own spinach pesto. I don't own a food processor, so I made mine in the blender. Definitely more labor intensive, but eventually I made it!


The Green Protein Bowl.
The recipe from Jeremy & Kathleen made enough for me to eat this for dinner for an ENTIRE week. M wouldn't even try it. He was grossed out by how it looked, but trust me when I tell you it's delicious! This will definitely become a staple in my clean eating diet!

Monday, March 21, 2011

march giveaway!

Hello there, my name is Katrina Herron and I grew up on an organic farm in Michigan, interned in NYC for four months, got my first job in Washington, DC where i lived for four years, and am now living in Boston, MA with my husband and two cats, Zoë and Frankie. You can find me at my blog (http://www.thestoryofkat.blogspot.com) or my etsy shop (http://www.thestoryofkat.etsy.com) where i sell embroidered and sewn items for your life and your home.

I just turned 29 on March 4th, got married to my best friend in Scotland this past summer, and have been selling my handmade wares on etsy since 2008 when i started to get burnout from my day job. I sincerely missed having a creative outlet, using my own two hands to make things, and having the supportive community that art school had provided me with. Once i realized that my shop and blog could provide me with all these things, it wasn't long before I got hooked and decided to go full force with it.

I've been sewing/weaving/drawing/photographing/you name it since i was quite young so this feels like a natural progression for me. I continue to pursue a career in art history/museums but no matter what, i know that creating will always be a part of my life in one form or another because it's something i just need to do. That and i can't seem to sit still without having something to work on!

I find inspiration in art museums, crafty blogs, nature, travels, the creative work of friends, and in my own family history. Literal or not, it all becomes a part of my designs and influences my materials and technique so that the items i create carry that story on to each home they become a part of.

My current favorites include pinterest.com (way better place to waste time on than facebook and so much less drama!), food52.com, the fabrics of designer Anna Maria Horner, brussel sprouts (no seriously, i tried them for the first time recently and now have daily cravings), vintage sewing books, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum (best museum in the world, no contest), and of course Anthropologie.


I'm so grateful to Windshield Diaries for this opportunity and look forward to sending out the giveaway loot to one of you lucky readers!



The winner of this giveaway can choose any two colors from the ones currently available in http://www.thestoryofkat.etsy.com!

To Enter:
1. You must be a follower of Windshield Diaries to qualify.
2. Comment on this post and tell Kat which item in her shop is your favorite!
(please be sure to leave an email address is your comment so that we can get in touch with the lucky winner!)

For Bonus Entries:
-Tweet about the giveaway (be sure to include @capowcapow in your tweet so that I can find it) then leave a comment telling us you tweeted.
-Like Windshield Diaries on facebook, then leave a comment telling us you liked us!
-Heart Kat's shop then come back and leave a comment telling us you did it!

Entries will be accepted until Saturday, March 26, 11:59pm Eastern Time

One winner will be chosen (via Random.org)!

This week...

...M & I took our first spring walk on the first day of spring.
...the second day of spring? SNOW ALL DAY LONG.
...worked worked worked on new art.
...got a text from a friend who was concerned he had seen me walking and wanted to know if I needed a lift. Apparently, I have a doppleganger on the loose!
...All Over Albany 3rd birthday party: cupcakes and booze!
...went to see M's band
...dentist appointment then family time.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

This week...

...nerves, anxiety, worries.
...totally re-vamped all 500+ listings in my etsy shop
...worked on some new illustrations!
...M surprised me by taking me to one of our favorite Mexican places for dinner.
...fell asleep listening to the rain pelting the window.
...watched a lot of CNN and thought about the people of Japan.
...got breakfast at Miss Albany Diner with M where we read our horoscopes...both were eerily right on point.
...thought about how ridiculous it was to be laying in bed watching Comedy Central and hearing the old man upstairs snoring louder than my TV.
...saw M's band play a great live show.
...discovered a bunch of awesome blogs & etsy shops!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

letters


Dear Life,
I can't decide if this past week you were kicking me in the gut, or kicking me into gear. I've got some big decisions to make and lots of work to do.

Dear Cadbury Eggs,
I have resolved this Easter season to not consume you. Not even one of you. Not even a Mini one of you. Let's see how this goes.

Dear Styles,
Please stop trying to bite off Miyagi's face / ripping out tufts of his hair / antagonizing him.

Dear Dresses,
Your time is drawing near...it is almost warm enough to wear you. Are you as excited as I am?

Dear St. Patrick's Day,
Oh, you're today? Sorry. I forgot. My bad.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Little Pet Shop

I'm very happy to announce the Grand Opening of my new Etsy shop devoted completely to pet portraits and art:

 


Right now, the shop is open with 35 customizable cat prints to choose from, and soon we will be expanding to many kinds of pets! I'd love for you to go take a peek around, and spread the word!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

call for sponsors and guest posts!

 Hey Friends! I'm going to be starting a new guest post series inspired by my etsy shop called Hometown Hearts. Hometown Hearts is a photography series I've been working on for about a year now featuring maps and conversation hearts. I thought the perfect companion series on the blog would be guest posts written by YOU about why you love your hometown, or the town you are currently living in!

If you would like to write a guest post about your favorite town please email me:
windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

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and, it's that time of month again:
We are looking for sponsors for April, and once again, these spots will be free of charge!
This is a great chance to boost exposure for your blog or etsy shop!
Our spaces are the following sizes:



Large sponsors are also given the opportunity to host a giveaway and have a sponsor profile post!
If you are interested please send an email:
windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

Monday, March 14, 2011

LOL

Our friend, Matt Kelly, is the co-producer of Albany's premiere monthly local comedian showcase, Laughs On Lark.

There is never a drink minimum at this comedy show, but the drinks at Elda's sure are tasty!

Jaye McBride, LOL Co-Producer and hostess for the evening.


Local Comedian, Bobby Masi


Deric Harrington had a funny set.


Matt and Jaye trying out something a little different. You can't see it, but Matt's playing a blues riff on his guitar.


Alan Fish


And closing out the night, our hilarious friend Matt!

If you live anywhere near Albany, you should check out the next LOL in April, it's always a good, cheap time. You can find out the details of the next show on the Laughs On Lark Facebook page.

And our friend Kelly was also there shooting, you can see more LOL photos on her blog!