Things That Made My Week

photo via wolf-teeth

This week, almost ten years after I first came to the US, I became a citizen. This is a little bit bittersweet (mostly sweet :), but it's safe to say this has been a huge milestone for me. I'm backpacking Big Sur this weekend with my brother and Forrest to mark this occasion. I can't wait to share some photos when I come back.

And here are some other awesome things that happened this week:
- this app for helping me remember to rest my eyes every 20 minutes
- sun tea!
- tutorial on how to draw a star and forrest following it to the tee (protractor and all)
  to finish my favorite birthday cake
- i adore these pretty window screens (via rmtl)
- arrested development's collection of recurring gags (for brushing up before sunday)
- traveling alone is apparently fun (via emily)
- the crazy super shuttle driver that hauled ass so i could make my flight
  or he could get off work early. i'm not sure which

I hope you have an awesome long weekend!

Citizen Olga

photo by mark b

Oh, hai. I just became a citizen of the United States of America. What did you do this morning?

Camp Dress

clockwise from top left: gray | coral | stripes | black

The first time I went backpacking (as an adult), one of the girls on the trip told me to bring a comfortable dress. I was a little perplexed, but I brought my bright blue J.Crew loose-fitting dress. (I'd link you to me wearing it on backpacking trips if my ex-bf hadn't made them private :) Once we got to our camp-site all the girls busted out their dresses and started changing. Allow me pass on their infinite wisdom.

Scenario: you get to your campsite and want to change into your camp clothes.
Problem: it's too cold/you're too shy to strip down to your skivvies.
Solution: take off as many layers as you're comfortable with, then slip into the dress and change under the dress. BOOM.

I wish I still had my blue dress, but I took it on a trip to Russia and my aunt loved it so much that I had to leave it with her. So...I got to shop for another 'camp dress' for my backpacking trip next weekend!

P.S. I went with 'coral' :)

Summer Song

photo via theyard

Last weekend I got my first (mild) sunburn after a hike despite slathering on SPF 75. So, while the summer hasn't officially started, I think it's safe to say it arrived in Southern California. I've been compiling my summer 2013 playlist (do you guys do this?) and this song was my first pick.

♫ itunes | spotify | youtube | rdio

P.S. This is my 500th post. nbd.

Scones & Clotted Cream

I woke up at 8 something on Saturday for some reason. Ballet wasn't until 11, but I didn't feel like lounging around in bed all morning. I schlepped out into the kitchen, fed the cats, and thought about breakfast. Usually I go for something simple like eggs, or german pancake. But this weekend was different.

Things That Made My Week

photo via thruhiker

On Tuesday about half-way through the day I happened to glance at my (oldie) watch and literally did a double-take. It's only Tuesday?! *groan* Another long week. Programming 16 hours/day is wearing on me. But hey, it's been fun too. I'm not complaining.

Oh, btw, in less than 7 days, I'll be out in beautiful Big Sur, backpacking to Sykes Hot Springs! Ermahgerd, so essssite.

Here are some things that made my week happy:
- finishing one of my side projects - yaaay!
- how well do you know the world? (one of my friends got 27807 points)
- an impromptu fudge popsicle at work (consider me inspired)
- listening/watching this at least once a day
- crispy potatoes for dinner
- this commercial featuring my favorite basketball player (durant)
- russians are (hilariously) terrible drivers
- Missy-dog's rescue mission off a mountain made me teary
- i feel like google glass owners need a background check :)
- the coolest cat! (double treat for you guys, the video is in french. enjoy!)

Hope you find some time to relax and breathe in the Spring air this weekend. xxOO

tycho is my drug as of late

Constellation Quilt

photos via kickstarter

How awesome is this constellation quilt?

I'm kind of a obsessed all things stars. I've seen the Griffith Park Observatory planetarium show twelve times now. And every single time I get teary when they first show the beautiful starry sky. It is absolutely breathtaking. (Btw, if you live in LA and haven't gone, you're missing out.)

Kind of embarrassed to admit this, but I have a nightlight that's a star globe. When you turn the light on, it gives off this soft blue light and shows the constellations. (One of my fellow star-obsessed coworkers gave it to me when he was leaving.) I feel like such a kid having it in my bedroom, but it's seriously awesome. Methinks I need the constellation quilt to make it a complete bedroom set. No?

Also, the video is really well-made. I had never heard of Haptic Lab. City maps on quilts! People are so cool!