annaliisa’s Neighborhood

Moonmallow (the adorable plushie above) and I hope you and your loved ones have some very happy hollydays this year. ^___^ I've been busy with buying pressies for my friends and family, wrapping the pressies, and sending out cards to people over the past few weeks. Everything seems like a blur-- but a very happy blur!

I'm sending many warm thoughts your way. <3

Ok, this sounds dumb, but I find this tip very useful. I can't believe I've been so inefficient with bananas all my life.

This is one of my favorite Christmas memories. The time is December 1996 -- it was my freshman year in a mostly Jewish college, 3,000 miles from home. I lived in a tiny 2-bed dorm room with my roommate Coreen, from Alaska. We were probably both a little homesick, culture-shocked (more about the east coast-ness and the college life than being the minority non-Jews).

We were both of the mind to get a little Christmas tree for our room. Neither of us had cars, so we took the campus "Bran Van" to Home Depot, which was a few blocks from the van stop. Home Depot only had full-size trees. What the hell, we thought. So we lugged the tree a few blocks back to the stop, called the van, and squeezed the tree inside, with the other passengers eyeballing us like we were insane (that's not to say they weren't at least partially correct).

With a trail of pine needles behind us, we brought it up to the third floor and started decorating. We didn't have money for much besides ramen and microwave popcorn those days, so we made some popcorn strands and fashioned ornaments from construction paper -- snowflakes, paper chains, spiraly things. All the while drinking hot chocolate with candy canes and laughing about something. It was fun, and a little wacky.  Our ginormous tree in the window really lit up that side of campus. People visited us just to check out the Christmas tree. And we'd go to our friends' places to watch them light another candle on the menorah.

I don't have as much time to make all my ornaments now, but every time I get a tree I think back to the first one in DeRoy hall at Brandeis. We named it Ralphie.

Or any other body part for that matter. Now it was another story for Alex and Josiah.....

Going...going...

Gone!

Josiah falls down.....again.

Fancy Skating Tori

Steve trying to make me skate faster

Ashley ice skating

Sophia about to break out some fancy moves....or not

Josiah not falling

Mr. Bill Ice Skate

Last year, before making my 2009 New Year's resolution, I decided to take a look at my 2008 resolution and evaluate my performance.

So often we get into the habit -- or at least I do -- of making a resolution, thinking about it for maybe a few months, and then it kind of just disappears. I've found it helpful to take a look back and see what went right and what could use improvement.

Last year, I narrowed down my 2009 resolution to one goal: Achieve a better work-life balance.

I had been in a miserable job that was sucking the life out of me. I took on every responsibility I could, with the hopes of getting my "big career break". Later, I realized that it was never really attainable at the organization, mainly for political reasons and just by the nature of that company.

In terms of career and how it relates to my personal life, I've learned a boatload this year, so I feel successful with this resolution. Several times in my life, I've robbed one area (life) in order to focus on another area (work), thinking that I'd get back to life once I'd won my successes in work. I'm not quite sure how to articulate this, but I don't believe this works.  At least, not for me. I realize now that I need to live as a whole person. There will undoubtedly be times when I shift focus to particular areas of my life, but in general the "robbing Peter to pay Paul" principle never paid off. At work I probably would have been more successful if I actually worked less -- and was able to somehow adjust their expectations of the job, and also their level of respect for marketing and for me.

I've also learned that transformations in my life rarely happen as a result of a particular incident. It's more of a gradual process usually. I realized that I'm not a very patient person. I need to have more faith that things will just work out. That if I continue to strive for excellence in my job (and life), that the right opportunities will come along.

So, last year I left my insane job and started a new (saner) job. The funny thing is, at my current job, I didn't have to fight for the respect and the position I felt I deserved. I'm working normal hours. I'm definitely feeling more balanced.

Next post.... 2010 resolutions...

Frequently, I will fall madly in love with a piece of furniture that leaves even my closest friends & allies scratching their heads in confusion. Such was the case with my new desk. When I first showed it to my husband, I could tell he was skeptical, but knew better than to say so...When the glimmer is in my eye, just back away.

It was love at first glance on Craigslist for me: 

Original

So I contacted the owner to arrange a viewing. We had several conversations over the course of a few days while attempting to fit our schedules together and I learned that the desk had belonged to his mother and he had the pity-able task of sorting out her belongings. I told him that I was a furniture maker and would take really good care of it...that I wasn't sure if I would refinish it, or leave it alone, but either way it would be loved. In a small way, I think these exchanges may have been a bit therapeutic for him, as I sensed he was perhaps a bit choked up on the other line.

I should mention, in addition to being incredibly kind, he was also extremely fair with the price ($45 for desk, chair, & mirror) and generously offered to deliver it to me for free.

So yesterday, when he showed up, it was an easy no brainer. I saw it on the truck, knew it was love, handed him the money, and brought it in the house. It was a little dirty from being in storage, but a little simple green & elbow grease was all it took to clean up nicely: 

my work station

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While pulling out one of the drawers, my husband discovered hidden treasures had fallen into the back of it. I couldn't believe it - a beautiful desk AND hidden treasure! I had hit the jackpot. The best things we found: an antique bottle opener, stolen from a San Francisco hotel called The Raphael; a porcelain lid to a tiny box (this must have made her CRAZY trying to find it); an old silver swiss army knife? or nail cutter?; and best of all - a tiny gold skeleton key with a #2 on it.

Treasure

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Doesn't that just pique your sense of wonder & adventure like crazy???!!!! WHAT on earth does that key open and HOW will I find it?

Well, those questions may have to go unanswered. I plan to call the man today and offer him what I found...but I'm REALLY hoping he doesn't want them back, because I love them so much! I would like to keep them with the desk, either displayed behind my computer or in a shadow box on the wall. Each item has so much history and so many secrets to tell...If I am allowed to keep them, I know they will provide endless inspiration and possibly good luck while spending long hours feverishly writing at this desk.

Get ready for the year-end lists!  I'll start with my favorite books from this year (not published this year - books that I read this year).

Best Cookbook
Actually, this deserves the distinction of being the best cookbook I've ever read. Simple Cooking, by John Thorne.

Simple Cooking

John Thorne

Simple Cooking reads like a memoir; it's a book of recipes based on a lifetime's worth of memories, musings and travel. Thorne brings out the essence of the art of cooking, and shows just how satisfying it can be to create a meal from a few simple ingredients. There are recipes for simple everyday meals, with variations to make fancier versions. He doesn't give you a recipe, he delves into the essence and a bit of history of the recipe. A quick read.

Best Cookbook Runner-Up
I thoroughly enjoy The Flavor Bible, by Karen Page and Andrew Dorenburg.

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs

Karen Page

The book is a reference guide to flavor affinities. I use it to try creating my own recipes. For example, I had a bunch of coconut milk and cucumbers (odd, I know). They happen to work well together, so I looked up some other ingredients in the book and made a coconut milk salmon dinner.

Best Novel
I really enjoyed Brooklyn: A Novel, by Colm Toibin.

Brooklyn: A Novel

Colm Toibin

Toibin paints a brilliant picture of Italian-American and Irish-American culture, and the challenges of moving to a new land.

Best Guilty Pleasure
Well, it's not really guilty per se, but it's a quick, fun read, and it sucks you in. Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven, by Susan Jane Gilman.

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven

Susan Jane Gilman

The way it starts out, you think it's going to be a travel memoir-meets-coming-of-age story. The account quickly descends into a tale of frightening mental illness and harrowing, slim escapes from very real dangers. I bought the book to read on a plane ride, but read it so fast I was done before leaving for the trip.

Best Non-Fiction
A Voyage Long and Strange, by Tony HOrwitz.

A Voyage Long and Strange: On the Trail of Vikings, Conquistadors, Lost Colonists, and Other Adventurers in Early America

Tony Horwitz

I read this at Steve's suggestion, and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's all the history you probably never learned between when America was actually "discovered" (by Vikings), and the pilgrims. Even for history buffs, this book is likely to be enlightening. And the author injects a good sense of humor.

Best Makeup Guide
Ok, ok, I've only ever read this one makeup guide. But I found it quite useful. If you've never learned how to really apply makeup, this is a go-to manual. Easy, lots of pictures, and comes with techniques and product recommendations. It's not just a commercial for Bobbi Brown products.

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro

Bobbi Brown

Best Business Book
The Product Manager's Desk Reference, by Steven Haines.

The Product Manager's Desk Reference

Steven Haines

I'd consider this a must-read for just about anyone working on the business side (sales, marketing, product management, executive management) of a B2B company. It's a clear "how to" guide on creating and running a successful product management organization. Even if you're not a product manager, it gives invaluable business insight on what will make the business successful.

Best Travel Guides
For an authentic experience, try the Slow Food association's travel guides. They are only available for some countries. I used this guide for Italy and it led me to some of the most memorable experiences of my life. Truly.

Happy reading!

When I was a desk jockey in San Francisco, I frequently changed my desktop image to something happy and tropical because I was, well - unhappy & cold. Now that I'm back in Hawaii, I wanted to put some images out into the internets, in case anyone out there is searching for warm, flowery, happy, tropical, Hawaii wallpaper: