b l o g o r e l l i

Project 365: Day 1

Flowers from a sweet co-worker (thank, Kels -- daisies are my favorite!)

PROJECT 365: DAY 365, THE LAST ONE!

I told you that I had a great something planned for this last (!) photo of Project 365. Well, actually, I didn't plan for us seeing our old neighbors and their now 16-month-old twins to fall on this final day, but I couldn't think of a more perfect ending.

We haven't seen these babes since they were little snowballs and now they're walking twinkies (a nickname from Mama.) WOW. I loved seeing our friends too, and catching up. I realized why I liked doing this yearlong photo assignment -- ultimately, a year is made up of so many special *little* moments, easy to forget and not always captured in any way ; now I can look back at these photos and see my highlights of 2010.

So long and thanks, Project 365. Hello, new project for 2011: I'm calling it the Amelie Initiative, you'll get the jist here.

PROJECT 365: DAY 364

Tonight, a double whammy (and by that I mean, miss) -- the rice in our new Zojiroshi rice cooker didn't soften (due to leaving the steaming rack in, oops) and my recipe from the Indian Slow Cooker book should have been called Suck Yellow Lentils instead of Simple Yellow Lentils.

Oh well, both operator error, I suspect. In other news, tomorrow is my LAST photo for Project 365! Will I be able to top rice? Let's wait and see, hA HA.

PROJECT 365: DAY 363

I love Bostonians with a sense of humor -- and a Smart car. Of course, this person will likely cut me off in a rotary someday, but for right now, drive on.

PROJECT 365: DAY 362

Bobby has been growing an impressive Van Dyke while participating in Manuary with his office dudes. Tonight was the shaving, and I asked him for a half on/ half off. Thoughts on a preference?

PROJECT 365: DAY 361

A little late for this year, but I'm already excited to decorate for the holidays 2011!

PROJECT 365: DAY 360

C'mon, black and gold, do me right when it really matters

PROJECT 365: DAY 359

A true new beginning -- my hubs in his new Stiller shirt (and requisite Yuengling as accessory)

PROJECT 365: DAY 358

Everyone is on the road to recovery...and Massachusetts! Hopefully, we'll make the 10 hour drive back in time to do our NYE dinner tradition with Half Pint/Mr Car and Cho/Bobby Crocker (and Dick Clark) tonight.

PROJECT 365: DAY 357

Last day at home <sad face>
I always want "one more day" in PA...but we've had that (The Prof caught my bug and we put off our drive so he could recuperate a bit.) Maybe I actually need one more + 1?

I know there won't be some AWESOME Steeler kiosk in the middle of any New England grocery stores.

Le sigh.

PROJECT 365: DAY 356

A quiet place where I always check in while at home...hard to believe that over three years have passed since Nona and I started having our "visits" here

PROJECT 365: DAY 355

Another day in bed, of which I only got out of once -- to take this sad shot from inside the window

PROJECT 365: DAY 354

Guess who caught an aggressive stomach bug RIGHT after Christmas? I spent the day wrapped up in bed...but Rusty looked cuter doing it.

PROJECT 365: DAY 353

Family (2010)

PROJECT 365: DAY 351

My first Christmas Eve dinner "out" ever -- I have to admit, it was quite the treat

PROJECT 365: DAY 349

Who wants Baileys? An early Christmas gift from The Prof, tee hee.

PROJECT 365: DAY 348

Cozy night of takeout and gift exchange with Cho, Bobby, the Barbarian Boy Kings...and a special appearance by Poppi!

PROJECT 365: DAY 347

SNOOOOOOOOOOOWWW!!!!

PROJECT 365: DAY 346

Last night, a holiday season sleepover with Niamh and Cian. Despite having what I thought were HOURS of activities nothing took more than 15 mintues and we ran out of stuff before bed. Above, a shot of our "Gingerbread Village."

Parents of the world, you are officially my heroes.

PROJECT 365: DAY 345

The Boys in their winter coats. Up next, muttlucks...

PROJECT 365: DAY 344

Justin Townes Earle at the Royale to support his new album...a(nother) great show, even better than the one we saw last year at Great Scotts. On a side note, the JTE twitter feed is entertaining and slightly puzzle-like.

PROJECT 365: DAY 343

Have I mentioned that The Prof and I are sharing our humble abode with a particularly mischevious gnome? His official name is "00Gnome," (Double Oh Gnome) and he was gifted to us from The Nachos as a thank you gift for watching their cat Min. The Gnome officially hails from the Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. 

I like how 009Gnome is shifty, he changes location every day...buuuut I must say he's a bit of a pervert. This morning he was in an underwear drawer, and I've found him perched up on the ledge in the shower. 

Bad Gnome!

PROJECT 365: DAY 342

you KNOW it's nearing Christmas when our usual haunt, The Pleasant Cafe, changes it's placemats

PROJECT 365: DAY 341

There is just nothing like Anthropologie's visual displays -- and they really go all out for the holidays.

Extra credit:

PROJECT 365: DAY 339

I call this one, "Most Mornings"

PROJECT 365: DAY 338

MILF?

PROJECT 365: DAY 336

One might wonder, what could Rox Diner possibly do to improve on their already stellar brunch and lunch menus? Did someone say Thursday Night Burger Night? YES! None of the pretension of Met Bar, all of the juicy goodness of R.F. O'Sullivans near my old apartment in Da 'Ville. Yum.

PROJECT 365: DAY 335

Bit of a crazed, overworking week...luckily The Boys know how to brighten their human's day

PROJECT 365: DAY 333

Today, I cut over 2,750 pieces of paper as part of a project's production at work. All the very narrow edge trims left these intriguing geometric patterns once the blade on our giant scary cutter slice 'em

PROJECT 365: DAY 332

A lovely holiday-themed brunch with Jeffé and Ms. Clairvoyant...my contribution was, of course, the Christmas Pickle.

PROJECT 365: DAY 331

Whiskey drinkin' season is here <exhale>

PROJECT 365: DAY 330

Has anyone else noticed that Boston Terriers  are   everywhere? Me too. Luckily, the Design Group has our own mascot (usually on Fridays) -- Ms. Rhoda Ruff

PROJECT 365: DAY 330

Tara and Hal (The Norwegian) came over for dinner and brought some celebratory cupcakes for belated birthday wishes. Also along for the ride was Karl! the wonder dog...who showed The Boys what was what as far as how to get an entire full size tennis ball into one's mouth.

Oh yea, we drank two bottles of wine that The Prof brought back from Lisbon, too -- score!

PROJECT 365: DAY 329

WOW -- Communispace just hired its 300th employee! Conveniently, she is located in the U.K., so we all gathered to celebrate with tea and scones.

PROJECT 365: DAY 328

Tonight, The Prof and I took the Curry Up! Indian Street Food class at the Boston Center for Adult Education (his sis got us a gift cert last year for Christmas, thanks T!) The class was taught by this funny little Indian chef, and I learned three main things:

- a lot of street food is fried using a chickpea flour batter
- the different foods are all built using the same "building blocks"
- Indians must have some natural tolerance for sodium, or they all have high blood pressure

Extra credit:

PROJECT 365: DAY 327

An experiment with the Polarize app on my iPhone

PROJECT 365: DAY 326

Introducing CLANCY MURFORELLI, our 2010 Christmas Tree!

We (ok, I) decide to get the tree Thanksgiving weekend this year, so we could fully enjoy for the entire pre-Christmas month. Since the tree needed to last a while, we decided to take my co-workers advice and cut our own at Durkees Christmas Tree Farm. The tree farm had three varieties of trees, and we went for the Concolor (White) Fir. The needles are long and almost silvery green -- which I love because the whole tree looks very vintage and Victorian.

Apologies to anyone else with a Christmas tree, because ours is THE BEST! Seriously, the shape is A+ and the just the overall color and look have given me cause to crown it the #1 Murforelli Tree ever. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Extra credit:

 

Project 365: Day 325

Last walk of the season at Milenium Park this morning, The Prof and I were sad to realize that it's getting too cold to take The Boys for extended jaunts outside.

Project 365: Day 324

Family portrait of my guys, taken on one of our favorite family lounging spots

Project 365: Day 322

Jiminy Cricket is already a SuperMom -- she managed to send me these awesome prezzies right on time for my birthday, even though her firstborn is mere weeks old!

Project 365: Day 321

Dread morning frost! (but I have to admit that the color and textures looked like a beautiful sunrise on my windshield)

Project 365: Day 320

ALERT: Sandy is growing out her 'do, taking a cue from the follicular progression of the L Word seasons (ha ha?) I am preparing to pass through the four phases of Beatles...when I hit Lennon, I'll have my desired length.

Project 365: Day 319

Things have been a bit off-kilter since my other half jumped the continent...just look at these two deviants

Project 365: Day 318: 33 today

I am 33-years-old today. WOW.

Although I'm planning for a  banner year, since 11 is my lucky number so 11x3=33 is auspicious to me, I won't lie and say that time doesn't seem to be gaining speed in its passing. The past two years have been great, though -- I got married, found a new job, and traveled to Europe. Who knows what might happen between now and 34?

I expect the best.

The ChoBos went out of their way, inviting me over for a(nother) quiet(er) celebration. The gals in the Design Group at work had pastries (complete with candle) waiting when I got in this morning. Finally, my sweet husband continued to completely spoil me, hiding one present a day to find while he is away this week AND recruiting 33 people to call me for my special day!

Thanks, everyone -- you made this old(er) bird feel so very loved and special.

Project 365: Day 316

BIG and exciting field trip today with Cho, Bobby, and BBKs as we accompanied to the Member Preview of the new Art of the Americas wing at the MFA Boston. In case you aren't local or haven't heard (since the opening transcends the Boston art scene,) the MFA raised $504 million dollars to expand the musuem by 53 new galleries. The press has been massive and very positive.

After visiting this morning, I can see why everyone is in a swoon -- the new building overall, and galleries especially, are amazing (be sure to check out the "invisible" Italian glass cases. Even though the visit only lasted a few hours, I definitely plan to go back for a more thorough walk-through. On a personal note, Cho works in the MFA design department, who put in mucho effort to create all the collateral for the opening, including new maps, the *gorgeous* suite of invitations to all of the opening events, and numerous other pieces...so to her and Jill, a big KUDOS and CONGRATS!

Extra credit:

Project 365: Day 315

In a haze of Thanksgiving geekiness, I bought a Groupon for Plimoth Plantation ("The official site of the first thanksgiving" and yes, it's spelled that way.) A few weekends before the holiday seemed like a perfect time for a visit, especially when I heard about expected temps in the 60s.

I really enjoyed all the recreated homesites, although apparently The Prof and I missed the memo about bringing kids, since everyone had 'em. We decided that someday we'll take The Barbarian Baby Kings back to PP on a little field trip.

Full set with captions here.

 

Project 365: Day 314

Every time I take another Fall photo, I fear it's the last -- the leaves are crispy on the sidewalk and even the colors in this shot were enhanced by the rain.

Project 365: Day 313

Sufjan Stevens just happened to be playing in The Bean to coincide with friend Ashley's birthday -- actually a great show that made me realize we really need 1. a confetti gun and 2. a balloon drop at our next party.

Extra credit:
HAPPY DAY (and 30th year,) ASHLEY! Since 11 is my lucky number, your birthday is the most auspicious.

Project 365: Day 312

Everyone knows commercial success is all about the merchandising (why do you think every exhibit at Graceland empties into a gift shop?)...as such, I am proud to present Blogorellifest, The Prof's latest product since Blogorelli "The Book".

I must admit...I am a delicious seasonal brew ;)

Project 365: Day 311

Working on a little project that involves all of the photos taken in our wedding photobooth last year (!) -- looking back at everyone mugging it up for the camera is a fun way of reliving that day.