Curious Creativity

Is it mine? Is it really mine?

2009-10-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

Its just so cute!

Weighted keys...

looks nicer than a keyboard...

Must be my very own digital Yamaha CLP950! **Sigh. About this time last year I had a keen desire to rekindle my piano playing abilities, (which had slowly deteriorated after the age of 12). For Christmas I requested only $$ for my new piano. I was generously rewarded with a fair share of funds and days became weeks and weeks became months. I looked for a piano, I promise I did... but I got distracted somewhere between looking and purchasing. Until yesterday. The two concepts finally converged and VIOLA! I have a perfectly lovely piano in my living room. It is my new love, and, as Jared has calculated, our 3rd most expensive asset. Ha!

You'd never know it borders the ghetto

2009-10-03T18:26:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of outside shots of our apt building. We're top right.

I win

2009-09-16T06:01:00.000-07:00

I bet I cried more than all of you combined during this season premiere. Couldn't help it....

and a fun friday was had by all

2009-09-11T16:10:00.001-07:00

No work, a lovely day, the outdoors to enjoy it all in and my very own Jared.What can I say? The boy makes me happy... every day.

Our Mansion

2009-09-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

Of course its not, but you'd be amazed at how upscale a 2 bedroom with dining room AND living room can feel. I'm embarrassed to reveal my lack of photography skills, but.... here we go. A tribute to our new apartment, (minus Jared's "Cougar Den." He has yet to clean it up :))

Jared found this lovely yucca tree for free on Craigslist, and that nothing but our brute strength and our car's sun roof are responsible for its perfect position in our living room

A fake fireplace of my very own!
You can't tell from this picture but the view of the sun rising every morning is spectacular.

Food is fun!

2009-08-24T19:06:00.001-07:00

The sis Tanilee and I are contributing to a new recipe blog! Check out our tasty treats here

Shhhh!!!

2009-07-23T05:35:00.001-07:00

I want to win this backpack for Jared! And he really never reads this so if I win I'm pretty confident he'll be surprised. If you want a chance to win a cool Ogio pack too--don't go to the following website. You'll spoil my chances. j/k. Really. I love this blog for coupons and things!

China's best. According to Jared

2009-07-19T18:02:00.000-07:00

Jared's back from his 2 month internship in China. And here are some of his favorites of what this orient nation has to offer.

t-shirts with random english quips and phrases. This one sports Chinese enthusiasm for environmentalism?? I wonder.

Chinese food! The spices, the quantity, the cheap price. What's not to love? Oh, and the entertaining company. Its a family Jared knew on his mission in Toronto.
The unique architecture! This monster of a building is known among locals as "the pants."
The bike helmets!

Seriously? Well, they caught Jared's eye. When he saw McDonald's delivery boys scootering around Beijing in these beauties he said to himself, "and I shall have me one, and one for the wife too." Lucky me. I wear it like the lucky champ that I am :) ...don't let the less than thrilled look in the pic deceive you. Oh--and don't forget the $2 Ray Bans.
There's nothin like homemade baozi

Awe, and here we are trecking through the Ohio woods again, together again at last :)
Thank you China! For returning my husband-- a more handsome, slim/trim, swine flu free, and fashionable fellow than I remember! (The only place he will shop is China, where clothes are cheap and tailoring free).

China-town, Microbiology and Moving

2009-06-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lapse! I've been busy packing these driving this

and then moving it all to live for 2 months in something that resembles this

(Go me! :) What complicated matters what that my body decided to feel like this

And I decided to start a masters and take a course from 6pm-11pm Mon/Wed involving looking at these guys (gross!) --streptococcus bacteria.
Meanwhile, Jared's off having a grand ole time in a faraway land where traffic police wear vests that say "traffic warden"

and food items are described as "captivating with relish"

He's seen

and been seen with

Can anyone guess where he's gone? Beijing China! His new home for almost two months. He'll come back to me on June 27th and I can hardly wait :) ... so he can move all those boxes out of our temporary residence and into our new one! ;-) There you have it. Our fantastic summer affairs.

Food frenzy

2009-04-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

I guess my number #2 love, 2nd only to Jared, is coming out: FOOD!

Here's a deliciously nutritious recipe for... could it be.... icecream? I'm going to make it soon and let you know just how it stands up against the real thing.
BROWN SUGAR ICECREAM

ingredients
1 cup (195g) cooked short grain brown rice1 cup (245g) reduced fat plain yogurt1 cup (240 ml) non-fat, skim milk1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar2 tablespoons golden flax meal1 teaspoon lemon zest1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor until the rice begins to break apart. Pour into an air-tight, freezable container.
Freeze for 3-4 hours or until firm.

2009-04-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

Jared and I love trying new hummus recipes!
Here's some of our favorites. Let me know if you have any as well!

Black Bean Hummus
1 clove garlic 1 (15 ounce) can black beans; drain and reserve liquid 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon paprika 10 Greek olives

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 cup tahini
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup roasted red peppers
1/4 teaspoon dried basil

Rosemary Artichoke Hummus

2 garlic cloves 3 to 4 tbls fresh rosemary, roughly chopped (I've used dried rosemary too, about 5 pinches) 1 - 15oz can of garbanzo beans 1 - 15oz can of quartered artichoke hearts, drained. (I've also used the marinated smaller cans to add more flavor) Juice of one lemon 3 to 4 tbls EVOO Salt to taste

Did you hear this?

2009-04-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

I've just become a huge fan! Mostly of this song (though not as done by Tears for Fears--sorry guys), and also of Adam Lambert. For those of you who watched American Idol last night. He was the last performer, and definitely stole the show. Now I can't get Mad World out of my head.

For Danika

2009-04-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

My current crochet project. Imagine this in 12 connected squares... w/o the hook in the middle. Retroness for sure. Sorry the picture's so dark.

And this little diddy is what I just completed a month or so ago. Cutest, most simple neck scarf you'll ever knit. Thanks Martha.

2009-03-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

Visit one of my new favorite blogs for a chance at this lovely prize!

In search of more delicious Monte Cristos

2009-03-04T16:15:00.000-08:00

Seriously guys. This is all you need to know about my birthday. (Well, almost...)
My compliments to the woman's blog from whenst this picture came. Thank you Ferguson family (no idea who you are... but there were other yummy treats featured, so take a look).

This is the deal though, folks. Monte Cristo (bit-of-heaven-in-10-lbs) sandwiches are hard to come by. Everyone I rave about them to is like "Monte Cristo... like the Count of?" And I have to be like "No, the sandwich!" They never know.

Who here has ever experienced the goodness of this sandwich?? Please let me know. I've had it at Disneyland (though for a pretty penny) and now Melt, here in Cleveland.

Tell me people: Where else can I get a Monte Cristo???

For those of you who don't know, a Monte Cristo is a ham, turkey and swiss sandwich on thick white bread, deep fried, sprinkled with powdered sugar and berry sauce on the side for dipping. A-MAZING.

Obviously there were other magical parts about the grand "golden birthday" (27 on the 27th), like Jared waking up early to draw me up a hot bath, rubbing my feet, making me waffles, buying me a plant, okaying the purchase of my new favorite hair toy--the Chi, and taking me to see Valkyrie. Great day. THE END.

2009-02-24T15:13:00.000-08:00

ALSO I must report on a recent happening of which I have never before participated. THE ACADEMY AWARDS. Though I had never watched the show in full before, I found myself quite entertained throughout the whole event. Although, why is it that over half the movies nominated I had never heard of let alone seen??? I guess I need to get out more.

Without a doubt, my most favorite competition was between two of my most favored composers: A.R. Rahman and Thomas Newman

You can get a little flavor for both in the following:

A.R. Rahman has scored music for hundreds of Bollywood films, and now won two Oscars for his work on Slumdog Millionaire.

This one is just for listening. Thomas Newman has done soundtracks for tons of movies. If you've ever seen Little Women, Meet Joe Black, Finding Nemo, Green Mile, Angels in America, Horse Whisperer, Pay it Forward, or Wall-E, etc. you've heard his tunes.

I really have to give credit to former roomate, Wendy, for introducing me to the world of Bollywood. As she recently posted: "...the Bollywood revolution is here, people. Embrace it."

What the heck, I'm on a roll. Here's some of my favorite Bollywood tunes.

Things that get me all excited

2009-02-24T03:56:00.000-08:00

My early b-day present came early in the mail yesterday!

Please don't judge me. I never thought I would be investing in one of the most EXPENSIVE pieces of hair care equipment--mind you I did not pay what one normally would. Its just that after experiencing the finesse, the ease, the speed and efficiency of a Chi over Christmas in my mother-in-law's bathroom, I knew I needed one of my own. Now that its come, my hair will never be the same.
Please believe me when I say that I am twenty trillion times more thrilled than that half hearted smile you see. AND my hair is silky smooth and straight.

Food, Food, Glorious Food

2009-02-15T17:26:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, my life revolves around food. I'm not necessarily good at making it, but I do love to try and I love to eat.

This year for Valentine's Day I told Jared he didn't have to get me anything, but with my allotment of grandma and grandpa's generous donation, I bought myself one of the world's smallest wonders and my greatest delights. KUMQUATS!
These delectable little fruits are pungently sour when you first bite in, and then delightfully sweet when you finish. (Its the skin that's the sweetest).

THEN we made Mulligatawny soup! Its delish, and was made famous by the "Soup Nazi" episode on Seinfeld. Its seriously one of those soups that I make on accident when I'm trying to use all of my going bad vegetables... only this one is ah-mazing :)

If you can't tell from the picture, or if you're too lazy to click on the link ;-) there's EVERYTHING in this soup, from spinach, to granny smith apples, to sweet potatoes and lentils, to onions, celery, ginger and chicken! I swear, its the greatest. Happy day after V-day to ME!!!!

ps. Speaking of food, Jared just announced this morning that he-- once what I would describe a "meat and potatoes" man--- could live off of fruit smoothies and pitas with veggies, falafal and hummus. That's it. As a wife seeking greater health for her family, I feel like I could die tomorrow a happy and accomplished woman :)

I finally....

2009-02-08T19:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday. It was my first race in a loooong time. All week I was gearing up for it. 37 flights. 600+ stairs. And I had no idea how it would be. I've never run up more than a few flights at one time. Would this take me 25 or 45 min? Would my legs be on fire or would I even break a sweat?
Well.

As it turned out, two friends signed up and we raced together-- doing the fun walk. EVEN WALKING we finished in like 15 min. I felt like I just did a series of light stretches or something. To make up for the lack of physical exertion, I told the ladies to drop me off in the middle of downtown Cleveland so I could meet Jared on the other side of the city at a market. BAD IDEA.

No sooner had I progressed a few blocks, than I was surrounded by buildings under construction and men with few teeth muttering or screaming things to themselves. Then I realized I was lost. Then I called Jared and got the "what did you think you were doing" lecture. Then I met up with him and life was safe again. AND I felt triumphant.

Miranda vs. Cleveland

Miranda won again.

What the heck's been going on?

2009-01-23T07:47:00.000-08:00

Well... first there was this:

Thanks to Tanilee for providing the photos

Then there was this:

(Got a job in the HR dept)

Lots of this:

High	Low	Precip

Actuals	7°F	-10°F	0 in.

In between everything there was lots of this:
And at the very end of course we celebrated this!

Don't worry. Now we're back.

Miranda vs Cleveland

2008-11-23T13:33:00.001-08:00

Don't worry. Miranda always wins. My coworkers first thought it was silly that I CHOSE to ride my bike to work every day. Now, with "Lake effect" winter storm warnings on the news every other night, they think I'm crazy to keep riding in. The fact of the matter is this. I enjoy exercise. I am poor. If I didn't ride to work, I would spend another 30-50 min. jogging in this cold.... so why not be productive with my time and let my exercise take me places. Like to work in the morning and home at night. Nuff said. Bike on.

Hey- who knows what to do for gears that freeze? That's one royal pain of this whole biking business.

Also noteworthy: I am some sort of a gardening success story. My christmas cactus has not bloomed in over 2 years... low and behold, maybe the move to Cleveland helped it change its tune.

Jared bought me flowers for our wedding anniversary Saturday:

I had my eye examined by an iridologist. I thought I was a pretty healthy person. Well, guess who was mistaken. I have a toxic liver. My immune system is weak. My pH is off balance, and my thyroid could be better. Huh. Now, there's no real science behind iridology, so I don't know how much stock to put in this woman's diagnosis, but I'm interested enough to try a few things she mentioned, and was fascinated by the conversation. How does my eye look to you?

Here's some pics from a trip to the cemetery a while back. The place is massive, and its pretty famous. President Garfield has a huge memorial there. We even got locked in. Some favs and then a collage.

Tagged by Becky!

2008-10-19T15:06:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by my friend Becky. Here goes. 7 random things about myself:

1. I'm going to copy my friend Alyssa on this one, but its true! On the weekends when I let myself sleep in past 5:40am I LOVE to let my alarm go off just the same, freak out for 3 seconds, and then remember that its the weekend, peacefully slipping back into my grateful slumber.

2. I can make my own reeds! Yesterday I just finished making an oboe reed. From scratch! (practically). And it worked! so I finally got to practice. :)

3. I ride my bike 5.5 miles to and from work every day. And the weirdest part is... I like it. (most days)

4. I'm named for some woman in a star trek episode. yeah. rock on my trekkie mother.

5. I finally am a paid personal trainer! (and an unglorified secretary)

6. My ohio state driver's license features a picture of me as a 10-year-old.

7. I love food and i love to eat it. I know this is no surprise to most of you, but the ladies at work seem to think its the strangest quality for someone my size. They just see me eating all day and can't get over that i'm half their size. well- hello! eating small amounts of food 6 or so times a day that is actually good for you is much better than, well.... lots of other options.

I hereby tag the following: Tanilee, Cassandra, KC and Telia.

catch-up

2008-10-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

I got a job!!! Well. Sort of. I was hired through the temp agency, to help out in Warrensville City School District's Special Education office. Shortly thereafter the director asked me to apply for the position I was filling in for. We'll see. I have a BCI/FBI background check on Monday. Pray that my shady past hasn't caught up with me ;-).

Next up. Weekend trip to Niagara Falls. (Mixed in with the albums are pics from our most recent adventure to Cuyahoga National Park).

niagara and cuyahoga jami style

This album is compliments of Jared and I. (Our camera is more crappy though.) Our two couple friends, Chris and Ashley and Nate and Paige sponsored the next album.

niagara and cuyahoga naiger crash style

Synopsis of Niagara: Canada side is more scenic than American side, (as anyone will tell you), but the whole city surrounding the site is very Vegas style. Lots of lights, people, expensive restaurants and cheap shops. Smoking, gambling, and clubs are among the popular venues. A more quaint town about a 20 min drive north called Niagara on the Lake is by far a better place to actually spend the night. B&B all the way.

General Conference weekend was a-mazing. Favorite talks so far: Elder Bednar's on prayer:

The patterns used by God in creating the earth are instructive in helping us understand how to make prayer meaningful. In the third chapter of the book of Moses we learn that all things were created spiritually before they were naturally upon the earth.

“And now, behold, I say unto you, that these are the generations of the heaven and of the earth, when they were created, in the day that I, the Lord God, made the heaven and the earth,

“And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth” (Moses 3:4–5).

We learn from these verses that the spiritual creation preceded the temporal creation. In a similar way, meaningful morning prayer is an important element in the spiritual creation of each day—and precedes the temporal creation or the actual execution of the day. Just as the temporal creation was linked to and a continuation of the spiritual creation, so meaningful morning and evening prayers are linked to and are a continuation of each other.

And Elder Anderson's:

put simply by the title of the talk:

You Know Enough

Our spiritual journey is the process of a lifetime. We do not know everything in the beginning or even along the way. Our conversion comes step-by-step, line upon line. We first build a foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We treasure the principles and ordinances of repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. We include a continuing commitment to prayer, a willingness to be obedient, and an ongoing witness of the Book of Mormon. (The Book of Mormon is powerful spiritual nourishment.)

We then remain steady and patient as we progress through mortality. At times, the Lord’s answer will be, “You don’t know everything, but you know enough”—enough to keep the commandments and to do what is right. Remember Nephi’s words: “I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.”²

I love these simply stated yet profound reminders and analogies for life!!!

Last of all. Look what I've finally taken the time to get started on:

Reed making!!! Watch out youngsters. Its time for yer oboe lesson.

2008-09-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

I love music! I think it is the singular, most influential mood modulator there is, for me. Take track 44 for example- on my "TN appreciation" list. "Down to Earth," by Peter Gabriel. I'm a big fan of his. I think he's a great lyricist and his melodies are always unique with a variety of instruments, sounds, chord structures, etc. Anyway, give track 44 a listen and see how it makes you feel. Here's the lyrics too, just for fun. (Sting and Coldplay are also longtime favorites... Coldplay's most recent album- Viva la Vida- is a much better representation of this uniqueness I crave than their earlier stuff).

Did you think that your feet had been bound
By what gravity brings to the ground?
Did you feel you were tricked
By the future you picked?
Well come on down

All these rules don't apply
When you're high in the sky
So come on down
Come on down

(chorus) We're coming down to the ground
There's no better place to go
We've got snow upon the mountains
We've got rivers down below
We're coming down to the ground
To hear the birds sing in the trees
And the land will be looked after
We send the seeds out in the breeze

Did you think you'd escaped from routine
By changing the script and the scene?
Despite all you made of it
you're always afraid of the change

You've got a lot on your chest
Well you can come as my guest
So come on down
Come on down

(repeat chorus)

Like the fish in the ocean
We felt at home in the sea
We learned to live off the good land
We learned to climb up a tree
then we got up on two legs
But we wanted to fly
When we messed up our homeland
and set sail for the sky

We're coming down to the ground
There's no better place to go
We've got snow upon the mountains
We got rivers down below
We're coming down to the ground
We'll hear the birds sing in the trees
And the land will be looked after
send the seeds out in the breeze

We're coming down
Comin' down to earth
Like babies at birth
Comin' down to earth

Redefine your priorities
These are extraordinary qualities

(repeat chorus)

What's in a song??

2008-09-21T17:31:00.001-07:00

I love music! I think it is the singular, most influential mood modulator there is, for me. Take track number 44 for example- on my "TN appreciation" list. "Down to Earth," by Peter Gabriel. I'm a big Peter Gabriel fan too. I think he's a great lyricist and his melodies are always unique with a variety of instruments, sounds, chord structures, etc. Anyway, give track 44 a listen and see how it makes you feel. Here's the lyrics too, just for fun. (Sting and Coldplay are also longtime favorites... Coldplay's most recent album is a much more amazing representation of this uniqueness that I love in artists than their earlier stuff)

Did you think that your feet had been bound
By what gravity brings to the ground?
Did you feel you were tricked
By the future you picked?
Well come on down

All these rules don't apply
When you're high in the sky
So come on down
Come on down

Did you think you'd escaped from routine
By changing the script and the scene?
Despite all you made of it
you're always afraid of the change

You've got a lot on your chest
Well you can come as my guest
So come on down
Come on down

(repeat chorus)

We're coming down
Comin' down to earth
Like babies at birth
Comin' down to earth

Redefine your priorities
These are extraordinary qualities

(repeat chorus)