300 Days of Sunshine

Salted caramel apple cake... obviously... This cake disaster pretty much sums up my week last week.  I was overcommitted personally and professionally, trying to get everything done in an unrealistic timeframe, racing against deadlines (many of which are self-imposed), burning the proverbial candle at both ends, and insistent on doing it all, while simultaneously burned out on Halloween, planning Ady's birthday party, and this awful time change (not to mention transitioning into the final trimester of pregnancy while chasing around a toddler).  Whew.  In the midst of an already busy week I decided to bake a fancy cake (because, autumn).   What I was hoping to make.... (photo from the Brown Eyed Baker blog site) It all seemed to be going perfectly smoothly until the moist layers fell apart in the flipping phase and the icing never seemed to solidify.  I was so deliriously tired by that point in the evening that I couldn't stop laughing.  Le...

This morning we experienced our second snowfall of the season in Santa Fe.  While the fluffy white flakes are beautiful and I look forward to wintertime, I can't help but feel cheated out of the final weeks of fall.  I planted my bulbs a few days ago, and I guess I was just in time before the first freeze!  I'm hopeful that my gardening efforts will come to fruition and that I'll have a garden full of tulips and daffodils come springtime.   Today also marks three months until our due date with Baby Girl!  With every milestone we grow more confident and excited to meet her.  T here's nothing like waiting for the arrival of a baby that makes one contemplate the importance of hope.  Working in acute care, I encounter hope (and lack thereof) in my work everyday, and I have had many discussions with colleagues on what hope means to a patient's survival and outcomes.  In today's political and social climate, hope can seem like a lost cause, a...

October has become my favorite month, especially since moving to New Mexico.  The vibrant yellow aspen trees are breathtaking in mid-October, the scent of roasting green chile fills the air, and people come from all over the world to the ABQ International Balloon Fiesta.   It's hard to believe that this is our ninth autumn in the Land of Enchantment!    The temperature is cooling off and the days are getting shorter, calling us to center ourselves and direct energy inward in preparation for the months ahead.  Here are a few things keeping me busy during my favorite time of year: Aspen Vista 1.  One of my favorite fall traditions in Santa Fe is hiking Aspen Vista.  Ady is in that "in-between" stage of wanting to walk and then wanting to be carried, changing her mind every few minutes, which makes long hikes impossible right now.  Our hikes have become more like casual nature strolls, which is good practice in being present and letting g...

We have some big changes coming our way as Ady prepares to be a big sister!  Baby Girl #2 is due January 28th!  Ady is over the moon about her new important role, telling all her friends and teachers the news.  She is such a helper and so compassionate, and we think she's well-prepared to look out for her future little sis.  I can't wait to see their relationship develop once Baby Girl arrives. I found out that I was pregnant in May and I had my first ultrasound just before going to Alaska in June.  We had a healthy baby with a beating heart!  I told Jaycob the news as an early Father's Day gift before we departed on our trip.  We were excited to share our joy with close friends and family members over the summer, either in person when visiting, or over Skype with family across the miles, but we decided to wait as long as possible before going public.  It was really special to be able to keep Baby's existence to ourselves and just be prese...

At the hospital where I work there's a big, east-facing window in a little-used corner stairwell with a gorgeous scenic view of the foothills, and right outside the window is a large Aspen tree.  I love seeing that tree as I come down the stairs every day and watching the leaves turn a little more yellow each day as we get closer and closer to the first day of fall.  And fall was definitely in the air this week!  The temperature is dropping in the high-40s at night and I can almost smell the change in season (not to mention the aroma of roasting green chile!).   There are a lot of fun things going on around town this month including Fiestas de Santa Fe, the Renaissance Faire, story time at the library, and lots of park play now that the weather is cooling off.  We're hanging onto the last few (official) days of summer! Speaking of summer, one of my favorite new warm-weather recipes this year is these mind-blowing lemon-limoncello cupcakes with a lemon tar...

For the second year in a row I had the unique opportunity of attending the Santa Fe opera .  I enjoy musical productions and feel fulfilled by a night of artistic expression.  The creativity and the emotions portrayed in a theatrical performance have a way of renewing my faith in humanity, and I find art to be increasingly important to reflect and reframe our world during trying times.  What better way to celebrate creativity and art than through Puccini's La Boheme , depicting bohemian lifestyle in nineteenth century Paris.    It wasn't until I read the synopsis prior to the show that I realized that RENT  was a modern day re-telling of the story, which made me even more excited for the show! La Boheme  tells the story of a group of four impoverished artists in Paris, navigating  a society that values industry over art,  plagued by class divides, and struggling with financial hardship,  love triangles, relationship woes,    ...

I took an extra day off work for my birthday, determined to spend the weekend doing all the things that bring me joy.  I had a lovely weekend that allowed me to really be present with my friends and my little family, while also enjoying some much-needed "me time."  I had a coffee date and park play with my favorite toddler, saw La Boheme with the hubby at the Santa Fe opera, got a pedicure, enjoyed a yummy dinner out with good friends, and caught up with some friends and family across the miles.  I made time for reading, journaling, and knitting, which always helps me feel balanced.  I didn't let myself get caught up in mundane chores, social media, or work-related tasks.  And I did all the things I love. On my birthday morning we went for a family hike to La Vega in the Pecos Wilderness.  This is one of my favorite medium-distance hikes and one that is largely underrated, in my opinion.  The hike begins with uphill switchbacks along the Windsor T...