Right Now...

... I'm buried at work and listening to this and thinking about the last episode of Weeds.

Composting

Do you compost at home? I've been interested in composting for a while now, and I finally decided to bite the bullet and give it a try. Each week, we recycle a lot, and we've found that most of our non-recyclable waste would actually be compostable. So, I ordered this compost tumbler on Amazon, and Charlie put it together last week. I chose that one because I wanted something that sat completely closed off above the ground and that I could easily agitate. So far, so good, though assembly was a beast.

Once it was all put together, we threw in bags of dry clippings that we've been stowing away from around the yard - branches, spent flowers, dead plants. We now continue to add food waste - banana peels, eggshells, etc. - to the pile. It still actually smells pretty good, probably due to the dried lavender :) When I get a good little layer of "wet" materials going, I'll add my compost starter to help everything cook up quickly.

Any good composting advice for me?

And I'm back!

I just got home from Lake Tahoe yesterday evening, and man have I been beat. This past week has been filled with lots of learning, sunshine, and wine. My team and I stayed in Tahoe City, and we had a view of the lake from our rooms. I absolutely loved the area. When standing on the beach or dock and looking all around ourselves, the view seemed so expansive that we could have sworn we saw the curvature of the earth. We spent an afternoon biking along the Truckee River in awe: huge, towering evergreens, beach, mountains, crystal clear water... I wish I had my phone or camera at the time.

I felt like we packed a lot into each day while in Tahoe, and now that I'm home, I feel like the days are long and empty. What do we typically even do to fill the time?! I'm feeling motivated to paint and work and get out and explore. Alas. 

Check out some more iPhone travel photos after the break...

Saturday

Lucy facing off against Roomba (instagram)

It's Saturday! What are you up to this weekend? I'm so happy to have a lazy morning at home. I'm looking forward to open-faced egg sandwiches, reading (this and this), and a long walk (before it gets too hot!). Charlie and I also can't wait to see this movie at the ArcLight Hollywood. It seems like a funny new summer classic that all ages could relate to.

Tomorrow, I head to Lake Tahoe for a work conference - the Conference on Implantable Auditory Prostheses. Super nerdy, but I'm excited for a week of learning, bonding with coworkers and friends, and cooler weather. In the meantime, check out a handful of links from around the web:

Can't stop listening to this and the rest of the album on repeat.

Ulric Colette has created a super fascinating set of genetic portraits. I'd love to see one of my mom and I.

Justin LeBlanc, a cochlear implant recipient, is set to appear on this season of Project Runway. Might have to watch!

Revisiting Samantha French's paintings and feeling inspired.

Loving this lazy hammock.

Finally - some packing tips here, here, and here.

Cyprus Trees

So dreamy. I really love all the photos on Lost, but especially this.

Home

In a few weeks, I'm heading back to Chicago. I just booked my flights today, and now I can't wait! Just thinking about the city is making me all nostalgic. I can't believe that we moved almost 10 months ago now, and we've only been back once - at Christmastime, and only to the suburbs.

Some things I miss about Chicago:

- Friends and family close by

- Watching my nieces and nephews grow rapidly into one-year-olds and toddlers and miniature adults

- Cute boutiques and cafes outside my doorstep

- Changing seasons (fall, mostly - not actually winter at all)
- Almond croissants, Intelligentsia coffee, and passion fruit macarons from Alliance Bakery
- Starfruit smoothies
- Rain

My visit will unfortunately be a short one, as I'm actually traveling for work. I'll have two and a half days open to visit with friends and family, a day and a half of work, and travel days. How much do you think I can pack in?

I really love California, its scenery, and its easy access to beach, mountains, wineries, and desert, but after over 27 years in Chicago, I can't help but think I'll always call it home.

The Terrible Tragedy of the Healthy Eater

Veggies at the Naschmarkt, Vienna (mine)

As a pescetarian, internet self-educator, and lover of all things Michael Pollen, this clever article made me laugh.

ASL Interpreter Steals the Show

I'm a little late to the game here, but at the Bonnaroo festival a few weeks ago, an ASL interpreter named Holly Maniatty was assigned to interpret for the Wu-Tang Clan, Beastie Boys, and others. She absolutely rocked it. Check out the clip above, as well as a full article about Holly on Slate. As Killer Mike told Slate, "You wonder how they can even keep up... That's an art form; that's more than just a technical skill."

Perspective

via kottke.org and unified pop theory

Are these really four different photos or just absolutely perfect prop styling and perspective? Super cool.

WELCOME!

Augarten in Vienna, Austria (mine)

And so it begins (again). Hello and welcome to my blog and internet home!

I'm Lauren. I live in sunny and dry Southern California with my husband, Charlie, and our rescued wire-haired Jack Russell terrier, Lucy. Over the past year, I had neck surgery, got married, moved across the country, started my first real person job post-graduate school, and bought a house. Phew! I'm tired.

This blog is a simple chronicle of stuff that I like and think you might like too. Visit often, and please say hi!