the bartlett

This past week I learned about an awesome new music venue in Spokane that will open next spring.  It's being started by an old acquaintance, Karli Ingersoll, and her husband Caleb.  Karli is an incredible musician and graphic designer and we hung out a couple times during my time in Spokane.  I'm super excited to see this endeavor come together and would absolutely love to take a little road trip over to Spokane to see a show at The Bartlett.


I still have a thing for Spokane.  When I was going to school there, I often would get annoyed with students who were from other, "cooler" cities, like Seattle.  They would constantly complain about how there wasn't anything to do in Spokane, though they would never take the effort to actually get off campus and see what was actually going on in Spokane's art and music scene.  By the time I got to my senior and fourth year of living in Spokane, I decided I wanted to do something to expose those people on campus to what was going on in the city.  If they weren't willing to go see what awesome things were going on, what amazing art shows were happening, what incredible local musicians were playing at cool venues... well then I would bring it to them in the form of a magazine.  I put out my first issue of Corsair, a full color magazine fully funded, designed, and put together by me.  I recruited a few friends to help write articles and shoot some additional photos, but for the most part it was my pet project.  I met so many amazing artists and musicians, and visited some incredible bars, restaurants, and venues and my love for the city grew 10 times!

Karli was one of the artists featured in my first issue.  At the time she was working as a graphic artist for a local firm and playing music in venues around Spokane and the Northwest.  She is one of the most talented and passionate women I know, and I'm a big fan of supporting the endeavors of other creative, passionate, and entrepreneurial ladies out there.

If you're a graphic design nerd like me, you'll love seeing this little timelapse of the process Karli went through to get to the final design for The Bartlett's logo!



I know there are probably not a ton of you who live in Spokane or even the Northwest, but if you want to help Karli and Caleb start this awesome new contribution to the music and culture scene in Spokane, you can contribute to making The Bartlett become a reality by clicking and donating here.

all photos via The Bartlett facebook page

tomato basil parmesan soup

Okay, I promise that the next recipe I end up posting will not be soup.  It's getting a little ridiculous.  We eat things that aren't soup... really, we do.  In fact, I made orange chicken stir fry and bbq pulled pork just last week.  I'm sure we'll be eating a ton of leftovers this week, which is pretty much the best part about Thanksgiving.  I remember I used to eat so many leftover mashed potatoes as midnight snacks when I was a kid.  Also: candied yams.  Yum!  What's your favorite Thanksgiving leftovers snack?

I'm trying to resist getting stressed out about moving next week.  We're supposed to get the keys to our new place on the 28th and we have to be totally moved out by the 30th because a new couple will be moving into our little house on December 1st.  Ack!  We have to get all our stuff out, fix any little holes in the wall from hung artwork, clean the carpet and everything else all in a very small window of time.  Thankfully we have lots of friends who will help out in exchange for beer and pizza (the universal wages for helping a friend move).  I'm sure everything will go smoothly, and we've got a few days before we actually do any moving to pack everything up.  Plus we've got a storage unit on wheels, aka the Winne, to put boxes in!  I'm trying to get ahead on stuff and get some posts scheduled for next week when I'm sure I'll have zero time (and probably zero internet, yikes!).

(Recipe via Today's Mama)

Ingredients:
2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced carrots
1 cup finely diced onions
1 tsp dried oregano or 1 T fresh oregano
1 T dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil
4 cups chicken broth
½ bay leaf
½ cup flour
1 cup Parmesan cheese
½ cup butter
2 cups half and half, warmed (or skim milk if you’re trying to cut some calories)
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

1.  Grab your slow cooker and throw in the tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, oregano, basil, and bay leaf.
2. Cover and cook on the low setting for 5-7 hours, until flavors are blended and veggies are soft.
3. About 30 minutes before serving, prepare a roux: Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add the flour. Stir constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes. Slowly stir in 1 cup of the hot soup from the slow cooker and then add another 3 cups and stir until smooth. Pour everything back into the slow cooker, stir, and add the Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt and pepper. If you'd like, you can add more basil and oregano, since sometimes a slow cooker can dull the flavor of spices.
4. Cover and cook on low for another 30 minutes or so until ready to serve.  Makes about 2 quarts (appx. 8 servings).

This soup is seriously so creamy and delicious.  If you don't have a crock pot, don't worry!  You can find instructions for how to make this soup over the stove here!



People frequently ask where I got this bowl, and unfortunately for anyone looking to buy it, it was handcrafted by one of my friends from college.  You may be able to find something similar on etsy?  This is the only bowl I own that isn't a cheap $2 plastic bowl from Fred Meyer, which is why it's so popular here on the blog.

Life Lately

This past week has been really odd.  One of those weeks where a bunch of little things happened that individually wouldn't be a big deal, but put all together causes me to lay awake in bed until 4 am, unable to sleep.  Lately I keep having dreams about apprehending our bikes/bike thieves in super awesome ways.  I think it might be due to a combination of my subconscious not letting go of the situation and watching too much Revenge.  Emily Thorne would've totally schemed a way of finding those bikes, amirite? (no spoilers, we're only on the 1st season!).  It's kind of disappointing to wake up and have it not be real though.  Damn you, dreams.  This next week is going to be absolutely crazy, but in a good way, I think.  November, you've gone by so quickly!

Looking forward to...
Moving out of our house.  Hopefully.  If everything works out like it's supposed to (which it hasn't been lately), we'll be moving next week!  I can't even describe how excited I am to get out of this little place.  Especially with the events of this past week, it's almost like the universe is telling us to bid good adieu to this house and have no qualms about moving on.  Okay, universe.  Message received.

Excited about...
Finishing up my last few blog design clients!  I'll be taking a break after that which I'm pretty excited for.  I've been doing blog design for a solid two years now and, while I love it, I think taking some time off will be a nice time to center myself and do some projects for just me.  Start painting or drawing again!  Plus, I'm excited about the blog design I'm currently working on for a client, so that's fun too.

Watching...
Revenge.  Dan and I started last week and it's pretty good so far.  One of my favorite things is that Tom & Lorenzo blog about it, and I absolutely love the posts they do on Fringe, Mad Men, The Walking Dead, etc.  It's almost as fun to read their recaps as it is to watch the episode.  I'll almost watch any show they blog about, just because I suspect they wouldn't waste their time blogging a show that sucks.   Plus they are absolutely hilarious.  But anyway, Revenge is a fun show.

Proud of...
The fact that I've actually been keeping up with this Insanity workout.  I've been doing it for a whole month!  I'm pretty infamous for starting a workout regimen and then falling off the wagon a week (or less) later.  Except for a couple days here and there, I've been able to stay up with it every day, and I feel really great, and definitely stronger.  Dan and I are hoping to get a membership at the climbing gym again soon, so it'll be nice to have access to not just the rock walls, but also all the fitness classes and weights.  I'd like to start doing more yoga again too!

 
 
 
 
rocks + moccs at Ruby Beach // checking into the Lake Quinault Lodge red lips + my new Moorea Seal necklace // the culprits who popped our car tire. booo. lady date + my late nokia 6010.  RIP little phone.  // best whisky ginger at 1022 South Bluebeard Coffee Roasters looking shiny // all of the beers. lady date times Bluebeard coffee and a donut from the new Legendary Doughnuts on 6th ave! Some fun links around the interwebs:  Dan shared this link with me to brighten my day.  It definitely did that, though I also believe it ruined my productivity for a good hour, haha.  I just discovered this show, and it might be my new favorite thing.    Found my perfect Christmas tree ornament.  My life is now complete.  I've watched this many times, but it's always so good.  So in love with this beautiful print!  Wine ice cream you say? Uh, one of each, thanks.  Since it's officially after Thanksgiving now, here's a fun Christmas song by one of my favorite artists, Karli Ingersoll.  This video definitely made me miss Spokane.  Karli and her husband are opening up a new music venue in Spokane and I'm sure it's going to be incredibly awesome. 

happy thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I'm so thrilled to be able to spend this holiday with people I love.  I've felt so blessed over this past year.  I can't wait to see what this next year holds.

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