I haven't done a photoblog in quite some time, but these pictures deserved a black canvas.
Congratulations Albert & Shawna. (click the link)
5.19.13
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
RNASA Awards
This year the X1 Exoskeleton Team was nominated for an RNASA Awards. RNASA is the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement and it is quite the honor to even be nominated. I was fortunate enough to get to represent the team at the awards banquet last Friday night in Houston, TX.
There were 134 nominees from across the country in 4 total categories. In the Team category there were 29 nominations, and although we didn't win, it was such an honor to even be there.
This banquet is like the who's who of space. Charles Bolden, Gene Krantz, Gene Cernan, Colonel Tom Safford, Mike Griffin, Eileen Collins, Michael Foreman, Nicole Stott, Sandra Magnus, and more I can't even remember. I was star stuck every time I turned around and it was really hard to contain myself from going up to some of these people and asking for a picture. (I didn't) Mostly we just eased dropped on their conversations and tried to pretend that we fit in :)
Because this banquet is such a big deal, it also meant that we had to dress to the nines. Fancy fancy fancy. Jeremy rented a tux, and I was in a long dress. (My boss even called me at 5pm to make sure I was dressed appropriately. Thanks for the confidence Ron).
Since it was staged and presented like the Oscars, and since I'm sure you want to know, I will tell you all about my dress.
Designer: Unknown
Store: Goodwill
Price: $10
Alterations to fit a 34 week pregnant lady: $22
Total Cost: $32
SCORE!
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Planning a trip
A few weeks back I started looking at some books on Germany, and now that the excitement of the parents weekend and baby shower is over, I thought it was a good time to go revisit this crazy plan of mine.
I've decided that we are going to visit Germany at the end of August. So far I have the trip planned out for 16 days, so that we can get home on a Saturday and only take 10 days off work. (I can just imagine how that Monday would go after getting in late on Sunday with daycare drop off and work. I'm guessing infants don't adjust well to jet lag and time changes).
I know people think I'm crazy for trying to do Germany with a 2 month old, but if not now, then when? Plus, I'm hoping he'll be pretty happy in the Baby Bjorn that toting him around won't be too much of an issue.
Tentative Plan:
- Fly into Frankfurt, drive or train to the Rhine Valley
- Take 2 days in the Rhine Valley staying in Bacharach
(Rhine boat trip, Visit St. Goar, wine tasting, tour Rhienfels castle)
- Day drive down to Fussen
(or a train to Stuttgart then renting a car to take us the rest of the way to Fussen) (5 hours, yikes!)
- 2 days in/around Fussen
(Castles! - Hahenschwangau, Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau, Linderhof)
(Hiking and Luge Course)
- 2 days in Salzburg
(Hellbrun Castle, Berchtesgaden Salt Mine, Mirabell Gardens, funicular to Hohensalzburg fortress)
- 1 day in Nurnburg
- 3 days in/around Rothenburg ob der Tauber
(relax in this most awesome little town, and visit all the Christmas shops)
- 3 days in/around Munich
(Hofbrauhaus, beer gardens, Dachau, Marienplatz, English Garden, 4 Gates)
(Funf Hofe, Nymphenburg palace)
I know there's a lot of great places to visit north of the area, but with only 16 days I think that this will be enough. Plus I wanted to give us a lot of down time just to walk around the towns and nap/feed when we need to.
If you have any suggestions of sights we need to see while we are in this area, please leave a comment. Also, any suggestions for how to cut down on that 5 hour drive from the Rhine to Fussen would be great. Are there any cute little towns that we should visit along the route?
I've decided that we are going to visit Germany at the end of August. So far I have the trip planned out for 16 days, so that we can get home on a Saturday and only take 10 days off work. (I can just imagine how that Monday would go after getting in late on Sunday with daycare drop off and work. I'm guessing infants don't adjust well to jet lag and time changes).
I know people think I'm crazy for trying to do Germany with a 2 month old, but if not now, then when? Plus, I'm hoping he'll be pretty happy in the Baby Bjorn that toting him around won't be too much of an issue.
Tentative Plan:
- Fly into Frankfurt, drive or train to the Rhine Valley
- Take 2 days in the Rhine Valley staying in Bacharach
(Rhine boat trip, Visit St. Goar, wine tasting, tour Rhienfels castle)
- Day drive down to Fussen
(or a train to Stuttgart then renting a car to take us the rest of the way to Fussen) (5 hours, yikes!)
- 2 days in/around Fussen
(Castles! - Hahenschwangau, Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau, Linderhof)
(Hiking and Luge Course)
- 2 days in Salzburg
(Hellbrun Castle, Berchtesgaden Salt Mine, Mirabell Gardens, funicular to Hohensalzburg fortress)
- 1 day in Nurnburg
- 3 days in/around Rothenburg ob der Tauber
(relax in this most awesome little town, and visit all the Christmas shops)
- 3 days in/around Munich
(Hofbrauhaus, beer gardens, Dachau, Marienplatz, English Garden, 4 Gates)
(Funf Hofe, Nymphenburg palace)
I know there's a lot of great places to visit north of the area, but with only 16 days I think that this will be enough. Plus I wanted to give us a lot of down time just to walk around the towns and nap/feed when we need to.
If you have any suggestions of sights we need to see while we are in this area, please leave a comment. Also, any suggestions for how to cut down on that 5 hour drive from the Rhine to Fussen would be great. Are there any cute little towns that we should visit along the route?
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Happy Easter!
As I was sitting here smelling the hyacinths, it brought back so many memories of Easter at my parents house when I was a kid. The smell of the flowers reminds me of getting all dressed up for church and then coming home and running around the house finding my hidden baskets. I may not get basekets anymore, and I haven't died eggs in years, but I am looking forward to my Premise Maid candies which will find their way into my house in two weeks!
As a treat, here's a blast from my past. I'm not sure the bunny costume was actually for easter, but it fits the holiday.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Olloclip
Last weekend my friend showed me this awesome new camera attachment for the iphone called Olloclip. It gives you the ability to shoot fisheye, macro and wide angle and takes some awesome shots.
Unfortunately, it doesn't fit around any case. So if you're like me, and drop your phone a lot, you're kinda screwed...
or are you?!?
At CES this year Olloclip announced it was making a case for the iphone that will work with the camera. Check out the video here. It's pretty awesome. AND it will be out by the end of March. That's just days away!
Hey Mom... this would make an awesome birthday present for someone who's birthday happens to be coming up in 34 days. Even better if say someone wanted to buy the olloclip then someone else might want to buy the case and those two people could coordinate via email, right Jeremy? :) HINT HINT.
Oh, and if one were to desire to buy this awesome camera lens for someones birthday they might want to pick out the RED one for the iPhone 5 here. (2nd one down)
or are you?!?
At CES this year Olloclip announced it was making a case for the iphone that will work with the camera. Check out the video here. It's pretty awesome. AND it will be out by the end of March. That's just days away!
Hey Mom... this would make an awesome birthday present for someone who's birthday happens to be coming up in 34 days. Even better if say someone wanted to buy the olloclip then someone else might want to buy the case and those two people could coordinate via email, right Jeremy? :) HINT HINT.
Oh, and if one were to desire to buy this awesome camera lens for someones birthday they might want to pick out the RED one for the iPhone 5 here. (2nd one down)
Thursday, February 28, 2013
A very special Thank You
Warning: This post is totally baby related, but I feel the need to express my gratitude here.
I wanted to take a moment to say thank you so much to all the wonderful friends who have given so much to Jeremy and I in preparation for Baby Rea. Really, words cannot express how touched I am by the generosity. The swings, bouncers, clothing, toys, etc.
Most recently, a thank you to Heather, who has now stocked over 70% of my maternity wardrobe. I was just thinking the other day that I was getting tired of the same 5 work shirts (yes, I had a Monday shirt, Tuesday shirt, etc.) Your generosity has overwhelmed me and I promise I will make good use of them until I am done with this adventure and then pass them onto the next group of friends who will equally find a good home for them. Especially that super cute black dress! I hope it still fits in May for the beach wedding I'll be attending! And while I'm at it, here's a shout out to Heather's new bundle of joy, congratulations, she's so cute!
And in case this post just got a little too sappy and a little to baby oriented, let me just push you over the edge right now with this link to an AWESOME STORY.
I wanted to take a moment to say thank you so much to all the wonderful friends who have given so much to Jeremy and I in preparation for Baby Rea. Really, words cannot express how touched I am by the generosity. The swings, bouncers, clothing, toys, etc.
Most recently, a thank you to Heather, who has now stocked over 70% of my maternity wardrobe. I was just thinking the other day that I was getting tired of the same 5 work shirts (yes, I had a Monday shirt, Tuesday shirt, etc.) Your generosity has overwhelmed me and I promise I will make good use of them until I am done with this adventure and then pass them onto the next group of friends who will equally find a good home for them. Especially that super cute black dress! I hope it still fits in May for the beach wedding I'll be attending! And while I'm at it, here's a shout out to Heather's new bundle of joy, congratulations, she's so cute!
And in case this post just got a little too sappy and a little to baby oriented, let me just push you over the edge right now with this link to an AWESOME STORY.
Monday, February 18, 2013
How the hell do you make an ice cube?
If you think that is a sarcastic or rhetorical question, then you would be wrong. You see, not all of us are well versed in the field of ice cube making. Some of us have been raised on automatic ice machines and fell asleep during those oh so important days in chemistry class. Fortunately Food.com has helped us out with this problem by FINALLY posting a recipe! Woo Hoo!
For those too lazy to make the jump, I have reposted this most awesome recipe here... just for you.
Total Time: 2 hrs 2 mins
Prep Time: 2 mins
Cook Time: 2 hrs
Directions:
1. Empty the ice cubes that are left in the trays (if there are any left) into the bin.
2. Take the trays over to the sink and fill them with cold water.
3. Place the water filled ice trays back in the freezer.
4. Replace the ice bin if you had to remove it.
5. Shut the door to the freezer.
The best part is that over 600 people have actually reviewed this! Some of my favorites:
"This recipe is horrible! Maybe I should have left them in longer than two minutes (the recipe doesn't say how long to leave them in the freezer so I just kind of guessed) but mine came out all watery. I won't be making these again."
"I was wondering if you had a crock-pot version for this recipe. I work long hours and I just don't have the time to invest in this kind of hands-on cooking, but they really look yummy."
"Oh man, so happy to have this recipe! My grandma died and took the recipe with her. You are a life saver!!"
Ah, internet. You never seem to run out of clever things to make me laugh.
For those too lazy to make the jump, I have reposted this most awesome recipe here... just for you.
Total Time: 2 hrs 2 mins
Prep Time: 2 mins
Cook Time: 2 hrs
Directions:
1. Empty the ice cubes that are left in the trays (if there are any left) into the bin.
2. Take the trays over to the sink and fill them with cold water.
3. Place the water filled ice trays back in the freezer.
4. Replace the ice bin if you had to remove it.
5. Shut the door to the freezer.
The best part is that over 600 people have actually reviewed this! Some of my favorites:
"This recipe is horrible! Maybe I should have left them in longer than two minutes (the recipe doesn't say how long to leave them in the freezer so I just kind of guessed) but mine came out all watery. I won't be making these again."
"I was wondering if you had a crock-pot version for this recipe. I work long hours and I just don't have the time to invest in this kind of hands-on cooking, but they really look yummy."
"Oh man, so happy to have this recipe! My grandma died and took the recipe with her. You are a life saver!!"
Ah, internet. You never seem to run out of clever things to make me laugh.
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