Lake Retba

Lake Retba (or Lac Rose) is a lake in Senegal, in the Northwestern part of Africa. It's named for pink hues, which are caused by a bacteria in the water called cyanobacteria. The lake is also known for its high salt content (similar to the Dead Sea), allowing people to effortlessly float along the surface. Although the idea of floating in a pink lake is intriguing, I would definitely worry about the bacteria. I realize that there is bacteria in all bodies of water, however, this species is so dominant it changes that entire lake a different color! Geez!

Would you float around Lake Retba, even with all the cyanobacteria? 
(Photos: GretchenJones)

Moonrise Kingdom

In an effort to beat the heat, Robbie and I headed indoors this past weekend and saw the new Wes Anderson film, Moonrise Kingdom. I had no expectations going in other than watching a film in classic Wes Anderson style; I didn't know anything about the plot and I hadn't even seen any previews. I haven't always been to biggest Wes Anderson fan, but I was blown away by this film. Moonrise Kingdom is so beautifully executed, I even enjoyed watching the credits at the end. I highly recommend seeing this one, so be sure to visit the interactive website and check your local listings for movie times.

Have you seen Moonrise Kingdom? What did you think? Are you planning on catching it while its in theaters? 

p.s. I didn't include the trailer because I think it gives too much away :)

The Juicing Chronicles

A couple months ago, I shared my desire to start juicing. Shortly after my initial post, I asked some friends on Facebook if anyone had a spare juicer that I would be able to borrow. Luckily, I have amazingly generous friends and I was able to get my hands on one (thanks Cindy!). I am so grateful she let me borrow hers so that I can see if I really should invest in one of my own.

As it turns out, I use the stinkin' juicer almost every single day! I've gotten into a habit of buying my fruits and vegetables from a local produce stand on Sundays and then juicing them throughout the week. I've begun substituting juice for breakfast rather than the sugary cereal I was eating at work, and I even made juice popsicles this past weekend. I'm a bonafide juicer!

I have noticed that I have a bit more energy when I start my day with juice, but more than that, I really like knowing what I'm drinking. There is something very freeing about consuming a meal that only contains 3 or 4 natural ingredients. It's completely guilt-free and totally rewarding. If you are interested in juicing yourself, here are some of my recommendations:

• If you are unable to borrow a juicer, start with smoothies. All you need is a blender and you're ready to go! 
• Spinach is one of my favorite vegetables to juice. It is packed full of nutrients, but not strong enough to be tasted in the juice (it's perfectly hidden). 
• If you are going to use kale, put it in a smoothie. I've found kale to be super dry and difficult to juice. Instead, I like to add it to smoothies so that I can still get it's benefits without tasting it. 
• Make sure you always include a fruit "sweetener". This is a fruit (i.e. carrots, apples, strawberries) that will sweeten up other tart fruits and vegetables (i.e. pears, kale, rhubarb). It helps to make sure nothing is too bitter or sour.
• Pure orange juice (with a little spinach) is AMAZING. 
• Start experimenting with different flavor combinations, you never know what you'll like best until you try it. 

Have you tried juicing fruits and vegetables? Do you have any recommendations or favorite recipes? 

The Count Down Has Begun!

Hello friends! Three weeks from today, Robbie and I will be on a plane headed for Malmo, Sweden.  We will be meeting friends once we arrive and I am so excited, I can hardly contain myself when we talk about it. There is lots to do before we leave (including booking places to stay), but I'm confident it will all come together (hopefully you won't see any stressed out posts as our trip gets closer :).

Have you ever been to Malmo? Any "must-see" places to see or eat? I'd love to hear!

The World Awaits

Now let's go and experience it. 

Finding Balance

One thing that Robbie and I have been struggling with in our lives and relationship is balance. I'm sure you can tell from any one of my weekend posts (here or here, for example) that any free time we have fills up fast. We are finding ourselves busy almost every evening during the week and throughout the day on weekends. I'd like to think that it is all going to work itself out, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to be a bit more proactive than that.

We've talked about how we need to really prioritize our time and decide where we would like to dedicate our attention and focus. We've even given ourself homework and asked each other to identify what takes the most time and create goals around activities we would like to make more of a priority. Now it's time for the rubber to meet the road; no more talking, it's time for action! I've always said that we are doing good things and there is not really much I'd like to give up, but something is going to have to give.

So dear friends, I've asked before, but what do you do for balance? Andrew, you've said before that "life slows down when you make it slow down". How do you do that? Maybe I'm dense, but I'm not sure where or how to start. 

Branding 10,000 Lakes Prints

I've featured Nicole Meyer's branding project before and make it a point to visit her site to check out her recent deigns. I was stoked to find out that she's opened a store and is selling some of her logos as prints! I don't know if the prints would work well in our bedroom, but I think they would look great hanging in an office. 

Which ones would you choose? And where would you hang them?

Dear 18 Year Old Stacy

The last couple of weeks have been full of graduations here in the Bay Area. I'm proud to say that not only did my cousin graduate from high school, but so did one of my Farm Drive girls. As I attended one of the graduations, I was reminded of the joy, hope, and excitement that comes with finishing high school. A new chapter is about to unfold and being able to look back on that is exciting. As I watched all of the graduates interact with their friends and family, I realized that they have so much change coming their way. They'll grow closer to some friends, lose track of others, but identify who matters most.

This retrospection got me thinking, what would I tell my 18 year old self, if I could? Would I be super vague or would I give away all the details? Would I instruct myself to do things differently or would I let things play out the way they have. If I'm completely honest, there are definitely some surprises that I would want to warn my past self about. I have some regrets and have made some mistakes that I would like to take back. Otherwise, I like to think I would be vague in order for myself to grow through my experiences. Here is what I've decided on...

• Be a better friend and visit Julie down in SLO at least once a semester.
• Marry Robbie, it's the right choice.
• Don't compare yourself, your life, your marriage, or your decisions to anyone else. 
• Finish school, you won't regret it*.
• Don't take the first option that comes your way, either make sure it's something you'll love or see what else is available.

What would you tell your former self? Would you drop any major bombs or let history repeat itself?
(Photos taken at my high school graduation in 2005)

*I did graduate with a BA, but I seriously considered leaving school in 2008.

Delicious Waffles

Cooking has never been one of my strong suits, but I do have a few tricks I have up my sleeve. One of the best things I can make are waffles! I know this may sound basic, but my friend Sarah gave me this amazing recipe the year I got married and my waffles have never been the same.

2 cups Bisquick

1 egg

1/2 cup oil

1 1/3 cup club soda

Prepare batter according to Bisquick box (except with ingredients listed above). Cook in your waffle iron as usual. Serve warm, with your favorite syrup and toppings!

The trick is in the club soda. It makes the insides light and fluffy, while ensuring the outside is nice and crispy. It's a fool-proof recipe that yields delicious results!

Have you tried club soda waffles? 

(Photos taken for my online food photography course)

Have an Exciting Weekend!

Do you have anything exciting planned for this weekend? Robbie and I have a loaded schedule (as usual), but we are looking forward to it all. Tonight we are hosting a retirement party for his mom, Kim.  She has dedicated her career to one of our local school districts and is ready to take on a new adventure. We have family, friends, colleagues and former students planning on swinging by throughout the evening. It will be an open house at our place and we are expecting close to 150 people! Yikes! Let's hope my house (and my sanity) can handle it!

On Saturday, we will be celebrating a friend's 21st birthday and I will be showering a bride-to-be! I'm hoping to catch up on some odds and ends (and hopefully some relaxation) on Sunday morning; who knows, maybe I'll be able to plan another one of our destinations!

(Photo taken at The Stinking Rose in SF on Mother's Day)