Puppy Bowl!

For those of you who are not into the Super Bowl, you can check out Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl! Complete with a Kitten Halftime Show! I'll see if Nick's friend's will let me change the channel...

image: Animal Planet

Happy Friday!

After a very busy week at work, I am so excited for a nice, restful weekend! Enjoy!!

Book Review: The Shack

I would have to say this was one of the best books I have ever read! The book is sweeping the country and was #1 on The New York Times Best Seller List (pretty impressive considering the marketing budget was only $300). The basis of the book is about a man who goes through a horrible tragedy and then spends a weekend with God to answer the question that had been haunting him: where is God in a world so full of tragedy?

This book may not be for everyone, and I know there has been some controversy surrounding it, but I found it truly wonderful, enlightening and the most moving and eye opening book I have ever read.

Thank you to Meghan and her mom for passing this book along to me and my mom!

image: The Shack

Weekend Update

It was a good, but cold weekend in Seattle!

On Friday, Megan and Brynn hosted a game night at their place and we played Apples to Apples, such a great game!

On Saturday I did an awesome work out class called Cardio Rebounding with Megan and Brynn and the whole aerobic class on your own trampoline. It was a really good workout!

And finally tonight Erin came over for homemade pizza and we watched "Picture This!" Yes, I am 24 and still watching ABC Family movies and proud of it!

image: IMDB

2008 Hutch Award

On Wednesday my work (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) awarded the annual Hutch Award to Red Sox pitcher, and my former high school classmate - Jon Lester!

The Hutch Award was established in 1965 to honor baseball great Fred Hutchinson, who died of cancer the previous year at age 45. This prestigious award is given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies "Hutch's" fighting spirit and competitive desire.

I got to go to the luncheon and what made it extra exciting was that some of the teachers, administrators and former Bellarmine Prep classmates were there to support Jon. And what made it really special was that Jon was successfully treated here at the SCCA and is now cancer-free! What a great statement that even after a cancer diagnosis, he could go on to be a successful (and World Series champion) major league pitcher!

image: MLB.com

Inauguration Style

Absolutely stunning! What a beautiful First Lady we have!!!








images: People

Inauguration Day

“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear,

unity of purpose over conflict and discord.”

What an awesome day! I am so glad I got to experience history like this and I really hope that everyone, no matter what their political beliefs, were inspired by today.











images: New York Times

Smash Wine Bar

Tonight I went to a place in Wallingford called "Smash Wine Bar" for Baillie and Michelle's birthday dinner. It was a really small, cute place and best of all they have an all day happy hour on Sunday!

I got a baby burger which was really good and Erin and I split an order of the truffle mac and cheese. It was so rich and so good. Before I left I was watching a mac and cheese recipe showdown on the Food Network, so I was really craving it.

After that we went to Molly Moon's for some ice-cream.

Happy birthday girls!!!

Giada's Pizza

Last night I had Meghan and Brynn over for The Office and made them Giada's pizza. It was only my second time making homemade pizza from scratch, and I must say it was pretty amazing! I roll it out very thin, lots of good quality mozzarella, organic tomatoes and basil - yum!! I also make one with pepperoni, but I personally prefer the caprese pizza.

My dad used to make pizza back in the day in New York City so I must have gotten his pizza making genes!

image: Food Network

Bunco Night: Mexican Theme

I love bunco!! Its such a great way to get together with friends and catch up on each others lives. And best part of all it is so easy!

Thanks to Megan and Brynn hosting a great bunco night with lots of delicious food. Sadly I did not win, but I did get one bunco!

image: Flickr

A New Activity

I have a new activity: Corporation Board member of my sorority, Alpha Delta Pi at UW! Yay! I was recruited because some of my very good friends are on the board, so I decided to join.

The Board runs the physical part of the house and I went to the meetings back when I was President, so I am pretty familiar with what is going one.

I had a really great 4 years in my sorority so I am glad to give back and help out the current members.

image: Alpha Delta Pi

Weekend Update

Time to wind up another good weekend. On Friday we went to Nick's company's delayed holiday party and then on Saturday we went out to Kells for Sara's 23rd birthday. The place is normally to packed for my taste, but I had a really good time with Erin, Sara, and her friends.

Tonight our friends Christine and Tyler came over to watch "Burn After Reading." It was an interesting dark comedy, but my dad, brother and I have always been Coen brothers fan, so I am used to their uniquee sense of humor.

Corky's BBQ

Memphis is obviously the BBQ capitol of the world and I got to eat some of it for dinner tonight! My mom grew up in Memphis and my grandparents still live there, so I got to eat lots of good food during my visits there growing up.

I haven't been back there for a while, so for Christmas my Grandma and Pa sent me a bunch of Corky's BBQ, complete with a pie, baked beans, sauces and bibs!

I had it tonight and was nice enough to share with Nick! Corky's was voted the best BBQ in Memphis and you get buy their food at their website. Perfect gift for your southern food loving friend!

image: Corky's

Giada's Pasta Carbonara

This dish seriously is my weakness. I had my first taste of carbonara when I studied abroad in Rome and it's been love ever since. It is so unhealthy, but so worth the calories! And since my roommates from Rome, Erika and Jessie, were coming over for dinner, I found it appropriate to put calories aside and make it.

Giada's recipe is the best I have seen!

image: Food Network

One Year in 40 Seconds

Thanks to my brother Mike for showing this to me! A beautiful video showing the changing seasons of a full year.



One year in 40 seconds from Eirik Solheim on Vimeo.

video: Eirik Solheim

2009 Goals

I have never been one to make New Year's Resolutions, so instead, I would like to make some broad goals for self betterment this year:

1. Take a trip to somewhere new

2. Go to Church more regularly

3. Continue to work hard at my job

4. Always make time for friends and family, they are the most important thing in life

5. Always be thankful, take nothing for granted

image: Flickr