hello stranger.

well, here i am world. back in action. okay, okay, so maybe it has been eight months. but, ya know. what are you going to do? sometimes life gets in the way of chronicling it all on my laptop to update the world (in theory) on the ins and outs of my life...of which there have been many.

since june 5th, my last blog post, there has been so much that has happened, and all i can say is that i'm so glad that it all did.

has it been perfect? of course not.

has it challenged me? most certainly.

have i loved every moment of it? hell yes.

so, let's give this a try - eight months in a hundred and fifty words or less:

bearskin. leaders-in-training. bed rest. chelliot. fresno. fake boyfriend and girlfriend. bridesmaid business. my best friend’s wedding. drinking. dancing. cuteness. giants games. “let’s make friends” party. sixty coors light. s’mores. rabbit. more lits. norovirus. lits again. red roof. drama. more lits. crystle caves. justin bieber. closing circle. missing camp. visits. giants games. oakdale. krystle. holly. santa cruz shakespeare festival. more giants. business law. giants fever. clinical trial. tumors disappearing. birthdays. lions pub. surprise lits. magnolia. lions pub, again. carrie underwood. beach blanket babylon. hardly strictly bluegrass. fake breakup. jack johnson. teen ed retreat. giants win nlds. sharktoberfest. phillies. palm springs. sisters. black. orange. pennant. rangers. WORLD SERIES! parade day. mixed results with trial. bernardo. thanksgiving. palm springs christmas party. finals. boulder. graduation. new iphone. “damn girl.” work. della santina’s. christmas. new years eve. scott. breanne. 2011. hip pain. goodbye mackensey and nardo. radiation. new treatment. sick. 26. birthday brunch. school.

smiling.

so. that is what life has been like. once again, ups and downs, but as usual, one day at a time. loving it as i go.

i do have to say that the giants being in the play-offs, followed by the world series was beyond exciting. the city was a-buzz, orange was everywhere you went, and everyone had a spring in their step.

the day the san francisco giants won the world series is a day i will never forget. we laughed, we cried, and we kept trying to pinch ourselves to wake up from this dream. still, now, just thinking about it makes me tear up a bit. honestly those were some of the most exciting, happiest, and completely unforgettable days of my life.

(here is my outdated homage to my favorite team in the world.)

in short, i guess that is what's up.

watch out blogosphere, i'm back.

sundance.

today i met rabbi lee bycel, who is the new man-in-charge at the redford center. the center's mission is to use the arts to improve some of the world's greatest struggles -- including education, health care, social justice. 

rabbi bycel visited my social justice class today and i was so incredibly impressed by him. on saturday he leaves for chad to work with refugees for the fifth time in the past ten years. he is going with $100,000 that he has raised -- for the fifth time. amazing. 

he travels with the international medical corps, and though he has no medical experience, he helps in anyway necessary, his favorite being getting to play with children while their parents are visiting health clinics and receiving medical care. 

i am looking forward to participating in redford center programs in the future. within the next six months, there will be panels and programs in both berkeley and san francisco.

on a less world-changing note [that seems incredibly superficial at this point in a post]:

a result of my sundance website cruising is my new favorite fantasy vacation:

sundance resort.

with summer and winter activities, including night skiing and art classes, glorious views and amazing accommodations it seems like a great retreat. and a fantastic cause.

national trail mix and toasting marshmallows day.

a veteran s'more maker myself, i can tell you that there are some essential tips to the art of the s'more.

down and dirty, old skool:

warm mallow. between two graham crackers. add chocolate as desired.

fancy pants s'more, martha style.

found on martha stewart.

 a little trick of the trade, consider this investment for true s'more efficiency.

found on rei.

the banana boat

(another personal camping favorite)

1. slice a whole banana, peel on, lengthwise. 

2. leave peel on, and carefully separate, making room for fillings.

3. put marshmallows into the opening.

4. put hershey's chocolate pieces into the opening.

5. sprinkle some brown sugar on top.

6. wrap the entire banana in tin foil.

7. stick on campfire coals (or in the over) for about 7 minutes.

8. check to see if goodies are melted.

9. enjoy!

(other topping ideas: peanut butter, reese's, nuts, m&ms, fresh fruit, whipped cream)

seattle swag.

after a week of vacation and a couple days of re-grouping, i am back and excited to show off some of my great souvenirs from beautiful Seattle. though i didn't return with rain, fresh fish or polar fleeces, i did manage to find some fun stuff.

one of my much-anticipated and most satisfying stops was de medici ming fine papers on 1st ave. the shop owner was there and not only attentive, but very present and proud of her shop. and very excited to share that they have been there 26 years and that all of her business is either in-store or by phone -- the store is computer, e-mail and website-free, which is very commendable in today's retail world. it is truly a store that i am glad has survived and i plan on continuing to support it, even from afar.

among the gorgeous flat papers, from marbled to shiny gift wrap, i found some adorable greeting cards and various bit and pieces that i couldn't live without.

found on elum

i love this thank you card as well. especially for when you're REALLY thankful.

found on two piglet letterpress.

and now off to canada! we spent the day in victoria where i found a little shop appropriately called the papery. it was fantastic and i thoroughly annoying chris with the amount of time i spent in there. 

how adorable is this tissue paper?!

found on gallery19.

these labels caught my eye immediately, only after purchasing them i realized that they are a chronicle books product -- fresh out of san francisco.

found on chronicle books. 

my favorite favorite favorite find of the trip was from the seattle art museum (sam) store. i could have bought about a million of these for everyone i know and love, but of course, i didn't. that would have been too logical.

found on dci gift.

adventure.

this month is indeed "American Adventure Month" and with that in mind, i made a recent purchase. as a self-proclaimed travel book junkie, i knew i had to pick this up when i saw it. 

Lonely Planet does great books and is always my go-to when it comes to travel, though for my past couple trips i've taken liking to the Fodor's guides.

found on lonely planet.

now, when there is a day of boredom or a few hours to kill, we can pick up the book and go on a little adventure. more things to add to our summer to-do list!

ruffle.

my dear KM went on vacation this past week and brought me home a bag i've been 

pining for over the past year. 

i am honored to say that i am the new owner of the adorable green version, 

though mine is in the more practical tote bag size. 

thank you!

found on india rose.

final verdict.

i love chicago.

i can not wait to go back and i have about a million more things i will love to do.

what was accomplished?

deep dish pizza. architecture river cruise. navy pier. millennium park. el train. wrigley. white sox. humidity. magnificent mile. american girl place. cubs. hot dogs. art institute. grant park. buckingham fountain. field museum. university of chicago. hyde park. more deep dish pizza. john hancock observatory. oak park. frank llyod wright. o'hare.