A Slumber Party

Friday was the big slumber party. Just me and my niece for the entire night. We saw our first 3D movie together, not sure how I've missed the entire 3D craze, but based on my viewing of "Puss in Boots" I still don't see the real appeal, am I missing something?

After the movie we went to Target to get supplies for the rest of the night and both came home with a pair of platform sandals (too bad it isn't sandal weather yet.)

Next up, a little dancing...our soundtrack? Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl, Miss M's favorite, Katy Perry's California Girls and just to help round out her musical education for the night, the original California Girls by the Beach Boys.

We painted our nails, made cupcakes.....

and ate them for breakfast. We had a great time and I for one, can't wait to do it again with my very favorite little girl.

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Golden Morning

We had the most glorious golden sunrise this morning - the warm light somehow made even the snow look warm. A perfect start to a Friday.

Today is a very full day at my house, I'm finishing my last day at work before a 3 week vacation (yes, I know I'm lucky.)  I'm getting ready for a sleepover with my niece - we are going to go to a movie, make cupcakes and maybe even paint our nails, I hope she is as excited as I am. I'm packing for that vacation I mentioned and I'm prepping for a 10 year reunion tomorrow (oh, the pressure of picking the perfect outfit and hoping for a good hair day!)

I hope you have a wonderful Friday - and that your weekend is as full of fun as I expect mine to be.

Just in case your day didn't start out quite as golden as mine, here's a little golden music to keep you warm. The Damnwells - Golden Days

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Valentine's Day Recap

Valentine's Day is one of those holidays I usually dread (being chronically single may influence my opinion.) But this year wasn't so bad. After sleeping in and getting a little work done, I hit the stores (along with half the men in the city) to pick up a little something for my niece and nephew. I then spent a couple of hours playing with them (one of the biggest benefits of finally being home is being able to spend a bit of time with them each day.) Then the day was capped off with another personal favorite - homemade Valentine's cookies (it's official, I have the best neighbors in the world.)

By the end of the day, I was ready to admit that Valentine's Day doesn't have to be a day to dread.

How did you celebrate?

Have you heard First Aid Kit yet? Check out their Emmylou or The Lion's Roar - both have been on heavy rotation at my house this week.


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Buses, Planes, Trains, Automobiles (and Hotels)

Taken with my iPad as I flew over the Alps,

maybe I need to give up my aisle seats more often if the view is this incredible.

After 3 months of 80+ hour work weeks, where I worked 20 out of 24 Saturdays and Sundays, my project is finished and I made it home.

This time getting home was in itself a lesson in patience and perseverance,  I left the office around 4 on Thursday afternoon, hiked up the hill in Lausanne (where it was freezing), grabbed my suitcases and caught a bus to the train station.

Uncharacteristically, the train was running late, so I stood around the station for an extra 20 minutes. I arrived in Geneva, found the shuttle to my hotel room for the night. I got checked in and quickly realized that if I wanted dinner I'd have to take the shuttle back to the train station because there were no options within walking distance. 6AM brought another shuttle ride to the airport where finally my journey home felt like it was beginning.

I landed in London on time and, luckily given how many flights had been cancelled last week out of Heathrow, mine was on-time. The flight to Chicago was uneventful, on arrival the snow on the ground made me slightly nervous, but I had a 5 hour layover, so surely things would be better later in the day.

Not so - only after I checked my luggage through to Salt Lake I discovered my flight had been cancelled. After standing in a few lines and talking to several people, it became apparent I wasn't getting out of Chicago on Friday. I sweet talked the airline into a voucher for a reduced rate hotel room (and thanked my lucky stars that I always pack a carryon, with the expectation that I'll get stuck somewhere.)

I braved the blowing snow to track down yet another shuttle bus to the hotel, crashed in what was probably the most comfortable bed I'd slept in in 3 months (thank you Marriott!) and prayed for a less snowy Saturday.

My prayers were answered and at noon I boarded on my final plane (for a few weeks at least.) More than 48 hours after I left the office on Thursday I was finally home. The best part of my trip home was being picked up by my sister, niece and nephew, how I've missed them.

The next time someone makes a comment about how glamourous it must be to travel for work, I'll probably grin and agree, but in the back of my mind I'll be remembering all the trips like this that turn the glamour into pain, but for now I'm going to revel in being home, sleeping in my own bed and being able to visit Target whenever I want.

Am I the last person on earth to discover Lana Del Rey? After a coworker turned me onto her album last week, its been on heavy rotation: Video Games

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After these Messages

Remember those TV shows that used to send you to commercial by saying, "We'll be right back after these messages..."

This crazy project I'm working on has finally reached the point where something has to break - and since work (like those commercials) pay the bills, I'm going to take a bit of a blogging break until we hit our deadline.

Until then, here is the song I sing the most these days...my boss' ring tone which seems to go off every few minutes. It's become a bit of a running joke in the team - the phone rings, we all sing, then we start giggling because frankly, we aren't that good.

Michael Buble - Feeling Good Pin It

Headed North

I'm making a surprise (to me) trip to Switzerland for work in the next few days.

I'm praying it won't be too cold and snowy - I'm packed for life in Turkey not Switzerland, and while I consider myself an experienced packer, a surprise trip like this can find the best of us shivering.

These photos are from my trip in October - and I'm sure the weather won't be this nice - but a girl can hope. If nothing else I plan to enjoy the cheese and chocolate.

I got bored last week and needed some new music and stumbled across Scooter McGavin's list of awesome mash-ups - I fell in love with Mighty Mike's Eden Snow.

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As the Storm Rolls Through

The past few months have felt a bit like being in a storm - at times so dark and cloudy I couldn't see too far ahead, and yet there was always beauty in those bright flashes of light and the ever changing landscape.

Today, I'm just starting to see a corner of blue sky telling me the worst is over. That life will get back into a more normal rhythm, one that includes weekends and work weeks that don't cross the 80 hour mark! I'm excited to find that new normal.

Until the sun peaks its head out again - I'm going to enjoy the last of the clouds as they rush by and look forward to those sunny days I know will come.

Alexi Murdoch - Toward the Sun Pin It

Brunch on the Water

Last weekend we decided we had to get out of the office, so we headed down to a cafe on the Bosphorus for brunch. The cafe was on a wharf out over the water, the view was spectacular and the food was wonderful.

After weeks of non-stop work, I couldn't believe how energised I felt after a few hours away from the computer. And it made me so eager to explore the different neighborhoods here in Istanbul - it seems like they all have their own unique personalities - one of my very favorite parts of living in a large city.

Being this close to the water was such a peaceful way to spend the morning - even if it did leave me wanting to find a friend with a boat so we could sail up and down the Bosphorus! I can see it now - a boat, a picnic and Brooke Fraser singing: Sailboats.

Are you a brunch fan? It may just be my favorite meal to eat out - there is something inherently lazy about it - you don't go to brunch expecting to hurry - you go expecting a relaxed experience, and all that lovely food. Pin It

Friday Musings

I can't believe I have just 3 more weeks left here before I head home for a break. Istanbul has been a great experience and even though work has meant that I haven't had a ton of time to explore, I've seen enough that I'm already anticipating my next trip. Not only will the days be getting a bit longer by the time my next trip rolls around, I won't be working weekends any more so I'll have time to explore and see more of the city.

I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface of all there is to explore here, it seems that at every turn there is something new that fascinates and intrigues me. I can wait to see and experience more of the art, design and culture.

I hope you have an amazing weekend! Do you have anything fun planned?

AM - What You Hide Pin It

Pieces of Me

I was searching for a photo challenge I could participate in this year. With my work schedule I knew most wouldn't work and I'd give up a few weeks in because I couldn't fit it in, but when I saw Urban Muser's In the Picture Challenge I knew I'd found just the thing.

Not only will the challenge keep me focussed on taking photos and improving my skills, it will force me to do something that scares me - take photos of myself and share them. I've seen other self-portrait ("selfie") challenges out there and have been intrigued but also terrified at the thought of participating. But I've decided it is time to overcome that fear.

Every couple of weeks there will be a prompt for a self portrait - I'll do my best to capture something and then work up the nerve to share it here. Twenty-six photos in a year - even I should be able to keep up.

The first prompt, pieces of me, let me ease myself into the project.

At the very least this project will at least help me learn had to use the timer on my camera!

My hands feature prominently is this week's photo, which had me humming an old Dido song, Take My Hand.

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