The Fam Does Oregon

As promised, here are a few photos from when my Mom and Aunt came out for my graduation! As you can see we made a vacation out of it and it was SO MUCH FUN! I'm so so so happy they were able to make it out here. These photos are for all you voyeurs out there...and my dad who was unable to make the trip.

I received my M.S. degree. Whoop!

Aunt C and I climbing a sand dune. MUCH harder than it looks.

The Pacific!

Mumsie.

Mom again,  behind the camera.

Cape Perpetua, best view of the OR coast. Book your tickets now.

Broken Top and The Sisters on our way to Bend.

Sisters in front of The Sisters (ha).
Makes up for the 3 other aunts who couldn't make it to OR. 

Mum and I.

We drank wine. Yum.

Smelled roses.

Isn't she cute?!

A loyal 25+ years seed catalog customer finally visits her seed nursery.

Hello, Again

Hello Lovelies!

I’ve come out of my blogging hiatus with a Master’s degree, huzzah! Let’s update you all on the highlights of my second and final year of graduate school went. Bullet style because that’s how I roll most of the time:

·     I was a Graduate Teaching Fellow (same thing as a TA), and co-taught a wonderful class titled Art and Gender. It’s a hybrid class of art history and sociology that touches on the idea of gender, society and how it’s reflected in art. Basically the Art History nerd in me was in heaven. Also, I never knew I could enjoy teaching so much.

·     In May, I presented my research Building the Creative Economy: Managing Creativity in Museum Development Departments. We had 10 minutes to present and man did it go fast.

·     I graduated on June 13. It was hot and graduate hoods do not help the situation.

·     My Mom and Aunt visited for my graduation and to explore Oregon. We managed to squeeze in quite a lot of sights (I’ll be posting about this more later)!

·     I bought a new road bike- happy graduation to me! Long story short: I LOVE IT. I've been on some amazing rides already!

·     I started playing softball again. It’s slow pitch and very different from the competitive world I was used to for so long, but it’s so much fun! I slid last week and got a pretty stellar strawberry on my leg. In a sick and twisted way, it brought me back to the endless summers full of double headers in 90-degree heat, wonderful teammates and friends, softball dirt EVERYWHERE, and the priceless feeling of hitting the sweet spot on a bat.

·     I read FOR FUN! I just finished the Hunger Games series by Susan Collins and am now reading Bel Canto by Ann Patchett for book club.

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So, those are the highlights.

Now, I’m unemployed. Currently working very hard to alleviate that situation! 

Happy Father's Day!

Ironic that my last post was for Mother's Day. Oops. That monster called grad school ruled my life and now I'm free! (Although hopefully not for too long--this girl and unemployment don't really mix).

Back to man of the hour, MY DAD!

I really wish I could find the photo of me putting pink barrettes in his hair when I was about 3, because it really captures just how much he puts up with loves me. I owe nearly everything to both of my parents, but I am particularly grateful for the life perspective my dad has given me. He taught me there is a silver lining to every situation life throws at you--the hard thing is just knowing how to find it.

Thanks for everything these past 24 years, Dad!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

My gorgeous Mama.

Oh how I wish I could have been back in good ol' Wisco to give my mom a Mother's Day hug today. Simply put, she's absolutely wonderful.

Love you, Mom!

xoxo

Throwback Thursday: Bob

Still Thursday out on this coast folks.

Going to be a short post because a) I have six minutes to write this before it does in fact turn into Friday and b) I'm beat.

This week, it's Bob and I circa 2005. Bob is my aunt C's half Labrador, half Border Collie, tennis-ball loving dog. This photo was taken when he was still on a "trial basis" from the family that could no longer keep him. Needless to say he's been a part of the family ever since.

I've never met a dog with such an old-man, crotchety personality. Alas, he's pretty awesome.

Genetics Are Fun

I was going through my photos today and found two instances (from the same event) in which I think I look perfectly like my mother and my father.

This one, I think I look EXACTLY like my mom:

…and this one I look a lot like my dad:

Thesedays, anyone who knows and/or has seen my mom says I'm a carbon copy. I agree, but then again please consider my dad suffers from male-pattern baldness  (sorry Daddy, but it's true!)

I love that dependent on the camera angle, I look like a spitting image of both of my parents.

Genes are fun.

Eeeesh, Blogger Fail

Well, let's just say I've fallen off the face of the blogging earth.

Until now!

It's only taken me three weeks to get back into a pseudo-routine after a long winter break. Now I'm back in Rainy City, U.S.A. and am navigating life (which lately revolves around research, the gym, zoning to television, and sleep).

So, to catch you all up on my life as of late:

• I had an absolutely wonderful time in Wisconsin. Full of friends and family, and lots of hockey. 
• I realized I'm cross-eye dominant while at an archery club (did I mention I hail from Wisconsin?) Anyway, this means I shoot right handed, but my left eye is dominant. Whoops. 
• Instead of heading to Pasadena to watch my beloved Badgers in the Rose Bowl, I was grounded in Madison on account of fog. (United Airlines and I have a precarious relationship at the moment). 
• I finally made it back to Oregon just in time to start the new quarter (and subsequently watch the Ducks lose the National Championship)...at least it was a great game!
• 
  

Recap: awesome time at home, finishing up the tail end of grad school and now have all my hopes in the Packers winning the Superbowl.

Clearly, I love football.

I Smell Roses!

Big news blog friends, I'M GOING TO THE ROSE BOWL!

(source)

Now, if you're a quick one and have been reading closely, you can decipher that both of my teams, the Wisconsin Badgers and the Oregon Ducks (undergrad and grad school, respectively) are going to BCS games this year. Thank you God for having Oregon run the table. I really didn't want to be in the situation where my teams played each other in the Rose Bowl. Let's be serious though, I'd be rooting for Wisco 100%. 


So thanks to my awesome cousins for snagging tickets and allowing me to check off one the major events on my life's bucket list!

ON WISCONSIN!

(source)

Happy Thanksgiving

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.  ::John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Happy Thanksgiving from California!
(Stories to come about the epic road trip later).

May you all have a wonderful holiday full of family, friends, food and love.

I'm so grateful for all of the amazing people in my life, I wish I could spend the day with all of you!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everybody! Thanks to my awesome family, I've always loved Halloween!

My grandmother's friends: Helen, Sophie and my grandmother herself.
Wow, these ladies knew how to have fun!

My Aunt D., myself and my dad. Hehe, sorry for posting this dad, but it's just too awesome! 

The University of Wisconsin was a perfect choice, it has a HUGE Halloween scene:

City bus to State Street (ca. 2005).

Note: this photo was completely staged. I went as a "Coastie" and those cigarettes are 100% a prop. 

Now I live in Rainy City, U.S.A. and the Halloween environment is different. Different in a wonderful way:

Scissors (not pictured: rock and paper), Joan Holloway(Harris), Amy Winehouse and a witch. 

Carol from Where the Wild Things Are and The Dude 

Ladybug and I. What is it with me using cigarettes as Halloween props?!

And now this year, once again blown away by the costumes!

Myself, a 1930s gangster wife and Justin Bieber.
Yes, Bieber is the same guy who was The Dude from last year. 

Modern Saytr, Madonna, greek goddess/princess, Chola girl, and a cub. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Throwback Thursday: The Dog Named Pepsi

A while back, I blogged about Rusty, one of the family dogs I grew up with. As promised, I said I would blog about one of our other dogs, Pepsi.

Pepsi was my mom's dog from day one. My mother rescued the poor thing from an abusive owner, and even though I was nowhere near being born yet, I've heard stories of how Pepsi made herself right at home with my mom. It was an instant connection; Pepsi had no trouble curling up into my mom's heart (and subsequently onto the furniture). 

The situation got complicated as my dad entered the picture. Pepsi was a wee bit jealous. Eventually she found a way to cope with this other human in her life and let him marry my mom. Honestly, I think Pepsi resented my dad for making her share my mom's attention. Regardless of her stubborn, yet loving ways, Pepsi found a new friend when I came around.

Just like Rusty, Pepsi put up with my toddler-through-elementary school antics. Seriously, she probably earned her sainthood up in doggie-heaven. Secretly, I think she loved the attention.  

I dressed her up: 

How awesome is that little curly tail?!

...and squeezed her tight.

Once again, there's that "God save me" look.

As an only child, Pepsi (and Rusty) were often my play dates. Even if they spent most of the time sleeping. 

I was blessed with amazing pets as a youngin'.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Olbrich Gardens, Madison, WI (2009)

Today is my mom's birthday and I want to give her something in addition to the package I sent home to Wisconsin a few days ago.

It's no secret I miss my family, living 2,000+ miles away from them is extremely hard. My mom especially. If you met me two years ago, I wouldn't have had as much appreciation for my mom as I do now. It sounds completely trite to say this, but we are so similar, yet so different, and I love it. It has taken me a long time to realize the blessings in the relationship I have with my mom.

She has taught me so many things, whether consciously or not. Odds are I was probably too stubborn to realize many of the life lessons she has given me over the years. On top of that, I most likely fought her on many of them.

I'm not sure if it's the distance between us, the life perspective I've gained in the past few years, a quarter-life awakening to the wonders around me or a healthy mix of all of the above.

One thing I am sure, if it weren't for her, I wouldn't be able to realize how much I've grown into the person I am.

...and I just made myself cry. ha.

Happy Birthday, Mom! 

You mean the world to me and I'm so lucky to have you all to myself (one of the many perks of being an only child).

Back at It

Wow, so the past couple weeks have been wonderfully busy. From spending time on the coast to jet-setting back to Wisconsin for some much needed family time, my blog suffered.

I didn't intend on a blogging hiatus, it just kind of happened.

Things will be back to normal again soon, I just have to get reacquainted with the idea of working again!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Thanks for making sure I don't take life too seriously.

(an oldie, but goodie)

Sometimes I Neglect My Blog

Well, I've been quite useless these past few days in the blogging world. With finishing up the quarter, packing, the long trip back, visiting with friends back home and seeing my family, the blog inevitably takes a backseat. I'm back in good ole Hometown-Midwest, USA and couldn't be happier. (Even with the snow that graced my presence this past weekend).

As the weekend draws to a close, I'm thankful I got to see good friends (although I wish I could have seen more), thankful for at least one good UW postseason basketball game to watch in the BEST college town in America and thankful for my wonderful family who got together to celebrate my birthday a few days early! Yes, we had dirt cake and no, I'm not turning 5.

So for now I'm going to sit back, relax and catch up on Lost (quite possibly the most addicting TV show known to mankind).

I'm Polish

If you know me, you know my last name is the epitome of a tongue twister to many. It's filled with a balance of consonants and vowels, but for some reason it just doesn't make sense when you come to say it. Alas, I had an interesting experience a few weeks ago when I visited a small Polish pottery shop in Seattle.

I went to purchase a small salad plate (pictured below) and when I signed my name on the receipt, the store owner- who had an absolutely wonderful Polish accent- gasped at my "hearty Polish name." I laughed, because I was flattered. Subsequently, she gave me a short lesson on my name. Due to issues of privacy, you all will be limited to my first name, Stephanie. Not only was it really cool to hear her say my name in her thick Polish accent, she spelled it for me! Like many Eastern European languages female names in Polish often end in an "a." Phonetically speaking , my name is pronounced: Stef-an-ya!

I love learning about my heritage, and I know I'm probably going to be one of those retired women at the historical society, taking genealogy classes. I'm totally ok with that!

Pictured above is the salad plate I purchased. I fully expect my dear friend e.k.s. to buy heinous amounts of said pottery on her trip to Krakow...and would be forever grateful if she happened to pick me up a matching companion to my lonely salad plate! (wink wink, nudge nudge).

Happy (Belated) Birthday Dad!

First off, I am an awful daughter for not posting this on my dad's actual birthday, which was yesterday. Dad, I'm really sorry!

Regardless, here's to the most fun-loving guy I know. Thanks for being there for me throughout the years and giving me a great perspective on life. (Not to mention teaching me: how to throw a baseball, swing a golf club, throw a football, shoot a basketball, change a tire, drive a tractor, change my car's oil(!), shoot a gun, how to swim and countless other priceless lessons).

So, Dad, Happy Birthday! Drink a glass of WI beer for me and have a good one!

Life's Necessities

Here's another video I made for my design class:

(family, you're going to get a good laugh out of it)

Life's Necessities from Steph S on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Aunt K!

February 1st is my dear Aunt K's birthday! Although all of my family channels their inner-child extremely well, I'd say K wins the blue ribbon! Thanks for being such a wonderful Aunt and Happy Birthday!

Recipe: Grace Mary's Molasses Cookies

My grandmother had wonderful friends. Sadly, most of them have passed away over the years. I'd argue one of the best ways to remember them is by passing on some of their recipes. In honor of the baking spirit that arises within me during the holiday season, I want to share a delicious molasses cookie recipe. It comes from my grandmother's dear friend, Grace Mary- whom I remember for these cookies (and awesome land we used to watch 4th of July fireworks on every summer).

Grace Mary's Molasses Cookies

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup butter

3 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup molasses

1 tsp. ginger

1/4 tsp. cloves

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. vinegar

1 tsp. cinnamon

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
-Mix sugars, butter, eggs, vinegar and molasses in medium-sized bowl
-Mix dry ingredients in separate, large bowl
-Combine ingredients and chill dough at least 1 hour (long enough so the dough will not stick to your hands when rolling into balls)
-Roll into ping-pong sized balls and roll in sugar
-Bake on greased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes

*Makes about 6 dozen cookies

yum!