24. Find a job

I have spent the past two years trying to get my ducks in a row. I moved to Milwaukee for a job to only have it fall through, I lived with my mom for a year and a half, I've been rejected by 7 grad schools, have had major roller coaster rides the past 3 months and never thought I would get things put together.

But now I have finally found a job! It's only a 6 week internship right now but it has promise. And it's with Rishi Tea right here in Milwaukee. I will be working under the Art Director doing graphic design work and the most exciting part is recreating the trade booth! I absolutely love the company and everything they stand for, it's so rare to work for an actual good company. I can't wait to get started.

Good job duckies getting yourselves all in a row. Now just stay there!

45. The Pleasures of Cooking for One

Pan seared salmon! I can officially cook for one. A nice little piece of salmon all for me and it was probably the easiest dinner I have ever made for myself!

44. July 3rd fireworks on the roof

Alright, I am all moved into my apartment (only a few things need to be put in their place still) and last night I was able to sit on the roof and enjoy the July 3rd fireworks. My roof top is literally the best seat in the city to view them from. Next fireworks are for Festa Italiana and I'll be right here on the roof.

that's a big one…

Right now there's a big bad thunderstorm coming through the Milwaukee area and I figured this was just as good a time as any to put my summer list up. So here it goes:

✓ 1. Move into my new place

2. Reading list

3. Farmers Markets on Saturday mornings

4. Chocolate Bar at CLEAR Lounge

5. Bake cookies for family and friends (and some for me)

6. Cook with seasonal foods (because I love berries)

7. Set up the record player in my new place

8. Buy more records

9. Game nights

10. Picnics

11. Kites

✓ 12. Bubbles

✓ 13. Flowers

14. Sleepovers

15. Stretch and workout daily

16. Use my cameras

17. Have fun with the Impossible Project film

18. Continue the thesis journal (it will never be done)

19. At least 1 Concert

20. Chicago trip

✓ 21. Road trip to Florida

✓ 22. Have a LOT of fun in Florida

23. Send a message in a bottle

✓ 24. Find a job

25. Plant some flowers

26. Lie in the grass (or on the roof top) with sunglasses and headphones

27. Vintage shops

28. Buy a bike

29. Brewery tours

30. Feel at home in my new apartment

31. Work on myself

32. Go to the restaurants I've wanted to try and never did:

33. Casablanca

34. Tulip

35. Honeypie

36. The National

37. The Red Accordion

38. Roots Restaurant & Cellar

39. Maxie's Southern Comfort

40. Crisp

41. Cafe Centraal

42. Cubanitas

43. Continue with my Label Project

✓ 44. July 3rd fireworks on the roof

✓ 45. The Pleasures of Cooking for One

✓ 46. Have a rockin' birthday

✓ 47. Close Wolski's

48. MAM After Dark

49.

50.

spring is over…

Thank god! Finally Spring is over and Summer can officially begin. I regret to say that I have not crossed everything off my list but I have accomplished a lot this season. I discovered more about myself than I ever knew before. I did things that were not on the list at all. And with what is left over I have a good start on developing my Summer list. So tomorrow I will finalize my list and I think for the first time I will do everything on the list because I'm starting to get into a good place.

This summer brings a new apartment, opportunity, revelations, and a lot of fun.

22. try a new restaurant

Earlier this month was Dining Week in Milwaukee and being myself I participated on the last night of the Dining Week. My sister, two of her friends and I went to the Colescott opening and then went to Kil@wat for a $38 for $20. It was fantastic! The atmosphere was simple and very "metro". There are screen prints of the building hanging on the wall that are just abstract enough to not stand out too much. There was just enough noise where you didn't feel like you had to speak quietly but not too much where you couldn't hear the person across from you. Props to the designer because creating the perfect restaurant atmosphere is difficult.

As far as the food & drink it was slightly more than what I expected. The wine was delicious, the salmon entree was mouth watering, and the cheesecake was surprisingly full of many flavors. But I think my favorite part was their pretzel rolls. No joke, they actually had a roll that was made of pretzel dough complete with salt. It was the greatest thing I've ever had. I think I might have to return, for a special occasion because of the price, but nonetheless I will return.

38. have a picnic

The Blue Angels were in town this past week and on Friday they performed one of two shows for the Air & Water Show in Milwaukee. I've seen them several times in my life (being a Navy child) and they never cease to amaze me. So we took this opportunity to have a picnic on the bluff and watch the Blue Angels. Number 38… check!

the label project: test I

I've begun my project with two wines. One a light Pinot Grigio the other a simple Merlot. I bought the former for the label and my friend brought over the Merlot. I thought it would be a good time to experiment since one had a simple label and the other a gorgeous one.

wine name: Kris

wine type: Pinot Grigio

vintage: 2008

region: Italy

price: $14.99

good value: Yes

drink again: Can't Wait

after careful consideration the overall rating: 4.1/5

side note: each label was designed by contemporary Italian artist Riccardo Schweizer.

wine type: Merlot

vintage: 2008

producer: Charles Shaw

region: California

good value: Yes

drink again: Maybe

after careful consideration the overall rating: 3.2/5

In the first battle of label design I'm happy to say the one with the beautiful label wins!

42. enjoy the first warm rain fall

Okay so the first warm rain fall happened a while ago but last night was the first chance I could photograph it. The other day at 6am there was a big thunderstorm with heavy rain and hail for about 10 minutes then it broke and opened up to blue skies. Last night it was another rain fall that passed quickly but it was another good storm. I hate rainy days but love passing storms so please, mother nature, keep them coming.

21. find a project to do

I FOUND A PROJECT! Well more like I developed a project. I was in Whole Foods last night and walked past the wine section and had to stop. There was this beautiful label for a red wine that I wish I would have bought. I tend to buy wines because of their label and usually they are good wines. I think wines that have lame labels take themselves too seriously. It's wine, have some fun with it. With that said I am going to partake in a little project/experiment where I buy wines because of their label and then rate them. At the end of this experiment we'll see if you can really buy wines because of their labels.

By the way… the first wine pictures: not so good. The one above is one of my favorite white wines of all time. And the label is so cute!