Wonderemployment

Hanging out with a baby can be loud, but it can also be very quiet at times. During this past year, my most constant companion has been my podcasts. Prior to my pregnancy, I only listened to one podcast, just enough to fill the time on my commute on BART. But once I started staying home all day with Holly, podcasts helped me not just fill time, but keep me connected to the bigger world. It was like having great conversations without having to do any of the work. They have become such a soundtrack to my home life, I wanted to capture them here as sort of an audio time capsule for this period of my life. Here are my top five podcasts (not in any order), along with some favorite episodes: Stuff Mom Never Told You : I feel like I tell everyone about this podcast because so many conversations remind me of things I've learned from this show. Cristen and Caroline look at tons of topics from a feminist, fact-based lens, with a good dose of humor. I am so bummed they won't be record...

I did it! I crossed off all my 30 for 30 items by the end of my birthday month (the 30th!). I wasn't sure when I initiated it whether it would end up being fun or overwhelming, but it turned out perfectly. August and September have been so full of celebration and sweetness, I feel absolutely spoiled by it all. The only time I felt rushed or forced was when I convinced myself to make the mac and cheese in grueling heat because I knew it was the last weekend of September, and I couldn't envision having time to do it on the few remaining weekdays. Other than that, I was able to make plans AND be spontaneous to make this truly the best birthday ever. It wasn't just the actual things or activities that made this list fun to fulfill; it was the people. I spent time with friends I made in high school, college, my first years in SF, friends I met through Curtis, through my work and volunteerism, all the way up to friends I've just recently met through being Holly's mom. I...

I am fast approaching my 30th birthday in September. For most of my life, I've felt like my birthday has been a bust. For one thing, it often fell on or near the first day of school, which was when friendships were most in flux. I also didn't feel very confident about myself, so thinking of who to invite and what the group dynamic would be like filled me with anxiety. (It kind of still does.) As time went on I just pretended not to care, wouldn't plan anything, then felt vaguely depressed when the day rolled around without fanfare. This year, I want to do something different. I want to do something BIG. After this past year, of having a painful pregnancy, getting laid off, making some big life decisions, and caring for a new baby, I am unashamed to say I deserve some celebration ! Doing something "big" is a bit challenging with a little one, and without the extra income. I've spent the last month racking my brain for what I could do, but nothing seemed like ...

Back in April, Curtis and I took a weekend-long photography workshop up in Point Reyes. Neither of us had taken any photography classes or trips before, but I wanted to try it out because it's an interest we both share, and because Point Reyes is truly my happy place. With this workshop we got to stay inside the actual park, at the Historic Lifeboat Station. The accommodations were "rustic" but we were serenaded by the ocean and dozens of elephant seals. It was unique to say the least. The whole workshop focused on beaches . We probably visited five or six beaches throughout the weekend, each with their own characteristics and charms. Our instructor,  Gary Crabbe , was familiar with each one and had an intuition for which ones would be best to go at which hour of the day, based on the weather, to get some interesting pictures. He was pretty hands off in terms of instruction, but very approachable when we wanted tips or advice. Most of the attendees were retired an...

A little recap of the tumultuous, yet glorious year of 2014...  PS. I've been using this infographic design program, Piktochart , at work, and couldn't resist trying it out for personal use too. It's pretty fun! I use the Pro version at work, but used the free version for this one (since I share the work account with the whole office!). The main difference is the watermark and the download format options. If you've ever wanted to make an infographic for work or pleasure but are not a graphic designer, I highly recommend checking it out!

I don't know if favors for friends counts as service, but I'm going to file it there anyways... My coworker/friend recently decided to have a small wedding at San Francisco City Hall. When I heard that she wasn't planning to get anyone to take pictures because of the cost and her short planning time frame, I offered to do it as a gift for her. She wasn't sure about it at first (I think out of fear of inconveniencing me), but I was so happy that she accepted. Photos are by no means the most important part of a wedding, but I know how much I love being able to look at my wedding pictures and get filled with warm fuzzies, and I think everyone should be able to do the same. I warned her, I'm not a professional, so don't expect Pinterest-worthy photos, but I will try my very best! And I did. I really have to hand it to wedding photographers because it's a big responsibility. You only get one chance to get it right. It can be pretty stressful moving around ...

A little Monday afternoon jaunt to Half Moon Bay. I am so thankful for the time and freedom to take these spontaneous excursions with the one person who always says "yes" to my "let's go!".