SLR camera – Page 22 – emerald city diaries

a visit to new england: new hampshire & vermont.

from boston, we rented a car & drove north to new hampshire. we stayed in manchester, NH for the remainder of the week, sort of a jumping off point for the rest of our time in new england. manchester is a really cute little town with an amazing number of restaurants right on elm street in downtown. while it may have been nice to stay in other places, like say a bed & breakfast, it was so nice to have to unpack & repack only once! we celebrated my birthday & valentine’s day with a five-course dinner (which we split) at XO on Elm – it was delish! we also had to try the highly recommended dancing lion.

after settling into new hampshire, we took a short day trip up to vermont. it still amazes me that you can get to another state in just two short hours (that doesn’t happen where we live!). our first stop was in waterbury to visit the one & only ben & jerry’s factory. it was amazing! we got a tour of the factory & got to sample a never-been-released coffee cake ice cream.

we also drove just a little bit further into vermont to visit the von trapp family lodge. you probably only know of one von trapp family. are you quietly singing “doe a deer a female deer”? if you are, you are right on! the von trapp family was made famous from the movie the sound of music which was loosely based on their lives in austria during ww II. apparently waterbury, vermont looks much like the “mountains” of austria (i put mountains in quotes because any one who has actually seen a mountain cannot actually say that anything in new england is actually a mountain). originally the von trapp family just had a lodge but today it is quite the winter resort.

have you ever ventured into vermont?

a visit to new england: boston.

{there are lots of photos so i thought it would be best to share the trip over a couple of posts.}

aaron and i had a chance to visit new england last week as a way to celebrate valentine’s day, my birthday, & to get away just the two of us. while it may not have been the best time to travel (um, winter), we only had a few days of really, really cold (thanks beantown!).

we flew in & out of boston on a direct flight via jetblue & it really lived up to the rave reviews: first checked bag free, nice flight attendants & in-seat tvs. {sidenote: aaron & i both watched in time on the flight home & it was really good. i had never heard of it before but if you haven’t seen it, definitely put it in your netflix queue.}

…

we took the T out to the sam adam’s brewery tour almost as soon as we landed. {this was aaron’s favorite part of the trip; me, not so much.} then we took the party trolley to doyle’s & dined on the best reuben sammie & clam chowder that boston had to offer.

our hotel {the omni parker house} was right on the freedom trial, across the street from the old city hall & just a few short blocks from the boston common. we were able to walk or take the T everywhere we wanted to go, it was fantastic!

even though the red sox were in florida for spring training, we couldn’t miss an opportunity to visit fenway park. it was great to hear the tour & learn about all of the secrets of the old park – it is actually bigger than when i was last here! we got to sit out in the green monster seats – very hard to get tickets for as there is a lottery system each season – & up in the press box – the biggest in the MLB.

while we were strolling around the common, we also visited the granary burying grounds where we paid our respects to mother goose, samuel adams & paul revere.

we also took the T out to cambridge & visited harvard university.

that wraps up our time in boston! stay tuned as i will be posting pics from the rest of our trip.

have you ever been to beantown?

thirty before i am thirty.

i introduced my thirty before i am thirty list in one of my first blog posts. i have been able to complete a few more to do’s on the list, so i thought i’d share.

number twenty: own a really good camera (digital SLR). for christmas this year aaron & i bought each other a sony digital SLR. to clarify, we didn’t both get a camera, we bought each other half of one. i haven’t used it much & still know nothing about what i can actually do with it (other than point-and-shoot); perhaps i should add another item to my list: photography class.

number twenty-four: find out my blood type. for the entire time i have been on the planet, i have never known my blood type. it turns out it really isn’t unusual for people not to know their blood type since you really only need to know it if you need a transfusion, but i was always really curious. when i completed #25 on my list (see below), my blood was typed. turns out i am B positive. after doing a bit of research, i discovered that B positive is pretty rare for an american (only 8.5% of the population), but more prevalent in asian countries (i am korean after all).

number twenty-five: donate blood to a blood bank. this to-do has, by far, been the most difficult one on the list to complete. i hadn’t ever donated blood before, largely due to my small size & world travel, but it was something i always wanted to do. plus, it was the best possible chance for me to complete #24 (see above). i decided that there was no time like the present, so i made an appointment with the local blood bank. while i am a good candidate on paper – good on blood pressure, pulse, temperature, weight & hemoglobin level – it turns out i am a not-so-good candidate in real life. i will spare you the details, but the short story is that i got really sick after the donation. this was not because i am squeamish about blood or anything, but i was a bit dehydrated which lowered my blood pressure (and i already have really low blood pressure), it was my first time donating (i guess it gets easier every time) & i am just over the weight minimum (i spent the weekend before “bulking up” to be sure i could actually donate). i am really glad i donated, despite the after-effects & continued bruising & pain in my left arm (i don’t think this is normal), so i would encourage any one who might be on the fence about donation to go ahead and do it! while i was at the blood bank i read a statistic that surprised me & made me really glad i donated: only 38% of the population is able to donate blood & only 10% actually do.

{a warm blanket & comfy recliner at the blood bank}

{everyone was choosing hot pink for their wrap, so i chose lime green}

do you have a bucket list? what’s on your to-do list before the next milestone birthday?

las vegas: the bowl game.

when we originally booked our tickets to las vegas we decided to stay one extra day after the wedding so that we could see the sites. we had no idea that the las vegas bowl game would happen fall on that same day. or that boise state would play in that bowl game (again, darn you bcs!).

happily, we were able to get tickets with my parents who flew down for the bowl game along with thousands of other members of the bronco nation. while the weather was brisk, the game was fun, especially the very first play – scoring a touchdown on the kick off? yes please! – and we cheered & cheered the broncos onto victory!

{mom, dad & me in our bronco blue; mom & dad at the stadium}

{our friends lyle & jean; aaron & me waiting for kick-off}

{go broncos!; fans vocal against the bcs}

{moore & the broncos receiving their trophy; final score 56 to 24}

the win was bittersweet as it marked the end of a true football era; the senior players, led by kellen moore, played their last game in bronco blue (cue tears).

can i get a: BOISE! STATE!

did you watch the las vegas bowl game or any other bowl games this year?

las vegas: the wedding.

aaron’s cousin scott & his then-fiance kelly invited all of the family out to las vegas the week before christmas to attend their nuptials. we have been trying to split christmases between our families every other year, but tickets to indy were pretty expensive (plus renting a car, boarding sadie, etc.) so we decided to spend this year’s christmas in idaho & make the quick trip to vegas (where we knew we would see a little of aaron’s family).

the wedding was on december 21st and took place at the chapel in the clouds which is 103 stories above the strip at the top of the stratosphere hotel. the actual ceremony took place in a beautiful little room where we watched the sunset over the vegas desert, witnessed scott & kelly tie the knot & waved to the webcam that was streaming the wedding for those who couldn’t attend.

{my in-laws: diane & sam}

{the groom before the ceremony}

{the groom & mother of the groom, susan}

{the groom waiting for his bride – cue the tears!}

{the bride & father of the bride}

{the first kiss}

{aaron & me. sidenote: the height difference here is not normal because normally i don’t stomp around in 6 inch heels. yep that’s me at 5′ 9″.}

{love is in the air}

{the bride’s family}

following the nuptials there was a dinner reception where the food & company were wonderful. it was a pretty small group, so everyone got a good view of the head table where scott & kelly were made to kiss every time someone clinked on a glass. they kissed. a lot.

{the happy couple}

a little bit of dancing took place at the end: kelly danced with her dad, scott danced with his mom & kelly & scott shared their first dance. the reception wrapped up with some “we are family” & brake dancing.

{bride & father dance}

{groom & mother dance}

since the night was still young & we were at the stratosphere, some of the boys in the family decided they needed a turn on the big shot (the ride on the needle of the stratosphere). all of the boys made it on the ride with a little liquid courage & there were no shoes or meals lost on the ride (phew!).

{the boys pre-launch}

{take off!}

{at the top of the big shot}

the wedding was so beautiful & i am so glad that aaron & i were able to help celebrate the marriage of scott & kelly. cheers to the new bride & groom!

have you ever been to a vegas wedding?
M

what happens in vegas stays in vegas.

unless you have a blog.

we found ourselves in las vegas the week before christmas for a family wedding & coincidentally the boise state bowl game (darn you bcs). there are too many pictures for one post, so wedding & bowl game pics will follow.

aaron had never been to vegas before & i hadn’t been in quite a few years, so it was exciting to go together for a little holiday vacation. we stayed at the stratosphere because that is where the wedding was taking place, but we spent most of our free time on the other end of the strip. it was great to see some of aaron’s family in vegas since we weren’t able to make it out to indiana for the holiday this year.

{flying out of boise, idaho}

{at the top of the stratosphere}

{the stratosphere}

{waiting for the bus. yay for sunny weather!}

{aaron and me at caesar’s palace}

{uncle mike, aunt sharon & me at planet hollywood}

{aaron & me at the trevi fountain at the forum}

{the mirage}

{the strip}

{freezing at the fremont street experience}

{aaron & me at the venetian}

{the christmas tree at the venetian. so beautiful!}

{the sun shining at the venetian}

{sitting in the revolution sign at the mirage}

{the wynn}

{old vegas at the fremont street experience}

{a beautiful christmas tree at the wynn where we brunched. i need those curtains!}

{beautiful christmas decor at the lobby of the wynn}

{aaron won $1!}

{the eiffel tower}

{the fountain show at the bellagio}

{store front of the louis vuitton store at the bellagio}

{polar bear at the bellagio lobby – can you believe he is made completely of flowers?}

{the revolution bar at the mirage}

we had really sunny weather during the day, but the nights were chilly. aaron tried his hand at black jack, slots & poker; i shopped at zara (no gambling for me!). three days was about perfect for us as las vegas = over-stimulation, but we are planning on going back at least one more time in the future, mostly to see a cirque de soleil show.

have you ever been to vegas?
M

highlights of 2011.

i love reading the yearly highlights on other blogs & thought it would be especially fun to catch up on the entire year since i didn’t start blogging until the fall.

{via google}

january: we had a mellow start to the new year that was highlighted by starting the last semester of my law school career.

february: we celebrated our 6 month anniversary on the first (cheesy, i know). we hosted a celebration party at our townhouse which included my turning 26 (yikes!), a very belated housewarming & of course, our 6 month anniversary. aaron took me away to whidbey island for a romantic weekend to celebrate my birthday and valentine’s day, and we went to serafina (my fav) for dinner!

march: my last official spring break (probably ever) which was spent studying (papers & oral argument) & working on my Bar application. i submitted my Bar application. we were surprised by the early arrival of baby cambridge: franklin pierre cambridge.

{via cari cambridge}

april: we attended the Barrister’s Ball (a.k.a. law school prom) which was held at the EMP. we drove to ritzville, WA to meet my dad & brought home the newest member of our little family, sadie. we had a date night at The Pink Door during Seattle Restaurant Week.

{taken at photobooth}

{the very first picture of sadie & aaron at the columbia river – taken with holga 135}

may: my last official final exams period: one final, two papers & a project. i painted our office a soothing blue in preparation for my bar exam studies. we attended Baccalaureate Mass at Seattle University & my Law School Graduation at Key Arena. we flew to indiana to see aaron’s family & to attend aaron’s ten year reunion at Culver Military Academy. we continued east-ward to Paris where we spent a week of celebration: graduation & aaron turning 28! we spent our first day in Paris with our good friend jerry who acted as our translator & tour guide.

june: i started my bar prep studies on the first; this marked the beginning of eight grueling weeks of 80 hours a week cramming. aaron interviewed & was offered a program manager position (still at microsoft).

july: we saw Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part II at the IMAX. i sat for the WA Bar Exam on July 26, 27 & 28; i wouldn’t have made it thru those three days without my friend miriam, three-evenings-in-a-row massages, jimmy john’s delivery service or the sheraton hotel in bellevue. we got celebratory pedis at my favorite spa Julep.

august: on the first we celebrated our one year anniversary at Rover’s. we dropped off sadie with nanny lisa and headed east for a lower family vacation. we spent the bookend weekends in charlotte, NC with aaron’s brother david & his family, but spend most of the vacation in charleston, SC on the beach at the Isle of Palms. lots of sun, sand & air conditioning. sadie & i drove to boise for a quick trip home to visit my family & to get a haircut (yes, i go to idaho to get my haircut). we waited in anticipation for baby lower who was born shortly after we left NC: landon neal lower.

{via jodi lower}

september: we saw maroon 5 & train in concert at the white river amphitheater. we drove down to salem for a weekend to see old family friends & so aaron could skydive; we saw our friends but had to cancel the skydiving due to weather conditions & miscommunications. we attended a surprise dinner party for sami, one of my very old friends from idaho, who now lives in seattle with her husband, brandon. on the 26th we celebrated sadie’s 7th birthday.

october: i passed the bar exam! we celebrated our four year dating anniversary with dinner at the melting pot. we attended Ghouls Near Greenlake, ben & sarah’s annual halloween bash as aladdin & jasmine. we ate our way thru seattle & bellevue during Seattle Restaurant Week. aaron ran in the warrior dash. i started a little blog called emerald city diaries to keep family & friends updated on the lower family.

november: i was sworn in as an official King County Bar Association member. i was rear-ended. we celebrated the baptism of baby herschel, the son of one of my law school friends. we celebrated thanksgiving with my grandmother & friends in seattle. we bought doug the douglas fir, the second annual lower family christmas tree. aaron took me to the nutcracker for an early christmas date.

december: we celebrated the engagement of our good friends andy & hailey. we attended a champagne brunch fundraiser. we got an SLR camera. we drove to boise in a rental car. i got a haircut. we flew to vegas. we attended the nuptials of scott & kelly at the chapel in the clouds. we cheered on the boise state broncos to victory in the las vegas bowl. we attended a christmas reunion of the CBC (my dearest high school girlfriends). we celebrated christmas! we drove back to seattle.

whew, what a year! every year i think “this has been the best year ever!” and i think this is totally true about my 2011.

how was your 2011 – was it a year to remember or are you itching to start 2012 already?

his & hers: SLR accessories.

as i noted here, we just bought our first digital SLR as an early christmas present to ourselves. while we are still anxiously waiting for santa’s early delivery, i find myself thinking about accessorizing. yes, cameras have accessories!

we are a bit late to adopt the trend of uber-cool SLR camera which means that there are lots of non-standard (FUN) accessories that are popping up all over the web. the problem remains that this camera will be shared, so i will have to give a little and go for the more masculine accessories. for husband’s sake. i think i can handle it. i am thinking of it like j.crew-chic.

but, i thought it would be fun to look (and dream about) at the different accessories for him & her:

camera bag:

{kelly boy bag}

{the bossi bag}

camera strap:

{etsy}

have you accessorized your camera? what other essentials am i missing?

the day after thanksgiving.

or black friday. or the day that you can officially put up christmas decorations and listen to the christmas pandora station, and not get crazy looks.

but back to thanksgiving. yesterday was such a wonderful day filled with family, friends & food! aaron and i started out the day with a little breakfast, knowing that we would be eating a big turkey dinner. though probably not the healthiest – hey, it was a holiday!

then i got to the baking & cooking stage of my day. i promised our thanksgiving host (my grandmother) that i would bring two pies and cranberries. the first of my pies was the pumpkin pie. (sidenote: i actually baked the pumpkin pie on wednesday night.) i was a little nervous since i normally don’t make the pumpkin pie in my family (mom usually does, and an amazing job at that), and i was using the TJ’s (that’s Trader Joe’s for you that are not in the know) recipe on the back of their canned pumpkin and not the recipe on the back of the usual canned pumpkin that you buy at the regular grocery store. everything went well and the only difference between the usual pumpkin pie and the TJ’s pumpkin pie was evaporated milk versus whole milk & half-and-half. i served the pie with creme fraiche as opposed to cool whip mostly because my grandmother thinks that all whipped cream is “shaving cream.” (this is totally true even though it sounds like i am making it up. when we are out to dinner and she orders an irish coffee, she will tell the waiter “now i don’t want any of that shaving cream on the top,” and we have to explain to the waiter that she actually means whipped cream in a can. but i digress.)

the other pie that i made this year was an apple pie, which is the kind that i normally make for holiday meals, so nothing too tricky about it.

i also decided to make cranberry sauce this year. cranberries are one of my favorite parts of the thanksgiving meal (do people really use cranberries outside of thanksgiving and christmas? i think not.) and when i saw a simple recipe for fresh cranberry sauce in the november cooking light, i knew i had to give it a try. plus, the recipe specifically said that cranberries are one of the easiest sauces to make. boy were they right, it was so easy – you basically just add things together and boil them. the color was gorgeous and the sauce was so tasty! (plus, there were no ribbed “can lines”!)

as i had mentioned earlier, my grandmother was hosting thanksgiving this year. she has always loved hosting dinner, especially thanksgiving. she makes the most beautiful centerpieces you have ever seen, and always with food (her fave!) – plantains, grapes, clementines, pineapple. we (aaron, my grandmother and i) were joined by old family friends for the evening which we spent a lot of playing cards (spite & malice, a family favorite). it was such a great evening, though aaron and i were both missing family celebrations in other states (idaho and indiana).

the turkey continued as a theme even into the day after thanksgiving thru leftovers (yum) and a very successful attempt at making turkey stock out of the turkey carcass. i have to admit that we were a bit peer pressured into taking the rest of the turkey home, but after a little chopping and straining, we have some amazing homemade turkey stock. we are planning to make a delicious turkey soup for tomorrow night’s dinner. (and the turkey theme continues!)

despite the turkey-themed weekend, we also spent today doing a teeny bit of shopping. it is black friday after all, right? after aaron and i were in paris this spring and borrowing my parent’s SLR camera, we decided that we were going to get one for ourselves for christmas. we spent some time looking at the different cameras available a few weeks ago – nikon, canon, sony – and decided that the sony a55 was the one for us. while it isn’t a nikon or canon (which is what most SLR choices seem to be), the sony just felt perfect for us – not too bulky, good grips, nice swivel screen. we bought the “black friday edition” of the seattle times to scour what the deals would be, but aaron ended up finding the best price online. though there won’t be any surprises as to what christmas has in store for us this year, i am still so stoked to get this camera!

what a great thursday & friday. can you believe we have the entire weekend still? bliss.

how was your thanksgiving? did you do any damage during black friday, or avoid the crowds?
M