Here it is so far, almost done!
Sunday, December 7, 2014
WIP: Stitch Block Cowl
I started this cowl over the summer for a knit-a-long and haven't been great about working on it. I decided my lovely Schwiegermutti should get it for a birthday present... and now it's a Christmas present haha!
Here it is so far, almost done!
Here it is so far, almost done!
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Packing Light
My husband and I recently went on a 3-week-long trip to Germany and I tried out some new things with my packing strategy. This summer we traveled a lot for conferences which allowed me to observe our current methodology.
I observed the following problems with our past travels:
So what's the problem? Rolling wheels are great if you're dealing with escalators, ramps, and wide flat sidewalks. Once you encounter stairs, and crowded, narrow, and uneven sidewalks, things get really uncomfortable. This bag is also really difficult to get in and out of the overhead compartment.
One of my favorite travel resources, Rick Steves, mentioned a convertible bag in a blog entry. I thought it looked really cool but I wasn't totally crazy about it, so I checked out some other options. Turns out eBags makes something similar and I liked the colors and overall structure a lot better.
I purchased the Mother Load TLS Weekender Convertible along with a set of packing cubes and a toiletry kit.
Here's the official product pic:
Here's it is in the flesh:
I got these on a whim, not really convinced and concerned they might take up more room than the actual things packed in them. However, I was intrigued by the advantages over organization that they offered.
I ordered the set of a small, medium, and large packing cube. My clothes, ALL of my clothes, went into the large cube. I used the largest packing cube for the majority of my clothing - shirts, pants, skirt, etc. I used the medium sized one for my pajamas, socks, initimates, etc. The smallest one I ended up using for small items and electronic components (wireless trackball, laptop power supply, portable phone charger).
The key advantage I found to using the packing cubes is they let me organize and compact things. I had total control over how much stuff I was taking and I could make sure my bag didn't end up bulging. With packing cubes, because everything is fairly well organized, I didn't have to fully unpack, even during longer stays. I was able to just dive into my bag when I needed stuff, and putting things away was quick and easy too because everything had a place in its packing cube.
I've just been using random zip top pouches and plastic bags for transporting toiletries when travelling. This technique works fine if you have a counter area and don't mind unpacking everything when you reach your destination, but I really wanted the option to just keep everything in one place. The zip top bags were large and deep with no additional organization. This meant that I either unpacked everything so I could find it easily, or I spent several minutes digging through the bag looking for the small item I needed.
The nice thing about a hanging toiletry kit is it's instant shelf for everything. You can easily find things and you don't really have to unpack.
My criteria:
The piece I ended up wearing the most was the black dress. It was just so easy to wear and so stylish. I was definitely a tourist but I felt like I looked a little nicer than the other tourists wearing that dress. It was incredibly comfortable and versatile. I went from hiking around in the daytime to eating at a nice restaurant in the evening, no problem.
The absolutely biggest thing I found myself missing is some portable slippers. Most folks in Germany don't wear shoes in the house so I was either wearing socks or borrowing slippers that fell off my feet. I know it sounds like a small luxury, but when you're travelling and away from home, anything that helps you to feel a little more cozy can make a huge difference.
I observed the following problems with our past travels:
- We brought more than we actually needed
- Dirty, unwearable clothing took up too much valuable space
- Finding toiletries was difficult
- Toiletries required counter space and became disorganized
- I frequently left toiletry items behind on accident
- I had to fully unpack the suitcase to find things when I needed them
- Re-packing took at least an hour
- The rolling suitcase felt over-sized and was difficult to carry in non-flat surface situations
- I kept losing track of small items (nail scissors, nail clippers)
Based on these observations, I used my Engineering Superpowers to creatively determine solutions, using both my own imaginative searches for products on Amazon and by researching travel blogs.
Rolling bag vs. Non-Rolling Bag
For the past 3 years, I've had a Samsonite 23" Spinner in Solar Rose. I originally bought it for a trip to Hawaii where I realized I needed a nice suitcase since my current one had been falling apart. I've used it as a carry on and it fit just fine in the overhead compartment even though it's slightly over the size limit, but it's big enough that I can unzip an expander and check it if necessary. The overall rolling is stable and for most American travel that involves cars, taxis, elevators, escalators, and flat airport surfaces.So what's the problem? Rolling wheels are great if you're dealing with escalators, ramps, and wide flat sidewalks. Once you encounter stairs, and crowded, narrow, and uneven sidewalks, things get really uncomfortable. This bag is also really difficult to get in and out of the overhead compartment.
One of my favorite travel resources, Rick Steves, mentioned a convertible bag in a blog entry. I thought it looked really cool but I wasn't totally crazy about it, so I checked out some other options. Turns out eBags makes something similar and I liked the colors and overall structure a lot better.
I purchased the Mother Load TLS Weekender Convertible along with a set of packing cubes and a toiletry kit.
Here's the official product pic:
Here's it is in the flesh:
 |
| Open and Empty |
 |
| A peek in the front pocket |
 |
| Filled with packing cubes and unzipped. Nothing here is compressed, this is how I use it on a daily basis without unpacking. |
Packing Cubes
I got these on a whim, not really convinced and concerned they might take up more room than the actual things packed in them. However, I was intrigued by the advantages over organization that they offered.
I ordered the set of a small, medium, and large packing cube. My clothes, ALL of my clothes, went into the large cube. I used the largest packing cube for the majority of my clothing - shirts, pants, skirt, etc. I used the medium sized one for my pajamas, socks, initimates, etc. The smallest one I ended up using for small items and electronic components (wireless trackball, laptop power supply, portable phone charger).
The key advantage I found to using the packing cubes is they let me organize and compact things. I had total control over how much stuff I was taking and I could make sure my bag didn't end up bulging. With packing cubes, because everything is fairly well organized, I didn't have to fully unpack, even during longer stays. I was able to just dive into my bag when I needed stuff, and putting things away was quick and easy too because everything had a place in its packing cube.
 |
| Large and medium packing cubes in the suitcase |
 |
| Small packing cube, closed |
 |
| Small packing cube, open |
Toiletry Kit
I've just been using random zip top pouches and plastic bags for transporting toiletries when travelling. This technique works fine if you have a counter area and don't mind unpacking everything when you reach your destination, but I really wanted the option to just keep everything in one place. The zip top bags were large and deep with no additional organization. This meant that I either unpacked everything so I could find it easily, or I spent several minutes digging through the bag looking for the small item I needed.
The nice thing about a hanging toiletry kit is it's instant shelf for everything. You can easily find things and you don't really have to unpack.
 |
| Toiletry kit and small packing cube |
 |
| Toiletry kit hanging from a cabinet |
Clothing Choices
Because we're travelling in late summer/early fall, I knew I would want clothes for warmer days with layering options as it got colder. I'd also want rain and sun protection, as well as comfortable but versatile walking shoes. Again, stuff that I use in New York City all the time just commuting to and from work and walking around the city.My criteria:
- Doesn't wrinkle
- Easy care (no special instructions beyond wash and dry)
- Versatile (works for a variety of situations, from going out to dinner to hiking)
- Functional (eg, decent pockets)
- Cashmere Cardigan
- Lightweight Jersey Cardigan
- 3 short sleeved tshirts
- 1 pair of Hiking Pants
- 1 Skirt
- 1 Dress
- 2 pairs of socks, 1 pair of tights
- 2 pairs of shoes, a sneaker and a dressier walking shoe
- Pair of tights
- 3 pairs of ExOfficio Give N Go underwear (dries so fast!)
- 2 bras
- 1 sleepshirt
- Set of workout clothes (tank top, leggings, sports bra)
- Long underwear shirt
- Rain Jacket
 |
| More than enough clothes for 3 weeks of travel! |
The piece I ended up wearing the most was the black dress. It was just so easy to wear and so stylish. I was definitely a tourist but I felt like I looked a little nicer than the other tourists wearing that dress. It was incredibly comfortable and versatile. I went from hiking around in the daytime to eating at a nice restaurant in the evening, no problem.
The absolutely biggest thing I found myself missing is some portable slippers. Most folks in Germany don't wear shoes in the house so I was either wearing socks or borrowing slippers that fell off my feet. I know it sounds like a small luxury, but when you're travelling and away from home, anything that helps you to feel a little more cozy can make a huge difference.
 |
| Here I am in the ExOfficio 24-hour Dress! |
Conclusion
The combination of the Ebags suitcase, packing cubes, and toiletry kit was awesome. Having clothes I could wear frequently and wash quickly was also awesome. I bought a bunch of souveniers and I had more than enough room in the lovely Ebags Mother Load TLS Weekender Convertible to fit it all in addition to everything I brought. The Mother Load is a little big however, I might get a Mother Load Junior and give that a try for comparison. Regardless, my husband was so impressed, he's decided he wants to give the packing cubes a try but isn't totally sold on the suitcase yet.
 |
| All the souvenirs I bought that I managed to cram into my suitcase along with everything else I brought! |
Monday, February 18, 2013
Cheese "Crackers"
When switching to a low carb diet, one of the things I missed the most was crunchy snacks. Especially cheese flavored crunchy snacks!
These "crackers" are very easy to make as they are just melted cheese!
I recommend using a leaner cheese for these. The fat in the cheese will run out leaving you with just the protein part, so the less fat in the cheese, the more cracker you'll end up with. I like Monterey Jack the best. Monterey Jack has a very bland flavor that lends itself well to this application. So far my favorite flavoring is smoked paprika and garlic powder, but they taste great plain too.
Heat oven to 400 deg F.
Cut Monterey Jack cheese into squares.
I use parchment paper or a silicon mat on top of a baking sheet to control stickage. Place the squares on a baking sheet in whatever way works for you to prevent stickage.
Once the oven is fully pre-heated, place the baking sheet in the oven in the middle rack. It's really important that you wait for the oven to be fully preheated so the cheese melts and solidifies quickly, otherwise, it might run excessively.
Watch these while they are in the oven. Generally mine are done in about 5 minutes. When the edges are brown you know it's time to pull them out.
Let them cool for about 5-10 minutes and enjoy! If they are a little greasy, just soak it up with a paper towel.
These "crackers" are very easy to make as they are just melted cheese!
I recommend using a leaner cheese for these. The fat in the cheese will run out leaving you with just the protein part, so the less fat in the cheese, the more cracker you'll end up with. I like Monterey Jack the best. Monterey Jack has a very bland flavor that lends itself well to this application. So far my favorite flavoring is smoked paprika and garlic powder, but they taste great plain too.
Heat oven to 400 deg F.
Cut Monterey Jack cheese into squares.
I use parchment paper or a silicon mat on top of a baking sheet to control stickage. Place the squares on a baking sheet in whatever way works for you to prevent stickage.
Once the oven is fully pre-heated, place the baking sheet in the oven in the middle rack. It's really important that you wait for the oven to be fully preheated so the cheese melts and solidifies quickly, otherwise, it might run excessively.
Watch these while they are in the oven. Generally mine are done in about 5 minutes. When the edges are brown you know it's time to pull them out.
Let them cool for about 5-10 minutes and enjoy! If they are a little greasy, just soak it up with a paper towel.
Crustless Quiche
This quiche recipe is adapted from Julia Child's Leek Quiche recipe in her book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking".
Quiches are really easy and are a great way to use leftovers. I like to make them in 16 oz pyrex containers so they are easy to take for lunch and each individual quiche develops a nice brown cheese crust on top.
Basic Quiche Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 1/2c heavy cream
1/4c shredded gruyere or comte cheese
1 T butter
pinch of sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Beat together eggs and cream, then add filling. Fill 3 16oz pyrex dishes. Sprinkle cheese on top and dot with butter.
Bake for 25 minutes at 375 deg. Let cool, pop the cover on and either take it with you or put it in the fridge. I like these best at room temperature. If eating hot, I put some paper towel or a napkin in a bowl and place the pyrex container in that.
Optionally, you can blend the cheese in with the rest of the ingredients, but on top it makes a nice crust and gives a nice bite, especially if you are using a really good cheese.
For fillings, get creative and use whatever you have leftover in the fridge. Quiche is great when you have vegetables that are starting to go bad so you need to use them quick.
Fillings:
- sauteed mushrooms and onions
- sauteed leeks + another 1/4c of cheese
- ham + another 1/4c of cheese
- use Feta instead of the other cheese, kalamata olives, and 4 oz defrosted frozen spinach
Quiches are really easy and are a great way to use leftovers. I like to make them in 16 oz pyrex containers so they are easy to take for lunch and each individual quiche develops a nice brown cheese crust on top.
Basic Quiche Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 1/2c heavy cream
1/4c shredded gruyere or comte cheese
1 T butter
pinch of sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Beat together eggs and cream, then add filling. Fill 3 16oz pyrex dishes. Sprinkle cheese on top and dot with butter.
Bake for 25 minutes at 375 deg. Let cool, pop the cover on and either take it with you or put it in the fridge. I like these best at room temperature. If eating hot, I put some paper towel or a napkin in a bowl and place the pyrex container in that.
Optionally, you can blend the cheese in with the rest of the ingredients, but on top it makes a nice crust and gives a nice bite, especially if you are using a really good cheese.
For fillings, get creative and use whatever you have leftover in the fridge. Quiche is great when you have vegetables that are starting to go bad so you need to use them quick.
Fillings:
- sauteed mushrooms and onions
- sauteed leeks + another 1/4c of cheese
- ham + another 1/4c of cheese
- use Feta instead of the other cheese, kalamata olives, and 4 oz defrosted frozen spinach
Sunday, February 17, 2013
New Job, Xmas Travel, OPW
Sorry for the lack of updates, lots of travel and other things going on this past few months!
I not only got to go back to Germany but I got to visit formerly East Germany! When I was a kid in the 1980's I lived in Nurnburg, West Germany. I remember seeing the wall when I visited West Berlin.
My goal this year is to a) be more active in contributing code to the Perl community and b) speak at conferences. I've submitted talks to a few conferences this year and I'm pretty hopeful about them getting picked up.
Work
First off, I started a new job in January. Things weren't going the way I wanted with my previous employer on a lot of levels. A new opportunity that is a much better fit for me fell into my lap and that's where I work now! I'm pretty stoked about it and am much happier.Travel
Went to Germany with Florian to meet his friends and family. His parents were vacationing in a small town near the Baltic Sea. Then we went to Chemnitz to watch streams of the Chaos Communication Conference that was going on in Hamburg and to celebrate New Year's. We also visited his grandparents in Aue and spent the night in Dresden.I not only got to go back to Germany but I got to visit formerly East Germany! When I was a kid in the 1980's I lived in Nurnburg, West Germany. I remember seeing the wall when I visited West Berlin.
 |
| Getting beer at a gas station |
 |
| Dinner at an Italian restaurant with Florian's parents |
 |
| Now that's a beer! |
 | ||
| A special New Year's tradition involving rum, a sugar cone, and fire! |
Orlando Perl Workshop
I gave a talk this year at OPW! My talk was on hacking conference tshirts. The premise is that it's hard for women to fit into conference tshirts, so I presented a live demo of a simple way to cut the tshirt into a complementary style. I also presented alternative tshirt transformations including a pillow case, an apron, and a tote bag. Finally I made suggestions for transferring the image including making mini buttons and introduced stenciling.My goal this year is to a) be more active in contributing code to the Perl community and b) speak at conferences. I've submitted talks to a few conferences this year and I'm pretty hopeful about them getting picked up.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Updates Etc
I will be making some changes to this blog. It will not just be "crafty" things but life updates as well :) I will tag those entries as "life". In this world of microblogging and social networks, I feel that I don't really know what's going on with anyone anymore and I just end up wasting a lot of time on the internet getting sucked into tons of micro updates.
NYC
For those of you that don't know, in July I moved from Seattle, WA (where I had been living since 2001) to Brooklyn, NY! This was a huge move but I had been feeling an itch to relocate for some time. I had considered Portland but I felt like I really just wanted to go all out, get rid of everything, and completely start over. Some other major changes in my life...
Spring
In November 2011, I adopted a wonderful Boston Terrier from Donna Melton named Spring. She has had 2 litters but they weren't up to show standard so Donna had been looking to re-home her. Some of you know about my experiences with Radagast, my sweet little Frenchie who developed epilepsy. I was unable to continue to care for him so Donna helped me to find a new home for him where he could get the special attention he needed. While she felt horrible about the whole situation as she takes a lot of pride in her dogs (and to date this was the only one of hers to develop epilepsy), she had offered me my pick of a puppy for free from any future litter. Well, anyone who knows anything about brachiocephalics knows that breeders do not make any money off of these dogs and the whole birthing process is very involved and expensive. I just couldn't in good conscious do that, especially since Donna spent much of her own time and money helping to get Radagast's condition stabilized and re-homed. So when I saw the opportunity to help her out, I took it. And Spring has been with me ever since :)
Love Life
In May, at YAPC::NA in Madison, WI, I met a wonderful guy named Florian :) He is originally from Germany but spends a lot of time traveling and trying not to work (or only to work on things that are fun). He is a very talented and prolific Perl developer also known as "rafl" in various communities. Florian came back to Seattle with me from Wisconsin and stuck by my side through my road trip to Portland and ultimately my big flight to NYC. He has been wonderful with helping me with the move and providing emotional support as I'm transitioning into a new life here. This move would have been so much more difficult without him. Currently he is splitting his time between Germany, NYC, and the various YAPC's throughout the world he attends.
And Then...
My new job has me reading a C codebase and working with R for statistical analysis. It's pretty interesting stuff and I'm finding I'm pretty good at data number crunching. In my spare time, I'm continuing to broaden my technical writing portfolio by working with Florian to document some of his modules.
I'm also attending as many Perl events I can squeeze in. Recently I attended the Moving to Moose Hackathon in Stavanger Norway. I will write another post with pictures and such.
In the meantime, I'm limiting my time on twitter and social networking sites. If you have anything you want to share, your best bet is to email me!
NYC
For those of you that don't know, in July I moved from Seattle, WA (where I had been living since 2001) to Brooklyn, NY! This was a huge move but I had been feeling an itch to relocate for some time. I had considered Portland but I felt like I really just wanted to go all out, get rid of everything, and completely start over. Some other major changes in my life...
Spring
In November 2011, I adopted a wonderful Boston Terrier from Donna Melton named Spring. She has had 2 litters but they weren't up to show standard so Donna had been looking to re-home her. Some of you know about my experiences with Radagast, my sweet little Frenchie who developed epilepsy. I was unable to continue to care for him so Donna helped me to find a new home for him where he could get the special attention he needed. While she felt horrible about the whole situation as she takes a lot of pride in her dogs (and to date this was the only one of hers to develop epilepsy), she had offered me my pick of a puppy for free from any future litter. Well, anyone who knows anything about brachiocephalics knows that breeders do not make any money off of these dogs and the whole birthing process is very involved and expensive. I just couldn't in good conscious do that, especially since Donna spent much of her own time and money helping to get Radagast's condition stabilized and re-homed. So when I saw the opportunity to help her out, I took it. And Spring has been with me ever since :)
Love Life
In May, at YAPC::NA in Madison, WI, I met a wonderful guy named Florian :) He is originally from Germany but spends a lot of time traveling and trying not to work (or only to work on things that are fun). He is a very talented and prolific Perl developer also known as "rafl" in various communities. Florian came back to Seattle with me from Wisconsin and stuck by my side through my road trip to Portland and ultimately my big flight to NYC. He has been wonderful with helping me with the move and providing emotional support as I'm transitioning into a new life here. This move would have been so much more difficult without him. Currently he is splitting his time between Germany, NYC, and the various YAPC's throughout the world he attends.
And Then...
My new job has me reading a C codebase and working with R for statistical analysis. It's pretty interesting stuff and I'm finding I'm pretty good at data number crunching. In my spare time, I'm continuing to broaden my technical writing portfolio by working with Florian to document some of his modules.
I'm also attending as many Perl events I can squeeze in. Recently I attended the Moving to Moose Hackathon in Stavanger Norway. I will write another post with pictures and such.
In the meantime, I'm limiting my time on twitter and social networking sites. If you have anything you want to share, your best bet is to email me!
Friday, November 25, 2011
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