organizing my desk with knock knock!

Once a year, I treat myself to a Knock Knock Pad - Two years ago, it was a Pro-Con list. Last year, it was a to-do list. This year, it's the Five Days a Week Keyboard Pad. Knock Knock sent me this awesome long pad that serves as a to-do list and weekly planner. This is a space saver, and rests at the base of your keyboard.

I tested it out at work and love how its 15" size aligns with my laptop. It is a colorful accent to my work space! The 5-day + weekend format makes the week seem do-able and visually spaced out.  I am sure that these pages will be increasingly full over the next few days, but I love the little countdowns at the bottom corners. "Can You Taste It?" is my favorite!! Checking those off will be so satisfying throughout the year...

The weekend pad consists of separate weekend sticky notes that are especially fun. It makes looking forward to the weekend even more fun for a stationery lover like myself!

It is definitely more useful in a work or office setting, because it actually gets use. My desk at home is more for personal stuff - blogging, pinterest-ing, and general reading. I really do enjoy using it at work, and have received compliments on it from like-minded people who love a good writing surface. I discovered that Knock Knock also makes a mousepad with a similar format, which will probably be my next purchase when this keyboard pad runs out.

Til then, it's a pretty nice rest for the wrists when typing. If you're in love with Knock Knock as much as me, then sign up for their e-newsletter!! New signups get 20% off your purchase of $50!  



Thanks Knock Knock! Can't wait to see what you come out with next!

ciao, xo

packed lunches: on a salad kick

I vowed to myself last year that this current year, I would bring packed lunches every day (except for special occasions like 'monthly bagel bar!' or 'it's friday! i'm treating myself!") See, the thing is, I'm kind of picky about packed lunches. And the act of packing them is always annoying. Therefore,  I like to keep it simple, and definitely not hot - unless it's soup in an ultra-sealed camping performance thermos. I don't know what it is, but heating up stuff in microwaves kind of skeeves me out - especially communal microwaves.

This week, out of the blue, I got into the idea of salads. And what kind of salad is better than a photogenic salad?

I am a big believer that a good salad needs a crunch, a smooth texture, and a punchy dressing. I love walnuts and almond slices in my salad, and a nice light cheese (lately it's feta) always adds an extra taste. My dressing of choice has been a concoction I made up: balsamic and a strawberry pecan (fat-free!) dressing.

So, I think this salad is 100% fat free, unless - wait, the cheese - but hey, it's still a salad. That has to count for something.

Ingredients
50/50 spring mix and spinach
sliced strawberries
clementine or orange
walnuts, almonds or some sort of nut
crumbled feta cheese
craisins
balasmic
Ken's strawberry pecan dressing


This has turned into my favorite portable go-to.

ciao! xo

the last week of october. how can it be?

The weekend - and not to mention the entire month - has defined everything October means to me.

the smoke from a bonfire, the GORGEOUS dusty purple sunsets,

the tailgates and homecomings,

the football games, the dark roast coffee, 

the oranges and yellows, 

the pumpkin and apple overload, the smell of roasting leaves,

piles of pumpkins and gourds, and

the most vivid and stunningly crisp afternoons.

I'm scared of November. Honest.

I don't want October to go...

and the next month brings a lot of busy.

Out of the 6 people in my family, there are four birthdays.

The slip-n-slide of holiday shopping becomes more and more real.

I'm fearful of the amount of money that I will have to spend..ughhhhh. Dreading it.

One good thing will be S's homecoming! And that I can't wait for.

But until then... I'm seeking one last cozy week, 

a bastion of solace and peace, in these very autumn-y photos taken over the course of the month.

I wrote about my october goals at the beginning of the month. What did I cross off?

Not much. But what I did cross off, I am pleased with.

More 'me' time at the end of the day - getting all work done at work, not at home.

Spending quality time with mama (ok, not a dinner date, but does breakfast count?)

Maybe one too many octoberfest brews. A haunted hayride that made me scream like a 5 year old!

I'm kind of eating cleaner - definitely at lunch, but dinners are a struggle.

I'm going to introduce some new goals for November soon. 

Going to soak in this glorious feeling for the rest of the week!

ciao, xo

five things for friday

via

1. bracelets from Etsy are totally my thing right now.

2. plans for the weekend: bday shopping and possibly jumping in a leaf pile somewhere.

3.  nonpariels (above) are the very best kind of sprinkles.

4. i am so thankful for the people in my life right now. new and old. you, yes YOU! :)

5. daylight savings has now made it light out when i drive to work. it's weird, but i like. i think.

happy weekend, people! ciao xo