SheSpeaks

Hi friends... for any ladies out there... this is a website I discovered at work about a year ago I think (a client my company did a partnership with them), and thought I would share with you all. The idea is that brands/products want to test things out and get feedback from "influential" women of all ages. You fill out a somewhat lengthy survey about yourself... and then they will match you with products and send them to you for free. All you have to do is agree to then come back to the site after you get the product and write a review. Its a great way for brands to get tons of feedback from women on products, and for some products before they go "mass market". So far I've gotten nail polish, magazine subscriptions, chocolates, random stuff, its kinda fun though. (I have heard if you have kids there are a lot more Mom and kids products that get sent out).

Anyhow, thought I'd share. Sign up if you have some free time and you might find yourself getting some fun surpises in the mail. http://www.shespeaks.com/

Yay for spring

Well... almost spring. Its still cold out, but we went to the market last weekend and got some yellow tulips (Tulips are my favorite!), and a week later they still look beautiful. I can't wait until its warmer outside... but for now at least I have these flowers to brighten up our little house. =)

Matt's side project

Matt's company DLR, started a new program where the young architects propose a project where they can learn how to do something new - they get a "grant" to create it and a week of "vacation" to work on it, and then they share the learnings with the whole office. Matt and his friend Dan did a project where they used digital fabrication to design a bar on the computer, they then took the designs to a place where water jets were used to cut wood into what they designed, and then they put the pieces all together! The curves and shape of the bar is very unique - not something just anyone could build... which is the whole point I suppose. They can hopefully now apply this to architecture projects with schools or other buildings they are designing!

I think it is so cool what they accomplished, and everyone at their office was really excited about the project. Here are a few fun pictures.

Wine Tasting

I went wine-tasting in Woodinville with my girlfriends a couple weekends ago, in celebration of Lisa's birthday! There were 11 of us girls and we just had a blast. We started off at Lisa's new apartment with breakfast and mimosas, then took a hummer/limo around to 6 wineries. I couldn't help but buy a couple bottles of wine... they were all so good! I would have to say my favorite stop of the day was at De Lille cellars, the wines were tasty and the old farmhouse that was turned into a winery was beautiful. Can't wait to go back. =)

new bookcases

Here is a picture for my mom.... =) My parents gave us 3 beautiful bookcases for Christmas... and we finally got 2 of them put together... we also unloaded a couple boxes of our books from the basement (those of you that know me well know I read a lot, and also have a hard time giving up my books).

You will also see a couple of clay pots on the one shelf. Matt's aunt Barbara gave us a whole collection of some Mayan relics that her husband had collected over the years. Matt always loved them and it was so thoughtful of her to pass them along to us. We finally have a place to display a couple of them... and hopefully we will find a special way to display the rest of them as well in the near future.

A couple great reads

Lately I have been reading more...between riding the bus to work, travelling, and being home sick the last couple days. Anyhow, I just finished reading the 2nd Ken Follett book: World without End. I read the first book last winter Pillars of the Earth, and then got the sequel at Christmas from my dad this year. These book are just SO good, and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for their next books to read.... (be forewarned they are a bit of a commitment with over 1,000 pages each, but there is a lot of action/drama and I could not put it down!).

Weekend in San Fran

After a very busy couple weeks of holiday festivities, Matt and I headed down to San Francisco this last weekend to visit his Grandma Jackie. We had a busy weekend and saw some great shows, ate some good food, and really enjoyed hanging in San Fran as well as Los Altos.

I forgot my camera for the weekend so don't have any pictures. Lydia's (Matt's sister) boyfriend Cody took lots of pictures though... so hopefully we can get some of those later and I'll put some up.

Friday evening we went to see Tony & Tina's wedding which was like no show we have ever been to before....from the time you get to the show you are a part of it. Everyone is a guest at the ceremony & reception of a crazy italian wedding, and it was quite entertaining. =)

Saturday evening we saw Dame Edna perform. Dame Edna is a cross-dressing/housewife/comedian from Australia who has been performing for almost 50 years! She includes the audience in her jokes, sings, dances, and much more. It was one of the funniest shows I have been to and such a great time. I would highly recommend it to anyone if she is in your town!