I’ve been saying it for a while now, but 2013 really has been my best year ever. So much has happened. So much has changed. I have changed. I feel like I’m a completely different person than I was one year ago. I don’t think I’d even recognize the me from two years ago. But, I’m very happy with these changes. I’m happy with who I am now. I’m happy with where I see myself going and how I see myself growing. I don’t know why everyone thinks being 20 or 21 is so fantastic. I’m coming on 28 and I’m pretty sure that ~30 is the new 20. Approaching 30 is when you really start to figure it out. Life, that is. You figure out who you really are and what you really want. You start to drop your childish inhibitions, your fears and uncertainties, because you realize that you only get to live this life once – so you’d better cut the crap and get on with it, do it your way, find the happiness you deserve. And that’s what I did this year. And that’s what I plan on continuing to do in 2014.

I’d say my year was pretty well split between work and life, I guess in a way I established that balance everyone is always talking about. So let me now reflect a bit…

Divorce. There, I said it. I got a divorce. I’m not ashamed. I don’t feel like a failure. We did what we had to do and I think we’re both in a better place now, some might disagree, but you can’t please everyone. Yes, it hurt. Yes, it hurt others. Yes, I’m sorry that there was pain involved. But, sometimes you get into relationships because they fill a need, and when you no longer have that need, it might not make sense to stay anymore. The end.

Living on my own again. I’ve lived in four places over the course of the year. We sold the house, neither of us needed it. I lived on an air mattress with a space heater. I lived in a house with a few friends and we threw epic parties. Battleshots, ’nuff said. And then I moved into my own apartment, just me and the Ging. All of this moving forced me to simplify, to get rid of all the baggage I’d been dragging around. And now once again, I’m preparing to move again, and am finding even more things that I just don’t need anymore.

I found confidence. In every way. I started speaking up at work. I started speaking in public. I taught an entire 4-hour workshop for Girl Develop It Detroit. I started sharing my opinions. I started trying to make a difference in the world. I still have a ways to go, I’m still an introvert after all, but I’ve now got a base to launch off from.

I made some of the best friends ever. Mercs-4-eva. And strengthened many existing relationships, namely with my sister, Laurie. I don’t think we’ve ever been closer, it’s pretty cool.

I started a new job and found my place in the development world. I left Quicken Loans in October and started with Articulate, an E-Learning software company. I now work remotely for them, doing frontend work. Over the course of the year, I took a deep dive into the world of Sass, modular CSS architecture, and responsive web design. As with all things in the development business, I still have a ton to learn, but I’m finally happy with what I’m doing and the technologies and areas I’m pursuing. I even received a scholarship from Github to attend OSCON in Portland, and later attended the inaugural SassConf in NYC. OH, AND my open source project, SlickQuiz for WordPress, surpassed 15,000 downloads!

I fell in love again. Truly. Deeply. His name is Nathan. It’s sappy but, all of those romance movies and love songs, they really can happen to you. To find love, you just have to be yourself and start doing the things you love. That’s where you’ll find them waiting for you.

And lastly, because this is already long enough…

I tried roughly 300 unique beers. Which is just freaking awesome.

So here’s to 2013, the best year I’ve ever had. May next year be just as amazing!

In the past, Salt Lake City was my destination for the RootsTech conference. This October it was Deer Valley, and the occasion was the annual retreat of my newly joined company, Articulate.

And when I say “newly joined,” I mean it – I hadn’t worked a single day yet. So you might say that the retreat was kind of the best “First Day” EVER. I mean… just look at the photos…

Improv Score: 4/5

Curry Lentil, Pepper, and Bacon Seitan Soup

1 package of Bacon Seitan (sliced into 1-2 inch strips)
1 cup dry lentils
5 oz spinach (roughly chopped)
1/2 green bell pepper (chopped)
1 jalapeño (chopped small)
1 celery stalk (sliced thinly)
1/2 cucumber (diced)
6 grape tomatoes (quartered)
2 cloves of garlic (chopped)
curry
a pinch of onion powder
a pinch of dried ginger
salt & pepper
4 cups vegetable broth
4 cups water
2 tbsp olive oil

1. In a very large saucepan or dutch oven, warm oil on medium heat and saute garlic for about 30 seconds or until the scent has been released.
2. Add green pepper and jalapeño to the pan and saute for 3-5 minutes or until softened.
3. Add celery and cucumber to the pan and saute 2-3 minutes more until softened.
4. Stir in broth and water, lentils, and spices to taste. How much curry do you like? Bring to a simmer and cook 20-30 minutes until lentils are soft.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the bacon seitan as the packaging instructs. Set aside.
6. Once lentils are softened, add bacon seitan, spinach, and tomatoes to the soup and simmer until spinach is wilted.
7. Adjust seasoning throughout cooking by adding more spices, additional veggie bouillon, and olive oil.
8. Enjoy

Improv Score: 4.5/5

White Bean, Kale, and Italian Seitan Sausage Soup

1 package of Italian seitan
1lb dry white beans (cannelloni, great northern, etc.)
4 leaves of kale (roughly chopped)
1/2 white onion (chopped)
1 shallot (chopped)
4 cloves of garlic (chopped)
3 carrots (chopped)
1 bay leaf
dried sage
dried rosemary
dried thyme
dried basil
dried fennel
salt & pepper
5 cups vegetable broth
5 cups water
pecorino romano cheese rind
pecorino romano cheese (for topping)
2 tbsp olive oil

1. In a very large saucepan or dutch oven, warm oil on medium heat and saute garlic for about 30 seconds or until the scent has been released.
2. Add onion and shallots to pan and saute for 3-5 minutes or until onions start to become transparent.
3. Add broth, water, dry beans, bay leaf, dried spices (to your taste preference), and the cheese rind. Simmer for an hour or until beans are cooked through.
4. While the soup simmers, prepare seitan as instructed by the packaging. Set aside.
5. Once beans are cooked through, add carrots, seitan, and kale. Simmering about 15 minutes or until carrots are cooked and kale has wilted.
6. Adjust seasoning throughout cooking by adding more spices, additional veggie bouillon, and olive oil.
7. Remove bay leaf and cheese rind. Serve and top with extra shredded cheese.

Pro Tip: Cook a day in advance and reheat. The flavors and textures really come together!

This dish turned out to have a wonderful sweet and savory balance – between the apples and blueberries, and the smokey maple bacon tempeh and curry. I’ve never tossed blueberries into a stirfry before, but I’ll definitely try it again!

Improv Score: 5/5

Tempeh Bacon and Apple Curry Stirfry

1 pkg Tempeh Bacon (I used Maple Bacon Tempeh from Turtle Island)
1 clove garlic (minced)
1/2 onion (chopped) (sweet or white would be best)
1/2 red bell pepper (chopped)
8 grape tomatoes (halved)
1 apple (chopped) (try Braeburn or Fuji, or anything else that won’t turn mushy)
1/2 cup blueberries

For the sauce:
curry powder (I used a yellow curry on the sweeter side)
apple & onion jam (or most any other not-too-sweet jam or chutney)
1/8 tsp aniseed
1/4 tsp caraway seeds
sesame seeds
apple cider vinegar
olive oil
water

1. In a skillet, prepare the tempeh as instructed by the packaging. Set aside.
2. In the pan that you cooked the tempeh in, heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium to medium high heat.
3. Add the garlic to the oil, stirring frequently for about 30 seconds, or until the scent is released
4. Add the onion and red pepper and saute until onion is nearly transparent, adding splashes of apple cider vinegar along the way as the pan dries out.
5. Add a bit more oil to the pan, then stir in the apples and tomatoes. If it seems dry you can add more oil or apple cider vinegar. Saute.
6. In a small bowl, mix about a half cup of water with an amount of curry that you feel comfortable with. (How much kick do you want?!)
7. When apples start to brown, stir half of the curry mix into the pan along with the blueberries, aniseed, and caraway. Saute 2-3 minutes, or until curry is mostly absorbed.
8. Next, add 2 tablespoons of your jam or chutney and half of the remaining curry mix. Stir and allow to mostly absorb. Repeat with 1-2 more tablespoons of jam and the remaining curry mix.
9. Once curry is mostly absorbed, but still moist, divide the curry onto plates or bowls and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
10. Enjoy!

Day 30 – El Gato del Fuego… silly kitteh.

Day 31 (2/1) – Detroit Ruins – If there is traffic on I-94 heading to work in the morning, we’ll often get off early and take Michigan Ave into town. The state of the city out there is a pretty clear example what used to be a thriving metropolitan, but is now quite literally in a state of ruin. It is both sad and beautiful.

Day 32 (2/2) – Liquor and Henna

Day 33 (2/3) – Superbowl – Didn’t get any super awesome shots, so I took this one and applied some super awesome vintage presets. I say, good enough.

Day 34 (2/4) – YOLO – True story.

Day 35 (2/5) – Ashley’s 30th Anniversary – Had many an awesome Bell’s beer at this event, a lot of bourbon barrel-aged stouts! :)

Day 36 (2/6) – Renaissance Glow – Detroit seems to be coming back, slowly but surely.

Day 37 (2/7) – Carnival in the City – Setting up for the Winter Blast in Detroit.

Day 38 (2/8) – Winter in the D

Day 39 (2/9) – Heartstrings

Day 40 (2/10) – Self-Portrait

Day 28 – Detroit.

Day 29 – Life Happens.

Day 23 – Hot Apple Toddy. Enjoying a nice hot adult beverage on an icy cold day.

Day 24 – Self Portrait #2. Yay, skin smoothing! :P

Day 25 – Fresh-Rolled Cafeteria Sushi. Not too bad…

Day 26 – The Ugly Mug at RatFest 2013

Day 27 – Orchids. The newest edition to my decor…

Day 17 – The Wurst Bar in Ypsi had their one year anniversary party. This was the ridiculous bacon-wrapped PBR brat, topped with even more amazing things.

Day 18 – Thought I’d go for something easy and grab a shot of my favorite desk ornament, my BSG Cylon action figure. He’s just chilling.

Day 19

FAIL DAY. :( There are no more words.

Day 20 – While strolling around downtown Ann Arbor, we headed into Moosejaw where we spotted this fine floor display. Yes… that would be the Queen of England and Christoper Walken camping out.

Day 21 – Seriously, do not enter, unless you want to be eaten by giant ants… your call.