In Progress - #32: Send one handwritten note per month for a year

So I'm actually three months into this 12-month to-do. It's one that I've been baby-stepping into but can already tell I'm going to enjoy.

You see, I still get excited over mail. Even though it's usually bills or junk, sometimes it isn't. Sometimes it's a Pottery Barn catalog (!) or - if I'm really lucky - one of the magazines I subscribe to (Better Homes & Gardens or Traditional Home). And every once in a while, it's an honest-to-goodness note from someone I know and love.

This year, I'm trying to do a better job of sending those gems - handwritten notes - to people I love, admire, or care about. Here's how it's been going so far:

• In January, I decided to start the year with some good karma and sent a whole slew of notes to folks I admire professionally. Many of those have turned into fun coffee dates, and I've been having a really wonderful, productive start to my year because of it.
• In February, I sent Valentines cards to all of the elderly and home-bound folks who are part of my local church congregation (we call them STARS). Soon after, I heard from a woman who went to visit our STARS that a few of them had my cards tacked up on the walls in their hospital rooms and retirement homes.
• Today I'm dropping a note in the mail for a very special momma-to-be back in Texas. (I don't want to give away her name here because I want the note to be a fun surprise!)

What's the last handwritten note you received?

In Progress - #69: Try 5 new recipes

This weekend I got the urge to bake. (To be honest, it struck around 3:30 p.m. on Friday - just in time for me to look up recipes and add a bunch of ingredients to the weekend grocery list.)

After a quick peek at my "starred" Google Reader items, I found mention of Momofuku's Milk Bar in NYC, which made me remember this post, which made me do some quick recipe-hunting for anything Momofuku-inspired. What I found was Compost Cookies.

Imagine a cookie that has everything in it. Salty, sweet, you name it. That is the compost cookie. My version included Lay's potato chips, oats, coffee grounds, chocolate chips, and three crunched-up Thin Mints. The verdict? Amazing.

Compost Cookies

• 1/2 cup Butter
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 Large Eggs
• 1 heaping cup of All-Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 3/4 cups of your favorite baking ingredients
• 3/4 cups your favorite snack foods 

1. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium high for 2-3 minutes until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl with a spatula.
2. On a lower speed, add eggs and vanilla to incorporate. Increase mixing speed to medium-high and start a timer for 10 minutes. During this time the sugar granules will fully dissolve, the mixture will become an almost pale white color and your creamed mixture will double in size. (Yes, it's a really long time - but trust me, it's worth it.)
3. When time is up, on a lower speed, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix 45-60 sec just until your dough comes together and all remnants of dry ingredients have incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl with a spatula.
4. On same low speed, add in the hodgepodge of your favorite baking ingredients and mix for 30-45 sec until they evenly mix into the dough. Add in your favorite snack foods last, paddling again on low speed until they are just incorporated.
5. Scoop out 6 oz. portions o cookie dough onto a parchment lined sheetpan. (I used a 1/3 measuring cup and it worked great!)
6. Wrap scooped cookie dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour or up to 1 week. (Don't bake your cookies from room temperature or they won't hold their shape!)
7. Heat the conventional oven to 400F. 
8. When the oven reads 400F, arrange your chilled cookie dough balls on a parchment-lined cookie sheet a minimum of 4″ apart in any direction.
9. Bake 9-11 min. While in the oven, the cookies will puff, crackle and spread.
10. At 9 min the cookies should be browned on the edges and just beginning to brown towards the center. Leave the cookies in the oven for the additional minutes if these colors don’t match up and your cookies stills seem pale and doughy on the surface.
11. Let the cookies cool 5 minutes before digging in!

In Progress - #38: Plan 10 parties in a year

Last weekend, it was my pleasure to plan a Founders Day Luncheon for the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. Every year, Founders Day is a chance for Thetas from across the region to re-connect and celebrate our rich sisterhood. For the past year, I've been working with a number of women to organize the 2012 luncheon, and I think it was a smashing success!

We started this year's program with a candle lighting ceremony to honor our Founders, the annual chapter roll call (always one of my favorite parts!) and recognition of our 50- and 75-year Thetas in attendance. It was so exciting to see how many collegiate chapters and how many decades were represented by the women in the room. (In a group of 100 women, we represented more than 50 different chapters - wow!)

We were also honored to have The Honorable Barbara Franklin in attendance as this year's guest speaker. A former Secretary of Commerce, Ms. Franklin spoke to us about her time in the Nixon White House where she worked on the President's initiative to increase the number of women in federal positions. Her trailblazing career, both in the White House and in the entrepreneurial arena, is the subject of her new book - A Matter of Simple Justice: The Untold Story of Barbara Hackman Franklin and a Few Good Women. Ms. Franklin was kind enough to sign copies through the luncheon, and one lucky Theta took home a free copy!

After our formal program came the delicious food. Hosted at Jaleo in Crystal City, our lunch was a series of tapas dishes served family-style. From the endive & goat cheese salad, to the very last bite of flan, each dish we tried was more fantastic than the last. In taking a peek at the post-event surveys that are coming my way, I can tell you - Jaleo's food did not disappoint!

In all, the lunch was a great success and a wonderful opportunity to give back to the fraternity that has given me so much. I'm already looking forward to next year's, though I certainly won't be planning it!

In Progress - #20: Read 15 of the All-TIME 100 Novels that I haven’t already

During a recent trip to the Petworth Library, I picked up A Clockwork Orange because it was on display at the end of a shelf and because I knew it had been hovering on the cusp of my All-TIME novel selections. Since I recently decided to give up on my second go at Faulkner, I needed to replace The Sound and The Fury with something that would keep my interest past page 6 - and Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange fit the bill.

Many of the books I've read on this quest have movie counterparts - and I've seen most of them (usually after reading the book). I know that Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of A Clockwork Orange is a cult classic, but I can assure you - no matter how interesting I found the book, there is no way I'm watching this movie. Reading about the "rehabilitation" of an ultra violent young punk is one thing, watching it played out on the big screen is something else entirely.

The book itself was surprisingly good. It's written using a slang created for the novel, which takes some getting used to, but is ultimately effective at immersing the reader in the main character's sociopathic thoughts. Much like Lolita, the main character - Alex - is one with whom the reader can't sympathize, but ultimately comes to understand.

What's next on my list? Something lighter, I hope!

In Progress - #60: Keep a gratitude journal for 6 months

Keeping a gratitude journal has become a really nice, rewarding habit. Ending each day jotting down a few things I'm thankful for helps to close the day on a high note, and re-reading entries has been such a fun way to re-live great moments from the past few months.

The past month has been a busy one, covering Christmas in San Antonio, our New Year's trip to Lake Anna, and the first weeks of the new year. A few things I was grateful for include:

• Candlelit Christmas Eve services
• Chuy's jalepeno sauce
• Cozy sweats
• DayQuil
• Friends to watch DeeDee while we're out of town
• Georgetown basketball tickets
• New friendships
• Oodles of Christmas cards
• Safe flights
• Whataburger taquitos
• Wooly, warm earmuffs

In Progress - #69: Try 5 new recipes

This week I tried the simplest, juciest, most delicious chicken recipe I've ever found. And it came from an unlikely source - SparkPeople, the health/weight management site. (Yep, working away at #74 on the list.)

Now, the mix of garlic and brown sugar may not sound like an ideal match, but oh my goodness, is it ever amazing. A perfect mix of sweet and kicky, this recipe is a new Hughes-house favorite!

Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

• Brown Sugar, 4 tsp unpacked
• Chicken Breast, no skin, 12 ounces
• Garlic, 1 clove
• Butter, salted, 2 tbsp
• Salt, 1 tsp
• Pepper, black, 1 dash

1. Melt the butter in a frying pan
2. Brown the garlic in the butter
3. Add chicken breasts to garlic and butter and cook thoroughly, adding salt and pepper as you like it
4. When chicken is fully cooked add brown sugar on top of each breast
5. Allow the brown sugar to melt into the chicken (about 5 minutes)

Bon appetit!


Picture from Stephanie Cooks (I didn't photograph my food - I ate it too quickly!)

In Progress - #64: Go on a three-month spending hiatus

Happy New Year, friends! When this post goes live, I'll still be at Lake Anna, celebrating the New Year with the husband and a few of our favorite D.C friends. I will also have officially started one of the most daunting items on my list - the three-month spending hiatus.

Inspired by ladies like Joslyn at Simple Lovely and the Enough study I took part in this fall, I'm looking at the next 90 days as a chance to reset and re-align my priorities. In 2012 I want to mindfully simplify my life, and taking a break from consumption seems like a great way to kick-start this new mentality.

During the next 90 days, I'm still going to buy necessities. For example, if my black, wear-them-everyday-on-my-commute flats finally fall apart (which is likely), or if my umbrella bites the dust, I'll replace them. That beautiful new shade of Clinique lipstick, or my morning peppermint mocha - not a necessity.

I've also been on a long quest for a new black winter coat (see #72), and if I come across that holy grail between now and April 1, I'm giving myself permission to buy it. Though, frankly, I'm so picky in this department I don't anticipate finding it in the next three months.

Wish me luck, and good luck with all of your resolutions for 2012!

In Progress - #20: Read 15 of the All-TIME 100 Novels that I haven’t already

On Tuesday I did something I haven't done since I read Stephen King's It back in high school - I stayed up past my "bed time" (and past the point of tiredness) to finish a book. This time it was for Toni Morrison's Beloved.

My quick and dirty review: this book is gripping, artfully written, and absolutely haunting. Seriously, I'm still thinking about the book and it's been two days since I finished it.

It's no surprise that Beloved won the Pulitzer Prize, or that Toni Morrison has gone on to be a Nobel Prize winner and a "national treasure." I'm definitely adding her to my list of favorite writers (joining Isabel Allende, C.S. Lewis, and - of course - Mr. King), and I'm eager to read more of her works.

I'm thinking about checking out the movie, but I'm a little nervous that film won't do the book justice and I'd hate to tarnish this one.

In Progress - #60: Keep a gratitude journal for 6 months

In the spirit of the season, here are a few things I've noted in my gratitude journal over the past month:

• Being with family for the holidays
• Christmas decorations
• Finding the perfect gifts for loved ones
• Good books for long flights
• Hot chocolate with all the fixins
• Rainstorms that stop before I leave the office
• Skinny peppermint mochas
• Unseasonably warm winters
• Vacation days

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas with friends and family, and is finding themselves with much to be thankful for this time of year.

In Progress - #20: Read 15 of the All-TIME 100 Novels that I haven’t already

This week I wrapped up Faulkner's Light in August, and y'all - I need the Cliffs Notes. Honestly, I have no idea how this book ended. I read it, re-read parts of it, did everything short of drawing diagrams, but I haven't a clue who or what I was reading about for the last 60 or so pages.

I'm going to give Faulkner another try, as The Sound and the Fury is in my stack of library books. But really, does anyone enjoy Faulkner? Or is he one of those authors whose books are only read for class?

In Progress - #38: Plan 10 parties in a year

Last weekend, I excitedly opened my home to the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta for our annual holiday party. It was so much fun having Thetas from across the DC area over for an afternoon of hors d'oeuvres, holiday cocktails, and holiday sisterhood.

The highlight of the party was a fantastic hot chocolate bar that our Programming Chair organized. A simple crock pot of hot chocolate was fancied up with an array of toppings - marshmallows, caramel bits, crumbled Heath bars, cinnamon sticks, and candy cane stirrers, to name a few. Oh, and Bailey's!

I wish I'd snapped a picture or two. Guess we were all too busy having fun!

In Progress - #20: Read 15 of the All-TIME 100 Novels that I haven’t already

Before a whirlwind week of travel, I went a little crazy at the Petworth Library and checked out five of the books still on my "to read" list. I had grand visions of reading non-stop on that week's eight (yes, eight) separate flights, knocking out all five classics in a single binge-reading week.

Their December 10th due date is looming, and so far I've crossed one book off the list - Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita. It's a really uncomfortable book in terms of content, but extremely beautifully written. Despite not being able to relate to Humbert Humbert, the main character, Nabokov does an excellent job of drawing the reader in right from page one.

As for the stack of books, I'm 150 pages away from finishing the second of the five titles. The rest are bound for the re-check queue.

In Progress - #60: Keep a gratitude journal for 6 months

Last month, I started recording just a few things I'm grateful for each night before I go to bed. There's no set number, just whatever pops into my mind and fits in my gratitude journal. (For the curious, I use a five-year One Line a Day book from Barnes & Noble.)

In honor of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd share a handful of the things I've been thankful for recently.

• Being home with family for the holidays
• Cool fall air and cozy warm blankets
• Date nights
• Early morning yoga
• Good food with good friends
• My selfless husband
• New opportunities at CHUMC
• Safe travels
• Steven's & my first home - so welcoming and full of warmth
• The beautiful colors of this mid-Atlantic autumn
• The amazing friendships I've made through Theta
• Valuable insights from my Disciple classmates

I hope your Thanksgiving was just as blessed, and that we can all find time to be thankful for the little blessings this holiday season!

In Progress - #69: Try 5 new recipes

Today Steven & I celebrated Lodgegiving, one of our favorite traditions since moving to D.C. Hosted by three of our friends who live in "The Lodge," the day gives us a chance to celebrate Thanksgiving with our D.C. family before heading out to the various parts of the country we call home.

To mark the occasion, I tried a new recipe - Sweet Potato Souffle. Quick, easy and delicious, this recipe is a five-star keeper!

Sweet Potato Souffle

Souffle

• 1 lg. can sweet potatoes (1 lb. 13 oz.)
• 1 1/2 c. sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 stick butter, softened
• 1 c. milk
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1. Combine all ingredients with electric mixer. Pour into baking dish.
2. Bake 35 to 45 minutes at 300 degrees or until almost firm.
3. Add topping during last 15 minutes of baking time.

 Topping 

• 3/4 stick butter
• 1/2 c. chopped pecans
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 3/4 c. crushed corn flakes

1. Melt butter and brown sugar.
2. Add nuts and corn flakes.
3. Spread over top of souffle and bake 15 minutes or until crunchy.

In Progress - #22: Visit a different museum every month for a year

This month, my boss graciously distributed a number of Newseum tickets she'd received at a charity function, giving us the opportunity to visit the D.C. museum for free. The Newseum is one of my favorite museums in the city, and I assure out-of-town guests that it's worth every penny. However, seeing the museum for free was truly a blessing.

New from my last visit was an exhibit dedicated to 50 years of Presidential Photographers. Because my first job in D.C. was in the White House, I have a special love for all things executive branch. While the exhibit's short video did a great job of highlighting some of the great presidential moments that these photographers have captured, I wish it had gone more into their roles - how they were selected, what a day in the life of the photographer looks like, etc. Many of the images featured in the film were also on display just a few feet away, so I would have liked to see more of a complementary role for the two different media.

A few of my favorites images from the exhibit - two Eric Draper photos of President Bush and a sweet photo of President Reagan, so in love with his Nancy.

A trip to the Newseum is not complete without a visit to the moving 9/11 exhibit. The wall of front pages always makes such an impact and brings us all immediately back to that day.

Today I was especially struck by this handwritten newspaper from Japan. Following the tsunami and earthquake that damaged the nuclear reactor at Fukushima and knocked out power for much of the surrounding area, the local newspaper - unable to print without power - hand-wrote daily front pages, posting them in local communication centers. Such dedication to bringing the people timely, factual, relevant news is a true reminder of the role and need for a free press in society.

Today I also made sure to visit the re-creation of Tim Russert's office. When my dad visited this summer, I know the set-up was one of his favorite parts of the museum. He said he spent a lot of time reading the titles of the books on Russert's shelves, comparing them to his own library at home. I captured a picture of the shelves, so hopefully Dad will have plenty of time to peruse them!

I always get a kick out of the KXAS chopper floating above the main concourse - a nod to Dallas even in the center of D.C.

 And of course, I captured an Instagram snap from the 6th floor terrace - hands down the best (publicly accessible) view of the Capitol in all of D.C.!

In Progress - #38: Plan 10 parties in a year

This weekend, Steven & I welcomed friends into our new home for a fun housewarming party. It was so wonderful to be able to fit so many people comfortably into our home - a big step up from entertaining in the basement apartment on the Hill!

I had almost as much fun putting together the details as I did seeing our friends Saturday night. I set up a spread of cheeses and wines, as well as yummy cheese pairings like crackers, grapes and salami. And my crowning achievement of the night? A tasty baked brie with apple slices.

I only snapped a few pictures before guests started arriving. Our first guests - Margarita & the Berglunds - were even sweet enough to bring a few pumpkins to fall-ify our front porch! Thanks to all of our friends who came and celebrated with us last weekend!

In Progress - #59: Travel to three new cities for fun

Last week Steven and I were blessed to have my dad in town for a visit. He came to see our new house and spend a fun four days with us in D.C.

Since he's been to D.C. many, many times before, his list of typical tourist attractions to see has dwindled. To keep ourselves entertained, he and I decided to get outside of the Beltway for a day and visit nearby Annapolis, MD, last Friday.

We spent our day checking out the Maryland Statehouse, which (unfortunately) is undergoing pretty extensive renovations, leaving its recognizable cupola covered in scaffolding. We did some of the usual history-nerd things, like take our picture in the spot where Gen. Washington resigned his commission. And of course, we ate some delicious crab while we were in town!

I also tested out the photo features on my brand-new iPhone, resulting in these fun Instagram pics:

In Progress - #22: Visit a different museum every month for a year

On August 23 (now known as "the day of the D.C. earthquake"), I spent the morning visiting the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the Mall. Initially, the memorial was to be dedicated that weekend; instead, it was dedicated this weekend as Hurricane Irene washed out the original plans.

Though not a museum per se, I think participating in the incredible history associated both with MLK and with adding a new memorial to the Mall count for something.

Today, I continued my museum quest, hitting both the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museuem. Housed in the same building at Gallery Place/Chinatown, the two museums are home to some of my very favorite artwork in D.C. Surprisingly, I spent a lot of time in the modern art exhibit upstairs, looking at pieces that seem quite out of place alongside John Trumbull and Gilbert Stuart portraits of our nation's historic leaders.

Nam June Paik's archives have been donated to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and what a treasure they are. His exploration into light, sound and moving pictures in art was truly revolutionary.

This sculpture of a woman eating was extremely life-like. Almost too much so. I felt a little odd taking her picture, afraid she might come to life at any moment. Another patron jumped shortly after I'd moved on, swearing he saw her move. Eerie, but also a truly beautiful and thought-provoking work of art.

In the portrait gallery, I was particularly taken with the unfinished quality of this portrait of Gen. John Pershing. It's interesting, each time I visit the National Portrait Gallery, I feel like a new painting or sculpture catches my eye. No matter how long it's been there or how many times I've seen it before, a new piece seems to jump out with each trip to the gallery.

And in honor of the Texas Rangers' return trip to the World Series, a portrait of the great Nolan Ryan, on display in the National Portrait Gallery's "Champions" exhibit. Darn right.

In Progress - #22: Visit a different museum every month for a year

At the very end of July (okay, you caught me - it was early August) I dropped by the National Gallery of Art. I must admit, I wasn't as excited about this museum visit as I've been about some others. It was squeezed into a very busy season, and frankly, I felt like I was checking a box. I was pretty sure I'd visited the Gallery of Art in my early months in DC, so I assumed I could make a quick stop, see the new/traveling exhibits and call it a day.

As soon as I walked in, though, I realized two things: 1) I'd never been to the National Gallery of Art before, and 2) this was going to be a long trip.

I didn't come close to seeing it all, and unfortunately, my camera has eaten the highlights of what I did see.

I spent the bulk of my time in the Chester Dale collection, which is on display through January 2. I was absolutely blown away by how many beautiful and immediately recognizable works Chester and Maud Dale owned. Renoir. Matisse. Cassatt. Monet. Degas. Their art collection absolutely has it all.

I also spent a good amount of time in the Italian Master Drawings collection, which will be on display through November 27. The amount of detail in these drawings is so incredible, and the sheer age of some of the works was enough to make them impressive.

My trip's other highlight? A gelato break at the Cascade Cafe! I'm not big on museum gift shops, but the underground concourse connecting the National Gallery of Art's East and West buildings is so beautiful and boasts an amazing restaurant and gelato/espresso cafe.

The moral of the story: A trip to the museum can truly brighten your day - even on a really busy day when you aren't sure you want to visit a museum at all!

In Progress - #20: Read 15 of the All-TIME 100 Novels that I haven’t already

It's been a long summer, full of weddings, home-buying and summer conference travels. One up side to the travel? Plenty of time to read!

Tonight I wrapped up George Orwell's classic 1984. I'm sure you're wondering how I made it out of high school without reading 1984, and I'll tell you - I read Animal Farm instead. Based on my not-so-scientific poll of friends, it seems our high schools all picked one or the other.

My verdict? It was good, but I'm glad my school went with Animal Farm. Much more enjoyable to read about barnyard animals' power corrupting than about guys literally getting the individualism beaten out of them.