There were puppies and babies. Waffles and salads. Coffee and tea. Crafts and sunlight.

That was January. And I’ve been documenting it in Instagram’s January Photo Challenge. You can see my first half of the month right over here. And this, my friends, is the last half of the month: A little rain, a little sun, a little of the norm.

I’m going to continue it into February, and you should play along too. Read here how to do it (with your blog, with your phone, I even know people who do it in e-mail).

Happy 31st, friends. Here was the month, day by day:

Day 16: Morning   /   Day  17: Water:Day 18: Something you bought.    /    Day 19: Sweet. I don’t know who Karen is, but I thought it was a sweet sign in the Starbucks drive-thru:
Day 20: Someone you love: I love all of these girls — from Stevie Nicks to the friends on my wall:
Day 21: Reflection. In her eyes:
Day 22. Your shoes. Not very  ideal for a rainy day:Day 23: Something old. A memory box from my grandma with hat pins, letters I sent her when I was a kid and away at college, her old ID card and work badge and world’s greatest sweetheart pin. She’s cute:Day 24: Guilty pleasure. A kiss. Either kind will do.   /    Day 25: Something you made — a collaged guitar:Day 26: Color. My print of color photobooths covered in bee’s wax:
Day 27: Lunch. Everyone in the newsroom went out for breakfast for lunchDay 28: Light. I like the light on her face.   /   Day 29: Inside your fridge. I was housesitting, so this isn’t actually my fridge:Day 30: Nature: My favorite tree as the sun was setting on my drive home from work yesterday. The sun disappeared behind Mt. Diablo just seconds before:Day 31: You. Again — Technically it’s Maggie and me. Pinned to her cubicle.

What did you do?

No I’ll dive into Five Senses Monday, where I reflect on the last few days through the senses. Play along in the comments! I’ll also share some snippets of life lately, too.

Thanks for reading.

Tasting:
Rosemary chicken with red potatoes. Garlic bread and a grilled cheese. Guacamole and chips. Coffee and chai tea. It’s been a week of flavors, I suppose.

Feeling:
Pretty relaxed after a low-key weekend of coffeehouses, couches and bad TV. Flip-flops three days in a row (hello springtime in January).

Hearing:
Laughter as we watched episodes of “Portlandia” and the end of “Crazy Stupid Love.”

Smelling:
Yummy smelling sheets.

Seeing:
A package arrive with issues of L’Official Paris featuring a few of my Salvation Mountain photos.

A nice surprise from Paris.Sara soaks up the sunlight.I read through magazines and Post Secret at a bookstore cafe. I always get a little bit sad reading the confessions in Post Secret.I tried to get some reading done at the coffee shop, but the people-watching was too intense.Maggie had me over for dinner when she tried a new recipe, rosemary chicken with red potatoes. yum.I made my own version of Chipotle’s burrito bowl: Chopped romaine, chicken and roasted bell peppers/onion, black beans and corn, pico de gallo, cheddar cheese, avocado and a dab of sour cream. Lemons and chunky guacamole.This is what happens when there are three people and one wants mimosas, one wants grilled cheese and the other wants garlic bread. Sometimes my friends and I go out to eat and instead of talking, we just take iPhone pics of everything on our table. And sometimes people stare. And then I write notes like this one. Maggie and I tried a new Irish pub in Stockton, the Abbey. We shared the chicken sandwich and had beer and rootbeer. See, sometimes our little city can be cool.

I spent a little time with this momma’s girl a few days ago when it was storming outside and skies were dark and filled with rain clouds. We stayed inside where it was warm and cozy and had a mini photoshoot with a fluffy white bed and a little soft light coming in through an open window. I don’t know what she saw in those clouds, but she was entranced with the light outside.

So this is Emmie. She says hi … what’s for dinner?
xo.

Some days, when the clock in the newsroom hovers somewhere around 3 and the hint of sunlight coming through the room’s ceiling-lined windows is too tempting, Maggie and I sneak outside to get fresh air, give our eyes a break from the computer and explore the personality in the street blocks around us.

Instead of smoke breaks, we try to take photo breaks. And instead of cameras, we use our phones, glorious phones.

This is something we don’t do enough, sometimes saying we’re too busy or we’ll go when we finish something. Which can turn into never. But I think everyone in every profession should take those 15 minutes to step away and change the scenery. We always come back in a better mood, refreshed and with a new perspective of whatever it is we’re working on.

So here are a few snaps I took during a couple of our afternoon walks. Enjoy, friends.

So now it’s time for Five Senses Monday, where I reflect on the last few days through the Five Senses. Please share your five senses — either in the comments or on your own blog.

Hearing:
Rain droplets knocking on my window  — a sound that’s decided to take a break this winter.

Feeling:
A little nostalgic going through boxes I’ve had stored since college.

Tasting:
Jalapeno in a spicy mango margarita, flavors I never thought I’d enjoy together.

Seeing:
An itty, bitty mouse stick it’s head out from a couch at one of my favorite coffeehouses. Eek.

Smelling:
Chicken stock on the stove.

I took a little drive to the river:I have a bad nighttime habit of transforming my bed into an at-home office/TV station. I’m trying to do more personal computer work out and about so that my bed is only used for sleeping. This week, I went to one of my favorite local coffeehouses:Coworkers and I tried the new cuisine at Alebrijes, where chef Ruben showed off his fruit-infused tequilas (no we didn’t drink all of that) and 60+ sauces. I’m big on traditional Mexican food, but we switched it up with samplings of filet mignon, duck, a buffalo taco and more.I worked a late shift Friday and spent part of my morning having coffee and listening to a table of retired men discuss oatmeal toppings and refrigerators. While there, I snapped this photo because it was refreshing to see people with newspapers in their hands:What I thought was going to be a quiet Friday night alone turned into dinner, coffee and movie with my sister, her hubby and two of my favorite little kids. I was still the first to fall asleep during the movie. Like always.After dinner, Joseph got too comfortable at “his” Starbucks. I thought I was a ‘bucks regular, but this 4-year-old definitely has me beat as the baristas knew his name.I went through some boxes I’ve been storing from college and I found  collages I made, including these from my calendar during senior year.And then I played with my niece Emmelia a little bit. It was too cold outside, but she liked staring out the window at the rain clouds above.I hope you had a lovely weekend and find some warmth this week. xo.

But other than that, the only insight I have into that world is through writing about restaurants, which is how Maggie and I made it to Busaba Thai on the river.

Usually I write the stories while photographers Jen and Dan shoot the food. This day, though, was particularly crazy and we didn’t have any photographers who were able to slip away for lunch. So Maggie and I went, her as the new restaurant writer and me as the photographer. It’s nice to change it up, to know I can just have fun taking pictures and not worrying about asking all of the right questions and scribbling everything down.

We really enjoyed Busaba. Chef Busaba Voraritskul learned to make Thai food from the family that has been cooking for Thailand’s royal family for generations.

Here is a little at their little restaurant and island bar with lots of flavor. You can read Maggie’s story here.

This weekend I got halfway through the January Photo a Day Challenge by fatmumslim — along with hundreds of other Instagrammers.

So far, this is my January:

Day 1. You: Me and my nephew, Joseph. Day 2: Breakfast: Starbucks and a free Sunday Times on a Monday.Day 3: Something you adore — my new niece, Emmelia Rose. Day 4: Letterbox — It’s where most of my mail goes, anyway. Day 5: Something you wore: Mardi Gras mask.
Day 6: Makes you smile: rocks hand painted by a friend.
Day 7: Favorite: My favorite collection is of old cameras.
Day 8: Your sky. Day 9: Daily routine — the drive to work with my “I’m not gay, I just really love rainbows” air freshner hanging on the rearview mirror.
Day 10: Childhood. My favorite picture of my mom and me. And also of childhood: Dogs, beach and me pretty much sums it up; some things never change.
Day 11: Where you sleep — Beneath a cluster of paper lanterns.
Also where I sleep: With green paisley and a purple pillow pet.
Day 12: Close up — me and my niece Sophia.
Day 13: In your bag.
Day 14: Something you’re reading — The new issue of Kinfolk.
Day 15. Happiness — Happiness is pups ready for a morning drive.

Oh well.

Did you have a lovely weekend? What did you do?

I did a little of this and a little of that, which you can see in Five Senses Monday, where I reflect on the weekend through the five senses. Play along in your own blog or in the comments. I’m curious what each of your are “sensing.”

Tasting:
My new favorite salad: romaine topped with a crumbled Trader Joe’s veggie burger and tossed with garlic hummus (also yummy stuffed in a pita pocket). Diner coffee and a shared basket of fries. A bite of a friend’s port wine ice cream (yes, you read correct — wine ice cream … nothing says “goodbye, we’ll miss you,” like ice cream). Teriyaki chicken and iced tea with Emma and Cindy in Sacramento.

Feeling:
Sad: Because my friend Amber moved all the way to Texas Friday, though I’m extremely proud of her. A heavy heart: for a little boy during a hard time. Comfy: as I stayed in my pjs one until the sun went down.

Hearing:
A motorcycle convention radiating into the car (not pleasant, sirs). Sweetie, my Border Collie, communicating to me with non-stop squeaky toy lingo.

Seeing:
Like a movie scene, Amber getting on the tram at the airport while her entourage waved with teary eyes. My favorite magazine/trinket store, Newsbeat, completely empty and closed up. Sweetie sitting in the bathtub — in the dark — waiting for a bath. Lots of vintage clothes I adored and loathed in Sac.

Smelling:
Garlic and mushrooms cooking in olive oil … I could eat that as en entire meal (Portabello steaks this week, perhaps?).

. . . .

Enjoy your week, friends. Here are a few photos of lately, via Hipstamatic/Instagram:

The aftermath of a three-hour dinner with friends after learning that Amber would be leaving us in California and moving to her home state, Texas. Grill cheese and Port wine ice cream may have been involved:On Friday, a few of us loaded into my toaster and drove the girl with the one-way ticket to the airport. We took group pictures together — and they also took pictures of the creepy bunny sculpture that looks like Superman:
I got home Friday to a quiet house and found a package from Kinfolk waiting for me. Volume Two of the magazine finally arrived, and I wanted nothing more than to savor it. I waited, though, until Saturday morning. I read a little, but not too much because I didn’t want it to end:And then I read a little more Sunday morning, too:I did spend one entire day this weekend at home. In my PJs. It was awesome, and I highly recommend it. I worked on my website, made Amber a blog banner, cooked up some food, cried over “Where the Red Fern Grows,” started an art project and watched the entire third season of “United States of Tara” (did you know it’s canceled?):I made country potatoes in the oven: And Saturday, I finally got showered and dressed after the sun went down. Honestly, it was one of those “I want to hang out with someone, but it’s too late or no one is around” moments. So I thought about the other thing I wanted … ice cream. And then I thought about all the gym time and salads from the week, and made a healthier, layered banana/whipped cream/pudding parfait in a jar instead. Whoa — big night out at the market. And then we have Sweetie. She is the comedic relief in my life. The other day — and every day since — she hopped in the bathtub and sat there in the dark while she waited for a (second) bath:Excitement was getting my Christmas gifts from Maggie this week. She knows my love of food memoirs, so she bought me the Best Food Writing of 2011 so I can perhaps discover other food writers. I’m so excited to read it. It’s another book I’ll need to savor, so I haven’t started it yet. I also received the 5-year journal, where you answer one question every day and it repeats for five years. I love it, and I’ll definitely share some entries from this baby. And don’t you love the beaded necklace? She made it with a beautiful charm that says, “You are Loved.”

Lastly, I opened a cool Whimsy for Wendy’s poster from her ebook, and it’s now hanging in my cubicle.

Monday started with an early lunch out with a retired coworker, Mike, who always shares stories of his early days in the newspaper industry and trips along the Northern California coast:After a long week and lazy Saturday at home, I was excited to do something fun with Cindy and Emma. We grabbed our cameras and his vintage stores in Sacramento:How was your weekend? Any highlights? Any senses?

I was thinking of getting out of my PJs sometime soon to have a coffee date with my new book. Then I remembered I have these photos from another cafe trip leftover from the holidays. Can you think of anything more wonderful fresh whipped cream?

I can’t either.

Soap is one of those things that has always baffled me. I always thought it would be super complicated … and I think I was right.

On a sunny, but chilly, afternoon, Andrea had me over to show me her craft. Here is a little glimpse into her world, from the first step of snapping on rubber gloves to work with lye to slicing a bundt cake block of soap a day later.

Everything in soap making is very specific. That’s probably the most difficult part. The temperature of the lye and water have to be a specific temperature, and get to that temp by soaking in an ice bath. Each of the elements have to be measured perfectly. Timing is everything.

We started in her work room/back house with the lye. It’s not something you want to use too much in the house. It gets hot, hot, hot.

We move inside for the yummy stuff.In the kitchen, you work with the good stuff: the oils, the wonderful natural scents and you grind oatmeal in a coffee grinder (if you so choose to use oatmeal … on another batch, Andrea make a coffee soap with coffee grounds inside).When it’s all in a large pot with the cooled lye, you mix and mix with a stick mixer until it looks like your grandma’s banana pudding.
Andrea added honey at the very end, but was careful not to mix too much after.Then, you pour into a mold of your choice. Silicone is easiest because, once it hardens, getting the soap out is a challenge. With silicone, you can twist and pull and turn the container inside out. Then, you cover it with cardboard and wrap it like a tight little baby and let it sit for at least a day. You can feel the chemicals warm the towel as they react inside. Eventually, the lye will be worked out, the soap will cool, and you can finally unveil it. I went back to visit Andrea a day or two later, and we worked it out of the mold. A giant bundt cake bar of soap that smelt so yummy.

After you slice it up the way you like, you still have to let it dry for weeks. The longer it sits,  the longer it will last once it starts being used in water.

I can’t wait until it’s ready and I can take home a bar of this yummy honey almond soap. I think it’s one of my favorites.Thank you Andrea for sharing your wonderful craft! One day I will take on the art of soap making, I swear.