Summer in Silicon Valley

I feel like that sounds so glamorous, “Summer in Silicon Valley” but honestly, I feel pretty darn glamorous!

I love Summer, and as I sit here with the doors and windows wide open, a cool summer breeze is passing through my apartment.  (Fortunately, the downstairs neighbors aren’t smoking because that really ruins it.)  Summer brings about unlimited possibilities and creativity.  It’s a time to break outside, be care-free and have an adventure!

With summer comes swimming, parties, and homemade ice cream! I made a cranberry sorbet last week which James LOVES though the after taste is a bit tart for me.  I found a variation on Pinterest that includes rosemary, so I think I may make that next! I pinned it to my Food Board if you want to check it out (http://www.pinterest.com/elisseaimee/yummy-goodness/) ((Woo hoo, look at me, I figured out how to insert a link!))

Though here is the recipe I used:

All you need is:

1.5 C H2O

1.5 C C12H22O11 (Otherwise known as Sugar (or sucrose))

2.5 C Plain Cranberry Juice

You are going to want to combine the Water and Sugar and boil for about 1 minute (until all the sugar is dissolved). Then, pour in the Cranberry Juice, bring to a boil again and just remove the mixture from the heat.  Once that’s cooled to room temp, refrigerate it for 3-8 hours.  Next, pour it into your ice cream maker (follow the manufacturers instructions) and mix until it’s the consistency you want.

You will want to then move it to your freezer container and freeze at least 2 hours before serving.   I used basil as a garnish because well, it was pretty! I also served the sorbet in a martini glass because that was fun too.  I’m sure you have some creative serving suggestions (which by the way I would love to hear).

This past week, I’ve also had several failed attempts at chocolate chip muffins and a cake.  Turns out, baking at high altitude is actually far easier than at sea level!

Other then that, I’m going to take a moment to brag about what a wonderful fiance I have. I woke up the other morning to this on the table:

Yes, I feel loved and yes, I do have the best fiance ever!

But to wrap it up, get outside and enjoy the weather! It’ll be cool outside before we know it so let’s spend August soaking up the rays! (Metaphorically of course because we’re all wearing our sunscreen!)

 

The Unemployed Life of A Recent College Grad….

The conundrum is, even for an entry level position, people want you to have 2+ years of experience and generally speaking, people are applying for an entry level position because well, they are entry level and don’t have experience.  So, you need experience to get experience.

The truth of the matter is, I haven’t been on the job hunt that long (less than a month really) and already I am climbing the walls!  I’m not sure it’s possible for the apartment to be any cleaner, and in all honesty, I should be spending more time researching things for my wedding, but I am on this addictive job hunting binge where I do nothing and do not allow myself to do anything other than look for a job.  I got an interview! I thought it went pretty well, and though it was 2 days ago and they said they would get back to me in 1-2 weeks, I could almost taste success! That is how I landed where I am right now.

However, my road of unemployment has been an….interesting one:

At first, I found this meme on Pinterest, thought it was funny, chuckled a bit and moved on

Until…I found myself sending my friends this pic saying “Wine for Lunch? Why Yes, I am unemployed!”.

Then, there was the baking binge….

and a pretty tasty dinner of broccoli and cheese stuffed chicken with roasted tomatoes.

 

 

I’ve gotten quite good at growing basil, and now have way to much! Maybe I could bring a fresh bunch of basil to my next interview as I beg for them to choose me, have faith in ME (over every other recent college grad waiting in the lobby).

 

Then of course, there’s the eating your feelings part where you order the most decadent dessert at Cold Stone…..and have them add an extra brownie.

 

 

As it turns out, boredom breeds duck faces! (and possibly selfies) I found myself taking a duck face picture the other day and the number of selfie pics on my phone has increased exponentially.  Fortunately, I have not progressed to the point where I post any of these pictures on the internet.

My social media has blossemed! I now have a Twitter (you can follow me @ElisseAimee) and check out my new board on Pinterest! (http://www.pinterest.com/elisseaimee/my-life/) My other boards have also seen significant improvement so, I suggest perusing them as well.

 

I think my photography skills are about to get a boost cause I’m gonna go photo crazy this weekend with my AWESOME camera!!!! (A graduation gift ironically enough) It’s a Canon EOS 6D and I LOVE IT! I’ve started shooting in manual so, we’ll see what creative images I capture.