24th Birthday

Well, I am officially twenty four years old. As a patient of mine sang, "Twenty-four and there is so much more," (apparently a drunken ballad from his own 24th celebration).
This has been a big year for me. So let's name 24 things milestones of this year:
1. I got a Mini Coop!! This is the first thing on the list because it is the most funnest thing on the list!
2. I got my very first real person job!
3. I took and passed my boards!
4. I took and passed my boards again in Massachusetts!
5. I moved to Massahusetts - just a small 3,000 mile jaunt.
6. I received my first real person pay check - whoa!
7. I had my first massage and went to my first spa.
8. I made my first French Macarons - and they were delicious.
9. I went to New York City and saw a Broadway show.
10. I met a real life ballerina.
11. My fair cousin came home from his mission! YAY!
12. I graduated from Loma Linda University with a bachelor's degree! Wee!!
13. I started reading non-fiction books. It's been an uphill battle.
14. I learned how to make souffles.
15. I finally saw (and absolutely loved!) Wicked.
16. I had my very last summer vacation. Sad story.
17. Started watching Doctor Who.
18. Hand selected, chatted with, then boiled my first lobster.
19. Ate a grilled cheese from a food cart truck.
20. I got an iPhone.
21. I also had to start paying for real things - I made my first student loan payment. Bought my first tire. Had my first oil change that wasn't from my dad. I even pay for my own gas now.
22. Made an entire Thanksgiving meal - appetizers to desserts. With only one oven. (First world accomplishments)
23. Really started cycling. Technically I bought my bike before my birthday, but it wasn't until the spring that I really got started - with shoes, and pedals, and falling on my hips, and bruising my entire knee to butt area, and figuring out how to get my water bottle out of the cage without veering into a tree. The important things.
24. Met 2 new nephews!

I did lots more things, and I am so happy to have such a blessed and full life. I hope there are many adventures to come and I am anxious to see what 24 brings! Hopefully lots of good things, and even more delicious things!

Apron

Sometimes I feel like I have hit cruise control on my life and I'm not doing a lot of growing. That is how I feel about now, which might explain all my recent exercise, sewing, and cooking adventures. A few weeks ago I decided that I need to cultivate some new talents. So I decided on a sewing project. The only things I have sewn before were for my hedgehog. I miss that little Lola bean. I made her bedding and little sleeping bags. They started out a little deformed, but gradually improved until her sleeping bags were adorable. This time I decided to try something a little more daring, something with a (gasp) pattern. And so one bright and cold afternoon I headed to Joann Fabric and purchased two contrasting colors to start on a little half apron - perfect for making grilled cheese.
This was the first time I have made pockets, scallops, anything reversible, or gathering. It was also the first time using Jacy's sewing machine instead of my mom's. And it was my first time using a pattern. A lot of firsts went into this little apron.
And here it is! I think it turned out quite lovely.My camera can't handle indoor lighting - especially fluorescent lights - so everything has a very bright orange hue - so I played with the settings a little bit - that's why they look a little interesting. So there it is - Julianne's first homemade apron. I even matched the stitching (for most people I guess that would be assumed, I will go ahead and point it out).