A Room of One’s Own

When I returned from Camp Mighty I had some ideas. And I realized that for my ideas to come to life they (and I) had to have a space. We have a large house and after much mulling I decided that I would claim this weird little non-room sitting area in our bedroom as my own. With the blessing of my beloved, of course.

I decided that before I had the room I needed to get it all cleaned out and furnished appropriately. But where to put all the things? It’s sitting room acting as a junk drawer.

THEN! I created a Pinterest board for it! Which is a nice way to organize ideas and inspiration, but a terrible way of getting actual progress to happen. I did buy a lovely, simple candle for my writing desk, though. You know, the imaginary writing desk.

Then I hemmed. Then I hawed. Then I decided I needed to clean and organize my closet so it could contain at least half of the junk room. However, our mostly unfinished closet needs shelving and storage installations, which cost time and money.

And I want my space! NOW.

I was telling part of this story to my best friend yesterday and I can’t remember my exact phrase, but it went something like, “I need to stop waiting until the space is ready. I just need to make some space.” I love what happens when I get out of my head and get verbal.

I came home last night, grabbed some orange oil and a cloth and cleaned the sewing table in the sitting room. I lifted out the sewing machine, latched it into its case and reassembled the table top. I grabbed an extra dining room chair that we stash in the living room and set it in front of the table. I topped the table with some beloved trinkets and my technologies.

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The table hasn’t been sanded and painted. The walls are still contractor ecru. There’s no shelving or big comfy chairs. The clutter surrounds me. But as I sit here and type at the same table my mom used to make me things, I’m comforted. This space is enough.

Let’s talk about Kitchen No. 324 in Oklahoma City

So, for the last 6 to 8 weeks I’ve been totally owned by a new restaurant in downtown Oklahoma City called Kitchen No. 324. I mean, OWNED.

I work for A Good Egg Dining Group, the company that designed and operates the restaurant. Not only do I work for them, I orchestrate their public relations (and marketing, advertising, social media, etc…). I do other stuff as needed and during restaurant openings, I tend to help get all the folks there for the soft opening. Then as they are enjoying their experience, I take photos and tweet the bejeezus out of the event. And Facebook, of course. It’s a gift. Here are some of my favorite pics from the last month.

When you walk in the door you see this, our glorious visual menu.
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Then you walk to the right and order.
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Once you’ve paid and got your table number you turn, walk past the open kitchen and find a table somewhere in here.
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Seating is nearly community seating style. That’s on purpose. We’re a community, y’all! What better way to get acquainted then to share a meal! But, it is still separate…in case you need your space. Oh, look! Here’s a table…
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From here I can sip my tea…
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Or we have kick-ass Coffee Curators if you are into that sort of thing…
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And wait for your food. If it’s breakfast time, these might land on your table…
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This is how I do the yogurt.

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I have eaten them all. I have died a thousand tiny deaths as I ate them all. Sometimes daily, which is why I’m eating like this right now.
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That meal is also something I cobbled together from Kitchen No. 324. It was my breakfast yesterday: avocado, roasted brussels sprouts with hazelnuts, shaved asparagus and arugula with preserved lemon vinaigrette and green tea. And the book behind the detoxing madness, Clean by Alejandro Junger, M.D. All sold at Kitchen No. 324.

And if you happen to be having lunch, this could be headed to your table…
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FRESH salads!

Braised short ribs from @kitchen324. #potroaststyle

Which is to say there are lots of salads, braises and sandwiches on the lunch menu. So many. But maybe you are in a super hurry and just want “a little something”? Skip the main ordering line and pop over to the coffee counter. You can get any kind of nerdy coffee you want and one of these…
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My favorite thing by far about Kitchen No. 324 is the people I’ve encountered. It’s rare for me to spend a ton of time at the actual restaurants. I’m mostly at the home office on my computer. But when a restaurant opens I get to be alongside our stellar staff and management team, who are a real treat to see in action.
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And then there’s the public. Lots of beautiful faces of friends, employees at different restaurants in the company and brand-new regulars.
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And hooligans.
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Kitchen No. 324 is located at 324 N. Robinson in downtown Oklahoma City. A Good Egg Dining Group didn’t sponsor this post but they do sponsor my paycheck every two weeks and give me lots of food. I think that’s deserving of a post. 🙂

Hoping this trend continues


Terribly relevant table marker for today's lunch with @tzeeck.

I have a friend who says The Universe is handing out things right now. Handing out things on a silver platter. She had a lot of wants come to fruition in a nearly poetic manner early this week and over veggie stacked enchiladas, she forced me to write a list of 5 vague, non-action-oriented things I wanted this year so The Universe could provide for me, too. I could only think of 4. I mean, I have the Mighty Life List and I have my 5 things from Camp Mighty, but I wanted this to be different. This list contains delicious, languorously worded, vague items I want with no clear path on how to get them…which is nice. I don’t have the pressure to achieve these wants, they are the Flame and I am the Moth. I just sit back and be drawn to them however The Universe see’s fit. Or not. Whatever.

I love her.

In an act of pre-destiny, I ended up having tons more lunches, coffees, drinks and networking events this week than usual. I somehow put myself in front of good, interesting people and making good, interesting conversation. More of all of the above is planned, too, and SXSW, the mothership of good, interesting conversation and people, is pulling me closer and closer.

I’m starting to get excited about 2013. I hope this is a trend.

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