One UNBELIEVABLE (20-Something) Adventure!

Overachiever

2011-02-23T23:01:00.000-05:00

I've always been a bit of an overachiever. For example, in 5th grade. We had this assignment to draw the state flag of all 50 states. I had to be an artiste extraodinaire, even on flags like New York's, which are just impossible. I stayed up to all hours of the night working on that assignment (OK, maybe 10:30, but that's late for a 10-year-old) to get those flags just right. Then my teacher made us start in on the state birds ... good grief.

The point is, when I set my mind to something, I just can't let it go. If I want to draw a perfect New York state flag, I will. If I want to run a half marathon, I'm will run a half marathon. If I want to live in Asia, don't doubt that I'll pack my bags and board that plane.

Not only am I a compulsive overachiever, I like achieving things. I can't thrive without a goal. Even if that goal is as mundane as getting out of bed the first time the alarm goes off. Setting that goal, especially past where you think you can reach it, and then actually reaching it is the ultimate exhilaration.

This may sound silly, but my goal for the moment is to be content with living my life. It sounds like an achievement oxymoron, right? At first thought, it's like saying: Make it your goal not to have a goal; don't work toward anything. But think again. What's the hardest thing for a goal-oriented overachiever to do? Not have a goal. It's totally out of my reach!

At the start of 2011 I didn't make any resolutions, and I'm letting myself live life. It's been kinda great. I've done yoga and gone to dance classes when I want to. I hardly run at all. I cook only when I want to (even if it means making two meals at the same time). I started up a craft, but only work on it when the mood strikes (twice in three weeks). I clean just enough to keep my apartment from spawning mystery smells. I stay up late reading books I enjoy. ... And I even joined a marching band.

The fluidity of life right now is throwing me a little off kilter. I really want to hang on to that buoy and not let go. But at the same time, the ability to just live life just as I want to right now is freeing.

OK, I'll admit I'm secretly getting by on mini goals, like turning lights off when I'm not using them and feeding the cat every day. I even let some big ones, like making new friends, slip through. (I'm an overachiever, after all.) But what do you think: Can I achieve my ultimate goal of contentedness and just enjoy living my life?

Love is Cornbread

2011-02-15T07:08:00.002-05:00

Last night, I celebrated Valentine's Day by stepping into a new community, one different than any other I've been a part of before.

Every week, a couple in town hosts a Cornbread Supper. They open their house to their neighbors and the surrounding community to share in good food and good company. Friends and strangers alike are invited to bring a dish to share (but if they can't, it's OK), and each week a group of anywhere from 15 to 55 people assembles in the kitchen of this home. Although you never know what's going to be served (though, if last night was any indication, it's always something yummy), there's always some form of cornbread gracing the table. The hosts say their cookbooks are filled with variations on this hearty recipe and it's a Kentucky gustatory staple that shouldn't be ignored.

The mix of people who attends Cornbread Suppers is an eclectic yet delightful one. There's the young woman who opened the town's only bikram yoga studio, the pastor with two kids who is getting ready to write his second book and the nearly retired professor who is a pioneer in sustainable architecture. There's the young guy who opened the town's only shop that serves fresh, Italian pasta, and the older gentleman who plays violin for a group that practices a traditional form of English country dancing. Kids run around with carefree pleasure while the wiser, more experienced generation listens fondly to those of us living our adventure somewhere in between.

The open hospitality of this community is one that is rarely shared in our bustling self-centered society, and I'm so grateful to have been welcomed into the house where the smell of cornbread baking matches the love extended to other human beings--warm, comforting, fulfilling. The evening got me to thinking, can something as simple as cornbread change the world?

Photo thanks!

Smile, Valentines

2011-02-14T07:12:00.001-05:00

Hello lovelies. How are you celebrating your Valentine's Day? Will you have a romantic dinner with a new flame, or will you cuddle up at home with your dearly beloved. Maybe this year you are your own Valentine.

Whether or not true love is in the air around you today, take a moment to put a warm smile on your face. Wouldn't it be great if we could capture carefree joy found in "Silly Runnings" this Valentine's Day and every day?

Hug for the World

2011-02-11T07:34:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it's already Friday! Where has this week slipped away to? All week, I've been faced with crabby, cranky people who have something to complain about. Is cabin fever setting in big time, or what? As one of my co-workers put it, "I think the world needs a hug."

Indeed.

So here's a hug for you. Pass it on and maybe the love will spread.

Bollywood and Yo-yos

2011-02-06T21:00:00.000-05:00

Hi lovelies! How was your weekend?

Lately, I've been trying on a new wardrobe of activities to find out what "looks good on me." It's sort of been my unofficial theme for 2011. This weekend, I picked up some new finds:

Bollywood Dancing
As my mom says, I was dancing before I left the womb. But as much as I like to cut a rug, never would I have thought the moves of Bollywood would capture my intrigue. This weekend I took a workshop to learn the dance that has taken the Hindi-film industry by storm, and I loved it. It incorporates many forms of international dance with Indian classical and folk into a bouncy yet expressive dance form. We learned a simplified version of the choreography above. I can't wait to learn more!

Sewing Yo-yos
I've been bursting at the seams for a craft project lately, so this weekend I headed over to Hobby Lobby and picked up some fabric and a yo-yo maker. Sewing has always been a frustration for me, but right now, I'm drawn to the needle and thread (even if I did get the thread tangled and lose the needle a couple thousand times). I'm hoping I'll get the hang of things quickly, so I can start making cool necklaces like this.

I've been experimenting with lots of new things lately, like crafts and music and dance and yoga. I think this is because I'm afraid of my life becoming boring. Or worse, complacent. Do you think this is a healthy outlook? Have you tried anything new lately, and why?

Testing Testing ... 1, 2, 3

2011-02-03T22:28:00.001-05:00

I'm trying out a new "look" for the blog. I switched out some fonts and played with the banner? The background is really busy, but I really like it, so I decided to leave it for now. What do you think? I beg of you, be brutally honest.

If you can't remember, this is what the blog looked like two days ago, take another peek:

I'm sure there's more morphing to be done, so weigh with your thoughts in now!

Imperfect Prints, Perfect Memory

2011-02-01T21:23:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I dusted off my mom's 35mm camera that she used during her college years. I popped in some black-and-white film, and I set out on a hike. Through the viewfinder, I took in the winter wonderland that was Lexington, Ky., and basked in the silence of freshly fallen snow.

There's something relaxing and freeing about re-embracing a film camera. Forget instant gratification: Anticipation and eagerness build as you wait to develop the film. Will the photos turn out? Will they not? If you didn't get the perfect shot, oh well. The soothing action of setting up a pleasing shot, the rhythmic shutter of the camera and the hope of the image to come all combine to make the perfect memory.

I thought I'd share with you some of the imperfect prints from my 35mm adventure. My exposure time is a little rusty, and sure, the prints aren't as sharp as their digital counterparts. But these imperfections seem to add to the whimsy of the images and the peacefulness of the day. I rather like them.

Send me a link to photos you've taken recently.

Pigeon Pose

2011-01-31T21:51:00.002-05:00

Today, I attended my first class at a yoga studio in town that I'm trying out. After a hectic day, it felt so good to focus my intentions and relax, stretch and strengthen.

One of my favorite yoga positions is pigeon pose (eka pada rajakapotasana). This position is an excellent hip opener, whether you have tight muscles from sitting at a desk all day or the fatigue of an avid runner. Today, I learned to bind the pose, which gives the added benefit of a chest opener ... just what I needed after a day spent hunched over a computer.

This pose certainly is a challenge, but after doing it, my whole body feels better. Yoga is one of my favorite things to do to stay in balance, ease tension and re-energize. What do you do to remotivate yourself?

Photo thanks!

Friendship: Mm Mmmm Good

2011-01-29T20:04:00.002-05:00

Hello, darlings. How is your weekend treating you so far?

Lucky me, my longest best friend is visiting from back home. (We've been friends for more than 17 years, and when we met, we didn't speak the same language. Can you believe it!?) We're getting in some long-overdue QT together, and I get to share my home with her. It's wonderful! Today we:

Danced the Samba
Ate a hot brown and pie at a local diner
Drove through horse country
Went grocery shopping at the local co-op
Reminisced about the past and the future
Wore cute aprons while cooking risotto

We've been laughing all day because we are so different from each other. She is a very energetic and overly ambitious, while I'm more laid back and contemplative. But we're both driven and goal-oriented, and man, do we like to eat (and eat well)! That, I think, is the key to our long-lasting friendship.

Have you spent time with your BFF lately? What do you do together?

Photo thanks!

Craving the Craft

2011-01-27T07:42:00.003-05:00

I have never considered myself a crafty person. Sure, every once in a while a bit of inspiration will strike. I’ll dabble in watercolors, and once, I used ribbon and a canning jar to make a toothbrush holder. But in general, crafts don’t have the relaxing effect on me like they do other people.

Because of this known fact about myself, it’s beyond fathom why I can’t shake this idea that I need to make something. Perhaps the inspiration comes from my co-worker, who sewed 20 adorable stuffed donkeys for her son’s birthday party. Or maybe from my best friend, who excitedly declared she bought her first sewing machine. Or maybe from lovely blogging ladies, like Alison Wonderland and Meg’s Musings, who boast their creative creations.

Whatever the reason, the craft bug has hit me hard. And I really don’t know what to do with myself!

Even if I wanted to make something on my own, I can tell you right now it would be a disaster. Or at the very least, I'd get frustrated and quit mid-project. It’s times like this, I wish I had my mom nearby. I’ve been sending her photos of fun necklaces I want to make (like those made from fabric roses), and she sits down in an afternoon and figures out how to do it.

I also came across these really free patterns for these adorable dresses. Oh, how I want to make one! But the last time I touched a needle and thread was when I made a pillow in 8th grade Home Ec class.

What’s a girl to do?

Do you have any tips for a craft-challenged chica who wants to start sewing?

Photo thanks!

A View from Bourbon Country

2011-01-23T11:48:00.002-05:00

Hello, lovelies! How was your weekend?

On Saturday, a friend and I traveled down the road to Woodford County, where we visited the Woodford Reserve distillery. The tour was a bit nippy, but the scenery with all the snow was a delight. Take a look:

We finished the tour with a taste of bourbon, a bourbon ball and bourbon-flavored coffee. Yum!

Sound Obsession: Basement Jaxx

2011-01-20T23:45:00.002-05:00

Having found myself in a music funk the past couple of months, I sought out a friend who always has some new tunes on hand. I was taking a risk on this one, because my friend, well, he has a sort of musical neurosis. His very particular sound selection teeters toward eccentric and contemplative, and usually doesn't jibe with my light-hearted, upbeat preferences.

But the burnt CD (yes, we still do that) he handed over to me hit it right on the nose. It quenched my musical thirst. The CD: Basement Jaxx.

I'm not usually into house music, but this DJing duo from South London has diverse appeal with little bit of something for everyone. Each song has a story, and whether you're happy, angry, sad, excited, you'll find something to relate to in their play list. Hey U (with its ethnic vibe) was an instant favorite as was Take Me Back to Your House (I love the dancers in the video!) and these others:

Hush Boy
Lights Go Down
Romeo
U Can't Stop Me

Tell me what you think. And share what tunes have your toes tapping.

Happiness

2011-01-18T22:45:00.004-05:00

I'm currently reading the book The Geography of Bliss, where reporter Eric Weiner travels to the world's most happy countries, searching for the source of bliss. (What a cool job!) I'm only two and a half chapters into the book, but I can already see where this is leading: There is no formula to happiness.

In the U.S., we put such an emphasis on being "happy." But in this seemingly hopeless pursuit, we often find ourselves falling short of our goal. Why do you think this is? Do you think happiness is impossible to achieve? Or maybe it's just overrated?

I'm beginning to thing happiness is arbitrary. We can decide to be happy or not be happy, but from there, we still have to live life. What is the heart of the matter? That I'm still trying to figure out. Maybe goodness or sincerity. Or faithfulness. Maybe happiness is part of the equation, but not the solution we need to find.

Unlike Weiner, I'm no expert on the subject of happiness, but I've learned a thing or two about it in my failed attempts to achieve it. Here you go:

Happiness involves people. There's a reason we live in community with one another instead of in isolation. In a life apart from the people we love and trust--or are merely getting to know--we are unable to receive or spread joy.
Happiness involves nature. Have you ever felt the weight lifted off your shoulders as you turn off the tv/computer/cell phone/iPad and take a step into the natural world? Stomp through leaves in a forest or let the waves of the ocean tickle your toes. You'll see what I mean.
Happiness involves food. OK, nothing quite makes the perfect day as a sushi dinner followed by Jeni's ice cream--but that's not what I mean. Happiness comes when our basic needs are met ... not indulged ... met.
Happiness involves God. If you think you are on top of the world, you're only setting yourself up to fall. (It's the law of gravity, friends.) Knowing that there's something bigger than yourself in control should not only bring relief. It should bring happiness.
Happiness starts on the inside. You can't put on a smile and fake happiness. You'll never fall for your own charade.

What are your thoughts on happiness? How do you achieve it? Photo thanks!

Moving Forward: Gain and Loss

2011-01-16T12:22:00.011-05:00

I drink prophetic tea. Mostly because it tastes delicious, and partly because the tea label imparts words of wisdom like this:

For every loss there's an equal gain. For every gain an equal loss.

These words couldn't ring more true for me in this part of my life, where it seems like every decision I make yields amazing joy yet requires immense sacrifice.

You could say I've moved out of the "honeymoon phase" of life, so to speak. The idealism of my teenage years and the glory days of college have passed in a whirlwind, and tiny bits of reality have seeped into my thought process. (What a bummer!) Don't get me wrong, I still possess an unflinching hope for the adventure ahead, but I also know that every move I make not only takes me a step forward in that adventure but also causes me to leave something behind.

Recently, that step forward has been "nesting" in my current town: committing to organizations, branching out to meet new people ... to put it simply, planting roots here. In the year-plus since I've moved to this place, I haven't allowed myself to do that. I've clung to my original roots--old friends, old hobbies, an old way of thinking--and that hindered my moving-on process. While all those things I held on to were (are!) wonderful in their own right, place and time, I allowed myself to linger in them, which caused me to sacrifice the relationship I have with this new phase of my life.

The 20-something journey is a little like adolescence. You're no longer the "kid" you once were, but the idea becoming a settled adult seems preposterous. Letting go of the comforts of the past is difficult--I'd even go so far as to say a little heart-breaking--but a sense of freedom comes in relinquishing control and allowing new opportunities to prevail.

Good things have come out of the few weeks since I took that step forward, saying to myself, "I'm going to be happy here (here being the physical city I live in and the time of life I occupy) until it's time for me to move on." I'm sure the gain won't come without its struggles, but that's all part of the adventure, isn't it?

Photo thanks!

Hibernating

2011-01-12T22:28:00.000-05:00

I'm cold.

Really, I wanted to write to you about a more interesting topic tonight, but this one and only thought is plaguing my brain.

There's something so utterly paralyzing about winter, isn't there? Mother Nature certainly was on to something when she set aside three months of the year (if not more)for hibernation. As much as I try to fight it, my body, my brain, my soul urge me to comply with this unwritten law of nature.

OK, I'll give in. I'm taking my tea and my book and snuggling into bed with lots of blankets piled on top.

What are you doing to keep warm during this week's winter storms?

Photo thanks!

Consolidation Conundrum

2011-01-10T21:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, due to a administrative gesture that was both a blessing and a burden, I was forced to consolidate.

My apartment complex informed me yesterday that this week they would be installing a stacked washer/dryer in my apartment. A big two thumbs up for no longer having to drag my laundry baskets through the snow and up the hill to the laundry room. On the downside, the unit is being placed in my walk-in closet (aka the overflow room).

In less than 24 hours, I had to get all my odds n ends--everything from my boxed up Christmas tree to my roller blades to my vermicompost (worm) bin--outta there. So the relaxing evening I planned on having turned into a several-hours long exercise in rearranging and squeezing. It kind of felt like putting together a puzzle. Or packing for a trip. (Neither of which I'm much good at.)

Needless to say, I still have junk laying around without a permanent home--a sleeping bag that refuses to be stuffed under the bed, a box of unseasonal clothes serving as an unneeded nightstand, and then of course that Christmas tree, just begging to be unpacked for year-round enjoyment.

In a lot of ways, I'm pretty thrifty when it comes to "putting stuff away." Looking for that roll of wrapping paper? Check behind the couch. All bags and luggage nest inside one another like a babushka. And that ironing bed (unlike the sleeping bag) slides under the bed quite nicely. Yet, I could still use a little help.

Tell me, what "hiding" tips do you have for storing items?

Photo thanks!

I Gots Vision

2011-01-07T10:14:00.004-05:00

Have you ever played the "Which is Worse?" game. You know, the one where you are given two completely horrible scenarios, and you have to choose the lesser of the two evils.

Which is worse: Eating only Brussels sprouts for a week or go hungry for a week?

Which is worse: Never being to be able to tell the truth or never being able to tell a lie?

One of my personal favorite scenarios, which I contemplate often:

Which is worse: Losing your eyesight or losing your hearing?

As is for most people, this question is a toughy for me. I love playing and listening different kinds of music and having great conversations and eavesdropping on people in coffee shops. (The sound of laughter is so infectious.) But when it comes down to it, to completely lose my sight would be devestating.

Just think about how much you would miss out on.

For me, I couldn't continue my job, which depends solely on my ability to see words on a page. I couldn't stroll a museum to enjoy painted masterpieces or stroll the mall to scoff at hideous fashion. I couldn't bask in the glow of a beautiful sunset or the coziness of a rainy Saturday afternoon. I couldn't people watch, examining fellow mankind for their eccentric ideosyncracies. I couldn't appreciate a thoughtful greeting card sent by a dear friend or laugh at the look my cat gives me when she wants to play. I couldn't delight in the color Persian Green simply because it's a fabulous shade on the color wheel, and I couldn't take in the delicate grace of a ballerina on stage, imagining myself in her point shoes for a couple short hours.

I think the reason I know I couldn't bear the ability to not see is because I've been there, done that. Legally blind, a pair of misplaced glasses or a ripped contact would leave me handicapped, unable to cope on my own. Although I've lived with this reality most of my life, the concept of lost vision is humbling at best and frightening at worst.

The past couple months, I've battled one eye problem after another, from allergies to cornea infections, that have left me struggling to clearly focus on the world around me. A visit to the optomitrist confirmed that one of my eyes has gone from really bad to even worse. (Imagine only being able to see 3 inches in front of your face when you could once see 6 inches away. It's that bad.)

Thank goodness small miracles come in the form of high-prescription contacts and competent doctors. Today, I'm back in the business of seeing properly, but momentary handicaps really do make you think, don't they?

Have you ever found yourself living out a "Which is Worse?" situation? Tell me about it.

Reconnecting

2011-01-06T00:12:00.004-05:00

In the grand scheme of things, seven months is not all that long. But when you’ve been disconnected, cut off, seven months—more than half a year—can seem like a lifetime. That’s right, the reason I have not written you since (ack!) May is because I have been wireless, as in without wires.

As in, without anything. No cable. No internet. Nada.

Well, friends, I sucked it up and am paying an extravagant bill (it really is quite pricey!) every month so that I can be here with you on a regular basis. Gosh! I really have missed it.

My first day back online was filled with so many horrors. What did they do to my Facebook profile? What the hell is a Groupon? I can’t remember my Blogger password!!

But it also brought the delight of opportunity. The chance to reach out to friends new and old. The nudge I needed to plot out the next steps in this crazy life adventure.

To tell you the truth. The past seven months, I’ve been coasting. Not only have I let this blog fizzle, I’ve let my attitude toward this great journey of ours grow rather dull, as well. So the next few months are going to be about experiments. Digging into life in this no-longer-new town of mine that still seems so new. And reworking this blog so it suits the adventure.

Please don’t mind the mess as I experiment with new design styles and figure out this blog’s niche. In fact, feel free to give me your input along the way. It would be great to reconnect.

Photo thanks!

The Kick in the Pants I Needed

2010-05-30T07:45:00.003-04:00

Ok, so maybe I did needed to jump out of a plane to cure my pre-summer funk.

Skydiving was awesome. (I say this like there's any other option.) The worst thing about the whole experience, is the ascent. When you go diving, they squeeze as many jumpers into a tiny plane as possible, so you feel like a can of sardines. My tandem, Gila, and I, sat by the pilot, so you know what that means ... we were jumping last.

With each foot we climbed, I could feel the pit in my stomach growing. Grass and pavement turned into green and black splash marks, while houses and buildings became little white clusters. According to Gila, most jumpers' "Oh, sh*t!" moment, is the 10 seconds you stand at the door before taking the plunge. "So we're going to make that part as quick as possible," he said.

Whew!

After he found out I'm an "experienced" jumper (one jump? hardly!), he asked if I was "feeling a little frisky" today. Absolutely, I said.

So during our free fall (about a minute total) we did some somersaults, floated on our backs and did some 360 spins on our stomachs. I saw the ground, the sky and stared the sun right in the face. It was cool (much cooler than on the ground), and the action was freeing.

Once we pulled the chute (I was offered the honors, but that was one responsibility I wasn't confident in taking on that day), we flew around for maybe 5 minutes. We swung by the other jumpers and had face-to-face chats in the air. And best of all, the landing was simple and smooth--two feet on the ground, no sudden jolts and all body parts in tact.

The Ultimate Stress Reliever?

2010-05-29T08:09:00.003-04:00

I agreed to jump out of a plane today.

Although I've done this before, I feel as though a little bit more emotion should accompany what is definitely the event of the day, likely the event of the weekend, and potentially the event of the year. Unless you are a parachute tester for a living, this is not something one does every day.

I'm not particularly excited about the jump. Or anxious. Or fearful. To tell you the truth, I have no emotion toward it whatsoever. Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing the faces of those who make their first landing today, but as for me, I just want to do it and get it over with.

Now, for the philosophical portion of my text... (Please bear with me.)

Perhaps I'm not eager for this jump, because my life the past couple years has been a series of big jumps. (Like I said, work with me on this one.) If you do too many dramatic things in your life, especially in a tight time frame, is it possible to become numb to things you would have once found exhilarating?

My other theory is I'm recovering from stress I've endured lately, and my coping mechanism is to block out all forms of stress ... even if it's "fun" stress. In this case, maybe jumping out of a plane is just the kick in the pants I need to seek relief.

Lessons Learned

2010-05-25T19:59:00.005-04:00

Hello dear bloggy friends!

Words cannot describe how very much I've missed you over the past couple months. As I sit here and type this, I'm actually getting a little weepy-eyed over how negligent I've been of this blog and of you. Amid getting wrapped up in my no-longer-as-new life in this no-longer-as-new city, I've forgotten that part of the fun of the journey is to get to share it with you.

Well, that negligence stops now!

So what exactly have I been doing since I last left you? (Oh my, we last spoke March 30!) Well, here's a quick little recap. (Hopefully I can remember the deets ... it's been such a blur.)

1. I finished a majorly huge project at work. It ate up a lot of my hours and a lot of my energy, but all the hard work paid off. The website I've been working on since... well... since I started my job, is finally off the ground! After spending so much of my life (4 years college and 3 years post grad) preparing for such a feat, it's refreshing to see the fruits of my (and my wonderful co-workers') labor!

2. I ran my 3rd half marathon. And we started the race in a thunderstorm. Epic! The race was amazing ... despite having thrown out my back (doing yoga, of all things) a mere week prior, I ran my easiest, fastest 13 miles yet at 2:12. Best of all, I reunited with my college running buddies and had my favorite guy and favorite mother cheering me on.

3. I got a cat. I adopted a 5-year-old kitten from my friend's soon-to-be hubby because she's deathly allergic to animals. The cat's name is Ringo, but I affectionately call her "Kitten." Actually, she was pretty much MIA for our first month together. (A bit of a scaredy cat, I'm afraid.) Just recently she's come out to play and cuddle ... and jump on my table top. (Bad kitten!)

4. I officially became a PC user. It's not something I'm proud of, but sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. I still keep my little iBook on hand if I need to stroke its glossy white casing or feel the urge to drag-n-drop. Maybe, just maybe, I can one day return to the days of Mac bliss (maybe if their prices drop a couple hundred), but for now this PC gets the job done.

4. I nurtured a long-distance relationship. Three hours has been more difficult than I imagined, but completely worth it. We're going three months strong. Coincidentally, three months ago is when my blog posts became more sparse. I swear this is merely coincidental, but I give you permission to throw a little blame in his direction. (Wink.)

5. I bought Ikea pillows. This really needs no explanation. Ikea is awesome and the pillows are pretty.

Of course, all these events are not just moments swept under the rug. The past couple months have challenged me in many ways and I feel like I've really grown through these experiences (especially through the Ikea pillow-buying). Here are my (dum dum dum)...

LESSONS LEARNED:

1. Never (I mean NEVER!) launch a website and train for any physical competition at the same time. When you have to choose between checking an item off your exponentially growing work-to-do list and running 10 miles, and the hour is reaching 8 p.m., you are not in a good place. I'm not at all skeptical that this mental and physical stress revealed itself in a rather painful back spasm. (Oh, the hard lessons we 20-somethings must learn.)

2. Cats aren't dogs. I'm utterly swept up in dog envy, but due to apartment constraints and the inability to be a good mommy to a little sweetie pie of a puppy, a cat seemed like a good compromise for pet companionship. While the cat and I are warming up rather nicely to each other, she doesn't fulfill my longing to add a dog to the family.

3. I can live with a PC, but I need to buy my own Internet. Confession of a blogger: I stole Internet from my neighbor for about 6 months after moving in. Well, they moved and I'm unconnected. About a month later, I'm starting to feel the burden. Sometime in the near future, I'm going to suck it up and become a real adult. An adult who doesn't steal. (Stealing is bad.)

4. Ikea is awesome. The second time I visit, I will allow myself more than 2 hours to browse the apex of affordable home decor.

5. I will never leave you again. Ok, I can't make complete promises --life does indeed happen sometimes. But this oath I will give to you: You are important to me, and I will go the distance to share this journey with you.

Tell me, dear friends: What has life thrown your way lately?

Photo thanks!

One Unbelievable Baking Blunder

2010-03-30T21:32:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I was going to bake boller, a favorite Norwegian snack, akin to the likeness of the American chocolate chip cookie. I had this whimsical idea in my mind that I would fashion these sweet cardamom rolls from yeast and flour and sugar and the oh-so-beautiful-smelling cardamom. (It really has a lovely scent!) Then I would share my scrumptious creations, and people would oh and ah as they nibbled on the rolls topped with butter or honey.

If only such dreams of whimsy came true.

My first err in action came when I decided this would be a fun project to start at 9 p.m. The second came when I opted not to look carefully at the recipe before diving into action.

The first ingredient in the recipe called for 2 1/2 cups warm milk. I'm not much of a milk drinker, so when I know I'm going to be baking, I'll buy a pint so it doesn't go bad. Well, during my last trip to the grocery store, I thought I'd be extra conservation-minded, and pick up the smallest container of milk they had - as I found out shortly before mixing my ingredients, it was a half a cup too short.

No biggie. I quickly zipped over to the gas station, supplemented my supply, and continued with my baking endeavor. Or so I thought.

I began heating the milk, started mixing the yeast and sugar, melting the butter, and then I looked at the next ingredient: Oh crap! The recipe called for 5 1/2 cups flour. A sinking feeling overtook me as I recalled my last baking project gone awry (lemon bars that never set) that depleted my stash. I donned my shoes and jacket for another trip out to the store.

Once I had my all-purpose flour in hand, I continued with my baking.

"... mix together the warm milk, melted butter, sugar, and yeast. Allow to stand for about 10 minutes, until the yeast is good and foamy," the recipe said.

Cool! A science experiment, too! I mixed the ingredients and waited for the yeast to foam.

And I waited.

And I waited some more.

It's 20 minutes later and I'm still waiting.

Feeling like I was watching the pot that would never boil, my impatience got the best of me and I continued on.

Everything was finally mixed together and the recipe told me to wait an hour for the dough to rise twice its size. (See where my second mistake is coming into play?) I sigh, but at this point there's not much I can do; I'm committed. I put the bowl near the warm vent, covered it with a towel and began waiting (again).

Partway through my waiting, I took a peek under the towel to see science in action.

Uh oh.

The dough wasn''t rising. In fact, I think it shrunk a little.

Intent on persevering through this expedition in Norwegian baking, I let the remainder of the hour take its toll and continued on. Following the recipe (which at this point wasn't going so well) I punched my unrisen dough. My hand was now covered in ooey gooeyness. (Not quite the "slightly sticky" texture I was supposed to aim for.)

I tried to knead the dough, but my attempts were futile as my dough began to resemble something more like The Blob of the late 50s horror film than future pastries.

Hoping for a bit salvation, I threw some more flour into the mix. (And a little more. And yet a little more.) Maybe it was working. (Or maybe not.) Either way, it was approaching midnight and I had to finish these damn rolls.

The recipe said to roll the dough into balls slightly bigger than golf balls and let them sit for another 30 to 45 minutes. My golf balls looked something like this:

And perhaps only because I like to make myself suffer, I waited out the 30 to 45 minutes. At that point, right before I put the cardamom roll wannabes into the oven, they still looked like this:

Twenty minutes later, I had this:

The second batch was kind and attempted to rise for me:

And I'll tell you what: Once 1 a.m. rolled around, they didn't taste half bad ... maybe just a little dense. (Ok, today they just tasted soggy and I'm probably going to throw them out.)

Lesson learned: Next time, I'll stick to my American roots and make chocolate chip cookies.

Itching to Garden

2010-03-28T18:05:00.003-04:00

My blueberry bush arrived this weekend! It's a cute little guy with dainty green branches. Although it's young, it appears to be healthy.

I'm trying to figure out how to care for my new charge. From what I've read, blueberry bushes are difficult to grow in containers because their roots spread wide and they've got a fickle thirst. (You can't water them too much and you can't water them too little.) But blueberries in pots have been grown before, and because container gardening is my only option at the moment, I must give it a try.

Sometime this week, I need to go buy it dirt. This is intimidating, and I chickened out on doing it this weekend. Blueberries need acidic soil high in organic matter. I read a blueberry-growing tutorial that suggested mixing peat moss with homemade compost, but in my little space with limited resources, a pre-mixed bag from the local gardening center will have to do. Until recently, I didn't realize that dirt wasn't merely dirt, so I've got to mentally prepare myself for some intensive label-reading.

Hopefully, with a dose of TLC on my part and a nudge of beginners luck, my berries will be flourishing in no time. My gardening itch has hit full force. I'm impatiently waiting for consistently warm weather so I can work on figuring out the rest of my apartment garden.

I'm Back ... For Now ... With T-Shirts

2010-03-24T20:42:00.005-04:00

Well, hello old friends! I have been gone for a long while. I looked at the calender and I couldn't believe we've already hit spring! I'm so excited for the change of season, but time is moving so fast.

Long story short, I've been absent because life got a bit crazy. And by life, I mean work. I love what I do and it's a lot of fun, but this month has kept me quite busy. I'm lucky if I cross the threshold to my apartment without passing out.

Luckily, tonight I have a little extra burst of energy. So what do I do? Shop for fun t-shirts online, of course. These would totally make up my wardrobe if only every day were casual day:

(I can't stop giggling.)

Women of the World

2010-03-08T20:06:00.006-05:00

When I got home this evening and opened up my laptop for a little blogging time, I wanted to write to you about International Women's Day. I wanted to teach you about the plight of women across the world. I wanted to let ring in your minds the startling statistics surrounding domestic violence, oppressive labor conditions and gender inequality. I wanted to stir your emotions and share all these things with you.

But the truth is, I'm just learning about all these things myself.

I read books about women in this country and abroad who were forced into trafficking circles and other violent situations. I went to Cambodia for a year and looked in the face of these women quoted in statistics about poverty. I talk to people in my own city in Kentucky who interact on a daily basis with women who live in desperation. But despite all this information I take in - despite how much I want to care and sympathize and seek justice - I cannot REALLY understand what it means to bear the burden of a woman in this world.

You see, my reality is an easy one.

From day one, I've had no other option than to choose the high road. I grew up in suburbia, and while those of us who grew up there complain about how dreadfully boring it can be, suburbia presented us with endless possibilities. Girls in suburbia are taught they can achieve anything they want. They can be a doctor or a lawyer or a race-car driver ... it doesn't matter which destiny they choose; they can achieve it as long as they put their minds to it.

I was raised thinking there was no other real options than to go to college, get a job and start your life. And of course, I complied, because achieving anything less would be tragic.

I fulfilled my destiny. I wanted to go to college, so I went to college. I wanted to travel the world, so I traveled the world. I wanted to become Ms. Editor at a Magazine, so I became Ms. Editor at a Magazine.

This is wonderful. Each and every day I feel blessed that this is my life. But when I read a statistic such as 60 percent of chronically hungry people are women and girls, I can't help but feel guilty and a little sad that I don't have the ability to understand what this reality is like. So while I want to seek justice and take action on the wars women face, I find myself hitting brick walls, because to me it isn't real.

But on this day, International Women's Day, a day when we attempt to make the future better for the women whose lives haven't been so easy, I want to say thanks to all the women I've met who are doing amazing things to improve the woman's condition. You ladies are my reality. You are fighting on the campaign field, bringing joy to others through dance, educating people in all walks of life, raising kids who aren't your own, sharing your faith in a foreign land, advocating for the disadvantaged, and making use of a beautiful language. You are the true loveliness of this world.

Photo thanks!

Salads: The Easy Option

2010-03-07T23:03:00.006-05:00

Soup has been my go-to food of the winter. I make a huge pot of tortilla soup or chili and freeze serving-size portions for nights when I get home late or it's too cold to do anything but wrap up in a blanket.

The warm, sunny weather in Lexington this weekend had me thinking about what my "easy meal" option will be for spring and summer. It, I decided, most likely will be salad.

My salad style is fresh and colorful. I like to start with baby spinach as the base, and from there the options are endless. Heavy doses of cucumber are a must, and nuts are a filling topping that add textural flair. (Almonds or walnuts or walnuts are my favorites.) Recently, I've been a fan tossing in extra green pepper and tiny heirloom tomatoes (in red, green, yellow and purple!) into the mix.

The great thing about salads is the flexible recipe. You can add anything your taste buds desire (or anything you can dig out of the fridge, if grocery day is approaching). Some of my other favorite salad mixers include:

Carrots
Celery
Radishes
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Artichokes
Black beans
Garbonzo beans
Peas
Mushrooms
Avacado
Red Onion

Of course, some sort of dietary extra is required for a well-rounded flavor. I personally don't like cheese with salad dressing, so I usually choose one or the other. When it comes to cheese, I like something rich. Feta always tops a salad well, and I recently experimented with shredded asiago, which worked out pleasantly.

As far as dressings go, I prefer simple vinaigrettes. Equal parts olive oil and vinegar (red wine or balsamic!) work just fine. Kraft need not apply. If I want to get swanky, I finish my bowl with freshly ground black pepper sprinkled on top.

I'm looking forward to salad evenings - especially munching and crunching on my westward-facing porch while watching the summer sunset. My taste buds are always eager to try something new, though. Do tell me what you add to your favorite salad!

Hello Weekend (and Spring)!

2010-03-06T09:51:00.003-05:00

Hi, lovelies! Do you have anything planned for this beautiful, sunny weekend? (I hope it's sunny where you are.) I'm looking forward to the day ahead. I'm picking out my new laptop (probably this one), getting fitted for new running shoes, and going to dinner and a play in Louisville. Most of all, I'm excited that spring is near.

"Listen, can you hear it? Spring's sweet cantata. The strains of grass pushing through the snow. The song of buds swelling on the vine. The tender timpani of a baby robin's heart. Spring." ~Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneide

Photo thanks!

Nature's Mood Booster

2010-03-04T20:35:00.005-05:00

This morning, as I walked out of the door of my tiny apartment, ready to face the day, I found no surprise in the fact that it was a little cold. It's been a little cold (you know, just a tad) since the calender page turned to November. Used to the winter routine, I pulled on my gloves, wrapped my scarf tight and headed out to start the car.

When I stepped out from under the awning, I was stunned with the inundation of a bright and shining light beaming down from the heavens.

"God, is that you?" I asked. "Am I dying?"

I listened for a response. Nothing.

I squinted and made awkward, scrunchy faces and tried to duck behind the shield of my arms. I fiddled in my bag for my sunglasses, but no such luck. They lay on the dashboard of the car. Finally, after a few seconds my eyes adjusted to the glare and I realized the true source of this unexpected luminosity.

"It's the sun!" I cried from the depths of my soul, celebrating in its splendor, and fist-pumping the air for good measure. "The world is mine to conquer!"

Stopping for only a short moment to bask in the glory of this first sign of spring, off to conquer the day (and the world) I went.

*Disclaimer: The author of this blog might have gotten a little carried away in her excitement to see the sunshine on a morning in early March. While the story does reflect her true emotion, it's probably a safe bet that she did not cry out from the depths of her soul, as her neighbors might have called the police. However, it's possible she imagined herself giving the air a small fist-pump in celebration of this happy occasion.

Photo thanks!

On A Melodic Note

2010-03-03T22:29:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited to share with you that I'm finally beginning to get music back in my life. I don't mean this metaphorically. I don't mean that I turned on the Top 40 station and sung along. I mean I'm literally playing music again! It's (almost) beautiful.

The last time I picked up my flute and let my fingers flutter across its little keys was ... well, to tell you the truth, I can't remember the last time I did this. I'd forgotten the feeling of breathing life into the inanimate object and having a soft and sweet melody flow from the end. Of traveling up and down the staff in smooth waves. Of holding a note, long and mellow, and letting it stretch across the room. It takes your mind from the harshness of everyday life to somewhere more blissful and perfect.

Although I'm a bit rusty (my fingers don't quite have the same precision about them that they did 5 years ago), I'm happily surprised at how I can easily I can fall into the rhythm of a tune. Even after I've put my instrument asleep for the night, I find myself dancing around the apartment to hymns and sonatas.

I'm a person who appreciates all kinds of music, but the classic melodies played on woodwinds bring a certain spirit into the room that no other genre can. They are so rich - full of meaning, joy and life. I'm so happy to allow this into my life again.

Do you play an instrument (or did you)? Which one?

My Little Apartment Orchard To Be

2010-03-02T20:16:00.006-05:00

My grandma (Mam) and I are what you could call kindred spirits. Even as I've moved out of Ohio, I feel like through our weekly (or more often than that) phone chats, we have become closer than ever. This week, our conversation ventured to the arena of spring planting.

Mam has one of the greenest thumbs of anyone I know. She is happiest in her garden, and and when she merely looks at a flower, it will blossom and flourish vibrantly and fragrantly. Of course, she has to give any praise you dote on her a good Midwestern denial of any such talents.

This year, she decided that because all her plants were "dying," she'd try ordering herself a blueberry bush from the gardening store. The price in the Sunday newspaper ads seemed just right, and you grow it in a pot, so it must be easy.

Of course, I, the one who constantly has visions of culinary herbs dancing around my head, got excited at this notion and jealously declared I wanted one as well. Can you imagine the pure deliciousness fresh blueberries and yogurt for breakfast every morning? And what about blueberry muffins (with lavender!), and, oh, blueberry cobbler! How could NOT having your very own blueberry machine (er, bush) ever be a good idea?

We continued our raving at this fabulous thought and other spring fancies. I shared my determination to grow my squash from seed without killing the poor little seedling and my fantasy of having my own apartment-size Meyers lemon tree. (So whimsical, right?)

"Ok, dear... that's a little odd..." Mam said in the way that means she's skeptical but delighting in your crazy ideas.

And so, our conversation ended. Mam set out to invest in her little blueberry bush and I went home to dream of all the things I can grow on my balcony when the weather turns warm.

Then the next night, I received a phone call.

"Dear, you don't have to call me back," Mam told my voicemail. "But I ordered you a blueberry bush. It should arrive at your apartment in the spring."

Yipee! Blueberries and yogurt, and muffins, cobbler and pie ... oh my! I can already feel those cerulean baubles of antioxidants dancing over my tongue, filling my belly, and refreshing my soul.

Then today at work, I received another phone call.

"Dear, you don't have to call me back," Mam told my voicemail. "But I ordered you a lemon tree. It should arrive at your apartment soon."

Can a girl be so lucky as to have a grandmother who really knows how to spoil AND be the future keeper of a Meyers lemon tree? Oh yes, she can. That she is me!

Photo thanks!

Welcome Weekend!

2010-02-26T17:59:00.003-05:00

Oh my goodness, it's already Friday! Where has the week - and for that matter, the month - gone?

I've been trudging through the last week in February in a semi-dormant haze. For some reason, I've been super tired, and I can't wait for the weekend to catch up on sleep and the other to-dos that slipped off the list:

*Go grocery shopping.
*Pick out the computer I'm going to buy. (Bad news, I'm switching to the dark side.)
*Find a place for the stuff I dropped in the doorway when I returned from last weekend's trip to Columbus.
*Run 6 miles. (In reality, this number should read 8.)
*Practice flute for Sunday. (Wednesday's rehearsal proved me preeeeetty rusty.)
*Buy green tights and shamrock bling.
*Admire the beautiful bouquet I received at the office today:

I've definitely had more thrilling weekends, but this list should keep me busy until Monday rolls around.

What are you doing this weekend?

Silver Anniversary

2010-02-20T18:11:00.004-05:00

T

This week my parents celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, and in this day and age I think that's pretty special.

Over the weekend, I snuck into their wedding album and stole some photos just so I could share them with you. (Surprise, Mom and Dad!) Eighties wedding wear makes me giggle, but I think the photos are cute.

Congrats, parents! Here's to 25 more.

Biking for Dillon

2010-02-18T21:18:00.006-05:00

My brother does cool things like make me floralicious wall art and wear a lip ring. But probably the coolest thing of them all is the 160-mile bike ride he participates in every year.

For three days in April, he puts his legs on the line for kids for whom riding a bike is a precious gift. His two-wheel quest down the open road supports St. Vincent Mercy Children’s Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, to help sick children attend therapy camps, to purchase hospital medical supplies and equipment, and much more.

Over the years, Zach has gotten to know one of the kids from the hospital named Dillon. Dillon rides the last leg of the route with the team, Zach says:

At our last stop the head of the committee attaches a side car on the back of their bike and he rides in with us. He looks forward to it every year ... When he visits us he's so playful and full of smiles. He loves the attention we give him and he wants everyone to hold and play with him.

I admire Zach's desire to give back. If you'd like to support him and Dillon in this year's Bike for Tykes, click here.

Save the Date

2010-02-17T18:50:00.003-05:00

It's only February and I can already feel wedding season kicking into gear.

I just received my first "save the date" of the year, and it makes me absolutely giddy. My barista friend met his fiance at the coffee shop where he works. She would pick up a latte during her breaks from Pottery Barn (located across the mall) and became a regular in his shop. What started as deal in espresso soon frothed into love.

Isn't their announcement the perfect tribute to the start of their relationship. I adore the "heart" in the middle of the mermaiden's chest!

Sweet starts and happy endings make me smile. Do you have a good story to tell?

Fat Tuesday

2010-02-16T22:16:00.004-05:00

While jesters are off in far-off lands dancing and bartering for beads, I'm snuggling in at home and enjoying my own Mardi Gras indulgence. On tonight's menu: buckwheat pancakes and pure maple syrup.

I'm usually a buttermilk pancake and maple-FLAVORED syrup girl, but this is Fat Tuesday, after all. Sometimes you just gotta let loose. The verdict on my meal-time adventures for this week:

Pure Maple Syrup = 2 (sticky) thumbs up
Buckwheat Pancakes = Maybe I can barter the leftover mix for some beads

While I thought the whole wheat, no trans fat and high fiber would be a healthier alternative to the Fat-Tuesday fare, it turns out if you're going to do fat, you should just do fat. After pancakes that tasted a bit like cardboard (OK, maybe I could get used to them), I'm still craving a bit of fluffiness in my stacks.

The maple syrup, on the other hand, was quite the welcome adventure for my tongue. As a fan of maple sugar candies, I'm not sure why I've never given this condiment a try, but I'm glad to start now.

How crazy did you get for Mardi Gras this year?

Happy (Almost) Valentine's Day

2010-02-13T08:23:00.005-05:00

It's almost Valentine's Day and people's hearts are all aflutter. Roses and chocolates and fancy dinners and greeting cards covered in little red hearts seem to consume people during this holiday. But when you strip away all the gunk, it's supposed to be about one thing: Love.

Love is a tricky thing and not as easy to come by as Hollywood likes us to think, so in the docu-movie Paper Heart, comedian/songwriter Charlyne Yi (Jodi in Knocked Up) goes on a quest across the country to figure out why she's incapable of finding it. She travels the U.S. talking to fellow comedians and regular people about what love means to them and listens to their love stories.

This playground interview is my favorite. Little David (who hopes to fall in love with a smart girl, one day) points out that some people are quick to give their heart away. But fortunately, someone can return that love back to them and they can live happily ever after. (Kids are so insightful, don't you agree?)

The movie (which now tops my favorites list, as I'm a sucker for good rom-com) has a semi-happy twist. Comedic cutie Michael Cera (Superbad and Juno) falls for Charlyne, giving the audience hope that if true love might find even her, true love will one day find them as well.

Tell me, is true love out there? How do you know when you find it?

(P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!)

The Red Rain Trench

2010-02-11T23:19:00.005-05:00

The other night I had a dream I was wearing a red rain trench. It was chic and shiny and had big red buttons and a hood to keep my head dry. The red was vibrant and energetic - the color of a blooming amaryllis. I don't remember anything else about the dream, just that I was wearing this fabulous jacket.

I'm of the school of thought that dreams allow us to peek into our innermost selves - the part of our being that our waking self doesn't understand. What does my red trench mean? The dream itself so simple, yet the meaning it holds could penetrate depths.

According to DreamForth.com:

To see red in your dream indicates raw power, élan, fervor, intense passion, agression, authority and bravery. It connotes deep emotions and spirituality. ... To dream of the color red suggests danger, stigma and even compulsion, particularly in sex. Your dream is a nudge for you to rethink your actions and avoid being impulsive.

As for the jacket, it says:

To see or wear a jacket in your dream is a symbol of the impression you hope to express to others. It may also signify your tendency to be cynical and suspicious. You should use caution with your actions or you may risk pushing others away and repressing your emotions. Pay attention to the look, color, and texture of the jacket as this can hold more meanings.

What do you think? Be my dream interpreter.

Photo thanks!

Be My Inspiration?

2010-02-10T19:35:00.008-05:00

I'm sick. It's snowing. I'm sick of being sick. And I'm sick of it being snowy.

Now, there's a situation that makes it hard to find inspiration in life.

With all this sickness and snowiness, the creativity part of my brain machine (as well as the part that turns words into sentences) has turned idle. Being sick - last week with the flu (ew!) and this week with the start of a cold - has zapped me of all energy. Plus, we're moving into the dog days of winter (if there's not such a thing there is now) and man are they long! (This coming from the girl who hadn't felt temperatures under 45 degrees F for about two years.) As I sit here and stare at the inside of my little hibernation cave, I'm craving something that will reignite my zeal for life.

Maybe this is just a big ol' pitty party, or maybe I need some outside help. Where do you turn for inspiration when the winter is just too long? Tell me please!

Photo thanks!

A Mug For Me

2010-02-06T10:07:00.003-05:00

Wouldn't this mug from CafePress.com be perfect for sipping coffee when on deadline? (Yes, the editor geek in me is out.)

A Long Winter?

2010-02-02T20:48:00.005-05:00

Well, today in Lexington the sun did not shine, so I'm pulling for only four more weeks of winter. But apparently the groundhog in Pennsylvania (aka the one that counts) saw his shadow. Let's hope the old wives tale doesn't hold true. I'm ready for SPRING!

Photo thanks!

Back into Gear

2010-01-31T08:59:00.004-05:00

Since temperatures dropped back to the sub-zero range, I have taken a three-day hiatus from my half-marathon training plan. As I sit inside where it's warm and cozy and I can sip my hot tea, I'm having horrible time finding the motivation to drive to the gym for this week's long run. Do you have the same problem when cold weather strikes?

If you aren't on a training regimen, or the usual desire to be healthy (and look good for bathing suit season) doesn't drive you to hit the track, here are some other things to keep in mind when you feel defeated by frigid temps. (Remember, the experts said it, not me):

Exercising keeps you looking young. A German study found that marathon runners at age 50 look much younger than their sedentary counterparts. Plus, the boost in activity seems to do good things under the skin as well, such as keep your DNA in top-notch condition.

Exercising makes you smarter. Older women who practice strength training for an hour each week do better with making decisions, resolving conflicts and ignoring distractions, say researchers in British Columbia. So we young folk might as well give ourselves a fighting chance and get into the habit early.

Mmmmm. This food for thought helps, but I'm still looking for some motivation love. Let me know what kicks you into gear!

Photo thanks!

Snow Day!

2010-01-30T18:44:00.004-05:00

Winter weather overtook Lexington last night and a blanket of white powder now covers the ground. What a perfect excuse to be lazy and enjoy in life's simple pleasures. Today I:

Made comfort food...

Painted with water colors...

And watched movies.

It's been a delightful and relaxing Saturday.

Did it snow where you are?

I'm Plastica

2010-01-27T21:03:00.003-05:00

I'm so tired this week. It's only 9 p.m. and I'm seriously contemplating putting head to pillow. However, I managed to find time to answer that age old question: What's my type. Finally, answers! I'm plastica.

What are you?

Winter Cheer

2010-01-26T21:35:00.003-05:00

Brrrr... it's so cold outside. Winter just isn't for me. Luckily, at work I sit right in front of the window, and even when the sky is grey, small things cheer me up. Today, I caught a glimpse a plump bird just like this one perched on a branch outside. I don't know why, but it just made me happy.

What's keeping your spirits up during this long, hard winter?

Photo thanks!

Monday Inspiration

2010-01-25T22:13:00.004-05:00

I have a horrible case of the Mondays and feel quite uninspired to write, though I feel the need to say something. So in a tribute to crossing the 5-mile threshold yesterday in my half marathon training program, here's a quote that should motivate us all to keep on trucking.

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"~Peter Maher, Canadian marathon runner

Photo thanks!

Pig Pen Reunited

2010-01-20T23:56:00.005-05:00

I had to post this picture from New Year because it was too cute. In college, we called ourselves the OU Pig Pen because we all trained for a half marathon together - the Flying Pig in Cincinnati. Isn't it cool we are still friends who can be silly together? And who are still running together (in spirit)?

Music Moment: The Blind Eyes

2010-01-19T21:23:00.004-05:00

It's been awhile since I've come across some new (enjoyable) music, and lucky me, this time it's all in the family.

The kids up in St. Louis who call themselves The Blind Eyes rock. Now, I won't go on and on pretending I know how to review music. All I know is they are good, I like them, and the fact that I'm related to the lead singer gives me some sort of bragging rights.

Check out the video (start at minute 2:00 after the too-long commercial) and if you like what you hear go to iTunes and download their first album, Modernity. Then, if you really like what you hear, get excited because they are currently working on album No. 2.

Sweet.

Video thanks!

Hippie-Chic Evening

2010-01-18T21:36:00.007-05:00

Happy Monday! Did you get the day off for MLK Day or did you, like me, have to suffer the typical mundane Monday?

After a fairly uneventful start to the week, this chick is happy to be home enjoying a relaxing hippie-chic evening. After winding down with some yoga, I stirred up some homemade hummus and am settling down with a cup of tea. It's the blooming tea I got for Christmas. Check it out:

Before

After

It's oh so delicious. (And pretty!)

Ok, time to cuddle up with some Pride and Prejudice. Have a lovely evening!

Joyful Energy

2010-01-14T20:04:00.005-05:00

Have you ever been completely energized off life?

I'm in a wonderful place right now - emotionally speaking - and for no particular reason whatsoever. It feels like the whole world is being illuminated by the morning's first rays of sunshine - golden and warm - combined with the thrill of jumping as high as you possibly can on a trampoline. It's completely delightful and freeing! I can't wait to see what the next minute brings.

Plus, I can't believe we're already halfway through January. Spring must be right around the corner, right? (Maybe this is just wishful thinking.) Perhaps it's a bit early for an update, but I've gotten a running start on my 2010 Vision. I've:

Officially started training for my half marathon. (#3) So far, I can run a good 4 miles. I'm meeting with the training group at the gym on Sunday, and better yet, I met a friend who is training for her first half. Yay for running buddies!

Had my first tutoring session with Bluegrass Literacy. (#6) I was placed in a GED class instead of with an ESL student as I had hoped, but it worked. I'm happy helping where I'm needed until other opportunities arise.

Planted my squash and aroma therapy herbs. (#7) Time to find containers for the rest of my culinary herbs.

Found a yummy New Orleans-style restaurant and enjoyed my first taste of authentic cajun/creole cuisine. (Ok, this isn't officially part of my vision, but when is new, good food NOT a good idea?)

What good things are happening in your life this week?

Photo thanks!

Writer's Workshop: Tarantula Haiku

2010-01-11T18:42:00.003-05:00

Oh, eight-legged creature
Here you crawl onto my plate.
And I eat you. Yum!

[Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop: Choose the seventh picture you took last January and write a poem.]

2010 Vision

2010-01-07T20:12:00.005-05:00

I've officially surpassed the three-month mark in Lexington. I can finally stop pinching myself - the things I wanted to happen in my life have come true. Reality has kicked in (but in a good way).

My favorite part about being here - and planning to be here for awhile - is that I can really dig into life. I'm completely goal driven, and the past couple years I've had to put many of my dreams and ambitions on hold because I'd yet to find my little niche in the world. It was excruciating!

So now that I'm here, I'm excited to be able to put all my life goals on paper and start making them happen. Here's a little peek into my 2010 Vision:

1. Improve my writing. I'm going to start with Mama Kat's weekly writing workshop and begin exploring my possibilities for more intensive practice. I'm also going to read more - because lots of reading makes for better writing. And I'm going to make sure I get to write for me. This is a delicate balance when a lot of what I write is for the job.

2. Spend more time in nature. When I catch a case of the Saturday boredoms, I have a nasty habit of running to the laptop or the TV or the mall. I miss the days of playing outside from sun up to sun down, so I'm going to make it a point to get out of the house - maybe to the UK Arboretum or one of the surrounding parks. I only wish the snow would stop so I could start this one today.

3. Train for a half marathon. And run 5Ks and 10Ks more frequently. And contemplate my first full marathon. (And get better shoes.)

4. Play music. I used to play flute and music was a big part of my life. I miss the emotional connection and the satisfaction of creating something beautiful, so I'm seeking an outlet that will get my fingers moving again.

5. Develop spiritually. This one is so hard to do when life isn't consistent, so I'm excited for this. I found a church I really like, so I plan to join a Bible study so I can discuss my faith and learn from others.

6. Give back. So much of what I do is for me. What's the point of being somewhere and having a community if you aren't helping others? I'm getting started on this pronto, as I'm starting my training this month with Bluegrass Literacy. But I'm also keeping my ears perked for other community projects.

7. Learn to garden. I've got my apartment herb garden started, but I want to learn to do more to grow bigger things - like green beans, spinach and potatoes. I'd love to get plugged into a community garden, but I wouldn't even know what to do with a plot of land if I had it. I need to seek out expert advice.

8. Waste less. This one is such a struggle. I recycle and drink from a reusable water bottle, but I know there's more I can do. Buy products with less packaging (like at the farmers' market!), shop consignment, open windows (for natural light and natural air), walk instead of drive. Baby steps are starting now.

9. Buy a bike. (To help me accomplish No. 2, 3 and 7.) What can I say, bikers are cool and I want to be cool. (Plus, I miss my Cambodian bike with bell and basket.)

10. Decorate that white wall. I have this one large, nearly empty wall in my apartment that is throwing the whole living space off balance. I cannot let it sit that way for too much longer before doing something - anything!

11. Focus on my career. I had the college portion of my life. I had the lost puppy part of my life. I had (and hope to have more of) the exploration part of my life. Right now is definitely the career part of my life. I like it. I want to get better at it.

*Disclaimer: This documentation of life goals is by no means a set of new year's resolutions. It is a constantly evolving list that reflects the author's willingness to foster a consistent and sustainable lifestyle. The author of these goals reserves the right to add to them at any time and will suffer no repercussions if certain goals are not met. Thank you. :)

Photo thanks!

My, What a Difference a Decade Makes!

2010-01-05T21:25:00.004-05:00

Forget the new year. How has your new decade been?

Ten years seems to have gone by so fast, but looking back, it's quite amazing to see how things have changed.

In 2000, I was in my first year of high school.
In 2010, I am in my first year of grown-up job.

In 2000, my hobbies included ballet, journaling and training for 5Ks.
In 2010, my hobbies include yoga, blogging and training for half marathons.

In 2000, you could hear some mixture of R&B or pop coming out of my boom box.
In 2010, you can hear some mixture of country and singer-songwriters coming out of my iPod.

In 2000, the weirdest song topping the charts was Blue (Daba De Daba Di) by Eiffle 65.
In 2010, the weirdest song topping the charts is Paparazzi, or anything else by Lady Gaga.

In 2000, I was out of touch with technology because I talked on a household phone still connected to the wall.
In 2010, I am out of touch with technology because I don't have a phone with apps.

In 2000, I got excited about buying spaghetti-strap tank tops.
In 2010, I get excited about buying salad spinners.

In 2000, I wondered if I'd find a date to homecoming that year.
In 2010, I wonder if I'll have a date for the next 10,000 weddings this year.

In 2000, the farthest I'd ever traveled was Disney World. I stayed a week.
In 2010, the farthest I've ever traveled is Cambodia. I stayed a year.

In 2000, the biggest drama in my life was what to do with my Friday night.
In 2010, the biggest drama in my life is what to do with my life.

I can't wait to see what the next 10 years have in store. What changes have you seen during the 2000s? Tell me please!

Photo thanks!

Home from the Holidays

2010-01-03T09:12:00.007-05:00

Hello friends! I'm back from the holidays. I can't believe how fast they came and went. To sum things up:

It was great to see family and friends!

The lasagna dinner, while not optimal, was not so bad.

Favorite gift of the year: a toss up between the aroma therapy herb garden and a new coffee pot.

Most hilarious gift of the year: golf balls hand-delivered by Santa himself reading "For a good time, call 1-800-97-TIGER."

TOO MUCH SUGAR!

Sipped hot nuts and played Catch Phrase with friends on New Year's Eve.

Started off 2010 with a polar bear plunge.

The Buckeyes won the Rose Bowl.

Now the tree is down and the 9-degree weather makes me want to hide under my covers and hibernate the rest of the winter.

How were your holidays?

Not Quite a Christmas Dinner

2009-12-23T21:38:00.004-05:00

Ah, I'm home for the holidays, as the old tune goes.

What is your favorite part about Christmas? Mine is the traditions. Especially the food traditions. (A Christmas that tastes like Christmas just warms you up inside.) In my family, we have two main meals.

On Christmas Eve we meet with my dad's side of the family. All 25 of us aunts, uncles, cousins and Grandpa squeeze into a little one story ranch and do dinner potluck style. Each family brings their designated dish, which just happened to evolve into "theirs" over the years - and so help you God if you don't bring the usual. My family brings the broccoli, cheese and rice casserole. Oh, and there's usually enough wine and baked goodies to go around.

On Christmas day we get together with my mom's side of the family. There's slightly less people and slightly more room. We usually have a sit down lunch that Grandma prepares. She frets over the menu, but it tends to be the same thing every year: turkey (sometimes ham, sometimes both), mashed potatoes and chicken noodle soup (a must!), corn and broccoli (if you don't like one you eat the other), rolls, a cheese plate, dill and sweet pickles, and cranberry Jell-O salad. It's delicious.

Yes, traditions are lovely. I cling to them like a child clings to his blanky. I pretty much fall apart without them. And in my family, someone always feels the need to test the traditions. (Can you see where this is going?)

This year, my mom and my aunt decided Christmas dinner would be... lasagna.

As a friend of mine put it, "At that point, you might as well order pizza."

Being German-Irish I come from a long line of meat and potatoes people. (And I learned that the noodle soup on mashed potatoes is a Midwest thing.) I have nothing against lasagna. I like lasagna. But just not for Christmas. The idea actually kind of grosses me out.

If you read this often, you've probably gathered I like to eat, but in general I like to eat healthy - lots of fruits and veggies, a good balance of proteins and carbs (those crazy Adkins-esqe diets drive me nuts), and whole grains where possible.

Of course, Christmas is the time to gorge in the delectables you don't get other times. Cheese plates out your ears, dips that I'm pretty sure were invented just for the season, cookies and candies that are sure to put you in diabetic shock, and sausage logs (why is it they always appear at Christmas?). By the end of each Christmas dinner, I'm pretty much in a food-induced nirvana.

But think of how off-kilter I'm going to feel after this carb-heavy dinner. I'll have already replaced my peanut butter on whole wheat toast breakfast with apple and cherry turnovers, I'll probably have snacked on pitzelles and sugar cookies and my homemade biscotti all morning, and now you're going to have sit down to a big plate of lasagna. I can already feel my blood sugar dropping.

Now in the grand scheme of things, this complaint is petty. I'm HOME for Christmas this year and last year I really was eating pizza. Heck, the fact that I get to gorge on a huge meal, whatever is consists of, should be reason to celebrate.

Perhaps lasagna will be the start of a new holiday tradition. (But let's hope not!)

Photo thanks!

I Believe...

2009-12-21T21:46:00.005-05:00

This is the time of year to believe - to believe in Santa or God or goodwill or yourself. Among the hustle and bustle that the holidays can bring, it's important to focus a bit of your energy into your beliefs, and assure that nothing tramples them. Inspired by Totally Tay's holiday exercise, here's what I believe.

I believe...

...I'll make it home for Christmas.

...a good hour of yoga can wipe clean a week of life's dirt.

...deliberately putting yourself in uncomfortable situations makes you a stronger person in the end.

...gummy worms make a better movie snack than popcorn.

...time with loved ones trumps all.

...if you don't play Euchre, you're not from the Midwest.

...daydreaming is good for the soul.

...Ramsey's is, hands down, the best restaurant in Lexington.

...everyone should own a pair of fuzzy pink slippers.

...giving gifts is more fun than receiving them.

...we all have an artistic side.

...Jesus loves me.

...dog owners are happier people.

...if you have time to complain about your work, you're not as busy as you might think.

...traditions are important.

...everyone knows how to dance -- some just refuse to share their talent.

...in flossing.

...beauty is in the tiniest details.

...you should go an hour without touching your iPhone/Blackberry/smart phone.

...road trips need a good soundtrack - and John Mellencamp should be included.

...this world is temporary.

...white walls are scary.

...we are too wasteful.

...dark beer is for relaxing and red wine is for giggling.

...books are best read while sitting in a big comfy chair.

...thesauruses are awesome but dangerous if placed in the wrong hands.

...wearing white after Labor Day is ok.

...in second chances.

...all you need is LOVE.

...you should spend time getting to know a foreign culture.

...serendipitous moments are the ones worth living for.

...in eating your fruits and vegetables (and whole grains).

...blonds really do have more fun.

Tell me, what do you believe?

Quick Sunday Thoughts

2009-12-20T21:05:00.003-05:00

homemade pumpkin pudding = runny but tasty

homemade pecan-chocolate biscotti = a bit crumbly

homemade peanut butter sandwich cookies = cute

once = amazing movie

laundry = heaping pile that needs folded (ugh!)

cold outside = cozy inside

How is your Sunday treating you?

Photo thanks!

Writing Workshop: Life Mottoes

2009-12-17T07:28:00.005-05:00

I'm so happy to have stumbled upon Mama Kat's blog. Ten minutes into reading, and I'm already inspired to take my writing and my blogging to the next level. I'm also excited she posts a writing workshop every week for fellow bloggers to take part in. I'd really love to take part in intensive writer's workshop, but because I can't commit to something that deep right now, this is perfect.

* * *

I've been thinking all day about what I would consider my life's motto, but all I've been able to think of are these overly circulated quotes. They are little half truths, like Life is a journey, enjoy the ride. and Patience is a virtue. and Provide for those who have less than you.

I'll admit, these can be good words to live by. Often, I'll repeat some version of them to myself in little mantras to get me through tough days or keep me pointed down the right path.

What I've come to realize, though, is that all the life mottoes I've previously lived by (including some of the above and many others) are beginning lose their potency and are swirling together to create these new mottoes that I haven't quite been able to put into words yet. Instead of "life mottoes," they are more like "life mottoes, but..."

Let me give you some examples.

Life Motto, But... No. 1 In the end, things will work out as they're supposed to, but... realize the wait will make you crazy. In the meantime, you have to take action. As I've found out, things usually do work out alright in the end, but it's the anguish and struggle of getting to where you're supposed to be that builds your character and makes the end result so beautiful.

Life Motto, But... No. 2 Do what makes you happy, but... make sacrifices for others. One thing I learned while living in a developing country was that you can't help others until your needs are met as well. But on the flip side, going over and beyond what you should for another person, especially when it's trying on you, brings a sort of fulfillment and joy that is hard to find anywhere else.

Life Motto, But... No. 3 Enjoy the ride of life, but... know where you are going. Sure, it's great to get in the car with only a map in hand, and getting lost can be fun, but only if you have some destination you plan to make it to. What's the point in getting in the car if you aren't going anywhere?

I've got more of these quasi-mottos (not to be confused with Quasimodos) swinging around my brain, contradicting each other and making me ask "What is the rule I live by?" I could share more with you, but like I said, I'm not ready to put them in words right now. If you say, "That defeats the purpose of this writing workshop," then I say, "It's my blog."

I do what I want. (but... not if it's going to hinder the longevity of our conversation.)

Photo thanks!

A Somber Season

2009-12-16T21:04:00.007-05:00

I've decorated the tree. I've wrapped the gifts. I've experienced the craziness of the Lexington mall. I've made candy and played Christmas carols and watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas." And as I write this, I'm bundled up under my fleece blanket. I am spirited as much as the next person, yet it feels as though the spirit of the season is missing. Why?

Please don't tell me that the tradition of Christmas dies with your childhood. That all the magic that comes with drinking hot cocoa and opening gifts and seeing houses decorated with twinkle lights fades aways because we get old. I won't hear of it.

Perhaps this is one of those 20-something rights of passage. You get a job and move away from your loved ones. Thus, you must suffer a year of being "the new kid in town" -- and live out all the lonely trivialities that entails. Or perhaps it's the consequences of working so hard and not realizing how quickly the time is passing.

I've still got joy in my heart, though (not to sound canned or cheesy) so perhaps the spirit will pop its head around my corner soon. There's still 9 days left.

Are you feeling Christmas this year? What are you doing to get in the spirit?

Photo thanks: trackchick

Truffles!

2009-12-15T20:45:00.003-05:00

Don't they look yummy? I think I might have to make another batch before Christmas.

The Farm Kitchen That Makes Me Giddy

2009-12-14T21:01:00.005-05:00

I think my inner homesteader is shining through. This weekend's adventure brought took me to an old farm house and a pasta-making operation and has left me absolutely giddy and inspired.

Saturday, I traveled up to Chillicothe, Ohio, to hang out with my friends Jess and Matt. While getting to spend time with these two college chums (who are getting married in October!) is always a treat, visiting Jess' family home is the icing on the cake.

Her mother is my hero. This woman (affectionately known as Mama Sko) grows her own food and herbs in a huge front-yard garden, took up professional French cooking as a hobby and recently began a homemade pasta business out of her kitchen -- all with a bit of sass thrown in on the side. A visit to the house never leaves your soul feeling empty, or your stomach either, for that matter. We got to chat about farm kitchens and the possibility of owning chickens and why living (and eating) sustainably is so wonderful.

The weekend was like a little B&B retreat from daily life. I needed it to keep me sane. Sunday morning, we all gathered around the kitchen to chat up about wedding plans that are underway and future marathons we all hope to run, all while watching Mama Sko's pasta-making in action. I can't say I've ever been in an environment that felt so relaxed yet so productive at the same time. I made Mama Sko promise to let me visit again soon and partake in the next demonstration -- home canning.

I felt so inspired by the weekend, I returned home to Lexington, and started my own "homemade" operation -- homemade Christmas candies. (They are amaretto truffles and they are delicious!) My 24 truffles don't quite compare the high volumes of pasta coming out of that old farmhouse in Chillicothe, but it's a good start for a novice like myself.

Did your weekend bring you any adventures -- even of the homestead variety?

Wednesday Love

2009-12-09T20:05:00.003-05:00

I love when hand towels are so insightful, don't you?

On that note, it's my no-TV Wednesday, so I'm going to go no-poo my hair (yes, tonight is the night), make myself some tea and catch up on my magazine reading. I've got no chocolate, so grandma's homemade caramels will have to do.

How is mid-week treating you?

Can We Leave No Impact?

2009-12-07T22:23:00.005-05:00

I've got green thoughts swirling around my brain. No, not the green thoughts of money or thoughts of envy. They are green thoughts of greywater systems and backyard chickens and vermiculture and food miles.

Just months ago, "going green" was an idyllic, faddish notion that I bought into but didn't really understand. It meant recycling and shopping with a canvas bag and buying local honey. But now, as I sit here writing this post under the warmth of a flannel blanket so I can conserve energy, I'm seriously contemplating washing my hair with baking soda and vinegar and feeling guilty for letting perfectly clean water run down the drain as I let my shower warm up this morning.

And I'm struggling on a mental level because I don't want to give up my everyday, wasteful conveniences. I don't want to think that the shampoo I use is killing fish in the ocean or that the packaging around my favorite cookies will sit in a landfill for eternity or that the boots that I just bought and love cost goodness knows how much in carbon emissions to get to me. These are all things I could give up and replace with more sustainable options, but I'm physically having a hard time jumping that hurdle.

Why?

According to Colin Beavan, I'm just doing my citizen duty. Not needing something, but wanting it anyway is what it means to be a good American, he says.

Colin is the No Impact Man. (Maybe you read his book or saw him on The Colbert Report.)

He and his family lived a year of sustainability. They cut the trash out of their life (literally) by becoming consumer conscious, they ate local food, they gave up wasteful transportation. They even gave up electricity for six months! YIKES!

While I'll never strive for this version of the green life, these sorts of actions make me think. (As they should you.) What crap do we have in our lives that's hurting our Earth and our own health? What little steps can we take to change?

Contemplate these thoughts with me.

So maybe we aren't bigwigs in Copenhagen debating climate change. But pretty soon I will test the baking soda "no-poo" method of washing my hair and you'll replace your trashcan with a worm bin. (Or maybe you won't.) Anyway, we've got to do something, right? Is it possible to make no impact?

Giving up Caffeine... Sort Of

2009-12-06T19:42:00.000-05:00

Ok, the title of this post is misleading. I'm not giving up caffeine. Not even a little bit. Caffeine is my vice, but every once in awhile, I try to curb my addiction. This past week I did so by adjusting my caffeine intake. Here's what I did:

1. I did NOT started the morning with a cup of joe. There's nothing better than a warm cup of coffee in the morning if you can sit and savor it, but that's not how my mornings work. If you can't love it, don't taint it.

2. I drank tea. For two days, I replaced my caffeine super surge with black and green teas. I love tea as much as I love coffee, but it's subtle. It's calming. It's really quite lovely. And with 1/3 the caffeine of coffee, it doesn't cause the jitters and a mid-afternoon crash.

3. I saved the coffee for the rough spots. You know 2 p.m. Wednesday, when you have a stack of manuscripts piling up on your desk and an article on equine parasite resistance that still needs written? Ok, maybe you don't know, but that is the moment that warrants an extra boost of energy. And energy's what you get if you save the caffeine for those crucial moments.

Surprisingly, limiting the caffeine increased my energy this week. (Although, the extra energy coincidentally followed a much-needed long Thanksgiving weekend.) I'm going to try to hold on to this method next week. Maybe I'll even last until Christmas!

Are you addicted to caffeine? Do you ever try to quit?

Photo thanks: laurelinn

Happy December!

2009-12-01T09:36:00.003-05:00

Oh my, it's December the 1st! Where has time gone?

I'm relishing in the holiday season because this year I've got two years of celebration in me. (I may have spent last Christmas on a beach, but it doesn't compare to Christmas carols and evergreens.)

I'm looking forward to spending the rest of the month continuing long-standing traditions: sending out cards to friends and family, watching White Christmas while wrapping presents, playing Bing Crosby until the CD wears out. This year, I put up my first Christmas tree that's all mine. Isn't it beautiful? I love Christmas! There's just no reason to be unhappy this month. (Except maybe the frost that coated my windshield this morning.)

Do you love Christmas as much as I do? Tell me your favorite traditions!!

"One Day" is Today

2009-11-30T21:49:00.012-05:00

"Sitting still and wishing makes no person great." ~Author Unknown

My great grandma wrote this on the back of a makeshift list of monthly expenses in December 1980. It's a random oddity to find (and still have around), but I think she might have been onto something when she scribbled down that proverb 30 years ago.

We all have lofty dreams, don't we? We want to travel the world. Find that perfect job. Run that marathon. Write that novel. Whatever it is we aspire to do "one day" keeps us moving forward. It gives us something to put our hope in. These dreams and desires are good--really good--things to have in our lives.

But when does that "one day" come?

It's a struggle to turn our "want to's" into "have done's," isn't it? We've all at one point or another reached a goal and felt the blissful satisfaction of accomplishment. But if we take a step back to reassess our lives, we realize that most of these wonderful ambitions we have lay dormant. And the world is missing out.

I'm completely guilty of the sin of complacency. I wrote a thousand words and I "got busy." I ran 5 miles and I "got tired." I bought the seeds but they sit on my shelf. I'll ____ as soon as ____ (fill in the blanks). We've all made excuses, but what better time than NOW to put our dreams into motion?

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to chat with a local community activist. (These sorts of people always put me to shame.) He teaches kids to express their ideas through art. He educates the public on the importance of sustainable living. He builds hoop houses where food will be grown to feed the hungry. He has a passion and he acts upon it--not when the time seems right, but NOW.

Of course, if you are like me, you have way too many dreams to count, and perhaps if you had three extra days in the week and the ability to function without sleep, you could make them happen. But instead of trying to accomplish everything at once, start small. Make a pact with yourself not to procrastinate on the laundry or the dishes this week. Or go sign up to volunteer for that organization you've been looking into. Take the plunge and buy your plane ticket to Morocco!

Join me in making at least one of our dreams a reality this month. (I'm going to send out Christmas cards and sign up to volunteer.) We will become great because of it.

(P.S. I procrastinated on the dishes. Just goes to show, you can't do it all.)

Photo thanks: TristanGreer

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T21:08:00.004-05:00

I've eaten so much food today I can hardly see straight. What was your favorite dish in your Thanksgiving Day spread? I'm debating between the green bean casserole and the pumpkin log. Or should I go with the traditional pumpkin pie...

Good thing Mom and I did the 2-mile Turkey Trot this morning. It's our new tradition.

Awake from Hibernation

2009-11-24T06:49:00.005-05:00

Hello blogging world. I've missed you!

My body has had an adverse reaction to the chilly weather that's creeping our way and gone into hibernation mode. I apologize for my absenteeness.

So what is new with you?

I've been busy with work and gym and squeezing other things in along the way. Tonight, I'm putting up my first Christmas tree! I can't wait! I love this time of year. I still need to get some decorations, though. I'm thinking of going with a classy red and silver theme.

Give me updates, please! We have a lot to catch up on.

Photo thanks to plaidbuttons

Happy Weekend!

2009-11-14T08:52:00.004-05:00

Hello friends!

What are you doing this weekend? Emily is visiting from Cincinnati and we are going to have a "get lost in Lexington" day because we can't decide what to do. If that means hiking or shopping or touring a bourbon distillery, so be it. It's going to be fabulous.

Hope your weekend is fabulous as well!

Apartment Garland

2009-11-12T22:37:00.004-05:00

The process of decorating my apartment is slowly coming together, but the very white walls are still driving me bonkers. I'm five seconds away from buying a bucket of red paint and dumping all over the walls. (Red is so me; white is so yuck!)

But paint is messy, so perhaps I could settle for this garland made from vintage maps. I love the little hearts and the map theme would sweetly complement the big-cities-of-the-world motif that's slowly creeping its way around my living room. (Plus, I think it would still look good with red walls, if my inner painter decided to go a little crazy.)

GPS Out, Map In

2009-11-10T23:47:00.006-05:00

Do you use a GPS?

It seems to be everyone's new favorite gadget. All my friends have one now, but in my car I won't allow it. On any adventure, getting lost is half the fun. (I should know, I've had many adventures.) All you GPS gurus are robbing yourself and the world of immense amounts of joy with your fancy satellite stalkers.

On a recent roadtrip with my mom, we actually used a map to get from destination to destination. An honest to god, paper between your fingers atlas! Can you believe it?! (It might have even been outdated, only adding to the challenge.) It was like living in 1985 all over again. And you know what, it was really fun!

What techy no-nos top your list when trying to live the retro life?

Photo courtesy this guy

Got Energy?

2009-11-10T22:41:00.003-05:00

Do you ever have a low energy week? What do you do to get revved up?

Do you set yourself a goal to keep motivated?
Do you perform a certain exercise?
Do you eat a particular food?
Do you make sure you go to bed by a reasonable hour?

Share with me your secrets, please! Nothing I do this week seems to be lifting this veil of grogginess. Not caffeine, not three-mile runs or yoga, not multi-vitamins ... and there's just not enough time in the day to go to bed before 11 p.m., so you can forget that.

On a side note, I've heard wheat grass is a great way to boost vitality, and lucky me, I have some growing (really fast) in my windowsill. What do I do with it? Wheatgrass juicers cost like $200, so I don't see one of those gracing my counter in the near future. Help please!

(I'm really needy today.)

Photo courtesy marklarka

It's Not Easy Being... You

2009-11-05T00:01:00.009-05:00

In his book "It's Not Easy Being Green," Kermit the Frog (a.k.a. Jim Henson) writes a list of good things about being a frog:

Being green
Sitting in the sun on a lily pad
Having thousands of brothers and sisters
Going to the hop
Playing leapfrog
Having bears and pigs and dogs and chickens as your friends
Getting kissed by princesses hoping to turn you into a handsome prince

As we have all learned one time or another, sometimes it can be tough to be you. But despite all the obstacles, you have to list the good points about the person you are. Here's my list of good things about being the new girl in town:

Getting to ask a lot of questions
Making each day a new adventure
Doing yoga on Sunday and Wednesday nights
Having great friends who are willing to make the drive
Growing an herb garden in my windowsill (soon!)
Finding time to write for me and no one else
Seeing possibilities in every opportunity

Who are you and what is your list of good things about being you?

Photo courtesy justina-m

Nose Nuisance

2009-11-04T20:29:00.002-05:00

Since I've moved into my Lexington nest, I haven't been able to shake that new-apartment smell of painted walls and steam cleaned carpet. It's so stale and impersonal. I've tried lighting candles and baking brownies (a dangerous method), but my olfactory just doesn't feel quite at home yet.

There are two places in my apartment, however, where the smells are delightful:

The first, my linen closet. This is where I keep my laundry detergent and dryer sheets, and every time I open the closet door, I'm overwhelmed with that fresh and flowery laundry scent. It's pretty.

The second, my spice cabinet. I love cooking, so going beyond the usual salt and pepper is a must. I keep oregano, basil, paprika, rosemary, thyme and fresh garlic and ginger. I even have lavender and more chili powder than I know what to do with. (Can you guess what is on the menu this winter?) I love opening that cabinet to the delicious aroma of spices. (It's much preferred to opening the trash cabinet.)

In the meantime, the rest of my place smells blah. Help please!

Photo courtesy Elipa

Not Your Typical Tom Turkey

2009-11-02T21:30:00.006-05:00

If your idea of a grand November meal involves Tofurky and you have a soft spot in your heart for our poultry pals, then join me in celebrating "Adopt-a-Turkey" month.

Ok, so maybe I'm not quite willing to skimp on tradition this Thanksgiving, but the folks at Farm Sanctuary have their hearts in the right place. In support of "localized fooding," as I like to call it -- that is, thumbs up for local farms and thumbs down for food factories -- they are encouraging turkey lovers to adopt a commercially raised turkey and support its placement into a humane home.

Also behind this project, the Farm encourages us consumers to examine our meat-eating habits and search for "free-range," "organic," and "natural" turkey to place on the table this holiday season. If you have been waiting for your excuse to jump on the green bandwagon, November just might be your month.

On a side note, did you know that our country didn't celebrate a day of thanks for 60 years because of Thomas Jefferson's anti-monarchical beliefs? Read more about the history of Thanksgiving here.

(Can you tell I'm excited about Turkey Day? Might as well get an early start...)

Photo courtesy wolf02

Feather Fascinators and Creepy Crawls

2009-11-01T21:37:00.003-05:00

How was your Halloweekend? Did you dress up in ghoulish garb? Stuff yourself with tempting treats? Inch your way through a haunted house?

I had a mellow day of the dead. While engaging in some much needed retail therapy with my friend Kristen, I picked up this awesome feather fascinator.

Ok, maybe it's more of a glorified clip. Either way it's fun and I've been craving one to add to my accessories collection.

Once dark hit, we took to the streets on a ghost tour of Lexington. (For some reason I keep finding myself in haunted towns.) In addition to checking out some of the amazing downtown historical architecture, we learned the afterlife residences of Mary Todd Lincoln and other notable apparitions.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-28T07:08:00.004-04:00

Have I mentioned yet how much I'm loving fall?

This week some girls from work got together for pumpkin carving. Don't our oversize squash look amazing?! This is the first year I used a stencil on my pumpkin. My artistic ego is a little hurt, but I'm happy with the outcome. (Check out the second from the left. Creepy, eh?)

Did you carve a pumpkin this year?

(Thanks to Leslie for the photo!)

2009-10-26T18:08:00.001-04:00

Lately, I've found my ears gravitating toward the melodies of Australian singers. In this Monday music moment, I want you to listen to Kate Miller-Heidke. The blonde bombshell from down under ditched a career with the opera to pursue popstar fame. It appears that she's achieved it, having toured around the world to countries like the UK, Nepal and Cambodia. Her style is sassy and she definitely puts a humorous spin on her tunes.

If you want to hear more, check out Words (my personal fave) or the slower, more nostalgic Caught in the Crowd.

Farmer's Markets. Vineyards and Elizabethtown

2009-10-26T07:17:00.008-04:00

Happy Monday friends! How was your weekend?

My friend Matt visited and we enjoyed the autumness of Lexington. After checking out the local produce (and cheese!) at the downtown farmers' market, we drove out to the country for a wine tasting and to listen to some local blues. (Apparently the middle-aged Nick Stump Band were Kentucky legends as the MetBlues Allstars back in the 70s.)

Then, in an act of spontineity, we drove an hour to visit Elizabethtown (from the movie), but as it turns out, most of the film was taken in the nearby town of Versailles and the big hotel scene in Louisville. So instead we crashed the town's ghost walk and went on the not-so-scary hayride.

In the meantime, I've been downing mugs of Airborne and honey laden tea in an attempt to ward off a cold that really wants to bring me down. (So far, the Airborne and the tea are winning out.)

Have a lovely week!

Photo courtesy Lover's Leap Vineyards and Winery

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-10-21T21:59:00.004-04:00

I know I'm a little late on the promotions, but I have to give my two cents on this movie: Go see it!

We loved the book as kids, and we will love the movie as adults. "Where the Wild Things Are" is not your typical film version of a popular kids' book. (Kids might enjoy it, but they definitely won't appreciate the beauty of it.) Instead, it's an adult's reflection of an old favorite. How can you take Maurice Sendak's illustrative genius and turn it into a 2-hour feature? You expand upon an idea. You tap into the mind of a child. You linger in a bit of childhood nostalgia. And you make the pictures move. That's what Spike Jones did and I'm in love love love. So tasteful. So artistic. I want to watch it again! (And dig the book out of storage.)

(Plus, isn't the song in the trailer awesome? Making room for Arcade Fire on my playlist as we speak.)

Weekend Road Trip

2009-10-19T07:16:00.004-04:00

My travel bug has been flaring up lately, which probably inspired this weekend's road trip to visit my friend Chris in Charlotte, N.C. I cannot get over how beautiful and expansive our America is. While driving through the winding roads of the Smokey Mountains and taking in the rolling waves of forests tinged with the first traces of autumn color, my heart fluttered. To me, pure bliss is being on the road.

What did you do with your crisp fall weekend? Hope it was the perfect kickoff to a new week.

(P.S. Congratulations to friends Matt and Jess who got engaged this weekend!!)

Wonderful Wednesday

2009-10-13T23:05:00.005-04:00

“I’m not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.” ~ Marilyn Monroe

Happy Wednesday friends! It's mid-week, and perhaps you need a little pick-me-up to to lift you out of the daily grind. As the work piles high on your desk, keep a bit of Marilyn perspective in your heart and mind. It's not about the money but the passion (and about being just plain wonderful).

What's keeping you wonderful this week?

Horses Rushing

2009-10-12T23:33:00.002-04:00

Before I moved to Lexington, the term "Keeneland" meant nothing to me. But as happens when one wishes to successfully transplant, the local vernacular must quickly be adopted. This weekend, as my official initiation to Lexington life, I attended the October horse racing invitational... at Keeneland. I've never been into horses or gambling or races or anything of the sort, so I had no idea what to expect, but I was eager to learn. Luckily, the managing editor on our magazine -- an avid rider but not racer -- came along with me to show me the ropes.

As we took our seats in the grandstand I couldn't help but think of the horse race scene in "My Fair Lady" because we were in attendance to quite the swanky event. On this cool, crisp sunny afternoon, I, in my "nice" jeans and heels and fallish pea coat, felt under-dressed among the girls in cute dresses with tights (so excited for tights this year!) carrying parasols and men in crisp blazers and ties. (I believe I even spotted a bowtie.) The scent of cigars wafted through the air and people cheered as the thoroughbreds galloped by. It was, as the chorus would say, a "smashing, positively dashing spectacle."

For the novelty of it all, I had to place a bet. I put my minimum $2 down during the 7th race on a horse named Naughty Bits. She had a 1-30 chance in winning, and while she didn't completely lose the race, that is $2 I will never see again. What can I say? There's a reason I don't gamble.

I will be up front is saying that I've never understood horse people. Never got the obsession, whether it be riding or racing. But this is Lexington. Horse country. It's as much part of the culture as bluegrass and bourbon. I might not have gotten it before, but I'm starting to catch on.

(Forget convos on health and the weather. Want to talk the talk at Keeneland? Check this out.)

A Harvestful Weekend

2009-10-12T07:18:00.004-04:00

Hello dears. How was your weekend?

I'm sad to see mine end. Saturday, I ventured up to Cincinnati for my annual trip to Shaw Farms (home to my former college roomie) where I met friends Ginger and BJ. We picked out pumpkins and mums that I'll use to spruce up my living room and squash that I turned into a yummy soup. We also took a hayride through the mud and played in the pumpkin scenes. (I love fall!)

We then visited Jungle Jim's, the Disney World of grocery stores, where we spent two hours! As an avid foodie, I wasn't prepared for the trip, but I did manage to find some good munchies, such as these Food Should Taste Good Buffalo tortilla chips.

And of course, no trip to Cinci is complete without a stop at Skyline Chili.

Sunday, I hit the racetracks, but more to come on that later.

(P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends.)

Crazy Love It!

2009-10-09T22:47:00.004-04:00

Is it too early to start my Christmas wish list? Michael Buble's new album Crazy Love is definitely at the top of my list. Love it with me!

(This one isn't bad either.)

Lost Pen

2009-10-08T20:48:00.005-04:00

About an hour ago, I spent 10 minutes looking for a pen I "just had!" (Don't laugh.)

I just found the pen.

In my hair. (Cue chuckles.)

Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday! :)

Photo courtesy theatreluvr

Life's Detours: Lessons and Tolls Thus Far

2009-10-07T23:03:00.005-04:00

It's both funny and obscure to think of the distances we travel in a short amount of time. Often it feel like time goes by so slowly, but then you step back and wonder how you got to where you are. I've been in transition for two years now, and I've definitely seen my fair share of big orange signs labeled LIFE DETOUR.

I cannot skulk at the outcome so far, however. My first week into my "real world" job that the J School of Ohio University so diligently prepared me for, I've truly begun to realize effects those little bends in the road have had on me. Along the way, I wondered when that realization would set in, and though I've yet to reach the "I'm too old for this" point in my life, it's interesting to note the changes I see in myself.

I've lost my stamina. In college, I'd get up for class at 8 a.m., run across campus for lectures and meetings, drain my brain of creativity and coherent thought, study at the library or copy edit at the paper until two in the morning, chat and sip tea with dorm mates until 4 a.m. (no really, it was tea, I was a lame excuse for a college student) and started the process all over again the next day. How did we do it back then? Two years of barista-ing, traveling and the like, and I've turned to mush. It's time to build that endurance back up.

I've gained the capacity to live life alone. I was the girl who turned into a social hypochondriac if I was sitting alone on a Tuesday night. Evil thoughts swirled around my head. Why does everyone hate me? Have I turned into that weird little blob on the social anxiety disorder commercial? I had to be busy at all times. Lunch dates. Evening engagements. Extra-curriculars. It boosted my confidence or something. Well, one year in Cambodia cured that. Now, I'll gladly redeem a day at the office for a quiet evening at home. (As long as Facebook can join, of course.)

I do not fear ambiguity. Although college taught me lessons in expecting the unexpected, nothing could have prepared me for life the past two years. My conversation with LIFE went a little like this:
You want me to pour coffee for guys in suits this morning and blend icy cappuccino drinks for teeny boppers tomorrow night? Ok, I can handle that.
You want me to drive across the country in my barely moving vehicle and live near the beach for three months? Alright, it's risky but worth the adventure.
You want me to fly across the world with only a suitcase in each hand to a country where I don't speak the language and figure it all out once I land? You're crazy, but what do I have to lose.
You want me to sit around all day, making no contribution to the world? (Not even to my savings account?!) That, is where I draw the line, my friend.
Muscles I never knew I had were stretched and strengthened. The warm-up is over and now I'm just waiting for the real challenge.

I've gained patience. I used to be a "RESULTS NOW!" kind of girl who got her panties in a ruffle if things didn't go according to plan. Ok, maybe I'm still a little like that, but looking back up to that ambiguity thing, I've come a long way. Now I'm a "things going awry?, take a step back, breath a little, RESULTS NOW!" kind of girl. (Hey, that's improvement.)

Yes, it's cool to browse old photo albums and think about how our life's path led us to THIS exact spot. And when things start seeming tough (like you spend 8 hours at the office messing with a finicky content management system), you can think that this is just another one of life's detours, and keep on trucking. I especially love to keep in mind this quote I found via naturally nina from an unknown source:

"As you journey through life, choose your destinations well, but do not hurry there. Avoid the shortcuts... wander the back roads... enjoy the scenery. And remember that the true worth of your travels lies not in the destination but in who you come to be along the way."

So life is sorta tough at the moment (like the whole wanting to crash at 8 p.m. thing), but as Emily mentioned on the last post, it can be difficult the first couple weeks, but things will get easier. Luckily, I've evolved to the point where I can endure. Cheers to that!

Thanks all for all your encouraging words along the way (via OUA and other modes of communication). If my posts seem a little sparse in the short while, don't shed a tear. I'm just passed out on the couch and will be back soon.

In the meantime, take a step back. What has life taught you in the last year? Two years? Five? TEN???

Working Woman

2009-10-05T21:37:00.006-04:00

Last night, I was telling a friend about my prep for my first day on the job. She wished me luck and said, "Welcome to the next 30 to 40 years of your life."

A rather cynical introduction to the next chapter of my great adventure, I can't blame her point of view. She's been entrenched in corporate working world for awhile now. But it didn't damper my mood. I began my first day on the job with spirit and gusto.

And I'm tired.

Although, I'm suffering from information overload and florescent light burn, I can't help but love it. Sure, the usual first day of filling out HR paperwork and reading procedures can feel a bit tedious, but it just points to the fact that you're part of something bigger. It's awesome and surreal that I finally get a chance to show off what I worked so hard in college for. And as an omen of the good to come, the team took me to a lunch at Ramsey's. (Two days in a row! Wow!) Yup, I think I'm going to like it here.

Well, since the words are processing through my brain slowly and my eyes are beginning to cross, I'm going to call it a night. Why don't we make this more interesting and you tell me about your best (or worst) first day on the job.

Photo courtesy h-ope

Ladies Weekend

2009-10-05T07:47:00.003-04:00

Hello all! How did you spend this wonderfully beautiful weekend?

I had an intergenerational ladies weekend with my mom and grandma who traveled from Columbus to Lexington for a visit. Mom brought me a few things I left behind and Grandma "Mam" had to give her stamp of approval of the place. In her words, "This is a nice area you picked, honey. Much more well-kept than Ohio."

We visited a small town between here and Frankfurt called Midway, where we browsed the boutiques and antique shops. Mom bought a hand-painted Santa made of driftwood for her Christmas tree collection. Sunday, we sauntered through The Arboretum. My grandma has a green thumb and I found it to be the perfect spot for running or sitting and writing.

Wrapping up the weekend, we had lunch at Ramsey's Diner, which is quickly becoming my mom's and my favorite Lexington restaurant. Their homegrown veggies are fresh and delicious. Of course, we had to split a piece of chocolate pecan pie from Missey's pie shop next door. To die for!

Enjoy your week! I will for sure.

Photo courtesy CasheeFoo

Update: MY Lexington and Classic Films

2009-10-03T23:14:00.007-04:00

I'm moved in. To MY place. MY PLACE. It's mine! Wow. It's surreal and fun and I've had a good time this week girling it up with my own personal touches, like picture frames and candles and vintage mirrors. (Pics of my favorite apartment spots to come...)

I've also been busy in my final week of unemployment settling into the town I plan on being in for awhile. I sorted files. Put the electric in my name. Joined a gym. Got a library card. You know, the essentials.

I also partook in a favorite pastime of renting classic movies (with my library card) that I've never seen before. This week's feature: the 1977 film Annie Hall, "the one that made Woody Allen famous." Although I'm not a huge fan of Woody Allen's work, I like this one about the romance of a budding night club singer and a slightly neurotic comedian. It's especially fun to watch a young Diane Keaton. (Very few women can pull off a vest and tie combo.) Here's my favorite line in the film:

And I thought of that old joke. You know, this guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, "Doc, my brother is crazy. He things he's a chicken." And the doctor says, "Well, why don't you turn him in?" And the guy says, "I would, but I need the eggs." Well, I guess that's pretty much how I feel about relationships. They are totally irrational and crazy and absurd, but I guess we keep going through it because most of us need the eggs.

Do you have any favorite classic movie quotes on hand? And can you recommend any old flicks that I can watch at MY new place?

What is Soweto?

2009-10-02T07:22:00.001-04:00

Were you curious to learn more about Soweto? Yeah, me too. When a question arises, Google it.

According to the city of Johannesburg's website, Soweto is the urban area of South Africa with the largest number of black residents and the heart of the apartheid struggle. It's where Nelson Mandela lived and where school children protested oppression.

Learn more here and listen above to the music of South African artist Sipho Mabuse, who incorporates elements of traditional Zulu into his music. (Note: The Zulu tribe was one of the most oppressed groups under apartheid.)

Seasons Change (and So Does Music)

2009-09-29T22:59:00.007-04:00

I've officially made the transition to a new season. Cold weather and sweaters aside, my summer-country music preference is waning and I'm now moving into the autumn-indie rock phase of the year. I'm especially loving Vampire Weekend's The Kids Don't Stand a Chance and Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. (Ok throw in M79 in there as well. I can't make decisions.) Their "Upper West Side Soweto" groove (thanks Wikipedia) is perfect for spending a cold night in with a cup of tea or driving endlessly between Ohio and Kentucky. I'd love to add their new album to my playlist when it's released in January, but, alas, iTunes has taken over my computer and my hard drive hates me for it.

What's on your playlist for October?

A Happy Mistake

2009-09-28T22:53:00.002-04:00

Hello friends. How was your weekend?

I'm officially moved into my new residency and I can't wait to start exploring the city. (Thanks especially to Eddie D. for the restaurant tips. I love good food!)

After unpacking the U-Haul, I returned to Columbus for one last night. Along the way, my mom and I ended up on the wrong highway. (Yes, this is the pair that got lost in a rice paddy.) Instead of going straight north, we somehow veered en route toward Louisville. Luckily, about 20 minutes into the trip we realized our mistake and discovered via gas station atlas that our wrong turn had hope.

Instead of cruising up the rather boring 71, we got to pass through the state capital and enjoy the scenery of rolling hills, farmland and horses. After the rain of moving day, we welcomed being able to retreat under the Sunday sun through bluegrass country. I also got to learn the difference between Federal-style and Georgian-style architecture. Points!

Here's to a week of further exploration. Enjoy yours as well.

Photo courtesy rainyface

Ta Ta For Now

2009-09-25T21:26:00.004-04:00

My life is loaded into a 17-foot U-Haul and I'm exhausted. Who knew moving was such hard work. Why do they have to make furniture so awkward and heavy? (Answer: Because we love it that way.) Tomorrow I make the three-hour trip to my new homeland. Hope you have a great weekend and ta ta for now!

Rain Rain Go Away

2009-09-23T14:19:00.004-04:00

Dear Rainy Weather,

I love you as a treat every once in awhile - as a good excuse to cuddle up in a blanket with a cup of tea and read a good book - but can you please disappear for my last week in Ohio. I want to enjoy crisp autumn air and the smell of falling leaves, not humidity that makes my skin sticky and my hair frizzy. Just one rain-free day? Please?!

Thank you bunches!

Photo courtesy hesitation

Hat Obsession

2009-09-22T22:33:00.009-04:00

After watching one of my favorite movies, Pillow Talk starring the lovely Doris Day, I was reminded of my serious obsession with old hats. I use to dream about decorating my future house with them - above a staircase or on a wall. Now, I'm contemplating just wearing them and bringing a little class back into fashion.

Check out these vintage caps I found on Etsy.com:

From jessjamesjake

From buygail

From TheMillineryShop

From WhimsicalRetroStyle

What retro style would you bring back if you were a designer god? (And please, if your answer is shoulder pads, which are apparently making a comeback this season, keep it to yourself.)

Countdown to Kentucky: 5 Days

2009-09-21T22:00:00.003-04:00

Is it possible to miss the city you haven't left yet? I'm so excited to move and dive into "grown-up" life, but I'm already homesick for Columbus. It's hard to think that I might never live here again - the place I've called home for 22+ years. I LOVE it here and this is why:

Driving on 670 past the Wonderbread factory in the evening smells like fresh-baked yumminess.
Scarlet is my favorite color and the streets are flooded with it on game day Saturdays.
Fun murals hide on brick walls in the Short North.
German Village has the best tasting cream puffs.
You can't get lost as long as you can find 270.
Seeing a show - especially the Nutcracker - at the beautiful and historical Ohio Theater always feels special.
No zoo in the nation compares to Jack Hannah's zoo.
Festival season. Hands down.
You can order tea to accompany your popcorn and film at the Drexel Theater.
Cows reside on a farm 5 minutes from downtown.
I will always see the skyline through 10-year-old eyes and imagine that Godzilla took a huge bite out of the Huntington Building.

Not to mention this city hold some of my favorite memories. Sledding down the hill at Hoover Reservoir on a snow day. Getting lost with my girlfriends while trying to find our favorite bubble tea shop. The Saturday special with Mom. The spots where I let my car run out of gas - yes, more than once. This city is lovely because it's familiar and it's familiar because it's lovely.

Ah, nostalgia. It always gets the best of me.

Photo courtesy Eric Shinn.

Dos and Don'ts of Cleaning Your Car's Interior

2009-09-21T16:58:00.002-04:00

My car has been long overdue for some spring cleaning, so today I dedicated a decent portion of my day to making its insides sparkle. Apparently, I don't undertake this chore often enough. For those of you who are like me, here's some tips to keep in mind.

Do: Use Windex to clean the inside of your windshield.
Don't: Wait a year between cleanings. By that point you are just spreading around dirt.

Do: Spot clean upholstery and carpet with your favorite upholstery or carpet cleaner.
Don't: Overdo it on the Resolve or you will be spending your whole afternoon getting soap residue out of your floor mats.

Do: Use your trunk to store things you cart around and use on a semi-daily basis.
Don't: Use your trunk to store the six photo albums from your year in Cambodia that you still don't know what to do with.

Do: Use a wet rag to wipe down your dashboard and sticky surfaces.
Don't: Ask what that sticky grime is in the corner of your cupholder.

Do: Save lost quarters for your next parking meter use.
Don't: Vacuum up spare change with the mega sweepers at the car wash.

Photo courtesy lateralus2112

Wonderful Weekend

2009-09-20T11:15:00.004-04:00

Hello my dears. What have you done with this wonderful last weekend of summer?

Yesterday, I went to the wedding of a friend I've known since elementary school. The ceremony was heartfelt and tailored to the lovely couple and the reception was lots of fun. The bride and groom both studied English in college, so the tables were named according to famous poets. My parents and I sat at the William Butler Yeats table. In order to have the couple kiss, instead of clinking glasses, guests had to read a love poem written by their table's author. How cute! Congrats friends on your special day!

I also continued operation "Furnish New Apartment" this weekend by doing some intense garage sale-ing. I got a perfect reading chair for $15 at an auction and a great deal on a brand new Pottery Barn lamp set. I'm almost ready to move in!

Hope your weekend has been grand as well. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Photo courtesy Benny-Danny

Pretty in Paisley

2009-09-17T22:37:00.005-04:00

And the packing continues. Thanks everyone for your advice. I'll keep it all in mind.

This week, in addition to putting my life in boxes, I've been on the hunt for a good bedspread for my "apartment bedroom." I feel a good bedspread pretty much sets the tone of comfort for the whole room, so it's got to be something you love.

I really loved Crate and Barrel's Serena Paisley duvet cover. Fiery reds make me feel at home and my best friend bought me this awesome red elephant tapestry from India that would have complimented it perfectly.

I nearly splurged, but in the spirit of saving money, I decided to go with the Bohemian Luxe by Tommy Hilfiger that I found on sale at discount retailer Burlington Coat Factory.

It still has that funky paisley look and though it looks rather pinkish from the photo, warm red and yellow accents really make the details in the comforter pop. The Indian tapestry will still work and I can create a fun ambiance for my new home, all within a reasonable budget. Points scored.

What are your favorite ways to curb spending when making your house feel like home?

Cambodia Issues Make American News

2009-09-17T00:42:00.003-04:00

For those who are interested, ABC News is doing a short series on sex-trafficking in Cambodia and you can check out the stories below. Reading these just reminds me of the amazing men and women, both Cambodian and foreign, I got to know in my year there who are dedicating their lives and sacrificing their own comfort for a larger cause - whether it be fighting trafficking, providing education in its many forms or working toward economic development. My life has been blessed getting to know these people. Thanks for your hard work.

Stories from ABC News:
Tracking American Pedophiles in Cambodia
How to Help End Sexual Exploitation