The thing that I most love about music is the ability of melody and song to transport you to another place and time. Music is one of the most inspiring, evocative things in my life. I know that Nathan does not experience music the same way I do, but perhaps you do. It's a mode of transport and it facilitates a lot of deep thinking and feeling to me. Many songs are touchstones for me that perfectly sum up where I was at in a certain place in my life or something I can use to instantly remember in vivid details the circumstances surrounding the song.
Earlier today I listened to a song that I used to constantly have on repeat during the dark days of last winter. I had not listened to this song in a while and immediately remembered sitting on the T with my headphones on, listening to this song and thinking "next year in New York..."
Thankfully, incredibly, "next year in New York" has been more than I could ever ask for or imagine. While I do miss Boston and my friends and family there, I am infinitely thankful to be in New York living the life I now live.
So much in my life has changed over the past few months and I thinks it is always appropriate at Christmas to give thanks and recognize the people in your life that make living it so wonderful.
For Nathan, my best friend, always companion and co-dreamer I give thanks. I truly feel as if anything is bearable if we are together. I love dreaming and planning and scheming with you and I love seeing where God is taking us on this incredible journey. I am so in love with you and our future.
For my lovely co-workers who have stretched me, taught me and grown me this year, I am thankful. You have taught me so much about our industry, but also how to eat mussels and cuff my blazers. For shoe shopping at lunch time and too much sushi, I love you and am grateful for all the ways you make my life more enjoyable.
For Susie, one of those few people who really, really gets me I am grateful. I am blessed to have a few people in my life who I deeply connect with and you are one. Thank you for being on my speed dial, tea parties, too many walks in the rain and standing brunch dates. I love you, bestie.
For Alicia, my new writing partner-in-crime and constant friend, thank you for making my dark days livable and for never abandoning me in scary neighborhoods and for laughing with me in Starbucks more than I ever thought possible. I'm really going to miss you when you flee the east coast.
For my new friends and family at Forefront Church: thank you for accompanying Nathan and me on this journey. I love sharing, laughing and living with you. Your support and friendship have helped facilitate the return of the real Rachel Ann that I feared was gone forever.
And so on this Christmas Eve I want to send out these words of thanks as we look forward to a new year. It's been an incredible year and I continue to marvel at the path God is laying out in front of me. My prayer for the new year is to be worthy of the path and to step up with discipline and courage and to take the time to appreciate all my blessings as I continue to dream big.
Merry Christmas! Here's to many more!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
12.20.09
OK, I fell off the face of the earth. I admit it. However, I'm ramping up to start a new {blog} project with a dear friend of mine, so I thought I should start writing here again so that someone will know where to find me in mid-February when I migrate over to that project.
Things have been B-U-S-Y over here in New York City. It snowed last night which is beautiful and I've been making Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls. Work is demanding, but fun; we have FRIENDS and social commitments; we are still busy exploring all this city has to offer.
Tomorrow is Nathan's birthday, but he opened presents last night. I teased him that I think of him as a paper doll because, truly, everything I bought for him was something to wear. A new peacoat, jeans, sweater and messenger bag were under the tree waiting for him. Thankfully, he was excited about all of them.
We're not exchanging Christmas presents because of our late November LARGE purchase (oh yeah, we bought a TELEVISION while I away!), but if we were I would have four things on my Christmas list.
This year, I want:
1. A Canon Rebel. Yup. It's outlandish, but there you have it. We're planning to purchase one before we go to Paris and we've heard only great things.
2. A queen size quilt from Marie Madeline Studios. There is NO WAY I could make one cheaper for $130. Fantastic deal.
3. The oh-so-fabulous Joley tortoiseshell peeptoe heels from J.Crew. Unfortunately, I never bought them because I couldn't swallow that $178.00 price tag and now they are sold out. Whomp whomp. Maybe one day on eBay...
4. Donations to Charity:Water. Many of you can expect this for Christmas this year.
5. Both volumes of the GLEE soundtrack.
So, that's my list. What's yours?
Things have been B-U-S-Y over here in New York City. It snowed last night which is beautiful and I've been making Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls. Work is demanding, but fun; we have FRIENDS and social commitments; we are still busy exploring all this city has to offer.
Tomorrow is Nathan's birthday, but he opened presents last night. I teased him that I think of him as a paper doll because, truly, everything I bought for him was something to wear. A new peacoat, jeans, sweater and messenger bag were under the tree waiting for him. Thankfully, he was excited about all of them.
We're not exchanging Christmas presents because of our late November LARGE purchase (oh yeah, we bought a TELEVISION while I away!), but if we were I would have four things on my Christmas list.
This year, I want:
1. A Canon Rebel. Yup. It's outlandish, but there you have it. We're planning to purchase one before we go to Paris and we've heard only great things.
2. A queen size quilt from Marie Madeline Studios. There is NO WAY I could make one cheaper for $130. Fantastic deal.
3. The oh-so-fabulous Joley tortoiseshell peeptoe heels from J.Crew. Unfortunately, I never bought them because I couldn't swallow that $178.00 price tag and now they are sold out. Whomp whomp. Maybe one day on eBay...
4. Donations to Charity:Water. Many of you can expect this for Christmas this year.
5. Both volumes of the GLEE soundtrack.
So, that's my list. What's yours?
Saturday, October 24, 2009
10.24.09
People I know if real life keep bugging me to update here, but I'm just so busy living that it's hard to find the time.
In short, things are fabulous: work, friends, having fun, Miss Marple, Nathan - we're all great.
Right now, Nathan's little brother is visiting so we keep having big family dinners that are oh so fun. I love taking the opportunity when others are in town to cook yummy food that we wouldn't normally take the time to prepare. Tonight, we're having homemade pizza. Inspired by that post, I thought I'd let you know what my fall music mix is.
The Perfect Fall Mix (for cozy evenings, drives and commutes)
Grace is Gone - Dave Matthews Band
True Affection - The Blow
Small House - Brett Mitchell
If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out - Cat Stevens
Farthest Shore - David Wilcox
Mama You've Been On My Mind - Jack Johnson
Daughters - John Mayer
Something About Your Love - Mason Jennings
Crying Ground - Pierce Pettis
Valentwine - The Theater Fire
Gotta Have You - The Weepies
Whatever It Is - Zac Brown Band
Sunshine - Francis Dunnery
Constellations - Jack Johnson
Flesh and Blood - Johnny Cash
In short, things are fabulous: work, friends, having fun, Miss Marple, Nathan - we're all great.
Right now, Nathan's little brother is visiting so we keep having big family dinners that are oh so fun. I love taking the opportunity when others are in town to cook yummy food that we wouldn't normally take the time to prepare. Tonight, we're having homemade pizza. Inspired by that post, I thought I'd let you know what my fall music mix is.
The Perfect Fall Mix (for cozy evenings, drives and commutes)
Grace is Gone - Dave Matthews Band
True Affection - The Blow
Small House - Brett Mitchell
If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out - Cat Stevens
Farthest Shore - David Wilcox
Mama You've Been On My Mind - Jack Johnson
Daughters - John Mayer
Something About Your Love - Mason Jennings
Crying Ground - Pierce Pettis
Valentwine - The Theater Fire
Gotta Have You - The Weepies
Whatever It Is - Zac Brown Band
Sunshine - Francis Dunnery
Constellations - Jack Johnson
Flesh and Blood - Johnny Cash
Saturday, September 26, 2009
9.26.09
Today was almost too awesome to convey, but I'll try.
To begin, the weather is GORGEOUS right now. The leaves are changing a bit, the air is slightly chilly (light cardigan and jeans weather) and the sun is shining. I love fall.
We started the day with breakfast at Alice's Tea Cup on the Upper West Side. While there, I got to eavesdrop on some girls who went to Elon, drink a pot of autumnal darjeeling tea, and eat half of a pumpkin scone and half of a gingerbread apple scone. Awesome.
We left Alice's and walked up Columbus Avenue to the post office so that I could mail my Fall Food Swap package to my partner, Becky. Who should we run into but Jack McBrayer (Kenneth Parcell on 30 Rock). AWESOME. Someone else had us to take his picture with Jack, so I did that and then Jack held the door for us all to go into the post office.
I basically got way too excited over that encounter and he was so chill and unassuming that I didn't even tell him how funny I think he is or how excited we are for the new season. Oh well. Happy Saturday, Jack!
We left the post office and walked across Central Park to The Met. We walked along the route for the New York Road Runners Mile Championship race and that was really cool. We got to see the Seniors division compete and we watched the Women's 20somethings warm up. Those girls were FAST!
We spent a couple hours at The Met (we're members, so we can go whenever) and notably saw a bunch of Roman and Greek ruins and, Nathan's favorite of the day, a pistol cleaver. No, really. We have a picture.
Left The Met, walked back down Central Park for 20ish blocks and hopped on the train to go to SoHo. We were walking to the Gizmodo Gallery to see an installation on digital design. While walking, we passed an independent bookstore that advertised John Krasinski would be holding a reading and discussion session that evening. Whaaaat???
So we hopped over to Gizmodo since it only happens once a year and spent an hour exploring REALLY cool digital design. Check out the site - we saw the mud computer, 3-D Etch-a-Sketch, pancake machine and singing Tesla coils. Nathan played Beatles Rock Band with a bunch of little kids and this awesome moment of community developed when everyone in the room starting singing All You Need Is Love.
So after an hour of that we headed back to the bookstore and were the last people to get seats to hear John. He did several readings from "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" and then had a Q&A session where, thankfully, everyone asked him about that project and not The Office. He seemed really, really cool and was super chill and funny.
We left there and headed to the West Village for some amazing noodles and then wandered around the Village for a while before settling in at a Starbucks (I promise we tried a few independent places first that were all super crowded) where we laughed and told stories about people in high school and read comedic writing out loud to each other.
We then hopped on a train and listened to a "This American Life" podcast on the way home.
Perfect day? Yes.
To begin, the weather is GORGEOUS right now. The leaves are changing a bit, the air is slightly chilly (light cardigan and jeans weather) and the sun is shining. I love fall.
We started the day with breakfast at Alice's Tea Cup on the Upper West Side. While there, I got to eavesdrop on some girls who went to Elon, drink a pot of autumnal darjeeling tea, and eat half of a pumpkin scone and half of a gingerbread apple scone. Awesome.
We left Alice's and walked up Columbus Avenue to the post office so that I could mail my Fall Food Swap package to my partner, Becky. Who should we run into but Jack McBrayer (Kenneth Parcell on 30 Rock). AWESOME. Someone else had us to take his picture with Jack, so I did that and then Jack held the door for us all to go into the post office.
I basically got way too excited over that encounter and he was so chill and unassuming that I didn't even tell him how funny I think he is or how excited we are for the new season. Oh well. Happy Saturday, Jack!
We left the post office and walked across Central Park to The Met. We walked along the route for the New York Road Runners Mile Championship race and that was really cool. We got to see the Seniors division compete and we watched the Women's 20somethings warm up. Those girls were FAST!
We spent a couple hours at The Met (we're members, so we can go whenever) and notably saw a bunch of Roman and Greek ruins and, Nathan's favorite of the day, a pistol cleaver. No, really. We have a picture.
Left The Met, walked back down Central Park for 20ish blocks and hopped on the train to go to SoHo. We were walking to the Gizmodo Gallery to see an installation on digital design. While walking, we passed an independent bookstore that advertised John Krasinski would be holding a reading and discussion session that evening. Whaaaat???
So we hopped over to Gizmodo since it only happens once a year and spent an hour exploring REALLY cool digital design. Check out the site - we saw the mud computer, 3-D Etch-a-Sketch, pancake machine and singing Tesla coils. Nathan played Beatles Rock Band with a bunch of little kids and this awesome moment of community developed when everyone in the room starting singing All You Need Is Love.
So after an hour of that we headed back to the bookstore and were the last people to get seats to hear John. He did several readings from "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" and then had a Q&A session where, thankfully, everyone asked him about that project and not The Office. He seemed really, really cool and was super chill and funny.
We left there and headed to the West Village for some amazing noodles and then wandered around the Village for a while before settling in at a Starbucks (I promise we tried a few independent places first that were all super crowded) where we laughed and told stories about people in high school and read comedic writing out loud to each other.
We then hopped on a train and listened to a "This American Life" podcast on the way home.
Perfect day? Yes.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
9.24.09
Whew. This week has been exhausting, no? I had compiled so many reports in the past two days that it's not even funny. I have worked SO hard and SO long, but I have truly loved it. You know why? Because I work with an amazing team of people and we laugh a lot. My last company was all about "the serious" and everything was an attempted power play of some sort. My company now is still such a refreshing change. It doesn't hurt that I work for a ridiculously successful start-up and that we know that all the work we do contributes to that success, but it is still a cultivated atmosphere of trust and dedication and hard work and fun. I can't get enough. Truly.
The past 10 days have also been a little physically exhausting because I'm started jogging again regularly, but, man oh man, how great is that feeling? You know what I mean?
Unfortunately, all that jogging means that my calves are freakishly large. Nope - not kidding. I measured them and then googled for about an hour one night about calf sizes. As far as I can tell, I have calves about the size of a woman twice my size. No joking. I mean, they are freakishly large.
And, truly, I was really bummed about it for a while because boots are SO CUTE and apparently they are completely unavailable to me. But then I remembered that I can, you know, jog and breathe and stuff. I'm not paralyzed - physically, mentally or emotionally like I was before. Life is good.
(But, really, I'll take boot suggestions if you have them. Haha.)
The past 10 days have also been a little physically exhausting because I'm started jogging again regularly, but, man oh man, how great is that feeling? You know what I mean?
Unfortunately, all that jogging means that my calves are freakishly large. Nope - not kidding. I measured them and then googled for about an hour one night about calf sizes. As far as I can tell, I have calves about the size of a woman twice my size. No joking. I mean, they are freakishly large.
And, truly, I was really bummed about it for a while because boots are SO CUTE and apparently they are completely unavailable to me. But then I remembered that I can, you know, jog and breathe and stuff. I'm not paralyzed - physically, mentally or emotionally like I was before. Life is good.
(But, really, I'll take boot suggestions if you have them. Haha.)
Sunday, September 20, 2009
9.20.09
So, my BFF Sally has posted her 99 favorites to celebrate her upcoming 100th post. I thought I'd list my 99 favorites in the categories she provided.
- Favorite scary movie: None. I HATE scary movies. HATE them.
- Favorite action movie: The Bourne movies. Pretty much love them.
- Favorite kids' movie: Robin Hood!
- Favorite foreign movie: Amelie (yes, I am cliched)
- Favorite grown-up movie: Um...Hotel Rwanda?
- Favorite comedy: Talladega Nights or Dodge Ball or Super Bad (oh man, my parents must be cringing) or Christopher Guest mockumentaries
- Favorite romantic comedy: Not a comedy, but I love The Notebook
- Favorite movie in general: CAMP!
- Favorite movie series: Um...the quirky, unaffiliated documentary film?
- Favorite animated movie: Still Robin Hood
- Favorite literary genre: Creative non-fiction
- Favorite children's book: Go to the Doctor, Harry.
- Favorite adolescent book: Catherine Called Birdy
- Favorite grown-up book: Their Eyes Were Watching God
- Book that I bought just so I could have the title on my bookshelf: Can't say that I've ever done this.
- Favorite movie adaptation of a book: I'm really bad about seeing movies. Definitely NOT A Walk to Remember. They butchered that story in the film.
- Favorite author: Oh man...I don't know. Zora Neale Hurston? CS Lewis?
- Book that I'm reading now: Just finished How to Cook a Wolf by MFK Fisher.
- Book that I'd most like to read next: My list is so long. The Devil in the White City has been on my list for a while.
- Book that I wish I had written: I wish I could come across as funny in my writing like David Sedaris. I am flat on paper.
- Favorite grammatical error to catch: I like to translate errors into Latin to fully explain why people are wrong. Don't that count?
- Favorite marker: Stabilo fine point - gray.
- TV show that I wish I had written: 30 Rock. Or do I just secretly wish I could be a comedy writer AND have a life?
- Favorite tween TV show: The Hills?
- Favorite family TV show: Family Matters or Boy Meets World.
- Favorite scripted TV show: The Office. Or 30 Rock.
- Favorite competitive reality TV show: I would say Project Runway, but I literally haven't seen it in years. Reality TV is hard to watch online.
- Favorite documentary reality TV show: No clue.
- Favorite male TV character: Andy Bernard. Puffy hearts for Andy.
- Favorite female TV character: Kelly Kapoor.
- Most feared TV character: Sylar. I saw this guy on a subway platform who looked JUST LIKE Sylar and I freaked out. A lot.
- Biggest fear in general: Being paralyzed.
- Food I would never eat: Veal.
- Favorite breakfast food: Pumpkin pancakes, soysage (that's for you, Laura), breakfast casseroles, breakfast burritos, bagels and lox. Breakfast is my jam. (Get it? Breakfast? Jam? Haha)
- Favorite meat: Salmon or mussels or scallops.
- Newest favorite snack: I can't stop eating pumpkin seeds. No, really, can't stop.
- Favorite salty snack: Pretzels! So I don't buy them. Ever.
- Favorite restaurant: Brew and View or Laughing Seed (both in Asheville), though I do love some places here too.
- Best dining experience ever: The hotel we stayed at in Lydia, Greece. Entire meal cooked for the four of us - no one else in the restaurant. Best salad of my life.
- Favorite comfort food: I love homemade pizza. Or pesto. Or sweet potato soup.
- Favorite frozen entree: Kashi Blueberry waffles. I eat them as a meal. They count.
- Dairy product that I miss most: (Sal has recently cut out all dairy. I don't miss any dairy. I'm skipping this question).
- Faux-dairy product that I enjoy most: Chocolate soy milk. TOO delicious.
- Favorite fruit: Blueberries or strawberries.
- Favorite vegetable: Okra. Tomatoes.
- Favorite candy: Really great dark chocolate or Peanut Butter M&Ms.
- Favorite ice cream flavor: Pinkberry! Really a yogurt, but what can you do.
- Favorite cookie: Pumpkin chocolate chip or traditional chocolate chip.
- Favorite errand: Grocery shopping! Especially at a great market with a flexible list.
- Favorite household chore: Cleaning the bathroom. I'm so weird. Definitely NOT folding the laundry.
- Least favorite household chore: Folding the laundry or, even worse, PUTTING IT AWAY.
- Favorite room in the house, decor-wise: Kitchen. It's pinkish.
- Favorite room in the house I grew up in: My bedroom. It was the bonus room and it was awesome.
- Favorite childhood toy: Loved my See 'n Say
- Favorite holiday: I really like Easter. And Christmas.
- Favorite Halloween costume: The SNL skit year. I feel like I can't put the actual name of the skit on my blog. The skit has Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg making gift-giving suggestions. (Again, my parents are cringing). OR Curious George.
- What I'd be for Halloween this year if I had an occasion: Eh. Halloween's not my thing.
- Favorite theme party that I had in college: Country Club house warming. Yes, there was an enforced dress code and salmon appetizers.
- Favorite season: FALL! Hands down. Pumpkins and leaves and apples and cider and briskness without heavy coats. Fantastic!
- Favorite month: October.
- Favorite day of the week: Sundays.
- Favorite time of the day: Morning. I love getting ready and commuting with Nathan. And I love smoothies and having all kinds of energy.
- Favorite elementary school teacher: Mrs. Britt (third grade)
- Favorite junior high school teacher: Eh. I sort of hated middle school.
- Favorite high school teacher: Mr. Wajima (Statistics and tennis coach)
- Favorite undegraduate college professor: Merritt Moseley and Dan Pierce.
- Favorite graduate college professor: Again, this is Sal-specific.
- Favorite college class: British history. African-American History since 1865.
- Subject that I'm not good at that I like most: Biology. I'm fascinated by Biology and TERRIBLE at labs. Writing down details is not my thing.
- Favorite musician ever: Oh man...James Taylor? I don't know!
- Favorite musical group ever: The Supremes
- Favorite duet: Islands in the Stream
- Favorite song ever: Don't Leave Me This Way
- Favorite song to sing: Son of a Preacher Man
- Song that I put on too many CD mixes: The Way I Are
- Song that infallibly makes me happy: Hey, Good Looking
- Song that infallibly makes me sad: Long December
- Song that I sang constantly as a child: Baby Beluga.
- Favorite choreographer: I don't think I have one.
- Favorite showtune: On the Right Track - Pippin
- Favorite texture: Down blankets.
- Least favorite texture: Cat litter.
- Favorite smell: Nathan's morning smell - sort of gross and smelly mixed with leftover deoderant from the day before OR the smell of matches being put out. Mmm.
- Least favorite smell: Urine. Unforts, I smell it ALL THE TIME. Thanks, NYC.
- Favorite item of clothing: Vineyard Vines lazy pants.
- Next item of clothing that I'd like to buy: High-end black ballet flats. I'm taking suggestions on your favorite brands.
- Most anticipated upcoming purchase: A television! Yes, we are joining the ranks of the regular people.
- City in the United States that I'd most like to visit: Seattle.
- City outside of the United States that I'd most like to visit: Paris or Athens.
- Country that I'd most like to visit: Spain. France again. Somewhere tropical - Fiji, perhaps?
- Favorite super hero: Eh.
- Favorite super villain: Eh.
- Super power that I'd most like to have: Being fast and bendy.
- Super power that I would least like to have: Flying.
- Favorite color: Green.
- Favorite color to wear: Navy.
- Favorite physical attribute that I have: Eye color (they are brown with gold flecks)
- Favorite physical ability that I have: Ability to sleep almost anywhere.
- Physical ability that I wish I had: Holding my breath for long periods of time.
Monday, September 14, 2009
9.14.09
We're in the quite the transitional phase over here at our house.
We've finally put the duvet back on the bed after a long, hot stretch of the summer...but the windows are still open.
I have pumpkin scented soap in the bathroom...but tonight for supper we had fresh peaches and zucchini.
I made an arrangement of mini pumpkins for the coffee table...but drank out of my new sand dollar Tervis tumbler from the BFFs while I did it.
I'm aching for fall, but clinging to the last good days of summer. September is the kind of month when you wear a cardigan in the morning and are thankful to remove some layers in the afternoon.
September is all about the transition.
We've finally put the duvet back on the bed after a long, hot stretch of the summer...but the windows are still open.
I have pumpkin scented soap in the bathroom...but tonight for supper we had fresh peaches and zucchini.
I made an arrangement of mini pumpkins for the coffee table...but drank out of my new sand dollar Tervis tumbler from the BFFs while I did it.
I'm aching for fall, but clinging to the last good days of summer. September is the kind of month when you wear a cardigan in the morning and are thankful to remove some layers in the afternoon.
September is all about the transition.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
9.8.09
Does anyone else become really disoriented if you nap?
I love napping, but it always makes me somewhat disoriented and paranoid, so I try to avoid it unless I am so, so, so sleepy. I can rest with no problems, but actually going to sleep makes me freak out.
So, yesterday I fell asleep on the plane, fell asleep for a few hours at home, woke up for supper and then fell asleep again and then woke up when Nathan suggested I move to the bed from the couch.
My brain was and still is freaking out. Wish me luck today as I feel like I'm floating through life right now.
I love napping, but it always makes me somewhat disoriented and paranoid, so I try to avoid it unless I am so, so, so sleepy. I can rest with no problems, but actually going to sleep makes me freak out.
So, yesterday I fell asleep on the plane, fell asleep for a few hours at home, woke up for supper and then fell asleep again and then woke up when Nathan suggested I move to the bed from the couch.
My brain was and still is freaking out. Wish me luck today as I feel like I'm floating through life right now.
Monday, September 7, 2009
9.7.09
And we're back in New York. Charleston was wonderful, not over-booked and relaxing. We made a number of plans each day and always knocked one or two things off the list in the process. It's sort of the accessories rule applied to travel.
It was fantastic to spend time with our best friends in their fancy (to us) house. They have a garbage disposal and carpet and a microwave and all sorts of modern conveniences.
It was also just really great to be with another couple that is at the same point in life that we are. We're all crazy busy and dreaming big dreams and making plans. It was so interesting to have conversations on future stuff like whether or not to immunize our children (we pretty much agree on that point) or what kind of education we would like our kids to experience (that point was, uh, less similar). Isn't it so cool though to grow up and find out your friends' opinions on things you've never had reason to discuss before? I think it's cool.
Anyway, they're fantastic, our weekend was fantastic and Miss Marple seemed glad to see us come home. Good weekend.
It was fantastic to spend time with our best friends in their fancy (to us) house. They have a garbage disposal and carpet and a microwave and all sorts of modern conveniences.
It was also just really great to be with another couple that is at the same point in life that we are. We're all crazy busy and dreaming big dreams and making plans. It was so interesting to have conversations on future stuff like whether or not to immunize our children (we pretty much agree on that point) or what kind of education we would like our kids to experience (that point was, uh, less similar). Isn't it so cool though to grow up and find out your friends' opinions on things you've never had reason to discuss before? I think it's cool.
Anyway, they're fantastic, our weekend was fantastic and Miss Marple seemed glad to see us come home. Good weekend.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
9.1.09
Why, hello, September! I've been expecting you with great anticipation.
Today, I...
-woke up chilly underneath a blanket (it's 57 degrees out).
-will wear closed-toe shoes with a Lilly wrap dress.
-will buy my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the year (and hope that it isn't as sweet as I remember since too sweet things make me gag now).
Today is Tuesday, so only 3 more days to go until we are in Charleston with our BFFs - eating hummus, touring plantations (including the Bigelow TEA plantation!), taking long walks, laughing at each other's stories, having soysage for breakfast and playing word games. It's going to be fabulous!
Today, I...
-woke up chilly underneath a blanket (it's 57 degrees out).
-will wear closed-toe shoes with a Lilly wrap dress.
-will buy my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the year (and hope that it isn't as sweet as I remember since too sweet things make me gag now).
Today is Tuesday, so only 3 more days to go until we are in Charleston with our BFFs - eating hummus, touring plantations (including the Bigelow TEA plantation!), taking long walks, laughing at each other's stories, having soysage for breakfast and playing word games. It's going to be fabulous!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
8.25.09
True story: NYC has cooled considerably in the past few days. So WHY OH WHY did Nathan break down and turn on the A/C tonight when it is not much above 80 degrees outside?
Answer: Because he was cleaning the entire apartment while I was out at an HR Happy Hour.
Good job, Nathan. Way to earn it.
Answer: Because he was cleaning the entire apartment while I was out at an HR Happy Hour.
Good job, Nathan. Way to earn it.
Monday, August 24, 2009
8.24.09
Homemade Pinkberry. Make it now. I promise.
Inspired by my dear friend Lilac, I combined a container of non-fat plain yogurt (the big 32 oz one), 3/4 cup of sugar (although I'll bump that down to 1/2 cup next time) and a teaspoon or so of vanilla (no, I didn't measure it.).
Threw that in my fancy-schmancy KitchenAid mixer ice cream attachment (totally worth the money) and let it whip up and freeze.
Top with frozen blueberries and strawberries and, voila!, homemade Pinkberry without the trip downtown. For those of you in other locales, you can really save on gas since Pinkberry is only available in California, New York and Abu Dabai.
Trust me, you want to make this.
Inspired by my dear friend Lilac, I combined a container of non-fat plain yogurt (the big 32 oz one), 3/4 cup of sugar (although I'll bump that down to 1/2 cup next time) and a teaspoon or so of vanilla (no, I didn't measure it.).
Threw that in my fancy-schmancy KitchenAid mixer ice cream attachment (totally worth the money) and let it whip up and freeze.
Top with frozen blueberries and strawberries and, voila!, homemade Pinkberry without the trip downtown. For those of you in other locales, you can really save on gas since Pinkberry is only available in California, New York and Abu Dabai.
Trust me, you want to make this.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
8.23.09
Ah...IKEA. I ventured out to the affordable design superstore today via water taxi (!) and it did not disappoint. I made a few purchases - namely, a pillow that I L-O-V-E. I also fell in love with a gorgeous armchair (see here) and next time someone with a car is heading to IKEA, I'm hoping to go along to purchase this beauty.
When I got home, I caught up on a lot of work (boo for working on weekends) and I just finished, so I'm browsing Apartment Therapy to wind down. I stumbled upon this interesting post about displaying your Le Creuset cookware in your kitchen. Is your cookware on display? Mine is always out. I have a 3 1/2 quart in Caribbean Blue and it so perfectly matches my kitchen that I can't bear to keep it in a cabinet. Also, I use it ALL the time. I have practically given up on all of my other pots.
When I got home, I caught up on a lot of work (boo for working on weekends) and I just finished, so I'm browsing Apartment Therapy to wind down. I stumbled upon this interesting post about displaying your Le Creuset cookware in your kitchen. Is your cookware on display? Mine is always out. I have a 3 1/2 quart in Caribbean Blue and it so perfectly matches my kitchen that I can't bear to keep it in a cabinet. Also, I use it ALL the time. I have practically given up on all of my other pots.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
8.20.09
My to-do list is out of control. I have a massive list at work and a massive list at home and, sometimes, I just want to nap or watch Friends. Is this terrible?
The good news is that I have arrived at the life I always wanted. Yes. I have friends and weekend plans and jaunts to the beach and around town and a husband and a fantastic apartment.
The bad news, I suppose, is that it is still outrageously hot. I know for a lot of you summer is about being hot, but, let me remind you, you have air conditioning and cars with air conditioning. I am crammed into trains with hundreds of other people who are all literally wiping the sweat off of themselves. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, EVERYONE underground is now carrying some piece of fabric to wipe themselves off with. We are all elderly southern gentlemen.
The good news is that I have arrived at the life I always wanted. Yes. I have friends and weekend plans and jaunts to the beach and around town and a husband and a fantastic apartment.
The bad news, I suppose, is that it is still outrageously hot. I know for a lot of you summer is about being hot, but, let me remind you, you have air conditioning and cars with air conditioning. I am crammed into trains with hundreds of other people who are all literally wiping the sweat off of themselves. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, EVERYONE underground is now carrying some piece of fabric to wipe themselves off with. We are all elderly southern gentlemen.
Monday, August 17, 2009
8.17.09
I know you are all on the edge of your seats waiting to see if the heat has done us in it. Good news - we are all still here, but Miss Marple is increasingly lethargic (which, I think, is really saying something considering she is a cat). In fact, tonight has been a remarkably productive evening. My promotion kicked in today at work and I'm loving it - I've been cruising off that burst of energy you get with an exciting change.
Well, I suppose the caffeine I consumed in the form of a chai around 4:00 could have helped too. I'm very into chai from the cafe across my office - Spoon. It is not sweetened, which I think is fabulous. You can add as little or as much sweetener as you would like. I opt for less. My palate for sweet things has been ever-decreasing lately. Also, I would love for my house to look like their storefront restaurant, so recharging my spirit while ordering tea is a nice bonus.
Anyway, like I was saying, tonight was very productive because I managed to come home, clean the kitchen and bathroom, water my neighbor's plants and sort all the laundry before retiring to the bedroom to attempt to fix my iPhone. It is still acting up and it seems like such a petty thing to be upset about that I can't find the energy to care too much. Everything about it is fine except that it won't launch third-party apps since I upgraded my software. Is anyone else having this problem? Has anyone found a way to fix it?
And now I am here dreaming of slipcovers and pillows and fabric stashes. This month's issue of Real Simple has an article about transforming closets into mini-rooms and Nathan saw me reading said article last night. All he said was "Where will we store the towels?" Good point, Nathan - he knew I was dreaming of converting our storage closet into my personal getaway nook. (PS - Don't tell Nathan, but I think I've thought of a place to put the towels).
I think an urge to nest is the first sign of changing seasons. The second sign of impending autumn is pictures of pumpkins and they are scattered about this month's issue of Better Homes & Gardens. Thinking of pumpkins makes the fact that I am contemplating buying these boots seem almost logical even though it is hot as blazes out there. And yes, I can read the price tag on those, but, if you think about it, that's a fairly good price for a staple item that is necessary if you walk miles a day in the cold of winter. And we're just in the thinking stage right now - the trying on and mulling it over stages will come (hopefully when the air cools down a little). Can you imagine putting on a boot right now? I'm about to pass out just considering it!
Well, I suppose the caffeine I consumed in the form of a chai around 4:00 could have helped too. I'm very into chai from the cafe across my office - Spoon. It is not sweetened, which I think is fabulous. You can add as little or as much sweetener as you would like. I opt for less. My palate for sweet things has been ever-decreasing lately. Also, I would love for my house to look like their storefront restaurant, so recharging my spirit while ordering tea is a nice bonus.
Anyway, like I was saying, tonight was very productive because I managed to come home, clean the kitchen and bathroom, water my neighbor's plants and sort all the laundry before retiring to the bedroom to attempt to fix my iPhone. It is still acting up and it seems like such a petty thing to be upset about that I can't find the energy to care too much. Everything about it is fine except that it won't launch third-party apps since I upgraded my software. Is anyone else having this problem? Has anyone found a way to fix it?
And now I am here dreaming of slipcovers and pillows and fabric stashes. This month's issue of Real Simple has an article about transforming closets into mini-rooms and Nathan saw me reading said article last night. All he said was "Where will we store the towels?" Good point, Nathan - he knew I was dreaming of converting our storage closet into my personal getaway nook. (PS - Don't tell Nathan, but I think I've thought of a place to put the towels).
I think an urge to nest is the first sign of changing seasons. The second sign of impending autumn is pictures of pumpkins and they are scattered about this month's issue of Better Homes & Gardens. Thinking of pumpkins makes the fact that I am contemplating buying these boots seem almost logical even though it is hot as blazes out there. And yes, I can read the price tag on those, but, if you think about it, that's a fairly good price for a staple item that is necessary if you walk miles a day in the cold of winter. And we're just in the thinking stage right now - the trying on and mulling it over stages will come (hopefully when the air cools down a little). Can you imagine putting on a boot right now? I'm about to pass out just considering it!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
8.16.09
Besides the sweltering heat that I really think might kill me (I had 3 LITERS of water today by 5:00pm - it is sooooo steamy right now in NYC)*, these things made today indescribably wonderful:
1. Nathan is still home. I can't get over how great it is for him to be back since he was gone for 11 days.
2. Homemade salsa with huge amounts of cilantro.
3. Singing "Come Thou Fount" at church this morning - one of my Top 5 hymns.
4. Watching "Everything is Illuminated" this afternoon. HIGHLY recommend it. Made me miss Eastern Europe.
5. Taking a walk with Nathan this evening to buy fruit juice popsicles. Yummy.
6. Chalking "The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver on our chalkboard. One of my favorite poems.
7. Homemade lemonade: lemon juice, squeeze of agave nectar, water, ice cubes.
8. Reading interior decorating blogs and browsing Flickr for inspiration.
9. My new art from Made by Girl.
10. Having no formal plans until Labor Day!!! This has been an incredible and incredibly exhausting summer.
*And yes, I am from the south and I understand heat, but the city is one giant concrete, smelly, humid cooker and, as a bonus, it is almost as hot here as in NC - 97ish degrees today. Whew!.
1. Nathan is still home. I can't get over how great it is for him to be back since he was gone for 11 days.
2. Homemade salsa with huge amounts of cilantro.
3. Singing "Come Thou Fount" at church this morning - one of my Top 5 hymns.
4. Watching "Everything is Illuminated" this afternoon. HIGHLY recommend it. Made me miss Eastern Europe.
5. Taking a walk with Nathan this evening to buy fruit juice popsicles. Yummy.
6. Chalking "The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver on our chalkboard. One of my favorite poems.
7. Homemade lemonade: lemon juice, squeeze of agave nectar, water, ice cubes.
8. Reading interior decorating blogs and browsing Flickr for inspiration.
9. My new art from Made by Girl.
10. Having no formal plans until Labor Day!!! This has been an incredible and incredibly exhausting summer.
*And yes, I am from the south and I understand heat, but the city is one giant concrete, smelly, humid cooker and, as a bonus, it is almost as hot here as in NC - 97ish degrees today. Whew!.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
8.15.09
Well now, who's a terrible blogger? That would be me, I suppose.
I make no promises about the frequency of posting here. The last month has been a whirlwind and we have one more trip (to Charleston!) before we can call quits on the summer.
I was recently promoted and hopefully (!) I will be able to spend more time at home in the evenings which means more time blogging. My life has been out-of-control busy. I've been working hard and still trying to play harder. I've been eating a lot of black beans, okra and tomatoes and I recently purchased some candles that smell like cilantro because I want that smell to follow me.
Oh yes, we've also had four consecutive weekends of houseguests and Nathan has been out of town for 10 days. In short, life has been BUSY, but loads of fun.
I won't lie though - I'm craving fall. It's getting to be the really hot, long part of summer that makes you dream of pumpkins, cardigans, apple picking and leaves. I have big plans for this fall.
1. Wear this cardigan I recently purchased at J.Crew as much as possible. I love it.
2. Take my apartment in another decorating direction. I'm craving clean backdrops with pastel pops of color. I want to go in the direction of Anthropologie and move away from the Pottery Barn look. It's a good thing I don't have a yard or I would be painting every piece of furniture I own.
3. Spend as much time walking around New York as possible. We're planning to walk from one end of Manhattan to the other one Saturday.
4. Eat pumpkins. Keep investing deeply in relationships. Count my blessings daily.
Hugs and kisses to all of you still out there. I miss writing. I may or may not have ranted over lunch to a co-worker the other day about the lack of writing in my life. I hear there's a place I can flee to in Bahama, NC if I need a writing sabaticcal. That very well might happen.
I make no promises about the frequency of posting here. The last month has been a whirlwind and we have one more trip (to Charleston!) before we can call quits on the summer.
I was recently promoted and hopefully (!) I will be able to spend more time at home in the evenings which means more time blogging. My life has been out-of-control busy. I've been working hard and still trying to play harder. I've been eating a lot of black beans, okra and tomatoes and I recently purchased some candles that smell like cilantro because I want that smell to follow me.
Oh yes, we've also had four consecutive weekends of houseguests and Nathan has been out of town for 10 days. In short, life has been BUSY, but loads of fun.
I won't lie though - I'm craving fall. It's getting to be the really hot, long part of summer that makes you dream of pumpkins, cardigans, apple picking and leaves. I have big plans for this fall.
1. Wear this cardigan I recently purchased at J.Crew as much as possible. I love it.
2. Take my apartment in another decorating direction. I'm craving clean backdrops with pastel pops of color. I want to go in the direction of Anthropologie and move away from the Pottery Barn look. It's a good thing I don't have a yard or I would be painting every piece of furniture I own.
3. Spend as much time walking around New York as possible. We're planning to walk from one end of Manhattan to the other one Saturday.
4. Eat pumpkins. Keep investing deeply in relationships. Count my blessings daily.
Hugs and kisses to all of you still out there. I miss writing. I may or may not have ranted over lunch to a co-worker the other day about the lack of writing in my life. I hear there's a place I can flee to in Bahama, NC if I need a writing sabaticcal. That very well might happen.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
7.5.09
Has anyone else completely thrown menu planning out the window lately?
I find it hard to menu plan when every time I walk down the street I'm confronted with some produce I want to eat right then and there.
Is it different when you get to shop at grocery stores? This summer we're down to 1-2 Fresh Direct deliveries a month and I'm supplementing everything else with farmers' markets and fruit kiosks.
Truth be told, we eat the same thing almost every day.
Any yummy recipes bouncing around out there that will make it worth going to the grocery store?
I find it hard to menu plan when every time I walk down the street I'm confronted with some produce I want to eat right then and there.
Is it different when you get to shop at grocery stores? This summer we're down to 1-2 Fresh Direct deliveries a month and I'm supplementing everything else with farmers' markets and fruit kiosks.
Truth be told, we eat the same thing almost every day.
Any yummy recipes bouncing around out there that will make it worth going to the grocery store?
Saturday, July 4, 2009
7.4.09
Yesterday, Nathan and I decided to do our favorite activity--wander around New York. After doing something we NEVER do (go to Times Square) we went to the New York Public Library because it looked like the skies were going to open up and we were going to get soaked.
We meant to duck into the library to just wander some more, but all of the sections were closed expect for one room. We thought that was odd, but we followed the trail of people into the room. Well, what do you think we saw? New York's copy of the Declaration of Independence.
A few years ago, a copy came to our college, and, admittedly, that copy had a better story surrounding it that involved a locked cellar and a wayward antiques dealer, but this was still very cool.
We stood huddled together to read those words again--words that I have read a hundred times as a history major--both in American and British history classes. Words that instantly spring tears to my eyes--"When in the course of human events..."***
To be fair, I do agree with historical scholars who write that our "revolution" did not fit the strict definition and when you know what each separate clause refers to (for instance, "He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures" refers to Congress meeting on the Cambridge-side of the Charles versus the Boston-side, which, even in 1776, is not THAT big of a deal in and of itself), but the specificity of those clauses is not the point of the declaration.
The point is that these brave men and women undertook a glorious experiment that is still going strong today and laid the foundation for putting such principles as "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" into law.
So take some time today to read the full text of the Declaration. It won't take more than 10 minutes, I promise.
***The words of the Declaration and the Constitution have made both of us cry since we were overseas for an extended amount of time. At the end of one very long, very tiring day, Nathan started to read aloud the quotes included on the pages of our passports and we both got a little choked up. One of the greatest things living in Bulgaria taught me was to be proud of America. Everyone in Bulgaria is so proud to be Bulgarian--they taught us.
We meant to duck into the library to just wander some more, but all of the sections were closed expect for one room. We thought that was odd, but we followed the trail of people into the room. Well, what do you think we saw? New York's copy of the Declaration of Independence.
A few years ago, a copy came to our college, and, admittedly, that copy had a better story surrounding it that involved a locked cellar and a wayward antiques dealer, but this was still very cool.
We stood huddled together to read those words again--words that I have read a hundred times as a history major--both in American and British history classes. Words that instantly spring tears to my eyes--"When in the course of human events..."***
To be fair, I do agree with historical scholars who write that our "revolution" did not fit the strict definition and when you know what each separate clause refers to (for instance, "He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures" refers to Congress meeting on the Cambridge-side of the Charles versus the Boston-side, which, even in 1776, is not THAT big of a deal in and of itself), but the specificity of those clauses is not the point of the declaration.
The point is that these brave men and women undertook a glorious experiment that is still going strong today and laid the foundation for putting such principles as "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" into law.
So take some time today to read the full text of the Declaration. It won't take more than 10 minutes, I promise.
***The words of the Declaration and the Constitution have made both of us cry since we were overseas for an extended amount of time. At the end of one very long, very tiring day, Nathan started to read aloud the quotes included on the pages of our passports and we both got a little choked up. One of the greatest things living in Bulgaria taught me was to be proud of America. Everyone in Bulgaria is so proud to be Bulgarian--they taught us.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
6.30.09
It's like I should give up isn't it? Oh well. Sorry the posts are fewer and farther between each week. I can chalk it up to a few reasons:
1. I'm having too much fun to write much. I work hard and play harder (seriously!) and I'm always jetting off for dinner or a show or hosting friends from out of town or wandering around New York with Nathan. It is summer. Summer is the time for being out and about and not near a computer--wait until winter and I'll probably start updating again.
2. I got an iphone and started updating my Twitter account, so follow me other there--I update several times per day.
3. I'm tired (see #1). By the time I make it home, I pull something together for dinner and want to spend all my waking time with Nathan. You understand, right?
So this past weekend we had a party that was an odd collision of my past with my present. It was a gathering mostly comprised of people that I spent every waking minute with when I was 10-16. It's odd how we grew up, but reassuring. We all made it, some more than others surely, but we're all functioning adults.
It was also exhausting. I felt the need to justify all my life choices and to explain how I got to this point. Yes, I'm married. No, I don't own a television. Yes, I'm still a vegetarian. No, I don't want to live near more restaurants. C'est la vie, eh?
1. I'm having too much fun to write much. I work hard and play harder (seriously!) and I'm always jetting off for dinner or a show or hosting friends from out of town or wandering around New York with Nathan. It is summer. Summer is the time for being out and about and not near a computer--wait until winter and I'll probably start updating again.
2. I got an iphone and started updating my Twitter account, so follow me other there--I update several times per day.
3. I'm tired (see #1). By the time I make it home, I pull something together for dinner and want to spend all my waking time with Nathan. You understand, right?
So this past weekend we had a party that was an odd collision of my past with my present. It was a gathering mostly comprised of people that I spent every waking minute with when I was 10-16. It's odd how we grew up, but reassuring. We all made it, some more than others surely, but we're all functioning adults.
It was also exhausting. I felt the need to justify all my life choices and to explain how I got to this point. Yes, I'm married. No, I don't own a television. Yes, I'm still a vegetarian. No, I don't want to live near more restaurants. C'est la vie, eh?
Friday, June 19, 2009
6.19.09
When I was a little girl, I would completely lose myself in books. On the surface it appears that I am less apt to do that now. While I am ferocious reader, I rarely get completely lost in the world of a book. I think this has somewhat to do with the quality of books available for adults and also says something about all the real world things that consume my daily thoughts.
If you know me in real life though, and I mean really know me, (so maybe I mean, if you are my mother or Nathan) then you know that I often pretend to be other people. I don't do this in a creepy way, but rather in a "well, how would such and such a person wash this dishes" kind of way. Does that make any sense? I apologize if you are all creeped out now. I promise that I am crazy in a different kind of way. Think of it as me having the imagination of a six year old that never really died. I don't let a lot of people know about my super imaginative ways because, well, I'm a functioning adult, but bet your bottom dollar that I daydream often about fictional people that I wish were my friends.
What's the point of all this? Well, last week I read the most fabulous book: The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society. If you have not already read it, please do so immediately and report back. I l-o-v-e-d it. Period. End of story. It was incredible and not in a deep, thought-provoking way, but in a "man, this book just made me smile" kind of way.
Now, if you also know me in real life, you know that if I am very sad, I am quiet and will only send you emails. If I am happy (and, really, I'm rarely somewhere in the middle) then I am deliriously happy and I will blabber on and on and on about how happy I am and then I will comment on every little thing that makes me giddy (lately, I've been chatting non-stop about walks around New York with Nathan, Pinkberry and Paul Simon--mostly to Nathan--I imagine that being married to me can be exhausting).
So, last week, every time we were on the train together and I was reading this fabulous book, I would inevitably put it down at some point, turn to Nathan and start chattering away about how much I loved it and how great it was and how I either wanted to be Juliet Ashton or wanted her to be my best friend.
So Nathan asked me what was so great about her and I think I mentioned hats, a weekly column, her natural wit and how she was being wooed by an American publisher. Well, my husband, bless his heart, pointed out to me that I too was daily wooed by an American publisher. (And yes, my husband is a publisher). Well, y'all, I almost died and went to Heaven to realize that I actually did have something rather substantial in common with Juliet Ashton.
Since then I have honest to goodness felt wittier. I have tried to let my humor shine forth a bit more in my writing and I have constantly be on the lookout for other ways to channel Juliet.
So imagine my delight (imagine my delight is very much something Juliet would say) when a friend I had written back and forth often but never met in person asked if she and her husband could stay with us while they were in New York. Y'all--I lost it. THIS is what Juliet does in the book. She writes letters to people and forms friendships and then gets to meet everyone in real life! (To be fair, I know the husband--we grew up together and his sister-in-law was one of my best friends in high school.) Still, I am so excited!
They are kayaking the east coast and you can read all about their journey here. I am stocking the pantry tomorrow for them. The towels are clean. We have spare keys at the ready. To top it all off, I was just chatting with Nathan this week about how I finally have so many things I always equated with being a successful adult (great husband, funny cat, lovely home, inspiring job, busy social calendar), but that I wished we hosted more parties and house guests. Well, look at that--dreams do come true!
If you know me in real life though, and I mean really know me, (so maybe I mean, if you are my mother or Nathan) then you know that I often pretend to be other people. I don't do this in a creepy way, but rather in a "well, how would such and such a person wash this dishes" kind of way. Does that make any sense? I apologize if you are all creeped out now. I promise that I am crazy in a different kind of way. Think of it as me having the imagination of a six year old that never really died. I don't let a lot of people know about my super imaginative ways because, well, I'm a functioning adult, but bet your bottom dollar that I daydream often about fictional people that I wish were my friends.
What's the point of all this? Well, last week I read the most fabulous book: The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society. If you have not already read it, please do so immediately and report back. I l-o-v-e-d it. Period. End of story. It was incredible and not in a deep, thought-provoking way, but in a "man, this book just made me smile" kind of way.
Now, if you also know me in real life, you know that if I am very sad, I am quiet and will only send you emails. If I am happy (and, really, I'm rarely somewhere in the middle) then I am deliriously happy and I will blabber on and on and on about how happy I am and then I will comment on every little thing that makes me giddy (lately, I've been chatting non-stop about walks around New York with Nathan, Pinkberry and Paul Simon--mostly to Nathan--I imagine that being married to me can be exhausting).
So, last week, every time we were on the train together and I was reading this fabulous book, I would inevitably put it down at some point, turn to Nathan and start chattering away about how much I loved it and how great it was and how I either wanted to be Juliet Ashton or wanted her to be my best friend.
So Nathan asked me what was so great about her and I think I mentioned hats, a weekly column, her natural wit and how she was being wooed by an American publisher. Well, my husband, bless his heart, pointed out to me that I too was daily wooed by an American publisher. (And yes, my husband is a publisher). Well, y'all, I almost died and went to Heaven to realize that I actually did have something rather substantial in common with Juliet Ashton.
Since then I have honest to goodness felt wittier. I have tried to let my humor shine forth a bit more in my writing and I have constantly be on the lookout for other ways to channel Juliet.
So imagine my delight (imagine my delight is very much something Juliet would say) when a friend I had written back and forth often but never met in person asked if she and her husband could stay with us while they were in New York. Y'all--I lost it. THIS is what Juliet does in the book. She writes letters to people and forms friendships and then gets to meet everyone in real life! (To be fair, I know the husband--we grew up together and his sister-in-law was one of my best friends in high school.) Still, I am so excited!
They are kayaking the east coast and you can read all about their journey here. I am stocking the pantry tomorrow for them. The towels are clean. We have spare keys at the ready. To top it all off, I was just chatting with Nathan this week about how I finally have so many things I always equated with being a successful adult (great husband, funny cat, lovely home, inspiring job, busy social calendar), but that I wished we hosted more parties and house guests. Well, look at that--dreams do come true!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
6.14.09
Can you spot Miss Marple? Look up:
Oh yes--there she is--lounging about up high. I love her.Is this not the coolest sign? If you can't read it, it says: Anyone placing any ---(unreadable) brace on this balcony will be fined ten dollars. Yes, our apartment is so old that $10 was a hefty fine when they put that sign on our fire escape.
Oh, and here, please meet my pepper plant:
And my tomato plant:
And my basil plant. Yes, that basil leaf is the size of my hand. This is proof that you can have a successful New York City fire escape one pot garden.
Don't they look so cozy and happy after endless days of rain?
I snapped this one morning while getting ready for work. (Don't tell Nathan--haha).
Oh, and we had family come visit. What is everyone staring at (besides Nathan's mom)?
This:
What a crazy motorcycle, huh? It was on display at the Central Park skating rink. You should totally stop by next time you are in Central Park. These rollerbladers and rollerskaters are crazy. Picture this: that really great roller dancer from your local rink multiplied by 50 and all in Central Park. It's so cool to watch them dance on skates.
And, oh yes, we picniced in the Park too--what good is a sunny New York City Saturday in the summer without a picnic?
Hope you enjoy these recent scenes from our life!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
6.13.09
Every Saturday (unless we have a pressing engagement) Nathan and I eat pancakes. It's our thing. I make the batter and he cooks.
We were joking this morning that our children will feel totally out of place the first time they eat pancakes with their friends, because Nathan and I both eat our pancakes with our hands, drizzled with honey. This is strange, we know, but, let me tell you, it is incredibly delicious. Lately, we're been eating pumpkin pancakes with whipped peach honey. Yum!
We were joking this morning that our children will feel totally out of place the first time they eat pancakes with their friends, because Nathan and I both eat our pancakes with our hands, drizzled with honey. This is strange, we know, but, let me tell you, it is incredibly delicious. Lately, we're been eating pumpkin pancakes with whipped peach honey. Yum!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
6.11.09
Well, my posts are just increasingly sporadic, are they not?
It's summer time and the living is chilly here in NYC and frantic. So far this week I had a hiring open house followed by eating mussels with my bosses until 11:00 pm (oh, and then I convinced myself that my cab driver was going to try to kill me because he was so FRIENDLY and I've been watching too much Law & Order), the first meeting of my new book club (fabulous! and full of other girls from NC--and some from other places), I put Miss Marple on a diet (seriously, y'all, my cat has a fat face--who knew that was even possible with cats) and a stranger/friend of a friend heard my plea for bulk yeast on Facebook and is shipping two pounds to me tomorrow.
In between, I haven't been responding to emails or picking up calls on my cell phone. I have been begging Nathan to get iphones. I have eaten Pinkberry only once (good for me) and I did some solitary shopping yesterday and found the perfect navy dress (JCrew) and the perfect navy shoes that toe the line between dressy and casual and are insanely comfy (Born). Obvi, I bought both--you don't search YOUR ENTIRE LIFE for items and then not buy them when they are on sale. I also ate a yummy brunch with a good ole friend (who just went on 7 dates in 7 days--record, no?--don't worry, it was set up for a blog--she's not a solid ball of pheromones or anything) and I've read a book or two.
Good week. So what's up with y'all?
It's summer time and the living is chilly here in NYC and frantic. So far this week I had a hiring open house followed by eating mussels with my bosses until 11:00 pm (oh, and then I convinced myself that my cab driver was going to try to kill me because he was so FRIENDLY and I've been watching too much Law & Order), the first meeting of my new book club (fabulous! and full of other girls from NC--and some from other places), I put Miss Marple on a diet (seriously, y'all, my cat has a fat face--who knew that was even possible with cats) and a stranger/friend of a friend heard my plea for bulk yeast on Facebook and is shipping two pounds to me tomorrow.
In between, I haven't been responding to emails or picking up calls on my cell phone. I have been begging Nathan to get iphones. I have eaten Pinkberry only once (good for me) and I did some solitary shopping yesterday and found the perfect navy dress (JCrew) and the perfect navy shoes that toe the line between dressy and casual and are insanely comfy (Born). Obvi, I bought both--you don't search YOUR ENTIRE LIFE for items and then not buy them when they are on sale. I also ate a yummy brunch with a good ole friend (who just went on 7 dates in 7 days--record, no?--don't worry, it was set up for a blog--she's not a solid ball of pheromones or anything) and I've read a book or two.
Good week. So what's up with y'all?
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Month in (Book) Review: May 2009
I realized with a start this week that I have become one of those "typical" women you read about in magazine articles--working hard, trying to maintain a house, juggling one too many things. Good grief. The bad news is that Intellectual Domesticity has suffered from my insanely over-packed schedule over the past two weeks. The good news is that I still found time to read between working early and late and visits from family.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Time Traveler's Wife was highly recommended to me and I am excited to see the movie. I didn't think it was the most romantic book ever--as was described to me--but, still, it was a great novel. My perception of it may have been a bit tarnished by trying to discuss it with Nathan and him being hung up on the particulars of Henry's time travel. Have I ever shared that physics is not my thing? Have I ever told you that part of Nathan's job involves reading academic articles about time traveling written by actual scientists? Yeah--that was a frustrating conversation at Pinkberry.
Me: So this book was really interesting. The wife has known her husband since she was 6 years old, but he was always an adult.
Nathan: Particles...two main theories...that can't happen scientifically...blah blah blah.
So, read and enjoy if you husband doesn't know a freakish amount about scientific time travel studies.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Kite Runner is a difficult book to read for most, but it was a bit too literal for me to feel deeply moved by it. Evocative language is far more jarring to me than graphic depictions. That said, it's a violent story and one that may haunt you. I don't think I could handle the film.
The story follows a boy in Afghanistan who witnesses a harrowing racially and sexually charged attack on his best friend and how these events, and the wars in Afghanistan through the 1970s to the present, shape their lives.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
Kitchen Confidential made me feel so, so, so glad that I have never worked in a restaurant kitchen. I did work in a coffee shop for years, but it's not the same at all. It was really cool to have an insight into a world that you are never a part of as a consumer even though all that separates you is a swinging door, but it definitely got old after a while. Anthony Bourdain had one main theme: kitchen workers are pirates and we love it. He hit that same note for 200ish pages.
New King of Non-fiction (edited) by Ira Glass
I don't know if you love creative non-fiction, but I do. This was a great anthology. I only skipped two essays--one by David Foster Wallace because, really, it's so difficult to read his stuff that it's not worth it (and it was about talk radio--ugh) and one about poker because I don't understand poker and it was too much to process at once. All of the other essays were interesting and on topics I could wrap my mind around: a day in the life of Saddam Hussein, a piece about a 14 year old arrested by the FDIC and a piece I particularly loved about being a hostess at an exclusive New York restaurant.
If you're into the stories people tell ala This American Life, you will love this collection.
Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
I so wanted to love Julie & Julia. What could be better--a young wife in New York City with a tiny kitchen attempting all of Julia Child's recipes in one year while blogging about it--sounds perfect, right?
Well, this book is really not about that. It's about Julie trying to battle her depression and listening to her friends wax poetic about thier sexual exploits. I quit reading halfway through.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach and Russell Munson
This book is a great graduation gift, although I more highly recommend The Alchemist (below). In other words, not a lot of substance, but you feel really good and inspired after reading it and looking at the pictures of seagulls. I read it in about 25 minutes which irked me because I had to endure my afternoon commute with no book. Anyway, the story centers on Jonathan Seagull who learns to follow his dreams and pursue his passions and finds happiness along the way. Pure sappy graduation goodness.
Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant (edited) by Jenni Ferrari-Adler
All of the essays in this collection focus on eating and dining for one (something I rarely do), but I found most of the essays really interesting. Only one was really whiny which is a plus in my book. The rest were celebrations of aloneness in the midst of our busy lives. The authors are a nice mix of food writers and writers who happen to touch on food sometimes.
Eat.Pray.Love. by Elizabeth Gilbert
Am I the last person ever to read Eat.Pray.Love.? I think I might be. Anyway, I had the same reactions every one did--I immediately wanted to pack up and move back to Europe. It didn't help that I read it on the one-year anniversary of coming back from Bulgaria.
The book wasn't that thrilling for me, story-wise, but it was entertaining and I was excited for Elizabeth that she hit some balance in her life by the end.
I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
If David Sedaris were female, upper middle class-raised and went to college in New England (and subsequently picked up that special kind of snobbery), he would be Sloane Crosley. Man, I was right there with her on the essay about her first job. I teared up when she quit--no joke. I was proud.
Sloane is much less laugh out loud funny than David Sedaris, but these stories were super engaging.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Oh, The Alchemist. I didn't want to love this book and, truth be told, I think the premise is a wee bit cheesy, but I think we could all use some cheesy sometimes. In much the same vein as Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Alchemist is about following your dreams and pursuing your passions. This book does a much better job, however, about being real about the risks of dreams. In fact, Coelho points out time and time again that the risks are central to the process.
I really connected with the ideas of the manifestations of God in the everyday and also that a dream can be a simple undertaking in the eyes of the world, but can turn out to be more than you ever imagined.
It's an uplifting story of a Andulusian shepherd who is trying to follow his God-given dream. The shepherd meets a cast of characters along the way and finds out his dream is better than he ever imagined. The driving force of the story is "be the best possible 'you' that you can be in any situation and always make the next correct choice." Loved it.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Time Traveler's Wife was highly recommended to me and I am excited to see the movie. I didn't think it was the most romantic book ever--as was described to me--but, still, it was a great novel. My perception of it may have been a bit tarnished by trying to discuss it with Nathan and him being hung up on the particulars of Henry's time travel. Have I ever shared that physics is not my thing? Have I ever told you that part of Nathan's job involves reading academic articles about time traveling written by actual scientists? Yeah--that was a frustrating conversation at Pinkberry.
Me: So this book was really interesting. The wife has known her husband since she was 6 years old, but he was always an adult.
Nathan: Particles...two main theories...that can't happen scientifically...blah blah blah.
So, read and enjoy if you husband doesn't know a freakish amount about scientific time travel studies.
The Kite Runner by Khaled HosseiniThe Kite Runner is a difficult book to read for most, but it was a bit too literal for me to feel deeply moved by it. Evocative language is far more jarring to me than graphic depictions. That said, it's a violent story and one that may haunt you. I don't think I could handle the film.
The story follows a boy in Afghanistan who witnesses a harrowing racially and sexually charged attack on his best friend and how these events, and the wars in Afghanistan through the 1970s to the present, shape their lives.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony BourdainKitchen Confidential made me feel so, so, so glad that I have never worked in a restaurant kitchen. I did work in a coffee shop for years, but it's not the same at all. It was really cool to have an insight into a world that you are never a part of as a consumer even though all that separates you is a swinging door, but it definitely got old after a while. Anthony Bourdain had one main theme: kitchen workers are pirates and we love it. He hit that same note for 200ish pages.
New King of Non-fiction (edited) by Ira GlassI don't know if you love creative non-fiction, but I do. This was a great anthology. I only skipped two essays--one by David Foster Wallace because, really, it's so difficult to read his stuff that it's not worth it (and it was about talk radio--ugh) and one about poker because I don't understand poker and it was too much to process at once. All of the other essays were interesting and on topics I could wrap my mind around: a day in the life of Saddam Hussein, a piece about a 14 year old arrested by the FDIC and a piece I particularly loved about being a hostess at an exclusive New York restaurant.
If you're into the stories people tell ala This American Life, you will love this collection.
Julie & Julia by Julie PowellI so wanted to love Julie & Julia. What could be better--a young wife in New York City with a tiny kitchen attempting all of Julia Child's recipes in one year while blogging about it--sounds perfect, right?
Well, this book is really not about that. It's about Julie trying to battle her depression and listening to her friends wax poetic about thier sexual exploits. I quit reading halfway through.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach and Russell MunsonThis book is a great graduation gift, although I more highly recommend The Alchemist (below). In other words, not a lot of substance, but you feel really good and inspired after reading it and looking at the pictures of seagulls. I read it in about 25 minutes which irked me because I had to endure my afternoon commute with no book. Anyway, the story centers on Jonathan Seagull who learns to follow his dreams and pursue his passions and finds happiness along the way. Pure sappy graduation goodness.
Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant (edited) by Jenni Ferrari-AdlerAll of the essays in this collection focus on eating and dining for one (something I rarely do), but I found most of the essays really interesting. Only one was really whiny which is a plus in my book. The rest were celebrations of aloneness in the midst of our busy lives. The authors are a nice mix of food writers and writers who happen to touch on food sometimes.
Eat.Pray.Love. by Elizabeth GilbertAm I the last person ever to read Eat.Pray.Love.? I think I might be. Anyway, I had the same reactions every one did--I immediately wanted to pack up and move back to Europe. It didn't help that I read it on the one-year anniversary of coming back from Bulgaria.
The book wasn't that thrilling for me, story-wise, but it was entertaining and I was excited for Elizabeth that she hit some balance in her life by the end.
I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane CrosleyIf David Sedaris were female, upper middle class-raised and went to college in New England (and subsequently picked up that special kind of snobbery), he would be Sloane Crosley. Man, I was right there with her on the essay about her first job. I teared up when she quit--no joke. I was proud.
Sloane is much less laugh out loud funny than David Sedaris, but these stories were super engaging.
The Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoOh, The Alchemist. I didn't want to love this book and, truth be told, I think the premise is a wee bit cheesy, but I think we could all use some cheesy sometimes. In much the same vein as Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Alchemist is about following your dreams and pursuing your passions. This book does a much better job, however, about being real about the risks of dreams. In fact, Coelho points out time and time again that the risks are central to the process.
I really connected with the ideas of the manifestations of God in the everyday and also that a dream can be a simple undertaking in the eyes of the world, but can turn out to be more than you ever imagined.
It's an uplifting story of a Andulusian shepherd who is trying to follow his God-given dream. The shepherd meets a cast of characters along the way and finds out his dream is better than he ever imagined. The driving force of the story is "be the best possible 'you' that you can be in any situation and always make the next correct choice." Loved it.
6.6.09
Happy Birthday, Best Friend!
Y'all, this girl has been my best friend since we were 10 years old. Here's a few things I LOVE about her:
-She introduced her to her other best friend who is now one of the best friends too--she is a sharer!
-Her hair is inspirational to me. One day my hair too will be so gorgeous!
-She is never afraid to tell me what she really thinks about stuff==she's told me before that I was acting like a terrible person and that clothing looked terrible on me. She's also quick to tell me she loves me.
-For whatever reason, she often jokingly takes Nathan's side--unless it's serious and then I know she always has my back.
-She's the one person I know who would probably actually kill someone for me if she thought it was justified. For bonus points, she would also willingly go to jail to serve her time after this, but would always steadfastly believe the person "needed killing."
-She did and does all the things I never did - like dating more than one person (ever) - and she tells me stories that make me feel blessed beyond belief.
-Pieces of clothing that look terrible on me look wonderful on her and vice versa. This is awesome. We shop together better than anyone else. I sort of hate shopping with people that aren't her.
-We talk every other day or so. Probably no one else besides Nathan knows as much about what's going on in my life.
-So, pretty much, I love her beyond words. I can't wait to see her again in August and I'm pretty much counting down the days. Happy Birthday, Bestest Best Friend!
Me and my "Best Maid" at the rehearsal dinner.
With our other best friend.
At Other Best Friend's wedding.
Best Friend's 21st birthday.
At this lovely lady's 21st birthday party--Blackjack themed.
Hahaha. What good is a birthday post without my FAVORITE picture of her ever?
We were tired. We had been B-maiding it up all weekend--I think we earned that yummy cake!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
5.28.09
I miss Trader Joe's like you wouldn't believe. TJ's was a hop, skip and a jump from our apartment in Boston. Unfortunately, the ENTIRE island of Manhattan has to share ONE Trader Joe's, so it is pretty much not worth your time to go. After you wait 30 minutes in line to get in the door, bump elbows with 5 million other people to grab your items and then wait for 30 minutes in line to check out, the food is infinitely more expensive time-wise.
I am a HUGE fan of Fresh Direct and if you live in New York I would check it out. It's cheap, fast, easy and very high quality.
That said, if you have a Trader Joe's, find one and buy the harvest grain mix. We don't eat a lot of rice or cous cous, but this mix is INCREDIBLE. It's a combination of orzo, Israeli cous cous, red quinoa and baby garbanzo beans. I threw together a salad with it the other night and it was beyond amazing--quite possibly the PERFECT summer meal.
Want to try some yourself? Use Ina Garten's panzanella recipe, but use only 3 Tbsp. olive oil and sub in one cup cooked grains for the croutons. Delish, y'all!
I am a HUGE fan of Fresh Direct and if you live in New York I would check it out. It's cheap, fast, easy and very high quality.
That said, if you have a Trader Joe's, find one and buy the harvest grain mix. We don't eat a lot of rice or cous cous, but this mix is INCREDIBLE. It's a combination of orzo, Israeli cous cous, red quinoa and baby garbanzo beans. I threw together a salad with it the other night and it was beyond amazing--quite possibly the PERFECT summer meal.
Want to try some yourself? Use Ina Garten's panzanella recipe, but use only 3 Tbsp. olive oil and sub in one cup cooked grains for the croutons. Delish, y'all!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Summer Dinner Party Mix
Friday night we had some fr-amily (that is, friends who just happen to be family) over for dinner. We threw together some deliciously tasty pizza (topped with mozzarella, feta and fresh pineapple), sipped iced white tea with ginger, played a good bit of Six Degrees of Separation and caught up on each other's lives.
Want to recreate a great night like this at your home? You'll need: one batch fresh garlic pizza dough, one batch marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, feta, a pineapple and a great playlist.
Fresh Garlic Pizza Dough (from my friend Jamie)
3 cups flour (give or take)
1.5 tsp salt
1 Tbsp EVOO
1 cup warm water
1 pkg of regular yeast (or if you do an overnight rise, you only need a tsp of yeast
1 Tbsp or so of fresh chopped garlic (feel free to use more--we do!)
Mix 2 cups flour and salt in a bowl. Dissolve yeast in the water and pour into the flour mixture. Add olive oil and garlic and stir until just combined. Dump it all out onto a floured surface, and kneed, adding in the last cup (more or less) until the consistency is right and dough is fully mixed. Then I drizzle some olive oil in a big bowl and slosh the dough ball around in it to keep it moist, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise for two hours or so. If you want to get fancy and fabulous, punch it back down and pop it in the fridge over night. The over night rise retards the yeast expansion and lets the flavors really get fabulous. Then pull the dough out of the fridge several hours before using it to let it get pliable again.
We make 2 large, thin crust pizzas out of this. Nathan even throws the dough in the air like a real pizza man for extra flourish!
Marinara sauce (adapted from The Joy of Cooking)
1-28 oz can of tomatoes (I like Muir Glen--already with basil or fire roasted) (You can also use 2 pounds fresh tomatoes)
1/3 cup olive oil
Herbs: basil, oregano, chili peppers, etc.
Combine and let simmer 30ish minutes. To make this more like store-bought pizza sauce, you'll need to add some sugar or honey. We don't bother, but you might be drawn to sweet pizza sauces.
Playlist:
Loves Me Like a Rock - Paul Simon
Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out - Cat Stevens
New Soul - Yael Naim
Do You Remember - Jack Johnson
Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful
And When I Die - Blood, Sweat and Tears
Pencil Thin Mustache - Jimmy Buffett
Little Bit O' Soul - The Music Explosion
Louisiana Saturday Night - Mel McDaniel
Too Many Fish in the Sea - Marvelettes
Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
Dancing in the Moonlight - Van Morrison
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
Octopus' Garden - The Beatles
Out of My Head - Fastball
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Want to recreate a great night like this at your home? You'll need: one batch fresh garlic pizza dough, one batch marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, feta, a pineapple and a great playlist.
Fresh Garlic Pizza Dough (from my friend Jamie)
3 cups flour (give or take)
1.5 tsp salt
1 Tbsp EVOO
1 cup warm water
1 pkg of regular yeast (or if you do an overnight rise, you only need a tsp of yeast
1 Tbsp or so of fresh chopped garlic (feel free to use more--we do!)
Mix 2 cups flour and salt in a bowl. Dissolve yeast in the water and pour into the flour mixture. Add olive oil and garlic and stir until just combined. Dump it all out onto a floured surface, and kneed, adding in the last cup (more or less) until the consistency is right and dough is fully mixed. Then I drizzle some olive oil in a big bowl and slosh the dough ball around in it to keep it moist, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise for two hours or so. If you want to get fancy and fabulous, punch it back down and pop it in the fridge over night. The over night rise retards the yeast expansion and lets the flavors really get fabulous. Then pull the dough out of the fridge several hours before using it to let it get pliable again.
We make 2 large, thin crust pizzas out of this. Nathan even throws the dough in the air like a real pizza man for extra flourish!
Marinara sauce (adapted from The Joy of Cooking)
1-28 oz can of tomatoes (I like Muir Glen--already with basil or fire roasted) (You can also use 2 pounds fresh tomatoes)
1/3 cup olive oil
Herbs: basil, oregano, chili peppers, etc.
Combine and let simmer 30ish minutes. To make this more like store-bought pizza sauce, you'll need to add some sugar or honey. We don't bother, but you might be drawn to sweet pizza sauces.
Playlist:
Loves Me Like a Rock - Paul Simon
Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out - Cat Stevens
New Soul - Yael Naim
Do You Remember - Jack Johnson
Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful
And When I Die - Blood, Sweat and Tears
Pencil Thin Mustache - Jimmy Buffett
Little Bit O' Soul - The Music Explosion
Louisiana Saturday Night - Mel McDaniel
Too Many Fish in the Sea - Marvelettes
Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
Dancing in the Moonlight - Van Morrison
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
Octopus' Garden - The Beatles
Out of My Head - Fastball
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Friday, May 22, 2009
5.22.09
I just woke up at the crack of dawn to chop garlic to make pizza dough. It was glorious! I love being awake early in the morning and being able to chop garlic was an added bonus.
Hopefully, I'll make it through the work day after my early rise. I have no idea if we get to leave early this afternoon. I'm hoping we can leave at 4:00. That would be perfect. We have dinner guests coming over at 7:30 and I was hoping to make an apple pie too. Why yes, it does sound as if we're carb loading, doesn't it? We aren't. I just promised Nathan last weekend I'd make him an apple pie and today seemed like a good day to do so since we'll be able to share it with others.
I was planning on having spicy hummus (made last weekend) with carrots as an appetizer, but my carrots spontaneously turned to mush yesterday. Yuck! I think we may have fresh pineapple as an appetizer now.
Y'all, I am so looking forward to this weekend. Starting with breakfast tomorrow, we are being so selfish with our long weekend and not sharing it with anyone but each other. We're planning on walks, possibly some fabric shopping (yes, Nathan is prepared to go fabric shopping with me) and lots of little home projects that are always put aside when we have exciting weekend plans come up.
I've spent the past two weekends running around the city and the New Jersey suburbs with friends and next weekend we have family visiting. A weekend for regrouping couldn't come at a better time.
I hope y'all have a most relaxing or fun or productive or perfect (you choose) weekend you want!
Hopefully, I'll make it through the work day after my early rise. I have no idea if we get to leave early this afternoon. I'm hoping we can leave at 4:00. That would be perfect. We have dinner guests coming over at 7:30 and I was hoping to make an apple pie too. Why yes, it does sound as if we're carb loading, doesn't it? We aren't. I just promised Nathan last weekend I'd make him an apple pie and today seemed like a good day to do so since we'll be able to share it with others.
I was planning on having spicy hummus (made last weekend) with carrots as an appetizer, but my carrots spontaneously turned to mush yesterday. Yuck! I think we may have fresh pineapple as an appetizer now.
Y'all, I am so looking forward to this weekend. Starting with breakfast tomorrow, we are being so selfish with our long weekend and not sharing it with anyone but each other. We're planning on walks, possibly some fabric shopping (yes, Nathan is prepared to go fabric shopping with me) and lots of little home projects that are always put aside when we have exciting weekend plans come up.
I've spent the past two weekends running around the city and the New Jersey suburbs with friends and next weekend we have family visiting. A weekend for regrouping couldn't come at a better time.
I hope y'all have a most relaxing or fun or productive or perfect (you choose) weekend you want!
Friday, May 15, 2009
5.15.09
It's so hard to say goodbye to a television show's characters at the end of the season. Does anyone else feel this way?
We only watch 3 shows together (and I watch The Hills separately--Nathan won't watch until Spencer is no longer a character) and so I have an attachment to "my" shows and "my" characters. Not having a television means I can't mindlessly flip through channels and it also means that I choose to commit to a small, select group of shows.
I will miss Jim and Pam this summer. I will wish once a week on Thursdays that Michael and Holly could somehow live in the same town again. I will wonder what Jack and Liz are up to. I will continue to wonder everyday how the cast of Heroes is going to get out of the mess they created and, more importantly, I will wonder why they got themselves into that mess to start with.***
It's a long summer without my old television friends, but at least I have a long four months ahead of me to re-watch every episode of Friends, read cookbooks, take long walks with my husband and eat fresh tomatoes and blueberries and peaches and watermelon. I suppose summer is worth saying goodbye to television if the trade is fresh produce.
***Yes, I do have a penchant for NBC shows. Why do you ask?
We only watch 3 shows together (and I watch The Hills separately--Nathan won't watch until Spencer is no longer a character) and so I have an attachment to "my" shows and "my" characters. Not having a television means I can't mindlessly flip through channels and it also means that I choose to commit to a small, select group of shows.
I will miss Jim and Pam this summer. I will wish once a week on Thursdays that Michael and Holly could somehow live in the same town again. I will wonder what Jack and Liz are up to. I will continue to wonder everyday how the cast of Heroes is going to get out of the mess they created and, more importantly, I will wonder why they got themselves into that mess to start with.***
It's a long summer without my old television friends, but at least I have a long four months ahead of me to re-watch every episode of Friends, read cookbooks, take long walks with my husband and eat fresh tomatoes and blueberries and peaches and watermelon. I suppose summer is worth saying goodbye to television if the trade is fresh produce.
***Yes, I do have a penchant for NBC shows. Why do you ask?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
5.14.09
Today, I love:
-white grape juice
-getting out of jury duty because I no longer live in Boston
-black beans and peppers and onions
-Google docs and shared online budgets
-raspberry gelato
-white grape juice
-getting out of jury duty because I no longer live in Boston
-black beans and peppers and onions
-Google docs and shared online budgets
-raspberry gelato
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The cold, hard facts
The fact of the matter is that I've been too busy living to recount my life on the internet. It's a good place to find oneself. I am literally bursting with lists of things I want to accomplish and ideas I want to express, but I simply can't find the time to put it out here between all of the wonderful things I've been doing with time.
For one, a Mama cat near our subway stop had kittens and I've had to take time on to my commute to stare at them each day. Yes, I have named them. Yes, I have already asked Nathan if I could have one. No, Miss Marple is not going to get any siblings.
I fall more in love with our neighborhood every day. We are moved away from being DINKs (Double Income No Kids) to being "breeders" without the baby yet. I think this is really the best way to describe us. (Side note: Is breeders a strictly NYC term? Everyone here says it--either with delight or disdain. You either hate or love breeders. I, obviously, love them.) Anyway, our neighborhood is full of breeders and really sweet elderly couples. Y'all--our street is closed during the day from traffic and turned into a mini-playground. We have an honest to goodness crossing guard. It fills my heart with joy to walk outside.
One of the cutest little boys ever, who just so happens to live in our building, asked his mother the other morning on the elevator if Nathan was a police officer. I find this unbelievably charming and hilarious. Nathan was wearing khakis and a polo. I guess he just seemed really tall and friendly?
We said goodbye to our friend Alicia today for a few months. She left today for India. Her advenures can be followed at A Goes East. I'm so excited for her and I can't wait to hear all about India.
So, you know, life is going on. Sorry I keep forgetting to share it with you. I promise I'll try to do better.
For one, a Mama cat near our subway stop had kittens and I've had to take time on to my commute to stare at them each day. Yes, I have named them. Yes, I have already asked Nathan if I could have one. No, Miss Marple is not going to get any siblings.
I fall more in love with our neighborhood every day. We are moved away from being DINKs (Double Income No Kids) to being "breeders" without the baby yet. I think this is really the best way to describe us. (Side note: Is breeders a strictly NYC term? Everyone here says it--either with delight or disdain. You either hate or love breeders. I, obviously, love them.) Anyway, our neighborhood is full of breeders and really sweet elderly couples. Y'all--our street is closed during the day from traffic and turned into a mini-playground. We have an honest to goodness crossing guard. It fills my heart with joy to walk outside.
One of the cutest little boys ever, who just so happens to live in our building, asked his mother the other morning on the elevator if Nathan was a police officer. I find this unbelievably charming and hilarious. Nathan was wearing khakis and a polo. I guess he just seemed really tall and friendly?
We said goodbye to our friend Alicia today for a few months. She left today for India. Her advenures can be followed at A Goes East. I'm so excited for her and I can't wait to hear all about India.
So, you know, life is going on. Sorry I keep forgetting to share it with you. I promise I'll try to do better.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
What's the story, Morning Glory?
It is not a Morning Glory kind of morning here in New York City. It's foggy and drizzly and humid and sticky and, wouldn't you know, I've been up since 7:00 am cleaning.
I'm waiting for the library to open because I have about a hundred thousand books on hold that I need to pick up. Then, oh and I'm so excited, two of my dear friends from Boston are coming into town around lunchtime. We have an afternoon of shopping planned followed by a giant night out with lots of girls. I am beyond excited.
Today while I'm out shopping, I'm on the hunt for: a khaki jacket, comfy heels, a black jersey dress and little gifts and trinkets for my giveaway. Who's the lucky recipient?
Well, I used random.org to pick the winner and it is The Landlocked Mermaid! Y'all, she is going through a tough time right now since her grandmother passed away and I cannot wait to shower her with a little love in the form of a package of goodies. So, LM, email me (nathanandrachelann AT gmail DOT COM) your mailing address and I'll have that in the mail to you soon.
I wanted to answer a few questions from the comments on our Welcome post:
First off, we would love to meet up with anyone who happens to be in New York. We don't have many regular places yet, so we aren't much help there, but we're always up for grabbing dinner or coffee (or cupcakes!). Just let us know when you'll be around. Now, as to when we'll be in North Carolina, who knows. It's so sad, but we have no upcoming trips planned. I am incredibly busy at work right now and probably will be for at least 3-4 months, so I hesitate to buy any tickets.
Also, I'm so excited that so many people that I've lost contact with throughout the years are reading! I've added all of you to my Reader, so hopefully we can keep up with each other now.
Lisa said she was surprised at the size of our apartment. It's true, Lisa, we have a FANTASTIC apartment per NYC standards, but we also live way, way uptown which makes it more affordable. We also looked about, no joking, 50 apartments so we had a lot of choice. I think a lot of people see one or two, fall in love and go for it, but Nathan and I want different things about of living spaces. It took a while to find one that hit on all of our desires.
And yes, Sal, the frames are Bed, Bath & Beyond. I tend to go low end when I buy things like picture frames or, really, anything that doesn't need to really be used. If it hangs or sits, it most likely cheap. For instance, many of the items in our living room were either found at Ikea, Bed Bath & Beyond or, my favorite, the street. We have a few flea market and yard sale pieces too. I like the thrill of the hunt and I find it inspiring that I'm never quite finished.
Hope you all have a fabulous Saturday and a great Mother's Day tomorrow!
I'm waiting for the library to open because I have about a hundred thousand books on hold that I need to pick up. Then, oh and I'm so excited, two of my dear friends from Boston are coming into town around lunchtime. We have an afternoon of shopping planned followed by a giant night out with lots of girls. I am beyond excited.
Today while I'm out shopping, I'm on the hunt for: a khaki jacket, comfy heels, a black jersey dress and little gifts and trinkets for my giveaway. Who's the lucky recipient?
Well, I used random.org to pick the winner and it is The Landlocked Mermaid! Y'all, she is going through a tough time right now since her grandmother passed away and I cannot wait to shower her with a little love in the form of a package of goodies. So, LM, email me (nathanandrachelann AT gmail DOT COM) your mailing address and I'll have that in the mail to you soon.
I wanted to answer a few questions from the comments on our Welcome post:
First off, we would love to meet up with anyone who happens to be in New York. We don't have many regular places yet, so we aren't much help there, but we're always up for grabbing dinner or coffee (or cupcakes!). Just let us know when you'll be around. Now, as to when we'll be in North Carolina, who knows. It's so sad, but we have no upcoming trips planned. I am incredibly busy at work right now and probably will be for at least 3-4 months, so I hesitate to buy any tickets.
Also, I'm so excited that so many people that I've lost contact with throughout the years are reading! I've added all of you to my Reader, so hopefully we can keep up with each other now.
Lisa said she was surprised at the size of our apartment. It's true, Lisa, we have a FANTASTIC apartment per NYC standards, but we also live way, way uptown which makes it more affordable. We also looked about, no joking, 50 apartments so we had a lot of choice. I think a lot of people see one or two, fall in love and go for it, but Nathan and I want different things about of living spaces. It took a while to find one that hit on all of our desires.
And yes, Sal, the frames are Bed, Bath & Beyond. I tend to go low end when I buy things like picture frames or, really, anything that doesn't need to really be used. If it hangs or sits, it most likely cheap. For instance, many of the items in our living room were either found at Ikea, Bed Bath & Beyond or, my favorite, the street. We have a few flea market and yard sale pieces too. I like the thrill of the hunt and I find it inspiring that I'm never quite finished.
Hope you all have a fabulous Saturday and a great Mother's Day tomorrow!
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Month in (Book) Review: April 2009
I learned to read when I was four years old and I haven't stopped reading since. Of course, I toned down my pleasure reading considerably during the eight years I was in high school and college, but since graduation I have started reading for fun again.
I love book recommendations and hearing what others are reading, so I thought I'd start sharing what I've been reading each month. I enjoy reading lots of different kinds of books, but I'm most drawn to interesting novels, creative non-fiction and writings about food or cuisine.
I enjoy reading fluffy books or chick lit most on the beach. I read a lot of these "junk food for the mind" books in college since my brain couldn't handle anything denser, so now I tend to not read them as often.
Other criteria? Well, I definitely judge books by their cover. Anything with an interesting design will get me to at least read the inner jacket, if not the entire book. Also, I do almost all of my reading exclusively on the subway, so books that are too long or large or just seem like they would be uncomfortable to hold with one hand I pass by.
So, what have I been reading this month?
Cheri: The Last of Cheri by Colette
Honestly, I'm not sure why I bothered finishing this book. I was bored the entire time I was reading it and, also, a little bit sickened. I was intrigued in the library by the fact that the edition I read had the original French text printed on the left-hand pages with the English translation on the right.
The plot centers on an aging courtesan and her young lover who is getting married. Honestly, not much happens and the characters are so grossly self-centered that it is infuriating. I suppose if you were intrigued by the way of life of aristocratic Parisians pre-WWI then it might be a good read. I was glad that it was short.
Skylark Farm by Antonia Arslan
This was a very difficult book to read. It is a semi-autobiographical work about the author's family during the Armenian genocide. It is not graphic, but, rather, deeply poetic and the humiliation and despair of the family is portrayed so vividly that I cried every day on the subway as I read it.
I suppose it wasn't helped by the fact that I know a number of Armenians from my time at AUBG and I was reading the book during the anniversary of the death marches, but it was almost painful to read this book. Also, one of the characters is named Garo (what my nieces call my Daddy) and he's described:
"The sexton is named Garo and he is a simple man of God. Indeed, he speaks with God every day and is surprised that others don't do the same." (Skylark Farm, p. 54)
In short, while incredibly difficult to read, I loved this book. I highly recommend that you read it if you are not afraid of shedding a tear or two where you are reading. The resilence of the human spirit makes for a beautiful story.
The Amateur Gourmet: How to Shop, Chop and Table Hop Like a Pro (Almost) by Adam D. Roberts
When I picked this book up, I had no idea that Adam Roberts writes a highly successful blog called The Amateur Gourmet. I suppose it was an interesting enough book, but it wasn't wow-ing. I really enjoyed reading about his experiences at nice restaurants in New York City, but I don't consider myself to be a gourmet, so he sort of lost me there. I guess what I'm saying is: it wasn't him, it was me.
The Revolution: A Field Manual for Changing Your World edited by Heather Zydek
Well, this book knocked my socks off. I started reading this prepared to have many of my life choices affirmed and expecting to end the book feeling pretty good about myself. Instead, almost immediately this collection of 12 essays about Relevant Magazine's ideas of the biggest issues facing our world knocked the air out of me. This was another book that stirred me to cry on the subway.
Here is what is great about the collection though--each essay centers around on what you--as a human, as a Christian, as a privileged member of our society--can do to help. Each problem has suggestions that anyone can do (pray) and that most people can do (donate time or money). Resources are spelled out clearly and the takeaway of the book is not that all hope is lost and that we should give up because of the problems overwhelming our world, but rather than hope is to be found around every corner and that change is possible in our lifetimes.
I highly recommend the essays to anyone who feels overwhelmed by the many problems of our world and to Christians who feel a call to do something, but especially to Christians who are content NOT thinking about all of the things we need to be doing. The book certainly challenged me with the chapters on gang violence and poverty--two things that I realized many of my fellow subway riders were probably dealing with, but that I, in my safe neighborhood and comfortable apartment, gave little thought to.
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Nathan read this book in the seventh grade and was surprised when I picked it up that I had never read it. Apparently, 7th grade Nathan hated this book and I can see why--it's subtly weightly. I thought the book was beautiful and enjoyed reading it immensely. The plots focuses on a Chinese farmer living in a time of great tumult: pre-revolutionary China. True to life, however, these major events are given only a passing glance--the real story for the farmer is about his wife and children and father and land. The story seems so simple until you really start to think about it and you realize the point of the book is about self-absorbtion and the quiet beauty and horror of the mundane and regular. The ending could be seen as terribly sad, but also as a natural part of the cycle of life. I'll pull a Levar Burton and tell you to read it to see what you think.
Well, that's it for this month. What have you been reading?
I love book recommendations and hearing what others are reading, so I thought I'd start sharing what I've been reading each month. I enjoy reading lots of different kinds of books, but I'm most drawn to interesting novels, creative non-fiction and writings about food or cuisine.
I enjoy reading fluffy books or chick lit most on the beach. I read a lot of these "junk food for the mind" books in college since my brain couldn't handle anything denser, so now I tend to not read them as often.
Other criteria? Well, I definitely judge books by their cover. Anything with an interesting design will get me to at least read the inner jacket, if not the entire book. Also, I do almost all of my reading exclusively on the subway, so books that are too long or large or just seem like they would be uncomfortable to hold with one hand I pass by.
So, what have I been reading this month?
Cheri: The Last of Cheri by ColetteHonestly, I'm not sure why I bothered finishing this book. I was bored the entire time I was reading it and, also, a little bit sickened. I was intrigued in the library by the fact that the edition I read had the original French text printed on the left-hand pages with the English translation on the right.
The plot centers on an aging courtesan and her young lover who is getting married. Honestly, not much happens and the characters are so grossly self-centered that it is infuriating. I suppose if you were intrigued by the way of life of aristocratic Parisians pre-WWI then it might be a good read. I was glad that it was short.
Skylark Farm by Antonia Arslan
This was a very difficult book to read. It is a semi-autobiographical work about the author's family during the Armenian genocide. It is not graphic, but, rather, deeply poetic and the humiliation and despair of the family is portrayed so vividly that I cried every day on the subway as I read it.
I suppose it wasn't helped by the fact that I know a number of Armenians from my time at AUBG and I was reading the book during the anniversary of the death marches, but it was almost painful to read this book. Also, one of the characters is named Garo (what my nieces call my Daddy) and he's described:
"The sexton is named Garo and he is a simple man of God. Indeed, he speaks with God every day and is surprised that others don't do the same." (Skylark Farm, p. 54)
In short, while incredibly difficult to read, I loved this book. I highly recommend that you read it if you are not afraid of shedding a tear or two where you are reading. The resilence of the human spirit makes for a beautiful story.
The Amateur Gourmet: How to Shop, Chop and Table Hop Like a Pro (Almost) by Adam D. RobertsWhen I picked this book up, I had no idea that Adam Roberts writes a highly successful blog called The Amateur Gourmet. I suppose it was an interesting enough book, but it wasn't wow-ing. I really enjoyed reading about his experiences at nice restaurants in New York City, but I don't consider myself to be a gourmet, so he sort of lost me there. I guess what I'm saying is: it wasn't him, it was me.
The Revolution: A Field Manual for Changing Your World edited by Heather Zydek
Well, this book knocked my socks off. I started reading this prepared to have many of my life choices affirmed and expecting to end the book feeling pretty good about myself. Instead, almost immediately this collection of 12 essays about Relevant Magazine's ideas of the biggest issues facing our world knocked the air out of me. This was another book that stirred me to cry on the subway.
Here is what is great about the collection though--each essay centers around on what you--as a human, as a Christian, as a privileged member of our society--can do to help. Each problem has suggestions that anyone can do (pray) and that most people can do (donate time or money). Resources are spelled out clearly and the takeaway of the book is not that all hope is lost and that we should give up because of the problems overwhelming our world, but rather than hope is to be found around every corner and that change is possible in our lifetimes.
I highly recommend the essays to anyone who feels overwhelmed by the many problems of our world and to Christians who feel a call to do something, but especially to Christians who are content NOT thinking about all of the things we need to be doing. The book certainly challenged me with the chapters on gang violence and poverty--two things that I realized many of my fellow subway riders were probably dealing with, but that I, in my safe neighborhood and comfortable apartment, gave little thought to.
The Good Earth by Pearl S. BuckNathan read this book in the seventh grade and was surprised when I picked it up that I had never read it. Apparently, 7th grade Nathan hated this book and I can see why--it's subtly weightly. I thought the book was beautiful and enjoyed reading it immensely. The plots focuses on a Chinese farmer living in a time of great tumult: pre-revolutionary China. True to life, however, these major events are given only a passing glance--the real story for the farmer is about his wife and children and father and land. The story seems so simple until you really start to think about it and you realize the point of the book is about self-absorbtion and the quiet beauty and horror of the mundane and regular. The ending could be seen as terribly sad, but also as a natural part of the cycle of life. I'll pull a Levar Burton and tell you to read it to see what you think.
Well, that's it for this month. What have you been reading?
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Welcome!
This is the view that greets you from our front door. Welcome to our new apartment and to the new blog! Come on in.Turning left, you can look down the hall into my FAVORITE room in the new place and the room that sold us on this apartment--the kitchen. Yes, that is a classroom-sized chalkboard there on the right. Right now it has a triple integral or somesuch on it. Nathan is a mathematician (like, he actually has published research) and he's always working on something on that chalkboard. I dream of it covered in quotes and little drawings, but it is his chalkboard, so integrals it is.
The chalkboard is the inspiration for the name of this new blog. When my best friend heard we had a chalkboard in the kitchen, she remarked that it was the ultimate in "intellectual domesticity" and so the name was born.
Now we're standing the kitchen looking back toward the foyer. The blue hutch holds our dishes and one of the drawers contains nothing but baking and cake decorating supplies! The colander and sifter both belonged to my grandmother and, yes, they are used and not merely decoration.
Since the kitchen is truly my domain and I miss my pre-marriage days of pink living SO MUCH, the kitchen has as much pink in it as Nathan allows. These pieces of art are pink and green with bird and bee cutouts.
Here's the work area. My Kitchen Aid and our espresso maker both live on the counter! This is a huge improvement from our old kitchen where they lived under the sink.
Didn't Nathan put together a swanky pot rack for me? I love it. See that cabinet above the fridge? I can't reach it and Nathan hides his contraband food there like Coca-Cola and Oreos. My grandfather hid cookies and it sort of warms my heart that Nathan does the same thing.
And now we're in the living room. I love this corner. Miss Marple spends a lot of time here contemplating how she can get through that window to catch one of the pigeons that hang out on our fire escape. We found the wicker bench in this photo Friday night on the street. I love it!
This is the far end of the living room--the dining room. It's a bit sparse right now. I'm still debating what kind of a centerpiece to have. And yes, that's a box of stuff to go to Goodwill in the corner.
Here's a long shot of the living room from the dining room table.
And here's the view from the couch. No, we don't have a television. My boss (jokingly) accused me the other day of being anti-technology. Not true! I watch The Hills, The Office, Heroes and 30 Rock--just on my laptop instead of a television.
Here's our bathroom. Nothing too fancy, but I do like it.
And here's our bedroom. Yes, only one window has blinds--we are awaiting a missing piece to hang up the other one.
The view from our bed:
And our rumbled bed (Nathan flopped around on it a bit before I took this picture). We lost a sham in the move and I'm heartbroken over it. I hope that it turns up.
So, there you have it. Thanks for stopping by. Please change your blog rolls and reader subscriptions to the new address. Leave a comment after you do this (scout's honor) and I'll enter you in my giveaway that will showcase some of my favorite things!
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