My Favorite Things about 2012

In no particular order.

Winter in Savannah
My first Saturday morning alone in New York City
Cooking for my roommates
Roast Chicken
Paella
Blueberry Muffins
Walking home alone in the rain that one afternoon this summer
Easter with my friends
Rollerskates in our house (watching and not participating)
Spring Break
Downton Abbey
When my hair was red (before things went awry)
The time I ate sweet potatoes and watched Amelie with my friends
The construction workers at NYU
The sample sale
Saturday mornings at the Savannah Farmer's Market
Staycation
Various young adult fan fiction book series
Nonfiction Writing Class
Urban Ethnography
Dinner at The River Club
Jewish Food Festival
Trips 1 and 2 to Atlanta
Foxy Loxy Decaf Mocha
Red Dress photoshoot
Watching Kaitlin graduate on my computer
The dog on the red leash
When Kaitlin and my mom came to New York
When the Page's came to New York
When Lindsay came to New York
When Aunt Beth came to New York
When Kaitlin and my mom and my dad came to Savannah
Virginia
Moving
My birthday

Christmas Pictures

 

Merry (Belated) Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all! I know it's late and you might be reading this on the not very Christmasy 26th of December, but I just wanted to make a quick post under the wire before the day is done.

What did you do to celebrate?

My entire family on my dad's side came over and my mom made an amazing meal of Beef Wellington, cheesy potatoes, broccoli with blue cheese, and Root Vegetables (a big hit). I was in charge of dessert (major pressure) and I made a very messy and dramatic mixed berry pie with homemade crust and then some wonderfully rich chocolate soufflés. I know, I know. . . two desserts. . . a little excessive, but I couldn't resist. I am still so puffy and full of holiday seasoned gluttony.

During dinner, Dad read a few Bible verses to remind us the real reason of Christmas and no matter how many times I hear those verses, they always make me tear up.

To ward off any early evening boredom, Kaitlin and my mom decided that everyone in the family was required to bring their best (or corniest) Christmas joke to tell. Mine was "Why does Santa have three garden's? . . . So he can 'Ho, Ho, Ho!'" (See? Corny.) Kaitlin won with the joke "What is the difference between a male snowman and a female snowman? . . . Snowballs!" It was a hit. We also played a new game called "Left, Right, Center" which was absolutely the best. Both the joke and the game had prizes on the line-- a sure fire way to get full participation with this crowd.

It was, most certainly, a wonderful Christmas. I hope yours was truly wonderful as well.

PS- Before the holiday season is over (NO!) how great are these pictures of Jimmy Stewart throwing snowballs between takes of filming It's a Wonderful Life? Gosh, I love that movie.

The More Loving One

The More Loving One

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.
How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.
Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.
Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.

W.H. Auden
1957

Haiku #7

Solstice

Fire breaths dry me out

Singe me down and bare it all

Living room solstice

Thank you.

Still Here

Still in the dining room. Three lattes, one hot tea, two stockings, and one skirt down... a cacophony still to go.

I'm in the zone, so I'm going to make this one short, but in case you are in need of a good laugh like I am, here's a classic:

(excuse the profanity)

Me, myself, and I

Forget it. I'll just get my own latte.

It's fine.

Santa's Workshop

Doesn't this Tuesday feel like a Monday? Yesterday was a very busy day for me, so the fact that I absolutely 100% need to be productive this morning is throwing me off. Because Mondays are for productivity and Tuesdays are for Tacos or New Girl. 

But I digress. 

Today. Tuesday. It's gonna be a whopper. I suddenly find myself with a cacophony, yes, a cacophony, of sewing projects. Skirts, stockings, dresses, and projects that are so Christmasy and Top Secret that I feel the urge to look over my shoulder as I type even now. 

So, me, my sewing machine and One Direction, yes, One Direction, are taking over the dining room. And we aren't stopping until we finish at least two projects. Unless, of course, a friend were to feel the urge to just drop in and bring my weary hands and I a decaf, yes, decaf, vanilla latte? Anyone? 

Don't feel like you need to answer now. I'll give you some time to think about it. 

I'll be here. 

Nothing Good Happens After Midnight

Ohhhh my friends. In spite of the fact that it's 2:31 in the morning and I'm wide awake, I am in a remarkably good mood. Maybe because I've turned these cocoa nuts into a chocolate milk shake and been quite productive. 

Allow me to elaborate: Instead of rolling around in my bed growing ever more frustrated with the boredom and monotony of insomnia, I've applied my time to the good, old-fashioned practice of intense  internet/ computer program usage. 

I've watched one episode of Felicity. It has, once again, been confirmed that I am fully and 100% team Noel. Sorry. Haters gonna hate. 

I've watched two episodes of Freaks and Geeks (grossly under appreciated, but truth be told, I wouldn't want it any other way). 

I laughed alone in my room.

Recorded a video of myself dancing. 

Seriously. 

Deleted it. 

Pulled it out of the trash. 

Tried to e-mail it to a select few. 

Realized the file was too big. 

Toyed with the idea of putting it up here. 

Stopped myself. 

(I'm working on developing a filter.)

(Also, I re-watched the video.)

(I'm a TERRIBLE dancer.)

(Seriously.)

(What?)

(You think I'm lying and being all like "Ohhhh... I'm such a bad dancer..." even if I'm really not?)

(Hmmm...)

(Now I'm tempted to post it just to prove how bad I really am.)

(Ok, maybe just a few little highlights won't hurt)

(See!?)

(And those are the good parts.)

Re-watched some old favorites.

Made the most PERFECT Christmas playlist. And I don't even like Christmas music. It's that good.

And now I'm out of ideas. So I think it's time to try and fall asleep again. But hey- this was fun, wasn't it?

Friend In-Love

This is so amazing. I'm still laughing.  And oh my, how true it is. Right? ....Right? ...Or maybe it's just me... Oh no. 

(Click here if you want to see it a little bigger.)

Iceland

Just thought I'd post a little Icelandic goodness to get you through the end of the week.

The last few nights, I've been sleeping with my windows open and a big down comforter on my bed so that I wake up with chilly cheeks and warm toes. Maybe tomorrow if I keep my eyes closed for a few extra minutes, I can convince myself that I am in some deserted cottage in Thingvellir. 

Midnight

Watching this video at nine o'clock yesterday morning made starting to bake a loaf a of bread at 9:04 sound like a good idea.

And it made listening to Patsy Cline while my loaf was baking really easy.

And then eating the bread on the porch at midnight taste so good.

Masks

Really digging this one today.

Las Vegas

This weekend, my family and I all piled into the car and headed out to Las Vegas, baby!

It's been a while since we've gotten to go on vacation just the four of us (besides Staycation, of course) and this weekend reminded me why all, repeat: ALL of my favorite memories of growing up are from vacations like these.

We walked around the strip, visited the Neon Museum and ate overly expensive Gelato. (Eating gelato at $5 a scoop is still better than no gelato at all though, I'd have to say ;)

My parents (semi)surprised Kaitlin and I with tickets to see Faith Hill and Tim McGraw at the Venetian and the concert was SO SO SO GOOD. Go ahead and give me all the crap you want about liking country music and say what you will about the sappy lyrics and twangy tunes, but this. concert. rocked. The whole venue only seats 1,800 people and so every seat in the house was still relatively close to the stage in comparison to the 50-60,000 seat arenas they usually play. And then the venue felt even smaller when Tim and Faith walked through the crowd just three rows away from us! I can confirm that yes, Faith Hill is just as beautiful in person and yes, Tim McGraw is just as hot. Oy vei.

Kaitlin and I each left our phones (aka: cameras) in the hotel room and I was kicking myself when they walked by and a major Kodak moment was slipping through my finger tips, but when I noticed the lady in front of me taking a ton of pictures, I waited until the end of the concert and then very nicely asked her to send one to me. Now, I can look at the picture whenever I want and reminisce about the time Tim Mcgraw winked at me. (I mean, some people may call closing both eyes at the same time a "blink", and no, maybe he wasn't, like, totally looking just at me directly, but I knew what he was trying to communicate. We had a moment.)

We came back to Newport early on Sunday, but it was truly wonderful to have such concentrated family time.  I am so blessed to have such a great family. Seriously weird, but seriously great.

Tarter Sauce

I've been MIA for the last little bit because I was on vacation with my family (more on that later), so to ease myself back into this week, I'm going to watch this video about 40 more times.

Tard, I feel ya. Let's just deal with this Monday together, Ok?

Haiku #6

A belated Friday Haiku inspired by this morning's war with coffee. 

You hurt me, but I love you Still

Vanilla Latte

Stomach twists and jittery taps

I'll never give up

Thank you.

Business Time

Enough of this Christmas Break squirreling around business. I've slept in and stayed up late enough times now that I feel rested and ready to head back into the thick of real life. I've talked things out. And I've lost some sleep. I've given big, real life, 10 second hugs to people that I've really missed and things are still definitely a little cloudy for me, but I put on actual clothes today, some lip gloss and a real bra. This is for real. 

I'm taking my first plunge back into productiveness today by starting to think about what this summer is going to look like. I know. This summer. It's rearing it's ugly, hot temperatured head. Already. And again. Ugh. 

The name of the game: Internship. 

Me and my computer are sitting at Alta, somewhere that even though I can't give a big, real life, 10 second hug to, is a place that I have really missed. I've got my crazy, crazy three page, single spaced list of companies that are on my radar. I've got my decaf vanilla latte and the search has begun. I kind of want to run away. Or justify the idea of taking this summer off and just "enjoying life" (which is the nice way of saying "being a total leach and wasting a bunch of time out of fear"), but one by one, I'll send out my application to companies beggginnnggg for them to love me!! Pretty, pretty please! I know you'll love me! Daunting. 

Here we go. 

PS- halfway through writing this, a coffee date started at the table behind me. She really likes him. He sort of seems creepy. And he has a lisp. Which, funny enough, isn't what makes him creepy. 

Wishing

This Christmas, my list is small. But, it is strategic and thorough. I think I've reached the stage in my life where I am finally starting to understand the genius behind the old saying "Less is more." And the beauty of it all is that each of you are totally more than welcome to buy any of the items for me. Seriously! It won't make me mad, like, at all! 

Ok. So, let's get down to business:

Typewriter. We've talked about this before. This gift has  total tear potential. That's right. Tears of iconic Christmas for the books proportions. But, it has got to be right. Cool looking and in working condition. Consider this one, perhaps? 

Kinfolk Magazine Subscription. Call me an annoying hipster if you'd like, but I love, love, love, this magazine. Besides the fact that it would be my dream to work for them in absolutely ANY capacity or to be even the most annoying of flies on the wall for one of their legendary dinner parties, for now I'll  settle for just soaking up the pages of what represents the exciting new generation of print publications. (here)

Moroccan Oil. This stuff is like crack cocaine for my hair. No matter what color is on my head or what the cut may look like, Moroccan Oil never let's me down. And it smells like I'm on vacation. (here)

Yoga Passes. I. Love. Yoga. For some reason that I do not know, I easily forget just how much I love it. Actually- I do know the reason: I'm poor and I can't afford it! But then, when I save my pennies and find myself at the end of a class in Child's Pose and Shavasana, I realize how happy a good sweaty yoga mat can make me. (here)

Denim Vest. Spencer Malinski pulls off a denim vest like nobodies business. Sometimes I borrow it and pretend like I'm as cool as her. And although I know that I'll never quite make it to her level, I'm going to make a real fighting effort with this one from Madewell. (here)

These flats. (mostly because they're named after yours truly) (here)

These pants. Because... they are like... sweats... that you can wear in real life. I mean... what else is there to discuss? (here)

What's on your list this year?