Memorial Day

In the midst of finals and the end of the school year (no days off here), it's easy to forget about the true meaning of this holiday-- all of the men and women who have served and are serving our amazing country in ways that are small and  in ways that are immeasurably huge. And not only those in uniform, but the families and loved ones that sacrifice so much of what they have to be the amazing support system to our heroes.

They're the reason for our rich past and they're the reason for our promising futures.

So happy Memorial Day! And God Bless America.

Galentine's

Our Galentine's extravaganza was wonderful. And we have instax to prove it!

How was your Valentine's Day?

Did you think I had forgotten?

It's Valentine's week and... brace yourselves... but I think I'm sort of excited about it. I know. Who is this person? Because I sure as bells don't know her. The only reasoning I can come up with is that somewhere over the last three years of publicly mocking and berating this holiday on this very blog, I sort of developed a soft spot for all of the hearts and pink and red and love mush. What can I say? I didn't see it coming. I guess what they say is true, when you least expect it...

The roomies and I are hosting our annual Galentine's Day Party with all of our favorite single gals (or semi-single gals or boyfriended-but-boyfriend-is-out-of-Valentine's-range gals) and let me tell you, this is a coveted invitation. There's major buzz. I have even heard from a few ladies in Savannah who do in fact have steady beau's in their lives, that they would rather abandon their men folk in favor of ringing in the Boo Year with us. 

These are the invitations. I made them. Not gonna lie. I think I'm pretty funny. 

You wish you could come, don't you? It's ok. Break up with your boyfriend, and we'll talk next year. 

Anyway, to round out today's post, I leave you with kid's talking about Valentine's Day. It's dangerously close to exceeding the amount of cuteness that I allow myself to intake per day, but there are no kittens or elderly people or slow loris' so, it just makes the cut. 

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

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.

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? 

Haiku #5

Thanks Giving

Pull it out of me

And tell me to be grateful

I'll blush and wonder

Thank you.

Give Thanks

So, I know I'm a little late in the game and most of you won't read this until tomorrow (Friday) and the idea of giving thanks will be soooo over for the next 364 days, but from where I'm sitting, there are still 30 minutes of Thanksgiving left and I am going to celebrate until it is officially done. 

With that being said, homegirl is pretty pooped, so I'm going to make this quick. 

This is what we will call the "Thanksgiving Short List" because goodness knows I could be typing up a list about good things in my life until next year, so let's just hit the VIP's: 

(in no particular order)

• Bird watching
• People watching
• People smiles
• Baby smiles
• My Home(s)
• Foxy Loxy Decaf Mocha
• My Family
• Getting to have really really great and encouraging conversations with my family
• My grandpa's stories
• Gigi's laugh
• The most genuinely kind heart in the entire world of Grandma Bunny
• My legs, for walking and otherwise
• Napping
• The ever-fulfilling need/ability to create
• My friends... all of them... but especially the really really good ones. The kind that fill me up. 
• My dad's compliments
• My mom's hugs
• My sister's patience
• Adventure
• GOD (please re-note the fact that I said that these were in no real order because goodness knows this guy should shoot straight up to the top of the list)
• Cold weather (Ok- more like my kind of cold weather. I'm talking 40s and 50s. Before I start to really complain)
• Chocolate souffle. Namely the one that is still hanging out in my belly (and will soon make a swift transition to my love handles) from earlier this evening. Damn. I am thankful for you.
• A good movie
• Quiet
• And then loud
• Struggle
• Struggle
• Struggle
• Triumph
• Household appliances. Seriously. Unsung heroes. 
• Music
• A perfectly spicy yellow curry
• Vintage dresses with princess seams
• The fact that life is just barely beginning
• When the ocean is sparkly

And with that, I think I'm gonna call it. Where can you go after a sparkly ocean, you know? It's a tough one to follow. I hope all of you are fast asleep in your tryptophane comas, dreaming of Christmas lights and Holiday cookies. 

'Tis officially the season, my friends!