Is it spring?
Last week, I thought it was. Plenty of sun, some breezes, bright blue skies with puffy white clouds scudding across, brilliantly green grass, a full complement of verdant green leaves on trees, little poofballs of baby ducks and geese crossing the street en route to the pond, and bursts of rain. Spring was here! And especially welcome after a particularly chilly spell the previous week.
I think Spring went a little overboard, though. The humidity shot up, so that even draped in front of a fan, I was still sweating...without even moving. Blurgh. But far more welcome than any winter weather behavior. The rain bursts morphed into monsoon season, and several days went by under entirely gray and wet skies. Blurgh again. What was Spring doing??? It's supposed to be mild, warm and sunny with a little bit of rain. Definitely not this.
Spring must have gone off to sulk, because winter came back with a vengeance. The low temps felt even colder after those few days of sun and warmth and even humidity. No sun, just rain and gray skies and oh-so-cold temps all day and night. I became a human popsicle. We don't control heat in our apartment, and it had been turned off for the year, so our apartment felt like an igloo. Probably colder. Our heater (aka the gas oven) barely helped. This was NOT spring!
The dramatic changes in season have wrecked havoc on my appetite. I'm craving my warm weather foods - fruits and vegetables at their peak, herbs, ice cream. Okay, I crave ice cream regardless of season. (speaking of ice cream, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams has a new seasonal set out, called Ohio Loves You. I can't wait to try the Rockmill Ale + Apricots and the Rhubarb + Lime Cardamom!) I'd even filled planters with basic herbs - cilantro (for salsa and thai), mint (for fruit and thai and, if I feel brave, peas and pasta), basil (for tomatoes and thai)as well as a mini tomato plant (salsa and bruschetta) and a jalapeno plant (salsa again). Cold weather changed my tastes back to ooey-gooey cheesey dishes.
Today it's a tiny bit warmer and, at this moment, there is no rain. It's almost sunny (just get out from behind those clouds, sun!). I think Spring is returning. And hopefully it's here to stay. Because I want my herbs and fruits and veggies. I want my sun and my warmth back. I don't want to be a popsicle anymore!
To celebrate the possible return of Spring, I am making a new cookie tonight: Strawberry Shortcake Cookies from the magnificent Martha Stewart. They incorporate fresh strawberries and cream together, along with some of the fantastic and highly addictive crunchy sugar crystals on top. Mmmm! I also have a strong desire to make another batch of Alton Brown's Peach and Rhubarb Cobbler. There's tons of lime zest in the biscuit part and it just sings Spring in your mouth... And to really make my point, I'll be enjoying Rivertown Brewery's Spring Wit Beer - orange, coriander, and unfiltered wheat beer. Ahhh, perfection. Come back Spring, I'm making all your favorites!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
But why is all the rum gone????
The name of this blog is Hops, in reference to hopping through the ups and downs of life. We hop from one thing to the next. We hop up hills and down hills. And as you've heard, I don't like running...so I'll hop along (ha!)
Okay, to be honest, I did have something along this train of thought in mind when I named my blog. Something about the ups and downs of life. But I also wanted to be light-hearted and simple. The word popped in to my head and stuck.
I also had a vague notion of talking fairly regularly about beer. Or wine. Or cocktails. Whatever drink struck my fancy. This was also around the time I was contemplating becoming a homebrewer of beer. My coworkers and I brew beer, and I'd really enjoyed it. I wanted to develop a new hobby or two and thought homebrewing was an excellent choice - I could brew AND drink AND share my brew! Fun all around! Sadly, I never purchased the requisite equipment and I'm still looking for a place I'm allowed to brew and ferment. Maybe one day I'll find it.
So the name Hops came from a philosophical approach to life and a desire to talk about beer.
And you know what? I haven't talked about beer!
So here's a few fun facts about me and beer...
*When I first began drinking, beer was not all that tasty to me. I preferred the highly carbonated and highly sugared Smirnoff Ice Triple Black (absolutely disgusting to me now) or a mixed drink (coke and vodka or rum). Before long, though, I actually began to like beer. Now I love beer. And my appreciation for different flavors of beer is constantly improving - for example, I didn't like IPAs or other hoppy beers when I initially acquired a taste for beer (cite: the inability to drink a single bottle of Stone's Arrogant Bastard between Moe and I, despite much determination to do so!)....but now I do!
*I love trying new brands and new types of beer. Especially if it's made by one of my favorite breweries (My roommate Kayleigh realized she and I continually buy different types of beer from our favorite breweries much more than other breweries. She loves Brooklyn Brewery, I love Dogfish Head, Bells, and, more recently, Rivertown Brewing Co. from Cincinnati). Sometimes I discover an awesome flavor. Other times....well, it takes awhile to drink them. On a very rare occasion, I have given my beer to someone else to finish for me or - the horror! - have thrown it out (I recall a particularly bad batch of Brooklyn Brewery's Black Imperial Stout. It was flat and metallic and absolutely abhorrent).
*Brewing is a ton of fun. Similar to cooking and baking, I really enjoy making something I can enjoy and I can share with others. It's like my personal form of magic :) Except I don't think we've brewed any beer that is magically delicious....but we might! Don't give up hope yet!
*I am NOT a beer snob, despite what Eric says. I will drink and, more importantly, enjoy and crave an icy cold PBR. I will try different beers, though, and get excited about some of them. It's not my fault if some of them are microbrews and more expensive. :) Seriously, though, I do enjoy all types of beer - microbrew, homebrew, national brewery, international...
Now, to talk about beer I've been drinking...
Yuengling Lager: Oh, the sweet glory of Yuengling! Our recent trip to Tennessee afforded Eric and I the opportunity to purchase some Yuengling and smuggle it back into Ohio, where it isn't available. I savor each and every can (sorry, I bought cans because I could get more cans for the buck), holding a mini-debate in my head to decide if the day or meal is worthy of the Yuengling. It's so perfect for summer and fall....but I'd drink it anytime! Amber colored, light, crisp, but a distinct flavor, compared to traditional American lagers like Bud Light. Add in the fact that its not available in Ohio and you understand the obsession I share with hundreds, if not thousands, of Ohioans. Rumor is that Yuengling may be sold in Ohio by 2012!!!! Of course, variants of this rumor have existed for years, but apparently there are actual news stories supporting the credibility of this momentous occasion. I can't wait! Hopefully my love for Yuengling doesn't diminish with increased availability.
Rivertown Brewery, Wit Ale: Rivertown is a local Cincy brewery (apparently we have a rich tradition - Morlein, Hudepohl, now Rivertown) that I only began seeing in stores within the last year. I tried their Brown Ale last fall and enjoyed it. So I tried their Winter Ale and loved it (which did not seem to be the shared opinion. Most people did not like it because of the strong molasses and cinnamon flavor. I think it's perfect for a winter ale.). Then I bought the sampler pack and am working my way through it (Hefewizen was too sour for my taste, but the Hop Bomber was a marvelously balanced hop and ale flavor...mmm!) Anyway, the Wit Ale is a Belgian-style white ale with orange and coriander. It made me think of Sam Adams similar type (sorry, I can't be sure of the name, but I know they have one). It's got a little heft/body to it, but not too much. That in addition to the citrus flavor make it an excellent spring beer. I think it'd be a little heavy in my stomach during the hot summer months.
21st Amendment Brewery, Bitter American: Let me tell you, I am in love with 21st Amendment brewery! I thought they could do no wrong...until I had their Fireside Chat winter ale (not my favorite...it was donated to a fellow beer aficionado). Aside from that one beer, I have thoroughly enjoyed anything else they produced. I'm incredibly eager for their summer beer (Watermelon Wheat) to come out - it's PERFECT! The Bitter American is one of their short term offerings, available for only a few weeks. It's a twist on an American Pale Ale, so its hoppy. But it also has more spices and malt than typical APA, so it has a distinctively different taste. Not spicy, not sweet, not hoppy...but a refreshing blend of all three things. It's got a little more body/heft than the Rivertown Wit Ale and I'd say it's more body than the typical APA, but it remains lighter than a dark beer. It's another good spring beer.
When I've sampled some new beers, I'll let you know! Don't say I haven't written about beer!
Oh, and as a clever ending... Bottoms Up! ;)
Okay, to be honest, I did have something along this train of thought in mind when I named my blog. Something about the ups and downs of life. But I also wanted to be light-hearted and simple. The word popped in to my head and stuck.
I also had a vague notion of talking fairly regularly about beer. Or wine. Or cocktails. Whatever drink struck my fancy. This was also around the time I was contemplating becoming a homebrewer of beer. My coworkers and I brew beer, and I'd really enjoyed it. I wanted to develop a new hobby or two and thought homebrewing was an excellent choice - I could brew AND drink AND share my brew! Fun all around! Sadly, I never purchased the requisite equipment and I'm still looking for a place I'm allowed to brew and ferment. Maybe one day I'll find it.
So the name Hops came from a philosophical approach to life and a desire to talk about beer.
And you know what? I haven't talked about beer!
So here's a few fun facts about me and beer...
*When I first began drinking, beer was not all that tasty to me. I preferred the highly carbonated and highly sugared Smirnoff Ice Triple Black (absolutely disgusting to me now) or a mixed drink (coke and vodka or rum). Before long, though, I actually began to like beer. Now I love beer. And my appreciation for different flavors of beer is constantly improving - for example, I didn't like IPAs or other hoppy beers when I initially acquired a taste for beer (cite: the inability to drink a single bottle of Stone's Arrogant Bastard between Moe and I, despite much determination to do so!)....but now I do!
*I love trying new brands and new types of beer. Especially if it's made by one of my favorite breweries (My roommate Kayleigh realized she and I continually buy different types of beer from our favorite breweries much more than other breweries. She loves Brooklyn Brewery, I love Dogfish Head, Bells, and, more recently, Rivertown Brewing Co. from Cincinnati). Sometimes I discover an awesome flavor. Other times....well, it takes awhile to drink them. On a very rare occasion, I have given my beer to someone else to finish for me or - the horror! - have thrown it out (I recall a particularly bad batch of Brooklyn Brewery's Black Imperial Stout. It was flat and metallic and absolutely abhorrent).
*Brewing is a ton of fun. Similar to cooking and baking, I really enjoy making something I can enjoy and I can share with others. It's like my personal form of magic :) Except I don't think we've brewed any beer that is magically delicious....but we might! Don't give up hope yet!
*I am NOT a beer snob, despite what Eric says. I will drink and, more importantly, enjoy and crave an icy cold PBR. I will try different beers, though, and get excited about some of them. It's not my fault if some of them are microbrews and more expensive. :) Seriously, though, I do enjoy all types of beer - microbrew, homebrew, national brewery, international...
Now, to talk about beer I've been drinking...
Yuengling Lager: Oh, the sweet glory of Yuengling! Our recent trip to Tennessee afforded Eric and I the opportunity to purchase some Yuengling and smuggle it back into Ohio, where it isn't available. I savor each and every can (sorry, I bought cans because I could get more cans for the buck), holding a mini-debate in my head to decide if the day or meal is worthy of the Yuengling. It's so perfect for summer and fall....but I'd drink it anytime! Amber colored, light, crisp, but a distinct flavor, compared to traditional American lagers like Bud Light. Add in the fact that its not available in Ohio and you understand the obsession I share with hundreds, if not thousands, of Ohioans. Rumor is that Yuengling may be sold in Ohio by 2012!!!! Of course, variants of this rumor have existed for years, but apparently there are actual news stories supporting the credibility of this momentous occasion. I can't wait! Hopefully my love for Yuengling doesn't diminish with increased availability.
Rivertown Brewery, Wit Ale: Rivertown is a local Cincy brewery (apparently we have a rich tradition - Morlein, Hudepohl, now Rivertown) that I only began seeing in stores within the last year. I tried their Brown Ale last fall and enjoyed it. So I tried their Winter Ale and loved it (which did not seem to be the shared opinion. Most people did not like it because of the strong molasses and cinnamon flavor. I think it's perfect for a winter ale.). Then I bought the sampler pack and am working my way through it (Hefewizen was too sour for my taste, but the Hop Bomber was a marvelously balanced hop and ale flavor...mmm!) Anyway, the Wit Ale is a Belgian-style white ale with orange and coriander. It made me think of Sam Adams similar type (sorry, I can't be sure of the name, but I know they have one). It's got a little heft/body to it, but not too much. That in addition to the citrus flavor make it an excellent spring beer. I think it'd be a little heavy in my stomach during the hot summer months.
21st Amendment Brewery, Bitter American: Let me tell you, I am in love with 21st Amendment brewery! I thought they could do no wrong...until I had their Fireside Chat winter ale (not my favorite...it was donated to a fellow beer aficionado). Aside from that one beer, I have thoroughly enjoyed anything else they produced. I'm incredibly eager for their summer beer (Watermelon Wheat) to come out - it's PERFECT! The Bitter American is one of their short term offerings, available for only a few weeks. It's a twist on an American Pale Ale, so its hoppy. But it also has more spices and malt than typical APA, so it has a distinctively different taste. Not spicy, not sweet, not hoppy...but a refreshing blend of all three things. It's got a little more body/heft than the Rivertown Wit Ale and I'd say it's more body than the typical APA, but it remains lighter than a dark beer. It's another good spring beer.
When I've sampled some new beers, I'll let you know! Don't say I haven't written about beer!
Oh, and as a clever ending... Bottoms Up! ;)
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The Farthest I've Ever Run (aka my first 10k)
I'm not much of a runner. Until the last few years, running was a necessary evil I had to do each summer to prepare for soccer in the fall. And running was the punishment meted out at practice. Running was never good or fun. I would spend hours each day mentally persuading myself to go running, and more often than not, I would find some pathetic excuse to get out of running.
Upon graduating college, I wanted to change my perspective of running. I wanted to like it, to do it everyday (or almost everyday). My intent was to stay in some semblance of athletic shape. I have a huge fear of becoming a blob-shaped person. Ugggh.
I knew to make this drastic change in my mentality, I'd have to get excited about running. So I thought "I'll run races". I knew I wouldn't be fast - speed has never been present in me, despite numerous "acceleration" training camps I attended. I just wanted to finish the race, keep going farther and farther distances. Maybe even a marathon one day.... I mean, all the pictures of people who run marathons show people in pretty good shape, right? (Fact I found out later: There are people who don't look like runners who can run. Far. And fast.) Plus, as a bonus, I thought I could slim down my huge soccer legs.
Well, four years later, I'm still trying to change my mentality towards running. I openly admit I haven't spent four years consistently on this - I've taken a LOT of time off exercising (bad!) So far, I've reached the point where I know running is good for me, I want to do, I even write up basic training plans, and I can run more than I thought....but I still don't like running and have to convince myself to do it. Oops.
It doesn't exactly help that my boyfriend Eric and his friends are all runners. Compared to them, I run at an elephantine pace and I run such meager distances. Of course, they don't say that, but hearing them talking about doing an 8 mile training run at 6:30 pace.....I know where I stand.
And it's incredibly silly, but I also want to run because I don't want to be left behind by Eric and his friends. I may not run as fast or as far, but I can run too. Perhaps going out for runs at the same time can become a tradition. We've done it before - we run the first quarter mile together, then Eric peels off for another 6 miles much faster than I could imagine while I plod along 2 more miles back to the apartment. I want to have activities we can do together and I hope that this - something so important to Eric - can be one we share.
Hmmm, I went off on a tangent, didn't I? I was supposed to be telling you about the race I ran this past weekend...
There's a huge marathon (and all it's associated shorter races) here in Cincy called the Flying Pig. It's a big deal and tons of people, native or out-of-towners, participate in it. A few months ago, my mom signed me up to do the 10k race with her, which is 6.2 miles. My mom does a combination of walking and jogging, whereas I normally try to run the entire distance. (Side note: I am so incredibly proud of my mom for being physically active and for doing these races. I don't care if she walks, hops, roller skates, whatever - I'm impressed she's doing anything and doing it consistently. I want to be like that when I get older!) I wrote out a training plan where I'd run 3 days a week for a month or two in advance. Okay, I copied the exact training plan from Women's Health magazine where you only have to run 3 days a week and you'll optimize your weight loss (intervals, hills, that's where it's at!). I had my plan. And then I didn't follow it at all. Oops. I actually don't think I ran more than twice in the month prior to the race. Oops again. I was screwed.
Here's why I was panicked: I have never run more than 5 miles at a time in my life. And I've only done that 3 times (2 Turkey Trots and one random race this spring with Eric's elite running team). The last time I ran 5 miles, I wanted to collapse around mile 3. So how am I, without any training, going to run 6.2 miles?????
Certain I was doomed to fail, I set two basic goals for myself for the race:
1) Run the entire time. Not fast, but just keep running.
2) Try to finish around an hour. That would mean I was running a slow but steady 10 minute mile pace.
I woke up at 5:45am the morning of the race, and left Dayton with my parents at 6:30am. I tried to sleep a little more in the car, but never really dozed off. Mom and I hopped out of the car at a corner near Great American Ballpark, where the start line was situated. With 20 minutes to go, we joined the long line for the row of Port-a-Lets. With 5 minutes to go, we left the Port-a-Lets and attached ourselves to the back of a rather large crowd at the start line. And then....we were off!
After a quarter mile, I dashed off from mom, running, so as to meet goals 1 and 2. We wove out of downtown Cincy, crossed a bridge into Newport, Kentucky, ran along the main street in Newport, then turned around to run along a parallel street closer to the river (at this point, we passed a Hooters restaurant where I overheard some dudes say "There should totally be a beer stop here!"). We crossed another bridge, but, instead of heading back to Cincy (like I thought we were), we entered Covington, Kentucky and ran through it. I think I ran my strongest here because of all the people out on the side of the road, cheering us and playing music from their cars. I felt, as I rarely do when running, good. We crossed a bridge back into Cincy and, on that bridge, I ran faster than a train for a few minutes! (The train was only going about 2 miles per hour, but I was still faster!!!!) Then we wandered through a part of downtown Cincy, past our start line, and looped back around to finish on the other side of Great American Ballpark. The last mile was hard for me. I kept setting small goals - catch that person in the yellow shirt, okay now catch the lady in the blue shorts. And on each of the hills on the course, I repeated in my head "crush that hill, crush that hill". I did NOT want to walk! I wanted to meet my goals. I kicked as hard as I could when I saw that "Finish Swine". And I crossed it, head down and chugging along, at 1 hour and 2 minutes! Woooohoooooo!!!!
It was the farthest I've ever run, and I did it! I even have a medal with a pig (turn it over to see its bum!) to prove it!
Now I need to get on my training plan.... I can run some more races up in Dayton to get participation points for Eric's elite team. And hopefully I can get into better shape. And maybe, just maybe, I can start to want to run :) It's gotta be a positive feedback loop, right?
Upon graduating college, I wanted to change my perspective of running. I wanted to like it, to do it everyday (or almost everyday). My intent was to stay in some semblance of athletic shape. I have a huge fear of becoming a blob-shaped person. Ugggh.
I knew to make this drastic change in my mentality, I'd have to get excited about running. So I thought "I'll run races". I knew I wouldn't be fast - speed has never been present in me, despite numerous "acceleration" training camps I attended. I just wanted to finish the race, keep going farther and farther distances. Maybe even a marathon one day.... I mean, all the pictures of people who run marathons show people in pretty good shape, right? (Fact I found out later: There are people who don't look like runners who can run. Far. And fast.) Plus, as a bonus, I thought I could slim down my huge soccer legs.
Well, four years later, I'm still trying to change my mentality towards running. I openly admit I haven't spent four years consistently on this - I've taken a LOT of time off exercising (bad!) So far, I've reached the point where I know running is good for me, I want to do, I even write up basic training plans, and I can run more than I thought....but I still don't like running and have to convince myself to do it. Oops.
It doesn't exactly help that my boyfriend Eric and his friends are all runners. Compared to them, I run at an elephantine pace and I run such meager distances. Of course, they don't say that, but hearing them talking about doing an 8 mile training run at 6:30 pace.....I know where I stand.
And it's incredibly silly, but I also want to run because I don't want to be left behind by Eric and his friends. I may not run as fast or as far, but I can run too. Perhaps going out for runs at the same time can become a tradition. We've done it before - we run the first quarter mile together, then Eric peels off for another 6 miles much faster than I could imagine while I plod along 2 more miles back to the apartment. I want to have activities we can do together and I hope that this - something so important to Eric - can be one we share.
Hmmm, I went off on a tangent, didn't I? I was supposed to be telling you about the race I ran this past weekend...
There's a huge marathon (and all it's associated shorter races) here in Cincy called the Flying Pig. It's a big deal and tons of people, native or out-of-towners, participate in it. A few months ago, my mom signed me up to do the 10k race with her, which is 6.2 miles. My mom does a combination of walking and jogging, whereas I normally try to run the entire distance. (Side note: I am so incredibly proud of my mom for being physically active and for doing these races. I don't care if she walks, hops, roller skates, whatever - I'm impressed she's doing anything and doing it consistently. I want to be like that when I get older!) I wrote out a training plan where I'd run 3 days a week for a month or two in advance. Okay, I copied the exact training plan from Women's Health magazine where you only have to run 3 days a week and you'll optimize your weight loss (intervals, hills, that's where it's at!). I had my plan. And then I didn't follow it at all. Oops. I actually don't think I ran more than twice in the month prior to the race. Oops again. I was screwed.
Here's why I was panicked: I have never run more than 5 miles at a time in my life. And I've only done that 3 times (2 Turkey Trots and one random race this spring with Eric's elite running team). The last time I ran 5 miles, I wanted to collapse around mile 3. So how am I, without any training, going to run 6.2 miles?????
Certain I was doomed to fail, I set two basic goals for myself for the race:
1) Run the entire time. Not fast, but just keep running.
2) Try to finish around an hour. That would mean I was running a slow but steady 10 minute mile pace.
I woke up at 5:45am the morning of the race, and left Dayton with my parents at 6:30am. I tried to sleep a little more in the car, but never really dozed off. Mom and I hopped out of the car at a corner near Great American Ballpark, where the start line was situated. With 20 minutes to go, we joined the long line for the row of Port-a-Lets. With 5 minutes to go, we left the Port-a-Lets and attached ourselves to the back of a rather large crowd at the start line. And then....we were off!
After a quarter mile, I dashed off from mom, running, so as to meet goals 1 and 2. We wove out of downtown Cincy, crossed a bridge into Newport, Kentucky, ran along the main street in Newport, then turned around to run along a parallel street closer to the river (at this point, we passed a Hooters restaurant where I overheard some dudes say "There should totally be a beer stop here!"). We crossed another bridge, but, instead of heading back to Cincy (like I thought we were), we entered Covington, Kentucky and ran through it. I think I ran my strongest here because of all the people out on the side of the road, cheering us and playing music from their cars. I felt, as I rarely do when running, good. We crossed a bridge back into Cincy and, on that bridge, I ran faster than a train for a few minutes! (The train was only going about 2 miles per hour, but I was still faster!!!!) Then we wandered through a part of downtown Cincy, past our start line, and looped back around to finish on the other side of Great American Ballpark. The last mile was hard for me. I kept setting small goals - catch that person in the yellow shirt, okay now catch the lady in the blue shorts. And on each of the hills on the course, I repeated in my head "crush that hill, crush that hill". I did NOT want to walk! I wanted to meet my goals. I kicked as hard as I could when I saw that "Finish Swine". And I crossed it, head down and chugging along, at 1 hour and 2 minutes! Woooohoooooo!!!!
It was the farthest I've ever run, and I did it! I even have a medal with a pig (turn it over to see its bum!) to prove it!
Now I need to get on my training plan.... I can run some more races up in Dayton to get participation points for Eric's elite team. And hopefully I can get into better shape. And maybe, just maybe, I can start to want to run :) It's gotta be a positive feedback loop, right?
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Lookin' Good...(on a trial basis)
Confession: I am addicted to trying new beauty/shower products.
Corollary Confession: I have far, far too many beauty/shower products.
See, I get really, really excited when I read about new products in a magazine or at Sephora. Then my mind will fixate on it, and eventually I can no longer resist. I run--usually to Sephora--and buy it. My exciting new wonder-product is then subjected to a trial run for a few weeks, and meets one of three fates:
1) Hooray, it passed my tests! I become a loyal fan and immediately check out all other products in the brand. (someday in the unforseen future, it might be replaced, but, for awhile, it's safely ensconced in my arsenal)
2) Ehhhhhh....it's alright, but I don't really like it. So I'll use the rest of it but continue searching for the perfect product.
3) Cripes! It's awful for me! Maybe it'll work better for someone else....hmmm...Mom???
Last week, I researched (and I'm not exaggerating - I did online research!) some new products. By the end of the week, I'd bought a few new things and they're currently succeeding in their probationary testing :) So far...
--Ojon Two-Minute Treatment: LOVE it! I've only used it once, but my hair was noticeably more conditioned and smooth the next day. And I didn't even leave it in my hair past the recommended time, like I do with most conditioning treatments (curly hair requires insane amounts of moisturizer). How did I find this product? Because I'm a hardcore fan of Ojon's Deep Conditioning Treatment, which is pure ojon nut oil. It's a waxy-like substance I comb through my hair and leave on for hours, usually once a week. Like the shorter treatment, my hair feels amazing after I use it.
--Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil Moisturizer: Love it! I read about it in one of Sephora's product magazines (yeah, Sephora's obviously got my number. I am such a sucker to their marketing techniques!), did some additional online research (argan oil helps control oil production and is a potent source of essential fatty acids for healthy skin and skin repair), and decided to try the small sample as a nighttime moisturizer for my face and nails. You're supposed to rub a few drops of oil directly onto your skin, which seems very strange at first, but it absorbs within a few minutes and doesn't feel any different from regular lotion. It didn't perform miracles, but my skin felt pretty good in the morning. Wait, I lied. My nails were incredibly awesome in the morning. Strong, healthy looking, smooth... So I started putting a drop of the oil in with hand lotion at night, and that seems to be relatively beneficial to my poor, abused hands. I bought a large bottle of it last week. Addicted!
--Derma E Papaya Enzyme & Soy Facial Cleanser: Love it! My previous facewash of 4 years (Origins Checks & Balances) is pretty awesome; it removes makeup and oils without drying and it rinses away soooooo well. Unfortunately, my face has been really red and sensitive the last few months, despite not being that way for most of my life. (gee, thanks, skin) So I wanted to try a new cleanser. Not too long ago, I purchased a face mask from this same company and it's great (though it stings when you put it on because of the dead sea salt). After little online research at their website, I'd narrowed it to two options. This one won because it was better suited to travel. The papaya enzymes promote the removal of dead skin cells without stinging and the soy helps even out skin tone, which my reddened face desperately needs. The only issue I have with this wash is that it doesn't feel like it rinses away as easily as my previous wash....but that's not a terribly negative point to me!
--Derma E Pycnogenol Moisturizing Gel: LOVE it! I'm obviously becoming a HUGE fan of this brand. Pycnogenol is a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce redness and reduce the signs of aging (among other things). I've been putting this on under my regular face lotion and already--in only a few days--my face is less red! Woot! Plus it absorbs so quickly and completely that I don't even notice it. I'm also hoping it prevents my skin from developing signs of aging. :) I know, I'm still young, but I am of the mind that prevention is best route to take!
--Tarte Smooth Operator SPF 20 Liquid Foundation: Love it! Despite my numerous makeup purchases in the last few years, I actually don't wear makeup every day. I really only wear makeup when I go out on the weekends, and even then, only some of the time. It's partly from laziness - I take forever to put makeup on and inevitably hate the way my eye makeup looks. But it's also because I plan on exercising at some point in the day. And I sweat. A lot. Meaning makeup isn't exactly my friend. I don't want to wash my face and reapply all the lotions and whatnot, just to go sweat them off within a few minutes and probably make my skin break out. But, as I said, my skin has been really red as of late, plus I've been breaking out more frequently. So I thought I'd try a light foundation during the day, at least during the work week. I think I want to look more put together than the slobby grad student I usually look like! I stumbled across Tarte's foundation through the Sephora magazine, and, again, after some online reading and an in store trial, I bought a tube to try. So far, so good. It isn't a heavy coverage product, but it seems to even out my skin tone and hide some of that redness. I was really excited by this product because it has Amazonian clay in it, which is supposed to be good for your skin. And it has SPF 20. While I'll still be out in the sun every chance I can get, I'm more concerned about sun exposure and cancer. (thanks, endless lectures on cancer) As you can see, I'm a very firm believer of preventative measures!!!! :)
Now you know the truth. I'm a beauty product junkie. The thrill of finding that product that works wonderfully, the pleasure of looking and feeling beautiful, the satisfaction of knowing you're doing something good for yourself --- it's my adrenaline rush!
Just don't look in my bathroom cupboards, okay? I don't think you want to know how bad my obsession is..... ;)
Corollary Confession: I have far, far too many beauty/shower products.
See, I get really, really excited when I read about new products in a magazine or at Sephora. Then my mind will fixate on it, and eventually I can no longer resist. I run--usually to Sephora--and buy it. My exciting new wonder-product is then subjected to a trial run for a few weeks, and meets one of three fates:
1) Hooray, it passed my tests! I become a loyal fan and immediately check out all other products in the brand. (someday in the unforseen future, it might be replaced, but, for awhile, it's safely ensconced in my arsenal)
2) Ehhhhhh....it's alright, but I don't really like it. So I'll use the rest of it but continue searching for the perfect product.
3) Cripes! It's awful for me! Maybe it'll work better for someone else....hmmm...Mom???
Last week, I researched (and I'm not exaggerating - I did online research!) some new products. By the end of the week, I'd bought a few new things and they're currently succeeding in their probationary testing :) So far...
--Ojon Two-Minute Treatment: LOVE it! I've only used it once, but my hair was noticeably more conditioned and smooth the next day. And I didn't even leave it in my hair past the recommended time, like I do with most conditioning treatments (curly hair requires insane amounts of moisturizer). How did I find this product? Because I'm a hardcore fan of Ojon's Deep Conditioning Treatment, which is pure ojon nut oil. It's a waxy-like substance I comb through my hair and leave on for hours, usually once a week. Like the shorter treatment, my hair feels amazing after I use it.
--Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil Moisturizer: Love it! I read about it in one of Sephora's product magazines (yeah, Sephora's obviously got my number. I am such a sucker to their marketing techniques!), did some additional online research (argan oil helps control oil production and is a potent source of essential fatty acids for healthy skin and skin repair), and decided to try the small sample as a nighttime moisturizer for my face and nails. You're supposed to rub a few drops of oil directly onto your skin, which seems very strange at first, but it absorbs within a few minutes and doesn't feel any different from regular lotion. It didn't perform miracles, but my skin felt pretty good in the morning. Wait, I lied. My nails were incredibly awesome in the morning. Strong, healthy looking, smooth... So I started putting a drop of the oil in with hand lotion at night, and that seems to be relatively beneficial to my poor, abused hands. I bought a large bottle of it last week. Addicted!
--Derma E Papaya Enzyme & Soy Facial Cleanser: Love it! My previous facewash of 4 years (Origins Checks & Balances) is pretty awesome; it removes makeup and oils without drying and it rinses away soooooo well. Unfortunately, my face has been really red and sensitive the last few months, despite not being that way for most of my life. (gee, thanks, skin) So I wanted to try a new cleanser. Not too long ago, I purchased a face mask from this same company and it's great (though it stings when you put it on because of the dead sea salt). After little online research at their website, I'd narrowed it to two options. This one won because it was better suited to travel. The papaya enzymes promote the removal of dead skin cells without stinging and the soy helps even out skin tone, which my reddened face desperately needs. The only issue I have with this wash is that it doesn't feel like it rinses away as easily as my previous wash....but that's not a terribly negative point to me!
--Derma E Pycnogenol Moisturizing Gel: LOVE it! I'm obviously becoming a HUGE fan of this brand. Pycnogenol is a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce redness and reduce the signs of aging (among other things). I've been putting this on under my regular face lotion and already--in only a few days--my face is less red! Woot! Plus it absorbs so quickly and completely that I don't even notice it. I'm also hoping it prevents my skin from developing signs of aging. :) I know, I'm still young, but I am of the mind that prevention is best route to take!
--Tarte Smooth Operator SPF 20 Liquid Foundation: Love it! Despite my numerous makeup purchases in the last few years, I actually don't wear makeup every day. I really only wear makeup when I go out on the weekends, and even then, only some of the time. It's partly from laziness - I take forever to put makeup on and inevitably hate the way my eye makeup looks. But it's also because I plan on exercising at some point in the day. And I sweat. A lot. Meaning makeup isn't exactly my friend. I don't want to wash my face and reapply all the lotions and whatnot, just to go sweat them off within a few minutes and probably make my skin break out. But, as I said, my skin has been really red as of late, plus I've been breaking out more frequently. So I thought I'd try a light foundation during the day, at least during the work week. I think I want to look more put together than the slobby grad student I usually look like! I stumbled across Tarte's foundation through the Sephora magazine, and, again, after some online reading and an in store trial, I bought a tube to try. So far, so good. It isn't a heavy coverage product, but it seems to even out my skin tone and hide some of that redness. I was really excited by this product because it has Amazonian clay in it, which is supposed to be good for your skin. And it has SPF 20. While I'll still be out in the sun every chance I can get, I'm more concerned about sun exposure and cancer. (thanks, endless lectures on cancer) As you can see, I'm a very firm believer of preventative measures!!!! :)
Now you know the truth. I'm a beauty product junkie. The thrill of finding that product that works wonderfully, the pleasure of looking and feeling beautiful, the satisfaction of knowing you're doing something good for yourself --- it's my adrenaline rush!
Just don't look in my bathroom cupboards, okay? I don't think you want to know how bad my obsession is..... ;)
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
holiday happenings & future plans
Lots to catch up on, so I'll try to give the abbreviated version!
One...I received one of my Christmas gifts early this year. Two weeks before Christmas, Eric surprised me with a gorgeous silver bracelet, complete with a few sparkly diamonds!!!! I was so stunned and touched by his gift! I absolutely had no idea what he was getting me for Christmas, but I really didn't expect this bracelet! Also, I immediately was afraid that I'd somehow lose or break this beautiful gift, but I've already worn it twice and will wear it so many more time (just not to work....). It makes me smile every time I think about it :) Nice work, Eric! hehehe!
Two...I passed my qualifier!!!!!! Hooray! I am finally free from that horrible monster that's plagued me for the past year! Now I have to do some serious catching up to get back into the lab and work towards producing publications and a thesis. It'll be somewhere between 2-4 years, I'm guessing, before I can hope for my degree and be free of grad school. Those years will be almost entirely lab work or writing. I'm going to enjoy the qualifier-free life for a bit. Maybe read papers every day or try to keep writing scientific stuff (like writing my literature review or something). Baby steps will still take me forward!
Three...I had an incredible Christmas break with my family and friends! I love spending time with my family and felt particularly fortunate that Eric was able to share some time with them. I wish I didn't have to go back to Cincy already. And I wanted to get a lot more baking done, but c'est la vie!
Four...I am finally getting over my head cold/sinus infection from before Christmas - hooray! I can breathe again! My poor head, however, is hurting with congestion. Hopefully I can get rid of this entirely and stay free from my usual winter illnesses, because I want to start training to run a 10k or a half marathon sometime later this year. Not because I like running! I want to prove to myself that I have the dedication, the determination, and the discipline to do this. And I want to stay healthy and, well, trim and in shape. And I don't want to be left behind by Eric as he's getting back into consistent serious running form! While I'll never be as fast as him or able to run as far, I still want to be able to go out running with him (on separate routes, at different paces) on the weekends.
Five...I have been to Red Carpet twice since I passed my qualifier! After 2-3 months of abstaining from this delightful Monday night ritual, I finally was able to join Eric and Manning for some much needed PBR and wings. Ohhhhh man, I needed their wings! And I even got my parents to come along one time! I think they had a blast!
Six...Some birthday's and holiday's are coming up (Eric's Bday, Megan's Bday, my dad's Bday, Moe's Bday, Valentine's Day) and I am already excited to start figuring out what I want to do for them!!!! Without this qualifier looming over me, I can dedicate time to my friends and family again!
Seven...I'm going to do a lot of informational reading about cooking, brewing, and photography. I claim these are among my hobbies, but I haven't actually read the books I bought about them (oops) nor have I actually delved into brewing and photography. I do cook and bake a lot (though much less in the past few months because of the qualifier), but I want to expand my culinary repetoire and knowledge.
Eight...It's almost New Year's! While I usually get somewhat stressed by figuring out what's going on for New Year's Eve (mainly because I freak out about having to drive somewhere for a party and I hate anyone driving that night), I look forward to having a new year/clean slate thing. I think it's because I love to plan...and the new year is ripe for planning all sorts of things. Right now, I'm making:
a workout plan (through the end of March),
a budget (well, updating the old one),
plans for upcoming bdays/holidays, plans to stay in touch with friends (yeah, I'm actually making a calender to ensure I call or write more often than I have),
plans for my project at school,
and, maybe, just maybe, some mini-vacations to visit friends or get away for a weekend
I hope you have the most wonderful new year, filled with happiness and love!!!!
One...I received one of my Christmas gifts early this year. Two weeks before Christmas, Eric surprised me with a gorgeous silver bracelet, complete with a few sparkly diamonds!!!! I was so stunned and touched by his gift! I absolutely had no idea what he was getting me for Christmas, but I really didn't expect this bracelet! Also, I immediately was afraid that I'd somehow lose or break this beautiful gift, but I've already worn it twice and will wear it so many more time (just not to work....). It makes me smile every time I think about it :) Nice work, Eric! hehehe!
Two...I passed my qualifier!!!!!! Hooray! I am finally free from that horrible monster that's plagued me for the past year! Now I have to do some serious catching up to get back into the lab and work towards producing publications and a thesis. It'll be somewhere between 2-4 years, I'm guessing, before I can hope for my degree and be free of grad school. Those years will be almost entirely lab work or writing. I'm going to enjoy the qualifier-free life for a bit. Maybe read papers every day or try to keep writing scientific stuff (like writing my literature review or something). Baby steps will still take me forward!
Three...I had an incredible Christmas break with my family and friends! I love spending time with my family and felt particularly fortunate that Eric was able to share some time with them. I wish I didn't have to go back to Cincy already. And I wanted to get a lot more baking done, but c'est la vie!
Four...I am finally getting over my head cold/sinus infection from before Christmas - hooray! I can breathe again! My poor head, however, is hurting with congestion. Hopefully I can get rid of this entirely and stay free from my usual winter illnesses, because I want to start training to run a 10k or a half marathon sometime later this year. Not because I like running! I want to prove to myself that I have the dedication, the determination, and the discipline to do this. And I want to stay healthy and, well, trim and in shape. And I don't want to be left behind by Eric as he's getting back into consistent serious running form! While I'll never be as fast as him or able to run as far, I still want to be able to go out running with him (on separate routes, at different paces) on the weekends.
Five...I have been to Red Carpet twice since I passed my qualifier! After 2-3 months of abstaining from this delightful Monday night ritual, I finally was able to join Eric and Manning for some much needed PBR and wings. Ohhhhh man, I needed their wings! And I even got my parents to come along one time! I think they had a blast!
Six...Some birthday's and holiday's are coming up (Eric's Bday, Megan's Bday, my dad's Bday, Moe's Bday, Valentine's Day) and I am already excited to start figuring out what I want to do for them!!!! Without this qualifier looming over me, I can dedicate time to my friends and family again!
Seven...I'm going to do a lot of informational reading about cooking, brewing, and photography. I claim these are among my hobbies, but I haven't actually read the books I bought about them (oops) nor have I actually delved into brewing and photography. I do cook and bake a lot (though much less in the past few months because of the qualifier), but I want to expand my culinary repetoire and knowledge.
Eight...It's almost New Year's! While I usually get somewhat stressed by figuring out what's going on for New Year's Eve (mainly because I freak out about having to drive somewhere for a party and I hate anyone driving that night), I look forward to having a new year/clean slate thing. I think it's because I love to plan...and the new year is ripe for planning all sorts of things. Right now, I'm making:
a workout plan (through the end of March),
a budget (well, updating the old one),
plans for upcoming bdays/holidays, plans to stay in touch with friends (yeah, I'm actually making a calender to ensure I call or write more often than I have),
plans for my project at school,
and, maybe, just maybe, some mini-vacations to visit friends or get away for a weekend
I hope you have the most wonderful new year, filled with happiness and love!!!!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
An Overly Dramatic Tale
Captain's Log.
1 December 2010
Yet another day trapped in this room. All the views are familiar. The long window out of which I can see a tiny slice of grass, some steps, the corner of a road and the front of another building. The high windows, where I can only see the very top of a radio or cell phone tower and sometimes the white smoke billowing out of some plant near main campus. The white board inside the room, with its two drawings. I can't figure out what one of them is, but the other seems to be a sketch of a cholesterol molecule. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see people coming and going all day long. Occasionally I hear the ding of the elevator arriving or the boom of a door closing.
I'm stuck here until I finish writing this paper. I've spent over 60 hours on it to date, and it's close to halfway done. But I'm behind where I need to be. If I have any hope of having people proofread it and me correcting it, I have to finish the paper tonight. Considering how slowly I've been writing, it just doesn't seem possible. But I desperately need others to read it and to fix it. I just don't know what I'm doing and I don't trust my abilities in this arena. I've been wrong too many times in the past.
I. Must. Get. Out. Of. Here.
Es--cop--ehhh?
That's funny, it's spelled a lot like the word Escape.
Dammit, back to writing.
(please note, I know this was overly dramatic, I wrote it in persona, if you will. I am, however, sick of writing. That fact is true.)
1 December 2010
Yet another day trapped in this room. All the views are familiar. The long window out of which I can see a tiny slice of grass, some steps, the corner of a road and the front of another building. The high windows, where I can only see the very top of a radio or cell phone tower and sometimes the white smoke billowing out of some plant near main campus. The white board inside the room, with its two drawings. I can't figure out what one of them is, but the other seems to be a sketch of a cholesterol molecule. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see people coming and going all day long. Occasionally I hear the ding of the elevator arriving or the boom of a door closing.
I'm stuck here until I finish writing this paper. I've spent over 60 hours on it to date, and it's close to halfway done. But I'm behind where I need to be. If I have any hope of having people proofread it and me correcting it, I have to finish the paper tonight. Considering how slowly I've been writing, it just doesn't seem possible. But I desperately need others to read it and to fix it. I just don't know what I'm doing and I don't trust my abilities in this arena. I've been wrong too many times in the past.
I. Must. Get. Out. Of. Here.
Es--cop--ehhh?
That's funny, it's spelled a lot like the word Escape.
Dammit, back to writing.
(please note, I know this was overly dramatic, I wrote it in persona, if you will. I am, however, sick of writing. That fact is true.)
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Survey Says... (the responses)
My best friend and sweet sister Moe tagged me to participate in a little survey. After several weeks of intending to answer the questions, I finally did! And here are my answers:
1. If you could be friends with any fictional character who would you choose and why?
Ah. So, I read. A lot. And I often read things that I don't think other people read...particularly fantasy books. There, I admitted it, I read fantasy! I'd want to be friends Kaylin Neya from the Chronicles of Elantra series. Kaylin Neya is an officer of the law in the Elantran empire. Because of the way the author, Michelle Sagara, has written these books, Kaylin is portrayed as very human (read: full of very human attitudes and errors and emotions) and I feel connected to her through her very ordinary idiosyncrasies. But she's also got this whole "marked by ancient powers and gets involved in every crazy event" thing going on, which would make time with her exciting, unpredictable, and full of new experiences. She's also very good at working on her shortcomings - even if she doesn't immediately change, she usually gets into a situation where she has to admit a failing or prejudice and work to change it. That's an ability I admire tremendously.
2. What is the best date you've ever had? (It could be with the person you are with now or someone from the past)
This is easy! My birthday this year! Eric told me we were going out to dinner, I should dress fancy, and he'd pick me up. He shows up at my house in his dad's BMW convertible (yay! a treat for him and a treat for me!), looking very handsome. Strangely, we had both chosen to wear what we'd each worn to our friends Kara and Jeremy's wedding a little over a year earlier - it was awesome and hilarious! :) On the passenger seat of the car sat two stuffed penguins, one large and one small. They were holding an envelope with my name on it. As we're driving away to a "mystery" restaurant, I read the letter inside the envelope. The letter was from the penguins of the Newport Aquarium, inviting me to come visit them in the penguin encounter/experience; they'd heard a lot about me from Eric, so they sent two representatives (the two dapper penguins on the car seat) with their invitation. I was absolutely thrilled! Eric took me to one of my favorite restaurants, Meadowlark, where we ate incredible food and wine and, of course, dessert! As we ate, we named the two penguins; they, unfortunately, had to stay in the car during dinner. They're Roger and Perry. Perry even went to work with Eric recently (check out the wall posts page on Eric's facebook page). It was an amazing and truly memorable date! And I have to say it because it's true and I don't say it - Eric, you're the most wonderful boyfriend!
3. What was the last good book that you read?
Ha, so this is funny...but I read a book at school when I go to the gym...and I read a book at home on the weekends. The last book I read at school was the most recent Chronicles of Elantra book, which was good and certainly captivates me the first time I read it. The last book I read at home was The Perfume Guide, by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez. I know, how can a guide book that review perfumes be a good book? Well, they're hilarious and eloquent with their writings. They don't hesitate to tell us something is a bad perfume or an exact copy of another perfume. And they write so poignantly, so tenderly about the perfumes they love that I want to try so many of them! Happily, I found a little website that might fulfill that desire - theperfumedcourt.com You can buy little samples, ranging from 1mL to 15mL of a perfume. I'm definitely going to go nuts here!
4. Someone gives you a hundred dollars and tells you that you have to spend it today - on yourself. What would you buy?
Oh my gosh, there are so many things I want!! (yikes, I'm very selfish!) Shoes, beauty products from Sephora, or a dress from JCrew. Those are the most likely places I'd spend the money right now. If I had to choose a single thing...I'd probably go with another pair of Ugg Dakota moccasins. They are so warm and so comfortable, and I wear my old pair all the time in the fall, winter and spring. And when I like something and wear it frequently, I have an overwhelming desire to purchase another of it...just in case something happens to the first one. :) I'm weird like that.
5. If you could travel anywhere in the world what would your top 5 places be?
In no particular order...
1) Australia/New Zealand - Whenever I see pictures or movies set in Australia or New Zealand, it looks breathtakingly gorgeous and full of such diverse, stark scenery. While I don't think I'd enjoy living in some place like the desert or the mountains, their beauty always moves me
2 & 3) Spain and Italy (with a long time in Florence!) - I've been to Spain and Italy for short trips and I absolutely fell in love with them. Honestly, I'd love to live in Spain and Italy (Florence, of course) at some point...but when I start thinking of realistic details, it seems overwhelmingly scary. So I'd like at least a long vacation there!
4) Hawaii - Moe lived in Hawaii for awhile and all of her pictures are stunning! To me, it is one of those places that is unlike any other on earth.
5) Greece - I've been obsessed with ancient Greek and Roman mythology since grade school. And Greece looks incredible! It has ancient ruins, museums full of treasures, natural geographic beauty (have you seen the pictures they use in calenders?????), good food (I may have to learn to like seafood before I go...).
6. What are 2 or 3 items on your "bucket list"?
Travel to several places around the world. Probably the ones I've listed above :) I definitely want to go back to Spain and Italy. I would even like to walk a part of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route again. And I want to take incredible pictures of these places, the kind of photos you see on postcards!
Do something big with food...like host a tv show about food (I'm thinking Alton Brown's Good Eats, where science and food play together in hilarious yet informative models) or have my own bakery (a risky business...maybe I could sell baked goods out of my home or do it catering style?). I love cooking and I love food. If it weren't so damn risky, I'd make it my career now. And this would be a way for me to do something artistic, which is something I have always wanted to do.
Use power tools! Okay, I admit I have used a drill before and maybe a staple gun. My grandfather and two of my uncles are very skilled woodworkers. Even my mom comfortably uses several different power saws and drills! I know I can do it, I just have to overcome my fear of losing a limb or an eye! Plus, I want to build something with the power tools and be able to proudly show it off to people.
7. If you could live the life of one TV character who would it be, what show are they from, and why?
Ah! Great question! It'd be awesome to be Fiona Glenann from Burn Notice - she's badass, independent, hot...but I'd have to deal with being in extreme danger at all times, not to mention deal with a boyfriend who tends to get himself into a lot of trouble. So...to make life easier on myself, I'd probably be Sean Spencer from Psych. He pretends to be a psychic and hangs out with his best friend Gus all day in a pretty awesome place. I particularly would like to solve a mystery involving a dinosaur!!! (I would have said Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory, but he seems like his extreme particularities would make life stressful. So maybe I could just hang out with Sheldon instead!)
8. When you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner in a few weeks what will you say that you are most grateful for this year?
Easily, the people in my life. My parents, my relatives, Eric, Moe, Megan, Kayleigh and all the rest of my friends. They're the reason I make it through each day, they make me laugh, they touch my heart, they encourage me when I'm frustrated or quite ready to give up, they're patient with me when I'm not patient with anyone, they make me a better person. I love all of you and I am so very thankful that you are in my life.
1. If you could be friends with any fictional character who would you choose and why?
Ah. So, I read. A lot. And I often read things that I don't think other people read...particularly fantasy books. There, I admitted it, I read fantasy! I'd want to be friends Kaylin Neya from the Chronicles of Elantra series. Kaylin Neya is an officer of the law in the Elantran empire. Because of the way the author, Michelle Sagara, has written these books, Kaylin is portrayed as very human (read: full of very human attitudes and errors and emotions) and I feel connected to her through her very ordinary idiosyncrasies. But she's also got this whole "marked by ancient powers and gets involved in every crazy event" thing going on, which would make time with her exciting, unpredictable, and full of new experiences. She's also very good at working on her shortcomings - even if she doesn't immediately change, she usually gets into a situation where she has to admit a failing or prejudice and work to change it. That's an ability I admire tremendously.
2. What is the best date you've ever had? (It could be with the person you are with now or someone from the past)
This is easy! My birthday this year! Eric told me we were going out to dinner, I should dress fancy, and he'd pick me up. He shows up at my house in his dad's BMW convertible (yay! a treat for him and a treat for me!), looking very handsome. Strangely, we had both chosen to wear what we'd each worn to our friends Kara and Jeremy's wedding a little over a year earlier - it was awesome and hilarious! :) On the passenger seat of the car sat two stuffed penguins, one large and one small. They were holding an envelope with my name on it. As we're driving away to a "mystery" restaurant, I read the letter inside the envelope. The letter was from the penguins of the Newport Aquarium, inviting me to come visit them in the penguin encounter/experience; they'd heard a lot about me from Eric, so they sent two representatives (the two dapper penguins on the car seat) with their invitation. I was absolutely thrilled! Eric took me to one of my favorite restaurants, Meadowlark, where we ate incredible food and wine and, of course, dessert! As we ate, we named the two penguins; they, unfortunately, had to stay in the car during dinner. They're Roger and Perry. Perry even went to work with Eric recently (check out the wall posts page on Eric's facebook page). It was an amazing and truly memorable date! And I have to say it because it's true and I don't say it - Eric, you're the most wonderful boyfriend!
3. What was the last good book that you read?
Ha, so this is funny...but I read a book at school when I go to the gym...and I read a book at home on the weekends. The last book I read at school was the most recent Chronicles of Elantra book, which was good and certainly captivates me the first time I read it. The last book I read at home was The Perfume Guide, by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez. I know, how can a guide book that review perfumes be a good book? Well, they're hilarious and eloquent with their writings. They don't hesitate to tell us something is a bad perfume or an exact copy of another perfume. And they write so poignantly, so tenderly about the perfumes they love that I want to try so many of them! Happily, I found a little website that might fulfill that desire - theperfumedcourt.com You can buy little samples, ranging from 1mL to 15mL of a perfume. I'm definitely going to go nuts here!
4. Someone gives you a hundred dollars and tells you that you have to spend it today - on yourself. What would you buy?
Oh my gosh, there are so many things I want!! (yikes, I'm very selfish!) Shoes, beauty products from Sephora, or a dress from JCrew. Those are the most likely places I'd spend the money right now. If I had to choose a single thing...I'd probably go with another pair of Ugg Dakota moccasins. They are so warm and so comfortable, and I wear my old pair all the time in the fall, winter and spring. And when I like something and wear it frequently, I have an overwhelming desire to purchase another of it...just in case something happens to the first one. :) I'm weird like that.
5. If you could travel anywhere in the world what would your top 5 places be?
In no particular order...
1) Australia/New Zealand - Whenever I see pictures or movies set in Australia or New Zealand, it looks breathtakingly gorgeous and full of such diverse, stark scenery. While I don't think I'd enjoy living in some place like the desert or the mountains, their beauty always moves me
2 & 3) Spain and Italy (with a long time in Florence!) - I've been to Spain and Italy for short trips and I absolutely fell in love with them. Honestly, I'd love to live in Spain and Italy (Florence, of course) at some point...but when I start thinking of realistic details, it seems overwhelmingly scary. So I'd like at least a long vacation there!
4) Hawaii - Moe lived in Hawaii for awhile and all of her pictures are stunning! To me, it is one of those places that is unlike any other on earth.
5) Greece - I've been obsessed with ancient Greek and Roman mythology since grade school. And Greece looks incredible! It has ancient ruins, museums full of treasures, natural geographic beauty (have you seen the pictures they use in calenders?????), good food (I may have to learn to like seafood before I go...).
6. What are 2 or 3 items on your "bucket list"?
Travel to several places around the world. Probably the ones I've listed above :) I definitely want to go back to Spain and Italy. I would even like to walk a part of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route again. And I want to take incredible pictures of these places, the kind of photos you see on postcards!
Do something big with food...like host a tv show about food (I'm thinking Alton Brown's Good Eats, where science and food play together in hilarious yet informative models) or have my own bakery (a risky business...maybe I could sell baked goods out of my home or do it catering style?). I love cooking and I love food. If it weren't so damn risky, I'd make it my career now. And this would be a way for me to do something artistic, which is something I have always wanted to do.
Use power tools! Okay, I admit I have used a drill before and maybe a staple gun. My grandfather and two of my uncles are very skilled woodworkers. Even my mom comfortably uses several different power saws and drills! I know I can do it, I just have to overcome my fear of losing a limb or an eye! Plus, I want to build something with the power tools and be able to proudly show it off to people.
7. If you could live the life of one TV character who would it be, what show are they from, and why?
Ah! Great question! It'd be awesome to be Fiona Glenann from Burn Notice - she's badass, independent, hot...but I'd have to deal with being in extreme danger at all times, not to mention deal with a boyfriend who tends to get himself into a lot of trouble. So...to make life easier on myself, I'd probably be Sean Spencer from Psych. He pretends to be a psychic and hangs out with his best friend Gus all day in a pretty awesome place. I particularly would like to solve a mystery involving a dinosaur!!! (I would have said Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory, but he seems like his extreme particularities would make life stressful. So maybe I could just hang out with Sheldon instead!)
8. When you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner in a few weeks what will you say that you are most grateful for this year?
Easily, the people in my life. My parents, my relatives, Eric, Moe, Megan, Kayleigh and all the rest of my friends. They're the reason I make it through each day, they make me laugh, they touch my heart, they encourage me when I'm frustrated or quite ready to give up, they're patient with me when I'm not patient with anyone, they make me a better person. I love all of you and I am so very thankful that you are in my life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)