hello friends, hello!

happy birthday charlie!

2012-02-07T08:23:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Mr. Dickens!

Today is Charles Dickens's 200th birthday (born February 7, 1812).

(via)

Dickens is one of my favorite authors, and, arguably (although there isn't much to go against this), one of the best writers of the English language. Ever.

His novels and stories are full of colorful characters; many of his books have over 100 characters! The amount of detail in every story transports you to another time and place. Want to know all about class and social issues in 19th century London? Just read some Dickens!

Never read any Dickens? I suggest you start with A Tale of Two Cities. That's the book that really made me love Dickens. Before that I had only read Great Expectations in my 9th grade English class and I was bored to tears. So why A Tale of Two Cities? The French Revolution! A creepy woman who knits all the time! And the ultimate babe, Sydney Carton. So please, just give it a try. It's well worth the effort. You can read A Tale of Two Cities (and other Dickens) for free on Google Books.

Don't have time for a 500 page book? Try a Dickens mini-series or movie. There are so many different versions, you might be watching Dickens until you die.

Check out Ben Zimmer's article about how Dickens shaped the way we speak.

Read/Listen to this great NPR story: "Dickens at 200: A Birthday You Can't 'Bah Humbug!'"

The British Council is doing a 24-Hour Readathon.

In London? Visit the Charles Dickens Museum.

Learn more about celebrations for Dickens's birthday

i've got big plans!

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

I know it's already February, and I'm a little behind on this. In fact, I'm a little behind on just about everything right now, but no big deal. Here is my resolutions post!

I've got BIG plans for 2012.

endlessly happy

2012-02-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

Today at yoga, the instructor told us to set our intention for class. Something that we could focus on during class. Something to come back to if our minds started to stray. She suggested we think of something that makes us endlessly happy, something that makes our hearts sing. I thought about it briefly and then set my intention.

And what is it that always makes me happy (without fail)?

hello 2012!

2012-01-01T14:18:00.001-07:00

It's nice to see you!

I have a good feeling about this year. I'm going to make it a good one.

A little music to start your year off right:

Happy New Year!

an improvised christmas tree

2011-12-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

This is the first Christmas not in Michigan. Although I'm really bummed to be far away from my family and friends, I'm trying to make the most of it. Step one to making it feel like Christmas? A tree! I don't have space for a tree, plus I'm not even home most of the time to appreciate it.

So, instead of a traditional pine tree I opted for a rosemary bush! It's less expensive than a tree. It smells fantastic. It's functional (rosemary shortbread anyone? maybe some rosemary foccacia?). Plus, it can be reused next Christmas (let's hope it survives 2012...). And to make it even more adorable it's decorated with hand-strung cranberry and popcorn garland and a foil star. Adorable.

Add a few seasonal beers into the mix and things are looking pretty good for a Denver Christmas.

christmas wishlist 2011

2011-12-10T20:19:00.001-07:00

Christmas is only 15 days away! I can't believe it and I'm not prepared at all. I've started baking, but I am definitely behind schedule and this whole real life/working full time thing is cramping my style. Whereas in the past I have had four to six weeks of free time to do nothing but bake and think of great gift ideas, now I'm lucky if I have four or six hours a week!

Another problem this year is that I am lacking gift giving inspiration. I just can't seem to think of any good gift ideas for my friends and family. But in the meantime, I've found plenty of stuff that I would like! Typical, of course. Here's a look at some of the things I'm longing for this Christmas season:

A Perpetual Produce Calendar ($26) - A reusable letterpress calendar that lets you know what fruits and veggies are in season for eating and planing. Even better, the calendars are are tailored to specific regions of the US.

A Chemex Brewer ($40) and coffee from Intelligentsia or Metropolis (my two favorite Chicago roasters) to enjoy on a lazy Saturday morning while reading...

the New York Times (digital or home delivery subscriptions), so I can stay up to date on the latest news (and do the crosswords).

A good book. Maybe Diane Keaton's new memoir ($14) or Portraits of a Marriage by Sandor Marai ($15)

Brightly colored leather and brass bracelets ($42 each). They're simple and go with everything. Why not?

And now that I've exhausted my list, it's time to get serious about finding great gifts for all of the wonderful people in my life. I hope you're having better luck than I am!

baby, it's cold outside

2011-12-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

It really is. It's a chilly 20 degrees here in Denver. Brrr!

I've returned from my great adventure of 2011 safe and sound and with lots of stories to tell - I'll post them soon, I promise.

I'm starting to get in to the holiday spirit. Christmas music, peppermint mochas, snow....what more does a girl need?

Time to write my Christmas cards...

hello from ethiopia

2011-10-17T01:56:00.001-06:00

Hello from Ethiopia!

Sorry that I've been MIA, but I don't really have steady Internet access. Ethiopia is a beautiful country. I am in the Western region of Wollega. It's so green and lush! I never would have imagined that. You know what they say about assuming...

I'll update more when possible, for now it's time to get back to work!

ethiopia here i come!

2011-10-02T14:00:00.000-06:00

As you read this, I am on my way to Ethiopia!

I've never been to Ethiopia before, or anywhere in Africa for that matter, so this will be quite the adventure. I'm going to do some field work (needs assessment, screening, etc.) for a maternal health non-profit that I volunteer with in Denver.

(via)

I'll be working in the Western Wollega province, not far from the Sudanese border. I am sure I will have lots of stories to tell!

I will do my best to keep you updated on my travels in Ethiopia, but internet connections are not a sure thing where I am going, and my focus isn't on blogging. In fact, I'm not even bringing my computer. I am going to be so disconnected from technology and I think that, in some ways, it will be a very good thing.

However, I guarantee several blog posts about my trip once I return if I cannot keep you up to date while I'm there.

adventures in packing

2011-09-30T09:00:00.000-06:00

I travel a decent amount, yet I have never quite gotten a handle on packing. (That's putting it nicely - I'm terrible at it).

Packing gives me anxiety. It shouldn't, but it does. And packing for my upcoming trip is not going so well.

Behold the mess:

It's a work in progress. Packing for two completely different locations (Ethiopia and Turkey) and completely different activities (field work vs. a conference) is quite the challenge! Plus I need to fit everything for five weeks in Ethiopia into a carry-on bag. See that backpack in the bottom, left corner of the picture? Five weeks in that bag. All the essentials in case my other bag gets lost in transit.

I leave Sunday- less than two full days to go. I guess I better stop typing and start packing!

born to love you

2011-09-27T17:07:00.000-06:00

I bought The Elected's newest cd Bury Me in Rings a few months ago and this is one of my favorite tracks off the album.

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delicious autumn

2011-09-26T16:16:00.002-06:00

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”

― George Eliot

happy first day of fall!

2011-09-23T16:05:00.002-06:00

Welcome back old friend, you were missed.

Fall is by far my favorite season. I love everything about it. I even love the way it smells. Yes, fall does have a smell.

What's so great about fall? This infographic explains it all:

(All good, except for the roast beef)

Here are a few links to get you in an autumnal mood:

An open letter to pumpkin flavored seasonal treats by Ilana Abby Plen (I agree wholeheartedly with this letter)

Find a nearby orchard where you can pick your own apples.

Take a road trip to go see some fall foliage. So many colors! So beautiful!

This fall's trendiest color? Mustard. My favorite color? Mustard. How convenient.

Kick back and enjoy some fall flavored libations. Try a Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Milkshake, a , or a pumpkin ale. (Find even more here)

Roast some root vegetables and enjoy a tasty salad.

Throw on a tweed blazer, a striped shirt, and your favorite scarf and head outside to enjoy the weather! Go now while it's still here!

just one of those days

2011-09-22T16:12:00.001-06:00

Today has been just another one of those days.

You know the kind I'm talking about.

The kind of day where you're running late for work but can't seem to get ready any faster than at a snail's pace.

You're running so late that you don't have time to eat breakfast at home and grab a bagel on your out and then end up with a glob of cream cheese running down the front of your blouse.

And then, because your clothes haven't accumulated enough food/debris by 9:30 am you spill coffee all over your skirt.

Later in the afternoon, you try to beat the 3 o'clock slump by knocking your elbow into her desk as you rush down the hall to answer a question. You might have a bruise, but at least you're awake.

It's just one of those days, but tomorrow might be better.

little lamb

2011-09-21T09:00:00.000-06:00

I've been getting my craft on lately. Seriously getting my craft on. And as you may know, I like to dabble in things. I try something here, I try something else there, but I'm never fully committed to a hobby. That isn't to say I quit everything I do, I just sometimes drop it, try something new and then pick up again later.

Needlefelting is my newest venture into the crafting world. And who can resist when the end result is an adorable little fluffy animal?

Little Black Sheep

My first attempt at needlefelting

It's so easy it is addictive. You basically roll pieces of wool roving into various sized balls and stab the balls with a needle until the wool begins to felt and hold its shape. You then connect the balls/shapes/etc. together by the same technique.

It is also dangerous. Felting needles are ridiculously sharp. Make sure you know where your fingers are at all times or you just might end up stabbing yourself! Trust me, that part is not fun.

I bought a needlefelting kit for $12 from Fancy Tiger on South Broadway. If you don't live in Denver, you can buy them from their Etsy shop. It's fantastic!

What should I make next?

tree by the river

2011-09-19T11:43:00.000-06:00

a minor fiasco

2011-09-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

Let me introduce you to Fiasco:

coloradan

2011-09-14T16:45:00.003-06:00

After several long hours at the Department of Revenue and DMV....

I am officially a Colorado resident.

an object of beauty

2011-09-13T17:37:00.000-06:00

I recently read An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin.

Steve Martin? The actor Steve Martin? Why, yes, the very same one! He also wrote Shopgirl, which was made into a movie, and I've seen that (like it a lot) but I haven't read the novella yet (although I've heard very good things about it).

An Object of Beauty is the story of Lacey Yeager, a young, attractive, ambitious art history graduate who moves to New York to work in the art world and quickly moves up from a lowly position at Sotheby's to owning her own gallery as New York City heads towards 9/11 when everything changes.

The novel delves into the intricacies of the art scene, something I know very little about, and the book includes several reprints of famous works which are somehow incorporated into the story. I found that all to be very interesting, since I'm more or less ignorant on the subject. However, the storyline was less than compelling for me. I did finish the entire book, but I felt fairly neutral about it once I was finished.

Overall, I'm impressed by Steve Martin's ability to do so many things well at one time, but this just wasn't a great book for me.

let's win!

2011-09-12T11:36:00.000-06:00

goliath the second

2011-09-11T13:56:00.000-06:00

Bob Dylan is a smart man. The issues he sings about in his protest songs (written almost 50 years ago) are still relevant today. Does history keep repeating itself or is nothing actually changing?

"I want to sing you one song here, recognizing that there are Goliaths nowadays and people don't realize just who the Goliaths are. But in olden days Goliath was slayed and everybody looks back and sees how cruel Goliath was. Nowadays there are crueler Goliaths, who do crueler, crueler things, but one day they're going to be slain too, and people two thousand years from now can look back and say 'You remember when Goliath the Second was slain?'"

- Bob Dylan - Carnegie Hall, New York City on October 26, 1963

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bossypants

2011-09-07T14:20:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago I went to the library to check out a Hungarian grammar book and ended up checking out Bossypants by Tina Fey.

What a good decision.

This book is hilarious. I highly recommend you pick it up. As if the cover alone isn't enough to entice you to read it, the actual stories are just as entertaining as Tina Fey with huge, hairy man arms! She's like a real person, but funnier.

Just read it. This book needs no further recommendations.

where to next?

2011-09-06T14:16:00.000-06:00

Ethiopia!

Since graduation I've been volunteering before work (this is part of the reason I've been failing at blogging recently) at a local non-profit that works to improve maternal healthcare and reduce the occurrence of obstetric complications in rural Western Ethiopia. This October, I have the opportunity to travel to the Western Wollega province of Ethiopia with a consulting team to develop an in-country internship program, screen women and gather outcome data, and identify opportunities for sustainable development at various treatment centers.

Waking up at 5:30 am isn't my idea of a good time, but I'm really enjoying this volunteer position. It's very different from anything I've ever done before and I actually get to apply what I learned in grad school- imagine that!

In less than a month, I'll be in Ethiopia. I'll stay there for five weeks and before heading to Turkey for two weeks. Somehow it worked out that it was cheaper to include Turkey in my flight than to just do roundtrip airfare from Denver to Addis Ababa. I don't get it, but I won't question it. I'll be in Istanbul for a work conference and I should have some time for a bit of sightseeing as well. Have you been there before? Any recommendations on what I should see/do?

Time to break out the travel guides...

Internet access in Ethiopia will be sporadic at best, but I will try to update as often as possible. If not, prepare yourself for an overwhelming number of posts when I get back to the States!

little cup

2011-09-05T11:08:00.000-06:00

good song

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the invisible bridge

2011-08-18T17:00:00.000-06:00

Mid-August? Already? Where has the summer gone? I actually finished this book right before graduation. In June. I'm a bit (very far) behind...sorry!

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer is epic and I love it. Epic because it's quite large, over 700 pages (!) and because she recreates an entire era through beautifully detailed descriptions and dialogue.

I love it because it's set in Hungary (! x 100) and Paris during World War II. Budapest, 1939- Andras Lévi leaves Budapest to attend the École Spéciale d'Architecture in Paris. Leaving behind his family and all that he knows, Andras heads to France where he learns about life and love and all things good (and bad) in life. He falls in love with an older woman (intrigue! passion!) and drama ensues...

When war breaks out, Andras is forced to return to Hungary, but it is dangerous for Klara (his ladyfriend) to return to Hungary, but she does nonetheless. Briefly reunited with his family, Andras is soon sent to a labor camp where he endures the trials of war and the far-reaching anti-Semitism that infected Europe.

The Invisible Bridge is a beautiful story of family, love, life, loss, hope, war...see, I told you it was epic! It's all encompassing and beautifully written. I highly recommend you check it out.