The World is My Oyster

Joyeux Anniversaire!

2012-01-29T13:15:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my 27th Birthday.

I am officially in my late twenties. But I'm not too worried about it.

As I told my roommates in a moment of tipsy optimism the night before, the reason I love birthdays (and I always have) is because each year of my life is better than the one before, so birthdays represent the end of something great, and the beginning of something even better!

My roommates and me, cramming ourselves into the hallway for a photo.

My roommates and I hosted a fancy little affair at our apartment, with drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and a smattering of all my favorite people in New York.

I can't think of a better way to have rung in the beginning of my 28th year of life.

Thank you everyone for being in my life and making it that much more amazing!

Lemon Almond Meltaways

2012-01-15T17:20:00.001-05:00

Today in Cambridge it's 9 degrees, but it feels like -6, according to weather.com.

I think it feels like -50, but I'm no meteorologist.

I had these grand plans to go for a run, but after deciding that I didn't want to freeze my lungs, I decided to bake instead.

I've had my eye on a recipe for lemon meltaways, but my mom loves almond cookies, so I decided to to both in one cookie!

Lemon Almond Meltaways

(Adapted from Lemon Meltaways)

Ingredients

1 cup flour

1 cup almond meal

2 Tbls (14g) cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

12 Tbls (170g) butter, room temp

1 2/3 c confectioners' sugar, (260g) divided

Grated zest of 2 lemons

Freshly squeezed lemon juice from 2 lemons

1 Tbls pure vanilla extract

Directions

Zest and juice two lemons.

If you don't have almond meal, you can grind almonds in a food processor until they are grainy but not completely powdery.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, almond meal, and salt. Set aside.

Almond Meal

Flour

Cornstarch

In another bowl, cream the butter and 1 cup sugar until fluffy.

Add zest, juice, and vanilla, then beat until fluffy.

Sift half of the dry ingredients over the butter and mix until combined. Sift over the second half and mix until just combined.

Divide the prepared dough into 2 or 3 parts and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours until thoroughly chilled. Meanwhile, line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

After chilling, roll out one portion of the dough to a thickness of 1/4" - 1/8" on a lightly-floured surface. (Note: I didn't have time to refrigerate it for 2 hours, so I put it in the freezer half an hour and then rolled out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper so that it wouldn't stick).

Using a small cutter (about 1"), cut out as many rounds as possible and transfer to the lined sheets. Re-roll scraps and place cut-outs in the freezer for at least 1 hour before baking.

Preheat oven to 350F and place remaining 2/3 c sugar in a large plastic bag. Bake cookies, spaced 1" apart, until just barely golden, 10-15 minutes.

Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool slightly, 8-10 minutes, then drop the cookies into the sugar-filled bag and shake to coat (Note: I dusted the powdered sugar onto the cookies on a plate).

Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Bon Appetit!

A Rainbow of Baby Clothes

2012-01-15T00:13:00.000-05:00

I went to Jamaica to visit an old friend of mine who happens to have a 15-month-old daughter and is seven months pregnant with her second, a little boy.

So when I decided to go down to see her, I knew that I would be making baby clothes as gifts for her little munchkins.

I searched the internet for ideas and I decided to make a version of this dress Made By Rae for the girl:

Rainbow Dress

And a version of this little onesie by Crap I've Made for the boy:

Applique Tie Onesie

My mother and I discovered this adorable little quilting shop in Belmont, where I got the perfect fabric for my projects. This is what I came up with, using the same fabric from the Rainbow Dress for the ties on the onesies:

And just for fun, I decided to draft my own design for an applique bow tie, in case he has a particularly fancy night out he needs to dress up for:

The dress I modified a bit, doing five tiers instead of four, for a more even color transition:

I couldn't get the baby to model the onesies, since he hasn't been born yet, and they're much too small for his big sister to put on, but she was kind enough to model the rainbow dress, which she ran around the garden in all evening:

I knew putting blue at the top would make her blue eyes pop!

The straps were a bit big (she'll grow into it) so we fastened them behind her shoulders with a twist tie, giving her a bit of a Snow White collar look. It was adorable.

Running away!

She even had the perfect shoes to match!

Sewing baby clothes is just too much fun!

Fill In The Blank Friday

2012-01-13T01:31:00.000-05:00

1. The last thing I ate was sushi and pinkberry frozen yogurt with mango, raspberries, and mochi .

2. The last song I listened to was one by Francoise Hardy while I dozed on the plane .

3. Using the letters in my name I can spell {Julia} : Jail, Ail... and that's all I can think of for now .

4. If I had to dress in one color for the rest of my life I would pick black. Most of my clothes are black anyway, and the faded ones would become grey, which I wear a lot anyway .

5. If you were to look in my bag right now you'd find My camera, a bunch of chargers, my wallet, my travel wallet with my passport, boarding passes, and train ticket, my make up pouch, vanilla mint softlips, and a bunch of other random crap .

6. When I finish filling in the blanks I'm going to bed! I just got home after 14 hours of traveling back from Jamaica (I took a bus to a plane to another plane to an airtrain to a regular train to a taxi cab) and I am thoroughly exhausted!

7. My all time favorite song to dance to is "Take On Me" by Aha. It's not like I really dance to it, but whenever it comes on my running playlist, I always feel like dancing!

***

Sweet Dreams!

Dawn

2012-01-10T09:44:00.000-05:00

Every morning I've been waking up between nine and ten, to a sunny beautiful day, with Domina telling me stories of how beautiful the moon is as it sets and the sun is as it rises (she's up at five or six because of the baby).

I kept telling her to wake me up so I could see, and she kept saying she didn't want to bother me, but yesterday was the full moon, so this morning she finally came and got me at five.

I watched a beautiful almost full moon set over the ocean, and a beautiful sun rise over the tropical trees.

My Tropical Paradise

2012-01-06T16:57:00.000-05:00

After waiting six weeks for this amazing vacation, I'm finally here!

It's even more beautiful than I could ever imagine.

The property is lush with tropical vegetation.

The water is crystalline perfection.

The sand is soft and white and doesn't burn your feet.

The view from my bungalow/treehouse loft room is spectacular.

The sunsets are breathtaking.

My friend and her family have been nothing but warm and welcoming,

and her baby girl is simply delightful.

The sound of the waves is so soothing I keep falling asleep like a baby and taking naps all the time.

I can't believe I have a whole week here.

Ahhh. Paradise...

My Arctic Run

2012-01-04T18:15:00.002-05:00

{via}

I guess I've known all this for a while, but it really hit me today when I checked the weather and saw it was 22 degrees and I still wanted to go for a run anyway. I laced up my shoes, zipped up two jackets, and grabbed my gloves and ear warmer and went for a spectacular 4 mile run along Central Park.

It felt great.

***

I don't know if I mentioned this last fall, but after running a 5k race (3.1 miles) with a friend of mine in early November, we decided to start training for a half marathon.

We ran a 15k race (9.3 miles) in the middle of December, and we both qualified for the NYC Half Marathon on March 18 (20k, or 13.1 miles).

I've never been an athlete. I did crew for most of high school and I was the coxswain. I essentially spent three years exercising my voice rather than my body.

God knows how much money I wasted on my little-used gym membership in college, and how many times I've floundered when trying to integrate running into my daily schedule.

Then this summer I was in Mali. It was so hot. And humid. I would drag myself to and from work every day and by 1pm I was exhausted. I was hardly moving and I started to notice it. Not physically--it was so hot I could barely eat so I actually lost weight--but mentally.

I was going stir crazy.

Unfortunately, it was far too hot for me to run outside. I suffer from low blood pressure and heat exhaustion so if I exert myself too much in hot weather I'll just pass out.

Luckily my very nice Canadian Diplomat neighbor had an airconditioned house and a treadmill, which he offered to let me use whenever I wanted. So I started running every day, working up to 8-10k runs within just a few days. I had so much pent-up unusable energy and I just pounded it all onto that treadmill.

{via}

By the time I got back to NY I'd gotten over the hump--the feeling you get, like you want to die, when you start building up your endurance past two or three miles--and running wasn't a chore or even an obligation; it was a pleasure.

I almost don't recognize myself now. I've spent a lot of money on races and running gear--money I could be spending on sparkly girly things and wine--and I'm actually considering signing up for the New York City Marathon this November. 26.2 miles, when just a couple of years ago I would have been winded after running 3.

I really enjoyed my arctic run today.

And I'm looking forward to the rest I'll be running the this winter.

Make It: Glittery Gold Bow Clutch

2012-01-02T13:27:00.001-05:00

Those who know me know that I adore all things glittery.

So when I saw this spectacular glitter gold bow clutch on Pinterest, I knew I had to have it.

BUT the clutch wasn't available anymore (and being Betsey Johnson, it probably would have been a bit steep).

So I decided to make my own version:

Here's how you can too!

What you need:

Glue gun & Glue:

(no photo)

Felt:

Two pieces, about 9x12 inches each, and another piece, about 6x4 inches (not shown)

Gold Envelope Clutch:

You can do another color, but gold is best so that if any of the glitter chips off it's less noticeable.

Mod Podge:

I used the glossy kind. Not sure if the matte kind would have as sparkly a finish.

Gold glitter:

This was glitter from the kids craft section of Michaels. Nothing fancy.

Small Brush:

Small container with an air-tight lid:

What to do:

Take the two pieces of felt (yellow would be best, but I only had grey) and glue them together, overlapping the long sides by a couple of millimeters.

Now you have a rectangle that's wider than it's long. Fold it length-wise into thirds:

And glue the long edges to each other down, overlapping them a bit. Now you have a felt tube with a seam down the middle:

Now fold your tube so that the ends of the tube meet in the middle:

Glue the ends down. Now you have a felt rectangle that's 4 layers thick, folded on the outer edges, and open at the top and bottom.

Take your small piece of felt:

And fold it length-wise into a little tube, overlapping the edges a bit, gluing them down:

Flip over the big rectangle and scrunch the middle of it into a bow shape:

Wrap the tube, seam side down, around the middle of the bow. Overlap the ends of the tube, pulling as tightly as possible around the middle of the bow, and glue down. Trim off excess tube length;

Now you have a felt bow!

Mark a little square (about 1.5x1.5 inches) in the middle of the front of your clutch:

Pour some glitter into your container (I did about half of a two ounce jar at a time, and I ended up using about one and a half jars for the whole project):

Add in an equal amount of Mod Podge. It should be about a 1:1 ratio, which will seem a bit thick, but allows you do to fewer layers overall:

Mix well with the brush, making sure to get all the dry glitter at the bottom of the container:

Start painting the bow with the glitter mixture. It'll look really white at first, but that will dry:

Do a layer on the front of the bow, and let it dry:

Paint a layer on the outside of the clutch, without getting glue or glitter on the marked off square in the middle (that's where you'll be gluing the bow and you want to glue it directly to the clutch):

As you wait for the layers to dry, keep the container of Mod Podge glitter closed so it doesn't dry out:

The layers of glitter don't have to be completely dry before you flip it over and do the other side, or paint a second layer over it, but wait until most of the white is gone and it's no longer tacky, just a bit damp. Also, don't get gitter on the center back of the bow (this is the part you'll be gluing to the clutch):

I did a total of three layers of glitter on the clutch and the font of the bow, and only one layer on the back of the bow (since you won't be able to see it). After the three layers I left both the clutch and the bow dry completely overnight:

Put some hot glue in the square you left clean, and on the back of the bow. Let the glue sit a few seconds to get a bit tacky:

Press the back to the bow to the clutch and hold it down, without moving it, for a good 20 seconds, while the glue sets:

When the glue is completely dry (give it a few minutes) you can add a dab of hot glue under each "wing" of the bow to keep it secure all over:

Enjoy your new Glittery Gold Bow Clutch!

Too bad I didn't think to do this before New Year's Eve!

It's the perfect festive NYE clutch.

My total cost was about $20 (including a lot of left over Mod Podge and glitter and glue and felt), which is a fraction of what the Betsey Johnson version probably cost!

Happy Glittering!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T14:24:00.001-05:00

I wish you all a splendid and joyful and prosperous 2012!

Cheers!

May all your wishes come true!

Foregoing a Yearly Tradition: My New Year's Extravaganza With My Meilleure Amie - Part Deux

2011-12-31T00:00:00.001-05:00

This is a repost from New Year's Eve 2009 - with some modifications to bring the post up to date - but it's oddly appropriate once again.

****

Molly and Me, January 1st, 2011, Minneapolis

Molly and I have been meilleures amies since middle school, and starting in seventh grade (when we got up to some shenanigans at my dad's new year's eve party) we've had a New Year's tradition to spend the holiday together often at the cost of spurning our boyfriends for each other. This will only be the fifth in fifteen new year's eves that we don't celebrate together - boo. I'm pretty bummed out about not getting to see her this year, especially because we have a long history of partying hard and internationally that I would have liked to continue (even though I know we'll continue it next year).

Until the end of high school we were obviously celebrating locally, here in good old Cambridge, but starting in college we've spent each year's special night in (chronologically) New York City (in the Empire State Building - because we are badasses like that), Montreal, Boston, Chicago, New York (again), Rome, and Minneapolis.

So now all I can do to not get too lonely for my Molly Moo today is reminisce about the good times we've had, imagine all those to come...

So Molly, let's take a little stroll down memory lane, shall we?

1997: The year a great tradition started. When that you, me and Laura stole three bottles of champagne from my dad's party, went to drink it in the snow, and couldn't stop laughing for hours... (life was so much simpler when we were young!)

1999: When I had that insanely huge and out of control New Year's Bash at my dad's house, for which I thought it was imperative to have a black light set up in the living room (ahh, the joys of the 90s)

2002: When we spent New Year's Eve at "the apartment" and I'm pretty sure at one point you had a carrot in your pocket... 'nuff said.

2003: When we rung in the new year watching the fireworks from like the 50th floor of the Empire State Building. That was awesome. With the DJ's t-shirt: "black vinyl white powder" and whatever nonsense that was going on in the bathroom (and eventually got the party broken up) but went straight over our heads because we were 19 and oh-so-innocent.

2004: When you came to visit me in Montreal, and I slipped and slid down seven feet of black ice on my butt. I think we also met K-OS (a famous Canadian rapper for those of you--ok fine, ALL of you--who don't know).

2005: When we were stuck in Boston, but ended up having a great time with Rose at that random house party in Allston, which was unfortunately after it snowed about a foot on us while we were waiting for the bus... in mini skirts and open-toed shoes. (20 years old and oh-so-wise).

2006: When I came to visit you again in Chicago, and we party-hopped all night long, ending up at a very friendly lesbian party where I was confused about why there were no guys to flirt with. Then, thanks to my hangover, I had a cultural misunderstanding with the waitress at the Golden Nugget the next day.

2007: When you came to Rome and we had the most unbelievably random and awesome night ever - from partying with the Italian aristocracy (and posing for photos in front of their pair of original Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe prints) to packing six people in a Fiat Panda and singing Queen at the tops of our lungs, to grunge-ing out with the punk rockers and their dogs at the 3 am concert at some abandoned train station.

2008: When we went back to New York and made it a night of Stoli Blue and Soda, while chatting up new friends outside the club at the Chelsea Hotel. That was the night I discovered almost no one's American cell phone is set up for international calls, trying desperately to call my boyfriend in Italy.

2010: When I flew to visit you and Walter in Minneapolis and what started off as a tranquil houseparty ended up with me getting kidnapped by your friends and you managing to convince the cab driver to drive the still half-full keg to the next house party. A night of stilettos in the snow and pink champagne, Minnesota-style.

***

I wish I had pictures of all of these wonderful evenings (I do of some, but I have too much respect for myself and Molly to post them online) so all of you could truly understand how amazing New Year's Eve can become when Molly and I get together and become a force of nature to be reckoned with!

At the risk of sounding maudlin and melancholy, I guess I don't really care because if it's not going to be an amazing night celebrating my my partner in good times, I guess it doesn't really have
to be an amazing night at all....

But even though I have nothing planned just yet, this year I'll probably end up spending some quality time with my roommates, which I know will be loads of fun because those girls are just as much a force of nature.

Happy New Year Everyone!
Have a Wonderful Evening, and Be Safe!

Don't Drink and Drive! :)

Napping, and Sewing, and Movies, Oh My!

2011-12-30T16:33:00.001-05:00

It's been such a lovely long vacation.

Since I came home last Monday, I think I only had one social night with friends (I had a dinner party then we went to a holiday party and then for drinks at a hotel bar in Boston). It was fun, but it was exhausting!

Every other night I've been at home in my PJs watching movies with my mom and sewing up a storm. I'm redoing the curtains in my bedroom, which is quite the big project, and sewing up little gifts for the friend I'm visiting in Jamaica and her babies (which I'd love to show you, but I don't know if she reads this blog, so I don't want to spoil the surprise!)

I've watched probably ten or so movies in the last few days. Taken a few naps. Stayed up until 3am reading. Slept in past noon most days. One day I never even got dressed!

It's been pure vacational bliss.

Today I'm going back to New York for New Year's Eve and a few days organizing my life before I jet off to Jamaica and then back up to Boston before starting a new (and my last!) semester at the end of January.

I know my vacation isn't over. I have another three weeks until I have to worry about anything seriously. But the lazing around at home, admiring the twinkling lights on the tree, listening to Diana Krall and eating too many chocolate truffles part of my vacation is over.

I'm a little bummed, but I think it's also time for me to put on some real clothes and start organizing my real life again.

What will you miss most about the holiday vacation?

New Year's Blanks

2011-12-30T00:42:00.000-05:00

1. New Years is a night I love, always a grand time, even though so many people love to hate. I usually spend it with my bestie, Molly (post about that coming up tomorrow) but this year it wasn't possible. .

2. One of my New Year's resolutions will be to stick with my half marathon training, and if I achieve that goal, to aim for a marathon the year after. Although it's more of a goal than a resolution .

3. A New Year's resolution I've made in the past was to take more pictures of random day to day things. I think I'll renew that resolution next year .

4. The most time consuming resolution I ever made was none? I rarely make resolutions, and when I do, I rarely stick to them. They've certainly never been time consuming .

5. This year I will be spending New Year's Eve with one or all of my roommates, maybe. I'm not quite sure yet!

6. If I could wish one thing for my new year it would be to find a jab I love (that pays well), as soon as possible, but that doesn't start until July so that I can take a month off after school ends to visit my family in Italy and go to my friend's wedding in Ireland .

7. 2012 is going to be the first year I'll be a real grown up .

***

Found Treasure: Vintage Singer Sewing Machine

2011-12-29T14:30:00.002-05:00

I was at my dad's house for Christmas Lunch and as I was leaving I suddenly remembered to grab a little treasure from my childhood that my dad had reminded me of last time I was home.

A little robin's egg blue vintage Singer sewing machine from the 1950s!

With it's own little matching carrying case!

(Sorry for the blurry pictures... iphone and bad lighting)

So my dad pulled it out and we dusted it off to try it out, and it still works! Like a charm!

Apparently I used to sew on this little beauty when I was a child, but I'd totally forgotten that I owned it and it's just been collecting dust for the last ten years!

In other news, a family friend gave us a whole box of vintage fabric.

So my mother decided to put the little Singer to the test, and whipped up some cute vintage potholders:

I'm so excited to have this little machine back!

Do you have any childhood treasures?

Joyeux Noël!

2011-12-25T11:19:00.000-05:00

Our Fat Christmas Tree

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah!

Filling In Christmas Blanks

2011-12-23T14:05:00.001-05:00

1. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is with lots and lots of delicious food!

2. The thing I love most about Christmas is coming home and relaxing with my family without having to worry about what's on my To Do list .

3. The holiday season is a time for not worrying about the scale .

4. My favorite thing to eat at the holidays is all the things. But especially oysters, fois gras, and champagne (my mother does Christmas French-style), lots of cheese, and the Mont Blanc - a traditional meringue and marrons glace` dessert - that I make every year .

5. I will be spending Christmas Eve with my mother, throwing our yearly Christmas Eve dinner party, and Christmas Day with my father, opening presents and having Christmas brunch .

6. Tis better to (give or receive?) usually I'd say to give - I love shopping for presents and finding the perfect gift - but this year I'll say neither. My brother is in Italy with my dad's family, and I'm spending a low key Christmas with my parents that is no so much about gifts this year (we'll do most of the exchanging when my brother gets back from Europe) as it is about just being thankful for the time I have to spend at home .

7. I'm dreaming of a not rainy Christmas. I won't go so far as to hope for snow (it's been in the 50s the last few days, so I don't see it happening) but I really hope it doesn't rain.

Wordless Wednesday: Poached Egg & Avocado

2011-12-21T15:28:00.000-05:00

Bon Appetit!

The Little Things

2011-12-20T15:15:00.000-05:00

Truffles and Candied Ginger

Berries and Evergreens

White Poinsettas

My mom's homemade Praline

What are the little things that get you in the holiday mood?

Done!

2011-12-19T12:11:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, in an incredible feat of Fuck You Finals determination, I churned out an 18 page term paper in ten hours, effectively closing out this semester.

Yes, I still have to edit it, and do one more small assignment, but I'm essentially done.

Done.

After four--FOUR--weeks of finals, presentations, term papers, group projects, and every other imaginable assignment, I'm finally done with this semester.

And I'm three quarters done with grad school.

I'd dwell on this a little longer if I didn't have to go to Boston in three hours--for which I still haven't packed.

Hopefully in the next month I have off I'll have a bit more time to dedicate here.

Design Is Mine via Pinterest

But not before I follow my post-finals bliss to Cambridge, NY, Jamaica, Cambridge, and back to NY.

Be back soon!

Fill In The Blank Friday

2011-12-16T10:53:00.000-05:00

1. My most favorite "little thing" is having a chunk of time and knowing I can do whatever I want with it .

2. I'd give anything to not have to worry about finding a job .

3. I can't believe I'm graduating in six months!

4. The one thing I'd like to achieve today is finishing both the assignments that I have slated to be done by today (one is necessary, but both is unlikely) .

5. The last thing I want to do today is work on my budgeting final. I hate excel!!

6. If I were writing my own blank today, it would say: "The thing I'm most looking forward to over the holidays is planning our annual christmas party with my mom, and going to Jamaica!

7. My favorite candle scent is unscented. I love the look of candles, but I really really hate the smell of scented candles. It's like an instant migraine for me .

Indulging In Aesthetic Therapy

2011-12-16T01:16:00.005-05:00

If there's one thing I've learning during this extremely long, very trying finals period, it's that the little things can make all the difference.

Waking up in the morning and discovering you have just enough milk left for your coffee.
Taking an extra five minutes under a hot shower.
Having an early morning appointment cancelled at the last minute and getting to sleep in an extra hour.
Going for a long run.
Calling it an early night and watching an episode of Modern Family before bed.
Your roommate's grandmother's care package full of delicious homemade peanut butter cookies.

I've also discovered how important it is to really be comfortable in your environment. And having pretty things to look at makes such a big difference.

I've indulged in a little aesthetic therapy, and it's really helped me get through finals with my sanity intact.

My new night table, courtesy of my roommate's friend who is moving to Seattle and unloaded a boatload of furniture and housewares onto us, which gave our apartment the facelift it so desperately needed. The drawer was missing (as it was when she found it on the street) so I sewed a little curtain for it out of muslin, and I think it looks darling. It also matches the teal and white theme I have going in my room.

Those pots I bought from this adorable vintage shop on Etsy to put plants in, but I don't have small enough plants yet, so I'm leaving them there for now where they look adorable.

I saw this on someone else's macbook a while back and coveted it immensely. So when I came across it on Etsy, I had to have it immediately. When the apple glows it's simply marvelous.

This year has brought a lot of changes for me. I used to be afraid that if I ever had to run for my life, I would collapse and die anyway after half a mile. But now I love it and I'm actually running a 15k this weekend! I also used to always kill plants. I couldn't even keep that ridiculous little pot of grass from IKEA alive. Now I have four plants (including the white Poinsetta, which I stole today from our school's holiday party) and they're all alive! Even after I dropped one and it broke in half! This little green corner (along with the Begonia I have on my desk) makes me so happy. Plants really add a living dimension to any space.

These birds are my new favorite thing. Another great Etsy find, this wal decal is just what I needed to fill the blank wall above my sewing corner, and the teal bird inadvertently matches my new night table perfectly! Just looking at them makes me so happy.

What kind of aesthetic therapy do you indulge in

when you need a break?

The Gift Of Giving

2011-12-11T19:21:00.002-05:00

When I lived in Italy I loved preparing for the holidays.

Not that I don't love it now, but I don't really have time to anymore.

Where as then I had weeks to plan and buy and wrap up my gifts carefully before my family came to visit me or I went home to visit them, now it's far more hectic.

For the last couple of years I've had final exams and papers until around the 20th of December (not to mention a holiday gift budget that is significantly reduced compared to when I had a job) and then it's a mad four-day scramble to get presents for everyone.

This year is no different.

I've essentially been writing papers and doing group projects and presentations since before Thanksgiving. And I'm not done until next Monday.

But every once in a while I give myself a little break on Pinterest or Etsy to rest my brain a bit, and lately I've seen what would make some adorable gifts for the special sombodies in your life.

For the dreamer:

Co and Waito via Pinterest

For the whimsical:

Export Italy via Pinterest

For the baby:

Inktastik via Pinterest

For the minimalist:

The Seting Stake Time via Pinterest

For the dapper gentleman:

GQ via Pinterest

For the sarcastic:

Kate Spade via Pinterest

For the fashionista:

The Berry via Pinterest

For the crafter:

Mary Engelbreit via Pinterest

For the edgy:

HonestlyWTF via Pinterest

What gifts are on your wish list this year?

How To Find Your Inner Philanthropist

2011-12-01T10:01:00.001-05:00

I posted this last year in December (and the year before), and as much as I'd like to write a whole new post with essentially the same message, I'm just beginning finals, so I don't really have time. But I wanted to get the message out there since December 1st is World AIDS Day and the beginning of the season of Charity. So whether you're reading this for the first or second (or third) time, remember to think of others this holiday season!

***

The holidays (between the thankfulness of Thanksgiving and gift-giving of Christmas) are a time for us to realize not only how lucky we are (and if you're reading this, just by having access to a computer you're luckier than probably about 90% of the world's population), but how many other people need a hand just to make it from day to day.

Especially now--when those in need are no longer just abstract starving children in the third world (which sounds insensitive, but that's actually the way many of us perceive problems in the third world--as abstract), but an increasing number of people in our very own "developed" nations, with whom we have contact every day, who find themselves in dire straights--it's a time to think about what we can be doing for others to try to improve their situation in the little ways we can, and to make the world a better home for everybody.

I got this wonderful list of outlets for your inner philanthropist from JennyMac over at Let's Have a Cocktail (so I can't take credit for compiling the list of sites), and I thought it would be a good idea to try to pass around these resources to as many people as possible so we can all try to do a little bit for someone else.

Feel free to copy the list and post it yourselves; the more this information gets around, the more people will do it. And for even the most cash-strapped among us, there's an option to make a loan (see number 25) that you'll get back So there's no excuse to not make a effort for the greater good :)

(And for those without even the liquidity to make a loan, you can donate your used books, clothes, time, or even your blood!)

Here's a list of different ways you can make your contribution. As a Scottish proverb says, "charity begins at home, but shouldn't end there." So get outside your homes and give some charity.

How to Find You Inner Philanthropist:

1. Get involved. A super easy website: http://www.dosomething.org can help you find service projects in your zip code. They also encourage you to engage your teenage family members to get involved in philanthropy. Their aim is to inspire the next generation of “doers”. You can also find local events/charities/nonprofits to support at www.dogoodchannel.com

2. Mentor/coach/tutor a future John Grisham, Louisa May Alcott or Stephanie Meyer at http://826national.org/ which is 7 nonprofits working to celebrate and advance creative writing in students age 16-18.

3. Go to your book case and clean it out. Instead of donating to the library, take those books to a local literacy program.

4. You can also join http://www.booksforsoldiers.com for free and send them to troops.

5. Give blood. To find a local blood bank: www.givelife.org

6. Send a holiday card for FREE to a soldier abroad through a Xerox sponsored program www.letssaythanks.com

7. Save all of your magazines from the month and donate them to a local women’s shelter.

8. Call a local retirement community and schedule a visit. You can spend an hour or two calling bingo. We have done it and it is a total hoot. One of the elderly ladies won and yelled “OH SWEET JESUS”. I crack up now thinking about it. (You can also take your sassy OPI or MAC nail polish instead and do some fun manicures. )

9. You can donate baby blankets, stuffed animals, and children’s books to http://projectnightnight.com/ which helps homeless children.

10. Donate your old cell phones to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Go to www.ncadv.org and look under Take Action and then Donate.

11. Donate shoes (you know you have more than you can ever wear!) to www.shareyoursoles.org

12. Mentor an at-risk teen online at http://icouldbe.org

13. Become an online reading mentor and penpal for kids in 3rd – 5th grade at www.in2books.com

14. Volunteer at a National Park. www.nps.gov

15. Donate your unused airline rewards miles to Salvation Army, Make A Wish, or others.

16. Play www.freerice.com and every correct vocab word you identify, 10 grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Program

17. You can also go to www.freekibble.com and for every answers, you send 10 pieces of dog food to an animal shelter in need

18. Donate gift cards you won’t use to www.plasticjungle.com

19. If you knit, you can send squares to www.warmupamerica.org. The squares will be knit into afghans and donated to battered women’s shelters.

20. Sign up to volunteer at www.keenusa.org and become a one on one volunteer to teach kids with disabilities about noncompetitive sports.

Small Donations and Related Goodness

21. Every dollar donated to www.roomtoread.org promotes children’s literacy.

22. Donate a minimum of $10.00 to www.pajamaprogram.org which provides jammies and books for kids in orphanages, group homes, and shelters.

23. Buy some gourmet bean dips, salsa mixes, or spice rubs (among other things) from www.womensbeanproject.com which provides jobs and job training to homeless women. And they just celebrated their 20th anniversary.

24. Lend $25.00 to www.kiva.org which takes your loan and helps woman all over the world start businesses. You can choose your cause and the money will be paid back.

25. Give $25 to Puppies Behind Bars: a program teaching inmates how to train puppies to be service animals.

26. Buy beautiful handmade jewelry from http://www.madebysurvivors.com/ which is combating human slavery and trafficking by providing training, job skills, and life skills to women freed from sex slavery.

27. A $35 donation to Sleeping Children Around the World www.scaw.org provides a BedKit that consists of a mat or mattress, pillow, sheet, blanket, mosquito net (if applicable), clothes outfit, towel and school supplies for a needy child.

28. Give a $35 Gift of Hope to women and children rescued from Sex Slavery and Sex Trafficking at www.sharedhope.org.

29. $35 dollar will also feed a needy child for one month with Share Our Strength at www.strength.org

30. Make an online donation to www.doctorswithoutborders.org which provides aid in almost 60 countries to people suffering from abuse, neglect, famine, malnutrition, lack of health care and natural disasters. $35 will provide 35 vaccines.

31. And finally, because there are so many people on this Earth without clean and safe drinking water, you can donate $20 to http://www.charitywater.org/ and give one person drinking water for 20 years.

Weekly(ish) Photo Essay: Black Friday Flowers

2011-11-30T16:22:00.001-05:00

The last thing I would ever do (well, maybe not the last thing, but close) is shop on Black Friday.

My worst nightmare is braving Black Friday crowds just to buy some stuff on sale.

Hell, I wouldn't even go if they were giving it away for free.

I hate standing in line, I hate getting shoved, I hate people's lack of consideration.

I'm certain that all of these things abound on Black Friday.

So instead my friend Natasha and I drove an hour outside of Boston to spend a day among flowers (and the elderly, who apparently also like flowers) at the Tower Hill Botanical Garden.

It was--I expect--a much more relaxing and pleasant day than any day of shopping would have been.

And some literature in the gift shop:

Black Friday Blanks

2011-11-25T00:09:00.000-05:00

1. Waking up at the break of dawn to go shopping is my idea of unholy hell. I would never in a million years get up at dawn to go shopping, let alone when I'd have to battle a bazillion people to do so. I don't remember the last time I bought anything on Black Friday. Tomorrow I'm going to a show at a Botanical Garden. Much more civilized, if you ask me .

2. If I were to go shopping today I would be on the hunt for a place to hide from all the crazed bargain shoppers .

3. The best thing I ate yesterday was the delicious butter-basted turkey my brother so lovingly spent all afternoon dousing in its own buttery juices. My mother made a splendid pecan pie, and I made a delicious cranberry horseradish relish .

4. Something I've been learning lately is that incremental accomplishments are rewarding. Things start to add up and the results start to show if you stick to something long enough .

5. I cannot start my day without brushing my teeth and making my bed .

6. My nighttime attire consists of leggings and a long-sleeved shirt (here at home). Shorts and a tank top (in NY) cause the heat is always on .

7. I am looking forward to being done with this semester and having a whole month off!

Merci

2011-11-24T15:50:00.001-05:00

I have mixed feelings about Thanksgiving.

On one hand it's delicious, it's a chance to see my family, take a much needed break, and get my hands dirty in the kitchen.

On the other hand, it's a sort of eerie calm before the storm.

There's food, wine, family, friends, good cheer. It feels like the holidays, but there's really a whole month left before the holidays.

A whole month of final exams and papers. Hence the storm.

Then again, the way this semester has been going, it's almost like the eye of the storm. The calm half way through, before having to brave the other half before coming out the other side around Christmas.

Thanksgiving Table Setting

So I should be thankful.

For this wonderful five-day weekend I get to take in the middle of November before having to rush back to finish eight final projects and a flurry of job applications.

For my mother, who makes this house a home, and who turns bags of groceries into a delicious feast.

For my brother, who picks me up at the bus station and carries my overpacked suitcase up the stairs. Every time.

For my father, who, despite all his life suggestions, I know is proud of me.

For my amazing friends who help me keep things in perspective.

For being lucky enough to be doing exactly what I want to be doing with my life. And loving it.

For the discipline to run every day I never thought I'd find.

For the vacation to Jamaica I can't wait to be on.

For the cute, elastic-waist skirt I'll be wearing later, managing to look fancy yet be comfortable.

For delicious thanksgiving leftovers.

Fill In The Blank Friday

2011-11-18T18:22:00.000-05:00

1. A nervous habit I have is picking off my nail polish, but only if it's already chipping .

2. Something that makes me sad is how much money people will spend next week on the biggest shopping day of the year--on completely useless shit--when there are so many people in need .

3. Today I am thankful for my discipline. I've had a long day, but I still laced up m sneakers to go for the run I missed this morning when I slept in .

4. My favorite room in my house is my bedroom. It's full of lovely plants and decorated a calming white with splashes of merry color .

5. I can't stand slow sidewalk amblers. Seriously, get out of my way! .

6. If I had an extra $100 to spend on whatever I wanted today I would get myself a bunch of new winter running gear. Suggestions for good brands?

7. The last person I hung out with were my roommates, who just got home .

Jamaica

2011-11-17T14:25:00.001-05:00

It's been a long semester.

{via}

I'm in school full time (I even made the silly mistake of taking six classes this semester) and I'm essentially working two part time jobs (one for pay, one for free).

{via}

And it's not even over! I still have three weeks of classes, and then exams.

{via}

I definitely need a vacation, which I finally booked yesterday, a little spur of the moment.

{via}

A friend of mine invited me to Jamaica to spend a week with her and her family over the holidays, and I decided to take her up on the offer (after years that she's been inviting me and I haven't managed to make it happen).

{via}

She and I had originally made tentative plans to meet in Italy over the holidays. But then I decided not to go, for school/money/work reasons, and she decided not to go because she'll be seven months pregnant in December and she didn't want to fly that far.

So we decided to meet up in Jamaica instead. Sunny Jamaica instead of rainy Rome. Not too shabby.

{via}

And I'll finally get to meet her daughter--an absolutely adorable 14 months old--who I've been dying to meet for a year.

{via}

All in all, I'm quite happy with my impulsive little Caribbean trip.

I miss the beach.

Weekly(ish) Photo Essay: Autumn in Central Park

2011-11-15T10:50:00.002-05:00

Ever since I started running in the park this summer I've noticed how the exact same place can look so different from day to day, just based on the weather, the light, the temperature.

Running around the reservoir while the leaves have been changing has been an absolutely stunning visual experience. The trees are all kinds of vibrants, warm hues, and we've been blessed with a couple of weeks of amazing weather. Sunny and mid-60s.

I wish Central Park could stay like this forever.

11.11.11 11:11

2011-11-11T11:11:00.009-05:00

It's

Maybe something mystical will happen today?

I guess we'll have to wait and see!

Sunday Sparkles

2011-11-06T23:04:00.000-05:00

I'm spending the weekend at my friend Paige's, dogsitting her little King Charles Spaniel, Walter--the cutest puppy ever--and last night I decided to indulge in a lazy Sunday night at home, watching How I Met Your Mother, and giving myself a manicure.

I know autumn colors are in now, but now I thought a nice summery teal would look nice with all the black I start wearing when it gets cold.

And then I decided to try a new little technique I saw on Pinterest, adding some sparkle to just my ring finger.

I quite like it.

What do you think?

A Day At The Race

2011-11-05T09:15:00.000-04:00

Since I started running this summer in Mali (in my neighbor's lovely airconditioned house) I've actually stuck with it, which, if you ask anyone who knows me, is quite the accomplishment.

I'm hardly what you would call an athlete.

But I actually like running. I'm over the hump now. I can run five miles without dying. I know what those elusive endorphins feel like!

And today I'm running my first race!

(Well, first since being on the cross-country team my freshman year in high school, which doesn't really count since it was such a complete disaster. Being out of shape, anemic and having dangerously low blood pressure, I passed out in the middle of the race and had to drag myself, pathetically, back to the start line. Luckily I've gotten myself back into shape since then).

A friend of mine from school convinced me to run the race with her (and my old Econ prof, who's running the NYC Marathon the next day!) and even though at first I was a bit apprehensive, now I'm super excited.

And I decided that this race is going to kick off training for a half marathon next spring!

If a year ago someone had told me that in a year I'd be considering running 13.1 miles--voluntarily!--I'd have told them they were batshit insane.

But apparently I'm the crazy one now :)

Fill In The Blank Friday

2011-11-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

1. My favorite thing about this week was/is that I get to spend the whole weekend puppysitting Walter! The cutest most snuggliest little puppy that ever was!

2. Colder weather makes me want to hibernate and eat lots of food. But also go running, cause I have such better endurance when it's cold! (Although it's hard getting out of bed in the morning!) .

3. Three things that make me terribly happy as of late are my new running shoes, being done with midterms, and the trip to Jamaica that I'm planning!

4. If I could only wear one kind of shoe for the rest of my life, I'd choose all of them? I refuse to answer this question. I love my shoes too much .

5. My personality type is ENTJ, according to one random online test I took. Not sure what it all means.

6. I have a serious problem resisting most things I like. But I'm getting better at it!

7. My favorite color to wear is grey or black. I must own 20 grey and black cardigans. I love nude, brown and olive, too .

Filling In Blanks On A Foggy Friday

2011-10-14T12:40:00.000-04:00

1. The most selfless thing I've ever done was scrap my plans to move to South America for a year and go to Spain instead so that I would be closer to my family and my boyfriend. I know that doesn't sound really selfless, but my selflessness is more easily found in micro acts, not macro acts. I don't mind making little sacrifices, but when it comes to the big picture, I'm still very much my own priority.

2. When it comes to working out I'm reformed! I used to hate running! Now I run 5k 3-4 times a week in the morning!

3. A woman should always keep in mind that we (women) shouldn't have to compete with each other to get ahead .

4. I wish I could be more efficient about getting my work done and then I'd have a lot more free time to relax .

5. A best friend is never afraid to tell you when you're being an asshole, and the first to tell you when you're being awesome .

6. I can't get enough of Pinterest! I'm getting so many amazing ideas for sewing and home decor projects!

7. This weekend I am working, working, working, and maybe going thrifting with my friend for Halloween accessories!

***

Crab Genocide

2011-10-13T14:55:00.001-04:00

A couple of weekends ago, on a rainy Saturday afternoon, my roommate Barbara, her sister, and I went down to Fish, in the West Village, to enjoy all-you-can-eat Blue Crab with my friends Will, Oliver and a bunch of other people.

When Will told me about all-you-can-eat crab--for only $21.95!--I got super excited!

Endless seafood? For four whole hours? (The deal is only available from noon to 4pm) For less than $30?

Yes please!

What ensued was four hours of Old Bay and lemon covered deliciousness.

Between the nine of us we must have gone through at least a hundred crabs.

We called it Crab Genocide.

And oh my what a delicious genocide it was.

If you're in the New York area, I highly highly recommend going. But go soon, crab season is ending!

Fish

280 Bleecker St. (& 7th Ave)

all-you-can-eat blue crab 12-4pm

I'm Ready

2011-10-01T11:30:00.000-04:00

{via}

Usually I'm one of those people that desperately hangs on to the last days of Summer, wearing summer dresses into October, shivering in bare legs and a cardigan, insisting that it's only a bit chilly.

But this summer was long, and it was hot. Two months in subsaharan Africa maxed out my tolerance for extreme heat and humidity, and then I got back to New York where's it's been alternating, rain, humid sunny days, and cloudy sauna days.

I'm ready for fall.

I'm ready for crisp, sunny days where you need a trench coat and a scarf; where the insides of the subway stations cool down enough that you don't fantasize about stripping down in the middle of the platform, it's so hot and stuffy; where you can get a hot coffee and not start sweating bullets while you drink it walking down the street.

I'm ready for...

and

and

and

and

and

and

What are you ready for this fall?

How Pinteresting! WANT!

2011-09-29T19:21:00.001-04:00

I lately jumped on Pinterest bandwagon and I don't regret a single unproductive minute that I've spent on it.

Aside from cute sewing and DIY projects, delicious recipes, and fun fashion inspiration, browsing though Pinterest is like an aromatherapy mind massage: probably has no long-term therapeutic effects, but sinfully pleasant while it lasts.

I've started pinning on a few boards, so I thought I'd take you through a little tour of each one over the next few weeks.

WANT! Is the board on which I put stuff that I love that doesn't really fit into any other category (since I pretty much want everything I pin), including smoking hot guys, but I didn't put any of them up here today.

Next time :)

What do you WANT?

Julia's Alphabet

2011-09-26T15:00:00.000-04:00

I really should be finishing editing this article that I'm working on, but I figured I could take a few minutes to fill out a cute little alphabet Q&A.

A. Age: 26

B. Bed size: Full. I sometimes wish I had a queen, but my room isn't big enough, and I'm tiny enough to fit comfortably in a full, even with another person.

C. Chore that you hate: Mopping. Ew.

D. Dogs: Are adorable. As long as they aren't mine. Too much responsibility.

E. Essential start to your day: Brushing my teeth, going for a run, showering, checking my email.

F. Favorite color: Green.

G. Gold or Silver: Silver, mostly. But I'm starting to appreciate gold more and more, if it's classy.

H. Height: 5'2".

I. Instruments you play: I played the piano for 10 years, but it's been almost 10 years since I stopped playing, so I hardly remember anything.

J. Job title: Graduate student. Cash money, oh yeah.

K. Kids: Not yet. Some day?

L. Live: your life with no regrets. But if you do regret, it's better to regret something you did than regret something you didn't do.

M. Mother’s name: Marie Christine.

N. Nicknames: Jules. If you call me Julia Gulia I might have to kick you in the shins.

O. Overnight hospital stays: Never.

P. Pet peeves: Oh man. Slow sidewalk walkers, people who try to get on the subway before everyone gets off, people who spit, when the tag is sticking out of someone's shirt, when parents let their children run around like little hellions in public spaces. I could go on, but I won't...

Q. Quote from a movie: "I haven't got a snobbish bone in my body." - Constance Threntham, Gosford Park

R. Right or left handed: Right handed, but a bit ambidextrous for certain things.

S. Siblings: One little brother. Well, little as in younger. He's actually much bigger than me. I can't really beat on him anymore.
T. Time you wake up: It depends on the day. Anywhere between 7 and 9 usually. 10 on weekends.

U. Underwear: Lace boy shorts. Comfortable, sexy, and they look good (read: invisible) under everything.

V. Vegetable you hate: Okra. It's bitter and slimy at the same time!

W. What makes you run late: Deciding what to wear. I'm such a spaz at getting dressed in the mornings.

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Both wrists, both ankles, one knee, my mouth (when I fell face first off a bunk bed. ow.), lots of dental X-rays.

Y. Yummy food that you make: I just bought an ice cream machine and I've been going crazy making frozen yogurt. Frozen custard is coming soon!

Z. Zoo animal: I love baby giraffes. And baby elephants. And baby penguins. Zoo babies are all pretty cute, it's just sad that they live in the zoo :(

What's your alphabet?

Fill In The Blanks On A Foggy Friday

2011-09-23T11:41:00.000-04:00

This morning as I was going for a run around the reservoir, I noticed that I couldn't see a single building downtown.

Everything was covered in fog, and for a moment, it felt like I wasn't in a crazy huge city anymore. I was surrounded by trees, there was a nice breeze, a few raindrops even, and I was just absorbing this amazing feeling of calmness from the park around me.

What a wonderful way to start a Friday morning.

1. The best thing I did all week was go running every single morning, even when I was exhausted and didn't feel like it. I run the reservoir twice, which is 5k, and I don't even get winded! I've come a long way from my paltry little run around the block in Rome .

2. Not having class today makes me super happy.

3. Pets are adorable, but a lot of responsibility .

4. Not having any regrets is the best thing about my life.

5. With the cooler weather I am looking forward to boots, cardigans, and delicious roomie dinners .

6. Something that's on my "wish list" right now is black skinny jeans. I can't believe I don't own any .

7. This weekend I am going to be working allllll day every day on three super important writing assignments I have due. But I'll also be going to a couple of birthday parties and having dinner with a friend, so it's not too bleak .

Home Sweet Home (Finally)

2011-09-22T14:50:00.001-04:00

As I was unpacking into my new room, in my new apartment, I realized that this will be the first time since the Summer of 2009 that I'll be living in my own apartment, with my own furniture, and not on a temporary basis.

Until the summer of 2009, I was living at my grandmother's house in Rome, where I had been for two years. When she passed away in June, my aunts and uncles had to start coordinating the sale of the apartment, so I couldn't stay in it until I moved to Spain in December. So in September I moved into an apartment with three other girls for a couple of months in another neighborhood of Rome. In January I moved to Madrid, where I rented a tiny place (almost all of my stuff in storage in Rome) for six months, and at the end of August, when I moved to New York, I was living with the Keyfrees, where I had most of my things, but none of my own furnishing (since it was someone else's house).

So I'm finally in my own apartment for the first time in years, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Our place is beautiful, with a big balcony and a 17th floor view of Central Park, and it's South/East facing so we get wonderful direct sunlight all day long.

My mother asked me to take some pictures of my room, so she could see where I was living, so I thought I'd just post them here to show off my lovely new digs.

The view from the doorway

The bunting is from Mali, made of assorted African fabrics

My faux vanity. The bust was hand carved by a Malian artisan.
She's doubling as a headband stand.

My sewing corner.

Books, toiletries, jewelry, and assorted African bowls.

The view from the desk.

My big desk and brand new Macbook Air! Love!

I accidentally left all my wall decorations in Cambridge, so I'm temporarily decorating with hats.
I quite like it.

I took the photos at night, so I apologize for the quality (but nighttime is really the only time I'm at home and not in a rush). Maybe one afternoon when I'm home during the day I'll take some photos of the balcony and the view.

Fill In The Blank Friday

2011-09-16T14:30:00.000-04:00

1. You should always take time to cook a delicious meal from scratch and enjoy it with loved ones .

2. Laughter makes the world a happier place to be.

3. I can hardly wait for the holidays, when I might be going to Italy to visit my cousin and her newborn baby boy! .

4. Friday is my favorite day of the week.

5. Something totally dumb and ridiculous that I love is miniature versions of anything. I love tiny things!

6. If I could, I would travel to a new international city every month .

7. I rather like how invigorated I feel after my morning run around the reservoir in Central Park .

***

Fill In The Blank Friday

2011-09-09T13:36:00.000-04:00

1. Somewhere, someone is taking a nap. Lucky bastard .

2. Beautiful things are my muse.

3. It would suck if were no more because .

4. A giant iced coffee first things in the morning was my favorite thing about today.

5. Life is kind of like a delicious meal with a few unexpected side dishes .

6. If I could have anything I wanted I would want an apartment in each of my favorite city, and the means to get there and spend time there a few times a year .

7. A funny thing happened the other day... my friend and I ran into each other--literally--and both went tumbling to the ground. We may have been drinking....

The Groove Of Things

2011-09-01T13:55:00.000-04:00

I'm back in NY (and after surviving "hurricane" Irene) and things are a bit hectic.

Today is moving day (technically I moved in on Saturday, but I've been camping out in my living room since my room isn't vacant yet) and so I'm finally getting to move everything into my room.

An old friend of mine from college is also visiting me this week, and he just arrived today, in the middle of all the craziness.

SIPA orientation is this week and I've been volunteering for it.

Classes start next Tuesday.

It has been and will continue to be a crazy crazy week with no rhyme or reason.

It's going to be so much fun but a little part of me can't wait to get back into the groove of things.

Fill In The Blank Friday

2011-08-26T12:30:00.001-04:00

1. One of life's most simple pleasures is having a picnic with a few good friends .

2. People who try to squeeze onto the train/subway/bus before everyone has gotten off make me want to punch someone (namely, them).

3. I like warm weather because I don't have to wear pants!

4. Boondoggle is a funny word.

5. If I had to choose one beauty product to use for the rest of eternity it would be mascara .

6. I'm happy that I'm starting school again in ten days! It's been a long summer .

7. I would never get anything on my face pierced. If I haven't done it yet, it's not going to happen .

***

I Occasionally Like To Make Lists: Reasons I Won't Miss Mali

2011-08-23T16:53:00.000-04:00

So after a long, long summer abroad, I'm officially back stateside.

I spent a few days in NY before coming up to Cambridge to spend a week with my family before heading back down to move into my new place, SIPA orientation (which I'm apparently volunteering for), and the beginning of classes.

I have to say, as much as I miss all the wonderful people I met when I was in Mali, it's good to be back in a place with the comforts of modern living. I was almost shocked when there was a thunderstorm the other day and all the lights didn't go out! Magic!

But there are still some things I miss about that crazy landlocked country in West Africa.

So I thought I'd throw together a quick list of reasons I won't miss about Mali. Don't worry, reasons I will miss Mali are coming soon.

Reasons I Won't Miss Mali

1. The garbage. It's literally everywhere. When it rains it mixes with the water and makes disgusting black death puddles which I accidentally stepped in more than once. Ew. Everything smells like garbage. Hot, wet garbage. Burning garbage.

2. People spitting. Apparently it's perfectly normal to just spit when you have too much saliva or something in your mouth you'd like not to be there anymore. It doesn't matter if people are indoors or outdoors or if they're about to spit on someone. They just spit wherever, whenever. I narrowly missed being spit on dozens of times.

3. Taxis honking. It didn't matter if you were walking in the same or the opposite direction, if you were walking into a store, or far away from the road; if you were white, and you were walking (and especially if you were a woman), any taxi that went by honked at you--often multiple times--to see if you needed a ride. As if people were incapable of sticking their hand out and flagging down a taxi when they needed one. Ask anyone I was with, by the end of two months, I was ready to go to blows with half of the taxi drivers in Bamako.

4. The lack of asphalt/sidewalks/traffics laws. I mean, this is pretty self-explanatory, but the complete lack of any sense of order or infrastructure with regard to traffic and transportation made Bamako a difficult city to navigate. It had the traffic of any city with over three million inhabitants, without any of the necessary urban structure and planning. The lack of asphalt meant that the streets were paved with dust when it didn't rain, and mud when it did. The lack of sidewalks (and the prevalence of curbside open sewers) meant that any urban promenade was a game of chicken with oncoming traffic (with the loser ending up ankle-deep in sewage). And the lack of traffic laws meant that people essentially did whatever the hell they wanted, whenever the hell they wanted.

5. The blackouts. Every time there was a monsoon or a lightening storm, and sometimes even when there wasn't, we would get blackouts. And we didn't even have a generator, which meant that when the power was gone, it was gone. No lights, no fans, no AC, and no internet. This was manageable during the day, when I could still see, and could go somewhere if I got bored. But in the evenings, when we were stuck in the dark (often while trying to upload photos), and at night, when the fans and AC died and we were stuck under our breeze-less mosquito nets in 40 C degree weather, it was awful.

6. The feeling of sweat dripping down my scalp. Enough said.

7. The questionable meat/dairy. Needless to say, I was inadvertently vegan for lots of the time I was there. Sure, at restaurants I would order meat. But there was no milk that wasn't long conservation (ew), or powdered (ew), and the supermarket meat tasted... Malian. Like grass fed beef, but when the grass is growing out of piles of garbage and the cows are grazing it along the sides of the road, breathing in exhaust fumes and narrowly missing being hit by cars and scooters. I think that level of stress in an animal's life can be tasted in the food.

8. The ridiculous landlocked prices. So lacking access to the ocean, Mali doesn't have any ports, and therefore everything has to be trucked or airlifted in. This meant that while you could by a mango at the market for 100 CFA (about 25 cents), a bar of chocolate or a wedge of cheese would run you about 3500 CFA (like $7.50 USD). A jar of nutella was 6000 CFA (or about $12.00 USD). I mean, lots of the prices were comparable to Manhattan's Westside Market, whose prices factor in rent in Manhattan and the disposable income of New Yorkers. It was ridiculous.

9. The dust/mud/disgusting black death puddles. I know I've referred to each of these separately, but the walking conditions in Mali deserve their own number. Every time I left the house it was like playing Russian Roulette with my feet. Is it mud? Is it dust? It is just a pile of plastic bags or is it a 6 inch deep puddle of black death? Even with my rubber shoes (great for Africa, bad for fashion) walking anywhere was a challenge.

10. Malian Time. Ah, Malian time. This is actually the one thing I sort of got used to, but only after about a month. Everything on Malian time happens about one and a half hours after it's supposed to. Without fail. And the work day is from about 10am to 3pm. Nothing happens after 3pm, it's too hot. At the beginning, when I was still on New York time, and expecting things to happen with efficiency (ha), it was unbearable when people showed up over an hour after when they said they would. But after a while, I got used to it. I started showing up at work half an hour late, and I would still be the first one there. I actually would manage to fit in going for a run between the time people said they would show up and when they actually did. It was almost like being given the gift of time. Except at the end of the day when it was always like three hours later than I thought.

Stay tuned for reasons I will miss Mali!