Tuesday, December 20, 2011
The one with Christmas Cookies!
Friday, November 11, 2011
The one with Fear & Hope
Saturday, November 5, 2011
The one with a Vendetta
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The one with Haunting treats
The idea which originally struck me was Disneyworld's Haunted Mansion, & they're quirky-humorous gravestones which line the entryway & leave only traces of a spooky element. Thanks to GoogleChrome, I came up with a slew of ideas within minutes, & happy created the sweets you'll see before you. I find myself often concerned with making consideration for everyone in projects like this, so I made both a vanilla & a devil-food cake. First they got a nice earthen-like frosting of vanilla, next a sprinkle of crumbled oreo cookies (no cream) to continue to communicate the look of earth.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
The one where we danced
Saturday, October 15, 2011
The one with "la Gioia di fare niente"
- Cobblestones (even if they occasionally make me fall)
- The charm of cracked plaster on ancient walls
- Prendere un Cafe
- Piazzas in which to sit & relax
- Beauty everywhere!
- Great restaurants
- Constant flattery
- Music wafting down the streets
- Telling the time by bells
- Long drawn-out dinners
- Double-cheek-kissing when greeting friends
- An air of greatness which refuses to be outdated
Friday, October 14, 2011
The one where I finally visit Assisi
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The one where it's midnight around a table in Firenze
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The one with water
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The one with mercato centrale
I recently visited Firenze, my favorite Italian city. The moment I stepped off the train at the San Maria Novella train station a smile took hold of my face, I instantly felt as though I was where I was supposed to be. I did; however, have to continuously remind myself to slow down as I walked through the city the first day. Life is so rushed normally, as Americans we go at a rapid pace & always have somewhere to be or something to be doing. I reminded myself several times that I had no agenda, & consciously slowed my step to the Italian lifestyle. Taking the time to take in & enjoy the city brought me much balance, I felt more aware, more alive, than I have in quite a while. One of my first stops walking around Firenze was my favorite spot: il mercato centrale. This is the central market, an indoor fresh market which I used to visit daily for my fresh fruit, produce, & bread.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
The one for 9/11
11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
I though it was somewhat fitting that there was a beautiful & subdued rainbow which I was lucky enough to see today, I hope others saw similar signs which spoke to them. It reminded me as I was grumbling about a little rain, how fortunate we are, & that even in our darkest of hours, there is still someone/something watching over us.
As I was driving & listening to the radio, the simplest mentions of September the 11Th would come on & I found myself at the verge of tears: upon that cliff where there is a giant knot in your throat pushing you into a pit of tears should you attempt to speak. The aspect of this which I found astounding, is that there are dozens of natural disasters, bombings, revolts, civil wars, peace crimes, etc which one could feel dismay over; yet, none of them touch me quite the way this does. It pushed me to ponder if as a country, we have a collective sense of sorrow over this day, on this day. It was as though pain & heartache was floating within the very air I was breathing.
There is undoubtedly a collective Memory which several generations of American's will share & pass on. Beyond anything else, I think the greatest respect we can pay is to Remember every man & women who lost their life that day, Remember every child left without a parent due to that day, Remember every man, woman, & child whose life has been changed because of that day in the greatest or smallest of ways, Remember to be grateful for all we do have.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The one where I'm 25
- You can be happy, you can be successful -- life is what YOU make it!
- We all have the ability to make people smile
- You choose how to allocate your time -- & with whom
- Family IS worth making time for -- it's not a given that they'll always be there
- There is nothing more worthwhile nor which brings more joy than laughter
- It doesn't matter what you believe in -- so long as you find something to believe in
- You'll never know the true impact you have upon another person
- You must be careful not to be too harsh, yet likewise to not be too soft -- this is a difficult balance which i have not yet mastered
- Love is worth the effort & the risk
- A façade is never the full story -- this is true both in architecture & people "Everything we hear is opinion not fact, everything we see is perspective not truth" Marcus Aurelius
- Age dictates neither wisdom nor maturity
- Make healthy lifestyle choices
- Invest in quality wardrobe pieces
- Never apologize for something which brings you sincere delight
- Take time to be disconnected -- to breath in fresh cut grass, crisp picked apples, the sea breeze, & rain in the air
- You cannot be part of a coherent couple if you cannot be healthy & content as yourself
- The little things are not as important as you think they are
- Impossible is only a word
- Never stop learning
- Make time to kiss passionately & hug slowly
- Don't rush through life, it will go by too fast as it is
- Submerse yourself in a culture entirely apart from your own -- it will remind you that although some people may seem strange to you, you seem strange to some people
- You're not alone, even when you think you are
- Exercise & take care of your body
- Gratitude is the greatest lesson I have learnt to date
Monday, August 22, 2011
The one with Cirque de Pump
Kobi Levi...it's really all I need to say, but just in case. It's nothing new, but these crazy, ingenious, beautiful shoes get me every time!!! He takes life, twists it a little, & gives you back Heels!!! A most gracious Thank You from the lovers of Pumps the world round!