- 9:14 PM
- 0 Comments
So unless you've been avoiding all media this week, you know that Maya Angelou died this week. She was an author, poet, journalist, dancer, singer, stripper, prostitute, mother, and so, so much more. If you've never actually experienced her writing, do it this weekend. Read one of her books--I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a popular choice as well one of the most consistently challenged books in public libraries--but be a rebel and check out Gather Together in My Name to or some of her later works.
Or try her poetry if you're pressed for time but in the mood to contemplate. Click here for a top 9 list from huffingtonpost.com.
Or if you want something really, really quick, listen to her read. Besides having one of the most influential literary voices of modern times, her actual speaking voice is mesmerizing. Check her out here on Sesame Street, here on Oprah's Master Class, or reading her poem Still I Rise.
Take some time and step into someone else's life. You can thank me later.
Or try her poetry if you're pressed for time but in the mood to contemplate. Click here for a top 9 list from huffingtonpost.com.
Or if you want something really, really quick, listen to her read. Besides having one of the most influential literary voices of modern times, her actual speaking voice is mesmerizing. Check her out here on Sesame Street, here on Oprah's Master Class, or reading her poem Still I Rise.
Take some time and step into someone else's life. You can thank me later.
- 7:32 PM
- 0 Comments
This week, you may or may not have heard that a young director, Malik Bendjelloul, committed suicide. Name sound familiar to you? I'm betting not, which is unfortunate. Bendjelloul won an Oscar for his one and only film, a documentary called Searching for Sugar Man.
Do yourself a favor and watch this documentary over the weekend. Searching for Sugar Man follows two South African fans of the American music artist Sixto Rodriguez. Although he didn't find much success in the United States, Rodriguez gained a huge following across Africa, especially South Africa, where incredible rumors swirled about his supposed death and suicide.
The search for the truth about Rodriguez is compelling, and the things they discover about the artist and his life are in turns surprising, sad, and heartwarming. Not to mention, his music is legit-- very 70s folk-rocksy. Bonus points for being a Detroiter.
Definitely check this documentary out. Your life will be better for spending a couple hours learning about this fascinating musician and what happened to him after success alluded him in the U.S. while, unbeknownst to him, he became more popular than Elvis in South America. You can thank me later.
Your search is over. Source
Do yourself a favor and watch this documentary over the weekend. Searching for Sugar Man follows two South African fans of the American music artist Sixto Rodriguez. Although he didn't find much success in the United States, Rodriguez gained a huge following across Africa, especially South Africa, where incredible rumors swirled about his supposed death and suicide.
The search for the truth about Rodriguez is compelling, and the things they discover about the artist and his life are in turns surprising, sad, and heartwarming. Not to mention, his music is legit-- very 70s folk-rocksy. Bonus points for being a Detroiter.
Definitely check this documentary out. Your life will be better for spending a couple hours learning about this fascinating musician and what happened to him after success alluded him in the U.S. while, unbeknownst to him, he became more popular than Elvis in South America. You can thank me later.
- 9:40 PM
- 0 Comments
Friday is a big day. February 14th. My half birthday! Why it’s not a national holiday yet is beyond me, but don’t worry, I’m working on it. You can leave me half birthday wishes in the comments.
I’ll assume my card is in the mail.
On a less important note, it’s also Valentine’s day. Sean and I are planning to buy a huge box of Godiva chocolates and watch season two of House of Cards on Netflix. I know, the romance is practically dripping from this post.
Are we the world’s most glamourous and romantic couple? Probably.
Whether or not you have plans with a significant other, family, or friends, allow me to suggest one more way to celebrate: do something kind. It could be a big gesture or one small act. Some ideas:
- Write a letter or email to someone who made a difference in your life.
- Call your grandma just to chat.
- Give a compliment to a stranger.
- Send a nice or funny text to your sibling.
- Help an older person at the grocery store.
- Smile at a stranger.
- Prepay a few gallons of gas on a random pump at the station.
- Leave a generous tip for your waiter.
- Shovel your neighbor’s sidewalk or driveway.
- Read an extra bedtime story to your kids.
- Do a chore for your significant other that they don’t like to do.
- Buy someone diamonds... What? This is always a kind act.
There are tons of other nice things you can do, and unless you sold your soul to the devil, you can probably think of a few other things on your own. Let me know some of your ideas in the comments!
On this day which focuses on romantic love, widen the lens a little and spread some good old-fashioned kindness around. Not only will you brighten someone’s day, but you’ll start to focus on all the little good things that happen in your life day to day. It’s a good way to live. You can thank me later for inspiring you to make Valentine's Day just a little more important than cards and flowers.
Let me end by saying I really appreciate everyone who reads the blog. It’s a silly little project that helps me feel like I have somewhat of a life, but I brightens my day to hear feedback and comments from you guys. Thanks for following!
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! XOXO
- 7:17 PM
- 0 Comments
If you know me, you know I love reading. I’m the weirdo who would stand in line for a book release. My credit card rewards me with Amazon gift cards. I asked people to bring a book to Atticus’s baby shower instead of a card. This is my basement:
Must. Buy. More. Books.
Four floor to ceiling book shelves. All full. It's OK to be jealous. This room might have the most potential in our house.
There's also old comfy chairs, a sectional, a fireplace, and a door wall down here. I know how lucky I am.
I pride myself on being well-read in all age groups. If you want a book suggestion, I've got one for you plus 8 more lined up. But I’ve been finding it hard to find the time to read a book for my own pleasure lately. I think I’ve read three books in the last year, not including great little reads for Atticus like Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, or I Want to Be Somebody New by Robert Lopshire. If my son gets anything from me, it’s my love of reading. Also, his good looks.
Only three months old and reading by himself. Genius.
Like pretty much every pleasure in life, I feel like I don’t have the time to indulge. But by golly, if a book is an indulgence, what has my life become? So I’m going to read a book this weekend. Specifically, I’ll either be reading Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James or And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini, whichever comes in the mail first. My friend Samantha and I are starting our own two-person book club which will probably meet via text or phone call since we live on opposite sides of the state (unless I can convince her to move back this way... it’s a work in progress). I think we have pretty similar tastes in literature so I’m pretty darn excited to start reading.
I’ve also got another book club opportunity with some friends from high school, but since I’ve already read the choices for this month, I’m skipping this first meeting. If you’re interested, the choices are The Giver by Lois Lowry (wonderful young adult literature) and The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling (crime novel, not really my style).
This weekend, you should read something for yourself. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a new book, or a novel, or an “adult” book. Heck, I’ll even allow a magazine if you promise to read the articles and not just flip through the pictures. Pick something you’re interested in and make the time to lose yourself in someone else’s storytelling skills.
If you need ideas, check out my Pinterest boards Books I Love! and Reading List. Check them out. You’ll thank me later for all of the good ideas.
Let me know if you've read anything great lately! I'm always excited to hear what people are reading.
- 8:19 PM
- 0 Comments
Let me be the first to say I don't always rarely follow this advice. I work from home which, unfortunately, does not mean I get paid to be a mom all day. I wish.
Typically, Atticus wakes up around 7:30 a.m. I play all morning with Atticus, put him down for a nap while I get about an hour of work done, play again when he wakes up, put him to sleep at night, and then work. My work day starts at about 8 or 8:30 at night and ends around 2 a.m. A couple days a week he goes to my mom’s house so I can work uninterrupted during daylight hours or go to my school’s campus to teach face-to-face, but even on those days I’m still usually up way past midnight.
I’m not really complaining, because I feel like I have the best of both worlds. I have my baby man with me most of the time but can rely on my mom if I need to be alone to get things done. I didn’t have to give up my career to become a mother, and I don’t have to give up (much) time with my son to put my college education to use. Win win.
But those long nights can really take a toll, and I have a feeling many people reading know what I’m saying. So sometime this weekend, I'm going to take the time to sleep more, and you should too. Either go to bed early or sleep in late. Plan it so that you’re in bed a total of nine hours, just in case it takes a half an hour to actually fall asleep. Sleep and dream and don’t feel guilty about it. Whatever you think needs to be done can wait half a day. It's probably the easiest, cheapest way to paper yourself.
Two caveats: babies and deadlines. If your child isn't sleeping through the night yet, you can't do this. I'm so sorry. Your day will come, but it's not today. Or tomorrow. Probably not next month either. And if you have an important deadline for work or school this weekend, you better get it in gear and take care of business. I won't be responsible for your failures.
No rest for the parents nor the procrastinators.
But for the majority, you'll thank me later after you've slept for 8 or more hours like a normal human being. You deserve it, and I deserve it, too. I’m committing to this Friday night. I'm drooling just thinking about it.
Atticus knows what I’m talking about.
- 9:17 PM
- 0 Comments
Yesterday a friend shared this link featuring Congolese Sapeurs in a Guinness advertisement, and it is well worth your time. Full disclosure, it is an ad, so this isn't objective reporting or anything of that nature. There is a not-so-hidden agenda other than just sharing information about the Sapeur culture.
To say I was captivated by the ad and following short documentary would be a gross understatement. I watched both videos, then watched related videos, then searched for "sapeur congo" and other related terms just to read up on this subculture I had no idea existed a couple of days ago. I'm really fascinated with so many aspects of the culture: the juxtaposition of the well-dressed men in poverty-stricken towns, the idea that clothes can uplift the spirit, the question of whether the suit makes the man or the man makes the suit.
I know ultimately, the purpose of clothing is to protect the body from the elements, but in every culture around the world, they symbolize so much more. Like it or not, you are first judged by other people are superficial. This really got me thinking about how my choices in appearance represent me. You better believe I put on some real jeans and a sweater today instead of staying in my men's flannel pajamas, even though I was just working at home.
As always happens when you scour the internet, I found some interesting viewpoints that clashed with my admiration for the Sapeurs. Wasn't it terrible that these men were spending so much on clothes when they could be making investments, improving their homes, or saving to move to better villages or towns? Why celebrate this seemingly hedonistic, materialistic culture springing up from the slums of the Congo? Were these men just succumbing to another attempt of white oppressors trying to erase their national identity? I suppose these are all valid questions to consider.
Personally, I think of it like this: these men are living in a place that many people might consider poor, dirty, and lower class, yet they are making conscious efforts to define themselves instead of letting their surroundings, jobs, or the rest of society define them. They take care in their looks and how they present themselves to the rest of the world. They have a code of behavior they try to follow (I'm sure not everyone follows it faithfully or successfully, but what person does?). I like them. I'm fascinated by them! I would love to see more American men in similar fashions.
What do you think about all of this? Is there really so much symbolism behind fashion and what we choose to put on our bodies? Tell me in the comments!
Want to learn more about the Sapeurs? Check out the links below. You can thank me later:
This article from NPR.org
Solange Knowles features Sapeurs in her music video "Losing You"
A photoessay by Hector Mediavilla, who took the picture above
A blog post from Advaced Style, a blog I like very much
BBC News asks: Just how real is the new Guinness ad?
This article from Portable (another great fashion site)
Source: npr.org, photo credit: Hector Mediavilla/Picturetank
To say I was captivated by the ad and following short documentary would be a gross understatement. I watched both videos, then watched related videos, then searched for "sapeur congo" and other related terms just to read up on this subculture I had no idea existed a couple of days ago. I'm really fascinated with so many aspects of the culture: the juxtaposition of the well-dressed men in poverty-stricken towns, the idea that clothes can uplift the spirit, the question of whether the suit makes the man or the man makes the suit.
I know ultimately, the purpose of clothing is to protect the body from the elements, but in every culture around the world, they symbolize so much more. Like it or not, you are first judged by other people are superficial. This really got me thinking about how my choices in appearance represent me. You better believe I put on some real jeans and a sweater today instead of staying in my men's flannel pajamas, even though I was just working at home.
As always happens when you scour the internet, I found some interesting viewpoints that clashed with my admiration for the Sapeurs. Wasn't it terrible that these men were spending so much on clothes when they could be making investments, improving their homes, or saving to move to better villages or towns? Why celebrate this seemingly hedonistic, materialistic culture springing up from the slums of the Congo? Were these men just succumbing to another attempt of white oppressors trying to erase their national identity? I suppose these are all valid questions to consider.
Personally, I think of it like this: these men are living in a place that many people might consider poor, dirty, and lower class, yet they are making conscious efforts to define themselves instead of letting their surroundings, jobs, or the rest of society define them. They take care in their looks and how they present themselves to the rest of the world. They have a code of behavior they try to follow (I'm sure not everyone follows it faithfully or successfully, but what person does?). I like them. I'm fascinated by them! I would love to see more American men in similar fashions.
What do you think about all of this? Is there really so much symbolism behind fashion and what we choose to put on our bodies? Tell me in the comments!
Want to learn more about the Sapeurs? Check out the links below. You can thank me later:
This article from NPR.org
Solange Knowles features Sapeurs in her music video "Losing You"
A photoessay by Hector Mediavilla, who took the picture above
A blog post from Advaced Style, a blog I like very much
BBC News asks: Just how real is the new Guinness ad?
This article from Portable (another great fashion site)
- 9:21 PM
- 0 Comments
I love-hate flour. Really, gluten. I have a self-diagnosed sensitivity to it. I know how that sounds: hipster-trendy and maybe a hypochondriac, but it’s true. I feel horrible after I eat it, but everything with flour is so good. Sandwiches, cookies, cereal? It’s hard living in a world without donuts.
But in the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, all bets are off. I eat anything that’s handed to me. Cookies, bread, graham crackers, whatever. I’m all about it. Every time I eat wheat I know I’m going to feel horrible, but I don’t care. It’s compulsive.
So now that the holidays are over and no one is sending me cookies or convincing me that pizza for dinner for the third night this week is a good idea, I’m eating veggies. So many veggies. And I love ‘em.
Just look at that beautiful salad! Kale, red lettuce, carrots, dried cherries, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and anchovies. Yup, anchovies. I'm getting hungry all over again.
That bowl is as deep as a fork. And yes, I ate the whole thing in one sitting.
To be honest, I just love food in general. No shame. But for now, I’m focusing on the plants.
And you should too. Try if for a weekend. They’re healthy (duh) but also filling and cheap. Seriously! I can get away with buying around $20 worth of produce last at least a week. I’ll have to do a grocery list in an upcoming post.
Save your stomach, save your money, and go eat a ton of vegetables between now and next week. Chop ‘em up, throw them in a skillet, and use them instead of noodles. Eat them raw. Get a mandolin or grater and make a huge colorful salad. Toss them in some olive oil, throw them a baking dish and bake them up (oooh, maybe with some capers on top!). After a day or two you’ll feel so dang good you’ll want to run a marathon. Or maybe just do an extra load of laundry, but hey, it’s a start.
Nom nom nom.
You can thank me later.
Share your favorite veggie recipes in the comments!
- 9:27 PM
- 2 Comments
