Impressions

Happy, Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

Alright, I know Valentine’s Day is a visceral issue for people, especially single ladies, but I’d like to challenge your perspective.

Although I am in a relationship right now, I celebrated Valentine’s Day as a single girl for 27 years. Trust me, that wasn’t my plan, but I learned to embrace it. I was never one of those woe-is-me girls who would tweet “Sigh…another year of being alone” or “Hey, it’s Singles Awareness Day!” I think it’s a little sad to taint the day with that sort of self-focus. OF COURSE my heart’s desire was to be taken out to a nice restaurant by a guy I liked or surprised with a special delivery of flowers or something, but I didn’t put the responsibility of feeling content in other people’s hands. (What a way to guarantee constant misery!)

Instead, I have enjoyed every Valentine’s Day eating cute chocolates, wearing red or pink, often making cupcakes for my mom’s class, sending and receiving valentines and cards to my friends and family, sending a surprise to a friend now and then, and sometimes even getting a sweet surprise from friends. What’s not to enjoy about a day like that?

I really don’t care if it’s a commercial holiday created by Hallmark. I don’t care what my relationship status is. I don’t care what other people are doing. Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, and although I don’t need a designated quasi-legitimate holiday to remind me to do that, any excuse to express my gratitude to God and the people I love is one that I’ll gladly take, to love and feel loved.

I don’t want to minimize anyone’s desire to be in a relationship and have a wonderful date on February 14th someday, because that’s a legitimate desire and I really want that to happen. But…until then, remember that we are dearly and eternally loved by the God of the universe. His name is Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” Do you want to feel loved, prized, cherished, pursued, protected, and cared for on Valentine’s Day and every day? Do you know the only source of that perfect love that will never forsake or forget you or let you down?

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. 1 John 3:16

Oh, how he loves us. How he loves us so. What a reason to celebrate!

30 For 30 Remix, Day 16: A Bib for Dinner

2012-02-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

Boots: Target, denim: J Brand, top: The Limited, bag: LV, blazer and earrings: Nordstrom, necklace: LOFT, bracelet: Tiffany & Co.

First, my apologies for the poor quality of these photos. They were taken at the end of the night and inside my house, obvi. The necklace especially did not photograph well. It actually looks like this. This outfit was way cuter in person. Just trust me.

So, the necklace...let's talk about it. It's definitely a statement piece. When I wear it in my car on a sunny day, it paints rainbows on the ceiling, which is pretty fun. But seriously, it's great for this remix because it transforms the look of this striped top, which I wore on day 1 of the remix. People have asked me if it's really a necklace or just part of the shirt I'm wearing. It's a silly little thing, always trying to keep people guessing...

A bib necklace is a super easy way to change the look of tops, with or without a collar. (I'm obsessed with this one from Stella & Dot...so pretty and delicate. Oh, and $200. Lame.) I want to pair it with a plaid shirt next time I wear it. I got it on sale for about $20 a million years ago at the LOFT. It was a fun way to add a little sparkle to my otherwise basic outfit for dinner.

Just don't get any food on this kind of bib. That'd be kind of gross...

30 For 30 Remix, Day 15: Wu Hoo!!

2012-02-08T17:14:00.001-08:00

Flats: GAP, denim: Anthropologie, top: Jason Wu for Target, jacket: The Limited, shades: Ray-Ban, necklace and bracelet: Tiffany & Co., ring: souvenir from Ireland.

So, you may have heard that Jason Wu recently designed a super cute and preppy little collection for Target. And that it sold out in hours, just like their Missoni collection. Luckily, I was able to pick up some cute things on Sunday morning. At 8am. When Target opened. Despite the early morning hours, there were plenty of women there ripping clothes off racks. Ugh.

Getting up at the crack of dawn for designer collections at Target is super lame, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right? My dad was shocked that I was out of bed that early on a Sunday, but when I explained why, he understood and said, "Ah, the Wuster has crowed." He's a funny guy.

Anyway, I had a sweater in the mix that I haven't worn yet, so I decided to replace it with this top and include it in the remix. I'm thinking of pairing it with a black skirt...if I ever wear the skirts in my remix. (I'm trying!)

I also got this and this but they are not part of the remix. Anyway, I'm just really excited about Jason Wu's collection. What do you think?

He Gets It

2012-02-07T19:45:00.000-08:00

Here's the thing. Today was a totally fine, normal day. No crises. No deadlines. Definitely plenty to do, but nothing extraordinarly pressing or stressful or difficult.

But emotionally, it was just one of those days. One of those days you can't explain to someone, because really, nothing's wrong. But you just want to go home and take your pants off and crawl into bed and maybe watch a sad movie or Grey's Anatomy and be alone. Just because. Not because anything's really wrong.

I was on the phone today with Nate, telling him about my totally fine, normal day, but then admitted, "I just feel so sad right now, and I don't know why. Like, I just feel like crying."

And all he said was, "I understand."

He didn't try to fix anything. He didn't try to psychoanalyze me. He didn't tell me I was a crazy hyper-emotional girl (which maybe I am, so that would've been fine, but yeah.). He didn't ask for me to explain the unexplainable. He just...got it.

That was the best response I could have hoped for. I felt better after that.

I like him a lot, you guys.

30 For 30 Remix, Day 14: Comfort Zone

2012-02-06T17:24:00.000-08:00

Heels and bag: Coach, denim: Anthropologie, tunic: Splendid (via Anthropologie), sweater: Old Navy, shades: Ray-Ban, ring: souvenir from Ireland, bracelet: Tiffany & Co.

I'm learning some things about myself through the Remix. One of them is that I rarely deviate from my comfort zone...which is jeans and some sort layered top/sweater or top/blazer combo. Part of me thinks this is okay because it's....me. But another part of me really wants to get creative and try something totally new.

Other observations:

I love animal prints. (Did I mention that this sweater was $12.50? Yeah, that's ridiculous.)

I just love jeans. They're like, my thing.

I don't love skirts. I have 3 skirts in my remix and have worn one once so far. Major skirt fail. I'll have to start wearing them more. Or, maybe not...

I love this pink tunic I got for Christmas (also see it here). It's a tad long for layering like this, but it works, I think.

I'm trying to figure out what other patterns are emerging through this process about my style. How can I really mix things up?! Any comments/thoughts?

30 For 30 Remix, Day 13: Blazin'

2012-01-26T17:00:00.001-08:00

Shoes: Sperrys, jeggings: Old Navy, chambray: J Crew, blazer: Forever 21, shades: Ray-Ban, bag: Coach, watch: Disney, necklace: made by friend (jealous?), pearl bracelet: Forever 21, silver bracelet: Tiffany & Co., earrings: Nordstrom, ring: souvenir from Ireland.Soo....I got a lot more compliments on this blazer than I did the first time I wore it here. I liked it better today, too.

Remixing, guys...it's a learning experience.

Happy weekend!

30 For 30 Remix, Day 12: Go Shorty...

2012-01-26T10:09:00.000-08:00

Flats: Nine West, shorts: The Limited, shirt: J Crew, jacket: Forever 21, bracelets: J Crew and Forever 21, ring: The Limited, bag: Coach, shades: Urban Outfitters.
I have such a love/hate relationship with shorts. Love, because when I find a cool pair that fits and doesn’t disappear when I sit down, I really enjoy wearing them. Hate, because those kinds of shorts are hard to find. Also, wearing shorts requires shaving my legs…and we all know how I feel about that.

It’s a beautiful day to wear shorts today. A tad windy, but beautiful!

30 For 30 Remix, Day 11: Disney Date

2012-01-25T12:25:00.000-08:00

Denim: J Brand, flats: GAP, shirt: Forever 21, jacket: The Limited, purse: Marc Jacobs, bracelet and necklace: Tiffany & Co., rings: souvenir from Ireland/gift from Mother, shades: Ray-Bans.

I really don’t have much to say about this outfit, except…mouse ears are an important accessory at the Happiest Place on Earth!

We had a great night at Disneyland. The highlight was probably indulging in desserts at Disneyland’s new bakery, the Jolly Holiday bakery. We got coffees, flourless chocolate cake and a giant cinnamon roll, and shared them as we sat under the stars and fireworks. (Insert “aww” or eye roll, depending on your tolerance for mush.)

Happy day.

30 For 30 Remix, Day 10: Love at First Sight

2012-01-24T17:39:00.000-08:00

Mustard skirt: Anthropologie, black shirt: Forever 21, necklace: Anthropologie, shades: The Limited, bracelet: Tiffany & Co., ring: souvenir from Ireland, heels: Coach, bag: LV.

I don’t usually LOVE stuff when I buy it. I'm rarely swept off my feet by things when I'm shopping. I take forever in dressing rooms and often try stuff on more than once before buying it. I think about my purchases waaay too long and still return a very high percentage of things that I've bought.

But this necklace…it was love at first sight.

I saw it on a dress form at Anthropologie around Christmastime, but didn’t buy it because it was $60. After I looked for it online and saw that it was sold out, I immediately regretted not buying it when I had the chance.

So I went back the next week during a lunch break and ran into a friend whose sister works at an Anthropologie in Mississippi. She gets a 25% employee discount. So she stood in line with me and helped me get the necklace.

Turned out there was a special promotional discount for employees and I ended up getting the necklace for 40% off. So lucky!

Love…and a bargain? Yes, please.

The Best Cookies I've Ever Made

2012-01-16T11:17:00.000-08:00

Every December, my neighbor hosts a cookie exchange.

Every year, I stress out about which cookies to make. Like, I have bad stress dreams about baking bad cookies. Oh, the pressure!

In recent years, my cookies have admittedly sucked. They've either broken too easily or just been forgettable. And let me tell you, you can’t get away with bringing crappy cookies to this exchange. Your reputation—not to mention your standing with the neighborhood gals—is on the line. One neighbor brought store-bought cookies one year, wrapped them up and claimed she made them, was found out, and has never been invited again. I’m serious.

What I’m saying is…it’s important that your cookies are awesome. So naturally, I sought redemption last month and wanted to bring my A-game.

The exchange was on a Sunday afternoon at 3pm, so on Saturday afternoon I made and chilled the dough for the cookies I was planning on making. Basically, they’re sugar cookies with an Andes mint in the center—stinkin delicious. Easy. Been making them for years.

While the dough was chilling in the fridge, looking promising, my family went out for my birthday dinner. Baking the cookies was on my mind while we were eating and I was excited to start baking them once we got home. I was ill-prepared for the tragedy that would await me.

I still don’t know what happened. The cookies, like, didn’t bake. Instead of setting, the dough just seemed to melt over the Andes, creating a giant mess on the cookie sheets, not to mention heartbreak…and then panic. What happened? Did I not double all the ingredients like I was supposed to? Was something expired? No, no. I don’t know! Saturday night, weird dough, no cookies, and I have no Plan B. Hashtag EPIC FAIL.

So anyway, the night’s epic saga continued onto Sunday, because I’m no quitter. My dad literally googled something like “best Christmas cookie” and found a recipe that was full of words we like—chocolate iced marshmallow cookies. It seemed like a pretty basic recipe. No weird ingredients. Totally doable. So Mom melted chocolate, Dad went to the store to get parchment paper, and I got started on the dough. Things were looking up.

Then came the real test—baking. And they turned out great, almost like chocolate cake. After they’re done baking, we put a half a marshmallow on top and put them back in the oven for the mallows to melt on the cookies. Then we drizzled them with chocolate icing (which tasted like chocolate donut icing). Six dozen cookies and one chocolate drizzled countertop later, our cookies were prettily packaged and labeled.

They looked amazing. They tasted amazing. I’m just going to say it…my cookies were the best at the exchange.

So, if you ever need a Plan B, or a Plan A, or want to make cookies at any time, for any reason, this is your recipe. Take them to your cookie exchange with your head held high…these won’t disappoint. I’m definitely making them for Valentine’s Day.

CHOCOLATE ICED MARSHMALLOW COOKIES

½ cup butter
2 (1 oz.) squares unsweetened chocolate
1 large egg
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup milk
1 (16-oz) package large marshmallows

ICING:
6 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups powdered sugar
4 to 6 tablespoons hot water

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
2. Melt butter and chocolate in small heavy saucepan over low heat; stir to blend. Remove from heat; cool.
3. Beat egg, brown sugar, vanilla and baking soda in large bowl until light and fluffy.
4. Blend in chocolate mixture & flour until smooth.
5. Slowly beat in milk to make light cake batter-like dough.
6. Drop dough by spoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets.
7. Bake 10-12 minutes or until firm in the center.
8. Cut marshmallows in half. Place halved marshmallows, cut side down, onto each cookie.
9. Return cookies to oven just until the marshmallows stick to the cookie. Gently smoosh them down to flatten on top of cookies.
10. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Drizzle with icing when cool.
11. For chocolate icing: Combine all ingredients in bowl and beat by hand until smooth.

Makes 5 dozen

You’re welcome.

30 For 30 Remix, Day 9: Need...Caffeine...

2012-01-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

Denim: J Brand, shirt: Forever 21, sweater: The Limited, bag: Old Navy, boots: Target, shades: Urban Outfitters, necklace and bracelets: Forever 21, ring: The Limited, scarf: Forever 21.

For those of us who daily frequent coffee establishments, rush hour does not refer to the traffic on the roads, but to the line at Starbucks. This morning, during rush hour, I accidentally toppled an iced drink over in front of the bar where everyone picks up their drinks. Gasps were cried in unison. Ice cubes were flying. Chaos ensued. I instantly ruined everyone’s morning. It was terrible.

Okay, it really wasn’t that bad. It’s actually been a great day, but one entirely fueled by caffeine. I’m actually hitting a lull right now and am in desperate need of another iced latte, which I’ll get as soon as I’m done typing this post.

So, today’s outfit. It’s pretty basic and pretty typical of my style—a layered shirt (cuffed), jeans, and pearls. I love sprucing up basic outfits with accessories, and there’s no better place for cheap, cute stuff than Forever 21. Don’t let the horrible dance music or masses of middle school girls fool you—there’s actually legitimately stylish stuff in Forever 21. If you’re looking to update your look on a budget, accessories are the way to do it…bags, scarves, jewelry, even hats, if you can pull them off…

And there you go. Time for Starbucks! I’ll be extra careful this time around not to throw my drink on the ground.

30 For 30 Remix, Day 8: 101 Dalmation Dots

2012-01-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

Denim: Anthropologie, dalmation-print sweater: Old Navy, leather jacket: The Limited, black flats: GAP, shades: Urban Outfitters, bag: Coach, ring: souvenir from Ireland, necklace and bracelets: Old Navy, silver bracelet: Tiffany & Co.

What’s black and white and spotted all over? Dalmation puppies? YES. And this little sweater from Old Navy that I paid $12.50 for. (RIGHT?!) My love for animal prints is no secret. I liked pairing these dashing dots with the leather jacket...I think it gives it a retro vibe. Seriously…there was a red motorcycle in the parking lot that I almost hopped on today.

I think I’ll layer this sweater with the pink tunic for a future remix…? We’ll see. You’ll definitely spot it again soon though. Spot…get it? See what I did there?

30 For 30 Remix, Day 7: Chambray!

2012-01-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

Jeggings: Old Navy, chambray shirt: J. Crew, scarf: Madewell, boots: Target, bracelet: Tiffany & Co., ring: souvenir from Ireland, shades: Ray-Ban, tote: LV.

I feel like I’m wearing pajamas today. This outfit is so comfortable, it’s stupid. Chambray…can I gush about it for a second?

Chambray is the new basic white tee. You heard it here first, folks. I’m not huge with calling certain pieces staples, because everyone labels anything that they love as a staple, but this is a STAPLE. Pair it with anything and you can’t go wrong. Layer the heck out of it and you’re good to go. I could probably mix this shirt with everything in my remix and feel good about it. I’m actually looking for a champagne-colored sequined tank to layer this with along with a blazer (something along the lines of this look), or a sequined skirt to pair it with…I know, right?

This shirt is from J. Crew. I also have one that’s not part of the remix from Madewell. Seriously, if you don’t own a chambray shirt…you’re missing out. You could feel like you’re wearing pajamas to work. Dream. Come. True.

30 For 30 Remix, Day 6: Lunchbox Brights

2012-01-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

Denim shorts: The Limited, pink tunic: Splendid (via Anthropologie), sweater: The Limited, shoes: Sperrys, shades: Ray-Ban, earrings and bracelets: Old Navy, silver bracelet: Tiffany & Co., bag: Coach.Okay, please ignore, if you can, the weird fading remnants of spray tan on my neck, and focus on the outfit. I love this combo of bright colors. Why, you ask? Because I am pretty sure I had a Lisa Frank lunchbox back in the day (something with stars, rainbows, and unicorns on it...) that this outfit would match perfectly!

So much of my childhood allowance went to Lisa Frank pencil boxes and folders (and sticker club! That's right!). But it looks like my attraction to bright colors is here to stay...

30 For 30 Remix, Day 5: Casual Friday

2012-01-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

Jeggings: Old Navy, secretary blouse: GAP, military jacket: Forever 21, boots: Target, bag: LV, scarf: Anthropologie, bracelet: Tiffany & Co., ring: souvenir from Ireland, shades: Ray-Ban.

I was so excited all week to go to Disneyland with Nathan on Friday night, but when we arrived, there was no parking. Yep, that's right...there was no parking at Disneyland. Instead of being herded into the Anaheim Convention Center parking lot, we decided to just go another time. Luckily, the night led us to Corona for a very special visit. We met up with Kylie's cousin Kaylin and her 11-month old baby bulldog, named Jabba. He is the most precious little meatball of joy I have ever seen.

Jabba likes to eat and sleep a lot. (We have so much in common!) I was so happy we could meet our new little friend. Mickey Mouse has nothing on this little guy...

2011: The Year in Review

2012-01-05T23:00:00.000-08:00

1) What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
I wrote 398 thank-you notes, went to the NAMM Show, got a spray tan—twice!, cried like a teeny little girl when I saw Taylor Swift in concert, became obsessed with macarons, had a real date on Valentine’s Day, met Tina Fey, was a bridesmaid—twice!, discovered an affinity for books about disgusting diseases (the plague, scurvy, Ebola), became an official contributor to collegeministry.com, finally saw the David in Florence, started regularly using coupons, discovered my not-so-inner prepster, stayed up all night watching the Royal Wedding, opened a present nearly every day of the month of December, and chopped off my hair on a whim. Good stuff!!

2) Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm not really into making resolutions. Generally speaking, I strive to live a life that reflects the character of Jesus to people, contribute to the lives of others in a positive and meaningful way, be a productive person and constant learner, always have a grateful heart, and continually cultivate my interests.

3) Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Brad and Carrie welcomed Eli Benjamin!

4) Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year.

5) What countries did you visit?
Italy!! And Germany, just for layovers. Does that count? I bought Haribo gummy bears.

6) What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
REINDEER ANTLERS FOR THE COROLLA. I couldn’t find them anywhere! But really…just more wisdom, patience, and understanding. Nothing huge. Ha.

7) What date(s) from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 1st—Nathan surprised me with 25 days of Christmas presents. June 13th marked our 1-year. And December 13th because it was my last birthday that started with a 2 (I turned 29…yikes).

8) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This year, I took on some extra responsibilities and God definitely stretched me through them. It’s not an achievement, but by his grace and the grace of others, that I was able to learn a lot and have fun through some challenges that I was not anticipating.

9) Did you suffer illness or injury?
Aside from some back pain and an infection here and there…I was relatively healthy this year!

10) What was the best thing you bought?
I really liked the Christmas presents I bought for my parents—a travel book and a sparkly armadillo ornament for my dad (his name is Enrique—the armadillo, not my dad), and a mani/pedi for my mom (her first ever—we had fun!). I also bought a really pretty cameo ring and a linen scarf in Italy and feel pretty good about it.

11) Whose behavior merited celebration?
Anyone who sacrificed something of themselves for the benefit of someone else and without asking for reward or recognition merits celebration in my book. (Specifically, I'd like to celebrate pastors wives this year, and all the sacrifices that they make to support their husbands’ ministries.)

12) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Ignorance mixed with pride and zeal is hard for me to tolerate.

13) Where did most of your money go?
I think I left it in Italy…along with my heart.

14) What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I am really great at anticipating things…so I got really excited about a lot of stuff this year. Whether it’s ice cream or a great trip, I’m excited about it!

15) What song will always remind you of 2011?
Rolling in the Deep by Adele. Oh, girl…

16) Compared to this time last year, are you:
Wiser? Yes. Healthier? Yes. Richer? In many ways.

17) What do you wish you'd done more of?
I really wish I had read more books. That’s definitely something I will do more of in 2012.

18) What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worried and over-analyzed, per usual.

19) How did you spend Christmas?
Church and Claim Jumper for dinner and gifts with my family and Nate on Christmas Eve. Christmas lunch at Nate’s house on Christmas Day. Sherlock Holmes on Christmas night.

20) Did you fall in love in 2011?
I fell in love in 2010…and am still falling…

21) What was your favorite TV program?
Toddlers & Tiaras, Extreme Couponing, and Hoarding: Buried Alive. I love TLC…people are so weird and fascinating, aren’t they?!

22) Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone.

23) What was the best book you read?
I loved The Help and read some super funny books by Sloane Crosley.

24) What was your greatest musical discovery?
I pretty much listened to the same stuff I did last year...no noteworthy discoveries.

25) What did you want and get?
Clear skin again…phew!

26) What did you want and not get?
I am more than content!

27) What was your favorite film of this year?
The best film this year was FOOTLOOSE. Okay, so it wasn’t a good movie, but I LOVED it! The best real movie I saw was definitely Midnight in Paris.

28) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29 and took the day off work to sleep in, get Starbucks, and walk around Tiffany’s and South Coast Plaza by myself—it was wonderful and relaxing. Then Nate took me out to dinner and coffees. It was perfect.

29) Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most?
I was very happy to see the Muppets make a comeback. They’re my favorite celebrities.

30) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
I love and live in jeans, blazers, and fake pearls.

31) What kept you sane?
Family, friends, Nate, co-workers, and God.

32) Who did you miss?
I miss my faraway friends.

33) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
When lacking inspiration, log on to Pinterest.

34) What did you gain this year?
Confidence in Christ.

35) What did you lose this year?
A little more insecurity.

36) Who was the best new person you met?
Definitely Crave’s newest intern, Cody. He’s the best!!

37) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Just listen to the song...

Happy New Year!

30 For 30 Remix, Day 4: Perplexing Plaid

2012-01-05T15:53:00.000-08:00

Denim: Anthropologie, plaid shirt: J. Crew, black blazer: Nordstrom, flats: GAP, bag: LV, necklace and bracelet: Forever 21, ring: The Limited, glasses: Urban Outfitters.

I've always been hesistant to wear plaid. A long time ago, a weird view developed in my head that plaid should be something that only paper towel endorsers, hunters...guys should wear. It's definitely a more masculine look...

But that's okay. Masculine can work, especially paired with blazers, pearls, or even sequins. Yes, you can wear a plaid shirt with sequins! Look how cool my exact shirt looks here. I die.

I am perplexed no more. Plaid is amazing and comfortable and versatile and preppy and punky and classy, all at the same time. And you don't need to have "chop wood" on your to-do list to rock it.

30 For 30 Remix, Day 3: Loving J. Crew

2012-01-04T14:51:00.000-08:00

Chambray shirt: J.Crew, floral skirt: J.Crew, orange flats: Nine West, bag: Coach, belt: Target, ring and necklace: The Limited, shades: Urban Outfitters.

In 2011, I fell in love with J. Crew. I love going to their store and touching everything—the sequins, the cashmere, the corduroy. I love their jewelry. I love their flats and scarves. I love their colors. I love the timeless style of J. Crew. I do not, however, like their crazy ridiculous prices.

Unless they’re on sale. Or better yet, clearance sale.

I bought this chambray shirt last June on sale. I don’t remember how much it was, but it was cheap. This skirt is brand-new and this is my first time wearing it. It was originally $98, but I got it on clearance for $23. Bam. Definitely worth being elbowed and pushed around by the post-Christmas shoppers on December 26th.

In fact, everything I’m wearing today I got on sale. The bag was bought on sale at an outlet on a Black Friday a couple of years ago. The belt was in a random clearance pile at Target. The shoes were bought on Black Friday last year at an outlet for 30% off.

What can I say? I love a bargain. And loving bargains...and fashion...and J. Crew...do not have to be mutually exclusive.

30 For 30 Remix, Day 2: Blushing

2012-01-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

Jeggings: Old Navy, secretary blouse: GAP, blush blazer: Forever 21, black flats: GAP, necklace: Old Navy, black and white bracelet: Old Navy, silver bracelet: Tiffany & Co., cameo ring: souvenir from Italy, ombre shades: The Limited, bag: Coach.

A few things:

I hate the word jeggings. Hate. It. But, I mean, that's what they are, so, what am I going to do?

This blouse...let's talk about it. It's very grandma-esque unless it's mixed the right way, which I didn't know how to do until about six months after I bought it (on clearance, fyi).

I love soft, dusty pink colors, especially paired with grays, beiges, and camel colors. The structure of a blazer permits it from being too girly a color, but paired with a flowy top, it's just romantic enough.

My hands are back to their normal, corpse-like pallor. The tan is clearly starting to fade.

Asking someone to take pictures of me daily is probably going to be the most uncomfortable part of this remix challenge.

But I'm up for it if they are...

30 For 30 Remix, Day 1: The Kick Off

2012-01-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

Denim shorts: The Limited, striped blouse: The Limited, cargo jacket: Forever 21, flower pin: bought at a craft show, shoes: Sperrys, canvas tote: Marc Jacobs, bangles: Forever 21, ring: The Limited, shades: Ray-Bans.

I might just stop the challenge here...this is one of my favorite outfits I've ever worn. I received a big fat Forever 21 gift card for Christmas and bought this military jacket with it, and I know I will have to restrain myself to not remix it every single day. Love. It.

I was iffy with the flower pin. Nathan asked me if it squirted water. Also, it is not seatbelt-friendly. But my suppressed hesitation paid off because I was complimented on it all day. I liked taking basic, sort of boyish pieces (a boxy blouse, denim shorts, the jacket) and adding some feminine details like the jewelry and pin to soften the look up.

Oh, and that golden glow you see is not that of a real California girl. It's totes fakesies...I got a spray tan for New Year's Eve because I had major farmer's tan action happening, and that's a no-no when you wear a strapless dress. (I'm still figuring out how I got a farmer's tan...I'm not even tan enough for a farmer's tan!!)

Day 1 down, 29 more to go. This'll be an easy challenge, right? Right?!

The 30 For 30 Remix

2012-01-02T21:24:00.000-08:00

With the ringing in of the new year, I'm starting the 30 for 30 Remix challenge that I've been seeing on so many fashion blogs. (Kendie started the fun here.) The rules are simple: take 30 items from your closet and make 30 outfits from them.

A handful of my friends do Dressember every year, which, as its name suggests, is a challenge to wear dresses for the entire month. My friends' photos always look adorable and make me regret not participating in Dressember, too. Then a half second later I remember that I don't like dresses and confine wearing them to weddings and holidays. Anyway, my point is...I appreciated their commitment to challenging themselves to get creative with their personal style through limitations. And that's the reason the 30 for 30 Challenge really appeals to me; I like the idea of getting creative with remixing the contents of my closet in new ways, and also just appreciating what I have instead of lamenting that “I have nothing to wear!!”

I've included shoes in the challenge, but not accessories. (They're like chips and salsa...those calories don't count as part of the meal...am I right?!) My remix will include the following:

5 pairs of shoes
3 skirts
3 pairs pants
1 pair shorts
4 sweaters
10 tops
2 blazers
2 jackets

Oh, one other thing...my blog is not going to turn into a fashion blog. (I am not a committed enough documentarian. Also, I am not consistently fashionable enough for that.) I just thought this would be something fun to challenge myself with. Here's to hoping I can remix the above items into some stylish stuff...won't you join me?

Happy New Year!

Let's Hear It For The Boy!

2011-12-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

On December 1st, I was in the office working away when Nathan snuck up behind me with a GIANT bag of presents—25, to be exact. One for every day until Christmas. Each one numbered and wrapped in all different kinds of pretty Christmas paper and bows. All for me.

I’ve had so much fun enjoying my presents each day—everything from a giant chocolate Santa to scented candles to a Starbucks mug to pretty stationary to fancy-smelling soap. Can you believe it? Nate’s the greatest.
Whoever said it’s better to give than receive didn’t get 25 presents for Christmas from their boyfriend. All I’m saying.

The Original Hoarders

2011-11-30T16:15:00.000-08:00

I recently visited the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana for an exhibit called “Warriors, Tombs, and Temples: China’s Enduring Legacy.” I was excited about the visit for two reasons; first, I kind of forget the Bowers Museum exists, since I usually head to the Getty when I’m in a museum-going mood, and whenever I do go, I am always reminded of what a wonderful museum it is (although too expensive to visit often). And second, I really don’t know anything about Chinese history or culture and was excited to learn some new things from the exhibit.

What drew me there were the famous life-size terra cotta warriors, but other than that I wasn’t sure what to see or expect. The exhibit was organized chronologically and walked visitors through three of China’s most important dynasties—the Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties—and it did this through the treasures found in imperial tombs and temples.

I liked that the exhibit started with the terra cotta warriors from the Qin Dynasty because I was eager to see them first. Over 8,000 soldiers have been excavated in the pits, but only a few were on display (obvi). They are from the mausoleum complex of China’s first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, which is regarded as the eighth wonder of the world. When I looked closely, I could still see some of the ancient paint on the warriors’ faces and garments. Every single warrior was painted and looked unique; studies show that eight face molds were used and then clay was added to provide individualized facial features. There were also kneeling archers on display—so intricately created that I could see details of their braids, clothing, fingernails, and even the tread on their shoes. There was also a life-size horse that was originally attached to a chariot, looking ready for battle. I was struck by how well-preserved these ancient figures were. Can you imagine what this army must have looked like in antiquity? Wow…

As we walked through the Qin Dynasty into the Han Dynasty, I noticed a marked difference in the terra cotta warriors from the tomb compound of the Han emperors (Gaozu and Jingdi)—they were smiling! They’re also about 1/3 life-size, so they were very cute, especially compared to the macho life-size mean-looking Qin Dynasty warriors. Did you know that women were known to dress as male warriors in the Han army? Mulan was the most famous—she took the place of her aging father and became a war hero after 12 years of service. Other objects from the Han tombs included figures of a dancer and an attendant. The figures were so detailed and in antiquity would have worn silk and hemp clothing. Great care was taken to make them as authentic as possible to be effective protectors and companions in the afterlife. The objects from the Han Dynasty painted a vivid picture of the peace and prosperity of the time.

Lastly, the exhibit leads to tomb treasures from the Tang Dynasty, a rich time in Chinese history because of the wealth brought into China from the Silk Road. The Tang Dynasty marked a golden age of poetry and the arts in China. There were a lot of interesting artifacts in this section of the exhibit, including a mural depicting a polo match, which struck me as being so odd. I thought polo was just western prepster nonsense. But apparently the ancient Chinese courts fancied it as well, after it was imported from Persia. There were also gold, silver, and jeweled treasures from the treasure-crypt of the Famen Monastery, a Buddhist site that was sealed in 874 and rediscovered in 1987. The site was founded with the historical Buddha’s finger bone, and the reliquaries are on display. By the way, did you know that Buddhism was imported to China from India?!

So, why did the Chinese stuff their mausoleums with so many things? Why did they hoard all this amazing treasure in their tombs and stuff it in with their dead? These objects were meant for protection, companionship, and entertainment for those in the next life. They ensured a comfortable, safe, and extravagant afterlife. It’s amazing how much insight we can gather from looking at these artifacts about ancient China—how they fought, what they wore, how they entertained, what they valued, their religious beliefs, even their humor.

The Chinese believed in ancestor worship and that people still existed even after death and needed to be buried with objects they'd need for the afterlife. Reverence was expressed by burying them with proper rituals and symbols and objects to attract good fortune. I wonder what I would want buried with me if I believed as they did…

I wish I had taken pictures, but you'll have to just go yourself to experience the exhibit, which runs through March 4th…get your tickets here.

Books: A Memoir

2011-11-24T13:19:00.000-08:00

I just finished a book called Books: A Memoir, that I bought last spring at The Strand in New York City...a book about books, actually. The author is superfamous but not well-known—Larry McMurtry. He's written nearly thirty books, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lonesome Dove. He also co-authored Brokeback Mountain, for which he received an Oscar. But that's not what the book is about.

The book is about McMurtry's lifelong obsession with books, starting from his childhood. His parents never read to him and for a while, he was confused that stories could actually be made up. He had a hard time grasping the concepts of fantasy, story, and invention until his cousin gave him a gift that changed his life—a box of nineteen books.

That gift quickly made McMurtry realize that reading was what he was meant to do; it was “probably the cheapest and most stable pleasure in my life. Sometimes books excite me, sometimes they sustain me, but rarely do they disappoint me...” In his mid-twenties, McMurtry decided he wanted to become an antiquarian book seller, and has been one for about fifty years.

McMurtry first started selling books simply to finance his voracious reading habits. His book collection started with any books he could find. He'd steal from the library, find books in abandoned farmhouses, pick them up at charity stores, or find them in junk shops. For the first twenty years of his book hunting career, he actually read nearly every book he found. “I think sometimes that I'm angry with my library because I know that I can't reread it all.”

McMurtry has handled at least a million books in his life, and is still buying books, old and new. He talks about the intellectual and tactile pleasures of bookselling, his weird fascination with French literature (“I just liked the foreignness of it.”) and affinity for English travel books (“The English have always gone everywhere, and written about it.”), how he gets irrationally competitive at auctions, his fascination with the “silent migration” of books, and his uncanny ability to find volumes inscribed by his friend and fellow bookman Franklin Gilliam; Gilliam often inscribed racy notes to girlfriends in his books. One day he moseyed into McMurtry's bookshop, found one of his books on the shelf, opened and read the inscription, and fled the store, embarrassed. McMurtry never saw him again.

The book gave me a great picture of the crazy, intriguing, romantic world of bookselling—about how there are famous book scouts that the general public doesn't know anything about, about how tricky it is to estimate the cost of an entire library and bid for it, about the eccentricities of bookmen. McMurtry also talks about some of the interesting oddities he's picked up over the years living in a world of traders, including a Sumatran village drum, a Maori war club, and a “fine skull collection.”

Underlying the decades of adventures in book hunting was one motive—McMurtry just never wanted to be without books he wanted to read.

If you love books—not just reading, but actual books—if you like being around them, picking them up, how they feel in your hand, their weight, texture, smell, type, binding, history...you'll enjoy this memoir. It speaks to those of us who will always retain an affection for books, even in a world that values things more practical—for those of us who love books apart from what's in them.

Magic

2011-11-21T15:35:00.001-08:00

A week ago today marked the official start of the holiday season at Disneyland, so Nate and I went last weekend on Sunday since we knew all the decorations were already up (yep, we cheated). Main Street was resplendent in bright garlands, wreaths, and lights and greeted us with its giant Christmas tree, with pretty presents and smiling people surrounding it. After a couple days of gloom and rain, we spent a lovely afternoon going on ride after ride without a grown-up care in the world. We went on It’s a Small World Holiday, all decked out in a million twinkling lights. We twirled around in the teacups, screamed on Space Mountain (well, I did, anyway), and took the train around the park. Nate bought me cheetah-print Mickey ears in Adventureland. Holding hands, we watched the parade, and I bounced around just as giddy as any eight-year-old that was there, waving to the princesses and singing along. We walked under the pretty garlands and beads and ornaments hung in New Orleans Square. We overate delicious Mexican food under glowing glass star lanterns. We saw Santa’s real reindeer at Santa’s Round-Up and walked to Sleeping Beauty’s castle, crowned with glittery icicles and gleaming snow. And after we ate our ice cream cones as we watched the holiday fireworks show, it started “snowing.” Magical Disney Christmas snow. And tears of joy streamed down my face.

I know it’s silly and childish, and I almost felt embarrassed for being so excited. But you know what? I hope I never lose that childlike awe, for Disneyland or anything else. No matter how many times I go, it never gets old. The promise of enchantment and adventure as I enter through the front gates never leaves me wanting. I’ve been an annual passholder since middle school…and I still just can’t wait to go back.

The Wish List Is Here!

2011-11-07T03:21:00.001-08:00

It's tradition: time for the annual wish list. And since my birthday and Christmas are coming, I've made sure it's a substantial one. I'm thoughtful like that. (You're welcome!) Here it is:Anthropologie gift card. Every December 26th I head to my favorite Anthro store in L.A. and hit the sales. Help my shopping endeavors? Bedhead After Party. This product makes your hair smooth, shiny and smell delicious. Like candy, seriously. It's kind of magical. I'm just saying. Find it at Target for about $20.

In the past, my wish lists have consisted almost exclusively of books. But I actually have so many books now that I don't have room for many more! I want this book though--Common Sense by Thomas Paine. I've never read it, have wanted to for a long time, and don't own it. Paperback, please.

J'adore by Dior. I love perfume and wear it every day. But I have fickle olfactory issues and don't usually stick to one scent for very long. However, this is the one perfume that I have consistently adored (get it?) for the longest time. I get so many compliments when I wear it. I'm out and need another bottle. Find it at department stores.Is this not the cutest ornament you've ever seen?! I found this on my friend Erin's list and definitely had to add it to mine. (We are both macaron connoisseurs.) Find it online at Sur la Table for $9.95. (Pink, please.)

Oh, goodness. Isn't this Marc by Marc Jacobs bag beautiful? I try not to rub my face on it when I see it at Nordstrom. It's the Classic Q--Natasha Crossbody Flap Bag in faded aluminum. Oh, and it's $368. (Womp, womp...)

This is Lancome Hypnose Doll Lash Mascara. I'm obsessed with mascara and unlike every other makeup product, I retain no loyalty to mascara and am always trying new ones. This looks great. Find it at Nordstrom or Sephora for $25.Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night moisturizer. Okay, don't laugh at me. I'm almost 30, and while the impending threat of wrinkles is real, I actually read that this product reduces redness and splotchiness, which is why I really want it. My bare skin is not cute. I ran into a friend at Target once and she asked me if I was sick. No, no, I was not. I just was not wearing makeup. Find it at Target or Neutrogena's website for about $20.Starbucks gift cards...because those nonfat 2-pump vanilla lattes don't pay for themselves, do they?

Tiffany & Co. silver anchor necklace. How cute would this go with a striped top and the Sperrys I'm supposed to not know that Nathan is getting me for Christmas?! Find it at Tiffany's for $200.

There you have it! What do you want for Christmas?

Halloween Health...Finally!

2011-10-31T11:53:00.000-07:00

Halloweentime at Disneyland.

Fun at the pumpkin patch.

Pumpkin pecan cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory. (It's unreal...)

Pumpkin carving. (Designed by me, carved by Nate.)

Last year, Halloween marked the beginning of a painful (not to mention unsightly) 3-month long saga of major dermatological drama. (Read about it here.)

The Halloween before that, I felt like a zombie…sick with swine flu and literally bedridden for nearly two weeks. (Read about it here.)

But you know what…I feel GREAT today! And, as you can see, I enjoyed the month of October celebrating all things fall and festive.

Healthy Halloween!!

Pinteresting...

2011-10-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

According to a Strengthsfinder tests, one of my strengths is “Input.” Here’s the description for quite a nondescript strength:

You are inquisitive. You collect things. You might collect information, words, facts, books, and quotations, or you might collect tangible objects such as butterflies, baseball cards, porcelain dolls, or sepia photographs. Whatever you collect, you collect it because it interests you. And yours is the kind of mind that finds so many things interesting. The world is exciting precisely because of its infinite variety and complexity. If you read a great deal, it is not necessarily to refine your theories but, rather, to add more information to your archives. If you like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts. These can be acquired and then stored away. Why are they worth storing? At the time of storing it is often hard to say exactly when or why you might need them, but who knows when they might become useful? With all those possible uses in mind, you really don’t feel comfortable throwing anything away. So you keep acquiring and compiling and filing stuff away. It’s interesting. It keeps your mind fresh. And perhaps one day some of it will prove valuable.

This, in a nutshell, is completely, wholly, and entirely accurate as it applies to me—it explains my desire to see the world, go to museums, read books, find quotes…I want to know the why’s, who’s, and how’s of the world. It also, incidentally, provides pretty sound reasoning to legitimize the lifestyle of every hoarder. (I am not a hoarder. I am a collector. Of important ideas! Of things wonderful and valuable and necessary!)

And I think this might help you understand why I am so completely obsessed with a little website called Pinterest. Pinterest provides virtual pinboards on which to link (er, “pin”) whatever my little heart desires. With Pinterest, I can…

find amazing recipes that I have every intention of trying out (someday…), like these roasted pumpkin cupcakes with Mexican chocolate buttercream frosting.
I can find ideas for all of the fabulous parties that I intend on being famous for and throwing regularly in the future, like a Jane Austen-themed soiree.
I can link to instructions for unbelievable hairstyles that I’m waiting to try once my hair grows out, like this hair bow. (Unreal, right?!)

I can find inspiration for interior décor so that I can style my future Baroque castle in the opulent style that I plan to live in.

And, of course, I can start planning the vibe and organization of my future personal library.

But seriously, Pinterest is extremely useful. Although I am not a gourmet chef, interior designer, party planner, wedding coordinator, or crafty mom, I could be. I’ve actually gotten a lot of fashion ideas and inspired thoughts from the words, photos, and art I’ve found. And the great thing is, I don’t have to ever throw any of it away…cat carcasses and rodent feces will not be found in the bowels of my collections. They’re all safely organized on my virtual pinboards…on Pinterest.

If you’d like to see my pins, you can find them at www.pinterest.com/lisabirle.

Das Boots

2011-10-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Scarves, boots, and snuggly sweaters...fall fashion is the greatest. Yet, although I am an adept at shopping, boots had always been the one item I couldn't seem to get a handle on. Like fedoras (or as I call them, "cool-girl hats"), the endless styles, shapes, and colors of this particular type of footwear had paralyzed me from ever purchasing any. Heeled or flat? Slouchy or structured? Brown, gray, or black? Buckled or Zippered? Ankle or knee-high? These are all serious decisions. How is a girl to choose that one perfect pair?

And then, I found them. (Or did they find me?!) At Target. For about thirty bucks.

Although the men in my life have given them mixed reviews (Dad: "Oh, ready for that excursion to the Australian outback, I see..." Nathan: "Finally, a place to keep your blaster, young Jedi..."), my stylish girlfriends have confirmed their cuteness, as does the feeling I experience when I wear them with, oh, everything.

Cue Nancy Sinatra. These boots are going to do a lot of walkin' this fall...

Breathing Books

2011-10-18T22:45:00.000-07:00

For about a year, I've been neglecting my beloved books. A sacred hobby, reading somehow (and quite tragically) fell to the wayside during a busy year when it undoubtedly would have done my soul well. I usually read 20+ books a year. This year I've read six. Pitiful...

I've recently noticed how much I miss my books and have been reading a lot more. I'm reading four books right now, and all of them are non-fiction; both of these facts are very strange for me.

Tonight I've been reading in Thoreau's Walden. It's my dad's old copy, published in 1960. You can imagine how great its pages smell. I nearly cracked the binding clean in half when I opened it. It has sentences underlined in red pen and little notes in some of the margins. It's an amazing copy. Here's a bit that I underlined:

A written word is the choicest of relics. It is something at once more intimate with us and more universal than any other work of art. It is the work of art nearest to life itself. It may be translated into every language, and not only be read but actually breathed from all human lips;--not be represented on canvas or in marble only, but be carved out of the breath of life itself.

Wow. Reading is the greatest.

Now, back to my books...

To Thine Own Self be True...But How?

2011-10-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you everybody else, means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting. --ee cummings

I first happened upon this quote in high school, and I always liked it...in theory. There's obviously something freeing and romantic and right about being exactly who you are, societal norms be damned. Screw punctuation rules, ee cummings! Forget the status quo! Seize your individuality! Carpe diem!

Some of us long to be ourselves and strive to explore our real identity, but we don't know how. Where do we even look for that, and how do we know we're being ourselves? Where does our identity come from? Is it what we do, what we have, what people say and think about us?

What if we WANT to be like everyone else? We've all heard, "To thine own self be true." But what if we don't want to be who we really are? What if we think being ourselves means being hopeless, confused, hurt, ashamed, ugly, a failure? Maybe there isn't freedom in being ourselves. Maybe being exactly who we are is the scariest thing of all. We are constantly validating--or undermining--our worth through things that are not sources of Life.

As Christians, many of us feel like we've got this identity thing down, but even in the "Christian world," I see conformity and comparison and competition. The identity game might not seem as worldly because it's based less on possessions and money, but it's often just as much determined by the esteem of others, reputation, and appearance. If you've been on more missions trips, clocked more hours serving, are in more small groups or Bible studies, or, heck, work at a church, then clearly you must be more pious, no? Clearly Jesus loves YOU more, right?

Carl Jung wrote, “The acceptance of oneself is…the epitome of a whole outlook on life. That I feed the hungry, that I forgive an insult, that I love my enemy in the name of Christ—all these are undoubtedly great virtues. What I do unto the least of my brethren, that I do unto Christ. But what if I should discover that the least amongst them all, the poorest of all the beggars, the most impudent of all the offenders, the very enemy himself—that these are within me, and that I myself stand in need of the alms of my own kindness—that I myself am the enemy who must be loved—what then? As a rule, the Christian’s attitude is then reversed; there is no longer any question of love or long-suffering…We refuse to admit ever having met this least among the lowly in ourselves.”

Apart from God there is no life. No truth. No real identity or worth or value. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by who God is and what he has done for us. Jesus isn’t the most important thing to find our identity in; he’s literally the only thing to find our identity in. The lies that we've identified ourselves with, the broken parts of our hearts and minds, the places of weakness--God can step in and heal and breathe new life and replace self-loathing with self-acceptance. And we have to claim that life...seize it, protect it, and guard it, because it's in THAT truth that we are able to find ourselves, to be exactly who we are, and to give glory to God. God has given us words, influence, heart, and desires...how are we to use them as expressions of who he is? That, friends, is the journey...

And I would call it a journey and not a battle, ee cummings, because although it takes time and effort and prayer and community and God and self-awareness to not compare and not feel discouraged, we are not fighting for victory. We're journeying in freedom from a victory that's already been won.

For in him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28.

Here's the Scoop (er, scoops...)

2011-09-23T19:15:00.001-07:00

Let’s just be real/state the obvious: gelato is the greatest thing ever. It’s heaven in a rich, smooth, semi-frozen dairy product. And it is impossible to overstate the percentage of time that I thought about, looked for, and ate gelato on my trip to Italy this summer. But before you judge me for consuming such unseemly quantities of dessert on my Italian vacation (which...why would you?), let me just say that this trip was designed to sanction the gorging of ice cream—not only for the practical reason of attempting to stay cool in the sweltering heat of the cities as we traipsed around uneven cobblestone streets, hoofed it around marble floors of museums, and meandered on ancient dirt roads, but also because as a responsible tourist, I felt I had to take it upon myself to find which city in Italy has the best gelato. Here’s the documentation and results of my meticulous research:

Verona—our first gelato of the trip. Amarena (ah-mah-RAY-nah) and bacio (BAH-cho). Named for the famed chocolates from Perugia, bacio is a hazelnut/chocolate combination, and a personal favorite. The gelato in Verona was one of the best of the trip.

Venice—Cookies and nocciola (noh-CHO-lah), which is hazelnut. This was the best gelato of the trip. The fact that we had been walking in the stifling alleys of Venice for what seemed like hours, looking for the Rialto bridge in a maze of corners and canals, might have made even the grossest cold food seem like manna, but I’m pretty certain that this was the creamiest, best-flavored gelato we tasted.

Florence, day 1—Cioccolato (cho-koh-LAH-toh), back-to-the-basic chocolate.

Florence, day 2—Nocciola and stracciatella (strah-cha-TEL-lah), which is like chocolate chip gelato. These were good flavors but the texture was a little more grainy/icy than I would have liked. (P.S. that is a little plastic spoon...and no, I am not stabbing myself in the eye...)

Rome, day 1—Amarena. At Piazza Navona. Perfection.

Rome, day 2—Cookies and nocciola. (Can you tell that my favorite flavors are amarena, nocciola, and cookies?)
Sorrento—Triple chocolate (milk, white, and dark) and Ringo, which is an Italian sandwich cookie.
Capri—Cookies, amarena.

STATS:
Cheapest—Verona, €1.50 for two scoops
Most expensive—Capri, €3.50 for two scoops
Best single flavor—amarena, which is a creamy ice cream with cherries in it.
Best flavor pairing—“cookies” in Venice. I don’t know how to describe this flavor. It’s yellow and kind of cake batter-ish with bits of chocolately cookies.
Best place to eat gelato—In a piazza, preferably near a fountain, full of people to watch, in the late afternoon shade. (Or, like, anywhere, at any time.)
Also noted—sugar wafer cones are far superior to cake cones, which get soggy too quickly, even for the most ravenous gelato consumer. Gelato in cups is unacceptable.

Although I've been back for a few months now, I am still lamenting America’s inability to produce anything as delicious as Italian gelato. Seriously...yum!

David, the Giant

2011-09-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

One of the defining moments of David’s early life was the fateful day that he battled and defeated the Philistine warrior Goliath in the Valley of Elah. David’s triumph over the champion from Gath has been immortalized in countless works of art, but none of them are as famous as the sculpture of David depicted by the High Renaissance master, Michelangelo. This, friends, is a masterpiece.

On our second day in Florence, we walked in the golden light of the late afternoon sun to the Galleria dell'Accademia, where David has stood since 1873. As you enter the museum and turn the corner, you find yourself at the beginning of a long hallway with the sculpture waiting for you at the end. I can't imagine anyone's response being less than a jaw-drop, a breathy “wow,” and complete awe. I have never been so moved by a work of art in my life.

Ironically, Florentines actually refer to David as "The Giant." Michelangelo’s monumental sculpture was the first nude to be carved on such a colossal scale since antiquity. Seriously, the most startling aspect of the sculpture was its towering size! David stands seventeen feet tall, which is eight feet taller than Goliath's height is recorded in the Bible (he was said to be six cubits and a span, which is near 9’9” tall)!

Michelangelo chose to depict David before the battle. His protruding muscles and swollen veins are taut and tense, as though adrenaline is starting to pump power through his restless body. His flexed torso, sturdy limbs, and oversized hands and feet reveal the strength we are to expect from him. He seriously looked so real, I could have sworn I saw him breathing. Hayley and I actually joked that we were waiting for him to move, and maybe wink at us...

A cool thing about Michelangelo's David is that it's not a self-contained composition; David’s head is abruptly turned and he seems to be emotionally connected to a presence that we do not see. And if you stand in the right spot, you can find yourself between David and his foe. He is not a static, relaxed figure; there is anxiety in his alert eyes, and he is standing casually to disguise his fear. He is ready to face the killer who had slayed every Israelite who had previously been sent into battle. Sometimes it's easy to forget that David was just a vulnerable adolescent who had no business slaying a giant! He had never been in battle, never carried a sword, never worn the uniform of the Israeli army...clearly, his success in battle was not a testament to his brutish strength or superior intelligence, but to his faith in God. In Psalm 108, David wrote “With God we will gain the victory…” What a great reminder to always acknowledge that it is God who brings victory, not our own strength or determination.

God also reminds us through David’s life that he judges his followers by their character and not their appearance. The Lord said to Samuel, “...man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Michelangelo was commissioned by the city of Florence to create this sculpture from a poorly blocked out slab of marble that had been abandoned a generation earlier because of a dangerous flaw in the marble. Michelangelo was to “make, carry through and complete” it. He saw David in the marble and set him free. God also sees who we are below the “marble” that we try to cover ourselves and identify ourselves with, be it success, wealth, power, or fame. God looks at the heart.

David is such a popular subject in art history--why? He's complex. He's a paradox--the beautiful sculptures and paintings throughout history that depict his likeness reveal a hero, but a follower of Christ who has read about his life in the Old Testament also understands how broken and flawed he was, and that it was his faith in God that made him truly great. Charles Swindoll wrote that “Our world is desperately in need of models worth following. Authentic heroes. People of integrity, whose lives inspire us to do better, to climb higher, to stand taller.” David is just that—an authentic hero. The Bible does not make any pretenses about his failures and does not hide them; he's recognized as a flawed human, one who has made poor decisions in his life and suffered the consequences for them--something everyone can relate to. Yet, he is respected and remembered as a godly hero, and followers of Christ look to him as an example of how to cry out to God and how to rely on him continually in the midst of desperate circumstances.

The toughest situations that David found himself in were some of the most important moments of his life. In 2 Samuel 22: 2-3, he wrote “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge…” David recognized that the living God was his security and support. These verses encourage me when I am exhausted and enduring my own battles to acknowledge the active God in my life the way that David did.

David had giant faith in the Lord and reminds us that in our weakness, in our times of confusion and uncertainty, we can take refuge in him. I love this sculpture with all my heart. It's not just stunningly beautiful to look at. It reminds me of David's character, and that his humility, integrity, and authenticity are what I want God to grow me in today.

Exploring Florence

2011-07-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

My favorite Italian city, after Rome, has to be Florence. This place is pure Renaissance and one of the most beautiful cities I've ever visited. Nine years ago when I was here, circumstances beyond my control (pouring rain, long lines, limited time) crushed my plan (and a little bit of my soul) of visiting David, so I was ecstatic to finally see him on this trip. In fact, the night before we visited the Galleria dell'Accademia, I cried a little bit in my bed thinking about finally being able to see him in the flesh, so to speak...

We started our trip back in time to Renaissance Florence by visiting Santa Croce, begun in 1294. On the outside, this is a pretty unassuming building in Florence, as beautiful as its marble facade is (above). But inside, it's pretty much the Westminster Abbey of Italy and home to the tombs of some of Italy's most famous men--Machiavelli, Dante, Galileo, and Michelangelo, to name a few. The church also has beautiful frescoes by Giotto, who is often called the father of modern painting--his use of perspective was ahead of its time, he combined portraiture and landscape in totally new ways, and he was one of the first artists to use blue to color the sky. Giotto's pictorial decoration aimed to instruct the poor/illiterate on redemption and the lives of the saints. There are also beautiful stained glass windows and altarpieces inside the church.

Central nave of Santa Croce...

...with its beautiful Gothic arches.

This is Michelangelo's tomb, designed by Vasari in 1570. No big deal. The bust is a portrait of Michelangelo and the three sculptural figures sitting around the tomb represent Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, since Michelangelo did it all.

Inscription on the tomb.

These are two frescoes by Giotto, the Apparition of St. Francis and the Death of St. Francis. It's hard to capture the solemn intensity of these frescoes, but they were so beautiful and moving.

Hayley and I spent a lot of time in this square, just hanging out and watching people. One of the things I enjoyed about Florence was that although it was full of people and gearing up for a big holiday in honor of the city's patron saint (St. John), it never seemed uncomfortably crowded, intimidating, rushed, or overwhelming. In Venice and Rome, personal space was often nonexistent and an elbow might have been jabbed into a rib cage here or there as we fought our way through churches or museums. But Florence encourages relaxing and wandering. There are only a few main squares and they're all close to each other, so meandering around the compact city is easy.

Anyway, this square is called Piazza della Signoria. There are statues all over the square commemorating the city's history. The statue above is the Fontana di Nettuno, a fountain of Neptune surrounded by water nymphs.

This is Cellini's Perseus and Medusa.

Don't get too excited just yet...this is a copy of David. But this is where the real David originally stood until 1873.

Our first night in Florence, we had a delicious pizza dinner. (Oh, and that's Diet Coke, in case you're wondering.) Our second night? McDonald's!

This is me trying not to have an excitement-induced seizure in front of the Uffizi, the most amazing museum in Italy. The paintings here are unbelievable and so, so famous--Titian's Venus of Urbino, Caravaggio's Bacchus, and of course, Boticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera, just to name a few. I had the best time here.

This is the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence, built in 1345. It crosses the Arno River and is lined with shops. Most of them sell gold jewelry.

I felt like I was in medieval times on this bridge with its flags. It was so cute.

Ponte Vecchio. (Gosh, I love shutters.)

This is the marble facade of the front entrance to the Duomo. The exterior of the Duomo reminds me of the facade of It's a Small World at Disneyland. I don't know if that's tragic of kind of funny.

The orange-tiled dome of the Duomo is the symbol of Florence, and the city's tallest building. It was designed by Brunelleschi.

In front of the Duomo.

From left to right is the Baptistry, the Duomo, and the Campanile (bell tower), designed by Giotto in 1334.

Just some cool, giant, awesome looking doors on the side of the Duomo.

These are the famous east doors of the Baptistry. Why are they famous? I'm so glad you asked...

Andrea Pisano had made a pair of bronze doors for the Baptistry in 1300-1330, but in 1401 sculptors were invited to compete in making a second pair of doors. This was pretty much the first public competition in the history of art! And the winner was...Lorenzo Ghiberti! An impressed Michelangelo called them the Gates of Paradise. The perspective and detail used in each panel is incredible. Each square tells an Old Testament story. The doors were given a place of honor on the Baptistry--they face the cathedral.

For lunch--insalata capresa, my absolute favorite. Squisito!

After lunch we headed to the Galleria dell'Accademia, founded in 1563, to visit David. David is a colossal statue (17 feet tall!) and was commissioned by the city for Piazza della Signoria, but he was moved here in 1873 for safekeeping. There are other important art collections at the Accademia, but no ones cares because they're too busy looking at David.

I'm not going to say much about him because he's getting his own post, but...wow.

The Best Meal I Had In Italy

2011-07-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

The picturesque Tuscan countryside--a patchwork of pretty fields, crops, sunflowers, and vineyards--provided a gorgeous backdrop as we drove from Venice to Florence. We stopped at a vineyard here called Fattoria il Poggio for an unforgettable lunch. Aside from producing wine, they also grow olives and make their own olive oil, which is pretty much its own food group in Tuscany, and used to cook and flavor almost everything. Seriously, I'm pretty sure if you asked for butter in Tuscany, you'd be slapped.

Okay, first off...can we just talk about how much more delicious and refreshing Coca-Cola is in every country besides the United States? I never drink Coke in America, but when it showed up on a meal table in Italy, it felt like Christmas morning. Factors that contribute to this phenomenon not making sense include: Coke is super expensive. Coke is served without ice and often at room temperature. Coke does not come with free refills. Really, I should hate Coke in other countries. But...there's something about the sweet familiarity of it that just made it the greatest thing ever in Italy.

Here starts the beginning of our meal, with--what else?--pasta! We ate pasta nearly every day on our trip, but this dish really stood out. The noodles were handmade into thin little sheets. I've never really seen pasta shaped like this before, and it just melted in my mouth. I got the vegetarian sauce, which was a simple, light tomato sauce.

Then we got to sample lots of yummy Tuscan foods--fresh bread (we also had bread grilled to a perfect crunch in olive oil), aromatic vinegar and olive oil that's made on the farm, smooth Pecorino cheese, flavorful sun-dried tomatoes, and kalamata olives (pits intact).

Next was the most delicious bruschetta ever, artichokes, and chunks of amazing parmesan cheese. Did I mention that I was full after the pasta?

To finish our meal, we had crunchy little almond biscuits (biscotti), which are traditionally dipped in Vin Santo, a dessert wine. I definitely shoved a handful in my purse and nibbled on them in Florence.

I was so full after our meal, I just wanted to lay down and unbutton my jeans. But we took a little tour of the vineyard and farm, saw the wine cellars, and got to see the machines where the olive oil is made. Here's part of the vineyard.

I love the simplicity of Italian food. The elements are so pure, simple, and fresh, and just a few combined ingredients--a beautiful tomato, fresh olive oil--can create a perfectly flavored meal. Nothing too weird, spicy, or assaulting to the senses...just purely delicious.

Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liquers in one go. --Truman Capote

2011-07-03T17:06:00.000-07:00

Ah, Venice...what a unique, beautiful, magical city. Scattered across 117 islands, Venice is the world's only pedestrian city, and a very pleasant one to get lost in. This is the Campanile, or bell tower. I went to the top of it nine years ago when I first visited Venice!

Venice has been a wealthy city for centuries, growing rich from trade between northern Europe and the Near East. In 828 the city garnered more prestige when it acquired the relics of St. Mark from Alexandria. St. Mark's basilica was built as a chapel attached to the palace of the Doges, the elected leaders of the Venetian republic. (Doge means duke in Venetian.)

This is the Doges' Palace, or Palazzo Ducale. It's a girl's dream--a pink palace! The beautiful building is made of pink Veronese marble and looks so light and airy as the bulk of the structure sits on a framework of delicate, lacy arcades built of white Istrian stone.

In Piazza San Marco with the Palazzo Ducale and basilica behind me. It's early in the morning and I was already melting in the sweltering humidity. Guess that's what I get for wearing jeans in Italy in June...idiot.

The palace was begun in the 1340s, mainly to provide a meeting place for the elected assembly of the republic.

Sweating is so not cute.

I love this picture. I am looking out into the central courtyard of the palace and St. Mark's. You can see how it's attached to the palace.

Here we are in the dungeons. Since the 16th Century, the palace has been attached to the prison, linked by the famous Bridge of Sighs. Named by Lord Byron in the 19th Century, the bridge is where prisoners would sigh as they were led from the interrogation rooms to their prison cells. Casanova was the most famous prisoner here.

This is a view from the bridge over the Rio di Palazzo...the last sight of Venice that many convicts ever saw...

The Giants' Staircase at Palazzo Ducale, topped by statues of Mars and Neptune, symbols of Venice's power.

Front of St. Mark's Basilica, or Basilica di San Marco. Until 1807 this was the doge's private chapel. Ridiculous.

Standing in Piazza San Marco, heading to hop on a gondola.

So, gondolas. Some call them a pricey tourist trap; I call them a non-negotiable. There is nothing like a gondola ride to see some amazing views of beautifully secluded canals and to get away from the noisy crowds in the main square to experience the openness and tranquility of the city.

By 900 years of tradition, gondoliers must be male and Venetian-born. Here's ours...his name was Johnny. I'm just going to say it--we definitely got the cutest gondolier in Venice.

In 1562 decree was made that all gondolas must be painted black. Keep it classy, Venice...

Santa Maria della Salute, at the mouth of the Grand Canal. This Baroque church was built to celebrate Venice's deliverance from the plague epidemic of 1630. Salute means health and salvation. And how cute is that gondolier?!

Santa Maria della Salute.

View from our gondola in the Grand Canal. Is this real life? How adorable is Venice?!

The pigeons of Venice. Never in my life have I ever craved so much attention from pigeons. Venetian pigeons are just so cute and magical. It's so easy to forget how dirty they are and that they poop a lot. You just want to feed them and befriend them and like, hug them.

This is the interior of St. Mark's. These are NO FOTO pictures, so of course they're terrible and don't do the place any justice. Not that any photograph really could. I have been in few other churches/cathedrals that have a more deeply spiritual atmosphere. With its dim lighting and mysterious spaces, this place invites you in to wonder and worship. Almost the entire interior of the basilica--the domes, walls, and floor--is covered with gleaming gold mosaics of figures of saints. The whole place just dazzles with a golden glory.

St. Mark's tomb. When I saw this, I knew I had to do some research because I just couldn't believe I saw Mark's tomb! Mark, as in The Gospel of. Here's the scoop--the building of St. Mark's is actually the third to stand on the site. The first one enshrined the body of Mark in the 9th Century, but it was destroyed by a fire in 976. But apparently the body reappeared when the new church was consecrated in 1094 and the remains are housed here. Hmm...alright!

Hayley and me on a bridge over the Grand Canal.

After St. Mark's and a delicious pizza lunch, we wandered all over the crooked alleyways of the city and found ourselves lost in all of its nooks and crannies looking for this thing--the Rialto Bridge, one of Venice's most famous sights (and really, not that hard to find). Completed in 1591, the Rialto was the only means of crossing the Grand Canal until 1854.

It felt like we had meandered for hours. The heat and humidity might have multiplied the time; Venice was by far the hottest city of our trip. After a jam-packed day of walking, water taxis, and gondolas, we were ready to head to Florence...

I'm a Good Person!!!

2011-06-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo, Vatican.

So...here's the thing.

I feel like it's kind of important--if not just plain American--to know why a rule exists. Which is why I blatantly ignored the NO FOTO signs in Italian museums.

Don't get me wrong--I am not some renegade who makes questioning authority a hobby or regularly practices lawbreaking. I'm not trying to make any sort of blanket statement or stick it to The Man here. I am generally a law-abider and rule-obliger. But...I just have never been given a good enough reason not to take pictures (especially sans flash) in museums. As an art history major, I like to think my reverence for invaluable masterpieces is superior to the average Joe Tourist's, but even I am not convinced of the whole "flash damages the paintings" or "it's for copyright reasons" nonsense. Don't they (the vague, accusatory "they"...) understand how much self-control I am already exercising by not touching anything?

I believe the real reason we are not allowed to take photos in many museums is because they want us to buy photos--in the form of books, postcards, mugs, toilet paper--in the gift shop. Which I do anyway. The problem is that you can't put those on facebook or make slideshows with them. Plus, I am the ultimate consumer of museum store crap. Mona Lisa nightlight? Check. Monet umbrella? Got one. My faithful patronage of the art world should garner some privileges.

Primavera by Boticelli, the Uffizi in Florence.

The Birth of Venus by Boticelli, the Uffizi in Florence.

Michelangelo's David, the Accademia in Florence.

Enough complaining. I actually just wanted to share my forbidden photos with you. These are some photos of the great masterpieces of the world that you are not allowed to take photos of...seriously. I have seen people police-escorted out of the Sistine Chapel for taking pics. I have been sternly yelled at for snapping pictures when I shouldn't have. The stakes were high, my friends...these took skill. Strategy. Timing. Human shields.

I just hope the Italian government doesn't read my blog...

My Verona

2011-06-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

Fair Verona is where we lay our first scene of our Italian holiday...at this point, we had been awake and traveling for about two days, but Verona was the perfect little stop on our way to Venice to recharge our sense of excitement and adventure.

Verona is the Northern Italian city where Shakespeare set his tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Tucked away in a quaint courtyard, entered through a little alley, is the small balcony where the fictional Juliet longed for her Romeo..."Ay me!" I could just imagine a little girl in love on that balcony, sighing and swooning at the stars on a warm summer night. Even in a city full of, like, real historical sites, I loved that there is a balcony dedicated to Juliet in Verona, even if it was added to the house in the 20th Century. Unless your woman's soul is void of a romantic sensibility, I can't imagine this place not wooing you with its charm.
Plaque on the house.
Letters and graffiti to Juliet in the alley.There is also a bronze statue of Juliet in the courtyard, and legend holds that touching her breasts will lead to good fortune in love. So, Hayley and I did some holding ourselves--I mean, if the fate of our love lives was on the line...One of my other favorite things in Verona was the incredibly well-preserved Roman amphitheater, called The Arena. It's the third largest Roman amphitheater in Italy, after the Roman Collosseum and the arena at Capua. Built in AD 30, the amphitheater could hold 30,000 spectators in ancient times.
Today the Arena is used for open-air opera performances. Can you imagine? Ay me!

Next stop...Venice!

Heading Out...

2011-06-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

Full report of adventures to follow...

Books, Books, Books.

2011-06-18T00:43:00.000-07:00

I just love this. I don't know where it is. I don't know where I got it. I just found it in a file on my computer.

I just love it.

Five Days

2011-06-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

Things to do before I leave Monday:

Call my credit card company and tell them I’m traveling so they don’t cancel my stupid card like they did in London when I was trying to buy a Rosetta Stone shaped backpack at the British Museum and my card was declined and I still, to this day, do not own a Rosetta Stone backpack.

Go to the bank.

Update iTunes playlists.

See Midnight in Paris.

Clean bathroom.

Clean room.

Finish up work stuff.

Will my back to stop hurting.

Go to AT&T store and ask about international calls.

Get a mani/pedi.

Go to Target to buy little travel things.

Narrow down my book selections to two. Eh...three.

PACK.

30 Things to Do Before I Turn 30

2011-06-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

I’m going to be thirty in exactly a year and a half. Instead of doing what my instincts and flair for the dramatic would want (cringe, assume the fetal position, and commence mid-life crisis), I thought I’d embrace the romance and adventure that aging brings and “with mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come.” --Shakespeare

My friend Allison, whose affinity for lists rivals mine (and whose creativity definitely trumps mine), made a list of things to do before she turns thirty, a marvelous idea that I have now blatantly copied. I must say, making a list of affordable, non-gimmicky, realistic things to do with limited means and time is challenging. I mean, I’d love to “travel the world” and “read a thousand books,” but it’s not going to happen. And daredevil-ish stuff like “sky dive” or “bungee jump,” or overcoming a fear like “hold a tarantula” or “go clubbing” are just as unrealistic, not to mention entirely undesirable.

Here’s the list:

1. Read fifty books…starting now.
2. Eat a lobster.
3. Memorize the Gettysburg Address.
4. Go to the Grand Canyon.
5. Learn to drive a stick shift.
6. Take the train to San Diego for a day.
7. Learn to skateboard.
8. Ride the Giant Wheel at the Spectrum.
9. Try out for JEOPARDY!
10. Climb Saddleback Mountain.
11. Walk across Hoover Dam.
12. Purchase an iPhone.
13. Rent beach cruisers in Venice Beach and bike to the Santa Monica Pier.
14. Cook a meal from scratch and host a themed dinner party.
15. Read the entire Bible.
16. Learn the Hoedown Throwdown dance from the Hannah Montana movie.
17. Have a really great, cinematic kiss in the pouring rain.
18. Buy dinner for a family behind me in a drive-thru.
19. Take a tour of Warner Brothers Studios in L.A.
20. Do something unexpected with my hair.
21. Grab an in-theater dinner at The Regency San Juan Capistrano Theater.
22. Finish my master’s degree.
23. Visit the Long Beach Aquarium.
24. Lead a small group of college-age girls.
25. Stay at the Montage.
26. Visit Salvation Mountain.
27. Attend a movie premiere in L.A.
28. Do a photo shoot with Nicole Leever.
29. See a symphony concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
30. Have a really, really great 30th birthday.

What else should I do before I turn thirty?

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." --C. S. Lewis

Just Coffee

2011-06-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

Last year, a boy asked me out. A boy asked me out. A boy asked me out!

I was taken aback by his out-of-the-blue, to-the-point phone call. Taken aback...but appreciative and impressed enough to suppress my hesitation and accept his invitation.

Our first date was a year ago today. I met up with him at church; he played drums with the worship band and then sat with me during the service. Note: It's very awkward sitting next to someone you're interested in at church when you don't know them well. It's not like you can talk or anything. I tried to listen to the message, but his presence was mostly what I was focused on. I also flipped my bangs out of my eyes a little more than necessary...

After church, we went to the Spectrum and he bought me a coffee at Barnes and Noble. A cute boy treated me to a coffee, my very favorite thing. (How did he know?!) So far, so good...but I was nervous and not sure that we'd have much to talk about. I was just hoping I'd be calm enough to remember to laugh and be myself...and remember his name. (I called him Evan twice...yeah, that would be his brother's name...)

Turned out, we actually did have a lot to talk about, and we talked for a long time. Just coffee...that's how it started. And we haven't stopped talking since...

A Literal Trip Around the World

2011-06-07T21:53:00.000-07:00

Last December, I received one of the best birthday presents ever from my friend Phil. He gave me a literal trip around the world--a stack of used books that take place in different countries, with a card shaped like an old suitcase. Clipped to each book was a photo of the country in which each story takes place.

Thanks to Phil, I can visit James Joyce's Dublin with Dubliners, experience Paul Coelho's North Africa with The Fifth Mountain, travel to Ian McEwan's England in Atonement, explore Milan Kundera's Prague with The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, venture into Orhan Pamuk's Turkey with Snow, get lost in Salman Rushdie's India with Midnight's Children, travel with Paul Theroux through Asia with Ghost Train to the Eastern Star, and be inspired by Annie Proulx's America in Accordion Crimes.

One single book would have thrilled me, but a giant stack? Used? Gah...it was a great gift. So thoughtful.

I haven't read much this year (school, dating) but I'm finally ready to tackle this stack and do some traveling this summer. And I won't even have to leave the comfort of my bed!

The Time I Thought Nathan Was Dead for Twelve Hours

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

Nathan and I live a good twenty-five minutes from each other. It's not terribly far, but it's also not a quick jaunt home, either, especially at night. So we always part with the following:

“Text me when you get home, babe.”

“I will…I always do…”

FALSE.

Here’s the thing…I know I’m neurotic. I’m very aware of it. But if you tell me you’re going to text me when you get home—and past precedence indicates your thoughtfulness in doing so—and you don’t, then I’m going to think the worst. Drowned in a lake, kidnapped by pirates, abducted by aliens. The possibilities are endless.

Seriously though, regardless of how fertile one’s imagination is…if you don’t get that text at the end of the night, isn’t it safe to assume something’s not right?

Well, turns out, what wasn’t right was that Nathan just left his cell in his car that night and didn’t hear me text him twice and call him at 12….12:30…1...2.

In fact, he didn’t get back to me until he found his cell in his car the next day, at 1pm. I was relieved he was alive, but I also wanted to kill him a little bit. I seriously thought he was dead for twelve hours.

But it’s cool, guys. He’s fine.

And he’ll never forget to text me again...

Toile That

2011-06-06T18:15:00.000-07:00

Toile always captures my attention when I’m out and about….on dishes, wrapping paper, clothing, whatever…I’m in love with it.

Toile (pronounced “twahl,” not “toil” like I’ve been calling it forever) means cloth or web in French. It refers to fabric depicting complex little pastoral scenes. These scenes are meaningful, bucolic, and beautiful. From a distance, the aesthetic seems lacy and feminine and delicate; up close, the detailed scenes tell whimsical stories. Although toile has been around for centuries, it also looks so smart and modern. Someday I would like to dedicate a room in my house to toile...

Things I Did Last Month But Was Too Lazy To Post About Until Now

2011-05-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

Alright, so last month I actually did do a little more than just walk through a spider web. Here are some other things that happened. I…

Went to Red Hill Lutheran Church’s Good Friday service. I go every year with my best friend and love it. It’s such a different worship experience from what I am used to. You sing from hymn books, kneel to pray, and sit in pews. The priest wears a robe and the windows are made of beautiful stained glass. Every Good Friday, they recite the events in the Gospel of John leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. After each reading, lights are dimmed until the death of Jesus, and the service ends in somber darkness. The only source of light in the dark little church is a candle symbolizing Jesus that a pastor walks out of the church. It is brought back in on Easter morning. The resurrection is so much more glorious when you remember that Jesus suffered and died and was in a tomb for three days. It was a great service.

Saw a naked man. Yep. You read that right. I saw a strange play called “Completeness,” making its world debut at the wonderful South Coast Repertory last month. I love SCR and see tons of plays there, but this might have been my least favorite. The play is a 21st-Century romantic comedy about two nerdy grad students, a molecular biologist and a computer scientist. Unfortunately, esoteric science talk was substituted for actual wit, I didn’t sympathize with either of the main characters, and there were "technical glitches" that were actually not glitches but part of the play, which I guess was supposed to be avant-garde, but just came off as gimmicky. Anyway, there was a scene where the two main characters sleep together, and they stripped down. Now, being an art history major, I’ve seen a lot of nudity in art and know that it has its place, but this was just unnecessary. Yikes.

Met Tina Fey! NO BIG DEAL! She is currently on a book tour promoting “Bossypants,” and did an interview at the Nokia Theater in L.A. with Steve Martin and then a book signing afterwards. And yes, she is just as sweet, funny, and charming as you think she is. Meeting her was a bit of a letdown because it was so quick and no photos were allowed, but still. I met Tina Fey. Yep.

Went to the fanciest buffet ever. On Easter, Boyfriend’s parents took us to brunch at the St. Regis in Monarch Beach. This buffet was so magnificent that I felt I should have trained or made a game plan beforehand. We were seated and given exceptional coffee and the best orange juice I’ve ever tasted. The buffet included an incredible dessert selection (my biggest regret was not starting there), a carving table, Indian food, Chinese food, an omelette station, pancake station, all kinds of salads and breads, fancy cheeses and fresh fruits, crepes, beautiful pastries, and tons of other food. I was floored. And my favorite part was the desserts, obvi. They had macaroons. Like, the same kind of macaroons I pay $2 each for at the Spectrum. I definitely shoved a few in my purse for later. (Don’t worry, I was discreet….keeping it classy.) It was incredible, incredible…

Slipped and fell on my butt in a restaurant. Remember when Tai from Clueless falls down the stairs coming into that dance party, and then says, “Now all night I’m going to be known as ‘that girl who fell on her butt.’”? Well…I literally lived that moment. At least four people asked me if I was okay, which I was, save for the humiliation that it caused my soul. This fall was epic. It was one of those scenes that was very cinematic, like slipping-on-a-banana-peel kind of falling. I'm pretty sure the music stopped and every head turned around. I’m just glad I’m not sixty and recovering from hip-replacement surgery right now.

So, yeah...that was last month. Good times, no?

Me. Now.

2011-05-25T14:38:00.001-07:00

Time to Reflect...

2011-05-09T17:03:00.000-07:00

I love TV on DVD. Like, love it. There are no commercials. I get to watch the episodes in order. A Saturday morning marathon of my favorite show always challenges my desire to want to return to civilization or human interaction. I can easily watch a show for hours in my room, alone, with a pink snuggie, perfectly content.

After a morning binge of Grey’s Anatomy one weekend, I had lunch with a friend who mentioned that she had a headache. I immediately diagnosed her in my mind as having a hemorrhage or tumor. I mean, what better person to diagnose her?! I had just come from the operating tables of Seattle Grace Hospital, where I’m doing my residency…

Oh, wait…

It was funny to think that I had attempted to reflect my TV medical knowledge just because I had immersed myself in this world of doctors (not even real doctors!) for hours.

Switching gears, look at what David, a man after God’s own heart, wrote in Psalm 27:4—

One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.

I loved this because it made me ask myself why David wanted to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. That’s what David actively sought. He spent time in God’s presence. He drew upon the truth of the scriptures. He spent time with God. Have you noticed that you reflect the things you pour your time into? Have you ever found your language or habits to be different after hanging out with a certain group of friends? Have you felt your mood change after listening to a certain type of music? Have you ever thought you were a doctor after watching Grey’s Anatomy for four hours?

We reflect the things we pour our time into.

2 Corinthians 3:18 reads: And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the LORDS’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the LORD, who is the spirit.

Our lives, words, and hearts all reflect something. It depends on what we spend our time on, and who we spend our time with. Are you seeking to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord? Do you know him well enough to recognize how beautiful he is?

God is love. He is the source of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…grace, mercy, justice, security, forgiveness, LIFE…those are the most beautiful things I can think of! What a beautiful God we love, and who loves us! That’s who I want to magnify…that’s whose likeness I want to be transformed into.

My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Luke 1:46

Michelangelo's Pieta

2011-05-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

Art has played a huge role in the way that I think about things, particularly my faith. To me, one of the most interesting things about Jesus were the seemingly mutually exclusive assertions that he was fully God and fully human. Now, how do you portray that in a painting or sculpture? Put yourself in an artist’s shoes…how would you depict someone as both fully man and fully God?

The life of Jesus has completely dominated the subject matter of Christian art from Roman times to the present day. One of the most important works of art in the world is Michelangelo’s Pieta (which I get to visit next month!). While you can find art depicting Jesus in countless ways, Michelangelo’s Pieta focuses on the humanity of Christ, as his lifeless body lays in the hands of his mother, after being taken off the cross.

The sculpture was commissioned in 1498. At that time, Michelangelo was still young and unknown; the Pieta immediately made him famous—in his early twenties (way to kill my self-esteem, Mic)! The sculpture is now in St. Peter’s in Rome.

Look at Mary’s face. It seems much younger than her son’s. Her face is youthful and peaceful, framed by the delicate folds of her robe. She looks timeless, leaning slightly over the lifeless body of Christ. Until the 15th Century, the subject of the pieta was almost exclusively found in northern Europe; the frightening figure of Jesus and Mary, often disfigured in her grief, seemed to distress people attending worship into an awareness of Christ’s sacrifice.

Michelangelo changed this subject completely. He does not emphasize Mary’s grief, but reveals to us a mother accepting fate with a look of spiritual and physical beauty. Michelangelo once wrote, “If life pleases us, death, being made by the hands of the same creator, should not displease us.” That sentiment is reflected in his sculpture. The only slight sign of Mary’s sorrow is her outstretched left hand. Instead of correlating the concept of the Redemption with grief, Mary generates a mood of classical serenity.

The body of Christ is life-sized, but Mary is much larger. If she were to stand, she would be around seven feet tall, although her head is the same size as Christ’s! Part of what makes this composition so astounding is that the unusual proportions go unnoticed by the viewer. The body of the dead Christ displays a keen knowledge of anatomy—the proportions, veins, muscles; the 16th-Century artist Vasari wrote that “No corpse could more completely resemble the dead than does this.” Michelangelo certainly succeeded in depicting in marble a body that reminds believers that Jesus suffered physically and died, that he had the same physical limitations as other humans. It seems that the only thing that one could interpret as divine about this depiction of Christ are his veins—one could interpret the protruding veins as still pumping with life, and therefore giving the viewer a glimpse of hope that Christ will rise again in three days. Though dead, he is still alive, hinting at the fact that this is not an ordinary man. Still, the humanity of Christ is emphasized here—there are no halos, angels, golden heavenly light, or thrones. All the viewer sees is a lifeless body, the body of a frail human, who made his dwelling among the rest of humanity; we also “see” his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Colossians 2:9 reads, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…” Michelangelo had an extensive knowledge of anatomy and created the nude figure of Christ in that bodily form, as the very epitome of man—a figure in which there was no need, as he put it, "to make the human disappear behind the divine."

Michelangelo’s Pieta is, in my opinion, the most beautiful sculpture in the world. The serenity on Mary’s face, as she cradles the body of her lifeless son in her arms, is hauntingly beautiful. A work of deep piety, this sculpture reminds me that pain was a condition of redemption, but beauty is one of its consequences. The lucidity of Christ’s body in the lap of Mary reminds me that Christ “poured out his life” and “bore the sin of many.” (Isaiah 53:12) I am reminded of the extent of God’s love, but also the severity of my own sins. I am also reminded that Jesus came to earth, “but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:7) The redemption that Christ offers us is a reality and is available to us, for “it was not merely a finite human, but an infinite God who died.” This masterpiece is so beautiful and unforgettable that for most people, the term “pieta” evokes only the Pieta of St. Peter’s, because of the way that it speaks uniquely to every believer’s heart.

A Prayer

2011-05-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen

Look After It

2011-05-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

"I put it to William, particularly, that if you find someone you love in life, you must hang on to that love and look after it...You must protect it." --Diana

Sorry, I'm Not Home Right Now...

2011-04-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

The other day, I walked through a spider web as I left my house and headed to my car. I dropped my purse and started flailing my arms around and squealing; there's just no way you can attempt to free yourself from the grips of a virtually invisible web of death while keeping your grace and dignity intact. And it wasn't a peaceful, beautiful web inviting you in to admire the sparkling dew drops it caught that morning. No. It was sinister, formidable...it attacked me.

The worst part was that I couldn't find the spider afterward. I hope it didn't end up in my hair. Or my car. Or my purse. Hopefully it's not in my room now...making a web above my bed...

Oh, I hate spiders...

Ti penso ogni giorno

2011-04-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

The allure of Italy is holding my heart captive. As the date of my summer trip fast approaches, I daily find myself dreaming about and preparing for my vacation. I've noticed that when I have something like a trip to look forward to, everyday stuff seems a little more bearable in the meantime. Yesterday, for instance, I had crazy back pain, had to get my blood drawn, and capped my day with a four-hour history class. But you know what? “It’s cool…I’m going to Italy!” That heightened sense of anticipation makes Life so much more enjoyable.

I love thinking about what to pack and wear. I love making lists (first in my head, and then typed out) and buying cute little travel-sized items of things I really don’t need. I dream about all the paintings I’m going to cry over and the statues I’ll say hello to, the ancient walls of buildings I’m going to touch, and the dirt in the Coliseum and the Forum that I’m going to rub between my hands. I think about the weather—are the morning hours going to be cool as we sip our daily cappuccinos? Is the day’s heat going to linger into the dark evenings as we stroll through the ancient stone streets? What are all the interesting things I’m going to see and ridiculous things I will laugh at and delicious things I will eat and strange scents I will smell? No matter what I’ve planned, how much I research, or what kind of lists or itineraries I make…I’ll just have to experience Italy’s mystery, variety, newness, history, and amore when I get there.

June 20th…please come soon.

But not too soon. Dreaming is fun, too…

Do Your Homework!

2011-04-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

Watson's Drugstore

2011-04-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

Check out my latest article in the April issue of The O.C. Gazette, about the history of Watson’s Drugstore and Soda Fountain in Orange. Research for this assignment included lunch with a girlfriend at the counter, noshing on fries and burgers and sharing an Oreo milkshake. Such hard work...

I love the atmosphere of this place. It's such an escape. If you have not been to Watson's, you have not fully actualized life. It’s so fun and delicious.

For all things awesome in Orange County, check out The O.C. Gazette.

God Loves Lady Gaga

2011-04-04T17:10:00.000-07:00

A week ago, I saw Lady Gaga in concert with some of my best girlfriends. We got all dressed up in wigs and glitter and were excited for a fun night at the Staples Center in L.A. The show was amazing--Lady Gaga is quite an entertainer. She's extremely talented (in my opinion) and the production was incredible. But it wasn't the yummy dinner or the show or the awesome fake eyelashes or even my wonderful friends that I liked most about the night. I liked that the show, that Lady Gaga, got me thinking...

This concert was a worship experience. The power that music has to move you and create an intense emotional experience is undeniable. That's why music is such a powerful way that Christians connect with the heart of God. I noticed a similar connection at this concert. Lady Gaga said things from the stage like, "Jesus loves everyone," "love yourself," "be who you are," and "you were born this way." And many of her fans just drank up her words and used them to validate their identities and lifestyles. Fans dressed up exactly like her--they wanted to be her. "Paws up!" she would demand, and hands went up...the crowd did whatever she told them.

The interesting thing is that many of the things she said were true...almost. Yeah, be yourself, but how do you know who you are if you don't know who your creator is? Yes, Jesus loves everyone and accepts everyone, but he does not approve of everything that we do. Lady Gaga's message seemed innocent enough, but the danger under the sequined, interesting package that it's wrapped in is that it's more confusing than it is clear. And to talk about Jesus while you're covered in fake blood, dropping eff bombs, and gyrating with your backup dancers is creating a context that, no matter what you say, mocks him.

During the show (which, again, I did enjoy), I asked God to help me sort out my thoughts on things. And I don't know if this next thought came from him, or from me, but right after asking that, the next thought that popped into my head was "God loves her."

God loves Lady Gaga. He sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die for her sins. Mocking Christ is her way of dealing with pain in her life that she doesn't know what to do with. We make fun of the things that we're secretly uncomfortale with, after all; mocking is a way of coping. I haven't done any research on this woman, but I am convinced that she is afraid of, or has been hurt by, the church or something/someone associated with it. People are afraid of her weird antics, frightening costumes, and bloody performances, but I think calling her demon-possessed or the anti-Christ (yep, I've heard these things) is giving her too much credit! Really, I think they are afraid of the affluence and influence that she has that allow her to proclaim her messages of distorted truth. It's her platform of power that they're afraid of. If we looked a little closer, I think we would see a misguided and misled girl trying to make a difference in this world in a way that she knows how, and trying to feel significant and loved. She's a wounded, lost little 25-year-old girl. And weren't we all lost at one point? Isn't that why we all need the grace and wisdom and hope of Christ?

God loves Lady Gaga...his heart breaks for her. And it sounds weird to say, but mine kind of does, too.

Last Night

2011-03-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

Last night, I spent the evening in an old pub nestled deep in the Irish countryside, well off the beaten path. There was a biting wind that was howling outside and seeping into the cracks of the old building. Inside, the coal-burning stove gave the room a welcoming glow and provided just enough heat. In front of it was an old rug so worn that its pattern was unrecognizable, and a chair with tattered upholstery. The stools and chairs in the pub were all mismatched. The bar itself was covered in knick-knacks and had an old broken TV. You could tell the walls housed a lot of memories and conversations and had seen a lot of laughter, definitely some brawls, and maybe some tears, too.

Last night, I spent the evening with four Irishmen and an Irishwoman—Jack, Brendan, Jim, Finbar, and Valerie. Brendan, the bartender, was quiet but polite, and a good listener. Jack, a mechanic, was downing pints impressively fast, and although he seemed jovial enough, I wouldn’t want to cross him. Jim was the most quiet of everyone, but as the night progressed, he opened up a bit. Finbar, in a white suit and pink dress shirt, stood apart from his simply-clothed friends, and his slickness made him a little more suspect than the rest of the lot. And Valerie…Valerie was a plainly pretty woman who just moved from Dublin to rent a house in the country, and the men took it upon themselves to put on airs and impress her with their ales and anecdotes.

Last night, profanity and fantastical ghost stories flowed freely, and as the evening went on, the men’s tales grew more exaggerated…and scary. Ireland is renowned for its ghost tales and folklore, and these men, like any respectable Irishmen, knew how to tell a story (the alcohol undoubtedly encouraged and inspired their dramatics). With their stories about fairies, ghosts, and unexplainable happenings, they each tried to top each other's tales, entertaining and frightening each other. I questioned their superstitions and honesty, not knowing what to believe. But it was quiet, unassuming Valerie, whose story about why she really left Dublin--a true ghost story--ended the unsettling evening and allowed the men to let their guard down.

Last night, I saw a play called The Weir at South Coast Repertory, and felt like I was in a pub experiencing an evening with real people. Never once did I not feel like I was really there with them, in the dark Irish countryside. And never did I fully believe any of their drunken ghost stories…until the end of the play.

The Weir runs through April 3rd. Get your tickets here, if you dare...

Yummy Treats

2011-03-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

My sweet tooth is the bane of my existence. Never is my self-control at its lowest than when I’m confronted with a box of Tagalongs (or whatever they’re called these days), taunted by a dessert menu that a server nonchalantly stands up on the table with the check, or seduced by the aroma of fresh-baked anything. It’s undeniable…I love dessert.

And these days I can’t seem to escape them! Here’s a rundown of some recent treats that I’ve been, uh, researching for blog purposes…

Casey’s Cupcakes

For those of you who watched MTV’s Laguna Beach (don’t be ashamed…there’s no judgment here), you might remember Casey Reinhardt from season two, a.k.a. “the new girl.” Well, the ever-ambitious Casey has recently opened up her own cupcake shop in Laguna Beach. But don’t let the overly decorated cakes, pink receipt paper, and cute bows in the employees’ hair woo you—these cupcakes are good (because, like, they’re cupcakes), but they’re not delicious. And if you’re paying $3.50 for a cupcake, it’s got to be delicious. Am I right? Stick with Sprinkles. I want the best for you.

Starbucks’ Petite Treats

To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Starbucks recently introduced a smattering of bite-size treats, including mini-cupcakes (delicious), cake pops (love!), lemon bars (boring), and other tiny treats, all under 200 calories and $1.50 each. The fact that this stuff is so stinkin cute and easy on the waistline and wallet make them very enjoyable. I mean…pink frosted cake on a lollipop stick? I love everything about these new diminutive delights.

Le Napoleon Patisserie

This little French café at the Irvine Spectrum is outrageously overpriced, so sometimes I just walk in and stare at the pretty rows of macaroons and don’t buy anything (I told this to my boyfriend, and he said that was the saddest thing he’s ever heard and reminded him of A Little Princess. Haha.). Anyway, the focus here is on the macaroons. They are incredible. They are the prettiest bright colors and perfect delicate texture. My favorite flavors are earl grey, rose, and passion fruit. Eating a rose macaroon is like eating the most perfect, delicious flower your mind could ever imagine. Their $1.95 price tag encourages you to eat them slowly and savor every crumb. I really do feel like a little princess when I eat these…they are so frivolous and French and fancy.

“And it melts, God forgive me, it melts ever so slowly on your tongue, and tortures you with pleasure.” --Yvette from Chocolat

Now..make good dessert choices, and happy researching…

Lisa Birle's Day Off

2011-02-28T20:45:00.000-08:00

"The question isn't 'What are we going to do?' The question is 'What aren't we going to do?'"

Today, I had a much-needed day off. Here's what I did:

Hit the Chicago Stock Exchange
Made it to the Skydeck of the Sears Tower
Hung out at the Art Institute
Caught a fly ball at a Cubs game at Wrigley Field (I heard it was televised!)
Sang on a float in the Von Steuben parade

Oh, wait...wrong person. Sorry. Here's what I really did today:

Watched some Academy Award fashion-related news on E!
Finished writing an article
Went to Starbucks and read The Hunger Games
Cleaned my bathroom
Straightened up my room
Put away dishes
Folded clothes
Went through mail
Washed my hair
Took a quiz online about Catholic Reform for school
Did reading and homework for school

Nothing adventurous or exciting or extraordinary. I didn't put on makeup and wore pajamas most of the day. I woke up without an alarm clock and did everything slowly and without any sense of urgency. And I feel amazing--rested and refreshed and ready for the week. I've recently mentioned how I've been struggling with time management and feeling stressed lately. Sometimes I feel so busy that having time to do this kind of stuff feels like a complete luxury.

It's so nice to have time to catch up on the lame stuff sometimes. It helps me enjoy Life a litle bit more, to breathe a little bit easier.

Life moves pretty fast, you know, and if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it...

Painted Lady

2011-02-15T22:10:00.000-08:00

Today I got a spray tan. I know...who am I?

Let me explain: My pasty German-Irish skin cooks in the sun like bacon fat in a frying pan. Because of this, I eschew sunlight like a Twilight vampire and have the pallor of a corpse.

I'll also be a bridesmaid for the first time on Friday--which means a LOT of photos. Blonde hair...black dress...and the complexion of a ghost? I don't think so. And since I'm psychologically incapable of being okay with exposing my skin to UV rays in a coffin-shaped tanning bed, a spray tan was really my only option.

The "tanning" process was a bit intimidating. I went to the salon where I get my hair done and was led to the secret back room (!!!) with the hidden shower. I'm not going to lie...it was dark and weird in the small room, which didn't create a super ambiance for the twenty-minute process of being sprayed down with COLD, wet, smelly bronzer.

But...creepy shower and awkward process aside, it's worth it. You probably won't even be able to notice that I got a spray tan. I don't resemble any electric orange people from the Jersey Shore or anything. I just look...normal. Healthy. Nice.

So bring on the wedding photographers. I'm ready for my close-up!

Stressed < Loved

2011-02-09T19:37:00.000-08:00

I've recently been reminded of how poorly my mind and body handle stress.

I'm a very busy Lisa Bee: I work full-time, go to seminary, try to work out a few times a week (major FAIL), and do some writing on the side. I'm struggling balancing my time between church, relationships, responsibilities, and down time. Unfortunately, I haven't been very good at time management lately; I find myself wishing I could wash my hair more often and read Entertainment Weekly, like, weekly.

I’m pretty sure my tolerance for stress is lower than the average bear’s. Outwardly, I generally don’t convey a high-strung demeanor or uptight tendencies, but I am easily overwhelmed by busyness, deadlines, confusion, and strife. Last week, I let the stress take over. I lost my appetite (the bulk of my food intake was a Girl Scout cookie here and there. Yeah, yeah, I know…don’t yell at me). Exhausted each night, I’d try falling asleep but would toss and turn into the morning, waking up a couple of hours later, starting each tomorrow more exhausted than its yesterday. Overwhelmed, my nerves sometimes caused my body to tremble uncontrollably. A heavy, hot ball of panic churned in the pit of my stomach. The dearth of sleep, peace, and nutrition helped me catch a head cold, too, so that was awesome.

It's times of stress like this that make me realize how much I covet feeling in control. I love when Everything Is Fine. The less unknown factors in my life, the better I am able to operate. Problem is…Life is unpredictable. We live in a changing, unstable, moving world, full of imperfect people, less than ideal circumstances, and unanticipated situations. The times that I am able to find a false sense of momentary security or comfort in feeling in control are so fleeting that I often fall on my face trying to chase after them and hold on to them.

Why do I let stress and fear paralyze me, drive my decisions, and destroy my body? God has been reminding me that the reason my mind and body are so burdened by stress and anxiety is because I’m not designed to harbor them. God tells us to cast all our anxiety on him because he cares for us. (2 Peter 5: 7) Wait…all of it? Are you sure, God? Can you handle it? Are you sure your grace is sufficient for me?

There is one good thing about all this stress—it reminds me of how helpless I am without God. My heart is so prone to wander away from God's truths, yet he is the one source of real strength and power, of peace and comfort.

No matter how often my heart does wander, my shepherd will always, always draw me back to a place where I can set my heart at rest (1 John 3:18). I feel lighter just thinking about how sovereign and in control he is. And how extravagantly he loves us…how extravagantly he loves me.

Hometown Pride

2011-01-31T20:11:00.000-08:00

My sweet friend Kylie calls my neighborhood the Hundred Acre Wood, because I live among about a billion eucalyptus trees. In the summertime, the breeze gently whispers through their leaves. And in the winter--well, a lot of them clunk over into the street when it rains (shallow roots, you see.). Still, they give Lake Forest a unique beauty.

The trees were planted in the late 19th Century because there was a lumber shortage in California at the time. In the woods behind my house where I used to help my big brother build tree houses when we were kids, you can still see perfectly straight rows of planted trees.

Want to learn more fun facts about my great hometown?

Check out The O.C. Gazette's February issue for my article on the history of Lake Forest.

I love the Gazette and am already working on my next assignment for them. I think I'll try typing up my next article. Real journalists use typewriters, right?

A NAMM Good Time

2011-01-18T17:27:00.001-08:00

On Saturday, Nathan and I went to the NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center. I had never heard of it until this year, but the NAMM Show is basically the biggest music product trade show in the world. It's not open to the public--you've got to be a member of the music trade or date a cute drummer to get in.

Anyway, I must admit I was a pretty clueless girl walking around the show. My body is void of tattoos or musical talent. I do not play any instruments and couldn't tell you if something is high quality or rubbish. The instruments I liked the most were the ones that changed color, had rhinestones on them, or glowed in the dark. I don't know any famous musicians. And although I tried so hard to fit in with a plaid shirt and leather jacket, I doubt I fooled anyone.

But the great thing about the NAMM Show is that you don't need any of that stuff to have a great time. It was fascinating to be there and get a glimpse into a world that is so foreign to me, to actually appreciate the aesthetics of instruments. So many of the things we saw were truly pristine works of art. It really was incredible looking at everything.

There were so many musicians at the show, but I didn't recognize anyone. I mean, think of your favorite bands...I wouldn't know Will Champion (Coldplay's bass player) or recognize Grant Mickelson (Taylor Swift's guitar player) if I ran into them. Nathan did recognize Abe Laboriel, Jr. though...he's a famous drummer who tours with Paul McCartney. No big deal.

We mostly looked at all the drum stuff ("drum stuff"...yeah, see how I don't fit in?) since Nate plays drums. I took some pictures of my favorite things...

Pretty sure this is copied from a pattern from Anthropologie. So cute.

Loved this swirly dw kit.

And definitely loved this snare drum, although I highly doubt any respectable drummer would use it. (The exhibitor joked with me: "It's the cheapest Louis Vuitton you'll ever buy!")

This would be the kind of drum kit I would want to use. Anything pink and sparkly gets my vote.

Lots of beautiful, colorful guitars.

And lots of shiny cymbals! We probably tested out over a hundred. I find it interesting how musicians describe sounds...dirty, washy, dark, clean, trashy, thin, heavy, complex. It seems so abstract to me.

Concentrating on the sounds as I test out some more cymbals...

And here's Nathan testing some more. (No really, we did this a lot! It was a loud convention! Think dull roar.)

After the show, we walked to the lobby of the Grand Californian to rest our tired feet for a minute (and run into John Stamos), and then had a delicious dinner at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen at Downtown Disney (the beignets were the best). It was a long, loud, memorable day!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

2011-01-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

Marc Jacobs handbags and Renaissance paintings
Stamps in my passport and old worn-in blue jeans
Perfume and fashion ads in magazines
These are a few of my favorite things

Jane Austen novels and hand-written love notes
Starbucks and Target and headbands with big bows
Friends who can make me smile through anything
These are a few of my favorite things

Paris and London and Berlin and Rome
Hitting all green lights when I’m driving home
The soft springtime sky and a warm golden breeze
These are a few of my favorite things

When the hair’s flat
When the sale ends
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

La Dolce Vita

2011-01-10T22:35:00.001-08:00

Answer: Traveling.
Question: What is something tantamount to my personal happiness, Alex?

With a new year comes new travel plans...

I am going to Italy on June 20th with one of my best friends. I have been thinking about our trip every day since I put down the deposit about nine months ago (nothing like slapping down some cash to make a commitment!).

First we are flying into Milan to head to Venice, which the world knows for St. Mark's Square (the one full of pigeons). We'll see the domed basilica, the pretty pink color of the Doges' Palace, the campanile (bell tower) and famous Rialto Bridge. Then it's off to Florence, stopping in Verona along the way to see Romeo and Juliet's balcony (um, you bet we'll be quoting sonnets!). In Florence we'll see the Duomo, the Gates of Paradise, and Ponte Vecchio. We'll visit Dante's house and Giotto's Bell Tower. In the Uffizzi Gallery we'll see some of the greatest Italian masterpieces, including the Birth of Venus by Boticelli. And of course we will see Michelangelo's David at the Accademia. After Florence, it's off to Rome and the Vatican Museums. We'll throw coins in the Trevi Fountain, eat gelato on the Spanish Steps, and stare up at the Sistine Chapel with our mouths ajar. I'll probably cry (okay, definitely will cry) seeing Michelangelo's Pieta in St. Peter's, which I believe is the single most beautiful work of art in the world (and I'm right...trust me.). After Rome, we'll be heading to Sorrento, Pompeii, and Capri as well.

Oh yeah, and we're doing it all in ten days!

Now to figure out how to include a Vespa into our adventures...

New Starbucks Logo

2011-01-10T11:21:00.001-08:00

Gag me.

Book Survey

2011-01-05T23:06:00.000-08:00

1) What author do you own the most books by?
JK Rowling. (The most books that I own by an author that aren't part of a series are by Jane Austen and Mark Twain.)

2) What book do you own the most copies of?
Angela's Ashes. I have two paperbacks as well as a hardcover that I bought when I was in Limerick, which is where Frank McCourt grew up and the story takes place. Bam.

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
No, because it's grammatically okay for sentences to end with prepositions if their absence would make the question or sentence sound weird. Although I am sure there are better ways to have phrased those questions.

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Well, it's no secret. I love so many characters. Who do I start with? Edward Cullen? Mr. Darcy? Aragorn? Mr. Rochester? Atticus Finch? Holly Golightly? Elizabeth Bennet? Tom Sawyer?

5) What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children?)
The Catcher in the Rye. I read it every Christmas. I'm kind of emo like that.

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
Little House in the Big Woods. I was obsessed with Laura Ingalls and wanted to be a prairie girl. I loved all her books.

7) What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?
Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs. Too much.

8 ) What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
Water for Elephants was super entertaining, and I loved Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (I'm slowly dipping my pinkie toe into the pool of nonfiction, little by little...).

9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
I'm not tagging anyone, but this is impossible to answer. I would recommend different books to everyone. No one has the same tastes.

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
I am not sure what the requirements are to win a Nobel Prize, but Ian McEwan might deserve one.

11) What book would you most like to see made into a film?
Not sure...the books are always better, aren't they? I am excited to see Water for Elephants in April though.

12) What book would you least like to see made into a film?
Any bad one.

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I cannot recall anything super weird. I did have a dream that one of Peter Pan's lost boys waited on me in a restaurant though.

14) What is the most lowbrow book you’ve read as an adult?
I do not read anything I would consider lowbrow. I mean, Nicholas Sparks books are a joke, but they're entertaining...I guess American Psycho? It was horrible...I did not finish it.

15) What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
Hmm...The Grapes of Wrath was difficult just because I am such a non-fan of Steinbeck. I could only read about eight chapters. And Wuthering Heights was just the worst book to get through ever.

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you’ve seen?
I haven't seen any obscure ones...in fact, I think I've only seen A Midsummer Night's Dream.

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
FRENCH....Dumas forever.

18) Roth or Updike?
I haven't read either.

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Eggers.

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Shakespeare.

21) Austen or Eliot
I haven't read Eliot, but will say Austen regardless.

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
I have not read a single Dickens novel...only A Christmas Carol, which is more of a novella. Shameful, shameful. What sort of second-rate educational institutions did I attend that I was not forced to read at least one Dickens novel?!

23) What is your favorite novel?
So many...Catcher in the Rye, Franny and Zooey, The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Jungle, The Bell Jar, Peter Pan, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Fahrenheit 451, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Color Purple, This Side of Paradise, Lolita, To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Angela's Ashes, A Clockwork Orange, Pride and Prejudice, Into the Wild, The Hobbit, The Twilight books, and The Road are some of my all-time favorites.

24) Play?
In college, I was obsessed with The Crucible. I also loved Doubt and Crimes of the Heart. I love reading plays. I just got the Pulitzer Prize-winning Rabbit Hole...excited to read it.

25) Poem?
No way can I choose a favorite. No. Way.

26) Essay?
Essay? Really?

27) Short story?
The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson. It'll take you five minutes...read it. You'll cry.

28) Work of non-fiction?
Into the Wild. Catch Me If You Can. Kitchen Confidential. Zeitoun.

29) Who is your favorite writer?
Again, I have so many. Cormac McCarthy, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ian McEwan, Truman Capote, J.D. Salinger, Jane Austen, Frank McCourt, Jack Kerouac, C.S. Lewis, Oscar Wilde, Hunter Thompson, Tolkien, Rowling, Bradbury, Orwell...

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Dan Brown.

31) What is your desert island book?
The Count of Monte Cristo.

32) And … what are you reading right now?
The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time by John Kelly. It's a book about medieval European history and alllll about the plague.

Post your own survey if you're into books...

This is Your Year

2011-01-04T10:57:00.000-08:00

(Thought of you when I saw this, Julie...)

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho...

2011-01-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

Today I am going back to work after two glorious weeks off. Back to agendas and alarm clocks. Back to the confines of a structured schedule, to the demands of the daily grind, to the rigors of the real world.

So, it's off to work I go.

But first...coffee.

Someday...

2010-12-31T02:36:00.000-08:00

...I hope to happen upon a social situation in which I will be able to nonchalantly wear a top hat.

Happy New Year.

2010: The Year in Review

2010-12-30T13:04:00.000-08:00

The end-of-the-year survey tradition continues for a third year (for last year's go here).

1) What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I went on a road trip with my best friend, had breakfast at Tiffany’s, hung out in a tattoo parlor in Haight Ashbury, enjoyed some fine dining at Club 33, finally visited Catalina, and got my first ticket ever (for running a red light).

2) Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm not really into making resolutions anymore. Generally speaking, I strive to live a life that reflects the character of Jesus to people, contribute to the lives of others in a positive and meaningful way, be a productive person and constant learner, always have a grateful heart, and continually cultivate my interests.

3) Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Steve and Nicole!

4) Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year.

5) What countries did you visit?
Travels were kept domestic this year. I took some fun trips to Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and New York.

6) What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A couple of stamps in my fresh new passport. It’s going to happen!!

7) What date(s) from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Halloween in San Francisco was a great memory. And June 13th was the start of something new (cue the High School Musical song...).

8) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I finally weaned myself off of my daily soda-drinking habit this year, which I’m glad about.

9) Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes. It sucked.

10) What was the best thing you bought?
Books…always books. (At two of the best bookstores in the country, I might add…)

11) Whose behavior merited celebration?
Anyone who sacrificed something of themselves for the benefit of someone else and without asking for reward or recognition merits celebration in my book. (Specifically, I'd like to celebrate teachers this year, and encourage you to watch the documentary Waiting for Superman.)

12) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Most of the fame-mongering, greedy, and just plain obnoxious people on reality TV.

13) Where did most of your money go?
Probably to Starbucks...a true vice. Next year I'll be better. (Oh, who am I kidding? I said that last year…)

14) What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Starry Night at MoMA in NYC. I wanted to touch it so bad, and stared at it forever and tried walking away, but kept turning back to it. It took about four or five attempts to finally walk away from it…

15) What song will always remind you of 2010?
Dear John by Taylor Swift. I feel like he broke my heart, too.

16) Compared to this time last year, are you:
Wiser? Yes. Healthier? No. Richer? In many ways.

17) What do you wish you'd done more of?
Read, studied, traveled, and blogged...the things I can never do 'enough' of.

18) What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worried and over-analyzed, per usual.

19) How did you spend Christmas?
Church, Claim Jumper, and gifts with my family on Christmas Eve. Sleeping, reading, and hanging out on Christmas Day. Hanging out with Nathan on Christmas night.

20) Did you fall in love in 2010?
You know…I think I did…

21) What was your favorite TV program?
LOST, Gossip Girl, and 30 Rock.

22) Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone.

23) What was the best book you read?
Water for Elephants and Zeitoun.

24) What was your greatest musical discovery?
I pretty much listen to the same stuff I did last year...no noteworthy discoveries.

25) What did you want and get?
My trip to NYC to visit a dear friend finally happened after years of planning and anticipation.

26) What did you want and not get?
I am content.

27) What was your favorite film of this year?
Tangled, 127 Hours, Harry Potter, and Eclipse.

28) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28 and did a lot of celebrating with cherished friends. On my actual birthday I took a final exam, then went out to lunch and Disneyland (to eat pink ice cream).

29) Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most?
Bruce Jenner, my favorite 'Kardashian.' He just makes me laugh.

30) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I wear what I feel like wearing, which I am aware allows for some major hits and misses.

31) What kept you sane?
Family, friends, Nate, co-workers, and God.

32) Who did you miss?
I miss my faraway friends so, so much.

33) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Romans 12 and Hebrews 12 are full of lessons I learned in 2010, and am still learning…

34) What did you gain this year?
Confidence in Christ.

35) What did you lose this year?
A little more insecurity.

36) Who was the best new person you met?
Kylie and Nathers.

37) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Just listen to the song...

Happy New Year!

Danke Schön

2010-12-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

As the holidays slip by and I reflect on the challenges, trials, victories and blessings that the year has brought, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude. I'm grateful for my incredible family that loves, supports, and encourages me. I'm grateful for the kindest and most generous friends a girl could ever hope for. I'm grateful for the most incredible and fulfilling job in the world and that I get to serve with my best friends—really, my second family. I'm grateful for God's love, and that it's only by his grace that I am able to have a relationship with him. There is so much to be thankful for.

With all the busyness, frivolity, and fun that the season brings, it’s important to me to note the sacrifice, sharing, and service of the amazingly generous and thoughtful people I know. I love writing thank-you notes and love-notes, and my goal is to write 365 of them in 2011. What a simple note has the capacity to mean to someone—who feels unappreciated, undervalued, unloved, forgotten—is ridiculous in comparison to the time and effort it takes to write one. (And, I get to use all my pretty stationary, stamps, and stickers...bonus!)

Plus, writing a note every day will also foster a heart of gratitude in me and keep my eyes open and my mind aware of the people I am thankful for. I have learned that gratitude is the antidote to many things—greed, jealously, cynicism, selfishness, thoughtlessness, entitlement, discouragement. The enemy so easily gets a foothold into our hearts through these often subtle shifts in our attitudes.

My challenge to you is to express your gratitude to others in 2011. Have you ever thought about how much someone meant to you, but didn't bless that person by letting them know? I know I have let opportunities slip away. Maybe notes aren't your thing...what is? A phone call? A random text? A facebook wall post? Maybe you really want to mess with someone and buy them a coffee or a gift card or flowers...

"...let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24

"Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29

There shall be Eternal summer in the grateful heart. --Celia Thaxter

The Nightmare Before Christmas

2010-12-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

In the last two months, I have gotten six shots in my face. I have taken four different antibiotics. I have gone to doctors at least once a week since Halloween. I have spent hundreds of dollars on doctor visits, medication, and replacing every hair product, soap, lotion, and makeup product I use. My face has felt like it's been badly sunburned and covered in bee stings. It's been swollen like a tomato, covered in bumps, big and small, and so painful that I could barely wash it, touch it, or put makeup on it.

The first diagnosis was shingles. The second was rosacea. The third idea was a product allergy (hence the replacing of everything I used). The fourth was cystic acne.

I just refer to it as a whole lot of unwelcomed dermatological drama.

I have felt the need to apologize to people for looking so terrible, to offer an explanation for looking and feeling hideous. "This isn't normal, just so you know," I found myself saying as I pointed to my face when meeting new people. Some women wear makeup as a mask, but my skin itself has felt like a mask to me that I haven't been able to take off. I haven't felt like myself. I have felt ugly and embarrassed and helpless to do anything to make this better. It really has been a nightmare, challenging my beauty, worth, energy, psyche. Some days I combatted the feelings of defeat with hope and humor; other days were just tearful ones, thinking "Is this ever going to get better?"

But luckily--and, gosh, I don't want to speak too soon--I think this week I finally turned the corner. After weeks of only worsening as I kept seeking help, the antibiotic I am now taking seems to be working. Some extra time off, mega amounts sleep, praying praying praying, and a bit of reclusiveness surely helped, too.

How did this happen? What triggered it? It's still a mystery.

Continuing to hope for clarity (in every sense of the word) very soon...

She's So Heavy

2010-12-27T12:07:00.001-08:00

Boyfriend got me a typewriter for Christmas. I died.

When I saw the giant box, I had no idea what it was. When I felt how heavy it was, I really had no idea. "So...not jewelry?" I thought to myself.

On one of our earliest dates at the Orange Circle, we got gelato and walked around the antique shops. There was a typewriter in one of the stores and I told him how much I would love to have one someday. I completely forgot I told him this.

But he didn't. He went to a bunch of different antique stores, looked for the best one (not an electric one, obvs, and preferably one that worked), and found this treasure. A few of the keys didn't work...he fixed them...he bought a new ribbon for it...he cleaned it up.

It's so beautiful. It's from the 30's or 40's. It works great. Its keys clack clack clack away and it has that sweet ping when I type to the end of the line. It even smells good.

It might be the best present I've ever gotten.

Always

2010-12-23T19:31:00.001-08:00

Books just make the nicest presents, don't you think?

Day at the Museum

2010-12-23T12:21:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I went to the Getty with Nathan. Southern California had been a couple of days into a wintry rainstorm, but the formidable weather was more of a reason than a deterrent for us to head up to Los Angeles. As the museum's tram ascended the hill on which the center sits, we forgot about the world as it disappeared and we were swallowed into the clouds. The place was hauntingly empty. The rain did not let up and the misty clouds that nestled around the museum and dark sky gave such a familiar place a strange, foreign atmosphere. We saw some incredible exhibits (this one was stunning), enjoyed a delicious late lunch, and finished the day driving through a festively decorated Beverly Hills and up Sunset to Guitar Center, capping the cold day off with hot pizzas at Cheebo.

I'm not selfish enough to keep this a secret...the Getty Center is best experienced on a rainy day. So come the next rainy Saturday...take my advice and do what you need to do... You'll have the best day.

30 Years Ago

2010-12-08T13:31:00.001-08:00

Our Old Courthouse is a very very very fine courthouse

2010-10-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

Click here to read my latest article in the November issue of The O.C. Gazette. I had the privilege of writing about the Old Courthouse, the oldest court building in Orange County.

This is my first history piece for the magazine and I had a great time taking a couple of trips to this beautiful building and learning all about it. The structure itself was fascinating to explore, but learning about all the landmark court cases and movies filmed there was what really intrigued me. There are remarkable stories everywhere, aren't there? I wonder how many we miss because we're not looking for them...

A Sweet Gift

2010-10-20T06:24:00.000-07:00

My friend Nicole, for no reason at all, bought me a beautiful quill pen made with a fancy peacock feather and an inkwell.

"Every good writer needs a quill pen," she told me.

My heart exploded a little bit when she said that.

I'm thankful for my dear friend.

Be Happy

2010-10-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

One of the thing I love about my friend Kylie is how adept she is at asking questions. Girl could have her own talk show. She desires to know and love people, and one of the ways she does that is by asking fun questions that are disarming, yet often provide a portal into deeper conversation.

One day, Kylie asked me, "When are you most happy?" and it really got me thinking. What makes me happy?

Well…there are a lot of things. I mean, I’m a pretty happy person and generally find joy from simple things. I am happy after I make myself work out and let myself use my "good" (read: expensive) shampoo. I'm happy when I hit green lights all the way home. I'm happy when I find a forgotten twenty dollar bill in a pair of dirty jeans that have been scrumpled up on the floor of my room for two weeks. And I'm happy when Disneyland starts selling pink peppermint stick ice cream at Christmastime.

But I don't think I would be capable of experiencing real happiness in life if it was void of relationships. Although I’m an introvert to the core, Kylie reminded me that people are who make me happiest. I'm most happy when Mark, the manager of the Starbucks I frequent, comes out from behind the bar to hand me my tuxedo mocha and give me a hug. I'm most happy when my dad e-mails me that he's "just checking in" because he's thinking about me. I’m most happy when I’m laughing so hard with a friend that tears stream down my face, or when tears of sadness are comforted by a tender hug. Happiness isn't just best experienced when shared with others; others are often the source of life's happiness.

Kylie, the answer is people: I’m most happy when I’m talking with, listening to, learning from, encouraging and being encouraged by, and loving and being loved by people.

What about you? When are you most happy?

What Dreams May Come...

2010-10-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

I found this bedding at Anthropologie. It's printed with collages of handwritten love notes and letters dating back to the early 1900’s that were found in a hatbox in a vintage shop in Brooklyn.

You know how much I love handwritten notes and correspondence...right? How much paper and any form of the written word romances my soul? Like, we've been over this? You know how much I love sloppy scripts and precise penmanship? Smeared ink and crossed out spelling errors and postage stamps?

Okay. Good. So now that that's established, would you please buy this bedding for me?

I sure would enjoy resting my dreams on a slew of love letters every night...

Be-Twitched

2010-10-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

According to a seemingly legitimate medical-ish website (although my ability to read is being challenged at the moment, so I don’t really know), there are eight common causes that trigger eye twitching, which I have been experiencing the inconvenience of for about two weeks now.

They are the following:

• Stress
• Tiredness
• Eyestrain
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Dry eyes
• Nutritional imbalances
• Allergies

Seeing as how I don’t drink alcohol, everything else could be a potential trigger.

Which is great to know, I guess, except I’m not really sure what to do now. Eyepatch? Decaf pumpkin spice lattes? Visine? Less facebook?

I tend to diagnose all of my health problems via websites and the Discovery Health Channel, whine incessantly to everyone, and then just not do anything about them.

So…do you have any eye-deas?

The Blog is Back in Town

2010-10-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

I miss blogging. I can't believe it's been so long since I've written a post of substance or interest. Shameful.

And I want to apologize to you, my readers, for the neglect, even though I'm not really under the delusion that anyone really reads my blog except my dad (Hi Dad. I love you. Go Phillies!). But if you have indeed missed my blogs, I am sorry, and I want to assure you that I will be blogging more regularly now.

One reason is because I actually got a new laptop! His name is Ishmael. The last one I used was a high school graduation present. (I graduated in 2001. That means my old laptop is nine years old. In computer years, that's, like...nine years old.) Not having a good computer definitely hinders one's ability to blog. I am loving the Ish.

Another reason is because I want to and need to write more. I have been thinking about some goals that I want to achieve, and one of them involves improving my writing skills. It's a craft--an art--and I need to do it as much as possible if I want to be good at it.

And lastly...I love writing and blogging and have genuinely missed it. So, Dad, even if you are the only person who reads my blog, that's fine with me. Stay tuned...

Fall is Coming....

2010-09-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

Jane Austen TOMS

2010-08-27T12:42:00.001-07:00

My sweet friend Brooke is one of the most talented artists I know (check out her work here). The girl loves painting and everyone at Crave loves giving her their TOMS shoes to spiff up. I asked Brooke if she'd paint mine, and here they are! She included the first line from Pride and Prejudice, which is one of my favorite books. It's also one of the most famous first lines of any novel, ever..."It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man, in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Kind of a funny line for me to ask to be put on a pair of shoes, but I just love the nod to Jane, and they turned out great!

Two Truths and a Lie

2010-08-21T23:04:00.000-07:00

You know the game...you must say three things about yourself, but only two must be true, and your company has to guess which is the lie.

I hate games that require lying. I'm just so bad at lying.

So when Hayley and I arrived for dinner at the Sylvia Beach Hotel and were seated at our table, along with Al, Myrna, Joan, Catlin, David, and Patricia, and were encouraged to play this game for the duration of our family-style dinner, I was hesitant about faking something interesting about myself. ("Can't we just have a normal curiosity-driven question-and-answer sort of get-to-know-each-other conversation, like normal people?" I thought.)

But...I totally owned this game; no one guessed my lie!

I said that I have seen, in person, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.

When I was grilled about my statements, I elaborated: I saw Obama when he came to Saddleback Church for a civil forum, I saw George W. Bush being driven down the street right after my school group toured the White House (he actually waved to us), and I nearly (literally) ran into Bill Clinton as I walked into the Ritz Hotel in London.

Do you know which is the lie?

It's the first one. I actually didn't come to the civil forum when Obama was there. I was out of state. But I knew all about it, and just talked about it like I had been there. (Who's going to believe that President Bush waved to us in Washington D.C. right after we toured the White House, anyway? No one!)

The game ended up being a great ice-breaker amongst quite a motley crew of strangers, brought together for one evening by our mutual love of adventure, books, and food. I learned that David paints cherubs on harpsichords (?!), Joan has trained four seeing-eye dogs and lived in Costa Rica for a year, young Catlin ran her own business for two years, elderly Myrna has helped plan over 130 weddings (there was only one time when the groom did not show up), and Al has done reporting in China for the Associated Press. It was a fun dinner full of character study, laughs, and great conversation, not to mention delicious food--lobster bisque, salad, just-baked bread, chicken parmesan with vegetables, and fresh local berries and cream for dessert.

A charming dinner in a charming hotel with a group of charming people I will most likely never see again...it was a memorable night!

The Sylvia Beach Hotel

2010-08-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

I had previously posted about the Sylvia Beach Hotel and how excited I was to visit it when I went to Oregon this summer. Even with such high expectations, Hayley and I were not disappointed by the charm of this quirky and cozy destination for book lovers.

Garden and porch that welcomes you into the hotel.

A permanent guest.

Street in Nye Beach.

The Sylvia Beach Hotel is located in a historic part of the city of Newport, Oregon, called Nye Beach. Words that would adequately describe the shops, restaurants, and galleries of Nye Beach would include: artsy, vegan, unique, handmade, original, etc. It has an almost Laguna Beachy vibe, only less affluent and not as manufactured. The hotel itself is incredible, sitting on top of a little cliff that overlooks the beach. Each room is themed after a different author, but not in a fake Disneyed-out kind of way. You can tell that the props and decor must have taken years to acquire, making for rooms full of personality and atmospheres that really do capture the taste of their respectful writers' works. Although we didn't stay at the hotel, Hayley and I made dinner reservations for the hotel's Tables of Content restaurant. Dinner is served family-style, and we were excited to meet our evening's company. (More on that in my next post.)

Before dinner, we were able to mosey about the hotel and peek into some of the rooms that guests had not checked into yet. Here are some of the ones we were able to see:

The Agatha Christie Room, the perfect place for mystery solving (there's even a magnifying glass hanging on the door)...

The Shakespeare Room, with enough props to stage any of his plays, and an awesome writing desk if inspirations strikes for some late-night sonnet writing...

The Mark Twain room, with all his books on the mantel....

And, a room I would never stay in...the Poe room, complete with a creepy pendulum over the bed, a sinister raven to stare at you all night, and a walled-up Fortunato...In pace requiescat.

This hotel is definitely on the quirky side and not for everyone, not even for every book lover. There's no Wi-Fi, computers, TVs, radios, or phones in any of the rooms. But there are plenty of books and cozy places to read and coffee and tea are always available. Best of all, there's a library on the third floor with a beautiful ocean view. It's a place that provides escape and inspires exploration.

And I'll be back...

Let There Be Lighthouses

2010-08-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

My brother, my friend Hayley, and I just got back from Oregon last night after an epic road trip that took almost sixteen hours and ended with bumper-to-bumper traffic through Los Angeles. It wasn't the best way to end a great trip, but I won't let it ruin any memories for me, which will be posted in installments on here, for your reading pleasure.

The Oregon coast is so beautiful and relaxing. My parents' house is in the city of Waldport, population 2050. (No Starbucks!) The house is ten minutes from the ocean and does not have any TVs. There are only beds and a couch, which creates a clutter-free, simple, peaceful setting. When you open the windows you feel the cool ocean breeze and hear the waves crashing. There's been incredible serenity to every trip I've taken up there. It's a setting that encourages lavender bubble baths, long Scrabble games, and hours of reading...you know, like real vacation. My trips are usually packed with destinations and expectations--there's so much sight-seeing, so many museums, and hours of hoofing it all over cities....and as much as I enjoy it, it's exhausting. Last week, I experienced an actual vacation, without agendas or alarm clocks. And it was awesome.

The central coast has its pristine white-sand beaches, but there are a lot of cliffs and rocky and forested parts as well. There are regular little turn-outs off the 101 to encourage picture taking and inspire awe of the beautiful scenery and historic landmarks.

Because of the jagged and rocky coastline, there have been many lighthouses built on the coast over the years. We were able to visit two:

Yaquina (pronounced Ya-KWIN-uh) is the tallest of Oregon's lighthouses and was built in the 1870's (and is still a working lighthouse!). Hayley and I waited in line to walk up the cast-iron spiral staircase to the top to see the lens of the light. The lighthouse is beautifully preserved and the views of the coast from the cliffs on which the lighthouse stands are so pretty, although it was not too clear when we visited. We just hung out and let the moist air whip through our hair and enjoyed listening to the waves crash on the rocks below us.

My calves were burning after all these stairs....

The stair master.

Lens of the lighthouse.

The second lighthouse we visited is my favorite. Heceta Head Lighthouse has the strongest light on the Oregon coast--it blasts 21 miles out to sea! Legend has it that this is also a haunted lighthouse. It's located in a gorgeous state park and requires a little hike to visit.

Hiking in TOMS (and with a hidden latte)...because I can.

The easy hike to the lighthouse is about a half mile, and with each step the views of the southern coast were prettier and prettier...

Forest near the sea's cliffs. (I thought I saw a vampire, but no...)

View of the beach where we started as we ascended the cliff where the lighthouse was.

There she is!

Okay, so we're covering most of the lighthouse in this pic. But it's there!

On our way down the cliff, we took a less traveled trail down to some tidepools and rocks, and ended up almost being swallowed by the incoming tide. (Oh, the perilous sea...)

More to come of our Oregon adventures...

Road Trip

2010-07-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am driving to Oregon with one of my very best friends. We are heading to the central coast for a week, to rest, read good books, fly kites, explore historic lighthouses, hike, walk on the white sand beaches, ride buggies on the sand dunes, and visit as many nautical-themed gift shops as we can handle. We're also going to visit Portland to go to Powell's and eat some Voodoo Donuts. I'm so excited for our adventure!

But what good is an adventure without a sweet soundtrack?! I asked my friends via twitter if any of them would want to make me mix CDs for the drive, and I am happy to say that I received some awesomely-titled mixes. Here are just a few of the CDs I was given:

Night Drive Mix

Road Rage Mix

Lisa Likes Miley Mix

Awakening Summer Mix

On the Road Mix

And my favorite title....the "I'm not trying to seduce you, but if I did, there is a strong to quite strong chance that I would play this CD Mix."

Thanks to those of you who provided me with some sweet tunes for our 18-hour drive up the 5.

Time to hit the road!!

Garnier

2010-07-29T10:45:00.001-07:00

This is not a post about shampoo. This is a post about an amazing O.C.-based photographer named Jacques Garnier. But if you want, you can say his name in that same coy half-whisper that they do in the shampoo commercials.

I had an incredible opportunity to interview Garnier for The O.C. Gazette's August issue.

Click here to read my article about Jacques and his 15-year documentary photography project of the El Toro Marine Base. And check out his website here to look at his amazing photographs.

Seriously, you'll be shocked at how beautiful these photographs are. I have always seen the base as an eyesore, but Garnier's pictures, like all great art, challenges you to see something more....

Letters of Note

2010-07-24T15:18:00.000-07:00

I had read about a book that was released earlier this year called Other People's Rejection Letters, a compilation of, yep, people's rejection letters. I haven't read it myself, but it includes everything from Jimi Hendrix's rejection letter from the Army to a kid's note to his parents: "I hate you. I'm running away." Sounds like an entertaining book, and a good read for anyone who's ever felt devastatingly rejected!

Anyway, a bit of internet searching for famous letters led me to an incredible website that I just can't stop reading. It's called Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience.

The site is an online collection of famous, important, tragic, and sometimes just darn funny postcards, faxes, memos, letters, and notes. There are actual scanned photographs of the correspondence as well as typed up transcriptions so they are easy to read.

Some of the many letters I looked over today included a note from Conan O'Brien to a girl who asked him to her senior prom (he couldn't go but was kind enough to write back!), a letter from Christa McAuliffe to a young fan about how excited she was to be the first teacher in space (she and her entire crew perished when The Challenger exploded 73 seconds after take-off), and a fascinating note to Marlon Brando from Jack Kerouac, trying to convince him to star as Dean Moriarty in the movie On the Road...which has still never been made into a movie. Could you imagine Marlon Brando as Dean? Oh, gosh!

I love letters, notes, and handwriting. A couple of years ago I went to the British Library in London and got to see Jane Austen's letters (I wish I had her handwriting), Captain Cook's journal, Handel's handwritten Messiah, and Beatles lyrics. They were so delicate and beautiful.

It's easy for us to see handwritten stuff as archaic and disposable, which makes me sad; letter writing has become a lost art. Letters are so personal and intimate. I feel like I shouldn't be reading some of these letters online, letters that were meant for a single person to read. But now they are historic documents that give insight into people's thoughts, motives, relationships, and personalities. They are just fascinating to me!!

Check some of them out on Letters of Note!

Happy Feet

2010-07-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

I so wish I could be one of those girls who could prance effortlessly around all day in five-inch heels. I love heels. Well, I love the look of them, anyway. They obviously create the illusion of height and slenderness, but they also effect gait, posture, and even demeanor. You can’t feel ho-hum in heels.

However, I am not biologically capable to Sarah Jessica Parker around. Not even for short distances, like from my car to the office. First of all, I’ve lived with chronic back pain for over a decade, and stilettos have adverse effects on the spine. Second, I have a hard enough time not stumbling or running into things with both feet firmly on terra firma (the firma, the betta! Ha…Latin joke!). And, third, let’s be honest…I’m just not cool enough to wear heels except on New Year’s Eve and at weddings.

The great news is that flats are so stinkin cute these days. You can get them in whatever colors, textures, bells, and whistles you want. Today, I bought these from Nordstrom (half yearly sale…what?!). I want to lick these sparkly shoes...they glisten like the glaze on a Krispy Kreme! I’m still flat-footed, ungraceful as ever, and barely 5’4”, but my toes are twinkling, and so is my smile.

I'm Melting

2010-07-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have not been following my string of cranky tweets lately and might not understand my disdain for this diabolical heat, let me be crystal clear: I hate hot weather. The heat sucks my will to do anything right out of me. I get fussy, restless, and whiny.

I hate having to straighten my hair with a 400 degree iron when it’s 100 degrees in my room. I hate that I can’t touch my seatbelt without getting burned. I hate having to wipe off my sweat-stache while I’m putting on makeup. I hate that the ice cubes in my latte virtually melt from Starbucks to my car. I hate that my shower is negated ten seconds after the fact because I’m already sweating again. I mean, I can’t even wear my snuggie when I’m reading anymore!

I grew up in Southern California swimming every day, hitting the beach four times a week, and lifeguarding as a teen. For a long time, I had a respectable tan and that chlorine sheen to my hair. I was a real California Gurl, Katy Perry…West Coast, represent!

But those days are over. Long ago are the carefree days of basking in the cancerous sun for hours at a time, when premature wrinkles and melanoma were only fleeting thoughts. Gone are the days of laissez-faire summer hair, when a headband was enough to make a bushy bushy blonde hairdo cute. And the days of daisy dukes and bikinis on top? Oh wait...they never even happened. (And for the record, I DO mind sand in my stilettos! Er, at least I would if I wore them!)

My style is now daily moisturizer with SPF 30, dark wash jeans—no matter how hot it is (dude, they're slimming), cardigans every day, ballet flats, and straightened hair. The uniform is on lock, Katy…even in the summer. Heck, I almost wore a scarf last week.

Doesn’t the thought of a crisp fall night, snuggling in a blanket with an amazing book, drinking a hot pumpkin spice latte sound so much better than sweating your butt off at a beach bonfire and smelling like smoke for the next three days even though you washed your hair—twice? Yeah, that’s what I thought!

Take heart, friends…only sixty-five days until FALL!

Oh, Arnie Boy...

2010-07-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I collected cow stuff. Cow calendars, cow stuffed animals, cow print stuff, you get the picture. One of my favorite things was my cow alarm clock. I saw it at JCPenney, and it was $49.99, which is a ridiculous price for an alarm clock in general, but if you’re ten, is really a lot! Saving up for that clock meant eschewing purchasing all those awesome Lisa Frank stickers, glitter erasers, and Sanrio pencil cases that I was so fond of. But I was determined to save my allowance, and in a couple of short months, bought the clock.

I named him Arnold, because he sounded exactly like Arnold Schwarzenegger. The alarm was a cow bell (it actually scared me awake for years) followed by a moo and then “Wake up! Don’t sleep your life away!” Picture Governor Schwarzenegger saying that to you. That’s what my clock sounded like.

Anyway, Arnold was a good and faithful servant up until only a few months ago, when a corroded battery (Kirkland brand, if you were wondering) cut his charmed life short. And until yesterday, Arnold sat mutely on my nightstand, gathering dust, but still watching over me every night. I couldn’t just throw him away. He’s not an old, broken clock. He’s more like a vintage cow figurine now.

By the way, that kind of reasoning is why I’m a cat carcass and a few Hummels shy of being featured on Hoarders. I knew I had to let Arnold go. So I asked my dad to take care of it. That conversation went something like this:

“Lisa, just throw it away.”

“DAD…I can’t. I mean, haven’t you seen the Toy Story movies? I can’t just throw him away! This is his home.”

“Lis, he’s the one who gave up on you. It’s not like you asked much of him…just to tell the time once or twice a day. It’s time to say ‘hasta la vista’ to Arnold.”

So…I did.

Poor Arnold.

Evil

2010-07-02T13:34:00.001-07:00

Wedding Notes

2010-06-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Brace yourself: When you hit your 20's, you go to a lot of weddings!

I love weddings! I love trying to catch the bouquet and eating delicious wedding cake! I love the sweet toasts and how radiant the brides always look. I love smelling the flowers and always tear up a little during the father-daughter dance. I love seeing my guy friends in suits--they look so dashing. I love the Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble songs. Weddings rock!

I've never given a ton of thought into planning my wedding. Many of my girlfriends have had their color schemes picked out since they were five, known what kind of flowers they want, subscribe to bridal magazines, and have already narrowed down venues in their heads. Not me.

I want a simple wedding. I'm not entirely sure what that means because weddings are significant events and require a lot of planning, but I know I will not ever care about what font the name cards are typed in (I mean, unless it's Papyrus) or to which degree of transparency that little sheet needs to be that goes over the invitations. Now that I think about it, why is that even there, anyway?

There are two things I think would be cool, though. The first is that I'd love for the song Yellow by Coldplay to somehow be incorporated into the night. Coldplay is one of my favorite bands and Yellow was the first song of theirs that I heard. The lyrics make my heart ache and always remind me of how loved I am by Jesus (...for you I'd bleed myself dry...). Maybe I'll walk down the aisle to it someday. Who knows?

The other thing I thought would be really cool is centerpieces of stacks of books. I went to a wedding earlier this year, and these were at all the dinner tables. If my future husband is on board, we'll copy this idea.

Oh, and I really don't want to dance at my wedding (or, ever), but I'll just have to get over it, I suppose.

That is all...

Water IS Best

2010-06-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

I love Diet Coke. It's so delicious and refreshing. And Coke is so American. How can you not love a glass of Coke with a slice of pizza, a big plastic $5 cup of Diet Coke at a ballgame with peanuts, or a frosted glass of soda served with lime to accompany your chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant? I mean, what else would you even order?!

It was only when I realized I craved soda after a workout or super late at night that I thought, "Hmm, this is not healthy." I decided that for the month of June, a month full of baseball and barbecues, I would challenge myself to not drink any soda.

So I haven't had any soda since May 31st. I've been drinking a lot of iced teas (Bagels and Brew's is delicious!) and a ton of water, and although it hasn't even been that long, I notice the difference in my overall health. My muscles feel less fatigued when I work out, I just feel better, and my skin even looks healthier. I'm hesitant to say I won't ever touch the stuff again, but I certainly won't ever return to the habit of daily soda drinking.

I took this picture of the Temperance statue when I visited Bath in 2008--a city known for the healing qualities of its mineraled water. I should have listened to it...water really is best!!

Summer = Here

2010-06-06T23:27:00.000-07:00

With sunscreen slathered and sold-out tickets in hand, my brother and I kept a Birle sibling tradition alive on Saturday as we braved the crowds and heat at KROQ’s annual Weenie Roast. An all-day outdoor rock concert with an awesome lineup of 10+ bands is always a great way to start summer.

This was our fourth Weenie Roast. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate enough to see some great performances by the Strokes, Beastie Boys, Bad Religion, Velvet Revolver, the Hives, Modest Mouse, The Killers, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, Kings of Leon, and Weezer, to name a few. My brother and I don’t have too many overlapping interests (He doesn’t read Jane Austen or watch Disney movies—can you believe that guy?!), so it’s great to be able to spend a day together and enjoy a lot of the bands that provided the soundtrack to our high school and college years.

I must admit that I have to kind of psych myself up into going to the Weenie Roast. It can be a taxing environment at times. Alcohol and profanity flow freely, and my close proximity to illegal substances definitely challenges my comfort! Oh, and someone spilled beer on my TOMS this year, so that was awesome.

On a high note (figuratively—well, for me, anyway…), there was much less Ed Hardy clothing worn this year, the crowd was downright friendly, and the bands were awesome. I was pleasantly surprised by Paramore’s energetic performance and Spoon’s great set. It was so fun to see Devo perform “Whip It” with their Energy Dome hats, and to see Courtney Love—she seemed sober and much more put-together than I anticipated. But Scott Weiland and the Stone Temple Pilots were definitely the stand-out performers. Scott is quite a showman! I had such a fun day, and I can’t wait to go back next year!

Thoughts

2010-06-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

A room hung with pictures is a room hung with thoughts.

--Joshua Reynolds