Happy, Healthy Dinner-Time

For some reason, I’ve struggled to work up the muster for a blog this week. Maybe it’s partially the weather. Although Seattle has been hit with a generous heaping of sunshine, the bright blue days mean cloudless nights, and it’s been chilly without our usual blanket over the city. The cold is definitely a de-motivator for me, as I would prefer to cuddle up in blankets instead of just about anything else if I’m feeling cold.

Ever since starting this weekly blog, I’ve meant to put together a cooking entry. I love to cook and experiment with new recipes. The only problem is, I always forget to photo document my culinary explorations. I might take a few shots throughout the cooking process, but there’s always crucial pieces of photo evidence missing.

Last week was no different. I invited a few friends over for dinner, and the menu was simple but delicious:

Chicken with vegetables and cous cous
Cucumber and radish salad with garlic and sour cream
Fruit salad
And my friends supplied the green salad, wine, and cake for dessert.

The chicken was really easy to put together, and I think the result is especially tastey. The ingredients you will need are:

3 chicken breasts,
2 cups salsa
½-1 lime
1 onion
2-3 cloves garlic
Olive oil or grapeseed oil
Currents
Toasted, slivered almonds
Salt and pepper
Cumin
Honey

But curses upon curses, I took a few preliminary photos, and got so completely wound up in chopping, cooking, visiting, and eating, I forgot to take many essential photos. Let’s see if I can talk through the instructions all the same…

I'll start with explaining the chicken: just sauté the chicken breast with onion, garlic, salt and pepper. I cut the chicken into bit sized pieces, but you can likewise keep them nearly whole or in large slices. After the chicken is cooked and slightly browned, add the salsa, cumin, honey and lime juice. Let it simmer until you are ready to eat. When you are ready to serve the chicken, toss in some currants, and top the dish with the toasted almonds. Serve with cous cous on the side and it’s delicious, hearty, and healthy.

The cucumber and radish salad was a cinch, but takes a bit of planning. First you must peel and thinly slice the cucumber the day before. Put the slices in a covered bowl and the next day, drain the excess water and toss with sliced radishes and garlic. I used 2 cucumbers, about a dozen radishes, and 4-6 cloves of garlic finely minced. Toss all ingredients together with salt, garlic powder, and finally a bit of sour cream. The raw garlic gives it a spicy taste that my husband winces at, but I love!

Finally, to add even more color to the table, I cut up some fresh persimmons, kiwis, and topped them with pomegranate seeds.

Even without pictures, I hope you can just see how lovely this dinner turned out! With all the slicing, dicing, and what not, it did take a bit of planning and finesse to make happen – but, in terms of a dinner party spread, it was definitely delicious!

The Shapeless Shift

So, the holiday season is here yet again. I have so far survived an epic Thanksgiving weekend full of eating, sleeping, eating, and playing Settlers of Catan. By far, my favorite part about the holiday season is being able to slow down and spend time with the family. Sure it’s fun to be busy and make plans for dinner parties, gifts, and travels, but I particularly love abandoning my to do lists and sinking into my plans and flowing with the festivities.

But, I have been noticing (with all this eating and resting) that my pants and shirts aren’t fitting so nicely. Things are bunching and tugging and pulling. Also, when I go to Goodwill, things that look like they ought to fit me…don’t. So, the last time I went to Goodwill I tried on something like 4 dresses and a few fitted shirts, and one dress fit me. Yep, it was the shapeless, flowing one.

Ordinarily this isn’t the style I gravitate towards. I like something to compliment my waist, chest, and bum. I tend away from things too baggy…because why look more pregnant than you have to, right? But, this flowing dress had very beautiful colors and a nice delicate material that I thought would pair well with a dark pair of tights.

When I got home, I experimented and paired it with some thick grey tights and a simple pair of grey wedge heels (ever so slight in the heel).



I still felt a little too exposed, and my friend did warn me that this is more of a spring/summer look, but I decided to experiment with adding a long sleeved undershirt.



Definitely more comfortable. And, I had this coat I got the summer before last which really pulled together a nice monochromatic look to accentuate the subtle colors of the flowers.



However, I’m still more comfortable pairing something this short and dainty with jeans. I think with the black velvet blazer and open toed shoes, the look is really pulled together. Also, the colors of the top are perfect for wintery days, so it’s nice to accessorize it to go with almost any season.



The best part about the shapeless shift? No one has to see a bloated, over-nourished holiday belly! Also, if you have to unbutton those pants after dinner, who’s the wiser? I really like the idea of a nice flowy shapeless dress for the holidays. The holidays themselves create all sorts of shapeless days, whether it’s shopping, lounging away lazy afternoons, baking and snacking, or curling up with a good book, it’s nice to embrace some easy days to just go with the flow.

Children’s Literature

I’ve been an ESL Teacher at an international school (mainly for Korean students) for the past 6 months or so. Mostly, I teach elementary students. I enjoy my work with these students because for the most part they are ambitious, respectful, and sweet natured. However, sometimes the literature available to them leaves a little to be desired.

I get really sick of personification of animals really fast:

Oh the little mouse is joining a rockband but feels left out by the

other band members, then he becomes fed up with the bullying cats, and

all the mice work together to defeat the cats using fire hoses

with water as ammunition.

*Snort*

Not only do I think the stories are boring for me and potentially confusing for children, (mice do not act and think like humans when no one is looking) but it also can be difficult to inspire any relevant discussion:

“So how do you think the little mouse felt when his friends ignored him?

Sad? Yes. Would you feel sad too? Uh huh.”

*Snort*

However, sometimes there are books that don’t treat children like sniveling idiots who must be isolated from the reality of the world and spoon fed imaginative drivel with every turn of the page. I’ve read two books lately that really intrigued me as a teacher and interested my students. Plus, the books presented a wealth of teaching ideas.

Esperanza Rising gave us the chance to talk about the US back in the 1920s-1930s, as we followed the life of a wealthy, young Mexican girl who must flee Mexico with her mother and enter into the life of a poor migrant worker in California. I had the opportunity to introduce my students to ideas like: The Great Depression, The Dust Bowl, Immigration, Unions/Strikes, Racism, Classism, and other important themes that coincide with any coming of age story. The story is exciting to read, as the author creates realistically suspenseful and bitter sweet situations. I enjoy guiding my students through Esperanza’s story of growing up, and I definitely recommend the book to older and younger readers alike.

Walk Two Moons initially didn’t strike my fancy much at all, and I worried that my students would have a hard time getting into it. The dual story lines of Salamanca taking a road trip with her grandparents while telling them a story about her friend Pheobe, both seem to move very slowly. But, the narrative voice of Salamanca, and the vivid personalities of other characters (particularly her Grandparents, who I loved) were so compelling, that it made me want to continue reading. With this book we had the opportunity to talk about the important and complicated nature of relationships with family and friends. Depending on the age and maturity of the students, we also discussed stereotypes, particularly of Native Americans, and how this book does not emulate these stereotypical attitudes. We also talked about what it means to take things for granted, and not appreciate something until it is lost. As the book wraped up, it became increasingly exciting for me, and I plowed through the last pages quickly. The ending was a wrenching blow, and I almost broke down in tears in school! That a children’s book could captivate me so deeply was an exhilarating realization. The power of literature, hizzah!

There are other amazing children’s stories that I’ve read or plan to read. Also, despite my personal preferences, some of the stories of little personified animals can be sweet too. Esperanza Rising and Walk Two Moons are books that have lately captured my imagination and supplied me with lessons that were fun to plan.

The Poetics of Music

Maybe it’s the liberal arts major in me, but I always feel a certain sense of exhilaration when either experiencing the artistic expression of others, or participating in my own expression. All this time re-researching the British Romantics (for grad school application essays) has really started my mind revolving around the redemptive imagination and the sublime!

I enjoy wandering around museums, galleries, and visiting fringe theaters, poetry readings, and music venues. My own expression is mainly in the form of writing, although I sometimes dabble in visual arts. However, I rarely share my creations publically. It always seems like I must gain some sort of “perfection” before I can display myself. However, this reluctance is something I am working to repair. Blogging is my first step, and I hope to continue along the path to becoming published and finding other ways to actively participate in the artistic expressions I find so interesting.

I get the most enthused when listening to music. Music can be a fusion of all artistic mediums not only blending harmonies and lyrics, but also incorporating video, animation, and other images. It is difficult for me to combine art forms, and especially difficult for me to create melodies. So music and mixed media displays are even more impressive for me, because their creation seems so mysterious. Sometimes limiting the artist to one medium for expression can be limiting, but when there is a fusion, so many different experiences can be created.

Art that is surprising and intriguing is what many artists strive for, I should think. I particularly enjoy when artists can unleash a sense of unexpectedness in their music: the lyrics don’t quite go with the narrative voice or the melody, or the subject matter is just unusual. The Decemberists have in particular caught my attention. The lead singer has a unique voice, and he blends unique subjects with unexpected diction and forms. For example, the ballad, The Mariner’s Revenge, is rich with interesting words, rhymes and images, and the rolling accordion lulls the listener into the madness of the mariner. Where do these unusual ideas spring from?

I also enjoy Don Mclearn’s music, and other traditional singer-song-writer tunes. When I find a song that I can relate to, particularly when I can personally identify with the lyrics, I am moved and deeply satisfied by the listening experience. Connecting with the lyrics of Crossroads helped me come to terms with some of the changes I was experiencing at the time I heard it. Sometimes it seems that the perfect song can find you at the perfect time, and it is a wonderful sensation. For me, finding a song to identify with helps me come to peace with whatever emotions I am struggling to understand.

It is imperative for most humans to strive to understand their world and themselves. Artistic expression can lend itself wonderfully, both creating, sharing, and experiencing creativity. It can help us connect to the world in a meaningful way, and can make it seem like a less lonely and hostile place.

The Decemberists

I've never written much about music, but I thought I'd give it a try with this blog. I normally have a penchant for something with intriguing lyrics and something a little unexpected. Whether it's the poignant lyrics, the pleasant melody, or the fusing of the two, songs with a few twists will grab me right away.

Lately, I've encountered The Decemberists, who have a pleasant blend of interesting lyrics and unexpected subjects. Leave it to me to be completely behind the times; they've apparently been popular for some time. In my defense, I heard about The Decemberists a few years ago, but dismissed them as a run of the mill emo-hipster band without even lending them an ear. Ghastly prejudice!

Anyways, the first song that caught my attention was The Mariner's Revenge. It was a modern epic with an unreliable narrator to boot! Oh, my potential graduate studies must find a way to incorporate this! I loved the sound, rhymes, and everything about it! Check out a ridiculous lego stop-motion video here.




Later, I was intrigued, but slightly horrified by The Rake's Song.



And finally, my deep love for them was cemented with the civil war love song, Yankee Bayonet. I love the tongue twisting lines, unexpected word order, peppy guitar melody, and bitter subject matter. The first few times I had the song on, I didn't pay attention to the lyrics at all; it just sounded like a regular indie guitar ballad. The lyrics are more tragic than the background music led me to initially believe.



Oh Valencia was one of their more popular songs. I love how he says he will burn the whole city down. Judging from the rest of the songs, I really think he means it!



Thank goodness for The Decemberists! They don't wimp out and give us the same half digested love ballads and winy songs about being winy. They explore unusual subject matters, blend the stories with un-ubiquitous melodies, and spin the stories in their songs with interesting twists of diction. I just downloaded a bunch of songs thanks to my trusty Zune pass and I'm on to Decemberist bliss!

Where the Wild Things Are

We wound down this Halloween weekend with dinner and a movie on Sunday evening. Let’s start with the best part: dinner. Dinner was delicious, and I normally don’t say this about restaurant pho. I love a hearty Vietnamese soup, but normally it’s so much tastier home made. However, we went to a great pho place in Queen Anne called, Pho Viet Anh. Because of the neighborhood, it’s a little pricey, but the hot and spicy broth and complimentary extra noodles make it worth it – especially if you’re in the area anyways. Newly Prudie, take note!

We went to see Where the Wild Things Are after dinner. I have definite memories of reading this book and enjoying the pictures as a child. Actually, it was the first “real” children’s book I read after those mini-easy-reader things. But, before going into the movie, I couldn’t remember much of the real story. After leaving the movie, I didn’t know much about the story either.

We enter the world of the wild things with the reckless and hyperactive, Max, a young, sensitive boy with an active imagination. The world of the wild things is part dense forest, part barren desert, part tempestuous ocean. The wild things spend their time playing, sleeping, fighting, and eating their kings. Max haplessly becomes their next king; although, (spoiler alert) he does not get eaten at the end.


There is a lot of drama in Where the Wild Things Are, and some interestingly dark conflicts. (Sidenote: “dark” is the primary way this movie is described on rotten tomatoes.) One of these conflicts is the lead wild thing, Carol’s, mercurial temperament which can turn quite violent and dangerous. Also, within the wild thing clan, there is some inequality and bullying that happens. The characters also worry about the potential end of the world and the helplessness and emptiness it makes them feel. Often they refer to things turning from sand to dust and the sun dying, which was inspired by Max’s real world science teacher. In Max’s real world there is also the drama of his struggling single mother and Max’s lonely childhood. Unfortunately, at the end of the movie, after Max leaves his world for his dreamscape and then leaves his dreamscape to return to his world, none of the conflicts are resolved! The most bullied wild thing continues to be bullied, Carol shows no remorse for his abusiveness, Max’s mother continues to struggle, and there is no apparent solution for Max’s loneliness.

Lacking a traditional linear story line, character development, resolution of conflicts, and lessons to be learned, the story just moves from one wacky, wild adventure to the next, as Max tries to survive the unpredictable wild things. The movie is both dreamy and abrupt, with its ambient music, melancholy ponderings, sudden bursts of energy, and vistas of these wild mascots. On the one hand, this seems like a fresh approach to movie making, but on the other hand, it makes it hard to latch onto anything memorable (besides the stunning images). It was a spectacular thing to watch, if at times a little bumpy and chaotic with all the wild rumpuses going on. All in all, I’m glad I watched it, but the dreaminess of it almost lulled me to sleep, especially with a belly full of complimentary extra rice noodles.

GRE Test Blues

I really dislike standardized tests. There is something undeniably fell about them. Normally, I don’t prepare or strive very much at all for a standardized test. For the SAT and ACT I just went in without preparation. In my mind, I was able to palliate the tests, but still do well enough on them. When I was in high school, WASL was in its testing phase. But, now I must conquer this imbroglio called the GRE! Now I want to not only get into grad school, but get some money from the school I attend. So, I’m really struggling to get all my ducks in a row to be a competitive candidate. I cannot abjure the GRE and gainsay its necessity!

First of all, it’s different from other tests; it is on a computer, so there is no book for scribbles and reading. All the better to jejunely reject! Second, it’s an adaptive test, so if you get a question right, the next question is harder and worth more points. Conversely, getting a wrong answer gives you easier questions worth less points. One of my favorite strategies: skipping and backtracking is extirpated. Also, none of the questions in the quantitative or verbal sections is hard per say, they focus on pretty basic skills and knowledge levels. But, for this reason, they make the test difficult by making the questions confusing and the answers misleading. Consequently, I have been studying test taking strategies for the GRE for probably about a month, rather than excoriating the philosophy behind such a test. Now, I’ve moved on to taking practice CATs (Computer Adaptive Tests) online, and my score is in the gutter. I am feeling contumacious about this anathema!

If I sound bitter, it’s because I am. I have no idea why a graduate school would require this kind of test. I don’t really understand why a graduate school would require an applicant to take a lengthy, costly, computer based, and inconvenient aptitude test. Why?!?!?! Is it not enough that I am submitting a letter of intention, a 15-20 page paper, 3 recommendation letters, along with an academic history? If a school was evaluating my accomplishments, don’t they have enough resources? It seems like a poor score on a GRE would be a captious reason not to accept a candidate.

Even though I hate standardized tests, I can brook their use in a limited scope. They are fast, regulated and efficient. You can gain a lot of empirical data about where a student is in relationship to other students. Also, it can be especially useful when there isn’t a lot of preexisting academic history for a student.

This whole standardized testing business is just a racket. ETS may be a non-profit, but I don’t think I’d be the first person to express my skepticism about their practices and influences. They asseverate that they are non-profit, and for this reason they can avoid certain taxes and regulations. It’s vial that the academic world is held hostage by a group of standardized testing thugs.

Standardized tests put the wrong sort of emphasis on school and ineffectually build (or destroy) a student’s confidence. A standardized test reinforces that academic and intellectual accomplishment is mostly about the right answers. Sure, they throw in analytical essays now, to show creative thought, but mostly, it’s a right or a wrong thing. Furthermore, a student who can do well in a standardized testing environment may descry themselves as intelligent people. This may or may not be the case, but the test only evaluates one type of intelligence. Conversely, a student who struggles and fails may assume that they are bad at school and eventually they might just give up. The fact that I relish learning is no anodyne to this test taking process.

Obstreperous complaints aside, things aren’t so bad. Hopefully, I’ll be reporting next week about a solid score. Regardless, I still have domestic bliss to return to. I share cups of hot cider with my husband, play with the kittens, watch the rain, admire the fall leaves, and today I even saw a hummingbird at rest licking his “lips.” GRE-schmeaRE!




**Plus, I have had the opprotunity to learn cool words like imbroglio and bedizen!

Another harangue of vocabulary: now with kitty pictures

So, OK, forcing all these platitudes and all this inflated diction is kind of ridiculous. This is less than a trenchant use of language. However, it helps me when I peruse the vocabulary words in some sort of context to remember what they mean. For this reason, I will not attempt to rarefy the verbosity of this blog. (and FYI: soon I’ll take the GRE, and we’ll be back to more casual entries)

Meet Cairo and Alexandria. My savage, mercurial, little darlings.



The life of my cats is quite quotidian. But, I imagine the same thing happening every day makes for a halcyon existence for the territorial little beasts. They inveigle my attention at the most inconvenient times, but their trickery does not make me irascible. Cairo especially likes to "help" me study.





I actually enjoy taking breaks from the quiescence of study and spending time with them. Especially after a hard day at work, their perspicacious playfulness is redoubtable.



Additionally, the kitties are inured to my own playful attacks upon them. I try not to be penurious with the time I spend with them. Also, play time is useful because it makes them soporific. A good romp of running and pouncing is ideal before bedtime.



Together, they are truculent and pounce and bite at each other fearlessly. However, with my play-attacks, they are more chary. My attacks are far from pernicious, and generally consist of a surfeit of kisses on their heads and nuzzling in their bellies.



My clinging displays of attention might feel like perfidy for my cats. They are recondite under the bed, I coax them out, and lavish them with attention they might not find particularly emollient. They are the most recalcitrant after I give them a little cat nip and they completely resist me picking them up and teasing them.



I keep my cats indoors and have obviated their need to wander in the neighborhood by opening the deck in order to fill their intransigent need to observe the outdoors. Sometimes cats are so aloof, their momentary affection can seem like spurious attempts for attention or food. They certainly have a great deal of acumen, even my lazy in-door cats, but lovingness is just as endemic to my cats as playfulness I believe.



From my incipient experience with the kittens, I loved them. I enjoy caring for them, feeding them salubrious food so they will grow up strong and healthy, sedulously playing with them every night, and repudiating bad behavior. I try to remain consistent when training my cats so as not to enervate the rules.



I also take care of their hygiene, although Cairo behaves as though getting his nails trimmed was a virulent punishment and Alexandria treats getting brushed with opprobrium. She prefers her own methods of cleanliness.



From their inchoate times in the house, I have socialized them with different people, to avoid implacable feline behavior. I feel like the shyness of Alexandria in particular has been abated.



Neither cat has ever had the disposition to fulminate anyone with hisses, and when jumping and playing they take perfunctory caution to make sure their claws are retracted.



While I have always been an animal lover, I only recently adopted my own pets. Now I have solvent means to support them, as well as a tenable amount of time to nurture them. While I was not penurious before, time and space made me repudiate adopting animals prematurely. I wanted to give proper care to my cats and not be a profligate who takes on more responsiblity than is managable. They were worth the wait!

Malapropism to Volubility

As I prepare for the GRE, I am trying to improve my acumen, especially by integrating new vocabulary words into my speech. While precise language can make conversation more pellucid, sometimes too much prolixity can attenuate communication. So, here goes an experimental blog that might be a bit gauche.


I do feel some diffidence as I apply for graduate school. Studying for the GRE leaves me torpid, but I continue inculcating despite sleepiness, because it’s important for me to be accepted to UW. I have also had to suppliant past employers and professors for letters of recommendation. I have been nonplused by the willingness for them to help me. I hate to say that I expected them to have more cupidity about their free time, but I’m glad that their openness has gainsaid my worries.

The other day I was thinking about some of the philistine people in the world, and how they presumptuously think they are sagacious. They try to disabuse you by telling you what to do with your life, but after such a lecture, I feel more deceived. The words they say is more like effluvia of nonsense. Their temerity and self-righteousness are startling.

I am enjoying my new connubial lifestyle. We have a convivial life, full of comfort and happiness. It took me sometime to winnow my dating choices and finally choose a mate. But, finally I disgorged myself to Robert’s love. Before, my uppity attitude may have gotten me the label of virago, because being a part of my Hungarian family makes it difficult to be phlegmatic. With Robert’s succor, I have found a calm balance in my life.



My parents are both interesting characters. My father, always the raconteur, tells lots of stories and jokes. Sometimes his stories are familiar and proverbial, other times they are just desultory. My mother could be strict and had a collection of sententious phrases to try and motivate me to work hard. While my father can lucubrate and niggle through the smallest details on almost any academic subject, he is far from magniloquent. My mom is a collector of many things, and sometimes we’ve fought over what I’ve considered her fulsome pursuits. My mother has accused me of being overweening. She also enervates my criticism when she brings up my large collection of clothing and shoes.

The Fuchsia Base

So, I'm working on trimming down the budget. This means reducing even my Goodwill and thrift store consumption. Not only is Christmas around the corner, but we're just getting over the wedding and honeymoon costs, plus I'm not working full time and I'm planning on going to grad school next year. Yep, so frugality is especially meaningful these days.

But, what about bedizening the wardrobe?

Well, I came up with a simple plan to mix a lot of the old with a little bit of the new. I went to Target and picked up a pair of bright tights (about $7) and a matching long sleeved shirt (about $6) and created what I call "The Fuchsia Base."

First, I put the base with a casual day time style. I found a flouncy brown skirt, low lace-up boots, and a wool blazer:



(The tights and shirt really do match, my camera is just limited.)

When I picked up the boots in the middle of the summer (Goodwill $5), I was unsure about how to wear them (and with what!) They are definitely funky, and when you pair low boots with a knee-length skirt, you run the risk of making yourself look short and stumpy. However, I think with the whimsical color of the tights, the look is pulled off.




A loose and flowing brown skirt is a must for any wardrobe because it is so versatile, flattering and comfortable. The jacket was another mid-summer Goodwill find for probably $5-6.

It would be easy to expand this look with other shoes, skirts, and coats for traipsing around during the day. Mixing a slightly conservative style with a daring color makes for a unique and eye-catching outfit. So, by spending about $15 or so, I've created several new day time chic outfits. Oo la la.

A few weeks ago I nabbed this vintage Armani pencil skirt at Goodwill for $6. I know we're talking about limiting spending here, but I really couldn't possibly pass this up...




I decided to pair this conservative skirt with a black velvet jacket and open toed heels for an interesting outfit to wear at night out on the town:



Both the blazer and the skirt are vintage, but the shoes are just cheapies from Ross that I've hung onto for a couple of years. Black basics are really good additions to a wardrobe, and they rarely go out of style. Depending on how you pair the black basics, you can create a myriad of looks. I took this outfit out on the town for dinner and a show with my friend. I think the unexpected bright look went along perfectly with our fun night!

Oh, and remember that blue sweater dress?


Although, as you can see I couldn't decide which shoes to pair it with...



The other day I wore this outfit with the blue shoes and got quite a bit of attention. I think wearing bright fuchsia tights with a bright blue sweater dress is bound to catch a few eyes on another dreary northwest day. All the more reason to continue mixing up my old wardrobe with this new fuchsia base!

Two Sweater Dresses

Like I said, I really love the fall. It always seems like a "get started getting serious" season. I suppose it's ingrained in me because school starts in the fall, and with the cold north west weather, the time spent indoors increases.


While I'm trying to get serious about house work, writing more, reading, and graduate school preparation, I also feel my mind wandering to outfits.

For a long time, I've been a fan of chunky sweaters. I like the thick knit patterns, cables, and the hearty textures of the materials. But, sometimes chunky sweaters make you look and feel just that -- chunky. The sweater dress seems like no exception, only you also forgo a pair of cute bottoms to give you some shape.

Well, I picked up a sweater dress at Goodwill in the middle of the summer. ** SIDE NOTE: Goodwill hint for the day: don't be too reluctant to buy out-of-season clothes, that next season is always just around the corner.** It was a cute green knit with a hint of blue in the yarn. I liked the length and the bell sleeves as well. But, it looked kinda frumpy. Hmmm.

So, I took the dress out for a test drive the other day and worked on some accessories to make the look feel more polished and hip. I wore a couple of bangles, big earrings, a thin scarf, nude-stockings, and my old brown boots. Also, not pictured, I wore my hair in a messy, tussled look. And....



Also, on a day when I'd like to feel more cozy, I thought I'd pair it with a shawl I picked up in Argentina.




So, my idea for how to wear a chunky sweater, is to work on the accessories. Add a cute scarf, some snappy jewelry, and kicky shoes to create a cozy, fall look that does not look frumpy (in my opinion). Also, wearing slightly disheveled and loose hair will make it look more casual, comfortable and trendy. (I notice my camera is inadequate the capture the details in the colors, textures, and patterns...curses to inperfections!!)


Let's break down the price:

1. The dress: $6.99
2. The shawl: I can't remember exactly, so let's say, $12
3. The scarf: I found it on the street during a walk (true story!)
3. The bangles: gifted from my mother, but you can pick up bangles for $1 or $2 at Goodwill.
4. The boots: $20 from a thrift store, and I've kept them for over 2 years.

Plus, all I had to do was buy the dress and then use other things I had collected to complete the look. So, when it's all said and done, the outfit costs about $30, but with so many interchangable pieces, it's worth much more!

For this green dress, I plan to accessorize it with browns, greens, oranges, and possibly blues. Contrasting colors add a lot of pizazz to an outfit.




Now, let's move on to the second sweater dress. This was a really pretty blue one and I found it just a few weeks ago at Ross. I really like the cables and the cute side pockets. I paired it with a silk scarf a friend brought me back from China and some simple blue jewelry and...



Also, for a chilly day, I paired it with a thick scarf a friend of mine made for me and wore a long sleeved shirt under.



So, to break down the pricing of this dress:

1. The dress: about $12 at Ross.
2. The scarf and shawl were both gifts
3. The same boots
4. The brown shirt: $3.99 at Goodwill
5. The jewlery: just knick-knacks and gifts

I plan to accessorize this dress with different shades of blue, orange, red, purple, and brown.




Dresses are such fun, easy and versatile pieces in the closet. Sweater dresses especially are comfortable and not constricting around the waist or legs. Assuming someone else would want to try and duplicate these outfits, here are my suggestions:

After you find a sweater dress, look for a few snappy accessories to pair with it. Look for matching and contrasting colors.

Thin and narrow scarves are nice because they don't add a lot of bulk to the outfit. Pairing a jacket or blazer with it can add some color, texture, and some shape to your outfit.

This doesn't work for me, but putting a thick belt around the waist can also help define your shape.

Adding a pair of classic shoes and a sensible matching purse completes the look. Now that I have a few good sweater dresses and some ideas on how to accessorize them, I can't wait for the cold weather!

Fall fashion

Fashion week and fall are upon us, and the wheels in my head are turning!

But, no, it's not because of exciting things happening in New York. So far the style trends seem terrible! Just look at this or this. It looks like Molly Ringwald's vomit dug up from 1986! Not all advice is ridiculous, this page has some reasonable ideas. I like sweater dresses and layering.

Whenever I feel in a fashion rut, I'll scope out Nordstrom's website to see what they're pushing. I very rarely buy anything from there, but it gives me ideas for what to look for at Ross and Goodwill. Hmmm...

Even though it's a tad frivolous, I love thinking about outfits and accessories. Fall is my favorite season, because I pull out all my colorful scarves and mittens! Adding a scarf to an old outfit makes it feel new again!

I want to re-vamp my wardrobe a little bit. Even though I shop at Goodwill, I can't afford to do a complete re-do. Plus, I don't have that kind of time right now. PLUS, I'm a shameless pack-rat as anyone can tell you, so purging a wardrobe isn't something I'm inclined to do. So, my strategy will be to invest in a few new base outfits and accessories, then I can pair them with some of my old things and voila...more on this to come.

Here is how I've thought about organizing my wardrobe for the past while:

First, I keep a lot of accessories on hand to mix and match with different outfits. I love my collection of scarves in varieties of colors. They are great accessories that can really change an outfit. Also, I very, very rarely throw out a piece of jewelry. My outfit might feel a little boring until I throw on a few bangles and dangling earrings. Neither scarves nor jewelry take up much space, and you might discover that the weird bracelet your mother gave you, that goes with nothing, is completely fabulous and goes with everything! Accessories can also add uniqueness and personality to your outfits. They can be a great conversation starter too: Oh this? My friend brought it back for me from her trip abroad...I picked these earrings up at a flea market in Ballard from this funny, old lady...that sort of thing.

Second, I try to keep an open mind at Goodwill and look for things that I like, things that are different and things that are classic. For example, I like colors, so I always look for colorful clothes. I also like looking for unique things and vintage things. But, it's important to stock your closet with some classic and simple items such as basic tees, an easy a-line skirt, a stunning pencil skirt, good jeans, some blacks, browns and whites, etc. I try not to worry about buying things out of season; some of my best winter clothes were bought in the middle of summer! If I like it, there's a good chance I'll find a use for it, even if I don't use it right away. (Although, maybe that's just pack-rat mentality.)

Third and final, I try to do things my way, even if it's a little different. Sometimes following the fashion experts or the newest trends can be a let down (see above). I would suggest to anyone that instead of trusting the experts, trust yourself. It might sound trite, but confidence is the best accessory.

So, I'm looking forward to the season of back to school clothes, rusty colored leaves, chilly mornings and cozy evenings. I'm also looking forward to settling back into my domestic bliss and attending to some chores and hobbies that fell by the way side in lieu of the wedding.

Wedding Reflections and Advice

It is done. We are married and the whirlwind is calming down as we return to our more normal and relaxed routines. I'm slowly trying to process all the things that have happened now and reflect back on the past weeks that have led to me being a wife.

I'm incredibly happy with the wedding ceremony and reception. Like I've told many people, I was not one of those girls who dreamed of my perfect wedding; in fact, for many years, I was fairly convinced that I would never get married. Despite not having a clear vision of my expectations for the celebration, it was without a doubt one of the happiest and proudest days of my life. I was thrilled to see so many of our friends and family come together and put in their time and energy to make our day very special. They helped to decorate and set up, wore their best clothes, danced and laughed with us, all in order to help make our day special. Remembering the day gives me a feeling of love and gratitude that I will never forget.

Not only did most things go right, but very few things went wrong!

While catastrophes were averted, small annoying snafus snuck in. Mostly these were small forgotten details. For example, I had gotten dove chocolates wrapped in blue and gold foil for the tables that I forgot at home. The programs weren't handed out at the beginning. Oh and we forgot about the guest book which was buried in a box. For the music, my zune's (mp3 player) music didn't sync properly, so I was the improv dj along with a few other guests for the evening. Some people tripped and fell on the stairs outside while leaving the party because it was so dark. The seating got a little mixed up because the place insisted we have a head table. The cake ran out, despite ordering extra servings. I might send a few grumpy emails concerning the last few three things, but otherwise I think we all came together and did a bang up job!

Robert and I had our honeymoon in Jamaica the week following the wedding, and now are spending labor day weekend tidying up things. We have sorted out our gifts and are starting to work on the thank you cards.

So, if someone came to me and asked how they were going to plan their wedding, this is what I would say to them:

Number 1: Make lists

Make a solid to do list at the beginning of planning and try to organize it chronologically. Set some general deadlines to keep yourself on track. You will likely continually add to this list as the wedding gets closer. There are several online tools that can help you manage the list, but I prefer the good old legal pad and pen style. Also, I've noticed that a lot of people like to blog about planning their wedding, so that's another good resource.

Make a day-of-the-wedding to do list and agenda for yourself and all the people helping you that day. This way, the small things won't be so easily forgotten.

2. Don't be afraid to ask for help

I would generally suggest to someone that if something is really important to you, and you have a very specific way you want something done, do it yourself. For anything else, delegate! I would also advise not to have too many things that you have to have done a certain way or you will freak out -- flexibility is the key here.

Also, while I suggest you don't plan it alone, I don't necessarily advocate hiring expensive professionals for everything. Maybe my friends and family would disagree, but I feel that one of the greatest aspects of my wedding was the cooperative effort that made it possible. We asked several friends and family members to help us with things, including but not limited to:

a. My friend who is great at interior decorating was in charge of the decorations.
b. My sister helped me with hair, jewelry, and make up.

c. My husband's sister took the video.

d. My sister's partner was the officiant.

etc, etc...too many to name!

So, we were able to tap into the talents and abilities of our friends and family to make the wedding personal, and also to involve people in the event. These favors require a lot of time and energy of your guests, so make sure to give lots of thanks and find thoughtful ways to show your appreciation before, during, and after the big day.

Also, I think sometimes the burden of a wedding comes down heavily on the bride's shoulders. I think it's important to keep the groom involved in as many decisions as possible. Also, it's nice to let the groom make some decisions on his own. This way the couple shares the responsibilities of making the wedding happen.

3. Keep the guest count as small as possible

Some people may disagree with me here. I imagine big weddings can be a lot of fun; also, with big families, big weddings may be unavoidable. For our wedding, we invited just close friends and family members, which came to about 60 guests. Our ceremony and reception lasted approximately 4 hours. Robert and I were able to spend individual time with our guests and enjoy ourselves. If we had invited many more people though, it would have been more difficult to spend time with and enjoy the company of our guests.

4. Show appreciation and don't focus on the negative

Things will go wrong, so don't sweat it. Just do your best to make sure the big things don't go wrong and keep your wits and sense of humor about you.

5. Be thrifty but willing to splurge on a few things

Weddings are costly affairs, even for the thriftiest people. Pick and choose where you cut corners on costs, but don't be too afraid to splurge. This is a special occasion and (in theory) a once in a life time event. This was a lesson a spend-thrift like me had to learn and re-learn: don't be cheap!

No!

Robert and I splurged heavily on: the location, the photographer, and the honeymoon. We would have splurged more on the food and cake, but we found a great caterer with very reasonable prices. Food is important though -- make sure your guests are going to eat well! We cut back heavily on: the dress, the tux, and the decorations. I bought my dress on craig's list, he rented a basic tux from The Men's Warehouse (although I do not recommend the company because they're pretty lackadaisical) and a bride's maid and I got the center piece flowers at the farmer's market and the vases and candle holders at Goodwill.

Your wedding doesn't have to be grandiose to impress your guests and make them happy. Keeping things friendly, fun, and down to earth is good enough to ensure everyone has a nice time!

If Only They Sold Flower Bouquets at Goodwill

I continue to pick away at my wedding to do list with good ol' Robbie. After some difficult deliberation, Robert and I selected a photographer. Picking out a photographer was difficult, because of the wide array of choices in the Seattle area. I narrowed down some general internet searching into a dozen or so photographers, which Robert and I widdled down to four, which we emailed. Two replied, so we set up meetings with them. Both of these guys were excellent choices, and we then had difficulty narrowing it down further between the two of them. One of them seemed very traditional and in control of his craft, the other was a little more adventurous and open-minded. We discussed it with our friends and family, and it was finally Robert’s sister who pushed us to make a final decision with her savvy artistic perspective. Phew, one more thing off the list!

Also, we picked our caterer a few weeks ago. At first I didn't even want to contact Susan Magan. On the preferred caterer list for Clise Mansion, all that was listed for her was a phone number. I thought: Oh great, probably an older woman who refuses to use the internet. On what was more or less a whim, (I had another caterer in mind) we contacted her and she invited us into her home in North Kirkland. What a great decision this turned out to be! She’s this wonderful retired school teacher who does catering in her spare time. She sat us down and described scrumptious meal options, complete with antipasto tray, fruit tray, and several appetizer options. Our guests are in for a treat! Robert and I are also very lucky, because this deluxe spread is less than any of the other caterers' minimal packages. She also had some helpful recommendations, and it’s through her that we met our fabulous cake decorator, Ginny McGavin. Ginny doesn't have a website, but she does thankfully use email. It has been a lot of fun for Robert and I to meet these quirky old ladies and listen to their stories. If I had to give any advice to a bride at this point, it would be: meet a nice old lady who knows other nice old ladies. They have reasonable prices, and it seems like they take pride in giving their products homey and personal touches. I think we will host some very tasty and special wedding refreshments.


I may not be able to get nice flowers at Goodwill, but luckily I have a few nice old lady recommendations, which is pretty much the next best thing. I met with one florist so far, (not a nice old lady recommendation) and I was discouraged by the high prices. I’m not going to have a lot of professionally decorated flowers at my wedding, but I really didn’t think the price would creep so high. At that rate, I might decide on making the bouquets on Saturday afternoon with the BMs and GMs (bride's maid's and groom's men). That's only a partial joke. I still want to interview 2 more florists, so hopefully we can come to a better bargain. I also might bust out my bartering skills if all else fails.

In other wedding news, Robert and I are working on our bridal registry. This is hard work and is taking more time than we bargained for. Sometimes I think it'd be easier to just receive money as a wedding gift, as is the tradition in other cultures. Regardless of how you chose to do it, it's very easy to spend a lot of money when planning for a wedding. Whether you're the bride, groom, family, guests of friends, it's kind of scandalous how many people are vying to get a piece of you. Weddings are a huge business these days, and there are a plethora of options and pretty steep competition in the industry. What sometimes shocks me is, considering all the time and expenses we are incurring, our wedding represents a rather low-key affair. Yeowza.

Lazy Lady!

So, I haven't been up to speed on my postings. I've been very tired and very busy with wedding planning, Goodwill hunting, kitten scolding, meal prepping, and house cleaning to prepare for the future in-laws.

To tell you the truth, I am beat and not fit to write out a blog. I have stuff to clean and chicken to marinate! Hooooo-doggies, domestic bliss can sure get a girl yawning early on a Saturday night.

My fiance's mother and sister are staying with us for about a week. In order to prepare for their visit, I cleaned and organized our place to the best of my ability. I take a lot of pride in hospitality and I wanted to make sure they both felt comfortable and welcome. We've spent their vacation here by eating out, playing with kittens, walking around Kirkland, and even going to Fremont for the Solstice Parade. It has definitely been a full week. Plus, tomorrow my parents will be coming for a brief visit, and we'll host a family bbq -- hence the marinating and cleaning duties that await me tonight.

Goodwill Score!

So, I went to the *big* Goodwill today to scout out some vases and tea light candle holders. I wasn't expecting much. Sometimes you can really strike out if you go to Goodwill with a shopping list.

So, imagine my surprise when I found 8 matching vases in a style I thought would be appropriate for the table center pieces. I also found a few other slightly different ones for using at the bridal party table or on the mantle or at the buffet table. Also, I saw these sweet little sherbet cups. I thought they'd be very cute with little tea light candles sitting in them. Plus, as an added bonus, I could use them after the reception. However, I thought: there's no way I'm going to find enough of these to make it worth my while. I was digging through the shelves, and a nice woman found me and asked: is this the style of cup you're looking for? Eeee!! It was!! Another woman joined us on the hunt and we found 15! For the photo I added a few river rocks from one of Robert's old disassembled fountains. I think for the main event, I'll go to the local craft store and look for some pretty blue glass to put in the cups.

I was pretty pleased with myself. That was a pretty productive Goodwill outing.

Now, some of my readers (yes, both of you) might be worrying that the only thing I think about is this wedding. Well, I will try and write a few different posts in the coming week just to mix it up. Stay tuned.

Photographer??????

I set out this morning to research photographers in the area. It is an overwhelming task! There are so many different photographers, packages, etc. I barely know where to start.

Right now I'm just scanning google, craig's list, yelp, a grand wedding, and Seattle Bride's website. It's terribly difficult to narrow all these things down! I will let you know how I get through this photography debacle.

I'm yawning and getting bleary eyed. I might need to step away from the computer for a while.

The Dress!

This past Sunday I finally got the dress! It was actually a fairly easy and entertaining process for me. I looked around to get a feel for what brand-new dresses cost ($600 and up, more or less) and then scanned the Craig's List clothes section for wedding dresses under $300. I also perused several different second hand stores, but decided that I stood a better chance of nabbing a deal on Craig's List.

Towards the middle of my searching process, I figured out what I wanted: a fancy wedding dress with a train, white and with some embellishment (in other words, not too plain and simple: lace, embroidery, beading or something similar would do), and a corset lace-up in the back. This last feature was important to me so I wouldn't have to worry about any drastic alterations; the dress would just need to be sinched up appropriately in the back. The list of what I didn't want (princess waistline, poofy sleeves, big poofy skirt, two piece, etc) helped eliminate many dresses on Craig's List.

Now, picking a dress from Craig's List isn't easy, per say. It took a several days of scanning dresses, comparing measurements and sizing charts, and trying to imagine what would be best. In the end, I met one person, tried on one dress and besides being a few inches too long, it fit perfectly and was comfortable and beautiful. She also threw in a veil and knocked $50 off the price due to the hemming alterations I would need. I bought the dress, had teriyaki chicken for lunch with my attendant bride's maid, and made it to a movie later that afternoon.

Also, a few days ago when I was at Goodwill, I found a simple pair of white sandals: comfortable, apparently un-used, small heel, and only $3.

Dress: check.
Veil: check.
Shoes: check.

Sorry, no wedding dress pictures on the blog, you all have to wait and see.

The wedding to-do list continues, and this week I'm trying to figure out what to do about a photographer and caterer. The fact that it's terribly stuffy and hot at home, really drains my wedding research tenacity. But somehow, I persevere.

Today at work I told one of my coworkers that I've been frazzled because I've been planning a wedding and he says, "Oh wow, that's exciting!" Oh yeah! It is very exciting...in the midst of all the planning, to do lists, and organizing, it had slipped my mind that this is exciting. Very exciting!

Squeezing that Penny 'til Lincoln Says Ouchie!

At times, I can sometimes cross the line from being thrifty to being downright cheap. Planning a wedding is really challenging my ability to spend great deals of money on fancy things.

So, it was a real debacle when it came to choosing a venue for our ceremony and reception. Talk about some expensive rental fees! As Robert and I got more and more embroiled in wedding planning, I found myself getting increasingly annoyed. Why does everyone want a piece of me? Why do so many people strive to get their hands on my time and money just because I'm getting married? What's the deal with weddings costing so much????

We looked at several places. I made lists of pros and cons. We took all the costs of the various reception places and tallied them up. This wedding is a big investment, so I want to make sure we get our money's worth!

We finally settled on Clise Mansion last week. It had everything we wanted in a wedding reception location: outdoor garden for the ceremony, indoor option in case it rains, peaceful location in a park, nearby our place, and it seemed rather affordable. Unfortunately, after going to sign the contract, we were stunned that the invoice looked a lot higher than we had anticipated. To their credit, the people at Clise Mansion were trying to be nice to us and show the highest possible cost for the reception -- including their house wine, champagne, and additional set up and clean up services that we might not need. It was these costs that made me want to flee in panic, tail between legs.

We had our prefered date held while we mulled over the costs and benefits of Clise. We continued looking into other options. Nothing seemed to fit our needs correctly, no matter how I crunched the numbers and tried to use my imagination for how we could make less more. Finally, after an agonizing Memorial Day weekend, we reverted back to preferring Clise Mansion. We decided the price was fair (by comparison) and now are in the process of the contract and cutting the check. (this process should be completed tomorrow)

So now, after so much work, we have our date: August 23, 2009. About *bleeping* time, huh?

Now, to re-assume my money-saving passions, I'm looking to cut costs elsewhere in the wedding process. I'm looking for an inexpensive wedding dress on Craig's List; we're using an mp3 player as opposed to a band; for the table center pieces, I'll look for seasonal flowers from the market instead of a lot of individual florist creations. Also, to continue with my list-making-mania, I have an ever-growing wedding to do list, in approximate chronological order no less. If you ever want to feel your head spin, I'll let you take a look.

My mom somewhat disapproves of these money-saving techniques. They're unromantic maybe. She is very excited about the wedding and thrills over discussing the traditions, options, and details. But, I'm very excited to have money left over for the honeymoon and eating during our first married year together.

Nesting Instinct

A few months have passed since my last blog ended with my return from Argentina to the US. I meant to keep blogging even after I returned, but I came back to the states aimless and lazy.

Then, things started getting busy in my head. I was nesting!

I wanted to nestle myself into Robert's apartment and make it our apartment. So, I began to decorate here and there. When the weather improved, I started a small garden on the deck. Just last weekend, I expanded our family by getting kittens! Things have actually been blissful in this domestic world.

Usually the workaholic, I'm happy only working parttime and then returning to domestic bliss: my kittens, my plants, my small chores, my hobbies.

My friend came up with the perfect blogging title, so I took her suggestion and am starting a new blog all about my domestic bliss! In this blog, I hope to discuss all my little pet projects, thoughts, amusements, and so on. I might rant and rave about movies, ruminate over wedding planning, discuss my cute kittens endlessly, or discuss my thriftstore hunting in way too much detail. Really, it's pretty up in the air and experimental!

Welcome to my new blog!