Sightseeing Sundays: Chicago's Most Important Must-See

I just returned from a wonderful girls' weekend in Chicago and am utterly exhausted, but I wanted to tell you about one "must-do." I will write and share a full article about how to have a great girls' weekend in Chicago soon :)

For me, the must-do is driving to the Museum Mile and getting the best view of the city in front of the Chicago Adler Planetarium. I am obsessed with experiencing the best view of whatever city I am visiting, and while sometimes this means getting vertical, in Chicago it means getting some distance from the Navy Pier, the marinas, and the skyline in order to see it all in one grand panoramic view.

Breathtaking and quintessentially Chicago with views of the grand architecture, the gorgeous blue lake shoreline, the active Chicago Riverwalk, and the throwback pier where everyone is out and about enjoying Chicago dogs, pizza, beer, and old-school fair rides.

Perfect photo op, and perfect way to start or end your Chicago visit.

Soul Saturdays: My Beef with the American Dream

The American Dream "unofficial" definition: "A big house with a white picket fence, mom, dad, 2.5 kids, nice cars, a dog, a cat and two weeks’ vacation every year."

I have a major beef with the outdated concept of this American Dream, and here is just a brief list of reasons why based on what it encourages:

1) The keeping-up-with-the-Joneses mentality

2) Evil, brilliant marketing

3) A standard of success that everyone is compared to

4) DIScourages individuality

5) Consumerism (tied to the evil marketing)

6) The (often miserable) 9-to-5 lifestyle

7) DIScourages creative careers

8) Makes you think you should buy a house when maybe you really shouldn't

9) Creates a countdown to retirement mentality

10) Creates a false sense of hope that if you do everything "right," you will be rewarded

I am really interested in this topic and would love to hear your thoughts and comments, especially your own struggles or successes in relation with the American Dream concept.

Fiction Fridays: Something Blue

Last weekend I read the follow-up to Something Borrowed (read that review post first if you haven't yet) called Something Blue by Emily Giffin. Giffin takes an interesting approach to a sequel by jumping from the fiance-stealing (or rightfully recapturing?) best friend to the betrayed best friend. This book picks up where the last book left off, providing a few flashbacks to flesh out a few moments from the first novel.

I thought this book tied in seamlessly with the previous book, and it explores the "turning 30 life crisis" that seems to be a second coming-of-age for many adults. Darcy always flitted through life on her good looks and charm instead of worrying about her substance or morals. She wasn't a bad person necessarily, just a selfish, priveleged woman who was superfical and demanding. Not a treat by any means, but at the same time, not evil at her core.

Something Blue documents Darcy's struggle to become a better person after her life collapses around her. It takes an elementary school friend, Ethan, to tell her all her flaws and actually convince her to work on improving herself. He doesn't put up with her usual games and wiles, so she is forced to examine herself and figure out what she really wants in life.

What I enjoyed most about both of these books is that the main characters in each both realize that just because they have been on a certain path for so long doesn't mean that they have to stay on that path or continue being a boxed-in definition of themselves. They grow into stronger, better versions of themselves because they stop and take stock of their behaviors and desires--something we can all emulate.

Tune Thursdays: Melvin Dean of Steel the Show

"Music Matters" July 28, 2011: You Can Count on Melvin Dean to Steel the Show (with Steel drums!)

Writer Wednesdays: My First Guest Post for Stacey Curnow!

Fearing Mediocrity: Guest Post for Stacey Curnow of Midwife for Your Life

We are all aware of the fear of failure. This fear can be paralyzing, whispering to you not to take that chance, begging you to not quit your day job, and playing out worse case scenarios in your head over and over. But I want to talk about a different kind of fear—the Fear of Mediocrity.

To read the rest of this blog post, please visit: http://www.staceycurnow.com/blog/2011/07/fearing-mediocrity/

Please read and share! This is my first guest post EVER, and I am very, very excited about this opportunity!!! Thank you Stacey!

Taste Tuesdays: Couscous-stuffed Green Peppers and Tzatziki-topped Burgers

Monday nights we are going to try out new recipes so I can share them on Tuesdays with you. Mondays are kind of a blah day, so why not have something to look forward to by cooking up a nice meal with your significant other, friends, or just for you because you deserve it? Nothing like sparking a little creativity by whipping up a yummy, easy meal.

This meal is easy, light, and perfect for summer. It also takes things we are used to eating (turker burgers and green peppers) and spins them in a new way.

For peppers:

Ingredients:
Two whole green peppers, tops cuts off and deseeded

1/2 cup cooked couscous

1/2 cup pine nuts, roasted

3 oz. cooked smoked summer sausage

2 oz. parmasean cheese

2 tsp. Garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roast pine nuts for 7 minutes, stirring frequently. Cook couscous as directed. Combine all ingredients together and stir. Place cored green peppers on a baking sheet and fill with the couscous mixture, then back in the oven for 20 minutes.

For Tzatziki burger topping (we used turkey burgers cooked in a skillet with a little garlic, salt, pepper, and basil on each side):

Ingredients:

3/4 grated, seedless cucumber

6 oz. Greek yougurt

2 tsp. garlic powder

3 tsp. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. black peppper

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly.

Movie Mondays: The Adjustment Bureau

This movie seemed to fly under the radar a bit, and after watching it this weekend, I am not sure why because I thought it was original and thought-provoking (maybe that was the problem?).

It was created by first-time writer/director George Nolfi and deals with the concept of free will versus fate. The adjustment bureau, aka angel-like men in bowler hats, keep people on the path that "The Chairmen," aka a God-like figure, wants them to be on.

The Adjustment Bureau raises the same questions as the Matrix, or Bruce Almighty, suggesting one of our main concerns is being uncomfortable with the idea that the choices we make are not our own, and that the life we are supposed to live is already laid out for us. This concept is needless to say disturbing and makes the main character, Senator David Norris played by Matt Damon, feel insignificant.

This movie raises some of the most perplexing questions about life that exist: What if we really don't have free will? If God already has our life mapped out for us, what is the point of trying? Why do decisions, especially big decisions about our careers, love life, etc. feel so looming if the end result has already been decided? What if you don't like the path that has been laid out for you?

Nolfi grapples with these questions and even tackles how love fits into all of this heavy stuff. Is love more important than anything else? Do we have a soul mate? Who would you be if you stayed single? Who would you be if you were with someone other than your current mate? What about the one that got away? All of these questions come to the forefront as well.

Besides bringing up these essence of existence questions, Nolfi also comes up with an original concept about how to have these "angels" move about. They don't fly, they don't disappear, and they don't fall from heaven and become human. They are regular guys who use regular doors to transport from one real location to another real location in the same city--in this case, New York City. It makes for some cool visual effects and adds to the confusion and uncertainty that we all feel about life at some point (or most of the time, if we are being completely honest).

I won't say anymore except that Matt Damon and Emily Blunt have excellent chemistry and make you root for them. Watch it if you haven't and then come back and comment about what you thought!

Sightseeing Sundays: Alaskan Cruise

Alaska is a must-see for everyone. Before you balk and think that it is just too darn cold, hear me out. I have gone twice, once in September when I wore long-sleeved t-shirts an jeans, and the other time in July, when I wore the same and some days my winter jacket. The weather is mild if you go in non-winter, and the cold is crisp, not damp.
I love Alaska because it is unlike any other place I have ever been. The glaciers, the expansive landscape, and best of all, the wildlife EVERYWHERE. We saw bald eagles, humpback whales, blue wales, (my dad saw an Orca, but we missed it), bears, sea otters, porpoises, and a moose! They were all roaming around freely, definitely making
Alaska live up to its nickname of "The Last Great Frontier."

Being there, you get the sense that (most of) Alaska has always looked like it does from the beginning of time. It feels less disturbed, more peaceful, and more natural--undisturbed by humankind. This concept alone took my breath away.

For most cruises, I would say that the balcony may not be worth the extra money. However, for an Alaskan cruise, definitely splurge for a balcony room. You will see more whales, more glaciers, and more icebergs with a balcony. We would sit for hours and one day were lucky enough to watch a baby whale play for about an hour alongside our cruiseship. It was definitely one of the biggest wow moments of my life.

My other favorite activity was an excursion on a smaller boat to get an upclose view of the glaciers. It was sad to see how quickly they were breaking off and crashing into the ocean, and the guide confirmed that they were deteriorating at a more rapid pace than ever before. Seeing this and the rest of the untouched beauty in Alaska definitely made me want to be more environmentally friendly and encourage others to be too.

You gain a deeper appreciation of nature, beauty, and wildlife by visiting Alaska. You also gain peace and clarity because everything is just so wide open. Oh, and if you aren't a fan of the fancy, sit-down cruises, try Norwegian Cruiseline (who we used). They have what they call "freestyle cruising" which means no black-tie, no assigned seats. Instead, you can make reservations to be seated when you want instead of a set time like many other cruiselines. Also, make sure to pack lots of layers :)

Soul Saturdays: Pushover or Nice Person?

Yesterday, I went to a new book club and we discussed Something Borrowed. The question arose, "Are you a Rachel or a Darcy?" Rachel is the (usually) faithful sidekick, shy, lacking self-confidence, and always self-sabotaging herself. Darcy is the perpetual lucky girl--popular, confident, and even as a freshman in high school, she could make a senior tremble.

On paper, there are more admirable qualities about Darcy than Rachel. Darcy goes after what she wants. Darcy doesn't get pushed around. Darcy is spontaneous, fun, and high energy. Most people, if they were being completely honest with themselves, would probably pick to be more like Darcy than Rachel on a sliding scale.

However, more people empathized with Rachel. She is the loyal friend who lets her friend shine brighter than her and is always supportive and understanding. She forgives easily, lets Darcy get away with snide, hurtful, and manipulative behavior, and quietly carries the burden of maintaining the friendship on her shoulders. She isn't as obviously pretty as Darcy, so she worked harder in school and becomes a successful lawyer. Yet, the reality is that Rachel is weak, and being weak leads her to being unhappy and in a very compromising situation.

This discussion led to everyone proclaiming if they were more of a Rachel or Darcy. Are you nice or selfish? Pushover or doing the pushing? And does it have to be so black and white?

My Darcy qualities are liking to be the center of attention, being loud and spontaneous, and having an outer confidence (but still having plenty of inner doubts!). However, I guess I have been and still am sometimes too much of a pushover. I smile and allow snide comments to slide pass because I don't feel like drawing attention to my hurt feelings and just chide myself that I am being sensitive.

I also have trouble telling a friend when they are being an idiot because I try to follow the philosophy that they are a grown-up and can make their own decisions--sort of relating to the idea of 4 Life Perspectives--people are not victims that I need to save. Does this make me a pushover? Weak? A bad friend? Dishonest? I'm not sure.

I think we all are aware of our flaws and don't typically need others to point them out to us (of course, there are always exceptions when people literally don't see themselves for who they really are, but do you want to be friends with someone lacking that much self-awareness anyway?).

The reality is, people are going to do what they want, so it is probably a waste of breath to try and give them perspective. However, I do think that good friends should always be cheerleaders for each other, pushing each other to try new things, go after that promotion, or leap into their dream job.

I guess that is the difference between telling someone what they should do and encouraging them to do what you know they already want to do but just need a nudge. Ideally no one in a relationship is either the passive Rachel or the assertive Darcy. Hopefully we can each nurtue the best of each to become the strongest, yet still kind, thoughtful, and supportive, version of ourselves.

So who are you, a Rachel or Darcy? How about your friends? Most importantly, Who do you WANT to be? 

Fiction Fridays: The Girls' Guide to Homelessness

The economy sucks (duh!). Here is Brianna Karp, a young woman with an education, work ethic, and who had actually loved her job that gets fired and as a result, becomes homeless in 2008. She wasn't there just biding time while waiting to pursue her real passion, counting down the minutes until quitting time. She had actually relished her 9-to-5 and enjoyed her Human Resources duties for Kelley Blue Book.

Yet, the terrible economy led to Kelley Blue Book firing over half of their employees, and Brianna was one of those layoffs. Combine her job woes with a bat-shit crazy family and you have a recipe for homelessness for this 23-year-old.

(Side note: Think The Glass Castle by Jeanne Wells and you are on the right track. If you haven't read it, do so immediately. It, like The Girls' Guide to Homelessness, will both make you upon finishing quickly call the people that have actually been good to you in your life. You will want to thank them).

The bravery, honesty, and above all, quirky sense of humor displayed in this heart-wrenching yet uplifting book will grab you. You want to be friends with Brianna, and you want to go volunteer at your local soup kitchen, stat.

This book will literally alter your knee-jerk reaction to homeless people you see and look beyond their outer layer and actually empathize with their situation. This lesson alone is worth reading the book, but there are countless other ways that she will alter the way you view the world. And isn't that the point of reading? Expanding your horizons, learning new lessons, and understanding the world a little more clearly?

The truth is, as Brianna emphasizes, why the heck would anyone intentionally decide to be homeless? Only dire circumstances or mental instability would lead to a life of homelessness (except for those nonconformist extremes like Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild).

This story will touch you and stop any self-pity you might be indulging in at the moment. Most of us haven't had it as bad as Brianna, and hopefully we never will. But, listening to her story will make you question the American Dream and the dogged way in which we are conditioned to pursue it. She did everything right after graduating high school and still ended up parked in a Walmart parking lot.

Her story reiterates that you can find like-minded people even if your backgrounds, careers, hardships, etc. are completely different. Like Brianna, my dream show to be interviewed on one day would be The Daily Show. I also love Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And I agree 100% with her view that "Americans have now collectively watched the fabled American Dream crumble around our ears." We all have to change our focus, goals and mindsets from collecting "stuff" and instead try to make the world a better place. We can find ways to connect with others, and we are all in this fight together.

This book will also make you question doing things society's scripted "right way" aka the American Dream and focus on doing things your way instead. It will also encourage you to follow your dreams, the path that's best for you, and don't waste time feeling sorry for yourself and having a victim mentality.

Her main messages? Do what you need to do to get where you want to be. Keep fighting and good things will happen. Contemplate the worst case scenario, but don't let it paralyze you. And ultimately, if she can survive homelessness, you can survive your struggles too.

Tune Thursdays: Transcendental Swing

THE BAND: Transcendental Swing: Next Generation Jazz

ABOUT: This jazz trio’s two-part name holds separate significance; Robin Sherman, bassist,explains the first half: “Transcendental” because they aim to create a “transformative, spiritual experience  for ourselves and the audience.” Brendan Polk, piano, adds that “Swing” was included because “we want our performance to be rooted in swing, the driving rhythmic force of jazz. "Swing" has  its roots all the way back to the music of Africa before it was colonized.”

This tribute to ancient African jazz roots creates layered, soulful songs that may make your soul ache but your feet tap. The trio is rounded out by Ryan Burd on drums. Tracing back their own roots to jazz, Robin remembers first connecting with “A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane: “ I was maybe twelve or thirteen, and had grown up listening to mostly rock music. I immediately connected with the almost reckless intensity of Coltrane's playing, even though what was being played was way over my head. At the time I had no idea that I would become a jazz musician.”

At around the same age, Brendan was listening to Erroll Garner because “the sheer joy and musicality that was being conveyed convinced me that playing jazz was what I wanted to do.” Ryan started enjoying jazz at an even younger age, when he was about 8, because he “was exposed very early to great swing drummers like Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa before I even knew of any other players.” Soon after these interests were sparked, Brendan and Robin met in Jazz Band at Savannah Arts Academy, then Robin and Ryan met at Armstrong Atlantic State University.

However, the threesome didn’t begin performing together until last summer, and they all agree they had instant chemistry. Each still in college, they hope to encourage more people young and old to embrace the classic jazz masters like Duke Ellington and Miles Davis as well as take notice of the current frontrunners like Joshua Redman and Marcus Roberts. When asked what they think are the biggest misconceptions about jazz, Robin recalls a recent conversations with a few strangers about jazz and concluded, “Many of them were familiar mostly with smooth jazz like Kenny G, and while a very popular genre, is generally very adulterated and commercialized, and lacks the profundity, earthiness, and sophistication of the jazz music that I love.”

Brendan added, “People think of kind of cute and sexy music with women dancing in sparkling dresses...but if one listens to a wide variety of jazz, they can see that jazz can encompass a wide range of phenomenon's and emotions. For instance, the light, clear and joyful mood of Oscar Peterson's music is much different than the intense, and abstract mood of much of Sun Ra's music.” Ryan clarifies that so many people act like jazz is “old...but Jazz is pretty young.  It's roots go back pretty far but the art form itself is still in it's infancy.”

In line with helping spread the love of jazz, the trio hopes that the show at Sentient Bean is just the first of a regular jazz night at the Sentient Bean. Robin explains, “I hope that a local jazz musician will be open to possibly running it, only because the three of us are going to college in a couple weeks. It would make me very happy if Jazz Night ended up being a well-loved tradition in Savannah; this is the beginning.”

They urge everyone to come out and support the show and promise to make it worth your while, with Brendan explaining that the first set will be “a fun show, with lots of interaction between the band. They can expect to hear music that will be kind of a creative dance between the three musicians playing...and it will become a bigger dance in the jam session!” Robin hints, “Some local jazz legends are rumored to appear for the second set!” Sounds like a recipe for an epic evening of music that you don’t want to miss.  

SAMPLE SONGS: “Panamanian Ape,” "Guacamole,” “New York Streets”

Writer Wednesdays: Alexis Grant

So I found another great blog that I wanted to share. It's written by Alexis Grant, an amazing young writer who took the leap and traveled to Africa for 6 months which launched a book, blog, and brand. She encourages people to not only travel, but stop trying to chase the American Dream.

She is against owning a home in your 20s and 30s, doesn't agree with the 9-to-5 mentality of our country, and doesn't want to wait until retirement to travel the world. She knows what she wants, and she goes after it. Her priorities are traveling, writing, reading, and inspiring others while offering a supportive voice.

I am in awe of her chutzpah (in the highest form of praise). I imagine it can't be easy to be a strong, independent woman who adamantly voices against people living their lives based on a predescribed ideal of what success and happiness mean. I know I have had people balk at my husband and I's decision to quit both of our jobs and start writing full-time.

Alexis blog suggests everyone to be bold. Dream big, then go after those dreams. Take that vacation even if you think you can't afford it. The truth is, you can't afford not to. Money will always be tight, but it's all about priorities. Shop or eat out less. Don't splurge on stuff--spend on experiences.  Don't just do something because it's what everyone else does.

And read Alexis Grant's blog, The Traveling Writer, to inspire you along the way and hold you accountable to your goals. Treat her blog as a frequent reminder of what you want out of life, and then figure out how to create that life for yourself.

Don't waste another day living in unhappiness. Life, as we all know good and well, is just too short.

Taste Tuesdays: Porter and Grown-up Cheerio Treats

Last week Moon River Brewing's Assistant Brewer Jamee Parsons held the second monthly Women's Beer Tasting, and this night out one of the beer and food pairings combined their coffee-inspired stout and a grown-up's version of the Rice Krispy Treat.

Ingredients Needed:

1/2 box peanut butter captain crunch
1/2 box honey nut cheerios
1 bags of small marshmallows
4 tbsp butter
6 squares white chocolate
1/2 cup macadamia nuts (or pecans, peanuts, whichever you prefer)
 
In a large bowl, mix cereals and macadamia nuts. then, in a double boiler, melt the butter, white chocolate and marshmallows. pour the white chocolate/marshmallow mixture slowly over the cereal mixture, place in baking dish (lined with wax paper) and cut into squares (like rice crispy treats) or roll into balls and let cool on wax paper. pair with a porter, or any sweeter style stout. 


To finish off the recipe and tie back in cooking with beer or beer-inspired ingredients, the concoction was sprinkled with ground roasted chocolate malt which is used to make Moon River's Porter.

The trick is to take a bite of the gooey treat and let it sit on your tongue while you take a gulp of the porter. I do not order porters as my beer of choice, but pairing it with the right desserts definitely has it in the running for dessert of choice.

Instead of serving a dessert that everyone has already had before, shock your guests by serving this grown-ups only dessert and beer pairing and help convince all those that swear that don't like dark beer into porter groupies.

Movie Mondays: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2

Don't worry, I am not going to spoil anything if you haven't seen it yet. But, we did go see the epic conclusion, and it was wonderfully done. Lots of action sequences and fun new spells that we don't see in the other movies.

If you haven't seen the other ones, it would be totally worth it to rent them all and have a movie marathon weekend before going off to see the last one. At the very least, you need to watch Deathly Hallows part 1.

More than anything, what amazes me about this series is Rowling's ability to touch on themes that touch so many people, and touch us so deeply that it shattered box office records worldwide. Perseverance, determination, bravery, friendship, love, support, identity, good vs. evil...themes that touch us all portrayed in a whole new world.

Plus her ability to tie together everything, connecting each movie, each character, each subplot is mind boggling. I am also shocked that she has been writing new material that they have been waiting to release until this last Potter movie came out. Talk about setting the bar high!

Sightseeing Sundays: Venice (Italy part 4 of 4)

Venice was only a one-dayer and was definitely touristy, but we made sure to get off the beaten path and walk through tons of tiny, empty, skinny and twisting alleyways. The center town square is where everyone goes for shopping, eating, and hanging out off the boat.

The best part of the day was the boat ride over. Gorgeous view of the entire coastline, watching the hustle and bustle of this small sinking island. It felt magical to be somewhere that I had read so much about and seen so many pictures of prior.

Romance seeps through every inch of air with the winding canals and unexpected, almost secret-feeling openings that led to small cafes, tiny shops, and bridges of all shapes and sizes. My only regret is that we didn't take a boat taxi tour. Skip the overpriced gondolas and see this water wonderland how it should be seen.

Soul Saturdays: Letting Yourself Get Overly Excited

Some people take everything good that happens with a grain of salt, imagine the worst case scenario, and tip the scales towards pessimism rather than optimism. I say, sometimes let your imagination run wild when something good (or even just almost good) happens.

Imagine that you will land a big writing gig and be able to take that dream vacation (Ireland for us).

Go ahead and pick out that new car you would buy when you sell that book (Infiniti SUV).

Envision that new wardrobe when someone runs your article (Just Old Navy makes me happy!).

Should you sit around and daydream like this all the time? Of course not. Is is self-indulgent? Sure. Superficial? Absolutely. But letting yourself get carried away every once in while is perfectly okay, even necessary, especially when you are cutting corners, downsizing, maybe even quitting your safe job in order to pursue your dreams.

Attaching little fantasies to good news makes the news even better. I recently pitched several different article ideas to several mid-level and national magazines, and I got my first positive response today. It wasn't even a 100% yes, we want you to write the article for us.

It was just a maybe.

But, that little maybe means I am on the right path. Someone thinks I have a good idea, and that alone is good enough reason to daydream about my first book signing in the hopefully not-so-distant future.

We owe it to ourselves to embrace these small victories, do a little dance, and then get back to work. Take those maybes and daydream. Take those yeses and celebrate by making one of those daydreams come to fruition. Maybe it's not the right time to fly off to Spain, but it can definitely be the right time to buy a new pair of earrings.

Fiction Fridays: The Beach House

I love this book as a summer read, and not because it's titled The Beach House or it is a stereotypical fluffy "beach read" (it's not). I love it for summer because Jane Green so vividly describes the beautiful scenery, boarding house, and beaches of Nantucket has put it high on my "must visit" vacation destinations.

Perhaps because I would like to one day own a B&B (imagine the fodder for book and character ideas!), this book (and last week's read, This Must Be the Place) are both centered on a boarding house that rents out rooms, allowing for a multitude of characters to interact without the pesky familial ties. There is something more intense and sometimes more interesting about studying a group of unrelated people thrust together under one roof than observing a traditional family.

The owner's name is Nan, a vibrant, vivacious ungrandmotherly woman of 65 who skinny dips in her neighbor's pools when they are out of town and picks another's flowers or fruit as she pleases. She is happy and carefree, albeit lonely until she faces financial struggles (aren't we all?!) and decides to generate incoming by turning her grand old house on the beach into a boarding house.

She is the kind of women that I want to be at that age: wise, tons of fun, still enjoying her cocktails, and completely wide-open to new experiences and new people. Heck, she is the kind of woman I want to be now. Her "seize-the-day" outlook and "c'est la vie" (such is life) laid-back attitude prevents her from giving a hoot what anyone else thinks about her. 

The lessons taught by this pseudo-family abound, including loss, betrayal, love, and probably most importantly, identity. Each of the characters has to come to terms and eventually embrace who they are and their pasts in order to strive confidently into the arms of their future.

They each offer their own sort of guidance by example and encourage readers to open your hearts to every single person you encounter despite if you think they are just too different from you. This group overcame age, sexuality, gender, and the ghosts of their pasts to form unlikely friendships that turned into lifelines.

I highly recommend this book as it is probably my favorite that I have read by Green so far, yet I also thoroughly enjoyed Second Chance, Babyville, Mr. Maybe, Bookends, and Jemima J. Still on my to-read list by Green are Straight Talk, To Have and To Hold, The Other Woman, Swapping Lives, Dune Road, and Promises to Keep.

If you read, please come back and comment! I would love to hear your thoughts on any and all book reviews and am always looking for book recommendations/new books to review!

Tune Thursdays: Permanent Tourists

For July 14, 2011's Music Matters column, click here: Permanent Tourists: Old School Jammin'

(Prince's "Purple Rain" is one of their most requested songs)

Writer Wednesdays: Jen Gresham

Jen Gresham, writer of Everyday Bright, is a fellow optimist and dare I say kindred spirit. She has both the right and left sides of her brain firing away with her background as a scientist combined with her creative side. Plus, her willingness to foster community and support for other people makes her a triple threat.

I stumbled upon her blog through Stacey Curnow and Jon Morrow. I am taking Jon Morrow's blogging class (like Stacey and Jen both did). Reading these blogs helped justify the expense of taking this class on a day when I was doubting myself for spending money when I had just quit my full-time teaching job.

Jen features people who have quit their jobs to follow their true passions (as she did), and these stories are so uplifting and inspiring. They trample the outdated concept of the American Dream, encouraging everyone to go after their own dreams by first realizing taking the time to self-reflect and discover what your dream truly is. From such a young age, we are told to get good grades, go to college, find a good job, and settle down with a nice guy (or gal).

Yet, the reality is, parents and other influencers should constantly be helping their children find their passion(s) rather than driving home this super-structured ideal of happiness. Jen advocates following your own unique path even if other people think you are irresponsible, selfish, or just plain crazy for quitting your stable 9-to-5er.

Jen, along with Stacey, Valorie Burton, Oprah, and countless other "dream life" promoters, have helped me realize not to waste one more single second living a life of mediocrity, stuck in a job that is only "okay" to me. You will wake up one day and be 50, 70, maybe even 90, and your regret will be that you didn't do the daring thing, go after your dream job, start that business, become a freelance SOMETHING (writer in my case).

One of Jen's nuggets of wisdom:

"Your ideal career might require a step up, or it might mean stepping off the grid all together." 

For me, stepping off the hamster wheel was essential in my life right now. I didn't want to get up at 6am everyday, being under appreciated and quite frankly, the villain most of the day, and then come home to spent mentally to do anything creative.

I didn't want to wake up in the future on the day of my retirement after teaching for 25+ years and realize I had hid from my true passion because I was scared that I would be broke, not have a sufficient retirement savings, would disappoint or baffle my friends and family, or worst of all, fail.

Reading Jen's blog, I feel like I am not alone and have found a community of like-minded people that are just as bold (and maybe a little crazy) as me! Thank you Jen, and I will miss you during your big move but look forward to the refreshed enthusiasm and energy you will most definitely bring to your blog upon your return!

Taste Tuesdays: Korean Delights

In Savannah we have a somewhat hole-in-the wall bar that is known for its burgers AND its Korean food named Redleg Saloon. Strange, yes, but still delicious. We ordered the Bulgoki, which is beef marinated in a sweet, tangy yet spicy sauce cooled down by scooping rice into the same bite. Each bite comes together for a wonderful combinations of flavors and was a great new experience in dining for me.

I get completely psyched (borderline psych-O) to try new foods. I love the newness, I love the peek into another culture trying their food provides, and I love making my brain work to describe the flavors. I am much happier trying to bites or gulps of 10 different dishes rather than trying just one large entree. Trying something new is a creative journey itself (especially cooking AND eating something new!).

Here is a recipe you could try at home for some of your own yummy Bulgoki.

Movie Mondays: The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This movie is one of my top five favorite movies of all time. It has humor, lovable characters, a unique plot, and dives into the human psyche and some of our biggest fears and unspoken desires.

The premise is that a shady doctor and his staff have figured out a way to erase unwanted memories while you sleep. Kate Winslet, playing her kookiest (and I would argue best) role suddenly decides she is done with her relationship with her boyfriend played by a somber and sweet Jim Carrey (probably my favorite role of his, too).

The movie jumps around from the past to present, piecing together their flawed yet intense relationship--all the ups and downs, ugly and beautiful moments. This type of storyline always keeps my interest and makes me think about how the writers and creators decide where to splice and when. Brilliantly done.

Ultimately, the lesson is the timeless, "Be careful what you wish for." It is also a study about the concept of soul mates and kindred spirits. We are drawn to the people in our lives for certain reasons, and this movie tries to help explain why and supports the notion of fate and destiny no matter how badly we as humans try to interfere and be in total control.

Touching, tender, wistful, and analytical, revealing the complexities of relationships by showing the best and worst moments of one couple. At the end, ponder if you believe they should be together or not. Better yet, ask yourself if you believe in soul mates.

Sightseeing Sundays: San Marino (Italy part 3 of 4)

San Marino has a fairytale landscape like a princess in her hightower. It sits near the middle of Italy atop a huge mountain and has 360 degree views of Italian countryside for miles and miles. The people are happy and friendly, glad to share their paradise with tourists. You'd be happy too living where it's known as "The Most Serene Republic of San Marino."

San Marinoians have living the good life figured out along with a solid economy and politics. They have two elected presidents at all times that serve for only 6 months at a time. This constant change prevents corruption, helping San Marino have the lowest unemployment rate in Europe, no debt, and actual a budget surplus (maybe they could teach America a thing or two?). They embrace their Italian roots, yet they are proud to be their own Republic with their own government. 

The peace we felt when opening the doors to the balcony of our hotel room (one of the bigger rooms we stayed in for the whole trip) was immeasurable. Since we were almost a mile up from sea level, you could look down and see the winding road leading down the mountain and miles of vineyards and greenery.

And they appreciate these views, with most restaurants being all windows so diners feel like they are eating on a cloud. The food and wine is delicious, of course, just like everywhere in Europe, and they have their own San Marino wine, which was the fruitiest wine we tasted throughout our vacation.

They also have an aerial tramway which goes out a few hundred feet and brings you back. You don't really see anything you already can't from just looking out over the edge, but the experience is worth the small price. Also, make sure to climb up to the very top and get an up-close view of the Three Towers and marvel at their historical roots dating back to the 11th century.

While it is a bit out of the way, put San Marino on your itinerary. It may just be the closest you ever get to being a prince or princess in your own fairytale. But don't bother trying to capture the insane views with a camera--no picture can do this near-mirage justice.

Fiction Fridays: This Must be the Place

It always amazes me how I sometimes completely just stumble upon unbelievable writers and books that I have never even heard of before. I was in the library last week (had ran out of internet usage, so had to go jump on theirs) and decided to pick up a few books. I picked up Claire Cook's first novel, Ready to Fall, and Book Doctor by Esther Cohen, but first decided to read Racculia's This Must Be the Place.

The characters are so multi-layered, vulnerable, and flawed that you can't help but root for them all. Even after one of the characters, Amy, does one of the most despicable things a human can do, you still don't hate her because Racculia has built up such a great case for Amy that you isolate the mistake and don't let it define who she is overall. A truly great character development feat if you ask me.

Part of the reason why the character development is so great is the structure of the novel. Kate has four subplots isolating each character's lives interwoven in a way that makes me wonder how in the world she wrote this novel. It's written so smoothly despite the constant jumps between the character's stories and backgrounds. Yet, you don't feel like you get whiplash because the character's lives directly relate to the lives of the other three characters. And it's not like some novels with various perspectives were you just want to skip one or more of the characters' stories to get to your favorite subplot. Each is fascinating on its own and at times heartbreakingly beautiful, showcases the fragility of life and relationships.

The seemingly invisible connections between two of these main characters emphasizes the mysterious nature of life and of course, love. This book made me ponder all the invisible connections in my life--friends of friends, family members I have never met, writers I may never meet yet still feel strongly influenced by, and even kindred spirits that I would get along smashingly with if we only got the chance to meet.

This is one of those books that I feel 100% lucky to have found and would have been angry if I never read it. Well-written, philosophical,and analytical of the intricacies of the human mind. Simply superb.

Soul Saturdays: Faith

"Friendship required more faith than any other kind of love"--Kate Racculia, This Must Be the Place.

If you didn't read my post about this book and writer, you gotta do that first to get the full grasp :) I read this book last week and marked the page immediately.

This quote really spoke to me. I don't know if I 100% agree that it takes more faith (marriage is a pretty darn huge leap of faith!), but the concept is sound. With your family, you have a connection that is permanent. Even if you don't speak to them much or at all, the fact that you share DNA, last names, and roots keeps you on each other's radars despite the ups and downs. 

With loves, if you do take that leap of faith be it marriage or moving in together, you are telling each other that you are in it for the long haul. There is an established commitment, and even though these don't always last, there is something that feels permanent about these love relationships. We don't have the commitment talk with friends, trying to guarantee some sort of future together.

With any relationship, there are no guarantees. However, with a friendship, I think Racculia is saying there is even less of a guarantee than other types of relationships. Friends have to decide to stay in touch, decide to spend time together, decide to be there for each other, decide to stay friends. 

Friends are former strangers, and they can just as easily become strangers again. With family, you are always family. With love, you are always someone's ex. With friends, if you stop being friends, you are just nothing or at the most, a faded memory.

This quote made me think about all my friendships, past and present, and although it's sad to think about those that used to be in our life and aren't anymore, it also emphasizes that we have to take good care of those friendships that are fulfilling and soul-feeding. Both people have to have faith in the other because faith is the only connector in a friendship. There are no visible ties--no DNA, no marriage certificate or promise of a future together. Just the hope that you can continue to love and support each other as you grow and change. 

Having kindred spirits as friends is vital for a healthy, happy soul. Take today to think about your friendships, letting go of those that aren't good for you anymore, cherishing those that are, and keeping the faith that the people that are supposed to be in your life are there for you no matter what. Seek out quality over quantity, and people that have faith in you, to create your inner circle of love and support.

Tune Thursdays: Viva le Vox

Music Matters 7/7/2011: Viva le Vox

Writer Wednesdays: Midwife For Your Life

Stacey Curnow is a former midwife turned life coach, and the transition came because she found she preferred helping people bring their dreams to life instead of actually bringing human life into the world. Her writing and advice is uplifting, powerful, and downright motivating. Her guest post on the blog Everyday Bright truly helped me get over a near-panic attack that I was having the day I stumbled across her blog.

I recently quit my job teaching that I have had for four years and am now pursuing writing as a full-time career. Stacey's post helped reassure me that I am not crazy and that this was a mandatory risk that I had to take. The bigger risk would have been staying a teacher which was not my true passion or life calling. She says:

"The good news is that you’re on this path for a reason. 

The world doesn’t need more people mired in mediocrity, 

waiting to punch out at the end of the day and knock back a stiff drink. 

We need you to fulfill your purpose and become truly alive."

Powerful stuff, right? There are so many people that I know who hate their jobs or are just punching in and out for the paycheck. 

Are YOU???

The truth is, like Stacy points out, that you aren't doing yourself, your family, or the world any favors by living your life that way. We should truly only work in jobs that make us feel "alive," that we are excited about, and that we can imagine doing for the rest of our lives instead of counting down to the day we can retire.

I can honestly say that I would love to write every day for the rest of my life. I can die (of old age, I hope!) at my computer screen, working on an assignment. This realization is so reassuring because it means that I don't have to constantly worry about if I am saving up enough money to retire at 60 or 65 because I am following my passion and could write forever! 

Obviously, saving money is still important, but the freedom that going after my dreams has given me regarding worrying about my retirement funds has been astounding. My writing career doesn't have an expiration date because I don't want to ever stop! I can't think of another profession that I would willing want to do for the rest of my life. 

Thank you Stacey for helping "talk me off the ledge" with your blog post when I was having a major day of doubt. Your words were exactly what I needed to read at the moment I read them. Here's to pursuing your life's passion!

http://www.staceycurnow.com/blog/hello-and-welcome/

Taste Tuesdays: Baking with Basil

One of my college friends does a wonderful food blog, and I thought I would share her beautiful food photography and mouth-watering recipes. Enjoy!

 http://bakingwithbasil.com/

Movie Mondays: Lions for Lambs

In honor of July 4th, I thought I would share a movie that was truly inspiring, making me want to be not only a better American, but more importantly, a better citizen of the world. This 4th of July has made me reflective about the state of our country and the state of our world in general. Last week, Jon Stewart said that maybe we need to change our whole game plan regarding trying to be the world's police; sometimes just like with a bad relationship, you have to walk away because if not, it will crush you like these wars are crushing America.
This movie touches on some of these themes and the corruption of our government and the sacrifices of so many "lambs" (aka young men and women in the military) for the sake of lions (aka the big shots in government who create war strategies like they are marketing campaigns, often with very little or no experience in the thick of battle). In a time when so many soldiers are dying, so many families are suffering, and the economy keeps diving, this movie encourages the government to think outside the box and stop trying the same old methods.

The desperation in the air in this movie and in our current state of affairs shows that we can't keep making the same mistakes and trudging forward as is. Radical change about our approach to education, citizenship, war, and journalism need to happen and happen quickly. The two main characters that push for this change are Harvard students attending on full athletic scholarships. In many ways, they feel like they don't belong and have to constantly fight for not only their grades and to maintain their scholarships, but also for the respect of their teachers and peers.

For a school project, they suggest a radical way to get people more involved as American citizens while also helping our reputation as Americans and to combat close-mindedness. In exchange for one year of service in the Peace Corps or military service, students would get some college paid for along with, of course, the experience that would help expand their horizons and make them appreciate not only hard work but other cultures. In addition, the experience would help make students see themselves as global citizens fighting to better the plight of all mankind, not just Americans.


This movie should be watched by every human being, period. It will inspire you to think of creative ways to contribute to society using your strengths with the main goal being to emphasize the need for open-mindedness. Narrow, naive, and downright stubborn thinking must be eliminated if we are to pull ourselves out of our stubborn grasp on an outdated American Dream. These main characters show that in order to "be the change you want to see in the world" (Gandhi), you have to be passionate about something and tap into your creativity to figure out the best ways for YOU to contribute positively to the world as a whole, not just your small bubble of a world.


In addition to these all-important lessons, the acting is without a doubt wonderful--it's Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, and Robert Redford ('nuff said) who starred, directed and produced the film. While box office numbers weren't favorable for the film, I think that was just a result of people not wanting to face realities of war and the power of the government over the lives of so many.

Lions for Lambs brilliantly weaves three stories--the Peace Corps boys and their professor, the senator with a new military strategy yet no military experience, and the reporter that dishes out not hard-nosed, factual stories but instead regurgitates what the senator wants her to say--into one brutally honest plot that begs for us to stand up for what is right and necessary to turn our great falling country around.

Sightseeing Sundays: Italy (part 2 of 4)

Florence was the next stop of our Italy vacation, and here is where I first felt like maybe I was Italian in a past life or definitely could become one in the future. I wanted to stay in Florence forever, wandering the streets, feeling the history swirl around me, admiring the art, culture, food, wine, people. It felt homey yet majestic, awe-inspiring yet welcoming. It's also much more compact than Rome, making everything more accessible (and easier to cram in more must-sees!)

The best part of the two day stop was climbing up to the Piazzale Michelangelo, the highest point of Florence where you can look over the entire city. It screams romance, yet you can also see why great artists like Michelangelo could do great work here solo. The sense of peace, of being closer to God literally yet also in the sense of witnessing one of His own masterpieces, is breathtaking.

The Duomo, or dome serving as a cathedral since the 13th century, here is arguably the most interesting that we saw on our trip. It has the gothic elements--stately, huge--yet has lots of color in its facade. It also becomes part of the city rather than being its own standoffish entity due to its location at the heart of the city. It just seems friendlier and more welcoming than some of the other churches we visited.

Make sure to plan ahead to visit the always-crowded and world-famous home to Renaissance paintings at Uffizi Gallery and Accademia, which houses Michelangelo's David, a must-must see. Standing near it, you feel like you could have maybe been a great sculptor had you just lived in the period of Michelangelo, maybe because of its beautiful simplicity of being "just" a human body.



"The Creator made Italy from designs by Michaelangelo." --Mark Twain

Soul Saturdays: "Verbal Photograph"

I discovered Filmutopia's Sunday Morning Movie Blog today thanks to the wonderful world of Twitter, and I am already hooked. In teaching my Creative Writing class last spring, I was trying to explain to my students that every story that can be told already has been--you know, the epic romance, the journey, the coming-of-age, etc.

But, what remains unique is our individual perspectives--no one in the world thinks exactly the way we do or views the world in the exact same way that we do. Therefore, we all have a unique story to tell and interpret things differently giving us all an interesting and worthy-of-sharing voice.

Clive, the Filmutopia blogger, explains it beautifully:

"A unique perspective is what makes a writer valuable. Which is great news, because a unique perspective is the one thing that every human being has. Nobody in the world has experienced life or the world in the way that you have. Your point of view is and always will be unique..I call my observations, verbal photographs. I do that, because that is the exercise I have set myself, to see a moment of interesting behaviour in the real world and to jot it down, as if I was describing a moment in a film. The key elements for me, are that the moment is both visual, and at the same time that it also contains meaning."

 I love his dedication and passion for his craft, his determination to be engaged in the moment while at the same time trying to capture important, funny, meaningful, etc. moments with these "verbal photographs." It's like he wants to try and absorb every moment with every fiber of his being instead of just drifting along, not paying attention as we often do.

He has also inspired me to carry my own notebook with me everywhere I go (which I should have been doing already, but I keep hoping to save up and buy an Ipad to keep notes digitally! Alas, I will make do with a notebook for now). Even for those of you who aren't writers, Clive's approach to being fully engaged and aware of your surroundings and the beautiful, odd, funny, happy, etc. moments in life is something worth imitating and is definitely soul-feeding and creative conducive. 

Fiction Fridays: Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons

I immensely enjoyed this book because Lorna Landvik creates funny, slightly caricatured yet completely engaging strong female characters in Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons. I also love that the title is totally misleading because these women are anything but angry. They laugh with each other over the chaos that is life and remain friends through decades, failed marriages, betrayal, gossip, and even cancer. Each character has traits that I wish I had or at least could display more.

There's Slip, the spitfire. Faith, the reserved one. Audrey, the queen and sexual deviant. Merit, the scared yet strong one. and Kari, the big-hearted, big laughing mother-hen. Besides creating these wonderful characters and sharing practically their whole lives with us, Landvik also shows societal changes with a plot that covers decades and a variety of topics that are as diverse as the books that the group reads for an excuse to get together (which also leads to lively conversation!).

Any book that makes me go through a range of emotions is a winner, and Landvik does not disappoint. I cried, laughed, got angry, felt betrayed, and generally, wanted to be friends with these women. I am also a huge fan of the varying narrator structure--each of the five women tell their own story instead of an omniscient narrator or only one first-person narrator. Overall, Landvik took on an extremely ambitious novel (5 narrators, 40 years, and lots of controversial and difficult topics like domestic abuse, sexuality, friendship, cancer) and creates a lively, utterly engaging book that is downright fun and doesn't have time for any fluff.