Tuesday Things...

There's this random idea I have every once in a while. I'm not sure if "idea" is the right word to describe this. Perhaps "dream" or "wish" or simply "thought" would be better. In any case, my idea is this: I really wish that I was much more artistic (not creative, I know I have creative abilities, what I mean is the skills needed to make seriously good artistic renderings of people), because if I were, I would love to draw or paint random people I see (and even those I know) in situations or as characters that are very different from their own, just to see what they'd look like. For example, my hairdresser has a face that needs to be matched with a 1920s flapper's outfit, I took Earth Science with a girl who looked like she might have stepped out of a Rembrandt painting, and there was this guy at the gas station this morning that I would just love to see in some super epic medieval knight garb.

So go ahead and laugh if you want. But remember the name of this blog. These are simply things I think about...

Also, for your viewing pleasure, the book cover below. Simply fabulous:

[image from bookcoverarchive.com]

Things That Make My Friday...

[image from dweebist.com]

[coffee toffee recipe from smittenkitchen.com]

[shaun the sheep! borngifted.co.uk]

And it's snowing outside.

Happy Friday.

2 Hours with Vicki

Today it was raining beyond all reason in Collegedale. The good news was, it was a Sunday. And what better activity for a rainy Sunday than to head into town for a 12:55 p.m. showing of a new historical film, The Young Victoria. I took along my friend, Chelsey, for several reasons:

a.) she is my friend

b.) she wanted to see the movie too

c.) she shares my love for films that most of the rest of the world would only care to watch in history class, and even then only so they could nap during it

We got there a bit late; it was rainy on the highway and we decided to choose life by going slower. But once we arrived and had settled down in the back row of Rave theater 5, I got the most lovely sensation. Here I was, spending two hours learning about something I absolutely love: British history.

Go ahead, call me a nerd if you like, but the truth is that I've become so bogged down in what I'm supposed to learn in college that I've forgetten to take time to learn about the things I love. It's easy to get turned off to learning when you spend too much time learning because you have to and not enough time learning because you want to. After two hours with Victoria and Albert, I've fallen in love with learning again.

As a side note, The Young Victoria is fantastic, but you had probably already guessed I'd say that...check out the trailer below:

Away We Go to Brunch and Bronfman

November isn't normally this crazy.
Seems to me that every other year I've been in school, November is the "calm before the storm:" the time of waiting before the semester-end stress comes crashing down on me.
But this November is different. I feel like I've been up to my eyeballs with the most random assignments and commitments; it's rather uncanny.
But amidst the chaos, I managed to fit in some of the most delightful experiences of my semester thus far:
1.) Bronfman.
Ever heard of Yefim Bronfman? Neither had I until my piano professor father came bursting into our kitchen, practically giggling with delight, proclaiming the news that this world-famous pianist would be coming to Southern to perform a concert.
"Cool," I replied. "I'll have to check it out."
Good grief. Cool does not even begin to describe Bronfman.
For one, his name is fantastic.
For two, his performance was impeccable.
For three, the concert was black-tie optional, which meant I got to dress up nice and fancy.

2.) Brunch.
Brunch has always been my favorite. You get to eat breakfast food (the best) in the later morning (better, because it implies you don't have to get up early). When our Communication Research class got canceled last Tuesday morning, my class buddies and I decided to spend the 9:30am class period breaking pancakes together instead. We even had candlesticks...is there anything more pleasant than that?


3.) Away We Go.
Here's all I'm going to say: watch this little film, it will make you smile.

The 12 Days of Birthday

Last year my best friend, Katie, introduced me to the most delightful concept I think I've ever encountered: 12 Days of Birthday. It's something akin to the 12 Days of Christmas, except it doesn't have its own song or line of Christmas tree ornaments. 12 Days of Birthday is very simple: you do something festive and special every day for 12 days before your birthday.

Katie and I LOVE 12 Days of Birthday. In fact, we love it so much, we sometimes celebrate it for people we don't know super well (and who do not celebrate with us), just so we can experience it as many times a year as possible.

We are currently celebrating my 12 Days of Birthday (today is day 4, meaning there are 4 more days until my actual birthday). Last year we did our best to implement variety when it came to our celebratory activities (i.e., going downtown to eat lunch at a fun restaurant, painting our fingernails green, spending an afternoon pouring over fashion magazines in Barnes.) However, this year we seem to have gotten in a bit of a rut: FOOD. This 12 Days of Audrey's Birthday has been filled with practically nothing but eating. Don't get me wrong, I adore food, and this year's line-up of culinary treats has not disappointed me in the slightest by having been nothing short of delectable and has included, but is not limited to:

-Cheesecake Factory Fried Zucchini & Hummus (worth every mile of the drive to Atlanta...)

-Top Pot Chocolate Glazed Doughnuts (utterly divine. And conveniently found at Starbucks...)

(image from Seattle Biz Journal)

-Starbucks Hot Chocolate (does this count as food? I am going to call it such...)

-Homemade Pumpkin Muffins (alas, not from the recipe found in an earlier post...but still delicious...)

Before you dub us gluttons, be assured that Katie and I have mixed in some non-food fun as well. One afternoon we bought a copy of The New York Times and read through several articles in order to keep up on current events. (There are some very interesting things going on in the world...) We've also become somewhat addicted to the television show The West Wing, and several Days of Birthday were dedicated to watching it. (No, not the whole day, just an hour in the evening...also, notice we've begun a bit of a current events/government trend...)

In summary, my thoughts are these: 12 Days of Birthday is fantastic. I highly recommend it for everyone.

Ah, weddings!!

So my dear friends, Rika & Aaron, got married. I was their wedding planner/coordinator and let me tell you, I have never had so much fun in my whole life! Sure, it was freezing outside and I was getting over the flu and there were a whole bunch of little details that go along with a wedding that you don't think about until they're a problem, but it was just so much fun, that it didn't even matter. It was for sure one of the most lovely ceremonies I've ever been to, and I'm so happy I got to be part of it. I'm also super thankful for friends who help out with little things like weddings...it makes them so much easier...

[thanks for the photo, caressa!]

In other news, fall break time approaches, and smittenkitchen has a recipe for the most delectable-looking apple cidar doughnuts that I really feel like I'll have to try. And Anthropologie has divine gowns, as always...that's enough to get me through the last two days of school.

[photo from smittenkitchen]

[photo from Anthropologie]

Some of my favorite things...

It really is so very inconvenient when the Internet is out at your house. I really shouldn't complain, but it really kind of messed up my weekend. I was very paranoid that there was a very important email in my inbox that I was missing and that people were mad at me.

In reality, when I finally got to check my email yesterday for the first time since Friday (oh my gosh! Three whole days! [note the sarcasm, please...])I found that there really wasn't anything more important than a Orbitz cheap ticket offer waiting for me. So much for paranoia.

In other news, here are some of my favorite things from this weekend:

* SMITTEN KITCHEN!

After making some super-wonderful pumpkin muffins on Friday night for dinner, I found this amazing website full of FANTASTIC recipes and photos! I think I kind of want to cook forever...

[photo from smittenkitchen]

* "Married to the Snob" by Jennie Yabroff | Newsweek

I loved reading this brief book review in my latest issue of Newsweek. It gives some lovely insight into cultural snobbery...I think the fact that I subscribe to Newsweek might put me in the cultural snob club just a smidge...hm...

* Anthropologie Winter Things

I love cold weather. Love, love it. So when scarves and hats start popping up for sale, I get very happy. This beautiful scarf from Anthropologie has me particularly excited...

* Amazing Dinners That I Don't Have to Cook.

My dear brother and his friends made the most scrumptious meal this weekend.

Menu included, but was not limited to:

Pumpernickel bread with spinach dip

Linguine with tomato basil cream sauce and mushrooms

Squash tian

Baby spinach salad with red onion, walnuts, fresh strawberries, and raspberry vinaigrette

Truffles and crepes for dessert

Oh boy. So good.