6.27.2011
8.25.2010
tap those toes
Feeling isolated from others is never easy. That's why, when I'm under the weather, I turn to music. The past few weeks of my life have been filled with what once felt like never ending drama. Somehow, I've hardly let it affect me because of songs like this from Discovery and Ra Ra Riot. One clip of Wes Miles's voice and my toes instantly start tapping. How can you be unhappy when your toes are tapping?
8.15.2010
changing lanes
My mom and dad love to tell stories about me as a child. Seriously. I've lost count of the number of times they've told complete strangers the story about me wearing a shower cap for the entire day while we were sightseeing in Springfield. I must have been 7 years old at the time but I proudly wore that hotel shower cap for hours. They love using this as an example of my fearlessness.
Then there's the story about my younger sister learning how to ride a bicycle. We're about 16 months apart, but I've always treated her as though she's the same age. That explains why I took her training wheels off of her new bike when she was only 4 years old. All by myself. This would be an example of how I can't stand waiting for other people to do things. I take care of them myself, because... well, why not?
Yesterday, my mom told me that she's been sharing another story with her coworkers and friends. This one was about the time I potty trained myself. She had ordered a brand new pink seat with Minnie Mouse on it. I can vividly remember it to this day. My oh my, how I loved that thing. I spotted the package as soon as the UPS man dropped it on the front porch. I went to her to see what could be in this huge box. She explained that I would be using it from now on instead of a diaper. Somehow this made total sense to me. Only a few moments after she said this, I pulled it out of the box and used it. From that day on, I quit diapers cold turkey. She loves using this one to show people, even me, how independent and no nonsense I am.
I've always tackled change, obstacles, and experiences with a fearless, independent, and confident attitude. Somewhere along the shifty, shaky road I've forgotten how to do this. Even when I have no other choice but to swerve or turn down a completely new street, I greet change with an unwelcoming sneer. Now, I'm working on developing that childlike calm as I, once again, change lanes.
7.19.2010
fog city vs. the windy city
Technically, the temperature in Chicago is around 86, but the overcast skies and cooler temperatures near the lake front remind me of San Francisco. Right now, nothing sounds better than a bowl of warm tomato soup and a huge chunk of fresh San Francisco sourdough.
7.16.2010
this town could use a few more mountains
The past week has been as uneven as the Sierras. Yet, for some reason, I'm almost positive that escaping the boring, flat landscape of Chicago would balance everything out. Right now, nothing sounds more satisfying than sitting on top of a mountain, eating trail mix, and just breathing.
6.15.2010
bringing nature inside
In my attempt to achieve the fresh outdoorsy atmosphere, I bought a few of my absolute favorite candles ever. Honestly, it's not a perfect match. Yet. Right now I only have volcano which smells like, "tropical fruits, sugared oranges, lemons, and limes, redolent with lightly exotic mountain greens," but after looking at the manufacturer's website, I realized I have to get more.
I need Havana, "a warm earthy scent combining the richness of cedar wood, cedar moss, and lavendar sage" and wind which smells like, "exotic mixed floral with a light lift of spring rain and wind, with light tones of woods and spice."
Everyone should have at least one of these!
*Well, I don't really want to live in the park (I feel sorry for people who have to) but I want my home to smell like it.
6.14.2010
there's no place like berlin
Living in Berlin was the single most inspiring and life changing event I've ever experienced. As a 19 year old who had never been anywhere outside of the U.S., I started my trip with wide eyes and a pocketful of naivete. I ignored the fact that I had never traveled anywhere by myself, let alone a city 4400 miles away from home. All I knew was that I could not only survive but thrive on my own in a foreign country without familiar people or places.
As soon as I landed at Tegel Airport, I realized I had no idea where I was going. STA Travel, the travel company I reserved my language courses, flight, and apartment with, scheduled a driver to pick me up from the airport and take me to my new place. Yet, after waiting 45 minutes for a tall, dark, and handsome man driving a van to find me, I realized he wasn't coming. No one was. Talk about a reality check. In the end, I ended up paying over 100 euros for a bus and s-bahn ticket to Friedrichshain, but it was worth it.
The fourth floor walk up I shared with a thirty-something fire thrower named Eva felt like home after only two nights of sleeping on the frame-less mattress in the middle of my lofted bedroom. Every day was spent in morning language classes, wandering the city, eating currywurst from a street vendor, then meeting friends for hefeweizen. If it was a great night it usually ended with a doner kebab.
In memory of my time living in the fourth floor walk up I want to share a recipe I found for vegan currywurst. Believe me, there's nothing in the world like Berlin street food!
Curryvurst
Adapted from Sparkpeople
Makes 2 servings
4 Veggie hotdogs*
1/4 cup organic ketchup
1 tbsp curry powder
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cinnamon
-Boil 4 cups of water in a medium pot. Once water is boiling, turn off heat and place veggie dogs in water. Let sit for 3 minutes with pot covered.
-Combine ketchup and spices in a small bowl and set aside.
-Once hot dogs are finished, cut into bite sized pieces. Combine with curry mixture.
*Smart Dogs from Lightlife taste the best.
iced coffee
When I was a little girl, my mom used to give my younger sister and I special sippy cups every morning before we watched our cartoons. I always drank orange juice from a blue cup. My sister always drank coffee from a red cup. One day, I mistakenly picked up the red cup and took a sip. The taste that followed was the most terrible thing I'd ever experienced. I couldn't even swallow it. The thick, smoky flavor of the coffee beans left me feeling sick.
It never occurred to me that a six year old should not be drinking coffee. In fact, it wasn't until about six months ago when I was telling a girlfriend this story that I realized just how ridiculous it was that my sister has been drinking coffee since she was six years old. It's easy to understand why she has so much distaste for orange juice, as do I for coffee. Or should I say I did.
Up until a year ago, I couldn't stomach anything but tea, save for a flavored latte here and there. Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco changed all of that. My boyfriend Russell used to live in San Francisco. While I was visiting him last year for the 4th of July, he took me to Blue Bottle on Mint St. It only took one sip and I was hooked. Now, we try to keep a pound of Blue Bottle in the house at all times. Three Africans is one of my favorites.
You can imagine how excited I was to find a recipe for New Orleans style coffee using Blue Bottle coffee in the New York Times archives. I also found a great variation of this recipe on one of my favorite blogs bigBang studio.
Nawleans Iced Coffee
Adapted from New York Times
Makes 4 cups coffee concentrate
1/2 pound Three Africans, medium ground
5 cups cold filtered water
Ice
Almond milk*
-Put ground coffee in large french press. Add 5 cups of boiling water and let steep for 30 minutes.
-Very slowly push down "press" making sure not to allow any grounds to escape up the sides of the pot. Allow coffee to cool completely.
-Fill a large glass or mug with ice and add 1/2 cup almond milk.
-Add coffee. Pour enough to fill the remainder of the cup.
Since I'm not always in the mood for coffee, I usually make my coffee on a cup by cup basis, but making a large pot and mixing it with a generous amount of almond milk would be a great idea. The NYT says it will keep in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
*You can use any kind of milk. Almond milk just happens to be my favorite.