Peachy Keen

Coming out of my Cave

2012-01-23T10:51:00.003-05:00

Since the new year, I've been basically splitting my time between the office and my bar exam review class every evening. It's become routine to leave home at 7:00 am and not return until almost 11. Now its all temporary and in the scheme of things not too bad but goodness I better pass because I don't want to do this again!

I did shift hours around and took the risk of falling a bit behind in my bar review class to host one of my favorite ladies.

With K. in London in college.

She's been coordinating a study abroad program in Rome and is back in the United States for semester break. I was thrilled that she took the time during her brief sojourn in Chicago to make the trip to NJ. We spent the weekend eating long slow meals or curled up a couch getting updated on the last eight months of each other's lives. When it comes to the big life directions, there really isn't anyone I'd rather mull it over with.

Plus we began to lay the foundations for a late August girls' trip to Ireland. Does anyone take annual/semi-annual trips with their college friends or other scattered group? Have any advice for prioritizing and planning?

Go Irish!

2011-12-27T08:23:00.001-05:00

After several weeks without college football, I'm excited to see my Fighting Irish take on the Florida Seminoles tonight!

Of course, I'd more excited if I was in Orlando for the game but I'm certainly there in spirit!

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The boys had to spend Christmas away from their families and even had a practice on Christmas
day, so fingers crossed all that effort pays off in dividends!

Go Irish!!!

When a (wo)man is tired of London, (s)he is tired of life.

2011-12-14T07:08:00.003-05:00

I think it can be safely said that I am not tired of London, because I could have happily stayed in London for much much longer. Fortunately, I can comfort myself with the knowledge that I will likely be back for a few days in March (the joys of having friends stationed in Europe!)

My Grandmother and I had a lovely time and I'm so glad that we will have these memories to share. We covered the all the main London sites and I added a few of my personal favorites to combine for a balanced taste of London living.

Here's a sampling of my photos:

Parliament from the London Eye

London Eye

Tea at Fortnum & Mason's St. James

Sunrise from the inner circle of Stonehenge

Touring and Sharing

2011-12-08T07:23:00.000-05:00

Recently, I began thinking about London at Christmas time and how much I love the charming city lights and how I first fell for the city at Christmastime over a decade ago. So, I ran some financials, conferenced with my mother and got the okay to invite my Grandmother to London.

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My Grandmother has never been to Europe and was terribly disappointed when she couldn't make it to visit me on either occasion when I studied there. So, off we go.

I couldn't be more thrilled to show her the city that I love best. We'll be visiting the traditional tourist sites and I can't believe that I get to experience London through fresh eyes.

What place would you love to share with your loved ones or that you'd just like to see again and again?

Back on Broadway

2011-12-07T07:14:00.000-05:00

Last week I was fortunate enough to see Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway. If you've read this blog for awhile, you might recall that Hugh Jackman is a particular favorite of mine so when my mother read about his one man show, we scooped up tickets.

I thought it might be a little weird, the show is described as "Hugh Jackman sings his favorite songs and tells stories." But, basically, if it is Hugh's favorite song, I'm pretty sure that it is also instantly my favorite song. I mean, I sat through Van Helsing, so I figured this show could only be better.via

It was an absolute treat. His enthusiasm is infectious and you can tell that Hugh is having a ton of fun. I've heard that he is one of the nicest guys in Hollywood and unless he is a far better actor than he gets credit for, it is the truth. He was humble and at-ease and really it was fabulously fun way to a spend a day.

Would you ever see a one-man (or woman) show? Is there a celeb who's movie you would see no matter what?

On the Case

2011-11-30T07:07:00.002-05:00

I fought the smartphone wave and held on to my super basic flip-phone for most of law school. I had a Blackberry as part of summer job and while I relished being able to surf the internet during my lunch break, I hated being constantly connected to my email. I missed being able to silence my flip-phone and basically use it as a glorified answering machine.

This all changed when I headed to London and got myself an iPhone. Gosh, I loved my 3GS last year. Back home, once Verizon hopped on board, I scooped up the 4S.

But, it must be said that I am a very clumsy person. As a child I had friends parents throw their hands up in desperation and cry "Can't you ever come over without spilled something?!" My own father was known to quip, "Well, it isn't dinner time if Kerby hasn't knocked something over."

So, friends, I needed to protect my iPhone. Clearly, an Otterbox would be the obvious choice. However, although I wanted to protect my gadget, aesthetics were still a consideration. Naturally, I clicked through Kate Spade's offerings, Lilly, and even Tory Burch. I almost bought this one (it's more of a hot pink in person):

But nothing made my heart sing quite like:

Cath Kidston.

It protects my phone and reminds me over my favorite city, what could be better?!
What cases do you use to protect your gadgets?

Thanksgiving Holiday

2011-11-28T07:15:00.002-05:00

Happy Cyber Monday!

I spent the last week imitating this guy:

I haven't been on a "vacation"- vacation (sitting on a beach at resort) for years and this was my first family vacation since pre-college.

It is incredibly easy to be thankful when you're surronded by some of your favorite people and getting to wile away the days between a gorgeous lagoon and an perfectly heated pool. However, I'm also thankful to be back in "regular" life and to get ready for the holidays.

I had a fantastic six days in the Florida Keys with my family, how was everyone else's holidays?

30 years!

2011-11-14T07:29:00.000-05:00

Happy Anniversary to my dear parents!

They've been together since they met in a car accident--with each other-- at sixteen and have been married for thirty years now. They've been best parents that anyone could ask for. Here's to thirty more!

Enchanté Today

2011-11-14T06:34:00.000-05:00

Several months ago I was listening to a book on tape while walking through Hyde park (what a lovely way to spend an afternoon!), when the reader used the word "enchanting." It struck me that while I adore the word 'enchanting,' I don't normally use it.

Over the past few months I've taken note of more and more of these words that have fallen out of either general use or of my particular vocabulary. The idea of "enchante today" was born. Simply, at the end of every blog post or as the subject of a post in itself, I'll highlight a word, object, photo, or act that I find particularly charming and worthy of a little spotlight.

Enchanté Today: 'fandango' - noun, plural -gos.

1. a lively Spanish or Spanish-American dance in triple time, performed by a man and woman playing castanets.

2. a piece of music for such a dance or one having its rhythm.

3. a ball or dance. (via) (image via)

I'm just taken with the idea of using "fandango" to describe a large party, although I'm sure that I might get a few looks from people that only think of those paperbag movie puppets when they hear "fandango" (a group I would have included myself in up until two weeks ago).

What do you find enchanting today?

When did she get old enough to be married?

2011-11-08T09:11:00.002-05:00

My cousin counterpart (she is my age and her brother is my younger sister's age so we spent a LOT of time together as tiny tots) got married on Sunday. I was bridesmaid and all I kept thinking during the ceremony was when did she stop keeping me up at sleepovers and become a bride?!

The wedding photos are not available yet but here's a snap my Aunt took during the reception:

The bride, me in brown, and my sister in blue. Lots of fun!

They were the most sincerely overjoyed couple and I'm thrilled to bits to have been part of it.

Christmas is coming...to my closet

2011-11-02T07:24:00.000-04:00

Now, that we are safely into November (yup, I'm counting the 2nd as solid progress into the month), I feel completely justified turning my thoughts towards Christmas.

At least sartorially. I'm totally not ready to conquer my Christmas shopping list. So, what's on my mind? This gorgeous green top:

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It simply spells Christmas to me. I'm torn between snapping it up now and securing some lightly Christmas inspired work wear and waiting it out for a discount (not that the price requires it!).

Is everyone giving Thanksgiving its due or are you humming Christmas carols?

Beantown and Bests

2011-11-01T07:28:00.000-04:00

I hopped up to Cambridge last weekend was able to spend a wonderful (although waterlogged) weekend with one of my favorites.

D. and I during my senior week.

D. and I attended Notre Dame together but have spent the last two years on different continents (first she was in France and I was in New York, then I was in London and she was in DC). So I am simply overjoyed that not only are we on the same continent but in the same time zone!

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We spent Saturday wandering Charles Street, loping through the Public Gardens and the Common and trooping down Newbury and seeking shelter in such fine shops as Kate Spade and Simon Pearce. What a wonderful ramble!

D. is studying at Harvard (yup, she's beautiful and super smart) so we hunkered down in Cambridge on Saturday night and spent a cozy evening catching up and snacking on apple slices. It was the epitome of fall and my very definition of friendship.

East Coasters, how did you fair with the surprise winter weather? Did everyone have a lovely Halloween?

What I ate Wednesday

2011-10-26T07:39:00.000-04:00

In the interest of blogging more regularly I thought that it might be helpful to add a weekly post. In the past I've done top three Tuesday which was ideal because it was super versatile, I only needed to my favorite three of any given category. I might doing something similar in the future but for now I thought I'd highlight one meal.

This week: Zucchini "Pizza"*

I call it a pizza but really not super pizza-ish. It's a shredded zucchini base topped with arugula pesto, caramelized red onions, goat cheese crumbles, and prosciutto. It might not sound enticing, my mother thought I was crazy but even my veggie-phobic dad enjoyed it. Delicious!

Crust:
-shred one zucchini and press as much liquid out as possible
-add with 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese (I used almond milk cheese mozzarella)
- add one egg and mix thoroughly
-spread on a pizza pan and bake at 400* for ten minutes

Pesto:
-blend arugula (I used 4 cups) with olive oil (will depend on amount of arugula but I used 1/3 cup)
-add 2 TBSP lemon juice
-add 2 cloves of garlic
-add 1 TBSP Parmesan cheese.

*inspired by this recipe

Goal Oriented?

2011-10-24T08:16:00.000-04:00

Here we are almost a third of the way through fall and it occurred to me that I had typed up my goal list and then promptly forgot all about it. Or at least I forgot about some of them. So, I thought I should probably do a little part way there state of the union.

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First, I'm moving- physically (although I'm totally up for geographically as well). In an effort to recreate London I began taking a daily four mile walk around a local duck pond. This has become a daily treat and I really look forward to it. Plus I need to store up some vitamin D before winter, right? Right.

Next, I took a job. Now, it isn't a dream job but it gets me out amongst the people and it is a definitely resume builder until I figure out exactly what is coming next. I've also reconnected with my friends so steps toward "social" are definitely in the works. As a bonus the job requires the bar exam so that at least temporarily answers the bar exam query: NY/NJ it is!

Unfortunately, I've basically crashed and burned on the letter writing front. Sure, I've sent some birthday cards but not actual letters so this one I'm going to work on over the next week or two. Also needing attention is my pretty cake baking skill set. I missed the last round of decorating classes at the local shop but I'm still hoping to get this started in the next month.

All in all, I'm giving myself a B for the first month of fall. How is everyone else doing with their fall projects (official goals or just fun habits)?

Adventures of a Stay-At-Home-Daughter*

2011-09-29T08:24:00.000-04:00

*As my academic career wraps up and I look for work/begin bar prep, I've jokingly christened myself a "stay-at-home-daughter" because it seems to best describe my current lot in life.

I'd like to say that I've been missing in action for the last week and a half because my parents surprised me with a return trip to London to drop off my thesis and, of course, see this exhibit:

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Except that definitely didn't happen. That said, I've still been plenty busy here in the U.S..

The highlights included:
-babysitting my Aunt's golden retriever puppy for two weeks (I love dogs so this was tons of fun even if she was completely high maintenance)
-'hosting' my cousin's bridal shower
-embarking on the great bridal jewelry hunt of September 2011
-making 204859372 runs to the recycling center because my father can't stand having any excess cardboard, yardwaste, or co-mingled bottles in the barn.
-mastering a crabcake recipe (summer's over but I love crab any meal any day)
-navigating the wilds of rural NJ to attend a wedding (not my cousin's)
-serving as secretary for various members of my family (editing cover letters, drafting resumes etc)
-reading like its my job
-composing epic length emails to my favorites
-participating, as chief grass seed scatterer, in operation put the yard to sleep.

So basically just your basic fall in the suburbs. What has been the highlight of your Autumn so far?

Queen Bee Swain's Fall Five

2011-09-14T09:06:00.001-04:00

The dynamic KHM of Queen Bee Swain decided to start a blog tag and she tagged me! Her idea is to list five goals for this fall and then pass the tag along to five bloggers, so here I go.

1) Get social. I'm always a bit of a hermit over the summer

because I'm bopping to the shore every weekend and for as many weekdays as my work schedule allows. Add in the fact that I spent last year in the UK and I've lost touch with some of my favorite people.

2)Decide where to sit the bar exam. Technically, I could draw this decision out until February but I want to weigh my options and get it settled so I can begin to visualize the next few months of my life.

3) Get moving. Living in London I walked EVERYWHERE but since being home I've been fallen back into the habit of jumping into Dora the Explorer even when I could easily walk. This fall I'm calling myself out and committing to walk at least half an hour everyday.

4) Learn how to make a pretty cake. I'm going to go ahead and brag and say that I make delicious cakes/cupcakes but boy are they ugly. I have no real artistic gene but I'm going to do my best to suppress my inherent spazz by taking a cake decorating class.

5)Send real mail. I use my third-grade-boy handwriting as an excuse but who doesn't love a heartfelt letter even if it is slightly chicken-scratchy?

Up next:

Tenaciously Yours

Positively Preppy in Pink

Pink Maple

Audrey Onassis

Nautical by Nature

"Funny that a pair of really nice shoes make us feel good in our heads - at the extreme opposite end of our bodies. "

2011-09-12T08:28:00.000-04:00

Of late, I have been trying very hard to not spend a ton of money on non-necessities. This basically includes not buying any new clothes, or shoes, or handbags or any of the little luxuries I typically snap up without thinking. Oh online shopping, you are SUCH an enabler.

For the most part, I've been pretty successful but for every rule there is an exception and for me that exception is the ballet flat. I have finicky feet. They do not like most shoes. As a little girl I was very particular about the type of socks I would wear (very thin ones only!) and would not dream of wearing a pair of sneakers that had been washed (they would be "crunchy" inside).

So when a brand of shoes I like is on super sale? You can bet I snapped up a pair:

French Sole passport ballet flats from the Rue La La sale two weeks ago. Love them. My favorite flip-flops gave up the ghost this weekend which was all the sign I needed to break out my latest purchase. As the title quote suggests slipping these on, instantly dresses up my jeans and makes my whole day feel more pulled together.

Or if I'm introduced to a charming new vendor: Le Bunny Bleu Romantic & Vintage Flat Shoes:

Mine are a cheerful turquoise with an amusing bunny shaped jewel pendent (although I can't say that you'd look at the toe caps and think "bunny ears" if you didn't know to look and I'm not sure that this is a bad thing). I love most of their collection and am so glad I stumbled on to their website during hurricane Irene.

What is your "there's always room in the budget" splurge? Any gorgeous flats that need to be part of your fall wardrobes?

It's that time of year again

2011-09-10T07:07:00.000-04:00

GO IRISH!

Lust List

2011-09-07T08:53:00.000-04:00

There are some things that I just love. I don't necessarily have any plans to acquire many of these items but I find them beautiful and cheerful. They're my lust list.

One such item:

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Tiffany's discontinued silver Bamboo flatware.

I'm not sure where or when I first tripped across it, probably while clicking around ebay or maybe even in a magazine, but it was lust at first site. I love the little notches and can imagine the weight of the stem in my hands. Elegant but substantial. Lust. I'll never own a set from Tiffany but I may just snap up this copycat from Target:

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Not identical but at that price they might some day find a place in my cutlery drawer.

Is there any item that you admire from afar even if you never plan to make space for it in your abode?

It's that time of year

2011-09-06T08:42:00.003-04:00

It was the first weekend of September which meant I made my annual pilgrimage back to here:

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The University of Notre Dame a.k.a. my most favorite place in the entire world. (Not an exaggeration. I love London, I think Delft it gorgeous and couldn't find a view I didn't wan

t to photograph in the south of France but Northern Indiana? Has got the "Dome" and you really can't beat that.)

My dad and I flew out for the first football game. The Irish were, to put it nicely, terrible. They outplayed the South Florida but killed themselves on turnovers and penalties. Ug-ly. As a special treat we there for the first evacuation of Notre Dame Stadium in history. As a super special treat we were also there for the second ever evacuation. There was severe weather the school made the right call to get the fans out in a timely manner.

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We spent an hour and half in the concourse during the first evac. and about forty-five minutes during the second. All told the game took upwards of six hours.

We spent Sunday visiting The Henry Ford (Museum and Greenfield Village which should be part of the title but it is not). If you, like me, live on the East Coast you've probably never heard of it but this place is like the original Disney.

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The village is a huge (2 mile loop) parkland with lakes and working farms and a small mainstreet/downtown area. Henry Ford set about buying and relocating the original homes and workshops of some the 19th and 20th centuries' most influential minds. The spread includes his own workshop, the Wright brothers' home and cycle shop, Robert Frost's house and Thomas Edison's entire inventing compound.

It is a great way to catch some sunshine and learn a little bit. The museum itself is huge but neatedly divided into easy to digest wings. The car exhibit (the one we came for) is actually under construction but we did see a civil rights exhibit that had the Rosa Parks bus and the chair President Lincoln was shot in, the transformation from carriages to wagons to trains, and the different models of presidential vehicles (I'm going say that Carter, Reagan, and H.W. Bush got the raw end of the deal on that front). I actually thought the whole place was pretty cool and would definitely recommend it if you are in the Dearborn, Michigan area. We stayed at the Dearborn Inn and it was absolutely gorgeous, so check that out too.

Between campus and the museum we basically spend all weekend on foot. So, after yesterday's crack of dawn flight, we were both ready for a quiet Labor day at home.

Bye Bye Bro

2011-08-30T08:10:00.000-04:00

It's hard for me to believe that my one and only baby brother is off to college today. When my sisters went to college it never really made much of an impression on me - we're all so close in age that it seemed normal, either I was off to college shortly myself or was already away
absorbed in my time at Notre Dame. Kevin is five years younger than my youngest sister so it's always been easy to consider him "the baby," so I'm having massive cognitive dissonance over packing him off to college.

My "little brother," as you can see he towers over the principle (who's even standing on a step). I love this photo because it completely looks photoshopped.

He'll be great, you've never met a more laid back person (he'd need to be with all his sisters) and he's not going very far (only two hours to my sister C's alma mater).

Still, I spent my pre-hurrican Irene Saturday baking these:

Tip: the trick is to use chocolate melts, the kind you use to make lollipops or candies, and you'll get a nice puddle of melted chocolate---yum!

Kevin was supposed to move in on Sunday but with the hurricane (fun fact: my sister C. moved into the same school the day a storm knocked out the lights and elevators--Dad was not psyched about her 3rd floor room), they rescheduled until today. My dad has work so my mother and I are taking Kevin up. My mission is to not embarass him during my four hours on campus, so I'm trying to think cool older sister thoughts which are kind of a stretch for me!

Any interesting college move-in stories? Did you hate your roommate? Did your parents embarrass you? Did you meet your new best friend at orientation?

California or the Netherlands? Pretty much interchangeable, right?

2011-08-25T08:20:00.001-04:00

I visited a Los Angeles for the first time in early July and my friend was an awesome tourguide. She made sure we started the day at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, took me to the La Brea tarpits even if it is basically a dirty hole in the ground, drove up to the Griffith Observatory (science nerds that we are, we watched a history of astronomy presentation) and scooped up tickets to see Hall & Oates at the Hollywood Bowl (full disclosure: I went for the fourth of July firework tribute, but I did find myself tapping my toes to Rich Girl).

We also cruised Beverly Hills. I'm not a picture person by nature but assoon as I saw this view I made C. pull over so I could snap a photo.

Why? Well, I could help but be reminded of this:

It's Hobbema's "The Avenue of Middelharnis." I studied it in a college art history class on Dutch artists and it has always had a special place in my heart because it was the subject of our final exam question.

"So we meet again, Mr. Bond"

2011-08-22T07:20:00.000-04:00

When my family is at our beach house it has become my job to be at the pool club promptly at opening so I can secure lounges for the whole family. The pool has about forty lounges but only three canopies so it is crucial to arrive in a timely manner if I want to scoop up any shade. As far as I'm considered the whole point of lounging by the pool is to, you know, be in the sun but my father had skin cancer and is now shade oriented so at least one of the chairs needs to be under a canopy.

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To do this I usually leave my house around 9:58 to be at the pool gate by 10:00 am. Well, this past weekend, the gate was not open when I strolled

over so I stood and cooled my jets about three yards away (letting the people that were already waiting be closer to go first). I was happily listening to my british invasion playlist (something about being down the shore means oldies music for me) when a little boy, I'd guess about ten, left his place in the front of the line and walked over to me.

Little Boy: (looks me up and down) "You again?"

Me: (a little confused, although I did recognize him from other weekends) "Yup."

LB: (looking at the towel I'm holding in my arms): "It's a good thing I have this backpack, you know, so I don't have to hold anything."

Me: (I nod) "Yes, that's smart. My bag only holds three towels, so I need to hold one so I can get enough chairs."

LB: "My backpacks holds all kinds of things like playing cards and pool toys."

Me: "That's great. You should be all set for a fun day.... oh, look they've opened the gate. You should go first."

We walk in. I grab my usual seats and begin to set up.

LB: "So, I'm uh, I'm going to sit by you, okay?"

So he did. At least until some more age appropriate friends should up to play with. I just thought it was so funny how he walked up to me as if we had some long-running adversarial relationship, it just struck me as how a spy would great and old nemesis. I guess if I have to have a nemesis, a fairly friendly pool club based 10 year old is the type I'd like to have.

I went skydiving...*

2011-08-15T07:02:00.005-04:00

*Title of this post should be sung in tune with the Tim McGraw song (you know you were reading it that way anyway).

As a general rule I do not like to say no. Sure, this extends to having trouble telling people that I don't have time to do this or that I just plain don't want to do that which can be stressful but mostly it's a good rule. It means that I'll say yes to the inconvenient concert or to the totally last minute trip to Minnesota and have a great time. So, when my little sister announced that she was going sky diving with her best friend, I couldn't not tag along. I've always wanted to sky dive but the hefty price tag (Excuse me, I'm going to pay you $220, so I can jump out of a plane? No, thanks.) was always a deterrent.

Still, if she was going so was I. It was an experience. I had some qualms when I noticed that the recycling at the dive site was filled exclusively with beer and liquor bottles and when my ability to correctly fill out my waiver sincerely impressed the staff (apparently initialing at the indicated points is tricky business), but it did not occur to me to be frightened until I was actually out of the plane. At that point my rational mind quickly deduced that it was too late to do anything about it so I might as well enjoy it. Honestly, the freefall was the best part, a complete thrill. Once the shoot opened (and I was confident that I would not be smashing into the ground), the view was beautiful but actually really uncomfortable. As newly unemployed, I balked at paying an additional $150 for photos but my sister, who has never met a camera she didn't like, did.

Have you ever done gone sky diving? Or what other slightly more sane activity did you do this weekend?

Calling all bridal mavens

2011-08-12T07:00:00.004-04:00

One of the pluses of being back on the East Coast is the added convenience of helping to plan my cousin's wedding. I'm one of three bridesmaids and while the bridal shower was mostly set by the maid of honor (my cousin's nursing school chum) I'm on board to help with the little touches and make the family feel comfortable and included.

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Now I haven't been to many bridal showers, most of my friends are still in the further education phase of life, so I need ideas from all of you out there. I know many of you are married or have at the very least have attended a few bridal showers. So, what sort favors did you give? What fun touches did you enjoy? What aspects were altered to make it more personal or reflective of the bride's personality?

Help me out here! All tips will be appreciated.

Come out, come out wherever you are

2011-08-09T07:25:00.001-04:00

No promises but I think I'm back in the blogging game. I'm also back in my parents' home in New Jersey.

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What happened to Dallas? You ask. Well, it just didn't pan out. I loved the city and I'm not sure that I won't be back but the job and I just didn't click. I'm extremely disappointed because I wanted badly for it to work out but somethings are not meant to be. It all happened pretty fast but I'm settled back at home for the time being. Now, I'm picking up the pieces to see what is next. At the moment that includes interviewing for other jobs, trying to convince my father that despite my pricey education I'm not sure corporate law is for me and writing my master's thesis. So, I'm keeping busy.

I did make time to read the Hunger Games trilogy. I had resisted for months because I thought the premise was too sad but my younger brother had them hanging around the house and wow, I loved them. I also loved getting to discuss the plot and characters with him as we both read. I've never really read a book at the same time as him and it was treat to get to know how he processed it. I really feel I got to know him a bit better too. What were other people's thoughts on these books? All I can say is that I'm psyched for the movies!

Okay, time for me to make a much needed dent in my google reader. Can't wait to catch up with you all.

The Vicious Cycle

2011-07-07T07:32:00.000-04:00

Often when life gets busy I have no time to read blogs, when I have no time to read blogs, I usually don't have time to write posts either. However, when I do have the odd ten minutes, I just can't bring myself to pin up a post because I feel guilty for not reading other people's blogs first. It just feels entirely self-absorbed to ask people to read what I have to say, if I won't take the time to read what they have to say as well. Then, I don't post or read because there is SO much to catch up on. A vicious cycle.

So, this post is simply breaking the cycle of absence and is the digital equivalent of me waving my hand and announcing "I'm still here." My life is no busier than anyone else's (and I am a good deal less busy than many of you, I'm sure) and it just comes down to time management. Typically, in school I was a time management pro so I just need to start exercising those mental muscles.

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Expect some comments coming your way! Can't wait to see what everyone has been up to recently.

Texas on my mind

2011-06-14T08:45:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but, I now live in Dallas. I've been here for almost two weeks and I absolutely adore this city. It's a long way from London but it certainly has its charms.

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Now, I know a handful of people in the city but I'm always looking for advice. Anyone want to tell me there favorite places to shop, get a manicure, workout etc? Any "must do" events or sites? Are you in Dallas and want to have a blogger meet-up? I'd love it.

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Tell me, blogging buddies, I'm looking for it all!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.

2011-06-13T08:37:00.000-04:00

I attended a "fiesta" this past weekend and while the meal was delicious and the margaritas the perfect salty-sweet, the real star of the show was this:

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Ciao Bello Key Lime Gelato Squares.

Oh my, my, my. These are just too wonderful. They're creamy and tart and substantial enough to be filling but no so heavy that you have even a moment of regret.

As an aside, if you are in London you MUST head to South Kensington and get yourself some Oddono's. They have the BEST gelato that I've had outside of Rome.

There is a palm tree in my living room...

2011-06-07T09:15:00.000-04:00

...I don't think that I'm in South Kensington anymore!

My apartment is furnished and I looked up this morning (yes, I've lived here since Saturday afternoon but mostly in the bedroom and kitchen) and noticed a palm tree. In. My living room.

Craziness. I could only conclude that it was God telling me to relax and enjoy this new atmosphere.

So, how were everyone's weekends and Mondays?

London Love

2011-06-01T07:41:00.000-04:00

I'm winging my way back to the East Coast and I'm slightly heartbroken at what I'm leaving behind.

Here is a smattering of the sites that my life beautiful for the past several months:

The mews next to my house

These horses practiced in full regalia during my morning walks

Who doesn't love Harrods? It was en route to my class building

One of the heritage buses that ran a loop on my favorite high street

A lion guarding the embankment

My college

I was lucky enough to pass the Italian fountains on my walk every morning

Leaving an exam doesn't feel so bad when the first thing you see is this

The delicious birthday cake my housemates baked me

Truly, it has been a blessed two semesters and a complete gift of a year!

The End is Nigh

2011-05-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

I've been a bit preoccupied by a whole lot of this:

I've been telling myself this:

And in between the packing and the studying my life feels a lot like this:

One more exam and one more night in London which makes me want to do this:

via

Arlington Ladies

2011-05-30T07:28:00.000-04:00

I hope that everyone is having a fantastic and relaxing Memorial Day in the U.S.

via

Although I'm still in the UK, today is the perfect day to share a story that one of my favorite girls brought to my attention: The Arlington Ladies.

Did you know that there is an organization of women that endeavor to attend every funeral at Arlington Ceremony? The group started in 1948 when Gladys Vandenberg noticed a servicemember being buried without any family, certain that no one who had sacrificed his or her life for our country should be buried without witnesses, she formed a group of wives to attend the services. Now, the Air Force, the Navy, and the Army all have groups of women who attend the funerals in Arlington, often with assigned military escorts.

What a touching tribute.

Gaga for Aga

2011-05-19T07:18:00.003-04:00

I've always been a tad different and have dreamed about some day owning my own home with an Aga range in the kitchen. In high school french I got marked down on an essay about kitche appliances because my teacher didn't realize that "Aga" was specific brand and not just me butchering the French language (though in fairness to him, I was terrible at French).

Via

My mother was not on board when she re-did our kitchen and so I have had post-pone my dream. When I decided to move to Texas, one of her first comments was "An Aga will be great in the Texas heat, enjoy that."

Hmmm. True, I probably don't want a range that needs to heat up for six hours (and therefore is basically perpetually on) in Texas.

So imagine my glee when yesterday's Independent featured a story on the new Aga Total Control. It looks just like an Aga but they've tweaked the heating system so that it no longer uses a central source. Not only is it much more economical and environmentally friendly but the oven will preheat in only 22 minutes (and can be set from your smartphone!).

I'm sold. Now, I just need a home of my own.

Do you have a ridiculous fantasy item that you're future or current home just wouldn't be complete without?

Pomp and Circumstance

2011-05-16T07:57:00.001-04:00

**Edited: I didn't mean to sound bitter, I'm super excited to be in London and I'm glad for my friends. Sorry for the confusion, just meant to explain why I wasn't graduating not to complain**

Today my class is graduating from law school.

Everyone will be sporting scholarly powder blue and black robes and walking across the stage set up between Butler and Lowe libraries.

I'm in London, so I won't officially graduate until fall but now I want to wish all of my Columbia friends a heartfelt congratulations and my sincere thanks for helping me through the terror of moot court, the confusion of EIP, and the general fog that was 1L.

Congratulations Columbia University Law School Class of 2011!!

Via

A Royal Title

2011-05-13T16:25:00.000-04:00

Berry is probably the most pervasive of my childhood knicknames (followed by Kerby to my chagrin). So, seeing this sign every day as I turned from the tube station to my street never failed to bring a little smile to my lips.

Queen Berry? I don't mind if I do.

I can't wait to see it again*

2011-05-10T07:44:00.001-04:00

**Edited: For some reason the font and spacing are displaying strangely and in italic, let's try this again**

The first time I saw it, I thought it was some kind of Asian temple...

It was the first thing I ever saw snow accumulate on in London...

I've gotten lost in the park and used it as a signpost...

I'll miss it when I'm in the US...

The Prince Albert Memorial Monument,

I can't wait to see it again.

*I have just three weeks left, so I'm highlighting the everyday pieces of "my" London that I can't wait to see on my next visit.

Child's Play

2011-05-09T06:30:00.003-04:00

One of the perks (among many) of London is that I can decide to see a play at a moments notice. There have been days when a class is less than riveting, that I log on to a theatre website and scoop up tickets to whatever performance had discount tickets that night. This way I get to see a wide variety of plays and not just the typical tourist fare, all for a reasonable price - especially when contrasted with Manhattan theatre prices.

The Children's Hour was not one of those discount tickets. Sure, I'm reasonably confident that I could have snagged a student ticket but I didn't want to leave it to chance and I wanted to make sure that I had a decent seat, so I paid full price and called in a birthday present.

Perhaps because I paid full freight but I definitely approached it as a special night and took pains to enjoy the entire experience of it, from dinner i

n central London to a walk through bustling Piccadilly Circus after the show. It was completely worth it.

The play was written by Lillian Hellman at the prompting of Dashiell Hammett (of Maltese Falcon fame) in 1934. The play was inspired by a true story that took place in Scotland in the late 1800s. It was scandalous at the time because it's the story of two women who run a girls' boarding school from a farm house and the lifelong friends become embroiled in vicious gossip that paints them as lesbians and shuts down their school. However, early performances changed the lesbian theme to love triangle to make it more palatable for the audience.

I had seen the Audrey Hepburn film version and was eager to see the play when I heard that Keira Knightley and Elisabeth Moss would be playing the leads. The acting was great all around and the sets, while sparse, were gorgeous and made me wish I had an old east coast farmhouse to call home. As critics have suggested the real wonder was Bryonny Hannah as malicious and manipulative Mary Tilford, the student that sets the rumor in motion. She gave me chills.

It was definitely among my favorite theatre experiences. What plays have you loved and which should I check out in my remaining weeks?

London Calling?

2011-05-05T07:31:00.000-04:00

So I have a few more Italy adventures to share but as they're already almost a month old, why not wait a bit longer and use them as a gap-filler post during exams?

Now, I adore postcards and have quite a few framed around my room. So, as the clock ticks down on my time in London (and I try to avoid studying for my exams) I set about finally mailing postcards to my friends and family, there is nothing like waiting until the last minute.

So, my question to you fellow bloggers is would anyone care to get a postcard from London in the mail? Its always fun to get mail and the Union Jack is just so becoming... If so, pop me an email (kcpeachykeen[at]gmail.com) and I'll send one winging your way (and I most ce

rtainly will not be sharing your details with anyone so rest assured).

Images

Italian Rambles

2011-05-01T07:49:00.000-04:00

Now, that the Royal Wedding is behind us (yes, I do realize that I make it sound as if I or anyone I know was actually involved) back to recapping my Italian adventures.

While using Verona as a home base, we took two short day trips to nearby cities. I was all for Venice (I've never been, somehow I always end up in Rome) but a train strike made it untenable. Instead, we headed to nearby Padua. Padua is a tiny city but is home to some of Italy's greatest art in the Scrovengi Chapel. Commisioned by Enrico Scrovengi in oder to shorten his father's, an infamous usurer, time in purgatory. It was painted entirely by Giotto and his assistants and feature's wall to wall frescoes detailing three narratives (The lives of Joachim and Anna, the Virgin Mary's life, and Christ's passion). We also took some time to soak in the city square and visit the Basilica of St. Anthony, who lived there and served the people of Padua.

"Tony, Tony, please look around, something's lost and can't be found."

Our second day trip was to Lake Garda. It is Italy's second biggest lake and a big tourist attraction for non-US tourists. The scenery was breath-taking and we lucked out with gorgeous 76* weather.

The funicular had just reopened and of course we hopped aboard. Unfortunately for my feet, I was dressed for the sunshine at water level and not for the snow topped mountain cap.

Even so, we braved the cold to take full advantage of the mountain views.

Lake Garda was certainly beautiful but neither destination really requires a full day. I'd recommend half a day each even with traveling but both are definitely worth a stop.

So, how was everyone's weekend?

Ring Thing

2011-04-28T06:17:00.002-04:00

So, I'm not sure what's common knowledge and what's not because I'm a little out of the gossip loop (yes, I'm kicking myself for not indulging in a celebrity gossip magazine about the wedding) but here two fun ring related facts.

1) Prince William will not be wearing a wedding ring. Apparently is now common among the English upper class to go ring-less and with all the coverage that this wedding is getting, its not like someone could not know that he was married.

2) Yes, Kate received Princess Diana's engagement ring, BUT she also received a second personal ring. Its a simple gold band engraved with "MDPO," which is rumored to stand for My Darling Princess Ordinary. Awww.

Kensington Palace

2011-04-27T09:42:00.005-04:00

Back in the States I'm a Good Morning America girl, so you can imagine my excitement when I learned that they would be filming at Kensington Palace just steps from where I live. Now, I'd never dream of queuing up in Times Square (and never so much as passed a filming location when I lived in NYC) but I couldn't resist the urge to walk by, besides I'd never been inside Kensington Palace so this was the perfect motivation to go.

Photo Credit

As I'm sure you know, Kensington Palace is where Princess Diana and Prince Charles lived after they were married (and Diana until she passes away) and where Princes William and Harry grew up. There is even speculation that Prince William and Kate will move in after they're married. Princesses Margaret and Alice also lived there until their deaths and Queen Victoria spent her childhood in this lovely home.

Located in Kensington Gardens, it has extensive grounds and beautiful gardens.

The Palace has a museum, typically home to classic dress collection and history exhibits, that is currently hosting an "Enchanted Palace" exhibit. The public rooms have been re-done to look like scenes straight out of a fairy tale and include a challenge to locate the seven hidden princesses. As you progress through the rooms you learn about Royal history and read poems about the hidden princesses (all actually lived in Kensington Palace). If I were 5 it would have been the best afternoon (okay, it was pretty fun at 25 too!).

It is a quick visit and I'd highly recommend it (especially when the Royal Dress collection is back on display in the coming months). Oh, and I got to shake hands with Robin Roberts and she is just as down to earth and warm as she seems on tv!

Royal Wedding Week

2011-04-25T07:34:00.000-04:00

First, I hope that everyone that celebrates had a blessed and family-filled Easter Sunday! Mine was mellow (apart from the intense egg hunt--yep. I'm 25 and still LOVE dying easter eggs and we always have a cutthroat hunt) but still terrific. Now...

The Royal Wedding is just days away, and unlike all the native Londoners I live with, I'm tickled to have the chance to be in London for the event. So this week, I'm going to share my favorites of all the Royal Wedding knickknacks that I've tripped across.

So their are a lot of super tacky commemorative mugs and few really tasteful ones (I'll share my pick later this week) but how fun are these two from Sweet William Designs:

"I should have gone to St. Andew's..."

"I was saving myself for HARRY anyway."

Both are available here. If you're at all an Anglophile then this site needs to be in your favorites. Too adorable.

How was everyone's weekend?

"There is no world without Verona walls..."

2011-04-18T07:32:00.000-04:00

One amendment before I recap the Italy goodness:

After K. and I made it make from our extended sojourn at Fortnum, I was surprised by a fantastic little party in the bar of my house. Some of my favorite residents (we sound like mental patients, no?) got together to bake a delicious strawberry shortcake (bakery quality folks), blue popcorn (a nod to one of my sweetest college memories), and my go-to cocktail: the woo-woo. Basically, it could not have been more thoughtful and I appreciated every second.

Now, blatant oversight corrected, Italy. K. and I flew into Verona. We selected Juliet's city because it was cheap to fly to and because neither of us had everbeen. Let me tell you, it was beautiful. The city has an impressive arena (home to some of Italy's most famous opera performances) and the entire central piazza is lined in luminous marble called the liston (although when it is wet it is mighty slippery...not that I would know that). We stayed off of the "local" piazza Erbe (I have a great hotel recommendation if you ever need one) and had the best time just sitting on the second floor terrace and enjoying the warm weather and the people watching.

Juliet's famed balcony.

Juliet's house (as seen in Letters to Juliet) is the main tourist attraction and we dutifully visited (Rick Steve's advises that her museum is over-priced and it probably is, but it is included in the Veronacard museum pass and we did learn that Romeo and Juliet was a legend and poem long before Shakespeare showed up...news to us!). Lesser known is that Romeo's home is just three streets away. It's not open to the public but it does house a first rate (and reasonably priced!) restaurant. We made reservations just so we could say that we "ate dinner in Romeo's house!"

Osteria Del Duca

We toured the arena, the second largest after the coliseum in Rome and it much better condition, but the outdoor opera season does not begin for a few weeks.

The Arena

Instead we took in the opening night performance of the Pearl Fishers in the nearby opera house. We got to walk through the ancient courtyard, bedecked with small olympic torch like fires, and into the gorgeous opera house, where we were lucky enough to pick up student tickets just a few rows from the orchestra. The opera was sung in French and translated to Italian on the screens, so I was basically lost. Luckily, we had read the plot on wikipedia the night before.

Tea and Hooligans?

2011-04-14T07:23:00.000-04:00

I'm hesitant to admit that although I previously studied in England and had visited London for several family holidays, I'd never had a real high tea. So when I heard that my friend K. Cupcake was going to be able to visit (she booked with a week notice) and help me celebrate my 25th, I called Fortum and Mason and booked us into a high tea.

Taking a step back, March 26th was designated the "Day of Rage" in London and central London was due to be ground zero for a series of protests. Knowing this, I made the executive decision to cancel the plan to have drinks at a pub on Whitehall with some of my friends. Being directly between Parliament and Trafalgar square didn't seem prudent. But, afternoon tea at the quiet St. James on Fortum and Mason's 5th floor? The least likely place for there to be a ruckus.

Well, you know how that goes. K. and I arrived at tea and had a beautiful service. On the way in we passed through the marchers and throughout the tea the noise from the street got louder and louder. When we asked for the bill, the waiter told us no. We thought he was joking because we hadn't finished our meal, but, he was serious and told us that he thought for our safety we should stay inside for awhile. We sat back and sipped our lemonade for an hour more before deciding that we really needed to get a move on if we were going to make our evening plans. We asked again for the check and K. went for out coats. No go. It turned out that the SWAT team had circled the building and that there were 1,000 protestors in the ground floor of the store.

K. and the empty restuarant behind her.

Ultimately, K. and I spent almost 7 hours upstairs waiting for the protestors to end their sit-in. It felt like being on the Titanic: the pianist kept playing, we were treated to gratis champagne and tea cakes, and were in the lap of luxury for the entire time. Yet, people were physically raging in the streets and in the building below.

Birthday tea cake and champagne

Eventually we were lead out a back staircase and walked (getting in an enclosed space when a mob mentality was pervasive didn't seem wise, so no tube) through an oddly deserted (and ravaged) central London as we made our way home.

It was certainly a birthday for the books!

Busy Berry

2011-04-12T16:17:00.002-04:00

Whew! Where did March go?!

April flowers in Rome

I was incredibly lucky to have a visitor for all but one day of March. It was go, go, go but I couldn't be happier. My month started with a visit from my sister and our quick trip to Paris. Then my good friend L. visited and we ran around London and visited Oxford. Finally, my dear friend, K. Cupcake came to visit and we split two weeks in London, Windsor, Oxford, Verona, and Rome!

I have tons of stories and will catch up on all your blogs ASAP! I can't wait to see what adventures you all are having!

Oxford Comma

2011-03-21T07:45:00.000-04:00

Apparently the internet at my house has decided to go on strike...again. C'est la vie. But, seriously if getting a week behind on my blogs (oh, wait, was I supposed to be doing class work? whoopsie.) is my biggest problem than I'm ridiculously blessed.

Anyway my dear friend L. from Notre Dame is in town to visit.

She studied for a semester in London and was anxious to return to all for her old haunts (conveniently pretty much the same places I dawdled while studying here in undergrad), it's been so fun to reconnect with London from that vantage point.

L. has a friend, and fellow Domer, who is currently studying in Oxford and I couldn't resist a trip to a new city (see, Dad, it's not just plane aided travel I love...it's anything new). We recruited one of my housemates and headed to Oxford for the day. It was unfairly gorgeous out and we spent most of the afternoon just walking the streets. I'm entirely in love the city and have decided that I must study there (what? like it's hard? so I will be attempting to do my very best Elle Woods once I figure out what to study and when). We finished out trip with a visit to the Eagle and Child where C.S. Lewis and the other Inklings used to meet to drink, write and debate!

Sidenote: the ENTIRE time I was in Oxford I had Vampire Weekend stuck in my head, perfect.

On Friday, I met L. at an American style sports bar after class to ch

eer on the Fighting Irish in their game against Akron. The bar didn't actually play much of the game (we saw the last few minutes) but we made a bunch of friends and scored Cubs tickets from a fellow alum. Now, onward against FSU tonight. GO IRISH!

L. is off in Paris for the weekend and I'm meant to be doing the class work that wasn't done these past few days. Hope everyone is enjoying the spring weather as much as I am.

In Emilyland...

2011-03-15T08:30:00.001-04:00

I loved the show Gilmore Girls (except for seasons 6&7 which I pretend do not exist). I watched it all through high school and then had Sunday marathons with my roommates in college.

Well, in a certain episode the main character Lorelai is explaining to her friend, Sookie, that her mother is not like normal people but lives in fictional "Emilyland." To emphasize the difference between the real world and Emilyland she states:

"In Emilyland you only drive a Bentley because you can't afford a Rolls" (or something quite close).

For whatever reason this snippet amused me and my sister and I developed the habit of quoting it to one another whenever we saw Bentley or a Rolls Royce.

So, of course, C. couldn't resist snapping a photo when she spotted a Rolls Royce parked outside the local South Kensington Gelataria.

Un Peu de Paris

2011-03-14T07:52:00.001-04:00

My sister C. had spring break from law school this past week and decided to pop over to see me for a quick visit. The only thing on her agenda? Disney. (yes, I did say that she was in law school and yes, she is 22)

So we hopped the last Eurostar on Friday night and pulled into Gare du Nord just before midnight. Bright and early Saturday we grabbed the RER out to the Disney Parks. We though about staying the night in the Disney Village (the hotels are so fun!) but it made more sense to stay in central Paris and we ultimately didn't spend much time in Disney at all. At C.'s request we took a bus tour of the main sites in Paris that afternoon. She braved the wind and sat on top while I lasted only about halfway through before ducking below deck.

C. enjoying her beloved crepes!

Sunday we hustled out to wait in line in front of the Louvre. It was free entry because it was the first Sunday of the month, so we wanted to be extra early. We were among the first handful inside and headed directly for the Mona Lisa. C. echoed by response on first seeing it several years ago: "Huh, not nearly as small or dark as people make you think it will be." Low Expectations, folks, low expectations.

After the Louvre we took a different RER out to Versailles. This was really the heart of C's visit because she specialized in the French Revolutionary period in college. It was free admission (bonus!) and we toured the Chalet and the gardens. C. had a blast playing paparazzi in the garden. We made some friends on the garden tram (tres tacky but very necessary with the cold wind) who were in town for Paris fashion week. The overall opinion was that Versailles is pretty much Alice in Wonderland.

So after a whirlwind Parisian vacation, C. headed back to Heathrow Monday evening and is now safely back in the law library to crank out some course outlines. Oh, to be a 1L again.

Spring

2011-03-11T12:52:00.001-05:00

On Monday I was just a little glum after putting my sister, C., on the train to Heathrow, so I decided a work through Hyde Park was in order.

Well, I hadn't gone very far when I spotted this:

Beautiful spring daffodils and croci

Spring is in full swing in London this week!

"I want to be a part of it, New York, New York"

2011-02-28T14:17:00.002-05:00

Keeping with my every other weekend travel pattern (how lucky can you get?!) I've spent the last few days in New York City.

The view from my seat to NYC.

Most first year law students are required to participate in a moot court competition to teach them how to write a brief and give them some oral argument practice. My school offered the standard first year program or several specialized programs which allowed you to focus on a particular area of the law. One these programs included a trip to Colorado and wave a plane ticket in front of me and I'm sold. Little did I know that I'd end up loving my team, developing a interest in a really fascinating and under-researched area of the law, and winning the competition. Fast-forward to last February when I was part of an incredible group of coaches and even more enthusiastic participants. Inspired by the competition we got swept up in the crazy idea of hosting the entire conference. Since I was located in London, I was the ideal candidate to be the problem's research assistant and judge coordinator. This past weekend was the competition and went wonderfully. I'm so proud of my former competition-practice partner-cum-man-behind-the-curtain. I was not nearly as involved as I would have liked but I can't even pretend that there was anything that could have been improved. K., S. and all the rest worked incredibly hard and it paid off!

Happy Reminder

2011-02-21T05:13:00.002-05:00

I tend to invest everything with sentimental value. A song is never just a song but it's the song that my friend B. played nonstop in the library and annoyed the everyone the was studying (fyi: Africa by Toto) and even a shirt isn't just shirt but the shirt I wore during my last day in Paris (Navy striped RL rugby).

So whenever I see this sign:

I can't help but think about my favorite class in law school, Connections in Law & Literature, and my all-time favorite professor. That class used Dicken's Bleak House as a thematic novel to tie the course together. That book centers around an interminable, and pointless, legal case: Jarndyce v. Jarndyce. So each day as I head to school and pass this shop, I smile to myself and think about the professor that reminded me not to lose my mind in law school, that life was about more than a corporate law job, and that reading novels and cases were really not that different. It's just fitting that this Jarndyce is a bookstore.

Wilde Child

2011-02-18T06:55:00.004-05:00

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."

"It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information."

"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone elses opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."

"The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly - that is what each of us is here for."

"Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes."

"The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about."

"Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast."

"One's real life is often the life that one does not lead."

"I can resist anything but temptation."

Some are funny, some are wise but all are quotes from the Irish playwright and poet Oscar Wilde. Why am I sharing them? Because I'm off to see his play,

An Ideal Husband !

Photo Credit

I hope that everyone is having a fantastic Friday!

"Are you frightened? No, not really. Are you worried? Not a bit!"

2011-02-16T07:43:00.001-05:00

Those are the words to a Veggie Tales song (or close to it) and were what my friend K. chose to share with me as I went on my first ever entirely solo trip. Sure, I've traveled alone to and from places but always en route to meet people that I knew or for a very specific purpose (say a job interview) and I definitely I always spoke the language. Not so this past week.

I decided late last Sunday to take an impromptu trip to Portugal. The flights were to good to pass up and I'd heard incredible things about the country. So without much more though I packed my Longchamp and headed to the airport. I did buy a guidebook and so had some basic phrases handy but that was it.

I split my time between Lisbon and Fatima. It rained for almost my whole visit but it was still a beautiful country. I loved so much of the architecture and I can imagine how Mediterranean in must be when the weather is a little better. I did the tourist routine in Lisbon and saw some great museums and a tile factory. I wasn't aware of it, but Portugal produces this incredible hand-painted tile in both blue and white and more colorful combinations. I love anything blue and white (my pilgrimage to Delft comes to mind) so I naturally swerved into any shop that had ceramic tiles on display.

Fatima was the real purpose of my trip. I've had friends who really felt moved by the shrine and said that it was a life-changing experience. I'm not entirely sure that my life was changed but it was a sincerely prayerful place.

All told, I got lost only once, and then only a little bit, I successfully took public buses, commuted several hours to the shrine, and navigated the metro. I'd say I can officially add solo traveller to my list.

One fish, two fish...pedicure fish?

2011-02-10T07:44:00.000-05:00

I don't make a habbit of allowing, let alone paying for the privilege, animals to snack on parts of my body. I made an exception Monday on my visit to the Camden market in North London (I also don't generally visit Camden...far too many spikey dog collars and black leather).

Months and months ago I purchased a vouchers for a fish pedicure on Groupon. I'd seen such a thing advertised in the US but it isn't legal in New York city, so I'd never seen one first hand (or foot!) but had always been curious. Basically, they have huge a tank of warm water filled with hundreds of small (maybe two inch) fish. The fish are called Raffa and are a fresh water species from Turkey. They don't have teeth but gently suck the dry skin off your feet...or so the advertisements claim. However, pedicure might be a misnomer because no polish is involved, you are just paying for the privilege of having the fish snack on you for 30 minutes. It was tingly and ticklish and was definitely a lot of fun.

I can't say I'll go back but I'm glad that I tried it!

"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door."

2011-02-04T08:43:00.000-05:00

While writing, or more accurately while trying to avoid writing, I would go for long walks around my neighborhood. I've always been fascinated by the English practice of designing doors with a single central doorknob and agreed with my friend K. Cupcake that should we ever live together we would have a door like that. I love the architecture in London and I love that the doors all have such character (not true in NYC at all). So here's a sampling from a recent walk to Whole Foods.

I love how simple this door is, just the single knob with no mail slot or knocker. How wonderful must the red look when it's all dressed up for Christmas (I'm kind of tempted to have a red door just to contrast it with garland and white lights during the Holidays).

I really like the dark hunter green over the above two doors. It's very understated and would look great year round but it's more personal than a basic black door.

I love how rich the cherry of this door is. It's located in this very nondescript stretch of low brick wall and then, boom, this beautiful elegant door.

I have edited my future dream door (to my dream house which currently has bathroom with a slipper tub and hardwood floors, and a kitchen with an Aga--because that's practical in Texas) to have a central silver or pewter knob and to be painted bright blue. Very much like this one:

And, yes, if you were wondering, I did feel like a creepy stalker taking pictures of people's front doors.

Amsterdam

2011-02-01T06:46:00.001-05:00

I have spent that last month in writing mode (not blog writing mode as you may have noticed) and have generated over 120 pages of academic writing (though no guarantees on quality) so at least it's been productive. Now, however, I'm more than ready to get back to enjoying London and Europe.

So...I hoped on a plane and went to visit my Columbia friend E. She's doing a program similar to what I'm doing in London in Amsterdam. I'd visited Amsterdam before as part of an art history program in college and I loved it then. Well, I still love it now! An absolutely beautiful city and one that, in contrast to London, actually feels very European.

We had a little trouble meeting up, apparently the use of a doorbell is beyond me, but I got to take a lovely walk through the city trying to find a mobile store so I could get a sim card and call her. Luckily, I was pretty familiar with the layout of the city (it's tiny!) and never really worried about getting lost. We spent the first day at an Alexander the Great exhibit (she majored in classics...I had seen the terrible Colin Farrell movie) and visited with some other students from her program on their HOUSEBOAT! A house boat! I was so excited. It was surprisingly big and is set up to be rented weekly for vacationers (on my next vacation to Amsterdam, I'm absolutely staying on a houseboat).

We spent Sunday outside of Amsterdam visiting Delft and the Hague. My maternal grandfather is Dutch and my grandmother collects Delft china. I feel in love with it at their house as a little girl and now have my own collection (currently a tulip vase) so I picked up a few pieces for gifts and also a little blue and white Delft frog for my collection. Even if you don't like Delft blue and white china you should try to visit the city if you're in the Netherlands. It's just the perfect little Dutch city. It has canals and windmills and Dutch architecture but without the city-ness of Amsterdam.

My frog is similar to this one but with a tiny crown on his head.

At the Hague we headed to the Mauritshuis museum which I had visited as a student. It has a small collection but some of the best examples of Dutch art out there. There are more Rembrandts than you can shake stick at, a few Rubens, a handful of Hals and Holbein, a sampling of Ruysdael (my personal favorite), and three Vermeer's (including View of Delft and Girl with a Pearl Earring). It was a lovely day of trains and traveling.

On Monday we started with hot chocolate which is great way to start any day in book. Even better because in Amsterdam they give you warm milk and a little bowl of chocolate pieces to stir in to flavor to taste. Delicious. We then headed to the Van Gogh museum. We'd both been prepped that it would be tiny and disappointing so we were pleasantly surprised. Not as a great as the Van Gogh's in France but a wide selection.

Basically, it was the perfect way to celebrate the end of a month spent in front of word documents.

Birdsong

2011-01-14T07:43:00.000-05:00

London has this nifty week called "Get Into London Theatre" of GILT. Basically, it's the theatrical version of restaurant week and tickets to some of the best plays, musicals, and operas are on sale for a reduced price. In the interest of "I'm in London" I jumped on the opportunity and bought a host of tickets to any production that caught my eye/ was available on a day I could attend.

Photo Credit

Last night (yup, the same day I got back to London) was the first. I went to see Birdsong directed by Trevor Nunn and based on a novel by Sebastian Faulks. In the first act it tells the story of an English factory heir who falls in love with the wife of a French factory manager and has an affair in 1910. In the second act, he's a disillusioned soldier fighting at the Somme. As he wrestles with the idea of human cruelty and the pointlessness of war, he relies on the love he felt and the relationships he built to carry him through.

It had never read the book or heard of the play (this was its debut run), so I didn't really know what to expect. It was very dark but it did have light hearted moments and was beautifully acted. The performance utilized projected photographs as the backdrop which was an interesting and effective incorporation of technology into the traditional medium of theatre, although I did not particularly care for the some of digital sound effects.

The icing on the cake? Almost 3 hours in the same room (okay theatre, but it was a small one) as Ben Barnes, better known as the Chronicles of Narnia's Prince Caspian.

Brilliant

2010-12-08T08:37:00.003-05:00

I'm a reader. I love books and always, always, always have one on me. You never know when the perfect chance to sneak in a quick chapter or two is going to present itself.

Photo Credit

I'm almost always carrying my Le Pliage or Neverfull so its easy to sneak in an extra book and I've found that paperbacks fit into Northface pockets nicely. But what about those other times? Those days when I'd really only like to carry my wallet? I've resisted the kindle and other e-books because I love my local library and can't justify spending that kind of money on an electronic book (and reader) when I can have the real thing for free.

Enter: Dailylit.com

Now, this may get a little endorsement-y but I'm just excited about the site and wanted to share it with all my fellow book lovers. The website allows you to subscribe to a free email service that sends bite size snippets of a variety of books right to your inbox. The idea is that you might not have several hours to get cozy with War and Peace but that you can probably handle it in three minute sections. The site allows you to select the length of your emails and offers an instant update so that the your never stuck with a can't put it down cliffhanger. Seriously, how brilliant is this idea?

So now on days when I only want to bring the essentials, I still have a book nestled snugly in the inbox of my iPhone. So what if it will take me 423 days to get through Anna Karenina...

Visiting the Dr.

2010-12-03T07:57:00.000-05:00

Luckily, I've had no need to visit NHS during my time in London so far (knock on wood). But, that doesn't mean that I haven't become familiar with one well known British doctor...

Doctor Who. (so cheesy, I'm sorry, I couldn't help it)

I'd heard of the show before arriving and could have vaguely described it as sci-fi time travel show for children. Well, one of my fellow housemates is a huge fan of the series and referenced it frequently (probably about as often as I mention Notre Dame...so only every other sentence). Late one night, he took it upon himself to share one of his favorite episodes and I was curious enough to give it a try.

I wasn't sold after the first viewing but I've gone back and watched a few of the earlier episodes for the most recent season to try and get the backstory straight. Basically, my earlier assessment wasn't far off. It is a sci-fi time travel show and it is aimed at children in the same way that Harry Potter is, kids can enjoy it but there is something there for adults as well. The show follows the adventures of "the Doctor" a human-looking alien that travels through time in a police book to fight evil aliens and save the world. It isn't something that I would have ever chosen to watch on my own but my friend's passion was contagious (or it might just be that the current Doctor is not bad to look at) and I enjoy the admittedly silly adventures. The show must be doing something right because it has began in 1963 (the 47th anniversary was last week) and has been a popular success through eleven different leading actors (the show explains the Doctor's new appearance as a "regeneration" a combination of being an alien and also of traveling through time). The current doctor plays the role as a bit zany and bit bumbling but is altogether endearing.

I don't know watch much tv here (I'm in London for nine months, I have better things to experience than tv) so I'm glad that I got to experience a little bit of typical British tv programming.

Snow Day

2010-12-01T07:57:00.000-05:00

Prior to heading to London I was told by many people that I'd "miss the snow" but get the cold and grey aspects of winter. Depending on the person imparting the wisdom this was either a good or bad thing. In book it was a very bad thing. Why suffer through the cold and windy days if you weren't going to at least have the occasional snowflake to show for it?

Now it should be noted that I only hold to my "snow is a great thing" theory when I am not at my parent's home in the suburbs - shoveling a 3 acre corner lot is not my idea of a quality snow oriented. But, on campus at Notre Dame, where the grounds crew kept the paths well salted and clear? Let it snow! In NYC where the doormen maintained well shoveled sidewalks? Let it snow!

So, I was pleasantly surprised today when it quietly started snowing on my daily walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.

It snowed on and off for the entire afternoon but it wasn't quite cold enough to stick. Still, it was lovely to watch it fall.

Turning Down the Volume

2010-11-23T06:53:00.002-05:00

Of my wardrobe.
Now that winter is beginning to edge across London and the sky tends more toward grey than blue, I've noticed something unsettling. I wear really bright colors. REALLY bright.

Case in point:

Image credit

Sure, I have plenty of navy but I love to pair it with a cheerful Kelly green. Pink is my best color and even though I avoid hot pink (unless it's Lilly but lets not even go there) my more sedate cardigan still seem almost jarring when juxtaposed against my fello tube riders. I find myself reaching more and more for my black and white tops and my darkest jeans, while my pinks and reds and greens hang lonely in my closet.

What's with all the black and brown, London? For a city that embraces very questionable stylistic choices, where is all the color? Why do I stick out like a sore thumb?

Fall Fireworks

2010-11-18T09:37:00.000-05:00

Edited: I've been trying to publish this for over a week but the video, now just a photo, is too much for my internet to handle so it is a little out of date, but who doesn't love fireworks, even two weeks late?

I love fireworks, I really love them. So I was very excited last Friday for Guy Fawkes Day. I'd heard all about bonfires and fireworks display long before I ever arrived in London. So I was very disappointed when Friday dawned rainy and generally gross. Even worse? Not a single person even mentioned fireworks. I figured I had my story wrong and didn't want to be the foolish American so I moved on with my life.

Then on Saturday I was baking some cookies for the house (or procrastinating...whichever) and talking with some girls in the kitchen, I mentioned that I was disappointed by the lack of fireworks. It turns out that, at least in London, the biggest firework and bonfire night was scheduled for Saturday. So, we quickly threw some cookies in a bag and bottled a few thermoses of tea and caught the bus to Battersea Park.

It was fantastic! Fireworks in the fall are a remarkable idea that I think the US should totally embrace.

Walk This Way

2010-11-11T12:02:00.000-05:00

The London Underground workers did me a massive favor last week by deciding to strike. I haven't mastered the buses so I had two options: (a) skip class and hang out in South Kensington or (b) get to walking.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, so I happily headed out an hour early. I've taken the walk before but it is easy to rationalize choosing a quick tube ride when you have a bag full of law texts and a laptop, so it took the strike to remind how lovely a trip it is aboveground.

I decided to take some pictures (they're cell phone photos so please excuse the quality or lack thereof) to show you all what I get to take completely for granted.

I start out walking through a posh shopping district, I'll post pictures of this part separately

because the Christmas decorations are

up now. Then, about fifteen minutes into my walk I come to this: Constitution Walk in Green Park.

Just like autumn in New England.

Next: Oh hey, that's Buckingham Palace.

If I have some extra time, I'll actually walk into St. James Park and visit the Pelicans, if not I just head up the Mall and

appreciate the view of Big Ben over the tree tops.

After the scenic portion of my walk, I emerge into the madness of Trafalgar Square.

My favorite part (not pictured) is the University of Notre Dame flag flying to the left of the National Gallery.

I cut down the Strand and then North to Covent Garden.

I don't really need to take this detour but I love to see the performers and the flower sellers (yay My Fair Lady).

After that it's just a few quick city blocks and I'm at the British Museum.

After that I just cut through a final scenic square and I'm at school.

An Education

2010-10-26T08:25:00.000-04:00

No, not the movie starring Carrie Mulligan (which I LOVED last March) but a debate hosted by my house.

Parliament is considering raising the tuition fees at British Universities. Many people are, understandably, not happy. Now, because I live in a student house this proposed change has an immediate bearing on many of my friends and it's a hot topic. So, the house arranged debate.

The fundamental issue is that a much higher percentage of students are choosing to attend university than ever before but the budget for universities hasn't change significantly since 1992. Therefore, with inflation the amount being provided for each student is diminishing. Currently, students pay about 1/3 of a what a degree actually costs (They pay about 3,000 GBP for an education that costs about 9,000 GBP) and the proposed bill would raise that amount closer to 80% and w

ould allow for student's to take loans that would not begin to come due until they began to earn 21,000 GBP per year (the average national income).

Some students argued passionately that education is a fundamental right (I agree) and that therefore it should be free (I don't agree: accessible to all? yes. Free? not necessarily.). Others noted that some people would never earn 21,000 GBP and then would never pay back their loans. Still others felt that government was spending unwisely on military investments and that money should be re-funneled to education.

I intended to go and keep my mouth shut, after all I know very little about a British politics and the change won't effect me because my program lasts only this year and I pay tuition to Columbia and not to my British school.

Except, I love to debate, that's the reason I want to be a litigator. So, after listening to both sides and listening to comments I just had to jump in. I was quickly identified as "farther right than Margaret Thatcher" but allowed to say me piece. In the end, the "raise the fees" size won by a single vote.

A very interesting conversation.

The Neighbors

2010-10-25T08:26:00.001-04:00

The view from my front door on a sunny Saturday:

Beautiful, right?

*The internet at my house is very spotty, so I'm definitely still reading your blogs but occasionally the backlog is dayyyysss long and I don't want to leave terribly stale comments, but I am still reading*

Easy Money

2010-10-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

No, I’m not running a get-rich-quick scheme or any other such scam, I’m just trying to access my own hard-earned money.

Admittedly, I’m not the best at bank account management, I once had an expired ATM card for over a year before I realized it didn’t work because it was obsolete. However, this time I was pro-active and called my bank well in advance of my time abroad and requested a new card that would work in British cashpoint machines. I paid extra for them to Fedex me my new holograph embossed card and called to activate it. I provided my bank with the dates that I would be abroad, my city of residence and the places where I would most likely be using my card. All set.

Except not. Recently, I ran out of the money that initially exchanged and innocently approached the local cashpoint. Access Denied. Card not approved for use in this machine. No big deal, I’ll try another. Same message. Again. And again.

Now, I don’t have a phone or ready access to one so I’m beginning to freak out because I have zero pounds left. My mother calls on behalf and they won’t let her request any changes even though she has all the relevant account information and they KNOW that I’m out of the country.

Thank God that I’m Irish because, of course, Notre Dame manages to save me. Neither my US law school nor my British institution were of any useful guidance. But Notre Dame’s London programme offered me a gem of advice: go to the American Express Travelers Service store. Fantastic. I was able to make a withdrawal on my card for the current exchange rate with no fees. Not a perfect solution but good enough to get my through until I could get my banking situation squared away.

So, yes the lesson of the day was: there is no such thing as easy money (even if it is your own).

The West End

2010-10-19T06:43:00.000-04:00

I was walking through Covent Garden, having popped into Cath Kidston, and it dawned on me that I've been in London for over a month and I haven't seen a single show. Even though I grew up a stones throw from Broadway and was lucky enough to see my fair share of plays and musicals with either my family, friends, or school; I always associate good theatre with the West End.

So, I've decided to institute a "You're in London!" program. The basic idea being that I'm in London for a finite period of time and I should enjoy it. For me that means at a minimum taking in one show per month. Eventually it mean taking a day trip to the surrounding area or visiting limited exhibits but for now I'm starting with a show per month.

First up, tonight's performance of Avenue Q. I know it's not the most English selection but I saw it here in London when I studied as an undergraduate and I have positive associations because of that.

I can't wait!

I'm Still Here

2010-10-18T08:01:00.000-04:00

I really intended to post at least twice a week (Sundays and Thursdays) but I've realized that while I'm loving every second of my time in London, there isn't much to post about. Why? Because basically my life is exactly the same as it was in New York or South Bend. I'm still a student, spending time in the library and attending lectures, just now I'm in London and that doesn't exactly make for riveting reading.

So here's a fascinating snapshot into my daily weekday life:

-catch the tube to Russell Square and head to the law library.

-spend hours tracking down assignments (professors think that they're doing us a big favor by saving us from spending money on textbooks...I'd rather have all of my assignments in a single text and save myself four hours a week)

-grab lunch as the local Pret A Manger (love love love having these so convenient)

-do some reading in Starbucks (having a really shaky internet connection really makes you appreciate free wi-fi) or the British Library (okay, it's kind of cool being able to pop in and visit the Rosetta Stone whenever I need to do some reading)

- Attend lecture (I'm the only US student in all of my classes which makes me the point person for US law...)

-Run back home and hope there are no tube delays

-Grab dinner with friends

-Spend the evening chatting with housemates. I love this part. Everyone is from such different places and it's incredible to hear why they're in London and what they're passionate about.

So, as interesting as this all is for me, it isn't exactly the stuff of blog posts. However, I do finally have a camera and I'll do a neighborhood tour soon and try to get a Sloane of the week feature started.

New Adventures?

2010-10-07T05:28:00.002-04:00

While I'm just starting out on this year long adventure in London, my mind is already weighing my next step.

I've been blessed with a decision between three great summer job offers at three law firms. In this economy, that's amazingly fortunate, especially since I had zero call backs last year. Now, I'm in the privileged position of deciding which firm I'd like to spend a summer with. I really like all three firms and they all offer a great experience to build up my legal skill set. The question really comes down to location. One of the firms is in NYC, one is in Dallas and one is in Milwaukee.

I kind of have NYC covered and to be honest I think that I'm ready for a change. Both Dallas and Milwaukee will offer a great quality of life but the question is which one? Milwaukee is pure Midwest and only a few hours drive from some of my favorite people in Chicago and Notre Dame. Dallas seems like an excellent city to be young in and I love warm (okay, hot) weather.

So, if you're in either of these cities, please give me info!

Lifesaver

2010-09-29T07:35:00.000-04:00

As expected it's been a bit rainy here in London. So as a girl with long thick hair that's disposed toward frizzing and curling like crazy, I thought that this might just be nine months of disaster hair (hello, Red Sox hat) .

Enter Pantene Medium-Thick Frizzy to Smooth Shampoo/Conditioner.

It's the best smoothing shampoo I've tried and it's got a bargain basement price ($2.50 for a large bottle). Now, I've been around the block with everything in between John Frieda and Frederick Fekkai and this hands down the best. I quick wash and blow dry and I'm good to go!

Love it!

Home is where the heart is

2010-09-28T07:34:00.000-04:00

Which for me will always be Northen NJ (as much as I'm loath to admit that) but for the next nine months it's also a student house in South Kensington.

Originally, I planned on getting my own apartment but I was a bit freaked out about arriving without housing lined up and did not want to make a special trip in August (plus pay rent for a month I wouldn't be here) in order to arrange it. So, when I tripped across the name of a Catholic student house on the chaplaincy page for London I was intrigued.

Basically, it's a gorgeous house that houses between 40-80 students when it's full. The students mostly come from elsewhere in Europe or from non-London England and range in age from 17 to well over 30 but most are between 18 and 26. And while the house run by a group of Catholic nuns it isn't exclusively Catholic and I've meet many non-religious people as well. I have my own room and share a hallway bathroom with just one other girl. They have a kitchen staff that provides breakfast and dinner and a cleaning staff to do linens and basic tidying once a week.

I love that I'm getting to meet such a diverse group of people with interests ranging from the law to physics to the viola. Law school can induce a lot of navel-gazing and the firm belief that if not working for biglaw then life is not worth living. It's really refreshing to have people who couldn't care less if you are on law review but could talk for hours about why they think the German school system is superior to the British one or want to know if living New York city really is the most wonderful thing in the world?

Books?

2010-09-27T05:20:00.002-04:00

Classes haven't begun yet and the internet was down in our house so I got a TON of reading done this weekend when it was too rainy to venture out. Now, I'm sorely in need of a few good books.

Any recommendations? What book couldn't you put down?

I'd like to have a few lined up on the shelf for the next rainy day!

Thank you!

Raindrops

2010-09-24T12:13:00.000-04:00

My life has pretty much been orientation and popping into the odd museum, so fairly boring. Except I'm in LONDON. I'm thrilled to be here and enjoying every bit of it. I've spent my free time at the Natural History museum which is housed in a ridiculously beautiful building, the V&A, and the National Gallery. As K. Cupcake can confirm, I have a five year old's obsession with dinosaur exhibits so that was my first stop (it was located across from my residence which helped make it a priority) and although the building trumps the American Natural History Museum the exhibits were only so-so. Nothing to rival Sue at the Chicago Field Museum.

I just caught the Grace Kelly exhibit at the V&A which I'd wanted to see since visiting Monaco with D. in May. It was neat to see the famous "Kelly" bag and all her clothes but the exhibition didn't do much to build up her personality, it just felt lifeless. Other than that I've been busy learning all about what King's has to offer. The other students hail from all over England and it's interesting to learn what has lead them to the UK.

I had my first typically English rainy day today. Fortunately, I had no orientation or school activities and so no need to venture into the Strand or central London. However, I did want to do something and without the school commute to justify the price of a tube ticket (until my student Oyster card I need to buy individual tickets and it adds up quickly!) that meant I was walking.

So I grabbed my trench coat and umbrella and headed for "nearby" Kings Road in search of a bookstore. The good news is that I got stopped for directions several times, so I must look like I belong (or people assume that only people who know where they are going walk around in the rain) the bad news was that I got hopelessly lost. Oh well, it was an adventure and I got to see lot of Chelsea. I did eventually find Kings Road and walked into Sloane Square which is absolute ground zero for "Sloane Rangers" which are the British version of preps. I've never seen so much haberdashery or so many Range Rovers but I loved every second of it!

2010-09-18T15:02:00.001-04:00

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport..." Love, Actually

Bright and early this morning I landed at beautiful Heathrow (and, yes, I had my mental Love, Actually moment). I ended up arriving way sooner than I had anticipated and had an hour or two to check my email and use the airport's wifi to apply for my student oyster card.

I then took the most expensive cab ride of my life but three large suitcases, it was pretty much non-negotiable, and was dropped off at my beautiful residence in Kensington. I got a quick tour of the building and my room is in the basement, with a lovely view of an interior airshaft, but it's super close to the laundry, shares a bathroom with just one other person, and is super spacious. So all in I got lucky.

I spent an hour or two setting up my room and then I took to the streets and did a self guided tour (read: wandered aimlessly) around my neighborhood for a few hours. My area is filled with adorable restaurants and fun boutiques, it looks like it will an interesting area to live. The sad news is the I left my camera home. I'll have it soon but I wish I could share some of my neighborhood's adorableness!

Tomorrow's goal is to get a cell phone!

London!

2010-09-17T08:17:00.003-04:00

I'm off to lovely London! I can't wait to fill this blog up with my British adventures!

Check out the adorable note I got from my friend C. She reminded me that as a senior in college, as I was evaluating all my law school choices I had decided on CLS because it gave my the chance to go abroad my 3L year. Obviously, I knew that but it was a welcome reminder that this year is the culmination of many years and really a dream come true. I can't wait!

8 Questions

2010-09-16T08:47:00.001-04:00

The adorable Beantown Prepster tagged her readers to answer eight questions. Since I'm still re-settling post my crazy week last week and in preparation for my crazy week next week, I thought this was great blog rut busting topic.

1. If you had a theme song that played whenever you walked into a

room, what would it be?

My favorite song of all time is Carry On by Pat Green.

I LOVE

Pat Green like no one from New Jersey should and this song has always been "mine" amongmy friends.

2. George or Brad, and why?

Tough question because I'm not really fan of either but I'm going to go with George. Aesthetically I'm all about Brad but I've never really gotten past the Angelina thing and I totally respect that George has stayed single rather than become unfaithful.

3. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

One item or one meal? To combine the two, I'd say crepes because I could do a variety of different fillings. I love ratatouille filled crepes, ham and swiss, spinach and chevre, nutella, strawberries... All so delicious.

4. What is the strangest question you've ever been asked?

If I'd like to marry him and move to India to be a missionary.

Context: I was stranded in an almost empty airport during a blizzard. The only other person in the lounge decided to come over to chat and would not take the "I'm-reading-this-book-in-my-lap-and-don't-want-to-chat" message I was sending. It came out that I was a Christian and the follow up question was the proposal. He took my refusal in stride but did enquire whether "my boyfriend an I practice pre-marital relations?" That's the runner up for next strangest (and first runner up for most inappropriate) question.

5. Where is your favorite place to sit in a movie theater?

About five-six rows from the back (or depending on the size about a third of the way into the theater) and near the aisle.

6. On a plane- Are you a chatter or do you do everything humanely possible not to have to interact with an

yone?

Normally in everyday life, I'm a chatter. My travel buddy was mortified when I'd strike up conversations with people on trains in France. planes, however, are an exception. I definitely put on a baseball cap, pull it low over my eyes, and focus on my reading. I've had weird airport conversation. See #4.

7. If you could bring back one TV show

from your childhood, what show would it be?

Not really from my childhood but from my adolescence. I loved this show, the costumes were really beautiful, I loved the real family dynamic and I'd give my eye-teeth to see the extended ending.

8. What is the first thing you think people notice about you?

Aesthetically or personality? Probably my Red Sox cap. I wear it ALL the time. Otherwise, I think people think that I'm reliable and loyal. I've been told that I'm a good friend and that means the absolute world to me.

What about all of you? Gorgeous George or Brad? What tv show do wish would put out just one more episode? What's the craziest question you were ever asked? I'd LOVE to know!

photo credit 1, 2, 3

On a jet plane

2010-09-15T07:43:00.000-04:00

Eek! I get the bad blogger award...I've really dropped the ball on getting posts up, especially since

I have so much to put up.

I've been a busy berry these past few weeks. Since my internship ended I've been flying here and there and everywhere on interviews. I'm super excited and blessed to have the chance to meet with so many firms and I just know the right job will find me soon. That said, I haven't spent more than two nights in the same place since mid-August!

I was in Milwaukee for less than 24 hours at the beginning of the week (beautiful weather, great people, and lake Michigan!) and now I'm off to Dallas for a quick eight hour stint. But the best part? I'll be getting on a plane this Friday to head to London and with all this craziness I haven't had the time to get apprehensive.

I have a few posts in the hopper and should be back on the blogging bandwagon by next week.

How is everyone's September so far?!

Here and There

2010-09-08T07:36:00.000-04:00

I spent the better part of last week in Dallas and Chicago for interviews. (No word yet but please keep my future employment in your thoughts). I LOVE both cities and have great friends in both so I'm happy either way.

In Texas I met up with a great college friend and some of his high school friends for dinner and trivia at a local bar. We were terrible at trivia (although I held my own: Votto plays first base for the Reds and David Caruso displayed his bottom on NYPD Blue thankyouverymuch) but it was a ton of fun and I really enjoyed meeting the friends I'd heard so much about.

After my interview in Chicago my very favorite K. Cupcake met me and another ND alum for coffee. We persuaded E. to join us in the 'burbs for dinner and met up with a 4th alum at Redstone where we had a delicious flatbread and a hot cookie sundae, yum! On Friday K.S. picked up K. Cupcake and I and we all headed to Indiana to kick off the football season. One of my former freshman (I was her R.A.) offered us her futon and we had a great time catching up with all the ladies in our hall. How can they already be seniors?!

Saturday kicked off the football season and it was a blast! We tailgated at K.S.'s family tailgate and cheered the Irish on to victory against Purdue! Welcome Coach Kelly!

I spent Sunday at K.Cupcake's lake house in Central Illinois. We spent the day tubing and water skiing with some of her friends from grad school. The best part? They were baby priests! Or more correctly major seminary students. It was such a kick and so interesting to discuss their discernment process and plans for the future.

Now, I'm back on the East Coast and I can't believe that I'll be in London in less than two weeks! Until then I'm working on catching up on all your wonderful blogs. I hope you all had fantastic Labor day weekends!

Vibram Five Fingers

2010-08-31T07:07:00.000-04:00

So, I got my Five Fingers about two weeks ago. They don't look too funky. Okay, they look pretty funky but they look less weird than they could, if that makes any sense.

I may not be the best test case for you all because I have strange feet. As I've mentioned before I have a minor bone deformity in both feet that was surgically corrected. My feet look normal but my Vibram's tell me that looks can be deceiving, because these shoes hurt. A lot. At least at first.

First, there is a definite art to putting them on. It took me ten minutes the first time but now I've gotten it down to a minute or two. At first the separation between my toes merely felt different but sliding my little toe into it's slot was downright painful and leaving it there and trying to walk was severely unpleasant. Now, after two weeks of breaking them in a little each day it's much better. I'm not in love but they don't hurt anymore and I definitely get a much better leg workout from wearing them.

On the other hand, my friend K. LOVES hers and never had the least bit of pain and goes for runs in them every day. So to each their own. I'd definitely recommend seeing if you can try them on in person just to make sure you get the right fit because I've heard that can be super tricky.

On the Road

2010-08-30T07:56:00.000-04:00

I'm off to Dallas today to meet with some firms (fingers crossed because I LOVE these people so hopefully something works out). Anybody have a recommendation of something to amuse myself with in Dallas for two evenings?

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Then on Wednesday I'm off to Illinois to see some of my favorite people and head to the home land for the first football game of season. Go Irish!

Rain Boot Update:

Thank you for all the advice on rain boots. I'm leaning toward the Jimmy Choo version because well, I don't actually need any rain boots at all. I have a great pair and the only reason I'm considering a second pair was because I fell in love with this specific pair so as similar as the Carnaby's are...they just aren't going to cut it. Go big or go home, right?

I'm going to sit on it for a little while, see if I can swing a discount, and decide if I really want them. But if I do decide to purchase any I think it will be the JC's.

The Great Debate

2010-08-27T07:46:00.000-04:00

I've saved up some money with my eye on these:

Hunter by Jimmy Choo

Do I *need* them? No. Absolutely not. Do I really want them? You bet. So, I intially promised them to myself at the end of the exam and paper writing crunch of finals. If I finished then I'd buy them. Well, I finished and did well but it still seemed decadent (a new bottle of nail polish seemed more appropriate) so I told myself I'd reign in my excess spending and I'd save over the summer. Since giving up my apartment in late May and moving home my spending has been pretty much nil. So, I should go ahead buy them, right?

Well, then I saw these:

The Hunter Carnaby Boa.

Are they the same? Definitely not. Are they pretty similar? Yup. Are they significantly less expensive? To the tune of you could buy two sets of these for the price of the Jimmy Choo's. Everything practical and logical says by the Caraby's and be done with it. They look gorgeous and they're for the rain wear. But my heart was so set on the Choo's...

So I ask you: what's a girl to do?

Overheard at Casa Keen

2010-08-25T07:47:00.002-04:00

You know the "overheard" websites, well this is overheard at my house recently:

1) Conversation with my younger brother, who has watched three siblings go off to and graduate from college:

-"So, ND looks like it would be fun, I mean when I'm at school, but what about when I left and was in town? That would be boring."

Huh, seems to me he's missed the whole "you live at college" point.

- "Would I have to shovel snow at Notre Dame?"

Again, he seems to not understand the concept that college is pretty much a four year vacation while you live with your friends, food magically appears three times a day and in return you spend fifteen hours in class.

2) My younger sister, aged 21 and a brand new law student, excited to discover that Emma Watson (British actress who portrays Hermione in the Harry Potter series) attends Brown University.

- Sister: "We should go and visit D! (a friend at Brown). We can find her!"

-Friend J.: "But how will we know which one she is?"

- Sister:"Hmmmmm, well, she'll be the one speaking English!"

This was amusing for two reasons. (a) Why did the friend think that they wouldn't be able to recognize Emma? Would she use her wizarding powers to disguise herself? (b) Neither girl, both well educated semi-adults, caught the phrase "speaking English" and realized that what was intended was "the one speaking with the British accent."

Speaking of Ms. Watson, what are your thoughts on her new pixie cut? I think she has impeccable taste and is all together lovely. I would never rock hair this short but I think she has the features for it and can totally pull it off. Thoughts?

Tag, you're it!

2010-08-24T07:26:00.001-04:00

Thank you very much to nMa over at Miss Southern Prep for tagging me! I love reading all about her life at college and she's super sweet.

1. What's your signature color? I look best in pinks but I definitely own much more navy blue! (Goes best with my Red Sox hat!!!

)

2. What's your most embarrassing moment? I'm a champion klutz so these are a million a minute for but the all time take the cake record book embarrassing moment was when I had my monthly visit for the first time when I was an altar server at mass. A white alb and no proper warning = red in the face.

3. Would you ever get anything besides your ears pierced? I've always thought that a tiny diamond stud in the nose can be beautiful but I'd never do it.

4. Are you a social butterfly or a homebody? I am a homebody through and through. I love going out with friends and I know that "no one ever met anybody at home reading a book" (I feel that some of my best adventures have been through literature but I digress) so I'm not a total recluse but I love nice nights in with a couple of friends, a great meal, and movie with wine.

5. Are you done having babies, or do you want more? I haven't started yet and don't know if I will. If that's where I'm led in life I'd love a bunch (I'm number 2 of 5).

6. Are you loyal to your hairstylist or do you try every salon in town? I've gone to the same lady for several years but I don't go frequently...it's been about a year and I am wayyyyy over due!

7. How many times have you moved in your life? Once and it was around the block!

8. If you could plan a vacation with just you and your love, where would it be? Well that would depend on the love, right? If it were entirely up to me I'd spend some time near Aix en Provence or Sea Island.

I tag:

Positively Preppy in Pink

Meredith Travels at Goodbye Dallas, Hello World

Wears Inappropriate Shoes

Quarter Life Prep

Southern Belle Simple

Yum!

2010-08-23T07:46:00.000-04:00

Inspired by Eat Pray Love my sister T. brought some this home last weekend:

Talenti Gelato's Caramel Cookie Crunch.

Photo Credit

Oh. My. Goodness. So so very good.

I should say that I'm not a big caramel fan and the idea of a crunch in my gelato was a tad off-putting, but this? Delicious. Exquisite. Decadent.

I'd hate T. for bringing it home and into my life but at almost $6 a pint this will stay a very special treat.

Now, about Eat Pray Love...I read the book and thought it was okay. I loved the idea but strongly disliked Elizabeth Gilbert. So, the question is: does Julia humanize the character? Is it worth it to check it out? Advise me please!

The grass is always greener

2010-08-20T09:59:00.003-04:00

All summer long I've been seeing Tiffany Blue nails all over the city and on the pages of magazines. While in France my friend D. happily collected compliments on her POP Beauty Glam nails in Turquoise coated nails.

While browsing in Saks and restocking my Chanel Ballerina and spotted a pretty bottle of Nouvelle Vague nestled among the staple colors.

Then just last week I had breakfast with a friend who proudly wrapped her For Audrey bedecked nails around her water glass.

So I took the plunge and had the manicurist apply Essie Mint Candy Apple yesterday, thinking interviews are over and I'm no longer interning, why not have a little fun?

Well, my nails are a gorgeous Tiffany Blue (not very green at all) but I miss my tidy pale pink manicure and keep startling myself when I catch sight of my new bright hue.

They're only nails but I'm a creature of habit. From now on I'll be sticking to my Ballerina pinks of my fingers and leaving the wilder shades to my tootsies.

When it comes to nail color do you stay in the same color family or do you like to mix it up? Have you hopped on the Tiffany Blue polish bandwagon?

School Supplies

2010-08-18T09:11:00.002-04:00

Although I won't actually begin school until late September because of the schedule in the UK, this time of year still prompts back-to-school induced excitement. I loved going to office depot or the campus bookstore every August and filling a basket with clean, brightly colored school supplies. It was like accessory shopping only better because it was "necessary."

Now, I usually cruise over to See Jane Work or Russell and Hazel and treat myself to fancy notebooks, binders, and as every law student can appreciate a multi color highlighter as mini splurges to get my year off right. And yes, I still justify this indulgences as "necessary."

However, I was flipping through a catalogue and saw this:

A Sharpie Liquid Pencil.

This little gadget uses a liquid formula that allows for smooth pen-style writing in lead. Best of all? It will become permanent after three days to prevent smudges but can be erased prior to that for easy corrections and changes. No more broken lead or dulled points. How perfect is that?

Photo Credit.

Sprinting shoes

2010-08-16T08:01:00.000-04:00

Whew! These past few days have been quite the interviewing sprint. So I thought it was only fitting to treat myself to these:

Vibram Five Finger: Sprint.

Have you seen these anywhere? I had read about them online for a while ago. Barefoot technology is supposed to be so much better for your bones and joints. Given my foot trouble, I was definitely interested but they just looked so strange and could they possibly be comfortable? Then this summer I began seeing them all around the city. I was intrigued but not yet sold.

However, on her visit into town last weekend, what was K. Cupcake sporting? Her very own pair. Now this is shocking. She once described her disdain for "athletic" or "sporty" shoes because they "mocked her blatant lack of coordination or athleticism" and happily donned gorgeous ballet flats or heels on even the snowiest day in South Bend. But these? She claimed made her want to go for a run. And that is a big deal.

I'm sold. In honor of my interview sprint I just ordered a pair in black. With the ankle strap and the dark material they look almost like mary jane's from a distance, right? Right. Or that's what I'm telling myself.

Wish me luck

2010-08-11T08:39:00.000-04:00

Today starts my law school on campus interview program for 2010. I'll be hopping around midtown Manhattan meeting with 28 prospective employers over the next four days so please keep me in your thoughts.

Fun Fact: St. Catejan is the patron saint of job seekers. In a fortuitous twist of fate Catejan was also a lawyer and studied canon and civil law in Padua in 1504.

I'll certainly be praying for his intercession today!

Mars and Venus

2010-08-10T07:59:00.000-04:00

I was recently watching a movie with my father. It started with a slow pan of the female lead from her heels to her head.

Included in the shot was glimpse of the bright red soles on her black stilettos.

My father's reaction: "Whoa! Red soles?! That's too much. Crazy." Said in a tone to convey that this was ridiculous and imputed some sort of loose moral status to the girl.

My response: "Um, Dad? Those are Louboutin heels. A very famous designer. E. (my oldest sister) wears hers to her law firm all the time."

Just a glimpse at a difference between men and women.

Excellent Weekend

2010-08-09T08:34:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday was the last day of my internship. I went immediately to the airport to pick up one of my absolute favorite people, K. Cupcake (referred to as such because of her famous cupcakes). K. is traveling to Israel for a twelve day pilgrimage and decided to stop in New York for a quick visit before she heads out. In honor of K's visit, our great friend A. hopped a train from Pennsylvania to the NYC to join us.

We grabbed student tickets ($30 = yay graduate school!) to Promises Promises starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth. Ms. Chenoweth's voice is simply incredible and Hayes brought a quirky quality to a very funny Chuck Baxter. If you have the chance to snag tickets, do it!

Mostly we just wandered around the city doing a little of this and a little of that. K. has recently starting watching 30 Rock and my father happens to work in that building, though not for NBC, so she was excited to get a special tour. Then we headed the boathouse so she could relive 27 Dresses and Enchanted (Yes, she did a New York movie marathon in preparation for her visit). The best parts though were just lingering over long lunches and late dinners, reminding each other why we're best friends.

The only football picture I could easily locate, please ignore my half-closed eyes!

A fantastic visit! I can't wait until the first home football game when I'll see them both again!

Bakerry Cupcakes

2010-08-04T08:11:00.001-04:00

As promised in last week's post this is the cupcake recipe. The recipe is adapted from an old German pound cake recipe and produces a denser, richer cake but doesn't taste like pound cake so fear not! I was searching for a recipe that used cake flour and this what I found and I've never turned back. I used it for four years in a hall of 130 women and it definitely got the green light from the gals.

Bakerry Cupcakes:

1/2 cup butter (softened but not warm so don't throw it in the microwave, apply pressure if you need it warmed up in a hurry) cut into cubes

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 and 1/2 cups sifted cake flour (sifting it is key to get fluffy cupcakes)

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 - 2/3 cups sour cream (I always err on more is better here because it is the main liquid)

1) Cream the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar and beat until fluffy (1-2 minutes, careful not to overbeat or the butter will pool at the bottom of the cupcake during baking), beat in the eggs one at a time and then set aside.

2) In a separate bowl, sift the flour (sifted once already), baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.

3) Add the flour to the butter/sugar/eggs mixture, alternating with the sour cream and vanilla, mix until blended.

The batter will be very thick and fluffy almost like a mousse. It might taste a little sour but this cooks out and it actually has a mild sweet flavor when baked.

4) Scoop into lined cupcake tins. The batch will yield between 18 and 24 cupcakes depending on scoop size.

5) Bake at 350 for 18 minutes or until solid to the touch (They do not get very golden so they might look a little pale but be done, so do the touch test).

Frosting:

3-6 cups confectionary sugar

2 sticks butter

1/2 cup milk

2 tsp. vanilla

1/3 cup dutch processed cocoa Leave this out for vanilla frosting and just up the confectionary sugar until desired texture is achieved.

1) Beat the butter until fluffy.

2) Add remaining ingredients (start with 3 cups sugar) and beat for two minutes.

3) Add remaining sugar until it desired texture is reached. The longer you beat this the thicker and smoother it will get. Some recipes call for ten minutes or so, I've never found that necessary but five minutes produces a great consistency.

I used to make these with vanilla frosting and dye it pink (it's just plain prettier that way) for the girls in my hall all the time (at least twice a month) and they were always very well received. The recipe calls for very specific sequencing but I've been known to just toss it all into a bowl and hope for the best and still have great results.

Happy Cupcakes!

Aww, thanks!

2010-07-29T08:31:00.000-04:00

The adorable Kate at Southern-Belle-Simple has tagged me for the Honest Scrap award! Thanks, Kate! If you aren't reading her blog, you should be!

So I need to list ten things about me:

1) I really, really, REALLY want to go to India. I took a class on Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism in college and how they all interact in India and I've been obsessed ever since. I'm going to make next year the year, now who's in?

2) I really, really, REALLY want an Irish Wolfhound named Sorin (after Father Sorin the founder of Notre Dame)

An irish wolfhound. Father Sorin.

They kind of look alike, don't they?

3) I'm addicted to ebay. It is not good.

4) I time my gym cardio workouts based on what's on TV.

5) I'm obsessed with pedicures. I'll do at home manicures but I NEED my bi-weekly pedicure.

6) I'm a super slow reader but what I lack in speed I make up for in comprehension and sheer commitment. My father and sister are legit speed readers and can knock out a book in an hour, me? Not so much.

7) My drink of choice is an amaretto and sprite. It taste like fruit punch makes me about 80 years old. That said, I have a drink about once in a blue moon so not much public mockery.

8) I make truly delicious cupcakes. They are seriously good. I'll do a post with the recipe soon.

9) I've never lived in a house younger than 100 years old (including my college dorm).

10) I have better than 20/10 vision. It's my claim to fame and I'm neurotic about ruining my vision staring at a computer screen.

Somewhere to hang my (Redsox) hat: Part 2

2010-07-28T08:14:00.000-04:00

I am proud to announce that after much wrangling, frantic googling, and hyper e-mailing, that I now have a place to live in London!

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I'm going to be living in Kensington in a Catholic community. No, I'm not thinking of taking vows (though one my friends make his first vows for the priesthood this weekend, so proud of him!). Basically, it is this gorgeous building in Kensington where students can live in community.

I was somewhat worried about striking out without knowing anyone in London but now I'll have my own room and space with the added bonus of a built in community. The house provides dinner and breakfast and launders linens once a week. In return we students volunteer at various sites in the city occasionally. I'm really excited that I'll have a good group of people to go to Mass with because, for me, there is nothing more comforting than a great spiritual support.

It isn't exactly as I pictured my living situation (I was planning on a cute apartment in Marylebone) but this just couldn't be beat. The best part? The money I'll save on housing I can use to travel, travel, travel!

Fast Flats

2010-07-23T07:27:00.000-04:00

Have you seen Dr. Scholl's Fast Flats?

I nipped into Rite Aid yesterday to get a bottle of polish to fix a chip (I'm super clumsy and prone to chips which is why I carried a bottle with me everywhere in college) and I an end cap display caught my eye.

Apparently they are foldable, highly compressible, black ballet flats that come with a small (I'd estimate 4x4) gold wristlet. The idea was to create a convenient solution for those nights when you're out dancing or at dinner and your fabulous heels simply become to much to take.

I applaud the idea, Lord knows I carted flip flops to many dance but I can't see really relying on foldable ballet flats, I'd worry about the quality and how much room they'll really save in my bag (4x4 is still pretty big to stash in a clutch).

At the end of the day they're only $9.99 so it might be worth a try. Would you give them a try?

Visa Smeesa, Right?

2010-07-20T19:43:00.001-04:00

I looked at the calender and realized it's late July and I leave for London in less than two months...now, how did that happen?!

Typically, I'm crazy type-A but I have been a bit willfully blind when it came to getting my act together (in my defense I'm working fifty-five hours a week as a law clerk, ten hours as a research assistant, and doing pro bono work for my journal) but really there is no excuse for not applying for my immigration visa.

But, it's not like it's a big deal, right? I'm mean I don't need to have my entire tuition in an account untouched for twenty-eight days or anything before I can even it submit my application. Because I totally have that money in my back pocket waiting to be in a back account. Sallie-Mae, ummm, we're going to need that student loan stat!

Luckily after fours of frantic maneuvering I think I have it under control. Key word being: think.

Well, if my visa does get approved I have this totally delightful travel set:

Actually, a delightful Tiffany Blue.

Photo Credit

Immigration couldn't deny something so adorable, right?

Frittata Fiend

2010-07-19T07:46:00.000-04:00

I'm a little addicted to Frittatas right now. I'm not usually a big egg person but for the past few weeks, I've been cooking up a frittata every Sunday and grabbing a slice for breakfast or lunch (with a side salad? Yum!) every day.

I use this basic recipe and then throw in whatever vegetables I have on hand:

-8 eggs

-1/3 cup swiss cheese (or favorite)

-1/2 small/medium onion (sauteed in olive oil)

-1/2 lean ham

-1 cup vegetables (mushroom, zucchini, spinach, asparagus, whatever)

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A great way to get in a ton of protein and vegetables!

Out of My Mind

2010-07-13T07:58:00.001-04:00

I must be out of my mind but I started the "Insanity" dvd workout program yesterday morning. It's similar to P90X but it is only two months long (I'm guessing that this is going to feel like a very long two months) and you only need your own body weight.

I've put on a few pounds (okay more than few...probably 20) since starting law school and planting my bum in the library so and I really want to shake it off before it becomes more of a problem. I already hit the gym for an hour on the elliptical and some weight work five days a week but I need something new to give me a kick in the pants.

As the tag line urges I'm going to "dig deep" and me back in shape by London!

American Pickers

2010-07-12T08:16:00.001-04:00

Photo Credit

Does anyone watch this show on the History Channel? I have to admit, I'm fascinated by so many of the guys finds and always tune in for a few minutes if it happens across my screen.

Well, we had an at home version of the show this past weekend. My grandmother lives in a small town on the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border and last weekend was the annual church sale. She was working a booth late in the afternoon when a co-worker grumbled that "no one had bought the Waterford and it was only $250."

My grandmother knew that I collect Waterford (I announced this to my second grade teacher and could not understand why she was so surprised) so she looked it over. She didn't know what pattern it was but noticed that the box was marked $2.50 and not $250. She checked with the seller and the box price was right. She scooped it up and dropped it to me today.

Check it out:

16 stems in the Lismore pattern for $2.50 total. It's not my pattern but what a bargain! I'm so lucky that my Grandma is always thinking about me!

Book Look

2010-07-09T08:20:00.000-04:00

Now that it's beach weather, I've been reading up a storm. I won't go through all of them but I did get a question about these two so I thought I'd do a quick rundown on them.

First up: Gone with the Windsors by Laurie Graham.

I read The Importance of Being Kennedy last year and loved it and I'm slowly working my way through Ms. Graham's older books bit by bit. This is a very funny fictional diary from one of Wallis Simpson's inner circle during the crazy years running up to WWII. I really enjoyed Maybell, the diarist, and laughed at her gaffes and misunderstandings. I loved the insights into London society (both proper upper class and the social climbing nouveau riche) and the innocence and humor Maybell imbued it all with. The book skewers "Wally" and I really don't know enough about the actual history to discern if this is a fair treatment. I guess part of the point is that no one really knows.

Next, Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.

This book came to be highly recommended (as in "if you read one book all year it should be this book.") and I have to admit that I was disappointed. The book is compelling and it sheds light on an often over looked WWII event: the Vel d'Hiv. Without ruining anything that you won't know by page 10, the Vel d'Hiv was a roundup of Parisian Jews in the summer of 1942 and culminated in thousands of French families being exported to camps in France and finally death camps in Germany. So this is not exactly and upbeat book. The book is told from alternating points of view, one a child in 1942 and one a journalist in 2002. I really appreciated the opportunity to recognize a terrible tragedy that is often overshadowed in by the atrocity of the Holocaust in it's totality and think that is the real purpose of the book. The story and plot is largely incidental to this goal and it showed. I couldn't really connect to the journalist (arguably the main character) and never understood her motivation. I'm not opposed to serious books or even sad books and I can respect this book's purpose but would I read it again? Honestly? Probably not.